Chapter 39: Waiting for You in the Snow
Leonard pressed his lips against Sharon for a while, his eyes darkening.
He brushed her cheek and ear with his knuckles and said in a hoarse voice, "Go to bed."
Sharon immediately got up and left the dining area.
Sharon entered her room, closed the door, and immediately leaned her back against the door and tilted her head back. She placed a hand over her pounding heart.
She could still taste the lingering bitterness of the nicotine. It was bewitching, and it tempted her, just like he did to her. Sharon shut her eyes close and tried to stop herself from thinking any further.
It was a Saturday, so Sharon did not need to wake up early.
On most weekends, Kelley would just let Sharon sleep in and replenish her energy, just as she'd been told to do so.
Sharon had configured her phone to turn on automatically at ten in the morning.
Soon after her phone started up, Melanie called.
Sharon ignored the first two calls and pretended to not hear them by covering her head with her blanket.
She had planned to sleep until noon, so nothing could wake her up before that.
While Sharon tried to stand her ground, Melanie was much more persistent.
Unable to pretend any longer, she yanked the blanket down and sat up. She ran a frustrated hand through her hair and glared at the phone on top of the bedside table.
Sharon controlled the urge to swear by taking in a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She reached out to grab her phone, glanced at the screen, and picked up. She said through clenched teeth, "It'd better be something serious, or else..."
"What? It's already over ten. Don't tell me you're still in bed? Geez, I sure envy you!" Melanie's voice chirped loudly. Shaon could hear the sounds of a noisy crowd behind her.
Sharon collapsed onto her bed, her jaw tight. She glared at the ceiling, her eyes full of resentment. "You envy me for being woken up by someone spamming me with calls after finally getting a day to sleep in?"
Melanie grinned. "It would be a pity to waste so much time on sleeping."
"I beg to differ." Sharon retorted.
"Oh, stop whining. I'm waiting for you at Eastciti Street. Hurry," Melanie said.
Sharon frowned. "What for?"
"Must I need a reason to ask you out?" Melanie snorted.
"Aren't you working part-time today?" Sharon tousled her hair and sat up with a huff of annoyance.
With just a call, Sharon had lost all of her drowsiness, so she might as well just get up and go out.
Sharon got out of bed and lowered her phone to put it on speaker.
"I have a night shift today, so I can have fun with you right now," Melanie replied.
"Don't drag me into your fun." Sharon retorted as she headed into the bathroom.
"Nuh-uh, no can do. You're my best friend. Anyway, the more the merrier." Melanie grinned cheekily.
Sharon rolled her eyes.
She placed her phone on the countertop beside the sink, retrieved a cup and electric toothbrush from the shelf, and began brushing her teeth.
"Sharon, guess who I saw when I was shopping?"
Since she was gargling, Sharon merely responded with a gurgle.
But Melanie knew Sharon well enough to guess what she had said. "It was Simon. He was walking with a chick and holding her bags. What a gentleman." Sharon replied with more gurgling.
"No, she's not from our school. But from the looks of things, I'd say that they're quite close to each other," Melanie said.
Sharon spit out the remaining water in her mouth and said, "Maybe it's his girlfriend."
Melanie clicked her tongue. "I don't know, but she sure is good-looking. Of course, not as much as you."
"Why, thank you." Sharon grinned.
"Humph." Melanie snorted with a smile. "Well, my eyes are never wrong. On a side note, didn't you feel anything different when I told you he was hanging out with another girl?" "Why should I? They should be the ones who have feelings, right?" Sharon squeezed out some facial cleanser onto her hands and started washing her face.
"Aw, we're friends, so you needn't hold back. Just tell me if you feel uncomfortable." Melanie cooed.
Sharon ignored her. She turned on the tap and washed off the cleanser. Grabbing a towel to pat her face dry, she headed out of the bathroom and to her closet with her phone in hand. "Are you crying?"
Hearing silence from Sharon's end of the phone, Melanie's voice was expectant and eager.
Sharon said nothing, exasperated.
She couldn't decide whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to have a bestie who acted cold to others but was bubbly when with her.
"Why would I cry? Simon and I are just friends. Even if he found a girlfriend or if he got married, it would still have nothing to do with me."
Sharon placed her phone down beside her and took out a white chiffon skirt and an indigo off-shoulder sweater before grabbing a black down jacket that reached her ankles.
"F*ck, Sharon. You've got to be the most fickle person I know when it comes to love."
Sharon humphed and said, "I'll take it as a compliment. Send me your location and I'll be there soon."
"Oh, right!"
Melanie hung up the phone and immediately sent the location to Sharon.
Kelley was dusting the living room when she saw Sharon, all dressed up, descending the stairs. Surprised, she asked, "Are you going somewhere, Miss?"
Sharon nodded. "Melanie asked me to go shopping with her."
"I see..." Kelley watched as Sharon walked past her. She suddenly thought of something and asked, "Miss, does Sir know?"
"Nope." Sharon stood by the entryway and put on her shoes.
Kelley pursed her lips but said nothing.
Sharon finished changing her shoes and put on her down jacket. Grabbing her handbag, she turned to Kelley and said, "I won't be back for lunch, so you can just prepare food for yourself. I'll be off." "Ask Nick Collins to drive you there." Kelley called.
"I know." Sharon's voice came from the other side of the door.
Kelley lowered the duster, walked over to the phone in the living room, and dialed a number. "Sir..."
At Star Square in Eastciti Street.
By the time Sharon arrived, Melanie had curled up into a bundle to keep herself warm.
Seeing Sharon from afar, Melanie shivered and dashed towards her, lunging into her arms.
Sharon had braced herself when she saw Melanie heading her way, so she only took two steps back to steady herself from the impact.
"Any later and I'd be a popsicle." Melanie's teeth clattered.
Sharon felt amused, but was also sorry at the same time. She reached out to rub Melanie's back. "Are you an idiot? The shopping centre is right in front. Why didn't you just wait inside?"
"I'd look stupid waiting in there alone." Melanie wrapped herself around Sharon and nuzzled up against her.
"But it's fine to wait alone outside?" Sharon stifled a laugh.
"Isn't there a song named Waiting for You in the Snow? Aren't you touched I suffered so much just for you?"
Sharon stayed quiet for a while. "I should probably get you some fish oil for that brain of yours."
Just as Sharon finished her words, Melanie untangled herself from Sharon and turned around, walking ahead without looking back.
Sharon stared at Melanie's stiff back with a chuckle.
Shaking her head resignedly, she trotted forward and hooked an arm around Melanie's neck.
Melanie looked at Sharon coldly.
Sharon smiled apologetically. "Alright, alright. I won't get you fish oil. I'll find something else." Melanie said nothing aloud. "D*mn it! What's the difference? Ugh!" she scowled to herself.
It astonished Sharon to be dragged by Melanie into Star Square's shopping mall. "Are pigs flying today?" Sharon exclaimed. "We're in a mall. No pigs here," Melanie said while giving Sharon a fake smile before dragging her into a store selling women's clothing. Sharon raised an eyebrow.
A lady greeted them enthusiastically as soon as they entered. "Hello there, pretty ladies. What clothes would you like?"
"It's fine. We'll look around ourselves." Melanie chimed in obnoxiously.
The lady bit her tongue. She gave them a curt nod and left.
After the lady was gone, Sharon turned to Melanie and said, "Did anything catch your eye? I can give you some suggestions."
Melanie did not answer her. Instead, she pulled Sharon along.
Sharon was confused but said nothing and just accompanied Melanie to look around.
Eventually, Melanie stopped in front of a short dress that was in a beautiful shade of coral red.
Sharon scanned at the dress.
It had an elegant design that was very suitable for young teenagers their age. The sleeves were made of lace, and the dress could be worn in winter. "What do you think of this dress?" Melanie asked Sharon, staring at the dress.
Sharon nodded. "I think it's beautiful."
Melanie's lips curled upward into a smile. "I think so too."
Melanie turned to the lady and called out. "Please bring us two of this dress in extra small. We would like to try it on."
"Right away, miss." The lady hurriedly fetched the two dresses as requested and handed them to Melanie.
Melanie accepted them and pushed one into Sharon's arms. "Let's try them on."¶¶¶¶¶¶¶