BRANCE + RINNEY

ice cream and algae

The ball smacked against the bat loudly, chips of battered and split wood falling into the overgrown grass. Warm wind blew through the air, tinted in the heated rays of summer.

"B, you gotta swing the bat!" Finney came running over, his worn baseball uniform stained green and brown from hours spent on the playing field. Bruce shook his head, smiling. "Sorry man. I'll do better next time."

Finney put his face to the sky, freckles bright as the sun beamed down on them. He smiled, a hand shielding his eyes from the sun.

"We should get some ice cream. I'm fucking melting out here." Bruce nodded his head, throwing his bat to the ground for later use. Finney looked over at him, laughter falling from his tongue softly.

"I'll race you there. Whoever loses gets to take a swim in the lake by Preston's." Finney grimaced at the name of an abandoned pharmacy, the algae-covered lake making his frown deepen. "Oh you're on Yamada." Bruce smiled, getting into a running stance.

"Three, two

"You didn't even say one, cheater!"

Bruce laughed as he ran, his hair hanging behind him in a tug of wind. He could hear Finney gaining on him, laughing all the same.

"I'm gonna win!"

"Fuck you!"

Bruce ran into the ice cream shop, panting as a grin covered the bottom portion of his face. Finney came in a moment later, heaving as he placed his hands on his knees.

"You, you're a cheat." Finney spoke between gasps of air, pointing an accusatory finger at Bruce. The people in the ice cream shop were silent, amused as they watched the two teenagers interact. "No, I just run faster than you."

Finney stood straight, ready to spew another accusation when

"Are y'all gonna order something, or are y'all gonna stand there?" Bruce and Finney looked towards the source of the voice, faces turning red when an older man pointed towards the ice cream he was serving.

"Sorry sir. We'll take one strawberry, and one rocky road." Bruce fished out his wallet, smiling at Finney who went to do the same. "I'll pay, it's the least I can do." Finney rolled his eyes, putting his wallet back in his pocket and turning away.
——

"Are you ready?"

Finney shook his head, ready to vomit as he looked at what appeared to be swamp water. Bruce laughed at his expression, eyes glinting in the sunlight. Finney could feel the ice cream from earlier gnawing at his stomach as he moved closer to the water.

The only fortunate thing about this was that he had left his personal belongings at home. Bruce as well, not wanting Finney to be utterly alone in this.

"Three seconds man."

Finney rubbed his hands along his arms, nodding as he closed his eyes. He felt warm for only a second, the feeling of a set of hands on his back, before he felt the freezing feeling of water trailing along his skin.

He reached his hands up instantly, attempting to grab something. Unfortunately,

"Finney! My clothes!"