✎ 1x1 ✐ discussion

:)

Okay! Not sure how detailed you go for characters, but feel free to do how ever much or little you want to do!

Okay! Usually I make simple characters and let the story develop them!

Age range?

Perfect! Umm I'm think in their 20s? Or we could easily do 16-18 too. Im either going to make him own/manage the farm or be the son of the ppl who own it.

I like early mid twenties.

Sounds good to me! I'll get working on mine then!

Name: Madelyn Rose Everest
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Appearance: https://pin.it/7prszYwGA

Maddie has always lived in the city. She can be quite naive sometimes but truly has a good heart despite her home life. She still lives at home and her parents are constantly fighting. Her job has promised her more hours and better pay but that's what they keep saying and Maddie, new to the area, has little friends and nowhere else to go right now.

Name: Bennett "Benny" Janson
Age: 25
Job: Farm Handler
appearance: (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Bennett is country born and raised. He did well in school but got in trouble a lot. He didn't have the right credentials to make into to any fancy schools, so he promised to work on the farm. His father was always hard on him and is pushing him to take over the family farm when he eventually retires, but he is unsure if that's what he wants to do with his life.

If you can start us off that would be great!

can do!

"Bennett! Get out of bed and go get the supplies!" Hearing the yelling from his father was enough to make Bennett groan and roll over out of bed. His alarm was going off but obviously not loud enough to wake him. The night before Bennett has decided it was a good idea to tag along with his best friend to the bar for some fun, knowing damn well he had to be up bright and early today. So everything felt a little louder and looked a lot brighter then normal today. After slipping on some jeans and black tank top. He made sure his hair was in place and that he didn't feel of alcohol before heading downstairs. Last thing he wanted was another lecture from his dad about how to live his life. although he couldn't complain too much. He didn't have to pay much to rent out the small house on the farm and his dad paid him pretty well for the work he did around this place. Especially having to be the errand boy. After grabbing a to go cup of coffee, he figured he should head out before his father came back to yell more.

((Write how ever much you normally do and I can adjust how much I write compared to yours. I can do one paragraph or multiple))

((Sounds good! Mine vary depending on context or what is going on.))

Madelyn rubbed her already red eyes as she smacked the steering wheel in frustration. She'd been crying a lot today, which she hated, and even more so she'd lost her best friend. On top of that, her old car was threatening to stall out on her and she hardly knew where she was. This whole day was pathetic.

"Damn it, stupid car!" Maddie growled, fists tightening. She wasn't really angry. It was just the frustration and sadness within herself. She was out in the countryside on some bumpy dirt road at last 45 minutes from the city. She'd come out here to a small cottage in a big piece of land to rehome her very favorite golden retriever Lucy. The older couple that took her promised to love her dearly and pamper her but it still didn't take the pain from Maddie. Maddie's father had threatened to either take Lucy to the pound, drop her off with one of his friends Maddie didn't trust, or kick her out onto the street if she refused, if she didn't get rid of the dog. The least Maddie could do was pick out a home for Lucy she knew would be safe.

But now her car was about to die, she didn't know which turn to take, and she'd already cried a million tears.

Bennett sipped on his coffee as he cruised down the back roads towards town. The second the sun hit his windshield he was throwing on his sunglasses and cranking up the music in his truck to hopefully drown out the pounding in his head. The last thing that he was expecting to see though was another car on these back roads. It was usually all tractors and farm trucks. He was just going to keep going but he could hear his Mama's voice in his head tell him to stop and check on whoever was there.

Bennett turned down his music and pulled up behind the pulled over car. With this being the country, he wasn't too worried about anyone thinking he was a creep or a serial killer. He took one last swig of his coffee before getting out and walking up to the passenger side and knocking on the window.

Madelyn didn't get much farther down the road. The car chugged several times, gasping for air almost, and the engine quit. Maddie swore under her breath, feeling tears spring to her eyes again. This really was all a stupid day!

She steered her car to the side of the dirt road until it drifted to a stop. "Okay. This all really dumb," she muttered, scrambling for her phone. Checking the battery, it was only at 10 percent and a call to a tow truck was refusing to go through.

She didn't get to jumping out of her car and screaming, however, because a man suddenly appeared and was knocking on her window. She jumped, glared at him, and swiped away a few tears. Maddie rolled down her window. "Can I help you?" She asked shortly, clearing her throat. "If you need a ride I'm the wrong person to ask right now."

*Sorry if I startled you, sweetheart. I was just stopping to make sure you were alright." Bennetts country twang wasn't as thick as most of the people around this area, but it was enough to know he was country born and raised. "It's not very often we see a car on these back roads that's not a pick up truck or a tractor. So I just wanted to stop to see if you needed an assistance with directions or maybe even car trouble." He wouldn't blame her if she turned his offer down. Although he would be more then willing to give her a ride into town or give her car a jump start.

"I don't know!" Madelyn said, flustered. "My car stalled out and I can't even imagine why. I've got gas and it was running fine before." With a sudden huff, she pushed open her door and jumped out, slamming the door behind her. Moving to her hood, she attempted to stick her fingers beneath it. "I just need to get this going again and then I'm heading back to the city." With every move she made, the poor girl found herself more frustrated and flustered and about to completely panic or have a break down. It would be the worst to do so right in front of a guy like this too!

Bennett stood, leaned up against her car and watched as she tried to open the hood. He could tell she was getting more and more frustrated by the second. Without a second thought he walked up next to her, found the latch for the hood and propped it open. He pushed his glasses up into his hair so he could get a better look at the engine.

"Honestly, it could be just about anything. It started up just fine this morning? No issues when you turned the key?" Bennett didn't know how to fix cars but he knew the basics from working on the farm. A lot of the trucks they use are old and they have to get them fixed a few times through our the year. "It's most likely going to be either your spark plugs or you need a new battery." He reached over and pulled out the door stick for the oil. The engine was still too hot to get a good look at the oil level so he shoved it back in.

"It was fine this morning," Madelyn ran her hands down through her hair, gripping her scalp as she did so. "Maybe it sounded laggy a bit but it's old. It always does that."

Her father would kill her once she got home, if she got home. Calling him was out of the option because service wasn't working for her and he'd only come by angry. Just like her mother, he was always angry about everything. She would have to walk. At least she had the whole day.

"If I need a new battery you can just jump it to start it for now, right?" She sounded hopeful but desolate. She peered into the engine bay along with the man and had no real idea of what she was looking at.

"Yeah, we can definitely try. Let me pull my truck around." Bennett tried to give her a reassuring smile before he headed back to his truck. It didn't take him long to pull his truck around so that their vehicles were face to face. He parked and hopped back to grab the jumper cable from the bed of his truck. ?He popped his hood open and hooked up the cords before starting his truck back up.

"It's best to let it sit for a few minutes to let it charge it up." He leaned up against the front of his truck with his hands I his pockets. "If you don't mind me asking what a city girl is doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" He was going to make a joke, but he could tell that she probably wasn't in the mood for any jokes at the moment.

Madelyn leaned against her little car as he started up his truck. She hoped this would be all it took to get her back to the city. She'd figure out how to deal with her father and mother later.

"I was just," Maddie said quickly, waving her hand around in a dramatic arc towards where she'd come from. The question seemed to fluster her again. "I was...dropping off my dog! Rehoming her. I'm not some stupid cruel city girl." She swallowed and turned to look out across the fields and the blue sky.

"You live around here then?" Maddie shrugged, biting her lip.

"Hey I never said you were. It's just not often people from the city are out on these roads." Bennett looked her over from behind his glasses, in hopes that she wouldn't notice. He had to admit she was quite attractive and different from most girls around this area. Country girls were mostly more aggressive and demanding when they wanted something. It wasn't quite his type, although he was known to sleep around with a few of them.

"Yeah, my father owns a farm just down the road. i was born and raised out here." He looked in the same direction that she did. *The scenery is quite amazing out here. The sunsets are especially beautiful if you know the right place to watch it." Which of course he did.

"I don't want anyone thinking I'm cruel. Especially since you're a farmer and I'm just a city girl," Madelyn cleared her throat, chewing her bottom lip.

"You don't ever feel like it's... too much empty space?" She asked awkwardly. She hadn't known anything beside her small apartment at home with her constantly shouting parents. Life was rough at home and she had never had space to breathe. "It's pretty, anyway."

"Nah. I think if I was constantly surrounded by tall buildings and houses, I would get claustrophobic." Just the idea of being stuck in the city made Bennetts nose scrunch up a little. "Out here you have all the clean open air, plenty of space to ride a horse, find a creek to jump into without having to worry about gross water." He stood from leaning against his truck and walked over to her car. "I think if you gave it chance, the countryside would grow on ya." Of course, it also had its downsides, like having to be up before the sun comes up to do farm chores or having to drive up to 30 minutes to any big grocery store. Luckily, they can order almost everything they need online and the rest they can find at the mom-and-pop store in town.

Well, it did all sound nice from what he was describing. The only thing was she didn't know how to ride a horse nor did she go swimming anywhere besides occasionally at the YMCA.

"I don't think I'd be moving to the country any time," she shrugged. "But it does seem nice."

She peered into the car again. "Should I try starting it up?"

Bennett just stared at her for a moment before it promised that she asked him a question. He was going to blame it on being hungover still. He ran a hand through his hair and nodded, stepping back from the car.

"Yeah, give it a go. If it doesn't start up, I can give you a ride into town to the shop if you want?" His dad was probably going to kill him for taking so long to get back but he was glad he stopped to help. "I know the guy who owns it and he owes me one anyways." Although he was praying that it started up because she seemed awfully worried about getting back to the city.

"Oh, I wouldn't make you do that. I'm sure you have somewhere to be anyway, and like you said, the weather's nice and clear. I can walk," Madelyn said quickly. She slid into the driver seat and turned over the key. The engin cranked a few times before sputtering out again. After two more useless attempts, Maddie grabbed her purse and stood with a rush, slamming the door shut behind her.

"I'm walking," she huffed. "This stupid car!" She muttered.

Bennett immediately took the jumper cables off their vehicles and tossed them in the bed of his truck. He rolled his eyes when she said she was going to walk. His mother would rise from the grave and hit him with a shovel if he let her walk.

"Get in the truck. I'll drive. I have to go into town anyways." He walked over to the passenger side and opened the door for her. "Please." He hoped that would make him more convincing.

Maddie paused and opened her mouth, like she was somehow surprised that he actually meant what he was saying. She didn't know this man at all. For all she knew, he'd take advantage of her the moment he got her into his car. Then again, maybe he was just offering to take her to town.

"Oh, alright," Maddie finally said, a bit hesitant still as she climbed up into his truck. It couldn't be that bad anyway. She buckled in and glanced over at the young man as he got into the driver seat. "Thank you. It's kind of you to drive me to town. I don't think I got your name. I'm Madelyn."

"I promise I won't do anything to you and if you feel threatened there's pepper spray in the glove box." The pepper spray has been left in his car by an ex, which he no longer talks to. He never got around to tossing it so he just shoved it in the glove box.

After hoping up into the truck he started it up and headed towards town. "It's really no problem at all. The names Bennett but a lot of people just call me Benny." It was a nickname given to him by his mom when he was younger and it just stuck for the rest of his life. "It's nice to meet you Madelyn." He glanced at her before looking back at the road. "Feel free to turn on some music if you'd like. I listen to just about anything."

"Bennett. Benny. Nice to meet you too," Madelyn nodded, leaning back in her seat. She watched the road for a little bit. Some swallow birds flitted across the fields, swooping up and down.

She grunted and suddenly reached forward, fiddling with the radio. It blared to life with a crackle and suddenly a Beatles song was playing. Madelyn didn't love their songs but she let it play anyway, in case it was awkward without.

Bennett smiled as the Beatles came on to the radio. He quietly hummed along to the song, rapping his hands on the steering wheel. He could drive around these back roads for hours if gas wasn't so expensive. The wind blowing in his face from window, music cranked, something his mom always enjoyed doing.

"Oh. I was going to ask. Who did you rehome your dog too?" He was wondering if he knew them. Which he was pretty sure he did because he knew just about everyone around here and in town.

Madelyn had been deep in thought when Bennett spoke again. She shrugged. "Oh, um, a couple named Mary and Davis. They said they'd had goldens before and would love another." She hated the way she said that, for it meant she really had given up Lucy. It sucked. All of it did. It was just one of the lesser evils she had chosen. "You know them?"

"I do actually! Mary use to baby sit me when I was younger. They are good people." Bennett hoped that was a little reassuring for her. He didn't think she was cruel at all for rehoming her dog. He assumed she was doing what she thought was best for her and her dog and he wouldn't judge her for it. "I'm sure they would let you come visit her when ever you wanted."

As they were pulling into town he took the first right on to the main road. It would only be a few more minutes until they reached their destination. He was almost a little disappointed to have to drop her off, even though he just met the lady.

"Well, I don't want to bug them with that..." But maybe once in awhile a visit to check on Lucy would be alright. Maddie didn't like to be considered a burden or a frustrating person in any way. She already got plenty of that from her family.

"You can drop me off anywhere around here," Maddie said, glancing over at Bennett. He was actually pretty nice for doing all of this for her, a random woman he didn't know.

((Once they split up how are they going to meet bac up again?)

((I was just thinking about that too. Maybe he gives her his number. Something could happen and he is the only one she can call 🤷 or something like that??))

"Let me at least drive you to the shop. Frank owes me, so you just tell him I sent you and he should at least give you a nice discount." That's if he even charges her at all for towing her car. Bennett won a bet and Frank owed him for it yet. So he could cash in his I.O.U. for a free tow.

Bennett pulled into the parking lot of Franks Tow Company and put his truck in park. "Well, I hope your car isn't in too bad of shape. Good chance you just need new spark plugs, so that should be a quick and easy fix." Bennett searched through the cubby of his truck door until he found what he was looking for. It was a business card with his name and number on it for the farm. He handed it over to her. "Just in case you need help with anything else or if you are ever back in town and.wamr a tour of the place. I know where all the food spots are."

((That works!))

"Thank you so much again, it would have been a long walk without the lift," Madelyn said gratefully. She smiled finally, a bit shyly. At least there were kind people out there still. Even if hard to find. "I hope it is as easy as you say," she nodded, then paused as he started looking for something.

"Oh, nice, okay," Madelyn said with a little surprise. She didn't think he'd offer something like that out of the gate. She probably wouldn't end up seeing him ever again but you never knew. Maybe she would see him in the city or something.

"Well, yeah," she nodded after studying the card. She slipped it into her pocket and climbed down from the truck cab, shutting the door behind her. "I guess I'm off, then. Thanks a lot!"

"It's no problem at all!" Bennett waited until she was inside before he pulled off. He glanced at his phone and saw a missed call from his dad and few texts as well. He rolled his eyes and sent a quick text back before he headed off to go pick up all the stuff he needed to get. For the rest of the day he couldn't stop thinking about her and it often left a smile on his face. Which a lot of the farm hands teased him about.

((I reread my last post and want to apologize for any spelling mistakes. I've been using my phone to reply while I wait for my new keyboard to arrive in the mail and it is awfully hard to type on this dang thing sometimes.))

((Also are we ready to skip?))

((You're fine! And yes, where to? Something happens at home and Maddie calls Bennett, not knowing what else to do?))

((that would be perfect! Then he can rush over and help! Or she comes to him. Either way!))

((Great!))

Several days later, Maddie lost her job and following that, her parents had another one of their fights. This time her father was drunk and his anger had gone too far. With a slap to her face, he shouted at her that she was no longer welcome in his home and she had thirty minutes to get herself out.

Maddie was out in fifteen minutes.

Her face burned, the backpack she lugged was stuffed with some hurried clothing choices and a few protein bars and a water bottle. She was crying, walking down the street at 11 o'clock at night and wishing she had someone to call on. Her friends hadn't been staying in touch and Maddie was at a loss of where to go.

She rubbed the side of her head as she walked downtown. She was probably going to have a massive bruise. The occasional car drove by but nobody slowed down and Maddie didn't want the attention of someone random anyway. The last time that had happened... wait. Maybe she could call Bennett. She had his phone number on that card. Maybe he knew of a good cheap place to spend a night.

Fumbling through her wallet, she pulled out the card and punched in his number. The phone began to dial.

Liam was wiped from the day. He was up early this morning to help clean out the barn they kept the cows in and then all the horses stalls as well. Then his dad has him running errands and making deliveries the rest of the day. He has had promised the boys he would go out with as well.

So here he was at 11 o'clock at night, just getting home. He made sure to only have two drinks tonight because there was a good chance he would be woken up early tomorrow as well. He didn't hate the farm life but he didn't love it either. Just kept him busy until he could figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Bennett just threw on some sweatpants and plopped into his bed when his phone started to ring. Who could possibly be calling him this late at night?

"Hello?" Bennett sat up in his bed as he answered his phone. It has been a number he didn't recognize so he thought maybe it was one of his friend drunk calling him from the bar to come pick him up again.

When the phone connected, Madelyn had a momentary panic ather foolishness. Of course Bennett didn't need her calling him this late. What could he do, anyway? She paused for a second, and at his second hello, she swallowed.

"Hey, Bennett." She paused again, hands sweating. It was probably her headache causing her to act stupid. "Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you, especially this late. Forget it. I just thought maybe you knew a good place to stay tonight, somewhere not too expensive for just a night." Her face grew red. She kept walking, eyes searching the streets for any signs of an unwanted person. Most places were closed now. Why would Bennett know of anywhere better, and by the time she walked out there it would be much later. She was wasting time and Benny probably wanted to sleep after working on the farm.

"Wait. Madelyn?" Bennett has been hoping that she would call him, maybe not under these circumstances but he would take it. He has to rack his brain at her question. He unfortunately has spent very little time in the city and doesn't know anywhere she could stay.

"Oh no. It's totally fine. I told you to call if you needed anything, but I don't know much about hotels near you." Bennett paced around his room as he tried to figure out where she could go. Then it clicked. "Duh, I'm dumb. You could stay with me?" After saying that Benny realized how bad that could sound. "I mean... I have an extra room in my house. It's just a small house on the farm my dad lets me rent out but it has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. You'd have your own space tonight and then I can help you figure out something tomorrow?" Bennett shut up before he continues to ramble about his dumb house.

"Yeah, it's me," Madelyn admitted with a soft sigh. "I guess I meant if there were any hotels in your home town. Anything small. Everything is closed or booked up out here usually." She huddled under a street lamp, pausing her mindless wandering.

"I guess I don't know where you live. I just need at least for tonight, then I'll figure something out. But I don't want to impede either. I'm sorry... it's so late." She was tired and felt sick to her stomach for asking any sort of favor and her head still throbbed. "If you're sure, could you text me your address? I'm in the city. I should be able to put it in Google Maps out here. But only if you're sure."

"Yeah there really isn't much out here for hotels or anything, but you are more then welcome to crash here." Bennett went out to his living room to hunt down his boots but all he could find was a pair of slippers. Where do he leave his shoes?

"Uh.. address.. yes...".He slipped on the slippers and looked around for his keys as he gave her his address. "Did you get your car fixed?" He needed to slow down second, she might be able to drive herself. She might not need him to rush in there like some prince charming. He barely knew the girl, maybe she would think it's weird.

Madelyn plugged in his address and looked to see how long Google Maps said it would take her to walk. About 3 hours. That was a long time when it was already so late.

"No, not yet, it's in the shop. They said my fuel pump or whatever died? It's going to take a moment for them to fix it since I just had it towed instead of an appointment. Thanks for the address," Maddie murmured. Everything was messed up. She could be there a lot faster if she had her car but she wasn't going to ask the man to come get her after he already had done so much.

"I'll get there as fast as I can." She thanked him again and was about to hang up.