baby bue

“I’m not sayin’ this town is dry, but.” And Rayleigh stopped, because she thought she sounded like her mother. “I am sayin’ my mom’s finally run outta people to set me up with. That must be a good thing.” 

@frostfordstart​

“Meddle is my middle name and even I know not to set anyone up with anyone else from this town. My blind dates I coordinate come from out of town only.”

“Andy’s nice and she’s definitely not a man, so I can give her a call. I hate talking car, so she always gives me the need to knows and leaves the mumbo jumbo out.” Offering a soft smile, “Ya hungry? I could talk you to grab a bite while ya wait for your car? Hopefully it won’t haunt your plans too long.”

“You’re a saint n’ a half.” Portia smiled back trying to make her terrible car seem like less of a bother. “A bite sounds great, although I’m on this whole thirty thing and I’m thinking Star Diner might be too tempting.”

“Manners. Please use your manners.” She responded quickly. Getting talked to like that by her students was one thing, but a full grown adult? Making her way back to her car, she got into the back seat and opened her ‘emergencies’ bag, grabbing one of her spare t-shirts and a travel package of wet wipes. Walking back over she handed them to the girl, “Here.” 

“Thank you.” Portia snatched the supplies and began wiping away at the stain. “See? Manners are there, just not in the presence of strawberry and banana.”

“Well lord help me, since you asked so nicely, who am I to say no.” Austin said with a chuckle. “Ya shouldn’t joke though, in this town I could totally see that happening. Probably gonna start raining any minute now.” He pointed out with a grin. “What can I help ya out with?” 

“You really think lighting would strike someone? God that’d be a dream. I have a whole list.” Portia grinned handing one of the coffees to Austin she’d struggled to keep safe trying to unlock her car. “Hold these, this car door likes to give me a hard time.”

She had been warned of this happening, but Madison thought she’d have at least a few days to prepare before the unexpected visits started. Luckily, the common area was clear, but her room was still filled to the brim with boxes yet to go through. “Yeah, of course you can,” she offered, moving to the side before taking the cup of coffee. Out of politeness, she took a drink, but winced at the taste. Unless it was filled with flavorings, she didn’t much agree with the drink. “Bent’s at work if you were lookin’ for him. Think he headed out pretty early this mornin’.”

“Actually, I was hoping to catch you!” Portia spoke to the walls barely acknowledging Madison as she handed her the coffee and immediately started inspecting the place. Bentley’s Michael Jordan poster survived the move -- sadly, but everything else looked just like a new place should. “So,” She turned to smile at the girl, “How’re ya? How’s life? My brother treating you well?”

“Don’t throw things at me, I’m gonna tell mom.” He jokingly threatened, slapping down the shoe she tried to weaponize. “You do this too much.” He let out a long sigh, wanting to avoid this conversation but knowing there was no sense in putting it off. She’d wear him down eventually, giving in was less painful. “Madison’s fine. She’s moving in with me, I need a roommate and she’s finally ready to leave her parents house. Do not make it weird. Separate rooms, separate bathrooms, it’s normal. We’re friends.”

“Usually the ring comes first then you move in, but the way y’all are doing it is very new age. Love to see it.” Portia joked. “I love hearing you say we’re friends, all the more to add to my wedding toast, how’s this?” She stood up while clearing her throat and lifted a hand holding a pretend champagne glass. “God these two...I remember it like it was yesterday, pledging allegiance to the illusion that was ‘We’re just friends’ look at ‘em now. One shotgun wedding and a tremendous wedding bill later. Lord they make me so proud.”

“Yoohoo, knock knock!” Portia pounded on the door in a way that didn’t match her sweet tone she’d led with. Upon hearing the news of Madison and Bentley living together, she gave it a few days before dropping by unannounced to make sure clothes were either on or hung neatly in closets, they had plenty of fresh linens, and to inspect the condition of her brother’s new place. Just as planned, Madison opened the door. “Good morning, I brought you coffee. May I come in?”

“You’re gonna have to accept the fact that I’m an adult eventually.” He shook his head, feigning frustration. Truthfully, he kind of liked how much she worried – she was bordering on hovering at the moment, which was a step too far, but he appreciated her having an interest in his life. “Is that your politically correct way of saying I spend too much time with white girls? They don’t blend, some of them are blonde, brunette, Kat used to have that pink streak, they’re not bland.” He grabbed a shirt from beside her on the couch, tossing it into her lap. Just to be annoying. “Madison’s only your favorite cause you think her older brother’s hot. Don’t think I haven’t seen you checking out Owen.”

Portia flinched at the distasteful excuse for a shirt Bentley threw her way unaware of its clean or dirty condition. Either way, having to come in contact with the fabric warranted the shoe she took off to toss at her brother. An act out of love and proof he kept the childish spirit in her alive. “You said it, not me. God I asked about Madison, not that Avril Lavigne character.” She laughed at Bentley’s comment about Owen. He wasn’t wrong, but if there was any chance at him becoming her brother-in-law she decided it’d be against her best judgement to even give Owen a second thought. “Wouldn’t I be advocating for you to date the girl that won’t make the hot guy my in-law? Now get to the question. How is she?”

“So much attitude from someone who could really use my help,” Sienna pointed out. 

“You gonna help or what, Sienna?”

“i won’t pretend to know anything about cars but we can give andy or travis at the shop and i’m sure they can come help ya out!” she suggests, pulling out her phone, “are ya in a hurry? i can take ya somewhere if you need to be while they fix it?”

“Ugh, I hate having to speak car with men. It feels like one of the levels of hell.” Portia sighed grabbing her tote from the rental. “No hurry. Not anymore, anyway. This stupid vehicle put my plans on hiatus.”

“I sure could,” Ty acknowledged with a nod. “In fact, I’d be happy to. M’pretty benevolent like that. It might help if you gave some specifics, though.”

Portia dusted off her hands on her pants ridding her palms of ‘car dust’ is what she called it. “I can’t get the hood up on my car. It just stopped on me.”

Rian pushed their hair behind both of their ears to show off their hearing aid. They signed, and mouthed, “I can’t hear you.” They could hear her, but they didn’t like their attitude.

“Oh well this is just great.” Portia rolled her eyes. She motioned “cell phone” by putting her hands to her ear, and held hers up that had faced a terrible fate in the chain of events starting with her flat tire. Many business were closed for the evening so she picked on the first stranger that walked by. “Fllllaaaat, tiiiirreee” She mouthed trying to sound out the words slowly but feeling like a fool in doing so.

truthfully, natzeli had planned to help the other but then the tone came. fuck southern hospitality, she’d rather give her a southern ‘bless your heart’ and be on her way. a smile spread across her face before she stated, “no.” 

It’d been too late. Her heels were already covered in gasoline and the powerful stench had permeated the fabric of her clothing with a mess to clean up surrounding her. “You fool!” Portia exclaimed trying to escape the rogue gas pump that finally wasted the rest of her $25.00. “So much for being a good samaritan.”

A little flustered by what was going on, Morgan finally caught on, quickly dropping to the ground to help pick up the invoices the girl was speaking of, grabbing a few that had met a terrible fate of landing in a bit of water that had seemed to pool on the side of the sidewalk. “Uh… sorry, didn’t get to these in time.” She offered, holding up the soggy paper in one hand while extending the ones she had grabbed in the other. “I gotta get my reflexes checked, I totally missed what was goin’ on.”

Portia’s already saddened expression fell even lower from the wet papers. Her printer had broken and she’d had to commute just to print some invoices, important invoices. She sighed as she grabbed the papers spared from the puddle and gave Morgan a small smile. It was the closest she’d get to a “thank you”. “It’s fine. I’m more upset with the wind than your poor reflexes and lack of basic observational skills.”

“Yes ma’am.” Isaiah immediately gets on his feet to grab some of the run-away flyers, handing them over to Portia before he grabs the few left that haven’t flown away beyond catching.

With a small stack in hand, he returns to Portia with a grin. “Where d’you want me?”

“Thank you.” She snatched the flyers from Isaiah and began inspecting their condition. Few were marked my dirt and stains from the sidewalks of Frostford, but most were safe. “I prefer you out of my sight so I can go about my day, but perhaps I can spare a few moments on the bench over there. Sitting. Not doing anything else. Maybe talking.”