#and Business Calls!!! Bryce my beloved!!

[ghostinacardboardbox]

I’m finally listening to the Workin’ Boys soundtrack and it goes so hard, I’m genuinely sad that the actual film didn’t have time to use the full versions of most of these songs.

[alwaysmychoices]

Where I Think the OH Gang Ends Up - HCs

After 3 books of falling in love with these characters, I thought I’d share my HCs for where these characters end up - including some about Charlie and Ethan’s future. Obviously, this varies because I’m a Ethan romancer, so I could make different versions depending on your LI. Included is where they live, their jobs, and their personal lives. 

If you have any questions/HCs, feel free to reach out, and I hope you enjoy this!

Location: Boston, MA

Career: Diagnostician Specializing in Pediatrics

After her residency, Sienna worked at Edenbrook for a year before deciding to complete a fellowship in Pediatrics at Edenbrook, where she focused on diagnostics in children, particularly in conditions that are rare or difficult to diagnose.

During her fellowship, this field proved difficult mentally and emotionally, but Sienna’s resilience and strength, coupled with her passion for her patients, made her a leading figure in her field.

She stayed on at Edenbrook, where she bridged the gap between pediatrics and diagnostics.

Personal Life:

When all her friends started leaving Boston after residency, Sienna acted as the “glue” holding them together. She organized Zoom calls, visits, and group vacations. She also gets the best gossip as a result.

She stayed close with the whole group and regularly sees those who remained in Boston.

She still goes to see Danny’s mom for coffee and fresh baked goods.

Sienna met her husband through work. Her patient’s fourth-grade class organized a trip to show their support for their classmate. Andy was their teacher. Six months after they started dating, Sienna knew Andy was the one. She was baking cookies for her next meeting with Danny’s mom, and Andy not only offered to go with her but started helping her bake.

The gang is still very protective of Sienna – so much so that they all rushed to meet Andy to see if they approved. After all, only the best could deserve her.

When Sienna and Andy got married, everyone was so happy for them. But they were probably even happier a few years later when they started their family.

It took some adjustments, but Sienna adapted to her new work and family life balance like a pro – even if it meant she barely slept for those first few years.

Location: Boston, MA

Career: Diagnostician, Co-Head of the Diagnostics Team, Department Head

At the culmination of her residency, Charlie Greene probably could have gone anywhere she wanted, but she wanted to stay with her team. Even as she watched some of her friends go off to start new lives, she felt committed to Edenbrook.

However, it would have been easy for Ethan to stifle her career ambitions purely by taking up too much room and not leaving enough for her to grow. He wanted her to prosper though, so he had to step back when necessary.

Over time, the team dynamic shifted so that they were leading it together, so she deserved the title.

She proved to be an excellent doctor, teammate, researcher, and leader. So, when she was named head of the department many years later, it was an honor well deserved – even if it was one she later started to appreciate less once she realized the amount of paperwork involved.

She’s worked hard for everything she’s achieved, and she’s not done achieving it.

Personal Life:

Charlie married Ethan Ramsey, and after everything they’d been through, saying those vows came with a sigh of relief and joy.

Despite conversations about leaving Boston to be closer to family, they never did. Boston had become home.

They started a family with children, dogs, and a townhouse. They invited Ethan’s dad and Charlie’s parents to holidays, and Charlie’s friends had an open invitation to visit her.

It would be wrong to say that everything was easy, but they were happy.

Location: Boston, MA → Stanford, CA → Boston, MA

Career: Researcher & Attending at a Medical School & its Affiliated Hospital

Elijah went straight into research at Edenbrook after his residency. After a few years of learning from his coworkers and growing as a researcher, he published his research. He received the opportunity to leave Edenbrook and join a research team at Stanford University, and it was too good of an offer to pass up.

Elijah spent the next few years researching at Stanford as an academic, but once their research was published, he decided that pure academia wasn’t the right environment for him.

His impeccable research skills and high recommendations earned him job offers at university-affiliated teaching hospitals where he could do research and engage with patients. He accepted a position in Boston that met his research needs and brought him closer to home.

Elijah’s research contributions went on to help countless patients.

He continued to publish his research and lead several teams, all the way until he was leading his very own lab. By the end of his career, he was a top lecturer at a premier medical school.

Personal Life:

At the end of their residency, Elijah was the least afraid of the distance now separating him from his friends. His familiarity with his technology and his love for the gang meant that he was ready to keep them so digitally connected that they hardly noticed the separation.

Still, he missed them. And he missed Boston when he left, too.

Elijah was never too concerned about finding a partner, so he wouldn’t have minded ending up alone. In fact, for a long time, he thought he would.

Then, he met a fellow researcher, Alicia, at a convention. They bonded over their favorite comic books and their work. Though Alicia lived in Connecticut, they started dating, and within a few years, they were married in Boston. A few years later, they had kids and a shared google calendar blocking out their research days and family time.

Location: Miami, FL

Career: Surgeon

As the star resident, Bryce wasn’t particularly surprised when Edenbrook offered him a full-time position at the culmination of his residency. He fully intended it to take it, too.

But then there was the recruiter from Miami. He entertained the offer primarily for his ego, but something about it struck a nerve. One of his career idols was offering to take him under wing there, and even though Bryce had finished his residency, there was still so much he wanted to learn. He only visited to find out more – not because he intended to accept – but Miami allured him. The familiar heat, sea breeze, and electric energy captivated him.

It was a difficult decision, but ultimately, Bryce packed his bags and moved to Miami (even if he secretly cried about it and facetimed his friends constantly).

There, he prospered and honed his skills as a young surgeon.

When MC (Charlie) visits, it’s clear that Bryce and his mentor have a very similar relationship to that of Ethan and Naveen. So, it isn’t a surprise when Bryce assumes his mentor’s role after his retirement and heads the department – nor is it a surprise when Bryce’s surgical prowess became known outside Miami.

Bryce’s favorite achievement is the Lahela Method, a surgical method he developed, perfected, and popularized.

Personal Life:

Having finished his residency two years after everyone else, he thought he would be ready to leave Boston and his friends, but he wasn’t. They had become his family, and even with their strong bond and efforts to stay close, he missed them.

Leaving for Miami was difficult, but he made friends and kept in touch with the gang.

Bryce was too focused on work to ever start a serious relationship. He preferred casual flings and short romances to long-term relationships.

He’d been in Miami for two years when Kyra came into town for her extended visit. She only planned to stay in his guest room for two weeks, but she ended up staying for a month. He didn’t mind. In fact, he encouraged her to stay. He missed her and liked having her around – so much so that he convinced her to move to Miami.

Kyra was always looking for an adventure, and Miami looked like one. She moved in a few blocks from Bryce, and despite her intentions to soak up Miami, they basically spent all their time together.

He wasn’t sure when he fell in love with her.

But he did. Their friendship turned into a friendship with benefits. Then that got complicated with feelings. Then those feelings became more than feelings. And before either knew it, they were irrevocably in love. Despite never wanting to be tied down, they were tied to each other.

Bryce proposed, but it took them over a year to set a date because they were too busy living their crazy lives. They had so many plans – trips they wanted to take, a house they wanted to buy, and kids they might want to have – but they’re finding their way on their adventure.

Location: Miami, FL

Career: Influencer & Author

Though Kyra enjoyed working at Edenbrook (and really liked making money instead of incurring medical debt), she wouldn’t say that working in hospital administration was her dream.

She became restless, and she traded hospital administration for a series of other jobs.

Kyra started posting more and more on social media, and as she became more comfortable, she started being vulnerable about her health, the scars it left, and how she moved forward. She built a community of people experiencing similar things, and it sparked a passion in her.

Kyra dedicated her time to learning about social media to grow her following and continue sharing resources. A few of her posts went viral, and that was the catalyst to start her career.

After sharing content for a while, Kyra had the opportunity to publish her memoirs – a witty, funny look at her life that was inspiring, hilarious, and beloved by many.

Personal Life:

Kyra didn’t just become restless in her professional life. She also became restless in Boston. She did all the things to do in the city – explored all the crevices and exploited all the excitement. Even though she had been in remission for years, she still craved a full and exciting life.

She started traveling, often to the cities where she had friends who let her crash on their couch.

That’s how she got to Miami.

And how she inadvertently fell in love with Bryce Lahela.

Kyra and Bryce loved their life, and they lived it to the fullest. They took risks. They ate interesting dishes, went to exotic locations, and learned new things. They visited their friends and became the cool aunt and uncle to their families.

Kyra stayed in remission. To celebrate five cancer-free years, she and Bryce got matching buzz-cuts. On the next anniversary, they got matching tattoos.

Location: Washington D.C.

Career: Diagnostician & Activist

Jackie never intended to become an activist for healthcare reform, but once she stumbled into it, she developed a passion for the work after her unfortunate involvement with Panacea Labs. She even moved to D.C. to pursue lobbying.

She kept working as a diagnostician, but as her involvement in healthcare reform increased, she took a lesser load at the hospital so she could start working as an activist professionally. As a healthcare professional herself, she took her experience and used it to inform her activism and her lobbying to encourage Big Pharma reform.

She also worked with nonprofits to help struggling doctors and med students like herself find resources and emphasize ethics.

A woman on a mission, nothing could stop her.

Personal Life:

Though Jackie found her passion in D.C., she didn’t find the love of her life as easily. She was too busy to make anything work. She stumbled in and out of relationships. Her true companion became her dog and her high-rise apartment.

Jackie might not have been able to maintain a romance, but she maintained her friendships. She visited frequently and adored their children.

She liked being in charge, and she liked having things her way. It probably serves her right to have fallen in love with the only woman more stubborn than her.

Sonia was a public service lawyer, and she and Jackie spent their time bickering and adoring each other. They were both career-driven and supported each other’s mission.

Location: New York City, NY

Career: Head of Diagnostics

Aurora spent her time in Boston making peace with her aunt’s legacy, but at the end of Aurora’s residency, she was ready to start her career and make a mark of her own.

In New York, she started working for a diagnostics department, and she earned a spot on the diagnostics team once it was formed. She worked hard. She made a name for herself. She proved that Harper wasn’t the only Dr. Emery to keep an eye on.

Once on the team, she helped elevate it to the point that it rivaled her own hospital, Edenbrook. She often came into contact with her friend, MC (Charlie). The teams even competed on occasion.

Aurora beat MC by becoming the first to head a diagnostics team.

She was an excellent leader and an exemplary physician. The team prospered, and the rivalry with Edenbrook playfully continued.

Personal Life:

For Aurora, career and academic efforts came easily, but interpersonal affairs were treacherous. Still, after finding friends in Boston, she was determined to maintain those friendships and develop new ones in New York.

The friends she made in residency were now her family, and she kept in touch.

In New York, Aurora was slow to make friends, but she did. She formed a close bond with her team and shared an apartment with a team member for a time.

Like her aunt, Aurora went without romantic commitment – until she started research with Dr. Alice Montgomery. Aurora fell head over heels, and despite a few stops and starts, they started a happy, healthy relationship.

Location: Boston, MA → Brazil → Boston, MA

Career: Physical Therapist at Edenbrook

Personal Life

Rafael took the big leap and moved to Brazil. He spent two amazing years living in Brazil, traveling and making unforgettable memories before moving back to Boston.

Once back, he thought about saving up for more travels and spending his young adulthood moving around the globe, but after he got home, he couldn’t bear to leave for that long again. He opted for vacations instead and reinvested in his community.

Leaving his childhood neighborhood didn’t stop him from being an active community member. He volunteered regularly and made friends almost everywhere he went.

Of course, he also went back to his neighborhood to see his family regularly, but he liked having the independence of his own place and his own community.

Once he married and started talking about having children, Raf moved back to his childhood neighborhood so he could raise his child with the same level of community and love he experienced.

When everyone came back into town, they always stopped by his place for good food and an even better friend.

He stayed in touch with everyone, especially during his travels, and his friends had an open invitation to visit.

[theladyofdeath]

A few thoughts on HOEAB - Hunt, Bryce, and that damn Epilogue.

I mean...obvious spoilers ahead...

Hi, okay, so, I finished Crescent City 1 last night and couldn’t sleep because I was too busy weeping.

First of all, I want you all to know how much I love Danika Fendyr. 

Okay. Now that I got that out.

This whole Bryce x Hunt being endgame business.

Although I am total Hunt trash, our beloved Sarah has been known to never keep love interest #1 (although, technically, Bryce’s first love interest was Connor - RIP bb.). 

 I have a few things to say about Hunt x Bryce being different from those other “first” love interests, but I’ll just skip ahead to the main point here. By mid-story, they already went through some bad shit - those filthy little liars - and they came out the other side stronger together. I mean, not only did Bryce literally wash the blood of Hunt’s murders off him when he couldn’t do it himself (fuck u, Micah) (btw, balled like a baby during that entire chapter - so beautiful), but when Hunt was traded to Sandriel, she literally tried to give up her life so that he could be free. THEN, HUNT LITERALLY JUMPED OUT OF A HELICOPTER AND WAS A HUMAN SHIELD, GETTING BLOWN INTO PIECES, SO THAT SHE WOULD LIVE. AND BEFORE THAT? HE GOT HIS WINGS CHOPPED OFF BECAUSE SOMEONE CALLED HER TRASH AND HE WOULDNT B HEARIN THAT SHIT.

I mean.

That’s not fling material. That’s not one and done toss it away material. That’s mate material right there, bitches. 

#huntforever

Okay. Moving on to that damn epilogue.

I’ve seen a lot of people think that Aidas may be Bryce’s true love interest.

I’m sorry, but (as of right now - of course, things change) I can’t see that happening AT ALL. However, I do believe Aidas is a crucial part of upcoming books, hence his convo with Jesiba in the epilogue.

I feel like Bryce is somehow a descendent of Aidas.

When Aidas was telling Jesiba about Bryce having Theia’s light, he says, “I shall never forget the exact shine and hue of Theia’s light. It is still a song in my blood.” This made me think that Aidas and Theia were lovers at one point, and perhaps are all three connected in some way since Bryce is the only one that has Theia’s light. Which, is why Aidas has always been drawn to Bryce, because she has Theia’s light, and Aidas loved Theia.

However, this part had me thinking that Aidas was Hunt’s father:

Jesiba studied him for a long moment, then frowned. “And Hunt Athalar?”

....

Aidas said at last, “I think Athalar’s father would have been proud.”

[Jesiba] “Sentimental of you.”

So. I think that’s also a possibility. Although, if Aidas isn’t Hunt’s father, I def think that his father is some hella powerful demon (obvs, the man’s a fallen god). 

So.

There’s a few things that caught my attention.

I can confidently say, though, that I cannot wait for the next installment and see Hunt become a free man (angel? mangel?) and also see Aidas’ part in all of this.

ALSO

LEHABAH?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! YOU BRAVE LITTLE FIREY SAINT! SJM HOW FUCKING DARE YOU! SHE WAS A CINNAMON ROLL AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS!

also

Hunt in a sunball cap and sweats? i’ll take 20

[drethanramslay]

A funny thing called Fate: Chapter 1

Pairing: Bryce X MC (Aisha Khurrana)

Word count: 2.6K words

Series Masterlist 

Masterlist

Warning: None really, just some cursing

Author's note: Hello!! I am back with the first chapter of "A funny thing called Fate" and this time this is in Bryce's POV

Like I said last time, there would be time jumps so you will be seeing both- 16 year old Bryce and present day Bryce

Just a word of caution, 16 year old Bryce (according to me) is your typical bad boy who is a jerk and upholds his reputation and prestige as the most important priorities

I decided to take part in @choicesseptemberchallenge20​ the prompt being- LOST

Also decided to take part in @choicesweeklychallenge​ the prompt being "I just... don't know. Honestly."

Both of them will be in bold

TERMS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

-> kanilehua: Motherfucker (I literally googled curse words in Hawaiian language so please forgive me if they are wrong 🤧)

-> okole: Butt/ Ass

-> budhiya: old woman in Hindi

Forgive me if I make any mistakes

10 years ago- Bryce's POV

"Aloha!!" Bryce's cheerful voice ran clear through the hallways as he approached his teammates, instantly capturing the attention of the people.

"Hey Bryce, my man." Jason, his best friend stepped forward and did a complicated handshake with him before patting his back.

"How was the summer?" Kai, his other best friend spoke up as he leaned against the lockers, his dark hair falling on his eyes.

"You know the usual. Practice and stuff. My parents did take us to Australia. The waves there are sweet." Bryce whistled lowly, remembering how he spent numerous days surfing at sea.

"What a lucky bastard. Do you think your parents would adopt me?" Jason asked causing Kai to chuckle.

At this point, they would want anyone but me as their son. A dark look passed on his face but he hid it behind the over cheerful and happy go lucky mask.

"So, what's up with you guys?!" He asked, smoothly changing the topic.

Jason began. "Well I for one, had a fun summer hanging out at the beach, enjoying the sun-"

"-having flings left, right, centre." Kai completed the sentence, snickering.

"As if you weren't the one who fooled around more. You broke so many hearts, Kai!!" Jason rolled his eyes.

"But I finally settled down, unlike your unsettled ass." Kai exclaimed.

"50 bucks you will break up with him in ten days." Kai narrowed his green eyes and smacked the back of Jason’s head. 

"Wow, seems like I have some catching up to do." Bryce smirked.

Kai turned towards Bryce, suddenly serious. "Glad you brought it up. We have a proposition for you."

Bryce incredulously raised his eyebrow.

"Your two o'clock. Short brunette with glasses. Don't be too obvious."

Bryce ran his hand through his long hair and his amber eyes fell on the girl.

He leaned against the locker near Jason.

"What's her deal?"

"Apparently, she joined the school last year and has been on the low. Keeps to herself, certified nerd, teacher's pet and super uptight."

Bryce eyed her and he recognized that she was in his chemistry class last year.

Aisha Khurrana.

"Wait... That's Aisha. She was in my chemistry class last year. Introverted and quiet."

Jason did a double-take. "Wait really? Well, that makes it easier for us."

"Good. I will make y'all talk to her-"

Kai stopped him midway. "Woah, woah, woah. We don't want to interact with her. You are the one doing this."

"Will one of you kanilehua tell me what the fuck is going on?" Bryce asked, getting annoyed.

"After the legendary prank Ano pulled last year, it's time we step up. So while you were tanning your okole in Australia, Jason and I were brainstorming to come up with a better idea."

Jason continued. "So we decided that you could get her fall in love with you before the finals and boom! We could pull the prank on prom."

Bryce's eyed widened. "Woah, don't you think that's extreme?"

Kai rolled his eyes. "Please, Ano humiliated a teacher and exposed that he was having an affair with a junior. I don't think it's that extreme."

"What is this prank you have planned on prom?"

Jason waved his hand. "We haven't worked out the details but we have the entire year to do that. You on the other hand... Are running out of time."

Bryce's eyebrows furrowed. "And why can't either of you take this up?"

"Because Kai here is surprisingly getting cosy with Kaeo the jock from Sunset High while I am on the principal's radar for the shit I did last year. I am this close to getting expelled." Jason enunciated his point by touching his pointer finger and thumb.

"Jas... you're touching your fingers."

"Exactly."  

"So will you take one for the team?”

Bryce sighed. "I just... don't know. Honestly." 

“Bro, this could literally make or break our popularity bro. You don't want to be the laughing stock of the school, do you?" They asked with puppy eyes.

The peer pressure and the need to uphold his reputation as the golden boy made him raise his hands in defeat. His eyes glanced at the losers down the hall, who people were blatantly ignoring.

Definitely don't want to fall in that category.

"Fine. I will do it. But you will owe me."

"That's our boy." The boys whooped as they clapped his back.

Bryce's eyes wandered to his new target, finding her brown eyes staring right back at him. The flecks of hazel shone with curiosity but her face was impassive as if she didn't want to let anyone in.

Well, this is going to be an interesting year, Aisha Khurrana. Bryce thought to himself.

PRESENT

When Bryce woke up this morning, he didn't think his day would turn out this way.

Who would have fucking thought that the one girl you could never get over shows up at the hospital you are a surgical intern at?

Not me.

He was looking forward to this fresh start. A new city where no one knew who he was and he hoped it stayed that way. To hone his craft and become one of the best surgeons in the country. Anything to get rid of the stains on his name.

After Aisha left at the beginning of Junior year of high school, things were hard. Not that anyone was going to believe him but he actually loved her and no matter how many people he hooked up with, no matter how much he drank himself to oblivion, there was just no getting over her.

He often wondered- no believed that he had lost his one shot at love.

You only get one great love and of course, I had to blow it up, and for what? Popularity? Reputation? That already went down the drain because of my beloved dad.

When he finally got his head in the game and things were bearable, the scandal happened towards the end of the Senior year. Sure, he could hide face during the summers, lounging in his gaudy compound. But he could hear the occasional shouts and protests out of the gates of his home, reminding him that he couldn't escape the truth.

To distract himself from his dad going to trial, his mom selling out to the feds and his baby sister crying from the stress, he dove right into his studies, hoping to score well in his SATs so that he could get away from Maui.

But there was still one year of high school left, and that was fucking awful. He was relentlessly bullied at every turn of the corridor, got the stink eye from the teachers and people jumped away from him as if he was a social pariah.

Technically, I was.  

Though his parents were very tight-lipped about the details of the case, it wasn't that hard to get to know more from the internet. And the fact that the people in his school always made it a point to remind him.

Aisha's dad was one of the people who worked for the company that got screwed over by his dad.

Bryce had given up after all these years that he will ever find her again. He often wondered what would he do if he were to meet her again. The apologies he would say and the monologue on how ‘he was never the same after she left’ had been practised over and over again.

But right there she was, half-naked in front of him, completely at the loss of words. His eyes wandered, making sure if it was the same girl from tenth grade. There was a nose piercing and he saw a little ink near a hip.

"Aisha?" He repeated, completely shocked, his jaw dropped. Never in his entire life has he felt the loss of words.

They stared into each other's eyes, chocolate brown eyes meeting his amber ones, completely lost.

But that moment didn't last for long because Jackie shutting the locker made them realize that this was indeed reality.

Aisha managed to snap out of her reverie. "Oh my fucking god, I don't have time for this shit." She rapidly threw on her fresh sets of scrubs and slammed her locker before making a move.

Bryce stepped in her path, blocking her. "What are you doing here?!"

Her eyes snapped up to meet his, the familiar fire and hatred flooding in those brown orbs. "Well, I could ask you the same thing Mr. I-will-become-a-lawyer. Now out of my way, I'm getting late for the orientation." Though she was short (5 feet 3 inches to be precise), she still managed to slam her shoulder against his chest and walk away.

"Oh My God!!" Jackie's voice resounded after a few quiet moments.

"Put a cap on it nose wipe." He muttered as he rubbed the area where Aisha slammed against him.

"I didn't say anything."

"Yeah but that expression says it all." He rolled his eyes as put his stethoscope into his breast pocket.

"But, for real. Who is she?" Jackie asked, inquisitiveness laced in her voice.

Bryce flicked her nose. "I found your nose in my business, why don't you take it right out?"

"Ugh. Fine. Keep your secrets. C'mon, let us get to the orientation before it gets over."

"Yap. Right behind you."  The duo headed towards the main atrium and made their way towards the front so that they could hear the hospital chief. The rest of the interns were already gathered in front of the stairs upon which an impressive, statuesque woman stood and spoke.

That is Dr Harper Emery!! Bryce thought to himself, as the very thought of standing in the very same room as his inspiration made him giddy. He turned to talk but the excitement instantly vanished because thanks to his amazing luck, he ended up standing right next to Aisha.

The universe, what games are you playing against me? Bryce let out a sigh which caught Aisha's attention. She just gave an annoying glance and stared up, as if to ask why was this happening to her.

Both of them turned away from each other and focused on what Dr Emery was saying. "... because as of today, you are no longer students, You are doctors."

Aisha turned towards Jackie and whispered. "Psst. Who is that?"

Jackie whipped her head towards Aisha's short build. "I don't know if you are joking or are serious."

Aisha's ears getting red was the only confirmation Jackie needed. Her jaw dropped and she was physically incapacitated, unable to speak before she finally managed to string together words.

"Seriously? Did you learn medicine in the woods or something?"

Aisha's eyes narrowed and Bryce just knew that if he didn't intervene Aisha would absolutely roast Jackie and her lineage.

So, in a low voice, he spoke up. "That's Harper Emery, the hospital's new chief." A smile made his way on his face as he continued to talk about her. "She's a total badass! World-famous head of neurosurgery before she got promoted."

He turned towards Jackie, smirking. "Guess she's just a scalpel jockey too, huh?"

Giving a Cheshire grin she responded. "She's the only scalpel jockey who deserves rights."

Aisha gave a stiff nod before turning back towards the Chief.

Someone is definitely a ray of sunshine. Bryce thought to himself. His conscience promptly snarked. Bold of you to assume that this isn't your fault.

Brain... Stop. as he shook his head to shake off the guilt that slowly swirled in his chest.

"More will be demanded of you that you've ever experienced. Some of you will buckle under the pressure. Some of you will quit. But some... some of you will thrive."

"Damn... She is so inspiring... I feel like I can do anything." Aisha whispered, her brown eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Well then, can I inspire you to pipe down? I'm trying to listen."

"Can I inspire you to get your ears checked, budhiya?" Jackie looked offended but you could see the glint of amusement and respect in her eyes.

"Girls, can this fight wait until after the speech?" Bryce muttered.

"This is not fighting. This is us bonding scalpel jockey. Get on the same page." Jackie whispered causing Aisha to smirk.

"I give up. But please for the love of everything good can we keep it on the low." He shot a pleading look and they managed to shut up.

"You've been entrusted with a sacred duty: the care and wellbeing of every man, woman and child who enters this hospital. Are you ready?"

The interns promptly burst into applause and they look around, sharing excited smiles with their new colleagues.

Harper Emery raised her hand, to silence the applause. "You'll be introduced to your senior residents tomorrow but for now, you'll be partnering up for your first patients. Your assignments are posted on the board. Good luck, doctors!!"

Bryce swaggered up to his board and searched for his name and found out that he was paired with a Samantha.

Wait for a second... that name sounds fami-

"You?" He swirled around towards the feminine sound and as soon as his eyes landed on her, the memories hit him.

Him running his hands through her hair whilst they kissed passionately against the door of her apartment. Her running her hands down his abs and pulling him by the loops of his belt. Both of them lost in the sensation of each other and Bryce still had the scratch marks on his back to remind him of the amazing night they had the previous day.

"Sam? I didn't know you worked here!!"

"Well fate is a funny thing, isn't it? So apparently we are partners?"

"Yap and we need to take our cases from the residents and be on our way. Are you ready?" Bryce asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

"I was born ready baby." Sam winked as she started pushing her way through the throng of interns and Bryce followed suit.

When they finally were free, Jackie showed up next to him followed by Aisha and another girl who had a striking resemblance to Chief Emery.

"See you later meathead."

"Try not to miss me too much." He winked before glancing towards Aisha. Their eyes met and she immediately looked the other way, chatting with her partner.

"It's a beautiful day to save lives. Let's have some fun, shall we?" Sam asked her eyes twinkling which just made Bryce smile.

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

It was going good so far. He had been allotted two cases that day. One with a routine appendectomy and the second one being a benign tumour removal from the right lung. With a cool, calm collected mind, the two of them diagnosed the patients, raising eyebrows.

"Dr Lahela, what is the treatment plan?" Dr Tanaka, the head of cardiovascular surgery asked.

"Well we are administering her with tumour shrinking drugs like bromocriptine so that we could decrease the size and then after a couple of days we will take her for surgery."

Dr Tanaka gave a nod of appreciation. Sam turned and held the young patient's hand. "Miss, you are in good hands and if you have any more questions you can always ask for us."

"Thank you so much, Dr Anderson."

They stepped out of the room and Bryce shut the door behind them.

"Keep an eye on her and do checks every four hours. Good job." Dr Tanaka turned on his heels and only when he was out of earshot Sam fist-bumped Bryce.

"The surgical society is back at it again."

"God Sam that was awful." He groaned as he pulled his pen out to sign the charts.

"Well, that just means I need to keep thinking of names for the dynamic duo. See you later byeee."

He shook his head and gave the charts to the nurses' station before whistling down the confusing corridors of Edenbrook when suddenly he heard a thud sound from the nearby supply closet.

Must be a doctor who is not having a good day.

He stopped before the door, contemplating whether he should enter or leave but his instinct to help overpowered and he cracked open the door to see Aisha leaning heavily against the racks, her back towards him. Her shoulders were shaking and he could hear her heavy breathing.

He was about to leave unnoticed when Aisha’s voice wafted over to him. “get in or get out. Don’t hold it open.” She glanced towards the door and Bryce knew that he could kiss his unnoticed exit goodbye.

Oh boy. 

Oh? so we have a new character 👀 And um that really wasn't the reunion Bryce was looking forward to lol

And now the supply closet yikes yikes yikes okay now i will shut up heheheh

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[letsfckingdance]

People are going to come at me for this but...

I don't understand all the hate towards Ani.

yall call yourselves feminists but the moment she sleeps with someone you dislike you insult her for it, while it is her business, and her business only, to decide who to sleep with. "my body my choice" remember?

to all those saying sheri would have done a way better job, may I remind you you all hated her in s1 because of what happened to jeff? and also no, she wouldn't have done a better job, we don't know that, she would've done a different job tho, that's sure, she couldn't have had the same point of view Ani had.

i agree it was weird that they immediately made her part of the "inner circle" but it's not her fault so that's not a reason to hate her

every single one of the "good guys" made mistakes, most of them were one of the 13 reasons, so you're all ready to forgive everything Clay does (which btw sometimes was really fucked up) but you're all ready to judge Ani because of her relationship with Bryce (which wasn't even romantic)

ALSO I DON'T SEE ANY OF YOU HATING ON CHLOE FOR LYING AND BEING BRYCE'S GIRLFRIEND (not that she deserves to be hated for that, she has enough to deal with already and she's actually very nice)

representation is important, so yeah the writers could have done a better job with her character but it was actually nice that they decided to make her a huge part of s3

she's actually a really nice person even if i don't agree with every one of her choices

yes she thought clay might have killed bryce, but can you blame her? clay had many reasons to hate him and at that point everyone was accusing everyone of the murder so i don't see your point at all and i don't see any of you hating on Caleb for the same exact reason.

she even helped your beloved boy alex getting away with it (which btw i don't even agree with)

her knowing everything might seem creepy and weird but honestly, to me, that doesn't seem a valid reason to hate on someone

her accent is amazing

she's actually a good friend, before talking to the police, she made sure everyone was ok with what she was going to say

i don't know, i just wanted them to be 13 reasons why Ani is not that bad

You have all the right to have your own opinion on her and to dislike her, but...

Please don't spread hate, even if it's just a fictional character.

[erikacousland]

"Greetings. King Cailan is not in his tent right now." Do you know where the king is? "I believe he's with the Grey Wardens in camp, drinking. He holds them in high regard, you know, as his father did." Tell me about the king. You must see him a lot. "I suppose I do, though he's spending most of his time with the Grey Wardens. He rides with them wherever they go, in fact. Teyrn Loghain sees the king whenever he can and argues with him over coming battles, but the king just waves him off. The king wants to end the Blight with a single huge battle the bards will sing of for centuries. Do you think that's possible?" I have my doubts. "That's how the teyrn feels. He'll do what the king wants in the end, though. The king thought it was funny the teyrn called him reckless. And they fought about the queen." The queen? "She's the teyrn's daughter. He wasn't happy about something she did or the king did... I'm not sure. I probably shouldn't discuss it." Do they fight often? "More than usual, lately. Good thing the teyrn's the only one who can speak to the king like that."

*

"You approach the tent of Teyrn Loghain. State your business." Tell me about Teyrn Loghain. "How can you not know of Loghain? He helped free Ferelden. He was the brains behind King Maric's armies and drove out those damned Orlesians. King Maric rewarded him by making him a teyrn. Can you imagine? A commoner became a high nobleman just like that. Without Loghain, you can bet the king wouldn't be winning against these darkspawn." Is the teyrn inside? What is he doing? "He's inside, but... I don't think it's my place to discuss his activities." Surely you can tell me a little about him. "I suppose... as long as we talk quietly. He and the king have been arguing for days. The teyrn's known the king since he was swaddled, so they don't stand on ceremony. The teyrn speaks his mind, and the king yells right back. Personally, I think the king should do what Teyrn Loghain tells him. Without the teyrn, we wouldn't be doing as well here as we are." I would like an audience with the teyrn, please. "Hmmm. I suppose you have a message for him. Hold on, then..."

*

"Yes, what is it? Ah, you are Duncan's new Grey Warden, I assume."

How do you know that? "His majesty could not contain his excitement after your meeting. How could I *not* hear about you?"

I'm *not* a Grey Warden. Yet. "You impressed his majesty, nonetheless. He could not contain his excitement over your meeting."

"Cailan's fascination with the Wardens goes beyond the ordinary. Are you aware his father brought your order back to Ferelden?" Yes, I've heard that. "Maric respected the Grey Wardens. They have an honored place in the hearts of our people. But Maric would have understood that it takes more than legends to win a battle. That's not an argument I'll repeat here."

VO/Localization Comment(from Dragon Age Toolset): Speaks of Cailan as one might speak of a foolish young nephew. The question is pointed. he has a lot of affection for Maric dismissal, he's a bit weary of all the fighting

"You look familiar. Have I seen you at the Landsmeet?" I've never been out of Highever. "But you are Bryce's daughter. I never forget a face. The king told me of his promise. I am certain he has every intention of following it through."

VO/Localization Comment(from Dragon Age Toolset): what is unsaid: "...should he get the chance, which he won't."

"I don't suppose you'll be riding into the thick of battle with the rest of your fellows, will you?" No, it's not my time to die. (I hope not!) "You are wiser than you look. Now I must return to my task. Pray that our king proves amenable to wisdom, if you're the praying sort." And if he doesn't? "Then simply pray."

You don't seem very fond of him. "He is Maric's son and the leader of my beloved Ferelden. And a very young man. I try to keep that in mind, as should you."

Dragon Age: Origins Screenshots 1920×2160

The Prelude - Ostagar, Part ½: People of Ostagar - 4

"Cailan. He was a bit younger than she was, but Anora would lead him about the palace like a puppy on a leash, deep in adventures together. I believe the two of them once fought an army of ogres in the wine cellar. That was their explanation for all the broken bottles, anyway." 

They was meeting each other in my story before, twice. Last time was a year ago. Erika was 16 and just beginning her reputation as an incredible killer in the battle(most are exaggerated by those people who even never see her). And I think she will remind Loghain a teenager Anora.

[unkindnessofone]

Daft Pretty Boys

dedicating this to the anon who gave me the idea about march trying to move on. please enjoy and let me know what you think because i love you all. also i wrote this entirely on my phone, hope it’s okay.

He was avoiding Raquel Coin which he figured was a good choice. She was the girl that created a wedge between himself and Daphne after all. Sometimes March found himself trying to show off how well he was avoiding the freckle faced girl, but Daphne never seem to notice. Miles and his boyfriend had been adament that if March wanted to have a chance with his former girlfriend that staying away from Raquel was mandatory. March wasn’t sure if pining after the dancer was hopeless or not, but his mum told him to keep out of trouble, so that’s what he was trying to do.

He had grown accustom to Daphne driving him to and from school, so much so that skateboarding to and from had started to feel like a chore. At the start of the school year, he would slide into the back seat of Taylor’s car despite his twin brother’s objections. However, these days, Taylor wasn’t offering them to Miles much and March didn’t want to pry and frustrate his brother. Rain was drenching the city though when he was let out of his final class and March wasn’t about to skate through it. He checked his phone, expecting a text from his mom offering him a ride, but was greeted by a gossipy message about his biology teacher from his friend and a video message from his sister that he couldn’t watch until he had WiFi anyway.

March figured anyone would do what he did when Afton Hammersley, a senior with pink hair and a trust fund the size of her breasts offered him a ride from inside the East doors.

Before Daphne took over his life with her chocolate eyes and secret smiles, March felt like he could have had any girl in their class and probably then some. He flirted as natural as he cracked his toes under the covers in the morning. He spent more time kissing his classmates in the parking lot than he ever did in class which nobody freaked out too much about since he never failed an assignment. Afton used to be one of his favorite people to flirt with. She seemed unattainable because she was older and when she laughed at his jokes, he could never tell if she was being genuine or not. She ignored him once he was committed to Daphne, once teasing him that he was off the market, and then not much taking interest in him after that.

March rested his beloved long board in her backseat with his backpack and hopped into the front, already wet as a golden retriever that just hopped out of a backyard bath. He laughed along with Afton as she turned on her car, let the screaming music fill it along with the chip bags and fast food reminents, and took off in the rain.

“Do you have something to get home to?” She asked in monotone, flicking her tongue’s tip against the back of her teeth.

“No.” Honesty, March replied. He was going to cruise around with Bryce and Cooper, but that was when the sun was out. He hadn’t texted them yet to see what was going on.

“Do you want to hang out a bit? I have to study, but I don’t want to.” Afton spoke through a song that they both loved. March had listened to it more times than he could count when he was laying in bed, hating the world and Daphne choosing not to be with him. It was an angry song and that was all he wanted from his music at the time.

“Yeah, whatever.” Chronically cool, March agreed with shrugged shoulders. “Sounds good.”

He didn’t think much when she pulled up to the mansion she called home. Everybody knew her mom was her dad’s first wife and had tried to bleed him out during their divorce that went on for over two years. March was mostly blown away with how close she lived to Iden’s mom’s place. He thought it was kind of funny, a few firsts wives on the same block. March figured he had jogged by Afton’s place a good dozen times and never realized it.

He was content to make himself at home on the velvet gold chaise lounge in her front room while she argued with one of the house maids who thought she was her mother before noticing the school uniform, but Afton nodded her head to the side and commanded March to follow her to her bedroom. He was embarrassed when he realized she practically had the whole second floor to herself. The Hemmings family had money, but sometimes March felt like his mom was trying to pretend they lived in the same Minnesota one and a half story she grew up sharing a room and waiting for the shower in.

Afton wasted no time pulling out a fat joint from her bed side table. She threw the plastic bag it was wrapped in on the bed along with a crystal encrusted lighter.

“You can start. I’m going to get out of my uniform.” She said passing by March as he took an uncomfortable seat on the corner of her unmade bed. Her fingers slid across his shirt, right over his chest, before she disappeared into her walk in closet.

Heaving an excited sigh from his gut, March let himself scooch deeper into her bed in order to fiddle the joint out and light it. He figured being as rich as Afton was, she probably bought better stuff than he had before, but Cooper’s dad’s stash never had met him down before. He only taken one hit when Afton returned, making herself known by dragging her hands flat up his back and then knocking off his backwards ball cap in order to mess up his hair teasingly.

“Thank you.” She almost sang as he looks behind himself to see her, offering her her joint.

She did look more comfortable in yoga pants and a red t shirt with a rhinestone brand over the breasts that he didn’t recognize. March really just liked the shape beneath the logo. They weren’t Daphne’s breasts, a perfect handful that just spilled a little out of his hands. Afton had what he and his friends referred to as “bowling balls”. 

He tried not to stare though and looked at the purple septum piercing she had put in when she went to change. Afton was the second person he ever smoked pot with, in a parking lot at the community center in March’s neighborhood so it didn’t feel weird smoking with her now. His first time had been on the beach with his sister’s friends and Connor, it stressed him out too much for it to be fun knowing that his big sister with her space buns was watching even if she didn’t seem to care.

“Is it weird … ” She leaned back on one hand and offered him another hit. She peeked March’s interest, giving her a little bit of eye contact from the blue eyes his dad gave him. “Not being with Daphne?” It sounded like Afton wasn’t sure about his former girlfriends name, but he knew she knew what it was.

March glared at her by accident and then hollowed out his cheeks to take a second time in a row, sucking back longer than before.

“I don’t really want to talk about her.” He grumbled while trying to blow a smoke ring, it fell apart before taking any shape though.

“Oh yeah?” Afton’s interest peaked. She always knew March to be lively and fun, seeing him expose any second layer emotion was new to her. “Hurts too much or you just don’t care?” She pushed, taking the joint back as soon as she had her colorful hair tied back into a tight and high ponytail.

“I just don’t want to talk about it.” Again, he repeated and this time his grunt of annoyance was no accident.

“I like you single anyway,” Opening her legs across from him in a wide “V” shape, she tossed her head to the side and declared playfully. “You’re cute.”

Joking around, March showed off his dimples while batting his lashes at her, showing off a cartoony smile.

“And I don’t have to feel bad when you’re single.”

“About what?” His legs mimicked her position as he looked around her room, noting that it was very busy for someone who had a maid.

“About doing this.” She surprised him, his head just turning to see her as she leaned into his chest, globes hard as rock against him, and kissed him with her lips pulling tightly on his. She had put out the joint, but March could care less. Out of reflex, he put his hands on her sides and ran then under the back of her shirt. He hadn’t been intimate with anyone since Daphne dumped him. It felt nice to have any body over his, but Afton Hammersley was especially hot. He didn’t think she was beautiful, but she was sexy. He could tell when she looked at him that he didn’t know half of what she was capable of. She crawled backwards away from him, giggling behind a bit lip, and took the plastic bag and the dish with the joint in it and then reached over to leave it on her bedside table. Just as fast as she had first kissed him, Afton came back, but this time she stayed low and shook her yoga pant clad ass upward while kissing around his groin on the outside of his grey school trousers. They were a thin material and he couldn’t believe he wasn’t rock hard yet.

 Before he took up with Daphne, he definitely had imagined his cock on Afton’s face, septum piercing and all. He reached down to help her as she started to fumble with his button and zipper. March glided his hand outside his underwear, trying to help himself reach full mass. He didn’t want her to see him limp and be unimpressed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you there.” Seeing absolutely no challenge in front of her, Afton assured him from below. Shd encouraged him out of his blue boxer briefs and took her in his hand, warm from being leaned on and then picked at the shaft. It sent a shiver through him, but March still wasn’t hard.He leaned deeper into her row of pillows behind him and shut his eyes, leaning his head back with his hands meeting at his apex. He tried to just relax and it certainly felt good as she bobbed up and down at a speed that seemed practiced and perfected.

“Are you okay?” It had only been a couple minutes, but Afton was feeling a little defeated. This had never happened to her before. She was Afton Hammersley. She held his soft penis in her clutch and looked up at March with a face that shouted, “What the fuck?”

“One second.” March sighed at himself and reached down to give his buddy a hand. He stroked at his wet cock and leaned his head back. He knew it was kind of insulting to the girl between his knees, but he pictures Daphne’s always bright and glossy full lips. He thought of his bashful she looked when they would hide under the blankets on his basement couch, her hand taking it’s time with him, rubbing him outside of his pants while he kissed her neck. He missed the scent of perfume oil behind her ears and the thick tangles of her hair that she would ask so innocently for him to grip when she was blowing him. March was too busy thinking about his ex, his first love, that he hadn’t realized that Afton was blowing him again and moaning with every other saliva soaked slurp. His mind was on Daphne Mind and his mouth was hanging open. It felt good even if it wasn’t Daphne’s tongue on him. He did miss her small hands though. They never ignored his balls when she was down there getting him off.

“This is much better.” Afton moaned while giving her jaw a two second break from his hard cock.Without thinking, March just shushed her. Her voice was deep and reminded him of smoke. When he heard it, it killed his fantasy of his favorite soft spoken Disney princess. For a second, March had forgotten that he and Daphne had even broken up. Afton went back to his cock, reaching for his hand and trying to hint at it to disrobe her as she folded two of his fingers in the waistband of her leggings. March understood the message and reached in, but it felt so different than Daphne’s skin that he started to lose the firmness of his shaft. He slid his hand out from the tight confines of her leggings and kept gripping her stomach. March reminded himself of how much he loved looking down when he was on top and seeing Daphne’s hands in her own hair and her smile growing as he grinded upward inside her. She had taught him everything he felt good at.

“Daph…” He moaned as he started to grow harder again. “Daph, fuck…” His mouth fell open, but his penis was greeted by cold air on both sides as Afton lifted her head off him. His eyes opened and he stares at the senior, wiping spit off her chin and looking him over like he was a disgusting troll. He hadn’t even realized what he did.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” She rolled her eyes at him.“What?” He was genuinely confused.“You just called me Daph. You are thinking of that loser!” She didn’t know Daphne personally, but Afton felt confident that if Daphne Hood was worth knowing, they would be friends.

“Whoa.” March wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand, he had apparently messed up, but on the other, Afton called Daphne a loser and that made his blood boil. He shimmied back into his underwear, tucking his wet half mass in the fabric and then jumped up. She wasn’t fighting him on it either. 

“You should be flattered. Daphne is amazing.” He tried to both cover up his mistake and defended his ex at the same time. March decided to leave out that she also happened to be able to make him hard as rock by just walking in a room.“Get the fuck out!” Afton whipped one of her pillows at him, one that he had been leaning into while she went down on him.

“Fuck you, March!” She yelled while he ran out of her room, taking the stairs by two as he tried to zip up his u from pants. March grabbed his backpack and long board by the door and ran out as Afton was still cussing him out from her bedroom door.The rain hadn’t let up, but he rushed into it and headed home on his board. He knew he would be soaked through once he was home, but March was too distracted by the music in his headphones and trying not to slip off his wet board.

* * *********************************

It had been at the suggestion of a couple’s counsellor many years ago, when the twins were born and their marriage was vulnerable, that they plan date nights for one another. There had been times in their relationship where it wasn’t possible especially when Luke was away, but they made it a point whenever they were the same place to do it. Tonight was Cagney’s turn, Luke waiting for her to finish getting ready for the last fifteen minutes. She had gone to a spin class with Skye first and insisted that she needed to shower before they go. Even though Luke didn’t have a hot clue where they were going, he was ready.

“This is so lame.” Miles sighed as soon as he saw his Dad, losing the vim and vigor from his body once he saw his dad fixing his hair in the hallway mirror. “My parents are going out and I’m staying in. Alone.” He checked his cell phone that he had been holding since he came home from class, eager to see if Taylor had answered him yet. It had been two hours. Summer was perfect, but now that his boyfriend was in his first year of college while Miles was still finishing school, things had changed drastically.

“Is Wendesday a hot date?” Luke backed away from the mirror, making sure his hair was still looking suave from a distance.

“It could be if Taylor answered me.” Miles mumbled mostly to himself, going into the living room to try to distract himself with the TV. “He started college and now he’s always busy.” Miles wasn’t trying to hide his feelings of resentment at all.

“Hey, it’s a big adjustment.” Luke tried to reason, standing behind the couch his kid had fallen on and turned into a bed.

“You didn’t go to school.” Miles reminded him, raising his brow and changing the channel to see what sports game was on.

“Okay, well I’ve heard it’s a big adjustment. I know people who have.” Skye, Molly, Penelope, and of course his two older brothers had degrees they were quite proud of. “Isn’t this, like, exam time?”

“Yeah, but he’s been blowing me off since school started pretty much.” Miles yawned as he cuddled his shoulder into a throw pillow, content to watch the rugby game highlights before a basketball game. “We are supposed to get dinner with Molly and Flynn when they come in - ” With the remote, Miles pointed at the player that Molly had somehow wrapped around her finger.

“His arms … Is he on steroids, do you think?” Behind Miles, Luke stared at the television and wondered.

“I could ask for you, but I can’t get an answer out of Taylor. He said he would go, but forgot that he did and now isn’t sure he can make it.” Miles complained, frustrated.

“You could take someone else.” Luke suggested. “March?”

Miles didn’t show any signs of accepting the suggestion. It didn’t sound like much of a double date with his friend if he brought his twin brother with him.

“You know, Miles, there’s lots of guys and girls that think you’re great - ” Luke couldn’t ignore the way other people in the bleachers stared at his son’s football games or swim meets when he removed his shirt. He always rolled his eyes at the attention Miles drew without realizing, but Luke was sort of flattered so many people were interested in his kid. He sometimes wanted to brag that he made that even though he couldn’t take any credit for Miles chiseled stomach and defined legs.

“Dad, I’m not breaking up with Taylor. I’m just annoyed.” Muting the TV, Miles sat up slightly and looked at his Dad. “and I think I might just be gay. I don’t know.” He had been thinking about it a lot lately and he didn’t feel the same way about girls as he once did. Sure, he always found a beautiful face in a busy crowd, but it didn’t illicit the same feelings it did when he was chatting with a hot guy at the pool. He liked girls, but he didn’t feel any desire to be with them anymore. Miles really wasn’t sure yet though because he really only found himself attracted to Taylor.

Luke just nodded, not at all bothered or even surprised by what his son was saying.

“That’s not true!” Surprising them both, Cagney almost sang as she slid into the living room. Both Miles and Luke whipped their heads around, confused by her response to their conversation. “You’re not just gay!” She insisted. “You’re an excellent swimmer, a good friend, a great brother older and younger, and a lovely son.” She cheered him on, smiling proudly from ear to ear as she finished putting on her left earring, a hoop designed by Simone.

“Thanks, Mum.” Miles moaned and turned back around on the couch, giving the screen his attention again.

The front door slammed shut and March almost ran right upstairs, but his mom smelled him like a wet dog and caught him before he could even slide his shoes off.

“You’re drenched!” Revealing the obvious, Cagney scolded him. “March, where were you?” She had just assumed he was out with some of his many friends.

“At school.” He took off his soaked hat and shook his wet hair. His sweater and school shirt were heavy from the rain and stuck to his body just as his uniform pants were. “Why didn’t you call for a ride?”

“Or get a ride with your brother.” Luke suggested, leaning back to peek at his kid who was dragging water deeper into the house.

“Miles doesn’t have a spare when I do.” He explained while wiggling his arms from his sweater and instinctively handing it to his mom. “Why don’t you guys just be normal parents and buy me a car?” Bringing up a conversation that they had all had multiple times, March asked with wide eyes questioning his mother personally.

“If you want a car, you have to buy it yourself. That’s the way I grew up and - ”

March wasted no time cutting his mom off with some truth, “You didn’t buy a car until you and Dad got together.” He started to peel off his pants right at the front door.

“Then stop complaining and marry rich.” Uninterested in arguing with her teenager, Cagney fixed him with a nose twitch before walking away with his entire uniform in hand, carrying it downstairs to the laundry room.

In his boxer briefs that were also stuck to his body and leaving nothing to the imagination, March headed over to his brother and dad, jumping down on the other couch, the leather one, and laying down happily in his underwear.

“Date night!” March hollered into the air like a sports announcer. “Where are you guys going?” Half interested, he asked while watching staring at the TV.

“I don’t know. It’s your mom’s pick.” Luke sighed, annoyed that he was still waiting. He had prettied himself up and out on after shave, but he was starting to feel like he might turn into a pumpkin if he had to wait any longer. “Are you going out tonight?” Since his house party, March had been in better spirits. He wasn’t spending all his time resting in his own filth. He was back to being a social butterfly in a skateboard.

“Miles, what are we doing tonight?” After the experience he and his penis had just had at Afton’s place, March just wanted to stay in. He also knew that Miles was going through a weird phase with his boyfriend that left him staying in a lot lately.

“Eating our feelings.” Miles didn’t even move or acknowledge March as he answered.

“Pizza? Indian? Sushi? Or are you going to be a total loser and cry into a tub of ice cream? I can get behind that.” March joked, trying his best to show any indication that he had just come from an embarrassing moment with a very cool girl.

“Start with peanut stir fry and crab rangoon from Vietiane, chicken fingers from Mitzi’s, and then just make milkshakes here. Peanut butter and chocolate.” Just like he used to when they were kids, Miles turned to March with eyes almost glowing and spoke to him like he was the k my other person in the room, even when he wasn’t.

“That sounds really good.” Cagney re-appeared and said before throwing a clean t shirt and sweatpants at March, landing right on his knees. She always knew whose clothes belonged to who.

“Do you want to go on a date with me or hang out with our garbage compactors?” Very seriously, Luke asked his wife with impatient blue eyes.

“You’ve never had a cheat day with Miles.” She began to explain to him, snaking an arm behind his back and pulling him close. “They’re an experience like no other.” Their middle child adhered to a strict diet for swimming, but once a month usually when he was in a bad mood, he gave himself permission to be like any and all of the children in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Cagney loved getting in on the action when she could. She knew that it was very likely she was the one who taught her kids to eat when they are sad with always having a pizza night before Luke would leave or curl up with a box of chocolates in bed on her first night alone. 

“Okay, we are going. No house parties!” More just to tease them, she called out over her clapped hands. “No sex and if you’re going to throw up all your food, use the basement washroom.” It was the one that the kids and Luke mostly occupied. She only ever used her en suite.

“Don’t make any more babies!” March called from the couch as his parents started to walk away to the front door. He was mostly just bugging them, but he did very much love being their baby.

“Have her home by curfew!” Miles joined, almost hearing their dad roll their eyes in response.

“Bye!” In an out of sync chorus, Luke and Cagney left their twins alone, going out for time where they could spend on each other and not trying to run their work and children’s lives. Luke played it cool, but he always looked forward to them.

“I’m going to order.” As he slid his legs into the sweats his mom brought, March told his brother and jumped to his feet to go find his cell phone in his wet backpack by the door. “Taylor still ignoring you?” March called by the door.

“He’s not ignoring me. He’s just busy with school.”

“Yeah, I once told Daphne I was busy with school and I was ignoring her.” March bluntly stated as he went back to the couch and started looking online for the menu of their favorite Thai place. He didn’t like recalling one of the stupider decisions he made, but it was true. At the time, he was trying to sort out what he wanted and blowing off the gorgeous tiny dancer.

“He’s not hanging out with Raquel Coin if that’s what you’re getting at.” Grouchily, Miles retorted and rolled his eyes at his brother. “I don’t know where he’s at because we never see each other anymore. It’s really annoying because if he’s busy, cool, but are you too busy to be my boyfriend? Just tell me!” He vented. It reminded him of when they had bunk beds at their place in California and would stay up all night as kids telling different monster stories to one another and laughing at their bad attempts at making scary noises

.“Just ask him.” March shrugged. He really didn’t see the big deal.

“I’m trying not to bug him.”

“I can ask him.” Again, March shrugged. “I can call him right now.” Cool as a cucumber, March held his phone up to his ear and watched as Miles jumped up hastily. He went from lazy to freaking out in a single nanosecond.

“You better be calling for take out!” He grew up with March, but still could never tell when he was messing around or being serious. “March, don’t you fucking dare.“March’s grin grew and grew the more worked up his brother became. Holding out his finger to silence Miles, March stood up and began to walk around the coffee table between them.

“Hi Taylor.” Anticipating the way his brother leaped to his feet and reached for the phone, March laughed. “It’s March Hemmings, the cuter twin, I am calling - ” Between trying not to laugh and running away from his brother, March could barely get his words out.

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” Miles lunged for him, but March was too slick.

“I am calling to say,” He chuckled and began to run out of the living room and around the kitchen island. “Stop ignoring my brother! He is delicate and sad and deserves better!” He added on a word every time he caught a glimpse of Miles shooting daggers at him through his eyes. He could tell from the corner of his brother’s mouth that he was lightly amused. “Okay, can’t wait to hear from you. Love you!” He blew a loud kiss and hung up, falling to the ground as Miles finally landed a successful tackle, knocking them both into the fridge.

“You’re such a Gomer!” Quoting their big sister, Miles half laughed as he released March. “He’s going to think I’m sitting at home and pouting.”

“You are.” Still chuckling, March sat up and leaned his back against the fridge, a magnet of Penelope’s second grade photo with her two missing front teeth wedging into his spine between the shoulders.

“Yeah, well I don’t want him to know that.”

“Order whatever.” He handed his phone over to Miles and went to playing with his damp hair.Right away, Miles noticed March’s background was of his brother and Daphne. A silly selfie with their faces squished together as they say on a plane together, going somewhere to see their dads perform. It crossed his mind to rib his brother, but decided against it. Daphne was a sensitive subject with March.

“Where were you actually? You weren’t at school.” Miles knew that for a fact.

“Getting a blowjob from Afton. Hammersley.” He was pretty sure there was just one Afton in their school.

“Fuck off. Really?” Miles was equal parts impressed and grossed out. He never saw what his brother did in the girl with pink hair. He thought she seemed really damaged even though his mom always told him that was not a nice way to describe people.

“Yeah.”

“Any good?” He began to add items into their cart, letting his sadness and stomach harmoniously build them a gluttonous meal.

“Meh.” March jumped up to his feet and shrugged.

 "I wasn’t into it.“ He said instead of saying, ‘I could only get hard when I pictured Daphne’.

"She used to be pretty high on your list.” Miles mused.

“We smoked a bit first. Maybe that’s why. I don’t know.” He was a king at playing it cool. He threw open their stocked fridge and took out a Capri Sun. Even though he wasn’t eleven anymore, his mom still bought them in bulk and March was eternally grateful.

“Or maybe you’re still in love with Daphne.” Miles teased even though he knew it was probably legit.

“Fuck off or I’ll call Taylor again and tell him you’re crying.” March threatened very seriously. Miles took it in stride, sending their order in and letting the joke go. He knew he was right anyway. “Hey, does the pool need in any more lifeguards or anything?”

“You’re not certified.” Miles reminded his brother. He had given up before they were even in junior high unlike Miles who was never a quitter. “I can see if they want someone at the canteen.”

“Thanks.”

“They need tutors at school. They pay pretty well too.” He suggested. While March’s attendance in classes wasn’t great by any means, his grades were exemplary. Miles had no idea how March always did better in their western civilization class because he almost never showed up or stayed awake in it. A light bulb shot off in March’s brain, almost sending pieces of shattered glass off in his skull. Miles was too busy looking at a pizza menu from another spot to see that his brother’s eyes were glowing like a neon sign. This was how he was going to get Daphne back. 

***************************************

On their separate couches, delivery food containers on the coffee table, a greasy napkin on March’s chest, and Chinese take out box between Miles’s knees, the two twins were knocked out cold in matching food comas while the world news played in front of them on TV. They were blanketed under illuminating blue light as Cagney quickly pulled her phone from her purse to snap a picture. She had a hunch their sister in Paris would want to see what she was missing out on back home.

“Do you think you could carry them both up the stairs to bed like you used to?” Wistfully, Cagney asked with nostalgic laughter. They could never stay awake through a whole evening movie. March was particularly bad for falling asleep in cinemas as a little boy.

Luke just shook his head. He could, maybe, toss March over his shoulder without totally throwing out his back, but Miles was too strong for him to lift anymore. Those days are gone.

“I can barely drag them anymore.” Luke mused in response. He walked through from his sleeping twins and looked over what was left on the kitchen table, helping himself to cold chicken satay before sitting by Miles’s bare feet.

“Mom take you somewhere nice?” March curled o to his side, the napkin slipping off of him and into the floor, as he asked without opening his eyes.

“Yeah, she did” Smiling from March  over to his wife, Luke confirmed while chewing on the chicken bite.  "We went to a movie.“

"Mom!” March shouted, but he still didn’t open his eyes. “Lame!”

“I wanted to see it and your dad loves movie theater popcorn! It’s a win win.” Cagney knew it wasn’t inventive, but it did get them out of the house together. When the kids were small and Luke was still touring constantly, they would sometimes just go for walks together or to the hotel lobby cafe for coffee and a piece of cake. Luke had a tendency to knock his date night choices out of the park with concert tickets, surprising Cagney with trips, and once taking her to Sephora to get whatever she wanted, but for Cagney, she just liked to set aside time for the two of them - no matter what they did.

“At least Mom texts you back.” Practically sleep talking, Miles pouted.

Cagney and Luke exchanged worried looks over their sleeping boys. They didn’t like the idea of weathering another break up. March had just started to bounce back into being his old self, but he had crashed as hard as he could when his relationship with Daphne ended. Cagney didn’t know why exactly, perhaps because he was more openly sensitive, but she suspected that Miles would take his relationship ending even worse. She was trying to remain optimistic that Taylor was just overwhelmed with college and not practicing good communication skills.

“Hey.” Luke reached behind him once his chicken satay was finished and shook at Miles’s leg, “Go to bed.” He said and kept shaking Miles until he heard a groan come from behind the teen’s shut lips. “Come on.” Luke encouraged as he watched Miles take his time getting up. March, across from them, followed suit as his mom kisses the top of his head and turned off the TV.

“Goodnight.” Cagney managed to sneak in a kiss on Miles’s cheek before he dragged himself up to his room. Once both boys were gone, Luke stood up and looked over their mess. He knew he should leave it for them to clean up, but he also knew it would drive him crazy left out. He reached down to begin cleaning up, but Cagney clearing her throat made him pause.

“Date night isn’t over.” With a sneaky smile that always brought him good news, she surprised him.

“Oh yeah?” She had his full attention now. “Do tell.” He came closer to where she was, dropping two empty orange soda cans in the recycling bin by the back door, waiting to be taken out.

“Shower time.” She winked and reached for his hand as she came closer, Luke bringing her in tightly for a kiss and staring up at her moment. He loved when she massages his sculpt in the shower. Her hands had always played an important role in their relationship from washing his hair, giving him comforting squeezes backstage, offering silent support in loud mobs, and sliding under his back as she fell asleep beside him. At this point in  their  lives together, Luke knew where showering with her was going to go, but he still felt excited at the prospect of soaping up each other’s body and her fingers running through his locks.

*************************************************

He had spent the whole morning yawning through his classes, so he was looking forward to a long lunch where he could sleep at one of the big wooden cafeteria tables. If he was lucky, he would find a pretty girl’s lap to use as a pillow. It seemed to March that Afton hadn’t shared gossip about their hook up with anyone. She must have been too embarrassed about the ordeal herself. March cruised by the main floor multi-purposs room of his fancy private school. It was busy because it was lunch, but he could find Daphne in any crowded room. Her hair was down, but pinned back with her front thick tendrils. She had little makeup on, looking tired herself, but her mouth was still painted with a bright violet color. He waved through the window, but she didn’t look up from her textbook. March mustered up enough energy to enter the room, the teacher who ran the tutoring program sitting at the front with a paper bag lunch on her desk. He had asked Miles to drop off his application for him after bugging him to fill it out over their light breakfast of just grapefruit and granola. They are too full still from their food party the night before.

“Hey Mrs. Dilworth…” March approached the front of the desk cautiously, still paying more attention to his ex at the other side of the room. The teacher he had never had before, but recognized from going to the school since kindergarten looked up and bowed her chin to him. She was swallowing her coffee sip right as he arrived. Mrs. Dilworth’s wirey and grey brows greeted him back though, raising with excitement as she started to stand up. “I dropped off an application this morning for the tutoring program…” Well, he sort of did. Miles had filled it in for him and they were sometimes mistaken for one another.

“You did.” As soon as her coffee was down her throat, she gasped with comfort and excitement. He had never heard any student say anything particularly vile about her. She mostly worked the tutoring program and with the elementary years in the other building on the program. Miles hadn’t gone there since he had to because his classes were there. He didn’t feel try nostalgia for younger days like many people seemed to. He had spent a lot of his summer wishing he could go back in time that now he was trying to push forward even if he was still chasing Daphne Hood. “I’m really glad you’re interested in that program. People seem to really admire you.” He wondered if, maybe, she was mixing him up with Miles but he also hoped that Daphne overheard her compliment. It didn’t seem like she did though.

“Do I have to interview? When’s the start date?” He rocked back and forth on his feet and drummed his fingers against the surface of her desk closest to him. March couldn’t concentrate for long, always checking over his shoulder to look at Daphne. He frowned as his math teacher from last year joined her, earning a wide welcoming smile that he wanted for himself.

“I have to run it by the headmaster.” March didn’t feel confident about that. He didn’t have a shining record, but he did have a record. “And then if you wanted to come back here around 3, the parents will meet you as well as the student.” Parents who enrolled their kids in the tutoring program paid extra on the already substantial tuition, March supposed it made sense that they would have to approve the assigned tutor for their kid. He didn’t know how Calum and Skye felt about him any more. He hadn’t ran into them almost on purpose. It left March wondering if they ever liked him or just tolerated him because they had to since he was Luke’s kid and he was coming on tour whether or not they liked it.

“Sounds good. See you here at 3.” March knocked on her desk top and committed. “Thanks.” He nodded his pronounced chin at her to say goodbye and left, glancing once more at Daphne as she played with a fly away hair and tried to listen to the teacher pointing into her textbook.

Since it was nice out, Miles took to the football field for lunch. The grounds were still squishy and damp from the rain the night before, so they opted to sit around the bleachers while they ate. Miles was working on a sandwich that he had made that morning, laughing in between bites as the two Luna’s he was friends with ripped jokes about the class they had just left. School was a blessing to Miles. He was distracted by his desire to do well and by his funny friends. He didn’t find himself thinking about his boyfriend nonstop. It wasn’t as if he could check his phone while in class and he had forgotten to on his way to the football field for lunch. His hands were full and Luna A was dancing around in order to make him crack up.

The large bite of his salami sandwich almost dropped out of his mouth when Taylor appeared from the parking lot, walking right onto the field. He looked tired, but still put together. To Miles, he always looked like a God in bootcut blue jeans.

“One second.” He excused himself, leaving his backpack and open Capri Sun behind. Miles jogged over the watery field. As soon as he saw Miles coming toward him, Taylor stopped and waited by the metal post that seperated the car lot from the field. “What are you doing here?” Confused delight lit up his face as he approached his boyfriend, Taylor sealing the small space between them to lean in for a kiss. They were never known for PDA, but he didn’t like saying ‘hi’ to Miles without some lip service.

“I texted you this morning. I’ve been feeling bad about ditching you so much. I only have one morning class on Fridays now, I dropped anatomy.” He was taking a smattering of classes to try and figure out what he liked. “Can I take you to lunch?”

Miles checked behind him and looked over his friends, two of them waving while the other three were eating and chatting still.

“I only have a half hour left ” It wasn’t as if he couldn’t skip his next class, but he didn’t think a guy who couldn’t find the time to text him back was really worth the sacrifice as much as he wanted to go.

“Okay. What about next Friday? Maybe that could be a standing date since our schedules aren’t lining up right now.” Taylor wasn’t working as a life guard anymore with going to college. So between Miles football games and part time job and then his school schedule, it felt challenging to see one another. Taylor was exhausted by the time the day was done.

“That works. Yeah!” Very excited, Miles agreed. “I was freaking out that you came here to break up,” Taylor looked at him like he was nuts. “Or you were freaked out by the voicemail March left you.”

“I don’t have voicemail.” Again, Taylor looked at his boyfriend like he was growing a second face. Why would he have an outdated service? Miles fumed through his nostrils when he put together that his brother hadn’t been talking to anyone on the phone last night. He had just been making fun of Miles. “I’m going to come to your game tonight, okay? Then we can hang out after if you’re up for it. I feel like a shithead being so busy with assignments.” Taylor wasn’t feeling like college was for him. He was miserable there.

“Well you have been a shithead.” Miles laughed it off, but he was being sincere. He leaned in close, both arms around his boyfriend’s waist, and kissed him again, this time to say more than just hello. “Do you want to come sit with everybody?” At this point, Taylor already was acquainted with Miles’s core group even though he was a mingler and had friends everywhere.

Nodding, Taylor agreed. Once he was released from Miles embraces, he hung his arm around his boyfriend’s shoulder and walked hip to hip with him back to the field. Hopefully, they could stay together this year without seeing one another every day like they did through the summer.

*******************

March was feeling rather proud of himself. He looked over his reflection in the window facing the parking lot and played with the bright blue lanyard that Mrs. Dilworth had bestowed around his neck. He pulled on it and jingled the keys that gave him access to school supplies and the cleaning cupboard as well as a few classrooms if necessary. While the root of him applying to be a tutor was to weasel in some more time with Daphne, he was thrilled to have a job. It gave him a weird sense of purpose that prompted him to text his mom and tell her that he had been hired somewhere. She only responded with a thumbs up emoji, a stack  of money, and two different car emojis to follow. Miles had slightly embellished the pay though. It was just minimum wage, still it felt cooler than living off his parents.

He leaned his butt against the desk that Mrs. Dilworth had vacated. March kept playing with the keys while staring at the room, his blue eyes finding Daphne as soon as she entered. She was always there on Fridays as part of a promise she made to her Dad to improve her grades by Christmas.

“Hi…” She looked amused as she approach March, carrying a honey and chocolate granola bar on top of the text book she had in both hands. “What are you doing here?” He never even came in there to hang out with her when they were together. March’s grades were fine.

“I’m a tutor.” He shook at his keys again and wiggled his full brows at her. “Just waiting to be assigned.” He smiled and slid across the desk to be closer to her, noticing she had her math textbook in hand. It always was her worst subject. “Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll help you with algebra.” He poked at its cover. Daphne shook her head ‘no’, her hair cascading in front of her shoulders as she did.

“Probably not because I’m not eight years old.” She nodded at the lanyard he liked so much before walking away. He saw her head to a table full of high school students, the two tutors sitting there with black lanyards around their neck. In a panic, March started to look around for a poster or note on one of three whiteboards. He hadn’t been filled in on the color system. What was the difference between blue and black? “I’ll drive you home though.” She offered as she began to sit, handing one of the tutors her textbook as she did.

March only nodded, still confused as to what was going on. He needed to be in the same group as Daphne or, at the very least, the same room. He looked out the window and linked eyes with Mrs. Dilwoth, her Mrs.Potts disposition putting him at ease as she waved at him to join her in the hall. When he did, he saw a very young girl, maybe seven, on the wooden bench behind Mrs. Dilworth. She had her arms crossed annoyed over her chest and was kicking at the air constantly with the both legs.

“March, this is Gia.” A big smile plastered on her face, Mrs. Dilworth stepped to the side and led March to the elementary aged girl with her arm. “Gia, March is going to help with you catch up with math today.”

The tutor and the student looked equally unhappy with the situation. Gia refused to acknowledge March. She grumbled inaudibly and stuffed the lower part of her face into her folded arms. March just stood blankly and followed Mrs. Dilworth as she led him a few paces away, closer to the hallway of lockers.

“I didn’t know that I had signed up to be with kids.” Considering himself more of a young adult, he stated. This had to be some kind of mistake. He didn’t sign up to be a babysitter.

“We thought you and Gia would be a great fit.” She expressed with her hands moving with excitement between her and March. “Gia can get overwhelmed with energy in class, so she is able to leave and run around or play in the gym just to get her energy out in a positive away.” She explained, trying to politely express what kind of autism the grade two student had. “So she misses a lot of class and isn’t able to catch up. She currently reads at a preschool level.” March felt a stress headache come on and he reached up to pinch between his brows did like his dad and Grandpa Hemmings did when they were feeling uneasy. “Her parents were thrilled we found someone to help.” Applying pressure to March with her words, Mrs. Dilworth strongly pressed her grin toward March.

“I didn’t -” He started to object, but he spotted the little girl whining and wiggling on the bench and caved in with a sigh. “Okay.”

“I’ve set up a private classroom for you two.” She didn’t want Gia being distracted. “Don’t be afraid to be creative. If she needs to sit on a yoga ball and bounce in order to learn, that’s okay.” The teacher explained as she walked March back up to Gia. “Ready, Miss Black?” She offered the little girl her hand, but she only took it reluctantly. As March followed behind the two females, he looked longingly into the window where he watched Daphne laughing with her table, granola bar open in hand and pencil sharp in the other.

“Okay, what are we doing?” He opened up the small mustard colored binder to find a sheet of addition questions that had been crinkled and scribbled on. “Alright, this is easy.” He accidentally said as he shuffled his chair closer to Gia. She had both hands fisted through her Dora the Explorer bob and was pouting at the wall. When March finished shuffling near, she yelled at him and jumped out of her chair, running to the next one to leave a space between them. “Okay.” He sighed and reached around his neck to message the tension he was feeling grow. March pushed the paper close to her and reached over this time, checking that his distance was okay before pointing to the first question that hadn’t yet been done. “So, you’ve already done three plus three here, so what would four plus four be?” He tried, knowing that he probably shouldn’t instruct her to use her fingers. It was cute though how Daphne was still using her fingers to count as a teenager. He always found it endearing.

Gia leaned back into the chair, holding its back behind her, and staring at him silently.

“If three plus three is six, it has to be more than that.”

Making him wait, she leaned forward and drew a very uneven 7.

“Well four is one more than three, so you have two fours that is two more.” He tried to explain, doubting himself and how good he was with this. He didn’t think he really knew how to talk to kids. He had never really done it before. His cousins were all older than him and he didn’t make a habit of babysitting like Penelope had with their neighbors the Robinsons. While Gia hesitantly counted her fingers under the table, March looked around the empty science lab they were put in. There was nothing in there that inspired a better way to teach for him. He did notice that her backpack behind them had sequin pink bunnies on it, but before he could consider it, Gia was pressing her face into the table and groaning a long flat note. March felt over his head and almost wanted to join her. He remembered that Mrs. Dilworth told him to be creative and keep her active, so he jumped up from the table and headed to the door. .

“Wanna go for a walk?” He asked through a heavy sigh. March didn’t know what he would do if she turned him down. Thankfully, Gia slid out of her chair and walked right by him. He led then up the stairs to the second floor, walking them in a circle silently as she skipped and hopped in front of him. Her mood seemed to improve the more she wiggled, so March didn’t intervene. It was on their third lap around the floor that he decided to ask her easy addition questions as she jumped. Surprising him the most, it worked. He patted himself on the back proudly and kept going with it. They spent the entire hour walking in a circle and doing kindergarten level math questions. March was mostly pleased that she was getting questions right that she originally didn’t know. When he returned them to the science lab, March decided to fill out her sheet himself. Clearly, she did know the answers even if it wasn’t by sitting there and filling out the paper.

March dropped Gia back to the front bench and reached out to give her a high wave, but she shoved his palm away and headed to the door where her Dad’s mustang was parked. March didn’t know if he was supposed to introduce himself, so he instead watched through the door window as Gia was greeted with a big hug by a man in a crisp suit.

“Ready to go, Mr. Hemmings?” Daphne’s breathy voice asked behind him. He whipped around and almost stuck out his tongue out at her out of reflex.

“That makes me feel like my Dad.” He dramatically grimaced. "I got to get my board from my locker and then we can go.“

 Daphne instinctively turned left, knowing exactly where March’s locker was located.It was quiet between them as Daphne carefully drove out of her spot and onto the road. Usually, she and March went straight into a fluid conversation about their days or what they wanted to do now that was school out. Daphne supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised though. It wasn’t as if anything was how it used to be between them. Still, she wished it was.

"How’d your first session go?” She asked while taking a short cut.

“Weird.” March answered honestly, adjusting his ball cap on his head. He hated that he couldn’t wear it while at school, but it was against their dress code. “I didn’t know it included the elementary school." Then again, he hadn’t known much about the program except that Daphne was a part of it.

"Are you one on one or in a group?” She turned down the ballad playing on her mix to hear him better.

“One on one. This grade two kid. She’s a little weirdo, too.” Insensitively, he told her. “Mrs.D didn’t come right out and call her autistic, but she pretty -”

Daphne didn’t feel passionate about much, not enough to rant, but as someone who had been branded “stupid” by people her whole life, she was inclined to interrupt, “Don’t diagnose someone.” She seriously warned in a whisper. “People used to say Molly was all kinds of things when we were little just because she was socially awkward and introverted.”

“Really?” That was news to March. He never found Molly to be strange. They just didn’t have much in common.

“Yeah and people told my parents I had all kinds of disabilities when I was baby because it took me a long time to walk on my own and speak, but I’m fine.” It had taken her a long time to outgrow the indents from labels other bestowed upon her.

“She’s just a weird kid. She barely talks or looks at me and she has to move around in order to do anything.” He felt like, maybe, him tutoring was a bad idea just because his first evening of it went poorly.

“I didn’t like to read as a kid and I had a hard time with it, so my parents used to write me stories about cookies and mermaids, things I liked so I would be interested.” Daphne explained, trying to inspire her ex boyfriend. “Somewhere on my dad’s laptop there’s still a story about a cookie that count it’s chocolate chips.” For her fifth birthday, Simone illustrated it with colored markers.

“That’s incredibly cute.” March smiled at her profile as she slowed down to stop at the red light. He reached out and plucked a white fluff from her hair, remembering it wasn’t his to touch anymore and instantly taking his hand away and apologizing. “You had a dust thing in it.”

“It’s okay.” In a sneaky fashion, a shy smile climbed onto her face as she sucked in her lips and looked him over. She still liked when he touched her even though she felt like she shouldn’t. She had been the one to call things off between them.

The silence crept back between them as Daphne drove closer to their neighborhood. March was staring out the window, thinking about how to make the most of this ride with Daphne. He wasn’t going to make her fall in love with him again by being a silent passenger. He wondered if he kept up with tutoring if she could drive him home all the time, giving him a private time with her a few times a week. He was trying to think of something to tell her, some random cool fact to bring her attention to him, but instead a bright green building caught his attention.

“Hey, can you drop me off at The Dollar Store?” He asked while sitting up straight and gripping his board.

“Sure.” Daphne didn’t think much of the request. She turned on her signal and waited for the busted up Honda to let her in. “Do you want me to wait?” She didn’t mind. It wasn’t as if she had dance or a family dinner to go to.

“Nah, I’ll skate from here.” March waved her off as he took off his seatbelt before she had stopped the car. Out of reflex, he leaned to his side to kiss her goodbye, but caught himself and jumped out once she as right in front of the store.

He grabbed a plastic green basket and headed down the first aisle. It wasn’t until he was in the third that March found what he was looking for. He took all the bunny stickers off their hook and then grabbed a couple packs of furry friend erasers and tossed them into his basket. He didn’t know much else of what Gia liked, but he bet he could gain her interest with other rabbit things. He threw a hackysack and skipping rope in his basket too, knowing that he would like school better to if he could play with those while he did it. March still wished he had been put with Daphne, but he intended to try with Gia. He didn’t want to fail. He had a hunch others had given up on her before and he knew what it was like to have someone look at you and expect nothing. He was going to try. He told himself he had to make this work.

[jillmckenzie1]

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Hearing the right song at the right moment can be life-changing. It can put the love of your life into hyper-focus, pull you back from the abyss, and give you the confidence to stand up to someone twice your size. The right song can feel like it was written just for you, yet millions of people can relate to it.

Those kinds of songs are not easy to create, much less perform in a way that feels heartfelt. Elton John has been in the business of creating precisely those kinds of songs for decades. Fine, maybe his stuff isn’t necessarily for you, but whether you like his music or not is almost irrelevant. John and his work have permeated our culture so deeply that it’s become iconic, omnipresent.

It’s not only his music, but it’s also John himself that contributed to the myth-making. The man has performed thousands of concerts in scores of countries wearing some wild-ass outfits. He’s consumed gallons of alcohol and ingested a galaxy of drugs. He’s proudly out despite having struggled with his sexuality for decades. My dude has done a lot.

That all means that, sooner or later, somebody would make an Elton John biopic. Not just because he led a technicolor life in drab, grey times, but also because movies about rock stars make frickin’ bank. Last year’s Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody wasn’t very good and still made over $800 million at the box office. Should we expect Rocketman, the new film about Elton John, to be a similar financial juggernaut? Probably not, but pound for pound, it’s a better film.

There’s a somewhat clever notion of introducing us to Elton John (Taron Egerton) as he storms off the stage in a spangly devil costume, marches imperiously down a hallway…and enters an AA meeting. It’s here that he’ll regale us about his life and times.* We see the sub-optimal childhood of Reginald Dwight (Kit Connor and Matthew Illesley). His father Stanley (Steven MacIntosh) is distant and seems to have close to zero interest in him. His mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard) isn’t much better, and she deals with the bitterness of her life through promiscuity and sarcasm.

As much as that all sucks, young Reggie has a few things going for him. The first is that he has the ability to intuitively understand music and copy it on the piano. The second is his grandmother Ivy (Gemma Jones) who believes in him. She encourages him to apply to the Royal Academy of Music. The third is, as a young man, his meeting with budding songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell).

Taupin’s lyrics are clever and emotional, and Reggie puts his nearly mystical ability to work in creating musical arrangements. Their partnership is fruitful. So much so that Reggie’s career starts to explode. Perhaps realizing that the masses aren’t going to rapturously chant, “WE WANT REGINALD DWIGHT,” Reggie changes his name to…drum roll…Elton John.

From there, we see Elton play his legendary show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. Spinning headlines and glittery montages show us Elton sprinting up the charts. He earns gold records, buys lots of stuff, and descends further into drug use. Will his new manager John Reid (Richard Madden) provide him with the love and acceptance he craves? Oh, absolutely not. Can he pull himself out of the abyss in time? Obviously, he’s still alive!

Ready to play the Rock Star Biopic Drinking Game? Take a drink when (insert rock star) demonstrates preternatural musical skill during childhood! Take a drink when (insert rock star) has their big break! Take a drink when (insert rock star) inhales a mountain of cocaine and acts obnoxious! Take a drink when (insert rock star) is told by their friend/lover/spouse/manager/bandmate that, “Maybe you need to slow down.” On second thought, don’t play that game during Rocketman, because if you do, you’ll die.

I used to think that audiences would immediately see through the pandering checking of boxes in so many music biopics and respond with scorn. I’ve since learned two things. First, by and large, audiences don’t care, since they’re showing up to tap their feet along to the greatest hits. That’s why they call it a “jukebox musical,” right? Second, maybe that’s okay if the biopic in question is made with at least a bit of creativity.

Director Dexter Fletcher had a couple of well-played opportunities recently. The first was developing a positive professional relationship with Taron Egerton in 2015’s Eddie the Eagle. The second was saving Bohemian Rhapsody after the firing of disgraced filmmaker Bryan Singer. Together, those got Fletcher the job directing Rocketman. He’s made a great-looking film filled with eye-popping costumes and lush sets. On the one hand, Dexter wisely chose to make a good chunk of the movie a musical, and the moments where the cast spontaneously breaks into song and dance are daring. Additionally, an R-rating allows Dexter to be more open about John’s life and sexuality.**

On the other hand? For every moment where an entire fairground sings “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” we have three or four moments that seem to be playing my beloved Rock Star Biopic Drinking Game. I know that, as a critic, I’m only supposed to review what’s on the screen and not pine for what could have been. But when Fletcher makes a film that lurches between a strong union of filmmaking and music, then awkwardly downshifts to a narrative that’s annoyingly predictable, I’m gonna be a little wistful for what might have been. Could you imagine a full Elton John musical? I can, and that’s a little tragic.

Speaking of music, you’ll remember that Bohemian Rhapsody concluded with Queen’s triumphant live performance at Live Aid, and that decision served to propel the audience out on a high note. Here, the film somewhat obviously ends with “I’m Still Standing.” It’s a pretty good song, but admit it — it’s not your favorite Elton John song. Rocketman needs to end powerfully, instead of merely satisfactorily. Besides, as my wife put it, “I’m Still Standing” isn’t even as good as “Benny and the Jets,” for God’s sake.

The screenplay by Lee Hall doesn’t help much. Much like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman requires exactly zero heavy lifting from the audience. Over and over, the film hammers us with the point that Elton’s self-destructive tendencies come from a desire to be loved and gain approval. That’s fine, and from a psychological approach, that’s probably quite accurate. But instead of spoon-feeding the audience, why couldn’t the script display more sophistication? There’s even a scene during Elton’s AA session that’s so obnoxiously obvious, it took a certain kind of demented courage to make it in the first place. As I’ve said before, and to steal an appropriate line from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the subtext has become text.

You’re probably wondering how the cast manages with such a weird fusion. For the most part, they’re solid. Let’s first talk about Bryce Dallas Howard as Sheila. Howard is a genuinely talented performer, and I’ve seen her do good work, particularly in the lovely Pete’s Dragon. I’m telling you that because she’s extremely miscast here. God knows she tries, but her dodgy English accent and distracting performance don’t do her any favors.

However, she and everyone else is overshadowed by Taron Egerton’s explosive performance. I know, Egerton doesn’t quite look like or sound like Elton John. However, he captures the essence of the man, the brassy confidence used as a shield, the temper tantrums, the moments of artistic genius. It also helps that Egerton did all of his own singing and dancing, and whether he’s pounding away at the piano or quietly walking through a party while singing, he’s magnetic.

As far as I can tell, Rocketman is going to be a success. Since fewer people than ever are physically going to the movies, I’ll take it as a good thing that a quality non-franchise film aimed at adults is doing well. Rocketman is a solidly good film, but Elton John has lived a life of gigantic peaks and valleys. He deserves a film that compliments his life.

    *I desperately wanted one of the other members of the AA group to be pissed off that they didn’t get a chance to talk about their problems.

**Unsurprisingly, that artistic honesty isn’t going over well with everybody. You can read more here about Russia censoring five minutes of the movie due to “homosexual propaganda.”

from Blog https://ondenver.com/dont-let-the-sun-go-down-on-me/

[allspark]

It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like Transformers: Unicron, Optimus Prime, Rom & The Micronauts, My Little Pony, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more! All coming your way for March 28th!

OPTIMUS PRIME #18

John Barber (A/CVR B) Livio Ramondelli (A/CVR A) Kei Zama

“The Falling,” Interlude: Who is Onyx Prime? Leader of beasts, and one of the original Primes who led Cybertron, Onyx has been missing for millennia. Yet, his schemes go on. Where did he come from, and how will his reappearance change Cybertron forever?

FCBD 2018 TRANSFORMERS UNICRON #0

John Barber (A) Alex Milne (CVR) Sara Pitre-Durocher

Not a whimper, nor a bang-the end comes with a squall of entropy shrieking from the ravenous maw of death itself. The message is clear: Unicron has arrived. The Transformers lock into a desperate bid to save Rom’s homeworld from the world-killer – but why has Unicron chosen this world on his path to Cybertron… and Earth? The biggest story in the history of Transformers starts now: for Unicron’s arrival can mean nothing less than the end of a universe.

TRANSFORMERS TILL ALL ARE ONE TP VOL 03

Mairghread Scott (A/CVR) Sara Pitre-Durocher

The fate of Cybertron lies in the hands of Starscream and Windblade as each tries to win allies and support in order to gain control over the Council of Worlds. After the costly victory against the Titans, Iacon is in shambles and Starscream finds himself on shakier ground than ever. The key to his political (and likely literal) survival rests in the outcome of a very unlikely event: the trial of the Council’s first official war criminal-Chromia of Caminus! Collects issues #9-12 and the 2017 Annual.

ROM & THE MICRONAUTS #4

Christos Gage (A) Paolo Villanelli (CVR A) E. J. Su (CVR B) Giannis Milonogiannis

Asymmetric Warfare! Newly emerged from Microspace, Rom and the Micronauts seek out Baron Karza and his Dire Wraith allies. But it may be too late to save Earth from being consumed by a dark god from beyond our dimension!

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #65

Thom Zahler (A/CVR A) Andy Price (CVR B) Sara Richard

Princess Celestia disguises herself to live amongst ordinary ponies for a day. What she learns about her subjects, and herself, will surprise her!

MY LITTLE PONY LEGENDS OF MAGIC TP VOL 02

Jeremy Whitley (A) Tony Fleecs (CVR A) Brenda Hickey

The origin of Equestria’s most famous pony heroes continues as they come together to face the greatest evil any have ever encountered! Will they be able to overcome their differences to defeat an enemy that knows all of their weaknesses? Collects issues #7-12.

BACK TO THE FUTURE TIME TRAIN #4

Bob Gale, John Barber (A/CVR A) Megan Levens (CVR B) Philip Murphy

Doc and the Brown family venture ever deeper into the 1939 World’s Fair as a case of mistaken identity puts Jules and Verne in the crosshairs of German spies!

DUCKTALES #8

Joe Caramagna (A) Antonello Dalena, Andrea Greppi, Gianfranco Florio, Michela Frare, Luca Usai (CVR A&B) Marco Ghiglione

Scrooge finally finds someone he trusts to run his business while he’s out adventuring: Manny, the Headless Man-Horse! Mrs. Beakley is called back into spy duty by British Intelligence, but when she isn’t available, she’s replaced by Webby and Lena Le Strange!

DUCKTALES MYSTERIES & MALLARDS TP

Joey Cavaleri (A) Luca Usai, Graziano Barbaro, Various (CVR) Marco Ghiglione

Scrooge’s treasure hunts can lead to some pretty spooky places, and spooky comes in all sorts of packages! But whether they’re trying to outwit the ghost of Nostradogmas, discover the creepy secret of the Pumpkin People, or solve the mystery of a town where not everything is what it seems, Scrooge and the gang have it covered. Collects issues #3-5 of the ongoing series.

GEARS OF WAR RISE OF RAAM #4

Kurtis J. Wiebe (A) Max Dunbar (CVR A) Ryan Brown

One of the most iconic villains of the Gears of War universe takes the spotlight! Years before he became the bane of humanity on Emergence Day, RAAM rose through the ranks to take leadership of the Locust Horde armies thanks to his intelligence, strength, and ruthlessness. Now, witness that swift and brutal ascent in… The Rise of RAAM!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #2

Ian Flynn (A/CVR B) Adam Bryce Thomas (CVR A) Tyson Hesse

Sonic’s new adventure continues, and when he comes across another town in need of saving, his old pal Amy arrives just in time to join the fight! The banter is fun, and the stakes are high, but things get really serious when Amy presents Sonic with a big request: rejoin the Resistance!

SPIDER KING #3

Josh Vann (A/CVR A) Simone D’Armini (CVR B) Simon Roy

This issue follows the Viking queen Sigrid as she attempts to assassinate Aarek the Wolf and prevent a catastrophic, intergalactic war. But Sigrid is unprepared for the new and improved Aarek, who has bonded with an alien parasite to become the Spider King.

STAR WARS ADVENTURES #9

Sholly Fisch (A) Jamal Peppers (CVR A) Chad Thomas (CVR B) Nick Brokenshire

Droids take center stage in both stories of this comical and exciting adventure! C-3PO might be in over his head as he takes on a new job, and IG-88 is determined to capture his crafty bounty!

STAR WARS ADVENTURES #9

Sholly Fisch (A) Jamal Peppers (CVR A) Chad Thomas (CVR B) Nick Brokenshire

Droids take center stage in both stories of this comical and exciting adventure! C-3PO might be in over his head as he takes on a new job, and IG-88 is determined to capture his crafty bounty!

FCBD 2018 STAR WARS ADVENTURES

Cavan Scott (A/CVR) Derek Charm

In this all-new story set before Star Wars: A New Hope, feared bounty hunters Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally have two of the biggest scoundrels in the galaxy in their sights! Timed to follow hot on the heels of Star WarsDay 2018!

STRETCH ARMSTRONG & FLEX FIGHTERS #3

Kevin Burke, Chris “Doc” Wyatt (A) Nikos Koutsis (CVR A) Aluir Amancio

The Flex Fighters are on the run with a giant Mantis monster in tow! Will they be able to save the Mantoid before it’s too late?

TMNT ONGOING #81

Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman (A) Brahm Revel (CVR A) Dave Wachter (CVR B) Kevin Eastman

“Kingdom of the Rats,” Part 1. New York City is in ruins after the Triceraton Invasion. Various groups jockey for control in the power vacuum. But there is one who doesn’t care about power, only chaos… the Rat King! Will the TMNT be able to stop him from doing the unspeakable?

TMNT USAGI YOJIMBO EXPANDED ED

Stan Sakai (A/CVR) Stan Sakai

Revisit the critically acclaimed crossover comic between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Usagi Yojimbo! This special extended edition comes with new features including the rare Mirage-era story The Treaty! A new cover by Stan Sakai and additional extras!

UNCLE SCROOGE #35

Giorgio Fontana, Thad Komorowski (A) Marco Mazzarello (CVR A) Andrea Freccero (CVR B) Paco Rodriquez

“A Tale of Two Biddies!” It’s Valentine’s Day in Duckburg, and Scrooge faces a firestorm from two dastardly dates-Klondike goldminer Glittering Goldie and brassy business-gal Brigitta MacBridge! What have they got that Scrooge hasn’t got? Wouldn’t you like to know? •   Continues this beloved series’ legacy numbering at #439!

WALT DISNEY SHOWCASE #2 MICKEY MOUSE

Alberto Savini, Jonathan H. Gray (A) Giampaolo Soldati (CVR A) Andrea Freccero (CVR B) Davide Cesarello

“The Secret of Gold City!” Deep in a Wild West boom town, everyone knows the 19th century legend of “Mickey the Kid” and “Six-Gun Goofy”! Now our modern-day Mouse and Goof trace their ancestors’ trail into a web of mystery and danger…

  Join the IDW Hasbro Shared Universe related conversation here in our Comics Discussion and Reviews section and here for all other franchises, superheroes, or general comic book discussions! Not a member? Join our community by creating your own free account here! Or jump right into the live chat on our Discord server!

IDW Comics Shipping List for April 11th! It’s time for our weekly Diamond Comics Shipping List! Check out some great titles IDW has in store for us next week like 

[yahoo-the-turnstile-blog]

Twitter pays tribute to Dick Enberg after beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster dies

Lengendary sports broadcaster Dick Enberg died Thursday in La Jolla, California at age 82, according to Bryce Miller of the San Diego Union-Tribune. (AP)

Longtime Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Enberg died Thursday in La Jolla. He was 82.

Enberg called just about every major American sporting event, including Super Bowls, NCAA basketball championships, Wimbledons and French Open Championships as well as numerous NBA, MLB and college football games. It’s no wonder the love for Enberg began to pour out shortly after the news of his death surfaced.

Kindest, most proactive possible treatment of newcomers in this business, for the length of his career. What a terrible loss https://t.co/MkYGx1LCnP

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) December 22, 2017

Godspeed Dick Enberg. I hope so badly this very scene is currently taking place in a broadcast booth on the other side. pic.twitter.com/2IyncWidmQ

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) December 22, 2017

Vin on Dick Enberg https://t.co/TyFwzPX673

— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) December 22, 2017

If there was a Mount Rushmore of LA Sports Announcers, Dick Enberg is on it with Chick Hearn, Vin Scully and Bob Miller. Rams, Angels, UCLA, NBC, and so much more. Was the first famous announcer I ever met, and he couldn't have been nicer. Definition of a gentleman. RIP.

— John Ireland (@LAIreland) December 22, 2017

So saddened to hear the news of the passing of the legendary Dick Enberg. Had the pleasure to work with and interview him. A genius and genial storyteller of the best variety.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/FiJcTei3k9

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@SandoESPN) December 22, 2017

Dick Enberg was such a brilliant minimalist, it wasn't always easy to notice how great he was. He was comfortable doing any sport, every sport. I feel like my uncle just died. RIP, and thank you.

— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) December 22, 2017

Statement from the Padres on the passing of Dick Enberg: https://t.co/c3xLaMkoTD pic.twitter.com/wmY6WhGXTN

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) December 22, 2017

Our thoughts are with the @Padres and the family and loved ones of Dick Enberg. May he rest in peace.

One of the broadcasting world’s greats, his “Oh my!” inspired his one-time partner Dave Niehaus’ “My oh my.”

— Mariners (@Mariners) December 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/cGzeTuqKVg

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 22, 2017

Awful loss. Was with him at his home this past Spring. Was sharp and funny and remembered it all. A stellar career. RIP #DIckEnberg https://t.co/DJyiMkmT8U

— jamesmiller (@JimMiller) December 22, 2017

RIP Dick Enberg. An icon. A sports broadcasting superstar as a human being. I had the pleasure of knowing Dick Enberg personally and found him warm, gracious, caring and always professional. Thoughts and prayers to his wife Barbara and his family.

— chuck swirsky (@ctsbulls) December 22, 2017

pic.twitter.com/8FlpR3D3r3

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@SandoESPN) December 22, 2017

Oh, my.

— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) December 22, 2017

[girlsofknoxville-blog]

Chapter 1

“I’m twenty-three years old.”

“Mhmm, and have you been living here your whole life?”

Nessa cleared her throat, her lips shifting to the side in a lopsided smile.

“Born and raised, baby.”

She was trying to lighten the mood in the interrogation room but the officer in front of her was having none of it. She wrung her wrists under the table, trying to keep them steady. If she was nervous, the officer couldn’t tell.

“What’s your relation with Trevor Hoffman?”

Nessa shrugged.

“Neighbours for as long as I could remember. His parents and my aunt and uncle would go out on double dates and they’d hire a babysitter to look after us.”

“I understand that this must be hard for you then.”

Liar. She didn’t actually understand. This is her job. To get people to trust her.

Nessa shifted in her seat, her nails now digging into her skin.

“It is. We were close. And now.. He’s buried ten feet in the ground surrounded by dirt and bugs. Yeah, it’s fucking hard.”

She bore her eyes into the officer’s bravely. The woman was not much bigger than Nessa was. Her hair pinned back in a slick bun, her freckles proudly taking their spot on her cheeks. She didn’t seem like she cared much about how she looked. Professionally, maybe, evident by her crisp ironed uniform. But aesthetically? No. 

Nessa used that to her advantage. She knew she was beautiful, she didn’t need anyone to tell her - although they do most of the time. Her dark ravenous hair and piercing blue eyes could make any guy or girl go absolutely nuts over her. And if that wasn’t enough, she always had her words. She could string words together and deliver it with utmost confidence that it makes a person believe that they’re actually stupid. There she was in action, attempting to make the officer feel inferior.

“Before you go any further, I want to get my lawyer in here.”

It always gets ridiculously hot around there during that time of the year. Faye could feel a drop of sweat trickle down her spine, her hazel eyes following Sahra’s paces in front of her.

“I always knew she’d get her sorry ass in jail sooner or later. But I didn’t thought it’d be so soon!”

“Sahra, settle, you’re giving me a headache.”

“Faye Newman? This way.”

Ugh, not officer Regent again. I hate her. And that stupid bun.

Faye took a deep breath and squeezed Sahra’s shoulder.

“Stay here, be good, don’t move an inch till I come out.”

“But-”

“I mean it. I don’t need another friend in jail.”

With a look of warning directed at Sahra, Faye followed Officer Regent down the hallway and into the interrogation room. Her eyes instantly met with Nessa’s. They were red around her irises as if she hasn’t slept in days. And she probably hasn’t. None of them have.

“Alright, Russo, your lawyer’s here. Now let’s talk.”

Nessa looked over at Faye who was now settling into her seat beside her. Faye nodded at her assuringly.

“Alright, fine. Ask away.” 

Chapter 2

Sahra watched as Faye made her way out of the interrogation room. Her blazer was now hanging over her arm. Faye nodded at her and left the building as Sahra followed hastily behind her.

“Well? What happened in there?”

“Say something.”

Faye dug her heel into the concrete steps and turned to look at her friend.

“They’re letting her go but she’s not allowed to leave town. She could still get called in for an interrogation at any time.”

“That’s great! She doesn’t go anywhere anyways. So why aren’t we waiting for her? How’s she gonna get home?”

“She’ll walk.”

“What? Are you nuts? She-”

Faye grabbed Sahra’s hand and looked at her pleadingly, trying to make her understand with just the look in her eyes.

“Listen. The less the cops know about our relationship with Nessa at this point, the better it is for her. So we’re going to get out of here as quickly as we can and we’ll meet her tonight. When it’s dark. And when everyone’s asleep. Now let’s go.”

Faye’s blonde locks illuminated as the 4 o’clock sunlight seeped in through the gaps of the window and reflected on her hair. She stirred the black liquid in the mug, watching the milk swirl with the coffee.

“Did you hear from Rose? She didn’t reply any of my messages, emails, didn’t answer my phone calls. What if she’s dead?”

Faye scoffed at Sahra’s assumption. Rose would be the last one to die amongst the four of them. 

“It’s been three years. Maybe she’s still mad. Or maybe she just doesn’t care. Perhaps she’s somewhere with no phone reception.”

Sahra rolled her eyes.

“You’re always protecting her.”

“I protect all of you. You guys owe me. Big time.”

That made Sahra smile. She picked Faye’s left hand up, pulling it across the table closer to her face.

“That’s a huge rock.”

“7 carats.”

“Wow, as big as his dick.”

“Shut up.”

Sahra giggled. Her smile was contagious. She had the whitest, most perfect teeth that complimented her dark, glowing skin. Faye instantly melted, how could she ever get mad at Sahra?

“Planned a date yet?”

Faye sighed.

When Edgar proposed to her a year ago, she was ecstatic. She has always wanted to get married. Even as a little girl, she’d don her mother’s wedding gown and play wedding for hours until she got exhausted. When she met Edgar, everyone knew that they were going to last forever. He was perfect. A lawyer, just like her. Awfully handsome. He spoke French, Portuguese, Urdu and was picking up Japanese. Although they had only known each other for six months before he asked her to marry him, she knew it was the right thing to do. She always knew she got lucky with Edgar. But now, after a year of being engaged to that nearly perfect man, Faye was starting to get doubtful. Edgar was still perfect and loving. It was her. She was changing. And she couldn’t seem to help it.

“Nothing yet. He’s in Washington now. We’ve just been so busy with our cases, and now with this Nessa thing. I don’t know.”

“Hey. Don’t worry. Nessa’s going to come out of this scot-free, and we’ll all be together again. Like old times.”

Faye shook her head in disagreement, her emerald green eyes trained on her coffee mug.

“It won’t be like the old times. Not without Rose.”

Chapter 3

Knoxville wasn’t always so grim. There was a point of time, not long ago, where the streets would be full of life. The trees would stand proudly along the sides of the road, sheltering the residents of the town, rain or shine. Cars would pass through the perfectly paved roads night and day, the town never slept. The children would run around, screaming and playing with absolutely no care and concern of the outside world. Knoxville used to be a perfect little town.

That was before the passing of Mayor Huang. He was one of those small, round men with a genuine heart and a hearty smile that could win anyone’s heart. He had a loud and boisterous laugh that would echo throughout the entire room during the town’s annual ball. When he died, the new mayor took over and everything everyone knew about Knoxville changed. Especially Mayor Huang’s beloved daughter, Rose Huang. She was the only child and was always spoilt rotten by her parents. In school, everyone adored her - some even feared her. She had the same air of authority her father had. She would always be the first one to know about her friends’ problems and they would go to her first for advice on anything. Her brave heart was the backbone of her clique.

When her father died, Rose’s entire life turned upside down. She was confused, mad and mostly, devastated. Confused because the death happened so sudden, no one saw it coming. Rose was mad at the universe for robbing her of someone she loved more than anything. Mad at her father for leaving her too soon. She was so young and barely had an understanding of the world. Devastation took over her life. She became quiet, sullen even. Her friends had to be careful while being around her. Her emotions became unpredictable.

Rose kept falling harder and harder until she was holding on to a fine, thin thread. Her friends never stopped trying to pull her back, but there was only so much they could do. They had their own issues too. Then one day, she met a boy while she was waitressing at a local bar. Bryce was unkempt, careless and rude. Everything Rose wasn’t. But like every other cliché movie, she fell for him. And he fell for her too. For a while, he kept her in a bubble, where the rest of the world was irrelevant. He kept her happy most of the time. And on nights where she would miss her father, he held her until she fell asleep. Then one day, the thread snapped. The saga of Bryce was just a faded memory. This time, Rose did not get confused, mad or devastated. She was just done. She packed her things and left Knoxville without another word.

So when Rose landed back in town that evening, she couldn’t decide what to do next.

It feels completely peculiar to be back. Everything seems so foreign.

Sahra’s always been adventurous and a little bit of a daredevil. She got her first job at the age of sixteen at the local supermarket. The first to get a job amongst her group of friends. She was the fastest check-out cashier her manager had ever seen. She was independent and always knew what she wanted. She left that job and went on to work in many different places around Knoxville while juggling with school. Until one day, she got her calling for an internship at a photography firm. That was that. Sahra became infatuated with the idea of capturing images and keeping them as memories forever. She worked night and day and finally purchased her first camera. Five years later, she was working in one of the most prestigious journalism firm as a photojournalist. People would put all their money on the table to get her to work with them. She got to travel everywhere and saw many things. She loved her job. Her sense of adventure and daredevil attitude paid off after all.

So exactly why was she holding a bat, creeping down the stairs at 11:45PM, scared out of her wits over a noise that she might have possibly imagined?

“Please let it be a cat… Or a tree branch.”

She held her hand out to the doorknob, the other hand gripped tightly onto the baseball bat. She took a deep breath and swung open the door.

Nessa swooped in and in one swift motion had her hand around Sahra’s neck, clasping her mouth shut tightly. The girl was small but goodness was she quick.

“If you scream, I’ll use that bat on you, I swear to god.”

She let Sahra go and was already unfastening her coat’s buttons.

“Why are you sneaking around like a thief?? I could have knocked you out! I could’ve committed a murder!”

Nessa rolled her eyes, her face was a mixture of exasperation and exhaustion.

“You won’t even hurt a fly.”

“What’re you doing here?”

“Faye told me to come in from the back door. And I could ask you the same question.”

Sahra furrowed her brows.

“Faye offered to let me stay with her.”

“That’s awfully generous of her.”

“Why’re you being so snippy?”

“I just spent the last 48 hours behind bars, so excuse me if I’m a little snippy.”

Faye came down the stairs, pulling her hair into a top knot. She was in a pink bathrobe, and had just removed all the make up for the day. She still looked effortlessly beautiful.

“What’s with all the bickering?”

“Ask her. She came down here with a bat.”

“Wh- I thought it was a burglar! I was trying to protect myself…!”

“Alright, alright. That’s enough. Sahra, go get the wine bottle from the kitchen.”

Sahra heaved a sigh of defeat and marched into the kitchen. The girls always listened to Faye. Queen Faye, they would tease her. Faye looked at Nessa, concern filled her eyes, the same way they have after all those years.

“Are you okay?”

Nessa nodded, managing a soft smile towards the blonde’s direction.

“Never better.”

“Good. Sit. Lets talk.”

Chapter 4

“Did you do it?”

“You’re really asking me this? Have you no faith in me?”

“I just have to ask.”

Faye held Nessa’s gaze for a few more seconds and finally gave in. She took a sip of her wine. Smooth. Just about the right amount of sweetness. The after taste lingered in her mouth moments after she’s swallowed the blood red liquid. She really needed that after the day she had. But she could hardly imagine what Nessa has been through in the last two days. She looked dishevelled. Which was so unlike her. She always seemed so put together.

After years of being around Nessa, Faye understood that she always wanted to seem like she was fine, no matter what was happening to her internally. She never wanted anyone to worry about her. She was the kind of person who would cry herself to sleep, wake up the next morning, conceal her puffy eyes with make-up and go about the day without giving a thought to her problems at hand. Faye always admired her strength.

To see one of her best friends so out of place, tired and vulnerable, she felt completely helpless. She had to get her out of that mess.

“I can’t believe Trevor’s dead. It seemed like it was just yesterday that we would past him down the hallway in school. He was so handsome.”

Sahra hiccuped.

God she’s such a light-weight, Nessa thought.

“How’s Ruby taking it?”

“Well, he wasn’t the greatest husband. They got married young, fell right out love. Splat. Heard she might be having an affair.”

Nessa said matter-of-factly and Faye shot her a look.

“WHAT? Our sweet Ruby? An affair? Wow, you leave for two years and you miss out on all of the town gossip.” 

Faye feigned a light chuckle. 

“No one told you to leave, silly. It’s been so quiet without you around. You and Rose.” 

“Right, Rose.” Said Sahra.

The girls went quiet, staring at their wine glasses. If their lives were a movie, that would be the part where a montage of flashbacks from their teenage years starts to screen, with probably a very sappy song.

“Do you think she’s forgiven me?”

Nessa looked at the girls, her face hopeful. Faye squeezed her hand assuredly.

“She’s your friend, she loves you. Of course she’s forgiven you.”

Nessa smiled, grateful.

“Stay over tonight. We’ll have a sleepover, like old times.”

It did not take much to convince Nessa. She might deny it if asked but she really loved being with the girls. She felt comfortable and safe with them. She feigned a sigh of exasperation.

“Finee, as long as you don’t call it a slum-”

“SLUMBER PARTY!”

Sahra cut her off by exclaiming before breaking into a fit of drunken giggles.

Rose collapsed on her motel bed and the mattress springs creaked underneath as if screaming to escape her weight. The motel was absolutely rubbish. She had to ask for new sheets after the witnessing a mysterious stain on the one before and the toilet was clogged when she first got in. It took her fifteen minutes to get someone on the line to assist her with her toilet problem.

She didn’t have a choice. She was quickly running out of cash and had to find the cheapest accommodation option. It was fine. Just for the night. Tomorrow, she would’ve mustered all her courage to go face the girls. They would have many questions and she had all the answers.

She also needed to see Nessa. She was studying her photo on the local newspaper. That girl never changed. Her bright blue eyes were so prominent it was like she was staring directly at Rose through the paper. Her skin was clear and her complexion glowed. Damn the Italian genes. Something did change though. It was in the headlines. Nessa was suspected to have been involved in the murder of Trevor Hoffman. Nessa was capable of many things but murder? Rose could not imagine that. Trevor was their friend. She couldn’t have.

But there was this small voice in her head that said that perhaps, just the tiniest bit of chance, the accusation might be true. After all, Nessa did betray her. Rose felt something bitter in her mouth. It felt disgusting. She shut her eyes, letting the scene play in her head.

She had just got back from school one afternoon and decided to take a different route which led to Bryce’s house. They barely got to see each other on afternoons as she spent her days in school and he spent his at work. She thought she’d drop by and cook them something before he got back from work. Her heart started to flutter at the thought of getting to see her boyfriend. When she was heading to the bathroom in his house, she noticed that his bedroom door was ajar and noises were coming out of it. Out of sheer curiosity, she pushed the door open and to her absolute horror, she found Bryce under the sheets with a girl.

Not just any girl. Nessa.

She felt her heart fell into her stomach and tasted something bitter in her mouth. She did not want to cry. Crying was the last thing on her agenda. But before she knew it, hot tears were gushing down her cheeks. Wasn’t that always the case? Everything became a blur and she could hear someone screaming profanities shrilly. It was her. She was screaming. And crying. And rushing down the stairs to get as far away from that god forsaken house as she possibly could. Trevor was running after her, trying to get her to stop and listen. She wanted to. She wanted to stop and look at him and allow him to explain that what she just witnessed was not what it seemed. That the girl on his bed was not one of her best friends. However, she kept walking. Faster and faster. Until she could see the outline of her house from a distance. She was never leaving her room ever again.

Chapter 5

It felt really good. That was exactly what she needed. The smell of shampoo invaded Faye’s nostrils. Peppermint and something spicy. Cinnamon. It drove her nuts. She pressed her lips on the supple skin of the person she was hugging. She has been going back and forth to the courthouse in the last few days. She really needed this. She opened her eyes groggily, the sheets were wrapped around them so tightly, she couldn’t physically get anymore closer to her partner.

Fuck. No. No, this is wrong.

Every single time she did it, she goes through the entire process of pleasure followed by guilt and ends off with self-hate. She loathed herself for that but she kept going back. Why does she keep going back? She studied the brunette woman fast asleep beside her. Even in her sleep she was breath-taking. Her hair spilled over her shoulder all the way down to her breasts, her lips were full and pouty. She snored ever so softly, she was still dreaming. Perhaps dreaming of an alternate universe where Faye and her could be together, Faye thought foolishly.

Faye always knew there was something different about her. Growing up, in high school, when the girls in the locker room went on and on about the boys in the football team, she would find herself checking those girls out. And when she kissed a girl on a dare at a senior party one night, she went home to pray for the first time in years. She thought she was going crazy, she could never imagine being gay. Not even for a second. It took all her will and might to suppress her feelings and bottle it in the deepest pit in her guts. She vowed she would never think or speak about it. Then she met Edgar, and he was really nice. But when she slept with him, or even kissed him, she didn’t feel anything. She couldn’t feel anything. She tried, she really did.

Three months after the engagement, she had a nervous breakdown. She was trying to find her car in the parking lot, she searched everywhere. All the cars started to look the same. She teared up, tried to scream but no sound left her mouth. A woman walked up to her. Asked her if she was okay. She took Faye back to her place and that was the first time she felt something in bed. Every time she told herself that it was going to be the last time she saw that woman, it never was. She was addicted to her. Addicted to her touch, scent and the way she made her feel.

The woman in Faye’s arms moved a little. She turned to look at her, smiling sleepily.

“Morning, gorgeous.”

Faye felt a tingling sensation below her waist. Edgar never called her gorgeous.

“Morning, you.”

She kissed her, full on the mouth. That was how she wanted to wake up for the rest of her life. With sweet, sweet Ruby right next to her.

Chapter 6

SIX YEARS AGO

“Nessa..! Wait up.”

Nessa turned to see Trevor catching up with her. She looked at her watch, 03:30PM, she had to leave to go help her aunt and uncle at the shop.

“Walk and talk, Trev, I don’t have time.”

“Uhh, okay. Wanna partner up for the Chemistry project?”

“You wanna partner up with me?”

She narrowed her eyes at him skeptically.

“Yeah, unless you already have someone else.”

Nessa stopped in her tracks and studied the dark auburn haired boy. He had a nice chiseled jaw, Nessa bet her life it could cut glass. His hair ran down the nape of his neck and rested on his shoulder nicely. Now, if it was any other guy, Nessa would have wanted to grab the nearest pair of scissors she could find and chop all of it off. But his hair complimented his face really well so she made an exception. And his dimples. Goodness his dimples. They were like craters on the moon. They dug deep into his cheeks, he could probably store things in them.

“What game are you playing, Hoffman?”

He chuckled lightly, flashing his goddamned dimples.

“No game. I promise. We’ll help each other out. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

“Ugh, fine. I really have to go.”

Nessa took off without another word. It wasn’t until a few weeks later, halfway done with their project that she found out that Trevor did have an ulterior motive of partnering up with her. It was to probe her about her lab partner Ruby Weston. He apparently had been watching Ruby for quite a while. What motivated him was she would sometimes catch him looking at her and she would smile back.

Nessa decided to take the fate of their love story upon her. She practically stuck the cupid’s arrow up their asses and made sure they were an item before they graduated. Just a few months later, a rumour started to spread like wildfire. Ruby was pregnant with Trevor’s kid. Except it wasn’t much of a rumour as it was the truth. He was ecstatic when she told him. He always dreamt of being a father. Ruby on the other hand, quite the contrary. 

PRESENT DAY

Sahra never understood how people could bear to make speeches about their loved one who was already dead. She couldn’t imagine ever doing it. That was probably because she never had someone close to her die before. Well, apart from Trevor Hoffman. They practically grew up together. That was perhaps why she was sitting in the first few rows in the funeral home as his lifeless body laid in the open casket before them.

She was asked to make a small eulogy for Trevor. She wrote it all down only the night before. Crumpling paper after paper because she felt they weren’t good enough. She fiddled with the paper in her hands as she watched Trevor’s wife walk up to the podium. She was petite and the devastation plastered on her face only made her look even more frail and tiny. It was painful to look at her. Poor girl.

“Trevor was the love of my life. He was kind, gentle and loving. He could never make anyone unhappy. Well, until now. He finally managed to upset everyone sitting here by leaving this world too soon.”

Ruby had to swallow the lump in her throat, she grabbed the glass of water with her trembling hand, chugging down the drink as if it was the only thing that could keep her alive. She cleared her throat when she was done.

“Trevor would have wanted-”

Everyone had their heads turned towards the door at that moment. The girls had to pick their jaws up from the chapel ground. Rose Huang. She was there. Standing by the doorway. She managed the smallest apologetic smile to the crowd and hastily found an empty seat at the back. The girls were still astounded. The rest of Ruby’s eulogy went on as blur as the girls tried to comprehend Rose’s sudden presence in their lives again. Trevor was least closest to Rose yet she still came to his funeral. What was she really in Knoxville for? Did she hear about Nessa’s trouble with the police? All the questions went through the girls’ heads as they impatiently waited for the funeral procedure to end.

An hour later, it was Faye who noticed Rose outside the chapel, chatting away with some familiar faces. She grabbed onto the girls and dragged them towards her before losing sight of her again.

“Rose.”

Faye called out.

Rose slipped out of the conversation politely to face the girls.

“Hey.”

“Hey? That’s all you got? Hey??”

Sahra shook her head, ridiculed.

“Rose Christie Huang, you left without so much of a word, god knows where you went, we all thought you were dead and you say HEY??”

“Fine. Hello. How are you girls?”

Faye pulled Rose in for a hug before Sahra could start yelling at her again.

“We missed you, Rose.”

Rose resisted just a bit before finally giving in and hugged Faye back. She missed them too. So much. But she was there for bigger reasons. Sahra sighed in defeat and squeezed Rose’s arm, smiling softly at her.

“Glad that you’re back.”

“Yeah, I got back a few days ago.”

“A few days? And it took you this long to come see us?”

“Yeah, I needed time to adjust being back.”

“Right, where are you staying?”

Faye looked at her, concerned.

“In a motel nearby.”

“Nonsense, I’ll drive you back, we’ll get your things. You’ll come live with me.”

Rose predicted Faye would say something like that. She nodded half-heartedly. Her eyes averted towards Nessa.

“What in the world are you wearing?”

Nessa shrugged.

“It’s a black dress.”

“So you just wear the same things you wear to the club, to a funeral? Good to know.”

The raven-haired girl stared at Rose intently, then she smiled.

“I am going to go have a smoke, scuse’ me, ladies.”

Nessa took to her heels and walked farther away from the girls.

Chapter 7

Trevor and Ruby had a little victorian house at the end of Lavender Street. On normal days, the area would be quaint, almost lifeless. Not many people lived in that part of town other than the few young parents who were low income earners, still trying to figure life out. That day, Ruby opened her house to close friends and relatives, she pulled out the good china and put fresh white flowers in a fancy vase to put on the coffee table. It was as if she was commemorating Trevor’s life when he was living and breathing instead of mourning the loss of it.

“Ruby.”

“Faye, stop. Not now, not here.” Ruby was arranging the flowers in vase, trying to make absolutely no eye contact with the blonde girl.

Faye furrowed her brows in a mixture of frustration and confusion.

“What? I just want to talk. Rube, look at me.”

“People are going to notice us.”

“People has literally zero clue what’s going on, they’re all mourning for your stupid hus-”

Faye pressed her hand on her hot, flushing cheek. Ruby had interrupted her with a slap across her face and was now staring at her angrily. Faye stared at her in disbelief.

“Have some respect, he’s my husband.” Ruby left her standing, dumbfounded.

“What the fuck was that?” It was Nessa, she had just witness the bizarre situation.

“She can’t just behave that way, I know her husband just died and all but she doesn’t get to be a bitch, I’m going to go fight her.” She tried rushing after Ruby only to be pulled back by Faye. The blonde was a head taller than her, and stronger. She could’ve certainly fought Ruby on her own if she wanted to.

“Forget it. It was my fault, I said some dumb things.”

“Well, it must have been something, she looks pissed.”

Faye sighed and in that moment she promised that she was going to end things with Ruby.

Sahra was leaning over the snack table, nit-picking at the different types of snack, that was her go-to activity at social gatherings, sometimes she even made it into a game; how many snacks could she try until she got sick.

“What’re you doing?” A man who had appeared at the snack table questioned her.

She shrugged matter-of-factly. “Never seen a grown girl eat?”

“I’ve never seen anyone in particular who picks on their food like that. That caviar is for garnish, it’s not an actual snack.”

Sahra observed the man standing in front of her. He was not much older than she was. His skin was pale white with a underlying tinge of yellow. His hair was neatly cut that stayed on the top of his head, like soldiers at war she witnessed back in Iraq. His cheek bones pointed proudly towards the air and he had the darkest pair of eyes that gave him a naturally angry look. He was undeniably handsome. And a douchebag.

In sheer rebellion, Sahra grabbed a plate and scooped the rest of the caviar garnish onto her plate. This time, his frowned shifted into an amused smile. Oh wow, he’s really pretty.

It was her turn to frown. “What’re you smiling at? Do I look like a joke to you?”

He started to chuckle.

“That’s it, I don’t have to take this from you.” Sahra turned to leave.

“Okay, I’m sorry. It’s just your rebellious demeanour is the funniest thing I’ve seen today.”

“Oh. Well, get used to it, chump.” She looked at him, her arms crossed. Her insides was fluttering. The setting sunlight was resting on his face, she realised his eyes had lightened up a little; the darkest shade of brown.

“Officer Reynolds, didn’t realise you knew Trevor.” Faye leaned against the table next to Sahra.

“Not personally. And I’m actually here on duty, not as a guest.”

It was Nessa’s turn to intervene. “In other words, you’re here to keep an eye on me.”

Sahra watched the man’s reaction. She felt a pang of betrayal. He didn’t actually flirt with her or anything, but he should have mentioned something about being a cop on the case, she would not have even bothered talking to him.

“If you’re trying to get information out of our innocent friend here, Officer, you’re out of luck. She’s on our side.” Faye said calmly, smiling knowingly at Sahra.

The man wasn’t shaken by Faye. Which was unusual. Faye always had an air of superiority; some people wouldn’t even look at her in the eyes when speaking. He wasn’t afraid of her.

“You’re not the only one I’m keeping my eyes on, Russo. Everyone in this room is a suspect.”

Sahra could swore he glanced at her whilst saying that. She was done, she wanted out of the conversation. As if by god’s grace, Rose beckoned her to the other side of the room and she took off too quickly without looking at the handsome man - even though she really wanted to.

“They found new evidences on the crime scene. Looks like I’ll be seeing the both of you down at the station sooner than I thought.”

“Nice try, Park, but whatever you say is never going to get to us. My client is innocent and the sooner you realise that, the better.” Faye retorted.

“And the sooner you realise your delinquent friend is the culprit, the better.” He nodded at the ladies and walked off.

Nessa’s angry gaze followed the young officer. The fucking nerve of that guy. After a few moments, she shook it off and a sense of gratitude for Faye swelled in her heart. If anyone was going to get her out of trouble, she was glad it was her. Faye never loses.

Chapter 8

FIVE YEARS AGO

“How could you do this to me?? What have I ever done to you??” Rose was hysterical.

Nessa had gone to visit her after the incident even though the other girls warned her not to; to let her calm down first. But Nessa being Nessa, wouldn’t listen to anyone so she somehow managed to persuade Faye to join her and they set off to her house with great caution.

Rose was holding onto Nessa’s t-shirt, glaring at her, screaming in her face. She was crying again. She always cried when she got angry and she absolutely hated that. Nessa didn’t try to resist, she knew she deserved it. She was just waiting for her to settle so she could explain herself.

“Rose, I’m sorry. But we were in love.” She explained.

“We didn’t mean for it to happen but it did! We were going to tell you. I swear we were going to tell you on that day itself.” She continued.

“How long has it been going on for?” Rose questioned her although she really didn’t want to know the answer.

“We’ve been talking for 3 months. We only… We only slept together that one time, I promise.”

“Is that suppose to make me feel better?”

“Of course not, Rose. Look, you deserve every right to be mad. But I swear to you, we had no intention of hurting you.”

Rose swung her arm and was about to struck Nessa’s face with her hand when Faye caught it just in time.

“That’s enough.” 

She told Nessa she was going to sit out of it and let the two girls talk but she wasn’t going to let any one of her friend slap the other.

“You heard her Rose. She fucked up. No one expects you to forgive her but dammit, violence isn’t gonna solve anything.”

“You’re on her side?” Rose stared at the blonde girl in disbelief.

“I’m on nobody’s side. I just don’t want to see my friends fight.”

“Oh cut that out, Faye. You’re constantly fighting her battles. Mark my words, one day she’s going to drag you into the deepest pits of hell and you’re going to regret it.” She warned her.

PRESENT DAY

Nessa was spending the afternoon in Faye’s kitchen. Faye had a whole cabinet that stored various bottles of alcohol; it was a haven for Nessa. In return of using her alcohol collection, Nessa would let her try whatever she created first for reviews. She always enjoyed them. Then again, she could just be biased. She was so busy concocting a new cocktail recipe for her bar that she didn’t hear Rose coming in.

“Hey.” Rose greeted coldly.

“Sup.”

“What’s that?” She gestured at the mess on the kitchen isle.

“Something for the bar.”

“Right, the bar. It’s been what, two years now?”

“Yeap.”

“And business is doing well?”

“Splendidly.”

“Great.” Rose turned to head upstairs.

“Rose, wait.” Nessa called out hurriedly.

Rose turned to look at her. She hasn’t changed much, Rose. Her beautiful sandy complexion was as smooth and ageless as Nessa could remember.  She was curvy, her hips stuck out too much, they looked like they could destroy things that came in contact with them. Rose absolutely loved that about herself. Her hair changed. She had long jaded black hair but it was covered with full-fledge purple hair dye. It suited her. She looked ethereal.

“Are we good?” Nessa asked uncertainly.

“Depends on what you mean. Good because I’m over you cheating with my boyfriend behind my back or good because I don’t think you’re a murderer?”

“Well, both.”

Rose thought about it for a good few seconds. Then she grabbed Nessa square on her shoulder and threw a punch right into her guts. She was a black belt in taekwondo so that must have hurt. Nessa was too. That was actually how they met.

Nessa was caught off guard and winced on the ground. She glared at Rose, got up and lunged herself at the other girl. They began to wrestle each other on Faye’s kitchen floor only to break it up minutes later with fits of hysterical laughter as they lie on the ground side by side.

“Yeah, we’re good.” Rose assured the smaller girl after calming down.

“What happened to Bryce anyways?” She asked. 

Nessa stared up at the ceiling, she didn’t look sad or mad. It was a listless, unreadable expression. Something that was always visible on her face.

“He left me for some other girl. Ran off to California together to try out acting or something.”

“Yikes. You deserved that.” Rose looked at her.

Nessa averted her eyes at her, she wasn’t offended by Rose’s remarks. She knew she deserved it. Bryce cheated on Rose with her, who was to say he wouldn’t do it again.

“But I don’t believe you killed Trevor. I’m on your side. Faye, Sahra and I are going to help you get out of this. If that’s the last thing we do.”

In that moment, the two girls sat up and stared at each other as they heard a voice coming from the living room. Faye wouldn’t be back from the firm till late and Sahra had an important meeting with some TV producers that afternoon. The girls got up and quietly made their way into the other room.

Chapter 9

Rose and Nessa were practically on their toes, careful not to make any noise as they snuck into the living room. They spotted a figure at the door and stared at each other. They were ready to pounce on the intruder when the figure turned and they recognised him.

“Clive?”

The man turned to look at the girls, blinked for a moment, trying to recognise their faces.

“Ohmygod, Nessa? Rose?”

Rose ran into his arms for a hug.  

“What’re you doing here??” Rose asked excitedly.

“I heard my sister’s back in town. So I thought I come down and visit. And then I saw the paper…” He looked at Nessa.

“Hi.” She greeted him.

He smiled his boyish smile. “Hey. How are you?”

“Didn’t you see it in the papers? I’m doing great.” She informed him.

“Oh, don’t bother her, she’s just grumpy cause I tackled her and won.” Rose argued.

Clive chuckled, his eyes still fixed on Nessa.

“The last time I saw you two, you were still kinda chubby and you had black hair.”

Nessa shrugged. “Yeah well, people change.”

Faye walked down the hallway as fast as she could. She was panting. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She hated how getting a little physical made her sweat gallons; she hated to sweat.

But she couldn’t help it. Her paranoia was getting the best of her. She turned to see if someone was there. Not a soul. She was sure she heard footsteps. Maybe it was her anxiety playing tricks on her. But back in the bathroom, she swore she felt someone watching her. She couldn’t leave the courtroom, her next hearing was at 04:00PM. She had to find somewhere to hide for a bit, to calm the nerves; maybe pop a pill or two.

The blonde rushed into the supply closet few feet away from her and shut the door tightly behind her.

Okay, calm down, you’re fine, stop fussing.

The next moment, she felt a force over her mouth and she was gasping for air, trying to break free from the tight grasp. She tried screaming but the force was stronger than her. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that maybe she might wake up from the awful nightmare but instead she felt a hard impact on the back of her head and she was out. Blank.

“How long are you gonna be here for, Clive?” Sahra asked her brother before she popped another forkful of lettuce in her mouth.

“Maybe until you leave again.”

“That’s gonna take a while. I have to at least make sure this one over here doesn’t have to rot in jail for the rest of eternity.” She gestured at Nessa who was playing with her food.

It was 08:30PM and Faye wasn’t picking up any of their calls. The rest of the girls were convinced that she might still be stuck at work except Nessa. This was unusual for Faye. She always had her phone in case one of her friends or Edgar was trying to reach her.

“Ness, eat. Faye’s finee, she’s a big girl, she can certainly take care of herself.” Rose assured the smaller girl.

“I think I’m done. I’ll do the dishes.” Nessa hated doing the dishes but she needed a distraction.

“I’ll help.” Clive volunteered. He got up and joined Nessa in the kitchen.

“Are you alright?” He trained his eyes at her, concerned and a little caution hinted in his baby blues. Sahra was always jealous that her twin got the better features compared to her. He got their mother’s eyes. And her beautiful soft hair too. Sahra got her dad’s big poofy hair that she used to hate and had only begun to appreciate when she was older. The both of them got their mother’s butt, she needn’t complain about that. 

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve always been a bad liar.”

“God, Clive, I’m fine. What do you want me to say? That I’m falling apart? Should I cry on your shoulder?”

He furrowed his brows. “How’d you got into this mess anyways?”

Nessa clenched her jaw. There was something about Clive that always made her tick.

“Why do you care? You left to go live your dreams, didn’t you? You have better things to worry about.”

“You’re so bitter.”

She turned to stare at him. “Bitter? Don’t flatter yourself, honey.”

He smiled, way too amused for his own good.

“It’s not flattering when it’s the truth. In fact I think you’re jealous of me.”

Nessa was furious now but she tried not to show it. She let out a scoff.

“Jealous of what? You? You’re so full of yourself, Jackson.”

“Am I, Russo?” He was inching in closer towards the tanned girl. Nessa backed away until she was pressed against the kitchen counter, looking up at the man who was much, much taller than her.

“You left.” She spat the words at him.

“You didn’t ask me to stay.”

“God, do I have to tell you to do everything?”

“No. But I felt like I didn’t have a reason to stay.”

“You’re an idiot.” “Then why do you like me so much?”

“I don’t.”

“Fine. You don’t.”

He was about to move away when Nessa grabbed his arm and kissed him hard. He didn’t hesitate for a second and kissed her back, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her closer. After what felt like hours, she pulled away, staring at him, gasping for air.

“I don’t.” She crashed her lips on his again.

Chapter 10

“Still no calls from her. I don’t get it. It’s freaking midnight. She should be home by now.” Nessa exclaimed, trying Faye’s phone for the umpteenth time.

“Yeah, I’m worried. We should call the cops.” Sahra suggested.

“And say what? Our 23-year-old friend isn’t picking her phone up? Guys, come on.” Rose was the next rational one after Faye.

“But we should try looking for her. Where are some places she could possibly be? We’ll split up. Me and Nessa, Sahra you go with Clive.” Rose instructed.

“I’ll come with you, Rose. Nessa should go with Clive. We should all have our share of black belts.” Sahra reasoned even though that wasn’t entirely her motive. She saw Nessa and Clive in the kitchen earlier. Sucking each other’s face off. At first she was horrified, but she always read little hints of her twin’s and her best friend’s secret affair. Just because they didn’t say anything, it didn’t mean it didn’t exist.

Clive nodded at Sahra, if she didn’t know better, he was quietly thanking her.

“Lets go then.” Rose got up and grabbed her car keys.

The sun had risen, the night had turn to day. Sahra was sound asleep on the armchair and the two other girls were on the other couch fast asleep, heads resting on one another. Clive came downstairs and looked at them. They had no luck trying to find Faye the night before. They looked everywhere they possibly could until an hour before the sun rose. They eventually went back to Faye’s, crashing on the couch out of exhaustion. Clive had gone into the kitchen to make some coffee when he heard a key being inserted into the keyhole at the front door.

This jolted Sahra into consciousness. She was always a light sleeper. She rubbed her eyes and stared at the opening door. It was Faye. Her hair was tousled, her clothes a little crinkled but other than that, she was fine, unscathed.

“Faye!” Sahra exclaimed, rushing towards her. “What the hell?? Where have you been?! We’ve been looking everywhere for you the entire night!”

Sahra’s yelling woke the girls up and now everyone was staring at the dishevelled blonde woman at the door.

“I was- Clive? When did you get here?”

“Just yesterday.” Clive replied.

“Don’t try and change the subject, Faye! What happened to you?”

Faye sighed, tossing her keys into a bowl sat on the table next to the door, out of forced habit. “I had to leave town to go see Micael.”

“What? Is he okay?” Sahra’s anger vanished instantly, replaced with concern for Faye’s brother.

“He’s fine. The care worker called, told me that he missed me. I went to go see him. It was on a whim, I didn’t have much time to tell you guys.” Her eyes avoiding the girls’. 

“Don’t even worry about it, Faye. We’re just glad you’re fine.” Nessa assured her, her eyes fixed on her, watching every bit of expression on Faye’s face.

“There, problem solved. Anyone want some coffee?” Clive asked the room.

“I am going to take a nap, no one take any calls.” Faye called out as she climbed the stairs. She could not tell the girls the truth, not yet at least.

The doorbell went off just then and Nessa attended to it. Faye stopped in her tracks, midway up the stairs to turn and see who was at her front door. The rest of the girls and Clive poked their heads over Nessa’s. For a split second, Nessa’s heart fell when she saw the two uniformed cops standing in front of her. Then, she regained her composure, throwing them a loathsome look.

“What? Here to take me downtown for another questioning? How’d you even know that I would be here? Are y'all stalking me?” She asked in the most spiteful way she could manage.

“Actually, not this time Russo. We’re here for your friend.” Officer Regent answered, gesturing at the people behind Nessa.

Everyone turned to look at Faye who was standing completely still on the stairs.

“Sahra Jackson, you’ll have to come down to the station with us. We have evidence that you are involved in the murder of Trevor Hoffman. We have a warrant.”

Everyone averted their stares from Faye to Sahra. They could not believe what they had just heard. But no one said or did anything as Officer Regent made her way towards the girl and cuffed her hands with the silver bracelets. Even Sahra didn’t put up a fight as the officers led her out of the house and tucked her into the back of their police car. The neighbours were all coming out of their houses to witness the spectacle. Sahra looked at the girls through the car window as the cops drove off. They watched her go, their faces paralyzed with bewilderment.

Chapter 11

The story of Faye Newman was always one that was the hardest to tell.

She was fourteen, going on fifteen. An adolescent, still figuring out how her body and mind worked. Her hips grew outwards two sizes and her waist went in one. She prioritised her looks as much she did her studies. Although being a straight A student, she was still learning what certain things meant. Namely, love. She concluded that the thing she loved most in the whole world was her family. Her mother, father and little brother Micael. Her parents were renowned lawyers. They were great individually but even greater as a team.

As for Micael, he was three years younger than Faye. He was as clever as her. They could sit and talk for hours. Everyone who met them confidently predicted that they were going to do great things in the future, they were going to take over the world. Then one night, tragedy fell upon the Newmans.

They were coming home from dinner in new york, all four of them, when two deafening noises erupted and polluted the cold air. Micael screamed, witnessing blood pooled on his parents’ clothed chests. Their mother was killed instantly when the bullet shot through her. His father choked on his last few breaths before he lay motionless on the icy ground. Faye’s feet were nailed to the ground as she looked at her parents’ bodies. They were unconscious, unmoving but their beings were inconsequential to the world that went on around them. She couldn’t scream or even cry. She just stared at them for what felt like years. A passer-by called an ambulance and waited with the both of them until their parents were taken away.

The week after, they were back in Knoxville. Both of them underwent severe PTSD and no one could get through to them. Not even their aunt who was the closest next of kin they had. They were taken to therapists for treatments. With a heavy heart and much reluctance, Faye started to get better. She saw a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel, a hope that she would be able to feel better. She suffered from a few nervous breakdowns once in a while and had to be on medication for a really long time before the doctors deemed her fit to get off it. Whilst going through all of that, she found her drive to finish what her parents started. She studied law religiously, topping her class every bit of the way. She became indispensable in the world of law.

Her brother on the other hand, could not find a way out of his agony. He was extremely inconsolable, his parents death replaying five to five hundred times in his head on a daily basis. He took a wrong turn and an array of drugs and the countless of debts that came with it. He did everything he possibly could to numb the pain and stop the nightmares from getting in. Faye tried everything to pull her brother back but he was resistant, he didn’t want to be saved.

It wasn’t until six months ago that he was lying on the ground, mouth foaming as his life flashed before his eyes and he accepted the fate that he was about to die. His friends had ditched him in an abandoned apartment and he was left to take his last few breaths by himself. If it wasn’t for Faye who came in the last few minutes with the paramedics, he would’ve suffered the same fate his parents had but his would have been intentional. A long needle was plunged into his chest and Faye didn’t stop crying as she watched her little brother being brought back to life, fighting for air to return into his lungs. She wanted to hate him and hurt him but she held onto him for dear life instead.

He didn’t try to gamble with his life after that, he was sent to rehab but Faye accepted that her clever, quick-witted brother would never return to his old self. The drugs and PTSD fried his brain to the extent where the damage was done. She would visit him whenever she could or whenever he called for her. And every single time she did, it broke her heart.

That day when she had to use her brother as an excuse to cover the truth from the girls, it made her feel dirty. Would she ever find a way to forgive herself?

The story of Faye Newman was the hardest to tell and she kept it with her, every step of the way.

Chapter 12

“Your DNA was found at the crime scene.”

The girl had curls falling over her face, her fro had lost its volume as if giving in to the guilt she was feeling inside. She trained her eyes at the metal table in front of her, daren’t to look up at the officer in front of her. It was him, the man from Trevor’s funeral reception. Officer Randall? Reynolds? What was it?

Sahra pictured the ground under her chair splitting into half, swallowing her whole into the Earth’s core, far away from this situation.

“Did you visit Trevor Hoffman the day he died?” He asked gently but there was a hint of something else in his voice. It was firm, a tinge of authority.

She stayed quiet, almost motionless. She would call her lawyer but what was the point? She was at Trevor’s the day he was murdered. It was only the matter of time until the cops found out. The officer sighed exasperatedly, looking towards the see-through mirror on the left of the interrogation room before staring at her again. He knew there was no one behind the mirror, but he had to make sure, it was a force of habit.

“Look, if you don’t speak up, I can’t help you.” He said in hushed tones. “Help me help you. Were you at Trevor’s that day?” His was voice was mellow, eyes kinder than she’s ever seen them. She realised they were a dark shade of brown and not black like she had noticed the first time.

“Yes.” She forced out the answer. He nodded understandably.

“I swear I didn’t kill him. I could have, I wanted to but I didn’t. I knew what it would’ve costed me. I’m not stupid.” Her eyebrows furrowed in anger and despair. Why the hell was she telling that man anything, he could use all that against her, she could end up in really hot soup. She never needed anyone’s validity, especially not a man’s. But for some reason she felt like he believed her. Like he could help her out of that mess.

“Where were you?”

“Nessa..”

“Where were you?” Nessa asked the blonde again, firmly.

“Our friend is being interrogated by cops right now, don’t you dare lie to me, Newman.” She warned Faye.

“He took me. It was a warning to keep quiet. He’s trying to scare me so that I would back out from the case and you’d be charged for it.”

 Nessa stared at her taller friend with a mixture of bafflement and terror painted on her face.

 “We have to do something.”

 “Agreed. And perhaps it’s time we tell Rose about this.”

 “She’s going to flip.”

“We can’t keep her in the dark anymore. Come on.” Faye beckoned the other girl. 

They made their way down to the living room and were greeted by Rose chuckling at something a man, who was sitting opposite her, said.

 “Guys, look who it is. You remember Jay.” Rose grinned.

Jay looked at the girls and smiled a charming smile. Nessa’s heart pounded rapidly in her chest, she believed it was going to break her ribs. Faye had lost all the color in her face. They stared at the intruder, terrified.

Sahra sighed a heave of relief when she saw her brother. She made it clear on the phone, when Officer Reynolds gave her the right to a phone call, that she didn’t want any of the girls at the station. It was like a game of musical chair of who was going to end up in jail next. She requested for Clive to come bail her out. He was her safest bet. He always knew never to ask questions unless it’s extremely necessary and Sahra admired that about him. It would literally kill her to not be able to know things about anything, she couldn’t help it, she was nosy being. Perhaps that was why she got caught in all that trouble. 

“Get in the car, you are going to explain everything.” Clive commanded. 

Oh, now he decides to embrace the nosy genes. 

“I didn’t kill him, you need to know that.” Sahra watched her brother as he drove tensely. 

She has never seen him so rigid. Where Sahra was boisterous and all exclamation points, Clive was calm and all semi colons. He has only ever been truly angry twice in his life. First, was when he found out their mother accidentally threw out his beloved collective baseball cards when he was nine. Second, was when he and Sahra was told that their parents were getting a divorce. His jaw twitched visibly. This would be the third time he was angry.

“Then why did the cops put you in jail, Sahra? Why did I just bail you out? How long have you been in Knoxville? All this time I thought you were in New York. On the phone, you told me you were in New York, you lied!”

He jammed the brake with his foot and the car threw forward dramatically before coming to a stop. He looked at his sister, his eyes filled with more hurt than anger. 

Sahra was outraged at her brother’s behaviour, mostly because she has never have to deal with him like that. 

“You’re no saint either. Sucking Nessa’s face off. Really pathetic.” She retorted before she could stop herself. 

The hurt in his eyes disappeared completely and was fully replaced with anger.

“Get out.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said get out.” 

“How am I gonna get home?” Sahra was at her wit’s end. 

“You can walk.” So was Clive. 

Sahra exited the car and slammed the door with all the ferocity she could conjure. Clive drove off immediately. That was the first time they have ever fought. 

Chapter 13 

Sahra and Clive agreed on three things when they learnt their parents were getting divorced. 

First: They would agree to share equal amount of time at both their mother’s and father’s place. Although they were initially hurt by the decisions of their parents’, they came to terms with it. They realised that they were going to have two bedrooms, two TVs, two of everything and their naive teenage brains gave in and made space for the extra incentives. It was only until they got older that they realised that divorce, although had it perks, would produce children who were more cautious of who they would surround themselves with. They began to overanalyse everyone they have ever dated and was extremely careful not to get hurt in a relationship. Alas, they had their parents’ curse of falling too hard and too fast which did not help their case at all. 

Their parents on the other hand had already moved on with their lives. Their father would go on one too many unsuccessful dates and was a victim of afternoon rum and Spanish soap operas. Their mother had found a decent man she was so fond of that she bore twins with him and was living a fulfilled life. It became harder for the siblings to spend time with their parents and their new lifestyle but they had a principle to stick to and would make every effort to meet up with their parents once in a while. 

Second: Help first, questions later. It took Sahra a little more convincing than necessary to agree to this one because of her intrusive, need-to-know-everything nature but she agreed to it in the end. It wasn’t hard for Clive because he normally minded his own business and was always willing to help with no expectations of anything in return. Sahra had managed to get away from many sticky situations with Clive’s help and almost all the time, he never asked her anything about it, which she really appreciated. And even though it almost killed her every single time, she’d do the same for Clive when he needed help. They were each other’s lifeboat. 

Third: They would never keep anything from each other. It was them against the rest of the world. When Sahra got the opportunity to carry on her photography work in New York, Clive was the first one she told. They have never been separated before - even agreeing to visit each of their parents’ house together - and it was news for Clive. He didn’t know how he would deal with things with his sister being away. Especially at that point when he discovered he had the biggest crush on one of Sahra’s best friend, Nessa. 

They were merely fooling around then but Clive was starting to catch feelings, he thought they were going to suffocate him. He hasn’t told Sahra yet and did not know how to. It wasn’t until he found out that Nessa was getting serious with this other guy she was fooling around with. Bryce Britman. He didn’t know the guy but he decided there and then that he was his biggest nemesis. It broke his heart and he confided in Sahra before she left. Instead of getting mad or weirded out, she sympathised with him. She asked him to come with her to New York, but he had other plans in mind. He left Knoxville not long after Sahra did under the pretence that he was going to chase his dreams but it was actually because he couldn’t face Nessa after that. 

Perhaps Sahra was getting at something when she called her brother pathetic. Clive did feel pretty pathetic because as soon as he saw Nessa again, all the hurt and anger was gone. He wanted her. Even after all this time, the feelings did not budge. So when she kissed him that night, he easily let his guard down, not even worrying about the consequences that came after. He knew what they were now. His sister was bothered by the entire thing. Although she had explaining to do, he did her wrong. Nessa was always her friend first. A pang of anguish washed over him as he realised what he had done. He needed to fix things with his sister and learn the entire truth of what went on the night Trevor Hoffman died.