midnight moon.

erica bryant: twenty | barista | sophomore. "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it."

[sawyerxx-deactivated20180328]

“I wish someone would just invent a cure for writer’s block.” Billie sighed as she threw out another rough draft of her novel. “I’ll never get published if I keep getting stonewalled.”

[theericabryant-blog]

“...stonewalled?”

[magnolia-sawyer-blog]

“Oh no, are you a bad cook too?”

[theericabryant-blog]

“...not if you consider ramen noodles and cereal cooking.”

[angclbloodcd-deactivated2020122]

“Aren’t we all?” She gave her a sympathetic smile, “Sure, don’t worry about it. Honestly, it can be quite scary at night here sometimes for some people. Especially, with the people around this way”

[theericabryant-blog]

“Unfortunately.” Erica replied with a small smile, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to be out so late. Thank you for walking with me, though.”

[angclbloodcd-deactivated2020122]

Lib was wondering through the streets, frustration etched on her face. She had been trying to find this guy. The guy had happened to turn up on cctv during a case she was working. If anyone knew anything, it would have to be him. Shuffling down the street, she had been showing a few people a photo she had. But, to no avail. “Hey,” She called to someone who she couldn’t see properly, “You seen this guy anywhere around here?” 

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica had been on her way home, head bopping to the music playing through her headphones, smile on her face, when suddenly, the sound of shouting was louder than the music playing, and she turned around with furrowed eyebrows, only to make eye contact with someone who proceeded to make their way over to her. She recognize it as the girl--Libby, she thought her name was--who’d walked her to her car the other night, and smiled at the sense that it was a small world. Only, when she was shown the picture, that smile dropped right off her face. Oh, she knew the guy alright...but why would she want to know? “No, I’m sorry...I don’t know who that is.” The lie felt thick on her tongue.

[dylanxbrown-blog]

“What the fuck? How can you say no to going to a concert with me?”

[theericabryant-blog]

“...something tells me you’re not going to like my answer.”

[infiniteshq]

“Yeah, no, this is my friend’s, and she’s prone to losing things. She’s at the DMV right now sorting out getting her new driver’s license, and I think she’s a little mentally tuckered out for the day to come in here begging for her wallet back.” She retrieves the wallet from the redhead’s hand and quirks a grin. “Thanks, and I’ll be sure to tell her she has great taste.”

[theericabryant-blog]

“Oh!” Erica blushed a little, handing the wallet over. “Either way, it’s adorable...and I’m sure you have great taste, too. I hope your friend gets everything sorted out.” She beamed.

[infiniteshq]

Violet grinned in camaraderie and started off their joint stroll. “I’m Violet, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica grinned back. “I’m Erica. Nice to meet you, too.”

[xmarcoricci]

When she spoke again, Eddie nodded – he supposed that was the way you had to look at really. What else could you do? It wasn’t all bad. He had plenty of things to be thankful for, even if the list of things not so great was probably a little longer. “Sure… of course,” he answered softly. “Okay, which way are we heading?”

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica hesitated, having to remember where it was she’d parked. After a minute, she pointed in what she hoped was the right direction, laughing a little at her own obliviousness. “I’m sure you can see why it is I had to ask you to walk me.” She joked, running a hand through her hair, before remembering something. Her other hand was quickly jutted in his direction. “I’m Erica, by the way.”

[xmarcoricci]

“That could be it…” Eddie didn’t sound completely convinced as he spoke, but what other explanation was there? Asking was out of the question. Speak to him and he’d probably end up distracted and fall and he definitely didn’t want to be responsible for that. 

[theericabryant-blog]

After a minute, Erica shrugged, turning back to look at Eddie with a small smile. “I’ve only lived here for a little over two years now and the people still never cease to amaze me.” She laughed. “Scare me too, but mostly amaze.”

[rxryrhodes-blog]

“Sounds like you had a good  time though?” 

[theericabryant-blog]

“Oh, ha, as good of a time as you can have in a library, I guess.”

[rxryrhodes-blog]

“Oh, yeah, of course! No problem. I didn’t realise how late it was anyway.” 

[theericabryant-blog]

“Thank you so much. Honestly, tell me about it. I didn’t realize how long I’d been here until I looked outside.”

[princessthorsteinsdottir-blog]

“ …Look, it’s a long ass story, ” Ana puffed in frustration, it didn’t exactly look the best being stuck in the muddy bottom of a pond where children fed ducks on a regular basis. “ Can you please get some help? I’m pretty damn stuck. ”

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica stared wide eyed at the woman now in the pond she’d been sketching no less than five minutes ago. When had that happened? Realizing she was being spoken to, Erica composed herself and quickly shoved her sketchbook onto the bench, standing up to get closer to the pond. “What can I do?”

[dylanxbrown-blog]

“More of an artist than a sports fan? What the fuck? What do you do? Paint the walls in San Francisco while you sing and dance around with your Hippie friends?” Dylan laughs and turns to the security guard. “Did you hear her? An artist? Who does that?” He looks at the security guard and realizes that he’s not laughing. “Laugh with me!” He orders the guy as he hits him on the arm.

[theericabryant-blog]

She didn’t get the joke. Was he insulting her career choice? He was a “famous” soccer player, but he was judging her for wanting to be an artist? Erica bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep tears from welling up in her eyes. She was used to people questioning her choices, but somehow, a stranger doing so hurt even more. She didn’t laugh alongside him, and stilling in the parking garage, she turned to him and forced a smile. “You know what, I totally forgot, I left something inside. I think I’m just gonna go...grab it and make the walk myself. Thank you anyways....I’m sorry for wasting your time.” The smile towards “bear” was a little more genuine than the one she forced at Dylan, but before he could notice, she started to walk in the opposite direction.

[dylanxbrown-blog]

“So my publicist wants me to go to this concert at the Fillmore tomorrow night. Why the fuck? Who the fuck even is Steve Vai? And I ask him what the fuck the point is? I ain’t listening to some bullshit you know. Haha. No fuckin’ way. Anyway, I have a +1 for that thing. You wanna come with me?”

[theericabryant-blog]

“Oh, ha, that’s...so sweet, really, but...um, I think I’m going to have to decline. I’m sorry.”

[xmarcoricci]

“I… I’m not even sure,” responded Eddie, looking over at Erica as she appeared beside him. His gaze shifted back to the guy across the street again moments later and he tilted his head slightly to the left, watching intently. He really didn’t know quite what was going on, but when somebody suddenly decided to start climbing the side of building, you had to wonder. “You think he’s locked out or something? Or maybe he’s just crazy?”

[theericabryant-blog]

Her eyes narrowed at the man across the street, wondering what could possibly be driving him to try and scale the building. Sitting down, awestruck, next to Eddie, she only turned away from the sight when he began to speak to her, and took a sip of her coffee as she took a glance at him. Very good questions. “Maybe both?” She offered.

[xmarcoricci]

Eddie nodded as they headed out of the store and he locked up the door a moment later, looking back over to her. “It’s a scary world,” he said lightly. Unfortunately it was true on a occasion, he didn’t know what was happening to the world they lived in, but he was pretty sure nothing was moving in the right way at the moment. “But hey, we can survive it…”

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica’s arms crossed over her chest, as if to try to shield herself from the world around her. 2016 had definitely proved itself to be interesting, and while she couldn’t believe it was almost over, she was kind of hoping it’d hurry up. Her hopes for 2017 weren’t exactly high, but anything could be better than what’d happened in the last ten months. Having turned back to her, she smiled at the stranger, nodding her head to agree. “I believe there’s some good in it.” She admitted.

[infiniteshq]

To be completely honest, Violet wasn’t completely thrilled with the prospect of making the journey herself. However, she noted as she eyed the redhead, they were going in the same direction, so she nodded and smiled. “Sure — strength in numbers, right?”

[theericabryant-blog]

Erica nodded eagerly, having thought the same thing herself. “Yeah, yes, exactly. Strength in numbers.” She smiled to show her thanks.