the collision causes ramona’s cheeks to burn, and the heat lingers long after they head inside.
“is it camp season again?” she asks, reaching for the joint almost automatically. her fingers gently brush against oona’s as she takes it, sending an involuntary shiver down her
now, she couldn’t imagine oona keeping her distance—not feeling the weight of her hand in her own, or her fingers absentmindedly twisting through her hair when she gets bored.
ramona sits across from her, taking another slow puff before handing the joint back over. the smoke
ramona doesn’t hesitate to reach for oona’s hand. it’s nothing unusual for them, but her heart still gives an involuntarily flutter.
𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵, ramona wants to say, as if the words could actually fix anything—erase the years of guilt oona has been
carrying by having to play parent, or make maple pause to consider reason when she’s too overwhelmed with emotions to stop herself from lashing out at the wrong person because no one else is within reach to blame—something ramona understands all too well herself.
“i can be
“i never said i wanted to leave to go play house in new york!” ramona argues, trying to hold her ground. “i just brought up the possibility of visiting, and you took it like—like i’d already packed my bags.”
𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
the past tense makes her stomach coil.
“i
darker—but ramona still manages to trace her favorite color inside them.
“i’m sorry for hurting you,” she chokes out, louder this time. “but oona—please...”
she doesn’t even know what she’s asking for.
her fingers twitch, desperate to reach out and close the remaining gap
for a moment, ramona gives in to the silence that settles between them. it doesn’t feel awkward, even though it’s obvious that something unsaid still lingers in the air.
she stops mid-peel, a unicorn sticker caught under her nail, hair falling into her eyes as she turns toward
oona. “oh—shit,” she blurts out.
ramona doesn’t even need to ask what’s written on it; the blonde’s expression already gives it away, and her words only confirm it. ramona's own expression softens, arm dropping back to her side.
“oona, i’m sorry,” she says gently, “that...