* ⤷ closed starter, for @heartfled ─── june 30th, in the stacks at twice-sold tales.
hidden amongst the stacks, accompanied by the skittering noise of wood rot and a creaking foundation bleeding into the white noise whirr of a shoddy air conditioner, it wasn't the ding of the front door's alert bell that had loretta craning their neck, but rather, the presence that accompanied it. it was one known far too well, for better and for worse. rhythmic clack of heels upon wood planks forced a straightening of her posture, fingers still postured within the pages of her current read — some herbalism research, whose content did not pose nearly as much interest as this new addition to the store's occupancy. " hm, " barely an acknowledgement the moment their eyes met, the first time in a while, having near-successfully avoided each other since ece's return. " you're upset; i can see it. " they couldn't — a bold faced lie, only meant as a taunt, a jab straight to the facade of pleasantry the other had always worn so proudly. " you're still waitin' on the welcome back parade, aren't 'cha? " a click of their tongue, sucking air through gritted teeth, " how's it feel to be old news? can't fall back on that good ol' high school popularity anymore... "