#⧽ ⠀ ⠀ ── ⠀ ⠀ 002 ⠀ ⠀ ﹕ ⠀ ⠀ aaron&cleo.

[poppywrights]

@meredithdardenness​ — aaron & cleo.

precisou olhar mais de uma vez em direção a figura feminina para confirmar que não era somente uma peça pregada pela sua imaginação e, realmente, estava vendo uma conhecida no bar em que fora para o pré-jogo. a organizadora de casamento de seu melhor amigo não se enquadrava exatamente em uma de suas amizades, mesmo que houvessem conversado durante as ocasiões em que estivera presente para o planejamento por ser o padrinho, no entanto, seus amigos só chegariam muito mais tarde, e a atkinson aparentava estar sozinha. não custava cumprimentá-la. “hey, tudo bem?” sorriu, simpático, ao chegar mais perto de onde ela estava. “também tá esperando vagar alguma mesa? essa loucura em dia de jogo é terrível, a gente chega duas horas antes e não tem nem uma cadeira vaga ainda.” aaron fez uma careta, examinando o ambiente com o olhar enquanto finalizava a sua sentença. uma mesa parecia estar prestes a vagar, contudo, não queria manter as suas esperanças altas. estava prestes a puxar algum assunto relacionado ao casamento - por ser o único que estava certo de possuírem em comum -, ou um diálogo sobre como estava nublado - um indicativo de não saber muito sobre o que poderiam discorrer em uma conversa -, no que acabou identificando a estampa da camiseta que ela usava. como um passe de mágica, toda a conversa furada sumia de sua mente. “não acredito. você torce pro eagles? eu ‘tava confraternizando com o inimigo sem saber durante todo o tempo esse tempo?”

[themarissaharrison]

I Just Want Her | Discord

                                   DISCORD THREAD #002

Who?: Marissa Harrison, Nicola Slone @nicolaeisms​ When?: Marissa goes back to Cleo’s where she is staying with Cleo and Nicola after partying with Aaron in Manhatten. Where?: Cleo’s Penthouse Balcony

Mentions: @cmlopezofficial | Lauren (NPC) | Delilah (NPC) Triggers: death mentions, halluncination mentions, alcoholism, smoking

MAJOR PLOT DEVELOPMENT?: No, just MAJOR FEELS.

MARISSA

Marissa had no idea what the time was. The last time she’d checked it was midnight, and that seemed like ages ago. As she got out of the car, she didn’t even remember giving Cleo’s address to the driver so she was a bit surprised. Still, this was where she was supposed to come, wasn’t it? She took in a deep breath as she waited for the private pent elevator to come down. Her phone was dead, so she just kind of stared around and tried to sober herself up as she waited. The doors pinged open and Riss stepped inside, pressing the Pent button and then slipping her heels off so she could potentially slip in unnoticed. Maybe she could play off a late night in the office... The doors opened and Marissa used the key code to get in, trying hard not to knock into anything as she made her way through the darkness. Riss actually thought she could get away with it, then she felt the breeze of fresh air from the balcony and the smell of cigarette smoke. Fuck.

NICOLA

it's one of those nights again, nicola couldn’t shut her eyes to sleep as usual. she didn’t want to wake cleo or cordelia up if she forces herself to sleep. they’re surely witnessed a handful of times of her waking up in the dead of night screaming in pain, drenched in sweat. she wanted to at least spare both of them from that for at least one night.  she’s been standing by the balcony of cleo’s penthouse for at least an hour now, and she’s lost track of how many cigarettes she’s already had. marissa still hasn’t gone back, and she actually has slipped away from her bodyguard. honestly. she was just so exhausted; she doesn’t think she has the energy to confront her and asked where she’s been. she heard her door unlock, signaling that the brunette’s here, but she didn’t bother to move, to look back if it was really her. the older businesswoman lights up another cigarette and puts her attention at the city lights that can be seen from where she is. nicola’s just waiting for her to say something, to tell her a perfect excuse, a reason she slipped off her security detail. though is that enough to calm her nerves down?

MARISSA

Marissa thought for amount about ignoring it, about pretending like she didn't even see the back of the woman's head. But, even in this state she knew how much of a bad idea that was. She placed her heels down on the floor and let out a heavy sigh before rolling her eyes and then walking through the room and out onto the balcony. Honestly, she had no idea what the hell to say. With her eyes on the blonde now, there weren't really any excuses for why she was coming in so late, why she wasn't accompanied by Nic's security detail... She fucked up, and she was fucked up. They weren't two things that ever mixed well together. "Would you believe me if I said it was a late night at the office?" She said quietly as she came up beside Nicola, eyes following the others' gaze out over the city lights.

NICOLA

nicola takes a long drag of her cigarette, still not moving a muscle when she sensed the other walking up to her, finally breaking the silence between the two of them. she momentarily turns back to get the glass that was on the balcony table for a while now, drink’s almost forgotten. she needed anything to calm down her nerves, just anything. she doesn’t want to get mad, she isn’t even mad about this, yet she was feeling this tinge of disappointment, the letdown, it felt like a promise is broken, even though she didn’t hear it leave marissa’s lips, from what she could remember. “i’m going to try.” she says, convincing not just the brunette but also herself. “even though we both know that’s not the truth.”

MARISSA

Riss took a long breath in, shoulders dropping a little. She'd expected harsh words, shouting even, but this... Silent, quiet, disappointment... It was ten times worse than any shouting match ever could be. If she hadn't felt guilty before, she sure did now. Her eyes broke from the skyline to watch as Nic took a sip of her drink, then she looked back into the penthouse before looking back to the city. "I just..." She sniffed, brushing her finger under her nose which was really starting to burn now. "Needed to forget... Just for a little while," Riss sighed gently before glancing at Nic. "Aaron really needed a friend too, and... Nic, there's nowhere safer for me and him than Manhatten... Babe.." She steps in a little closer to the blonde.

NICOLA

does nicola want to talk about this? she’s too tired to know. not even the things she depends on to relax her nerves isn’t even working right now. she just stood there, with her back still facing marissa while she continues exploring the city with her eyes. she takes another long hit of her cigarette while the gallery owner spoke, letting the smoke stay in her system for a moment before exhaling. “it’s alright.” is she just convincing her, or she was convincing herself too? maybe she was being uptight with her and cleo, but knowing that man she encountered back in chicago is alive….ever since that night….she hasn’t had a proper sleep, she hasn’t stopped watching her own back, even when she thought he was dead. “i understand,” she refills her glass with white rum and downs it quickly, hoping the pain in her chest would just go away. “go get some rest,” she mutters, still not bothering to look at the other.

MARISSA

The coldness coming from the other woman cuts into her skin far more the sharp breeze of NYC at night. She says it’s alright, that she understands, but there’s no meaning behind those words. There’s nothing there... Marissa hasn’t seen this side of Nicola before. She hasn’t seen this closed, calculated woman. It... almost scares her. Riss almost wants her to shout, at least then she’d be able to feel something. At least then she’d be able to get a read in what was really happening beneath that stare... “Do you?” She said, feeling this overwhelming need to stay. At this point, Marissa knew she’d only lay down and stare at the ceiling. “Nic... Talk to me. Please... You want me to explain? I will. I just... Talk to me, baby... Don’t cut me off...”

NICOLA

she could shout, maybe give marissa a lecture for disregarding what she witnessed in the office and what happened back in chicago, when nicola literally dropped everything and just flew there to ensure her safety. she felt like the younger woman just ignored those things happening, like she's forgotten her pacing around the room in her penthouse in chicago, how she neglected the security she asked her to have. yet she didn't want to. she was about to pour herself another drink, but instead she grabs the bottle and drank a mouthful before putting it back down on the table. she didn't want to be this cold to the younger woman, but she felt so tired, tired of constant worrying and now feel ignored, with how it felt like she disregarded everything that happened for the past week on purpose. "you can do whatever you want, you can explain if you want. i'll listen."

MARISSA

Why had she even come here? In her drunken state, of all the places she could have turned up... She loved Nicola. There was nothing about that could be left to doubt. And, Marissa felt this connection with Cleo too... Something... There was something there. But— of all places she could have gone... She came back to the people she knew she’d pissed off the most. There’s was probably a part of her that wanted to be shouted at. To be reminded that she existed and was alive... She had felt so numb lately, so disattached. Then Nic ditched the glass and drank from the bottle and she knew she wasn’t okay. “Nicola...” She said in that voice she’s only used a few times. She knew that Nic was tired, she could see it in the way she was holding herself but fuck... Marissa couldn’t help it, the alcohol, the tension... She cupped the older blondes cheek, turning her head to look at her. “Speak to me...” She pleaded, thumb running across her cheek. “I’m sorry... Please— don’t shut down on me...”

NICOLA

nicola takes another hit from her cigarette. she swore to herself that she's going to make herself quit or at least lessen it, but she's just downright anxious about her whole situation. she's still been battling wanting to go back to chicago and finish the job she failed doing before, to not wait around and depend on the possibility of him not being able to survive. and then now this....what if he still had connections outside? of course he definitely would have, and he knew where his daughter is, it's not going to take long for him to find her too, after being the cause of his almost-death, a huge part of her feels he'd want payback. and with marissa neglecting her request and slipping away from her bodyguard's watch....she doesn't know how to feel about it. she shuts her eyes close when the younger cups her cheek before she could even take another sip of her drink. she's close to breaking down once again, in front of her this time, this could be twice in a row in a span of hours after cleo has seen her like that at the cove. she doesn't know if she could take more. "it's okay, i hope you had fun, at least," she says as another attempt to convince the both of them. "i'm okay. i just need something to relax before i sleep."

MARISSA

Marissa shakes her head lightly as Nic’s eyes close to her touch. These waves of guilt keep crashing into her obliterating any high she had from the coke left in her system, sobering her better than any medical drip ever could. “A little...” She answered quietly, feeling her heart drop more every second that she looked at Nicola’s damaged face. “You’re still thinking of going back, aren’t you?” Marissa sighed softly, taking the bottle from Nicolas hand gently and placing it back on the table before cupping both her cheeks. “It’s okay if you are...” Marissa tried to reassure. “I get it... I— am struggling to stay away from my demons too...” Riss admitted, swallowing a little as a tear rolled down her cheek without her even realising. “What I did isn’t okay... you don’t have to pretend like it is...” She added on before tucking a hair strand behind her ear. “I need you... I always have...”

NICOLA

"that's good to know." nicola takes a long, deep sigh at her question. the thought never left her mind, she still wanted go back there. she knew it was a decision everyone wouldn't want her to do, especially cleo and marissa. with the restaurateur's idea of going away for a while to montauk, she took it as a chance to clear her head, think about how things would go down if she decides, with a clear mind, to go back and finish what she started. this has been one of her loudest demons for the past couple of years. something she's been trying to avoid. i need you... i always have... instead of bringing her life, those words seemed to have done her the opposite, her heart weighing heavier instead. "with what you did tonight, riss? it doesn't feel like it." she softly takes her hand away from her cheek and looks away, finishing the rest of her cigarette. "it feels like--that night we shared back in chicago just slipped away from your mind. i just..." she finally glances back at her. "i'm just asking for one little thing, and it's for you both to be safe. it would've been okay if you just told me you'll go out, instead you...you just--fucking hell." she puts the cigarette butt in thr ashtray, and struggles to get herself a new one, only to find out that she's run out of them. "i must be really out of my mind."

MARISSA

Marissa watched as all the wheels spun around behind Nic's eyes. She didn't need to say anything for Riss to know that whatever was happening inside her head was loud and repetitive, demanding every bit of attention and disallowing her to switch off. Riss had wanted her to talk, wanted to hear what was going on but as soon as she got that wish... It just made that pain inside more alive. "I know... I know," she breathed out, heart breaking as Nicola took her hand off her cheek and turned away. Marissa swallowed thickly as she furrowed her brow and nodded a little. "It did, I'm not going to stand here and-- lie to you-- anymore... Everything has been... Slipping my mind, honestly?" She took a shaky breath as she tensed her jaw and allowed her eyes to scan the older blonde. "No, you're not... And here..." Riss sighed softly and walked over to the chair she had dropped her Chanel bag on, opening it and getting out a carton before coming back to Nic and handing it to her. The last thing Marissa could do right now was tell Nic not to smoke so much because it was bad for her health. Another deafening wave of silence fell between them as her eyes fell back to the city's skyline. "I'm-- seeing her again..." She admitted, voice breaking as she spoke. "At the bar... In the cove when I-- disappeared... I thought I saw her in the crowd, but it wasn't and I went to the restroom and, er-- she was there," Riss covered her mouth for a moment. "Just for a moment, it wasn't-- it wasn't very long... And again last night and I just..." She swallowed thickly. "I just needed to get-- away... From my own head..."

NICOLA

"if i'm going to stay safe as you needed me to, please ...i just need you to do the same thing for me." nicola isn't mad at the brunette at all. all that she's feeling is worry and disappointment. she remembers marissa slipping out of her thoughts that day while they were in cleo's office. "i may have gotten a sense that you weren't telling me something. and i just--" she lights up a cigarette and takes a drag, then exhales in relief before staring out in the horizon. "i chose not to bother you about it. i'm not.... i'm not angry, it's just....you really worried me, riss." she now moves closer to the younger woman. that now explains why she suddenly left them at the dive bar, that explains the look on marissa's face. she puts down her newly-lit cigarette in the ashtray and faces her, this time, it was her reaching for the other's cheek. for quite some time, there were instances when she's thought she's seen lauren in the crowd, but with the way how the other describe how she's seeing her....now....she can she why she needed to get away from her own head. "promise me one thing?," nicola sighs, and for the first time tonight, she looks into marissa's eyes. "promise me.... you'll tell me these things? i don't want you to keep it all on your own. you've been....you've been here for me ever since we got back in each other's lives and....i don't want to lose you this time. i was just...i was so worried," she takes a deep breath. "please....just don't lie to me about these things anymore."

MARISSA

Marissa nodded as she tried to keep it together. Saying all of that out loud... It made it real. It was easier to ignore something that had never been uttered aloud. It was easier to bury. Bury under alcohol, coke, friends, loud music... Now all those things were gone and she was stood on the balcony so high up in Brooklyn that it was almost silent, just the occasional sound of a distant horn from downtown. "I didn't want to worry you... I know you're-- I didn't want to put anything else on your shoulders," she replied softly, almost timidly. When Nicola asked her to promise about telling her these things, Marissa hesitated. Her mind so full of-- fear. God, more than anything else she was scared. Terrified of falling back into that... Fake reality. Into her... It wasn't until Nic looked into her eyes that she snapped out of that fear. She nodded, leaning into her hand, turning her head slightly and kissing the blonde's palm gently. "I'll try..." Riss breathed out as her own hand came up and wrapped around Nicola's. "I can't-- I can't go back... I can't go back there..." She cried almost silently. "I'm supposed to be better..."

NICOLA

"riss....," nicola wraps her arm around her waist this time. "you will never, ever burden me with what you're going through. and i....would worry less if we just open to each other more. that's all i'm asking for." she draws marissa close. "you've looked after me ever since we were back in each other's lives. i just want you to allow me to look after you the same as you and cleo are taking care of me right now." having the two younger women look after her, nicola at first felt like a burden herself, though with that something they shared back at the cove that night, both in the dive bar and the other blonde's office when the two held on to her, stopping her from falling in that deep black hole once more....she wants to do the same for them. "i'm here....alright? i'm here...," she whispers as she leads the both of them to one of the chairs. she sits down, drawing the other to her lap, running her hand along her back as she cried in her arms. she didn't want to ask more about what else happened that night, she didn't want to pressure the other into telling her what else happened. though....she wants her to know that she's not alone, not anymore. "we're going to montauk soon, and i want us to rest our minds for a while. i want us to take care of each other."

MARISSA

Marissa practically falls into Nicola when the blonde wraps her arms around her waist. She realised she had no idea just how badly she needed to be held until it happened. “I just... I want it to stop, and I thought it had... Its been months... and I feel like I’m slipping but I can’t go back, Nic—“ she mutters as she let’s Nicola draw her in on the chair, her face burying in her neck. “I just feel so alone all the time...”

NICOLA

"riss.....," nicola whispers, kissing the side of the brunette's head. it pains her to see this side of marissa, that all she could do is hold her close. "i'm here....we're here.....cleo and i....you're not alone, alright?" she cups her cheeks with both of her hands, looking deeply into her eyes. "you have us, you have me. i'm not going anywhere," she leaves soft, loving kisses on her forehead, her eyes, cheeks, the tip of her nose and then her lips. "you have me. you have us. we're going to montauk soon. we're going to hide away from everything else for a while. alright? i...." she sighs.  "you have us now."

MARISSA

Marissa's arm snakes up and around Nicola's shoulders, as if she were clinging onto her for dear life. In a way, she was, she was holding onto her to try and remind herself that she wasn't alone, that she was alive, that she was here and this was happening. I'm here... We're here... those words should have filled her with security, but instead they caused more tears to pave their way down her cheeks. She hadn't intended on telling anyone about what happened at the reception, hadn't intended on allowing it to become real. She wanted to pass it off as a bad dream... But alcohol loosens the tongue better than anything else. "I know..." Riss breathed out as she felt her fucking heart breaking all over again, as it did every time she thought she saw Delilah in the crowds. The pain fresh all over again. She had had two years of this, mending and breaking, a repetitive, vicious cycle. But, this one hurt more than any other because she was supposed to be better... She was supposed to be okay. This was supposed to be over... Would it ever be over. "I just want her..." Marissa muttered, not even realising it came out loud. "I'm sorry..." She said through staggered breaths. "I'm so sorry..."

NICOLA

there's never a day that nicola stopped missing lauren. never a day she stopped dreaming about her. her life was absolutely turned around by this woman and changed her life for the better, with her, she left her old, unlawful ways and straighten her whole life out. she started working on herself as their friendship progressed which eventually they've come together, and not so long after, got married. somehow....she knew how it felt like still wanting lauren above anything else, that if she could go back, if she had the ability, she'd be spending the same day on a loop with the woman she loved with all her heart and soul. for her to be taken away, it was like falling into this endless pit of unfortunate events in her life. somehow....she understood. they might be different in a way, but she knew, she fucking knew. "i know....," was all she could say, running her fingers through marissa's hair. "you don't have to be sorry.....it's okay. i got you, we got you, okay? we're going to get through this together." just stay in my arms.

MARISSA

Marissa’s body jerked a little as she cried, her face lost in Nicola’s neck and shoulder as she held on to the older blonde in a way she never has before. They has such similar pain, they both knew grief in its rawest state and even though theirs had their differences, they understood... Riss didn’t know how much she needed someone who understood until that night in the alleyway at Throuple... until now... She nodded gently, falling quiet now, knowing there was nothing more to say. She just wanted to feel close to the other, to be held, and she was... Riss didn’t stop crying quietly until she slipped into sleep, her grip on the blonde slackening as she entered her dreams... The only place it didn’t hurt to spend some time with her... With Delilah...

NICOLA

nicola cradled the brunette in her arms, hand running along her back as she slowly drifts off to sleep. she could slowly feel exhaustion finally getting to her. she stands up from her chair and carries marissa to the bedroom they share with cleo for now. she couldn't help but leave her little kisses on the side of her head as she walked them there. she instantly noticed that the restaurant owner is missing, she was there when the blonde left to the  balcony an hour or two ago. she lays the woman in her arms down and kisses her forehead before leaving the room to look for the other.

[poppywrights]

“se esse é o seu time sendo bom, eu nem quero ver quando a formação tá ruim.” maneou a cabeça em negação, suspirando. era estranhamente fácil falar de uma maneira mais solta com cleo, por mais que não se conhecessem muito bem, ao menos não além de um encontro meramente profissional para resolverem as roupas para o casamento de jacob e claire. “é bom se manter otimista, sabe? com mais uns dez anos de esforço, quem sabe os eagles não conseguem finalmente se igualar a todo o resto? daqui a pouco até ficam a só dois super bowls atrás dos giants.” o sorrisinho debochado o acompanhava com uma naturalidade que vinha a aaron sempre que estava em situações que despertavam a competitividade em sua personalidade, e nada o fazia tão bem quanto uma conversa sobre futebol. especialmente, quando o assunto era o inimigo número um de seu time. seguiu junto da loira na direção em que ela o guiava, sentando ao seu lado quando alcançaram a mesa. “você eu já vi que tá. deve ser um alívio pra você não precisar mais fingir que os títulos antes das conferências importam mesmo, né?” ergueu as sobrancelhas, levando aos lábios sua cerveja. “até que eles tão indo bem.” indicou com a cabeça a televisão, onde indy e lawrence finalizavam os comentários antes do jogo começar.

para a surpresa de cleo, aaron era mais divertido do que aparentava - não que ele não parecesse divertido, mas tirara muito pouco do seu primeiro encontro. ele parecia ser do tipo fácil de entrar na cabeça, mas ela não faria aquilo quando tinha o encontrado apenas duas vezes, uma delas por cerca de dez minutos e em um ambiente profissional. “ — o que estou tentando dizer é que o meu time atual é bom, e o seu é ruim.” deu de ombros, percebendo que alguns poucos se viraram para ela alarmados antes de perceber que era apenas brincadeira. “ — na verdade, meu objetivo é conseguir uma bebida de graça, a minha já está acabando.” brincou balançando copo ao lado do rosto antes de tomar um gole, o encarando. foi tirada de sua distração pela voz de indy e lawrence saindo pelos alto falantes, chamando não apenas a atenção dela, mas várias pessoas se levantaram e se aproximaram do telão grande, vagando algumas mesas. “ — vem aqui.” pegou no antebraço do outro, guiando o caminho para uma mesa pequena que acabaram de ficar livre bem à frente de uma tv menor, mas que permitiria uma visão perfeita. “ — animado para perder?”

[linhciinder]

para a surpresa de cleo, aaron era mais divertido do que aparentava - não que ele não parecesse divertido, mas tirara muito pouco do seu primeiro encontro. ele parecia ser do tipo fácil de entrar na cabeça, mas ela não faria aquilo quando tinha o encontrado apenas duas vezes, uma delas por cerca de dez minutos e em um ambiente profissional. “ — o que estou tentando dizer é que o meu time atual é bom, e o seu é ruim.” deu de ombros, percebendo que alguns poucos se viraram para ela alarmados antes de perceber que era apenas brincadeira. “ — na verdade, meu objetivo é conseguir uma bebida de graça, a minha já está acabando.” brincou balançando copo ao lado do rosto antes de tomar um gole, o encarando. foi tirada de sua distração pela voz de indy e lawrence saindo pelos alto falantes, chamando não apenas a atenção dela, mas várias pessoas se levantaram e se aproximaram do telão grande, vagando algumas mesas. “ — vem aqui.” pegou no antebraço do outro, guiando o caminho para uma mesa pequena que acabaram de ficar livre bem à frente de uma tv menor, mas que permitiria uma visão perfeita. “ — animado para perder?”

aaron & cleo​:

“ — não, estou sozinha…” a voz soou risonha por saber a razão daquilo. seus amigos brincavam que a atkinson ficava insuportável em dias de jogos, e ela precisava admitir que aquilo era parcialmente verdade - não que fosse uma má perdedora, mas era definitivamente uma má ganhadora, brincando e caçoando da cara das pessoas. “ — oh, está dizendo que eu não tenho senso? cuidado com o que diz, eu tenho o poder de tornar o terno do padrinho um tom bem específico de verde…” comentou, apontando para o verde da sua camisa em uma clara brincadeira - não havia possibilidade de ela comprometer seu trabalho daquela forma. cerrou seus olhos, cruzando os braços abaixo dos seios e balançando a cabeça positivamente ao passo que ele discursava. “ — sim, sim, deve ser isso… ou-” levantou o dedo indicador na altura do rosto. “ — eu seja eficiente em tudo mesmo, inclusive em reconhecer o melhor time.” deu de ombros levemente, sorrindo - acreditava de fato no seu time, e não apenas pelo histórico do seu pai, mas sua conversa com o outro era apenas provocação. ela era competitiva (de uma forma saudável, gostava de acreditar), mas sabia o quanto aquele jogo era imprevisível. “ — eu não preciso me preocupar com isso, jenkins, meu time ganhou um super bowl nos ultimos dez anos, consegue dizer o mesmo do seu?” arqueou a sobrancelha esquerda ao passo que levava o copo aos lábios, dando um gole pequeno. “ — hm, quer deixar mais divertido? que tal se perdedor pagar uma bebida para o ganhador?”

“se estamos os dois assim, podemos juntar o útil ao agradável. não tem a mesma graça ficar sem companhia pra essas coisas, por mais duvidoso que seja o gosto dessa companhia em questão.” o jenkins não perdeu a chance de provocá-la um pouco, mantendo em seus lábios um sorriso divertido. a sua semana havia sido extremamente cansativa devido a alguns problemas que haviam surgido com os projetos novos de dois clientes, portanto, estava realmente precisando de uma distração como aquela - por mais inesperada que a presença de cleo fosse. “possivelmente, porque não consigo imaginar que diabos pode se passar na cabeça de alguém que gosta tanto assim dos eagles.” deu de ombros. os olhos seguiram a indicação em sua camisa, ocasionando um revirar de olhos e um bufo de aaron. “ha, ha, que engraçado. vai me deixar tal como uma embalagem de produto de limpeza no casamento do meu melhor amigo? tenho certeza que isso é crime em alguma parte do código penal.” aaron pontuou, em uma óbvia brincadeira. cruzou os braços enquanto escutava as respostas alheias, erguendo as sobrancelhas em certa incredulidade. “aí depende, quantas vezes os eagles ganharam desde que o superbowl virou o que é? porque, pelas minhas contas, os giants conseguiram quatro vezes já.” ainda com os braços cruzados, ergueu a destra para indicar o número quatro. “e os eagles tem quantos, mesmo?” se fez de desentendido, logo abrindo um sorrisinho debochado. “me comprando com uma bebida? que competitivo da sua parte, atkinson.” estendeu uma das mãos na direção alheia. “fechado.”

[linhciinder]

aquela era uma das ocasiões onde a atkinson tocava seus trajes sociais e esporte fino por jeans confortáveis, jersey de seu time e uma jaqueta quentinha - aquele dia sem o boné, uma vez que o jogo se passaria no estádio em nova york e ela não podia fazer a pequena viagem por conta de sua agenda. seguiu para o bar corriqueiro, seus poucos amigos preferindo deixa-la sozinha em dias de clássicos contra o giants, sabendo como sua competitividade tomava conta de sua personalidade. encaixou-se como pôde no balcão do bar, temendo ter que assistir ao jogo todo em pé naquele dia. tomava um gole de seu drink recém chegado quando ouviu a voz masculina falar consigo. " — hey, jenkins! como vai?" cumprimentou sorrindo ao reconhecer aaron, afastando um pouco para abrir espaço para ele também. " — e pela quantidade de gente chegando, acho que só vai diminuir lá pro segundo tempo." apertou os lábios, olhando em volta e analisando os lugares disponiveis, o comentário alheio a surpreendendo. virou seu corpo de frente para o dele antes de analisar suas vestimentas pela primeira vez durante a noite, não segurando a vontade de balançar a cabeça negativamente. " — inimigo? acho que é você que tem coragem de aparecer num bar no meio da filadélfia com essa camisa..." falou da boca para fora, uma vez que era possível ver torcedores dos dois times aos montes no estabelecimento pela proximidade entre as cidades. " — não esperava isso de você, aaron... tsc." estalou a língua no céu da boca de forma decepcionada, seu habitual profissionalismo muito longe de seu tom.

@meredithdardenness​ — aaron & cleo.

precisou olhar mais de uma vez em direção a figura feminina para confirmar que não era somente uma peça pregada pela sua imaginação e, realmente, estava vendo uma conhecida no bar em que fora para o pré-jogo. a organizadora de casamento de seu melhor amigo não se enquadrava exatamente em uma de suas amizades, mesmo que houvessem conversado durante as ocasiões em que estivera presente para o planejamento por ser o padrinho, no entanto, seus amigos só chegariam muito mais tarde, e a atkinson aparentava estar sozinha. não custava cumprimentá-la. “hey, tudo bem?” sorriu, simpático, ao chegar mais perto de onde ela estava. “também tá esperando vagar alguma mesa? essa loucura em dia de jogo é terrível, a gente chega duas horas antes e não tem nem uma cadeira vaga ainda.” aaron fez uma careta, examinando o ambiente com o olhar enquanto finalizava a sua sentença. uma mesa parecia estar prestes a vagar, contudo, não queria manter as suas esperanças altas. estava prestes a puxar algum assunto relacionado ao casamento - por ser o único que estava certo de possuírem em comum -, ou um diálogo sobre como estava nublado - um indicativo de não saber muito sobre o que poderiam discorrer em uma conversa -, no que acabou identificando a estampa da camiseta que ela usava. como um passe de mágica, toda a conversa furada sumia de sua mente. “não acredito. você torce pro eagles? eu ‘tava confraternizando com o inimigo sem saber durante todo o tempo esse tempo?”