#After making it clear my entire life that if I don't go to college they'll be very disappointed

[cicadaland]

Like this just all really sucks literally everything about this sucks. Nothing here is better than home literally nothing. the weather the people the food... actually the scenery is very pretty but that's just about it honestly

[prod-ddeonu]

TIGHTY WHITIES | p.js

episode 11: put my sneakers on!

pairing: college! Jay x fem! reader

CW/TW: enemies to lovers, smau, angst, fluff, smut, horrible comedy, slice of life, jay gets exposed BAD, kys jokes, assault, drinking, flirting hehe, NOT PROOFREAD!!, chef Jay, the note is a sort of vent and mentions death, skip to tl;dr if uncomfortable with those topics as it is important

synopsis: You and Park Jongseong have been enemies for years. Heck, the two of you grew up picking fights with each other. A hateful war of tricks and deceit turns from bad to worse, however, when you finally trump him. Nobody can come back from having a photo of themself in tighty whities sent to the entire school, right?

status: ongoing!

taglist: open! (fill out the google form to be added! your user should be tagged on the masterlist and the next chapter after you submit!)

wc: ~1.9k

You and your entire gaggle of friends were sitting around your apartment, save for Soobin nervously tidying up your counter for alcohol and setting the chairs neatly in the living room.

You laughed at the way he brought out your mini-duster from the pantry. "Soob," you called out. He turned to you with his brows creased. "You're freaking yourself out again."

He sighed and put the duster back down, rubbing the side of his face with his open palm. "I know, I know," he mumbled, "I'm just so scared of his friends not liking me."

"Soob," Keeho smiled happily, "If his friends love him, they'll trust that you're a good person and like you. It's how we feel about Heeseung, at least."

Soobin smiled even bigger and came to sit back down on the couch next to you. "Thank you, guys!" He hugged the two of you.

Beomgyu cleared his throat. "I'm here too, y'know," he jokingly rolled his eyes.

"I wish you weren't," Soobin joked back, opening his arms for Beomgyu to join the hug (which he did).

You sadly turned the TV on to play an old ITZY song. "I wish Chae and Yuna could have been here, they were so excited when you told us. They just had to have practice tonight."

"I know, but I'll take Heeseung to their comeback stage!" Soobin stood up and danced to the song. "I don't wanna take them away from making these good songs!"

You all stood up and began to have a small dance party together, easing your friend's nerves further before the doorbell rang.

It was around seven o'clock in the afternoon at this time, and the boisterous laughter outside told you that it was Jay's ensemble. "Late as usual," you tsked to yourself, swinging the door open with a big smile and holding your arms open to Heeseung.

He bent down and gave you a hug, confusedly, before standing up and greeting you. "Hi, you must be Y/N!"

"Yes, I am! You never figured that out after all the years of being friends with Jay?"

"No, I did, I just wanted to seem like we never laughed at Jay getting his ass handed to him everyday," he laughed. "You're much more welcoming than I thought, I honestly expected a box of snakes or something."

"No, of course not! This is a celebration, this isn't about Jay. And, plus, I only do that kind of stuff to Jay," you beamed, stepping to the side to allow them in.

They all introduced themselves as they walked in, and it shocked you how tall just all of them were.

Jungwon, the boy who seemed to have his wits together the most, pointed his thumb out the door as he began to speak to you. "Also, Jay is here, but he stopped and got some extra stuff for the party so he's trying to get it out of the car, if you were wondering."

You looked up and saw his form hunched into the backseat of his car, pulling out item after item. "I'll go help," you sighed.

You excused yourself from the apartment, going down the stairs and bouncing a little with every hop down.

"I didn't tell you to buy that much booze, Jay Park," you sighed with a small smile as he pulled out bags and boxes of alcohol.

He turned around with a smile, his hands on his hips in a mock defense. "I actually recall you saying to get lots of alcohol, Hwa Y/N."

As he faced you, you couldn't help but examine him. He wasn't in his usual all-black clothing, which took you by surprise. He was in jeans with a simple white tee and a light sweater, making him look softer and sweeter than the usual Jay. You had to admit, your enemy was very handsome and fashionable.

Jay felt your eyes on him as he spoke. He felt the way they checked him out. He couldn't be mad, though, because he'd done the same thing. The second he first turned around, his eyes were immediately oggling your own jean shorts and white tee, a dainty necklace around your neck. However, he could only notice the familiar jacket over your shoulders.

"You wore that jacket for me?" Jay asks, making it sound like more of a statement. He doesn't miss the way you get flustered as he laughs. "I actually bought food for all of us, too. I was gonna cook something so nobody got too sick in your apartment."

You reached into the car next to him, brushing your side against his and sending him into a flurry of warm cheeks and pounding heartbeats. He stepped to the side, giving you space.

You pulled back out with the bags of chicken and tteokbokki, holding them in your hands as Jay held the alcohol. The two of you made your way up to your apartment, stopping just outside the door.

"Jay, can I talk to you right here really quickly?"

He turned his head to you, putting the alcohol down outside the door as you put down the food. "Yeah, what's up?"

"I'm really sorry," you looked into his eyes. "I've wanted to apologize for pushing your buttons on purpose that day since it happened, you never would've did what you did if I hadn't, and I realized that you were the only one trying to make an effort when you came by the other day," you spewed the words out, rambling in a sense. Your head fell to the ground.

Jay grabbed your hands quickly, his eyes wide and a small glimmer in his eyes. "Y/N, you don't have to apologize. I was really in the wrong, I don't blame you for anything. I'm happy you enjoy the gifts, but that wasn't me trying to make you feel like you had to make any type of effort to apologize. I don't want you to think I need to forgive you for anything, it was a two-way street with out fighting. If anything, I should be asking for your forgiveness, still-"

You squeezed his hands, shutting the man up. You looked back into his eyes with a smile. "Jongseongie, I forgave you a long time ago."

You pulled him into a hug, his arms around your waist and yours around his neck. The two of you stayed like that for a few seconds, before Jay pulled back as the two of you stared at each other.

"I like when you call me that," he breathed out in a slow sigh. You felt your face heat up in a foreign, fuzzy way.

There was a similar beating in both of your hearts. If it hadn't been for the tight hug, the two of you would never have felt it. There was an invisible line between the two of you, but it was being erased further by the second. Every second you stared into his eyes, you felt your resolve grow weaker.

Jay's hand went to your chin, his thumb lightly stroking your cheek and tilting your head upwards. His other went to your waist, holding you steady as the two of you began to close the distance.

His face inched nearer, your eyes never leaving his lips. As they got closer, your eyes closed with anticipation. "Y/N, can I k-"

"Put my sneakers on!" Chaeryeong cheered loudly as she walked up the stairs with Yuna.

Both you and Jay shoved off of each other, awkwardly grabbing the bags, bottles clinking against one another in Jay's hands and a bright red blush on both of your faces.

The two girls made it to your door at the same moment that you two had decided to look away from each other in embarrassment. "What's up with you two?" Chae questioned.

You both mumbled, "Nothing." They shrugged and held out a similar bag to you.

"Look, babe! We got some liquor for tonight, too!" Chae smiled wide.

You hugged the two of them once you pulled yourself together. "How did you guys even make it? I thought you had practice," you giggled.

Yuna held a hand around her mouth to whisper, "We snuck out!" She laughed. "Ta-da! We weren't going to just stay in the dorms when we needed to celebrate Scooby Soobie finding a boyfriend! Especially not when his boyfriend also seems really sweet," she crossed her arms.

Chae nodded in agreement, a triumphant hand flying into the air. "And two beers, a whole lot of convincing, and I guess a romantic moment ruined later, here we are!"

Jay finally spoke after standing, gobsmacked. "Aren't you two from that girl group?"

They glanced at him, their faces going pale. "This may be a problem," Yuna stated.

"No, it's not," you smiled. "He's not going to ruin his friend's party or your image, right?" You turned to Jay.

He nodded. "I'm just very confused on why there are two idols here," he added.

Chae scoffed. "And idols can't be friends with their old friends from before they debuted? We've all been best friends for years," she jokingly rolled her eyes.

Yuna clapped her hands. "I'm getting thirsty. Let's drink!" She walked into the apartment without any other instruction, everyone following her.

Jay had finished cooking the meals rather quickly, as everyone challenged Chaeryeong and Yuna to dance battles and bullied Niki and Beomgyu. The latter had formed a small bonding over being the self-proclaimed "punching bags" of their friend groups.

The entire household was now closer to shit-faced than sober, save for Beomgyu and Niki.

"Why don't you drink as much, hyung?" Niki asked Beomgyu.

He held his glass of water up. "Last time I was drunk, I tried to beat the shit out of a cardboard cutout for looking at me funny. Then, I found out it wasn't a cardboard cutout."

"Woah, hyung," Niki gasped. "You couldn't waterboard that information from me, that's so embarrassing."

"Why, you!" Beomgyu went to flick the boy, who dodged quickly.

Heeseung and Soobin had been long asleep, both falling asleep on top of your bed. Everyone was told to stay over since they were "capital-F Fucked up", but the men of the night were given bed privileges.

Keeho, who had sat out after leading his fifth round of karaoke and stand-up comedy specials, looked around and pointed at the small futon he'd pulled out of his room for the night. "Dude, look at that," he gawked.

The two boys followed his finger and locked their eyes on his target of interest. "Someone take a picture, she's going to be so pissed," Beomgyu struggled to not laugh.

Keeho and Niki took their phones out, both taking a photo.

There you and Jay were in the photo, you asleep across his lap as his hand sat where he had been playing with your hair, and him asleep with his head against the top of the seat.

Maybe there was something that invisible line had been holding back all these years, or maybe there was something the two of you had refused to admit was there the entire time. Something fuzzy and warm, something that tinted the world pink around each other, something that felt like home. It was a force much too strong to accept in the moment, but the slow steps were enough to you.

notes: hey guys, this isn't a note I want to leave. I'm sorry it took this long to get this post out, I was intending on proofing this tomorrow and posting it but I decided to do it tonight due to unfortunate circumstances. I drove two hours out from home for the week for a job that I cannot leave on a whim, and my family notified me today that both my grandmother was brought to the er yesterday and that she passed this morning. I understand why they held off on telling me, but I cannot fathom why they felt that telling me everything at once and robbing me of my last chance to tell her goodbye and that I love her would have been better for me. I lived with her for ten years and decided to become her neighbor, so although I've been letting my family think I'm taking it better than everyone else I actually can't even look at a single thing without feeling my body shut down a little and think about how I'm coming home to a house without her. I feel guilty, I feel like shit, I feel like an awful grandkid because I was one of her only two and I wasn't around to help or say goodbye. I feel guilty for enjoying my time out of town still, and I feel even guiltier for sometimes letting her passing slip my mind and forgetting she's gone. I haven't had motivation for anything since I found out, and I feel I won't have the motivation to continue this smau for a few days. I'll be taking some time away due to this unforeseen circumstance, maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks. Please forgive me for this, I know people enjoy the story and this isn't me discontinuing it!! It is still ongoing, however it may not be updated soon. Thank you for reading, I'll make the rest of the story very worth everyone's wait!!

TL;DR: Due to unfortunate circumstances, I won't be able to update this smau for a few days to a few weeks. Please forgive me for the sudden announcement, the wait for this chapter, and the possible wait for future chapters! This smau is NOT discontinued, only on a slight pause. Thank you for reading, enjoying, and supporting, and thank you for your patience and kindness as well!

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tags: @deobitifull @eladandan @rikakhairana-blog @igotkkaebsonged @222brainrot @sophiko22 @jungwon-xo @moonmoongi @nichoswag @smellypoopfarts @queen-klarissa @luvdroids @sunoosummernights @minl0u @justalivingperson @a-l-i-y-a @b1ndignity @koibiz @cosmiczen @mariji @s00buwu @rinkouzme

[countlessrealities]

@yinbug sent: Headcanon time! Given more freedom in his life, in what ways might Adrien go about discovering who he is as a person and what he enjoys and wants out of his life without his father's influence? What kind of career path do you foresee Adrien on other than modeling? How would he go about achieving that goal? What other dreams for his future does Adrien have that don't involve romance?

Considering his origins and his upbringing, figuring out his identity as an individual, separated from his father's expectations and will, will be a real challenge for Adrien. His life and purpose have always been dictated by someone else, so far, whether he realised it or not, and suddenly finding himself without the structure that has been holding up his entire existence will surely be unsettling and disorienting for him.

After all, one of the reasons why he has an easier time being Cat Noir over being Adrien, aside from the freedom he is allowed when he's wearing the mask, is that Cat Noir has a clear role, task and purpose, while all Adrien has, when it comes to himself, are uncertainty and doubts.

At first, I can see him turning to his friends and Natalie for support and guidance, possibly even unconsciously expecting them to give him the answers, since he won't know where to start from.

He has already done something similar with the matter of his student's file, where he has admitted that he doesn't know what he wanted to do with his life, nor what his actual interests are. In those circumstances, his solution has been clinging to the person he trusted and cared for the most (Marinette), putting her at the centre of his future projects, in place of Gabriel's wishes.

Thankfully, he is surrounded by people who care for him and are very willing to help him with his journey of self-discovery. I can see Marinette, Nino and the others dragging him around to try different things and activities, to encourage him to experiment with new hobbies, to experience different lifestyles. They have already done that to an extent, and it has enriched Adrien's life, helping him coming out of his shell, even if not enough to start building his own destiny.

In this regard, the two people who would be able to help him the most are Kagami and, once they'll be reconciled, Félix. Kagami has experienced Adrien's same sort of upbringing, so she knows what it means to be defined by someone else's will and vision. She is undergoing a similar struggle to find her own path out of Tomoe's shadow.

As for Félix, he has gone through the same journey of self-definition Adrien is about to start in the year after his father's death, so no one can understand Adrien better and is more suited to help him out than his cousin...with all the limitations that he has as a person.

For my interpretation of the character, I can see Adrien eventually deciding to travel around the world. Perhaps taking one or two years off before college, so that he can truly see the world. He has been abroad a lot, with his father and thanks to his modeling career, but he had never truly been allowed to take in what was around him in those occasions. Most of the times, he was either confined to his hotel room or kept under strict surveillance.

Now, he has the chance to make up for it, to learn and discover new things through those trips, both about the different shades of the world he lives in and about himself. Also, the fact that he is very proficient when it comes to languages will come in very handy.

The other thing Adrien wants and tries to do is helping people. As Cat Noir, but also without the mask.

I can see him finding a job in a world charity organisation, as someone who works on the field, in direct contact with the people in need, but also as a help in the management department, since he is familiar with the field, from the years he has spent watching his father doing business.

He would spend periods in various countries through the years, communing his desire to travel with his need to be useful.

This kind of lifestyle won't be easy to balance with his duties as superhero and, even more, with a stable relationship, but if he and Marinette end up being each other's endgame, they'll make it work, and same goes for Ladybug and Cat Noir. After all, if she ends up succeeding in the world of fashion, Marinette probably will have to travel around quite a bit too.

So, to sum it up, I can see Adrien pursuing the two things that he has been denied for so long: personal freedom and the chance to build his own destiny.

[yetanotherreader]

Useful—1

Genre: College AU

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Y/N, a pinch of Lisa sprinkled in.

Summary: The school's most popular boy wants to be friends with Y/N, out of the blue. It definitely doesn't have anything to do with her hot best friend, though.

Word Count(for the chapter): 1,494

Warnings (for the chapter): Nothing as such. Slightest language?

____________

Useful Masterlist

Chapter-1

Good girls always fall for bad boys.

Now, did they? At least, that's how the legend went. All your life, it was exactly what you had read in those books you carried in your bag. And they were the reason you were starting to believe this pointless theory. Or was it your irresistible attraction towards that leather-jacketed classmate of yours? Obviously, the former. You weren't falling for him of all the guys. And you weren't exactly the good types, were you? 

"Y/N!" You heard your friend call from behind, "You up for tonight's party at Jo's?

"Jo? I thought you hated her?" You raised your brow in your friend's direction, continuing your walk down the hallway.

"Nooo, why would I hate that beautiful babe?" 

"Lisa," deadpanning, you continued, "Cut the crap."

Lisa smiled at you cheekily, squinting her eyes and you obviously got the sign.

"Boys" You said with the roll of your eyes, whilst she echoed simultaneously with an excited squeal. Shaking your head, you smiled at her excitement, whilst she continued to grin your way adorably. At least someone's looking forward to living their life.

You and Lisa were totally different, to the extent it got you thinking about how you were even friends in the first place. She was one of the most popular girls of the college, whilst you were a hidden hermit. She loved partying and drinking, whilst you made excuses to stay home and read one of those fanfictions they wrote. Not that you got a lot of invitations, but ever since you started hanging out with Lisa, they were more. It was uncomfortable at first, and quite frankly, it still was. You weren't used to it—the attention, so many people around you, people talking to you. Although before you met Lisa, you felt way lonelier than you'd ever like to admit, you still sometimes missed the calm in it. But again, you did you. You still ditched parties for books, still said no to drunk boys, still wore baggy hoodies and Potter glasses, and still ate street food. Uncool? Fair enough. Uncool it is, then.

"So, you coming?" She tugged at your backpack just as you were making your way into the class.

"No"

"Please"

"No"

"Y/N"

"No"

"Today's food on me"

"Yes"

"Yee!" She squealed and hugged you, locking your hands to your body, as you froze in your place. You really did like to maintain that reputation of the tough, unaffectionate girl you had among the few people you talked to.

"Yeah, yeah. It's the free food." With a fake scowl, you went in the lecture hall, as she made her way to hers.

_____________

It was a rather boring lecture, and you would sell your soul to bunk the other one scheduled after the break. All you did during the whole class was scroll down your Instagram feed, or Tumblr checking for another part of the fanfiction you were currently reading. Hunters. How cool was that! You lived to read such fantasies, or who knew if they existed in real life too.

"Didn't take you for the one to use your phone during the class." You looked up to see him, and tried your hardest not to gawk at his entire confident demeanor. Leather jacket, spiky short blonde-ish brown hair, green eyes and—were they...freckles?

You cleared your throat locking your phone, "Didn't take you for the one to talk to unpopular girls during the break, either." 

A smirk started to grace his lips as you quickly averted your gaze back to your phone, unlocking it and scrolling through the posts again.

"Ah! That hurt," he mocked hurt as you found yourself resisting a smile at his antics, "Did I see a smile there, and can I sit?" He smiled to himself.

"No," You said with a roll of your eyes shifting to the seat next to the wall, "So what brings you here, Winchester?"

"Low attendance," He chuckled to himself but it subsided soon, clearing his throat, as he heard no laugh from your side, "Sorry, wasn't funny." 

"No it was, I'm just trying not to laugh." You said, the bored expression not leaving your face, as you again turned back to your phone, just before it was snatched from your hands.

"First, it's very rude to use your phone when someone's talking to you," He smiled in return to the glare you threw his way, "And second, Y/N, I've come here to be friends with you.

Now that piqued your interest, as you raised your right brow at him, "No, I mean it. I'm buddies with everyone in the class but you. The only time we ever talked was back during the first year, and it didn't quite end well."

"Sweets. Tempting but no," You gave the freckled man in front of you a tight lipped smile, "Winchester, what kinda bet you at, this time?" You said nonchalantly, definitely not believing a word of what he was asking for.

"No bet, I promise! I genuinely want to know you." And he thought you'd believe him, didn't he? As if.

"Guess what, Dean?" You smiled at him sweetly, as he started to grin, "Buzz off, not before giving me my phone back."

His grin faltered midway as he sighed, "You really are a hardhead, are you not?" He handed you over the phone and walked out of the hall.

Well, wow.. that was weird.

_____________

Dean knew it wasn't going to be an easy task. She wasn't a soft nut to crack. Not that he had expected her to just believe him like that. He wasn't joking when he said that their first encounter wasn't the most pleasant one. A bet. That's what it was.

New to college, he knew he needed to make a reputation to survive those four years. He couldn't go down on his first day, after all. He wasn't going to. And as his seniors dared him to throw the next student out of the door into the pool, he did. He was very hesitant, he knew it was bullying and he sure wasn't in favor of that but he also knew that if he didn't, they'll make the next three years of his life hell. He had no other choice.

That's when she walked out of the class—baggy sweater, round glasses, reading a book, your typical nerd. Her appearance just made him more guilty for what he was about to do next, she was too innocent to be a part of any of this. Other bullies of the school would just make her college years a living hell after today, if he did that- when he did that. Although, he was determined he wouldn't let anyone near her after today, it did little to no good easing his guilt.

Next thing he knew was that she was scooped up in his arms, her book on the floor, deep Y/E/C wide orbs staring back into his apologetic ones and her arms tight around his neck as if to make sure she wouldn't fall down—oh boy, only if she knew—and splash!

It was all a matter of seconds when he realized she was struggling to keep up on the surface, "The bet's over, I won!" He yelled at the couple of boys and three girls laughing behind him as he jumped into the pool to save the tiny bean.

"Look I'm sorry, I know it was an ass move but you gotta believe me, I didn't mean any of it. It was a bet, I mea-" He looked at her still baffled expressions, as she tried to regulate her breathing, "Are you okay?"

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" His eyes all but widened at the unexpected not-just-an-outburst but a hard slap to his face.

Turns out, she didn't need all that saving after all.

He chuckled at the memory. It's been three years, and they were still not friends. Gosh, what did he not do after that. Passed her sorry notes, apologized to her in person, waited for her outside her classrooms and even sneaked into her dorm earning an earful from the warden. Oh, Y/N still didn't know about the dorm one, not that she ever would. Finally, after all those efforts she sure forgave him, but they decided that they won't talk ever again. 

And they didn't.

It wasn't that he never wanted to. He did, he really did. Y/N really intrigued him, to the point he found himself staring at her just to study her, in hopes to look past the mysterious aura she carried. If he didn't know better, he would have thought he had a crazy crush on the girl. 

Right then, though, he hoped she came to Jo's party that evening, and he sure as hell hoped he could get some help winning over the beautiful girl he had gotten a crush on.

Lisa. 

______________

Chapter 2

_____________

A/N: Wellllll. I tried my luck again. I don't know how it turned out but ah. So it will have more parts, so if anybody of you wanna get tagged, send me an ask or reblog it with your comment. Feedback is really appreciated, so I can know if I should continue or not. Love❤️

Tags: @bi-danvers0

[sugdenlovesdingle]

"I'm knackered." Aaron sighed, unbuckling Seb from his car seat. "If I never have to drive that piece of road again, it'll be too soon."

"I know. Same here. But we just have to make nice with Rebecca for a little while longer. And at least we got her to sign the papers now." Robert commented "I emailed them to my solicitor right away and told him to put a rush on it. It's just a matter of time now before you'll have full rights to Seb too."

"Yeah. She's a lot easier to deal with without ross in her ear."

Robert nodded.

"I think she's starting to see she's not coping as well as she thinks she is." he grabbed Seb's bag from the boot. "But I really don't want to talk about Rebecca anymore."

Aaron raised an eyebrow and tilted his head at Seb in his arms.

"Really?"

"Not that." Robert leaned in to whisper in Aaron's ear. "That's for after he goes to bed." he said and honest to God winked.

Aaron laughed and shook his head.

"Daddy is being silly, Seb." he said and turned to Robert. "hopefully we can get Cain to clear off too... Liv's staying with a mate from college... The second time this week... Do you think she's... dating them?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Robert shrugged. "But I've learnt my lesson on getting involved in my sister's love life. I'm not going there again."

Aaron frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Back when I lived with Vic and Adam. Whenever they had an argument, they'd try to make me pick a side. And Vic basically always demanded I was on her side... But then there was Adam... Who was best friends with the guy I liked." Robert said with a grin.

"So you sided with Adam over your own sister so he'd put a good word in for you? How nice." Aaron said, amused.

"it worked didn't it?"

"You're unbelievable."

Robert shrugged and turned to Seb.

"I think tonight is a pasta night, don't you? With lots of tomato sauce. And maybe daddy Aaron will make us chocolate pudding afterwards."

Seb cheered, making his dads laugh as they opened the door and walked through to the flat.

Only the empty house they were hoping to find, was far from happening.

"What's going on here?" Aaron asked, looking at Cain.

"We're just having a conversation." Cain replied.

"Right..." Aaron said, looking at the 4 men standing in their living room.

"Well can you all go do that somewhere else? I'd like to spend a quiet evening with my family without the entire village and... whoever you are." Robert said directing the last part at the man leaning against his kitchen table.

"DI Malone. I'm an old friend of Will and Cain's."

Robert snorted.

"Cain Dingle friends with a police officer?"

"He was just leaving."

The guy smiled, ignoring Cain

"Let's just say we met through our mutual friend Will."

"And how do you fit into all of this?" Aaron asked Billy. "Are you suddenly part of their friendship gang too?"

"No I uh.. I was looking for you." Billy stammered. "I was kind of hoping you'd have a job going for me."

"I told you I don't. And I just hired Vinny to get my mum and Mandy off my back so now I definitely don't."

"Home James is always looking for drivers though. If you're interested you're free to apply." Robert told him.

"I'll think about it." Billy said. "I should go."

"Yeah and the rest of you too." Aaron said, stepping aside to let Billy pass.

"Why don't you join them wherever they're going Cain?" Robert suggested. "Have a drink with your new best friends down the pub."

"Are you kicking me out Sugden?"

"Yes , yes I am. Maybe you should look into renting the flat next door. You need your own space. I heard the landlords are nice. I'm sure they'll give you a good deal."

Cain glared at him but didn't say anything.

Malone laughed and pushed himself off of the table.

"Cain, William, was good catching up with you gentlemen, but I should get going too." He tickled Seb's tummy as he walked past him. "Is he yours?" he asked Aaron. "Cute little guy."

"Yes he is. Goodbye." Robert said, making a point of walking Malone to the door and giving Will an expectant look until he left too.

Aaron put Seb down on the sofa and turned on the TV for him.

"Look, Cain..." he started "I don't know what's going on and I don't want to know... But don't bring it in here anymore please. Not when we've got Seb. "

"Yeah we're this close to getting full custody of Seb, we don't need whatever scam you're pulling with him to ruin things for us." Robert added.

Cain shot him a glare and grabbed his jacket.

"I have it under control." he said and left.

What I wouldn't give for Rob and Aaron to come home with Seb and kicking all of them out.

[barmecidebiohazard]

A speech written by Katie Przyblo for the Voice of Democracy scholarship writing contest. Pictured above is Katie standing at a podium, delivering the speech.

[TRANSCRIPT]

I was sick for a while, and I was like... losing my voice? Um, but yeah... I sounded like a smoker for a couple days. [AUDIENCE LAUGHS] Let's hope I don't die. *clears throat* ...Recently, a ringing has been resonating in my ears, and most of my classmates, friends, and family echo the very same phrase. Ingrained into us, we're trained to believe the idea that America bleeds and screams democracy. That our voices and cries that take flight into the red and blue skies are somehow heard across the clouds and stars a world away. Weve all heard it before; "My vote matters."

Shes heard the same thing; She, a mother of 3, who looks far too old for her age. She has 2 jobs in order to support her children. Even with 2 jobs, the federal minimum wage of $7.25 just doesnt cut it. She works sixteen hours a day. She barely sleeps because she has no time to. And since theres no time to sleep, where's the time to vote? She can't waste the time in a line at her local high school or library when she could be working, because rent' due in a week and her children are looking fairly thin. If only she could take the day off without worrying that she'll lose her job, maybe, just maybe, she could make it to the polls to ensure a better future for her children. But she can do nothing about it, because she's not voting this year.

And I'm sure he's heard it too; he, a young black man just making his debut in this tragedy called Life. Struggling to stay afloat, he hasn't really grasped this thing called "adulting" yet. So much so, that he isn't even registered to vote, because in the United States, citizens have to register themselves, unlike Finland, Denmark, and Norway, where registration is automatic. Registering seems to become more painstaking for minorities and lower class, who are almost twice as likely to face discrimination and difficulties in the process. For instance, Texas, the state where he lives, requires a photo ID at the polls, in order to uphold the integrity of democracy and prevent voter impersonation - a crime which occurs at a rate of about 3 ten thousandths of a percent (0.0003%). But he doesnt have an accessible ID, just like almost 500,000 of his fellow Texans, and would have to go through insurmountable obstacles to obtain one. If only it was more accessible for him to register, he would have a say against this injustice. Unfortunately, he can do nothing about it, because he's not voting this year.

And they find this statement almost ironic; they, a pair of friends who were arrested as college students for the possession of marijuana - illegal and considered a felony in their state. The mandatory minimum sentence was six years - simply for carrying a Ziploc of weed. But it's all over now. They served their time, and now they can put the whole mess behind them and move on. At least, that's what they thought. But they were turned away in the next election year, refused admittance du to their criminal record. An entire right stripped from them for the custody of cannabis. Even after pleading for clemency, they were rejected for the restoration of their right to vote by their governor. Their one simple, dumb mistake, for which they already served their inane punishment, will continue to follow them for much longer than they once believed. And they can do nothing about it, because they're not voting this year.

If their votes matter so much, why arent there more people who are infuriated at the thought of our democracy being diminished? Where are the voices of those senators and governors and legislative officials who are so concerned about the integrity of voting that they'll go through any means possible to ensure it?

And those who choose not to vote at all - those with a mode of transportation and a job and a livable income and plenty time to show up to the polls - where are they? Millenials, the most liberal and open-minded voting class, the voting class that can facilitate the most change, are increasingly unenthusiastic about the 2018 midterm elections. From a lack of time to a lack of interest, the result is the same.

When the time comes, I know that my one vote matters. And I know who it will go to. I will vote for the senators and representatives that will ensure the rights of the people; the right to safety, the right to due process, the right to fair work and pay, and most importantly, the right to vote. And until these things are ensured, I will vote for those that can't; I will speak for them, cry for them, scream at the top of my lungs for them... just so they have the chance to catch their breath.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE, END OF TRANSCRIPT]

*Permission was given by the speaker to post this!*