Closed: Grace Liang ( @fcreverlasting ) @ The Milkshake Bar
There were some truly talented individuals in this town. He never understood how he didn't get a sliver of the creative genius his own mother had, yet being around such people fueled him in a way that he could admit hockey never did. There was something about creating from nothing and building a world of thoughts and ideas to turn into something tangibly expressive for others to ruminate on. Then there were those with the gift of gab. If he'd ever seen such a wielder, he'd happily give the crown straight to Grace. "You know…for as long as we've known each other, Gracie, I'm kinda heartbroken you've never asked me to come on the radio with you. It hurts me to the core," he says in jest.
"Wow, Owen Wright is alive in the flesh. I thought I was going to have to call a wellness check on you," she chuckles, sliding herself into the booth. There was an unspoken bond that connected teachers, no matter where they were. Spending sixty hours-plus, pouring into the lives of students for more than three-quarters of a calendar year, was no easy feat. They groveled, cried, and cheered one another through the highs and lows of those one hundred and eighty days. Even though they had the opposing challenge of age demographics, the consensus remained the same. Summer was finally here, and they could all breathe. "I thought you ran for the hills and left me behind, you know. How are you?"
Closed: Dakota Carter ( @ilovethismood ) @ A hotel out of town.
"Well, hello, stranger," he smirks at the sight of Dakota as he opens the hotel room door. At this rate, he couldn't even pinpoint how this dynamic all started. He wasn't mad about it one bit, though. It was nice to have this hidden encounter with someone who did not bother him regularly throughout the week. They never pried into one another's orbits and kept a respectful distance in shared spaces. It was as if they were completely operating in another universe. Sacred in some sense. Undisturbed and preserved from the reality of their worlds. Nonetheless, when he got the text, he couldn't help but feel a bit excited to see what would unfold. "I thought you were gonna leave me high and dry waiting on you. How was the drive over?"
Closed: Piper Castillo ( @rainbowxsouls ) @ A dining spot on the boardwalk.
Piper was a powerful woman, and Adri was just delighted to call her a friend. A last-minute Galentines dinner invite had brought these two to a shared table with endless sides, and the rest was history. Even with their competing schedules, they made the monthly commitment to catch up in person between texts, voice memos, and sending one another the latest viral video. "Please don't ever let me go out of town on a random date with someone from an app. It was highly disturbing. The man talked about puppets. For forty-five minutes. Hand-made ones too."
Closed: Enzo Banks ( @stcrmclouds ) @ The Local Gym
"Nice work," he says, lifting the weight back onto the rack. "I think I fell more in love with you than I think I ever could." The two of them were thick as thieves in their earlier years. We have been causing mayhem in the classroom together since elementary school. It was definitely more so, Harry leading the charge. As the years progressed, they grew distant in their preteen and teen years with different hobbies and interests. Harry definitely wishes he could retroactively have been more of a present friend at the time, but hockey had all but absorbed his world. Nonetheless, when they did reconnect in the last two years, it felt like they picked up right where they left off. "Alright, what's on the agenda for this summer?"
With the limited free time she had between lesson planning, yoga, and keeping her plants alive, there were a handful of people she befriended outside of work in her first few months in town. Saul was one of those special folks. Incredibly brilliant and refreshing to be around in the midst of his inquisitive nature. A PhD program in physics was no easy feat. She couldn't even begin to wrap her mind around it, but she could listen to people talk about their passions and interests all day. "What's going on in that head of yours today? You're quieter than usual."
"Did you know you're a hard woman to find these days?" She, in fact, was not. You could most likely find Tommy at the bar or the club. On the off chance you couldn't, Harry would like to think she was off causing mayhem somewhere in the world. This gathering was quite the celebration, and Harry was more than happy to celebrate the birthday girl. Probably, since he was a kid, this was one of the best birthday celebrations he's been to in a minute. Definitely beats his old teammate buying out Universal for the day. "And what did we wish for on our twenty-fifth trip around the sun?"
Do you hear BICHOTA BY KAROL G playing ? That must be ADRIANA COSTA walking around PENNY LANE.
I heard that SHE / (HER) has been in town for NINE MONTHS, which is crazy considering they are THIRTY years old. Yeah, they live over on PENNY LANE, and I heard that they work as a FIFTH GRADE TEACHER ( IN TOWN ). I love that they remind me of PERFECT MANICURES, PAPERBACK NOVELS IN HER TOTE BAG, & LINGERING SCENT OF EXPENSIVE PERFUME AND ESPRESSO, but … ugh, their playlist is so weird. Why is GOOD TIME – OWL CITY & CARLY RAE JEPSEN in the queue?
G E N E R A L !
Name: Adriana Belle Costa ; Birthday & Birthplace: April 10 in Brooklyn, NY ; Hometown: Bensonehurt, Brooklyn ; Gender & Pronouns: Cis woman & She/Her/Hers ; Orientation & Status: Heterosexual & Single ; Current Residence: Penny Lane ; Family: Diego Costa (Father), Valentina Costa (Mother), Luis and Julio Costa (Brothers, 26) ; Occupation: 5th Grade Teacher
Personality: charismatic, resourceful, patient, warm, driven, incredibly nurturing, image-conscious, highly organized, habitual planner, perfectionist, overworks herself, difficulty accepting help, constantly feels she has something to prove ; Likes: rooftop view, espresso with cinnamon, after midnight, fresh flowers from the farmer's market, antique stores, and stationary; Dislikes: parents who treat teaches like customer service, snobbery, flaky friends, loud chewing, being interrupted, feeling financially dependent on anyone ; Extras: has a collection of funny notes students have written her, reads before bed every night, loves looking at million-dollar homes she has no intention of buying, keeps a spreadsheet for everything, loves acts of service.
H I S T O R Y !
Grew up in a crowded three-bedroom apartment in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Both her parents were blue-collar workers spending 60+ hours outside of the home to provide for Adriana and her younger twin brothers. The apartment always felt too small, too loud, and too full despite all the love embedded in the walls. Adriana loved her family, but she didn't want their life.
While her brothers were content with their friend group and status in the neighborhood, Adriana always dreamed of something bigger and further away than beginning her own life on the same block she had known her whole life. It was her brain that was her ticket out. Yet, despite her intelligence, there were only so many scholarships she could earn, prompting her to take out a huge loan for her studies.
Between classes and studying, she worked herself to minimize her accruing debt. Waitressing, bartending, hosting private events, and providing bottle service. With it came invitations to spaces and people she would have previously never had access to. Relationships with wealthy older men who enjoyed her company, beauty, and ambition became her weekly paycheck.
Through those interactions, she learned how power was wielded, sustained, and conserved. How influence moved, and opportunities were developed. While juggling multiple jobs and arrangements, she earned two degrees in education. People were always surprised that she wanted to be a teacher. It was everything to her, for she still recalls the impact of a handful of teachers who saw a bright future within her.
One of her former clients helped her land a position at a prestigious private school in Manhattan. An institution where Ivy League students were mass produced and the most affluent in all of New York attended, if not sending their child overseas. Professionally, she thrived; emotionally, she was disconnected. When an opportunity emerged at an elementary school in Cider Point, she accepted.
Adriana arrived last fall. People assumed she couldn't handle the pressure or that she was moving for something simpler. The truth? She wants something that actually feels like her with no contract, no expectations, and no need for a graded performance. For the first time in a long time, she feels like she might have finally found what she's been looking for all her life.
Do you hear 1979 BY SMASHING PUMPKINS playing ? That must be HARRISON "HARRY" WHITMORE walking around OCEAN AVENUE.
I heard that HE / (HIM) has been in town for TWENTY-SIX YEARS (MINUS UNIVERSITY), which is crazy considering they are TWENTY-EIGHT years old. Yeah, they live over on OCEAN AVENUE, and I heard that they work as an ATHLETIC TRAINER ( IN TOWN ). I love that they remind me of GOLDEN RETRIEVERS, SUN-FADED BASEBALL CAPS & THE SMELL OF CEDARWOOD AND LAUNDRY DETERGENT, but … ugh, their playlist is so weird. why is BED CHEM – SABRINA CARPENTER in the queue?
G E N E R A L !
Name: Harrison Jamie Whitmore ; Birthday & Birthplace: December 22 in Dover, MA ; Hometown: Cider Point, MA ; Gender & Pronouns: Cis man & He/Him/Hims ; Orientation & Status: Heterosexual & Single ; Current Residence: Ocean Avenue in his Childhood Home ; Technically lives in the FROG. Thanks mom! 😉 ; Family: Todd Parker (Father, MIA) & Celeste Whitmore (Mother & Bestie) ; Occupation: Athletic Trainer (High school) & Assistant Hockey Coach (Travel Youth)
Personality: adaptable, excellent listener, extremely laid-back, doesn't plan far ahead, social butterfly, directionless, procrastinates, struggles with long term commitment, and fear of failure disguised as apathy; Likes: harbor fog at sunrise, Sunday morning dinners, local breweries, vintage Bruin hoodies, outdoor hockey rinks, and salt air ; Dislikes: political fundraises, networking events, artificiality, and country club culture ; Extras: cries during sports movies, his mom paints him constantly, never locks his front door, secretly keep every birthday card from his dad, and lowkey is a dog whisperer.
H I S T O R Y !
Harry was born with a last name that opened doors before he even knew which one he was able to walk through. The Whitmores are fixtures in MA politics for several generations (ie, governors, senators, state reps). Their portraits line the government building, and their holiday card is a staple for anyone who is anyone in the state to receive. His mother loathed it. She was "rebellious" marrying a blue-collar worker, his father, who added no value from the Whitmore standpoint.
When Harry was two, his parents' marriage dissolved under the weight of expectations, familial strife, and being fundamentally different, no matter how much his mother tried to break through. His father went MIA, only sending birthday cards like clockwork every year on December 22. His mother packed them up, took what money she was entitled to, and moved them to Cider Point.
He grew up around paint, artists, creatives, and galleries, as his mother tapped into her passion. From art festivals to exhibitions, he was her mini manager, hoping the world would get to see how great her talent was. There was no politics, no campaigns, and no family drama. It was the two of them, and it was perfect.
As for Harry, he loved hockey. That was his passion. He was incredibly skilled in middle school. In high school, he was one of the most heavily recruited players in the country. University scouts and the NHL conversations were endless. Everyone expected him to make it big out of this sleepy town. He did for two years, then the injuries ensued: his left knee, then a concussion, and another one. Every new injury with its recovery became longer and longer. By twenty-six, the dream was over. In the quick rise and fall, Harry lost himself.
He drifted, worked odd jobs while avoiding calls from his grandfather, and eventually, the road led him to athletic training. There was something great about pouring back into the place you once came from. From his POV, he could help kids stay healthy and teach them not to make similar mistakes. Something within him clicked.
Now Harry works as an athletic trainer and helps coach the local travel hockey team he once played on. He still lives with his mama and is her number one fan. He tells people he's saving money. The truth? The man can't prepare anything more than some scrambled eggs. His extended family still hopes they'll get him to consider running for office one day, but in the meantime, like his mother, he'll keep disappointing them by being happy.
areudirty
kaledo-art
baratheonpilled
prguitarman
theartofmadeline
germansingergirl
jacobvanloon
