[color=lightgray][center][right][sub]Introducing: [color=#FFAA19]Bradley Thompson[/color]
Also FT: [color=#9F80DF]Estella Serrano[/color]
Location: Festival, heading to the Date Auction
Interacting: [color=8c546f]Reya[/color] [sup][@The Muse][/sup] at the end[/sub][/right]
[sub][@Hey Im Jordan] & [@LovelyComplex][/sub]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v1wy5HN.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230722/b684485aedf3febd05587caef28a30a5.png[/img]
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[indent][indent]The world wasn’t steady. She could barely see what was around her, let alone walk straight. Estella Serrano did not drink. Not like her friends did. She was a working girl and had to make sure she could function on the ranch. Being in Levi’s presence stirred a fire in her that she didn’t realize she had until he came back in the picture. On top of that, he just let her run off! What a jerk. She knew he was a sleazeball but letting a drunk girl run off, not giving a damn? That’s a whole ‘nother level. Scumbug level! 

Grumpy and perturbed, she tried to maneuver through the festival to find her best friend. It was absolutely frustrating she hadn’t seen Reya all day. Stella felt awful because she wanted to be there for her, seeing how it was her dad’s one year angelversary. They had promised each other they’d meet. On top of that, her phone went missing so it wasn’t like she could call her.  Finding a lamp post, she hugged it for stability. Lifting her right hand in the air, she looked at the bracelet that she got for her friend, wearing it all day in hopes she could gift it and be like [i]surprise, I love you[/i]. It had personalized braided rope and the centerpiece was a memorial photo projection charm that uses nano-engraving technology on the love stone. Stella put a lot of time and thought into this gift and she hoped Reya would love it. 

First though? She needed to find her. Dramatically sighing, the eldest Serrano pushed herself off the post and started following the crowd. She had heard whispers that the auction was starting. If Zack was participating, Reya would certainly be there to drool at her eye candy. Her forever eye candy that she still hadn’t had the courage to make a move on. That girl seriously needed cupid to throw several love daggers at her, or arrows. Whatever. She needed someone to do magic or her poor Reya would always think of the what ifs, rather than live her life. As she swayed, failing to walk in a straight line, a handsome blonde stranger enthusiastically greeted her. Stopping in her place, she narrowed her eyes to try to get his face to stop moving so she could make out who he was. [color=#9F80DF]“Hi, yes… I do, um, I know where it is but do you know where you are?”[/color] Oh no, she wasn’t making sense. This poor guy.  [color=#9F80DF]“... who are you?”[/color]

The handsome gentleman standing in front of her frowned. He hadn’t expected her to slur her words; the Stella he remembered wasn’t much of a drinker, if a drinker at all. Even so, it was certainly her; even with slurred words, he knew one of his old friends' voices very well. Was she so drunk she’d forgotten him? He bent down so he was closer to her face — she was so much shorter than he was, he almost felt like he was talking to a child. A very… [i]very[/i] drunk child. This made him laugh.

After he was done laughing, the smile he wore never left his face as he straightened up. He was so happy to see her! Stella would know where the petting zoo was. Of that, he was certain. She was also a friend, but he [i]really[/i] wanted to pet the goat. With the drugs still active in his system, he wasn’t exactly handling it the best. The smile faded, replaced by a frown. Should he have already introduced himself? He didn’t think about that.

[color=FFAA19]“Uhm.. Brad. Bradley. Er, Thompson. Bradley Thompson. Abigail’s brother. That’s me.”[/color] As if to accentuate his point, he jutted a thumb toward his chest. His phone buzzed. He ignored it; it would have been rude to check it while talking to a friend! Bradley would check it later. 

With him so close to her face, Stella narrowed her eyes. There’s no way this was Bradley. She gently grabbed his chin and turned his face from side to side. [color=#9F80DF]“Bradley. Like… B-Rad. Bradley that lives in Cali?”[/color] She tried her best to not slur as much anymore, hyper focused on the person in front of her. She was coherent but she did have long pauses between her words. She was doing her best. 

Releasing him, she crossed her arms and tilted her head, [color=#9F80DF]“You changed. So much.”[/color] Maybe she was too drunk for this because the Bradley she knew didn’t dress this sophisticated and clean, and if she remembered correctly he had longer hair, glasses, blemishes and much more meat on his bones. It wasn’t until she really stared into his eyes, no longer letting her gaze wander, clearly checking him out, that she did see the Bradley she knew. 

No way! 

When did he move back home? Was he just visiting? Why didn’t he tell her?! 

[color=#9F80DF]“Bradley!”[/color] She exclaimed, finally recognizing him. She jumped into his arms, practically pouncing and brought him into an embrace. Stella was always one to show affection to those she cared for. The moment didn’t last because grumpily, she pulled away and punched him in the arm. [color=#9F80DF]“So you’re going to act like you didn’t tell me you were here?!”[/color]

Bradley never really got used to being objectified. Of course he noticed Stella checking him out — the change since the last time she’d seen him was fairly drastic. Hitting the gym in college and whipping himself into shape after leaving Sanctuary had been one of his best choices in his life, but it was one that his grandmother seemed intent on undoing since he’d returned. After an adolescence and high school career filled with no success with women, glasses, and greasy hair, it was a weird change to have girls look at him. Really [i]look[/i] at him.

He couldn’t deny a swell of pride in his chest when it was Stella doing it, though.

Being called B-Rad had made him smile. Was he rad? He wasn’t sure. After she hit him with the big question, Bradley tilted his head to the side. His answer was honest. [color=FFAA19]“I didn’t really tell anyone I was coming back. I’ve only been back a couple of months!”[/color] He frowned. The last time he’d seen Stella, a couple of months had been an eternity, but they’d both been younger then. He was old now, a couple of months went by in the blink of an eye… [color=FFAA19]“Abigail was acting out… my grandparents were going to lose the shop, the bank was gonna foreclose on our house… I had a lot to take care of. And I still have my California job! I just sleep when I have free time.”[/color]

He frowned. [color=FFAA19]“I’m sorry, Stella. I just haven’t had time to do anything for myself since I got back.”[/color]

He’s been here for months?! 

As surprised as she was, she didn’t take offense because even without them seeing each other, he still checked up on her and they chatted when they could. He never did disappear. He was just too shy to send her pictures of his California adventures but she loved hearing his stories and what he loved. Unlike LEVI, Bradley was a good friend. [color=#9F80DF]“Well then,”[/color] Estella grabbed onto his arm, hooking her own with his. She led the charge toward the growing crowd, using him obviously for stability. She was unable to walk straight. [color=#9F80DF]“Before I tell you where the pet zoo is, because I know how much you love the babies, you must help me. On a quest! To find my best friend.”[/color]

She glanced up at the man 10 inches taller than her and gleamed.  [color=#9F80DF]“I clearly had too much to drink and was abandoned by a jerk-mc-jerkface. So could you do me a solid and keep me company? I do real dumb things when I drink and I really need to find Reya.”[/color] She pouted, turning back to the Auction which was a bit of a walk away. Or it seemed far away but her perception was tipsy-tourney. Leaning her head on him, she continued,  [color=#9F80DF]“Her dad died a year ago and I feel like a bad friend for not seeing her yet. I really hope she’s okay.[/color] 

At least she’d accepted his reasoning. He wished he had more time to establish a presence back in his hometown, but he’d been so busy that it just hadn’t been able to happen. Even his planned weekly sleepovers with Levi had been stopped dead in their tracks. There was no time to be Bradley! He was lucky he’d been able to sneak away for this.

He felt Stella leaning on him. How could he not? Almost naturally he moved his arm so it was looped around her waist rather than having her just hanging off it. It would be easier to steady her that way, he thought. [color=#FFAA19]“... sure, I like quests.”[/color] Of course, in his mind a quest was something that had a bit more swords and sorcery, but this was okay too. He could work with this. Plus, she didn’t want to be alone while she was drunk! What was he going to do? Abandon her so he could go hold rabbits? Rabbits that most likely belonged to her family farm? That just wouldn’t be proper.

[color=#FFAA19]“Oh, right! I got a text.”[/color] He didn’t know why he said that aloud. He pulled his phone out as they walked with her in the lead and his arm keeping her from falling. Really, he thought it was time that Stella go lay down, but he could both understand and respect the desire to be with a sad friend. He stared at the phone, reading the words once, then twice. A third time, and he still didn’t believe them. Eventually, he managed to speak again. [color=#FFAA19]“Oh, no.”[/color] He said.

[color=#FFAA19]“Someone,”[/color] he did not say Levi’s name. Whether it was intentional or a slip of a THC-riddled mind was anyone’s guess, [color=#FFAA19]“signed me up for the dating auction thingy. I’m gonna be auctioned off. Like a slave in Game of Thrones.”[/color] If Bee were here, she would have laughed at him.

[color=#FFAA19]“Crap.”[/color]

[color=#9F80DF]“Hey, what better way to show you’re in town then go on stage and shake your booty?”[/color] Stella giggled, amused. As she went to look up at him again, up to see the concern and distress, her amber eyes caught sight of the brilliant moon. The stars were out and where they were, in a rural small town, there was plenty in the sky. Without the dark, one could only dream of such a beautiful sight. There was always something bigger and more beautiful to strive for. There was always something worth dreaming about. That’s what the stars made her think of. She loved the night. 

[color=#9F80DF]“I bet Cali skies aren’t like this,”[/color] she whispered as she became distracted by something she likely saw everyday. Yet everyday, she observed it like it was the first time. Everyday she was filled with wonder and awe, never letting the dreamer inside of her die. Her gaze trailed from the sky to his face as he directed them closer to the event. Forwardly, she asked,  [color=#9F80DF]“Were you happy? In Cali?”[/color] 

That was not an easy question to answer, at least to answer honestly. Bradely was quiet as he thought about it, wondering if he should have responded. Honesty, he reasoned, would probably help them be friends for longer. That didn’t make it any easier to say something so seriously, he thought with a gulp. [color=#FFAA19]“Yeah, yeah I was. I… uh, don’t have the best memories of being here. Most people here weren’t very nice to me, Stel… Like, in school. People were mean until the day I left.”[/color] He said the last part in a hushed voice, as if he were embarrassed to admit it. [color=#FFAA19]“It was different there, it felt like people respected me more. They understood me better. It helped me… take care of myself more.”[/color]

The silence lingered for a second longer than he liked and Brad cleared his throat, quickly stealing a look up at the stars. [color=#FFAA19]“The stars are nice here though! Definitely better than Southern California.”[/color] He said quickly, stammering through his words and unable to hide the blush on his cheeks.

Sadness washed over the Serrano girl as she realized this town wasn’t a happy place for everyone. For her, it was home. There was a time when she and her siblings traveled to see their mom; she can count the times with one hand. It wasn’t many and before they all knew it, their mother wanted nothing to do with them and she stopped trying. Sometimes she wished she was part of the class of all her friends. Maybe she would have caught sight of Bradley’s bullies and all those that pushed him to the point that he couldn’t grow here. That he had to leave. She envied his courage and strength. He was able to get out. A dream many have but never achieve. She didn’t know if that was her dream though. She loved the ranch and her family. She loved this town she called home. But she didn’t see beyond the day, she didn’t really look ahead like most kids. Estella was thrown into a life of responsibilities at a young age. That’s why days like these when she did allow herself to slip surprised everyone. Stella rarely slips. Stella is a good girl and Javier’s legacy. Stella knew how to have fun but her fun always had limits. Levi brought out a side in her she wished she could bring out more. A side that made her feel free. Unburdened and relaxed. Little to no worries. Even if he did her good, for today, she was still mad at him and wouldn’t forgive him for ghosting her and their friends. Not until he legitimately meant what he said. 

[color=#9F80DF]“I don’t know if this means much but I’m glad you’re back…”[/color] Stella responded, stopping in her tracks, which forced him to stop walking too. Grabbing on her dress, scrunching it in a tight grip, her downcast eyes looking at the ground and not him, she apologized, the booze shifting her playfulness to sorrow, [color=#9F80DF]“and I’m sorry you have so many bad memories here. I wished I’d notice.”[/color] She was an awful friend. 

Bradley shifted a bit. He hadn’t thought about how this conversation would go hard enough it seemed. He didn’t really expect Stella to absorb his energy and turn it into her own. He had thought that throwing her off by mentioning the sky would keep it from getting [i]too[/i] sad, but it seemed Bradley had failed. [color=#FFAA19]“Don’t be sorry, Stella. It’s okay. I wouldn’t trade my life for the world, I wouldn’t be here again if I hadn’t started here.”[/color] It made sense to him, so he nodded.

[color=#FFAA19]“And it does mean a lot! Don’t worry, everything is chill. Everything is awesome when you’re with your friends, and that’s where I am right now.”[/color] He paused and gave her a thumbs up. In his mind, there was no stronger confirmation than the sacred thumbs up. [color=#FFAA19]“I can’t believe I have to go up on stage and be prostituted. Who would even pay money for a date with me? My grams?”[/color]

[color=#9F80DF]“Me, but only if you do a smolder,”[/color] Stella snickered, teasing really, adding a wink for extra measure.  Even if he didn’t give a charming look at the crowd, she would still bid on him. They were friends and she hated that he didn’t think he was liked, loved or wanted. She wanted to prove him wrong. Shaking off the sads, Estella tried to bury the grief and focus on her mission. They needed to get to the auction. Suddenly, however, she realized she was no longer using him to keep upright. She didn’t know when this happened but she had stumbled forward and for some reason, the world spun a lot faster than usual. Stella found herself tipping over. 

Bradley was impressed with how Stella’s wink made him feel and he had to remind himself that she was drunk. A sober Stella would never talk or flirt with him in such a way… she would never intentionally give him that flutter in his stomach he’d felt mere moments before. She would never… fall like that! Bradley was almost more impressed with his own agility than he was with the feelings the wink gave him as he quickly threw his hands out and caught Stella before she fell to the ground, looking down into her eyes. [color=#FFAA19]“Ah, Stel. Be careful. Don’t wanna fall right before we get there, do you?”[/color] He asked with a grin before he glanced toward the dating auction stage.

Whoopsie. Okay, maybe the reality was starting to sink in that she got a little too competitive with Levi. And she was extremely inebriated. Though as Bradley held onto her, gradually bringing her from a dip to his side, she once again became bewildered with how much he changed. How different he looked. Did he really think he couldn’t get a girlfriend looking like that? [color=#9F80DF]“Will I fall…?”[/color] she playfully grinned at him, wrapping her arms around him once more.  [color=#9F80DF]“...When I have you to catch me?”[/color] As her flirtatious words danced around them, she brought her attention to the crowd. She broke the moment by poking his belly.  [color=#9F80DF]“You’re tall! Do you see Reya?”[/color] 

Unfortunately, Bradley hadn’t seen Reya in years. He didn’t even know what he was looking for. Stella [i]was[/i] right about one thing: He was pretty tall! Without really thinking about what he was doing, Bradley knelt down and helped Stella onto his shoulders and extended to his full height. [color=#FFAA19]“Now you’re tall. Do [i]you[/i] see Stella?”[/color] Bradley asked, doing his best to stay absolutely still so that the woman didn’t stumble or fall.

This gesture caused Estella to beam red as she tried her best to keep her dress down, separating her skin from Bradley’s neck. In addition, she adjusted her purse so it was falling behind her and not hitting his head. She didn’t expect this but she also didn’t refuse it. When he stood fully up, she held onto his head, laughing like a child. If it wasn’t for his grip on her legs, she’d likely fall right off. She got lost in the randomness of it all that for a moment, she forgot why he did it in the first place but she was immediately brought on track when she saw a familiar head with brown hair, right by the stage platform. [color=#9F80DF]“You’re in luck, B-Rad. She’s exactly where you need to go.”[/color] There was a second she thought about calling her name but then she realized if she had family around, they’d try to find her and take her home. She also realized her being this high in the air would get her noticed too. [color=#9F80DF]“Okay, okay. Put me down… and take me to my love!”[/color] 

Bradley shrugged. [color=#FFAA19]“As the princess desires,”[/color] he said as he kneeled down so Stella could get down from his shoulders. He had half a mind to let her walk on her own. [i][color=#FFAA19]Aren’t I due on stage?[/color][/i] He thought to himself, but he didn’t voice his concerns aloud. Instead he just once again put his arm around Stella’s waist and led her toward the way she was going. When they were just [i]nearly[/i] there, he stopped. [color=#FFAA19]“I gotta run, Stella! I can’t believe he signed me up for this. Fucking Levi. Oh.”[/color] He frowned. [color=#FFAA19]“Levi is looking for you, he seemed pretty concerned. I forgot to say. Don’t forget to take me to pet the animals, okay?”[/color] With that, Bradley gave Stella another smile — had his smile always been that charming? — and then turned to walk away, headed to the stage.

Levi? 

Just when she was going to ask him a question, he was off heading toward the stage and Stella was left with a thousand thoughts. She knew Levi and Bradley were close, years ago, but based on the little words that were just said…  this meant… there was someone Levi stayed in contact with. And it wasn’t her. The anger was boiling inside her all of a sudden but that didn’t matter right now. She needed to not let this bother her and ruin her day. All these unanswered questions. On top of that bullcrap, Levi didn’t even tell her Bradley was in town. She wanted to scream but no. She couldn’t. She needed to not think about that asshole. 

[i]Breathe, Stella. [/i]

Focusing on the person that mattered the most to her, Stella skipped to the table Reya was sitting at (almost tripping) and slapped her hands on the table, [color=#9F80DF]“Reyaaaaaaa, I’ve been looking all over for you. I don’t have my phone but I’m here now!”[/color] She slid on the bench next to her best friend and yearningly, eagerly pulled her into a hug.  

[color=#9F80DF]“After this, I have so much to tell you.”[/color] 
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