#I bet they’re all soccer mums

[emeraldbabygirl]

Bro those restock videos are crazy like the motivation these people have and the amount of money they make to go out and buy all these storage bins and containers and take things out of containers and put in other containers and make labels and constantly restock and clean every week and dust and polis and vacuum and everything is crazy. I vacuum the floor when it looks dirty and I forget about dusting and I do the laundry when it needs to be done. I occasionally vacuum around the toilet or wipe down the countertops but jeez. And some of the things these people have, what country do they live in? What you mean the curtains are controlled by a remote and how does your sink do that and what kind of soap dispenser is that and why do you need so much makeup and what’s with all those containers and who pre washes vegetables before you eat them? Some of it makes sense and some of it doesn’t but boy do they kinda is satisfying to watch

[dreamsarelikedragonflies]

Okay, so I warned you this was coming: I intentionally didn't mention Zoe in my post about Lin (age 17) because I wanted you to be the one to decide what their relationship looks like. I'm thinking Zoe ended up becoming a permanent member of the Casperan household shortly after Lin's adoption was made official, because Douxie wanted him to have a proper Mum (and he and Zoe were practically already married anyways by then). But apart from that, I don't know what Zoe's dynamic with Lin looks like.

The serotonin I am feeling tonight is REAL. Like I think my brain can’t handle the asks and now this, soooo lol. Stuff is under the cut bc it will probably get long.

Zoe has always been a bit more on the rebellious/hardcore punk side of things than Douxie has, and so when Lin starts displaying that very same headstrong behavior she has, she buckles down and tells Douxie to back off. She handles it supremely well.

Zoe is not exactly physically affectionate with him at first(as a baby) because she just,,, doesn’t ‘get’ kiddos yet? But as soon as she starts reading up on it and everything and how kids need it, you can bet she’s always dancing and playing with him (yknow how like throwing/spinning/physical play for kids around is good for motor development? Que Douxie on two hours of sleep walking in to find her tossing him up into the air- mind you Lin is cackling and all, thrilled -and just screeches)

“ZOE WHAT ARE YOU DOING PUT HIM DOWN YOU ARE GOING TO HURT HIM.”

“Douxie, hun, it’s called helping with mental development.”

Zoe wearing the baby in a baby pouch thing whenever Douxie isn’t(cuz lets face it, he wears the baby like 90% of the time)

Zoe is like,,, a soccer mom but in the best of ways. You don’t mess with her kid and she is hella supportive of him, no matter what.

The only reason Zoe is ever disappointed in him is that he never picked up on everything she taught him about fashion stuff and she tried so hard.

Every swear that Lin ever learned was from Zoe and it was not on purpose at all. (Zoe: you had better not tell your father I said that)

Zoe’s magic, being a hedgewitch and all, is also a bit more volatile and emotionally charged much like Lin’s, so she helps teach him how to control it and regulate his emotions in general.

She is all for letting him dye his hair, get piercings, wear whatever he wants, she really pushed the whole “he needs to develop his own personality thing” and she helped him dye his hair for the first time.

She taught him how to play the drums. Douxie took a short vacation(presumably with Archie) to save his eardrums.

She also taught Lin how to cook(and he loves it) because Douxie is a disaster cook and no adopted son of hers was going to get that trait.

Zoe has made all sorts of little magical toys for him in her free time and they’re his favorite things and he keeps them in a keepsafe box once he’s “grown out of them”

Lin gets his music taste from Zoe, he’s really into Indie/Folk and alt stuff, he doesn’t mind rock but it’s not quite his cup of tea.

Zoe convinces Douxie to join her in telling bedtime stories to Lin, but really, they’re just their adventures over the years with the bad parts taken out.

She sings old lullabies to baby Lin and Douxie is just floored by her voice(”Zoe I literally thought you could only scream song lyrics why didn’t tell me you could SING”)

Lin gets his sense of sarcasm from Zoe and at first Douxie goes up a wall because TWO Zoes sassing him is almost too much. Archie thinks it’s hilarious.

Bonus that mostly pertains to this particular topic: Lin’s first word was “kitty” and Archie was the first to hear it and he is so, so proud (he spent a whole afternoon trying to get Lin to say a bunch of words and settled on trying for “kitty”). Lin’s second word, much to Zoe and Douxie’s frustration and amusement, was a swear, courtesy of Zoe letting it slip when she burned herself cooking.)

ANYWAYS this was soooo much funnnnnnn ahhhhhhh I love this too muchhhh.

[gustafsnightangel]

Shattered Lives Ch 5 Pt 2

“I’m sorry.” She said again and watched him go and change Lily.

She’d forgotten how sensitive he was under all the bravado, all the goofiness, all the humor. She had hurt him last night. Not from what she said but by her actions.

She was standing in the kitchen when he came out. He slipped a hand around her hip and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” She said again and turned to face him.

“Let it go now, it’s done.” He said and held her briefly before Lily wanted to go to Sildie. “I’m not angry at you ok?” She nodded and smiled at Lily.

They talked some more while the boys enjoyed their movie. Lily was happy to sit with Gustaf.

At six there was a knock at the door and Gustaf watched Sildie frown. She answered it to find pizza and drinks. She turned and leveled a state at Gustaf. He just grinned. What was she going to do he thought?

The boys whooped and hollered thanking Gustaf for the pizza as they chowed down sitting on the couch.

“Pizza? Really?” She said as she sat down.

“Dinner solved, no prep time, no dishes, and you get a night off too.” He said and watched as she accepted it and shook her head.

“You waste way too much money on us.” She said.

“My money to waste and I’d rather see you and the kids happy and smiling. It was a rough start to the day. I wanted an easier end to it for you.”

“Well you’ve done that.” She chuckled. “And it’s appreciated. She’s happy with you.” She said watching Lily.

“I’ve had practice.” He said and saw her confusion.

“When my parents split, my mother was diagnosed with cancer shortly after, she beat it, she’s still with us. Dad was off with work and his soon to be new wife and my brother Alex had left for the USA. I was the eldest at home. I practically raised my siblings and believe me there were times I wanted to murder them in their sleep too. But I love them, I’m proud of them, even though I had to endure diapers.” He said softly.

“That must have been rough, how old were you?”

“Sixteen going on thirty.” He grinned. He hesitated, he had to come clean with her.

“Can I be honest with you a moment?” He asked.

“Best way to be.” She said and knew something was up.

“What I’m going to tell you is in the past and has stayed there for the last five years. It’s not who I am now.” He looked at her and saw the lawyer surface. Just like her he had a past and they needed to get it all out before diving into a relationship.

“I’m a recovering alcoholic and drug user. I haven’t done drugs since I was twenty three and I haven’t had alcohol for five years and I plan to stay that way.” He said and looked at her. The hard lawyer was looking back. Fuck! He thought I’m so fucked.

“It’s the past and as long as it stays there I have no problem with it or you. But.” She said gently and he knew what was coming.

“Any part of that life touches me or the four kids in this room, we won’t just be done, I’ll end you. To be fair that’s part of the issues I have to deal with Dana’s family and I will protect them at all costs, even from you.” She said bluntly. No matter how much it will break my heart she added silently.

“Fair enough.” He looked down at the baby cradled in his arms. “I’m not that person anymore.”

“I know you’re not.” She smiled.

“You know.” He said leaning close to her. “You’re beautiful when you let the lawyer shine through.” He said and grinned.

She sipped her tea and almost choked.

“I think you need your eyes checked.” She whispered.

“Nope, still beautiful.” He said in that tone. He knew it made her want him. He could see her body vibrate with need when he said it.

“Even Lily thinks so.” With that Lily squealed and pat a hand on Sildies cheek. “See. You’re outvoted.”

She gave the kids an extra hour before bed to play games with Gustaf and so she could shower in peace.

She put Lily down and got the kids squared away and spent some time with the twins leaving Brendan and Gustaf to talk. She had a book to read to them anyway and it was getting to the good bits.

“I’m sorry for saying that stuff to you today.” Brendan said standing next to Gustaf in the kitchen.

“It’s in the past, let it be, it’s ok. We all grieve differently.”

“No I meant about you not being my dad.” He mumbled.

“Oh.” Gustaf said and it dawned on him. “Brendan we only get one mum, one dad, once they’re gone they’re gone. Yours went way before their time. I can’t replace your father, just like Sildie, although family, can’t replace your mother, no one can. But I can be like one if you want? Or just a friend. Or nothing at all. Ons totally up to you and I’m not going to get all butt hurt with whatever you choose.” He shrugged.

“Either way you slice it I get to hang out with you, it’s all good. I like Sildie. I like the four of you. Let it see where it ends up.” He left it at that. He didn’t want to add to the baggage as Sildie put it.

Brendan nodded. “Thanks for the mask.”

“You like it?”

Brendan looked over to make sure Sildie was in the other room.

“It’s fucking awesome.” He grinned. “She doesn’t like me swearing.”

“Don’t let her catch you then.” And he winked.

The kid caught him off guard and hugged him, tight. Gustaf wrapped his arms around him and held the kid close. He needed a dad like hug, an older male that ’got it’.

“Goodnight.” He said and went to bed.

“Night and happy birthday.”

Gustaf made tea and sat it on the coffee table and waited for Sildie. He wanted to snuggle with her and watch a movie. He wanted to kiss her and make love to her but that wasn’t happening tonight like he’d planned.

It was going to kill him to wait that long he thought because it wasn’t happening here on her couch rushed. He would seduce her, take his time with her. Make her tremble for him.

“You look like you’re lost in thought there.” She said sitting beside him.

“Yeah I was sorry.” He laughed. Lost in thought about how he was going to make this stunning woman scream his name all night long.

“Hey, I’m sorry about last night and offering you a drink.” She said hastily.

“Sildie don’t. It’s fine. You didn’t know anyway.’ He said pouring the tea. “Besides it’s good for me. I’m in control. Sometimes I need a reminder that everything good in my life can be fucked up and ruined beyond repair with one decision.”

“Can I ask what’s drugs you did?” She was a little nervous at asking but she had to know what she was getting into.

“Pot when I was twelve, harder stuff when I was sixteen. Alcohol as well until I was thirty three and called it quits on all of it before it ruined my life.” He wasn’t ashamed to talk about it and he actually found it took a weight off him to tell her.

“Thank you.” She said. “For being honest with me about it.”

“Always. There’s one other thing, non addiction thing I want to get out in the open.” He said. “I was married before. Young and stupid.” He chuckled. “Not married now.”

She smiled at him. “We’re all young and stupid at some point in our lives.”

“I would wager you’re the young and not so stupid type. Bookworm.” He said studying her.

It was that look that made her melt.

“Young and stupid with a twin.” She smiled. Twice the fun, twice the stupid.”

“Tell me about him?” He asked and saw her smile faulted a little but she went on.

“We were hellish until our parents passed. That wised us up a little, we were nine. My brother was the rebel, I was, as you say, bookish. I mean take a look around and the profession I went into. Books, notes, study, and research galore.”

“We used to prank the old lady next door. Poor thing. I bet she was happy when we eventually went to stay with my grandfather. Quinn was a prankster, a goofball, but one of the kindest, gentlest souls around. You remind me of him sometimes.” She smiled.

“He used to always sneak into my room and use my window to escape out of when he wanted to hang with his buddies at night because my room wasn’t next to gramps room. Or when we were the twins age he would sneak into my room and sleep next to me and hold my hand. It’s a closeness I can’t explain and now that he’s gone it feels like a part of me went with him. It’ll like I’m missing a limb sometimes.”

“I wish I could bring him back for you.” He said and played with the stray strands at her jaw.

“Me too.”

“Want to watch a movie?”

“Sure. Let me get the hall door real quick and the monitor.” She got up and Gustaf chose a movie on her watch list. He’d seen it before but that was fine. He was more interested in seducing her while she tried to watch it.

She sat the monitor on the table and sat close to Gustaf while they drank the rest of their tea. The kids were asleep, she’d checked and those butterflies had come to sit in her belly again. He’d been touching her all day and wondered if he’d kiss her.

With tea finished and the movie underway he pulled her against him and lay back.

“You realize I’m liable to fall asleep like this.” She said quietly.

“Then fall asleep.” He kissed the top of her head. “It’s not like I have far to go to get home.”

She would have fallen asleep except for the one finger trailing her body. It excited her, aroused her, tormented her. There were times when he’d hesitate to make her think he was going to take it one step further and then back off. His game of seduction was ecstasy and driving her to insanity.

By the time the movie ended she wanted him to touch her in those places he hadn’t gone to. That wasn’t going to happen though. Their night had come to an end and she was emotionally exhausted.

Once against she stood in the doorway and he was going home alone. Fate had decided they had to wait.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” He asked leaning his forearm on the door frame.

She shook her head. “We’re out tomorrow at soccer for the twins and then school Monday.” She said and bit her bottom lip because he was so close to her she wanted to pull him closer and kiss him.

“Dinner in three weeks then?” He smiled.

“Hopefully we can make that one happen.” Her heart rate had soared.

“It’s going to happen.” He said seductively and kissed her temple.

“I’m out of town for a few weeks. I’ll be back for our dinner.” He said softly. “And tea the Friday night before.”

He let his finger trail her jaw as his lips brushed her neck. He could tell she was aroused as her breath hitched as he kissed the one spot on a woman’s neck that drove them wild.

“I don’t want to leave.” He whispered. “Because I want to do more than touch you.”

“I don’t want you to leave.” Her voice wasn’t steady. “But we can’t.”

“I understand, but know that when I get you alone I’m not going to stop until I have you.” He said in that low tone that made her quiver.

“Shall I give you a preview?” He murmured against her ear grinning.

She chuckled. “I think you’ve been giving me a preview all day.”

He lifted her chin and looked at her. Those ice blue eyes looked back and he drowned in them. Cupping his hand at the back of her neck he kissed her. He gently pressed her against the doorframe and had to contain the urge to deepen it and devour that mouth.

One kiss, light, but seductive and it almost made her pass out as he stole her breath.

“To be continued.” He murmured against her mouth.

She looked at him. She wanted more, he could see it.

“That’s not playing fair.” She said with a smirk and let her fingers toy with the fabric of his shirt. They itched to dive under and touch him more.

“If I kiss you like I want to.” He growled nipping her jaw lightly. “I’ll do more than just kiss you.” He kissed her temple. “I want you Sildie, but I want it to be right.” His fingers played with her hair. “For you and the kids.”

“You’re in for a long night when we have our dinner then.” She said softly as he brushed his lips over her neck again.

“Count on it.” He said. “Goodnight Sildie. Inside lock the door.” He smiled.

“Night.” She said not really breathing steadily yet.

She went inside, shut and locked the door and grinned. He’d kissed her. He’d kissed her and she felt giddy. She wasn’t going to be able to keep the grin from her face for the next few weeks.

The weeks away from her and the kids dragged. He couldn’t wait to get home and prepare for their dinner. He thought of her often and realized that he’s fallen for her. For her and the kids.

The weeks Gustaf was away went like lightning. Thank God she thought. Because she was crawling out of her own skin to be with him.

Between her case load and the kids she was heading into Friday and looking forward to their tea date. Question was could they keep their hand off each other until Saturday she thought smiling to herself.

She dropped Brendan off at hockey camp. The kid almost peed his pants with excitement. It was good to see him happy and getting some normality back into his life.

The twins got some rare time with the Xbox, just them, and Lily helped her with some notes and went down without any fuss. She got the boys to bed without incident and settled with some reading for work.

The light knock at her door snapped her out of it and she grinned. Opening the door she had to bite her bottom lip and stifle the groan at seeing him in suit pants and dress shirt.

“You look as if you just stepped off a plane.” She said and invited him in.

“That’s because I have.” He said and as soon as she’d shut the door he cupped a hand behind her neck, pulled her to him and devoured that mouth he spent the last few weeks craving.

“I’ve thought of nothing but that moment for weeks now.” He said, breaking the kiss and stepping back.

She rested her hand on his chest. “Give me a moment ok?” Her head was swimming. The guy knew how to kiss a girl.

She went and checked on the kids and shut the hall door. Somewhat private at least she thought because she wanted to kiss him more tonight.

“I’m sorry Sildie.” He said as she came into the kitchen. “I shouldn’t have don...”

She pressed herself against him, wrapped an arm around his waist, a hand at his cheek, and kissed him. His hands found her hips and held her to him as he deepened it.

“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.” She said breathlessly and his smile was as big as hers.

“I’ve missed you.” He kissed her again. “And the kids. My world has been very quiet.”

“I’ve missed you too. My world not as quiet but It’s been a hectic few weeks.”

“You know.” He said slyly. “I like it when you’re all lawyered up.” He flipped the top button of her shirt open and let his finger wander. “Especially this shirt.”

“And whys that?” She chuckled but let him have his fun.

“Because it’s see-through and I get glimpses of the black lace you have on under it and it drives me crazy. You do that deliberately don’t you?” His lips brushed her neck.

“Of course.” She chuckled and turned the kettle off before it broke into full song and woke the kids.

She turned and made tea and his hand encircled her waist pressing him against her.

“Can you make it over earlier tomorrow?” He asked brushing his lips over the nape of her neck.

“I’ll be over as soon as I get the kids squared away. One down three to go.” And good lord could the man reduce her to goo when he put his mind to it, and his hands on her.

“Hockey camp right?” He kissed the nape of her neck down her shoulder where he’d pulled the fabric of her shirt aside to give him access.

“For two glorious weeks. The twins are at a sleep over tomorrow and not back until late Monday and Lily bear gets to hang out here with the sitter. Which thank you by the way. She’s awesome.” She had to keep talking because his fingers and mouth were making her rethink her decision of waiting until they were away from the kids.

“My agent found her, completely vetted.” His said and nipped her ear. “Turn around.” He whispered and she did without his hands leaving her.

“I like you in heels, you’re the same height as me.” He flipped open the next button down and let his finger graze the rise of her breasts. “I want to peel you out of this.” He growled. “Slowly.”

“We can’t Gustaf.” She warned softly and her voice faltered. “As much as I’d love you to.” She was less than steady at the sensations he was inflicting on her.

“That’s the last button I promise.” He kissed her tenderly. “For now.”

“I’ll wear it tomorrow.” She whispered and trailed her finger down his chin and kissed him.

“Wear something comfortable. I can peel you out of your suit another time.” He winked. “Gives me something else to think about when I’m away from you.”

They sat on the couch so she didn’t have to tidy up her work.

Tea in hand, curled up next to him, she rested her head on his arm that ran along the back of the couch. His hand played with the strands of hair that had escaped her hair clip. He’d never seen her with her hair down, something he’d remedy tomorrow. He wanted to run his fingers through it.

“You’re exhausted.” She said softly. “Where did you fly in from?”

“The US. It’s been a long couple of weeks. Busy too.”

“You should go and sleep after this cup.” She said and leaned forward to kiss him gently. “You’re going to need your energy.”

That sly smile had him growling against her lips and he devoured her mouth again.

His eyes searched hers. “You’re beautiful Sildie. I don’t say that enough to you.”

She looked at him and that slight smile touched her lips before she kissed him with a tenderness he’d never felt from her before.

“Go sleep. I’ll be over as soon as I can tomorrow.” She kissed him again softly. “See what you’ve started. Now I can’t stop.”

“I don’t ever want you to stop.” He murmured.

“The sitter is over at nine so I don’t have to drag Lily out in the weather. I might even make it over for lunch.” It was her turn to let her fingers wander. She loved the feel of his chest under her fingers. Defined and strong.

“Lunch and dinner. When does the sitter leave?”

“Not until I come home.” She said and looked at him.

“Well obviously but... oh.” He grinned as it dawned on him. “Ama gets her own sleepover. Damn I must be tired of it took me that long to click.”

“Only if you want me to stay.”

“Oh I want you to stay.” He kissed her so she couldn’t think.

“Go and sleep. You’re nearly there as it is.” She said and got up. She wanted to get an early night too.

They stood in the doorway like normal and he kissed her again.

“I love it when you kiss me like that.” She said softly.

“I’ll remember to do it more often.” He smiled and kissed her again.

“Go and sleep.” She laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He kissed her again. “Inside.”

“Lock the door. I know.” She chuckled.

How had she fallen for him so hard she thought.

The sitter was early which thrilled Sildie. She had the twins packed off to their friends for sleepover on the dot of nine which made the boys happy from both families as they were spending the day fishing at the lake.

She had enough time to get back home, shower, and find the matching black lace set she planned to have Gustaf peel her out of. She had a casual shirt that was more see through than her work shirt and decided on that and a lightweight pair of jeans. Probably less dressy than she would have worn going out but he said be comfortable. She’d still make him lose his mind.

It was 10:45am by the time she was standing at his door and hesitated. Should she wait until lunch time? Was it too early. The nervousness was back and she almost chickened out.

“Don’t be an idiot.” She mumbled and knocked quietly.

[cmanonstillinhiding]

second impact

@enbies-and-felonies pt 4! sorry for the short update but i’m almost done with 5, so hopefully that will be up tonight as well!

--

JJ had, again, been right. How the coaches and sports programs that had cost these girls their lives would be faring, she neither knew nor cared. After having to return to the Parker house to give Diana the news, all she wanted was to go home. So when Ellie called, JJ was more than happy to hand her paperwork over to Spencer for a few minutes. 

‘Hey, kiddo! How are you?’

Ellie sounded nervous. ‘I’m fine. When are you coming home?’

‘We’re leaving in about an hour. Is something going on?’

‘No, just...I made the soccer team. Please don’t be mad.’

‘Mad? Why would I be mad? I-I’m happy for you, sweetheart. That’s great news.’ 

A pause on the other end of the line. ‘Mum said you would be mad, so I shouldn’t tell you. But I didn’t want to lie.’

JJ shot a glare at Emily, playing table football with Morgan instead of doing anything productive. ‘Oh, she did, did she? Well, I’m not, and you shouldn’t have been told to lie to me, much less by your mum.’ Across the room, she could see Spencer packing up the case files, getting ready to leave. ‘Listen, honey, I have to go. We’ll talk when we get home, okay?’

‘Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘See you tomorrow. I love you.’

‘I love you too.’

--

After successfully avoiding Emily on both the way to the airport and the plane, JJ was not surprised when she started talking before the key was even in the ignition of their car. 

‘Okay, out with it. What did I do now?’

‘Why did you tell Ellie I would be angry with her for making the soccer team?”

Emily had the good grace to look slightly guilty. ‘I didn’t say you’d be mad, exactly. More like you might not want to hear that right now.’

‘It doesn’t matter! You told our daughter to lie to me?’

‘Not lie, exact-’

‘I do not care about ‘exactly!’ I care about what she said to me, and that you thought this wasn’t something I should know!’

‘Christ’s sake, JJ, she’s not dying!’

‘She could be! Have you not seen enough this week, or my whole damn life, to see that?’

‘Ellie is in the sixth grade and just started playing! That is not even remotely similar to you!’

‘That is exactly me! I don’t think she’s in danger now, or the next year, and maybe even not the next, but there will be a point where she is. And I will not let it get there.’

‘So what, we just lock her in the house? ‘Oooh, your mom used to walk to school, now she’s traumatised, so we’re just gonna homeschool you?”

JJ’s voice was a deadly quiet. ‘Stop. Stop that right now.’ 

Emily knew she’d gone too far. ‘You’re right. That was too much.’

‘You have been through some shit. I see that. And when she’s 15, I’ll bet you’ll be keeping a close eye on her.’

Emily looked like she’d been slapped. ‘That’s not fair. She wasn’t raised like me.’

‘But you think any 15 year old won’t do whatever it takes to fit in?’

‘I think the two incidents here are entirely different!’

‘They’re both places where we were hurt, Em. I just don’t want to lose Ellie to our mistakes.’

‘You think your full-ride scholarship was a mistake?’

JJ shut her eyes against tears. ‘More than anything in my life.’

‘Why? JJ, you talk all the time about how this hurt you, but I don’t know why.‘

‘Let’s just get home first, okay? I will tell you, I promise.’

‘Thank you.’

--

As it turned out, the conversation didn’t happen that night. Pulling into the driveway at 3:00am, neither wanted to do anything requiring coherent thought. Emily turned to JJ as she walked in the door, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. JJ turned to her, pulling her closer. ‘I love you. I just thought I should say that, no matter what happens with Ellie and soccer, I will love you.’

Emily threaded her hands into JJ’s hair, holding her against her chest. ‘I love you too. We’ll figure this out, okay?’

JJ nodded, nestling her head against Emily’s shoulder. ‘Okay.’

Emily kissed her forehead before pulling away up the stairs. ‘Now, can we please get some sleep? You know Hotch is gonna call at the crack of dawn.’

JJ followed, almost laughing. ‘He does have a tendency to start the work day at 5:00.’

Emily grinned. ‘Exactly. Let’s rest while we can.’

[a-little-international]

Stable (3)

Summary: Even Tom knows it’s a cliché  for the stable hand to fall in love with the star rider.

Pairing: Tom Holland/OC

Warnings: petty and hormonal teenage boys

Words: 2,791

A/N: since moving back home, i’ve started riding again and honestly there’s a distinct lack of male stable hands in my age range which is UNACCEPTABLE and is the primary reason for reviving this fic.

The Series: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4

Chapter 3

Wednesday rolled around much faster than Tom ever wanted it to, dreading having to spend the hours after school running after Harrison Osterfield and trying his best to avoid the topic of Ren. Knowing Harrison, that was unlikely, but he still held out hope. The only good thing about Wednesdays was that the last two hours were a double art class with his mum, and his best friend Jacob sitting by his side.

“Do you think they made out?” Jacob asked, pushing down on his lump of clay, “Like with tongues and everything?”

Tom slammed his chunk of clay on the table, grimacing at Jacob, “Can you shut up?” he replied, his voice hushed as he glanced up to see if his mother had overheard. “And I’m sure if they did it was with tongues, we’re not twelve anymore dude.”

“Yeah and it’s Osterfield, guy’s such a slimy bugger I bet he shoved it all the way down her throat,” Jacob carried on, sticking his tongue out as far as possible to demonstrate, adding slurping and gagging sounds for effect.

“Shut up,” Tom reiterated, clenching his hands into the clay at the thought of Harrison all over Ren. He was jealous, he knew he was and he knew it was a terrible thing to do and Ren didn’t owe him a second of her time, let alone her affection, but he just wished she wasn’t into Harrison of all people. He didn’t even want to know what the implication of them being at boarding school together meant -  he’d heard plenty about the goings on between students at Saints and he tried to push Ren’s potential involvement with any of that as far out of his mind as he could possible manage.

As if Jacob could read his mind, he rambled on, “Do you think they’ve slept together?”

“Ugh, Jacob! Please!” Tom exclaimed, throwing his head back. He did not want to be thinking about this mere hours before having to look at Harrison all evening.

“You need to face the facts, Tom. They’re probably banging and she’s never going to look at you that way.”

“Ouch,” Tom pouted as he continued to squish the clay between his hands, in no way following his mother’s instructions.

“You have been pining over her for too long, my friend. This may actually be a good thing! You’ll be able to go off to University without having to dream forever more about the beautiful yet elusive Ren.”

“Not sure if I’m even going to Uni,” Tom sulked, tugging the sleeves of his uniform jumper higher up his elbows so they wouldn’t get too ruined.

“Well my point still stands, you can’t mope about for the rest of your life Thomas. Plenty of fish, and all that.”

Tom frowned at his friend, not loving where this conversation had headed when all he’d wanted was a pep talk for later. “You’re mister romantic, what happened? Since when are you so anti pursuing what could possibly be the love of your life?” he exclaimed, kneading down on his clay.

Jacob smirked as he leaned against the table, his blob of clay totally forgotten about. “Listen, I am all for pursuing the love of your life. I just want to posit that there may be more than one, and you’ve gotta let it go when you know you’ve been beaten. Plenty of fish, you hear me? You’ll find more success elsewhere, young padawan.”

“Fine, Obi,” Tom sighed, rolling his eyes, “but I don’t know that I’ve been beaten yet. We don’t know for sure that anything has ever happened between them and so I might still be in with a chance. She said I was her favourite on Saturday,” he added proudly, as if that proved anything.

Jacob snorted and returned to his clay, “Alright casanova, let me know how to that goes. But I’ll bet you five quid and the snickers at the bottom of my bag that you’ll find out plenty from Harrison this evening.”

“I’ll take you up on the fiver, but I don’t want anything to do with that rank snickers.”

“Suits me,” Jacob shrugged, shooting a grin at his best friend and Tom knew he was only trying to protect him from another round of heartache and pining. This sort of thing happened every few months, where Ren was concerned. She would say something, and Tom would completely misinterpret it and get his hopes up and nothing would happen and on the cycle would go.

“Boys, come on, less gossiping more creating!” Tom’s mother’s voice brought him out of his thoughts and he grinner up at her, desperately hoping she hadn’t overheard any part of their conversation. Knowing her, though, that seemed highly unlikely. He wondered if she would bring it up at dinner, or store it away for later referral. She winked back at him as she walked away, tapping her fingers against his desk. Tom dropped his head, groaning internally at the thought of having to discuss this with her later.

---

“Alright Tom, can you grab Skylark next please, Harrison’s just arrived and he’ll want to jump right up.” Called his dad from the barn doors, a bunch of polo mallets tucked under his arm.

“Daaaaad,” Tom groaned, throwing his head back as he pulled a face, “can’t I go get someone else? Literally anyone else, please,” he begged, approaching his dad.

Peering out at the courtyard he saw Harrison talking to his mother through the open car window as he pulled on his gloves, looking clean and tidy and expensive as ever. Tom scuffed his worn out boot tip against the flagstones.

Dominic Holland looked over his shoulder to give his son a stern look, one eyebrow raised. “Now Tom, you’ve got about three minutes to pick up that attitude and get Skylark out to the field.”

“Literally anyone else.” Tom repeated himself, his eyes practically begging his father to relent.

Mr. Holland was not to be moved or swayed. “Go, now. Please Tom.”

There was no winning, and Tom just hoped that Harrison would ignore him all evening.

Alas, he had no such luck, as the second Harrison rounded the corner to the polo field, his eyes were fixed on Tom and he could have sworn he saw the star player square his shoulders as he approached.

“Evening, Holland,” Harrison greeted curtly, swinging up onto his horse without a second’s hesitation, “good weather for a game, isn’t it?”

“Yep,” Tom replied, just as stiffly as he handed the reins up to Harrison, “cracking weather.” He wondered why Harrison was talking to him about the weather at all, the fact that he had even acknowledged him without being forced to was just as unusual as it was suspicious. “Have a good rideout on Saturday?” Tom heard himself asking out loud, to his absolute horror. He tried his best not to make too much of a face as he glanced up at Harrison, who was fiddling with one of his stirrup leathers.

“Hmm?” Harrison hummed, not bothering to look at Tom, as he checked the new length of his stirrup, “Oh, with Florence?” he added, almost absentmindedly.

Tom bit down on his lip. If he had been talking to anyone else, it would have almost seemed like a normal, totally casual conversation. But it was exactly that normal, totally casual way in which Harrison spoke her name that felt like dig; like he was telling Tom how totally normal and casual it was for him to be spending time with her, when to Tom it was a treasured commodity.

All Tom could muster as a response was a nod of his head and an affirmative grunt.

If it hadn’t been for his impulsive question in the first place, he wouldn’t have to remain next to Harrison, painfully waiting for an answer he wasn’t sure he really wanted to hear. But there he was, standing next to the epitome of what he both always wanted to be and tried his best to never become, waiting for what felt like the inevitable blow that would break his heart.

“Oh it was rather good,” Harrison said, smirking at Tom as he shifted around in the saddle, his shoulders pushing back confidently. “Nice to get some one-on-one time with her, school can be pretty manic, you know how it is”.

That definitely felt like another dig, and Tom swallowed as he nodded up at Harrison unable to think of a properly. Of course he didn’t know how it was at school with them. Mayfield College was a world away from St. Augustine’s, even if it was just three miles down the road. He’d been inside the old brick walls of the boarding school a couple of times for various school events, and had visited the sprawling grounds more often than that for the occasional soccer match or to cheer on his school’s rugby team, but he couldn’t really begin to imagine what it was like going there. He’d definitely never have imagined it as manic.

“Anyway, hoping to get some proper one-on-one time with her this Saturday anyway,” Harrison continued smugly, winking at Tom suggestively, who had stuffed his balled fists so deep into the pockets of his jacket he was worried he might tear the fabric. “I’m sure you must have heard all about my party by now.”

Tom just glared up at Harrison, biting down on the inside of his cheek. He didn’t like what Harrison was implying at all, and he certainly hadn’t heard of his stupid party and he was sure that Harrison knew that too. Another jab, just to be sure.

“Oh well, it really is just all Saints people anyway, so I suppose you mightn’t have heard after all,” Harrison shrugged, a smile tugging at the side of his mouth as he looked down his nose at Tom. “We’re never quite sure what trickles down to you lot at Mayfield,” he added, a smug grin spreading over his face as he urged his horse forward onto the field, without another glance back.

Tom looked over at his brother Sam, jaw dropped at Harrison’s comment. Sam was just sending another team member onto the field with a short wave when he looked over and frowned questioningly back at Tom.

“I hate him,” Tom grumbled as he stomped over to complain, hands still buried in his pockets, “so much.”

Sam rolled his eyes, looking around to see if anyone else needed any more help. “He’s really not that bad.”

“Hey, you’re meant to be on my side,” Tom replied, shooting a look at his brother before turning his attention to the riders on the field, who were all being handed their mallets by their trainer.

“It’s just an act, you know that right?” Sam questioned, raising an eyebrow at Tom.

“Did you know about his party on Saturday?” Tom continued, choosing to completely ignore what his brother had just said, he was clearly delusional. “Ren is going to it apparently.”

“Good for her,” Sam chuckled, leaning back against the fence as the game started, horses racing past them and mallets swinging. Tom had already lost sight of the ball amongst the trampling of hooves.

“Yeah,” Tom nodded, watching as Harrison sharply turned his horse around to go barrelling down towards the other end of the field. And sure, it was good for her, he was glad she was being invited to parties and having fun and had what seemed to be a great group of friends from all accounts, he just really wished it wasn’t with Harrison. He knew he sounded like an entitled child and resented that feeling inside him, but he couldn’t help being so in love with her that every time she so much as looked his way his mouth ran dry. Being seventeen and in love was hard work.

---

Even dripping in sweat Harrison Osterfield looked good, and Tom made a mental note to add that to his list of things that bothered him about the preppy polo player.

Harrison held out his muddy mallet for Tom to take as he swung down off his horse, boots hitting the slightly soggy ground with a confident thud.

“Good game, Osterfield, good game,” Remy Hii, the team captain jeered, slapping Harrison on the shoulder with a big grin.

“All down to your stellar leadership, of course,” Harrison replied, tipping his helmet like he was some sort of nineteenth century gentleman. Tom rolled his eyes as he held up a bucket of water so Skylark could get a drink.

“See you on Saturday, yeah?” Tom heard Remy say as he walked away, his own horse in tow.

“Absolutely” Harrison replied, waving his gloved hand in salute. For a second, Tom wondered what it would be like to be in Harrison’s circle of friends, to actually be privy to invites and jockular exchanges, when he felt a firm had come down on his shoulder.

“You know, Holland, Florence was saying you’re gonna be her groom for the season,” Harrison said, his voice barely over a whisper, and a shiver of dread ran down Tom’s spine at the anticipation of an upcoming threat, “and I just to make sure that you know that if anything happens to her at all, I will be blaming you, so you better do a better job at checking the leather with her than you did with me.”

Tom frowned at him, feeling like he was missing the punchline of a joke. For one, he was entirely caught off guard by Harrison’s apparent protectiveness of Ren, and secondly he had no idea what leather he meant and what could possibly be wrong with it.

Harrison didn’t wait long to illuminate him as he lifted the upper skirt of the saddle to expose the top of the stirrup strap, where the stitching keeping it all together had almost entirely come apart and the leather had worn down so much that it almost seemed like a miracle that he hadn’t entirely lost his stirrup during the two hours of training.

Tom didn’t know what to say; with the level these people were riding at, a sudden loss of stirrup at the wrong moment could be fatal, and he had no idea how he’d missed it. He looked at Harrison, eyes wide, hoping he wouldn’t say anything to anyone about it or he’d be off the roster for the next two millennia and he could wave goodbye to ever getting to hang around Ren again.  

“Now, I’m going to let this slide on the conditions that you fix this immediately,” Harrison said, voice low and holding one finger up to Tom like a stern parent, “you make sure my tack and horse are in proper riding condition from this moment forth so I never have to deal with your utter incompetence again,” he continued, holding up a second finger, “ and, that nothing even remotely like this happens to Ren or I will make your life so much worse than it already is,” he finished, holding up a rather menacing looking third finger. “Don’t test me.”

All Tom could do was nod, still totally caught off guard to Harrison’s attitude towards Ren. He’d always seemed like a slimy git and he was at least seventy five percent sure he was some kind of psychopath, but maybe Sam was right. But then again, maybe Sam was wrong and Harrison was just playing mind games with him and knew Tom’s weakness was always and forever going to be Ren, and the momentary reprieve in animosity he had felt for Harrison dissipated pretty swiftly.

“I’ll take Skylark in for you then,” Tom finally said after enough tense seconds had passed between them, taking the reins and making a move back towards the stables.

“Absolutely not,” Harrison hissed, snatching the reins right back, “I’ll leave the saddle on the bench in the tack room for you to fix, and mark my words: I’ll be checking every last stitch before I get on next time and if even one thing is out of place I will be informing your father of your sheer incompetence.

Tom watched as Harrison led Skylark away, the half empty water bucket still dangling from his fingertips, totally ignoring the other team members that were still bustling around that might be in need of some assistance.

“What was that all about?” Harry asked, sidling up next to him with a dirty towel used for rubbing down the sweaty horses flung over his shoulder.

Tom pursed his lips and glanced over at his brother, “So, I almost killed Harrison Osterfield and then he threatened me.”

“Fair,” Harry shrugged casually, “but better luck next time.”

---

TAGLIST (let me know if you want to be added!)

@crownedbyluke @24kcalum @vnv21

[ricandhaiz]

Blindsided, Chapter 3

The day was warm and sunny with a slight wind as Nic made his way to the university’s main plaza to meet Allie. Given the burned portions of skin’s hypersensitivity to the sun, he’d opted to wear a long sleeve denim shirt and jeans with a baseball cap. While navigating through the throng of students coming and going to campus, he noticed that most of the people gathering for the men’s acapella group’s lunch time performance were women. He spotted Allie and Charlie sitting on a patch of grass underneath a large jacaranda tree not far from the arched gateway separating the upper and lower portions of the plaza. Charlie wagged his tail and barked in acknowledgment as he approached them.

“Nic, is that you?” Allie asked.

“You weren’t kidding when you told me this show was popular with the girls,” Nic replied as he sat down next to her. “I’m surprised there aren’t more men here. This place is practically swarming with women. I think I’m outnumbered three to one, which are great odds for any single guy who’s looking to pick up a girl.”

Allie smiled. “You think so?”

“Absolutely,” Nic replied as he thought about what his pre-accident self would have done in this situation. “It’s their loss, I guess. Lucky for me, I’m already sitting next to the prettiest girl on campus.”

“Wow,” Allie exclaimed, giggling. “You do have a way with words. My B.S. meter is usually pretty good at spotting a player a mile away but the way you just said that almost sounded believable.”

“You think I’m lying?” Nic replied.

Just then, a petite brunette wearing a red t-shirt and jean shorts arrived with arms laden with food and drinks. She greeted Allie with a warm hello as she bent down and handed her a can of Coke and a tuna sandwich. She turned to Nic as she sat down next to Charlie and said, “You must be the guy that Allie’s been talking my ear off about. You’re Nic, right?” Nic glanced at Allie, who was blushing. He nodded. She extended her hand to him and said, “Hi, I’m her roommate, Nicole.”

He shook Nicole’s hand and said, “I can’t imagine what she could’ve said about me. I’m really not that interesting.”

“Oh please,” Nicole replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Your name rang a bell as soon as she mentioned it, so being the overprotective and nosy friend that I am, I took the liberty of looking you up on the internet. You’re one of the Spanish soccer players who got into that horrific car accident in L.A. two years ago, right?” Nic nodded again, feeling decidedly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. “It was all over the news.”

His face fell as he recalled all the news clippings about the accident that his abuela had shown him when he had first returned to Spain. “Have you talked to anyone else other than Allie about me?” Nicole shook her head. Relieved, he added, “I’d appreciate it if you could keep what you’ve learned about me to yourself. It was a very painful period in my life and it took a long time for me to come to terms with what happened. I had to undergo months of physical and psychological therapy to get to where I am now. During that process, I decided that I needed a fresh start. That’s why I came here to study.”

“Of course,” Nicole replied contritely. “Mum’s the word.”

“Have many people asked you about your accident?” Allie asked as she popped the tab on her soda can.

Nic paused, then said, “It hasn’t really come up in any of the conversations I’ve had with my professors and classmates. I think they’re savvy enough to realize that it’s a sensitive issue for me and have chosen to respect my privacy in that regard.”

“Allie tells me that you’re in an MBA student,” Nicole said in a tentative voice. “Do you know where you’re going and what you want to do after you graduate?”

Nic sensed that her question had a lot to do with her concern for Allie and where a possible relationship with him might lead. In an attempt to assuage her concerns, he replied, “My family has been in the wine business for generations. Naturally, my papá would like to pass the business on to me once he retires but nothing’s set in stone. I could decide to stay here after I graduate. It’s too early yet for me to say for sure one way or the other.”

“Some of the articles I read said that your father also played professional football,” Nicole said.

“Yes, he did,” Nic replied, grateful that the focus of the conversation had at least temporarily shifted away from him. “He was one of three goalkeepers chosen to be a part of the Spanish national football team at both the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. He played for Real Madrid and Barça for years before he retired in the early 2000s.”

“Is he the reason why you decided to be a footballer too?” Allie asked.

“In part, but it was mostly because I loved playing the game too. My madre told me that I was playing with footballs even before I learned to walk.”

Allie then asked him, “Did people often compare you to your father?”

“All the time,” Nic replied as he reflected on his padre’s storied football career. “I didn’t mind. Most of the time, it just motivated me to work harder, especially since I’m two inches shorter than he is. Most goalkeepers are usually at least six feet tall.”

“Was he very involved in your sports career?” Allie asked.

Nic reflected on her question, then said, “He only gave me advice when I asked for it. He made it clear to me early on in my career that he wanted me to succeed on my own merit.”

“I bet your mom’s mighty proud of what you’ve accomplished,” Allie said. “Not many people have the skill or the talent to make it to the professional level of football like you did.”

“I’m sure she would have been,” Nic replied slowly. “She died of breast cancer when I was a teenager.”

Allie gasped in surprise and bit her lip. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“There’s no need for you to apologize,” Nic interjected. “You didn’t say or do anything wrong.”

After a brief pause in the conversation, Nicole leaned in as she placed her hand on Allie’s shoulder and said, “Well, now that Nic’s in the picture, maybe Conner will finally take a hint and go and find someone else to bother.”

“It doesn’t sound like you like him much,” Nic chimed in.

“No, I don’t,” Nicole replied matter-of-factly. “And neither does Allie but she’s just too nice to tell him to buzz off.”

“Is that true?” Nic asked.

Allie sighed. “He’s all right, but what irritates me most is his tendency to treat me like an invalid who can’t do anything for herself.”

“He’s such a tool,” Nicole said, shaking her head as she took a bite of her ham and cheese sandwich. “I know he’s a family friend and all, and that your aunt and his mom are close but that doesn’t mean you should feel obliged to put up with him like you do.”

“I know,” Allie said. “But it’s not like I haven’t tried to—”

“But nothing,” Nicole cut in. “You need to stop beating around the bush and tell him to back off, especially now that I’m not going to be there to help run interference for you.”

“You’re leaving?” Nic asked.

“My boyfriend recently got an advertising job in L.A. and asked me to go with him. I graduated this past spring and have been working as a nurse at the university hospital. I’ve already got a few interviews lined up so I don’t think I’ll have much of a problem landing a job.”

“It’s a great opportunity for both of them,” Allie said with a touch of sadness in her voice despite her obvious effort to sound upbeat. “Nicole’s been dying to move to a big city like L.A. ever since we met my freshman year here.”

Nicole nodded. “Hilton City’s alright for a college town but I can’t see myself living here long term. I need to be in a place with a faster pulse, you know what I’m saying?”

Nic glanced at Allie and said, “What does this mean for you?”

Allie shrugged and patted the top of Charlie’s head. “I can’t afford the apartment we live in on my own so I’m probably going to have to move back in with my aunt and uncle for a little while. I’d rather find another roommate but that’s tricky, especially with me being blind. Nicole’s the best. It’s probably going to be near high impossible to find someone like her on such short notice.”

“Where do you live?” Nicole asked.

“My friend, Matt, helped me find a room in a house just two blocks from the south side of campus. I live with an elderly couple whose son recently moved out. They rented out his room to me as a favor to Matt.”

Nicole’s eyes seemed to widen in apparent excitement. He wondered why. She asked, “Are you obligated to stay there for the entire school year?”

“No,” Nic replied.

She quickly followed that up with a few more questions. “Do you smoke or drink?”

“No, and a lot less than I used to.”

“Are you neat? I mean, like, do you tend clean up after yourself or are you the type that leaves his stuff lying around the house?”

“I’d like to think so.”

“Have you had roommates before?”

Nic shook his head, then swiftly added, “But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be a good one.”

Nicole paused, looking thoughtful as she tapped her finger to her cheek. “Would you mind having to share space, like a bathroom with someone, if you had to?”

“What’s with all the questions?” Allie cut in.

Nicole nudged her in the ribs and said, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m trying to find out if Nic would be a good replacement for me.”

“What?” Allie asked, appearing utterly confused.

“Can you just see it?” Nicole replied, clapping her hands together in delight. “Trust me. I have a sixth sense about these things.”

For a moment or two, Nicole’s suggestion rendered both Nic and Allie speechless.

“Well, say something!” Nicole said. “You know I’m right.”

“Umm…I don’t know. My aunt might not approve of me living with a guy.”

Nicole rolled her eyes and said, “Your aunt needs to bring herself into the twenty-first century. People of the opposite sex live together all the time. Isn’t that right, Nic?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” Nic replied cautiously.

“What do you think?” Allie asked.

“I don’t see why not.” Nic replied as his eyes darted back and forth between Allie and Nicole. “But I’d only do it if you’re one hundred percent okay with it.”

“Really?” Allie asked, sounding slightly off-kilter. Nic was finding it hard to gauge whether Allie agreed with Nicole’s assessment of the situation or not. But then she said, “Before you commit to anything, you ought to come by our apartment and take a look around first.”

“Are you doing anything this afternoon?” Nicole asked expectantly.

“I have an accounting class at two o’clock, but I could drop by any time after that,” Nic replied.

Nicole answered, “Why don’t you swing by at six? Allie and I will make spaghetti.” She patted Allie’s knee, adding, “Sound good?”

“Are you sure?” Allie asked, furrowing your brow as she turned her head in Nic’s direction. “We’re just getting to know each other. The last thing I want to do is make you feel like I’m pressuring you into moving in with me out of some misguided sense of obligation or pity.”

Nic placed his hand over Allie’s and gave it a squeeze. “Believe me, if I do agree to do it, feeling sorry for you definitely won’t be the reason I say yes.”

Just then, a member of The Warblers spoke up. He thanked the crowd for coming and then announced their opening song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Nic was grateful for the diversion. As the very real possibility of living with Allie began to sink in, he couldn’t help but think of this unexpected turn of events as the best stroke of luck that he’d encountered in a very long time. Although there was a part of him that was wary of being exposed to possible disappointment and heartbreak, the desire to love and be loved was much stronger. And so, he decided to keep an open mind and see how things would pan out later this evening.

 It was five till six when Nic looked up at the number on the white door and compared it to the piece of paper upon which Nicole had scribbled her and Allie’s apartment number and address earlier that day. It had been a pleasant and relatively short walk from the university library to their two-bedroom ground floor apartment. He’d stopped and sat on a park bench for a little while so as not to arrive too early and amused himself by watching children feed the ducks which were congregating at the edge of a small pond.

He knocked. A tall, sandy-blond haired man wearing a black t-shirt and shorts opened the door. For a second, Nic wondered if he was in the right place and was about to take a second glance at the paper in his hand when the man said, “Are you Nic? I’m Brandon, Nicole’s boyfriend. Come on in.”

Nic smiled and waved at Nicole and Allie, who were in the kitchen with Charlie, and followed Brandon to the living room. He was immediately struck by how neat and tidy the apartment looked. He glanced at an assortment of flowers in a glass vase on the coffee table and saw numerous pictures of the girls with friends and family hanging on the walls and side tables. He thought these things gave the place a decidedly homey feeling. Brandon motioned for him to take a seat on a red futon which had multicolored throw pillows on each corner.  As he sat down, his eye fell on a picture of a man in a fireman’s outfit holding a little brown-haired girl in his arms.

“That’s Allie and her dad,” Brandon said, following Nic’s line of sight. “I think Nicole told me that that picture was taken just a week before he died.”

“What happened to him?”

“He was one of the hundreds of firefighters who died on 9/11 at the Twin Towers. Allie was five.”

Brandon asked Nic if he wanted a beer. He said yes. The sound of pots and pans clanking and clattering in the kitchen filled his ears as the smell of freshly baked bread and pasta wafted through the air. He glanced at the forty-inch flat screen T.V. against the wall directly opposite the futon and the bookcases on either side of it which were filled with even more pictures, textbooks, audiobooks and CDs.

After returning to the living room with a beer in each hand, Brandon handed one to Nic and plopped onto a white bean bag next to the futon. “Nicole tells me that your thinking about moving in with Allie.” Nic nodded. “She’s a sweet girl, and Charlie’s the best. The neighbors are all right and the landlord’s usually pretty responsive to the girls whenever they’ve had a problem. Personally, the only thing that I think is kind of annoying about this place is how thin the walls are.”

“I’m a pretty deep sleeper so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Good. I was told that dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Would you like to see Nicole’s room?”

Nic shook his head. “I can wait. I wouldn’t want to do that without her being right there with me.”

“Not a problem. She’s the one who told me to ask you.” Brandon stood up and motioned for Nic to follow. “Let’s go.”

Brandon led Nic down a short hallway and then flicked on the light to the room furthest back. He stepped aside to give Nic a chance to take a peek inside. It was small bedroom with a closet which contained a twin bed, desk and dresser. He pointed to a door opposite the closet and asked, ��Where does that lead?”

“The bathroom,” Brandon replied. “Did the girls tell you that you’re going to have to share it with Allie?”

No, not exactly, he thought as he tried to recall everything that Nicole had said to him earlier that day. He replied, “We really didn’t have much time to talk particulars before The Warblers’ set began.” After a brief pause, Nic asked, “Do you think Allie will have an issue about living with a roommate of the opposite sex?”

Brandon shrugged. “I doubt she would have asked you in the first place if she did. But…”

“But what?”

“Her uncle, Big Mike, might look at you sideways and give you the stink eye at first, but I’m guessing that even he’ll come around once the dust settles and he gets to know you better.”

Wonderful, Nic thought as he leaned against the doorframe and stuck his hands in his pockets. Just then, he heard light footsteps heading in his direction. He turned and saw Nicole coming toward him. She patted him on the shoulder and said, “I’m so glad you’re here. Allie’s been beside herself ever since I opened my big mouth and suggested that you move in with her.”

Nic frowned. “Is she having second thoughts?”

“God no. Just the opposite. She’s worried that I might’ve scared you off and that you’re going to say no.”

“Nicole has that effect on people,” Brandon chimed in, grinning. “Is dinner ready?” Nicole stuck her tongue out at Brandon before answering in the affirmative. Brandon replied, “Let’s get some chow. I’m starving.”

Nic sat down next to Allie, who was already seated at a square shaped wooden dining room table. Her long, wavy brown hair was down, and she was wearing a floral summer dress with sandals. Nic reached out for Allie’s hand and said, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Allie blushed.

Brandon placed a large bowl filled with spaghetti and meat sauce in the middle of the table. Nicole came up behind him holding glasses of champagne. She placed one in front of each person, and then looked over at Nic and asked, “So, what do you think?”

Nic felt Allie’s grip on his hand immediately tighten. She leaned over to Nic and said in a low voice, “You don’t have to decide this very minute if you’re still not sure what you want to do.”

Nic smiled and said, “I think your apartment is very nice and I can’t think of a single reason why I shouldn’t say yes.”

Allie beamed. Nicole let out a cheer, then said, “Just give me a sec. I’ve gotta run back and get the champagne.”

When Nicole returned, she promptly filled every person’s glass to the brim. Brandon stood up and said, “A toast, to roommates old and new.”

Everyone clinked their glasses together. As Nic raised his glass toward his lips, he felt profoundly grateful to be in the company of these down to earth and friendly people. While the others filled their plates, he glanced at Allie and then up at the ceiling. He silently said a prayer of thanks. After more than a year of self-imposed isolation, he finally felt that now was the time to take a chance and let someone special into his life and heart.

[sodoyouknowbts]

Jungkook x Reader - Sugar and Spice (One)

Genre: Humour, fluff

Author: Pilot

“Keep going, you have plenty of room!”

Your friend shoots you a nervous look and her hands are most definitely not at the twelve and three o’clock positions on the steering wheel as was taught and recommended by the driving instructor six years ago when she first got her license. They’re bunched up at the top of the steering wheel, her knuckles white from gripping so hard.

You suppose you shouldn’t have driven if you were going to end up drinking. Then again, you weren’t exactly expecting your friend Sebastian to order two bottles of soju at your favourite casual Korean restaurant on the outskirts of the central business district. He’d asked the petite waitress with perfect circular frames for two small shot glasses and before you could protest he had cracked open the green cap and poured you drink.

Your mother didn't raise you to waste. “Think of the starving children in Africa!” she had ingrained in your head, her shrill voice never choosing to expand her selection of continents or countries.

And in no way were you about to say no to free alcohol. That shit was expensive and your penchant for cheap five dollar bottles of Sweet Lips Moscato had given you more pimples than it was worth due to the high sugar, low alcohol content.

You tap on the passenger window from the outside and watch as Moxie presses an unsteady finger to the window controls. The window winds down just a fraction and you give her a judging look from under your heavier than usual eyelash extensions. You step off the kerb and bring your lips between the small gap.

“Wind it down more! How can you hear me give instructions if it’s still up?”

“Ugh fine!” She exclaims and presses the button. It sends it upwards, almost catching your hair and you scowl, moving up and back onto the sidewalk.

“Why did you park here?!” she yells out in frustration. The window is down. “And parallel of all places?! Why couldn’t you have been a normal person and parked in a normal parking bay closer to the restaurant?”

“No!” It’s your turn to exclaim. “It’s free parking here! You know how hard it is to find parking for free on a Friday night this side of the city. Besides,” you continue, “I need to equalise the amount of money I spent on that parking ticket I was wrongfully given last week.”

Moxie rolls her eyes and shifts the car into reverse.

“You deserved that parking ticket. You parked in a loading zone,” she mumbles under her breath.

You had to give it to her. She was unfamiliar in your car, not used to the way the car’s nose was shorter than it looked and how its white backside stuck out more than it should.

“Keep going!” you encourage, a little less forceful now.

She moves back slowly, a small acceleration for every step on the break pedal. The rear-lights flicker on and off as she does this and you wonder if the two of you will ever get home.

Finally, the car is at a good enough spot that if she just turned a little more to the right she’d be able to manoeuvre the car out of its precarious position. You tap on the side of the car to suggest to stop and she does. You signal to her to go forward and she does, but again slowly. She’s getting on your nerves and you yell out to her.

“Hurry up!”

Agitated, she throws you a glare over her shoulder and adjusts the rear-view mirror. She turns the steering wheel and the front wheels grate on the road.

“Yep, keep going, going, yep - no stop, stop, STOP!” you yell out. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. Literally. Because she’d gone too far.

So far in fact that she had side swiped the base of the car that had parked too close for comfort in front of her. After all, it was this stupid car, that had boxed you pretty much in with little to no wriggle room. Only so many tiny three point turns would be able to get your car and its massive ass out of the small street.

You’re glad that prior to dinner you had decided to take a photograph of both a) the fact that you had parallel parked in such a straight fashion between the faded red Toyota and the pick up truck and sent it as a glorified picture to your friend of your parallel parking skills and b) you’d taken another albeit slightly blurrier photograph of your car stuck between the pick up truck and an expensive looking soccer mum car as photographic evidence of the injustice you’d come back to.

“Sweet Jesus.” Moxie steps out of the car and you run over to the side to inspect the damage. There’s a lot of damage. White paint has transferred from your car to the SUV in front of you and there’s a huge dent on the rear step bumper.

You crouch down, bundling and shoving your skirt between your legs so that the hem doesn’t trail the road.

“Do you reckon they’ll notice?” you ask, your fingers trailing the damage.

“Don’t tell me we’re literally going to hit and run?” the perpetrator asks.

“We’re going to hit and slowly, cautiously drive out of here and down the street, never to be seen again.”

“We can’t just leave it like this!” Moxie interrupts.

“Yeah, we can.”

“Uh, no we can’t. It’s all on camera.”

She extends a delicate arm out and points upwards at a nearby CCTV camera perched on the edge of a lamp post at the edge of the street.

You look upwards at the security camera. You swear it’s recorded footage of you, grey and white and you bet your eyes are little pinpricks of light.

“Motherfu-”

“Should we wait? We should do something.”

“Why? No. Let’s go. They won’t be able to tell who did it.”

“It’s your car! They’ll have your license plate.”

“But you were driving!” you argue back.

“I wouldn’t have had to drive if you hadn’t decided to drink!” she throws her hands up, her voice strained.

“Fine, fine. Look. I’ll leave a note.” you rationalise, throwing your hands up in truce. You quickly stick them into your bag and pull out a small notebook you’d kept on you after work. You flip through a few pages and bust out a pen from the front pocket of your bag, shoving the lid in your mouth as you write. Satisfied with your scrawl, you rip the page out of the book and head over to the front of the SUV.

The front looks incredibly new and you sigh. It’s a Lexus. A fucking Lexus SUV. You didn’t even know that Lexus made soccer mum cars. You can only imagine how expensive it’s going to cost to repair. Your eyes scan the interior. There’s a baby seat in the back and a small little shaking solar pot plant sitting on the dash and a crystal angel hanging off the rear-view mirror. There’s even a box of tissues on the dash in an obscene pink fluffy tissue box cover. You despised people with unnecessary trinkets in their cars.

You pull up a windshield wiper and stick the note underneath it and let the wiper go. It slaps harshly with a crisp sound against the tinted glass and you cap your pen and put your notebook away.

“Okay, happy?” you ask, heading back to your car.

Moxie narrows her eyes at you and walks over to read what you’ve read.

“Don’t park so fucking close to other cars, asshole.” She reads out. “You can’t just leave that!”

“I can. And I have.”

“You need to at least let the insurance cover this, you haven't cancelled it yet have you?”

Begrudgingly you shake your head. No, you hadn’t, but you had been close to it. You suppose it was fortuitous that you had decided not to stick it out for another minute more of the forty-seven minutes you’d spent on hold. Who knows, you might have actually gotten through and cancelled it and then this would have happened and you wouldn’t have been covered.

You pull your pen back out from your bag and add an additional note, holding the scrap paper down on the window.

You add a contact number and your name, in addition to a further instruction.

I’ll only cover half the costs.

Somewhat satisfied, Moxie lets out a “hmph” and gets back into your car. You take another look at the SUV and the dent. You notice that the car even has those horrible “My Family” stickers on the back window. A mother, father and two young children, one boy and one girl. You roll your eyes at their poor choice in car decals and pull your bag off your body and round over to the passenger side of your own car, where you then get in.

Moxie steps on the accelerator and pulls out, but not before you fiddle with the Bluetooth. I’m it by Kota Banks plays as you drive away.

//

“But Jensen, I’m not sure if this is right...” your voice trails off.

“What do you mean, lass?” His Southern accent is smooth and buttery.

You turn away from him and clasp your hands to your heart. “I just don’t know if I can do this. Do you really love me?” You turn back around, the hem of your skirt billowing behind you. You note the yellow grassy knoll you’re standing on, the way his boots crunch on the dry grass as he steps closer to you.

“I’ll leave her. I swear it on my dead father’s name. She doesn’t make me feel the way you make me do. The steadiness in my heart, the reasoning in my head, the fire in my loins. I can’t fight the yearning.”

Jensen Ackles reaches out for your waist and spins you back around to face him. The bodice of your pale cream dress tightens under his large hand and your breath escapes you. Your fingers find themselves trailing across his chest, which is slightly bare in the white cotton shirt he has on. You look down, he’s wearing knee high brown boots, tight cream pants and a brown holster where he keeps his gun.

His fingers push the hair away from your face and he begins to untie the bonnet you’re wearing from the loops around your chin.

Suddenly the sound of a stock Samsung tune interrupts the moment.

“What is that foreign sound?” Jensen looks up, eyes fearful. He holds you close to him with one strong arm and the other is poised above his holster.

“Oh it’s just a phone - someone’s calling.” you respond, your hands now reaching for his face, to avert his attention back to you. He was just about to kiss you and -

“No, what is this noise? This ... ringing?”

“Look it’s nothing, can we get back to what we were doing, my love?”

The ringing sound grows louder and you groan.

You sit upright in bed, awakened from your dream of a 17th Century Jensen Ackles romance and haphazardly shove your hand through your bedsheets in search for the culprit interrupting your sleep. Instead you come across the Little Black Dress Book you had been reading before you’d fallen asleep.

Sighing, you finally grasp your hands around your mobile phone and pull the Hello Kitty eye mask you’re wearing up from over your eyes. It sits awkwardly on your head, scrunching up your hair.

“Hello.” A mellow boyish voice flows through the speaker.

You frown at the unfamiliar voice on the phone and pull it back away from your ear to scan the caller I.D. It was eight in the morning for goodness sake.

Puzzled, you remark a hello back.

“Sorry, who is this and how did you get my number?”

“You should know, I mean you gave me your number.”

You frown and try to rack your brain. Number, number. Oh God, was it the guy you’d made out with at three in the morning after you got kicked out of the gay club in the city? You remembered him giving you his mobile number but you couldn’t recall exchanging yours. He was kind of cute, had a nice little button nose but he was a bit of a sloppy kisser and -

“Hello? Are you there?”

“Sorry. Look buddy. Last weekend was fun, plenty of fun. And you’re a pretty good kisser, I mean you just need to work on lessening your saliva and you’d be a great kisser. But I don’t think I’m keen to get into anything right now and -”

“What?”

“What?”

“It’s me, the asshole whose car you rear-ended.”

You sit up straight in bed, your eye mask slipping down your face. You pull it up off over your head and discard it on your sheets.

“Oh so you’re the asshole who decided to park incredibly close to my car.”

“There was plenty of room for you to have gotten out.”

“No. No there wasn’t. If you’re going to purchase such a large car, learn how to drive it, soccer mum.”

“S-soccer mum?” He scoffs. “I am not a soccer mum. It’s not my car.” He sounds offended.

You remember the poor choice of stickers on the left corner of the rear window of the Lexus. No, there were definitely only four family members.

“If it’s not your car why are you calling me?”

“It’s my sister’s car. I'm looking after it while she’s away.” He lets out an exasperated sigh which reverberates through the phone and you pull a face as the sound gives you unnecessary goosebumps. You poke a finger in your ear and wriggle it around, trying to get rid of the weird after effects of the ASMR you’d be on the receiving end of.

“Fine. Let’s say you’re the brother of the car’s owner. You’ll have to prove it. I’m not going to sort anything out until I have evidence. Who knows, this might be a scam.”

“How could this be a scam?”

“Oh, I don’t know. You could have just seen the note on the windshield and thought great, I can make a bit of quick cash from this poor, unsuspecting woman and -”

“Unsuspecting?”

“- take me for a complete ride and take all my money.”

“Trust me. I have far better things to do with my time than sort out some juvenile hit and run criminal.”

He sounds condescending and rude. You’re not that inclined to sort this out in a hurry.

The asshole lets out yet another sigh and you physically pull your mobile away from his ear before the end of it reaches you and gives you that same unwanted goosebump effect.

You switch it to speaker and ditch your phone on your bed as you get up and begin to stretch your arms above your head. Once done, you take your phone with you to the bathroom, balance it precariously on the side of the bathroom sink and turn the tap on to brush your teeth.

“So?” he says, expectant, as it had been quiet for the last minute as you’d squeezed toothpaste onto your toothbrush.

“So what?” You garble between minty foam.

“How do you want to sort this out? You said on your note to call you. That you’d pay for half the damages. I just want this sorted. I think you should pay for the whole thing but I’m willing to go halves.”

You spit out your toothpaste and turn the tap back on, cupping your hand under the running water to rinse your mouth.

“Oh, how kind of you,” you state dryly as you wipe the corner of your lips.

“Whatever. I think this will be easier to sort out face to face. Where do you live?”

“What? Don’t think I’m about to give some stranger and potential soccer mum murderer my home address.”

“I’m not a soccer mum!”

“So you admit to being a murderer?”

Exasperated, he lets out a groan.

“I wanted to know the suburb so I could suggest somewhere close-ish to meet. Somewhere public where you can’t oh, I don’t know, run me over with your car.”

You roll your eyes and squeeze out a bit of face wash into the palm of your hand. You might as well get this over with. You could hear Moxie’s voice of reason in your head. Maybe you shouldn’t have written ‘asshole’ on the note although he definitely sounded like he was one.

“Fine.” He’d woken you up early, disturbed your hot dream with Jensen Ackles and you still had a few hours to kill before meeting your friend Luna for breakfast. If you’d have to sit through fifteen minutes of car insurance torture with him, you might as well do it over a cup of coffee. “Are you free now?”

“Now?” he asks it as if it’s an inconvenience. He was the one who wanted to sort this out pronto. If he couldn’t make himself available now he’d just have to wait.

“Ok, fine. Now is fine. Give me about half an hour? Text me where you want to meet.”

“See you then.” You hang up on him and begin to lather your face wash into your cheeks.

//

The cafe you suggested was a local favourite. They roasted their own beans, tried their best at being sustainable and sourced their produce from local growers in the community.

If anything, going there made you feel better about the fact that you were still being wasteful, albeit in a more eco-friendly way. You liked to think that the money you spent daily on coffee and food there was going back to the community.

Your altruism was certainly helped along by the fact that the coffee was actually good, although you constantly got a “I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed” look from the barista every time you ordered your skinny flat white in a take away coffee cup as opposed to a more environmentally friendly Keep Cup.

You didn’t get why he always gave you that look that weighed momentarily on your guilty conscience, particularly given the cafe continued to stock paper coffee cups anyway. You found it a bit contradictory. Luna liked to reason it to the cafe staff “just trying to do their best”.

She was far too optimistic sometimes.

You’re seated near the window, on a small table for two. Two bright yellow daisies sit in a small thin plastic jar, that looks like it’s an empty pepper grinder. You take a sip of the water while you wait.

He’s late. Or maybe he’s not. Maybe he had already gotten here before you and had taken a seat and you’d taken a separate seat, becoming just two strangers with the same agenda waiting for the other to make the first move.

Your eyes scan the cafe. You spot a young boy with a dog seated at his feet outside. He’s drinking a smoothie as he scrolls through what you presume to be his Instagram feed on his phone. You narrow your eyes. He seems a bit too young to be driving around soccer mum cars. You doubt it’s him and move onto another candidate.

This man looks a bit older, at least in his thirties. He’s sipping a latte as he flips through the morning’s paper. The voice on the phone doesn’t seem to match the man’s face.

You wonder if you should buckle and go to call him when your phone begins to buzz. You quickly look around to see if you can spot someone on their phone. You see someone from the corner of your eye. They have short brown cropped hair and - they turn around. She’s a lady.

Reluctantly you pick up your phone. The caller I.D. has been set to Soccer Mum. You answer.

“Hello?” you narrow your eyes as you look outside the window for any guy that matched the voice. “I’m here, where are you?”

“I’m just rounding the corner now. It’s The Apple Tree right?”

“That’s the name of the cafe I texted.”

“What are you wearing?”

“Whoa, whoa. At least buy a woman a drink first.”

He says nothing and doesn’t even chuckle at your joke.

Sighing, you reply “I’m by the window, seated inside. I’ve got a black beret on.”

“Right,” and he hangs up.

A few moments later a tall man, about your age, walks into the cafe. He’s holding an envelope in one hand and his phone in the other. He’s striking. A round nose and large brown eyes, framed only by a black fringe of hair. He���s wearing jeans and a black hoodie, joggers and a look of contempt on his good-looking face.

He spots you in your beret and strides over to the small table for two. You stand up, outstretching your hand and he takes it with a firm shake.

“Nice to meet you, Soccer Mum.”

“It’s Jungkook, actually.”

To be continued

[morrisondauthor]

“Rules of the Game” – Part 4

           After work, I went straight home and took a shower. I then put on some decent clothes and made sure I looked great before heading back out. I drove to a place where I always purchased my wine and bought a few bottles for my friend Cortez’s dinner party. He was having the party to impress his new boss and some of his colleagues from the marketing firm he worked at. When I arrived there, I knew both he and our friend Kody would notice I’d gotten some dick the night before. I just knew it.

           “You let him fuck, didn’t you?” Kody asked me as he helped me carry the bottles of wine into the house.

           “No,” I lied. “We just spent the night together.”

           “Yeah right, more like you spent the night fucking!”

           “You’re glowing, Julian,” Cortez told me. “You might as well spill the beans. Kody already told me the guy’s name. It’s Kenton, right?”

           “That’s right,” Kody confirmed with a smirk. “So tell us J, does Kenton have one of those fat British uncut dicks or what?”

           “I can’t stand y’all,” I said with a laugh. “Yes, we got intimate last night. And his dick is slightly above average in length but it’s pretty thick and yeah, he’s uncircumcised.”

           “I knew it!” Kody shouted. “Them British brothas always have fat uncut dicks. Uncut dick be so damn good, too. There’s nothing sexier than some pretty foreskin.”

           “I prefer circumcised men,” Cortez said as he checked on his Cornish hens baking in the oven. “Some dudes do not know how to properly clean their uncircumcised dicks.”

           “Ooh, Ken passes in that department,” I told them. “That dick was clean enough to eat off of. His ass, too.”

           Kody’s eyes opened wide and he asked, “He likes to get rimmed?”

           “He told me he likes it every now and then. His dick got so hard while I was rimming him, too. He told me to get nasty while I was licking on it.”

           “Marry him,” Cortez told me. “Do you know how hard it is to find an open-minded top who you could one day talk into becoming vers with you? You better hang on to him, Julian.”

           “I’m trying to. I don’t want you nosy bitches to ruin it for me. That means no giving him a hard time. I know we give each other’s partners a hard time to test them sometimes, but I really need y’all to be chill with him. He’s not from here so you might scare him off.”

           “We’ll be on our best behavior,” said Kody. He then looked at Cortez and they burst out in laughter together.

           “I’m serious, y’all. I ended my celibacy with him because I truly believe he’s the one. I know that sounds crazy because I’ve only known him for a few days but…”

           “No, I believe you,” Cortez said while looking into my eyes. “Julian, we all know what it’s like wanting something serious but constantly hitting a brick wall with these promiscuous ass niggas in the gay community. If you truly believe you’ve found the right guy then we’re gonna have your back.”

           “That’s right,” Kody added. “We’re happy for you and we hope it works out.”

           I smiled and told them, “Thanks, guys. Now, let’s get to it. The quicker I help y’all the quicker I can go pick up Ken from his hotel.”

           “Pick up?” Kody asked. “Bitch, you couldn’t find you a man with a car?”

           “He’s visiting here from London, Kody. Remember?”

           He laughed and said, “Oh, yeah.”

           We fixed up Cortez’s place and helped him prepare all of the food. Once most of the important work was done, I headed out to go get Kenton. I admit, I was still very nervous about him meeting my friends. I felt like it was too soon for him to be around them. We hadn’t properly defined what we were yet. He made that joke about being my boyfriend that morning, but I wasn’t sure how serious he was about it. Could I call him my boyfriend that quickly and after just one night of sex?

                                               Me (Julian Baxter)

           “Are you nervous?” I asked him as we walked up the brightly lit walkway that led to Cortez’s front door.

           “Not really,” he replied. “Should I be?”

           “No. Well…no.” I stopped walking and so did he.

           “Okay, you’re definitely nervous.” He took my hand in his and told me, “Just relax, baby. It’s a dinner party. All we have to do is talk to a few people, eat some food, drink some alcohol and then go back to your place and get naked.”

           I laughed and playfully hit him before relaxing and saying, “That somehow made me feel less nervous. Thank you.”

           “That’s what I’m here for, love.” He kissed my lips and then resumed walking alongside me up to the front door.

           The moment we entered the house, I became somewhat nervous again. There were only about eleven people there including Kody and Cortez but I was still nervous. Kody spotted us immediately and hurried over. He smiled and said, “Aw, look at you two holding hands. Cute.”

           “Kody Ashford,” I said, “this is Kenton Clarke. Kenton, this is my friend Kody.”

           “Nice to meet you,” Kenton said to him while shaking his hand.

           “Ditto,” Kody replied with a fake British accent.

           “Okay, now I understand why you two are friends,” Kenton said with a laugh. “Baby, you do that same fake accent to mock me all the time, yeah?”

           “Yeah, I do.”

           “There you are,” Cortez said as he approached us. “I was wondering when you’d get here with…” He looked at Kenton and said, “Oh my. Damn Julian, you didn’t say your new man was so handsome.”

           Kenton smiled and said, “Thank you. I’m Kenton.”

           “And I’m Cortez Johnson. Nice to meet you. Would you happen to have an identical twin brother?”

                                                Kenton Clarke

           “No, but I do have a brother who is a year older than me. But unless you have double-D breasts and a vagina, he’s not gonna be interested, bruv.”

           “Too bad you’re not post-op trans,” Kody joked, causing Cortez to nudge him in the side.

           “So, what do you all do?” Kenton asked them. “Because this house is nice.”

           “I’m the assistant manager of the mortgage department at Bank of America downtown,” Cortez told him.

           “And I help run my mother’s boutiques,” Kody told him. “She has two in downtown Miami and one out in Miami Beach.”

           “You’re all so successful. If I weren’t playing football I’d probably be living at home with my mum and dad.”

           “Do you make a lot playing soccer?” Cortez asked.

           “Cortez,” I snapped, “don’t ask him something that personal.”

           “It’s fine, baby,” Kenton told me. He then looked at Cortez and answered, “I don’t make as much as some of the premier league players make and I’ll be taking a bit of a pay cut if I decide to play for an American league. They’re offering a three hundred and fifty thousand dollar signing bonus which is much lower than the British pounds I get for signing with an English league.”

           My knees nearly gave in when I heard him say that. Yes, it was lower than what NFL and NBA players made but $350,000 is still a lot of money compared to what I made a year. Pretending as if hearing it didn’t faze me, I giggled and joked, “Hopefully I’m worth the pay cut.”

           He smiled and replied, “I’ll take a job paying two dollars an hour if it meant I could see you when I want to see you.”

           “Aw,” Kody said.

           The more we talked and made our way around talking to Cortez’s colleagues, the less nervous I became. The food was delicious, everyone had a great time, and I found myself even more attracted to Kenton’s personality. He really knew how to fit in with his surroundings no matter where he was. By the time the dinner party was over, I was ready to take him back to my house and suck and ride his dick until he had at least three orgasms.

           “Thanks for the food and fun,” I said to Cortez. “We really had a great time.”

           “Yeah,” Kenton agreed. “I’m glad I tagged along for this.”

           “Well, you’re welcome any time,” Cortez said to him. He then looked at me and said, “And I will talk to you later.”

           “Okay.” I hugged him and told him, “Goodnight. And tell Kody I said goodnight. He’s in there too busy flirting with your coworker to come out here and say bye to us.”

           “I’ll tell him. Goodnight, guys.”

           “Goodnight,” Kenton said back. He then grabbed my hand and walked with me to my car. As we climbed in, he asked me, “Are we going back to your place?”

           “You bet. I need a little time before I can clean myself out, but I’m definitely down for some naughty fun tonight.”

           “I hope most nights with you will be like this when I move here.”

           “I don’t know. I mean…” I caught on to what he said and the biggest smile formed on my face. “Are you serious right now?”

           “I’d already made my mind up before the dinner party but I stuck with it when I saw how happy you were to hold my hand in front of your friends. Julian, I’m going to sign with the Miami team. I wanna see where this goes.”

           “Aw, baby.” I threw my arms around him and hugged him. I then quickly pulled back and asked, “You’re not just doing this because of the sex, are you?”

           “No. The sex is amazing, but it’s not the main reason why I’m making the decision to move here. I feel like I’m not going to be able to find someone like you back in London. Hell, I’ve never met anyone like you anywhere I’ve been. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m gonna do the right thing and take it. And I’m gonna do right by you, love. So, are we boyfriends or do I have to actually propose to your or something? Because I’ll do it if you need more of a commitment.”

           I laughed and told him, “You’re crazy.”

           “I sure am. I’m crazy for you.” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. “Now, let’s go back to your place and solidify this thing.”

           I laughed again as I started my car and pulled away from Cortez’s house. We went back to my place and talked and had sex and talked some more until late at night. For the first time in a long time, I went to sleep with so much hope. I wasn’t sure what was ahead of me but I knew as long as I hope in the foundation I was starting with Kenton, I’d be alright. We’d be alright. As for my rules, I was going to keep them locked away in the back of my mind. Now I needed to unlock the rules to keeping a good boyfriend.

[Disclaimer]: Pictures used do not reflect the sexuality or personality of people in the pictures. They only serve as visual examples of the characters.

© D.A. Morrison 2017

[ritebeforeyoureyes]

Confessions

Two uploads in two days, what? I would like to thanks the anons and all you precious lovelies that comment or message me separately, you all helped motivate me to get these chapters out quickly! 

Plot - Tom gets a message from Zendaya’s stalker. 

Confessions (Chapter Eight) 

“What the fuck?” Tom was utterly gobsmacked as his gaze drifted between his best friend, his girlfriend and the pictures in front of them. Betrayal was coursing through him and he didn’t know what to do other than let the profanities float out his mouth. He was British, after all, and having a potty mouth was pretty much customary. “Fucking little shit-“

“Okay, they’re not that bad.” Haz added in, his hands flicking between the pictures laid out in front of them.

“Yeah, stop being such a drama queen.” Zendaya smacked Tom’s shoulder lightly. “Look at this one, it’s rather cute if I do say so myself.” She picked up a picture and cooed softly. “Look at that little face.” She leaned over to squish Tom’s cheeks and he simply pushed her away, his agitation directed solely at Harrison.

“Why’d you have to pull out the baby pictures, man?” Tom sighed, his forehead falling onto Zendaya’s shoulder as he looked at the horrific pictures varying from his childhood up until his awkward high school days.

“Your mum is in town, she’ll probably do more damage than me.” Haz handed Zendaya another picture and Tom groaned against her skin, his breathe tickling her softly. She squirmed under his touch and grabbed at the next embarrassing picture that Harrison was trying to show her.  

“They used … they … used … to call him … double … D in high school.” Haz couldn’t manage to get the sentence out coherently, his body doubling over with laughter.

“Okay, I’m not going to stick around for this, I need a beer.”

“Beer’s in the fridge on the right.” Zendaya pressed a kiss to the side of his head and Tom excused himself from the two, a blush creeping up onto his face. Tom Holland, now, was Spider-Man, he was on his way to getting a successful career with a beautiful woman on his arm. Tom Holland, back in the day, was the kid who got picked on for being crappy with the ladies and having disproportionately large ears. Tom didn’t want Zendaya to know him as the awkward, scrawny boy … and so, he left the room before Harrison could joke about the nickname that had seemingly haunted him his whole life.

“Why’d they call him double D?”

“Dutch Dumbo.” Harrison held his stomach as his laughter died down. “Dutch because … his last name’s Holland and Dumbo because-“ He pointed to a picture of four year old Tom sat on Santa’s lap. He was dressed in a miniature soccer, or football, jersey and his ears seem to be visibly larger in comparison to his teeny tiny body, like the beloved Disney character, Dumbo.

“Aw, that’s so mean!” Zendaya felt a little bad for Tom but she couldn’t help the snicker that came out of her.  

Tom and Zendaya were currently still in LA for promotion. The Spider-Man: Homecoming promotional tour had kicked off with a bang and they were jumping between radio interviews, photoshoots and fan meet and greets. Nikki, Tom’s mum, had flown back out to LA to accompany Tom to some business meetings and auditions in the mix of all the Marvel madness. She’d be flying back to London with some of the cast for further promotion before heading back with all of her sons for the Hollywood premiere. For now, Nikki was staying with Tom and Harrison at a hotel, much to Zendaya’s dismay.

The text from her blackmailer had pushed her over the edge and she was constantly anxious, just waiting for something explosive to happen. Zendaya knew that ‘him’ in her last text was in cryptic reference to Tom and she knew her blackmailer was going to get into contact soon enough. The whole ordeal made her uncomfortable, excessively so. She wanted Tom by her side whilst she spoke to him, confessed everything … but with his mother in town, it was hard to do, it meant Tom couldn’t stay at Zendaya’s house during their stay.

Zendaya had first met Nikki whilst her and Tom were just friends and they’d gotten along really well. She was a nice woman who had been exactly like Zendaya’s own parents – supportive. Nikki was Tom’s biggest fan and her adoration for her son’s success was one of the most humbling things that Zendaya had ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Nikki’s niceness had been further enhanced by how she was treating Zendaya (as Tom’s girlfriend) She’d enveloped Zendaya into a hug and welcomed her into the family, no hesitation in her eyes. It made Zendaya understand Tom’s close relationship to his mother, she was a fantastic woman.  But, despite how much Zendaya liked Nikki, her timing couldn’t have been worse. With the ball in her blackmailer’s court, Zendaya was jittery twenty-four seven and Tom was the only person who could calm her nerves.

“Zendaya, come ‘ere for a sec!” Tom yelled from her kitchen.

“I told him the beer’s in the fridge on the right, bet he still can’t find it.”  Zendaya rolled her eyes at Haz before following in her boyfriend’s footsteps. He had a tendency to speedily look over the shelves before calling Zendaya for assistance. It was usually a ploy to get her up on the counter, her legs around his waist. They’d been caught one too many times in the compromising position and Zendaya smirked before walking into the kitchen. But unlike every other time, Tom was stood in the middle of the room, his whole frame hunched over the island in the centre, a beer in hand.

“What’s this?” His voice was barely a whisper, but his tone was enough to tell Zendaya that it had happened – this was the explosion that she had been cautiously awaiting.

Zendaya progressed towards him hesitantly, her eyes fixated on the phone he was holding before her. The picture on Tom’s phone this time was a different to the one that Zendaya had received a week ago; this picture was just one of her. Again, she was naked, a towel in hand. She was staring out into the distance and from the background and the picture’s surroundings, Zendaya knew exactly where and when this picture had been taken. It had been taken at a hotel in New York and the wardrobe choices in the back indicated that it was a few days before her attendance to the Grammy’s in 2015. Somebody had been watching her – stalking her – for over three years.

“Tom-“ Tom took a large swig from his bottle before speaking again.

“Is this why Darnell thought you were acting strange?” Suddenly everything was starting to make sequential sense in Tom’s head. Yes, when he’d first arrived, Zendaya had been normal but he was starting to nit-pick her every more after Darnell had said she’d been acting weird. He saw her jump more often and glare warily at her phone. He felt her cling to him more often, all most as if he was protecting her from something … protecting her from this. “Baby, has some psycho been threatening you?”

Seeing the mixture of fear, anger, sadness and worry written on Tom’s face, Zendaya succumbed. All of the anxiousness she’d been trying to bottle up hit her all at once. First it was one tear and then soon enough there were streams running down her face silently.

With three big strides, Tom held onto Zendaya tightly as she crumbled. Her body went limp against his and he rubbed soothing patterns into her hair as she cried quietly against his chest. Her body was shivering lightly, and he swiftly got out of his yellow and black plaid shirt, wrapping her frame in it. But, the extra addition of clothing didn’t help Zendaya’s situation … she continued to shake, and cry and Tom continued to stand by helplessly.

“I’m … I’m sorry.” Zendaya’s voice was hoarse from all the crying and the sound made Tom’s anger spike to an unhealthy level.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Tom’s voice was gentle as he stroked at her cheek but then his sight drifted back to the picture still up on his phone, the volume of his voice raising unexpectedly. She looked so vulnerable and so young in the picture, it made him physically sick that somebody was capable of doing this to her right under his nose. “What fucked up person has been threatening you?” He was talking to himself at this point, Zendaya just wiping away the tears that were constricting her vision. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I … I-“

“How long has this sicko been watching you?” Tom gripped at her shoulders, giving her a light shake. She stuttered again, her words inaudible. “How-“ Tom’s voice had a warning tone to it now, his poker face now loud and clear. “Long?”

“I don’t know … but that … picture … three years ago … that picture is from three years ago.” Zendaya managed to choke out the fragmented words and within seconds, all hell broke loose. The beer bottle on the counter was smashed against the adjacent wall. The strange coloured liquid dripped down her wall leisurely, but Tom didn’t seem to care. He needed to vent his anger and he was taking it out on the closest things to him; the beer bottle, a glass, a plate … as Tom progressed towards throwing something else, Harrison came running into the kitchen.

Haz took one glance at a tear filled Zendaya before enveloping her into his arms. What had happened so suddenly? Zendaya was laughing with him mere minutes ago and now she curled into him completely, her eyes refusing to acknowledge Tom’s reaction … this was what she didn’t want. She didn’t want Tom to hurt because some jackass was blackmailing her, he didn’t deserve any of this. This was her problem and she didn’t want Tom’s career to suffer because of it. So, Zendaya took comfort in Haz’s shirt, her eyes squeezing shut as she heard a continuity of cracks and splinters. Seeing Tom’s physical anger had only catalysed her tears once more and Harrison took to petting her back gingerly as he tried to snap Tom out of his anger reverie.

“Mate, you’re scaring her calm the fuck down!”

Haz’s words were like ice cold water to Tom’s skin. He let his raised arm fall and he breathlessly took in his surroundings. There were bits of glasses and ceramic littered across the floor and he lot a wrangled groan as he collapsed onto a bar stool. Tom ran his hand through his curls as he tried to control his erratic heartbeat. “What’s going on?”

“Someone’s been stalking her.”

[somekind0fmagic]

Chapter 6. Happy New Year

I do not own Harry Potter or the characters created by Rowling

So, I know in the first chapter I said that Anneliese has black hair, I actually meant to change that before I posted it, but I can be really forgetful. She actually had her hair dyed a reddish brown and by the beginning of Christmas break her hair was down to her shoulders and flipped out, kinda like Tracy’s hair from Hairspray (the 2007 version), and the hair dye had faded out into her natural light brown hair.

Plus, I wanted there to be a little bit of stuff from others POV, I was mostly doing a 3rd person with Albus, but I’m throwing some other people in there. It will be important for later dates

( Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14 )

Chapter 6. Happy New Year

Albus sat on the couch in the living room. It was the 31st and he was waiting for Scorpius and Anneliese to arrive. He sighed as he flipped through the pages of the comic his aunt had gotten him. She tried to talk to him about Rose when she gave it to him, but he got out of the talk by claiming he was needed somewhere else. 

He heard the roar of the fireplace and he looked up, he saw the dirty blonde hair of his friend appear. Albus sat the book down and stood up, “Hey Scorp!”

Scorpius smiled and stepped out of the fire, “Hey Al, how’re you doing?”

“Good, you?”

“Same, so are we just waiting for A?”

“No, no you are not.”

“Oh my god.” Albus gaped at Anneliese. “Your hair!”

Her hand instinctively raised up to her hair. “Oh, yeah, asked my aunt to cut and dye it. You don’t like it do you?” The smile on her face fell slowly.

“No, I like it, it’s cute. It’s...you!” She smiled again, “Honestly, not many people can rock half shaved hair, but you look good with it.”

Scorpius nodded, “He’s right, it suits you.”

“Good because I like it.” She looked around, “What room are we in?”

“Our living room, c’mon, let me show you my room.” They followed Albus out of the room and up the stairs. He stopped when he reached the door. “So, my sister, Lily, will be home in, maybe an hour or two. That’s her room, she said that you can stay in there if you feel more comfortable, mum also said you guys can stay in the extra rooms as well.” He opened the door and let them in, “It’s not much, but it’s comfortable.”

“I like it, but it’s just so….” Scorpius started, but he couldn’t seem to find the right word.

“Gryffindor.” Anneliese stated easily, “So not you.”

Albus shrugged, “It’s been like this my whole life, I never really noticed or cared. Maybe I'll ask mum and dad if I can repaint it over the summer”

“It's up to you, and I'm not surprised that you never noticed, you never notice anything.” She walked over to his desk and picked up the radio, “I have one of these.” She turned back to Albus, “My mum always has been interested in Muggle things, anything that can play music she has fallen in love with. I have one in my room.”

Albus nodded, “There’s more muggle technology downstairs if you’d like to see.” They walked out of his room and back down the stairs. \

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“I don’t understand muggle sports.”

“I don’t understand sports in general so I beat you. Well, that is unless you count dancing, gymnastics, ice skating, or ice skating a sport, then I understand it.”

Albus shook his head at his two friends, “Of course that’s all you understand L.”

She shrugged, “They’re less dangerous and make more sense then Quidditch, Futball, Soccer, Tennis, and other sports.”

Everyone jumped when they heard the front door slam. “Lily?! Is it you?!”

Soon later Lily came into the room, her face was red from running in the cold, tear marks stained her face. She ran over to Albus and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. “I hate her.”

“Who Lils?”

“Maria.”

“What happened?”

She sniffed, “She made fun of the fact that you and James go to Hogwarts, but since she believes it’s just a fancy private school, she said that it’s probably a centre for troubled youth and called you strange and then called me weird!”

“Oh Lily,” He murmured.

“Then she told me I look horrible and then said things about daddy’s scar and I wanted to tell her why he had it but she wouldn’t stop talking and making fun of me!”

“Lily, I’m so sorry that she did that to you...well, if it’ll make you feel any better, you can hang out with me and my friends. I’m sure they’ll be okay with it,” He looked over at his two friends, “Won’t you?”

Scorpius just nodded and Anneliese spoke, “Of course! Now I won’t feel alone as being a female!” Making everyone laugh, she walked over to Lily, “Us girls gotta stick together,” She held her hand out to Lily, “I’m Anneliese.”

Lily smiled, “I’m Lily!”

“What a pretty name.”

“I was named after my grandmother! Hey, do you know the muggle movie Barbie: Princess and the Pauper?”

“Of course! I babysit some of the little kids in the town near where I live and I’ve seen it about a dozen times! Wanna hear something cool?” Lily nodded, “My middle name is Erika. The movie came out the year before I was born and my mom has joked about saying that was why she named me that when in actuality she named me after her grandmother, my great-grandmother, and her brother, my uncle, his name was Erik.”

“Wow! That’s so cool!”

She nodded softly, Scorpius walked over to Lily, “I’m Scorpius.”

Lily shyly smiled, the blush that came to her face was only noticed by Anneliese. “Hi.”

Anneliese smirked and held back a small laugh. Little Lily had a crush and it was painfully obvious to the elder girl.

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Everyone was getting their pajamas on before they were walking downstairs to watch the countdown for the next year. Albus and Scorpius were sharing Albus’s room while Lily and Anneliese were sharing Lily’s room (mostly because Lily begged for Anneliese to be with her). Anneliese was slipping a shirt on while Lily was reading a magazine. “Anneliese?” The other girl looked at her, “How...how is Albus doing?”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged, “I don’t know, I just overheard my family talking on Christmas Eve night. Uncle Ron was saying things about Al being in Slytherin. I don’t get why he hates them so much, what did they do wrong?”

The black haired girl sat across from the small redhead. “How much do you know about the Wizarding Wars?”

“I know that many died and that it was a terrible event, why is that important?”

“Just wait, do you know what Voldemort’s followers were called?”

She nodded and Anneliese motioned for her to say, “Death Eaters.”

“Good, well, the majority of them were from Slytherin house. It’s a stereotype that all Slytherins are evil. I bet he’s upset because Al befriended a Malfoy, the Malfoy’s were big Voldemort supporters. Lucius Malfoy went to jail because of it. Draco Malfoy was tasked to kill Dumbledore, but he didn’t. But, Narcissa Malfoy, she saved your dads’ life. She lied to Voldemort and said he was dead, just because he told her that her son, Draco, was alive and okay.”

“But just because they were like that then doesn’t mean they still are.”

“I know, but some people can’t see past that.”

She sighed, “I’m happy that Al met you two, he seems happier than he was before he left.” 

Anneliese smiled softly, “I know, even on the train, he seemed miserable.” Then she sighed, “Has he always had a bad relationship with James?”

She nodded, “Yeah, they always fought. Never did it physical like it does now though. When mum and dad were talking about it when they started to happen-”

“Wait, physically? I just knew of their verbal fights, never did I know they got physical.”

Lily nodded, “Yeah, a few weeks ago James broke Albus’s nose even, apparently, according to James, that was because Albus ‘attacked’ Rose. I know she attacked him first, he was only defending himself.”

Anneliese let out a breath, “Huh, I never knew, Al just said that he ran into a wall in the dungeons, which isn’t surprising because well, it’s Al.”

Lily laughed, “Omg, we have a treehouse in the backyard and when we were little he fell out of it while trying to climb out and broke his arm. He also broke his leg from falling down the stairs.”

Anneliese began to laugh, “Why can I see that happening?”

Lily just shrugged her shoulders and died her laughing down. “What time is it?”

Looking at her watch she immediately bolted up, “11:58!”

Lily’s eyes widened and they both ran out of her room. They ran down the stairs, almost tripping on the way down. Making it into the room just as the 30 second countdown started. “You guys almost missed it.”

They rolled their eyes and Anneliese swatted at Albus’ arm. The 10 second countdown started and they all counted down. 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1, Harry and Ginny shared a kissed, along with Victoire and Teddy, who decided to come over a few hours back. “A year closer to going to Hogwarts.” Anneliese heard Lily say softly while she heard Albus and Scorpius mutter, “A year closer to graduating.” She just rolled her eyes and the boys and gave Lily a side hug.

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

It was the next morning. Albus was laying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Reflecting on his last year. Getting accepted into Hogwarts, meeting the two best people, being put in Slytherin, his family hating him just because of his house. Sure, not all of it was fun, but the majority of it was.

There was a knock at his door and then it opened, “Albus? Are you and Scorpius up?” He sat up when Ginny asked the question, “Okay, well, if Scorpius isn’t up, then maybe wake him up in about 30 minutes. I’m making breakfast. Lily and Anneliese are downstairs playing Wizards Chess and James left about an hour ago.”

“What time is it?”

“It’s 10 am sweetheart.” Albus nodded and she left the room. He crawled over his bed and shook Scorpius’ shoulder.

“Dude, wake up, moms making breakfast.”

Scorpius shot up, “Food?”

Albus laughed at his friend. His dirty blonde hair was sticking out everywhere. “Yes, food. It’s 10 am. Apparently James left and the girls are downstairs.”

Scorpius scratched the back of his head, “We probably should get down there then, should we?”

Albus shrugged, “It’s up to you man.”

He got up and off the blow-up mattress, “Then let’s go.”

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It had been two hours since his friends left. He and Lily were playing a muggle game called Go Fish. That was until James’ voice appeared, “Are you done investing the house with snakes?”

Albus rolled his eyes, “Are you done being a dumbass?”

“Y’know, mum and dad are fighting with our family because of you. Did you know that? I overheard mum and Aunt Hermione complaining about dad and Uncle Ron fighting over your house.”

“Well at least I don’t pick fights with people who don’t do anything. 3s?”

“Go fish. 7s?”

“Are you just going to ignore me?”

“Actually, I’m being factual, something you don’t understand. Here.”

Before James could continue Ginny walked in, “Is everything alright?” She looked at Lily, “Lily?”

“Oh, James was just saying some stuff to Albus, but yeah, everything's fine.” Ginny nodded and left the room. “Y’know James, would it hurt you to be nice for once in your life?”

“Would it hurt you to take my side for once?”

“I take the side of those who are right and don’t deserve to get shit said to them.” Instead of continuing to argue, he stormed out of the room. “Baby.” Lily looked up at Albus, “You okay?”

He nodded, scared to use his words. Scared that if he did, he would cry.

[skeletonwoman]

My Neck, My Back (Peter Maximoff)

this is not at all sexual. it is instead a joke at the pain that comes w being linked to Peter Maximoff

Request:  hi there!! i'm so glad you do soulmate stuff! could u do an x-men soulmate AU with peter maximoff x reader where each other's soulmate gets the same bruises or injuries the other one does and throughout his life peter has accidentally bumped into things and gotten bruised but he has fast healing so it goes away but when he meets his soulmate (reader) she has tons of scars and bruises and she like "cmon peter really ? at least watch where you're goin when you speed. damn"

You examine your latest nick, a cut that’d literally split open in the middle of class and started gushing blood.

About ten centimeters long, you’re regretting ever being interested in this dumb soulmate business.

And if there was ever a time when you wanted to self-harm, if even to just make this idiot stop hurting himself, now would be it.

But self-harming is bad and distantly, in a deep, dark recess of your soul, you love this soulmate of yours.

“Ouch! That’s a bad one!” Mrs Emmie winces, dabbing at the cut with a pad of gauze and you grit your teeth. She doesn’t need an answer after all this time. “That soulmate of yours better look out when you find him.”

“I’m gonna make him eat an entire candle.”

She laughs loudly and you hiss as she dribbles some antiseptic onto the gash. “They’re going to deserve it after all this. Dinner candle or one of those witchcraft ones?”

“Oh, I haven’t decided. The dinner ones would be faster to get down but there’s more to those thick black ones witches use,” you say, exhaling a long breath as she pins the bandage together. It’s done. Phew.

“I clipped some razor wire!” Peter announces, bouncing into the nurses office, who sighs and examines the cut.

“At least it’s clean.” He sighs again. “Really, Peter, how is your soulmate supposed to do anything but jail you once they meet you?”

“Oh, they’re gonna love me! I’m quirky and rough and tumble! Everyone loves that.” He laughs, ignoring the look on Nurse Kens face. If anyone is going to love him, it’ll be his soulmate.

Maybe not his dad.

But definitely his soulmate.

A wild scream tears from your lips as burning pain licks up your arms and singes your clothes to your skin.

“Burn in hell, mutant freak!” The running assailant shouts to the wind but you can’t hear him. You can’t hear anything over the roaring pain on your skin and the screams coming from your lips.

“What do we do?”

“Someone stop him!”

“Call an ambulance!”

“What the f*ck!” Peter screams, pain so harsh he nearly blacks out assaulting him. Through blurry eyes he watches welts, blisters and sunken raw patches appear on his arms- wrist to elbow on one side and a watch sized band on the other. Tiny bubbles spot his hands and fingers and he screams again, red tinting his vision.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you. You’re safe.” Someone says and your panicked wheezes slow from race car to police chase. “We’re gonna fix this, okay? First, we need to peel this off though, so it’s going to hurt.”

“Please…” You manage between whimpers and apologies blur through the air, getting lost in your cries.

“It’s okay, Peter! You’re going to be okay!” The professors voice booms through his mind but he can’t stop, his body vibrating, trying to run from the pain even as they strap him down.

“This didn’t happen here-”

“His soulmate…”

“Find them. Now.”

The words are distant and he can’t think, can’t understand how he’s never felt this much pain before, like something burrowed its way into his skin and it’s on fire.

“Here we go, we’re going to stop the burning but it’s going to hurt.”

Something wet runs over your arms and you feel a starburst of pain, then relief. Once the liquid stops, the pain returns, steadier and less insistent but still just as biting.

“This girls being transferred.”

“They can’t transfer her!”

“They just did, she’s got to be in the van in twenty.”

“She’s in no condition to go anywhere, I’ve barely touched these burns! Who ordered this?”

“Government. Some branch, they listed a bunch of mumbo jumbo and hit all the key words. It’s out of our hands so either work fast or step back.”

“F*ck.”

“We’ve got her. Names Y/N Y/L/N and she was at a mutant rally when someone threw acid.”

Y/N, Y/N, Y/N, the name bounces around his skull, worse than pong, and he feels his limbs slowly stilling.

Y/N is his soulmate.

Someone threw acid and it got on her.

The burning in his arms lessens, or takes a backseat, as a pit of rage starts to bubble in his stomach.

“She’s on her way, Peter. You’re both safe.”

“God, are these bruises? Where did they come from- are they new?”

“They look like…”

“Yeah. This poor girls in for it when she meets her soulmate judging by all these scars.”

“I wonder who caused them, I mean if they’re tying down her other half… You know?”

“Yeah.” Warm fingers lift your eyelids and a light flashes through your vision. You’re not dying, relax. Something’s stuck in your mouth and you want to gag or spit it out but you’re stuck. Floating, detached.

“She’s a little warm but she seems to be doing okay. Check those burns, see if they’re still cooking.”

A rustling sounds, then a moan hums through your lips as material brushes your wrist and arm.

“We’re good.”

“Good.”

Peter plays dot to dot with your pockmarked arm, drawing a giraffe whos markings are your spotted and scar damaged skin.

It’s cute and artistic, sure.

It’s also your burned and ugly arm.

“What the hell are you doing, jeez?” You hiss, snatching your limb from his grip and he whines, watching you with a puppy gaze before he’s zipping away.

Seconds later, a sharp scratch tears across your cheek bone and you hiss, your fingers reaching up and coming away with a touch of blood.

“Peter!”

“You called, babe? Oh, crap! Branch smacked me in the face.” He grins, holding out a wind crushed flower, and you can’t help pausing in your fury to get up and examine the delicate cut on his face, ignoring the offering all together. The cuts not terrible and there’s no blood on his yet.

“Stop that!” You snap, glaring at him ferociously. If only you could just shove him or something but you’re delicate and what hurts him hurts you.

Stupid literally.

“Stop running without thinking! It hurts, jerk!” You feel tears well up, years of pent up frustration surfacing all at once and his bright expression drops.

“Y/N,” he whispers, voice desperate as he hesitantly reaches for you.

“No!” You snap, stepping out of his grasp. “You hurt me and didn’t care! I was always careful because it wasn’t just my body! It’s not just your body, Peter, it’s mine!” You’re shouting now and his shoulders are hunched, expression downcast in the face of your onslaught.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he says, nervously wavering toward you and away. You stand like that for a moment, Peter apologetic and confused, your rage filtering away to leave a pit of pain.

“Now I want a hug!”

“Sorry!” The word is whipped away in the speed of his movement, his arms around you in under a tenth of a second, your head cradled to his chest while he presses a flurry of kisses to the crown of your head.

“And slow down.”

“Sorry,” he says again, movements slowing obviously as he smooths your hair from your face and rubs slow circles over your back. “I didn’t… I never meant to hurt you. It never occurred to me, like I knew you got what I got, but it never sunk in.”

“I was never real,” you say, and the way he tenses around you tells you it’s true. “It’s okay, I understand. You weren’t really real to me either, just… You were someone who kept hurting me, like in the middle of a soccer game when you burned your mouth something awful and I stood there for an entire minute just fanning my empty mouth.”

He laughs, softly, and guides you toward the couch you’d been on moments ago.

“I remember that, I think. Tell me more times I ruined you day.”

You laugh, letting him take your hand again, his thumb circling on your palm. “Like the time I was taking my driving test and in the middle of traffic, my ankle broke? I could thank you for that one considering I passed when I managed to get the instructor and I safely out of traffic while I screamed in pain.”

“Yeah, don’t thank me,” he says, cringing and you laugh.

“Or the time Mum was about to let me finally have a puppy and I burst out with twelve cuss words right in her face because something happened to my ass and when I looked, there were cuts and burns all over it.” You raise your eyebrows at him this time, the implication obvious and he is the one to laugh now.

“It’s not… Scott bet me I couldn’t sit on a grille for two minutes straight. He didn’t tell me there were nails on it either,” he shrugs and you stare, your jaw dropped. Your soulmate is an idiot. “I probably should have found you earlier, your expressions telling me I’m an idiot.”

“Oh, no!” You coo and he frowns a little, “you’re a straight up train wreck with a moronic captain and 206 innocent passengers, most of which have soft children.”

“Why 206? And soft children?”

“Your bones and organs, idiot.” You groan and he snorts, affection shining on his face.

i hooooope this was what you wanted (sry if it’s crapola)

[nerdhorde]

🌻 questions tag 🌻

I was tagged by the lovely @fsstudies to answer all of these questions. Thank you very much! I shall attempt to make myself look interesting, haha. 

I tag @affinityscience @hayley-studies @my-little-studyblr @georgestudies @raven-studies. I don’t talk to very many people on here so you have been chosen at random (mostly). If you don’t wanna do it, then ofc that’s chill. I also tag anyone who sees this n kind of fancies doing it. Go wild, kiddo. 

LAST:

1. Drink: water, and before that, tea. 

2. Phone call: probably my best friend

3. Text message: well, the last time I messaged someone was on facebook (my friend from uni), but the last time I properly texted someone it was probably my best friend, again.

4. Song you listened to: la devotee - p!atd

5. Time you cried: watching a film. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. I cry a lot, tbf. 

HAVE YOU:

6. Dated someone twice: no 

7. Kissed someone and regretted it: I don’t think I regret any of them, no. Well, I’ve kissed someone and regretted it months later if that counts. 

8. Been cheated on: nope

9. Lost someone special: yes

10. Been depressed: yes, I suppose so. 

11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: yes. All of the time. My stomach is very bad at handling alcohol, so tactical chunders are usually the way to go. I’ve never been absolutely plastered though, and vomiting not by choice; I’ve usually always chosen when I’m going to throw up (usually to make myself feel better/avoid a hangover). 

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Black

13. Blue

14. Grey

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Made new friends: yes, I started university last September so I made a fair few. 

16. Fallen out of love: not in the romantic sense, no. 

17. Laughed until you cried: yes, a week ago, actually. 

18. Found out someone was talking about you: oh lord, yes, haha. It’s been the cause of all my problems, this past month or so. 

19. Met someone who changed you: no.

20. Found out who your friends are: most bloody definitely!

21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: yes, I think I did. I regret it now, haha. 

GENERAL:

22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: The vast majority of them I’d say. Most of them are people I went to school with, and if I didn’t go to school with them, they’re people I’ve met drunk on a night out. There’s only a handful on there who I’ve not met. 

23. Do you have any pets: yes, we have a black labrador, called Breeze. 

24. Do you want to change your name: I’ve never really been fond of my name, it was very popular the year I was born so I always find a lot of people my age called Sophie. If I were to change my name I’d change my last name. I’d make up something completely new so I wasn’t associated with either side of my family. 

25. What did you do for your last birthday: I went to see Morrissey live in Manchester with my best friend, that was a brilliant weekend, one of the best experiences of my life. And with my family I think we went out for a meal? It was so long ago now I can’t even remember properly, haha. 

26. What time did you wake up: today it was 6am, because I’ve got to travel 180 miles North to move some of my stuff in to my new uni house. Usually I’m very bad at getting out of bed before midday, but if I’ve got stuff to do I can wake up any time.

27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Probably watching old Whose Line Is It Anyway  episodes. The UK ones, of course. 

28. Name something you can’t wait for: going back to university in September, though I’m going to miss my best friend desperately. 

29. When was the last time you saw your mom: I saw her 8 hours ago, I think? Just before she went to bed. 

30. What is the one thing you wish you could change in your life: my anxiety (lol, #deep). Deep down I know I’m supposed to be a very extroverted person, but it prevents me from being that. 

31. What are you listening to right now: other than the noisy sodding birds outside my window? Nothing, lmao. 

32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: yes? I knew two guys called Tom in middle school. 

33. Something that is getting on your nerves: probably one of my ex-friends (that sounds dramatic af). She’s been very irritating recently and I wish she’d just stop being such a child and leave me the hell alone. 

34. Most visited websites: twitter, facebook, tumblr, youtube. The usual suspects, haha. 

35. Mole/s: yes. Lots. According to my mum they’re a sign of strength. That might well be bollocks, but who knows. 

36. Mark/s: I’ve got a scar on my right eyebrow from when I ran into the corner of a wooden table as a child. I used to get called “Sophie Potter”, Lords knows why cos it ain’t bloody lightning shaped. 

37. Childhood dream: when I was 5, probably just owning a tractor would be enough for me (a Ford one, because they’re blue); when I got a bit older I wanted to be an author, or an illustrator, or an author who illustrated her own books. 

38. Hair color: brown

39. Long or short hair: long. I only had it cut for the first time in 2 years a few months ago. It was ridiculously long then. 

40. Do you have a crush on someone: no, not a crush. That’s the wrong word.

41. What do you like about yourself: I actually quite like my appearance nowadays. I’m very proud of my intelligence, my knowledge of useless facts, my sarcasm, how funny I can be, and my art.

42. Piercings: ear lobes and my nose. I’d love to get more done. 

43. Blood type: I have absolutely no idea, not even my own mother knows. 

44. Nickname: I don’t have one. Some people have attempted to call me “Soph” in the past and I’ve quickly shot them down, only my dad gets to call me that and even then I don’t like it, haha. Occasionally I’ve been called by my last name, and some jokes have been made out of my last name but nothing’s ever really stuck. 

45. Relationship status: single… as a pringle..?

46. Zodiac: I don’t know much about this. I know I’m a Leo… 

47. Pronouns: she/her

48. Favorite TV show: Doctor Who, TLOG, anything Reece Shearsmith & Steve Pemberton write, Green Wing (recently), House, Lie To Me… There’s loads more but I can’t list them all, I’d be here all day. 

49. Tattoos: I have a tattoo of some planets and stars over a mountain on my inside left wrist. I got it about a year ago. I want lots more!

50. Right or left hand: Right. Though weirdly I started out life left-handed and then switched of my own accord when I was about 5. Unfortunately that doesn’t make me ambidextrous though, dammit. 

51. Surgery: twice. Had my tonsils removed as a kid, and then I used to be tongue-tied so I had to have that sorted a few years after. 

52. Hair dyed in different colour: not yet. I’m planning on it soon though, my hair’s a little drab at the moment. 

53. Sport: I used to love football (soccer) as a kid and I was fairly good at it, mostly because I was vicious, and at school I was on various sports teams but nowadays I rarely do any. 

54. blackpink in your area???? I’ve no idea what this means, so I’m gonna skim past it. 

55. Vacation: as a family we’ve been to Greece together (Kos, specifically) and it was wonderful, and we’ve been caravanning on the coast a few times. We haven’t been on holiday in years, but we’re all going to Jersey next month, unfortunately for some not good reasons. 

56. Pair of trainers: two pairs of grey converse, one very new, one very tatty. And a pair of grey generic trainers for the gym (I like grey, apparently)

MORE GENERAL

57. Eating: mashed potato, gravy, pie, cheesy chips, my mum’s roast dinners, my grandma’s baking. 

58. Drinking: tea, always. I bloody love tea, not that I’m upholding a national stereotype there, but oh well. Wine is lovely, but vodka is my absolute favourite when it comes to alcohol. Or gin, though I can’t handle it very well. Tequila shots, yes, jaeger bombs, always. 

59. I’m about to: get dressed and go to my grandma’s for an hour before we drive up North to my new house

60. (there is no 60, this is odd)

61. Waiting for: my exam to be over (it’s on Tuesday, send help). 

62. Want: to be at the pub with my friends, and a night out at Welly (the best club ever, pop punk and indie trash on a loop).

63. Get married: I doubt it. I’m not interested in marriage really. 

64. Career: my dream career would be artist. Quite possibly a portrait artist. But I know that’s not exactly a safe bet, so I’ll save that until I’m financially stable. I’m doing a chemistry degree at the moment, so I suppose I’ll get a job using that. In research, maybe. 

65. Hugs or kisses: depends on the person. Hugs from everyone. Kisses are also wonderful too, though. 

66. Lips or eyes: eyes. 

67. Shorter or taller: neither. I’m tall compared to most of my friends, but not too tall that I can’t get away with wearing heels, so I’ll stick to where I’m at, cheers. 

68. Older or younger: younger I think. I miss being so carefree. 

(dammit why is there no 69 ffs)

70. Nice arms or nice stomach: on me? Stomach probably. But both I think. My arms are odd, I’d like to edit them a little. 

71. Sensitive or loud: both. Loud, naturally, I think. Sensitive not entirely out of choice. 

72. Hook up or relationship: hook up. I think I have commitment issues, I couldn’t be in a relationship with someone. 

73. Troublemaker or hesitant: depends. Mostly troublemaker. If I’m hesitant it’s only usually for a few seconds before I go “fuck it” and do it anyway. 

HAVE YOU EVER:

74. Kissed a stranger: yes. Many a time. 

75. Drank hard liquor: yes. It’s lovely. 

76. Lost glasses/contact lenses:  nope, never, thank god. Let’s hope this continues. 

77. Turned someone down: yes, very gently. 

78. Sex on the first date:  I don’t think you could call it a date, but I’ve had sex with someone the first night I’ve met them? If that counts?

79. Broken someone’s heart: I don’t think so, no. Not that I’m aware of anyway.

80. Had your heart broken: no.

81. Been arrested: never. 

82. Cried when someone died: yes, of course. 

83. Fallen for a friend: no. Not really. I had a brief crush on a friend, but it didn’t last. 

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

84. Yourself: sometimes yes, sometimes no. I can be very arrogant depending on my mood, so in those moments I do, yes. In the more anxious ones, definitely not. 

85. Miracles: no way

86. Love at first sight: no, I think it’s unrealistic. Lust at first sight, certainly, but not love. 

87. Santa Claus: hahah wait why is this even up for debate?? Duh. 

88. Kiss on the first date:  yeah, sure, why not, if I liked the person enough I certainly wouldn’t be averse to it. 

OTHER:

90. Current best friend name: Amy

91. Eye color: brown

91. Favorite movie: reservoir dogs, pulp fiction, anything tarantino, leon: the professional, so many of them

[imadmouhcine7]

Students hold placards in front of the Greek parliament as they take part in a demonstration against climate change, in central Athens. Photograph: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

International Women's Day 2019: Celebrations of International Women's Day

us women's soccer group documents gender discrimination lawsuit

the united states global champion ladies' countrywide soccer team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in opposition to us football federation these days – just months earlier than the team plays in the ladies' world cup, in line with the big apple times.

inside the lawsuit, filed in America district courtroom in l.  a., the 28 players accused the federation — their organization and the governing body for soccer in the united states — of years of what they labeled “institutionalized gender discrimination.” the issues, the athletes said, affected no longer only their paychecks but also in which they performed and the way frequently, how they educated, the clinical remedy and training they received, or even how they traveled to suits.

heralded players including Megan rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Carli Lloyd are named inside the elegance motion lawsuit, which seeks to symbolize any present day or former players from the women’s countrywide team due to the fact that four Feb 2015.

in 2016, five us gamers filed a salary-discrimination complaint against the federation which has not ended in major movement.

we’re doing something exclusive … and we’d want to provide an explanation for why. our journalism now reaches document numbers around the world and extra than a million people have supported our reporting. in contrast to many news corporations, we haven’t put up a paywall – our journalism stays on hand to all, so more humans have get admission to correct data with integrity at its heart. that is the mum or dad’s model for open, unbiased journalism.

our model allows humans to aid us in a manner that works for them. readers’ guide safeguards our vital editorial independence.

zeinab Mohammed Salih

girls jailed at some stage in the ongoing protests in Sudan introduced on Friday they're going on starvation strike to protest their arbitrary detention, writes Zeinab Mohammed Salih in Khartoum.

the Sudanese rights group no to girls oppression made the declaration in an announcement. the head of the corporation, dr Ihsan fairy, is many of the dozens of human beings detained for collaborating in the protests since December.

different women announced on social media that they could pass on hunger strike in unity to their sisters at the back of the bars.

“I am on starvation strike these days in solidarity with my comrades that decided to head on hunger strike whilst in Omar al-Bashir's detention,” said Shani abbas, activist and member of the organization.

abbas said about 35 girls announced they might be on hunger strike, adding that some detainees these days launched had been most of the hunger strikers.

in the meantime, over in Greece, girls had been retaining protest rallies nationwide, writes Helena Smith, the Guardian's correspondent in Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus:

in villages, towns, and cities, girls were accumulating to mark what will be the kingdom’s third “feminist strike”.

perhaps extra than any other European member kingdom, each public and private unions have thrown their weight at the back of what many see as a day aimed squarely at highlighting sexual discrimination, oppression, and place of business inequities.

marching on the Greek parliament in Athens, protestors chanted: “the liberty of ladies is the fight of all workers.”

even though perspectives are changing, Greece stays a bastion of patriarchal wondering. it's far long ranked final in EU league tables on gender equality. however, with the worldwide climate changing, hopes are mounting that progress may be made.

“at a time while anti-oppression movements are proliferating global extensive, the working class is working together in opposition to discrimination,” proclaimed one march eighth motion. “for the primary time the possibility exists to turn march eighth into a pan-European strike.”

hi there, that is Amanda holpuch in the big apple, taking up the live weblog from Frances perraudin inside the united kingdom.

some depressing news out of the USA to mark worldwide women’s day: in 2018, us women were feeling much less handled with appreciating and dignity than at any time in view that 2011, in keeping with a survey published nowadays by the research firm, Gallup.

while requested: “do you believe girls inside us are handled with admiring and dignity, or not,” – forty-eight % of us girls replied “yes” and 70% people guys replied “sure.”

The U.S. trails all of its peers in Western Europe and Canada on the question of whether women are treated with respect and dignity. https://t.co/PHPP7nywmI #WomensDay pic.twitter.com/EjoaBIJiuY

— GallupNews (@GallupNews) ٨ مارس ٢٠١٩

gallup performed the survey among 13 August and 30 Sept 2018, a duration that consists of the lead-up and begins of the public hearing for splendid court justice Brett Kavanaugh, who changed into accused of sexual misconduct.

a little over a month after the survey concluded, the USA elected a record quantity of ladies to Congress.

meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has appeared on a worldwide girls' day panel alongside singer Annie Lennox and the former Australian high minister Julia Gillard.

requested via the chairwoman Anne McEvoy, senior editor of the economist, how Markle responded to media coverage of her, she said:

I don’t read anything, it’s a great deal safer that manner, but equally that’s simply my own personal preference, due to the fact I suppose high quality or terrible, it may all type of simply experience like noise to a certain volume in recent times, in place of getting muddled with that to consciousness at the actual cause.

so for me, I think the concept of making the phrase feminism cutting-edge, that doesn’t make any experience to me in my opinion, proper? that is something that is going to be part of the communication for all time.

when asked later if she looked at twitter she responded: “no, sorry no. for me that’s my non-public desire.”

liz ford, the deputy editor of the Guardian's global improvement web site, reports that for hundreds of girls' rights campaigners, international women’s day is just a day of prep for the challenge with the intention to come next week whilst the un’s commission on the repute of ladies opens.

many could be congregating in the big apple on Monday for the begin of the yearly -week assembly that assesses development in the direction of ending gender discrimination and looking at methods to push leaders to speed things up.

what this indicates in practice is a two-week fight between un member states and activists to hold the rights secured lengthy in the past under international agreements from being diluted or taken out of discussions that are targeted around a priority subject matter. this year, csw will consciousness on whether social safety systems and public offerings promote gender equality and ladies' empowerment.

a number of countries – you can probably bet which ones – will push for certain words to be eliminated from the reliable csw outcome report. these generally relate to sexual and reproductive fitness and rights, and gender-based total violence. they'll probably ask for the phrase ‘gender’ to be eliminated in favor of ‘girls’, and will try and get any mention of LGBTI removed altogether. the phrase ‘abortion’ is likewise elaborate, as is any mention of intercourse workers.

blocs of countries will alternate language – you take out any reference to ‘cultural and conventional practices’ and we’ll help you have your line about finishing toddler marriage. matters were given so terrible 365 days that EU international locations refused to barter as a bloc because of the stance of a few nations.

in 2017, with Donald trump inside the white house, us negotiators discovered themselves aligned with Iran, Syria, and Russia, nations notorious for trying to water down the language. the holy see, which has a permanent observer seat at the un, is expected to push back on references to the own family and birth control.

activists can be closely involved in lobbying member states to maintain tight to previous commitments to make certain the final results document, typically agreed within the early hours, doesn’t take a step backward.

csw is a highly essential occasion within the un calendar. it exposes member states' contemporary thinking about girls' rights. the agreed file can and could be utilized by campaigners to keep their governments to account.

csw additionally turns Manhattan into one large networking occasion. over the approaching weeks, loads of activities could be held in around the town organized via un agencies, member country missions, and civil society companies. they will contact on the diffusion of issues, including peacebuilding, gender-based totally violence, justice, humanitarian response, and maternal fitness. it’s throughout these times that partnerships may be struck, human beings may be inspired and, crucially, energies will be restored for the combat in advance.

journalist clear skopeliti reviews on the complaint of the high minister’s press convention this afternoon –

theresa can also have grown to be embroiled in a row that has overshadowed her Brexit speech in Grimsby after handiest taking one question from a female reporter on international girls' day.

the prime minister took at least 3 questions from male journalists following her comments however best one from a female, sky’s beth Rigby.

when may refuse to take any greater questions, Libby wiener, a political correspondent for it, shouted: “most effective one query from a lady journalist?” may additionally speak back: “you’ve had solutions from a female prime minister.”

may additionally change into speak at a dockside warehouse on Friday to induce MPs to back her Brexit deal and urge the European to make new concessions over the Irish backstop.

in addition to taking just one question from a girl, the mum or dad’s peter walker stated may also “entirely refused to cope with any unique questions.”

I’m biased as mine was one of the questions she failed to answer, but that was a pretty dire Q&A session from Theresa May in Grimsby. Utter refusal to deal with any specific questions.

— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) ٨ مارس ٢٠١٩

if you’re looking for even more idea (as though today’s and events haven’t been enough) here’s a stirring film from the mother or father’s video team, wherein the writer Jeanette Winterson reads an extract from her book, ‘courage calls to courage anywhere’. she describes the danger to women posed by means of the destiny dominance of ai.

“ai may be the great aspect to have occurred to humankind or the worst thing to take place to women ever,” she says.

On International Women’s Day, we honor women worldwide for their vital role in shaping and strengthening our communities, families, governments, and businesses...https://t.co/VVnkuBPmhA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) ٨ مارس ٢٠١٩

thru the efforts of terrific women trailblazers in the united states and around the world, we've made extremely good progress inside the combat for equality and justice for all.

my management has championed projects to promote women’s worldwide financial empowerment thru enterprise, generation, and extended get entry to capital. those projects include the girl's entrepreneurs finance initiative, canada–u.s. council for the advancement of women entrepreneurs and commercial enterprise leaders, distant places non-public funding enterprise’s 2x women’s initiative, and USA business enterprise for international improvement’s women connect challenge.

harriet Harman, labor’s former deputy chief, has written for harper’s bazaar on why her birthday party has in no way had a lady leader. (she has two times served as appearing chief.) she says: conservative women like Margaret Thatcher weren’t seen as subversive inside their own birthday celebration. she wasn’t saying that she wanted to show this birthday celebration the wrong way up. she wasn’t saying, ‘it’s been a celebration of guys, I’m going to make it a party where men and women share electricity on same phrases.’ she became about succeeding in the birthday party electricity shape because it became, approximately beating the men at their very own recreation, on their terms. she wouldn’t change the policies to make the birthday celebration greater girls-friendly. she didn’t agree with in that.

in case you argue for high-quality motion, which the ladies' motion in the labor birthday celebration has, then that will be and has been resisted. in case you are continually pushing at limitations, you’re an effective pressure, however not always a popular one. the ones main that fee can come to be considered too unpopular for the top activity. this is a proof, but it��s now not an excuse. there’s no justification for now not having a female chief. we’ve had a celebration for 100 years, we regard ourselves because the party of equality - the subsequent time it’s got to be a lady.

president Donald Trump's 2020 finances notion will encompass $100m for a global girls' fund spearheaded via his daughter Ivanka Trump, the related press reviews.

the white residence stated the price range, predicted to be released on Monday, will encompass funding for the girls' global improvement and prosperity initiative – an initiative launched final month and led by using Ivanka trump.

in a declaration to ap, Ivanka Trump stated that nowadays turned into international girls' day and harassed the initiative turned into “working in the direction of our aim of economically empowering 50 million girls in growing international locations by 2025”. 

the white house is also anticipated to announce the appointment of Kelley Eckels currie to serve as an ambassador-at-large for global girls' troubles. the position was mounted beneath president Barack Obama and has been vacant due to the fact trump took workplace.

ivanka trump praised currie, who currently serves because of the consultant to the united countries monetary and social council. she said currie “is a powerful partner on girls' financial empowerment and countrywide security problems”.

younger volunteers and campaigners with young people-led development business enterprise, restless development, have shared what they may be doing on international women’s day –

mia, 22, from Madagascar

I am attending a worldwide conference in Rwanda on family making plans. I'm mainly a workshop for other young people and policymakers referred to as “8 steps to get your government to hold its promises”.

in Madagascar, young girls are going through troubles like early pregnancies, infant marriages, and violence. while human beings think of Madagascar they frequently think about the cartoon, however, it isn't a developed us of a. I and a collection of young people commenced a campaign to trade the regulation to allow underneath 18s to get entry to birth control. we won our campaign! now I can have safe sex without getting pregnant if I don’t need to.

I’m certainly excited to share how I won my campaign and support others to make a trade of their international locations. ladies have the right to have energy due to the fact we are all identical with guys.

betty, 24, an entrepreneur from Uganda

there’s a lot of gender-based total discrimination towards women and younger women within the labor marketplace in Uganda. the vulnerable guidelines have limited girls to jobs that are of negative pay and great in terms of operating conditions and get admission to social protection. these factors improve the popularity of girls and young women as secondary employees and housewives.

I've been helping changes to legal guidelines to help women in the workplace. lately, we had been a hit in converting the law to introduce a countrywide minimal salary. these days is a countrywide bank holiday in Uganda to have fun international women’s day. I'm giving a speech at the countrywide young women’s communicate in Kampala, the capital town. the occasion has added together loads of humans from across Uganda to debate problems that have an effect on ladies.

I am going to speak approximately how I have been supported to develop my entrepreneurial capabilities and the way I began a farm feed shop which permits farmers to get right of entry to feeds for their animals. this has enabled me to earn a living as a young growing entrepreneur. I want to encourage different girls to be a girl boss like me.

devote, 26, from Tanzania one in three girls is married as youngsters in Tanzania. I'm discovering and campaigning on troubles including toddler marriage, violence in opposition to women and access to contraception. thru my research, I discovered that, in the rural location in which I stay, neighborhood police don’t have schooling to address cases of child marriage or sexual violence. I managed to arrange an assembly with the nearby government and the police pressure. the countrywide police force agreed that their gender department will educate people inside the villages on a way to report, and train the nearby police to address these cases. for worldwide women’s day, I am schooling ladies and men in the villages on those troubles and a way to document them. it’s very vital for young people like me to raise focus and talk out in opposition to problems that affect us. I am now visible as a pacesetter in my network.

brand new precis

michelle Bachelet, the un-high commissioner for human rights, has issued an announcement thanking equalities campaigners around the arena. “thanks to the tireless work of such human rights defenders in all corners of the globe, in latest a long time, we've got visible terrific progress with appreciate to ladies' rights,” she stated.

the brand new chair of one of the UK's maximum influential commercial enterprise agencies has accused Britain's biggest groups of mendacity while they are saying they can not find sufficient woman or ethnic minority administrators. charlotte valeur, who joined the Institute of administrators (iPod) in September, stated she would begin calling for brand new legal guidelines next yr to pressure companies to enhance their diversity if FTSE 350 organizations didn't make quicker development.

there have been 6,355 survivors on rape disaster ready lists in march ultimate 12 months, according to the stop violence in opposition to women coalition. rape survivor fern champion has waived her anonymity and launched a petition calling at the authorities to deal with the shortfall in professional rape counseling aid. it has 92,000 signatures to this point.

spanish women are taking part in a nationwide strike and there can be 1,400 rallies across us of a to mark worldwide girls' day. in the meantime, men in Russia are giving ladies vegetation to mark the day.

emma Watson, Keira Knightley, and Dame Emma Thompson are amongst 76 actors, writers, enterprise leaders and campaigners to have used a letter within the mum or dad to name on governments to increase support and protection of women preventing for his or her rights around the arena.

this morning, parents in east London staged breastfeeding take a seat-in outside Newham medical institution. they had been protesting following reviews that new moms have been asked to breastfeed their toddlers in the back of a display screen and that infants had been given method without the consent of dad and mom.

Rooney Sekar, the divisional supervisor of women’s and children’s health at Newham hospital, stated: “privacy screens/curtains are available in maternity and neonatal units merely if moms wish to apply them. there are in some instances a medical reason to offer components feed further to breast milk; but, this follows dialogue with the neonatal crew and with the consent of the mom. following pointers and comments from dad and mom we can make sure that there's clearer signage and applicable records shared approximately their baby’s feeding requirements.”

readers have been stepping into touch to inform us how they are marking global women’s day. for some, nowadays is a further special day of birthday celebration as they mark their birthdays.

paul, forty-eight, from Berlin is happy his daughter, mina coco, is popping eight this yr. “it’s our daughter’s birthday so it’s cake, crazy and chaos today. regardless of the birthday celebration, I could be squeezing and kissing my daughter and contemplating my mum. I can additionally be sending love and power to all women of the sector - on 8 March and every day, always!

“as of 2019, it is going to be a financial institution holiday here in Berlin, but most effective in Berlin and no different kingdom in Germany. it’s in music with our real revolutionary fashion however lamentably perhaps now not as understood national. I am hoping it offers people something to reflect consideration even as the stores are closed. I’m not certain a break day paintings solve severe problems although, however, there could be protests and things taking place during the day.”

jo Barlow, forty-nine, from Cornwall is celebrating her birthday these days: “I am so very proud to share worldwide girls' day with my birthday. a unique day this 12 months as I’m forty-nine. as I am getting older, I become more and more privy to the importance of being a lady in nowadays’s patriarchal society, fighting for recognition and equality.

“I'm presently going through the menopause which seems to be a hidden problem, much like with intervals, it isn't mentioned and we strive to cover its symptoms. that is so wrong! something half the population will undergo needs to be out within the open.

“on one hand I have signed up for a yoga and menopause workshop, as I want to empower myself. on the other, I may be celebrating being forty-nine, alive, wholesome, distinctly sane and sober, with cake, pizza, a drop or two of pink wine and a ride to the greenway, the summertime domestic of Agatha Christie – an absolutely exquisite lady.”

myriam from London considers herself a born feminist, specifically together with her birthday coinciding with worldwide girls' day: “till some years ago, and wasn’t given plenty space in our collective awareness or the media. if it is a large issue now it has to also be a reminder of feminism as an international and still a whole lot-needed cause. in current years we have come to comprehend that we have been too complacent about sex equality, unveiling die-tough misogyny inside the western international.” 

“I can be elevating a pitcher to the loving and assisting women in my lifestyles, a number of whom can be with me, with a special notion for all the ladies and girls all over the world who suffer honestly for being born girl.”

marc Bennetts in Moscow reviews on how Russia is marking global ladies' day:

in Russia, where global women’s day has long lost any connection to feminist issues, 8 march is basically all approximately men giving women plants and complimenting them on their appears.

this year, bomb disposal robotic even got in at the act, handing a gaggle of yellow tulips to a bemused younger female in an online video published by russia’s emergencies ministry.

vladimir Putin provided his own gushing tribute to Russia's girls. “you locate time for the entirety – at paintings and at domestic, and yet stay lovely, brilliant, captivating and the center of gravity for the whole circle of relatives, uniting it along with your love, in addition to your capability to encourage and support, comfort and console,” he said in a message posted on the Kremlin internet site. putin’s remarks came after he told girl cops: “what does a younger girl want to keep her discern? three matters: an exercise system, a masseuse, and a suitor.” in Yekaterinburg, servicemen published perhaps the day’s oddest tribute to Russia's ladies, posing with assault rifles alongside ballerinas in an empty metro station. the assignment turned into entitled “the energy of a person is inside the tenderness and love of a woman.” there have been, however, a few restrained attempts to use the day, a public vacation in Russia given that 1966, to sell ladies' rights. occasions, along with living shows, exhibitions, and lectures, are being held in Russia and neighboring Belarus beneath the banner “it’s no longer her fault” to raise the budget for a charity that assists survivors of home abuse. at the least 8,000 Russian ladies are anticipated to die yearly from accidents as a result of intimate companions. the state of affairs changed into exacerbated in 2017 when Putin signed off on a regulation that partly decriminalized home violence. in st Petersburg, a set of guys from a pro-kremlin youth group burst right into a newly opened feminist espresso store for the duration of ‘girls-simplest” opening hours and tried to pressure flora on site visitors. one lady appeared to pepper-spray an outsider, consistent with a video posted by the pro-kremlin institution. the related press is reporting that hundreds of extremely-orthodox jews have tried to save you a liberal Jewish girls' group from praying on the western wall in Jerusalem, Judaism's holiest site. the women collected on Friday to mark the thirtieth anniversary of ladies of the wall, a ladies' prayer institution that seeks equality of worship on the website. it coincides this 12 months with global girls' day. the girls wore nonsecular attire that extremely-orthodox tradition reserves for men and swayed in prayer as orthodox guys spat, shoved and shouted insults. police tried to restrain protesters charging at the women’s prayer circle and stated they arrested one child for attacking an officer. the Israeli authorities, below stress from extremely-orthodox parties, scrapped plans for a combined-gender prayer region on the western wall in 2017. international women's day international women's day 2019 international mens day international womens day women's day happy international women's day womens day international women's day quotes international men's day

[ourshineeshrine]

My Number One Fan

Chapter 25 Pairing: JongKey Word Count: 4.177 Summary: Kibum goes to the same, run-down bar every week to watch the man of his affections sing his heart out with a mere guitar for company. He wasn’t expecting the coffee, nor the beautiful personality within the singer. And he definitely wasn’t expecting to fall in love.

A/N: I was pretty quick this time, huh? ;) Anyway, this chapter is a bit of necessary filler I guess, but a lot more drama is happening in the next chapter! I feel like I'm on a roll now, so expect an update pretty soon :) Hope you enjoy <3

The week leading up to Thursday had been uneventful at best, awkward and depressing silences being the only thing which seemed to fill the school hours each day. Judging by the gloomy mood which seemed to engulf every hallway, each student seemed to have their own issues going on at that moment, and that idea was the only thing which kept Kibum from skipping all together. It was comforting somehow, to see that Minho and Taemin were just as troubled as he was, and when they sat down in the dance studio that lunchtime, Minho decided it was finally time to say something aloud.

“Kibum, not to be a pain but…are you okay? You’ve been pretty down lately.” questioned Minho softly, voice shaking at the knowledge that Taemin was seated literally right beside him. The younger male stared at the ground intensely as though he hadn’t heard Minho’s query, but his rigid posture suggested otherwise. After all, they were both awfully concerned at how Kibum had been acting the past week. They would have spoken up beforehand, but with soccer practice on Minho’s behalf, and dance practice for Kibum and Taemin, it was safe to say that neither boy had really had the chance.

The oldest of the three picked at his nails absentmindedly, head making a motion in between that of a nod and shake. “I don’t know…” responded Kibum. “Not really.”

Taemin frowned. “What happened? Is Jonghyun being a jerk? ‘Cause if he is, I’ll deck him in the schnozz for you.”

“If you’re going to deck anyone in the…schnozz? Then it ought to be me, Taem. I’ve been a real jerk.” mumbled Kibum, burying his face into his palms and tugging midly at his strands of hair. It was only lunchtime, yet he could already feel a budding migraine forming at the back of his head.

Minho and Taemin glanced at each other, confused, but the shared look was short lived and within mere milliseconds the boys were back with rosy cheeks and shifty eyes, not knowing quite where to look without seeming weird. “Don’t tell me you dumped him, Kibum…” spoke Taemin, horrified.

“No! No way, never!” denied Kibum, shaking his head profusely only to groan immediately after at the onslaught of pain caused by the small action. He took a deep breath to steady his thoughts. “My dad just…grounded me…and I’m not allowed to see Jonghyun anymore unless it’s at my house, and I don’t want to bring Jonghyun to my house because my dad will probably murder him but I miss him so much yet I can’t do anything about it and so I’ve been ignoring him and I feel so awful about it and I’m actually about to cry right now but I’m struggling to hold in my tears, and—“

“Kibum, Kibum. Calm down. Take a breath, you’re ranting.”

The boy in question paused, exhaling deeply and blinking a few times to hold back tears. “Sorry, guys…I guess I’m just feeling a little dodgy today. Don’t mind me.”

Minho leant forward to wrap Kibum in a tight hug and smiled sympathetically. “Stop apologizing, Kibum. What if we all catch up together at your house? Your dad won’t be able to ‘kill Jonghyun’ then, right? And besides, why does he hate him so much? I can’t picture Jonghyun doing anything that bad.”

A loud laugh which lacked any humour escaped Kibum’s throat, and he regarded his friends with a raised brow. “It doesn’t take much to anger my father…but unfortunately for Jonghyun, we practically did the worst thing possible.”

Taemin frowned in curiosity. “Did you set his car on fire? That got me into a lot of trouble once.”

The two older boys struggled to contain their concernedness, merely shooting each other an expression which seemed to scream: ‘what the fuck?’ Kibum stifled a snort, sobering up in an attempt to answer Taemin’s question seriously.

“No, Taemin. We did not set his car on fire, and I’m not even going to ask why you did. We just…well…held hands? I guess.”

Minho coughed loudly, choking on his sandwich. “Y-You…Held hands? Are you fucking with me, Kibum?”

Kibum smiled grimly. “Afraid not. Oh and to answer your suggestion from before: I don’t know. There’s always just this aura surrounding my father that screams ‘I hate your guts, rodent’, and I don’t really wanna expose Jonghyun to that.”

“Yeah but...you realise Jonghyun’s going to be really worried right? Like, I don’t wanna sound rude but…it’s kinda selfish if you don’t tell him about what your dad said. I bet he’s worried sick.”

Humming, Kibum’s gaze returned to his lap. “Yeah…maybe. We’ll see. But what’s new in your lives?”

The soccer player frowned at the change of topic, and became even more uncomfortable when he considered just what was new in his life.

Taemin and I made out on the weekend. It didn’t mean anything but now we can’t even look each other in the eyes. Nothing much, really.

He inwardly shuddered, and one glance at Taemin told Minho that the younger boy was thinking exactly the same thing. “Oh, y’know…” he finally managed to choke out. “Soccer.”

“Dancing. Homework. Setting cars on fire. Just the usual.” added Taemin, trying as hard as possible to look everywhere except at his best friend.

Kibum nodded sceptically. “Right, well…That’s certainly interesting. But Taemin, I think we need to have a little chat about your pyromaniac tendencies. They’re slightly concerning me.”

Jonghyun gave his guitar a gentle testing strum before promptly sighing loudly and placing it back on its stand. It was futile. No matter what he did, whether it be play video games, watch a movie or sing, nothing could get his mind off Kibum. Or, more accurately in this circumstance, the lack thereof. Reaching for his phone upon the nightstand, Jonghyun practically screamed in agony at his non-existent text messages, reading once again the one that Kibum had sent to him four days prior.

‘I’m home safe. Goodnight, Jjong x

Your Number One Fan’

Pouting, Jonghyun threw his phone onto the bed and slumped out of the room, feet trudging along the carpeted floor dejectedly. The faint scent of pasta could be smelled from almost every room in the house, therefore it came as no surprise when Jonghyun entered the kitchen and found Roo drooling over the delicious food his mum seemed to be cooking. “Smells good, mum.” he commented with a smile, but something about the tone of his voice told the other house occupants that Jonghyun wasn’t feeling quite one hundred percent.

Seodam worried her lip between teeth as she took in Jonghyun’s weary appearance, the dark streaks beneath his eyes implying that the male hadn’t slept properly in several days. She clicked the television off and called Roo over, giggling in delight as the small puppy fumbled over and attempted to claw her way up onto Seodam’s lap.

“Well aren’t you a little cutie?” she cooed incoherently, eyes raising in sisterly concern upon hearing the loud collapse of Jonghyun onto the nearby sofa. Seodam frowned, searching her mind for something to cheer her younger brother up. “Hey, Jonghyun. Written any songs recently?”

The singer’s head lifted marginally, and almost pathetically, he shook his head to gesture that no, he hadn’t. The frown creases in Seodam’s forehead deepened, lifting Roo into her lap unconsciously as she studied Jonghyun’s drooping figure. “Why not?”

Jonghyun shrugged. “Dunno…No motivation.”

The answer was short and simple – perhaps a little more so than Seodam’s liking. Quirking an eyebrow, she tutted with fake indignation and shook her head. “Probably because you haven’t caught up with Kibum lately, you poo.” Jonghyun tensed, and the medical student concluded that she’d hit the nail over the head. So Kibum was the root of her brother’s problems. Sex problems, maybe? Judging by how melancholy Jonghyun had been the last few days, most likely not. “What’s up, huh? Is he on holidays or something?”

Seodam knew her brother was sensitive. In fact, anyone who had ever met Jonghyun knew that he was sensitive. However, despite that knowledge, it still didn’t prepare the young woman for the sudden distortion of Jonghyun’s face, baring his teeth unattractively and screwing up his face with a loud sob. Seodam’s head shot to their mother who looked on with wide, apprehensive eyes, nonetheless turning away reluctantly after Seodam wordlessly gestured that she’d take care of it. Seodam hurried over to Jonghyun’s sofa with Roo and sat the small puppy gently in Jonghyun’s lap, smiling affectionately as the bundle of fur began to lick away Jonghyun’s onslaught of tears. “Hey now, buddy.” she spoke softly, wrapping her brother in a warm, tight hug. “What happened, ‘Hyun-ah?”

Sniffling and coughing in an attempt to suppress his loud cries, Jonghyun held Roo tightly and began to speak. His words came slurred and inaudible, causing Seodam to strain her ears in attempts to gather something out of what Jonghyun began to ramble on about. “K-Kib’m ha’n’t s-spoke to me in days, and he w-won’t reply to my mess’ges, and I dunno wha’ I did wrong!” he began, blowing his nose into a tissue which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. “W-What if somethin’ happened to ‘im? He p-probably hates me. A-And on Sunday,” Jonghyun’s voice seemed to break here, and while half of Seodam thought that the image before her was beyond hilarious, the other half felt her heart break at just how devastated Jonghyun was reacting to the whole ordeal. Whether he would admit it or not, Jonghyun was in love, something which Seodam hoped would treat Jonghyun the way he deserved to be treated. “On Sunday, h-he didn’t even lemme touch him!”

Roo danced all over Jonghyun, licking his face furiously and nudging their faces together in what Seodam liked to believe was an attempt to cheer the boy up. She wrapped the three of them in a tight group hug and soothingly sifted her hands through Jonghyun’s thick, blonde locks. Comfortable silence was a perfect substitute for a meaningless bout of words, something simple which Seodam knew Jonghyun would appreciate. “Shh, Jonghyun. Calm down. Shh.” she soothed, carefully adjusting Roo so that she wasn’t suffocating her brother to death. “I think you should go talk to Kibum. Ask him what’s wrong.”

Jonghyun shook his head vigorously and swiped at his eyes. “I don’t think surprising him in p-person will turn out well, Seodam. He’s obviously staying away from me for a reason. I think I’m just going to leave it for now.”

The young woman frowned slightly, but figured that there was no use arguing when Jonghyun was in a state such as this one. Sooner or later he’d come around to his senses, and maybe she’d have another go of talking to her stubborn brother then. “Okay, Jonghyun, but just keep this in mind. There’s always two sides to a story, m’kay? Don’t place the blame all on yourself.”

Jonghyun, still bundled up with Roo and an abundance of cushions, nodded minimally. “Thanks, Seodam.” His fists lifted to rub his eyes forcefully, carefully lifting Roo of his lap in order to stretch. “I think I’m going to go to the supermarket for a bit. Get out of the house and clear my mind.”

His mother peeked at her son from her position by the stove, smiling softly at what she deemed her baby boy. “Take care, Jonghyun. Don’t buy too many sweets, and watch out for strangers.”

Snorting, Jonghyun rolled his eyes affectionately. “I’m twenty-one, mum. I’ll be fine.” He gave Roo a quick scratch behind the ears, cooing. “See you, Roo. Jonghyun-ah will be home soon.”

Upon arriving at the nearby supermarket, Jonghyun immediately made his way to the ramen isle, sliding multiple different packets into his shopping basket. He liked to call it a necessity – something he ate when hungry, depressed or tired. Ramen was similar to medicine, Jonghyun liked to believe. A cure for everything, no matter how big or small. Multiple packs of teabags were also deposited into the basket, and for some reason that day, Jonghyun paused by the cosmetic section, eyeing the boxes of hair dye which lined the shelf.

In deep thought, he ran a hand through his blonde locks, knowing quite well that his roots were probably beginning to show. It was a pretty big decision. Usually something which Jonghyun would spend days upon days contemplating. But this time around the singer was feeling a little bit more impulsive, making move to grab a box of dark brown hair dye and place it with the rest of his groceries.

He didn’t get far. Before his fingers could even make contact with the box, Jonghyun heard the sound of a mess being made behind him followed by the aggravated sigh of a woman. Turning around marginally, his eyes fell upon a pile of dropped groceries on the floor, a middle aged woman wearily bending down to pick them back up. Having completely forgotten about the box of hair dye, Jonghyun rushed forward to help the woman, lifting the heavier items and placing them delicately in the lady’s trolley. “Are you alright, ma’am?” he asked softly, before promptly freezing in his tracks as the woman looked up.

It was Kibum’s mother.

Jonghyun’s eyes widened in astonishment, and he unconsciously took a small step backwards. “M-Mrs Kim! Nice to see you again. Are you okay?”

The woman seemed equally as surprised, but nonetheless nodded softly and offered Jonghyun a small smile. “I’m fine, Jonghyun. Just carrying a little more than I can handle, I think. And it’s nice to see you too.” She studied the boy in front of her intently, taking notice of his red-rimmed eyes and cautious demeanour. A concerned frown threatened to dress her face, and Kibum’s mother was suddenly hit with the realization of just how kind and generous the boy in front of her was.

She knew that Jonghyun wasn’t a high school student. She knew that something about his relationship with Kibum was being concealed. She knew how her husband felt about him. But even so, she also knew just how happy he made Kibum, and before she could overthink it, felt herself grabbing his arm as he made move to leave. “Wait, Jonghyun!”

Jonghyun jolted in surprise, yet still paused to listen with a patient smile upon his lips.

“Look, Jonghyun…I know you’re not a high school student. B-But before you move to run away, I just want to tell you that no matter how you met my son, I don’t care.” She took a deep breath, adrenaline flooding her veins as she went against everything that her husband tried so hard to enforce. Jonghyun was frozen with disbelief, hands shaking faintly as she confronted what Kibum had tried so hard to hide. But before he could fret too much about it, Kibum’s mother continued, something which was equally as confusing to the both of them. “And I really shouldn’t be telling you this but, if you want to meet with Kibum, then I suggest coming to his school on Wednesday in two weeks time. We have parent teacher interviews. Oh and…if it means anything? He um, misses you a lot, Jonghyun. Hasn’t stopped moping since he got grounded on Sunday.”

A lot was going through Jonghyun’s brain at that particular moment, such as ‘why on earth is she being so nice to me?’, however the only thing he could manage to choke out was: “H-He’s grounded?”

Shocked that Jonghyun didn’t know about Kibum’s grounding, Kibum’s mother blanched before simply nodding sadly. “Unfortunately. And it was nice chatting to you, but I have a lot of housework to get through today. Don’t tell Kibum I said anything, alright? See you, Jonghyun.”

And she was off, leaving Jonghyun to simply stand there with his shopping basket in complete and utter confusion. There was a lot of new information to think about, including the opportunity to see Kibum in two weeks, but the singer couldn’t help but want to see Kibum a lot sooner than that. He sighed deeply one last time and took off, making sure to grab that lone box of brown hair dye on the way out.

Kibum and Taemin sat by the oval the following lunchtime, watching on with neutral eyes as Minho and the other players trained for their upcoming match. “I’ll never understand this game…” Kibum had muttered, Taemin mechanically nodding on in agreement. That wasn’t quite true. After Taemin had befriended Minho, he’d actually learned a lot about soccer, going to watch Minho on multiple weekends and having to listen to the times where Minho would ramble on about his interest at lunchtimes. And honestly, now that Taemin had figured out his feelings for the older boy, he definitely wasn’t complaining, taking appreciation in the way the sun perfectly reflected against Minho’s tall, sculpted body.

The two hadn’t spoken about the kiss since the day it happened, and while Taemin felt as though he should have been completely content with that, another part of him itched to speak up. Minho had looked as though he enjoyed it at the time. And he was the one who had suggested it in the first place. But with this onslaught of awkward glances and the inability to hold eye contact, Taemin couldn’t help but wonder what was really going through his best friend’s mind.

“Hey, Kibum?” he spoke, licking his lips nervously as the older boy looked his way.

“Hm?”

Taemin diverted his gaze to the ground and tried to make his speech sound as hypothetical as possible. “What would you do if just say…someone asked to kiss you one day, and then after you kissed, never brought it up again? Theoretically, of course.”

Confused by the random question, Kibum frowned, raising his brows at Taemin curiously. “Well that came out of nowhere.”

“I know, I know.” laughed Taemin good-naturedly, though practically sweating on the inside. “But c’mon, isn’t that weird?”

“Hypothetically speaking, they probably just wanted to kiss you without getting embarrassed or rejected because of it. Who did you kiss, Taemin?”

Colour shot to Taemin’s cheeks and ears, shaking his head desperately and waving his hands before his face. “I said theoretically, you moron! I didn’t kiss anyone.”

A sharp slap came to the back of his head, eliciting Taemin to yelp in surprise. “What the fuck! Are you mental?!”

“Are you? Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Who wanted to kiss you, Taemin? Because I swear to God, if they maimed you in any way whatsoever, I will stick their head in the doorframe and slam it shut on their neck.”

Taemin shuffled back in fear. “As if I’m telling you now! You’ll bloody kill him!”

Jaw dropping in an unflattering manner, Kibum struggled to form a coherent sentence. “H-Him?!” he screeched. “It wasn’t…Tell me…Not Kai…Please.”

The younger of the two sat in stunned silence, not knowing quite what to respond with. But apparently, silence was the wrong answer, the lack of response in Kibum’s vocabulary apparently being synonymous to ‘yes, it’s Kai.’

“That motherfucker…” Kibum seethed. “After all he did to you. Why would you even consent to kiss someone like that?! Excuse me while I go and murder him, Taem.”

“No, no, no! Stop standing up, you idiot.” Taemin called as Kibum stood to brush off his jeans. But Kibum was having none of it, looking off towards the courtyard where he was certain to spot Taemin’s old friend. Taemin watched in horror as Kibum’s eyes lit up and an almost sadistic smile etched upon his face, feet already moving towards the oval fence.

Panicking, Taemin looked towards the soccer players, sighing in relief when he realised that none of them were paying attention to his and Kibum’s little argument. He figured that nothing else would get the stubborn Kibum to come back, so bracing himself for an onslaught of questions, Taemin called out just loud enough for his fellow dancer to hear. “It wasn’t Kai! Kibum, wait! It was Minho!”

And just like that, Kibum was pausing in his tracks like a deer caught in headlights, slowly turning his head to study Taemin with wide eyes. He gestured to Minho with his head in question as though clarifying it was that Minho he was referring to, and upon Taemin’s sheepish nod, Kibum was practically running back to their spot beneath the tree. “Are you serious, Taemin?!” he exclaimed in a hushed whisper, a mixture of excitement and concern seeping into his tone.

“Do you really think I’d make this up?! It happened last Sunday…And I would have told you before now but it’s all a bit confusing, to be honest. But now that you know who it is…it’s obvious that your reason is wrong.”

Kibum rolled his eyes at Taemin’s naivety. “Ah, Taemin. You pure, pure little boy. The fact that it’s Minho doesn’t change anything! Why else would he suggest that you kiss, huh? He could’ve gone and kissed anybody…Literally, anybody. But he kissed you, Taem. And now he’s not talking to you because he probably thinks that you hated it.”

“Nope…He knows I didn’t hate it.” Taemin groaned, collapsing against the ground in embarrassment. “I practically—moaned! And as soon as I did he was out of there like The Flash, Kibum. If anyone hated it, it was him! I ruined everything, to be honest.”

With a disappointed sigh, Kibum shrugged his shoulders. “I mean…he could be embarrassed for you. But that’s awfully pessimistic, so just forget I said that. I reckon you should just go and talk to him, Taem. Confront him about the kiss. If you want your friendship to go back to normal, then it’s what needs to be done.”

Taemin hummed impartially, glazed eyes watching as the man in question scored a fairly difficult goal. “We’ll see.”

“Ugh, stop being all sad about it. You’re putting a damper on my already damp mood. Instead of worrying about how he feels now, just focus on the actual kiss. You actually got to kiss him, Taemin! So now you gotta spill, m’kay? C’mon, how was it?!”

Kibum’s optimistic pestering impelled a small, ecstatic smile to grow on Taemin’s face, and it was clear to see just how smitten he was by his best friend. “Alright well this is what happened…”

Eventually the school day had come to an uneventful end, a tired yet genuine grin of relief colouring Minho’s face as he made his way towards the student carpark. He spun his keys around his forefinger in boredom, and upon noticing Taemin waiting under his usual shady tree, quickened his pace. He was so preoccupied with the blush residing on his face and the desire to avoid the younger male, that Minho barely even noticed Amber making her way up to him with a confident stroll, jumping in shock as she appeared beside him.

“How’s it goin’, Minho?” the tomboy spoke radiantly, giving Minho a friendly nudge in the ribs. “Sorry for giving you a scare.”

“Oh yeah, y’know…the usual. About to head home. What’s up?” Minho responded, all of a sudden feeling awfully uncomfortable in Amber’s presence.

She smiled and scratched the back of neck blushingly. “I was just gonna ask if you wanted to hang out on Sunday or something…if you want to?”

Flustered, Minho could merely stare openly at Amber in astonishment. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. And with barely any exertion of effort whatsoever it was being passed over to him on a silver platter. A week ago, Minho would have been giving the enthusiastic response of ‘sure!’ within just a few seconds – no doubt about it. But now, as he reflected on his feelings and what he wanted to say in response, the only thing that Minho’s mind could provide him with was the recollection of how Taemin’s lips felt against his; the heat which had pooled to his stomach upon hearing the younger boy’s contended sighs. Minho tried to snap out of it. Tried to remember that short-lived kiss he’d experienced with Amber just weeks ago. But alas, came up with nothing – the insignificant memory having already been pushed to the very corners of his mind.

So it came as a surprise to even Minho himself when without a second thought, he heard his mouth spout of some jargon about how he was sorry because already had plans for that Sunday. Amber grinned good-naturedly, like she always did, and took off happily without another complaint.

Minho didn’t have any plans that Sunday. In fact, Minho didn’t have any plans for the entire weekend, nor the ones following. Yet nevertheless, after having the option presented to him, Minho found that despite how nice it had seemed at the time to date someone like Amber, he actually didn’t want to at all. Instead, all Minho could think about was Taemin - his best friend, his escape, and as it now appeared, the boy of his affections.

[topfygad]

Around the World in 80 Hours

I

“Let’s make a wager,” stated my grandpa, William Foxx.

This specific wager began as all our different bets had — within the den.

***

It was February 29, a bissextile year, and we would simply completed consuming dinner with Gran. My grandfather, Pops, in his typical worn armchair, was nearly to settle in to certainly one of his books for the night.

“What’s that you simply’re studying,” I requested him.

“Jules Verne,” he answered, lifting the guide for me to see.

“Across the World in 80 days,” I learn. “Is that how lengthy it might take you to journey the world whenever you had been younger?” I requested jokingly. Pops was a pilot by my age.

“I am not that outdated, Phil,” he stated, “however in my day it wasn’t almost as easy to fly as it’s as we speak — planes did not fly themselves like they do now. It was an honour to even be a passenger, males dressed of their Sunday finest.”

“Humorous how shortly issues change,” I stated. “I wager as we speak you could possibly make it all over the world in Eight days, and you could possibly do all of it in sweats, surviving off of pre-packaged buns.”

“Are we making bets now?” Pops requested with a raised eyebrow. “In that case, Eight days is simply too simple, Phil. I might fly all over the world in 80 hours, I am certain.”

“I do not assume you need to be flying wherever,” I laughed, “however even then, with check-ins, customs, delays, layovers, there isn’t any means you could possibly do it in simply 80 hours.”

“What are you aware of customs and layovers?” requested Pops defensively. “You have by no means even left London!”

“I do not often argue with former pilots,” I stated, ignoring his jab, “however I do know that you would be able to’t simply hop on a aircraft and circle the globe.”

“Phil, the one strategy to study is to strive,” he stated. After which I knew it was coming, grandpa’s 4 favorite phrases, “Let’s make a wager.”

“I wager that you would be able to make it all over the world in 80 hours, stopping in all of the cities on this guide,” he continued, wagging his tattered paperback within the air.

“And what’s going to we wager? Ice cream cones? Tickets to soccer? I am not a child anymore Pops, there’s nothing you could possibly give me to fly all over the world.”

I’ve seen my grandfather severe solely twice in my life, as soon as whereas my grandmother was sick within the hospital and the opposite time was proper then, within the den.

“I am getting outdated, Phil. I’ve saved my cash through the years and I feel now’s pretty much as good a time as any to present it to you.”

“What are you speaking about?”

“I’ve obtained fairly some huge cash, and should you do that for me, if you can also make it again to London in 80 hours, I am going to give it to you.”

I did not know fairly what to say.

“Properly? What’ll or not it’s?” Pops continued loudly. “Eager to comply with Jules Verne’s route for £2 million?”

“What! Two million kilos? The place the hell… are you mad? Do Mum and Gran learn about this? You’ll be able to’t wager all of it on me!” I argued.

“There’s more cash for them, don’t be concerned. Whenever you get to be my age you discover that you’ve an excessive amount of cash and never sufficient vitality to make use of it. Seeing you lastly fly could be value it,” he stated. And with that it was determined.

“I suppose I am going to give it a go…” I agreed, nonetheless uncertain what to anticipate.

II

Pops contacted somebody he known as his concierge; his goofy smile was all I noticed for days. I heard mutterings every so often. “No, he’ll discover you,” and “Tall ginger, cannot miss him,” and a somewhat alarming, “In fact he likes whiskey, he is a Foxx!”

I’ve by no means drank whiskey in my life. I felt extra nervous than the time I used to be chosen to present a 20 minute presentation in Mr. Corridor’s sex-ed class.

Lastly, in any case his non-public planning, he known as me into the den to inform me how the journey was to go.

“I’ve purchased your entire tickets, you simply have to choose them up at examine in. This is your flight itinerary. You allow this afternoon and also you get again to London at 7:40 pm March 4th, after 79 hours of journey. It ought to take you about an hour to get again house, so let’s meet right here within the den at precisely 8:40, that’ll be our 80 hour mark.”

This was a real Flightfox contest. The successful knowledgeable was ‘Scibuff’ whose itinerary circled the world, stopping at Jules Verne’s authentic 80 Days locations in precisely 79 hours and all for a value of solely $2,039.

“Phil…”, he grinned. “You are able to do this.”

I glanced over the pages he handed me, full of numbers, names, dates and occasions. It was all gibberish. I remembered a couple of locations the characters travelled to within the novel — India with the elephants and America with the circus. My thoughts was racing however hovered on the sobering actuality that there was no backing out now.

“What? What if I miss certainly one of my flights, or..err, what if a flight is delayed, or there’s site visitors getting house. What occurs after 80 hours?” I stumbled, mad at myself for displaying Pops how nervous I actually was.

“Do not get caught up with ‘what ifs,’” Pops exclaimed, “Be assured, belief in your self and in others, and most of all, have just a little enjoyable!”

“Pops, that does not even try to reply my query, what if I actually cannot make it?”

“No extra of this garbage. Now you higher rush off,” he stated. “By the best way, I’ve known as a couple of mates of mine, folks I met whereas travelling, and I would like you to fulfill them alongside the best way. Don’t fret,” he stated as he noticed my frightened face, “they’re going to enable you alongside. I’ve given you a couple of clues that will help you discover them.”

Clues, mates, 80 hours of flying. I could not see how this could finish properly. I wanted somebody who knew about flying (or assembly folks) to return alongside. Abruptly, I considered simply the individual, “Can I deliver a buddy, Pops?”

“Alright, my boy. However there isn’t any time to waste, your aircraft takes off in a couple of hours,” he stated.

After handing me the primary clue and my flight data, I gave him a fast hug goodbye and stated, “Thanks, Pops, see you in 80 hours.”

However that was the final time I ever noticed my grandfather.

III

I arrived at Heathrow airport a couple of hours later, with my buddy Tomas in tow.

It did not take lengthy to persuade Tomas to return alongside, it truly did not take any convincing in any respect. Tomas was a self-proclaimed “elite” frequent flyer and I figured having him by my aspect would assist with navigating airports and international international locations just a little higher. And as he stated, this journey will get him “heaps of qualifying miles, sufficient to realize Gold elite standing.” No matter that meant.

We every had a knapsack and a passport. I had by no means truly used my passport, however Pops insisted I at all times have one helpful, simply in case. I appear to be an absolute twat in my photograph, it was taken almost 4 years in the past, within the peak of my zits part. With my freckles and purple hair I regarded just like the gawky offspring of Carrot High or Ronald Mcdonald.

Tomas’ passport photograph, however, regarded like an expert head-shot, no airbrushing required. It was taken a couple of months earlier, and along with his child face and brown curly hair he regarded like a kind of younger boy-band pop stars.

We walked as much as the British Airways ticket counter and requested to check-in for our first vacation spot, Cairo.

The person behind the counter took my passport and began typing.

“Hmm, it says right here you are booked for Rome this afternoon, leaving at 12:40pm, not Cairo,” he defined, turning the pc monitor so we might see.

“Alright, check-in for Rome it’s,” confirmed Tomas, earlier than I had an opportunity to say something. “We’ll take one other ticket together with it for me,” he stated sliding his bank card throughout the counter.

“What are you doing, we’re purported to go to Cairo?”

“Loosen up, that is what your grandfather booked for us. Have some religion in your outdated man!”

“I hope you already know what you are doing,” I stated.

“Haven’t the foggiest,” he fired again.

IV

نم ن ر | ٢ ١ ٣

“It says it should take a minute to translate,” stated my buddy Tomas, as we sat in Heathrow airport awaiting our flight. He held his telephone as much as the very first clue from my grandpa and waited for it to translate.

The search wheel on Tomas’ telephone disappeared and ‘312 | RNM’ appeared as a substitute. The clue was initially written in Arabic in line with the magic app Tomas downloaded.

“Is {that a} postal code or a password to one thing?” I requested.

“Let me examine,” replied Tomas. Even with out his laptop Tomas at all times discovered a solution to every little thing. After a couple of minutes of looking out on his telephone he discovered that it was a license plate, “A taxi plate in Cairo. The proprietor’s title is Karim Hassan.”

“You’ll find all that on-line?” I requested.

“Properly, you are not purported to,” he answered, “however you’ll be able to.” Tomas switched his telephone to airplane mode. “Time to board.”

***

Tomas sat down in his airplane seat as if he had been sitting on his personal sofa, it appeared second nature to him. For some cause he did not appear to ask too many questions. However I had heaps of them.

“Alright, so we have seven cities to go to earlier than we get again to London — Cairo, Mumbai, Calcutta, Hong Kong, Tokyo, San Francisco and New York. Pops stated there is a buddy in every metropolis, in order that’s seven mates, certainly one of them has obtained to be this taxi man, Karim one thing. He’ll in all probability give us a clue to the subsequent individual after which I felt sick. My abdomen was in knots, “wait…why are we even going to Rome!?”

“Loosen up. We’re simply following the trail your grandfather designed,” reassured Tomas. “Rome is on the best way to Cairo, it is in all probability only a quicker route.”

The aircraft began shifting ahead, driving alongside the runway. “It is similar to a bus,” I assumed, “a really massive, flying bus.”

I felt stress on each side of my head, hugging my ears like earmuffs, because the aircraft ascended into the sky.

“And so, the 80 hour race all over the world begins,” stated Tomas with a smile.

V

“What are you doing? You are not supposed to make use of your telephone up right here!” I requested, jerking my head in direction of Tomas’ telephone, which he was busy typing on.

Tomas, in a technological trance did not trouble lifting his head, “Cool it, there’s wifi. I am telling a few of my mates what we’re as much as.”

“What do you imply, what we’re as much as?”

“I posted your story on Hacker Information, in regards to the wager to fly all over the world in 80 hours,” he stated.

“Hacker Information?” I questioned aloud.

“It is a information discussion board for tech guys,” Tomas stated with a smile.

And that is all he’d say for the remainder of the flight. He was misplaced in his digital dialogue. I watched as he saved refreshing the webpage. The phrases ‘Across the World in 80 Hours’ posted by ‘Scibuff’, which I guessed was Tomas’ username, continued to ascend the checklist of posts ordered by reputation. It sat subsequent to the primary spot, and though I did not notice it on the time, hundreds of individuals all over the world had been studying about our journey, deciding whether or not or not they thought it was attainable.

I hadn’t truthfully determined myself.

VI

When the plane touched down I lastly loosened my grip on the armrest. The flight had no turbulence, no delays, and we had been even forward of schedule, however I nonetheless could not kick this anxious feeling. Would I miss a flight? Would I miss certainly one of Pops’ mates? I used to be enjoying the what if sport Pops hated a lot, so I took a deep breath and targeted on what was subsequent — attending to Egypt, our first cease.

As quickly as we had been off the aircraft Tomas and I sprinted in direction of the ticket desk to get our subsequent ticket. I remembered from the itinerary that I used to be flying with EgyptAir.

“We’ve got a ticket right here for a Philip Foxx headed to Mumbai, India, is that appropriate?” requested the person behind the counter.

“Oh lord, why couldn’t Pops have booked tickets to the locations we truly must go,” I stated.

VII

The EgyptAir flight to Mumbai stopped in Cairo. Tomas gave me a 101 lesson in studying a flight itinerary on the aircraft so I might study the distinction between a cease and a stopover. Thriller solved! I spent the flight going over our locations so I had it clear in my thoughts.

I used to be starting to achieve just a little confidence about the entire thing. I figured I used to be going to be one worldly man in any case of this–what woman does not wish to hear about unique locales?

Abruptly, the aircraft hit a wave of turbulence on its descent. Every dip the aircraft took shook out no matter confidence I had gained. I used to be immediately again to being the thin, nervous boy who had by no means even had a girlfriend.

“Phil, are you alright? You are turning inexperienced,” seen Tomas.

“Mmhm,” I mumbled and had simply sufficient time to succeed in for the barf bag within the seat flap in entrance of me earlier than I used to be re-introduced to my in-flight complimentary pretzels.

We bounced onto strong floor and my abdomen launched its final twist and groan.

“Are you prepared to seek out that clue?” Tomas requested. “Have you ever memorized that license plate quantity?”

“In fact.” In truth, I would forgotten all in regards to the first clue.

VIII

Tomas provided to trace down the cab driver’s whereabouts. He immediately whipped out his telephone and beginning typing away — he regarded like a mad scientist. For somebody that is aware of every little thing, he certain did not know Pops very properly. I knew that he would not make issues too exhausting for me.

“I’ll examine exterior the airport the place the cabs park. I will be again in a couple of.” I had a powerful feeling that if I used to be seen, my grandfather’s buddy and the subsequent clue would come straight for me.

“Okay. I’ll keep by the aircraft and attempt to stall in case you don’t make it again on time,” Tomas advised.

There wasn’t a lot time to debate, so I nodded and ran off in search of the taxi.

I used to be satisfied it would not be exhausting to find the cab — till I stepped exterior the airport.

I would by no means seen such a scene in my complete life. It was a mosh pit of honking cabs. They had been aggressive, they had been writhing like bugs enclosed in a jar, and a part of me was intrigued by them. I used to be steps away from the acquainted airport, however I felt transported to a different world. I might have stood there expecting hours. Everybody’s means gave the impression to be the appropriate of means, but someway, one after the other, the cabs had been capable of escape the jam and make their means out of the taxi pick-up zone and on to the streets of Cairo.

I did the one factor I might consider to seek out the cab: I thrust myself from the security of the curb and hit the strip operating. I started weaving by way of the automobiles, squinting on the plates as I handed.

“312, 312, 312, the place are you?”

Drivers honked much more — one thing that appeared unimaginable — and their yelling voices elevated in depth. Every time I peered right down to learn a license plate, I used to be met with disappointment. There was no different choice, the place might this taxi be?

I watched as some safety guards began to note me, prepared to pull me away from the site visitors I used to be angering. However there was no different means, the automobile needed to be someplace on this infestation.

That is after I was knocked over.

I could not fairly inform what had occurred. I felt as if a procuring cart full of cement rolled into me. I fell onto my aspect, hitting the pavement exhausting. I used to be in shock greater than something.

As I attempted to rise up I seen the acquainted numbers, “312” accompanied by some script. The cab I used to be in search of simply hit me! I knew Pop’s buddy would come straight for me, I simply did not assume it might be fairly so literal.

The safety guards had been speeding over now, weaving by way of the cabs, however I used to be shortly hoisted up by the driving force who stated one thing to them in Arabic and so they slunk again to their posts.

“Are you damage?” he requested. “I am so sorry, the cab behind me hit my bumper and abruptly there was this crazed pale boy proper in entrance of my cab — what a strategy to meet, proper?!” he stated with a chuckle.

I do not assume I smiled efficiently, however I attempted. My fingers had been trembling.

“You are all shaken up. Come sit down,” he stated, this time extra sympathetically.

The taxi driver was a few foot shorter than me and his again curled ahead in a everlasting hunch. He fiddled with the nobs on his damaged radio and brushed some mud off the dashboard compulsively earlier than serving to me into the cab to take a seat down.

“I am your grandpa’s buddy, Karim, by the best way.” The Egyptian’s wild eyes flashed to the dashboard clock — it was 10:45 pm. “Appears to be like such as you’re operating late in your subsequent flight.”

His laboured method, and the truth that he almost ran me over, made me really feel unwelcome. I had about half an hour till the subsequent aircraft took off, Tomas was probably already boarding, I wanted to get out of there.

I assured Karim I used to be nice and he searched his cluttered backseat for my subsequent clue. I doubted he’d discover it amid the mess of Styrofoam cups and crinkled luggage however after a couple of seconds of scrabbling about he handed me a slip of paper, saying, “Okay, now go catch your aircraft! Customs will be nasty at this place. Oh, and good assembly you, Phil!” I heard as I closed the cab door. I jogged again contained in the airport, attempting to wrap my thoughts round what had simply occurred.

I used to be so off form that after solely a minute of jogging I used to be out of breath, puffing out my final reserves of air. I raced across the nook nearing the departure gate and slammed straight right into a safety guard. One thing exhausting jabbed into my aspect as I collided into the hulk of a person. Connected to the largest man I’ve ever seen was the largest gun I’ve ever seen.

With a tilt of his head, he scanned me from prime to backside. No questions requested, the person grabbed my arm, squeezing it like a blood stress cuff, and led me off in the other way.

IX

I sat in an empty chilly room with a number of different unhappy wanting travellers. The safety guard requested to see my passport and advised me I couldn’t depart the room with out paying. These anti-bullying adverts from major faculty jogged my memory to at all times give in; dropping your lunch cash is at all times higher than gaining a black eye and post-traumatic stress dysfunction. I felt this man might kill me with a sneeze. I reached into my pocket and fished out no matter money I had.

“What is that this?” requested the guard, left eyebrow raised.

“20 quid, you stated I needed to pay,” I answered.

“I would like {dollars}. US {dollars}.”

“However I am from the UK, I don’t have any. I’ve by no means even touched a greenback invoice.”

“Then you should keep right here,” the guard grunted, and he left the room.

I used to be relieved to have the beast out of my sight, till I glanced down on the time on my telephone. I solely had twelve minutes earlier than the aircraft would take off! Shit!

For 3 lengthy minutes I waited, standing in a single spot, wanting on the different travellers for some indication of how lengthy I would be there. Their grim faces painted an eternity. I made a decision I needed to kick down the door and run.

Virtually as quickly as I had visions of bursting by way of the door and operating to freedom, the door flew open and one other safety officer walked in. The brand new guard, of cheap dimension, requested for my title and passport and briefly checked out my papers. He let me go with none rationalization. Phew.

I had no clue what simply occurred however I wasn’t going to stay round to seek out out. The aircraft was taking off in 5 minutes!

As I ran in direction of the gate, I used to be compelled to cease quick. There was an extended line of individuals ready to scan their luggage earlier than passing by way of to the gates and I used to be on the finish of it.

The road inched ahead. Because the moments previous, I might really feel the defeat setting in. It was 11:02, three minutes earlier than the flight was set to take off.

What if I’ve blown this complete factor already? I assumed as I fidgeted within the queue. However then I considered Pops’ phrases, “Do not get caught up with ‘what ifs’. Be assured…”

“Excuse me,” I known as out, pushing by way of the road, “My flight is leaving proper now.” To the dismay of each different individual in line, however to my shock, I used to be allowed to go by way of the scanner forward of the road. “Thanks, thanks, thanks,” I shouted as I sprinted in direction of my gate.

Once I obtained there it was empty besides for a lady who had clearly lengthy since completed scanning the tickets.

“I must get on this flight!” I advised her frantically, interrupting her software of lipgloss “This is my ticket, please do not inform me I am too late.”

“Phil!”, I heard Tomas name my title.

X

Whereas I used to be getting mowed down by my Grandfather’s weirdo buddy Karim, Tomas was ensuring the flight did not take off with out me.

“Let me off, let me off!!” screamed Tomas earlier from onboard, stumbling by way of the aisle in direction of the exit.

A plump flight attendant with the title tag ‘Marge’ was blocking him up forward.

“I must get off this aircraft proper now,” he continued. His voice at simply the appropriate pitch to begin worrying the opposite passengers.

With a cool, skilled air, she escorted him to the closest galley and requested him what was unsuitable.

“I… I’m claustrophobic, I want some air,” he lied. It was the one factor he might consider to stall the aircraft with out placing him on the no-fly checklist. In that second I wager he was grateful for these two weeks he spent at theatre camp when he was eight.

Tomas was ushered out of the aircraft and into the jet bridge by Marge, whose reassuring manner by no means wavered.

“What occurs to somebody after they’re claustrophobic?” he thought. He clutched his abdomen, then his throat, then his head. He had no thought what he was doing, or extra importantly, the place the hell I used to be.

That is when he heard my determined plea, “I must get on this flight. This is my ticket, please do not inform me I am too late.”

“Phil!” he shouted.

I might hear him operating again up the jet bridge.

I would by no means been so blissful to see that child face.

“That is my mate who I am travelling with,” I stated to the girl unwilling to scan my ticket, “Are you able to please let me on?”

At this level, Marge caught up with Tomas and put her hand on his shoulder and stated to the lady, “this one’s with me.”

“And this one’s with me,” Tomas stated, reaching up for my shoulder.

“Alright then, chip chop.” the girl rolled her eyes, defeated.

On the stroll to seats 12A and 12B, Tomas whispered, “Did you meet him?”

“I wouldn’t be right here if I didn’t,” I answered. And we took our seats, prepared for one more leg of our journey.

XI

We sat on the tarmac for half an hour earlier than taking-off. The crew made an announcement saying that we might missed our allotted take-off time and we needed to watch for the planes that had queued up.

Tomas tried to maintain my thoughts off the misplaced time by saying, “Let’s see the clue.”

ग्रेट इंडियन पेनिनसुला रेलवे

“They seem to be a bit predictable at this charge,” he stated, pulling out his telephone to translate the symbols.

“Nice Britain Peninsula Railway,” learn Phil as soon as the picture was scanned and translated.

Tomas did a fast search on his telephone. “Apparently it was the primary railway that immediately linked Mumbai to Calcutta. It has been changed with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, however there’s some plaque on the wall memorializing the outdated station.”

“That is smart, I used to be questioning why we had 9 hours in Mumbai. We have to go to the practice station to gather the subsequent clue. Possibly there will likely be somebody ready for us by the signal,” I stated.

I am unable to bear in mind which certainly one of us ended the dialog or who fell asleep first, however the subsequent factor I knew I used to be woken up with a pointy blow to my elbow. Breakfast was being served and I had an aisle seat.

The shock of waking up was probably the most disorienting emotions I would ever felt in my life to that time. It felt as if my complete life lagged behind me and it took a minute for the truth of our scenario to catch up.

We’re on a aircraft, headed to India, racing all over the world for £2 million. I reminded myself, however my pleasure was tempered by grogginess, sweat and aches from Karim’s bumper.

As soon as out of the airport we regarded round for the taxi queue.

“You want a cab?” requested a person sipping some sizzling tea.

“We have to get to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,” I stated.

“That is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,” he stated, not understanding.

“No the practice station,” I responded, oblivious to the truth that the airport and the practice station shared similar names.

“Okay, certain.” He guided us to a white striped automobile and we slid within the again. I shortly seen that every one cabs — irrespective of the place on the earth — scent precisely the identical.

Tomas rolled his head to the aspect and fell asleep virtually immediately. I regarded out the window and for the primary time felt a surge of vitality. Every little thing in regards to the metropolis was completely different from London. The colors had been brighter, the faces friendlier, the air thick with a heat fully international to me. I forgot I used to be in a race and easily sat and loved the view.

I watched because the streets narrowed and crowds of automobiles thinned. Abruptly, we pulled over in entrance of a shabby memento store and the driving force obtained out.

He opened my door, “You store.”

“No, sorry we do not need any souvenirs, we have to get to the terminus,” I stated. “Tomas get up, assist me.”

Tomas was truly smiling. “That is regular, they do it to get some kind of fee from the store homeowners. We simply should browse round after which we are able to depart. It will solely take 5 minutes.”

Reluctantly we walked by way of the store. There was a musty scent and I doubted the store proprietor had purchased something new for his storefront previously 5 years.

There have been tiny ants crawling over the hanging shirts, bins of fusty scarves and collectible figurines caked with mud. I could not see a factor I needed to purchase.

After a couple of lengthy minutes we walked out. “Okay, we have now to get to the practice station now,” I stated to the driving force. He obtained again into his cab with out saying a factor. He regarded upset.

“Possibly we should always have purchased a keychain,” Tomas whispered.

I had a nasty feeling. The cab driver was turning down so many small streets and making too many U-turns. I did not know the place we had been headed however I assumed possibly Tomas was proper.

We obtained right into a heavy little bit of site visitors and our cab stopped lifeless for a strong twelve minutes. There will need to have been an accident forward as a result of folks had been strolling out of their cabs and thru the streets.

“Terminus simply forward. You get out right here. This avenue. There,” he stated pointing ahead.

We each obtained out of the cab, paid our fare, and walked down the road within the route he motioned. At first we had been relieved he allow us to stroll, however as quickly as we realized that nothing resembling a practice station was in sight, we began to fret.

“Excuse me, the place is the practice terminus?” Tomas requested a neighborhood close by.

After a couple of head shakes and shoulder shrugs, and even a girl who needed to take images of us together with her daughter, we lastly obtained a response. “Oh very far. That means,” she stated, pointing within the route we got here.

Only for good measure, we requested another person. “You could take taxi, half hour.”

I used to be past irritated. We hailed one other cab and obtained into the again seat. We sat in silence because it putted in direction of the terminus, jammed in perpetual gridlock.

“Uh, I feel we’re headed again to the airport, mate,” stated Tomas after we would been sitting behind the cab for what appeared like ages.

In fact, he was proper. I began to acknowledge a number of the buildings and streets exterior from after we left the airport, and I used to be stabbed with panic.

“We’ll Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus practice station proper?” I requested.

“No practice. Airport, sure,” stated the driving force.

“No, not the airport, we wish to go to the practice station!” I yelled furiously.

“Okay, okay.” In an abrupt swoop he looped round into site visitors so we had been headed again the best way we got here.

“Jesus!” I stated, after having a gentle coronary heart assault.

“Take three,” Tomas stated calmly.

XII

I could not inform you how lengthy it took to get again to the very same spot the place we sat in site visitors the primary time, even with our insane taxi driver. He weaved by way of bikes, automobiles and scooters with out ever shifting his head. His rear view mirrors had been folded into the automobile and he did not appear to make any full stops. It was a nauseating experience to the practice station, and as quickly as we might see the huge constructing forward of us we made our means on foot.

The second we stepped contained in the constructing I used to be met with little aid from the chaos. It regarded as if there have been extra folks in that station than the whole inhabitants of London. Discovering the small monument felt unimaginable. I did not fairly know the place to start.

After our expertise with the cab drivers we did not actually belief anybody’s recommendation when it got here to instructions, so we went in search of the monument on our personal, choosing a route at random.

After operating across the station for what appeared like a lifetime, we lastly gave up being unbiased and requested everybody we might the place it was, however nobody knew what we had been speaking about.

There was quite a lot of swearing, quite a lot of circling, however lastly we discovered the plaque.

Now what?

It was only a signal on the wall. Tomas tapped it, half anticipating it to spring again like one thing in an Indiana Jones movie, however nothing occurred.

“Possibly we should always ask her,” I stated, gesturing in direction of a woman on the makeshift data desk behind us.

And so we waited within the queue.

I seen the lady behind the counter regarded chilly and stern, with skinny lips and coarse black hair slicked tightly again in a knot. Every buyer who walked away from her desk regarded extra sad than the final. She was a brick wall of unresponsiveness, unwilling to supply returns or refunds and pointing to different strains and repair representatives for data she refused to share. That is pointless, I assumed.

Then it was my flip. Virtually instantly it was as if a masks was lifted from her face.

“Phil,” the lady behind the counter stated, the mild tone she spoke with appeared like a ventriloquist trick. “Glad to see you. I am Parvati.”

“I am guessing you already know my grandpa, however how do you know who I’m?” I requested, realizing it was the identical for Karim again in Egypt.

“You are fairly simple to identify,” she stated. And with my peak and ginger hair she was proper, I used to be attracting fairly a couple of stares.

She handed me an envelope. “Sorry I am unable to chat, there is a queue,” she stated, nodding to the folks ready behind me. “However good luck.”

I squeezed away from the knowledge counter and ripped open the envelope. Inside was a boarding go to Calcutta. It was set to depart at 5:05pm.

“One step nearer, mate,” stated Tomas, “Solely 60 hours to go!”

XIII

“Sirs, Sirs, please,” known as out a person on the practice station as we had been set to go away. “Want you for Bollywood film. Good-looking boys such as you, excellent. We pay!” He grabbed my arm and began pulling me within the different route. I had a flashback to the guard in Egypt and shuddered.

“No thanks,” I stated, instinctively. Tomas on the opposite had began asking him questions.

“What sort of movie?” he requested first.

“Huge film, very highly regarded. Meet massive Bollywood stars,” the person stated.

“We do not have a lot time, can we do it shortly?” he requested.

“Sure very quick, very shut. One hour, very quick. We pay 500 rupees.”

“Why not?” Tomas stated, grinning at me for a solution.

“Why not? Are you severe?” I stated, “We do not know this man, what if he steals our cash and drives us within the unsuitable route?” I ask, bewildered by Tomas’ pleasure.

Tomas was having none of it, “We have seen some shady characters to date, however they don’t seem to be all dangerous. Simply have some enjoyable, it’s going to be a great story for after we get again. And we have now heaps of time.”

I knew I would not win this one, so we adopted the person out of the station and into yet one more taxi.

I had a couple of stabs of worry when the cab experience lasted longer than half an hour, however my nerves calmed down after I acknowledged a number of the identical buildings close to the airport. From what I gathered we had been solely ten minutes away from our aircraft if we wanted a fast getaway.

As quickly as we walked into the airport Hyatt Lodge, the place the film was being filmed, we acquired VIP passes and had been each ushered right into a room with a buffet desk. I did not notice till that second how hungry I used to be for non-packaged meals.

We stuffed our faces with crispy samosas and sizzling curries, abugobi and dahl, alongside different dishes I could not pronounce. Every little thing was scrumptious, I virtually obtained full from simply their scent. It was a full twenty minutes earlier than we began questioning why nobody had come again to get us. I used to be deliberating whether or not to seize yet one more samosa and inform Tomas we’re heading to the airport when our new “supervisor”, the person from the station, swiftly led us into the dressing rooms.

There have been racks of clothes arrange in outlandishly vibrant colors and ladies able to do our hair and make-up. Tomas and I had been pulled in reverse instructions, he to garments, I to make-up.

I sat down in a chair with my again to the mirror.

The lady grabbed a chunk of what regarded like dental floss and got here in direction of my face. Earlier than I might ask what she was doing there was a pointy ache between my eyes, as if I would been jabbed within the nostril. I instantly began tearing up.

“Bloody hell! What’s that?” I screamed.

“Eyebrows,” she stated, wanting unhappy and shocked.

“No eyebrows,” I stated. I by no means thought I would should say that in my life. Tomas was laughing at me, however he did not look too significantly better.

He had stepped into some vibrant orange pants and was slipping an extended dress-like robe over his head.

She labored on my face after which whipped me round to indicate me the completed product. She’d darkened my eyebrows, someway lightened my already translucent pores and skin, added eyeliner and glued a gem to my brow.

“Ravishing,” I stated sarcastically, however she had no clue what I meant.

We had been bustled round for one more whereas, then we watched as one other group of younger vacationers got here in and obtained all dolled up for the scene.

“So what do we have now to do?” I requested Tomas, “We do not even know what kind of film that is, what if it is an grownup movie?”

“Come on, that is India. Have not you ever seen a Bollywood film?”

We came upon from the others that they’d come right here by alternative, it was a kind of bundle tour for vacationers. And after chatting with everybody within the room, which was a grand complete of 5, I used to be getting antsy.

“We higher depart,” I advised Tomas, “We do not have time to movie, it is already been ages.” However as issues at all times do, that was simply the second we had been escorted onto the set.

Within the scene we had been purported to be at a marriage and we had been divided into teams to study a number of the choreography. We needed to step proper, leap left with lotus arms, clap — one thing like that. I regarded like an fool, however Tomas was choosing it up like a champ. They even gave him a line within the film and put him within the entrance row of the dance quantity.

I might inform this was some kind of secret want Tomas had, however I did not wish to tease him about it whereas he regarded so ridiculous in his outfit, I figured I would wait till we had been on the aircraft.

The aircraft! What time is it?! I assumed. There weren’t any clocks round and I wasn’t allowed my telephone on set.

I walked over to the bin the place the telephones had been held and checked the time, 4:35pm.

What!

Tomas was on display screen, saying his line, after I ran over and grabbed him.

“We have to depart now!”

He did not want a proof.

With everybody calling after us, we stripped our garments off, shortly wearing our personal, and ran out of the lodge.

“Airport, Please,” we each stated after we sat contained in the cab. “Hurry.”

We had 14 minutes to get on our aircraft.

XIV

I ran to the airport monitor right away to see if our flight took off already.

There, the phrase “delayed” gleamed angelically subsequent to our flight quantity. It was delayed by half an hour.

It was a bloody miracle.

One thing got here alive within me, a newfound confidence, a confidence that Pop’s could be happy with. I grabbed Tomas and pulled him in direction of the IndiGo Airline check-in space.

We obtained to our gate after they had been calling the ultimate boarding and walked straight onto the aircraft. I used to be ecstatic that we had made it aboard, however someway knew we might all alongside. As mad as I used to be at myself for dropping observe of time, I could not assist however really feel the frenzy of attending to the aircraft simply in time. It virtually appeared as if the aircraft was ready only for us the entire time.

XV

Not lengthy after the seatbelt signal flickered off, one of many airline stewardesses approached me and stated, “The pilot wish to converse with you within the galley. Please comply with me.”

As quickly as I noticed the pilot, who regarded as if he ought to have retired years in the past, I used to be met with an enthusiastic roar.

“Phileas Foxx,” he introduced in a raspy voice match for radio, “I used to be beginning to assume you’d by no means make it on the aircraft. I needed to take an additional jiffy smoking my pipe to delay the flight.”

“You held up the aircraft?” I requested.

“In fact, I am betting on you! Fairly the chunk of change too,” the outdated man stated candidly. “Not everybody can stall a aircraft for you, you already know. It is best to try to be extra punctual.” The person laughed, which shortly was a hole cough.

He launched himself as Jasper and we chatted for fairly some time about how he knew Pops. Apparently my Pops had been making bets lengthy earlier than I used to be born.

“We almost misplaced all of it again in ’72, do not inform Gloria!” the person stated.

Gloria? It was odd to listen to Gran’s title like that, it made her appear much less like grandma.

Apparently he and Pops labored collectively at British Airways.

“However what are you doing flying this little aircraft all the best way in India?” I requested.

“British Airways is for younger pilots, nobody desires an outdated man flying a aircraft. Properly, nobody besides IndiGo, bless ’em,” he stated wanting as much as the roof of the aircraft.

“Why are you continue to flying? Pops retired years in the past,” I requested, I wasn’t certain the place my curiosity was coming from.

“Flying is not only a job, boy, it is your life. If it weren’t for flying, I, I…” he trailed off into silence. He sounded precisely like Pops when he talked about flying.

“However wait, should you’re right here speaking to me, who’s flying the aircraft?” I requested, realizing how lengthy we would been talking.

“Ah sure, my co-pilot will likely be questioning the place I’m, I higher head off. It was a pleasure to fulfill you, son. You appear to be a great child. Oh, and bear in mind, my cash is on you for the win.” he stated with a wink, handing over the subsequent clue.

I accepted the envelope however wasn’t capable of say a lot as a thanks earlier than I used to be ushered again to my seat by one of many flight attendants. The seatbelt signal had turned again on.

XVI

I opened the envelope to discover a {photograph} of Pops when he was simply beginning out as a pilot. It regarded as if he was in an Asian airport someplace, along with his arm wrapped across the shoulder of a younger man with an airline title tag that learn ‘Yu Lin.’

I flipped the photograph over and on the again there have been two small Chinese language symbols.

I felt my ears pop and I knew we had been descending.

As soon as the aircraft landed Tomas and I took seats in the primary terminal and Tomas switched on his telephone to translate the clue.

香港

“Properly that is fairly obscure now is not it?” he stated when he noticed the interpretation.

However I wasn’t paying consideration. I switched on my telephone and noticed that I had twenty three messages and ten voicemails. One thing was unsuitable.

It solely takes an instantaneous for panic to smother all of the senses, and in that second I used to be gone. I used to be reminded of my outdated nightmares, after I first moved in with Gran and Pops when my Gran obtained sick. I’d fall asleep each night time afraid she’d depart us. The worry gripped my torso, squeezing me like a tube of toothpaste till tears got here spilling out of my eyes. “She will be able to’t go,” I would mutter in my sleep, and I would get up counting the seconds till my coronary heart caught up with my thoughts and discovered it was all only a dream.

A telephone name from my mum got here virtually immediately.

“What’s unsuitable, what’s occurred?” I requested, fearing the worst.

Her voice was shattered, I knew she was attempting exhausting to carry again the tears.

“The place on the earth are you? We have been attempting to succeed in you for hours?”

“Don’t fret mum, every little thing is okay.”

“No sweetie,” she stated by way of her tears, “It is Not. It is Pops. He had a coronary heart assault.”

I sat speechless, feeling my very own coronary heart had stopped.

“What? Why? How? What occurred? Is he okay?”

“He is gone, love…” She saved speaking however these are the one phrases I heard.

He is gone.

The clock stopped. The countdown ended. I misplaced management of my arms, legs and fingers and simply let the tidal wave of feeling take me over.

I needed mum and Gran to be with me so I might maintain them and say it was going to be okay. I needed to inform somebody it was all proper, however I could not say it in my very own thoughts. It wasn’t okay. It bloody properly wasn’t all proper that Pops was gone. He could not have achieved this to me, not now.

Tomas was speaking, taking a look at me for solutions, however I used to be having bother getting air into my lungs. I might solely absorb actually quick breaths. The room was spinning and my imaginative and prescient was hazy. I feel I used to be having a panic assault. I do not bear in mind ever feeling that means in my complete life.

I should not have left him. I should not have taken the silly wager within the first place. I felt all my unhappiness, ache, disgrace and guilt all blended up into one. Swallowing was a shot that burned on the best way down.

“I must go house,” I managed to say. “The silly race is over.”

Tomas grabbed my telephone. I would forgotten about my mum whereas I used to be having a psychological collapse. He spoke together with her for a minute about what occurred and defined the place we had been and what we had been doing.

In that second there was nothing round me that I might cling onto. Seconds and phrases and the folks round me slipped by and I could not grasp any of them tightly sufficient to comply with them ahead in time. I used to be caught previously. Caught listening to phrases in my thoughts I would heard earlier than. Mum’s “He is gone” Pop’s “Let’s make a wager.” I could not cease listening to them in my head.

“Sorry, I am so sorry.” I wasn’t certain if it was my very own ideas or not. It turned out to be Tomas repeating the phrases.

“We’ll should go house,” I stated.

“Completely, no matter you need, sit down, I am going to get you a glass of water.” Tomas walked over to the water fountain and filled-up his crinkled bottle.

He gave me some time to catch my breath, however then he stated, “I do know you wish to be again house with your loved ones proper now, however I feel we should always preserve going.”

Seeing my eyes widen, he continued, “Hear me out. Your Pops needed you to journey greater than something, it was a very powerful factor for him. He was in all probability blissful he lived to see you fly to a different nation, regardless of every little thing. In the event you depart now, each time you look again on this journey you may really feel that very same feeling you do now, you may hate your self for ever leaving as a result of it was all for nothing. In the event you preserve going, and we make it again in 80 hours, each time you assume again on this journey you may really feel a way of satisfaction understanding that you simply fulfilled his final want.”

I imagined myself at house and Tomas was proper, I would not really feel any higher. If ending this 80-hour wager would assist me eliminate a few of this guilt it was the one choice that made sense. I’d do it for Pops, or the reminiscence of him. I could not let him down.

XVII

By the point we checked in and handed by way of safety it was already time to board.

I wasn’t simply drained from the day in India I used to be drained from feeling a lot. I wanted to go away my thoughts and ache behind, so I took a sleep help Tomas had with him and fell into an induced nap.

One of many strongest and most vivid recollections I’ve of the entire journey was my dream on that aircraft. It was not a lot what I noticed or what was stated within the dream, however it was the sensation I had after I awakened. I felt hope.

In my dream I used to be again at house within the den. Pops was there sitting in his chair, wanting precisely as I remembered him, however I knew he was lifeless. Not as a result of he regarded lifeless however as a result of one thing within me had already accepted his passing.

I watched him learn his guide and he seen me are available in. “Again so quickly,” he stated, upset.

“I could not —” I began, however I wasn’t capable of end the sentence. Pops returned his eyes to the pages of his guide and we simply sat collectively within the den with out talking. I saved pondering how alive and properly he regarded for somebody who simply died.

In my dream it made sense to just accept his dying. It appeared so illogical, I questioned, in my oddly lucid dream, why folks get so upset about dying within the first place.

Once I awakened, for one lagging second I felt the identical might apply in actual life. I assumed for the briefest second, It is okay that he is gone, as a result of I can nonetheless see him and converse with him as I at all times have. After which I noticed, that is not how issues work. He is gone — his cheery face, his toothy smile, his crackling voice, his adventurous life, it is all extinguished. And that is after I actually misplaced it.

“He is gone, it is all my fault,” I whimpered, attempting to maintain quiet, however it damage rather less to cry loudly, so I did.

Everybody round me stared at me with disgust. Crying infants had been acceptable however for some Godforsaken cause, I used to be not. Tomas helped me to the washroom, then the galley, however after fifteen minutes I used to be advised by a flight attendant that I used to be upsetting the passengers.

“We’re very sorry in your loss Mr. Foxx, however the passengers are disturbed. If you cannot comprise your self till we land we’ll should take emergency measures.”

I could not pull it collectively, I did not even have the guts to strive. “He is gone. It is over.”

After a number of extra makes an attempt to pacify me, nothing labored. Tomas was politely advised that the aircraft could be making an emergency cease in Guilin the place we might be requested to disembark.

And that solely made me really feel worse.

XVIII

It was 5:30 within the morning in Guilin after we had been “kindly escorted” from the aircraft. I felt like such an imbecile.

Every little thing was closed. The airport was fully abandoned and we had no strategy to get to Hong Kong. What had I achieved?

We sat in silence till the kiosks opened round 6am. I used to be grateful for the quiet. Tomas by no means even talked about us getting kicked off the flight, nor me blowing this complete factor. That in itself, made me really feel just a little higher.

The subsequent out there flight to Hong Kong left at 6:00 that night. However we needed to get to Hong Kong earlier than 3:30pm to catch our subsequent flight to Tokyo, so we wanted to seek out one other means.

“There must be one thing earlier,” reasoned Tomas.

“There is a struggle at 7:45 this morning and one other at 11:30, however they’re fully booked. I can put you on standby, however there isn’t any assure,” defined the clerk.

“Sure, please do this,” I stated handing over my bank card. However after a second the person behind the counter handed it again to me and stated, “I am sorry, sir, however it’s been declined.” I did some fast calculations and though I would spent some cash, I used to be nowhere close to my restrict.

“Did you inform your financial institution you had been leaving?” Tomas requested me.

“No, ought to I’ve? It was kind of a spur of the second factor, should you do not recall.”

“Yeah, however you have in all probability set off a fraud alert as a result of they know you by no means journey wherever,” Tomas smirked, “I am certain it is exhausting to imagine we paid for one factor in India and one other in China all throughout the identical day.”

“Nevertheless it’s no massive deal,” continued Tomas, “We’ll simply use my card.” And he handed over his flashy Platinum Visa.

There wasn’t a lot we might do however wait. So we sat down on the sterile airport restaurant and had a warm-ish meal.

“Virtually on the half means mark,” I stated. And Tomas simply smiled. “Do they often kick folks off planes for crying?” I requested quietly.

“Not often, in any other case infants could be banned, however I’ve heard of it taking place as soon as earlier than.”

Nice. I questioned if Pops would have been upset or if he’d chortle. I feel he would have laughed. I am certain he was excited to listen to all of the tales of my journey. I felt a tug in my throat.

7:45 am got here and went. We did not make the primary flight. At 11 the subsequent aircraft started boarding, and at 11:17, simply after I’d given up hope, we heard the candy sound of our names on the intercom. We boarded the aircraft inside minutes and took our seats.

I used to be lastly feeling hopeful. The worst is over, I assumed. However boy was I unsuitable.

XIX

We arrived in Hong Kong at 1pm. Simply as we disembarked the aircraft I noticed — the clue!

“What was the clue, what did it say?” I requested.

“It simply stated Hong Kong.” revealed Tomas.

“What is the level of that?” I requested. “What a waste of a clue, what a waste of my time.” With a sudden surge of anger I kicked the closest bench.

“Phil don’t do that to your self. That photograph of your Grandpa with the opposite pilot should be a part of the clue too. There’s somebody named Yu Lin ready right here for you, I do know it. We simply have to seek out him. You simply should calm down and belief, like your grandfather needed you to.”

“I have been hit by a automobile, kicked off a aircraft and my grandfather simply died! How am I meant to calm down? This was such a mistake.”

“Do you wish to flip again?” He requested, defeated. The pity in his voice was new to me, I’ve by no means identified him to ever surrender.

“No. Let’s get our subsequent ticket, we’re midway there.” I used to be decided to complete this, even when it price me every little thing.

XX

On the ticket counter for Japan Airways there was a ticket ready for me, to San Francisco, California with a stopover in Japan.

“Oh, sorry. No extra ticket,” stated the lady behind the ticket sales space to Tomas. He had tried to get himself a ticket for a similar flight, however apparently it was full.

“You will should go by yourself, mate,” Tomas stated, taking a look at me with concern.

“There aren’t any different flights?” I requested the lady, who regarded blankly again at me.

“NO OTHER FLIGHTS?” I slowly repeated to her, attempting to masks my annoyance.

At that second a person walked up and stated one thing to her in Mandarin. Judging by her response, he was her superior. The person regarded a lot older, however it was not due to wrinkled pores and skin or greying black hair, it was due to his sensible eyes that regarded proper into me. It took me a second to comprehend this was one other certainly one of Pop’s mates.

“Phil,” he stated in good, unbroken English. “I perceive you are upset and I do not blame you. I am Yu Lin, and I wish to assist. Your grandfather was a superb man and an expensive buddy of mine.”

“You are the one from the photograph” I stated, cooling my mood. I took out the photograph and confirmed the person.

“Wow, this was almost thirty years in the past,” he stated, nostalgic. “It is good to see us again in our prime.”

“I wasn’t certain I would see you right here after what… occurred. I am so sorry.” Yu Lin stated, placing the photograph again down on the counter for me to take. He waited a beat after which stated, “However I feel your grandfather could be very proud. He needed to see you fly greater than something.”

He checked the system and punched a couple of keys, “I am upgrading you to first-class, which is able to open up a seat in coach in your buddy. Listed below are your boarding passes.”

“Thanks,” I stated, feeling guilt over my rudeness only a second in the past. “I actually recognize it.”

We had been about to go away when he stated, “Do not you want your subsequent clue?” He disappeared for a couple of minutes and returned with two passes to a VIP lounge in San Francisco.

“That is our clue? It appears extra like a present,” stated Tomas.

“Properly it is each, I feel you may take pleasure in it,” he stated, “you have earned it.”

I felt higher understanding that I had assist from this man whom Pops known as a buddy. It was an indication, letting me know persevering with on was the appropriate alternative.

XXI

We boarded the aircraft and as I took my seat in first-class Tomas continued to the again till he disappeared behind the scenes.

Earlier than we would even taken off I used to be given a heat towel for my face and a drink. For the primary time for the reason that complete journey started I began to agree with the best way Pops at all times described flying. It was luxurious, thrilling and I needed to admit, satisfying.

The minutes ticked by and the aircraft sat nonetheless. Ten, fifteen, twenty. I used to be having fun with the peace and quiet at first, however I used to be getting just a little unnerved. Then the pilot introduced that there was an issue with the engine and we would all should disembark and get onto one other aircraft. Why cannot I catch a break!

After slowly filling up the subsequent aircraft, I took my seat close to the entrance once more. A number of the novelty of first-class had worn off and earlier than we would even taken off I used to be anxious to reach in Tokyo.

After the delay I used to be hyper-aware of how a lot time there was left. I had lower than 33 hours to get house…if we had this a lot bother to date, what would occur subsequent?

XXII

“How was first?” requested Tomas as soon as we met up after the flight.

“Pretty much as good as flying can get until you are within the cockpit” I stated. “It will be exhausting to return to teach.”

“Properly I am glad to see you are feeling higher. I will not lie, I am fairly exhausted from all of the flying myself.”

“Good, so it isn’t simply me,” I stated, and we each laughed.

We saved laughing as we waited in line for safety. It was nervous laughter, from being so exhausted, however it felt good to let go.

I lay my backpack on the conveyor to get x-rayed and walked by way of the physique scanner. The purple gentle flashed. An older Asian lady rapidly checked my physique with a handheld steel detector, and though I used to be certain it did not beep I used to be ushered right into a aspect room for “extra examine” as she defined.

As quickly because the door to the closet-like room closed, the lady’s severe expression vanished and he or she wrapped her arms round me, crushing me in a hug.

“I am so sorry in your loss,” she stated. “So so sorry.”

“Thanks?” I stated greatly surprised.

“I am your grandfather’s buddy Kayo. I’ve identified him for a very long time. He was one of many nicest males I’ve ever met.”

“Yeah, he was,” I stated, holding myself again from breaking down.

It appeared prefer it was already too late for Kayo. Her eyes had been watering and he or she began rambling about late night time espresso and the way they’d get so caught up speaking he’d almost miss his aircraft.

“I in all probability should not be telling you all this,” she stated.

“No it is nice,” I stated. “Practically lacking his aircraft, sounds a bit like me, truly.”

“I am certain you are very alike. He talked about you in all our letters.”

I obtained an oddly intimate vibe from Kayo, and though I am certain they had been solely collectively previously, I felt like someway, being there together with her and never Gran was a kind of betrayal. I felt my coronary heart quicken, I used to be panicking once more…

“Phil, I used to be requested to get this to you, it is your ticket to London. It is simply in regards to the final aircraft you’ll be able to take that can get you again in time. Do not lose this ticket and be sure you’re on that aircraft.”

“However what if I am unable to get again in time?” I stated, spiralling uncontrolled, “What if I left everybody — I left Pops — for nothing. What if I might have helped Pops, possibly even saved him, if I had been house.”

“Do not get caught up with ‘what ifs’” she stated, hugging me once more, “They make you are concerned for nothing.”

“Pops used to say one thing like that,” I stated.

“Sure, he used to say it on a regular basis, bit annoying I assumed. However he was proper,” she stated extra to herself than me. “He died a cheerful man, I am certain,” and her eyes started to swell once more.

Although listening to the phrase “died” was a blow, by assembly Kayo I someway felt nearer to Pops. With every individual I met I started to see simply what number of lives Pops touched and I understood the person he was earlier than I even got here alongside.

If I might simply be extra like Pops, possibly I would truly be capable of make it again on time. I wanted to cease doubting myself, or to make use of his phrases, I wanted to “have just a little enjoyable”.

XXIII

Our time in Tokyo was truly fairly the chortle. We browsed the retailers, sampled some airport sashimi, and even posed for a couple of vacationer pics. However every time I caught myself smiling I felt responsible and instinctively mourned Pops once more.

“It’s a must to cease,” Tomas stated. “It’s a must to let your self have just a little enjoyable. It is the perfect factor.”

He was proper.

However the flight to San Francisco was exhausting to take pleasure in, or fake to take pleasure in. It was nothing just like the flight to Hong Kong, it was simply 9 hours in the identical cramped seat with nothing to do however assume.

I used to be ecstatic to the touch down in America — the final nation we would have to go to earlier than heading house. With simply lower than 20 hours to go I used to be lastly feeling optimistic about the entire thing. I wanted to get house to be with my household, and at last face life with out Pops.

As soon as Tomas and I had checked in to our flight to London it felt like issues had been foolproof — I might lastly calm down. We determined to do what most travellers do after an extended aircraft experience and an extended layover. Drink!

We walked as much as the Delta Airways Crown Room and confirmed our VIP lounge passes courtesy of Yu Lin. Once we obtained inside we felt barely misplaced with our smelly denims and backpacks. We hadn’t showered in days and we hadn’t even became the spare garments we had packed, in order that was the primary merchandise on our agenda.

Feeling marginally higher after a run to the john, we walked into the primary space of the lounge. The room was full of enterprise travellers, aside from one. There was a person who sat alone ingesting what regarded like whisky on the rocks. He had gray raveled hair and was carrying a horrible multi-coloured sweater, someway he regarded much more misplaced than we did. Naturally I knew he should be certainly one of Pop’s mates.

“Cornelius,” stated the person, extending his hand. “Be a part of me for a drink? My deal with,” he roared with laughter.

“In fact,” stated Tomas, mesmerized by the open bar.

The subsequent three hours handed in a blur. There have been champagne toasts to Pops, whisky pictures in his honour and we shared our tales of the person we cherished.

“After faculty, after I moved in with Pops and Gran, I could not sleep for the primary month. Pops snored from 9:00 at night time till 6:00 within the morning, I did not understand how Gran might stand it, so one morning I requested her, and are you aware what she stated?”

“What?” requested Tomas.

“Precisely! She’s as deaf as a doorknob! With out her listening to help she will be able to’t hear a factor!”

And all of us laughed and poured one other spherical of drinks.

“I knew William after we had been younger lads, properly earlier than your time. He was my first buddy,” began Cornelius, “We grew up proper subsequent to one another. We used to stroll to high school collectively proper by the practice tracks and noticed the practice go each night on our stroll house. Sooner or later, your granddad determined to experience the practice house — by leaping onto it. He ran up and grabbed maintain of the rails because it handed and he rode all of it the best way to his home. Right here I used to be pondering the man was a genius, hitching himself a experience almost to his entrance door, however when it was time to leap off he let go and began barrel rolling off into the rocks. I could not cease laughing. He advised his mum he fell off his bike. The very best half was, she did not say a factor though his bike was within the driveway that complete day.”

And we shared one other drink. “To Pops, the barmy aircraft flying, practice leaping, child.” Cornelius slurred.

“Alright, my flip,” stated Tomas. “Now it might not be pretty much as good as your tales, however the first time I met your Pops he was sitting in his armchair studying. I did not assume he seen me, however then he stated, out of nowhere, “you are the one who likes to journey, proper boy?” and we spent the subsequent half hour discussing all of the locations we would seen all over the world. He is truly the explanation I visited Morocco, he stated it was certainly one of his favorite locations to observe the world go by.”

The tales saved coming and so did the liquor.

The subsequent factor I remembered I used to be waking up on a bench exterior the lounge with throbbing temples and a dryness in my mouth.

The place am I?

I checked my telephone — 7:25 within the night. No, this cannot be proper.

Simply to make sure, I rushed by way of the airport, forcing myself ahead by way of the fogginess in my head. I obtained to the gate and certain sufficient, it was empty.

Our flight had left with out us.

XXVI

I felt an invisible fist seize maintain of my intestines and twist. I used to be alone on the opposite aspect of the world with no cash and no clue how one can get again. The place was Tomas? And the way might I’ve messed this one up?

I watched one other aircraft took off from the fuel-stained runway. I used to be in complete disbelief. We had simply used up the final of our probabilities — our last ‘get out of jail free card’.

I needed to discover Tomas.

By lacking the flight to New York we might additionally miss the connecting flight to London, certainly. There have been 14 and a half hours left, however it was a 13 hour flight again to London. How did this occur!? I attempted to focus, however my thoughts was clean.

I went again to the lounge to try to kind all of it out.

“I am sorry, your lounge go is a one time solely use earlier than your departure, I am unable to enable you again inside,” defined the lady I initially handed my lounge ticket to.

“You do not perceive, I simply want to seek out my buddy, I am undecided the place he’s. My title’s Phil Foxx, do you assume you could possibly name out for him in there, say I am out right here ready for him?”

“Umm sir, you and your buddy left the lounge collectively virtually an hour in the past. Judging out of your situation, you had been probably restricted from boarding the aircraft.”

“Restricted, why?”

“You aren’t allowed to fly whereas intoxicated.” She said distastefully, “Now I am sorry however you’ll be able to’t keep right here Mr. Foxx.”

I rotated, able to stroll off, after I almost collided with a person standing behind me.

“Phil,” stated the person, “How’s the race all over the world going?”

“Come once more?” I stated earlier than vaguely recognizing his face.

Is it one other of grandpa’s mates? Did I meet him after we had been ingesting?

Then it hit me. I would seen him from pictures and articles within the information. He was some crazy-smart engineer, certainly one of America’s wealthiest.

“Whoa, you are the true life Iron Man man,” I stated. Clearly, nonetheless drunk.

“Haha, not fairly. I am Elon Musk, I examine your little journey on Hacker Information. I truly wager fairly a bit of cash on you, so that you higher make it again,” he joked.

“Properly, we have simply missed our flight to New York and I’ve misplaced my mate, so it does not look promising.” I admitted.

He checked his watch, and took out his telephone, “In the event you discover your buddy within the subsequent couple of minutes, I’d have the option that will help you.”

XXV

Come on Tomas, the place are you?

I would left Elon ready by the lounge promising to be again in lower than 5 minutes as I raced by way of the airport to seek out Tomas.

He wasn’t by the gate or within the washroom or the retailers. I went to data and begged them to name out his title on the loudspeaker. They stated it was for emergencies solely.

In a second of half-drunken liquid confidence, I held down the loudspeaker button and screamed out “Tomassssss, come to informa–“, earlier than they angrily lunged for the microphone. Simply as I used to be speeding away, the little baby-faced rascal got here sprinting across the nook.

“Thank God, Tomas, come on!” And we raced again to the lounge.

“Bloody hell, it is Elon Musk!” Tomas stated because the lounge got here into view.

“Alright boys, it is all labored out,” the billionaire stated as quickly as we had been again in earshot. “Sorry I will not be capable of fly with you,” he stated taking a look at his watch “I’ve obtained to fulfill somebody, however by the point you get to the airport the aircraft will likely be able to take off.”

“Wait, what airport? We’re on the airport.” I requested.

“It’s a must to head to Palo Alto, the place my non-public jet is fuelling up.” he stated.

XXVI

There was a driver ready for us exterior the terminal, able to take us to Palo Alto Airport simply twenty minutes away.

It might have been the lingering results of the alcohol, or the truth that we had been headed to a billionaire’s non-public jet, however for the primary time, I used to be genuinely blissful to be on the transfer.

Once we arrived on the small airport twenty-three minutes later and stepped onto Elon’s aircraft, I used to be in full shock. His aircraft made first-class flying appear to be driving in a Campbell’s soup can. Tomas and I every ran for the plump silk sofa. I threw one of many stiff ornamental pillows at Tomas, hitting him sq. within the head.

“Properly you appear to be proper at house,” Tomas smirked, rubbing his head. “You look nothing such as you did in your first flight.”

The aircraft began racing down the runway.

“I’ve come to love flying, truly,” I stated. “I hardly really feel my ears pop anymore.”

And Tomas simply smiled.

The jet took off lower than an hour later than the flight we had been initially going to take. We had been up within the air headed to New York with nonetheless some hope of constructing our connection.

It was meant to take 5 and a half hours to get to New York, however the experience felt like a fast drive to the grocery retailer. The pilot advised us that we might arrive at Newark airport thirty minutes forward of schedule.

The information was each reassuring and alarming.

“Newark?” I requested, “Is that one other title for the JFK airport?”

“We are able to solely land at Newark. Mr. Musk wasn’t capable of reserve a spot at JFK on such quick discover.”

“Newark is barely a 40 minute drive away from JFK, and right now of day the roads needs to be empty,” clarified Tomas. “Don’t fret, simply benefit from the flight.”

I did not reply.

XXVII

We landed in Newark simply ten minutes after our authentic aircraft landed at JFK. There was an hour and a half earlier than our last aircraft to London. Tomas was proper, at almost 6 within the morning the roads had been nonetheless clear.

“Thanks a lot,” we each stated as we left the automobile after we arrived at JFK. “I am going to pay Mr. Musk again, I swear. Ship him our thanks!” I stated simply earlier than shutting the automobile door and operating into the airport.

“Right here it’s,” stated Tomas. “the final aircraft we’ll should fly earlier than getting house.”

“Stop it, you may jinx it,” I joked.

We obtained to the Virgin Atlantic Airways counter and confirmed our connecting tickets. We had been allowed to go by way of and had been even given precedence check-in.

As we sat by the gate, ready for our subsequent and last flight, nothing occurred. We barely spoke to one another, scared that if we did one thing, something, we would slip up and miss the aircraft. When it got here time to board my passport did not set off any alarms, I did not fall over drunk, and we merely walked on the aircraft and took our seats.

There was no turbulence, no coronary heart to coronary heart with the pilot. No extra clues. No extra countdown. It was almost by way of.

“Have you considered what you may do after we’re again in London,” requested Tomas.

“I am going to in all probability simply stick with Gran for some time, she’ll want me to assist out at house as a lot as I can.”

“I meant in regards to the £2,000,000, have you ever forgotten about it? Do you assume you may nonetheless get it?”

“I doubt it, I did not inform anybody in regards to the journey and I do not assume Pops did both, all of our bets had been at all times simply between the 2 of us. Mum did not even know the place I used to be when she known as. It is in all probability the very last thing on folks’s minds proper now anyway.”

“Properly that is not solely true. The submit I wrote on Hacker Information continues to be on the primary web page and we’re getting floods of feedback each hour. Everybody desires to know should you’ll make it again in time, it looks like the entire world is betting on you.”

“That is precisely what Elon Musk stated, apparently he wager some huge cash we would make it house. And really, so did Jasper the pilot.”

The aircraft landed, we touched British soil, and I used to be so grateful simply to be house. It felt like I would been gone for ages. In actuality, I knew that issues would by no means be the identical as they had been earlier than.

Based on the pilot, it was 7:45pm and unseasonably chilly in London after we landed. I could not imagine it, there was nonetheless an opportunity I might make it earlier than the 80 hour mark. I used to be so shut.

With out checked baggage, Tomas and I squeezed our strategy to the entrance of the aircraft and ran the endless dash in direction of immigration and customs. Once we arrived, the road was minuscule, and we breezed by way of to the entrance.

“What was making your journey?” The immigration officer requested,

“Leisure,” I answered.

“Are you bringing something again with you? You have not declared any items.”

“Nothing to assert, we did not purchase a factor.”

He handed our passports again and we walked over to the customs desk.

Every little thing was stamped and regarded over for Tomas, they appeared a bit puzzled by our complete journey, however they let him go. Once I walked as much as customs my passport triggered some alarm.

“Excuse me for one second, wait right here,” stated the lady on the desk.

I waited for 5 lengthy minutes earlier than a middle-aged man got here as much as the kiosk. His gray hair and looking out eyes advised me it was one other certainly one of my grandfather’s mates earlier than he had an opportunity to.

“I am going to deal with it, open kiosk 7 and go the remainder of the passengers, please.” the person instructed, and he or she did as she was advised.

“Phil, I am glad to see you made it. I wasn’t certain I would see you right here, however your grandfather could be thrilled to know you made it again in time.”

“Properly, virtually, I nonetheless should get again house and meet him —” however I caught myself a second to late. It left my lips and we each regarded sadly at one another, sorry it occurred.

“I mean-” I started, however he interrupted me.

“Don’t fret about it. Right here, that is for you.”

He handed me a hand drawn sketch of the den, and by his armchair, in my grandfather’s neat handwriting, had been the phrases, “I will be ready for you, hurry house.”

I had tears in my eyes however I wasn’t going to let myself get overwhelmed once more. I thanked the person and left customs, with out even studying his title.

XXVIII

We ran by way of the arrivals gate, previous all the unfinished households ready for his or her lacking members. We obtained to the road up of taxis and managed to get one with out ready.

“We have to get to 7 Saville, Beckenham earlier than 8:40,” I advised the cab driver.

With out eager to, I checked the clock. It was 8:20. We solely had twenty minutes to get forty minutes throughout city.

After all over the place we travelled and after every little thing we did there was no means I used to be going to let 20 minutes beat me.

I advised the driving force I would pay him an additional £300 if he obtained me there in time.

The cabbie jumped on the bonus and we sped away from the airport. It virtually felt like we had been again in India the best way the cab driver was weaving by way of the streets. I could not see how briskly we had been going, however I might inform it wasn’t the pace restrict, and even shut.

8:35pm. I began to acknowledge the homes in our city. We had been nonetheless a couple of kilometres away however there was nonetheless an opportunity we might make it. We might truly make it! And simply as I had that thought, as if on cue, I noticed the purple and blue lights flash behind us.

“Oh Christ!” shouted Tomas.

“No, preserve going,” I screamed on the driver.

He began to sluggish, however I jumped at him, “We’ll pay your bloody rushing nice, simply preserve going!”

He stepped on the gasoline, however he slowed once more instantly.

“No, I’ve to cease, I am going to lose my license,” he stated, pulling to the aspect of the highway.

“I am unable to wait, Tomas,” I stated, already antsy to leap out of the cab. “I’ve obtained to get again, even when there’s nothing there I must know that I did it.”

“You are two and a half kilometres away from house, you higher run like hell,” he stated. “I am going to determine this out and meet you there.”

The automobile got here to a whole cease and I opened the door and rushed out. With my bag flapping towards my again and my chest tight, I sprinted by way of the streets and ran on in direction of my home.

I’ve by no means been a lot of a runner, however I entered some kind of a trance. Pushing towards the pavement, I used to be seconds away from the deadline.

Nothing would change whether or not I got here again at 8:45 or 8:40. There could be nobody ready in that chair. However for some cause I saved operating quicker.

I used to be too afraid to examine my telephone for the time.

There was one thing liberating about operating the ultimate stretch — I wasn’t ready for planes, I wasn’t getting led round in circles by taxi cabs. If I did not make it again it was as a result of my legs could not take me there quick sufficient. It might be no fault however my very own.

What if it is already too late? There is no means I can run all the best way house in lower than Three minutes. It must be previous 8.

No extra what ifs. Simply go! I advised myself as I ran, and I saved shifting ahead even quicker.

My legs had been wobbling, and every time I breathed it was a choking ache. I did not assume I’d make it again on the pace I used to be going however then I noticed the define of my home within the distance and I sprinted ahead all the best way to the driveway.

My legs almost gave out. I reached into my pocket to examine my telephone, I needed to know earlier than going inside.

The numbers on my display screen learn 8:39pm.

“Bloody unreliable cabbies”, I smirked to myself realizing his clock will need to have been off. And I raced up my entrance steps and thru the entrance door.

I might hear the noise as quickly as I walked inside my acquainted kitchen. It solely amplified as I walked by way of to the den.

The second I burst into the room there was a refrain of alarms. There, round grandpa’s empty armchair, stood my total household: aunts, uncles, cousins and all. Cell telephones, watches, wall clocks, every little thing was set to ring at precisely 8:40pm, March 4th.

I made it! I truly travelled all over the world in 80 hours.

XXIX

“I feel all of us wanted one thing to have fun,” stated Gran after I requested why she set the entire thing up. “Your grandfather would have achieved the identical.”

“Thanks, Gran,” I stated.

“I am happy with you, Phileas,” she continued. “And William was too. You are all he might discuss. It was about time you flew!”

“I do know, I am simply sorry the best way issues labored out,” I stated.

“Do not be sorry, we’re all blissful you are again and even happier you made it the entire means by way of, it was what he needed.”

I simply held her, there have been no phrases.

“Phil,” she stated after I pulled away, “he wrote you this,” and he or she handed me a examine, in Pops’ writing, for £2,000,000.

“No, I could not,” I protested.

“You earned it.” she stated.

And with that I would gained the wager. I used to be £2,000,000 richer. However standing there with Gran, with my household and Tomas blended in someplace within the crowded den, I felt richer than I might have ever imagined and it had little to do with the cash.

XXX – Epilogue

Mum, Gran and I stood subsequent to the casket and shook everybody’s arms.

“My condolences,” they’d say and I would nod my head.

The funeral corridor was jam-packed, and never simply any sort of jam-packed, however the form that upsets venue homeowners as a result of it is a fireplace hazard.

The primary face I acknowledged among the many crowd was Karim, the Egyptian cab driver. He checked out me and jerked his head, I feel it was his model of a nod. I noticed that he was talking with Kayo, the safety examine lady who hugged me in Japan, she was as pleasant as ever handing out hugs to everybody inside arm’s attain. I noticed the person from customs, who gave me the drawing from Pop, and Parvati from the Mumbai practice terminus. In fact I met Cornelius close to the bar with a whiskey in his hand and I noticed all of the others too. They had been all there, all his mates from the world over, and I could not assist wishing sometime my life would prove simply the identical.

I walked as much as Jasper, and requested him a query that had been on my thoughts since I returned house from my 80 hour journey. “So,” I stated, “What recommendation are you able to give to somebody who’d wish to turn out to be a pilot?”

TAGS: HOURSWorld

source http://cheaprtravels.com/around-the-world-in-80-hours/

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