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[right][color=50CCAE][sub]Interactions: [@KatKook] (Kate)
Mentions: Mike and Elliot[/sub][/color]
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[i][url=https://youtu.be/zpfg8nJyCSw]
Down from my ceiling drips great noise
It drips on my head through a hole in the roof
Behind these two hills here, there's a pool
And when I'm swimming in through a tunnel, I shut my eyes
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Mia's wave quickly froze as she noticed the way Kate yelped, spilling coffee out of her cup on the lawn. Had she startled her? Smiling apologetically, the brunette scratched the back of her head as the shorter girl walked over, complaining about Mia having scared her.
[color=50CCAE]"Fuck, I'm so sorry,"[/color] the Estonian apologised through a laughter and her regret still genuine, as was evident from her eyes. They stood there for half a beat, Kate clearly examining Mia briefly. Mia was about to wonder if the reunion was awkward for some reason, but then, just as quickly, Kate beamed and reached out to clasp Mia's hands in her own.
Oh, her friend was awesome. And warm. It was hard not to notice, especially with how affectionate Kate was. Just the simple, soft brush of fingers against Mia's faintly scraped knuckles sent a small shiver down her spine, and the girl began to wonder if it she was about to catch a cold. Maybe it was just the light breeze out here.
It was hard not to feel elated at the knowledge that her best friend had missed Mia over the summer too. Mia knew Kate had been overseas for the summer, and she'd proably hung out with many of her old friends there, had a great time and all that. And while Mia was glad Kate had had the opportunity for such a summer, it did sting a little compared to her bland and boring summer.
[color=50CCAE]"Missed ya too,"[/color] Mia quipped with a lopsided smile. She sounded casual and relaxed, but her eyes couldn't hide the true weight behind that statement. She really had missed Kate. She'd missed all of her friends immensely, but Kate especially. Mia didn't consider Kate her best friend for no reason (and to be clear, Mia didn't exactly 'do' the whole best friend thing, but if she had to choose, Kate was closest to filling that position in her life).
It wasn't lost on Mia that Kate wasn't very comfortable with the crowd full of people they were in the middle of. Even as the girl leaned closer to talk to Mia, she glanced around as if to scan the amount of men there were.

[color=50CCAE]"Uhhhh,"[/color] Mia drawled, laughing awkwardly as she looked back at the boys at Kate's comment about hugging. [color=50CCAE]"I don't mind it,"[/color] Mia tried to brush it off, acutely aware that her hands were still being held by Kate. [color=50CCAE]"Hey dudes, I'll be right back ok? Don't do anything stupid without me,"[/color] Mia requested as she smiled at Elliot and Mike. Mia wasn't quite done catching up with Kate and she knew how uncomfortable men made her, so she'd gladly step aside qith her for a minute. Elliot and Mike wouldn't mind hopefully. Mia wasn't done catching up with them either, after all.

Giving the boys one last look that clearly signaled 'I'm sorry', Mia turned back to look at her friend and led them through the crowd until they were standing on a less crowded area on the lawn. They were still close to people, but far enough to have a sense of privacy. Now Mia could focus on answering the barrage of questions Kate had asked before they'd moved.
[color=50CCAE]"Honestly, my summer was about as intersting as watching watching paint dry,"[/color] Mia groaned with a mild wince. Pause. Then, [color=50CCAE]"Actually... you know what? I rather I'd been watching paint dry,"[/color] she concluded.

Mia shook her head to herself, getting back on track. She smiled and nudged Kate with her arm: [color=50CCAE]"I'm much more interested about your summer. You actually went to places! How was it? You had fun, yeah?"[/color]
Okay, so maybe Mia was bad at answering questions about herself. So? She preferred to deflect and redirect. Besides it wasn't as if there was much to tell anyway. Her summer had been miserable, and full of urban exploration that had felt meaningless without any buddies. Mia was absolutely sick of her own company, and her only human contact outside of work had been her jackass mother and her boyfriend. She had a lot of bottled up feelings about the summer, most of which Mia was determined to never let see the light of day if she could help it. She'd rather implode than bring Kate's mood down, and man, she should really be focusing on Kate right now, shouldn't she?
[color=50CCAE]"And hey, I think I can hug my friend if I haven't seen her in a while. Just don't want people to go around thinking I do it all day,"[/color] Mia half-joked. As Mia said this, she opened her toned arms in a casual invitation for said hug. She'd be lying if she said she didn't desperately want a hug right now.
[color=50CCAE]"After you tell me all there is to tell, I want some muffins. I've been craving them since last year's fair -- and you [i]know[/i] the ones here are hands down the best ones!"[/color]

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