Work Text:
It’s eerily quiet at this time of night. So much so that it feels to Sterling like the rest of the world just might not exist. There are no cars passing by too loudly, no birds chirping incessantly, no voices chattering mindlessly. The only sound echoing down the street is that of her and April’s bare feet softly slapping against the concrete footpath as they walk side by side along it. And it’s nice, this complete lack of everything else that currently plagues their worlds. There aren’t any parents talking, the sounds of letters of acceptance tearing open, of expectations ramifying between the girls’ ears, of zips gliding on suitcases and tape screeching across cardboard boxes preparing for a new life.
They’ve walked for around an hour and it’s all been cloaked in this perfect stillness of sound. Which is okay because a lot can be said in silence. Even the shrug of April’s shoulders when she appeared at Sterling’s backdoor, an alerting text reading ‘Come outside’, was probably more than enough syllables for the evening.
The two stop under a street light, both turning to examine the posters and fliers haphazardly taped to it, advertising local band gigs and missing animals who’s owners the girls could probably pinpoint their exact position in the pews at church.
They stand.
And then they stand some more.
The air around them is warm, so while Sterling does keep her hands tucked up inside the wristbands of her hoodie, her and April’s exposed legs clad only in pajama shorts don’t prickle with any chill. April’s eyebrows just furrow in thought as she considers the typos on an advertisement for a lawn mowing service taped below her eye level.
They stand.
Because neither of them wants to go home just yet.
So the moon extends her loving arms made up of a fond yellow glow the sun sweetly provides from the other side of the world and holds the two for as long as she can. And Sterling and April each watch the other’s face being gently fluttered with kisses by the residual light.
They both know the sun needs it’s own turn in the sky too though, and the moon can’t hold it back forever, try as she might.
With a gentle sigh, Sterling shimmies her hands out of her sleeves and places them on April’s cheeks, thumbs caressing in the slightest of motions. April’s eyes shine up at her, hopeful but knowing. Her hands move to hold Sterling’s wrists, her own thumbs offering a soothing rhythm against the fabric beneath them.
“We’ll be okay,” April offers, voice hoarse from their unspoken conversations.
“I know, I know,” Sterling nods, though her expression remains somber and apprehensive.
They’re exhausted but there’s an air of relief that they still have hope after all that’s been – a deep knowing buzzing all around them, along with the bugs that cling desperately to the lamp overhead. Even each insect seems to echo the sentiment,
We’ll be okay.
The whole night seems to be putting effort in to agree; the stars shining and shimmering with faith reflected in April’s eyes, the grass beneath Sterling’s feet soft and welcoming as she steps onto her family’s lawn, the moonlight safely guiding her inside her home, the floorboards remaining quiet as she pads across them, and Blair’s sleeping figure keeping still, mind in a distant world as Sterling slips under the covers to join her warm body.
Her and April can go on a walk tomorrow night. Or they can catch up in a year.
“I’ll see you when I’ll see you,” April had whispered. “But until then-“
“Take care,” Sterling agreed.