it's an impossibly warm day and ellie adores her girlfriend. you crave lemonade.
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jackson was beginning to be enveloped by the summer sun, and you couldn't have been happier.
you didn't mind the way that the sun made you squint, or having to messily pull up your hair when the heat around your neck started to feel too overwhelming, only to realize that you had forgotten to place a hair tie on your wrist that morning.
frantically waving your hand in the heat was enough to make you feel heavy with sleep, but you continued anyway, determined not to allow your favorite friend to suffer from persistent, pesky flies.
"poor girl," you cooed, running your hand along shimmer's neck. always happy to accept your affections, shimmer inhaled quickly, puffing the breath out through her nostrils with a vibrating purr.
an easy laugh escaped you, tracing a delicate finger along the white strip down her nose.
"should've known i'd find you in here."
the familiar voice prompts an immediate smile to blossom onto your lips, one that your girlfriend would certainly argue was more beautiful than any of the flowers blooming in jackson.
"were you looking for long?" you question apologetically, eyebrows pinching together as you turned to face your visitor.
ellie shakes her head. she wore a tank top and a short sleeved, baggy button up, though it remained unbuttoned in her usual style.
"not long," she assures, pressing a brief kiss to the worried crease on your forehead. you relaxed at once, eyes fluttering shut as your cheeks warmed.
"i'm sorry i didn't wait," you mumble anyway.
ellie swats at your apology, strands of auburn slipping from the bun that held half of her hair. "you're here early today," she observed.
you nodded enthusiastically, a soft sigh exiting before your explanation. you usually went home first after work, normally to eat while asking ellie about her day and then confiding in her about yours.
today was different, prompted by the weather. perhaps a little sunshine really was good for the soul. everyone seemed happier today. even ellie looked more relaxed than usual, eyes bright while you spoke.
"i know," you enthuse. shimmer nudges your arm. "it's just so beautiful today, isn't it? we didn't have the heart to keep the kids indoors... i mean, we could've had class outside but then really, what's the point?"
you were somewhat of a teacher in jackson, helping out with the younger children. there were actual teachers, too, people who went to school and had fancy qualifications, once upon a time. you were a notorious babysitter, sweet and patient and first on the list when the school needed a bit more help. you were happy to oblige, finally feeling as though you had found your footing.
you were hopeless for patrol, never quite got comfortable with the feeling of a gun weighing down your hand. it was fulfilling, teaching at the school. it was your second favorite place in jackson, the first being anywhere with the animals that you adored.
"i think i could guess who the ring leader for that idea was..." ellie mused, looking at you with nothing but adoration in her eyes.
your eyes widening was enough confirmation and one corner of ellie's mouth quirked up, a lopsided grin.
"it was just too nice," you defended meekly.
ellie rolled her eyes, a false twinge of annoyance coating her tone but you knew she was only joking. "so you're the reason why i got harassed by loud children on my walk over? this time of day is usually peaceful."
you playfully shoved at her arm, not enough to make ellie even sway.
"hey," you warned, voice soft.
shimmer huffs and you raise your hand, scratching under her chin.
"so you came here to spoil shimmer?" ellie accuses, patting her horse as well.
"she deserves it," you grin, brushing your hands together to rid them of any dust.
"yeah? she's not the only one," ellie offers you her hand, fingers flexing while she waits. "let's get you home, ring leader."
your cheeks warmed and you graciously accept, interlocking your fingers with ellie's.
"how was it this morning, by the way?" you ask, shielding your eyes with your free hand as you exit the stables. the path is dusty but the nearby grass is so lush, it's a sight for sore eyes.
walking alongside ellie must've been a sight too, for any other resident in jackson. her clothes were dusty and faded from her early patrol, surely she needed to shower yet, and a cut was healing on her chin. she nearly always had a frown etched onto her lips. tense. you were well put together, considering, the only filth being that on your hands as evidence from a trip to the stable.
a pretty petal and her weed, ellie once joked, but you were quick to scold her for it.
"quiet," ellie informed you. you squeezed her hand and held yourself steady, determined not to lose your footing if you were just going to stare at her. "i was with dina today. not much infected, either."
you nodded sleepily along with her words. "i was thinking of maybe trying to make lemonade today?"
ellie perked up at your suggestion, and the reaction made your heart swell. "i have some things left over, still good but unused... think m'gonna trade around for a shit ton of lemons."
ellie snorted as you swore. it was comical in context and ellie felt soft towards you, desperate to get home and out of the sun. she hadn't seen you all day and she felt greedy now, bitterly jealous at the idea of you leaving again right away, sharing your smiles and polite nature with everyone else around town.
"i'll get you lemons," ellie doesn't offer so much as she tells you.
your eyebrows draw together slowly. "oh?"
"you should rest awhile, those kids have got to drive you wild," she mutters, to which you respond with an easy laugh.
"ellie, it's fine. doesn't lemonade sound good? it does to me, i think."
"anything coming from you would be good," ellie quips, and you bump against her. you love her this time of year, her freckles are so visible in the sun.
"so let me get the lemons," you negotiate. "it won't take long, promise."
it won't take long is an understatement. the people of Jackson share things as a community, and trading has been your way of shopping. despite the guidelines and your good natured heart, ellie was sure that there were a handful of people that would offer up all of their lemons for less than nothing if you so much as knocked on their door.
it was too warm to debate. ellie sighed reluctantly and you knew you had won, already imagining the sweetness that was soon to make your lips pucker.
"you can help if you want, only if you aren't too busy," you happily offered, tilting to your head to look at ellie.
"never too busy for you," ellie replied, almost offended that you would even think so.
you're giggly today and maybe you really have had too much sun.
ellie steps in front of you and pulls open the front door, leaning back in order to give you space to walk inside first.
your house is so dark compared to the sunlit, bright blue sky outside. you blink rapidly, trying to adjust your eyes in the new light.
ellie breathes in deeply and decides to take off her converse at the door. you had cleaned recently, she could tell.
even though you didn't grow up in the house, you've made it your own overtime. you never wanted to feel as though you were intruding in someone else's space. it took months upon months and lots of effort, but it felt like you. it was another thing that ellie appreciated about you, you certainly had a knack for turning a house into a home. she hoped to move in soon.
you beeline for a window, using both arms to push it open. the warm breeze filters inside and you hum, satisfied.
standing on your toes to draw back the curtains, you look over your shoulder to meet ellie's gaze.
"i was thinking i could make extra, we could take it to joel?"
a smile came to ellie naturally. your thoughtfulness was endearing, and ellie could tell you've been thinking about it and planning all day.
"sounds good," she replies, reaching out to brush your hair behind your ear.
you're pleased so you grin, hanging onto the feeling of ellie's thumb grazing your cheek.
"okay," you mumble, suddenly feeling as though you were rapidly losing all of your motivation. you pull away from ellie, who reaches out once again, entrapping you in her grasp.
"just five more minutes?" ellie asks, her tone nonchalant but her green eyes were pleading.
you throw your head back and groan in protest, but you both already know that you'll give in. "you're such a dork," you accuse.
"so... yes?" ellie asks hopefully, holding both of your hands in her own.
"yes," you grumble. "just five minutes," you solidify, but ellie is already pulling you closer before you can finish your sentence.