MY HEART CATCHES ON EVERY THORN, YOU’RE ALREADY HALFWAY OUT THE DOOR,
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤAND I’VE NEVER LOOKED SO OLD, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO COLD
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ AND IT IS EIGHTY-FIVE DEGREES.
i don't know what i need.
@RUDEDAMAGE O-Oh! Um, well, I-I guess if you want to there's n-no real harm in it...
[ There's a small red glow from her nose. ]
... Thanks, S-Susie...
@RUDEDAMAGE Well... you care about Gabi too, right? S-So of course I'm gonna let you help!!
[ Especially since, apparently, their last birthday didn't quite go according to plan... ]
@bumbIescare O-Oh, um, you don't have to do all that...
[ Giving gifts for special occasions comprises at least 40% of her sense of self. ]
... It's, um, Christmas Eve. The twenty-fourth.
@RUDEDAMAGE You're so cool, Susie...
[ What she doesn't see is the four or five early drafts of this card in her room's recycling bin. But here Susie was, nailing it first try! ]
I-I'll make sure it gets to them!! And that they know you helped too!!!
@bumbIescare [ Inside, it says "I'm un-bee-lievably sorry I missed it... but Happy Birthday!" ]
[ Colored pencil sketches of flowers and bees dot the page, but there's also a heartfelt (though mostly illegible) message, accompanied by a pencil doodle of Susie, Noelle, and Gabi. ]
--
@RUDEDAMAGE [ She doesn't quite have the words to describe how the art makes her feel. It's like something she would have drawn five years ago, but even five years ago some raw emotion was lost in the process of bringing ideas to life on paper. ]
[ But this was Susie. Entirely her. ]
@RUDEDAMAGE [ A warm smile makes its way onto her face as she scans over Susie's work. At this point, she's learned to vaguely interpret Susie's handwriting— but what she's more focused on is the drawing. ]
... I-I think they'll love this, Susie!!
--
@bumbIescare [ They look cute together... ]
[ ... She tries not to examine that thought too hard. ]
Oh, um, there's one last thing I have to give you!!
[ A final rummage in her backpack. She pulls out... a handmade belated birthday card. ]
@bumbIescare [ Regardless of what any writer might tell her, Noelle is worrying. ]
Um, o-okay... If it g-gets dirty you'll, uh, probably have t-to hand wash it...
@heaIprayers Y-Yeah! The short hair is a good look on... you. Us.
[ She'll keep her hair long, though. It's an iconic look! ]
... Maybe we could, y'know, watch some horror movies together. L-Like old times.