Rosaline giggles, as she leans up into her companion, and kisses her lips.
“You two are so sweet.” Zee says, her elbows on the table, her chin resting on top of her hands.
Rosaline blushes, gingerly peering at the intruding woman.
“Oh, yeah, um-”
“Don’t butt in chica, we’re having a moment here!”
Zee laughs, Hawaii shakes his head. The couple glance to each other.
“Yeah, because we’re not just sitting here, right next to you.” Hawaii teases.
“Don’t start with me chacho!” Sweetie replies, breaking her grip from Rosaline to point at him.
Sweetie walks back to the counter, where the fruit and beans she is preparing still reside. She lightly smacks Hawaii’s shoulder as she passes him.
“Or no breakfast for you!” she playfully exclaims.
“Hey, I’m just happy you’re finally not hitting on Zee all the time.”
Rosaline’s brow raises, her head tilts.
“What’s that now?”
Zee giggles as she takes Hawaii’s hand.
“It’s nothing Ros, Sweetie just liked to make him uncomfortable. I’m not, how do I put this, um, I like a man’s embrace, let’s say that.”
Sweetie whips around, glaring at Hawaii, then looks to Rosaline.
“It really is nothing nena. I just make jokes, you know how I am!”
Rosaline shrugs, laughing off the comments.
“I’d be surprised if you didn’t do things to upend people.”
Sweetie points the knife at Rosaline, swirling it around in the air.
“So no breakfast for two of you now, that what I’m hearing?”
The two smitten women grin at each other, their eyes twinkling. Rosaline takes a seat at the table, joining Zee and Hawaii. Zee puts her hand on top of Rosaline’s.
“I’m so glad you two stayed.”
A sheepish expression forms upon Rosaline.
“Me too.”
“So” Hawaii says, interrupting the moment, “are we gonna have this couples picnic anytime soon, or what?”
“¡Ay chacho! I’m hurrying, I’m hurrying!” Sweetie exclaims, her pace quickening.
As the two couples share laughs and banter in the kitchen, Rad, Outlaw, and Mikey have taken their game of hide and seek outside, behind the house. The game only lasts one more turn before Outlaw suggests they go to the barn and practice their knife throwing. Outlaw, who has become determined to be able to throw a knife like Rosaline, is first to the barn. He gathers the knives and takes position by the doors, aiming at the targets Rosaline set up for everyone.
The younger Puerto Rican sibling has taken Rosaline’s advice of using all the blades they have, and mixing them as he throws them. To her, it’s better not to get accustomed to a specific weight. She instructed him to focus on his aim, to be consistent with hitting the rings around the bullseye, then moving on to aiming for the bullseye every time.
In the wild you’re not guaranteed to have the same equipment at all times, and as such being accustomed to one specific weight or feel can end up being more of a determent than a benefit. Outlaw has taken to Rosaline rather quickly, his sister’s budding relationship with the young fighter no doubt influencing this.
They practice with the barn doors fully open, and though it creates more noise this way, it allows anyone else outside to hear them training. A measure of precaution in case something goes wrong.
The two couples exit the house, their meal finally prepared. Hawaii and Rosaline have already set up some blankets on the ground in front of the house. On this day the sun shines brightly in the clear sky, the weather aiding their planned activities.
Zee and Hawaii lay the plates out, Rosaline pours water for each of them, and Sweetie garnishes their plates with food. After she finishes her task she plops down next to her partner, nudging her with her shoulder, drawing a smirk from Rosaline.
After an hour of enjoying each other's company, and conversing among themselves, Rad and Outlaw come bounding from the barn, with the little boy in a full sprint behind them. Rosaline beams with joy seeing Mikey connecting with his first true friends. The trio circle to the front of the house, brushing by the picnic, Rosaline waves at Mikey, an expression of full delight exudes from the child.
"See nena, isn't this nice?"
"I didn't say it isn't nice babe, it's just unusual for us, but I am glad he's getting to experience it."
She puts her arm around her companion, and kisses her cheek.
"I'm glad I'm getting to as well."
"Oh I know you are nena." Sweetie replies, a confident smirk across her face.
"Any other plans for your free day?" Zee inquires.
Sweetie shrugs.
"Just gonna see where the day takes us." she replies, glancing at Rosaline, to wink at her.
"What about you two?" Rosaline asks.
"I've got something planned for me and Zee later."
"Oh, do you? Tell me!" Zee says, with a raised brow.
"No, no, it's a surprise."
Zee's eyes squint as she playfully leans into him.
"Alright ko’u aloha, keep me in suspense."
"That's the plan." Hawaii says, as their faces touch, and they kiss.
Rosaline puts her plate down, and scoots closer to the center of the blankets. An odd change in her expression accompanies the action.
"Listen, no one look around, or freak out, continue smiling and laughing, but listen to me carefully."
Her eyes rapidly move to each of them. They do as instructed, timidly keeping a joyous appearance.
"There is someone watching us. Don't act any differently."
"What? Are you sure nena?"
"Yes, to my right, near the tree with the broken branch is a patch of shrubs. Someone is in that patch."
Hawaii reaches into the basket grabbing a canteen out of it, leaning closer to Rosaline in the process.
"A person or an infected?"
"Definitely a person, they have a gun, a rifle. I saw light reflecting off the scope about ten minutes ago, and again just before I started talking about it."
"What do we do?" Zee asks in between forced giggles.
"Right now we don't do anything, we can't do anything. Our guns are in the barn, we can't act as if we know they're there."
Rosaline fakes a smile, glancing to Sweetie.
"In a minute I want you to reach into the basket for more food, pretend
