no-sleeping-beauty-blog

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aurora diana aldridge disappeared in the early hours of the morning on the 10th of october 2015. one minute she was there, the next she wasn’t. bed unslept, nothing missing from her flat except for a now empty photo-frame, previously containing a family photo from the girl’s youth, and what was said to have been miss aldridge’s dog, a german shepherd mongrel. initially reported as a disappearance, the police found nothing of importance in the young woman’s flat. however, after contacting friends and family members of the missing person to no avail, new evidence came to light. a hand-written letter was handed in anonymously to the local police service, quickly analysed by forensic experts and declared genuine.  addressed only as ‘in the case of rory aldridge - please pass on to whom it may concern’, the letter contained the following: dear friends, i’m gone. please don’t go looking for me. i don’t care what your excuse is. i’ve made my choices now and it’s too late for anything. i can’t stick life here anymore. i need to be free. classes and teachers and a mundane life of settling down and getting married and having a boring desk job. i’m not built for that. i need the wind in the hair and the snow in my skin and the sun in my eyes and i need this. i need moving around and nights spent around the campfire and voyages and people and places and experiences i’ll remember. please don’t mistake this letter for something it’s not. campus has become almost my own, and i’m sure i’ll be back eventually. i don't know where i'm going to rest my head tonight, so i can't promise that i'll speak to you again. i love you. maybe i’ll be home for next year.  until then, yours always, rory. as a result of this new evidence, the case has been declared closed and nothing further is to be done.

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Her expression was fearful, concerned, but for a second, the faintest flicker of outrage appeared. “Don’t you dare say that, Connor Vivera. Don’t even dare.”

“Didn’t think I was going to either.” He sighed. “I should’ve fucking died.”

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“You’ll be number one dad again. Think about it. Double presents on father’s day, double Christmas presents - well, unless they team up, in which case you better run. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays? Well, wallow in my self-loathing for a while, maybe commit a couple of felonies, why?”

“I’m a little nervous but I’m making it work. I tried to explain it to her but I don’t think she’ll fully grasp it until the baby is actually here. Speaking of Dom, what do you do in the evenings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays?”

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“And maybe I’m loud because you’re being too quiet. I can be louder, I do a spot-on Ellen DeGeneres impression.”

“I do when you’re being so loud.”

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“You see, this is why I’m friends with you, Theodore,” Rory commented as she rested her elbows on the bar; nodding along to his words.·“I’ll have what he’s having, times ten,” she grinned.“Or just my usual. Times ten in alcohol also, because this guy inspires me to drink like a champ.”

Theo flashed her a grin, pushing open the door and leading them up to the bar. “Hit me with the strongest thing you have.” He instructed the bartender, placing the cash on the table, “And whatever she wants.”

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After losing a bet, Rory managed to drag Heath along to a concert. Taken by a friend of Rory’s before the show. Spring ‘15

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“Hey, um, you’re awake. Didn’t think you were going to. Hi.”

“How bad is it?”

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“Do you have to be so damn rude?”

“Do you have to be so damn loud?”

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“Come on, there’s gotta be a game playing somewhere, it’s time for you to get busy living or get busy dying.”

“I will go off on whatever I so please to, I never claimed to know true football, however I’m not entirely sure I want to.”

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“Then get the fuck over your hangover.”

“Psh, wimp, me? Never.” 

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“Sorry, mate. Hey! That’s great news, man. I bet Dom is going to be real pleased, well, as pleased as a one and bit year old can be - have you told her yet? I think it’s natural for dads to want boys, that’s why it’s good to have one of each. Both parents are happy.”

“Again? Please don’t, it’s nasty.” Cedric laughed, sitting across from Rory on another couch. “My wife is expecting again, it’s pretty exciting. Maybe it’ll be a boy this time, not that I don’t love my daughter.”

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In a second, she’d grabbed his hand, and they disappeared into nothing, materialising again at the door to a bar. “Let’s go, dude.”

“Lead the way.”

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By the time Rory had made it into his office, flopped down on the sofa and grinned up at the man, he’d ended the phone call, but not before she’d heard the last few words. “Hey, Prof Cedric, what’s up? You look happy. Too happy, do I need to put some salt in your coffee again?”

“Yeah, I know,” Cedric held the phone up to his ear,·“There’s going to be two of those suckers walking around now. I wonder how Dominique will react,” Cedric turned around and noticed someone had come to his office.·“I’ll call you later okay? Alright, bye.” Cedric put his phone in his pocket and smiled at the visitor,·“What can I do for you?”

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“Don’t fucking diss my sport. You don’t know true football until you’ve played in, or at least been to a real match.”

“Someone explain to me why muggles are so fascinated by kicking something around on a field, this is boring.”

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“Yes, I do, because I believe in you, and I believe in myself.”

“Do you really think that? Do you really think we’ll be able to fix this?”

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“It’s an expression, don’t be a fucking wimp.”

“I’m not even a woman though!” 

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adamaldridge:

“It’s okay. I just wanted someone to listen. It’s hard to find what to say in situations like this, I know that. Thanks for just being here.” He nodded. Rubbing the back of Rory’s back very softly. “The thing that is the worst is I know that’s not me, I know I’m not crazy and I know I’m better. But for some reason people are believing that, that’s the worst.”

Rory kept him in a hug for a little longer, before letting go softly; moving back, she gave him a gentle, comforting nudge. “You know we’ll find a way to fix it, Adam. We’ll get the article gone, find who wrote it, and make them take it back. They don’t get to say that about you, not while I’m here.”