Flowers bloom until they rot;

stella: if he can't tell me what ended in 1945, i don't know if he can sign up for my ap american history course. that's kind of a big piece of knowledge to forget in a class you're literally learning about.

stella: he might be fun to add to our trivia squad, though.

charlotte: lmao he would fail so bad

Charlotte nodded her head slightly, “She’s fine, a little down but she’s always positive, thank goodness.” She assured her friend, not wanting her to feel bad as she noticed the woman’s change of expression, “It’s alright, hopefully things will work out on the better side of things.” She promised with a hint of a smile. “Don’t worry! It’s really fine.” She repeated. “I do need to go out and have some fun though, I feel like I’ve been staring at my TV for way too long.”

Charlotte widened her eyes as Robin described the many ways Gen Z have been roasting millennials, “Wait, they’re doing that? Are we old now, is that the talk?” She gasped, slightly horrified though knowing that next year, she’ll be closer to forty than thirty. “I want that though, you’re good.” She assured her, giving her friend a smile, “How you’ve been? I feel like I haven’t seen you forever.”

“Come on, you have to know that you’re a catch.” Felicity assured her friend, there was no way that she was going to let her think otherwise. “You’re beautiful, intelligent, funny, anyone would be stupid not to want you and you know that.” She wasn’t about to have Charlotte think any less of herself than she really was - she deserved to know how lucky someone would be to have her. “Believe me, I’m trying! Next time you see him you’ll have to drop it into conversation too, if we both work on it he can hardly say no, can he?” 

Once Felicity began talking her up, Charlotte couldn’t contain her sadness anymore and teared up again, shaking her head; she certainly didn’t feel like a catch, especially not now. “No, I’m not, Fliss, I don’t- it’s complicated, okay?” She muttered, not really wanting to say those words to her friend but unable to stop herself from falling apart. “Yeah, that sounds like a plan. I’ll do it.” She sniffled, unable to cool down.

“nothing a good makeover can’t solve and it does lift up the spirits.” riley decided to join on her friend’s optimism. crying over the damages wouldn’t do anyone any good. “yes? to be fair, i don’t sleep much anyway.” having lived so many years in new york, riley had picked up a very busy unhealthy lifestyle and that didn’t leave much room to sleep. “don’t feel guilty, i’ve spent most of my time getting this place up and running. i should’ve reached out, i know.” she had been the one returning to town after all. “well, you know, just work. i did go travel for the past year and it was life changing. it was weird, you know, i never thought i’d return when i first left for northwestern but seeing the world and seeing how much there is to live for,” she shrugged with her own words, “i don’t know, i think i wanted to reconnect.” working on a story for years that brought her sister’s kidnappers to justice had been exhausting, both mentally and emotionally.

“Exactly.” Charlotte nodded her head, figuring she has to continue telling that to herself so she won’t lose her mind. “You don’t? I feel like all I do is sleep. I sleep through the years, it’s my favorite hobby.” She chuckled, though there was some truth in her statement. She could be often found sleeping rather than being productive. “Yeah! Now I’m gonna guilt trip you.” She joked, not truly going to do so, though it did hurt a little to hear her friend has been around town and didn’t give her a ring; though knowing Riley, it wasn’t intentional. She was simply busy. “Really? Where did you go?” She inquired curiously, never one to keep herself updated with social media. “I mean, Somerton’s great, I never wanted to leave.”

“I love food way too much, not gonna lie.” Charlotte snickered, becoming hungry just from the thought of lunch. “It is a life saver, honestly, especially when you don’t feel like paying for coffee.” She smiled at her. “At this point I just bring my own coffee, but you can borrow some, I don’t mind.” She suggested as they walked out, “More like a secret closet?” She offered.

stella: obviously. i mean, first of all, you're not old man beatty who absolutely does this on the regular. i've sat in on his psych classes before and they are awful.

stella: tell him i give him credit but it doesn't count in your class. a split trade.

charlotte: i still remember him as my teacher and i DID NOT enjoy that. yikes.

“I didn’t lose something — losing something would mean that I had it in one place and forgot about it. I know exactly where it’s supposed to be, but it isn’t anymore. Which means that I didn’t lose something, I was robbed.” Suddenly she felt five again, coming back from school without the headband her mother had put on her hair. It was always the same speech: Bella, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings, and where is your jacket?

“One of my bags was stolen.”

Charlotte nodded her head seriously, hearing out the woman, “Okay, sorry.” She apologized for doubting the stranger, “Want me to help you look for the thief? Maybe they’re around here somewhere? They couldn’t have gotten far, right?” She tried her luck now feeling bad for not being courteous enough.

Charlotte looked to Kellan a bit anxiously as he went faster, though trying to match the speed. “Look how the tables have turned!” She let out a scoff as she remembered the days she was pushing him to study harder, and now he’s doing the same for her; she couldn’t deny she was a little proud.

Charlotte’s smile has faded once the memory hit her; goodness, it was Liam’s sweater, how awkward. She recalled how she once asked for it when she was cold, and she continued wearing it so she could enjoy the man’s presence all the time, back when she found his company enjoyable. It was sad to think about how happy they used to be together, and how much they couldn’t stand each other now. “Oh, shoot. You are right. I am... Very embarrassed.” She admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. “If I didn’t know better I think I missed you.” She joked.

“I know this is going to sound like the most ridiculous cliche ever -” Felicity started, her long-time friend probably more than well aware of what she was about to say to her. “- but these things really do happen when you least expect them to.” She knew that it wasn’t easy, and that there was something about being in love and with that someone that made everything all seem worthwhile. “What’s the use in rushing? If you rush it, you’ll just end up with a messy divorce.” She laughed, trying to lift some of the tension that was hanging in the air between them. “Maybe we should get dogs from the same litter, walk them together. I’m not sure how my fiance would feel about it, but I’m sure I could win him over.”

“Yeah?” Charlotte raised her eyebrow, ready to listen even though Fliss had already put up a disclaimer over her remark, “I know, I know, maybe I’ve been expecting too long?” She sneered, figuring that if anyone had longed for romance, it’s her. “Yeah, no, I don’t want that, I just- never mind.” She shook her head, not wanting to put a damper on her friend. She’s got her own shit to deal with and she doesn’t need hers. “Oh, you gotta convince him! Come on, you’re so cute, how could he say no?”

WHO open to all ♥ @somertonstarter​ WHEN feb 2021 WHERE bridgeport (outside of james’s apartment) NOTES definetly wearing too many jackets because she is from california and does not know how to handle the cold

In a surprising turn of events, her roommate was not a serial killer or extremely creepy. When he had seen the picture in the ad, she thought it was definitively a scam. Her worst nightmares hadn’t come to fruition, though. They had talked, settled on the terms they talked about, and her things were now strewn around her room.

Well… most of her stuff. The taxi driver had dumped her seventeen bags on the sidewalk earlier, and there were only sixteen upstairs. “Hi, uh, weird question, you didn’t happen to see anyone running away from this direction with a bag. Possibly cackling? Most likely already wearing my beautiful shade Chanel boots?”

Charlotte was out on a walk as she was trying to get herself out of the house, and knowing there was nothing better than some fresh air. Damn, Felicity is right; she should definitely get a dog, maybe that way she’ll stop aimlessly wander around town and instead walk the pet like a normal person. However, she was distracted when a strange woman started talking to her. “I don’t think so- you lost something?” She asked.

Where: Coffee Shop

Who: @charlottexhendricks​

Lilah had been working back to back shifts, well until one of the attendings had noticed and sent her home, she thrived on working, it kept her going, days off were something she wasn’t so keen on. She’d decided that she needed to get out of the house so she’d convinced Charlotte to have coffee with her, and luckily she had said yes. She needed to talk to someone that didn’t work at the hospital, someone that had no connection to the medical world. Lilah had declared that she was getting the drinks and headed to go order them. She brought them back, placing them down on the table, “for you madame,” she said as she played Charlotte’s in front of her. 

Delilah pulled out her diabetes bag and adjusted her insulin for the drink, before she took a sip. “So, is anything exciting happening in your life, because honestly mine is feeling like one of those episodes of a show which everyone tells you to skip because nothing happens,” she declared. 

Between both of the women’s busy schedules, Lilah and Charlotte barely had the time to meet up for coffee and simply chat with one another. Charlotte was busy with school work and tutoring students, while Lilah was busting her ass in the hospital and it was truly mission impossible- though finally, the two managed to schedule a blessed date, how fun!

After taking a sit, the other woman made their order, coming back with baked goods and beverages, “Thank you, m’lady.” She snickered, enjoying Lilah’s similar sense of humor and interests. “Mhm, that’s so good.” She tasted the pain au chocolate as Lilah prepared herself for lunch, “Oh gosh, same. Same.” She smiled, “I went out on a date with this guy but... I don’t think it’s going anywhere, I don’t know.”

Charlotte smiled at him awkwardly, not enjoying those nicknames back then and not enjoying them now. Still, she didn’t want to seem rude and judgmental, so she kept a pleasant face. Especially since he seemed excited to see her for some reason, of all people. “Yes, yes I am.” She approved with a slight nod of head, not even bothering to correct him on the name of the franchise. “You too, what have you been up to nowadays? Other than calling me nerd, obviously.” She chuckled.

“Come on. You know me better than that.” It was absolutely a threat, there was no question about it. “Friendship with me always has its perks, you know that.” Not that he would even flirt with the idea of doing anything wrong, too conscious of his image, of the mistakes he made in his youth. And now with Maggie… “But you do bug me.”

“So it’s a threat.” Charlotte affirmed with a nod of head, grinning at her good friend. “Of course, nothing like some good ol’ friendship with the guy who nearly broke my heart.” She teased him a little, knowing their breakup was mutual and the most logical thing to do. “I love bugging you. Hey, at least I didn’t throw the snowball at you.”