A scoops Of Sunshine
1233 Words
The walk to Scoops & Smiles felt like stepping into a soft, golden afternoon dream. The sun was low but warm, stretching long honey-colored beams across Maple Avenue and turning the pavement into a glowing runway. A gentle breeze floated by, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and someone’s smoky backyard barbecue.
Evan and Bethany walked close, their sneakers squeaking quietly with each step. Their backpacks swung lightly behind them, the weight of the school day fading with every block they put between themselves and the hectic halls of Ridgeview High.
Evan bumped her with his elbow.
“Ready for brain-freeze?”
Bethany snorted. “Only if you promise not to drop yours. I’m not cleaning up after you.”
He gasped dramatically. “So cold. So heartless. So… Bethany.”
She nudged him back, laughing, and the sound fluttered in his chest in a way he couldn’t explain.
The neon sign outside Scoops & Smiles flickered OPEN in bright bubblegum pink. When they stepped inside, the familiar wave of flavors hit them like a sugar-scented hug—fresh waffle cones, melted chocolate, vanilla, strawberry swirl, mango, and something Bethany insisted was definitely “caramelized banana.”
Inside was a pastel explosion—mint-green walls, pink stools, sunshine-yellow counters. Retro posters lined the walls, and a jukebox quietly played a soft nineties pop-rock tune. Bethany tapped her fingers on her side in rhythm, thinking no one noticed. Evan noticed.
“Man,” he said, inhaling deeply. “This smell? Never gets old.”
Bethany pressed a hand to her chest. “Look at all those flavors! It’s like a candy store exploded.”
He grinned. “Want me to pick for you?”
She gave him a teasing side-eye. “And trust your taste? That’s… brave.”
“Oh, my taste is flawless,” he said, leaning in slightly.
She felt the warmth in her cheeks. “Debatable.”
He pointed up at the board: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chip, Rainbow Swirl, Strawberry Cheesecake, Mango Tango, Cookies ‘n Cream.
“Cookie dough,” he said confidently. “It’s like a hug for your taste buds.”
Bethany bit back a smile. “A hug sounds nice. Maybe I need one.”
Evan blinked once—slowly. “Then cookie dough it is.”
They stepped to the counter. Jace, always wearing a backwards cap, flashed Evan a quick nod—one of those effortless guy nods that said “sup” without speaking.
“Two large chocolate chip cookie dough cones,” Evan said before Bethany could open her bag.
She frowned at him. “I could’ve paid.”
“Too slow,” he replied. “Also, illegal to let someone pay for their first cookie dough experience.”
Her cheeks warmed again, traitorously.
They took a table by the window, letting the sunlight paint gold across the tabletop. A stray cat brushed against Bethany’s leg, making her squeak and giggle. She bent down to scratch its ears.
Bethany took her first big lick of the ice cream and her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. This is—wow.”
“Told you,” Evan said smugly. “Taste-bud hug.”
Just then, a drop of ice cream slid down her cone and landed right on her nose.
She froze.
Evan burst into laughter.
“Oh no—you’ve got—”
“If you finish that sentence, I will throw this cone at you,” she warned.
“Okay, okay,” he said, still laughing, “but it’s adorable.”
She flicked a tiny cookie dough crumb at him. It bounced off his chin.
He acted like he’d been shot. “Ow. Betrayal.”
“Drama queen,” she muttered.
They chatted about their day—Harper’s pop quiz (which Evan swore the teacher planned just to ruin his vibe), and the gym class disaster where the volleyball knocked the principal’s mug, sending frothy coffee flying everywhere.
Midway through their laughing fit, the bell over the door jingled loudly.
Ava, Ana, and Jayson walked in, talking loudly about a t****k challenge gone terribly wrong.
Ava spotted Bethany immediately and waved—only at Bethany.
She didn’t even glance at Evan. Not in a hostile way, just… uninterested. Like he wasn’t part of her internal universe.
Bethany waved her over, and soon they all squeezed around the tiny table.
Evan instantly felt awkward. He wasn’t exactly close to the group—except Jayson, who he played volleyball with. But Ana barely looked at him, and Ava… well. Ava never talked to him, never included him, and always kept that polite, tight-lipped distance.
Still, Evan tried not to look uncomfortable as Bethany lit up beside him.
Ava leaned forward. “Beth? Finally escaped the library? We were wondering if you fell asleep in between the shelves.”
Bethany lifted her cone proudly. “Secret mission: cookie dough extraction.”
Jayson wiggled his eyebrows. “Don’t forget the mission to steal Evan’s heart.”
Evan sat up straighter. “My heart is on a diet. No sugar.”
Everyone laughed—except Ava, who simply raised a brow like hmm and turned her attention back to Bethany.
Ana pulled out her phone to show a cat-in-sunglasses meme. Everyone leaned in—except Evan, who stayed seated but watched Bethany laugh. She glowed when she was happy… like sunshine.
After a few minutes, Ana stretched.
“I live close, so I’ll head out.”
Jayson suddenly got energetic. “Ava, I can walk you home. New playlist. You’ll love it.”
Ava hesitated, glanced briefly at Bethany, then nodded.
“Sure. But Beth—text me when you get home, okay?”
Bethany nodded. Ava gave her a tiny squeeze on the shoulder, then left without even glancing Evan’s way.
The shop quieted as the door closed.
Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “I can walk you home.”
Bethany smiled shyly. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
They stepped out into the warm evening. The soft scent of jasmine lingered in the air, the sky glowing amber and pink. Their elbows brushed once—then again—and Bethany felt the flutter.
“Today was… not bad,” she said jokingly.
“Not bad?” Evan scoffed. “I’d go as far as saying it was perfect.”
She laughed, licking the last bit of her cone. “Fine. It was a scoop of something sweet.”
“A scoop?” he asked. “Only one?”
“Okay, maybe two.”
He looked at her with a slow, teasing smile.
“More like scoops of sunshine.”
Bethany’s entire face warmed. “That was smooth.”
“I try,” he said softly.
They talked about weekend plans, English essays, movies they wanted to watch. Everything flowed naturally, easily.
When they reached her porch, the warm porch light was on, glowing like a beacon.
“Thanks for the company, Martins,” Evan said quietly, hands tucked in his pockets.
“Anytime, Van.” She waved, walking up the path.
Evan watched her until she reached the door. His chest felt warm—full. The night air felt lighter somehow.
As he walked home, he replayed every laugh, every glance, every moment.
The stars shimmered above him, and for the first time in a long while…
Evan felt hopeful.
- Writer
