—don’t go changing

Twenty-six Manager/Publicist for Reckless South to West Coast

[bree-aldridge]

Laughter bubbled up easily at the brunette’s words, shaking her head slightly as she glanced around the busy cafe. “It would not surprise me if they did. The whole ‘go to the gym more’ is a bit overdone so maybe this is the new fad. Watch next year’s be ‘drink less coffee’” Smile easily formed at her amusement for people’s willingness to only make alterations to their lives whenever a January 1st rolled around. To her, there was no date set for change. “Oh you’re welcome. I needed to take a break anyway so it’s perfect timing really.” As she sipped her coffee, interest was piqued by the laptop in the other woman’s hands. “You working on something good?”

Bree nodded in agreement, the words causing her to laugh at how true they were. “After they’re over coffee it’ll become tea and the cycle will continue.” She sighed, shaking her head. The brunette wasn’t the type to make resolutions but she did set goals from time to time. Keeping the goals to herself since her mom always taught her that actually achieving goals was far better and more important than just talking about achieving them. “Glad I could provide you with a break. Not to toot my own horn but I’m damn good company,” She offered her a smile, tracing her finger around the lid of her coffee cup. “Just setting up some studio time for the band I work with and working out some brand deals. Riveting stuff, I know.” She joked.

[bree-aldridge]

“You’re welcome.” Issy smiled over at the woman. Moving her food towards her and she picked at it aimlessly. “Well glad to hear that you’re not Joe. It certainly makes my life a little bit easier.” She told her with a laugh. “Really? You sure he’s not still stalking you? I mean Joe did stalk Beck and Love for a while.” She pointed out.

“Yeah no need to worry about any murdering or anything like that.” She assured her. “Oh right,” Bree gasped softly remembering the thing about the stalking when the other girl said it. “Do me a favor and tell me if you see a guy weird guy in a baseball cap anywhere.” She said, looking around the cafe for a second although it was just a joke.

[bree-aldridge]

Although is attention had almost solely been focused on the couple, the amount of detail that the brunette went into soon shifted his focus. Playful expression crossed his features, teasing words leaving his lips.  “Sounds like you might have some experience with that.” He couldn’t claim the same when he didn’t think anyone had lasted more than a couple of weeks since Issy and now he was a father, he found even less time for anything remotely serious. Gaze drifted back to the couple, scrutinising them once again. “He’s out of luck though if she wants to stick it out and make it work. Might have found himself a clinger the way she’s giving as good as she gets.”

Bree caught on to his teasing, playfully narrowing her eyes at him. “I actually do have a little. Back in college a couple of frat boys pulled that shit with me but that was my karma for the people I pulled it with.” She explained. She didn’t do that kind of stuff anymore though. For most of her twenties she was in a relationship but that had ended and she was learning how to be on her own again. “Poor guy might have to just deal with being taken or he could pull the plug on the whole thing. Which do you think will happen? Will they storm away from each other or hug it out? We can make a bet out of it. Loser buys the winner lunch?” The brunette proposed. After all if the couple wanted to make their fight basically a spectator thing then Bree would act accordingly and make it a betting game like she’d do if it were a sport.

[gcbrielgarcia]

It had always been a challenge to keep Gabriel’s attention but incredibly easy to catch it. There was a fickleness about him which meant that somehow his gaze always got drawn to what he considered the most exciting or entertaining thing in a room. The only person exempt from this treatment was his son when he always considered the young boy the best focus for his attention. Currently his attention was fixed on a couple having a blazing domestic in the middle of the street. There was an undeniable look of amusement on his face as he watched the scene unfold, unable to keep himself from snickering slightly as the insults grew louder. Shifting in his seat slightly, he leaned closer to no one in particular before speaking. “You think they get off on the attention? They gotta know that everyone’s zoning in on them.” 

[bree-aldridge]

Bree couldn’t help but shake her head at the display the couple was putting on for everyone to see. She’d got in some public fights in the past but usually reigned it in before it got quite as heated as the one she was watching. “Oh come on they definitely do,” She sighed, taking a bite of her biscotti, listening to a bit more of the argument before continuing on. “But I’m sure he likely started the argument because he’s ready to dump her. Valentine’s day is coming up and cuffing season is coming to an end. Everyone’s got to be single and ready to mingle by spring and the summertime. They’ll be calling each other for booty calls for the next few months and be back together by Halloween. And then the cycle continues.”

[bree-aldridge]

“I’m not that disappointed if I’m honest with you. I was never interested in the guy but for the sake of not being on my own — I told him I’d meet him for New-Years. This is probably for the best.” She stated with a shrug of her shoulders as she looked over the other. “You look cute, though. I actually love that dress, Bree.” Moving back up to the others face, she smiled and nodded her head. “You know, I’d like that a lot. Wanna get a drink first before we can figure out what we wanna do with our night?”

“Poor guy.” She said, a hint of sarcasm in her words. There were plenty of guys Bree herself had gone out with simply to not be on her own. Going out with two people was much more fun as long as they weren’t boring. “Thanks. Cute is really what I was going for. This dress was eighty dollars so I would’ve been disappointed if it wasn’t.” She offered a smile in return. “Offering me a drink? A girl after my heart.” It was teasing but a part of her meant it.

[bree-aldridge]

“Yeah. 2012 was a huge let down, wasn’t it?” Noah agreed, an eyebrow raised along with a large smirk. The whole end of the world fiasco. The doomsday preachers were still debating about that one. Maybe it was the end of the world as we knew it, making way for global warming – was it a heavily debated subject by then? He couldn’t remember if it was. “Don’t we all? Two birds one stone.” 

“Yes I can’t tell you how ready I was. I even had an end of the world party,” Bree’s smile grew a bit remembering how wild that party had been. She was a young college student back then who only had fun on her mind. The night had sort of changed some of her views on life though once it was over. “It kick started me checking off my bucket list too so I’ll give it that. This is going to sound ridiculous but the whole ‘the world could end at any moment’ thing afterwards was kind of inspiring,” She shrugged. “What I wouldn’t give for that bird to be taken out.”

[a-lokin]

Cleo hummed softly as she peered around the venue while wrapping her lips around the straw that poked out of her festive drink. Something complicated that was made with cinnamon or peppermint — she couldn’t entirely remember. As dark hues flicked down to her phone, she grimaced at the fact that her mysterious date was late. Frankly, he was late enough that she begun to worry that she was being stood up. When she caught someone move at the corner of her eye, the brunette shifted towards them. “You wouldn’t be Blake, would you?” It was a unisex name, so she was truly at a lost on who a friend of hers had set her up with. “Sorry, I’m supposed to be meeting someone but I’m starting to think that I’ve been stood up. I don’t know how this is meant to reflect on the new year, but it doesn’t seem good.”

[bree-aldridge]

Bree was always a girl to take any excuse given to get out of the house. An event in town was as good of a reason as any. So she put on a cute outfit and headed out. Grabbing a drink the moment she walked in before mingling around like the social butterfly she was. For a minute she’d been talking to a friend but they were pulled away by whoever they arrived with. Bree took out her phone and began taking a few quick selfies. Someone’s voice caught her attention though, stopping the impromptu personal photoshoot. “Not Blake, Bree. Still starts with a B though so it’s close,” She joked, shrugging her shoulders. “Gosh I’ve been stood up before it’s the worst. But hey the new year can still be salvaged. We can hangout if you want.”

[isabellealvarez]

“Do you need a seat?” Issy asked, she barely looked up from her notes at the person. “I promise I don’t bite.” Well at least she didn’t bite strangers who didn’t ask her to. “This one is open.” Pushing out the chair across from her with her heel so it moved back from the table. “Just don’t be a Joe Goldberg, because if so I’m going to need you to sit somewhere else. I don’t have time to be stalked by a serial killer.” She told them with a laugh before taking off her glasses and putting them on the table. 

[bree-aldridge]

Bree had taken a break from work at the office to go grab lunch. A small headache due to her hunger was attempting to form into a bigger one because she’d skipped breakfast that morning. Of course the place was packed but a kind person offered her a seat. “Thanks,” She said, sitting down as she laughed at the girls next words. “Swear I’m not a Joe Goldberg. I met this guy once and looking back at it I think he might’ve been one. Truly dodged a bullet there.” Bree told the girl in her typical slightly over sharing nature.

[haydcndavis]

open starter : ocean view park 

“ it’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? ” hayden began, swiping at his forehead with the back of his sleeve. he had stopped making new years resolutions when he found an entire patch of grey hair on his head, but he knew he needed to get more exercise than just running after a three year old all day. and it was a beautiful day in the park, even if he was desperately trying to catch his breath. “ weather forecast said it might rain, but - ” he peered up at the clear blue skies through the thicket of trees, “ - seems like a perfect morning to me. ”

[bree-aldridge]

Bree wasn’t always one for early morning workouts but after touring for a few months she needed to get back in shape. The decision was made before the new year though so she’d been quick to tell everyone it was not a resolution. She always thought making them was a little stupid because they were hardly if ever stuck to. Removing her earphones, she caught his words just in time. “It is beautiful. California is always saying it’s going to rain and then not raining. I’m glad though. I would’ve hated to get rained on.

[nhsinclair]

“I’m not usually one for fortunetelling and all that, but I have to say I’m intrigued if Baba Vanga was correct about next year.” Noah uttered, after having read an article on his phone, which he held out to the other to read. It read about tsunamis and earthquakes in Asia, an asteroid in Russia and a ‘mysterious illness’ of the running American president. It just depended on if that was going to be the current one or the one succeeding. “Kind of makes it all exciting to see if it’s true, considering she died in the nineties.  What do you think?” 

[bree-aldridge]

Bree took his phone, skimming over the article quickly before handing it back to him. “It could be exciting,” She shrugged. “But I don’t know. I sort of gave up on fortune telling, predictions, and all that sort of stuff back in 2012. Remember the whole panic over the world ending? Here we are though nearly eight years later still going. So I call bullshit although I do hope the ‘mysterious illness’ is true.”

[jasminedcvis]

While she was never usually one to pass up an opportunity to celebrate, Jasmine had always taken her work seriously and with several fundraisers coming up in the new year, she had been dedicating herself to planning them. Silence had never suited her though and with her offices closed for the holidays, she’d instead chosen to work in her nearby coffee shop. Too engrossed in her work, the lunch rush had almost passed her by until she sense someone hovering near her table. “Hey.” Easy smile lit up her features as she waved slightly. “I’m so sorry my head was totally elsewhere and I didn’t realise it had gotten so full in here. But there’s a spare seat here if you want it, just let me move some of my papers.”

[bree-aldridge]

Bree was always one to take her coffee and leave rather than sitting around but today she had wanted to do something different. Instead bringing along her laptop with her to hopefully sit down and get a little bit of work done. Finding a seat wasn’t easy though with the lunch rush hour she’d picked. The whole shop was practically buzzing with conversation and people coming in and out. She still figured she’d stay though walking over to a table and getting ready to say something. The girl sitting at the table beating her to it. “There’s so many people. I’m starting to think some of them made the resolution of spending more time in coffee shops or something,” She said, laughing softly. “Thanks though.”

[a-mpol-deactivated20210521]

There was no way around it. She was utterly lost within the new town she knew little about. Sure, she may have been here for a few weeks now but she hadn’t gone further than the area around her new home. Despite knowing that she was close after parking a few blocks away, she still couldn’t make out what the GPS was telling her. Pausing before a closed store, the brunette furrowed her brow as she attempted to decipher the complicated image on her phone. “Oh— Hi— fuck, Sorry.” Erin mumbled as she attempted to run after a passerby who had turned a corner before she could reach them. When another came by, she decided to stand directly in front of them. “Sorry, I’m trying to find an location and I’m completely lost. Do you think you can help me? It’s only going to take a few minutes.”

[bree-aldridge]

The day had been a busy one for Bree. Spending most of it handling personal business as well as professional too. It was the start of a new month, a new year, and a new decade and productivity was her resolution. Even though she’d always been pretty productive. It was an easy resolution, she told herself, one that she’d have no choice but to keep to. While walking down the street someone stepped in her path, luckily she’d been paying attention and avoided running into the girl. “Yeah sure. I’ve kind of got a little Santa Monica gps inside my brain. Benefits of living here for so long. Where are you trying to go?“

[xdominicadamson]

“So you got any plans for New Year? I’m trying to figure out what to do with my night.”

[bree-aldridge]

“Me and Jack are going to get really close. Jack Daniels, that is. There’s a bar crawl going on that night so I’m doing that. I need a buddy. You in?”

[kadendanvers-deactivated2021031]

“Baked goods are a huge hit during the holidays. We’ve pretty much sold out before closing every day this week. I’m exhausted.” She took a drink of her beer, turning to the person next to her. “Thinking I need a vacation–if you could go anywhere in the world right now where would you go? Or where’ve you been that you’d love to go back to?”

[bree-aldridge]

“Oh trust me I know. Cookies and cupcakes are my favorites during the holidays. I can imagine how exhausted you’d be after all that,” She sighed, taking a sip of the mixed drink in front of her. “It’s the perfect time for one. I think I’d go back to London. I went one summer with some friends and it was probably the most fun I’ve had in my life which is saying a lot. It was like a non stop party. What about you?”

[lopez-dana]

Dana stepped out of the dressing room and looked into the mirrors to see the dress she was debating on. She loved when it came time for her work Christmas party. It was the only time everyone was to get full on fancy for the night. Plus it was a night where her co-workers could talk more then just business stuff for a change. She turned to get a glimpse of the back of the dress and smiled. She felt really amazing in the dress. Dana’s attention turned to the person behind her that she saw through the mirror. “What do you think? Is it to much or little for a fancy work party?”

[bree-aldridge]

Bree’s parents had decided last minute to do a dinner at their house rather than a gift exchange sort of thing. So the brunette found herself out shopping for a dress. She’d found a couple of options narrowing it down to two that looked pretty to her. As she was sifting through a rack of other dresses she heard a familiar voice coming from near the dressing rooms. Her eyes focusing on the dress and how gorgeous it looked. “Maybe too much but who cares. You look amazing.” She told her.

[bree-aldridge]

One thing that never seemed to change was how much he was perfectly fine with Bree’s presence at any given moment. They had both seen each other during the best of times and some forgettable times as far as their careers went. Seeing her again today despite having been around her all tour, he smiled, “That definitely sounds like something that’s gonna take up a few lines in your biography. Bet most people wouldn’t believe half the stuff you’ve gotten yourself into,” he laughed softly, running his hands through his hair, taking a step away from the rail. “Jet lag feels about a hundred times worse than it ever has before and I have no idea how to get rid of it.” That much was obvious though, given they were both out rather than resting at home after the hellishly busy time they had. “I’m having the worst time getting sleep and eating which is crazy cause for an entire week I did nothing but dream about going to In-n-out for a burger.”

“It’ll likely be a whole chapter. That night ended up being way longer than intended. And I can hardly believe the stuff I’ve gotten myself into,” She shook her head. If there was one thing Bree had a lot of it’d be stories. The girl was always living life to the fullest whenever the opportunity arose. The fast life was something she’d grown accustomed to from a young age. “I’m not sure how to get rid of it either. I think I might be becoming a vampire or something.” She couldn’t even remember the last time she saw the sun up for more than maybe an hour or so when waking up in the late afternoon. “Maybe we should try forcing ourselves to stay up during the day and then we’ll crash. The eating problem I don’t have. I’m sure postmates is going to end up not charging me anymore soon.”

[safiyebarnes]

“Which one do you like better?” Safiye asked, she held up two different business cards for them to see. One was a rose gold pink with glitter dripping down it and the other was a gold card sparkly card. “Or are both too much? I just wanted something that stood out.” Safiye explained, she made a couple clicks on her computer. “If you have time maybe you can help me design something more appealing? That is if both are that bad.” 

[bree-aldridge]

Bree examined both cards for a minute. “The rose gold one is more my style but they might both be a little too much. I’d maybe go for something more basic. I could probably help but it’d be simple,” She offered with a shrug. “Like maybe solid black with the rose gold pink glitter as the letters. Simple but stands out a bit.“