#AMANDA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LOVELY ASK your the sweetest thing i missed her sm ✨🥺🖤

[agathasangel]

I Love Everything You Do- Part 1 (Eve Fletcher X Fem!Reader)

Warnings:Soft!Eve, Power Bottom!Eve, Sub!Top!Reader, Virgin!Reader,Obviously smut. Legal age gap (reader is early 20s Eve is mid 40s), Mommy kink ofc

Summary: After many nights spent partying together, Eve finally takes you home and shows you what you’ve been missing out on.

You’ve been to this bar so many times before just hoping to meet someone. To make friends. You’ve always been content being alone, but you still wanted to find your people. Every time you came out here you would usually hang out and drink with a group of older women. The one that was always there and who you could never get out of your head was named Eve.

The two of you would talk about your lives. She was divorced and had a son in college who wasn’t much younger than you.

“It’s still so hard. I mean it- it’s lonely. I miss them all the time. Even Ted- he cheated on me, I know, I should hate him, but-“

“No, I understand. You loved him, one thing doesn’t immediately take that away.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

“No, not really. I’m pretty lonely too. I guess I’m just shy. You must think I’m pathetic, I’m out of college and have never had a boyfriend or girlfriend or anything-“

“No. No no no,” Eve put her and on your shoulder and looked at you straight in the eyes.

“There is nothing wrong with you.”

Eve was so beautiful, so kind, so comforting.

Another night, Eve told you all about her son’s first semester of college.

“I was all alone, and I just- oh my god this is so embarrassing- I just started watching porn, like, all the time.”

“That’s not embarrassing, Eve.”

“Then- then you met Amanda- I kissed her, and I had a threesome with her and this guy who was- he was nineteen. And then my son- my son walked in on us. It wasn’t great and I- I haven’t had sex since then.”

“Wow. Holy Shit.”

“And the kid knew my son, too. The hated each other.”

“Oh my god. Was he proud or embarrassed?”

“I don’t know. Probably both. We never talked about it again.”

“I wish I could tell you a story like that but I’ve got nothing. I’ve never even had sex before.”

“That was the last time I did it.”

“I get why that guy had a crush on you.”

“I don’t. Why would he want me over someone his own age?”

“Because older women are beautiful and smart. And because you’re you, Eve. You’re an amazing woman no mater how old you are.”

“You’re the sweetest. You’re so… pretty, too. I didn’t realize I until my son left that I’m bi. Like, that I’m into women I mean. Wow, I’ve never said that out loud before.”

“I mean you did have sex with Amanda.”

“Yeah, but- I don’t know. I’ve never talked about it before, or talked about how many other women I’ve been attracted to or said that I’m bisexual. You’re just so easy to talk to.”

“Wow, Eve. Thank You. You know, I’ve never been a big party girl but I go out every weekend now just so I can see you. It’s embarrassing, I know, but I really like you.”

“I like you too.”

“I know you fantasize about women. Have you ever had fantasies about me?” You were terrified to ask. You were scared that Eve would say no and you would be humiliated.

“Oh, all the time, honey.”

“What do you think about?”

“I think about undressing you, being the first woman to touch you.. My favorite thing to think about is teaching you exactly how to please me. I lay back and spread my legs and you just do as I tell you to do. What your Mommy tells you to do. And I’ll tell you how much I love it, and what a good little girl you are. Would you like that? Because I’m not working tomorrow or anything, I could call an Uber and take the both of us back to my place right now if you felt like it.’

“I want that so badly Eve,” you said, your breathing still heavy, “but I’m scared I won’t do a good enough job.”

“Oh honey, trust me. You’ll be amazing just because you’re you”

You listened to Eve and went home with her.

“You’re such a pretty thing, look at you. So cute and innocent. Are you nervous?”

“A little bit. I just wanna do a good job for you, Mommy,” you said, trying out the title Eve had called herself earlier.

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared little one, Mommy’s gonna show you exactly how to please her.”

“I- I can do that Mommy. I can be good and obedient for you Mommy.”

Eve cupped your cheek in her hand, “I know, baby. Let me give you a kiss first.”

And Eve kissed you hard, the first time you kissed anyone in a very long time. Her hands moved all over your body, groping your breasts, your butt, and your thighs. Eve slowly pulled away from you and you quietly whimpered at the loss of contact. But she quickly made up for it by taking off all her clothes. Her body was incredible, just a beautiful work of art. Eve lay down on the bed and spread her legs, beckoning you closer to her. You sat in between her legs, looking at her pussy. You had never seen another woman’s up close before and you weren’t quite sure what to do.

“What should I do first Mommy?”

“First, you’re gonna rub my clit like this,: and she demonstrated, taking two fingers and rubbing them in a circular motion around her clit. You did as Eve said and she let out a soft, shaky breath.

“Yes little one, just like that, that feels so nice…”

After a few minutes, Eve instructed you to insert a finger into her, then another, then another.

“That feels so good, baby! You’re doing such a good job. Good girl, good…”

Eve laid the praise on heavy, and you loved it. You leaned over to kiss her on the cheek and she giggled.

“You’re so cute, little one. Now, Mommy has a very special toy she wants you to fuck her with. Wait here.”

Eve went into the closet and pulled out a dildo and harness.

“I’ve never used these before, babe. But I keep collecting toys hoping to find someone. I wanna try them finally.”

Eve helped you into the harness and led you back to the bed, kissing you. She lay down on her back and held onto your hips as she guided you into her. Eve was so wet, so excited.

“Yes, that’s it baby, fuck Mommy, make her feel good. Just like that…” said Eve as you started nervously thrusting into her.

“Harder, little one, that’s it. You’re so cute when you do that.”

You went harder with Eve’s help, her hands gripping your hips.

“Is this good, Mommy? Am I making you feel good?” You asked as you used your hands to play with Eve’s breasts. You could hear her moans getting louder and more excited as you went harder.

“Yes baby, yes, keep doing that. Keep playing with Mommy’s breasts, just like that. You’re such a good girl! Keep going.”

You could feel yourself getting wet too, and you went faster with your Mommy’s encouragement.

“I’m getting so close baby. I’m so close! You’re fucking Mommy so good baby, yes!”

Eve came and you kissed her. The both of you just stayed there for a while, with you on top of and inside of her, and her hands groping you.

“That was great. How do you feel, baby?”

“I’m so wet, Mommy.”

“I can take care of that after you rest up, beautiful girl.”

[thedeadthree]

— MC MOODBOARDS; EIRINI DIMITROU, the wayhaven chronicles (x)

if it soo interests you… what was your name again? mason? let me run things down for you. my dad right, HE was the detective here. THEN, he died and mommy dearest decided she didn’t want to play mommy anymore so my brother took over. Bless his heart honestly. Elias? The best. Rebecca? Not so much. I, am the fbi���s not a hot mess criminal psychologist, and am here to aid the investigation into this towns serial killer problem. so who in the hell is pulling the prank of the century on me by telling me, yours truly, that vampires are real? you’re cute but you’re full of it bud.

💌 + eirini requested by the sweetest dear @scungilliwoman for the mc moodboard asks 🤍

[blue-bird-kny]

Hay hay, I hope you're doing well :] Could I request how Tanjiro and Inosuke would react during training with their crush (female) when they accidentally grab her boob? xD

Thank you so much for waiting, but here it is! This was definetly  fun to write so I hope you enjoy it~Amanda

Warning:None

( 1k+ words)

Tanjiro:

Things had been going smoothly so far-finally you’d convinced your gentleman of a lover to do combat training with you. You’d been at it for a few hours now and the sun was beginning to set, its delicate warm hues painting the sky. Tanjiro was out of breath as small drops of sweat dribbled down his honey skin “Ok last one Y/n, I wouldn’t want your body to be too sore tomorrow” he was always so considerate. Regaining your breath you smiled “Let's give it our all Tanjiro-kun”

You moved into battle stance, your fist protectively covering your face ready for any sort of attack. Tanjiro struck first, his leg attempting to knock you to the ground but you easily evaded the simple move. Things were going perfectly as you strategically looked for a blind spot in his defense, “There!” You moved to strike his lower torso with enough force to bring him to the ground, but alas you miscalculated. In a moment of clumsy fumbling, you missed and Tanjiro took your display of hesitance as his chance to win, swiftly pinning you to the ground.

Damn it! You complained to yourself, but you could only mull over your failure for a few moments before an oddly warm and comforting weight was felt on your chest. You looked down only to find a mortified Tanjiro sitting atop your form, his large hand wrapped around your right boob. Silence filled the air until Taniro let out a high pitched yelp.

“I’m so sorry Y/n!! Please forgive me” he panicked, cheeks turning a luminescent red and eyes blown out of their sockets. You smiled slyly, a mischievous glint in your eyes ready to seize any opportunity to tease your beloved. “Oh Tanjiro-kun don’t be shy, its normal to feel up your girlfriend! I wouldn’t mind being handled by you sometimes~” your sultry voice edged the poor boy on, his face becoming impossibly brighter.

“Besides,” you continued sitting up onto your elbows, “you must like em’ too since you're still holding onto my boob” you watched as Tanjiro’s face washed over in horror, his hand releasing their grip on your body as if suddenly you were too hot to touch. Your eyes crinkled together in laughter as you lowered yourself back against the ground-Tanjiro sat on your stomach sputtering still.

“I’m just teasing babe, no need to be so apologetic” you settled into a soft smile, staring lovingly at your pouting boyfriend. “Come on let's call it day”

Later that night, you found yourself searching all over for Tanjiro, “Where the hell are you?” you gruffed aloud. You slid the door to your shared bedroom open, your boyfriend huddled in a heap on the floor next to his futon. Tanjiro was sitting deep in thought, intently staring at his hand- the one that had been wrapped around your breast earlier.

“Tanjiro, my love, what are you doing?” you asked humorously, leaning against the door frame with your arms crossed. Without looking away from his hand, Tanjiro asked with determination “Did you really like it when I touched you there? It's really okay?”

“Tanjiro!”

Inosuke:

There was rarely any down time in your relationship with Inosuke. Sure, there was the occasional date where Inosuke would sweep you off your feet with his own sense of spontaneity and romance, but that was usually reserved for special days. On the regular, the love language most used by your rowdy lover was that  of constant training.

Training was his way of saying ‘I love you’ without saying it out loud, sort of like saying ‘I love you so much that I will work to protect you’ kind of thing. So you trained hard with him- sparing and pushing rocks, all sorts of exhausting endurance training.

Today was like most days, you sweating like a pig under the blazing afternoon sun while Inosuke was getting in another set of one-handed push-ups. “98...99...100!” he jumped to his feet energetically as if he hadn’t just done enough push-ups for the both of you. “Come Y/n! Let’s fight!” Inosuke cheered, already getting ready to attack.

You groaned, staring into the eyes of your boyfriend whom you knew would never purposely hurt you during one of these sessions- the last thing you wanted to do was fight in this heat. Nonetheless, you stood up and dusted yourself off, “Ugh but it's so hot” you complained. You slid off your top, leaving you in just a sports bra.

You two fought, testing each other's strength, working together almost like partners rather than opponents; you could read him like an open book. Before you could even register what was going on, you were thrust backward, your back pressed against Inosuke’s chess while he held you from the front. “Haha! I won again!”

You smiled, relishing the feel of his arms around you, even though you lost. Your smile fell though, when Inosuke gave a trying squeeze somewhere you hadn't realized he was holding onto. “I-Inosuke!” you stuttered, staying close to his form. “Hmmm… so soft” he muttered more to himself as he continued squeezing the foreign, plush glory that was your boobs. You were a red mess- sure during your time together you’ve had a  few heated make-out sessions here and there, but never had he been so handsy. “Your boobs, I really like them Y/n” he stated factly as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

“Okay but can you let go?! Someone could see” you wiggled out of his arms with little resistance. You glared at Inosuke, you weren’t actually mad but the whole situation was embarrassing. Insouke was lost in thought, already missing the warm weight of your breast and completely missing your stares.

“Ha!” he called in triumph like he had just solved some complex problem, “What are you so..Whoa!” Inosuke grabbed your hands, racing towards the houses you were temporarily staying at. “Where are we going!” “Inside! That way there’s no one to see us” he wore a wild smile, oh where you in for it.

Main Masterlist

Tada! I’m so glad to have finally posted on here, its so refreshing to see some familiar faces! I’ve gotten some amazing request that I’m excited to post/ finish so please stay tuned. Stay healthy and make sure to smile~ Amanda

Also, 700+ follower?! What?! you guys are the absolute sweetest, I’m thankful for every one of you!

[broadstbroskis]

funny | mat barzal

a/n: quite frankly, i don’t exactly know what this is. i was listening to the song funny (stripped) by jasmine thompson and zedd and pulled this little thing together. it is not, actually, funny at all; if you’ve listened to the song you’ll know we’re headed more for angst (and if you haven’t listened to it, i highly recommend!)

-----

It's funny how you miss me more than you could ever love me How you couldn't give me everythin' and now you want it from me Yeah, it's funny how it's different now that I got somebody

It’s the kind of fall night that made you wish you could live in the season forever. That perfect crispness in the air, where you steal your boyfriend’s jacket from him with just a kiss as you settle into his side near your firepit at the bar, surrounded by all your friends, laughing and drinking. It’s perfect, ideal even, so naturally your phone starts to buzz in your pocket.

do not call him flashes across the screen and you quickly ignore the call, slipping it back into your pocket.

“Everything okay?” Josh is the sweetest, kindest, most caring guy you’ve dated ever, and each time you think the other shoe is going to drop to prove that wrong...it doesn’t. He brushes his nose against your cheek as he checks in, the coldness causing you to flinch away, but he wraps his arms around you, pulling you even closer.

“Yeah.” You allow yourself to be pulled into his arms. “Just spam.”

“Those fools never stop.” Josh laughs, taking a sip of his beer.

You think of the instagram you’d posted earlier, a picture of the two of you laughing doing some corny cheers motion in front of the firepit, and looking happy and in love and all the things people say you look now, and well, you’d heard some things about this fool not being happy.... “Respect the hustle.” You joke, because frankly, you couldn’t care less about Mat Barzal anymore.

It’s the last thing he said to you anyway.

-----

It’s, of course, too much to think that one phone call would be the end of this. Mat’s always been stubborn, always been headstrong, so yeah, of course shit’s different now that you’re happy and he’s not.

But you should have known better. This smoothie place was Tito Beauvillier’s before it was yours and he was Mat’s friend before yours too. Besides the occasional instagram comment, you hadn’t had much interaction until this run-in, but the look on his face tells you exactly how this is going to go.

And sure enough, after small pleasantries while you’re both waiting for your smoothies, he drops exactly what you knew he was going to. “He misses you.”

“That’s nice.”

Tito gives you a look; the seriousness doesn’t fit him at all. “He’s not looking for anything from you. He just-he knows he messed up and he’s sorry. Will you just talk to him?”

Behind the counter, the barista calls your name, blessedly, because you’re done with this conversation. “I wanted to talk to him last spring. He doesn’t just get to decide he wants to talk to me again now, now that he’s decided I am a good enough toy for him.” Tito winces and like, good fucking riddance. “Fuck off, Tito, and tell Mat the same.”

-----

Your best friend’s golden birthday falls on a Saturday, and she sends everyone a detailed itinerary for her plans for the evening, including but not limited to: sparkly dresses, champagne, and shots. She’s only been planning this occasion since her last birthday, so you’ve got the short, silver, sparkly dress already planned for the evening, and jello shots prepped in the fridge for the pregame. 

The jello shots and champagne turn out to be needed because somehow, someway, there’s a pack of Islanders at the third bar you turn up at, Amanda already pushing her way up to the bar for a round. “It’s my birthday!” She shouts to the bartender, who’s definitely eyeing up more than her face.

You only just manage to get a drink in your hand when the reason you ordered a double appears at your elbow. “Can we talk?” Mat requests gently, even as you stare at him entirely unimpressed. “Please.”

Honestly, you want to say no, so badly. You’d given Mat so much; he was the one who’d ended it with practically nothing, the one who didn’t want to say a word to you about it afterwards. You’d been sad about it, you’d been angry about it, you’d moved on. There wasn’t anything to say to him.

And it’s that, the idea of telling him there’s nothing left to say, more than anything, that has you agreeing to follow him. Mat walks outside the bar completely, away from the bouncer to a quiet spot just a few feet away. 

“Thanks for coming out here with me.” Mat says and then stops.

“Mhmm.” You nod, hoping it’ll spur him into talking, but it really doesn’t, which just annoys you. “Do actually have something to say, or-”

“I miss-” Mat starts, but you cut him off abruptly.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” He frowns.

“Don’t say it.”

He huffs and you can see him start to get annoyed, which just flares your temper. “You asked me to say it, so I did!”

“Well, you don’t fucking get to say that!” You cry, breathing heavily. “You didn’t have shit to say to me when I wanted to talk to you. You didn’t have shit to say to me all spring or summer.” You can feel the tears coming to your eyes,  the frustration you feel from the situation not helping. 

“I didn’t...I didn’t handle it well.” Mat says quietly. He looks down at the sidewalk, scuffing his shoe in a way that’s unlike him;  he hates doing that, loves his shoes too much to risk messing with them.

“No fucking shit.” You can’t even fight back the sarcasm or the eye roll. 

But now Mat’s on a roll. “I should have talked to you before I broke up with you in the first place, but I could have at least said something to you when you wanted to last spring. I loved you then and I still love you now and I miss you.”

Those are definitely tears sliding down your cheeks and when Mat reaches a thumb out to wipe them away, you can’t even bring yourself to stop him. “That’s not fair.”

Seriously, fuck him. Fuck him for making you think you were over him. Fuck him for being so gentle. Fuck him for putting you in this position. 

“I’m sorry.” Mat says and you don’t even realize he’s gotten closer until he’s pressing the softest kiss to your forehead.

“For last spring in general?” You hear the hiccup in your breath, know that Mat hears it too. “Or for waiting until I was happy to apologize for it?”

Mat’s silent at that and you both know the answer as he presses another kiss to your forehead, before stepping away. “Fuck you, Mat.” You repeat, as he slips away toward the club, leaving you once again, crying alone in the cold.

[filmmakingismylife16]

hey!! thoughts on the cobra kai female characters? sam, tory, aisha, amanda, carmen, you get it lmao

hi thank you so much for sending an ask i love your blog so much!!! ok this is a good one let’s go:

sam- i actually like sam. i think she’s super strong and an important character for young girls to see on screen. however, i do believe that her parents need to stop invalidating her feelings whenever she tells them she feels like something’s her fault because while she’s not entirely the cause, she usually did play a part in whatever bad thing happened. but that’s not to say she was the only one. she didn’t kiss the air. i also do wish she would have told robby about the kiss when he confessed about the metal but i can also forgive her inaction though because she’s supposed to be a 16 year old and 16 year olds make dumb decisions.

tory- ok so i also like tory. i loved how quickly she became friends with aisha in season 2 and how immediately badass she was in her initial fight with miguel at cobra kai. i truly believe that if she had a mentor/adult figure who actually cared about her and her wellbeing that she could go down a better path than the one she’s currently on. i liked seeing her home life and i think it definitely explains all of her actions/behaviour in the show, but i also believe that it doesn’t excuse it. she is also a teenager though and while her violent actions were completely uncalled for, the feelings behind them were so valid. she really just needs someone to show her that violence isn’t always the answer. i do hope we get to see more of her home life in season 4 and i’m interested to see how she changes now that her and robby are the only mains left at kreese’s cobra kai.

aisha- ugh i miss her so much. aisha was literally a queen throughout season 1 and 2. i think she was an incredibly important character so show on screen. i love how she was the first person to take initiative and join johnny’s cobra kai because she wanted a change and god she was so bad ass. i love how much she cares about all her friends, and i so wish she was in season 3, she 100% would have knocked some sense into every single person. i also kind of wish we got to see her reaction to the sam/tory part of the fight as well as the hawk/demetri and miguel/robby parts. fingers are crossed for her return before the end of the show 🤞🏼

amanda- ok what a queen. i loved her since season one, her deadpan delivery is hilarious and she has the best lines. i really love her relationship with daniel and her slapping kreese was one of the most satisfying things i’ve ever witnessed. that being said, i really hope she stops telling sam that nothing is her fault and that she actually listens to how her daughter feels. i’m excited to learn some more about amanda’s backstory in season 4!

carmen- another queen. literally the sweetest woman. i love how much she cares about miguel and johnny and how she always says exactly what he needs to hear. i do wish that she could be developed separate from her romantic storyline with johnny though.

moon- ahhhh i love her. i rewatched season 1 recently and completely forgot she was initially the ditzy stoner (“my mom got me this weed for my birthday”). i really love how she came around at the end of season 1 and apologized to aisha for bullying her. i do find it interesting though how she stayed friends with yasmine into season 3, although she probably believes that yasmine is capable of being nicer and apologizing as well. i also think her breaking up with hawk was her best moment and i literally cheered at screen. her friendship with demetri is one of the most underrated things on the show and i hope we get more of it. i also love her and piper and i think that was so cool to see and i would love for them to bring them back.

yasmine- i hated her in season 1 but in season 3, i do believe she is changing for the better. i mean i always thought that her bitchiness and bullying was a front for some deeper insecurities and it would be nice if she could share some of that/her home life with demetri if the writers do decide to move forward with their relationship. i should say that at the moment i don’t ship them, although i do love the scene where she signs his cast. i also think that regardless of if it’s in a romantic context or not, both yasmine and demetri could be really good for each other. i also don’t think that yasmine can be fully redeemed unless aisha comes back so lets see how they do with that.

rosa (yaya)- adding yaya because she’s iconic and i will never get over her showing up stoned to the all valley in season 1. icon behaviour. i would love some more scenes between her and miguel and her and carmen.

ali- i actually really loved how they brought her back and i think her scenes with johnny were super needed. i am so glad they didn’t have an unnecessary love triangle and that she was the missing piece in getting daniel and johnny on the same page. i also just think her and amanda would be the best duo if she ever came back. im obsessed with all those party scenes between the adults.

kumiko- she is such a sweetheart. they also did a great job bringing her back and i just love how much she helped daniel. i kind of think that what ali was for johnny in this season, kumiko was for daniel. i do think it’s tragic how she’s still in love with daniel because she really just deserves all the happiness. her reading mr. miyagi’s letters was one of the most emotional things in the whole show and i loved every second of it. i really hope they find a way to bring her back.

[persistentarcade]

The Most Excellent Trap Part 2

For @ringa-starr

Fandoms: Bill and Ted, The Parent Trap

Pairings: Bill/Dee (OC)

Words 1500

A few days had gone by and the switch had worked so far. Jaycee found that she had a lot in common with her mom. They loved listening to The Beatles all around the house. They both shared a love for the 80s, especially the music and the movies. They both loved watching the sunset side-by-side. It was paradise. Meanwhile, Sylvia was delighted to learn the art of Rock n Roll from her Dad and Uncle Ted. They told stories of time travel and how their bandmates, Jo and Elizabeth, were once princesses of England. Was the story true? Perhaps. 

“When is Rufus gonna come by again?” Sylvia asked, curious to meet this stranger.

“Soon enough, I suppose,” Bill shrugged.

“He’s been real busy saving the world and whatnot,” Jo mentioned from her spot, “You know how it is, Jay.”

“Right!” 

Ted would be lying if he said he didn’t notice the way “Jaycee” was fidgeting. Something was off about the girl he called his niece. After being through the worst of it all, he had a right to be suspicious. For now, he would simply push his thoughts aside and get ready to practice. Sylvia sat back and watched as the band warmed up, playing and singing their hearts out. Even Sylvia was singing along. After one song, a knock came to Bill’s door. He put his instrument down and walked to the door. He opened it and a smile came to his face.

“Hey Amanda!” 

“Get over here, you crazy son-of-a-gun,” she squealed.

She pulled the man into a hug. Bill laughed and hugged her back. Sylvia had never heard about this woman. Jaycee, however, probably had no idea who this was either. But once Amanda kissed Bill on the cheek, all bets were off. Sylvia stared in shock as she realized that there was a fatal flaw in the plan. Amanda looked over at Sylvia and there seemed to be...anger. Sylvia felt anxious just looking at this woman. Ted, Jo and Elizabeth even seemed to get a chill down their spines. A smile came to her face when Bill was looking. 

“Amanda,” Bill said,” This is my daughter, Jaycee. Jay, this is Amanda, she’s our manager and my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Sylvia sounded defeated.

“It’s so nice to meet you, sweetie!”

Her words would not get past Sylvia. Amanda’s grip in a hug was tight and quite uncomfortable. She leaned in and whispered ‘I’m your Daddy’s favorite’. Sylvia was in shock as she let go. Amanda smiled as she stood up and went to talk to the band. The young girl decided that she could not stand by and watch this happen. She snuck off to find a phone and, when she got one, she quickly dialed her phone number in the hopes of getting to Jaycee. In her house, Peyton happened to be by the phone. She heard the ringing and quickly picked up the phone.

“Hello?” she asked.

“P-may I speak to Sylvia?”  

Peyton found this to be so weird. She knew something odd was going on with Sylvia but she seriously had no idea what it was. Now she was getting calls for the young lady? Jaycee could hear what was happening and came in to use the phone. Peyton walked out of the room but stood outside to listen to what the girl had to say. From one side of the conversation, the woman understood that this wasn’t Sylvia. But she looked just like...as the phone clicked, so did Peyton’s memory. Jaycee got up and went to walk away, but she found the woman in the way.

“Sylvia’s twin,” she pointed,” that’s you!”

“No, no I’m not!”

“Look, I won’t tell Dee that you aren’t her daughter, but I think you should.”

“I...I’m afraid to. I just wanted bring my Dad and our Mom together again.”

“And that starts with telling Dee.”

Peyton was right but Jaycee didn’t want her to be. While she sat and thought about what to do, back in San Dimas, Sylvia was wondering what she should do. Ted had gone away from Amanda and her antics to find some peace of mind. Personally, he hated Amanda and he wished they’d gotten a better manager. When he walked away from the scene, he heard Sylvia on the phone. He realized that he was certainly right about this not being Jaycee. Whoever this dudette was, she was just like Jaycee. Once she was done on the phone, he needed to set things straight. 

“You’re not Jaycee,” he said,” Like, dudette, who are you?”

“Do you remember when Bill was married? And had twin daughters with-”

“Deidra,” Ted paused,” You’re Sylvia. Woah…”

“And we’re trying to get our parents back together.”

Ted thought it was a most excellent idea. Deidra was a cool dudette and to say her daughters weren’t would be hysterical. He agreed to help in any way he could. The same went for Peyton, who needed to persuade Dee to go to San Dimas. Jaycee was right alongside her, with the perfect plan to get there. The two went into the living room, where I Love Lucy was playing. She hadn’t been paying much attention because there was so much on her mind. When she saw her daughter and her assistant approaching, she smiled and muted the television. 

“Hello dear,” she said with a smile.

“Mom,” Jaycee put on her sweetest voice, “There’s something I need to ask you.”

“Of course, sweetie! What is it?”

“I have a friend at camp that I really miss. She lives in San Dimas and we want to see each other.”

Dee was hesitant to set foot in California. She’d been through a lot with him and if they saw each other..all the explaining and wondering. But, she wanted Sylvia to be happy. She would’ve done anything for her daughter, even if it meant setting foot where she didn’t want to be. She asked Peyton to help make the arrangements with ‘Sylvia’. The two slunk off, Jaycee calling Sylvia to tell her the plan was in motion. Ted, who had been close by, was trying to listen in. Eventually, she hung up and turned to Ted. 

“Looks like we have a date to set up.”

“What was that?” 

Bill stuck his head in the doorway. He honestly hadn’t been paying attention, but the expression on his daughter’s face was wonderful. Sylvia explained what they would be doing and how they would finally meet up. Bill was glad his daughter was making friends and said how it would be ‘most excellent’ to see a friend of his daughter��s. As he walked away, Ted leaned near Sylvia.

“Do you think he has any idea?” he asked.

“Not a clue.”

--------

The meet-up was at the restaurant on Third Street. It was where Bill first met Dee, falling head over heels for her as soon as she walked by. Sylvia and Ted arrived early, Bill promising to meet them there. The same went for Dee, who sent Jaycee and Peyton to save a place for her. When Sylvia saw Jaycee walk through the door, she quickly ran over. Ted followed, happy to see the real Jaycee.

“Jay!” he called out, pulling her into a hug,” it’s good to see you again, little dudette.”

“Hi Uncle Ted,” she said with a smile.

Peyton had her attention on Sylvia. She was so thankful the young girl was alright. Ted looked up at the woman, confused yet intrigued by her presence. She noticed his gaze and blushed, looking down. The girls noticed this and smirked. 

“Uncle Ted,” Jaycee coughed up,” this is Peyton--she helps take care of Sylvia. Peyton, this is Uncle Ted. A founding member of the band Wyld Stallyns.”

“So, you found out too?”

“During a phone call,” he laughed,” It was most shocking.”

“You’ve got that right,” she confessed,” These girls are clever, I will say.”

Just before they could finish their conversation, Sylvia noticed Bill parking his car. Quickly, she rushed to the table. Jaycee, knowing what this signal was, took Peyton by the hand and led her into the back. It was just until Dee arrived that they would reveal the whole plan. Ted watched the two leave, then leaned in.

“That was one bodacious babe,” he admitted.

“Hello my most excellent family,” Bill sat down at the table,” This restaurant is most excellent, but it has been awhile since I’ve been here.”

Ted and Sylvia knew why. As Bill looked through the menu, Dee walked in. She didn’t notice Bill at first, but when he looked up, they made eye contact. Time froze, as they hadn’t seen each other in almost twelve years. To see each other...was unreal.

“Bill…”

“Dee….”

Jaycee and Peyton soon emerged. The broken couple looked between the two girls, then at each other, then at the girls again. They felt like they were in the Twilight Zone, but the girls were proud of their plan.

[alj4890]

A Second Chance

(Thomas Hunt x oc*Amanda)

A/N:  We are picking up directly after Thomas showed up at Amanda’s suite door and told Kathleen he was her father. The rest of this chapter shows what follows after such a revelation.

Tagging some of my fellow Mr. Hunt lovers. @lxaah11​ @alleksa16​ @penguininapinktuxedo​ @blackcoffee85​ @stopforamoment​  @hopefulmoonobject​   @krsnlove​   @annekebbphotography​ @hopelessromantic1352​ . @sunflowergirl05​  @desireepow-1986​ @greywitchyshots​ @lilyofchoices​ @moodyvalentinestories​ @emceesynonymroll​ @my-heart-beats-for-ya​ @aworldoffandoms​ @ab1901​  @flyawayboo​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker . @trappedinfandoms  @kate-mckenzie

Catch up here with Chapter 1

Masterlist

Chapter 2

Kathleen's eyes widened. "Mommy?"

Amanda seemed to snap out of her shock. She knelt beside her. "Kathleen, you remember when I showed you the pictures of the man, I said was your father?"

She nodded. "You said he was at work. That's why he couldn't be with us."

Amanda swallowed nervously. She had hated telling her daughter that lie. "That's right. Well, he's had a chance to come see you. This is your father." She stood up and silently pleaded he be kind and not hurt Kathleen's feelings.

The little girl hid somewhat behind her mother's skirt and peeked out shyly at him.

Thomas gentled his voice to try and put her at ease. "Kathleen, you have a very pretty name."

She mumbled. "Thank you."

Thomas stood upright and stepped forward. "Amanda, why didn't you tell me?"

Her hazel eyes clouded in confusion. "Tell you what?"

He gestured silently toward their daughter.

"But you knew. Kara Bennett said you did and didn't want either..." She trailed off when she saw both sadness and anger contort his handsome features.

"I never knew." He whispered harshly. "I came to Cordonia multiple times and was refused to be told where you were by your servants. No one bothered to mention that you had given birth to my child."

Kathleen eased out from behind Amanda. She reached out and touched his hand.

Thomas paused in his denial and looked down at her. He relaxed his fingers and watched as she slipped her little hand in his.

Amanda knew this meeting was inevitable and stepped back. "Please, come in."

He allowed Kathleen to lead him over to the couch.

"Daddy?" She whispered in a tone filled with nervousness and uncertainty.

He swallowed uneasily. He had no idea how to act around this little girl. "Yes?"

Her smile reminded him of Amanda's, down to the one dimple that formed on the left corner of her lips. "You'll stay?"

He nodded, thinking she meant for the moment. "Yes, of course."

She leaned closer toward him. It was unnerving to have his own intense eyes focused on him. "I'm like my friends? I have a daddy."

Amanda chewed on her bottom lip. She hadn't realized how much Kathleen had missed having a father. She should have. She should have tried harder to make Thomas be a part of their child's life. Her stubbornness in denying they needed him had done this.

"Yes, you do." Thomas glanced up at Amanda for guidance. Was he screwing this up?

Kathleen stepped closer. Her voice still held a great deal of uncertainty. "Can I, um, have a hug?"

His arms reached out and he grunted when she threw herself into his embrace. Her little arms were wrapped tight around his neck. He rested his head against hers and held her, wishing he had known this little creature from the beginning.

Amanda lifted her eyes up, trying not to cry. How many nights had she wished Thomas had been there, having a sweet relationship with the one perfect part of their time together?

"Excuse me." She mumbled when another knock was at the door.

"Room Service." The porter pushed in a cart loaded down with covered dishes. He greeted Thomas and Kathleen while waiting on Amanda to finish signing the receipt.

"Thank you." Amanda said after adding his tip.

Kathleen wiggled out of Thomas's arms and held his hand. "Can Daddy eat with us?"

"I'm not that hungry." He stated, not wanting to put them to any trouble. He didn’t know if he could swallow a sip of water with how stunned he was by this revelation holding his hand.

"We ordered a number of dishes since neither of us could decide what we really wanted." Amanda interrupted. "Feel free to eat whatever you like."

Kathleen sat down beside him and smiled. "Do you like grilled cheese?"

Thomas nodded. "I do."

"Mommy! Daddy likes grilled cheese like we do!" Kathleen yelled out when Amanda walked into the kitchen of their suite for some extra plates.

"Is that so?" Amanda smiled at her happiness. "I know you and your father share a number of characteristics."

"We do?" She sat on her knees and pulled on Thomas's arm. She began to question him on everything from favorite holidays to his favorite kind of chocolate.

When she asked him what animal with stripes was his favorite, Amanda laughed.

"Sweetheart, why don't you eat and give your father a break? I want that tummy of yours to feel good tomorrow. We don't want to cancel our plans."

"Can Daddy come with us to the zoo?" She asked. "You want to come with us, don't you?"

Thomas met Amanda's eyes. He searched for any sign that she didn't want him to. "I would like to."

Kathleen beamed at him as she settled more against his side. She split her grilled cheese sandwich and handed him half. "Here you go."

Thomas took it and smiled at her sweetness. If he had only known of her existence, he could have had moments like this with both his daughter and Amanda.

He quietly observed mother and daughter's behaviors and words toward one another. His lips had remained in a near permanent smile at the apparent love between them.

Once dessert had been shared among the three of them, Amanda announced it was bedtime.

Kathleen pouted slightly. "But Daddy's here."

Amanda laughed. "That doesn't mean time has stopped." She picked her up and leaned her forehead against Kathleen's. Their noses rubbed, causing the little girl to giggle.

Thomas thought it was one of the sweetest sounds he had ever heard.

"Go brush your teeth and then I'll tuck you in." Amanda sat her back down and nudged her toward her room.

"Yes mam." She stopped and hugged Thomas. "You'll tuck me in too?"

"I will." He promised, smoothing her hair out of her little heart shaped face.

She hurried off leaving Amanda and Thomas alone for the first time.

He cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence. "She's amazing."

Amanda's smile turned tender. "Yes, she is." Her eyes lowered from his. "I knew you would think so if you ever met her."

Thomas stepped closer and gently caressed her cheek. "I know we have a lot to discuss." He tilted her chin up. "But there hasn't been a day that has gone by when I didn't think of you nor stopped missing you."

Amanda could feel herself drawn toward him as his lips lowered. She forced herself to step back. "I missed you for the longest time." She straightened her shoulders. "But we need to talk over everything...including that."

He dropped his hand and followed her into Kathleen's room. The little girl said her prayers and then hopped into bed. She had several stuffed animals on and under the covers.

"I can't wait to go to the zoo." Kathleen told them.

"Seems like you already have your own personal zoo right here." Thomas remarked.

She giggled again and started telling him the names of all her toys.

Amanda chuckled and shook her head. "You can introduce him to the rest tomorrow." She pressed a kiss to her cheek and covered her up. "Snug enough?"

Kathleen nodded and repeated their usual bedtime rhyme. "As a bug in a rug." She looked over at Thomas. "Goodnight Daddy."

He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. She hugged him again before settling down.

Amanda led him out and left the door cracked open.

"We need to keep our voices down while we talk." She excused herself for a moment, leaving him on the couch as she went into the other bedroom.

Thomas couldn't sit still and began to pace while waiting on her to return. His thoughts and nerves were on edge with all he had discovered this evening. He had hoped, since it was a Cordonian hosted charity event, to find out where Amanda had been all this time. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought she had given birth alone.

He had removed his jacket earlier and had loosened his tie. He went ahead and took it off. He unbuttoned the top three buttons of his dress shirt. He knew he would need air once they began to talk.

Amanda reappeared with a black binder. She hesitated a moment and then handed it to him. "I've made certain to carry this with me whenever I travel in case I ever bumped into you." She sat down in a chair near the couch. "I began filming Kathleen from her birth. I didn't want you to miss seeing her as the months and years passed."

He opened it and read the titles of the numerous discs. Each one had a date listed. The birthdays and holidays were all there. Her first time sitting up. First crawl. First step. First word. So many things he had missed.

"You made this for me?" His voice was raspy with emotion. "You did all this though you thought I didn't want anything to do with either of you?"

Amanda nodded. "I think a part of me couldn't believe the man I had known wouldn't want to know his own child."

He set the binder to the side and focused on her. "Why didn't you try to contact me?"

"I did the night she was born. I called a few times. You never answered and the mailbox was full." She explained.

"You could have called the studio. Called Addison or Holly. Anyone! You could have come back to California and demanded to see me." He argued. "Why did you give up?"

 Her eyes narrowed. "I returned to California when I found out we were having a girl, hoping you might be willing to hear me out this time. But then I ran into your Kara that you were sending flowers to. She told me at my most vulnerable point that you didn't want me or our child. Your lack of contact seemed to back up her claims that you were glad to be rid of us." 

She straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. "My reasons for not pursuing you after Kathleen’s birth were simple: I was caring for an infant. I was unsure with everything and centered my every thought on raising her. During the search for Cordonia's next queen, I was asked by Liam's father to reside at my estate in the Highlands. He didn't want to take a chance on the people possibly wanting a single mother as his son's wife. Then I was ordered to remain there by Liam when the attacks from the Sons of the Earth occurred. I remained in the Highlands while Liam and Riley dealt with some other problems that struck Cordonia. I haven’t been home since shortly after Kathleen was born."

"Those were the times I was in Cordonia." Thomas admitted. "I came hoping we could have a second chance. The months apart had been agony."

She rolled her eyes, feeling very little sympathy for his plight. "Imagine them pregnant with the belief that you were unwanted."

"I am sorry you went through all that. I promise I would have been with you during every step if I had known." He reached over and took her hand. "I never gave up on finding you. Each year I attended charity events that I knew you used to support, hoping to see you there."

Amanda slowly shook her head. "As sweet as that is, I'm afraid the version of me you searched for is no longer here." She held his unwavering gaze. "I've changed since having Kathleen."

He took her hand between both of his. "I would be surprised if that experience had not brought about change." He lifted her hand to his lips. "I would like the opportunity to know who you are now."

Her fingers trembled slightly in his grasp. "I'm not sure that is such a good idea. I at one time hoped you would want both me and Kathleen. Now, I am only concerned that she has a relationship with you."

"She deserves to have a family with both her parents." He countered. "I never stopped loving you. I believe if you give me a chance, you will see that we are meant to be together."

 She chuckled. "Meant to be? Like Fate has a hand in our destiny?" Her lips twisted in a bitter smile. "After everything that happened, I don't believe in any of that anymore." She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You, yourself, used to doubt such romantic nonsense."

"Once I lost you, I realized that there was some truth in it. There is such a thing as the perfect person for everyone." He gripped her hand. "I tried to date others after that first year without you and I tried again last year. No one could hope to compare to you."

Amanda had to harden her heart to the very words she had once dreamed of hearing. She didn't know if she wanted to fall in love with Thomas again. She had done quite well on her own. Did she really want to have all the excitement and uncertainty of romance again?

Thomas watched the conflicting emotions flicker on her face. "I don't need an answer right now. I only wanted to express what my hope is. I will begin any type of relationship you want for the time being."

Amanda's eyes cut to him. She thought of now knowing he was innocent in all she had held against him. She then remembered how much she missed having him in any form in her life. "Thank you." She laced her fingers with his and squeezed his hand. With Kathleen growing up, she knew she would want his input in her upbringing. "I wouldn't mind us being friends again."

He forced a smile. It wasn't what he wanted to hear, but hopefully he could change her mind as time went on. "How long are you planning on remaining in New York?"

"A week." She smiled at him. "Kathleen's birthday is Wednesday. She loves musicals and The Wizard of Oz. I am going to surprise her by taking her to see Wicked." She tugged his hand. "Why don't you come with us?"

 "I would love to." He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "Where are you going after New York?"

"Back to Cordonia. I have so much to catch up on after years of absence." She explained.

"I don't suppose I could come with you." He offered. "I don't have any films or such planned. This could give me an opportunity to get to know Kathleen." And try and win you, he thought.

 "She would love that." Amanda's smile was the happiest he had seen all night. "You are more than welcome to stay with us." Her lips trembled with mirth. "Goodness knows, we have plenty of guest rooms."

"Thank you." He let go of her hand and stood up. He reached for the binder she had given him. "Perhaps you and Kathleen would like to come to my suite for breakfast in the morning."

"She loves to sleep late like me." Amanda admitted with a laugh. "Why don't we say ten thirty?"

"Perfect." He gave her his room number while she wrote her cell down.

Pausing at the door, Thomas pulled her close for a hug. He felt her stiffen before relaxing in his embrace.

"I can't express how happy I am that I finally found you." He whispered.

"I…I am too." She admitted a touch breathlessly. She closed her eyes at that feeling that had long laid dormant that she had only felt when in his arms. Safety, reassurance, and cherished mixed together in a warm, soothing feeling.

His lips brushed her cheek as he let her go. She stumbled back and nervously tucked a short lock of hair behind her ear. She tried to keep her voice from shaking. "Goodnight, Thomas."

"Goodnight, Amanda."

***********

He spent the rest of his evening watching disc after disc of Kathleen from birth to a ballet recital performed a little over a week ago.

He swallowed the last of the third glass of scotch he had poured. Seeing his daughter become the little girl she was now had been eye opening. His heart was practically bursting with pride over having a hand in her creation.

It also ached with even more love for Amanda. Each disc had a sentence or more of her talking as if the two of them were standing beside one another while watching their child in wonder. 

As a baby and toddler, the camera was dropped often while she rushed after a quick Kathleen. Amanda's laughter followed their little one as she tried to stop the tiny runaway.

Birthday's and Christmases had someone else filming while Amanda held their daughter. Seeing the wide-eyed wonder on Kathleen’s face drew him in, but it was Amanda's that captivated and held him. Her joy and love couldn't be contained with their child. It was something he had only glimpsed in her before. That was what had caused him to fall in love the first time.

Watching her, he realized the truth. Amanda believed herself changed. He knew that wasn't it at all. The only changes the camera revealed were that those qualities he had admired so much in the beginning of their relationship had only become enhanced with the birth of Kathleen. Amanda was still the same, only much more desirable in every way.

That was why no one else had managed to steal his heart. Thomas wanted that type of love and affection. He knew she was the only one capable of giving that depth and quality of the emotion to him.

After years of trying to capture these honest emotions behind the camera, he caught every simple touch, every heartfelt word. The camera didn't lie. It revealed everything he so desperately wanted.

For a man that had found himself not really caring what path he took after his last film, he was now seriously focused on and planning every strategy he could use. Thomas would be the father Kathleen needed. He was going to do all he could to make Amanda fall in love with him again. He would make the three of them a family.

[lveclouds]

pjmskosmos mutual appreciation (1)💌

hi angels! so i hit 1K recently, and i wanted to do a mutual appreciation for my ff but as i am trying to apply for school, life’s been hectic. so, here’s me gushing about how much i love you all! and thank you guys again for always being so sweet and welcoming and supportive and just overall sweethearts. and though i may not talk to all my followers/mutuals a lot, please know that i love and appreciate each and every single one of you so so so so so so so much.

@gyeomslegs: kendrey! i just wanted to say that i love you and i appreciate any conversation we have. you have become one of my best friends here on tumblr and i am so glad that we can talk about just anything and everything! you have the kindest heart and i hope you know that the advice you’ve given me has really helped me. you’re an absolute angel (just like yugyeom himself) and the world is lucky to have an angel(that’s you, btw) you deserve the entire universe, and i hope that you are always happy! i fucking love you 🥺💗

@vjimin: alex!!!!!! i love your blog so much and your theme? g o r g e o u s! thank you for tagging me in cute things and for sending cute asks! seeing you on my dash makes me smile and my day 1009939393 times brighter! thank you for being an actual sweetheart to everyone on this site and yes, just like jimin, you are lovely! you radiate angel energy and i hope you know how much i fucking love you🥺🤧!

@taesseok: mia!!!!! whenever i think of the word angel, your name pops up in my mind. you’re so unbelievably sweet and thank you for tagging me in the cutest posts that never fail to make me smile and my heart warm. your blog is too cute and i think your url is just as cute too! your tags are always so adorable and just full of love! you practically radiate love! like tae, you always bring a smile to people’s faces with your kind words and genuine heart. i love you to the moon and back!!! 💕

@honeylovecult: tess! if i could give you all the love in the world, i would! you’re a ray of sunshine, just like hobi. whenever you pop up in my notifications, i can’t help but feel happy. you are always so incredibly loving and caring to everyone, especially to your mutuals! if anyone deserves all the happiness in the world, it’s you! thank you for being the epitome of kindness and humility! i love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!! always be happy and healthy ok? and continue to spread happiness and love everywhere you go, just like hobi would.

@flowerbangtann: minny! do you know how much i love you? because i love you! a lot! you are one of the funniest mutuals i have and i am so so so so glad that we are so close to the point where we can talk about literally anything! thank you for listening to my rants and for screaming about bts with me! thank you for always being the sweetest angel ever and for making me smile when i am feeling like absolute shit. you deserve the entire universe!!!

@bangtanboysheaven: melinda!!!! i miss you :((((( i miss screaming about bts and jikook with you! you have a wicked sense of humor and i hope you know that i appreciate you more than words can say! i hope you’re doing well! never forget that i am always here to talk about bangtan or jikook with you and i hope you’re happy and successful with whatever you are doing!

@introjoon: codi! you brighten my day every time you tag me in posts! you’re such a sweetheart and though we haven’t talked lots, i think you’re an absolutel angel! like jackson wang, you are kind and passionate and caring. you care about all your friends deeply and won’t hesitate to defend them if necessary. you are the cutest ever and i hope you are having a great month/year! continue to be the sweetheart that you are, and i hope we can talk more!!!

@namuswife: amanda!!! i love you!!! your love for joon is just too cute and i hope that you are always happy!!! your blog is too adorable and i hope you know that are an absolute angel! i love seeing you on my dash and reading your cute ass tags on the posts you reblog! i hope that we can talk more! you seem like such a lovely person! you deserve all the happiness and love in the world!!!

@utopiajeon: fabi! angel! thank you for tagging me in cute things and for being an absolute sweetheart! seeing you on my dash makes my day and i hope that we can talk a lot more! you are definitely one of my favorite people on this site and your blog is also too cute! we’ve been mutuals for a while now and i am so glad that we are. you’re an actual ray of light on this site and i love you so much! 🥰

@gukwluv: may! have i ever told you that you’re one of my favorite jungkook blogs? bc you provide us with all the jungkook content we need and as he is my bias wrecker, i appreciate all the content we get. you’re so lovely and sweet and your theme is too gorgeous???? like????? i hope that jungkook himself will know that he has a fan who is as looking and cute as you! i could go on a long tangent about how much i love you! thank you for always being so sweet and supportive and an overall angel! i love you 😘

[zennyshoneybunch]

The Sweetest Birthday

This is my B-Day present for my girl @monotonemanday ❤️❤️❤️

I hope you enjoy this little something I put together with our oh-so-sexy Jumin Han. 😏 I call it fluff with a little tease haha. Have fun~

🎀🎀🎀

Bip-Bip, Bip-Bip !!!

You woke up to the sound of your phone signaling a text message had arrived. With a little groan you opened one eye and reached for your phone. The name on the screen, however, immediately made you smile.

“Good morning. Are you up? I am getting ready for work right now. Don’t forget to eat a well balanced breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day. I know I told you last night, but I will tell you again: Happy Birthday, my love. Wait for me later. Love, Jumin.”

Waking up to a text from your lover was definitely a great way to go. You usually woke up in the most ungodly hours in the morning, but so did your hard-working boyfriend, and since you two started dating you noticed your morning mood was actually improving with his help.

With a spring in your step, you jumped out of bed and walked to the shower, getting ready for another work day.

When you arrived at your desk, in the office, you saw a few trinkets and sweets on tip of it, all left there by your closest coworkers. They also surprised you by singing happy birthday and making you blow the candle they sticked in a little cupcake.

You settled in your desk with your cupcake in one hand and your favourite coffee in the other. That was probably not the “well balanced breakfast” Jumin had in mind, but what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.

The rest of the day went by like it normally would, and you were so busy you almost forgot it was your birthday.

Except at the end of the day, when you walked outside.

A black, luxurious car was parked in front of the building and Jumin was leaning against its door, looking every inch the handsome corporate heir he was, in his three piece suit.

The image alone was enough to make any female’s heart stop, but the one thing that made your heart go haywire was his smile, like the one he showed as soon as he saw your face.

You weren’t expecting to see him there, waiting for you. Your plans together weren’t until late in the night, since he was so busy. Good thing everybody else seemed busy and you had nothing else planned for the day.

You slowly walked to him, enjoying the way his eyes traveled up and down your body, appreciatively. When he met your eyes again, he smiled softly.

- I am here to scoot you away.

- What? Where are you taking me?

You asked as you stepped inside the car, through the door Jumin opened for you.

- You’ll see…

He closed the door and walked around the car to the other door, while you greeted driver Kim.

Sitting next to you, Jumin laced his fingers through yours, asking about your day and making small talk. You could still remember the first time he told you he didn’t mind making small talk with you since your voice was pleasant to hear.

- What are you smiling so fondly about?

- Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about you.

The corner of his lips twisted up and he lowered his voice, leaning to you.

- Are you having fun playing with me?

Pleasure ran from your head to your toes at the sound of his sensual, velvety voice so close to your ear. But you forced yourself to look up, mirroring his provocative smile.

- You know I always do.

- Then, you will love the present I have reserved for you...

He sat back straight in his sit, his face unreadable. But something in his eyes told you, the best was yet to come.

The driver took you to a little secluded place, with a lovely view to the mountains, and Jumin asked you to take a stroll with him.

You were both watching the colors change in the sky, as the afternoon slowly faded into the night, when you calmly asked him.

- So… how much longer will it take for everyone to reach the designated place, for the surprise party you are taking me to?

He chuckled.

- I told them I would not be a good decoy. I knew you would be able to see right through me. Like you always do.

He took a look at his wrist watch.

- We should probably be going.

- Don’t worry, I’ll make a surprised face.

He laughed and hugged you close to protect you from the cold wind that was starting to settle.

Soon, you arrived at the karaoke pub he had rented, where the surprise party was taking place. With his strong hand holding yours, he lead you inside, where all your close family and friends waited to shout ‘Surprise’.

No need to say you had an amazing time singing, dancing and drinking between the people you loved the most, and it was very late when everyone left and you found yourself in Jumin's car again, feeling a little tipsy and giddy.

- Did you enjoy yourself?

- I did! Thank you, you're the best boyfriend a girl can have… Even if you suck at keeping surprise parties a surprise.

He looked at your cheeky smile sideways.

- If that’s the case, will you come stay in my apartment tonight?

The question came out of nowhere, and even though it wouldn't be the first time you spent the night at his place, you still felt butterflies in your stomach while you nodded.

Back in his apartment, he poured two glasses of wine and handed one to you. The moment your fingers touched you were reminded of your earlier conversation.

- You know, I was promised a present…

With the glass in his lips he let out a muffled chuckle.

- You love to tease me, don’t you? Very well...

He walked to the corner of the room, where his stereo was, and soon a sweet melody flowed through the room.

Turning to face you, he tugged on his tie with his free hand, setting it loose, before slowly walking back to you.

- You always sing to me, whenever I ask you to. Let me be the one who sings to you tonight.

Before you could say anything, Jumin’s deep voice enveloped you, calm and sweet.

- “Close your eyes, make a wish and blow out the candlelight. For tonight is just your night. We're gonna celebrate, all through the night.”

His voice was barely above a whisper, yet it resounded through your entire body, sending shivers of pleasure all over you.

He placed his glass on a nearby table and held you by the waist. Before you noticed, he had worked to pull your blouse out of you skirt, and was stroking your skin with his fingertips.

- “Pour the wine, light the fire, girl your wish is my command. I submit to your demands, I will do anything, girl you need only ask.”

Dipping his head on the crook of your neck, he placed feathery kisses all the way up to your ear. Since he didn’t stop singing, his breath kept hitting your neck as much as his lips did, and it was starting to drive you insane. Feeling an indescribable need to feel his skin, you reached for his shirt, unbuttoning it.

- “I'll make love to you, like you want me to, and I'll hold you tight. Baby all through the night, I'll make love to you, when you want me to and I will not let go, ‘till you tell me to.”

A smirk playing in his beautiful full lips, he held your hands just as you finished working on his shirt.

- “Girl relax, let's go slow. I ain't got nowhere to go.”

With dexterous fingers, Jumin worked on your blouse, taking it off. His touch on your bare skin felt like silk, as his hands reverently skimmed through your body.

- “I'm just gonna concentrate on you, girl are you ready? It's gonna be a long night.”

The next second your skirt was on the floor, next to your blouse and his own shirt, and you didn't miss the opportunity to feel his bare chest beneath your lips.

- “Throw your clothes on the floor, I'm gonna take my clothes off too. I made plans to be with you, girl whatever you ask me you know I can do.”

Once again he ducked his head, kissing you between sentences, from your collarbone to your ear, face, nose and eyelids.

- “I'll make love to you. Like you want me to. And I'll hold you tight. Baby all through the night. I'll make love to you. When you want me to. And I will not let go, ‘till you tell me to.”

He silently locked eyes with you, his so heated you were started to feel like catching on fire.

- Enough with the singing.

In a swift movement, his lips were on yours, kissing you hungrily and deeply. Soon you felt your body lifting from the floor, as he held you, princess style, and took you to the bedroom.

And the rest of his present was infinitely more sweet than anything you have ever tasted before...

🎀🎀🎀

🎉 Happy Birthday, Amanda!!! 🎂

Song: Boyz II Man (I’ll make love to you)

[chrismaverickdotcom]

To my friend Aspen...

I almost never post to my blog anymore (should fix that) Aa lot of what I say I put over on VoxPopcast), but I do pretty frequently say shorter things on Twitter or Facebook. Today, I wrote this on Facebook… a eulogy for a friend. I decided that it was something I wanted to have a copy of here.

I’d like to tell you about my friend Aspen. This morning, my wife woke me up, clearly very sad and distraught, asking me to look at a Facebook post. The post was on Aspen’s wall, from a friend of hers I’ve never met, informing the world that she’d passed away a couple days ago. Details of the post were slight, but reading between the lines.. and mixed with things I know… It’s especially sad. But that’s not what I want to dwell on.

I won’t pretend we were “best friends” but we were definitely good friends. At least to me. Loving pen pals! Just looking at the people posting comments and condolences, I don’t know the vast majority of them. She was someone who modeled for me years ago, but we’ve always kept in touch. She struck up a friendship with both me and Stephanie and I can honestly say that Aspen was one of the kindest, sweetest, most adorable, most genuinely delightful people I’ve ever met.

I don’t know her mother or her sister, but I do know Aspen spoke of them QUITE frequently and loved them very much. So on the off chance that either of them ever see this… or really, anyone else whose life Aspen has ever touched (which, is actually probably way more than anyone knows as I’m about to detail)… I want to share a few thoughts about Aspen in the hopes that my words bring whatever solace to whoever reads them that they can.

The first is about my podcast… and the #BLM movement, which… I guess is now forevermore immortalized in Aspen’s FB profile avatar. The morning after George Floyd was murdered on national TV, Aspen texted me to talk. It was a … I guess weird… conversation in a way, but also completely natural in its own way. She was distraught, and angry, and sad… just like a lot of the rest of us. But she wanted to ask me if she had any right to be. I asked her what she meant. She explained the obvious. She found everything disturbing and awful… she was angry and upset… but she was white and she wanted to know how I was feeling as a black person.

She was concerned for me. It was very clearly from a place of love. Not from obligation. It wasn’t performative. I wasn’t her only black friend. She wasn’t getting advice from a meme to “check in on black people”. She had just been watching something horrific… and I was a person she felt like she could have an honest conversation about her feeelings with. She honestly wasn’t sure if she was even allowed to show concern as a white person because she (in her words) “didn’t want to take away from the hurt that black people had to be feeling”. And what she wanted most of all was to help. And then she felt like she might even be patronizing by showing concern. We had a very honest conversation about this that went on for like… three days.

So… there’s an episode of VoxPopcast… in fact, I think still one of the most popular shows we’ve ever done, which is just me and several other black friends of mine talking about the George Floyd murder and the aftermath. That was Aspen’s idea. She wanted to hear me talk about it. I thank her at the beginning (calling her Amanda, her name at the time) for giving me the idea. This delighted her… she didn’t even want credit. She thought it was silly to think of her. She just was happy to hear honest opinions from people on what happened. It was important to her. I value that integrity and honesty and genuineness. And, based on the feedback that I got from that episode… her idea… it meant a lot to a lot of other people. I told her that. She was proud of it… or happy about it… her feeling was that she didn’t do much. I disagree. She mattered here a lot. I will never forget it.

Second memory: Three years ago, her purse was stolen. Her response was to post a Facebook message the next morning wishing the anonymous person who robbed her the best of luck, saying “I hope the food and gas from the gas station bought with my card last night fed you and took you where you needed to go. I also hope that things turn around for you in life. I’m sure you’re just in a bad spot and need some help.” It almost sounds sarcastic; if you didn’t know Aspen you’d think it was. If you did know her, you’d know it was the absolute most sincere thing ever. The only thing she was sad about was that that purse contained a necklace given to her by her deceased fiancé. To Aspen, the biggest tragedy was that some poor person “had to rob her”

Final memory: The last real conversation we had (other than brief FB comments or happy birthdays). A few months ago, after Aspen wrote a post publicly coming out as: genderqueer, polyamorous, and pansexual… and ummm… as Aspen (instead of Amanda, her given name), I wrote her a private message to congratulate her. We’d talked about sexuality a bunch over the years, so I actually already knew all of those things. I think a lot of people in her life did… I don’t feel like she was ever trying to hide anything. But Aspen felt like taking the definitive step was important. I think more for other people than for herself. For normalization. She felt it was important because, in her words: “I’m a raging, feminist, poly, pan, nonbinary, spiritual atheist who’s sorry she showed up to the game a little late.” She wanted to help others.

In particular I asked about the pronouns she’d chosen: specifically she/he/they. I actually went back and forth on what I should use on this post. I decided to go with feminine because of what she said. I once asked if she had a preference. What should I use… Her answer was a predictable “oh no… I sometimes feel totally like ultrafemme or some days I feel more masculine or somedays neither and it changes so much. I’m genderqueer! I embrace the entire spectrum of pronouns. Just do whatever is easiest!” And that was that. Mostly, she told me, that she was just happy that there was so much love and support from people on what she said was a little scary and a very vulnerable day. She was glad she did it. She thought it was important to just be her.

And it was… Aspen was important. I wish she knew how important she was to other people. She was important to me. She was important to my wife. She was clearly important to so many people who knew and loved her… and from the three examples that I just shared, I wish she understood how important she was to people who had never met her.

So… to her mother and sister, and again, anyone else who loved her/him/them as Aspen or Amanda (or Mandie… which is what I actually mostly called her): My most sincere condolences to the loss of one the brightest lights in the world.

And to Mandie, I love you and miss you. I already miss talking to you… I miss your quirkly flirtiness… I miss your goofy tiktok videos… I miss your deep and sincere desire to help everyone that you’ve ever (and never) met… I miss your periodic checking in on me to make sure I was having a good day… I miss your writing me randomly to ask a question about race or to discuss gender or sexuality… I will miss you texting me to point me at some random asshole you want me to roast for being sexist or racist online…. and I miss you writing me out of the blue to say “hey, what comic books should I be reading?” I will miss not waking up to a private text next year that says “Happy motha fuckin birthday!!!”. And I will miss the wonderful person who had the courage to write me on a horrible day and say “I don’t know how to feel”.

You’re gone… today is a horrible day and I don’t know how to feel. But I know I miss you.

-Love Mav

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To my friend Aspen… was originally published on ChrisMaverick dotcom

[sunlightbi]

hi guys !! i promise i’ll do a proper follow forever later in 2018 when we survive 2017 but today i want to give a shout out to some amazing people whom i’m very proud to call my friends and best friends. all of my mutuals are extremely special but these ones mean the whole world to me as we always talk and laugh together and i’m pretty sure i’d die for every single one of them. i hold each one of you very close to my heart :’) so here’s a list of people that make me smile every day and also make my world brighter and my dash a better place !! (1. idk how long it takes im sorry i lov y’all 2. also idk why i have this summer pic as my header but happy new year i guess)

i’ll start with the most important person for on this website @alloutshirt. lisa, you’re truly my soulmate and i can’t even imagine my life without you now. you always make my happy by just liking random posts on my blog or tagging me in pure stuff. i just want you to know that i’d do anything for you, i care about you so so much and i don’t think i’ll ever stop. i hope you’ll always be happy because you’re too precious and incredible and you have my whole heart. i love you to the moon and back, baby :’) YOU’RE ALSO THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD DON’T FORGET THAT

@twofronteeth amal even tho you never check ur activity page and have a face like a goddess (no kidding im crying every time i see your selfies) somehow we are mutuals and friends, i still don’t know why the fuck you noticed me but that was the best day of my life. please please never change, you’re literally the cutest person i know and your spelling mistakes make you even cuter !! just the way you talk to ppl makes you cute idk how you do that. you truly deserved your nickname ‘baby honey’ and i’m very proud to call you that i love you

of course i can’t even imagine myself without Pure Squad even tho it exists like 3 minutes but !!!! these people are already so important to me that i cry every time we interact

@spaceboysweater arsh i swear i couldn’t love you more because you’re one of the purest people on this website. and ur laugh !!!!! oh my god this is the best thing i’ve ever heard i need it as my ringtone. i will love you forever, you always make me smile and i wanna hug you so tight !!!!!!!!!

@babieharrie ahhh karri you’re just the most adorable person ever and i love you so so so so much. we almost made it !!! almost started a gc aksjfgffkj. you are incredibly lovely and you have a special place in my heart even tho you hate cats which i still can’t believe oh my god

@rainbowsboa 1) where the fuck are you i miss you 2) i’ve never seen a blog with more posts than yours i swear i need hours to scroll through it. but bella you’re my sunshine and you always bring me happiness, i really enjoy talking to you and omg i just love you so much i’m sorry i’m crying

@bibi-harry becca i can’t even put into words how much you mean to me !!!!!! i appreciate it so much when you come to talk to me because you’re sad or feel alone. i’m really glad i can help because you’re too amazing and flawless to be sad ever. i just hope you’ll have the best 2018, i love you with my whole heart cupcake !!

@haryslytherin eleanor baby it feels like i’ve known you for ages, you’re such an incredible person even tho your blog is a mess aklsjkdh. i love talking to you, you’re a pure bean. please make more 1d edits in 2018 that’s a need for me !! your art is wonderful just as you :) also i hope in 2018 you won’t change your icon every day

@fireprooof le !!!! just as you said i can’t imagine my tumblr experience without you too (tbh that message made me cry i love you so much). you were one of my first larry mutuals actually and i’ll never forget how excited i was that day. and i was extremely happy when you messaged me and said you miss my likes !! that was iconique. your edits give me life, i’ve never seen anything more beautiful, i just want to make a whole sideblog to reblog everything you make.  hope you’ll have an amazing 2018, i love you endlessly :’)

@louieh ghadeer aka the most iconic fanfic writer i know ;);)));)) i know this had been a tough year for you but i hope 2018 will be much better !!! you deserve the best only, i love you so so much and appreciate you more than you could imagine. i wanna give you the world and the stars and the moon and everything pure in the universe !!!!! i just hope everything will be okay darling :)

@stylesappreciation flo even tho you forgot about me i’m still here like hachi bc i love you very much a lot. anyways !!! skldjdfbhdskl you’re one of the most iconic people i know and your edits make my heart melt, i cry every time you post something new. we don’t talk as much as we used to which is sad but that’s okay, i’d sill give you my liver and everything you want. hope 2018 will treat you well baby :) ( @nosuchblue take care of her !!! i love u too erin and wish you all the best in 2018)

@liamsgrammys and @blushlouie you just go together and i can’t tell you apart. we actually don’t talk but you two are the most iconic gays ever and i’m so glad to witness ur gay relationship and reblog ur gay selfies and cry my gay tears !!!! i hope 2018 will be amazing for you, i love you two so so much, this gay experience is very important for me

@rosesau syeda aka ome of the most popular binches ever. i’m shook that like everybody knows you??? wtf??? how you do that honestly. you’re truly iconique and i’m pretty sure you make everyone’s tumblr experience much better. your text posts are my favourite thing ever and i just love you so incredibly much !!!! have the best 2018 biatch

@honeyhaz jackie !!!! the most precious flower in the land, i adore you so much. i really really really love talking to you, you’re the loveliest person ever, i hope you’ll have a lot of friends in 2018 !! you deserve only pure things darling. you make my heart burst with love every time you appear on my dash and i would just like to clarify that i love you to the moon and back :’)

@iconichalo well your url just speaks for itself so !!! i only wanted to say that alex you’re really an amazing person and i’m hella glad that we met thanks to gorgeous people we both talk to. i hope in 2018 we’ll become closer because i really like you !!! wish you the best stuff in new year darling :)

@ann-fortunately maybe i’d love you more if you stopped exposing me !!!!! alsjddgdgdkdj nevermind i actually love you very much a lot, you’re a pure puppy and i just wish 2018 treats you really well. all the love my dear !!! (also pls make more edits)

@dreamsmp3 eden baby idk when you’ll see this but i just want you to know that it’s not the same without you here, you’re incredible and i hope you’re taking care of yourself !!!!! i’m still thinking about that post i made when i just saw you on my dash and i oliterally became so overwhelmed that wrote big ass paragraph about how much i love you on the verge of tears and tbh this is Mood. you make everything better and brighter and i just want to wish you the best things in 2018, you deserve the whole world my love :’)

@lwtrainbows gio !!!! i’m so happy that i’m friends with arsh’s soulmate aldjfhfgjn you are just wonderful !!! i hope you won’t ever be sad, you need to always smile and laugh because the world needs more of this. you are one of the purest people ever and i just want to wrap you in a big blanket and give you forehead kisses. i wish 2018 treats you well sunshine !!!!

@alwaysycu well rhian you’re just an angel (my-my-my-my only angeeeel) that deserves better, always better. you make my heart go ‘!!!!’ when we talk and you’re just so nice and sweet always. i hope you’ll never be sad in 2018, it just goes against nature tbh. you were created to spread love and light so i hope next year will be the happiest for you :) i love you very much a lot

@iamlouis oh damn sarah !!! (this is just The Mood always with you) you’re a popular bitch and i’m still wondering why we are mutuals because your cool ass is too cool for me. everything you do is iconic and i’m tired bc you’re too good and pure wtf !! but i wish you become iconicer in 2018 because why not we all deserve some glow up i lov u

@delicatelou pinja you’re the softest person i know !!!! like literally. everything about you and your blog is so aesthetic and beautiful and just perfect??? h o w. i’m friends with a literal angel what the heck !! hope 2018 treats you well, you deserve the best only my pure baby. i’ll love you til the end of time darling, you’re amazing :’)

@ftdtlouis @lesbianhoran @larriez @definegirlfriends i’m only mentioning you because you broke my heart to pieces !!! but it’s new year so i gotts forgive you so you could dissappoint me in 2018 with something new. ALSMJDHNDG JOKES I LOVE Y’ALL EVEN THO I WAS HELLA SCARED YESTERDAY i just want all my mutuals to be happy and fine. is that too much to ask?.. anyways i wish you all the best i hope the nest time this shit happens i won’t be online bye

@rainbowstyles sabine i wouldn’t ever forget about you !!! you’re the sweetest creature ever, so so pure and lovely that you melt my heart. you deserve lots of love and happiness and laugh in 2018 and always. i hope you won’t ever be sad even tho it’s impossible but you are meant to be a sunshine !! i love you so so much, please don’t forget that :)

@poshlouis and @louari you two are iconic bitches and i couldn’t love you more. amanda thank you for always being nice to me and aline ,,, just thank you. you are a dream team and i love seeing you two interact on my dash !!!! hope you’ll have the best 2018, i love you two very much a lot

i hope all of my amazing mutuals will have the best 2018, you darlings mean so so much to me, i love you with all my heart !

[cindyjane]

teaching diary #10: talofa loʻu faiaoga pele

Hello my dear students,

I think these last couple of weeks have been harder for me than it has been for you, especially today. You all got to make the most of these last 2 weeks with your friends. I was away teaching a different class for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students, and I missed you all so much these last 2 weeks. 

Maybe I needed you all more than I thought. Maybe I grew more attached than I expected to. And I still can’t believe that today was the last day I would see all of you together. You all were such bright lights in my world this year. Thank you for giving me the energy to move forward. I was simply giving back what you had given me. All the “you’re the best teacher” and “you’re so special” comments only made me realize more and more how lucky I was to have students like you all. From the sweet encouraging or congratulatory messages, to the late evenings in my classroom talking about life, to the inside jokes and handshakes... I will remember all the big and little things. I can’t wait to see you all again. Today was the last day of school, but I didn’t feel too sad because you all reassured me that you would come visit me next year. We shall see, but what I do know is that this year was extra special for many reasons, and I know that I will never forget you all. 

Wednesday 5/24/17. Graduation.

That morning, my colleague Nick came running to me to give me a shirt and tie. “Give this to Anariba,” he said. “I heard he didn’t want to go to graduation today because he didn’t have nice clothes to wear, so please make sure he knows he has clothes to wear to graduation.” I was shocked because I expected all the seniors in my advisory to be at graduation. I checked in with my colleague Amanda who had been with the seniors these last 2 weeks, who then told me that Anariba had indeed told teachers that he wouldn’t go to graduation because he doesn’t have family here. He didn’t feel like there was a point to go to graduation because, as someone who was supporting himself in the US, he had no one to celebrate with. 

Anariba was the student who always emailed me when I was sick to ask if I was okay and if I needed anything. He was the student who would send me texts just to say “God bless you, Ms, have a great day.” This student was more on the quiet side, but he had such a gentle and kind soul that I was seriously heartbroken to hear that he didn’t want to come to his own graduation. I wanted him to get the recognition that he so deserved...

I texted him and called him like crazy, but I got no response. I also knew that he was getting an award at graduation, which was one of the few times (if not the only time) that he was getting recognized in front of his peers. When it was time for graduation rehearsal, he still didn’t show, and after leaving voicemails for him, I was getting more and more nervous about him not showing up after all.

We released all the seniors right after rehearsal and told them to be back by 3 PM to rehearse one last time before the actual ceremony at 4:30 PM. I called and messaged Anariba some more, and he didn’t respond. I was surprised and worried -- Anariba always responded promptly to my messages, so I wasn’t sure if something had happened to him.

I got to the graduation venue right at 3 PM. I stepped out of the car and immediately saw Anariba attempting to put on his gown. I immediately ran over to him, grabbed him by the shoulders, and said, “I’m so glad you’re here but WHY HAVEN’T YOU RESPONDED TO MY MESSAGES?”

He looked at me and laughed. “Cómo esta Miss?”

I had to laugh at how ridiculous this was. Anariba was actually here! 

“Did you know that I was calling and texting you for the last few hours because I thought you weren’t coming to graduation? I was so worried!” I said.

Anariba laughed some more and said, “Oh, sorry Miss, I don’t have my phone.”

I was too relieved to even be mad. I was just glad that he actually showed up at graduation, even without parents or family members to celebrate with. Needless to say, Anariba walked across the stage, received his award, and took a picture with me. Here it is: 

And here’s Anariba’s text later that night:

Thursday 5/25/17. After school.

I had just come back from a field trip with my Immigrants’ Rights class with the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. I was exhausted, but I remembered Cristhian finally giving me back my yearbook. That kid had it for almost a week! He said he wanted to write something extra special for me, and the agreement we made was that he could keep it with him at home until he was done... as long as he helped me get other students to sign it during the school day. 

I opened my yearbook and found Cristhian’s message -- A WHOLE PAGE LONG with “I needed another page!” written at the very top. Here’s what his yearbook entry said: 

The last sentence said, “You are the best I will never forget you trust me those who matter to me always stay with me.” 

I think I was too tired to really feel anything when I first read his yearbook entry. I went to the teacher’s lounge to make copies for the last day of my Immigrants’ Rights class. My colleague Toby was working on submitting grades when he asked me, “So, how do you feel with just one more day with your seniors?”

“I don’t really know,” I said. “Like I just got my yearbook back, and oh my gosh, Cristhian wrote me this super long message, and it was the sweetest thing. Read it!”

Toby read through the entry and said, “Okay wow, this was really sweet. And way to flaunt it, I didn’t get my students to write shit in my yearbook, thanks for rubbing it in!” We both laughed, and I said, “Man, I’m really gonna miss this kid. I think I meant a lot to him.”

Andddd that’s when the tears came. Toby just looked at me, gave me a quick hug and said, “And I think he means a lot to you too. I’m sure all your students mean a lot to you, with the way you talk about them.”

It really hit me then. One more day with the students I loved so much. One more day with the students who meant the world to me this past year. One more day with the young people I called my second family.

Anyway, here’s a picture that Cristhian took with me and Juan Pablo. He snuck up behind me to take a selfie, and of course, I had to be myself: 

Cristhian is one of the most admirable young men that I know. He won the Perseverance Award at graduation, which was given to the student who exemplified perseverance through all sorts of trials and still had the best attitude throughout. I’ve already written a post about Cristhian; I’m sure you all can tell how much I love this kid. Anyway, here’s a normal picture with him:

Friday 5/26/17. The last day.

We had our final community circle in advisory. I tried not to do anything too sentimental because I really didn’t want to cry. I turned off the lights and lit a candle in the middle of our circle. 

The community circle question was, “If you never saw each other again, what would you tell each other?”

Students shared congratulatory messages with each other. “Never give up,” Chikis said. “We all made it so far; we can’t stop now.”

The encouraging messages kept rolling, and they all turned to me. 

“Miss, what about you? What would you say to us?”

I looked at all of them, not really prepared to answer the question myself. It was the last day, and I felt that I could be completely honest with them.

“If I never saw you all again, I would tell you that honestly, I was depressed last year and didn’t feel like I would ever be a good teacher.”

I felt all the students’ eyes on me. 

“If I never saw you all again,” I continued, “I would tell you that this year was actually my first year teaching, ever. I don’t know if you knew that, but last year, I was a student teacher, and I had a supervisor who would tell me that I was doing a lot of things wrong. She would call out all my mistakes while I was teaching, and my students would hear them. She would tell me to teach my lessons all over again because she didn’t like the way I taught them. I never felt good enough, and I was so worried that I wasn’t going to be a good teacher. Then I came here. From day one, you all loved me and encouraged me. From day one, you all believed in me to be the best teacher for you all. And if I never saw you all again, I just want to say thank you for loving me and saving me. I thought about quitting teaching so much last year, but here I am still because of all of you.”

Students immediately chimed in. 

“Miss, is this why you never believe us when we say you are the best teacher?”

“We know you are young and a new teacher, which makes you even better than the others.”

“You are like the sun at our school, the way you smile and brighten up our day with your encouragement. Don’t believe what anyone else says.”

“We are so lucky that we got you here at SFIHS.”

I thanked them and reminded them that today wasn’t about me. Frankly, I knew that if I continued letting them respond to what I shared, I would actually start to cry. I gave out all the diplomas to the students, gave them some time to sign each others’ yearbooks, and then sent them off. Some students stayed behind to say a few last words to me and help me pack a bit, but students had to get kicked out by 1:30 PM so teachers had time to submit grades and clean up.

Jeronimo was one of the last students to leave, which was surprising to me. He worked a lot after school, so I was used to seeing him being one of the first students to leave my class. 

As I finished signing another student’s yearbook, Jeronimo came up to me and said, “Miss, I just have two things I want to say to you. The first is a question. Can you explain to me what these golden seals mean on my diploma?”

I explained that he got two seals of biliteracy, one from the school district and one from the state of California, which meant that he received certification from the district and the state to show that he was bilingual in English and another language. He smiled at that.

“Okay, here’s the second thing,” Jeronimo said. “Miss, I just want to apologize for all the times I was a bad student and was mean to you. When you shared your story, I realized that if every student in advisory was bad like me, then you wouldn’t be here anymore.” 

He then started crying. I got up from where I was sitting and went to give him a hug.

The other students who were in the room waiting for me to sign their yearbooks quieted down, looked at us, and walked out of the room, taking the initiative to give us some privacy.

I told him that I never thought he was a bad student, that I was never angry with him, that I never regretted being his teacher, and that all the times we got to learn and laugh together were some of the best moments. He wouldn’t stop sobbing into my shoulder, whispering, “Thank you Miss, thank you...”

After some time, Jeronimo gathered himself and said, “I’m so glad that you chose SFIHS, that you chose us to be your students, and you chose to care for me and support me. I will never forget you.”

He gave me one last hug and then left. 

----------------------

Today marks the end of my first official year of teaching. There are so many stories and moments that I would love to share with you all, but literally, there are just. so. many. My students are some of the most sincere, grateful, and straight up wonderful human beings. They have big hearts and so much love to give. I can never brag enough about them. In my yearbook, Fai started his entry by writing, “Talofa loʻu faiaoga pele,” which means “Hello my dear teacher” in Samoan. They keep me dear in their hearts, and I feel so undeserving of their love and trust every single time they encourage me, apologize to me, and laugh with me. I never expected to mean so much to them, and I am so, so grateful for it all.

I have learned to love and receive love this year. This has been my best journey yet with some of the best people I have ever had the privilege to meet. To the world -- please be kind to these students as they step out and go their separate ways to accomplish their dreams here in the US. And to my Abba Father -- thank You for redeeming all my tears and losses from the past... thank You for giving me a year of joy and frustration and so much love. Thank You for answering my prayers through 21 beautiful human beings that I have been lucky to call my students. What a fulfilling and powerfully redemptive year.

[tatooine92]

MEA: From the Ground Up - Part 4

Fandom: Mass Effect Andromeda Pairing: Amanda Ryder x Reyes Vidal Rating: T Previous Parts: 1: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159231311635/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-1 2: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159234117740/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-2 3: https://tatooine92.tumblr.com/post/159424302975/mea-from-the-ground-up-part-3 Spoilers?: Depends on your definition of spoiler. It’s set post-game. Summary: After having a bad day fighting leftover kett, Mandy has to stay bedridden. Of course, this gives her a great chance to catch up on emails...

Mandy woke safe and warm in the Tempest's medbay, awakened by the soft chirping of medical equipment and the sharp bluish light in the room. Dr. T'Perro stood nearby, reviewing Mandy's charts.

"My professional recommendation is that we buy you a padded suit," Lexi said without looking up.

"I've gotta find me a new doctor," Mandy snorted. "Maybe one who opens with 'Why hello, Pathfinder, I'm glad you're alive because I worked really hard to keep you that way.'"

"If you don't like my bedside manner, stop ending up in my medbay," Lexi retorted, her lips curving in a smirk. "Nevertheless, I'm glad you're awake."

She came over to check Mandy's vitals, shining her penlight into Mandy's eyes to check her pupils. Mandy groaned as green spots danced across her vision where the light had been.

"How long was I out?" she asked.

"Two days. Long enough to start your recovery. You're not mission-ready for a while, though."

Mandy tried to sit up, but Lexi pressed her shoulder back into the bed.

"I have to get back out there," Mandy insisted. "There's an entire kett stronghold--"

"Good morning, Pathfinder," SAM interrupted. "Regarding the stronghold, in your absence, Lieutenant Harper and Jaal have contacted the Collective's forces for backup."

"They what?!"

Mandy swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat up. Pain lanced down her side and her head spun, but she was still upright before Lexi could stop her.

"Get them in here. We are not taking help from... from him."

"Amanda, please," Lexi said. "You're not ready for this level of excitement. And you are definitely not ready to be back out in the field, so you really need all the help--"

"Not from--" Mandy forced herself to take deep breaths and lower her voice. "Not from Reyes. I--I don't think I can see him ever again, Lexi."

"I understand. Believe me, I do. But you need to remember he was there to face the Archon's forces because he was only told you needed his help. Consider that."

Mandy was silent as Lexi checked her over for any injuries sustained or worsened during her sudden movement. Mandy exhaled, her shoulders shuddering. She slowly lay back down on the medbay bed as Lexi adjusted it to be more upright. This was stupid, Mandy thought. She needed to be out there, doing her goddamn job, not lounging around in medbay because she was too stupid to stay in cover and, you know, not die. She had come to hate feeling useless, and being taken out by one Ascendant after she had fought the Archon's entire army embarrassed her as much as it rendered her useless.

Cora and Jaal arrived momentarily. Cora had her serious, furrowed-brow leadership face on; Mandy wasn't sure what Jaal's expression was, but it seemed apologetic.

"Pathfinder," Cora said, "we can explain."

"Please and thanks," Mandy snarked.

"Ultimately it was Jaal's idea--hell, Jaal, you're an adult. You tell her."

"I observed you have had some... difficulties with your bondmate," Jaal replied, "which Vetra confirmed when I asked. So, I wanted to give you an opportunity to work out your differences."

"First off, he is not my bondmate; second, calling him to save my ass is not how you get us to kiss and make up!" Mandy sighed, massaging her forehead. "Jaal, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not angara. I don't just... deal with things out in the open."

"Respectfully, Ryder, you should."

"I'm gonna agree with him on this one," Cora added. "You're wound up over Reyes. The whole crew feels it, so it's affecting us too. We can't be at our best if you aren't."

"...so you called him in to help take out the kett because you want me less stressed? You know you could have called the Resistance for backup and just set me and Reyes up on a blind date or something."

"I am a firm believer in efficiency," Jaal said. There was mischief in his smile.

"You guys are the worst," Mandy sighed. She shook her head. "Fine, okay. When is his team inbound?"

"They got to Prodromos yesterday," Cora said. "We're meeting them in half an hour to go for round two with the kett."

"I should be there," Mandy grumbled. She saw Cora about to protest and held up a hand. "I know, I can't be, but I should be. You're my team. That colony is basically my baby. I should be there."

"We will win in your name," Jaal promised with a firm nod. "As long as you promise to settle your differences with him."

"...I promise we'll come to an understanding. But I can't promise he won't get punched. Or shot."

"Just don't mess up the ship," Cora said, "or Kallo and Gil will both kill you."

"Point taken. Shoot the boyfriend outside."

"Have you considered talking?" Jaal said before Cora guided him back out of the medbay to prep for their mission.

Mandy sighed deeply as her friends left. Lexi crossed the medbay to her side again, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I have a few files on conflict resolution," she said gently. "Should I forward them to you?"

"No, it's okay. Jaal's right--I need to deal with it. This whole thing has taken up rent-free residency in my brain, and that's not healthy for me or the team."

"Have I ever told you how proud I am of your blossoming self-awareness?"

"Aww. Thanks, Mom."

Lexi snorted softly and left Mandy alone to rest up while she tended to her other duties and paperwork. Mandy leaned back against the bed again, lifting her omni-tool. As soon as it lit up, she saw a plethora of new email notifications--all from Reyes. Oh, hell.

"Fine, fine, let's see what you have to say this time," she sighed, opening the oldest one.

My dear Amanda,

They tell me you have gone off to do wonderful Pathfinder-y things, but I wanted to tell you, the sunset on Meridian was magnificent tonight. You missed it. The next time you're here, perhaps we could watch one together.

Yours, Reyes

Good and short, Mandy thought. Still... sweet.

She archived the message and went to the next.

Amanda, my darling,

When was the last time you had a delicious homemade meal? Now that things are beginning to settle, at least here, I would like very much to woo you with my cooking. Well, woo you with someone else's cooking. I am definitely going to pay someone. I think if you ate my cooking, you would abandon our shaky little relationship altogether. I would not make a good house-husband. But for you, I would try.

Yours, Reyes

Well, shit. Mandy couldn’t tell if he was just too smooth or if... She read the email again. Why would he send that if he didn’t mean it?

"Hey, Lexi?" she called.

"Yes?"

"...Reyes has been sending me love letters."

Lexi lifted her head from her work. "Oh?"

"Yeah. The scary part is... I think he means it."

"Why does that frighten you?" Lexi turned fully toward Mandy, her chin cupped lightly in her palm. Mandy swallowed hard. Great, okay, therapeutic let’s-talk-it-out time.

"Because..." For you, I would try. "Because I'm used to being angry about people leaving me. Dad was always distant, and I was angry at him for that. Then he died and I was furious again. I think I spent my whole life wanting to be loved, and now..."

"Now that someone's trying, you push them away?"

Mandy nodded, tears burning her eyes. She didn’t expect the sudden surge of emotion that tightened her throat.

"I think so," she choked. "Have I always done this? To everyone?"

"You've never been anything but the sweetest friend to me and the others," Lexi soothed, crossing to her side and bringing tissues with her. "Perhaps Reyes is just the first one to breach your shields. It can be terrifying to be so open with someone."

"How can he feel that way about me when he doesn't really know me?" Mandy dabbed her eyes with the tissues, but that didn't stop the tears. "Why would he ever..."

"Perhaps that's something you should ask him." Lexi glanced at Mandy's omni-tool and saw the remaining notifications. "Or perhaps he has written it out for you. If you want to reach an understanding, then hearing all he has to say might be a good start."

Lexi rubbed Mandy's shoulder before slipping out both to take a coffee break and to give Mandy some time to read her emails alone. Mandy kept dabbing at her eyes, but the tears kept rolling. What if he meant it? Meant all of it? Oh God. What if he loved her? What if she still wanted him to, wanted to feel his arms around her, pulling her close to sway to the gentle serenading of a Milky Way piano? She opened the next email, tissue clenched in her hand and finger shaking.

The next email was an audio recording rather than a message. Confused, she hit play.

"Amanda! Darling! Light of my life!" Reyes' voice crooned. "I have written you a song! Or rather, I am writing you a song. Right now. I was beginning to regret bringing my guitar to Andromeda with me, but not anymore. Here, I've written most of the words. I will send you a translation later."

Mandy giggled weakly and wiped away the tears as the recorded Reyes strummed a guitar, practicing a few chords. Then he began a soft melody, Spanish in influence and rather well played. Mandy's heart couldn't help a little flutter. Damn her weakness for men with musical gifts. He wasn't a concert guitarist, but he clearly knew his way around the frets.

Reyes was a much better player than songwriter, though. It wasn't that he had a bad singing voice--it was just ordinary, a plain baritone--it was that he was clearly making up the lyrics as he went. And also Mandy didn't speak a lick of Spanish. She got a couple words, mi amor and, unless she was mistaken, gracias, but other than that, she was clueless. He would sing about half a line, pause, strum thoughtfully, and then continue.

"Ah, dammit," he paused abruptly. "That won't rhyme at all."

He picked up with another rhyme, but there was an audible grimace, as if he had chosen a poor word in pursuit of a complete rhyme. Mandy giggled again, suppressing a loud laugh and trying not to wrench her healing ribs. Yeah, the melody was definitely better than the actual song. He clearly hadn't written a thing down beforehand, especially when he tweaked the wrong string and hit a sour note. The recording sighed deeply.

"Perhaps I will not send you a translation after all," his voice said. "I need to revise this. But I wanted to share. After all, I am told that all the best women cause men to break into song. I could not ask for a more wonderful muse, even if I am a terrible musician and a worse lover. I will try. Just for you."

Mandy smiled faintly as she archived the recording. It was a sweet gesture, that was for sure. And she could safely say that no one had ever tried to serenade her before. She had the strangest feeling that if he were here, she’d ask him to keep working on that song just so she could sit and listen to him, to be content with the knowledge that he was right there, leaned back in a chair, singing to her. Her chest warmed with the thought that someone thought her worth a song.

She checked her notifications--one last message, dated two days ago. She drew as deep a breath as she could manage and opened it.

Mi estrella,

I have sent you lighthearted emails to buy myself time to think this one through. You know by now that I am terrible with deep feelings, or at least with expressing them. If I were not, I would have written you back all those weeks ago.

If I have not said it already, I'm sorry. Actually, I will say it again and again until you're sick of hearing it and you finally tell me to shut up. I was so frightened to let you into my life that I shut you out entirely.

Have I said all this already? Never mind. It's worth repeating.

I saw your feelings for me, and I ran the opposite direction because you saw me without all my code names and schemes and I was terrified. Never mind that I looked at you and it was like truly waking up in this galaxy, not just being thawed. Do you remember the smell of the air after it would rain on Earth? How it was hard to take a deep breath because it smelled so strange, but it was so fresh and pure and wonderful that you couldn't help it? That was how I fell in love with you.

I love you, Amanda Ryder. When I think of you, I see you smiling at me with the Kadara sunset making your hair glow like amber. I think of your arms around me, and I cling to whatever made you default to kissing me as a distraction. I think of the scent of your skin and the taste of your lips, of the way you would consume my entire world just by walking into Tartarus.

If I have lost all that because of my own fear and carelessness with your heart, then I beg your mercy. If I cannot have you, at least let me have your forgiveness. Stay my execution, because losing you would be death enough.

I am not used to pouring myself out like this. If you could see me, you would know I am shaking just typing the words. But your team called me to say you were badly injured today. I am more afraid of losing you to death than I am of breaking down my own barriers to give you everything I have.

I have had my failures and shortcomings. I am not as good a man as I should be, but I am better than I was. I know this isn't enough to heal the rift between us, but perhaps it is a good footbridge.

You have consumed me, body and soul.

Yes, I have watched a romance vid. Or two. Please do not let it get around.

Yours, utterly and completely, Reyes

All hope of stifling her tears to protect her ribs evaporated as the tears from earlier rushed back. Mandy sobbed, not quite with abandon but nowhere near as careful as her previous giggles. Oh my God. He loves me. He loves me, he loves me. Of course, he could still have been lying. But it would take a mountebank even more devious than Reyes to go to all this trouble of convincing someone of his love, only to rip it away again. This was more of the same delicate vulnerability that he had shown that night on the docks.

I wanted to be someone.

You're someone to me.

He had been. Maybe he could be again. There were a lot of maybes, and there was a lot of hurt, but he was right. This was a footbridge.

"SAM," Mandy wept softly. "Call Lexi back. I may need her to fix me up again. And... and call Reyes. Tell him I want to see him when he gets back."

"At once. Should I tell him anything else?"

Mandy drew a shuddering breath as she archived the message.

"Tell him he's a crappy singer."

[survivorandalucia]

Rites of Passage

Welcome to the *Rites of Passage*, don’t worry, there’s not a new twist we just honestly didn’t have an appropriate banner. We advised the castaways to write about who has played, it was a requirement to write about the Jury, but Pre-Jury they did not have to write anything if they did not have anything.

Feel free to listen to this music as you go along!

JENNA | 22ND PLACE

L.A.: We never got a chance to play together, sorry you were first boot. Nick:  I feel so bad about voting you out that first night. You honestly seemed like an amazing person. I'm remember very vaguely you said that your wifi was bad which kind of worried the newbies that maybe would hurt us in the challenge  Toby:  I don't really know you much at all, but girl you tried to boot me so early, and all I had to do was talk a little bit and flip it back on you, so somehow idk how much I missed.

JAKE | 21ST PLACE L.A.: Jake, we were only on the same tribe for a couple of days but I enjoyed talking to you. It was the first time I found someone who like Marvel. I wish you could have stayed around longer. Nick: you seem like a cool person but we weren't on the same tribe  Toby: I don't know you at all, but you were pretty iconic in your boot tribal.

PAYTON | 20TH PLACE L.A.: You seemed like a nice guy, however we didn’t talk a whole lot.  Nick: we didn't really talk much maybe like 1 or 2 convos but I wish you stayed around longer Toby: So adorable and very robbed! Those goats were the cutest things ever.

AMANDA | 19TH PLACE L.A.: You had Daenerys as your picture and I LOVED that. Nick: Robbed Queen I wanted us to slay this game together. You are an amazing person. Hope we continue to talk afterwards  Toby: A really great person to talk to on Granada 1.0, pity you ended up on the HellTribe and didn't make it much further :/

JORDAN M. | 18TH PLACE Daniel: Jordan, you are one of my closest friends. Thank you for always being a nice person to me. I consider you to be a little brother and I'm so sad we weren't able to play this game together as much as I would've like to have. L.A.: I was sad to see you go, you were one of the people who talked to me the most and I wish we could have played together longer. Nick: never got to meet you except for that your in one of the VLs I'm in so yeah Toby: Didn't know you personally, but your boot had a surprisingly large impact on the rest of the game ahaha.

WILLA | 17TH PLACE L.A.: We didn’t add each other until late into the game, rip.  Nick: you were inactive and never talk but your name reminds me of Willy Wonka so that's cool Toby: Who?

RHONE | 16TH PLACE L.A.: RHONE! MY ROBBED SAVIOR! I AM SO UPSET WE DIDN’T GET TO PLAY TOGETHER. I was waiting for the moment we were back on the same tribe but it never came. You saved my game by giving me immunity the round you were voted out, honestly without it, I probably would have gone home next so thank you. You are amazing and some day we will play together and I will be the one saving you. Nick: sorry your biggest downfall was losing the WOF challenge for us. But you were fun to talk to hope to talk to afterwards  Toby: Ily Rhone, would've loved to have gotten a bit further with you this time, but at least there's always The Azores to look back on!

JACOB | 15TH PLACE Daniel:  You were really sweet to me and I wish you would not have gotten pre-merge; we could have gone far in this game. L.A.: We were only on the same tribe briefly, you seemed like a good bean. Nick:  robbed king and congratulations on returning. We talked a few times, you applied for my org. Nice to get to meet you and can't wait to talk to on the outside Toby: King of candles, you were a quite strong social competitor, but it really would've been nice to have had you around at the merge, instead of having you be booted just before the merge began. 

ADRIAN | 14TH PLACE L.A.: You were great, and always seemed to be around for the times I had dates. It was nice talking to you about them especially when I was highkey stressed for that first date. Nick: robbed I really don't remember your vote out that much but hopefully we talk afterwards  Toby: You try SO hard to snatch me, then come begging for my help? GURL. Nah, you're amazing but just ended up on a real bad tribe for you, so sorry it couldn't have ended up another way.

ISSY | 13TH PLACE L.A.: We never really talked. Nick: we didn't really talk all idk I wasn't on your tribe when you were voted out Toby: I think we exchanged like five messages, which is more than the last time we played an ORG.

CHRIS | 12TH PLACE Daniel: Although our past may be a little shaky, I'm glad to have gotten past it in this game. You know I have the most respect for you. L.A.: Chris. I had heard a little about you before coming into the game, I’m pretty sure Johnny (Solomon Islands) had mentioned being friends with you before so I figured you were a good guy and that was a right guess. You were my closet ally, I was so SHOOK when the planned failed and you went home. I really enjoyed meeting and getting a chance to know you, I hope we get another chance to play together. Nick: honestly you were a great person to talk to and get to know. You were a major threat to every ones games  Toby: Ugh, what an icon and one of my favourite people to talk to, but I’m CERTAIN that if we hadn't gotten you out first, you'd be here instead of me

TOPH | 11TH PLACE

Daniel: I loved the conversations we had, although we weren't able to be together that long, I hope the connection lasts outside the game. L.A.:  Honestly, I was surprised we started working together cause I think at one point we wanted each other out? But playing with you was a lot of fun, our call and trying to figure out a plan was one of my favorite parts of the game. Nick: honestly the first time I voted you out I was sad. But then you came for me. Idk if you wanna talk to me anymore, but it's fine If you don't  Toby: Bitch, if you ain't having yourself a good day, ask yoself why. Is shit that bad that you can't have yourself a good day bitch? You're great and never forget it, but you were a little too great for your own good - too much chaos for me to handle lmfao.

JORDAN PINES | 10TH PLACE Daniel: An absolute beast in this game. Every time you play a game you improve so much. I hope the next time you play you are able to take it all the way. L.A.:  I was shocked you went out before me, I was so sure you’d vote me out before I ever had the chance. But coming into this you were kind of a big threat for most people I think, and I mean rightfully so, you are a challenge beast. I did wanna try working with you again but I was unsure even after our talk, it didn’t help that we ended up on different tribes for a bit so it was difficult for us to build trust.  Obviously after the plan to blindside you the first time failed, there was no way to come back from that and it just felt like a matter of time before one of went home. Nick: Ugh I so sad at this. You were one of my closest friends I've made in this experience. anyways i think well defiantly talk outside but yeah miss you bro (Thanks for the Twist <3) Toby: Scariest player in this game, imo. You had two idols (minimum), had an army of people ready to do as you said. That tribal was one of the most nervous I've been, just hoping that you wouldn't play that idol. I was glad it worked, but also a shame that you had to leave.

PETRA | 9TH PLACE Daniel:  Absolute queen! One of the funniest people I've ever met. I'm so honored and blessed to have met you :) L.A.: We never talked so I’m not too sure what to say here. Nick: another one of my closest friends . I miss you and your humor. Plus it should've been me not you. Just everyone thought I had the twist and I tried my best to save you but by this point everyone started being shady to me and literally constantly lying to me  Toby: Whew, my wig was never safe around you, Petra. The first time I met you isn't something I'm liable to forget any time soon. This merge tribe has surely been a lot less fun now that you're no longer around, because you were certainly something very special.

MADISON | 8TH PLACE Daniel: Madison, you are probably the sweetest and most tender people I've ever met in a game. I think your niceness caused people to take advantage of you and I hope the next time you play a game you allow yourself to be the strong independent woman that I know you can be. L.A.: Was it just me or did it feel a little strange working together after Chris and Toph were voted out? I think you’re funny and it was nice working with you and I wanted you to stay but after the boys were voted, I was unsure of where you and I were in the game cause they seemed to be the ones keeping us working together. Either way, I didn’t want you to go. Also I voted to go on a date with you on touchy subjects.  Nick: ugh you were the one that I wanted to be allies and friends with but it just never worked out. You don't know how shook I was and everyone was when you gave me the twist. Thanks boo I wouldn't be here without you<3 hope to talk to you on the outs. Toby: Madison M: You really came from my blindspot, and was one of the strongest players this season. If you kept plugging towards that endgame, I think you really could have taken it all, and you should be proud of that!

ISAIAH | 7TH PLACE

Daniel: Isaiah, I really loved the times where we talked about your rap career and I know no matter what you'll be a force to be reckoned with in any game you'll play. L.A.: I’m not totally sure how we started working together, it just sort of happened but I was glad for it. You kept me in the loop and I appreciate that a lot. Nick: ok look, let's just say my decision taking you out was kind of revenge. You pretending like we were friends, got me to think you were with me. But all along I knew you were shady. You were shady since that tribal were Pines was suppose to go but played in idol. From there you continued to play me like a fiddle. And when I knew you were voting me out with everyone else and it was my decision I took your ass out. Look if you want to repair the relationship after the game, I'm down but I'm straight up pissed with you. Don't question why I made this move cuz obviously I made the right one WHEN YOU VOTED ME OUT. Anyways done ranting Toby: Of all the ways someone could be eliminated, yours is one of the most painful - You never had the majority of votes against you, and were consistently in positions of power, so you did an amazing job!

JOHNNY | 6TH PLACE Daniel: First of all, No Effort was a shit show so I'm happy I was able to play a game with you that wasn't one. I'm happy to have finally been able to connect with you in a level that's not just me watching you play a game! L.A.:  We pretty much talked game during this season, kind of working together when we needed to, but you became such a challenge beast and that was very scary. (Also impressive but mostly scary) Nick: ugh it was either me or you lmao and I at least wanted f5 😂 also you were a comp beast. Although you lied to me, which everyone has pretty much, I found you cool and hope to talk to you afterwards  Toby: Challenge BEAST. I really grew to like you this season, but your challenge skills were so scary that when you lost once, we had no other choice but to get you out.

TAYLOR | 5TH PLACE Daniel: First of all, No Effort was a shit show so I'm happy I was able to play a game with you that wasn't one. I'm happy to have finally been able to connect with you in a level that's not just me watching you play a game! L.A.:  You were someone else I mostly talked game with. That last round/tribal was very stressful, I really thought you were going to beat me in the immunity challenge. Nick: you got caught for being shady, don't say "why am I get voted out" you wanted me out for at least the last two rounds, so I mean duh when I had the opportunity I took it Toby: We made a pretty great pair, but sadly it couldn't go all the way. You were a strong UTR player, and you made a great attempt at a move at F5. It's a shame it didn’t work out for you.

There you have it! Thanks to the Final Four for getting this to us in a timely manner, even if it took me a while to write this up! You will be getting information about your challenge as soon as possible!

[alj4890]

Chapter 17 Love and Other Things

The Royal Romance Fan Fiction (Liam x MC*Riley) (Maxwell x OC*Amanda) (Drake x Olivia) (Hana x Rashad)

These characters are from the amazing writers of Pixelberry's Choices stories: The Royal Romance and Red Carpet Diaries. The only character of my own is Duchess Amanda Bridgerton of House St Orella. 

Masterlist of The Other Friend TRR

Chapter 17 summary: The brothers Beaumont are throwing the last party the week before Liam becomes king. Liam and Amanda decide to arrive a day early to spend some quality time with the two that hold their hearts. Hana and Drake stay behind at Applewood.

Chapter 17

Liam was gazing out at the passing countryside. He glances over at his travel companion. He always enjoyed having Amanda with him on long trips. She was  content to sit in silence and never complained. This allowed him to dream and plan. He rather suspected that she was dreaming herself, if the expression on her face was any indication. All of his own thoughts were centered on one person, Riley.

It still amazed him how he had fallen in love. She was the one person he wanted to have by his side. She was intelligent, compassionate, and always ready to defend what she thought was right. She would be the perfect queen for Cordonia. He had no doubt about that. The press and the people adored her. They were only catching glimpses of her, but it was enough for everyone to see how truly wonderful she was.

He was going to have what he had only read about or seen in movies. Love had been such a foreign concept. Yet, here he was. Liam could hardly contain his excitement of declaring her his choice at the ball next week. How fortunate he was that Maxwell had brought her here for him! Liam knew he owed him everything. Maxwell had given Liam's heart a reason to beat.

Amanda sat beside Liam and was gazing out her own window. Her mind was thinking back to that date Maxwell had taken her on. All the little things he did, said, and showed had made her fall even more in love. She didn't think she could possibly fall any further. Knowing Maxwell, he would probably find a way to make it happen. She felt like it had been a dream when he said he wanted to be the one chosen to marry her. She couldn't wait to finish the last two dates with him. She was ready for forever.

Liam, hearing her sigh, turned towards her. "Penny for your thoughts?" Amanda smiled. "I'm just happy." Liam grinned. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain date would it?" Amanda playfully shoved him. "What about you? How are things going?"

"Amanda, I'm in love. Can you even fathom that? I, a man who was taught not to expect it, have fallen in love. Even better, I believe she feels the same. I want to do something special for her. It may sound silly, but you and Maxwell have inspired this idea. I want to take Riley on a date."

"Awww, Liam! I think it is a marvelous idea. How are you going to accomplish that?"

"Well, that's where you and Maxwell come in. Do you think you two could cook dinner for us? I'm not going to be able to take her out without security and all. I want it to be as normal as I can make it."

"Of course we will! She will love it, Liam. It is a very sweet gesture."

Liam colors slightly but smiles at her. "Thank you, Amanda. I can not wait to see her and ask her."

Amanda smiles back. She loved that he had found someone that made him so happy. "You know, you're living as Uncle Nicky always wished for you. He wanted us all to find love."

Liam's expression turned reminiscent. "He always encouraged me to trust my own judgement. He...said my heart was my best quality. I thought that was a bit strange. Yet, now I see why he used to tell me that."

Amanda reaches over and squeezes his hand. "He thought the world of you. When your brother abdicated, Uncle Nicky was both elated and worried. He believed you would be the king Cordonia would need. He worried though that the responsibility would cause you to neglect your heart. I know he’d have been happy and relieved to see you and Riley together."

Liam placed his other hand on Amanda's. "Thank you for that, my lady. I will do my utmost to guard against that happening. I think Lord Nicholas would have been rather pleased with you and Maxwell. I know whenever he saw you two dancing or laughing together, he looked thrilled. That's the best word I can think of."

They shared a smile and settled back in their seats, each getting lost in daydreams again.

Back at Applewood, Hana had finished packing and was missing her friends. She decided to see if she could find Drake somewhere. She went room to room, yet was unable to find him. On a whim, she decided to go to the conservatory.

She loved walking among the many flowers and plants, smelling the exotic fragrances. Like her music, gardening had been a way to escape from her lonely life. As soon as she began to walk between the many different blooms, she fell into her old habit of talking to the flowers.

"Well, don't you all look lovely today? That particular shade of pink is absolutely perfect. And how are you dear little ones? I hope no one has been ignoring you. You smell simply divine."

Rashad didn't know what to do. He had come into the conservatory to get some much needed peace. Some nobles were hard to stomach over long periods of forced proximity. Lady Hana was between him and the door. He didn't want her to feel embarrassed having been caught talking to plants. He found it rather endearing.

When she turned to look at some orchids, she saw him. "Oh! Lord Rashad! I did not see you there. You, you must think I am terribly silly."

"No! Not at all! I find it rather sweet and simply you."

Hana was surprised. "Simply me?"

Rashad looked embarassed. "I've noticed how gentle and kind you are to everyone. Seeing you are the same with flowers, well, it just seems you."

Hana blushed. "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you for that." She gave him a shy smile.

Rashad smiled back and decided to take a risk. "Lady Hana, I was thinking of getting some air. Would you care to go for a walk with me?"

Hana's smile brightened, nearly stealing his breath away. "I would like that very much, my Lord." He held out his hand and felt as if an angel touched him when she placed her hand in his. Hand in hand, they walked outside.

Drake was in the stable. With Liam, Maxwell, and Amanda gone, he felt he finally had a chance to be by himself. He still couldn't believe he let it slip out about Olivia. Whiskey had betrayed him and on his birthday of all days!

He stood there brushing one of the horses. The repetive motion brought some grounded peace as he recalled being alone with Olivia.

That fateful night.

Drake had arrived in the ballroom before anyone else. It was easy to do when you didn't have to stuff yourself into uncomfortable formal wear. He had to give it to Olivia, the room looked impressive. He walked around, admiring it all when he heard a noise from a partially closed off area.

Being curious, he walked into the small room. It sounded like someone was fighting tears. In the semi-darkness he found her. "Olivia?"

She whirled around, her scarlett dress twinkling in the low light. "Of all the people, what are you doing here?" She sniffed and turned back around.

Drake rubbed the back of his neck. He had never been good with people crying. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Um. There. There. It will be okay."

Olivia choked on a laugh, "Are you seriously trying to comfort me?" Drake shrugged with his hand still on her, the motion pulling her closer. He realized he was touching her skin. Her dress had those small straps that had always amazed him in their ability to hold up women's...well just hold things up.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"With you? No."

"Do you want me to go?"

"...I suppose you can stay."

"Okay."

"Why are you being nice to me?"

"Hell, Olivia. I don't know."

She laughed. He still had his hand on her shoulder. She seemed tense. He pulled her to him and turned her back to him. "What-oh that feels good," Olivia moaned.

Drake was gently massaging her shoulders. "You felt like you needed it." This may have been a bad idea. Olivia was as vocal with moans as she was with her opinions. He was starting to have some thoughts that should have never been had. Ever. About her. Her skin was heating up under his ministrations.

She leaned back letting the pressure grow more intense. She really smelled good. He found his nose gently skimming the side of her neck. He heard her breath change in tempo. His hands began to move down her back. She leaned even more so against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist. She turned her head and their lips engulfed each other. He held her pressed against him, letting his lips go where they wanted. Olivia encouraged every bit of it.

Just when he reached for the zipper of her dress, they heard the musicians come in and start tuning up. They froze and released each other. Olivia stood before him. "I should get out there and greet Liam as soon as he arrives."

Just hearing his best friend's name come out of her mouth after what happened caused him to lash out. "Give it up Olivia. Liam doesn't want you. He would never want someone like you." Her face paled. Then she straightened her shoulders, narrowed her eyes, and said, "We will see just how much he wants me." She shoved past him and went into the ballroom. He shouldn't have provoked her. In her wanting to prove to him how wrong he was, she kissed Liam on the dance floor. It was all his fault.

The horse moved in its stall bringing Drake back to his surroundings. At least he didn't have to worry about Olivia wanting him in any way, shape, or form. He just had to hide out until Liam was crowned. No need for awkward conversations. Definitley for the best.

Maxwell, Riley, and Bertrand were rushing about making sure everything was ready for the next evening's event. Bertrand was giving his eighty-third speech on the importance of the party. Riley and Maxwell were spared the last half by the doorbell ringing.

Bertrand answered the door and quickly bowed. "Prince Liam. Lady Amanda. Welcome." Riley and Maxwell broke out into delighted smiles. Bertrand cleared his throat. "Maxwell and I will make sure your rooms are ready." Amanda winked at Liam. "I'll come with you. I would like the chance to freshen up." She gave a quick hug to Riley and followed the brothers up the stairs.

Liam walked up to Riley. He gently took her hand and asked her for a date. "I'd love to! But, how-".

"It will be dinner here, if that is alright. It will be just the two of us."

Riley smiled at him. "Then I shall go get ready." She told him which room was her own and went upstairs.

Maxwell stood in Amanda's room while she quickly unpacked. "So, we're on KP duty tonight?"

"Yes, though I think I will do the cooking while you be the waiter. I don't think they are quite ready for an adventure in dining."

"I can live with that. So what are you making? Will there be enough for us? Ooohhh, what about dessert?"

Amanda smiled. "Liam wants pasta served. I think I will make that chocolate pie you all love."

"What! You only make that during holidays. I can't believe they get a 'make-my-butt-bigger' pie."

Amanda narrowed her eyes at him. "I never appreciated you and Drake naming my chocolate pie that. People give me the strangest looks when they hear it referred that way."

"It's not our fault that once you start eating it you can't stop."

Amanda shakes her head in exasperation. "Come on. Let's go set everything up."

"What about us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do we get to have a date tonight?"

"We could. We do need to get these in before the ball next week."

"Will you go out with me after our work is done?"

"Hmm. I will have to see how good of a server you are. I don't just date anyone I work with."

"How closely will we be working together?"

"Oh very close. I believe in a personal touch."

"I couldn't agree more. Nothing like a hands-on approach."

"Yes. Now let's go get those hands busy."

As she walked past him, he grabbed her and gave her a kiss. They grinned and made their way to the kitchen.

Back at Applewood, King Constantine was having a discussion with Bastien. "You are unaware of the reasons Sir Francis met with them twice?"

"I never found out, sir. I did not think to do so."

"And you said that Lady Amanda and Liam were alone together in the palace’s study?"

"Yes sir. Both evening and early morning before going to Lady Olivia's. They also left together earlier today for the Beaumont's. They were alone."

"That does sound promising. I was disappointed that she was not one of his suitors. I believe I need to meet with Sir Francis. Immediately."

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