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The sun was high in the sky. The warmth of Lumiere’s summer pulled its people out onto the streets, shopping and enjoying the weather. Sciel was one of these people. She held a paper bag tightly in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Humming to herself as she walked.
People called out to her as she passed, either a vendor looking to sell her something or someone she knew looking to have a chat. She waved them all off, telling them that she was in a hurry.
Sciel turned into a quieter street, the signs above the doors swaying in the gentle summer breeze. Stopping at a small building with a red door, she peered at herself in the window. She placed her bag on the ground and fiddled with her hair.
It was silly, really. She felt like she was getting ready for a date. Which it wasn't. It just... wasn’t often she had her hair down and with the breeze parts had gotten tangled. That was all.
Of course she only had it down in the first place because a certain someone had told her she looked pretty like that. But that was beside the point.
She smoothed it down as best she could and took a deep breath.
A bell jingled as Sciel pushed open the door, the soft smell of washed cotton hanging in the air.
A voice called from behind a doorway at the back of the room. “I’ll be right with you!”
Sciel quickly put the bouquet behind her back as the person appeared in the doorway.
“Oh! Sciel!” Sophie smiled wide upon seeing her. “I wasn’t expecting you today.”
Sophie was as beautiful as ever, Sciel couldn't help but think. Her hair had started to grow out enough that it touched her shoulders. Sciel knew she hated when it got too long but she couldn't help but admire the way it framed her face, the black making her blue eyes stand out even more. The sun had also brought out the freckles that dotted her face. Similar to Sciel's own.
“Sorry for dropping in unannounced. Accident in the tool shed, one of them caught father on the arm.” Sciel said, giving Sophie an apologetic smile. “He’s okay, but now his favourite shirt has a cut in it. He asked me to bring it here so you could work your magic.”
“What am I going to do with the two of you.” Sophie muttered, shaking her head. “Let’s see the damage then.”
Sciel lifts up her hand to put the bag on the counter between them only to realise the bag wasn’t there.
“O-oh, I think I left it outside.” She turned, this time forgetting about the bouquet in her other hand, still hidden behind her back.
“Flowers? Who are those for?”
Sciel felt her cheeks heating up. “Oh these, these aren’t anything. I mean, they’re for you.” Pointing towards the door, she says, “let me just… go grab the shirt, first.”
Sophie watches her rush outside and giggles to herself, covering her mouth with her hand when Sciel walks back in.
“Sorry.” Sciel said sheepishly, placing both the bag and the flowers on the counter. “Let me try that again?”
Sophie lets herself laugh properly this time and nods. “Go ahead.”
“Ahem.” Sciel clears her throat. “Hi, Sophie. Please fix my father’s shirt and also here are some flowers as a thank you for all the stress we put you through… How was that?”
“Just perfect. Thank you, Sciel.” Sophie grabs the bag off the counter, still laughing. “I’ll take a look at this and grab a vase for those.”
As soon as Sophie was out of the room, Sciel dropped her head on the counter. “Nice job, Sciel. You idiot.”
She sighed. The textiles shop was unusually quiet. Often, Sciel found it difficult to talk to Sophie while she was working as she always seemed occupied by other people.
Not that she blamed them. Everyone loved Sophie. She was soft. Kind. Beautiful. Not the type of person you’d see in Lumiere those days. Gommage after gommage began to harden most people. But not Sophie. Never Sophie.
Sciel’s head shot up as the girl in question walked back into the room.
“It’s quite a hole he managed to make in it. It might take me a little while.” Sophie placed a clear glass vase on the counter as she spoke. “You don’t need to wait up if you’re busy. I can bring it to you tomorrow.”
“I don’t mind waiting. Not like I have anything else to do today.” Sceil eyes a clock perched on one of the walls. “Although, it is almost lunch time. I could go and grab us both something?”
“Oh, you would? That’s so sweet of you.”
“Any requests?”
Sophie tapped her chin a couple times. “I think I'll leave that up to you. I trust you to bring me a good surprise.” She touches the petals of the flowers so carefully, a soft smile on her face. “You always do.”
“Right! Right. I’ll get you something good. I promise.” Sceil said, already backing towards the door. The heat that rushed to her cheeks was something she was desperately trying to ignore.
It didn’t take long for Sciel to pop to the bakery down the road and back. Not because she was rushing or anything. Okay, maybe she was rushing a little.
“I brought sandwiches!” Sciel raised said food in the air as she entered back into the shop.
Sophie was sitting on a chair in the corner. Sciel’s father’s shirt in her lap, needle held delicately between her fingers.
“Oh perfect, bring them over here.” She said, placing the shirt and needle to the side and standing up, arm outstretched to take one of the sandwiches from the other girl.
What about a kiss on the cheek for my troubles?” Sciel leans forward, teasingly tapping her own cheek.
She was expecting Sophie to tell her to stop being silly or push her face away. What she wasn’t expecting was for Sophie to lean in and pressed a hesitant peck to Sciel’s cheek.
“Good enough?” Sophie smirked, crossing her arms. Her red cheeks gave away how embarrassed she was, however.
“I- ahem. I don’t know. I feel like you can do better.”
Sciel hoped she wasn’t pushing her luck.
Not that she had anything to worry about as Sophie put a hand on her cheek. “Very well.” She pulled Sciel’s face closer and their lips brushed.
Taking a leap, Sciel stepped forward, causing their mouths to press against each other’s.
Sophie’s hand came up to brush through Sciel’s hair. Pulling the strands out of their faces, and tucking it behind her ear. Her other hand stayed pressed against Sciel’s cheek, thumb brushing under her eye.
Wrapping her arms around Sophie’s waist, she pulled her even closer.
The sandwiches fell from her hands and dropped to the floor with a quiet thunk.
Sciel pulled back first, looking down. “Shit.”
Sophie followed her gaze down to their lunch and burst into laughter. After a couple seconds, Sceil joined in.
“I’m so sorry.” She said once they had both calmed down. “I can go get us another.”
“No, no. It’s okay.” Sophie began to clean up the mess of what was the sandwiches. “The top isnt taking as long as I thought it was going to. I should be done soon. We can grab something together afterwards…” She looked sheepish, rubbing the back of her neck. “If you want to.”
“Yes.” Sciel breathed out almost as soon as the other finished speaking. “I mean. I would love that, yeah.”
Sophie laughed again and Sciel felt like she could listen to the sound forever.