* SOUTHERN CHARM !

      "   oh!    oh    ---    shit!   "    sam has taken a mighty fall.   so desperate to not soak someone else,    that when she runs into the man with a large jolt,    instead of soaking the man,    she turns the cup inward    &   dumps the scalding coffee on herself.   "   oh god. fuck!   ---   i didn't get any on you, did i, sweetheart?   "

     "   --------    i'm sorry, what?    don't you think that's a little too excessive?   "

     she's almost hesitant to offer her help,    but even though the town of calendo is small,    it can be really confusing if you start hiking it down the wrong looping backroad.    "   ------    sorry, i really don't mean to intrude or anything,   but i'm actually about to head that way if you wanted me to show you.    it's walking distance.   "

     "   welcome to the library,   how can i help you?   "    she says in a very deadpanned voice.    between the long hours spent at the college working her ass off,    the customer service job,    &    here, she was burnt out.      her hand comes up to hold her heavy head up.    "   hey, do you need any help    -----   "   she starts to say a bit more aggressively before she sees his face.   "   hey, didn't you go to school around here or something?   "

       "   i wonder if i follow him if he pissed himself.    ---    you really scared the shit out of him.   "

       his speech about not giving up makes her smile for sure,     but it's mostly just because the sentiment is sweet.    when she was younger, she had high hopes about leaving.     now they just got smaller & smaller.    taking another bite of jerky,    she waits a minute before responding to the next topic they'd gone off on.     after all, she didn't want to waste her time by getting her hopes up about leaving again.      "    my other half is italian,   "     she says with a grin.    "   it's the side that my family embraces the most.    my last name's russo.    it's all about italian cooking, italian living   ...    none of them will acknowledge the fact they are half irish too.     ---    i guess that's what i'm for, right?   "    "   ew, plumbing,   "    she laughs out.    "   i guess you really do have an assortment of experience, huh?    i wish some of my cashiers had that much work ethic.    ------    oh, it's okay!   seriously, this bag of jerky's just fine.   "     her eyes settle on something though,    &    her head tilts to the side.    "   when did they put a fence there?   "    she mutters to herself, before giving a look to daniel.    "   you ready for an adventure?     there's something i want to show you.   "     sam doesn't wait for an answer,     instead she's already heading towards the fence,     putting up a foot to climb it.

       she actually smiles as he asks that question.     sam plops herself down on the bench,    before answering.    she looks up at him with a smile.    "   everyday.    i actually fantasize about running away sometimes.    or i guess it would just be called leaving when you're twenty-one.  "    a laugh escapes.    "   but i don't think i could keep myself going for long.    money's a thing, unfortunately.   "       she listens intently as he describes the bits    &    pieces of his life to her.    sam's intrigued from the moment he admits to being irish.    "   i'm half irish!    i know that sounds lame,    but it's one of those things you can't help but point out.   "       "   what kind of jobs?   "   she asks before taking it upon her to nose around the bag of snacks.   she pulls out a piece of beef jerky.      "   i'm stealing this by the way.    it's the only thing in the bag i can eat.   "      which was true.    she really didn't see any other snack that wouldn't make her diabetes want to kill her.    "   ---    diabetic,   "    she explains with a shrug as she takes a bite.   "   don't worry.    i did it to myself.    i used to be really, really fat,   "   she says with a loud laugh.