I'm so sorry this took so long. Check out my book about updates for the extended reason why I took so long to get this out. I've been lazy as heck and have also just gone through the entire Mass Effect trilogy for the first time and it was a heck of a ride. This was over a month for this to come out and I just see that as unacceptable. For it to take that long for a new chapter to come out is ridiculous and I'm excruciatingly sorry.

I hope the wait was worth it. I like how this one turns out.

(Y/N) POV

Veronica: Pleeeease!

(Y/N): I already told you we can go after we're done here.

Veronica has been bothering (Y/N) all morning to go to Pearl's mansion so she can visit Marina and Pearl. She did this while he was getting out of bed, she did this while they were brushing their teeth, and now she was sitting on top of the table while he was eating breakfast, picking bites off of his plate, to which he didn't mind, while still asking him.

Veronica: Great!

Veronica quickly ate the rest of the food on his plate.

(Y/N): Hey!

Veronica: There! Are we ready to go now?

(Y/N) sighed and looked at how much she was anticipating it.

(Y/N): Fine, let's go. I can get something to eat there.

Veronica: Yay!

Veronica quickly tackled him from atop the table, hugging him.

Veronica: Thank you!

(Y/N): It's no problem, really. Why are you so eager to go see them today anyways?

Veronica: I just want to see Marina and Pearl!

He gave a slight smirk and snicker to her reply.

(Y/N): Is there ever a time when you don't want to see them?

She turned around as if she didn't understand what he had said.

Veronica: Of course not.

He giggled at her not understand the joke but continued to eat his meal until he was finished and ready to go.

~~~

Knock knock knock. Pearl opened the door and greeted (Y/N) and Veronica as they walked in.

Pearl: Hey, guys! What're you doing here?

(Y/N): We came because Veronica wanted to-

Veronica: MARINA!

Veronica said, barging past (Y/N), unable to contain her excitement.

Pearl: Marina? She's not here yet?

Veronica: Yet?

Pearl had one of her hands on her hips while the other was in the air in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

Pearl: Well, yeah, Eight. Marina doesn't live here with me.

Veronica was just looking so confused at Pearl, not understanding what she was saying.

Veronica: But she has a room here...? And she's always here?

Pearl reaches her hand up to Veronica's shoulder and tried to get her in close so she could explain it to her.

Pearl: Eight... Marina's just over here all the time because I'm the coolest, and of course, she'd want to be around me. But... she still has her own home that is hers. The room is so she can stay here if she needs to for if we're making songs or whatever.

Veronica: OOooh... I get it now.

(Y/N): (She's still confused...)

Pearl: Great!

Veronica held her finger to her mouth questionably now.

Veronica: Then should we go to her house?

Pearl: Nah, Marina will be here in a little while, it'll be better to wait here.

Veronica: Okay, then I'll text her and tell her we are here.

Pearl: Great. Now that that's settled, do either of you want to come play some games while we wait?

~~~

Marina walked through the door, barely able to set down her bag before nearly getting trampled by Veronica.

Veronica: MARINA!

Marina caught her in her arms before getting ran down.

Marina: Woah, calm down, Eight.

Veronica: Sorry! Did you get it?

(Y/N) looked over, confused at what Veronica could have asked Marina to get for her, but quickly looked back as Pearl tried taking advantage of him looking away from their game.

Marina POV

Marina: I said I'd get it for you, didn't I?

Marina giggled seeing Veronica's face light up in joy at the sight of it. Veronica took the tickets from Marina's open hand and was jumping in joy before hugging Marina again.

Veronica: Thank you so much!

Marina: No worries.

Marina looked past Veronica and watched Pearl and (Y/N) playing their game with each other and was smiling, then looked back to Veronica right in front of her as she got closer to her so the other two wouldn't hear her.

Marina: So? Who are you planning on bringing with you?

Veronica looked up from the tickets at her, still having a big smile, but she had a noticeable bit of ink rushed to her cheeks.

Veronica: A friend.

Marina slightly tilted her head.

Marina: Must be a special friend.

Veronica: He is...

~~~

(Y/N) POV

Pearl eventually beat (Y/N) at the game, due to the fact that Veronica seemed in a rush to want to leave, which caused Pearl to get the upper hand while he was distracted, but he let Pearl enjoy her victory anyways. After which, (Y/N) obliged to Veronica's demands and they said their goodbyes and left.

(Y/N): So, what did you want to see Marina about? I'm assuming it's got to be something big since you wanted to leave after you got it.

Veronica looked at him, smiling as if she wanted him to ask.

Veronica: A couple of weeks ago, I asked Marina if she could get me tickets to this one movie premiere.

(Y/N): I see. Are you going to be okay going alone?

Veronica looked at him confusedly.

Veronica: I'm not going alone.

(Y/N): Oh, so she got a ticket for Liz to come with you?

Veronica giggled at how she could never tell if he was making jokes or if he actually was as dense as he seemed.

Veronica: I'm taking you. Th-That is if you want to. It's fine if you don't.

(Y/N) let out a soft chuckle.

(Y/N): I'd love to. What is it?

~~~

(Y/N): (You know... this movie isn't bad, but... it's definitely not what I was expecting her to want to go to.)

There were explosions and big battles going on to save the world across the whole screen. Meanwhile, Veronica was jumping up and down while watching how awesome the movie was.

By the end of the movie, the good guys saved the day and Veronica was laying her head on his shoulder while holding his hand, which he actually rather enjoyed. The protagonist got his sunset kiss with the woman he loved and then the credits rolled; Veronica seemed to enjoy the happy ending of the movie.

~~~

The two were now walking through Inkopolis's lit up streets as the sun was going down over the horizon.

Veronica: That was so great! Did you like it? I thought it was amazing! Everyone was cheering! What the heck was up with that fight scene? It looked so real!

(Y/N) smiled as she was so pumped up while her arm was still locked with his.

(Y/N): So, I'm guessing you liked it?

Veronica: Liked it? I loved it!

(Y/N): So, where to now, little lady? We going home? Or Pearl's? What?

Veronica merely shook her head and walked backwards a bit ahead of him as she dragged him along, to which he let her drag him to wherever this mystery place was that she seemed so giddy about going to.

After a while of walking, the two ended up at the beach as the sun was falling beneath the horizon, letting the rest of the stars shine in the night sky.

(Y/N): So, here's where you wanted to go?

Veronica nodded as she looked up at the stars.

Veronica: Marina and I were walking around Inkopolis the other day and we saw this spot. She told me about how great of a view this spot has of the sky and the city at night, but it was the middle of the day then.

(Y/N) turned towards the city as she said this, seeing how the city glowed and looked like they actually joined with the night sky.

(Y/N): Looks like she was right about it.

Veronica laid down on the beach, facing towards the beach, while (Y/N) laid down facing towards the city, but they were both next to each other, looking up at the sky.

Veronica: (Y/N)...?

The two listened to the sound of the waves hitting the beach.

(Y/N): Yeah...?

Veronica: We're friends, right...?

(Y/N)'s head tilted a little towards her as she said this.

(Y/N): Of course we are.

Veronica stayed looking straight up at the stars, her eyes were like comets, bouncing around the night sky's stars.

Veronica: Best friends...?

(Y/N) giggled a bit at this, causing her to tense up a bit.

(Y/N): Without a doubt.

Veronica smiled at his response, easing up. She felt her face rush with some ink as they continued sitting there.

After a few minutes of the two just sitting there, enjoying the sounds of everything around them, Veronica spoke again.

Veronica: (Y/N)...?

(Y/N): Yes?

Veronica: ...Remember the card I gave you on your birthday...?

Now it was (Y/N)'s time to let his ink rise to his cheeks.

(Y/N): Yeah?

Veronica didn't say anything in response but after a minute or two, he heard the sand shift near her, but before he could sit upwards to see if she had gotten up, she had surprisingly fast held herself over him, mere inches in front of his face. He could feel her warm breath on his face. It was as if she was hesitating... but for what?

(Y/N): V-Vero-

Before he could even finish saying it, she quickly jutted forward and planted her lips on his, causing his eyes to go wide while her eyes remained closed. He sat there, trying to get a grasp on what was happening; her eyes were still shut, her cheeks were flushed, her lips still puckered against his. After getting his bearings, he closed his eyes and guided his arms to her upper arms, wanting to hold her there and feel her in his embrace. He laid back as she fell forward more onto him until she finally broke apart from the heated moment.

They were both breathing in after. He saw how flushed her cheeks were but he was sure he wasn't any better than she was.

Veronica: I meant it.

She then stood up, brushing the sand off of her as (Y/N) stood up to do the same. His mind was filling with so many thoughts, from what she said, to what they did, or to the thought of what does he say to her now that it's just happened.

Veronica: Hey!

His thoughts were cut off by Veronica's voice a good bit away.

Veronica: Are you coming? We can't sleep on the beach! We need to get home!

She said as she turned to start walking home. He stood there for a second before snapping out of it and letting out a little laugh, then he hurried up after her. The two walked the rest of the way home, conversing with each other very closely.

1880 Words

July 3, 2019 - 9:30 PM