choose happiness.

TASK ONE: ABOUT ME

Travis Hawthorne (Matt Bomer) has always lived a life of luxury, heir to his parents’ estate since the day he was born. Despite their wishes, what their son really wants is something money can’t buy — love and acceptance. After being publicly outed by a business competitor, Travis moves to Mystic in hopes to start anew. But will he find the place he truly belongs, or will this impulsive decision lead to further disappointment?

“I’m pretty sure that was purely luck.” He couldn’t help but laugh at himself. Now that he thought about it, he honestly couldn’t remember the last time he had actually gone bowling. To be fair though, when he really thought about it, he couldn’t remember the last time he made time for a guy’s night like this in general. Work had taken up all this time for years now. And while he was proud of himself for making the time for tonight, he knew how much work he still had to put in in order to not prioritize his job so much.

As he listened to Travis’s reply, he nodded his head in understanding. “Do you feel like the principal appreciates all the work you put in to make it all happen?” He paused for a second to think about how he should word the next question, eventually deciding to just go for it. “And do you ever wish you could go back to just teaching?” Sam wasn’t trying to insinuate anything one way or the other, he simply wanted to make sure his his best friend was happy. 

–

      Despite his lack of coordination, Sam was truly one of the most intelligent people Travis had ever met. He was passionate and dedicated, and he had a good head on his shoulders. Hell, he was the type of man the Vice Principal probably would have gone for if he hadn’t known his sexual orientation. It was also the reason why the man’s line of questioning caused him to stop and think, and maybe even worry, for a little while. Was he appreciated? Did he wish that he could go back to teaching?

       Allowing his fingers to comb back through his hair, Travis shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Truthfully, he didn’t know the answer to either question. “I think so. I mean, yeah. I do think he appreciates it. He always thanks me and does what he can to contribute. As for teaching, though... I think part of me does, yes. I miss talking about a subject I’m passionate about and being able to see the students learn and grow as individuals. But I feel really lucky to have the position I do. It’s something teachers often strive for.” 

cosmos: what's one thing you wish you could say to someone you are no longer friends with?

galaxies: what are three things you want to do before you die?

waxing: what is your proudest accomplishment?

waning: what is your biggest regret?

full moon: what type of person do you hope to be?

contemplation: if you could wake up one morning and everything in your life was perfect, what would that look like?

night light: who/what makes you feel safe?

ponder: what do you want to do with your life?

sunset: who is someone you thought would be in your life forever, but you no longer talk to?

midnight: are you a different person late at night than in the early morning?

candle light: are you an indecisive person?

reflection: have you ever changed something you liked about yourself to satisfy someone else?

sweet dreams: are you happy?

nightmare: what are you most afraid of?

constellations: who is someone you could talk to for hours and never stop?

reminder: who is someone you will never forget?

11-11: what's something you want, but feel like you will never have?

shooting star: who is someone you trust to help you make the right decisions?

earth: where do you feel most at home?

soothe: what's one thing that always makes you feel better when you're upset?

“How kind.” he responded with a roll of his eyes, shaking his head as the waitress walked away. “You’re really taking that ‘no kid left behind’ mantra to heart, aren’t you?” With a chuckle, Sam rose to his feet and picked up his bowling ball. He did his best to aim for the center, but the ball still only knocked over one or two pins before rolling into the gutter. The second shot rolled right into the gap the two pins he’d knocked over he’d created. Wincing, he made his way back to the seats to join Travis. “Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to break the news to Kennedy that her dad isn’t the best at everything.” With a sigh he glanced over at his friend. “So, how’re things at the school?” he asked curiously. It had been a while since they’d gotten to catch up. 

–

        Watching in amusement, Travis couldn’t help but release a breathy chuckle in response to Sam’s ‘lucky’ throw. While it definitely wasn’t anything significant, the man could at least be proud that he had managed to hit something this time around. “Look at the bright side, Sammy. At least your ball stayed in the lane this time. Maybe you’re improving. We’ll get you whipped into shape in no time.”

        Standing up from his seat, the man reached for his ball, this time pausing to answer Sam’s question before he played. “School is going fairly well. It’s just a lot of pressure sometimes, you know? The Principal makes his expectations clear, but it falls on me to execute those wishes more often than not. I love the people I work with, but I do miss teaching at times. It was rewarding in an entirely different way.” Lowering his hand, Travis turned toward the lane and swung back his arm, knocking down seven of the ten pins on his first go. 

Adele wanted to put on a front for her siblings that there was no cause for concern, and everything was okay. But the truth was, she’d done nothing but fight with the son she was estranged from until recently, and the stress of, well, everything was severely limiting her capacity to handle it all. God, she’d had a meltdown outside of an ice cream shoppe, for god’s sake, not long ago. The middle Hawthorne found herself in a predicament that only she knew how to navigate into and out of. If she admitted that, perhaps, she was struggling with attempting to be a mother to her already adult child, it would be a sign of weakness — like an animal, rolling over and showing their belly. But, what if the vulnerability manifested itself as an olive branch? A chance to bridge a gap it felt like only she longed to close, at times? 

“Um,” she admitted slowly, “he’s not liking Mystic very much, if I’m being honest.” He’s not liking me very much, she thought. “It’s been… it’s been interesting, that’s for sure. I don’t know,” the brunette finally concluded, even the volume of her words trailing off with the end of her sentence.

@hollyhawthornc​

—

Truthfully, while Holly had asked the question out of genuine curiosity, she hadn’t really expected her sister to answer with anything other than a dismissive comment about how perfect everything. She was a bit taken aback to hear Adele’s genuine answer and it took her a second to recover from her surprise. “I can’t say that I blame him.” Holly replied with a chuckle. “Mystic’s not exactly the most exciting place to live… especially, I’d imagine for a teenager.” She let out an over dramatic sigh. “If I’m struggling finding ways to entertain myself, I can only imagine how tough it must be for Parker.” She would have to meet Parker soon. Holly liked him already and was excited to get to play the role of the cool aunt… that is, if Adele allowed her to. 

Chewing on her lip a bit, she considered how unsure Adele sounded towards the end of her answer. The youngest Hawthorne couldn’t remember the last time she’d ever heard Adele sounding unsure of herself. Maybe this was a chance for a bit of an olive branch. “I can imagine your living situations have been an adjustment for both of you, as well.” she added after a moment, glancing between her brother and sister furtively. Mystic was an adjustment in and of itself, but Holly wasn’t a parent on top of that. 

@travishawthorne​

—

        Travis couldn’t help but sit back and watch as his siblings interacted. It was interesting to note even a hint of vulnerability in Adele’s answer, and Holly’s response made it clear that she had picked up on that much as well. Despite their differences, the two of them would always be there for one another if it came down to the wire and the thought alone was enough to bring Travis some peace of mind. 

        “It’s funny, out of all three of us, I feel like I’m enjoying my time here the most. It’s certainly different than the way things were back in Texas, but don’t you guys find comfort in that? In some strange way.” The man knew that his situation was far different from either one of his sisters, but they had both endured their own challenges. Especially when it came to their parents. 

Sam shook his head as he watched his best friend score a strike. This was exactly why he was glad he had done this with Travis before he took Kennedy one day. Clearly, he needed the practice. He let out a long sigh before glancing over at his friend, “Since when did you become a professional bowler?” he asked teasingly before glancing over his shoulder as a waitress made her way to their lane. “Hi, could I get a large pepperoni pizza, a Sam Adams and whatever this show off over here is drinking?” he pointed in Travis’s direction, a smirk on his face as he waited for the waitress to take his order. 

-

       “I’m afraid there’s still a lot for you to learn about me, my friend. Don’t worry. I promise not to forget about you when I’m famous.” Although Travis wore a proud grin, it took everything in him to stifle his own laughter. While he had become rather decent at the game, he wasn’t nearly good enough to play professionally. And bowling certainly wasn’t the most brag-worthy sport. 

        As his friend placed their order with the waitress, he plopped himself down into one of two plastic seats and allowed himself to rest his feet in between turns. “Make that two,” The man added before the waitress took off with her pen and notebook in hand. Clearly, she had been just as amused by his performance. “Don’t worry, Sammy. I’ll hold myself back a little this round and allow you your chance to shine. Just try not to aim for the gutter this time.”

      Although there were a lot of responsibilities that came along with the role of Vice Principal, Travis was rather unprepared for just how many of the school’s events had fallen onto his shoulders. While the Principal often ran the show, it was his job to execute the other man’s plans. And that included finding many of the guests for Mystic High’s annual Career Day.

      Knowing that it was a good opportunity to highlight many of the local businesses their town had to offer, he had reached out to places like Mystic Fire Department, The Gazette, and Whitmore & Co. to see if they would be interested in presenting to high school’s juniors and seniors, who would be making some big career choices within the coming year or two. Luckily for him, they had received an overwhelming response from many of the town’s business owners and with the day finally here, it was now his job to help their guests settle in.

     First on his list were the lawyers from Whitmore & Co. Admittedly, he had to wonder how the students would react to such serious businessmen. But although their booth wouldn’t include any free samples like Sugar Daddy’s or include any of the cool uniforms that the Fire Department had to show off, he hoped that the teenagers would find interest in the possibility of attending law school.

      Making his way up to the well-dressed gentleman, Travis immediately recognized him from the beach party. Even if this time around, his outfit was far less casual than the first time they’d met. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Ben Holder. I’d say we both clean up rather well. Thank you for coming out today. It means a lot to the kids.”

💔 - Someone who broke my muse's heart.

"My parents. I honestly don't know if I can ever forgive them for the years of trauma they have caused my siblings and I. I also hate that social status is far more important to them than the happiness of their children."

👌 - Someone my muse has only met once, but will never forget.

For the briefest of moments, Adele envied the way her younger sister just charged forward, fearlessly. Or, at least the way she made it seem like she was without fear. She remembered being her sister’s age and still feeling so unsure of herself. Though the middle Hawthorne would never comment on her mild envy or relay it in the form of a genuine compliment, it was a rather curious thing to think about. Holly would merely use the positive exchange as an opportunity to highlight her own superiority, even though any superior qualities she did have were often undercut and undermined by her consistently cocky attitude, mouth full of wisecracks, and inability to ever take the high road. Holly was never afraid to go even lower when someone went low. It was scary, and admirable. And, again, not something Adele felt like addressing. The candor wasn’t warranted or appreciated in present company. 

She spared a glance at Travis and saw the nerves plain as day on his face. The last time she remembered being able to so clearly recognise nervousness on his face was actually the day of his wedding. He’s really trying, Adele thought. 

As she followed her siblings into her brother’s kitchen, she kept her gaze on the ground, until it was time to pass around wine glasses, then the middle Hawthorne allowed a small smile to lift her brims as she accepted her glass, then raised it in a toast.

“To showing up.” 

@hollyhawthornc

-

Holly quickly snuck another sip, before lowering her glass. As much as she hated being tricked into dinner with both of her siblings, a stunt right out of her own playbook, Holly could see tonight for what it was. Travis was truly attempting to push them in the direction of starting over, in a way. They had moved into a new town, without their parents hovering over them, instigating a lot of the drama and tension that caused problems in the past, and this was a chance for the three Hawthorne siblings to determine for themselves what their new lives would look like in regards to each other. She knew, deep down, that the least she could do for her brother, was to try and make an effort where Adele was concerned. 

The problem was, she didn’t really know how to try. It had been so long since she’d had a civil evening with her sister, she wasn’t even sure where to begin. She glanced back and forth between her siblings, but when it became apparent that they were both very much engaged with tasting their wine, she decided it was up to her to try to break the silence. “So, Adele, how is Parker liking Mystic?” 

-

     If given the choice, Travis knew for a fact that his siblings would have chosen to be elsewhere. Not because they didn’t love each other deep down, but because this kind of bonding had never been present within their household. In fact, aside from social events and Christmas dinners, Travis couldn’t remember the last time they had this much time talking without the presence of their parents around.

    Taking a sip from his glass of wine, the brunette’s eyes fell upon his youngest sister as she spoke. The topic of Parker had always been a bit of a sensitive one and despite the fact that Adele and her son were finally working towards building a relationship, he knew that this conversation would go one of two ways. “That’s right. I still haven’t seen the kid since I moved here. I imagine it’s a rather big adjustment for him. How has it been living together?”

👰 - Someone my muse would consider marrying.

"I can honestly say that there isn't anyone that I would consider marrying at the moment. Hopefully that'll change eventually."

👻 - Someone my muse considers a best friend.

"Definitely Sam and Braedan. Ever since moving here, the Single Dads Club has been a huge source of happiness and support. I can always count on them for a night of drinking, or a pep talk if needed." @samuelbrennan @itsbraedanmueller

🍓 - Someone my use has never met, but wants to meet.

"Not to be cheesy, but I would love to meet the man of my dreams. Somebody I can share a true and genuine love with. It's more of a wish than anything realistic, for now, but somebody I would hope to meet in an ideal world."

🔥 - Someone my muse would die for.

🌟 - A compliment for Johanna Malcom.

bold which habits your muse has

starter for: @travishawthorne​ & @itsbraedanmueller location: rock ‘n bowl  time: 7:30pm, friday 

Since Sam’s epic misunderstanding and subsequent humiliating display of making an ass of himself with Braedan and Jamie, the single dad’s club of mystic hadn’t really had a chance to meet. Or rather, Sam hadn’t wanted to meet with Braedan. But since mending fences at the beach party, Sam figured a drink or two, some good pizza and, for the heck of it, some good old bowling was probably overdue. He’d called his friends and arranged a time they could meet up and now, here they were.

Letting go of his lime green bowling ball, Sam sent it careening for what he hoped would be bowling pins. At the last second, the ball instead dropped off into the gutter. “Damn it!” he groaned, before turning back to their chairs and plopped down on his in defeat. “Okay, someone please explain how on earth you two agreed to bowling when we all know damn well I shouldn’t be allowed to step foot in a bowling alley?” he chuckled glancing between his two friends. 

                                                          * * *

Braedan couldn’t remember the last time the Single Dads Club had reunited for a few beers, pizza and fun. Definitely before that strange night when Sam made a scene in the middle of the restaurant after seeing him and Jamie having dinner together. Thankfully, after a talk and a few drinks at the beach party, the two men had finally fixed their relationship and the story was now forgiven – because obviously, he would not forget to crack a few jokes about it to his friend.

When he received the call for a bowling night, he knew that he could not refuse. Not that he was an extremely talented player – oh hell no – but he knew that this night would be great, and he missed their little group dynamic. He pleaded his sister to watch his son for the night and headed to the Rock ‘n’ Bowl. Entering the place, he looked around. It seemed like the décor had never changed, and he felt a bit nostalgic for a short moment, before being interrupted by the sound of his friend’s voice. His gaze turned to find Sam, and he quickly turned to see the ball roll into the gutter. Laughing at the man’s question, he smirked, picking up his own bowl, knowing too well that he was not exactly better. “Because it’s great to see you send the ball straight in the gutter. It comforts me.” He joked, before letting go of his own navy blue ball. He was not much more successful. Just as he thought he was going to hit the bowling pins, the ball curved to the right, and fell into the gutter. “What the hell, I was super close! It’s so unfair!” He complained, laughing. “I’m gonna grab some beers. This game is rigged.”

–

       Now that the dust had settled and his two best friends were on speaking terms, Travis had been looking forward to a night out with the boys. Although their plans had usually landed them at Moonie’s or one of the mens’ houses, the bowling alley offered a nice change of scenery, and an opportunity for competition that Travis couldn’t turn down. 

       Sitting off to the side, the vice principal watched as Sam took his first shot, laughing as his lime green bowling ball rolled straight into the gutter. “Sam, that is exactly why we agreed to this. Gives Braedan and I an edge on the competition,” he teased, before leaning back into his seat and allowing his other friend to take a crack at knocking the pins down. “Although judging by Braedan’s abilities, I may be at even more of an advantage than I thought.”

       Selecting a red bowling ball from the rack, Travis lined up his shot and swung back his arm, watching as the ball rolled down the center of the lane and crashed into the pins, knocking them all down on his first shot. Whether it was the number of field trips he had attended or children’s birthday parties he had hosted, he had certainly developed a unique skillset over the years. “It’s not rigged at all. You guys just needed to stand back and let an expert show you how it’s done. Although I’ll definitely take a beer if you’re buying.”

Emir had no information about why Holly was in town, so when Travis began dropping facts, he tried not to look too surprised about it. Even if it was clear that this wasn’t Holly’s decision to leave Houston, it was her decision to disappear from his life and that was something that he still couldn’t wrap his head around, despite how much he talked and claimed that nothing could hurt him, she had and seeing the contrast of how open and inviting Travis was, compared to Holly, made Emir wondered if they could ever communicate like this. Like two normal people. “I am actually opening up my own business here, have you seen that new dealership in town? That’s mine. Besides, you know me, I travel back and forth a lot so I don’t mind making Mystic my home for at least a few months while business starts.” Emir chuckled at Travis’ words, finding them honestly so different to the concept that Emir. Granted, he had always been in a position of power, power that he never really used, but there was a line that he had never really thought about crossing and that included, wearing a Hawaiian shirt while cooking for other people. He didn’t even cook for himself, so imagine doing it publicly. Emir couldn’t relate. “Ah, so like a charity thing? That’s very nice of you.” Emir shrugged, not really knowing how ti answer. “I have been here for almost two weeks and for the most part I have been working so it’s been fairly okay. This is the first time that I am socializing and so far, I have actually met some interesting people so I can’t complain. And I’ll be here often, like I said, it’ll depend on business because, as I’m sure you know, I do have other companies in other places so I’m never in one place for too long. I do think this should be home for a few months, at least. So, like, do you like it here? Or are your parents also to blame for your being here?”

-

      At the mention of Emir’s new business, Travis couldn’t help but raise a brow in curiosity. It definitely seemed like an odd location for a dealership. Not because the small town didn’t need one, but because he wasn’t sure how the town of Mystic, Connecticut had even been on Emir’s radar. “Well, that’ll certainly be an interesting endeavour. I wish you the best of luck and hope that everything goes smoothly.”      Nodding his head, Travis used his tongs to rotate the four hot dogs he had lined up on the grill, making sure that all sides were charred to perfection. While he had done some charity work for his family in the past, there always seemed to be some kind of motivation behind it. Whether it be a TV spot, good press for their winery, or to encourage new business. “Yes, of course. Always on the go, you are. I’m jealous in a way. It must be nice to travel. Meet new people and see new things. My parents are definitely not to blame for me being here. In fact, they sent Holly to try and persuade me to come home.”

     Clearing his throat, Travis allowed his gaze to wander toward the beach as he questioned just how much information he should relay to the other man. “I’ve been wanting to get away from them for a while. Have a fresh start. And when Adele mentioned opening her practice here, I did some research and found a position available at Mystic High. I didn’t expect to get it, but the timing worked out. I suppose you don’t know that Charity and I have decided to separate, do you?”

“Thanks man.” Damien spoke as he grabbed his plate, pulling out some loose cash from his wallet a moment later and handing it over to the other man. Large parties/get-together’s had never been Damien’s desired scene, not so long as the option for intimate gatherings between only a handful of people existed. Still, to be in a new place meant he was obligated to get a feel for its culture and the events, however small or big. That was always his one exception to these sort of things. Mystic, though very diminutive, had a better sense of community that he ever would’ve imagined and he’d somehow let himself get roped into watching the various crowds of unfamiliar locals on the off chance that it might provided a decent distraction. The majority were so familiar with each other, deep in conversation or otherwise, that it wasn’t long until he began to feel intrusive for even looking at someone too long (the daydreamer in him often stared into space for multiple moments and many confused his faraway looks as blatant gawking) when he wasn’t taking pictures. Despite that, most of his interactions had been favorable—however brief—and he could appreciate the personable energy most people had seemed to give off. It wasn’t something that he was used to but something that he enjoyed all the same.

“Two beer cap is smart, especially on the job. Afraid I’ve already passed my quota. Doesn’t help that the sun is really fuckin’ bright today—” Damien paused, his eyes making contact with a child to his right who looked to be no older than eight as he sat down on the bench. “—oh shit, my bad, I didn’t mean to curse buddy,” he apologized as the young boy continued to grace him with a supercilious expression, Damien’s countenance easily transforming into one of amusement as the boy stood up and ran away into the crowd before returning his attention back to Travis. 

Flashing the other man a grin that he hoped conveyed his mistake, Damien shrugged his shoulders in surrender, “See? Foot in mouth syndrome from all that alcohol but, uh, yeah I was taking photos actually. Surprisingly some people still prefer the old fashioned way as opposed to selfie-ing every aspect of their life away. It was a better turn out than I thought.” To be this excited over a simple meal and chatty to a stranger wasn’t the norm for Damien; but nothing about this specific trip was normal in the first place. Taking his first bite from the hotdog, Damien dramatically groaned out loud; “I don’t know if I’m just that drunk or if you’re actually a very modest grill master but this is better than usual. Thanks again. Seriously. Might have to get some more.”

-

      After depositing the customer’s cash into the small, metal lock box, Travis couldn’t help but chuckle in response to his slip up. As a father, he knew just how easily it could happen and could remember all of the times his ex had scolded him for swearing in front of the twins when they were young. “I assume you’re not a parent, huh?” He mused, knowing that the habit was one he had been happy to break. Especially when working in a professional setting where he was surrounded by kids. 

     “I’m glad you had a good turn out. There’s something far more special about having your photo taken, or having a physical copy of that memory. I’ll never quite understand the selfie or social media trend. People are always posing with their Starbucks drinks or posting outfit photos, rather than sharing actual memories these days. And I certainly appreciate that. While I definitely think it’s the alcohol, I will gladly accept the compliment and would be happy to get you another.” 

Braedan chuckled at Travis’ suggestion to visit Sam at the first aid booth. Maybe he was right, if he found him somewhere he couldn’t run, his friend wouldn’t have any other choice than listen to him. He watched his son run away and shook his head, eating his burger, considering what he’d be drinking later.

“No offense here, but you’ll definitely need a shower. Or at the very least to rinse off at the beach.”

 He chuckled. “So how long are you gonna stay here, exactly?” He asked, crossing his arms. “Not that I want to give up on you, but the bar is calling me.” He grinned, looking in direction of the improvised bar by the beach.

-

       In response to Braedan’s comment, Travis chuckled, lifting the lapel of the brightly-coloured Hawaiian shirt up to his nose. Whether or not he was getting a whiff of the meat grilling beside him, he could almost confirm that the aroma had clung to his body in some way, shape or form and nodded his head in agreement. “You’re probably right. Although I’m not sure that putting these clothes back on afterwards will help. I think you’re destined to have a plus one that smells a whole lot like ground beef. Just be thankful it’s that over body odour or hot trash.”

       Following his friend’s gaze, Travis eyed the bar, feeling it taunt him from across the beach. While he certainly knew his place as a volunteer, it was hard not to want to step away, even for a little bit. “Pretty sure I’m supposed to be here until I run out of meat and I can’t exactly leave things unattended... you don’t happen to know any professional eaters, do you?” He teased, eyeing the refrigerated cooler holding all of today’s supply.

       Yasmin beamed, offering a cheerful smile as he began preparing her order. After making payment, she began helping herself to the toppings available — and she didn’t shy away from adding as much sauce as she needed to to make her burger perfect. “Travis, right. It’s lovely to meet you too! —I am, actually. You know my mom?” It was no telling that Rosie knew everyone in town, always having been the kind of social butterfly with an infectious personality to connect with anyone and everyone she came across. “The burger tastes delicious, if you ask me! She might just want to snatch you up for the diner if she finds out,” amusement coloured her features as she took another bite. “Well, today is your lucky day! I’ve actually taken a few shots of your booth and was wondering if you’d mind me adding one to the paper? I feel like things like this need to be celebrated, you know? A community coming together not only to have a wonderful time but, to support each other too.” 

-

         “I do know her, yes. Which probably tells you how often I must frequent her restaurant! She’s an angel. Always giving me extra fries, too, as if my waistline needs that kind of generosity.” With a small chuckle, Travis mused over the idea of him working at the diner. While he had certainly been enjoying his afternoon behind the grill, something told him he wouldn’t be able to handle the rather fast pace of Rosie’s kitchen. It was one of the many reasons he admired anyone willing to work in the food industry.

         “Not at all. I would be happy to represent the school by being featured in your article. Plus like you said, anything we can do to support each other, right? I’m really looking forward to reading it.” Yasmin’s statement was a rather good reminder of why he had finally left Houston, and why he felt more at home in Mystic than he ever had before. There was that quiet comfort that came with living in a small town. A feeling that made everyone feel as though they had a place here. “This place is really so different from my hometown. And in a good way. Nothing like this ever happened in Texas. I never felt like I was part of a community before moving here.”