Summer Love

Frost appeared overnight, glistening in Her atmosphere from the sweat across her skin. Summer's presence packed the room, but it was not suffocating in the way it always seemed to be — maybe because this time was different, because this time she had come to die.

The cigarette between Her lips floated embers to the ground, but they did not reach the carpet. Instead, Summer would occasionally sweep Her leg with a grace that did not suit Her to reach them, letting them flutter down against the skin of Her foot. It did not burn Her the way it would all those times She'd let one rest against the crook of Frost's elbow, and she had long since learned to ignore the maddening itch of heat.

Frost had long since learned to ignore plenty in the name of Her.

"What're ya doin' here, 'elle?" She inquired in that same unabashed drawl that told Frost just how much she'd inconvenienced her. And the truth of it? Frost couldn't answer. She was captivated by the look of Her, the need to experience the overwhelm of the buzz against her cool skin as Her warmth corrupted it. The second time She said her name she snapped it, clearly bored, commiserating Her irritation at the time being stolen from Her.

"I just wanted to see you again," she almost-whimpered, hands propping her against Summer's shoulder as she let her body melt into her side, eyes drinking up the working of Her jaw and, eventually, delighting in the peripheral drop of Her eyes to her lips.

…Then she saw it, a Fall, down the stairs.

Not necessarily a stumble, but a intentional, clambering drop — one foot on top of the other but never colliding — by a pair of brown Chino pants, sharp brown loafers, a tan tweed blazer, and breeze-swept hair. Warm, brown eyes met her gaze as she looked up, and the warmth dropped a tenth of degree in confusion.

"Hey, sunshine! Who's your friend?"

Noelle was shrugged off Her shoulder like a passing thought as She skimpered to his side, that same warm smile on Her face that once pressed against her lips on the beach.

…Noelle had never liked the beach, but She did.

"Oh, she was just leaving. Nobody important."

One thing She hated was silence, and in that moment, Noelle gave it to her full-force. Looking back, she would have wished it were out of spite, out of an intentional desire to make Her feel every ounce of hurt she did as those words replayed in her ears. Instead, her mouth would not make words.

Summer stared at her, dumbfounded, as if she had done something life-changing to Her, while the young man behind her shuffled uncomfortably.

"She seems nice, are you sure she wouldn't like to stay for dinner?"

"Thank you for asking me," she snapped charmingly, her mouth awakening — 'finally' — before her brain. "I would be delighted to! I would love to meet Summer's…?"

"Husband!" he chirped proudly, and the look shared between Summer and Noelle could melt even the most frozen of hearts…

…except, apparently, Summer's. For Summer was truly where love went to die.