Tourist Trap
“Eight euro for a tiny bottle of sun screen?” Laura said disbelievingly, holding said tiny bottle.
Carmilla looked over her shoulder. “What did you expect, sweetheart?” She asked, raising an eyebrow. “we’re in an uppity, touristy beach community. Everything’s expensive,”
“True,” Laura sighed dejectedly, and grabbed a second bottle, bringing both to the register.
Carmilla chuckled under her breath and followed her, carrying a couple towels from a display not far from the ludicrously expensive sun screen. “Why did you want to come here anyway?” She asked, handing her card to the cashier.
“I used to come here when I was little with mom and dad,” Laura said with a little shrug. “It’s been a long time...everything’s changed,” She said, a hint of melancholy to her voice.
“I’ve found that everything does, and doesn’t change,” Carmilla said, turning to walk out of the store with Laura once they’d bought their things.
Laura shrugged. “There used to be more shops around, like little quaint ones owned by artists,” She said, pointing to a row of storefronts that were situated under a row of condos, many of them looking like real estate offices. “And the condos used to be a hotel. We stayed there once,”
Carmilla hummed, nodding. “The beaches are the same, no?”
“They are,” Laura nodded, looking around.
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Evening was coming quickly, and the sun was beginning to set when Laura and Carmilla finally left the beach. Carmilla had opted to read for most of the day under their rented umbrella, though she did join Laura in the water briefly. (That whole debacle was cut very short when Laura decided to splash her.) The two were walking down the sidewalk back to their hotel when Laura stopped short, her mouth hanging open.
“What?” Carmilla asked, looking between her girlfriend and the lines of people who were situated outside of a shingled building.
“It’s still here!” Laura said excitedly, grabbing Carmilla’s hand and dragging her towards the line. “They weren’t open this morning and I thought they were closed for good!”
“What’s still here?” Carmilla asked, still confused.
“Carm, this place has the best ice cream anywhere, ever,” Laura said seriously. “they have a million flavors. We used to get a cone every night when we came here,”
Carmilla smiled a little, watching Laura scan the menu. “Well then, what do you recommend?” She asked.
Laura glanced back at her. “For you? Peppermint,” Laura said confidently.
“Alright then, what are you getting?” Carmilla asked.
“Cookie dough,” Laura grinned.
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Soon, the two of them sat on the sea wall, watching the sun slip below the horizon as they ate their ice cream.
“So, not everything’s changed, right?” Carmilla asked, breaking the silence.
“No, it hasn’t,” Laura said with a soft smile.