Soft on Soft

by Mina Waheed

One, she was not immune to Selena Clarke’s charm. Fighting the full smile and twinkling brown eyes in a face so sweet had been impossible a year ago and was nearly excruciating that very minute.

If there was another thing besides Selena’s glowing smile that made June’s knees say goodbye, not counting all her social anxieties, it was flirting.

But with Selena, June just found herself opening-up. Like a shy little blossom.

June would crumble at the very shake of Selene’s shoulders. Happily.

As if hearing her laugh, Selena turned to June and began to mouth lyrics at her. June’s heart practically took its annual leave. She leaned against her table and was content to watch.

“There should be fireworks. Why aren’t there any fireworks anywhere? Oh, yeah, they’re in my chest.”

“Selena. You look gorgeous.” The words rolled off her tongue so quickly. Selena’s mouth rounded beautifully, and she smiled wide. Uh-oh, June’s insides warned, we’re under attack.

After nine months of basking in the glow and flirting of one Selena Clarke, June could archive and label every smile that mouth pulled on her.

She was rambling. June never saw Selena ramble. It was kind of surreal.

“A pretty chaos,” June blurted. Holy shit, where did the strength to say that come from?

Something akin to pride bubbled in June’s stomach. She could see how Selena was not just charming, she was genuine, and people gravitated towards her helplessly.