don't get sappy - 2

hehe________________________________________

Shrimpo stared at the lake in front of him—half impressed, half disappointed.

"You dragged me through a mosquito-infested forest just to show me this?" he asked, sarcasm dripping.

Finn laughed. Not one of his usual "I spent all night perfecting a pun" laughs—more like a soft giggle he borrowed from someone else. Thin. Tired.

"This isn't just any lake," he said. "It's where my dad used to bring me when I was a kid. Every other Saturday."

Shrimpo raised an eyebrow. "So this is what people who fish say instead of 'I like you, have a cupcake'?"

"You could say that."

Finn didn't look at him when he said it. He was already crouched by the edge of the lake, pulling open the tackle box like it had answers.

Shrimpo hesitated before sitting on the same log as yesterday. It was damp. He sat anyway.

"So," he said, watching Finn thread the line, "did he teach you how to fish? Your dad?"

Finn paused. Just for a second.

"Yeah. When he was around."

Shrimpo hummed. Not quite an answer, but not not one either.

The trees rustled gently overhead. Somewhere far off, a bird made a noise that sounded like someone choking on a cough drop.

"Do you think they're lost yet?" Finn asked.

"Goob definitely is. Gigi's just pretending she's not."

Finn smiled, soft and sideways. "Guess we should enjoy the peace while it lasts."

Shrimpo leaned back on his elbows. "I'm not fishing."

"Didn't ask you to."

"Good."

They didn't say anything for a while.

The water didn't move much, and neither did they.