Shattered

CHAPTER FIVE

A lot of people looked at them weirdly. A lot of people asked them what they were. A lot of people question if whether they were really friends or something more. But Nina and Lucas would always avoid answering that question, not believing they owed anything to anyone. 

Besides, neither of them truthfully knew what they were. After the kiss the best friends had shared two summers ago, things changed between them. It wasn't a fast, immediate change - no. It was a rather gradual, slow progression that let them take things in and think. 

But both Lucas and Nina knew they weren't just best friends. They knew best friends didn't always hold hands, sneak off to their secret spot to make out and sometimes sneak into each others bed to lay next to each other. They were far from being just best friends, but were definitely still best friends. Their friendship had not been tarnished even with their relationship's progression. They were best friends but with something special.

Glancing down at the soft brunette with a warm smile playing on her pink, full lips, he couldn't help but want to lean down and steal a kiss from her. But people were around them. And maybe that was a little too boyfriend-y of him to do? 

A lot of times, their lack of declaring what they were, it frustrated Lucas. Not to say it didn't frustrate Nina, especially when other girls would try flirt with him; the times she was more than tempted to claim him as her own. But it frustrated Lucas greatly, he too faced the same feeling of envy when he saw boys closer to Nina's age eye her up, even when he heard a few girls talk distastefully about her, making up all sorts of absurd rumours about her - just because she was the only girl who had Lucas' attention. 

Jesus, couldn't people just mind their own business?

Lucas thought to himself, absently clenching his jaw with the thought of the nosy people surrounding him, sticking their nose into things that didn't concern them. The only thought that relaxed him that moment, was that it was summer break and he would go a month or two without seeing them. That would suffice for him.

First in line, the best friends walked towards the glass barrier, behind where various different ice cream flavours awaited to be chosen.

"Hey, what can I get you?" The chirpy blonde that looked to be in her early twenties questioned, smiling as her eyes darted between them.

"Hey, can I get a scoop of cotton candy and bubble gum. And another scoop of cotton candy and chocolate fudge?" Lucas answered, already aware what Nina wanted. She secretly smiled to herself, unable to hold back from gently squeezing his hand in appreciation.

"Sure," The blonde flashed them a toothy smile and went ahead, pulling out a small cup to scoop their choice of ice cream into it. Whilst they waited, Lucas and Nina exchanged glances, both their expression of happiness reflecting on each others faces as if they were looking into a mirror.

"Here you both are," The blonde placed the two cups on top of the glass barrier and went to type up the amount they owed. After Lucas wordlessly paid for the two, Nina giving him a knowing glare, the two were forced to let go of each others hands.

"Can I just say? Y'all are an adorable couple," The blonde told them with a warm smile, making Nina blush and Lucas to chuckle. The two walked outside the shop, Lucas still laughing at Nina's flustered face.

"Stop it," Nina mumbled, digging into her scoops that were melting under the heat of the sun the very second they stepped outside.

"You're adorable, laces." He murmured and licked the back of his own plastic, green spoon. Nina blushed harder at his words, but thankfully this time the red painted on her face could be blamed on the burning sun.