hidden in plain sight

[dolly weathers]

Dolly narrows her eyes at him and prods his side with her finger, "you do not. I'm special!” She nods at his question, forgetting for a moment that he was from Alaska as he blended into Los Angeles with ease. Theo didn't speak much of his family and she really only knew of his deceased parents, cranky brother and distant Aunt. "I think I'd really like that,” truthfully, the getaway would be a much needed break from chaos. A chance to try on a different version of herself. "When would we leave?”

[theo lovett]

"No really, the rental guys have me on speed dial." He recoils from her prodding, laughing as he bats her hand away. Theo isn't sure what his aunt will make of Dolly, but then he didn't put all that much stock into her opinion. In all likelihood she wouldn't really care one way or the other, so long as she couldn't see any obvious signs of distress in her nephew. Even so, he's pleased that she's so open to the idea. "I can show you my high school, and you can meet my old hockey team," he says excitedly, ignoring the fact that those were the most boring things in the world. Despite how easily he had adapted to the sunshine and superficiality of LA, Theo held genuine affection for his hometown and longed for it often. "When could you leave? I'll need to get authorized PTO, but I can manage that with a couple of weeks notice."

[dolly weathers]

"... What do you mean rent? You can rent things?” she jokes, her face confused before it breaks into a smile. Her heart as a pang of affection when he excitedly talks about his hometown and she laughs. What might have been boring to some, she found genuinely interesting and maybe even a little thrilling. Alaska sounded like living her Hallmark dreams. "You can show me all your favourite things,” she promises. "Tonight. Tomorrow. Two weeks from now. Anytime.”

[theo lovett]

"Just wait until you get to experience economy class on a plane," Theo grins, though he does feel genuinely sorry for her. There would be some novelty to her newfound lifestyle to begin with, he was sure, and Dolly had never struck him as someone particularly materialistic. But she had never known that sinking feeling when you opened a bill, or the embarrassment of having to pretend you were busy for a plan that you actually just couldn't afford. He hopes she's planning for those eventualities. "How about we meet in the middle, I can probably swing a week from now? I'll let my aunt know now if you're definitely down."