YOU BETTER LET ME GO

58: Have you ever slapped someone in the face? 

Are you telling me this is not something every one has done at least once in their life? 

61: Think of the last person who said I love you, do you think they meant it? 

She meant it, she does love me I just don’t think she is capable of showing it.

62: Have you hugged someone within the last week? 

No.

64: Have you ever regretted kissing someone?

51: Love really is a beautiful thing huh?

So is cocaine. You don’t see me going out and buying some.

53: Ever been on a golf cart?

No. Unless you count the one I stole when I was 13

55: Ever stayed up all night on the phone, with who?

With my grandmother when my grandpa was hospitalized after a fall off the ladder.

57: Do you use chap stick?

Yes.

59: Do you have a little sister?

   “So you have been shopping around a bit in the underworld, huh? Hades would make for an interesting landlord. I think his going rate might have something to do with your soul.” She wore an effortless dimpled smile. Clearly easily amused enough of a soul to have appreciated his joke. “Oh.” Without really meaning to Annabel had sucked in an audible breath, a little caught off guard not by his willingness to answer so bluntly but with how eerily familiar a situation it was. Quietly side-eyeing him for a split second, forced to wonder if either of her younger siblings knew; and if they did, would they have come to look for her? Her smile had faltered, but she instinctively painted a new one into place. “That is… very noble of you, actually.” Little was Anna aware that a friend of hers, Everett, might disagree with her choice of words in that moment. Their step ahead in line served as a good quiet segway, until another laugh spilled freely from her lips. “Your charitable work for the year? That seems unfair to the rest of the guys at the station, I come around and swindle them into helping with an event setup at least once a year. You know, bat my eyes, get them to lift heavy things. I will at least try to be more honored, here–” all while fighting back another too big smile she cleared her throat. Hand falling to the brunette’s chest, intentionally making her voice just a pinch shrill “–thank you.” Annabel even went as far as to use her hand to fan herself, before she was snickering under her breath and the whole little short-lived charade was terminated. “Yes, yes. I am sure they could find a way to arrange it.” 

   “I am so very heart broken right now but I have to stay very strong,” he replied smiling and chuckling as he looked the male before answering their questions. “They just turned two years old.” he answered smiling. 

“I think we should also start looking for other career options that you might be able to turn to now that the model thing has managed to be axed off,” Ernesto offered, as he sat down the nearest bench, “Have you thought about becoming a professional nanny? -- is it now called manny?”

          It was strange to think that Ernesto was back in the city, though she’d not been made aware of why that was as of yet. All she knew was that she’d met him prior, a few times in fact, and usually far less clothed. Something his wife was not too thrilled about — not that that had ever stopped the blonde She had always been one to get herself into trouble by any means. But today? Well, today was other business, outside of the bedroom variety. “Shut up complaining.” The blonde was quick to respond, shaking her head slightly as she found herself next to him, walking beside one another through their mutual territory. “You can stare at plenty of asses here. Besides, mine is significantly better anyway, so you’re just going to be let down, regardless.” She hadn’t looked at him, but it was obvious a smirk of amusement was present on her features as she uttered as much. “You gonna tell me what the hell you’re going here?” It was likely matters concerning his marriage, but she couldn’t be sure.

Maybe it was the miles between him and his soon to be ex-spouse but Ernesto was starting to feel more like himself. Less driven with wanting revenge and wanting to emotionally damage his ex. The fact that he did not have to wake up every day and share a house with her took an enormous weight off his shoulder. So perhaps if Everett and he got to a better place in life he would write him a thank you note for that. Thanks to his abrupt appearance in his life Ernesto was able to actually pick up his bags and get the hell out of Texas. “Yoga is different. Think we both know that,” he concluded as he waited for her to catch up before starting up again on the trail. The reason behind his entrance into this town was two-sided; he needed to get away from Elodie before he ended up ruining not just her reputation but his as well and then there was Everett, who was still shaken by the news. Which he could understand and yet at the same not. Wasn’t like he had dropped the news that their mother was a coke head, with Everett’s reaction to the basic news Ernesto had decided to just hold off on that bit. “Elodie and I are getting a divorce,” You know once she actually is able to serve him which could be a couple of years, there was no way he was going to pay alimony to her.

  “It is not necessarily not the truth,” she hummed, her fingertips reaching to brush a few strands of rebellious hair behind her ear. This part he certainly did not need to hear, that she was adopted and had thus clung to her parents side as if perhaps otherwise they’d disappear. That really, part of the reason she was such an over-achiever was because Annabel had spent so much time feeling like she had to be the perfect daughter, to be worthy of the chance she’d been given. “Jenkins?” She flashed a far too broad mile-wide smile as the pair neared their turn in line to order. “Ah, okay I mean the word I would choose is endearing but– that does, I suppose, make a little more sense. So you are from further south as well then? What, may I ask, brings you to Wilmington of all places? Since, you do not like seafood much, I presume it is not for the beach lifestyle.” Not that those two things directly correlated, but still, she was not getting the vibe that Ernesto was there for the surf. “Oh. Well, some people are a little more sensitive about that sort of thing than I am. You, utilizing it as a means to keep a pet you care about in a difficult situation vs. someone doing it just so they can carry their tiny dog around in the store are two different things, I believe.” Anna dismissed it with a light of heart shrug. For Ernesto’s benefit, choosing to not dwindle at all on mention of his supposed anger issues. “Oh no… is your first official order of business around here to make a person of interest file on me? I promise, the horror film thing is more a glutton for punishment sort of deal than saying anything concerning elsewise.” She laughed, umber hues watching as his hand fell dramatically to his chest. “Petty small talk, hmm? I will have you know this whole having a conversation thing is a fairly valuable tool in life.” Anna pursed her plum painted lips, trying fairly hard to not let a smile creep up and betray her mask of false indifference. “I will have to check my schedule, but I may be able to pencil in this go-karting you speak of.” 

ALISON: Hold up hold up hold up there are people named JED and PILOT PETE?!

   “I do not think that sounds strange at all,” Annabel offered earnestly. “Well, if we are just basing it off of how it could be perceived– the how I got here seems a lot like my parents were just trying to boot my sheltered newly graduated ass out from under their roof.” Which, in a less cold and unyielding sort of way, was not entirely untrue. “A goat?” She echoed, neatly plucked brows arching and her full attention snapping aside. “I suddenly have a million questions. How long have you had said goat? Was he or she permitted in your motel?” Her company had very possibly made a grave mistake in sharing that one piece of information with her. Mostly because now, beside the questions, she kind of wanted to meet the goat. “Thank you, I am now going to use you as a reference next time someone tells me that still being in my office after dinner hours is a crime. ‘Ernesto says I do a lot for a workaholic’.” It was a very good thing he already established himself to be equipped with a sense of humor, as, Annabel seemed incapable of not making a few little off-color comments. “Go-karts? No, cannot say I have. Just, you know, the little bumper cars at the fair. Is that something you like to do?” Her question followed with a sudden shake of her head to answer his. “No, running is the one thing on the list I do pretty much daily– every morning at five. Wait, the most intriguing one I have had, ever? Well, an old friend of mine and I used to make references to those creepy doll movies of a similar namesake to my own so I have interesting conversations but… I will say in a while. Sure, this is probably the most intriguing one in a while, but never fear I do not require your pity. I am a busy woman after all, little time for such talks.” 

           “That’s ‘cause all you did was gain a brother. I lost my previous ‘family’, and it was replaced with a bunch of strangers. So, sorry if I don’t meet the fucking SLA for ‘getting over it’.” In all honesty, he didn’t have the patience to be told how to handle himself, or the situation he was faced with. “I don’t wanna meet mother dearest.” At least not right now. In fact, he was just about dealing with the appearance of Ernesto, and that was his brother, let alone the woman who had apparently birthed him, realised he was the spawn of Satan, and shipped him off for good measure. “So, what exactly do you want from this? Why are you here?” Did he want to understand Everett? To form a relationship? To drop the bombshell and vacate the area before he became collateral damage in the aftershocks? ‘Cause you could bet your ass they were coming, especially where Ev was concerned. Spiralling was something he was familiar with first hand, and it would soon become a re-acquainted friend once more.

         “Bold assumption to make off the bat there kid. You’re assuming I ever had a real family You got adopted I get it but no one is here to replace them.” Cause he wasn’t. Ernesto’s grandparents didn’t want a part of this, they were too old. Closer to their deathbed to anything else and they too had just realized what their daughter had done, he felt bringing Everett home would be sending them to their tombstone. Then their mother dearest, well how was he supposed to tell the man that she was a stranger to him too even though she always had the option to come back home and pick him up? “I get it. Shit got real. I flipped a table on our mother when I found out. I do want a relationship with you. I would like to get to know you but that is on you if you want that. If it’s too much and you rather not deal with it then fine, I won’t bother you. Not here to flip the world on you. Just thinking why the fuck not get to know each other? Can’t lose more than what we already did, eh? But like I said -- up to you.” 

ALISON: I don't think it's bad but I also cannot figure out what's happening. I think they're falling in love by singing and they're on a bus?

ERNESTO: I think that was the idea.

   “That goes my shot. I was just about to send out my application. Well, that goes one dream,” he joked and smiled as replied to the male. Alexander was great with kids and often babysit when his friends needed a break or a night off. “Twin girls and they did this masterpiece.”

“Damn what a shame,”  Ernesto said in a nonchalant manner as his crooked smile found its way back to his features. “How old are they?” 

  A half-pouting, half-scowl of sorts swiftly found a home on Annabel’s features, “you know what Ernesto? I am going to choose not to answer that question.” Mostly because she knew her company had made a valid point, but alas, he was far from the first to make it. The philanthropist was not herself entirely unaware of the irony, or the fact that no– her job certainly did not require her particular level of blindsided dedication. Her own boss often had to remind her to take time off to herself. Caring about your work was, in her case, a double-edged sword; she didn’t know how to turn it off. Sometimes, she didn’t want to either. “I do not think many people want to go get a degree at that point in their lives,” she nodded. Listening with an intrigued tilt of her head. “Though I do suppose it is a little more common nowadays, with online learning, so people do not have to sit in a room with a bunch of emboldened eighteen year olds.” She mused, “–but the how you got there hardly matters if it’s what you want to be doing.” The last part, perhaps, sounding a pinch idealistic of her to say. A laugh parted her lips, shoulders noticeably shaking as Annabel attempted to bite back the noise. “I do, I swear. I have actual real friends besides my Great Dane. I go out dancing, run marathons, cook for myself, watch movies, dwindle away a few hours in a bookshop, go to bars– eat at food trucks.” She gestured a hand with the last addition, grinning as they once again stepped forward in line. “The issue, so I am told, is merely that I do not take the time to do any of that nearly as much as I ought to.” 

   Her company made a very, very solid point; one that Anna could not rebut and so she merely conceded with a nod; allowing the initial topic to fade. “Whoa, ho– good thing we will not be exchanging numbers or anything because I sound like an awful girlfriend.” A loud unabashed laugh parted her painted lips, clearly not inclined to take any remote offense. “I mean, personally, my bet would be more so along the lines of we would both be so otherwise married to our jobs that neither would act as if the other even existed. Two passing ships in the night. Technically “dating” and then after a while realize we know nor like anything about one another and part ways with an impressive nonchalance.” A shrug decorated her slender shoulders, prattling the whole thing off only to cap it with a dimpled grin. “I wish I had an answer that was emotionally moving, but–” she frowned, “that was just kind of the position I fell into in terms of a job opportunity. I am thankful, though. I think there is still a lot of educational pitfalls regarding neuromuscular diseases. People’s awareness just is not as prevalent. Especially, of course, compared to the big bad C; as you so eloquently put it. At the end of the day, whatever Association you slap your name under matters a lot less than just… the overall fight to help people.” A hand shot up to humbly shield a half her face, “You know, this line of questioning is really not going to improve upon your impression of me. Seeing as the reason I moved was only that the job offer was out of state.” Even then, it had been like pulling teeth; not that she regretted it now. Nor was that, in all honesty, the only reason. 

“I would be a god awful boyfriend by the sound of it to ignore you.” Though Ernesto had probably done just that with Elodie, his wife. At least that had been the accusation that had been thrown at him when he was packing up his stuff to leave. One that he did not bother to rebuttal, perhaps because he had given everything he had to a marriage that should have never taken place, but alas he had no one else to blame but himself. “I have to ask, does charity work really take up that much time? Not trying to belittle the career just concerning if you think about it.You give up your life to help others who have limited time and would do everything to enjoy the little time they have and here you are healthy as can be living yours for someone else.” If that was not some twisted logic then he did not know what was, “It happens.” He told her aloud. His hazel eyes settling onto hers, “I really only fell into being a police officer because I was fresh out of the marines and had no degree. Going to school was just not something I wanted to do, younger folks not my cup of tea. So just fell into what I did overseas back home,” he ended up sharing his decision, nothing he was ashamed of it. Life just unfolded and he followed, his grandparents were not amused though. He had given them a heart attack when he had enlisted and then when he got out the folks had thought he would get something more comfortable? Safe?Their looks when he said he was going into the force was priceless, to this day he could still remember it. A soft, lopsided smile settled on full lips as she shielded half of her face, “Ok, do you do anything because you want to?” He asked with no malice attached to his question, just genuine curiosity. “This job seems to be dictating your life.”

For a town like Wilmington, it was funny how small the world suddenly felt, continuously running into so many people that you knew from different parts of the world, Ernesto being yet another one of those faces. Their acquaintance was brief, because the two had only really bumped into each other through the one thing they had in common; the rehab clinic where they both had a family member stationed. Although, as the male came around to answering her question, it appeared that they had yet another thing in common, now being that they also happened to live in the same place. He looked far better today than he did the last time Nikki saw him; back then, he had been agitated and unruly, barely even talking to her at all, or at least not coherently.

“Small world, huh? I just moved here like… half a year ago myself.” She replied back, the corner of her lips curling upwards as she looked him over. Time sure went by quickly — it still felt like she only just moved to town, when she was in fact starting to close in on her first year as a resident. “Wow, that’s…” Shifting her weight over to her other foot, she wasn’t really uncomfortable, only a little taken aback by his honesty. Most of the time, going through a divorce was hard enough on its own without sharing it with others. “I’m sorry to hear that.” And while her words were genuine, she wasn’t so sure it made much of adifference to Ernesto. By the sound of it, he wasn’t too bothered by the topic itself — why else bring it up on your own? “I actually haven’t been up there myself either since then.” She admitted at his question, giving a light shrug. “Things have been pretty busy since the move, but from what I’ve heard, he’s doing alright.” At least if things had been worse, she would have heard about it. “What about your mother? Things didn’t seem too good between you two the last time.”

Who would’ve guessed that his brother had been so close to someone that knew him, not only that but also had knowledge regarding their mother? When he had found about Everett the man had no intention of picking up his life and moving up, he had just figured he would locate the man tell him the information and let him do what he wanted. The latter part still held true but what was left in Texas? His ex-wife who more often than not drove him to contemplate just jumping off a cliff or his abuelos who would soon relocate back to Mexico to be closer to the rest of the family? It had been a simple decision to make once everything had been laid onto the table. “Too small. Nothing against you, just other shit,” he clarified. Who would’ve known that this would also be the town of one of his ex-wife’s friends as well, another interaction he had managed to take earlier the week. 

He figured it had been an easier thing to disclose, his divorce than that his mother had lied to him his entire life. That she had been as selfish as to toss aside his baby brother and then completely rewrite history and never make a mention of him. Then he realized he really didn’t know how to talk about Elodie either, there was a rage in him that was triggered every time a mention of her was made and at the same time there was a pang of hurt deep inside that he only was aware of. “It is what it is,” which it was, Elodie had made it so that he had no option in the matter. There was nothing left for either one of them to do after her actions. Or maybe there had been but Ernesto had killed any hope when he made his move and decided on revenge instead of forgiveness. Hearing that she hadn’t been up, did surprise him. She appeared to go more often than he did, then again that was just base on small observations here and there, “How is your son doing with the move? -- she is alive.” What else could he say? He had flipped that table and hadn’t gone to fix things or make it work. That was next week's problem. “Since you’ve been here longer -- what is the town’s vibe?”

ALISON: Is that what the Listen to your Heart hashtag is? Is that what's happening!?

ERNESTO: I have not seen that one.