CLOSED / @barrettvalle LOCATION: Santa Monica Pier
The sight of Barrett feels like a mirage in a desert — or, more accurately, in a crowded and sweaty beach — to Thea, and the blonde quickly makes her way over to the woman the second she spots her. Somehow, despite her sister and her dramatics, her friendship with Barrett has been like a lifeline for Thea over the last few years, and the woman always manages to bring a sense of peace to her. Barrett has always treated her as just Thea, and she appreciates that more than she could ever truly express. So she settles for simply doing her best at being a good friend right back to the other woman — which includes bringing her some lemonade (freshly squeezed! so said the lemonade stand) while Barrett’s apparently hard at work. “Hey you,” Thea’s quick to settle in beside her friend as she offers up the drink, sinking back into the crowd by force of habit in an effort to not be perceived. “I can’t believe they’ve got you working this thing. Are you having some fun, at least? And don’t tell me you aren’t even allowed to have a lemonade at the very least — because that’d just be cruel.”