headstrong

status — open, capped at 0/3

"⸻ son of a bitch." The curse flew from Evan's lips, spoken none too softly, as she finished listening to the sixth (yes, sixth) voicemail from Sadie's new guidance counselor. It wasn't like her to ignore her phone. It definitely wasn't like her to ignore calls from the elementary school.

Then again, her afternoons were usually spent working a slow shift at the hardware store... not clocking extra hours at the bar for the sake of the tips.

If not for a quick, three worded text from Sadie's dad—headed to school—she would've been out the door and peeling from the parking lot before anyone could stop her.

Instead, fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. To the nearest customer she sighed, "You ever feel like you're jugglin' so many balls—" there was a joke in there somewhere— "you're just droppin' 'em all? Swear there could be ten of me and it still wouldn't be enough hands."

The way Selin saw it, it would be good for the town to get new people in. Things were changing and the town needed to follow. It wouldn't be all bad.

At least that's what she told herself to be able to look in the mirror.

"Somedays but most of the time, I'd be stirring up trouble just for a bit of chaos. I tend to work better with it." She peered at her phone and then back at her. Of course she knew her, given their similar ties to the owner of the bar.

Selin's ties were more personal, of course. "Everything good with your kid?"

"Hola tía, ¿cómo estás?" Billie glanced up at Val, cautiously awaiting to see how she had done. As the pair made their way to the park, they were practicing some of the spanish Val had been teaching Billie. "Yes, mi amor! That's perfect!!" Val gushed, giving the young girl's hand an encouraging squeeze. "Tia Selin is going to be so impressed!" Billie beamed with pride as they approached the park entrance.

Leyla had asked Val to drop Billie off so that she and Selin could spend the day together, and Val was happy to do so. It had been a while since she'd gotten to catch up with the eldest Yilmaz sister, and given the heart to heart Leyla and Selin had had recently, the brunette couldn't help but wonder what else was new with Selin.

When they finally spotted Selin, Billie took off for her aunt, running up to her and quickly repeating the phrase Val had taught her. Val slowly made her way towards the pair, giving them time to greet each other before she approached. "We've been practicing some Spanish at home. And Billie was dying to show you." she said by way of greeting, a friendly smile on her face.

Selin peered up when she heard footsteps rushing towards her, laughing when Billie rushed over to give her a hug. "Hi, beautiful. I missed you." Selin kissed the top of her niece's head before she watched her run off to go play on the playground with some of the girls she went to school with. Luckily they weren't in a rush to go anywhere so there was time for them all to spend time playing.

"She doesn't stop impressing me. I don't think I was that smart when I was her age." She didn't have as many people around her to teach her things, perhaps. Billie still was smarter than all of them put together, that much she was sure of, and it wasn't just the fact that Selin went around like her niece could do no wrong.

He studies her for a long moment after she speaks, arms folding across his chest, coffee still balanced in one hand like it’s second nature. His gaze doesn’t waver when she admits her fear—of the board, the lesson, her niece charging headfirst into the unknown. And maybe that’s what finally earns a small, respectful nod. “Good,” he says simply. “You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to show up.”

Then he turns, crouches near a lower rack, and slides out another board—longer than the one for Billie, with a soft, dusty teal finish and a few faint dings in the foam along the rails. Nothing serious, just signs of use. Of learning. “This one’s yours,” he says, patting the top. “It’s not going to win any beauty contests, but it’s wide enough to keep you upright while you’re figuring it out. Gentle on the knees. Forgiving, even when you’re not.”

He straightens and glances at her again, expression unreadable for a second before he adds, “People romanticize surfing like it’s magic. And sometimes it is. But more often, it’s awkward as hell. You’ll fall weird. You’ll yell at the ocean. You’ll wonder if your body is supposed to bend that way. All normal. Doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.” Then, with the faintest smirk: “Means you’re doing it at all.”

He looks toward the door, as if considering the next part before he speaks. “Bring water to stay hydrated. A rash guard, if you’ve got one. Something you can move in. If Billie’s the type to get cold fast, a wetsuit’s not a bad idea. And sunscreen. Lots of it. Tomorrow at noon—here. We’ll go over the basics on land before we hit the water.” A pause. Then, quieter: “You’re not the first one who’s come in scared. You won’t be the last. But don't worry, I’ve got you.”

If he ended up being a young kid who gave her the advice to take life by the balls and to dive into the water head first, she'd have to tackle him on the beach. "Do you have a lot of those catch phrases cause they work, until a wave knocks the wind out of my lungs. Do you have a CPR certificate?"

That felt like a good question. Maybe she should have looked into going surfing while the lifeguards were working in case something did go south.

She peered at the board and stepped back to allow space for the large board, wondering how the hell she would get that back home and where she would store it. "This big thing? Isn't there some that can fold or you can inflate? Where am I meant to store this? On my bedroom ceiling?" She peered at him with a furrowed brow. "Do you offer storing services?" It was all getting real and she had to wonder how much one of those cost given the sheer size of it.

Her gaze set back towards him as she placed her hands on her hips and considered how she'd gotten to this place and how she'd allowed her niece to talk her into this with such ease. Next thing she knew she'd be jumping out of a plane. "Water, rash guard, maybe a xanax or two?" The last part was a joke, pinching the bridge of her nose and then remembering how impossible it would be for a surgeon to replicate it once she took the board straight to the face with the lack of coordination she had whilst on land.

"I am trusting you." She told him as if he would be to blame for any injury or traumatic events that happened to herself or Billie. "I know you're young and maybe life isn't as serious but this face needs to remain as it is. I can deal with a bruise or two. As for my niece, I don't play around so if it's choppy or any chance that she can get hurt, bitten, thrown off wrong — we're calling it off. I'll pay, either way, but I don't want to risk her. I'm all about the mantra of getting back on the horse so I'm not saying that she won't get knocked over, but I don't want to set her up for failure either."

Civan had always been a constant in their lives and perhaps Selin had taken him for granted a bit. As the eldest cousin and sister, she should have at least been more present for her family. If her brother was still around, he wouldn't have left Alara's side all night.

"You should bring her to dinner," Selin said with a smile that indicated she wouldn't take no for an answer. "We can have it at my place and I'll prepare something, and if you believe she may be up for it, we can invite Alara, Billie and Leyla." It was time they have dinner together, and if things continued to go well, she'd make it a reoccuring thing.

"Tell me about her, let me see a picture." Selin's hand extended, curious to know more. "I'm quite the opposite. But I've managed to keep that part of my life to myself, luckily." As of right now, her family hadn't found interest in setting her up or any curiosity related to her dating life so she was enjoying that for as long as possible. She knew it wouldn't always be the case as they'd soon remind her of her age and whether or not she intended on having children.

His brow lifted, a hint of insecurity creeping in after he had initially felt okay about how things ended with Leyla and their first night together. Benny cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing to the side in response to her questions. "Okay, I get it," he sighed, raising his hand in acknowledgment. "We have a lot of things we need to talk about."

Should he have brought up their past before confessing to her? Benny wasn't so sure anymore. Still, he tried not to dwell on what he couldn't change. As Selin continued to explain why these conversations were necessary, Benny felt a tightness in his chest grow with worry. He really hoped that talking would help, but he couldn't shake the concern that all this discussion might convince Leyla that he wasn't good for her.

Benny rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a deep sigh. Suddenly, all the time spent waiting didn’t seem so bad if it could prevent his inevitable doom. "Yeah, you're right," he finally said, giving a soft shrug.

Benny didn’t need Selin to explain how she would kill him if he ever hurt Leyla or Billie. Her love for them was fierce and unwavering, and if all went well, he half-expected they would have this conversation eventually. Although he felt a bit disappointed hearing her say this before anything was certain, he couldn’t help but smile. He brought her hand down gently, lowering her pointed finger aimed at him, and nodded in acknowledgment. “Noted,” he chuckled, taking her warning seriously. The thought of hurting Leyla or Billie seemed unfathomable to him, but deep down, Benny felt like he might be the one who was at risk of getting hurt instead. But Selin didn’t need to know that.

"The good news is that either way it's going to work out." The discussion would be uncomfortable but their lives were too intertwined that they'd be in each others lives no matter what. What needed to be clarified was whether that was as friends or something else.

While Selin would have hoped or appreciated for more than a singular word indicating he heard what she said in regard to her threat about her sister and niece, she figured it was good enough. He was warned and whatever consequences came afterwards couldn't be blamed on her because she had informed him. Her hand fell to her side and she nodded her head, flashing him a smile. There was no ill-will or negative emotion as of right now, and frankly, she might even like him a bit more than she had before all of this. The awkwardness of thinking his affections were directed towards her had now dissipated and she felt like she could breathe easier.

"I've been in a few of those hats." She nodded in agreement as she looked around at the different men in cowboy hats. It was hard not to compare them to the one cowboy she'd dated but she did her best to ignore that little thought at the back of her head. "Not dating anyone. I'm having fun and talking to people but that's pretty much it." It had been the last decade of her life and Selin wasn't itching to have much more right now. It was comfortable to be on her own. No complications or expectations.

"I get pickier as time goes on." That much was true but she was never really picky at the start. She liked to think she gave everyone a chance.

As Selin began to make her way towards her, Alara braced herself for a slap upside the head, more angry rants. What she wasn't expecting was the warmth of her cousin, her best friend, hugging her. And the second she felt Selin's hug, all vestiges of self control vanished. She began crying in earnest, something she never, ever let herself do with anyone present.

This, this was what she was scared of. This kind of love meant too much, it carried too much weight. And Alara knew now, with unflinching clarity, that if the day came where she ever lost Selin, she truly wouldn't be able to survive it. But as her cousin pulled her in, as the tears flowed more freely, she also knew that she couldn't survive without it and pushing Selin away only did more harm than good.

"Seni hak etmiyorum, Selin," she murmured, voice rough with the tears clawing at her throat, as she swiped at the ones that were persistently falling down her cheeks. "I can't believe I did that. I'm so beyond sorry. The guilt has been eating me alive since New Year's."

"çıkar onu" Selin spoke softly before she fell silent and allowed Alara to cry the tears she needed to release. It was evident that she'd been holding onto this for long and her conversation with Civan had only confirmed that the remorse had eaten her enough to speak of it to others.

"Shh. No more apologies. There isn't anything to forgive." Alara hadn't been herself and while the act had taken her by surprise, she was adamant in believing that Alara would have never gone through with the act and it was purely a mistake from a moment of pain. "You need to give yourself more credit. I don't believe you know how important you are to me, and Leyla, or Billie. Bütün ailemiz. We may fight, and you can run, but you will never be alone. I'll hunt you down," Selin started to laugh as she wiped the tears on her cousin's cheek with her thumb.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I should have known that there was something going on."

He watches her for a beat, then huffs out a low, amused breath through his nose. “You had me at ‘nose job,’” he says, pushing off the railing with a lazy kind of grace. His coffee stays in hand as he gestures toward the workshop door with the other.

“You’ve got five minutes,” he says, but the edge of a smile forming at the corner of his mouth suggests he’s not keeping track. “Technically, I don’t rent boards. But I’ve got a few beginner sticks that wouldn’t cry if they got scuffed up. One of ‘em might even suit your niece.” He pushes the door open with a shoulder and steps inside, holding it open for her without a word, letting the warm scent of resin, wood, and ocean air wash out into the fading light. The boards are lined up like a quiet gallery—each one shaped by hand, with soft curves, sun-bleached colors, and small imperfections that make them feel lived in rather than showroom polished.

“You’re not wrong,” he says, glancing over his shoulder at her. “Beach guys’ll teach if you’ve got cash and patience, but they’re not big on form. More like ‘throw you at the wave and see if you drown.’ So, not the safest intro for a kid.” He steps toward the rack and slides a small, soft-top board out from the back. It’s pale coral, with a hand-painted sun rising in the corner. “This one’s light. Stable. Friendly. Kind of like a golden retriever in board form,” he says, tapping the edge with his knuckles. “Could work for a kid her size. You really just need something she can stand on without the board trying to buck her off.” Then, more gently, “You planning on learning too, or just trying to win Aunt of the Year?” His eyes find hers—steady, curious. Less guarded now. “If it’s the second one, you’re already halfway there. But if it’s the first... I teach sometimes. When the water’s calm. And the kid’s got heart.” A beat. “You look like you might, even if you’re scared of your own balance. And depending on how soon you were thinkin', I have an opening tomorrow around noon. The waves should be calm then.”

Five minutes wasn't much but it would suffice, especially if he made things easier by leading the way and telling her what to buy. "I'll take them." And she was serious. While she knew it would be a waste of money because there wasn't any way she would return to the beach to surf even if things went well and they both survived the first lesson with whomever she hired. It was all for Billie. No one else would get her on an unstable board and risk her embarrassing herself as much than the little girl she loved the most.

The shop made her feel further out of her depth as she entered and was hit with the scent of wood and wax, peering at the boards who all looked the same outside of their designs. She wondered if there were a difference or people just chose based on size and what colorful background they wanted.

"Well noted." She echoed so he knew she was listening while her eyes were trained on the colorful boards. The random surfer guy was a last ditch effort to find someone if it came down to it. Now she'd probably spend the night trying to book someone via a long google search with extensive reviews and background that proved they wouldn't just 'see if they drowned or not'.

She walked towards him and looked at the board which said nothing more to her than the rest of them. Especially since her first instinct was to knock on it with her knuckles as if the sound would indicate if it was good or not. "Looks perfect." She added and then sighed aloud, pinching the bridge of her nose. His question had been left unanswered for a moment because she'd been dabbling with it all day. She was frightened. Her foot were better suited on the ground. "I swim but I don't know if I can surf." The water wasn't frightening but she'd seen and heard enough of people having accidents. "Honestly, I'm scared for my niece more than me even if I know she's going to go in without fear." Billie was braver than most people she knew. "But I promised that we'd do it together so I'm going to stick to that. I'll need a board too." The offer of an opening was what almost made her run for the hills but she sucked in a deep breath and peered at her calendar. "Tomorrow will work." She said as she shot her sister a quick text indicating that she wanted to take Billie for the afternoon.

Vanna's smile fades as Selin begins to explain in greater depth, creating a serious atmosphere that makes Vanna feel still. She can sense that Selin is sincere in her words, and she appreciates the way Selin has chosen to approach the conversation. To be honest, Vanna wasn’t quite sure what to expect. She had been uncertain about how honest they would be with each other and had even planned to measure her own honesty against Selin's. Now, seeing Selin so open, Vanna realizes she wasn't fully prepared for this level of truth. However, instead of shying away from it, Vanna finds herself feeling somewhat relaxed, knowing that Selin is likely just as uncomfortable discussing these topics as she is about hearing them.

"Yeah, I get that. He’s a great guy, and he’s not someone you want to lose." The mention of "buckle bunnies" makes her laugh, as she briefly recalls hearing the term during a late-night phone call with Holly while she was in Paris. She doesn’t need to mention that Wes wouldn’t have done anything like that to Selin had they not gone through so many years of their on-and-off relationship. Deep down, Vanna senses that Selin already knows, but the truth hasn't overcome her paranoia, and Vanna can relate to that feeling.

She wasn’t sure why it surprised her to learn that Selin was aware of the strain in her friendship with Wes. It felt strangely comforting, making her feel a little less alone. When Selin mentioned it wasn’t personal, Vanna nodded with a knowing grin. She understood, and perhaps that was why Vanna never took her frustrations out on her. Maybe it was just a girl’s intuition. When Selin turned to ask Vanna why she had never tried to talk about it, Vanna tilted her head, briefly averting her gaze. An awkward smile crept onto her lips as she searched for the right words, leaning back in her chair.

"I think there was a part of me that knew it wasn't personal. You know, when your best friend is a guy, you're never going to just seem like a friend. Someone's always going to wonder if there's more. If there was or if there will be." There's a pause, then a smile that's offering more than what she shares. "But he's never liked a girl as much as he's liked you." She then brings her hands out in defence, letting out a chuckle.

"I mean, back then, of course." She grins, a bit mischievous. "I didn't want to get in the way of that. And, you know, at the same time... I was also working on my portfolio," she clears her throat, offering a slight shrug. "I locked myself in the studio for hours... I wasn't really putting myself out there either." Vanna hid for the latter years of her high school experience. It was easier than dealing with everything else. "Besides, I was figuring out some things on my own. I thought it made sense to drift apart." She regrets it now, to say the least. Being cool about your relationship changing with your best friend was incredibly painful, and she was still reaping the consequences. "Not the best of my decisions."

She nodded her head because despite Wes' shortcomings in those years where they were on and off, she still didn't have a bad word to say about the man.

As Vanna explained her side of things, Selin deliberately took the last of her flights. While she felt almost certain nothing had happened between Vanna and Wes before, she could never be positive and if she was going to find out in this very moment, then she wanted to be drunk doing so. It meant that her worries would be valid. But they weren't. And Selin felt worse about it then when she'd started as she flashed the woman across from her another apologetic look. "You don't have to say that." She replied on how he hadn't liked a girl more. She didn't know how close they were nowadays or whether Vanna had been around if he'd dated someone else, but being in the dark felt safer for Selin.

She let out an amused laugh at the correction. It was clear that if they'd given one another a chance, they could have easily been friends as their humor seemed on par. "That's understandable and I guess it became easier for me when you weren't around." It was harsh but the truth when she was a teenager. "It was all my fault, though. The not being nice or receptive and nothing to do with you. I should have pushed him to see you and bridge that gap because I knew you were important to him, and I do regret playing any part in the rift." Selin had grown since then and while jealousy was still a normal emotion that she felt like anyone, she didn't allow it to consume her as it had in the past. "It's just something about a cowboy with his shirt off that makes you go a little crazy, you know." Selin teased with a shake of her head. "No, I'm sorry, though. I really am. And I hope that in itself conveys how sincere I am because I never apologize for much"

Wes's fingers tapped the steering wheel in a slow, steady rhythm as she teased about the polaroids. He shook his head with a dry chuckle, the corners of his mouth tugging upward. "Nope," he said confidently. "No one else's up there. I wouldn't dare." He glanced toward her briefly, then back out the windshield, as if the road might offer him an escape from the weight of the memory. He swallowed and exhaled slowly, like the memory of them was something he'd learned to carry in silence. "I'd never doubt your efforts, but you sure made 'em look effortless, Yilmaz." His thumb rubbed the leather of the wheel absently, tracing invisible circles. "Still remember the first time I found one tucked behind there.. nearly drove off the road." A brief laugh slipped out, more surprise at the sudden rush of nostalgia than anything else, his gaze sliding to hers for a moment, like he was weighing just how much of himself to give away.

When Selin caught him out on flirting, a slow, almost shy smile pulled at his lips, but he kept his eyes on the road, as if admitting it out loud was its own kind of risk. "Old habits die hard." Her next question—the one about whether he ever thought they’d be here again—hung in the air longer than the others. His jaw tightened just enough to catch the light, his hands steady but his breath slow and deliberate. "Sometimes," he said. "But.. I didn't expect it'd feel this familiar. I should've known." He glanced toward the rearview mirror, as if trying to catch a glimpse of a past version of himself before looking back ahead. She spoke then of waiting — waiting for him, for something that never quite came — and it landed like a stone in his chest. Wes’s fingers curled around the wheel tighter, knuckles whitening, the weight of her words settling deep in his chest. "I know," he admitted. "You waited longer than you should've." His eyes flicked to her briefly, a silent apology there, before settling back on the road ahead. "I wasn't ready," he admitted, though they both already knew that.

For a long moment, there was a stretch of silence.. the truck moved forth, and the sun was beginning to set for the night. Finally, Wes gave a small, almost reluctant nod. "Yeah, it does." Strange how that could be, after all this time. Like nothing had shifted. And yet, how could it not? That unspoken thread between them had always been there, before things got complicated. Wes didn't say much — he wasn't a man of many words. But his eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary, like he was still trying to piece her together. Then, casually — like they hadn’t just stepped into something heavier — he cleared his throat. "You hungry?"

"Thank goodness for things dying hard." She partly echoed playfully while her gaze trained on the street. As confusing as it could be for them to test the limits or allow so much to remain unsaid, Selin couldn't help the way she eased into that person with him. He was a comfort she selfishly wanted to keep a hold of. Their chapter hadn't ever been closed—whether it be after high school or when she left— and while it could be complicated, there was a warmth in that. "We've always been easy, though. Even when things felt like it would be complicated for everyone else, it wasn't for us." She didn't remember the exact reason why they hadn't told people whenever they found each other during those short periods he was back in town. Whether they assumed it might be the last so there was no reason to, or because it felt sacred without the town being aware. All that mattered was that they were together, and then things felt... right. Easier, quieter, clearer. She fell silent and allowed the pregnant pause to take in the words for what they were. A truth she'd known all along. It was the reason why she'd stayed and continued despite only being given fractions and slivers of the male while he travelled and lived a life she never was apart of but only watched on the small screen of her phone whenever she had a break or saw across her feed from time to time. "You know I never held that against you, right? I got it." Her gaze flicked from him to his leg while she wondered whether or not she should even go down that hole as it could easily shift their night.

Luckily she allowed the moment to remain as it was and he broke the silence before her. "Starved." She peered around in order to get an inclination on where they were going and what was planned. "Don't let the heels and push up bra fool you, Wes. I'm still easy going. I'll eat anything from a street vendor or a food shack." Even though she knew he was doing well at the rusty spur, mainly because she'd visited often enough to know, she still knew that no one opened a business without getting into a bit of debt at the start. "As long as there's something sweet at the end, then I'm happy."

Then again, there was a lot she would do, and given how similar she was to her cousin— perhaps she shouldn't have been as surprised by her ability to poke where it hurt most. "I've voiced that I would never cut her off because of that but I was rather waiting for her to apologize. I fear that I would still be waiting." Part of her even wondered if she hadn't gone up to her, whether Alara would have had any intent to reach her. "I didn't believe I could find someone more stubborn than myself."

Though she knew fear had a lot to play with it as well.

It was nice to hear and she could see his perspective. "I hadn't seen it like that but I agree with you. It isn't a sign of immaturity." Perhaps some actions weren't her proudest or most mature but it was nice to have another person see beyond them and focus on the better parts of her. "Thank you, Civan." The brunette reached out to give him a side hug.

Alcohol had always been an interesting part of Selin's life. Mainly because many of her family and friends did not drink, and while she didn't drink a lot, she did partake in it from time to time. The complete restriction was where she had a problem with it. "I'll be certain to keep a bottle in my car for when I come to visit."

"That's good to hear. Have you been speaking to someone? Gone on dates? Anything?" She hoped he had a more promising love life than she did at the moment.

“— I implied that?” This particular retaliation left him at all but a loss. “You don’t think I get why you or your sister wouldn’t want to speak or be around me?” The lasting punishment already sealed itself, right from the moment the jarring realization struck that the Yilmaz family actually hailed from the area. “Seeking you out unannounced didn’t seem right.” 

Drawing a staggered breath, Levi attempted focusing so he wouldn’t make an incorrect turn before reaching Selin’s residence. “— You shouldn’t put that on yourself..” Nothing he did or said would change anything. All blame fell upon his shoulders. 

“Is your home just down the road here?” A finger merely gestured forward, slightly lifted from the leather padded steering wheel. 

"It wouldn't have been right and you would have been met with anger. But it would have been better than the alternative. At least I would have seen some kind of remorse." Maybe she was wrong and just finding something else to be angry at him for, but as she spoke, she felt that maybe she had a point. At least he'd tried. Even if it wouldn't have been received well.

She didn't speak, instead she kept her attention on the window purely out of not knowing what to respond. She'd already spewed venom and she was too exhausted to continue. All it did was hurt herself.

"Three houses down." She pointed towards the house. "The one with the black roof."

He makes a face, brows narrowing at Selin's choice of words. "I wouldn't phrase it like that..." Sure, at face value, it was very much like that, but in Benny's point of view, a year was not long enough to forget how much being in a relationship took a toll on him. "I wasn't ready for a relationship. We met by chance... I don't know," Benny sighed, groaning, burying his face into his hands. He looked up, a look of defeat still remaining on his face as he looked off into the distance for a moment. "We never got the chance to talk about it. We weren't on good terms for a long time, and by the time we were, it didn't matter anymore."

Benny narrows his gaze at the mention of tight corners and late nights, unable to hide his knowing grin as she tries to peer deeper into what exactly has gone on between him and her sister. He smirks, letting out a laugh. "No," he says, almost as if he had wished otherwise. Still, he shakes his head. "We..." he takes a moment, trying to figure out the best way he and Leyla had managed their relationship of seven years. "It's easy to say it's because we're professional and that we care too much about Everything to fuck it up just because we're horny," he says casually, mostly joking and using hypotheticals. "But uh, I don't know. There's a lot on the line." More or less. His job, Billie, their friendship.

"Well, thanks for the advice," he said, rolling his eyes, slightly annoyed with himself for expecting Selin to guide him through winning over her sister. "But it's good to know I'm the underdog—" He nodded, a bit pleased. "They usually win, right?" Benny grinned, and after a moment, he looked over at Selin with another nod, determination in his eyes. Eager to shift the focus off himself, he became curious about the type of guy Selin was into.

It wasn't that she was judging but she just wasn't one to play around when it came to her niece and the potential of her getting hurt if they ended up breaking up. "There is a lot on the line which is why I think that many conversations need to happen before you guys kind of jump into that. Not that I'm saying that's what you want but maybe taking it slow is the right way to go about it." They had a child to take in account and how it could be confusing if Benny started to sleep over.

"I think so. I'm rooting for you but I still think that you have a lot of work to do. She'll do whatever she wants to do and I know she has Billie's best interest at heart but I want you to respect that." He hadn't given her a reason to think otherwise. "And frankly, I'm going to have to bury you alive if you ever hurt her or my niece. I don't play around with my family and despite the fact that we've got this little banter thing going on and I do like you — I will fuck you up if you step out of line." She pointed at him with a narrowed gaze.

Her gaze flicked back towards him with a silent kind of appreciation. Civan reminded her of her brother and despite the pang that was initially felt, there was also an appreciation for the reminder of how supportive he used to be. He'd always been the first to hold up his sisters while the girls often worked on tearing each other down amidst their latest fight. "You think so? I know a few people who wouldn't say that." At least not when she was younger and working bars instead of doing anything productive with her life.

Her arms folded across her chest, features twisted into something that resembled slight pointedness towards his statement. "What exactly did she tell you about that night? Did she say that she tried to take my ex home in front of me?" Though she'd forgiven Alara for that, she wondered if she'd voiced guilt to someone that wasn't her on that situation. "You know I don't like to whine about my problems, Civan. But should that feeling ever arise, I'll come over and expect to receive advice, alcohol, and snacks."

"And the same hospitality would be returned to you."

A hand moved to rest to her chest as if he'd given her the best compliment she'd received all day. "People need to listen to me more. I'm full of good advice. So, everything is well in your life? Any other issues you'd like my input on?"

The to-go cup was warm in Frankie’s hand, but one sip told her everything she needed to know.

“Mm, nope. That’s not mine,” she said, wincing as she pulled the cup away from her lips and squinted at the label. “This is... sweet. Like, cavity sweet.”

The barista — bright-eyed, frazzled, and probably two hours into a twelve-hour shift — gave her an apologetic wince. “Oh shoot, sorry! You ordered the half-sweet oat milk, right? That one’s full vanilla and two pumps of caramel.”

Frankie smiled, easy. “It happens.”

“We’ve got yours coming up now. You can just keep that one, though,” the barista added with a shrug. “On the house.”

Frankie blinked at the cup in her hand, then turned to glance at the person behind her in line. She tilted her head, holding the cup out with a crooked grin. “Hey. You want an accidental sugar rush? I'll get you a new lid, of course.” she said. “Full vanilla, caramel, and a guaranteed jolt straight to the bloodstream. You know... in case your morning needed extra caffeine and a personality."

Though she paused when she was reminded of her meeting with a prospective client of hers and whether it would be appropriate to bring a coffee that would likely have their head spinning by the time they finished the house tour.

"You know what, I'll take it. I'm sure I can find someone who will want it." If her client didn't want it, then she'd chuck it in the garbage and not think about it again. At least the offer was there and that's what mattered more.

She peered at the label and grimaced once more as she took in the sweet concoction. "I couldn't imagine starting my days off like this, could you? I feel like I'd be crashing at twelve or would need another one of these to keep me going."

Despite enjoying sweets after a long day, she couldn't say she'd ever been one to appreciate it in a drink.

Even juices weren't ever something she craved or desired.

location — the railhouse (a surf and skate shop), where he works

The waves are starting to slow. Growing lazy and glassy, and rolling in like they’ve got nowhere else to be. Beck leans against the railing outside his workshop, a chipped mug of black coffee cradled in both hands, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. There's salt in his hair and sawdust on his jeans. He smells like the ocean and cedar shavings—like a man who’s always got one foot in the water, even while he’s standing still.

The last board of the day is drying inside, pale blue resin catching the last bit of sun through the warped shop window. He should lock up, go home.

Instead, he watches the light fade from the sky like he’s waiting for something. Or someone. “Funny how this town still looks the same,” he says quietly, maybe to himself, maybe not. His voice is rough from the salt and silence, but there’s a warmth tucked underneath. “Even when you don't.”

His gaze shifts as footsteps scuff the sandy path nearby—steady or uncertain, familiar or not, it doesn’t matter yet. He doesn’t look at them directly. Just sips his coffee and lets the moment stretch, heavy with things unsaid.

“'Sup?” he eventually asks them, casual but not unkind. "Sorry, the shop's about to close but the tiki bar is still open. And tonight's comedy hour." His sister's idea. Before Beck could even backtrack on the idea or say no, she'd already gone and posted up flyers. By then, it was already too late. "You're welcome to grab a seat early, settle in."

She was out to ensure that she remain the favorite amongst family and friends— and while surfing was out of her comfort, especially while learning to surf and putting her niece at risk of all kinds of different scenarios she'd already played out in her mind— she would still do anything for that little girl.

"She's young, maybe forty five pounds, and I figure that I could get any kind of cheap board. Do you rent them?"

Even as she spoke, she realized just how little she knew about surfing and given how she often times had difficulty keeping herself upright on ground, she didn't have high expectations for how that would go on water. Maybe her niece would be a natural surfer and be the one to teach her.

"While I'm at it, do you know where I can go to find someone who can give us a lesson? I'd ask someone on the beach but I doubt they're coming here to teach people."

"Anyways, let's go in and see what you've got. It'll take five minutes."

Wes glanced over when she climbed in, the passenger door creaking in that familiar way that made him think about replacing it.. even though deep down, he knew he never would. Her words drew a quiet huff of laughter from him, shaking his head before smiling over at her. "Yeah, well, some things don't change, I guess," he said, his voice rough in that kind of way it always got when he was feeling something he didn't know how to name. Or to voice. Her mention of the bathing suit nearly pulled a full grin from him, but he bit it back, glancing at her from the corner of his eye before looking out the windshield, the engine rumbling beneath them like a memory. "Don't tempt me, Sel," he drawled, drumming his thumb once on the steering wheel before shifting it into drive. "You know damn well I'd wait."

He caught the way she looked around the cab, her eyes flickering toward the visor, and for a moment, the years between then and now shrank into nothing.. almost as if he could feel it. "Ain't gonna find those polaroids up there anymore," he said, a small wistful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he flicked down the visor to prove it, before letting it snap up. "But I remember 'em." As if he didn't have them tucked away in a box in his room.. idiot. "Still think about that look on your face when you'd catch me finding one you hid." His eyes flicked back to her. This night held so much weight in a way for him.. it wasn't exactly a date, but it wasn't exactly not a date either, in some way, right? They were two old friends, who shared a lot more than just.. being friends, going to a simple thank you dinner.

Warm laughter filled the cab and she crossed her leg over the other, almost tempted to put her feet on the dash like she used to, before she knew the risk of an accident and her hips getting dislocated. "There better not be someone else's polaroids up there, Wes." She teased though it was only to shift the focus from the heat on her face. She'd worked hard on those polaroids and trying to get them in there before he headed out on the road and left her behind had been hard. They'd become a little reminder of what waited for him here while he was driving some buckle bunny around and entertaining her while he was riding in a different town, far away from home. "It was the highlight. I'd drive here and sneak them into your truck which isn't an easy feat with all the workers you've got on the ranch. A lot of effort went into them." She remembered a time when he almost leaped into his truck window when someone needed to move his truck and reached for the visor. "But it's nice to know you still think of them."