[right][sup][color=699cc9][b]LOCATION[/b][/color] — [color=82ca9d]The Horton Household[/color]
[color=699cc9][b]INTERACTING WITH[/b][/color] — [color=82ca9d]Colin Brady [@Altered Tundra], Elliot Horton [@Spooner], Annalise Carver [@Ejected][/color][/sup][/right]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/IMEMRV4.jpg[/img][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/sqMFPlj.png[/img][hr][/center]

Jess nodded to the waitress that had just set down her mug of coffee before letting out a deep breath. The last time she had gone out for coffee with Colin had been back in their high school days and she wasn’t sure it was a memory she wanted to remember. Nevertheless, here she was staring blankly at the black liquid that sat in front of her in a generic white mug. Anyone that knew Jess knew that she was extremely methodical about her coffee preparation. Maybe it was OCD, maybe it was just part of who she was, but if her coffee wasn’t just right it put her in the wrong mood. It was one of the reasons she had stopped buying coffee from restaurants. 

Her mind went through the procedure like clockwork. Two packets of sugar, but she didn’t quite empty the second. Two single serve milks and one cream, again not quite completely emptying the cream. Then, Jess stirred the mixture precisely five rotations before finally taking a sip of the coffee.

[color=699cc9]“Coffee’s a bit burnt, but I guess it’ll do.”[/color]

As much as the taste distracted her, she needed this coffee like an alcoholic needed their liquid courage. She drank more coffee than she cared to admit, most likely sparked by her early introduction to the caffeinated beverage back when she was only twelve years old. The warm liquid eased Jess’ mood gently, helping her move on from the rough morning she’d had so far. Part of her was legitimately she’d made it this far without killing someone. 

The brunette looked up to see Colin sliding the fifty across the table, before pocketing it and returning her still unimpressed gaze to him. Her eyes took in the details of the familiar face, and while Colin had aged since she’d last been with him, his face had changed very little and still brought on all of the memories from their past -a past she wasn’t sure if she wanted to repeat.

And then Colin started his speech and made her heart start to ache. Jess had always liked the sound of Colin’s voice, there was something about it that put her at ease whenever she spoke to her. She could also clearly see he had changed for the better. She genuinely felt good to see him taking control over his life once again, not leaving it at the mercy of drugs and the bottle. Even if he did still drink, even if she was still upset and frustrated by the way he had treated her all of those long years ago. Something had changed in him, something that made her truly smile inside as he spoke those final words and took her hand in his own. He was trying.

[color=699cc9]“Colin...I…”[/color]

As much as Jess wanted to say something, she found herself holding back. Part of her remained hesitant. Did she really want to entertain the offer of someone who had made her life a living hell for the majority of her high school years? Was it really the right thing to do, to open the conversation with the person that was almost a polar opposite to her? The brunette looked down to her coffee mug as her mind spun and took in a deep breath, letting the air stay silent for a moment longer. 

[color=699cc9]“Honestly Colin, I’m proud that you’ve come this far. Seeing you like this is nice, a huge step up from the hole you were in in high school. But this is a lot right now and it probably doesn’t help that I’m hungover.”[/color]

Did that sound too much like she was his mother and not his ex? Too condescending? Did she really care at this point?

[color=699cc9]“I appreciate the apology, I really do Colin. I just need some time to get my head straight and figure this out. You know as well as I do that this is not a matter to be taken lightly. I hope you’ll understand that much.”[/color]

[hr][hr]

Olivia shuddered as the vile taste of her own vomit lingered in her mouth. She sat up against the wall next to the toilet looking weak, tired and defeated. Her head pounded like someone was constantly hitting her with a hammer and she felt completely drained of any energy she’d had the night before. And people did this for fun? What the fuck kind of sick, self deprecating humour was this supposed to be? With a groan, the young girl reached for her phone and checked the time, listening to her mother and sister bicker just outside of the door. The constant arguing between the two of them lately was exhausting, and the effect was only multiplied now by her wicked headache.

[color=f06eaa][b]“Both of you SHUT UP FOR ONCE IN YOUR MISERABLE LIVES.”[/b][/color] Olivia yelled at the top of her lungs.

And then there was silence, all too familiar in the life of Olivia Horton. It had different meanings depending on the situation, at least in her mind. Right now? The silence was beautiful. It let her head calm down for a moment after her outburst and right now, she needed to be calm. It was hard enough to hold back her stomach in peace and quiet, it just made it harder when people were screaming and making her head pound harder than a bass drum. 

Olivia jumped a little as her phone buzzed, and with a reluctant effort she retrieved the device from the pocket of her pyjama bottoms.[color=f06eaa]“Who the actual fuck wants to die...is quiet too much to ask for…”[/color] Olivia mumbled to herself as she brought up the text from Anna. She smirked slightly as she saw the name come up before quickly glancing over the texts.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/xhjpm4J.png[/img][/center]

Just as she finished sending off a few messages, she heard a soft knock on the door followed by an all too familiar voice. Elliot, her (insert grumbling) brother. As much as she wanted to be mad at him for the events of the day before, Olivia lacked both the energy and the willpower to properly display it. And so it was with a bit of hesitation that she finally answered the knock with something that was closer to a groan than actual speech. [color=f06eaa] “What do you want, shit-for-brains…”[/color]