strangetrip | [EP] Maria and Brad

Maria decided to take a page out of Liz's book and waitress. She enjoyed the casual attire and lack of uniform. She liked she could make her own hours. She liked that she could take breaks whenever she wanted. If only real life could be like this.

She was still learning the ropes of the Madonna Inn. She knew her way around now, but the quirks of each person was still a mystery to her. Her fashion remained the same which was the 90s with hints of hippie inspiration from her mother. Today Maria wore jeans and a tank top. She brought an order out and placed it on the table. "Here you go. Hot out of the oven."

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Brad was also at the restaurant. He was working on some writing he had started when he first got here. What was first letters to his mom and brother were now stories of the Inn. The creative writing class had always been one of Bradley's favorite classes. He found writing about the Inn and the events that transpired calming in an otherwise nerve-wracking place. As he went to write on the next piece of paper, one of his full ones flew off the table and drifted away. On that paper was the beginning of the retelling of the attack on the Inn.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah.. I mean, sometimes it feels like I need to remind him of that, but sometimes he gets it right." She said. "He's not really good with people in general so he sucks even more sometimes at being a boyfriend."

Maria still couldn't distance herself from Michael enough to not be with him. She was always pulled toward him.

"I don't have a lot of experience." Jane admitted. "I have some memories but most of what I go on is what I have at the inn." She paused, "and gut instinct or maybe it's just reflex memories. Either way, I probably suck at being in a relationship much more than your Michael."

"Wow.. well, I hope that's not true." She replied with a smile. Michael needs a lot of help in that area

"But Liz is here," she continued. "And that's all that really matters. I mean, yeah, I kind of wish my mom was here and whatever, but right now I just keep thinking of this place like a really long sleep over.... helps me not freak out."

"I think a lot of people think of this place like that, or one long vacation." Jane was probably the only one at the Inn that kind of hoped it didn't end. "It gets easier to settle and this feels like routine rather than something weird."

"I hope so." She said honestly. "I keep worrying I'm going to run out of lavender to de-stress me. Though the garden seems to have a lot, so that's good. But winter's coming, so I should probably start to horde it now."

"Lavender works on stress?" That was something Jane didn't know. "The spa might have some lavender stuff, too if you want to check there." She mostly used the spa's steam room, when she did go there.

"Oh yeah. Not only that, but depression, insomnia, and even helps with hair loss." Maria said confidently. "You'd be surprised what a lot of natural stuff does. Lavender's one of my go-tos, though. So I'll have to check the spa out... is there anyone who runs it?"

Jane had to think because there had been a couple of 'owners'. If she remembered, Stephanie was here and she still ran it. "Yep, her name is Stephanie." She then added, "but be careful, she gives really hard massages. They feel great, but she digs in."

"Noted." She said with a grin. "To be honest I've had like two massages and one was from a boy who totally was trying to get to first base with me, so anything is better than that."

Maria laughed.

Jane joined her in the laughter. "It is an effective way to get a girl to relax and it can be sexy if done well. To be honest, I use the sauna after a workout a lot more than the massage table."

"If done well" for sure.

"Okay. Well, I'll have to give it a try." She said with a smile. "Not that it probably matters, but I'll even say you recommended me."

Jane laughed, "maybe I'll get a discount for referring you." Which of course meant nothing since there was always no cost.

[[haha, I love that line! Fade there?]]

[[Hee. Fade!]]

[EP] Maria and Brad - OTA

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