Who: Lydia Martin and Allison Argent What: Shopping When: Tuesday afternoon Where: Downtown Warnings: None Status: Closed/Complete gdoc
Things were pretty quiet in Lydia’s life these days and she really didn’t have it in her to complain about it. Sure, quiet would have kept her mind occupied well away from things she didn’t want it to be occupied with but she was pouring herself into work and classes starting up again and between all of that she didn’t have much free time to spend dwelling anyway.
The little she did have was obviously going to be spent with her best friend. If anything was great about things being quiet, it was that they could just be girls the way they’d been back when they’d first met. Lydia didn’t have to be the banshee, she could even tune out the constant noise completely, and Allison didn’t have to be the dead werewolf hunter. Sure there were things a part of being those that made them who they were, but they could just be them. They could just be friends. Which, for Lydia, meant shopping.
She’d dragged Allison out for the afternoon while they both had some free time and though there wasn’t really much to look at in Madison Valley, something the place could definitely improve upon but after this long Lydia would be surprised if it did, made her get a coffee and browse through rack after rack of clothes.
“I don’t even know what I’m looking for,” she admitted after about the sixth one in their third shop. “Nothing around here just jumps out at you, does it?”
***
“Not really. Madison Valley doesn’t exactly compare to Europe,” Allison pointed out as she thought back to the cruise. Now that had been fun when it came to shopping. She finally felt like she was settled into her place here; she had her friends, her dad, and a hot boyfriend who was head over heels in love with her, she was pretty sure. Sure, there had been dangerous things that happened, like the hunter and the demons last year, but overall? Allison was happy.
Stepping over to Lydia, she slipped her arm through the redhead’s and grinned. “Let’s get out of here and grab something to eat. Maybe we’ll get inspired? We haven’t gone to Stature yet, you know.”
***
“I have incredibly low expectations for it,” Lydia said, allowing herself to be led out of the store that wasn't working for either of them anyway. Which was probably fine, it wasn’t like her closet wasn’t already bursting, between clothes she’d bought over the years here and the stuff that just randomly showed up, and it wasn’t like the whole purpose of hanging out wasn’t actually just to be with her friend.
It didn’t matter what they were doing, so food sounded like a good option.
“Have you seen how people around here dress? Fashion isn’t really front and center in their taste.” She just assumed that the newer store followed a sensible business plan and catered to that.
***
“Yeah, but it was started by Kate, from my archery group. I bet she’s got some fantastic pieces there,” Allison pointed out with a smile. “Even you might find something you like. But first, where should we eat? Do we want sandwiches, burgers, milkshakes…” Personally, the brunette leaned towards the last.
Because who said a milkshake couldn’t be a meal, if done right?
***
Luckily for Allison, Lydia new her best friend well enough that she started leading them right toward the creamery without a thought. “I know exactly the place.” She could definitely go for something cool anyway; it was still summer and still hot enough to be a little uncomfortable even if the heat in Indiana was different than that of home. “I’m feeling something summery.”
“You know, though, maybe we should take advantage of being able to leave for a little while some time.” She hadn’t tried the transporter thing, wasn’t sure that she trusted it, but if Allison was with her what did she have to lose? Not a lot. “I’m thinking the second we get sick of fall.”
Which was coming sooner rather than later, for sure.
***
“You always do,” she replied as she gave her friend a grin. “And that would be cool. Since I decided to take some time before starting college, my fall is pretty wide open. No real big events or anything - but I should probably check with Chris and make sure there aren’t any birthdays I should be here for.” Her face softened a bit as she mentioned her boyfriend, before focusing on Lydia again.
“Where would you want to go if we did go somewhere?”
***
“I’m not sure. Beaches are a must.” Which were a lot of the options as far as she was aware. If Madison Valley did anything right it was giving them beach access these days. It hadn’t always been so. “An actual city for sure. There’s only so much small town a girl can tolerate after...three years?”
It had probably been about that long for her. She wasn’t counting or anything.
“It might actually be more than that. It’s seriously a miracle I haven’t gone completely nuts.” It helped that the supernatural here wasn’t the sort that pulled her out of herself as often as in Beacon Hills.
***
“Definitely. Aside from the cruise, we haven’t really done that in a while. And I’m not sure it counts since we were living on the ocean at the time,” Allison mused, then smiled over at Lydia.
“You? Go nuts? Never going to happen. Anyway, have you been seeing anyone lately?” Her eyebrows lifted in question as she grinned, happy to dish about guys - or anything else Lydia might want to talk about.
***
It definitely didn’t count and if it did, it didn’t matter. Beaches were one of the better options for get-aways.
She hesitated a moment before answering her friend’s question, and when she did, it was in such a way that was definitely not the whole truth. It was complicated and very uncomplicated at the same time and it wasn’t something Lydia really wanted in her life so she was trying to push it away. “I think I’ve slept around with everyone I possibly can at this point and none of them are boyfriend material. So no. Not really. I’m pretty destined to just be single at this rate.”
Which was not at all ideal.
***
“I doubt that,” Allison replied. She would have said it even if she didn’t know Lydia well, but in this case it was more than girlfriend solidarity. Allison didn’t think Lydia would spend her life alone, and after a moment, she looked over at her slyly.
“You should sign up for speed dating. And if you don’t, I’m signing you up. No sleeping with anyone, just talk to some people, see if you click with someone.”
***
It was probably a little fatalistic to say that being single would last forever, especially knowing that a lot of it had to do with resisting the idea of actually finding someone with all her memories here, the things that hurt and the things that continued to confuse her now. But Lydia really wasn’t expecting to find another forever in Madison Valley, didn’t think she was going to meet her future husband here or anything like that. She was resigned to that.
“You know that makes it sound like I can’t pick someone up on my own,” she pointed out, no heat in it, not really minding only because she knew that Allison, and only Allison, was always going to be looking out for her friend’s best interests. She was the only one Lydia could trust not to push her into something if she really didn’t want to do it.
***
“I know you can, but why not take a little help while it’s being offered?” She smiled at Lydia as they reached the creamery. “Just think about it, and if you really don’t feel like doing it, let me know. Otherwise I’ll sign you up, okay?”
Pulling open the door, Allison gestured for Lydia to walk in first. Milkshakes and shopping would help her friend feel a little better, she hoped.
***
“I’ll think about it,” Lydia promised, only because it was Allison asking. She really wasn’t interested and the dating pool in Madison Valley was shallow at the best of times. But it couldn’t hurt. Even if it speed dating.
There had to be a better way to get singles together.