Fairly Local

[Emmett Coupland]

Living above a garage had its perks; the biggest of which meant that Emmett lived conveniently downtown. Getting anywhere important in Pilot Ridge was quite easy for her. Any night out, and she didn't have to worry of driving back home, because she was usually already within walking distance. This also meant her fridge was constantly empty of anything significant. Being so close to a grocery store meant she could - in theory - buy whatever she needed in an instant. Fresher food, even.

Because the mechanic was sure that the can of Spaghetti O's was freshly replaced from the one sitting there last week. Or the box of microwave popcorn. At least she could say the bread was fresh. Right? She looked down to the packaged loaf in her hand, giving it a light squeeze. Still fluffy.

Wandering through the isles, Emmett picked up various items. Anything that looked potentially good to throw together for a meal. A bachelorette lifestyle, surely, but that didn't make it a bad lifestyle.

Checking out fairly quickly, fingers curled around the canvas shopping bags her mother had forced on her. There were plenty of secondary uses for plastic, but Mrs. Coupland refused to hear it, speaking in the name of mother earth.

As Emmett stepped out of the store, a wave of warm, Spring air hit her with a deep inhale. Although there were already people complaining about the heat, after this past winter, she was thankful for it as she enjoyed the walk back to her garage. Yet something caught her eye before she got far, and swinting through her shades, she was sure she was seeing the person across the street correctly.

Quickly, Emmett hopped off the sidewalk and headed right towards him. "Holy shit," she called out, grin spreading throughout her features. "Isn't it James fucking Lawrence!"

[James Lawrence]

The downtown core of Pilot Ridge wasn't too far of a walk from James' apartment. It wasn't close, but the distance was manageable. Besides, he needed a break from the routine his life had fallen into; of spending all his time at the school or at his apartment. And while a part of him felt miserable, he couldn't find it in him to change. To put the necessary effort into doing something else. Today, James finally had enough. In the spur of the moment, he decided to walk downtown.

Fresh air worked wonders to clear up the space in his head. To clear up thoughts that occupied every corner. There was no goal in mind, no plans with the rest of his day. Just walking. Right now, James had stopped on the sidewalk some distance away from the crowd, a half burnt through cigarette between his fingers. He hadn't been paying attention to the people around him; maybe then James would have noticed her. It wasn't until a familiar voice cut through the air, calling him out by name, that James lifted his gaze, a slow grin crossing his own features with recognition.

"Well damn Coup," He greeted in return, dropping the remains of his cigarette on the pavement to stomp out. "It's been awhile." A long while, actually.

[Emmett Coupland]

As Emmett walked, she shifted the two bags she held into one hand, the other lifting up to greet her former roommate with her palm in the air. Once she reached him, it swung down to give him a light hit on the arm. Admittedly, she had missed that grin that only James could seem to pull off so well.

"It has been." She agreed on a nod. What? Eight years or something like that since he left Hammel and moved to New York? She knew the man had big plans, and she always had an ear out for him in case some day he made it. Almost a decade and she had yet to hear his voice over the radio. "You were never one to call girls back." She joked lightly, raising her eyebrows up with her own widening grin.

Of course, Emmett had to ask. Although he was a decent friend to her in high school, they had lost touch pretty quickly, and she hardly expected to see him back in Pilot Ridge. Just as she herself hardly expected to stay in Pilot Ridge when she herself graduated a year later. "What brings you back here?"

[James Lawrence]

Although it had been more than a few years since he'd last seen her, James still recognized his old roommate at Hammel. She had been one of few people who could stomach being around him for more than ten minutes and handle his behaviour throughout high school. Not that it wasn't there now, but less so in comparison. He raised a hand to greet Emmett as she came closer, only to be hit on the arm once the distance in between had closed. "Not even a minute and you're already hitting on me?" A joke, punctuated by the grin he wore on his face.

"Yeah, I'd always been terrible at that." James agreed with a quick laugh. Keeping connections weren't his forte. He had been so concentrated on reaching the top that the thought to keep in touch with those from high school hadn't even crossed his mind. Until he returned almost two years ago. "I'm actually back at Hammel as a trainer. Been almost a couple of years now."

"What about you?" He asked, gesturing with a head nod towards Emmett. "You recently come back to Pilot Ridge?" Since coming back, James hadn't seen her, so he assumed she left shortly after graduation as well.

[Emmett Coupland]

Emmett let out a laugh at the idea of hitting on James. Admittedly, he was handsome, for a man. Between that little detail combined with sharing a dormitory with him for a handful of years, she knew better. Still, she didn’t dismiss the idea to him. It was clearly a joke, and one that she was willing to play along with.

Two years? Her eyes widened at the information, amazed that he had been here so long and they had yet to run into each other. Pilot Ridge wasn’t all that big, and running into people wasn’t uncommon. After two years, she would have suspected to see him sooner in a similar fashion as she did now. Then again, it was all about timing.

“Training?” She immediately questioned, although she was sure she’d get the details later. “Nah man, I never left.” She laughed again at the thought. “Remember that garage I worked at in high school? I own it now.”

[James Lawrence]

The grin stayed on his expression as the conversation progressed. Almost immediately after reconnecting, and things were falling back into routine, like it had been back when they were younger. It was natural and easygoing; James didn't realize just how much he missed Emmett's company until now.

When the job subject came up, his nose wrinkled reflexively. "Yeah, I know. It's kind of a funny story, actually." Not really. More bleak than anything else. Still; it was reassuring to see that Emmett recognized that becoming a trainer hadn't been high on his priority list.

James' features lit up with surprise when she mentioned that she had never left Pilot Ridge to begin with. Seemed like a lot of people ended up sticking around, or coming back. "Damn, really? Good on you, Coup. Not surprising to hear considering how you were always there." Really, it was like she lived in the garage. "Just you running the place now?"

[Emmett Coupland]

Emmett could only imagine how much it must have killed James to come back to Vermont. Sharing a dormitory with the guy had opened up a perspective not many might have seen. Although it was clear he was New York bound after graduation, she knew how emotionally invested he had been in going. Defeat was never easily recognized, and living with that fact and choosing to move past it? Admirable, in some twisted sense. Of course, it had to suck.

Still, Emmett laughed. What else could she do? "Yeah, just me there." Honestly, she had to hire someone, but the process of looking for someone felt exhausting. Sometimes it was easier to overwork herself rather than try and take on another individual. A win-lose situation no matter how one looked at it.

"You should come check it out." She offered with a raise of her eyebrows. When was the last time she entertained a guest that wasn't some random girl? She wasn't sure herself. A while, that was certain. "I have the perfect place to practice, too." Easing into the subject, Emmett eyed the man carefully. There was no way he'd put down a guitar, right?

[James Lawrence]

Part of James always wondered what would have happened had he stayed in New York. He easily could have found something else out there after graduating college or might have been able to catch the big break he'd always been hoping for. In a way, coming back to Vermont and settling for a life he didn't plan on living was admitting defeat, a hard fact to swallow for the prideful man.

But there was no use dwelling on it. James had done enough of that. Not to mention things were finally beginning to settle and improve after the initial reputation he'd left behind. "You must be there a lot then." He commented, which probably didn't bother Emmett all too much. Back when they were students, whenever she had the time, she was at the garage.

"Yeah? I should. See how you've kept things up." James agreed with a nod. He had been once or twice years ago. His back straightened at the mention of space to practice. Although he didn't play as much as he use to, James still enjoyed the hobby as recreation instead of basing his career around the guitar. "Probably had good acoustics." And for someone with impeccable hearing, that was important. "When are you free?"

[Emmett Coupland]

Emmett's tongue slowly crossed the line of her lower lip as she waited for a response from the musician turned trainer. Unsure what to offer him until he spoke, she simply nodded at the idea of him swinging by. A lot had changed, she had to admit, although it was more that she added her own character into the garage she called home.

As his back straightened, her eyes lit up, the corner of her mouth instantly pulling up into a grin. James had always such a reaction when it came to music, and Emmett almost felt silly for somehow thinking that could have changed with a few passing years.

With a shrug, Emmett swung the grocery bags she held as she twisted her wrist. Today was a slow day at the shop, which was why she was out in the first place rather than sticking her nose in some engine. "Now?"

[James Lawrence]

Music always had been James' obsession. As a student, he was determined to make it big, to make sure everyone remembered the name James Lawrence. Arguably, his name had left a mark on the small town but not for all the right reasons. It wasn't something that had faded with time; the opportunity to pick up a guitar and play again wasn't something he was about to turn down.

Besides, the chance to practice somewhere else other than his apartment was refreshing. It got depressing playing the same chords within the same four walls, where the acoustics were less than ideal. It would also be nice to catch up with his former roommate.

Emmett answered. He nodded, but it didn't take long before he replied "Yeah, sure. That works for me." It wasn't like he had plans for the day, anyway.

[Emmett Coupland]

Emmett rarely followed a schedule when work wasn't involved. In the garage, she had a system worked out perfectly. She knew what went where and when. The moment she was off the clock? Well, things didn't really matter at that point. Drifting until she worked again. Conveniently, it meant she had a relatively open schedule when she wasn't covered it motor oil.

And James was free, too. It was practically perfect as her grin widened to the taller man. "Aiight." She nodded back to him. "You hungry? I don't got much here, but we can grab something on the way if y'want."

Immediately, the mechanic started walking again, heading in the general direction back to her garage. Within a few paces, though, she stopped, turning back to James with raised eyebrows. "Might helped if we had your guitar, eh?" She questioned with a chuckle. "I have a crappy drum set and my bass, but nothing you'd be impressed with."

[James Lawrence]

The only thing James had to worry about was if he had any training sessions and conveniently, that wasn't the case. Shaking his head, he answered "I'm fine thanks. You good?" In case there was somewhere she wanted to stop by before heading back.

Almost bumping into Emmett, James managed to stop himself and gave her a curious look. For a brief second, he wondered why they had stopped but then realized that the guitar was kind of an important thing to have. Grinning, he laughed. "Yeah, I guess that's sort of necessary. We can go grab it. I live closeby in the apartment complex." So not too far away.

He turned, to lead the way to his apartment. James' gaze landed on his former roommate before speaking. "Do you remember when I tried to convince you to join a band with me?" He laughed at the thought, from so long ago. It had been a short-lived idea, that didn't last very long.

[Emmett Coupland]

How they both managed to forget about the guitar was laughable. Maybe it was the excitement that came with running into an old friend that made it slip their minds, but Emmett gave a nod. "Aiight." At least he was close by. She had to wonder just how close, though. Seeing as she lived in the garage right down town it was strange that they hadn't run into each other yet. Pilot Ridge wasn't that big. Then again, Emmett didn't know the schedule James followed, and her own was all over the place.

Following James, Emmett felt the corner of her mouth drag up into a knowing grin. "Yeah," she laughed, looking back up at him. She could remember his eagerness as he pitched the idea to her. At the time, Emmett was clumsy with a bass - she still was. It was bound to be a failure.

"Wonder what would've happened if we tried." She mused aloud now that her mind was on the thought. Emmett hadn't actively thought of high school for a couple of years now. "Think we'd be local legends or somethin'?"

[James Lawrence]

The apartment complex was just on the edge of town. It was within walking distance, but far enough that it was entirely possible James and Emmett hadn't bumped into each other the almost two years he'd been back in town. The majority of his time was spent at the school.

But there was no point dwelling on time that could have been. James vividly remembered pitching the idea to Emmett one day; a spur of the moment decision once he'd discovered that she had played the instrument before. Maybe not well, but it didn't matter. "You shot that idea down right away." He added, still grinning.

"Hm, good question. We would've had to find other players, for starters." Fill out the empty space. "Probably. Not a lot happens in town so we'd be a couple of local celebs." He snorted at the thought of fame. But did that matter in a town as small as Pilot Ridge?