"Busy work is better than sitting around doing nothing." Jayce chuckled. "I've been good, really good, actually." He said with a smile. "How are things with Emma?"

"Right?" Atlas agreed with a chuckle. "Awesome. I'm glad to hear that man. Things with Emma are going great - we're looking into getting a dog soon...did I tell you that we eloped?"

"Oh yeah? That's awesome, and no, I did not know you two eloped, but fucking congrats man! We gotta celebrate. When was this?"

"I've been good, man. I can't complain. Work has been busy." Atlas laughed. "How about you, man? How's everything been?"

"Busy work is better than sitting around doing nothing." Jayce chuckled. "I've been good, really good, actually." He said with a smile. "How are things with Emma?"

"What if I don't want to do that?" He asked. "You know me and how I like my privacy."

"Privacy doesn't count if you never come out of your house and you're a hermit, Declan."

"Yes, I agree with that so much." She looked at Jayce. "Though, the laundry and household chores that seem to pile up as soon as I got home was annoying." She laughed.

"Yeah, I think that happens to all of us. I never understand how that happens because I do laundry the day before we leave."

"Yeah, exactly." Rowan agreed with a smile. "I'm glad that we're home, but it is always nice to be out of the country for a while."

"To be fair, it's just nice to be out of Red Edge for a while." He said with a laugh. "Hopefully we can go on another trip soon."

"Yeah, so did I." He said with a chuckle. "How have you been man?" He asked. "Feels like it's been a while since I last saw you."

"It does, but at the same time, you gotta feel like you need to catch up on your life, you know? Like laundry, working, all that fun shit." She laughed.

"Yeah, that's not fun stuff at all." He laughed and looked at Daphne. "I understand what you're saying though."

“ This is the creepiest event I’ve ever been to. I can’t really see, I’m already blind, and I keep tripping over god knows what,” Lori said to her friend. Then she looked around touching her body “ Wait, where’s my purse ? Has anyone seen my purse ?” She asked. @rededgerpstarterblog

Kennedy gave a smile to the man that she was talking to and glanced over his shoulder when she saw someone she knew. "It was great talking to you, but if you excuse me, I have a friend to catch up with." She nodded at him and walked over to her friend. "You came right on time, that guy was so boring." She laughed. @rededgerpstarterblog

"Well I'm glad I could help you out there." Jayce said with a smile. "How are you doing Kennedy?"

"Hey, what's up?" Declan asked the friend who had come into his house. He had been watching TV and just been having a lazy day. He put his hat on backwards and looked at the person. "Need me to kick someone's ass?" @rededgerpstarterblog

"Calm down man." Jayce laughed. "I need you to get off your ass and come be a part of the town."

Emersyn glanced out at the water before answering, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Because when you walk alone out here, it feels like your thoughts get louder,” she said. “With company, they tend to fall in line a little better.” She kicked at the sand lightly as they walked.

Jayce nodded as she spoke, understanding what she meant and he couldn't help but smile. "I get what you're saying, Emersyn." He promised her. "Maybe it's just one of those days in Red Edge where everyone feels overwhelmed but none of us know how to bring it up."

"Mine too." Kennedy agreed with a smile and looked at Jayce. "It's peaceful and who doesn't like to hear the sound of nature?"

"You know that's a good question, actually." Jayce said with a laugh. "The best thing about not having any tourists is that we can actually breathe and relax."

“Yeah, I know." He said. “That’s kind of why I showed up.” He chuckled softly, shoulders lifting in a half-shrug as he leaned nearby. “I’m doing alright.” Nash added after a beat. “New year feels…weird, but good. Like a reset I didn’t know I needed.” He glanced back at Jayce. “What about you? You feeling the 2026 energy yet, or still stuck in last year?”

"Why does it feel weird?" He raised a brow at him. "Ah, well that makes sense and that's good that you got the reset." He said with a smile. "I think it'll be a good year to be honest."

Emersyn smiled back at him, easing into his pace as they started along the shoreline. “Good,” she said simply. “The beach feels quieter when you’re not walking it alone.” She glanced out at the water, the wind tugging lightly at her hair.

"Oh yeah? How is that so?" He asked as he walked with her. "Clearing my head, I needed some time off of work if I'm being honest. It's been a long day." He looked at her. "How about you?"

Emersyn walked slowly along the edge of town, the late afternoon air warm against her skin as the sound of distant waves carried through the streets. She had nowhere in particular to be, just letting her thoughts wander as much as her feet did. Every so often she glanced toward the beach, debating whether to kick off her shoes and let the sand ground her for a few minutes.

"Emersyn, hey there!" He greeted her with a smile. "I do not mind at all, no. It'd be nice to have company while I walk on this beach for a while."