with a small huff, caroline stops in her tracks.

“fuck, you’re right.”

arms cross over her chest instead, releasing the skirt.

“you want me to mess up my hair?”

“no, but — god, that’s fucked ( up! * )”

a huff, skirt pulled up above her knees so that she can walk a bit faster.

you wouldn’t weigh me down. even if you did, i wouldn’t mind being weighed down by you.

she’s already getting back out of the lake. she entirely disregards her boots.

“what did you just say t’me?” she shouts back.

yessir. don’t have to tell me twice.

i’ve had that damn ring on for ten years now but i am very much over it

sometimes i feel like those single widow in your area things

and where’d you say this was? sounds beautiful.

if it ain’t horribly dangerous, maybe we could head that way one day.

really? damn, maybe i oughta travel more. i’ve seen snow a handful of times, but not that much.

thank god.

[ long pause. then, kicking her boots off. into the lake she goes, and good god, is it cold. she endures. ]

this sure is lake water.

hm. circle junction, if my memory’s servin’. what about you?

left california. tried to get some footing with showgirl shit. got engaged. was in the middle of his route so i stayed. shit hit the fan, so i left for vegas. nothin’ crazy.

ah. that’d make sense, i suppose. sorry you’ve gotta go up to reno — haven’t been that way in a real long time.

that’s real sweet of you to take him, though.

i’m fine with your folk, rest assured. he’s not an issue — i just really don’t get his current fixation with grindin’.

promise it’s not a problem.

. . . i’m sure it’ll be fine. i’ll be fine.

sun might hit it.

nah, he’s fine. i know of ‘im. he doesn’t bother me at all. just says stuff that i raise a brow at, ‘s all.

hell yeah.

you think the water will be horrible and cold?

yeah, and i don’t think anyone could even get up to my room even if they tried.

i ( suppose. * )

it was the other one. i’m not gonna complain about your voice, anyway.

true. i’m sure i’d be fine, though. at least i ( hope * ) that i’d be, i dunno.

hm. lake might be smarter. could get deeper.

wanna walk with me, then?

i don’t think they’d kill me over all that, baby.

true.

[ pause. dunking her head again. ]

really? fuck, this isn’t working.

it feels rude.

[ dunking her head in the comedically large bowl of water that she keeps for this exact reason. ]

the ones talking about grinding. or were, i guess.

exactly!

i’ll be ( fine. * )

it’s okay, i’m a beautiful girl with a gun, what are they gonna do?

so busy doing fuck all that i’ve forgotten to appear for three separate shows

actually . . . ugh, i’m sorry, that felt degrading to ask of you.

[ just . . . peeling them off. keeping them in her hand. the other hand pulls her hair back. ]

all this to not hear men talk . . .