thrill seeker

[elsiebarnes]

ABOUT — Elsie Barnes

name: elsie barnes

nickname: el, ellie, barnes

age: 35 years old

neighbourhood: briar ridge hill

career: event planner

time in briar ridge: most of her life, returned a week ago

IN-DEPTH — 

Ever since elsie was little, she could remember watching the stars and hoping for something bigger than the small town that she was born into. A small farmland that became her parents pride and joy but felt more like a prison to their only child.

They'd often share stories of their wilder nights out in town, all before her birth and the accident that had taken her mother's hearings and forced them to retreat from society.

For the most part, Elsie was a good kid in order not to create too much of a ripple effects on her parents who were hardworking and caring. But the end of high school brought out a sense of curiosity and a need to test the limits.

When the opportunity came for her to leave town, she jumped at the chance. It felt like it was fate as she'd just gotten a remote job as a personal assistant that provided her with the flexibility to live and be anywhere in the world.

The move to boston was much needed and breathed new life into her. She discovered a new town, a new relationship, and found more of herself there than she could have ever anticipated.

A few years came and went and her relationship came to an abrupt end with her ex-boyfriend returning home while she stayed in boston for the next few years.

It was time for her to discover what she wanted to do without having to put anyone else before herself. She explored herself in ways she hadn't felt like she was ever able to in briar ridge, even following a new career that opened doors she could have never imagined.

The life she built in boston felt like everything she'd dreamt of. Her work providing her with a larger circle or people and a reputable name for herself around popular circles but it all came crashing down with the news of her mothers diagnosis. The following week, she ended her lease and rushed home to help her parents cope with the news and land they adored so much.

It has now been a week of living back on the small patch of land she so desperately wanted to leave, and the feeling of being stuck has been heavier than ever before. But not as heavy as the guilt of the time she may have lost with her mother.

CONNECTIONS — 

CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND: Elsie didn't do a lot of socialization outside of school and school activities so this would have either been a friend from class, school or the neighbourhood that she clung too given that she was an only child.

OLD FRIENDS: i kind of want them to have a falling out and they can run into each other, maybe realize how much they've missed each other since they're now in the same town.

RIVALS: Elsie is coming to town in the hope of making some kind of living, she's not normally the competitive type but maybe people see her as that and she isn't sure how to react. Potentially a one sided rivalry.

EXES: she dated people while she was in high school and was very much a people person so she would have probably had a few relationships during school and when she was in boston, after she broke up with her bf.

HOOK UPS / TINDER DATE: a lot of potential here because she is the type to date around and put herself out there, but this would have mainly been before she left for boston so a lot of time in between. Maybe they thought she ghosted them.

WORK / EMPLOYEES: eventually, she might want to get an assistant or work for a company so this could be someone that she works with or a vendor/photographer she works with a lot.

MORE TO COME AS WE PLOT

[hadianacar]

setting — beach front neighborhood, morning - afternoon

status — open, capped at 0/3

"⸻ that's not normal, right?" Normal as in: a common occurrence. A weekly show. A morning routine she'd need to come to terms with now that she moved back to town because 'that's just how things roll'.

Surely not. Right?

The scene playing out across the street was captivating in the same way you couldn't help but gawk at a wreck on the side of the road. Awful, and yet you couldn't stop. Except in this case, Hadia didn't even know what she was looking at.

No—She knew, she just wasn't sure why.

"Seriously," she mumbled around another bite cleaved from the middle of her apple. "Is he—Is he even wearing pants?"

Head cocked to the side, eyes narrowed, she blinked away the lingering fog of sleep and—Nope. Mr. DiCenzo, her new neighbor pushing the young age of 80, was definitely outside watering his bushes... in nothing but an obscenely bright, Hawaiian print shirt and his tighty whities to greet the sun.

Still staring, still snacking, still unable to tear away her gaze, Hadi deadpanned, "This wasn't included in my rental description."

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie peered towards the older man and then nodded her head. "The gossip around town is that he's loosing his mind a little bit. It's pretty sad."

She would debate that he seemed of sound mind given that he hadn't wandered off and the only reason for the accusation of being senile was because he chose not to wear anything too restrictive or more layers than he needed. Frankly, she was a little bit jealous of his brazenness.

"I'd suggest you just accept it and maybe not stick around too long. It's a matter of time before he gets himself wet and you don't want to be out here when those underwear turn translucent and he decides to water the plants over here."

The closest to them which would likely be watered in their direction and provide a full view that no one wanted.

"Hope you weren't having sausage for breakfast."

[levibecker-a]

“That’d be your creative influence talking.” Levi insisted, counting himself as the fortunate one in the situation. Following his counterpart’s artistic direction initiated his own steady roll as a decently useful assistant. If he provided her at least some relief on the technical aspects, then their mutual team work was paying off. “If they’re allowed to go around the rules like that, we can too.” He defiantly declared, gaze narrowing skeptically on the other nearby group, nearly shouting detailed commands back and forth. Ridiculous and excessive. “Not that your ideas needed it.” She saved their candidacy with hers, keeping them alive in the running. 

“Once again, you wouldn’t want to see what my drawing would look like.” A light scoff escaped him. To him, Elsie’s solid effort looked like a damn Picasso masterpiece. His stick figure attempt surely would’ve disqualified them both before they even began. “You got us this far. And if we do get sent to last, you can still blame it on me.” That reasoning still made the most sense. 

Knowing next to nothing relating to farms, hearing her family did something entirely unique with their vast land truthfully intrigued him. “You know, that’s impressive. Do they have a lot of deals on the table for the food they grow?” Levi figured various businesses had to have been hounding them. His expression fell blank however at the candid admittance of her mother’s current condition. “— Sorry to hear…there’s..nothing else that can be done, then?” Anticipated or not, nothing made the final outcome easier. 

[elsiebarnes]

"I didn't think it was going to be this intense." Clearly the adult decorating challenge had turned into people doing whatever was needed to win, including taking as many materials as they could and coming in with a clearcut vision they'd likely googled or found on pinterest the night before. "I mean, it's not like its a life changing prize. Maybe we can just agree to let them have it." She finally added, looking back at her masterpiece and realizing that things weren't coming together as she wanted. It wasn't bad by any means but it wasn't a masterpiece taken off of the internet either. "They clearly want it more." She muttered after hearing them barking out instructions.

"That's nice but you've done just as much work as I have so it wouldn't be fair to say that you got in last." She told him before looking him over, as if trying to read him a bit more. "Do you always do that? Let yourself be the scapegoat for the sake of making other people feel better? It's a good trait.... for everyone else."

It would suck to always be the one to take the blame but she didn't know if that phased him a lot or not. She tilted her head back and forth slightly. "They used to. Not so much anymore because they're gotten older but they have a lot of food canned and reserved. They get by and they're a little more lenient now. They'll eat groceries that I bring home as long as they don't have to go get them." At his question, she looked ahead and then cleared her throat. "It's not going away but she still has time, at least. If she continues the program she's on. But don't apologize, I should be the one apologizing. It's always a big of a mood killer."

[elsiebarnes]

He did have a point. It wasn't like she had much in terms of a surprise element so fighting him weight for weight was the only option and odds didn't seem to favor her. "That would probably bring more attention than I would want so you've got a point." Elsie teased, managing a small smile that showed the dimples in her cheek but still didn't ease the stiffness of her body. There was still underlying stress about the whole situation.

"If you can remember your locker combo then I think you're fine and that means that I'm the victim in all of this." She wasn't and any memory loss that she had was due to the years of stress and having to remember more than she could to the point where she was sure her brain capacity had just diminished as a means of survival at this point.

Her mouth opened to speak before he even was done but she closed it and held her words. However, the fact that she was ready to argue should have let him know that he didn't have much of a say in whether or not she would buy him something. She didn't know if it was coffee, a bar, or something more significant. Not because she felt like she had to for him to forgive her, but because she wanted to. For her own guilty conscience. A sort of settled score.

"I'm not going to take no for an answer." She grimaced, almost apologetic about the way she was but her mind was made up at this point. It was better for him just to accept that.

An awkward conversation sounded horrible and she didn't know if it would be like that but she just nodded her head in case this was an attempt at avoiding a further interaction with her. "I can like venmo you the amount of one of those fancy coffees and you can use it whenever works best for you. I just want to do something, you know." Anything, at this point, that would lessen a burden from his day. No matter how insignificant that was.

Her mouth parted to indicate that she wouldn't ever take decaf because that felt like consuming something that had no benefits for her. A waste of money. "I don't think that I can do decaf but I can have a tea. It's nice that you're concerned for my health and blood pressure. Luckily heart disease is the one thing we don't have in my family lineage so I think I'll be fine." Her gaze flicked from him to his car and then nodded her head, finding herself back to the mental list she'd stored at the back of her mind and remembering that sharing information was essential in case they needed it for their insurance. "I'm Elsie, and here's my number." She handed the phone back, scrunching her nose at his colorful description of the accident. "Kissing bumpers? Is that a valid description? Sounds a little soft for what we just did."

[cemcerkez]

Cem takes the phone without breaking eye contact, his thumb briefly brushing hers as he keys her name into his contacts. There’s that slight smirk again—not mocking, but quietly amused, like she’s said something he finds genuinely entertaining.

“Soft?” he echoes, while typing in her number. “You say that like you weren’t the one apologizing as if you just ran over my dog instead of my bumper.” He taps the final digit in and hits save, then angles the screen to show her. “There. Official. If I mysteriously disappear later, you’re now a person of interest.”

He tucks the phone into his back pocket, then glances over at her car again, expression sobering just a little. His voice lowers a notch, more matter-of-fact. “You handled it better than most, Elsie. Trust me, I’ve seen people bail over worse.” He doesn’t mention names, but there’s weight in the way he says it—like this isn’t just a theory but there's more story behind it. “And I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. You’re still standing. That counts.”

Then, in typical Cem fashion, the earnestness doesn’t linger much longer. That's when he steps away, toward the passenger side of his car, and pauses, turning back just enough to shoot her a sidelong glance. “Also, tea doesn’t get you out of the decaf clause. It’s a loophole at best.” His smirk sharpens slightly. “But since you’ve clearly decided to be aggressively generous about this whole thing, I’ll let it slide.”

He looks like he’s about to leave it at that, but something makes him stop. Maybe it’s the stubborn tilt of her chin, or the way her voice shakes just slightly at the end. Or maybe it’s the fact that, despite everything, she still looks like she wants to make it right.

“You know,” he says after a beat, softer this time, “not everything needs balancing out. Not every mistake comes with a ledger. But...” he shrugs, “if it helps you sleep better, I’ll take the overpriced coffee.”

He offers her a two-fingered salute—half-joking, half-genuine.

“I’ll text you the photos. Drive safe, Elsie.”

Then he turns, unlocks his door, and climbs in, the tension in his shoulders only easing once he’s inside—out of view, but not quite out of mind.

[elsiebarnes]

the end!

[leylayilmz]

Leyla's brows lifted, a playful glint sparking in her eyes. "Half a year does sound kind of tragic when you put it like that," she chuckled, putting her head in her hands momentarily. Truly, Leyla had been so happy on her own for so long, so focused on her daughter and her business that she hadn't had time to think about much else. New Years was the closest she'd got, and yet, her inner fears had gotten the best of her. "Oh yeah.. being an event planner, you've basically got VIP access to the dating scene. Guess I know who to come to for help if I need it," she winked, amusement colouring her features. Though the last thing she was thinking about was going on a date right now. "How's the event planning side of things going in Briar Ridge? And how are your parents?"

[elsiebarnes]

"It comes to a point where it's easier, isn't it?" Once the routine was down and the loneliness was a norm, it felt almost simpler to go about life alone than trying to fit someone into the day to day. At least that's how it felt for herself. She'd had people she'd been involved with on a sexual level but nothing serious enough to include them into her routine or home. "There's a lot of attractive groomsmen or even bridesmaids. I'd avoid most groomsmen at weddings if you're interested in dating because they're all pretty bad. They're fun for a one night thing." At least that was her experience, but otherwise, they were always the first to get drunk and makeout with someone they shouldn't. "The event planning thing isn't horrible. It's slowing down now some before it rams up again in the fall. People love their fall weddings but that means my stress is at an all time high because the weather rarely coorporates. Winter will be quiet until the holidays and then companies will want to do some Christmas parties." Then she shifted, peering at her feet momentarily. "My parents are okay for the most part. My mom is in this trial but it's been rough and she's been feeling ill most days. My dad is like a zombie. I don't think he knows what to do." She paused, grimacing. "Sorry— speaking of it always brings down the mood."

[sebolivar]

Sebastian's brows raised at her suggestion, initially taken aback, but he soon eased into a grin as he nodded. "That, Elsie, is a great idea." He reached out to pat her head, finding it amusing how alcohol made people act on their impulses. "Good blonde person." He then started walking backward, turning to one side of the bed with a mischievous look on his face. He hummed dramatically, contemplating, "I wonder what we should do to convince them that we were making out on this bed." The perfectly made bed looked like something straight out of Bed, Bath & Beyond. Biting his bottom lip, Sebastian turned, eyebrows raised, and grabbed a pillow, tossing it towards Elsie. "Should we lock the door before we mess this thing up? Or leave it unlocked and risk being caught?" For some reason, drunken Sebastian believed that their only option was to mess up the bed rather than simply leave, as no one had caught them. Yet.

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie looked at him with her mouth parted slightly. "Good blonde person? You think we're all dumb. You do know that saying isn't actually factual, right?" The conception of blonde people being dumb wasn't something she heard continuously in her life but enough that she was a bit immune to the assumption. When he moved to the bed, she raised a brow and wondered if he was going to ask her to actually make out to make it less suspicious. Luckily, he went another route than she'd assumed and tried to set a scene. "So you're thinking we make it seem like we were about to do a bit more and stopped or got interrupted? Then we almost have to ruffle our hair and clothes because we can't have the bed be a mess while we look like we're put together." She looked around. "We could knock some things over... but delicately. I can't afford to repay anything back in here."

[sebolivar]

He nervously scratched the back of his head as he moved around the master bedroom, trying to forget the predicament his drunken self had found himself in. The sober version of him would never have brought an accomplice into the master bedroom, which was the number one rule of the house party: do not enter the master bedroom. No, he would have done it alone. However, the alcohol coursing through his system had betrayed him, and he felt more paranoid than he liked.

He reassured her that he would be quick and hurried into the bathroom to take care of his business. Within a few minutes, he washed his hands and was back out the door. "Fun fact about me: if I drink too much, I get really paranoid. I think I might have had a bit too much," he admitted, rubbing his temple as he approached her. "Thank you for waiting outside," he said, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment. "I might pass out if the owner of the house suddenly barges in," he sighed, extending his hand for a shake. "Sebastian," he finally introduced himself.

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie stood in the room and wandered around out of curiosity. While she wasn't going to pocket anything and walk away, it didn't mean that she wouldn't open a few drawers in the matter of time that it took him to handle his business. Unfortunately for her, and fortunately for the owners, it was only a matter of seconds and she instantly turned from the dresser whenever the door opened. "I understand that, especially when you're in a situation like this. I feel like that would only heighten paranoia."

"We're all done though so if someone decides to come in. We can always mask all of this with the fact that we were making out on the bed and didn't realize we were in the master. I feel like it's a better story than the truth." Which was that they couldn't hold their bladder that they needed to sneak into the private bathroom for a quick release. "Hopefully no one discovers us and this is just our little dirty secret, Sebastian. I'm Elsie. Nice to meet you."

[kitcastellanos]

"Damn, you're the second person this week who I've met who kills all her husbands!" he teased back, the little grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I mean, I can definitely call in a few favors. I have a whole list of people who might be free and willing to help," he nodded, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. He opened Instagram, careful not to turn the screen towards Elsie too much before he'd gotten to the page he was looking for.

"Alright, we've got Santiago Rincón, Arabelle Namin, Sarah Jacobson, David Young," he read off, pausing between each name to see her reaction and get her approval of who to reach out to. To the general public, these names were just names on a list, but to anyone who was anyone, they'd know these were names featured in Vogue, People Magazine, Harper's Bazaar.

"Santiago might actually be back in the States. Maybe I can give him a call."

[elsiebarnes]

"You should put me in contact with the other person. I'm always interested in learning new techniques and if I have to ever blame the murders on someone." Elsie teased though the thought was quite amusing to her. She didn't really have a mean bone in her body, at least not enough to murder.

He didn't have to call in favors with anyone but she was happy that he was taking enough pity that he'd set something in motion to help her out. "I'll definitely return the favor if I ever get the opportunity and would be internally grateful to you for that." She chalked on with a smile as she looked him over. He was attractive and kind. A rare pairing.

Her mouth parted for a second and then she laughed, silently, almost cautiously. Mainly because she was waiting for him to actually join her in a teasing manner that would let her know that he was actually kidding rather than these names being possibilities. "Wait, what do you do?" Now she was more confused.

"I mean.... yeah, please. Wow. I should have asked for more money in that quote I gave my clients if I knew this could be an option."

[cemcerkez]

Cem listens without interrupting, his head tilted slightly as she cycles through worry, panic, self-blame, and that awkward brand of kindness that comes with a side of apology. He doesn’t rush to fill the silence between her questions and second guesses—just lets her speak, lets her unravel a little, until she’s said everything she needs to say.

“You really think I’d let you stash me in your trunk?” he says eventually, once she's finally started to calm down, his voice light but, clearly amused. “Please. I’m six-foot-two and stubborn. You’d have to fight me in broad daylight. Not worth the effort.” He tucks his ID back into his wallet but keeps it in hand, just in case. Then gestures vaguely toward the cars. “Besides, I’m fine. Really. My neck moves, my spine’s intact, and I’m ninety percent sure I still remember my high school locker combo, which I figure counts for something.”

Her offer catches him off guard—not because it’s weird, but because it’s sweet in a way that feels like it’s trying too hard not to be. His smile falters for just a second, replaced by something softer, quieter. “You don’t have to pay me,” he says gently. “And you don’t owe me breakfast. Or an apology. You made a mistake. It happens. I’d rather you get through this without adding shame to your list of injuries.”

But then, because too much sincerity feels a little dangerous, he adds with a wink, “...That said, if you insist on doing something nice, I’m not above letting you pay for mediocre coffee sometime. It can even be anonymous, if you want to avoid an awkward sit down or more conversation with yours truly.”

He steps around her to snap a few pictures of the damage, crouching for one before standing again and dusting off his hands. “But only if it’s decaf for you,” he adds teasingly. “You clearly have enough adrenaline for the both of us.” Then he turns back to her, all light sarcasm aside. “You’re doing okay,” he says again, voice quiet. “You didn’t fall apart. You didn’t run. You’re staying here, figuring it out. That counts for something.” He holds out his phone toward her. “Now give me your number so I can text you those steps. Unless you want to spend the next ten minutes Googling ‘what to do when I accidentally kiss someone’s bumper with my entire car.’”

[elsiebarnes]

He did have a point. It wasn't like she had much in terms of a surprise element so fighting him weight for weight was the only option and odds didn't seem to favor her. "That would probably bring more attention than I would want so you've got a point." Elsie teased, managing a small smile that showed the dimples in her cheek but still didn't ease the stiffness of her body. There was still underlying stress about the whole situation.

"If you can remember your locker combo then I think you're fine and that means that I'm the victim in all of this." She wasn't and any memory loss that she had was due to the years of stress and having to remember more than she could to the point where she was sure her brain capacity had just diminished as a means of survival at this point.

Her mouth opened to speak before he even was done but she closed it and held her words. However, the fact that she was ready to argue should have let him know that he didn't have much of a say in whether or not she would buy him something. She didn't know if it was coffee, a bar, or something more significant. Not because she felt like she had to for him to forgive her, but because she wanted to. For her own guilty conscience. A sort of settled score.

"I'm not going to take no for an answer." She grimaced, almost apologetic about the way she was but her mind was made up at this point. It was better for him just to accept that.

An awkward conversation sounded horrible and she didn't know if it would be like that but she just nodded her head in case this was an attempt at avoiding a further interaction with her. "I can like venmo you the amount of one of those fancy coffees and you can use it whenever works best for you. I just want to do something, you know." Anything, at this point, that would lessen a burden from his day. No matter how insignificant that was.

Her mouth parted to indicate that she wouldn't ever take decaf because that felt like consuming something that had no benefits for her. A waste of money. "I don't think that I can do decaf but I can have a tea. It's nice that you're concerned for my health and blood pressure. Luckily heart disease is the one thing we don't have in my family lineage so I think I'll be fine." Her gaze flicked from him to his car and then nodded her head, finding herself back to the mental list she'd stored at the back of her mind and remembering that sharing information was essential in case they needed it for their insurance. "I'm Elsie, and here's my number." She handed the phone back, scrunching her nose at his colorful description of the accident. "Kissing bumpers? Is that a valid description? Sounds a little soft for what we just did."

[leylayilmz]

"You're telling me. It's like the sahara desert in my life.. well, since New Years anyway." Leyla burst out laughing, bright and unfiltered as she grinned over at Elsie. "Single as a pringle, my friend," she confirmed, wiping the water from her face. "Though, if we're being technical, that expression makes zero sense. Pringles literally come stacked in a tube with a bunch of other pringles. It's kind of a scam." She floated backward a little, arms outstretched, letting the saltwater carry her as her legs treaded lazily beneath her. The sun hit her face just right, and for a moment, she just tilted her head back and soaked it all in—the water, the light, the easy company. It felt like exhaling. "But yeah," she added, glancing back over at Elsie with a smirk. "So if you need a wingwoman, you should know you've got one in me. I fully support hot lifeguard summer."

[elsiebarnes]

"That's been about half a year." Not that she was one to judge because she'd been on her own for longer than that and had been celibate for longer periods. Luckily, she'd recently found a little app that allowed her to scratch that itch but it hadn't been frequent enough to flaunt anything. "You do have a point and I haven't thought about it with the pringles." She paused while she floated, then peaked back at her when she decided that she would be a wingwoman. "By the sound of it, you need one as well." Hopefully she was better at getting other people their person than she was at getting their own. "I can lend a little help, even if it's just finding a friend. I'm an event planner so I know a lot of people"

[sebolivar]

Sebastian didn't realize how much this person's imagination amused him; he found himself inevitably agreeing with her on every point. "I genuinely admire your creativity," he chuckled as he closed the door behind them. He laughed again, shaking his head while gesturing for her to go first. Despite having waited longer, his mother had always taught him to be a gentleman, so he was willing to hold the door for a few more minutes. "Well, that's embarrassing because that's exactly what I was imagining," he attempted to joke, shaking his head, though he decided he wasn't brave enough to commit to it. "Please, go in first. I'll just sit here in shame."

[elsiebarnes]

"Thank you. My creativity is honestly the best thing about me if I do say so myself." She'd managed to make a career out of it so it was nice to know that she'd headed down the right path even if she didn't need validation from strangers. She looked at the door and then nodded her head and muttered a mild thank you because she wasn't sure how long she could hold it further. "I won't take long at all." She closed and locked the door behind her despite knowing he was there but she didn't know how much he drank and whether a lay on the couch would end with him being passed out. Luckily, she went quick, washed her hands and dried them. "All yours, I'll stay out here as your private guard until you finish. Unless you need the privacy."

[jordan-reyes]

"Something about bringing in a rowdy group close to last call one too many times," he muttered, waving a hand dismissively. "I just need to get back on the owner's good side and he'll get over it, I think. I'm his favorite customer... During the offseason."

Jordan grinned, gaze steady. "I disagree. I, for one, am grateful you went all out. Dude has no idea what he's missing."

The mention of bad luck had his body tensing immediately, reflexively, even. It was one of the phrases frequently used when people talked about his crash. Jordan Reyes' rare bad luck. He forced a smile onto his face, then gave a shake of the head. "Can't afford anymore bad luck, so maybe we'll skip the toast."

[elsiebarnes]

"That sounds like you may be leaving a few pieces out of the story." It couldn't be a one time offense if he got himself banned from the bar altogher. "That's all you've done? No damages or taken someone in the bathroom? I heard that's a big problem." And frankly, she'd witnessed it too.

"That means a lot because you should see the state of my room but I'm making myself feel better by saying that I dressed for myself."

"Oh really? Do you really believe in that, though?" She wasn't one to be superstitious if she were honest but she did it because people said to do it and figured that it was better safe than sorry but she could respect his choice. "But no pressure— we'll hold on the toast."

[cemcerkez]

Cem watches her closely, reading the layers of embarrassment and panic that flicker across her face like a stone skipping across water. His expression softens—not out of pity, but understanding. He’s seen enough bad days to recognize when someone’s spiraling over a mistake, and this one, all things considered, isn’t the end of the world.

“I’m okay,” he assures her easily, brushing off her concern with a small shake of his head. “You hit the back bumper, not the engine block. I’ll live.”

He leans forward slightly, catching her eyes. “But hey. Breathe.”

There’s no command in his voice, just quiet suggestion—the kind that makes it feel like the ground might stop tilting if she listens. “You’re still in one piece. The car’s just a car. Nobody’s bleeding, nobody’s getting sued. That’s a win in my book.”

At her comment about him being nice, Cem huffs a soft laugh, lifting his shoulders in a modest shrug. “I figure one of us should stay calm. Might as well be the guy who didn’t just get humbled by an unsuspecting blonde.”

The faint smile returns—sarcastic and gentle, but not mocking.

“You’re right though,” he continues, glancing at their vehicles, then back at her. “We’ll swap info. License, registration, insurance. I’ll take a couple pictures of the damage just in case. You do the same. No cops needed unless someone’s hurt or the car’s leaking something that smells like oil or doom.”

He steps aside to give her space, pulling out his wallet and fishing for his ID. “You’re handling this better than you think, by the way,” he adds, almost like an afterthought. “It’s just louder in your head right now.”

Then, with a brief nod toward her trembling hands, he offers, “Want me to text you the list of steps so you don’t have to look it up while your adrenaline’s still throwing elbows?”

[elsiebarnes]

"Does where I hit matter in terms of like, how you are physically? How about your neck? Can you look in all directions? Should I be asking you the date and time?" Wasn't that what paramedics did whenever they had a patient with an head injury, or maybe that was in greys anatomy? She wasn't sure anymore. Either way, it felt valid to ask. At least until she realized she didn't even know the time or date.

Sure, she knew it was a wednesday but did she know what number of the month they were on? No.

"Scratch those questions, I don't even know right now without my phone." And that was on the floor of her car from the impact.

The reminder to breathe was one that she heard a little later than when it was spoken, forcing her to pause and suck in a deep breath. The action reminded her of her mother when she was a child and unable to stop herself from crying whenever a friend told her they didn't want to play with her. She'd cry inconsolably and her mother would always make her breathe until she calmed down.

"No— you're right. I just feel bad." She nodded her head since this wasn't something either one of them had planned today and she was certain it had to be interfering with whatever he'd set out to do. "But you're right, you remaining calm is probably the best thing." For them, the situation, but ultimately to keep her calm as well. If he'd started to yell or freak out, she was sure she'd be crouched over having some kind of panic attack by now.

Her gaze flicked from the damage towards him with wide eyes. "Are you sure? Because I won't like.... kill you and put you in the back of my trunk if you decide that you want to get the cops involved." Certainly she'd get a ticket but she accepted that by now. "But I appreciate it if you're sure." She added. Just in case his mind hadn't been made up.

The compliment was nice and she flashed him an hesitant smile because she didn't feel like she'd been doing a great job at taking the situation by the balls, but she gave herself grace and silently reminded herself that it was a learning situation.

"Ugh— you're so sweet." It was definitely making her guilt act up. "Are you sure I can't pay you or even like, buy you breakfast for this. I refuse to believe you're this kind to everyone." She stilled, hand out to interfere before he spoke, just to add the next words, "—and I don't even have to be there for breakfast. I'll Venmo you. I don't want to get anyone upset so that's not an issue."

[levibecker-a]

“You have me doing a lot more here than I thought I’d be of use for.” He had to commend the blonde for her steady patience. “— I mean, where did anyone have the time to think up those crazy looking ones anyway...” Levi skeptically peered over the other work stations, irked disbelief etched on his features. Then again, it didn’t bother him either taking all the blame for their loss. Yet, with Elsie’s creative abilities he kept reminding her of, the chances they had didn’t need abandoned entirely. “I'm already sold on carnival food to celebrate a loss.” The brilliant idea nearly had him dropping everything then and there. “I already called taking full blame, remember? And no, if you call that a cross eyed bunny..” Levi proceeded motioning towards the drawing she’d done on the basket’s edge. “You really don’t want to see what mine would look like. I’m serious.. — And yes, you can hold me to that. It’s shit your work hasn’t been recognized more already.” 

Couldn’t leave fast enough. He related with that perspective well. “Well, you aimed high. That’s a good thing. Most people I’ve met that are from here don’t seem into leaving much.” His shoulders casually shrugged, firing up the hot glue gun. “Your parents own a farm around here then?” Levi guessed, considering that’s what residents usually meant when revealing they had land in their possession, expression falling at her following admittance. “— Oh...sorry to hear. I bet she appreciates you coming back. Everything going alright?” With a firm nod at the given instructions, his tall stature leaned slightly downward, eyeing each area with careful precision. “You need to quit it with the lazy eye, ok?” A brief, amused scoff left him, temporarily halted on the work at hand. “Looks like a damn masterpiece to me.” 

[elsiebarnes]

"You've proven to be a lot more helpful than I expected." It sounded like they were both surprised by his skill level. Even though she'd tried to reassure him at the start, from the way he spoke, she hadn't anticipated much help altogether but he wasn't half bad at the simple tasks that she asked of it. She peered one more time towards a group closer to them who'd clearly come in with a game plan in mind on how they wanted their basket to look like and scoffed. "They for sure went on Pinterest the night before and looked up some ideas. I should have done that."

At the time, she hadn't really put much thought in the fact that she'd signed up to decorate a basket because it seemed easy enough, only to find out that it wasn't. She peered back at the bunny and grimaced even though she appreciated the way he was trying to downplay the way the bunny looked by emphasizing his lack of skills compared to her own. "You're being too nice about it, especially since its starting to look like I'll be the one drowning the both of us and sending us right to the last position."

Elsie hadn't understood how people could spend their lives in this small part of town without any impulse to see anything outside of their hometown. It felt sad to her. Though it likely made sense to other people who'd found everything they needed here. "Not so much a farm persay. They have a lot of land and grow their own food, for the most part, order what they don't have online. They have some animals but there's a few of each. A few chicken, two cows, a goat." She was sure she was forgetting some but it was only because she had no interest in them outside of rare visits to feed them when asked by her parents. "She's doing better but the prognosis isn't great." It was all about time now but the end would ultimately be the same. "Stop— the more you compliment it, the more I think you're losing your mind."

[kitcastellanos]

Kit followed her gaze to the person named Catherine and he nodded. Ah, yes. Catherine. He'd only really heard of her through other friends. They were more distant acquaintances than anything. But that didn't seem to matter in this case. Elsie was here on her own regard.

"Your next wedding? As in you're planning to get married multiple times?" He asked, eyebrow raised, a little grin curling up on his lips. It was meant to be a joke and he hoped to God it came off that way.

But then she clarified and he nodded. "Ohhh, you're a wedding planner? That makes a lot more sense," he laughed, his hand moving into his hair to push it back slightly. "I would love to photograph all your weddings but I'm not exactly the wedding photographer type. I'm more portraits and album covers." He wasn't lying but it was really the first time in this town he'd said those words out loud.

"However, I have some pretty good ties and connections with some of the big names in wedding photography. Some of the people you've seen featured in wedding magazines!"

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie paused and then laughed, realizing she hadn't even explained that she was an event planner that was hired to plan a wedding. Perhaps her friend hadn't mentioned her in passing but with the urgency to get him to accept this photography opportunity, she was forgetting details that were important. "Sorry, I'm an event planner. I haven't gotten one person to propose to me yet, much less multiple."

She laughed as she regarded him and then nudged him playfully when she realized that he'd been joking with her. "Then again, maybe I've just killed all my past husbands and you're next."

Elsie was teasing and she hoped he knew that. But in case, she made a point of saying it.

Her lips parted slightly when he explained what kind of photography he did, and she could only look at her friend over her shoulder because that had been something that was left out. Then again, her friend had a job that was more analytical so it wasn't surprising that she would believe all photographers could do wedding photography.

"See, that detail wasn't told to me." She cleared her throat and grimaced.

A still for a cover was much different than posing a whole wedding group and creating an album for a couple who wanted their most memorable day to be captured.

"Do you owe any of them a favor because the wedding is in a few days and I need them to agree to it in a matter of hours."

[cemcerkez]

Cem is already out of his car by the time she opens her door, one hand bracing the edge of his hood as he surveys the damage. It’s not catastrophic, but it’s enough to earn a long, slow breath through his nose. The kind that keeps frustration in check and doesn’t let adrenaline turn into anger.

He turns at the sound of her voice, taking in the phone still clutched in her hand, the edge of panic in her eyes, and the way her words tumble out in a rush—like if she talks fast enough, maybe she can undo it all.

His brows lift slightly, but his tone stays calm. Controlled. “You okay?” he asks first, not sharp, not cold—just steady. “You hit hard enough to rattle something. Head? Neck? Anything hurting?” Only after she confirms whether or not she's okay, does he glance back at theor cars again.

“Well, I’m not thrilled about the timing,” he admits, the barest smile tugging at one corner of his mouth, “but if you had to rear-end anybody today, better me than a lawyer with a dashcam and anger issues.” He gestures toward the sidewalk. “Come on, let’s get out of the road before someone makes this worse.”

As they move, he glances back at her again. “First accident?” he inquires, after registering her omission earlier. “Alright. We’ll exchange info, take pictures, do it all by the book. You’ll call your insurance. They’ll sigh. You’ll cringe. And life will go on. Don't worry about it. Although, next time, just let the guilt wait five more minutes. It’s not worth the deductible.”

[elsiebarnes]

Elsie remained still once she threw her car in park, shocked by her own stupidity and the fact that she'd hit a car after years of being the perfect driver with an untouched record. Surely this had to be a dream. "Fuck." She heard herself mutter beneath her breath before she unbuckled herself and stepped out of her car.

Embarrassment hit her like a tidal wave. Not only because of the potential damage, but because he was gorgeous and immediately checking in on her despite not needing to do so. She was the one that hit him, after all. He had every right to be angry.

"Rattle? No, I think I'm fine." If she were honest, she hadn't pausd long enough to take inventory of herself outside of the trembling fingers, which she only noticed while she tried to unlock her phone. Wasn't that the next step in all of this? Notify the authorities and insurance companies?

"Oh no, did you have to be somewhere right now?" She scrubbed at her face, wide eyes full of regret and culpability. "I'm really sorry that I did that. I'm usually a better driver but I don't know what got into me."

A text, she knew, but she was too ashamed to admit it.

"First accident." She nodded meekly as she listened to his instructions. Given the thousand of thoughts going through her mind, she was sure she'd have to use Chat GPT for the steps in a few moments. "You're so nice about all of this. It's almost making it worse for me." A hand moved to her chest, unsure if she'd met some kind of unicorn in the wild. Someone as attractive as him couldn't be this kind. "I didn't even check your car, is it really damaged? Are you okay?! I should have asked." She took a deep breath to ground herself. "Information. License and insurance? That's all we need to share?"

[sebolivar]

Sebastian flashed a surprised grin, raising his brow at the choice of a laundry room. "Oh, good choice," he said, snapping his fingers with a chuckle. "I usually have to find a place to do laundry, and the idea of using a laundry room never crossed my mind." He was genuinely impressed, his drunken state making him thoroughly amused by the discussion they were having about their favorite spots in a home to get freaky. "You wouldn’t choose a kitchen if you were trying to be discreet at a party, so what’s your next choice? Your top pick is laundry room, second is..."

He let out a laugh and nodded as soon as she agreed to their deal. He gestured for them to make their way toward the room, looking around briefly to ensure that no one on the staircase noticed where they were headed. "Honestly, I would have just gone into the back or front yard," he admitted, opening the door for her to enter. "Sure, I’d probably get yelled at by the host, but I’d be in the clear once I threw those guys under the bus," he reasoned, closing the door behind them.

[elsiebarnes]

"It's not something that comes to mind. I feel like people focus a lot on flat places but I feel like that's overrated. Every room can then be used if you just lay on the ground." That didn't feel comfortable, especially if it was for a longer period of time. Sure, if they graduated to the floor after visiting a few other locations than that was fine. "At a party— well, that's a little different. I would probably pick laundry room and then I'd go in like the basement, or maybe a closet if it's big enough. Toss a few of the parents fur coats on the ground."

Sometimes it couldn't be big enough so perhaps that wasn't an option. "Then there's shed, garage, pool house." It was less about convenience and more about where people weren't. She walked in before him and then nodded her head. "The outside is convenient for you but not the best for us. This dress would be a pain to squat in if I'm being honest." She'd risk flashing everyone but not being able to get low enough. "Not that I'm trying to give you any mental images about me trying to take a pee outside."