Frick I just realized how difficult this is gonna be if I don't know their genders.... You see these two goofs

are my own characters- to be more specific, one of my beachsonas' parents. Yeah. Problem is, I don't really know what Pat or Lin's gender identities are. So I'm just gonna use they/them pronouns? It's up for interpretation. Anyways let's get to writing.

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Lin sighed, combing a hand through their hair. Another long, tiring day at school. They walked softly to the door, hoping not to have an encounter this morning.

"Lin!" their mother called from the kitchen. "You heading off to school already, honey?" Lin poked their head into the kitchen to see their mother sitting at the small table with a cup of coffee, disheveled hair, and bags under her red eyes. She seemed especially spacey today, but a weak smile crept onto her features.

"Yeah, ma. I don't want to be late- morning rush and all." Lin shrugged, not wanting to make eye contact with their mother.

"Oh, you don't want to have breakfast and talk for a little bit?" she sounded so hopeful for someone who was numb these days.

"I'm gonna be late as it is ma, maybe another time." Lin adjust their backpack on their shoulder and head for the door.

"Okay, some other time then. I love y-" Lin closed the door behind them and jogged to their car, hopping in and starting it. They sighed as they began driving to the high school. Their mother wasn't quite the same anymore. They didn't know what happened. It was as if it had been happening gradually and they'd just noticed.

After a few minutes, they pulled into a parking space in front of the school. They opened their door a crack and a clean, white truck blaring loud music pulled up in the spot next to them suddenly. Lin closed the door, not wanting their car to be dinged. The truck shut off and someone jumped out through the driver window, spinning their keys on their finger.

Lin craned their neck to watch the person walk away from their vehicle to a group of people. Sighing, they got out of their car and silently walked through the crowd of people in the front commons. Instinctively, their gaze flickered to the redhead who nearly dented their car. The redhead momentarily looked from their friends to Lin and their gazes locked. Being socially awkward in the school environment, Lin locked up and stopped in their tracks, not really knowing what to do. The freckled redhead smiled and winked, turning back to their friends. Lin pushed through the crowd, quickly making their way to the entrance of the school.

'What the hell was that!?' They thought frantically, entering the English room and sitting in their seat. Four weeks into junior year and they were already more awkward than when they were a freshman.

As usual the day went by sluggishly and uneventfully. Until after the lunch period, that is. The after lunch crowd in the hallways moved noisily, jostling the students who weren't in groups more than those who had the protection of numbers. Lin swayed, weaving their way through the people desperately trying to get to class before the bell rang and initiated a stampede. There was a sudden presence next to them. Not like the fleeting feeling of other students around them, but more like someone was walking along side them.

Lin slowly lifted their gaze to see the same redhead from before towering next to them, seemingly unfazed by the people in the hall. Since they were rather tall, those who saw the redhead parted to let them pass, meaning Lin got to pass easier as well. The redhead looked down, raising their eyebrows.

"Friends call me Pat." they smiled. Lin tried to keep their eyes locked onto the path forward.

"Thats nice." they said shortly. Lin wasn't sure what this person wanted, but they were uncomfortable being in the presence of this much nonchalant confidence. Pat looked confused for a second before adopting a smile again.

"Your name is..?" They tried to coax Lin.

"Why do you want to know? So you can tell your insurance company whose car you nearly rear-ended?" Lin quipped, pursing their lips. The crowd had thinned out, as everyone started heading to their classes.

"Wha- oh! Sorry 'bout that." Pat rubs the back of their neck, unsure of how to respond to that. Lin's gaze snapped forward, having drifted back to Pat. Their cheeks reddened at the gesture.

'Geez, trying to be adorable much?' Lin thought, cursing themself for being so awkward. They weren't used to talking to someone like this. And they had no idea what this feeling was in the pit of their stomach. They felt Pat's arm graze the fabric of their shirt on their shoulder. An accident, no doubt- walking close to someone in the hallway meant you were bound to bump sides at some point.

"Lin."

"Hmm?" Pat tilts their head at the sound, a smile ghosting across their face.

"Lin." Lin says louder than meant, drawing a some unwanted attention. "M-my name is Lin." They add softer, embarrassed.

"Great, you want to catch a movie later?" Pat asks.

"No thank you." Lin replies firmly, halting at the door of their classroom. There was no comment from Pat, so Lin struggled to keep looking forward as they disappeared into the music room, a twinge of quilt in the back of their mind.

The rest of the day went by and Lin didn't see Pat again. They were unsure of how to feel about that. Disappointed? Relieved? They mulled it over on their drive home and through the night until they fell asleep.

The next morning, they repeated their routine. Get dressed, brush teeth, avoid mother on the way out. As they parked their car and stepped into the sidewalk, a familiar white truck pulled up and Pat hopped out through the window, racing up to walk beside Lin.

"How about dinner? There's a great place on 5th." Pat stuck their hands in their jean pockets.

"Nope." Lin exaggerated the pop of the 'p'. Pat stopped walking, Lin leaving them to stand alone on the sidewalk.

All of Lin's mandatory classes were before lunch, so they could relax at the end of the day. The last passing period before lunch came around and Lin hadn't seen Pat yet.

'Maybe they gave up.' They pondered thoughtfully.

"Hey."

'Here we go...' Lin closed their locker to see Pat leaning against the next one.

"Lunch? We don't even have to go anywhere. Just- sit at the same table, maybe?" Pat turned to walk backwards so to be able to look at Lin, who had started walking briskly.

"No." Lin turned to seek sanctuary in the chemistry lab. Pat followed Lin into the classroom and sat next to them. Mrs. Reynolds noticed the student.

"Pat, what are you doing in my 3rd period class? You don't have chemistry with me this semester." she asked, slightly annoyed. (GET READY FOR A BAD JOKE)

"No, but I do have chemistry with Lin starting yesterday." Pat grinned as a couple of students started laughing and Mrs. Reynolds shook her head, smiling. Lin shielded their face with their hand, unable to look at anyone.

"Get out of my classroom, Rossi." the teacher chuckled, using Pat's surname. Pat left the room, happily resigning for now. Class started and Lin was unable to brush off the embarrassment the entire time. Lunch arrived finally and Lin rushed to get their tray so they could avoid anymore events.

Lin was on edge all throughout lunch, anticipation for Pat's next move buzzing around in their head. But just as Lin found that Pat tended to do, there was nothing when it was expected. As Lin set their bag down in the music room, they heard a familiar voice.

"I just need you to sign the paper! Mexton was cool with it and I already got the go ahead from Ms. Darcy."

Lin reluctantly looked into the window of the music director's office. There was Pat standing in front of Mr. Rife's desk, who was signing something. Lin sighed, defeated and left to retrieve their guitar from the instrument closet. They just couldn't escape this person. Pat made them feel so awkward and confused and other feelings they had no idea how to describe. They feared the worst, that's why they hadn't been agreeing to go on a date.

Lin's parents had gotten a divorce a few years ago and Lin had noticed how both of them were affected, so they decided not to believe in love. It clearly didn't exist, so what was the point. But then Pat came along with their curls and freckles and tight fit t-shirts and jeans that complimented their b-

'Nope! Shut up!' Lin shook their head to clear the thoughts away and carried their guitar into the band room. Pat was nowhere to be seen and Lin felt slightly dejected.

"Alright guys, it's Friday. You know what that means. So get to doing what you do." Mr. Rife waved at the students. He had declared Friday a free day or preparation period, so the teenagers were either chatting, studying, or jamming on their instruments.

Lin sat in a corner, making sure their guitar was properly tuned when the so called bane of their existence waltzed into the room, grinning proudly.

"Change has been approved." Pat fist bumped Mr. Rife and jogged into the instrument closet. They reappeared holding a flowery ukulele and made their way over to Lin, sitting on the floor next to Lin's beanbag with their legs crossed. Lin looked at Pat in utter disbelief.

"Do you like coffee? I like coffee." Pat said as they strummed on their ukulele, not looking away from the instrument.

"I can tell." Lin mumbled, slightly distressed. There was no avoiding it. "Why are you following me? Can't you see I don't care?"

"Well, you know, that's the thing. I think you do care, but you don't know what about yet- and here's a hint; it's~ me." Pat speaks matter of factly. (I just imagined Tulio or Nick Wilde saying that) Lin sighed, knowing that this wouldn't stop until they agreed to go on a date.

"Tea. I don't drink much coffee." they said hesitantly. Pat looked up, their face lighting up like a child's on Christmas morning.

"Is that a yes to going to a cafe tomorrow?" Pat asks.

"Yes." Lin mumbles, refusing to look at Pat. Their face was already turning red.

"Okay." Pat nods, returning to their ukulele. "I'll see you then."

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I'll get some illustrations in here at some point.