The crisp autumn air bit at Pin’s cheeks as she shuffled through the school parking lot, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her breath came out in little puffs of white, and she cursed herself under her breath for forgetting her jacket. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Her fiery red hair whipped around her face, and she scowled, her warm-toned skin flushing slightly as the cold nipped at her freckles.
“Hey, Pin!” a cheerful voice called out behind her, and Pin didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was. Leafy’s bare feet padded against the pavement, her poofy green hair bouncing with every step. Pin rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the tiny, reluctant tug at the corner of her mouth.
“What do you want, Leafy?” Pin snapped, though her tone lacked its usual bite. She kept her gaze forward, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the shiver running down her spine.
“You forgot your jacket again, didn’t you?” Leafy’s voice was sing-songy, and Pin could practically hear the grin in it. She finally turned to face her, and sure enough, Leafy was beaming, her green overalls clashing hilariously with the fall colors around them.
“So what if I did? I’m fine,” Pin huffed, though her body betrayed her with another violent shiver. Her sweat tinged a faint blue, betraying her discomfort.
Leafy tilted her head, her green eyes softening as she took in Pin’s stubborn posture. Without a word, she shrugged off her own jacket—a worn, olive green thing that smelled faintly of lavender and sunshine—and draped it over Pin’s shoulders.
Pin froze, her breath catching in her throat. The warmth of the jacket seeped into her skin almost immediately, and she had to fight the urge to bury her face in the soft fabric. “I don’t need your jacket,” she protested weakly, but even as she said it, her hands were already pulling it tighter around her.
Leafy giggled, the sound light and melodic. “Sure you don’t. You’re just wearing it because… uh… because it looks good on you?”
Pin’s face flushed a deeper shade of green, and she shot Leafy a glare that had absolutely no heat behind it. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, but there was no venom in her words.
Leafy just smiled wider, her bare feet brushing against the cold pavement as she fell into step beside Pin. “You’re welcome,” she said simply, and Pin couldn’t bring herself to argue.
They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. Pin could feel Leafy’s warmth radiating beside her, and she hated how much it comforted her. She hated how Leafy’s kindness always seemed to chip away at her defenses, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
“Why do you always do that?” Pin asked suddenly, her voice softer than she intended.
Leafy blinked, tilting her head again. “Do what?”
“Be so… nice,” Pin said, her brow furrowing. “It’s annoying.”
Leafy laughed, the sound bright and warm like the sun breaking through the clouds. “I don’t know. I guess I just like making people happy.”
Pin snorted, but her heart gave a traitorous little flutter. Stupid Leafy. “Well, you’re ridiculous,” she said, though her tone was fond.
Leafy just grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “And you’re stubborn. Guess that makes us a pretty good pair, huh?”
Pin didn’t respond, but she couldn’t quite suppress the smile tugging at her lips. They reached the school doors, and Leafy held one open for her with an exaggerated bow. “After you,”
Pin rolled her eyes but stepped inside, the warmth of the building washing over her. She could still feel the lingering heat from Leafy’s jacket, and it made her chest feel strangely tight.
“Hey, Pin?” Leafy’s voice was quieter now, almost hesitant.
“What?” Pin turned to face her, her heart skipping a beat at the soft look in Leafy’s eyes.
“You know, if you ever need anything… you can always ask me, right?” Leafy’s gaze was steady, her expression earnest.
Pin swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She wanted to snap, to push Leafy away like she always did. But something stopped her—maybe it was the way Leafy’s eyes seemed to see straight through her, or maybe it was the way her jacket still smelled faintly of lavender.
“I… thanks,” Pin muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leafy’s smile was warm and genuine, and it made Pin’s stomach do a funny little flip. “Anytime,” Leafy said softly, and for a moment, it felt like the world around them had faded away.
Pin opened her mouth to say something—she wasn’t sure what—but before she could, the bell rang, shattering the moment.
“Oops, better get to class!” Leafy chirped, already turning on her heel. “See you later, Pin!”
Pin watched her go, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t know what had just happened, but she knew one thing for sure: Leafy was going to be the death of her.
“Hey, Pin!” Leafy’s voice called out again, and Pin turned to see her standing at the end of the hallway, her poofy green hair bouncing as she waved. “Don’t forget to give me my jacket back later!”
Pin’s face flushed, and she scowled, though her heart wasn’t in it. “Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, her fingers curling tighter around the fabric of the jacket.
As she walked to her first class, Pin couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something small but significant. She didn’t know what it meant yet, but she couldn’t deny the warmth blooming in her chest—a warmth that had nothing to do with the jacket and everything to do with the girl who had lent it to her.
When she slipped into her seat, Pin caught a whiff of lavender again, and her cheeks heated. Stupid Leafy, she thought, but for the first time, the words felt more like an endearment than an insult.
The day dragged on, and Pin found herself glancing at the jacket more than once, her thoughts drifting back to Leafy’s smile, the way her eyes had softened when she’d draped the jacket over her shoulders. Why does she always have to be so… so…
Pin sighed, running a hand through her fiery red hair. She couldn’t figure it out, and it was driving her crazy.
When the final bell rang, Pin grabbed her things and headed for the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t sure why she felt so nervous, but she knew she had to give the jacket back—and maybe, just maybe, say something more.
Leafy was waiting by her locker, her poofy green hair bouncing as she rummaged through her books. She looked up when Pin approached, her smile as bright as ever.
“Hey, Pin!” Leafy chirped, closing her locker with a soft click. “What’s up?”
Pin hesitated, her fingers tightening around the jacket. “Here,” she said, thrusting it toward Leafy. “Your jacket.”
Leafy took it, her fingers brushing against Pin’s for a split second. Pin’s breath hitched, and she quickly pulled her hand back, though the warmth of Leafy’s touch lingered.
“Thanks,” Leafy said softly, her gaze steady. “Did it keep you warm?”
Pin nodded, her throat dry. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Leafy smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’re welcome.”
There was a beat of silence, and Pin felt her heart pounding in her chest. She opened her mouth to say something—anything—but Leafy beat her to it.
“Hey, Pin?” Leafy’s voice was quiet, almost tentative.
“Yeah?” Pin’s voice came out softer than she intended, and she cleared her throat, trying to steady herself.
Leafy hesitated, her fingers fiddling with the strap of her overalls. “I was wondering… maybe… do you want to hang out sometime? Just you and me?”
Pin’s heart skipped a beat, and she stared at Leafy, her mind racing. What does that mean? What does she mean?
Leafy’s cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her feet. “I mean, only if you want to, of course. We could… I don’t know, bake something? Or just… hang out?”
Pin swallowed hard, her chest tight. She didn’t know what to say, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them.
“Yeah,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’d like that.”
Leafy’s face lit up, her smile brighter than the sun. “Really?”
Pin nodded, her own lips curving into a small smile. “Really.”
Leafy’s eyes sparkled with something Pin couldn’t quite place, and she took a step closer, her voice soft.
“Pin…” Leafy’s voice trailed off, and for a moment, it felt like the world around them had faded away.
“Yeah?” Pin’s heart was pounding, her breath catching in her throat.
Leafy hesitated, her gaze flickering over Pin’s face. “I…”
Before she could finish, the sound of footsteps in the hallway broke the moment, and Leafy quickly stepped back, her cheeks flushed.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Pin,” she said quickly, her voice slightly breathless.
Pin nodded, her mind spinning. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
Leafy smiled one last time before turning and walking down the hallway, her poofy green hair bouncing with every step.
Pin watched her go, her heart still racing. She didn’t know what had just happened, but she knew one thing for sure: something had changed.