COUNTED THE COST

Micah Lawrence. 31. Reformed ex con.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: Sometimes. Not all the time. I guess I feel guilty if I take up too much time. And it's not that I'm waiting for people to do good things to me so I have a reason. I want to do them because I want to, and I like seeing people happy and making them feel special. It's honestly the best part. Of course I'm sure! You're one of my favorite people here. My week would honestly suck without you. Well if you ever get bored at home too you can always come find me. Our time together doesn't need to just be work breaks.

Micah: Is that how you see it when you talk to people? You're taking up time for other things? And while I think it's great that you want to make others happy I think you could do that by just talking to them. You're good at that. You don't need more than that. I actually feel the same. Oh I don't know that you want to do that. I'm not much of an exciting guy. Small spurts is probably better.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: I've never really thought about it that way before. I guess I've always felt like I had to repay their kindness with mine. But I'm sorry if I made it feel like I was paying you... you're welcome to be in my life. In fact I want you to be. No, not at all! I was hoping our breaks would line up just so I'd have a chance to talk to you again, but I didn't know if you wanted the time out to read.

Micah: I'm not saying I don't get why you feel that but can I ask is it because people have made you feel like you should? I would like to be in it as long as you are sure that you do. Honestly all I do at home is read. It's nice to have someone to talk to.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: Because! I don't want you to feel like you're going out of your way without getting something in return. Oh, so it's not the free coffee or being surrounded by books? Haha I kid I kid. Um, that's really sweet, I didn't expect that. Because you're a big reason why I look forward to my breaks.

Micah: You shouldn't have to feel like somebody wants something from you when they want to do something for you. I don't want a payment for being in your life. Alright maybe you got me on the books. Yeah? Well glad to hear it. I didn't know if I made you feel pressured or whatever to have our breaks line up.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: But it's only fair and I would feel bad if I didn't. And I want to do decent things for you too.

Micah: Why would you feel bad? You do. I have a bookmark, and to be honest with you my favorite part about work is talking to you during break.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: No, no. I want to. Like you said, waffles makes everything better.

Micah: Then I appreciate it. I just don't want you to think you have repay me in a way every time I do a decent thing for you.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: Would you? That would be so nice. I can pay you back in waffles.

Micah: You know you don't have to give me something every time I do something for you. It's alright just to let me do it.

[micah-lawrence]

addiexsterling‌:

“It happens to the best of us.” Addie handed over the envelope, “Is it anything important because you should’ve at least zipped your pocked or something.”

“That would be smart, but I am just realizing how little of my clothing has zippers.” He put a hand in his coat pocket just to check. “Maybe those velcro wallets aren’t so terrible after all.”

[jo-kingston]

@micah-lawrence​

“So I know usually when you show up for a date with flowers they’re you know, for your date– but these aren’t,” Jo laughed a bit nervously with an armful of small bouquets. “Thank you, by the way, for bidding. Saved me from looking like a desperate idiot.”

[micah-lawrence]

“Here I cleared a spot and bought a vase,” his voice carried disappointment though a subtle smile broke through. “I don’t think you need to thank me. If it wasn’t me it would have been someone else. You might want it to be by the end.”

[micah-lawrence]

liv-bishop‌:

“I’d kind of pegged you for the more introverted type,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to assume. I think it’s great you made yourself come out to this,” she offered with a smile. “I’m sure the memories will be worth it.”

“I guess I am not much of a mystery.” Her observation was ironic to him. In truth, he never would have come to something like this before, he would have mocked this, but there was rarely a night he actually went home. Now it was the only place he could easily be found. “Do you often go to things like this?”

[micah-lawrence]

brielle-thorne‌:

“Make up for it?” It wasn’t intentional but she practically scoffed at his words as she repeated them back to him. Sure, it had been years and years since Micah had been an influence in Gavin’s life or a part of hers that she hated to put up with and she knew the best thing would’ve just been to let go of things and move on but there was something in her gut telling her not to trust this guy. Maybe his words were sincere but something just felt off to her. Like it was against her natural instincts to give in. “If it’s penance you’re after, try going on a religious mission. As sorry as you say you are, I’m not going to believe anything until I see the living proof before my very eyes.”

“Then let me prove it,” he said a bit desperately. Out of all the mistakes he had made he didn’t know why he was fixated on the ones with Gavin and Brielle. Maybe because this one seemed possible to change. Maybe because if he could earn her forgiveness when her anger seemed to harden her against him that showed that maybe redemption was possible. “I’ll prove it to you. I’ll do what you need me to do, but I can’t do that if you refuse to even let me show you that I’ve changed.”

[micah-lawrence]

naomikirke‌:

“Gosh, not even close. I’ll spare you the details of how very unattractive I can be,” she shook her head with a soft laugh. Naomi liked seeing him smile, how it changed from the pensive, serious him she caught a glance of whenever she passed by the bookshop. He was kind, genuine around her and she noticed the way he seemed to close in on himself, wondering if one day she would ever get to hear the stories he held inside him. “Thanks. I could get in serious trouble here and I don’t want to be banished to Santa’s lair,” she grinned. “Growing up I had an oceanpedia I used to read every night until I memorized every page. Just the idea that there’s a whole world under the ocean that we wouldn’t know about,” she smiled softly at the memory, giving a small shrug. “It doesn’t hurt that they’re cute too.” 

“You’ll excuse me if I doubt that.” His words were quiet but confident as he believed them to be true. Naomi was beautiful. He noticed her the first time they crossed paths. He didn’t know how someone couldn’t. Her eyes held such a kindness in them. They all the goodness in the world could be captured just in a glance when you caught them. Maybe it was a selfish reason as to why he liked his time with her. Hoping that goodness would rub off on him. “I’m sure that would be a real nightmare filled with candy canes and hot chocolate.” He liked the way she talked about her interests like there was a passion in there that she was somehow trying to contain. “I never really thought about that. The whole other world thing... I think it’s easy to do with the sky and the infinite world out there but never really what is below us.”

[micah-lawrence]

texts | hailey + micah

Hailey: Okay, well what if I just want to have lunch with you?

Micah: I mean if you really want.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: A mix of both? My neighbors were fighting last night so I didn't sleep a wink and the heater in my apartment still isn't fixed, and there's so many orders today I haven't taken my break yet. But I had waffles this morning so it's almost balanced out. Really? Wow, um... yeah! If it's not too much trouble. And that's really sweet of you to say, thank you.

Micah: That sounds rough. I could take a look at your heater if you wanted? This weekend is supposed to get real cold. Well waffles are known to make everything better. No trouble at all.

[addiexsterling]

“Hey! Excuse me!” Addie hurried to catch up with the person who had just walked past her, “You dropped this!” There would’ve been a time when Addie would’ve just kept what she was now attempting to get back and honestly, she was so proud of herself.

[micah-lawrence]

Micah turned his head in surprise, eyes falling down to the item in her hand. “Oh uh thank you. I don’t know how I could have been that careless.” He took the envelope that held his paycheck. 

[micah-lawrence]

texts | hailey + micah

Hailey: That's really sweet of you. And I would totally tell you that you don't have to, but I really don't want to drop $200 for nothing, sooooo selfishly... please help me? I can buy you lunch for your trouble.

Micah: You don't have to do that, really. It doesn't cost me anything to look at it and I may not be able to help.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: Aw, well... I've been having a crazy day so that was a really nice thing to hear! I'll think about it, but I have more if you want to pass them out next time.

Micah: Crazy good or no? You know I could talk to my manager about selling a few. Your talent deserves it.

[micah-lawrence]

✉ || MICAH ⇄ NAOMI

Naomi: Really? Did they like it?

Micah: Yeah they asked me if a shop around here sells them. Think you might be able to find a side hustle if you wanted it.