𝕾omehow, they all end up sitting in the backyard on a clear, starry night, chatting and admiring the view of the sky.

Cassie glances at Madeleine who's doubling over in laughter in her chair as Cole continues his tirade of whatever she's finding funny, and a smile crosses her lips.

She knew it would be the right thing to do when she asked Madeleine to continue spending time over at the lake house with them even though June's away for a while.

And knew it was the right choice when June too texted her to let her know that Madeleine would be great company if she gets tired of the testosterone in the house.

Her eyes involuntarily track to where Trevor's sitting beside Alex but his gaze seems to keep zeroing in on the blonde cackling with his friend.

She still doesn't know what exactly went down between them — seems like no one does — but she knows that he broke her heart really bad and from the way he's been acting since Cassie showed up to witness it, he's trying to win her back.

It's clear in the way he keeps flirting with Madeleine and Madeleine keeps brushing it off.

Their banter is pretty entertaining though, she'll give them that.

With the attention off them for a while, Cassie feels like this is the right time to talk to Quinn.

So, she turns her head and finds him reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, enjoying the light breeze and chatter all around him.

He looks so at ease that it makes her smile.

He works really hard, she actually would argue that he works too hard and seeing him this relaxed makes her happy.

He is, despite what he might think, everything to her.

She might not be the best best friend in the history of best friends but she knows that no matter what, no one is ever going to mean what Quinn means to her.

That scares her a little sometimes but isn't that the basic criteria of loving and caring for someone?

"Hey", she brushes her hand against his arm, his eyes immediately shooting open to turn to her.

A smile melts his surprise, "Hey".

"I have something to tell you".

He raises his brows and straightens up, sitting up to turn completely towards her.

"Go on".

"So", Cassie inhales deeply, "I haven't been feeling very happy about my life in LA".

Quinn's face instantly descends into a concerned frown, "Yeah? Everything okay?".

"Everything is fine, it's just . . . I feel like I'm not the same person anymore who went there wanting to be away from her family, choosing the best option to start over. It was good for eighteen year old me and as I navigated college but . . . . not anymore. I've been feeling pretty out of it since some time now. I don't think LA's the right place for me anymore, or even California for that matter".

He nods like he understands which she doesn't know how he would but Quinn always understands, regardless of what the situation is.

He just gets it. He gets her.

"Which is why when I saw an opening in the Vancouver branch, I applied there. And I got it. I got the job".

He blinks, trying to focus on a whole lot of things because what?

She knows it's a big bomb to drop on him so out of the blue but how else are you supposed to tell someone something like that?

"You . . . . got a job. In Vancouver".

"Yeah", she nods.

He releases a breath, rubbing the back of his head as he leans back for a bit before leaning forward again.

"Vancouver? The city where I live".

Cassie bites her lip, anxiously.

"Yes".

And suddenly, he laughs.

Quinn just laughs.

Not in a 'woah you're so fucked up it's funny' kind of way but more in a 'holy shit, my best friend? In Vancouver?' way.

He grabs her shoulders, throwing his arm around her and almost making her stumble in her seat but she chuckles and hugs him back, hiding her face in the crook of his neck.

Comfort. Hope. Home.

That is what being held by Quinn Hughes feels like.

Oh, how she's missed him.

"I'm so proud of you, Cass. God, you're amazing", he squeezes her and she squeezes him right back, cherishing the feel of his arms around her.

His lips brush her forehead and it takes everything in her to not melt right then and there, at his feet.

"So, so proud", he whispers, pulling back slightly to smile at her.

Her throat constricts as he continues looking at her with so much adoration but she plasters on a smile and softly runs her fingers through the back of his hair knowing full well how much he loves it when she does that.

There's just something about the way he looks at her every time she's got her fingers in his hair that tells her it's a feeling he is really, really fond of.

"But", she clears her throat, averting her gaze to his hair which is brushing the tips of his ears now, "I haven't decided yet. Haven't even told my parents because well, you know how they are. I wanted to ask you first about what kind of a place it is, whether I would like it there? Because you know me".

She finally looks back into his eyes and for a second, it feels like she could look at that ocean blue forever.

"I think you'll love it there. It's a great place, tons to do. But also just generally an overall Cassie suitable environment. Plus you'll have me there. So, that's an added benefit. And don't even think for one second that I'll leave you alone if you move there because you're never getting rid of me, especially if we're in the same city".

She laughs and weirdly, it feels nice to know that he'll be there. Close to her. Within drivable distance.

"I'll think about it then. Let you know first, promise", she holds out her pinky just like she used to back in school, when he would accidentally see or find out something she did not want her parents to know and she needed to make sure he'd keep it a secret.

Snorting, he wraps his finger around hers and playfully tugs it a little.

She looks away for fear of drowning in his gaze only to find that they are now alone in the backyard, all the other chairs empty.

She perks a brow, "They just left?".

"More silence for us, I guess".

She laughs softly and squeezes his pinky finger with hers.

"Right".

***
hi pookies happy tuesday