#romanmcnulty

WHEN: The Fourth of July Event, 2023.

Kathryn sat on the grassy hill, azure orbs fixated on the mesmerizing orange and pinks that painting the sky as the sun began its descent. The music from the performance fit perfectly. She cuddled further into her thin cardigan, its melodic notes blending with the tranquil ambiance. Lost in the moment, she felt that same gentle breeze caress her face, rustling her hair.

Kathryn turned her gaze towards the stage, she noticed a figure standing near the edge of the crowd. A man with tousled blonde hair caught her attention. Fender's words came flooding back in, to immerse herself in the area and become a part of it in order to exploit it. It was a lesson she'd been taught over and over.

Unable to resist the pull, Kathryn felt compelled to strike up a conversation. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage, pushing up from her spot, approaching the blonde-haired man. With a friendly smile, she said, "Kathryn," holding out her hand.

Sitting at the bakeshop's terrace with his cup of coffee in front of him, Austin was waiting for Peyton. But just like every other teenager, she was late because she really had to hit that one store with her best friend before she meets him. Yet Austin didn't take it to heart - he was glad she was having fun. So he took his time scrolling through his e-mails, making phone calls that couldn't wait.. he wanted to travel as less as possible, but with his business running both in Los Angeles and New York, it was a pure miracle he wasn't on the road at the moment. With that on his mind, he decided to put his phone down on the table and just observe people. It was a much needed change for his sight.. yet the one he didn't expect, but most welcomed was Roman McNulty taking a seat at his table. "See, I've been waiting for a blonde, but she's much smaller than you are, my friend," Austin greeted his long time friend with a grin not wasting time to call down the waiter. It was good to see Roman.. especially knowing what the man's going through. Losing Kate.. it was as if the shadow covered the entire town. Sending flowers for the funeral was the least thing he could have done, but it still pained him he missed the funeral. "By the way, the chocolate cake," the empty plate was taken away just a couple of minutes before, "damn good."