* it's 𝖆𝖑𝖑 or 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔.

Sometimes Olivia would merely keep a safe emotional distance from everyone around her while keeping herself surrounded by people that would believe her lie. That day, however, seeing everyone come out of the funeral home with a shocked expression rather than a grieving one, the woman was glad she had decided to sit that one out. 

She leaned against a tree, on the other side of the road. Her eyes never left the crowd gathering outside, curiously watching. It wasn’t hard to eavesdrop a conversation between two PTA moms as they dramatically retold the story of Josie’s disappearing body. 

“Even funerals are strange in this town, huh,” Olivia commented.

Henley’s entire being feels like it’s blushing. Shame, and lots of it, inundates her insides. Oh, to be as small as an ant; to scurry away into a deep, dark hole. She’s bothered her, that’s for certain. Not only that, but Henley’s sure she’s embarrassed the both of them, too.

“I’m sorry,” she starts, stuttering her way through a starstruck apology. She hears her knuckles pop before she realises what she’s doing, nervous little tics twitching out of her the more flips her stomach does. “Sorry, I–… I didn’t mean to bother you. Just, kind of–” Henley makes a vague gesture with her hand, something akin to something spilling out of her mouth, “fell out of me.”

“Uh– no, we don’t know each other. I mean, I know your music– huge fan, by the way, it’s… It’s awesome.” How is she supposed to specify that she prefers Juniper’s earlier music without being plain rude? Henley decides it’s best to keep a lid on that one.

     Eyes glued to the other, executing a meticulous examination of her facial expressions and nervous tics; she hardly stops herself from squinting her eyes in confusion, something that would make her look ever so clueless. But no, she stops herself from doing that, she stops herself from doing anything to hint this is unusual for her as well. Now that she has a glimpse of hope about someone in this town is aware of what she’s been doing the last four years, she won’t ruin it just like that. 

Daniel fills two glasses with filtered water, sliding one to Juniper and keeping one for himself. He watches, wordlessly, as Juniper’s expression changes. It was a hard subject for both of them, it seemed. His heart was racing, still, but he couldn’t figure out why. He willed himself to form a coherent thought, to respond in some way, but he couldn’t.

Daniel’s eyes traced her face, remembering the way her skin felt and the sound of her laugh. It was surreal, seeing her in front of him. He felt like he knew everything about her but at the same time didn’t know her at all, anymore. Four years could change so much. 

I need to find my way back. I missed you. Her words echoed in Daniel’s mind. He wanted to go to her, to hold her, but something was stopping him. “I missed you too,” he said. That was one thing he knew for sure. He began to reach out, but ended up touching the counter, cool marble meeting his sweaty palm, “I’m really sorry it didn’t work out…,” he said, meeting her eyes to show he meant it. He’d only wished the best for her, even though it hurt.

“When you say find your way back… do you think Wade has what you’re looking for?” He couldn’t quite meet her eyes this time– this question felt too big. Am I what you’re looking for?

     A glass of water slid to her direction, fingers curl around the glass and she takes a sip; then drinks the rest of the glass at one go. If her facial expressions are not enough to show she is in distress, her body language is doing a great job to give her away as well.

     Looking at Daniel, she is trying to contemplate an alternative to their past as if thoughts have the power on time itself to reshape past. Was there ever a scenario where she still followed her dreams and didn’t pay the price by losing her one love? This isn’t her first time thinking about it. Little things that reminded her of him made her think about this now and then. And the conclusion? Just her rediscovering that she didn’t have many choices back then. 

     Chalk up one more for Juniper Smith’s tally of regrets. You stay out of it. The first thing she said to herself inwardly after the fiasco was revealed. Josie Johnson, missing, once again! This time it was her dead body. Where did she go? Dead women don’t walk around, do they? Juniper could feel it rising, something bubbling inside her that left her intrigued and more than a little curious. She wanted to look for an answer. No, Juniper, you stay out of it. 

     Then the last thing she wanted happened, someone asked for her help for his own investigation of this conundrum. “Fuck.” She whispers to herself, her gaze is on the ground and she is biting her upper lip, hands resting on her hips while she has her posture slouched. “Listen, I know this looks like a good day to be hero-ing around --” She lets out a deep breath before she keeps on rambling. “are you sure that you want to investigate this? You told me you were not from Wade, right? Do you even know who Josie was? What kind of person she was?” And that very moment she mentioned Josie was when she realized she would regret doing nothing about this while a newcomer had the guts for it. Oh girl, you are gonna so regret this. ”Fine. Whatever. I’ll help you, and we are both gonna regret this. I know that I’ll regret this. What are you exactly looking for if not a damned dead body?” 

As quickly as the commotion in the back had started, it’s over, and a hush falls back over the entirety of the restaurant. If Daphne had to venture a guess, she’d say Juan (the only other cook that bothered to show up today) has offered Red a cigarette to ease his nerves. He quit about twenty years ago at Josie’s insistence, but every one in a while, you could catch him out puffing on a cancer stick when he was feeling particularly punchy. Always behind Josie’s back of course; once, she’d heard Red say, in his own defense: secrets make good marriages. Daphne’s positive that was the only secret between the two of them.

No one here to scold him for smoking now. Daphne certainly hoped he wouldn’t make a habit out of it; at his age, though, it might not matter so much. But still, everyone wanted Red around for as long as they could have him, especially in the advent of Josie’s death. 

Daphne’s heart sinks seeing the sullen look on the other’s features. While she doesn’t quite know Juniper, she’s sure she’s seen her around; though, it’s been a while. Knowing she was quite close to Josie, there’s a surge of empathy that bubbles up through her throat, and comes out as a simple, “I’m sorry.” It’s quiet. It’s not even remotely the correct response to the Juniper’s last sentiment. But at the same time, it is. 

“He’s, um– …” She’s not quite sure how to explain it. He goes in, and out of different planes of emotion. Whoever came up with those “phases of grief” was defintely on to something. Right now Red’s in the “anger” stage, and no one’s sure how long it’s going to last. “He’s not doing well.” It’s the only way she can describe it. 

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to know you’re back in town, though.” There’s a faint hint of a smile; she hopes at least that will give the other a bit of solace. 

     “You think so? If you can tell him that I visited when he is better, I’d appreciate that a lot.” It wasn’t only Juniper that adored the couple Josie and Red were, she knew how loved they were. To Juniper, Josie and Red were the kind of people she wanted to have as her parents. But now there is no ‘them’, it’s Red only, with his sorrow to process. She can only hope this won’t drive him to madness. 

     ”I don’t know if he’ll ever be fine again.” Her honest thoughts revealed, sadness within her seeps through every word. “I think about him and Josie and... ” This is when she ends up shifting her gaze to somewhere else other than Daphne’s direction as if the words she needs are hidden in some corner and she can find them by searching. “They were such a ‘til death do us apart type of couple, weren’t they? They looked inseparable.” 

     Realizing her wanderings might be the last thing the other wants to hear that very moment, the songstress retracts. “Shit. Sorry, didn’t mean to bore you with what I have going on in my head. Other than all this -- ” She gestures her surroundings while saying the word this, but she means more than just what’s around her, she means everything that has changed after Josie. Before continuing her words, she doesn’t forget about forcing a smile to her face. “What else has changed in Wade? I’d like to know what I’ve missed.”

status: closed for @electricsoultm​

after taking a momentary break outside, ellie found herself wandering back into the packed room. she made smalltalk with several acquaintances, introduced herself to people she had yet to meet, keeping busy until she saw her. juniper had been daniel’s former flame, someone he cared very deeply for. and when she broke his heart, it broke ellie’s too. the brunette would walk through hell for the man, and seeing the woman made her blood boil. 

making an almost direct beeline for the other woman she wasted no time in letting her know how she felt. “do i get an autograph? or are you going to run out like you did with my brother?” her words stung, and ellie had intended them to. she was angry, did she not have a right to be? the girl had seen her brother shattered due to the reckless handling of another woman before and she did not want to see that side of him ever again. “does he know you’re here?” she started before correcting herself and continued, “actually i don’t care. i don’t think anyone wants to listen to your apology tour.” 

     Of course, she wasn’t expecting Ellie to welcome her with arms wide open and a smile plastered on her face. She knew how much Daniel’s family cared about him. Unlike her own family, some families know a thing or two about love. She knew how much he cared about them too and when he introduced Juniper to them, she was all too surprised and overwhelmed at the same time. The concept of another family accepting her into their circle seemed surreal, yet Daniel showed her that it wasn’t impossible. Then she left him and every other thing she still misses about him behind. She had to. 

     “Welcome to you too, Ellie.” She says while offering her the slightest of nods. Sure, she didn’t expect an embrace but at least she expected Ellie to be understanding about it, was that too much to ask? 

( @electricsoultm )

date: april 10th time: after location: spring celebration

It’s safe to say that everyone is still very much affected, one way or another, by Red’s outburst. It’s also safe to say that this is one of Wade’s most memorable spring celebrations, if not the most memorable to date. Henley’s almost scared of what could happen during next year’s. 

It’s been a while since Red’s stormed out now, but people are still talking about it. Talking about it like they don’t understand why Red would barge in to ruin everyone’s fun. Henley can’t handle it.

With her mother busy gossiping with the rest of the housewives, Henley’s free to sneak away, cup of spiked lemonade in hand. She manages to make it out of the meeting hall, leaning against the peeling panelling on the side. That’s when she notices someone else out there. While Henley was expecting to see others milling about, further away from the ruckus, she hadn’t been expecting this.

“You’re Juniper Smith,” Henley blurts out, seconds before her brain catches up to quell her excited little outburst. 

     A fervent debate is going on inside her head. She doesn’t know what she exactly wants that very moment. Storming out of the place just like Red did and maybe leaving Wade behind forevermore is an idea. But isn’t that just a cheap iteration of her failed getaway plan? She stormed out. She ran. She promised to never look back. She came back. It all comes back to Wade. 

     Juniper doesn’t care about how much Red theoretically ruined the day for those who are secretly happy that he gave them something to talk about all day long. If it wasn’t Red’s spin to it, this would be just another boring spring celebration in Wade’s history. Hell, it’s been four years since she attended to one of these and she feels like the only thing that has changed is Josie’s absence. 

     She watched it from afar. Rage, tension, resentment. She studied all the actors of the scene, Red for the starring role and Daniels as the villain of the story. At least he seemed to be. Oh and then there were the supporting roles.  ---- ‘Do I know him?’ was the question she asked to herself when he caught her attention, one of those supporting actors that saved the mayor from Red’s hands. 

     She doesn’t make a move before she finds a clue, a clue about what makes him almost familiar. Then memories that don’t belong to Wade do the trick for her. “Are you always eager to bring peace or were you just feeling adventurous when you jumped into that mess?” She sounds bitter even while quipping, way too shaken by seeing how Red is after Josie. She is good with a facade, she has always been. But God knows it crossed her mind to leave this place immediately after watching what went down with her own two eyes. Maybe she should have stayed in her shitty motel room. Maybe she should have stayed in LA. 

Lorelei turned her head when she heard the voice next to her and shook her head, pointing to the sun with her finger. “Not you. That ball of giant liquid magma floating in the universe. I would love for it to turn off one day, but if that happened all life goes out as well, so I guess I just have to deal with it.”

Her brother loved summer, the heat, the sand, the beaches, but she didn’t and would prefer a storm with rain, wind and snow any day. “We’ll have to compromise but try to get an answer from that annoying star. The sun things it’s the king of all the universe and it’s actually like that because of the stupid men that gave it that tittle. I’m more of a moon girl, if you ask me.”

     ”Oh, someone is loathing the sun today.” She replies back with a smile that holds some sort of understanding in it. She doesn’t mind oddities or weirdness in humans. In the end, she had always been defined as an oddity of sorts by her parents. “Can sunscreen give you a reason to wave a white flag to the sun or is it more complicated than that?”

Daniel’s chest flooded with exhilaration at her statement. It was simple, no big declaration of love or commitment, but it was what he’d wanted to hear more than anything. He didn’t try to keep the grin off of his face. 

His smile wavered, however, when he couldn’t quiet his mind. What does that mean? It’s been four years, does she still want this? How do I know she won’t leave again?

Daniel turned, hoping she wouldn’t see his internal conflict, and led her into his kitchen. Their kitchen, once upon a time. “Want a glass of water?” he asked, already reaching into the cabinet. 

At her question, he turned back to her, meeting her piercing eyes once again. Daniel ran a nervous hand through his hair, resting it on the back of his neck. “Both? Compare my sources?” He gave a small smile, realizing how easy it was to fall back into what was their normal. “Of course I want the truth. If you feel like talking about it.” 

     Juniper looks at him with eyes aglimmer in hope , her softened smile finds its way back to her features every time it flowers through her anxious state.  She finds it comfortable around him. Around him, she is set free to be herself. Something her parents or her big city acquaintances never really wanted. 

     She nods at him as a yes, there is a dryness to her mouth that comes from speaking the tough to speak and swallowing the hard to swallow. 

“Why are you using that umbrella?” Dylan, her intern asked her with is mouth full of cotton candy. “Why are you smelling like beer in the middle of the day? Concidering you have the night shift at the funeral home.” He just gulped and moved past her, making her roll her green eyes. Lorelei was not a fan of the sun, she loved winter, not summer. That’s why she was carrying an umbrella, to protect herself and her pale skin from the sun. Her twin joked before leaving the house with her, telling her to stop being so weird and she just ignored him before he let go of her arm to go and be with his friends. She took a seat outside in the shade and took a deep breath. Her aunts were bound to be here as well, trying sweets and cakes, probably asking for recipies. She was going to check her phone when she hear the conmotion and bit her lip. Everyone knew what happened and the people was still scared and whispering. Lorelei was used to it and most importantly was the fact that the sun was moving and getting closer to her and there was only so much she could do with moving her arm and make sure it did not touch her skin. “Go away,” she whispered to the sunbeam that seemed to be following her.

     She only witnesses the conversation of the woman with an umbrella and the guy with a mouth full of sugar sweet in her peripheral vision. Only a small reminder for Juniper Smith that weird things do happen here in Wade as if the endless whispers calling a dead woman’s name are not enough. 

She’s smiling. She’s smiling, that’s good right? Daniel felt frozen in place, as if any small movement would disrupt the ghost in front of him. He can’t deny the number of times this very scene had played out in his head. Each time, he had something to say, but now… it didn’t feel real. 

“You’re… here,” he said, finally. He’d wanted to say “back,” but that scared him. What if she left again?

Daniel nodded, reaching around her to open the door. He cleared his throat, “Um, yeah, of course. You’re not an intruder. You know that.” He gave a nervous smile, hoping that he’d done the dishes this morning. 

Daniel flicked on the lights, stepping into the study to deposit his papers. He hadn’t noticed how much of her stuff he’d kept and never moved. Turning back to her, he couldn’t help the smile on his face. “June– I’m thrilled you’re here… but I’m confused.”

    She feels senseless and overwhelmed with emotions at the same time. While the senses she has for the world in motion are lost, what makes her heart race is still there and pumping blood to her veins with an untamed rush. 

     “Yes. I’m back.“ She simply answers, a subtle nod is there. At the tip of her tongue a question waits to be set free. Are you happy to see me? Oh how she wonders. Steps follow Daniel to the place once they shared and filled with memories of each other.

     When he calls her June, her eyes flicker with a silver glow. He was the only one allowed to use that nickname. He still is because she only smiles lazily at him before saying anything else. 

It is unusually slow at Red’s Diner this evening (for a Thursday), which is a welcomed change Daphne associates with the rather dreary weather; typically, that can go either way. Often time, more people will come out if it’s rainy, and they don’t feel like cooking, but today, the opposite seems to be true– people are staying inside. Though, that’s not usually these days around Wade. After all, no one wants to be caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time, like poor Josie. Perhaps people are staying away from Red’s as well because of the rumors swirling about her death. Does anyone want to dine at a cannibal’s restaurant? 

People will still come, though. If there’s anything Daphne’s learned, it’s that nothing can keep people away from this place. It’s like some kind of religion, especially to the old men who come, and spend hours chatting at the counter. If they miss a day here, you know there’s something seriously wrong.

Perhaps it’s a good thing that the diner is almost empty, because Red is throwing a fit in the back of the house. Even with the jukebox steadily spewing worn-out tunes, you can hear the owner, and proprietor of the place spewing obscenities. It seems two of his cooks have called out today, leaving him back there trying to take their place. Though, this isn’t the only instance of anger on Red’s part that Daphne’s witness since Josie’s passing. It’s genuinely worrisome. The old man’s not in the best of shape, and all that pressure on his heart? It’ll surely send him to an early grave. 

Maybe that’s what he wants. 

“Fuck!” It rings through the entire restaurant, and Daphne’s sure Red’s gone, and burnt himself or something. She nearly flinches at the sound of it, but tries to regain her composure in short order. 

Looking back down at the other, she offers them a reassuring smile, but it’s surely not much of a comfort to them. “Sorry, what’d ya’ say?” 

     When she heard of Josie’s death, it sent a pang through her heart. Sorrow in the form of an ache. She loved Red and Josie. They loved her too. She remembers playing her tunes for them and the elderly couple showing her the faith her parents would never dare -- or care to show.

     She is still staying in one of the dreary rooms in Cherry Hill Motel. She doesn’t know where her next haunt will be but she came back to Wade with a list of places and people to pay a visit. Her first destination was a person rather than a specific destination. But before she finds who she is looking for, she stops at Red’s Diner. Even being surrounded by the diner’s walls gives a chill to her bones knowing that four years ago she saw Josie here for one last time and she wasn’t even aware of it. 

     All the disturbing thoughts creep upon her. What would she feel if it was her mother? Would she be able to grieve after years of running from her and her father? What was Red doing without Josie now? When she stepped in, she was heavy with hoping that perhaps she could answer the last question.

location: walker’s family market status: open to all!

While she would normally have completed all her grocery shopping by the mid-morning after dropping her kids to school, PTA meetings regarding the upcoming bake sale had somehow managed to fill the majority of her day. Realizing she would be in need of a few more ingredients for dinner, Kiara decided to make a quick dash to the market, while her kids were still attending their after-school extracurriculars– that is, gymnastics, soccer, and art, respectively. 

“God, this place is freezing,” Kiara complains bitterly, “I didn’t realize I needed a fucking parka to grab for bread and eggs.”

     Wandering inside, she has a shopping list formed inside her head. Alcohol as the thing at the top of her list. Clearly, she is not the person to write a real one. Her mother would never go shopping without a long and detailed shopping list. With all prices and items listed, a subtotal noted on it as well. 

@electricsoultm​

Daniel coaxed the key out of the ignition and balanced his stack of graded papers in one arm. Red’s was his preferred grading spot, as it was just enough hustle-and-bustle to keep him awake for some… less than engaging papers. As he shut the car door behind him, Daniel heard something rustling on the porch. Fumbling for his house key, he called out: “George?” He’d taken to naming the thin orange tabby who frequented his porch. He hadn’t seen George in a few weeks and had begun to wonder if the stray had become a house cat. Turning the corner, Daniel froze. He blinked, as if willing his brain to believe what his eyes saw. The petite blonde looked the same as the day she left, perpetually-messy hair and an earnest look in her eyes. “Um… hey,” he finally breathed out. Hey? Really? Brilliant. Eloquent. Couldn’t do better than that.

     It looks all the same, yet it feels different. She is surrounded by the houses she knew and faces that belong to her early memories. Years spent in Wade do that to you, infect you with a sickening sense of familiarity.

     She doesn’t make promises to break. Four years ago, a promise was made. “If I ever return, you’ll be the first one I’m looking for.” And there she is, back in Wade. Looking for him. Standing in front of the place she called home for a year. Twenty-nine years in Wade and that one last year she spent together with him was the one she felt most at home.

     While standing on that porch, her blue orbs are surveying the exterior of his house and a crippling uneasiness conquers her all over. She is not even sure if he is still living here but her feet won’t let her leave before some stranger shoos the blonde away from their porch. That’s what she is expecting to happen until the moment distinct noises announce someone’s arrival. It’s him.