fotos y recuerdos

✦ MELISSA BARRERA, CIS FEMALE, SHE/HER ✦ AMELIA LEON ALVAREZ, the THRITY-ONE year old has been in Hidehill for NINETEEN YEARS AND HAS BEEN BACK FOR A MONTH and was a STRANGER to Jade Parker, the missing person . Whispers on the streets are that the MECHANIC AT QUICK FIX AND BARTENDER AT CADILLAC who lives in HADLEY PARK. is said to be GENEROUS and IMPULSIVE but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. { MARIE, 27, EST, SHE/HER. }.  .

triggers: immigration, deportation, murder

“Absolutely, that shit is vile, Amelia. I pick up any request and the one time I asked for a break? No one in that goddamn shop. Not a soul,” He scoffed, though his comment was directed at someone else who had slipped away unscathed by his accusation. He was just lucky that it was someone he knew who would take the sting of it instead of someone else with little reason–– though it wasn’t like Dion couldn’t find a reason for it to apply to them, too. As of late, he’d grown a reputation for waning patience and tolerance. 

Waiting for his drink, he let out a heavy sigh. He should have been feeling some semblance of peace now that his work tracking down his wife was coming to a close, but all he felt was uneasy. It was hard for him to hide what he was feeling, and so everyone had picked up on the tension he seemed unable to escape. 

“And that Tesla that came in? Who the hell thought we could take care of that? I’m a mechanic, not an electrician with the way they made that thing.”

xx

“You gave me literally only hours notice, Dion.” She deadpanned, rolling her eyes at, what she considered, dramatics. “No seas chillón.” She waved off, placing a hand on her hip as she waited for her coffee. “Besides, I told you that I would cover you any other day and you grumbled and walked away with a damn pout so no.”

She tried to not mind the tension growing around Dion each day but someone who observed as much as him but she never said anything. They weren’t close, no more than co-workers who maybe occasionally grabbed a drink together. 

Seeing Amelia, Maisie was relieved, to say the least. The hug was very much welcomed as she hugged back, tightly, closing her eyes to try and calm down. “Th-Thank you so much for staying behind, Meels. I can always count on you. Staying back for your wife, huh?” The little blonde tried to joke, biting down on her lip and sniffling. “I just - I could have been here sooner, maybe. If I had just - just by a few minutes, maybe, you know? If I could - God, if I had just seen something. Do you know how useless I felt to the cops? I didn’t see a single thing and I wanted to, so badly - but I had nothing to give them.” She swallowed hard, going back behind the bar to try and busy herself. “They have no regard for life - what in the world has Brandon ever done to anyone? Brandon? He’s only helped people, only been a source of - of friendship. What psycho would do this and leave him here to die?” Putting a few glasses away, Maisie’s shaking hands nearly broke a beer glass as she let out a shaky breath. “I - I don’t even know what to say to the other bartenders - everyone else. This place is going to be closed for a little bit, they told me - I feel so bad. It costs you guys money and I just - I don’t know what I should be doing! What - What can I even say to make everyone feel better?” Maisie felt frantic all of a sudden, in her own panic as she looked at her friend and sighed. 

“I - I have to think logically, like a business person. I - I have to. I have to get my shit together, Meels. I can’t be going crazy too right now.” 

xx

“I would never leave my wife behind.” Meels chuckled lightly, hugging Maisie tighter to her in an effort to ease the shock of the day’s events. “No, stop, Maisie. Ya, basta,” Amelia shushed her gently in Spanish, rubbing her back soothingly. “It would have changed nothing - nothing. Okay?” Because it was true, a few minutes were not going to make Brandon any less critical and it wouldn’t have saved her any less trauma. “The cops would still have nothing because this killer is the shadow for a reason but they will catch him and someone will pay for this.” She wasn’t sure she believed her own words cause her faith in Hidehill PD was failing fast. Amelia’s eyes closed as she mentioned Brandon - and the only reason she wasn’t there right now was because she knew he was in surgery and couldn’t be in the waiting room. She would go by after she was sure Maisie was okay too. She watched her friend for a second before joining her behind the bar. “Okay, listen, I can call the bartenders and lounge acts. Everyone will understand iven what happened.” She told her but the minute the panic behind, Amelia grabbed her hands and forced Maisie to turn around and face her. “Slow down, Maisie. We’ve got this. You need to take a day or two. I can help you - just tell me what needs to get down and I will do it.” She had no idea what it took to run the lounge but she could step up and help for a few days while Maisie recovered. “You just went through something horrific. Give yourself some time.”

ameliaxleon​:

xx

“I’m mad at her to.” Amelia admitted, not caring if it wasn’t right for her to be mad. She was because they had left without a word or even a chance to explain. Amelia still hadn’t recovered. “I didn’t even get a warning. Nothing.”  Amelia sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her palms. The questioning when it came rubbed her the wrong way but she tried to not to let her irritation bleed into their conversation. Lu only meant well - Mel knew that. She cared about Ledger at least as much as Mel did. “We both knew that eventually the truth would come out.” Amelia had never planned for it to be forever, and she always felt guilty for the years she had stolen from Ledger. “It was time - maybe not the way - but it was time.” She said, turning to face her. “The heat was coming to fast and the town was getting to antsy. If anything happened to him or Rowan because of it? Because someone decided to take matters into their own hands?” Amelia shook her head,  unable to even consider it. “He’s free now and he doesn’t have to live with it any more. It won’t affect Rowan’s future. I needed the time back then and that’s between him and I but now I can make things right and I’m doing that. Whatever happens to me… happens but it won’t be his burden any more.” She had been trying to protect him and while they didn’t agree on the methods, and she could understand that, what was done was done. 

“Me too,” Lu admitted quietly. Whenever the shadow sent something, Percy had been the first person she texted. Them talking shit was now nothing but a memory she was trying to look back on with fondness and not bitterness. “I’m sorry she just left,” she murmured. “You deserve more than that. A conversation, at the very least,” Lu said with a heavy sigh. “If you ever wanna drink about it…” she said, smiling slightly, comforted by the fact that even though Percy was gone, Lu still had someone who understood both the joy and the pain she had caused. She knew she wouldn’t be able to find that from anyone else. Lu listened to Amelia intently, a frown on her lips before she looked down at the countertop. “I know it’s none of my business, especially now that we’re not together anymore,” she muttered as she looked up again, staring straight into Amelia’s eyes. “But you always having Ledger’s back just means I’ll have yours. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if you ever need anything, you can tell me, okay? I’ll help out as much as I can,” Lu said, scratching the back of her neck. “This town has really gone to shit, huh?”

xx

Amelia snorted in a bittersweet amusement. She had deserved at least a talk but maybe it was better this way. There was no use in pining over a woman who had left her behind - the third girlfriend that had left her. Maybe, she was the problem and maybe, given her life, that was the best possible outcome. “Don’t joke, I will take you up on the offer, but I should warn you - I drink tequila and have won against both Ledger and Nehemiah so...” She trailed off with a  proud smirk and wink at Lunara. Amelia would never expect Lu to understand her situation but she did value that the other was even trying to wrap her head around it. Even more that she had decided to remain friend after her and Ledger’s break up. Though they had neve been close it was impossible to not be friends when they both had been so close to Ledger and Lu was pretty easy to get along with. “Thanks, Lu, I appreciate it that, I do. And honestly, I’m still surprised you two haven’t worked it out yet. I was betting you’d be together by now,” She had been praying for it, hoping her friend could find happiness again even under his own stubbornness and hurt. With a vexed sigh, Amelia nodded, suddenly thinking about Brandon again. He hadn’t really ever left her mind. “I still can’t believe that Brandon was the victim this time. That boy is the most reserved person I know.” He was a close friend and Amelia would have gladly switched places with him. No one deserved this but she would never change her mind that Brandon deserved it less than anyone. 

THE  CHEMISTRY  BETWEEN  THEM  WAS  STILL  UNDENIABLE .    it  came  as  no  surprise  to  thalia ,    the  two  had  always  been  a  whirlwind  of  passion  and  sparks .    seeing  amelia  again  only  reminded  her  of  a  simpler  time ,    when  the  only  cares  they  had  were  𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑  𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜  𝚝𝚘  𝚐𝚘  𝚝𝚘  𝚘𝚛  𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐  𝚏𝚘𝚛  𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚜 .    now  they  were  weathered ,    burying  their  friends  and  family ,    doing  whatever  they  could  to  stay  afloat .    but  maybe  with  amelia  she  could  pretend  for  awhile .    “     god  i  was  a  stupid  kid  back  then .    i  should’ve  stayed  with  you .     ”    thalia  chides  cheekily .    the  mention  of  her  return  causes  face  to  drop  slightly ,    there  were  many  reasons ,    one  of  course  being  jade .    “     yeah ,    i  could  go  for  a  drink .    as  long  as  i’m  not  drinking  alone .     ”   

x

He wasn’t sure whether it was the surgeries, or the medication, or just the situation at hand but Brandon kept feeling himself slip in and out of actual consciousness. But, not the asleep and awake type, more the reality type. Even when he was talking to his Dad, or the Police, he sometimes felt like he was there but not really present. It was strange, but also weirdly nice. He had been slipping out of reality when he heard his name which snapped him back to the room. Bran moved his head a little and smiled as much as he could when he saw Mel.

“I– I’m good,” he clearly was not. “Just– Just a s-small knock, y’know? I-I’ll be back at fast gas in no time,” Brandon tried to lighten the mood, tried to make her feel better. He hated that his pain was causing other people he loved to hurt too. He hated that he could do nothing to help. He hated that he couldn’t even help the cops despite everything - like he got lucky and survived for nothing. He scoffed as much a chuckle as he could at her comment, wincing slightly as the motion tugged his multiple stab wounds. “Why do I know y-you’re not even joking?”

x

“Oh stop trying to be strong,” Amelia said lightly, though her voice was still tight with emotion at seeing Brandon like this. “You are the one who is hurt, we are here to make you feel better, not the other way around, okay?” But it was the typical Brandon thing to do, to put his feelings last and care for others. This was all the killer’s fault in the end. They did this and inflicted this pain on Brandon and all his loved ones. From what the doctors had said, Brandon should have died. it was a miracle he was even alive. Mel chuckled, though the sound was still choked and squeezed his hand. “Can you know for a fact that I will.” It was promise - she wasn’t letting him die any time soon. 

“Sasha and i I have been taking care of your dad - mostly her but when she had come here to see you or whatever, we make sure there is always someone with him. We’re taking care of everything else so you just focus on getting better. I’m so happy that you’re okay though.” Mel said in one breath, “Do you need anything right now? Pain meds?” She was trying to hold it together, unwilling to break down in front of her friend. she could do that later in private.

“Only for you,” Gabby teasingly said, a slow smile forming on her lips at Amelia’s request. There was excitement running through her now at the potential of where the night could go. “You’re very welcome. People have got your back, Mel,” she gently reminded, showing the other woman a small smile at the feeling of her tucking Gabby’s hair behind her ear. It was such a soft and unexpected gesture, and Gabby was most definitely not used to it but she still welcomed the feeling. “I get that,” she said with a small nod. “You did it for your friend. I just don’t get why you fessed up now? Did it, like, get too much for you? Keeping that secret?” 

xx

She knew that smile well - it was the same devious curl that had caused Amelia to stumble and fall and hurt the one person she had ever loved so deeply. It was a smile straight from hell and yet, she found herself unable to resist not just as she had been unable to ten years ago. “Good,” She murmured, eyeing the soft smile that Gabby gave her. She wondered what the other had been up to that made the gesture of her moving a strand of hair a bit of shock. Pulling back, Mel motioned for Gabby to give her the glass of her drink. She’d refill it free of charge, not thinking Maisie would care too much. It wasn’t like she ever did that. “No,” Mel paused to think about. “Okay, maybe yes. It’s complicated. Ledger had lost so much cause of me already and the town was coming down on him for something he never did. I couldn’t let it keep happening when he’s probably the most innocent person in this town. All that man wants to do is provide for his family.” Amelia shrugged, refilling the drink and handing it back to Gabby. “Once upon a time, Ledger protected me. It was my turn.”

Leo had been nothing but a troublemaker in his formative years, his school experience defined by being a regular in afternoon and weekend detention. He supposed one of the few good things that had come out of his stay was the amount of people he was forced to socialize with, stuck in the same classroom for an extended period of time. It was where he’d met Amelia, along with a number of other people. “Oh shit, I almost didn’t recognize you,” he revealed with a chuckle, eyes jokingly rolling at the playful jab thrown his way. “Me? No, never. Just you know… occasional fight here and there. Nothing to write home about.”

seeing amelias face light up at the word ferrets, it brought a smile to her lips. “I do. they were thrown out by their previous owner so i took them in.” she was sure if she had taken in any more animals, she would need to get a bigger place, like a farm. “they should be awak by now so you’re in luck.” making her way over to where the cage was, she opened the door.  grabbing one of the ferrets gently, she held it in her arm. “his name is simba. and he loves people.”

xx

“I swear, you live the best life.” Amelia grinned at her friend but her eyes lit up at the mention that the ferrets might be awak. Following her with a skip in her step, her heart all but melted as she was handed on of the small creatures. “He’s absolutely adorable!” She laughed, taking him in her arms and letting him crawl on her while being careful of his whereabouts. “I swear, I need to volunteer at the zoo because this would be my heaven.” And if she was honest, it would provide a much needed distraction from life at the moment. “How are you holding up with everything?”

Lu nodded her head at the confirmation and while it was sad, there was something comforting about being with someone who understood how painful this all was. Percy had been a huge part of her life, the first person she texted every time the Shadow did something, and the two of them even lived together at one point. With everything that’s been going on with her and Ledger, it made it doubly hard knowing she lost another person too. “And it’s totally valid that you’re not,” Lu said with a nod of her head. “I miss her too,” she murmured before biting down on her lower lip as she looked down at the counter top. “You mean how you confessed?” She cautiously asked. “Look, I’m not here to berate you. I have no right to do that, but Mel, you basically took those years of Ledger’s life covering for you and threw them away,” Lu gently said. “Why?” She didn’t want to get into a fight right now, and even if she and Ledger were no longer together, she was still greatly concerned about him. 

xx

“I’m mad at her to.” Amelia admitted, not caring if it wasn’t right for her to be mad. She was because they had left without a word or even a chance to explain. Amelia still hadn’t recovered. “I didn’t even get a warning. Nothing.”  Amelia sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her palms. The questioning when it came rubbed her the wrong way but she tried to not to let her irritation bleed into their conversation. Lu only meant well - Mel knew that. She cared about Ledger at least as much as Mel did. “We both knew that eventually the truth would come out.” Amelia had never planned for it to be forever, and she always felt guilty for the years she had stolen from Ledger. “It was time - maybe not the way - but it was time.” She said, turning to face her. “The heat was coming to fast and the town was getting to antsy. If anything happened to him or Rowan because of it? Because someone decided to take matters into their own hands?” Amelia shook her head,  unable to even consider it. “He’s free now and he doesn’t have to live with it any more. It won’t affect Rowan’s future. I needed the time back then and that’s between him and I but now I can make things right and I’m doing that. Whatever happens to me... happens but it won’t be his burden any more.” She had been trying to protect him and while they didn’t agree on the methods, and she could understand that, what was done was done. 

“I’m not saying you haven’t thought about it, Mel, but, in the forum? Of all places you choose to reveal your biggest secret and you do it there?” The question rolled off his tongue as he shook his head. He knew where Amelia was coming from, why she’d done it. Because she had seen how hurt Ledger had been when he missed out on all the major milestones of Rowan’s life for taking the blame for her. And he knew there was no way in hell that Amelia would ever let Ledger go through that again, especially now that he was all that Rowan had. And while he still didn’t love that she was putting herself at risk of prison time - especially with the most recent killing that there had been - he understood that while he’d taken the fall for her all those years ago, she was simply paying him back this time, regardless of what it meant for her. She was clearly ready to face whatever came to her, and for that he couldn’t be too upset. “She will. I know she will. I just, you have to promise me you’ll stay safe in the process, because Mel, I don’t think I can handle all this shit without you. I will go insane if you get locked up, and to be entirely honest I’m going to be selfish here but you owe me.” he laughed. At the end of the day, Ledger was thankful to have a friend like Amelia in his laugh. His support system regardless. And sure, he had Lu - he knew he’d always have Lu - but in this very moment Mel was the friend he needed. The friend that knew what it was like to lose your first love and be this close to losing your second to, at least that’s how it seemed in the way she was talking. But instead of asking about that in the moment, he smiled at the thought of one of the many interactions he’d shared with Amelia’s dad. “Do you remember that time that your dad tried to get me to speak in Spanish and I was so confident because I’d been listening to you and Nemo?” he laughed, and I completely butchered it.” he let his mind wonder back to a more simple time and he exhaled, clearly exhausted. “I’m sure that Percy will understand..” Ledger spoke, though to be entirely honest he was still trying to figure out how Amelia and Percy had even happened. He was glad that his friend was happy, but, something about Percy - especially now - didn’t sit well with him. But, this wasn’t about him, it was about his friend who was clearly distraught that Percy had found out this way. “Oh.. shit.” he spoke, not even hiding how bad the situation seemed. “You called her Marisol and she found out that you murdered someone?” he asked, knowing that most people wouldn’t be able to handle that. “Have you talked to her about all of this? About you and Marisol? Your past?” he asked. “Because that might be a great place to start..”

xx

“I know, okay?!” Amelia pleaded with Ledger to drop it - she knew it had been stupid to do it on the forum. She should have waited, should have consulted with Gloria, she should have gone to the police. But it had just happened and despite not being the smartest move, she still didn’t regret it. “It wouldn’t have happened this way if you had let me do it earlier.” Amelia reached over to poke at Ledger’s chest. “I was going to do it the right way, weeks ago.” She gave her friend a pointed look but decided to drop it. At this point, what was done was done. There was no going back so no point in wondering on the what if’s. “I promise i will stay safe.” She said gently, the words holding conviction as she met LEdger’s gaze. After all they had been threw, there was no way she would ever leave Ledger’s side now. “You think I would let you do all this shit alone, pendejo? Amelia laughed, shoving her friend playfully. “Not a chance, wey, you’re stuck with me. I will always have your back.” He was a pillar in her life and she didn’t think she could get through any of the shit happening in town without his constant presence and support beside her. Ledger was her person and while they each had relationships and partners, they had each other. It was a silent promise that no matter what came their way, they would always have each other. The heaviness around them melted away for a few moments at the fond memory presented to her. Her father loved LEdger and if he only knew the truth, Amelia knew that her father would only love Ledger even more. “That was so bad! My papi still talks about that sometimes. He was shocked that some one could be that bad.” She laughed, feeling good that she could laugh for a moment. “I still don’t know how your spanish is so bad. How long have we known each other now?” She teased but the mood sobered at the mention of her girlfriend. Was she even that now? “No,” Amelia sighed, slipping off the bed to sit on the floor, knees to her chest. And with a deep breath, Amelia dove into her and Percy and how fast everything had transpire between them and how fast it all seemed to be crashing down. And when Percy would disappear in a few days, she found comfort in Ledger again because when everyone left, he always remained right there. Come high or low.