#also awwwwwwww <3 THATS MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR😭 always n forever

[batheir]

"i'll have you know, the size of someone doesn't matter... technique does." helena's fiercely informing while their hands are pressed together through their gloves. hers a lot smaller, but she's confident... as long as she isn't on ice, she could easily flip colby and then put alex in a headlock. "i know how to break a wrist, so in a way, these fists might be small but you'll ALL be so surprised and sorry when you hear the sounds of your bones starting to crack." soft amused laugh sounds from her because she knows how well he's underestimating her knowledge on being powerful despite her size, he's just lucky she'd never want to hurt him like that even if he's pushing it by making fun of her.

"she didn't want to go?" brows push into a confused crease. "i mean, who wouldn't want to go enjoy a cool place like that? especially spending time with their boyfriend... that's crazy." helena plays it off like that's what she meant, not what she's really thinking: finding suspicion in it. and confusion. it's like his girlfriend really doesn't even care a single thing on what he does. does this woman know no jealousy? and what was he THINKING about for so long? in the duration it took him to answer. "wait, hold on a sec... i'm confused. she didn't want to go or she couldn't go because the internship?" because want and couldn't are two different things... so which really is it? either way, it sounds a little off. just leaving your girlfriend behind like that. "but, right. yeah. i suppose that makes sense."

a little sting in her voice, because she wasn't going to sugar coat how it's kind of disrespectful. counting it as another reason crushing on him is a bad thing, that should DETER her from doing so. he has two other women in his life, she doesn't need to get caught up in this twilight love triangle. or square. it'd be different if poppy didn't act like a thirsty gremlin, but there was something about her she didn't like. it gives her dread and secondhand irritation just imagining that... being sarah, being his girlfriend and him and poppy taking off on their secret summer trip. because she wouldn't find herself chill with it unlike the seemingly calm sarah about it, then she'd get looked at as the bad guy and there she goes... head first, in another toxic relationship. he was sweet, putting her shoes back onto her feet, but that's why she had to be extra careful. there was something extremely confusing and easy to fall into a trap, because of him being so kind. harry wasn't even doting like this and here she is... stuck in mud with him. so this... is definitely dangerous territory.

"boring. i wanted to spend all summer at the library, he wanted to spend it at yacht parties. each versions of our own fun ended up boring each other. we did go to los angeles for a week trip, but we just fought and argued the entire time. speed demon'ing it across pacific coast high way with lana del rey playing was the most enticing part. thrilling in making harry shriek like a little girl, he was convinced i was going to send him in the ocean. you know what they say about the lana del rey girls after all..." helena quips, finally laughing again. because he probably didn't know. and the visual of COLA playing with the top down on her dad's mustang, while helena was dancing around and singing insanely over top of harry's yelling to 'pay attention helena!' was beyond HILARIOUS all over again. "i wish you'd been in the back." just to seen harry's yelling and freaking out. but what can she say? lana on blast just makes her hit the acceleration harder and her LEAD FOOT worse. "you should go with me next summer." tapping the curl above his forehead, poppy wants to intervene in her plans... she should get her back for last time that helena hasn't forgotten. ACCIDENTALLY schedule the L.A trip right on top of that date that's her special year trip. an eye for an eye, would only be fair. "too long." the words slip from her mouth without realizing what she just said until it's too late. "i mean, two years." moving the stray curl over, fixing it in place. she hates how cute he and his dark curls look.

“fist of fury?”   alex can’t help but laugh at that,  never one to underestimate helena’s strength after what happened on the day they first met,  but it’s still so very amusing to hear this petite,  angelic girl throw around threats like she’s the next mike tyson.   “show me these mighty fists.”   without waiting for her to offer,  he gently takes her right hand and presses it to his own.   palm to palm.   despite the mitten,  hers looks much smaller.   “whoa!   i’ve never seen a weapon quite so deadly before!”   he whistles in feigned wonderment,  teasing her,  trying to push her buttons because she looks so cute when she gets all worked up.   “that’s so true.   he’s barely an inch taller than you.   good thing he doesn’t realize,  out of the two of us,  you’re the one he should fear,  not me.”   he sits beside her on the bench,  gently elbowing her.   the smile that resides on his lips is so big and bright that it has his cheeks aching,  eyes crinkling at the corners.   “i see how it can get lonely,  but at least you don’t have to fight with anyone for your parents’ attention,  right?   growing up as one of four,  i have a very different experience so i can tell you that you’re probably missing out on fights over the last slice of pizza and your clothes going missing only to see them on one of your siblings a few days later,”   he muses with a laugh,  ignoring the fact that colby might still be watching them and leaning sideways,  resting his head on her shoulder while she praises him for spelling out a bad word.   they stay like this for a moment,  but then he straightens up.   both working on their laces,  both seemingly lost in thought. 

alex doesn’t know what’s going through helena’s head,  but his own is fixated on forbidden feelings.   he loves his girlfriend.   he really does.   but lately,  he’s been feeling…   empty.   as if something’s missing,  even though he seemingly has everything.   his mind keeps drifting to helena when it should be focusing solely on sarah —   they could be on a date at an italian restaurant and he’ll be wondering whether helena prefers carbonara or bolognese.   they could be at a museum and he’ll catch sarah yawning,  his heart aching,  wishing his best friend was beside him instead.   the beauty of art never lost on her.   he catches himself,  surprising sarah with desserts that are helena’s favorite.   gifts that helena would enjoy.   but the guilt.   god,  the guilt.   he feels like he’s betraying his girlfriend just by indulging in these thoughts and feelings.   it’s all wrong.   so crude,  and yet he can’t help himself.   he’s always prided himself on being loyal,  on being honest,  but now he’s hiding something —   even from himself.   if he loves sarah,  as much as he claims to,  why does his heart skip a beat every time he sees helena?

he realizes that he hasn’t been listening very intently when she asks him a question and there’s silence.   his cheeks flushing immediately.   he looks down and realizes that he’s already put his boots back on,  even if he doesn’t recall doing so.   “oh,”   he breathes,  kneeling in front of her and offering help with the tight knots on the laces.   “well,  sarah didn’t want to go with us.   she got this summer internship thing at the local theater and couldn’t just up and leave.   but we stayed in touch,  sending pictures and stuff…   besides,  it’s kind of poppy and i’s tradition,  you know?   we call it the summer trip.”   he doesn’t even realize how strange it sounds,  having a girlfriend but going on vacation with a girl best friend.   and now there’s helena,  too…   it’s all so complicated.   “how’d you and harry spend the summer?”   he inquires,  mostly to divert the conversation away from the summer trip.   he looks up,  icy hues uncertain and brimming with guilt when they meet hers,  hands guiding her foot back into her own boot.   “how long have you been together,  anyway?   you and harry.”