Caught in the Riptide

“how much sugar can I have in one latte?” she hummed, leaning against the coffee counter. she was tired after a long week at the beach, but not tired enough to not wear her louboutins. nothing could beat her babies. “as much as I want. it’s treat-yourself-sunday, so that means, caramel ice latte, with whip cream on the top, with caramel on that.” she mused, tapping a nail against the side of the cup, the straw leaving her lips. “how ‘bout you?”

Rae’s ears perked up when the voice seemed to echo over the silence that once allowed her to find peace after a rather long day. Pushing the long red braid from her shoulder, Rae found the source with an arched brow. When nothing else was said and eyes landed on her expectantly, it was safe to assume they were speaking to her. “I tend to lean more towards the bitter and strong in the morning. It’s the only thing that makes me able to get from the hospital back home. Never tried that much sugar in a drink, probably would give a nice buzz to get back into the sheets with.”

“ — this just in, i don’t have a career in boxing. i’m not going to the festival. unless you want me to scare away all the children.”

“Hey, I offered to kiss the boo boo’s, you’re the one that said fuck off. Besides, you act like you didn’t already scare away the children.”

a shoulder collides with another body, a phone falls to the floor. it’s aristotle’s. classic.    “ shit, sorry, ”  he mutters, dipping down to pick it up. an additional crack splits across the touchscreen; the universe is only getting started. ari stands up, half-hearted words forming on his tongue before he registers the face of the human crash course he’d knocked into.   “ —— you alright ? ”

The night at the hospital had been a long and exhausting one, drawing the red head to the nearest source of caffeine. Her eyes had been cast down on her feet, watching each crack while her body moved in complete autopilot. Half asleep and haze dazed, the sudden impact with someone sent an electric shock wave of energy through her veins. “Oh shit”, she gasped, eyes lingering on the phone. She wasn’t sure who was at fault, but she felt terrible. “No no, I’m okay. But I’m sorry, what’s the damage?”

Though she had been working at the hospital for quite some time and even though her father was well known there Annie was still a quiet presence. She’d made few friends but if you asked her she had made just enough to keep her company on those long double shift days. Rae had been one of them, since the start Annie’s dad was instrumental in introducing them to each other. Though embarrassing at first their friendship blossomed and Annie would consider Rae to be one of her best friends. On the rare occasion that the two would be on break at the same time Annie made it a priority to find Rae and catch up with her on life. After saying a quick “Hi” to her dad Annie made her way over to the ER where she was hoping to find Rae between moments of chaos.

To say that this day had become an ordeal would be a large understatement. She had dealt with bleeders, angry patients, stubborn parents, and everything else she was too tired to list. All that mattered was the end of the day was just around the corner, meaning it was finally going to be time to sleep. Rae heard distant footsteps stopping just behind her, assuming that it was just someone else on who was experiencing the fatigue the day was causing. “If Mr. Johnson is asking for me again, tell him that I was called to an emergency or something. The last thing I need is that creep making sexual comments”, she grumbled, eventually picking her head up to see none other than Annie. “Oh! Just pretend I didn’t say that . What brings you to my neck of the woods?”

Ian stood looking at his phone. He had just arrived to the entrance of the enclosure where the summer festival took place. The sumer festivla had officially ended a few days ago but you could still find some concerts and a few rides that still had to be dismantled. He put his phone in his back poket and waited patiently for Rae to arrive.

The majority of the festival was cleared out by now, but in true Rae fashion all she cared about the the food stands that remained standing. Her feet carried her over the asphalt, until finally that dark tuff of hair was signifying that he was there waiting already. “Sorry, I doubled back for sunscreen this time. Maybe we get the last of the snack and hit the beach?”, she asked, hopeful that this could remain a true day out for them. Hiding things was still a challenge.

wesley: that's why u wear clothes

wesley: babe i am the definition of a bum breakfast burritos are not going to change that

rae: I was in clothes!!

wesley: u need to tan ur camera strap

wesley: lmfao

wesley: don't be a bum!!!!!!!

rae: but the sun is so harsh on the rest of my skin! Maybe I'll cut a strap sized hole in a blanket.

rae: I'LL BE A BUM IF I WANT TO BE A BUM!

rae: wanna be a bum with me?

fin: does ur scalp blend into ur hair now

fin: do u like a human torch / firework

rae: i'm sunburnt, not radioactive!

Arthur: I'm not tbh but I didn't go there every day. have you got some advil at home? my brother always says that eating eggs helps w a hangover

wesley: babe u need to learn some proper sunscreen application techniques and carry a few bottles of water perhaps

wesley: mayb take a nap somewhere idk

rae: i have a camera strap tan line now, it is not attractive.