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Heather Chandler woke up slowly to the ginger rocking of her shoulder. She blearily opened her eyes, seeing Heather Duke leaning over the side of her bed.
“Good morning,” Heather Duke said, pulling back now that Heather was awake.
“Morning,” Heather Chandler rasped. She moved to sit up, stretching out the stillness from the night prior.
“Care for a drive out to the beach?” Duke hummed, sitting next to her.
“Long drive,” Chandler commented, “but I think I’ll manage.”
Duke grinned. “Great. Veronica’s downstairs.”
“Why aren’t I surprised?” Chandler snorted. Heather Duke shrugged.
Both Heathers soon after left the bedroom, heading downstairs to meet Veronica in the kitchen. The brunette was drinking water when they got there.
“Hey!” Veronica greeted when she finished her sip.
“Morning, Veronica,” Chandler replied.
“What are we doing today?” Veronica asked, setting the cup on the counter.
“We’re gonna drive out to the beach first,” Duke responded, “Heather will probably want to get lunch after that, and then we can go from there.”
“Sounds fun,” Veronica mused, then blinked. “Shit, I didn’t bring beachwear.”
“You can borrow something,” Chandler told her. Veronica thanked her.
“I’m gonna head out to the jeep,” Duke decided.
“I’ll come out and join you in a second,” Chandler acknowledged.
“I’m gonna go with Heather to see what I’m borrowing,” Veronica said, pointing at Chandler. Duke nodded and headed out toward the front door.
“The beach sounds exciting,” Veronica beamed.
“It is a long drive, but it’s usually not too crowded— especially this early,” Chandler agreed, nodding her head as they both ascended back up the stairs.
“It’s too bad Heather’s busy today,” Veronica went on, tipping her head and looking off to the side as she thought aloud.
“Being head cheerleader requires staying in practice, or something,” Chandler said in response, “probably.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Veronica amended. “I’m really glad to be getting out of the house today.”
Chandler just nodded. She stopped at the top of the stairs, but still left space for Veronica. “There’s stuff for you to borrow lying around somewhere. You can just take whatever.”
“Got it,” Veronica said, and split off from Heather as they went in opposite directions.
Heather Duke vaguely hummed to the song playing on the radio as she drove, listening to Veronica talk. It seemed like she had a lot to say today. She hadn’t really stopped talking all morning. It wasn’t annoying, though.
“And then I heard Ram say that…”
“But then Kurt was like…”
“Oh! But Heather said…”
Heather Chandler wasn’t responding to anything Veronica had said thus far, but Heather Duke could tell that she was listening by the way she’d been watching Veronica through the rearview mirror.
“And actually, now that I’m thinking about it, Kurt and Ram were arguing for the same thing, they were just both wording it incorrectly so it sounded like they were against each other,” Veronica concluded.
“Thrilling,” Duke said, the faintest undertone of mirth in her voice. She shared a glance with Chandler.
“I know! I don’t think it will ever be not funny how slow those two are,” Veronica stated.
“It’s kind of sad,” Chandler put in.
“As if you care,” Veronica retorted from the backseat. “You think it’s funny, admit it.”
Chandler glanced back at Veronica. “Fine.”
“I knew it.” Veronica sat back smugly.
“Quit riling each other up,” Duke scolded. “If you fight while I’m driving you’re both getting kicked out.”
“Sorry, Heather,” Veronica apologized.
“Shut up, Heather,” Chandler antagonized. Duke glared at her. Chandler huffed.
“I just think it’s messed up for you to be mean to me today,” Chandler proclaimed.
“How was that being mean to you?” Duke scoffed. “I barely even looked at you.”
“It was the intention behind it,” Chandler bit back.
“I told you not to fight in my car while I’m driving, and that’s being mean to you,” Duke summarized, dully.
“Yeah,” Chandler said.
“You are really something else.”
Veronica wondered why today of all days, Duke shouldn’t be mean to Chandler, but she didn’t ask why. It was probably nothing— or just Heather Chandler being extra again.
The beach was hardly populated at all, much to Heather Chandler’s relief. The sun had barely risen over the horizon, barely casting a dim glow over the shoreline.
“I’ll find a spot, you two go change,” Heather Duke offered. Heather Chandler and Veronica nodded, veering off to go put on their beachwear.
Heather Duke walks down to the sand, pacing about until she finds a spot that she thinks is good enough. Grabbing a towel out of their bag of belongings, Heather lays it down and drops the bag on top of it.
Duke sat down, reaching into the tote and pulling out a bottle of water. She unscrewed the crap and took a sip.
A few minutes later, Chandler and Veronica returned; Chandler wearing a red two piece bikini and Veronica adorned in a simple, muted navy blue t-shirt and black shorts.
“Hey,” Chandler said, approaching.
“Hey,” Duke parroted.
“Did we bring any food? I’m kinda hungry,” Veronica asked.
“There’s probably something in the bag,” Duke answered. “I’m gonna change now.”
Chandler nodded and moved aside, making space for the ravenette to get past.
“I haven’t been to the beach in, like, forever,” Veronica brought up, excited.
“I think I came last summer.” Heather Chandler ran a hand through her hair.
“I used to come a lot with my parents, when I was a kid,” Veronica hummed, seemingly reminiscing.
Chandler grunted in acknowledgment.
“We’re just going to have a slow day,” she told Veronica. “In case you were expecting anything big.”
“Oh.” Veronica blinked, snapping out of her casual nostalgia. “Right, no, it’s okay. I’m cool with that.”
Heather nodded once. “We were actually just going to hang out at my house, until she pointed out that you might want to join us today.”
“I’m glad I did,” Veronica replied.
“If you’re bored, go look for a souvenir in the sand.” Heather jerked her chin toward the far side of the beach. Veronica grinned and swiftly sped off. Heather watched her.
Heather Duke returned then, wearing a bikini similar to Chandler’s, just in green.
“Sent her off already?” Duke teased, sitting next to Chandler.
“You saw her. She was talking our ears off. She clearly has some energy to burn.” Chandler shrugged.
“That’s true,” Duke acquiesced. “She was talking a lot, you’re right.”
“I didn’t realize she liked the beach so much,” Chandler droned.
“I found out from Heather,” Duke replied. “A bit ago. Apparently they had a big long talk about it.”
“Huh,” Chandler mumbled. “Do you think she knows it’s my birthday?”
“If she does, she’s doing a very good job at not making a big deal out of it,” Duke responded. “But, in all seriousness? No.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Chandler sat back, leaning on her hands.
“Before I forget, Heather asked if you wanted to see another race soon,” Duke told her. “Since she couldn’t make it today.”
“Oh,” Chandler breathed. “Mm, yeah, okay. I wouldn’t mind that.”
“I’ll let her know, then,” Duke decided. Veronica returned with a crab.
“Get rid of that,” Chandler ordered, “now.”
Veronica looked dejected, but went back to the waterline and put it down before coming back again.
“Veronica, if you ever bring a crab to us again, we’re going to leave you here,” Duke warned, still recoiled from the sight of the crustacean.
“Okay, okay, I just thought it was cool.” Veronica pouted and came over to sit on Chandler’s other side.
“It’s a fucking crab.” Chandler raised a brow.
“Crabs are cool,” Veronica protested.
“You sound like you love STDs,” Duke pointed out. Veronica flushed. Chandler cackled at her.
“I— do not!” Veronica huffed, embarrassed. “I— whatever! Stop laughing, it’s not that funny!”
Veronica’s objections made the Heathers laugh harder. Veronica moved away from them indignantly.
“Sure, put another five feet between us, maybe that’ll do it,” Duke joked, giggling.
“Stop it!” Veronica whined.
“Alright, alright,” Chandler sighed. “God, you should’ve seen your face.
Veronica grumbled and stayed the five feet apart. To keep herself busy, she drew patterns in the sand. Chandler and Duke delved into trivial conversation while Veronica occasionally added her two cents.
“And I should say happy birthday,” Duke said quietly, “just to be a good friend.”
“I appreciate it,” Chandler replied.
Veronica spun around.
“What are you talking about?” She demanded, eagerly.
“What?” Chandler blurted. Both her and Duke blinked.
“It’s your birthday?” Veronica furrowed her brow.
“Oh, um, yeah,” Chandler replied.
“You told me your birthday was in February,” Veronica pointed out.
“And I told Ram it was in October, what’s your point?” Chandler retorted.
“My point?” Veronica gaped. “It’s your birthday! And we’re just at the beach! Don’t you want to do something more exciting?!”
“Not really.” Chandler shrugged.
“How can you not want to do something fun?” Veronica murmured, genuinely feeling bad.
“Veronica, if I wanted to be doing something ‘fun’ right now, I’d be doing it,” Heather Chandler reminded her. “This is what I want to do.”
“But… it’s your birthday…”
“Sawyer. Stop being a pillowcase. Why do you think I told you my birthday was in February? I’m not a birthday person. I don’t care to celebrate. I tell everyone I meet a different date.”
Veronica couldn’t wrap her head around it. She thought everyone loved their birthday! It’s the day you were born!
“But—”
“—Stop,” Chandler interrupted.
“But I just… feel bad…” Veronica murmured, frowning.
“Do not feel bad.”
“You should know that Heather does what she wants, Sawyer,” Duke put in. “She means it when she says she wouldn’t be here right now if she didn’t want to.”
“…you seriously didn’t even want, like, a party?”
“Sawyer,” Chandler barked.
“Never mind, got it,” Veronica muttered quickly.
“I don’t even have a gift,” Veronica hissed into Heather Duke’s ear.
“Neither do I.” Duke shrugged.
“Yeah, but, you’re the one driving us to the places Heather wants to go to,” Veronica whispered.
“She doesn’t need a gift,” Duke said simply.
“Everyone deserves a gift on their birthday,” Veronica responded.
“But does everyone want one?” Duke countered. “Just accept what Heather wants, Sawyer.”
“But…”
“No buts.”
“I just don’t understand,” Veronica admitted. “I thought everyone wanted to celebrate their birthday.”
“Heather isn’t everyone,” Duke pointed out. “You know her. She’s different. Heather doesn’t like her birthday ‘cause of stuff that happened when we were kids.”
“Now I feel even worse,” Veronica mumbled pathetically.
“Oh, god,” Duke sighed, “there’s no winning with you.”
“Heeeatherrrr…” Veronica griped.
“Saaaawwwwyerrr…” Duke mocked.
“Hey!” Veronica gasped. Duke shrugged smugly and sped up to keep pace with Chandler. Heather glanced at Duke upon her arrival.
When the sun had begun to set, Heather wanted to go out for dinner. Duke drove them to the restaurant she requested.
Heather Chandler cut a piece of her steak with a knife. “I was thinking about throwing a party on Friday.”
“That could be fun,” Duke replied.
Veronica kept quiet. She knew that if she said more than anything noncommittal, she’d start talking about Heather’s birthday again.
“Do you think Heather still has any booze from her dad’s stash?” Chandler wondered.
Duke nodded. “She couldn’t have gone through that much that quickly.”
Chandler hummed. “You’re right.”
“Oh wait, actually, are you busy on Thursday?” Heather Duke asked.
“No, I don’t think so, why?” Chandler responded.
“I need a plus one for a function,” Duke admitted. “My dad’s getting on my ass about it.”
“I’ll come if you get Peter Dawson to stop asking why I broke up with him,” Chandler told her.
“Deal,” Duke agreed.
Veronica watched them interact. Seeing them talk about such normal things, even if they had their own Heather twist to them, was so mundane. It reminded Veronica that they were still just two teenage girls, despite the cruel and conniving exteriors.
Maybe Heather Chandler really was content celebrating her birthday like this, just with her and Heather Duke. Maybe she actually didn’t need some all out party that went on all night long.
Veronica smiled.
After finishing dinner, the three of them drove to Westerburg. Heather Duke knew a way onto the roof of the building, some tip she learned in freshman year, apparently.
The sun slowly set beneath the skyline, painting the sky in warm tones of reds underneath blues. As it made its final descent and finally dipped out of sight, a shadow of a green flash was left behind in its place.
“Happy birthday, Heather,” Veronica and Duke said simultaneously, without meaning to.
Chandler smiled. “And it was.”