srenitys

[srenitys]

* SKYLAR

    skylar’s in the process of putting his hair up in a bun as serenity gives her (rather easy to follow) first instruction. he’s not nervous per say – learning a new skill is just always a bit daunting, he reasons. it’s a good thing james was able to handle the two older children because there’s almost no way that sky would’ve been able to get any learning of his own done while he was trying to keep a six and three year old from making an absolute mess in all of the varied tools and ingredients. nova in her little bouncy chair makes a fine assistant! skylar finishes washing up and then turns a few times in place in search of a towel. he holds dripping hands in front of him for a prolonged moment before finding what he’s looking for and crossing back towards serenity. “we’re starting off simple, right? i don’t need anything too complicated.”

“ yes, of course we’re starting off easy! the plan for today was to make some cupcakes. one of the easiest things to make. however, i figured i’d let you pick the flavor! ” serenity felt like most things were easy when it came to baking, but that was probably because she’d been doing it for years. for a beginner, though, cupcakes seemed like the best bet. “ we’ve got the basics-- vanilla, chocolate, red velvet. if neither of you has a peanut allergy we can do a peanut butter cupcake if that’s your cup of tea. OH! i’ve also got a fun s’mores cupcake that we could make! i’m telling you, when it comes to baking, the best thing you can do is experiment with different flavors. ”

[srenitys]

the apron had gotten dirtier far more quickly than he’d expected as he stood behind the bar, the sweet smell of maraschino cherries holding the white fabric captive. as he slung the next drink carefully two patrons down on the countertop, the light clink of his rings bounced off the whiskey glass and it startled him a bit, afraid he’d cracked it. relieved that he hadn’t, he then sighed and turned around, grabbing the ice bucket from underneath the bar and filling the metal bin once more. 

being good was boring. and dirty. the latter of which kenzo liked the least despite his morally filthy behavior. 

turning around to see a familiar face, he rolled his eyes as dramatically as possible and let a pout rest on his lips.

‘don’t. say. a bloody word,’ he warned, taking the spray for the club soda and aiming it at the glass. ‘i’m trying to behave. and i’m broke. this job’s … very, very temporary.’

serenity would definitely consider her and kenzo friends, even if he wouldn’t ay the same. they were roommates, they had to be! at least, that’s how serenity saw it. and that’s exactly why she was there-- to support her friend kenzo. however, he didn’t seem too happy to see her. “ what? i’m just here to see you! to check in! see how the job is going! besides, you were the one who turned down every offer i gave you to work at gooses! i just wanted to see what this place has that i don’t. ”

[srenitys]

* THEODORE

      before he even steps inside the bakery, he can smell the fresh sweet scent of well, heaven. it was something he loved about being around serenity, no matter what she did she always smelled sweet like her bakery. he isn’t surprised to see the shop packed, almost too full for him to scoot his way inside, but he manages, pulling the door shut to keep the cold out. it was a sunday after all, and while that didn’t mean much to him, he knew it was important to others for whatever reason. familiar faces from the apartments are moving swiftly behind the counter, trying to work their way through customers. theodore lingers near the back, waiting for the crowd to dwindle, only because he wants to actually see serenity, yet she’s nowhere in sight. didn’t seem right to stop by her bakery and not say hi. once the rush has slowed, he slips up to the counter, smiling at one of the workers, “hey, is serenity in today?? – was hopin’ she was working..” // @srenitys​

any time the bakery filled up, serenity couldn’t help but feel accomplished. something she had completely built from the ground up ( well... the business part of it, at least ) was actually doing well. people wanted to eat the things she made. on days it was busy, serenity tried her best to make her way around the small shop and get to know the customers to try and get them to come back. she knew nothing motivated more business than making a genuine connection with those who bought your product-- especially when you’re running a small business. however, on busy days she also had to spend more time in the back to keep up with the demand. nothing was worse than making people wait for things in the oven because she just couldn’t do anything about it. she was just pulling a batch of cookies out of the oven when adrian peeked his head into the kitchen to tell serenity that someone was asking for her specifically. she slipped her oven mitts off and wiped her hands on her apron as she made her way out to the main shop, suddenly grinning from ear to ear as her eyes landed on theo. “ hey! what brings you around here? ” she was just praying that she didn’t have any flour on her face.

[srenitys]

I stole your wine. Truce?

[srenitys]

* COLLIN

“I live just down the street.” He nodded, turning for a second as if to motion toward it. “And I work, at the bar just down the street. You should stop in sometime.” He hummed a bit, tearing a piece of the bag off and quickly scribbling his phone number. “Just….text me or something. I could take you to dinner or something.” 

“ right down the street, yeah, okay, ” she repeated as if making a mental note. “ i don’t live far from here either. ” more things for her to jot on her mental notepad. she reached out and grabbed the phone number, slipping it into one of the pockets in her apron. “ dinner-- that sounds nice. you can, uh, you can catch me up on all things collin. ”

[srenitys]

     “nothing makes you feel older than hating all these newfangled devices, right?” the thought is enough to make him laugh, dimples forming as his smile widens still. “i drop my damn phone all the time so my handy headphone cord has stopped that thing from smashing more times than i can even count.” a brow raises as he meets the woman’s gaze, lips pressing together for a brief moment. “ladies fourteen. they exist, trust. just fuckin’ expensive. you just have to know where to go, that’s all.” head leaning back the slightest amount, declan lets out another laugh, this one probably a little too loud for the supermarket but he doesn’t seem to care about making a scene. “i don’t want to stop you, don’t worry. i always accept gifts of gratitude. and fan mail.”

“ there’s just something so comforting in being able to keep track of your phone! that’s one of the things i miss about the headphone jack. with bluetooth you could literally just walk away from your phone and not realize it until you’re too far! ” serenity was pretty scatterbrained and she always had to check all her pockets and her bag before walking away from anywhere. “ really? ” serenity didn’t even know they made shoes in that size that weren’t custom made. however, her feet were pretty averaged size. “ yeah, they sound expensive. but i’m glad you’ve got options, i guess! ” she let out a laugh at his reassurance. “ okay, perfect. ‘cause i would hate for you to think i don’t appreciate it and you! ”

[srenitys]

LILY JAMES for The Telegraph, November 2016

[srenitys]

     declan stops in his tracks, turning slowly to face his friend and meet her gaze completely. “airpods, huh?” he mutters, brows knitting together before he shakes his head. “i can’t justify spending that much on something so small. it’s either airpods or a new pair of shoes and you bet your bottom dollar i’m going to invest in some size fourteens.” the words are said matter-of-factly as if his preference is obvious, which it definitely is. still, his lips curve into a grin as he glides in towards the other, dropping a hand gently onto her shoulder. “my company is free for you, girl. but if you want to pay me somehow, i’m not going to stop you.”

“ seriously! i swear, i’d just lose those things. they make perfectly usable bluetooth headphones at a much cheaper price. ” however, serenity had never been one to have lots of money. she was used to having to look for the cheaper options. it didn’t seem like declan could say the same. but luckily that never stopped the pair from getting along. “ fourteen, hm? do you have to get those specially made for ya? ” she couldn’t help but smile as his hand landed on her. she placed hers on top of it and nodded. “ as much as i appreciate the sentiment, there is absolutely no way i’m not showing my gratitude at least a little bit. you couldn’t stop me even if you wanted to. ”

[srenitys]

it was incredibly rare that serenity actually felt needed. all her life, she felt like she could easily be replaced by anyone no matter what. however, when skylar asked her specifically to teach him and possibly his children to bake she was absolutely over the moon. he could have asked anyone but he asked serenity. sure, it definitely helped that she had her own bakery that they could use but it didn’t dwindle the excitement. she welcomed him and nova in with open arms and even provided them with their own aprons ( which are incredibly hard to find for eight-month-old children ). as she pulled her hair into a ponytail she glanced at skylar and said “ the sink is over there, ” she told him with a gesture of her head. “ give your hands a good wash and we’ll get started. ” / @skvlcr

[srenitys]

* COLLIN

“I’m staying here.” He nodded. “You don’t have to forgive me now? But just know that I’ll be around when you’re ready. Some stupid stuff happened in the past. I did things that I’m not proud of. I’m sticking around this time.” He shrugged a bit. “I start classes next semester, I have friends here, someone I’m interested in seeing, no pressure from mom or dad. .. I’m sticking around, I promise.” 

as much as serenity wanted to believe the words that were coming out of collin’s mouth, it was hard for her to do so. he’d always promised he’d be around and then he disappeared-- so it wasn’t like he had the best track record with this promise. she sighed as she got a small bag and placed two peanut butter cookies inside. his favorite. “ well, i’ll be here. and so will paiton, so i guess i’ll probably see you every so often. ” serenity extended her arm out and offered him the bag of treats. “ mom would kill me if i didn’t feed you, so... ”

[srenitys]

“ there are so many different types of people in baltimore and i don’t fault people for not wanting to contribute to all the gas in the air but... geez i wish these kids on skateboards would be more mindful of where they’re going. ” this rant wasn’t random. in fact, on her way back home serenity almost got ran over by not one but three kids on skateboards who weren’t watching what they were doing. “ like, do whatever you want just keep your eyes forward instead of on your friends. ” / @jaxbyers

[srenitys]

     “they deserve it because they’re children,” he mutters dismissively, busying himself for a moment comparing two products. he’s reading the boxes, trying to figure out the difference, but ultimately tosses both of them into the cart because he really can’t be bothered with the details. “do i look like i’m made of money or something?” declan scoffs, raising a brow as he turns to look at her. “because that’s the look i’m going for. don’t worry—i got it covered, girl. this handsome body has also been blessed with a generous heart.”

serenity couldn’t help but laugh at his comment. he was right and she often wondered why they ever decided to hang out with the two of them. perhaps it was just the fact that they provided the snacks. “ you’re just missing-- what are they called? those wireless earbuds? AIRPODS! i think that would really give off the look of wealth. at least, that’s what my quick glances at twitter told me this holiday season. ” she didn’t really have much time to glance at social media since the bakery was especially busy around the holidays, but she didn’t miss out on everything. “ well i’ll consider myself blessed for having you on this shopping trip with me. and i’ll find a way to pay you back somehow. ” it would more than likely be some kind of thank you treat because that was her usual offer, so she was hoping he would be fine with that.

[srenitys]

     “only the best and most obscure, apparently,” he mutters, gaze dropping down to the list clear as day on his phone screen. “would it be horrible of us to just come back with a cart full of lunchables and nothing else? they’re not as good as they used to be but that was all i needed as a kid.” declan goes on with a wave of his hand, tossing things into the cart without bothering to check the price. “aren’t the better ones always more expensive? what does a couple of dollars matter in the long run if you treat yourself now, serenity? money isn’t even REAL, it’s fine.”

“ on some level, i feel like they deserve it for this ridiculous list alone. ” it would be funny to see the look on their faces when they were presented with lunchables instead of their highly specific food choices. serenity’s eyebrows raised slightly as he just kept dropping things into their shopping cart. “ never lived the most luxurious life. store brands work just fine for me. but hey, i’m not going to argue about treating myself. as long as you’re picking up the extra cost. ”

[srenitys]

* SAMI

“you didn’t have to BUY me anything.” sami is still shaking her head, before letting out a laugh. she playfully rolls her eyes, before holding the door open wider for serenity to enter. “of COURSE i would hate that. almost as much i would hate to say NO to you.” she nodded for serenity to follow her, already walking to the kitchen. “i’ll have some if you share them with me. with some wine? we always have some. it is the staple of inaya and i’s house, i think.” sami hummed, already reaching into her fridge. “i have sparkling, rosé, white, or a red in the cupboard? you can tell me all about how your week’s been so far.”

“ BOUGHT? no, these were all made with love from my own two hands! ” sami had been one of the kindest people serenity had met in her time at the apartments and she felt she deserved a nice surprise. the blonde followed behind her placing her hip against the counter as she watched sami open her fridge. “ hm, should we do rosé? seems like a fun way to end the week, right? especially when reminiscing over the good things that happened. almost like a celebration! ”

[srenitys]

* COLLIN

“Yea…I don’t know. I guess I’ll think about it.” He shrugged. Collin knew that calling Mom always wound up in talking to Dad. Ever since he came out, Collin never fully trusted his mother. She didn’t have to tell Dad about his sexuality. But she did, and it ruined a lot. “I just..yea there was that girl, at the time. Things happened quick. I was in love with her-” He stopped himself. “I could give you excuses all day, just please know that I’m sorry. I still love you more than I could ever put into words. And I’d love if I could fix all of it?” 

“ young love or whatever-- yeah, i get it. ” serenity had never been in a similar situation, but she’d like to believe she wouldn’t abandon her family for a lover. she sighed as she looked around the bakery, which seemed to be getting smaller and smaller by the second. “ i don’t know, collin. ” she’d confided in him long ago and told him that she wasn’t sure she’d ever get over her biological mom abandoning her. and he went and did the exact same thing. “ you’ve been gone a long time. ” there was nothing she wanted more than to reconnect with her brother, but what would stop him from running off again?

[srenitys]

* COLLIN

Collin smiled awkwardly, putting the cups down on the counter. “I haven’t talked to anyone from back home. I just.. I don’t know how. Dad’s still…Dad.” He shrugged. “I didn’t know you were in the area. I…well I just got here not too long ago myself. Just before Christmas.” 

“ you should call mom. she’s been worried about you. ” serenity knew collin and their dad didn’t get along. actually, that was an understatement. she knew just how bad their dad was to collin. he wasn’t that great to her, either. he was always putting higher expectations on her and claiming her to be his favorite just to get back at collin. that was why she never expressed her own bisexuality with her family. she’d rather keep a small secret than have no family at all. but she didn’t understand how collin could leave their mother hanging. while serenity had a great relationship with their mother-- his mother-- it didn’t compare to what she had with collin. it made sense, though. collin was the one she experienced pregnancy with. the bond between a mother and child during pregnancy was one that was seemingly unbreakable. at least it was for those two. she couldn’t say the same about her and her birth mom. “ yeah, uh, i moved here right before you left. i was going to invite you but clearly, that wasn’t an option. ”

[srenitys]

“ c’mon sami, i won’t take no for an answer! just take the box. ” it was a box of assorted desserts to show serenity’s appreciation for sami’s friendship. “ look, if you don’t take it, it’ll just go to waste! wouldn’t you hate that? you can even share some with your friends! you’ve just gotta have some. whaddya say? ” / @lazharis