Golden Sky #2

Seth's eyes met Thea's, a look of surprise in his eyes. He had expected that she wanted to get the day over with. She had to play couple in front of Celine and everyone else, she probably wanted to give it a rest but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"Another round doesn't sound bad."

Seth's eyes remained fixed on her almost like he was trying to read her mind but he couldn't figure out anything.

He looks from Thea to Daisy, then to Arian, who is already grinning, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"We're going to bed," Seth says again, his voice firm.

"I'm not tired," Thea replies simply, meeting his gaze without flinching. "It's a beautiful night, and I want to enjoy it."

Arian pulls out a few more cans of beer from a cooler nearby. "Looks like it's settled then," he says, handing one to Daisy. "Two against one, Seth. You're outnumbered." He smirked.

Seth looks at Thea, searching her face for any sign of a joke, but she is serious. He sighs, maybe she does want to enjoy the trip and that's completely fine.

Besides, he finds himself unwilling to leave her out here alone with Arian and a tipsy Daisy. With a reluctant nod, he accepts a can from Arian.

"Fine," he says, taking a seat beside Thea again. "But just one."

Arian chuckled. “You know that isn't going to be the case right?”

Seth sends Arian a warning glare but his friend shouldn't care less what he thought. He wanted more than ever for his friend to relax a bit..

Daisy chuckled. “If Thea is feeling this relaxed, I doubt she's going to bed early.”

Thea scoffs. “I will! The…the weather is just so nice and I want to enjoy the weather.”

“Ahah!” Daisy mocked. “The weather? Sure. The weather is so perfect tonight uh?” She teased.

Thea avoided her gaze, taking a sip of her canned drink. She knew Daisy could see right through her pretence. She wasn't ready to go into the cabin. She knew she would ask Seth what all that was about. Giving her his jacket, placing that almost too tender of a kiss on her forehead? It was far more than just some display he was trying to put up for Celine.

Thea's eyes flickered to Seth, he was staring at her. Not in a discreet manner, his full body turned towards her, staring at her.

She coughed, almost choking on her drink. Seth set his can on the table, grabbed a glass of water and handed it over to her. Thea takes the glass and gulps down the water.

“Thea, you okay?” Daisy asked, concern on her face.

Thea nods, avoiding Seth's eyes. “Yes. I'm okay. Thank you.”

“Are you sure? We could stop by the clinic. It's not so far from here.” Seth offered.

Thea turned to him suddenly, eyes wide open. “Clinic? I just choked on water. I'm okay..” She said,

Seth nods slowly, but he still wasn't convinced. What is it with this man being hot and cold at the same time?

“I'll have to second Seth on this. Are you sure you're okay?” Arian asked.

Thea nodded. “Yes I am.”

“Goodness, you almost gave me a heart attack.” Daisy chuckled.

“I'm glad I still have that effect on you.” Thea teased.

Daisy shakes her head. “Unbelievable.”

How could Daisy ever forget that a handful of people really thought she and Thea were a couple? Daisy acted like the mother Thea never really got to know and Thea, like the only family Daisy had.

“How long have you and Thea been friends? You two seem very close.”

Daisy nods. “She had a thing for helping helpless people. Never met a kid trying to pacify another about a very similar loss.”

Arian's eyes went from Thea to Daisy. “Similair loss?”

“We lost someone very important to us on the same day and their funeral happened to happen on the same day too.” Daisy said, giving him a sad smile.

“I'm so sorry to hear that..”

Thea shakes her head, a smile on her face. “It's nothing. We found each other during that time and I wouldn't take that back.”

Daisy sniffs, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know..”

Thea scoffed. “Look who's emotional now.”

“I wasn't crying!” Daisy snapped.

“Sure!” Thea teased.

Arian smiled. Despite his first impression of Daisy, she seems like a sweetheart or maybe it was the alcohol. Whatever was in the air, it was nice to see her less intimidating.

“I'm envious. That asshole doesn't think our friendship is anything special.” Arian said, pointing at Seth.

Seth sighed, shaking his head. Arian was clearly drunk and he couldn't deal with this dude right now. He had his own personal struggles here.

“Unbelievable. I was willing to take a bullet for you.” Arian tuts.

“You're drunk, Arian.”

Arian smirks, he really enjoys making Seth very uncomfortable. That was in fact his speciality. “Nope. Tipsy. Yeah.”

He stands up and heads to Seth's seat, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “ Say you appreciate our friendship.”

Seth glanced at him, horrified. “Get your drunk ass out of here!”

“Just say it once! Just once!” Arian said.

“Arian!” Seth cautioned.

“Fine. I'll take a hug.” Arian tries to hug Seth but his friend jumps out of his chair, moving away from Arian who wouldn't stop coming close.

“Go to bed.”

“Just one hug!”

“Arian Macdaniels! Go to bed!”

Arian ran after Seth who took off running almost immediately. Arian was set on getting that hug and Seth was hellbent on getting far away from his drunk friend.

Thea and Daisy tried to hold back their laughter. The genuine horror in Seth's eyes and Arian's playfulness. He lived for the joy of annoying Seth, it was so delightful.

For the first time, Thea could see his playful side even though he looked like his life was genuinely being threatened by that hug. Her eyes followed Seth, running with a small smile on his face until Arian tackled to the floor.

“Say it! I'll tickle you.”

“You wouldn't dare..”

“Say it!”

“Fine! I do. I appreciate our friendship.” Seth replied simply. Of course he's grateful to have Arian. Yeah, he's an asshole ninety nine percent of the time but he does value his friendship with Arian.

“See? It wasn't so hard was it?” Arian got off Seth and stretched his hand out to help Seth help up.

Seth chuckled. He took Arian's hand and pulled himself up.

" That was exhausting.” Arian said, breathing heavily and laughing.

Seth shakes his head in disapproval. “You're aging faster than I am.”

Arian narrowed his eyes on Seth. “You're such a cocky bastard.”

Seth smirked. “I’ll take it.”

They settled back in theory seats, Daisy and Thea still choked with laughter.

“You have a…” Daisy reaches for a plant in Arian's hair carefully. She handed it over to him. He smiles. “Thank you.”

Seth tries to dust off the pecks of sand in his hair but it was everywhere. His only option was to take off his top but then he'd freeze to death.

He sends Arian a knowing look, goodness he couldn't even shoot that bastard even if he felt like he wanted to.

His eyes flickered to Thea who was staring at him. Her eyes moved from his eyes to his hair, holding back her laughter.

“What is it?” Seth asked, eyes wide open in concern.

“You…” Thea giggled as she reached for his hair and a few leaves fell to the ground.

Her fingers went through his hair, pulling out one leaf after another and helping him dust down the sand in his hair as well.

“Who knew you could be this free?” She muttered, probably to herself but he could hear her.

“Maybe it's the alcohol.” Seth confessed, his eyes sparkling as he looked up at her.

Thea smiled. “Looks like we have to get you drunk everyday then.”

“I wouldn't mind that.” He replied as Thea settled back in her seat, his hair completely free from sand and leaf.

The night deepens, the air growing colder. Arian and Daisy eventually drift into their own conversation, their voices a quiet murmur by the fire. Thea and Seth are left in a comfortable silence, listening to the crackling fire and the gentle hum of the night.

Thea finds herself leaning into Seth's side, and to her surprise, he doesn't pull away. He drapes his arm around her, his chin leaning on her head.

If this could last forever so he wouldn't have to pretend not to crave her touch, he wouldn't mind that one bit.