“Ew, ew! Cece, there’s a worm! I’m not doing this anymore, I cannot with this—“
Cecilia snorts, tossing her trowel aside and crossing her legs, sat on the ground.
“Such a wimp,” she teases, watching as Haley stumbles off to the porch, shaking the gloves off her hands. “I try reconnecting you with nature once and you’re already giving up.
Haley scoffs as she plonks herself down on one of the porch steps, wiping a speck of dirt off her glossed lips with a face that says pure disgust. She tosses her stupidly perfect blond hair behind her shoulder, a stubborn piece falling into her face. Cece wants nothing but to tuck it gently behind her ear.
“I told you,” she spits, with no real heat behind her words, “that I wouldn’t like it. I told you.” She pauses, grimacing at a spot of mud on her arm that she scratches away with her stupidly perfect nails that Cecilia has daydreamed about feeling graze across her skin far too many times than she’d like to let on. “Stupid farmer girl, roping me into her farmer stuff.”
The ginger can’t help but giggle at that, peeling her own gloves off her hands and silently making the decision that she’ll continue later.
“You’re so dramatic,” Cece says, shaking her head as she leans back on her hands. The warm sunlight filters through the trees, and Haley looks like she belongs in some magazine shoot instead of perched on a porch step. “It’s just dirt. You’ll live.”
“Just dirt?” Haley glares at her, though the corners of her lips twitch. “It’s disgusting. And there was a worm, Cece. A worm. Wiggling, slimy, right there!” She shudders theatrically, tossing her head back for emphasis.
Cece grins. “Oh, the horror. Nature dared to touch you.”
Haley rolls her eyes, but the playful glint in them betrays her. “I don’t know why I even agreed to this,” she mutters, brushing invisible dust off her shorts. “You tricked me. You said we’d be doing something fun.”
“This is fun,” Cece says, throwing her hands out dramatically. “Fresh air, sunshine, planting things that’ll actually grow. You just don’t appreciate it.”
“Because I’m normal,” Haley shoots back, then pauses, her expression softening just a bit. “But… I guess it’s kind of cute how much you like this stuff.”
Cece blinks, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Cute, huh?” she says, trying to keep her voice light even as her heart speeds up.
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Haley gives her a mock-serious look, but there’s a softness to her words now. “I’m still never doing it again.”
Cece snickers. “Oh, I’ll rope you in again eventually. You’ll miss me when I’m out here by myself.”
“Doubt it,” Haley says, but her gaze lingers on Cece a little too long to back up her words.
Cece raises an eyebrow, catching that lingering look but choosing not to comment — yet. Instead, she leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her grin teasing. “Oh, you’ll miss me, alright. I’ll be out here with my worms, my dirt, my thriving plants… and you’ll be stuck inside, bored out of your mind.”
“Bored? Please.” Haley tilts her head, brushing that stray strand of hair back again, this time leaving it tucked behind her ear. “I’ll be inside with air conditioning, iced coffee, and zero chance of creepy-crawly attacks. Sounds like paradise to me.”
“Sounds lonely,” Cece counters, her tone light but her gaze steady.
Haley’s lips part slightly, like she has a snappy comeback ready, but nothing comes out. She looks away instead, focusing on some far-off point in the yard. “I’m not lonely,” she says after a pause, quieter than usual.
The shift in tone catches Cece off guard. She straightens up, brushing some dirt off her jeans as she glances at Haley. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she says softly. “I just meant… I like having you out here. Even if you’re being a total drama queen about it.”
Haley snorts, the tension easing as quickly as it appeared. “I’m not a drama queen.”
“You’re literally sitting there like you survived a war because of one worm,” Cece says, biting back a laugh.
“Okay, that worm was out for blood,” Haley shoots back, her smirk returning. “But fine, whatever. I’ll admit it’s… nice being out here. Kind of. Just not the dirt part.”
Cece smiles at her, warm and genuine. “That’s progress..”
Haley rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. Instead, she leans back on her hands, letting the sun warm her face. “You’re lucky I put up with you, you know.”
Cece’s chest tightens at that, but she plays it cool. “Oh, I know. Believe me, I’m counting my blessings every day.”
The sarcasm earns her a playful shove from Haley, who can’t quite hide the little grin tugging at her lips. Cece falls back into the grass with an exaggerated groan, staring up at the sky and wondering, for the hundredth time, if Haley can hear her heart pounding whenever she’s near.
Cece stares up at the sky, the blue stretching endlessly above her, and for a moment, she lets herself forget about the racing thoughts. The feeling of Haley being close, of them sharing this weirdly quiet space, makes her heart settle, even if just a little.
Haley sits silently for a few moments, the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze the only sound. Then she shifts slightly, as if she’s thought of something, but isn’t sure how to say it.
“You know,” Haley says, almost to herself, “I wasn’t expecting to like it out here. But… it’s kind of peaceful.”
Cece turns her head, catching her gaze. “See? You just need to give it a chance. Nature’s not as bad as you think.”
Haley shrugs, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, well, I still think it’s a little overrated. But it’s… okay. With you here.”
The words hang in the air, simple but loaded. Haley doesn’t look at her, her eyes tracing a pattern in the grass, but Cece feels the shift between them, subtle but undeniable.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Cece says, her voice steady but quieter than usual.
Haley finally looks at her, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes before she drops her gaze again, fingers absently picking at the hem of her shorts. “I’m just here for the company. And, you know, the chance to roast you when you’re being all ‘nature is life’ on me.”
Cece grins, sitting up slowly, a teasing tone creeping back into her voice. “Oh, I know. But I’ll take it. Even if it’s just because I’m a ‘cute farmer girl.’”
“Cute?” Haley scoffs, but there’s no real bite to it. “You’re ridiculous.”
Cece laughs, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But you like it.”
Haley doesn’t argue, her lips curving into a small, reluctant smile. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just don’t expect me to touch any more worms.”
Cece chuckles, but her heart feels a little lighter. “Deal. No more worms. I’ll even throw in some ice cream next time. How’s that for a bribe?”
Haley raises an eyebrow, like she’s thinking it over. “Ice cream, huh? Fine. You’ve got yourself a deal. I’m sure Alex could use the money.”
Cece shakes her head with amusement. “You’re so rude.”
“Yup. But you love me anyway.” Haley says it like a joke, but there’s a tenderness in her voice that makes Cece pause for a moment.
“I do,” she says quietly, her heart skipping a beat again.
Haley looks at her, and for a second, their eyes meet, the playful back-and-forth slowing to something almost… softer. But then Haley quickly looks away, her smile returning, her usual teasing tone slipping back into place.
“Don’t get all sentimental on me,” she says, nudging Cece with her foot. “Let’s just finish the job without any more worm stuff.”
Cece smiles, feeling the warmth of her words settle in. “You got it. Drama queen.”
Haley laughs, and it’s easy, like the moment before it never happened. But Cece knows, in that quiet way, that something’s changed. And maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t mind it one bit.