#just realized kieran has had like 3 cocktails and is about to drive

[kieran-kennedy]

Kieran still couldn’t believe how they’d gotten here — to the point where they were both sneaking away from a huge family dinner to do what? Reminisce?

Kieran thought about all of the stress he’d been under for his whole life — how he never missed out on any family event, how he was always overly prepared for tests (both from school and his father), how he’d given up everything to keep his family happy.

Then, it suddenly became a lot easier to walk away. He hadn’t wanted to be there in the first place. It made him sick to be there.

Selene extended a hand toward him, and without thinking, Kieran grabbed it and stood. Well. This was officially happening.

There was a path from the beach to the front of the house. No one would notice, and if they did, it wasn’t against the law to go for a walk.

“When’s the last time that you were there?” Kieran wondered. “I tried going a few years back with Parker, but they were closed for repairs. Something in the kitchen,” he explained. “One of the stoves, or … maybe it was the plumbing. I can’t remember.”

Kieran walked up the path, led the way around the home. He could hear music and laughter and everything might’ve been enjoyable for him under different circumstances. He remembered enjoying these types of get togethers a lot.

What had changed? Too much, Kieran thought.

"God, and the beer..." Kieran trailed off. Once they made it to his car, he paused for a moment, wondering if it was weird? To open her door? But he would've done it for Kaia, and his mom, and any other woman that might've been riding with him, so Kieran decided it was okay. He opened the door for her. "For some reason, it just tasted better there."

No explanation. No seeking of approval.

No forcing themselves to stay at dinner simply because it was expected of them.

For Selene, it felt tantamount to breaking in somewhere and spraying graffiti over someone's valuables— that's how wildly rebellious it felt to simply drive an hour to a bar.

But, God.

Couldn't she do this one tiny thing just for herself?

And for Kieran— who wanted just one thing to stay the same. Selene can't think of anything better to do than visit a bar that had remained unflinchingly renovated and unchanged for the last forty years.

Their burger recipe was probably still the same too.

'Are you actually down?'

Selene grins a bit wildly. This was exactly the kind of antics of old Kieran and Selene.

Of course she was. She wouldn't tease about something that felt so ... sacred. An old bar with a great honey-oak slab of a counter and pennies that tiled the wall and a dozen lucky cat clocks scattered across the premise. To a college student? Practically a cathedral. Selene wasn't sure if those memories felt as poignant to Kieran as they did to her, but the fact he was even willing to go— spontaneously, with her — spoke volumes.

Selene jumps up from her haunches. Extends a hand down to Kieran in what may be the most .... casual, offer of physical touch they've had in forever.

"We need the burger."

"And I cannot explain to you much I would rather be there than fielding a billion questions at dinner."