prime *

“----Not mine, I have no idea about the cell service but it works wonders in the stairwell on the sixth floor. If you just stick your hand out by that window, you get full bars.”

Blake was happy to hear the girl laugh, which meant she was okay, and the positive reaction was the best case scenario. “Well, that’s good to hear,” she replied as she helped her up, “Oh, I’m Blake,” she smiled, thinking to herself, what an interesting way to meet someone. “It’s nice to meet you. Were you trying to get one of these plants out?” She asked, pointing to the rows of green behind them. 

“Blake,” she echoed, taking it as a mental reminder. “Good to meet you too.” Sam didn’t mind so much that this was how her first impression went with someone new--- she was starting to come around to the idea that being yourself was just the best way to go. “Yeah,” she chuckled sheepishly, her hands wiping the back and the front side of her dress. “I wanted to try picking my veggies, you know? It’s a stubborn onion,” she laughed, kicking the air towards it. 

Cause you never think the last time is the last time. You think there will be more. You think you have forever, but you don’t

This festival was what Blake lived for, with the plants and the fresh vegetables and the sun and everything she missed during the winter. She was having a scroll around on her own, enjoying the live music muffled in the background a block over. She was content like this, and while she didn’t exactly have the means to purchase everything she had her eyes on, it never hurt to look. Her head was down as she took a closer look at a packet of tomato seeds when she saw a figure go down from the corner of her eye. At first, she wasn’t completely sure what she had seen, but she quickly put the seeds back and turned the corner to see the girl who was now on the ground. “Oh gosh, are you alright?” She asked as she approached her, reaching her hand out to offer her help up.

Sam couldn’t help but fill the greenhouse with her laughter, after picturing herself in the third person. What a sight, she thought, laughing some more. A brunette approached her, and when asked about her condition, she only nodded with a big smile as she took her hand. “Yeah, I’m alright,” she replied, her laughter subsiding. “Thank you very much, I appreciate the hand. I’m Sam,” she greeted.

Tilting her head, Sam was sure Aurora would’ve had some friends to guide her. She had seen her hang around those two birds in a bubble--- Issac and Cameron, what happened to them? She shook her head at the thought, shrugging. “I’m alright goin’ alone,” she sighed with a smile. “Means I don’t gotta go places I don’t wanna be, you know?”

Her initial reaction gave Jake the impression she wasn’t the type of person he was looking for. Not really sure how to continue from here casually, he furrowed his brow a bit and leaned in. “The only thing that would make this a bad idea would be if you were to tell on me,” his terminology sounded awfully similar to that of a brother talking to his younger sibling (tell on me? do people still tell on others?) but he tried not to pay it any attention. As they spoke, he noticed his stomach rumbling even more. “I don’t need your help, anyway. I can just go get it myself,” he admitted, pushing past her and starting towards the stand.

She chuckled a bit, furrowing her brows at his reply. It sounded a lot like how her younger brother would tell their baby sis to keep quiet about staying up late. The thought brought a smile to her lips, finding this particular situation humorous. Sam could only sit back and watch when he pushed passed her, crossing her arms as she stood back with a smirk of sorts. “Alright, go on then,” she encouraged, wondering if he’d be able to make the swipe without getting caught. Either way, this was very entertaining.

In his absence, Jacob had forgotten about the musical festival. Once an event he looked forward to every year, it had now been pushed to the very back of his mind. As he walked through the crowd a wave of nostalgia hit him. The sounds, the smells, the people. It was almost like he had never left. But he had, and this was Baltimore welcoming he back into its arms with beautiful flowers and the warm kiss of the sun. After appreciating the music and festivities for a while he noticed his hunger growing more and more. Luckily he was next to a food stand as his stomach growled for the fifth time that hour.

Sam was such a flower and plant fanatic, the festival was like her baby. She was obsessed with the scene, and how it gave this strange sense of ‘starting over again’. Maybe it was more of a personal thing, but there was no doubt that feeling was there. Everything was so fresh. The brunette sighed, a soft smile on her lips as she waltzed around in her dress and curled hair. It was going to be a peaceful day, it had to be. Walking over to the food stands, she began sucking on her bottom lip as her eyes feasted on the many choices presented to her. Feeling a nudge, she turned, a little taken back by his proposal. “----Um,” she started, a little flabberghasted. “---That’s not.. that’s not a good idea,” she laughed, unsure if she should take him seriously.

It doesn’t immediately occur to Malcolm that given the proper dosage of rage his disabled status isn’t enough to deter from the fact that he can be mildly terrifying.  His demeanor might be gentle as a kitten compared to his father or brother, but here in Baltimore among strangers and vague acquaintances like Sam, he looks like two hundred pounds of angry jerk with a cane-shaped weapon in hand.  When that realization coupled with the fact that he’s practically just growled at her does hit him, it’s all he can do not to facepalm.  “–Christ, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to jump down your throat like that…” 

She sighs, feeling light at his apology. “It’s fine,” she replied, feeling tired. “Everyone has a bad day, they don’t mean what they say and... I don’t know, it gets the best of them.” Sam knew that the last bit was more of an internal thing than actually specifying something towards Malcolm. A lot of people seemed to love biting off her head at their leisure, and she just started feeling tired. She wasn’t mad, or angry... but knew it was something else she couldn’t exactly pin point. Clearing her throat, she licked her lips, stepping forward. “---I don’t know what the front desk really does, but maybe they could do something. Or you can write a note and attach it to the windshield.. get all passive agressive.”

Sam turned, looking down at the brunette, finding herself smiling adorably at her question. “---Will it be a date? I’d only go if you’re asking me on a date.” The brunette had no idea where she stood with Aurora, but it was a good note (more or less). She was wary of her reply shortly after giving it, clearing her throat wanting to take it back. “It’s Sam,” she informed, unsure if she could tell by her voice. “By the way.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure I’m up for that much walking. As long as they have cheese balls, I’m a sucker for those things. And maybe some Ramen. That’s always good to keep on hand.”

“Cheese balls,” Sam pouted, desperately wanting cheese balls. After much thinking, she turned to Natalie, trying her best to stay calm. “---I have a bike, and conveniently, a little seat if you wanna hop on? I’m--- I love cheese balls.”