She took advantage of a red light to turn slightly his way, with a stern and motherly look on her eyes. Ever since Bobbie, Samantha had caught herself having a slightly more protective nature with other people than she had before. Essentially she still felt somewhat like herself, but some hardened edges had definitely softened over the last almost two years. “People are difficult here, I give you that. Most of them have a heart of gold but they feel very… protective about their community in a way that it’s always hard for them to see someone new as something good,” she turned forward once she heard a light honk behind her and steered the car along again. “Not that it excuses their behavior, but if you give it time, they’ll know, they’ll come around.”
Tim’s question caught her off guard and she wondered if that would ever be the case. She had moved to Fremont to run away from all the memories that pursued her in Myrtle Rock and while she had lovely memories in Fremont, it was also where her friend had disappeared, where so many other unforgettably bad things happened. Could she keep running forever? “Nah— I’ve moved there when I was 20 and Mrs. Beaumont fought for me,” maybe in the same way she was fighting for Tim, maybe? “I guess I’m a part of the community now and I’m sure that you will too, soon, there are good things too, you know? Some pretty good people, you just gotta be a little more open to see them and to meet them,” she shrugged lightly, parking at one of the spots. “You could not have given me the time of the day when we met and yet here we are.”
It wasn’t Tim’s first experience as an outsider, he had felt that way all of his life, but it was different in Fremont. It was a small community, tight, always together. He didn’t fault them for distrusting new people, personally he thought they were right, because Tim really was hiding something, and he feared they would understand they had been right about him all along. But that didn’t mean he didn’t want to try and befriend them. It was just hard. Especially since there were still days when Tim didn’t even leave his apartment, just sat around, did some assignments, eat leftovers, watch some television, and roll back into bed. He was an extreme introvert, and the overall reaction from locals had given him even more reason to just... seclude himself.
He smiled awkwardly when she mentioned their first couple of meetings. Tim knew that if it hadn’t been for Bobbie, he might’ve balked when Sam tried to talk with him. Which was not something he liked to admit. Technically he knew that people would not outright hate him from the get-go, most people at least, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling. Bobbie had liked him, and he had taken a chance with Sam because of Bobbie. “I believe they’re good people,” Tim said, as an answer, though he found it weird to be saying that. “And I think I get it to an extend. Maybe not completely since I’ve never been a part of a smaller community, but perhaps I can melt their resolve with my awkwardness,” he said with a self-aware smile as he stepped out of the car.