[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/calligraphy-fonts/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200113/a13048ed0bb25682a743562155aefc6b.png[/img][/url]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZnZTSTG.png[/img][/center]

[hr]

[color=darkgray]The palm-covered beaches that gave the city its name were rather empty on this particular winter day. Rough waves battered the sand as the Atlantic had long shifted from picturesque blue to steely grey to match the tone that the season brought. One could be forgiven for thinking Florida was immune to the chill, but it still felt colder than usual. Enough for anyone out in the weather to be wearing a sweater. Even one that had long been abandoned to the back of the closet because a purple turtleneck wasn’t exactly a mark of popularity. As much as Grandma Helga would beg to differ when she presented it to her loving grandchild two Christmases ago.

Shawna scoffed at the thought of Christmas. It certainly didn’t feel like Christmas this year. There would be no relatives visiting with their ugly presents. No family dinners or giant cakes or anything grand meals. Everyone was staying put. Her parents were still on their cruise, probably halfway to Tierra Del Fuego at the moment. Lia was spending the holiday with her husband’s family. Nick was staying in Boston to focus on his studies and in preparation for a potential call-up from the Wild later in the year. So it was going to be a morning that had very little to differentiate itself from any other recent day. It would be a morning with no presents, no tree (Shawna wasn’t lugging one through the house), very few decorations and a likely breakfast of candy-cane flavored pop tarts. A banner holiday. If it wasn’t for Sunshine coming through with an invite to spend Christmas Eve with her aunt and uncle, it would be another lonely night as well. At least there would be some level of family feelings available in sitting down and eating with them.

As the young woman rested her sweater-clad arms along the stone railing that adorned the top of the concrete breakwater that buttressed the beach, watching the waves pound the sand, she couldn’t help but feel as salty as the ocean at the moment. It was a familiar feeling that dominated the holiday break. At least the Atlantic was used to absorbing Shawna’s frustrations. It did an admirable job during the summer when she officially had her moment of clarity and abandoned any pretense of maintaining that nerd status. It was repeating its role as of late, but there was a new kind of problem to deal with. Something Shawna had no prior knowledge of, or could even fully understand. But it was the reason she bitterly stared at the water, hucking rocks or loose pieces of concrete towards the ocean, even if her lack of athletic ability meant they bounced harmlessly on the sand.

Shawna wanted to forget, but how could she forget? It seemed the photographic memory that had started to abandon her years ago was intent on reasserting itself with that day. That December day when her life got flipped upside down. Again. Hence her return engagement to stare down the sea.

Unfortunately, the problem in her life was the lack of a return engagement with someone who had become more important than her family in recent months, and for the umpteenth time, her mind was playing that conversation over in her head.

[color=E81B00][center][h2][i]Two days earlier...[/i][/h2][/center][/color]

As Shawna sat on her bed, she could barely move. She hadn’t felt this paralyzed since that Pre-Calc test that had set her on her current course. It was certainly worse news than the mark on that test. As she held her head in her hands, looking up at the other woman who had just caused this newest bout of frozen thinking, Shawna could only ask one question. [color=E81B00]“But… I don’t understand… Why? Why is this happening? Why is this it? Why, Kellie?”[/color]

[color=00FA9A]“Blame my stupid sister…”[/color] the brunette grumbled, taking a seat next to the very distraught Shawna. [color=00FA9A]“After her most recent episode, the doctors suggested that it was caused by the stress of the move down here. They think that the pressure of a new start in a new environment made her worse instead of better, so they recommended we went back to Silicon Valley to see if she finally started recovering. Believe me: I’m just as upset with all of this as you are. I’m tired of Millie ruining my life with her shit.”[/color]

[color=E81B00]“But, you could stay here!”[/color] Shawna was already getting desperate. [color=E81B00]“My place is massive and I’m the only one here… for another month… and then I’d have to answer a bunch of questions on top of the bunch of questions I’m sure I’m going to get anyway… if my parents actually care… Fuck. It’s probably not a good idea.”[/color] The girl fell backwards onto the mattress. [color=E81B00]“Ugh! This, this just sucks, Cupcake. Your sister sucks!”[/color]

[color=00FA9A]“Tell me about it!”[/color] Kellie responded, rolling her eyes and mimicking Shawna by laying down next to her, resting the back of her head on her linked hands. [color=00FA9A]“I know this will make me sound like the biggest scum of the Earth, but they should just commit her at this point. She’s a danger to herself and to everyone around her.”[/color]

[color=E81B00]“She’s a danger to my sanity,”[/color] Shawna confirmed. [color=E81B00]“I… I honestly don’t know what I’m gonna do when you’re gone. I mean, I’ll still have Sunshine, and maybe Ariel and Chrissy... And, I don’t know, Carter? We’ve talked before, but I’m scraping the barrel here. It’s not going to be anything like the relationship we got.”[/color]

The Cuban-American girl shook her head, feeling overwhelmingly guilty about the whole situation. A part of her was trying to brush it all off, reassuring her that it wasn’t her fault her sister had issues, or that Shawna had gotten so attached to her in such a short period of time even after warning her she was still trying to get over her ex-boyfriend. But at the same time, she’d allowed things to go too far too fast, knowing fully well that they could come to a painful crash just like this one. It was too late, though, and it wouldn’t matter in the end anyway. She would be leaving Florida on Sunday, putting all of this behind her and starting a new chapter in her life.

[color=00FA9A]“I know...”[/color] Kellie said softly, laying on her side now and gently caressing the other girl’s face. [color=00FA9A]“But I also know you’ll be alright. You’re a really sweet girl, Shawna. People will be honored to have you in their lives. I know I am.”[/color]

The taller girl rolled over so she could face her departing friend. [color=E81B00]“You have so much more faith in me than I do.”[/color] Shawna’s hand brushed against Kellie’s arm, rubbing it more for her own assurances as opposed to Kellie’s. [color=E81B00]“And you have given me even more courage than I thought I could have. Like I feel like I don’t even need the booze for it when you’re around. That’s going to be so hard to recreate.”[/color] She closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. [color=E81B00]“At least you won’t have to see Max anymore…”[/color]

It took all of Kellie’s self-restraint to keep a poker face at the mention of Max. Even after Shawna had confronted her face to face about the rumors from Kavi’s party, the brunette had opted to firmly deny any sort of involvement with the boy in an attempt to avoid causing her any pain. And although she’d felt guilty at first, time had proven that this had been the right decision. Max and Kellie had agreed their Halloween liaison would be the last time they would be involved, and the young woman had been able to truly start moving on with the newfound closure.

[color=00FA9A]“Can we [i]please[/i] not talk about Max?”[/color] Kellie asked, unable to hold back a groan or hide the way her body stiffened uncomfortably. [color=00FA9A]“I thought we’d agreed we wouldn’t even mention him after Halloween?”[/color]

[color=E81B00]“Sorry, sorry,”[/color] Shawna apologized. [color=E81B00]“Couldn’t help it. It just happened.”[/color]

Shawna had been very good at not mentioning Max in the previous weeks. The catharsis obtained with the utter destruction of the lacrosse equipment had gotten a lot of the immediate hate out of her system. But there was clearly residual feelings that couldn’t quite get the bitter taste out of her mouth. She still felt he played a role in this exodus, but there was no proof at the moment. It seemed like Kellie still didn’t have the hate completely out of her system either. Shawna felt bad for introducing that aspect into a hangout that already had enough sombre tones. 

[color=E81B00]“I have no idea how Sunshine and I are gonna replace you. A trio is so much stronger than a duo, and I don’t think anyone is coming to auditions for that role. You’re gonna leave such a hole here, girl. I hope you don’t forget about us East Coast folk out there in San Francisco.”[/color]

[color=00FA9A]“I would never!”[/color] Came Kellie’s fast reply, followed by her unmistakable tinkling laugh as she sat back up. [color=00FA9A]“I don’t forget my friends. Especially not when they’re as cute as you are!”[/color] she told Shawna before starting to tickle her waist in an attempt to lighten up the depressing mood that had been dampening the room since the news had been announced.

[color=E81B00]“Ahhhhhhh!”[/color] This wasn’t fair. Kellie was supposed to be the ticklish one. This sneak attack was way too effective. Shawna started shaking from the sheer touch on her waist. [color=E81B00]“I...haha...I will get you...hahhhhh!”[/color] She flailed in an attempt to pay Kellie back for this unexpected barrage, but she couldn’t reach. [color=E81B00]“OK! OK! You win! No mas!”[/color]

[color=00FA9A]“That’s it?”[/color] Kellie taunted, grinning mischievously at the darker skinned girl. [color=00FA9A]“You’re just going to give up like that?”[/color]

[color=E81B00]“I…”[/color] Shawna panted as she struggled to regain her breath following such an intense tickle offensive. [color=E81B00]“I...was just...waiting for you… to show mercy!”[/color] Shawna lunged forward in an attempt to pay Kellie back double by going for her stomach, a spot she knew the dancer was vulnerable.

Kellie’s squeal was instant, followed by a lot of squirming around and loud, uncontrollable laughter. The young woman was soon on her back, trying her hardest to fight back Shawna but failing. [color=00FA9A]“[i]Stop[/i]!”[/color] she shrieked, using both her hands and legs to defend herself.

[color=E81B00]“Ohhhh, what’s that?”[/color] Shawna asked before switching over to a very familiar terrible accent. [color=E81B00]“I’m sorry, love. There is no mercy within these walls.”[/color] Eventually she moved her hands away from Kellie’s stomach and up to her wrists, pinning the girl down on the bed. [color=E81B00]“Now...what to do with you?”[/color]

The dancer’s laughs and giggles soon faded away, to be replaced with that familiar yearning she felt every time she and her friend got themselves into compromising positions like this. It brought Kellie back to the very first time they had met: when their tickle fight had ended up with them getting to know each other a little [i]too[/i] well. But today, she was on the opposite side of the equation: being pinned down and submitted to Shawna’s mercy… Something she really didn’t mind at all.

[color=00FA9A]“Maybe you could finally do what you’ve wanted to since the day we met…”[/color] Kellie Anne proposed, suggestively looking up at Shawna from underneath her.

That was a thought Shawna wasn’t exactly prepared for. Granted, she made the same offer to Kellie when the positions were reversed what seemed like forever ago. She was so willing to do it then. It seemed so easy. But there were so many emotions now. If this was going to happen, it was going to likely be a farewell gift that couldn’t be returned. Kellie would officially be Shawna’s first. For everything. This was such foreign territory for the Swiss descendant. What if she was terrible at it? What if she completely fucked it up? What if Kellie’s lasting memory of her was going to be some huge mistake?

Shawna looked down into those eyes, those big brown orbs that held her captive from the second they locked on at the bakery. Those eyes that told her so many times everything would be all right. Even when she didn’t quite believe her, they still had that kind of power. Right now, Shawna wanted nothing more to lose herself in them while she still could.

Shawna leaned down and planted a soft kiss on Kellie Anne’s lips. [color=E81B00]“You sure about this, hun? I mean, you don’t have to do this just for me. I… I am benevolent like that, you know.”[/color]

The brunette nodded. [color=00FA9A]“I know…”[/color] she began, offering Shawna a soft smile. [color=00FA9A]“I wanted to give you something good to remember me by after all the bullshit that’s happened; but only if you’re comfortable with it. I’m benevolent like that too.”[/color] she chuckled.

The girl on top was blushing by this point. So many nights wondering what it would be like. Granted, a lot of them were with thoughts of men, but this. This just seemed more right. All those thoughts were building up to this. She was nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous. Almost like anticipation. Shawna had forgotten what that felt like.

[color=E81B00]“I… I think I’m ready,”[/color] she confirmed with another soft kiss. [color=E81B00]“Just… don’t hate me if I fuck this up, ok? Um… this is my first time…”[/color]

Kellie quickly shook her head. [color=00FA9A]“I would never. I’ve never been with a girl before, so this is all new to me, too.”[/color] she admitted with an embarrassed giggle, eyes sparkling and a hint of pink on her cheeks.

That revelation put Shawna more at ease with the situation. At the very least, she couldn’t knowingly do wrong in Kellie’s eyes. At the most, it would be a proper send off, a culmination of everything that was built up between them. Shawna would get to check another box off her list before departing high school and the bond would be cemented. 

[color=E81B00]"Then let's both be gentle as we go,"[/color] Shawna offered. As Miss Josi ran one hand through Miss Nicholson’s hair and the other along her waist in a much more tender manner, she just let herself fall. 

[color=E81B00][center][h2][i]Back to the present day...[/i][/h2][/center][/color]

And that was it. By the time the afterglow faded away, Kellie Anne was gone, whisked away to the Golden State. Shawna was left to stand by herself, a broken woman on a Florida pier.

That wasn't totally true. The notifications on her phone would be quick to disprove that. Sunshine was in constant contact, her latest text asking if Shawna needed to pick up anything else for the impending trip to New York. It would be Shawna's first excursion in a good while. It's why she agreed to accompany Sunshine to her parents place in Brooklyn for the holiday break. It also gave Shawna an excuse to get into contact with Lia, if only to have at least one face-to-face conversation with a family member over the break. Lia was visiting Ryan's family in Connecticut, but she would be back by the 28th at the latest. Also, Chris had been a consistent presence. Given the recent breakup, there was already a bit of commiserating going on. And Ariel was proving to be a good contact given her own loud termination of the relationship with Kavi. It was a richer contact network than she had going for her at the start of the school year. Even with her cupcake Cali-bound, there was still plenty of good coming.

Shawna breathed a heavy sigh as she pushed herself up from the railing, giving the Atlantic one more moment of her time before she looked back down at her phone. [color=E81B00]"Guess I better make sure I have everything packed...[/color] She turned and retreated back into her home to prepare for a holiday away.[/color]