TIME HURRIES AWAY , PASSING QUICKER THAN UNEASY HOPES HUNG ON IT TO BE ━━ no rush for the inevitable reunion and there wasn’t , in reality . there was a sweet pea on constant edge , however . a sweet pea that seemed to do nothing but wait as familiar faces trickled by , waiting for that one cherubic mug to RATTLE the serpent back into misshape / hasn’t quite been in shape at all but certain outbursts were somewhat suppressed as of late . ones that had pinched nerves set ablaze scorching through the park and wreck havoc contained - at times - in his own trailer if not a public fit somewhere ; wild - eyed , distraught and inebriated to a point he’ll grumble all day over and evade concerned gazes from his own chosen blood . he had a plan for it , too ━━ not exactly official but it included avoiding her , initiated just a few days ago by avoiding the speakeasy and the northside in it’s entirety for that matter . the news of a lodge arrival should get to him soon enough and by then he could be ready to face the brows mug ( keyword: could . might works as an alternative , as well ) it’s not brilliant and pea’s aware of that - it’s childish , stupid , cowardly . it’s pathetic - IT’S FUGGIN’ SWEET PEA , one could even dare to synonimize ! it’s everything he seemed to resemble ever since that very damned night an unruly mind could barely summon back to recount - blissfully and guiltily so - & yet , he still had some vapid faith it could work ━━ until she fucking stopped by . dadrock lowers into a familiar tone and his blood pressure nearly follows suit when all immediately registers / swears he could hear her face , knows he’s doomed and he is , alright ; when he turns and peers into that poised gaze of hers that did exactly as expected . ‘ a text would’ve been just fine but sure , i’’d miss this tin can , too . ’ said with the smallest grin he could muster, humoring this hellish reunion and being unfair but he’s deflecting off not only the rattled state he’s in but parts of what he desperately leapt to grasp at from what he’d just heard / will obsessively mull it over on the toilet soon . ‘ i’ve got time if you do . ’ stuckmatized limbs lighten to walk over and across her towards the car that he ( once ) tended to more than he did his own truck . ‘ anyone else waitin’ on you back home tonight ? ’ doesn’t notice the telling else slipping as he pops the hood open . ‘ cooper ? keller ? your people ? ’ unnecessary , stupid , childish , cowardly .
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS she really struggles to be nice, only it’s on crack. she’s hot on his heels back to her car, fingers itching to turn him around by his neck so she can both feel his skin again and scream in his face that he RUINED EVERYTHING. “ sorry, ” can’t believe she’s apologizing. “ i figured you didn’t know how to text anymore. my mistake. ” it’s the only moment of outward bitterness she allows herself, unsurprised when she finds zero satisfaction in it. she rounds him to lean against the side of the hood with folded arms, peering in after him as if she knows or cares about the inner workings of her car. “ no. no one. ” she doesn’t ask him in return as if it were even necessary to do so, THAT unsure she would physically be able to handle anything she didn’t want to hear in response. she can barely handle THIS, the idea that he didn’t need to see her when she needs him to feel anything at all. “ i’m staying at the five seasons again. hopefully i’ll actually get my money’s worth this time. ” she doesn’t know why she makes that joke, forcing a smile anyway, it’s not even TRUE. she won’t make it to the hotel, she’ll trade moving herself into sweet pea’s trailer for crying in betty’s lap this trip. “ you look really good, pea. i miss you. ” an honest confession delivered in the same, consistent tone as if it’s everyday small talk. she’s desperate to make conversation as if she hasn’t asked him to do something, unafraid to push their limits. she didn’t drive through the southside with the intention of humiliating herself. but she now thinks she’ll say ANYTHING for any kind of reaction. she’ll be back in the city after a week, and she figures she’s felt this hollow for this long. “ i miss you. ”
