AN: So, I'm here with another fic, because I have all of these ideas for little drabbles, and my main fic can be daunting sometimes. Anyway, the title is kind of ironic, since the fic picks up where American Dreams left off, which I'm assuming was some time in winter. However, I've been on a Lana Del Rey kick lately, and that line from "Young and Beautiful"

Hot summer nights, mid July

When you and I were forever wild

really reminds me of Ellie and Riley.

Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this. I already have a load of drabbles written, so I should be publishing more soon.

The morning dawned aggressively, light piercing through the window like a blade. Ellie's head still throbbed from the previous evening's encounter, and she internally cursed the Fireflies as she rubbed gingerly at the cut on her forehead.

She slipped her fingers underneath her pillow, finding her blade where she'd left it, cool against the sheets. Her mother's letter was tucked into the mattress. It'd be safe there.

Footsteps could be heard thundering through the halls outside her door, the other kids parading about like a herd of elephants, and her head throbbed in time with their footsteps.

She and Riley had had… what? Two hours of sleep?

She wondered if Riley was fairing as poorly as she was, as she pulled on her jeans. There'd been something disconcerting about seeing her upset, even after only knowing her for a short time. Riley didn't seem the type to show feelings easily.

As it turned out, Riley was equally exhausted.

She'd beckoned Ellie over to her table when Ellie had finally found her way to the mess hall, flashing her a smile that looked slightly forced. Ellie had joined her quickly, taking the seat Riley had left for her at the end of the bench, careful to ignore the curious eyes of Riley's other friends.

Riley waved a hand toward the group. "Ellie, this is Tino," she jerked a thumb at a skinny, dark-skinned boy with a charming smile, "Kayla, Kat, and Annie."

With each name she gestured to a girl, each looking at Ellie with a mixture of curiosity and distrust.

"Nice ta meetcha," Tino said to Ellie, before turning to Riley and scrutinizing her. "You look like hell. Sneaking out again?"

Riley only hummed in response. Ellie noted the circles under her eyes, watching as Riley traced a finger over Firefly symbol that was carved into the table, her expression distant.

"Fine, don't tell me. Gonna get your ass kicked if Corporal Dickhead finds out, though."

"Why don't you let me worry about that," Riley said flatly, standing up and nodding toward the line forming near the counter, where the meals were handed out. "Ellie, c'mon."

Ellie stood up quickly and trotted after her, not bothering to cast a glance back at the others they'd left sitting at the table.

"Hey," Ellie said, catching up to her, her voice low. "You… okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" It came off stiffly, and Ellie decided upfront questions were probably a bad idea.

"Okay. No one noticed us sneaking out, I guess? Except for Tino."

"Tino's cool. Don't worry about him."

"Right."

They'd reached the front of the line, and trays were shoved at each of them, the food looking about as edible as the scratched plastic it rested on.

Ellie looked at Riley, who only shrugged.

"It's better than nothing."

They walked back to the table silently, Riley still looking distant. The others were still away, waiting for their food.

"Hey," Riley said suddenly, looking at Ellie as if she was a puzzle to be solved. "Last night… what you said about running away – why'd you ask me that? I mean, you've only known me for what? Two days?"

"I wasn't asking you to marry me," Ellie muttered. "I just… you were upset and I was pissed off and I guess I just thought it'd be worth suggesting or something."

Riley was quiet for a moment, still considering her.

"I mean, you said you wanted out…" Ellie continued, feeling slightly uncomfortable under Riley's unfaltering, thoughtful gaze.

Riley glanced down at her food, shrugging. "Yeah, I do. You're just the first person to suggest something like that. Everyone else is so damn complacent with how things are… you just surprised me."

Ellie nodded, beginning to pick at her own food, the grits the consistency of water, the eggs rubbery and dry, partially burned.

"We'll find some way out, though," Riley said, sounding as if she was trying to reassure herself.

Ellie glanced back up at her. "We?"

"You telling me you want to stay?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, of course not. I just didn't know there was a 'we.'"

"There is." Riley paused, looking almost nervous, like she was waiting for Ellie's reaction. Ellie found it oddly charming.

Ellie grinned, looking back down at her inedible eggs. "Okay. Cool."

She saw Riley smile out of the corner of her eye, the most honest expression she'd seen on her face all morning, and felt her own smile growing in response.