Hollow

Ch.2 To Lay In The Sun

*****TW: This chapter includes topics such as low self-esteem, negative self-image, social anxiety, & family issues*****

Sat. 6/17

Rubi & Quinn walk along the river banks. The rocky ledge they sat on last week is moving further away from them.

"How far does it go?" - Rubi

Quinn knows Rubi is being sincere, but she can't help herself. She looks back and gives Rubi a smirk.

"Quinn, I'm being serious. My heels are starting to hurt." - Rubi

Rubi sighs while she avoids stepping over sharp objects. Quinn feels bad for upsetting Rubi.

It's a minor thing, but she feels the need to redeem herself now. Quinn stops in her tracks.

"I'm sorry. I actually don't know where the river ends. We can take a break if you want. We can turn back." - Quinn

Rubi squats down for a minute. Her feet are completely flat on the dirt.

Quinn leans back against a tree. She wipes the sweat off her forehead and glasses. It is 2 PM. The sun is directly above them.

"No, it's okay. I want to know where it leads to." - Rubi

They rest for another minute and then head back onto the pebble path. They walk along the sides of the riverbank so the patches of leaves cover them from the sun.

"I mean, I guess if we keep going, then it will eventually dump out into the ocean." - Quinn

"Yeah, but Ohio is kind of far into the mainland. That would take days." - Rubi

"I have nothing better to do." - Quinn

Rubi can't tell if it is endearing that Quinn would walk all the way to the ocean with her or if it's sad that she literally has nothing better to do.

The truth is, Quinn wouldn't want to spend her summer any other way than with Rubi.

"Didn't you say you work on a farm?" - Rubi

"It's my parents' farm, and I get the weekends off. I wish I had every day off, though. Then I could just lay in the sun and not have to think about anything ever again." - Quinn

Quinn sighs and closes her eyes for a minute while still walking. She feels the heat on her eyelids. She opens her eyes when she starts to lose balance.

"I wish I had a job. What's it like?" - Rubi

"Other than getting paid, it's terrible." - Quinn

Sometimes, Quinn forgets that Rubi has never had a job before. Rubi is so self-sufficient and independent. All the teachers at their school loved her. She would practically be an employer's wet dream.

Quinn wonders if Rubi ever got into a fight with her parents. Sometimes, those two are so opposite that Quinn wonders if Rubi actually enjoys spending time with her or if she's just being nice.

"I wish I was more outspoken." - Rubi

"What do you mean?" - Quinn

Rubi doesn't really know how to respond. She didn't really plan to say that. Rubi doesn't really talk about her feelings much. She doesn't really know how.

The only person who Rubi doesn't feel pressure during conversation is with Quinn.

"I don't know. It's silly, but a part of the reason I don't have a job yet is because I don't know how to talk to people. I mean, I know how to talk to people to get my point across, but there's just a bunch of little things, you know?" - Rubi