The week was painstakingly long for the pair who couldn’t wait for the weekend. Saturday did finally arrive though, and their excitement was through the roof. It had been so long since they had spent time together like this and Ava wasn’t sure how to act anymore. Hell, it had been a long time since she had hung out with anyone as of late. They took Blairs car for their day out, and it seems she really likes driving. Another thing about Blair that she is happy to find out through there renewed friendship.

Ava looked to the side where Blair was driving “I really appreciate you doing this Blair.” Ava meant this truly. She might’ve been a little uneasy about Olivia, but them just having out like they did all those years ago was a dream come true.

“What?” Blair looked amused. “You don’t have to thank me for hanging out. All that shit in the past can stay in the past. I’m just looking at the person who I see in front of me now. Ok?”

Blair was never a talker, but she’s found her voice more recently with help of someone special. Just thinking about Olivia made her cheeks warm. Blair thought she was lucky to have an amazing person like Olivia as her girlfriend.

“So, let’s just enjoy today. I want to hang out with my friend.” She said with some heavy emphasis on “want”. Blair was here on her own volition. It was her decision to be here with Ava and it was her decision to forgive her best friend. She was moving forward - whatever that entailed. Blair was going to it.

After there little heartwarming conversation in the car Blair pulled into the parking lot of her favorite Boba place. The placed named - Boba Central - was a little piece of her she didn’t want to let others know about. Was it that crazy of a secret? No, but to her it was, and she wanted to share that part of her with Ava. Everyone has something they want to keep hidden. Whether there embarrassed about said thing or just not comfortable sharing it with others Blair was starting to open up her heart again.

“So, this is the infamous place you like. It’s cute.” ‘Just like you’ Ava said in her head. Her eyes widened and she couldn’t believe she just had just thought that. Well……it was technically true, so Ava decided to not dwell on it further.

Blair thought for a moment on what to say then spoke “I’ve changed some since high school.” She said jokingly.

Ava was glad she changed. It seemed selfish, but she didn’t know if she could have seen Blair if she never recovered. Knowing that she was the one that cause her pain and suffering was already an immense weight she carried. It broke her heart all over again seeing her again. Blair seemed hardened and cold, but not broken and for that she was grateful. Especially grateful to Olivia though she would never say that outright to her.

“So? No more energy drinks?” Ava said with a sly smile and jabbed her arm playfully into Blair.

“No…… let’s just order.” Away she went at a fast pace eager to escape this conversation and her past.

Ava smiled and saddled right next to Blair as they ordered their drinks. Finally, having ordered and getting their drinks - after they stood in an insanely long line - they left to head back into the car. A 40-minute drive along a nice coastal rode brought them to their destination the aquarium.

“I don’t think I’ve been to an aquarium since that one field trip.” Blair said while laughing. She thought on the nice memory of when times were simpler, and things hadn’t taken a turn for the worse.

“That was why I wanted to come again. “Ava said with a smirk.

Blair looked to Ava thoughtfully and was surprised she still remembered that fond memory she held in her heart. The aquarium they were going to was vast and expansive. It was the largest one either of them had ever gone to in their lifetimes. Everything you could ever want to see in aquatic life would be here for onlookers to see. Blair couldn’t help but think this was exactly how it felt when they came here before – albeit they were older now. The bustling of the crowds moving to and fro to each of the tanks filled with every species of aquatic life anyone would want to see. Blair and Ava both of one mind wanted nothing more than to revel in this shared experience and be reminded of better times when they were children.

As the day went on and the pair soaked in the sights their attention was interrupted when a little girl latched onto Blair’s leg.

“Momma?” the little girl said with teary eyes.

“Wha-?” Blair fumbled not understanding the situation that was unfolding itself in front of her.

The little girl looked up finally at Blair but looked horrified to not find that this person who’s leg she just latched onto wasn’t her mom.

Being the youngest of two siblings Blair had no idea how to handle children. She was the child. The one everyone doted on. Her parents stopped at 2 so that was just her fate. The girl was about to start profusely crying, but Blair was to stunned to even move from where she stood like a statue.

              Before everything went up in smoke Ava descended like an angel from heaven to come to Blairs rescue.

              Ava cautiously approached the child and crouched down “Hello! I’m Ava and this Blair” she said as she waved towards the frozen Blair. The child acknowledged them and still looked like she would cry at any given minute.

              “Blair unfortunately is not your mother, but if your lost we could always help and try to find her?” she said with a caring tone. Ava thought that this girl looked very young and wanted to at least stay with her till they could get a handle on her mother. “If you want, we could even get some ice cream while you wait if that would make you feel better.”

              The girl seemed to finally light up a bit at the mention of finding her mother and of course ice-cream. ‘Who didn’t like ice cream’ Ava thought. Blair watched all of this unfold and couldn’t believe that this was her friend Ava in front of her. Blair stared in amazement at how capable and reliable she’d become in these years. She felt her heart warm looking at the interaction and thought Ava was amazing at handling kids. Her thoughts drifted and she started imagining Olivia and her with kids of their own. While she was in her own fantasy she just as soon snapped out of it and couldn’t believe what she just thought about. It was good thing Ava asked Blair to ask around and look for her parents while Ava watched the kid.

“Yeah, I-I’ll uh…..go do that.” Blair didn’t mean to stammer her words but after that wild thought process her brain had some trouble forming focusing on anything else.

Ava raised her brow slightly “Alright, we’ll be here eating our ice cream.” She said happily while standing next to the drink machine. It was always better to stay put and be next to recognizable things in situations like these.

After a few minutes waiting her mom came - as fast as Hermes himself - billowing through the crowd to her child. She profusely thanked Ava and Blair for keeping her child safe. Just as she came, they were gone and out of sight leaving the two alone again.

Ava felt slightly guilty for ruining there day out together. This was supposed to be a day where they could relax and slowly get to know each other again, but the universe had other plans for them. “Sorry, Blair.”

Blair looked up to her with confused look like she didn’t understand why she was even apologizing “For what? Helping a lost kid? Don’t be. It was nice seeing you like that and me being a bumbling idiot”

              That seemed to make Ava laugh and her expression brightened up. The two fell into somber silence but not uncomfortable silence like before, more like they both might be finally starting to understand each other again. Both fell into a rhythm of steps as they walk idly to the exit both with a warmth in their chests and a desire to keep making small steps in the right direction to heal. Ava was smiling but more shockingly Blair was smiling which was a rare occurrence.

              If a day could go perfectly Blair thought today was that day. As they exit the aquarium a sort of peace befalls her, and she can’t believe her life is going in the direction she always wanted. It was only then when she finally looked up to meet Ava’s eyes that she saw a familiar face and froze instantly. Olivia and what looked like to be her friend were feet apart staring at her and Ava.