there's sooo much drama omg. Nessa likes Tim who likes Emily but she has a boyfriend who doesn't love her and...and... I could really keep going))

Nessa giggled. Wait, giggled?

"Timothy it is," she conceded. She liked the way the name sounded when it was used to reference him. She only liked him more when a reddish tinge blended into his complexion seamlessly, making him appear more boyish. This brought an even more charming smile to her lips.

"This stable? No, only the last five minutes," she retorted quickly and with a mirthy spunk that normally enticed people. It was her only party trick, the only one she'd ever had to learn growing up on a rural farm with no friends and fourteen siblings.

"I'm kidding, of course." She had decided not to fully follow him, simply to inspect the horses in these stalls. Why she had come into this barn--besides a stroke of fate--she had long forgotten, and it was easier to pretend to have purpose than to admit what she lacked. Besides, Nessa McDermott did not chase even the most attractive boy--she would simply do everything but.

"We've been here a few days," she replied, "my brother and I came to see what kind of eventing opportunities may lie in America, we're from Ireland. And it sounds like we may have similar stories? I like your accent."

In truth, she didn't know many Brits, but she could identify one by the accent any day, just like any other language. From what she had seen in movies, they were quite charming, though her brothers always told her not to believe everything she saw in movies. They also said not to believe in fate or true love, and she still did.

"How long have you been here?"

Although she wanted to control the conversation and create some kind of far-too-early exit that could be deemed a 'power move,' Nessa was too drawn to the man, and she'd told Darraugh she would make a friend, hadn't she? So what if she didn't want to limit him to the label...

this is called "rish has ten minutes to put as many words on a page as possible"

Em / people

Emily had gone back to the house with Laurence after their walk, and to their surprise, a new car was in the driveway parked beside hers.

"Were you expecting guests?" She chirped brightly, not overly enthusiastic but in her constant state of exuberance.

"No," he replied in a very frightened tone.

The truth was, since his parents' divorce last fall, he had been living in fear. His dad was abusive and alcoholic, and his mom was bipolar and schizophrenic. His sister had the ugly traits of both, yet somehow blamed him for everything. He'd moved mainly for the sake of getting his family to stop compulsively ringing the landline at White Oaks, which was becoming a massive embarrassment to him. Everything was regarding them, it was why he'd moved out.

Seeing an unfamiliar car in the driveway made a shiver go down his spine. Especially with Sam being his responsibility now, he couldn't believe he'd left his guard down and could possibly lose her again. He had no idea the cause of her disappearance or any of the details--he didn't care as long as she was safely in the room next to his. He knew she wouldn't let him protect her for long, but he would do it dutifully until her vulnerability blossomed back into fierce independence. It was a period of regrowth, he mused, for both of them.

As they entered the house, Laurence called down the hall, unable to fully hide his tone. Emily was the voice of reason, saying it was probably someone from White Oaks coming to check on her, but he was terrified of his family, terrified of what they would do if they could track him down again. His whole life was lived in this unruly fear, which is why he chose his husband. His husband was a protector, a free spirit like Sam. He was clothed in independence, fearless and dauntless until the day he had died. Seeing Sam like this reminded Laurence of his husband's final days.

"Sam? Are you okay?"

He didn't notice a struggle, only an unfamiliar voice. As he came down the hall, he saw an unfamiliar man at her bedside. He couldn't help feeling bewilderment and jealousy all at once. He swallowed it down.

"Ohmygosh, you must be Zander! I've emailed you so many times, it's so nice to meet you in person!"

(no time lol, assuming Emily and Zander corresponded about turning Mickey over)

Tyler Parrish / Olivia L.

Tyler sat across from Olivia, casually sketching dimensions of some sort. It wasn't uncommon, his mind worked in structures and boards and projects yet to be built. It would only be a matter of time until he found a way to work with the staff here that built the cross country and showjumping fences.

His left hand held the pencil, his right was placed next to a half-eaten sandwich on a plate. It was around the dinner hour, and the hall was crowded. But, rules were rules, so Tyler was forced to remain in the busy building until he and his friend were done eating. The albino blond wasn't helping himself much by procrastinating, but he was keeping entertained.

After some period of silence and idle sketching, Tyler looked up at Livvy, his eyes full of boyish mischief. He grinned. "You know what I think we should do?" He asked as if he were not going to reveal it moments later, as one does. "I think we should make a bucket list of things to do before this year ends. Are you in?"

loooolll you really do, don't you XD))

Laurence + Emily / whoeva

Laurence was certainly not pleased to see a man in his apartment--if one could call it that--but Zander seemed nice--and familiar.

"Zander, as in, cross country rider Zander? You know Sam? And Emily? Quite a popular guy," he muttered in the ghost of a tone that could be mistaken for passive aggression. "I'm Laurence, your teammate."

Emily gave a cheery but surprised look in Laurence's direction, then settled her gaze back on Zander. He was charming and admiring, but he had an air of independence about him. She liked that, it made his affection not inhibiting.

"Laurence!! You need to tell me stuff like this? What team?"

"Some new eventing style competition Kholo is dabbling in, Zander probably knows way more about it than me. I'm just a humble fill-in, I'm certain I was her last call," he replied with a genuine smile, still standing in the doorway beside Emily. She was texting someone. Tim, he assumed, or maybe Tristan.

As a lull in the conversation came over, Laurence inquired, "have you met Therese yet? Em and I were headed back over to the farm now, I was actually coming in to see if Sam wanted to come for the ride. I had intended to introduce myself to you both in person."

---

Time went on, and the group made their respective drives to the barn. Laurence offered for Sam to come once again, and she agreed, but only on the terms that she would go with Zander. He was not surprised. She was being difficult as she once had been, and it had only been a few hours. He was trying his best to be patient and 'low maintenance,' as he had been told long ago was what people desired, but he was getting increasingly annoyed. Perhaps a drive alone was what he needed afterall.

Upon arrival, Emily texted Tim, only after wandering around like a kid in a candy store introducing herself to so many new people.

[Emily]: hiiii!!! i'm sorry i took sooooo longggg!! i'm back, i made like ten new friends!!!! are u and H done with Storm? I was thinking of having some kind of get-together on property here tonight for all the new people?? but i don't know if i can get it done on time?? maybe we are just better off hanging out by ourselves tonight and then having a party for them this weekend?? thoughts?? :):):)

Laurence, knowing that Zander and Samantha had gone to see Mickey together, and knowing that Sam was now purposefully trying to either set him off or make him jealous, likely both, had set off to find Thérèse, who he'd texted a few moments prior. He also wanted to go see his horses, who were all being used in the dressage program due to his absence, but knew they were in the same barn as Mickey, and decided it could wait.

Seeing a beautiful, beautiful blonde woman approaching him with a smile, he couldn't help but feel a bit sheepish. It wasn't really her beauty that was making him uncomfortable, it was the fact that she was approaching him. For a moment, he felt like an awkward teenaged boy again with all the girls at his school chasing him. He often thought those initial experiences paired with his awkwardness and anxiousness around people was what had acquired him a husband rather than a wife the first time around. He did not have the personality to endure being as attractive and athletic as he was at the time. And now he felt like a nobody, which was quaint, but he much preferred it.

"Laurence?"

"Therese," he replied shyly, a little starstuck. He hated every second of it, especially how she couldn't see him suffering.

"Thérèse," she corrected.

"Oh," he replied, flustered, "Thérèse."

"Nice to meet you, my English is no good," she gave a quaint smile. She could tell she was affecting him, she tried to be kind and humble as her mother had taught her to be. She could hear her now, saying, 'the difference between a girl and a woman is what they choose to do with their beauty.' It made her miss home.

"I understand, my family is Italian," he replied, "it was hard for them to speak English too."

Her eyes brightened. "[You speak Italian?]"

'[Yes, and it seems you do too.]"

With their newfound method of communication, the French woman and her teammate found their way into an amiable conversation as they casually walked around the property, getting to know one another, perhaps out of a pained loneliness from either side. Before long, Laurence wasn't even concerned about what Sam and Zander were doing, he regained his peace and the realization that Sam was immature. It wasn't his job to clean up her mess or parent her. It was only his job to keep her safe.