c o l b i e

When the other stated that they all liked Connor, Colbie felt her smile widen. "That is a good thing but I already assumed." she admitted. One of the many things about being Connor's younger sister was that he was easily adored. She couldn't argue, she also adored him; there were parts of him that even reminded her of their father which had always warmed her heart. "Oh I can imagine." she nodded. I don't know much about the place myself, but, I can imagine any sort of desert city was quite different in comparison to the coastal one they lived in. "The Navy though?" she questioned. "How was that experience? Enough to make you realize you missed home?" she paused, smiling a little when he admitted that he moved back home after. "Well, I'll have to come by here sometime that's not for a speed dating event." she smiled. "What's your favorite dish on the menu?" @eddiexcastro

"I'm always going to say yes to giving your friends shit." Colbie laughed. That was one of the many things about Savannah that she'd missed. The group of friends she'd made there and left behind; sure she had people here she'd consider her friends, but it was nothing compared to the friendships she'd had back home. "The amount of times that's happened to me though." Colbie laughed. "I had a pistachio brownie once and I thought it would be disgusting. I was just expecting a salty brownie, and not the kind that's accompanied with caramel." she paused. "But it was surprisingly my favorite dessert that summer." she laughed. "So I'm hoping we're doing all this shit talking and it's the best thing we've ever experienced." she admitted. As the other ordered Colbie shook her head, though paused. "Actually a water, ooh, no, lemonade." she smiled. "Two?" she questioned, waiting for the other to answer. @nicolepeterson

Colbie laughed as the other mentioned not having a red flag, which made her pause. She could sit here and think about that all day, ruin the date so instead she focused on how the other's voice sounded familiar. It was only when he stated she were a good singer that she let herself look up, smile widening as she realized who he was. "Oh, well, thank you." she blushed. "You're better than you gave yourself credit for, by the way." she added, taking a look at his name tag as he flipped it over and introduced himself. Gabriel. Easy enough to remember. As he began rattling off all of the facts he wanted her to know, she paused, nodding as she took them all in, though, she let herself chuckle a little as she shook her head. "I still can't believe I got to introduce someone to Sonny and Cher." she laughed. "They're iconic." she paused, gaze focusing on him again as he then admitted to being allergic to strawberries and pumpkins. "How do you survive the early summer and fall months without strawberries and pumpkins?" she paused. "I think I would cry." she admitted. "Also, how old were you when that allergy came about? Or were you born with it?" she asked, though realized she had yet to share any information about herself. "Obviously I'm Colbie." she stated, pointing to the fancy bubble lettered name tag she'd written. "My older brother is fire lieutenant here in Kismet Harbor. I'm from Savannah, Georgia -" she paused. "My dad died last year and I have no allergies, though I do love a good peach flavored anything. Ice cream, shake, pie." she nodded. "You name it and I will consume it." @gabrielxpierce

"Okay neither have I but I still know the song." Colbie added, eyes focusing on the other. She took a microphone, handing him one and taking a step closer to the screen so she could read the words. She'd normally be way more confident about this sort of thing, however, something about the way the other seemed to be worried had her in her head. "It's pretty much the same rhythm throughout." she spoke, listening as the music began playing. "I start, you follow. I think you're color is going to be the blue one." she stated, pointing to the key indicator on the karaoke screen just in time for her first set of lyrics to pop up. "They say we're young and we don't know. We won't find out until we grow.." @gabrielxpierce

"Not to mention most of them are expensive." Colbie stated. "I don't mind spending the money, but I definitely think thrifting is much more cost efficient." she nodded. Pulling out her phone, she opened the notes app, allowing herself to make a note to take a trip to Portland for some shopping. As the other pulled out her phone, talking over schedules, Colbie nodded. "Because I'm newer to the place I have to work every other weekend." she exhaled. "I'm hoping to switch to one weekend a month soon, but I don't see that happening." she exhaled. "Though I'm actually off next weekend so that would work if it's better." she paused, taking a look at her own schedule - I'm also off on Monday for an appointment so I think that could work unless you want to wait for the weekend." @pinarxosman

"Thrifting is certainly much more cost efficient." Pinar would not consider herself cheap. She was proud to spend the money that she worked hard to earn. She would consider herself to be selective on how she spent the money, more than anything. "I'm good with next weekend." Pinar stated with a nod of her head. "That will work out perfectly for us. We are going to have the best day ever." She clasped her hands together with excitement radiating from her smile. @colbiebowen

"I can't say I mind." Colbie stated. "At least it's Connor and not someone that I don't want to be associated with, but, I somehow wasn't expecting it." she laughed. Which was funny to think about in itself; Connor had made an impression in this town with his career, it only made sense for people to know him. At the other's question though, Colbie smiled. "I am." she smiled. "It's charming; reminds me a lot of Savannah in it's own way." she admitted. "Tell me about New Mexico, or yourself, whichever you prefer to talk about." @eddiexcastro

Colbie listened as the other spoke, admitting that he'd had years of practicing listening. Something she'd never been great at herself. "My dad tried to tell me once that if I didn't slow down and listen to what other's were saying that I'd never be the friend that people wanted to talk to and I never fully understood what he meant at the time." she paused. "But I think you just said the same thing in your own words." she exhaled. Listening and really listening for the better part of your life definitely has it's advantages it seems." And as he stated that she was in the right place - that it was obvious she cared about this job - she let her smile widen for what felt like the first time tonight. "That does mean a lot." she sighed. "I just know that this feeling of being helpless isn't one that I enjoy." she sighed. "But I guess I'm doing the best I can with what I have." another pause. This time her gaze shifted from him to where she'd been looking before, out at the town in front of them and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. "All I can do is hope that they believe me the next time I mention something." @drewxcowan

"Hey, Colbie, right?" Eddie asked as he approached the table and sat down. "I'm Eddie." He stuck out his hand to introduce himself. "You're Connor's sister, aren't you? I think I've seen your picture before." He paused. "That sounds weird, but I've been to your brother's house and just saw pictures around." He laughed nervously and rubbed his neck. "I'm doing great at this, aren't I?"

Colbie offered the other a smile as he greeted her by name, causing her to blush the more the talked. She'd been there a few times; rambling to the point you just sounded ridiculous in the process, but, she let herself lean forward a little, resting her elbows on the table as she nodded, hand extended to greet him. "I am." she laughed. "And the amount of people that know me in this town makes me almost regret moving here." she joked. "You're doing amazing, actually. My last date just stared at me and I'm not sure if it's because I am Connor's sister or what. Either way you're already doing better than the last guy." @eddiexcastro

Pinar's laughter was soft as the blonde came to the realization that she could go to her thrifting needs. "Boutiques are nice, but I haven't found one that I've clicked with yet." She admitted to her, "But I bet Portland has its fair share of those, too." Pinar pulled her phone out of her bag, digging it out in a matter of seconds. "Let's see," she told her, "I can be flexible most days next week. The weekends are better but I imagine that's when you're having to work a lot." Though that was just Pinar speculating with the woman's job. "The only day that's really a no go for me is Tuesday. I will be at the courthouse all day." @colbiebowen

"Not to mention most of them are expensive." Colbie stated. "I don't mind spending the money, but I definitely think thrifting is much more cost efficient." she nodded. Pulling out her phone, she opened the notes app, allowing herself to make a note to take a trip to Portland for some shopping. As the other pulled out her phone, talking over schedules, Colbie nodded. "Because I'm newer to the place I have to work every other weekend." she exhaled. "I'm hoping to switch to one weekend a month soon, but I don't see that happening." she exhaled. "Though I'm actually off next weekend so that would work if it's better." she paused, taking a look at her own schedule - I'm also off on Monday for an appointment so I think that could work unless you want to wait for the weekend." @pinarxosman

In her swiftness to take the man's hand, Colbie hadn't quite realized that he'd been mid drink which made her gasp, followed by raising her arm to use the sleeve of the long sleeved shirt she'd thrown on to wipe his chin like she'd done with her niece when she was younger. Instinct; one she was sure she'd be thinking about forever once she had the time to let her brain slow down. It was only when the other admitted that he didn't know the song that she felt her eyes widen, shaking her head. "You don't know Cher?!" she exhaled, a little louder than she'd expected, yet there was no time to 'panic' or even question too much. "Just - don't make me look silly and you're good." At this point she already had a foot on the stage, her other foot joining soon after, the microphones already in her hands and one outstretched to the other. "The words are on screen, so just follow me lead." @gabrielxpierce

Something about the way the other seemed to know just what to say made Colbie feel a million times better. She was sure it was just temporary - she had a tendency to be an overthinker - but for the time being she was letting that feeling and running with it. Not the sinking one that had been forming in the pit of her stomach all day, but the one that felt like there was hope on the horizon. He had a point, after all. She'd chosen this job for a reason. "How do you always know what to say to make me feel less crummy?" she questioned, feeling a little more at ease, which resulted in her wiping her cheeks one last time and stood up a little straighter. He explained it so effortlessly, everyone in a high stress position had that one case that would change the entire trajectory of their career and while Colbie had anticipated that not happening for years from now, she was sure that he was right. "I just -" she paused. "I did pick this job because I wanted to work with people and actually feel like I was helping them." she paused. "But I don't think I realized how painful of a job it would be. I suddenly miss the cafe' days I had back in Savannah." she exhaled. "I wasn't expecting to be in this position until I was in this field for a few years now." @drewxcowan

"I feel like someone couldn't decide what they wanted one day, the kitchen staff made up the first thing they thought of and someone decided to put it on the menu." she exhaled, eyes shifting towards the other as she closed the menu. She had to agree that it didn't sound great but she'd do whatever she could to at least attempt to enjoy it. Mostly because now she was curious. "Please do." she laughed, nodding enthusiastically in the other's direction. "I'm just -" she shook her head. "I'm going to stop judging it until I try it but honestly I don't have high hopes." @nicolepeterson

"Wait they don't?" Colbie asked, voice slightly raised at the question. "Isn't that their job?" she paused. "I mean, these people see at least what fifty births a month? Where as most people are lucky if they give birth once every two years." she admitted, pausing as she looked at the other. "The least they could do is spend an entire day prior to you leaving the hospital teaching you simple things like feeding and swaddling a baby." she exhaled, her voice not hiding the way she was clearly frustrated at the lack of help for new parents. And she wasn't even a parent and it frustrated her for her cousin. "I know you don't but I want to do it the traditional way." she shrugged. She'd always had a great example of love in her parents who had loved from a young age until her father had passed just a year ago; and even though they'd never given Colbie any sort of reason to think being married first was her only option, she found herself wanting to. "I know there's not." Colbie laughed. "I forget I'm much closer to thirty these days than I used to be." she exhaled. "But I do agree she's pretty cute." she smiled. "Got good genes; us Thomas' girls are all beautiful even when we're tiny." @courtneyxblake

Pinar nodded her head to Colbie's words. "Yeah, really." The woman's statement regarding shopping had Pinar's smile growing. "Same," she beamed in the blonde's direction. "I love buying new sometimes, but there have been so many gems in my current collection that I've managed to find thrifting. Thrifting here can be a bit of a challenge but have you gone into Portland at all to shop?" Her brow raised curiously at Colbie. "Just getting into the city, you'll find at least ten times what there is here." Not that Pinar hadn't found pieces that she adored in Kismet Harbor, they were just much harder to come by. @colbiebowen

"I haven't even thought of Portland!" Colbie beamed, eyes widening as she looked at the other, slightly shaking her head. "I just know that if I want to find good things while also save some money, thrifting if where it's at. Or boutiques. There was one I used to frequent in Savannah that is where I'd say ninety percent of my wardrobe came from." she smiled. "Portland though-" she paused. "I'll have to make a trip the next time I am off of work. I need a good thrifting day." she paused, offering the other a smile. "We should make a plan to go together, actually! When's your next day off?" @pinarxosman