chapter warnings
no spoilers, safe for work

Four years had passed since Harvey and Donna had met in second grade. They were in sixth grade, the first year of middle school; she was eleven and he was twelve. The two were inseparable ever since the boy taught her how to pitch a baseball one day after school.

Harvey continued to dream big; he still wanted to be a baseball player, even if other adults frowned upon such a prospect. They always told him that he could do better things, like being a news anchor or even a weatherman with his charming looks. Harvey ignored them all. He played baseball religiously, and Donna watched him do so. Most days, Donna and Harvey would spend their time at the Riverside Community Park, where Harvey would hit balls for hours. Harvey and his brother had found a batting machine thrown into a dumpster at the sports store. It was broken, but not beyond repair; all it took was Mr. Paulsen's repairman skills to restore it to its former glory. Harvey and Donna even re-painted the machine together. While Harvey hit the baseballs, with the familiar crack of wood hitting rubber over and over again, Donna recited her lines and did her homework. Sometimes, if she was feeling it, she would even pitch a few balls for Harvey.

Donna was no different from Harvey; she never stopped reaching for the stars. She began learning ballet in addition to participating in theater, which occupied her time after spending her afternoons with Harvey. The two would wheel the batting machine home, and once they reached their respective houses, waved each other good night and went off. Donna would eat dinner, recall how many baseballs Harvey had missed that day- each time being less- and then run out to ballet lessons or theater practice. Sometimes, if Harvey was particularly bored, or the Yankees weren't playing, he would go with her to her dance or theater rehearsals.

The two were equally amazed at each other's talents, even if they were not particularly interested in their best friend's hobbies.

Every morning, Donna and Harvey ran around the block for an hour- despite being a ballerina with excellent stamina, Donna despised it- and ate breakfast at the Specters' house. Sometimes, Mr. Specter would play a song or two on his saxophone or Mrs. Specter would tell a story about her groupie days. Then the two would go to Donna's house, into her backyard which had an above-ground pool, which could actually be a hot tub too, because Mr. Paulsen had bought one of those fancy water heaters. Sometimes they would go for a swim, but for the most part, Donna would recite her lines as Harvey rocked back and forth on the tire swing.

It was August of 1987, the Yankees were taking major hits, which was upsetting to Harvey, but Donna was set to be the main character's daughter in a play at their local theater, so the two had that going for them.

"Mother, you don't understand!" Donna declared, with a tear trailing down her cheek, "You're betraying us! You can't leave this family for...for him !"

Harvey watched as Donna paced around the lawn, making exaggerated gestures as she fake cried. She had been fake crying for over an hour- an impressive feat, he thought.

"How do you do that for so long?"

"I just do, Harvey. I'm an actress. Have you forgotten?"

"Fair enough. Carry on."

The redhead wiped a stray tear from her cheek and rolled her eyes. Sometimes, Harvey could say the stupidest things.

"Forget it, my throat is all scratchy from talking for so long. Let's go inside."

After reciting lines for hours on end, the two would always go inside and have a snack, courtesy of Jennifer, Donna's mom, who was often talking with Lily Specter. The two were stay-at-home mothers, so they were always seen in each other's houses. When Harvey and Donna came in through the sliding door, Mrs. Paulsen greeted them with a smile, like she always did, and went to the fridge to pull out her snack tray.

The snack tray was filled with Oreos, Goldfish, sliced apples, and two glasses of freshly squeezed lemonade. Without fail, the two would gobble down everything but the Oreos, saving the best for last.

"Thank you, Mrs. Paulsen," Harvey would say, smiling as per usual. He was a charmer, as Donna had discovered through the years.

Once their snack was complete, the two would go their separate ways. When Harvey's mom was there, she would take him home, and when she wasn't, Harvey would go home himself. Donna often had to go to her lessons or rehearsal.

As summer came to an end, Donna's performances began at the local theater. Before each show, Harvey would sit with her backstage to help her get her nerves down.

(If Donna had to be honest, she was never nervous- she was Donna - Donna doesn't get nervous. She just liked Harvey's company. Plus, if she didn't at least pretend that she was scared, Harvey wouldn't come to see her show at all.)

The two had created a ritual to get Donna's mind off of the show involving a can opener and thumbtacks: the goal was to hit five thumbtacks with the can opener, and whoever the first to get five was would pick the movie they saw at the cinema that weekend. For the most part, none of them got to five, but the few times that one of them did, it usually was Harvey. Last time either of them had won their little game was at the beginning of the year, for Donna's previous play, she was a side character in a Shakespeare play- and Donna was forced to watch Masters of the Universe. It wasn't that bad, but if Donna had to watch another superhero film, she would rather be dead. Superhero movies were a fad that wouldn't last, she thought.

Donna really wanted to watch The Princess Bride, but it didn't involve shooting or any violence, so unless she won, Harvey would never watch it. So she was determined to win the game this one time.

"You think you're going to hit it, Paulsen?" Harvey grinned as he fiddled with the thumbtack in his hand, "the last time you hit one was during your musical audition."

The redhead rolled her eyes and readied the can opener. "I got this. Come at me, Babe Ruth."

Thwack!

She hit it! All she needed was four more.

"We're seeing The Princess Bride whether or not you like it, Harvey."

AUTHOR NOTES
I've read so many fics these past few days that I already know the entire plot for season 6, 7, and 8 despite not being done with season 6 lol.

I got off topic though. It's so much easier to be "quirky" with these author notes because I have a weird desire to be professional on AO3.
Anyhow, back to the regular notes- thanks for reading.

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This fanfiction is also uploaded onto AO3 under the username "wrightworth."

TITLE INSPIRATION
Dreamers by K Flay

CREDITS
Editor: Claire
Darvey Writers' Room Leader: Sarah
Other Inspiration: All of my bookmarked/favorited fics! Check them out!