“Ah… she finally returns” Alex says as I walk into the room.

“Yeah” I nod. “After I met Rhian I went for a walk.”

“How’d it go?” Alex asks with a small frown.

“You know, it’s a break-up” I say with a shrug. “It’s not exactly going to go smoothly.”

“Was she angry?”

“No Alex, she was jumping for joy” I reply sarcastically. “I really don’t want to talk about it, I feel like a horrible person.”

“Ok, I get it” Alex says, nodding her head. “FYI, you’re not a horrible person.”

“Thanks.”

“Open up, its Kelley” I hear shouted followed by a bang on the door.

“What’s up?” I ask when I open the door.

“I think I left my room key in here and I don’t think my roomie is back” Kelley says as I move out of the way to let her in.

“Christen’s back, I was just with her and I walked her to your room” I say, slightly confused.

“She isn’t answering when I knock on the door so I need my key” Kelley says. “Where could I have left it?”

“Check the table by the window” I say as I take a quick look around the room. “Hold on, I’ve got it.”

“Thanks Tobs” Kelley says as she grabs the key from me. “Christen must be in the shower or something.”

“Must be.”

“How did it go?” Kelley asks.

“I will tell you tomorrow” I say with a sigh. “Alex and Christen have both asked but I don’t really want to discuss it.”

“That’s cool Tobster, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow” I say with a wave after I walk Kelley to the door.

“Bye KO” Alex shouts from the bathroom.

“G’night.”

~

It has been a hard week and a half of training but I’m glad of that. I like that I could just throw myself into my soccer and try to forget any personal issues I have been having. My intent for this camp is to get my football back on track, I haven’t played since my last game at PSG all those weeks ago so to say I am more than ready to play would be an understatement.

As we are lining up for the national anthems I can feel my blood pumping through my body, even in a friendly this team still treats it like a final. There is nothing like the feeling of playing for your country, especially when you are facing one of the best teams in the world.

“Let’s go and win this” Becky shouts after we have our team huddle.

“Come on” Alex’s scream follows a few other screams from my teammates.

From the very start of the match the competitiveness and drive was showing from both teams. It was constant pressure and fight. That’s what we need though.

“Nice goal by the way Tobster” Kelley tells me as we walk back to the locker room at half time.

“Thanks” I reply. “It was a good ball from Crystal, all I had to do was get it on target.”

“Don’t be so modest” Kelley tells me.

“We are still down two to one though” I say.

“Don’t worry, we will pull it back” Kelley assures me. “There is no way Hope is being scored on again, did you see her face after the second one went in?”

“She looked like she was going to kill you” I say.

“I don’t blame her, I can’t believe I let that forward in behind me” Kelley says angrily. “She was too quick for me.”

“Don’t worry about it, we all know you won’t get caught again.”

“I certainly won’t, let’s go inside and see what the coach has to say” Kelley says, leading the way into the locker room.

“You ladies played ok out there but we need to be tighter this half” Jill tells us. “There were too many loose balls. If you lose the ball, get it back immediately. Quick turnovers are what we are aiming for.”

“Yes coach” We all shout.

“How’s the ankle?” I ask Alex. Alex took a bit of a rough knock just after Japan scored their first goal.

“It’s ok, I’m not playing the second half” Alex tells me. “The trainer has told me to ice it and rest otherwise I will only make it worse.”

“That sucks” I say sadly.

“I know, coach is putting Press on instead which is good” Alex says with a smile. “Did you see those shots she was hitting in training, the girl is certainly ready for this camp?”

“She looks healthy again” I say, momentarily distracted by looking over at Christen who is having an animated conversation with Ali and JJ.

“I was in my junior year of college and we were playing Stanford, I think it must’ve been Press’s senior year” Alex starts. “It was the thirtieth minute and out of nowhere Press hit this booming shot from nothing right into the upper ninety.”

“Yeah I know, I was there” I say proudly. That was one of the few games I got to see Chris play live when she was in college. She played awesome that day.

“You were there?” Alex asks surprised.

“Yeah, some of my high school friends and I travelled up for the game” I say. “Quarter finals, right?”

“Yeah” Alex says. “I can’t believe Stanford won that day.”

“It was a good game to watch actually, both teams were playing really well” I say. The game was pretty good, obviously I was rooting for my girlfriend’s team but as an unbiased spectator it was probably one of the best college games I’ve watched.

“Did I ever play you in college?” Alex asks, looking deep in thought.

“You might have, I don’t really remember” I say with a laugh. I am not really one for remembering these types of things, I only remember playing against my friends if we were friends at the time or if the game had a deep meaning to it. Alex probably would’ve been two years below me in college so our paths never crossed until we were both on the national team. I’ve played that many games over my career that it’s impossible to remember.

Once we are all ready we head back out to the pitch so we can get the second half underway.

“Gather round ladies” Becky shouts to get us all to huddle up. Carli gives her usual speech; reaffirms the game plan with us one last time and then we head back onto the field.

“Let’s go Pressi” Kelley screams as she pats Christen on the back. Christen and Allie are the only subs to come on at half time. “Let’s do this Long.”

“Come on” I say with a nod, doing a quick handshake with Allie before fist pumping Christen.

~

Thankfully we managed to end the game with a tight victory of three to two. It wasn’t by any means our best game but we got the victory in the end. Jill took us to a restaurant so we could have dinner and have a quick debrief of the game and then Jill let us free to make our own plans.

Our own plans turned into Kling and Kelley dragging us all to this bar with the promise that it is more for the dancing than the alcohol. We are still in the middle of a camp so I don’t suppose Dawn or any of our coaches would be pleased if we all turned up to training with a hangover tomorrow.

“Hi” I hear from behind me as I sit at a table with Allie.

“Hey… Rhian” I say, feeling really awkward. I didn’t know she was still in Florida.

“Oh jeez, I think I just saw someone I know” Allie says before quickly departing, leaving me alone with Rhian. With Alex and Kelley’s big mouths, it didn’t take long for word to spread around the team that I had broken up with Rhian.

“Tobin, can we talk?” Rhian asks me.

“Eh… ok” I answer, following Rhian over to a separate table.

“I watched your game today, you played awesome” Rhian tells me.

“Thanks” I say politely. I really don’t know what to say to Rhian. “How are you?” I ask. It’s only been just under two weeks since we split up.

“Ok I guess, you?”

“Yeah, ok” I shrug.

“I am sorry for storming out the other night” Rhian apologises but I wave it off.

“You don’t need to apologise, I get it.”

“I miss you Tobin.”

“I miss you too” I answer honestly.

“Probably not in the same way that I miss you though?” Rhian asks. “Tobin, what happened? We were good.”

“You deserve someone better Rhian” I say with a sigh. “The differences between us is too big now, it started out as fun and light hearted but then things got serious and deep down we both know it would never work.”

“Can’t we work on our differences?” Rhian asks. “I know I am acting pathetic but you are the first woman that’s ever made me feel this way, you are different from my exes. I am not just going to throw away something I think is worth fighting for.”

“I can’t fight for us Rhian” I say. “For the last few months I have been trying to fight but I am too tired, I just want to be me.”

“You can be you and be with me” Rhian says. “I know long distance is hard sometimes but we aren’t always apart.”

“It isn’t the long distance Rhi, I can handle that” I say. “It’s the other aspects of our relationship, we want completely different things. I’m getting older now.”

“You’re twenty six Tobin, it’s hardly old” Rhian tells me. “I know it is hard to have a proper relationship when we are both traveling all the time but that will settle down eventually.”

“I know that but for me that will be a lot sooner than you, our relationship was getting to the point where we had to force ourselves to arrange time together.”

“That’s not true” Rhian disagrees.

“Rhian, I know you didn’t want to be in France a few months ago when you could’ve been at that meeting with your dad” I say. “I also know that when you spent a week with me in LA, you could’ve stayed another week. Your dad didn’t need you back so soon.”

“I just…”

“I am not blameless either, I could’ve flew to New York more, I could’ve spent longer with you after my last national team camp. There are so many times when we both could have made more of an effort” I say.

“Maybe we weren’t as invested as we should’ve been but we still supported each other when it mattered” Rhian says. “We just need to work harder.”

“I don’t think it’s a case of that Rhian, we both know we are not who we were at the beginning of our relationship” I say. “You know what I am saying is true.”

“I… how did I not notice this?” Rhian asks with a sigh, suddenly processing what I am saying. “I used to buy you a gift every month and then I just stopped… why?”

“The same reason that I stopped buying us a plane ticket each month so we could have our monthly date night together… we gave up” I answer. “We didn’t mean it, it just happened.”

“This is really it then, this is how it ends?” I nod my head at Rhian’s question. “How could I be so blinded by this, I should’ve seen this happening?”

“We were both too busy to realise, our lives always ran parallel to one another but they never intertwined” I say. “This doesn’t mean that I didn’t care about you Rhian because I did, I still do.”

“I know” Rhian says. “I guess I was more into the idea of being in love rather than actually being in love with you as a person.”

“When you fall in love with that girl who is the one for you then what you felt for me won’t even enter your mind” I say. “She’s out there, I know she is.”

“How do you know all this stuff about love and being in love?” Rhian asks.

“Experience I guess” I answer with a soft chuckle.

“Your ex, you were a lot more serious about her than you led me to believe” Rhian asks but I know it is more of a statement than a question. “Your relationship with your ex ending was a bigger deal than just her hurting you, right?”

“Yeah” I say quietly.

“Why did you never tell me the whole story?” Rhian asks. “All I know is that you were together for a number of years and then she left you.”

“You were my girlfriend, you were probably the last person who would want to hear about my relationship with my ex” I say, a soft smile on my face. “I wanted to forget about all the hurt and what I lost, talking about it would only bring that back.”

“I would’ve listened you know.”

“I know you would’ve Rhian but being with you should’ve been enough to erase the pain” I say softly.

“That’s why you knew we weren’t working out, you didn’t feel for me what you felt for her.”

“I wasn’t comparing you two, it wasn’t like that at all…”

“I didn’t mean to imply that you were, I just meant that you know what a good healthy relationship should feel like and that wasn’t us” Rhian says.

“I’m sorry” I apologise again.

“Don’t be, I get it now” Rhian says truthfully. “Our relationship fizzled out, truthfully I think it fizzled out a while ago and we’ve been acting like best friends not girlfriends for a while now.”

“Thank you for the times we had, I mean it when I say that. You were there for me at times when no one else was” I say, squeezing Rhian’s hand.

“Ditto, I don’t regret you being in my life even though I am super sad” Rhian says.

“The woman you are going to truly fall in love with is out there. Meet and fight for her Rhian.”

“Yeah” Rhian nods. “I would say the same to you but I think you’ve already met your one true love.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying sorry Tobin, you don’t need to” Rhian says. “I am a big girl, I can handle this.”

“I know you’re strong, that’s what drew me to you.”

“How serious were you with your ex?” Rhian asks.

“Very serious, I had it all worked out how I was going to propose to her” I say. “I only had to buy the ring and pick when to do it. My biggest decision was whether to do it right away with a cheaper ring or whether to wait until I could afford a decent ring” I say with a smile. “That’s how serious it was.”

“At twenty-two you wanted to propose?” Rhian asks, looking a little shocked.

“Yes, I really did.”

“Our differences are really that big, I guess you were right” Rhian says before chuckling softly. “I thought I was in love with you Tobin but jeez if you proposed to me I would’ve ran a mile.”

“I know you would have” I say. “I know this is going to be awkward for a while but just because we are broken up doesn’t mean that you can’t come to me if you need anything. I still care about you.”

“I know” Rhian says with a nod. “It’s probably best we don’t contact one another for a while because even though I understand it now, I am still hurt.”

“I get that” I reply. “Look after yourself Rhian.”

“You too” Rhian replies before giving me a quick hug. I am not going to say it wasn’t awkward but I am glad we have talked again. “I don’t know exactly what your ex done to hurt you but maybe she’s worth a second chance.” And with that Rhian walks off.

~

“Your girlfriend is over there” Kling says to Christen with a laugh.

“It’s not funny Meghan, why did you need to mention I was single?” Christen asks.

“What’s going on?” I ask confused. After Rhian left I had a quick talk with Alex before we went to join the other girls.

“This woman kept staring at Pressi but Press wouldn’t do anything so Kling went up and gave the woman a drink claiming it was from Press” Kelley says laughing. “Now the woman keeps staring over.”

“Why don’t you two worry about your own love lives or lack thereof in someone’s case Kling” Christen says with a bit of a bite.

“Wow, that hurt Press” Kling says, mockingly offended.

“I am really not interested in dating right now” Christen says.

“It’s been a while since you last dated, never mind had a relationship” Kling says.

“Thank you for that Meghan” Chris says annoyed.

“We live together, I know these things and it worries me.”

“Correction we don’t live together anymore.”

“Maybe not anymore since we are on different teams in Sweden now” Kling says. “I still care about you though, you need to date again.”

“I don’t need to do anything” Christen says, gulping down her glass of water in one sip. “I am going back to the hotel.”

“Don’t storm off” Kelley says.

“I’m not storming anywhere, I am just not in the mood for drinking and dancing tonight” Christen says. “I just want to get an early night before training again tomorrow. I was going to leave when JJ and Ali did anyway.”

“Fair enough” Kling says before adding. “You’re a catch though Press, you should get out dating again.”

“Oh definitely” Kelley adds.

“Right Tobin?” Kling says. “She’s a catch?”

“You’re a catch” I say with a cheeky grin causing Christen to grin. I love it when she smiles.

“Have fun” Christen says with a smile before putting her coat on and standing up.

“I will walk with you, I am not really in the mood for drinking tonight” I say, standing up.

“Come on, not you as well” Kelley complains. “Why is everyone leaving so early?”

“Maybe because we have training tomorrow” I answer. “We won the game today but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to train for the next friendly in a few days.”

“It’s just a couple of drinks” Kelley says.

“Yeah, I am just going to have a beer and then drink water for the rest of the night” Kling says.

“Have fun, goodnight” Christen says with a smile to everyone before I follow her out of the door.

“How are you?” I ask Chris as we walk back to the hotel. “I feel like we have barely spoken to one another this past week.”

“I am good Tobin, I’ve just been trying to give you some space” Christen tells me.

“You don’t have to avoid me you know” I reply.

“I know and I wasn’t, I was just giving you space” Christen says. “You played amazing today.”

“Thanks but what about you; a goal and an assist to win the game for us” I say with a smile. “You really are a talented player Chris.”

“Thanks” Christen says with a slight blush.

“Where did you learn to nutmeg like you did to that poor Japanese left back on a number of occasions tonight?” I ask, a small smile on my face.

“Where do you think Tobin?” Christen asks as she hits my arm lightly. “When I was in college I got fed up of my girlfriend megging me when we would have a kick around so I got her to show me some tricks.”

“Your girlfriend must have felt strongly about you to show you the secrets to her tricks” I say with a smile.

“Yeah well, I showed her some tricks of my own in return so she was pretty happy” Christen says with a playful wink making me blush. In return for showing Christen how to nutmeg and fool other players into which way she was going with the ball Christen promised me a lap dance. She definitely didn’t fail on her promise that night, I can assure you.

“I remember” I say with a smile.

“Me too” Christen replies. Both of us slightly caught up in the memories of our past. “Kelley is planning a movie night tomorrow, are you coming?” Christen breaks our silence.

“That depends on the movie, what is it?”

“Apparently it is a surprise” Christen answers. “She thinks if she reveals the title then some of us will bail and say we don’t like it.”

“I guess I will come but if I don’t like it then I will bail, you know me I get twitchy when I’m bored” I say, smiling at Christen’s laughter. “Why is that funny Press?”

“It not really that funny, it just made me think of something funny” Christen says.

“What did it make you think of?” I ask.

“That time we went to that Art museum in North Carolina when I came down to visit you” Christen says. “You were that bored you tried to convince me that the place was haunted and tried to tell me there was no paintings left to see on four occasions.”

“Chris, it was an art gallery” I say. “You know I hate all that stuff. I tried to suck it up for you as much as possible but it was five hours of walking around looking at colors on a page.”

“Colors on a page, that’s harsh Toby.”

“I have a lot of respect for artists and what they do but that was five hours of my day that I will never get back” I say.

“I know exactly how you feel Tobin” Christen says. “Remember that six hour bus trip you took us on so we could attend that soccer camp but you took us on the wrong weekend and the camp wasn’t on until the following week.”

“Planning was never my strong point” I say with a laugh. “We made it a good weekend though, right?” I ask with a wink. “If I remember correctly we barely left the hotel room.”

“I guess it turned out ok in the end.”

“You guess?” I ask with a cheeky smile.

“It was an amazing weekend, every memory we shared together was amazing” Christen responds.

“Even the bad memories like when I threw up in your car” I ask with a frown.

“Maybe not the disgusting ones Toby” Christen says. “You did really make it up to me though.”

“I had to, I had never been more embarrassed and ashamed in my life” I say, laughing nervously.

“Really, what about that time your dad walked in on us having sex?” Christen asks.

“Jeez Chris, I had actually forgot about that” I say. “Why did you have to remind me?”

“Trust me, I would much prefer you throwing up in my car to anyone walking in on us, especially one of our parents” Christen says. “I was mortified Tobin, I couldn’t look your dad in the eye for at least a year.”

“My dad got over it pretty quick” I say, nothing seems to embarrass my dad.

“I didn’t Tobin, I was horrified.”

“It wasn’t that bad, we were pretty well covered and it was dark” I say. “My dad done the same thing to Jeff a few years later, my dad clearly wasn’t able to comprehend that when one of his kids are alone in their bedroom with their girlfriend it doesn’t mean they are playing Uno all the time.”

“Yeah” Christen says with a laugh. As if right on cue we end up outside my hotel room.

“This is me” I say, pointing my thumb at the hotel room.

“Goodnight Tobin, sleep well.”

“Night Chris” I reply, kissing Christen’s cheek. I don’t know where that came from, it was just instinctive.

“Bye” Christen smiles, watching me walk inside.

As soon as I close the door I take a deep breath; what an eventful day. First it was the game and then there was Rhian and now there’s Chris; the woman I will always be connected to.

~

“What are we watching?” I ask as I enter the room with Alex and Allie. We had a pretty easy day today. Some of us done some light training whereas the rest of us done some recovery and now we have the rest of the day off to relax. Alex and Allie have practically forced me to come to ‘movie night’ as Kelley calls it.

“Guess” Kelley yells.

“At least tell us the genre” Allie says. “We could be here all day.”

“It’s Disney” Cheney says.

“I’m out, I am not watching Disney” I say, trying to head out the room but Alex stops me.

“Just stay, you never know you might like it” Alex says. “Nearly every Disney film is a classic.”

“What Disney film is it?” I ask with a sigh. “If it is Snow White then no, I hate that film.”

“Is it Frozen?” Allie asks excitedly.

“Well done” Kelley says with a smile.

“You gots to stay Toby, Frozen is so cool” Alex says.

“Fine but if I get bored by half an hour then I am leaving” I say.

“Fine” Kelley says before instructing us to all get comfortable before she plays the movie.

“FYI Alex, don’t call me Toby” I warn.

“Whatever” Alex waves it off before looking at Kelley. “Did you kick Christen out of the room or was she not interested?”

“She’s supposed to be here but she got held up when she was running errands” Kelley answers.

“Is this it or is anyone else joining?” A-Rod asks. It’s only Kelley, Cheney, A-Rod, Alex, Allie and me that seem to be here.

“No one else was interested” Kelley answers.

“I don’t blame them” I mumble under my breath.

“Stop moaning” Alex warns me.

“Why do I have to sit and watch a stupid movie when everyone else got to decline?” I complain like a child.

“Because you never watch movies with us anymore and you promised you would” Allie says. “We don’t get to hang out as much anymore.”

“I get it, you guys love me and everyone wants to spend time with me” I say with a smug grin. “I guess I will stay.”

“Just watch the movie” Allie instructs. I nod my head and then go and sit next to A-Rod on what I presume to be Christen’s bed. It’s a lot neater than the bed Allie and Alex are occupying so I presume the messy one is Kelley’s.

“Frozen is not really my thing either” Amy whispers to me. “Ryan has watched it more times than I can count so I’ve lost interest in it.”

“Why are you here then?” I whisper back.

“Same reason we are all here, I miss hanging out with you guys” A-Rod says with a shrug. “Me, you, Cheney and Kelley are the longest standing in the movie group. It’s our thing you know.”

“Yeah” I say with a smile. Sometimes life gets so hectic that you forget all the traditions you started. For example Kelley, Ashlyn and I are the surfing group; Alex, Allie, Kriegs and HAO are the group that always get their nails done during camp; there’s the yoga group and various others.

~

“Whose teddy is this?” Alex asks when she picks up the item when she comes out of the bathroom. “Is it yours or Christen’s?”

“Christen’s” Kelley answers. “She’s had it since she was eighteen or something.”

“It’s cute” Alex says. “It’s like that teddy Tobin has.”

“You have a teddy?” Kelley asks before bursting out laughing.

“Jeez, it’s not that funny” I say, slightly offended.

“I remember that time Ryan stole Tobin’s teddy” Cheney says with a smile. “Thankfully he got bored of it and Tobin eventually got it back.”

“It has sentimental value to me” I say. “My sister gave it to me when I was a kid.”

“Where have you been?” Kelley asks when Christen enters the room.

“Sorry, I lost track of the time” Christen apologises. “Did I miss the full movie?”

“You did” Kelley says.

“Oh well, it’s not like I haven’t seen Frozen before” Christen replies. “Are you watching another movie?”

“That was the plan but we all can’t seem to agree” Alex answers. “Kelley, Tobin and A-Rod want something scary and Allie, Lauren and I want something cheerier.”

“Looks like you have the deciding vote Press” Kelley says. “It’s three each so what’s your decision.”

“What scary movie is it?” Christen asks. “I can watch almost every happy movie but there are some scary movies I don’t like.”

“Christen won’t watch any scary movie so we may as well admit defeat” I say, throwing Christen a cheeky smile. Christen likes to think she can watch a movie and not get scared but she can’t, hence the reason she almost broke my hand by squeezing it too tight when we were nineteen and I took her to the movies to see ‘The Last Exorcism’.

“Actually I will” Christen says stubbornly. “Whatever scary movie you have Kelley, put it on.”

“Trying to prove a point Chris?” I ask teasingly.

“Not at all” Christen answers with a smile.

“Alex where did you put Press’s teddy, she may need it if she gets scared” I say, earning a laugh from most of the group.

“You think you are so funny don’t you?” Christen fires back.

“That’s because I am.”

“Play the movie KO” Christen instructs before she joins me on her bed, taking up the place A-Rod was occupying before she went to sit on the floor.

“I can’t wait to see your face when you get a fright” I whisper to Chris.

“I can’t wait to see your face when you realise I am no longer scared by horror movies” Christen whispers back.

“Bring… it… on” I say, tickling Christen in-between each word.

“Tobin stop” Christen squeals causing the others to look at us.

“She’s practicing her screaming for when she gets scared” I say with a smile before taking a pillow to the face. “Thanks for that Chris.”

“You’re welcome” Christen smirks.

“Are you two quite finished?” Alex asks with a raised eyebrow. “Can we get this movie started or do you wish to flirt some more?”

“Sorry, we’re good” Christen apologises before Cheney plays the movie.

“Put the light off Kelley” Allie instructs. “There is no point watching a scary movie in bright light.”

“I am going” Kelley mutters before we all end up in darkness. “Great, now I can’t see my way back to sit down.”

“Ssh” A-Rod and Alex scold at the same time.

I turn to Christen to offer another cheeky remark about her being scared when it suddenly becomes apparent to me how close Christen is sitting next to me, her presence invading all of my senses.

“Are you looking at me?” Christen whispers confused into the darkness. “You are trying to creep me out aren’t you?”

“Not at all” I say, a sly smirk on my face as an idea pops into my head. I know the perfect way to scare Christen. “I heard there are cockroaches in this movie.”

“Are there?” Christen asks, seemingly quite nonchalant. I guess she is either not afraid of them so much anymore or she knows I am lying. Probably the latter.

“You know there is no cockroaches don’t you?” I ask.

“Yes, now be quiet” Christen hisses.

“Sorry.”

The movie doesn’t seem that scary to me, it’s mostly just boring to be honest. It doesn’t help that it is boring because it just makes me talk more. I’ve already been told to shut up on a number of occasions by just about everyone because I keep making silly remarks about how unrealistic the plot is.

“You ok there Chris” I whisper. “Are you scared yet?”

“No, so be quiet” Christen responds.

“You can hold my hand if you want” I offer with a smirk.

“I am fine thank you” Christen answers.

“You sure?”

“Yes” Christen states.

“Can you two shut up?” Amy asks. “We are trying to follow the plot.”

“Sorry mom” I say cheekily, receiving a glare from A-Rod. “Alex pass me Pedro please?”

“What?” Alex asks confused.

“Christen’s teddy; Pedro” I say.

“Right” Alex says before throwing the toy dog at me. “Can you shut up now?”

“Yes Al.”

~

“What are the thoughts on banning Tobin from future movie sessions ladies?” Cheney asks.

“Hey” I object.

“I am thinking it is a good thought” Kelley says, still clearly annoyed that I kept disturbing the movie.

“I agree” Alex adds, Allie and A-Rod nodding.

“I wouldn’t object to that” Christen says as she helps to tidy up the room. “I missed the majority of the movie because she kept whispering in my ear.”

“I did it for your own good Press” I say. “If I hadn’t been distracting you then all of these women would have seen how scared you were and would’ve had to endure all your screaming and hissing.”

“No, no Toby” Christen says as she points at me. “That is so not true.”

“I am just lucky I didn’t get my hand broken this time” I say, earning a slap on the arm from Christen. “My hand wasn’t broken but it may as well have been, you squeezed it way too hard during ‘The Last Exorcism’ and also ‘Reservoir Dogs’ which wasn’t even scary.”

“Do you really wanna go down this road?” Christen challenges and I shrug. “Ok Heath, you make fun of me so I will make fun of you.”

“What ya got Press?” Kelley asks clearly interested.

“Guess what Tobin’s favorite movie is?” Christen asks. Oh shit.

“That’s easy, ‘Bend it Like Beckham’” Alex says, looking smug.

“That’s what she tells people but no, it isn’t” Christen says. “It’s actually ‘The Notebook’.”

“No way, is it?” A-Rod asks.

“Is that why you wouldn’t watch it with me?” Cheney asks.

“You have no idea what you have done here Chris” I warn playfully. “You reveal my secrets so I will reveal yours.”

“I don’t really have any secrets” Christen says. “Not juicy ones anyway.”

“Come on, spill” Allie says.

“I have a secret involving Pressi” Kelley declares. “It’s from college.”

“Tell us” Alex says.

“I once walked in on Christen and her girlfriend having sex but she had no idea it happened” Kelley says.

“Um… no you didn’t” Christen says with a frown.

“How do you know she didn’t Pressi, Kelley said you never found out” Alex asks with a smirk.

“I know she didn’t, there is no way Kelley would walk in and then manage to keep quiet for five years or more” I say.

“Ok so I made that up” Kelley says. “You were pretty boring in college actually, if you weren’t studying or playing soccer you were on the phone to your girlfriend.”

“Just because I was studious and preferred to talk to my girlfriend than attend any of your juvenile college parties doesn’t make me boring” Christen says.

“College parties were so fun though, meeting people, hooking up” Kelley says.

“There are other ways to meet people plus I wasn’t remotely interested in hooking up” Christen says. “Having a girlfriend and being in love is way more fun than hooking up with a different person at each party.”

“I suppose from your point of view that makes sense, I mean you were with your girlfriend since you were like six” Kelley says.

“I wasn’t six” Christen says with a sigh. “I was sixteen.”

“Whatever” Kelley says. “Thank goodness you are not as boring now.”


So many days I spent on the beach in front of my little cabin, my eyes searching the sea for her.

I knew what I had seen, the beautiful naked creature on the beach was not of land. My simple gift had caused her eyes to light in pleasure, her smile was a sight for an old man like me to behold.

Yes, just a foolish and lonely old man, but smitten nonetheless. How could I not be, she knew no shame, she had squatted down before me as I poked and prodded for a trinket in the sand. It wasn't to expose herself, she was simply curious as to what I had found.

When she noticed, realized my eyes fell on her she had apologized and closed her legs slightly, but there was no sense of modesty at all.

The sand had given up a fine Golden chain with a small jade pendent, her eyes had sparkled, I knew she wanted it.

So I simply reacted to the impulse, handed it to her. She had stepped forward, pressed to me. The touch was a flash of fire I had long before forgotten, her kiss was salty, sweet with joy.

Then she turned, ran into the sea, and was gone.

I had used my computer to search for "mermaids". I used every variation I could think of, nothing really fit until I spotted one word I didn't know.

Selkie.

I read page after page of folklore, I read the words of Walter Dennison, who wrote Orkney tales of the Selkie males and their stepping from the sea when women wept, to take them, bring them joy.

Yes, often even an invasion into the sanctity of marriage, just spirits of the sea, no thought to the ways of land bound mankind.

Folklore. Nothing but fantasy, yet I had seen her. She had hugged me, pressed her naked flesh against me, kissed me. There was a magic in that kiss.

I remained an old man, yet I was somehow awakened.

"I will come to here, to see you again." she had said, the worlds escaping her lips with an odd ring, almost like an echo.

Then she had grabbed the wrap, cast it around herself and dashed into the surf.

My first thought was that she had given her life, some kind of pain deep down inside that I did not see?

I ran into the surf, thrashing this way and that, trying to save her to no avail. Then as I sat in shock on the beach, I had seen the imprints from her toes as she had dug into the wet sand to run.

Those were not the marks a human foot would leave, I had seen many of those in the damp sand as I searched the beach.

These were webbed.

So now I walked the beach each day, sometimes even during storms, my eyes casting fruitlessly at the crests of waves. I hoped against hope that she would return. Sometimes I would see a dark spot floating in the surf, my heart would leap. Then I would hear the bark of a Seal, and I would go back to my endless search.

Several years went by, and I felt my body failing me. Each day it was harder and harder to arise, handle my daily chores, then make the short trek to the sand. I had to tred with care in the dry and softer sand above the surf line to keep my balance.

I often took my metal detector, using that to kill the time. I found a trinket now and then, a coin, once a ring with a black stone set in Gold.

Usually my treasure for the day was simply the castoffs of man, I always kept them and disposed of them back at my cabin.

The days grew cold, then warm, then cold again. I made my daily walks, sometimes on warmer days I saw other people. I would watch them closely for some sign, I saw nothing out of the ordinary.

There was one moment of shock, I saw a female figure lying on the beach far away, basking in the sunlight. I saw the long dark hair and excited, I hurried her way, saying a hello as I approached. The woman grabbed her bikini top, pulled it over her bare breasts and scowled at me.

It was not her, I beat a hasty retreat.

One day I got a heavy sound from my metal detecter, it was deep. I reached for my shovel, began the task of digging up the item. About a foot down, I used my probe, felt the tip touch something firm. I flipped it loose, pulled it free.

It was a beautiful Gold chain, a small feminine pendent of Jade hung from it. It was the same trinket I had given to the naked young lady years before. I stood holding it, realizing my first thought must have been correct.

There was no other reason for the gift I handed her to be back in the sand unless it was pulled from her lifeless body by the sea.

For some reason, she had ran, cast her life into the sea. I walked to the edge of the surf, where the last traces of each wave slid up to dampen the sand.

And I, a foolish old man, could not see the signs, could not save her.

A tear formed in my eye, dropped into the sea.

"Hello." The voice was right at my side, it startled me.

I turned, it was her, naked, natural, unashamed. I just stared, I had no voice. Her long dark hair seemed alight, it flowed outward in curls. Her breasts, so perfect for her trim body were as I remembered. The flow of her hips, so slender yet muscular, the untrimmed tuft of dark pubic hair did not hide the pinkness that lay underneath.

I almost could not breathe.

"You found it, I thought you would." Her smile was dazzling.

"I have looked for you for so long." was all I could manage. Then I handed her the necklace, she slipped it on. Again, the flash of Gold against milk chocolate flesh.

"We know no thought of time." she said.

"We waited for you to prove yourself."

I was confused, I didn't understand.

"Prove myself?"

"Yes, I came and buried your gift for you to find again. You cast a tear for me into my world, you called for me."

She held up something, a wrap of some kind. I looked at it closely, it had spots, it looked like...

A Sealskin? A baby Sealskin? I glanced down at her feet, yes, they were webbed.

"Remove your garments, take this. You may join us." Again that smile, that wonderful echo in her voice.

"Please?"

My hands tripped the buttons on my shirt, I cast it to the sand. I struggled with my shoes, my trousers, hesitating at my boxer shorts.

She stood there holding the warp, watching me. Her eyes glanced downward, expecting. I pulled my boxer shorts down and off, realizing as I did that I was erect. It had been a very long time since I was erect.

"Take the wrap." She held it out to me. I reached and touched it, felt something flash over me. I pulled it tight around me, feeling slightly dizzy at the sudden sensation.

"I don't know your name."

"Name? I have no..name?" She turned and ran towards the sea. I didn't hesitate, I ran with her, keeping up easily. I leaped into the breakers, my body bit into the water and I flowed under and through the waves, effortlessly.

Once I stopped and looked back at the shore. The body of an old man, naked, lay on the beach.

That was the moment I knew.

She had given me a gift in return.

We swam together, sliding our bodies against each other in play, in joy. I was young again, strong and free.

Sometimes on a warm midsummer's eve I come ashore, I hide my wrap amongst the rocks. I enter the old cabin, now used by others but often vacant. There is a computer there, I use it to tell my story.

There are many of us, we are all one. We graze on sea and sky, we join in love.

Sometimes one of us chooses. Sometimes we just give the gift of love. The choice of what you receive is always yours.

So come to me when you are in need. Come and weep, cast seven tears into my sea. I or one of my fellows will bring you joy, and perhaps..just perhaps?

If you prove yourself?

A gift of life.


Gotta Take a Bow, Do it Your Way (It’s Okay)

            Keith has rules about dating. Keith, in fact, has rules regarding most aspects of his life. He likes order, organization and structure. He has a collection of color-coded sticky notes lined up on his kitchen counter. He can spend literal hours in office-supply stores. He got excited when highlighters with built in sticky-tabs first came out.

            (Despite how impulsive he is, how prone to reckless, hair-brained, spur-of-the-moment decisions like asking out random strangers who hit him with mailboxes – Keith is a very orderly person. Shiro calls it the great contradiction of his personality. Shiro needs to find someone else to psychoanalyze.)

            But back to Keith’s Rules About Dating, filed under ‘Personal Life’, in subsection ‘Relationships with Other Humans – you know you should have those, right?’. (Keith’s pretty sure the only thing keeping him from the loony bin is the fact that he has never written any of these specialized categories or rules down. They are safely in his head where no one can look at them and say, ‘wow, this guy is completely nuts’.) Rule number one is ‘Don’t Ask Anyone Out Right Before Tech Week’. This rule was amended to ‘Before or Immediately After Tech Week’ after he, in a sleep-deprived haze, flirted with someone already in a relationship and got sent to the ER for his troubles. Shiro wrote the new and improved rule on his cast because Shiro is the best/worst brother ever. Who also happens to work in the ER.

            The follow-up to that rule is ‘If You’re In Rehearsal, Warn Them About Tech Week’. Because Tech Week is not normal. Tech Week is a hellish time not comprehensible by mortal minds. Tech Week is the reason Keith started drinking black coffee. Tech Week is the source of his caffeine addiction and the reason most of his relationships crash and burn.

            One month into his (impulse, impulse, impulsive) relationship with his klutzy neighbor, Keith forgets to explain Tech Week.

…

            Day 1

            “What were you saying?” Keith interjects when he realizes that Lance has been speaking for the past three minutes and Keith has failed to comprehend a single word.

            “You all there, babe?” Lance furrows his brows at him and looks two seconds away from actually checking his forehead for a temperature. Keith hasn’t been the focal point of so much nurturing energy since he lived with his brother. It’s…not bad…it’s nice, actually. Really, really nice.

            “Sorry, thinking about work.”

            “Yeah?”

            “We’re a week away from opening night.”

            “Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, a tiny bit more excited?”

            “I’m a stage manager. I had my emotions surgically removed upon graduation.”

            “Now I know that’s not true,” and Lance is giving him that look that’s half flirtation, half invitation to laugh and Keith would respond, but he’s kind of dead inside and 50% of his brain is definitely still hung up on the last minute changes the director hurled at him last night. Instead he offers a weak smile and lets Lance continue babbling about…something at the Community Center? With the kids? He hears the word ‘Milk-pocalypse’ so it was probably pretty intense.

            Dammit, this director needs to stop changing the goddamn staging.

…

            Day 2

            “Find your fucking light!”

            “Holy shit!”

            Keith wakes up flailing and shouting - flailing and shouting even more when his sudden jump from unconscious to conscious has him thwacking his skull against…another skull?

            “Light cue go…” Keith mutters groggily, blinking in the dimness.

            “Holy shit,” Lance is sitting on the coffee table, his shape a vague silhouette in the darkness. He’s running his hands over his face and something twists in Keith’s stomach.

            “Oh god, did I - ?”

            “Headbutt me when I tried to do the nice thing and wake you up so you don’t ruin your spine sleeping on that couch? Yes, yes you did.”

            “Is it bleeding?” Keith asks vaguely.

            “Is what bleeding?”

            “…Anything?”

            “No, my beautiful face was spared your uncalled-for violence.”

            “Sorry,” Keith mutters into the couch cushions. His watch’s glowing face tells him it’s three am and he definitely just got home an hour ago.

            “Do you want to go to…? You’re asleep. You’re totally asleep. Already. It’s like a totally useless superpower.”

            “Standby sound,” Keith mumbles incoherently.

…

            Day 3

“Keith. Babe. Keith.”

            Keith can’t really pay attention to whoever is trying to distract him right now; he has to re-write the whole damn cuebook because some idiot spilled coffee on his original and this is why food and beverages belong outside the control booth.

            “Keith, you’re vibrating. Like, literally shaking like a Chihuahua.”

            “Did you bring me coffee?”

            “No, I’m trying to bring you some sanity, but I’ll settle for common sense.”

            “Okay.”

            A sigh and a hand on his shoulder, “I really don’t get what’s up with you and you’re really freaking me out, dude.”

            “Yeah, okay.”

…

            Day 4

            “CoffeeCoffeeCoffeeCoffeeCoffeeCoffee.”

            “Keith?”

            “Morning, Hunk.”

            “What are you?”

            “Morning. Coffee. Need.”

            “Why are you in our kitchen?”

            “Coffee maker broke. Dumbwaiter works both ways. Coffee.”

            “Oh, so you’re just…taking the whole coffee maker? Well…okay, then…bring it back when you’re done?”

            Keith pauses at the dumbwaiter, cradling the coffee maker, sure that he’s forgotten a few social niceties and also vaguely certain that he needs to apologize to Lance for something but too sleep-deprived to know what, exactly. “Thanks for the coffee. Tell Lance I’m sorry.”

            “For what?”

            “Um. Sorry.” Keith’s brain has reached its limit for non-essential thought. Caffiene had better be imminent or he’s just going to shut down. He escapes through the dumbwaiter before he can mangle the conversation further.

…

            Day 5

            Keith gives up and just sleeps at the theatre. Tomorrow is the preview show. Tomorrow it all ends. He feels like there’s something he’s forgetting, someone he needs to contact or communicate something to…but it slips away, just outside his awareness. He feels a twist of guilt, the constant fear that he’s forgotten something; that he’s messed something up. He’s destructive like that.

            But he can’t for the life of him remember what it was so he slides into an uneasy sleep curled up on a couch in the green room.

…

            Day 6

            The preview show goes well. The cast is elated; Keith is wound tight and jittering with exhaustion and…OH FUCK.

…

            Day 6 – midnight – technically Day 7

            “What the – Keith? What are you doing? Aren’t you cold?” Lance is sleep-rumpled and unbearably sweet, leaning out of his window to peer down at Keith – who is, in fact cold, standing in a snowdrift underneath his window.

            “Yeah, actually. My shoes aren’t waterproof. Or snowproof.”

            “It’s kind of the same thing.”

            “Yeah.” Keith blinks, sways, god he’s tired, “Wait, no, I came here for a reason.”

            “Wait, no, really? You didn’t just randomly decide to chuck rocks at my window?”

            “It’s actually a rubber bouncy ball. Some actors were fooling around with it backstage so I took it.”

            “Very enlightening,” and Lance is grinning at him, crooked, eyes soft like Keith is something special, before he abruptly straightens and glares, “Hey, no, you don’t get to be weird and endearing, I’m pissed at you!”

            “I know, I’m – ”

            “Nope! Nononono, nope! I refuse to be mature about this! I refuse. Shutting my window now so I don’t have to listen to you stand out there and talk about reasons. Nope! I’d rather it be a mystery. A nice, safe, ignorable mystery!” And then he’s struggling with the window but apparently closing it is harder than opening it was so he’s just sort of tugging futilely at it.

            “Um. Since you’re not actually going anywhere, can I talk now?”

            “No! I have metaphorically left this conversation and cannot hear you.”

            “I’m gonna talk now. Just so you know. If you want to pretend you can’t hear me?”

            “Ugh, you’re seriously going to make me stop trying to close this stupid defective window to clap my hands over my ears and go ‘lalalalala-can’t hear you’ like a toddler?”

            “Or you could not do that. That is an option.”

            “Ugh. Fine, explain why you’re breaking up with me. For the record, if this situation arises ever again, if we’re like one of those sitcom couples that keeps dating and breaking up and dating and breaking up, I’d rather it be left a mystery and oh shit, we’re Janice and Chandler from Friends, that is what is happening right now. I’m Janice. Weird, I always thought I was Chandler…”

            “LANCE!” Keith finds himself shouting, something’s tight in his chest and he’s fighting his way around it to shout through Lance’s storm of words, “I’M NOT BREAKING UP WITH YOU.”

            “…Because I’m very funny and not terribly good with, you know, attractive other people or relationships but I have these really solid friends, you know? Not to mention the New York thing, except we don’t live in the city…so I always thought I was Chandler, but you’re like, I dunno, perfect or something so you can’t be Janice…”

            “SHUT UP, LANCE, I LOVE YOU.”

            “…wait, what?”

            “Dumbass,” Keith finishes the sentence mulishly but at much lower volume.

            “Wait, skip back to before you were insulting me.”

            Keith narrows his eyes, “I don’t think you deserve it.”

            “Please. I called you ‘perfect or something’…”

            “You also thought I was going to break up with you!”

            Lance laughs awkwardly. He’s given up on trying to close the window and is instead leaning into the frame, looking down on Keith. His face is soft, open and unsure. “Well, you’ve been really weird the past few days? And totally work-obsessed and then you were just gone and I kind of...got the message? And then Hunk said you told him to tell me you were sorry and, just so you know, them’s breaking up words.”

            “Apologies?”

            “Vague apologies via third parties!”

            “Oh.”

            Lance rolls his eyes, “’Oh’ he says. You had me freaking out, I didn’t know what was up with you!”

            “You kept trying to take care of me,” Keith says slowly. He’d realized this a few hours ago but it still feels weird to say out loud. He can feel it sing in his blood and fizz on his skin, the happy thought that someone out there cared, without having to, without being told to. Someone tried to take care of him just...because. “It was tech week and I was freaking out and running on, like two hours of sleep a night and a nightmare person to be around and you kept trying to take care of me.”

            “Well, yeah, duh. I was really worried, you jerk!”

            “Sorry. For everything. The week before a show is always a trainwreck and a lot of stuff came up at the last minute…”

            “Hey, don’t worry about it.”

            “No, it’s important and I’m sorry and…”

            From the room beside Lance’s, a window slams open. Pidge’s catastrophic starburst of wild blonde hair jabs itself out the window and she squints aggressively at them, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the death of Lance’s dignity. It lived a short life. Now would you two stop being completely fucking high school about everything, and go make out somewhere that’s not here?”

            Keith’s pretty sure his face is red to the roots of his hair, but he waves to Pidge anyway, “Hi, Pidge.”

            She grunts at him and ducks back inside, slamming the window shut behind her.

            Lance laughs awkwardly and peers down at him, “Soooo, wanna go be really high school and make out on your couch?”

            “Can we be actual old people instead and just fall asleep watching reruns in an actual bed? I’m really tired.”

            Lance beams at him and it’s like the sun, “Why don’t we do a little of both?”

            Keith gives him a shaky smile, “Sounds good.”

…

            Day 7

            “You’re not going to go out with the cast and get drunk?” Lance is leaning against the wall outside the theatre after the show – he’d tried to get tickets but couldn’t on such short notice.

            Keith offers him a small smile, “I can do that at home with more interesting people.”

            “Flattery will get you anywhere. And by anywhere, I mean my pants.”

            “Wow, I did not get that subtext at all until you explained it in a really obvious way,” Keith says flatly, accepting the hand Lance holds out to him, tangling their fingers together and letting himself be pulled over to the car.

            “Aww, but you love it.”

            Keith groans theatrically.

            “Yooou admitted it. Now you’re stuck knowing that I know that you looove me.” Lance swings their joined hands between them, sing-songing the words. He suddenly pauses, though, and spins around to face Keith, bringing them almost nose-to-nose. It’s cold, the winter air still nipping at their skin and turning their breath to clouds of steam. “Hey,” Lance’s voice is serious now, softer, “You know I do too, right?”

            “Love you?” Keith says, trying to retain some of that distance, physical, emotional, whatever, despite the fact that any distance there might have been is effectively gone.

            Lance rolls his eyes, “Love you,” and then again, in case Keith hadn’t gotten the message, “I love you. Despite the fact that you lose your mind and turn into some kind of coffee-stealing-head-butting gremlin the week before a play opens.”

            “I’m a stage manager, it happens.”

            Lance kisses him on the forehead and then both cheeks with a resounding smack. “Come on, let’s go home.”

            Keith lets himself be tugged forward just enough to encroach on Lance’s space and kiss him once, soft, on the lips. “Thank you.”

            “For what?”

            “Being you.”

            “You mean being excellent.”

            “See, this is why I don’t compliment you.”

            “Yeah, but you looove me.”

“Just drive us home.”

…

            Lance was right that night they met – it is totally true love or something.


FOUR - ADOA

The ride to Mystacor had been fun, Micah playing a bunch of oldies while doing a horrible attempt to sing along. Bow and Glimmer had happily joined while Frosta just watched the scenery from the window. Micah had rented a van so we could all travel together, and I was only a bit bummed that Scorpia and Catra had decided to drive separately. I had a feeling that was more for Catra’s sake than anything but it would have been fun to have her here to witness this hot mess.

Angella would smile over at her husband as he poorly belted out, sometimes even giggling at his theatrics. Every attempt to rope Frosta into a song was harshly ignored, but Micah didnt seem deterred at all.

Frosta had demanded she sit next to Glimmer, and Glimmer had refused to let Bow sit anywhere but near her, so I was left with the back booth seat all to myself. Which was nice seeing as I could stretch out a bit. Damn long legs.

Once we arrived Casta was already waiting for us. And it was no shock that she instantly launched into prying for juicy gossip. Which of course Glimmer groaned and quickly left to settle into her room.

I had smiled as I left Angella and Micah to deal with the woman.

Again it came as no shock to find a present waiting on the pillow of my bed. Casta was always knitting and I had not once left an interaction with her without a lovingly made sweater to go along with it. I also knew I would be expected to wear it at some point during the trip.

I wonder what pattern Bow and Glimmer got as I stared down at the unicorn on my own.

When my phone went off I was gifted with the picture of both Glimmer and Bow already in their sweaters, apparently we were getting this tradition out of the way as soon as possible. Glimmers had a big half moon on hers, while Bows had a bundle of arrows with a flowy ribbon wrapping them together. Glimmer didnt smile for the photo but Bow was gleaming. He always loved the sweaters. He would most likely wear his more than once.

Rolling my eyes I slipped into my own and sent a photo in return.

We agreed to meet up and rejoin the group in a few minutes. Catra and Scorpia were still driving as they left an hour or so after we had.

Catra really hadnt been what I expected. She was blunt, a bit moody, and quick witted. And a huge flirt if she was in the mood. Sometimes she would say some things that were just down right raunchy, but only really over text. But other than that she was also really sweet.

Like when she let me stay in her room even after it had been made clear she didnt like people in her space.

We had talked and laughed for hours before we realized it was late and I needed to go home.

She had even shown me a few sketches that she did. She was really talented and had a serious knack for realism. The charcoal on her papers brought faces and scenes to life. It had blown me away. Made me wonder if one day I could convince her to do one of Swifty, my great dane dalmatian gentle giant. Who was staying with Razz over the weekend. I would most likely come home to find him well overfed. Razz just had a soft spot for that giant doggo. Always slipping him food she knows he isnt allowed to have.

I headed down to the lobby and instantly had to hold back laughter. It seems we all had the same idea. Angella’s sweater had a crown, Micahs had a staff thing, Frosta had a huge snowflake. It was perfect.

Glimmer stared me down, “Go on. Get it all out, Greyskull.”

A snort escaped me as I waved my hands, “No, no. Im good.”

She quirked an eyebrow, paired with Bows beaming face. I lost it. It was just too good.

Also Frostas sweater was just a bit too big and hung off her which just really sold the brooding glare she was sending my way. Her little fists clenched. Priceless.

Finally my laughter petered out enough for me to take in the oddly empty lobby. Usually when we visited the place had more foot traffic. It wasnt overly crowded but there was always someone around.

“Slow weekend?” I asked as I glanced around.

Glimmer shrugged, “Aunt Casta said things have been slower since the Thaymor incident.”

Right, Thaymor. It was a small town not too far from here, but it had been one of the many places recently on the Prime hit list. Cult Prime had been hitting the news left and right. Bomb threats escalating as everyone did their best to try and figure out exactly where this ‘Lord Prime’ was hiding out.

The loon had propaganda and people following in his footsteps to do his dirty work. His followers going so far as to call themselves ‘clones’.

Each bomb threat so far had been handled and some were even false calls, but Thaymor had not been so lucky.

Somehow someone had slipped into the small police station and sent the thing up in flames a week ago. It had been a multiple point attack as the fire station had also been targeted. They were too far away from Brightmoon for Station 18 to be called in for assistance but we had been geared in ready on the off chance we got called.

No one really knew why these attacks were happening or what was on Primes agenda, we just knew that the attacks had been rising recently and it didnt look good.

Guess it was enough of a scare for people to not go to a usually populated resort.

Makes sense. It was the definition of the places Prime had targeted in the cults early days. Unfortunately it seemed as time passed he began going after more official business and emergency services, and less tourist locations.

He was all over Etheria which made it really hard to track down where he was hiding. Worst of all, we couldnt really pull in any of his ‘clones’ as the attacks were mostly spearheaded by suicide bombers. Preaching that they were ‘in Primes light’ and seeking ‘eternal peace’.

It was just down right creepy.

It kind of made me feel bad for being here, while others were too scared to. There wasnt much the station could do in this instance, but I still felt uneasy with not helping more. But then again, Brightmoon hasnt had any incident with the cult.

I was pulled out of my musing by the sound of cackling. Turning I found Catra smirking at the group.

“Oh thats just precious.” She drawled out.

It was a totally weird feeling seeing Catra with my bag slung on her shoulder. I wonder what she would look like in one of my shirts.

Glimmer propped her hand on her hip, “Horde scum.”

Ah, the old Brightmoon Academy vs. Horde High rivalry. Nice. Awkward.

Catra wiggled her fingers at Glimmer, “Sparkles.”

Before Glimmer could throw out a no doubt nasty comment, Casta walked up the group, holding her hands to her face as she took us all in, “Oh, you wore them! Do you like them?”

We all nodded along, she asked every time.

Scorpio perked up, “You made those? Thats amazing!”

Casta blushed slightly as she smiled from the praise, “Oh thank you. Just a little hobby of mine, you know.” She offered her hand out, “Please, call me Aunt Casta. You must be Scorpia and Perfuma.”

Scorpia took the offered hand, “Oh, well. Sort of. Perfuma couldnt make it so I brought my friend Catra along. I hope thats alright. Oh, shoot. Im sorry. I should have asked.”

Casta waved her off, “No worries, happy you both could make it. Though, the sweater may not fit.” She pursed her lips as she took in Catra, most likely having gotten measurements from either Bow or Glimmer. Hell maybe even Micah.

Catra raised an eyebrow at that, “Say what?”

Glimmer smirked as she approached the tan girl, throwing an arm around her shoulder, “Aunt Casta made sweaters for

everyone.

”

Catras smirk dropped as Scorpia damn near jumped with glee, “Oh thats so exciting! I cant wait to wear mine!”

“Yippie.” Catra deadpanned as she shrugged Glimmer off.

I was once again holding back laughter. Oh this was going to be a fun weekend.

Casta left with the two newcomers, having to do a room change as Scorpia originally booked a one bed.

They promised to meet up with us when they were finished, Scorpia boasting that she too would be joining in her sweater and even going so far to ask for a group photo.

As I followed the group out onto the grounds I sent Catra a quick text.

Adora
: Excited to see whats on your sweater

You wont catch me dead in this thing :
Catra

Adora:
Not even a picture?

Already asking for pics? Bold move. :
Catra

My face heated up as I read that. Nope. Nope. Mind out of the gutter. I decided not to respond, not that I would have a good one anyways and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

We all made slow work of going through the outside buffet, Micah offering to help Frosta fill her plate. To which she sassily responded that she wasnt a ‘kid’ and could do it herself. Though she did ask Glimmer a few times to help her reach the food in the back of the lineup from time to time. Micah sulked a bit as Angella patted his shoulder.

By the time we pushed some tables together and sat down Catra and Scorpia were making their way through the line. Catra was still in her crop top and flannel, while Scorpia was proudly wearing the sweater with a scorpion on it. Looks like Casta didnt get too creative with it.

Catra and Scorpia took the open seats next to me, Catra raising her eyebrows as she took in the two plates I had in front of me.

Which shouldnt be that odd, Scorpia had two plates too.

Lunch went by pretty smooth, though Catra and Glimmer did get in a few jabs at one another. Which Frosta seemed to thoroughly enjoy. At one point Bow had to intervene and distract Glimmer before food started getting thrown.

I leaned over whisper, “Having fun?”

She snorted as she looked over at me, “A blast. Getting under sparkles skin is what I live for.”

I rolled my eyes, “Did you like your sweater?”

She in turn rolled her eyes, “Desperate for that pic, are you?”

My blush crept back up to my cheeks, “I wouldnt say desperate.”

Her eyes gleamed as she leaned on the table to rest her head on her shoulder as she watched me, “How does needy sound?”

Ok, the way she said needy was just unfair. And it was clear we were no longer talking about a sweater picture.

She chuckled at my lack of response and settled back in her chair as she crossed her legs, her foot skimming up my shin one before going back to its rightful place, “You’re fun.”

How do I respond to that?

I gave a sheepish smile, “uh, thanks?”

“Hey, useless lesbians.” Glimmer called over to us, “You done? We’re trying to figure out what to do next. Your input would be nice.”

My blush intensified as all eyes at the table were looking at us.

Catra crossed her arms, “Yah, I dont know what

youre

 doing. But I was promised a spa. And

plenty

 of alone time.”

Glimmer gave her a too sweet smile, “Perfect. Now that that is settled. Adora, what are

we

 going to be doing.”

Once again the tension was back at the table but broken slightly by Frostas far too eager smile at the interaction.

All eyes were on me. I really wanted to go with Catra, just to have some time with her and get to know her but she had made it clear she wanted

alone

 time. So maybe I was supposed to hang out with the group and leave her be unless she sought me out?

Micah took pity on me after a long silence, which Glimmer did not let up on her pointed stare, “Well, Casta has set up a nice little beach picnic for us for dinner, so perhaps we should all enjoy the day? Regroup later?” He turned to Angella who was politely smiling but offering absolutely no help, “Sound good, dear?”

Angella gave her husband a knowing look, “Sounds lovely.”

Glimmer did not seem at all pleased with the outcome and turned to Bow, “Guess we’re on our own.”

Bow sent me an apologetic smile before turning to his girlfriend, “We could go snorkeling?”

Still seeming unpleased, “Come on.” She stood from her chair before sending a look towards Catra.

Scorpia let out a low whistle, “Well...that was something.”

I chuckled, “Yah.”

Catra shrugged as she too stood and sauntered off. Do her hips always sway like that?

Scorpia turned to me with a sheepish smile, “Wanna go check out the rink? Maybe get some practice in?”

I nodded gratefully at her.

In the end Frosta ended up joining us while Micah and Angella went off for a walk through the meditation gardens.

It was a bit weird having Frosta along without her parents but she quickly proved to be far more capable on her own. She took to the ice far easier than I ever did.

We passed the puck back and forth for a bit, just getting into the motions of it. But Frosta also proved to be highly competitive and before I knew it Scorpia and Frosta were teaming up against me.

Though Scorpia really hung back at the goal and let Frosta take the lead.

It was fun and really helped ease the tension of lunch. Casta had popped in for a time but just watched, cheering on her niece as she actually put up a good game.

Once Frosta made the next score we called it a break, promising the twelve (Soon to be thirteen) year old we would do this again before the trip was up. Maybe even get a few more people to join the fun to actually get a solid game going.

There was still a few hours before the dinner thing Casta had promised so I decided to just wander around. I had been curious about the hot springs but I also didnt want to intervene on any of Catra’s alone time if she was there.

It was nice, beautiful even. Mystacor had beaches dominating one side while the other half was all cliff edges overlooking the expansive sea. It was a large resort so it didnt really feel like wasting time when every step showed me something different.

Though I had stumbled upon a very nice looking gym and made promises to revisit it later. Even found a trail that looped around the resort, another promise was made for my morning run.

By the end of my journey I actually stumbled on Bow and Glimmer as they were heading back up to change for dinner. Glimmer was in higher spirits and even talked excitedly about some of the things they saw. Bow had been stung by a jellyfish but it was a small mark that was already covered in cream.

Just before we were all expected to head down to the beach I deemed my sweater time over and headed to my room to change.

Nights at mystacor were cooler than the days but still warm so I slipped on a tank top and some swim trunks, just in case.

Just as I was about to text Glimmer and Bow to see if they were ready a knock came at my door.

I was a bit shocked to find Catra standing in the hall but I couldnt deny the excitement that bubbled in my chest as she looked up at me,

“Hey, Adora.” Her grin down right taunting.

“Oh, hey Catra.” I leaned against the door slightly.

She raised an eyebrow, “Mind if I come in?” She lifted the little bundle of clothes I hadnt noticed, “Scorp is using the shower and I kinda need one before the whole dinner thing.”

I stepped aside, “Yah, of course. You can use mine if you want.”

She snorted as she walked passed, “Kinda why im here.”

“Right.” I shut the door, but then wondered if I was supposed to leave so she had privacy.

Catra didnt seem off put with me still there as she made her way to the bathroom and shut the door, so I decided to wait for her.

Sitting at the end of the bed I sent a message to the group chat for them to head on without me. Only Bow responded.

I didnt have to wait long before the bathroom door was once again opened, letting some of the steam out. Her hair was still dry but her skin was flush from the heat.

Catra, without a doubt, would be the death of me.

She was in loose black shorts that really showed off the expanse of her legs and a tank thing that tied at the neck but completely exposed her shoulders and back. And if the strap free back was any indication, she wasnt wearing a bra.

She quirked an eyebrow at me as she sent that devilish smirk my way, “Feeling alright, hero?”

Right, I was just staring. In a room. Alone. With Catra.

I nodded, “Yah. You ready?”

She shrugged, “As Ill ever be.” Though she made no move towards the door. No this drop dead dangerously gorgeous woman moved so she was standing between my legs with her knees against the bed, “Are you?”

What was the question?

She chuckled as I just blinked up at her.

“Come on, dork. Before Sparkles leads a search party.” She grabbed my wrist and tugged me to the door.