Take A Chance On Me

“Oh, that’s hard. A hero is such a big title to live up too. And people almost always disappoint you. Maybe GaGa? Lady GaGa is pretty high up there for me.”

“Oh, my brother definitely. The only man, or person for that matter, who hasn’t broken my heart.”

“Italy? Or Greece? Somewhere on the Mediterranean where I can live on a boat and have salty hair all the time.”

“Honestly not to brag, my survival skills do prove that I have a decent chance of being the final girl, I’d be as bold to say 75% chance. Still, I’d rather not go through it alone. Fair point, the one time I had a sleepover with a cute stranger I ended up missing a mini fridge in the morning.”

“And I have zero survival skills, so I have no issue only having a 25% chance of being The Final Girl. Honestly, the second I realized I was in a scary movie or book, I’d sacrifice myself. Just let it be quick!” She joked with a small chuckle. “How did you sleep through him stealing a mini fridge?!”

     “Hallmark movies are absolutely their own category.” Trixie was quick to agree with a soft laugh, though her ears do perk up at the sound of New York. Her heart yearning to be back home, walking the streets she could explore a million times and still find something new to love. “I can’t imagine anyone not making it in New York, the literal city of dreams? That is a story I have to hear. I only get to go back a week or so out of every month but the second i’m on the plane to come here I want to leap off to go back.” She explained as she gathered her purse, happy to have someone to share a NYC experience with but also someone who didn’t think the no-alcohol thing wasn’t weird. “Sounds like a plan to me — drinks on me, since you seem to need it today.”

“I made it. I had the dream job. The boyfriend. The nice apartment. I loved being there. I’d love to go back, but I currently don’t have anything left for me there.” Addie admitted without completely dumping the last few weeks onto Trixie. “Like you said, I’m some fucking Hallmark Movie.” Addie remarked, opening a door for Trixie so she could enter the bar first. “Oh, you don’t have to do that!”

“High maintenance? Care to expand?” she questioned, wondering what the girl considered to be high maintenance. “So, what would be the dream job?” she questioned. Maggie knew that she was lucky to be living her dream, but also, she’d worked her ass off, so it wasn’t all luck. She smiled at the other woman’s reaction to the sign language, no pity in sight which was rather refreshing. “Addie,” she mused, “I like it,” she smiled, she continued to sign as she spoke, not really for any reason but she’d liked the girl’s smile at her earlier signs, so it made sense to continue. 

Addie shrugged, trying to act casual as she explained, “I’ve been known to be a diva. Or my father would call me that. I just like things how I like them.” At the mention of a dream job, Addie frowned and tried to figure out what to say. “Well, I thought my dream job was to be in publishing. And I did that. And I liked it. I lost my job recently though. It’s why I’m back here,” she explained, making sure she face Maggie as she spoke since she couldn’t sign. “Nice to meet you Maggie. Time to get drinking.” She smiled as she opened the bar door for the other girl.

“I’m easy to please, give me drinks and a pretty girl and I’m sold,” she smiled. She cringed as the other girl described the family business, “yeah, that wouldn’t work for me,” she admitted. “I’m Maggie by the way,” she said, signing her name by fingerspelling and then adding her name sign.

“I can be a little high maintenance, but most days that’s all I need to,” Addie agreed with a small chuckle. Seeing the other girl’s reaction, Adeline nodded. “You get me! And my parents wonder why I’m not the most excited about this temporary job.” Perking up at the use of sign language, Addie copied the girls name sign. Then, she pointed to herself. “I’m Adeline. Most called me Addie though.”

“I’m not saying I’m scared I just think that because I watched 12 hours of unsolved mysteries if something happens I’ve learned two is better than one…” Anna wasn’t really sure where she was going with this. “Okay fine- I’m terrified, can I please stay with you tonight?”

“Oh, good plan. You’ve got a 50% chance of being The Final Girl then. I am not at a place in my life where I can have a sleepover with a stranger. A cute stranger, but that’s just an unsolved mystery waiting to happen!”

“I think the Vesta FD might take issue with that. The whole me learning how to cook thing, I mean.”

“I feel like it’s practically impossible to start a fire with one of those things. I mean, they’re even allowed in college dorms. But if you do give it a try anytime, invite me over. I’d love to be saved by some hunky firemen or women while a building burns down in the background.”

“Drink sounds perfect to me. What’s the family business? Anything good?”

“Yes! I like you already. No questions asked, we’re going straight to the drinking. Here for it.” Addie shook her head. “Not unless you consider manufacturing appliances to be good. I mean, sure everyone needs them, but it’s not exactly fun. Or life fulfilling.”

     “Sounds more like the beginning of an averagely written romantic comedy so maybe things will start looking up for you eventually. Or you could always hit the reset button, start over somewhere new where no one knows your name or something else coming of age like that…— I don’t drink, but I’m all for a mocktail.”

“You’re right. Oh, or a Hallmark Christmas Movie. Which I guess is technically a romantic comedy, but it deserves it’s own category don’t you think?” Addie mumbled biting at the edge of her nail. She waved her hand. “I did the whole starting over thing. In London. And New York. I start over and then seem to crash and burn. May take years, but it happens. Which is why I drink alcohol. Well, come on. Let’s go get you a Shirly Temple or something, and me something stronger.”

“Most definitely, I’ll never turn down a drink but that’s… a lot for anyone to handle. I mean, I stubbed my toe on the couch this morning and I was considering calling out. Just so I have some perspective on the timeline, how long have you been back? How did seeing the exes go?”

“Right?! Thank you. It’s been a lot to handle.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Sorry about your toe though. It sounds like you deserve a drink just as much as I do. I’ve been back... About a week now. A week and a half. The exes... Were and awkward experience. My life is falling apart and they seemed so... happy? Put together? Sure like some of it may be an act, but they can at least act. I’m a hot mess, I feel like a hot mess, and I look like a hot mess.”

Harley served the woman on the other side of the bar her order with a smile. He felt similarly about visiting Ohio, but he wasn’t sure he would ever move back their. His brother lived in California, and his relationship with his parents was a little too strained for Harley to seriously think about moving back at any point. “What brought you back to Vesta?” He asked curiously.

“What can only be described as an act of god. Or multiple acts of god,” she remarked with a shake of her head. She didn’t even know where to start. “My life completely imploded. I was let go from my job. My boyfriend, who I was living with, broke up with me and kicked me out. Nothing has been going right...” She sighed, not even mentioning that she’d also been arrested on top of everything. “I could see a therapist, but you’re cheaper.” 

“Finally someone who speaks my language!” A lot of people who were in Vesta liked being here, especially with so many people moving to this place since he left for New York a few years back. “I’m in the same boat as you, except my bed is a full size, and my parents don’t have their own business. Thank fuck.“ He glanced down the street. “There’s a really good bar over there, I’ll never say no to drinks.”

“A full sized bed? Well, aren’t you spoiled.” Addie chuckled since she was just giving him a hard time. She hadn’t realized how spoiled she was with her queen sized bed back in her tiny apartment. “Oh, is there? Good, because my old haunt seems like it closed down. I wasn’t sure where else to drink myself under the table at.”

Carter nodded, taking in her words, “Wise words. I will have to remember that.”

“Target is a weird place, too. You never leave with just the thing you went in for. It’s like a trap. Last time I went, I left with a new shower curtain and a mini waffle maker. I don’t cook. I went in for a power strip.”

“That is the magic of Target! It tells you what you need! Sure, maybe you needed a power strip, but I’m sure you also needed the new shower curtain. The mini waffle maker might be questionable, but you at least now have the opportunity to learn how to make mini waffles!”

“I should have gone to Target but it was a few minutes farther out. I definitely paid for my laziness.”

“As my father would say, the only time a lazy man ever succeeds is when he tries to do nothing. And he usually threw that quote at me when I tried to sleep in on Saturday morning. I’d throw a pillow at him. It was a beautiful ritual we had. You’ll know for next time.”

“I’m sorry what?!” Hayley took one of her shots, and pushed the other in front of the blonde. “I think you need this, but I also need this full story. I love a good cult story. And murder story. I mean, basically give me a true crime podcast and we’re good to go.”

“Yeah, New York is a strange place... There was also this girl who took me on a date to a cilantro themed restaurant. That may have been worse than the cult...” Addie trailed off, taking the drink from the brunette and shooting it back. “There’s really not much to say after that. I booked it out of there after the egg thing. I think they worshipped some kind of monster?”