It was a promising morning in early June when Connie came back to Beach City. The bright sun lit the town with warm, golden streaks. Seeing the city she once called home from atop the hill, she felt different. She wasn't the same girl who last saw this view. She'd changed. But seeing the town, the boardwalk, the citizens... she remembered who she used to be.

She brought the car to a stop at her parents' house and gathered her things. She stood at the end of the walkway, the house seeming to tower over her. After a deep breath, and a reassuring smile to herself, Connie knocked on the door.

💫

"Can you believe this, Lion?" Steven said, walking through Beach City. "I just want her to be safe, is that a crime?" He sighed in frustration. "I didn't even get my damn donut."

Lion grunted next to Steven in understanding.

"At least I've got you, buddy," Steven smiled.

Lion stopped and stared at Steven before sprinting away through his warp portal.

"Okay," Steven muttered, standing alone.

💫

"Sorry about that," you apologized to Kevin. "I mean, what are the odds that we go to the same breakfast joint?"

"There's only one place to get breakfast in Beach City," Kevin laughed.

"Yeah, so why is it always empty?"

"Because they only sell donuts and coffee. The people want more than donuts and coffee. They want donuts and coffee and... hash browns." Kevin ranted dramatically.

"Mmm, hash browns," your stomach growled.

"We should've taken a car," Kevin whined, "We can't get hash browns on foot."

"We can go to Spacetries," you suggested. "It's more dessert than breakfast, but I think it's our best option."

"What do you mean?" Kevin asked, flabbergasted. "Don't you want fish pizza? Pizza with fish? From Fish Stew Pizza???"

You laughed; "I'm all set. Come on, let's go."

💫

Connie sat on the living room couch across from her mom, catching up with her parents while her father did the dishes.

College was super weird. It was great, but Connie felt a bit out of place being a year younger than everyone else. Curse her overachieving ambitious character. She wasn't doing the whole "college experience" thing; no parties, no drugs, no alcohol. A little sex. But for the most part, she was laser-focused on her classes- all 12 of them.

She left out the parts of her time at Brown University that she thought her parents might disapprove of. Like the dorm above her that seemed to house the loudest metal heads alive, or the room down the hall that was rumoured to be haunted. She especially dodged the subject of her love life. Her parents were not the type to approve of casual sex, so they didn't need to know about Connie's Tinder profile, or the experimenting her sexuality with her roommate.

Straight? Bi? Pan? Who knows? That's what college is for.

💫

"These names are so cute," you smiled, reading the menu at Spacetries. "I'll have a Total Eclipse of the Tart, please."

"I'll have a Chocolate Ship Cookie," Kevin said.

Blue Lace Agate smiled and nodded while she bagged the pastries.

"I've got it," Kevin said, handing Blue Lace a $10 bill.

You took the bagged desserts and left through the door Kevin opened for you.

"That place is so cool," you smiled, mouth full of the tart you got. "I love the whole space vibe they've got going on."

"Agreed," Kevin replied, not wanting to talk too much with his mouth full.

You laughed, seeing the chocolate around Kevin's mouth, "pfft- dude, you look like you just ate some ass."

"Oh, come on," Kevin whipped out his phone to check his face. "I hate that you're right," he grumbled, trying to wipe the chocolate away with the sleeve of his hoodie. He was so distracted by his own reflection, the narcissist, that he didn't even notice the stranger he was about to bump into.

With an oof, the boy fell to the ground, spilling letters and packages in all directions.

"Jamie?" You said.

"Oh- hey, (Y/N)," Jamie said, frantically picking up the loose mail.

"Ah- shit, sorry," Kevin knelt down and began helping Jamie collect the letters. Their hands touched briefly and lingered for a moment, their eyes finding each other.

"Uh- it's no problem," Jamie pulled his hand back. "Really."

"O-okay," Kevin rose from his kneel and held out his hand to Jamie, who took it and stood up with Kevin's help.

"Th-thanks," Jamie avoided eye contact and adjusted his messenger bag.

"What? I just ran into you, what do you mean, 'thanks?'" Kevin said, his hand resting on the back of his neck.

"Oh, uh- I mean... thanks for helping me not lose anyone's mail? I do that a lot... my career as a mailman is hanging on by a thread," Jamie rambled, and to his surprise, Kevin laughed.

"Well, good luck to you," Kevin smiled. "I hope everyone gets their mail, and you keep your job."

"Heh, thanks," Jamie smiled before stiffly walking away. Kevin watched him go.

You stood still in awe; "WHAT was that?"

"What was what?" Kevin said, still watching Jamie.

"The tension! The cliché meet-cute! That looked like it was straight out of a Wattpad fanfic!" You grinned excitedly.

"A what?" Kevin looked at you, skeptical.

"You like him!" You said, wide-eyed.

"I-I- no! No, I don't. I'm straight," Kevin spoke with his hands.

"Straight?! Was that STRAIGHT to you?!" You couldn't help but laugh. "Kev, that was the gayest thing I've ever seen."

"Shit..." Kevin seemed to put the pieces together in his mind. "He was cute, huh?"

💫