Saphira Taylor

the peach pit was her second home. rowan had known it to be a place where she could leave her soul on the makeshift stage every night and the locals would either live for it or completely ignore it. either way, she felt like it was a safe space. however, she’d not been on stage in quite some time. after her time away, she hadn’t performed in front of people for almost four months now. rowan wasn’t privy to stage fright, yet here she stood, staring at the spot she’d be taking soon, in front of all of the seated guests. she turned to the person next to her, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. “have you ever performed for open mic night?” rowan inquired, curious. “because i’m nervous as hell.” @peachesstart​

“All I’m saying is that you should let me cut your hair into a pixie. It’d be sick. Like an undercut with a half shave and we leave the top long. You could rock it.” Jamie said as he slurped his noodles that swam in the ramen broth. If there was anything Jameson was good at, it was convincing people to go through with questionable ideas. But Saphira had probably grown used to his antics but now. “I could even shave a design into the side! Like a pot leaf or the Louis Vuitton logo or something.” He told, an encouraging smile on his face. “Come on, you don’t trust me? It’d be badass to see you hoppin’ out of an ambulance with killer MILF cut.”

@svphirataylor​

“As fire as I’m sure that would look, that’s a no from me.” The brunette said, chuckling lightly as she knocked down his suggestion. The shortest she was willing to go was a long bob, anything else felt unlike her. But she was used to Jamie always wanting to change up her style, that was nothing new. “Maybe when I’m actually a milf we can go with that. I’m sure I’ll be boring by then so Ima need something to spice me up a little bit.”

“Oh wait. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. Ooh! Please make me one asap.” Scar chuckled rubbing her hands together with excitement. She knew that a lot had changed in their friendship, she wasn’t the same person she was a few months ago but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t going to be the friend she had always been. “Next month, which feels so weird to say but I’m kind of ready but then again freaking the hell out.”

“’Cause you’re not as cool as me, but that’s not your fault.” The brunette joked as she proceeded to make her friend the same drink that she was having, but this time without some alcohol in it. It was definitely making it this way, but anything for a friend. “Next month? Wow, that’s so crazy! It feels like just the other day you told me you was pregnant and now you’re gonna be a mom in less than a month. Is everything all set and ready?”

Malcolm swallowed hard, a bead of sweat visibly making itself known on his forehead. It broke his heart to hear her talk like this, knowing damn well it wasn’t true. When she was there, it was bad. And now, though nobody knew it, things were beginning to get bad again. He frowned. His hand wanted to cradle her cheeks but his gut that was currently braiding itself into a knot decided otherwise. So one stayed idly by his side while the other still gently held her wounded knuckles. “Saph, listen to me. It is not your fault.” Was all he said. It was truly all his brain could conjure that didn’t sound like a rehearsed lifetime movie monologue. Calm was beginning to consume his body, more so than it should have. But seeing Saphira smile forced a similar smile on his face. “No, no. No. I’m not mad at you, b-” Baby, it almost rolled off his tongue but he stopped it. “I, um, was mad at Day for saying what she said and I mean, she did also keep it from me. Dom did too, but you know, I’m the bad guy for being mad. So.. I guess I’m not mad. Can’t be.” Malcolm’s voice as soft as the ever present smile on his face, his grin as warm and inviting as his tone despite the subject matter of their conversation. “I don’t like when you avoid me.” Mac blurted as he looked down at her.

Despite hearing him say that it wasn't her fault, it was hard to believe it. When Saphira loved, she loved hard. It was her biggest fault because despite not seeming like it, she had a lot of insecurities --the main being abandonment. Yes, she had mommy issues. And more often than not, her insecurities ruined anything good that she had going for her. Such as her relationship with Malcolm. Had she not felt like she had part of the reason that he wasn't doing so good, she would've tried to fight for their love. As hard as it was, losing him was better than watching him completely lose it again. He deserved to be happy, even if it wasn't with her. Accepting that reality was the tricky part though. Every fiber of her being still loved him. Still craved his touch. Even now after everything that happened, all she wanted was for him to pull her into his arms and tell her that they would be alright. “They didn’t tell you?” She was surprised. Saph could’ve sworned they would’ve told just to see the man off on her. Seems like Daysia knew she was in the wrong after all, although what was Dom’s excuse? “I’m glad you’re not mad at me.” she stood a little closer without really thinking. “I know, it’s just easier sometimes you know....I don’t wanna fight anymore. Not with you.”

“Oh, I definitely think I’m asking the wrong person.” Sutton joked with a smile curling up on her lips. “But what I need you to do is convince me that I should keep doing what I’m doing. Fuck the bitches that tell me otherwise.” She was so used to being the role of reality show villain on social media, that it was hard for her to consider any other public image. “Well I told my manager that they should maintain my social media but they told me I’m a grown woman. So you know what, fuck it. I’m grown and petty. I don’t know why anyone would expect different from me.”

“It doesn’t sound to me like you need me to tell you that.” the brunette chuckled lightly, “I do one-hundred percent think that you need to do whatever the fuck you wanna do though. People bitch and moan regardless, so might as well do what makes you happy and what makes you money.” Saphira shrugged slightly. She was never one for filtering herself just to please other. It got her in trouble plenty of times when she was a dancer and it gets her in trouble from time to time today. “So they won’t maintain your social media but got something to say when you handle it however you want? They need to suck it.” she rolled her eyes playfully. “And we need to go get us some drinks.”

@svphirataylor​

Benji had just finished his shift at the bakery, he was beyond ready to go home and sleep for a couple of hours. Rubbing at his eyes as a way to keep sleep away for a little bit longer, he frowned when he saw a bag laying on the ground. Picking it up, he looked around to see if he saw someone in a potential state of panic. Because he would much rather give the bag back right away than go to the cops.

How she misplaced her bag was beyond her. Usually she made sure she had everything on her before she left anywhere. But she had been in a rush to get home. She hurried back to the bakery, hoping that they hadn’t closed yet. And luckily she had made it there in time as when she walked in the man waas holding her purse. “-Oh thank god.” she said, letting out a relief sigh. “I was scared someone stole it.”

“ you look like you had a rough day. “ he didn’t spend a lot of time outside of his apartment unless he was doing something that didn’t involve business, but he did know most of his neighbors. or at least he’d like to think he did. word traveled around like wildfire if someone did something specific for a job. plus, he was pretty sure he vaguely remembered seeing her in an ambulance when there was an issue outside their apartment building. he just hadn’t really been here for the last three or so weeks. traveling always took a lot out of him and honestly, he was just thankful to be home. a meeting with a company that was interested in promoting his new game had been the news he wanted, so at least he got something out of the travel. “ i’m jason, by the way. i kinda live next door to you. “ he gestured behind him. he didn’t live that close, but hey, at least it was the same building. “ i’m thinking about going to grab some dinner and coffee if you want to come with me. “ he was always awkward when it came to speaking to people, but he really wanted to make more friends. being antisocial was a drag. “ i’m not trying to ask you on a date or anything, i swear. i’m a lot of things, but i’m not that creepy. “ @svphirataylor​​

Saphira glanced at the man and shrugged slightly. Being a paramedic meant long hours at the firehouse. Sometimes she felt like she spent more time at work than anything else. But surprisingly, she liked her job. The pay wasn’t all that great, but it was a rush sometimes. She was doing something that she actually liked doing. Even if after a long shift she’d come home tired as fuck. “I’m Saphira.” the woman said shortly. His face looked vaguely familiar, she assumed she probably wasn’t the first time that she ran into him at the towers. There were many new faces in town, most of which she couldn’t put names to their faces since she couldn’t be bothered. The woman thought about his suggestion and while she was ready to decline, did she really wanna cook when she got inside? Probably not. And the chances that mercy had made anything to eat were low. “Um, sure.” she chuckled lightly. "As long as you’re not creepy, I guess.  Though you totally look like you could give some Ted Bundy vibes.”

mason was sitting down in the booth of the cafe. it was late and he had just gotten off of work, his uniform still on his body and his eyes looked heavily tired. though still a gleaming smile tugged at his lips as they looked at the person standing close to the table. “you know- typically i would write you a ticket for that.” the male said teasing, “though if you take a seat across from me and have some dinner on me then i might just let you off.” the male said pointing to the empty seat across from him. 

"Well, I ain't gonna say no to a free meal." the paramedic said as she grabbed a seat across from the man. She was finally getting off work, but unlike him the brunette had changed out of her work clothes into something more comfortable. usually she would go home and make herself something to eat, but tonight she was too tired to bother. she knew the second she got home she would smoke the fattest joint and go straight to bed. “if you do this often, you should let me know so I can pop by, too. how was work today, sheriff?”

Ain’t no law with the claw, but when it comes to music that definitely applies. A shit one of white claws turned into the guys and I fucking around and definitely covering some bomb ass spice girls and Brittany Spears songs. Too bad we forgot to record that good stuff.  

“Come on, not one of you guys got at least a quick snap of that? I doubt that.” the brunette said. If there was any proof of that night he was talking about, she sure would like to see the footage of it. It sounded like quite the blast. 

“Good.. that’s good to hear.” Malcolm said as he licked his lips. He wanted to avoid her gaze, fearing that the contact would confuse his mind further but he knew her eyes were vulnerable. That’s how he always seemed to make them. Mac ran his thumb over the top of her hand before leading her hand gently back to her side. He was expected her to pull away, maybe redirect the anger that caused such bruising on him. After all, their last conversation about wedding rings and the what if’s called for it. Malcolm’s eyes flicked up as Saphira spoke, finally matching her weak eyes. Is that what she truly believed? “Of course not,” He assured her, a soft whine in his tone. “And that’s why you did this? Because she said you did? … Or because you believe you did?” Malcolm took another step towards her magnetically falling back into the position they always stood except his hands now sat idly at his side. He sadly clicked his tongue before raising his hand up to tuck some stray brunette strands behind her ear. He couldn’t help himself. “Saph, it isn’t your fault. It never was and it never will be. I’m sorry that she told you did. But I already talked to her because that is absolutely not what I think.” He assured her before looking down at his boots. “I’m not mad at you, if that means anything to you. I was really worried about you. I have, like, ten drafted texts asking if you’re okay. I think in one I asked you what Taylor Swift album you were at emotionally: like Reputation mad, Folklore emotional or like Lover-type happy.” Mac weakly laughed before his soft smile diminished into nothingness.

"I just---" she sighed, "I don't know, Mac. She said that and I just saw red. I've been blaming myself for months because I do think that I am partically reponsible for everything that happened with you. You needed me and rather than being there I was making it worst at times and picking fights. And maybe she's right --maybe it is my fault. And I thought that maybe she said that because that's what you believed. And you told her because you could never tell me that. It really hurt, y'know? To think that that was how you felt about me." the woman confessed as she looked up at him, unsure of how much sense her words were making. As he put her fear to rest, Saphira was surprised to hear that he had spoken to Daysia about it. And that he had sides with her. A part of her expected him to side with the other woman. Especially after seeing the other woman’s face. How did saph not look like the bad guy then? The woman smiled softly, rolling her eyes playfully when he mentioned the taylor swift albums --which saphira honestly didn’t know that closely. “I thought you were gonna be like super mad at me, honestly. I’ve been avoiding you because I just can’t handle that right now.” she admitted, biting her lip.

“You and Jill are going to be the death of me.” Scarlett sighed shaking her head with an amused grin on her lips. Being pregnant meant ditching her old lifestyle, making changes that bettered her and her new family she was building however she did miss the antics of hanging out with the two old friends she’d get into trouble with. “Listen I promise as soon as I have the baby and get all settled and am feeling not like a mammoth I will have Clarissa baby sit and come out with ya’ll. But in the meantime, I’m drinking milkshakes not mixed drinks.” she laughed.”Don’t I look like I’m about to pop?” she frowned. @svphirataylor​

“Okay, but what about like a mock strawberry margarita at least?” The brunette suggested. Pregnancies made her uncomfortable, but she wasn’t going to ghost a close friend just because she was weirded out by pregnancy. She still wanted to hang out with Scarlett and have fun --not like they used to since they couldn’t. But still some fun. “You really do look like you’re gonna pop any day now. When are you due again?”