Chapter Text
Prologue:
“This is going to be the best summer ever, I can feel it.” cedar says as she splays her limbs out on the picnic blanket, invading the others space in the process.
“It has never been a good summer when someone says that” moss complains, pushing cedars hand away from where it had been squashed against their face “don't be like that” micah says. “just think how amazing it is that we are starting this summer with something as beautiful as stargazing.”
moss rolls their eyes, not wanting to admit that it was beautiful, all of them squished together on a old picnic blanket micah found in her closet, looking up at the twinkling stars, it really was the best start to summer that they had ever had.
“ yes, yes, beautiful, aesthetic, demure, and all that shi-” micah slaps her hand over Alex's face before he can finish his sentence.
He bites her hand. Micah yells out in disgust checking her hand for rabies long enough for Alex to finish calling out “can you all shut up so i can actually enjoy the stars?” Cedar giggles at the whole thing while Micah and Moss roll their eyes but they all settle into a comfortable silence, shoulders rubbing together, pinkys barely touching, cold air turning their noses a pinkish shade.
The only thought on their minds was how this summer could be the best one yet.
“Ringgg”
A loud ringing sound splits through the silence, cedar fumbles as she goes to pick it up.
The others look at each other with equal concern as cedar walks a decent enough distance away from the picnic blanket so as to not disturb the others.
“Hey dad-”
Micah's gray eyes narrow when cedars dad is mentioned, she doesn't want to admit that she doesn't like the guy but it's hard not to when she sees how he treats cedar.
Cedar flinches away from the phone as a booming voice come yelling through the speaker
“I know, I know I just thought-” more screaming from her phone. “I'm sorry.” she hangs up the phone and takes a breath, she wipes away small tears that had found their way down her face. She doesn't want her friends to fret.
Alex sits a bit closer to cedar as she sits back down, touching their knees together as a way of providing comfort, they're all concerned but they know cedar doesnt want them to worry, it's just so hard to ignore the obvious tear stains on her face. “Sorry guys, i think i forgot to do the dishes or something” she laughs, trying to make the clear lie more believable. “ Anyways I'd better get home and do those” none of them are happy with this but what are they supposed to do “honestly it's getting pretty late anyways we should probably pack it up” micah says, not wanting cedar to feel as though shes missing something.
The others help fold up the blanket micah and cedar getting into their own cars as both moss and alex get in moss’s car, “ i wish we all were next door neighbors” cedar thinks out loud as shes getting into her car “ alex and moss are so lucky” she dreams “ i agree” micah says despite thinking about how chaotic that would be she still thinks it would be wonderful.
As they all pull out of the local park parking lot cedar can't help but think that she ruined the get together.
What a way to start the “perfect” summer.