Over the past few months, particularly at the very beginning of the year, the artist had creaved herself off the outside world - no longer able to shroud behind hospital walls and a fabricated, jovial demeanor, she had relapsed into sheer isolation and endless violence as a way to cope with her pain, too clueless back then, bearing a massive grin but vacant in both eyes. Lately, she’d been able to pick herself up, though - to let people in, to heal, and to allow others to help her instead of shoving them away. She’d been attempting to reconnect when she could, it was a gradual process, but mending together fractured rubbles would always take time. Pepper was one of the first people she wanted to catch up to, the girl whom she’d trusted with her whole heart, whom she’d shared ridiculous stories and small pieces of overly-sweet Zebra cakes with back at the hospital, the one whom she’d always wanted to see prosper despite her demons. “You should. They miss you, you know. Like, they love Cy’s fucking annoying ass, but they want to see you play again, too. Tried teaching them guitar once, almost broke the thing. I am not the most musicially-gifted one in the club here. I - uh, Pepper?” Months, or years ago, she would’ve stiffened at the hug- and she still did, but this time, instead of pulling away, she turned around and enveloped her in a full embrace, attempting to at least mimic her girlfriend’s hug whenever they greeted one another and wanting to finally give Pepper her entire affection. “Missed you, Pep, you fucking nugget.” So this was how warm Pepper felt. Placing hands on shoulders, she leaned back, an awkward chuckle leaving her lips. “Yeah. Sam’s, uh, been gaining more confidence lately - which is good. I think school’s been helping become a little more bold. She still wants to play with you. I think.” She dropped her hands then, not wanting to overdo it - for Pepper’s and her own comfort. “Let me know if you decide to visit the shack again. There’s someone I’ve been wanting to introduce to you. You might have seen her a couple of times, though.”
Pepper hadn’t had the chance to spend much time with Heather lately, between both of them working and having separate responsibilities and schedules, but she’d been watching over social media, trying to keep up via Instagram posts and texting. She could tell she’d been on an upward incline, though, and she was glad to see her doing well, finally seeming to reap the benefits of all her work, back in the hospital and outside. It was a little weird to hear that the kids missed her. She’d never seen herself as much of a child-oriented person, someone kids would be drawn to, or even a good influence. But when she thought about the kind of people she’d looked up to for years, the rebels, the angsty punks and emos, it made a weird, nostalgic sort of sense. “That’s cute. Maybe I could give ‘em, like, temporary tattoos or something, too. Enhance my coolness.” The way she said her name, seemed to hesitate at first in response to her hug, reminded her of how she’d pulled away in the past, one time resonating clearly. I’m injured, Pepper, could you-- but then she was pulling her in, hugging her back with more conviction than she ever had. She exhaled slightly, taking a moment to rest her chin on her shoulder. This was kind of comfort, closeness, was what she’d always felt at the root of her relationship with Heather-- the simple manifestation of that in a finally complete hug was even more rewarding than she could’ve anticipated. “I-- missed you, too.” She nodded with a small smile. “Yeah, that’s-- always nice. I was hoping she’d kinda come out of her shell at some point. At least a little. I’m totally down for that.” She was intrigued, if a little nervous, by her invitation. “Yeah, I-- I will. Don’t wanna let the Golden Nugget Fans down. Who’s that?”
