Humming as he walked into the kitchen, Declan smiled widely at his sister before pouring himself a cup of coffee. She gave him a weird look, wondering why in the world he was so peppy this early in the morning. He took a sip of the coffee and grabbed the New York Times lying on the counter. His eyes searched the headlines for a moment before putting the paper back down. A chuckle escaped his lips.
"What are you so happy about, weirdo?" Fiona finally asked.
Declan pulled three tickets from his pocket and waved them in front of the girl's face. "We are going somewhere today. Can you guess where?"
Snapping the tickets out of his hands, Fiona read them to find out their destination. Her eyes widened and she squealed, throwing her arms around Declan. Holly J walked into the kitchen, looking like a zombie. "Uh, morning." She said with suspicion in her voice.
"We're going to CONEY ISLAND!" Flashing the tickets to her friend, she pulled her into the hug, making excited noises. After a moment, the three of them separated, looking awkward.
The three of them had explored New York together once before, but now the dynamic between them had shifted. A few summers ago, Fiona had been the third wheel to Holly J and Declan, but this time Declan felt like the odd one out. He wanted his sister to be happy, and he wished the same for Holly J. If he could reignite their spark, he would at least be able to be happy for them. Besides, it was looking like his chance with Holly J had long passed. He was trying his best not to feel bitter about the whole thing. Thinking back to his conversation with Holly J last night, Declan wondered if he had made an impression. He considered talking to Fiona about it, but she was so sensitive, and he didn't want to make her upset with him. He sighed as he considered this, his gaze drifting to Holly J.
"I've never been there." Holly J's voice broke through the silence as she poured herself a cup of coffee before continuing. "What is there to do?"
Fiona didn't bother to get her own cup of coffee. Instead she grabbed Declan's, sipping slowly at the warm liquid before she answered her friend's question. "Um, there's tons to do. They have rides, movies on the beach in the evenings, the Boardwalk with tons of shops and good food, an aquarium...mom and dad took us a few times when we were younger, but it's been years since we've been there. Declan, this was an awesome idea!" Turning to Holly J, she assured her, "You're going to love it."
"I thought so," Declan replied, slipping the tickets into his shirt pocket. "The tickets are for the ferry we'll be riding over to the island. Although to be precise, it's not so much an island anymore. They're calling it a peninsula, but Coney Peninsula just doesn't have the same ring to it. Anyway, we're leaving on the ferry at two pm sharp." Declan indicated, taking a sip from the cup that Fiona had stolen from him. "I'm going to hop into the shower. You ladies can fight over who gets it after me." He shot them both a knowing smile before heading to the bedroom.
Wondering what that look was all about, Fiona still managed to keep the grin on her face. She couldn't help but think of Imogen, who would've been way more excited than Holly J seemed to go to Coney Island. She leaned against the counter, looking at her best friend. "Aren't you excited?"
Holly J nodded. "Of course I am. I just...I think we need to talk."
"I hate that phrase." Fiona muttered, expecting the worst. She got up from her position on the counter, her blue eyes flickering to Holly J's, waiting to hear whatever was so important.
"I, uh...last night your brother and I talked." Holly J hadn't really thought about what she was going to say. She knew what she felt, but she was normally so composed, and not being prepared for this conversation unnerved her. Deciding to start with the conversation she'd had with Declan probably wasn't the best idea. Fiona's eyebrows knit together in uncertainty and Holly J realized what she must have been thinking-that she was getting back together with Declan. Before Fiona could say anything, Holly J explained. "Not that kind of talk. We talked about you. He noticed that I looked upset and he pushed me to talk about it. So I told him what happened, and how much of a jerk I was. Even though he still has feelings for me, he insisted that I tell you how I feel." She took in a breath.
Fiona moved forward slowly, crossing her arms to her chest. "You already made it clear that you wanted to forget what happened. What else is there to say?" She sounded hurt. Holly J didn't blame her for feeling that way, but she wished she hadn't hurt the person who meant the most to her.
"There is still a lot to be said, Fi. Just because I said I wanted to forget what happened, doesn't mean I can. It's all I've thought about, ever since it happened. I've woken up in the middle of the night, turned over to see you, and wanted nothing more than to kiss you again. But I didn't." She paused, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. "Because I was trying to do what I thought was best. I thought Imogen was better for you. I've hurt you. I had my chance. It isn't fair for me to steal you away, when you guys obviously have something."
Fiona smiled. She actually...smiled. Holly J didn't know what to think of it, nothing she'd said had been particularly sweet or by any means that happiness inducing, yet Fiona was smiling at her like she had just proposed. Dropping her arms back down, Fiona found Holly J's hands, while her eyes stared into the other girl's. "You're such an idiot sometimes." She spoke softly, squeezing the girl's fingers with her own. She eased forward, bringing their lips together. The kiss was slow and deliberate, and Fiona's teeth dug carefully into Holly J's bottom lip. Gasping, Holly J pulled away, her face reddening at the contact. "You can't steal me when I've been yours this whole time."
Holly J's breath hitched in her throat, she wondered what on earth she had done to deserve this amazing girl standing before her. She had denied her the first time, pushed her away the second, and now it seemed that Fiona was willing to give her a third chance. She was at a loss for words. Instead, she laughed. Fiona started laughing too, her arms tangling around her best friend's thin body. Her chin rested on Holly J's shoulder and she brought her lips to her freckled cheek. It was that moment that gave her the courage to say what she hadn't been sure of before. "I love you, Fiona." Her voice broke as she admitted it. "I-I don't know what it means, but I know I do. I'm not used to being this scared. But I've never met anyone like you, Fi. I've never been the type of girl that felt inadequate, or like I didn't deserve someone. That's how I feel about you, though. Your love is unconditional. You've been there for me like no one else ever has. You kept being my friend, even though I did horrible things to you. Why?"
"I believe in you." Fiona said, as if it were the simplest answer in the world. "It's so weird hearing you say those things when it's exactly how I feel. I wasn't exactly the best person when we first met. But you stuck around anyway. I fell for you, hard, before I realized that's what it was. You're the first person I've ever loved, Holly J. Even if you do stupid things sometimes, even if you've hurt me, pushed me away-you're my best friend, and I love you. In every single, heart-wrenching way."
Declan reappeared in the doorway, his hair wet. He was dressed in knee length khaki's, a polo shirt and a smile. "You guys made up?" He hinted, noticing their entwined bodies. Even though he was smiling, he could feel his heart beating quickly. Seeing them together like this wasn't easy. He swallowed hard. "I'm really glad." Approaching them, he noted the pajamas they still wore. "Why don't you guys get dressed? I'll make some breakfast." He offered, and they both nodded, peeling their limbs apart and making their way to the bedroom. As they walked away, he wondered what exactly they had said to one another. The only part he'd caught was Fiona admitting that she loved Holly J, but he'd missed the rest of the conversation. He was regretting these tickets, especially now that he had seen them make up. Maybe he'd make an excuse and let them have a couple's retreat to the island. That would be much better than being a third wheel.
He decided to make pancakes, as they were fairly easy to do and filling as well. Declan turned on the television, letting the news play in the background as he worked on their breakfast. His heart felt heavy when he heard another burst of laughter from the bedroom.
Now clothed and perfumed, Fiona and Holly J returned to the living room. Declan pulled the pancakes off the griddle and put them on a plate, bringing them to the dining room table. As the dining room was right off the kitchen and an open room, he could see the two of them standing there. He witnessed his sister's fingers brushing against his ex girlfriend's, and his stomach lurched again. "I made pancakes. Hope that's okay. And as for me, well...I've called you a taxi. I'm going to do something else with my day. I think you two deserve a nice first date. I wouldn't want to be in the way." Fiona heard the drop in Declan's voice and she moved to him, feeling guilty that he was upset.
"You wouldn't be in the way, Declan. Please, come with us." Even though she said this, he could see something else in her eyes. A glimmer of happiness. She wanted to spend the day with Holly J, and he wouldn't stand in between them, even if she had when he had been the one with the redheaded girl standing off to the side. He gave her a sad smile.
"It isn't up for debate. I realized that mom could probably use my help. After all, I'm a law major. I think I could learn something from all this. So I'm taking the car to meet her, and after that we're going to get dinner. And you two need some alone time, to work out...whatever's going on between you." Declan insisted, patting Fiona's shoulder. "Just keep me updated, okay? I couldn't bear it if you two ran off and got married Spinner style, without telling me." He laughed, but neither of them believed it.
"Are you sure?" Holly J's voice rang out as she joined them.
"Positive." He glanced at his watch. "I'd better get going." Without another word, Declan put the tickets down on the table and walked down the hall to the front door. The girls heard it close behind him and they turned to each other, both looking uncertain.
Holly J was the first to speak. "I think he means it. So let's just have fun, for him." She held out her pinkie for Fiona just like old times. Her brunette friend managed a smile and brought out her own pinkie, linking them together.
"For Declan."