#eadlyn wilder

[simsimmerson]

“Well that’s it then! We have to go see him. We have to help him.” 

Ryan’s face was a mask of concern but Eadlyn could detect the lust for adventure beneath her voice. She said everything so finally, as if this was the new plan. She had always done this when they were kids too. She wasn’t sure how she’d talk her out of it. She’d never talked Ryan out of anything.

“We can’t just go show up on his doorstep. Neither of us have seen him in years. And it didn’t exactly go well that last time. Plus he’s all the way in Hidden Springs. Have you even ever been out of Sunlit Tides for more than a day?” 

“Just because I’m an island girl doesn’t mean I can’t handle the mountains. Besides, he needs us. If you’re worried, then there’s a problem. You know him better than anyone. And you know as well as I do that if there’s anyone in the world who can help him get through this, it’s us. I’m booking the plan ride tonight.” 

And just like that, it was settled. Eadlyn’s stomach was sick with a veritable cornucopia of emotions-- dread, frustration, and even a little excitement. What the hell were they doing?  

[simsimmerson]

They had been nearly silent the whole way back home. They hit up Ed’s, the local diner they had eaten at together about 1000 times, without even having to consult each other about it. Ryan reflected that this was the beautiful thing about their friendship. Her thoughts drifted back to Tristyn. If he was here, everything would be just as it should be. She didn’t know how to bring him up again, after Eadlyn’s big announcement on the beach. 

Speaking of Eadlyn, she had been absorbed in her phone for like 10 minutes. 

“Is everything okay?” she ventured cautiously. 

“Yeah. I uh, I texted Tris. I think he’s drunk. You know how he is when he’s drunk. He can’t stop talking.” Eadlyn looked up and met her eyes. “I think it’s real bad, Ry. He’s real messed up.”

[simsimmerson]

Eadlyn’s face was so serious when she walked over that Ryan grew instantly anxious. Edie had always been a little... well, stoic. This wasn’t her normal face. Something was very wrong. 

“What is it?”

“It’s Tristyn.”

Ryan’s heart dropped a foot in her chest. “Oh my god. What happened?”

“It’s not him, sorry,” Edie said seeing the panic on her face. “Well, it is. I mean, remember Nadia? His wife? She died a months ago. Really suddenly. I guess he skipped the funeral and ran off. No one has seen him in a long time.”

“Oh my god. Edie, you have to call him. You have to make sure he’s okay.” No matter what happened that night on the beach, no matter how estranged things got, Tristyn had been their third musketeer for 15 years before that. He was a sensitive guy, already prone to pulling away from people he loved. If he was MIA with a dead wife, it was bad news. 

[simsimmerson]

“Come on, let’s cool off.” Ryan didn’t exactly mean it; the sun was hot but she had always loved it. The tension that had grown since she brought up Tristyn, however, was not nearly as pleasant and she was determined to break it. She bounded down the sand, sure that Edie would be following behind. When she reached the water she discovered that Eadlyn had been pulled aside but none other than Daniel Pleasant. 

Oh man, thought Ryan. Edie had never liked Daniel. He was very... well, the easiest way to describe him was that he was the kid in high school who, if the teacher forgot to collect homework, would remind them. She expected her to blow him off quickly, but they were in deep conversation. What on earth could they be talking about? Usually she’d call up and give Eadlyn an easy out, but she wasn’t sure if she should. Even from here she could tell the conversation was serious. 

[simsimmerson]

The morning after the storm dawned bright, hot, and beautiful. There was no question that they were going to the beach-- Castaway Bay, their spot since they were kids. As they soaked in the sun, Ryan turned slightly toward Eadlyn.

“So, have you talked to Tristyn lately?” She tried to make it seem like an innocuous question, but they both knew it was more than that. It had been a fight with Tristyn that had driven Edie off years ago, or at least that’s what Ryan guessed. She had heard them shouting outside, and then Edie was gone, and Tris shortly after. She had thought they were being dramatic and it would blow over. 

It hadn’t.

Eadlyn stared straight ahead. Her voice was trying to be impassive but had a noticeable quaver. 

“No. Not for a long time now.” 

Ryan dropped the subject. 

[simsimmerson]

Livin’ the good life 

[simsimmerson]

True to form, Edie’s responses are much more subdued. 

[simsimmerson]

DE-lighted.