with the lights out...

DIRECTORY  ;;

gabriel  “  gabe  ”  linwood  |  dominic  sherwood  (  intro  •  analysis  •  writing  •  pinterest  )

valéria  “  vaya  ”  reís  |  bruna  marquezine  (  intro  •  analysis  •  writing  •  pinterest  )

penned by 𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑎 for thecovehqs

jana needed a few moments to associate your neighbor’s information, looking at the horizon for a few seconds until you could come to a conclusion. ❝ that is a garage sale? is this? ❞ the eistein of surf finally managed to get to that point as both of his eyebrows were raised.❝ woow, cool! this makes sense! ❞ she concluded with a final smile on her face. 

GABE  NODS  AFTER  A  MOMENT  ,  adjusting  his  hold  on  his  daughter  .  “  they’re  having  estate  sales  all  morning  ,  ”  he  says  .  he  glances  around  at  the  driveway  they’re  nearest  .  “  some  things  have  been  rather  nice  .  though  there  are  the  usual  weird  knick  knacks  that  seem  to  pop  up  at  all  of  these  things  .  ”  

After Adelita had broken up with Gabe, in trying to make sure he didn’t lose his family for her (or at the very least his sister) she couldn’t have predicted this would happen for them. Not in a million years. A happy little family, settled in Lita’s hometown, away from the drama New York had caused? It was like stepping out of a storm and into a dream, and she’d be forever thankful to Gabe for suggesting the move for the three of them. To have this unexpected yet wonderful that she loved here…it had her feeling cheesy happy.

and the mom life? she hadn’t expected to love it as much as she did, but kaelie had become her whole heart the second she was brought into the world. could she say how much she loved their family anymore than she did? adelita turned to gabe and their daughter, leaning to press featherlight kisses all over the little girl’s face that made her giggle. “honestly i have no real plan for today, other than walk around and see if anything catches my eye? what about you, love?”  she returned, eyes moving from kaelie up to gabe with a smile. “i feel a bit like a kid being back here again.” lita laughed. 

HE  KNOWS  SHE  HADN’T  wanted  to  get  in  the  way  of  his  relationship  with  his  sister  ,  but  it  didn’t  matter  that  his  sister  was  blood  .  adelita  was  so  important  to  him  ,  and  he’d  never  thought  his  sister  was  capable  of  being  so  judgemental  ,  having  known  her  for  her  whole  life  .  even  his  parents  —  who’d  been  so  uninvolved  in  the  majority  of  his  childhood  —  had  put  in  an  effort  to  be  welcoming  .  in  their  weird  way  .

jana had arrived from a trip less than six hours ago. which meant she had no idea what was going on in front of the houses! and what came to her mind? that it was all just a cultural show for neighbors! ❝ wow! is amazing that everyone decided to do an art exhibition. ❞ she commented to the person next to her. ❝ and the people here really like contemporary art, uh? i didn’t understand the concept of most works. ❞

“  YEAH  ,  CONTEMPORARY  ART  .  i  guess  that’s  one  way  to  describe  everyone  trying  to  sell  their  old  ,  unwanted  ,  belongings  ,  while  everyone  else  haggles  ?  ”  the  male  chuckles  ,  quirking  an  eyebrow  as  he  looks  at  the  woman  who’d  stopped  nearby  .  

“Okay so I need your help for a very important mission, should you choose to accept it.” Adelita jokingly started, a playful grin on her face as she approached the other at the cookout. “I’m starving but cannot for the life of me decide where to start with the food here so, wanna help me pick?” She asked with a shrug, gesturing to the various people offering food along the beach. @covestarters​

“  WHAT  YOU  HAVE  TO  DO  is  get  a little  bit  of  everything  ,  and  then  pick  your  favourites  ...  and  then  go  back  for  more  .  ”  vaya  says  when  the  other  woman  approaches  her  .  “  though  ,  that  is  ,  admittedly  ,  my  solution  to  my  kids  disagreeing  on  everything  and  then  wanting  whatever  the  other  chose  ...  ”  she  adds  ,  glancing  over  at  where  the  twins  are  playing  in  the  sand  with  their  father  .  she’d  slipped  away  for  food  ,  knowing  jace  and  his  mother  would  share  whatever  the  twins  didn’t  eat  .

“Hi, so I just moved here and I was trying to just get myself a drink, but this ugly schmuck over there won’t leave me alone, so could you just pretend we’re like childhood best friends, or i don’t know engaged or whatever.” Ty said as he approached the other, a feeling of dread over his head as he didn’t want to cause a scene with him just arriving on the scene.

“  HEY  !  YOU  MADE  IT  !  ”  vaya  plaster  on  the  biggest  smile  ,  immediately  pulling  him  into  a  hug  .  “  i’m  vaya  ,  ”  she  says  ,  loud  enough  he  can  hear  ,  but  her  face  hidden  enough  the  other  can’t  see  that  she’s  just  introduced  herself  .  “  seriously  ,  i  was  about  to  send  out  a  whole  search  party  !  ”  

“Is it?” Blue questions, letting out a sigh of relief, before smiling over at the young woman. “Thank God, I thought I was meant to walk in circles for ever…” she adds, before nodding her head gently. “Only if you don’t mind. I’m new around here, so it’s matter of time before I get lost again.” 

GABE  SMILES  SOFTLY  at  their  daughter  ,  pressing  a  kiss  to  her  head  as  she  looks  around  ,  before  he  follows  her  gaze  as  it  returns  to  adelita  .  he  had  never  expected  this  ,  especially  after  what  his  sister  had  done  .  but  despite  everything  ,  they  had  their  little  family  ,  and  he  loves  them  so  much  .  he  still  doesn’t  understand  his  sister  ,  months  later  ,  but  he’ll  always  be  on  lita’s  side  .  as  much  as  he  loves  his  family  ,  adelita  was  —  is  —  his  chosen  family  .  regardless  of  what  happens  .  

fingers fidget with the hem of her dress, anxious eyes darting around the establishment - oh god, did it look like she’d been stood up? in technical terms, yes, she had been, but not by any date — no, she’d been abandoned by her own mother (which is obviously worse). teeth nibble upon her lower lip, francesca gawking at all of the food that had already been ordered and placed before her for her mother-daughter date - there was no possible way she could finish this hearty meal all by herself. “ um, excuse me? ” her voice is shrinks as she waves timidly at the nearest patron, a sheepish smile spreading across her lips. “ want some free food? ”

VAYA  HAD  SPENT  THE  MORNING  at  home  working  ,  since  she  didn’t  have  her  in  person  job  ,  but  had  some  freelance  projects  that  were  due  in  the  next  few  days  .  she  had  tried  convincing  the  twins  that  today  was  the  perfect  day  to  visit  gammy  .  and  lost  the  battle  when  both  girls  had  immediately  clung  as  soon  as  izzy  had  decided  that  she  wanted  to  stay  with  vaya  ,  and  emme  had  simply  taken  her  sister’s  side  .  so  she’d  run  errands  ,  both  girls  walking  along  beside  her  at  first  ...  until  izzy  didn’t  want  to  ,  and  then  they  both  wanted  to  be  carried  .  and  neither  would  accept  the  stroller  .  so  vaya  had  dragged  them  both  to  the  hub  ,  already  having  ordered  her  favourite  burger  —  which  would  then  be  cut  up  and  shared  because  if  izzy  wanted  vaya’s  food  ,  so  did  emme  ,  and  vice  versa  .  and  they  never  didn’t  want  vaya’s  food  .  she  smiles  ,  “  are  you  sure  ?  ”  vaya  asks  .

blonde  waves  cascaded  down  her  back  ,  almost  meeting  the  sliver  of  bare  skin  between  the  cropped  halter  top  and  high  -  waisted  jeans  —  enough  to  tease  in  a  club  setting  .  long  legs  crossed  as  she  sat  primly  at  the  bar  ,  casually  flirting  with  the  bartender  :  second  nature  ,  inherent  to  her  person  .  her  lips  touched  the  rim  of  her  highball  glass  ,  enjoying  the  fruity  touch  of  the  strawberry  mojito  paired  with  the  music  .  it  wasn’t  her  usual  type  of  sound  ,  but  neither  was  eddy’s  if  she  were  honest.  “  agreed  though  i  wished  they  would  take  requests,  brighten  up  the  place  a  little  more,  you  know,  ”  flora  replied  ,  body  turning  towards  the  brunette  ,  lazy  smile  resting  on  delicate  features  .

❝ is someone here? ❞ jana said when she walked into the store in the club, looking around the store to wait to find the workings. something she didn’t find. ❝ hello? ❞ she tried once more, clapping her hands in one attempt to get attention. but, apparently, there was no one behind the counter. ❝ damn! will i be arrested if I try to look at those skateboards in the showcase? ❞

VAYA  HAD  SLIPPED  INTO  THE  STORE  to  grab  a  couple  things  for  her  mother-in-law  ,  and  had  simply  shrugged  when  the  guy  working  said  he’d  be  right  back  .  she  adjusts  her  grip  on  izzy  ,  attention  turning  from  the  rack  she’d  been  looking  at  when  she  hears  someone  speaking  .  “  he  said  he’d  be  right  back  ,  ”  she  offers  with a  shrug  .  “  i  don’t  think  you’ll  be  arrested  ,  but  they  might  not  be  particularly  happy  with  you  .  ”  

Trey felt bad for having such a negative first impression on the other. Sadly it wasn’t necessarily out of character for the somewhat snobby man. “No, no you didn’t hurt me” he promised the other as he shook his head. “Funny how it’s easier to one handed drive a car but not that” he made his best attempt to start small talk with the other. “That thing ought to have a turn signal” he joked.

Today was definitely not Kodi’s day. First their alarm didn’t go off this morning and they had to rush to be able to make it to work on time, then a couple of their coworkers began to dog on them - as was their right, given that Kodi was the new kid - and they were forced to deal with the jobs around the station that no one wanted. And, to top it all off, as they stepped out of Lighthouse Bagels with their drink and an Avocado Tuna Bagel Sandwich, a gull had swooped in and stole their sandwich. “You ever have days where you wish that you just stayed at home?” they asked a nearby person that had witnessed the theft of their late lunch. “Yeah, I’m beginning to think that maybe I shouldn’t have ever gotten out of bed this morning.”

HE  WAS  JUST  ABOUT  TO  head  into  lighthouse  bagels  when  a  gull  swept  down  to  steal  someone  else’s  bagel  as  they  exited  ,  and  the  male  offers  a  sympathetic  smile  when  they  speak  .  gabriel  adjusts  his  hold  on  his  daughter  ,  nodding  .  “  that  is  ,  just  really  unfortunate  .  maybe  that  gull  just  really  needed  a  bagel  ?  ”  gabe  asks  .  “  i’ve  definitely  had  those  days  ,  ”  he  adds  .  “  i’m  about  to  get  my  own  lunch  ,  i  can  get  you  a  new  bagel  if  you  want  ?  ”  he  offers  .

Not the most mature thing to be spending her time doing, Leilani is nevertheless amusing herself (and distracting herself from work) by balling up pieces of her paper straw cover and trying to aim it into the hood of a man sitting nearby at Lighthouse Bagels. It’s sitting perfectly on his back, and, desperate to procrastinate, it had been too easy for Leilani to start doing this instead of writing up the script for her next video. She keeps missing, though, and when she sees the person beside her watching, she says quietly, “Let’s see you do better, then.”

AMUSEMENT  DANCES  IN  HIS  EYES  as  he  watches  the  woman  at  the  next  table  over  trying  to  land  pieces  of  her  straw  cover  in  a  guy’s  hood  .  he’d  grown  distracted  from  his  own  work  ,  and  realises  he’d  been  staring  when  her  attention  is  turned  to  him  .  “  i’m  not  judging  ,  ”  he  replies  .  he  arches  an  eyebrow  in  response  ,  grin  widening  slightly  as  he  balls  up  a  piece  of  his  own  straw’s  cover  ,  but  isn’t  any  more  successful  .