daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

"Well, sometimes that's a good thing." she shrugged, taking a moment to slowly extend her hand, fixing the sleeve against the other's shoulder as her abuela once would've done for her. A habit she needed to break; one day someone wasn't going to take kindly to her need to keep them properly dressed and presentable. Placing her hands back at her sides she offered the other a smile before nodding. "If I can, sure." she admitted. "I'm not too scared to take on some creepy guy in an ally if it means saving another female." she shrugged. "I'm sure he wasn't going to do anything, but, you can never be too sure, so." a shrug. "Anyways, I'm Dalia." she stated, extending her hand. "Maybe we can not be strangers anymore." @danaxallenlopez

As a woman came to a stop beside her, Dana froze momentarily. Her eyes darted between the stranger that was now retreating in the opposite direction and the woman who had appeared next to her like she came from thin air. "Oh, yeah," she let out a surprised laugh, "yeah, I'm alright," she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, still caught off guard by the whole thing. "Thank you," she said, looking out in the direction the stranger had walked, "I didn't even realize how weird he was being until you showed up, admittedly." Dana said, shaking her head, "Do you always jump in and save random strangers?" @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

"Who doesn't have a rough patch ever now and then?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow as if to prove her point. She'd have classified the last few years of her life as a 'rough patch' if you asked her. Though she wasn't one to dwell on herself or her hardships; that was precisely why she'd moved here to begin with. Or well, part of it. The rest of it was still being discovered. It was only at his mention of a haircut that she shook her head, offering him a smile. "You know I kind of always had a thing for longer hair." she laughed. "It look good, I think. If that means anything to you at all." @tylerxday

He smiled at her for a moment. "Please, it's true," he grinned at her as he thought it was true. "It is nice for sure," he had not really left over the years. Maybe a few weeks, but never fully moved away. He smiled at her, "Getting better.. I had a bit of a rough patch." he looked away at the thought of what had happened. "But doing better again," he smiled at her. "But please, I know I need a haircut," he laughed. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @felicityxnovak

"Wait but that was so beautifully written." Dalia stated, hands clapping as she looked back at the other, a small smile on her face once she'd made her way back to the table. "Was it inspired by anything specific?" the question lingered as she lifted her glass, sipping the water she'd been saving most of the night. "I think I tell you this every time we meet out here for this reel and quill or whatever it's called; your words are so beautifully spoken." There was a sense of it that Dalia felt she could relate to, somehow.

[daliamdelgado]

[daliamdelgado]

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @danaxallenlopez

"Hey!" Dalia screamed, running as quickly as her sandals would allow her until she was now standing next to the other. She wasn't sure if the person with her was actually with her but she'd though they looked kind of suspicious, and Dalia was a girl's girl through and through. No way someone was going to attempt anything with her around. "Leave her alone she's just trying to go -" she paused. "Well, wherever she wants to go!" she stated, hand shooing the other person away. "You alright?" she asked, looking at Dana. "I don't know if you know this person but they looked eerily like they were trying to plot something terrible. We can't have that happen now can we?"

[daliamdelgado]

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @amayahxfontenelle

"You've got to be kidding me!" Dalia groaned, feet trying to move out of the way of the sidewalk she was walking on. She should've known better than to wear heels on the cobblestone sidewalk. Especially heels that had traveled with her to New Mexico and back. The heel of the shoe had snapped about five steps ago, and here she was hobbling along trying to hop on one foot. She hadn't expected how hard that would be though. "I just need to get to the end of this sidewalk, I can do it." she encouraged, trying her best to make it without bumping into anyone, or most importantly tripping.

[daliamdelgado]

Letting her smile grow wider when he stated she was the one full of smiles. "Oh please." she playfully rolled her eyes. "I forgot how good it was to be here is all." she exhaled. Though the move here hadn't been easy, it had certainly helped with her mental state and how she'd felt just a few months ago. Sure, there was a lot of baggage and confusion that had come along with it, but, Kismet Harbor was proving to be the place for her in the long run. "How've you been?" she asked, sitting up a little straighter, almost as if her way of inviting him to stay. "You look great. In case that wasn't obvious before." @tylerxday

Tyler had been doing his best to get around and get out more. He had put himself into his work for so long that he knew he had to do something more. So today he was out and about and didn't expect to run into someone from his past. "Dalia..." he smiled as he saw who had called his name. She was the good part of his past, another he had messed up because of his own mistake. that she was one he hurt from his thinking his past was going to his future, and at the end, it wasn't true. Hearing what she said, he laughed, "I think you only think that," he joked. He did try to be a happy person and smile. He was pretty good at putting on a smile even if he wasn't feeling it. "But stop it is all you with the smiles around here" he said with a grin. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

Nodding along as the other spoke, Dalia exhaled. "Yeah, staying calm has never been my strongest attribute." she laughed, though looked down at the water. It definitely wasn't what she wanted to be doing, but at this point it was really her only option. And taking turns would definitely take longer but, it made the most sense so that someone was resting at all times. It was the only logical thing they could do. "Okay." she exhaled. "I'll go first. One I'm tired I'll join you in the boat and we can switch, but I'm praying someone finds us sooner than that." @islaricci

THE END

Isla nodded slowly, trying to steady her rising anxiety. “Yeah, it’s not exactly ideal, but you’re right—taking turns pushing might be our best shot.” She forced a small, encouraging smile. “And if we stay calm and keep shouting every now and then, hopefully someone will hear us.” She glanced out toward the horizon, then back at Dalia. “I’ll go first, no worries. We just have to stick together and keep trying. I know it’s scary, but we’ll figure this out.” Her voice was steady despite the fear lurking beneath—she wasn’t about to let panic win. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

"I can't say I disagree with you there." she stated, eyes focusing on the other as she spoke. "I try to tell anyone I run into here that that will be their best option, but, there's always that one person that gets offended by your trying to be helpful." she sighed, shaking her head. "So thank you for actually listening. Even if you'd have let me get my whole spiel out just to reject me I think that's better than cutting me off before you even listen to me." she admitted, eyes shinning brighter as her smile grew. "I'm not usually one that day drinks myself, but, I never turn down the opportunity for a mimosa." she laughed. Raising her own cup to toast the other, she laughed as the others words encapsolated the moment perfectly. "Oh I like you!" she laughed, sipping her drink after. "I can already tell you're so fun. Are you a Kismet native or new to town like me?" @paloma-flores

Paloma blinked at the offering like it was a holy relic. “You’re an angel,” she said, taking the container with a kind of reverent gratitude, then glancing down at her drink like it had personally wronged her. “I swear, if more people carried emergency straws like you, the world would be a brighter place.”

She slid the container into her own bag without hesitation. “I mean, I wasn’t planning on day-drinking this week, but for this? Mimosas are the least I can do. You just saved a woman from another mouthful of eco-mush.” Paloma tilted her cup toward Dalia like a toast. “To warm drinks and silicone salvation.”

[daliamdelgado]

THE END

"Ah, yeah that makes sense." Dalia nodded, her own phone still plastered in her hand like it had been since she walked in here herself. "You have to find that right playlist, let it all really get you pumped." she stated, though she listened, her voice trailing off at the end when the other paused, moving towards the locker closest to her where she inevitably found her missing bag based on the noise she made. "Well look at that, you found it!" she smiled, clapping her hands together excitedly, similarly to if the other had just won a marathon or something. "Not that I did much but, I'm glad I could help."

[daliamdelgado]

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @tylerxday

"Tyler Day?" The question seemed to linger for longer than she'd originally planned, but, despite the fact that she'd met him here, there was a small part of Dalia that hadn't expected to run into her ex boyfriend. The break up hadn't been easy; Dalia had really cared for the male and had found herself losing a small piece of herself in the process, but, one thing she was thankful for is what she'd learned from that. Not to mention the amount of time she'd been able to spend with her abuela, a sure reason to be thankful for the break up in itself. However, she'd been back in Kismet for a couple of months at this point and this was the first time she'd ran into him, surprisingly. She was beginning to wonder if he'd move somewhere better suited for his dreams in marine biology. She wouldn't have put it past him. "I see you're still feeling the streets with that smile of yours." Maybe that was too bold; Dalia didn't know if she minded.

[daliamdelgado]

The other's disgust for paper straws was something Dalia relate with; it was primarily why she'd tried to steer away from cold drinks there. That was one reason why the rose cardamom chai that she'd grown obsessed with was her favorite - she ordered it warm. It always hit the spot and she didn't have to deal with the dreaded paper straw that they'd switched to; that was a plus in her book. A dramatic eyeroll that mimicked the other's statement was all that Dalia muttered at first; but she nodded as she looked at her. "I know." She exhaled. "I don't have to worry about the paper straws much anymore and I don't have an issue with saving the turtles." In fact she was for it; marine biology had nearly been her major in college after all. "But those paper straws are just enough to make a person angry." she stated, a sip of her warmed drink hitting her lips before she held up a finger, picking up her overly large bag and digging for something.

"Here." she stated, handing the other a plastic container with a silicone reusable straw inside. "I bought this at a boutique after I moved here and I've never used it; actually just switched to warm drinks here instead. So far this is the only place I've ran into that has paper straws but, in the off chance there's more I'll buy another." she shrugged. "Take that. You can thank me with mimosas or something." @paloma-flores

who: paloma & OPEN (cap at 4) where: the coffee carousel

“Listen,” Paloma said, yanking the straw out of her iced espresso with a dramatic flourish, “I’m all for saving the turtles. Mother Gaia or whatever. However,” she held the limp paper straw up between two fingers like it personally offended her, “I’m getting real sick of these flaccid-ass paper straws. Couldn’t kill a turtle with this if you tried. Which I guess is the point, but the turtles aren’t the ones paying six dollars for a latte. You’d think they’d splurge on something that doesn’t dissolve in your mouth.”

She dropped the straw with a sigh, then turned toward the person at the next table. “You know what I miss? The reckless joy of a plastic straw and zero guilt. Simpler times.” She took a sip straight from the cup. “Anyway, if I go down for an environmental crime, tell everyone I was charming and misunderstood, would you?”

[daliamdelgado]

"She did." she nodded, the smile on her lips growing as she thought about all the things she'd learned from her, flowers included. "I like to think she'd be proud; at least I got to put the skills to use a little before she got to sick to enjoy it." she stated, eyes focusing on their surroundings when the other said she loved it when the things from your past stuck with you; sometimes it helped ground you in a sense. "I'm glad someone else has the same outlook I do." she smiled. "Hobbies are meant to be fun; I think once it becomes a chore that's when they consider it work." @julietaxalvarez

THE END

"Sounds like your abuela has good taste," she said as she studied the younger woman for a moment. "I've always enjoyed when something sticks with you from your past." Julieta commented, almost reminiscing on the past herself. "I don't think it matters if you are the best at something you enjoy doing," especially considering it sounded like a hobby. "Not everyone takes the time or care to nurture their hobbies anymore." @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

She should've considered the other would hold a special place in her life when she realized how easily she'd been able to talk to him. Granted, Dalia was a people person through and through and her abuela used to tell her that she could have a conversation with a wall if she needed to, however, something about this felt natural. As if she were talking to someone she'd known her entire life. So when the realization of who he was hit her and she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe it all made sense.

His words of confirmation upon seeing the photo made her nod, eyes looking up at him as she felt her nerves begin to get the best of her. Her mouth was dry, and she felt unable to speak but she muttered the courage, clearing her throat. "That lady is also my mother." she stated, feeling his words resonate with her in a new way as her mother had done the same to her; and then her dad had left her with his own mother. Clearly a family pattern. "I found it in some photos at my Abuela's house; but I uh-" a pause. "I think that makes us siblings." @mateoxtorres

THE END

"I did, yeah." He hadn't often thought of it that way, but he did his best to be grateful for the life that he had. It was better than it would have been if he didn't get the help that he did. "Thanks," he said, a twitch of a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. He enjoyed the usual conversation, getting to know new patrons of the bar. But he immediately noted the shift in her energy after confirming his name. It had been sharp, sudden and he could tell that she was gripping the bar like it might be the last solid item in the room. "Sure," he gave a nod of his head, not holding her up with questions.

Mateo idly cleaned until she made a return. A moment's worth of concern flickered across his face before she handed him the photograph. Taking it from her, the man froze as his eyes scanned it. "Where'd you get this?" He question, though it wasn't accusatory. In fact, his voice was still soft. "That's my mother." The woman that had left him with a man that didn't give two shits about him. "And me." He then lifted his gaze to the other. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

"I certainly hope someone would come looking for us.." she muttered under her breathe, realizing that she didn't really have many people in town. Her cousin and her recently found half brother, but, she wasn't sure that her relationship with either of them was good enough to warrant a search party. Maybe they'd have luck with the other's fiance' though, surely. She exhaled as she looked up, only returning her attention to the other once she spoke. "I mean it's not my favorite idea but it may be all we've got." she exhaled. "I can go first if you think that plan is all we've got as well." @islaricci

Isla could feel the panic within her starting to grow as she shuffled through her own bag. A water bottle, her wallet and her makeup bag. "Great--" she muttered to herself, before she exhaled a deep sigh and looked back at Dalia. "I mean, we could try?" She agreed, "But I also know that if my fiance doesn't hear from me in a while, he'll start to worry.." Especially with how communicative she usually was in the day and that she'd said she was going out to the sea with a friend. He was bound to miss her eventually, right? "Oh!" She said as if she'd just gotten an idea. "I guess maybe we could like.. Take turns getting into the water and try push the boat towards land.." She said though as she said it out loud she could hear how stupid it sounded so she slowly fell silent. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

"You've been here longer than me." she stated with a shrug, offering him a small smile. While the events in her life to get her here hadn't exactly been ideal, she was starting to grow quite fond of the town she called home. It was cutesy in it's own way, something that she'd read in a small town romance novel or watch on a rom-com. Just the type of place Dalia wanted to be. Though she listened as her cousin stated he thought he classes were good here and she nodded. "That's reassuring. I know you put your heart and soul into them." she admitted; it was truly no secret. "I wish I understood but I really don't." she sighed. "It's exhausting to try to figure out. But no, instead of teaching kids how to change their own oil in their car as a basic class, they have to spend years learning what the letter x equals instead."

THE END

He smirked at her, "I mean, I have not been here that long yet, too..." but he did have high hopes that the school here was better. "I know my classes cost a lot, but I don't think they will drop them here..." just may not give them the best funding. Why would the fundraiser have to do that each year, and maybe another one during the summer? "Right? Like, I hate that so many schools drop classes that are like life skills. That many schools don't even have cooking and classes that have sewing, and basic life skills anymore. "I don't understand why they think all the wild ass math classes matter more and that you need like 4 years of PE but a life skills class no?" he got pe was good for fitness but that you had to do was almost strange to him. @daliamdelgado

[daliamdelgado]

THE END

"I would never. There's nothing I hate more than having anything spoiled for me but especially a good book." Dalia admitted, eyes focused on the other as she shook her head, crossing her heart as if to promise a moment later. "You have my word, that's all you get but you will need a bit to recover." she stated. "You'll have to let me know if you do, though, I need all the details." she smiled, nodding at the other as she spoke. "I'll be sure to check that out because mystery's have been peaking my interest a ton recently." she nodded. "Dalia." she smiled, extending her hand. "It's wonderful to meet you Beatriz. I think we just became best friends." she laughed. @beatrizxsouza