and I am out with lanterns, looking for myself

“DC, whoa, bein’ here must be a big culture shock to you. I don’t even think half the town knows where DC is.” He laughed, though there was some truth to it. “What brings you down here? We don’t really got a lot of politics or cherry blossoms or any of that DC stuff, can’t imagine what’d be appealin’ to you.” Maybe it was nosy, but this was Frostford, everyone knew everyone, it was hard not to ask somewhat intrusive questions when you ran into someone new. “Still think you should go for it, the ramen, you look like you could use the pick me up. Little slice of home.”

“Yea, it’s...been something else,” she laughed. “Everything is a lot slower here but somehow also a lot crazier, which is pretty surprising.” Maybe it was because of how small the town was but she felt like there was always so much happening around her. She heard it come the people she worked with, the few people she’s connected with since moving to town and the gossips that came in and just went on and on about whatever popped up in their minds. “I have family in town, the McDowell’s. I’m visiting them.” It wasn’t a completely honest answer but it was close enough to the truth. “I think if I went, I would have to just go to every single restaurant I miss from there and then I’d die from too much food. Because, have you ever been to DC? We’ve got the best food.” 

She furrows her eyebrows. “Hey, you can be a spunky twenty year old if you want to be. Self deprecation totally isn’t the vibe. You’re whoever you want to be.” She tilts her head. At this point, there was probably nothing Violet could say that would change her mind. “Look Violet, it’s pretty simple. You were deprived of childhood experiences,” she starts, shaking out her arms, “I’m gonna make sure you’re un-deprived. We’ll start super easy.” She quickly moves to wrap her arms around Violet’s torso, moving forward to tackle her to the ground. 

“You’re right. I am whoever I want to be; which happens to be a thirty-four year old adult who doesn’t want to wrestle.” The look on Alina’s face told her she wasn’t going to get out of this. She considered bolting it but that might just entice the other girl even more. She was still trying to think of talking points that could get her out of this situation when suddenly Alina’s arms were wrapped around her and she was being pushed onto the ground. She did very little to fight it, thinking that would be worst than just letting it happen. “Ok, we’ve wrestled and you won. Can you...” She trailed off, trying to wiggle herself free. 

He exhaled heavily, his nostrils flaring as he took in her words with great consideration. “Does it help if I tell you the hangover I’m dealing with is off the charts and I didn’t even think to think of that?” He chuckled heartily and raised his brows. “If only I could actually remember, I bet it’s a hell of a story.”

“Not entirely but I’ll be nice and give you a pass.” She’s been there though, so hungover that all cognitive processes were depleted. “But I would recommend trying that, maybe? You know, assuming you want to get rid of this look. But I also think you should consider just leaving it. It doesn’t look too bad. Whoever did your make up knew what they were doing.” 

“It wasn’t a joke.” He frowned. “It wasn’t a stand up special. I was in a public place trying not to be completely serious. It’s called making small talk. Being nice. Being polite.”

“Yea, I’m not really a small talk kind of person. Kind of just prefer when a person gets to the point.” Maybe it was how she was raised or her previous job experience but the idle chit chat phase always made her impatient. 

“Wasn’t I?” he asked. “I thought I was being funny, and suddenly you were mad.” 

“Thar was you trying to be funny? That’s...don’t quit your day job.” 

“You can’t even give someone a compliment without wanting them to know you don’t think they deserve it,” Javi pointed out. “I was nice to you when we first met.” 

“Were you?” She laughed. Their first interaction was brief and yes, she may have been the ruder of the two. But she’d hardly call him asking her last name and then asking if she flossed within two minutes of them knowing each other as being nice. 

“I didn’t think you had the capability to be nice, and then you gave me a compliment. I’m surprised,” he said, shrugging. “It’s human. Just like curiosity.” 

“I’m nice!” Maybe nice was a bit too strong. But she wasn’t inherently mean to others. “You don’t have the capability to be nice.” 

She didn’t sound like she believed him— but then he’d spoken to her three times and she basically never sounded like she believed him. “You just said I have Southern charm?” 

“And I said I didn’t swoon.” Maybe that wasn’t completely truthful. He was good looking, he obviously knew it. She wasn’t going to boost his ego though. “But obviously that isn’t the part you cared about.”

“I didn’t think about it until you were right here in front of me.” He raised his beer to his lips, pausing as he thought about her words. Instead of taking a drink, Javi tilted his head down to look at her properly. She was short. 

She had a big personality, clearly, if he’d just noticed how short she was. “You think I’m charming? Thanks for the compliment.” 

“Mm, I’m sure.” She didn’t believe him. Something told him he’s thought about it more than just now. But she knew that would be a while argument that she didn’t care to have. She rolled her eyes at him when he of course only heard the part he wanted to hear. “I think you’re annoying,” she corrected. 

“It doesn’t affect my life,” Javi said, shrugging. “I just don’t think asking someone their name is personal information. And I feel like purposely lying about your name in a small town like this when the person asking for it knows your family— that just seems like you’re asking to make a fool out of yourself.” 

“Clearly it has since it’s bothered you this much,” she laughed. “How was I supposed to know you know my family? I get it’s a small town but not everyone actually knows each other like that. You know, I think you’re just upset because you’ve got the whole southern charm thing going on and I didn’t swoon over you.” 

What was he trying to say? She’d lied, Javi knew that, and that was really what he was trying to get at. “It just seemed like you were being purposely obtuse. So you could do this, right now, with your whole smile and the ‘I can be more than one thing.’ You wanted to mislead people.” 

“Or I don’t give out personal information to complete strangers,” she countered. Maybe part of her did enjoy being vague or purposely obtuse as he said. She definitely wasn’t trying to mislead him with this end goal in mind. “I don’t think you’re too upset either way.” 

“I haven’t tried anything. Well other than picking at it which did nothing but make my face hurt.” His eyebrows furrowed together as he thought for a moment. “Well, I started off just casually drinking and then someone started buying shots and I lost count around ten. The next thing I knew I was waking up in a gay bar in Montgomery.”

“Well, ok...first problem right there,” she laughed. “Why didn’t you, I don’t know, try washing your face with soap and water? Or use baby oil or something other than picking at it?” Why she thought a guy would know what to do with glitter and rhinestones on his face is beyond her. “Well, sounds like you had a lot of fun that you don’t remember.” 

“Oof, tough break, ramen ain’t somethin’ you can get around here. Not the good kind you’re talkin’ about anyway.” As much as he loved the food in Frostford, and he did, clearly, one of the best parts of living all around the country was getting to experience different culinary treasures. Food in Buffalo? Decent. Food in Miami? Awesome. “Where’s back home for you? If it’s not a very long flight, I say go for it. Treat yourself.”

“No, you can’t. I’ve definitely tried attempting to make my own and it’s not the same. It’s very sad, actually.” Maybe one of the things she missed most about home was the food. She really lived in a good city that had a crazy amount of restaurants with a wide range of options. Frostford had good places to eat but it was nothing compared to the city. “DC. If I go back any time soon, I think it’ll need to be for something a little bigger than ramen.” Maybe the job she ran away from or the relationships she has neglected since arriving in Frostford. 

“I don’t think I prepared well enough for this. Where are you originally from?”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Just don’t wear long sleeves or too many layers?” She suggested. “I’m from DC. What about you?” 

“Hell, if that doesn’t get a rise, I’m a little scared to ask what the hell people are doin’ ‘round here. You mean you got better stories? I ain’t really one to get all up in a tizzy ‘bout the gossip in this town, but even I’m a little curious.” He sprawled his items out only to realize he might as well be one of the crazy kooks around here too. “I don’t know if I’ve got much to unload, but now I’m feelin’ like I should explain why I need all this epsom salt.”

“Definitely have heard better stories. But I’m not really the gossiping type so.” She shrugged her shoulders, a little smirk on her lips. She’s actually been told some of the wildest stories since she started her job at the Dixie Drug, most of which she was sure weren’t true. “Can I guess? You’re making a crazy amount of homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker,” she joked.