Hadley smiled at the bartender who greeted them, adding ‘welcome back’ with a grin as he slid her a margarita on the house. She looks down at it, fingers dancing along the neck of the glass. This was bad. She was officially a regular at this place. Shaking her head, she shrugs, taking a sip. Well, it wasn’t all bad. Lips attached to the rim, she turns her head as the doors open, her eyes widening at the sight. Delara Solak.
Haley didn’t know them personally. Perhaps they knew of her by reputation or, frankly, just because it was a small town, but she knew of Delara. Their business had been spread in the Mystic newspaper for a while, catching the eyes and ears of locals alike. However, the only thing Hadley could really think about, was just how beautiful they were. Even as they approached the empty seat beside her, Hadley couldn’t stop looking. They’re real.
At their comment, she clears her throat, bringing herself back to reality. “I never heard of that,” Hadley says, gesturing to the water. “I mean, I’m not really a drinker—” Well, I wasn’t. “I heard eating greasy food also helps hangovers.” You’re starting to ramble. “Anyway, um… what do you teach? If you don’t mind me asking.”
𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 a good call of character, though once their opinion of someone was made, it was –– hypocritically enough, with their background –– hard to shake. Luckily, their first impression of Hadley Caulfield is nothing short of simply good. They’d never been to her shop, personally, but their mother’s shelves were stocked with honey all year round, though she hadn’t been allowed to touch a pot or pan in years.
Only they don’t know Hadley owns the store yet, and so all they can think is that she’s lovely, with delicate, fawn-like features and a graceful neck; ballerina-like. ❝ Greasy food’s not really my thing, but I’ll never say no to a good meal, if that’s what you’re offering. ❞ Lara has this niggling nudge that if they wink, it’ll flutter her most pleasingly, and so, they do.
❝ But to answer your question, Anthropology, at Mystic Community. It should be... interesting. I’m not entirely... welcome there, let’s say. ❞ Yes, it had been a choice to hire them. Though it had been years, long-time supporters of their old professor still held onto the belief that Lara was the problem. Idiots.
