𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 .

[evaniemay]

— #𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐘. original character penned by manes .

                  * 𝐭𝐥;𝐝𝐫: evanie may jennings is twenty-eight years old ( born august 24th ) and currently resides in greystone complex . she works as a bartender at the wild pony and is rarely seen without her little black kitten , gram . evanie is bisexual , is referred to by she/her pronouns & is as sweet as tennessee honey !!

                                       bio. connections. playlist. musings. tasks.

[pcrasitic]

amidst the sci-fi junkies and alien believers seem to be a misfit of people that end up in roswell . laying low in the desert , a town with little to offer outside of peak tourist season . it wasn’t froggy’s first choice but he didn’t have much say in the matter of where his little family ended up , and now with a jr added to the crew , it was unlikely that he’d ever end up anywhere else . dreams of landscapes other than dirt and dust forever crushed . “ sounds like you know enough about me already . “ as the burger finishes , he pokes now at the soggy fries . the two , biblie belt bred even worked at the same establishment but hadn’t noseyed to get to know each other before now . “ the forty-something going on thirty five again ?? s’my brother . i’ve told him he’s damn obvious , but he doesn’t mean no harm by it . everyone’s got their vices . — you like the hot sauce , drink slinger ?? “

[evaniemay]

"it's pretty funny. i don't mind so much. i mean, i get so many tips that i sometimes just slip a five in the till to cover him. it's sweet, you looking out for your brother like that," if her sister was in roswell, evanie would have done the same. her elder sibling was the one that looked out for her, that kept her on the straight and narrow; the newfound independence of new mexico was harder to navigate alone. whether it was merely a dumping ground for the misfits and miscreants or something more, she would struggle to find an explanation that wasn't tied to god's plan. "okay, okay—sure. i've grilled you enough," the bartender chuckled, although upon her next shift she would most likely scan the crowd for the dimpled, coil-haired cannon. "i do like hot sauce. i like ketchup too, but i prefer it when it's not rained down on me. you offering me something?"

[asher-finch]

continued from here. @evaniemay

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Ev – I’m gonna do it and you know it,” Asher teased, a smirk on his lips along with a raise of his brows to emphasize what he was saying. “Man, I’d get so many tips,” he sighed as if he was already dreaming up the rather unlikely scenario. As much as Asher liked running his mouth, he rarely pulled through. While he’d been blessed, or cursed, with a big mouth, he knew that he wasn’t exactly the most intimidating and would often back track but that didn’t keep him from doing so again and again.

It was funny to Asher sometimes, to know that not everyone had grown up the way he did and that while he could do whatever he wanted for the most part, sometimes he’d longed for the structure. The rules and boundaries others had. There was a carelessness and disinterest that came with his freedom and in a way, it had shaped him to be exactly who he was now. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d have a proper education. A job that paid more than the two he somehow tried to keep up with and yet, never really found the motivation to do more than what was asked of him. Asher was sure there were pros and cons for every situation though, so he couldn’t bring himself to care too much. “Nah, I just know how to fake it,” he joked, shrugging. He’d never been good at accepting compliments. “Oh yeah and it’s all good until you realize you’re actually conscious and it’s your reality so that kinda sucks sometimes, there's no way to deny that. But hey, it’s home. It’s where I grew up so…you get used to it,” he added. “Sounds like this isn’t your average growing up experience though, huh?”

[evaniemay]

"it wasn't but, honestly, i don't think it's any worse or better. i kind of like the idea of having all that freedom, being able to do what you want..." but the grass was always greener on the other side. evanie suspected that asher would have liked to grow up with acres of rolling land, with sun-bleached grass, with goats bleating the jennings sisters awake those peach sky mornings. maybe the structure of church every sunday would have set those wild ones straight. if only they could take back the time and switch, if only for a day, for a taste of how the other half lived. "i grew up on a ranch, so my mornings were milking cows and collecting what the chickens had laid overnight. as nice as it was, there wasn't any of this." a gesture to their surroundings, to the neighbours and the life. stuck miles out from civilisation, it had been easy for evanie-may to forget the world wasn't just her and her family. no wonder she had fallen for the first man that had showed her any attention. no wonder she had been stung so easily. the trailer park, despite its dishevelled appearance, had character. it had a heartbeat. the characters within it were questionable at times and, like everybody else, evanie-may had heard stories, but as her boots crunched the gravel and she weaved between the crooked mailboxes there was a soft smile across her features. "which one's yours?" the redhead questioned, without an ounce of judgement, with the naive excitement of a child in a museum before they realised every artefact was stolen or worse. maybe, if living at aurora didn't seem to work out, she could get a static out in the park, one of those white-panelled single wides. she would park up beside asher and they could commute together. maybe, with less, she could finally be happy. pulled from the fantasy, she gestured to the upcoming trailer, "this one?"

[evaniemay]

frcggy​:

“ you’re a real nosey nelly . “ voice is a dead giveaway that he’d never truly blend in . not here . the way he echoes phrases that others never fully understand. pair that with an overly raspy , croaky voice and it was a recipe for an endless reminder . the male returns to his burger , speaking now between muffled bites . “ nah , i aint from here . you neither . “ he starts plainly . “ whys it matter where i’m from , anyhow ?? i get ketchup on your cross-ant and suddenly you gotta know my life story ?? “

“ well , i’m interested . “ she responded , even more so at his apparent disdain . in her past life , evanie-may had coddled quite the penchant for cowboys — the way their biceps rippled when they swung ropes , the spurs on their boots . “ you work at the pony , right ?? i’ve seen you , but i’ve never heard that you’re like me . it’s just interesting , that’s all , that we both ended up here , “ and had both run from something , their fear funnelling them straight into roswell , new mexico . “ always hanging around with that other cowboy . the one that steals whiskey from behind the bar and thinks we don’t notice , “ she dabbed at the sprayed ketchup with a napkin , idly folding the thin ply into a four-layered square . 

[evaniemay]

asher-finch​:

The trailer park was all Asher knew and frankly, likely all he’d ever know, so as much as people talked about it, it’d always be home to him. He wasn’t exactly the type to crave change and maybe that had to do with his upbringing. As long as it felt safe and easy, Asher was as happy as one could be. He’d seen a bunch of people come and go just to return eventually – some had left to build a life outside of Roswell. To go to college and seek out what they really wanted from life but Asher had always been very easy to please and happy where he was at so even though those late night thoughts that popped up every now and then told him otherwise, he wouldn’t change a thing right now.

“Shit, can you imagine?! Me doing the whole cowboy thing? Next thing you know, I’m gonna show up to work in a cowboy hat and some boots. Maybe even some chaps if I’m feeling naughty,” he teased with a terribly awkward wink before he snorted and shook his head. “You didn’t miss much, though we do have some killer lawn parties if you wanna call them that,” he told her with a grin. “It’s not too bad,” he mumbled. It was home after all but if anyone knew how rough it could get out there, it was Asher. “You learn how to handle it and yourself,” he told her with a nonchalant shrug. “No one wants to steal from a trailer that looks like it’s gonna fall apart the moment you close the door a little too hard,” he half-joked.

“ oh my god , stop — stop !! “ evanie wheezed at the thought . although seeing asher parading around in a pair of chaps would be nothing short of hilarious , she was sure there would be no drinks being pulled that evening if he went through with such a dare . for once , though , she could spend a night without the leering gazes of the wild pony patrons , the drunken men three decades her senior . dealing bottles was far from what she had wanted for her life but , then again , come to think of it , she had never really had much of a dream outside of the relationship that had crumbled like rubble around her . all evanie had wanted was to be a wife , a mother — without either of those , did she even know who she truly was ?? it was too much to bear thinking about .

she supposed he was right . there wasn’t much to offer , when your home could barely fit two humans side by side , but in a way she envied the freedom , the independence that asher seemed to have . although evanie enjoyed her apartment and managed to bumble along on her own accord a wave of stress hit her whenever the bills came , she would scream into the air whenever her grocery bags split . perhaps being out in nature would have done her good and taught her how to truly fend for herself . “ you seem like you’re doing a pretty good job . “ she commented with sincerity , “ and i bet it feels like a sitcom waking up around there most days , what with all the hooligans around . “   

[evaniemay]

the ketchup splatter warfare wasn’t on purpose , but he’ll soak up the compliment . his aim was pretty darn good . the graveyard of shot down pbr cans that lay sprawled out across tripp’s would just so prove it . although , he’s unlikely to replicate the perfect destruction of her croissant if he gave it an honest go again ·. “ aint never neither . sounds fuckin ‘ disgustin , “ mouth full of food mumbles , dropping his grip on the bottle to wipe greasy hands and toss a packet of tapatío from his booth to hers . “ much better combo , not that i eat that ooh la la french shit . “

“ southern . “ evanie spoke before she even really realised she had . blinking hard , shaking her auburn hair , she elaborated : “ your accent . its deeper than people around here . i know we’re technically in the south , but there’s a difference . where are you from ?? “ her own alabama twang licked at her throat as she spoke , dimples sinking into pale cheeks at the realisation that , for the first time since moving to roswell , she wasn’t alone . in an instant the ketchup , the tapatío and whatever else didn’t matter , but she thanked the man and tore open the packed anyway , dapping the sauce onto her little finger and pressing it against her tongue . 

[meilanibrudenell]

evaniemay·:

no longer did she hold back on her intentions . stubbing out the tobacco end of her cigarette into the baked earth her arms parted , offering meilani an embrace beneath the waxy moon . between them and the sky there were secrets that couldn’t be told to anybody else ; evanie-may , although naive , spoke little of the sadness that rotted within her stomach , heavy and twisting a fist of guilt . “ secret between us and the stars . i like it , ” she mumbled against the other’s shoulder , pulling away and gathering her legs up from her crossed-leg position to stand . burdened lungs opened and welcomed the cool , night air — early spring twirled in her chest . “ this has been nice , ” she spoke sweetly , truthfully , dropping her gaze and blinking away the twinkle of tears . having a friend , even if just for a night , was a welcome change , a catharsis that evanie hadn’t realised she needed and yet had drawn emotions deep from her body like blood in a bruise . she would return to her apartment with her kitten and her half completed crochet to weep in the darkness . she was painfully aware of her loneliness in the presence of others . if only somebody would love her again , if only someone would take a chance on the redhead with a heart larger than her head , with her life displayed on a silver platter . “ i hope we run into each other again , and i hope when that time comes we’ll both be happier . ” the hope was more of a need . if life didn’t start picking up , evanie-may wasn’t sure what else she had left to give ; surely this wasn’t what jesus died for .

Much like everything else about the redheads introduction into her life, the way her arms part to welcome Meilani in blindsides the girl. It was a comfort that hadn’t been granted to her often enough in childhood and even now, tended only to be a brought forth by her grandmother. It’s why there’s a pause, a stranger to the intimacy shared between friends — if the two girls could even be considered such. Whatever they may be, her own arms are drawing apart before surrounding the girl in her own embrace, slender fingers curling just slightly into the fabric of the others top, a gratefulness that said she might have needed the moment even more than the other had. Her lips pressed into a line as tears stabbed at the back of her eyes before watering, just another unexpected piece dropping into the puzzle of her evening. There’s a part of her that doesn’t want to let go, that finds security here — she also knows the two of them are still virtual strangers and that they should both get back inside soon, before the chill of the night caused any damage to their delicate bodies. Her head quickly bowed, dampened eyes wiped away onto the sleeve of her coat in hopes that it might go unnoticed, lingering concerns over her appearance unable to be silenced even if the stranger had proved to be nothing like the people she had grown used to. “It has been.” Meilani followed suit, gathering herself from the ground, hands dusting remnants of the earth from her clothing before facing the girl once more, features solemn. “I do too.” There’s a preparation to part, to go their separate ways, but just as her feet begin to shift, Meilani hesitates for a mere moment. “Don’t-…don’t be afraid to love yourself.” Bold words for a girl who struggled so harshly with it. “I think we accept love that’s…that’s not real or whole because we think it’s the best we may get offered…but it’s not. Being alone is…it’s better than a love that’s not meant for us.”

[paigetaylorking]

“Oh 90’s country…” Paige thought if she knew any songs of that genre well enough to sing them. “Shania was 90s, right?” She asked out loud as she googled when any of her songs came out. “Ah yes, ‘97 was still the 90s. I could sing the hell out of Man I Feel Like a Woman. How do you feel about it?”

[evaniemay]

evanie beamed . the confidence was far from characteristic , and yet she felt a buzz from her fingers all the way to her toes at the idea of performing. an excitable nod, taking hold of paige’s arm . “ that sounds perfect , ” she answered , with her alabama twang leaping out like an unbridled horse , “ how do we work these machines ?? ”

[evaniemay]

kaitogabriel​:

“I’m not sure,” defeated, he shrugs. It was quite early, there had to be someone who’s running late to work and would notice that the elevator was stuck – or at least would hear their voices. Sooner or later. “I think our plan B is to sit here and wait,” he was, however, completely inept when it came to calming his newly found companion down: he realised he wasn’t helpful only when his thoughts were already said out loud, and it surely seemed that he couldn’t remember any proper, tested ways to clear the panic in the air – perhaps he, too, was a bit nervous, even if he didn’t want to show it. He goes through his pocket instead, looking for the damn Snickers he talked about, hoping that’s something that will help to lighten up the mood. “Here,” he hands it to her when he finally finds it. “You’re not yourself when you’re hungry,” there’s a sigh – it sounds a bit annoyed, but it was obviously mostly targeted at himself more than anyone else. If someone wasn’t being themselves, it was him. He clearly didn’t know what to do.

“Sorry, what I meant to say was… I think sugar just helps anxiety. I mean, it’s not the healthiest way to do it, but I think it’s allowed in a situation like this,” he looks at his phone, mostly because it was a nasty habit – after all, at the moment it was just a useless brick that couldn’t help them in any way. “I’m Gabriel, by the way,” he reaches out for a handshake – a bit too officially. “Know any games that will help us pass the time?”

being a younger sibling , they had been taught to share from a young age . although she would often cry and protest when it meant handing her barbies over to her older sister , eventually evanie learned that kindness was displayed in the actions you shared with others . she took hold of the snickers , took a moment to feel the ridges between the wrapper , then broke it in a clean half , handing her counterpart the wrapped part of the chocolate , cradling her own in her palm . “ plan B is the best plan we have at the moment , “ she sighed , taking a mouthful of the nuts and gratefully chewing , “ thank you for this . i think i needed something to take my mind off of ... well ... all of this . i didn’t think life could get much worse than this , and now i’m stuck in some sort of disaster movie . “ softly she took another bite . as she focused on the physical act of consuming the chocolate , she was brought safely down to earth in a sugary parachute . “ you know , i don’t usually reach for these ... but they’re nicer than i remember , “ for the first time since evanie-may ventured into that elevator , she cracked a smile .  

“ there are worse ways . i think a little sugar every now and again is better than the alternatives , “ working in a bar , she had seen first hand how alcohol could soothe the soul and , in one night , break it into thousands more pieces . ensuring there was no leftover chocolate on her fingers , the redhead reached out to gingerly shake the other’s hand . “ evanie-may , “ she responded , as if they were gearing up for a job interview , “ or just evanie works . i guess i-spy is off the table , since after we guess buttons and candy-bar wrapper we’re pretty much out of ideas . “

[pcrasitic]

location: crashdown cafe open:to all

the sight’s less than ideal for anyone trying to enjoy a meal . froggy hunched in a booth quasimodo style , jaw unhinged around a burger .  the bun’s squished in order to get at least half of it in his gob in one single bite . you’d swear he was starved , and truthfully he probably was . manners cease to exist in his world , and certainly so at three in the morning after a shift . distracted by the particular dryness of the patty , he hastily reaches for the bottle of ketchup . god this place was stingy — the glass bottle nearly on empty . it takes a few hard thwacks against the back of his palm and ketchup as it covers his plate and more than a few globs of the condiment fly over his table and across to the one in front of him . a nonchalant “ oops , “ slips out between chews . hardly sounding the least bit apologetic as the back of his hand mops a dribble of grease from his chin .

[evaniemay]

maybe this was her life now , spending her early mornings in the crashdown over a black coffee and a stale pastry . evanie-may , with every passing day , found happiness harder to pin down ; she was convinced that god had it out for her , that somewhere along the line she had spoken his name in vain and encouraged his wrath . how else would she explain the constant flurry of misfortune that rained upon her day by miserable day ?? red smattered her croissant and hazel eyes raised , peeping over the booth divider to identify where the sauce had originated from . she was pretty sure the bible hadn't ever mentioned the almighty overseer pelting his subjects with tomato sauce . " pretty good aim , " her sweet , alabama drawl sing-songed from her lips , " you know , i've never tried a croissant and ketchup . maybe you've just invented something special . "

[evaniemay]

paigetaylorking​:

Stage fright was a familiar frienemy. Paige could write a novel on how many worries she had when performing. “For me, the high outweighs the anxieties. I thrive in the spotlight. If I get ridiculed, come up here and do it better.” She added with an accompanying sip of water. “I know it’s not easy. You gotta have a good support system, too. My parents tended to be into 80s music, so I memorized 80s music. It helped with the whole, performing thing I was always doing. Prince, Janet Jackson, Bananarama, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston… I could go on forever. I got myself grounded singing some Prince songs, though…”

it would have been easy for evanie to shake her head and retreat . it would have been easy for her to make an excuse and say she needed to go to the bathroom , instead wiggling her way out the back door . her lightly freckled nose scrunched before she rose ; the woman brushed down her thighs and reached her hand out for paige to help her up on the stage . she was thankful for the low lights , concealing the warmth of a blush across her cheeks . “ i love eighties music . and nineties . nineties country is my favorite , “ evanie remained scrunched with her shoulders by her ears , as if the ground would swallow her whole if she made herself small enough . “ why don’t we try a duet , before i chicken out ?? “ 

[evaniemay]

meilanibrudenell​:

Despite the vast improvements that had been made and despite what her words might lead one to believe, Meilani is far from being any kind of picture of health, physical or mental. There were still things she struggled with and likely would for the rest of her life, damage to her body and mind that couldn’t be undone no matter how many classes or sessions she attended. It’s clear there’s a desperate attempt at being something else however, at finding whatever version of whole she can be and not letting the broken parts of her win. It’s why she’s out there to begin with, to grant space from her own thoughts, to protect herself from her own mind. While the stranger’s presence may have been entirely unplanned and admittedly, there was a weight to her words that cut deeper than she had been prepared for; it also served as a reminder that she wasn’t alone, that while her hurt may have been her own, she wasn’t the only one trying to search out a better path and in need of some guidance along the way — guidance that it seemed she for once, had been able to be on the other side of. “It was a bit more exciting than simply lying and looking at the stars in silence.” It’s lighthearted, tone seeming to hint at a joke, but there remains a gentleness that at the same instant, says otherwise. “That’s alright.” It’s a reassurance she likely would have granted even if such wasn’t the case, but there’s something special in the preference for no introductions. It’s as if, if only for that moment, she’s able to abandon the lessons of etiquette that had been ingrained in her. “It can be a secret between us and the stars.”

no longer did she hold back on her intentions . stubbing out the tobacco end of her cigarette into the baked earth her arms parted , offering meilani an embrace beneath the waxy moon . between them and the sky there were secrets that couldn’t be told to anybody else ; evanie-may , although naive , spoke little of the sadness that rotted within her stomach , heavy and twisting a fist of guilt . " secret between us and the stars . i like it , " she mumbled against the other’s shoulder , pulling away and gathering her legs up from her crossed-leg position to stand . burdened lungs opened and welcomed the cool , night air — early spring twirled in her chest . " this has been nice , " she spoke sweetly , truthfully , dropping her gaze and blinking away the twinkle of tears . having a friend , even if just for a night , was a welcome change , a catharsis that evanie hadn’t realised she needed and yet had drawn emotions deep from her body like blood in a bruise . she would return to her apartment with her kitten and her half completed crochet to weep in the darkness . she was painfully aware of her loneliness in the presence of others . if only somebody would love her again , if only someone would take a chance on the redhead with a heart larger than her head , with her life displayed on a silver platter . " i hope we run into each other again , and i hope when that time comes we'll both be happier . " the hope was more of a need . if life didn't start picking up , evanie-may wasn't sure what else she had left to give ; surely this wasn't what jesus died for .

[evaniemay]

asher-finch​:

Holding up his hands in defense, Asher shot Evanie a broad grin, shaking his head. “Hey, there’s no shame in that. I invite myself by just showing up – you got way better manners, Ev,” he teased. “I mean, it’s nothing super special but it’s a good place to hang out,” he added with a shrug before he raised his brows. “Line dance’s not my thing either but I can skate and do some basic as shit tricks so if you wanna try again, I got a spare board,” Asher offered. Granted, he was by no means a pro at – well, anything – but he did know his way around the park at least. “Nah, I don’t mind. Some company’s good either way,” Asher told her genuinely. He knew his way around town – for better or for worse – he knew those who hung out behind trailers and those who stirred up trouble. Maybe he’d simmered down a bit but he couldn’t help but enjoy the looks and side-eyes he got whenever he rode past some elderly citizens. He didn’t let a lot of people close as it was but Evanie seemed harmless that way. Both of them familiar enough but without asking questions that felt too personal and that’s just how Asher liked it. He had to admit that a little rush of excitement shot through him at the idea of having a new person to hang out with outside of work and with that, he shot up. “We just gotta swing by the trailer park real quick if you don’t mind but then we’re all good to go,” he told her, clapping his hands contently.

the trailer park wasn’t somewhere that evanie frequented , but she wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity of a new friendship simply due to unfamiliarity . unfamiliarity peppered every aspect of her life ; when she left alabama for new mexico , a blind spin of the dice , she had been plunged into a world endlessly removed from what she was used to . whether she was ready or not , the redhead would never know if she didn’t take that jump — everything good in her life had been grown from the seed of her leaving on an impromptu , solo adventure , so why should her luck run out here ?? “ who knows whether it’s your thing or not ?? i might be the next tony hawk , and you might be the next tim mcgraw . you’ll never know if you don’t don some boots and let me spin you around the back of a barn , “ the very idea had her snickering behind her clasped knuckles . she would need to acquire a pair of cheap ropers for asher as payback for whatever cuts and scrapes she was about to litter her body with from their skateboarding session . evanie-may knew , from now , that the nights they were stationed together at the wild pony would be filled with giggly anecdotes , jokes that only they knew , side-glances and comments born from a moment of bravery . “ i can’t say i’ve ever swung by the trailer park , y’know . greystone isn’t the most glamorous of places in the world , but at least i know my roof will always be right where i left it . i’ve heard some horror stories , “ although she wasn’t one to judge — her home had been the back of her car for the extent of the drive across states . she was sure her eggshell-blue baby would be okay without her if they stepped away for a few hours of well-meaning fun . 

[evaniemay]

kaitogabriel​:

“I have a Snickers,” no one ever gave him a tutorial on how to deal with anxious strangers in a situation like this, thus there’s a long and silent pause after he watches the person in front of him spiral into a panic induced act — and surely the chocolate bar he had on himself was the only thing that, in theory, sounded like a comforting offering. Fear and anxiety can be contagious, he’s heard, and it started to seem that whoever told him that wasn’t a liar — his hands start shaking as he’s looking for a phone he used just a moment ago, and it takes time for him to finally locate it in the front pocket of his jeans. It was the only thing left after a frantic try to push all the buttons at once as well as a couple of loud heys: the emergency button may not work, but miraculously there’s a signal as well as a note with a phone number. “Don’t… panic. They won’t keep us here for three hours, I can assure you,” in fact, he doesn’t know that at all, he only can hope for it ; and hope starts to seem like a stupid concept as Gabriel notices his phone is on one percent. And before he can do anything, its screen turns black.

“Well I hope your coworkers won’t be mad that you’ll be late today,” there’s another sigh as he slowly sits down on the floor (which he noticed isn’t very clean, but he tried his best to ignore it), expecting to find at least a little comfort in this very irritating scenario. He looks down at the watch on his wrist — an unconscious start of the count until their release. “I’m joking. Sorry, wasn’t very funny,” especially knowing the first reaction after the elevator stopped, he notes to himself. “What I meant to say was… My phone died. Could you call them, please?”

snickers was a poor excuse for food . if they were stuck there for more than a few hours , half a candy bar would do little to satiate empty bellies . fingers reached to tangle in the curls of evanie’s auburn hair , her chin rested upon her knees , her breath ragged as she fought against hyperventilating ; getting worked up wouldn’t help either of them , although the more she tried to fight it the more she realised she couldn’t keep herself from panic . the woman was gentle , sensitive , and being trapped with a complete stranger would have been her worst nightmare — little did she know she would be living it that afternoon , surrounded by the shimmering chrome of the four-walled box that kept them imprisoned together . “ god , i just hope asher’s on shift so he can cover for me … “ evanie-may murmured , raising her head and wiping smeared eyeliner from beneath her lashes , “ he can make up some excuse . say my car broke down or something — “ as though getting stuck in an elevator wasn’t a valid excuse as any . a terrified mind never did produce the most coherent thoughts . 

her phone . yes . why hadn’t she thought of that ?? blinking through the low light she located her phone in her back pocket and unlocked the home screen , only to realise that she had only one bar of service and it was flashing , dropping out entirely before flickering back to life . squinting at the phone number by the emergency button her fingers shuddered across the screen , clicking against the ‘ call ‘ button and raising the speaker to her ear … only to be greeted with a tinny , automated message saying that her call couldn’t be connected . evanie’s freckled nose scrunched and she dropped her phone into her lap , defeated . “ no signal . “ her knees were brought closer to her chin like a comfort blanket . “ what’s our plan B ?? “ 

[evaniemay]

asher-finch​:

Asher had always worked the odd jobs around town for as long as he could remember. There was always a ten dollar bill to be earned, whether he was helping out the old folks with their garden or other handy work (that quite frankly, he was absolutely terrible at) or if it was a quick shift at the local grocery store. Nonetheless, balancing two jobs was nothing new to him and yet, he was glad he got to work somewhere close to two of his favorite things - people he actually liked and booze. Evanie was easy to get along with and he was always glad to spend that extra time with her but now, outside of the bar and outside of any establishment he frequented often, it was almost a different dynamic to have. At the pony, he didn’t have to think twice about whether or not it was okay to bother her, he just did - it was in his nature after all but now a part of him hoped that she wasn’t just hoping for him to shut the hell up. Her words quickly silenced his mind though and he grinned widely. “Nope - I’m probably just gonna hang around the trailers and drink too much beer. Who knows, maybe I’ll start some trouble with my asshole neighbor just to feel something,” he half-joked, a smirk on his lips. “Or maybe I’ll just hit the skate park. So many options,” he joked again, shrugging before looking over to her. “I invite myself places all the time. Once you lose the shame of it, life’s suddenly a lot more fun, you’ll see,” he added. “But hey, if you lower your expectations when it comes to anything good, be my guest.”

“ okay , “ with a dimpled grin , evanie-may pulled herself upright and threw a strand of fire-red hair over her shoulder , “ maybe i am inviting myself , then . i think it sounds pretty cool having fun in the skatepark . i haven’t been around there , actually — i have two left feet with that sort of thing . you should see me trying to line dance !! “ it was borderline comedic ; she had been taught by her mother , white cotton dresses swinging above her knees as she was swung from person to person , side-stepping in her sandy boots . if let loose on a skateboard it was inevitable that she would fall and scuff her chin on the tarmac within seconds of her attempt , without even trying to perform a trick ( or anything more than forward motion ) . “ as long as you don’t mind little ol’ me tagging along , i think it could be fun , “ the woman couldn’t count many friends on her five fingers . her sister didn’t count — she was blood , and therefore shackled to at least liking her — and so asher , on the borderline between friend and co-worker , was somebody she was going to cling to if , and when , she could . meeting asher in the dark , sweaty bar had propelled their status as two strangers into something other , something unable to be placed , a bulldozed lot ready to build foundation upon . “ lead the way !! i’ll be right alongside you . “ 

[alicenthightowerdaily]

OLIVIA COOKE for Harper’s Bazaar UK (December 2022)

[ofturmoil]

where: an elevator, anywhere you want when: around 10 a.m. on monday with: open

He is not sure what possessed him to pick up a call from his uncle, especially at ten in the morning — it could be sleep deprivation or the fact that he believed he’d blocked this exact number — yet it becomes clear that he hadn’t as soon as he picks up the phone. 

Gabriel sighs the moment he puts his ear to the cell, and his mind begins running: twelve, four, six… It’s 3 a.m. in Sydney right now. It’s not surprising, of course, he has a talent of hearing the hours in his voice. “I told you to leave me alone,” there’s no anger or infuriantion in his voice – only disappointment and weariness. He receives these phone calls every six months, regular as clockwork – he should’ve expected it. “You need to call someone else. I can’t help you,” Gabriel doesn’t allow for a pause to hear the answer before he ends the conversation.

For a short moment, he had forgotten he’s not alone. He throws them a pointed look at the person next to him and raises his eyebrows, as if asking a silent question of “Why are you staring?”. At the exact moment, just because it was the luckiest day of all, he hears the elevator creak and stop. He attentively looks at the buttons, now all unlit, as if there’s a chance he could fix it. “You must be fucking kidding me,” he whispers to himself.

[evaniemay]

it seemed as though evanie had been struck by god’s wrath each and every day since her world began to fall apart . it would have been easier to give up , to coop herself up in her apartment and hide away from the world , but she had attempted that morning to break free from the comfort of her apartment and explore the rest of roswell — misfortune , it seemed , had been waiting just outside her door . it wasn’t her place to eavesdrop although , in the forced proximity of the elevator , it was impossible not to ; instead she attempted to focus on the illuminated buttons , on the whirring of the box … until it wasn’t whirring any longer , and the mechanisms faltered and drew to a deafening halt . hazel eyes blew wide and evanie-may stuttered , hesitating before lurching towards the buttons as though , in her complete mechanical ineptitude , she would be able to figure out what had gone wrong to land them in this position . the only logical explanation , in her plagued mind , was the man up above holding a personal vendetta against her . " well ... w—what do we do ?? " questioned the young woman , voice stricken with panic , " i—i ... i have work in three hours . we have no food . we ... we ... " with a whimper the auburn-haired farm girl slipped down the metallic wall with a thunk . her mother had always taught her not to use cuss-words , especially in the company of strangers , but she couldn't help but mumble a pitchy , " fuck . "