Unfortunately, Spencer didn't get the opportunity to see Broadway productions often. She couldn't afford to fly out to New York, and any time there happened to be a tour that stopped in Hawai'i, she couldn't find the time to make it out to one of the shows. So, she spent most of her days enviously consuming grainy YouTube videos or available film adaptations that, as beautiful as they were, are never quite the same. She danced around her living room, imagining an alternate life where she might have had the chops to become a musical theatre performer. She didn't have the rhythm, the voice, or overall talent to try.

San Francisco hosted a Wicked production, but her spontaneous budget didn't account for last-minute tickets. Even the very last row of the entire theater was a little more money than she would have expected. Not that she was complaining; she understood the logistics. Sakura surprised her when she revealed that the Orpheum Theater was next to the farmers market they wanted to check out. If they couldn't see a show together, at least walking by the theater and snapping a few pics of the marquee would be fun. (It would also make for a great spread in her junk journal.)

Sakura and Spencer sat huddled together on the bus to share earphones while listening to the Wicked soundtrack. (Both the original Broadway version and the newly released movie adaptation.) Listening to two different versions of Defying Gravity, first thing in the morning did more to wake her up than any shot of espresso.

Upon exiting the BART station, the classical opulence of the Orpheum Theater loomed over them like a jewel in the sky. Seeing the iconic Wicked poster high in the air made her smile. One day, hopefully soon, she would get the chance to see it. For now, she settled on taking as many pictures as possible from every single angle. Something that felt more like a formality than anything since she knew most of the images would end up collecting metaphorical dust on a hard drive somewhere in her apartment for years to come. But, quite frankly, she didn't care. Humans sucked sometimes, but the way they all memorialized the best times of their lives made her heart flutter, and reminded her of those quiet, lonely days spent dancing in her living room.

Spencer allowed Sakura to take as many pictures of her in front of the theater as her heart desired. Some on her phone, some on the other. Sakura hyped her up like she was a supermodel, and admired each photo as if they were destined to end up on the cover of Vogue. Upon giving her approval, Spencer recognized the genuine light behind that smile.

As they winded down on their photo session, a couple of girls walked past. Hope danced through the life behind their eyes before being quietly snuffed out. Though they had walked by the theater for a purpose, they also appeared somewhat disappointed by something. A missing puzzle piece in an otherwise perfectly crafted day. If Spencer had to make an educated guess, it probably had something to do with the theater being closed off to the public, and the security guard standing watch in front of the rolling metal door. Like Sakura and Spencer moments ago, the two women started taking pictures with a disposable camera that Spencer hadn't seen someone use in forever.

"Do you want one of the two of you?" Sakura asked, her voice raised so they could hear her over the busy sounds of San Francisco.

"Oh! Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you!" The woman using the disposable camera tucked it into her fanny pack while the other handed off her phone with the camera pulled up.

Spencer couldn't help but notice how well they complimented each other visually. One with long, dark brown hair, and the other with a blonde pixie cut. Combat boots and Converse sneakers. Matching friendship bracelets worn on opposite arms. (Sakura smiled at the sight of their pink, purple, and blue 'bi bi baby' bracelets.) The taller one with the boots wore a black, white, and orange plaid dress with a black sweater that looked big enough to double as a blanket, while the other wore black leggings and a graphic tee of The Mummy characters in a similar color scheme.

"Love the matching," Sakura commented as she handed back the phone with about twenty nearly identical pictures. (Spencer counted.) (Spencer also noted their unintended matching ensembles.) "The cast of The Mummy was my bi-awakening. Incredible."

"Same," they said in unison, laughing.

"We were hoping the gift shop would be open. Wishful thinking," said the blonde one. She ran her fingers through her hair before tossing a wistful glance back at the theater. A cool morning breeze washed over them with a scent of coffee and gardenia. "How about you guys? We wanted to see a show this week, but between the high price tag and the baseball tickets we already bought, it didn't really pan out."

"Same," Spencer and Sakura said, also dissolving into bubbly giggles. "Maybe if we stare at our pictures of the sign for long enough, we can convince ourselves we saw it."

The blonde woman's phone started ringing, and after taking one quick but frustrated look, she turned to her friend.

"It's my sister. Do you mind if I—"

The other woman waved her off. "Go ahead. I'll wait here."

It didn't take an expert to surmise that the person in front of Spencer didn't come from a typically cold climate like San Francisco. Her friend was dressed like they were out on a casual stroll in the middle of summer, while she bundled up with her thick sweater and tights. The woman tightened her arms around her waist in the wake of another gust of wind, and as she yanked on the ends of her sweater in an attempt to shield herself from the city's low temperature, the gold Heritage Hawaiian bangle around her wrist caught Spencer's eyes. She absentmindedly spun it around while checking for any visual signs of concern from her friend. After seeing the other woman laugh while still speaking to her sister, her shoulders relaxed and she turned back to Sakura and Spencer.

"Feel free to tell me to fuck off but... you wouldn't happen to be from Hawai'i, are you?" Spencer asked.

Nothing excited a Hawai'i local more than running into another Hawai'i local while traveling. (Especially when they were Hawaiians.) Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she continued to relax more into the conversation.

"Yeah! Are you—"

"Just flew in from there on Sunday. Sakura—her—she lives here now but she's from Hawai'i too."

"That's so cool! I flew in on Sunday night too. We were probably on the same flight." She laughed.

Spencer liked the idea that someone else from home felt a calling to San Francisco, and in the same week no less.

"Is your friend from Hawai'i too?" Sakura asked.

"Oh, no," she answered, "Jordan's from Canada. Near Vancouver."

Ah. Spencer nodded. "That would explain the t-shirt." She paused. "'Cause she can stand the cold. Not 'cause of The Mummy."

"Well, Brendan Fraser is Canadian."

"So true. I hope they forgive me for forgetting." Spencer smiled. "Can I ask how you two—" She pointed back and forth between them.

"We met online, like, five years ago, maybe," the woman explained. "She's my best friend but it's our first time hanging out in person."

Sakura shifted on her feet which ended up with her leaning against Spencer's side, and warmth flooded her senses.

"That's so cool. How's your trip so far? Must've been a little nervous when you first got here."

"Oh, yeah." She nodded, hands resting on the long strap of her black crossbody bag. "I had a layover at LAX and I just sat there, worried that I wouldn't be as cool in person as she thought I was online. You know, nervous brain hard at work."

"Totally get it," Sakura said. "If it makes you feel any better, you don't at all look like you've just met met."

She smiled. Big and bright and free of any worry. The only way to exist while on vacation with a best friend.

"I'm glad." She laughed nervously. "She's saved my life, like, a hundred times since we became friends, so it would suck if we met and realized we weren't as compatible as we thought."

"Well, that's the cool part about meeting your person," Sakura said. "It doesn't matter how far apart you are or where life takes you. Every time you talk or see each other again it feels like coming home. Even if it's for the first time."

For as much flack as social media received, and though much of it was deserved, the ability of online spaces to connect people from different parts of the world, people who would otherwise never have crossed paths, allowed so many to grow a community beyond their immediate surroundings. That could never and should never be discounted.

Spencer and Sakura knew a thing or two about long-distance friendships. How uncontrollable space affected them. And yet, when push came to shove, they found their way back to each other. They needed a little time to find their footing and embrace the familiar rapport between them, but Spencer believed they were getting somewhere. As if coming back home after a long time away.

"Is this both of your first time here?" Spencer asked.

"It's my... fourth? I think... The last time was when I was 18. It's my favorite city in the entire world."

"Mine too." Sakura smiled. "You picked the perfect city to enjoy with her."

The blonde woman—Jordan—walked back like she knew they were talking about her. And like a true Canadian, the first words out of her mouth were an apology.

"I'm so sorry. My sister just got some news so she needed to scream about it. Anyway, Steph, when did you say that the next bus was coming?"

"Shit. Right. We should walk over." Steph turned back to them. "Sorry, we're directionally challenged so we have to find the right bus stop and hope we don't get lost. Again. But it was nice talking with you. Maybe we'll see each other on our flights back home." She laughed.

Sakura looped her arm through Spencer's. "Assuming I don't convince her to quit her job and stay here. She's already quit the man."

Jordan and Steph high-fived her for that one. Any other day and Spencer might have cried thinking about it again. But she was in good company, so she laughed along with them.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," Jordan said before waving. The two of them shuffled away, heads ducked together as they consulted with Google Maps. Just a couple of ladies on a mission.