fight song;

“I don’t know how this is your fault, but I’m going to blame you for it anyways.” Esme commented as she tried to ring her hair out, her shirt was drenched and her jeans were stuck to her legs. “How much further till your place? Because I will be stealing your shower and some spare clothes, you have now say. Cause as I mentioned- this is somehow your fault.”

Esme stood at the edge of the water, looking to the blonde and then down to her shorts and bikini top, twisting her face as he arms covered her mid-riff, “You know, I’m still not convinced this is a good idea.” She commented, crouching down to observe the water. “Is it even safe to swim in here, what with climate change and plastic evading our waters and everything?”

“Well I thought you’d enjoy being somewhere to eat that wasn’t a cafe or restaurant given you work in a coffee shop.” He stated. “Though from the look you are giving me, I feel like you want to chop me up.”

“No, I’m not wanting to take any of your limbs off today. I’m just trying to make sure there is no hidden agenda and you’re not trying to prank me or something.” She told the other, looking to what he had spread out in front of them. “I might even go as far as to say this is nice.”

“Esme, it’s me,” Tobias said, stepping forward a little so he could be seen, “I left my phone in the coffee shop yesterday during my shift. Figured I’d wait for you to open for your shift rather than wait for mine later. Just my luck that I arrive too early and it’s raining.”

“Tobias?” She asked, “You know, you look very different when soaked, more like a drowned rat.” She teased, opening the door wider for the other to come in and hopefully not drip too much on the freshly mopped floor. “Come in, dumbass. Sit down and I’ll see what we have in back to warm you up and I’ll make you a coffee.”

@esmexbycrs​

Carter knew one day he’d have to leave the shop to socialize with people, but it was so much easier to do it in a space where he was comfortable rather than out in the real world. So he was perched on his counter drinking coffee, Lev comfortably asleep next to him. The poor cat would not leave him alone as he left the apartment this morning, so he allowed him to wander down with him to the shop. Someone came in and Carter looked up from the cat. “Welcome to Radiance Records, let me know if you need anything! Also I hope you don’t have an airborne cat allergy.” He said with a smile.

“No cat allergies, you’re good. I do love cats though.” Esme commented, briefly distracted from what she came in here for to move over to the cat sitting beside the other. “Can I pet them?”

Esme rather enjoyed the days in which she got to open up the coffee shop, some time to herself to get things in an order she enjoyed. She was currently taking the chairs off the tables when she noticed someone huddling in the doorway to try and escape the torrential rain. Unlocking the door, she stuck her head out and called out to them, “I can break the rules and let you wait out this atmokinetics temper tantrum somewhere dry if you want? Unless standing out in the rain is your kind of thing, then by all means ignore me.”

This felt odd and maybe that was why she had been glaring at the other for the past five minutes trying to figure out what all this meant, “So- was there a reason for a change of scenery, or was it that you were just that desperate to recreate a postcard picture you’d probably find on Pinterest?”

“When was the last time your rode a bike?” Esme couldn’t help but chuckle from further up the path, looking back to the darker haired girl. “Because if I had to guess, the answer would be never. Now are you done crashing into your fifth bush of the day or have you still got some vengeance to carry out on shrubbery?”

Drew had near enough vaulted the table at the sight. It was a good job it was after closing and he’d gotten engrossed in talking to Esme. There was no one else in sight to watch the display. “Is it fuck!” He exclaimed at the girls words. “That is huge. In fact I think it’s part tarantula it is that big.” 

@esmexbycrs​

“Wow, you know my respect from you has just gone down by a lot because of this. Stop being such a baby.” Esme commented, moving to pick up the spider, letting the animal come to her and climb onto her hand. Her and spiders had a connection, always had since the incident in the lab. “See, harmless.”

Eight weeks. Had it really been that long since she’d left ? Mira had debated the past month whether to return, with still not enough answers, but maybe the third time at Grove would be the charm. It seemed like a good idea, at least, on the trip back, until she found herself sitting on this fountain ledge, nothing but a half-empty backpack to her name.  “ Long time no see, ” she greeted the approaching shadow, steeling her nerves before glancing up. Whether they’d yell about her disappearance or not have noticed in the first place, it all had to be downhill after the first conversation, right ? “ I’m on a mission for food, ‘ help wanted ’ signs, and the closest thing this place has to a couchsurfing app. … That doesn’t use a phone. What a year, huh ? ”

"You know, I was really pissed about losing a regular, but sounds like you haven’t been cheating on me with some other coffee shop which is-... good I guess.” Esme commented, “If you don’t tell my boss I can totally tell them you bought the toasted sandwich I’ll bring over to you and if you know how to serve coffee- well you could get a job here.” Esme shrugged. “The couchsurfing one is a little harder, my brother works in a shelter though so I can’t see him complaining if I brought home a stray.” She teased.

“Before you ask, no I’m not taking requests. I don’t even know how to play really.” PJ said, gesturing to the piano in front of him, “I’m just sitting here. Did you want to play?”

@esmexbycrs​

“So did you just decide that this was a good place to sit- were normal chairs not an option for you?” Esme asked with an amused expression on her face. “It’s been a while.” She admitted, sitting beside him on the piano bench, “I don’t think I’ve played since my parents died.”

“Just some family mementos. I’ve been trying to find them for ages and this is the last place to look.”

“Family mementos? What kind of mementos and why do you need them now?”

“Unfortunate? We both know how much you enjoy my company.” Drew spoke lowly leaning in a little as he teased the girl. “Your brother huh? Have you managed to get hold of him?” Because he could imagine it was hard being away from family. It felt almost as bad worrying about Penny. “I don’t know…” He answered honestly. “Penny perhaps, but she worries about everyone.”

“You’re right, I simply light up whenever you enter. My face say’s it all really.” Esme deadpanned, but she couldn’t stop herself from smirking ever so slightly. “I have, he’s safe but he’s with his ex so I’m not sure what that means- I’ll quiz him about it later when I get out of here.” Esme raised an eyebrow at the other at the girls name, “Who’s Penny? Girlfriend? Sister? I need some context.”