Life had a funny way of working things out and bringing two souls together. At this moment with Nellie, as Nellie spoke, Tessa could only look at the girl with a soft gaze and intrigued mind. She spoke like a poet, her words, the pen that was etching each word into  Tessa’s heart and soul. In a matter of mere seconds, she was in bliss. She felt as if she was hovering above the ground, subconsciously one hand reached behind her to make sure she wasn’t, and with every other word coming out of Nellie, she felt more and more intoxicated by her. She also felt a little bad because, at some point, the sentences the other girl spoke, and questions, all seemed to morph into a giant sentence. She was trying to keep up with everything the other girl was saying, she just wasn’t used to hearing someone speak so elegantly, and it made her a little jealous that she couldn’t do it. Maybe if she could, Peter would know everything she felt. “U-um..” she cleared her throat, smiling softly, “..I’d like that. If your taste in music is as amazing as the way you describe things, well, I think we will have a successful playlist that is sure to let Peter know how much I love him.” She unintentionally blurted his name, not noticing as she continued, “I think you’re right about the people that make their mark on your life and us leaving a piece with them.” She reached out to take Nellie’s hand in hers, gently giving it a little squeeze, “I think you’ve just made your mark in mine, and this beach. If you ever find yourself lost, scared, or just in need of a friend, come here. You’ll always find a piece of me here waiting for you.” She chuckled softly, gently letting Nellie’s hand go now. She made a mental note to find a spot for the two; one she could leave inspirational messages for Nellie to find whenever she chose to visit. This friendship between the two was unlike a bond Tessa had ever formed, and the girl had every intention of keeping it as close to her as possible. For once, she finally felt like she had someone she could talk to about anything. Including, perhaps, the part about her sexuality, Tessa was most scared to let anyone in on. Maybe, she thought, Nellie could be that someone. “Even if all you’re thinking about is the sand beneath your feet, I’d like to know.” She gently assured, “I’d like to know anything you think about, Nellie. You know what?” Tessa motioned for the girl to follow, “Come. We’re going to look for another seashell like Shelly. After all, how are we going to sense when one needs the other if we don’t have our trusty amulets to help us? Shelly the seashell needs to connect to another part of the ocean, you see.” She bent down and picked up a small little seashell, “Hmm. Nope. This one feels ordinary.” She said, gently placing it back down, bending down to whisper to it, “But ordinary is okay, too.” Then she looked back up at Nellie, “Anyway, the seashell would have to be found by you. Like Shelly was found by me. It’s the only way the magic will work.”
She let out a small sigh of relief, grateful that her words had been understood and met with such warmth. “I’m afraid I might not have an all-embracing selection of music, but I can offer you they’re heartfelt choices. I would be honored to be involved.” Nellie’s eyes were bright with genuine interest; she couldn’t quite place the last time she’d made a connection such like this, Tessa’s unique soul was invigorating and Nellie could only guess the depth of the stories and feelings that were buried beneath her skin. It was rare for her to get this excited about other people’s affairs, especially a stranger’s; Tessa’s life offered a completely new territory she had never dared explore and she was eager to be involved... perhaps as a confidant, in it. “It will be our meeting place. If we need one another, we will know to come here.” Nellie squeezed Tessa’s hand back. Growing up, she longed for the kind of friendship that occurred out of happenstance. While Victor had been her saving grace when she was only a child, and Sky had appeared to show her the kind of understanding she had been missing on; she could feel Tessa make her own way into her heart as a breath of fresh air in this stage of her life. “There is a place I would like to show you... I work at an antique store and there are some stories I would love to share with you. It is sort of a home, if I may be honest.” She replied with an eagerness that hadn’t had touched her voice in a while. “I was thinking of how grand it is for you to be able to experiment... to live through the feeling all of the greatest poets have lost their poise and reason over; it’s pure and it’s real. Through the whirlwinds and the spots of utter bliss, you are one of the lucky ones.” She focused on Tessa and smiled, not expecting the turn of events but sincerely enjoying the pursue of Shelly’s friend. “I believe that is a superb idea. Shells and people, we come in pairs.” Nellie chuckled, watching as a small wave took the seashell away from their feet and peacefully dragged it back into the sea. “Ordinary... Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life.” She sighed out the quote and smiled at Tessa, allowing for a wave of serenity to wash over her– just as an actual wave covered her feet and left a gift for her. “What do we have here?” Nellie took the seashell and inspected it; a faded yellow with a small crack on it’s left side, otherwise lovely. “I think we’ve found... Sandy?” She held out for the other girl to take.