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The overlap of the waves crashing against the bank and Dess' wiffle bat trailing against the ground, leaves parting as she did, were the only things Asriel could focus on, the both of them not having one of these late night walks in ages meaning a slight awkwardness was in the air, as Dess guided him through the trees.
'You gonna trail behind me the whole time, big guy?" Dess sneered as she weakly gestured back at him.
'I'm just like,' Asriel muttered, pulling at small seams of his jacket. 'thinking.'
'Thinking?'
'Yeah.'
'About what?' Dess whirled around, almost making Asriel smash into her. Her eyes meeting Asriels.
'Just like, what the futures going to be.' Asriel spoke, trailing his voice out as he saw Dess' face shift. He felt like they had been dancing around the idea of him leaving for college for ages. Only really seeing it as something in the mere future. not a definite.
'College? You think you’re going for it?' Dess mused, as she tilted her head slightly. 'I mean, I know this towns shit, trust me' she scoffed 'Though we promised we could make it better.'
'Why not even work with your dad for a bit?'
'As a cop, that's like… the last thing I thought you'd ever want me doing?" He cracked a slight smile.
Dess' bat came up, poking Asriel's belly, 'I know that dumbass!' she rolled her eyes, 'You could be like, a cool cop y'know? Not pick me up when I tag something, or even…' Dess' tongue stuck out as she ruffled in her pocket, pulling out a melted chocolate snack, almost shoving it in Asirels face. 'take bribes!'
'Dude. No.' Asriel pouted, as he put down Dess' hand, before she tossed the snack behind her, sticking to the lunch tables.
Dess shifted back a little, her eyes refusing to part from his, a slight pout on her lips. Barely visible under the darkness.
'Are you mad?'
'Why would I be?' She probed, 'I just wanted to relax, y'know? Especially if we don't know how long we got in this stupid town.' she sighed as she balanced her bat on the lunch table, using it to help her sit on the top.
'I mean, it's still ages till I will have to leave, we still have time.'
'I know that Azzy! I'm not stupid.' Dess sighed as she slumped onto her back, staring at the sky, 'I still don't want you to leave just, we are like, the only two who get each other! Keep Kris and Noelle in check, and if you leave for college, I'll be an adult, stuck with all these other stupid adults.'
'Your mom?'
'You know when to say the worst things.' Dess grumbled, crooking away from the sky, her face clinging to the grates.
'I know.' He chuckled, with a tired smirk as he joined Dess on the table, staring at her back, his cheek fur feeling warmer. 'but you know I don't have to leave alone.' Asriel spoke, rubbing dess' arm, 'I know you'd rather be stuck with me, that is if its in this town, or wherever college is.'
Dess sighed as she turned to face Asriel, their eyes meeting once again, their breath meeting. Everything finally meeting, the moon kissing both of their faces.
'Well, I suppose, that if I'm here with you, I could learn to love it.'
'Seriously?'
'Yeah, I've been trapped here for long enough, what's a little longer.' Dess snickered as she playfully punched his arm. 'maybe it wouldn't have worked out, you working alongside your dad.' Dess trailed off, picking a random rock off of the table, and catching it up and down. 'You're an inmate, like me, living out this awful prison sentence.'
'How utterly corny.' Asriel winced, hiding a smile, 'maybe it only feels like that because of how much your mom has to ground you.'
'Dude.' Dess moved a little.
'I know things in your house are all fine and dandy, but my mom can be a lot, what else am I meant to do? How else is Noelle gonna stick up for herself, especially with how much Kris dicks about!"
'Careful.'
Dess grunted, Asriel turned, 'You know we do not have to make this our final chapter? You can come to college as well, rent a dorm out together.' Asriel rambled 'don't sell yourself short, you're damn good at sports, those instruments as well, all you would need to do is-' Asriel cut himself short, but Dess still reacted, looking up.
'Needa do what?'
'Like, y'know, study a bit more, tests are coming up, and they are gonna get more serious each year.' Asriel spoke more sternly. 'I want a future with both of us, we can get that.'
'We can get what you want, Asriel.' Dess rolled her eyes, readjusting her coat. 'I don't care about college if it’s just some fartsy degree, if its music or something creative… sure, though I could just join a band if I wanted that, or like, join the army, some shit like that, I just dunno dude. We're halfway through being teenagers and you're already tryna put some pressure on me!'
'I am not!' Asriel shifted uncomfortably, still refusing to break their gaze, it made him feel like she would not leave. 'Look, at church… when our moms speak.'
'Just not right now Azzy.' Dess sighed. 'I get you care for me, it's nice you do.' Dess went up, tossing her bat into the grass with a soft thump. 'but I'm my own person, I'm dealing with it.'
'Dess…'
'I'll see you tomorrow? 'ight?' Dess said as she walked off back into home town, leaving Asriel once again with the noises of ruffling leaves. He peered sadly at her bat, the only thing marking her presence, as Asriel fell back onto the table with a massive sigh.