Chapter Text
The days leading up to the Beach Festival were chaotic, and Graminova and Andi didn't get much of a chance to see each other. The only time was when Andi was dropping off supplies that Aurelius needed for his stand. They would say their hellos, and Andi would hand him a sack of seeds she had salvaged from the crops she grew, and he would hand her a potted tulip.
The tulips itched the back of her mind, but Andi couldn't remember why they were significant. Though, she didn't have the time to think further about it as the others needed her help to get set up. Andi acted as the gofer for everyone; she ran back and forth between her house where she had all her tools set up, and the beach. On the last day of set up she made sure to gather treats from the cafe on the last day of set up to congratulate everyone for their hard work.
The next day will mark the end of summer, the celebration of everyone's freedom, and hope for the coming harvests. It will also be Andi and Graminova's first chance to spend time together since they started dating. They didn't plan anything extravagant, just that they would walk around together when they both had downtime.
The following day was a blur as Andi tried participating in each of the events. She ended up scaring all of the crabs away during the round up, as she didn't understand what she was supposed to do. She also spent a good chunk of the morning racing in Delphin's racecourse, running through it multiple times dropping time each run. When it came time to meet up with Graminova on the Board Walk Market, she felt like a giddy high school-er ready to just walk around with him.
They met at Aurelius' stand so they could eat their lunch together and Andi noticed Aurelius' movements seemed a little stiff compared to normal when cooking. Andi chalked it up to Aurelius being nervous, considering the stand is his first time running something like this. To set him more at ease, she smiled and said, "You've got this, and you've cooked for us before, just treat it like normal."
"Thank you for the sentiment." Aurelius was his standard self, coming off a little cold, but he was still trying to show his appreciation.
Andi and Graminova both ordered a serving of fried fish, and they sat at the counter to eat as they had been standing all day and wanted to take advantage of the time to sit. They didn't talk much just a brief summary of their days. Though when Andi described the issues she had with the crabs, it made Graminova snort his beverage unexpectedly, and Andi hurriedly grabbed napkins from the dispenser to hand to him.
Aurelius walked up at that moment as both were slightly frazzled, "I actually have something especially prepared for the two of you, to thank you for assisting me with the stand. Unfortunately I only had enough time and ingredients to prepare one serving, so the two of you would need to share. "
"That's fine, we can share." Andi gave a quick smile, while Graminova nodded.
Aurelius gave his own nod before saying, "I will get it now." When he approached them, he held a glass dish in his hand that looked like a martini glass but was thicker. "This is a lychee watermelon sorbet. The lychee and watermelon were both sourced from Graminova's produce; it is garnished with lemon zest and lychee berry."
Andi let a small gasp escape, "This is amazing, it looks beautiful!"
While Graminova let out a, "It looks good, thank you."
Andi's head whipped around looking for a spoon and Graminova held one out to her when she couldn't locate one immediately. When she took a delicate scoop of the sorbet and placed it in her mouth her lips melted into a blissful smile. Graminova observed Andi's delight with a smile of his own, and appeared a tad guilty when he asked Andi if she would hand him the spoon so he could try a bite.
Andi paused for a second before a mischievous smirk crossed her lips. She did not give up custody of the spoon instead she scooped more sorbet onto the spoon, and she held it out to Graminova. He did not react in the way she expected by trying to take the spoon from her. Instead, he grabbed her hand in his and guided the spoon into his mouth, maintaining eye contact with her while he ate.
"Oh," The breathless word escaped her as Andi realized her plan had backfired and now her entire face heated at this exchange. She caught a glimpse of Graminova's ears, which had also turned pink, but she was certain it was nothing compared to the heat she felt on her face.
Graminova's quiet voice broke through her flustered state releasing her hand, "Was that too much?"
Andi placed her temple against his shoulder facing away from the counter and muttering, "No, it actually made me happy, I just wasn't expecting it."
Graminova let out a soft chuckle before his head turned towards Andi's, and she felt something soft against her hair. Did he just kiss her?
"Andi! Graminova!" Delphin and Solara started walking up together.
"You should have told us you were eating lunch we would have joined you!" Solara chimed after a glance at Delphin, who's face had fallen after seeing both Andi and Graminova's closeness.
Andi had been about to respond when whatever occupied Delphin's mind passed, and he clapped Graminova on the shoulder gave it a squeeze, before jokingly saying, "We could have had lunch together, but it looks like we have been abandoned Solara."
He proceeded to grab Solara's shoulders and led them both to a different table. Solara in the meantime was whispering, "What, why aren't we eating together?"
Delphin simply shook his head. Andi meanwhile turned to Graminova once again and guiltily said, "We should tell them soon."
"They probably already suspect but they should hear it from us," Graminova's agreement made Andi feel more at ease.
"Let's tell them tomorrow, we can treat them to a meal and apologize for not eating together today. " The suggestion was made and Graminova was open to it, so Andi sent a quick message in the group chat asking if everyone wanted to meet up for lunch tomorrow before turning off her phone. They can worry about the specifics later, she wanted to spend this time with him.
When they finished their dessert, they waved goodbye at to Aurelius, Solara and Delphin and made their way down to the beach. Tourists and Islanders began enjoying the festivities, by gathering around the stage and campfires with their groups. Some making smores, others chatting excitedly.
Andi and Graminova were hands in hand when she asked him, "What do you want to do after you complete your studies on the crops?"
"Depending on the results, I may need to attend a few agriculture conferences to share my findings, but ultimately I just wish to stay on the Island. I want to be where my parents are as they get older, " Graminova didn't even seem to think on his answer before he shared it, though almost shyly he added, "and you're here," gently squeezing her hand.
"That's just like you. I do intend to stay on the island for a while yet, it's safe," a smile crept into her voice.
Graminova cocked his head slightly, "What do you intend to do?"
"I'm still figuring it out, but I'm going to try and write again. I might start small and write about the things I enjoy, maybe a blog or my own story and go from there. The world is getting more into self-publishing, it could be a ways to go, but I know I want to write again."
"Could you write a story about the island?" Graminova suggested.
"That's- not a bad idea. I have a couple different routes I could take, from a tour guide perspective or a historical fiction centered on Moonlit Forest. It would be like the stories people write about natural disasters destroying civilizations." Andi starts working herself up as ideas start drifting into her head. She angles her head towards Graminova, "Thank you, for your support, it means everything."
"I want to see you succeed, and if I can help, I will." Graminova never minced words, always saying exactly what he meant.
"You should know the same goes for you. If you need a lab assistant, or an extra pair of hands, let me know. I want to help you as well." Andi brought the back of his hand to her lips, and gave it a kiss.
"Thank you." Graminova didn't say much, but as Andi smiled at him, she lightly chuckled as she caught sight of his neck flushing.
She couldn't help herself and asked, "For the kiss or for the offer of help?"
Graminova's eyes became defiant, "Both."
This received a louder laugh from Andi, but it was her turn to be mildly flustered.
They made it to the far end of the beach to the lighthouse, and they watched as the last glimpses of sun dipped behind the waves. A few tourists came out this far, likely because of the lighthouse itself, but no one paid them any attention. They finally got to escape from the business of the festival and embrace the quiet. They could still see the stage lit up with the screen showing the pre-show that was happening. There were rumors Stella was going to perform, and Stella and Sylvain asked if Andi would perform with them, but Andi had turned them down. She'd never held a guitar in her life, and with how busy the build up to the festival was, she did not have time for last minute lessons with Sylvain.
"Do you regret turning down their offer?" Graminova asked, staring at Andi's face.
Andi herself was startled by the question, but she answered it honestly, "Mm, no, I don't. Perhaps if I was a musician I would have felt different, but I have no history in the field and I didn't not want my first experience to be on a stage. Does it look like I long for a stage?"
Graminova looked thoughtful as he said, "Perhaps not, but something else akin to being wistful then."
Andi thought for a moment, letting her head lean against Graminova's shoulder as they looked out amongst the waves that reflected the starlight. "It's likely because I missed feeling safe while being alone with someone. I'm able to pretend, but to genuinely feel comfortable being together without fear of what might happen. There's a kind of naivety that I miss from our years as teenagers, the blind trusting nature I had. Though I recall you rarely gave anyone your trust. My trust has been chipped, scratched, cracked, and broken away till nothing is left to offer, aside from the empty platitudes society demands we give others."
"You give away pieces of yourself each time you trust someone. Each person decides whether to build upon or destroy the piece they've been given. So when enough people show they would rather tear you down… Who wouldn't build walls after that." Graminova was as blunt as ever, he cared deeply.
"I don't want to be guarded on the island, its it is home after all."
"Little steps. Think of it like a wild tulip that's gone into hibernation in the winter, it gradually opens up when it is ready, not on the first day the weather is nice."
Andi laughs, "That makes a lot of sense, actually."
"I hope it does, given that I know flowers, " Graminova nodded his head.
There was a beat of silence. Andi turned towards Graminova, "Can I kiss you?"
Graminova's response was with his hand coming up to gently cup her jaw, and bringing their faces closer together and whispering into the space between their lips, "If you want to."
Andi took the plunge, leaning forward the last few centimeters and pressing their lips together. It wasn't explosive like the media depicts, like fireworks, but a delicate and precious moment. Like that of the spring wind carrying the promise of beautiful days to come. It was their moment that they carved space for the other to exist beside them. Their promise for future days to come.