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Slurpees. A sweet, delectable treat. The ultimate treasure of summer.
… for Lucia, at least. Amelia is just her reluctant yet doting chauffeur.
❝ Do we have to get slurpees every single day? I’m gonna lose all my teeth from sugar rot. ❞ Amelia asks while walking out of the 7/11 .
Lucia shrugs. ❝ We don’t need to do anything. ❞ She mumbles around her straw.
❝ And let my amazing, charming girlfriend drink all alone? ❞ Amelia jokes in a fake sympathetic tone.
❝ My hero. ❞ Lucia says, rolling her eyes.
They refuse to get back in Lucia’s car right away, worried the summer heat will bake them into human gingerbread men. Instead, they sit on a bench in the shade. Amelia plays with the hem of her white sundress. She shrieks as sugary condensation drips from her cup and slides down her chest. Lucia cackles, making Amelia pout.
❝ That’s a nice dress. ❞ Lucia compliments her, making Amelia flush pink and this time not from the heat. Lucia is dressed in a similar fashion, little clothing—or as little as her style allows. A baggy Scream graphic tee and black jeans. Amelia feels the denim beneath her palm, and grimaces at how warm Lucia’s knee feels under it.
❝ How can you wear these? They soak up all the heat! ❞
❝ What would you have me wear? ❞ Lucia raises a brow.
❝ Shorts. ❞
❝ Shorts! ❞ Lucia says as if it were blasphemous, tilting her head back with laughter before saying, ❝ No, I don’t think so. If you wanna see my legs, just ask, sweetness. ❞
Amelia lets out an ugh . ❝ As if . ❞
Lucia shrugs.
After a couple moments of silence, Lucia holds out her cup. ❝ Wanna try? ❞ She asks. Lucia has an obsession with mixing flavors—a rainbow seeping into muddy brown stares at Amelia. Despite its less than persuasive appearance, Amelia takes a small sip. She immediately winces and pulls back.
❝ Sweet , ❞ Amelia rasps, licking her lips.
❝ It’s mostly blue raspberry. ❞
❝ I can tell. ❞
Amelia lifts her own cup and holds the straw to Lucia’s lips, inviting her to try. Lucia does, and evidently, Amelia’s is much nicer. Though, what can go wrong with a mix of cherry and coke?
❝ Wanna trade? ❞ Lucia jests.
❝ Drop dead , ❞ Amelia quips back.
Lucia stares at her, wide eyed, until she breaks, boyish laughter echoing through the air as she ducks her face into Amelia’s shoulder. Amelia flinches at Lucia’s cold lips brushing against her neck.
❝ You’re mean , ❞ Lucia says, feigning hurt.
❝ I learned from the best. ❞ Amelia replies with a shrug. Lucia kisses her collarbone, making the other girl shudder.
❝ Yeah, you did. Maybe I shouldn’t have teased you so badly. Maybe you’d be sweeter. ❞
❝ Aww, you don’t think I’m sweet? ❞ Amelia says sarcastically with a pout.
Lucia chuckles before pulling away, giving Amelia a kiss on her button nose. ❝ As sugar. ❞
Amelia notices Lucia’s gaze flicking between her cheeks and her eyes. She knows why, and she can’t help but feel suddenly insecure, though Lucia didn’t say anything. Not that she was expecting Lucia to be mean, or that Lucia hasn’t seen her acne before, but the heat makes her sweat and the sweat makes it flare up more. Red, angry sore patches mar her skin underneath a thin layer of foundation and powder that isn’t doing what Amelia wants it to do.
❝ It’s getting late, ❞ Amelia notes, the sky fading into an orange and pink ombré. ❝ I’m gonna go home. ❞
Lucia sulks, groaning and tilting her head back, and goddamn she shouldn’t be that hot while doing anything . ❝ Sleep over. Pleeaassee ? ❞ Lucia begs with the best puppy dog eyes she could muster.
❝ I can’t. ❞ Amelia mumbles, stabbing at her slurpee, absentmindedly mixing the ice at the top with the flavoring on the bottom.
This time, it was Lucia’s turn to pout. ❝ Why? ❞
❝ Cause’ I’d have to take off my makeup before we go to bed. ❞
Lucia’s expression softens and her lips twitch into a frown. ❝ Well why does that matter? ❞
❝ You know why. It’s… it’s been really bad. My skin. ❞
They fall into an uncomfortable silence.
❝ Can I tell you something? Don’t- don’t take it for what it isn’t , I think you’re gorgeous, but… I’ve noticed it’s been getting worse lately. ❞ Lucia says. She immediately regrets it once she sees the tears well up in Amelia’s eyes.
Amelia feels as if she’s been stabbed in the chest. Her eyes tear up uncontrollably.
❝ I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that— ❞ Lucia doesn’t miss a beat to apologize, her voice high and strung out. Amelia shakes her head.
❝ No, no, I get it. It’s gross. Impossible not to notice. ❞ Her voice cracks with every word, and Lucia can feel her heart breaking.
❝ Hey , ❞ Lucia says, her tone nearly scolding, ❝ That’s not it. It’s not gross. ❞
❝ It is . ❞
❝ It isn’t . Nothing about you is gross, don’t ever say that. ❞ Lucia puts her slurpee next to her and grasps Amelia’s shoulders. Amelia’s eyes are focused on the cemented sidewalk beneath them. ❝ Hey, look at me. ❞ Lucia urges, yet not enough to pressure her.
❝ I’ll cry if I do. ❞ Amelia admits, her voice small.
❝ Lia… you don’t have to hide it from me. I see it, and it doesn’t make you any less pretty. Do you hear me? You’re beautiful, capital B, and if wearing makeup makes it worse then you don’t have to do it just because of me. ❞
❝ It’s not you , it’s everybody. I don’t- ❞ Amelia swallows the lump in her throat and sniffles, infuriated with how emotional she’s getting. ❝ I can’t look at myself when I don’t have it on. ❞
❝ That’s a real shame, sweetheart. ❞ Lucia whispers.
Amelia says nothing, her gaze still avoiding Lucia’s eyes.
❝ I can do it. ❞
❝ What? ❞ Amelia mutters.
❝ If you find it hard to look at yourself, I’ll do it. I fucking love looking at you. ❞ Lucia says with a grin, a grin that told Amelia she was being 100% serious. Amelia glares at her. ❝ Lucia. ❞
❝ I’m being serious! I’ll work for free! ❞ Lucia puts her hands up for dramatic effect. Amelia rolls her eyes. ❝ I bet you would. ❞
❝ Is that sarcasm? Are you being sarcastic with me? ❞
❝ Guilty, ❞ Amelia says with a smile.
There was silence for a little bit, before Lucia twiddles her fingers and says, ❝ Soooo… how about that sleepover? ❞
❝ Are you sure you won’t be grossed out? ❞
❝ I’m positive , babe. ❞
Amelia finds it hard to say no.
Amelia glares at her now makeupless reflection.
She thought that Lucia’s little yet genuine affection was enough to make the entire insecurity melt away. How stupid she was.
The red blotches and pus pockets that decorate her face were supposed to calm down as she got older, like her doctor said . It’s been three years now. If this is calming down, she can’t imagine what it’s like at its worst.
It shouldn’t be a big deal. It wasn’t too itchy, but it stung and it looked twice as unsightly. Amelia knows it isn’t her fault she has it, acne is something that affects many people’s lives at many different ages. She tried changing her diet, exercising, dermaplanning, and she has a whole skincare routine.
Nothing worked.
Tears bead on her lashline and she sniffs them back, blinking rapidly.
❝ Hey, you okay in there? ❞ Lucia knocks on the bathroom door. Amelia jumps, startled yet unsurprised.
❝ I’ll be out in a second, my love! ❞
She turns back to the mirror. The redness was easy to cover, especially with some tips and tricks she learned over the years, but makeup can’t smooth your skin. And acne is textured.
It’s depressing, how her own skin made her miserable.
Finally, she opens the bathroom door, stepping out of it with a huff. She clings onto her fluffy bathrobe. It’s stupid to think Lucia would ever judge her for something as little as her skin, but she couldn’t help but be scared.
Amelia feels presumably Lucia’s arms wrap around her. ❝ You’re so pretty. ❞ She whispers adoringly, ❝ I don’t know how you can’t see that. ❞
For a second, Amelia starts to believe it herself.