"So are you coming to the Luau?" Abigail asked as Rei examined some green tomatoes on a vine.
"What's a luau?" she asked, which had Abigail snickering.
"It's where the guys and I prank the Governor every year."
Rei looked up at Abi's mischievous smile, and felt herself matching it. "Now you're talking."
The two girls laughed as Abigail shared some of the funnier items that they placed in the large soup over the years. By the end of that conversation, Rei was convinced she had to go, just to watch the commotion if anything else.
"What are you guys going to do this year?" She asked. But realized that Abigail's smile was starting to falter. "Hey, what's up?"
"It's nothing…just…ugh" Abigail could now start using her toes to count how many times she said "ugh" that day.
"Doesn't look like nothing. Looks like you need some serious girl talk."
"You're always so perceptive and cool Rei. Like Sebastian. How do you do it?"
"I'm definitely nothing like Sebastian."
"You're right, you're way prettier."
Rei chuckled at that but then swiftly moved to grab a small basket. "Here, help me pick blueberries."
Abigail obliged, picking some and dropping them in the basket, then popping a few in her mouth. After a few silent minutes, she gathered the courage to speak again.
"Okay, so I'm in love with my best friend."
Rei could physically feel her shoulders tense up. You knew this was coming, she reminded herself. Leah told you so.
"And he's so cool, like way too cool. Like you, or Sebastian."
Wait….what?
"He plays guitar, started a band, rides a skateboard. And everyone likes him. Like it's really not hard to like Sam right? He's just, pure sunshine. Sometimes it makes me gag, but most of the time, I wish I was a part of that."
Rei was looking at Abigail now. Her face was all lit up, starry eyed as she described Sam's talents.
"I just don't know how to tell him. And there's the whole other thing where I don't think he thinks of me like that. Or that I'm even a girl." She turned towards Rei now. "I know my dad was being an ass that one day, but could you help me kind of….I dunno girl it up?" Her bottom lip was sticking out in a pout, and Rei smiled gently.
"You shouldn't have to change yourself for anyone." She said softly, remembering her own changes that she made most of her life.
"I mean, not completely change. But, it'd be nice if he saw me wearing something other than my adventuring clothes, you know?"
Rei sighed. She wasn't certain if Leah's words were true anymore. Mostly because of this new information, and Penny didn't seem like Sam's type much anyways.
"How about this: we keep your badass girl vibe, but we make it a little more feminine tomorrow for the luau?"
"Really?! Oh my god, Rei thank you so much!" Abigail was jumping up and down.
"Calm down… okay, let's redefine what you meant by girly."
They spent the rest of the late afternoon packaging the blueberries and planning Abigail's surprise outfit for the Luau.
The next afternoon, Sam's jaw dropped. Sebastian's too, but he'd never admit it. The two girls sauntered down the beach, each carrying their beach stuff. The difference however was how….confident they looked.
Rei had some make up leftover from the city. And a few accessories as well. While she didn't want to steal Abigail's spotlight, she still felt good putting on a cute tank, denim shorts and sandals. It had been awhile since her skin (legs rather) had seen the sun.
She had styled Abigail in something else entirely. Abi was wearing her purple bikini underneath a black skater dress with thin spaghetti straps. She had a wide brimmed black sunhat over her purple hair, that look brushed and curled as it cascaded down her back. Rei was going for cute summer witch look, and was pretty pleased with herself when Abigail was twirling around in it that morning.
Evidently, Abigail's parents were also pleased with her look. Caroline practically ran over gushing about how her daughter was finally showing off that pretty figure. Rei tried not to gag at the internalized misogynistic comments coming from her and instead searched the beach for friendly faces.
There was Leah and Elliot, whispering together at the end of the beach. Judging by the way Elliot was touching Leah's shoulder, she guessed he liked the sculpture. Hayley and Alex were sunbathing; Penny and Maru were doing the exact opposite and reading in the shade. The children were building sandcastles, and standing there next to Sam, was Sebastian. In his sweatshirt, of course.
"Don't you ever get heat rash in that thing?" She pointed out.
"Hey I have delicate skin" He feigned.
"Guys, cut it with the flirting and HELP ME." Sam hissed. They broke eye contact, both blushing but turned to Sam as his mouth gaped open and closed as Abigail walked towards them. It was more of a runway walk, Rei figured and was happy that Abi got to experience that. After all, claiming your inner beauty was something that everyone preached about, but was hard to grasp. And here was Abigail, seemingly not trying too hard for once, and just being confident.
Sebastian gave his friend a little push. "Go compliment her dress or something." Sam nodded, still opening and closing his mouth.
"And stop acting like a fish out of water." Rei said for good measure. He gave her a panicked look and she rolled her eye, "Oh for the love of…." And she gave him an equal push. However this time, he was not as steady and fell straight at Abigail's feet.
Rei heard a smothered laugh behind her and saw Sebastian, trying really hard to cover his face. His shaking shoulders gave it away and she cracked a smile too. Her friends were hilarious.
That thought gave her pause. Were they really her friends? Sam always offered to help out on the farm and invited her to literally do anything. Abigail was coming to her for advice. And Sebastian…. Sebastian was just helpful. In a quiet, unassuming way, his observations about her lifestyle led to actions that eased her. From setting up Internet, to handing her ore and earth crystals he found in the mines, he always seemed to know what she needed next.
"What are you thinking about?" Like now, as she turned from watching a bright red Sam try to talk to Abigail to answer his question.
"I think Sam's face matches my nail polish." She said, looking at her toes.
"I was going to comment about that."
"Oh yeah?"
"Seems like you have plenty of free time now on the farm."
She barked out a sharp laugh. "Don't be silly, I have so much to do still."
"I meant that as, I'm glad you get some self care time."
He looked earnest, those serious dark eyes boring into her brain again. How did he DO that?
"Yeah," she replied, "It's nice to have a second to myself you know?"
He hmmm'd in response. Sam and Abigail joined them a moment later, with Abigail beaming and Sam looking like he just got an early Winter Star present.
Together, they laughed alongside each other as the Governor sputtered out the soup and held out Mayor Lewis's purple shorts to berate him over. Rei swiped a tear from her eye from laughing so hard and looked up at Sebastian. He was still smiling, that half smile but his eyes said it all. It was shaping up to be a good summer so far.