sunflower

.allie - y e l l o w

 Living in a run down complex in Kirkwood meant visits from the cops for a whole manner of reasons had become normal. She nodded when the officer showed her badge but Allie recognized her from a rooftop escapade anyways. “I was home but I was asleep. I heard the crash of glass below me and it woke me up. It was nearly 4am, a hundred percent. Because I get up at 6 to go for a run. I didn’t see anything, just heard it.”

 Allie hadn’t seen Finn since they almost kissed at the masquerade ball and she spent most of her shifts at the coffee shop wondering if she had done something wrong; or where he was. Her green eyes settled on the familiar frame and widened when she saw Finn enter and reach the counter. “Finn! Where have you been? Are you alright?” Allie gasped slightly. “I’m sorry for scaring you off at the party.”

 “Pip!” Allie waved her hand when she saw the brunette, popping out an earbud and trying to beckon her friend over to her coffee table. “I was just about to text you and ask if you wanted a coffee. The universe knew. It’s fate.” she giggled and pointed to the seat opposite her. “How are you doing? The dance school all good too?”

“Hello there, Mama Edwards-Anderson.” Allie tip toed into the home, baring a gift bag and a congratulations balloon for the first-time mom. Inside the gift bag was a little Batman romper, hopefully BJ would remember their little joke on the rooftop. “How are you feeling? And did you and Danny find a name that worked for the little cutie?”

  “Pretty good? Ric, tamales is my best recipe. It’s the only Cuban dish I can cook good.” she laughed to her friend, her fingers raking through her fading pink hair to get it out of her face. “I bet your mom cooks so much better than me. Think we’ve known each other long enough to introduce me so I get to taste some?” she chuckled, putting down her fork to take a sip of her drink. “How’s the coursework coming along? Submitted anything yet?”

  Working in the coffee shop was stressful just because of how hot it always was and busy but Allie preferred working hard since it made the day go by quicker for her. Plus, she got to meet so many different people and no day was really the same. She was clearing a nearby table, humming along to the coffee shop’s radio that had been on repeat all afternoon and was truly stuck in her head. Just as she leaned up to head to the next table, a small flash of white flew by her head and smacked her lightly on the chin before it fell down into the cup of half finished coffee she was carrying. “Op! I guess you didn’t want that any more!” Allie laughed to the woman and waved her hand as she smiled. “It did but don’t worry, it woke me up. You could start a new trend for the people who need a boost but want to be caffeine free, Creamer Hit or something.” Allie said and then fetched a new cup that wasn’t spoiled by the liquid in the cup the last one fell into. She slid it over in front of the woman and grinned. “Keep hold of this one this time.”

  Allie was here to show support for her roomie Leyla, but the whole vibe of the club had quickly overwhelmed her. Usually the ‘seedier’ places in town pulled her in like a magnet but there was something about the audience in this club that scared Allie a little. She spotted one dancer that finished up on the stage and when they caught eyes, the brunettes expression made Allie’s heart drop. She wandered down closer and smiled softly. “Are you okay? You looked great up there.”

  “I haven’t really celebrated Thanksgiving for a long time, I think I’m a little rusty.” Allie laughed as she looked in her trolley that had an assortment of food but none of it close to the feast that the holiday was supposed to host. “Do you want to spend it together? We could cook something up at mine?”

  “Ohhh, first time for us both. Promise you won’t tell the whole school!?” Allie joked dramatically, tongue in chek as she sped on ahead, pulling Noah with her no doubt. “I keep writing to the landlords but I don’t think they care. Aww, I’m sure they could hire another girl with bad roots and pink hair but I’d miss you too. We could communicate through a ouija board, though.” she giggled. “Where do you live? I never usually see you around unless it’s at the coffee shop.” Allie asked while making their way to the roof stop. “Arizona before here, and Vegas for a little while before Arizona. Nothing fancy in Vegas, I rented a motel for way too long. Have you always lived in Atlanta?”

 “No, I wasn’t born in Cuba. New York City.” Allie answered his question with a brief smile and a shrug of one shoulder. “My parents were born in Cuba, though. And a lot of my family still live there.” she then let out a laugh and nodded. "puedo hablar español. puedes hablarlo? je peux parler français aussi ” Allie giggled as they created their formation together on the dance floor. Thanks to the education her parents forced her to have, Allie had a rather impressive skillset when it came to several languages. Not that she ever needed to use them. She could tell that Finn seemed nervous and if she was asked to tell the truth, it felt as if there was a museum of butterflies within her stomach when his hand carefully wrapped around her waist. She laughed again at how high it was, a sure sign he was trying to be careful and she tutted while reaching to slide it down a little lower against her hips. “This isn’t the baroque dance period, Finn. You don’t have to be such a gent.” Allie slid her hand into his as the other took residence ontop of his shoulder. “Do you need me to lead? I can make it look as if you’re leading.” she whispered and then blushed slightly. “Pretty? Is it because half of my face is hiding behind this mask?” she teased him .

 Allie adored living with Leyla, not only did it mean having a roommate saved her from when lonliness struck in the darker hours of the night - but the other girl was endearing and fun. As she closed the door that separated her from a long shift at the coffee shop, she sighed when she heard Leyla’s voice. “I’m coming!” she called back, throwing her rucksack to the ground and skipping to the couch, bundiling beside her friend and engulfing her into a big hug. “Why don’t you watch something happier if this makes you cry!? I know Ryan Gosling is hot but is that really worth the tears?”

“Oh my god, Nick!” Allie had to divert the momentum she had gathered to haul the trash bag into the bin, spinning around in place with the weight of the bag. “You almost got covered in peach juice!” she laughed, dropping the bag down and coming back closer to the dumpster and offering out her hands for him. “Get out of there and come get some breakfast!”

  Allie’s lips fell into a frown when her new found acquaintance gave a glimpse into a not so picture-esque childhood. “Sounds like you and your brothers should be proud for surviving. Like warriors. Are you close?” she smiled after those words. “You kind of remind me of someone I know already. Do your brothers live here too?” she wondered if the similarity in Finn and Danny, and now the mention of brothers had any connection whatsoever. Maybe men from Atlanta just looked alike? “Oh, I don’t think of you as a cowboy or something to be owned. I just like the song. I think it’s cool your name makes people think of a song that’s about looking out for each other.” Allie offered another smile, still working her legs to carry her through the staircase. “I won’t ask it.” she then said simply when Woody explained it was only his nickname. “Doesn’t matter what it is, anyways. Names our parents give us can’t exactly predict who we become.” she knew exactly what he meant, she avoided telling people her real name as much as she could for reasons that were hard to explain. “I just have one, and it’s really stupid. I was an edgy eighteen year old, okay? I like yours and I like the fact they can be colored in too. Something that’s permanent becomes variable. There’s a philosophy quote in there somewhere, maybe. I’m glad I randomly met you tonight, Woody.”

 “I don’t think it’s ever come up in conversation, Finn.” Allie shrugged and nodded her head with eager agreement at his outburst. “Yes, precisely my reaction too! Then I thought, how come I think it’s weird to eat a shark and not a chicken? Listo, Veggie-Allie was born.” Al ended up giggling to Finn, shaking her head at him with a smile. “Nordic. Explains the eyes. You’re thinking of Columbia, my friend. But, no use asking me. Just the herbal kind of drug is enough for me.” Allie wiggled her fingers when she extended her hand out to Finn. “Why would I be embarrassed to dance with you? No one will even know it’s us anyways.” she smiled, grabbing his hand and dancing awkwardly off-beat on purpose as she led him to the dance floor. “We can do anything and no one will know.”

 Allie laughed through the remainder of a sob that was stuck in her chest, smiling to Lena with a shake of her head. “Thank you, but I’m sure you look beautiful even as a whole ass panda.” she replied, gently taking the wipes and smiling again. “Life saver! No wonder you’re a nurse, always thinking of what can help.” she nudged her shoulder lovingly into her friend’s and made a start on cleaning her eye make up. “Oh, I’m...fine. Never really liked parties like this, you know? Doesn’t matter how pretty the dresses are, or handsome the suits. It’s all a mask, quite literally.” she laughed and ran a hand through her hair. “Nothing a whole bunch of champagne can’t fix!”

  “Did I hit a nerve?” Allie asked, voice coated with concern as her hand reached out to take her friend’s. “I’m sorry, I just thought it would be fun. We don’t have to.” Allie frowned, feeling guilty if she had said something wrong to upset her friend. “Fuck the men, I don’t care about them. Are you okay, Leyla?”