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“Ohhhh Shay-la~” Tally called out through the door, after knocking and waiting a moment. “She’s coming,” Shay’s roommate, Rae responded.
After a minute, the door opened. Much to Tally’s amusement, Rae had pushed Shay out with force, strong arms enhanced with technology gripping Shay’s shoulders as to ensure that the raven-hair didn’t escape. “She was trying on clothes for the last three hours! I’ve binged sooooooo many shows without her Tally-waaaaa! Go, take her!” Rae mostly ended her sentences with exclamation marks, but Tally and her had quite a good relation. A friendship that was currently utillised for getting Shay to finally go for their date.
“Wait no, gimme one more minute,” Shay spluttered, “I’ve got this great idea for this bubbly dress, the deepest shade of blue with…”
Shay deflated and gave up when her girlfriend and her roomate shared a fond look and shock their heads in unison. “Fine,” Shay shook off Rae’s grip and linked her arm with Tally’s, “Let’s go Squinty.”
“You didn’t hear a thing,” Tally called back at Rae as the two got into their limo. Rae winked.
–
“Wow,” Shay whispered as she looked around with wide eyes, “It’s so fancy.” Tally giggled, “Aren’t you the one who brought us here, after coming on so many dates here to the point where you have a reserved seat.”
Shay waved a dismissive hand, “They change every week, it’s always impressive.”
The two sat down at their table in the VR(virtual restaurant). They counted down together before slipping on their light-weight googles. The technology and all the circuit bits and bobs had gotten so tiny and streamlined that they could fit in something like a sleeping mask. After a pause, the surroundings loaded in, and the two were transported into a new world.
Tally brushed against the grass, at awe at the texture created by just wearing techno-gloves. It was her first time, and Shay smiled softly at her partner glancing around.
“OMG SHAY SHAY THERE’S A CAT!” Tally shouted enthusiastically, pulling on her sleeve and pointed at a tabby cat. The kitty drew closer and Tally’s squealing grew higher in pitched, until it disappeared as the cat rubbed against her hand and Tally seemingly lost her voice. Less interested in animals, Shay focussed on pulling out the food and laying it out on the picnic mat, though on her girlfriends insistence she did pet the cat a few times.
They were actually eating the food in the real-world, and the two still melted in bliss as they scooped food into their mouth. They were still new to the new society that they had legal access to now, after waiting more than a decade.
After a moment of silence as they savoured their food, Tally’s voice frantically shouted, “A DEER OH MY GOSH SHAY THERE’S A DEER- THERE’S MORE! TWO! THREE! SHAY THERE’S A WHOLE HERD!”
–
After that, it was Tally’s turn to show Shay what she had prepared for their date.
“Really,” Shay winkled her nose, “What are we, Hot-Airs? Will we start calling Rae a groundling now?”
Tally sighed as she stepped into the basket, “Skinny, why are you so difficult.”
“Because I have class,” Shay shot back.
“I have ice-cream,” Tally offered. Shay rushed into the basket immediately, grabbing the cone, strawberry for her. As she nibbled off the edible-covering that kept the ice-cream cool, Tally shut the door, fiddling with the settings. Finally, the hot-air-balloon set off. Without a warning, Shay was knocked slightly off balanced, needing Tally to wrap an arm around her waist to steady her.
“Come here often princess?” Tally flirted.
“You caused me to fall,” Shay huffed, pushing Tally off. “Right off your feet?” Shay ignored Tally’s quip, propping her flawless arms on the edge of the basket.
Silently, the two watched the sunset, soft pink and orange fading into dusky blue. Shay gasped as the stars started to shine, pinpricks of light shining. What she didn’t know was that Tally had prepared for this in advance, and asked for satellites to shine light up there in the atmosphere for this display. It was still stunning, and Tally loved being in the air. Well, it was a bit boring moving so slowly.
As the balloon started to descend, the two leaned on each other.
–
“Fineeeee, I’ll admit,” Shay revealed reluctantly, a dopey grin showing that she enjoyed the more than she said, “It was quite bubbly.”
“See,” Tally nudged her shoulder.
As the two walked back home, they passed by the border of the Uglies and Pretties society. The two paused, glancing at each other. The same glint of mischief and daring that drew the two together sparkled in their eyes as they knew they shared the same idea.
“STILL HAVEN’T IMPROVED I SEE!” Shay’s wild whoops echoed through the forest as Tally chased after her.
“You sure about that?” At this moment, Tally crashed through the leaves and branches above, small cuts on her otherwise unblemished face as she smirked at Shay.
Shay yelped and Tally giggled as she sped ahead. Just like they were Uglies again, stealing hoverboards and adventuring into the forests. Gosh, Tally missed the speed and thrill. And she knew Shay did too.
After all, that was how they met. Shay was the one who taught her.
A deeply engraved memory led them both to unconsciously end up at the Rusty Ruins. Tally pulled up her hoverboard, slowing down. Shay came up beside her, reaching out for Tally’s hand as the two slowly drifted along. Tally let Shay slip her fingers with her own as the two took in the leftovers of the past.
They gazed on the twisting metal giant in a solemn silence, as if spoken disrespect would wake it up. And maybe a bit of awe, to see something so…imperfect in their Pretty world.
Tally felt Shay pull her hand out, turning curiously. Shay had stepped forward, off centre to the hover-board, a hand wait out for Tally and an expectant look.
“What, you want us to share one hoverboard,” Tally asked incredulously, “and then ride that!”
“Yes,” Shay confirmed, unabashed, “afterall, it isn’t a Skinny and Squinty date night without some thrill. Just like our first one.”
The first time being when Shay taught her how to ride the very hoverboard she was standing on.
Tally hesitated, before letting a wild grin grow on her face, “Alright.”
Shay laughed, throwing her head back. Tally waited until she had calmed down, the board stabilized, before taking the first step. The hoverboard wavered and with a rush of adrenaline, Tally jumped, moving her other feet so that both were on the board.
The two wobbled there, trying to find a balance. Without thinking, Tally wrapped her arms around Shay’s chest, holding on to her. The two were no longer at risk of falling off, but they sure were blushing like mad.
After fumbling on how to direct the board, the two got somewhat used to how shifting their weight would affect the movement, and also comfortable with how they were positioned. Tally rested her head on Shay’s shoulder to peer over at the metal path.
“Ready?” Shay breathed. “Yes,” Tally tightened her hold on Shay. “Then,” Shay glanced at her love, “Let’s go.”
The two pushed off, hoverboard clicking onto the magnetic field of the metal rails. They shrieked and yelled as they picked up speed, off balance from sharing one hoverboard and immediately going on the most dangerous track that they know for the first time. And there was the gap.
Tally was breathless as her heart dropped. Shay in front of her screamed with a piercing screech. Oh no we’re going to be off course because stupid stupid Shay wanted to ride together and we’re going to fall to our DEATH!
The air was knocked back into both of their lungs causing Shay’s vocal panic to be suddenly silenced when the hoverboard caught on to the next track. The two didn’t have any time to calm down as they sped up again.
And yet somehow, when they got to the end of the track, the two giggled uncontrollably from the exhilaration. Their stomachs felt sick for laughter and they smiled harder than ever. “That was insane,” Tally choked out before dissolving back into giggles.
After a few minutes of rest, Shay stepped off the hoverboard unsteadily, not even having a second before getting picked up by Tally, who promptly spun her around. As Tally lowered her down, the two suddenly came back to their senses, faces heating up by how close they had been for the whole ride, and now once again.
“Well,” The ends of Tally’s lips curled upwards, “Was this the best date you’ve gone on?”
Shay’s eyes, with the brilliant red rubies in them, stared with adoration, “It is. It is the best date we’ve gone on. Nothing will ever beat that.”
Both of them leaned in, gently kissing each other.