safe in your skin | ellie williams

2

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　a few days later　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
( tw angst / anxiety, alcohol consumption ?)

It's been quite a few days since you've arrived in Jackson and you were settling in step by step. This village grew closer to you, just as you imagined on your way here.

You introduced yourself to a small amount of citizens after your Arrival, one very forward, extroverted girl called Dina, being the kindest of them all. She was the sweetest to you and had such a big heart. She showed you Jacksons' Outline of the Village and introduced some other people to you- or at least told you who was who and who you should definitely know. You met her boyfriend Jesse, who's humor you loved. You already noticed Dina's and Jesse's on and off's in their relationship but quoting Jesse, it's nothing unusual.

You tried to hide the fact, that you were new to all of these social interactions and hoped for the best while meeting other people of this town. Your nervousness habits were really coming out at those moments, you kept on fidgeting with your fingers or your beloved jewelry out of social anxiety. People here really loved getting a little too close to other people aswell.

Maria and her husband Tommy had visited your house again -explaining all the routines of the villagers here, possible jobs for you and joinable patrol shift, after you settled in with your things and even hugged you before leaving the household- the loving action was unusual to you, it's been a long time since you've had been hugged from other people and you've definitely had grown colder since your dad left you and you escaped from your moms presence.

You slightly flinched at their touch, not expecting that kind of physical affection. You weren't sure if Tommy and Maria noticed your reaction, you hugged back though. After they left your house, you immediately felt like isolating yourself for a small amount of time. Those social interactions were quite overwhelming right now.

You've been all by yourself for quite a while and learned how to deal with things all by yourself. Including your emotions, you would even know how to explain your feelings and thoughts to other people.

Isolating yourself is a fence you build upon your own body to keep people out, but then you cry to be touched. But the fence is barbed.

Closing your diary, you were seated on the vintage grey couch and looked up at your now kinda decorated house. It wasn't as empty as before, some spaces on the walls now covered with some of the paintings you made over all the past months, your art supplies were laid out on the light brown couch table in front of you and some of your other belongings were laying here and there.

Your love for drawing grew after your mom kept shouting all your work would be useless and pointless, calling you talentless every now and then when she saw a glimpse of you working on a new piece when you and your parents were staying somewhere over night for shelter. The memories made you trace your hands and scar on your left side of it. You almost forgot what touch of others felt like.

The wind outside was blowing against the glass of your windows, dim light streaks leaking through them. You took a deep breath and tried to distract yourself from your core memories. Would taking a nap help ? No, you wouldn't be able to fall asleep.

A knock on your door interrupted your plans, you groaned internally, you didn't wanna see anybody right now but you could not avoid this situation right now, it was obvious you were at home. You took the few steps towards the door, placing a loose strand of dark hair behind your ear, out of your face.

Opening the door, it revealed Dina. Her usual sunshine being, she smiled at you. Her black hair was put into a bun and her few freckles were really showing in the afternoon lightning.
" Hey, l/n hope i'm not disturbing you right now", she cocked her head slightly to the side, looking up at you with her typical cheerful smile.
"Dina... of course not, what's up ? Everything okay?", you questioned, biting the inside of your lip out of habit.
"Yes, doing alright so far, just quickly wanted to come over and ask you if you're in for some plans together with some people. Me and my friends are planning to do a bonfire tonight and I thought you would like it there"