The Summer I Met Her (GirlxGirl)

22- I Fall To Pieces

For a cool experience I recommend letting this song play softly in the background as you read, maybe adjust the volume as you go too.  Since the song is short, I'd start it when she turns the music up, or have it on repeat on Spotify or something.

We walked back to our respective homes. It was a relaxed night in the barn, the TV softly playing while everyone did their own thing- my grandma reading, sister scrolling, dad half asleep on the couch. Even the dogs gnawed on some bones.

I liked quiet nights like that. Especially since no matter where you went, inside or outside, the crickets accompanied the sound of your activities. I smiled as I stood near the door.

I heard Jaycee pull up with her Chevy. Out the door I went with my tote bag on my shoulder.

~

Jay pulled into the far side of the store, where no one would be near. I was pleased. I hated being stuck right next to other random cars. She turned her music low.

She put the car in park and looked at me. "Alright. What're we gettin'?"

I unbuckled my seatbelt and slid over to her side where I could see the menu better, invading her space. The bench seating let me do that with ease. "I dunno. Definitely a slushie." I craned my neck to see the top of the list. "What about you?"

Jay unbuckled hers as well. "I usually get cherry limeades, but now you've got me in a slush mood."

"Can I get a blue coconut one?" I asked politely.

"Yes you can." She rolled down the window and pressed the red button.

I reached for my bag and dug through its contents. "Wait I think I have a gift card in here,"

"Nope."

"What do you mean? Yes I do, give me a second," I continued to dig.

"I'm not letting you pay, Fianna."

"Jay, let-"

A voice answered. "Welcome to Sonic, what can I get you?"

My eyebrows knitted together. This was not over.

"Hey, can I get a medium cherry slush, and one large blue coconut one?"

My jaw fell slack at the size differences. I'm a small person, I did not need that much. "Jaycee!" I hissed.

She ignored me.

"Will that be all?" The woman on the other end asked.

"Yes ma'am," she replied, pulling out her own wallet.

I tried to snatch her wallet away, but I was too slow. "Oh you are not. You said you'd buy me food, not this!"

"I'm doing both." She simply said.

"No! Not allowed! Gift! Card!" I cried. 

She went to pay anyway. I lunged over her to pay first. My card barely got out the window. Jaycee looked down at my struggling hand and swiftly stole the card between my fingers. She handed it back to me while jamming her own card in the slot.

I quickly came up with a backup plan. "Joke's on you. I'm checking that receipt and paying you back every cent."

A question popped up on the screen. Would you like a receipt?

I sat there and watched helplessly as she selected 'no.'

I slid myself back to my side as an act of defiance. "Why did you do that."

She rolled the window up. "Do what? Take care of it?"

"Yes? You didn't need to do that for me."

Jaycee replaced her card in her wallet and folded it up. "You're right. I don't need to. But I want to take care of you. So I'm going to. No matter how much you complain."