[color=lightgray][center][right][sub][@LovelyComplex] & [@BrutalBx][/sub]
[sub]Timestamp: After Figure It Out 
(sometime after lunchtime)[/sub]
[sub]FT: [color=BCDD81]Clayton Costigan[/color], [color=fccb8e]Avery Kaine[/color], 
[color=FFCDD2]Jamie Lord (O'Hara)[/color][/sub][/right]
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[img]https://i.imgur.com/vlbHPCc.png[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220703/89d8c1ad3c3b5911001f693df7bdef2b.png[/img]
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[indent][indent][color=BCDD81]“I’ll be back in a few minutes, thanks for this boss,”[/color] Clay said as he stepped out of the patrol car.

Sly had been so graceful after the interview with Rhett to allow Clay the time to stop and recalibrate and there was no better place to do this than at Swerve Arcana. It was somewhere where he could get lost amongst the pages of fictional heroes and villains. He wasn’t that big on the whole comic thing considering he himself had to deal with the real life stuff every day of his life but it was a great way to escape nonetheless.

As he looked down the street, the young officer noted a familiar face climbing into a black car. What was Wes up to? He’d been radio silent for days. Kylee too, up until today and even that was a very brief conversation. He probably owed her an apology. Had something happened? Had the mixing of business and pleasure finally blown up in their face? Clay knew that Wesley was hiding something from them all. Something wasn’t right. That would be tomorrow 's problem though. Today, it was all about those damn letters. The ones that were directed at his friend, his childhood brother, his guiltiest burden. David. It had already been a day of dredging up the past. From meeting Jamie and finding out about the letters, talking to Lamb and now being forced to interview Rhett. These were his friends, his people. Was this to he his curse as a small town cop? Uncovering the secrets and lies of the ones he loved?! Then there was Cat. He hadn’t reached out to her yet after their encounter earlier that day. He hoped he hadn’t ruined it with her already. The weeks they had shared together so far were the best of his life.

Clay passed through the doorway, narrowly avoiding the latest standee that Mr Kaine had put up to hype the latest superhero blockbuster, Divided We Stand or some shit. It was gonna be on Netflix. No doubt his current charge would want to binge it in one weekend. He glanced behind the counter to see the big blue eyed girl he called his best friend staring back at him, hands on hips like she was about to tell him off for ruining her latest shrine to the inked page. Clay jumped onto the counter and sat down, letting out a large sigh. [color=BCDD81]“Hey.”[/color]

[color=fccb8e]“McDungus, surprised you came to visit,”[/color] Avery closed the first volume of the new Langley series, Dread, a supernatural, small town Scooby Doo-esque story that gave her vibes of her home itself, and leaned on the counter, looking up at her friend, [color=fccb8e]“Dad told me, about the letter. You okay, buddy?[/color]” The letter itself was a god awful read, too mushy for her. Definitely written by a kid but she knew it affected her bestie because of who it involved. David.

[color=BCDD81]“Not really,”[/color] Clay lamented as he leaned back on his palms. [color=BCDD81]“It’s funny, we’ve all been getting these damn letters for so long now. People are just ignoring them. Decker, what he did was a tragedy but he was from the other side of the line, you know? To some, it’s horrible to say, he didn’t matter. I hadn’t even heard of the kid until he did what he did. Yet it takes one letter, one sentence, a phrase and an entire world can come crashing down.”[/color] The man’s dark brown eyes trailed off blankly just staring out of the window. [color=BCDD81]“That’s what this one is doing to the other side of that line, our side. David’s name is dirt. Coach, Jamie, me, we’ve suffered for his mistakes from the day he died. Now somebody is dragging it back up and for what? What purpose? I mean for God’s sake Avery I had to interview Rhett. Rhett! Fuck!”[/color]

Woah. Okay. Yeah, he was extremely affected by this. Aves glanced at the Marvel section to see Rosie re-organizing the comics, making sure they were by character. The girls briefly met each other’s gaze before Aves’ attention was brought back to Clay. After pushing herself off the counter, she shifted the Langley comic to the side and lifted herself up. Sitting next to him, she stared at the Dr. Strange lifesize cutout standup. With her calm demeanour and mellow tone, she noted, [color=fccb8e]“People ignore them until it hits home.”[/color] Nudging Clay with her arm, dropping all clown behaviour, she pondered outloud her thoughts on it all. The letters, Decker, the crashing tide of the past, David. [color=fccb8e]“It’s not about the writer; It’s never been about the writer, has it?”[/color] 

Thinking to herself, she lightly chuckled at how all the things in this town, no matter how big or how small, affected those in it. How absolutely unbelievable things sounded, like ghost letters haunting and targeting people, and yet they were all true, in this little town called Edenridge. [color=fccb8e]“I…”[/color] She contemplated the next set of words, never changing the level of her voice. Avery was such a peaceful spirit, like a warm blanket on a cold, winter’s night, always there to speak her mind but in a way that it didn’t make you feel attacked,  [color=fccb8e]“... remember how quick people were to judge David. Someone so beloved like David O’Hara. It took one rumor, a bad one at that, to fuck it up. If there’s one thing I’m learning about these letters, they all hold a purpose. An objective. They all show some kind of truth. At least Decker’s was more… a critique on society. This one feels… angry.”[/color] 

Placing her arms behind her, Aves leaned back, staring at the fluorescent light, [color=fccb8e]“I guess this might be a weird take but if I had David’s love letters and I was still hurting: what better weapon than words of the past? Force the town to reflect, say they’re all dickwads for ruining someone who in most eyes was… good. That’s my take, at least. Don’t know if that makes you feel better, though.”[/color] 

[color=BCDD81]“Thanks Aves,”[/color] Clay leaned forward and began to rub his eyes in stress and frustration. [color=BCDD81]“I need to look at this from all angles but I think this gets solved if I find out who the girl is. We all had our suspicions,”[/color] He jumped down from the counter and glanced back outside towards Sly and the waiting patrol car. [color=BCDD81]“You might be right about that. It might all be a big hoax. I really don’t know. One thing I do know is that I have to put a stop to all this. One way, or another,”[/color] He made his way towards the front door and paused for a moment. [color=BCDD81]“Hey Avery, do the heroes always win? In your comic things?”[/color]

[color=fccb8e]“If they do,”[/color] Avery followed suit, hopping off the counter, and in well earned self confidence, she admitted with a real, yet warm smile,  [color=fccb8e]“It’s usually at a great cost. So, no, Clay, they don’t. But hey.”[/color] She took her phone out of her jean jacket and swayed it in her hand,  [color=fccb8e]“Check your email. Couldn’t send it through text, the content was too goddamn powerful. Just a reminder of what you got waiting for you when it's all over.”[/color] She tossed her phone on the counter and shuffled her way back to her post, sending him off with some nerd shit so he can conquer his day,  [color=fccb8e]“Quote. The future is worth it. All the pain. All the tears. The future is worth the fight. Unquote. The Martian Manhunter. Take that and kick some ass, dude. And when it’s all said and done, tell me about it.”[/color] She casually saluted her friend, giving him the green light to make his exit, hoping she helped ease his stress a little. If not, the email certainly would. 

Clay offered his best friend a salute in return. She was a dork. She was a weirdo. She was the antithesis of everything and everyone that Clay had been raised with. Yet she was the closest thing to family and a home that he had beyond his growing one with Cat. He fucking loved Avery. Pushing the door open, the foundling stepped back out into his own personal war zone. Not all heroes wear capes.

Once he left, a customer, the young lad from Godmothers pulled up with a stack of comics, an assortment of Batman. Noice. Avery resumed her day job striking up idle chatter. In that conversation, the young lad had asked for an application.  [color=fccb8e]“Wait, I thought you made sandwiches?”[/color] 

“I do.. but I don’t know for how long. Just trying to cover my tail,” The young lad shrugged as he watched Aves ring up his comics. 

Narrowing her eyes as the cash register opened, Aves inquired,  [color=fccb8e]“... getting fired? Also, 42.85.”[/color]

“Nah, Cat just dropped a big bomb yesterday. She’s planning on selling.”

Shooketh at this news, Avery's mouth went ajar. Was this really happening? The Godmothers was a staple in Edenridge. Everyone needed their sandwiches. With this newfound news, Avery's heart broke a little on the inside. [color=fccb8e]“No fucking way! Please tell me you’re lying.”[/color]

Shaking his head, the boy knew exactly how the comic girl was feeling. He went through the waves of emotions yesterday. “Nope. She’s tired of it. I’m just hoping whoever buys it won’t kill the whole vibe. There’s no place like it.” The boy said defeatedly. Avery looked from him to her open register, only to realise she had no quarters. Just when she was going to get a roll, he shook his head politely declining it, “Keep the change, ain’t nothing but a thing.” They exchanged a few more words as soon as the token geek queen retrieved a blank application for him. The more she talked the more she came to terms with the fact that if Clay knew, he’d be upset. Did he know? When the young lad walked away, she proceeded to grab a roll of quarters and open it.

As the lad opened the door, he took a step to one side to allow the next customer to enter. He nodded to the young woman as he made his way by her. He stopped for a second to turn back and look at the newcomer into the den of the nerds. She certainly didn’t fit in there. His eyes wandered across her figure and body before he sharply existed out of Swerve, now with more than enough reading material amongst other things. 

Jamie was a little confused. She had never stepped foot in this place before. It certainly wasn’t her sort of place. Not because she looked down on it like so many others do, far from it, she respected the artwork, the writing, the dedication to craft. No, it was simply not her world. She stayed in her lane because it helped her keep her composure. Structure, order and discipline were some of the tools that she used to keep her issues in check. Clay had always highly praised this place as a safe haven for the broken and the misfits. Jamie definitely felt like she had fallen into both those categories and then some. Perhaps whatever was here that Clay found solace in, she could find it to?

She took a step forward and looked upon the girl behind the counter. She was familiar, Avery, was her name. She was very close with Clayton. Prototypical of him really to have a smoking hot bestie. Jamie really didn’t know how he did it. [color=FFCDD2]“…erm…hi!”[/color] The young O’Hara waved awkwardly.

Hyper focused on the roll, Avery tore the paper from the middle and began loosening it up. When she heard a voice, she mumbled, distracted by the task at hand,  [color=fccb8e]“One second…”[/color] and during that second she caught a glimpse of who was waiting for her only to be welcomed by a sight she did not expect. [color=fccb8e]“Oh my—”[/color] the next moments happened so quick. The paper ripped faster than a speeding bullet and quarters flew and fell all over the place. [color=fccb8e]“—Jamie.”[/color] God, her cool points totally went down. Clearing her throat, she apologised, [color=fccb8e]“My b. I uh…”[/color] Quickly, she started collecting the quarters off the counter and proceeded to walk to Jamie’s side to pick up the quarters off the floor, [color=fccb8e]“... how can I help you?”[/color]  

A smile crept up across Jamie’s delicate face as Avery began to fumble around for spilled coins. Brushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, she got down on all fours and began to help gather up the quarters [color=FFCDD2]“I think it’s you that needs my help right now.”[/color] She was doing her best to hide the fact that she still had a minor buzz going from the day drink with the Supreme and the Royal Flush Gang and so far it did seem to be working. Jamie always was a good actress. She scampered around to another section of the store to grab a few loose ones that had flown over there. Turning, David’s younger twin made her way back to Avery and placed all of her gathered monies in her waiting hand.

[color=FFCDD2]“My friend Clay? He says this is a place that’s good to tune out the noise?”[/color]

[color=fccb8e]“I guess, yeah. We don’t really pretend here,”[/color] Aves placed and pushed the quarters in a central pile. Immediately afterwards, she turned to face her heart’s desire and genuinely explained, never looking away from Jamie’s perfect spring sky eyes, those eyes she could get lost in for days, [color=fccb8e]“It’s a good place to get away from all the bullshit.”[/color] Taking a couple steps back, she gestured with her head for the woman whose curves were nothing but softness that stood with such elegance and grace to follow. Jamie O’Hara (or Lord now, ew) was a lady through and through and for the first time in a long time, Avery had a chance to be [i]alone[/i] with her. [color=fccb8e]“Let me ask you this, Poppins, how do you want to escape?”[/color]

Jamie brought a hand to her lip to cover her smile. Poppins. She could see why Clay liked this girl. Avery had no airs or graces about her. Even in this, the briefest of interactions she was being unapologetically her. This was something that Jamie hadn’t been in a long time. Therapy. Medication. Regimentation. They were keeping this bird in a cage and she had convinced herself that it was for own good and the good of everyone else. She was tired. Tired of so much. Jamie was worn down and ready to quit but she wouldn’t, she couldn’t. She would carry on, for her brother. 

[color=FFCDD2]“I mean…erm,”[/color] She looked upon Avery’s freckled face and found warmth. Genuine meaning behind words that could so easily be empty. [color=FFCDD2]“What do you guys do to relax here? What does Clay do?”[/color]

[color=fccb8e]“Nine out of ten times Clay walks into a cut out, brings his ass to this counter to talk and stuff his face with a sandwich, then checks out some hot chicks,”[/color] Though that probably wouldn’t happen anymore now that he was a taken man. It wasn’t Avery’s business to tell anyone that. Cat was still going through a divorce, after all. [color=fccb8e]“He’s an exception, just comes here to distress, rant about a few things, I listen, and then off he goes back to being a hero and taking down villains. The rest of us though? We got stories, we got a game room where kids play Dungeons & Dragons and other fun things, we got an arcade, and we got each other. You want to make a fool of yourself? Go for it. I promise you I’ve done something worse. We don’t judge, we’re just here to have fun.” [/color]

Jamie couldn’t hide her laugh any more. As she burst into a brief giggle at the thought of her brother's best friend walking into a cutout or eating food like an animal. [color=FFCDD2]“Sounds like Clay. God’s favourite idiot, his sister calls him.”[/color] She missed Lamb. She missed Francis and Rhett. She missed David. God she missed David. Now all she had was Russell and that was nowhere near enough. Jamie considered what the freckled beauty had said; about making a fool of herself and the none judgements. Maybe that was what she needed right now? No self serving like Reagan. No pressure like from her parents. Just a little freedom. 

[color=FFCDD2]“Show me a story?”[/color] She tilted her head a little as her face wore a subtle but bright smile.

Was she lucky or was she in another fever dream, far worse than before? Avery Kaine was finding herself melting in this woman’s presence. Jamie shot an arrow to her heart when she freely laughed. God she had such an infectious laugh. A second arrow was shot the moment Jamie tilted her head, looked down and back up from under her lashes all the while asking a question in such a gentle teasing way. Was this heaven or was this hell? 

Avery now more than ever had to remind herself that her forever crush was married. There were boundaries that weren’t meant to be crossed that she so desperately wanted to cross. [color=fccb8e]“Hey Ro,”[/color] She called out to her friend and coworker, [color=fccb8e]“Take care of the front end for a bit, I’m heading to the back.”[/color] All her priorities shifted, no longer caring about her surroundings. Avery hyper focused on the transcendental girl beyond her reach. The mischievous geek exuded high energy as she placed her hands on her narrow waist, mirroring Jamie’s playfully coy smile with a smirk, [color=fccb8e]“Why don’t we make a story together?”[/color] 

There it went. She walked across the line never to look back. Now it was up to her instincts to lead her forward. Clay was such a bad influence on her but fuck, Avery wanted Jamie so fucking bad right now. Was there a small chance she wanted her too?

What was this feeling? The rush of heat in her neck and cheeks. The quickening pace of her heartbeat. This girl, this girl that her doofus friend had talked about for years was standing before her and the way she was looking at her, she was seeing her, really seeing Jamie for who she was. It was refreshing. She wasn’t looking at her as the Coach’s fragile daughter or David’s sensitive sister; she was just Jamie. 

The student teacher found herself reaching out with her hand for but a second. She wanted it. She wanted to taste the freedom but then she saw yet another shackle. A golden one on the second finger of her left hand. Jamie suddenly felt the cold blade of guilt stabbing her in the heart like a curved blade. She was married. Russ had been nothing but good to her and God knew he had put up with so much. He couldn’t allow herself to fall. There was still so much yet to be done. It had to be the booze playing with her head. The sadness destroying her soul. Or maybe she was just self destructing? Maybe it was all of them combined.

Straightening herself up, Jamie felt like her own words were choking the life out of her. [color=FFCDD2]“Maybe next time,”[/color] She feigned a smile and a laugh, her eyes glassy as the tidal wave of overwhelment came crashing down over her shoulders again. [color=FFCDD2]“It was nice to finally meet you, Avery. I’ll…”[/color] She turned on her heel quickly, breathing in and out, trying to find her balance. [color=FFCDD2]“….I’ll get Clay to give you my number. I think I’d like to come here more often.”[/color]

The feeling of rejection sucked. The feeling of rejection from your dream girl double sucked. Even with the ache in her chest, Avery didn’t let the feeling take over her. She knew her chances were slim to none, more so because Jamie was married, and now her feelings were out in the open. Avery didn’t even know if Jamie was gay so really, that was a shot in the dark. There were two silver linings from this exchange, though. Jamie was okay with giving her number to her and she did that without Clay’s help and Jamie didn’t have to live a life full of regret, which was honestly worse than rejection. 

[color=fccb8e]“Hey,”[/color] Aves’ eyes softened, knowing well enough that she was the selfish one to impose herself on the other girl, having no idea what was waiting for her on the other side, [color=fccb8e]“No hard feelings. I expected this actually. I mean you’re gorgeous, Jamie, so I got carried away.”[/color] Avery ran her hand through her hair, calmly containing her emotions and seemingly unbothered by Jamie’s response, [color=fccb8e]“I’m always here if you need someone and I’ll know better not to tease you next time, okay?”[/color] Jamie O’Hara looked more practically perfect in every way to Avery. She was loyal, had a moral compass, and knew how to turn down a sexual advance, [color=fccb8e]“I’m just glad we finally talked,”[/color] a smile rose from the geek’s lips, not daring to breach Jamie’s space, refusing to make her feel uncomfortable again, [color=fccb8e]“Thanks for that.”[/color]

With her back to Avery, Jamie smiled again. Her words were sweet and the meaning behind them was so real. She bit the top of her thumbnail nervously before grabbing her hands together and moving them down to their front, more self-control. [color=FFCDD2]“I can see why he likes you,”[/color] She moved her body back to face the nerdy girl from the comic store and gave her a sweet and heartfelt smile. [color=FFCDD2]“Thank you, for this.”[/color] Jamie took a few steps forward and leaned in close. She pressed a soft, barely present kiss to Avery’s cheek before quickly making some strides back towards the door. [color=FFCDD2]“Til the next? I wanna hear all the stories.”[/color]

Unable to hide her dumbass emotions, Avery widely grinned. This was more than she expected from her first one on one encounter with Jamie. A kiss on the cheek? The fuck did she do to deserve that? Regardless of the logic, or lack of, behind the action, Avery boomed in excitement, [color=fccb8e]“Fuck yeah! Whenever you want. I’m down.”[/color]

[color=FFCDD2]“Ok then,”[/color] Jamie beamed excitedly, [color=FFCDD2]“Make sure they’re good ones! Clayton has hyped you up something good, don’t let the idiot down,”[/color] Jamie waved elegantly before exiting out of Swerve with a grin from ear to ear.

Are we all naught but stories after all?….

[color=fccb8e]“See ya, Poppins.”[/color] 
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