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Cubby usually had good days. Many things didn't bother him as much as they used to, and he cared much less about what others thought... nonetheless, it didn't stop him from overthinking from time to time.
Did I say the right thing? Was I too self-centered?
He just lay on a hammock now in Pirate Island's comfort, enjoying the warming sun of the fading day and the cool shade that the palm above offered. Earlier in the day, he had hung out with his best friend, Stormy, and then decided just to hike up some of the valleys in Neverland to chart out maps. He didn't really do much besides that, but he did enjoy the feeling of the warm summer breeze.
However, all the time he had been thinking... had he spoken only about himself? He realized mid-stroke of a brush that he hadn't heard much of what Stormy had been up to. He was a bit caught up in talking about how much Jake and Izzy's fights were draining him quite a bit that he forgot to ask her what she's been up to all these weeks.
So did I say the right things? Was I too self-centered in talking about my problems only?
He held his arm in the air, flexing his fingers. Hm. I should talk to her. And so, he did.
He got up, didn't bother asking Jake about Bucky, and just took the ship with himself to Neverland. When he arrived at Mermaid Lagoon, the moon parallel to the sun, Stormy was chatting and laughing with her sister, Marina, and two other mermaids that Cubby never really talked to, but knew their names to be Nerissa and Morgan.
When Bucky rang his bell, the mermaids turned, and Cubby waved at them from afar. Marina and the other mermaids waved back, but Stormy seemed confused. Nonetheless, she dived into the water and shortly after emerged close to Bucky. "Hi, Cubs!" She smiled. "Lost on your way to Pirate Island?"
Cubby snickered. "I never get lost."
"I know." She chuckled. "That's why I gotta ask why you are here?"
Cubby thought about it for a second before he said. "I just wanted to know how your days were."
Stormy eyed him, caught off guard by the question. "You were here earlier, wouldn't you know that?" She said, amused.
"Well, technically yes," Cubby said, shrugging before leaning on the railing. "But I realized I never asked you how your week was... that I only talked about myself, and I'm not sure I'm content with that."
Stormy eyed him warmly. "Eh, a pirate gotta vent about... pirate, things... I think." She shook her head gently. "But really, I don't mind if you haven't, you know? We spent the day together, and we hung out and had fun. There's no more to it, nor am I upset about you not asking about me. My week wasn't really anything special, either way."
"I know... but still, it's the right thing to do," Cubby said with a smile. "So you can start telling me."
Stormy laughed heartily. "A pirate with a heart of gold, even through the most mundane things." She turned towards the lagoon. "Come on then, get down on the sand. We can talk a bit more."
As she dove away, Cubby smiled gently. "Right on it." He murmured before just sailing with Bucky further into the cove, the rhythm of the waves calm under the lifting moon.