When Salem Told Luna She Wanted To Get Out Of The House And Explore She Didn't Anticipate A Shopping

salem, what's your dream date?

“why? do you know someone who wants to take me on one?”

"okay, we can talk about it tomorrow." she said quietly while quickly wiping the tears from her eyes. salem watched leon as he walked out of the living room before shutting the light off. her mind was racing for what felt like hours. she couldn't sleep and for some weird reason, maybe out of habit, found herself knocking on the bedroom door. "can i come lay with you?" she asked after peaking her head in the door. leon was half asleep and told her to come in. salem crawled into bed with him and cuddled up against him. it was comforting to be this close to him again and all she wanted was for things to go back to normal. "im so sorry for how much i've hurt you." she wasn't sure if he was awake or not but she needed to get it off her chest. "i don't want things to end and how much i love you actually terrifies me. but i don't know how to be the person you deserve..." she turned to him and realized he was sound asleep. salem ran her fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead gently. she turned back around to cuddle against him before eventually falling asleep.

when morning rolled around salem was woken up by the sunlight peaking through the curtains. she looked around the room and then over to leon who was still sleeping. her hangover was raging and the thought of the inevitable talk they were supposed to have made her stomach turn. she got up out of bed and quietly tiptoed out of the bedroom slowly closing the door. leaving this way probably wasn't the best decision but she felt like there wasn't much left for her to say anyways and she truly was tired of hurting him and that's what the end result would be anyways. so she grabbed her shoes and her bag and left the apartment.

this is too much. he hates seeing her so heartbroken. absolutely destroys him. but at the end of the day, he really can't be just a punching bag. he has a lot to think about. "i can't do this right now," he looks down at her with tears bubbling in his eyes. the fact that she can't promise not to break his heart again, it kills him. and he wants to trust her. they both bring so much baggage into this relationship. but he sees himself in her, and it really feels like she's the only one who understands him. the only one for him. she's his soulmate. "i'm going to bed," the man says. he presses one hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her in somehow. "the bathroom's that way and the kitchen's stocked. we'll continue this tomorrow, okay?" it fucking hurts to pull his hand away, and it hurts even more to leave her in the living room as he goes to the master bedroom. he just wants to hold her, fuck her, make her feel good and trust her to not fuck him up again. is that really possible? leon takes off his shirt and climbs into bed with just sweatpants. he scrolls through his phone for a few minutes, but he can't concentrate on anything. so, he switches off the light of the lamp on his nightstand and tries to sleep.

salem let out a small chuckle at her response. with all the hand made pottery and jewelry it was understandable to feel a little cautious. "i'm sure you're not that clumsy. but if this isn't really your speed we can do something else maybe? i just thought this would have something for everyone." still being very new to the area meant salem had so much more to explore which made her open to other people's interests and it was nice to be able to make new friends in a different scene. it was a good distraction for her anyways. "seriously i'm open to anything. birdie convinced me to let them teach me about dungeons and dragons and we spent hours the other day playing. at this point in my life im very easily influenced." she said jokingly.

in  all  honesty,  there's  still  quite  a  few  places  aviva  hasn't  explored  yet.  between  working,  and  trying  to  make  sure  her  life  doesn't  implode,  making  sure  birdie  doesn't  kill  anymore  innocent  plants,  or  that  charlie  isn't  rearing  his  big  forhead  back  into  her  life  (  more  on  that  later  )  ,  it's  been  a  bit  difficult  to  go  out  and  do  things.  an  eyebrow  raises  slightly  at  the  sight  of  the  bag.  if  she  was  braver,  she'd  be  able  to  do  the  same  —  but  also,  as  silly  as  it  sounds,  she  doesn't  want  to  intrude  on  her  cousins  house.  it's,  like,  a  respect  thing,  she's  sure.  "i  just  —  i  dunno,  i'm  really  picky,  you  know?"  kind  of.  "and  i'm  afraid  if  i  touch  anything,  it'll  break.  bull  in  a  china  shop  deal,  you  know?"

"i'm sure we can find you something! if it's a total bust i'll buy you lunch." salem said reassuringly with a smile. as the two strolled along the market salem nodded at the mention of the group. "i'm not sure if im ready to partake in an actual group thing it seems intimidating you know? i kind of just get really bored and i start doing stuff." dungeons and dragons was probably the most mundane thing she'd been into lately but it was better than any of the chaotic alternatives. "originally? new orleans but i pretty much grew up between there and new york. my parents could never stay still and with the tv show we traveled a lot." it was refreshing to talk to someone who didn't already know much about her. "but i know drew from new york actually. we'd randomly run into each other when our parents would drag us to industry things. seems like the nepo baby pool in valpo is a big one."

she kind of feels a twinge of guilt at the pit of her stomach at the idea of going somewhere else. if salem was enjoying it, they can stay. it's not like it's a big deal — she'll find something of interest eventually. she always does. "no, it's fine. there is some cool stuff here — and we haven't even explored the whole thing." she continues to walk, aviva's head shaking at the mention of her cousin. somehow, that's very on par the birdie, and she didn't know what else she expected. "there's a group around here – i've heard about it, but i've never been. maybe you should ask drew?" is drew the one who does it? no idea, but it seems like something he'd like. or maybe because it doesn't have a ghostface mask .. maybe not. "where are you from, again?"

salem grabbed the flowers and started cutting the stems as leon spoke preparing them to go in the vase. they were beautiful and normally something so simple would make her feel like the happiest girl in the world but the longer she looked at them the sadder she got about things all over again. his comment threw her off for a moment and the most she could manage to reply with was a chuckle at first. how was she supposed to respond to that anyways? "well, i've been here and i haven't left so i'm not sure why it's so weird for you without me. shouldn't be the other way around?" the words blurted out of her mouth without a second thought. it was probably a bit harsh but it was the truth. before she could respond to his question he ripped the band-aid off for the both of them and decided to address the elephant in the room. she nodded as she placed the flowers in the vase and looked over at him. "you're right, we should talk about things. i'd love to know what you're doing here and why you've suddenly just barrelled back into my life like things didn't end the way they did. it better be one hell of an explanation too." things were different this time. her guard was way up with him.

leon chuckles at her teasing, he'd missed her so fucking much. "they're no pastel de choclo, but i figured you'd like them better," he attempts to lighten the tension that's building between them. it could easily be cut with a knife. after salem starts small talk, leon twists his lips out of nervous habit. "it's been fine. not the same without you." it's actually been weird as fuck. he doesn't feel as connected to the city as he used to. adjusting back to the valpo lifestyle has been complicated, especially because he's really tight on money right now, and everything's even more expensive than before he left. oh right, and the weird feeling of not being cooped up in a house with his grandma and his teetering-on-alcoholic mother. "you?" leon huffs out the word, but clearly he'd rather talk about the elephant in the room right now. "actually, listen, i'm really so fucking sorry, sal. can we sit down and talk about it? please." he doesn't expect the conversation to bring everything back to normal. she has all the right to not trust him right now. he knows he fucked up. he didn't mean to tho. leon loves the woman standing in front of him with all his messed up heart. it beats faster as the words roll out of his mouth. he wonders if she can hear it.

"i know! i've been such a hermit lately and i'm sure if my cat could talk she would yell at me to get out of the house." salem joked before shaking her head. "not really busy, just kind of trying to kill time and jot a few things down." she nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "i figured i should actually be around other people you know? if anything i was bound to run into someone i knew here and i was right!" she gave arin a small smile while closing the journal and moving it aside. "but anyways what are you up to today? how have you been?"

he's here playing errand boy. picking up ... something, for his mom. not entirely sure what, or what for — just that it's not ready yet and he's got some time to kill. he gets himself a cup of coffee and sits himself at a table near the edge of the room, ready to just waste time on his phone when he hears her speak. don't need to invite him twice. "long time no see," slide into the chair across from the one she's seated in, making an all too obvious show of peering at her book on his way. as if he has any real prayer of being able to read anyone's handwriting upside down like that. "busy? what are you working on?"

Carrie Fisher, from The Princess Diarist.

"listen i know i tend to drink a lot but i do remember the important things." she said sarcastically. as she grabbed a fork from leon she shook her head, "no, i was waiting to be with you when i tried it. that way if it was gross i could give you hell for hyping it up so much." she teased while plating the food for the both of them. it felt like how things used to be back home with leon. she loved going out and traveling but most of her favorite nights were spent at their apartment with him and stevie. the thought of how things used to be made her a bit sad at how badly she'd messed it all up. "we should eat on the balcony. it's not too hot out tonight and i've been dying to see the view in person."

the nickname doesn't go unnoticed and a wave of nostalgia hits him. it's been a while since he's heard the word blondie. flashing images of their life back in new york speed through his head. the late-night conversations, drinks in bars, fucking in the car, her beautiful face when she's just woken up. "i did, didn't i?" he chuckles softly as he opens the container and the smell of pastel de choclo invades the kitchen. "i'm guessing you haven't tried it then." the man grabs two plates and silverware from the cupboard on the wall in front of them. maybe he's stalling. he doesn't want to have the inevitable conversation. it's looming upon them, like an elephant in the room. but for fuck's sake, leon doesn't want to burst this bubble.

status: open @valpostart location: cerro barrón street market

"i love this place, i absolutely love it." salem said enthusiastically to the other while holding up her bag of treasures. she'd spent most of the morning at the street market shopping around for things to put in her temporary place in viña del mar to make it feel a little more like a home to her. to no surprise though she mostly purchased jewelry and a few articles of clothing for herself. "i know i'm probably going overboard and i look like such a fucking tourist but i'm a sucker for hand made things. why aren't you as excited as i am?" she said slightly offended the other wasn't sharing her excitement.

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A SALEM WEST !

On behalf of all residents in the Valpo Region, we'd like to wish Salem West a very Happy Birthday ! A heart as beautiful as the voice who owns it, the Valpo region is better with you as a resident. Your talented and whimsical mind has brought joy and comfort to multiple residents with us. We're all waiting on the edge of our seats to see what you're going to drop next, and we know the Valpo region will be your number one streamers. The unwavering support you show to your friends, to the point of willing to rewrite history for them is admirable. We hope you feel as loved here as you make those you cherish feel, and we can't wait to ring in your 30s with you next year. While you're in LA we wanted to send a care package of all our favorite Chilean snacks to remind you where your heart lives (with us) ( @cybermuses )