katiebirch:
Of course Weston had mentioned in passing that his sister was back in town, because how could he not? He was a man devoted to his family, and to his little sister with big dreams. But still, whenever people came back from the big city, it was usually not a great sign. They’d either self destructed, or they’d just failed to make it and couldn’t cope with the constant rejection. Katie had never shared those desires herself, she had no dreams of going on the stage or flying the coop to make her name in the big lights. No, she’d been quite content with staying in her home town, like each of her family members before her.
She had been out running errands when she spotted her, phone in hand as she tapped off another item on the to-do list. For that was what she’d become, a woman who ran her life through complicated list systems to ensure that everything was done right. But, seeing Ava in the flesh still stopped her in her tracks; everyone in that family had good genetics, but it was the frustration on the other woman’s face that more caught her attention. “Do they not do pennies in the big city?” she asked, coming to a stop near the fountain as she did. Of course, now they were a cashless society they had no need for coins, but she was sure she had some dusty old penny in the bottom of her purse. “Need a coin?”
Part of Ava had wished that nobody would see her in one of her lowest moments, but another part of her had begged for any form of warmth and contact. Even the donation of a tiny little penny shook her to her core. The small bit of kindness was something that Ava had been searching for since she lost her footing in Los Angeles. A small and ironic laugh bubbling underneath the surface, she turned to face the person who spoke to her. “Oh, they definitely did pennies in the big city. I’m just a big ol’ clown who doesn’t know how to keep track of it all.” Her eyes narrowed as she tried to connect the face to a name that Weston had mentioned in her gossip sessions, but she just couldn’t figure it out. A functioning memory just wasn’t in the cards for her.
“If you don’t mind parting with the coin, I’d love it. I need the wishing power of the fountain to cling onto,” she joked. “I remember when I was younger, I had wished for a new dress to wear to someone’s birthday party. When my mom bought me the dress as a surprise, I felt so powerful. I genuinely believed that this thing could make my wishes come true.” Extending her hand out to shake the woman’s, a smile grew on her face. Alright, so maybe decent human contact was all she needed to improve her spirits. Unless this was a messy ex-girlfriend... But that’s a bridge she’ll cross when she gets there. “I’m Ava, by the way. Obviously you knew that if you knew that I moved, but I am super bad with faces and names. Which Eurekean are you again?”
