may your song always be sung,

“You say that like I’m not every day. Clearly I need to work on my pep.” The words are light as she settles herself down next to the blonde. With a nod she acknowledges the other woman’s drink of choice. “I do but I figured you might have surprised me.” Catching the bartenders attention she places their order before turning back towards her friend. “How’ve you been?”

“The world wouldn’t be able to handle that, more pep-- shit.” She laughed, running a hand through her hair before closing her textbook to hive the younger girl her attention. “Maybe one day I’ll surprise ya’, throw in some girly ass drink with an umbrella.” Roxy winked, nodding over at the bartender, “How have I been? Just tryin’ to finish this GED shit, gettin’ people drunk, ya’ know. The usual. I ain’t someone that saves lives like you, that’s a hell of a lot more interesting.”

“I’m proud of us too,” Logan murmured, the emotion disconnected from his words. What had he done that was worth being proud of? He’d scarped through to graduation, sure, but he’d used his diploma to become a really good criminal for the gang his deadbeat father used to help run. He had a whole armoury of fights to combat Roxy’s high opinion of him, but he was tired and aching, and there was a whole lifetime of re-convincing that could be had. He nodded at her concern; one that wasn’t new. “I know Rox. But it ain’t like I’m givin’ them my gun and waitin’ for them to shoot. I don’t trust many people right now, especially not cops, and you shouldn’t either.” He shot her a stern look, making sure the message sunk in. Jeremy had been hanging around the apartment far too much for his liking lately, and while he mostly stayed civil and silent about it, the law enforcement crackdown on the gangs had made it nearly impossible to breathe. The last thing he needed was more police when he got home.

Sometimes you had to pick your battles, and by the tone of her twins voice-- this wasn’t one to be had now; she knew how he saw himself, she understood his struggle, what she didn’t understand was how he couldn’t see just what an amazing, worthy of pride person he truly was. Take their situation and put it on someone else, they’d be dead right now; not fighting. Even if the fight was constant. “I know, but you and I both know it can go from low to high in the snap of your fingers. With the Mayan’s seemingly making their stay permanent , I worry. I know what these wars bring.” If she could protect Logan from everything and anything, she would-- in a heartbeat, but this was his choice and she had to accept that. As his tone shifted, one that she knew all too well, she pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh, “I trust Jeremy.” She said as she moved herself slightly on the couch, tucking her good leg under her. “He’s not going to do anything that could hurt /you/, because in turn that will hurt me-- he’s my best friend, hell I’ve known him since we were 8.”

Rolling his eyes in a teasing way, Jeremy was actually glad he had Roxy in his life. If she wasn’t there he wouldn’t have a scenes of normalcy. Of course he had his little sister but he also had Roxy and the girl did bring a less devilish outlook to things. Which was something someone like Jeremy clearly needed once you got to know just how dark he could get in certain situations. In a lot of ways the pair helped each other. Jeremy helped Roxy when it came to anything she needed to talk about, when it came to making sure she was healthy, and taken care of. Roxy took care of Jeremy by making sure he didn’t completely tip over into something that’d completely strip away any decent bone in his body. “You’re always gonna rub that in my face aren’t you? — and hey when did being the older one turn into the uncool thing?” Jeremy laughed, resting his arm on the top of the bench as they sat there. “And by save it you mean you can’t think of anything right now.” The male teased his friend, leaning over and nudging her shoulder gently before sitting straight again. “We’ll see how well you can walk this and how you’ll be able to do it with your eyes closed, yeah.” Jeremy said with reassurance in his voice, he did believe that that was a possibility one day but Jeremy had always been an overachiever. “Me? When have I ever been a shithead?” He asked, shaking his head before laughing. “For your information work is going well.” 

Roxy knew very well how much of a terrible person Jeremy could be--that’s the thing, could... he had so much good in him and yet wanted to put out this image of the opposite. It’s hard to think of someone you knew since they were 8 as a bad person, it’s hard to think of Jeremy as a bad person with everything he has done, and continued to do for her. When the day her mother died, he was the one that she ran to, and more or less hid away, paired with her brother, he was one of the only people that saw her at her true lowest, confided into a wheelchair, unable to walk, unable to take care of herself ;for that she’d never think of him as a bad person. Smirking slightly to herself, she nodded her head as if it was a matter of the fact-- “Haven’t I always? It’s just that it’s you, that’s what makes it uncool.” For two people as adults, it was always seemed they fell back into being children around one another, it was refreshing.  Jamming her elbow back into his side, she laughed-- whole and full, the sound of her own laughter was still odd to her own ears. so she cherished it every time it left her lips. “I can barely walk in a straight line with my eyes closed, baby steps dude, baby steps. “ When in reality she was just scared of failure, “You, a shithead???? You’re right, when are you ever? Good to hear.” Roxy paused for a moment, looking down at her hands before over at him. “Any new updates for me?” She asked every week, never missing a beat as if he’d be able to tell her who caused her to be this way, she just wanted a name, that would ease so much off her shoulders. 

Natalie nodded a few times, as she jotted some things down. Documents for the court, and a list of her client’s requests. After clicking capping her pen, she stood. “Okay, Rox. I’ll be right back.” 

She left the room for less than ten minutes to file the necessary paperwork for Roxy’s release, and returned with a bag of personal affects. “Here’s what they took when they charged you. The gas station will contact me in a few days with your request’s arrangement details, but in the mean time..” Natalie said with a grin. “Wanna go grab some pie?”

He offered his arm to her. “Duly noted, huh.” He smiled. “Yeah, she’s out at work and I wasn’t needed for a while, so I figured I’d take a walk and see if I bumped into anyone. Glad it was you.” He walked into the cafe with her and led her to a table. “Hang out here, and I’ll get us coffee.”

Taking the mans arm, just moved her cane to the other so she could rest her weight on that and not in fact him, “Ball and chain released for an afternoon.” She teased, nudging him with her elbow-- walking in two with the other, she was thankful for the cafe, the seat, running her palm over her thigh before smiling when the mug of coffee was placed in front of her. Taking a long sip, she peered over at him over the mug,”Thanks for the coffee sugar, I needed the caffeine to get through the next few hours. How are you huh?”

“My kind of girl,” Dominic laughed, he drank a lot as well. There were moments he felt he had that addictive gene both his parents had - but that was besides the point. The point was, he’d more than likely drink with her just as hard if they decided to play some drinking game right then and there. Nodding his head, he took another drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke out in the opposite direction of the girl. “I guess that’s why you’re the bartender and I’m not. You can handle idiots, I just get annoyed and fuck it, your boss will love me once I throw a little charm into the mix. You’ll be out of trouble in no time.” Dominic laughed, as if it was clockwork, the moment he heard her name, he knew exactly who she was. It was years ago that they’d helped each other out when they were kids and it was years ago he told himself the girl was probably long gone by now, yet here she was and thankfully he was wrong. “If I say I remember you won’t force feed me vegetables again, will you?” Dominic let the words leave his lips with a hint of sarcasm to them and a smile across his lips. “It’s been a long time.” Noticing the cane, Dominic couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to her. 

“You better believe I’ll bring a bullhorn and everything; I gotta make sure I’m the loudest mother in the crowd,” Lydia promised with a sly smirk. She didn’t plan on going all out as far as a bullhorn, however, she did buy a few party favors which blew confetti everywhere. 

The mention of Roxy’s mother caused her heart to hurt. She missed her best friend dearly and thought about her every day. Once a week Lydia went to the cemetery to visit her friend, telling her all the amazing things their daughter was accomplishing. “Where do you think I got the attitude from?” Lydia questioned, her grin growing.

This time Roxy couldn’t help the giggle that left her lips at that image, Lydia with a bullhorn-- to be honest there was this... giddy pride at the thought of graduating, the little girl that dropped out finally playing catch up? It meant a lot to her. 

It wasn’t the first time a patient had moved the conversation away from them - Riley was used to it. She understood, it was easier than dealing with the situation at hand. “I have three more hours,” Riley answered as the doctor entered the room. Giving him Roxy’s information, Riley stayed back while the doctor looked over the chart and asked the few questions he needed to in order to properly ‘diagnose’ his patient. While the doctor spoke, Riley listened, taking mental notes for when she became a doctor as well.

When the doctor left, Riley approached Roxy with a small smile. “Do you mind sharing what happened to your leg?” the blonde asked, leaning against the counter.

“Hope they go by fast, ER’s have to be some kinds shit, the things ya’ see.” she muttered, thinking to all the times she had been in one-- it was always hectic, she couldn’t imagine working in one. When the doctor came in, she felt more comfortable as it was one she had seen multiple times. “Hey Doc.” She smiled, letting herself be poked and prodded, only a small noise of discomfort left, hearing he wanted x-rays on her leg was... not what she wanted to hear but ‘We just want to make sure that’s leg’s okay’, was what she was told.

Leaning back against the hospital bed, she rubbed her temple for a moment before the nurses voice rang through and she paused for a moment, eyes falling to her leg, “I was shot, three times-- about 7 years ago.”

Rebekah smiled up to the girl. It was the first time for anyone to thank her for her service with the police force. In a sense she felt as if she didn’t deserve it, on the other hand, she was helping to keep Hakwins County safe … as safe as she could help make it. “No thank you,” Rebekah responded, her smile still lingering. “I actually haven’t heard that from anyone yet, so thank you for that.” Taking another sip from her drink Rebekah finished it. Sliding the glass toward the bartender, the girl nodded. “I’m Rebekah, by the way.”

Ask anyone else that was related to the MC in any way, they’d say the cops were the worst of the worst, hell she knew what her father used to think about them; pigs, ones that will rat you out and get you locked up, untrustworthy, but when Roxy was shot all those years ago, she’d never forget the officers that stayed with her waiting for the ambulance, the ones that still checked in on her, she was thankful. It was hard not to smile back when such a pretty girl was up at you, it was near a foreign feeling to her- smiling. “Nice to meet ya’ Rebekah, I’m Roxy.” She shot the woman a wink as she took her glass, set on making her another drink. “So tell me, what’s goin’ on huh? I got two ears that are real good at listenin.”

Logan didn’t try to argue with Roxy; as much as he hated that she was reluctant to leave Hawkins and start a new life, a big part of him really didn’t want her to. He’d never been alone, much less without his twin, and sometimes she was the only thing that saved him from spiralling down the same path as his father. He could feel it sometimes, the rage. Bubbling away somewhere deep inside him. He wondered if she felt it too, and if it terrified her as much as it did him. But just as Roxy had pointed out, with the bad came the good. Every traumatic memory was accompanied by a fond one of their mother. Protective. Strong. Unmoving. He felt closer to her here, even if it hurt to think of her. “I know what you mean,” the blonde uttered, resting his chin on his sister’s head as she placed it on his shoulder. “She’d be proud of you. Gettin’ your education and all that, after everythin’. I know she’s always lookin’ down on ya, smilin’.” The thought brought a sad smile to his lips, and he looked away quickly before she could catch the soft hurt behind his eyes. “Don’t worry about me, I’m gonna be just fine.”

Maybe that was one of the main reason’s Roxy couldn’t leave, this was the last sliver of their mo they both had, with every tainted corner of remembrance of their father, there was this light that was their mother. There was memories of Sunday breakfast, late nights where the only thing that put Roxy to bed was soft lullabies, her mothers fingers running through her head-- absently her fingers went to her mothers wedding ring she had on a chain that hung loosely around her next. A smile came to her lips at her brothers words, that all she wanted, to make her, to make him proud; “She’d be proud of us. I mean, we’re okay.... we’re safe, together, that’s all she ever wanted. Fuckin’ hell, I’m proud of us, of you... even if I don’t say it a lot. I’m real proud of you, and I know when I can’t, Ma is watchin’ over.” The smallest of smiles tugged at her lips, a sad one-- because she thought, would heir mom be proud of them? Would she be proud of who they had become given the circumstances? She hoped. “It’s my job to worry, but I know you got a good head on, I trust you-- it’s everyone else I don’t trust.” 

Straightening her shoulders, Rebekah couldn’t help the smile creeping along her lips. “I don’t want to bore you with my issues,” she told the girl, letting her back it the chair. “But I wouldn’t mind admiring a pretty girl from the other side of the counter.” Adding a wink with her compliment, Rebekah’s small smile grew into a grin. “Let’s just say the life of a cop in this town isn’t always the best kind of life.”

If there was one thing Roxy always wanted to do, it was make people smile-- being a bartender, sometimes she saw people at the lowest of lows comin’ in, but if she got one smile outta them, that’s all that mattered. She got to interact with so many different people, it was where she thrived. “Trust me that ain’t shit borin’ to me, half the reason I like this job, I like listenin’.” She shrugged, grabbing a few glasses and near cloth to wipe them down. Her nose wrinkled as she smiled, dimples peeking out slightly; “I’d fuckin’ imagine, ya’ll are in the middle of a crossfire, huh? When was the last time someone thanked ya’ for protectin’? Because let me just say thank you, yall deal with a lot of shit, doesn’t get recognized enough.”

“You’ll tell me when graduation is, yea? I’ll be right there in the front row with Danny, cheering you on when they call your name.” Lydia was proud of Roxy and all her hard work she put into getting further in her life. “No, no one is causing any trouble,” the woman confirmed. “They know better than causing anything around here. I might not be affiliated with them, but they know hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

“You, Danny, and Logan-- I expect yall to me the loudest of the bunch, real embarrassin’ and all that.” She winked,  tapping her fingers against the ceramic, nodding her head to what she said. Good, the last person who deserved to get mixed into any of this was Lydia, not that Roxy could protect much, but she had a cane to wack people with. “Soundin’ just like my Ma’, pretty sure she used to say that all the time, s’ why no one messed with her in the club.” She laughed at the memory,  “I’m glad, some of us just need to somewhat normal, you deserve it.”

“You, ma’am, just might be my new favorite person,” the woman announced, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Please, if you could, I’d forever be in your debt.”

“Don’t worry about it, s’ my job.” Roxy smiled as she mixed the officers drink, maybe adding a bit more liquor than it called me, but hey-- woman lookin’ out for other woman, that was it. “You the type to talk to the bartender about it? Or, I could look real nice wipin’ down some glasses, just like in the movies. She teased.

Raising another brow at the girl, Lydia sighed in defeat. If anything, she was proud of Roxy for working towards her GED and Lydia offered any and all help she could offer whenever Roxy needed it. At this moment, it was the coffee. “I’ll do one shot of espresso,” the older woman compromised. Pouring the coffee into a mug, Lydia accompanied it with a shot of espresso and placed the mug in front of Roxy. “How are your studies going?”

It was comparable to a child the smile Roxy got on her face when she was given her way, she gave her a thankful smile as she wrapped her fingers around the warm mug, taking a long sip before answering; there was always such a comfort in this place, hell-- she studied here the most, tucked away with the bustle of people, it was odd for it to be so quiet. “They’re goin’ good, hopefully by the Spring I’ll be graduatin’, with a fancy piece of paper.” She grinned, dimples on display. “How’s the shop? Good, right? No one causin’ any problems?”

Logan closed his eyes, listening to the syncopated rhythms of their breathing. In moments of silence he often found himself being tortured by thoughts of ‘what if?’ What if their Dad had been killed by the club when he ratted them out, would they have turned out any better? The blonde remembered life before that moment, watching his mother take the shape of a punching bag every night while he hid from his father’s rage. The twins had grown up too fast, the damage had been done before they’d had a chance at childhood. He wasn’t a believer in things like destiny, but he had a hard time seeing possible happiness for the pair no matter what they could have done. They were dealt shit cards, and now they had to live with them. Well he did, at least. Roxy was free of the club. There was nothing stopping her from leaving if she wanted to, having a chance at a real life while she still could. “Thanks Roxy…” Logan mumbled, knowing he couldn’t. “You don’t have to stay here and waste away like the rest of us. When you get your GED, you gotta get outta here and start fresh. You gotta do that. For us.”

“Where am I gonna go?” To be honest, it wasn’t a thought that hadn’t crossed her mind, but it was always was shot down seconds after it crossed her own mind. “I need to make sure you’re okay, and I can’t do that a city over, waitin’ for a phone call that somethin’s happened. Not when you’re patched. There is no startin’ fresh for me Lo, I’m too tainted.” The last word broke as it fell from her mouth, pressing her temple to her brothers shoulder. “I have to stay, this is the closest to Mom we’ve got, you-- this place is a shit hole,but you two are the fuckin’ light that make it easier for me to stay. On the outside, I’ll be alone-- I can’t be alone.” And maybe that was her problem, Roxy didn’t depend on many people, as a matter of fact she could count on one hand the people she did, and they were all here. “Just, be careful, always. Yeah? That’s all I can ask.”

“Yeah well, the worst people are always the luckiest,” Logan muttered, practically spitting the words into the air. Nothing else needed to be said about it, they’d both felt each other’s pain at the hands of their father, and still felt it every day. His jaw clenched at the mention of her leg; yet another thing he blamed himself for. “Yeah. I know. I’m workin’ on findin’ the bastard. But I still don’t think Matteo had anythin’ to do with that, and if he did, what do ya think he’d do to us next time if I tried to walk? It wouldn’t be a warnin’ shot to the leg, that’s for sure.” Feeling the insensitivity of his words as soon as they left him, he softened; wrapping his arm around Roxy, and pulling her close. “You ain’t gonna lose me, I promise that. But whether you like it or not, bein’ with the Angels is how I’m protectin’ us. It’s the only way.”

Roxy had nothing to say to that-- because those words rang truer than anything she could say back. He was dead. And yet, they were still left cleaning up the mess, it felt like thy’d be cleaning it up for the rest of their lives at this point. She would never know why it happened, was it bad blood still from their father, was it because she refused to prospect? She needed those answers, but no one had them to give. “Has to be someone older.” Roxy muttered, ‘warning shot to the leg’ a small price to pay, being made a cripple. She knew what these men were capable of, and the thought of the retaliation if Logan tried to leave? It wasn’t fair, but when were things? Leaning into her twins chest, she closed her eyes for a moment-- the silence in the air screaming at her to speak. “If you ever want out, just tell me and we’ll go. We’ll find somewhere else, this doesn’t have to be our home, but... thank you, for protecting me, lookin’ after us, all that.”