Hollow

Ch.4 Favorite Things

*****TW: This chapter includes topics such as family issues*****

Sat. 7/1

"Rubi, come look at this one!"

Today, they are scavenging for flowers. Quinn finds a touch-me-not.

"Wait, don't pick that one. It won't close and open anymore if you do." -Rubi

They both carry an assortment of wild weeds, tiger lilies, and violets. They tap each touch-me-not plant until the whole patch is at rest. They could wait for them to open back up, but there's more to explore.

"Do you have a favorite flower?" -Quinn

"I like all flowers, but I think orchids are really beautiful. What about you?" -Rubi

"Lavender. You can eat it. You can make oil. You can put it in soap. The list goes on." -Quinn

"Can't you do that with most flowers?" -Rubi

"Exactly." -Quinn

Rubi raises an eyebrow at Quinn. Quinn smirks. They walk along the river edge where water meets land.

"Do you have a favorite food?" -Rubi

"I like lemons." -Quinn

It's true. Quinn eats straight-up lemons. One day, Rubi witnessed Quinn devour an entire lemon in three bites with the rind and everything.

"What's yours?" -Quinn

"Lechon manok." -Rubi

Lechon manok is like a rotisserie chicken but more tasty. Rubi's mom makes the best lechon manok. Rubi can also devour a whole one in a single sitting.

"What's your favorite color?" -Quinn

They spend so much time together, yet they've never asked the basic questions. They always just figured out little parts about each other through conversation and mannerisms.

Rubi finds that method more genuine. Quinn doesn't mind either way as long as it's with Rubi.

"Well, I really like green. All colors are nice, though." -Rubi

"Green is pretty cool. I like black the best, though, because of its versatility." -Quinn

"What's your favorite weather?" -Rubi

"Sunny, but only at sunset." -Quinn

"I like rain, but not when it's storming." -Rubi

"What's your favorite season?" -Quinn

"Fall." -Rubi

"Mine's summer." -Quinn

"Favorite ice cream?" -Rubi

"Salted caramel." -Quinn

"Strawberry." -Rubi

"Favorite planet?" -Quinn

"Venus." -Rubi

"That's mine too." -Quinn

They approach a honeysuckle bush, and Quinn runs over to the bush and picks a flower.

"Ah man, this is the shit." -Quinn

Quinn breaks off the stem and pulls it out to drink the nectar. Rubi's old house used to have a honeysuckle bush in the backyard. Her older sibling got an allergic reaction after spending too much time by it. Rubi plucks a flower to drink, too.

"I take it back. This is my favorite flower." -Quinn

"I agree." -Rubi

Quinn clears some pebbles and glass shards off the path with her shoe. They sit criss-cross-apple-sauce on the sandy banks.

There's a family having a cookout on the other side of the river. They watch the kids run around while the grown-ups sit on lounge chairs, drinking cans of beer.

"My family is going to have a cookout next weekend for my birthday, but we can still meet up on Sunday if you want." -Rubi

"That's cool with me if it is with you." -Quinn

Rubi didn't really want to go to the cookout, but she didn't have much time left with her family since she's going to college next month.

Rubi will be living in the dorms, and her sibling will be getting an apartment downtown. They will visit home on the holidays, but Rubi knows it won't be the same.

Rubi doesn't really bond with her parents as much as she used to, but she still feels bad for leaving them. They are only getting older.

Growing up, she always thought this time of her life would be more exciting, but she feels more loss, if anything.

"Can't believe I'll be 18 next week." -Rubi

"Man, that's wicked." -Quinn

Quinn turned 18 in May. She doesn't really feel much different than when she was 17 or even 16. Graduating high school also hasn't really settled in yet.

Quinn will work on the farm for a year and then decide whether she wants to go to college or not after. She gets into many arguments with her parents, but she's still saving up to get her own place. She has to pay off her scooter first. That was an impulse buy.

"I feel like everything's changing all of a sudden." -Rubi

"Yeah?" -Quinn

"Yeah. I'm sure I'll settle into it eventually, but right now, I just have this pit in my stomach that won't go away." -Rubi

"Well, you'll always have me. I'm here for you whether we're 1000 miles apart or sitting next to each other." -Quinn

"Jesus, Quinn. I didn't know you could get this sappy." -Rubi

"Shut up. I'm being serious now." -Quinn

They think about reaching for each other's hand, but neither wants to risk ruining the moment. There is something pure and sweet to simply just exist next to each other. Not asking for anything more or less. Just accepting it as it already is.

"I guess we should be going soon." -Rubi

"I suppose so." -Quinn

They each wrap their floral finds with a blade of grass to give each other a mini bouquet. They walk back up the hill and towards the sycamore trees. They put the flowers in the glove box of Quinn's scooter and strap on their helmets.

Quinn starts the engine, and Rubi hops on, too. If Rubi's parents knew she was riding on a scooter, they wouldn't let her hang out with Quinn anymore. She could walk home, but neither of them wants to part ways just yet.

"We should have one more sleepover before I leave for school." -Rubi

"We should go camping." -Quinn

"Where?" -Rubi

"Right here." -Quinn

"Mmm, that sounds dangerous at night." -Rubi

"You only get to be a stupid teen once." -Quinn

"Exactly, and that just might be our last time being one too." -Rubi

Quinn rolls her eyes. Rubi wraps her arms around Quinn's waist and rests her head on her shoulder while they drive away.

They glide through the little stores and townhouses, feeling the fresh air and sunset on their skin.

They take the scenic backroads to maximize their time together.

The weekends never seem long enough. The question never came up, but Hollow River is both of their favorite places to be.