take your time, don't live too fast. troubles will come and they will pass, you'll find a woman and you'll find love. and don't forget, there is someone up above. jesse torres. human. 21.
“well he deserved it, nasty little shit. coming in here and demanding the freshest pair of skates. well karma’s a bitch little boy.” she smirked as she thought about how she was the karma. unfortunately jesse was always always oblivious to nova’s attempts to give bad people what they deserved. she’d tried to siphon the boy awhile back but was disappointed to find that he was in fact, lacking magic.
“so what’re you doing tonight, or are you working a double?”
“ ouch, really holdin’ on tight to that grudge, huh ? well, still kinda sounds like the kid deserved it... still can’t believe he snapped ‘em. that’s true talent right there. “ jesse joked, eyes flickering back towards the kid, but soon enough he was turning back to his friend, forgettin’ all about the little twerp.
“ well, if they need me i might pull one, but might just head home. why, you wantin’ to hang out or somethin’ ? “
“wow, well, i must be pretty damn good looking if you’re offering to come in on your day off.” cal scoffed out a laugh, tucking his pencil securely behind his ear. you could guarantee there was never one around when you needed it. jesse was a great guy, from what he could tell. worked hard, was nice to customers, gave the place a great reputation.
“only if you tell me who you’re avoiding. gotta know who to lie to if they come in.” he pointed out with a light smirk lifting the corners of his lips. “nah, it’s over there, next to the size elevens.” he gestured with his head and opened up the duffel bag, making a start on one set of laces. he’d taken them home but he couldn’t find the right spell to help without making it worse and he’d passed out before he coudld make headway with it.
“ maybe i just came in for the free food and slushies, don’t give yourself that much credit, man. “ jesse choked out a snort, not bothering to change into his work shirt as he jumped behind the bar. if there was anyone he’d ever come in on his day off for, it’d be cal. that man worked himself raw and jesse hated to see him so worn down on the late shifts.
“ well, same person i avoid during every holiday. “ he sighed, already making his way over there. “ azura’s back in town for the holiday’s again, and this time she’s staying at my place. it just feels so awkward there, i had to get out. “ fingers scratching at the back of his neck, he plopped down on a crate and picked out a knot of laces, starting on them.
“if i could lock myself away in the damn office all day, i would. but hey, who else would be here offering service with a smile and findin’ skates for our lovely patrons?” cal smirked, voice dropping with sarcasm. he stretched his arms above his head a moment, dragging a hand over his face as if it were capable of wiping away the stress. not that it was a likely ability, he hadn’t managed it in all these years and today wasn’t the day he thought it would start.
“you’re comin’ into work optionally? on your day off? i don’t want to be the one to say you need to get a social life since that’d be hypocritical but… yeah. worry less about work.” he stood, setting down a duffel bag. “could do with a hand untangling laces, if you’re up for it. can pay you for the extra hours.”
“ yeah, that’s definitely the face i wanna see. “ jesse laughed--- in all honesty, he was a good looking man, but he wasn’t exactly the peppy and cheery type. they had the staff for that. but jesse felt for the man, he had a lot on his plate, and he looked stressed half to death every time he ‘em. he couldn’t help but wanna help.
“ actually, i’m kinda avoiding someone... figured why waste time when i could have some money and a solid alibi ? “ part of it was a joke, most of it held truth. jesse wasn’t the type to lie, but he managed to turn every bad or odd situation into a bright solution. “ not my first pick, but why not ? long as nova hasn’t stolen my stool. “
he could hear the smile so he dared to brave a look up from his hand, looking at jesse through one open eye that peeked from the edge of his palm. “stressed is what people say when they’re busy and can’t find time for things. this is more pissed off and tired than stressed.” he just sighed and dropped his hand. “you’re not on the schedule for tonight, are you?” he asked, doubting for a moment whether or not he’d scheduled things properly or not. “vending machines aint getting restocked till tuesday cause the delivery guys are pricks. but hey, what’s new.”
jesse gazed upon his boss, he could see the years aged upon him, the weight of his own world heavy upon his shoulders. it was a tough burden to bear, but cal pulled through it better than most he’d seen --- liquor was the least of his problems. “ figured you’d be locked away in your office by now... “ he furrowed his brows, a soft chuckle on his lips.
“ you had me off today, but i thought i might come in to lend a hand, if you needed it. could always use the extra hours. “
“oh. i hope they didn’t put nova by herself again. didn’t you tell me she nearly burned the place down in anger once?” what about you? she could never say that the plan was to avoid him because even looking at him hurt. she knew she did this to herself. she didn’t have to come back. but she worried about the amount of time he’d probably spend alone otherwise. besides, he was the one who got to stay here in the comfort of his own home when she inevitably left again.
“i didn’t really have a solid plan for the day. maybe a little studying for my classes that continue into next semester, but that was all i had. why, did you want to… do something?”
“ i don’t think they’ll ever put that girl alone on a shift again. she’s great, but one hell of a temper. “ jesse chuckled, trying his best to ease back into old times. all those months scattered apart, the rare appearance around the holidays. but azura still felt like a ghost. he couldn’t tell if she was really back--- hell, he knew she’d be gone again in another few weeks, but he’s clinging to those few moments of normal.
“ oh, uh, “ jesse was taken back by her sudden jump, but... not disappointed. in the slightest. “ actually --- y’know they’ve... they fixed up the diner a bit since last year. would ya wanna go eat ? “
cal was tired. he’d already been yelled at by one woman for not having the right colour skates for her and then the delivery company for the vending machine called and postponed the delivery. so all in all, it had been a long day and he was ready to shut himself away in his house and shut out the rest of the world. however, that wasn’t all that easy to do when you had a business to run.
he didn’t even lift his head up from his hands when he heard the doors open, just huffed out a greeting in response, “welcome to letum skate. what size d’ya want?”
jesse didn’t have to work tonight --- hell, he’d had the whole weekend off, thanks to the neat mistake in the schedule. truth be told, it felt a bit awkward at home with azura, and he just had to get out. so, stepping through the doors, jesse welcomed the less-that-perky greeting from his boss.
“ hey, cal. “ he smiled, checking behind him to see that there were, indeed, no customers to be found. so he had a second to chat. “ you uh, ya look a little stressed there, boss. need some help ? “
nova didn’t even bother to look up from her magazine. “did you wish death upon a student again? i warned you, one day someone’s going to hear you and grant that shit. maybe it was satan.”
in reality, the kid had informed nova that the pair of skates she’d given him to use didn’t look new enough for his liking and that he wanted a different pair. three pairs later, nova had taken matters into her own hands… literally. she’d spelled a nearly broken pair of skates to look fresh and had given them to the obnoxious boy. the skate had actually lasted a solid twenty minutes longer than she’d thought it would.
“did the kid bust his ass at least?” she snorted, dropping the first pair of skates she’d tried to give the nuisance onto the counter as a replacement. maybe she’d get lucky and the ignoramus would just leave instead of wasting their time. and by their time, she meant jesse’s.
“ not recently, no. “ jesse rolled his eyes, plopping the torn skates on the counter as his co-worker continued on, unbothered. “ i don’t think satan’s messin’ around with some pre-teens. probably just went a bit rough on ‘em. didn’t give the skates time to break in. “ he grabbed for an answer, something to explain it, when all along the solution was right in front of him.
jesse continued oblivious to the girl’s deceptive deeds, as well as the history to the incident, but he stayed in his beliefs that the kid was odd in the least. now, the probability of a pair of perfectly knew skates just falling apart under the weight of a 90 pound kid ? he’d rather not ask.
her question was met with furrowed brows, “ scrapped up his arm a bit, hurt his knee. kid’s mom definitely isn’t going to be happy. “
watchin’ his own throw arc brings him back to simpler times. before graduation. before illness. before this glitch. and it makes teejay wonder if this all might be some kinda cruel joke, y’know ? if maybe the god he’s prayin’ to every night just likes to kick around souls ‘n watch ‘em bleed. ‘cause between the two of ‘em, they’ve got enough broken dreams on this damned field to sink a second houdini.
“ oof. ” teejay places a hand over his heart ‘n staggers back like he’s been shot. “ careful what y’say to the next marvel guy. you got no clue what kinda mess that could get y’into. ” he laughs. tries to. as a chuckle kicks his lungs, they feel more like deflatin’ balloons.
“ bet az’d eat that up. gee, torres. you should’ve been on the swim team. ”
this town had seen a lot, more than most others could say, but the people in this town were stronger than any he’d ever known. jesse like’s to say he stayed in letum to mourn his mom, take over the property and their assets, but in all truth he couldn’t walk away from this place. cursed or not, it was home. to him. to his mom.
“ hey, best friends don’t lie to each other. would’ve violated brocode lettin’ you think you’re as cool as clark kent. “ maybe it’s a push, but jesse struggles to cling to better times. before everything went wrong.
“ yeah, uh --- not the best option there. really, you completely missed the target area. “ his friend’s obliviousness, not only to azura herself but to the status of their relationship was hilarious, and after so long, it’s become a bit of a joke. well, to him.
of course, of course his suggestions would be the two things she was trying to avoid – his clothes and him in general. she was sure he wasn’t doing it on purpose but why did he have to make it so difficult? she couldn’t help but grin and secretly curse his cuteness as he hit his chest.
“fine, i’m going to grab a sweatshirt.” she slid her feet all the way to the closet, pulling out a sweatshirt from high school and holding her breath as she pulled it on. by the time she got back to the kitchen, he was already holding his coffee. she walked over and took it right out of his hands. “oh, thanks,” she hummed, walking away with it.
bare feet felt the cool touch of the kitchen floor as he made his way further, fixing his coffee like routine. he pretended not to notice the smile ; he wasn’t sure what they were anymore, and pushing it wasn’t the best idea. so, he took what he could get.
echoes of her footsteps waved through the house, and before they could come to an end, she had already returned and was slinking away with his mug. his high school football hoodie hung big on her, and he couldn’t help but watched as she walked away. yet another smile fell upon his lips, hands already moving to make a second cup.
for a second, it felt like old times.
making his way into the living room, hands curled around a fresh, warm mug, he plopped onto the couch. “ my shift got switched around, so uh... i’m free for the day. “ jesse started. he wasn’t sure how to word it, or how to get it out. “ uh, what about you ? “
“was your house always this cold?” azura huffed, wrapping her sweatshirt tighter around herself. she’d been staying with jesse since she got back due to the fact that when she’d left for college, she’d faked frieda moving ‘back home’ to new orleans to not be alone and had subsequently sold the house they’d been living in. “how are you not freezing?”
a soft chuckle fall’s from jesse’s lips, hands moving to adjust the band of his sweat pants as he gazed her way. “ sometimes the furnace takes a bit to kick on... you can still borrow my clothes, you know. got a whole closet full of jackets and a bed full of covers. “ he teased, moving to pour himself a cup of coffee. “ natural heater, right here. “ the man beats upon his chest with a gentle fist, one soft smile sent her way.
the football field provides comfort, even now. even with these… things happenin’ to him. he could smell earl’s aftershave just drivin’ past the mini mart last night. but… maybe it’s nothin’. deep down, teejay knows it’s ain’t nothin’. but still, here, tossin’ the ball back ‘n forth with jesse ? it anchors him back in old times. high school. the thrill of the game. the cheery ignorance of innocence, pre-fall.
“ i think i’m turnin’ into clark kent, dude, ” he jokes as he catches jesse’s throw. agile hands toy around with the football before lobbin’ it back, perfect spin. “ like. this mornin’ ? i dented this pickup’s steerin’ wheel just movin’ it into the shop. next thing y’know i’ll be flyin’ or some shit. ” there’s fear in his eyes, but the ex-quarterback still tops it off with a light laugh. like it’s a joke. like it’s nothin’.
“ whaddya think ? wanna be my trusty sidekick ? think y’could rock some spandex ? ”
solidarity held a certain value between them, years of friendship tacked on to a plethora of glory and tragedy. jesse had lost a lot, more than he’d ever like to admit or remember, but through it all teejay was there on the other side. hell, just being here, tossin’ a football back n’ forth was a testament to their history.
“ nah man, clark kent is way better lookin’ thank you. “ jesse chuckled, watching as his throw lands perfectly within the other’s hands. just like high school. soon enough, he was running to catch the ball himself. “ dented the thing ? got some gun’s now, big shot ? “ it was a joke, he knew, but jesse knew that look. there was something weighing on him, somethin’ he didn’t like.
“ how in the hell does a kid break the break off a skate ? “ eyes glued dumbfound at the two-part skate hanging from his fingertips, jesse questioned his co-worker. in all truth, he’d seen the kid do it. but --- well, he didn’t believe his own eyes.
( froy gutierrez, human, he/him & cismale ) is that ( simple man ) by ( lynyrd skynyrd ) playing? ( JESSE TORRES ) must be nearby! heard folks say the ( twenty one ) year old ( instructor at letum skate ) was not at the letum falls thanksgiving fair because ( his shift ran late ). as a result, they weren’t present during the glitch but ( his best friend got turned into a werebear )
jesse was born and raised in letum falls, all to a mother who was too kind for the world she lived in. his father died just before he was born, a terrible car accident on the way to the hospital. so, mrs. torres was momma and daddy. double the work, triple the love.
his parents had made their home on a small ranch at the edge of town, two acres of roaming farmland with barely enough hands to maintain it. with mr. torres gone and a baby to take care of, mrs. torres was forced to let their land go to waste, empty and barren in the midst of the 60′s. they were wealthy off, but tragedy always strikes home.
such a quiet baby, but such and energetic toddler. lil’ jess was running laps around his momma, have her spinnin’ in circles for hours. by the time he started school, she threw him right into sports.
playin’ little league football was the start to everything jesse had ever dreamed. never had a father figure to look up to, so that spot was filled by quarterback posters and foam footballs. he found that vibe he was looking for in football, that missing piece that seemed to fit just right. the game soon became his main priority, second only to momma torres.
it was only when he met his best friend in his elementary football team that jesse truly found his love for the sport. teejay, the quarterback to his center. having someone else so involved in the game, someone who wanted to share that with him, he knew it was football from here on out, no questions asked.
other interests flooded him in middle school, two years to breathe, expand, explore, all the while continuing with his football journey. he branched into art, music, poetry, a romantic was surely brewing, and there was no way to stop it.
oh, sophomore year. remember those days, the worst days of your life ? for jesse, his personality completely changed when the clock struck grade ten. in his defense, he had just suffered a terrible breakup with his girlfriend of two months, but hormones are a bitch. anyways, he went into this egotistical spiral for a few months, bullying the kids in the library and picking on anything and anyone. maybe he was having a mental break, maybe it was a super early mid-life crisis. who knows. the only important thing was momma torres whooped that boy straight real quick. before ya knew it, sweet lil jess was right back to play. he went around apologizing those he’d messed with or hurt, and in all honesty, he was sorry. he had hurt some good friends, burned relationships to ash and threw away the key to every door he locked.
after that, jesse was never really the same. he seemed a little too happy, a little too full of love to give, but he just knew that was the right thing to do, the thing that would make his momma proud
still playin’ on that team with teejay, senior year rolled around and scholarships were on high alert. the dynamic duo that is teejay and jesse were a shoo-in to get the goods. but jesse never did have teejay’s luck.
just a month before the end of senior year, right when jesse was making his final decisions for college and everyone else started working on the rest of their lives, everything shattered. momma torres suffered a heart attack and the poor woman just couldn’t make it to the other side.
jesse denied all his scholarships, throwing away his dream to mourn his mother and assure that everything she’d worked for would be kept nice, neat, and safe. every bit of her possessions was left to her son, and jesse would be damned if he didn’t take care of all of it.
while teejay ran off to college, jesse was left to his own wits, fighting the urge to wallow in self pity, trying his best to stay productive and keep the shadows from closing in.
he got a job at letum skate, using it as a distraction and a bonus to his wallet. it might’ve been the thing holding him together in the roughest patch of his grief.
it was only a few months before teejay returned that jesse saw the first glimpse of a strikingly familiar figure wandering the shadows of his home. those eyes, that smile, that butterfly clip placed perfectly behind her ear, jesse could never forget that face.
at first, it was just a glimpse here and a glimpse there, enough to freak him out, but as he wavered within the night, the soft harmony of his mother’s voice lulled him to sleep
jesse isn’t sure what exactly haunts his home, or if it’s all a part of his imagination, but he is both comforted and freaked by the apparition.
aesthetics : soft flannels, dirty cleats splattered with hints of red, broken guitar strings, southern warmth, candy apple suckers, cherry slushies, light within dark.
wanted connections :
family friends : the torres’ have been in letum for generations, and have a habit of keeping a friendly eye on their neighbors, so someone is bound to have known his mother, or even his father before he died. this could be someone jesse still keeps in touch with, someone he’s shoved away because it’s too hard to think about family, honestly i could plot for any of it !
exes : a sweet, charming boy such as jesse has had a lieu of relationships, yet only a few have been serious by any means. these could be full relationships, one night stands (though he’s not so huge on those), just any and all drama please hit me with it
high school squad : jesse was bound to have that one group he flocked to most, the one that he held closer than the others, and i’d love to plot out some squad goals for this !
i suck at making plots so i’m sorry !!!! but if any of these interest you, or if you just want to brainstorm with me, hit me up !
