#i:cleo

[fcreverlasting]

starter: your choice ( @offkeykisses ) location: shirley's diner, penny lane

Fuck, fuck, fuck, shit. Cleo's never been the most put together, but leaving the tattered notebook she's poured her whole heart and more into ( and written her government name clearly in the centre of the inside cover in green sparkly gel pen ) in the diner has to be the worst thing she's ever done. What's left of her heart feels like it's stuck in her throat when she rushes back in to the table she'd been sat at and sees someone already occupying the space. "Excuse me— Sorry— Did you see a notebook here when you sat down? I left mine here and I need it back."

[dcrkcloud]

starter: axel ( @losingdcgs ) location: sunrise café

"You guys were amazing last night," Cleo starts, carefully sliding his drink across the table before taking the seat opposite him, "really, the crowd was loving it." The atmosphere today is a stark difference to yesterday. Her body had certainly felt it when she'd climbed into bed, ears still ringing and feet aching even after ridding them of her heavy boots. It's always a coin flip as to whether she'll linger quietly at the back, enjoying the music with a watchful eye, or throw herself headfirst into the fire and last night had certainly been the latter. "Maybe I was just seeing things, but it looked like you guys really settled into it after a couple songs. That confidence always shows; the crowd bounces off it."

[fcreverlasting]

starter: winston ( @yourcinluv ) location: tommyland, penny park

the party is so much bigger than she expects. it makes sense, given it's basically an entire carnival, even if it's all for one person. it just makes finding him so much harder. so much so that she almost knocks someone else over in her haste to catch him once she spots that familiar head of hair over the top of the crowd, having stretched onto her tiptoes. "winston," pleaded, hand reaching out, scared to touch him in case he flinches away. she hasn't even considered a reality where he isn't mad at her, spiralling through every way he could be just another person who leaves her behind the further she read down salma's post. "I'm sorry."

[fcreverlasting]

starter: winston ( @yourcinluv ) location: open mic night, rhythm & waves festival grounds

it's the second time tonight she all but runs. this time to the stage, instead of away, feet carrying her to the area she'd occupied not that long ago. it's easy to spot him, it always is, and despite the urgency pumping through her veins, she has the decency to wait until he's clear, no one else in his vicinity. wordlessly, her arms wrap around his neck, eyes closed as her chin rests against his shoulder. it's the first time they're seeing each other after either of their sets. fistful of his shirt in each of her hands, she exhales. ofeliya had pieced her heart back together in the aftermath, but there's a different kind of peace being in the arms of someone who understands the ache. "proud of you."

[fcreverlasting]

starter: open, no limit ( @ciderstarters ) location: milkshake bar, ocean avenue

"Careful," she hurriedly blurts, bucket beside her wobbling from the bump of her elbow as she gestures to the sign, "wet floor," as if her being on her hands and knees on the tiles isn't enough. "If you slip, we'll probably go bust paying you off, and whilst I can find another job, everyone will have to go out of town to the cold, characterless Shake Shack for their milkshakes, and you wouldn't want that, now would you?"

[fcreverlasting]

starter: heath ( @tiidepools ) location: salt air apothecary

She feels a little crazy, hanging around outside the apothecary, but she didn't know his schedule at the hospital, didn't want to know, but she could Google when Salt Air shuts for the day, could take a chance on him closing up. Yet, at the sight of him, far enough away that she still feels safe, the wind that had carried her here is knocked out of her. A thousand things she'd wanted to say over the years, a thousand more she probably shouldn't say. Instead— "Was I a bad fiancé?" No warning, of her presence or what she's actually here for. "And don't lie to me, Heath." It can't hurt any more than what he'd dealt her two and a half years ago. Her jacket is light, not enough in the evening breeze, but her pocket is heavy, hand curled around what's inside like a lifeline.

[fcreverlasting]

starter: ofeliya ( @pastlifc ) location: the taproom

Her stomach churns at the realisation. It hadn't just been the postcard in her collection, nor Heath in the back of her mind. Had she clung onto a distant memory of a pretty woman on a rooftop telling her about her hometown, the sunsets over the harbour and the dearly missed music festival? The ache in her chest certainly feels like missing someone, but can you miss someone who'd always felt like the one who got away? Cleo had thought they were friends, but Ofeliya had slowly pulled away and she'd gotten too busy to think about the disappointment. But now she's across the bar, already looking at her when Cleo sees her, freezes to the spot, because wholeheartedly— What the fuck is with this town?

[fcreverlasting]

starter: winston ( @yourcinluv ) location: the boardwalk, ocean avenue

"What is it with this town?" probably isn't the way you should greet an old friend, especially one you — for once — don't have any ill feeling towards. Yet, it is a valid question. She can't blame it on its rich, music-focused history because Heath is here and that's on account of her forgetting he was raised here. Shirley's so-called 'world famous' burgers can't actually be that renowned, right? "Winston. It's been a while. How have you been?" An equally terrible follow up, given that he'll probably ask it back, too.