EYES LIKE THE DESERT.

               Someone pushing a free shot her way the second she saddled up to the bar? Yeah, hello new best friend. Without hesitation Summer’s fingers secured the shot in her grasp and her dark eyes found the brunette she serendipitously happened upon --- I mean really, of all the spots at the bar, the mildly reformed wild child and lost cause found a momentary kindred spirit. Luck was on her side tonight. “Well shit, thanks. I like your style...” The compliment arose from the delight in seeing how swiftly Ivanna tossed back the alcohol, even more so in waiting to see if she’d wince or hiss at the burn. There was almost nothing comparable to seeing someone feel and emote in such a strikingly familiar fashion. Was this comforting or upsetting? Maybe a little bit of both. Summer did hiss a little at the burn once she’d swallowed her own shot in a quick gulp, and part of her was thankful it still had that nearly eye stinging sensation. “So what’re we drinking on tonight?”

               “Best customer?” Manicured brow quirked as the playful little grin teased on her lips. “Best, huh? You certainly know how to work your way to great tips.” It went without saying that Summer would’ve tipped him well regardless. Unless he was an asshole to her or spilled liquor all over her. Because really, who wanted to walk around actually smelling like a bar? “Surprise me. I’m trusting your judgement tonight in full.” As it went, it was generally better for the brunette to not follow her own instincts. They often, more times than not, led her astray. 

               Oh shit. This big ass dude recognized her. Sometimes that was good and often times it was bad. Summer’s dark eyes narrowed and she nearly craned her neck to look up at the tall fella and rake his features in trying to place him. It all came crashing back to her in a matter of moments; the voice, the bod, the way she’d catch him looking at her and vice versa --- fuck, why did her past have a way of colliding with her present and possible future? Thankfully there was nothing bad or dramatic between them, just some history of unspoken lust that never got pounded out. “Dakota... well, wow...” Apparently this wasn’t going to be a moment of eloquence or displaying any growth from the trainwreck she’d been back in the day. Oh fuck, who was she kidding? Summer Hemingway was still very much a disaster. “I know this is a cute little reunion and all but I’ll take a hot poker to your eye if you ever insinuate there was a time I wasn’t hot again.” Hand lifting and slipping under a bed of shiny brunette locks to lightly rub at the back of her neck while she bounced in a manner of making a bit of a u-turn --- “born this way, baby. You’ve gotta deal with it and come buy me a new donut to pad the rear of this figure.” It was only fair right, he not only offered but owed given he’d been the reason hers went to graveyard of glorious uneaten donuts.

               “If I can’t?” Perked up and quickly questioning the opt out given, Summer shook her head. “I know my schedule is shit often times but if you want a buddy to get away with then I’m your gal.” Hopefully your number one gal for that. Since they were kids, one well behaved and the other as wild as they could be, the brunette had the long standing reputation of being the girl that couldn’t be chained down by anything. Of course, now, maturity and responsibilities of adult life had tamed Summer --- mostly. “I’ve got a few days coming up. I’m certainly owed a bit of time with the way I’ve been working.” Pretty much non-stop. Weather, ocean, and ships didn’t always mix well. Thinking over the options, Summer sipped on her coffee; it was something she’d become more dependent on these days, the caffeine kept her going on days where her body dragged with exhaustion. That alone should have worried those in command, a tired rescue swimmer could be disastrous. “So... Vancouver, Washington or Vancouver, Canada? If Washington we could do that and Seattle.” Well, they could actually do both either way. Stuffing it all into a few days? That might be a bit more challenging. “Might need you to charter a plane to maximize time. When are you thinking?”

               As Vanessa set her things down and leveled a catastrophic brow at her, the brunette made a careful approach. A smile tucked into the corners of her mouth as she took the deserved lashing. The last few weeks had been wild and that compelled Summer to be distant, there was just so much to cope with and little sleep to be had as things around the island had gone from missing boat with crew to murder and mystery. For the most part her work was done, the search and rescue was off as the pieces of the boat had made their way to the shores --- along with a body or two. Those facts of course didn’t stop the brunette from getting roped into the intrigue and speculated searching for the bodies still unrecovered. Dark eyes fixed on her friend, a woman she had such a strong connection with, someone she felt one and the same with many times --- “babe, I’m just as capable for getting busy with work.” Truthfully, she could have and should have called. Summer had just been emotionally drained, not to mention physically exhausted from the grueling work schedule. Unlike many others that manned boats and charted waters, she was the one jumping out of helicopters into frigid waters or boarding sinking vessels to pull people free and take to safety. It was brutal on Summer much of the time. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I should have and ---” Her shoulders dropped into a shrug, “I’ve literally just been working and crashing into sleep. Sometimes not even making it home for that.” That didn’t even begin to touch on the emotional turmoil that had been steadily building within, but... they could get to that later. Hopefully with some alcohol involved. “I take it that narrowed gaze and slightly clipped tone means you missed me?” Now that sheepish look transformed into something more hopeful. Vanessa couldn’t really stay mad at her, could she?

               “I’m all good, I promise. You can stop asking me.” Summer flashed a wink his way, unable to resist the playful tease. One look around the bar told the story, it was a slow night and the brunette couldn’t fathom the boredom. Hell, she hardly did well with the idle time she had. When it all became too silent and still, Summer became reckless and destructive. “But uhh, if you happen to have a sundae in your back pocket I wouldn’t say no or turn you away.” When it came to the intake of alcohol she’d had up to that point, she knew it was time to cut herself off. There was a shift to make it to the next day. “Actually --- a milkshake would rock my world right now.”

               Donuts --- yep, they were the bane of Summer’s existence. The brunette couldn’t resist them and some thankful, good samaritan brought a whole big ass box into the station to show love and support for the Coast Guard. Not only did she devour one before leaving, she took one of those heavenly, glutton inducing treats to go. What the fuck was willpower anyway? Summer was on the verge of taking a big fat bite out of the deep fried yumminess when she got roped into a dodge dance with a massive wall of a man. The donut dropped to the ground and she couldn’t pull her dark eyes from the carnage that laid upon the sidewalk. Alright, thanks oh heavenly father, but she actually wanted to add a little cushion to her rear. “Well fuck me ---” The mumble rang of nothing short of disappointment and loss. “Never thought the universe would be that against me having a second donut. What a bitch.” Dark eyes finally lifted to the snickering big male, someone she was sure she recognized but couldn’t quite put a face and a name together. The brunette looked down again, this time focusing on on the stowaway traveler attached to her shoe --- “what the fuck, I didn’t even go into the bathroom. Shit, I better not play the lotto today. I’m likely to end up owing some money at this rate.”

location: toni’s house

               Sometimes --- and this certainly wasn’t common --- Summer was grateful for the end of shift. The love she had for what she did, her job, wasn’t something easily explained. In so many ways it saved her life and gave her purpose, she was able save some lives and put herself on the path of redemption when it came to the one life she couldn’t keep a decade ago. But it was also exhausting, physically draining, and demanded so much of her time that every now and then the brunette was truly thankful for a couple of days off. The north Pacific waters were cold, the currents often unforgiving, and the tasks grueling so getting a break from jumping out of helicopters into the frigid ocean meant days in the sun. Or, really, on the couch vegging out watching trash tv. Summer had just tossed her gear into the back of her suv when she heard a wonderfully familiar voice, one that instantly cast a smile onto her face, and turned to see Justin approaching. “Well, hello, handsome.” Dark eyes traveled from that chiseled face to the bag he was highlighting. And that smile on her face? Yeah, it somehow grew, possibly doubled in size. “I love when you decide to put the sun in my sky.” That wink he’d flirted in her direction was sent right back, emboldened by a longing heart that hadn’t seen her friend in a good chunk of time. “You’re never terrible. You seem to forget that I’m the bearer of that title.” Without invitation or warning, Summer moved into Justin and wrapped her arms around him for an embrace --- something that felt long overdue. When she pulled back after what felt like a long and lingering moment --- “Alright, so, bright and warm, shining sun and a picnic,” the brunette gestured to her suv behind her with her thumb, “should I drive or did you wanna walk somewhere?” He looked good in that it was nice to see him, but a little weary.

               Well --- she didn’t exactly hate that Matt was at her doorstep, or even the reason (or lack thereof) when it came out. Mostly, the brunette was surprised. It was nice to know she was a random thought and that him being nearby promoted interest in a visit. There was a friendship here, underneath everything else that had transpired between the two of them, that Summer had been missing. It was seeing him at the vigil, the first time since he left really, under the guise of alcohol that she realized maybe she was the problem in them not being able to get back to their foundation. She held onto things too tightly, a product of losing everything that came into her life --- specifically: everyone. Had she made herself unapproachable? Unreasonable? It was highly likely. Their breakup of sorts hit her harder than she had expected. Perhaps because she was used as the tool to be able to move on. “Down the way, huh?” Dark eyes were momentarily locked in the direction he’d pointed. “So we might end up as neighbors? Somewhat?” It even surprised her that a little smile danced it’s way onto her expression. That could make repairing a friendship easier, and put them more in the way of spending some time together. “I’m, uhh... glad you did. Hi.” Oohh, it was something new to continue to smile like this in company with Matt. Especially since this was only the second time. “Amazing. I’m glad to hear that. Uhh...” Fingers pressed against the door, pushing it open wider and a bit more inviting --- “Wanna come in? Sit for a drink, or if you’re hungry...” Summer was one hell of a sandwich maker, never to be trusted with actual cooking though. He’d know what the offer entailed. Something easy to make. “I’m okay, just working a lot. Which means I’m running on fumes these last couple of months.” A rise and fall of her shoulders indicated a shrug, a silent brushing off of that particular topic. It’d be boring. Stepping further into her home, trusting he could manage with the door all on his own, she let Matt decide where he wanted to end up --- in the kitchen or chilling on the couch. “Yeah, I did. I was also a little too far gone on the alcohol by then anyway. Were... you there still?” Dark eyes filled with questions, Summer wanting to ask what he thought and felt about it all.

               “Not gonna lie, it’s good to see you under some natural light on you and outside of the hospital walls.” Opening the door up, she gestured for the nurse to enter and Summer followed in behind. Dark eyes immediately went to the menu even though she likely wouldn’t stray from her usual order.