#AND THEN I BLEW UP THE HOUSE AND KILLED MYSELF THE END

[dubbl-denim]

me everytime i meet someone batshit insane at uni (WHEN WILL I LEARN)

[lesservillain]

baby daddy!eddie x mom!reader

cw: smut, non established relationship, best friend!eddie as well, idiots in love

wc: 3.8k

Closing the door as gently as he could, Eddie tip toed down the hall of the trailer and rounded into the kitchen to get himself a beer. He’d played hard enough with Autumn that she could barely keep her eyes open through her bath, but that also meant he wore himself out in the process. So after cracking open a can, he plops his ass down and turns on the TV, ready to chill until he passes out on the couch.

Well, that was the plan. Just as he got comfortable, there was a small knock on the trailer door. With a frustrated sigh, Eddie jumps back up, mumbling something about people coming to his house so late at night.

“Listen, I’ve told you all I don’t fucking deal anymore—Woah!”

Instead of some annoying kids looking for weed, Eddie was met with your sniffling nose and tear stained cheeks. He immediately went into best friend mode, wrapping you in a big hug and letting you get those emotions out.

After some crying and a soaked shoulder later, you finally peel yourself away from Eddie and attempted to talk, but only babbling came out.

“Shhh, it’s okay,” Eddie says, thumbs rubbing the tops of your shoulders. “Just calm down and tell me what happened? Did someone hurt you?”

You shook your head, doing your best to compose yourself.

“He-he-he g-got mar-married,” you hiccup out.

Eddie blinks at you. He knows exactly what you were talking about. Dustin told him back when that Harrington met a girl about 6 months ago and apparently they hit it off right away. The last thing he wanted to do was tell you about her considering your long time pining for him Especially considering he’s the reason Harrington would never ask you out. But you ended up finding out on your own, and devastated couldn’t even begin to describe how you felt.

It seemed soon in Eddie’s opinion, granted he would marry you tomorrow if you would say yes. When Dustin told him that he was going to be the best man that the wedding, Eddie had mixed feelings. He knew that it would kill you when you found out. That you’d react exactly as you were now.

Actually, you’re doing a little better than he anticipated.

“He came into the store and,” you blew your nose into the toilet paper he grabbed for you, “and I saw the ring on his finger when he was getting his money out of his wallet.”

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Eddie says, wrapping an arm around you and pulling you close.

“They haven’t even known each other that long! He’s such an idiot…”

“I’ve been trying to tell you that,” Eddie jokes, rolling his eyes.

“Oh god, what if--do you think it’s because she’s pregnant?”

Eddie’s pretty sure Dustin would have told him if that was the reason why, but it’s not an unreasonable guess.

“I don’t know, could be? Or maybe Steve Harrington is just an idiot like you said. And maybe they’ll be divorced by this time next year. Who knows, right?”

You sighed, leaning into Eddie and resting your head against him. “I don’t even know why I’m so upset. He was never going to ask me out anyway. No one wants a young single mom. Steve has his whole life to do what he wants, why would he be with someone who has so much baggage?”

“Hey, don’t say that about Audy,” Eddie scolds.

“No, I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant,” you correct, “I was talking about myself. I’d never be with someone who didn’t accept Autumn. Even Steve Harrington. I just…I’m damaged goods, Eddie.”

Eddie could feel himself getting upset but didn’t want to make things worse right now, so he took a few breathes to steady himself. He said your name sternly, pulling your full attention to him.

“I don’t like it when you say things like that. It makes me feel like it’s my fault--”

“Eddie,” you stop him before he can get another word out, “You know that you didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve told you before that if I was going to get pregnant right out of high school with anyone that I wouldn’t want it to be with anyone else but you.”

Eddie knows this, and he feels the same. But it’s not what he wants.

Even though it was all a total accident, he hoped that night the two of you spent together was going to be the next step for both of you. And even though he was scared after you told him with tears in your eyes then that he had gotten you pregnant, he wished with all his might that it would bring the two of you closer together.

Which it did in a way. Obviously the two of you would be bound together for the rest of your lives, but it wasn’t in the way he wanted. You still were head over heels for Steve, and there was no way Eddie could even compare to the king.

“Yeah…I know.” He says somberly. Your brows pinch, making him worried he should have said something else.

Then your expression changed. You looked at him intensely for a moment, before your eyes became lidded and…were you leaning in?

Eddie thought fast, making a quick decision to put his hand over your mouth, stopping you in your tracks. Your eyes go wide as dinner plates, tears perching on your waterline as what hot embarrassment washes over you.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie says, suddenly regretting everything. This could have been his chance and he was an idiot.

You pull his hand from his mouth, sitting in silence for a moment before you begin to laugh. It catches Eddie off guard and he freezes.

“Eddie, I should be the one apologizing,” you say with giggles. “I’m the one who was stupid enough to try and kiss her best friend for a second time. We both know what happened the first time and the last thing we need is history to repeat itself.”

Eddie still felt conflicted. Your tone wasn’t sitting right with him, like there was some level of self depreciation in your words.

After a moment you stop laughing. Your face warps into worry as you stand from the couch.

“I-I need to go—“

“No, wait!” Eddie stands to grab your wrist before you could run away. He pulls you into him and hugs you tightly to him. You stand still before slowly wrapping your arms around him, gripping his shirt in your hands.

“Listen, I know you’re going through a lot emotionally right now, but…I’m here for whatever you need. Even if…” He trails off for a moment, knowing that he’s just going to hurt himself if he lets you use him. But he can’t turn you away when you need him. He’d rather you take advantage of his feelings than run off to someone else who would hook up with you without second thought.

“Even if it means crossing a boundary that we’ve already crossed before.”

Eddie feels you press into him harder, face buried in his chest. And when you look up at him, Eddie thinks he could melt into a puddle and let you mold him to however you’d like.

“I don’t think I should make any rash decisions right now,” you say with a sniffle. “I think I just need to clear my head. Let myself rot in my own misery instead of dumping it all on you.”

“Or,” Eddie says with a smile, “you could rot with me. I rented some movies and some beers in the fridge that have your name on them. I think we have some leftover pizza still, too.”

Your smile was so bright it was comparable to the sun rising. There was nothing in the world that could keep him down as long as you were happy. Eddie probably would have dropped out of school after his second failure if you hadn’t simply smiled at him and told him that he would graduate next year, for sure. He probably only did because you smiled at him every time he got a good grade.

The way you hugged him for a long time after a report card with no F’s on it kept Eddie’s head in the zone that last school year. And, well, the way your body felt under his when he finally graduated…

Eddie shook his head, wracking his brain for anything to keep his mind from thinking about that night right now. There’s no way him getting a boner while you were still holding on to him so tight would be good.

“I think that sounds like a good idea,” you finally say after staring up at him for several beats. But Eddie caught the somber look in your eyes. It was going to take a lot of distracting to get you in a good head space.

“You know, I think we might still have some popcorn, too.”

After a few drinks, some weed, and a movie and a half later, Eddie finds himself waking up on his couch at some point after falling asleep. The bright, staticy screen causes him to squint his eyes, turning his head enough to bump his chin against the top of your head.

Eddie looks down at where you’re leaning into his side. He vaguely remembers wrapping an arm around you before the two of you had succumbed to sleep. It pains him to possibly wake you but the urge to pee is what startled him awake in the first place, so he does his best to untangle himself from you and sneaks to the bathroom.

On the way back to the couch, Eddie decided to stop in his room and grab a blanket for the two of you. But when he returns, he finds you sitting up and rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

“Hey,” you croak out, looking at him with squinted eyes.

“Hey,” he whispers back. “I brought us a blanket.”

You stretch before standing up from the couch. “I should probably head home, Eddie.”

“Sweetheart its,” he leans to check the time on the microwave, “3 in the morning.”

Your eyes go wide, hands running over your face. “It is? Fuuuuck.”

“Just stay,” Eddie says, walking over to you and wrapping you up in the blanket. You groan, feeling conflicted on if you should stay and sleep on Eddie’s couch or if you should brave the drive home.

“Hey, if you stay, you don’t have to drive all the way over here to get Fae in the morning.”

“Ugh, okay you got me,” you say, giving in. You sit back down on the couch and start to make yourself comfortable.

“Wait, you can sleep in my bed. Promise I don’t bite.”

That took less convincing as you pop back up, dragging the blankets behind you as you wobble to Eddie’s room. Eddie laughs as you plop into his bed, stealing one of his pillows to make yourself comfortable.

“Hey save some room for me,” he says, walking around to the other side to climb in. He lays next to you, adjusting in an obnoxious manner that has you giggling. You turn to face him and he does the same.

“I love you,” you say at the tail end of a giggle. It’s something said frequently between the two of you. Genuine as it’s spoken after years of friendship.

“Love you, too,” Eddie says with a sigh. Sleep soon takes you both over again. The only sounds that can be heard is the sound of the a/c doing its best to cool down the trailer.

Eddie felt himself waking once again, this time much more comfortably in his own bed. He yawned, shaking a bit as the feeling of waking overcame his body.

The sun peaking through the cracks of his curtains gave the room just enough light that he could see the room with a slight glow. Turning his head, he chanced to see if you were still laying with him. He had a dream that you’d left with Autumn and ran away with Steve that left a sick feeling in his stomach.

Much to his delight you were indeed still occupying the bed with him. Smiling wide as you looked at him, already awake where you lay.

“Mornin’,” he says in his morning voice, and your eyes flicker.

“Morning,” you squeak back. As Eddie turns to face you, your hand finds its way out from under the covers and reaches out towards him. Your fingers gently glide across his cheek, rubbing against the stubble as you push his hair out of his face.

The way you’re looking at him has Eddie’s tummy feeling funny, but in a different way from his dream. You’re looking at him the same way he looks at you.

Suddenly, you push yourself up on your arm, hand still on his cheek as you start to lean in once again. Eddie’s heart beats hard against his chest as you close the distance between the two of you, your lips meeting his in a soft kiss.

It lasts a few moments, and Eddie melts into it. It was a kiss like none he’s ever had before. Not even compared to the last time the two of you kissed before Autumn was born. This kiss felt like a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter morning, the warmth spreading to every part of his body as he drank you in.

When you pulled away, Eddie chased after you, not wanting it to end so soon unknowing if it would ever happen again. When you don’t kiss him again, his eyes finally open to meet yours. They’re bouncing everywhere, scanning his face as if looking for an answer written on his skin.

“Eddie…”

But Eddie doesn’t let you ponder much longer, hand snaking around your head to pull you into him once more. This time more feverishly, the heat palpable between the two of you.

You shift so that you can bury your hands in his hair, and Eddie takes advantage of this to move himself above you. Eddie kisses you into the pillow beneath you, long kisses turning into passionate smacking, poking the fire that was burning between you.

“Tell me to stop,” Eddie says as his lips begin to move down your cheek and to your neck. He says your name breathily, “Tell me now, because I won't be able to stop once this starts.”

“I-I can’t. I won’t,” you stutter, hands grabbing at his waist as he kisses and nips at your neck. Eddie breathes against you, body alight knowing that you wanted this as much as him.

“But,” you say, stopping him in his tracks. You give him a coy smile, nodding towards the door. “You better make it quick. You know she’ll wake up at any moment.”

Eddie huffs out a laugh, “Don’t gotta tell me twice. Better get to work then.”

Eddie suddenly lifts the blanket above the both of you and disappears underneath it. Soft kisses leave a trail from your knees to the apex between them. Eddie slips his fingers in the hem of the sleep pants he let you borrow, pulling them down with your panties in one quick motion. There was barely any light to see, so he decided to just dive in tongue first.

He ate you out like a man starved. Your thighs try hard to wrap around him as he works you up on his tongue, but his strong arms hold you open for him. Eddie groans at the way your fingers grip his hair, tugging just enough to burn so good against his scalp.

Once he added fingers, you had to cover your mouth with your hand to keep yourself quiet. It was like Eddie knew exactly what you liked, because not long after you were coming undone, riding his face as you did.

Eddie crawls up your body, head resting between your breasts as he pokes out from under the covers.

“Jesus, Eddie,” you pant, looking at him in awe.

“And that’s not even the best part,” he teases, making you roll your eyes at him. You grab his face and bring him closer to you, tasting yourself on his lips as you kiss him again.

Eddie rolls his hips subconsciously, and you can feel how hard he is as he grinds against you. You want to say you also forgot how big he was, but it’s something you didn’t want to admit you thought about often.

Your hand travels between you, fingers trailing against his skin as you reach the hem of his boxers. Slipping under it, you feel your way to his hard cock, taking it in your hand to pump him. He whines against your lips, hips moving faster in your grip. You watch with awe struck eyes as his beautiful face contorts in pleasure above you.

“Please,” he pants out as he fucks your hand, “Wanna be inside you. Can I?”

You nod silently, unbelievably turned on by your best friend for the second time now.

He works fast pulling his boxers off quickly, a loud thwaping coming from his cock smacking against his stomach after getting caught on the waistband. Your eyes go wide as you take in his size.

After almost 2 years you’re still shocked at what Eddie Munson is packing. Those dumb ass cheerleaders that picked the bone head jocks over him have no idea what they missed out on.

Eddie settled himself between your legs, spitting on his own cock to get it good and wet before rubbing it in your soaked folds. You had a moment of clarity, realizing that Eddie wasn’t wearing a condom. You opened your mouth to speak, but your words got caught up in a moan as Eddie pushed his way inside of you.

The stretch took your breath away. Eddie seesawed his way into your tight cunt, opening you up on his cock until he was balls deep inside of you. He placed his hands on either hip and started moving, holding you tight as he worked up his pace.

Every thrust felt like too much and not enough at the same time. The constant knocking against your sweet spot had you seeing stars quickly, still worked up from him eating you out. The pretty sounds that Eddie was making wasn’t helping either, but you still had enough mind to shush him so that he wouldn’t wake your daughter.

Eddie’s pace quickens, and he makes the fatal mistake of adding his thumb to the mix. It only throttles you to the edge for a second time this morning. It’s not much longer before your vision goes white, toes curling as your orgasm takes over. It's probably the hardest you’ve cum in a long time.

“Oh, fuck.”

You barely registered Eddie’s words, but you definitely felt the reason behind his curses. Eddie was cumming deep inside you, balls emptying into your pussy as you were still riding out your own orgasm.

In the moment it felt amazing, but the post orgasm bliss left you crashing as you realized the very real situation you were both in.

Eddie felt himself being pushed by you, taking him out of his own high as he stumbled back on his ass. As you open your mouth to speak, Eddie is hit with a wave of deja vu with every word.

“Did you fucking cum in me?” The words came out in slow motion and Eddie’s body broke out in cold sweat.

“I-I’m sorry. I was going to pull out, I just—“

“What? You forgot? Are you kidding me Eddie? Do you not remember what happened the last time?”

Right on cue, your daughter's whines could be heard from across the hall. You sigh, kicking the covers completely away from you and grabbing the pajama pants you had back on.

“Listen, I really am sorry,” Eddie says, looking at you with big, sad eyes. You groan, unable to stay mad at him when he looks at you like that.

“What are we going to do then, Eddie?” You ask him, walking out of his bedroom to get your daughter.

Eddie sits on the bed for a moment and thinks. He knows that you getting pregnant again while Autumn’s only and a half isn't ideal. Not that you being pregnant is ideal anyway, but honestly Eddie wouldn’t be mad about it.

He was so head over heels for both you and Autumn that he doesn’t hate the idea of another person to love is the worst thing. But he’s also not the one doing all the hard work. And if it wasn’t obvious the first time that having a kid wouldn’t fix any problems, then having a second would probably not make much of a difference in your feelings towards him.

The door opens again and Eddie watches as you enter with a squealing toddler on your hip, clearly happy to see both mommy and daddy.

“Morning, sweet girl,” Eddie cooes, scooping his baby up and smothering her with kisses, sending Autumn into a fit of giggles.

“I went ahead and changed her. If you want to dress her I’ll make breakfast.”

Eddie gave you a quick salute as you went to the kitchen, leaving him and your mini me to get ready for the day. It took a lot of wrestling but he was able to get the little one dressed, including hair done, and looking presentable for the day.

Fixing her up in her highchair, Eddie sat at the small kitchen table and breathed a sigh of relief. You shook your head at his theatrics, setting breakfast down for the both of them.

“Hey, I was thinking,” Eddie said, spooning some applesauce into Autumn’s mouth. “After we eat, why don’t I follow you to the pharmacy and we can pick you up a Plan B?”

You quirk an eyebrow in amusement. “You have Plan B money this time?”

“Ha ha,” Eddie laughs dryly at your reference to the last time you had sex, the both of you freaking out over having no money. Thankfully Eddie was able to get a good job at Hawkins Auto Body when you got pregnant. He makes pretty good money now considering he was able to get his own trailer. Money is still tight, but he can manage.

“Fine, better eat up then, or else you’re gonna have two mouths to feed instead of one.”

Eddie looks at your daughter, spitting image of him, besides your nose, and smiles. Maybe now isn’t the right time, but…maybe one day.

[jtargaryen18]

His Inheritance ~ Chapter 35 Preview

Coming soon...

"You are almost ready," Yelena said with a smile, just after the stylists left. "Now the jewelry."

You paused, looking at your reflection in the mirror. Your gown was an exclusive creation by a top designer, a beautiful sleeveless, a-line creation in layers of tulle, sequins, and matte satin. Shades of pale blue and gold transformed you, enhanced by the ornate way your hair was done, the subtelty of your carefully applied makeup. Beneath you wore the most elegant little gold heels that were surprising comfortable despite their minimal style. The stockings were sheer, hugging your upper thighs just below the skimpy ice-blue panties you wore.

The mention of jewelry brought up an unhappy memory and you knew Yelena recalled it too when your gaze met hers. How your husband's ex-mistress smuggled her necklace in for you to wear on another special occasion had never been solved.Had it been Neal? Hansen? A reminder from the not-too-distant past that your enemies could reach you at any time. A reminder to be vigilant. 

"What jewelry?" you asked carefully.

Yelena smiled. "I picked it up myself," she told you, lifting a delicate strand of diamonds set in gold from a black velvet box on the bed. 

When she draped it around your throat, you smiled at the way it completed your look. There were matching earrings, diamond studs each with a teardrop diamond dangling and catching the light. The set was exquisite. 

"Harry Winston," your friend told you, admiring how they looked on you.

"Nice of them to loan them to us for the ball," you told her, grateful you got to wear them. 

Yelena reached for the golden mask on the bed, holding it to you. "No loan. Steve bought them."

What?

"These must have cost a fortune," you mused. They probably cost more than everything else you owned combined. "Glad you're going with us. I'd hate to get mugged for these."

Yelena grinned. "Security is going to be tight already with the mayor there, one of the state senators. So many wealthy, important people like you."

That had you scoffing. "I'm no one special. At least not in the world of such important, political figures."

"But you are," Yelena told you. 'The fact that everyone wants you has been a powerful motivator in this game of chess. Your husband is completely devoted to you. Barnes would love to get his hands on you."

"Barnes would ring my neck the first chance he got," you pointed out.

Yelena's expression was difficult to read. "I'm not so sure about that."

"Hansen would for sure kill me," you said, putting your mask in place carefully. A soft mask of golden sequins that fit over your eyes. 

Yelena's gaze dropped at the mention of that name and you were ashamed. You needed to work harder not to bring that up to her. And you needed a subject change. Fast.

"Who's going to be here with Nat tonight?" You weren't surprised Nat didn't want to go. She'd been through so much between the horrific end of her abusive marriage and all trauma of years being left to the sadistic nature of Banner. You wanted to make sure she was well looked after while you and Steve were gone.

"Clint is staying here of course," Yelena said quietly. "Dyson will be here too. He's arranged for extra security for the house tonight."

You nodded your approval. "What about Scott?"

"He's coming with us," Yelena explained. 

That had you smiling. Sure, Scott would keep you and Steve safe, but he also got time with Yelena. You were pretty sure Yelena knew Scott's infatuation with her. Would she ever return his affections? You didn't know. Considering her tragic history, you weren't sure she could feel the same way towards him or anyone. But since you'd known Scott, you learned he was a good man who always had your back and never once questioned your authority. You trusted him with your life. You trusted him with Yelena, too.

But would she ever give him - or anyone - a chance after all that she'd been through?

You blew out an exhale, preparing yourself for the night ahead. "I guess we should let Steve know that I'm ready."

"He knows," a deep voice caught you and Yelena both off guard. 

Your husband strolled into the bedroom and Yelena stepped back to allow him a clear path to you. He looked breathtakingly handsome in the classic black tuxedo he wore, tailored perfectly to fit his tall, broad-shouldered physique. His tawny hair was perfectly styled, diamond cufflinks winking in the light. His tie was shades of gold and blue to match your gown, a subtle touch but one you appreciated.

Steve moved to stand behind you in the mirror of your vanity, bending to fit his handsome face in the reflection with yours. 

"You look so beautiful," he said with something like reverence in his voice. "I can't wait to show you off."

"I'll be downstairs," Yelena said, making her way out to give you some privacy. "We worked very hard on her, boss. Don't mess her up."

Steve smiled at what he took as a playful warning, his large hands smoothing over your bare shoulders. Slowly, you removed the mask, placing it in your lap with your hands. His watchful gaze didn't miss the slight tremble of their movements.

"Everything is going to be fine," he explained. "I've been to this event before. All the rich, politic elite of Boston come out dance and drink the night away and wallow in excess. It's probably Tony's favorite night of the year."

You could see it. And you were excited to go to the annual masquerade ball, as Steve's wife and not his trophy, and to enjoy a fabulous night on the town. You felt like Cinderella, going to the ball in the gown that truly looked as if magic had created it.

But you couldn't fight back an impending sense of dread. It had been so quiet in the weeks of your recovery and Steve's. Life went on. You were included in all the family's business meetings. The family business had recovered and was branching out, deals with three of the other four families made things even better. 

Not that you agreed with all of it. You weren't crazy about the loan sharking or protection deals the family made. The casinos and restaurants didn't bother you as much. And at least the family wasn't making any money off drugs or trafficking. Some of the stories you heard now that you were more involved were just horrified. You made up your mind early that no matter what, you'd never allow the family to make money off the misfortunes of women and children. Never.

It had been very quiet where the Barnes family was concerned. Too quiet.

"I'll  be the envy of every man there tonight," he murmured, pressing a kiss into your neck. The soft brush of his beard made you shiver.

A sensual smiled curved Steve's lips. "Are you ready?"

You nodded. You trusted your husband. You were going to do your best to have a wonderful night, just like he intended.

And still that little kernel of dread lingered.

You felt like you were in an old Hollywood movie to walk down the staircase on your husband's arm with the gown flowing softly with your movements. Honestly, you were grateful for Steve's help in keeping you balanced, relieved when you made it to the bottom of the stairs.

Dyson, Yelena, Scott, Clint and Nat were a small crowd, watching in admiration as you approached. Nat's smile was all you needed to feel like you got the look right. Her lovely green eyes lit up as her gaze swept over you. 

"You look perfect," she exclaimed, carefully hugging you. "I knew that gown was the one."

Nat had been the one to find it when the two of you went out shopping. And you were all too happy to give her the credit. You knew very little about fashion, seasons, all of it. You would learn. But until you did, it was nice to have the advice of someone who already understood it.

As Nat stepped back, you forced yourself to smile. She still looked so small, so frail. She had yet to gain weight and regain her amazing figure. Your sister-in-law seemed fragile, even with the protection and love of the man she'd always wanted. Even with the full support and love of her brother. It worried you.

Dyson looked worried too, but as you did, he put on a quick smile. "You two had best get going. The line at dropoff takes forever."

"True enough," Steve said, nodding to Yelena and Scott.

You stopped to hug Dyson. "Keep her safe for me," you whispered.

"You know I will," he muttered.

Steve whisked you away to the sleek black limousine waiting in the driveway. Scott climbed in behind the wheel and Yelena rode shotgun as Steve got you into the back seat, helping you keep your gown away from the doors. Once you were settled, you studied your husband. Something was missing.

"Did you bring a mask?" you asked him. 

Steve smiled, pulling a small black mass from inside his tuxedo coat. No sequins, just a matte black mask he could wear. But he wasn't interested in the mask as he fidgeted with it. He was too busy staring at you.

"Are you excited?" he asked.

You couldn't help the smile that question brought on. "Yes."

Steve looked pleased. "As time goes on and things settle down, we'll get out more. Do more things like this. You look like a fairytale princess tonight."

Tears pricked at the backs of your eyes at his heartfelt words. He meant them. He was taking you out to a society function, dressed you up like you were going to the fucking Oscars. A night out like nothing you'd ever experienced before. You'd been excited since he told you he got the tickets two weeks ago.

[jolys-cane]

TOUR THOUGHTS

Saw the Les Miserables Tour at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto on May 21 2024; here are my thoughts (Long read, sorry I have a lot of feelings)

Prologue/Look Down/Valjean's Soliloquy

We got like, holographic waves crashing and the men are rowing a boat LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE it's awesome

Oh my god the pipes on the background actors were so good. THE SUN IS STRONG ITS HOT AS HEEELLL BELOW

I miss Javert's stupid guard hat. Was bareheaded as he gave Valjean his yellow ticket

PETIT GERVAIS?????????? Valjean steals a little boy's coin when he's roaming the countryside 😭

Randy Jeter as the Bishop blew me away. Not just his voice but his acting was FANTASTIC every single movement was like. I am an old bishop. This is how an old bishop moves. Idk idk it was really good

Nick Cartell did a great job w Valjean overall, but I totally loved him as pre-MsurM Valjean the most. He acts like a feral animal, grabbing the wine out of the nun's hands and the bread from the priest all hunched over and practically snarling - very very cool and awesome

At the End of the Day

Not a negative but when we went to At the End of the Day there was very minimal lighting and my first thought was Oh no the lighting broke hope they fix it and we don't have to have a brief intermission but then when they went 'At the end of the day there's another day dawning' the lights went up and I was like OHHHHHHHHHHHH so that's just me not understanding lighting direction

Foreman killed it, so did all of the factory workers I love all the interactions and ad-libbing in the background it makes me so happy to see

Every time I saw a tall graceful ensemble member I was like '"That's Kyle Adams" and 8/10 times I was right. Otherwise it was Daniel Gerard Bittner

I Dreamed A Dream

OKKKK VOCALS???? Haley Dortch has such a beautiful, clear, emotional sound and she left not a dry eye in the house. Literally the second intermission hit my parents and myself were like. Holy shit dude what about that Fantine

I got her autograph after the show and she was so so sweet 🥺 She accidentally messed up her signature and had to redo it and was apologising to me and I was like GIRL you brought the house down you could stab me right now and I'd be like 'Thanks have a good one'

Lovely Ladies / Fantine's Arrest

Bamatabois (David Andino) was a standout performance, really chewed the scenery and I adored every second he was on stage (Plus his costume was fantastic)

The other girls defending Fantine 🥺

I like that after the police show up and they basically arrest all of the ladies and pimps, regular well-off citizens come out to witness Valjean defending Fantine from Javert. Thought it was a nice touch

Fantine's Death

My first and only cry of the evening, Haley Dortch no one does it like you

The Confrontation

If you've heard me talk about the confrontation you'll know that I absolutely hate the new chain choreography, HOWEVER. I really really liked it this time. Preston in particular gave it a lot of physicality that I enjoyed

Nick Cartell is a little guy and I don't really believe that his Valjean managed to knock out Preston's Javert

For some reason the percussion was really loud and I could barely hear the vocals so I don't have many thoughts on them

Master of the House / Waltz of Treachery

MATT CROWLE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS

Both Thenardiers were fantastic, not a crazy amount of ad-libbing but when they did they made it count ("BYE, BAGUETTE")

Madame in particular was hilarious

Master of the House is very busy in a good way, everywhere you look interesting things are happening. Another number where the ensemble shines and you can tell everyone is having a blast

The Bargain was funny as hell, Thenardier tells Cosette to die in his arms and she goes limp when he's saying she's 'often been ill'

Valjean gives Cosette Catherine!

Look Down / The Robbery

Gavroche was super charismatic and confident, really great child actor (Milo Maharlika)

Eponine tosses Marius' book across the stage and he goes "I like the way you always ... tease 😐" They're such cute friends together

After Enjolras and the boys are done their preaching Enjolras gets stopped by a policeman and is told off 😭

During the robbery Montparnasse keeps Marius away by brandishing his little knife at him which I thought was cute

Also! Montparnasse is the only member of Thenardier's gang to escape during the Robbery!!! Which is a nice Brick reference

After Thenardier's 'In the absense of a victim' spiel he does this exact pose

Gavroche's little 'Clear the streets' 🫡moment is so cute

Stars

God I love Preston Truman Boyd

His Javert is so stalwart and reserved and dedicated, he's kind of robocop and it really really works, and you get to see just a smidge of vulnerability peek out in this song

ABC Cafe / Red and Black

I DON'T REMEMBER A LOT bare with me

Grantaire was absolutely the standout. Slapped Marius' butt with his coat. Stuck his wine bottle dick in Enjolras' face. Offered Combeferre a sip of his wine (who reluctantly accepted). Blew a kiss at Enjolras

Kyle Adams physicality is probably my favourite aspect of his Grantaire - he moves very assuredly, like a cat, in a way that is like okay he's drunk but he's so used to being drunk that his stumbling is more like dancing. I remember reading a fic that described Grantaire's movements in a similar way and I wonder if that was one of the fics Kyle took inspiration from?

OOH they did the wine bottle keep-away thing with Grantaire and Marius which I didn't know they still did so that was exciting

J.T Wood is such a cute Joly I love his voice

In Do You Hear the People Sing Grantaire grabs a gun and holds it at arms-length like it has cooties before handing it off to another student

Combeferre waves the flag both times (Here and in One Day More) and I'm not sure if it's always Combeferre who does that or if it's because Andrew Marks Maughan is clearly the most physically strong of the Barricade Boys

In My Life / A Heart Full of Love

Delaney Guyer is a really good Cosette in that she has a gorgeous voice and also has a lot of personality and actually reacts to things going on around her

Marius (who was played by Christopher James Tamayo for this performance) is such a cute little nerd. You can see him try to figure out what he's going to do, then he throws a rock at Cosette's window and kind of cringes at the noise - he's so unsure of himself and awkward

Cosette is very excited that he's here and closes the window right away, which prompts Marius' 'I'm doing everything all wrong!' until she reappears downstairs and they get to be cute dorks in love

Attack on Rue Plumet

I don't remember a lot but I DO remember that Eponine was really good here

When Valjean is like 'Tomorrow we'll away' Cosette goes 'WHAT? NO!'

David Andino is so good as Babet he is a chronic scene stealer at this point

One Day More

If you know Another thing about me you know I hate the One Day More box-step but it actually did not bug me this time. They put Grantaire next to Enjolras for the marching portion which is cute

On My Own

Holy shit Mya Rena Hunter delivered the most heartbreaking and powerful rendition of this I've ever heard

The Barricade

Loved Feuilly in his little part

Javert is a good spy. If I didn't know the plot of Les Mis I would've been like Holy shit that's Javert? Crazy. I love him drawing the 'plans' he'd overheard into the ground with a stick

Gavroche flipping Javert off >>>>>

Buff Combeferre is one of the two to drag Javert away to be tied up lol

A Little Fall of Rain

The only version of ALFoR that actually made me feel something

Marius and Eponine get a lot of time to be cute together before the barricade actually notices that she's dying - and Gavroche is the first to notice and gets a front row seat to her death which is heartbreaking

The First Attack

Grantaire's "AND SO THE WAR WAS WON!" was sooo scathingly sarcastic

Javert waited, like, 30 seconds to leave after Valjean freed him, with his back almost against the barrel of Valjean's gun as if he were hoping to be shot

When the gun went off the entire barricade abruptly snapped their heads to look at Valjean and the audience laughed 😭

Telling Valjean 'Well done' for shooting a tied up hostage is a strange choice

Drink With Me

I still hate 'For certain as the eagle flies' I think it's the dumbest line in the entire musical

Grantaire's part was very grand - His voice has like noticeably changed at this point in the musical to give it a sort of hoarse hopeless quality to it which absolutely hits you in the feels

Enjolras comforted him and I swear Grantaire let his hand linger on his cheek for a few seconds longer than normal before pushing him away

Gavroche hugged Grantaire from behind and Grantaire couldn't even turn around at first because he was so distraught and kind of blindly reached for him 😭

Chris Tamayo's Marius is such a poor little meow meow

Bring Him Home

Absolutely jaw-dropping performance from Nick Cartell

He sings Bring Him Home like it's a lullaby - which it's supposed to be

I don't exaggerate when I say that the applause went on for about a minute straight, and was the loudest of the night by far

Death of Gavroche / The Final Battle

Oh poor thang

Grantaire near the end of Gavroche's singing was turned away facing the audience like he knew Gav was going to die and couldn't bear to watch 🥺

Later on in the final battle Grantaire spends most of the time next to Gavroche's body in like a catatonic state

The SPOTLIGHTS representing BULLETS as Les Amis died almost made me lose it

Grantaire dies last, I'm sure he said something before he started climbing the barricade but I couldn't hear it 😭He and Enjolras still have their moment over Marius' body

The Sewer

Javert comes across Enjolras' cart-carried body (Still hate the cart but I can learn to appreciate it) and looks a bit uncomfortable

Then he stumbles upon Gavroche's corpse, kneels, and does the sign of the cross over him

Almost made me cry ngl

DOG EATS DOG WAS SO GOOD I LOVED IT

Javert looked like he wanted to shoot Valjean as he walked away with Marius

Javert's Suicide

HOOOOOOLYYYY SHIIIIITTTTT

It was so good

Preston Truman Boyd you will always be famous I fully believe that Javert had completely lost his mind at this point in the play

I don't have many thoughts on the rest but I loved Marius and Cosette reading Valjean's confession as he walked away with Fantine - and the Bishop hugging him as he arrives in heaven

Also Kyle Adams as Major Domo mincing about the stage in The Wedding was an absolute delight

Am very sleepy now but overall 10/10 I love this cast so much

[espressomartini7]

Needed you (Carl Gallagher x reader)

We all owe death a life. And our foremost purpose on earth, is to perish when time deems right, to promise the equilibrium of life to leave it in the end.

The smoke curled delicately up into the sky, creating patterns along the clouds before disappearing alongside them completely. I inhaled slowly, cherishing the warmth spreading through my lungs before exhaling up into the night. I looked up at the moon, beautiful and graceful in the sky, illuminating everyone with her light, we both watched the same moon. I looked up at the stars, scattered throughout the sky, all with a story of their own, we were under the same sky. Smoke coiled through my lips, streetlights flickered as I tried to piece us together.

It had been two weeks since we had last spoke, two weeks since the fight. A night full of pain and regret, both of us shamefully saying things neither of us had meant. But we had carried that burden ourselves, distancing until either one of us gave in. It had been two weeks, and I was falling apart. Carl and I had each other through everything, ever since our fucked up lives had connected us by chance, we had each other. And I needed him, but I didn’t have him and it killed me. I sat on my windowsill with my phone in my hand, his contact flashing on my screen as tears silently streamed down my face, and smoke rolled through my lips. My body shook as I sobbed silently, flicking out my cigarette and pushing past my dignity.

My lungs burned as I ran, the cold air hitting my tear stained cheeks, freezing my face. My hair blew in the breeze as my legs kept moving, taking me without thought to the only place I needed to be. I heaved as I slowed down in front of the house, tasting blood in my dry mouth as I tried catching my breath. I took out my phone with shaking hands, threatening to freeze through bone as I pressed call. The line rung one time, two times, three times. “Hey” he answered quietly, his voice gravelly and miserable, “Hey” I said, my voice shaking, “what’s wrong” he asked immediately, his voice becoming serious in an instant, “Im so sorry, I need you” I whispered, legs threatening to give up below the cold air. I watched as the curtains to his room swung open violently, Carls worried expression immediately looking down. I hung up and walked quickly up the porch steps as the front door violently swung open not even a moment later, Carl coming out and grabbing me immediately, as my legs gave up below me and the vision went dark.

I opened my eyes slighty, groaning as I felt the headache spread instantly over my senses. I looked around at my familiar surroundings, I was laying on the Gallagher couch, with a warm blanket strung over my body and a warm rag over my forehead. My body was burning under the pain and discomfort, my lungs raw and scratchy. I tried pushing myself to sit up, but a gentle hand on my shoulder pushed me back down, and that’s when I noticed him. Carl was sitting on the end of the couch, his hair was disheveled and messy, his eyes looked tired, he looked tired. “Carl” I tried saying, but my voice came out nothing more than a whimper. He leaned closer to me and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, “Hey” he said quietly, smiling down at me as he ran his fingers through my hair. “Are you ok? You look tired” I whispered, tracing my thumb over his eye bags as I looked over his face, “I should be the one asking you if you’re alright” he said sadly, as he replaced the rag on my forehead. "I'm fine" I sighed, taking off the rag pushing myself up to sit. Carl watched my expression as I groaned in pain, sitting up and looking at him. "Carl, I promise I'm ok" I said gently, realising the worried look on his face. An awkward silence filled the room as neither of up spoke, we stayed staring at each other, not knowing what to say. "Im sorry" Carl said finally, reaching out and holding my hand, "Im sorry for everything, I'm sorry for what I said and I didn't mean any of it, I'm sorry for the fight, I'm sorry for not talking to you or trying to make up for this long". I smiled as i traced my thumb over the back of his shaking hand, "I'm sorry too Gallagher" I said smiling at him. The tension in the room leaving as Carl leaned close and wrapped his arms around my waist, mine going around his neck instinctively. I sighed contently as his warmth enveloped my entire body, calming me down as I felt all the stress from the past few weeks melt away. "I missed you" he whispered into the crook of my neck, inhaling longly as he held me tighter. "I missed you too carl" I said tracing my hands through his hair. He let go as he leaned back, "Wanna watch something?" he asked looking up at me with the remote in his hand. "Aren't the others asleep? It's 2am." "Oh who cares, Gallaghers can sleep through anything you know that" he said scoffing as he turned on a movie. I smiled as I nodded, leaning my head on his chest and focusing on the tv.

[bellaxgiornata]

Safe Haven [Chapter Seventeen]

Pairing: Michael Kinsella x Fem!Reader Word Count: 3.9k [Series Masterlist]

Warnings/tags: 18+ for this series; contains violence, drug use, domestic abuse, smut, hurt/comfort, angst, mutual pining, friends to lovers

a/n: Finally y'all get the other part of the night after that meeting with Birdy, Frank, and Jimmy! Feedback is always appreciated!

Tag list: @loveroftoomanyfandoms @farfromstrange @rotscinema @1988-fiend @shouldbestudying41 @shiorimakibawrites @norestfortheshelbywicked @mattmurdocksstarlight @acharliecoxedfan @roseallisonparker @yarrystyleeza @dramaholic18 @mattkinsella @ms-murdockswift @theetherealbloom @24hflower @mattmurdocksscars @schneeflocky @the-nursery @lionalsowrites @harperdoodle @kmc1989 @danzer8705 @mattys-rat1989 @kezibear

Arms wrapped tight over your chest, you began to make your way down the drive as the bitter wind blew around you. Behind you, you heard the sound of Michael closing Birdy's front door before his heavy footsteps soon caught up with you along the pavement. Your anticipation of an angry outburst from him only rose with each thump of his boots, the hammering of your heart pounding in sync with them. 

“What were ya thinkin’ goin’ out like that alone, Grace?” Michael hissed out between his teeth as he fell in step beside you. “D'ya have any idea how reckless that was? How close ya could've been to gettin’ yourself killed tonight?”

You blew out a rough breath in frustration, your eyes focused on your own feet as you walked. Of course you were aware of how stupid and dangerous it had been for you to meet that Serpent alone, but you hadn't really had another option. And it certainly wasn't like you wanted to go to that meeting, either. 

Glancing over your shoulder, you took in the sight of Michael beside you. Despite the way the tension had eased from his body and the way the fire had mostly left his eyes once he'd gotten away from his family, you could still see the fear and anger lingering in them as the lights from the Garda car parked farther down the street lit him in a wash of blue and red. 

“Of course I damn well know that it was dangerous,” you told him. “But I didn't have a choice. He knows who I am. And not only that, but Birdy was the one to see him leaving the letter to meet him in my sister’s letterbox , Michael. Meaning he knows where both her and I live. What was I supposed to do?” you asked, irritation in your own voice. “Was I just supposed to ignore the letter and put my sister in danger? Because that seemed like the far more reckless and stupid option.”

“No, I wouldn't expect ya to just ignore it,” he snapped back, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. “But ya saw me before ya were headin’ out. Ya should’ve damn well said somethin’ to me! Ya shouldn't have dealt with this alone!” 

“It was my problem to deal with!” you snapped back, keeping your voice low so as not to draw attention from the Garda. “I didn't come to Dublin expecting help with my situation! And I'm sure as shit glad I didn't say anything to you because I'm sure that Serpent would've happily shot you on sight if you'd come with me tonight!”

Michael loosed an irritated grunt at your words as he followed you up your sister’s drive. Her car was parked in front of the house and the sight of it shot a pang of guilt through you. You'd told her you were going out to work at a coffee shop before her shift at the hospital ended, and that had been quite awhile ago now. With everything that had happened tonight, you'd forgotten to let her know that you were alright. She was probably worried about you by now, wondering what coffee shop was open quite this late at night.

“I can take care of myself,” Michael said, his tone sharp. “It isn't your job to look out for me.”

Your teeth grit together as your hand dug into your pants pocket, feeling for the key to Megan's house as the pair of you approached the front door. As much as you'd felt safe with Michael lately, your situation wasn't his to take on. Especially with what he already had going on with his family and his health. You weren't going to dump your problems onto him, too.

“Well it isn't your job to look out for me, either,” you shot back. “I'd been doing just–just fine on my own for years, Michael. I don't need you or your family risking your lives for me.” Your hand shook as you inserted the key into the lock, intentionally keeping your focus away from him. “I don't need anymore people’s lives weighing on my conscience.”

You twisted the door handle with more roughness than necessary, pushing the door open and eager for a chance to get away from Michael’s wrath for the night. You just wanted to end this shitty day already, but his hand darted out and grabbed you by the wrist, halting you in place on the front step. Your head turned sharply in his direction, prepared to tell him to leave you alone tonight, but the unexpected softness on his face immediately gave you pause. 

“Grace, I–”

“Oh my God ,” Megan's voice rang through the house, cutting Michael clean off. “You've been gone for hours! Where the hell have you been? I was starting to get–”

Megan appeared around the corner from the kitchen and immediately stopped dead in her tracks when she saw you. Her eyes darted from you to Michael and then straight to the bandage on your forehead. Her mouth fell open as her eyes grew wide.

“What the hell happened?” she asked you. Her panicked gaze shifted to Michael before you could even answer as she roughly demanded, “What the hell happened to her? Why is she coming home with a bandage?”

“Nothing to worry yourself about,” you grumbled as you stepped into the house, slipping loose from Michael’s grasp before you began to take off your boots. “So leave him out of it.”

Out of the corner of your eye you saw Megan’s face contort into something stern as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her hardened stare fixed on Michael as he stepped inside the house a moment later, closing the door softly behind himself. Inwardly you braced yourself for another outburst–this time from your sister. 

“Like hell I'm leaving him out of this!” she exclaimed, throwing a hand in his direction. “I’m not stupid, Grace. I know you weren’t at a coffee shop writing tonight. You don’t even have your laptop with you! And then you come home late with a bandage on your forehead that I damn well know wasn’t there the last time I saw you! So what the hell is going on? How’d you get hurt? And one of you better fucking answer me with the damn truth!”

“A low ranking Serpent discovered who I actually am,” you said with a sigh, pulling your last boot off of your foot. “He left a message for me to meet with him tonight in the letterbox. Birdy saw him. I didn’t exactly have a choice to not go considering what he already knew. I didn't want to worry or involve you which is why I said I’d be at the coffee shop.”

Megan immediately sucked in a sharp breath, her entire body freezing. For a moment the only sound was Michael behind you, slowly taking his own boots off. Apparently he wasn’t done reprimanding you for the evening.

“So does that mean you need to leave again? Find somewhere new to hide?” she breathed out, her body still stiff. “Is he telling the entire charter? Is Victor on his way?”

You shook your head, running a tired hand along your forehead, careful to avoid the wounded side of it. Everything was finally beginning to catch up to you from today, your body starting to feel completely exhausted from all the stress and fear. You just wanted to collapse on your bed and maybe–if you were lucky–fall into a dreamless sleep where you could forget about absolutely everything for just a short while.

“I’m not leaving, not just yet,” you assured her, brushing past her and making your way down the hall to the sitting room. “He’s after something else and he’s just trying to threaten me with calling in Victor for now.”

“And is that supposed to make me feel any better?” she asked, following closely on your heels. “What could he possibly want from you?”

You sunk into the cushions of the sofa, your body aching as you did. As your attention shifted towards your sister, you spotted Michael entering the room just over her shoulder. He leant against the doorframe to the sitting room, hanging his head almost shamefully as he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets.

“Me,” Michael muttered. “He wants me.”

Megan’s brows arched up onto her forehead in surprise, her head turning over her shoulder to focus on Michael curiously. 

“I can’t give ya any details–family business and all,” he explained, his voice quiet. “But he’s after me. It’s my fault he’s after your sister, that he even knows who she is.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion as you shook your head. “No, that’s not true,” you disagreed. “He’s after me because of my psychotic ex. This has nothing to do with you.”

Michael’s head rose, his sad eyes meeting yours from across the room. The frustration you’d felt towards him a few minutes ago quickly dissipated at the sight of the pain visible on his face.

“But he was the one tailin’ us after I took ya out for coffee, wasn’t he? That’s how he found out ‘bout ya, isn’t it?” Michael pressed. “He was after me and found ya in the process. So it's my fault he knows who ya really are.”

You pulled a face immediately, your mouth opening to counter his argument. But Megan held out her hands, the gesture quieting both of you.

“Let's not turn this into a battle of who's to blame,” she said, turning her focus back on you. “So the problem stands that someone in the nearby charter knows you’re Victor’s ex and that you’re here. What the hell is being done about that? Because I’m guessing you’re not about to give up your boyfriend to the MC.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” you corrected her, your cheeks heating as you avoided Michael’s stare. “And yes, something is being figured out. Like I said, you don’t need to worry about anything right now. I’ll handle it, okay? But honestly after tonight, all I want to do is go to sleep. I’m fucking tired and I just…don’t want to think anymore. It’s late.”

“Fine,” Megan relented. “But are you okay?”

“Yes,” you assured her.

Megan’s eyes narrowed at you before she turned, focusing on Michael across the room. She threw a thumb in your direction and you rolled your eyes when she spoke.

“Is she really alright?” she asked him.

“Took a good hit to the head with the butt of a gun,” he told her, pausing when Megan let out a hiss. “But I think she’s alrigh’ despite that. Though I…was plannin’ on offerin’ to stay the night here if ya didn’t mind, Megan. Sleep on the sofa down here just to make sure that Serpent doesn’t show back up in the middle of the night or anythin’.” A sheepish smile crossed his lips as he added quietly, “I’d feel better knowin’ ya weren’t both here alone.”

“You know, I’d probably actually feel better if you stayed here too after finding all this out,” Megan told him. “So it’s fine by me. I can try to find some more comfortable pillows–”

“What’s there is already fine,” he assured her. “I don’t need anythin’ more, really.”

“Okay, well,” Megan began awkwardly, her eyes darting between you and Michael as she took a step back towards the staircase. “I’ll just go get ready for bed now that you’re finally home safe. I’ve got another early shift in the morning tomorrow.”

Michael nodded his head, smiling at her and murmuring a soft ‘goodnight.’ You watched as your sister made her way quietly up the stairs, shooting you a curious last glance over her shoulder before she disappeared from sight. And then it was just you and Michael in the room.

A silence fell over the pair of you as he remained standing over by the sitting room entrance. Your gaze fell to your hands nervously fidgeting in your lap, aware of the weight of the gun in your jacket pocket once again. Most likely in a few days you’d have to use it. And you certainly hoped you could, when the time came for it.

“I think I’m just going to head to bed,” you eventually said, breaking the silence when it started to feel suffocating. 

“Alrigh’,” Michael replied softly.

For the second time this evening you felt your stomach sink to your feet as you rose from the sofa. You were certain you’d somehow gone and messed things up with Michael when you’d lied to him about where you were going earlier and he’d found out. He'd certainly seemed pissed at you for that.

But maybe that’s for the best, you told yourself as you made your way up the stairs. Maybe I shouldn’t get attached. If I need to run again soon, feelings would just make that harder.

Gasping for air, you woke up with a cold sheen of sweat covering your skin. Your eyes flew around the mostly darkened bedroom as you tried to orient yourself while your heart thundered away in your chest. Fear spiking within you at the lingering memory of his voice in your ear, you swore you could feel the cold blade of a knife pressed to your stomach. 

Feeling like the bedsheets themselves were trying to hold you down, you began wildly flailing in an attempt to throw them off of you, swinging your arms and feet as you tried to free yourself. A few tears slipped out of your eyes as you did, your panicked mind still replaying threats on repeat.

It was a few moments before you’d finally untangled yourself from the sheets, scrambling backwards against the headboard and sitting upright. Your chest was heaving as you tried to catch your breath, the back of your hand running along your sweat-dampened forehead gently.

“Just a nightmare,” you whispered to yourself. “Not real. He’s not here.”

But he’s looking for you. And this time he’s probably going to do more than add another scar if he finds you.

Bottom lip rolling between your teeth, your right hand reached down, sliding the hem of your shirt upwards a little. You lightly brushed your fingertips over the three gashes on your abdomen that had scarred over. A brand to your skin that you’d never be able to remove, permanently marking you as his . A strangled noise slipped out of you and you clamped your teeth down harder, trying to quiet the sound.

“Grace?”

You audibly gasped as your head spun towards the sound of your name, your pulse speeding at the fear of an intruder. But in the faint light filtering in past your curtains, you could make out the sight of Michael standing halfway in the doorway, a look of concern etched across his features.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle ya,” he whispered. “Just thought I heard somethin’ from downstairs and I figured I’d make sure things were alright’.”

“I’m fine,” you muttered, quickly lowering your shirt. “Just had a bad dream but I’m fine.”

The bedroom door swung open just a bit wider and you watched as Michael stepped slowly into the bedroom. The corners of your lips curved downwards as you continued to try to calm your breathing. If he was up here to lecture you again, you certainly weren’t interested in hearing it.

“D’ya wanna talk ‘bout it?” he offered. 

“No,” you answered simply.

Michael nodded, taking another hesitant step into the bedroom and closing the door partially behind himself as he did. His other hand ran over the back of his neck as he ducked his head. You watched him wordlessly, drawing your legs up towards your chest.

“‘M’sorry ‘bout the way I went off on ya earlier,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have done that. Ya were scared and tryin’ to do what ya thought was right. But ya…ya scared me, if I’m bein’ honest.”

Your tongue darted out, licking your lips nervously. That was not what you’d expected to hear him say after the way things had played out earlier. 

“If somethin’ had happened to ya–especially because o’ me–I don't think I could forgive myself,” he murmured, shifting back and forth on his feet as he focused on the bedroom floor. 

“I told you already, it wasn't your fault,” you replied.

“Except it is,” he stated firmly, glancing up at you through the darkness. “That Serpent is lookin’ for a way to get to me. To kill me . And unfortunately you're gettin’ dragged into all my shit because of the things I did. And I can't forgive myself for that.” 

You hugged your arms around your knees, guilt flooding you as you pulled them tighter to your chest. You realized that he had probably reacted the way he had tonight because of the accident which had resulted in his ex-wife's passing. Something he didn't know you knew about yet. It made sense then why he was so determined to protect you, and why he refused to let you be the one to take the risk killing the Serpent. He didn’t want your death on his conscience, either. Because it was apparent he'd find a way to blame himself for it no matter what. 

“How about we both agree this mess is a combination of both of our problems?” you suggested quietly. 

“I would, but the difference is that I actually did things to deserve to be in this mess,” Michael told you. “Whereas ya didn't do anythin’ to deserve the fuckin’ shitty situation your ex has put ya in.”

“Okay,” you said, shooting him a sad smile, “I think I agree with what Megan said earlier. Let's not play the blame game. Pointing fingers at ourselves won't change the situation anyway.”

“Mmm,” Michael hummed. “I s'pose ya got a point.”

Another silence fell between the pair of you, though this one was vastly less uncomfortable than the previous one in the sitting room. You chewed your lip nervously as Michael stood beside your bed, his eyes clearly focused on you through the dark. His presence was beginning to soothe you the longer he stayed and you soon found yourself not wanting him to go back downstairs. Especially not after that nightmare. Despite your better judgment, you found yourself wanting to ask for what you really wanted for once. 

“Can I…ask you a favor?” you whispered. 

“Always,” Michael replied immediately. 

Eyes falling down towards the bed, one of your hands dropped down to your side. Nervously your fingers fidgeted with the sheets, twisting them as you tried to find the courage to ask him to stay here with you. Part of you knew it was safer and smarter to stop letting him get closer to you, especially with danger already looming on the horizon. But the other part of you craved the comfort he always somehow managed to bring you, something you hadn't felt in a long time. 

“Could you maybe…stay with me?” you asked, shyly looking back up at him. “Just for tonight?”

“O’course,” he answered. “I'm here whenever ya need me.”

Michael made his way around the foot of the bed, your eyes following his form through the darkness as he did. You saw him pull something out of the waistband at the back of his jeans, realizing a moment later it was the gun he'd had earlier. He set it onto the nightstand before he turned, adjusting the rumpled mess you'd made of the sheets on the bed and pulling them back up before he climbed onto the mattress himself. 

You began to slide back down along the headboard, rolling onto your side towards him and slipping back beneath the sheets. As he settled onto the mattress next to you, he turned onto his side, facing you in return. A bit of moonlight crept in just around the edge of your curtains, a thin ray of it illuminating part of his face in all the blackness. The corners of his lips were curved upwards just the faintest bit.

“Didn't think ya would want me with ya tonight,” Michael murmured.

Your stomach fluttered at his words and the position you'd found yourself in with him. Both of you were barely half a foot apart from each other now, eyes locked on one another. You could feel the warmth of his body radiating off of him and heating you beneath the sheets. Your hand clutched tighter to your pillow as you fought the urge to wrap it around him and pull yourself closer to him instead, desperate for connection.

“You make me feel safe,” you confessed, the words falling out of your mouth before you could stop them. “And less alone. For the first time in a long time.”

Gradually Michael’s hand slipped up out of the sheets, reaching out towards you and gently landing on your cheek. His fingertips lightly brushed away a few strands of hair before they affectionately began to lightly stroke your skin. You could feel your heart beating harder in your chest under his touch, the sound of it loud to your own ears. Your skin was beginning to heat beneath his fingers and your own only curled tighter around your pillowcase.

“Ya do the same for me, pet,” he whispered back.

Your breath caught in your throat at his words. You hadn't expected him to tell you that. You also hadn't expected it to feel so good to hear him tell you that, either.

Michael shifted on the bed, sliding closer to you as his palm cradled your cheek. Your eyelids fluttered shut the moment you felt his soft lips press a lingering kiss to your forehead. A warm, pleasant sensation felt like it was racing up your spine the longer his mouth remained pressed against your forehead. It was a feeling that felt a lot like safety and acceptance.

Without thinking, your hand released the pillow and darted out, wrapping its way around Michael as your fingers clutched at his back. You drew your body in tight against his, raising your head from the pillow as you did. Michael’s lips faltered along your forehead at the movement, but you quickly caught his lips with yours in his brief surprise.

He didn’t pull away or hesitate. Instead, his own mouth molded itself to yours, his hand sliding its way down your cheek and resting along your neck, pulling you in closer to him to deepen the kiss. He kissed you back with such intensity that your fingers fisted his shirt in your grasp, your mind going blank to everything except how good this moment felt. How good he made you feel.

But unfortunately the kiss ended far sooner than you'd have liked.

Michael pulled away only a fraction from you, the tip of his nose affectionately brushing the tip of yours. You could just make out the little smile on his lips in the dark, the sight almost leaving you as breathless as that kiss had.

“For what it's worth,” he whispered, thumb caressing the line of your jaw tenderly, “I'm glad ya found yourself here in Dublin.”

Your hand released the tight grip on his shirt, sliding its way up from out of the sheets and up towards his face. Your own fingertips gently toyed with the dark hairs of his beard, your eyes watching the smile on his face grow wider, his eyes crinkling at the corners. What you wouldn’t give to always see him smile like that. 

“I'm glad I found you,” you whispered back. 

For however long I can have you.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for ditching a long-term friend?

I (35F) had a friend (S, 33F) for years. We bonded the first night we met. We had ups an downs, and went everywhere together. I helped her kick her bf out after he tried to hit her and helped her through two miscarriages. She helped me through a family member death and a career change. We would speak almost every day, for hours.

She was always slightly more conservative than me. When 2016 rolled around, she supported Trump. I didn't like that, but it wasn't my place to bitch about it to her, it was her decision.

By 2020, she'd changed. Idk how it happened but she went from slightly conservative Christian who loved school and being a nurse and had friends who were LGBT+ (myself included), to deadnaming trans patients, refusing to do a blood draw on a patient after she said it was a prerequisite for an abortion, forcing patients to pray with her, even when they and their families spoke out against it, and bugging her coworkers to pray with her. She got fired from the hospital and was completely unable to hold down a job after that, and went through about 6 jobs that year, getting fired from them all. She got with a guy (B, 32M) and he is a... Well, he is a damn nut. Flat earther, antivaxxer, anti- Department of Education, anti-cell phone, thought bluetooth was turning kids trans, and that covid is 100% a hoax. Absolutely bonkers. But she was smitten, so I supported her, barely.

It's important to note that I backed away from her a bit after she was fired from the hospital. We were only speaking once every few weeks at that point.

Shortly after she got with B, my nephew was born. My nephew is half Mexican, half white. She called him "cute for a half n*g" because she thought my SIL is black. This blew me away because she's half Mexican. I told her off and distanced myself even further.

In 2021, she was a huge supporter of Jan 6th. She LAUGHED when that one cop killed himself. I stopped talking to her completely after that. Deleted her contact info and forgot she existed for almost 2 years.

Cut to October of this year, and she calls me. I didn't recognize her #. She and B are getting married! And she wants me to be a bridesmaid!!! Yayy! (sarcasm). She told me a long-winded variation of "I know we haven't talked for a bit but I promise I'm not as bonkers as I was, I think I let Facebook suck me in, and I'm sorry."

So, I let her back in. Not emotionally, mind you. She's not the woman I once knew anymore. I don't tell her where our house is (my partner and I moved while S and I weren't speaking), and I didn't tell her what car I drove. I didn't tell her anything about our lives, and kept the conversation solely on her, to try and read her out a bit.

Sure enough, two conversations in she starts ranting about how black people are black because they received the mark of Cain (it's a Christian thing? I guess? Idk I'm not religious) and thus should be avoided because they are inherently "up to no good," and that systemic racism doesn't exist because the US has had a black president.

I roll my eyes, hang up the phone, block her number, and end it, permanently, right there. I received a few odd texts from a number I didn't recognize, probably B's phone, so I just blocked that number and deleted them without reading most of them.

Cue our mutual friends. 🙄

She misses you! People can have differing opinions and still be friends! Why are you being so closed minded? She told us you yelled at her! 😭😭😭

Lol. I didn't say a word, but whatever.

I'd rather adjust my life to her absence than adjust my morality to her ignorance.

My partner is on my side, they saw her change, too. But our mutual friends are still upset. I shared some the racist and sexist text convos between me and S, and it's like they hadn't even considered my side of the situation. One is on my side now, the other two are still questioning how I can throw away a 6 year friendship over "differing politics."

So, Tumblr, AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[wilcze-kudly]

Suyin wasn't "coerced" to commit a crime, neither did she want to take herself out of the situation. She wanted to get her friends out of paying for their crimes because she's spoiled and entitled.

She didn't "have" to travel the world, she was sent to family members to take her away from a criminal and endangering environment, and she decided to escape because she's too much of a pick me girl to stay with the so called family "that didn't show her affection". To be honest, you speak of her as some kind of adult avatar-styled Rapunzel, instead of a teenager who deserved to be reprimanded.

She did turn her life around, and kudos to the creators for showing that. No one can say that her story and background is boring by any chance.

She, however, is not the most likeable character out there to a big part of the fandom, but I seriously doubt someone is taking it as seriously as you seem to do. Just chill.

Istg this happens almost everytime I post something mildly touching on the fact that Suyin deserves compassion too. Though you may be the same anon who blew up my inbox a while back so it might just be you.

I've always found the disdain we have for "troubled teens" upsetting because usually, when a teenager "acts out", there's more of a reason behind it that just "ooh they're spoilt or entitled".

[Trigger warning for self harm and suicidal ideation mentions]

Like, I was a very difficult teen back in the day. I argued with my parents, even got into physical altercations, skipped school, ran away from home at night. I was also going through a severe depression, dealing with a shitton of childhood trauma, cutting on the regular and making multiple attempts on my life. Hell, if my parents had brushed me off as "a kid who needs to be disciplined" I probably would've killed myself at 14. It doesn't excuse me for punching my dad in the stomach when he was just trying to stop me from running away into the night but it doesn't mean I didn't deserve help.

[End of Trigger Warning]

These two things can be correct at the same time. Suyin can have done a shitty thing that deserves reprimand and that she needs help that she seemingly had to find on her own. But like, guess which of these two is almost exclusively focused on.

And I mean, it's totally not like the Avatar fandom has a habit of expressing extreme hate towards young girls (especially young girls of colour) making sub optimal choices or just beind "annoying". I've just never seen that before.

Suyin grew up with Toph, who Lin herself has described like this:

Suyin : No, no. My children are a blessing. Lin: Yeah, mom used to say that too, but she never meant it.

Which btw, still an incredibly hillarious thing to say in front of Suyin's children: "Hi kids I'm your aunt Lin and your mother is lying about loving you"

While Suyin has, as a child, expressed doubt that Toph would even care that she's skipping school. And as an adult, she has described her childhood with Lin as "competing for their mother's affection" and still has doubts whether or not her mother is happy with how either of them turned out.

Hell, even though Su and Toph have been said to have made up, Toph still maintains a heavy layer of distance between them, seemingly dissappearing for years at a time!

It's honestly sad how Suyin hugs Toph and puts up statues of her everywhere in Zaofu and yet Toph still just fucked off to the swamp when Opal was probably less then ten and did not contact them.

I mean, sounds like there's not a lot of motherly affection going on there, dude. Idk what to tell ya. We know there were no fathers around either.

And Lin was also a victim of this environment, so I don't really want this to come off as me blaming her for the way she acted towards Su. But Lin is hardly what I would call affectionate.

So of course Suyin would put so much stock in her relationships outside the house. And her friends happened to be fucking criminals fucking hell. And of course Lin, being a kid too did not know how to approach this situation properly, so she inadvertently just pushed Suyin closer to them by insulting them and making her feel defensive.

Because that's what all fucking teens do. The internalise things, they rely on their peers to form their perception of things and they want to be independent. So when someone, especially someone who isn't a parent tries to control them, guess how they'll react? They dig their heels in. Especially a teen like Suyin who has virtually no reason to listen to her older sister other than a vague "I know better than you" type of vibe which really pisses teens off. That's like the time when talking down to them is the worst thing to do.

And fuck off with saying getting arrested and screamed at by your sister in the middle of the road isn't a stressful situation that you wolud wanna get out of. Lin punched a car so hard it dented! (Especially that Lin has already been confirmed to use her status as a police officer against people she has a vendetta against, like when SHE TRIED TO THROW PEMA IN JAIL FOR STEALING HER MANS like how tf did we brush over that)

What I always find interesting in this scene is the front that Su puts on in front of Lin, which slips up a few times, particularly when Lin can't see her expression. Because Suyin is, of course being a fucking brat and taunting Lin, but you can clearly see that she's stressed out.

Suyin also describing the reason she helped her friends as a getaway driver is something I find interesting:

Suyin: I didn't steal anything. I just drove the car. I owed my friends a favor. It's not a big deal.

Of course she's scared and minimising her involvement but the usage of "owing her friends" could very easily imply her not exactly being too hyped about this, as well as her insistence on not stealing anything.

Because the thing about Suyin is that, especially in the flashbacks, we see her only in Lin's PoV. We don't see her relationship with her friends, what led up to the robbery, anything. Which makes sense, because the flashbacks are supposed to be Lin's. But that means we're viewing Su with the inherent bias of Lin, who clearly has an agenda against Su.

Lin clearly blames Suyin for Toph leaving policework, despite us later seeing how burnt out and cynical Toph was about being a cop. Its more likely that Su's arrest was a wake-up call for Toph, but she left due to the buildup of stress and disillusionment and Lin, who has been idolising her mother and her mother's career blamed it on Suyin in her head.

Hell, even they made up, Lin still immediately pivots to accusing Suyin of being involved in the Red Lotus' attack. Despite the attack placing Suyin's life, the lives of her sons and the lives of her guards at risk and Suyin going out of her way to thwart it.

And Suyin's life is just a fucking mess after this point like: betrayal by close friend, daughter kidnapped by terrorists, anarchy in the kingdom, leaders of 2 foreign governments trying to pressure her into subjugating the people in the name of a monarch she doesn't support, betrayal part 2; child boogaloo, the country she lives in being declared a dictatorship, city under literal siege, threat of attack in 24 hours, the fucking Avatar doing fuck all to help, a desperate attempt at assassinating the leader, getting caught and placed in questionably humane restraints, having to watch her daughter be forced to flee, PUBKIC HUMILIATION, the arrest of her non combative son and husbandd, INHUMANE JAIL CELL...

Do I need to go on? Like the moment the Krew came to her gouse her life just started to fucking fall apart its actually kinda hillarious.

And calling Suyin a "pick me" is just... unfounded? Who's she trying to get picked by? Her mom who doesn't love her? Girlie just wanted a family she literally said so in the show, put your listening ears on, babes.

I understand that Suyin isn't the most likeable character to people. I can understand why they dislike her. She can be annoying, hypocritical, rash, the poor structuring of the episodes around her and Lin makes it so she gets unearned favour from the writers etc. People who like Lin and Kuvira, two extremely popular characters in the fandom have an easy villain in their faves' lives if they just tweak Suyin a bit.

But that doesn't mean I'm obligated to dislike her too or that I'm not allowed to post about her in a way that doesn't allign with the fandom's narrative of her. You're not obligated to read it, hun, you can block the #pro suyin beifong tag if it makes you that upset to see me

I want to appreciate parts of Suyin which aren't highlighted by the fandom and I'm allowed to do that. Just because it doesn't fit with your clearly overtly negative opion of the character well, tough luck. And hey, I gladly take the opportunity to talk about Suyin, but I've also made a ridiculous amount of posts around har and have probably addressed almost every single fandom complaint of her at some point so I'm starting to get a little tired of repeating myself lol.

And I'll be the first to admit, my own teenage years probably heavily affect how compassionate I am towards Suyin, particularly in her younger years. But I know how much people hate "troubled teens", how little compassion thet are given.

The narrative that if a misbehaving teenager just gets deisciplined and reprimanded enough they'll stop being "spoilt and entitled" or acting out is wrong and harmful. It hurts tons of teenagers by not getting them the help they need and it would've fucking killed me.

Also hun, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I tend to use hyperbole a lot. I'm a dramatic bitch. Like did you also think I was serious when I said I'd shoot myself if I saw another ad for Amazon's shit lotr wannabe show?

Tbh everytime I get an ask like this I vaguely consider doubling down and commiting to the bit of being the fandom's "Lin Beifong hater". Though I feel like a lot of people wouldn't realise its a bit and think I actually hate her for real lol.

[oldiesstationlover11607]

okok i may have gotten ahead of myself with the christmas themed ask LMAO even tho you totally killed it and may or may not have put me into a holly jolly mood- ITS OCTOBER I NEED TO SLOW DOWN (slowtown reference?)

in honor of spooky season, may i request tyler x reader on tour during october, where reader totally goes crazy with the spooky decorations?

stickers, fake spiders and spiderwebs, fairy lights, and other decorations allll over the tour bus, backstage, tyler's instruments, etc.

maybe a bit of that tiktok trend of people covering their partners car and face with cutesey stickers lol!!

imagine tyler appearing on stage in Serious Clancy mode with cute halloween stickers all over his face, arms, and mic 😭🥹

trust, this will not be the last halloween themed ask i conjure up this month 😌

i look forward to seeing this come to life!!

hope all is well 🫶🏼

🕸🕸🕸🕸

Haunted Bus - Tyler Joseph x Reader

Warnings: none! :)

Word Count: 2614

A/N: This was so much fun to write lol I had so many ideas - halloween is my favorite holiday so I was so excited to see this request. I made it a bit niche by adding that the reader is from NZ like me where we don't really tend to celebrate it which explains why she goes crazy :) also featuring debby and josh bc we luv them! can't wait to see the next request!

It had taken everything in me to stay home while the boys were touring in October. Tyler knew how much I loved Fall and Halloween—it had become our thing. Every year, we’d transform our house into a spooky wonderland, with pumpkins lining the porch, fog machines hidden in the bushes, and skeletons dangling from the eaves. No matter how hard we tried to adjust the schedule, this time, it just wasn’t possible. The best he could do was promise we’d be home by October 14th, just in time to celebrate. But in the meantime, I was determined to bring Halloween with me, no matter where we were. By the time October rolled around, we were only a few weeks away from the end of the American leg of The Clancy Tour, and I was itching to dive into the spooky season. Debby, always my partner in crime, knew exactly what I needed. That morning, we woke up early, leaving Tyler fast asleep, and made our way to Target.

“Oh my god, look at all this!” I practically squealed as we entered the Halloween section, grabbing a red basket and darting toward the decorations. “This is like… heaven. We don’t have anything like this back home!”

Growing up in New Zealand, Halloween had never been a big deal, so the over-the-top decorations in American stores still blew my mind. There were aisles of fake skeletons, glowing ghosts, fog machines, and everything in between. It was like stepping into my dream version of Halloween.

Debby chuckled, shaking her head. “I still don’t get how you survived so many years without a proper Halloween, Y/N.”

“I have no idea,” I replied, pressing every button on the animatronic toys until they were all blinking, buzzing, and screeching. Halloween had become a serious obsession for me. The first year I started dating Tyler, Debby and Josh invited me to their legendary Halloween party, and ever since, I was hooked. Now I talked about the holiday year-round, planning decorations and themes months in advance.

“We should totally make the buses look haunted,” I said, grabbing a couple bags of fake spiderwebs and tossing them into the basket. “We could go all out.”

Debby laughed. “You know we don’t have that much space, right?”

“I know, but we have to get spiderwebs. At least those will fit!” I said, grabbing a few more packets just to be sure. Debby picked up a few boxes of orange fairy lights and handed some to me.

“We used these last time around Josh’s drum kit, and it looked amazing. He told me to pick up more. I’m sure you can find some use for them on your bus.”

Before long, our baskets were overflowing with decorations—candy corn, ghost window gels, pumpkin stickers, and all the spooky essentials. The thought of surprising—and slightly annoying—Tyler with a fully decorated haunted bus made me feel like a kid again. I was practically buzzing with excitement as we headed back, already plotting out how to turn our bus into a Halloween wonderland.

When we got back, Tyler was still fast asleep, so I tiptoed into the bus, trying not to wake him. I got straight to work, channeling my inner Halloween decorator. I stretched fake spiderwebs over the cabinets, stuck glowing ghost decals onto the windows, and placed a pumpkin spice candle on the counter. The bus was starting to look like a Halloween explosion, and I couldn’t help but grin as I imagined Tyler’s reaction.

Tyler eventually stirred, letting out a groggy groan as he reached out, his hand searching for me on the other side of the bed. I crawled beside him, watching as his sleepy eyes blinked open. His brow furrowed slightly, and I could tell he hadn’t noticed anything yet.

“I’m right here, hun,” I whispered, smiling as I leaned in closer.

“Good morning,” he croaked, his voice thick with sleep. His nose wrinkled, and he squinted toward the kitchen. “What’s that smell?”

“Pumpkin spice candle,” I said, biting back a grin. 

Tyler stretched and yawned before his eyes finally took in the scene around him—the fake spiderwebs stretched across the kitchen, the ghost decals on the windows, the plastic spiders scattered across the counter. His sleepy expression morphed into one of amused disbelief.

“How did you…?

“Debby took me to Target,” I said innocently, suppressing a giggle.

He shook his head, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “Of course she did. You just love spooky season, don’t you?”

“More than anyone,” I declared proudly.

Tyler sighed, running a hand through his messy hair as he surveyed the Halloween transformation. “You’re going to drive Josh insane with all this.”

“Josh will love it,” I shot back, hopping off the bed and heading toward the kitchen. “Besides, Debby helped me pick everything out, so he doesn’t get a vote.”

Tyler chuckled, rubbing his eyes as he padded toward the shower. “I don’t know what I’m more scared of—the haunted bus or how far you’re planning to take this.”

“You have no idea what’s coming,” I teased, winking as he disappeared into the bathroom.

Once he was gone, I pulled out the rest of the decorations Debby and I had picked up and headed to the venue. Debby and Josh were already there, decorating Josh’s drum kit with the orange fairy lights, while I set to work sticking pumpkin stickers across Tyler’s bass and even sneaking a few onto the piano keys. We scattered more fake spiders and webs throughout the dressing rooms and across the arena, adding to the overall spooky vibe. By the time Tyler joined us, he was stumbling across Halloween decorations every few steps, muttering under his breath each time he found another sticker or plastic spider.

But no matter how much he tried to act annoyed, I could tell he was secretly enjoying the chaos. Every now and then, I’d catch him peeling off a sticker, only for me to stick another one somewhere else when he wasn’t looking. His exasperation was growing, but so was that mischievous smile he couldn’t hide.

As the afternoon wore on, the whole crew had gotten into the Halloween spirit. Josh was drumming with little skeletons dangling from his kit, Debby was sticking glow-in-the-dark bats onto his drumsticks, and even the crew had added their own decorations to equipment cases and dressing room doors.

Tyler, meanwhile, was wandering the venue with a bemused expression, fake spiderwebs clinging to his jacket and tiny pumpkins stuck to his guitar case. I had to stifle a laugh when I saw a bright green ghost sticker on his shoulder that he hadn’t noticed yet.

“You’re really pushing your luck, Y/N,” he teased, giving me a playful glare when he caught me giggling.

I grinned, leaning back against the soundboard. “You love it. Admit it.”

He opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by Josh shouting, “Tyler, look at your uke!”

We all turned to see Josh holding up Tyler's ukulele, now with a large spider sticker plastered right at the base of the neck. Tyler groaned, running a hand through his hair, but he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips.

“How did I not see that earlier?” he muttered, shaking his head.

Debby and I exchanged a mischievous look before bursting into laughter. “You were too busy focusing on the tiny pumpkins I stuck on the piano keys,” I teased.

Tyler sighed dramatically but couldn’t stop himself from chuckling. As the evening approached and the fans started filling the venue, the spooky decorations spread everywhere. The stage, the dressing rooms, the buses—everything had a touch of Halloween madness. Fans even showed up in costumes, snapping pictures of the stage decked out in orange fairy lights and haunted decor.

When it was finally time for the show, Tyler stepped onto the stage, falling into his intense Clancy persona. The crowd erupted in cheers, and for a moment, he was completely focused. But then, mid-song, he noticed the bright orange pumpkin sticker I’d placed on his mic earlier. His lips twitched as he tried to maintain his serious expression, but I saw him bite back a smile. It got worse when he caught Josh’s eye. Josh, sitting behind his drum kit surrounded by glow-in-the-dark bats, was giving Tyler a look that screamed, What have we become? Tyler cracked—he turned away from the crowd, pretending to adjust his in-ear monitor, but I saw the laugh he was holding in.

As the night wore on, the decorations became part of the performance. Fans pointed out the tiny pumpkins and skeletons strung across the stage, snapping pictures and laughing at the haunted spectacle. Tyler, still fighting to keep Clancy intact, kept getting caught off guard by the random Halloween touches I’d added. His mic, his guitar, even his water bottle had tiny pumpkins and spiders stuck to them.

During the encore, he finally gave in. As he came back onstage for the final song, he raised his arm to reveal the black cat temporary tattoo I’d sneakily applied earlier. The crowd erupted in laughter, and Tyler just shook his head with a grin.

“You’ve really outdone yourself,” he said into the mic, holding up his arm for the audience to see.

The fans cheered louder, and I felt my cheeks flush with pride as I stood offstage, watching him with a satisfied grin. Tyler finished the set with the stickers still plastered all over his gear, and by the end of the night, I knew I had succeeded in turning the tour into the ultimate Halloween experience.

As the last notes of the encore rang out and the lights dimmed, Tyler came offstage, still shaking his head in amused disbelief. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close as we made our way back toward the dressing room. The sound of the crowd's final cheers still echoed in the air, filling me with a sense of joy that felt as electric as the Halloween lights strung throughout the venue.

“You're lucky I love you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple, a sweet reminder of how special moments like this were to us.

“I know,” I replied smugly, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “And you’re lucky I didn’t cover your entire face in stickers.”

Tyler groaned dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Please don’t give them any ideas,” he said, nodding toward Josh and the crew, who were still cackling about the Halloween chaos. “I’ll be peeling stickers off my stuff for weeks.”

I shrugged playfully. “Totally worth it,” I replied with a wink, letting go of his waist to gather up a few stray decorations left behind.

We entered the dressing room, which was still littered with remnants of our Halloween takeover. Fake spiders crawled across the table, and a few pumpkin stickers had managed to find their way onto crew members' gear. The atmosphere was light and buzzing, filled with laughter and excitement from the show.

As I started collecting the decorations, Tyler leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with a smile. “You know, this has actually been kind of fun,” he admitted, a hint of sincerity in his voice. “Even if it is a total disaster.”

I shot him a teasing glare. “A total disaster? This is a masterpiece! Wait until next year; we’ll have the whole tour bus covered in cobwebs and pumpkin lights.”

“Next year, huh?” he mused, clearly already imagining the chaos I had in store. “You might need to start planning now.”

“Oh, I definitely will,” I replied, laughing as I tossed another handful of stickers into a bag. “I’m going to need an entire month of preparation for the ultimate Halloween tour.”

As we finished tidying up, Josh sauntered in, his hair still slightly damp from the post-show shower. “You guys seriously went all out. I can’t believe how many stickers you managed to get on our stuff,” he said, shaking his head in amusement.

“Hey, you’re just as much to blame for this,” Tyler shot back, gesturing toward the decorations that surrounded us. “You encouraged her!”

Josh held up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just here for the fun, man. But next year, I’m putting my foot down. No more pumpkin stickers on my kit, alright?”

“Challenge accepted,” I said with a grin, leaning closer to Josh as I started to plot out my next Halloween invasion.

The conversation shifted to plans for the next few shows, but I could feel the warmth of Tyler’s arm resting around my shoulders. As he leaned in closer, I felt a flutter in my stomach. This was what I loved most about being on the road with him—the spontaneous moments, the laughter, and how easy it felt to share the chaos of life together.

After a while, as the laughter faded and we began to wrap things up, Tyler turned to me, his expression softening. “You know, it’s these little moments that make everything worth it,” he said quietly, glancing around the dressing room, now a blend of spooky decor and lingering laughter.

“I couldn’t agree more,” I replied, leaning into him, feeling his warmth seep into me.

With the decorations finally packed away, we made our way back to the bus. The excitement of the show still hung in the air, and I could see Tyler’s contentment reflected in the twinkle of the fairy lights strung up in the bus. He opened the door, and we stepped inside together, the cozy atmosphere wrapping around us like a warm blanket.

“Okay, but we have to leave a few decorations up,” I said, grabbing a couple of leftover spiderwebs and tossing them onto the couch. “Just to keep us in the spirit till we get home.”

Tyler chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re never going to let me live this down, are you?”

“Not a chance,” I replied, smirking as I sank into the couch, pulling him down next to me. “This is only the beginning.”

As we settled in, I snuggled up against him, the bus rocking gently as the night wore on. We spent the rest of the evening recounting our favorite moments from the show and joking about the fans’ reactions to the Halloween madness. With each laugh and shared glance, I could feel our connection deepening. The world outside faded away, and in this moment, it was just us—wrapped up in our own little universe, where the spirit of Halloween reigned supreme.

“I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble we’ll get into next year,” Tyler mused, a playful grin spreading across his face.

I smiled back, feeling a rush of excitement. “Next year? Just wait until we turn our house into a haunted mansion!”

“Bring it on, spooky girl,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “Just promise me you’ll let me get through one more tour before you unleash your full Halloween arsenal on me.”

“Deal,” I replied, biting back a smile. “But I can’t make any promises about the off-season.”

As the night wore on, we sat in comfortable silence, the glow from the pumpkin spice candle flickering softly around us. I leaned my head on his shoulder, soaking in the warmth of the moment. Halloween may have just begun, but this tour had already turned into an unforgettable adventure—one filled with laughter, love, and more than a few stickers.

And I knew, deep down, that as long as I had Tyler by my side, every season, every tour, and every moment would be just as magical, chaotic, and full of laughter as this Halloween had been.

//

REQUESTS OPEN

[beah388love]

Torture

18+ Minors DNI!!!

Full Masterlist Legend Masterlist

Pairing: Reggie Kray x Fem!reader

Summary: Another gang torture you and Reggie tries to find you and when he does…

Warnings: Stabbing,Blood,Bad language,Burning cigarettes on person,Whipping with a belt,murder/killing?,carving initials on thigh,beating,punching,slapping,smashed glass,cutting someone with glass,reader nearly dies,reader is injured,injuries,reader takes medicine,stabbing,swearing,knives,guns,hammers!!!!!

(Please Tell me if I missed any warnings!!!)

It was late, I went out for a drink with my best friend, Dorothy and since it was getting quite late we decided to leave the club and go home.

The only problem is, is she lives on the other road from me so once I drop her off, I would have to walk home for awhile on my own.

"Bye dot" i smiled and she gave me a hug before I left her door step and carried on walking down the road all the way to the one dark alleyway I would have to pass.

I sheepishly walked down the alleyway and I was met with two men half way down.

"Looks like we've got compa'ny Charlie" one of them smirked.

"Yeah it does, what's a pretty gal like you doing here all alone?" He asked me.

"I'm not alone" I said and they looked at each other before chuckling when they saw no one behind me.

"Oh really?" They smirked and I nodded.

"My boyfriend, Reggie kray is coming to pick me up right now as we speak" I said and they smirked again.

"Well what a small world, because we were actually looking for krays gal" they smirked at me as they came closer to me and I yelled.

"Get off me! stop it!" I yelled and they laughed before one of them grabbed me by the arm and punched me in the back of the head knocking me out.

I woke up and I felt dizzy until I woke myself up more when I felt chains on my wrists and ankles along with the cold stone floor I was on.

I pulled on the chains and began panicking when another guy walks in.

"Ello Y/n, how are you?" He asks me with a smile and I don't answer. He blew his fag smoke in my face

"Now we aren't gonna hurt you, well we're not gonna kill you" he laughed and I kicked his shins since he was close enough to me.

"Ah! You fucking bitch!" He spat as he slapped me across the face and kicked me repeatedly on the waist as I cried out.

He took his fag from his lips and burned the hot ash onto my stomach making me hiss.

"Freddie! C'mere" he shouted and another man walked in.

"Let's show her what real pain feels like.." he said to Fred with a smirk as they both walked over to me.

———

Reggie's POV-

"You alright Sheila?" I lightly waved at her and she nodded with a smile.

"Albie! Y/n’s 'ouse" I said as I got into the car and albie nodded.

"I heard she went out last night" Albert said to me as he focused on the road.

"Oh really?" I asked since this was new information.

"Mhm, went down to the esters club" he said and I nodded along.

Albert parked outside Bees house and I went and knocked on the door to be met with a quick and worried Jimmy and Daniel Nash and Y/n’s friend Dorothy.

"Everything Alright?" I asked them jokingly.

"No reg! It's not alright! Y/n’s not come back since 6 O'clock yesterday" Jimmy half yelled.

"What?" I said worried.

"We went down to esters club and we left around 10 ish and we were both fine and she dropped me off home and I haven't seen her since, but she must've had to have went up the alley" Dorothy explained.

"Have you checked the alley?" I asked them panicked.

"Of course we've checked the fucking alley! We checked every fucking road around here!" Daniel yelled at me and Jimmy held a hand on his chest.

"Alright, well I'm gonna go look around" I said and quickly got back into the car.

"You alri-" albie was speaking but I cut him off.

"Go up to the end of the alley way" I said sternly and he nodded.

I quickly got out of the car and sprinted up the alley and something caught my eye.

An earring..the same diamond ones I got Y/n for her birthday this year, I picked it up and held it in a fist before putting it in my blazer pocket.

I was about to leave before I saw something else.

A tie clip.

But not any tie clip, a bright red one with three black lines I knew who this belonged to.

Charlie fucking Foreman.

"I've gotta get my brother" I spoke and Albie nodded as he drove to Ron's trailer.

I knocked on the door and Ron groaned.

"Yeah?" He said tiredly and I ignored him.

"Foreman, he's got Y/n" I huffed out quickly and Ron's posture stiffened as he rushed to the car with me.

"Albie! Klington Road down the second alleyway" I demanded and he nodded quickly as he drove off when me and Ron got in the car.

I held onto y/ns earring in my pocket the whole ride there.

———

"Fucking useless Whore" they spat as they left the room.

They tortured me.

They not only did that, they slapped me, kicked me, punched me, he carved his initials on my thigh.

He grabbed my leg and stabbed me in the thigh, blood pouring out of my leg and he twisted it inside before yanking it out and chucking it on the floor.

He whipped me with his belt and he smashed a glass at me.

Leaving me cut,bleeding,bruised, beaten.

I was so tired.

I was bleeding profusely and I was so sore.

I laid there and I couldn't help but cry my heart out.

My throat sore from screaming and shouting.

———

Reggie's POV-

We parked outside we had guns and knives between the two of us.

I walked into the broken down flat and i instantly heard muffled cries.

I busted down the door and I was met with about ten men.

They were weaponless.

Idiots.

Ron smirked as he grabbed his two hammers and threw them at two of the mens heads that then instantly died.

I fought two at the same time dodging mostly all there shots besides two that caused a bloody cut on the cheek.

I saw Charlie escape through the window but I didn't care I just wanted Y/n in this moment of time.

Ron sorted out most of them whilst I went looking for Y/n.

And then I heard it again the muffled cries.

I saw a door and opened it to be met with Y/n.

Bruised and bleeding with fag burns all over along with cuts and whip marks all over her too.

She was left in a white ripped gown that was blood-stained all over.

She was chained, I would've broken the chains but if I did it would have hurt her wrists and ankles.

"Reg! I've got a key" Ronnie said but went quiet when he saw the state of his best friend Y/n.

"Y/n?" He said and i ignored him and quickly took the key off of him and quickly undone all the chains.

Ron took his coat off and helped me wrap her in it.

I picked her up swiftly and placed her in my lap in the car while Ron and Albie were in the front.

Alberts face dropped when he saw Y/n and he quickly drove to the hospital.

Once she was taken by the doctors and she was situated and helped.

She was fast asleep in a hospital bed.

I stayed with her the entire two days she was asleep.

I left Ron in charge for those two days.

I was so anxious I didn't even know I could feel this type of emotion.

I was holding her bruised hand and was staring at her sadly until she slowly woke up.

"Y/n?" I said and she looked at me confused.

"What happened?" She asked me hoarsely.

"Charlie foreman, he hurt you pretty bad dove" I spoke slowly and softly and she went wide eyed.

She must've remembered what happened.

She began sobbing and I hugged her gently so I didn't hurt her.

———

It had been three days since then and nothing got better, Y/n was just continuously crying and if she wasn't she had cried herself to sleep.

She wouldn't eat anything, she wouldn't talk about anything either.

I was holding Y/n in my arms until someone knocked at the door and Y/n jumped which made me frown. She was so feisty I hated seeing her so..frightened. She wouldn't even go near Ron.

She only let me or her mum and dad go near her.

"Sh sh.. it's okay it's just Albie 'member, I need to talk to him about something" I spoke softly and she nodded before I gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Don't go..please" she begged silently and I frowned.

"I'll be two minutes I promise" I said and held out my pinky finger and she looked at my pinky before my face debatably before connecting her pinky and shaking it making me smile.

I walked downstairs and opened the door.

"Member how y'a told me Y/n ain't talking so you can't help her or comfort her and Charlie legged it" Albert whispered and I nodded.

"Well it sounds bad but I found footage from inside the flat so we'll know about what they did to Y/n and where Charlie went" Albert said and I nodded.

"I'll be out in a minute Albie wait for me in the car" I whispered and he nodded and I shut the door.

I walked back upstairs to Y/n.

"Dove..I'm not leaving you alone but I have to do something really important, life threatening" I said and her eyes began to well up again and she began to shake.

"Sh sh.. im not leaving you alone. Im getting your dad and uncles to come round to protect you, they haven't seen you yet have they, they need to know your okay" I said and she nodded as she wiped her tears.

Y/n was still bruised and she had scars and bandages cuts but she could still walk shortly so I helped her to the car.

"I love you dove" I said softly as she rested her head under my chin.

"I love you too Reggie" she spoke quietly from her croaky voice but she still said my name how she always does. I don't know what she does but I love when she calls me Reggie it's not like how everyone else does it..it's different...it makes me smile.

"How have you been Y/n? You been alright" Albie asked her.

"Yeah I feel better" she answered and I frowned when I felt her wince when I accidentally held her bruised hand.

"Sorry dove" I whispered into her ear and she gave me a kiss on the chin to show I was forgiven.

We got to her house and was met with Johnny.

"Y/n!" He called out and instantly held her in his arms.

"God! what happened?" Johnny stiffened when he saw the bruised and cuts, scars, burns all over her .

Johnny looked at me and I shook my head as to not talk about it.

Ronnie came to the door and also took Y/n in for a hug and took her inside.

"Take care of her, I've gotta take care of some business regarding who did this, she needs to take this medicine three times a day." I said and handed Johnny the bottle.

"Who did that.." Johnny said angrily and I sighed.

"Y/n’s more important right now, take care of her alright?" I said to him and he nodded still angry.

"Thank you for saving her, we're here to help you reg, we may not show it because she's like our daughter but, we are" Johnny said sternly and I nodded before going back to the car.

———

I was sat in front of the screen, with Albert beside me and Ron behind me.

We watched the clip start with Charlie walking in the room and Freddie coming in too.

They punched her and slapped her and kicked her.

They burned her with fags as she screamed in pain.

Even more so when Charlie would burn the fag out in her open wounds.

Charlie picked her up and grabbed her leg as he then stabbed the knife into her which made Albert look away. He couldn't bare to see it since this was Y/n, our Y/n.

She was crying and screaming in pain as he stabbed her.

He then threw her to the ground and spat on her before he went to leave and she cried out a half-yell "You Bastard!" He then grabbed a glass and threw it at her as it then shattered into pieces attacking her skin.

It was gruesome. I was angry.

All I saw was red.

Then when we arrived in the footage, Charlie then ran out the window and he left and he went to the Mormons club.

I grabbed a gun and a blade, and a knife before I got up and headed down to the club.

It was late so no one was around but Charlie..he was definitely still there, he knew he shouldn't. Of done what he did.

Ron followed me with a hammer and a knife in his coat pockets.

I slammed open the club door that said closed.

And I was met with Charlie.

In the corner of the club he was about to run away but I stopped him by grabbing him and quickly wrapping my hand around his neck.

Chocking him but not killing him.

"Your gonna apologise and your gonna pay" I said before slashing him all over his body with the blade I had.

Ron stabbed him in the leg and he cried out in pain.

"Enough" I said and Charlie's eyes relaxed but were still widened.

"Put him in the boot" I ordered and Ron nodded before doing as I said, as he began tying him up.

Ron took him to the club and chained him to the wall out the back.

Whilst I walked to Y/n’s house.

———

"What happened?" Ronnie asked me and I shrugged I didn't want to say what he did to me it felt like it was going to happen again if I did. But I knew they had to know i trusted them after all.

"I- they tortured me- " I cried out and Johnny grew mad but Ronnie, Ronnie took me into his arms and held me as I cried.

"They burned me and cut me and threw glass at me" I cried out.

"But then Reggie and Ronnie came and they saved me" i said and Ronnie looked at me.

"They saved you?" He asked me and I nodded.

Then there was a knock at the door and i jumped and Ronnie comforted me whilst Johnny went and answered it to be met with Reggie.

"Is Y/n alright?" Reggie asked and johnny nodded before inviting Reggie in.

I slowly got up very unbalanced and I made my way to Reggie into the hallway and Reggie instantly hugged me.

"You alright dove?" He asked me and gave me a kiss on the head before I nodded.

"Y/n I've gotta to take you somewhere" reg asked me and I was confused but nodded.

"I love you two" I said and hugged johnny and Ronnie before leaving and they said they're goodbyes to me too.

Reggie took me to his club and I already felt panicked as to what he needed to show me.

He held me close and led me out back to where I saw Ron and Charlie.

Ron was slapping him across the face till his cheek was red raw.

"How dare you hurt her!" Ron yelled.

Reggie coughed and Ron looked over to us and Ron smiled when he saw me.

"You alright? You still in pain?" Ron asked me but I didn't answer I was too busy focusing on Charlie and making sure he was not going to be able to hurt me.

"Right you yeah? You are going to apologise to Y/n right now, and mean it" Reggie said sternly and slapped Charlie across the face and Charlie nodded profusely.

"I will, I will" He said and Reggie nodded.

"Dove, C'mere" Reggie motioned for me to walk over to where they were but I was so scared.

I felt like Charlie was going to escape and torture me again.

"He will not hurt you, I promise" Reggie said to me as he looked into my eyes.

I trusted Reggie so I nodded and walked over to them.

"Now? What does Charles have to say?" Reggie said and charlie looked up at me and apologised pleadingly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry please, I swear I'm sorry.. please" he repeated.

I didn't accept it but I liked to see him there pleading and begging for saving.

I liked it, I didn't but I did a part of me felt better.

" go back over to Ronnie dove" reg whispered to me and I nodded before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and walking away back over to Ron.

Ron held me closely as we watched Reggie tear Charlie limb from limb.

He broke his arms and legs and he stabbed him and cut him and he stabbed him in the face so many times he was unrecognisable.

Reggie spat on him before he walked over to me and Ron.

I gave him a kiss which made him smile.

Whilst Ron motioned to Albert to take care of what and just happened.

———

"Come on dove, its late I'm taking you home" Reggie said softly before he led us outside and he opened the car door for me and drove us home.

He instantly hugged me and he led us to our double bed and we laid there cuddling for hours and I quickly went back to my normal self in the next month.

I was feisty and funny and I was normal again.

Just how I loved it and how everyone else did.

[cleoluvrr]

The Last Days of Summer XI (Rafe Cameron x Heyward!OC)

Warnings: violence, underage drinking, drug use, verbal abuse, jealousy, forbidden relationship, enemies to lovers, gaslighting + manipulation

Synopsis: Stuck in a situation she never dreamed of, Neriah Heyward blurs the line between Kook and Pogue; Rafe Cameron a witness.

masterlist

word count: 7.2k+

↠━ღ◆ღ━↞

It had been barely a couple weeks and I already feel like a damn fool for a plethora of reasons.

John B Routledge had been released from county jail; all charges dropped. A free man once again. And while I was happy for him, I felt nothing but anger and disappointment. For in his place is Rafe Cameron.

Rafe’s face had been plastered all over the news the moment John B was released, accused of the murder of Peterkin. Nobody had seen or heard from Ward’s son, besides me. He called me saying something about Sarah and Wilmington, but I hung up because he sounded drunk and frantic. I told him to call me back when he calmed down, but he never did. That was when I found out.

Turns out he had been arrested for first degree murder and probably an array of other charges. He was rotting away in some cell in the county jail, his father was MIA from what I’ve heard, and my brother and his friends were out celebrating.

I hadn’t left the house since I saw the first news report for anything but school, unable to stop beating myself up. I hadn’t told Londyn anything, but she could tell something was up and was practically itching with concern. My brother hadn’t been home long enough to notice my change in mood, though I doubt he would ask if he was.

Then at school Monday morning, all I could hear though the halls was the news of Ward Cameron’s death. I had never been more confused in my life at the ever-evolving situation. 

‘Rafe was framed.’ ‘Ward Cameron killed himself.’ ‘Mr. Cameron killed Peterkin.’ Whispers upon whispers talking about the events of Sunday night. Ward Cameron confessed to the murders of multiple people, including the sheriff, and then blew up his boat with himself inside it to evade police capture. They released Rafe that same day, apparently. Though, I hadn’t heard from him since that phone call on Friday.

I called him about ten times, four times on Monday when I got home and throughout the week. I even walked past Tannyhill on the way to Brye’s house, but it didn’t look like anyone had been there in a while. I stopped at some point, realizing that he was going through more important things that didn’t involve me.

My phone rings on my nightstand, the sound pulling my eyes away from the window where the moon shines through. I roll over, eyes widening at the name on the screen.

“Rafe?” All hear on the other end is soft breathing and no verbal answer. “Rafe, is that you? Hello?” I tried again.

“Neriah…” He says, voice calm as he trails off.

“Rafe? Oh my god!” I jump out of bed onto my feet. “What- Where have you been? What the hell is going on? I’ve been worried out of my mind!”

My heart nearly falls out of my mouth at the sound of his voice on the other end and I have to stop myself from yelling, parents sleeping not too far away. So many questions race through my mind that I can’t even pick one to start with. 

“Calm down, Neriah. I’ll explain everything.”

“Uh, I would sure fucking hope so!” I shout angrily into the microphone. “Do you know how many times I’ve called you? You got fucking arrested, Rafe Cameron! Then your dad blows up his goddamn boat and you disappear for days!”

“Calm down-” I cut him off.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I say, pacing around my bedroom.

“Calm down, Neriah.” He says again, more firmly this time. “Come outside.” He hangs up the phone after that, not giving me a chance to react.

I huff, slipping on a pair of spandex shorts and a zip up before quietly exiting through the back of the shop. I shut the door quietly behind me, shivering at the cool air against my practically bare legs. I peek around the corner and spot Rafe leaning against his blue Ford truck. I yank my head back behind the wall, taking a deep breath before entering his sight.

I walk towards him slowly, the sound of the gravel beneath my beat up shoes capturing his attention in the silent night. I wrap my arms around myself, all my anger from a few minutes ago dissipated as soon as I saw him for myself. Our eyes lock and are unable to pull away from each other.

I reach him, stopping a few feet away from the car. I look around to make sure nobody is out being nosy, especially not my parents.

“God, I missed you.” Rafe says. He moves forward the few feet that I did not, pulling me into a crushing embrace. The scent of his cologne seeps into my nostrils and I remain tense in the warmth of his arms.

I relax the longer he holds me, hesitantly returning the hug after what feels like an eternity of one-sided awkwardness. I hear him breathe in deeply, welcoming the smell of me to enter his nose as if he couldn’t go any longer without it. We stay like this for a second too long and I clear my throat, the sound clear over the crickets hiding in the grass.

“Can you explain what the hell is going on?” I mumble into his hard chest.

“You know what happened.”

“Yeah, I do.” I say, pushing him off me gently. “But I need you to tell me.” He sighs but nods,  running a hand through his hair.

He pulls me to the other side of the car, opening the passenger door for me. Before I can get in he grabs me again. He presses me against the frame and kisses me deeply, the sound of him inhaling through his nose filling my ears. I close my eyes, hand resting on his waist as I enjoy the familiar embrace. He smells like Versace Eros, as always, and his lips are even softer against mine than I remembered.

He pulls away after a few seconds, allowing me to get into the car and closing the door before getting in on his side. He pulls around the corner and parks behind an abandoned building, not too far from my house but far out of view of prying eyes. He stops the car and gestures to the backseat. I get out and move to the back, Rafe following after pulling something out of the glove box.

“I know you’ve probably been going through a lot but you could’ve at least texted me or something.” I say when he opens the back door. “Do you know-”

He kisses me again as soon as he joins me in the truck, cutting me off as his hand finds home on the small of my back. His other lands on my hip, pulling me onto his lap without disconnecting from my lips. I make a sound of surprise that is swallowed down by him, our teeth knocking together awkwardly.

I try to back away and he follows me with his head, noses smashed together as he holds me still.

He pulls away, trailing wet kisses along my jawline and repeating how much he’s missed me during each breath he takes. He pulls me impossibly close, bodies pressed together so tightly that my lungs stop expanding fully from the lack of space between us. 

“Rafe, stop.” I whisper breathlessly, trying to regain my composure as he continues the ministrations on my neck. “We need to talk.”

“We’re gonna have so much time to talk, I promise.” He mumbles into the column of my throat.

I gasp at the feeling of him reaching up into my hair and pulling my head back, exposing more of my neck for him to mark up. He brushes his lips down further, the soft skin leaving kisses along my collarbones. I feel his hair ticking the bottom of my chin as he nips at the thin, sensitive skin of my chest. 

The thought of him leaving bruises on my skin sends shivers of excitement down my body, which are turned into ones of worry when I think about what will happen if anyone sees them. My parents, Londyn, Pope. 

My hand reaches up to thread the back of his hair with my fingers and I reluctantly pull him away, the boy chasing after my neck with his lips.

“Rafe…” He looks at me with dark eyes. I can’t tell if he’s annoyed by my stopping him, or if something else that I’m far too embarrassed to even think about as I sit here in his lap. “Seriously, we need to talk. Now.”

“Okay.” He barely nods his head, his hands moving down to my thighs and away from my head. “I have a question for you…” He prompts. 

“I think I’m the one asking the questions here.”

“I told you we’ll have time for that later.” He chews on his bottom lip. “I have a question, seriously. Answer me seriously.”

“Okay, Rafe. What is it?” I say sighing. His hands gently kneading into the meat of my thighs has me slightly distracted, breath hitching every time they move up a little higher than I expect.

“Would you run away with me?” I throw my head back in laughter at the question, my voice filling the otherwise silent truck. “I’m being serious, Neriah. Don’t laugh at me.”

He looks unamused when I raise my head back, jaw clenched tightly as he fixes me with his sharp eyes.

“You’re being serious?” I ask incredulously. His fingers dig into my thighs a little deeper and I wince internally, the feeling only lasting as second before he lightens up.

“Yes, I’m being serious. I just said I’m being serious, so I don’t know what you’re laughing at me.”

“I’m sorry, Rafe. “ I pout at him, pushing his hair out of his face gently. “That’s such a random question. But no, I wouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Are you serious?” He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “Let me rephrase that. I’m in my senior year of high school, I hopefully leave for college next year, and as much as I would love to get the hell off this island, I would like to do it with a plan in mind.”

“You don’t think we can make a plan together?” He sounds absolutely serious, which has me worried about the impact the death of his dead has had on him.

Run away with him? We aren’t exactly madly in love and trying to escape our oppressive parents. Kildare may be a shit island, but I have a life here, and so does Rafe. And as much as I’m letting myself trust him and turn over a new leaf, I would not rely on him to come up with anything sane; especially not after the events of the past week.

“Rafe, I mean a reasonable plan. A real plan.” He scoffs at me, the expression one of offense.

“I have a real plan!”

“Rafe, I have my whole life ahead of me, and we literally just started dating.”  I shake my head at him which only seems to irritate him more. “Many of those days were spent alone because you were MIA. Not to mention you were just up for murder.”

“I didn’t kill anyone!” He shouts. I flinch my head back at the raising of his voice so close to my face.

“Okay, Rafe, I believe you. I do.” I say, hands placed on his shoulders and I lightly massage the tension out of his shoulders. “But you’ll have to forgive me if I’m more than a bit opposed to what you’ve just asked me.”

He throws his head back against the seat, poking his tongue through his cheek once again. He sighs heavily before tapping my thigh twice. He looks at me blankly, eyes swirling with something I have a hard time deciphering. 

When it comes to Rafe, he is two things. Extremely easy to read, or impossible to read. I can always tell when he’s high or intoxicated from his inability to cloak the emotion behind his dilated eyes and his need to spill every thought in his head out of his mouth. But at this moment, he is stone cold sober. Reading him when he’s like this is terribly hard and I haven’t yet mastered the skill.

“It’s okay, I’ll figure it out.” He says mysteriously, the sentence left far too open for my liking. Suddenly he smiles brightly at me. “I have something for you.” He says, reaching down near the floor of the car.

He pulls out a medium sized, white bag with a muted pink bow. My eyes squint at the boldly printed Pandora across the front. He pulls out a small ring box first and my heart starts beating against my chest so hard I think it just might escape.

“Rafe, I hope you aren’t about to propose to me because if you are,” I watch nervously as he opens the box. “I have some bad news for you.”

He pulls the jewelry out of the cushioned case and I almost gasp. The ring is shaped like a tiara and is absolutely covered in crystals that look far too similar to diamonds for my comfortability. He grabs my right hand gently and slips the ring on. He looks at it on my finger fondly, smiling down at it glittering in the moonlight.

“Rafe, get this shit off my hand before I freak.” He shakes his head at me, chuckling at my reaction. “Are those diamonds? Rafe, are you crazy?”

“It’s just cubic zirconia, calm down.” He kisses the finger decorated by the ring. “A tiara for my princess.”

“Rafe.” I look down at the piece in awe. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Think of it as an apology for my behavior.” He pecks my cheek lightly, lips brushing against the skin as he speaks. “You deserve everything in the world for giving me a chance.”

“When did you even have time to buy this?” I ask. He shrugs and reaches back into the bag.

He pulls out a larger, flatter black velvet box. He opens the box and pulls out a necklace. It’s a dainty silver chain with an RC pendant dangling from the middle. The initials glisten under the moon in a way similar to the ring. He opens the necklace and places it around my neck, clasping it behind my neck. The pedant sits right in the middle of my chest, the metal cool against my skin.

His smile gets even wider at the sight of me wearing it, the letters of his name and the fresh red, purple marks adorning my neck bringing him much joy.

“Rafe, I can’t wear this.”

“Why not?” He asks, a smile still bright on his face. “No one knows we even talk, I’m sure they won’t connect the dots just yet.”

I slap my palm against my forehead, cursing to myself quietly. 

How do I explain the origins of the gifts to people? The ring I can hide, but there’s no way I can get around my friends or family asking why I have a big, fat RC sitting on my neck. My parents may not care that much, I can thank my brother for their lack of curiosity in my mostly uneventful life. However my brother would have me under interrogation. JJ would too if he got to me first.

‘Where’d you get that?’ ‘What does that stand for?’ ‘How did you afford that?’ I can hear the barrage of questions now, the image of me sitting under a bright lamp in an interrogation room while JJ and Pope play good cop, bad cop with me heavy on my mind.

“Do you think I can walk around my neighborhood wearing this without someone noticing?” I say worriedly. “Without my parents noticing?” 

“I’m sure you can come up with something.” He shrugs, reaching up and fiddling with the necklace’s pendant. “You’re a smart girl.”

“You stress me out so much.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I don’t mean to.” He pecks my lips sweetly two times. “Those are real diamonds, by the way.”

The weight of the piece on my neck tripled as the words left his mouth. I almost rip it off and shove it back into the box it came from.

“Do not buy me anything else, Rafe Cameron.” He hums with a light, closed mouth smile dancing on his lips.

“We’ll see.” He says playfully. “When I see pretty things all I can think of is my pretty girl wearing them.” 

I have to force the grin from creeping its way onto my face, biting down on my lip harshly to prevent myself from exposure. I hear the blood rush into my ears and If not for the color of my skin, he would surely see the blush on my face. Though that did not stop him from figuring me out, the back of his hand reached up to feel my burning hot cheeks as if he just knew what I was hiding. 

His smile gets even wider, skin stretched across the beautiful set of teeth residing in his mouth.

“Why would you ask if I would run away with you?” I bring up the topic again to remove the attention off of me, thoughts racing through my mind. “You were pissed when Sarah ran off with John B, so what makes it any different if we did it?”

The smile drops right off his face, teeth hidden between the curtain of his lips once again as he remains quiet. He huffs through his nose, bright eyes riddled with irritation from the mention of the brunette boy that’s dating his younger sister.

“John B is a no good Pogue that corrupted my sister’s mind.” He shakes his head. “I’m better than him, I have more to give you than he could ever give my sister.”

“I’m also a Pogue.” I point out. He shakes his head again and reaches to twirl the ends of my braids with his finger. “You can pretend that I’m not, but you see what side of town you’re on. I am also friends with John B in some capacity.”

“I told you don’t hang out with him anymore. You aren’t like them.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I say scoffing.

“You’re better than them. You’re smart, and kind, and not a criminal.” He explains. “You’re even better than I am, and I love that about you.”

“That doesn’t make me not a Pogue, Rafe.”

“I know that, but you are more than just that.” He places a hand on my cheek softly, thumb caressing the skin beneath it. “So many of them are just that and nothing else. They have nothing going for them. Being born a Pogue isn’t their fault, but they don’t even try to change anything for the better. But you? You want to get the hell off this island and make a life for yourself, and that makes you different.”

“What about my brother? He works just as hard as me.” He chuckles dryly.

“He can’t stop running around with people that couldn’t care any less about his future, so what about him?” I sigh and shake my head at his words, knowing that I somewhat agree.

“What would your plan be?” 

He hums in response as a way to ask what I mean, eyebrows pinched and raised.

“If we ran away together, which I’m not saying will ever happen, what would your plan be?” I peel his hand off my face and hold it in my own. “You’re nineteen with no job, I haven’t even finished school yet. How would we survive? Where would we live? Do you plan to live off daddy’s money forever? Because it will run out at some point, Rafe.”

“My dad left Cameron Development to me. He taught me how to run the company, how to be the man of the house.” He says with a firmness. “I handle business, I know how to take care of my family.”

“That’s not what I asked.” My voice is inching on the edge of an attitude. “And are you sure it’s you taking care of business? Or have you left it for Rose to deal with.”

“That greedy bitch doesn’t know how to do anything right.” He practically growls out. “I know what I’m doing, Neriah. It’s not for you to worry about.”

I don’t know what the grift is with his stepmother but mentioning her seems to only make him angry, her name something of a trigger. I’ve never asked what happened to his real mom, but I don't think that conversation would go any better than this one.

He still doesn’t really answer my question, and I feel the conversation turning into more of an argument than anything else. I sigh loudly and squeeze his hand tenderly. 

“Okay, Rafe.” I say.

We’re interrupted by Rafe’s phone ringing in his pocket, the sound of it replacing our voices. He pulls it out, rolling his eyes at the name on the screen. He declines the call, opting to text the person instead. I assume It’s because I’m in the car.

He goes back and forth with the person for a few minutes, one hand texting and the other moving up and down my leg from my knee to the top of my thigh repeatedly. His thumb sneaks under one of the legs of my spandex, the finger brushing back and forth for a moment before he pulls it back out and continues his previous movements. I shift slightly in his lap, the feeling of his skin on mine making it hard to keep completely still. If he notices my maneuvering he doesn’t acknowledge it, the phone shining against his face taking all the attention off me.

He looks frustrated with whoever it is he’s talking to, throwing the phone down on the seat roughly. He sighs deeply, running a hand through his locks. I use my thumb to wipe away the crease in his brow. He looks at me fully, grabbing my hand and holding it against his mouth in a kiss. I feel the displeasure radiating off his body in waves.

“What’s wrong?” I ask curiously. He shakes his head, grabbing his phone again and gripping it tightly. His jaw ticks in vexation, the blonde’s short temper with whoever was on the other end of the device clearly getting the best of him.

“Sorry to cut this short, princess, but I have to go handle something.” He kisses the spot where my necklace sits, skin burning from the contact, before zipping up the jacket to my neck and throwing the hood over my head.

He drops me off back home, handing me the Pandora bag as he helps me out of the car. After pulling me in for a tight hug and kissing me on the top of my head, he got back into the truck reluctantly. I wave as he pulls off into the night, sneaking back into the house the way I escaped.

When I get into my room, I take off the ring and place it into the box it was gifted to me in. I lie down under the warm covers of my bed, playing with the jewelry hanging around my neck with a smile on my face.

“Where’d you get that?” A voice says, the sound capturing my attention.

I look up from my phone to find Pope standing in front of me. I raise my eyebrows at him as he takes a seat across the table. I hadn’t seen him in a couple days and I was surprised he still remembered where he lives, let alone that he has a sister.

“Get what?” I respond, voice monotonous as I look back down at my phone.

“That.” I see him point at the necklace draped around my neck through my peripheral. I reach and to fiddle with the pendant when he points out the ring too. “And that.”

Shit.

I’d been wearing the necklace confidently for the past few days since I got it, able to hide it behind the collar of my uniform during school and under the necklines of hoodies when I was home. My parents hadn’t asked or hadn’t noticed, and Pope hadn’t been home in so long I’d be surprised he remembered what I looked like, let alone notice if I was wearing a new piece of jewelry.

I was dumb enough to let myself forget to hide it, the low neck of my top leaving nothing to hide the necklace from plain sight. I wasn’t planning on my brother so suddenly showing up to the house as he chose to spend most days with his friends at the chateau lately.

“My friend gave it to me.” Is the most vague I can be without blatantly lying to him, something I try not to do when I can help it.

“What friend?”

“You don’t know them that well.” I say trying to brush him off. 

“What’s their name?” He keeps pushing, leaning forward and resting his hands on the table as he stares at the jewelry.

“Don’t worry about it.” I snip at him. He hums, looking into my eyes curiously.

“Is it the same friend that keeps leaving bruises all over you?” I avert my eyes at the question, opting to watch the people walking around outside the Heyward’s where we sit. “So it is.”

I had also clumsily forgotten about the fading bruises Rafe left all over my neck in the car that night. I thought that they had disappeared enough that they’d be undetectable, but my brother was clearly too observant to let it slide.

“What are you talking about, Pope?” I choose to play dumb with him in hopes that it’ll get him off my back for now, but that rarely ever works with him. He knows me too well.

“You don’t think I noticed those bruises on your neck the night I came home? After Midsummers?” He looks severely unamused and my heart is beating against my chest so hard that he might just be able to hear it.

No, I didn’t think he noticed. I should’ve covered them up better.

“I didn’t know it was any of your business.” I say. He scoffs and tilts his head at me as if he can’t believe what he’s just heard.

“I don’t care about your hickies, Neriah, you’re eighteen. But I’m not supposed to say anything when my sister comes home with random bruises on her neck like someone tried to strangle her? Or on her arms and wrists?”

“I don’t ask what you do when you disappear for days at a time, do I?” I’m met with silence. “You have your life, and I have mine.”

“You come home with mysterious bruises, sneak out of the house and don’t come back until its past dark-”

“You literally do the same thing-” He cuts me off just as I did him.

“But I’m not the one trying to hide it, am I?” He shouts, slamming his hand down on the table. “And now you come home with some jewelry I’ve never seen in my life and refuse to tell me who it’s from.”

“It’s none of your business, Pope, just as I keep telling you.” I say, chuckling humorlessly. “I don’t understand why you’re making it such a big deal; it’s just a necklace.”

“A necklace from Rafe Cameron!”

My heart drops into my feet and my stomach begins to churn violently at the mention of the person that gave me the piece of jewelry. My mouth is glued shut for a moment, my brother and I staring each other down outside of our parents’ shop. I leave my face blank so as not to expose myself, but I already feel far too exposed. I lick my lips and squint at him slightly.

How did he know? It’s Rafe’s fucking initials, of course he would know.

“You’re being ridiculous.” I laugh dryly as he stares at me frustratedly. “How did you even come to that conclusion?”

I contemplate completely denying his accusation, but decide not confirming it is the better choice. If I lied to him and he found out about it, not only would he have my head and likely never trust me again, but he would surely tell his friends as well. Having Pope on my case is punishment enough.

“You went to Midsummers with him-”

“Not by choice, you know that.” I say cutting him off.

“You went to Midsummers with him, you sneak off with him in his truck, which I have to find out through people in the neighborhood sending me pictures of you talking to him not even twenty feet away from the store.”

“I’m not allowed to talk to people just ‘cause you don’t like them?” He gapes at me in disbelief.

“He jumped me, Neriah!”

“Yeah, Pope, I know. I was there both times.” I look at him incredulously, setting my phone down on the table. “Need I remind you I was the one that saved your ass?”

“So you should understand why I’m pissed.” He says and I nod at him.

“I understand, I just don’t really care because what I do has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me!” He bangs on the table with his closed fist angrily.

“No, it doesn’t.” I reply flatly. “Just like how everything you do in your free time has nothing to do with me, what I do has nothing to do with you. I’m not understanding what you don’t get!”

“I’m just supposed to let my sister walk around with that motherfucker’s name on her neck after he punked me?” He asks vexedly. “That in itself is him punking me again, and you’re letting him do it.”

“I’m not letting him do anything!” I raise my voice at him.

“So what do you call it?” He crosses his arms with a face painted in irritation. 

“I call it wearing a necklace that was gifted to me.” I say flatly once again.

“Oh, that's all?” His tone is smart and I roll my eyes at him. “It doesn’t mean anything else?”

“Pope, how do I put this…” I trail off, thinking about my words carefully. “You never take into consideration how your family feels when you disappear without a word for days, or how our parents feel when you throw away opportunities that will greatly impact your future to go be a criminal with your friends. You are clearly willing to ruin your relationship with us for them, so why would I care about you being a little pissy because I’m talking to someone you don’t like?”

He doesn’t answer my question but I can feel the rage radiating off his body across the table. I feel like I’m about to cry but I don’t let it show, opting to mirror his look of anger.

“He’s not a good person, Neriah. He’s a thief and a murderer.” Pope forces the words out of his mouth, teeth grinding down on each one. “He’s already hurt you, what’s to say he won’t do it again? I thought you were smarter than this?”

“He’s not a murderer, and what constitutes a ‘good person’ is subjective.” I say firmly. “Whatever happens between me and him is our business, unless otherwise stated. And I’m not stupid, I know what I’m doing and I really don’t need your input on my decision making.”

“He killed Peterkin, Neriah!” Our argument is beginning to draw attention to us, the people walking by turning their heads to watch us in curiosity. “He steals from our family and kills people to get his way; he’s dangerous and you shouldn’t be around him.”

“You literally watched his dad confess to the murder and then blow himself up his boat. Like, front row seats. Yet you still try to find a way to blame Rafe for it.” I stare at him in bewilderment. “And he has never stolen anything from our family, unless you’re withholding information from me?”

“His dad stole the gold from the Royal Merchant, Neriah. Gold that Denmark Tanny left for us.” I look at him, absolutely puzzled. 

“That ship John B’s dad was looking for? Denmark Tanny? As the owner of Tannyhill?” He nods. “What does Denmark Tanny have to do with us? Or that ship; what are you talking about?”

“God, there’s so much you don’t know.” He says running his hands over his face. “Denmark is our ancestor, Riah. He hid the gold he took from the Royal Merchant for his son to find but he never found it. Then we found it! But Ward stole it from the well before we got a chance to do it first. That was our gold, Neriah, and he took it from us.”

“What?” Is all I can muster up.

This conversation has taken a turn I wasn’t expecting.

“When I went down to Charleston I was basically kidnapped by this crazy white lady and her ancestor was the captain of the ship that Denmark Tanny was on, She was talking to me about some key and I didn’t know what she was talking about so I asked Heyward, and he told to ask Mee-maw. Mee-maw said that the key was his and that we’re related to him-”

“Pope, please stop.” I say. His talking halts abruptly at my request and he looks more confused than I do. “This sounds like a really cool story, really. But, and I don’t mean this to offend you, you sound like a crazy person.”

“It’s true! You can ask Mee-maw or dad!” 

“Pope, I’m not saying I don’t believe you, because I do. I’m saying that you sound kinda insane right now and you need to calm down.” I exhale deeply as I think about my next words. “Even if all that is true, and I’m not saying it isn’t, that has nothing to do with Rafe. His father’s actions are not his, and Ward is dead now.”

“You aren’t understanding me, Neriah…” He says. I shake my head, phone buzzing on the table. The screen lights up with a text from Rafe and my brother makes a sound of disapproval when he sees the name. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“Listen, Ward is dead. John B is back and out of jail, and you guys are free to do whatever it is you wanna do. Go enjoy that! Rafe is the absolute least of your problems right now.” 

“How is he the least of my problems when he’s basically branded you?” He says. My jaw drops, my face covered in bewilderment at his choice of language.

“Excuse me?” I finally closed my mouth after a few seconds of staring at him in shock. “What the fuck did you just say? Branded me… What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t even see it do you?” He continues, not even caring that he’s offended me in the slightest. “Why do you think he has you walking around town with his name on your neck? Do you think it was just a thoughtful little gift?”

“Pope, you need to stop talking.” My voice is dangerously calm. There’s a long list of nasty things sitting heavily on the tip of my tongue but I swallow them down, preferring to end the conversation before it gets any worse.

‘Branded me,’ he says. What the hell is he talking about? It’s a necklace with random letters on it that nobody will give a second glance to. He’s acting like I have Rafe Cameron’s Bitch tattooed across my forehead, like I have a hot iron mark of his name burned into the spot where the necklace sits.

I feel offended that my brother thinks I lack autonomy, like I can’t take off this necklace if I want to. I wear it because I can, not because I have to. Rafe doesn’t own me or make me do anything I don’t want to, and it rubs me terribly wrong for Pope to say something like that as if it wasn’t up to me to wear the damn thing. It only makes me more angry for him to think that anything I do with Rafe has some kind of hidden agenda.

I like Rafe, so I’m wearing his necklace. I shouldn’t have to face interrogation and be called a piece of property in so many words just because he doesn’t like it.

My phone buzzes on the table again, this time a call instead of a text. Before I can reach for the phone, Pope staches it up from the wooden surface. He swipes right and accepts the call. I jump out of my seat as well, moving to take the phone away from my manic brother.

“Stay away from my sister, you piece of shit!” Pope yells into the microphone.

“Pope, stop! Give me my phone!” I reach for the device in his hand and am met with a stiff arm to the chest.

I think I hear Rafe say something of a ‘hello’ to my brother, which only seems to vex him more.

“Fuck you, bitch.” Pope spits at the boy over the phone. “Are you trying to mess with me? You’re using my sister to-”

“Nobody is using me, Pope.” The boy ignores me, pushing me away again when I reach for the phone.

I don’t know what Rafe says this time, but it sends Pope into a rage. He says nothing for a moment, staring blankly at the large Heyward’s sign as his chest heaves. His eyes cut to me and if he weren’t my brother I’d flinch from being at the receiving end of the look I’m given.

“I’ll fucking kill you, Rafe Cameron.” He says lowly and my eyes widen a bit. “Dead under water just like your daddy.”

“Okay, Pope, you’re done.” He doesn’t resist when I snatch the phone out of his hand. “You need to calm down because you’ve really lost your mind.”

“Yeah, Pope, go calm down.” Rafe says loudly. I almost hung up on him for that but restrained myself.

“And you shut the hell up.” I tell Rafe, bringing the phone to my ear. “Don’t provoke my brother, you’re already on thin ice.” He chuckles lightly in my ear, the sound only annoying me further.

“He’s the one that provoked me.”

“I don’t care, Rafe. Don’t do it.” Pope watches me carefully, silently seething as he listens to my conversation.

“Sorry, princess.” He says still chuckling. 

“What do you want?” I say shortly. I wave my brother away and he rolls his eyes, storming off down the street. I watch as he picks up a rock and throws it at an unsuspecting garbage can.

“Do you wanna go to the mainland with me this weekend?”

“Oh you’ve lost it too, I see.” I almost laugh at his question.

“What do you mean?” He sounds genuinely confused and I actually do let out a sharp laugh.

“What do I mean?” I say. “My parents don’t even know we’re together and you think they’d let me go to the mainland with you? You’ve really lost your mind.”

“Well you don’t have to tell them.” He suggests and I laugh again. “What’s funny?”

“You! You’re very funny.” My laughter dies down after a few seconds of silence on the other end. “Go to the mainland for what, Rafe?”

“I don’t know, I just think it would be fun.” He says, humming. “I can show you around Charlotte, or Chapel Hill. We have property up there, Y’know.”

“I’ve been to both of those places before, Rafe. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” I’ve spent plenty of weekends in Charlotte with Londyn and visits with extended family. I visited Chapel Hill early in the summer for a college tour as well, it was my dream school.

“Well, you haven't been there with me.” He states matter-of-factly and I feel like he can hear me roll my eyes over the phone. “Please, princess? It’ll be fun, I promise.”

As much as I like him, going out of town with him is absolutely off the table. There was no wasn’t a lie in the world I could tell my parents that would convince them to let me go, and the truth would have them locking me up in my like Rapunzel.

“What am I supposed to tell my parents?”

“You can figure it out, can’t you?” He hums. “Have they asked about the necklace?”

“No, they haven’t but I think they’re too preoccupied with Pope and the shop to even notice.” I sigh, sitting back down at the table I was at previously. “Pope did, but I’m pretty sure he figured it out on his own before I even said anything.”

“Pope knows about us?”

“Well I didn’t outright confirm it, but yes, he knows.” I say. “So, if my parents ask, I’m not lying to them about us. They’re mildly wary about you but my dad kinda liked yours before everything went down. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Are you saying we don’t have to sneak around?”

“I’m not saying we should be flaunting each other, if that’s what you’re asking.” I clarify. “My parents may not hate you but Londyn will have my head if she has to find out through someone that isn’t me.”

My dear friend would have a heart attack if she found out what I’ve been up to. I’ve been pushing off telling her for a while, one-hundred percent sure she’d be anything but happy about my decision. If anything, she would think I’ve been brainwashed and tell her parents about the Midsummers incident, the stalking, and the phone calls. I definitely couldn’t tell her the means of how I ended up giving him the time of day either.

‘He shoved me into the back of his truck after chasing me through a dark parking lot’ doesn’t sound like something a sane person would say when telling their best friend how they ended up with their boyfriend.

“Who cares what she thinks?” He scoffs from behind the phone.

“I care.” I say flatly. “I’ll let you know about the mainland thing later, okay?”

I was already set in my answer of no, but I know he won’t accept that. He was used to getting what he wanted, and I’m what he wants. Hearing ‘no’ is something that isn’t normal for him to hear when most kook girls throw themselves at the richest boy on the island. He knew I wasn’t one to give in to whatever he wants immediately, but he still tests his luck in hopes that maybe I will someday.

I hear him chuckle quietly over the speaker at my words.

“You know I won’t take no as an answer, right?” He only proves my point and I roll my eyes.

“Rafe, you’ll take whatever answer I give you.” I tell him annoyedly. 

I end the call abruptly, setting the phone face down on the table and exhaling loudly through my nose. The device vibrates again and I lazily grab it, one-hundred percent sure of who the sender is without looking.

RC: I’ll see you soon. Be ready.

[grapesrsogood]

PART TWO OF PET AND PICKLE but now its Pet and Pickle and Barista and Love :3

All the listeners are referred to as women, the first one is gender neutral but i couldnt help myself with this one T^T

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pet and Pickle deciding on one of their sleepovers that they need to expand their friendship group.

Pickle saying she could look into her childhood best friend, Barista, so she does and finds that she was taken in by a gang. Pickle doesn’t give up though and contacts the gang lord, explaining the situation and Warden finds it so amusing that he allows it (and with the knowledge of who Issac is and knowing he’s trustable)

Pet contacting her emergeny contact, who just so happens to be Dontis, asking if he know anyone who would be interested in their friendship group, Dontis asking Love and Love agreeing, they dont ask Xanthus though since he definitely would have to threaten them or what not.

Their stupid little group chat that took way too much effort to create talks daily and about literally EVERYTHING.

The texts consist mostly of “goodnight pookies :D”s and “good morning besties :3”s.

All of them agreeing to meet up in a park for a picnic together, they tell their partners that it’ll be a cute date in a pretty park but in reality its a massive fuck off picnic where the girls wrestle and make flower chains, laughing about random things still.

The guys are just so confused about how this even happened, Issac being the awkward little shit he is, Xanthus angrily staring at everyone except for Love, Elias trying to start conversation and trying to ease the tension but inevitably fails and Asirel with his thumb and forefinger pinching the bridge of his nose the whole time, how the hell did they end up here.

The girls becoming best friends immediately and playing random stupid little games like duck duck goose, hide ‘n’ seek and tag whilst the guys dont understand the how they can be so trusting and have so much fun with people they’ve known for maybe a month.

The girls would all kill for eachother and are so close that they form a pact where if any of them are in trouble then the others would come rescue them no matter what.

They call themselves the bestfriend squad, the guys hate it.

They have frequent sleepovers but have to rent out places because none of the guys trust the others enough to go to their own houses.

Matching pj’s all the way. DUH

They dress up for halloween together, they give each other gifts, they NEED to throw birthday parties for each other and god forbid they find out its any of they guys birthdays.

They have created their own little family in a matter of weeks and their favourite days are when Dontis comes over too and they all get piggy back rides. :3

Two words. CUDDLE PILE >v<

Talking about how they all met and theyre all horrified to hear about each others.

“Yeah, Xanthus cornered me in an ally, i stabbed him and then he drank my blood. I love him so much” :)

“…. HE DID WHAT?!”

“Yeah, Issac kinda just picked me up in an alleyway and took me home”

“SO HE KIDNAPPED YOU?!”

“Oh, Elias saved my life when a rival gang blew up the coffee shop i was working at”

“Sweet but YOUR WORKPLACE EXPLODED?!

“Asirel bought me”

“What the actual fuck”

Thats basically how that went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUT let me know if yall want more because i love them :3

This writing style is one of my favs and is the easiest but it also means the posts are fairly short most of the time :(

BAIIIIII :D

[lubotomies]

i could be remembering this wrong but wasnt there a trend with badly written tord redemption shit where edd & matt forgave him IMMEDIATELY and tom was portrayed as the bad guy for not also doing that

absolutely correct and you could place money on the bet that it would still be tomtord. also tord would also be unintentionally incredibly guilt-trippy because they wanted him to hate himself for betraying them but cant write nuance so heres my impression of a 2018 tomtord panic attack tord redemption fic that lacks any substance:

''Tom... I-I'm-''

''Sorry?'' Tom interrupted with a snarl. ''Shove it up your arse. I don't want your fake remorse.''

Fake...?

Oh... His chest was feeling tight. His organic hand moved up towards his own heart instinctually, gripping the fabric. His robotic arm reached out to him.

''I-I assure you, my remorse is not fake... I genuinely feel bad for what I've done to you...''

Tom whips around, and Tord stumbles back, startled. Tom takes a few steps forward, closing the distance between them again, jabbing his index finger in his chest.

''Bull. Shit. You don't feel bad at fucking all. You're the same old bastard who blew up our house, killed our neighbour, punched Matt and betrayed Edd's trust! Even if you did feel bad,'' his finger leaves his chest as his hands move up to mime air quotes. ''Feeling bad doesn't undo all that. Feeling bad doesn't make you changed, and it doesn't make you better, it doesn't mean you've learned your lesson and it certainly doesn't mean people should forgive you!''

Tord finds it difficult to breathe now. His heart is thumping in his ears, he thinks if he put his fingers on his wrist to feel for a pulse they'd spring back from the force of his heartbeat. He bites his lip and bows his head as it heats up with shame.

Tom's venomous words have not stopped there.

''You want to make it up to everyone? You want it to be even? Then fucking KILL YOURSELF!!!!'' He punctuates by shoving Tord to the ground.

''I'm sorry.'' Tord whispers. His hands move up to his hair, gripping it tightly as he draws his knees up to his chest. ''I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry.''

Tom quirks a brow.

The words tumble out without much thought. ''You're right. I-I shouldn't have come back. I shouldn't h-have asked for forgiveness. I'm worthless, I'm a s-sack of shit.'' He says, still hushed but at least audible. He sniffs, and a hand moves from their place in his hair over to rub away his tears. ''Everyone would be better off if I killed myself. I ruined your lives, and now I'm back making them worse a-again.''

and then it ends with tom feeling bad and trying to forgive tord all the while tord continues to do this dumb ass self-deprecating whining and snivelling and at least 1 panic attack per chapter because tom says cartoonishly evil shit so tord gets his redemption via ;;_;; im sawwddd and have anxwiettyyyyy guilt tripping everyone around him into forgiving him and making them walk on eggshells because if you dont forgive him for murder he'll be saaaaaadddd 😢

[astral-arbour-system]

I'm pissed I never got the life I deserved. Life isn't fair, but sometimes tv shows are, and watching it I thought it was possible for good things to happen. I thought I'd get over my addiction over those 8 years, or something. But nope. Every fucking time I tried it always blew up in my face. I'll NEVER be fucking okay! This is bullshit! I ended up killing myself! I never apologized to any of the people I knew deserved an apology but refused to give to them out of, what, pride? I couldn't keep my promise to Thirteen. I never even found out who my biological father was. I was a terrible person most of the time but I don't think it's true anymore that people can't change. Maybe I could've, maybe not, but I never even got the chance.

-House

[waitingx2xdie]

xnoraxcarpenterx asked: “it’s not your job to protect me.”

I was tired. Eyes heavy, body barely holding enough energy within it to keep my fingers moving. How long had it been since this had all begun? At the very least it had been two nights since Kim barely survived by the skin of her teeth. A fuse blew in Thomas’s garage, igniting a fuel leak from his police vehicle, maintenance undetected from a gunshot in a police shootout (the same shootout that would've killed him without Kimberly throwing herself into danger like the dumbass she was). Luckily, Clear had been forged into a far more diligent human than whatever piss poor tool had checked the car over for defects after the shooting. She caught the leak just in time to get Kim out of the house before it erupted in flames. And thus Death’s list started back at the top, skipping over the already scratched out names of Evan Lewis and Tim Carpenter, & landing on Nora for the umpteenth time. “How many times do I gotta tell you? So long as my name is after yours on this stupid list, yes, like it or not, it IS my job to protect you.”

But there was more to it than that, wasn’t there?

Shit, theoretically, if I was truly in this for myself, then wouldn’t it make more sense to protect Thomas? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for me to protect Rory? Rest in peace. The more names between Death & Myself, the better, no? Even if I failed to protect Rory, I’d then be able to protect Eugene, then Thomas, then Kimberley. And then finally Nora if, and only if, all else failed. I’d have as many lives as a cat. Invincible so long as those people avoided Death themselves. But in reality… That had nothing to do with it. Hell, the irony of the whole idea? Even if I kept Nora alive from whatever sick plan Death next concocts, He’d just end up skipping her and coming after me. So what the Hell was I even doing all this for? Well… “Look, I’m fine, I have emails to answer anyway, so I might as well stay up and keep an eye on you… You’d have done the same for Tim, right?” A sore spot? Maybe, but I didn’t mean to pry. I meant it with my whole heart. And I didn’t mean much of anything to anyone these days. Not even myself. I measured my own self-worth by the burgeoning success of my career. By the reflection of pride in my own dad’s eyes. Emotions were hard for me. The truth was? This was the only way I knew how to communicate what I was feeling inside. “Just leave it okay? I’m okay. I’m okay…” 

[everythingpresley]

Don't You Kiss Me Once or Twice - Chapter 21

Character/Fandom: Elvis - Elvis (2022)

Prompt: Jessica Anderson is Elvis Presley's assistant and after months of working together, slowly something sparks between them. Friendship? Or is it more? [ Fem!Reader ]

Rating: Explicit/Mature (NSFW, 18+), Slowburn

    ||     Word Count: 5,251

Masterlist

Don't You Kiss Me Once or Twice - Chapter 21

Two months later

I pour some coffee into my work mug as I stood in the little break room of our office. I had my hair in a little half up half down style dressed in my pencil skirt, blouse and blazer. Two months ago it felt odd to go back to wearing corporate clothes, it seemed slightly foreign after two years of not wearing them. I had some of my old ones but chose to buy new suits for my new job. I thankfully got the job and didn’t have to move back in with my parents. I had to cut down on some of the things since I blew my money on the apartment lease and furniture. My apartment was fine and it wasn’t in the best neighborhood but it was good enough. I had a pretty good kitchen and in house washer and dryer, it was a compromise I was willing to take. Also, it was a fifteen minute walk to work. So… good enough. Actually it wasn’t just good enough, it was great! 

Did I miss Graceland? Yes. Did I miss going out for a walk around the huge acres of land? Of course. I really missed the horses too. 

My parents and siblings were very happy to see me put my bachelor’s degree back in use that they all pitched in and bought me a TV. I was sick and tired of having only books and magazines as my source for entertainment that when it was finally delivered to my apartment I ordered McDonalds. I chose to go for the McChicken rather than the cheeseburger, I wasn’t ready to have that just yet. I turned on the TV and just watched movies all night while stuffing my mouth with fries.

I was thankful that I always kept a little of my money on the side as savings. Working for the man who shall not be named had it’s perks since I barely spent a dime living under his roof. The money that wasn’t going into my savings account went to Ella’s school. However, after signing the lease and getting cheap second hand furniture except for the mattress of course I had barely anything left in my bank account. Thankfully the first month of work flew by and I got my first paycheck. I made some friends at work but I couldn't bring myself to go out sometimes. 

The first two months in New York were filled with excitement of getting the job I’ve always dreamed off and tears because of a certain someone. 

After two months I realized this is what I worked for my entire life and now that I was here it wasn’t what I was expecting. Especially after making my mind up and choosing to be with him. To stay with him. I realized he was my dream. But now that was shattered. I still wanted him even after the words he threw at me. He killed my soul. I don’t think I’ll be okay for a long time. It will take some time to get over him. Elvis. 

Just thinking of his name instantly brought tears to my eyes in the break room. Fuck him. I blinked back the tears and walked back to my desk. I clicked on my keyboard, springing the computer back to life and typed in my password. 

I still talked to Grace, Janice and Jerry a lot. Those three were a constant in my life. I cried to Grace a lot the first night I got here. She was mad, I could tell from the tone of her voice but she let me vent, she let me speak the entire time. I was sobbing hysterically into the phone and she stayed with me for hours on the phone. 

The next time we talked, when I had actually calmed down, she told me what she thought. She cussed him out and did not believe a single word he told me.  I made it a point to not ask about him even though my heart pounded in my chest whenever we were about to end a call, I wanted to ask about him. I wanted to ask how he was doing. But why do I care so much? He only broke my heart and destroyed me. He left me in pieces. The last two months have been so painful, I hated him. But I still love him. 

I didn’t want to think about the possibility of him having a new girl now or a new assistant. He probably had no care in the world and was sleeping with a different girl each night since I left. Do I even cross his mind? After everything we’ve gone through together I sure hope so. He crosses my mind every second. I have to fight my brain to not think about him. Instead I try thinking about garbage, beer, medium rare steaks, soft boiled eggs, all of the things he hates but I end up thinking about him anyway. 

“Hi Jess.” Ben, my coworker said as he leaned against my desk. He was handsome, blue eyes but more ice-y than Elvis’ and sandy blond hair.

“Hey Ben.” I smiled back.

“A bunch of us are going to the bar a few blocks from here after work. Will you join us?” He asked.

I gulped, this would take time from my going home to my apartment, turning on a romcom and sobbing hysterically at the cute little moments. Do I want to sit at home and cry the night away or drink and make friends with my new coworkers? 

“Sure!” I smiled brightly “Would love to join.”

“Great, see you at 5.” He winked and left to go back to his desk. 

Grace was really trying to push me to go out and get back into the dating scene. I couldn’t. Not for a very long time. 

Our first conversation after I cried my eyes out went like this:

“Screw that asshole! I’m gonna give him a piece of my mind! I’m gonna punch his stupid face in! God!” She yelled over the phone.

“Relax Grace, he’s your husband’s friend and boss. You can’t do anything.” I reminded her.

“Yeah I know! That’s why I’ve been avoiding going to Graceland or else I’ll do something really bad!” She growled. 

She refused for a while to go to Graceland but I told her it was fine. She should go and bond with the other wives and have fun. When she started going to Graceland again, it made me want to ask about Elvis even more especially since she wasn’t talking about him at all.

She never told me if she did end up giving him a piece of her mind. When it came to Grace I knew she probably said something because she can’t keep her mouth shut even if she tried. Bless her. I love Grace. 

I was thriving in my new job I loved it but I realized it wasn’t my dream anymore. But it’s okay, I’m still young and dreams can change. I hated that I allowed my mind to wander to Elvis. Him being my husband, the father of my kids, us growing old together. I realized during the four months we were together my dreams had shifted to that. It made the hole in my heart feel even bigger than it already was. I can’t believe my dream had shifted from being a career driven woman to a wife, a mother. I wanted that. But only with him. Never with any other guy. My career always came first.

I looked out of our floor to celling windows, looking out at the city. This city. I love New York, I love being in the city. This view was everything. Every romcom was filmed in this city, it made me fall in love with New York even more. 

Still even after two months, whenever I was alone I would retrace everything that happened that night. What led Elvis to say those words, to end things. I never expected it. Was my head so up in the clouds that my brain refused to realize that Elvis wasn’t on the same level as me? 

Love clouded my judgment. 

At 5 PM sharp Ben walked over to the elevators with his work bag slung over his shoulder. He turned and made eye contact with me before smiling and nodding his head towards the elevator. I nodded and packed my things before following him into the elevator.

We met up with the rest down stairs. Haley from legal, Sara, another consultant (one of us) and Nate also from legal. I hadn’t met Haley nor Nate before so I was excited to be making more friends in the city. It was kind of lonely in the beginning. They seemed nice. Usually people from legal were boring but these two were very funny and sweet. 

We went for some drinks, my drink of choice of course being a virgin Pina Colada. Everything reminds me of him. However, I didn’t let that put a damper on my mood. I got to know everyone a little better and I actually had fun. They didn’t know about my pervious relationship, my heartbreak  and they didn't have to. I got to pretend to be the old Jess. The one before Elvis.

“So..” Haley wiggled her brows at me as we all sat around the booth in this fairly empty bar. It was a weekday at 6PM so of course the bar was filled with corporate people “Any boyfriends? Or girlfriends?” She looked at me.

My heart clenched in my chest but I smiled regardless “Nope. No boyfriends or girlfriends and not anytime soon anyway.” 

“Ohhh fresh off the boat?” Sara asked.

“You could say that.” I chuckled “I’m in a new place, a new job, meeting new people. I need to enjoy this time of my life without being in a relationship… or a situation-ship.” 

They all chuckled, getting my drift. I didn't want to talk about it. 

“Hey I’ll cheers to that!” Nate cheered “I just got out of a 5 year relationship, she cheated on me!”

We all cheered but when we heard the last sentence we all went “Oh.” mid cheers, our drinks in the air.

“No, it’s okay! I’m totally fine.” Nate said trying to give us a bright smile.

“I’m sorry Nate.” I said and squeezed his shoulder. 

“Thank you.” He gave me a small smile. 

Cheating really grinds my gears. I don’t understand it and I never will. Why destroy a person you claim to love? Why keep them on the back burner when you’re out messing with someone else. Just end the relationship or work on it if you’re feeling distant. 

I know Elvis was the cheating type so I had my restrictions at the beginning when it came to him. But he showed me time and time again that he only wanted me. Only for that to explode in my face a few months later. He truly made me believe every word he whispered in my ear late at night. All those little kisses and cuddles. The way his eyes would shine brightly when he’d look down at me with such adoration and earnest. He didn’t cheat on me but he made me feel like I was nothing. 

I wanted to give Nate a hug but I don’t really know the guy and he’s a colleague so that would be weird and awkward. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. I wanted to hug him because I wish someone was there to hug me when everything unraveled with Elvis. I didn’t have anyone in New York to cry on, yes I cried to Grace on the phone but I wanted (needed actually) someone to just hold me while I cried. And I hoped Nate had someone to cry on. 

I invited them over on Saturday because I really liked them, they seemed like genuinely nice people. 

“Just an FYI my apartment is tiny.” I informed them. I had a small open living room / kitchen area and a small bedroom and bathroom. 

“It’s okay, we all live in shoebox apartments.” Sara waved me off. 

“It’s New York! People who don’t live in shoebox apartments either have rich parents or are old rich people.” Ben joked. 

I got back to my apartment just in time to hear my landline ringing.

“Hello.” I answered. 

“Hey! You sound happy!” Grace said cheerfully. 

“I am. I made some new friends at work and they’re really nice!” I grinned, leaning against the kitchen counter since my landline was on the kitchen counter. 

“That’s great Jess.” She said softly. I could imagine her with little smile on her face “Are you feeling like you’ll stay there for a while?”

“Um.” I sighed “I don’t know. Maybe this wasn’t meant to be but hey I’m trying it out.”

“After getting to know you for the past two years I don’t see you as a city girl.” She chuckled.

“Yeah I also realized this. I’d rather live in the country side and every once in a while come to visit the city because at the same time I love New York.” 

“Sorry to say but you’re one of us now!” Grace giggled.

After a beat, I asked the dreaded question. I didn’t know anything about him for the past 2 months. 

“How is he?” I asked, my voice barely above whisper. Like it was a forbidden question to be asked. 

“Honestly?” She asked.

“Yes. Don’t give me a bullshit answer how he misses me or whatever the hell.”

“Jess.” She sighed “He does miss you.”

“Grace.” I shook my head, looking out at my living room “Please. If he’s happy and he’s seeing some new girl, just tell me.”

“I swear Jess. I-I don’t know how to explain it but I think he’s miserable.”

I gulped, tears springing to my eyes. I didn’t believe her. I wish it was true. I wish he’s crying regretting ever letting me go. Crying because he misses me just as much as I miss him. Crying like I cried the past two months, in absolute misery. 

Am I a bad person to want him to feel just as miserable as I do?

“He’s sad and very quiet.”

“He was sad before I left. I don’t think that has anything to do with me.” I reminded her. 

“No Jess. Even when I went off at him a few weeks ago he just… let me. He didn’t say anything and when Jerry tried to stop me, Elvis told him not to. I actually felt slightly terrible for saying the things I said to him.” Grace continued. 

I shook my head, looking up at the ceiling and blinking back my tears. 

“I-I don’t know.” I sighed “I shouldn't have asked about him.”

“Are you happy?” She asked me after a bit.

“Happy?” I chuckled, with no humor whatsoever “What’s happy?”

“Jess.” She said sadly.

“I’m okay Grace. Happy is too big of a word right now. Yes, I do have happy moments and I’m living for those right now. Overall? I don’t know.” 

“You deserve to be happy, Jess.”

I smiled and nodded “Thank you. And I will be.”

“I have to tell you something also.” Grace said.

“What?” I asked, panic bubbling in my stomach. 

“No, it’s good!” She laughed “I’m pregnant!”

“No way!” I yelled and jumped up “Grace! Oh my god! I’m so happy for you!” I was now crying happy tears, knowing that they’ve been trying to get pregnant for a while.

“Thank you. Don’t cry!” She scolded but I could tell she was also crying with me. 

“Okay, now I’m actually happy.” I chuckled “Oh Grace, please tell Jerry I say congratulations and that I’m gonna be the best Aunt to that little munchkin.”

“Will do.” She chuckled “Happy moment?” 

“Very happy moment, Grace.” I was grinning from ear to ear. 

I was so excited to be hosting people to my tiny apartment. I went shopping for snacks and drinks. I got a bottle of wine, chips, chocolate, cheese, crackers and meat for a cheeseboard and then we could order pizza for dinner. 

Early Saturday morning was filled with me bouncing around my apartment, clearing the kitchen from the different papers from work, books thrown haphazardly over my coffee table. 

I’d been so busy the entire day, cleaning and genuinely excited to be seeing them even though I saw them yesterday at work. I was so busy that Elvis only crossed my mind once. Only when I passed the drinks isle and saw Pepsi bottles. 

The conversation I had with Grace on Thursday still lingered in my mind though. Elvis being sad. I didn’t believe it but I know Grace and she wouldn’t lie to me just to tell me something I would like to hear. I felt so selfish to want him to hurt like I hurt. I wanted to be the more mature, bigger person who wishes the person they love is happy. Of course I want him to be happy. I will always care about him but he hurt me so bad, I wanted him to feel even 20% of what I felt when he broke my heart in pieces. 

Why would he be sad though? He ended it. He told me I was convenient and pathetic for wanting someone who didn't want me. 

I got dressed into some jeans, a white button down long sleeve, tucking it into my jeans and put a white headband on my dark hair. 

Slowly everyone trickled in, the girls showing up first and the guys later. They brought beer and more chips with them. Sara brought cookies. I was liking them more already. Food is really the way to my heart. 

We sat around the talked, getting to know each other more. 

“Am I getting old or what, because I prefer this over going to a bar.” I joked “Except if its a honky tonk.” I said without thinking, instantly causing my smile to falter. It reminded me of Elvis. Damn this man. 

“You like honky tonks?” Ben laughed.

“Love em!” I chuckled, trying not to put a damper on the mood. 

“Was it something you used to do with the ex?” Haley asked.

“Why do you ask?” I chuckled awkwardly.

“You got that look on your face.” Sara added.

“Yeah, it was something we used to do together. It was so much fun.” I said. 

“But yeah! I totally agree! We’re definitely getting old and loud places are just not as fun.” Haley replied. 

As the night went on, we decided to order pizza and watch a movie. I heard a knock on the door and I quickly jumped up from the couch, I was filling up on snacks so I couldn’t wait for the pizza to get here, chips and chocolate was making me sick and I couldn’t control myself. Although greasy pizza is bound to make me feel even more sick.

They continued talking as I dashed into my bedroom to get cash and then went over to the door. I don’t swing the door fully open just in case. I did live in a sketchy neighborhood and I always made some scenarios up in my mind of people dressing up as delivery guys before bursting into your house and murdering you. I kept the deadbolt on and pulled the door open. 

“Hi.” I smiled and then quickly shut the door. I placed a hand on my chest, my eyes wide. I felt like I was about to puke. I reached for the deadbolt and removed it quickly before opening the door and walking out into the hallway, shutting the door behind me.

“Elvis?” I asked quietly. My heart beating out of my chest. 

Was I dreaming? What the heck is Elvis Presley doing standing in the hallway of my apartment complex. Here he was, looking like a dream as usual. Screw him for being the most beautiful man on the planet. His dark hair was pushed back, he seemed paler than usual but he stood tall. He was dressed in black pants and dark green button down. My eyes were wide in confusion. 

His eyes were glassy “Hi.” He whispered. The corners of his mouth turning down slightly, his lower lip trembled slightly. It’s as if just seeing me brought instant tears to his eyes.

“What-” I let out an audible breath “What are you doing here?”

“I missed you.” He whispered, taking a step forward.

I scoffed and took a step back “No. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to show up here two months later claiming you miss me. Cut the crap, Elvis.”

“But I did. I do miss you.” He gulped.

I scoffed again, shaking my head, looking down the hall to make sure no one was just standing around watching us.

“Jess!” I heard Ben’s voice shout from inside the apartment “Are you okay? What’s taking so long?”

Shit. I quickly opened the door and peaked my head in “I’m fine, it’s not the pizza. Give me a second.” 

Ben gave me a thumbs up before I shut the door again and faced Elvis who now had a panicked look on his face, his eyes wide and his jaw slack. 

“Who-who was that?” He asked, his face morphing into something of heartbreak.

“No one.” I said with a clenched jaw.

“A-Are you seeing someone?” He whispered.

“None of your business.” I was getting really pissed off because who the heck does he think he is, showing up here and being upset that I could possibly be with someone else after he dumped me. 

“Oh my god.” He whispered, a placed a hand over his chest, his eyes getting even wider. He gulped and pulled on his collar as if it was suffocating him. He took a loud breath, turning away from me and leaning his head against the wall “I can’t breathe.” He choked out. 

Shit. I reached for his shoulder and pulled him to face me “What’s happening right now?” I asked, I cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes.

“I can’t-“ He was trying to take deep breaths but was failing. And I started to panic.

“Come on, let’s get you outside.” I said and quickly pulled him down the hallway and down the stairs, out onto the street. 

“Hey.” I cupped his cheeks with both of my hands. He placed his hands above mine “Breathe please. Follow my lead. In.” I took a deep breath, Elvis copying me “Out.” And we did that several times before he visibly relaxed.

“Are you okay?” I asked, rubbing my thumb over his cheek. I missed him so much. I missed holding him like this. 

“No.” He said quietly. His eyes looking directly into mine.

“I’m not seeing him. I’m not seeing anyone.” I told him. He leaned his forehead against mine and I let him for a second. I closed my eyes, I missed this closeness with him and only him. 

I let myself get lost in his touch before I remembered the words he had thrown at me two months ago, it doused me like ice cold water. I sighed and pulled away from him. He eyes snapped open and once again he gave me those puppy dog eyes when he was looking for forgiveness. 

“Why is he in your apartment?” He asked.

“You have no right to ask me that.” I reminded him before walking up the steps that lead to the small lobby of the apartment complex “And it’s not just him, it’s a group of colleagues. Girls are there too.” 

“Jess. Please don’t go.” Elvis said and grabbed my hand. 

I turned towards him and shook my head “You need to go Elvis. You’ve hurt me enough. Please leave me alone.” I whispered. 

“I’m so sorry.” He whispered, his eyes getting glassy once again. 

I pulled my hand out his grasp and continued walking before I turned around to face him “How did you know where I live?” 

“I can’t say.” He gulped, avoiding my eyes. 

Was it Grace or Jerry? They’re the only people in Elvis’ circle who knew where I lived. Grace wouldn’t say anything though, would she?

“Wait! You forgot these at the house.” He said and pulled an envelope from his back pocket.

“What’s that?” I asked, confused. I checked every drawer and nook and cranny a million times before I left, there's no way I forgot something.

“You left our photos in the drawer and I also got the pictures from Hawaii developed.” He said. 

I clenched my jaw, narrowing my eyes at him “I left them on purpose. I don’t want them.”

“Why?” He whispered “Do you want to forget we ever happened?” His voice wavering as he spoke.

“Yes, Elvis. I want to forget we ever happened.” I gulped, tears springing to my eyes. I wanted to forget that we ever happened because the pain of it all was too strong. 

His face was so hurt, as if I was the one that ended it. As if I was breaking his heart right now “Jess.” He said, his lower lip trembling, his eyes mimicked mine and filled with tears and sorrow.

”In fact I want to erase the past two years out of my memory.” I said, my voice cracking slightly “And you don’t get to come here like an injured little puppy, like I was the one that hurt you.”

It pissed me off that he would show up here and act like he didn’t break me, giving me those eyes when he knows he fucked up and is looking for forgiveness. I don't think I can ever forgive the words he said. Those words ran through my mind all the time. 

Pathetic. Convenient. Desperate. 

They haunted me before falling asleep and they haunted me in my dreams.

“Don’t come back here, Elvis. I don’t want to see you again.” I said as a tear slipped out of my eye and rolled down my cheek before I finally went back in. That was a complete lie, my heart did not want that but I let my brain take the wheel this time. My heart did enough damage to itself. 

I wanted to get into bed and cry. Instead I took a deep breath, leaning my head against the wall, closing my eyes for a second. Then I wiped my tears and forcibly plastered a smile on my face before walking back into my apartment and pretended I was fine until they left. That’s when I allowed myself to cry again over him, like I do almost every night. But this time it was different. It hurt seeing him. It still didn't register in my mind that I actually saw him today after two months, that I touched him, that my lips were a few inches away from his lips. It hurt to see him hurt. I thought I would feel better if I knew he was hurting like me. Why was he hurting? He had a full blown panic attack at the thought that I had moved on with someone else. 

I fell asleep while crying, I decided to stay at home on Sunday and just sit around my apartment. I know I should go out and go for a walk but I was scared that Elvis was outside and at the same time I was hoping he was still outside. I just chose to not find out if he’s still here or if he went back to Memphis. I had a day in, I baked some cookies and watched movies. Really just took a day for myself. Opened up the windows and sun bathed in my living room. Also a bonus of this apartment, I got direct sunlight. 

The next day I got up super early, made myself some breakfast and coffee. I put some music on and got ready for work. I hated Monday mornings but starting your day right definitely helped.

I swung my bag over my shoulder, dressed in a matching sage green pencil skirt and blazer and a white button down. I had my hair down and pushed back by a headband. I locked my door and headed down stairs and out onto the street.

“Good morning.” 

I turned, my face scrunched up in confusion “You’re still here?” I asked when I spotted Elvis leaning against a pole.

“Yeah and I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.” He said.

I scoffed and shook my head at him “What do you think you’re doing Elvis?”

“I got you coffee.” He said and moved towards me, he had two take away cups of coffee and handed me one. 

“I don’t want coffee.” I grumbled, hating my heart for beating faster and the butterflies that erupted in my stomach at the fact that he was still here. He didn’t leave. I hated myself right now. 

“Take it Jess.” He said.

I frowned and took it from him, turning to walk down the street towards my job. I heard his footsteps following along “What are you doing?” I asked turning my head to see him walking behind me.

“Walking you to work.” He replied. 

“Don’t bother.” I grumbled and as I passed a trash bin, I threw the coffee he gave me. 

Was I being petty? Yes. 100%. Did I care? Not really. 

The same thing happened when I got back from work 8 hours later. Elvis was still standing there. I rolled my eyes and passed him to get into my building, pretending like he wasn’t there leaning against the lamp post like he did earlier.

“I’m gonna stay here no matter how long it takes.” He said when I walked past him “If it takes weeks, months or years. I’ll be here.” 

I bit my lip and pushed the door open, walking into my building. He didn't follow me, he stayed outside. He was respecting my boundary at least. 

I unlocked my door and walked into my apartment to see a dozen bouquet of flowers in vases covering my floor. My jaw dropped at the amount of sunflowers that covered my living room and kitchen. My favorite flowers. How the heck did he put them inside? 

I frowned and opened the window, peeking my head through the window to look down at him. I was only two stories up.

“How the heck did you get into my apartment?” I called out with a frown on my face. Forget about respecting my boundaries. 

“I’m Elvis Presley.” He called out, grinning as he looked up at me. That damn shit eating grin on his face pissed me off.

I huffed through my nose, shaking my head at him “You’re an asshole.” I said and took one of the bouquets out of the vase and chucked it out of the window, aiming at him. 

“Hey! At least I didn’t stay in there!” He said, dodging the flowers. I kept the rest because they were too pretty to throw away “I could've stayed in there and surprised you!”

“Oh thank you so much for that consideration! I am so thankful!” I said sarcastically.

“At least you’re talking to me, I’m taking whatever I can get.” He shrugged.

I huffed again and slammed the window shut. 

Taglist: @urrfavvana @girlblogger2002 @butlersluvbot @iheqrtaustin @dramaticpandabear @godlypresley @amiets2 @felis-haxb16 @marie73ep @scarlettlight06 @whatstruthgottodowithit @sassanoe @thatbanditqueen @18lkpeters @rjmartin11 @elvispresleyisfit12

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!