Chapter Text
The Kiramman boat was already open when Caitlyn reached the harbour.
Front ropes loose, ladder down, music playing faintly from somewhere inside. Jayce was half bent over the bow, shirt off, scrubbing something that absolutely did not need scrubbing.
“Jayce,” Caitlyn called.
He looked up, squinted into the sun, and broke into a grin so wide it bordered on stupid. He dropped the brush straight into the water.
“Oh my god,” he said, already moving. “You’re early.”
“I’m on time.”
“You’re early for you.”
She barely had time to set her bag down before he was there, arms around her, lifting her just slightly off the ground.
“Hi,” she said, laughing into his shoulder.
“Hi,” he said back, tight, like he meant it. “You ate?”
“On the train.”
“Good. You look,” He pulled back, looked her over. “Exactly the same.”
“Liar.”
“Okay, fine,” he conceded. “You look like you slept.”
“Don’t spread rumors.”
She leaned back against the railing next to him, watching the water. “How long have you been here?”
“An hour,” Jayce said. “Mylo said two, but he’s dramatic.”
“I heard that,” Mylo called from the dock. Nearing Caitlyn with open arms.
Caitlyn twisted around. “You’re literally smoking nothing.” Hugging him.
“It’s the principle.”
Claggor bumped Mylo’s shoulder with his own. “Ignore him. Hi, Cait.”
“Hi,” she said warmly. “You look so good.”
“That’s because my major doesn’t cost and arm and a leg.”
Viktor was sitting on the edge of the deck, feet dangling in the water, shoes already abandoned. He looked up when she approached. “You made it.”
“Barely,” she said. “Train was cursed.”
“Aren’t they all.”
Jinx appeared behind Viktor, already grinning. “You took forever.” Already hugging Caitlyn.
“I did not.”
“You did,” Jinx said, letting Caitlyn go. “But you’re here now so it’s fine.”
Ekko leaned against the mast, arms crossed. “You brought snacks?”
“I always bring snacks.”
“Good.”
Caitlyn dropped her bag near the bench, familiar weight leaving her shoulder, and that was when she saw Vi.
She was at the far end of the boat, talking to Jayce’s girlfriend, Mel, one arm resting casually on the railing, posture loose in the way that only came from being somewhere you belonged.
Vi glanced over.
For half a second, she didn’t move.
Then she smiled and pushed off the railing, walking over like she hadn’t been counting the days.
“Hey, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn smiled before she could stop herself. “Hey.”
They hugged, like they always did. Just close. Vi’s arm warm around her back, Caitlyn’s chin brushing Vi’s head.
“You made it okay?” Vi asked, low.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
They pulled apart, still close enough that Caitlyn could smell sunscreen and salt on her skin.
“You’re tan,” Caitlyn said.
“Occupational hazard.”
Mel cleared her throat gently. “Hi Caitlyn.”
“Oh,” Caitlyn said, turning. “Hi, Mel.”
“It’s good to see you again,” Mel said. “You’re the only one I know here.”
“You too but don’t worry they’re all very nice,” Caitlyn nodded. “Welcome to chaos.”
Mel smiled. “I’m getting that impression.”
Mylo clapped his hands loudly. “Okay! Before anyone gets emotional, food?”
“Later,” Jinx said immediately.
“Not for now,” Mylo shot back. “For dinner. What are we eating?”
“Fish,” Claggor said.
“Grilled,” Viktor added.
“With whatever Mylo didn’t forget,” Ekko said.
Mylo scoffed. “I forget nothing.”
“You forgot ice,” Jayce said.
“Once.”
Caitlyn laughed, leaning back, the sound slipping out easier than she expected.
“Swimming,” Jinx announced suddenly, already tugging her shirt off. “Caity, come on.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“I—”
Jinx was already pulling her toward the ladder. “You literally wore your bikini under your clothes, don’t lie.”
Caitlyn huffed a laugh but didn’t resist, slipping her shirt off, tossing it onto the bench.
Vi watched.
She didn’t stare. She didn’t comment. But something in her posture shifted, attention sharpening, jaw setting just slightly. Ekko gave her a look which she replied with shrugging.
Jinx kicked her sandals off and jumped in with a splash. Caitlyn followed a second later, gasping as the water closed over her.
“Cold!” Caitlyn yelled.
“Liar!” Jinx called back. “It’s perfect.”
They floated near the boat, sun on their faces.
“Did you bring the thing?” Jinx asked.
“What thing?”
“The thing.”
Caitlyn sighed. “Yes.”
“Good.”
Jinx turned and shouted, “Babe!”
Ekko looked over. “What.”
“Get in!”
He hesitated, then glanced at Vi. “You coming?”
Vi shrugged. “Yeah.”
She turned to Mel. “You too, if you want. No pressure.”
Mel raised an eyebrow. “You’re convincing.”
She slipped her sandals off and climbed down carefully, water splashing around her knees before she eased in.
“Wow,” Mel said. “Okay. I get it now.”
“Told you,” Jayce called from the deck.
They drifted, talking over each other.
“Mylo almost set the bar on fire last week,” Jinx said.
“That was one time,” Mylo yelled back.
“You didn’t even work that night,” Ekko said.
“I work spiritually.”
Caitlyn laughed, floating on her back.
Vi swam closer, not touching, just near. “You tired?”
“A little,” Caitlyn admitted. “Train wrecked me.”
“Yeah,” Vi said. “You can nap later.”
They floated in silence for a moment.
“Race to the buoy?” Caitlyn asked suddenly.
Vi smiled. “You’re on Kiramman.”
They swam away together, water quiet around them, the group’s voices fading behind.
“You good?” Vi asked, once they reached it.
“Yeah,” Caitlyn said. “Just… happy to be back.”
Vi nodded. “Me too.”
Vi leaned over, “So,” she said. “Officially lawyer Caitlyn Kiramman huh?”
Caitlyn scoffed. “Coming from Violet Lanes the physical therapist.”
Vi shook her head. “Still sounds unreal.”
Caitlyn nodded along, “We did it though.” she smiled turning to look at her.
Vi smiled back, “We really made it Cupcake.”
From the boat, Jayce’s voice rang out, “Dinner’s ready!”
They looked back at the boat, then at each other.
“Guess that’s our cue,” Caitlyn said.
Vi smiled, soft. “Yeah.”
They turned back toward the others, water parting easily around them.
By the time the sun started slipping lower, the boat smelled like grilled fish, citrus, and salt.
Claggor set the last plate down with a quiet sort of pride, Viktor hovering near the grill like he still didn’t trust it not to combust.
“Okay,” Ekko said, already eating. “This is actually insane.”
“Told you,” Claggor replied, trying not to smile too hard.
Jayce lifted his glass. “To Claggor, who could absolutely open a restaurant if he wanted.”
“I don’t,” Claggor said immediately.
“Coward,” Mylo said, handing out drinks. “Beer for Vi and Ekko. Whiskey for the rich kids.”
Caitlyn took her glass without comment. Vi clinked her beer gently against it.
“Water,” Viktor said.
Mylo paused. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Alright,” Mylo said, offended. “More for us.”
Jinx already had a neon-colored cocktail in hand. “This one tastes like regret.”
“That’s the idea,” Mylo said.
They ate wherever there was space, edges of the deck, folded legs, backs against the railing. Someone turned the music down. The light went orange, then gold. Most of them were tipsy.
“This is stupidly good,” Caitlyn said, nudging Claggor’s knee with hers. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Claggor ducked his head. “It’s the lemon.”
“It’s always the lemon,” Jayce agreed.
Vi ate quietly but efficiently, beer sweating in her hand. Caitlyn watched her for half a second longer than necessary, then looked away.
“So,” Ekko said, mouth full. “How was everyone’s school this year? We all survived?”
“Define surviving,” Jayce said.
“Define school,” Jinx added.
Viktor hummed. “It was exhausting. But… good.”
“Good how?” Caitlyn asked.
“I like knowing how things work,” Viktor said simply.
“That tracks,” Vi said.
Jinx waved her fork. “Paint fumes are killing me, but I kind of love it.”
“Of course you do,” Mylo muttered.
“And you?” Ekko asked Vi.
She shrugged. “Busy. Tired. Worth it.”
Caitlyn smiled into her whiskey. “You always say that.”
“It’s true,” Vi said, glancing at her. “Mostly.”
Mylo chimed in, “Vander wants to see all of you in a couple days, by the way.”
Caitlyn smiled warmly. “I missed him so much.”
Jinx giggled. “He missed you too. More than he missed us, I think.”
They all laughed.
Caitlyn turned to Jayce. “How’s your dad?”
“Still terrifying,” Mel answered.
“Only if you disappoint him,” Jinx said cheerfully.
Jayce nodded.
“And Cassandra?” Ekko asked, too casually.
Caitlyn lifted one shoulder. “The same.”
That was all she said.
“So still a bitch,” Jinx muttered.
Vi nudged her shoulder. “Jinx.”
Caitlyn smiled down at her food. “Yeah…” She glanced at Vi. “She is.”
The conversation moved on.
Caitlyn leaned toward Mel. “Okay, I have to warn you about Jayce.”
“Oh no,” Jayce said immediately.
“Too late,” Caitlyn said. “Do you remember the science fair?”
Jayce groaned. “Don’t.”
“He tried to reinvent the lightbulb,” Caitlyn told Mel.
“It was innovative,” Jayce protested.
“You electrocuted yourself.”
“Briefly.”
Mel laughed, genuine. “I wish I’d seen that.”
“You don’t,” Caitlyn said. “He cried.”
Jinx snorted. “Okay, but remember when Mylo—”
“No,” Mylo said.
“Yes,” Jinx insisted. “The fireworks.”
“That wasn’t—”
“Vander said do not get too close,” Jinx continued, pointing at Mylo, “and this idiot almost lost his hearing.”
Laughter rippled around the table.
“And then,” Mylo said, raising his glass, “there was that summer.”
Caitlyn laughed already. “Oh no.”
“You know,” Mylo said, warming to it. “Everything going great. Boat stolen. Jayce sunburned beyond recognition.”
“Hey.”
“And then,” Mylo spread his hands. “Jinx convinced Caitlyn to jump from the top of the boat.”
Mel blinked. “The top?”
Caitlyn nodded, laughing.
“She jumped,” Mylo continued, “and then broke her leg.”
Groans, laughter.
“I did not break it,” Caitlyn said. “It was a fracture.”
“Yeah, only for a month,” Ekko added helpfully.
Vi laughed, sharp and unguarded. “Then I tried to carry her because she was sad to miss hangouts, but I dropped her and broke her other leg.”
The table exploded.
“Oh my god,” Jinx wheezed.
“Jesus,” Caitlyn said, laughing, face hot. “We were so dumb.”
“That’s why I’m a physical therapist,” Vi said, still smiling.
“That’s true!”
Mel, still laughing, tilted her head. “Wait. Can I ask something?”
The laughter faded, just slightly.
“Why didn’t you two ever…?” She gestured vaguely between Vi and Caitlyn. “You know.”
Silence.
Caitlyn didn’t look at Vi.
She swirled the whiskey in her glass once, then set it down.
“We knew it would end,” she said evenly. “Different paths. Different cities. It felt… smarter not to start something we couldn’t finish.”
No one spoke.
Jayce cleared his throat loudly. “Okay! Who wants dessert?”
“Do we have dessert?” Ekko asked.
“We can,” Jinx said immediately, getting up.
Conversation restarted, too fast, too loud.
Vi lifted her beer, but didn’t drink.
She kept staring at the table like something had been left there.
And the sun slipped below the water.
Jayce found Caitlyn near the galley, leaning against the counter.
“Hey,” he said gently, touching her elbow. “Mel and I are heading out.”
Caitlyn blinked up at him. “Already?”
“It’s late,” Jayce said. “And you’re… well.”
“I’m what,” she asked, smiling crookedly.
“Celebratory,” he said fondly. “I’ll text you when I get home.”
Jayce leaned in a bit more. “Have you talked to Vi about Demacia?”
Caitlyn smiled like she forgot that was a thing. “Oh, no. But I should,” she nodded to herself. “I will.”
Jayce smiled. “Tell me when you do.”
She nodded, looped her arms around him, and hugged him a little too tightly. “Love you.”
“Love you too,” he said, then hesitated. “You good?”
“Always,” she said, which meant nothing, but he let it go.
After they left, Caitlyn wandered back toward the deck, the boat quieter now, music low, lights dimmed. Plates were stacked, bottles half empty. The air smelled like salt and smoke.
Only Vi was left.
She sat at the edge of the deck, shoes kicked off, feet dangling in the dark water. A cigarette burned between her fingers, the ember briefly illuminating her face when she inhaled. She didn’t look up when Caitlyn approached.
Caitlyn sat beside her without asking.
After a moment, she reached over, took the cigarette straight from Vi’s hand, took one clumsy drag, then passed it back like nothing had happened.
Vi snorted softly. “You started smoking again?”
“Law school will do that to you,” Caitlyn said.
They sat in silence for a bit, the water lapping quietly below them.
Vi spoke first. “Did you mean what you said back there?”
Caitlyn frowned, thinking. “About my criminal justice teacher being a dick?”
Vi laughed despite herself. “Yeah. That.”
They laughed together, brief and easy, and then the silence settled again, thicker this time.
Vi stared out at the water. “You know what I mean.”
Caitlyn swayed slightly where she sat. Her cheeks were warm, her thoughts pleasantly slow. She smiled, dumb and unguarded.
“Yeah,” she said. “I did.”
Another pause.
Then Vi said it, flat and careful, still not looking at her. “I’m applying for hospitals in Ionia.”
Caitlyn froze.
“I haven’t heard back yet,” Vi went on, like she needed to fill the space. “But it hasn’t been that long. So… I’m optimistic.”
Caitlyn’s mouth opened. Closed.
She smiled, and didn’t say anything.
She reached for the cigarette again, took a longer drag this time, then pressed it out carefully against the deck. She stood up so abruptly Vi turned, confused.
“Cait?”
Caitlyn pulled her top over her head.
Vi blinked. “What are you—”
Then Caitlyn pushed her shorts down, kicked them aside, and held out her hand.
“Swim with me?” she asked.
Vi stared at her. “It’s pitch black,” she said, standing despite herself. “Are you sure?”
Caitlyn laughed, bright and reckless. “Is Violet Lanes scared right now?”
Vi grinned despite everything. “Shut up.”
She pulled her shirt off, dropped it with the rest, and followed Caitlyn to the edge.
They dove in.
The water swallowed them whole, so much warmer than it was earlier, quiet, endless. They swam without speaking, side by side, just shapes cutting through the dark.
Caitlyn dove under suddenly.
Vi surfaced, looking around, heart thudding.
And then Caitlyn came up right in front of her, close enough that Vi could feel her breath, see her eyes reflecting faint light from the boat.
For a second, Caitlyn hovered there, lips parted, gaze unfocused but intent.
Vi’s chest tightened.
She was terrified Caitlyn was about to kiss her and not remember it.
“I—” Vi said quickly. “I’m cold. Can we—can we get out?”
Caitlyn blinked, then nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”
They climbed back onto the deck, dripping, quiet. They dressed without looking at each other.
“I’ll walk you home,” Vi said, like it was obvious.
Caitlyn leaned into her immediately once they were off the boat, clinging to her arm, head heavy against Vi’s shoulder. Vi focused on the road, on breathing, on not reading into the way Caitlyn fit so easily against her despite her being way shorter than her.
At Caitlyn’s door, she stopped.
She turned, still holding onto Vi’s jacket. “Don’t apply for jobs in Ionia.”
Vi’s face fell before she could stop it. She masked it fast. “Why?”
Caitlyn smiled, slow, wicked. “Do you know the small mall in Jandelle?”
Vi nodded, confused.
“I got hired in an office near that,” Caitlyn said lightly.
Vi stared at her. “What?”
“I’m always one step ahead of you, Violet,” Caitlyn said so matter of factly.
Vi laughed, breathless and stunned, unable to process it fast enough.
Caitlyn looped her arms around Vi’s neck, lazy and warm. “You’re stuck with me.”
And then she kissed her.
Vi kissed her back on instinct. It was soft, slow.
But Caitlyn pulled away almost immediately, smiling like she’d just won something.
“See you tomorrow,” she said.
“Yeah,” Vi managed.
She stood there, unmoving, as Caitlyn went inside.
After the gate closed behind her, Vi finally smiled to herself and started walking home.