no glory

“I’m sorry,” the words felt foreign and clumsy on his tongue, “I was just... trying to be friendly.” The spilled Slurpee was seeping through his t-shirt and shocking his alcohol impaired brain into more sober territory. “I take it back--” he wiped his fingers across her forehead, accidentally smearing the sticky syrup from the drink he’d tried to surprise her with on her skin. “I wont kiss your forehead again.” Bennett nearly toppled over as he bent down to grab the plastic cup off the ground. “I’m...” he watched her for a few moments before staggering off to find a recycling bin. 

Bennett blinked at the ceiling for a few more moments before groggily pushing himself up into a sitting position on the creaky motel mattress. “Probably the most rest I’ve gotten in a month--” he twisted his upper body to snag a bottle of aspirin off the nightstand. The combination of bad memories, good memories, desire to see his family, desire to avoid his family, a little bit of regret, and a sprinkle of longing for his apartment in Los Angeles had made sleeping in his hometown nearly impossible. “I’m fine.” He tugged on a strand of her hair with a crooked smile. He hoped the pain reliever would kick in soon and dilute his pounding headache. 

“You look stuck —” A simple drive from the old town to the new side was all she planned to do. Ivy didn’t plan to stay in this place for long. But there was something appealing about it. Witnessing a cloud of dark smoke up ahead, the girl couldn’t help but be curious. When she rolled up her old mustang to the individual on the side of the road, she pushed her circle sunnies down her nose to get a better look at the person. “Did you need some help?” 

Bennett leaned down to peer in the car window as best he could with a stack of well-worn newspapers cradled in his arms-- “I could use a ride to the motel.” Ben had a habit of getting so wrapped up in his work that mundane things, like remembering to gas up his car, slipped through the cracks. The beat up truck he’d been driving since he was sixteen sat useless in the Moon Valley library parking lot. “So long as you’re not an alien with a detour to your mothership planned. I’m far too busy for any probing.” 

holy shit! did you see that? oh wait, that’s just bennett brasher, the local noah centineo lookalike. apparently, he’s been in Moon Valley for one whole month! they’re very ambitious, but also pretty obstinate, which is why: wrinkled sheets, polaroid cameras, glow in the dark stars, the smell of new books, well-worn jean jackets, and papers graded in red pen describes their vibe effortlessly. I wonder what this 22-year-old hopes to discover in good ol’ Moon Valley.

hello, pals!! i’m finally home and ready to get rocking and rolling. my name is ashley, i’m 23 years old, and i live in the pst timezone. this is a brand spanking new character of mine that i’m super excited to flesh out here with you lovely people. i’ll put a little info about him under the cut and hopefully convince you to plot with me