𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔫 / 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

                charlie’s  enthusiasm  for  chatting  up  the  nearest  person  in  line  kept  his  focus  anywhere  but  the  familiar  female  ,  making  their  collision  all  the  more  surprising  .  he  takes  a  beat  to  process  what’s  going  on  before  he  realizes  her  current  state  ,  perhaps  a  little  more  buzzed  than  he  is  but  nonetheless  he’s  catching  up  .  ‘  ride  buddy  ?  i’d  think  you’d  be  the  type  to  dig  going  at  it  alone  ,  but  if  you’re  offering  —  ’  he  grins  ,  motioning  for  her  to  step  on  ahead  of  him  as  their  turn  in  line  comes  up  .  if  anything  ,  it’s  out  of  character  for  them  to  be  so  buddy  -  buddy  given  the  awkwardness  of  where  they’ve  left  things  ,  but  the  effects  of  their  drinks  seem  to  remove  that  hurdle  for  them  .  ‘  thought  i  recognized  that  laugh  ,  ’  he  comments  off  -  handedly  ,  eyes  softening  in  the  slightest  as  he  takes  in  the  sight  of  her  .  ‘  having  a  good  time  so  far  ?  ’

never one to back down from a challenge, summer cocks an eyebrow at sloane. “that guy?”  sloane wasn’t wrong, she could definitely do it. if there were two things that summer knew how to do it would be asking for outlandish things and being overwhelmingly friendly. at this point, it was closer to a trained routine rather than anything. “i’ll be back in a few minutes, hold tight.” she grabbed a beer off the drink table and began her mission. it is a sweet mixture of feigned concern—“i thought you might’ve been thirsty or something. have you been running this ride all night?”— ditzy giggling, and overall sunny demeanor. as expected, he makes an exception “just this once.” she waves sloane over hurriedly, trying and mostly failing to conceal the triumphant look on her face. 

“yeah,” she nods, a devilish grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. as if it were her own personal play, the femme watches as the other uses her magic. before long, sloane is headed towards the other and on the ride. “jesus, how do you even do that ? it’s like a superpower.” 

what charolette didn’t expect being here – at rainbow point, after hours – was that she’d be drunk. and, by goodness, she was pretty drunk. it was so unlike the girl, who rarely drink even a singular drink very often, and maybe she’d let the whole "let loose” mentality get the best of her just a smidge. “sloane!” she calls out to the other girl who she’d spotted on a whim, running up to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. “how are you, girl?! I know I asked you that before, but how are you now?!” the brunette giggles at the question, letting the hand drop and holding the other over her mouth as leans forward slightly due to the laughter, eyes closed. her words are slightly slurred and though charolette isn’t plastered, she’s definitely feelin’ it right now (whether or not she realizes it).

the two usually never had anything in common with each other. yet, both appeared to make the very impulsive decision to drink a little too much for the party. if charolette would have approached her at any other time, sloane would’ve been fairly cold. yet, she’s too enveloped in a state of bliss to care. the femme lets out a laugh, fingertips pushing back her curls. “hey,” she greets absentmindedly, before letting a laugh slip through her lips. “i think we’re both feeling the same. how’d you sneak yours in ?” 

“  i can’t believe i let you guys talk me into this. frank is going to kill me if he finds out and unlike many of you, i actually need this job ! ”

“ eh, it’s alright. ” zeke grunts out mockingly. his teasing antics sure to earn him a slug in the shoulder. he takes another pull from his mug, sighing happily as the caffeine gets to work on his exhausted body. “ i am but a simple man sloane. you can save all that syrup for the teenyboppers. ” with a snap of his fingers, zeke points at the femme, eyes lighting up with excitement. “ do it. ” zeke had no reason to believe sloane would actually label the coffee maker with his name. he wasn’t so sure the morrison’s would be too happy about that addition since they’ve been forced to put up with him for years. his features twist in confusion as his gaze skates over her frame . “ you literally just said you didn’t have time to pour me a coffee and now you want to restock the ––– oh , right . ” straightening his posture, the male downs the remnants in his cup and sets the mug aside. “ i can give you a hand but i’m gonna need another cup afterwards. restocking is far too much manual labor for one cup of coffee. ”

sutton’s eyes instantly squinted at the other, not pleased with sloane’s attitude. “i’m not looking for a free drink, i’m looking for a drink.” she clarified, arms crossed as she leaned against the counter. eyes glancing behind her at the clock sutton let out a small sigh, turning back to sloane. “i didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”

“uh, didn’t say you were,” she said, eyes widening towards figuring that now may not have been a good time. she knows its easy to let things go but she was finding the feeling that kept nagging at her annoying. the annoying part being the grey area she was constantly stuck in with everyone. “i get it. ‘m happy to add to the bullshit” she tested with a faint smile. reaching down on the table she picked up the rings intended for her, taking one and tossing it towards the bottles for it to just clank to the ground. “well i am having fun and figured that maybe since i’m working around kids and other humans, it would probably benefit the park to actually have fun. you could uh…. try it.”  

sloane would’ve been perfectly fine ignoring evie forever. it was something she was remarkably good at doing. yet, they appeared to be still tethered in away she never quite expected. looking at evie made healed wounds still feel fresh. a grimace slowly creeps on her face while the other talks, fingertips clutching her walkie talkie until knuckles grow sore. “if you haven’t noticed,” she begins, motioning behind her to the rest of the park, “this place is falling apart. hell, it’s being run by some mediocre asshole, a twenty something assistant manager, and me. so, i’m sorry i can’t have fun like you, evie. but some of us have responsibilities.” a metallic voice echos through the device, fingertips already pressing to reply. “if you’ll excuse me, i’ve got a job to do.”  

                  ‘  always  working  ,  not  much  of  an  exciting  routine  you’ve  got  then  ?  easier  for  me  to  come  annoy  you  ,  though  .  noted  and  noted  .  ’  he  makes  a  gesture  as  if  to  check  an  invisible  tally  on  his  phone  ,  arching  a  playful  brow  her  direction  .  of  course  ,  the  mere  sight  of  her  is  enough  to  make  the  back  of  charlie’s  neck  burn  with  the  embarrassment  of  just  how  badly  he  fumbled  his  shot  with  her  ,  but  he’s  never  been  one  to  linger  on  the  negatives  ,  and  if  anything  ,  enjoys  the  banter  they  fall  into  now  .  ‘  oh  she’s  got  skills  now  ,  got  it  .    kinda  wild  you  went  from  annoyed  shitless  to  wanting  to  flex  in  like  ,  0.2  seconds  man  .  i’ve  got  whiplash  !  ’  he  shakes  his  head  at  her  ,  laughing  before  he  pivots  to  observe  the  familiar  shop  .  ‘  maybe  i’m  safer  with  the  ice  water  ,  it’d  be  harder  for  you  to  poison  me  if  you  can’t  mask  the  taste  with  anything  ,  ’  he  teases  ,  giving  her  a  mock  -  weary  glance  .  ‘  but  if  you  promise  to  do  me  no  harm  ,  i’ll  take  whatever  you  recommend  that’s  sweet  enough  to  meet  my  daily  sugar  intake  .  would  you  believe  that  i  actually  don’t  have  a  regular  coffee  order  ?  i  literally  just  get  whatever  on  the  menu  looks  good  .  i  think  i’ve  tried  every  single  starbucks  secret  menu  item  at  least  once  .  ’  realizing  that  he’s  rambling  again  (  as  usual  )  and  has  no  set  ideas  for  what  the  rest  of  his  day  looks  like  ,  he  decides  it  won’t  hurt  to  make  a  friendly  inquiry  .  ‘  whats  your  plan  after  you’re  off  ?  ’

“thanks.” charolette nods, trying to smile, but one doesn’t really come out. of course, this is uncomfortable. her and sloane hadn’t talked in years, so running into each other now wasn’t exactly the most fun thing in the world, as much as the girl hated admitting it to herself. “oh, nice!” her voice goes high for a moment before continuing. “how’s the shop?” the idea of the coffee shop is bittersweet for charolette to remember, but it’s the first thing out of her mouth, so it was too late to go back on it now. “not really,” she says next, looking around at the darkening surroundings. “you, uh… you want to do something?” it’s an offer that charolette doesn’t know if she wants sloane to agree to or not. despite the fact that she was partially asking out of politeness, the girl motions behind her with her thumb and turns her head over her shoulder for a moment before asking secondly, “I think cove confections is still open for a little while longer? we could get ice cream? if you wanted to?”

“it’s great,” she says, almost too enthusiastically. it couldn’t be further from the truth, but why would sloane admit her failings to someone who only succeeded ? she offers a silent prayer that the femme doesn’t decide to stop by. “me ?” she question, brow raising before offering an adamant shake of her head. “i mean, i can’t. i just got off work ... and y’know how it is.” sloane sucks in a breath, eyes averting for a moment before looking up at the old friend. “i know being back here makes you nostalgic, but things have changed since we graduated. i’m sure one of your pals isn’t too busy to call up, yeah ?”  

             though   he   and   sloane   hadn’t   been   as   close   as   he   would   have   liked   in   high   school   ,   it   seemed   graduation   was   the   passage   of   time   they   both   needed   to   spark   a   closer   friendship   .   he   kept   in   contact   with   many   of   the   pleasant   bay   inhabitants   ,   but   for   sloane   to   have   reached   out   first   was   something   admittedly   unexpected   (   but   not   at   all   unwelcome   .   )   he   had   wanted   to   greet   her   since   she   landed   in   the   city   ,   but   he   figured   ubering   to   the   airport   ,   then   to   her   hotel   room   ,   and   then   to   the   campus   might   be   a   bit   much   even   in   good   chivalrous   nature   ,   especially   considering   sloane’s   independent   streak   .      so   instead   ,   he   waited   eagerly   by   the   student   union   ,   feet   tapping   on   the   pavement   in   anticipation   .   sure   ,   he   was   missing   a   lecture   or   two   in   order   to   show   his   friend   around   ,   but   in   his   defense   ,   friday   classes   are   a   waste   of   time   and   effort   anyways   .   spotting   the   familiar   head   of   curls   approaching   ,   he   waves   to   the   figure   as   a   beaming   grin   takes   to   his   face   .   ‘   howdy   howdy   ,   ’   he   greets   ,   dimpled   cheeks   stretched   tight   with   his   wide   beam   .   ‘   hope   your   trip   was   okay   ,   how   are   you   feeling   ?   hope   you’re   ready   for   this   weekend   ,   because   i’m   not   gonna   lie   ,   i’ve   been   kinda   homesick   and   you   being   here   has   me   stoked   as   all   hell   .   ’

“ nice ! ” slipping behind the barista bar , zeke pulled a fresh mug , wasting no time in pouring him self a cup. “ well at least i can taste the coffee this way . i’ve seen you pump all that sugar in those cups, i’m surprised you don’t have carpal tunnel and they don’t suffer from diabetes. ” he jokes just before he begins sipping from the steaming mug, making himself comfortable behind the counter, surely standing in sloane’s way. “ i don’t know, are you still gonna be greedy over some coffee that no one even drinks but me ? ” scuffing under his breath, zeke mimics her actions. “ like i could make you do anything . ”

                     charlie   ,   with   a   gold   card   membership   to   starbucks   since   he   was   probably   15   ,   doesn’t   exactly   go   to   small   cafes   like   these   for   the   drinks   —   not   that   he’d   make   his   ulterior   motives   known   to   the   barista   he   knew   would   be   there   .   things   had   been   unspeakably   different   since   the   events   of   sloane’s   visit   ,   and   charlie   knew   he   was   to   blame   ;   but   that   didn’t   keep   him   from   wanting   to   return   to   see   her   in   whatever   measure   he   could   make   work   .   ‘   what   ?   i   didn’t   even   know   you   were   working   ,   ’   he   quips   back   ,   though   the   teasing   brightness   to   his   eyes   gives   a   hint   that   he’s   simply   messing   with   her   .   hazel   hues   taking   to   the   shop   around   him   ,   he   points   to   the   menu   before   meeting   sloane’s   gaze   with   a   lopsided   grin   .   ‘   i   gotta   tell   you   ,   your   mom   and   pop   crank   out   the   best   cup   of   iced   water   in   this   whole   god   -   forsaken   town   ,   i’m   serious   ,   ’   he   tells   her   ,   feigning   a   stern   look   that   many   would   argue   looks   unnatural   on   the   male’s   features   .   ‘   i’m   hooked   ,   and   it’s   your   damn   shop’s   fault   .   you   gotta   hook   me   up   dude   ,   i’ll   take   any   heat   and   all   heat   you’ll   get   for   handing   out   one   large   iced   water   .   ’

nothing like an old friend - would he call her that? - getting a little annoyed by a nickname to spark elliot’s pride. he still had it. that feeling never gets old. “sure i would? just gotta get that boyfriend of yours to distract you long enough,” the young man joked, running his fingers through his hair. “she isn’t wrong, per se. it is kind of shitty and falling the fuck apart,” he shrugged. they all knew this place was getting a little fucking old. “she’s packing, eh?” elliot chuckled. “no worries, frenchy,” he cooed, a tattooed arm slipping around the girl’s shoulders as he pause. “you can come join us. we’ll teach you a few things.”

“boyfriend ?” she questions with a raise of her brow, “first i’m hearing about one. do share your juicy gossip.” the femme nods in agreement, shrug following. “it’s hard to fix up a park that’s going bankrupt. why bother now, right ?” sloane’s disappointed about this sentiment to say the least. with all her hard work and time invested in this place, it felt like everyone was giving up but her. “always.” a laugh falls from her lips, head shaking immediately. “and perpetuate toxic masculinity in pursuit of leather jackets and some prehistoric, gas guzzler ? pass.” by now, she’s cocking her head toward the exit. “by the way, i’m more of a sandy ... pre wardrobe change.”