Work Text:
bright giggles ring out from under the protection of hawkin's forest, coming from the bank by the side of the lake. there lay a picnic blanket, decorated with food and drinks alike, all refreshments for the four teens that converse there.
a girl with short, curly brown hair lists off fact after fact about the local butterflies, slightly jumping up and down in glee, before beginning to sit down.
jane looks to another girl, of which has braided ginger hair and a wide smile spread across her face. max nods periodically at the brunette's words, laying down on the plaid blanket.
the sound of a dampened brush on canvas accompanies the bouncy movements of will's arm. his cheeks are sunkissed, yet they sit still as he concentrates.
another boy runs laps around the blanket, running to the easel every so often to whisper some words of encouragement to the artist, accompanied by a quick kiss on the forehead. lucas joins in on the conversation occasionally, smile wide no matter what.
"did you know the celastrina neglecta has a wingspan of-" el continues, happily in her own world under the shade of thick branches. she sits down with crossed legs, intertwining one of her hands with max's, the other hand stroking a stray daisy.
"oh really? that's incredible, evie. you're super smart." the redhead says, smiling softly at her girlfriend's ramble, and squeezing her hand slightly. el stops speaking, diverting her eyes to max's. her gaze meeying max. she smiles warmly and kisses her on the cheek, upside down.
"max is-" lucas starts, crouching slightly to catch his breath before continuing. el detatches her lips from max's cheek, looking to lucas until he finishes speaking. "right, el. you're really smart. it's totally stellar!" he continues. "thank you!" el chirps. lucas nods in acknowledgment, then grabs a bottle of water and chugs half of it, heading over to will.
his eyes gaze over the canvas, as a gasp slips from his throat. "oh holy smokes, this is rad.. you're doing great!!" he says, enraptured by the fact that his boyfriend's hands made this masterpiece. will's face tints a dusty pink as a wobbly smile sneaks onto his complexion.
"ah.. thank you luc! i'm glad you like it.." he says breathily, still flustered. the taller simply smiles and places a soft kiss onto his temple before heading off to run again.
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a gentle breeze drifts though the leaves and weaves around the teens as late noon sets in. food lays on the blanket, most of which has been eaten already. a couple of pears and slices of pie remain.
"hey el, pass me a pear please?" will says, nitpicking the details of his artwork while the brush resides between his index and middle fingers. without a response, el shifts to grab a pear, picking out the prettiest one before chucking it over to her brother.
"thanks! oh and, what was the one butterfly you told me about yesterday? can you describe it again?" the artist speaks, placing down his paintbrush and sitting down on a chipped wooden stool.
the brunette gasps, her eyes gleaming with unadulterated glee as her hand tap a happy little beat on her lover's hand. will's eyes divert from the pear and over to his kin, smiling softly at her. i'm glad she's finally able to be happy.. he reflects. "can i really?" el squeaks, overwhelmingly cheerful. will's eyes soften as he nods, before telling el to continue.
max's hand clutches el's, listening to her talk more abou the butterflies she loves. the redhead smiles,very much in love with her. what's funny is, evie will never know how much she means to her.
to max, el is the sound of cool rain in summer, the near-silent fall of snow in harsh winters, the crunch of fallen leaves in autumn and the smell of the freshly bloomed lilacs in spring. she's the spring in her step, the warmth of her affection, the bubbling of laughter in her throat. max is deeply, deeply in love with this girl and doesn't regret a thing.
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max is set free of her gush as el plasters kisses to her forehead and temples. she notices it is considerably colder, and she can hear lucas and will conversing lovingly in the background. "max, it's evening. we should probably get going."
ah, max forgot time existed. fuck time, she wanted to be held for longer. regardless, she sighs with a smile. "right. can you help me up, evie?" she asks, waiting for a hand to slip into hers.
"of course! here.." the ringing of her partner's voice replies, as a hand grabs onto hers and pulls her up carefully, as to not trip over. they stand still for a minute, gaining their balance until the taller hears the rustle of the blanket she was just on.
as the blanket is tucked and stored with the leftover treats from earlier, her girlfriend's arm links around her own as she begins to step along to the rhythm the other set.
yellow, rusted streetlights illuminate the path back to their neighbourhood, jokes and advances made on the trek. lucas is the first to arrive home. he sends off his lover with a tender kiss goodbye and an "I LOVE YOU!" added as an afterthought.
giggles are exchanged until max's trailer is reached. el feels max's arm unlink from hers as the door slides open and max's mother beckons her in. before leaving, max holds el's face and gives her a sweet kiss goodbye. a good sweet, something as smooth and filling as honey. el's smile wobbles in fluster as she says a stuttered goodbye to her "maxie".
el and will walk home then, to the cabin where they reside until their parents can get a house. "okay then, 'eeeeviieeeee~~'" will jokes in a sing song tone after a remark from his sister. el gasps in mock offense as she places a hand over her heart. "how DARE you mock my GIRLFRIEND?!" she begins in 'anger', "GET BACK HERE BYERS!!" she yells with a giggle, chasing her kin down the dingy roads and into the forest.
"catch me if you can, ellie!!!" he laughs, still sprinting away.
"oh you are SO DEAD!"