Beyond the Pedestal by Lucille Lulu

Author:Lucille, Lulu
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2020-12-25T16:00:00+00:00

17

A buzz erupted between Sam and me. I focused my eyes ahead—anything to avoid a slight glance at her. My eyes clamped tight. Our time in the shop replayed in my thoughts. She asked me out. I paused. Well, maybe she did.

Another buzz rumbled the seat. I shattered my pact. Curiosity led me to her phone. The device danced on the seat. A groan broke from Sam’s lips. She peeked down at the phone.

“I’m going to ignore her,” she said.

“This is the seventh time,” I said.

“Soo-ah will get tired,” Sam said. A smile ripped onto her face. She hoisted the phone off the seat. “That girl posted my photo. Tagged me as well. Now the world knows I’m in America.”

I bit my lip. Samantha Park wasn’t the girl I knew. No sweatpants or t-shirts. The red bumps that littered her skin vanished. I retreated to the window. Samantha’s reflection tempted me.

“Why did you change?” I asked.

“Oh?” Sam asked. She slid her finger through her golden locks. “This is my current look. Company policy.” Sam glanced toward me. “Bad, huh?”

“I didn’t say anything,” I said.

Every odd second, a war erupted within me. Temptation wrestled sanity as my eyes glued to the window. Sams reflection captured my attention. The girl from the poster sat inches from me. A nervous rhythm shook my fingers—splashes of crimson cloaked my cheeks.

Outside, the SUV veered into the mall parking lot. Something tapped my fingers. I glanced beside me. Sam met my eyes. I blinked. The heat on my face remained.

“We’re here,” she said. “I was hoping for lunch.”

“But you don’t eat,” I said. My eyebrow lifted.

Sam rested her back against her seat. She abandoned me and opted for the window. Inch after inch, she leaned closer. She pressed her nose against the glass.

“I eat,” she said.

I peeked. I constrained myself to the seat. Temptations of desire urged me to move. My fingers flirted with the idea. Sam leaned against the window. Her fingers slid across her stomach—no bumps or curves underneath her shirt.

“Ok I eat,” she said. Her voice almost a whisper. “Yesterday, I had an apple and some crackers.”

I lifted an eyebrow.

“And what else?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

My eyes clamped shut. I pursed my lips. I drifted my cheek to the seat. Slow breaths escaped.

“Never mind,” I said.

Outside parted streets transformed into a parking lot. Aisles of cars surrounded us. Rodger whipped the SUV into a parking spot near a towering lamppost. My fingers flirted with the door handle. A series of taps produced a procrastination melody. I peeked to my right. Sam restrained herself in her seat. She glanced at me.

“We’re here,” I said.

“I know,” Sam said.

Sam abandoned my eyes and diverted her attention to her feet. I peeked down and noticed only her gym shoes. I blinked. A refresh to empowered me to click the door handle. Hesitation held my fingers still. My eyes settled on Sam, who refused to move. I abandoned the door handle and stared at the girl beside me.

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