“Richard, come on, I don’t want to miss the start,” Susie groans, tugging on Richard’s arm to hurry him along. Richard was not a fan of this overzealous spectacle of rich yacht owners seeing who had the prettiest boat, but Susie loved it, so he was happy to go, after all, they only had two more years here.

They stopped home to change for the party and then headed down to the riverwalk around three, because Susie needed to check out all the little shops. The parade was to start at five, which you would think would be plenty of time to browse but as always, Susie lost track of time in her trinket shopping and now, they were rushing down the riverwalk to get to her favorite spot.

Richard enjoyed strolling along the riverwalk, where there were various small vendor stalls, walking paths, and trails that cut through the beautifully laid out park. He liked the riverwalk’s circular piers and how they extended into the water, giving a different perspective of the river and park. He appreciated this side of the river and how it was free of tall buildings, giving a view of the river to all the small businesses across the street, unlike the other side of the river where they let the corporate plutarchy build right on the river. He felt that the riverwalk was a symbol of resistance against the corporate domination of the riverside, and he admired its spirit.

Susie tugged his arm again, trying to get him to hurry, and causes his hot cocoa to splash out of his cup’s lid and land on the white lid, creating a dark puddle of steaming liquid. They can see the lights farther up causing Susie to panic, “We can’t miss the start!” she exclaims, as the music drifts its way to them on the gentle wind. Richard didn’t understand why she had to watch the first parade as it wasn’t even dark out yet. There would normally be two more parades this weekend, another tonight at eight, and again at eight. This one was technically the test run, but she said she didn’t want it spoiled by people posting about it, but either way he knew he would be back out again tomorrow.

Richard looks around, “Not a lot of people here for this one, is there?” He remarks about the few dozen people gathered around the park. Sure, this was not the popular showing, but normally you would see a larger crowd than this, Saturday night when they also did the fireworks would be the largest turn out.

“Susie shrugs, “They talked about canceling due to Atlanta, but the council decided it would be good to have the event to keep moral up,” she shivers slightly at the breeze, “I had a long-heated message written if they did cancel, so they got lucky,” she smirks at Richard. Susie was great at writing angry letters, but not great at sending them, she felt bad about hurting people’s feelings. Though if it was something she was passionate about she could get very intense. Richard was not sure how she would have actually reacted in this case though.

Susie kisses Richard on the cheek, her lips still warm from her cocoa, peppermint lightly on her breath from it as well, as they reach their spot. The spot is on a raised hill that has a clear overlooking view of the river, and the activities happening on it. As they get comfortable, they can see the first boat rounding the bend in the river that cuts behind the buildings across the street. Susie squeals as she sees the lit-up boat “OM-Amazing, I really love this time of year babe!” she says tightening her grip on Richard’s arm, “The lights, the music, the hot cocoa, just everything about it is so wonderful!” She takes a sip of her hot cocoa and leans her head against Richard’s shoulder.

“Do you ever wish you stayed in Georgia with your family?” Richard asks, as he watches the colorful lights sparkle in Susie’s wide eyes. He could stare into those depths for the rest of his life and not care he was drowning in them. Some people said it was “puppy love” they had, but they had been dating since the eighth-grade summer and their spark was brighter now than it ever was in high school. Richard couldn’t see a life without this beautiful creature beside him, and he believed she felt the same way. They planned to get married after they both graduated, a big wedding with all their friends and family. Susie started planning their wedding in sophomore year of high school and Richard knew she would make that dream come true, one way or another.

Susie smacks his arm gently, “Don’t be silly, we always said we would go to the same college, and when Johnny moved away senior year, we all agreed we would go to GRC together, you, me, johnny, and Jax.”

Richard smiles, “I know but you could have gotten into any college in Georgia you wanted, heck even Stanley State wanted you. Don’t get me wrong Grand River is a great college, but they are not the top for neuroscience.”

Susie giggles, “No, that might be true, but they do have a great program,” she looks at Richard out of the corner of her eyes, “and what of you?”

Richard looks back as if shocked, “What about me?”

“I know Winchester Robotics offered you a scholarship and you turned it down,” she fully turns to him to enjoy his shocked expression, “What? Sandra saw you hiding it and was curious. You know you can’t hide anything from her, she should be a detective when she is older, or a lawyer.”

Richard shakes his head chuckling. Sandra was his little sister, and she was very good at uncovering the truth about things, and she and Susie were like sisters so it was not a surprise she would rat Richard out. “They are a bunch of rich know-it-alls at Winchester. I would never have gotten along with them. Plus, I made a promise to Johnny and GRC offered me a scholarship as well. So, what does it matter?”

Susie playfully pushes Richard, “Hey mister, you started this conversation. I just want you to understand, we are all here for each other, You, me, Johnny, and even Jax. When we make promises, we keep them. Always have, always will,” she finishes, pulling Richard in for a deep, passionate kiss, the kind that always embarrassed him, but not her.

Susie pulls away from the kiss, her taste still lingering on Richard’s tongue, and smiles at him, “You know for someone that hates PDA, you never seem too troubled when we do it,” she giggles as Richard turns red. Susie points to a large sailboat, sparkling lights running up the sail to make the shape of a pine tree, with little white lights to look like snowflakes falling around it, “Lets get a picture of that,” she says pulling her phone to take a selfie, with her and Richard in the bottom right of the screen and the boat in the top left. She snaps a few pictures, of course making strange faces in a few of them, and giving Richard a kiss in another. She looks over the pictures and smiles, “I got some great shots. I’ll have to upload them; your grandma loves when I post pictures of you!”

Richard looks taken back, “My grandma has social?” he asks genuinely shocked.

“Yeah silly, Sandra got her setup months ago. She told you last time we talked with her,” Susie informs, shaking her head, “You really don’t listen to anything when you are focused on your robots do you?”

Richard shrugs, it was true that if he was into a project the whole world seemed to fuzz around him, but he really did not remember his sister telling him about that. It was crazy to think how close Susie was with his family, likely closer than he was. He always felt a bit of an outcast in his family. Sure, they always were nice to him and loved him, but he didn’t share any real interests with his family. He loved robotics, comics, and stuff like that, his family were more into outdoors stuff, or practical applications, like becoming doctors or lawyers. Sure, it was useful knowing the difference between the carotid and femoral artery, or how to survive in the woods for a week, thanks Wilder Scouts, but Richard had his own passion.

Susie smiles at Richard, sending warmth through his chest even with the chill winter breeze coming off the water. The best thing about Susie was she genuinely cared about what Richard cared about, even if she did not really like it. She would play video games with him, watch anime, and even go to conventions. Richard thought she was actually starting to enjoy them too. This last Fantacon she picked out her own cosplay she wanted and everything. It was great to have someone to share your passion and interests with, sure she did not understand much of what he was talking about with robotics or computers, but she listened and got excited for him. That, as far as Richard was concerned, was why their relationship would last forever, they both were willing to compromise for each other.

Richard takes a sip of his hot cocoa, its sweet warmth filling his mouth, mingling with the sweet peppermint cocoa flavor of Susie’s taste. Richard pulls Susie close as a chill gust blows in off the water, and Susie adjusts, burring into his warm jacket.

“It is chilly today, I heard it might snow this weekend. I love the first snow of the season,” Susie remarks, to no one in particular, snuggling closer to Richard as they watch the boats float by. “Hey girly!” a shout comes from behind the couple.

Susie turns and waves, “Hey Donna, you missed the beginning of the parade!”

Donna rolls her eyes and points to the teen boy next to her, “Yeah, I had to pick up James from his friends, and then take him for a haircut over at River Song Plaza. Thankfully, Julie is lithe and let me push fifteen. And damn the girl does some fire ass nails!” she states, showing off her new fingernails. Her nails are white with gold and red tips and a snowman on her left thumb and a fir tree on her right, painted with extensive details.

Susie pulls her hands in close, “Oh wow, I really need to get mine done with her,” she looks down at her self-painted red and white nails, and sighs.

Donna squeals, “Girl, you just tell me when and I will set it up. We can do a full mani and pedi!”

Donna was very much the ‘girly girl’, always dressing in the latest fashions, always getting her nails and hair done. She was a local going to the college, her mom was a big shot real estate agent, and her father owned half the land on the riverfront, the exact type of person Richard despises, he has been pushing to purchase the Riverwalk for years but keeps getting denied by the city council. Richard would never have given Donna a chance if it wasn’t for Susie. They became friends this semester when they got in the same American Literature class. Susie was always willing to give people a chance, and to be honest, Donna wasn’t that bad, as far as rich privileged kids go.

“So, Richard,” Donna asks smirking, “what’s the deal with your boy, Johnny?”

Richard suppresses a groan, Donna has been attempting to stealth flirt with Johnny all term, and it was pretty hard to watch. Johnny was not the settling down kind of kid. He would enjoy life with someone for a while, but if he felt they were getting too attached he would break it off.

He was not always like that, but after his parents nasty divorce junior year, and then stupid Raelynn, Johnny stopped believing in love. He said even if there was ‘the perfect one’ with billions of people in the world you would never find them. Of course, he said the universe made an exception for Richard and Susie.

“He is perpetually single, Donna,” Richard remarks.

To her focused expressions, Susie cuts in, “Yes, he is single, but doesn’t want anything serious right now.”

Donna smirks, “As long as he has a hot body to keep me warm, I don’t mind.” This elects a groan of disgust from her younger brother. “Freaking puke, Don,” He says, looking up from his phone for the first time the entire interaction, “If you get pregnant, Dad will murder you,” he chuckles, looking back to his phone.

Donna rolls her eyes, “Shut up, Ass Face! And if you tell Dad, I will tell him about your ‘homework’ folder.” This caused James to lower his phone, “Wha. Um. How did you know?”

Donna laughs, “You think you’re so clever, but you’re not. And, gross,” Donna remarks snidely.

James huffs, “Stay out of my shit, you bitch!” he shouts at his sister, storming off.

Donna laughs as he storms off through the park, “What an idiot. I am his ride,” she turns back to Susie and Richard, “Well, let me get the little perv back home, so my mom doesn’t have an aneurysm. She is freaking out about the whole Atlanta thing, like we are next or something, ha,” she laughs rolling her eyes, “Nothing exciting ever happens in this town, other than college drama.”

Donna gives Susie a hug, “I will see you both at the party tonight! Enjoy your little boats!” she jokes winking, before heading off after her departing brother.

“That girl is drama, but you gotta love her,” Susie chuckles to herself. Richard rolls his eyes; drama is the truth with that girl. Richard and Susie settle back in to finish watching the parade.

Several minutes later as the last boat floats past Susie yawns, “Oh wow, that was better than last year!” she exclaims stretching her arms out making sure to brush them in front of Richards face, before hoping off the bench.

Richard follows suite, stretching up and then side to side, “Well are you ready to head to Johnny’s yet?”

Susie nods, then shakes her head, “Oh shit, no, I forgot to grab his scotch, it is on the counter still.”

Richard rolls his eyes, alright let’s head back home and grab it, he won’t mind if we are a little late anyways,” he says, putting his arm around Susie’s waist as they head back to his car.