heaven

“Because most people love the beaches and the sunny weather, the same can’t be said about me. I like swimming, but I would pick winter over summer any day,” it was weird to some how he enjoyed swimming, but preferred winter, and he could understand why, sometimes not even he could understand that, “Understandable,” he nodded, he wasn’t the biggest fun of rain either, “At least you have one which is me, and I would love to help you explore.”

“honestly, i get that. the winter is nice and i think i enjoy winter fashion way more but every now and again, i do like being able to go out and enjoy the sun on my skin, you know?” melina replied. she figured winter here might be more different than how winter was in seattle. obviously, she was going to find out here soon. “really? you’ll come out exploring with me?” she asked, smiling a little. 

Lucy shrugged her shoulders, “I can be a bit intense,” she admitted, her tongue slipping across her lips. “I mean, people get results but not exactly everyone’s cup o’tea to be pushed past their limits.” She told the woman, nodding her head. “If you plan on stickin’ around, get out of that motel quick. It’s no place for someone as pretty as you to be stayin’.” 

melina lifted her shoulders up in a shrug, “i guess i can see that but i think more people should give you a chance.” she replied. either way, she was glad she stopped to talk to her. “that’s the way to train sometimes. they have to understand that.” a smile appeared on her lips at the compliment, “yeah, i’m looking but i haven’t found anything i can afford.”

mclinaedwards·

“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Audrey pointed at Melina with her fniger and wiggled it a few times as she chuckled. She understood what was it like to be the new one in town, her mother and her family were originally from Tupelo though she had always been the summer girl whilist growing up, only becoming a permanent resident three years ago, and oh boy the ladies at the salon wanted to know about her. “They’ll get tired, don’t worry ‘bout ‘em.” Audrey smiled. “How are you gettin’ used to town, though? Besides work and the boring staff. Hope you got the chance to go out.”

melina didn’t really enjoy being the new girl in such a small town, especially since it drew attention to her and really, there wasn’t anything she wanted more than to blend in with everyone else and she knew it would all happen with time. she just had to be patient and she knew that. “i’ll keep that in mind.” she lifted her shoulders up in a shrug, “it’s nice. i can’t complain too much but i usually just go back to the motel i’m staying in after work, if i’m being honest.”

Natalie had been in Tupelo for a while now and she needed to make more friends still, she was definitely going to need some friends around the place. She was there looking over at the girl for a moment as she ran a hand through her hair for a moment and smiled for a moment, “I am actually not busy, I am free as a bird. I would love to hang out and grab some food. I know a great bar to go to.” She smiled, ever since she had moved there she had been at the swinging door. 

melina smiled at the girl’s response. she didn’t like spending so much time by herself. she didn’t enjoy the fact that she was starting over but she knew it was the best thing she could do. “awesome. i’m down to go anywhere you take me.” she replied. she was thankful her client was as sweet as she was too. “what’s it called?”

“I prefer this town over LA. The truth was that I just stayed living there until now for the people, not the city,” the weather was far better too in his opinion, he wouldn’t ever get used to the heat, no matter how long passed by, and he was sure of that, “Oh, cool, did you like it?” he wondered, hoping she had a good childhood, “Yeah? You prefer staying at home?”

“really? everyone talks la up like it’s so amazing, so i’m surprised to hear that.” she’d never been herself but she believed the man. she pursed her lips, she had a deeper reason for leaving but she knew she could make something else up. “not really. it was too rainy for me. i decided i needed a change so, here i am.” she replied. “i do, sometimes. i would like to explore tupelo though. i just haven’t made too many friends.”

 “Worth a shot,” she shrugged her shoulders before shaking her head, “God no,” a small laugh left her lips at the thought. A scoff really. “People are afraid to train with me here at the gym, can’t imagine they want me out on skates with them. Or maybe they would,” at least she would be tough in the rink. Lucy nodded her head, “You’re not stayin’ at those apartments down off second street are you? The landlord there is a scum bag.” 

melina tilted her head to one side, “why are people afraid to train with you?” she could see that people might think she was intimidating or something but she didn’t think that the girl would do anything for real. “no, i stay at the moon motel. i haven’t found anywhere permanent yet.” 

mclinaedwards·:

“LA, born and raised there, how about you?” he knew a lot of people in the town were raised there, it wasn’t surprising to him. In a small town like that, was expected that most people were from there, “Exactly,” he nodded, “I’m gonna guess you also prefer being a guest over being the host?” he figured because of the way she said it.

“oh, you left a big city for a small one? how’d you like the move?” melina wondered, tilting her head to one side as she looked over at the male. “i’m from washington.” she didn’t really want to specify but mostly because it made her nervous. “i do prefer being the guest but then again, i don’t really always go to a lot of parties anyways.”

mclinaedwards·

“French fries are always a good choice. I swear I’d live on ‘em.” If it wasn’t for the regular exercise and working out with Lucy she would have had to get a bigger size in all her clothing it was a good thing she actually liked to go physical work otherwise it would be toll to work out just to not feel guilty about the amount of food she had. “I wouldn’t have hired you were no good at your job.” Audrey pointed out amusingly although it wasn’t exactly a joke. Melina was a perfect fit not only because she was good but because she felt she could trust her as an employee and Audrey valued that over other things. “Yeah, they tend to do that. They did the same with me when I worked in another salon when I moved here.” She shared with Mel. “It’ll last a lil’ while. My adive, lie to them and let ‘em figure that out by themselves.”

“that definitely makes two of us. if i didn’t live off french fries then i think i’d definitely live off mozzarella sticks, you know. i love cheese. anything with cheese is good in my book.” she usually walked from work to the motel she was currently living at and so that was enough exercise to burn off the take out that she’d been living off of since she’d arrived in tupelo. she really needed to find somewhere more permanent and somewhere she could actually cook herself something to eat that wasn’t microwavable. “it’s kind of annoying but i get them being curious. i’d be the same way if i grew up in a place like this. i’d be wanting to know who the new person was.” 

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. No, drinking wasn’t exactly a normal hobby but she swore it was the hobby of quite a few residents at the end of the day. As for her, it depended on the type of day she was having. “You a roller derby girl? They’ve got a team for that,” she offered as another suggestion. Lucy often debated it but people were already off put by the brunette’s temper, “What brings you to good ole Tupelo, Melina?”

melina lifted her shoulders up in a shrug, “i honestly can’t remember the last time i even put on roller skates so i can’t say i am. are you?” she asked, tilting her head. at least if she met someone who was, maybe she could go and watch them. it’d be more entertaining than hanging out in her motel room. “oh, you know, i just needed change.”

❀

“Exactly. It’s not as bad as some people make it out to be. And this truly wasn’t a bad night. Thanksgiving? Now that can be bad. A whole lot of cuts, family fights, and people swallowing things they really shouldn’t.” She chuckled before shaking her head. “Not in town, no. My fathers are in Miami so it’s not a bad flight to go see them. I’m hoping to get my cousin here after she graduates law school but we’ll see what happens.” 

“oh, really?” melina didn’t miss seattle. really, there wasn’t anything there for her but she did wish she had someone to spend thanksgiving with. she was just sure she wouldn’t be so lucky to be that close to anyone to get an invite to a family event. “so, are you flying home?”

mclinaedwards·

It was closing time and if there was something that Audrey loved about the people working with her was that either one or a few of the staff member would stay with her until she locked up, she never asked them to do it and she wouldn’t mind if they left to get somewher but still, it was heart-warming. Not that she openly said it every time, only on especial occasions. Tonight it was Melina, the latest staff addition and Audrey had immediately looked after her, not to mention she was great at her job and just a beauty. “Yeah, Red sounds good. Got a friend there who can place us in case it’s a little packed.” She smiled. “How was work today? Women still try to pry on your life to get all the info on you?” She asked teasingly.

melina really was grateful for audrey and she knew that the girl was her boss but she also knew she could lean on her if she ever needed to, which she appreciated more than she’d ever be able to express. “oh good. i was hoping you’d agree. i don’t know about you but i’m craving french fries right about now.” then again, that was a lot of what the girl ate. it was one of her favorite things to snack on. “work was good. i was booked out, which was amazing. i’m glad everyone likes my work. sometimes it’s a little nerve wrecking, you know?” she paused, nodding and letting out a laugh. “yeah, everyone’s still trying to pry and get to know the new girl. i’m used to it now though.”

EDWARDS, MELINA

“Well, pick your poison. I’m going for beer because that’s about as much as I can handle at this point. But the world’s your oyster. They serve some of the best stuff here.” She reassured, expending her arms ever so slightly to present to the bar to her. “Oh, you’ve just moved here?” Jo asked, genuinely interested before smiling. “Well, in that case - ” Moving her hands up as if to remove an invisible crown from her head, she instead placed the imagined item on top of the others. “You’ve already got the gown, time to add the newbie-crown, and release me from my duty.” She was certain there were other’s who came squashed in between their timeline but those were details. “I got here a couple of months ago and I already have a list of people I could run to so honestly, you’ll have an army of folks in no time. How do you like it so far?”

melina thought about it for a second, “i’m not really a beer kind of girl so i think i’ll go with a martini to wash that down.” she replied and then nodded in confirmation. “i mean, i’ve been here for like two months and i’m still trying to get to know everyone and get used to things. how long have you been here? do you like it?” melina would like another opinion from someone else that wasn’t from here to see if maybe tupelo was somewhere she should settle down. she liked it so far but she had yet to make up her mind on whether she was staying or not. she laughed as she passed the invisible crown, “i hope so. everyone seems nice so far.”

“I think so too, more people should do something like this, you know? Back at home, not many did, it was sad,” he supposed he could just not have heard about it, because it was a large city, but he rarely heard about anything like that, “Exactly, you get it. I would rather be able to enjoy the party as much as I can, but if it was for charity, I could see myself doing it,” there was a reason why he thought about the station doing something to help raise money too, because he would always be willing to help others.

“where are you from?” melina questioned the man. she wasn’t from here either and it was nice to meet someone who wasn’t from tupelo for once. “right. it’s just that when other people host the things, you have more time to yourself to do as you please and to have as much fun as you want.” 

@journalistnatalief​

@audreymatt

“That is exactly what I’m doing,” she said with a chuckle. “I don’t really think about it now. Plus I get two days off now and most likely, I won’t have to work Thanksgiving.” She took a sip of her soda, shrugging her shoulders. “It was a lot though. It always is. Luckily there wasn’t anything too bad. A few stitches, a few broken arms, a few upset stomachs. I’ve seen much worse.” 

“well, you can’t be upset about that. you get two days off in a row and you get some time to relax.” melina paused for a moment, “and you get some time with your family. do you have anyone here in tupelo?” she knew she didn’t but she didn’t mind spending the holiday alone anyways. thanksgiving was never big at her house. “that doesn’t sound like the worst night you could have. sounds like normal stuff.”

Cecily shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee to hide the blush and the smile on her lips.  She’s only had one girlfriend before this, and no one in her family knew.  It had been short-lived, lusty and very exciting.  The butterflies she had during that relationship, she was feeling at this very moment, the day after Halloween, the smell of grease, sugar and coffee surrounding them.  “Princesses are way better, anyway.  More sincere, more in tune with their emotions… they’d probably start less wars…” She chuckled at her own statement, not able to hold it in anymore.

Taking a pen out of her purse and grabbing a napkin, she quickly wrote her name and number on it before sliding it over.  “If you stop by, you can see me.  You can just text me when you wanna come over and I’ll set up everything else..”  Cece finished her coffee and set it down close to her, knowing she didn’t need any more at this point.  Adrenaline, butterflies and caffeine wouldn’t do her much good.  “I’m no expert on Tupelo.  I visited my nana during the summers growing up, but just moved here permanently.  Hell, we can explore it together too if you wanna.  You don’t have to just see me at the hospital.”

melina hadn’t ever dated a girl. she’d messed around with one in high school before dropping out but it’d been since she was a teenager. she almost felt stupid for allowing herself to stay with the same person for the last ten years, especially since he wasn’t even worth her time but she figured this wasn’t the time or the place to get into any of that. she figured focusing on the girl beside her was way better than thinking about her ex and ruining her mood. “i think you’re right. princesses usually know what they wanted and how to get what they want too.” she agreed, laughing along with the new girl. 

she watched as the girl wrote down her name and her number and she tucked the information inside of her hand bag moments later so that she didn’t lose the information. melina definitely hoped to be in contact with the girl again. “sounds good to me.” she smiled softly. she wasn’t sure when she’d have the off time but she’d make some if it meant making some people smile and keeping the girl around for a little while. “oh,” she nodded her head. “i’d like that.”