Fruitcake—that smell spilled into the room and coated the walls. Orion loved fruitcake.
Orion Haymond stood in the middle of his new living room, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes and the chaotic energy of a fresh start. He took a deep breath, feeling his anxiety bury itself deep into his skin. He had made this move to find new inspiration for his art after being told his work lacked "life" and a "sense of wonder." The criticism had hit him hard, and he knew he needed a change of scenery to rekindle his creativity. Willow Creek seemed like the perfect place to start over, to breathe new life into his art.
The vibrant hues of blooming flowers in the front yard framed a trio of neighbors approaching his front door—two women and a man, all bearing bright smiles and a basket brimming with goodies. The scent of fruitcake wafted through the open windows, mingling with the crisp, suburban air. Orion peeked out, quickly taking in their appearances. The woman in the lead, with golden hair, wore a blue and white striped polo shirt with a blue jean skirt, her cheerful demeanor radiating through her outfit. Orion had always loved the look of white and blue, especially when paired so nicely with denim. This woman wasn't just wearing an outfit, she was a walking statement, and Orion couldn't be happier to greet her. Her outfit reminded him of an article he once posted about clothing that catches the eye. Besides her, the other two didn't wear anything remotely as special. The woman next to her wore a plain purple shirt adorned with a picture of a yellow baby duck wearing glasses, paired with yellow pants covered in autumn leaves. The man wore a red long-sleeve shirt with a gray and black diamond pattern intersected by thin white lines, and dark-colored khaki pants.
Orion opened the door, greeting them with a smile that felt more genuine than it had in weeks.
"Sul-Sul, Welcome to the neighborhood!" the woman with an amazing sense of style called out as he opened the door, her voice warm and vibrant. "I'm Summer Holiday, and these are my friends, Liberty Lee and Travis Scott."
Orion returned their smiles, his heart pounding in his chest. "Sul-Sul, I'm Orion Haymond. It's amazing to meet you. I'm so sorry I haven't had time to come around and say hello just yet. I've been so busy unpacking." He wanted to add that he was also busy drowning in anxiety, but that could be for another day.
"Oh, that's fine. We noticed your truck and thought we'd come by and introduce ourselves," Summer said, her eyes sparkling with genuine enthusiasm. "Also, unpacking can be such a pain in the ass, so we thought a little treat might help."
Summer handed him the fruitcake, and Orion couldn't help but notice how beautifully decorated the top was. It had red and pink candies on it, which just so happened to be his favorite colors. He could tell it was homemade from the slightly uneven sides, but it looked gourmet nonetheless. This was simply a fruitcake, but it was damn impressive. He wasn't sure how the rest of the visit would go, but somehow the anxiety had already begun to roll right off of him.
"Thank you so much," Orion replied, accepting the fruitcake and the basket. "I actually love fruitcake."
"Really, me too! It's literally my favorite sweet," Summer said, her smile widening. "We can help you get settled if you'd like. Unpacking is always easier with a few extra hands."
Liberty and Travis nodded in agreement, and Orion found himself nodding along with them. "I appreciate the offer, but I can handle it. Besides, there's still a lot to do, so this could take all day. I wouldn't want you all to have to suffer through that."
Liberty smiled warmly. "Oh, it's no trouble at all!"
"We really wouldn't mind. Besides, we were just going to mope around all day. Might as well help out the new neighbor," Summer beamed.
