derry queen

Sucking up her pride, Cory approached the girl, sliding up to her smoothly, invading the younger girl’s space. “Wow, look at you,” Cory sneered. “You’re, like, a full grown person now.” - @dixonemily

“I’m serious, I didn’t come here for that.” The blonde insisted and shook her head. She wasn’t that desperate, life was hard but she wasn’t here for the money. Maybe her whole day sucked too much and Delilah needed someone to talk to. It wasn’t a big deal to her, because she was going to come by at some point so killing two birds with one stone seemed like the perfect idea to her. That – and of course, she would rather not go home right away. “Seriously, no. I’ve already saved money for whatever I’m buying.” Delilah replied, letting out a sigh. She didn’t deliver food for some extra bucks, no, she genuinely thought Cory could use someone to take her mind off things. Since the older woman didn’t appear that day, Delilah couldn’t stop wondering if everything was okay. “Don’t worry, I’m just going to give him a free meal and voila – problem solved. He’s such a foodie anyway, I don’t think he’d mind.

Grabbing her phone, Delilah unlocked it and quickly typed a text message, hoping her cousin would reply sooner rather than later. “So… like I said, I was going to come by. It’s my mom’s birthday soon, and I was wondering if you can find something nice for her.” 

“You’re so nice.” Cory didn’t try to hide the rough tone in her voice. It wasn’t that she was trying to be mean to the girl, because she wasn’t, it was her response to anyone in this situation. “So nice that you won’t let me be nice to you,” she grinned at the girl. There were times when she was extending an olive branch, smiling at someone as a good gesture and she felt like she just looked like the Cheshire Cat, smiling from ear to ear with her teeth bared. Still, the girl had done her a major favor and because she was on Cory’s good side, she decided to do her a favor and give her a discount on whatever she bought, without telling her about it. If anything, it was enough good karma for the blonde for the next year or so. “I’ve heard that’s the way to a man’s heart.”

After the scandal with her father and her whole life coming apart, Delilah went back to her quiet ways. She didn’t mingle with people, didn’t talk to strangers – she didn’t do anything a girl her age should be doing.. nor she felt the need to. Giving up on life looked like the looked a lot the blonde waitress. There were a few people she enjoyed being around and could easily count those in one hand. Avoiding people and situations were a habit, but she didn’t want to ignore Cory. It was odd, not seeing her at the diner today simply because she couldn’t exchange a word with anyone else. Was it selfish to come here? Maybe, though Delilah felt slightly better so who could blame her for it? 

Placing her phone on the counter, just in case her sister texted or called, the blonde turned to look at the other. “Oh, no – no, no. I didn’t come here for that, please.” shaking her head, Delilah took a step back, not daring to touch the money. “Consider it a gift. I was going to come anyway, I need a gift.” the blonde said quickly, before looking around the store. “That makes sense. Should I send a cousin of mine over? He fixed ours the other day.” 

Corrine didn’t like niceties. It wasn’t something that she felt was necessary. When she’d gone to live with her grandfather, she had already had a very developed sense of self, but she had needed to acquire that at an early age because if she hadn’t, her home life would’ve been more miserable. Grandfather had tried his very best to give Cory the manners he believed she needed and when he was around, she was did it, but she only did it for him. If they went to dinner and the waitress was smily and talkative, Cory put on her biggest smile and returned the pleasantries - for him. Now that he was gone, she didn’t feel like she had any more reasons to be nice just for the hell of it. So she rolled her eyes at Delilah when she refused the money. 

Delilah had come to the conclusion that sleep deprivation was indeed the worst feeling ever and that was coming from someone who had witnessed their father cheating on their mother. It was a miracle how the young girl didn’t throw a tray full of food on customers when she felt dizziness taking over. The fresh air always helped, that’s why she would rather take a break and sit outside in the back alley than go and lie down in the room at the back of the diner. Stealing a few hours of sleep here and there had become a regular thing to do nowadays, and despite the dark bags under her eyes, the blonde found the mood to smile to people. She couldn’t do much, so she might as well change someone’s day.

“I’ll take almost.” Delilah responded, stretching her arms over her head. She always felt comfortable enough around Cory, so she didn’t want to leave right away. Since the other wasn’t busy, the young girl figured she could stay around for a while, before going back to reality. “Really? The diner was full. I made good tips, and that’s a surprise.” she mumbled, leaning against the counter. “It’ freezing in here.” 

Somedays, Cory’s life felt like a front, where she couldn’t let down the wall that she’d built up so many years ago. Even in those that were the closest to her, she still had the tendency to keep them at an arm’s length away. But there were days, rare dares, when she just didn’t have the energy to try. Today was one of those days. In placement of it, she usually just kept quiet, which is something that she normally was regardless. She wasn’t a person to chat just to chat so it was a subtle difference and you could almost miss it if you weren’t familiar with her. 

The waitress’ perks were quite a few. Not only Delilah could have a free meal at work and get those extra tips, but she could also get meals for half their price, if not free at all. Working at the same diner since she was sixteen meant she could at least have her way with the people who worked there. What the blonde hated to deal with was all the rude people who treated her as if she was garbage. She had those who hated her, and then, there were her regulars. Seeing as Cory didn’t make it to the diner that day, Delilah couldn’t help but wonder if everything was okay, so the blonde decided to come by and surprise her by bringing a nice meal. 

Placing the bag over the counter, the blonde looked at Cory with a proud smile on her face. “Almost hug me? Woah. I can’t believe you said that.” she joked and smiled. “Busy day?” 

Lately, Corrine hadn’t be getting much sleep if she had been getting any at all. It was the anniversary of her grandfather’s death that was fast approaching and every year around that time, she threw herself into some kind of funk. It was entirely self-inflicted and those around her usually knew when her ‘dark day’ was coming. Because of getting no sleep, Cory had spent most of the time she’d been awake primping herself as to not look tired and haggard because she didn’t want anyone to see her looking anything less than perfect. This morning in particular, she’d misjudged how much time she had and was running late to the boutique so she hadn’t had time to stop for a cup of coffee at the diner. 

Another day quickly rolled by at The Derry Creamery. His parents and their other staff member were all off and not scheduled to work, so Will was left to his own devices. He didn’t mind, though. He could play music that he liked–granted that it was family friendly–and glance at his phone when there was a lull. He was always pretty good at keeping himself entertained when he was alone, his wild imagination often running free.

Once the lunch rush was over, Will took the opportunity to quickly clean the shop, take out the garbage, and clean the mirrors in the bathrooms. Humming absentmindedly to himself as he swept the floor in the front of the shop, he quietly sang along to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ as he worked. Turning around as he heard the door open, he leaned the broom against the wall and turned his attention to the new customer. “Hey, welcome to The Derry Creamery! How can I make your day?” He greeted warmly, smiling in their direction.

After a particularly long day at her boutique, Corrine should’ve just headed home to down a glass of wine and watching bad reality television. So how she found herself wandering to the creamery, she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the fact that she’d had no time to eat anything and now her body was craving a sugar fix that hit her with a vengeance and sometimes a girl just had to get some chocolate in her system to make things a little better. 

Pushing the door open, the blonde stopped in her tracks as she stumbled upon a man, multitasking as he sang and swept the floors of the shop. Cory was torn between laughing and leering, but the latter didn’t win. She was too exhausted. “God, do you get paid to be so cheery?” She folded her arms in front of her, debating whether or not she made the right choice. 

“I never said anything about mom hanging it up on the fridge,” she refuted. At that statement, Hazel was reminded of all the mistakes that she had made as a kid that prevented her parents from displaying her artwork whether it was a drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery – She would give anything to change that part of her childhood. The brunette adjusted the strap from her purse that was resting against her shoulder, taking steps around the boutique a bit more than before as her eyes gently moved across some of the items that the woman had out for display in the store. “Is that so? Or is that what mom told you?” she asked playfully, challenging the same idea that she had brought to Hazel. 

A grin plastered to her face, Hazel was still in shock that the woman offered an urn as a gift for her friend. Clearly knowing it was a joke, she wasn’t shocked that she said it, rather surprised that she had been so quick-witted to say it, in addition to having the proof that she had the urn. Her jaw still slightly dropped from her grin, she continued to shake her head as she moved her hand to rest on her hip. “Five-Star quality, absolutely,” she replied. “Everything about this place is fabulous,” she spoke as her fingertips gingerly slid across the glass case, her index finger pointing a specific item, admiring the shimmer that the light helped display. Eyes darting back over toward Corrine. “I guess I would at least know that at some point she would be able to put it to good use, right?” she laughed softly. 

Quirking an eyebrow at the shift in energy, Corrine realized she might’ve hit a sore spot. She was always very good at that, but this time she hadn’t done it intentionally. “Mom’s a bad subject. Noted.” If anyone understood mom drama, it was Cory, despite the fact that she really tended to hide that. If a comment about her mother was ever brought up, she either didn’t respond to it or she’d just be straight up honest. So when the other girl had thrown a question at her, Cory just looked at her, dead on. “If she did, it was too slurred for me to understand her.” Whatever shame her mother had for her past behavior didn’t define the blonde, so she wasn’t ashamed of it. People tended to be shocked by how bluntly she spoke of her relationship with her mom, even though it was better now than it had been. 

The weather was only taking a turn for the worst and Delilah loved it. She had always liked the cold, the outfits were cuter this time of the year and for whatever reason, people were always rushing down the street, which it meant they didn’t have enough time to whisper or talk behind her back. It had been months and people would still not quit with this bullshit. As soon as the blonde pushed the door of the small diner open and walked out, she felt relief. Working from six in the morning wasn’t the best, but that’s what she got for working in a diner that was open 24/7. Shoving her hand into the pocket of her jacket, while Delilah held the plastic bag with food in the other, she hoped Cory wouldn’t have closed the store at this hour of the day. 

It took her a couple of minutes before making it to the small boutique, hazel hues focusing at the blonde, a smile forming on her lips when she opened the door. “That’s now a way to treat people who bring you free food.” she exclaimed, before laughing lightly. “It’s your favorite by the way. May I come in?” 

It was almost hard to choke down the packed lunch, if you could even call it that, that Cory had brought to work with her. There just hadn’t been enough hours in the day for her to make it to the super market and even if she had the time, the honest truth was she probably wouldn’t have bought anything of true substance anyway. It wasn’t that she was watching her weight or figure, she had been pretty blessed in that area, it was just that she wasn’t good at feeding herself. It’s why she’d become such a regular at the diner. There wasn’t a day that went by that the blonde hadn’t made her way there at least once a day, whether it was for a coffee or a full on meal. 

She stared in disdain at her strawberries and shoved them away from her in disgust when she couldn’t take another bite. Much to her relief, she saw a familiar face headed towards her door from the windows and flew out of her seat. “Thank god,” she exclaimed, probably the most excited she’d been all day. “I could almost hug you,” she waved the other girl in, flipping the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’ so that she could actually enjoy the meal in peace. 

so i’m pretty sure i’m sick, but like who isn’t right now? and i’ve been sleeping all day and need to crawl back into my sickly hole, but i’ll be back in action tomorrow to do replies and stuff. 

Hazel acknowledged the fact that the other woman made it pretty clear that she did not even want to be dealing with customers. With that being said, she respected that Corrine had continued to entertain her both verbally but also in the customer-employee relationship. Shaking her head, a grin moved on her lips. “Not to toot my own horn but I’m hella great at crafting. Certainly better now than as a kid but, they were amazing for a eight year old, nonetheless,” she mentioned, although the more she spoke, the more she realized that she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else. Leaning against the wall of the building, she canted her head to the side before she nodded, “Absolutely it was a cop out,” she agreed, laughing, “I spent enough money on one gift for the equivalent of like, five – ugh,” she scoffed. “I hate you’re right.” 

Unexpectedly, Hazel couldn’t believe the words that fell from the other, causing her to bring her hand to her mouth to hide the sudden jaw drop, shaking her head. Did she really offer an urn? The brunette motioned toward a silent clap, “Oh my lanta —, I can’t believe you said that,” she laughed, “That was hysterical, kudos to you,” she mentioned. “That would be the utlimate ‘good fucking riddance’, wouldn’t it?” she agreed by posing her question. “As thoughtful as that might be, she may not take it well,” she played. 

As much as Corrine pretended that she wasn’t a people person, and despite the fact that many people would consider her secluded and introverted, she actually did enjoy interactions with other people. She was social, whether that meant just being in the same room as people, or entertaining the conversation, much like she was doing now. “Just because your mom hung it up on the fridge, doesn’t really mean it was anything special, but you have your moment,” Corrine, waved the girl on, as if to give her permission to flaunt in her childhood creativity. She pulled her sweater tighter around her, giving a glance back over to her thermostat before registering that the other girl was speaking again. “I’m usually right.” 

“She’s not the type of woman that appreciates the time that it takes on a gift. Instead, she appreciates the price tag,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Believe me, when we were kids, I always made her shit and she looked at it like I was giving her the shirt off my back after a mile run or some shit,” she scoffed, shaking her head. Hazel pressed her lips together firmly, listening to what the other had to say and how much of it was not far from the truth. “Woah – Alright. Technically I didn’t,” she waved her index finger towards her, “Her going away present was also her birthday gift too. She’s just entiltled and thinks she deserves just as much as the Queen of England,” she laughed, rolling her eyes once more. 

“No fuckin’ kidding,” she agreed, crossing her arms against her test. “You got anything in here that says ‘good fucking riddance’?” she said, in part, jokingly. The other half knew that the person had always been a good friend to her. But, now that she had moved away? Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. 

Had Corrine been any different as a person, maybe she’d roll her eyes at what the other woman said, but in all actuality, she understood the friend because she was the same way. Some would say that’s a negative quality, but to Cory, love did equal money sometimes. “In her defense, maybe your crafting skills just weren’t up to par as a kid,” she spoke nonchalantly, assuming that that was the case since kids weren’t very good at much of anything. “I mean, I’d be kind of mad if my birthday was on Christmas and I only got one present. It’s sort of a cop out,” she shrugged. 

Just as the woman was getting ready to see herself out of the store, she heard the other begin to speak, causing Hazel to turn back with her head at first, soon followed by the rest of her body. “Thanks,” she said, assuming that there was a bit more to that conversation. Unfortunuately there didn’t seem to be any luck and Hazel would continue with following through with her plan to leave, considering the store was ‘closed’. 

Once again, interrupted by the older woman in midst of her depature, she did a one-eighty to lock facial features with the other. Laughing softly under her breath, she placed one hand on her hip, “Yeah? No problem – I love making crafts ‘nd shit anyway. I’ll get you a beautiful one to hang in that door,” she motioned with her head. Exhaling loudly, she rolled her eyes at the woman’s question – circling back to the apology gift. “A friend. I forgot her birthday. But to be fair – She just moved to Jersey about a week ago so I got her a going away gift but it was also a birthday gift so I didn’t have to send her anything but,” she shrugged and rolled her eyes, “A bit ungrateful friend, I know but – She’s a friend and she thinks I forgot her birthday and I ain’t havin’ that,” she shook her head. 

Cory quirked an eyebrow up involuntarily at the girl, not sure if she liked the amount of sass coming from her. It was normally a fine line on what would annoy her on a day by day basis. Luckily, her tolerance had yet to be tested today and she was in the mood to have a battle of wits. “If you’re so crafty ‘’nd shit’, why don’t you just make her a present?” The other girl rattled on, something about a friend and a birthday and it was almost hard to feign interest, but, then again, Cory had a tendency to be a little selfish and anything that wasn’t about her or interested her was honestly just hard for her to even pretend to care about. 

“Could you tell me how long you’ll be on break? You know – When I can come back? Kind of in search for an apologetic gift. Pretty urgent,” she shrugged her shoulders with a soft scoff. Once she explained part of the reason that she found herself in the small boutique, Hazel realized that it was more likely than not that the employee eating their meal could care less why she was there. Derry was filled with small, local businesses that the woman certainly respected. However, it only became an inconvenience when she was in a tight bind, much like the one that she was in currently. 

“Probably should put a ‘closed’ sign or ‘be back in 30 minutes’ sign on that door of yours while you’re eatin’– People are dumb rude and just walk right in here or somethin’,” she said sarcastically, the comment directed toward herself as she flashed a grin, a response to her own foolishness. 

Cory glanced up, across her storefront, and eyeballed the girl in the doorway. She was debating whether or not she was in the mood to snap back or just let it roll off her back when she processed the sarcastic comments. “Yeah, you’ll be the first to know,” she replied, not bothering to hide her eye roll as she popped another strawberry into her mouth. Perhaps if it had been a busier business day, she’d just ignore the girl and rush her out of the store while she finished her lunch, but because it hadn’t, she was a little bored and boredom and Corrine never matched well. 

Sitting down at her desk to eat her measly lunch of strawberries and yogurt, she heard her doorbell ring and rolled her eyes. “Sorry, on lunch break right now,” she quipped, without even looking up to see her customer. 

[ MARGOT ROBBIE, FEMALE, SHE/HER ] — If you’re strolling Derry today, you might see [ CORRINE “CORY” HELLER ] along the way! The [ TWENTY EIGHT ] year old can usually be found at [ BOUTIQUE OWNER ], when they aren’t busy with [ YOGA or PAINTING ]. I hear they seem to be [ WITTY and CREATIVE ], but they are also rumored to be [ SELFISH and JUDGMENTAL ].