Sweet Like Honey

“It’s not weird at all,” the brunette reassured, “this place somehow grows on you despite all the stress,” she shrugged at the sentiment, knowing it was the truth; regardless of how often she’d rather be elsewhere, Iya knew that this was a place she learned to call home. “No need to make me feel like a grandma now,” laughing airily as she warned, “what are you most excited about this year?”

     “You’re not a grandma, promise” she giggled. “Just a teeny bit older and most likely wiser, you know?” she explained, trying not to giggle some more at her warning. “I think I’m most excited for looking into companies this year to be honest....like, maybe it’s a little early but, I just want to know where I’m going to go when I leave this place, you know? Figuring it out at the last second sounds like an absolute nightmare”

Honey had always been quite the expressive type and it wasn’t odd for Robin to roam around, finding entertainment in her honest opinions and even bubbly personality. “I don’t think I have ever heard you say a bad word, Honey”, he pointed out with a little half smile; he was leaning against the wall next to her with crossed arms. “In my experience, men are better on men and women are better on women”, Robin opinionated; “but that kind of expression is just ridiculous —love you right—? That sounds like a toxic excuse to avoid being responsible for the damage you could have caused and to still look like a good guy. I don’t know what you are reading, but I hope the girl knows better”.

     She laughed gently as he pointed out her bad language, shaking her head. he didn’t choose to use such words very often, and it was almost always a surprise to whoever happened to hear her. She was just so frustrated by everything that had happened at the Valentine’s party, but of course she was going to pretend the true source of this aggravation was the book. “It’s not that bad of a word....and it’s true!” she chuckled, shaking her head. “That makes sense...I think women definitely express themselves differently...you’re probably right” she nodded gently. “Exactly! Like, own up to the fact that you’re just not that great of a guy or change, you know. Oh, I definitely hope that she does too..it would really be unfortunate if she didn’t”

Ellie gave a little giggle as Honey spoke. “Your teeth are important,” she said. “You have a beautiful smile, you should definitely take care of it.” She smiled softly, cheeks growing warm. “Well, I guess that’s true,” she murmured. “I just…I really want to help people. I figure why be able to do something like this if I don’t use it to do good, you know?”

     Honey couldn’t help but smile wider as she looked over at her friend, always touched by any compliment that came her way, big or small. “That’s so sweet, thank you” she nodded gently towards Ellie. “That’s a good way to look at it, and you have to try to keep the right perspective on things. Even if you’re only helping a little, at least you’re able to help, you know?”

Honey blinked gently, trying to determine if the other was being literal or not. “How do you mean?” she asked, feeling herself begin to frown as she tilted her head. She had seen Neith briefly at the Valentine’s party, and she had overheard talk that she was in the rehabilitation program, but she was doing her best not to judge any of those kids until she really knew them - everybody has made a mistake in their lives, after all. “In...a good way..or?”

“That’s such a bullshit line” Honey uttered under her breath, closing the book she had been reading in annoyance before she looked up, realizing suddenly that she wasn’t alone. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize you were there..” she confessed with an apologetic smile. “I just can’t imagine any guy in real life ever saying ‘I wish I could love you right’“ she explained, nodding gently toward the book in her lap. “No offence, but guys aren’t typically that in tune when it comes to girls...at least not from what I’ve seen, anyways”

“Hey, can I ask you a weird question?” Honey asked as she invited herself to sit beside the other, although, she didn’t pause long enough to give them a chance to answer her anyways. “Would you fall in love with me?...Like, theoretically? I’m just trying to make sure there isn’t something just fundamentally unlovable about me that I missed somehow because-” she paused, exhaling a loud sigh. “Never mind, that’s just way too much to be unpacking. Feelings suck, that’s all I can tell you with complete certainty, my friend”

They had found themselves in this position more times than Honey cared to count, her studying interrupted by Sour Patch feeling sorry for himself now that his head was pounding after staying out all night. In fact, she barely looked up as she lifted her hands, allowing him to lay beside her, his head on her lap before slender fingers tangled into his hair the way that she knew he liked. The only thing that felt different now was that Honey suspected he might be interested in her best friend, and as much as that idea crushed her, she didn’t want to be crossing any lines if Ellie happened to like him back. Still, every action felt like second nature right now as she allowed her mind to run away with her train of thought. “Please don’t forget me” she muttered gently, not meaning to actually speak, regret stinging like needles on the tip of her tongue as she realized there was no taking it back. She could only hope that he was too distracted by his own hangover to hear her.