Chapter 15: The Sun-Kissed Blush

Nattalie approaches me with a grin, asking for permission to adjust my outfit. I tell her she can do whatever she wants if she can help me escape from these embarrassing clothes.

She swiftly retrieves a pair of scissors from her apron, her hands moving with the precision of a seasoned tailor. Without hesitation, she transforms the excessively long baggy pants into mid-thigh shorts.

While observing her work, Seb stands by the side, oozing confidence in her skills. Nattalie's fingers dance as she carefully sews the cut fabric back together, each stitch a testament to her expertise. Although I possess limited knowledge of sewing and fashion, even I can recognize the artistry in her hands.

Moving on to the top, Nattalie turns to Seb, her eyes a question waiting for an answer. Seb meets her gaze, and a silent conversation passes between them. "Are you up for trying a crop top?" he asks, his eyes resting on me. I nod, acknowledging my willingness to step outside my comfort zone.

"Not my usual style, but I'm okay with wearing one."

With a quick motion, Nattalie wields the scissors once again, reshaping the unsightly polka-dotted top into a sleek, sleeveless crop top. Almost instantly, I feel more put together, a sense of newfound confidence settling in.

"We should do away with those socks and wigs," Nattalie muses, her gaze sweeping over me. She focuses on my neck, capturing my pendant with her scissors. "And this too." The pendant falls to the ground in a clean snip of the scissors. Seb's agreement was unspoken, as was my own sense of self-consciousness.

"I'm not going to ask why you're dressed like that," Nattalie says. "Just don't do it again." Seb nods in agreement, and I sigh in shame.

I glance at my mismatched sneakers and then at Seb, who gives me a reassuring nod.

"Take them off and see the magic," he says, walking towards a large cupboard. I take off the sneakers and follow him, Nattalie close behind.

Seb opens the cupboard and Nattalie takes the shoes from me, placing them on the counter. Seb then begins his magic, taking out spray cans and spraying the sneakers with different colors.

I watch him in fascination, but Nattalie drags me away to a vanity. "Makeup holds as much power as your attire," she playfully quips. Trusting their expertise, I allow her to work her magic, my face becoming a canvas for her artistry.

"Oh, you did a fine job with the makeup. Now let me handle her hair," Seb says with a mischievous smile. Nattalie steps aside shaking her head, and I hesitantly nod.

He throws away the wig on my head, and within minutes, he's finished with my hair. I look in the vanity mirror and can't find the words to say. He's braided my hair into seven French braids that end in a small ponytail at the nape of my neck. My bob cut has grown to shoulder length in the past few months, so it was easier for Seb to work with my hair.

In short, the smoky eyes and blonde braids make me look like a badass.

I'm excited as I look at myself, and Seb nods in satisfaction. I'm given back the sneakers, which are now galaxy-themed.

"And for the final touch," Seb says, giving Nattalie a knowing glance. She walks into a storage room, and I awkwardly stand there.

"Is someone bothering you at the colony?" Seb asks, genuinely worried. I shake my head. I can't let him know about the grumpy sloth. What if he gets pissed off and ruins everything for Grandma?

"There's nothing like that going on," I say, hoping my expression is convincing. Seb narrows his eyes at me, but I look away, pretending to marvel at the amazing workshop.

Seb sighs and shakes his head. "It's up to you, but you can talk to me if you're having any trouble. People can be mean, and I know that. And if not me, then you can always trust Ben. He puts people in their places very nicely."

I can't help but chuckle. I agree with Seb that Ben does have a fatherly effect on the other residents of the colony. I still don't know why, though.

"I'll make sure to do that."

Nattalie comes back and makes me wear a black blazer that reaches my hips and a gold thick chain. When I look in the mirror, I officially look like a gangster.

...

"Thank you, thank you," Seb utters with a grin as he retakes his seat. The lunch hour has arrived, and coincidentally, except for Jack, the entire group is present in the cafeteria.

When I walked into the cafeteria alongside Seb earlier, the transformation in my appearance caught everyone off guard. The upgraded outfit seemed to have turned me into a whole new person, earning amazed looks and approving nods from other students.

The atmosphere is abuzz with chatter as they acknowledge Seb's creative handiwork. However, the grumpy Sloth, sulking in the corner of the table, seems irritated by the fact that I'm no longer the subject of his amusement. Unfortunately for him, there's nothing he can do about it, since Seb willingly took it upon himself to rescue me from the clutches of that hideous outfit.

To provide an explanation for what happened in the morning, I've offered the excuse that a friend dared me to wear the eccentric outfit. While some seem to buy into this alibi, others appear skeptical but choose to keep their doubts to themselves. As for the grumpy Sloth, he couldn't resist snickering mockingly at my feeble excuse, but I decide it's best to brush off his contemptuous reaction.

A sudden commotion breaks the moment, drawing our attention to Nick and Ethan. Nick points out, "You're drooling, Ethan," causing Ethan's eyes to widen in horror as he discreetly kicks Nick under the table. This unexpected interaction brings a smirk to Seb's lips, as if he's privy to some inside joke between the two.

Nick's chuckling merrily, Seb joining in, while Ethan hides his face from my view. Before the scene can escalate any further, Evelyn steps in, standing behind Nick's chair.

"Hello, everyone. Mind if I join you guys today?" Her question seems a mere formality, but her eyes are fixated on Nick, radiating sweetness. Nick, on the other hand, does a swift 180-degree turn in attitude. Amusement transforms into a sour expression within seconds. It's as though Evelyn's obliviousness to his lack of interest is either a trait she's unaware of or one she chooses to ignore.

I can tell that Seb and Ollie are amused by the situation between the two.

Suddenly, the grumpy sloth stands up from his chair and without saying a word, walks away from the table. Surprisingly, no one, not even Ben, urges him to settle down like usual. Evelyn clenches her fist and slams it onto the table, displaying a strength that she seems to be cultivating in the gym behind Nick. "Could he have just announced that I'm a nuisance in this setting any louder?" she mutters through gritted teeth before storming off in the opposite direction of the grumpy sloth.

"Finally, some peace," says Nick rolling his eyes.

The rest of the group at the table appear rather unfazed by this abrupt exit, as if they are accustomed to such a scenario. Observing my confusion, Ollie, seated to my left, leans in to explain, "We have a rule among us: never get involved in whatever drama unfolds between the Williams siblings." While I don't entirely grasp the context, I nod along.

I'm certainly not interested in getting caught up in anything related to the grumpy sloth.

"OH MY GOD," the calm is shattered by a loud exclamation behind me, causing both Ollie and I to startle. We turn to find Jack standing there, his expression an exaggerated display of wide eyes and hands covering his mouth. He scrutinizes me from head to toe in a dramatic fashion.

My eyes roll instinctively; it's Jack, after all, and his antics are nothing new to me by now. "I've found my goddess," he declares dramatically, conjuring a red rose out of thin air. His performance leaves me bewildered.

Descending to one knee, he offers me the rose and continues with phony seriousness in his eyes, "Looking at you, I feel like I have a soft spot for bad girls," he says while gazing at me with a mixture of humor and affection. I scoff, other girls might fall for his flirting, but I won't.

I respond with a dry tone, "So, you're presenting your goddess with a knockoff rose that was likely intended for someone else?" My words prompt laughter from Seb and Nick, and Ethan glares at them, signaling them to shut up. Something is surely going on with these three that others are unaware of.

"Could you two just zip it?" Ethan snaps with exasperation, his patience clearly wearing thin. Ollie and I exchange puzzled glances. "And you," Ethan turns his attention to Jack, standing up from his chair to snatch the rose from his hand and unceremoniously toss it aside. "Enough with the flirtatious nonsense; show some decency."

Ethan's stern words quell the laughter, and even Jack pouts as his rose meets an unfortunate fate. Ethan reclaims his seat with frustration etched across his face, and I'm left wondering what prompted his outburst.

Amid the ensuing laughter around the table, Ben, who has been largely silent, checks his gold wristwatch, signaling the impending start of the next lecture. His gaze shifts to Jack, who is sulking over his discarded rose, and he adds, "You all have barely five minutes until the next class begins. Then, Jack, you can go back to your usual pursuits with the ladies." This remark sends the entire table into fits of laughter, except for Jack, who continues to sulk and munch on his sandwich, disgruntled.

Turning my attention to Ethan, I whisper amidst the lingering chatter, "Are you okay?" He clears his throat and meets my gaze hesitantly, nodding slowly. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine." He offers his familiar warm smile, leaving me to ponder whether the faint color on his cheeks is a hint of a blush or he is simply sun-kissed by the heat of summer.