𝓕𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮
ᴵᶜᵉ ᶜʳᵉᵃᵐˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃⁿⁿᵒᵘⁿᶜᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗˢ

❆₊˚｡౨ৎ₊˚｡❆

The ice cream shop was alive with energy, filled with the lingering excitement of the Ducks' championship win.

Kids from the neighborhood, families, and a few Ducks fans still sporting jerseys filled the booths and tables.

The warm glow of the neon sign outside flickered onto the sidewalk as the sun set, casting a golden hue over everything.

At the largest table in the back, Guy, Connie, Charlie, Noah, Juliet, and Averman sat with half-melted ice cream cups and bowls, spoons clicking against glass as they talked over each other.

"So," Guy said, stretching back in his seat, looking completely content with his cookies-and-cream shake. "Any big plans for the summer?"

Charlie grinned, tapping his spoon against the edge of his bowl. "Just hockey, hockey, and more hockey with my boys—" he shot a look at Averman and Guy before glancing at Connie and Juliet, "—and, of course, you two."

Juliet smirked, swirling her spoon through the last of her sundae. "Oh wow, thanks for remembering us, Captain."

"Obviously," connie added playfully, nudging guy with her elbow.

"With our group, we're gonna have the best summer ever," Averman declared, flinging his arms out dramatically. "Like, legendary. Pool parties, street hockey, sneaking into movies, terrorizing Goldberg at his family's deli—"

Juliet and Noah shared a quick glance.

Connie caught it immediately, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What?"

Juliet hesitated, chewing on her lip. "Well—"

Noah scratched the back of his head. "So—"

They both sighed, then Noah finally said it. "We're staying with our dad for half the summer."

Silence fell over the table.

Charlie blinked. "Wait. What?"

"In the other side of town - the one hours away?" Connie asked, brows furrowing.

Juliet nodded. "Yeah... he asked us to come for a while. And we thought... you know, we never really get time with just him, so..."

Averman whistled. "Wow. The Windy City. You guys gonna be practicing with the Blackhawks or what?"

Juliet laughed, but Charlie still looked thrown. "So... you're leaving? For how long?"

"Half the summer," Noah clarified. "Just a couple of months. We'll be back before the season starts again."

Charlie was quiet for a moment, pushing his spoon through the remains of his ice cream. "Right. Yeah. That's... cool."

Juliet frowned slightly, watching him. She hadn't expected him to take it this hard.

"Come on, it's not like we're gone forever," she said, nudging him. "We'll still be here for the last part of it."

Charlie forced a small smile. "Yeah. No, I get it. It's just..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It won't be the same without you guys."

Juliet's stomach twisted at that.

"Well," Averman said, clapping his hands together, "guess that just means we gotta make the last few days before summer epic before you leave "

"Exactly," Connie agreed. "We've still got time before you guys go. We'll make it count."

Juliet nodded, but her eyes flickered back to Charlie. He still wasn't saying much, just absentmindedly twirling his spoon.

She wasn't sure why, but something about the way he was looking down at his ice cream made her heart squeeze.