DRIFT.

                there’s always a flurry of nervousness, but it’s dissipated now. there’s comfort in his presence, of familiarity and the sweetness of friendship. at least, she considers them friends - perhaps he believes otherwise, but then why else would he be here ? her tail is idly swishing against the floor, hitting the table legs once in a while. arms tucked in on herself, avoiding the steady chill that encompasses the building as much as she can. madeline prefers the warmth, but she likes it here : with the too - cute decor and companionship and promise of awaiting sweets. 

                         “ oh ! uhm. yes. very much so. with the little gums inside of it - “  

          he’s learned to avoid the eyes of people who walk through that door - those dead-set in believing the old ways of this island would still be the same had a rocket not busted through the laws of the land like a bullet.  but it isn’t nico’s fault - it was never his choice to be brought here - but he does believe a greater power could’ve gotten him out of something . . . more dangerous to invite him here.  he’s not upset about it , and in fact - the amount of friends he’s made in a year is more than he’s had his entire life.  days like today remind him of that.  an index finger reaches to pull the face mask completely off , now , gently placing it upon the booth table.

          he’s spent more time here than he probably should , he has to admit - but the ambiance of the place is nothing short of homely and safe.  it’s always cool , but that’s expected due to the ice cream left in the open all day - customers entering and exiting with little to no breaks in business.  but nico’s claimed a booth here , a small space in the back of the little parlor where there are two windows that the sun hits just right.  he’s gauged the time that it hits that area with a warm light instead of a burning glow , picked the perfect time to escort her there.  it began with a funny little phone call and a long walk.  but he sits across from the girl now , places his phone on the table and slides it to the side.

          he’s not very close at the time , standing to the side a bit with his arms crossed.  nico’s looking at the same things she sees , but for some reason - he always sees things differently.  to him , these colors are so saturated and beautiful - so lively and full.  he falls into thought , begins to think of what it would be like if he were to ever disappear - if any of this were to ever go away.  thought process also piques at the thought of something broken at the lake , something that could change everything he’d gotten used to - everyone he’d gotten to know.  would he be taken from them . . . ?  would they be taken from him . . . ?  he feels near pathetic , like the size of an ant under a telescope that is only a speck on the lens.  maybe the tears began to well there , or maybe beforehand , but they’re slipping down his face now - before he can catch them - and nico finds hands desperately wiping them away to try and play them off as a yawn as he spins to face her.

     indigo loved summer .   she loved every season ,  really .   the cool blues of winter ,  the soft pastels of spring ,  fiery reds of autumn ,  but there was nothing quite like summer .   there was a vibrancy about it that didn’t just come in the colors ,  but in the people ,  their happiness ,  mixed in with an almost serene sense of relaxation .   it was her favourite season ,  but she’d never had a friend quite as spontaneous as she to help celebrate it ,  before nico had arrived .   gunner had only ever tried to suppress her playfully impulsive nature ,  but in the long run ,  he’s only succeeded in bottling her behaviour up .   it was over - flowing now .   nico was all about fun ,  he practically radiated it ,  which is perhaps why indi had taken to him so quickly .

     “ not ALL of it ! ”   there’s a laugh  -  soft ,  but enough to shake her shoulders ,  burned red by the sun ,  sun cream long forgotten .   she throws a loose ,  unstrung balloon in his direction .   it misses ,  of course ,  carried upwards and away from them by the breeze .   she’ll have to blow a new one .   she doesn’t mind .  

     indigo looks to him and ,  despite the cap keeping the sun out of her eyes ,  they still seem to shine with a mischievous glint .  “ you can take maybe …  40% of the credit . ”   she says ,  setting herself down on the side of one of the beach chairs they’d set up .   they remind indigo of the ones around the pool of the golf course ,  back when he’d first arrived .   now there was an actual lagoon in it’s place .   “ you know how it is .   i have to take an extra 10% .   fooooorrrrr …   insurance taxes ? ”   something like that .

          summer is no longer only a season ; summer has become a place , people , a feeling.  summer’s become a way of life and since he was only ten years old he’s wanted summer to last forever.  now , it seems like it does.  sure , there was a time in there where snow covered everything , but the heat of the sun in this unknown space - this unknown time - got rid of it as quickly as it came.  it’s special here , he’s felt it since the first time his feet hit the grass.  it was unfortunate , at first , that pang of instant home sickness riddled him for days , but these new friends made this feel more like a home than california ever did. 

          a laugh in return that would be muffled if that partial face mask wasn’t dangling from right ear.  he’s debated time and time again about just taking it off and discarding it in the heat , but has repeatedly lost track of time to goof off and giggle.  he does , however , flinch a little at the balloon tossed in his direction despite knowing what it will do.

         is this the first time anyone on this island has thanked him like this ?  he’s got a heart of gold , but his sense of humor seems to outweigh that ; and in his boyish charm , as usual , nico decides to make a funny little joke out of it that will ultimately go too far in the long run.  they’re standing after the set-up of all these little beach trinkets and the blowing up of balloons.  he’s pretty sure he almost blacked out halfway through the airing up of his third beach ball - but he got it done.

           hands clap together, a bubbling of giggles pouring out from her throat, seeping with genuine euphoria. a loose hair tucked behind ear, and she watches his extended hand for a moment. a small bloom of warmth in cheeks, the implied gesture being all too new for her. eventually, a small apology is squeaked out once she realizes she’s been staring, and she daintily places her hand in his to be led away.  “ what kinds of smoothies do they have? i hope there is watermelon. “ 

          nico overthinks it immediately , but shrugs it off.  that deep feeling that he’s overstepped is quickly replaced by that bout of excitement he had once before when he feels her hand in the palm of his.  spin sends that little homemade necklace around his neck into a sudden frenzy , though not a bother to him , before it settles in a crooked sort of way upon chest again.  the journey across the city to the smoothie stand begins at the continental hotel.  

              “ oh! i would very much like a smoothie. i like those a lot. “  excitable suddenly, a little wiggle to her posture. her little dress sways with the motions, spinning around her figure like a playful breeze. gaze flickers from mask to face, back and forth again. it’s so strange without - always drawing her to speak to it rather than him.  “ but i have never tried a ‘ veggie burger ‘. could i … try one?  “