May- Avalon Landing

The smell of the ocean hits Hailey in the face as she steps off the bus. Avalon Landing, population 1,231. The welcome sign on the way into the tiny coastal town was painted in peeling shades of colors that had definitely seen better days. Looking around now, she waits for the uneasiness and anxiety she'd felt at every other stop they made but it never comes.

Something about the pastel houses and buildings lining Main Street has a calming effect. The sea air fills her lungs, clearing her head and she knows. Barely three minutes in this town and she knows this is where she can start over.

With her backpack on her shoulders, she starts down the street. Hal's Autobody, Trudy's Place, The General Store. There's not a single chain business on the whole island. Not even a Mcdonalds. The town is full of mom and pop shops with a few seasonal businesses as well.

Main Street stretches out for just under a mile and boasts one stoplight right in the center. The more Hailey takes in, the more it feels like time passed right over this place. Signs promising handmade candies, down home quality care, and homemade meals fill every storefront, but the small red sign she sees on the walk back is the one that intrigues her the most.

HELP WANTED: see Trudy

The windows to the front of the cafe are clean with tiny flowers lining the bottom length. There's only one booth open so Hailey hurries inside and heads for it after seeing the sign to 'seat yourself.'

"Welcome to Trudy's. What can I get you?" Hailey looks up at the waitress slightly confused because she just sat down and there's no menu on the table. As if reading her mind, the girl, probably in her teens if Hailey is correct, gestures to the large wall behind her. The menu is written in chalk and only has four or five main items, along with two daily specials.

"I'll just have the eggs, over easy, with a side of toast, please." Aside from drinks, it's the cheapest thing on the menu. She's got a small amount of cash that if she's careful, should last her a few months. She needs to be careful with how she spends it.

"Coffee?" The girl clicks her gum, impatience practically rolling off her, and Hailey hurries to ask for a water instead.

"Sarah, you've got to grab these when the bell rings." A flat but firm voice has Hailey's head turning to see who it belongs to. Short hair that's more grey than it is blonde frames a face that clearly is unimpressed. Hailey can only assume that she must be Trudy. Like she can sense someone staring, the woman turns her head to glare at Hailey.

"Who are you?" Her golden brown eyes assess her, mouth pressing into a thin line as she waits. "You speak?" Barely ten seconds pass before she shakes her head and starts to turn away.

"I'm looking for a job...if you're Trudy?" Despite her nerves, Hailey's voice is strong and clear.

Instead of an answer, Trudy disappears before exiting out of the kitchen doors carrying way too many plates and an apron draped over her arm. After serving the table, she turns back to Hailey, handing her the apron.

"Your trial run is now. Make it through the lunch rush and the jobs yours." That's all she says before she once again disappears back into the kitchen.

Hailey pushes the swinging door open and is met immediately with Trudy, one hand pointing back towards the door as she expertly flips a stack of pancakes onto a plate. She's not supposed to be back here, but she needs to stash her bag somewhere.

"Is there a place I can leave my bag?" Her weight shifts right to left as Trudy either ignores her question, or just doesn't care. After a minute of standing there awkwardly, Trudy finally faces Hailey and points to a shelf.

"You can leave it there. Nobody is allowed back here." Hailey doesn't miss the 'including you' that's insinuated, and quickly sets her bag away before dashing back out of the kitchen.


An hour into it she's pretty sure she's got the hang of this. After missing the first three bells, Hailey had made it a point to beat Trudy to the window, rushing about the tiny cafe giving and taking orders. By the time 1:00pm rolls around, Hailey feels like she's been doing this her whole life. She hasn't worked at a restaurant since she was 13, but it's all coming back to her quickly. The streamlined menu and the friendly customers are also helpful.

"Goldilocks, go flip the sign on the door." Hailey hears Trudy call out from the kitchen and because she is the only one left in the cafe, she assumes she must be Goldilocks.

"You know, if you're gonna work here...stay here...you're gonna need to have a name.?" The kitchen door swings shut behind Trudy as she walks into the cafe, waiting for Hailey to turn back from the door.

"I have a name." Somehow, her voice is clear and even has a tiny bit of an edge to it. She hates that Casey and his father made her this way. Never before have her walls been this high, and it's all their fault.

"Care to share with the class?" Trudy had noticed this girl the second she walked into her cafe. With the season still being a month away, it was easy to tell she wasn't a local. The way she had jumped slightly everytime the door jingled open and the hints of fear that crept through this girl's sheer determination, had Trudy on alert. This girl was either in trouble, or she was trouble. She's pretty sure it's the former.

"Hailey." Shit...Why had she given her real name? Panic starts to set in, hands shaking, heart rate speeding up. The need to run kicks in but before she can get to her bag, Trudy steps in front of her.

"Easy…" Her palms are facing out, hoping to show no threat to her. People here are used to her no-nonsense approach to life, but maybe she needs to switch it up for this one. "You don't have to run. You uh...you sure your name is Hailey? Cause you look like a Grace, or Beth."

Without a sound, Hailey sinks into the nearest booth. She's exhausted, alone, and has little more than the clothes on her back and a bag full of cash that won't last forever. She needs this job.

"I don't know how much I can help you, Hailey but the job is yours if you want it. Cash...under the table."

"I...why?" In her experience, especially over the last year, people aren't just nice for no reason. There's always a catch.

"Because you look like you could use a hand...and you did a pretty good job with the lunch rush." She smiles at Hailey, "For your first day, that is" adding a quick wink.

"So Hailey, are we sticking with Hailey? Cause you can change it if…"

"No, It's fine. Hailey is good and thank you for the opportunity." Standing, Hailey pauses before she goes to get her bag. "I won't let you down, I promise."


The first two days in Avalon Landing pass by in a blur. Hailey's shift at the cafe runs from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. She's not used to running around nonstop like this so when her shift finally ends, she's completely drained. The fact that she still doesn't have a place to stay isn't helping matters. The last two nights were spent behind the cafe, crammed between some boxes. The only place that rents rooms here is way out of her price budget. Her luck with the good weather will run out sooner or later though.

Trudy is waiting by the front door when she comes back out from the kitchen, following Hailey out onto the sidewalk. "Come on. I want to introduce you to someone." Hailey has no choice but to follow. Plus, she has nowhere else to go right now anyway.

"Vanessa?" Trudy calls out after entering the cute little coffee shop across the street from the cafe. "Now listen, this kid is...well...perky, but she's looking for a roommate of sorts." She breaks off when Hailey sees a woman, younger than her, come barrelling down the back steps carrying a box.

"Sorry, I was just grabbing some more napkins." Vanessa sets the box down, then seems to notice that it isn't just Trudy in her store.

"Oh, hey. I'm Vanessa."

Hailey freezes up for a few seconds until Trudy steps in. "This is Hailey, she took Missy's shift at the cafe. Sarah was scaring the customers." She gives Trudy a grateful smile then reaches out to shake Vanessa's hand.

"It's nice to meet you." Hailey tries for sincere. She could use a coffee, and a nap. A really long nap.

"Coffee?" Vanessa must have read her mind, and Hailey and Trudy both give their coffee orders.

"So I'll ask her about the room and…"

"No, I can. Thank you though, really." She's barely known this woman for four hours and already she's done more for her than anyone has in a very long time.

"Uh oh. Careful thanking her. She'll think you owe her...and she never forgets." Vanessa motions with the drinks towards a table, passing them out as they take a seat.

Everyone is pretty quiet for a bit, just enjoying the coffee that Hailey swears is the best cup she's ever had.

"Good, right?" Vanessa asks, not really fishing for compliments. She genuinely enjoys making drinks that people like.

Hailey's answer is more a moan of satisfaction than anything, and Trudy and Vanessa both laugh. Hailey breaks out into the first real smile that she can remember, and decides that now is as good a time as any.

"Vanessa, I was talking to Trudy about finding a place to stay. She uh...mentioned that you might be looking for a roommate?" It comes out as a hopeful question, because if Vanessa says no, Hailey is going to be burning up money at a hotel.

"Yeah? I mean...yes, I'm looking for someone to take the other room, but did Trudy tell you about it? It's small, no closet, but there is a bathroom attached." There's not a lot of people that come to Avalon Landing to live, and the ones that do are looking for way more space than Vanessa's spare room can offer.

"She doesn't have much…" Trudy pauses, realizing what she just said, and hurries to apologize.

"She's right." Hailey stops the apology, it's the truth. "Do you have time to show it to me? It doesn't have to be right now if you're busy." She doesn't want to push.

"Come on up." Hailey hides her grin as Vanessa basically bounces back up the stairs.

"Did I mention the room is right upstairs?" Trudy stands to let Hailey out. "If it doesn't work out, I'm the dark blue house at the end of Main. You can't stay behind the cafe forever." Trudy had seen Hailey come out from the alley this morning, which she thought was odd because it's a dead end. She found a couple of boxes flattened out on the ground and can only assume that Hailey is sleeping on the streets. "You can have the couch...which is more of a loveseat...okay fine. It's a recliner. But you know, it's yours if you want it."

She's out the door before Hailey can even start to be embarrassed or answer. Hailey has never met anyone like her. She'd certainly been a little leary of her at first, but now, just a short while after meeting her? Trudy Platt could be really good for her.

"Hailey?" Vanessa calls out from upstairs, waiting on her.

"Coming!"


The room is tiny. The full size bed takes up most of the pale yellow room but Hailey doesn't mind. It's accented with splashes of navy blue and red and a spectacular view of the ocean.

"Design flaw...can you believe it? This floor was built with the rooms flip-flopped. Original owners were not happy." Vanessa moves on to show the bathroom and then the kitchen and living room, giving little stories along the way.

It's perfect. Almost too good to be true. Hailey is afraid to ask what the rent is.

"So, what do you think?" Vanessa has shown the room to three people over the last year and not a single one was interested. Hailey however, was the only one who stayed after seeing the room. Maybe she was the one.

"How uh...how much is rent?" An ocean front room, right in the center of Main Street? Probably out of her price range for sure.

"$450...no I mean $400?" She gives Hailey a sheepish smile "Sorry, no one has ever stayed long enough and if we're being honest here, the shop does really well. I don't really need the money. I just...feel alone sometimes, you know?" It really would be nice if Hailey decides to stay. There aren't very many people her age here.

"I get it. And if you're sure about the price, I'll take it. Once I get my feet under me I can probably pay more. I don't want to cheat you." The words barely leave her mouth before Vanessa throws herself at her, hugging her tightly.

"This is going to be great, I know it. I have a spare key right here." Once again, Vanessa's energy is off the charts and she thinks Trudy's description of 'perky' is spot on.

"I have to get back downstairs for the afternoon run, but you can come and go as you please. Anything in the kitchen is free game...except for the milk, it's probably spoiled. The General Store will have whatever you want as far as groceries go, and we can take a trip into the city for anything else you might need." Vanessa leaves the spare key on the counter in front of Hailey before she heads back to work, leaving Hailey alone in her new home.


The rest of the day passes by pretty uneventfully. She finally naps, goes grocery shopping, and stops at the thrift store at the far end of Main Street where she picks up a couple changes of clothes and a brand new pair of running shoes that happen to be her size. Before Casey, she ran a lot. She's hoping to get back into it.

"Watch out!" The shout comes a moment too late. Hailey is knocked down to the sidewalk by what she can only guess is a bear...or a small horse. She's not quite sure.

"Smalls NO! Get off you big dummy!"

It's a dog. A very large dog, covered in black fur and very free with the sloppy kisses. After what feels like ages, the dog finally is moved off her and Hailey pushes herself up to her hands and knees before standing.

"Oh man, you're bleeding." The voice belongs to a young boy, maybe 10 or 12, with a dusting of freckles, hair that's somewhere between blonde and red, and clear green eyes. He looks worried so Hailey assures him she is fine.

"Just a little scratch. I'm fine." There's a little more pain than she lets on. Thankfully she hadn't cracked her head, just her elbows and her butt.

"I'm really sorry. Dad says I'm supposed to keep him on the leash but I thought it would be okay for a little. It's my fault you got hurt." The boy clips the leash back onto Smalls before looking down at the ground. "Are you gonna tell my dad?"

"Tell me what?" The new voice makes her jump and the dog tug hard on the leash, dragging the boy behind him straight for Hailey.

"Smalls, sit!" The dog reacts instantly, plopping down onto the sidewalk. "Levi?" Hailey looks between father and son, noting the striking similarities between the two. The same freckles, the same eyes, the same mouth. That mouth...She gets a little distracted with watching it form words but then she remembers the way the boy's chin had quivered at the possibility of his dad finding out about what happened.

"It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention." The urge to protect the boy comes on quick and strong.

"Levi?" This time, the dad's voice is a little softer, like he's questioning if the claim is true.

"I took him off the leash. She got hurt 'cause of me." The tears in Levi's eyes break her heart. She doesn't want him to get in trouble because of her.

"Buddy…" Levi's dad drops to a knee in front of him, gently lifting his chin to meet his gaze. "I know you think I give you a lot of rules, and maybe I do, but I just want you to be safe. Smalls is a really big dog. He could hurt someone...very badly."

The longer Hailey watches, the more it feels like she's imposing on a private moment. She should go, so she does, hurring away from the father and son and their massive dog before either notice she's gone.


"You found Sue's Second Chance, I see. I love that place." Vanessa nods to her bags when Hailey makes it inside.

"Yeah, it was. I grabbed some milk too." Hailey sets her stuff on the counter before grabbing the milk to put in the fridge.

"Woah, what happened to your arms?"

"Oh...nothing really. There was a little boy and a dog...It's fine. I'll clean them up." Gathering the bags of clothes, she starts down the hall.

"So you've met Smalls. Crazy name right? He's a wolfhound and the boy would be Levi, he's 10. Levi's dad, Jay, is the Sheriff. Did you meet him?" Vanessa pauses to dramatically fan her face, adding that Jay is smoking hot. In or out of his uniform.

"Um, yeah. I met him." Hailey wants to know more about them, but it would seem weird to ask questions. She's an outsider still. "Well...I'm gonna go shower but um...Thanks again for letting me stay here. I'm normally not this boring...going to bed at 8:30. It's just been a while since…" She had a real bed to sleep in, a roof over her head that wasn't housing other broken women, a place she felt...safe. "I've gotten a good night's sleep." Is what she settles on, adding that maybe they can get to know each other more tomorrow.

"Yeah, that sounds good, and don't thank me. I'm happy to have someone up here with me." Vanessa turns back towards the kitchen, leaving her new roommate to do her own thing. Hailey seems like a nice person. Sure she's a little quiet, but Vanessa can work with that. She's going to get to know her, she's certain.