[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180515/b1d69ad51d92fe6918a1adf6c164a485.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180514/6e1780a9d7e14ac995d1919c3a41406e.png[/img]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzss77uZ1mk[/youtube]
[i]'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain, so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
Mmm, I can't help myself[/i][hr][/center]
[indent]Antonella Mossos and Courtney Prescott had developed a tradition that went back to when they’d first met on their freshman year of high school. No matter who was in charge of driving them to school, the girls would make a mandatory visit to the Starbucks conveniently located in Crown Heights Plaza before heading down to King’s Academy, having loud as hell car karaoke sessions along the way. Now that they were both legal drivers without an adult telling them to lower their screeching voices, the tradition was still on and going stronger than ever. This is why, on their first day of senior year, Ella and Courtney found themselves right in the middle of one of their famous carpool karaoke sessions. Iced coffee cups in hand, The Bumblebees were singing their hearts out to the peppy pop songs blaring from the speakers of Ella’s [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/5c/86/215c865a6350924198bee193a50ba6f0.jpg]hot pink convertible beetle[/url] as they drove down the streets of their exclusive gated community on their way to school.

With Britney Spears’ “(Drop Dead) Beautiful” loudly playing in the background, Ella and Courtney made it past the gates and into the academy’s parking lot. Behind the wheel, the brunette’s eyes were searching for an available spot to park her baby, but as fate may have it the ones nearest to the senior buildings were already taken. Unfazed by it and still with her usual cheerful demeanor, Ella made a left turn to continued on her quest for the prime parking spot. It was in this very moment when not only did she find an open spot straight ahead, but her brown eyes also found themselves looking at the figure that was Wade Ashford walking away from his parked bike and making his way to the school building… And looking like he’d just stepped out of an Abercrombie and Fitch poster. 

If life was a cartoon, this would be the moment in which big, beating hearts would be seen coming out of Ella’s eye sockets. It was no secret that the oldest Mossos daughter harbored the absolute biggest crush on her cousin Dante’s best friend: a crush that dated back to at least a year and a half. Back when they'd first met, Wade had been this shy wallflower of a boy, with glasses covering a pair of stunning green eyes, braces and a face full of pimples. He seemed sad and lonely, which prompted Ella to be extra sweet and nice to him. Over the course of time, the girl saw a side of him that not many had before: Wade wasn’t just a complete sweetheart, but a silly guy that made Ella’s stomach hurt with laughter, who kept her entertained and on her toes with his daredevil antiques. Slowly but surely, her feelings for him developed into a crush that only grew with time, which in turn caused her to become shy and a little distant with the fear of rejection and ruining things. Even during this ‘separation’, she’d noticed the positive changes in not only his personality, but his overall appearance as well. Dante had shown him the ropes in the self-care department, which helped Wade look more polished and groomed. Not only that, but with Dante at his side, she saw his confidence slowly build up along with the comfort of being around others. Because of this, Ella had been happy to know in her heart that, one day, Wade would morph into a beautiful swan ready to take the world by storm.  

But that this evolution had happened so soon? That was something that took [i]her[/i] world by storm. 

[color=FF73FC]“Ella, watch out!”[/color]

With a loud “eek!”, Antonella abruptly slammed on the brakes of her car, violently jerking both girls forward but just in time to avoid a collision with the tree planted right in front of the parking spot she’d just occupied.

[color=B3095B]“Shoot!”[/color] Ella cried out, panting with surprise. Her big brown eyes were wide with shock at both her near-fatal collision and the massive glow-up Wade had done in the month she’d been away on vacation (and more so the latter than the former, if she was honest with herself). His signature rimmed glasses were gone, along with the few remaining pimples that had previously covered his strong-jawed, handsome face. As if that wasn’t enough, his previously too-big uniform was now tailored to perfection, giving him the polished look of a catalogue model. And with the tousled hair from taking off his riding helmet? He was nothing short of pure perfection. 

If Ella had liked him before, it was nothing compared to now, judging by the way her hummingbird heart was beating wildly in her chest. 

[color=FF73FC]“What the hell was that?!”[/color] Courtney cried out to her best friend, looking at Ella as if she'd just lost her damn mind. The blonde immediately looked around their surroundings, making sure that no damage was done to the vehicle, their clothes or their belongings, all the while shaking her head disapprovingly. [color=FF73FC]“Oh my God, Ella. At least our Starbucks survived your murder attempt! What the hell were you loo- Oh,”[/color] she trailed off, having found the object of Antonella’s distraction. Her own eyes widened in shock when she realized [i]who[/i] exactly the brunette had been staring at. [color=FF73FC]“Holy shit, is that Wade?!”[/color] she cried out, jaw dropping to the floor in disbelief.

[color=B3095B]“It is.”[/color] Ella breathed out, letting out a deep sigh of admiration as she continued to watch the back of Wade’s figure walking to the academy buildings. [color=B3095B]“The love of my life, looking like an absolute angel blessing this Earth with his divine presence.”[/color]

[color=FF73FC]“I’ll say!”[/color] Courtney agreed, giving Wade an appreciative once-over before turning back to her best friend with a smirk. [color=FF73FC]“So does this mean you’ll finally make a move on him this year?”[/color]

The brunette let out a laugh and shook her head. [color=B3095B]“[i]Noooooooooo[/i], sir,”[/color] Ella retorted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and looking away in the opposite direction from Courtney. As sad and pathetic as it made her feel, there was no way in hell she would be confessing her feelings to Wade anytime soon.

The blonde groaned, taking a sip of her iced coffee. [color=FF73FC]“But why not, Ells? This is our [i]last year[/i] here. Why don’t you just take a leap of faith? You never know if he might be feeling the same way unless you give it a chaaaaaanceeeee![/color] she said in a sing-song voice, poking the brunette’s side in an attempt to make her laugh. The corners of Ella’s mouth turned upward, which meant that she was succeeding in lifting her friend’s spirits.  [color=FF73FC]“Seriously, babe. What’s stopping you?”[/color]

Ella sighed, turning to Courtney with a defeated expression. [color=B3095B]“It’s just..”[/color] she began, letting off another sigh before continuing. [color=B3095B]“I’ve known Wade for three years now. And not just that, but he’s D’s best friend. And I don’t want to make an absolute fool of myself or make things awkward between any of us if I confess and it turns out he doesn’t feel the same way I do.”[/color]


Courtney nodded understandingly, taking another sip of her coffee while she mulled over the things Ella had said. Finally, she put a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder, looking at her with a fiercely determined expression on her face.  [color=FF73FC]“Bumblebee: you’re cute, and beautiful, and smart. Any guy in this school- no, in this [i]planet[/i]- would be lucky to have you. So if you do ever tell Wade how you feel and he doesn’t realize how lucky he is, then it’s his loss and he didn’t deserve you. So stop feeling sorry for yourself, okay? You are a bright ray of sunshine in this sky, not a mopey, pity-party raincloud, so cheer up!”[/color]

There was a long moment of silence in the car as Courtney’s words hung in the air. Suddenly, a grateful, tearful Antonella had nearly jumped out of her seat and wrapped her best friend in a tight hug.

[color=B3095B]“This is why you’re my best friend in the whole wide world, Bumblebee!”[/color] the brunette cried out happily, planting a big kiss on the blonde’s cheek, leaving behind a glossy pink stain.

Courtney grinned, waiting until Ella broke off the hug before taking her tan-skinned hands in her fair ones.  [color=FF73FC]“What do you say we get out of here and go inside now? I’m sure the rest of the squad is waiting for us inside.”[/color]

Ella, who was now back to her normal bubbly self, nodded eagerly. [color=B3095B]“Heck yes!”[/color] she said cheerfully, grabbing her Chanel handbag from the backseat and swinging it over her shoulder before taking her half-full Starbucks cup from the holder and exiting the car. After Courtney followed suit, the two best friends linked their arms together and happily skipped their way into the King’s Academy senior building.[/indent]