On Wednesday morning I woke up to find Rachel still asleep; it was around six in the morning. I slipped out of her grasp as softly as I could and went to get a shower. The warm water poured over me soothingly as a series of thoughts ran through my head.

O-kay. Well this is something else. Some crazy rich person who wants to defund the arts has it out for me--*maybe*--while another rich person who happens to be the mother of Chrissy and Sabrina and who also happens to have it out for the other guy decides on a whim to put me and Rachel up in a hotel until the play is over... and she's also the owner of the company that produced the game we all play. Sabrina explained this hotel-situation to my dad as a “patronage” thing her mother wanted to do for the stars of the musical; that should keep mom happy, at least. I know *he* probably saw through to what was going on, but the cover story's better for her, I suppose... I mused to myself.

When these thoughts, and the shower, had run their course, I got myself dried off and then put on my school uniform with a soft groan. Rachel woke up on hearing it, rubbing her eyes and looking around. She smiled as she caught sight of me, and hurried to put on her own uniform before we packed our bags and headed out of the room, locking it behind us before we left.

Why so early, Sean? Well, first off, to hit the breakfast buffet on the main floor. Secondly, to set off early and get some food for lunch. After a short but fulfilling breakfast, the two of us headed out into town. The map on my phone pointed us to a cornerstore about two-thirds of the way between the hotel and our school, where we stopped to do our shopping.

“Oh, lovely! Sandwich wraps!” Rachel exclaimed delightedly as we entered the place, finding the items in question proudly on display at the deli near the front.

“Works for me,” I smiled as we picked out a few before grabbing a couple of drinks and then paying for our selections at the main counter.

When this was done we headed back out, continuing on our way to school. Rachel slipped her arm in mine, the two of us exchanging a smile with one another as we walked along the sidewalks towards our destination. For a brief moment, I had a sensation similar to the one I had experienced at Hollydale: the two of us were walking down a very similar street, if not this very one; we were older, and it almost seemed as if there was a certain weight on us, as if we had been through some things.

“What's up?” Rachel asked me as she noticed my spacing out.

“Hmm? Nothing, just...” I stopped, a secret smile coming to my face.

“Yes?” she prodded me with a grin.

“Just imagining the future.” I then said, and she laid her head on my shoulder for a brief moment as we walked along.

“A good future?”

“I hope so.”

“Me too,” Rachel said softly, and with my free hand I reached over to give her a pat on the head for a change. She giggled, and did the same to me.

It was a quiet morning in the city at the moment. We could see hints of mist and clouds that were now dissipating in the distance, weaving in and around the massive skyscrapers and complexes that formed the outer ring of the megalopolis. Several cars and other vehicles passed us by on the roadway to our right. After a while we passed by a parklet on our left where some little kids were playing with a dog--a beagle, I think.

Suddenly I realized that we were already at the school; the parklet was one of the four that our school had for the grade-schoolers. Oh wow... long time no see, I thought to myself as we made our way to our own side of the campus, the high-school side.

“I forgot our school was divided like this,” Rachel said as she observed them herself.

“I did too; it's been a while since I've seen this part,” I replied. “There's the junior high complex over on the other side of that side-street,” I pointed.

“Neat,” she smiled back. “I must have been through eight middle-schools before we got here...” she then recalled.

“Yikes...” I softly grimaced. I'd had enough trouble getting through this one--I couldn't imagine trying to get through eight of them.

“Right?” my girlfriend returned with a wry smile as we turned a corner. “Oh, there's the door!” she then said, and we headed in together.

As we got our morning books ready, I heard a sound of running in the halls that came to a halt just behind me. I turned around to see Ty giving me a funny look before he flicked me on the forehead.

“Da hell, boy? Where were you this morning?” he asked.

“Ahh... long story...”

“Uh-huh... 'long-story'?”

“Y-you wouldn't believe me if I told you,” I said, and he gave me a knowing look.

“Oh yeah, sister-man?” he smirked as he lowered his voice.

“Gyeck!?” I hissed back. “Hahh...” I then sighed, and quickly summed things up for him. He then shook his head, patting my shoulder as Rachel looked on.

“Boy, you get into the darnedest things,” Ty remarked. “But I'mma keep an eye out for stuff now. Yo, Rachel, keep that leash tight, 'aight?” he grinned as he headed off with a grin.

“Will do!” she smirked, waving to him.

“Oy...” I quipped, and she patted my arm.

“Come on, let's get to homeroom,” she said, and with that we headed in for class.

Classes passed us by as they always did, and then the two of us made our way to the club room for lunch. This time we were the first to arrive, followed by Anhe a moment later. She took her usual seat, and the three of us smiled at each other as we got our lunches out.

“Everything is okay?” she asked us.

“Yep! And you?” Rachel replied.

“Hmm... all good here,” Anhe smiled.

“'Ey, Lovebirds!” Ellie exclaimed as she and the others came in. “So, how's married life?” she said with a straight face. Rachel almost choked, and I nearly did a spit-take.

“El-lie!” Andrea lightly scolded her friend. “Jokes aside, it looks like you're doing well--though the cousins missed you!” she then remarked with a grin.

“Oh, goodie, I missed them,” Rachel said as she recovered herself.

“Right?” Andrea sighed bemusedly.

“Not more out-of-doors antics?” Thomas wondered.

“Thankfully it was confined to the yard.” his girlfriend said, to which he gently laughed.

“But really though.” Ellie began again, “We meet the person running Panarena, and all of a sudden she decides to put you up in a hotel just because someone she seems to dislike might be going after you?” the blonde girl shook her head.

“That is just a bit over-the-top.” Thomas nodded.

“It is,” I had to agree.

“Well I don't mind it,” Rachel said with a soft pout.

“Nyah!? I didn't say I minded it, I'm just agreeing that it's over-the-top,” I quickly said. She blew bubbles into her drink for a few seconds before replying.

“You're right. It's pretty over-the-top. But it's also fun!” she then smiled.

“I guess as long as you're both enjoying it and you're both safe... then we should be okay with it too,” Mary remarked, and we smiled back at her.

“Seems like they are!” Ellie said. “Oh, Chief, we found some of the stuff for our quest; the glimmer rock up in the mountains,” she then said to me.

“Hm? Oh nice,” I replied as I recalled some of the details from the quest.

“He-he!” Ellie beamed proudly. “And Sabrina says she might also be applying for a practical year at our school this fall.” she added.

“Oh neat!” Rachel said. “It's a shame there's nothing practical for Chrissy to do here,” she then said.

“Right?” Andrea agreed. “Though she'll have her hands full with all of those science and engineering courses for at least the next year, from what I recall.”

“Oh def.” Rachel nodded back. “She won't even get practical training until her final semester, right?”

“Exactly, though I'm sure there's a couple things she could probably do to get some preemptive experience for it,” Andrea said. “And then of course this one's off to AILE next year,” she added with a sad smile as she looked over at Mary.

“With my grades staying up and my interviews going well, I can't say no now, even if I wanted to--which I don't!” the older girl smiled back. “You two girls are going for some practical courses yourselves next year, right? Don't be sour on my account!”

“Right?? Leave that for us!” Rachel exclaimed, and Anhe nodded vigorously.

“It is going to be lonely here when the three of you are not around as often!” she declared.

“I-I'll be here,” Thomas said with a weak grin. “And we'll probably get an influx of new people next year as well, come to think of it,” he added in a stronger voice.

“Ah! That is true...” Anhe replied, her expression becoming thoughtful.

“Ohh, right, I have to work on some promotional posters...” Andrea noted to herself as she got her beverage out.

“N-new people, huh?” I said uncertainly.

“Don't be glum, sugar-plum,” our club-leader grinned. “It might mean less talk about Panarena, but I'm sure in the future the club will get more and more practical-minded.”

“Hmm.” I returned quietly.

“Speaking of which, don't forget about this Saturday at one!” Andrea reminded us with a smile.

“Of course we won't, though someone will have to come and get us,” Rachel said.

“Hm? None of us know where the hotel is; but then again, wasn't that kind of the point of Mrs. Jennings' little whim...?” Thomas pondered out loud.

“Ahh--! That might be true...” Rachel realized. “No parties for us,” she said to me with a wry smile.

“Ah-heh,” I laughed back gently.

“Well, we'll just have to make them walk somewhere and then tell us where they are,” Ellie quipped.

“Ahh...”

“Rude.” Rachel quickly retorted as I affected a bemused grin. “But okay.” she smiled.

“Hee-hee!” the other girl grinned back. “Don't worry, losers, I'll come and get you. Hmm? Will I have to get Mary and Anhe first...?” she then wondered aloud to herself.

“My mother is taking us.” Anhe told her.

“Works for me!” Ellie said, holding out a thumbs-up.

“That settles that, I suppose!” Andrea smiled. “Only a couple weeks left until the big performance, huh?” she then remarked as she looked over at the two of us.

“Yep!” Rachel replied enthusiastically. “We have a pretty long rehearsal tonight, too, I think,” she said, looking over at me.

“That's because Miss Andrews was having the final costume fittings tonight, right?” I returned, and she snapped her fingers.

“Oh right!”

“Sa-weet!” Ellie said. “Maybe we should stick around agai--ahh rats! I have a six o'clock start tonight... well at least I'll have time to see most people in their costumes!” she grinned.

“Every piece and prop tonight, huh?” Thomas remarked.

“Every one of them,” I said with just a faint trepidation.

“Oooh, right, some of you will have a few costume changes, too,” Ellie added.

“Right?” Rachel said with a half-grin. “I'm pretty sure Allie and I have the most.”

“Oh I bet,” I agreed. “I know I have about five or so, kind of,” I said.

“'Kind of'...?” Anhe wondered. “Ah! I remember now. You are all putting on cloaks for the rescue scenes!”

“Right,” I nodded back, “And then another change for the last few scenes after all the big fights, too.”

“It's all coming together in the next couple of weeks, huh?” Rachel said with a soft smile.

I was about to say something in the affirmative, but something stopped me. A quiet smile came to my own face. This was something super important and special for Rachel. It was the first time she'd been in a school for longer than a couple of months; and on top of that she was now one of the stars in the spring musical this year. I couldn't imagine how difficult it had been for her, always moving around; but I could imagine how wonderful it felt to finally have reached a place where things seemed to be going all right. After all, we'd pretty much reached it together.

Gently, I put my arm around her, and she leaned on to me, still smiling. No one said a word. Probably, no words were needed. The rest of our lunch time was spent with smiles and quietly sharing our side dishes with one another until it was time for afternoon classes.

***

“Don't fidget, it'll be over soon!” Miss Holly said as she applied something to my face. I mumbled a few grumbling words in reply. “Of course make-up was going to be a part of this!” she said in reply to whatever my complaint had been. “And the real challenge is going to be getting you all switched from costume to costume without wrecking it!”

“Hahh...” I exhaled with relief as she finally stopped tortu--err, applying make-up to my face.

“Oh! And we're gonna try this as well,” the aide then said, pulling out a plastic case full of... mustaches.

“Eh? Eh?” I blinked, and I heard Rachel and a couple of the other girls giggling.

“Matthew surprised us this year; apparently he's able to get a convincing enough beard going without our little tricks,” Holly remarked as she selected one of the medium-mustaches from the box, “But you are practically elf-like in that regard, so we'll have to stick this on you!” she grinned, carefully but firmly placing it onto my upper lip.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Ah-huh...” I slowly nodded back, trying not to disturb the accessory now on my face. I looked over at Matt; it was true, he had a beard.

How did I not notice that before? I wondered confusedly. Come to think of it, Stephen and Marcus actually have theirs as well... and Brian, I noted.

“Most of the other boys or girls playing boys will have theirs on tonight as well,” Holly continued, “Including -- Jo! Are you ready over there?”

“Coming, Miss Holly!” the girl playing Gisbourne said. She emerged from around the corner in a fantastic costume of red and yellow that definitely evoked her character, and a few moments later she was also wearing a mustache to complete the look. “Hrrmm...” she sighed bemusedly as she looked into a mirror. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing, knowing I was in the same boat.

“All right! That's almost everyone!” Miss Andrews said. “Alex, Stephanie, Jacob! Come on, kids--no no, Steph, hon, let me help you with that,” our teacher and director said as she went to help Stephanie tie up the bodice she was wearing.

“Right! Once you're all set, get up on stage! We're gonna roll out the Outlaw Tree set-piece and take a few photos with cast and crew!” Holly announced to us, and with whoops or claps of excitement we began heading out as requested.

Well this is new, I mused to myself as we all gathered on stage. Well, new for me, anyway; I guess for most of the others this is pretty normal, huh?

“'Kay; Robin, here; Marion, next to Robin; Gisbourne, next to Marion; Sheriff, next to Gisbourne; Bishop, Knight Richard, on the other side of Robin; King Richard, behind Robin and Marion; Little John, Tuck, Allan, near Robin -- hmmm...” Holly observed us for a few moments, watching as the stage-crew rolled out the oak-tree they had crafted for the play. When it was in place and the right backdrop was behind it, she began herding the others into positions around us, which Miss Andrews then put her finishing touches to.

“Smile, everyone! Some of these are going to be in the papers or on the newsreels tomorrow!” she said to us.

Gyeck!?

“We'll be fine,” Rachel whispered as she felt me tensing up next to her.

“R-right,” I whispered back. I could see Ellie grinning in the audience with Mary, Andrea, and Anhe around her. There was a part of me that said I should feel more self-conscious about this; but there was a slightly stronger part that said to just let it all happen. And with that thought in mind, I managed to affect a more genuine smile.

After our little photo-op, we went through a full rehearsal. Ellie had to slip out, of course, before we got to Act Three, but I saw her giving two thumbs-up as she headed out the door. The other three (and Mrs. Liang, who turned up shortly after our photo-op ended) stayed until the end. There were a few others in the audience as well, including Dr. Robertson himself, who seemed very proud of us. We took our bows, and then hurried to get out of our costumes and back into our school-clothes.

“Woof,” Joanna said as she quickly ripped the mustache off to put it back in the case it came from. “Here!” she said, turning to me and doing the same.

“Yeowch!” I exclaimed as she did, to which she grinned.

“It never gets better, just so you know!” she told me.

“Ugh,” I returned, gently rubbing the now-stinging area.

“Good job not freaking out again, though.”

“Hm? Ahh... yeah, thanks,” I replied.

“I guess that was you in the incident report my brother mentioned, huh?” Joanna then said softly, and I quietly nodded back. “You and Rachel are something else, you know? She causes trouble in our little game, and you get wrapped up in it in real life,” she said with a shrug as she took off the accessories she had as Gisbourne.

“Ah-heh...”

“Do you play that game at all?”

“Hmm? Yeah, I do,” I nodded back.

“Weird... I figured I'd run in ton nearly every one at school who plays it... even Tyler,” she remarked. “I'll have to dig deeper, I guess!”

“Probably,” I shrugged as I finished offing my own collection of accessories, including my sword. “Ahh--gotta give this back to Mr. Bridges,” I said as I took up the sword again.

“Oh, right, our props master; can you take this one too? I'm in a rush,” Joanna said as she held out her own sword.

“Sure,” I nodded as I took it from her.

“Thanks.” she smiled back, and I had to smile too. I then delivered the two weapons to Mr. Bridges, and then returned to getting the rest of my costume off before getting back into the dreaded Drone Trooper uniform that marked the students of our school.

That was a narrowly dodged bullet, I bemusedly thought to myself as I collected my bag from the pile of others in one of the side-rooms. Rachel's own bag was still here as well. I decided to pick it up as well, and headed out to wait in the hall. She came around the corner just then, and I held it out to her with a smile, which she returned.

“Thanks!” she said. “Time to go, huh?”

“I guess so,” I agreed.

“Let's see...” Rachel then began as we headed down the hall and out the door. “They'll probably have a dinner buffet too, which is paid for, so we'll just hurry back; and then we really have to work on those kanji,” she noted.

“Y-yeah, definitely,” I replied with a wry grin. “And then next year we'll be back to the Simplified Characters for Chinese,” I added.

“Fun, fun,” she smiled back.

A few cars passed us as we headed down the sidewalk; the first was the Robertsons, with Mary and our principal both waving at us as they headed on by. Another one was Mrs. Liang and Anhe, who did the same. And the final passers-by were Malcolm, Allie, and Joanna, the latter sticking her tongue out at us while the other two waved. I couldn't help but return the gesture, to which I saw Joanna breaking out in laughter.

Well that was worth it, I thought to myself with a smirk as Rachel looked at me with a shake of her head.

“I love you.” she said with a giggle.

“I love you most.” I replied.

“But I love you more.” she quickly countered, grinning.

“I know.” I said.

“Hmm...?” she began slyly. “So you don't--” Rachel started to say; my red-alert went off at once. I quickly spun her around and pulled her close for a kiss to gently cut her off. She looked at me with a smile when the kiss ended. “Good answer.” she whispered.

“Thanks,” I said with a small laugh, and we resumed walking.

The city was now more active than it had been in the morning. It seemed as if every skyscraper and billboard in the outer ring was lit up, and there was quite a lot in the center that also seemed active. I looked up at the sky; it was black, and hardly anything else could be seen, except maybe the blinking of a plane or a satellite. A sigh escaped me, and Rachel nodded in agreement.

“I don't want to spend all my life in a city...” she said. “I want to live some place where I can see real stars at night, out in the countryside somewhere.”

“Yeah,” I nodded back. “I'd like that too.”

My thoughts went back to my grandparents' home, which was at least a half-day away from the city by car, though one of the trains could get to the area in a couple of hours. I could remember some pretty amazing nights out there.

“I'd like to get back out to that house, someday... maybe, maybe we can live there,” I said, not realizing I was speaking.

“Hmm? Ohh, your grands' place?” Rachel asked me.

“Eh? Ahh! I said that out loud; but yeah, their place,” I said.

“Did we ever visit... no, we didn't; we've only been out to the village,” my girlfriend recalled.

“Yep,” I nodded back. “Their actual house... I might've said so before, but it's more or less like Cloverbell,” I said with a smile.

“I remember you saying something like that!” she smiled back. “We definitely need to visit. And then, someday...” she remarked, leaving the rest unspoken.

“Definitely,” I agreed with a nod, knowing what she meant.

We passed the cornerstore from earlier, and picked up our pace. When we reached the hotel, I saw a familiar limousine out front; the driver (Victor, if I remembered right) gave us a wave and then drove off as we entered.

“That was Sabrina's chauffeur, right?” Rachel asked me as we made our way to the stairs.

“Yep; he always seems to wear that tartan-swatch on his hat,” I nodded back.

“Hm? Ahh, yes! I wonder if that's his family tartan...” she mused.

“Could be!” I agreed as we headed up to where our room was.

Once there, we got changed into normal clothes and headed down to have dinner. To our surprise, Sabrina herself was at a table in the restaurant. She waved us over when we had gotten our food, and we went to sit with her.

“Did you get on the wrong side of an overdone suit as well?” I couldn't help but ask as we joined her. She gave me a smile in reply as Rachel chuckled.

“Just checking in,” she replied.

“Oh yeah! We wanted to ask you about the tartan-swatch Victor wears,” Rachel then said.

“Hmm?” the other girl blinked as she took a sip from her glass. “Ohh, yes; he does, wear one. I can't remember, what clan he is... but, I know, it's on his mother's side,” she told us.

“Neat,” I said.

“Mother has, some Lowlander clan connections, but, she's not sure exactly, which ones,” Sabrina continued. “Sean, your family, they're from Ireland? I know, that you speak it; Irish, that is,” she said to me.

“Some of them,” I nodded. “I'm not sure exactly why our last name is 'Daniels', though,” I shrugged.

“It's the same, for us, with Jennings,” Sabrina grinned back.

“Not to mention 'Danes',” Rachel nodded.

“True,” the older girl said. “Well; the accommodations... they're good?” she asked us after a moment.

“They're wonderful,” Rachel replied.

“Good!” Sabrina said. “No comment, 'Lana'?” she said quietly, smirking at me.

“Hmmrrgh...” I softly sighed back.

“He'll get used to it.” Rachel said, softly elbowing me. “We're gonna be in an apartment together in the next couple of years, and we already do everything together in Panarena...”

“Ah? Apartment? Next couple of years?” I all but parroted back.

“We were talking about it at Andi's! Though it was a couple months ago now, so maybe you forgot,” she grinned. I saw Sabrina grinning at us from out of the corner of my eye.

“Ahh... not... completely?” I rubbed the back of my head.

I think the old man was even teasing me about it at one point, I vaguely recalled.

“Th-that was a senior year thing for us, though, right? Or at least a post-graduation thing...” I asked her.

“Hmm...” she pondered. “Maybe.”

“And then?” Sabrina asked.

“Hm?”

“Eh?” the two of us chorused back.

“Still no definite plans?” she wondered.

“Not yet, at least for for this one,” Rachel patted my head.

“Hmm.” Sabrina nodded back. She looked at me studiously, as if gauging me for a suggestion she might give.

“Come to think of it, you're training to be a nurse, right?” I said to her.

“Yes, I am,” she nodded back.

“What--hmm; how did you get started on that road?” I then asked. There was a moment or two of silence as she pondered the question while we ate, and then she took a sip of her drink again before speaking.

“It... was on a trip, in India; I, fell from something--I can't, remember what--and broke my ankle. The lady who attended me, at the local hospital; she was so, very kind. I, wanted to be like her, from that moment on,” Sabrina told us.

“Aww, that's sweet,” Rachel smiled back.

“One day, maybe, I'll visit that hospital again, and tell her, how she inspired me,” Sabrina said with a smile of her own.

“Sounds like something to look forward to,” I remarked.

“Yes, very much so,” the older girl nodded.

“Hurry up and find someone who inspires you, too!” Rachel poked me.

“Ehh? You don't count?” I quickly replied. It was partly a joke, but on the whole I did really mean it. She turned bright red a moment later, reaching for her drink to recover from her blushing while Sabrina's normally passive expression changed to one of delighted surprise. She clapped her hands softly.

“Well done!” she said to me. I smiled back in reply, and Rachel leaned her head on my shoulder a moment later.

“Not what I meant, but I'll take it.” my girlfriend told me.

“I know what you meant,” I said as I put my arm around her. We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes more, and then Sabrina smiled again.

“You'll find it. What it is, you're meant to do. Somehow, I just know it.” she told me.

“I hope so,” I said in reply.

“For now, though, just, be young--both of you,” she said to us.

“Ah-heh,” I grinned.

“Will do!” Rachel beamed back.

“Speaking of which... next time we get on...” I said, and Rachel nodded.

“We're inviting you in.” she finished for me, and Sabrina blushed this time.

“I... if you're sure; the competition, isn't over yet--”

“That doesn't matter,” I shrugged, “We just want you with us, since you already are most of the time anyway,” I told her with a smile. She smiled back after a moment, and nodded.

“Then... I'll accept it,” she told us.

“Yay!” Rachel exclaimed.

“So hurry, and un-ban yourselves, from playing!” Sabrina grinned at us knowingly.

“Ahh...”

“Sunday. Sunday.” Rachel quickly said, gently pulling on my ear.

“Y-yess, dear,” I obligingly replied, and Sabrina giggled.

“You two!” she said, laughing merrily. “I'd tell you, to get a room, but that, would be redundant!”

“Ahh...”

“Hee-hee!” Rachel grinned back as I wryly smiled.

“So instead, I'll say: just get married, already!” she winked at us.

“Hyeck!?”

“Ahh--!” the two of us returned at once, exchanging a brief glance with each other as our cheeks burned bright red.

I-is that even a thing we can do at our age...? Isn't it eighteen... no, wait--yes, it's eighteen... no wait, what the heck am I thinking about this for?! I have school exams and a play to think about, not to mention a couple *more* years of school after that... I can't be-- my thoughts began to run on, halted by a hand softly taking my own. I looked back at Rachel; she was smiling.

“She is teasing us, mostly,” my girlfriend reminded me.

“Ahh--yeah,” I returned with a weak grin.

“Hmm.” Sabrina remarked, softly shrugging her shoulders. “Oh, would you, want some help, with homework, if I can?” she then asked.

“That'd be fun!” Rachel instantly agreed.

“Not... quite the point, of homework, but I get it,” Sabrina grinned back. “I have some overtime, stocked up, so the pool won't mind, if I miss one night,” she noted.

“Ohh yeah, you're a lifeguard, too,” I recalled, and she nodded.

“Let's finish dinner, then, and get to your homework!” she then said.

“Right!” I nodded.

“Okay!” Rachel smiled back.

“I didn't expect her to know that much about Japanese,” I said later that night. We had spent the next two hours after dinner going over homework with Sabrina's tutoring, where she surprised us with a strong level of linguistic know-how in regards to Mrs. Liang's assignments.

“Right?” Rachel said as she got into her sleepwear. “It was great to spend time with her, too.”

“Oh for sure,” I agreed as I settled myself on the bed. I looked at the big screen sitting on the cabinets on the opposite side of the room. Rachel curled up next to me, laying her head on my shoulder as she pulled the blanket over us.

“It's going to be amazing this summer,” she said.

“It really is,” I smiled, thinking about what awaited us.

“But until then -- snacks?”

“Right here.”

“What should we watch?” Rachel asked as I pulled out the chips.

“Ahh...” I returned uncertainly.

What the heck do people watch on TV? I don't think I've really watched anything since I got into gaming, I suddenly realized.

“Oh! I know!” Rachel then smiled, turning on the screen and selecting a channel whose numbers I recognized instantly.

“That one, huh?” I said with a smile as the Cartoon Classics logo flashed up on the screen before transitioning to a Merrie Melodies episode.

“Yep!” she said as she snuggled closer.

I was suddenly reminded of how my parents had been curled up like this several nights ago in front of our television at home. But that only brought to mind how much my dad would absolutely cackle if he knew what we were doing right now.

“I guess I'm imitating my parents after all,” I remarked.

“Right?” Rachel grinned as the short began.

Oh time, please stop for a little while, huh? I pleaded to the unseen force that would, inevitably, move us from this precious moment into a new one.