books & beads

"I figured you'd be up for it!" she replied with a grin, gesturing for Jayla to follow her towards the snack counter, already brimming with people with similar ideas. "Oh, it was for sure a long day! But you know what, I feel pretty good right now," she paused, letting out a laugh a few minutes later, "maybe that's just because I know the next stop after this is my bed."

"I can't say no to nachos," Jayla shrugged a tad dismissively. Really, any food was probably a good idea at this point in the night. Jayla quickly followed Lena to join the line at the snack bar which was unsurprisingly packed. "You did a great job beautifying everyone! But I don't blame you being happy to go to bed once we leave here. I honestly was not sure about coming out, myself. I was tired just after prom. But I'm glad I pushed through and did not call it a night too early."

Closed Starter for @xjaylahopkins

"No worries," Jayla assured Mariah, she understood that she was busy. "Of course!" Jayla reached for Mariah's phone to better look though her collection for something that matched what the older woman would be wearing to the prom.

WHO: elena & @xjaylahopkins

"Nachos.. I can go for nachos," Jayla nodded after a moment of contemplating the idea. "Honestly, you had a much busier day than the rest of us, I wouldn't blame you if you got your own. You need to re-up your energy somehow!"

Oh, yeah, I went to five during high school. Not all mine. Do you have prom plans? As in like, the things you're doing that sandwich the event? Or plan on going with someone or ones? Not that you need to - just curious.

I barely went to my own. I mostly had to because I was in student government. I have to say that last night was much more fun. Then I ended up going to the Fun Spot with some friends afterward. It was a good night! How about you?

For: Open ( 2/5 ) Location: Big Kid Prom

Jayla needed some air, outside and away of the packed ball room for a bit. She went to sit at the benches outside when she came across Sabrina. "Yeah. It gets a little too.." her waved around as if explaining her personal overwhelm as she took a deep breath with a nod. "I just needed some air. What about you?"

who: nadine & @xjaylahopkins

"Even with the thicker heels?" she asked, eyes on Nadine's shoes. She supposed any tall shoes did that. In fact, her own heel selection for the evening hadn't been too smart. "I wouldn't blame you if did get rentals though and now I'm a little annoyed that I didn't think to do that as soon as we got here," Jayla laughed softly. "My night was really fun! I'm kind of glad I decided to come out here too instead of going straight home. What about you?"

"Of course! Have to cover all of the bases," and in a library, she knew there were a lot more options than just books that people might want to read, or programs for kids. But that was the joy of it -- there really was something for everyone if they looked hard enough. Running her fingers gently through Dusty's mane as they moved along, she grinned over at Jayla. "They were like a rite of passage as kid! I feel like lizards and frogs were a … weirdly very popular thing, come to think of it? There were those little animals full of sand, too." At the mention of Halloween, she shook her head and blew out a breath, "hard to believe fall and spooky season are going to be right around the corner, now."

"We have to have a variety, especially in the summer. We're unofficial babysitters this time of year," she chuckled. Of course, she didn't mind. It was always much more prefered the kids be at the library than getting into any trouble. "Every era has their animals. I feel like recently, all of the kids were into llamas all over again. And axolotls and capybaras."

I would never call you that. I would like to keep my extremities though. Quiet mornings at the beach, hanging out with people, like, generally, even though those are things I do anyways. I am kind of shifting into Prom mode more now though. Sixth times the charm, as some they somewhere might have said. How about you?

I appreciate your lack of judgement. I think many would agree with you. Quiet beach mornings, sounds lovely! Sixth? I am also preparing for the Prom! It's such a fun gala theme!

Leaning into Dusty's gait, Ashleigh relaxed in the saddle, letting her hands fall a bit so that the reins weren't as tight in her hands, knowing that her mare knew the way by now, would behave on the ride. Thankfully. "Oh, I bet!" she looked over at Jayla with a wide grin, "lots of arts and crafts and story time, right?" Which was never a bad thing, it was great that there was somewhere that the kids could go in the summertime, somewhere where they were safe and could have a good time. "I'd be doing all the old school stuff that I remember doing as a kid, like those bead lizards and friendship bracelets."

"With the occasional movie and book club meeting sprinkled in between," Jayla chuckled. As busy as the library kept her, she truly loved her job. Not to mention she was already had plans in the works for fall and the older kids' return to school. "Ooh! Beaded lizards! I might have to find a time for that.. Outside of in library time, I am already planning for fall. For Halloween."

“It’s always good to be confident what can I say?” She grinned. She had all the confidence in the world. Even if she had to fake it until she made it, she was going to come out on top. “I will admit, I am a little rusty on this one so it may go in your favor.”

"Let's see how much it helps you," Jayla laughed. She loved good, healthy competition. When Jordyn admitted that she hadn't played skee-ball in a while, it boosted her own confidence. She was excited to see if that worked in her favor. "Let's see! Do your best!"

"I figured you would come prepared," given how much Ashleigh had gotten to know Jayla over the last few months, she definitely seemed like the kind of person who was always one step ahead and ready for everything that came her way. "So far, so good," she turned Dusty to follow Jayla, clicking softly with her tongue to let the mare catch up to her friend. "The programs have all been busy, which is nice. Do you guys keep busy over at the library? Summer programs yourself?"

Jayla was always one to be prepared, something about it being a sense of comfort for her anxiety. She nodded, snickering quietly at what had become an expectation of her by anyone who knew her. As Ashleigh explained how the summer was gong thus far, she was aware that summer was prime opportunity for keeping busy. When she question was returned, Jayla hummed a drawn out confirmation. Then she elaborated some. "Yes, the summer programs keep me busy. I have more time to occupy, keeping the kids busy until they're back in school. So it's a lot of extra activities be offered!"

You know what makes me really, really sad? That some people will never experience the awesomeness of a rotational six CD player inside a car. You know the ones where you could put six in and then pick whatever one you wanted to listen to? Like, who needs an aux cord when you have that? Besides, albums are way more fun to listen to than trying to look down at your phone every three seconds because you want to skip a song.

I say we go back. As someone who does still own several CD binders because I not only have a functional single disc player in my truck but also a cassette player.. Sometimes, albums are also just meant to be listened to as a whole, in order, which I feel like streaming and playlists discourages.

And I love that for you, genuinely! Plus if you think about it this way: lay down on some snow, you're gonna be wet but can dry yourself off, but lay in some sand and you'll find it in your things for weeks! Snowflakes and sand are kind of both like nature's glitter in a way. There's probably a metaphor or something in that.... Anyway! That all sounds like a little bit of both, finding peaceful things in the active things you do. Totally my whole deal too.

You are not wrong! Sand can be like glitter, in the most annoying way. It ends up in uncomfortable places. Call me insane, but I would rather risk frostbite. I'm going to blame it on growing up with snow and not beaches to begin with. But, like I said, I grew up outdoors. So I am enjoying summer regardless! What have you been enjoying so far, this summer?

"Ready!" Ashleigh smiled, smoothing her hand through Dusty's red mane, tangling her fingers in the long locks, looking over at her friend. Although she spent an awful lot of time in the saddle, it wasn't often that she got to do it for fun, just spending hours out on the trails with a friend, catching up and doing something for herself. "I've got snacks and water, too, so if we're out for a while, we're covered."

"So did I, so we're good!" Jayla nodded, sure they had more than enough food and water for the afternoon. With that said, Jayla began to slowly lead the way out toward the trails. She kept a rather slow pace so that the two could chat as they rode. ''How has the summer been treating you?"