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raya-hunter01 · 10 months

Note

Can you do a jey uso imagine where you both see who can last the longest without sex plz 🫠?

Seven Days Without Sex...

One Shot!

Jey Uso x Black Female OC! (Mia)

Rating: 18+

Warning: Smut; sex, fluff, masturbation

Summary: Main Event Jey Uso’s words on Gentlemen’s Podcast has him in hot water with his girlfriend. The rules of engagement are laid out as Mia and Jey have a battle of the wills. Can they make it seven days without sex!

Who will give in first, or will they make it seven days without sex. Hope you enjoy your request @mya2real

Jey’s House

Atlanta, GA

Mia’s POV

“So what you sayin’ is you can go seven days no problem without sex,” I said as Jey shrugged his shoulders.

“Hell yea, I can do it easily,” he said as I scoffed at his attitude. “Really, Mr. I’m sending the jet to get you because I can’t spend another night not being inside you,” I mocked as he groaned.

“Fuck, it was true, I couldn’t wait to see yo’ fine ass. Why you bringing up old shit?” he asked as I rolled my eyes. “Jey, it ain’t old shit, it was yesterday!” I said irritated as he laughed.

“Damn sho was, wasn’t it?” he replied as I got up and put on my robe.” I’m going to take a shower,” I huffed as he growled.

“I know you ain’t mad Mia, I didn’t hear yo’ ass complaining yesterday. You packed your shit wit a quickness and got yo’ fine ass on the Jet,” Jey said following me into the bathroom.

“I ain’t mad about that shit, because yo’ ass has caught many red-eye flights before you owned the jet. Don't even get me started on the all-night drives you used to make just to be up in this pussy for a couple minutes or a couple hours,” I said making it known he was just as whipped as me.

“Babe, I never said that I didn’t, you know how we get down. I love that about us,” Jey started as I interrupted him.

“Don’t play wit me Jey, we crave each other. Stop fakin’ the funk like it’s one-sided to stroke your ego when you are doing interviews,” I said turning on the water.

“Look, I didn’t mean it like that, I don’t even remember what I said on that podcast. It’s a men’s deal where they discuss random shit and sex came up. I really don’t even remember what I said that could have made you mad,” Jey said as I frowned at him.

I began mocking Jey response to the host to refresh his memory.

“I know if me and my girl did the seven days without sex challenge I would win because she can’t resist me. I can make the call no matter where I am in the world, and she will get her ass on my personal jet and come handle business. She loves how I dick her down, end quote,” I said making quotations with my fingers as he sighed in frustration.

“What’s wrong wit what I said? It’s true, men would kill for that shit and I can’t help but feel lucky, that you down for ya boy dat way,” he said as I threw up my hands it frustration, he wasn’t understanding.

“I actually ain’t mad about that, what irritates me is how you only told one side of the story and didn’t disclose how you do the same for me.

“Mia, I thought that it explained itself, I didn’t mean no harm baby,” Jey said as I saw him smirking.

"I’m not mad, I just think it would be fun for us to do the seven-day challenge to actually see who cracks first,” I said as his smirk finally left his face.

“Uh, I don’t know about that. Come on Mia, we got a week before you go home. Do we really want to play this game for seven days,” Jey said as it was my time to smirk.

“Oh, I wanna play, I really think it would do us good to see who can last the longest without sex,” I said as I heard him grumble.

“Fuck, you are really serious?” Jey asked as I smiled at him. “What are the rules of engagement?” he asked as I smiled at his uneasiness.

I can tell this was going to be fun teasing him these next couple of days to lose control.

“It’s easy, no sex, no oral, no kissing, but masturbation is allowed,” I said shrugging my shoulders as I saw Jey’s arm twitch.

“So, I can’t even kiss you, come on, that ain’t fair. You know it’s somethin’ bout dem kisses,” Jey said as I slowly walked up to him dropping my robe as he groaned.

“You are so evil, but I love yo’ ass,” he whispered as I smiled slightly biting my lip.

“You could end all this baby, all you got do is take me,” I whispered seeing him lick his lips as I slowly turned and walked into the shower.

Yea, let the games begin.

---

Survivor Series,

Allstate Arena, Chicago, IL

Day one

Early this morning we flew out for Survivor Series but thankfully Jey's bus was delivered to the building today so we wouldn't have to fly back.

I love how he is investing his money to take some one stress off of himself.

The other good news is after tonight we’re going back to Jey’s house in Atlanta. Raw is scheduled to take place in Atlanta so we will have three days of alone time and l I can’t wait.

I have to put this plan into action quick because I go back to Pensacola in six days. There is no way I’m leaving here without being properly dicked down correctly, especially knowing they are about to do a UK tour.

Looking over this fly outfit Sandra put together for me is definitely going to assist me in teasing my boyfriend. Hell, he may cave tonight, one can hope right.

"So how did I do?" Sandra asked as I smiled brightly at her.

“You did the damn thang! Thank you, Sandra, I love it!” I exclaimed hugging WWE’s most amazing seamstress. She had made me a camo skirt to match Jey’s tights and cut up one of his new shirts for me.

“I know Jey is going to love you in this,” she said as I went into her little changing area to try on my skirt.

Looking in the mirror I found myself smiling. I knew he would love it as much as I did.

“Does the skirt need to be made longer?” she asked as I looked down at my exposed thick thighs Jey loved so much.

“No, it’s good, I really like it. Now ask me if I’m bending over with wild abandon tonight?” I said as she sighed.

“Mia, are you planning to bend over with wild abandon tonight?” she asked as I smiled.

“In the crowd no…Now on the bus tonight, I hope so,” I laughed as her jaw dropped in shock.

“Oh my god, ya’ll two are something else,” she said as I finished getting dressed.

"Let me make sure you good," she said as I came out to let her inspect her work as Jimmy came up with his jacket.

"Aye, how you doin’ Sandra, do you think you got time to fix this rip?" he asked as she glanced at him. "Yea, I got you, Jimmy, she said smoothing my skirt down.

“Damn Mia, you trying to give brother a heart attack ain’t you? I heard about the bet,” he said leaning over and giving me a hug.

“I’m even matching Jey down to the shoes,” I said proud of myself. “She’s looking for trouble is what she’s doin'. She knows teasing that man ain't gon' end good,” Sandra said as I smiled.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle, I promise,” I said as Jimmy smirked at me shaking his head.

“You know he ain’t letting you in the crowd like that without someone out there with you,” Jimmy said as I rolled my eyes.

“I’m gon’ watch in the crowd with Truth so I’ll be safe,” I said giving him a hug.

“By the way my money is on you, so you better win,” Jimmy whispered as I laughed before walking away.

“Bye Jimmy, and thanks for everything Sandra,” I said as Jimmy waved and gave his jacket to Sandra as she searched for her needle and thread.

“Enjoy the show, I’ll hit you up later,” she said as I continued my journey to Jey’s locker room.

Jey’s POV

“I should have kept my damn mouth shut and not said a word. Now I done got myself in some shit,” I muttered to myself as I laid back on the couch closing my eyes, trying to relax my mind.

Last night was torture as I laid beside Mia and couldn’t dick her down. That was the point of flying her out so I could spend as much time as I could knee-deep up in dat pussy before this upcoming U.K. tour.

Hearing the door open, I knew it was her but kept my eyes closed as she shuffled around the room.

“Babe, you could have at least picked your stuff up off the floor,” she said as I opened my eyes, my breath hitched in my throat.

In front of me, Mia was bent over and all I saw was ass, and those sexy plush lips I love to make love to with my mouth covered in blue lace.

She knows blue is one of my favorite colors to see on her and it's a lacy thong...Oh yea, she playin' dirty.

“Damn Mia,” I hissed, sitting up and grabbing her hips. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked casually like her pussy wasn’t drippin’ wet in my face begging me to reach out and claim it.

I fought to maintain control and remember the bet.

“You fuckin’ know what’s wrong wit me,” I hissed swiftly moving her out of the way.

“What’s wrong Josh,” she said dramatically turning around and looking at me as my dick strained painfully against my tights.

Fuck, I needed relief and quick as she looked at me innocently.

“Damn, that’s all it took baby?” she whispered as I licked my lips seeing her whole outfit for the show tonight.

“You know that’s all it takes when it’s you,” I moaned, tempted to touch her as she adjusted her shirt.

“I wanted to surprise you, we’re matching baby,” she said as I grabbed the bottom of her shit pulling her to me. The gasp that fell from her lips as our bodies touched made my dick jump in anticipation.

“I see and I love it, you look so sexy,” I praised as she moaned. “How much do you like it?” She asked caressing my face as I caressed her hips innocently, our lips almost touching as I teasingly changed course, burying my face in her neck and inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“What are you doin' Jey?” she asked as her body trembled against mine as I teased her.

Mia’s POV

Fuck, he knew how sensitive I was to his touch, and he thrived on it. The minute he pulled me to him, I wanted to fuck his brains out.

“I bet you wet as fuck and I ain’t even touched you yet, but I got you, baby. I can calm dat ache you feelin’ Mia," he declared as I tried to calm my breathing. “You can baby?” I questioned as he nodded.

“Yea, I can baby, and all you gotta do is give in to me,” he whispered against my ear as I shivered against him in anticipation.

I couldn't help but Imagine how good it would feel to give in to him and let him take me. Stay strong Mia, don’t give in.

I continued to struggle to catch my breath as I felt his dick pressed against me, begging to be touched.

“Just touch me, Mia,” he whispered, his words snapping me out of the spell he had me under.

Nah, you ain’t getting me today, this is war, Mr. Fatu.

“I can touch you baby, but you need to say I win,” I said as I innocently removed his hand from my waist and slid up against him as he hissed.

“Shit, you playin' dirty rubbin' all up on me, knowin' I need some help” Jey whispered pointing to his huge bulging erection as I smirked at him.

“I ain’t did nothing, baby,” I said walking away to take a seat on the other couch acting unbothered, but inside I was screaming. The whole interaction was so innocent but so fucking hot at the same time.

“Damn, I need to take a cold shower and calm down,” I heard him mutter as I smirked. “Daddy you ain’t gotta calm down, you can come lose control all in this pussy. She misses you so much,” I purred spreading my legs wide, my blue lace thong on display as Jey growled readjusting himself in his pants.

“I promise you when this is over, I’ma demolish dat pussy and yo’ ass ain’t gone be able to walk for a week. I’ma fuck dat pussy so good it’s gon’ cream every single time you think about me,” Jey declared as I shivered at the thought.

“Damn, I can’t wait,” I whispered blowing him a kiss as he stalked into the bathroom as I laughed.

“First rule of war, never underestimate your opponent, Mr. Fatu,” I muttered.

Yea, it won’t be long, by day three it’s a wrap.

----

Jey’s House

Atlanta, GA

Mia’s POV

Day Two

Day two and I'm losing it, I almost jumped him in the shower this morning. Opening the refrigerator door I sighed. Bless his heart, he is rarely home and his fridge shows it, practically bare.

Heading back upstairs I knew I had to wake him and I hated it because he really needed his rest.

“Jey, we need to get some groceries, I’m hungry and it’s lunchtime babe,” I said walking into the bedroom, a strangled moan escaped my lips as I saw Jey sprawled out on the bed naked with a smile.

It’s a trap Mia, abort mission! Do you hear me, girl? Abort mission, just say no to the dick.

“Baby, we ain’t gotta go shoppin’ right now. Daddy got yo’ lunch right here,” Jey moaned slowly stoking his dick as I felt my thighs clench.

“Oh, you motherfucka,” I whispered, his eyes never leaving mine.

“What, I was just up here waiting on you to come get yo’ lunch,” Jey groaned never stopping his strokes.

“I think you trying to trick me,” I countered walking slowly towards him, watching him in wonder as my pussy was getting wetter by the second.

“I ain’t tryin’ to trick you. You can do what you want wit me, I’m yours to use Mia,” Jey moaned as I bite my lip, his knowing smirk rendering me speechless. He was playing dirty, and I loved it.

“I think you want to sit on Daddy’s dick and ride him real good, don’t you? Come on Mia, Daddy won’t bite, I promise,” he whispered, his strokes deliberate.

Slowly I crawled to him, his hand movements and moans were becoming more urgent, as our eyes remained focused on each other.

“Does it feel good baby?” I purred knowing exactly what I was doing and so did he. This was a battle of the wills and we both were losing.

“Hell yea, but it could feel even better, but you playin’. You know you want dis dick,” Jey whispered against my ear as I felt myself about to explode just from his words as I clenched my thighs tight.

Don’t give in Mia, stay strong you got a point to prove.

“Just hop on Mia and ride Daddy like the good girl you are,” he groaned as I bit back a moan.

“That’s what you want me to do Daddy?” I purred as our eyes met again. “Hell yea, just ride dat shit like only you can,” he moaned as I placed my hand over his, helping him, knowing he was close to his end.

“Mmhm, fuck yea, help me out,” he panted, his eyes now closed in pleasure.

In a last-ditch effort, I decided to shoot my shot to end this game. “Mmm, give in Jey…Please Daddy,” I moaned against his ear, as an animalistic growl fell from his lips.

Quickly I found myself on my back as Jey kneeled between my legs, rubbing his dick against my clit. The sensation was so strong I almost came from the excitement.

"Jey, please, just give in'" I whimpered wanting him to sink inside me as far as he could.

“Mmhm,you feel dat shit don't you? It’s all for you, just say I win, and I’ll make you nut so good, I promise,” Jey moaned as I whimpered in need.

“You know what you need to do then? Just tell me that I win and just slide right in baby. She’s so wet and misses you,” I groaned feeling him close to his breaking point.

“Fuck! Mmm, not yet…Unless you givin’ in,” he taunted, continuing his torture of us both. My body was betraying my mind as he took pleasure in my sweet torture as his dick masterfully played with my clit.

“You gon’ give in to me Mia, one way or another, now cum, Jey groaned as I fell apart underneath him.

“Yea, dats it, this my pussy and don’t you forget it. I love how she cum when Daddy tell her too,” he declared as he joined me on the trip of absolute pleasure.

“This is not fair Josh; just quit,” I whimpered still feeling the ripples of my orgasm as Jey smirked at me.

“Damn, that was a first for us. That shit was hot as hell, I’m having fun now,” Jey said winking at me as he walked into the bathroom.

Damn, he’s good," I muttered relaxing on the bed. Lord, it’s only day two. Mia, you can do this, hang on in there.

Rule number two in war.. Never….Ever.. Underestimate your opponent.

-------

Jey’s House

Atlanta, GA

Jey’s POV

Day Three

Day three and I’m horny, paranoid, and hearing Mia moans in my damn sleep. The sexiest moan ever known to man, I swear this game is bout to be over. I can’t take much more of this shit.

I felt Mia moving beside me as the bed slightly rocked “Jey, you feel so good” I heard her moan, my eyes snapped open as I turned to look at her.

It wasn’t a dream, it was cruel and unusual punishment up in this motherfucka as I watched her perfect body writhing beside me as she chased her orgasm.

Mia was blissfully unaware that I was awake, her eyes closed as she pleasured herself.

Hearing a slight buzzing noise, I realized she was using her rose, I had surprised her with it when she got here the other day and we hadn't had a chance to use it.

“Mmm, baby right there,” Mia moaned as I growled beside her as she opened her eyes, looking shyly at me as I caressed her face.

“Yeaa, it feels good don’t it?” I moaned as she nodded unable to speak. “Good, don’t you fuckin’ stop either, keep goin’. You gon’ soak this fuckin’ bed do you hear me?” I declared as she whimpered beside me.

“Yea, Daddy’s up now, and he wants to watch. You so beautiful,” I whispered as she gasped in pleasure.

“Yes, Daddy, anything you want,” she moaned, moving her hips against her toy as it took her to new heights.

I could hear the wetness, licking my lips I knew I was moments away from losing it. I knew the question I wanted to ask would be my breaking point, but I had to know.

“Mia, is that toy makin’ my pussy cum as good as I can?” I whispered honestly curious.

“Mmm, It’s close, but nothing like you!” she exclaimed as the sounds on the little rose-shaped toy intensified. She had turned up the speed, fuck, that's it, game over.

I had to have her as I saw her hand trembling trying to hold the toy in place. Crawling between her legs, I moved her hand and took control.

“Jey! Wait, oh my God, baby!” She screamed as I held it over her clit, excited to witness what was about to happen.

“Yeaaa, Jey's here now baby, enjoy yo’self. You deserve it,” I praised as I watched in pleasure how her body was responding.

The sounds of the toy drowning in her wetness clouded not only my thoughts but my vision.

leaning down, I claimed her lips in a kiss catching her off guard as she gasped in pleasure. “You win baby,” I whispered as she moaned against my lips in satisfaction as I slid into my home.

That was what she was to me, home. “We both win baby,” she gasped. "Damn right, we do,” I declared as she wrapped her legs tightly around my waist, drawing me closer to her.

Pressed tightly against her, I began to thrust long and deep with one hand still masterfully placed on the rose, as her body trembled with need as I reclaimed her.

Mia’s POV

I have never felt more on edge, and alive in this moment as I began grinding my hips against Jey and the rose, feeling a huge release approaching.

“I got you, Mia, let it go. Let it all go for Daddy,” Jey encouraged as he began sucking greedily on my neck. His thrusts going deeper and harder each time, setting my body on fire.

“Jey! I…I.. Fuck! I love you!” I exclaimed as my orgasm took over “I love you too, yea,dats it, Mia. Gush all on dat dick. Fuck you feel so good,” Jey moaned biting my neck as I continued to fall apart in his arms.

“It’s just for you,” I whimpered as he grasped my neck, snaking his tongue around my lips before taking me in a possessive kiss.

The rose long forgotten as he tossed it off the bed, his long deep strokes sending me into another orgasm.

“Fuck! You are such a good girl, damn. Just squirtin' for Daddy and he didn't even have to ask you too,” Jey praised as my essence soaked the sheets.

His grip slightly tightening around my neck as his thrusts become even more powerful. “Baby! Mmhm baby!" I shrieked as he smirked against my lips.

I felt him become even harder as his thrusts became more wild.

“Yea, you feel dat shit don’t you?.. Uh-huh, you got my shit all rocked up and hard as fuck. Now make me cum Mia,” Jey challenged as he skillfully rolled us over with me now on top.

Oh! Fuck! Yes!,” I exclaimed at the new position and angle as I began riding his dick hard.

Happy about the new mission he gave me, I planted my feet on the bed and put my good knees to work as I rode his dick my hands planted on his stomach for leverage.

“Damn, you got them good knees, fuck! You betta do dat shit,” Jey praised as my pussy clenched around him as I bounced with wild abandon enjoying the powerful ride myself.

Jey’s growls and moans made me feel like the most powerful woman in the world.

“Shit, you ridin’ dat dick, Yea, show me how you love dat shit,” Jey said slapping me on the ass now meeting my thrusts.

Leaning over, now on my knees riding him, I grasped his neck gently kissing him before moving my kisses to his neck.

A powerful moan escaped his lips as I felt his arms pulling me close.

“Cum for me, Daddy,” I whispered nibbling on his ear as Jey moaned grabbing my face as our passion-filled eyes met.

Our pleasure reached even newer heights as we breathed and moved in sync. “I love you, Mia," he declared, reclaiming my lips as we both came together in ecstasy.

I love you too Jey,” I whimpered against his mouth as we rode the wave together, totally spent as I collapsed beside him in exhaustion as he held me close.

“Damn, you won girl,” he said as I laughed. “Nah, we both won,” I reassured him as I kissed him. “These last three days been torture,” he sighed as I nodded in agreement.

“You gotta admit it was kinda fun,” I said as he laughed “Yea, it was, but you play dirty,” Jey said as I rolled my eyes at him. “So do you, so we’re even,” I said as we shared a chaste kiss on the lips.

“What’s wrong with you? I asked almost anxious to know what devious plan was cooking in his head as I saw the smirk on his face.

“Just know when we get this nap in I got some unfinished business to handle,” he said caressing my pussy as I gasped in pleasure. “Jey, seriously you play too much,” I whined as he smirked.

"Oh, yea, I ain't forgot, I’ma demolish dat pussy and yo’ ass ain’t gone be able to walk for a week so get ready,” Jey declared as I gulped.

He was gon’ make it hurt so good and I can’t wait.

The end

Taglist: @reci24 @southerngirl41 @vebner37 @jeyusos-girl

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@arination99 @2-muchsauce @bakugoumarianawrites

@empressdede @alyyaanna @christinabae @anonandwannakeepitthatway @venusesworld @jeyusosgirl @theninthwonder @mya2real

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fandomgirlz01 · 2 months

Text

Elevators

Joe Keery X Reader

Imagine on fandom instagram?: No

Prompt or Request or Requested Prompt?: No

Style of Writing: Fic

Rating: PG-13 ~ For fluff and cuteness, but more adult commentary or even some triggering content.

Edited: Yes

Word count: 6,015

Post Date & Time: July 27th 2024 at 12:17 AM

Ko-fi

Master List

Warnings Here

You can listen to the story be read out loud here {coming soon}.

Summary: Joe Keery the Readers very best friend, helps the Reader though one of her biggest fears as well as clams her anxiety until they can get the help they need.

Authors Note: I know they actually usually film in Atlanta GA, so for the sake of this Fic let’s just say she goes with him and they rent a place out. She works from home so she’s capable of going with.

You’re Pov:

“Oh my gosh, it’s really 12:00?!” I exclaim as I look at my phone.

“Umm, yeah. Why?” Natalia asks as she looks at me with concern.

“I have work on the set in the morning and don’t have my car. I need to take the bus or walk, but now I can’t do either cause it’s so late,” I explain as I pack up some of my stuff in a hurry.

“Hey. Hey. What’s going on?” Joe asks, reaching out for me as he walks over from where the guys were hanging out.

“I need to walk home. I have to be at set in the morning,” I quickly explain as I continue to pack up my stuff.

Once all my stuff is packed up, I quickly rush out a goodbye to everyone before rushing over to the door. I go to open the door, but someone pulls me back.

“Hey. You are not walking home this late at night, and while it’s storming? No way. I’ll drive you,” Joe offers as he pats his pockets, looking around for his keys.

“No, J. It’s fine. I’ll get home by myself. I really don’t wanna ruin your time with your cast members. You see me every day, you don’t see them as often as you do me. Spend time with them,” I express and he shakes his head before letting out a small ‘aha’ when finding his keys.

“If you think I’m letting my life-long best friend walk home in the rain, then you're nuts. Plus, I live there too,” he professes before turning around to the other actors in the room.

“Goodnight, guys. I’ll see you all bright and early on set. I’ve gotta get y/n home,” Joe quickly explains to the others.

“Goodnight! See you in the morning!” Noah yells out from across the room before some of the others chime in with ‘goodnights’ to the both of us.

Joe picks his jacket up off of the back of the couch before coming over to me. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and I smile as I wave to everyone.

“Goodnight then, I guess!” I yell out and I get a few “goodnights” back as the girls wiggle their eyebrows at me, making me give them a death stare.

Joe pulls me out of the room and the door closes behind us. We head down the hallway and I start to feel a little guilty.

“Joe, really, if you want to go back you can. I’ll be fine,” I explain and he shakes his head.

“If you had your car, I’d be ok with it, but I know it’s in the shop, so no. It’s ok. Really, I’m fine to drive you home,” he informs me and I only nod before a grin takes over my face.

“I wonder why my car’s in the shop?” I joke as I nudge his side lightly with a smirk on my face.

“I wouldn’t know why…” he jokes back, playing innocent and I giggle.

“It couldn’t be because somebody backed it up into a pole when borrowing it now, would it?” I tease him again as I poke his stomach.

“I have no clue what you're talking about,” he plays coy, shaking his head and I roll my eyes.

“You definitely know what I’m talking about,” I remark with a smirk and he rolls his eyes now.

“Ok… there’s a very small chance you may be right…” he jokes as he holds his hand up with his fingers pinching together.

“A small chance?” I ask, only to giggle when he throws his arms up before letting them drop to his side.

“Ok, fine, there’s a big chance,” he finally admits sheepishly and I giggle as we come to a stop by the elevator.

He reaches forward and presses the down button before standing back upright next to me. I eye the door to the stairs for a moment before looking back at the elevator.

“Bubs…” I whisper out as I bite my lip and he lets out a small “hmm” before turning to look at me with an eyebrow raised.

“Can’t we just take the stairs?” I ask as I express my fear while he puts his jacket on.

“Y/n, we’re on the top floor of the Hampton. We’re thirty floors up, sweetheart. Do you really want to walk down thirty flights of stairs?” he asks with an eyebrow raised and I shrug.

“I don’t know… I just really don’t want to get in that elevator,” I whisper out as I shuffle my feet while refusing to look up at him.

“Don’t worry. I’m right here with you, ok? I’m right here. I promise you’ll be ok,” he promises as he pulls me to him and wraps his arms around me.

We stand there for a few minutes just hugging when we both hear the ding. We pull apart and turn to see the door wide open. I take a gulp and Joe takes a step to get in, but I freeze in my spot.

“Princess, it's really ok. Come on. I’ll stick with you the whole way down,” he explains as he turns back around to look at me.

“Joe… I… I can’t…” I whimper out and he grabs both my cheeks softly as he keeps eye contact with me.

“Hey. Hey. You're ok. You can do this, y/n,” Joe speaks calmly as he now starts to rub my right cheek.

“I don’t know, Joe, it’s gotten a lot worse now,” I explain and he looks at me, confused.

“How did you even get here earlier, then?” he asks and I try to look away sheepishly, but he just keeps my face in his hands.

“I, umm… took the stairs. After Eleni {pronounced: E-lane-ie} dropped me off from work on the set, I took the stairs,” I explain embarrassedly and he shakes his head.

“You could have just called me to come down and get you. I would have,” he affirms and I shake my head now that he’s let go of me.

“You had work today too. You must have been tired. I didn’t want to make you even more tired,” I explain and just as I finish, the doors slide closed.

“Damn, we’ll have to get the next one,” Joe mutters as he turns back around and presses the down button again.

“I don’t care if I’m tired, I still would have come down. Plus we work on the same set, just have different hours,” Joe informs me with a shrug before he turns back to look at me. I fight off the blush I can feel creeping up the back of my neck.

“I don’t get why we can’t just take the stairs…” I comment timidly and Joe lets out a laugh.

“Y/n, seriously. It’s thirty flights. You’ve already done enough stairs today. I’m not letting you do more,” he explains before shaking his head and laughing a little more.

He looks at me and immediately his face changes from amusement to worry when he sees just how frightened I am. He sighs and lets out a small ‘I’m sorry’ before he puts his arm around my shoulder. He moves so he can fully hug me now and rubs the upper part of my arm with his thumb. I wrap my arms around his waist and burrow my head into his shoulder. He holds onto me a little tighter for a moment before rubbing at my scalp to sooth me.

“I’m right here. Haven’t I always been?” he asks against the side of my forehead and I nod, making him smile.

“Yes. Yes, you have been,” I agree with him, biting my lip before pulling away from our hug.

“Well, come on, then. I promise you'll be fine,” he promises me as the elevator dings again, making me jump.

“I know you're scared, but these things barely ever break down. Plus, you're with me. I’ve got you,” he tries to reassure me again before placing a kiss to the side of my forehead and for a split second I almost forget where we are.

Soon the doors are sliding open and I feel my heart start to beat frantically, but it’s definitely not because of the happy feelings I normally get when with Joe. His hand falls from my shoulder, but he keeps it on my lower back as he softly guides me inside. I push myself as close to the back wall as I can while he pushes the lobby botton. Not even a minute after he pushes it, the doors slide closed. I take a deep breath before looking at the ceiling above me and letting a shaky one out.

I grip onto the railing until my knuckles are practically completely white as I wait for it to all start. The elevator gives a light shake before starting to go down and I move my grip from the railing onto Joe’s arm. He lets out a small laugh before pulling his arm from where I had latched myself to him and putting it around my shoulder. He pulls me into another side hug and squeezes my arm lightly, effortlessly making me feel slightly safer.

“See, it’s ok. We’re fine. We’ll be in the lobby before you know it,” he explains with a light smile and I wrap both arms around him before nuzzling into his side more.

“I guess you're right. Nothing's happening,” I sigh as I squeeze him a bit and he squeezes my shoulder back.

It’s quiet and calm for a few minutes until the lights start to flicker. I look at the screen that tells us the floor number, but it glitches from twenty-eight to twenty-seven and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. The elevator comes to a jolting stop, making me and Joe sway back and forth as he keeps his hold on me. The lights go out, leaving only an emergency light as the only source of light. I look back up at the number to see it still glitching, only this time it’s going between twenty-seven and twenty-six. I feel my heart start to race again as I realize what’s happening and I start to shake in fear.

“Shit. Princess, it’s ok. We’ll be ok. Press the emergency button. I’ll try 911,” Joe explains as he pulls away and holds me by the shoulders before pulling his phone out.

I step forward or at least I think I do, but I really don’t. I stay where I am, frozen for a moment before taking a big gulp and walking over to the buttons. It takes me a minute of looking over all the buttons, but I soon find the one with the big red E on it. I lick my lips and press it in hopes that the lights will magically come back on. When they don’t, I panic before starting to press the button over and over again.

I only can hope that someone will answer our emergency, but my brain tells me to just keep pushing it even though nobody has. I feel a hand lay on my back and another one comes up to pull my hand from the panel of buttons. I look up at Joe and he pulls me into a hug and just holds me as he puts his phone up to his ear.

“Hi, 911. What’s your emergency?” I hear a lady’s voice come over the speaker of the phone.

“Umm, hi. I’m currently at the Hilton hotel, but uhh, I think the power must have gone out or something because we are stuck in the elevator,” Joe explains to her in as calm of a tone as he can so I won’t panic further.

“Ok. Can you tell me what floor you're on?” The dispatch lady asks and I feel him move his head to look.

“Umm, it’s glitching between twenty-six and twenty-seven, so maybe on twenty-six,” he replies and she gives a small ‘Hmm, ok’.

“Are you alone, sir?” she asks and he shakes his head.

“No,” he replies as he gives me a light squeeze again.

“Can you tell me who’s with you?” she asks and he again nods even though she can’t see him.

“Yeah. It’s just me and my girl here,” he responds back to her and my eyes widen.

He’s never called me his girl before. It’s always been sweetheart or sweets or my best friend, but never his girl.

I zone out as she asks him a few more questions and I don’t catch them at all, but soon he’s hanging up with her. He looks down at me before sighing and leading me over to the wall to lean me against it.

“Sit right here, ok? I’m going to go call Natalia or Charlie, ok?” he asks and all I can manage is a light tiny nod as a tired feeling washes over me.

I watch as he walks over to the other corner and types something out on his phone. He brings it up to his ear as his other hand rubs at his face. I feel shaky so I slip down the wall and pull my legs up to my chest before resting my chin on my knees. Hot sticky tears start to roll down my cheeks as I watch him scratch at his chin. Panic attacks aren’t a new thing for me, not at all.

They've followed me all the way up into adulthood and Joe has seen almost every single one since we were about nine. This, however, is the worst one that I’ve had since I was maybe twelve. It didn’t help that I always overthought things growing up. Joe was always there to talk those thoughts out with me as he is now. But this… this was my absolute worst fear playing out in front of me. I remember all those nights in high school where I’d text him about how my brain just wouldn’t shut off and that I couldn’t sleep.

He’d always known that was me telling him I felt an attack coming on. So he’d rush over from his house next door and cuddle with me to calm me. At first my dad never understood, until suddenly he just did. He started leaving the back door unlocked for Joe and I later found out my mother had told him how calm Joe made me.

“Hey. Me and y/n are kind of umm… stuck…” he explains into the phone, sort of snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Of course I’m fine. It’s y/n I’m worried about. She’s on the very edge of having a big attack,” he whispers into his phone and he rubs his neck as he listens to whoever he called.

“Yeah. No. I’ll be ok taking care of her. I’ve been with her through almost every attack. I know how to keep her calm,” he tells them before pausing to listen to them.

“Yes. I already called 911, they should be here in like five to ten minutes,” he answered whatever question was asked before shaking his head.

“Umm, I don’t know. Could you guys just be down there when they do get us out?” he asks and nods to a few things that are being said.

“Ok. Yeah. Thanks, man. We’ll see you soon,” he gives his goodbye before hanging up the phone.

He shoves his phone back in his pocket before turning around. He looks down at me before frowning and coming back over. He lowers himself down next to me before putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into his side again. I start to cry harder and he rubs my back as he coos softly to me. I basically sob into his shirt while gripping it and he just keeps massaging my back lightly while continuing to coo soft nothings in my ear.

“Hey, take a breath for me, please? Come on sweets, you can do it,” Joe’s voice comes out soft but authoritative as he still holds onto me.

“Hey. There she is…” he says proudly as he softly holds my cheeks in his hands and rubs my cheek for a moment as he gives me a soft smile.

He pulls away from me for a split second and takes his jacket off before he drapes the jacket over my shoulders. Then he quickly pulls me back into his side as he kisses the side of my forehead again, making me start to feel a little safer in his arms.

“It’s ok, sweetheart. I’m right here. I’m not leaving. Just pretend we’re home and cuddled up in your bed,” he tells me as he rubs his thumb in circles on my lower back under his jacket.

Back when Joe first found out he got the role of Steve, we were both so excited that his career would be taking off. Then we were sad because he had to move out of our LA apartment to go film. Not wanting to be away from me for long, he got me a job on the set as the “assistant” to the Duffer Brothers with production plans and decisions. So together we both moved to a new apartment and started our new jobs together. The girls always refer to us when we walk up as “and they were roommates!” before bursting into giggles. I schedule almost everything for Ross Duffer and sometimes I sit in meetings for him or I stay really late to help him with whatever he’d be doing on set.

I also help make sure everything on set is to the actors and actress' likings. We did keep our old apartment for when we were back in LA, but for the most part we both stay in Atlanta more times out of the year. I just have more hours and a lot of work sometimes, so Joe and I always drive separately. As of lately, though, we have been carpooling a lot of the time. My sobbing slowly starts to calm down, but as I do I start to feel dizzy. I let out a light whimper and I nuzzle my head into his neck.

“I promise we’ll be fine. I’ll get you out of here no matter what and when have I not kept a promise to my best girl, hmm?” he asks as he grips onto my hip and I jump, making him chuckle a little.

“Joe… I’m dizzy…” I groan out and he nods before placing another kiss on my forehead.

“I know. You always get dizzy after an attack. Just relax, ok. I’m not leaving you. I wouldn’t be able to leave you like this. It’d hurt too much to walk away. I love you, sweetheart,” he explains, his voice becoming breathless at the end as he pushes some of my hair away from my face.

My eyes grow wide as I look at him and he just gives me a small smile as he shrugs. He reaches up to my cheek that’s not against his shoulder and wipes a still falling tear.

Did Joe freaking Keery, my best friend since literal diapers, the guy I’ve lived with since graduating high school just tell me he loves me? No. I must just be imagining it after that attack…

“Do you wanna lay down? You still haven’t gotten your color back, sweetheart,” he asks after a moment and I nod before slowly moving.

I start to lay down with my cheek on his thigh and he lifts an arm before laying it on the upper part of my arm. I keep his jacket around me like a blanket and close my eyes as he starts to rub my head. He starts to hum one of the new songs he’s been working on and I let a light smile take form on my lips. Soon his humming stops and it grows quiet for a few minutes. I can only assume that we’re both desperate to think of a way out of this elevator, but the more I think about it the more panic starts to set in again.

“J…?” I whisper out with a hoarse voice from crying and I move to look up at him.

“What, sweetheart?” he asks as he looks down at me.

“Can you please, please, please just distract me? The silence is driving me insane and I don’t wanna overthink everything,” I admit and he smiles softly at me.

I push up off of him and he quickly wraps his arms around me, pulling me so I lean against him. I snuggle my face into his chest and he lets out a chuckle.

“Sweets, that tickles,” he notes as he laughs and I just shrug.

“Wait a minute, were you trying to do that?” he exclaims when he sees a coy smile on my lips.

“Maybe… you deserve it, though!” I joke and he rolls his eyes.

“Why! You sneaky little thing!” he shouts before he gives my side a little pinch.

We laugh for a few minutes before it goes quiet again so I slap his shoulder. He rubs at the place before shaking his head.

“What was that for?” he asks and I shrug.

“Talk to me. I can’t do the silence,” I explain and he nods his head.

“Ok. Ahh, let’s see… Do you remember freshman year homecoming?” he asks and I nod.

“Yeah. You almost did a Steve that night and got into a fight with Jimmy Kavinsky, Peter‘s little brother,” I remark and he rolls his eyes.

“I didn't turn into Steve! I would have done a lot better than my character in a fight,” he proclaims and I give him a ‘really?’ look.

“Joe. Jimmy’s always been bigger than you,” I deadpan and he groans.

“That’s not the point!” he shouts in frustration and I grab his hand.

“Ok. I’m sorry. What was the point?” I ask him calmly and he smiles.

“The point is that I was there with Sarah, but I thought you were the most beautiful girl there,” he exhales exasperatedly from how fast he had been talking, rolling his eyes at himself as I smile, squeezing his hand encouragingly.

“Then when I saw the look you had when Jimmy ditched you for Victoria, all I wanted to do was beat him and make you smile again,” he continues shaking his head as he frowns.

“It wasn’t right to me that he put a frown on your face. You should always have a smile and if anyone took that away…” he finishes off with a sigh while refusing to look at me and my eyes tear up for a second before I reach up for his cheeks.

“Awe, Joe…” I coo softly at him as I jokingly move his face around for a second. “If it helps, I didn’t want to go with him in the first place…” I remark and he gives me a confused look.

“What? But you talked about it for a week before he actually asked you,” he mutters and I shake my head, letting go of his face as I now play with a loose thread on my shorts.

“I only decided to go with him because you hadn’t asked me yet, you doofus,” I joke with him, now finally looking at him again and he still looks confused, so I sigh.

“Allison stupidly got it into my head that Jimmy liked me and that he should take me since you, and I quote, ‘oh so obviously’ weren’t going to ask apparently. So I became laser focused on him. As I do with everything I normally shouldn’t be focused on,” I explain with a light shrug and he perks up.

“Wait, you wanted me to ask you?” he asks, eyes lighting up in excitement and I giggle.

“Yes, Joe. I’ve only had a crush on you since we were ten, but who’s keeping track?” I joke with another lame shrug and he shakes his head.

“Wait, so I could have asked and you would have said yes?!” he shouts in shock and I giggle, nodding.

“Aww man, I’m such an idiot!” he exclaims as he rubs at his face, making me giggle again as I grab his hand and pull them away from his face.

“If it makes you feel better, I couldn’t stop thinking how handsome you were that night. I also just wanted to just run my hands through your hair,” I explain with a light smirk and he chuckles.

“What is it with you and my hair?” he asks me and I grin.

“What?! It’s just so cute and soft…” I murmur and he chuckles.

“It’s also not so bad when you have the Steve hair added to it after filming too,” I sheepishly admit and he smirks.

“So you have a thing for my hair, huh? Well I actually have a thing for yours too,” he explains as he reaches out to toy with a strand of mine.

“Your hair is actually just one of the many reasons I love you,” I whisper out as I look away.

It’s quiet for a minute and I decide to chance a look at him. When I do, I see his mouth slightly parted in shock and his eyes wide.

Was it really so bad that I love my best friend?

“I…I’m sorry. You probably meant-” I start to try apologizing, but I’m cut off when he slams his lips into mine.

At first I’m still in shock from being in the middle of saying something, but I slowly start to kiss back. My arms reach up and wrap around his neck as his hands stay firmly on my hips as he pulls me ever so closer. I find my hands moving up to grip his hair as he squeezes my hips.

Kissing him brings a pleasant warmth to my chest as he brings his hand up to my neck and holds me even closer. I feel his thumb rub my neck ever so sweetly, making more and more butterflies swarm my stomach. The kiss only lasts a few more minutes before we both pull away, breathing heavily.

He rubs his nose lightly against mine and I smile softly as his hand now lays on my cheek instead of my neck. He smiles softly as he pushes some of my hair out of my face and I feel a blush start to kick in so I shove my face into his neck, making him chuckle.

“Why you hiding from me, huh?” he asks as he squeezes my shoulder and I blush harder, shaking my head.

I start to say something, but get cut off by a loud ding and suddenly to our surprise, the doors of the elevator are sliding open. We both look up as they open, seeing Charlie and Natalia standing next to some paramedics. Slowly Joe helps me get up as he gets up too and he quickly hands me over to a paramedic.

“You go get checked out. I’m going to talk with Charlie and possibly the technician over there,” Joe tells me, but I grip his hand and shake my head.

“Not without you. Please…” I almost whimper, not wanting him to leave my side and he squeezes my hand.

“Sweetheart, you're ok. I promise I’ll come right back over in a minute. Natalia, will you stay with her?” he asks her and she nods.

“See, Natalia will be with you. I’ll be quick I promise, just wanna understand what happened,” he explains softly and I sigh, nodding before letting his hand go.

“Come on. Let’s get you looked at, yeah?” Natalia asks as she guides me over to a chair and one of the paramedics comes over.

“Hi. My name is Hen. I’m just gonna look you over and make sure you’re doing ok, alright, sweetie?” she questions and I nod to let her know that I’m ok with it.

“What happened in there, y/n? Are you ok?” Natalia queries as she fusses over me while I take a seat in one of the lobby chairs.

“I’m fine. Joe kept me sane,” I tell her as I look over at him and he looks over at us.

“Omg! You guys kissed, didn't you?!” Natalia exclaims at me with her eyes wide.

“No…” I reply, trailing off as I refuse to meet her eyes.

“Oh they so did,” Hen comments with a chuckle and I feel a blush creep up my neck.

“Ok… yeah, we did…” I admit, biting my lip and Natalia just grins.

“Y/n. Oh my gosh. It’s actually happening. I knew you guys would end up together. I told you,” she excitedly pushes my shoulder lightly.

“Yeah, yeah,” I reply with a playful eye roll.

Hen now asks me questions, if I could breathe properly and checks my heart rate as well as checking my blood pressure. Natalia hovers and it makes me roll my eyes with fondness at how she worries over me. Charlie and Joe stand over to the side talking with the tech, but Joe keeps looking over at us every so often.

“Well. You’re doing okay, I would just suggest that you rest up a bit after all this,” Hen informs me and I nod tiredly as I feel the exhaustion come over me.

“And here, take this,” Hen adds as she holds out some Advil for me along with a water bottle.

“How’d you know?” Natalia asks and Hen turns to look up at her.

“How’d I know what?” Hen asks in confusion and Natalia points to the advil.

“That she gets headaches after her panic attacks,” Natalia illuminates and Hen chuckles.

“A lot of people tend to. If you’ve been hyperventilating or anything that includes losing breath, you cut off circulation to the brain so it’ll definitely pack on a headache,” Hen expertly explains and Natalia nods along.

“That young man that was trapped with her asked my partner if we could make sure she got some just in case. He seems to know you and your panic attacks very well,” Hen tells us as she points over at Joe and I blush lightly.

“He’s been with me though all of them,” I shyly reply and she smiles up at me before she starts to put some stuff back in her bag.

“Well I’m glad you have someone to help you though. Not everyone does. Now get some rest, you’ll definitely feel a little drained,” Hen says as she finishes putting her stuff in her bag.

“Oh, she will be,” Natalia promises, making Hen smile softly as she stands, nodding before she leaves us be.

“He’s looking over here at you,” Natalia jokingly taunts me.

“I’m sure he’s only-” I start to again deny anything, but she cuts me off.

“Here he comes,” she excitedly tells me with a smile and I shake my head in disbelief at her.

“Hey. How’s she doing?” Joe asks her as he walks up to us.

“The paramedic said she’s doing just fine. She just suggested that she rests after the whole ordeal,” Natalia explains to him and I roll my eyes.

“Talia, I have work in the morning. Most rest I’ll be getting is an hour's sleep at the most now,” I retort with annoyance clear in my voice.

“What! But-” she goes to reprimand me, but she stops when a hand gets placed on her shoulder.

“Natalia, I got this. We’ll see you soon okay?” Joe softly asks her and she sighs before nodding.

“You make her rest, you hear me?” she asks him and he chuckles, throwing his hands up in surrender.

“Don’t you worry. I definitely will be,” he promises her and she nods one last final time.

“Good. Well then, I’ll leave you guys alone. Y/n, I better not see you on set at all today, got it?” she asks when she turns back to me and I sigh, nodding.

“Good. Now go and get really rested up. I’ll see you soon,” Natalia finalizes with a smile before nodding and walking away.

“Come on. Let’s get you home. You need rest,” Joe comments as he holds his hand out for me.

“But J, I really need to just go home and change,” I reply and he shakes his head.

“Why are you so stubborn? Let’s just get going, come on,” he groans out as he pulls me up and pulls me into his side as we start to walk.

“Sweetheart…” Joe sighs out as we start to see his car and I let out a hum.

“Please just call in sick. I’m sure the brothers will be okay with it. You really had a big one and need the rest,” Joe pleads with me as we get closer and closer to the car.

“J. I’ll be okay. I’ve made it on set with only an hour’s worth of sleep before. I can live off of none at all,” I joke and he stops us, pulling my hand to make me stop.

“Please just call in sick,” he begs again and I sigh, letting go of his hand to start walking without him.

“J. Really, I’ll be okay,” I tell him as I now stand next to the car and I hear him groan in frustration.

Suddenly I’m being pulled around and I look up into his eyes. I look at him in confusion with my lips parted from the light squeak I’d let out. I stare into his beautiful chocolate brown eyes that seem to be infused with a light green that I’d never noticed before and lose all thought as I only see pure worry swirling around.

“J… I’m okay…” I whisper out and he sighs, shaking his head.

He doesn’t even say a word, but I let out a confused hum as he lightly pushes me against the car. His hands now find my waist as his lips find mine and my arms come up around his neck. He kisses me for a moment before pulling away, sighing as he leans his forehead against mine.

“Let me reword that. Call in sick, stay home with me and we’ll cuddle all day and just spend the day together letting you rest,” he pleads with me one more time and then it clicks for me.

“Okay… I think that we can do…” I whisper out and he slowly grins.

“Yeah?” he asks and I smile, pecking his lips.

“Yeah. Let’s go home,” I confirm and now all the worry has seemingly left his body.

“Ok then. Let’s go home,” he happily agrees as he goes to pull away.

“Wait,” I call out as I pull him back in.

“What?” he asks and I just smirk at him.

“I want another kiss,” I tell him as I rub my thumb along his cheek and he chuckles.

“Okay…” he agrees before pulling me back into another kiss, but all too soon he pulls away again and I’m left groaning, making him laugh.

“Come on, you nut. Let’s get you home,” he chuckles, shaking his head.

“But I want more kisses,” I whine out and he shakes his head as he opens my door.

“You can steal all the ones you want when we get home,” he tells me as I get in and I grin up at him.

“You promise?” I playfully ask him and he chuckles, shaking his head again.

“I swear on my life, sweetheart,” he promises before closing my door and running around to his side.

“And you wanted to take the stairs…” he jokes with a playful roll of his eyes as he starts the car.

“Oh…! You…” I call out in my shock as I smack his arm and he chuckles.

“Hey. I’m just stating the truth,” he shrugs and I smile at him as I cuddle up to his arm.

“Oh, would you just be quiet,” I roll my eyes at him and he chuckles again as he continues to drive.

The End

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lambtotheslaughterr · 8 months

Text

Rise - Part Two

A Rafe Cameron Series

Chapter Two

WC: 6.4k

Dividers provided by @firefly-graphics

PART ONE | MASTERLIST | PART THREE

No one said anything for a long time. What could be said? Your own questions raced. All answers led back to the same thing. This was really happening.

The side roads proved to be easier to navigate but were like the highway; filled with abandoned cars. Every now & then, you would see a body or bodies. You winced every time. There was a never-ending sickening sensation in the pit of your stomach.

In the backseat, Micah stared out the window hard eyed, a fist covering his mouth. Millie sat still beside him, staring blankly into her lap. Nuha was crying quietly, calling the attention of Sayyed every now & then. He would often go back & forth between placing a comforting hand on your thigh to placing the same hand on Nuha’s knee.

Time passed as the wrangler moved forward. Sayyed was able to keep a constant speed of 50 mph along the back roads, traversing through smaller towns. It wasn’t long before you began to see signs for Atlanta. There would still be almost four hours until you all returned to the Florida border. At some point though, Sayyed began to slow down, his eyes narrowing at the rearview mirror.

“What’s wrong?” You questioned, peeking over your shoulder to see what he could possibly be looking at. Rafe was flashing his lights.

The two vehicles pulled over, & everyone piled out, stretching their legs as if they were all on a normal road trip.

“What?” Sayyed asked, his tone clipped.

Rafe ignored the tone, gesturing back to his truck, “We’re gonna need gas. We won’t make it back at this rate.”

Sayyed inhaled sharply, understanding the problem. You stood by his side, while your friends spoke quietly to one another.

“Then I guess that’s what we look for.”

“Maybe we’ll find a phone.” Millie commented, “A landline. You never know.”

Rafe rolled his eyes, but Sayyed nodded, offering a small smile, “Maybe.”

Less than five minutes later you rolled into a gas station. There were cars blocking all pumps, but they would be useless anyway. If cell phones weren’t working, why would a pump? Everything these days was computerized.

“Great idea.” Micah deadpanned, staring at the pumps.

“Shut up, dude.” Rafe crossed his arms, “You never siphon gas before?”

“Not a delinquent fuck-up, so no.”

“Dude.” Rafe’s nostrils flared.

“Guys. Quit.” Millie stared between the two.

Sayyed began walking towards the store connected to the station, “We can get stuff here for gas, stock up.”

Nuha, Kai, & Luka stayed behind with the cars while the rest of you moved forward. The store was unlocked. But that was the end of your good fortune. The shelves had been ransacked. Products littered the floor, broken glass crunched under the weight of everyone walking through.

Ignoring everyone else, you slid behind the counter, eyeing the few packs of cigarettes left behind. You weren’t a heavy smoker, only partaking in the habit socially when alcohol was involved, but desperate times…

You gathered the few you came across, all unpopular brands but you didn’t care. If this was the reality of the world right now then cigarettes would be few & far between. You had to get them where you could.

“Good idea.” You jumped, dropping a few packs.

Rafe stood behind you. Your eyes met but you quickly lowered yours. Instead you bent to pick up the packs; Rafe helped you.

“Are you okay?” He asked. You snorted, far from.

“Kind of a stupid question, Rafe.”

“I know but…” He sighed, cocking his head toward the rest of the store, “Your boyfriend is very gung-ho right now & I doubt he’s been checking in on you.”

The comment didn’t sit well with you. No one was reacting normally for the situation. This was unreal. Rafe’s subtle jab about your boyfriend upset you but you brushed it aside. Emotions were high, people were confused. Before you all discovered the state of the world, they had gotten into a tiff, the reason you still didn’t know why. But you wouldn’t feed into whatever it was Rafe was getting at.

“I’m fine, Rafe.” You stood, forcing a smile as you found a plastic bag for the packs, “Thanks.”

You felt him watching you as you grabbed a couple others random items from behind the counter.

“You guys find everything we need for gas?” You asked, not wanting him staring at you much longer.

“Yeah, guess when people ran through here in a panic they didn’t think this far ahead.”

Side-stepping Rafe, you were about to return to your friends when Rafe gently grabbed your elbow, “_____, seriously though. You know I’m here for you.”

Your eyes searched his. He was being genuine. Rafe was a lot of problematic things, things that you also happened to be, but he could also be a good friend when needed. You nodded, “I know. Let’s just get to where we need & hopefully things will begin to look up.”

“Yeah.” He let you go, “Hopefully.”

Sayyed & Rafe filled their tanks with gas from other cars in the parking lot & managed to get four or so gallons worth left over before hitting the road again. You were relieved that sleep claimed you not long after.

Sleep was fitful. But you slept through until Sayyed gently shook you awake. You wiped the sleep from your eyes, glancing at him worriedly.

“We’re outside Gainesville.” He informed you.

Your heart faltered. Had that day been a normal day, had the world you returned to been the same one you left, you would have been excited to go back home to your apartment & crawl into bed after showering off the four days of camping filth. But now, you only felt apprehensive.

“Are we going?” Sayyed was silent for a beat before he nodded, “I think it’d be good for us to get some things from our places. We can’t stay, we’ll be quick. But I think the others need it.”

“But the report said to avoid populated areas. Returning to campus…”

“I know.” He agreed, his voice low. It was then you noted that the three in the back were sleeping as well, “But if it’s a virus then we can get our masks, other stuff. Stores will be eviscerated to the likelihood of finding what we need is less likely. We have better luck getting what we need from what we already have.”

“I just don’t…” You stopped, pressing your lips together.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” With one hand on the wheel, he gripped your thigh firmly, protectively.

“Don’t make any promises you can’t keep.”

You weren’t the only one against the idea of stopping in Gainesville. Adrianna fought tooth & nail until the cars rolled up outside the frat house. She remained in Rafe’s truck, condemning you all for getting out, claiming one, if not all, of you would bring back the virus.

She wasn’t wrong, & her claim spiked your fear. It was the same reason you didn’t want to return. But you were never the go against the grain type. So you followed behind the others as they walked up the steps of the frat.

It looked like time had frozen. Red solo cups were still spotted here & there like a game of I Spy. The lawn had random objects fitting of a party that had been thrown the night prior. But the party had been almost a week ago. As you drove through campus, it was eerie. It wasn’t as unsettling as the highways had been but knowing that your small college town had become a ghost town still gave you a ghastly feeling.

You clung to Sayyed’s arm as Rafe & Bear stood by the double front doors, gently pushing them open.

“Boys!” Rafe hollered, his voice echoing back to him. You watched as Rafe & Bear traded wary looks.

“Maybe that’s a good sign.” Nuha noted, looking to her brother for confirmation.

“Nuha, you should go back to the car.” Sayyed said, “In case it’s… bad.”

“I’ve seen ‘bad’ plenty of times within this house.” You could see she was trying to steel herself.

“C’mon, Nuha.” You reached for her, “He’s right. There’s nothing for us in there anyway.”

She didn’t resist as you pulled her back to the car. Micah & Millie followed, realizing they too had no reason to go inside. But a morbid part of you wanted to, felt the need to. To see the worst of it. However, you knew, deep down, the worst would not be coming for a long while.

Back at the cars, you watched as Nuha, Micah, & Millie climbed into the wrangler. In Rafe’s truck, you could see Adrianna glaring heatedly at the frat house. You decided to try to see what was on her mind.

“I think it’s risky, too.” You began.

“Risky?” She spit the word, “It’s fucking moronic. It’s a goddamn virus that takes out mass populations. And they want to go walking into a mansion that housed over thirty of the school’s filthiest boys.”

“Yeah.” You sighed, “Maybe it’s where it originated from.”

Your attempt to lighten the mood is met with a contemptuous look.

“Great time for jokes, _____. Our classmates are dead, our families…”

“We don’t know that.” You bit out, surprised at your own resistance.

Adrianna finally softened, shaking her head, “I know. But… the chances. They are low, you know that.”

You shook your head, not wanting or needing to think on it. You were an only child & your parents weren’t as involved in your life as you would’ve liked, but they were still your parents. You thought about your mother sitting around her bedroom all alone, staring out the window, waiting for your dad to come home. And you imagined your dead flying some private jet over the Maldives. Perhaps their lifestyle & career saved them from the virus. You still had a reason to hope.

Muffled conversation sounded behind you & you spun around, watching as the boys came out one by one, a few bags in each of their hands.

“Essentials.” Sayyed raised a duffel as he approached you. One by one, he handed everyone a CDC approved mask. Rafe & Bear reluctantly took a couple for themselves after pushback from the group but didn’t wear them.

“This isn’t fucking COVID.” Adrianna reprimanded them from behind her mask, “It’s worse.”

“I believe in my genes.” Rafe countered.

You rolled your eyes, walking away. You were not a politically outspoken person, but even you felt the urge to ridicule his idiocy. Adrianna was right. It was obvious that whatever was ravaging the world was wholly & entirely worse.

There was no plan set after leaving Gainesville. You, Micah, & Millie stopped by your apartment, gathering a few items. For you it was a bag of clothes, toiletries (namely menstrual products), & a picture of your parents from before you were born. Back in the car, the loose plan was to drive to the coast towards Jacksonville. Adrianna said there would be a military base somewhere along the way.

But nearly thirty minutes on the road, Rafe flashed his lights for Sayyed to pull over.

“We’re not gonna get anywhere if you keep making us stop.” You heard Sayyed say as he hopped out of the SUV to talk to Rafe. Luka was with them.

Their conversation was muffled & fast, unable to make anything out. Sayyed eventually got back in the car, an annoyed expression across his face.

“What now?”

“We’re making another stop.”

“What?” You asked wide-eyed as he pulled back onto the road. Rafe overtook him, leading the way. “Where?”

Sayyed said nothing, only shaking his head.

You & Millie traded worried looks.

A few minutes later, after pulling into a quiet neighborhood outside Keystone Heights, Rafe’s truck pulled in front of a Mediterranean style home. You were in the middle of unbuckling yourself when you saw Luke bolt out of the truck, running towards the house.

“Hey!” Sayyed yelled, quickly following him.

You didn’t know what was happening, but you couldn’t deny being scared. What the hell was going on?!

“Luka!” Sayyed tried to catch up to him, but Luka disappeared as he dived into the front door of the house.

“Oh, shit.” Nuha breathed, hopping out.

“What? What is it?” You rushed out behind her, the others quickly joining. Sayyed was at the mouth of the door to the house, peering inside as he called out for Luka. Rafe rested against his truck, pulling out a cigarette from his own pack. He lit it, looking equally as bothered as Sayyed had.

“What the hell is going on?” You stepped towards him.

He shook his head, blowing out a cloud of smoke, “Luka’s parents.”

The fire you had felt brewing inside you quickly extinguished. You turned back to the house, your heart pounding. Oh, Luka…

Luka was not one of the people in your friend group you were very close to, but you knew well-enough that he was proud of where he came from. He was a family guy & was eager to become the next literary star to pay off his parent’s debt. All you really knew about his family is that his parent’s went bankrupt & were unable to pay for his college.

Sayyed eventually went inside the house after not hearing from Luka, Kai close behind. Kai & Luka were best friends after all. The rest of you stayed outside. You mimicked Rafe, picking a pack at random from the bag of smokes you took outside Atlanta. Rafe lit your cigarette as your fingers shook.

The group was silent, morbidly so. It was like waiting in the lobby of a hospital, wondering if a loved one made it through the 50/50 surgery or not. But considering the circumstances of the world then, the chances were violently lower.

You were about to light another cigarette when Sayyed & Kai finally appeared, Luka between them. They were dead, his parents. You didn’t need to ask or see for yourself. Luka’s vacant, red-eyed face said it all. He collapsed on the front lawn, his head in his knees. Kai stayed with him, his own eyes watering as he placed a comforting hand on his best friend’s back. Sayyed approached you, his eyes momentarily glancing at the cigarette between your fingers.

“So?” Rafe questioned. You elbowed him, “Rafe.”

Sayyed ignored him, gently grabbing you by the wrist to lead you away. You tossed one more glare at Rafe. He held up his hands, a cigarette dangling from between his lips.

“Asshole.” Sayyed grumbled once you two were a few feet away.

“They’re dead, I know.” You began, not needing to hear it.

“Yeah, but…” Sayyed inhaled sharply, casting his eyes at Luka. At this point, Nuha was hugging him as he cried.

“It wasn’t the virus.” Your eyes rounded.

“What do you mean it wasn’t the virus?” You kept your voice low, but it was difficult.

“There was a note.”

Oh, my god. You covered your mouth.

“We think it happened before.” Sayyed continued.

“Sayyed.” You croaked.

“There’s no way of actually knowing. It hasn’t been long, that much is obvious. But their note, it only says that they are sorry & that they love him.”

“What the fuck?” You couldn’t keep yourself from crying out just a little. “They were just gonna leave him…”

“We don’t know that, for sure.”

“Oh, please, Sayyed. Quit being so diplomatic.” You sneered, tearing your eyes to stare at Luka. You wanted to hold him.

“What matters is that we’re here for him.”

“His parents sure fucking wouldn’t be.”

“_____!” Sayyed tightened his voice.

You forced yourself to reign in your anger & pain for Luka. The world was fucking dying, yes, but one of your friends’ parents just left their bodies to be found by their son, whether or not they knew the world was falling apart.

“So, what now?”

Sayyed ran a hand through his unkept hair, “We bury them.”

You would have much rather been outside in the disease riddled word than curled up on the floor of Luka’s living room. The house was his grandpa’s. It was the only thing his parents managed to keep after losing all their money.

It was dark outside, as much as it was inside. The energy was depressing, reasonably so. Adrianna, being the only one with any medical background, was able to roughly determine when Luka’s parents passed. It was before. Their bodies maybe a week old.

Your heart crumbled for Luka all over again with the information.

But it was also with Adrianna’s recommendation that they don’t bury the bodies.

“With the virus, & with no way of testing, their bodies could still be carriers of the virus.” She told the group at the dining table. Luka was in the other room, laying on the couch, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. “We shouldn’t risk moving them. Any of us.” She had repeatedly firmly before Sayyed could argue.

“I’m not being a pragmatic bitch, Sayyed.” You could tell Sayyed wanted to counter that that’s not what he was thinking, but she continued, “It’s for all of us. We don’t know anything about this virus. How it gets transferred, the obvious symptoms, how long before said symptoms show, fucking nothing.”

“We cannot risk it.” She ended, “Not even for Luka’s peace of mind.”

Sayyed sat back, shaking his head, “It’s fucked up.”

Many of you nodded in agreement. It was silent for a while, as everyone likely thought of what you all could do. It was inhumane to leave their bodies up there, rotting. Luka would never get the image out of his head.

“We burn it down.” Your head shot up at Rafe’s suggestion.

Everyone turned to stare at him incredulously. He had his back to everyone as he ransacked the kitchen, pulling out any bottles of alcohol he could find. As much as you hated yourself for it, you wanted to be right there with him, desperate to swallow a fifth.

“You’re such an asshole…” Millie replied exasperated.

Rafe half scoffed, half laughed in return, shaking his head, “I don’t hear any of you coming up with anything.”

Adrianna nodded, “He’s right.”

Everyone looked at her, “When the details of a virus are unknown the next step is to contain it. Quarantine. Obviously it’s too late for that. But for the sake of Luka, we can’t leave his parents up there like that.”

“So, we burn the house down?” You shook your head.

“Yes.” She blinked, “We can’t go near them, more than we already have. Sayyed, you said Luka was the only one to touch them?”

“Yeah. Kai & I didn’t even enter the room.”

“That doesn’t make you guys safe but still.” Adrianna shrugged her shoulders, “We burn the house down, his parents with it. It’s the closest Luka will get to a burial & the best we can do to contain any potential exposure.”

“Aren’t we already fucked just by sitting here?” Micah asked next.

“Not exactly. I mean, it’s not ideal, obviously. But if his parents did pass before the virus reached this area, then we’re likely fine. But absolutely no one goes back up there. Not even Luka.”

“Guys.” It was Kai. He was standing in the threshold between the living room & dining room, “Keep it down. We can hear you out here.”

A cacophony of apologies sounded.

With that, everyone quieted down. Rafe brought over a handful of glasses & a couple bottles, placing them at the center of the table. Millie glared up at him, ready to share her thoughts when you hurried to grab a bottle, raising it, “To Luka’s parents.”

Rafe caught your eyes. You knew that wasn’t what he intended but you didn’t care. There was enough pain to be had that day.

Unshed tears blanketed your vision as the house in flames grew smaller in your side view mirror. It was the morning & the group would be moving forward. Luka didn’t say a word or put up a fight when Sayyed & Adrianna told him about their plans to burn the house down. He simply walked outside & got into Rafe’s truck.

Sayyed wore a mask & gloves as he took a gallon of gasoline into the house & began dispersing it throughout. By the time he made it outside, he had emptied what was left on the porch, tossing the gallon to Bear to catch. It was Rafe who lit the match.

No words were said as the last three climbed into the cars. A moment of silence passed as everyone watched the house go up in flames. Then Sayyed shifted into drive & drove away.

The world was truly ending.

“You grabbed the wrong fucking map.” Micah jabbed, “Perfect, Adrianna.”

Everyone was pulled over again, somewhere on Highway 100.

“It’s either Starke or Hampton, alright?” Adrianna returned sharply, “So get off my back.”

“Both of you, calm down.” Sayyed said exhaustedly, “We’re tired. It’s been a lot in less than 48 hours.”

“It’s Starke, I’m sure of it.” Adrianna turned her back on Micah to face Sayyed.

“Then we go there first.” Sayyed said, “If not, we move to Hampton. Not like it’s out of the way, huh?” Sayyed stared at Micah, challengingly.

“Whatever, man.”

“Mills.” You eyed her tiredly.

She raised her hand, knowing, “I got it.” She quickly gathered Micah & walked him back to the rear of the car.

“We make a decision yet?” Rafe hollered, his arm hanging out of the window of his truck. From where you stood, it was obvious he was shirtless. It was going to be a hot one that day & it wasn’t even noon.

“Starke.” Sayyed yelled back.

Adrianna huffed, stomping back towards the truck while Sayyed rolled up the map.

“What if it’s not there?” You paused to ask while no one was near.

“Like I said—”

“No, I mean what if the base is there, but no one is.”

He furrowed his brows, understanding what you were saying. “We’ll stay there for a while, it oughta be safer there than anywhere else right now, right?”

You shrugged in response. “I just want us to be safe.”

“We will be.” He cupped your cheek, his thumb caressing your skin, “But the more answers we have the safer we’ll be.”

Pressing your lips together, you nodded, “Okay.”

“You okay?” He brought his other hand up, now holding your face gently in his hands.

“No.” But you mustered a smile, “But if I’m with you, I’m okay as I’ll ever be.”

The military base was in Starke like Adrianna recalled. She gave Micah a triumphant smile when everyone piled out of the car. There was no one manning the gate & as you clung to the chain-link fence, peering into the compound, you couldn’t make out any movement.

“Looks real active, Anna.” Rafe commented sarcastically.

Adrianna sneered at him. She hated being called Anna.

“Only one way to find out.” Micah began climbing the fence.

“Micah!” Millie called out, racing forward, “Don’t you move another fucking inch.”

“Calm down, mom. If anyone was here I’d be dead by now.”

A shot rang out & everyone scrambled. Micah fell from the fence, landing on his back. Sayyed gathered you & Nuha & pushed you two inside the wrangler. Millie tried to run back for Micah, but you grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

From where you crouched in the backseat, Micah was breathing. Just not moving. There was no blood.

“Don’t shoot!” Adrianna ran over to Micah, standing over him with her arms up. “Please, don’t shoot!”

You peered around, looking for any sign of a gunman but you wouldn’t even know what to look for. But after a minute, from the far left, two men appeared in full tactical gear, their guns pointed at the ten of you hidden behind or inside the cars. One man approached the fence, his gun pointed directly at Adrianna.

“You’re trespassing on government property. Turn back now or we shoot.”

“No, wait, wait.” She crouched down, on her knees, “We just need some help.”

“There’s no help here.” The other man spoke. You could see neither of their faces behind the headgear they wore.

“But the radio—”

“I don’t care what the radio says, I’m telling you, there’s nothing for you here!” The first man shouted.

“Okay, okay, look.” Adrianna began, but before she could, you felt something rustle behind you. Before you could stop him, Sayyed stepped out from behind the wrangler, his hands up. Both men turned their guns onto him.

“We’re not sick.”

“We don’t care.”

“He’s right! We’re not!” Adrianna backed him up as Sayyed stepped forward.

“Move one more step, kid, & I’ll blow your brains out.” The threat made you cry out. Nuha clung to you, her teeth sinking into her lip.

“Look. I’m gonna stop moving, okay? I’m not moving.” Sayyed copied Adrianna, positioning himself on his knees, “But I’m going to talk & you’re going to hear what we have to say & if you still decide you can’t help us then we’ll leave. No fighting back. Promise.”

The men said nothing but kept their guns trained.

“We,” Sayyed gestured to the whole group, “have been off grid since last week. We’ve been camping at Cloudland’s National Park in Georgia. When we left to go camping, we left the world we knew. But when we came back—which was yesterday—” Sayyed stopped to swallow, “We don’t know what’s going on. Alright, we’re scared, we’re confused, we don’t know what the fuck to do!” Sayyed raised his voice, his frustration coming out.

“So, if you can’t help us like the radio said you could then at least point us in the direction where we can get some.” Sayyed huffed, catching his breath, “That’s all. We’re just looking for some answers. Trying to survive.”

Silence dragged on, making your nerves skyrocket. Any second you expected more shots to ring out & for your boyfriend & two of your friends to be lying dead at the gate to what was supposed to be salvation. But no shots came.

Then, finally, one of the men lowered his gun. He gestured to the other to do the same.

“Are any of you showing symptoms?”

“We don’t even know what the symptoms are.” Adrianna collapsed to her butt. You felt your muscles release but didn’t dare move from the wrangler.

“Coughing, trouble breathing, watery eyes, bodily pain, fits of anger.”

“I think we’re all pretty fucking angry.” Micah finally coughed out, “Knocked the fuckin’ wind out of me.” Adrianna helped him to a sitting position as he massaged his back.

“Uncontrollable anger. Especially when you don’t have a reason to be angry.”

“Think that’ll be hard to judge now.” You spun your head around to see Rafe. When had he snuck into the wrangler?

“You alright?” He asked. You frowned but nodded, turning your attention back to the scene before you.

“No, okay, no symptoms. Is there a test we can take?” Sayyed asked, “We’ll take it now.”

“No test exists.” The second man responded, “The virus came too quick for anyone of importance to get one made.”

It went without saying that hope for finding out what was causing this & why plummeted.

“So, what do we do?” Sayyed shook his head, “Just wait to die?”

“No.” The first soldier swung his gun back onto his back before crossing to the guard station just inside the gate. In mere seconds, a motorized drill sounded just before the gate began to jostle itself open.

“You come with us.”

A shower never felt so good. You could’ve stayed under the cool water for hours, basking in the relief you finally felt. Anything to avoid stepping back out into reality. But reality must be had whether you want to face it or not.

All the girls were roomed together in one bunker, the boys in another. The two soldiers—Corporal Tobias & Staff Sergeant Severson—allowed the ten of you into the compound after a procedural check of symptoms. You, like most of your friends, were hesitant to go with them after they pointed their guns at you & threatened a violent death. More so, they had said there was no help there. But still, you all went with them.

And you couldn’t deny that you were happy you had. The shower, having a hot meal, wearing a clean set of clothes with fresh underwear almost made you forget about the world outside.

Once everyone was cleared, the soldiers had you all de-contaminate before leading you to your respective bunkers.

After getting dressed, you & Millie walked to the mess hall that was at the center of the building. Everyone was already there, except for Kai & Luka. You didn’t need to ask why they weren’t present. No one told the soldiers about Luka’s family, & you weren’t sure that was a good idea—to lie—but didn’t say anything.

Tobias & Severson weren’t much older than you all. Tobias in his late 20’s, Severson in his early 30’s. But they didn’t look it. They had bags under their eyes, their skin paler than their natural shades. It had only been a week since the world ended but they looked as if they had lived through the end of the world over a hundred times. But you could tell that they were reluctantly pleased to have others nearby.

After pleasantries & small talk over lunch, someone finally asked one of the important questions.

“So, how many people in a room is considered deadly?” Bear’s questioned silenced the table.

You gripped Sayyed’s hand, scared of the answer.

Severson, the higher ranking of the two, cleared his throat before answering, “As far as we know, it doesn’t exactly work like that?”

“How do you mean?” Adrianna, who sat closest to them, clasped her hands together atop the table.

“Like any virus, it travels from person to person, so logically speaking even two people in a room is deadly to either person.” Severson clicked his tongue, “But of course, that’s only if one is a carrier. This virus works similarly, obviously, but differently, too.”

“What we know, at least the information we were fed at this base, is for the virus to be truly deadly, there must be multiple carriers in a room compared to those who are not. So, say one of us here is a carrier, has the symptoms, it isn’t guaranteed any one of us will catch it. Of course, nothing is 100% without the science to back it up. But this virus in particular is more deadly in numbers. The more carriers the more deadly. If half of us in this room are carriers, has the symptoms, then we’re already dead. You have to terminate the carrier, regardless. But if the carriers are gathered together, their viral contraction, the infection becomes impossible to beat.”

You sat quietly, absorbing the information. It made clear sense why places of high population were deadly; why the virus spread rapidly. But what did that mean for places of low population.

As if reading your mind, Rafe spoke next, “So why is Starke completely void of life?”

“Panic.” Tobias responded this time, “Everyone rushed to get away from populated areas, even the smaller ones. Then everyone got caught on the highways, a viral playing ground for the disease. And one by one, they began to drop. The less people the better. But it’s important to note that like any virus in our world’s history, they progress, they adapt, new strains are born. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if one day just two people being in a room together will be deadly to both.”

The thought discomforted you. A world where to survive you had to be entirely alone.

“Well.” Rafe cut the silence, “That sounds depressing as hell so I’m breaking out the good shit.”

Reaching into a backpack at his feet, Rafe produced two bottles of liquor.

“We got scotch whiskey & tequila.” Rafe smirked proudly.

At that, Severson grinned, laughing jovially. It was an odd yet welcoming sound considering the circumstances of the world.

“I sure am glad I let you kids in.” He stood, clapping his hands together, “Tobias, get the glasses. We got a long night ahead of us!”

Time was nonexistent inside the mess hall. Severson & Tobias were surprisingly excellent hosts as drinks got poured. It felt like it had been ages since you relaxed with the warmth of alcohol swimming through your bloodstream. Sayyed was smiling a wide smile you felt like you hadn’t seen in years. All your friends were in higher spirits thanks to Rafe’s alcoholic tendencies. It was a special night in a horrible world. And you wanted to bask in it for as long as you could. Especially since it was unknown when a night like this would come next.

At some point during the evening, Adrianna had gotten so drunk she was beginning to get handsy with Tobias, who was welcoming of her advances. You had nearly stepped in, though you were heavily inebriated yourself, but Millie beat you to it.

“Hey, let’s go lay down.” Millie moved to sit next to Adrianna. You watched with a swaying vision as Millie tried to coax Adrianna back to the girl’s bunk. It looked to be unsuccessful so far. But then a conversation between Sayyed & Severson caught your attention.

“If you don’t mind me asking, realistically, how long could you guys live here for?” No one else at the table heard the question Sayyed asked, which meant no one saw the sudden change in mood from Severson as he lowered his drink & narrowed his eyes at your boyfriend.

Immediately, you wanted to get between them, not that there was really any physical means to, but the look Severson was throwing at Sayyed made your protective instincts kick in.

“I’m going to say this now & say this once while your friends are drunk in their own worlds, but you will not be staying here.” Severson finished the rest of what was in his glass, setting it down none-so-gently. “There is no government, no military, no safety net. It is every man for himself. Now, we’ve taken you in, we’re sharing what we know, we’re having a decent night, but don’t mistake our hospitality as a homestay. We’ll give you enough to get started out there, but after tomorrow night, you & your friends.” He leaned forward, his voice lowering, “You’re on your own.”

Sayyed said nothing but you could feel the boiling resentment beneath his cool façade. You placed your hand on his thigh, attempting to distract him. Severson just promised to put you & your friends back out on the streets to fend for themselves, drinks are flowing, temperaments would skyrocket if they got wind of all that just then. You needed to stomp out the flames before they set everything ablaze.

To your thanks, though, Severson dropped the steely, hard gaze & grinned widely. He slapped Sayyed on the shoulder, but you didn’t miss how his fingers dug into your boyfriend’s shoulder.

“It’s been a wonderful night, kids.” He stood, addressing the group, “But I’m retiring for the evening. Thank you for the drinks. We’ll see you at oh eight-hundred.”

“No, you won’t.” Rafe threw back, his face singed with red from the alcohol, but he was laughing as he did.

Most cheered along with him, looking forward to a night of forgetting & a morning of sleeping away the nightmares of the day. Severson returned a tight smile but nodded, taking one glance at Tobias before leaving.

Once Severson was far enough away, you leaned into Sayyed, “We’ll be okay.”

He looked at you as if he was shocked you were there. He must’ve not expected anyone to be paying attention to what he & Severson spoke about.

You took his hand in yours, holding them tightly, “We will be okay, Sayyed. We don’t need them. We’ll take what they give us & find somewhere else. The less people the better, remember?”

“Just thinking about the future.” You understood but you wanted him for one night, before embarking into a new world, to be present.

“I love you.” You kissed his jaw, just below his ear.

He smiled, though it was small, “You.”

You felt like crying as someone shook you. You weren’t dreaming but wherever you were in your sleep was far better than anywhere else awake. But the shaking wouldn’t stop. Slowly, you felt yourself returning to the waking world.

“Five more minutes, please.” You grumbled, wrestling the sheet of the twin bed higher up & over your face.

“_____.” It was Sayyed’s voice, & more, it was full of concern, “Wake up. It’s important.”

You sat up immediately, your dream world long forgotten. You grasped his arms, “What’s wrong?”

Over his shoulder, you noticed Adrianna, Nuha, & Millie were all gone.

“Where are—”

“Come with me.” He spoke quietly, like he was sneaking around. Your nerves shot through the rough as you stumbled behind him, your motor function not yet fully awake. But you managed to cling to him as he sped-walk the two of you down the hall, into & across the mess hall & to the bunker where the boys stayed.

“It’s Luka.”

You were about to ask what about Luka when Sayyed slipped inside a cracked door halfway down the hall. You were stunned to see all your friends already there. You felt your lips part in confusion until you took in all their facial expressions. From Rafe’s empty but hardened stare at the concrete floor to Adrianna’s angry pacing at the edge of the room, you knew something bad happened.

As Sayyed led you through your friends, you felt yourself gasp as you finally saw the cause of everyone’s distress.

On a bed like your own on the other end of the compound, lied Luka. Shaking, graying skin, crusted eyes. His nails dug into the skin at his sides, as if he was trying to peel his skin off.

“He’s sick.” Kai’s voice shook, but he stared heart-brokenly down at his best friend who looked on the brink of death.

“He’s more than sick.” Adrianna whispered harshly from across the room. Her next words sent a spike of fear straight through your heart.

“He has it.”

sorry it took so long to get part two out. been a busy adulting bee.

as always please let me know what you think via comments, reblogs with reviews &/or tags, or dropping an ask. i love all the love ya'll can spare. thank you thank you thank you for reading!

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[my love language is words of affirmation, it would make my day if you could comment your thoughts, reblog with tags, or drop an ask that shows your support. thank you for reading tumblr writers, we appreciate you]

taglist: @totallynotkaibiased @rottenstyx

if you want to be added to a tag list, comment whether you want to be tagged for a character, a series, or in general, otherwise it will be dismissed.

#dark!rafe cameron #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron #dark!fic #dark!fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction #non con fic #dark!outer banks #rise the series #rise part two

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minaminokyoko · 8 months

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This post won't get any notes and I don't fucking care--I CLIMBED MOUNT PADALECKI TODAY.

So Atlanta Comic Con is this weekend and I saw that Jared Padalecki was going, but what's CRAZY is his rates were half what they are at SPN cons so it meant he was now within my price range ($160 for the photo op, $140 for the autograph) so I saved up and me and my friend @batmarg drove up to see him at the GA World Congress Center.

So we did the autograph first. I told him that it means a lot to me that Sam is kind of an outcast and has this anxiety and anger issues, and that I really enjoyed the performance. He was so sweet and gracious and told me I looked pretty, which is so awesome.

I also got to meet Ron Perlman at his autograph table. He's a man of few words, but he made a couple of chuckleworthy jokes and thanked me for coming out to see him, and he gave us each a fist bump! It was a legendary moment, no pun intended. What a guy.

As for the photo op with Jared, that also has a little giggle moment attached to it. I always ask actors or celebrities if a hug is okay--I never want to be disrespectful and do something outside of their comfort zone--and he grins at me and says "I fucking LOVE hugs" and then gathers me up in his arms and SQUISHES ME INTO HIM SO NICE AND TIGHT. Oh, it was PERFECT. See, I'm 5'8'' and that's 3 inches taller than the average American girl, so I kind of have a little bit of a complex where I like guys over six feet tall because I just feel safer when they hug me, and I didn't even ask him to squish me but he did it anyway and I am OVER THE FUCKING MOON ABOUT IT. I love, love, love being squished by tall celebrities, so he really did make my day, month, year, and life with that. I'm so grateful I got to meet him and without having to fly to an SPN con and pay $300-350 for it too. If nothing else, I thank 2024 for letting me have this one tiny little thing in the field of misery that is my life.

Thanks for everything, Moose! It was wonderful meeting you. <3

#Jared Padalecki #Sam Winchester #Supernatural #SPN #Supernatural CW #Atlanta #Atlanta Comic Con #Comic Con #photo op #cosplay #hugs #huggging #Ron Perlman #Hellboy

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beardedmrbean · 1 year

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ATLANTA (AP) — A new reactor at a nuclear power plant in Georgia has entered commercial operation, becoming the first new American reactor built from scratch in decades.

Georgia Power Co. announced Monday that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, has completed testing and is now sending power to the grid reliably.

At its full output of 1,100 megawatts of electricity, Unit 3 can power 500,000 homes and businesses. Utilities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are receiving the electricity.

Nuclear power now makes up about 25% of the generation of Georgia Power, the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co.

A fourth reactor is also nearing completion at the site, where two earlier reactors have been generating electricity for decades. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday said radioactive fuel could be loaded into Unit 4, a step expected to take place before the end of September. Unit 4 is scheduled to enter commercial operation by March.

The third and fourth reactors were originally supposed to cost $14 billion, but are now on track to cost their owners $31 billion. That doesn’t include $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the owners to walk away from the project. That brings total spending to almost $35 billion.

The third reactor was supposed to start generating power in 2016 when construction began in 2009.

Vogtle is important because government officials and some utilities are again looking to nuclear power to alleviate climate change by generating electricity without burning natural gas, coal and oil.

“This project shows just how new nuclear can and will play a critical role in achieving a clean energy future for the United States,” Southern Co. CEO Chris Womack said in a statement. “Bringing this unit safely into service is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our teams at Southern Company and the thousands of additional workers who have helped build that future at this site.”

In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power currently owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Oglethorpe and MEAG plan to sell power to cooperatives and municipal utilities across Georgia, as well in Jacksonville, Florida, and parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers are already paying part of the financing cost and elected public service commissioners have approved a monthly rate increase of $3.78 a month for residential customers as soon as the third unit begins generating power. That could hit bills in August, two months after residential customers saw a $16-a-month increase to pay for higher fuel costs.

Commissioners will decide later who pays for the remainder of the costs of Vogtle, including the fourth reactor.

#nunyas news

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talentsoup · 3 months

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Hey Atlanta Talent! Overnight shoot for a gas station brand: $1700*/10hrs

A national gas station brand is shooting OVERNIGHT in an Atlanta location and is looking for fun and funky folks! Pays $1700* for 10 hours on location.

HERE IS WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR / INFO-

All flavors of diverse, quirky, charismatic models and actors, with a great smile and look!

Ages 20-55 years old

Within 125 miles of Atlanta

Remember, this is shooting OVERNIGHT at an Atlanta gas station location, TBD.

Usage: Exclusive license for unlimited use of full photographic shoot library for 2 years across all media.2-year license period begins upon first appearance of talent in published media

Shoot Dates: June 27th (overnight shoot 27th going into 28th)

Submission Instructions:

IF you are registered in TalentSoup (fast and free to get in the mix), fit the age bracket, and live within 125 miles of Atlanta, you will be submitted automatically.

NOT IN THE SOUP?

If you are NOT in the Soup, go register at www.talentsoup.com as Talent (it's fast and free), fill out ALL OF THE TABS, upload AT LEAST 2 PHOTOS and you will be submitted, automatically, for this and ALL matching projects. We book talent nationwide

*Pays $1700 ($500 for session, $1200 Usage) / 10 hours OVERNIGHT SHOOTING. That is the PRO rate, If you have a free (Entry) account, rates are 20% less than Pro!

Questions email [email protected]

Register this and all other projects at http://www.talentsoup.com. Free and paid accounts are submitted to all matching projects automatically. Paying (Pro) accounts get priority placement, keep 100% of their booked $$ rate, and more benefits. See the site for details on the Pro account. * Free accounts (Entry) are charged 20% of the booked rate and seen by clients after the Pro accounts.

#webookbetter #casting #castingcall #atlmodels #atlactor #atlactors #atlantaactor #atlantamodel #atlantamodels #atlcasting #atlantacasting

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firstaidspray · 10 months

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Got You Where I Want You Chapter 2 - Atlanta

Rating: Explicit, 18+

Media: Talladega Nights

Pairing: Reese Bobby/Nonia Fonzarelli (OC)

Word Count: ~10k

CW: Alcohol, smoking, physical fighting, injury, car crash mention, NSFW (NSFW tags under the cut)

🏁 READ HERE 🏁

Summary: A deadbeat dad loser and a nihilistic, self-loathing gas station employee fall in love...because of a car.

Chapter Summary: At a Talladega 500 viewing party at work, Nonia gets into an altercation because she can't grapple with her feelings for Reese. To her surprise, a couple of days later, she has to confront them head on, as Reese asks her on a date. Ricky also makes a surprise appearance in her life, in a way she doesn't expect.

(YES FINALLY, chapter two of my Reese and Nonia bullshit is done!! This chapter is really fun imo, I hope you guys like it!)

NSFW tags:

PiV, unprotected sex, creampie, heavy petting, biting. Pretty mild stuff for now.

#my writing #nonia fonzarelli #reese bobby #fic: got you where i want you

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brookstonalmanac · 7 months

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Events 3.16 (after 1970)

1977 – Assassination of Kamal Jumblatt, the main leader of the anti-government forces in the Lebanese Civil War. 1978 – Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro is kidnapped; he is later murdered by his captors. 1978 – A Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 crashes near Gabare, Bulgaria, killing 73. 1978 – Supertanker Amoco Cadiz splits in two after running aground on the Portsall Rocks, three miles off the coast of Brittany, resulting in the largest oil spill in history at that time. 1979 – Sino-Vietnamese War: The People's Liberation Army crosses the border back into China, ending the war. 1984 – William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Lebanon, is kidnapped by Hezbollah; he later dies in captivity. 1985 – Associated Press newsman Terry Anderson is taken hostage in Beirut; he is not released until December 1991. 1988 – Iran–Contra affair: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter are indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. 1988 – Halabja chemical attack: The Kurdish town of Halabja in Iraq is attacked with a mix of poison gas and nerve agents on the orders of Saddam Hussein, killing 5,000 people and injuring about 10,000 people. 1988 – The Troubles: Ulster loyalist militant Michael Stone attacks a Provisional IRA funeral in Belfast with pistols and grenades. Three persons, one of them a member of PIRA are killed, and more than 60 others are wounded. 1995 – Mississippi formally ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment was officially ratified in 1865. 2001 – A series of bomb blasts in the city of Shijiazhuang, China kill 108 people and injure 38 others, the biggest mass murder in China in decades. 2003 – American activist Rachel Corrie is killed in Rafah by being run over by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer while trying to obstruct the demolition of a home. 2005 – Israel officially hands over Jericho to Palestinian control. 2010 – The Kasubi Tombs, Uganda's only cultural World Heritage Site, are destroyed in a fire. 2012 – Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first batter in history to score 100 centuries in international cricket. 2014 – Crimea votes in a controversial referendum to secede from Ukraine to join Russia. 2016 – A bomb detonates in a bus carrying government employees in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 15 and injuring at least 30. 2016 – Two suicide bombers detonate their explosives at a mosque during morning prayer on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Nigeria, killing 24 and injuring 18. 2020 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls by 2,997.10, the single largest point drop in history and the second-largest percentage drop ever at 12.93%, an even greater crash than Black Monday (1929). This follows the U.S. Federal Reserve announcing that it will cut its target interest rate to 0–0.25%. 2021 – Atlanta spa shootings: Eight people are killed and one is injured in a trio of shootings at spas in and near Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. A suspect is arrested the same day. 2022 – A 7.4-magnitude earthquake occurs off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, killing 4 people and injuring 225.

#Events

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onewayglobalservice · 11 months

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Limousines are multi-skilled vehicles that enhance your movement. Getting a limo service is a wiser decision to make for comfortable airport trips, celebration tours, or going for special events.

#cheap limonservice nj #limo rental miami rates #affordable limo service atlanta #limo rental atlanta ga

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georgiagassavings · 2 years

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Georgia Home Heating Safety Reminders

New Post has been published on https://www.georgiagassavings.com/blog/georgia-home-heating-safety-reminders/

Georgia Home Heating Safety Reminders

Home Heating Safety Tips for Winter

Curling up in front of the fire with the family is a great way to keep warm and reduce your natural gas bills. But be sure to do it safely with our home heating safety tips!

Home heating prices have been getting a lot of column inches lately, with recession fears on the rise and energy rates far from cheap. But it’s made some Georgia locals get creative with their home power set-up. With many of us welcoming log burners and open fireplaces back on the menu this winter, it’s high time for a good old-fashioned home heating safety PSA. To wit, here’s some of the best do’s and don’ts to make sure you’re staying safe whilst you’re staying warm this season…

Locate Your Natural Gas Shut-Off Valve!

And practice using it, too! Knowing where to find it can be tricky enough. Homes with gas furnaces are required to have shut off valves on the gas lines that lead to the furnace. The same applies for natural gas water heaters, dryers, and stoves. If you are a bit fuzzy on the details, do yourself a favor and go check now. The main shut off valve to your home is usually located next to your natural gas meter. Remember – these things can be stiff to move. So if you need a wrench to help you turn it, make sure there’s always one nearby. Hey, good thing you checked in advance, huh?

If you smell rotten Eggs – get out!

If you think it’s weird that natural gas smells like rotten eggs, well you’d be right. It ain’t natural. In fact, natural gas is naturally odorless! They lace it with mercaptan to give it that alarming pong, making it easier for us all to detect leaks.

So if you catch a whiff of past-their-prime eggs, take action immediately! Don’t try to find the leak. Avoid using any source of ignition (like using your mobile phone, or, duh, smoking). Just get outside to some fresh air, and call AGL ASAP.

Never Leave a Fire Unguarded!

If you’ve got a fire going in your fireplace, don’t leave alone. Open flames have the speed and gymnastic talent of an Olympic medalist, and they’ll spread like, well, like wildfire, given the chance. So fully snuff out fires when you leave the house or go to bed. And if you’re in a different room, always put up a fire guard. Especially if your wood has high moisture or sap content, as these ones will really crackle and pop when burning.

Maintain your Chimney for Peak Home Heating Safety!

Make sure you’re getting it swept at least once a year – twice, ideally. Victorian child labor policies may have given it a bad name, but chimney sweeping truly is the best way to scour off all the toxic residue that accumulates from the smoke your fire produces. Not only can this residue prove potentially poisonous, it’s also highly flammable! And let’s just say, chimney fires rarely stick to just the chimney…

For Goodness Sake Get a Fire Extinguisher

Dumping a bucket of cold water on an over-enthusiastic fire might feel the most instinctive thing to do. But it’s likely to produce heavy and unpleasant smoke that’ll blow right back into your home. Instead, make sure you’ve invested in a domestic fire extinguisher that you keep in the room somewhere nearby.

Act on These Home Heating Safety Reminders Today!

It’s no bad idea to supplement your home heating supply with some good ol’ fashioned log burners. But stay alert, and stay prepared! Make sure you have the tools to manage an emergency, and the foresight to stop that emergency happening in the first place. So, folks, here endeth the Georgia home heating safety reminder sermon. But keep tabs on us for more home energy tips at www.GeorgiaGasSavings.com!

#Atlanta Natural Gas Prices #Home Heating in Georgia #Market Rates #Save Money #Winter in Georgia

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raya-hunter01 · 2 months

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What Are We? Pt. 1/2

What Are We?

Jey Uso X OC (Kayla)

Sefa

Roman X Jade

Jimmy X Trin

Rhea Ripley

Rating: 18+ Warning: Smut; sex, fluff, couple arguing, making up

Jey and Kayla have been friends and lovers for years. What happens when Kayla is tired of Jey asking for space instead of putting a label on what their relationship is. The script is flipped when Kayla is the one who asks for space and cuts off contact with Jey for six months, even moving out of the state.

What happens when Rhea, Bianca, and Trin invite Kayla to celebrate her birthday in Pensacola and Jey finds out? Can he finally admit he loves her or are they better off apart? This was requested by @royalkay23 thank you for being so patient and I hope you like it thus far.

Savannah, GA

“I ain’t comin’ Jey is going to be breathin’ down my neck.”

“And your ass know you gon’ fold like that chair I hit Becky with the other night,” Bianca said chuckling.

“Kayla, I need you to trust us, we have the whole weekend planned and you need this,” Jade pleaded as I sighed looking into the camera.

This was our weekly thing to do to talk on facetime once a week.

“Ya’ll I don’t know, I been trying to stay under the grid since I left Pensacola.”

“I promise we went Lowkey for your birthday this time. We got a little staycation with some activities planned and a little party. You don’t even have to go to the house show on Saturday if you don’t want too” Trin said pouting trying to make me feel guilty.

“I don’t want to see him ya’ll,” I whispered as I heard Jade fake cough muttering “bullshit” as I rolled my eyes.

Damn, she could always read me like a book.

“Jey is leaving for Atlanta; he won’t be here I promise. It’s a mini girl’s weekend celebrating your birthday,” Bianca swore as I chuckled.

It was nice they were trying to plan something nice for me, but I knew Jey. If he knew I was coming, he would be there with bells on trying to talk and I ain’t in the mood. He made his choice, and I made mine.

“Girl come on and turn up for your birthday,” Trin said making me laugh.

“Yes, let us celebrate you Kayla, let’s have some fun.” Rhea begged as I finally agreed. “Fine, I will be there but why do I have the feeling ya’ll setting me up.”

Six months earlier

Pensacola, FL

Jey's House

“So why would she show up here?” I asked as Jey wiped the sweat from his brow. “You really wanna talk about it now after we’ve just had sex.”

“Didn’t the bitch just knock on the door, trying to get in here!”

“I sent her ass away, I ain’t tryin’ to argue baby we’ve had a nice weekend together. Damn, sometimes I just wish I was single,” he said as I looked at him getting a familiar feeling.

But not this time, I was gonna get his ass first.

“Well let me help you out, I’m leaving, and you can be single and up in every piece of ass you see fit to be in.” I said pulling away from him.

“Kayla, I didn’t mean-”

“I can’t believe I feel for it again,” I hissed getting up putting my shirt back on. “Come on Kayla don’t go,” Jey pleaded as I searched for my skirt. “No, I need to go because once again you want to play games, Jey,” I said as he got out of bed trying to stop me from leaving.

“I didn’t tell her to come by, Kayla,” Jey said as I scurried around the room gathering clothing in my hands. His ex had just come by and had given this song and dance about wanting him back. Now I never met her, but I’m pissed because she’s the reason he can’t commit.

She also worked for the WWE as well which made it worse that he saw her a lot at work.

“Kayla, please can we just talk about this,” Jey pleaded as I shook my head putting on my shoes.

“Why? I know the drill; she is fucking with your head and now you’re not sure what we are all of a sudden and now you want space.”

“I don’t want to make it complicated Kayla, I been through some fucked up shit.”

“We’ve been sleeping together for years Jey; we are past complicated now. Every time we get close to putting a name on it you freak out or something happens that makes you question us.”

“So, you just gon’ leave now. Kay, I don’t want you to go,” Jey pleaded as I pushed him away.

“I ain’t getting back in bed with a man who doesn’t see himself being in a relationship with me.” I was tired and just wanted to go home. This was the last time I was falling for this bullshit.

“Kayla, I need you to understand-”

“Oh I understand, you like me but not enough to be in a relationship with me?"

“I never said that bae.”

“Your actions show me that you want me to share my body with you, do couple things such as have sex, go on dates, be there for you when you’re going through shit but you don’t want to be in a relationship with me?”

“Ok, that sounds shitty-”

“Because it is shitty Jey, but you ain’t gotta worry about it no more. I want you have a nice life and I hope you find what you’re looking for. Storming out of the bedroom.

“Kay, don’t do this-”

“Do what? Choose myself? Stop being your fuckin’ toy that you pick up off the shelf and play with when you get bored of other bitches?!” I screamed as Jey grabbed me by the arms stopping my rant, making me look at him.

“OK, dat’s it GOTDAMNIT!” The anger radiating off him seeping into me as well. Hell, I was pissed and fed up.

“Let me go, Josh!” I yelled as he invaded my space making me look at him.

“You ain’t no fuckin’ toy, I lo-”

“You what Josh?!......The silence pissing me off even further.

“Speak! Damn it!”

“Look just don’t let me hear you say some shit like that ever again. You ain’t no toy I just play wit and you know it.” Jey said more calmer as I scoffed heading towards the door.

“Don’t come by my house because I won’t be there, and don’t call my mom either. I just need some space Josh.”

The shock and look of disbelief on his face would have made me laugh if it wasn’t so sad. Throwing his words back at him had struck a nerve and knew it.

“Kay, you don’t mean that let’s just talk-”

“Never expected to hear those words from me, did you? Well, Josh I think we need some space from each other.”

And with that I slammed the door not only Jey but whatever we were to each other.

"Damn, we been through so shit." Thinking about that day was the last thing I wanted but the memory always came flooding back at the wrong time.

It took a lot of strength to walk away, but when you tired, you tired.I loved him and I knew he loved me, but I had to choose myself in that moment.

I only wished he had fought for me, and let me knew everything would be ok, but he didn’t and now six long months had passed.

The girls were right, I needed a break. I was going to enjoy my birthday and celebrate.

Maybe I wouldn’t run into Jey after all and if I did, don’t let me fold.

---

One Week Later

Pensacola, FL

Fusion R&B Club

Jey’s POV

“Man, I thought you was restin’ what you doin’ here?” Roman asked as I rolled my eyes. “Ya’ll ain’t slick I know Kayla flew in for her birthday and I just wanna see her.”

“Man let that girl have fun tonight, she just touched down two hours ago and you already trying to start.” Jimmy accused as I tried to find Kayla on the dance floor.

“I ain’t starting shit, she the one that left me six months ago.” I hissed still very angry even though I know I was to blame.

“She had a reason, look just get at her in the morning and let her enjoy the night,” Sefa said as I ignored him taking a seat. “I won’t bother her tonight, I just wanna make sure she good.”

“You are so full of shit, don’t ruin her night, or I will kill you." Roman's tone was stern but I ain’t scared of his ass, I’m here to see Kayla.

Throughout the night I managed to keep a low profile just watching Kayla from afar. It definetly put things even more into prospective.

Men desired her and they weren’t trying to hide it at all. Seeing Tama and his brother watching the girls VIP table more than the dance floor was pissing me off.

“I’m bout to flip all this shit over, if he looks at her one more time,” I hissed seeing Tama and his brother whispering and pointing at Kayla…My Kayla.

“Man, let them women do they thing, it’s cool,” Sefa said as I sat seething.

“That shit, easy for you to say. Your girl ain’t up there buckin’ like a mechanical bull in the VIP section,” I said looking at Kayla with her hands on the table, her ass bouncing from side to side as I subconsciously I gripped my dick…

Man, she just asking for it, and when I give it to her, she betta ride dis dick just like that too.

I swear I ain’t never been so thankful she had on jeans in my life but dat ass was thangin’ and looking extra fat as she shook her hips bouncing on her hands as Trin and Bianca cheered her on.

“Damn, you had it like that, and you fucked it up,” Sefa said as I shot him a look, he was enjoying my misery a little too much. I was about to knock that smile off his damn face.

“I ain’t fucked up shit, Kayla’s still mine. We just fall in and out from time to time.”

“Ain’t you tired of dat, Uce? You know you love her, gone make dat shit official twin.”

"I done told his ass, keep on letting her walk around this bitch single if you want to,” Roman said as I sighed knowing he was right.

“Beautiful and single at that,” Jimmy added, nudging me as I rolled my eyes.

“She ain’t fuckin’ single, we just takin a break trying to figure some shit out.”

“Aye! Buckin’, buckin' like a mechanical bull! You betta buck Kaydoll!” Trin yelled taping Kayla on her phone as I looked back at Jimmy.

“See, that’s what I’m talkin’ bout, yo' wife always instigating shit, probably on Instagram live right damn now broadcasting Kayla’s ass,” I hissed as he laughed.

“Hey, no face, no case.”

“Man fuck you.”

“But let’s be real twin, you always doin’ stupid shit and being indecisive about your feeling for her. Look it took a lot of convincing to get her out here for her birthday. The girls got a little staycation and party planned for her so stay outta the way,” Jimmy said as I frowned.

A party? Staycation? Really, and ain’t nobody told me shit. They really were gonna let me fly home to Atlanta and not tell me nothing.

“I ain’t being indecisive about shit. Kayla knows what the deal is and how we get down. But the real question, how come ya’ll ain’t told me about all these plans? Ya’ll know I been wanting to see her,” I said as Roman sighed.

“The girls said you weren’t invited, and ain’t you flying back to Atlanta tomorrow,” he said shrugging his shoulders as I saw Tama approaching Kayla in their VIP section with a drink.

“I ain’t going no fuckin’ where..I like to party just like the rest of ya’ll.” I said snarling at the fact this clown was up on my woman.

“Aye, I am so serious right now, you cockblock any of us this weekend with yo bullshit, I’mma beat yo ass,” Sefa said as I saw Tama lean over and try to whisper something to Kayla, but she moved away giving him a polite smile, keeping him at arm’s length.

“I’ll be back,” I said standing up as Jimmy tried to grab my arm but I snatched away from him.

“Man, Uce, chill out they just talkin’” Jimmy said as I ignored him making my way toward the girls VIP section. He ain’t got no fuckin’ reason talkin’ to her, that’s the damn point of the matter. Motherfucka know what time it is.

“Jey, what you are doing here?” Rhea asked blocking my path before I got to their VIP section as I frowned.

“I’m trying to talk to my girl, could you move please so I can go up there.”

“Oh, now she yo’ girl but for years you ain’t wanna put a label on it.” Bianca said rolling her eyes as I sighed. “Bee you know me..You my sister and you know I love her. I just have a hard time voicing that shit.”

“So, what you want us to do?”

“First of all move so I can go up there and break that shit up,” I said pointing at Kayla and Tama as Rhea smirked.

“Not on your life, Kayla can handle herself and she seems to like his company,” Jade said pointing at Kayla laughing at something Tama said.

“Look, you gonna only make it hard for yourself if you come up here acting a fool,” Rhea warned, but all I saw was red seeing him push up on her. The final straw was his leading her out of the VIP to the dance floor.

“I love ya’ll but please move, I need to get my girl.”

“Fine, go ahead and dig a deeper hole we can’t help you get out of,” Bianca said making the girls move.

“Fine I will,” I said stalking towards Kayla and Tama, but Sefa jumped in front of me. “Think about what you about to do.”

“I’m bout to talk to my woman and it ain’t got shit to do wit ya’ll secretive asses.”

“We did what we had to do for Kay and we ain’t sayin’ sorry for that. So, you can scratch your ass and get glad.”

Scanning the dance floor, I didn’t see Kayla nor Tama. I had lost them.

“Where the fuck did they go?! look what you did, ya’ll fuckin’ pissin’ me off now”. I hissed as Sefa rolled his eyes.

Where the fuck did they go? Searching the room, I sighed in relief seeing Kayla go in the restroom and Tama talking to his brother by the exit.

“I know she ain’t planning to leave wit him.”

“Leave it alone, Uce,” Sefa pleaded as I rolled my eyes making my way towards Tama and his brother Tonga.

“Hey, Jey what’s up wit you?” Tama asked as I tried to keep my cool.

“Oh, nothing just coming to talk to Kayla.”

Kayla’s POV

“Yes, relief,” I mumbled washing my hands. I had been having a great time. Tama seemed nice, and consoderate. When I told him I didn’t know where the bathroom was he offered to take me.

“You gon stay away from her is what you gon’ do or I’mma break every bone in your fuckin’ body.”

Hearing the familiar voice and commotion I went towards the door in shock. "I know it isn't?"

“Jey, she’s a big girl and can do what she wants. I bought her a drink and offered to show her where the restroom was, that’s all.”

“Stay away from her, that’s the only warning you getting.”

“I didn’t know she was spoken for Jey, but it’s cool.”

“You a bitch ass lie!”

Opening the door, Jey quickly ushered me back inside locking the door behind him.

“Are you carzy?!” I hissed as Tama pounded on the door.

“Hey, let me in. Are you good in there, Kayla?!” He shouted as Jey rolled his eyes.

“Tell lover boy you good, and to take his ass on somewhere.”

“You can’t tell me what to do,Jey. Why the hell are you even here?”

“Aye, it don’t matter to me, he can stay and listen to me fuck some sense into you for all I care.” Jey said without shame as I scoffed.

“Tama, I’m ok....I’ll call you later,” I said for good measure to piss Jey off knowing good and hell well I didn’t have his number.

“I’ll hopefully see you before the weekend is over Kayla.”

“You won’t be seeing her again, bye.” Jey hissed at the door as I threw my head back in frustration and screamed.

“You just so damn confusing, you don’t want a relationship, but you don’t want men talkin’ to me. Make it make sense, Jey.”

“He wasn’t talkin! He was wanting to get wit you, he been watchin’ you all fuckin' night!”

“Ok AND!! I’m not with you, what do you want from me Jey?! This off and on shit is getting old,” I said as he stopped me from walking past him, pulling me close as I avoided his gaze.

“Kayla, you already know I don’t share what’s mine and stop calling me Jey," he whispered as I growled in frustration, somewhat turned on.

Kayla keep your legs closed, don’t do it.

Jey’s POV

I didn’t want our first conversation to go this way, but Tama had pissed me off. Her dancing like she didn’t have a care pissed me off. Men looking at her pissed me off. My own stupidity of letting her walk out of my house that day pissed me off.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me Kayla, I don’t share what’s mine and your mine.” I said boldly.

“Oh, so now I’m yours,” Kayla said sarcastically, pissing me off even more. She knows she’s mine and it was time to remind her.

“They sniffin’ round you cause’ they know what the deal is,” I said blocking Kayla from leaving, backed her up against the door.

“Jey, what exactly is the de-” my mouth swallowing her whimpers with a sloppy passionate kiss. Six months of anger, passion, regret and most importantly love taking over us both as our tongues battled for control as if we couldn't get close enough to each other.

Rendering her into a whimpering mess, Kayla quickly pulled away trying to regain a sense of control, but I refused to let up.

I had missed her and had to let her know it wasn’t over between us no matter the time or distance we belonged to each other.

“Yea, you already know what the deal is, and how I get down stop playin’ wit me.” I growled moving my kisses to her neck, knowing her weakness.

“J-Josh I can’t.”

Her moans of pleasure driving me insane, I knew I should stop, but I couldn't.

“Yea, say my name, like you know you mine,” I groaned claiming her lips once again, as she clawed at my shirt pulling me closer. Yea, I’m nippin’ this shit in the bud tonight.

“Left me, knowin’ what you mean to me.” I groaned wrapping her legs around my waist.

“You never showed it and I’m not yours,” Kayla moaned trying to move remain strong, but I wasn’t gon’ give up that easy. Grinding against her pants covered center, she gasped instinctively rolling her hips against mine.

“Fuck,” Kayla gasp as I moaned in agreement, burying my face in her neck. It had been too long, our pleasure short lived as Kayla pushed at my shoulders when a loud knock startled us.

“Let me down, Jey.” she pleaded as I placed her back on her feet but still held her in my arms, ignoring whoever was trying to come in.

“Your mind is mine,” I moaned making her look at me before I kissed her tenderly on the forehead. “Jey, stop,” she pleaded as I moved my attention to her now plump lips. Gently nipping at them before once again tasting them, in a deep kiss startling us both of its power.

“Your lips are mine.” I rasped.

My own heart racing as I kissed alongside her neck. “Yours,” she moaned as a primal growl escaped my lips, her acceptance of our fate turning me on even more.

Grasping her hand within mine and placing it over her heart. “Your heart is mine,” I whispered before placing our conjoined hands over my own heart as Kayla looked at me with confusion.

“And my heart is your, Kayla.”

“What are you sayin’?”

“I’m tired of fighting how I feel Kayla, I want to be with you, and I want you to be my mine.” Another knock at the door disrupting us again before she could respond.

“Open the door Jey, folks out here need to get in the bathroom. They threatenin' to call security,” Jimmy said as Kayla wiped her tears. “Two minutes Twin!" I shouted as Kayla shook her head smoothing down her clothes and her hair.

“No, we’re coming out now Jimmy.”

“Kayla, please just hear me out, Ma. We can go to my room and talk or least let me give you ride to where ya'll stayin'."

“No, talk to me when your sober and not saying what you want me to hear because you saw someone take an interest in me.” Kayla said unlocking the door, storming past Jimmy and out of the club with Rhea and Jade right on her heels.

“I told yo’ ass but you wouldn’t listen to none of us. Now you in a bigger mess.”

“Twin, not right now.”

I had to find Kayla, it was so much I had to tell her. Heading outside I saw her hugging Rhea.

“Look, I don’t know what you did in there, but she is a mess. Meet me at our breakfast spot in the morning at 8 am. Don’t be late Jey.” Bianca’s intense stare daring me to be late tomorrow.

“I’ll be there, sis.”

“You just couldn’t resist makin’ an ass out yourself, could you?” Roman asked walking towards me as I shot him a look and Bianca shook her head before walking off.

“Man, I’m out, I’ll see ya’ll sometime tomorrow.” “So you were serious about not leaving for Atlanta tomorrow. You acted like this morning you had some much to do before we head back out on the road.” Sefa throwing my words back up in my face irking me to no end.

“Plans change, I asked to be added me to the house show for tomorrow anyway. Plus, my home is wherever Kayla is and I ain’t leavin’ Pensacola without my girl. So, get ready to see me all weekend fam.”

“Just know when to back off twin, we all hope you and Kay can work it out but don’t come on too strong.”

“Jimmy, I can’t let her go back to Savannah not knowing how I feel.”

A’ight, we know and we got your back.”

I wasn’t going to come on too strong, but I definitely was getting Kayla back one way or another.

---

The Next Morning

Blaster’s Cafe

Bianca’s POV

Jade and I decided to come hear Jey out and see where his head is at. I can honestly say he’s done a lot of growing up these last six months but Jade was still on the fence Kayla is her cousin

“How do we know mean it? You could be just sayin’ what we all wanna hear,” Jade accused as Jey seemed so defeated.

“Jade, I know I fucked up, but the time apart made me realize part of me was missing. I Love Kayla, it’s time I took a chance.”

“She was so broken, thinking you guys were on the right track and then her comes Cameron once again and you didn’t do nothing to stop the disrespect,” I said throwing in my two cents, but Jade was hitting it home.

My cousin got tired, Jey. She wants to be married, have kids and have a partner who isn’t going to change his mind and has no problem being committed to her and her alone.”

“Jade, I’ve never changed my mind when it came to Kayla, I just had a lot of shit going on and you know that Bee.” Jey said pointing at me as I sighed sitting down my cup of coffee.

“I know but it’s been five years since Carmen, Jey. But you and I both know Kayla would never do what she did to you. She helped you get through it and saw what it did to you.”

“I know Bee.”

“Then I’mma need you to act like it bro. Stop letting her come in and make you second guess yourself.”

Jey’s POV

“Ya’ll have known each since ya’ll were teenagers, Jey. Name one time Kayla ain’t been there as your friend, or lover. Like people get tired of the back in forth and people not seeing their worth.” Jade scolded as I rubbed my temples feeling a headache coming on.

It was too early for this conversation, but they were right. I felt even more like shit remembering the times Kayla and I would be so close to putting a label on what we were. Then almost like clockwork, I’d get scared, push her away and say I needed space.

I was runnin’ from her love because I felt underserving, and I didn’t want to screw it up.

“Jade, I’mma be real wit you and Bee. I was scared of Kayla; I knew she was the one for me, but I was fighting it tooth and nail but I’m tired of fighting it. Kayla is it for me.” I said truthfully as Bianca nodded in understanding.

“So, what you saying? Bianca asked as I sighed knowing now was the right time to let them know my intentions especially if they are willing to help me.

“Kayla is my future; I want her to be my wife and the mother of my children someday when we’re both ready. She means everything to me, and I have no intention to leave Pensacola without her.”

“Well, if want Kayla to be all those things, are you going to keep livin’ in the past?” Jade asked refusing to make it easy on me.

“No Jade, I love Kay-”

“Good, because if you were, there is no future between ya’ll and you might as well leave her be.” Jade said without hesitation. Damn, she was a ball buster but I’m glad Kayla her cousin looking out for her.

“I know, that’s why I’m here. I love Kayla, I always have. I know I took her for granted but I never will again,” I said pleading my case as Bianca looked at me with a small smile before looking back at Jade who finally nodded.

“Fine, we will help you but don’t make us regret this,” Bianca said reaching into her bag pulling out a piece of paper and giving it to me.

“This is our schedule and addresses of everywhere we will be this weekend. We are having her little dinner party after the house show Tomorrow at the Westview. Come dressed and ready to plead your case.”

“If you leave now, you might be able to catch her before they leave the rental we’re staying at. Rhea just text me and said they about to eat before they head out. We’re going to meet them at the boat," Jade said as I smiled.

“I love ya’ll so much,” I said leaning over and giving them a hug before getting up to leave.

“Good luck, bro!” Bianca yelled as tore out of the cafe.

She did say talk to her when I was sober. Getting in the car I texted Rhea to let her know I was coming and to not leave.

Traffic wasn’t too bad, but I was getting stuck by every red light. “Damn, come on…Please still be there,” I mumbled finally pulling the driveway of their rental sighing in relief seeing their van rental still there.

“Good lookin’ out Rhea.” I whispered getting out, seeing her come out on the porch alone.

“She’s upstairs putting her shoes on; I’m going to wait in the van. Don’t upset her, I want her to enjoy this weeken. I don’t want to go to jail for killing you.”

“Rhea, I’m not, I promise,” I said giving her a hug before going inside nervously waiting for her to come down.

“Rhea, I changed my shoes like you said, but can you at least give me a hint about where we are going?” Kayla rambled coming down the steps.

“Good morning, Kay.”

“What are you doing here, Jey?” she asked coming towards me but looking out the window.

“Rhea ain’t left you, she’s just waiting in the car. I just wanted to talk, you did tell me to talk to you when I was sober.” I said shrugging my shoulders trying to lighten the mood.

“Yes, I did, but I didn’t mean now,” she said nervously shuffling her feet.

“I want to apologize, you were right. It wasn’t fair to you how I would always push you away.” I paused waiting for the anger from her, but it never came, she was actually listening to me.

“Truth is I wasn’t drunk last night, and I meant what I said. My heart does belong to you.”

“Can you wrap this up Jey, because I got somewhere to go.” Kayla said getting irritated.

“I’m tryin’ to tell you that I love you, and I want us to be together Kayla. I promise it will be different, these six months without you I been a mess. Just ask everybody, I really missed you.”

“Yea, until Cameron comes around with her drama, and you begin to doubt what we are to each other. You never even tried to find me Jey.”

“Kayla, I know you live in Savannah, I found out where you went the day you left. I even moved to Atlanta to be close to you so if anything happened, I could get to you.”

“But why didn’t you come to see me, and tell me how you felt? It’s been six months Jey.”

“Kayla I was scared as fuck. I mean for the first time ever, you had just told me you wanted space from me. You were hurt and fed up and I understood it. Just looking in your eyes that night, I knew any wrong word or move would have caused you to walk out of my life forever.

“Josh-”

“Just listen to me please,” I pleaded as Kayla nodded her head and folded her arms, trying to keep her tears at bay.

“I didn’t want to lose you, so I wanted to give you some time, like you always gave me. You ain’t never asked me for nothin’ Kayla, so the one thing you asked me for I was going to give you even though it killed me to do it.��

“Did it dawn on you that maybe just once I wanted you to fight for me, Josh. Fight for us and show you understood where I was coming from and that I wasn't in this alone.”

“Kayla, I know I made it hard for you to love me-”

“No, I let you talk, now let me finish. Josh, I wanted you to show me what I mean to you instead of me always trying to make you see that I love you and that you love me.”

“I do love you and want to be wit you Kayla."

"Then prove it, stop letting the past control your future!” Kayla cried as I reached out to touch her but she side steped me and started toward the front door.

“Baby don’t push me away,” I begged as she wiped her tears. “I have to go, Rhea’s waiting for me.”

“Can we at least talk a little more at the house show tomorrow?” I asked as Kara ignored me, hurrying outside. “Why does she have to be so fuckin' stubborn,” I muttered closing the door behind me, rushing to catch her before they left.

Y"ou alright?" Rhea asked as Kayla nodded getting in the front seat.

“Please Kayla,” I pleaded as she closes the door.

“Kayla, he’s begging."

“I’ll be around, Jey. If guess if you find me, it’s fate,” she whispered making me smile.

“Trust me, I’ll find you....I'll alway find you, because wether you know it or not, it is fate Kay Kay.” I said knowing she loved it when I called her that.

Trying her hardest not to blush, Kayla quickly put on her shades and stared straight ahead. Rhea, getting a kick out of the exchanged winked at me.

“We’ll see you, Jey.”

“Yea, count on it Rhea, I’ll be seeing ya'll.”

I felt I was making a little headway, but I had a long way to go. Heading back to the car I called Sefa.

"Well I see you still alive Bianca and Jade didn't kill you, yet."

Yea, I lived to tell the tale. Sefa, I need you to get in contact with that florist that did those roses for mom a couple years ago."

“Which one?”

“The one that does the big bouquet of roses, I need them done by tomorrow and I want them gold. If they don't have gold, red will do."

“Jey, what you up too now?”

“I’m getting my woman back, now are you gon’ help me or not.”

“I’ll see can they have the red done for you to pick up before the show.”

Thanks, bro, I appreciated it. I owe you one."

“You welcome, just make this opportunity count."

“Oh, I'm plannin' on it.”

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whitepolaris · 7 months

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Alien Invasion! The Great UFO Wave of 1973

On the last night of August 1973, the world's most spectacular UFO episode started in rural southwest Georgia. Around midnight, four government employees driving near Dawson spotted an oval-shaped light in the heavens. Soon Gary Ellington, a city policeman, observed two UFOs in the shape of a football-only car size-which reportedly approached and withdrew. Alerted by a state trooper, Albany Herald reporter Suzanne Shingler saw give aerial objects playing "games in the sky, flashing like neon signs gone mad."

"Women tourists were coming off I-75 screaming the world was coming to an end," reported Cordele policeman Vernon Pridgen. One motorist was driving along "When all of a sudden the inside of the car lit up, bright as daylight."

On the second night of the UFO invasion, Cordele police called their Macon counterparts to warn of approaching UFOs. A number of Macon cops saw the craft, including one diamond-shaped object with a tail surrounded by six red and grin lights. A fire vehicle tore off after one UFO, but the thing sped away. In southwest Georgia, Camilla newsman Chester A. Tatum photographed an object with a "ribbed-type design" that trailed a luminous exhaust.

Thousands of people, including hundreds of police officers, sighted a wide variety of objects that displayed every imaginable maneuver in the skies. On September 5, Kenneth Parker was near Valdosta when he saw a giant UFO "glowing and looking like a big ball of flaming gas." Minutes later, a second, identical craft arrived; then they disappeared one by one. The next day, a Daugherty County farmer nearly passed out when a shiny, round craft the size of a motor home zipped past him.

The UFOs next favored the Pine Mountain area. The hundreds of people who staked out observation spots at the state patrol post in Manchester were rarely disappointed. Troopers, policemen, and an Atlanta television station had sightings. State patrolman Larry Taylor and Talbot County detective Charles Pope saw a UFO and doused their lights for a better view. At that moment, Pope reported that it reversed direction and wafted away like a balloon, only much faster.

On September 6, policemen and city officials saw a large reddish green light fly across Tybee Island, outside Savannah, and plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Witnesses believed it was intelligently controlled. On September 8, two military policemen, Randy Shade and Bart J. Burns, were patrolling nearby Hunter Army Airfield when they spied a fast-moving, low-flying craft, which came "in at treetop level and made a dive," their report read. The MPs instinctively ducked-and drove their patrol car into a ditch. They worked feverishly to extricate the vehicle while the object hovered 200 yards away. multicolored lights "flashing brilliantly." It kept peace as they returned to headquarters.

There were a number of bizarre elements associated with the situation in Savannah. On September 9, four individuals called to report a UFO landing in historic Laurel Grove Cemetery. Out of the craft bounded "ten big, black hairy dogs" to frolic among the graves. Raymond Williamson, Emanuel County farmer, saw UFOs that night, but they had "been landing in the pasture near my house for six years." The craft, "the size of a camper shell attached to the back of a pickup truck," evinced particular interest in his cows.

The phenomenon kicked it up a notch on September 10 near Griffin. At four in the afternoon that day, retired millworker Ress Clanton was outside when he observed a gold-colored object the size of a baseball descending at a controlled rate of speed. It struck the ground and disappeared in a cloud of white smoke, leaving a burned area on the ground the size of a basketball, but no crater. The heat was high enough to burn skin at three feet and to turn the blade of a pocketknife stuck into the ground red-hot.

Dr. O. E. Anderson, a soil scientist with the University of Georgia, arrived three hours later and found the soil still registering 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Anderson excavated the crater and took control samples from the area. No evidence of petrochemicals or flares was found, but there was 2,000 times more copper at the impact site than in the control samples, and 200 times the chromium. Clanton knew what it was: "A piece of brimstone from heaven come down here to show people how He can burn the earth with it."

Twenty miles away and four days later in Brook, tenant farmer Roy Lawhorn was awakened at two a.m. by "a sound like locusts and a bright light outside the house. I grabbed my rifle, because it looked like it was coming toward the house," Lawhorn said. "I shot at it three or four times, and it just disappeared into the ground." The UFO, "big as your head," descended slowly, "like an umbrella." Lawhorn drew the opposite conclusion from Clanton, saying, "I thought the devil had come to get me."

Dr. Anderson found a charred spot that matched the dimensions of the one in Orchard Hill, but nothing unusual; was detected in the soil.

Near Rome on October 15, two Rome News-Tribune employees saw a blue object flying "in a jerky motion" through the sky. Other locals saw an oval craft with clustered, twinkling red lights and a "big bright white object."

On October 17, Clarke County deputies Charles Fowler and Ray Hanson and a security guard "saw an object rise from the ground," Fowler said. It was twelve feet in diameter and sported multicolored rotating lights.

The same night in Warner Robins, Laurence Smith, Peggy Stepp, and her daughter were followed by two huge cigar-shaped craft.

"I was petrified," Stepp said. "And then they started getting close." Soon, she recalled, "My God, there was one right behind us. My daughter screamed hysterically, and the thing stopped right above us and put this bright light on the car."

They managed to scare and reported the incident to the Houston County Sheriff's Department, which dispatched Corporal Bobby Fisher to investigate. Fisher soon found the object, "Big as a building," and gave chase "when it zoomed over me. It stopped there right over me, and I got out of the car," he said. "I took my flashlight and pointed it at the thing. It was only about one hundred feet above me. I couldn't see anything for the bright light. I think I got some type of reflection off of it when I pointed my flashlight at it. That's how close it was. I thought that thing was going to land right there in the field."

After a month and a half of near-constant sightings, the UFO wave entered a more frightening phase. The other-earthly beings-if that's what they were-began to close their shyness and emerge from their crafts. On October 18, Paul Brown, a preacher and car dealer, was headed home near Danielsville on U.S. 29 listening to the World Series when suddenly his radio stopped working. "Everything lit up," he said. "I could see the road, and the fields lighted up all around me. My first impression was that it was a small airplane trying to land."

The plane first paced his car, then quickly landed in front of Brown, forcing him to stop.

"I realized if I don't stop, I'm going to hit it. So I came to a screeching halt."

The craft was six feet high and fifteen feet in diameter. At that point, a bright light was cast upon him, the round beam blinding him.

"I don't know why I did it," Brown said, "but I opened the car door and managed, frightened as I was, to get one foot on the ground. Two subjects came out. Where they came from, I Don't know. I couldn't see a flap, a drop door, or anything. When I finally got my vision clear, I could see a clearance underneath, so it was not belly-landed; it had some kind of landing gear. And they came out, and they had on the most beautiful outfits I've ever seen-silver, blousy, come down to where your wrists are; then they had what happened to be white gloves. Very tight around the neck, like something a priest would wear. Down to the fleet, like a jumpsuit. It looked like if you pulled a gun and shot it, it would glance off, yet it moved. They could move, yet it looked like it was heavy, because of the way they walked, very slow. I estimated them to be four to five feet tall.

"They just started walking down the road toward me, very slow. I could see a face, you know, place where eyes would be, ears. The faces were reddish. Hair was almost like cotton; no discoloration, which leads more to believe maybe it was a mask of some kind. I never got close enough to really say-closest I ever got was one hundred and fifty, two hundred feet away, which is not too far away when you're there by yourself."

Brown, who carried a pistol for protection, decided that it was time to employ that resource. When he produced the weapon, they proceeded to turn around and walk very slow back behind the shadow to the bright light. All of a sudden they disappear behind the light, and I tried to see where they go, in a hatch or what, but I couldn't."

The aliens boarded, the lights were extinguished, and the craft "took off at an angle and made a sound I would described as like a million fans," or "like golf balls coming by my ear." The experience "almost stood my hair on end."

Brown immediately the incident, and by daylight, deputies found Brown's skid marks and noted that roadside grass was "fan swept."

That night near the coast, an Effingham County woman saw two small silver-clad beings standing beside U.S. 17. Perhaps it was the same ship and aliens making another call.

On the following day at three thirty, a motorist was driving on I-75, near Ashburn, when her car suddenly and completely shut down. Stopped on the roadside, a "strange feeling" led her to look right, where she saw a "four-foot-tall metal man who appeared to be wearing a metallic pewter outfit capped with a bubble or dome made of the same material-there were two openings for the eyes. The slits were rectangular." The creature circled her car and disappeared six minutes later. A state trooper told the woman that several drivers had told him the same story, and three hours later, her engine remained too hot to touch.

Another incident involved a University of Georgia student with the unlucky name of Mars Walker. Early on October 20, he was studying in his Athens apartment when "a high-pitched, sirenlike sound" attracted his attention, followed by a "glow like watch-dial" outside. He opened the door to find a round aerial object, with a diameter varying from ten to seventeen feet, slowly descending fifty yards away. The sound increased, and a being began to coalesce inside the object, resulting in "a humanlike being standing erect" that resembled "a sea-green opaque" hologram. The head was surrounded by tentacles, and the hands had fewer than five fingers. "The odd thing to me is how little attention it paid me, no interest in communicating with me or threatening me or any other activity, besides observing." The creature and the UFO departed a half-hour after arriving.

Georgia's period of intense UFO invasions concluded in Colquitt County, when on October 24, 1973, a driver found his path on GA 133 blocked. The object was seven feet high and shaped like the top of a silo. Lights surrounding the craft activated, and it flew low over the man. Half an hour later, a similar UFO that hugged Sylvester Road buzzed a carload of people. After that, sightings tailed off. But the alien creatures were not finished with the Peachtree State, not quite yet.

#weird georgia #type read #extreme long ass read

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f0ul-f13nd · 1 year

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Ineffable May 10! Set in Atlanta, GA, USA in 1967, shortly before the tartan thermos was handed over in Soho. Title taken from the Nina Simone song. Rated T. https://archiveofourown.org/works/42469584

#ineffable may 10

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dcbbw · 2 years

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American Thanksgiving

This original story is my submission (if it isn’t too late) for a writing challenge that has now closed. (Gonna post it anyway) I decided to go with a holiday (Thanksgiving) theme, and I am really, truly crossing fingers hoping it all makes sense.

THANK YOU to those who read this over and assured me it wasn’t boring and for giving me the idea that maybe I can follow-up on these characters for Christmas. A huge THANK YOU to all who will read this.

Please, please, please forgive any typos, missing/extraneous words, and/or grammatical errors. While MS Editor rates this as 99% error free, it’s me and I am tired and it’s getting really close to my bedtime.

All characters belong to me

Word Count: 4,775

Song Inspiration: Wash., Bon Iver

No triggers or warnings that I can think of, but there are mature themes in this story. If you find any part of the content disturbing, please let me know so I can tag appropriately.

PS--For anyone curious why Scott Peterson is an unfortunate name choice, here’s your answer.

Atlanta, GA

“You look pretty, Linda,” Yoyo grudgingly complimented me as I slip my feet inside of brown pumps that are barely on the right side of being termed worse for wear.

It’s Thanksgiving Day, one of the few days of the year the shelter allows us to stay in all day; even better, we’re allowed to stay in bed all day with the exception of meals. For those of us fortunate enough to have somewhere to go, curfew is extended until 8pm.

This year, I’m among the fortunate. My sister Lisa is having dinner at her house: it will be a small affair with Lisa’s husband and daughter, our sister Lucy and her family, and my son Famir. I haven’t seen my only child in over a decade because of my drug addiction; I last saw him when he was 13.

It was for the best.

I’ve lived a life of street corners and jail cells.

Lisa raised him right, keeping my son off the streets, and involved in studies and sports. And now my baby is 28 years old, headed to Dubai to work for an international finance company. I have no idea when I’ll see him again after today.

I rise from the side of the twin bed, tossing Yoyo a quick glance. “Thank you. I’m sorry you won’t be with your family today.”

I am rummaging in my locker for my only pair of earrings; my eyes fall upon my 30-day chip.

Thirty days clean.

It’s a milestone for me, one that I’m proud of and am eager to share with my son. Finally, after decades given to the streets, I’m ready to rejoin society and be the mother he deserves. I quickly attach the jewelry to my earlobes, swipe on some lipstick, and tug the slightly too-small sweater dress down around my knees; I am just pulling on a shabby wool coat, turquoise in color with a faux-fur collar, when my name is called over the loudspeaker.

I shut the locker door, and again catch sight of Yoyo; she has her bedcovers pulled up to her chin. Her face is in profile, and I see tears shine her ebony-colored cheeks as she stares at the bare branches of the tree outside the window.

“I’ll bring you back some pie,” I promise as I hurry out the door.

Lucy is waiting for me at the shelter’s entrance. She looks … expensive. Her coat is a simple, yet stylish, ankle-length gray wool. Underneath is a black jumpsuit, complemented with a heavy turquoise pendant. Her hair is perfectly styled, her olive complexion smooth. When we hug, I smell her fragrance; it’s a woodsy floral. Her red lipstick imprints itself on my cheek when she kisses me.

My sister chats excitedly about how happy everyone is I’m coming to dinner as we walk to her Lexus SUV; I’m fastening my seatbelt when she presses money into my hand. I glance down and back at her, pleasantly puzzled. I didn’t agree to come to dinner for a financial reason.

“You’re doing good, Linda. I don’t know if you’re still using or not, but you’ve been in one place for almost two months. It’s … progress, and progress should be rewarded.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly. I stare out the passenger window, looking at dilapidated houses and cracked sidewalks pass by before peppering my sister with questions.

“How’s Famir? Is he good? Does he know I’m coming?”

I feel the shift in Lucy’s demeanor as the car gently brakes at a stoplight., and my shoulders tense ever so slightly.

We’re at the infamous intersection known to us locals as the War Zone; it’s a red-light district where prostitutes, drug dealers, and gang bangers converge. A few homeless folks, too old or too riddled with illness to support their habits, huddle inside of bus shelters, their outstretched hands silently begging for money from the few passersby.

Women with skinny bodies and dead eyes sit on the stoops of vacant houses that are boarded over and splashed with graffiti, watchful for both potential johns and the police. There are no holidays here, no 30-day chips, no hope.

“He’s not coming,” my sister says softly. “He’s attending a Friendsgiving or something.”

The hurt I feel at hearing her words is physical; my gut aches, as if I’ve been sucker-punched. My baby, my reason for getting clean, the only person I want to see today … is abandoning me when I need him most.

Tit for tat.

I already know the answer, but I ask the question anyway. “It’s because of me, isn’t it?”

I feel my sister’s hand grip my wrist. Her voice has tears in it when she replies. “Famir just needs time to process things. It’s a lot of pain and broken bridges between you two. He needs to see that you’re changing for the better, for real this time.”

Except he can’t see if he isn’t showing up.

I am quiet as tears burn the corners of my eyes; my heart sinks as I realize that I’ll never get a chance to show him that I do love him, have always loved him. That my decisions, which appear selfish on the surface, were actually borne of wanting the best for him. I couldn’t be his mother and pimped by drugs at the same time.

I feel Lucy’s eyes on me. “Lin, don’t cry! He can still swing by after his dinner for dessert. You may still be able to see him!”

But I no longer want to go. I can’t deal with facing my son’s condemnation and judgement. In my mind for the past two weeks, I had visions of a picture-perfect reunion: forgiveness, healing, my son and I beaming and basking in the pride of my triumphant return to life and his understanding of my choices.

My thirty days of sobriety has given me just enough clarity to realize the problem is I can only see it from my perspective: I didn’t abandon him; I gave him to his aunt who was better equipped to raise him. Unsure if I cannot or merely refuse to see the situation through Famir’s eyes.

I may be ready to function in society, but I am unprepared to deal with reality.

“Let me out,” I say.

“What? No!”

“STOP THE FUCKING CAR!” I yell forcefully, emotions tearing me apart.

Lucy stops the car in front of a rundown strip mall; only the McDonald’s and 7-11 are open. Panhandlers loiter around both doorways. I recognize three of the folks: Two are well-known drug dealers, conversing in front of the liquor store; Doobie and Minnesota Fats. The third is my former street-running partner, Pinky; she’s eating fries while squatting in front of the beauty supply store.

Lucy is openly crying, her hands gripping the steering wheel. “LINDA! Don’t let this be a setback! Famir may not be ready, but your sisters, your niece, your nephews ARE! What am I supposed to tell everyone?”

There is a soft thump as her forehead hits the colorful fabric encircling the wheel.

I shove the wad of cash into my coat pocket while unlocking the passenger door.

“You can tell them I had 30 days sober.”

I exit the vehicle, walking briskly to meet up with my past. My present. My future.

Wilson, NC

The two women at across from each other at the dining room table; their dinner plates were before them: Cornish hen, mashed potatoes drenched in giblet gravy, dressing, and buttered green peas. Two dessert plates in the middle of the table held slices of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream.

Ella Fitzgerald sang softly from a vintage phonograph player.

A beautiful cherrywood Dutch cabinet with paned windows lined one wall of the room; inside was fine china and glassware on the lower shelves. The top two ledges held photographs: wedding photos; baby pictures; group photos of military units; people long dead, their faces forever captured in laughter and smiles at parties and picnics.

Alice Cooper was saying the prayer, her lips moving slowly against the sides of her hands which were pressed close to her mouth. Her thin blonde hair lay in limp curls against her wrinkled cheeks.

“Dear Lord, thank You for another day filled with small mercies and bigger blessings. Amen.”

She opened her pale blue eyes, clouded over with cataracts, to see her oldest, and best friend Anna Horowitz slicing into her hen. Anna was short to Alice’s tall, and stout to her friend’s skinny. Anna’s hair was steel gray and pulled back in a severe bun. Her still-dark eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as she cut.

Alice’s gaze went from Anna to her own dinner plate, then to the slices of pie. “I think I want pie first.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Alice! Eat your supper, then you can have dessert.”

“Land’s sake, Anna! It’s Thanksgiving! It’s all about the pie!”

“Turkey,” Anna corrected as she dragged her fork through the potatoes.

“Does it look like we’re eating turkey?”

“The Macy’s parade was lovely, don’t you think?” Anna changed the subject, covertly watching Alice finally begin eating her dinner.

“It used to be so much better, it’s way too modern now but the singing tree was nice.”

The two women had been friends for over 70 years, having first met in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in 1954. Despite their advanced age of 93, the two women were still extremely active: working two days a week at the Wilson County American Legion office, gardening, participating in a senior exercise class at the local YMCA, church, and meandering around the local flea markets and thrift shops.

They had been roommates for the past 15 years, when Anna’s husband died. To avoid infighting amongst her children, who Anna freely admitted were hooligans, she sold her brick ranch house and divided the proceeds equally between her and her offspring; what furniture no one wanted was donated. Anna then moved into the four bedroom, 3 bath Victorian with bay windows and wraparound porch with Alice and changed her phone number.

Alice had no children; she had been widowed at the age of 40. She never remarried, choosing to stay in the house she and her husband had purchased with dreams of raising a family and throwing dinner parties in mind.

Until the Vietnam War.

Until high-ranking Army officials knocked on her door, their expressions grim.

“This hen is tasty,” Anna complimented.

“I was worried because I didn’t have enough rosemary.”

“It’s perfect!” Anna reassured as she took another bite. “We need to start planning what we’re going to do for our 100th birthday.”

Alice placed her fork carefully on her plate. “You’ve lost mind! That’s still a long ways out.”

“Seven years! We can do seven years, Alice We’ve done the hard part making it to 93! Hell, if we make it to 95, we can round up!”

Alice stared at the tablecloth for a few moments, her expression pensive. “I don’t know, Anna. It’s been a good life, a full life, but ever since Don was killed … it’s been a lonely one.”

Anna reached for her glass of sweet tea. “I know,” she commiserated.

She did know. Ever since her George had succumbed to cancer, life felt … incomplete. But the good Lord above kept waking her up every morning to fulfill a purpose she still didn’t know about.

Anna reached over, placing her palm atop the back of Alice’s hand; the women sat in a comfortable silence for a minute, tears rolling down their cheeks.

“Don’t forget I have the eye appointment on Monday,” Alice sobbed as they both dried their eyes.

“Me? Don’t YOU forget! They’re removing the cataracts from both eyes, right?”

Alice nodded as she ate peas. “When my eyes heal over, can we go to the beach? I’d like to sit on the sand and watch the ocean. Don loved the water so.”

Anna nodded gently, her expression soft. “That’d be nice.”

“Thank you.” Alice pushed her dinner away, reaching for dessert. “You know we have egg nog to go with the pie.”

“You didn’t eat all your dinner!” Anna chided.

“Sue me,” Alice retorted as she pulled a plate of pie towards her.

“Hold on, let me the get the nog!”

“Anna, are we lesbians?” Alice asked curiously when her friend bustled back into the dining room with a carton of egg nog and two fresh glasses.

Anna looked utterly confused. “What? NO!”

Alice poured a half-glass of the holiday dairy, mindful of her gastric issues.

“Oh. That’s too bad.”

Chicago, IL

Thanksgiving Eve slipped quietly, effortlessly into Thanksgiving Day as Evan Bacino led his guest down the darkened hallway towards the front door. He didn’t remember their name, there was no need to. His thick brown hair with red and blonde highlights bounced against the nape of his neck with every step he took.

He unlocked the only ingress/egress into his apartment and opened the door slightly; the blonde man stepped around him, his blue eyes searching Evan’s face briefly before extending his hand. The hand that not an hour before had been fisted around Evan’s cock before gripping wrinkled bedsheets in a room filled with moans and permeated with the fragrance of sex.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” the guest murmured as the two shook hands.

“Ditto,” Evan replied in a neutral tone. He didn’t want to give whoever this person was any ideas that he was interested in continuing even a conversation.

Despite his eagerness to be alone, Evan loitered in the open doorway after his visitor stepped into the hall, listening to footsteps move further and further away before closing the door and entering the living room. He turned on a standing lamp, watching as light spilt over furniture and flooring, illuminating an overflowing ashtray on the coffee table and the day’s clothing littering the carpet.

Evan ignored the mess, instead walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window that afforded him an envious view of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. He pressed his palms against the glass, his eyes watching the rain fall steadily from sky to ground. The weatherman said there was a chance the rain would turn to snow overnight; Evan didn’t doubt it.

He wondered if his visitor had an umbrella.

It was Thanksgiving Day and he had absolutely no plans, other than to stay indoors, off social media, and get mildly drunk. His parents had invited him to join them in Aspen for a weekend filled with catered food and winter sports, but he had begged off. The last thing he needed right now was his mother’s vapid and vacuous gossip about people neither of them knew, and watching his father ogle every woman under the age of 60.

His friends had asked Evan to join them for a Friendsgiving brunch. There were promises of eggnog pancakes, turkey sausage, and beef short ribs but Evan’s circle of friends was also Eduardo’s circle of friends. He wasn’t ready to see or talk about Eduardo just yet.

Three months was not enough time to heal from a five-year relationship.

Evan worked a half-day Wednesday, then ran errands: Liquor store for two bottles of chocolate cherry wine; bakery for two pies; KFC for a bucket of extra crispy chicken and two large mashed potatoes and gravy: community market for a box of Stove Top, cigarettes, and a 12-pack of Heineken. After arriving home and putting away his purchases, Evan fell across his bed and into a deep sleep.

Upon awakening, he was hungry for Chinese food, and had DoorDash deliver from his favorite place, Hunan House. He then decided he wanted a real drink, and after freshening up, Evan meandered down to the neighborhood bar, The Watering Hole. That’s where he met his hookup. He hadn’t left his house planning to bring someone home, but the drinks had been potent and the lure of the unknown enticing.

The sex hadn’t been satisfactory, due mostly to Evan’s emotional turmoil. He felt guilt, shame, and as if he were cheating on Eduardo. The man who had left him three months earlier to “explore and experience.” Eduardo never said what or with who.

Evan never asked; what was the point?

Before turning away from the window, Evan studied his nude reflection in the glass: tall, toned body with some muscle definition; skin that was more tanned than pale thanks to his mother’s Greek Cypriot heritage; thick, voluminous hair that was longish, but not overly so; his facial features were attractively arranged but Evan wouldn’t call himself handsome.

He frowned; his goatee needed trimming.

Later. He needed a shower.

He faced the room, hands on hips as he surveyed the disarray. The entire apartment needed cleaning; heartbreak was not conducive to domesticity.

Later. He needed sleep.

Evan awakened shortly after 9am, and by noon the apartment was tidy: ashtrays emptied, trash taken out, laundry done and fresh sheets on the bed, bathroom cleaned, dishes washed, and rooms vacuumed.

Afterwards, he showered; at 1pm, Evan was settled on his couch with a large plate of kung pao shrimp with fried rice and a cold bottle of brew.

Outside, thick flakes of snow swirled and fell from dark gray skies, coating the city’s surfaces with a thin blanket of white; inside, heat and computer-generated flames emanated from the wall-mounted electric fireplace.

It should have been normal: food, football, and beer on Thanksgiving Day. A cozy fire on a cold, messy afternoon. But it wasn’t. Evan was plagued with feelings of incompleteness and inadequacy; he was playing a role to an audience of none, and not very well.

Fucking Eduardo. Fucking love.

Evan channel surfed as he ate, settling on college football. When the station went to commercial break at the end of the first quarter, he headed to the kitchen for a more Chinese food, a piece of chicken, and another beer; the knock on his front door stopped him.

Who the hell could that be? he wondered as he cautiously approached the door, praying it wasn’t his friends coming to cheer him up.

Pity parties are solo affairs.

His stomach plummeted when he peered through the peephole. On the other side of the door stood a tall, lithe Brazilian man wearing an uncertain expression on his clean-shaven face. His navy-blue wool coat was buttoned to his throat, a Blackwatch plaid scarf draped his neck. Droplets of precipitation glistened in his dark, dark hair.

Eduardo!

Evan’s heartbeat accelerated; blood rushed through his body, causing a whooshing in his ears and a growing erection in his gray sweatpants. Relief, anger, disbelief washed over him, causing tears to burn in his eyes. He felt as if he were moving in slow motion as he unlocked the door before pulling it fully open.

The former lovers stared at each other, facial expressions filled with indecision, hope, regret.

“Hey, Evan,” Eduardo said softly before his gaze dropped to the floor.

Evan found it hard to breathe; everything he had prayed for and cried over the past 90 days was standing right in front of him, waiting to be welcomed with open arms, embraced tightly, and forgiven.

Evan’s stare went from Eduardo’s face to the rolling suitcase at his side.

Eduardo wanted to come back home.

Like nothing ever happened.

Except it had.

Tears streaming down his cheeks, Evan slowly closed the door.

Eduardo’s frantic knocks covered the clicking of the locks.

Compton, CA

Thanksgiving Day in Compton is warm and sunny. Outside, the faint laughter and yells of children racing bicycles down cracked sidewalks and playing football in the streets drift through the closed windows of my kitchen; more than likely, they had been chased out of hot kitchens and crowded houses to let the grown-ups do what grown-ups do: cook, drink, cuss. The iconic palm trees lining my street sway under the touch of a light, balmy breeze.

It's 3pm, and my house is crowded with people despite the fact that dinner is at 5. My family arrived at 11am, carrying bags of ice and carryout food. That’s it. They set up camp in the family room, turned on the television, and proceeded to eat greasy wings, fried rice, and ketchup-drenched fries while taking advantage of my full cable package.

My husband’s family arrived at 2pm with egg nog, ice cream, pies, and my mother-in-law's tiresome rant about Compton being the biggest failure of the state’s housing authority. That led, as always, to an argument with my younger brother, Man-Man. She, her daughter Susan, and my brother-in-law Neil mingled for a few minutes before taking up residence in the living room, watching Food Network and day drinking.

Meanwhile, I’m struggling to remove a 22-pound turkey from an extremely hot oven, trying not to scream out loud from the lower back pain caused by the overdue baby in my belly, and dealing with my three-year-old son Noah tugging on my pant leg asking me to pwease help him.

I give up on the turkey and set it back on the rack before turning to my son. “What is it, sweetheart?” I ask in a voice filled with forced patience.; it isn’t his fault that there are seven useless, non-functioning adults in this house.

I roll my eyes when he says he wants my phone to play a game. Scary Teacher 3.

Dear God, give me strength.

“Honey, let me find my phone. Go get your Uncle Monty for me while I do that.”

He nods, his dark curls bobbing as he scampers out of the kitchen to find my brother Lamont. Meanwhile, my eyes dart around the room quickly, a growing panic inside me. With the massive quantities of food that I had cooked, and still needed to cook, my phone had been the last thing on my mind. Earlier, I set it down … somewhere. But where?

I wonder if I stuffed it in the cavity of the turkey.

I’m distracted from my search by my sister loudly arguing with Neil about someone named Kyle being a fraud and that something called fire dragon crab rangoon casserole was nothing more than imitation crab meat, Philly cream cheese, and hot sauce. I’m so busy trying to make their conversation make sense, I neither see nor hear my brother join me.

“What you need, Sandra?” Lamont asks in a bored tone.

I jump slightly but recover quickly. “I need to find my phone, the turkey needs to come out, the ham needs to go in,” I say as I sit in one of the kitchen chairs. “And I’m thirsty,” I add as I mop the perspiration from my brow.

He shakes his head as he busies himself: the refrigerator door opens and closes before a cool bottle of water appears before me, the cap loosened; he grunts as he hefts the roasting pan from the oven, the metal clatters against the stovetop; he lifts the lid on the pot of collards, giving the greens a stir before cutting the flame down low. My phone slides across the crowded table, just in time for Noah to see it as he enters the room.

His little hands reach and grab, but I hold it out of his reach, trying to see if I’ve missed any calls or texts. “Baste the ham before putting it in, please,” I mumble as I guzzle more water.

“Lawd, woman! You tryna work me to the bone,” Lamont complains.

I pay him no attention; he didn’t have to buy the groceries; he doesn’t have to cook the food. We’re using paper products, plastic utensils, and solo cups; minimal clean-up. All the others have to do is eat, take out the trash, and help put up the Christmas tree.

Easy peasy.

“MOMMY!” Noah wails impatiently.

“What, little boy?” I huff playfully before surrendering my phone. “Hey, babe … you hungry?” I ask, trying to recall the last time I fed my child.

He shakes his head, eyes glued to the screen. “No. Gamma gave me chicken and fwies.”

Lamont shuts the oven door. “Anything else?”

I think over what’s left to do: macaroni and cheese, which is already prepped. It just needs a thorough heating. Stuffing: it’s boxed. so that makes life easy. Biscuits: thank you, Pillsbury Doughboy. Mushrooms: already prepped, just needs heating.

I shake my head. “Nope. Thanks.”

The plan now is for Noah and me to head upstairs for an hour nap … we’ve both been up since 6am …but I neglected to look at the time. The whoops from my family members, coupled with the off-key singing of Bad Boys, the theme from Cops, tell me my husband is home from work. His deep, deep voice literally booms throughout the rooms as he greets his family and in-laws.

My son practically throws my phone at me before he rushes into his father’s arms. Once securely hoisted onto his daddy’s hip, Noah smirks smugly at his cousins who are pulling excitedly on their uncle’s pant legs.

Through the mayhem, my eyes meet my husband’s, and he winks at me with a wide grin on his face. The man I married is tall … very tall. His shoulders and chest are broad and sculpted. There are dimples in his cheeks. He is an officer with the LAPD.

He is unfortunately named: Scott Peterson. He tells strangers that his name is Harry.

And he’s white.

It hasn’t been easy being an interracial couple in Compton. I was born and raised here but marrying a white cop has called my blackness into question with my family, my friends, my very community. I think it has more to do with him being a cop than his race.

Scott grew up in Los Angeles proper; his childhood was more affluent than privileged until his father went to prison for insider trading. His mother, as WASPy and Karenesque as her personality suggests, gave up bridge clubs and martini lunches to re-enter the workforce. I wouldn’t call her racist; I see her as more of a bigot. An elitist bigot.

When we bought our home six years ago, his mother told Scott she was extremely disappointed in him.

He responded he was through trying to impress dead folks and racists.

With wide eyes and a horrified expression, she clarified she was referring to him living in Compton. Who lived in Compton?

Pulling me closer to him, he asked her who could afford LA nowadays? Hell, she didn’t even live there any longer. And judging by Compton’s growing and diverse population, a lot of people did indeed live in Compton.

But we’ve survived and are more in love than ever. Scott and I are a working-class couple; I’m a teacher at the local preparatory school. We’re happy, and family gatherings have become louder and more boisterous in the best way possible.

After promising to play with the children after dinner and advising Man-Man what to do about his upcoming case in traffic court, one of the suggestions being do NOT wear orange as it may give the judge ideas, Scott is finally making his way to me. He pulls me to him, planting an eager and lingering kiss on my lips; when we part, we walk into the kitchen together so I can show off what I’ve accomplished.

He admires the spread and insists that he’ll take over so I can get some rest before dinner.

“No!” I yell quietly. “Your mom is here; MY mom is here. Our sisters are here. Our BROTHERS are here! You’ve worked all day!”

He’s rummaging in the utensil drawer; it’s a hot mess that I keep meaning to organize. He closes it when he finds a fork, which he dips into the pot of collards. “We’re the hosts,” he explains as he tastes the greens; he noisily smacks his lips to express his satisfaction.

“We’re always the hosts!” I retort. “And they are not guests!”

He pulls me into the closest embrace he can manage with my belly extending from here to the I-10. “You’re tired. You’ve done a lot of work today. You know my mom can’t fix anything other than salad kits and Stouffer’s. Your mom loves her fatback a little too much for me.”

I giggle. “Remember the Thanksgiving she shoved a slab of it inside the turkey?”

“That’s when you said we would be the hosts of Thanksgiving!”

“Fine,” I grumble, pretending to still be disgruntled.

“Come on, let’s get you to the bedroom.”

We don’t make it.

There’s a sharp pain in my lower back that spreads around to my belly, and my water breaks.

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