Heartstrings & Whale Tails

Dear Ridley,
    My name is Doctor James Hawthorne and I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to take part in our summer internship program. You and 3 others from around the country have been selected to be placed at one of our various institutions of marine biology research. Enclosed is the information of the institution you've been assigned to and contact information to those running the program there for you to let them know you've accepted the internship. Also enclosed is information about the center, what to expect for the summer, and what to bring. Have a great summer, and welcome to the program.
                  
                  Thank you,
                   Doctor James Hawthorne
                   Program Director

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 Weeks later

When I left work early to drive four counties over to protest an exotic animal rescue being turned into a Texas Roadhouse I lost my job at a dairy bar. See, that's my thing, I have a pattern. If something just for one split-second speaks to my soul all my attention turns towards it. I've been that way my entire life, it's how Ridley's Ridiculous Lemonade became a Grove Drive staple when I was six, you could find one of my stands spaced intermittently down the road. My freshman and sophomore year of college were awful because I couldn't make a decision about what I wanted my life's passion to be, but finally one day it all clicked into place. Growing up my favorite movie was Free Willy, there was just something about it that spoke to my soul. I watched it one night in my dorm room as a throwback to my childhood with my roommate and that's the night I picked my major- marine biology; and that also became the night I applied for the internship.

"Why did I wait until now to start boxing things up? This is gonna take 497 years to finish. Will you do it for me, I don't want to," I whined and turned to look at Landon who was stacking boxes upon the boxes he already had in his arms. "I'll help you, but I'm not doing this for you- besides you'd come behind me and redo it anyway if I did," he laughed and set the boxes down by the door before throwing open the mini fridge door and taking my last Body Armor sports drink. "So where's this internship at, Rid?" "Washington State, it's the research institute I told you about that I visited when I was a kid when Dad was stationed over there," I walked past him and took the drink from his hands and picked up my file with all the information. "Do you have to go? We had this summer all planned out- tubing, camping, zoos, aquariums, and amusement parks! You could do the internship next summer," he pouted and threw himself onto my bare mattress. "I was lucky to get this, I'll see you in 13 weeks, you can come visit me if you'd want to, I'm sure you'd love it," I spoke hesitantly knowing his response. "There's no way I can afford an airplane ticket across the country, I was going to be working my ass off to be able to go do the things we had already planned on doing, if I could you know I would," he stood up and made his way to my door. He stood in the frame for a moment with his arm resting on the wall before turning around to look at me and then making his way down the hall without another word.

I turned to look at my side of the room again, most of my clothes and belongings were packed in boxes to be shipped to the apartment the program was providing me with. The rest of my stuff laid scattered and needed put in my suitcases to go with me in the morning to the airport.
My phone rang and flashed Emmett's face across the screen, "What did you do to Landon? He's sulking and-" I heard the phone crash to the ground and Landon yelling something at my twin before the phone was picked back up again,"-sorry, that was my rude roommate trying to disrupt our conversation. Are you ready for tomorrow or do I need to rally the troops?" I laughed and gazed at my room, "If the troops are you, Landon, Bash, and Carter I guess so, I need some pack mules, um, I mean muscle!" The line cut and I could hear them making their way down the hall,  for a few people who didn't make it out of rush week for their fraternities, every year they went for it I might add, they would make you think they were the stereotypical frat boys you hear about if you didn't personally know them.

After another four hours of packing we had finally done it, I was ready to go leave, to start my internship. Although I would be seeing the boys in the morning we all began our goodbyes at 11:43 pm. Carter started, his words were quiet and rushed, "Ridley, do good out there, free Willy and tell Flipper I said hi out there," he laughed before continuing slower, "I'm gonna miss our late night sushi movie nights, nobody can ruin a good movie with sarcastic commentary like you with a mouthful of rice and fish.  I love you kid, don't be breaking anymore hearts like you are Landon's over there." He hugged me before pushing Landon in front of me and walking to wall and leaning himself on it. 

"Landon-"

"Ridley, you're the most brilliant person I know, you're gonna do amazing things. I'll keep these asshats in check, Goodbye," he turned and started towards Carter. "Landon if you don't turn around here and give me a hug and tell me you love me I will kick your ass all the way to the future of when I get home and then kick your ass back in time to get it kicked again," this got a reaction from the guys and Landon took me in his arms briefly and whispered, "be safe," before leaving the room quickly.  Bash came next, "I'll leave you with a playlist, love you rat, have some fun," he kissed the top of my head and joined Carter on the wall. "Hey other half don't fall in the tank, and don't meet anyone over there, I know nothings happened but you have someone great down the hall who loves you more than he can handle.  I'll always support you, and I'll see you in the morning for the fun stuff. Get some beauty sleep because you look like ass," Emmett's attempt to hide his heart on his sleeve was almost working, he left with his group and I laid down, ready for the next day.