rosenoirwrites

[rosenoirwrites]

From ‘Leonelli’s Obsession’ by rosenoirwrites on Wattpad & Inkitt

[rosenoirwrites]

Memes that keep me going 🙌🤣

[rosenoirwrites]

Dario: I hate humans

Wu Hyun-seok: *breathes*

Dario: *blushes* okay, not all

Read Dario’s Lifeline by Rosenoirwrites on Wattpad, Inkitt and Tapas!

[rosenoirwrites]

BW | BEYOND WORDS

summary: billionaire tycoon x black woman || opposite attracts trope. this series would be exploring cute and conflicting moments in their relationship.

Part one | make me breakfast

“You’re such a show-off,” Maya laughed between bated breaths as she jogged behind Dante. Her unnaturally athletic boyfriend wove through the trail effortlessly, sending half smiles over his shoulder as she struggled to keep up.

“Do you want me to slow down for you, bambina? I can be slow too.” He bit back his chuckle at Maya’s exasperated response. He doubled his speed, feeling her catching up — probably to beat his ass, more or less if she did.

By the time they made it back to the exit of the park, Maya was barely moving, hunched forward and taking deep and steady breaths. “Never…again. We are never doing this again.

Dante chuckled, “Never say never, baby. If we're consistent, you'll get used to the pain in no time.”

Maya straightened, narrowing her eyes at his amused face. They'd barely spent an hour jogging through the park and yet she felt the sweat rolling over her body in waves with her lungs fighting desperately for their lives.

While Dante looked unfazed. Sweat slid over his face and peppered the faint lines on his forehead but his breathing was even and calm. His slim fit shirt glistened and clung to his pecs, outlining the lines in all their glory.

Maya looked away. She was supposed to be pissed that for one, she was a mess while he excelled at looking so attractive working out.

“Are you checking me out?” He lowered his voice and drew closer, pulling his lips in a teasing smirk. “You like what you see?”

“No, I don't.” She pushed back against his chest, oddly aware that they stood in a quite crowded space to be flirting so blatantly — not that he cared or anything. He’d jump at it if she made a move here and now.

But she brushed the loose strands of her hair back and made her way to their parked car. Flustered and annoyed by his bellowing laughter behind her.

When they got home though, barely even a step in, his lips found hers in a rush. Gnawing and teasing the lip captured between his teeth. Her lungs barely had time to keep up with their frantic kiss that left them both breathless.

Dante drew back first, running a thumb over her gleaming bottom lip and breathing out. “You’re so beautiful when you're pissed at me, bambina. Should I tease you more often?”

Maya rolled her eyes, unable to stop the smile that pulled at her lips. “Do you ever not tease me?”

He furrowed his brows as if in thought. Before finally coming to a conclusion, “That’s true, I don't think so.”

Maya scoffed at his playful smile, heaving a sigh before pulling away from his hold. “I'm hungry, would you be so kind and make your beloved girlfriend breakfast?”

“Is she asking me nicely though? Do I look like a chef you can just command whenever you want?” He held unto her hand as she backed away into their shared apartment.

Maya pouted, wrapping her hands around him and moving closer. “Will you please make me something to eat, my lovely boyfriend? The treasure of my heart, the apple of my beautiful eyes-”

He cut her off with his laugh, throwing his head back in exasperation. Just how had he been living his life before meeting this angel? He let his eyes find her pouted lips and unto the beautiful chestnut brown eyes that reflected in his. Sometimes it was hard to imagine that she was his. Or rather, that he was hers.

She was too beautiful, funny and immaculate to be true. Her smile brightened his day, her laugh reverberating in his mind and traveling to his beating heart. It didn't look like it but she had carved a place in his heart and he really couldn't say no when she asked - not that he wouldn't tease her first.

“Fine.” He admitted his defeat, shaking his head at her triumphant smile. “But first, let’s take a shower, I don’t want to pollute the food.”

“Just admit that you want me, you don’t have to use the food as an excuse.” She teased, poking at his chest playfully. “All you have to do is ask.”

“Well, that’ll be a lot of asking.” He whispered, slowly bringing his lips close to hers. “Cause I find myself always wanting you. Every time and everywhere, bambina.”

She crinkled her nose at him, trying but failing to hide her smile. “You’re so cheesy.”

“But you love it.” He pecked her nose and moved to take the lead, pulling her gently towards the bathroom. “Now, let’s go shower and then, I’ll make you the best breakfast you’ve ever had.”

“That’s what you always say,” she mumbled, sheepishly following his lead with a smitten smile plastered across her face.

THANKS FOR READING - KINDLY LIKE & SHARE

[rosenoirwrites]

So, I really like doing Picrews but I'm also Black, SO! I decided to compile a list of picrews and dolls that had a wide range of skin tones, option for Black facial features and Black hair options THAT MAKE SENSE. If you find anymore please add on! These are my favs to go back to 😁

Djarn Charater maker

Smile Maker

Icon Maker-Star Wars

Icon Maker by Magenta Girl

Adorable Character

Vintage Western Girl

BAYDEWS AVATER MAKER

Specs Maker

Hummm Girl

Girl Maker

Poicon Maker

Aloha! Sushicore Icon

Space Princess

[rosenoirwrites]

Dark Academia ways to stay healthy:

(‘Cause I care about you bastards)

You are Elizabeth Bennet, walk child! If you get a chance to walk to places instead of using transportation do so, if you have a nice place to walk like a park with lots of trees or a wood, what are you waiting for?

Coffee malt, is a beverage made with malt which pregnant people drink because they can’t have real coffee and it tastes quite similar. No extra caffeine for extra bi ches.

Practice commonly ‘dark academia’ sports, such as fencing, cricket, archery, swimming, also dancing mostly classic ballet or ballroom dance but it could be others, running, badminton, rafting, to name a few.

Try to care more about the way you eat, you don’t need to get near a salad if you don’t want to, but you could try to look for what kind of food you are having, you could search for recipes of your favorite historical period or place (I heard Ancient Greek food is quite easy to make), I mean if they could do it with near to nothing so can you! Or if you are having a pizza you could try making it at home so you don’t eat any unnecessary calories and fat.

Take your vitamins! I don’t care if you have to shove them down your throat with a glass of wine. And have some sun you wretched vampire! That D vitamin keeps you looking good (please do so in the recommended hours and not for a long period of time)

Sleep, I’m not a responsible person so I’m not asking you to be so, but at least try to sleep more than five hours, even if you can’t sleep at night try to fix your sleep schedule or sleep considerable hours when you can.

Stretching, even if you don’t exercise some stretching is good for your muscles.

Of course this is easier said than done but is not about doing it all at once, but little improvements day by day.

[rosenoirwrites]

“I throw wishes into the night and wait for the stars to catch them.”

- Christy Ann Martine

[rosenoirwrites]

THANK YOU BOO 🥺❤️

Live for me (bxb)

Prologue

First draft

Dane Watford had been through the wringer when it came to the various strategies and methods his newly found counterparts used to constantly get rid of him.

He’d been sent a baseless note that had ended things, been kicked out of the apartment he'd spent a night in—with his crumpled clothes thrown along side him, had to find out from a mutual connection and had been told over a simple text: “its over”

But none had prepared Dane for the estrangement with his new lover, a boy by the name Matthew. Matthew had been the one, if Dane were to say, that he’d felt the first spark of connection with.

A young lad that he’d offered his jacket to on a cool winter evening while he took a stroll along the campus park. The weather had been chilly and wrought with a mild blizzard hurling icy sleets at people who’d been brave enough to step outside.

A bored and sadistic idiot like himself, had ventured out of the comfort of his warm and cozy dorm room and into the raging storm. With a stuffed coat and a thick scarf with an extra jacket in hand in case of an emergency, Dane embarked on his aimless journey through the campus, passing by the academic buildings and through the campus park that was vacant.

The benches had slowly acquired frosted coatings on their surfaces, particles of white hoar layered on them as the blizzard went on. Dane had found the condition of the campus quite disastrous but for a heart that’d been recently shattered, a change of scenery—though bizarre and intractable, felt like the perfect chance to clear his clouded mind.

Until he laid his eyes on a certain man who sat, seasonally dressed as though it were summer in his pleated sweater and plaid jeans, his head bowed like he were alseep or lost in thought.

His first thought had been to walk away and ignore the strange fellow, but as he attempted to pass by his bench, he felt the sudden need to stop. Contrary to his pessimistic mind and recovering heart, he'd reached out to him and offered his extra jacket.

A gesture that solidified the relationship that bloomed afterward. One that had lasted longer than the other flings he'd suffered from, a smooth and not so conflicted romance that had always seemed too good to be true.

Which It’d actually been all along.

Now seated opposite one another in a quaint coffee shop at a mere distance from their shared off-campus apartment, Dane had—for the first time in a while—been left dumbstruck at the the words that left Matthews lips as he spoke.

“It’s been coming for some time now” He’d sputtered, twirling the teaspoon in his mug as he spoke, “I-we haven't been as happy as we should be, I'm sure you’ve felt it as well” He sipped at his sizzling latte, avoiding eye contact with Dane as much as possible.

“You can't pretend like as if we’ve been living our best lives together, it's obvious that we’re both miserable” he continued, now tapping his fingers against the table, “and my parents offered to take me for counselling and I accepted the offer”

“What the fuck do you need counselling for?” Dane spat, feeling the sensation of fumes emitting from his ears as he spoke, the anger raging within him competed with the scorching heat that spewed from the cup of tea set before him.

Matthew leaned forward, his gaze now set on Dane’s as he spoke, “For this fucked up relationship we have! You think it's normal for two men to actually be together?” he pinched the bridge of his nose, “I know we confessed our feelings for each other and all but these last few weeks have got me thinking and I don't think that this—that we are normal. We need to seek help, and counseling can achieve that”

“Is that what your priest told you?” Dane retorted, cleanching his fidgeting fingers into fists as he bit down on his bottom lip, his tongue swirling along the intricate loop of his lip piercing, “That loving me is a sin? That it's uncommon? I thought we were past that”

“Well you thought wrong” Matthew leaned back in his seat, tussles of his brown curls falling over his eyebrows as he watched the man he’d once loved, unravel in the face of his unexpected breakup—it was certainly better than the truth, this was much more appealing to reveal to him at least.

“I’ll need you to pack your things and leave by tomorrow evening, I'll help you pack if—”

In all his practice and anticipation of Dane’s reaction to his sudden request for a breakup, Matthew had never seen a swirl of hot coffee spilled over his body as one.

Nor had he expected a rage driven Dane to pounce on him, lunging forward over the table and crashing unto the floor, punching and screaming obscene words at him.

The customers around them had scrambled to separate them, a certain elderly nosy woman dailing her emergency contact, 911, as the struggle to subdue a punching and writhing Dane as well as the battered Matthew continued.

Once they were able to drag them to either side of the shop, a heaving and rage drunken Dane spat at the direction of Mattew, who's left eye was gently changing it's shade to a much sickening color of purple. He sputtered blood out of his quivering lips as the customers that’d helped him attempted to tend to him whilst Dane struggled in his captors hold.

“I hope I see you in hell you fucker” Dane retorted, a devilish smirk making its way across his lips as he watched Matthew grapple to regain his stability. “I’ll be sure to see you there you ducking prick” he cursed.

The repercussions of his assault, though heavy and saddening to even comprehend, brought a wider smile to Dane’s lips. For the first time, he’s been able to express his feelings towards a man who’d disregarded how he’d felt and pushed him over the edge.

It was certainly worth the pain that was looming at the end of the current squabble before them. For now though, He’d enjoy watching his ex, groan and writhe in pain.

THANKS FOR READING ❤️

Tags: @midnvght-lies @midnxghtsunwrites

[rosenoirwrites]

Live for me (bxb)

by Rose Noir (rosenoirwrites)

summary: dane has known heartbreak but so has roman — rough, arrogant, ignored and a man who rides with the notorious bikers club. roman is the very last person dane should get involved with but he does anyway, cause who doesn't love a little taste of danger?

Dane Watford had been through the wringer when it came to the various strategies and methods his newly found counterparts used to constantly get rid of him.

He’d been sent a baseless note that had ended things, been kicked out of the apartment he'd spent a night in—with his crumpled clothes thrown along side him, had to find out from a mutual connection and had been told over a simple text: “its over”

But none had prepared Dane for the estrangement with his new lover, a boy by the name Matthew. Matthew had been the one, if Dane were to say, that he’d felt the first spark of connection with.

A young lad that he’d offered his jacket to on a cool winter evening while he took a stroll along the campus park. The weather had been chilly and wrought with a mild blizzard hurling icy sleets at people who’d been brave enough to step outside.

A bored and sadistic idiot like himself, had ventured out of the comfort of his warm and cozy dorm room and into the raging storm. With a stuffed coat and a thick scarf with an extra jacket in hand in case of an emergency, Dane embarked on his aimless journey through the campus, passing by the academic buildings and through the campus park that was vacant.

The benches had slowly acquired frosted coatings on their surfaces, particles of white hoar layered on them as the blizzard went on. Dane had found the condition of the campus quite disastrous but for a heart that’d been recently shattered, a change of scenery—though bizarre and intractable, felt like the perfect chance to clear his clouded mind.

Until he laid his eyes on a certain man who sat, seasonally dressed as though it were summer in his pleated sweater and plaid jeans, his head bowed like he were alseep or lost in thought.

His first thought had been to walk away and ignore the strange fellow, but as he attempted to pass by his bench, he felt the sudden need to stop. Contrary to his pessimistic mind and recovering heart, he'd reached out to him and offered his extra jacket.

A gesture that solidified the relationship that bloomed afterward. One that had lasted longer than the other flings he'd suffered from, a smooth and not so conflicted romance that had always seemed too good to be true.

Which It’d actually been all along.

Now seated opposite one another in a quaint coffee shop at a mere distance from their shared off-campus apartment, Dane had—for the first time in a while—been left dumbstruck at the the words that left Matthews lips as he spoke.

“It’s been coming for some time now” He’d sputtered, twirling the teaspoon in his mug as he spoke, “I-we haven't been as happy as we should be, I'm sure you’ve felt it as well” He sipped at his sizzling latte, avoiding eye contact with Dane as much as possible.

“You can't pretend like as if we’ve been living our best lives together, it's obvious that we’re both miserable” he continued, now tapping his fingers against the table, “and my parents offered to take me for counselling and I accepted the offer”

“What the fuck do you need counselling for?” Dane spat, feeling the sensation of fumes emitting from his ears as he spoke, the anger raging within him competed with the scorching heat that spewed from the cup of tea set before him.

Matthew leaned forward, his gaze now set on Dane’s as he spoke, “For this fucked up relationship we have! You think it's normal for two men to actually be together?” he pinched the bridge of his nose, “I know we confessed our feelings for each other and all but these last few weeks have got me thinking and I don't think that this—that we are normal. We need to seek help, and counseling can achieve that”

“Is that what your priest told you?” Dane retorted, cleanching his fidgeting fingers into fists as he bit down on his bottom lip, his tongue swirling along the intricate loop of his lip piercing, “That loving me is a sin? That it's uncommon? I thought we were past that”

“Well you thought wrong” Matthew leaned back in his seat, tussles of his brown curls falling over his eyebrows as he watched the man he’d once loved, unravel in the face of his unexpected breakup—it was certainly better than the truth, this was much more appealing to reveal to him at least.

“I’ll need you to pack your things and leave by tomorrow evening, I'll help you pack if—”

In all his practice and anticipation of Dane’s reaction to his sudden request for a breakup, Matthew had never seen a swirl of hot coffee spilled over his body as one.

Nor had he expected a rage driven Dane to pounce on him, lunging forward over the table and crashing unto the floor, punching and screaming obscene words at him.

The customers around them had scrambled to separate them, a certain elderly nosy woman dailing her emergency contact, 911, as the struggle to subdue a punching and writhing Dane as well as the battered Matthew continued.

Once they were able to drag them to either side of the shop, a heaving and rage drunken Dane spat at the direction of Mattew, who's left eye was gently changing it's shade to a much sickening color of purple. He sputtered blood out of his quivering lips as the customers that’d helped him attempted to tend to him whilst Dane struggled in his captors hold.

“I hope I see you in hell you fucker” Dane retorted, a devilish smirk making its way across his lips as he watched Matthew grapple to regain his stability. “I’ll be sure to see you there you ducking prick” he cursed.

The repercussions of his assault, though heavy and saddening to even comprehend, brought a wider smile to Dane’s lips. For the first time, he’s been able to express his feelings towards a man who’d disregarded how he’d felt and pushed him over the edge.

It was certainly worth the pain that was looming at the end of the current squabble before them. For now though, He’d enjoy watching his ex, groan and writhe in pain.

THANKS FOR READING ❤️

Tags: @midnvght-lies @midnxghtsunwrites

[rosenoirwrites]

Live for me (bxb)

coming soon exclusively on Tumblr

[rosenoirwrites]

WDAMO | ❝ back to bed ❞

summary: Kiera has a hard time going to sleep due to pregnancy pain but she read something that helps with that.

general taglist: @gwenspacy @saccreigns @complacentviawattpad @rosenoirwrites @random-ficreader23 @kyla-queen @neealicious @islandgyalwrites

let me know if you'd like to join any of my taglists! feel free to like, reblog, and comment! also, my asks are open — and im taking requests!

"I am so fucking tired." Kiera cries in annoyance as she nuzzles under Chris's thick bicep. He allows her to burrow her bonnet covered head into his hold.

He exhales, "Then go to sleep, Ki." His voice is deeper than the usual — why wouldn't it be? It's three in the morning and his wife keeps waking him up every hour to complain that she can't sleep.

Kiera sighs, "You know I can't." Pregnancy has been hard on Ki's body — her back, her shoulders, her head... she's just struggling at the moment and what can usually fix that is comfort provided by her husband. Now that she's on the third and fourth additions to the family, but just a few months along, she's in pain.

She watches as Chris finally peeks an eye open — it's like she gained night vision along with constant migraines.

He runs his eyes over her face in sympathy, "Back or belly?"

Kiera thinks about it for a moment, "Both."

The man pecks his wife's lips before turning her around, pressing her back against his taut chest. He rests a hand on her pregnant belly and kisses her shoulder.

"I read something..." Kiera looks out through the bedroom sliding door to watch the waves of the sea crash against the shore.

Chris's fingers travel in a circle around Kiera's belly button, "Hmm. You can read?"

The singer grunts and reaches back to hit her husband's shoulder, "Fuck you." He chuckles and kisses her shoulder again as an apology, "Anyways, back to what I was saying before you so rudely interrupted — I read something online about orgasms helping with pain."

"Where'd you read that? Twitter?" Chris snorts, slowly being knocked out of his stupor.

Kiera turns to face him, taking in the smug smirk on his face, "Keep playing me, Chris. Acting like I won't kick you out this bed."

He's unbothered as he burrows his face in the crook of her neck, pressing soft kisses to her skin. Kiera remains firm in her resolve. Chris chuckles and removes his hand from her stomach to tilt her neck so he has more space to work. "Then however would you get that orgasm, sweetheart?"

"Remember that gift you gave me when you were leaving to go to India for Extraction?"

Chris gasps, dramatically, "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

The gift Kiera was referring to was the trusty grey vibrator situated in her night table. Chris knew he was going to be gone for a while and didn't want to leave his wife all high and dry so he got her something to help her out while he was gone.

It's probably the best gift she's received in her entire life because while it might not have the same finesse as Chris, it sure does get the job done.

Taking his silence as an answer, Kiera allows the smug smirk to grow on her face.

"Now, please fuck me to sleep, Chris."

The man groans, "Is this what I've been reduced to in our marriage?" As he speaks, he turns his wife so her back is against him and proceeds to remove the boxers she stole from him, "Just a piece of meat here to bring you pleasure?"

Kiera twists her head back to look at him with a raised eyebrow, "Unless you wanna carry these kids —"

Knowing what she's getting at, the actor sighs and pulls down his underpants before running his tongue up three fingers, "As you wish, madam."

[rosenoirwrites]

Looks Really Good ( Chris Evans Drabble)

general taglist : @gwenspacy @saccreigns @complacentviawattpad @rosenoirwrites @random-ficreader23 @kyla-queen @neealicious @islandgyalwrites @xsweetdellzx

let me know if you'd like to join any of my taglists! feel free to like, reblog, and comment! also, my asks are open — and im taking requests!

( gif by @unearthlydust )

Walking into the house, you let out an exhausted groan. Your head is dragging under the weight of the braids you just got done and your eyes droop from sitting in a salon chair for nine hours. You're starving and tired, but hey, at least you look cute.

You drop your keys on the counter and venture further into the living room where you can hear the Dream Song from Sharkboy and Lavagirl. That must mean Zara is still up.

The last time you checked your phone, it was 8:23 PM, not quite her bedtime. You're curious about what her and Chris spent the day doing — watching movies, playing games. Judging by the pile of toys pushed off in the corner, they definitely played games.

"Hello, my babies," You greet them, dramatically, throwing your arms out and flashing your hair to show it off. You capture your family's attention as you step toward them.

"Mommy!" Your four-year-old squeals and jumps out of her father's lap, her tiny legs running towards you.

"Hi," You laugh and lift her into your arms. She kisses your cheeks with a pizza stained mouth, making you lean back and try to wipe her mouth with your hands. "You're eating pizza with daddy?"

"And watching Sharkboy and Lavagirl." She adds, excitedly. With her in your arms, you walk over to the couch and plop down beside your husband who was staring at you with adoration.

He smiles at you as Zara already moves back into his lap, "Hi, my beautiful wife."

"Hello, my wonderful husband." You grin, cheekily. His eyes shift to the Bohemian braids that span your entire back and stops at the start of your ass.

"I like your hair, babe." He says, "Looks really good."

"Yeah, mommy," Zara speaks up as she shoves another slice of pizza into her mouth, "Your hair is really pretty."

"Thank you, mama." You thank her, "You know not to talk with food in your mouth, though."

She nods and looks back to the TV, allowing you to avert your attention back to Chris, "Thank you, baby." You cup his jaw with one hand and kiss his lips, quickly, before Zara can push you two apart, which she's known for.

That's not enough for him though, because he leans in and captures your lips into another one. Pulling away, he scans your face.

"Alright, Imma go try to put this hair up and take a shower. Make sure she doesn't stay up too late."

"Eat something first." He says, motioning to the box of pizza on the coffee table, "Might be a little cold." That doesn't stop you from grabbing two slices and sandwiching them together.

Before you can get up, Zara starts to bounce on Chris's knee, "Mommy, mommy, mommy," She rambles.

"Yeah, baby?"

"When can I get my hair done like yours?"

[rosenoirwrites]

REBLOG if you have amazing, talented WRITER friends.

Because I certainly do, and I love every single one of them and their work.

[rosenoirwrites]

Words to describe someone’s voice :

adenoidal (adj) :  some of the sound seems to come through their nose.

appealing (adj): voice shows that you want help, approval, or agreement.

breathy (adj): with loud breathing noises.

booming (adj): very loud and attention-getting.

brittle (adj): if you speak in a brittle voice, you sound as if you are about to cry.

croaky (adj): they speak in a low, rough voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat.

grating (adj): a grating voice, laugh, or sound is unpleasant and annoying.

gravelly (adj): a gravelly voice sounds low and rough.

high-pitched (adj): true to its name, a high-pitched voice or sound is very high.

honeyed (adj): honeyed words or a honeyed voice sound very nice, but you cannot trust the person who is speaking.

matter-of-fact (adj): usually used if the person speaking knows what they are talking about (or absolutely think they know what they are talking about).

penetrating (adj): a penetrating voice is so high or loud that it makes you slightly uncomfortable.

raucous (adj): a raucous voice or noise is loud and sounds rough.

rough (adj): a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to.

shrill (adj): a shrill voice is very loud, high, and unpleasant.

silvery (adj): this voice is clear, light, and pleasant.

stentorian (adj): a stentorian voice sounds very loud and severe.

strangled (adj): a strangled sound is one that someone stops before they finish making it.

strident (adj): this voice is loud and unpleasant.

thick (adj): if your voice is thick with an emotion, it sounds less clear than usual because of the emotion.

tight (adj): shows that you are nervous or annoyed.

toneless (adj): does not express any emotion.

wheezy (adj): a wheezy noise sounds as if it is made by someone who has difficulty breathing.

[rosenoirwrites]

No one:

Absolutely no one:

Elijah & Aliyah: we're just friends

Everyone:

@midnxghtsunwrites

[rosenoirwrites]

SMOKESTACKS | 1, WELCOME TO CHARMING

( warning: mentions of domestic violence )

FOR SOME TWISTED REASON, Nadine felt a strange sense of freedom as the bright sun beats down on the windshield of her 2014 Honda Accord. It was a gift from a long time ago — back when she was still living in her parent’s middle Suburban house throughout college.

Of course, it wasn’t a permanent set up. She was eager to get out and find her own apartment. She always found ‘having your own space to breathe’ one of the keys to making your mark on the world.

She wouldn’t lie and say that it worked because just months after she found her own place, she was back to sharing a living space with someone — this person being her sweetheart boyfriend, Drake Peterson, the type you’d find at an arcade on Friday nights and at internet cafés during the week.

They broke up when he got a job offer in New York and didn’t want her trailing him like a lost puppy. She would never reduce herself to that, but apparently, he had greater ego issues than she thought.

He was her first of three boyfriends while in her twenties.

Her next one was an accountant, Jacob Henrikson — lanky and adorable. With an affinity for numbers, he was usually stingy on dates and anything that had to do with money. Regardless of being the biggest cheapskate ever, Nadine liked him for who he was. Until he broke up with her because they were on 'different spectrums of life’ — whatever that means.

And then there was one. Ezra Moore — police detective and resident golden boy. That only seemed to be the case in public. Everyone knew him as the man who volunteers at homeless shelters and rescues stray dogs during his free time.

He’s quite the opposite in private — Nadine has the scar on her back to prove it. The first time he hit her was because she didn’t have his meal set out on the table for him. The second time, it was because she accidentally looked at his coworker during a mixer he took her to.

That was when she began looking for job openings as many miles away as she could afford with her savings from working during college — this just happened to be on the West Coast in a small town where it seems everyone knows everyone.

The scar on the right side of her lower back came when Nadine tried to leave just a month ago. All of her bags were packed and ready to go. She was so eager to escape that she hadn’t realized that Ezra didn’t leave for work that night.

He wrapped a hand around her neck and held a kitchen knife to her throat. He wouldn’t release her until she promised not to leave him — and so she did. That didn’t seem to be the end of it, however, when he ran the knife across her back as she was walking away to return her suitcase.

As the psychopath he is, he drove her to the hospital, and told the doctor that she slipped on water and cut her back on some broken glass. Fear and anxiety kept her from speaking up. As a woman, a black one at that, her truth could be seen as a way to incriminate an 'innocent’ man who’s done so much good for the city.

All she could do is sit and wait for the perfect opportunity to go. Bogged down by security cameras and security systems, she was only allowed to leave the house with him during the day and night. Tonight seemed to be a godsend — the security cameras had been malfunctioning throughout the day and the earliest he could get it fixed is the next morning.

That gave her tonight to make her getaway. And just when she thought she couldn’t make it, Ezra was called into work.

Paranoia should’ve kept her there. Pure terror should’ve kept her there. But it was bravery and hope for freedom that pushed her to pack a duffel bag in the dead of night and grab the remainder of her savings from his safe and get the hell out of Dodge.

Now here she is on a thirty-six hour drive to start her new life.

AFTER MULTIPLE STOPS AT MULTIPLE GAS STATIONS for snacks and other amenities, Nadine finds herself swiftly approaching a sign at the side of the road — 'Welcome to Charming’. A sigh escapes her as she crosses the town line.

A wave of relief washes over her as she peers through her windshield and takes in the barren vegetation. Maybe it’s the heat of the summer but the bushels and tumbleweeds reminded her of the deserts she teaches her kids about.

A thought crosses her mind that she’s out of her league — she is a city girl after all. What could she possibly gain in a town like this? Maybe she would’ve been better off in LA or Malibu, right by the beach. That’s where Ezra expects her to go.

He would never foresee her driving thirty-six hours to go to hillbilly central. As she drives further into the town, she can’t help but slightly regret her choice to move here  — people walking along the streets give her looks as if they know she’s new. 

Hmm, they must not get a lot of new people.

The frightening stares only seemed to escalate when she turns into the apartment complex that she sent a signed lease in for while she was in Charlotte. She had a period of dotting all her i’s and crossing all her t’s.

The stares seemed to stop — mainly because nobody was outside — when she pulled to a stop in the parking lot. She exhales in relief as she feels that sense of security that comes with taking yourself from a toxic situation. Now, keeping that sense of security is going to be the hard part.

But, if she just keeps her head down and does what she’s here to do, then it’ll all work out. Or at least, that’s what she tells herself. Grabbing the new phone she purchased on the way, she checks the time to see that it four in the evening, a day and a half after she left.

Not wasting any more time, she exits the car, locks it, and makes her way to the front office to officially receive her key. The metal is cold against her skin as she thanks the receptionist and heads back to her car.

With one click, the trunk pops open and she grabs her duffel bag filled with her hastily packed clothes. Nadine trudges her way up the steps of the complex, taking in the faint smell of cigarettes, weed, and alcohol.

Hey, she’s all for it, but she’d rather not go to work drenched in the stench of all of them mixed together.

Finally arriving at the door of her apartment, the numbers gleaming at her, she inserts the key and turns it. The opening is smooth, not a creak or scratch in sight. Though the apartment is fully furnished, Nadine can’t help the cough that escapes her. The stench of cigarettes was even stronger inside the apartment.

Luckily, she brought with her a bottle of disinfectant spray and a jug of Febreze.

Now to get to work.

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