Chapter Text
Sasha nervously checked her face in her rearview mirror. She let out a soft sigh while tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Why was she so flustered to see Marcy again? She’s known the woman practically her whole life, but it's been six months since Anne’s twenty third birthday. The girls kept in touch over video chat, phone calls, even a few letters, but for them to all be together again was a little overwhelming. Sasha turned on her radio to ease her nerves and cleared her mind. she took a deep breath as the song filled the car.
I heard from a friend today
and she said you were in town
She side eyed the radio and adjusted herself.
Suddenly the memories came back to me
In my mind…
She adjusted her hands on the steering wheel.
How can I be strong I've asked myself
Time and time I've said
That I'll never fall in love with you again —
Turning off the radio, deciding music was not helping as she drove towards the airport — thoughts of the past six months flashing in her mind. A smile spread across her face because of how many times she’s driven there to meet Marcy, or gotten on the plane to see her. Marcy and Sasha started dating not too long after Anne’s birthday, two weeks to be exact. The time they spent together was always filled with joy and laughter, but the distance tore their hearts apart causing them to end their relationship after three months. Sure, the three months after the break up was awkward, trying to go back to being friends, especially since the feelings were still there. But, they meant a lot to each other, so they continue to try. If Sasha was being honest with herself she secretly hoped that her and Marcy would reignite the flames after seeing each other again.
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Sash drove around arrival three times since the airport police said she couldn’t wait there longer than three minutes. The fourth time the officer walked up irritated, knocking on her window which she ignored at first. He continued to knock.
“Ma’am,” He said firmly, “Ma’am!” He was practically yelling at this point.
She rolled down her window to look him in his eyes, “Chill, I’m waiting for my girlfriend." The statement surprised her more than him. Why would she say that when they hadn’t dated in months? She didn’t have much time to analyze why she said it since the officer was yelling again,
“Ma’am if you don’t move your vehicle you and your girlfriend will get a ticket.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” She corrected him, but more so herself.
“Didn’t you just say–”
“I mean she is my girlfriend in a friend who’s a girl, but not romantically” She bit her lip “Well, not anymore.”
He sighed holding the bridge of his nose “Just move, please."
“Alright, alright I’ll move.” She started to turn out of the parking space, but heard Marcy call her name. Sasha gave a smug smile and pointed in Marcy's direction, “see, there she is.”
He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, make it quick.” He walked away.
Sasha got out of the car, “Marbles" She moved in as close as humanly possible in participation to catch the clumsy women in front of her. Good thing she did because Marcy tripped and fell right into Sasha’s arms.
“Oh my gosh, thanks for catching me Sash.” Marcy said, a little embarrassed as she looked into the blonde's eyes.
Sasha mouthed “You’re welcome” with a tint of red hue across her cheeks.
Marcy looked up at Sasha while still in her arms. “I love your hair cut!”
Sash moved a hand from Marcy’s back to rub her pixie cut before moving her curly swoop out her face. “Thanks, I love yours.” She said with a gentle smile looking at Marcy’s beach bob cut with a small braid in the front.
The two stared at each other warmly until their moment was interrupted by the airport police who was yelling again.
“Hey girlfriends, move along.”
“Alright alright,” Sasha yelled back, a little embarrassed. She hurried to let Marcy into the passenger side. She hoped Marcy didn’t hear the cop’s comment, or think too much of it.
“Awe, such a sweetheart.” Marcy said .
She was trying to quiet her heart as Sasha got into the driver's side. She noticed her leather jacket, silk pink shirt dress with knee high combat boots, and wondered if Sash did this on their behalf. They laughed at how silly that thought was.
Marcy sighed to herself thinking of their relationship and how warm and fun it was. Distance played a huge part in not feeling fully comfortable with Sasha; however, not being able to tell Anne she was in town, or that she and Sasha were dating played a bigger part in why they failed. Yes, they both agreed to keep it quiet from Anne until they figured it out, but that wasn’t the only reason Marcy agreed. She also didn’t want to tell Anne, because she still had feelings for her.
“You okay, dude?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“You haven’t said a word since I picked you up.” Sasha cleared her throat. “I kind of miss your voice.” She smiled, not wanting to come off too forward.
“Yeah, just thinking of meeting with the publishers about my book deal and the future of the ‘Trio of Hearts’."
“It’s already yours, bab- Mars.” Sasha cleared her throat again. “Don’t Stress it dude,” she said with a soft smile.
“Thanks Sash,” Marcy turned towards the window trying to quiet her thoughts.
“Of course,” Sash looked at Marcy's outfit with a smile. “I see you’re wearing the shirt Anne made for you.”
Marcy looked at white tank top that read “Lovable Newt” with a drawing of a Newt version of themselves inside her green button up with matching shorts. “Yeah, I thought it was sweet that she made this to promote my webcomic. Plus I thought it would show my support for Hello Autumn. It’s so cool that Anne has an accessory and apparel line”
Sasha smiled with a gentle nod. The smile wavered as memories of Anne filled her head. She told herself she couldn’t do this now. She couldn’t allow those feelings to come back. She was having a hard enough time trying to oppress the feeling for the woman next her. She couldn’t add feelings for Anne in the mix, but they were always there. She alway juggled her feelings for the two of them.
“Sasha, you okay?”
“Yeah Marbles, just so excited to spend more time with you and Anne.” She hoped her smile masked her worry.
“Same, glad she was able to see us today.”
“Yeah me too.”
The two drove in silence, but their thoughts wouldn’t shut up, especially the closer they got to meeting Anne.
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Sasha parked the car and opened Marcy’s door.
“Oh Sash, the gentle-lady.”
“Well, you know.” She playfully shrugged.
“I do” Marcy locked arms with Sasha making her heart skip as they walked toward the Thai Lily Pad, the Amphibia inspired garden, an addition that Anne added to her parents restaurant.
Anne’s heart began to race as they waved and she waved back. She stood up from her seat with a leaf hair clip wrapped in long fluffy curls while showing off a blue dress that was covered in matching leaves. The two warmly looked at how the dress flowed over her in the wind. The trio tried to calm themselves as they all got closer.
Marcy and Sasha finally made it over to Anne which felt more like they floated rather than walked. They all engulfed each other in a hug smelling a mixture of jasmine, lilac, and sandalwood. They inhaled the scent and melted into each other.
Anne thought how she missed cuddling up with the both of them, it was always her favorite part in their relationship. She took a few breaths trying to hold herself together. She couldn’t allow herself to fall for her best friends – not again.
The trio backed out the hug and sat at the table looking at each other before quickly looking at their hands, phones, the garden, anything to quiet their mind. They were all afraid that if they stared too long at one another, their faces would reveal all their secrets.
They sat at their table lost in their thoughts. Sasha thought if Grime was here he would tell her to stop running and be honest, like he told her the first time she lost Anne as a friend. But, that was the thing she didn’t want to lose either Anne or Marcy– not again.
Marcy thought if Lady Olivia was here she would tell her to proceed with grace and patience while General Yunnan would tell her to dive in with brute force.
Anne smiled at the thought of Hop Pop handing her a book on love advice, how Sprig would listen attentively before giving her a friend punch, and how Polly would tell her to suck it up, girl! They all laughed at the thoughts of their Amphibia family and how they missed them so much.
The waiter finally came over, with Anne’s blue butterfly tea lemonade, Sasha’s red raspberry tea with real fruit, and Marcy’s green Limeade with tea. Anne ordered their drinks before the other two arrived. She touched both of their hands saying she hoped they didn’t mind, they replied they didn’t. They loved the way Anne showed her heart through things like this. Knowing them so well and taking care of them in all the ways she could.
They talked about Marcy's flight and big book deal, Sasha opening her own private practice of holistic healing for adolescence, and Anne’s Amphibia inspired accessory and apparel line: Hello Autumn.
They sip their tea hoping it would clear their mind and calm their nerves. They all felt like some smitten fools with no clue where this journey would lead them. The last time Marcy was in town they almost revealed everything. Thank Frog, it was just a weekend, but how were they going to keep it together with Marcy moving back for good.