Summer vacation had started pretty well; Tess had come home and taken her childhood bedroom over once again. It's the summer before her senior year, and she still doesn't bother with joining most people at parties. Almost everybody she went to school with attended one of the thirteen churches in town. For a town of eight thousand people, that seemed like a lot of churches to her, but her momma taught her not to judge any of them or mention it.

Lunar Essence is still the same as it was last summer and during winter break when Tess had worked behind the counter. All soft light and blue hues because it's her momma's favorite color. Luna had helped pick out the new shelving units last year, now filled with herbs and mixtures and teas that she had tried most of. The books lining the shelves are all familiar titles, and she had spent more time as a child reading them than actually doing her work sweeping or anything like that.

The shop was one of the few things Tess had missed about Mosswood while she was at school. The familiar scent of pastries her dad always brought to sell at the counter. The familiar lights and customers that knew her by name. This summer, after being home for only a week, she's gotten maybe twenty compliments about her hair and forty questions about why in the world she'd dye it pink.

Another thing she liked was being surrounded by her family again. Maybe Peter didn't talk to her much, but that wasn't something she tried to think about. Instead, she tries to think about Ryan and his boyfriend. About her parents, who still make biscuits and gravy every Saturday morning, like when she was five and had started going to school. It was the routine that settled deep in her bones and seemed to make every worrying bone in her body calm down.

There's also the woman who frequents the shop. Not that she ever actually looks at Tess like she's more than just the youngest Prince in their little town. She's always in the shop, hovering around the shelves and looking at book titles she has probably memorized by now with how many times she looks. Tess tried to talk to her; she did, but all of the words seemed to fall right out of her head when looking into those pretty eyes.

It's not even like Tess has a chance. She's known her since Tess was practically a kid and has never seemed to take interest. Not even as a friend! So Tess gave up; she just kinda watches her now when she comes in. Not in a creepy way! Just likes to admire. If Tess can't get over her, she may as well appreciate her.

Tess sits on the stool behind the counter. Legs swinging as she listens to the light music her parents always play. The display of beaded and thread bracelets she makes herself sits on the counter. Tess had been rearranging the bracelets all afternoon in color order. Then in the order of how complicated the knots and bead patterns were.

Or, well, she was doing that until the bell above the door tinkled with a little chime. Tess doesn't look up, eyes focused on the pink and white thread bracelet she had woven. "Hello, welcome to Lunar Essence." Her voice is soft and sweet in the same way it usually is. Especially when she is greeting customers that step through the door.

That is, she isn't looking up until she hears her voice. "Oh!" She squeaks and glances up. Catching her eyes and suddenly her face splits into a wide grin. Leaning across the counter and forgetting the soft slouch that usually permeates her posture. Pink nails click on the counter, and she leans even further. Teeth digging into her plush bottom lip.

"I haven't seen you since I got home." Welp. There goes her chance at being nonchalant or trying to admire from afar. Nope, Tess had never been able to be like that. "Have you been doin' good? It feels like it's been forever." Christmas break, her mind supplies. That's how long it's been since Tess had seen her. She hadn't come in during spring break. For a whole week, Tess had been looking forward to seeing her and yet it never happened.