Maple Creek Starters

A lilt of a smile graced pastel pink painted lips. It was early morning, and the coffee had begun to set in. The usual jitters that would come along mid-morning and haunt her, were already working on their assault. Melissa wished, as she so often did, for the roar of New York City. The constant, yet unmatched 90 decibels of sound, but the crashing of waves greeted her instead. She knew Maple Creek well, had spent a lot of her youth in this very place.

And yet, she felt out of her skin here.

Melissa longed for a place her parents had forced her out of, and the band waited for her with each passing day...even if that date seemed to get further and further away.

It was the scuffle of a shoe against the pavement that tore her from her spiralling thoughts. At this time, most people were still sleeping. Sunday mornings were for rest, or at least, that's what people told them. She'd never slept well.

Melissa turned her head and half-smiled. "Morning."

location: Wildflower Bakery Cafe & Patisserie

@maplecstarters

Belle had flour on her cheek and absolutely no intention of slowing down. Once she was in her zone, there was no stopping her. She moved between tables with her usual bright smile, checking in, topping up cups of coffee, and making sure everything was okay.

She caught sight of someone lingering near the counter and offered a warm smile, she brushed her hands against her apron as she moved back to the front of the cafe.

"Hi, sorry there. I’ll be with you properly in just a second. It’s been a bit of a busy morning," she laughed lightly, glancing back over at the oven before returning her attention to them. "What can I get you?"

location: Medulla coffee house

@maplecstarters

Medulla wasn't Kris' normal coffee stop of choice, but he had been called in to a meeting and needed the strongest wifi he could find on the island. His option was here or the local library and he felt like he might disturb fewer people in the rather corporate coffee shop.

The people around him were a busy clientele and all sitting across separate tables. The walls were cold and clinical with the odd coffee bean decal stuck to break up the coldness.

As he finished his work call he closed his laptop, holding his head in his hands for a moment. "Fucking Maple..." He sighed, leaning back with his coffee he lifted his head just as a pamphlet fell from a passer by's bag. He stood to his feet holding it back up to the person. "You dropped this." He offered gently.

"Okay, okay, hear me out," she gave a pause for dramatic effect. "Pumpkin lanterns for a lakefront movie night," she grinned, sketching on a napkin. "It’s not Halloween, but it’s aesthetic, right? It’s not too early to start thinking about fall vibes?" She paused, eyes wide. "I'm just seeing a vision... or I'm wanting to wear my boots and cute jackets again."

status: open

"And... release." Sel's Yoga in the park wasn't exactly popular. But she was just delusional enough to still run it, despite the loss in profits. It was worth it for the vibes. She stretched her neck out, striking a smile that was instagram worthy (just in case) and then headed to pick up her gym bag. "I'll catch you all here next week." She picked up her phone, turning off the stream. Another three or four people watched online.

She stared at her phone as she started to head out of the park, stopping when she saw the exit to the park had been blocked off by some kind of construction. "Are you kidding me?" She huffed to the person beside her. "Does the drilling in this town ever stop these days?" She looked around her, unsure what direction to head into. "What are they even building at this time of the fudging morning?"