Chapter Six - Quiet

Time passes quietly in Sunflower Shores.

May 3rd, 2016

Three Years Later


                 Time passed in a strange way in Sunflower Shores. Every day seemed to meld into the next, and the quietness of the town made the days seem longer in a somewhat peaceful manner. But at the same time, time seemed to pass quickly as well. The snow would melt, the rain would pour, the leaves would grow, the sunflowers would bloom, the leaves would fall, the snow would drift down, and the cycle would repeat. Carla quickly learned that Sunflower Shores didn't change much, and if it did, the changes were hard to notice. Some of the older buildings would become more and more worn down by the harsh ocean winds, and sometimes shops and houses would gain a new coat of paint, or maybe some front yards would plant new flowers to bloom in the spring. As the months went by, she gradually found it easier to notice those differences. Her time in Sunflower Shores didn't feel long, but at the same time, she felt like she had lived there her whole life. 

It was a difficult feeling to express with words. 

And so, three years had passed without her even noticing. Somehow, the Wildflower Trails became more and more worn down with every visit to the Suntouched Outlook. She didn't even spare the dirt path a glance as she followed behind Mallory to the outlook on that warm spring afternoon. After all, she already knew where ever dip and root was. 

"Honestly, I'm kinda regretting taking Chemistry this semester," Mallory called back to Carla as the two traversed the trails with ease. "I don't even like Chemistry!" 

Carla laughed. "Then why did you even take it?" 

"My parents wanted me to," She huffed, glancing over her shoulder at Carla. "They said it wouldn't hurt to have another academic course, and that they don't want me wasting my time with a spare."

"That's stupid," Carla snorted, picking up her walking pace so that she was walking beside Mallory. "Spares are good for doing homework and stuff, then you've got more time to do things at home!"

"Exactly!" The blonde exclaimed. "Having an extra class that I don't need does nothing but stress me out. I'm honestly considering dropping it."

Carla nodded in agreement. "You should! There's no point in overworking yourself for no reason."

"Mm-hm." Mallory hummed, nodding back. In Carla's eyes, Mallory had barely changed at all throughout the three years they had known each other. There were minuscule changes, just like the town of Sunflower Shores, but the two were just as close as before. Carla liked to think that maybe they were closer.

Finally, the outlook came into sight, and Carla sank onto the bench, wiping beads of sweat from her forehead. Spring was gradually transitioning into summer, and the ruthless Sunflower Shores heat was once again returning, and Carla could tell that Mallory felt it too. She plopped down next to Carla, and let out a long, drawn out exhale. For a moment, the two looked over the town in silence. It had been a while since they had visited the outlook; Mallory's life had become so hectic and busy, with a part time job at some fast food restaurant and piles of homework to finish every evening. Carla didn't know how her friend could do it. 

"One month 'til summer," Mallory finally said, stretching her arms above her head. 

"God, I can't wait." Carla replied with a grin. Grade ten had been long; not exactly hard for Carla though, as she had only taken relatively easy courses. She had no plans to go to any big universities after graduation, so she didn't see the point in having a huge course load.

"Got any plans?" 

"Mm. Not really, no," Carla mumbled in response. She pulled a water bottle out from her backpack and chugged at least half of it, earning an impressed look from Mallory. "How about you?"

"I think I'm gonna be going on a road trip with my family!" She replied excitedly. "Oh, that reminds me, do you maybe want to come with us?" 

"I'd love to!" Carla chirped excitedly. "Do you know where you guys are gonna be going?"

"I don't know yet, but my mom said you could come with us if you want!" 

"Sounds great! Let me know if you find out where you guys are going, I'll try to remember to ask my dad." Carla shrugged. "He's probably gonna be okay with it, though!"

"Awesome! I'll let my mom know."

Carla nodded enthusiastically, and stretched her arms out in front of her.

"So, do you know what you're gonna do? After graduation, I mean." Mallory asked. She was gazing down at the town with a faraway look in her eyes. 

Carla simply shrugged. "Not sure," She turned her gaze the sky above. A seagull soared through her line of vision, then disappeared out of her sight. "I guess I'll figure it out."

Mallory gave her a small, but worried smile. "Well, you better start figuring it out fast!" She exclaimed. "We're in High School now, y'know. Before you know it, we'll be graduating, then what'll you do?"

Carla let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Okay, mom!" She drawled. "How about I start looking into becoming a lawyer?" 

Mallory snorted, elbowing Carla's shoulder. "Okay, on second thought, maybe you should think about it a bit more!" She laughed. "Smartass!" Carla joined in her laugh.

The two spent hours at the outlook, their conversations drifting from one subject to another without them even noticing. Every once in a while, the two would lapse into silence, but Carla didn't mind. Silences shared with Mallory were comfortable; they shared a love for the sounds around them. The crying of the gulls above, the distant crashing of the ocean's waves, the rustling of the leaves blowing in the spring breeze. It was a special kind of quiet that she could only enjoy in Mallory's company. She loved it, and it had been such a long time since the two had last experienced those silences together. Somehow, that made it feel even more special. But that didn't stop Carla from longing to spend time with Mallory more frequently.

She couldn't wait for the summer. In those warm months, there was always more time for biking through the town, walking on the beach, and sitting upon the outlook and watching the sun set. 


But for now, she could wait.

Author's Note

hello!! i actually wrote up until chapter ten back in m,arch, but i totally forgot to update the chapters here. oops. so i'll be updating with them asap!!