Felixfalck
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Self improvement, chapter 6
🕑 Added 2023-07-07 22:05:16 +0000 UTCPrevious chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/self-improvement-85391056?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Standing outside in the scorching sun, Rachael felt relieved that she'd gravitated towards wearing her newer clothes. Her usual attire of sweats and turtlenecks, even her usual T-shirts would've been too hot. Hopefully Rebecca didn't have any physically taxing activities planned for the day. All Rachael knew was from the text instructing her to meet at the park.
Aside from how good the sporadic breeze felt on her skin, she still found it uncomfortable to be wearing such "little" clothing. In truth, there wasn't anything remotely wrong about her outfit. In fact, most of the girls walking around outside that day wore similar shorts. Her top, though being a lighter fabric than what she was used to, exposed pretty much exactly the same skin that she otherwise would show in her usual attire. To finish off the look, Rachael had opted to let her hair hang loose.
For one reason or another, Rebecca was late. She'd been the one to decide when and where, yet managed to not be there in time. Rachael had in the meantime found a secluded bench near the entrance. Far enough away to avoid the prying eyes of single men, but close enough to spot Rebecca when she arrives.
It never occurred to Rachael how fun "people watching" could be. Hanging around somewhere, watching people as they went on with their day, just trying to imagine what they're like and so on. Every now and then her studious, but struggling gaze met someone else's. She remained oblivious to the fact that most of those who returned her curious eyes were boys. Actually, most of those she found interesting were of the opposite gender..
"Haiiya!"
Rachael whole body jerked from the sudden greeting.
"H-how did you do that? I've been watching the entrance for.. a long time!"
Her voice was still shaky from the initial shock.
"I came in the other way? It's got more than one entrance you know, I had to pick up some stuff before getting here"
Rachael's pulse settled and she could properly survey her friend. Over her shoulder was a basket which seemed chalked full of different things. Lining the top there was what seemed to be a checkered blanket. Rebecca's other, free arm, motioned for the pair to get a move-on, making their way deeper into the park.
"..You wanted to go on a picnic? Why all the secrecy? You could've just said: Were going on a picnic.."
"Meh. What's the fun in that? I like to surprise people."
After walking for a few minutes, a large lake revealed itself behind the trees. It was surrounded by planes of grass. A great number of people had already scattered around the area, plopping down their things wherever space was available. Rachael and Rebecca did exactly the same, settling on a spot between two other groups. One of which was three guys with a boombox and what was presumably poorly disguised beers.
Packing out of her basket, Rachael was impressed by the elaborate list of items that Rebecca had managed to get in there. Sandwiches, juice, pillows, sunblock, and towels, just incase either one of them decided to go for a swim.
Withing less than an hour of their arrival it had become quite windy. Not really an issue as Rebecca had stones to keep the blanket in place. Rachael's hair on the other hand wasn't as tied down as the blanket though. Not having brought a scrunchie or hairband to tie it up, she was left helpless as the wind ravaged her hair into a total mess.
"Hold on, I've got an idea!"
Looking confused at her friend, Rachael simply nodded her head and watched curiously as Rebecca went around the field, picking up any and all of the healthy flowers she could find. She came back to their spot with a whole bouquet worth of flowers. She then sat down cross-legged and began braiding them.
"Here!"
Still not sure what the flowers were for, Rachael just looked quizzically at her.
"They're to tie your hair with, duh! Sometimes you're just so ..stupid! ha-ha"
Surely those are way to flimsy to sufficiently tie my hair in place..
Despite being sceptical to the strength of Rebecca's creation, Rachael still went along with it and put her hair up in a ponytail, letting the braided flowers wrap around it to keep it in place. Surprisingly, it held.
"See? Looks great by the way!"
Sure enough, the flowers held. Albeit Rachael made sure to avoid rapid head movements that could untangle the makeshift scrunchie.
"Hey! I don't mean to be too forward or anything -but my friends and I were about to play this game and could use a couple extra heads.. You girls down?"
Before Rachael even had the chance to think the words "no chance in hell" Rebecca had already accepted. If looks could kill..
"Cool! Were right over there. If you wanna pack up or something that's fine. We'll wait"
He pointed to a group of guys a few meters away. At a glance they all seemed to be fairly close in age, possibly even students of the same year too. It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand why Rebecca had been so eager to accept the invite. The guy was cute. Probably the token "ambassador" of the group. Well spoken and handsome.
Just after he left, Rebecca went straight into defense.
"Come on! It'll be fun! Besides, he totally had a thing for you!"
Rachael wasn't about to let herself fall victim to her friend's obvious attempt at flattery. Still, she couldn't help but feel a tingle within when she heard it. She never was good at picking up these things. If Rebecca said it, perhaps there was some truth to it. Besides, all girls liked attention ..right? The two got to packing, pretty much deciding then and there that the last thing they did at the park today would be to play a game with some strangers.
"Ay! Glad you could make it! I forgot to tell you earlier, but I'm Mark. This guy right here is Sam, that tall guy is Hugh, and this geek is Fred!"
The "geek" that Mark had gestured to was no geek at all. In fact, they all looked as though they played football rather than chess. Most of all did Fred. He might've not been the tallest of the group, but he was most certainly the best built. He looked like a fitness model.
They didn't have the traditional braided basket that Rebecca had brought, instead they each carried a gym bag. How fitting.. The "geek" pulled out a game from his own, and briefly explained the rules.
"Uh, yea. So the game is like a trivia game. There's some questions on each of them. There's a die and you roll it. Depending on the roll you get a specific question on the card. The answers are on the backside and if you get it right, you'll keep the card and you get one point per card. You two.. Uhm-"
"Rebecca! And this right here is Rachael. But just call her Rache!"
"Right. Rebecca and ..Rache. You're a team. So one of you will read the questions from a card and the other one will have to answer. You switch every turn on who asks and who answers. Get it?"
"Sure! Sounds easy! We'll crush em', right Rache?"
Rebecca was getting riled up. She couldn't wait to get into it, though somewhat competitive, she knew that Rachael would be the one reeling in the points..
