something blue

It was a Tuesday.

A football player wanted to remind her she still wasn't a Cheerio.

The minute the slushie hit her, all she could think was Avatar. Between the shock and the cold and the memories, tears filled her eyes.

She didn't cry. Instead, she let out the breath she was holding and walked slowly to the girls bathroom.

Closing the door behind her, she glanced down at her arms, covered in blue dye, and let out a teary laugh.

something borrowed

It started as simple things.

From day one, he forgot almost everything. Notebook, pens, whole assignments. And she was the one that was always prepared, sharing her supplies with the new kid.

Sometimes, Quinn likened him to a puppy: massive amounts of energy and appeal but no focus.

Slowly, Quinn began to borrow from him. Rides, jackets, leftovers of food from his tray.

All those borrowed things began to accumulate. Hers and his turned into a mess of tangled connections. Until, one day, she couldn't distinguish his lockers from hers.

When anyone noticed, she joked about his forgetfulness, acted as if he were a chore. Sam never seemed to mind her complaints. She liked to think he knew. All those little things, all the borrowed things, made her feel connected, to him.

something new

They started dating again.

No one seemed surprised, except for Quinn.

Somehow, the second time around, felt like the first time for everything.

She was more careful, not because of the labels or the lines, but because now, it felt like her heart was on the line.

He wasn't the new kid anymore. He proved time and time again, he knew her best. And she wasn't making up for past mistakes.

It was a fresh start, and she felt happier than she could ever remember.

She felt brand new.

something old

The ceremony was traditional.

Her dress borrowed from her grandmother.

The rings dated, bought second hand at a flea market.

They were older now. Spending years together, forging a life better than either dreamed it could be.

They took the long way, but they made it there in the end, and in the end, that's all that mattered.