WHO: Lauren Foxhill and Eva Marple WHEN: May 8, evening WHERE: The Bellowes Inn SUMMARY: Two locals make small talk over ice cream cones WARNINGS: none
Night walks had become Lauren’s thing - it was great to take an hour or so every night and wander the streets she was raised on, see the (few) sights, roll her eyes at the *other* tourists and generally unwind after whatever she had to deal with that day. She had grown accustomed, as well, to a familiar face and a smile as she returned through the halls and back to her room every night. This time she stopped at the front desk, brandishing a pair of ice cream cones and a smile. “So, I just happened by Silver Spoon before it closed, and figured everyone likes Superman-flavored, right?”
Eva smiled automatically when she saw a guest coming in the door, but it turned into a full-on grin when she realized that one of those ice cream cones was for her. Chatting with the guests at odd moments was usually one of the most interesting parts of her job, but she didn’t usually get dessert out of it.
“Tastes like summer!” she replied cheerily. “I love Silver Spoon. My dad used to take me there all the time when I was little.”
“Mine did too.” The words were soft as she thought back on the memories of summers past, the better times she hadn't known she was in before they passed. A lick of her ice cream returned the smile to her face, one elbow resting on the counter between the women. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lauren. I hope everyone’s been respectful… But I know California isn’t exactly known for their manners.” A shoulder shrug followed with an apologetic smile.
“Hi Lauren, I’m Eva! At your service.” This was punctuated with a cheesy grin, because if Lauren was the kind of person to bring an ice cream cone to an inn employee, she was probably the kind of person to appreciate them having a sense of humor and not acting like a mostly invisible servant.
“I don’t think you need to feel responsible for anyone’s attitude but your own. And you brought me ice cream, so just between you and me, I’d say you’re killing it in terms of treating the locals right.” And then Lauren’s words from earlier fully sank in. “Wait, you’ve been to Fall City before?”
A bright laugh came with a nod for a moment before she thought it over, her expression becoming one of inquisition. “Eva Marple? Camila’s sister?” Well, this was an exciting finding. “She was my roommate for a spell out in LA - she’s wonderful!”
Her ice cream was nearly demolished as she listened, flashing another now-rainbow smile at the compliment. “Thank you, but apologies are not unwarranted in this case. I’m sure you have your fair share of shitty people to deal with without this influx of entitled assholes is all. I was born and raised here, right over in Cedarwood. Moved away,” she paused to think for a moment, “16 years ago? This is my first visit since. Out of all the places work has taken me, I never dreamed it would bring me home.”
“Yeah, I’m Camila’s sister. We’re so happy to have her home for this production!” It was incredibly sugarcoated considering Eva still harbored some hurt feelings about Camila’s move, and the “we” definitely didn’t include Julián or Sofia, but whatever -- she was at work, and she had to keep it positive.
“That’s so cool that you’re from Fall City!” Eva was genuinely warming up to this girl who apparently was local and unafraid to call her coworkers entitled assholes. “Is it weird being back?” Sixteen years was a long time.
“I was gonna make a comment that you looked a little like her, but I didn’t want to sound like a creep if I was off.” Another shake of her head came with a laugh. “Small town life, huh? Everybody knows everybody - even if we end up meeting ‘em in another state!”
Lauren had a truthful answer to Eva’s question but forced herself to pause and bury it away for now, giving a slow nod instead. “It’s crazy to see it this way. I wasn’t surprised that nothing has changed - all these people around has got to be the weirdest, though. And I say that as one of them!” She paused to take the last bite of her cone, licking her fingertips as her eyes glanced around the Inn. “It’s really weird. I’m a tourist in my own home town. Have you lived here your whole life?”
“Yeah, I left for college, but I came back after graduation. I just like it here. I can’t really imagine living anywhere else.” Eva felt the tiniest bit defensive knowing that Lauren, like Camila, had gotten out of Fall City -- as if it were something to escape from, and anyone who stayed did so because they couldn’t leave.
Lauren leaned closer over the counter to listen as her new friend spoke. She had never dreamed of leaving, either, until her car was packed and she was passing state lines. “Where did you go to college? I don’t blame you for coming back. This is a great town.” And it was. A softness shone through her words she typically didn’t show - this was the life she should have had.
Eva felt better when Lauren called Fall City a great town. “I went to UC Berkeley for a year before I transferred to UW. I didn’t like California as much as Camila does.”
“Berkley is incredibly prestigious, good for you!” That would have been a better resume than some of her coworkers, yet here she was working night shifts at an inn. Hmm. “I don’t blame you - it’s almost a different world than here. But at least you tried it to find out. Better to know than not.”
“What’s your part in the film? Are you an actress?” Asking people questions about themselves was always a good way to change the subject. And besides, Eva was actually curious. She took another bite of her ice cream, nearly down to the cone now.
Eva’s question shouldn’t have caught her off guard but that’s exactly what happened. She had evaded most questions until now - it was direct and polite and there was no way to dodge it and Lauren had to face the music and own up to a career she was proud of - up until she arrived in town. “I’m the Executive Assistant Director. Basically Cecelia’s lackey,” she laughed at her own statement with a shoulder shrug. No big deal.
Though Lauren seemed nonchalant about her job title, Eva thought it sounded impressive. “I mean, I don’t actually know anything about films, but Executive Assistant Director sounds pretty important. Like, just a step down from actual Director. Am I wrong?” In any case, being Cecelia’s assistant seemed like a completely different beast than Camila’s job as Moira’s assistant.
“Not necessarily. All of the responsibilities, none of the respect is more like it.” There was a hint of teasing, of course, but that was hopefully her segway out of that conversation. “No offense intended, but I’m honestly trying to keep my head down around here.” Leaning in a little closer, her voice dropped to carry solely between them. “If word gets around that I’m a native, it’s going to create some issues I’d like to avoid in my position. I’d really appreciate your discretion on the topic, not that I see it becoming an issue.” She straightened back up and broke through her serious demeanor with a crack of a smile. “Or, so I hope.”
Eva automatically leaned in to mirror Lauren. She enjoyed the conspiratorial air their conversation had taken, but the whole thing seemed a bit silly to her. Not much stayed secret in Fall City, not for long. Still, she reassured Lauren, “My lips are sealed.”