Friday, March 24th
It was hard to refuse Marshal's offer when he said he would be renting out a cabin off of Stinson Beach for Bonnie's birthday. The invitation was left open to their usual group of friends and to anyone else Bonnie felt should come. And seemingly no one invited could pass up the offer.
It wasn't often that their whole friend group was able to celebrate to this extent. For everyone to have an open schedule seemed like a literal miracle.
So the nine of them crammed into two cars. Rain drove her old white Jeep wrangler, removable top off, windows rolled down, music blaring and obvious speeding. Bonnie sat in the passenger seat while Marceline and Keila sat in the back. The boys were all with Marshal, who drove his jet black Mustang, also speeding.
Trying to be the showoff he was, he even tried to race Rain on the highway-which was cut short by traffic.
However, when they had met their destination, they wasted no time and scrambled to the beach as quickly as possible, leaving behind their overnight luggage in the unattended cars.
Marceline was the first to make it to the water, throwing off her shirt in a fit of urgency to win the rewardless race to the shoreline. She quickly found herself headfirst in the soft California sand, which now filled every millimeter of every crevice.
The culprit: Bonnibel Bennett, who sat laughing onto of her girlfriends back as she sputtered out graduals of sand from her mouth.
Jake hurried into the sea; Finn close on his tail. Their laughter was so loud Marceline swore they drowned out the sound of the ocean itself.
"You brat, I would have beat them by a mile." The rocker grumbled from underneath her girlfriend.
"Should have been faster." Bonnie laughed to herself, pinning down Marceline's shoulder to keep her from getting up.
"Is it too late to pull the 'ow you broke my arm' gimmick?"
"Well, you did just tell me your plan, so."
"Boo, can we go play in the water now that you made me lose?"
"You're a sore loser."
"Am not, you just play dirty."
"Says that one who throws switch controllers when you're losing in Mario Kart."
"On a completely unrelated note, we need to buy new controllers."
Bonnie finally saw the opportunity open. Everyone else had made it to the water. Jumping off her girlfriend, she sped to the water. Marceline her jump in, leaving her to be the last to make it.
"Marceline, you slowpoke, come and join us!" Bonnie waved her over from the seaside.
Defeated, she dusted herself off and jogged into ocean as best as she could manage, splashing her girlfriend when she was close enough. Bonnie took it lightly, giggling and splashing her back.
She didn't want to admit just how attractive she found Bonnie in her swimsuit. Contrary to what Marceline thought she'd be wearing, she wore a frilly white bikini that showed off all of her curves-the curves that only Marceline ever got to see. Surprisingly, Bonnie's outfit wasn't pink.
The rocker silenced her girlfriend's laugh with a desperate kiss, which tasted of dirty saltwater and rough sand, all the while sweet just from the moment they created.
"I love you." Bonnie managed in between their kisses.
"I love you more."
"You guys are gross," Marshal commented from the shore, lobbing a wet ball of sand at Marceline's shoulder. It splattered everywhere before the ocean reclaimed it with a small wave.
Marceline pouted. "You're just jealous that no one loves you."
"Garrison loves me!" He shouted, sharing the same pout as his sister. "Right?"
Garrison could only manage to roll his eyes. "You wish I loved you."
The way Marshal's face gaped at his boyfriend's comment made Marceline bend over laughing, almost forcing her to swallow saltwater in the process.
"You know what I can't wait for?" Bonnie asked, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's waist, bringing her as close as she possibly could. Marceline noticed how she was fiddling with the hem of her black swim trunks.
"Hm?" Marceline allowed herself to be pulled so closely, attempting to lull the sexual thoughts that begged to come forth.
"I can't wait for the bonfire tonight. Snuggle up close with you, " Marceline swallowed when Bonnie pulled her closer. "and for all of us to share ghost stories."
"Have a little wine?" Keila added. Her usual curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail and topped with a baseball cap. The wetsuit she was wearing was almost solid black, with touches of the same red as her hat. All of it was very slimming, she had to admit the outfit fit nicely on her friend. And by the sight of the surfboard, she was carrying, she assumed Rain and Jake would join her soon.
Bonnie looked back at Marceline with a smile. "I wouldn't mind some wine."
Marceline smirked. "Ooo, miss goody-two-shoes is going to drink, eh?"
"Verpiss dish, Marceline. I do not want to be the only one sober."
"Uh oh, Marceline." Marshal teased. "You made her speak French, now you've done it."
"It's German, num-nuts."
Keila gave a quick wave before heading off to join the other couple as they passed.
"Bongo?" Bonnie asked Bongo as he plopped himself in the sea next to Marceline. "Are we actually gross?"
Bongo blinked, surprised at the question. "It could be worse. I don't necessarily mind though. It's nice to see Marceline so happy."
"I make her happy?"
Marceline managed to squirm her way out of her girlfriend's arms at that moment, standing in the knee-high waters. "Wow, maybe I should go join Keila now."
"You don't know how to surf." Bongo pointed out.
"Guess I'm just itching to learn."
A loving look appeared on her the pinkette's face and she couldn't tell if the heat she was feeling was the sun or an oncoming blush. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed."
"Oh my God," Marshal whined. "Go be lovey-dovey somewhere the fuck else, before I uber your asses back home."
"Fuck off."
The pinkette took hold of her girlfriend's hand before kissing her cheek. "I'm gonna grab the sunscreen. I don't want to hear you whining about a sunburn like you did last time."
She desperately tried to hide a smile. "Thanks, Bon."
The beach became crowded soon after. There were plenty of surfers in the distance, some even making moves on Keila. Though they were a pretty decent distance from the beach, anyone could pinpoint Rain immediately. Her neon blue and yellow surf suit was practically sending signal flares.
Bonnie and Garrison ended up grouped together, both of them picking up rocks and shells. As Marshal put it: they're 'sciencing'.
Guy and Marshal ended up building sandcastles, each trying to build the biggest and most convoluted monument they could muster. Marshal must have come prepared, bringing out saran wrap to assist with keeping the water in the mote. For obvious reasons, he was called out on his cheating, no matter how brilliant the idea. And yes, Marceline was going to steal his idea in the future.
Bongo ended up hanging out with her for the few hours they were there. At some point, he ended up meeting up with someone from one of his classes. Marceline never caught her name, but she didn't ignore the smile he had when he saw her.
"Marce, I think I may be in love with her." He whispered when that girl ended up leaving with her group of friends.
She hid a chuckle, deciding to keep the fact that she already knew that to herself. "I'm glad you're able to love so easily."
"What do you mean?"
She shrugged. "Love comes easy to you. I think that's wonderful." In all honesty, Marceline didn't like thinking cynically on how fast others fell in love. She had heard too many love at first sight stories to dismiss the possibility.
"Didn't you fall in love with Bonnie after you guys had met?"
"Definitely not." The rocker laughed, thinking back. "I didn't like her for a while after we met. I wish I could tell you what I didn't like about her, but I couldn't tell you now. Funny thing is, Keila had to convince me that I didn't hate her."
Bongo sat in the sand and began digging a hole to bury himself in. "She had to convince you?"
Marceline sat next to him, nonchalantly adjusting her high rise bikini top. "I liked being around her, I just didn't want to admit it."
"Sounds complicated."
"You're telling me."
He stopped for a moment to glance over at the rocker. "Keila said she knew you two would fall in love as soon as she met her."
"It's because she knows me better than I even know myself."
"Who?" It was odd how Keila always materialized into thin air the way she did. She must have had some secret power she wasn't sharing. She'd have to interrogate her about that later.
"We were talking about how you had to convince me that I liked Bonnie."
Keila wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulder. Marceline tried to disregard how her wet suit was soaking and dripping onto her dry swimwear. "That's because you're the most unobservant person I've ever met. You don't even notice when you like someone, Marcy. The fact I had to tell you is fucking ridiculous. I didn't even understand why you hated her in the first place."
"Who knows. Hey, can we get something to eat? I'm starving."
"Rain and Jake are putting the surfboards in the Jeep. So we should be good to go when they're done making out."
"Chipotle?"
"Chipotle." Marceline agreed.
The night was cloudy and the moon never had the availability to show itself, covered by upcoming storm clouds. The group decided not to make a bonfire outside but instead gather in the living room drinking wine by the fireplace.
Bonnie was sad that Finn wasn't able to join them, but knew underage drinking probably wasn't something she'd be okay with him doing. Though, she was still underage and calling the kettle black.
She never took the opportunity at parties to drink, instead, preferring small get-togethers with friends. It put her mind at ease being with those she trusted.
At one point in the night, Garrison walked into the room with a cake that had 'Happy Birthday Bonnie' written on top. Normally she wouldn't be ecstatic about celebrating her birthday with everyone like this, especially considering her birthday wasn't for another week. Though she had to admit, she never had this much fun celebrating her birthday before.
After blowing out the candles, eating cake and drinking wine, the room went back to silly side conversations.
Throughout the night Marceline's never left her side, her arm draped around her waist, her thumb rubbing circles into her side; a constant reminder that Marceline was thinking of her. Every so often she'd glance down at her with that sparkle in her warm russet eyes.
One thing she noticed that night is how easily Marceline smiled now. How her usual smirks were replaced with big grins. Bonnibel wondered what triggered her to feel so happy. The fact that she was in love? Surrounded by her closest friends? Drinking? All of the above?
Their eyes met and Marceline's usual smirk came into play. "You're staring at me again." Marceline pointed out lowly.
"You're smiling." Was the obvious answer.
The rocker's eyebrow raised. "What do you mean? I always smile." Her voice was so soft then, so smooth.
"You've been smiling a lot more. It makes me so happy."
If Bonnie could even begin to explain how warm she felt seeing the smile that exploded on her girlfriend's face just then, she would. At that moment, words evaded her. "You make me so happy, Bonnibel."
"Can every day be like this?"
"I'll make sure of it."
Bonnie laid her head on her girlfriend's strong shoulder, subtly taking in her intoxicated strawberry scent. "You're too good to me."
"You deserve it, my princess." She whispered, leaving a kiss on the top of her head.
A loud crash of thunder forced Bonnibel upright in her bed. Marceline stirred in her sleep, but didn't wake up. She swore Marceline could sleep through an apocalypse.
It was nine in the morning already. From the sound of it, she could hear someone in the kitchen making breakfast-most likely Rain. She had no idea how many of her friends were up though.
She decided to lay back down next to her girlfriend, who stayed peacefully asleep, outside the small amount of drool dried onto her cheek.
Bonnie couldn't help but smile.
"Marcy," She cooed, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend's waist. "I'm up and I want to cuddle."
Her girlfriend let out a squeak of a sigh and engulfed her girlfriend in a bear hug. "Don't wake me up, you jerk. I was having a wonderful dream about Kristen Stewart. We were getting married."
"You cheated on me?" Bonnie fake gasped.
"Oh, don't act like you wouldn't marry Kristen Stewart if given the chance."
"Over you? Never."
"I'll figure out your celebrity exception one day. As for today, we're gonna sleep in." She stated, squeezing Bonnie's tiny frame in her arms and kissing her forehead.
"We have to leave in two hours."
"Then wake me in two hours minus one minute." Was her muffled reply.
"You're hopeless."
"You love it."
The time came where they all had to leave. Unfortunately, it was already pouring out and a lightning storm began dancing across the sky. Perfect fractures split and illuminated the grey air. The cracks of thunder that came after could be felt in their chests.
Review Time!
eserpapereira:I know this is quite a bit of a late reply, but I wanted you to know that seeing reviews like that definitely pushes me to keep writing. I'm determined to finish this one up, because I'm so very proud of the writer I've become because of it.
