Jim Bennett

JAMES ‘JIM’ BENNETT ( HE/HIM ) is a MALE, THIRTY SEVEN year old CARPENTER who has been living in Moorbrooke for TWELVE MONTHS. They were born on SEPTEMBER FIFTEENTH and right now, they are currently residing in MAPLE COURT. It has been said that they look suspiciously like TOM HARDY and if they had to choose a song to describe themselves, they would choose WOMANZIER by BRITNEY SPEARS.

“I’m sure you’ll see him around if you spend some more time here.” Remy shrugs, knowing Leo was probably around somewhere. “Oh, well welcome to Moorbrooke. Hopefully you’re liking it so far. It’s a nice place to live, I think.”

“Yeah.. Moorbrooke is a nice place, definitely beats the hustle n’ bustle of London. To be honest, it took a little while to get used to the silence.” Jim exhaled a laugh as he picked up his coffee, continuing to drink the warm liquid. He certainly didn’t miss the sound of sirens and the busy streets. “This is probably it for me now mate, i’ll probably die ‘ere. You a moorbrooke lad?”

“I don’t know what I would if I couldn’t escape to the beach at a moment’s notice. I don’t know how you survived.” She mused, nodding along as he continued speaking. “But sometimes you need a little of the hustle and bustle to truly appreciate the quiet. You know… you don’t know what you have until it’s gone kind of thing.” Cat let out a laugh. “I remember mine but mainly because my friends and I all turned 21 around the same time so it was well documented in pictures. Pictures that shall never see the light of day.”

“Going to the beach was more of a family day out then a spontaneous thing but, maybe I’ll get used to visiting the beach more often ‘ere... You want another drink?” He asked as he glanced down towards his empty pint glass, then back up towards Cat. “Well shit, you know you gotta pull those photos out. Us lads don’t take pictures like you women.. otherwise I’d offer you a trade off but, I ain’t got nothin’ to show ya.” Jim laughed, before his expression settled into a smirk.

the woman she’d pointed out was not only a work office gossip - she was a gossip in general. she went to school with the woman and she was just as bad in high school as she was now. anytime hailey was seen by her and she happened to be talking to a man, it was circled back to her husband. thankfully, they had a strong relationship and didn’t have stupid ‘rules’ about not talking to the opposite genders. besides, they’d been married for 12 years now, and a couple for close to 20. they trusted each other and neither of them gave the other a reason to need to not trust one another. when nosy nancy told her husband of anything, when they sat down for the night, mr. mason would say ‘word on the street is…’ and whatever was said. she didn’t know what this woman’s issue was with her, but hailey kept her distance. “sure, that works for me. their wraps are to die for.”

With it agreed they head off to Chuckies, Jim was quick to finish what was left of his pint and headed for the exit, rather pleased to have stepped outside into the cold night, straying away from the mixed stench of alcohol and body odour. “Ah fuck, d’ya smell that? Nothin’ but fresh air mate.” He inhaled a deep breath and exhaled as he looked up towards the nights sky. “Mm yeah.. I’m a sucker for the burgers mate. We cabbing this or walking?”

“It’s alright, I needed to take a break anyways.” Remy admits, rubbing the back of his neck. He had been staring at his laptop for far too long. “My husband owns the place. Leo. Do you know him?”

“Leo..” Jim repeated, sticking out his bottom lip in a pout. “No, mate.. don’t think I’ve ever met the guy but, massive win for you init? Free coffee’s all the time I bet?” He sat back into his seat with a chuckle. It wasn’t often Jim sat in to drink his coffee, usually too busy getting back to work. “To be honest mate, I’m meeting new people all the time.. only lived ‘ere for twelve months, moved from London..” He informed.

“I feel you. It’s why I sometimes go to the beach at midnight. If only to seem more mysterious on my most mundane of days.” She mused with a shrug. At his question, she let out a laugh. “Unfortunately, I’m here more often than I’m not. It makes me feel like I’m not in Moorbrooke anymore. Like I’m in a big city and am someone I’m not… despite the fact it’s still a club and half the people in here could use a tip or two about what to wear.” Cat paused. “What? You mean you’re not freshly 21 and this isn’t your first club? Sorry, that was a shit excuse for a joke.”

“The beach is a beautiful place, init. We’re lucky to have one ‘ere so close. If I wanted to go to the beach back in London we had to travel.” East Sussex was probably the closest and nicest beach, but nothing would compare to moorbrooke. It was so different, the water was much clearer here. Listening to Cat explain that she would spend her nights in the club to escape, Jim frowned. “Trust me, livin’ in a big city ain’t all it’s cracked up to be mate. It’s noisy, the streets are busy and gangs running about thinking they’re fucking hard. Moorbrooke is it mate, it’s so quiet in comparison.” He had no plans to move back to London and found he’d settled into the american lifestyle quite well. Finishing his pint, Jim’s laugh echoed into the empty glass as his head shook. “I don’t even remember my first night in a club.. I was probably fucking wrecked.”

“nah, she’s legal. barely,” she joked. “i don’t even have to let her, she just does it like it’s a source of income,” hailey said with a small laugh before nodding. “yeah, he does. he’s stuck with me for life. i can’t reach the cabinets without him around,” she said. “we can go somewhere less chaotic and eat, cause i can’t remember the last time i ate. i dunno if you heard it, but my stomach just called me a bitch.”

Sometimes, Jim simply didn’t understand women. Was it a jealousy thing that this other chick needed to tell Hailey’s husband everything? Or maybe she was just an absolute twat. Whatever the situation, Jim deemed it unnecessary. The idea of grabbing some food sounded nice, nodding his head in agreement. “Chuckies? I’m sure it’s open at this time.” He suggests, averting his gaze towards his watch. 

‘oh, shut up, mate,’ jon rolled his eyes and shoved the other playfully. perhaps spending most of his days around three-year-olds did have an effect on his… drinking capabilities. perhaps. his expression quickly softened when he saw the picture of the pup, honestly more interested in the four-legged companion than in jim. ‘aw, he’s so precious,’ he smiled, nodding along the other’s words. ‘well, you can always guilt-trip them by sending them sad pictures of buster. or come live with me and olaf,’ jon added, half-serious and half-joking.

“Honestly mate, I miss having a four legged friend around.. I’ve always had a dog until I moved ‘ere.” Man, did he miss his fur babies back in London, but he simply needed an out. He listened to Jon offer up his apartment to share, and frowned. The idea was great and it would certainly lighten the monthly bills but.. he couldn’t be serious. “I’ve never even met the geezer.. I just know he lives around maine somewhere.” Jim shrugged as he reached a hand out to pick up his pint. “I think your wasted mate.. throwing out suggestions like that, init.”

He gave a half smile even if it was unseen while he had his back to the man. “Well i don’t really have the looks you do so i have to make up for somehow i chose humor and being unavailable emotionally seems to drive people crazy.” He said the words with as much dry humor as his voice could muster. He took the card and swiped eyes fixed on the screen as he watched it process before handing it back. “No problem Owners never really seem to get a break anyway something was going to pull me out of it im just glad i got a smoke in before it happened.” He turned and got the keys from the rack. “Ill drive it out front for you.”  He spoke as he hit a button that opened the Garage door and went to get the van. 

“Alright...” Jim answered with a nod. “Being unavailable emotionally ain’t a bad thing, mate. Keeps you out of trouble, right.. I can speak from experience.” Never again will he commit to anyone like he committed to his ex-wife, fifteen years gone, just like that. James watched as the man headed for his vehicle and started to make his way around the front, his hands fumbling with his debit card before sliding his wallet back into his pocket. Thank god he could get back to work this afternoon. 

​

“Can’t say a club is exactly the best place for a date. Maybe a second location or if you’re looking to reignite the spark.” She mused, leaning against the bar as she finished off her drink. “If you’re already tempted to ditch, it’s not gonna get any better. And the age of the clubgoers isn’t going to get any older the later it gets so it’s truly up to you.”

“I ain’t gonna lie to ya.. I can’t say there was much of a spark, it’s just nice to do something a bit different with my evening, yeah.” The attention was also nice. It seemed he was surrounded by many other’s a lot younger then his age, although this pretty blonde seemed similar in age and she gave the impression that she knew the vibe of his place quite well. “You come ‘ere often then, do ya? I ain’t been into a club since my early twenties... can’t say they’ve changed much.”

“No worries. Ah, here…let me move my laptop.” Shutting it gently, Remy moves it into his bag, along with his papers. He had lost track of time and hadn’t realize the place had gotten so busy, otherwise he would’ve cleared a space a while ago. “Take your time, no need to rush. I’m Remy, by the way.” 

“You didn’t need to stop working mate..” Jim informed as he watched the other tidy away his belongings, although he did appreciate the space. “Ah, it’s alright mate.. I gotta be back working in half hour. I’m Jim.” He introduced with a nod. “Your regular place, is it?” 

“oh, so still a kid - makes sense,” she shrugged. she was only four years older than the girl they were speaking of, but that was a big enough age gap for her to consider her a kid still, even though she hated it when people still thought of her as a kid at that age. she was married and had kids of her own at twenty-six, so being called a kid was irritating to say the least. “well, maybe it’s a good thing that plan won’t work, i just caught a glimpse of one of my husband’s co-workers and she’s a bit of a gossip, so lord knows she’ll be talking about seeing me talking to another man at the office tomorrow. i vote we leave too, there’s nothing fun to do anymore. where’d your date go, anyways? she doesn’t seem to be very interested if she’s not even spending time with you.”

“Hm, makes me look like a creep now, right..” Jim laughed as he reached towards the bar for his pint, before looking over towards the woman who was obviously staring at the both of them, offering her a gentle wave before turning back towards Hailey. “Ahh let her gossip mate.. i’m assuming your husband trusts you enough init? And honestly.. I have no fucking idea. Where d’ya wanna head off to?”

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“well, how old is she? cause maybe she’s just at that age where clubbing is all the rage,” hailey said. did people still say ‘all the rage’ these days? was she an old lady now? she didn’t think thirty was old, but if you asked a newer generation kid, oh yeah - she was ancient. “yanno what, i feel like a grandmother too, half the people here don’t even look old enough to be here. i wouldn’t even be here if the husband hadn’t dragged me out - and then he dipped for an emergency at work. i don’t even know why i stayed. i say we ditch this place together. if we run into her, i’ve got my wedding ring on. we see her and she comes up to us, we’re married. it’s an easy out.”

“Uhh twenty six.. Somethin’ like that.” There was eleven years between this girl and Jim, though it wasn’t as if a relationship was something he was looking for right now. He’d been put off for the rest of his life following his divorce, though the company would have been nice. A light chuckle exhaled through James’ lips as Hailey spoke of an easy way out, shaking his head. “Nah.. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a solid idea but she knows about my divorce so.. knows I’m single but, I’m all for leaving this shithole.”

“Yeah that usually happens in the middle of the day” He spoke as he looked at him and thought for a second about the van that was sitting there. “Yeah got it finished my self right before i stepped out.” He spoke as he looked at him and opened the gate. “I can open up really quick to get it for you.” He spoke as he looked at him and smiled. “Fixed the issue with the brakes and replaced some of the wires and stuff that needed to be replaced so it should be good as almost new for you.” He spoke as he looked at him. “With the parts and labor it comes up to about 400″ He spoke as he reached to the box that he kept the keys. “We can do cash card or a payment plane if you need it.” 

“Cheeky fucker..” Jim laughed at the other’s sarcastic comment, shoving both hands into the pockets in his jacket. However, he was thrilled to hear that his van had been worked on and finished, just in time to make a short job this afternoon maybe. “Mate, you’re golden.. I appreciate that. Four hundred is fine, I’ll do card.” He informed and pulled his wallet from his pocket, opening it up to retrieve the card he was paying on. “Appreciate you taking the time on your break, fella.”

“Don’t get me wrong yeah, it was nice of her to ask me out on this date but never did I think it’d be here.” James couldn’t remember the last time he’d stepped foot into a nightclub, but what else did he expect when his twenty six year old client asked him out for a drink? It was a nice gesture and it did make Jim feel wanted, although he had no idea where she’d been hiding for the last forty five minutes. Thank god he’d bumped into someone familiar. “I’m quite tempted to ditch to be honest mate, is that bad? I feel like a granpa standing ‘ere”