*The Bay — Same Day, 10:10 AM*
Cherry watched for exactly five more seconds.
Watched Elian's shoulders curl in. Watched Cindy check her watch like she was waiting for a taxi. Watched the two years of _I'm busy_ become _you're a servant boy_ in real time.
Then she moved.
"Cherry—" Noa started, but she was already gone.
She walked. Fast. Boots loud on the dock.
Cindy didn't see her coming. She was still looking at the water, arms crossed.
"Hey," Cherry said.
Cindy turned. Brow raised. "Oh. Hi, Cherry." Like she just noticed she existed. "You work here?"
"You don't get to do that," Cherry said. No hello. No fake nice.
"Do what?"
"Pretend you don't know him," Cherry snapped. Pointed at Elian. "Pretend he's furniture. Call him _servant boy_ and walk away like he didn't spend years waiting for one damn call from you."
Cindy's face went cold. "I don't think this is your business."
"It is my business," Cherry said. Stepped closer. "When you treat my Best like trash in front of me? It's my business. When you break a good man and act like he's beneath you? It's my business."
Elian heard his name. Looked up. "Cherry, don't—"
"Shut up, Elian," Cherry said without looking at him. Eyes locked on Cindy.
Cindy scoffed. Took her sunglasses off. "Best. Right. You've always been his little shadow, haven't you? Still are."
"I'm his friend," Cherry said. Voice shaking. Not from fear. From rage. "The one who stayed. The one who showed up every day when you were too _busy_ to answer his calls. The one who watched him check his phone for 3 years hoping you gave a damn."
"That's not—"
"You left," Cherry said. "Fine. NYU. Big dreams. I get it. But you don't get to come back and spit on him. You don't get to act like he's less than you because he works with his hands. Because guess what? He kept your dad's house running while you were posting skyline pictures."
Cindy's mouth opened. Closed. For the first time, she looked rattled.
"He loves you," Cherry said. Quieter. But it cut deeper. "Or he did. And you know what he got for it? _Get the bags, servant boy._"
Silence.
Even the water went quiet.
Cindy's jaw tightened. "You don't know anything about us."
"I know enough," Cherry said. "I know he deserved better. And I know you're not it."
She turned. Done.
Walked three steps.
Then stopped. Looked over her shoulder.
"And for the record?" Cherry said. "He's not a servant. He's Elian.
Left Cindy standing there.
Face pale. Mouth a thin line.
Noa was watching. Didn't move. Just gave Cherry a small nod when she passed him. _Proud of you_ nod.
Elian was standing by the engine.
He didn't say thank you.
Didn't say anything.
Just looked at Cherry like she'd walked into fire for him.
Again.
Cindy put her sunglasses back on.
"Let's go, Noa," she said. Voice flat.
And walked back to the car.
Didn't look at Elian.
Cherry was at the edge of the dock.
Back to everyone. Shoulders tight. Arm whipping forward, then back, then forward again.
_Plunk._
Another stone. Skipping twice. Sinking.
_Plunk._
"Stupid rich—" _Plunk._ "—entitled—" _Plunk._ "—Manhattan—" _Plunk._
She was muttering. Cussing. Not crying. Cherry Pink didn't cry over people like Cindy.
She cried over Elian. But not over Cindy.
Elian walked up slow. No sound.
She still knew it was him.
"Go away," she said. Didn't turn around. Threw another stone. "I'm busy being mad."
"At me?" Elian asked. Stopped two steps behind her.
"No." _Plunk._ "Yes. No. Shut up."
He didn't shut up. Took another step. "You shouldn't have done that."
Cherry whirled. Face red. Not from embarrassment. From fury. "Oh, I shouldn't have? Should I have let her keep talking to you like you're her _butler_? Like you didn't—"
"Like I didn't what?" Elian said. Quiet. "Like I didn't love her? Because I did. And she knows it. And I still—"
"Don't," Cherry cut him off. "Don't you dare say you still love her. Not after that. Not after she looked at you like you were dirt on her shoe."
She threw another stone. Hard. It didn't skip. Just sank.
Elian watched it. "She's… she's changed, Cherry. New York. Money. Dad's company. She's under pressure."
"So you're making excuses for her?" Cherry laughed. Bitter. "God, Elian. When do you stop? When does she have to be cruel enough for you to stop defending her?"
He flinched.
"When?" Cherry stepped forward. Poked his chest. Hard. "When she fires you? When she tells Lola to stop coming to the house? When—"
"Stop," Elian said. Grabbed her wrist. Not hard. Just stopping her. "Stop."
They stood there. Her wrist in his hand. Both breathing heavy.
"Why do you let her?" Cherry whispered. All the fight gone. Just tired now. "Why do you let anyone treat you like you're nothing? You're not nothing, Elian. You're—"
"Don't," he said. Voice cracking. "Don't say it."
Because if she said it, he'd break.
If she said _you're good, you're kind, you're mine_—
He'd believe her.
And he couldn't. Not when Cindy was still in his head. Not when he was still wearing a name tag
Cherry yanked her wrist free. Not angry. Just… done.
"Fine," she said. Turned back to the ocean. "Be an idiot. Defend her. Let her step on you. See if I care."
She picked up another stone.
Elian didn't leave.
He sat down. Right on the dock. Legs dangling over the water. Next to her.
Didn't speak.
Just picked up a stone too.
_Plunk._
Cherry looked at him.
_Plunk._
She sat down.
_Plunk._ _Plunk._
They didn't talk.
Just threw stones. Side by side.
Elian's stone skipped four times.
"Show off," Cherry muttered.
Elian's mouth twitched. Almost a smile.