Waterline

Unique Relationships

Darrel picked up a box of nails before setting it in the cart. Those were the last things he would need for the boat. He already got equipment that they would use. Libby was in a different aisle picking up paints for the boat. A grayish blue color would work to match a dolphin. Later, they would get more supplies to decorate the boat. Darrel walk across the hardware store to find the painting section.

Libby was leaning against the counter as she waited for the paints to finish mixing. "Hey, I got everything. Are you almost done?" He asked her.
"I'm just waiting for one more can," Libby told him as she pat the top of the finished paint can. On top of it was the marking of the finished color. "The color looks good," he commented. Then Darrel picked up the paint and set it in the cart.

"I hope the others think it's a good color," Libby comments.
"You don't need to get approval from the others, mine is more worthy," Darrel told her.
"Your fashion sense isn't the best to be honest," Libby playfully punched Darrel's arm.
"I think I look good," Darrel said.
"But I look better!" Libby stuck her tongue at him.
The worker mixing the paints looked back at the duo. He gave them a confused look which they didn't acknowledge. He was perplex by the conversation they were having. It was going everywhere and didn't stick to one topic.

"H-here's your paint," the worker gave them the paint. He sheepishly looked up at Darrel. The worker was confused yet frightened by the large figure before him. "Thanks!" Darrel smiled before taking the paint and putting it in the cart. Darrel pushed the cart towards the checkout line. Libby waved at the worker one last time before following Darrel. The worker waved back before giving a quick sigh of relief.

"That worker was acting weird when you showed up," Libby told Darrel.
"Oh? What was he like earlier?" He asked her.

Libby picked up a few color palates before examining them. It was mostly a dull grey group of colors. Nothing that she wanted. Something that was more bluish should work better. Libby sighed as she set the color palate back in the slot. She stepped back before looking at all of the color selections. "Do you need help with your colors, beautiful?" A man with light brown hair asked her. He propped himself against the shelf of the aisle they were in.

"Yeah I do! I'm looking for a bluish grey color. Y'know, something that resembles a majestic dolphin," Libby told him.
"Quite a nice taste you got, but try looking somewhere in the blue section," the man said as he walked towards the blue side. He picked up a color palate then handed them to Libby. "The last two are the closest I can get to your dolphin," the man told her.
"The last one would work," Libby told him before giving the palate back to the man.

The man smiled and nod at her color choice. "Let me whip this right up for you, beautiful," The man said.
"Thank you... E-Eric?" Libby squints at his name tag. The man looked down at the name tag before smiling. "That's it, don't mind my bad handwriting," Eric told her. Eric led her to the desk where he could make the paints. He walked towards an old computer then wiggled the mouse. Then clicked on a few sequences to get it started.

"If you don't mind, what's this paint for?" Eric asks as he looks up from the computer. "It's a project," Libby told him. "Quite interesting," Eric grabbed an a clean bucket then placed it under a machine. It started to make loud noises before paint started to pour in the bucket. Then it gave a few clicks before changing it to black. The noises continued until all the colors were added.

"I hope that doesn't bother you, beautiful," Eric told her.
"It doesn't bother me at all," Libby smiled.
"Good cause this one is louder," Eric said before putting the bucket in a machine. It made several loud cliches before making an obnoxious noise.

It took around five minutes for the machine to be done. Eric pulled out the bucket then tested the paint. He dipped his finger in paint then swiped it across the color palate. "That matches, would you agree?" Eric asked her.
"Yeah, it's perfect," Libby said.
"Good, I'll whip up the other bucket for you," he said as he fastened the lid on the first paint bucket. Then set it on the counter for Libby. Eric then got started with the other paint bucket.

"Then you came and he was weird," Libby finished. Darrel grunted as he fixed his eyes on the cart.
"I'm going to speak with him," Darrel looked back at the paint section.
"Why?" Shouldn't we get to the others," Libby told him. Darrel looked at Libby and started to reconsider.
"I could talk to him later," Darrel spoke. Libby lightly giggled at his then playfully punched is arm.
"Hey! Are you trying to wrestle me?" Darrel asks.

Toby was sprawled out on one of the wooden planks. "What is taking them so long?!" He asked the sky.
"Traffic, maybe?" PJ suggested.
"What do we do? The sketch is already done," Toby asks.
"Draw," Conor suggested.
"Good idea, draw me like my those French woman," Toby turned to his side then propped his elbow on the ground and kept his head up with his hands. He placed his other hand on his hips. PJ and Conor both exchanged looks to each other.

"Oops, I need to be naked," Toby said.
"No one wants to draw your body," PJ told him. Conor felt mostly awkward be how strange his friends are but they are still the best. A buzzing sound came from the sand. Toby quickly sat up after realizing it was his phone.
"Someone check my phone," Toby said. He was out of reach from his phone. Conor and PJ were both standing over it but Conor was the one to pick it up.

Conor read the caller name to see who it is but the name made no sense. "It says aggressive muffin," Conor said in a questioning tone. Toby's smile grew wider since he knew who it was. "That's Ashley, I have her that pet name," Toby told them. That cleared it up, not really. Conor tossed the phone to Toby. "I'll take this privately," Toby said as he stood up. He walked away from them and along the shores of the beach. They could see him but not hear anything he's saying.

Conor and PJ both stood there watching him. "So, do you have any nicknames for Mae?" PJ asks.
"No, am I supposed to make some?" Conor asks.
"No, what do you two do together?" PJ asks. Conor thought about it for a little bit.
"Oh! We make a lot of inside jokes," Conor said.
"I remember now, you both started laughing for no reason when you said something about butter," PJ said. Conor smiled a little as he recalled that moment. "It's hard to explain," he told him.

Conor and PJ both continued to talk as a jumping Toby approach them. "I can't believe it, I'm going to be a dad!" Toby said as he hug Conor and PJ.
"No way!" PJ cheered for his excited friend.
"Ashley just got pregnant, Conor we can both have kids together," Toby told him.
"Toby, the sacrifice," PJ reminded his friend.
"I'm so sorry, Conor. I forgot about it," Toby apologize as he hugged his friend.
"Don't let me damper the mood, I'm excited for you," Conor said. He was a bit upset to be reminded that Mae would be gone soon. To think that he would finally be in a relationship that felt trusting. Of course, it was too good to be true.

"Hey, do you want to go spend more time with Mae?" Toby asked. Conor would definitely want to spend all of his time being beside Mae. Unfortunately, they both had a lot of work to do. "I would like to," Conor admits.
"The girls aren't doing anything now, and we can do your part just for today," Toby told him.
"I wouldn't mind doing twice the work as long as your happy," PJ admits.
"Thanks I owe you both," Conor said. He picked up his backpack then climbed onto the boardwalk. Conor gave his friends one last wave before heading to Penelope's house.

Mae only has a few more days left. Conor has to make them count for her to be happy before she leaves. No matter what, Conor wasn't going to forget about her. They shared already too many memories. Now she is going to leave like she never existed in the first place. Conor does know that Mae has left a permanent mark on him. He's going to remember her until the day he dies.