Story Requests

A simple move

The next year of school was a blur for Victoria, and soon the days fell into a pattern. She caught the bus to Riverdale High, got off at two streets away, and walked the next few meters. Lessons were dull. Science and art were the only topics that interested her. The breaks were the very much the same as she and Elliot barely spoke to each other. They were slightly embarrassed about the afternoon as his place, but they carried on to be acquaintances. 

But only one day would be different, and that was the day that was yet to come. And it would change her. For the good or for the worse, she didn't know. 

It was the day of her seventeenth birthday. Victoria was walking home from school with a smile working its way onto her face. She had received gifts from Emmeline and Ashley during lunch break, and they had promised to call her later that afternoon. Her parents both had to work late hours, into the night, but said she could go out with friends to celebrate. She decided on inviting Emmeline and Ashley over, and they could watch a movie and eat the cake she had baked yesterday. 

As she turned the corner of Star Avenue, her boots tapping lightly on the pavement, her thoughts turned to Elliot. She liked him as a friend, but her feelings were buried too deep for her to know if she loved him. 

She sighed, walked through the open gate of her property and opened the door of her house. Once inside, she dumped her backpack on the couch and took out her phone. She sent off a text to both her friends and then set on changing out of her school clothes. 

A few minutes later, Victoria gazed into the mirror inside of her small bedroom. She was wearing one of those short, tan singlets that went just up to her waist and a small, tight black skirt wrapped around her legs. Long, white boots reached up to just under her thighs; a small locket hung from her neck and three, gold, jangly bracelet bands slid up and down her wrists as she moved. 

Wait! One thing was missing. She curled her hair a little and then tied it back in a tight ponytail so it ruffled out slightly. Perfect. She rushed downstairs and took out the cake from the fridge, along with a blue ceramic bowl. Last night she had whipped up vanilla icing, which she now spread over the top of her chocolate cake. Then she sliced up some strawberries and laid the halves on top before sprinkling icing sugar over it all. 

Her phone buzzed. 

She checked it. A text was sent from both her friends. 

Emmeline: My little brother has a soccer match on tonight! I'm so sorry I can't make it. We can try for tomorrow. Happy Birthday!

Ashley: Oh. I'm busy tonight — I'm having family over. Sorry. But thank you for the invite and happy birthday. 

Victoria dropped her hands to her sides and groaned. "Why?" she cried out to no one, and then immediately replied to her friends. Sinking down onto the couch, she unzipped her bag and settled down to concentrate peacefully on her homework. 

A knock on the door started her. She jumped in mild surprise, then strode over to the door to answer it. 

Elliot stood there. He cleared his throat. "Victoria. I heard it was your birthday, and I was wondering— ok, um..." he paused, trying to figure out how to phrase his question. "Do you want to hang out together? I'm having some friends over—and I-I was thinking maybe you'd like to come over, so—"

"Ok." She nodded, interrupting him. 

"Great." 

"When should I come over?" 

"Uh... now if you want to." He smiled awkwardly and tilted his head back. 

She texted her parents about it, and they were off. He'd ridden to hers on his bicycle, so she grabbed hers from her garage and they were off. Soon they arrived at Mulberry street, and they walked inside the door of his house. 

Shouting, running footsteps, the sounds of people chatting loudly, an occasional meow from Biscuit and the crunch of foods filled the air and they approached the living room. About five boys and three girls were all lounging around on the couch, talking and waving their hands at the same time, scrolling down Facebook and Instagram or holding wine bottles so high they almost tipped over backwards. 

"Hey guys. This is Victoria." Elliot introduced her, pointing to each person in turn. 

She nodded along politely, and got along with everyone well. She recognised some of them from school, but ignored that. 

She found out later, after they had left, that they had all told Elliot she was a sweet high schooler, and pretty too. 

Halfway into the night they all sat outside in the porch, fanning themselves and slapping mosquitoes in the heat, their voices overlapping each other. Elliot was sitting next to Victoria, a little behind the others. He was holding a phone in his lap and he was spilling water over his hair to cool down. 

Then he felt her come up behind him. Victoria slid her hands up his back and lifted her arms over his head; she clasped her fingers around his neck. 

He shook his head so the droplets of water flew out every which way, tilted his head back, placed his hands on her waist and back, and made a simple move. He leant forward. 

Their lips connected, and the silence fell over them like a cloud slipping over the moon.