I Need A Sign (*Open*)

[madi]

there's a fire starting in my heart

reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] ROLLING IN THE DEEP ! So far, Madelyn felt her day was going well. She pushed her sunglasses onto her face, closely to the bridge of her nose, hoisting her purse up onto her left shoulder, shuffling out of the café with a slight smile on her face. It’d been a productive day. She’d been at the café for around four hours, and after helping all of the customers and taking orders and doing inventory, she felt as if she needed a break. Thankfully, the second waitress had showed up – which meant she could have her break. Her coffee was held in her hand and with the other flung her keys into her purse. Madelyn knew Summer would be showing up to the café soon, and if anyone was her right hand girl – it was definitely Summer. The girl was a life saver – pure life saver, and Madelyn valued their friendship more than anything. Madelyn didn’t really have a lot of trustworthy close girl friends – but the ones she did have she thought more of as sisters than anything. The boardwalk was only a little while away; it would be a nice, fresh ten-fifteen minute walk. She tucked her free hand in her pocket, walking carefully down the sidewalk. Perhaps…perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea. She frowned, walking carefully, and she toyed with the idea of leaving the café without her or Summer there. She stopped for a second, contemplating her decision, mentally drawing up every single scenario of her leaving the café without her or Summer before she began walking again, halfway through her scenarios. She’d left the café before without Summer being there, and everything had been fine. She had faith in the girls there at that present time. The sun was shining brightly, and Madelyn felt it’s warmth against her skin. A few breezes now and then hit her body, sending her tousled waves into the wind. Madelyn loved the sun, it was so bright and cheerful. It was one of the few things that saved Madelyn on her depression days – the days where she felt like it took every ounce of strength in her body to pull herself out of the bed. As she was walking, she happened to glance at a couple on the other side of the street. She smiled to herself, as memories resurfaced about her’s and Cohen’s relationship. Madelyn watched has he came out of the store, she was hidden by the corner of the alley. She waited until she knew his nose was too far into the newspaper to really be paying attention. When the moment felt right, she attacked. She ran up behind him, threw her arms around his neck and softly kissed his cheek. “Hey good looking!” She said, smiling ever so brightly. He actually let go of the newspaper and with the now free hand, touched her arm. He turned his head and kissed the side of her cheek that was nearest to him and smiled that goofy smile of this. Madelyn knew she was given permission to jump on his back, and so she did, her legs wrapping around his waist has his arms caught them. “Whatcha up to gorgeous?” The handsome brunette asked her. She had a black fedora on, and she let go of his neck with one arm as they began walking again, to push the fedora down on her head. Quickly wrapping her arm back around his neck, “Nothing – waiting on you so we can go pick out some things for the new house. You know, people may think we’re starting to get serious.” She couldn’t see exactly a hundred percent – but she knew he had that devil smirk on his face. “Oh yeah?” He responded. Little did he know, she’d already found the ring box in his top drawer at his mother’s house. The ring box – with the antique diamond ring inside. She knew something was coming – only question was when. “Mhmmm…” She said with her sultry voice as she began kissing his neck and giggling as he put a little pep in his step…. They had been the best of friends, but as their relationship ended – that friendship did as well. As the memories replayed in her head – she frowned slightly. Thinking about their relationship disheartened her a little. He went away, off to New Orleans. He left without a word – no note, no goodbye, no emails. He vanished – and it wasn’t until his mother came into the Café right after it opened that she found out where he’d gone off to. The minute she came home – to their house and found all of his belongings missing – she felt she’d lost half of her soul. She’d been regaining that half though – slowly but surely, she was putting her life back. She was finding new pieces to fit her puzzle. However, it was still a struggle. For a while, she had been very bitter – she was angry and hurt – and she really felt as if half of her heart was no longer there. Though, what do you expect of a girl who’s fiancée – who she had just bought a house with – decides he no longer wants the life that he’d chosen? The life he’d planned with her? Do you really think she’s going to be happy go lucky the day of the break up? Especially if she doesn’t even know of the break up until she comes home – and finds everything of his gone. Vanished. Into thin air? I didn’t think so. She knew the whole town knew she wasn’t the same after he skipped out on her. That was the truth though, she wasn’t the same. She was a little more quite – a little more reserved. She poured her heart and soul into getting her café opened – and her heart was really put into that café during the makings.. what was left of her heart, anyways. She sighed, pushing her hair behind her ear, and she took her free hand out of her pocket, putting it on her forearm. She braced herself, looking dead ahead, and forced a smile back on her face. She wasn’t about to let those memories ruin her mood – no, not again. She was sick and tired of being sent back into her down spiral of depression. After Summer and Madelyn became closer – Summer was Madelyn’s lifesaver. Oh, she knew Madelyn better than to believe her when she said “I’m okay” or “I’m fine”.. and she also knew if Madelyn hadn’t been seen at the café by eleven in the morning, she was probably sleeping off into pity land or she just couldn’t muster the strength to get out of bed. You could be rest assured on those days Summer would be at Madelyn’s house – pulling her ass out of bed; and Madelyn always cursed her on those days, regretting ever giving her a key Madelyn was in fact over Cohen – but every now and then those memories would resurface, and that meant that every now and then she would go into a down spiral. Thankfully – she had Summer and the café – not to mention her babies (well, dogs). As she braced herself towards the boardwalk, she could feel the salty breeze against her skin, and her smile got bigger. The ocean calmed Madelyn – the ocean brought her peace. It wasn’t as crowded as it was normally most days – but that was how Madelyn loved the pier. She walked down the wooden boardwalk, headed towards the end, sipping her coffee now and then. She happily sighed, smiling as she reached the end. There was a boy and his father on her left, fishing off the boardwalk, but other than them – Madelyn didn’t notice anyone around. So, she kept to herself, resting her arms on the banister – looking out towards the ocean. 1,301 WORDS , TAG: open , OUTFIT ,

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[joel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #999999; width:450px; height:490px; padding:0px;] [style=width:400px; height:175px; opacity: 0.8; font-family: times; background: url(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy237/lonely_stars/JesseM/jesse-metcalfe-shirtless-cabo-01.jpg)][style=width: 270px; height:100px; background: transparent; float: right; letter-spacing: 4px; font-size:12px; font-family: times; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #333333; line-height: 25%;] DEEP IN THE HEART OF WAR HE HEARS A SOLDIER‘S PRAYER [style=width: 200px; float: right; background: transparent; text-align; justify; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size:5px; font-family: times; text-shadow: 0px 0px 0px #111111; line-height: 80%;]ask and he'll protect you, guide where you go. keep you from evil that tears at your soul. oh, speak to the father,say what's on your mind; it just takes a moment, if you'll take the time

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[style=text-align:center; text-size: 9px;]TAGGED: madylyn OUTFIT: here
NOTES: sorry for the crappy post

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Joel was having another moment where he needed to get out of the restaurant. It was a game day which meant a lot of drinking. And with the anniversary of Andrew’s death around the corner-in just a few days-he had to get out for a couple hours. All that alcohol was too tempting. There were too many chances for a fight and he couldn’t be caught in one. Even breaking one up would be dangerous for him because he might push himself a bit too much. Aside from Giovanna, he didn’t have much for family to think of what his actions may mean. Yes, their father was here and his step-mother, but otherwise he didn’t have much care in the world. Joel hadn’t had a serious relationship since before deployment and after he was in no state for one. Still, with his problems he needed to keep himself in check. So far he had and he was rather proud of that. Joel wanted to keep that up, even if it was to make his sister proud.

It was twisted. He didn’t think anyone would care if he screwed up but he wanted to try to make his sister proud. Right now, he didn’t feel like he did. He was always looking out for her, probably a bit too much. Sometimes he had a feeling he irritated her just a bit. He didn’t know, fully, unless she told him. Joel didn’t like to pry too much. In his home, his mother worked so often it wasn’t like they really sat down to talk. So feelings really weren’t his forte. His mom had to. Yes, their father had money and sent it their way, but that was used for things for Joel and covering any bills she couldn’t. And Joel’s mother was a proud woman who wouldn’t ask for money. Sometimes he wished she would have so she didn’t have to push herself so much. Now that he was out of the military, he sent some money of his own to her. She usually got mad, but Joel didn’t care. She had taken care of him so well, especially after deployment, and now he wanted to take care of her.

As he shuffled about the boardwalk, Joel scratched at his head. There were some people about but not many. Most people seemed to be at work. That was fine with him. Joel puckered his lips to whistle as he looked around just because he was bored. Good thing he did because he saw a familiar face. Madelyn. Joel picked up his pace a little. Once he reached where she was, he leaned backwards against the railing. His elbows bent upwards to rest on the worn out wood as he chuckled. ”Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, working. After all, your little place is no match for us.” Joel loved to tease the pretty brunette about her café. In reality, they really weren’t much competition to each other as they each did fine. But there was no reason to get into those details. ”Please tell me it caught fire then you can come work for me. I’ll take pity on you and give you a decent position after all.”

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this lovely template was made by Arro from Caution 2.0.[/center]

[madi]

there's a fire starting in my heart

reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i53.tinypic.com/wb98wn.jpg');,true] ROLLING IN THE DEEP ! The brunette couldn’t help but smirk when she heard the familiar voice beside her. She chuckled to herself at the comments he made about the café. It was all fun and games, of course, so she really didn’t mind it when he poked fun at her café. She could poke fun at The Shore Thing any day she wanted. With the mood she was in though, she wasn’t really in the mood to make a comment back about his place. She turned her head in the direction she heard the voice, and looked at him through her sunglasses. He was a cutie – that was for sure. They had been friends for a while, and one thing they did have in common was the fact that they were both retired military. Madelyn knew he kept a pair of dog tags around his neck, though hers stayed on her nightstand. She had the upmost respect for Joel – and she trusted him to a point. ”I believe my café is still intact, no fire damage at all.” She laughed, pushing her brown locks back, ”Shouldn’t you be working as well?” She took a sip of her coffee now, smirking as she watched him. The sun was hitting him perfectly, and his eyes appeared a little more golden. That was an image that could’ve made the old her melt – and it probably would’ve. She had barriers and walls built around her heart, forever guarding it. She hadn’t been in a serious thing ever since Cohen – and she was sort of happy. She was content with her life, and believe me.. she did get lonely every now and then. But it suited her, it suited her well. ”I may be coming over after I close up tonight – I think I need a drink or two.. will you keep the jerks away?” She snickered. She knew – just as good as he – that she could handle her own when it came to fighting off jerks from bars. It wasn’t unlike her to make her presence once or twice a week at his place – and whether he admitted it or not, she knew he came to her place when she wasn’t there. Despite her ability to handle her own, she felt a little more at ease knowing he was there – she knew if things got too out of hand he would jump in – because that was just how they were. Oh, of course he’d give her time to either get rid of the jerkwad that was bothering her – but when the most annoying jerkwads wouldn’t leave her alone, it never failed – he always stepped in. Their friendship was valued – just as much as her’s and Summer’s. She and Joel connected. Though, they talked a lot about their places with each other – stringing off new ideas from one another – but every now and again, their talks got deep… their talks got personal. Still, Madelyn kept walls up with him.. she taught herself too well to keep those walls up. 500 WORDS , TAG: open , OUTFIT ,

table by california dreaming @ caution 2.0

[joel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=style, background: #999999; width:450px; height:490px; padding:0px;] [style=width:400px; height:175px; opacity: 0.8; font-family: times; background: url(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy237/lonely_stars/JesseM/jesse-metcalfe-shirtless-cabo-01.jpg)][style=width: 270px; height:100px; background: transparent; float: right; letter-spacing: 4px; font-size:12px; font-family: times; text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px #333333; line-height: 25%;] DEEP IN THE HEART OF WAR HE HEARS A SOLDIER‘S PRAYER [style=width: 200px; float: right; background: transparent; text-align; justify; letter-spacing: 2px; font-size:5px; font-family: times; text-shadow: 0px 0px 0px #111111; line-height: 80%;]ask and he'll protect you, guide where you go. keep you from evil that tears at your soul. oh, speak to the father,say what's on your mind; it just takes a moment, if you'll take the time

[/color][/style][/style]

[style=text-align:center; text-size: 9px;]TAGGED: madylyn OUTFIT: here
NOTES: sorry for the crappy post

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Joel got a far off look for a second when he asked about him working. He half shrugged and avoided her gaze. ”It’s game day. A lot of drinkers and people getting rowdy…” Madelyn was the only person aside from his mother who knew about his “demons”. She understood like no one else really could. He didn’t have to come out and say all the reasons he couldn’t be there. He didn’t have to say that if he stayed, he might have a melt down. Though that was fairly personal, there wasn’t much else for him to get deeper about. Before the military, Joel was a rather vain guy. He wasn’t afraid to admit it. Being in the Army had changed him and the attack had changed him even more. He became much more mellow and contemplative of his life. Joel had no idea where he was going from this point out. Maybe someday he would figure it out, maybe he wouldn’t. Right now, he was just doing all he could to get through.

Joel groaned as he rotated his body so he leaned his side against the railing. His face could easily look at hers this way but gaze over his shoulder at the waves crashing into the shore and the people swimming amongst them. His jaw tightened a moment before it slacked off. A chuckle left his lips as he shook his head. ”Yeah I should be by after the game ends, let Gio go home or party or whatever she does.” Joel was protective over his sister so he had issues when they were apart. ”But you have to promise to bring any leftover pastries you have that you may just throw out. I love the stuff you cook there. I try to get stuff but that menace you call a cousin seems to chase me out when she sees me. I swear, she acts like she owns the place sometimes.” The two girls were a bit crazy together. Madelyn and Summer were even crazier but it was a lot of fun as well. Sometimes friends of his would push him, saying maybe he should date one of the three girls with how they all picked on one another. But Joel just liked having friends right now. No complications, especially until he knew he was completely well.

The teeth inside his mouth clicked together a moment before he looked over the horizon. ”So why are you avoiding work today? If there’s no rush we could go do something.”
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this lovely template was made by Arro from Caution 2.0.[/center]