SHIP — Megan x Sophia.

Written by, @Minaliter.

Quite a bit of people wanted this, so here it is!

Sophia and Megan sat side by side on the worn wooden bench, their legs stretched out in front of them as they soaked in the early afternoon sun. The park around them hummed with the gentle buzz of life: the distant chatter of children playing, the occasional bark of a dog, and the rhythmic rustle of leaves overhead as a mild breeze swept through the trees.

"I think we should move," Megan said, her voice light but firm. "This bench is definitely not as comfortable as it used to be."

Sophia laughed, a low sound that vibrated with an ease born from years of friendship. "It's not like it's gotten any worse. It's always been this creaky." She shifted, trying to find a more comfortable spot, but the bench's hard surface made that a futile endeavor. "But you're right. It's probably seen better days."

They both glanced around. There were plenty of other benches in the park—newer, sturdier ones—but they'd claimed this spot years ago, a little corner by the fountain, where they could sit and talk for hours without being interrupted.

Megan smiled at the thought. "It's funny. I feel like we've spent half our lives here."

"More like three-quarters," Sophia replied, giving her a playful shove. "Remember the first time we sat here?"

Megan nodded, her eyes lighting up. "I do. It was after that ridiculous geometry test in eighth grade. We thought we were going to fail, but we got A's." She grinned. "I think that was the moment I realized you and I could survive anything together."

Sophia smiled at the memory, the image of two twelve-year-old girls sitting in the same spot, wide-eyed and anxious about everything, now feeling so far away. They had been so different then. Back when they were just figuring out who they were and what they wanted, desperate to hold on to their shared little worlds even as everything around them started to change.

"Yeah, that test was brutal," she said, shaking her head as if the memory still made her cringe. "But we made it through. And it's been the same ever since, hasn't it? We just... keep going. No matter what."

Megan turned toward her, tilting her head slightly as she studied Sophia's face. "No matter what," she repeated, as if weighing the words. "Do you think we're any different now, though? From then, I mean."

Sophia looked at her friend, surprised by the question. They had both changed so much over the years. They weren't the same shy, self-conscious middle schoolers anymore. Now, in their twenties, they were starting to figure out what their adult lives were supposed to look like. Yet, when they sat here, on this very bench, it often felt like nothing had really changed at all. They still shared the same inside jokes, still debated the same silly things, still felt that unspoken bond that tied them together. But did that mean they were still the same people?

"I think we've changed, Megan," Sophia said thoughtfully, her fingers tracing the weathered edge of the bench as if searching for something tangible to hold on to. "We've both been through a lot. Life kind of does that to you, right? But... I think we've stayed true to who we are, too. We're still us."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "You mean you haven't become a completely different person since you started that fancy job in the city? I thought for sure you'd end up wearing power suits and being all serious."

Sophia scoffed, laughing at the idea. "Oh please. You know I can barely keep my life together at work. I've definitely learned how to pretend, though. But I still can't keep a plant alive, so... that's a sign that I haven't completely changed."

Megan chuckled, her gaze drifting over the park as she thought for a moment. "I guess we've both got our little quirks. I've learned to enjoy the chaos of my life, even if it makes me a little nuts sometimes. But you know what? I think you're right. We've changed, but there's still this... core part of us that stays the same."

The air around them seemed to settle, a comfortable quiet stretching out between them, filled only by the sounds of birds calling and the soft lapping of water in the fountain. There was something peaceful about it—being here together, in this familiar space where so much of their shared history lived.

"I don't want to lose that," Megan said softly, her voice carrying a touch of seriousness that made Sophia look at her. "I don't want to lose *us*."

Sophia could hear the weight in her words, the unspoken fear that had settled there. It wasn't the first time Megan had brought up the subject, the idea of drifting apart, of life pulling them in different directions. In some ways, it felt inevitable. They both had careers now, growing responsibilities, different circles of friends, new priorities. The world around them kept expanding, pushing them further away from this tiny, sacred space where time stood still.

But Sophia didn't want to acknowledge that fear. Not yet. Not when they were here, together.

"We won't lose each other," she said, her voice steady, offering a quiet assurance. "Not if we don't let it happen. We're... we're too stubborn, you know?"

Megan looked at her, and in her eyes, Sophia could see the spark of reassurance she was offering. There was so much unsaid in that look—a shared promise, perhaps, that no matter how much things changed, they would keep this connection alive.

"I guess we are stubborn," Megan said, her lips curling into a soft smile. "But maybe that's not such a bad thing."

They both fell into a comfortable silence then, allowing the moment to linger between them, unhurried and perfect in its simplicity. The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, but neither of them was in any rush to leave. There would be plenty of time to figure out the future. For now, they were content to just sit here, side by side, remembering who they had been and savoring the simple joy of who they still were—together.

And in that moment, with the sound of the fountain in the background and the fading warmth of the day, Sophia knew that whatever came next, she and Megan would find their way through it, just like they always had. No matter what.