Summer Days Drifting Away (Sunshine)

Sunshine pouted as the kiss ended. But the way he was staring at her had been an expression she had seen from other people. It was the wide eyes of shock, but the good news was the shock wasn't fear. He even teased her about her hair, and she glanced at the now unbound locks, which were blowing aside in the 'Rapunzel' length as she called it, noticing the golden yellow light was dying. She must have activated her powers...or maybe they had the mind of their own to light up whenever she was, well...maybe Aqua's research could answer that question. He quickly asked if she needed something to drink. She looked out at the water, a hand still on her hair. "...Yeah. Sure."

The sand collected on her wet soles like magnets. As he busied himself with gathering the two drinks - the cider, smart on his part and wine - and she bit back a laugh. How come it was always wine when they did something? He then sat up and asked if she could look for the bottle opener. She nodded, kneeling down to dig through the picnic basket. Bunches of grapes? Nope. Gluten free pumpkin bread? Nope. A jar of quince jam courtesy of Omar? Nope. Finally, the glint of metal caught her eye.

"Okay, Found...whoops!"

Just as Sunshine triumphantly pulled out the requested object, something went flying onto the towels. At first, Sunshine thought it was a screw. But the bottle opener was silver. Why would there be a piece that was gold? She looked closer. It was a small circle, big enough to be fitted on her finger. The center was a lilac stone framed by differently sized rays; a sun motif. She knew the look well; it was the Seddon family crest. She gaped at him wordlessly, her hung open mouth for once quiet.

The beach, the other beachgoers, even the concept of time itself disappeared when Riku picked up the ring. He was kneeling in front of her with the ring, saying her full name. He and the ring were the only things she was looking at. He called her by both her nickname and her real name. He has stumbled and spoke again. He had been so nervous, and it showed her how he felt.

That the kiss when he became human was true. All the times he appreciates her was genuine. The times he looked at her and she had just thought it was something out of a fantasy. The doubts he would ever like a scrubby artist like herself.

He said he loved her, and the tears started flowing. He loved her, he loved her! She wasn’t crying out of sadness, no. It was tears of joy.

“This can’t be real,” amid her sobs, she was smiling. “I’ve had dreams about this my entire,” she hiccuped, “life.” She dried her eyes. “I always looked at you from afar, and I was always so scared to tell you how I felt, now you’re here...and...and yes!” she nodded, “yes I’ll marry you!”

Sunshine was swept into an embrace of vanilla-chamomile. Riku was hugging her, openly crying with joy himself. She understood why; it had been such a difficult few weeks, and the fact something good was happening made him overwhelmed. She took the napkins and dabbed at her eyes, smiling wistfully at his concerns. “I don’t care about the popular crowd’s opinion, I never did. I care about you. That’s why I want to marry you.”

“I’ll have to work hard t get my family to like you then.” The optimism was hidden by her nervousness. The thought of the Lafayette disapproval hit her. Given she had been present during the ball, her family could have been considered bad luck. If they wouldn’t accept her, the Seddons would be there. She shrugged out of her tank, the sun beating on her bikini clad upper half, draped in blonde hair. “If I can be unafraid of the tabloids, so can you.”

Sunshine looked down at the sand. Compared to the Lafayette’s, the Seddons were cuddly teddy bears. They had asked multiple questions about the time she and him were working together and they knew they were an item. She looked up at him, smiling wistfully,

“It’s pretty obvious what my weaknesses are.”

She brushes a hair from her eyes, looking back at the sea. A wave ebbed and she thought back. High school. Marie Laveau High School. Sunshine didn’t have many friends, usually keeping to herself.

“My high school friends left Bellerouge after graduation. Jack...Merida...Hic...” she sighed. That bashing was painful. “The big four of Marie Laveau. The worst they’d say is that I didn’t party enough...or speak up...”