Chapter Text
The sea’s salty breath tickles the nape of Darrell's neck. Though, by no means is it more distracting than the weight of Sally’s hand in hers.
Sally’s soft grasp leads Darrell around the rock pools and over the slippery rocks of the foreshore. Unbalanced by the weight of the brimming picnic basket, Darrell almost slips, though Sally catches her before Darrell is able to hit the seaweed covered rocks. Though under the weight of Darrell, Sally topples to the ground, with Darrell almost sitting on her lap.
“That was close”, Sally says grinning from ear to ear.
Darrell can’t help but notice the sweet trace of Sally’s perfume, as she sits still collapsed in Sally’s lap.
“Too close, but luckily I have a dear friend like you”, Darrell smiles as she says the word friend, and subsequently bursts into a giggle. Is she making her feelings for Sally too obvious? Though of course, Darrell is not blind to Sally’s glances during Class, just a beautiful second too long, and is certainly not blind to the electricity radiating from Sally whenever the two are together.
“Come on then, you silly thing, we have a picnic to devour”, Sally wipes away a smudge of wet sand, which had somehow settled on Darrell's Cheek.
The two brush off, and picnic basket in hand, continue on along the coast. Darrell has a perfect spot in mind for the two’s picnic, in which she had encountered Ron after cooling down after yet another Qwen incident.
After a short time, Darrell recognises the spot. Two large rocks create almost a shield from the wind, yet the view of the sea is stunning, the waves twinkling like jewels.
“I think this is the spot I was thinking of, do you think here is good?” Darrell asks Sally.
“Why, I think it's marvelous Darrell. I’m so glad the rain has held off, its turned into quite a scrumptious day”
Sally unravels the tartan picnic blanket that she had been carrying under her arm, and spreads it out over the sand. Darrell finds this gesture absolutely divine, and doesn't realise she is staring until Sally looks up.
“Oh come on Miss Rivers, you could help instead of just standing there”, though Sally is finding the situation quite amusing, and is only joking, hence the ‘Miss Rivers’. Darrell secretly adores the few times Sally calls her this, this time being even more dreamy than the others. Darrell feels her cheeks go up in flames, and desperately hopes Sally can’t see her very obvious blushing.
The two girls take a seat on the rug, and Darrell places the picnic basket between them.
“Come on Sally, open it up”.
Darrell had managed to sort a mish mash of things for the picnic, even pulling Cook's leg into letting her have a bottle of fresh lemonade, knowing Sally falls head over heels for the drink.
“Oh lemonade, you didn’t!!” Sally cries
“Oh yes I did! Anything for you ” Darrell Says, falling quieter on the later part. She’s not sure if Sally heard or not, as she excitedly starts pulling out the other scrummy things Darrell packed.
“Humbugs! Fruit cake! Ooo even tinned peaches!!! Where did you get all these delightful things?” Sally asks admiringly
“Oh you know, I have my ways”, Darrell jokes.
Sally winces and clutches her stomach.
Sally does her best to cover it up, though Darrell saw, and worry instantly floods her head.
“Oh it’s nothing” Sally tries to shrug it off, but Darrell won’t let her get away with it that easily.
“Are you sure? You don’t need to see a doctor? My daddy could always-”
“I’m fine!!”, Sally snaps, interrupting Darrell.
It’s been years since the terrible night Darrell's father removed her Appendix. Sally should be all better now, her father promised her. Darrell remembers reading in one of her father’s books about all the dreadful things that can happen after an operation- but it’s been so long, so what could be wrong now? Darrell’s head hurts, for the first time she feels this overwhelming sense of concern. Inside her, every single feeling is consuming her, though she can’t get past a deep worry for Sally.
Is this what it feels like to be in love?
Darrell would do anything for Sally.