yeah, im crazy

[CHARLIE LYNN VARIA]

Charlie walked into the familiar coffee shop as she did every morning, but today was different. Today she woke up from a dream of her baby brother actually being born and growing up with him. Though Charlie thought of what it would have been like often she could usually shake the thoughts away by now. For some reason this was different, she saw his face. It was delicate and loving, a face she loves though only seeing it once and knowing it isn't even real. Damn you mom she thought.
She walked up to the counter to place her order and sat down to wait, inhaling the sweet smell of coffee. She had a lot to do in this next week, so the least she could do for herself was enjoy a cup of coffee and relax for a little in the morning times. She wasn't particularly a morning person, not even a day person at best. She loved night time, the stars, the moon, space, the coolness it brought. Sometimes she felt as if she didn't have her coffee she would go nuts during the day.
She rubbed the lace in her black dress and smiled at the people who gave her funny looks. Yes it was winter, but she didn't care, she loved the cold and she loved clothes, plus, she had a scarf with it. When her name was called she got up and thanked the clerk and took her caramel macchiato. Charlie walked out side and sat down in a little comfy chair on the porch. Caribu Coffee was one of her favorite places in this town. She lite a cigarette and took a sip of her warm drink. "Today is going to be a good day, no matter what happens Charlie" She smiled at the elderly man that walked past her, looking at her like she was nuts. Yeah i talk to myself ya old man, im crazy she thought to herself and gave a giggle.

[JOHN ADAM DAVIDSON JR.]

OUTFIT

Jack liked mornings. Granted, he had to work early for years and his body just sort of adjusted. But there was something magical about the world before everyone was awake, the slow glow of morning sunlight and chattering birds. It was peaceful, nice... As opposed to the busy and exhausted peopled existence he had to live while on duty at the front desk. At least he could work days and not nights, that would be dull.

Technically, Jack could get coffee at the resort. But considering that he lived and worked there, he liked to make excuses to travel into town sometimes. Today, he got up earlier that usual to go into town and get some good coffee at Caribou. They made they best hazelnut lattes after all.

Jack opened the door, whistling slightly and went to the counter and placed his order. He checked his watch carefully, making sure he'd get back to the resort in time for his shift at the front desk. He needed time to change into his uniform too. But he had sometime to spare.

Jack picked up his latte and grabbed the city newspaper and headed out the door, where the cold air met him on the porch. The air was crisp and nippy, but at least his drink was warm. There was a girl smoking on the porch and he gave her a friendly nod of a greeting.

[CHARLIE LYNN VARIA]

Charlie was spacing of, a zombie in her own thoughts about the dream. She caught herself and giggled Stay outta your mind she thought. She looked at her surroundings and noticed a good looking guy smiling and giving her a friendly nod. She smiled back "Good morning".
Even though Charlie is probably the most timid and shy person anybody could meet, she had manners and knew enough that greeting people didn't necessarily mean letting them in. Sometimes she felt like people could read her to easily which made her crawl back into her turtle shell even more. But this young man didn't seem to be a threat so why not greet him with a nice hello?
Charlie put out her cigarette and looked on her phone, she had an appointment at the tattoo parlor at 4:00 today, so she had plenty of time to run her errands. Charlie loved the tattoo parlor she worked at, she hoped to own it some day. Though to do that she needed money, which meant another job. She thought about working at a shop in town but most of them were minimum wage, one of the higher paying jobs she knew about would be at the resort. So she thought she'd go up there today.
Deciding to get the day started she walked past the guy to her car. It was nice but not too fancy, a old school Volks Wagon Bus, Gray and shiny. She kept it in good shape, but the engine needed a lot of work. She got in her car and tried to start it. It was clicking but not revving. She tried again and nothing. "Nooo, no please baby, don't do this to me now" she whined. She tried again and it still would give in"Crap!". Today was not her day, no matter what she told herself earlier. She got out of her car and locked it.
Calm yourself Charles, every problem has a solution. She thought of calling somebody for help but she had no friends, not even one. The only person she had was Plum, her adorable cat, that at this moment she thought would be her only companion. She looked at the guy and gave a weak smile "Do you think you could help me out?"she said, hoping she didn't look like a total awkward spaz.

[JOHN ADAM DAVIDSON JR.]

"Morning," Jack replied before taking a sip of his coffee, feeling the chill on his face for a moment before heading down to his car which was parked on the curb. The blue Prius was not very manly, but it was efficient for all the around town driving he did, and Jack cared about the environment. He had just unlocked his doors when he heard the blonde a car away cursing at the machine and he realized her car wasn't starting. She must have noticed him looking because she then asked for his help.

"Sure," Jack said, locking his car again before going over to her driver side window. He watched the key click without the engine roaring to life. "Your battery probably ran out. You'll need to jump start the car by hooking it up to another engine, sadly I think I left my cable at home..." Jack said with a frown, thinking about how he'd had to buy a new cable because his old one had a frayed wire. It hardly seemed very nice to just leave her here with a broken car though.

That left him two options. "Should I go grab it and come back, or should I call you a mechanic, or a tow truck and give you a lift wherever it is you need to go?" He offered. Jack knew it wasn't particularly very smart to pick up people off the street, but she seemed harmless enough. Hopefully he was right about that.

In Jack's opinion, common courtesy had been thrown out the window and people never really interacted with people anymore. That was one thing he liked about his job, the face time. He wasn't a faceless employee. Except when he was calling wake up calls of course.

[CHARLIE LYNN VARIA]

He offered to help her but now that she was actually talking to him the turtle instinct came over her. It was like something she couldn't control. He offered to give her a ride, but Charlie didn't know him, what if something happened? Plum would surely not be able to survive without her."Uhm.. well, I only have like 10 bucks on me, so I don't know how I would pay a tow truck... or you, cause I know gas is expensive"she stammered. She looked at the ground and gave a little pout Why am I so awkward?! she thought.
She took a quick second to weigh her options, she could take a ride with this random guy and take her chances of getting killed, raped, kid napped or robbed (though she had barley anything on her but a few resumes). Plus would he be willing to drive all the way to the resort, I mean it wasn't extremely far, but certainly out of the way. Or she could walk home, a not so far, not so close distance and possibly ask the owner of the shop to help her out, he was nice enough. But it was too cold for a walk in this dress and her shoes weren't exactly equipped for the hills she'd be going over. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Charlie took a sip of her coffee to stall, but she decided to be safer than sorry. "I'm sorry to bug you. Uhm, thank you.. you know, for the offer, but I really shouldn't.." She couldn't look him straight in the eye for too long, she made her self look like a spaz, even when she tried not to. She tried to smile but all that came out was a cheesy try hard grin, that's one thing Charlie was extremely bad at, faking emotions.

[JOHN ADAM DAVIDSON JR.]

Jack smiled softly as she went on about her lack of cash. "I'd give you a ride for free." He said. Jack wouldn't say he believed in karma, but he did believe in doing good in the world brought good back to you. Paying it forward as it were. Someday, somewhere, someone would help him out too. Jack didn't owe this girl any favors, but he thought people should help one another, it was just a decent way to be.

Jack of course could understand why she might turn him down. He was tall, big, unknown man. But he was harmless, and although he respected her decision, he couldn't help but add, "Its really too cold to walk around, can I at least drop you at a mechanic.. or a bank?" He asked. But he took a few backward steps so she wouldn't feel pressured that he wasn't going to leave her alone.

It really was cold though, and he sipped his coffee deeply, trying to regain the feeling in the tips of his fingers.

[CHARLIE LYNN VARIA]

Charlie smiled at him, he didn't seem to be a threat, maybe it was just her nerves getting to her. She really had to try and trust people more, if not she really would have nobody but Plum. "Well I don't have a bank account, I don't trust them with my money ya know? Do you think you could give me a ride to the resort just up the way? I was going to turn in my resume up there today"
The resort was really Charlie's only option if she wanted to own The Den. Sometimes when she thought about her future, and owning The Den, life wouldn't be that bad on her own. She wouldn't be in isolation, but she wouldn't be plastered with friends either. Of course she would have some what of a relationship with her customers, since its pretty hard not to talk to the person you're working on for hours at a time. Her and Plum would be happy together in their simple but beautiful life. Who knows maybe Charlie would get another cat to add to the family.Great! When im older I can be the old cat lady she thought to herself. She was way in over her head, she needed a human in her life too! Someone to give her the needs every human needs, Plum was her little king but he could only give her so much.
Shaking her thoughts out of her head she looked at the guy and thought of how nice he was if he genuinely would give her a ride with no personal motive behind it. She took a deep breath, consciously knowing she was breaking her social standards she set for herself by taking his offer. "I'm Charlie by the way" She stuck out her hand and gave him a genuine and bright smile.

[JOHN ADAM DAVIDSON JR.]

Jack chuckled softly. Who didn't trust the bank? Banks weren't perfect of course, but they seemed a whole lot safer than stuffing all your money under your mattress or something. He didn't ask how she planned to leave the resort, but driving her there was not a problem for Jack. "I'm headed to the resort, so I can totally swing you by." Jack said. "I work there," He added. Probably, he could drop off her application for her and save her a trip, but maybe she wanted to look around some.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jack," He said, sticking out his hand to shake hers firmly. She had such small hands. But everyone seemed small to Jack. He was tall and his hands were broad-- everyone made a point to tell him so.

He motioned to his Prius. "Well, that's my ride," He said, moving toward it slowly, waving her over to the passenger side. She could call a mechanic from there. He probably wouldn't have time before his shift to drive back down here with his jumper cables.

[CHARLIE LYNN VARIA]

Charlie smiled, everything was going to be okay. She could get a ride home from her boss, drop off her resume and go on with her day as planned."Awsome! thanks so much" His name was Jack, he shook her hand firmly and waved her over to his car. He was strong and his hand folded over hers like a blanket, then again Charlie had always been extremely tiny, so tiny that people that first saw her thought she was still a child.
She walked over to the Prius and waiting till he unlocked it finally got in. Charlie checked to make sure she had everything she needed. Resume, Phone, I.D, Wallet and of course her cigarettes and lighter.
Jack said he worked at the resort so maybe work wouldn't be so bad with some one she sort of knew. Charlie wondered though, could she really work in a place with so many people? All the staff there, it seemed like it would be a social work place, and Charlie was defiantly not a social butterfly, especially at work. "So how is it? Working at the resort and all." she asked. Looking into his eyes for the first time, they were soft and kind and she immediately felt a lot safer than she had before when she first spoke to him.

[JOHN ADAM DAVIDSON JR.]

"You're welcome." Jack smiled and unlocked the car. He hoped in, crouching his large form into the small car. That was one issue with the Prius, but he refused to have a big gas guzzler, even if it meant better accommodating his height. He stuck the key in the ignition and the radio blinked onto a soft rock station that he had left playing last time he had turned off the car. Jack assumed Charlie would turn it off if she really couldn't take it.

Jack shrugged. "I like working there, its a people oriented business, which is more fun than being in a cubicle or something." He said. Jack liked his job at the front desk, he liked talking to everyone. He supposed maids and such had a little less face time with everyone. "I work at the front desk of the hotel part. Before that I worked the ski rental booth." He chuckled. It was certainly warmer inside. Jack didn't mind cold weather, but he'd rather be in the warmth of the fancy fireplace in the main lobby.

Jack drove them up to the resort, which wasn't really too far away from where they were and he pulled into an employee/resident parking spot. "I have a shift starting, so I have to change, but if you just wanna go around front, I can help you figure out where to put your resume once I get behind the desk." Jack suggested, pointing to the front of the building, before making a beeline to a side door.