wanderlust

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." parker halles. twenty seven. published author of several travel books. Clayborn, USA

[parkerhalles]

but home is nowhere || claire & parker

[livmanning-deactivated20170608]

Claire shrugged lightly as she looked around the apartment. It was strange that the guy really didn’t care about his bare walls. It was so cold and lonely. At least, to her. Apparently, Parker couldn’t care less about the whole ‘I live in a dump’ kind of feel. Claire watched him open up the cans. Yes, the color definitely wasn’t something she’d pick herself, but hey– it wasn’t her house, was it? 

“Alright, let’s get to this then.” She laughed softly. “And I wasn’t complaining.” She wasn’t about to tell him that the color wasn’t exactly her favorite. She took a paintbrush and waited for him to get ready to paint the apartment. 

[parkerhalles]

Having grown up with everything he wanted being given to him, one would imagine that he would have turned out to be a spoilt and selfish grown man. Though not entirely untrue, he had especially grown up to embrace his freedom and independence, and if that meant breaking away from the traditions and social restraints he was imposed as a young child, so be it. He liked his dump of a place. 

Taking another paintbrush, Parker dunked it in the paint and stood up. “I don’t have any newspaper to lay over the floor, so let’s just try not to make a mess out of this.” Ironic, given the state of the rest of his apartment. He walked over to the corner, pushing some cardboard boxes aside to start painting. “I can’t believe I’m doing this on a Friday afternoon.”

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

[addie-james-blog]

Addie chuckled at his response, pleased that she was still enjoying Parker’s company after all that had happened. She looked over at him with a grin. “Burgers and beer make you a happy woman?” she said with a grin, teasing him. She shook her head. “I ate,” she said with a smile. “But thank you.” He seemed so kind and Addie couldn’t help but enjoy every second she was spending with him. She stifled a laugh at the thought of telling him about her garden and when he asked about Harper, she wondered just how much she should admit.  After a moment, she spoke. “I think…she just needed someone to talk to,” she murmured. “A friend, you know? She was shouting in the street at the police so I took her to coffee. She’s…she’s going to be okay.”

[parkerhalles]

“Burgers and beer make me a happy everything,” he replied easily, sending a smile her way. "Some other time, then.” Sounded like the perfect date. He had never been particularly fond of luxurious restaurants, and was happier with fast food in hand than the gourmet plates usually found in the events and parties hosted by his family. Turning right when the car reached a corner, they finally made it to the main street and Parker entered the first available parking lot in search of a place to leave the vehicle. “I don’t blame her,” he admitted, in relation to the comment about Harper. “I’ve wanted to confront the police myself for ages. You didn’t have to, but thanks for being there for her, I guess.” If anything, his liking for Adeline grew bigger after admitting to helping his sister out, as she was one of the few people in his life he cared about the most. Finding an empty spot, Parker stopped the car and glanced over at her, hesitating for a second before speaking, “I apologize if I’m not at my best today.” With everything that was going on, he would rather be honest than disappoint her later on.

[misselaw-deactivated20201001]

Harper rolled her eyes, folding her arms and pouting her lip out. “Okay, I over exaggerated. We haven’t slept together yet. But i’m taking him to mom’s charity party thing next week so…” She shrugged knowing exactly what her parents would say about her chosen date. She had to admit watching her mother try to be pleasant was going to amuse her, but yet she hoped no one asked the guy about the case. She was still looking when her brother took her wrist and she just followed. Looking around the office and wondering where anything on the case would be kept. “You think they just leave case evidence lying about?” She asked, approaching a filing cabinet. 

[parkerhalles]

Parker groaned. The charity event. With everything going on, he had completely forgotten about it. “Is she still gonna go through with it after this?” He could not believe their parents sometimes. Sure, parents and son did not have the warmest of relationships, but he still expected them to have some common sense. After organising Madison’s funeral with an empty casket, he had lost faith in that aspect. “Warn your cop. There may be interrogations involved.” With one last look towards the open space where they came from, he approached his sister and did not hesitate to open a couple of cabinets and check the insides. Taking a folder, he started rummaging through it. There had to be something, somewhere. “Probably not evidence. But I’ll be damned if we don’t find information on how the case is going.”

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

[addie-james-blog]

“All the trouble?” she flirted, her eyes lighting up with laughter. “I enjoy the more basic things in life now. Honestly, a burger and a beer and I am one happy woman,” she said with a laugh as she leaned back into the seat. His comment gave her pause. She should have thought of that. “Not boring me, but I understand” she stated, her voice caring. “…I ran into Harper this week, actually.” Honesty, Addie thought, was the best policy. “My week was fine. Work was quite good, actually and then the rest of it was spent figuring out my garden for this spring.”

[parkerhalles]

“Coming here, picking you up,” Parker started listing, flirting back with a teasing smile. It was easy to do it all over again, he noted, but then again Parker had never been of a timid nature. If he thought something, he usually didn’t hold back. “That makes two of us. If you haven’t had dinner we could stop by the diner,” he suggested, giving her a quick look before turning his attention back to the road. The mention of Harper took him by surprise, and he paused. The events of the past week had really taken their toll on his family, including himself, and he had even considered cancelling their plans at one point, but eventually figured that a change of social circles would be beneficial. “You can tell me all about the gardening once we get there. ... did she mention anything to you?”

[mrhbracken-deactivated20201001]

“No, it’s just frustrating. I try so hard to impress him and everything is my fault.”

[parkerhalles]

“Have you tried not trying to impress him? Why put yourself through that when the man clearly doesn’t appreciate your efforts?” Ah, the voice of wisdom back at it again.

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

[addie-james-blog]

Adeline chuckled at his comment and raised his eyebrow when he opened the door for her. She settled into the seat before replying. “I think you’ll find that I’m much less high maintenance than I use to be,” she drawled. “That sounds great.” Truthfully, she was much more of a guy’s girl when it came to dating - she preferred burgers and beer to a fancy restaurant every single day of the week. “How was your week?” she asked him.

[parkerhalles]

Closing the door after her, Parker walked around the front of the car to settle into the driver’s seat. He took his keys and inserted them into the ignition, unable to stifle a smile at her comment. “And here I went through all this trouble. What is that supposed to mean, anyways? ‘Less high maintenance’?,” he asked as he turned on the heater, right before pulling back onto the road. At her enquiry, the recollection of the discovery of Madison’s coat came to his mind. “It was... eventful. But I wouldn’t want to bore you with my troubles. How did yours go?”

[misselaw-deactivated20201001]

Harper folded her arms, pouting a little. “He’s not my boyfriend, we’re just hanging out.” She shrugged. Looking about the station, there was barely anyone about at this time. She wondered if there was even any on duty officer’s around. Harper glanced at him a little shocked. “Are you suggesting we snoop?” She took another quick look around them before standing up, pulling the back of her blouse down and straightening her outfit. “I like it, come on…before we get caught.” 

[parkerhalles]

“Hanging out,” Parker repeated, before turing to Harper to give her a look. “’Sleeping with the staff’?” He quoted her with a raised eyebrow. It wasn’t his place to ask about his sister’s romantic life, however, given that she was a grownup and could make her own decisions, and so Parker turned back to watch the station attentively. “That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” He was not the kind to just stand around and wait for answers. If he wanted something, he made sure to do whatever it was in his hands to get it. And so he waited momentarily until the police officer sitting at the desk was busy attending to a phone call to take Harper’s wrist gently and lead her through the unattended door.

[astridthcmas]

“Alright. Anything else on that list of yours?” 

[parkerhalles]

“Nothing else from here. But could I have one black coffee?”

[mrhbracken-deactivated20201001]

She recognised the voice and glanced up. “Don’t say it like that,” she rolled her eyes. 

[parkerhalles]

He shrugged. “That’s what it sounded like to me.”

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

[addie-james-blog]

Addie matched his smile with one of her own and walked outside as she grabbed a coat, closing and locking the door behind her. “Thank you,” she said with a grin. She’d saved for awhile to be able to afford the house and was always happy when someone commented on it. “I’m perfectly ready,” she said as she ran a hand through her hair. “So, what’s the plan?” she asked, though she didn’t really mind either way. She was more happy to spend time with Parker.

[parkerhalles]

“Thought we could head to Collingwood’s,” Parker suggested, walking down the path back towards the street. The local bar was not the most stylish place in town, but he liked it enough from the many times he had spent there with his friends. “Unless you can come up with something better, which probably won’t be too hard.” Flashing a smirk her way, he opened the co-driver door of his car to let her get in.

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

[addie-james-blog]

Addie had dropped Tyler off at Shawn’s for the night and set to getting herself ready. Though she didn’t really know what to expect, she didn’t want to overdress. And so, the blonde dressed in a pair of dark skinny jeans with a dressy top. Her hair was still in waves and she’d done her makeup well. When she heard the doorbell ring, the blonde grabbed her purse and answered it. “Parker,” she said with a smile, lips curving at the edges. “You’re just on time.”

[parkerhalles]

Parker smiled at her as she appeared on the other side of the door, taking notice of her clothing choices. He was glad not to have overdressed himself, as he had only decided to wear a casual shirt and a blazer. “Hi,” he said casually, stuffing a hand in his pocket. “Nice place,” he added politely, as his way to make small talk. At her words Parker glanced quickly at his wristwatch, then back up at the blonde, “Yeah? Are you ready to go?”

[parkerhalles]

but home is nowhere || claire & parker

[livmanning-deactivated20170608]

“Well, you better.” Claire laughed. He did have a point, she had always been the good girl and every single person in the town knew that. Claire had always been the responsible one. The mom of the group. She looked at the guy in front of her. He’d barely changed at all since high school, but that was probably since she’d seen him every single day of that and quite a lot of him after high school was over. At least his personality was still quite similar.

“So?” Claire asked defensively. “Hey, don’t you dare call me that. Just because I might be a little bit of a control freak, doesn’t mean you get to call me Miss Stubborn… I’m not stubborn.” Maybe she was. A little bit. But not more than that. She followed the guy with her gaze, waiting for him to return with the paint, which turned out to be some strange mustard-y color. “So, that’s what you want to paint the walls with?”

[parkerhalles]

Parker shook his head in amusement. He hadn’t been exactly a problematic kid, but he had liked to go against his parents’ wishes for some time. They had wanted him to be the perfect responsible son, and he had retaliated by getting into trouble quite a few times. His rebellious phase had faded away once he had left high school, but he certainly still had the same cockiness in possession. 

Parker watched as she ranted about not being stubborn, and he nodded impassively. “Right. I’ll take that into account.” He crouched down to open one of the cans and glanced towards Claire at her question. “What? If we run out I’ll just go get some more,” he said defensively, thinking she was referring to the size of the cans. “You’re the one who suggested this, stop complaining,” he told her nonchalantly.

[parkerhalles]

after hours || adeline & parker

@addie-james

Pulling up in front of what he assumed to be Adeline’s place, he glanced at his phone screen one more time. This was definitely the address she had sent him. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel for a couple of seconds, he eventually unfastened his seatbelt and got out of the car to meet her at the front door. He had been out of the dating scene for so long that he did not even remember what first date etiquette was and what wasn’t. Leaning against the door edge he rang the doorbell, and waited - he certainly hoped it was the right house.

[mrhbracken-deactivated20201001]

“Well… tonight has been just great. I just love when my dad takes his crappy day out on me.” She let out a breath, shaking her head. “Just distract me or something…. otherwise leave.“

[parkerhalles]

“Daddy issues?” He couldn’t help but ask with a raised eyebrow, as he overheard the other woman.

[misselaw-deactivated20201001]

She knew Parker was right, there was no evidence…not really. But she had this feeling in the pit of her stomach, one she could tell her brother had too. She looked over at Parker “Sleeping with the staff is getting me nowhere.” She joked, before realising now wasn’t really a joking moment. She looked at her hands and exhaled. “Maybe we should go home…wait for someone to call…” 

[parkerhalles]

Parker glanced at her as she joked, but he didn’t smile. While he was happy for his sister and everything, he really was not the biggest fan of the police department. And surely he could tell that the feeling went both ways. “You could call your boyfriend and ask him,” he suggested, although sounding less than thrilled about it. Glancing around the reception again, a better, riskier idea came to his mind. Watching the open corridor that led to the different offices he mumbled, thoughtfully, “... Or we could try find some answers ourselves.”

[parkerhalles]

but home is nowhere || claire & parker

[livmanning-deactivated20170608]

“Alright, alright.” Claire laughed gently as she took another sip from her beer. “Hey now, don’t underestimate me. I know how to be mischievous. Just because I’ve never shown it to anyone, doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I learned it from the best.” Claire said with a soft laugh. Her brother had always been a great example for Claire, of course, Claire always picked the other side, so she turned out to be the goody-two-shoes. Which didn’t bother her at all. It gave her good grades, nice friends who wouldn’t gossip about her behind her back and proud parents. All good things.

“It is a house. Something you have to look at every day. I doens’t have to look like one of those homes in Extreme Home Makeover, but don’t you want to come home to a nicely painted wall?” Claire asked. She couldn’t believe that Parker would just let his walls sit like this for years. A few weeks? Okay, she’d probably be able to live with it, but a year? No way. “Hell yes, I’m serious.”

[parkerhalles]

“And I totally believe you,” Parker told her with a teasing smile, before taking another sip of his coffee. It was true that he did not remember seeing her do something completely spontaneous or misbehaving during their years at school, and it would be a total surprise if he ever saw her behave otherwise. He had considered her to be the good influence among their group of friends.

“You’re the one bothered about the wall,” he said with a chuckle. “I honestly hadn’t paid it much thought until you mentioned it.” Shaking his head at her determination, Parker put his mug down and walked around the kitchen counters in her direction. “Fine, miss Stubborn. Let me change into something less expensive.” He headed off towards his bedroom, only to reappear a few minutes later carrying a couple of small paint cans that he put aside. He didn’t remember picking such an ugly mustard color.

[astridthcmas]

“They’re about as big as my hand. So they’re not that big, honestly.”

[parkerhalles]

“Alright, give me four. If it’s too much I’ll just have to eat them myself.”