Sora extracted her wallet from her purse, hesitating before applying a bit of lip balm.
When putting the case away, a shiver ran down Sora’s spine as a sense of danger cascaded through her bones.
Slowly turning back to the pair, the air in her lungs froze.
The Korean’s eyes flashed crimson, an intense glare locking Sora in place, yet the pressure collapsed when the blonde put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, muttering something in their odd language that made the shorter girl’s brow furrow and take a second look at her.
A few more words passed between them before the Korean grunted and walked around the corner, leaving the blonde to smile and wave at her as if nothing had happened.
Releasing an uneven stream of air, Sora blinked a few times while rubbing her dry throat.
No one else seemed to notice the rapid exchange, but Sora wasn’t sure if part of it had been her meds making her see things.
Ever since she’d started taking pills, she did occasionally hear voices and imagine things that weren’t there, but nothing that intense.
It almost felt like… Kari can sometimes give me that feeling.
A shiver ran through her body again as she shook her head and rubbed her temple.
Just chill… Damn.
She did a double-take on the blonde, who noticed her gaze and waved, speaking in very broken, incorrect English.
“Sal-u… citations…” “Yeah… hey,” she muttered, scanning her appearance.
The girl’s beach-golden hair was woven into a soft fishtail braid that fell below her shoulder blades, her glittering, bright-blue irises holding curiosity in everything she examined.
Her brown, leather bandeau bikini seemed to be made of actual animal hide that was stitched together, and around her neck was the most beautiful gold-twined laced necklace she’d ever seen.
Sora traced the twined, aureate threads of the ornament that played around each other in a diamond design of a gem-encrusted eye, some kind of radiant ivory jewel the size of a golf ball with a void-like core, with silver spikes on the top and bottom of the centerpiece connecting it to the golden twine.
She must have come from a phenomenally wealthy family to wear something like that around, and Sora couldn’t help but notice the contrast in her wild-looking attire—including the leather wrap around her feet and shins—to the stunning showpiece.
Shaking her head and discounting her previous experience to one of her somewhat infrequent episodes, Sora returned a weak smile and gesture before returning to her business.
I gotta get off these meds… Sora shot one last look back, leaning to the side a bit to stare down the aisle to confirm if the Korean girl’s eyes were still glowing red, but it just got her a dull look from the raven-haired girl with her slit-contact yellow eyes.
It had been her imagination.
Stupid pills.
Scratching her elbow in agitation, Sora tried to tune out the loud French tourists’ conversation in the back and pulled out her card to access her checking account, which her dad regularly funded for her everyday use.
Hmm… $93,234 available… I’ve been using more than I generally do on Lori’s stupid perfume collection.
I must have bought almost every damn brand in that ridiculous chic store she always has me go to… Well, that ends now!
Extracting $100 in twenty-dollar bills with a huff, she placed them in her purse and glanced over at the clothing section, where the middle school girl was browsing swimsuits.
As she continued to look around, the summer hats nearby caught her interest.
I have a spot for a new hat… after Hannah took my black one last week.
She moved to the area, sliding by the brown-haired girl, and looked between the three available colors; the floppy, tan hat with a big bowknot wrapped around it looked cute and could go with a few outfits.
Taking it off the rack, she jumped as the younger girl touched her back, attempting to scoot by.
“Sorry, but can I…” “Oh, yeah!
No problem.” The teen paused about a meter away, studying the item in her hand before looking Sora up and down.
“Umm… super cute clothes, by the way, but… I think you’d look better with long hair.” Is she trying to compliment or diss me?
“Thanks, uh, I’m going to grow it out again.
That… eh, is a pretty floral pareo.
T-The black with blue and white flowers is nice.
Where did you get it?” She glanced down with a grimace.
“Ugh… I like my pure white one better with this bathing suit, but I got it for sale online.
Thanks for noticing.” “Yeah.” Expecting the conversation to be over, Sora turned away to study the stitching to see if the bow was just wrapped around or sewn into the article when the girl chuckled, scrutinizing her again.
“Lori really did a number on your hair; my sister told me about it on the walk home today.
I heard she has something planned for you tomorrow.” Sora closed her eyes and released the air filling her lungs before turning to the younger girl.
“Figures, and here I thought you were just being awkwardly friendly.
Who’s your sister—Jackie?” “Amanda.
I heard Kari wants you to leave, so, heh, I guess she won’t be coming home with a bunch of clothes anymore.
To be honest, I was always jealous because she’d always hang it over my head… But jokes on her; I sometimes steal her clothes!” Not expecting the snickering girl to make her chuckle, Sora rubbed the back of her neck and shrugged.
“Meh, Amanda’s not that bad, to be honest; she usually lets the others walk all over her.” “Oh…” The girl’s smile fell.
“I thought… Huh.
Anyway, umm… later, rich girl.” Sora watched her return the tank top she was carrying to the rack before leaving with downcast eyes.
Guess she thought her sister was one of the cool kids… Not really how it works with Lori in the mix.