As I spraypainted multiple Cherris throughout the city, I got lost in her features. And when I got lost in her features, I remembered the first time I had ever met her.
Cherri was an angry woman. Where I was quiet and cowardly, she was strong and outspoken.
That was why I was attracted to her; she stood up for herself.
I first encountered her when she was being dragged by security down the white hallway to the surgical room to be sedated.
“Let me the fuck go!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. “You can't just treat me like this!"
I saw flame broiling under her skin. It started out as pale, flickering wisps, but grew to full-blown flames. The security guards were wearing thick gloves to protect their hands, however, so her attempts at escape were fruitless.
As I watched her fight tooth and nail to escape, I decided that I wanted her to be my girlfriend.
At lunch time in the cafeteria the next day, I saw her sitting alone with a palm pressed to her forehead. She had no food on her tray.
I stood up from the table I was sitting at and knelt by Lyle, who was sitting across from me. I whispered to him, “I'll be back."
Lyle nodded.
I approached Cherri with my tray of food and asked her, “Can I sit here?”
She looked up.
There were deep circles under her eyes, her red hair looked stringy and unkempt. She muttered darkly, “Why?”
I shrugged. “I want to be friends.”
She snorted. “Friends? What are those?”
“Friends are people who care about you! People who are there for you—” I began.
“I know what friends are! I was being sarcastic!” Cherri interrupted. “Typical, feeble-minded shell.”
I frowned. “If you don’t want to sit with me, you can just say so.”
I turned away, walking toward Lyle.
“Wait!” Cherri yelled.
Everyone in the cafeteria looked her way, including me.
Cherri tapped her nails on the table, clearing her throat awkwardly. “You can sit with me.”
My face lit up. I sat down across from her.
“You’ve got some guts wanting to be friends with me. You know I’m dangerous, right?” Cherri said with a playful wink.
I smiled sheepishly, unable to stop myself from blushing. “Maybe… Maybe that’s why I want to be friends with you. I admire your passion. The rest of us shells are boring. I feel like you woke me from a boring, unending nightmare.”
Cherri grinned. “Flatterer! You sure do know how to charm a girl!”
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