Pearl's shit is officially flipped. No, it's more than flipped. Her shit is in the Olympics for gymnastics and ice skating. It's rotating. Flying around willy-nilly. Going fucking bonkers. Her shit turned around, like, seventeen times mid-air, that's how flipped it is.

"... Pearlie?" Marina calls gently. "I'm sure she's fine."

"Are you?" she asks.. Checking her phone and seeing nothing new, she slams it down on the table and begins pacing frantically again. "Reena, she could have died."

"I don't think she died," Marina replies. How the fuck can she be so calm right now? "She saved the world. I think she can handle being on her own for twelve hours."

"It hasn't been twelve hours, it's been fifteen," Pearl snaps and then groans loudly. "And she saved the world with adult supervision."

Marina drums her fingers on the table as she takes a long sip of her coffee. "Three's an adult, you know."

"Yeah, but she's younger than Eight." Pearl huffs. "And I don't trust her. She's got bad vibes in her eyes. Aren't you worried for our daughter's safety?"

"Yes, Pearlie, those 'bad vibes' are called contacts." Another long sip. "I'm a little worried, but… Well, you know how things are between them. They might have been… Busy." Pearl catches Marina's coy smirk.

"Reena, now is NOT the time to be a hopeless romantic!" She starts pacing faster. "I bet Three fucking stabbed her sixty million times and then, like, ate her fucking corpse or something."

"You're being a little irrational." Siiiiip.

"I am NOT!" she yells, and some of Marina's coffee bounces out.

"Watch your volume, Pearlie. I don't want a burn."

"And I want Eight to live." Before she can continue, she hears her phone ring and she races over to it, answering it without looking at the contact. "Hello?"

"Um, hi, Pearl." Eight's voice sounds groggy and husky, like she just woke up. Pearl puts her on speaker immediately. "Sorry, you're not busy right now, are y-"

"EIGHT," Pearl cries and she sees Marina wince. "Oh my cod, are you okay?! I thought you died."

"Um… Yes, I am… Okay." Hesitant. Why does Eight sound hesitant? Is she okay? Is she being held hostage? Pearl starts pacing again. "I'm with Three."

"Are you?" Marina asks. "What happened?"

"We…" Her voice trails off. "... Fell asleep."

They both make eye contact. "Don't say it," Pearl mouths. "Don't."

Marina does.

"Oh, did you, now?" She takes another sip of coffee. "And what'd you do before that?"

Eight goes quiet.

"... Things." Marina snorts. "Why?"

"Pearlie was convinced Three killed you."

"Yeah?! And you were convinced they fucked."

She hears Eight make a noise of vague shock on the other end.

"What?"

"Did you?" Marina asks.

"Reena, c'mon-"

"I, um…" She can't see her right now, but Pearl imagines Eight fiddling with the tassels on the hoodie she got spontaneously one day, or twirling her tentacles, or fiddling her thumbs. "... No, but we were, um… Intimate?"

"Oh?" They make eye contact again. No words are spoken. Three are exchanged: I told you. "Well, either way, we're happy for you."

"Thank you?" Eight offers.

"So, uh." Pearl tries to change the subject. "What're you up to now?"

"Oh, Three's making breakfast. She has work at 12:00, but she insisted…" Eight laughs. "I'm sorry for worrying you, by the way."

"It's fine," she tells her. "Just as long as you're safe."

"Okay…" Someone - probably Three - says something to Eight. Pearl hears the ruffling of blankets and sheets. "Um, I have to go, but I'll see you later!"

"Mkay… Bye, Eight."

"See you!" Marina says with a wave they both know Eight can't see.

Click.

"You owe me 5000 C," Marina says, taking another sip of her drink. It's a trivial amount, but it's not the money that matters here.

Pearl rolls her eyes with a laugh. "Fine." It's a bet she's okay with losing for once.

Three sighs quietly as she transfers a tray of cookies into the display. Today… Was good. Yesterday, too. If she thinks about it enough, she can still taste Eight on her lips, and the thought makes her face warm.

Sliding the door shut, she hears the bells ring. Standing up, she gives them a warm smile.

"Hi, welcome to Oceanside, how are you today?"

"Summer, fancy seeing you again," Four greets. "I'm alright, thanks for asking. … But what about you?"

"... What about me?" Three drums her fingers against the counter.

"A little birdie told me things got a little spicy between you and Eight," she replies with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Three rolls her eyes.

"Yeah? And a little birdie needs to learn to shut the fuck up."

Four laughs. "C'moooon, how'd it go? Did ya smooch?"

"... Shut up and order, loser."

"No, totally not! You can't speak to customers like that."

"You haven't bought anything, so you're not a customer."

"Ugh, fine. Uh…" She scans the menu briefly. "Espresso, bit of sugar, bit of cream."

Three nods. "Here?"

"Nah, to go." She turns around to go make the drink. "So… Are you and Eight finally a thing?"

"... I guess," Three mumbles.

"Oh, what do you mean, you guess? You either are or you aren't."

"FINE," she says with a sigh, "We are."

"See? It wasn't just wishful thinking." Three finishes making the drink and she sets it on the counter as she rings Four up.

"238 C," she tells her. "And… Look, don't act like you're, like, some kind of outstanding fuckin' romantic." Four hands Three her card.

"I mean, given the other people in our friend group…" Her voice trails off. "Or should I say, our acquaintanceship-with-benefits group..?" Four pauses. "Y'know, you might actually have, uh, benefits with Eight now."

"... Just take your damn coffee," she grumbles.

Four laughs lightly as she takes the drink. "Okay, okay, fine. But, like… Do you wanna go turfing later? I promise I'll actually show up."

"Sure."

She shoots Three a smile. "Awesome! I'll see you then."

As Four leaves, Three smiles to herself.

It really wasn't wishful thinking after all.