because of you

I feel like I now need to write a very long apology email to my mom’s cousin for dumping a soda on his head when I was twelve because he told me to try a just a bite of blue cheese. Anyways. How about you sit down and I grab you a glass? That way, you’ll be smaller and then said teacher would be less likely to see you and all that good stuff and then we can get you out of here, weather permitting. Does that sound okay? Yep. That’s me. It feels a bit weird to be here and not be handing people their lattes, to be honest.

Aw, I don’t know. Sounds like a perfectly reasonable response for any twelve year old. My little sister was kinda a menace around our cousins when we were kids so it could definitely be worse. I--- Okay. Like the part about me being smaller and out of the line of fire. I don’t think I can handle a ‘how’s college’ question right now. Yeah, I can imagine. Pretty hard not to drink where you work when you live in Havensdale. [ Takes a much needed breath, taking a seat ] Thank you, Charlotte.

Oh. Huh. That’s so interesting. I guess you learn something new everyday. That and the fact that blue cheese is actually kind of good. Who knew? Oh, it’s not a problem. It seems rude to be drinking while you can’t. I mean, it’s pretty annoying, but at least it’s nice inside, right? Of course. We can keep talking. I’ve gotten really great at small talk through work. [moves her body to block said teacher’s eye] Please don’t cry. How can I make it better? I could make some dumb puns?

Ha, yeah! Right. Blue cheese doesn’t have the best of reputations as it is so you really need to be brave to try it. Oh no, not at all. I’ll just, um, stick to water. Plenty of hydration. I- Oh... [ Erica let out a laugh before shaking her head. God, she was such a damn mess... Leaving the house had been a terrible idea. ] That’s really sweet of you, thank you. I, um, usually love puns. Any puns. I just, um, thought it would be a good idea to come here tonight but am quickly realizing I was wrong. Right though, with the small talk. You, um, you’re Charlotte? You work here. I work at Franks’ so I totally get that.

Allergic to wine? I didn’t even know that was possible. Can you eat any grapes or is that a no-go? Sorry. That’s probably a rude question. Allergies suck. I haven’t heard anything, but given that it’s somehow coming down even harder than it was five minutes ago, I’m not exactly confident.

Yup, it’s- it’s possible. You can develop an allergy at any time in your life, without warning. Um... Yeah, don’t worry about it. Thank you for the solidarity though, that’s- that’s really sweet of you actually. [ Let’s out the world’s longest sigh ] Okay. Okay, okay, okay. That’s fine. That- This is fine. This--- Oh, shit. Can you- Can we maybe keep this going? Talking. But over there? I think one my high school Bio teachers is on the verge of catching my eye and I don’t wanna cry right now.

“Oh shi-----oot, I’m so sorry. Sorry. Please, please just ignore me.”

@havensdalestarters​

Point was, she hadn't seen Lua since high school and in what was fast looking to be some messy, supernatural pregnancy (it must have been, it was too fast) she found herself hauling herself through the woods, thoroughly on the brink of unreasonable tears. Maybe craving an onion. Either way, she had to take in a pretty big breath when she finally did see her through the clearing. However bad or overdue this idea might of been, there was no turning back now as she yelled, "Lua!" ( @lua-harvelle-ltd )

                      Oh, right. That sounds awful though, try to stay hydrated and I hope you feel better soon.

                      It is awful. I mean- I don’t know. It’s also maybe not awful too. Maybe if things were different it wouldn't be awful at all. Like, if I was older or- or had a normal life then it wouldn’t be awful this...stomach bug. You do? I- That’s so nice. [ She pressed her lips together, suddenly trying to hold back a big wobbly lip situation because that really was just, so nice. ] Thank you.

Oh my god, what’s wrong? Has it gone bad? It was just in the fridge, I thought it was leftover mac’n’cheese! Are you okay? Should I–Do I need to call an adult? I mean, a different adult.

I- What? No no, definitely don't call an adult. A different adult. A real adult. I- Please just don't call mom. It... [ she takes another cautionary look and sniff at Rose's plate ] It is leftover mac’n’cheese, you're right. It's okay. I'm just- I'm just... Maybe we should sit down or something. Yeah, sitting seems like the adult thing to do.

                         I know a chip sandwich is unconventional but this reaction to carb loading is just a little extreme. You good?

                        Wait, it’s just a---- Um, I’m just- I have this stomach bug. A highly temperamental and snobby stomach bug by the looks of things. It- It‘s not contagious, don’t worry. I fully support your carb intake.

                      What, you mean you don’t want pickles? I thought everyone in your -y’know- condition wanted pickles all the time? More for me then.

                      Pickles? I- Oh my god... Condition. I sound like I need to be quarantined or something which, y’know, maybe.

What, this? [He slides the food away, looking not even slightly bashful.] That’s my guilty pleasure is what that is.

Then you need to be arrested immediately if that---

I…It’s a green smoothie? I mean, it’s not particularly good. It’s very 2012 to be totally honest, but I was feeling a little bit…Oh. Oh dear. Are you going to be sick? Please don’t be sick. I’m not good with messes.

It is? I... Sorry, that's so weird. I've never been that bothered about them before, it's just--- Uh, I don't know. Maybe just flashbacks to my temporary health kick my Freshmen year of college. I'm not. [ She said it again then but more to herself than anyone else ] I am not going to be sick. ... What's uh, in it? The smoothie I mean.

                            Ooof. Greg’s breakups are always a tragedy. At this point I think he’s out drama-ing Shakespeare. Right- a hypothetical mhmm. W-wait, what?

                    (whispering so no one overhears) Are- are you saying what I think you’re saying? Are you sure? Like you’ve done tests?

                            Poor kid. He’ll get it right someday but until then we just have to suffer through Franks’ juke box of 80s power ballads. Whatever heals the heart, y’know? You... Um, yeah. Yeah. I’m saying... What you think I’m saying is what I’m saying.