#Thank you for giving me the chance to yell about one of my fave gym leaders!

[giggly-squiggily]

Okay- there is zero pressure to write for this, I’m sure you have a ton of event submissions and I hope I’m not flooding your inbox with Roark content, but I just wanted to share the idea of his glasses doing the anime thingy where they get all glossy-you know what I’m talking about I hope-right before he jumps somebody and attacks them with tickles! I saw a picture of that somewhere online with him and just. Have not been able to stop thinking about it! Once again, this is just a fun headcannon i wanted to share, no pressure to add it to the list and I apologize if I’m blowing up your inbox (whoops) I promise I’m not trying to be annoying! I’m just very excited! Anyway, keep up the amazing work and as always, thank you!!! -⚡️

Headcanons To Dabbles: Officially CLOSED!

*squee!!!* Oh my goodness that's AMAZING! I love the mental image of Roark getting all mirror lenses akljerjakrjjaekrkj I gotcha covered, friend! Decided to go with Volkner for this last Roark one because I miss my electro boy.

“Oi, Roark. You remembered (Y/N)’s birthday?”

The redhead froze, halfway out of his expedition gear. He turned to look at Volkner, starting to sweat. “Oh dear Arceus, it’s TODAY? I thought it was in another week- oh no their present isn’t ready yet-”

“Roark, I was lying.” Volkner cut him off, making him stumble in his panic. “It is next week.”

The redhead stared, betrayed. “Why…?”

“You’ve been rambling on about rocks for the past 20 minutes.” Volkner's lips twitched. “I was starting to wonder if your brain fossilized.”

“Oh ha ha.” Roark puffed, glasses gleaming over as Volker chuckled in his hand. “Very funny.”

“Heh, yeah…why are you looking at me like that?” Volkner leaned back some when the glare Roark was sending him didn’t yield.

Silence, and then-

“Whoa!” Volkner yelped as he was shoved backwards, Roark tackling him into the grass. “Whoa, hang on there- what are you do-ohohohohohohoing!” Giggles bubbled over almost instantly as the redhead’s hands found his waist, kneading just below his ribs. “Rohoohohoahahhark!”

“First you trick me into thinking I forgot (Y/N)’s birthday, and THEN you call me dumb!” Roark moved up to Volkner’s center ribs, earning a proper bout of laughter from the soft spoken gym leader. “You must die! Prepare to get tickle-stoned!”

“Gehahhahahahhahha! I’m shahahhahaharry! I’m shahahhahahahhahahrry!” Volkner tried to grab his hands, but Roark was surprisingly quick. The best he could do was cling to his wrists. “Cuhuuhuuht it ohohooohoohut!”

“Are you REALLY sorry?” Roark asked, raising a brow.

“Yehahahahhahhahs!”

“TRULY sorry?”

“YEhehahhahahahs, yehehahahahahs I’m shahahhahahahharry!” Volkner’ cheeks were a pretty pink shade, eyes squeezed shut with mirth and feet kicking behind them.

“.....Truly?”

“ROAHHAHAHAHHARK!!”

“Pfft- okay, okay!” Roark snickered, finally releasing the other and climbing off him. “That’ll teach you to trick me, Mr. Rain cloud!”

“Eheh…ehehehe…Mr. Rahaiain Cloud? Oh that is IT? Come here!” Volkner shot up suddenly, grabbing Roark and pulling him down beside him. “You’re asking for it back now!”

The sound of Roark’s laughter was quick to replace Volkner’s.

[red-sterling]

thanks for answering!! i hope you don't mind if i send more charas...how about green and/or lillie?

fhgjkfdg aw yea thank u!! hopefully this doesn’t publish before i’m done typing lol

also this definitely needs a readmore bc i got emotional abt Green oops

Green

favorite thing about them

first of all: the fact that Green canonically has a rivals to best friends arc with Red fills me with so much joy and YES they are on their alolan honeymoon you cannot convince me otherwise

okay like. gen 1 Green just perfectly encompasses what it’s like to be a ten year old in a way? like ofc he’s written like a kid bc he is a kid, but i feel like the writing on him just feels so genuine as compared to some of the other 10 yr old rivals you get in other regions. even though he’s kinda a brat at the start, he kinda eases up a bit as you go along your journey and starts giving you progressively nicer/more praise-y end lines when you beat him (going from “i picked the wrong pokémon!” to “so, you are ready for boss rocket!”) but still retains this childlike rivalry and competitiveness and i love that about him

and like. fucking beating him at the Indigo League still completely breaks my heart because even after he did become the champion at age 10 the first thing that happens is you beat him and Prof Oak just yells at him for being bad at things and like. ow. 

this is why i headcanon that Red actually took awhile longer to get to Green like please. please give my boy a chance to be happy and proud

also Red was caught up with Team Rocket anyway so i imagine he must’ve fallen a little behind at some point? anyway

the development on him across regions is so choice!!! he’s so much more mellow and even kinda melancholic when you find him in gsc/hgss, like he’s calmed down over a few years and he obviously misses Red so much but like, it’s clear that Red is kinda the reason Green does settle down and he seems to have worked on his character and become a nicer person - and he still has that sassy flair to him! he’s just got that gradual slope from asshole rival to kinda aloof gym leader to friendly/sassy battle legend and aaaaa i love my boy so MUCH

also huge point: he’s so fucking driven??? he’s got the most drive and the most passion for battles/pokémon in general out of all the rivals i feel. he’s only closely matched by Silver, but Silver seems to be more aggressive than passionate, and somewhat out of necessity too (like, Giovanni abandoned him what was he to do), whereas Green just really like. he genuinely just cares so much about battles and about pokémon in general! he literally calls you in hgss and just rants about how many different kinds of pokémon there are in the world!!!

also in Alola he’s like???? just so sweet?????? he congratulates you and is like hey you’re really strong lets battle like!!!!!!!!! supportive boy!!!!! he has come so far over so many generations and i cry

also on Four Island when you play frlg he legitimately says “Be smelling ya!” when he leaves and how do you not love this idiot

least favorite thing about them

i mean. while i get that you beat Green right after he becomes the champion in the kanto games i feel like there should’ve been more pomp and circumstance for him and i’ll never forgive gamefreak for giving this boy his dream, then making you rip it away from him, and then watching his own gramps yell at him for fucking up like. again it’s that drive, i get why Red keeps such good pace w Green but i just feel like he worked so hard and he deserved so much better than that

also while i’m very biased towards him bc Big Emotions, i feel like if i knew this boy irl who was constantly i’m so great and you’re a loser i would probably punch him eventually lmao. in theory it’s kinda endearing but as a real person that’d be grating 

favorite line

on one hand, “smell ya later” is so fucking iconic, but on the other - 

“I’m Blue. Man, this guy called Red brought me down in a heartbeat. I haven’t seen him in a long time…I wonder where he is and what he’s up to… Come to think of it, you look a little bit like Red. Yeah, you do. Just…Just a little bit. Whatever…”

my namelessshipping heart

ALSO NOT CANON BUT GREEN RANTING TO YOU ABOUT RED AND GETTING SO DISTRACTED THAT HE FORGETS TO GIVE YOU THE POKÉDEX????? BIG GAY

brOTP

for long elaborate headcanon reasons, i see him as being a good brotp with Kris - i headcanon her as also being really driven the way Green is, but more quiet about it, she’s kinda a good balance to him and they probably do pokemon research together. i also feel like she kept him sane while Red was still missing/before they found him on a fuckin mountain

OTP

do i really need to tell you that i’m 100% namelessshipping

like they perfectly balance each other. Green has all this energy and all this spunk and Red is just like… so opposite of him y'know? he’s quiet and he’s more measured in his behavior i feel, he doesn’t really rush into things as much, and yet they both really just took Kanto by storm when they were kids, and i like how they have this foil dynamic and are both still so successful? they’re so different and they complement each other in that way, and they both find success in their own ways

like one of the reasons i hate that Green’s championship gets undersold so much is that he did beat you to the punch, and he has been one step ahead of you, and there’s so much passion there and it’s so loud - and yet you as Red are just as driven, you take down Team Rocket, you’re always right on his tail, so close but not quite there, you’re the only one who can keep up with him and you’re the only one he cares enough about to slow down for

so like. idk with even all my headcanons about namelessshipping aside (and i can infodump those another day lol), i feel like the in-game representation of them just works. they just work so well together, they balance each other without ever holding each other back, and there’s something really beautiful about that in a relationship y'know

…..i feel bad abt not putting as much infodump about isshushipping now but oh well

nOTP

i don’t really have a notp with him? i kinda like. i basically just do namelessshipping, but i don’t get a visceral eugh when i see other ships with him, just kinda a well it’s not nameless so i’ll be on my way. idek what other ships w him are popular?? i’ve been in nameless hell since 2012 so 

random headcanon

while Red is still living on Mount Silver, Green is not coping well with having him so far away, and so Green massively overworks himself to the point that he keeps just not being in his gym sometimes bc he’s bouncing between the gym, training multiple teams, pokémon research, and ofc going to visit Red whenever he can. this leads him to be kinda temperamental after he’s been working on 2 hours of sleep a day for like a week until he just has an emotional meltdown and crashes, and then he gets right back into it because he has no self preservation

…….. nicer headcanon; Red can only cook two (2) foods, so Green cooks all the food for them when they move in together. he has attempted to teach Red how to cook, but Red pretends not to understand so Green will keep making him food. Green knows Red is faking it and doesn’t call him out bc he thinks it’s cute

unpopular opinion

look i’ve played through classic red version a few times and when i say he wasn’t that much of a jerk, i do genuinely mean he was not that much of a jerk. he’s like ten. ten year olds are just Like That. i guess this isn’t too unpopular anymore but it was Back In The Day and in some parts of the fandom he’s still seen as a jerk and like Bro He Is Ten In RGB/FRLG cut him some slack

also genuinely unpopular - Green is taller than Red. i know namelessshipping has fallen into the bara Red and twink Green trope but i refuse to let go of tall Green/short Red fuckin fight me why dont you

song i associate with them

a lot of the Pray For The Wicked album by Panic! at the Disco gives me Green vibes, more for the sound than for lyrics necessarily, but for some reason Roaring 20s just like. has the sound of Green to me. it’s somewhere between flamboyant pride and underlying insecurity that i think really encapsulates Green (or at least his subtext)

favorite picture of them

i genuinely love his let’s go concept art he’s such a sweet good boy?? 

and for the life of me i cannot find the op source on this but this is my fave pic of Green/namelessshipping in general that i’ve had saved since like 2012 maybe???

yeah if anyone can help me source that i’d appreciate it bc reverse image search only brings me to pinterest and random wattpad links :/

update: source seems to be the artist くる (pixiv id=982894) on pixiv, even though the original post got taken down (ty anon!)

Lillie

favorite thing about them

by now i guess you know im a sucker for character development, but i think they did a really good job with her!! i feel like her turn is a bit more in moments than it is with Green, who gradually evolves (lol) over the course of Kanto/all the gens overall. you see more discrete moments where Lillie starts to shift and gain confidence in herself and i am so proud of her ???? like the way she gets excited when she sees Olivia doin’ her z-move stuff, she starts buying her own clothes and getting ahead of you, etc etc

and like, she still has moments where she’s scared, there’s still some fundamental Lillie in there yknow? you don’t lose any of that softness that characterizes Lillie, she just like… she gets better, she develops without losing her Lillie vibe and i love that abt her. she overcomes a lot of the shit she had to deal with when she was stuck with Lusamine, she stands up to Lusamine eventually, and ghfdkjsg gah she’s a sweet gorl i love and appreciate her

also like. the writing on her backstory is so subtle in-universe. like yeah she literally looks like Lusamine’s daughter and you see her in the opening cutscene leaving Aether, but as the protagonist - like as Selene lets say, there’s little hints about where Lillie came from, and if you suspend your disbelief and put yourself in the pc’s shoes, there’s subtly to her character arc that i like 

also like. when she changes her outfit and starts being more protagonist-y, like more confident and kinda bubbly instead of shy??? love that shit it’s so cute can i have custody of this child pls

least favorite thing about them

i like. sometimes feel like she’s too soft of a character for me to really get into? like i love her and Hau, they’re sweet good friends, but i tend to personally gravitate towards characters that create a little more tension (ie Green and N)

(though on that note, Hau can be kinda savage. he just calls Faba out and sarcastically calls Gladion “a ray of sunshine” at some point i think?? Lillie is just very tender and i will support her forever, but i think that also makes her almost too soft to keep me fixated on her yknow. it’s not even a flaw in her character but just not something i fawn over as much)

favorite line

“I’m so glad I got to meet everyone. I’m so glad I got to meet you.”

like that ending kills me but that line almost feels like. I Feel That So Much like i feel so happy to have met all these new characters and to have played these games, and i feel like some of the player’s energy and enjoyment of the game is channeled into this last line of hers 

also GET IN THE BAG

brOTP

probably her and Hau?? idk, i don’t have a specific brotp for her but i like her just hangin around w the other Alola kids, so like her, Hau, Gladion, and the protag kids. they’d raise hell together and Lillie continues to be the only one with some impulse control

(Gladion also has some impulse control but keeps getting annoyed by Hau and so he gets dragged into their nonsense anyway)

OTP

Selene and Lillie is. Good. idk what the ship name is but it’s canon

nOTP

i dont even know if people ship her with Gladion but incest is a big no-no in my house

random headcanon

when she goes to Kanto, i bet she’d pick Bulbasaur as a starter if she was given the opportunity - and if not, she’d probably catch a wild Vulpix 

unpopular opinion

idk if have any unpopular opinions for her?? 

song i associate with them

i have no reason to associate this with her but the Rainy Day theme from acgc just. has a vibe about it. i think a lot of ac music feels like it suits her

favorite picture of them

i found this art of her through a lofi remix of her theme awhile back and it’s so pleasing to look at? her hair is nice and the colors are so warm n happy gjhkfdgf

if you read this far, congratulations!!! and i’m sorry

[seouledbysisi]

New World

Chapter 7

Mia & Gianna

“What in the world are y'all doing here?” Mia asked as she looked up in awe at Johnny.

Johnny looked over at Taeyong.

Taeyong took a deep breath. “I'm sorry if this is strange and over the top but I felt like we owed you better from the last time we hung out.”

Gianna gave him a small smile. “Have you been beating yourself up over this?”

“He definitely has so this is our way of making things better.” Johnny intervened.

Mia nodded. “It's definitely a great surprise. Why didn't the others come?”

“They. . .are busy?” Johnny attempted to lie.

“Busy eh?” Mia asked.

“Yeah, so busy!” Taeyong agreed.

Taeyong's phone kept ringing. He finally answered it. “Just cover for me, Mark! I don't care what you have to say, just make it good. I'll be back in my hotel room tomorrow morning I swear.” He hung up immediately.

“Your manager has no idea that you're here. You've got to be kidding me!” Gianna looked a bit frustrated.

Mia raised an eye brow.

Taeyong grabbed her hand. “I'm sorry, I knew this day was important to y'all and we just wanted to show our support.”

“Gianna, what's the big deal?” Mia asked.

Gianna shook her head a bit. “Because if this gets out we will be reason for a so-called scandal. I don't want to be blamed for something that he recklessly chose to do because we both know that precious Taeyong is never going to get the blame.”

Taeyong face fell. “Excuse me for trying to do something nice for you.” He began to walk away.

Gianna grabbed his hand and burst into laughter. “I'm joking I swear. Your face was priceless!”

“You made me really sad! I'm going to get you back.” Taeyong wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Soooo I'm starving, what about y'all? Or are we too cute to eat?” Johnny asked as his stomach began to rumble.

“I have the perfect place! It's not fancy like you're probably used to but it's fun and they have great food. I'm also pretty sure this is karaoke night. Shall we?” Gianna proposed.

Johnny rubbed his belly. “I was in when you said good food!”

They all jumped into a car that Johnny had rented.

“You want the top down?” Johnny asked as he flashed a grin at Mia.

Mia turned around to face Gianna who was on the back seat with Tae. “What you think?”

“What the heck, lets do it!”

The wind whipped through their curls, but it contrasted well against the blazing sun.

Diner

They grabbed a booth and waited for a server to approach.

“This is cute.” Johnny gushed. “It's really retro.”

Gianna took a look around. “It always reminds me of Saved By Bell. You know that show?”

Johnny nodded. “Yeah, he probably doesn't though.”

Taeyong looked intrigued. “Tell me more.”

Gianna exhaled. “It's a old show where these teens would always meet up at a diner that kind of looks like this. Like a comedy. Maybe you can watch an episode one day.”

Taeyong flashed her a grin. “Maybe that could be our thing?”

Gianna covered her face a bit. She was blushing. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe one day you can show me Saved By The Bell.”

“Of course, I think I can do that.” She turned to look out the window.

Mia cleared her throat. “So, you're saying you want to see her again?”

“Sure. If she wants to then yes.” Taeyong answered and stared in Gianna's direction.

“Oh she definitely wants to. She doesn't have a choice. Johnny, keep up cause he playing all the cards right.” Mia giggled as she slapped his leg.

Johnny wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “He didn't pull this card!”

Mia's cheeks began to turn pink. “Oh, don't make me blush!”

“Can I get you started with some drinks?” The server asked. Her eyes began to widen as she came to the realization that she was about to serve international superstars. “I'm so sorry, but I am such a fan!” She took a deep breath.

Taeyong chuckled. “You know me?”

“Duh, who doesn't know Johnny and Taeyong!” She answered.

Taeyong covered his lips with his finger. “You can't say a word at all, okay? We're not Taeyong and Johnny tonight.”

She nodded with a huge smile. “I promise I won't say anything. Can I please get a picture with you before you leave?”

Johnny smiled. “Only if you keep quiet. There's no Johnny and no Taeyong until tomorrow.”

The girl reached her pinky towards him. “Pinky promise! Now can I get you drinks?”

“Coke for me.” Taeyong answered.

“Lemonade.” Gianna answered.

“Coke Please.” Johnny answered. “And for you gorgeous?”

“Lemonade will be fine.” Mia answered as her cheeks continued to get warmer and warmer.

“So what's good?” Taeyong asked.

“I always get the grilled chicken with a sweet potato. But the burgers are really good.” Gianna smiled towards him. She couldn't believe that she was this important in his world. It was too good to be true.

“Then a double cheeseburger it is with some fries.” Taeyong laughed.

“You sure you can finish a double?” Mia's eyes widened.

“He's slim but he has a hefty appetite nowadays.” Johnny chuckled out loud.

They ordered their food and continued having good conversations and laughs.

“So are y'all catching a flight back tonight?” Mia asked.

“It leaves at midnight, we have to be back at the hotel by morning so we don't get into too much trouble.” Johnny answered.

Taeyong sighed. “Sorry we can't stay longer.”

Gianna laid her head on his shoulder for a second. For some reason she felt very comfortable being in his presence. “Don't be. It was an honor just to have someone like you even think enough of me to come all the way to my graduation. It means a lot. Even if we never talk again, this will always be among one of my favorite days.”

He grabbed her hand. “I told you last time that we will see each other again. I'm holding true to that.” He grabbed her phone and programmed his number. “Just in case you miss my face too much, which you will, you can always face time me!” he chuckled.

Gianna pushed him away. “I liked you up until that moment.” She rolled her eyes.

Taeyong smiled. “I'll miss your face too much.”

“Yeah right, you have all these other NCTzens to think of! They will keep you occupied.” She shrugged.

“They will but they're not you. You're my main NCTzen!” Taeyong rubbed her hand which was laying on the table.

“We better get you ladies home so we can head back to the airport.” Johnny helped Mia out of her booth.

They all got into the convertible.

“Oh man, we didn't get a change to sing!” Gianna pouted.

“That gives us an even better excuse to come back!” Johnny said as he winked at Mia.

Gianna

Taeyong helped her out of the vehicle while Mia and Johnny stayed behind for a bit.

“Thank you so much for showing me another good time. You didn't have to make up for last time. I know how crazy us NCTzens can be over our faves.”

“I have to be honest, that's not the only reason I wanted to come see you. You left your mark on me and I haven't been able to get rid of it.” Taeyong shyly smiled.

“I bet you say this to all of your fans.” She giggled.

“Dang you got me!” he snapped his fingers. “But seriously I really like you. I wouldn't have snuck back here to see you if I didn't.”

“I guess I can believe that. Well I better let you go so you don't miss a flight and regret coming here.”

Taeyong tilted her chin with his finger. “I'd never!” He leaned in for a kiss.

Suddenly Javier came out of no where and pushed Taeyong out of the way before their lips touched. “Aye man, she's mine so back off!”

Mia

“So you're going to keep in touch, right?” Johnny asked.

Mia rolled her eyes. “If I have time in between trying to find a job in my field then sure.” She giggled.

He held his heart. “Oh that hurt. Am I not important enough for you?” He chuckled.

“I'll keep in touch for sure. Any guy that catches a flight during his busy schedule just to congratulate me in person for graduating deserves my time.”

Johnny leaned over the middle console and stole a sweet and gentle kiss from her lips.

Mia simply stared at him with a silly grin on her face. “Woah, Johnny Seo just kissed me. I'm luckiest girl in the world.”

“ GO HOME JAVIER! YOU'RE DRUNK!” Mia snatched her head around when she heard Gianna yelling. She ran over quickly.

“What the heck are you doing here?” Mia pushed him.

“I just want her back. I'm sorry for everything I did. I won't do it again!” Javier pleaded through his drunken tears.

Gianna shook her head. “You're right, you won't do it again because I'm not going to give you a chance to do it. Go find someone else to play games with because I'm DONE! I've been done and I'm not changing my mind.”

“You really need to go sleep it off dude. You're gonna wake up the neighbors and stuff.” Johnny patted his back.

Javier simply nodded and walked back to his vehicle and sped off.

“I hope he makes it home safely and without hurting anyone else.” Gianna said softly.

“We better get going, it was a nice night. See y'all later!” Taeyong said as him and Johnny walked back towards their rental.

“Taeyong!” Gianna yelled as she ran over to him. She was breathing a bit heavy. “Man, I need to start going to the gym ASAP!”

Taeyong chuckled. “What's up?”

“I think you left something behind.” She stared up at him, her heart beating fast.

Taeyong stared at her, perplexed. “What is it?”

She tilted his chin and connected their lips just enough to wish he could've had more. “Now, you may go catch that flight.” She smiled and walked away.

“Wait- that's all I get?” He asked.

“See ya later, Taeyong!” She waved as she met back up with Mia.

Mia winked at her. “That's my girl!”

[lunaerly]

Be Careful

Erik ‘Killmonger’ Stevens x Reader

Summary: angsty trash based off a verse from Cardi B - Be Careful

Warnings: Erik lowkey ain’t shit but we still love him. Cheating up ahead, lots of tears.

Words: 5k I honestly don’t know why this fic so long, my bad

Notes: I had something else planned to post but I saw the idea on another blog so I’m rewriting and this one was already done. Also biiiiiiitch y’all showed me so much love on Midnight Marathons, I can’t thank y’all enough! All my faves reading my story, ya girl is still shook. Obligatory sorry for any spelling mistakes, Thanks for reading!

I wanna get married, like the Curry’s - Steph and Ayesha shit

But we more like Belly - Tommy and Keisha shit

Gave you TLC, you wanna creep and shit

Poured out my whole heart to a piece of shit

You and Erik had been together for three years, nearly four in a few months. Your longest relationship to date though definitely not your smoothest one. No, this relationship had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster but you two had somehow survived the test of time and here you two stood today. It was beautiful to see where you two had ended up. You hoped there was a ring in your future but you weren’t gonna rush that decision, y’all were happy where you were now.

Your phone chimes as the timer goes off and you set your book down to the coffee table, unfolding your legs from under you as you rise and make your way to the kitchen. Turning the oven off, you grab the mitts and quickly pull dinner out the oven resting it on a cloth on the countertop to cool before Erik got home. The sound of the front door slamming startles you but you recognize the sound of Erik’s heavy boots as he tossed his stuff on the couch.

Slipping out the kitchen you go to greet your man, a small frown coming to your lips when you see he’s standing in the middle of the living room, eyes trained on his cell phone. He glances up when he hears your soft footfall over the carpet. “Hey,” you greet lightly, a smile coming to your lips as he tosses his phone on the couch where his jacket lay, “I made dinner.” You nod your head back towards the kitchen.

“I ate already,” Erik murmurs as he watches you from across the living room, “I’m going back out, chill with some of my boys.” He informs you like he’s talking about the weather.

“I feel like we haven’t seen each other all week, Erik. I just wanted to have dinner with you, you would have known that if you answered my damn texts!” You can’t help but be a little irritated right now. Erik’s barely been home, skipping out the door nearly as soon as he’s got in, hardly even getting out a goodbye before the doors slamming in your face.

“Aye, don’t start all that cursing at me and shit. I’mma be home in like two hours, we can fucking eat then.” And then he’s walking away, leaving you to calm to swell of anger and irritation bubbling in your chest. In two hours it’ll be eleven pm and you’ll be asleep for work tomorrow, having gone to bed alone again. Turning on your heel, no longer hungry yourself, you begin dumping all the food in tupperware containers and tossing it in the fridge trying to not let your attitude ruin a perfectly good meal.

Dishes in the washer, you cut the light out as you leave, moving around the furniture towards the coffee table to grab the book you’d been reading earlier. The glow of a notification on Erik’s phone catches your eyes and before you can stop yourself, the phone is in your hand.

There’s several texts on the screen, one from a group text and another from his friend Jason but there’s one from a name you hadn’t seen in years. Janella, a chick Erik messed with in college.

Janella

what time you comin? he just left.

Your heart drops to your stomach as you read the text. It’s was so innocuous but there’s no way to misinterpret it. Erik was cheating on you. Nearly three years down the drain in an instant. You wonder how long he’s been seeing Janella, if she’d been the only one or there were even more spread out over the years. God, you bared your heart for this nigga, so many arguments and fights and sleepless nights before you two finally fell into the comfortable patch of your relationship… all that for nothing. You don’t realize you’re staring blankly at Erik’s phone until you hear him coming back down the hall. You toss the device back on the couch as if it’s burned you, and in a way it has; burned you straight to the core, your chest aching as if you’d been shot. You stand, clutching your book to your chest as if that’ll close the gaping hole there. He stops at the entryway to the hall when he sees you stood in the middle of the living room, his brow furrowing.

You don’t give him a chance to speak, shuffling hurriedly around the coffee table and skirting around his body in the hall. You couldn’t even stand to touch him, couldn’t stand the sight of him right now. You don’t say goodnight to him, though you can feel his eyes on your back as you walk down the hall, quickly entering your shared bedroom and shutting the door. You hesitant for a second before you turn and lock the knob as well. You didn’t want him anywhere near you when he came back.

Man I thought you woulda learned your lesson

‘Bout liking pictures, not returning texts

I guess it’s fine man, I get the message

You still stutter after certain questions, you keep in contact with certain exes

You lay in bed that night, after listening to the front door slam and Erik’s car peel out the lot, on your own phone. You weren’t someone who used social media often, at most using Facebook to keep up with your family back home, and while you had accounts on other platforms you didn’t use them much. And you can see Erik’s used this completely to his advantage. His Instagram profile looks as if he wasn’t in a committed relationship for the past three years… well you guess he wasn’t. He’s got pictures posted up in clubs surrounded by bottles and models when he told you he was working or he was busy. Various women strewn across his lap in various pictures, showing off his chains and his gold grills, cash and iced out watches.  Your stomach hurts as you scroll through, not a single whisper of you anywhere. Exiting out his profile, you know scrolling through the Activity page will hurt just as much but you need to know. You don’t follow many people but Erik still dominates the page, likes on pictures of women, half naked women promoting waist trainers and teas, women posed in front of gym mirrors, women in skimpy dresses and clothing from whatever the hell Fashion Nova was. You close out the app completely when you’ve finally had enough, chest aching and your eyes burning, the pillow wet beneath your cheek.

You roll over, tugging the blanket above your head as you sniffle quietly. You can smell Erik, his cologne clinging to the sheets on his side of the bed. It makes you want to vomit. Quickly scurrying out of bed, you grab a spare, clean, blanket out the closet and your own pillow and curl up in the small armchair in the corner of the bedroom. It takes awhile, your mind fluttering through the last three years of your relationship with Erik trying to pick apart everything, trying to see how you hadn’t noticed he was cheating on you. Your brain seems hellbent on breaking your heart even further but finally, you fall into a fitful sleep.

You’re startled awake some time later by a heavy bang against the bedroom door. “Y/N!” Erik shouts, his voice deep and gruff as he jiggles the locked door knob. Out the open curtain you can see the first beginnings of sunrise lighting up the sky. Back in two hours, my fuckin’ ass. You think as you wrap the blanket around your shoulders tight. Erik bangs on the door again, the flimsy piece of wood rattling like it was made of paper. You would have kept it locked if you knew Erik wouldn’t kick it down eventually and you didn’t need all that noise getting the neighbor curious.

“Y/N, the fuck is you doin’?! Open up this fucking door!” Erik yells as you stand up on sore legs and shuffle to the door. Twisting the lock, you pull the door open just enough to look through the crack. Erik’s face is twisted up with barely contained anger and screws up even further when he sees you. He pushes against the door but you block it with your body this time, ignoring the pinch the corner of the door gives your collarbone when it digs in. “What the fuck are you doing, Y/N? Why is the damn door locked?” He questions angrily, pushing against the door again.

“I was asleep.” You answer, voice rough from your crying and your horrible few hours of sleep.

“Sleep? I been banging on this fucking door for ten minutes! The fuck you got the door locked for?” He pushes against the frame again. “There better not be somebody in this fuckin’ room Y/N.”

Guilty conscience. You mutter darkly in your mind, it’s always the true cheaters who push their actions on their innocent partners eventually.

“Open this door Y/N, or I swear I will knock you on your ass.” Erik warns harshly. You stare at him through the slim opening of the door before turning your body away from the door. It flies open immediately when you’re clear from its path, Erik stepping over the threshold and looking around.

“Where the fuck is he?” He steps further into the room, pushing open the closet door and flinging y’alls clothes to the sides.

“Fuck you Erik, there’s nobody here! I was asleep.” You grind out, teeth clenched in frustration at seeing him in front of you, having the audacity to accuse you of cheating. Your chest aches still but this time anger has taken the forefront.

“Why you ain’t answer your damn phone? I been callin’ you, had me thinking you was in here fuckin’ dead!” Erik shouts, slamming the closet doors closed again, turning on his heel to face where you’re still leaned up against the wall by the door.

“God Erik, shut up, it’s like four in the damn morning. You’re going to wake up the neighbors.” You push off the wall, blanket trailing behind you as you move to where you left your phone on the bed. It’s dead so you plug it in to charge a little bit before you have to leave for work.

“I don’t give a gotdamn about those fuck ass neighbors, What the hell is your problem? Are you still mad over dinner?” Erik asks, incredulity in his tone as if he couldn’t understand the aspect of his girlfriend being upset over cooking a dinner for the umpteenth night in a row only for her boyfriend to say he ate and leave her for the night. You stand up, looking up to where Erik stands on the opposite end of the bed,

“You still talk to Janella?” The question spills out before you can stop yourself. His eyes narrow at you, face tightening into an unreadable emotion.

“What?” He questions.

“Oh, now you can’t hear me?” You scoff, throwing the blanket off your shoulders and letting it pool to the floor. You walk over to the closet, swinging the doors open and quickly grabbing an outfit appropriate for work. It’s way too early to be trying to get ready but you couldn’t stand to be near Erik right now. You could use a long soak in the tub as well.

“Yo, what the hell you ask me that for?” Erik asks as you move to the dressers, pulling out a pair of panties and a bra. Your shoes are out in the living room so you don’t worry over that. “Y/N, answer me! What is going on with you right now?”

You stay silent as you leave the room, slipping into the bathroom before Erik can think to follow you, locking that door as well. You sit on the edge of the tub, trying to block out the sound of Erik stomping around y’alls bedroom, probably still looking for evidence of your supposed cheating. Once the tub is filled enough, the water steaming hot, you shed your clothing piece by piece before stepping in and sinking down.

Do you though, trust me nigga it’s cool though

Said that you was workin’ but you out here chasin’ culo

And putas, chillin’ poolside, living two lives

I coulda did what you did to me to you a few times

When you leave for work, Erik is gone once more and after a look through his Instagram profile last night you can only imagine where he could be right now. Actually you didn’t want to imagine, it hurt too much. To think that your boyfriend had been out and about in the world living two vastly different lives while you remained blissfully unaware made you sick to your stomach. Nigga been playing you for a fool for too long, not anymore.

Resting your head against the rim of the steering wheel to your car, you breathe in deep for a minute to gather your bearings. When you’re feeling a little steadier, you start your car and begin your commute to work. You shuffle through your playlist restlessly because Beyonce was hitting a little too close to home right now before you give up and turn the radio on instead.

You make it to work in enough time to buy yourself some sugary, overpriced coffee instead of drinking the stuff from the office, taking your time in walking up to the elevators with your iced coffee in hand. Your heels click on the floors with a sound you always found satisfying, pressing the up arrow you wait in front of the sliding doors, watching the numbers slowly descend.

“Good morning,” you hear come from your left. Turning your head you see your coworker Malcolm. “You look beautiful today.” He compliments as he comes to a stop beside you. While the compliment was nice, it surely didn’t help how you were feeling currently but you put on a polite smile and thank him anyways. The elevator dings as it stops on your floor, the door sliding open moments later. Stepping aside to let the few people off, Malcolm gestures for you to go first as you walk aboard, pressing the seventh floor button, you can’t help but think of all the compliments, comments, and propositions you’ve gotten over the years. Men coming up to you in clubs when you’re out with some work friends, trying to buy you drinks and get you to dance. Brave baristas writing their number on your coffee cup like you were some swooning teenager and coworkers like Malcolm coming up to you despite having seen and met Erik before. And no matter how attractive, not once had the thought ever crossed your mind to step out on Erik.

Then a petty thought pops up like a pimple on prom night and you’re just itching to pop it. Thankfully, the elevator arrives before you can act on your thought. Hurrying to your office, straw to your coffee between your teeth, you close the door and shut the blinds for privacy. Dropping into your chair, you set your purse and coffee on your desk. You dig your phone out your purse to finish charging. There’s a single text from Erik on your screen.

Baby

where r u

You don’t deign it with a response, laying your phone face down off to the corner of your desk as you throw yourself into your work. Lunch comes sooner than you realize, your stomach grumbling at only having had coffee to sooth it over. Deciding to call it quits for a while, you save your work and grab your wallet and keys out your purse along with your cell phone, you slip out your office for the first time since you arrived.

“Oh! Y/N, I didn’t even know you were here!” Rachel, a bubbly, excitable girl nearly bounces over to you. “Malcolm said he saw you come in but your blinds were closed so I figured you’d left.” She matches your pace as you walk to the elevator.

You smile weakly over to her. “Yeah, I just wanted some privacy, I didn’t feel too well.” You press the elevator button and the doors open immediately.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear. Are you feeling any better?” She asks as you two board the elevator together. You shrug your shoulders lightly.

“Hopefully I’ll be okay soon.” Yeah, you sure do fucking hope.

“Oh, well. I did have another reason for asking around for you. Erik came by but I’d told him I hadn’t seen you yet. Did you speak with him?” Rachel asks as the elevator comes to a stop and you two exit on the ground floor.

“Um… yeah. He called me.” You hum as you two walk out the building. Knowing Rachel was going to the salad bar nearby, you wave goodbye and walk in the opposite direction. You’re not really in the mood for any of the options within walking distance wearing heels, but you pick the lesser of the evils and step into a little pizza shop off the corner. You put in your order, deciding to eat in and enjoy the sun on your skin a little bit longer before you had to head back to your office.

Despite what you had told Rachel, Erik hadn’t called at all and if he did, you surely wouldn’t have answered. And there hadn’t been anymore texts besides the question as to where you were this morning. You thumb through your message thread, shaking your head lightly at the sight of so many unanswered texts or short replies. You remember the times when Erik wouldn’t stop blowing up your phone now it looked like you were talking to your damn self in the thread.

A chair is dragged out across from you and you look up from your phone to watch an man take a seat, settling his elbows on the table, matching your position. His face is unfamiliar though attractive and suddenly your petty thought is alive and well again. You want to give Erik a taste of his own medicine.

“Can’t be that bad of a day.” The man speaks up finally, hazel eyes watching you.

“Excuse me?” You’re a bit confused. You know you been out the game for a while but that wasn’t a conversation starter you usually heard.

“To have this pretty face frowned up so much.” He remarks with a quirk on his brow.

“Oh… just some… personal problems, I guess you could say.” You murmur with a shrug of your shoulders. A harried looking waitress brings your food around suddenly, sliding the hot plate in front of you and then is off as quickly as she came. You take a sip from your drink as wait for your food to cool down a bit.

“Personal, as in boyfriend?” The man questions lightly as you people watch over the little metal railing you sat near. Turning back to face him, your brow furrowed in confusion as to how he thought this was his business.

“Look, sir, I’m not really sure–” An abrupt, harsh yell of your name makes you turn your head, jumping in shock. Across the street, Erik’s hopping out his car, absolutely livid. You frown and stand, watching as he makes his way across the street.

“What the fuck is you doin’, Y/N?” Erik growls, hopping the gate that separated the restaurant’s outdoor eating area from the sidewalk.

“I’m having lunch, Erik. Aren’t you supposed to be at work? What are you here for?” You retort angrily, crossing your arms over your chest as you stared him down. He ignores you, looking over your head to the stranger still sat at your table.

“This the nigga you had in my house, Y/N?” Erik steps forward, eyes still trained on the man behind you. You step as well, nearly chest to chest with the taller man.

“I told you,” you growled, irritation seeping out like a leaky faucet, “there wasn’t anyone in the fucking house! Why do you think I’m lying?” Because he was cheater his damn self, projecting his guilty conscience all over you. “You know what, just go Erik okay. I don’t even know who the fuck this guy is. He sat down at my table.”

“Y/N, I swear–” Erik starts before cutting himself off with a huff and a clench of his jaw. “Bring your ass straight home after work.” He growls and hops the railing once more prowling back over to his car. The engine rips out a loud growl, his tires squealing before he pulled off.

“I take it those were your personal problems.”

You whirl around at the stranger's comment, glaring silently at him. He raises his hand in silent surrender before his hand slides to his jacket pocket. He pulls out pen and grabs a napkin out the holder. He scribbles on it for a moment before sliding it next to your plate of forgotten food.

“Call me beautiful.” And then he’s gone himself.

You stare at the dark digits against the napkin, a million thoughts running through your mind. Hesitant, you fold the napkin and slide the number into your wallet.

But if I did decide to slide, find a nigga

Fuck him, suck his dick, you woulda been pissed

But that's not my MO, I’m not that type of bitch

And karma for you is gon’ be who you end up with

You make me sick nigga

Back in your office, you recline in your chair, spinning slowly as your mind wandered. You think of the little piece of napkin folded in your wallet with the number of another man on it. You want to call it, call him and meet up, suck his dick or something. Something to hurt Erik as much as he’s hurting you. But you know that you won’t, you can’t, it’s not in you to be so purposefully hurtful even after being hurt yourself. Stopping yourself from spinning when you’re facing your desk, you dig the number out your wallet and toss it in the trash can beside your desk with a small sigh.

Gathering your things, you stuff them back into your purse, shutting down your computer and turning off the small lamp as you left your office, locking the door behind you. Rachel’s watching from her desk, a look of concern on her face as you walk up.

“I’m headed home, I’m just not feeling any better, I’ll keep you updated, okay?” You say, shouldering your purse as you loop your car keys around your fingers.

When she nods, you smile in her direction before taking off for the elevator.

The drive home is faster with morning traffic cleared. Singing along to the radio helped keep your mind clear as you drove, the windows rolled down and a breeze rushing over your face, the slight chill pleasant against the sun shining brightly.

Despite your slower driving, you’re finally pulling into the driveway of your shared home, Erik’s car already next to you. You sigh, not ready for the confrontation you know you’re going to be walking into. You can feel in your stomach that this is it, that while your relationship with Erik had ended the second you saw that text, saw his second lifestyle on Instagram, you’d actually be speaking it out loud, speaking it to him.

Pulling your key out the ignition, you drag your purse out the passenger seat as you exit the car, the door slamming shut a little more harshly than you’d intended. Taking a calming breath, you walk up to the front door of your home, unlocking it and letting it swing open. Erik’s sat on the couch facing the door, legs spread wide, slouched back as he rested his head along the back of the couch. His eyes are closed but you know he isn’t asleep. Dropping your purse on the small table by the door, you kick the door closed before stepping out your heels.

“You gon’ tell me what the fuck that was, Y/N?” Erik hasn’t moved though he’s opened his eyes, staring up at the white ceiling. His voice is calm but still strained with the last tendrils anger.

“You gon’ tell me how long you been fucking Janella behind my back, Erik?” You counter harshly, watching as he finally lifted his head. “How long you been cheatin’ on me, Erik?”

“Y/N–” Erik starts and you quickly cut him off.

“Just answer my fucking question!” You snap. “How long! How fucking long, Erik?” You’re shouting, voice bouncing off the walls but you don’t want to hear his runaround excuses. You want the truth.

His jaw clenched as he grinds his teeth, nose flared. “A year.” His voice quiet but you heard it perfect, loud and clear as if he’d shouted it directly in your face. The confession makes your knees weak and your head swim as your eyes burn.

“A year… a year,” you repeat, slightly hysterical. “You been cheatin’ on me for a fucking year.”

“Y/N–” He tries again, standing from where he sat on the couch. Your keys are flying through the air before you realize, Erik ducking to the side as the keys flew past where his head as just been.

“Shut the fuck up! Shut up! God fucking– I can’t believe… I can't,” You choke out, eyes blurry with tears, cheeks already dripping wet as your chest heaved for air. “I loved you! With everything in me! And this is how you treat me?! I gave you everything, Erik! I was the one holding you through your nightmares, cooking you breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Taking care of you when you came home bloody and bruised! I was holding you down! Not that bitch who fucked her way through your homeboys while y’all was together in college!” Your throat hurts and you’re not sure if it’s from your crying or your yelling.

“Why?” You ask, you don’t want to know the answer because you know it will break you but you need to know because you also know your thoughts will eat you alive if you didn’t. “Why? What did I do wrong?”

“You didn’t–” Erik starts only for you to cut him off once more. He huffs angrily, jaw clenching and unclenching rhythmically.

“You don’t just cheat for no fucking reason! A year, Erik! Not one mistake, one day, one week, it’s been one year! You were cheating on me for a year! Why?!” You scream, you want to throw something else at him, you want to beat your fists into his face, there’s such a tight ball of swirling emotion in your chest you feel like you’re going to explode.

“She’s pregnant! Okay, fuck, Y/N, she’s fucking pregnant. I got her fucking pregnant.”

Your world crumbles to dust at Erik’s confession. His first child, being brought into the world by another woman. You wish you hadn’t asked. You stare at Erik in shock, watching at he rounds the loveseat blocking you two from one another. He reaches for you and you flinch away, a look of hurt finally crossing over his features.

“Baby please, I fucked up, I made a mistake, I know I did.” Erik starts and you shake your head rapidly.

“A single mistake doesn’t last for a year. You went back, you kept going back and now–” you hiccup through your tears. “Now she’s pregnant with your fucking kid Erik, congratulations!” You’re sobbing so hard your chest aches. Bringing your hands up you cradle your head in your palms, hiding your face from Erik. You didn’t even want to look at him, you didn’t know who this man was in front of you any longer.

“I’m done, Erik. We’re over.” Wiping your cheeks as best you can despite the tears still flowing, you look up to your now ex-boyfriend. “I can’t do this, I can’t.”

“Don’t you fucking say that bullshit to me Y/N!” Erik growls as he takes a step into your space. You used to love when he made you look up at him, bodies inches apart, that ridiculous smirk on his lips, amusement shining in his brown eyes but now you hate it, you hate him. At least, you’re trying to.

“We’re over.” You repeat, voice just a whisper now. “I can’t even look at you the same, all I see is you with her, you with girls from the clubs. You told me you would change years ago but you’re still exactly the same.”

“I’m not letting you go, baby. I need you, I love you. Janella don’t mean shit to me. If it wasn’t for my kid, I would have been left that bitch alone.” Erik pleads and you shake your head. You don’t want to hear it, you don’t want to hear him try and convince you because you’re not sure if you’re strong enough to not fall for it. “Y/N, I will get on my fucking knees.” And he does just that, dropping to his knees in front of you, he grabs at your hands hanging limp at your sides squeezing them as he presses kisses and pleads into your knuckles. “Please, babygirl, please. Don’t leave me.” He whispers into your skin and you watch him, your heart aching so fiercely you were sure these were your last moments on Earth.

“No, Erik… no,” you finally tug your hands out his grip, wrapping them around yourself in a tight hug trying to hold yourself together both literally and figuratively. “You cheated on me and now you have a baby with another woman. You’re in a relationship with her whether you want it or not, she’s the mother of your child and I don’t want to share you with her of all people. We’re over Erik.” You watch the emotion drain out of Erik’s face, smoothing over into a cool, blank mask though you could see his jaw twitching minutely. He slowly stands up out of his kneel, eyes searching your tear stricken face before he nods once.

“Aight ma, I’ll give you some time.” He says, voice low and rough like gravel. His eyes begin to shine and you swallow the ball in your throat. You hated to see Erik cry. You want to argue at the implications that he’d come back when he deemed you ready but knowing Erik, the offer was the best you’d get. You’d deal with the rest when it came.

Erik turns and walks away, headed to the bedroom. You take a shaky breath as you quickly wipe away the few tears that fall. Shuffling around the loveseat, dropping into the soft fabric and immediately curling up, a blank stare into the kitchen as you tried to process what had just happened. Three years with the man you thought could have easily been your forever, gone.

You blink when you hear the bedroom door close and turn your head in time to see Erik emerging from the hall, backpack over one shoulder. He walks up to you, dropping his bag at the edge of the couch and takes your face in hand, wiping warm tears away from your cheeks with his thumbs. You sob brokenly at the feel of his lips against yours but you can’t bring yourself to pull away.

“I love you.” He murmurs and you shake your head finally drawing away from his grip.

“Go, Erik,” your voice is hoarse, still thick with tears. “Please.”

The sound of the front door clicking shut hurts more than you thought possible as you curl up on your side and let the tears loose.

You gon gain the whole world but is it worth the girl that you losing

Be careful with me

Tags: @blacklotus-of-the-black-kingdom @blackgirloneshots @wakandawinning @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @6lackraconteur @uhlxis @killmongerdispussy​ @bartierbakarimobisson @irenelove83 @imaginewhoever @kaytauru @simplybelo @k-michaelis @killmongersaidheyauntie @therevolution-willbelive @wikiwakanda @dreadedphilosphy @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @purpleskiesxhopefuldreams @caylabeaw96 @blue-ishx @sweetpeachjones @madamslayyy @killmongersgurl

[artificialqueens]

you know everything i know (crameron) - chapter 1 - akita

AN: this is just a sweet multichapter crameron lesbian au reunion fic! thank you to elsaara for helping me with the idea. cracker is a primary school teacher, kameron’s a fitness instructor, they know each other from when they were kids. 

When Kameron comes to pick up her niece, she’s surprised to see Brianna’s her teacher.

“Okay everybody! It’s tidy up time!”

The joyful yell of her class made her laugh a little, and as they started putting their things away, she shut down the computer. Each end of day was as exciting as usual for the kids, if not a little more, as it was coming up for the summer holidays. For Brianna, on the other hand, it was somewhat bittersweet - her class would be moving up to year 2, where she wouldn’t be teaching them anymore. Instead, she’d have a new set of 5 year olds to start teaching the basics to, and hopefully, they’d be as sweet as this class. Having worked here for a few years, she was used to seeing the kids come and go, and it hurt a little less now when she had to say goodbye.

Just as everyone was finishing up, and the clock was reaching 3.10, a very panicked little girl ran up to Brianna with a note in her hand. “Miss Cracker! I forgot I gotta give you this!” “That’s okay,” Taking the note, she opened it to read, “Oh, your auntie’s coming to pick you up? That’ll be exciting!” “Yeah!! We’re gonna go feed the duckies while mummy’s working late!” “Oh wow! What’s your auntie’s name?” “Kameron!”

When everyone was tidied up and ready to leave, Brianna lead her class into the playground, where she met up with a couple of teaching assistants who were helping manage the crowd as parents and guardians picked up their kids. They had to come up and sign out as having picked up their children, as a safekeeping measure, and had to come directly to the teachers to do it. It was good for stopping kids being taken by the wrong people, but it took up a fair bit of time, and some of the parents could be a little rude, especially if they were in a rush. If a child was being picked up by someone else, their legal guardian had to either phone up and inform the school, or have their child hand in a signed note, which is what little Suzie did.

Only a couple of kids were left in the playground, waiting on parents who were either talking with teachers, or with each other. That was when, finally, Kameron more or less jogged up, evidently flustered about being late. Suzie cried out excitedly, running up to her auntie to get picked up and kissed on the head. After the demand of a piggy back, she was put down on the floor, so she could clamber up onto her back, and when she was settled, the redhead walked over to check her niece out. That was when she recognised just who the teacher was, and her eyes lit up bright. The mirrored response was immediate, and had she not got a child on her back, she would have went in for a proper hug. “Brianna!” Kameron beamed, supporting Suzie with one arm and quickly signing her out on the sheet, before giving Brianna a half hug. It was awkwardly returned with a laugh. “God, Kam, I’ve not seen you in years! You’re looking…” She stepped back, glancing her up and down, “Good’s an understatement. You’re ripped!” “I’m a personal trainer now, I kind of have to be in good shape.” “Can you even feel her on your back?” “Yeah, but that’s because she’s pulling my hair - could you please stop that? I’ll put you down if you’re not careful.” With a huffy noise, the child settled, holding on sensibly.

The pair of them knew each other from when they were just the child’s age, and went to the same primary and secondary schools. They’d actually been close, but when Brianna went to university, they started to drift apart. On the rare occasion, they’d had a coffee, or facetimed each other, but in the last two years, they’d had no contact at all. Needless to say, this was an exciting encounter, and Kameron could barely wipe the grin from her face. A chat would be nice, but with a wriggly child on her back, she knew well that there wasn’t a chance of that happening.

“Right, I better head off, but,” Supporting Suzie in one arm again, she reached for her wallet, awkwardly fumbling with it one handed to get a business card, handing it over to the laughing teacher, “My number’s on that, if you ever want meet up? Plus, if you take that to my gym, you get £5 off a session.” “I’ll call you, but I’m not coming to a class, ever.” Giving a quick goodbye hug, then waving to the little girl, she saw her off, “See you later, hope you have fun with the ducks!” “We will!”

Brianna was caught in a bit of a daze as she watched Kameron leave, laughing a little when she had stop to put the kid down, holding her hand and walking her off in the direction of the boating lake. Turning her attention down to the business card, she smiled a little, trying not to laugh at the concept of actually going to a fitness class. The number there was tempting her, and as she considered the call, she was snapped out of her daze by a teaching assistant, coming to collect the registers. She gave her typical goodbyes, before nipping back into the building for a quick meeting, picking up her things on the way out.

Even though talking came naturally in the brief time they were face to face, when Brianna got home, she almost couldn’t bring herself to make the call. She thumbed over the number on the card a couple of times, having already saved it into her phone, thinking of what she would even say. It was a mobile number - if she couldn’t talk, she could text. She still didn’t seem able to convince herself to do it, and put it off under the guise of having to make dinner, then having to clean, then having to get ready for bed. Like a coward, she mocked to herself, she finally sent a text when it was coming up for 10pm, when she was sat in her bed and could feign sleep if for some reason, something went wrong.

B: hey, its bri, sorry i didnt text til now, hope you had fun with the ducks x A reply came through quite quickly. K: hi, yeah we did, you know your her fave teacher? anyway, i need to be up early, ttyl, night x B: goodnight x

Now she was regretting leaving messaging for so long. It would have been nice to talk to Kameron for a bit, but her nerves got the better of her, and she ended up only getting the one message. Kameron had answered fast, and she wondered if she’d been waiting on her. If she was, that would have been sweet, but it didn’t seem likely. Setting her phone down on the bedside table, she heaved a sigh, snuggling up under her covers and pulling a pillow close to her chest. The hard part was out of the way, and she could just worry about talking in the morning. She’d already considered that she had the excuse of teaching her class as why she took a while to answer, but scolded herself for trying to think of excuses before anything bad had even happened. It would do her no favours to freak out preemptively.

When Brianna eventually fell asleep, it was like her brain just shut down to stop her overthinking, and when she stirred in the morning to the sound of her alarm, she didn’t feel like she’d slept at all. Besides, she had to get up at 6am, and that was exhausting enough. Shutting off her alarm, she went about what she normally did on a school morning - shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, then leave in a hurry. She had to get there early enough to set everything up, and that usually meant being there an hour before her class would arrive. It was even worse if there was a morning meeting. Just as she was setting out the door, at around about 7am, her phone went off.

K: morning sunshine! hope you have a good day teaching your class, wondered if you want to get a coffee when youre finished? x B: thanks, of course! have fun exercising if thats possible…… x K: it is!! you might like it if you try it x B: i’d rather teach music for a full day, anyway i have to go or i’ll be late, talk later x Her heart was racing as she set her phone into her pocket. There was now something to look forward, and she could only hope teaching wouldn’t drag all day.