#and I'm terrified to face my teacher tomorrow after she. did what she did two weeks ago

[crabussy]

god I forgot how much staring at a screen for all my waking hours fucks me up and makes me miserable

[ariel-seagull-wings]

THE PRINCESS OF BAMBULUÁ

@tamisdava2 @adarkrainbow @themousefromfantasyland @professorlehnsherr-almashy @amalthea9 @princesssarisa @faintingheroine @softlytowardthesun @grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales

(Brazilian Folktale)

There was once a large stone on the road that connected two important cities with a spacious cave, where travelers used to spend the night when caught by night in that desert.

The stop was very popular, but a sight began to appear and travelers preferred to make a turn rather than having to pass through the stone on the side of the road.

Men said that they were awakened by a heavenly voice saying:

"Who wants to disenchant the Princess of Bambuluá?"

They only saw the face of a girl as beautiful as an angel. Just her face. And it was that face that asked for help. Many brave men accepted the task but gave up on the tests and fled, terrified and wet with blood. The place became more and more abandoned.

Rarely did a human creature pass by and then very quickly, eye to foot, eye to the bush. One afternoon a yellow, skinny, very tired and hungry boy appeared there and sat on the roof without knowing what to do with his life. The face of the enchanted girl appeared and asked if he was capable of disenchanting the Princess of Bambuluá.

"Yes!"

Said the yellow one;

"I am a man to face danger, but I want to eat, drink and rest first..."

"Go into the cave..."

Said the face. The yellow one, whose name was João, entered and found a table full of varied and delicious food, a good hammock set up and a warm bath prepared.

João took a shower, changed his clothes, ate and lay down in the hammock.

The face reappeared saying:

"Today at midnight go to that tree at the top of the mountain and lie down on the ground. Whatever happens, don't get up, don't scream, don't defend yourself and you'll only be able to roll here where you'll be saved."

João complied to the letter. Around midnight he went to the tree that was far from the cave and lay down. Soon after, he saw three masked figures, covered with dark cloaks, talking.

"It's been a while since I've come across people lying here..."

Said one. Another commented:

"It must have been at the cost of club that we were free."

One of them hit João with his foot and shouted:

"Here's a package! Let's push it! Get the club over him!"

The blows and kicks rained down on João, who endured it in silence and, just managing his body, he began to roll, rolling over rocks, thorns, dry branches, under the hail of blows from the three hooded figures.

He rolled, rolled, rolled, until he touched the cave. Immediately the figures disappeared and João was able to calm down, all purple from the blows.

The Princess of Bambuluá appeared, already disenchanted in a third of her body.

She ordered all comforts to be prepared for the yellow, which spent the rest of the night and the next day gathering courage for the second test.

On the chosen night, the three hooded men brutally beat the poor boy who did not show the slightest sign of feeling ill-treated.

He rolled, rolled, rolled towards the cave and the three executioners disappeared.

João received bandages on his wounds and fed properly until he regained his strength.

Finally, on the third night, the tests were cruel. The three ghosts, furious at the candidate's insistence, beat him and shook him inside a mud pit full of broken glass and thorns.

João was all chopped up like a toothpick holder. At dawn the three executioners fled like shadows. The princess of Bambuluá was completely disenchanted, from head to toe, beautiful as love.

She treated João and was able to cure him in fifteen days. They then traveled to the neighboring city and there the Princess stayed at the house of a rich and wise old teacher, who received her as she deserved.

The Princess said to João:

"I'm going to embark tomorrow for the reign of Bambuluá and I'll come back once a year to see you. My fiancé must study the language of birds and everything else necessary for an important man. After five years, I believe you will be ready to accompany me to my father's reign and marry me. Don't forget me and remember that my annual visit will only last a few hours. Study a lot."

The next day the princess took the ship and left for Bambuluá, leaving João at the house of the old teacher who had two beautiful daughters. The boy began to study everything, especially the language of birds, making progress every day.

The old woman taught diligently and as she liked the youth she thought it would be better to marry him to one of her daughters than to educate him for the Princess of Bambuluá, who could easily choose another groom.

When the day arrived for the princess to make her first visit, the teacher prepared a party but offered João a glass of wine mixed with a narcotic.

The youth drank and fell as if dead, sleeping soundly. The Princess of Bambuluá arrived, hugged everyone and was unable to speak to the groom because he was sleeping soundly.

In the afternoon the Princess returned to the ship and continued her journey.

João woke up and was very sad about what happened but continued studying more and more.

The other year, on the day the princess would visit him again, the teacher once again gave João wine mixed with a narcotic.

So the five years passed.

The Princess of Bambuluá was certain that João didn't want her, he hadn't studied anything, living for parties. All this was said by the old teacher.

When the princess was due to come, João, suspicious, was on guard but the Princess did not come.

The teacher said that the princess of Bambuluá was ungrateful and that João should marry one of her daughters, gifted and beautiful girls. João refused, packed what he had and left.

He walked along the sea beach many days. One afternoon he came across a lonely house and clapped his hands, calling the owner.

After much knocking, he heard a soft, very low voice telling him to come in. João went into the kitchen and saw a wizened old man by the fire. It looked to be over a hundred years old. He treated João very well and the young man told his story. The old man said:

"I am the Prince of Birds. It may be that one of my soldiers knows where Bambuluá's kingdom is. I'll call them..."

He grabbed a little drum and started beating, beating, beating.

The sky became dark with birds, of all types, colors and figures that descended into the house, entering through the doors and windows and surrounding the old man with all respect.

As soon as they saw the boy, they started to attack him, considering him an enemy of the Prince. The old man calmed them down with a gesture.

The Prince of Birds asked everyone the way to the Kingdom of Bambuluá.

Nobody knew.

"Sleep here today and go tomorrow and ask my Father, the King of Birds, where is the Kingdom of Bambuluá's."

João thanked the old man very much and continued his journey the next morning. He walked three days and three nights. He saw a small house on the side of a hill. He went up, clapped his hands and found an old man, so old, that he was cowering, cowering, by the fire. He barely spoke. He received him very well, gave him something to eat and listened to the story. Then he said:

"I'll see if my soldiers know anything..."

He put a silver whistle in his mouth and blew, whistle, whistle. Emus, nambus, guans, tamations, all the big birds, which run more than they fly, appeared, rushing against João because they thought he wanted to offend the King of Birds. The old man stilled them with his hand. He asked everyone and none of them knew where Bambuluá's kingdom was.

"Sleep here today and tomorrow look for my father, the Emperor of Birds. He must know..."

João was very grateful, slept and continued his pilgrimage the next morning. He walked, walked, walked.

On the fourth day of the trip he saw a little house at the top of a mountain, up there, very white. He climbed up with difficulty and clapped his hands for an endless amount of time.

Finally he entered and found an old man, old, old, so old that he lived inside a gourd, wrapped in cotton paste and suspended over the fire. He received João very well, gave him food and drink, showed him a net set up, listened to his story and promised to help him.

He took an harmonica made from the gourd of an emu leg and blew a thin, thin sound for a few minutes.

As soon as he finished, there was a noise of wings and the sky turned black, black, black, with vultures, in thousands and thousands, covering everything. They surrounded the house and entered and greeted the old man as an Emperor.

They wanted to kill João but the Emperor made a gesture and the vultures obeyed. None knew the path to the Kingdom of Bambuluá's reign.

The Emperor sent them away and turned to an old vulture that was sleeping in the corner, a vulture so old that it no longer had feathers but only guns.

The vulture heard the question and responded, stretching its huge wings:

"My Imperial Lord, know that the reign of Bambuluá was my pastures. I went there a lot. It's after Hell. We pass by, in the heat of the Devil's fire. Right on the way down is a meadow that evil eyes cannot see, full of beautiful palaces, full of beautiful palaces, with lots of pleasant people. This is the Kingdom of Bambuluá."

The Emperor of Birds told João to go and buy a five-year-old ox, kill it, cut up the meat, intestines, beef, heart, liver, kidneys, break the bones and bring everything to the old man to eat. Within three days he would be ready for the journey.

João bought the five-year-old ox, did everything he was told and placed the pile of food in front of the old vulture who began to eat without stopping, day and night.

It was eating, eating, and the cannons opened into feathers and the vulture began to feather itself again.

Two days later he was ready and took a few flights, trying out his wings and strength.

The Emperor of Birds explained to João that he should mount the vulture, holding two stumps of feathers as if they were poles, and cross his feet under the wing.

He closed his eyes, only opening them when the vulture stopped.

There would be a very hot wind and the vulture would make many turns. It was at the time when they would pass over the mouths of Hell.

João followed everything exactly and the vulture flew high, high, high, prancing above the clouds.

After hours, it descended like lightning and began to make curves, as if retreating and the boy felt a heat so strong that it gave him the impression of stepping on burning coals.

Suddenly the vulture flew higher and descended quickly, stepping onto the ground. João opened his eyes and saw that he was in a green meadow, with running water and close to many beautiful houses.

On top of a hill was a palace that was a big Babylon.

The vulture said goodbye and flew away.

The youth walked, walked, until he reached the first houses. In the window of one of these was a very friendly old woman who asked her who she was and what she was doing during the reign of Bambuluá.

João hid some parts and told others, and the old woman told him to come in and settle down with his small luggage.

The boy was hungry but the old woman had nothing to offer him. She was a former servant of the King's palace.

He had given her that little house, clothes and sent her an abundant tray of food from the royal kitchen every day.

She asked João to be patient and wait for noon, the time when lunch would arrive.

To distract himself, João opened the box, took out a violin and replaced the ordinary strings with some enchanted strings that the princess had given him.

Music played on these strings made everyone dance. João tuned the instrument and began to play music so moving, so enchanting, so moving, that the old woman lost her temper and danced through the middle of the room.

The men passing by on the street stopped to listen and joined in the dance, shaking their bodies and tap dancing like crazy people.

So many people passed by and heard her entering the house and getting lost in the middle of the dance.

At noon the palace maid arrived and from the middle of the street she was already falling apart, balancing the board. She dropped it on the table and jumped like crazy.

At the palace they noticed the maid's delay and sent someone else to look for her. What she did was join the dance with all her strength. They sent a second, third, fourth and fifth and they all mixed with the dancers, dancing. Finally the Queen with some ladies came personally to see what so many servants were busy with.

She didn't even go halfway and she was already kicking her feet, and the queen and ladies began to frolic like desperate people.

The King, seeing that the palace was deserted and hunger was pressing him without lunch appearing, went out with the nobles in search of that mystery.

He didn't escape.

He flew towards the dance like a cat at a slap. They danced, danced, danced.

Until João stopped the violin and everyone was more dead than alive. The King then said:

"Tomorrow I'm throwing a party at the palace, because the day after tomorrow my daughter is getting married. You will be the musician. Don't stop going or I'll have your head cut off."

They all dispersed.

The Princess had not left her room and when the maids told the story of the ball, she was surprised and suspected that the musician was her former fiancé, who had disenchanted her and who she had given the magic strings and made to be educated.

She sent a trusted servant and when she was convinced that it was really João, she sent for him and everything arranged for the upcoming party.

The official groom was all proud, drinking airs, without seeing anyone, because he was going to marry the King's daughter.

On the day of the party, when the royal hall was as big as a pinhead, the Princess came out, beautiful as a star in the sky, and said, loudly and clearly:

"King my father, Queen my mother, my lords and ladies! If I lost the key to my suitcase and had to buy another one to open it, and before using the new one I found the old one, what should I do?"

Everyone responded:

"Use the old one, Princess, you don't leave old loves for new ones..."

"Well..."

Concluded the Princes:

"Here is my former fiancé, who suffered mistreatment because of me, disenchanting me and studying to be worthy of his position, coming here just to reunite with me."

And entering, he came out carrying João by the hand, all well dressed, with a jewel on his finger that really looked like a prince.

All the guests clapped and the King and Queen blessed the wedding, which took place the next day, with so much celebration that there was no end.

I was there and saw everything and brought a jar of sweets, but on the slope of Escorrega I slipped, fell and everything broke...

[sunjaesol]

THE MANY CRUSHES OF LUKE PATTERSON... AND THE ONE THAT STUCK

💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌

1982

Luke Patterson's first crush ever was Haley Martin. He adored the colour of her hair — like the clementines his mom bought — and the way she finger-painted, enough for his four year old eyes to stare at her in awe.

He watched her make mud pies in the sandbox from the monkey bars, only to ruin them to get a rise out of her. He couldn't understand why she didn't like him the way he did, so he nagged his mom to explain.

"Teasing girls should be fun for them too, sweetheart," she soothed. "This Haley clearly didn't like it."

He blinked. "Huh?"

Her smile stayed warm, similar to hot chocolate and whenever grandpa conjured candies from behind his ear. "Why don't you share your grapes with her tomorrow? I'm sure she'll like that."

His nose scrunched up. "Why?"

"Because it's sweet, Luke."

"I don't get that," he shrugged. "But I'll try."

The next day, he sat beside her during storybook time and that seemed to help a little already. By the time it was lunch, her mood was lifted, which excited him too, and urged him to offer the grapes.

It earned him a featherlight kiss on the cheek.

Luke squeaked in surprise, flushing a firetruck red, to which she giggled and plopped another grape in her mouth.

Three days later, his crush was gone from his mind and he began sharing his grapes with his new friend Reginald instead.

1986

"Can you ask Jessica what she thinks of me?" Luke hurriedly whispered, eyes flickering between Reggie and the girl from across the courtyard.

Normally, Luke Patterson exuded confidence. The resident class clown, always opening his jaw to react to the teacher without raising his hand, catching fights with stupid classmates, sneaking into dad's stationwagon to create mixtapes.

Fearlessness was his freaking middle name. (It was actually Beck, but whatever. He wished it was something cool like Duran Duran though.)

But when it came to girls... he got so nervous. Because they were girls! He didn't understand them! They hated rambunctious boys and only listened to stupid pop music and blabbered about how they stole makeup from their sisters.

Jessica, however, somehow made his heart flutter and his stomach twist up. She just looked cool in her dungarees and she had a pretty smile and she didn't wear that overwhelming, sugary perfume that was now popular.

Reggie snickered, in the way only eight year old boys could. "You liiiiiiike her!"

"No!" He scowled. "I–I'm just curious."

"Sure," he drawled, but then shrugged in agreement, the oversized leather jacket rustling on his shoulders. He stole it from his older brother after he saw him kissing (!!!) some girl and figured it held some magic to impress the ladies with.

"Just do it!"

With a dramatic flourish, the boy left their hiding spot, Luke lurking around the corner of the alcove to watch. Jessica looked up from her hard work of creating friendship bracelets and smiled at Reggie.

Oh, gosh. She was pretty.

A minute later, a sheepish Reg slowly crawled back to him, cheeks red and fiddling with the zipper of his jacket.

Luke grabbed his shoulders, urgent. "What did she say?"

"Uh... well..."

"C'mon, dude!"

Reggie sighed. "She... likes me, buddy. Sorry."

His hopeful face crashed into one of devestation, quickly covering it up with a laugh and a squeeze of the shoulder. Oh, man, what would Steven Tyler do?

"That– that's dope!"

In the end, Reggie and Jessica were boyfriend and girlfriend for a week while he wrote an angry poem about how stupid dungarees were.

Huh... it was surprisingly good.

1988

"Hey, Luke," Gwenn greeted, shy, tucking her hands in her Camp Wacky Rocka hoodie. "I really liked that song you made about your guitar."

Jumping from the tree branch to the ground, Luke dazzled her with an appreciative smile. From above, Reggie and their new friend Alex watched on curiously.

"Thanks!"

Who would've thought that summer camp would be the first time he made a real, girl friend! Gwenn was super cool and she played the saxophone and she liked Joan Jett and her hair was all curly and big and it reminded him of pretty clouds.

Looking over her shoulder, he noticed a gaggle of girls staring at them. Like they were waiting.

Gwenn stared at him. "Can you close your eyes?"

He frowned. "Why?"

"Just 'cause."

Whatever. Maybe she wanted to show him something cool and would stick it in his hand. Complying, he closed his eyes and impatiently waited, bouncing on his heels.

"So?"

Suddenly, he felt a light, warm touch on his mouth and — oh! She was kissing him!

Luke staggered back in surprise, gawking at a blushing Gwenn as she squeaked a sorry and ran back to the now giggling and screeching girls. They ran away like a flock of birds.

It was a dare! His first kiss, stolen by a dare!

His boys jumped down beside him, awed.

Reggie hollered. "You kissed Gwenn!"

"I don't get it," Alex muttered.

Luke's face twisted up in a sour expression. Camp Wacky Rocka should be all about the music and becoming legends and Gwenn ruined it!

He stuck his tongue out. "Whatever. Let's go to the mess hall!"

1989

When Luke turned eleven, he kissed someone for real.

His birthday party was at the arcade, loud chatter and robotic sounds clashing together in an amazing cacophony. His parents hated the place, which is why Luke loved it.

Of the twenty guests, Yasmine clapped the loudest after he finished his song with the boys — Math Is For Losers! — and grabbed his hand as they walked to a duel game.

Luke felt fuckin' giddy the entire time. (Freakin' in front of his parents, fuckin' with friends.) The swoop in his stomach, his cheeks stretched into a wide beam.

Freshly eleven and the king of the arcade, he boldly asked if he could kiss her.

She smiled, her purple headband glittering in the neon lights, and nodded.

It was short and warm and her lips tasted like pink lemonade and sour gummies and it gave him an entirely new buzz. It was exciting.

He kissed her a couple more times the days after, eager and curious, until she claimed she was now only interested in twelve year old boys.

Since Luke now held the record of most kisses between him, Alex and Reggie, he wasn't too bothered by it. They shook hands, complimented each other on the kissing, and that was that.

1992

"Are you or are you not my boyfriend?" Olivia bit, crossing her arms.

Luke sighed, lazy gaze drifting from her to his band waiting by their bikes. Damn, he thought having a girlfriend would be way easier. Why was she so tense?

"I am," he said. "Why do you think I'm not?"

"Because you ignore me, like, all the time!" Pouting, she fiddled with the hem of her tartan skirt. "And now you're going to be with your band!"

He shrugged. "You can come with us and listen, if you want."

Luke met Olivia this year as deskmates in French class. Her raven hair was long and thick and her lips were all shiny from lip gloss and maybe he got a little cocky, thinking he could be dating the hottest girl of freshman year, so he naturally asked her out.

Maybe he should've considered beforehand whether they had anything in common, but he'd always been the overzealous type. And besides... she was a good kisser.

She scoffed. "That's not any better. Whatever. I'll just hang with Tina and Priscilla then. Laters!"

Plopping a kiss on his lips, she turned around and stalked to her whispering friends. Luke puffed, adjusted the beanie and made his way to the boys.

Girls were confusing.

"I bet dating boys is easier," Alex mused. "Like, equally terrifying, but also... easier. I think. Maybe."

Bobby laughed. "How's the girlfriend, Luke?"

"Ha ha," he deadpanned. "Let's go. I got this new song, Crooked Teeth, and it's a fucking banger!"

Olivia broke up with him after Sunset Curve's first, official gig at the arcade with the explanation that he loved music more than her. He never loved her to begin with, so maybe that was the problem.

She made out with Bobby that same night.

Holy shit, man. He supposed that bitter feeling at the sight of them tasted like rock 'n roll, the one thing he actually craved.

What a funny, funny feeling. (He wrote a hell of a lot of songs about it after. He never quite looked at Bobby the same way either.)

1995

"Hey, Maisie." Leaning against the locker beside the girl, he shot her a million dollar smile. "You comin' to our gig tonight? It's at The Orpheum."

Maisie was fucking awesome. Always in short, flowery dresses and fishnet tights and thick eyeliner like a rockstar, always listening to something new on her walkman. She came from a rich family, but that didn't hinder them from becoming friends.

Her jaw fell slack in awe, him instantly gaining more confidence. Ducking his head to meet her eye, he leaned a little closer. He knew damn well what he was doing, and he got a thrill every time it worked.

"Really?" She gasped. "That's awesome! I'll so be there!"

"Sweet," he grinned. "And stay after too."

A brow quirked up, intrigued. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Just 'cause."

"Right," she drawled. "Nothing is 'just because' with you, Luke."

"And that's why you gotta stay," he teased, nudging her shoe with his. "To find out."

If they rocked that gig and he felt like a fucking legend, he hoped it would end with the two of them hooking up. He wasn't interested in dating — having learned his lesson after Olivia — and he knew she wasn't either, but she was fun.

And that was the most important to him: to have fucking fun. Luke Patterson was here for a good time, not a long time.

And if nothing happened between him and Maisie, then he'd still feel like a legend. In a couple of hours, he was going to play at The Orpheum! How gnarly was that?!

2022

Twenty-seven years later, Luke was still seventeen years old. While he preferred to not question the science behind ghostly activities — he flunked physics anyway — he was happy that he froze at this age.

Because Julie was seventeen, too.

And, man. He was madly in love with her.

He loved everything, from the babyhairs curling around her ears, to her voice and compassionate soul, to her beautiful smile, all the way to her cute, doodled sneakers.

Her epic music taste, her snark, the way she always found his gaze, the way she finished his lyrics, the way she always knew what to say to make him feel better.

His heart melted to a flickering candle whenever she hugged him, a raging wildfire erupting between every kiss. He was a fool for her.

"Stop moving," she giggled, one hand coming up to hold his chin.

He grinned, "Sorry, Jules."

Shifting closer, she dabbled more glitter on his cheeks. They were playing at a black-light club tonight, so Julie and Flynn bought all the glow in the dark makeup available at the store for the occasion.

They looked ridiculous in daylight, Julie's weirdly pink lipstick claiming all his attention, but he knew they'd look fucking cool once the lights went down.

"You want to watch a movie after the gig?" she whispered.

Luke rolled his eyes, playful. "You're gonna fall asleep."

"Yeah." With a bashful tilt of the shoulder, she leaned in closer. "But then you'll be with me."

"Julie! How scandalous," he teased, though his chest swelled at the thought of having some alone time, some cuddle time, with Julie.

"So?"

Murmuring a yes, he closed the little distance to kiss her, sealing the deal, only for her to chase after him — an attempt to wipe the lipstick stain off his lips.

"Nah, keep it." A smirk grew. "So the people know."

She tsked. "Idiot."

"You like it."

"I'm still taking it off though, seeing as you're supposed to be a hologram," she pointed out. "But... you can kiss my lipstick away after the show."

He sighed, dreamy. "I love you."

Finishing his glitter and removing the stain, she dazzled him with a satisfied smile. "Love you too."

She rose up from the couch and went to search for Reggie, the boy likely with Carlos. For a moment, Luke was alone in the studio, allowing himself to sink into that warm, fuzzy feeling.

No matter how many blunders he went through with girls — Haley, Jessica, Gwenn, Yasmine, Olivia, Maisie — they all prepared him, in one way or the other, for Julie.

To not only recognise when an awesome girl was standing right in front of him, but also how to treat her — because Julie Molina deserved the fucking world.

Even if that world now included the supernatural.

Whatever. They were all a little crazy.

💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌

@bluefirewrites @blush-and-books @pink-flame @ourstarscollided @constantly-singing @unsaid-emily @willexx

[lalahbug]

Guidance - Zuko x Reader Chapter 6

Fandom: Avatar the Last Airbender Word Count: 3,232 My Masterlist

Warnings/disclaim: General 18+ Angst

Author’s Note: under story ___ is a blank for your name/oc/whatever you prefer Written in 3rd person Line/header is to separate paragraphs to indicate time skips, as Tumblr hates my formatting.

Story under cut, 6 of 8, Guidance Masterlist

        A few weeks had passed, ___ was healed and quickly became the new mother figure of the group. Teaching about survival, chi blocking, and helping with most of the chores. Of course, she also played with the group and lectured them like a mother as well.

        ___ and Aang were meditating together, during a sunrise, which Aang wasn’t too happy about after being up most of the night traveling. Aang peaked at her as she exhaled deeply, relaxing further, still keeping her posture. 

        “Staring at me isn’t going to help your mediating, Avatar.”

        “You didn’t even open your eyes; how did you know?” He pouted but started meditating again.

        “Your breathing went normal instead of trained.”

        “How do you do that?”

        “Do what?”

        “Hear so well, know when I’m doing something I’m not supposed to do.”

        “I’ve had heightened senses for a long time. But as for knowing when you’re doing something, we’ll chalk it up to Mother Instinct.” She chuckled softly. “You’re really not in the mood to meditate, are you?”

        “No!” Aang groaned before falling backward.

        “Okay, practice your breathing with me for a bit then I’ll let you go.”

        “Okay!” Aang agreed with a smile while sitting up. 

        Aang and Katara were practicing some waterbending, while ___ watched their movements.

        “Why don’t you come join us? Aang could use the opportunity to fend off two waterbending foes.” Katara smiled and splashed some water at Aang.

        “Thank you, but I don’t know many waterbending moves, I’d be an easy target. I can only whip water and create waves.”

        “That’s right, being from the North Pole, they never taught you. But didn’t you learn on your own?”

        “I only got the water whip and the wave, that’s all I learned on my own.”

        “Why didn’t you say anything? We could have taught you.” Aang urged.

        “I’ve never been a good waterbender, there’s no point in teaching me. I’m an average healer and I can do pretty movements with a full moon, but that’s it. My strength is chi blocking and fast reflexes.”

        “Well, I think you could be a good waterbender. Why don’t you practice with us? You can learn some new moves and there is no pressure if you can’t do it well. Because like you said, your strength is chi blocking.” Katara urged, ___ shrugged before disrobing a bit, and getting into the water with the two masters.

        One day before the invasion, The Day of Black Sun, and Aang wasn’t able to sleep. ___ was up with him, just after sunset.

        “You can’t stay awake before the invasion. You need to be rested. But I think if you’re alone, it’ll be worse. So, would you like to go over the chakras to help you with the Avatar State?”

        “I think I know them; I just can’t do the last one.”

        “Ah, you mean the Thought Chakra? Is it because of Katara?”

        Aang blushed a bit before sighing. “Yes, but also, I don’t know how to let go of Earthly attachments when I have to protect them.”

        “The Avatar is bound to this earth to protect it. You must learn to balance these or they will be your downfall. You let Katara go completely at Ba Sing Se, you were then attached to cosmic, too attached to cosmic energy. As the Avatar, you must find balance with your cosmic energy and your Earthly attachments. You can open the Thought Chakra, by learning to balance your attachments. Earthly, Avatar, cosmic, love, spirit, and even your nomad teachings.”

        “What about my nomad teachings?”

        “There will be a day where you might have to sacrifice your beliefs for the greater good, to keep balance in the world. But because of your teachings, I know you’ll find a way to balance the good with your morals.”

        “You’re talking about the Fire Lord, aren’t you?” Aang curled up and placed his weary head on his knees.

        ___ smiled at him gently, examining the bags under his eyes. “You can face him, you can beat him, we all believe in you, especially as he is powerless during the eclipse. But, what if, you can’t get to him in time. Don’t get me wrong, Sokka’s plan is amazing. Things don’t always go as planned. If you can’t get to him in time, you will have to fight him someday. How will you restrain him? Or will you have to take his life? I worry about the outcome of this plan a lot. From my talks with Roku to how devious the Fire Nation is. I just hope you know, if this fails. It’s not your fault. There will be some other factor that makes it so you can’t get to him in time. I have no doubt about you facing him, just our timing.”

        “It’s terrifying to even think of facing Ozai, but hearing the faith you have in me helps. Hearing that you don’t expect me to defeat him tomorrow, really helps. But your question haunts me. How will I restrain him?”

        She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, “I believe in you Aang, the world does. But in the end, you are just one kid, and you will need to listen to words of wisdom from your past lives. From ancient sources, and learn to bend life and energy itself if you are to defeat Ozai without taking his life.”

        “Bend life and energy? How do I do that?”

        “I’m not sure, I only read about it in the spirit library. You will have to hope that an ancient source shows you.”

        “Well, with you and the Spirit World to access, I think I’ll be able to find it if needed.”

        She smiled at him before meditating with him. She knew of the group's plan to make a bed for Aang so he could finally sleep, she was just keeping him company in the meantime.

        “___?” She hummed softly in reply, still meditating. “What if we see Zuko during the invasion? What will you do?” She opened her eyes, a sorrowful smile formed as their eyes met.

        “Depending on where he is in his journey, I’ll either have to disable him or listen to him.”

        “What do you mean?”

        “My first night in the Spirit World with Roku. He let me know of my future, to help me mentally prepare for it. He told me a beautiful tale of me falling in love, with his great-grandson. But he warned me, his great-grandson has the ability to be good or bad. As Roku and Sozin are both his great grandfathers.”

        Aang gasped, “Zuko’s mom is the granddaughter of Roku?”

        “Yes, that’s why he is at war within himself. Between his two natures. He also didn’t have the healthiest of families to help him cope with it either. His uncle, although wonderful, found his path in life a bit late. I hope Zuko will find that path one day too, but I can no longer be the one to guide him, he must find it himself. But only time will tell if he will find it soon or if he will live a long life trying to find it.”

        “Do you still love him?”

        Her eyes fell to her stomach and the bump there. “I do, but when he took another woman because I was unconscious for weeks, I feel as though maybe my love might have been blinded by the fairy tale Ruko told me. For he never mentioned a child. He only mentioned I would have to choose to forgive Zuko or not, and that it would be very difficult for me. I love him, but I'm not sure if I can forgive him just yet."

        "It must be hard, not knowing if he loves you or not, yet still having this child."

        "It hurts not knowing, but it's not too hard. I'm not worried for some reason, not when it comes to this baby."

        Aang had a flash of the small baby named Hope that Katara had helped deliver a few months back. "Babies are a beautiful thing, especially when you have someone to share it with."

        "Katara asked me to stay until the baby is born at the very minimum, so in a way I will, you guys are the closest thing I have to family right now. So, I'll share that experience with you."

        "So, I get to be an uncle?" He smiled.

        "You'll be the best uncle!" They giggled softly and she smiled at him fondly as the group approached them, ready to help Aang finally sleep. 

        After the invasion, Aang wanted nothing to do with the planning for the next steps, next attack. ___ shut herself away from the group and the others with them now. She should have been left behind with the other adults, but they wouldn’t hear her protest, since she was pregnant. 

        Walking along one of the many corridors of the Western Air Temple, she hummed softly to herself, enjoying her solitude, wanting to fix her mental state before joining everyone. No one needed a pouty pregnant woman around, all because they didn’t listen to her. They had her and the baby’s health in mind, they weren’t trying to make her feel more useless or weak. So; she needed to be alone to fix the brewing thoughts before they burnt anyone needlessly.

        She walked until she felt lost and sighed and started to head back to the group, for dinner. But when she arrived everyone was sulking and arguing about something.

        “What’s wrong?” ___ asked while getting some food after Sokka said something about not adding animal cruelty to the list.

        “I’ll tell you-” Katara started, ready to vent to someone else.

        “Wait,” Toph cut off Katara. "___ how would you feel, if Zuko came here asking for forgiveness and to teach Aang firebending?”

        She understood what had happened just from Toph’s question, her heart sped up, the broken pieces throbbing, she took a breath to reply. “Aang needs a firebending teacher, and Zuko, well he’s a good firebender. I don’t know how I feel about him asking for forgiveness, but if you thought he was sincere, Toph, I would let him stay. Because if you think he was sincere the whole time, it hopefully means he’s finally found the correct path.” She looked to Aang with a sad smile, reminding him of their conversation when he was so sleep-deprived.

        “How?” Katara asked softly. “How can you just allow him here? Forgive him and trust him? Especially after what he’s done to you?”

        “I don’t forgive him; I don’t trust him. But the options of firebending teachers are pretty limited to Aang. Only time can tell if he can earn trust and forgiveness from any of us. We have to look past ourselves. The world needs the Avatar, the world needs Aang to learn firebending. If we still can’t trust him after he’s with us and he’s taught Aang, then you can give him the boot and send him packing.”

        “I hate when mother is right,” Sokka grumbled.

        “I am not your mother,” ___ snapped. “I’m a friend. I’m tired of being treated like some soft pregnant woman with motherly love. I’m a fighter. My pregnancy doesn’t change that. I will only let motherly change take me when the world is no longer at war. I can’t soften and hold everyone’s hand through this. You’re all kids to me, but the world can’t have the Avatar, a master of waterbending, master of earthbending, and a sword master, be kids. You have to keep the goal in your mind.”

        “You’re still mad at us for making you come with us? Instead of letting you stay with the other adults, aren’t you?” Aang asked softly.

        “Yes.” She exhaled sharply before taking a deep breath. “But I know you did it because you care about me,” she rested a hand on her stomach. “About the baby. But you wanted me here, so I’m here. And I think you should listen to what Zuko has to say without emotion.”

        “All I know is that while he was talking to us, he was sincere. Maybe you’re all just letting your hurt feelings keep you from thinking clearly.” Toph said in agreement with ___.

        “Easy for you to say, you weren’t there when he had us attacked by pirates.” Katara spat.

        “Or when he burned down Kyoshi Island,” Sokka added.

        “Or when he tried to capture me at the fire temple.” Aang finished.

        “Why would you two even try to defend him?” Katara said so frustratedly she was shaking.

        “Because, Katara, you’re all ignoring one crucial fact. One ___ has already told you!” Toph stomped up to Aang and poked him in the chest. “Aang needs a firebending teacher! We can’t think of a single person in the world to do the job. Now one shows up on a silver platter and you won’t even think about it?” She shook the ground with a couple more stomps.

        “I’m not having Zuko as my teacher!” Aang walked away from ___ and Toph.

        “Aang-” ___ started before Sokka cut her off.

        “You’re darn right, you’re not buddy.” Sokka stood tall, finalizing his backup with Aang.

        “Well, I guess that’s settled,” Katara said smugly. ___ sighed before looking at Toph.

        “I’m beginning to wonder who’s really the blind one around here.” Toph stormed off, ___ followed behind her.

        Toph and ___ were walking through the forest, to find Zuko.

        “You didn’t have to come with me,” Toph sighed.

        “I know, but I would like to talk to Zuko too. I think I know him well enough to tell when he’s lying, whether you can detect it or not.”

        Toph giggled pointing to ___’s stomach, “I would hope you knew him well enough.”

        “Oh shush,” she pushed Toph playfully, but it was clear she was a bit exasperated by the comment.

        “Do you think Zuko would try to trick us all; like he did to you and Katara?”

        “Zuko didn’t trick me. I don’t think he meant to trick Katara either. I think he loved me in his own way. He was good in Ba Sing Se. But the allure of home was stronger than the good.”

        “But now that he’s here, you think the good called him back?”

        “I’m hoping that. I’m hoping he found his true destiny.”

        “I’m hoping you’re right,” Toph said with a sigh.

        While moving through the brush the women alerted Zuko.

        “Who’s there?” His voice was groggy, the sound of it stung ___’s heart. As they got closer, he yelled. “Stay back.”

        “It’s me!” Toph shouted back, but it was too late, Zuko had already lashed out fire in his fear, Toph even tried to make herself an earth shield. She fell as the flames licked the soles of her feet “Ow! You burned my feet!”

        Zuko was up and running towards her as she started to crawl away. “I’m sorry, it was a mistake!” He cried while chasing after Toph, but sudden strikes to his body made him collapse.

        “Get away, Zuko!” ___ shouted while scooping up Toph.

        “___?” He gasped, trying to sit up, she only chi blocked his right side. As she started to walk away, he called out to them. “No, please, come back! I’m sorry!” He tried to get up, but the weight of his right side would not shift and he fell back. He groaned along with his heart ache seeing ___ walk away and ignore his plea, his apology. “Why am I so bad at being good!” He cried to the sky, wishing to be able to rewind time.

        He’d go back so far if he could, but he pleaded now silently inside his head. “Please let me go back, even just 5 minutes.” He exhaled in defeat, wondering what the girls had wanted to say, but now he’d never know.

          Days passed and the threat of Combustion Man was gone, Hokada and Suki back. While sitting around the fire with everyone, Zuko served tea again, while he did so, he noticed ___ left the group. Excusing herself to go lie down. And the night where he burned Toph’s feet came to mind. She came with Toph, what did she want to say?

        After his failed joke and everyone had settled their laughter. “Does ___ leave the group often after dinner or is that because of me?” Zuko asked softly, silence rang afterward. Katara and Aang shared a soft look.

        “Before the invasion, I was restless, ___ was meditating with me. I asked how she would react if we were to run into you since, at the time, you were still an enemy, a threat.” Aang sipped his tea before continuing. “She simply said she'd either disable you or listen to you. She believed in you even then, she just wasn’t sure when you'd find your correct path in life.”

        “But when she thinks about you, hears your name, or even just briefly has a polite encounter with you. Her heart beats sickeningly. Like the broken pieces are trying to pull together.” Toph added since she was able to hear and feel ___’s heartbeat.

        “I want to explain myself, talk to her. But I want to do it alone.”

        “You should be thankful she even acknowledges you exist,” Katara spat, still angry.

        “I am, she’s always been forgiving. But I don’t know how forgiving she’ll be with me.”

        “___ still loves you,” Toph encouraged him.

        “But before we allowed you in the group, she did say only time would show if you deserved trust and forgiveness,” Sokka added, Suki elbowed him. “What? He should know the truth, the good and the bad.”

        “Thank you, that helps. Maybe she’s not ready to hear my apology, because she doesn’t forgive me or trust me yet.”

        “Make sense, you engaged her, impregnated her, broke your promise then left her for another woman because she was basically in a coma,” Katara stated with venom.

        “I never left her, but I was too cowardly to tell my father no to the arranged marriage. Scared to not be his perfect son again.”

        “Mai still seems to love you, since she helped with the prison break,” Sokka said.

        “Another heart I broke, by being a misleading person. She loves someone within me that I’m not. She doesn’t understand that I’m trying to save my country, my kingdom. The world fears and hates the Fire Nation. I need to try and heal that and help the Avatar bring balance back into the world.”

        “I think ___ just needs a little time, she was for having you here from the get-go with me,” Toph popped some more food in her mouth. “She’s just not ready to deal with you. Since she’s been having some health issues with the baby, every time we have stress, she gets sick.” Toph said sadly.

        “Well with the invasion being over, Combustion Man gone. Hopefully, things will calm down.” Katara said before standing up. “I should go check on her and the baby before we sleep.” She stood and left towards the way ___ had left earlier.

        Zuko sighed and sipped his tea. He would need to be patient a bit, wait for some alone time with his love, and keep an eye on her troubled health with the baby.

Author’s Note:

Hello, I know I’ve been gone for awhile, but I’m getting better mentally and personally. I can’t promise when the next chapter will come out, but I’m hoping by the end of May. 

I’d like to thank everyone that’s liked previous chapters and stayed with me on this. This is still my indulgence, anime fanfics, but after this series. I might go into show/movie fanfics (like Marvel and Supernatural), make a list of who I’d be willing to write for and open a for request for a bit. 

Also, for the one lovely who wanted to be added/tagged for new chapters, here you go; thank you for your love on this <3

@eridanuswave​

[emachinescat]

I've decided to watch MacGyver from the beginning (again), and I'm live tweeting the experience with every tweet tagged with #savemacgyver. I thought it would be fun to share my collected thoughts from the episodes on here as well.

My Thoughts on S1E2, "Metal Saw"

Seriously love the music in this show!

THE FREAKING BELT GRAB. You can tell they've done this kind of thing before.

I always love it when Jack and Mac have heart-to-hearts in the middle of super intense, dangerous situations. Like... it's sweet, but time and place, guys?

"Hi, I'm Jack." Nervous Jack is bebby.

Ew, sweat. Like, I know it's "realism" to have sweat stains on clothes in situations like these, but that's one bit of realism I can always do without. Gross.

Is that a bit of PTSD I'm seeing with Mac there on the couch? That's a kind of realism I can always get behind.

Riley finding Mac and Boze in that compromising position will never not be funny. "But he was on top." I love Riley more every episode.

Riley is a really good liar from day one.

I love the joke about ex-cons benefiting from being in relationships with stable people (i.e., fake boyfriend Bozer), then the immediate cut to Bozer with his whole arm inside the vending machine. Great stuff.

Love the Riley and Bozer bonding... right up until the cringe-tastic "Slide me your digits."

"Soon, I'm gonna woo you the same way Romeo would have wooed Juliet if they had Snapchat back in the Renaissance." Bozer and his surprisingly accurate pickup lines. The Renaissance did in fact start in Italy around the 14th century, when R&J is thought to take place.

I love all this psychoanalyzing of Mac. "Adapting is his survival mechanism." Also I'm living for Jack sticking up for Mac to Patti.

"This place has been searched by everybody and their dog." Is this a Texas thing or an old guy saying? Either way it's great.

Nothing beats the early days of Mac and Jack. Nothing. I wish we had gotten more interactions where Jack has to parent Mac: "Stop touching that. Look at me." ❤️❤️❤️

Jack so concerned about Mac and putting on the kid gloves = everything I could have ever asked for and more.

Jack has such a big heart. Poor guy, the look on his face when he sees that the reporter is actually Sarah...

Paperclip sculptures: When I first started watching the show, I thought they were lame. Now I miss them so much. Does that mean I've gotten lamer or that they were always cool and I was always lame?

"Closest time I ever came to coming home in a box." Oof. This line hits different now, and not in a good way.

I just love how Jack is this big tough ex-Delta who is so open about his emotions, particularly with Mac. And the way Mac reassures him... Their bromance is top-tier.

"Oh, like when they invented fire!" Another zinger.

Mac grabbing that giant cigar right out of that dude's mouth 😂😂😂

Love some good fight-scene Mac whump! 👏👏👏 And bar fights are always a blast!

Riley with the car door - such a boss. "What? You told me to stay in the car, and I did."

I've seen some people say they don't like S1 Mac's hair. I kind of dig it, to be honest. He looks like he's 5, but I love it.

Mac has made a lot of DIY cutting torches in his time, but they never get less impressive.

Jack trusting Mac to save Sarah while he keeps watch is just *chef's kiss*!

These early episodes have so many MacGyverisms. One right after the other. It's awesome.

I've never been a big fan of the dark either, Mac.

The first scene with Mac and Sarah is so beautifully tense and whumpy (he way he scrabbles for purchase, gasps for breath, that hitch in his voice as he tries to squeak out Jack's name) that I had to rewind and watch it again.

The hopeful disbelief in her voice: "Jack Dalton came for me?"

Sarah can kick some serious ass. I can see why Jack likes her. Too bad she's about to lead him on the rest of the episode, while actually having a fiance...

Sarah: *leans out of car, shooting her weapon with deadly, terrifying precision* Riley: I agree, this woman should not have kids. 😂 Everything that comes out of Riley's mouth is gold.

Riley asleep in the back of the car while Mac sits quietly and Jack and Sarah have a sweet moment is like mom and dad with the kids in the backseat. Except mom has a fiance and hasn't told dad yet, even though she's had ample opportunity.

Because seriously, Sarah. It's not that hard to tell him the truth. Giving him those big eyes and flirting with him, thinking he has a chance is just cruel. I have never liked her character, and this is why.

Mac and Jack giggling about Jack's crush on Sarah like middle-school girls is life.

"You're just gonna have to let that go." Man, I love their relationship.

Gosh, the scene where they find Luis always hurts so badly. These early episodes did not play around.

"There isn't always time to beg some suit back home for permission to do what's right." I'm not a fan of Sarah, but I love this line. Also, this is pretty much the synopsis of the whole show.

Riley's hair used to be so LONG! 😍

The loyalty of these three! And I love the OG trio so much.

This sleazy guy in the computer place makes my skin crawl.

Love how Patti's like, "Mac will be back by then." Not Jack, not Riley. Just Mac. Can we say teacher's pet? I actually lowkey love this though.

"Who is this guy?" Much like Doctor Who's "It's bigger on the inside," I never get tired of people being equally amazed and confused at the stuff Mac can do.

I've never been the biggest car chase junkie, but Barrios jumping over the car using that log in the road is pretty dope.

Sarah's rage is chilling. And Jack talking her down breaks me every time.

Again, I love the loyalty of our team. Everyone sticks up for each other, ending with Mac's totally unbelievable but still somehow 100% genuine "It was me. I forced them." TOO good.

First mention of Oversight this early. Just thinking about who it is that doesn't like unsanctioned ops just makes me 😤 I wonder if the writers knew who OS was at this point or if it was a later development.

I do wish we could have gotten more conspiratorial, approving Patti. She's so much better than expressionless, bland Patti.

The way Sarah never told Jack about her fiance Jeff (who is in fact a cinnamon roll but still a discount Jack) pisses me off. "I tried to tell you." Yeah, right. It's not that hard to say, "Yo, I'm in a relationship."

Jack NEVER should have found out about Jeff the way he did. There's no excuse.

It's not okay, Jack. She did you wrong. You didn't deserve that. Stand up for yourself, man. Gosh, he's so broken here, and I hate it.

"At least we have each other... Don't look at me. I know how weird it sounded." THESE TWO I SWEAR 🤣🤣🤣

Poor Mac. I do love how we get his obsessive tendencies so early in the show, and how they keep coming back, even as late as season 5. As someone with clinically diagnosed OCD, this makes me feel seen and I love being able to relate to my favorite character.

Love the found family antics at the end. Riley and Bozer making dinner while Mac and Jack play basketball? Perfection.

Lol, Bozer calling Riley a "caramel goddess" has such Schmidt/Cece vibes from New Girl, and I dig it!

Ew. More sweat. I know some people find sweaty men attractive, but that is NOT my vibe. I prefer my men clean and freshly laundered.

The way Riley glances back over her shoulder at them as she walks away, as if to make sure they're really there, that this is actually real!!!

"That's not even... that's true, actually. That's sad." Jack 🤣 Also, "I'm hungry." Big mood.

As a Grandpa Harry stan from the OG show, I eat up any mention of him in the new one. I just wish we'd gotten more of that wonderful man in the reboot. Still, I'll take what I can get!

I'd honestly forgotten how much I enjoy this episode! So solid, full of bromance, found family, and lots of good-natured bickering. Can't wait to watch the next one, hopefully tomorrow! In the meantime, please keep fighting for our show! Together we can #savemacgyver!

If anyone wants to join me in my re-watching and tweeting adventure, please do! It's my way to take about an hour a day in my busy, busy life to commit to the #savemacgyver movement. (And to enjoy my favorite show yet again!) If you do tweet as you watch, make sure to tag EVERY tweet with ONLY #savemacgyver so we can keep that hashtag trending! :)

Thanks for letting me share my (numerous) thoughts on this episode. This was really fun, and I hope it's something you all enjoy, too. I'd love to know what you all think of the episode in the comments! ❤️

[willymywonkers]

The Factory (5/5)

Summary: It's been a few weeks since the Factory tour, and Maude is much happier than she ever was. Charlie comes over, and tells her about his experience with Willy. She finds that he rejected Willy's offer. However, she gets a surprise visit from a familiar stranger.

A/N: the final chapter baby!!! I know it's this series was short, but I promise I will still be posting other stories with Maude and Willy, I've just got some major school shit to work out. My Masterlist should be up tomorrow.

Tagged: @holdmeicant @wonkasmissstarshine

It was a mid February day, and things seemed to be getting better for the Buckets. Harry Bucket had gotten a new job, with much better pay, and Grandpa Joe was much better.

Maude was back in school teaching. Charlie couldn't be happier to see her face again.

Maude even started a class teaching kids the chemistry behind making candy. She loved hanging out with the kids, but there was something missing in her life.

Despite being much cheerful, she couldn't get her mind off Will. She noticed Wonka's sales had been dropping. The newspaper began spreading rumors about him, but, of course, they weren't true.

The soft buzz from her door distracted her from her thoughts. Maude smiled, already knowing who it was.

Charlie smiled back at her, wiping the snow off his boots.

"Hello, Charlie." Maude chuckled, inviting him in.

"Hello, Ms. Figgle. Here, I got some extra tips from shoe shining, and I wanted to split this with you." Charlie handed her a Wonka bar from his pocket.

Maude smiled, taking the candy bar. "How thoughtful of you, dear."

She took a piece, but it didn't taste the same. It had a bitter taste, but it wasn't the chocolate. Chewing on the candy suddenly made Maude's good mood shift to a guilty feeling.

"This doesn't taste right." Maude said. The candy didn't have its velvety texture like it used to.

Charlie took a bite of the bar, and agreed.

"Did something happen with you and Will on the trip?" Maude asked, slightly concerned.

"Well, Mr. Wonka offered to give me his entire factory, but he wouldn't let me ever see my family again." Charlie explained.

Maude looked, slightly confused. "Really?"

"Yeah. I thought he was really nice at first. I guess he only cares about himself." Charlie sighed, disappointed.

Maude sighed, just as disappointed.

"Did he ever mention me? At all?" She asked.

"No, I don't think so." Charlie replied.

Maude's heart began to break. Of course, this was expected. She didn't expect Willy to remember her, and how she was his biggest influence in his life.

The cold sad guilt started to consume her once again.

Willy Wonka found himself in an odd situation. Ever since Charlie turned down his offer to live with him, he had been feeling odd. He felt guilty somehow.

This feeling greatly affected his chocolate sales, and he just didn't know why.

Childhood memories started coming back to him. It drove him nuts. He remembered the constant bullying. How he was an outcast to the other children.

Wired Willy is what the kids called him. They would pebbles at his house, taunting him.

God, how he hated his childhood. Willy sat his desk. His mind was clouded, and he could barely focus on his work.

"Check out loser Willy." The kids shouted. "He's like a turtle, slow and cowardly."

Willy couldn't stand it. He was so helpless. He remembered the kids pushing him to the ground and kicking him hard in the stomach.

He gulped hard. It was hard to make him cry, but those memories were enough to push Willy to his limit.

"Hey ASSHATS." A young girl cursed. "Leave him alone or I'll dissect you lot."

Willy remembered the appearance of a girl with messy pigtails and dirt on her face.

She threw some dead things at the kids, and all the kids ran off, terrified of the girl.

Willy wasn't terrified. In fact, the young girl was his savior. He remembered how she loved to chew gum.

"Maude." Will whispered. He felt upset saying her name out loud. She wasn't around anymore, and he hadn't spoken to her in years.

He sat with his supposed 'therapist'.

"I just don't understand." Willy said. "Why am I thinking about her now? I should be over her."

The Oompa Loompa nodded, writing something down.

"I just feel like there's something missing." Willy said, thinking. "I've been feeling terrible, so the candy's terrible. So, how do I fix that?"

The Oompa Loompa shrugged.

Will sat up. "Maybe I'm feeling this way because of my past actions lead up to Charlie ejecting my offer, and I should see things from outside my own perspective." He smirked over at his 'therapist'. "Oh, you're good."

The next day, Willy took a trip into town, wearing all black, in hopes of finding Charlie. He parked his large flying glass elevator in the most convenient spot, and saw the boy shining shoes.

As the boy went on a bit of a break, Willy took a seat on the bench and flipped through the local newspaper, conveniently covering his face.

Charlie kneeled down, and began to work on Willy's shoes.

"I hear that guy, Wendell Walters." Willy began to speak.

"Willy Wonka?" Charlie corrected.

"Yeah, him. I hear his chocolate hasn't been doing well. It seemed to he's a bad egg who deserves it." Willy said.

"Yeah." Charlie agreed.

"Have you met him?" Willy asked.

"I did once. At first, I thought he was nice, but then he wasn't. He also has a funny haircut." Charlie replied, trying to antagonize Willy. He caught on from the moment he sat down.

Willy tossed the newspaper down. "I do not."

"Why are you here?" Charlie got up, and crossed his arms.

"I don't feel so hot." Willy snapped. He sighed, frustrated. "What helps you feel better when you feel down?"

"My family."

"Ew." Willy winced.

Charlie started to get slightly upset. "What do have against my family?"

"It's not your family. It's the idea of-" Willy seemed to struggle on the right word.

"Parents?"

"That." Willy sighed. "And, something else."

"And, what's that?" Charlie asked. "Whatever it is, you should face what's troubling you. My teacher tells me that."

"Well, that sounds like a bunch of baloney." Willy scoffed.

"It's not. She's very smart." Charlie said.

"Then, maybe she should help me." Willy said, sarcastically. Then, he thought for a second. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. Do you think you could show me to her?"

Charlie nodded. "Sure."

Willy smiled wide. "That's great! You know, I actually have trans-"

He ran into the glass elevator face first. "I should really be careful to where I park this thing."

Willy walked into the elevator, with Charlie following behind. He pressed a single button, and they were off.

Maude was in her bedroom, playing the violin. Her fingers danced over the strings as the bow shifted back and forth, playing a calming tune. The smoothness of the instrument brought her temporary peace.

It had been a while since she touched the instrument, since she only played it when she was particularly sad. However, in this moment, she felt contentment.

It did hurt her knowing that Will completely forgotten about her, but she wasn't going to let that guilt follow her into the bright future.

Maude heard a soft knock at the door. She placed the instrument down, walking out of her bedroom.

It was Charlie, of course.

"Hello, dear." Maude smiled.

"Ms. Figgle, there's someone I want you to meet." Charlie said.

Behind him was a stunned Willy Wonka. He gulped hard, nervously smiling at Maude.

She stood there, baffled. "Come in." She spoke softly, gesturing the boys in.

Willy nodded, putting his coat and hat down.

The three of them sat in the living room. A silence consumed the room, as Will and Maude stared at each other for a few minutes.

"Hi Willy." Maude said, finally. "How are you?"

Willy smiled, slightly. "Hey Maude. I'm fine."

"Would you like some tea?" She asked.

He nodded. "Absolutely."

Maude drifted off to the kitchen. After a few minutes, she came back with tea and cookies.

Charlie looked over to Willy, and nodded.

"Ms. Figgle, do you know where the restroom is?" Charlie asked.

"Down the hall, and to the left." Maude said. Her eyes were still locked with Willy's.

Charlie took this opportunity to leave the two adults alone.

"So, you're a teacher now?" Willy reached for his tea.

"Yes, but I teach the science of candy making." Maude said, grabbing a cookie.

"That's great." He smiled. "You know, candy making does require a lot of smarts."

She chuckled. "Yeah."

Willy's smile slightly faded as he looked down at his tea. "Say, uh, would you ever want to get back into candy making again?"

She smiled, chuckling again. "Well, I would. I loved working with you in the factory."

"You did?" His puppy dog eyes were too much to bear.

Maude nodded. "Of course."

His smile soon faded. "Would you ever forgive me, Maude?"

"For what?" She asked confused.

"For coming between you and Ron. I know how much you loved him, and I just got so jealous that I pushed you away." Willy looked down at his tea, stirring it slowly.

Tears poured softly down Maude's cheek. "That's not true, Will."

Willy looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Ron pulled me away from you." She sniffed. "I didn't love him."

"You didn't?" Willy repeated.

"No." She scoffed. "I loved you."

His eyes widened. He clenched his gloved hands, and gulped. "R-really?"

Maude nodded, wiping off any tears with a piece of paper tissue.

He leaned over to her. His gloved hand hovering over her wet cheek. Will placed a soft kiss on her quivering lips. Maude gave into the kiss, gently.

They pulled away after a minute or so.

Will cleared his throat, and chuckled, slightly.

Maude smiled, holding his hands in hers. She placed her head against Will's chest. Willy embraced the hug, holding Maude in his arms.

"I think I loved you too, Maude." He said. "Do you think you'd still might wanna live with me in the factory?"

She chuckled. "Only if Charlie says yes."

Behind her, Charlie was smiling brightly at the two.

"Charlie?" Willy Wonka began. "Would you and your family like to live in the factory with me?"

Charlie nodded. "Yes, of course."

He hugged both Maude and Willy.

Finally, it became clear to Willy about what he was missing.

This became the start of something beautiful.

[asyeralovelies]

ICARUS - percy jackson x oc (chapter one)

word count: 3,909

trigger warnings: gory description (mrs dodds) , implied physical abuse

a/n: lmao i posted this on wattpad first (@/asyeralovely) so you guys can check it out there too. also on ao3, same user as my wattpad.

"My, my..." Dittany celeste murmured as she looked around Yancy Academy, a private school in upstate new york. Her satyr friend, Grover Underwood, and her mentor at Camp Half-Blood, Chiron, or tío as she liked to call him, had asked for someone to help in picking up a demigod in the school. Apparently, it was so hard to get the half-blood that they needed another one from camp.

Well, Dittany wasn't really "just another one at camp."

The dark haired girl had been left at camp borders when she was a mere one year old, the only information of her mother she had was that the woman's last name was "Celeste."

Honestly, she didn't know what to feel about the woman. Did she leave her there to train early at camp to learn to protect herself? Did her mother simply not want a child and left her there to fend for herself? The daughter of Hephaestus had no clue.

The only other long-timers at a young age in camp was Annabeth Chase, another friend of hers. The daughter of Athena had been there since she was seven.

Dittany snapped her fingers, willing the mist, a veil that covers up the Greek Myths world in mortal eyes, to make her seem like another student in Yancy Academy. She had learned that trick when she was ten, after six years of pestering her tío.

As she walked casually around the halls of the private school, her mind went through notes about the new demigod. His name was Percy Jackson, a boy with black hair and green eyes. He was in sixth grade and seemed to have attracted a very dangerous monster, because Grover had been panicking when he Iris-Messaged her about the situation.

Finally, the girl caught sight of a certain curly haired satyr talking to who she assumed to be Percy Jackson and stalked towards them. She snapped her fingers again, willing the mist to make it seem she was already friends with the two. Well, to Percy. Grover already knew her, without the mist.

The green eyed boy met her own dark eyes and he grinned as if they really did know each other, as if the scars on her face were a natural sight, and Dittany grinned back, acting her role.

"Hey, Perce," she said enthusiastically, using the first nickname that came to mind. She sent a subtle nod to Grover, who gave her a quick thumbs up. "You two having fun without me? After all we've been through!"

Percy rolled his eyes and smiled fondly at her. "Shut up, An. Grover was just saying something about being worried for the field trip tomorrow." He looked at her with a raised eye brow, like he was saying, "can you believe him?"

Dittany was a great actress. "What? You afraid our teacher's gonna turn into a monster and slash us to bits?" she asked Grover, mirth in her eyes. The satyr narrowed his own eyes at her, clearly too worried to laugh in amusement.

"No," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm just.." he couldn't seem to find an excuse for his nerves.

"Just?" said Dittany amusedly.

"Whatever." he grumbled.

Dittany only smiled teasingly at him.

"I'm going to kill her," Percy mumbled. Nancy Bobofit, a red haired girl with kleptomania and freckles that seemed spray painted with crushed Cheetos, had been throwing wads of her sandwich into Grover's curly brown hair.

Dittany knew Percy wouldn't do that, because according to Grover, the demigod was on probation and had been threatened by the headmaster himself with death by in-school suspension if anything remotely strange happened.

See, from what she had gathered with observations in one day, the boy had ADHD and dyslexia, like most demigods. Dittany didn't have dyslexia, meaning she could read perfectly fine, but she could still read Greek. In truth, she didn't know how that worked, but she didn't question it.

"It's okay. I like peanut butter." Grover said. Being thrown at your hair, Dittany mused. Hope you're not serious.

Grover dodged another piece of Nancy's lunch.

"That's it." Percy snapped, standing up, but Dittany pulled him down by his shirt.

"You're already on probation, Mr Jackson," the girl air quoted the last part. "Anything remotely shitty happens and you're out of here." then she smirked. "Wouldn't want to leave your two best friends in the whole world, would you?"

That shut him up.

When Dittany willed the mist, she made it so Percy thought she had been here since day one and only had Grover for a friend. The daughter of the forges had noticed that the only things keeping Percy from straight up leaving was because of his friends who would be all alone without him and his mom who would be disappointed that he just gave up.

Sally Jackson was a nice woman, from last night when Dittany had Iris-Messaged her. She informed the mother that she was also going to keep watch on Percy, since the situation was getting desperate with the really powerful monster. But Dittany had assured her things would be fine when Sally started panicking about the statement.

But today, Dittany's senses were on high alert.

She knew immediately that Mrs Dodds, the other chaperone for the field trip, was their monster. From the way her eyes had widened when she caught sight of Dittany, who had not been there before, and seeing the students just pass by her like she had been there all along. From the way the monster had glared at her, like she was silently asking, "how dare you interfere!?"

She had glared back at the woman. The students saw it as "what're you gonna do about it?" because in their mist memories, the dark haired girl liked to stir trouble. The "what're you gonna do about it?" glare really meant that she was challenging the monster.

Ever since Dittany had left for a quest with Luke Castellan, a son of Hermes and a mutual friend with Annabeth, about two years ago, the twelve years old wasn't so terrified of monsters. Well, she never was, really, but she got to see the real world. She knew what it was like to fight monsters in life or death situations and not just for practice.

She remembered the days very well.

Luke had been offered a quest by his father. Well, not personally, but according to tío, Hermes wanted Luke to go to the garden of the Hesperides and get a golden apple like Heracles had once done.

Luke immediately took it, consulting the oracle.

He had went back down the attic ladder looking confused. He had said the oracle required him to bring only one other person along with him.

The Hermes boy had asked Dittany because she was the most skilled person in combat at camp, partly because of staying the longest there and partly because she trained relentlessly to spite her unknown mother for leaving her at the borders by herself.

They had travelled to San Francisco together, stopping every once and a while for take out food or fighting monsters.

When they were outside the garden, just about to enter, Luke had told her the prophecy.

SEEK THE LAND WHERE THE GREEKS ARE FORBIDDEN,

FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF THE HERO OF TWELVE LABORS,

ENTER THE ONCE SO BEAUTIFUL GARDEN,

FAIL TO PROCEED WHAT SHOULD BE DONE BY SCAR'S FORCE,

TAKE ONE COMPANION OR YOU'RE DOOMED FOR DEATH,

A DISTRACTION, AN ILLUSION, WILL FALL FOR THE THEFT

TAKE A CHANCE WITH FATE IN A HERO'S TRUE END

THE GAMBLE OF HERMES, A GAME OF PRETEND

Unlike Luke, Dittany caught a meaning to it. Well, the first part, at least. The demigods were never allowed in San Francisco unless for a quest because, apparently, it's where they're most likely to get killed off. They were doing one of the labors of Heracles. They were about to enter the garden of the Hesperides.

She didn't understand anything from the second part except that Luke needed one companion or he'd die and Hermes apparently had a gamble going on.

When they entered the garden, at first, Dittany didn't understand why it was only "once beautiful." It was mesmerizing, reminding her of those religious bible stories about the garden of Eden where Adam and Eve used to live before their sin. But the longer they looked around, she felt like a part of the place was missing. Like a song cover with missing lyrics. It could still be beautiful, but it just wasn't right without those missing parts.

Then they approached the hundred headed dragon, Luke warning her to stay put before he called signal so they could both have a role. Luke would distract while Dittany would go for the apple.

The whole time with the ordeal, Dittany felt like she was being watched.

In the end, Luke ended up with a scar running from above his eyebrow down to his jaw. Dittany had to step in the distraction to save him from the dragon's other claws that were going for a second strike and got Dittany's face and shoulder instead. It looked like three knife slashes on her face going diagonally and a scar from her shoulder to the small of her back.

They failed to steal a golden apple, but Dittany felt like they were meant to fail.

They came back with heavy injuries because of going back to camp and facing more monsters while they were already scarred. From then on tío banned quests, not wanting anymore heavy injuries.

Luke had felt like he ruined chances for everyone, but Dittany assured him that he didn't. She told him she should have kept with the plan because Luke could protect himself, but then Luke told her that he would have died without her.

Luke told her he also felt like his father was making fun of him for thinking he could do it, and Dittany silently agreed. But she didn't voice out her thoughts. She just hugged him and told him that one day, someone would clear for the camp and quests would be allowed again. Someday, things would get better.

But both Luke Castellan and Dittany Celeste knew that things only ever get worse for demigods.

Annabeth had taken it to herself to cheer up both of them, saying corny jokes that were so bad they were funny and reading random facts about architecture to distract them.

In the present, Dittany found herself smiling sadly. Luke was better now, and so was she, but sometimes the girl would find the sandy haired boy looking grim and trying to stop the tears.

She knew the boy wanted to make his father proud, prove that he was a hero, but instead he had failed. Dittany would walk up to him, sit on the seat next to him and make his head fall to her lap so that he could cry. She would never ask, because she already knew. She didn't whisper comforting words, because someone's presence and knowing they're there for you was enough.

Sometimes Annabeth would join them and would just tell silly stories where she describes the places in the story.

They would pretend they were a normal mortal family where Luke was their father who was overwhelmed with work and needed comfort and Annabeth would be the one to tell him about her day while Dittany made snacks. A normal, happy mortal family.

Dittany found herself following Mr Brunner— aka Chiron or tío— as he led the museum tour. Tío already knew she was there, and he played his part of acting like she always had been.

He rode up front in his wheelchair, guiding the class through the big echoey galleries, past marble statues and glass cases full of really old black-and-orange pottery.

It blew Dittany's mind that this stuff had survived for two thousand to three thousand years. What, with the gods' tempers and tendencies to destroy things? Wow.

He gathered them around a thirteen-foot-tall stone column with a big sphinx on the top, and started telling them how it was a grave marker, a stele, for a girl about their age. He told them about the carvings on the sides.

Dittany noticed Percy was trying to listen to what he had to say— she didn't really need to now— because it was kind of interesting for him, but everybody around was talking, and every time he told them to shut up, the other teacher chaperone, Mrs Dodds, would give him the evil eye.

Dittany would back him up discreetly by smirking at Mrs Dodds and playing with her sword's hilt that stuck out of her sheath, right at her waist, and was disguised as some chain belt in the mist. But the monster saw right through that mist and only settled for keeping away from her while keeping eyes on her weapon and on Percy.

Tío kept talking about Greek funeral art.

Nancy Bobofit snickered something about the naked guy on the stele, and before Dittany or Grover could stop him, Percy whirled around to face the redhead and said, "Will you shut up?"

Dittany had a feeling he had said that louder than he meant to. She silently watched him in pity as his face reddened from his own realization.

The group of kids laughed, tío stopped his story.

"Mr Jackson," he said, effectively adding more attention to the embarrassed boy, and making Dittany want to face palm at the centaur. "did you have a comment?"

"No, sir." Percy said, looking down to hide his face.

"Perhaps you'll tell us what this picture represents?"

Damn it, tío, Dittany thought, but her lips were pursed.

Percy looked up with a face of recognition. "That's Kronos eating his kids, right?" he said with uncertainty. Dittany looked away and curled her lip in disgust, remembering about reading the "myth."

"Yes," Chiron said, not sounding very impressed. The Celeste girl rolled her eyes. "And he did this because. . ."

"Well, Kronos was the king god and— " Dittany turned to look at him with an eyebrow raised, forgetting that he still didn't know he was a demigod yet and didn't think the Greek Myths were worth the read.

He caught her gaze and cleared his throat. "Titan. Titan.. Lord." he corrected himself.

Dittany nodded, looking away again.

He continued, "And... he didn't trust his kids, who were the gods. So, um, Kronos ate them, right? But his wife hid baby Zeus, and gave Kronos a rock to eat instead. And later, when Zeus grew up, he tricked his dad, Kronos, into barfing up his brothers and sisters—"

"Eww!" said one of the girls behind Percy and Dittany, making the latter roll her eyes and smirk. She, too, was disgusted when she first read the story, but then she joked around about it just to annoy campers.

"—and so there was this big fight between the gods and the Titans," Percy continued, "and the gods won."

Some snickers from the group.

Behind them, Nancy Bobofit mumbled to a friend, "Like we're going to use this in real life. Like it's going to say on our job applications, 'Please explain why Kronos ate his kids.'"

"And why, Mr Jackson," tío said, "to paraphrase Miss Bobofit's excellent question, does this matter in real life?"

"Busted," Grover and Dittany snickered.

"Shut up," Nancy hissed, her face even brighter red than her hair. Grover only smirked and looked away and Dittany stuck her tongue out childishly.

At least Nancy got packed, too. Tío was the only one who ever caught her saying anything wrong. He had radar ears.

Percy thought about his question, and shrugged. "I don't know, sir."

"I see." Chiron looked disappointed. "Well, half credit, Mr Jackson. Zeus did indeed feed Kronos a mixture of mustard and wine, which made him disgorge his other five children, who, of course, being immortal gods, had been living and growing up completely undigested in the Titan's stomach. The gods defeated their father, sliced him to pieces with his own scythe, and scattered his remains in Tartarus, the darkest part of the Underworld. On that happy note, it's time for lunch. Mrs Dodds, would you lead us back outside?"

The class drifted off, the girls holding their stomachs, the guys pushing each other around and acting like doofuses.

Grover, Dittany and Percy were about to follow when Chiron said, "Mr Jackson."

Dittany internally face palmed, having been used to her tío's dramatic tendencies.

Meanwhile, Percy knew that was coming.

Dittany turned to Chiron with an are-you-fucking-serious-right-now look before heading outside with Grover.

When they reached the fountain, they started talking.

"Ten drachmas that tío'll be ominous again and confuse Percy," Dittany immediately said. Grover replied, "Twelve that he actually gives him a clue."

The scarred girl rolled her eyes, muttering with a smirk, "Yeah, right."

They sat in silence after that, waiting for the boy in question to come outside.

Dittany zoned out, staring at the water. She realized she looked like a stereotypical skater girl with a grey sleeved shirt under a black tee. Her ripped denim jeans were just a quick in-the-moment choice that Silena Beauregard, a close friend and her older half-brother's crush, would have not approved of. The sapphire eyed teen would have chosen black jeans to match the "aesthetic" or whatever the hell it was. Dittany just wanted something to wear.

The she caught sight of Percy approaching her and Grover. He sat down between them with a brooding look.

"Detention?" Grover asked.

"Nah," Percy said, but he still looked grim. "Not from Brunner. I just wished he'd lay off me sometimes. I mean— I'm not a genius."

Grover didn't say anything for a while, and when he opened his mouth, Percy thought the boy was going to give some deep philosophical comment to make him feel better, but instead he said, "Can I have your apple?"

The raven haired boy didn't have much of an appetite, so he let him take it.

Dittany saw Percy look to the road with a longing expression, and she did, too. But her reason was the want to get hit by a car, feeling restless at just sitting. At least she'd have a reason to be still. She was hit by a moving vehicle! Of course she can't move right now!

As she mused the thought, Nancy Bobofit was suddenly in front of them, or maybe the Celeste girl just didn't notice the redhead approaching.

The bitch had the audacity to dump her lunch in Grover's lap, and Dittany felt her hands prick and warm up, like a flame about to ignite, but she quickly calmed herself. No one knew about that power. She wasn't going to let the secret out anytime soon.

Percy wasn't so calm.

Dittany swore the fountain's water had suddenly lurched forward, grabbed Nancy, and pulled her in the fountain.

Poseidon, Dittany thought immediately. You three gonna do this in order, she silently asked the three gods, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Thunder rumbled and the earth slightly shook beneath her feet. She rolled her eyes.

She was referring to Thalia Grace being the first child of a broken oath, and Percy now being the second. All she had to do was wait for a Hades child and it'd be a complete set. Thunder rumbled again, and the earth shook, but specifically only under her.

How terrifying, she thought sarcastically.

She was splashed by the fountain's water in the back, but her clothes were quickly made dry so Poseidon seemed innocent. She discreetly flipped off the god.

With her interactions with the three gods, she had missed Mrs Dodds taking Percy away and Grover looking at her with an exasperated look, like he knew exactly what she was doing.

When the brunette finally noticed that Percy Jackson, apparently the son of Poseidon, was gone, she looked to Grover with an eyebrow raised. He only shook his head worriedly.

She stood up and ran to her tío who was watching the museum doors worriedly. He took out a pen and looked ready to follow inside when he spotted Dittany.

Chiron handed her the pen and nodded, emphasizing she could get there quicker.

Dittany took it and ran up to the entrance, swinging the doors open and just in time as Mrs Dodds was ready to slash Percy to bits.

A fury!?, she thought furiously, hopefully sending her thoughts to the god of the underworld. How petty can you get, Hades?, she huffed.

"Percy, catch!" she yelled and tossed the pen in the air, the said boy whipping around to meet her dark eyes and catching the pen, watching it turn into a double edged celestial bronze sword.

Dittany would have taken out her own weapon to help, since a fury wasn't usually killed at first try, if Percy hadn't immediately sliced through the monster.

The girl's eyes widened but she didn't stay, immediately running out. She had a feeling Chiron would want Percy to think it was all just an illusion, so she immediately went back to the fountain with Grover, sending a quick thumbs up to her mentor.

She took the face towel Grover offered to dry her sweat, partly from running and partly from seeing the fury.

She sent a look to her tío, silently asking him if she should will the mist again to make up some new teacher, but he shook his head. He had it handled.

A few moments later, Percy came out of the museum looking dazed. It had already started raining, and Dittany was soaking while Grover hogged the only cover.

Percy said something to Nancy, and the girl looked at him like he was mad before scoffing and walking away. Then he walked over to Dittany and Grover.

"An," he immediately looked to Dittany. "Where's Mrs Dodds?" He wanted to know if this was a dream or not.

As was said earlier, Dittany was a great actress.

"Perce," she said slowly, emphasizing that she was trying to see signs if he was going insane. "Who the hell is that?"

Percy looked desperate.

"Mrs Dodds!" he exclaimed. "Our pre-algebra teacher!"

Dittany looked at him in concern. "Percy," she started. "We never had a teacher named Mrs Dodds."

Percy looked to Grover.

The raven haired boy would have believed it was all an illusion if Grover hadn't looked around nervously, like preparing to make an excuse, and said, "She's right, Perce. Are you okay?" in the most unconvincing voice ever.

Dittany mentally face palmed.

Percy looked to Dittany. "But.. You gave me the pen, only it wasn't a pen, it was a sword, and—" he raised his hand, which was holding a normal ball point pen. He looked at it with wide eyes suddenly, like it wasn't a pen the previous moment.

Dittany let her eyes widen, too, but to say, "Hey! That's mine!" in a playfully accusing tone. "Well, I only borrowed it from Mr Brunner.. But still!"

She snatched the pen from him, but the boy was still in shock.

The dark eyed girl ran to Chiron, quickly giving him the pen. She glanced back at Percy who looked to be in a crisis.

"What monster?" her tío silently asked.

"Kindly one." Dittany said simply.

Chiron heaved a breath and the demigod only shrugged.

"Could be worse, honestly."

And... she jinxed it.

tag list: @pallasdira ,

[goattales]

Caught in the Act

Plot: The reader catches Jasper and Alice making out and he starts avoiding them cause he's way to embarrassed to deal with that. Note: the reader doesn't know they're vampires

You, in general, didn't really fit into any of those neat little groups the school divided itself into. You weren't sporty enough to be a jock, you didn't wear enough black to be a got, and you weren't popular enough to be, well, one of the popular kids. You were just Y/N L/N, some high school Senior that kept his head down. The universe had no plan for you, you were merely wandering this earth as a bystander.

But that didn't mean you didn't want to be part of a clique, because it gave people a deeper sense of belonging, a reason to act the way you want to, dress the way you like, do things you enjoy, all with likeminded individuals! But it was too much stress, you preferred to just bounce between interests- sports, art, history, books -without having to be tied to one forever.

And with all that running around your head you started to shove your books and pencil case into your bag, barely even letting the bell ring before you stood up to go to lunch. Nothing fancy in your bag today, just some leftovers from last night's dinner and a bag of candy you had been slowly working through all day.

Despite not being in a clique, you didn't sit alone; you sat with Angela, Mike, Eric, and Jessica. Bella use to sit with you guys too, before she started to sit with the Cullens, now her relationship to the group was more a see-eachother-in-the-corridor-and-smile sort of deal.

That wasn't so big of a concern for you, though, in fact the first time you saw her sit at the table you knew she wouldn't be sat with you all for long, she had one of those popular looks about her, so when she was hand selected to join the five person moping party that was the Cullen table you weren't too surprised.

In some other timeline maybe she would have gone on to joint the nerds in the back table near the stage, or maybe she would have taken to the goth table that was in the corner near the fire exit. And maybe there was even alternate universe where she stayed at this table, but that would be something you may never find out.

Not, at least, with Mike Newton pulling you back to real life with little care for your ears.

"Y/N! Are you even listening?!" Mike dragged you out of your train of thought by waving a hand in front of your face and screeching at you. That was surprisingly subtly by his standards, though.

"Mike, leave him alone, he just got out of maths. He's recovering, aren't you, Y/N?" Jessica came to your defence with an elbow in Mike's ribs and a soft sort of grin for you, and you thanked her with a small smile before you spoke.

"It's okay, Jess, but thanks. I was just thinking about existence and how absolutely infinite it is" you shrugged.

"That much, huh? Deep, L/N, deep." Mike seemed stunned, or maybe he just regretted prompting you to talk, but either way he didn't try to drag you into the conversation again, and you took the opportunity to fall back to your thoughts gratefully.

When you all parted ways for the last five or so minutes of lunch everyone waved, some hugged, and Mike and Jess walked off attached at the hip. They were together again, though who knows how long it will last at this point. You and Angela were talking the other day, and agreed that they were probably so on-and-off because they were lonely and the other was close enough to fix that for a bit.

You shook your head and huffed quietly, rounding one corner after another and then climbing a set of stairs only to realise you left your coat in your last classroom, and with a great deal of frustration you turned on your heels and took a brisk walk back. You were hoping, no praying, that the room would still be unlocked, because the teacher would have left by now and the room won't be used until tomorrow.

By some streak of luck it was, but when you pushed the door open and made a grab for your coat- laid out on the teachers desk, predictably -the shuffling of other people's clothes made you look up so fast you hurt your neck.

Stood in the back of the room were Jasper Hale and Alice Cullen, both very disheveled and looking rather like deers caught in headlights. Even from as far away as you were, you could see that Jasper's shirt was almost completely open and the straps of Alice's bra and vest top were a mess around her forearms, more of her chest on show than usual.

As they rushed to correct it and called out for you to wait, though being vague as opposed to a name-you heard a very light "h-hey, you with the coat, wait!" as you made a break for it.

You decided in that moment that you would have to move schools, because the most they did was hold hands when other people were around and there was no way you could face them after seeing that, so you spent the next three days avoiding them as much as possible.

The next day you barely dodged Alice in the hallway, narrowly avoided Jasper in the bathroom, and didn't go to lunch at all for fear of them cornering you as you entered the hall. The day after that it was sunny enough for their mum and dad to yank them out of school. The third was more perilous, you had History and sat a seat in front of Jasper, but you managed to talk the guy in front of you into switching, and you made a show of hanging behind to talk to the teacher until everyone else had left.

But the fourth day it was all over. You thought that maybe they had just dropped it, because when you sat to eat and glanced over at the table with as discrete of a gaze as you could manage, Alice caught your eyes and just looked away.

You were actually just leaving as you were bumped out of the stream of teenagers and then grabbed by what you would maybe describe as the ice cold grip of death himself, but looking down you saw it was just Alice. Little Alice with the big eyes and pretty lips, lips that right now were pressed into a thin, terrifying smile.

She dragged you into a classroom, where Jasper was sat on a table, hands clasped together in his lap and shoulders stiff.

You were actually terrified, because in the few seconds between being grabbed and then getting pushed into this room you had convinced yourself that you were going to get murdered.

"You know, my family is gonna worry when I-I'm not home by four, so killing me w-would be a real bad idea" your mouth ran despite your better judgement telling you to keep it shut, though your fear died in your chest when Jasper snorted.

"What?" Alice let you go and raised an eyebrow, looking at you like you'd grown a second head. "Y/N, we're not going to kill you, where did you even get that idea from?"

"W-well, I walked in on you two the other day, a-and you've been ch-chasing me down ever since" tripping over your words, you were scratching the back of your head as though it would wake you up, because that would be really good right now.

"Only 'cause you've been running away." Jasper spoke this time, and you looked over to see him staring at you much in the same way Alice was.

"We just wanted to apologise, because the way you found us was kind of..."

"Unbecoming" where Alice trailed off, Jasper picked up, and you found yourself rushing to speak.

"Oh! Oh- no it's fine, I've walked into worse. This is a high school, freshmen are practically feeling eachother up in the halls every day. I just, well you two don't even hug around other people, s-so I assumed you would be super annoyed that I walked in"

Jasper shrugged and Alice shook her head, laughing softly.

"No! We were just really ashamed that you had to see that, especially Jazz." as Alice spoke, Jasper nodded along, and spoke only when she had finished.

"I hope this has not altered the way you see us, Y/N, though perhaps we can build a friendship from this experience."

Lost for words, you nodded, and something inside of you starting to warm up at the idea. Perhaps the universe, in all its vast and unpredictable glory, had a plan for you after all?

[mandowh0re]

Say You Won’t Let Go

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x f! Reader

Warnings: None

A/N: Songfic using Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur. I fell in love with this song when I heard it and had to write a songfic using it. I also know this isn’t my best work but I’m a little rusty cut me some slack.

Happy reading!

I met you in the dark. You lit me up.

Natasha’s eyes immediately fell on you when you walked into the room.

She had met you a few brief times before. You were Pepper’s personal assistant and would sometimes be up on the common floor as the two of you worked on Stark Industry matters.

Pepper had hired you about a year ago, and almost immediately she and Tony all but adopted you as their own.

Natasha was a goner the first time she laid eyes on you. Though she didn’t admit it to anyone, not even herself.

You were in the common room when Natasha walked in. A nightmare had woken her and she decided to take a walk around the Tower.

There you were, in the dim lights of the few lamps on, fussing over the files in front of you.

“Who are you?” Natasha asked, her body preparing for a fight, when you stood abruptly and turned towards her.

Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach did a flip.

“I’m sorry! Sorry! I’m Y/N. I’m Mrs. Potts’ assistant. I was just working on some things and I guess the time just got away from me,” You explained as you hurriedly gathered your things, “I’ll head out now. I’m sorry again for startling you.”

You rushed past her into the elevator, giving her a small smile as the door closed.

You made me feel as though I was enough.

When you started hanging around the Avengers more often, everyone immediately took a liking to you. Pepper and Tony gave you your own floor to live in. It was easier for everyone involved if you just lived in the Tower.

Natasha though, stayed on the outskirts of the group and any conversation when you were around.

The feeling you gave her terrified her to no end. She felt like this only once before, and it didn’t end well.

The Red Room and it’s teachers didn’t take kindly to their students falling in love.

But you persisted. You wouldn’t give up until she finally smiled back at you. It was infuriating to her how you could just bat your eyes or smile her way and she would just lose control over her own thoughts.

Every instinct in her told her to run.

But she couldn’t force herself to move even if she wanted to.

Nobody besides Clint or Fury had made an effort for her before. Not before you.

We danced the night away

Deciding she had had enough of walking on eggshells, Natasha crossed the room until she was standing in front of you.

The dress you had on was a satin green evening gown that dipped just below your breasts and hugged all of your curves in a way that made Natasha’s head spin.

“Dance with me?” Natasha asked, though it sounded more like a demand than a question. You didn’t second guess it though, and only smiled in return, taking her hand in yours.

We drank too much.

The sound of your laugh as you threw back another shot had Natasha’s stomach in knots.

While your voice was like sleeping on silk, your laugh was the most radiant thing she’d ever heard. She then made it her personal goal to make you laugh every day.

She downed her own shot, catching a glint in your eyes she hadn’t seen before.

I held your hair back when you were throwing up.

You coughed and spit into the toilet. Your chest was heaving as you attempted to catch your breath.

You felt like shit and you knew you looked like a wreck, but for some reason Natasha was still sitting there with you, holding your hair.

Then you smiled over your shoulder, for a minute I was stone cold sober. I pulled you closer to my chest.

What the hell was wrong with her? Here Natasha was, sitting in a bathroom with a woman she barely knew, holding her hair back while said woman retched into the toilet.

But repulsed didn’t describe her feelings in the slightest.

As you sputtered and fought to catch your breath once more, you looked back at Natasha and offered a weak smile in thanks.

And it was like a train came out of nowhere and slammed into her. All of the alcohol suddenly disappeared from her system and her breath caught in her throat.

Pulling you back from the toilet, Natasha leaned against the your bathroom wall, pulling you with her.

You nestled your head in her neck, your breath tickling her skin as you attempted to keep them even.

And you asked me to stay over. I said, I already told you. I think you should get some rest.

“Stay with me tonight?” You asked, your eyes getting heavy and your quiet voice and even breathing signaling to Natasha that you were falling asleep.

“You really need to sleep. You’re going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow.” She said as she rubbed your back, not planning on going anywhere else tonight.

I knew I loved you then. But you’d never know. ‘Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go.

Natasha didn’t talk to you for a week after the Christmas Party.

She knew she was hurting you. But she knew if she let this go any further, it might be more than just your feelings that got hurt.

She convinced herself she had to distance herself from you. Force the feelings away, cast them out.

I knew I needed you, but I never showed.

You weren’t having it. You cornered Natasha one day when she was the only one in the kitchen.

“What the hell, Nat!” You yelled, “I don’t understand! I thought we were finally getting somewhere but all you’ve done since then is ignore me. What did I do? What is so wrong with me that you can’t even stomach talking to me, let alone be in the same room anymore?”

Natasha closed her eyes. This isn’t what she counted on. She thought you’d be mad at her, not questioning yourself.

“I’ll hurt you.”

“A little late for that, don’t you think?” You replied. But there was no heat behind it. There was no heat behind any of your words. The only thing she could hear in your voice was hurt and confusion.

“I’m sorry I thought we had something. I’ll leave you alone for now on.” You turned away from her with tears in your eyes. You got two steps in before she grabbed your wrist and spun you around to her.

You didn’t even have time to question what was happening, because right then she took your face in her hands and kissed you.

She let all of her feelings pour into that kiss. She finally let herself feel.

She didn’t let go until she committed the taste of your lips to memory. Until her head was spinning off her shoulders and she had you reeling with her.

I wanna stay with you until we’re grey and old.

Just say you won’t let go.

The moan that left your lips as Natasha climbed on top of you, biting her way to your lips made her thoughts cloud over even more than they already were.

She caught your wrists and pinned them above your head, kissing you and sinking the both of you into your mattress.

Just say you won’t let go.

When you came down from your climax induced high, Natasha kissed your forehead and laid next to you. She pulled you flush against her body, wrapping her arms tight around you.

“I love you.” She whispered to you as you fell asleep against her.

I’ll wake you up with some breakfast in bed. I’ll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head.

Your eyes opened as light poured into the room. Reaching over, you frowned when you found that the other half of the bed was empty.

“Good morning, beautiful.” You heard Natasha say. Pulling yourself up, you slipped on your glasses to see your wife bringing you a tray of food.

When she set it down, your stomach growled at the sight of your favorite breakfast foods. You also noticed a small card on the corner of the tray that read “Happy Birthday”.

“You didn’t have to, you know.” You smiled up at her as she leaned down to plant a kiss on your forehead.

“Of course I did.”

I’ll take the kids to school. Wave them goodbye.

Natasha watched from the classroom door as Lillia hurriedly greeted her friends.

She couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t been able to take her daughter to school much lately due to Avengers work, but you never once complained. You took her to pre-K every morning, sending her a picture of Lillia every time.

And I’ll thank my lucky stars for that night.

When you looked over your shoulder. For a minute, I forget that I'm older. I wanna dance with you right now.

When she got back to the car, Natasha leaned head back on the head rest and let her mind wander back to the night she fell in love with you.

She remembered your green dress, your E/C eyes boring into hers, and the way you glided across the floor in her arms.

She remembered how you drank just to keep up with her, which ended up with the two of you on your bathroom floor as you puked your guts out.

She giggled at the memory, remembering how you looked back at her. Your face was pale and tired but you smiled back at her nonetheless.

Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever. And I swear that everyday'll get better. You make me feel this way somehow.

Natasha has just gotten back from a particularly rough mission. You were there waiting for her when she walked through the door.

It was late, so she knew Lillia would be in bed.

She dropped her bag on the ground, staring at you as if to beg you to catch her. Her legs couldn’t take her any farther.

Crossing the room in three strides, you caught her in your arms as she fell to the ground crying.

Both of you stayed that way for a while, her gripping onto you as tight as possible as she calmed down, and you rubbing her back and combing her hair with your fingers.

You sang her her favorite song. The one that reminded her of you. The one that you danced to at your wedding.

I'm so in love with you. And I hope you know. Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold.

Natasha sat beside you in the medbay holding your newborn baby boy.

You were sleeping soundly for the first time in months, and she was more than happy to hold Eli while you did so.

The heart monitor’s steady beeping and your even breaths kept her calm. This pregnancy had been high risk for you, and Natasha had been worried sick the entire eight months.

You’d been rushed into an emergency c-section last night after you passed out. Luckily, Steve caught you before you hit the ground.

It was a whirlwind, Natasha caught in it as everyone rushed you down to the medbay. Her thoughts jumbled up as you lay unconscious on the surgical table.

She prayed for the first time in her life that night.

The entire team had been worried, but Natasha felt like she was going to go out of her mind with panic.

Looking down at her son, a tear slipped down her cheek. He was so tiny, born a month early and slightly underdeveloped. But Dr. Cho had reassured the two of you that both mom and baby would be fine.

We've come so far my dear. Look how we've grown. And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old.

The four of you sat on the couch as a family watching Tangled for the umpteenth time, per Lillia’s request.

Natasha looked over to see you with the baby asleep in your arms, Lillia sprawled out across both of your laps.

She couldn’t believe this was her life now. Not once did she ever imagine that she would be a wife, nevermind a mother.

But here she was, with her two kids and beautiful wife, watching Disney movies before bed.

And it all started that night of the Stark Industries Christmas Party.

Just say you won't let go

Natasha was stirred from her thoughts when a hand grabbed hers, and she looked over to see you had grabbed it while smiling at her.

Just say you won't let go.

I wanna live with you, even when we're ghosts. 'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most. I'm gonna love you till my lungs give out. I promise till death we part like in our vows

Natasha opened her eyes, blinking a few times to focus her swimming vision.

“Nat? Oh my God!”

She grunted as she was enveloped in a tight hug. She didn’t even need to see to know who was hugging her.

Slowly she brought an arm around your neck, reveling in your touch.

You pulled back, tears streaming from your face.

“When we said ‘till death do us part’ that wasn’t permission to get yourself killed!”

She chuckled, then immediately regretted it. She grabbed her chest, struggling to pull in deep breaths.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” She spoke softly, her voice thick with emotion and heavy with medication.

“Idiot,” you giggled in reply.

So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows. Finally it's just you and me till we're grey and old.

Just say you won't let go

Just say you won't let go

Just say you won't let go

Oh, just say you won't let go

***

Permanent tag list:

@a-place-to-blog-marvel-stuff @yaartheotree @yes-iamironman-blog @paradoxicalblueberry @the-regal-warrior @transparentparadiseglitterzombie @marvelgem @propertyofmarvel @avngrsinitiative @my-leg-is-not-a-chew-toy @lyricalstella @just-the-daydreamer

[nightglider124]

Sentence Prompt 53: "I'm his best friend" Jake-Mari Grayson sibling fluff

so, this was a lot better before I had to rewrite it thanks to tumblr not actually saving the draft when I clicked save draft. Fml. At the least the bulk of it was saved >.

But ANYWAY, let’s forget how shit tumblr can be and… 

Cute!! Sibling fluff is always gewd.

“I’m his best friend”

Mar’i sat there, across from her parents simply glaring at the wood of the table between them.

They’d been angry and disappointed when they had learned what happened at school but she had her reasons. In her eyes, no wrong had been done so she wasn’t completely sure why she was sat at the table with them; a place that had always been associated with her and Jake getting scolded for something bad they had done.

She scuffed her toe against the carpet, still dress in her school uniform. Her lips were pouted and her brows were furrowed as she kept her green eyes on the table.

“Mar’i.” 

She cringed at the sound of her father’s stern voice. When it came down to it, her mother was the more feared parent whilst her dad had always tended to let her get away with more stuff. But, not this time. 

This time she was in trouble.

Unreasonably, she thought, but still in trouble.

Meekly, Mar’i lifted her head to look at him. He looked haggard from a long day at the precinct. His blue shirt was wrinkled, tie loosened and he still had his holster strapped over his shoulders. 

He narrowed his blue eyes at her before running a hand through his hair.

“Do you wanna explain why I got a call from your mother today at lunchtime?” He asked, “Telling me how the school had called and you were waiting to be picked up from the principal’s office after being issued a 3 day suspension for fighting?”

“It wasn’t fighting!” Mar’i quipped, before turning her head and said under her breath, “a fight would require someone who actually knows how to hit back which he did not…”

“Mar’i!” Kory snapped, angry with her daughter’s flippant behaviour, “This is unacceptable.”

“We’ve told you about getting mad at school. Your powers… if you hit that boy too hard, he could have been in the hospital.”

“But he wasn’t! I didn’t hit him that hard!” She protested,

“You shouldn’t have hit him at all.” 

“He was an idiot.”

“He is 2 years younger than you, Mar’i.” Kory told her, 

Mar’i slouched in her chair, feeling chastised. They didn’t get it and why would they?

“His mother was furious when I came to collect you. She was helping him with the nosebleed you gave him.” She muttered,

Dick watched as Mar’i simply sat there and deeply exhaled, “Look, we know you’re not a troublemaker, starshine… but you can’t just go around hitting kids you might not like.”

She gritted her teeth and snapped her head up, “It wasn’t that! I-I…” 

Mar’i dropped her head and took a breath, not really wanting to go into details. 

Dick was thoughtful and knew that tone of hers. She wasn’t telling them something. He exchanged a glance with Kory who also looked concerned rather than annoyed now.

His wife reached out her hand to rest atop of their eldest’s one, “Mar’i?” She said, her voice soft, “Is there a part of this story you are not telling us?”

“It doesn’t matter. You won’t believe me anyway…” Mar’i murmured, upset,

Dick frowned, “We will if it’s the truth and you know me and mom always know when someone is telling the truth or not.”

Mar’i slowly lifted her head to look at them, “You promise?”

They nodded and waited for her speak. Mar’i sighed and cast her eyes down at the table again, “… Jake is being bullied at school.”

“What?” The two said in unison, shock written all over their faces,

Jake hadn’t been showing any signs of being bullied. He’d only just made that recent leap from elementary to middle school. They hadn’t been worried about him making friends; Jake was usually very bubbly and making friends came easy to him. Besides, he had Mar’i there for the first year. He had  seemed so happy with his new school.

“Are you sure? Dick wondered,

She narrowed her eyes at him, “Of course, I’m sure dad…” She took a breath and continued, “Lately, I’ve noticed him being quieter than usual… he’s been hanging out by himself and eating alone at lunch… then at school, I saw he had little bruises on his arms and I got worried…”

Her mother and father remained silent, merely listening to what Mar’i told them,

“So, today… I followed him during break… I saw this stupid little kid shove him against the lockers and saying all these horrible things to him about our family and Jake himself…” Mar’i shook her head, “He even stole his lunch money!”

Kory’s eyes turned sad, finding herself sad to know her son was getting picked on.

“The bell went just after that and they both went off to class… and… I was so mad.” She paused, “Then, when lunch came, I went into the cafeteria and I saw Jake sitting on his own, looking so miserable and… I hated that this boy had done that to my little brother… I noticed the bully was sitting on the other side of the room so… I did something about it.”

She squared her shoulders and sighed, “I went straight up to him and punched him in his stupid face… he fell to the ground and looked pretty terrified but I told him that if he ever came near my little brother again then I’d do worse.”

“Mar’i-”

“That’s when the principal pulled me out and took me to his office.”

“Does Jake know you did that?”

Mar’i nodded, “He was right there… he must have seen… but when I was being taken away, I looked and he was gone… I think he’s mad at me for getting involved,” She admitted, sadly slumping her shoulders.

Dick and Kory exchanged glances, unsure of how to deal with the situation. They didn’t want to teach their daughter that violence was the answer to a bad situation but they also didn’t want her to think she couldn’t look out for her brother.

“I-I… know it was wrong… but… none of us even knew he was getting bullied and I don’t know if he’d have told us either…” She furrowed her eyebrows sadly and looked off to the side, “I go off to high school next year and… I’m so afraid to leave him… I think for now, it will stop but… what if I’m not there to help him and it gets worse? He won’t have anyone to protect him… and you’ve always taught us that family comes first…”

Her parents stared at her with sad expressions, Kory’s eyes watering a little at how protective she was of their son and it reminded her of what she’d always missed out on with her own sister. But, she saw herself in Mar’i with her own little brother. 

“I just… don’t want anyone to hurt him like that… I’m his best friend… and without me there, looking out for him… I’m worried what will happen…” Mar’i murmured, sitting lower in her chair,

Dick felt a pang in his chest and looked at his wife who had her head tilted, silently telling him that Mar’i was only trying to help and do what she thought was best.

He sighed, “Mar’i…” He began, “I know it would have been hard to see your brother go through that but, you can’t just beat the kid up, sweetheart. You should have come to us first or a teacher.”

“I know… I’m sorry…”

Kory gently elbowed her husband and he shot her a glare before he cleared his throat, “However…” He paused, Mar’i lifting her head to look at him, 

“We are proud of you for trying to do what’s right… you knew that something bad was happening to Jake and like the good big sister you are… tried to fix it.”

Mar’i blinked, “Really?”

Kory nodded, “Although your method was skewered… the intent to help was there.”

“Thanks.”

“No more hitting bullies though.”

“I promise… sorry…” Mar’i explained before eyeing them, “so… what now?”

Dick ran a hand through his hair and glanced at Kory, “I think we need to have a talk with Jake about all of this… and we’ll need to call the principal tomorrow for a little chat to explain what’s really been going on…”

Kory nodded.

Mar’i sat up and gently asked, “So… am I getting punished?”

Her mom sighed and shook her head, “You know what you did was wrong… and besides, you are already suspended. That seems like punishment enough.”

She nodded quietly, accepting that.

“Now, off you go… you’ve got a lot of work to get done for the next 3 days you’re not in school.”

Mar’i slid off of her chair and made to leave before she blushed and sheepishly looked back at the two of them, “Um… can you guys not tell Jake about all the mushy stuff I said?” She shrugged, “I don’t want him teasing me about it.”

Kory laughed whilst Dick smirked and nodded, “Sure thing kiddo.”

She awkwardly smiled and bobbed her head, “Thanks mom and dad.”

Mar’i wandered through the dining room into the main room to grab her work before heading upstairs to her room. She felt a bit lighter after telling them the truth about the situation at school, and she hoped Jake would eventually come around and forgive her for fighting his battles and presumably embarrassing the heck out of him.

Whilst she was busy organizing her stuff to take up with her, the hallway was quiet with the exception of the clock ticking on the wall. There was a small silhouette of a boy, leaning against the wall just beside the door frame who had been listening intently to the conversation next door that had just transpired.

He smiled sadly to himself and let his shoulders drop, “Love you too, Mar’i…” He whispered before jogging up the stairs towards his bedroom, “best friend in the whole world…”

[i-myeoni-blogs]

DEATH OVER DEATH

Peace is the only thing that can never be bought in any way possible. Well, ‘Love’ stood in the first place, but nowadays, contract marriages have changed the whole scenario. People will work hard or even cry sometimes to get a bit of peace. But not at Wilson High, the school known for its peaceful and friendly environment. Like it is shown in movies, the ideal school is one that everybody dreams of joining. But all the glitter is not gold, and Wilson High had its black side as well. However, no one knew about it, or maybe they worked together to conceal it perfectly.

"Where do you think you are going, Emily?" The cold voice stopped Emily in her tracks, and she knew something bad was going to happen again. Yes again. "You have the audacity to ignore me." The voice approached her until she came face-to-face with an evil smirk.

"Jane, please let me go." Emily said.

"And why would I do that? Where’s the fun in that? " Jane said, placing her hands over Emily’s shoulders. Her intimidating demeanor hovered over Emily.

Emily was terrified but couldn't say anything as Jane and the other two girls dragged her inside one of the rooms beneath the rooftop, the part of the school that is usually closed or, to put it another way, the part where many secrets are hidden. The corridors were empty and the camera, well, I'm not sure if it worked. Emily forced herself to remain strong as she was shoved inside the empty cell; her knuckles turned white from tightly clutching her fingers. three girls circled around her, staring deep enough to frighten her even more if it was possible.

"Are you going to complain to the principal again?" Jane asked.

"No, please let me go." Emily cried as they burst out laughing.

"Hey, close the door, she might scream." Jane said, and the other girl followed her order.

The camera hanging in the corridor just stopped at the corner as if it didn’t want to see or hear anything. Emily’s cries got muffled inside that closed door, and the school went silent again, as if it was empty. No one had a clue what was happening in the well-known school. This is not what I meant when I mentioned peace. The hollow peace that surrounded the school was far from what I had expected. Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be that bad and everything would fall into its place.

A few days later, everything did come back to how it was; the regular classes and friendly environment, but what about Emily? What happened after that? The answers remain hidden inside that room.

"Don’t pull my hair, it hurts." A girl screamed.

"You’re such a drama queen. Stop crying."

"What’s going on here?" A girl in her mid-20s appeared with a smile on her face, and everybody stood up to greet her. "Amy, it’s bad to bully someone."

"Miss Jenkins, I was helping Lilly get rid of gum in her hair." Amy whined.

"You were harsh though." Lilly snickered and laughed.

Okay enough, let’s proceed with the class. Miss Jenkins took a piece of chalk and started writing on the board. Everything was going as it was supposed to be, regular classes, nothing suspicious about that. right? A moment later, the siren approached the school. Everybody looked at each other as it was the first time police showed up at this time. "Focus here." Miss Jenkins waved her hand to get the attention of her students.

"Miss. What’s that? " A boy pointed towards Miss Jenkins' right arm. A purple bruise was on display that was well hidden until the cuffs of her blouse shifted when she raised her hand. The mark was fresh and deep.

"Oh, it’s nothing, just an accident." She replied, adjusting her cuffs to cover the bruise again. But what happened next was something that no one expected.

"Miss Emily Jenkins, you have to come with us." With a swift motion, the door opened, revealing two policemen standing at the door with the principal. The students were more than shocked and looked at their teacher for answers.

"I’m sorry, but the class is still running and my students are scared."

"You are under arrest for murdering your fellow colleagues." And with that, the officer locked her hands with the handcuffs. The students and the principal looked at her like she was some monster who was a psycho. Emily was dragged through the same corridor, passing through the same classes. The only difference was it wasn’t peaceful like it was three days ago and even before that. Emily stared at the stairs that led to the top floor, where it all started, and now there lay blood and tears and cries that would eventually be buried deep in the coming days or maybe years.

[literaila]

excuse you?? i will like all of them. give me all your favorite shoes and movies right now or else >:( nope, haven't watched that. i will soon. i'm watching squid game right now, actually. everybody keeps mentioning it, so. i'm curious.

haha! it's not egotistical at all. you must reaallyy like shatter me. i wanna read it soon now. i'm so close to finish twilight. all those quotes make no sense, i barely have any context.

mm? i do? it was fresh, which is why i told you everything. mostly. listen, okay. i was getting ready for school and all. and then i went to school. this dream happened a few years ago- i was in like 4th grade or something. so i was walking in the building and all, then. i was like, 'huh, i think i forgot my socks.' then i looked down. and guess what! no shoes. so i was panicking over that for a few minutes, then i woke up. i was very glad- would've been very embarrassing if it wasn't a dream. oo? tell me!

ohh. that doesn't sound too good. the tv? that feeling is the worst, darling. genuinely. hope you've been feeling in a non-crying mood lately.

oh. but it must happen eventually. i found eclipse or something like that in my teachers library. peaked a bit. ‘i love you, jacob’ or something along those lines at the end of the book. now i’m dying. i need to know. soup for breakfast? unique.

my humor is dark. so, no.

wow- hilarious. can you hear me wheezing? that’s practically the same thing! doesn’t count.

actually, i’ve been staying up!! fucking finally, horaay. (how do you spell that? horray?) also. did i tell you one of my teachers was back? she had to quarantine because she was exposed to corona and wasn’t fully vaccinated. they’re all back today, though. hmm. today was okay. my english teacher used she/her, accidental, obviously. but i’ll just quit. it’s school, doesn’t matter too much. also- she asked me how i was. “good..?” “you sure?” i swear.. she’s on my ass, huh? and this smart kid (joey) sitting next to me went, “she’s like that sometimes. always says she’s okay.” like damn?? why are you so invested in my life?? hmm.. what else. that’s about it, honestly. tomorrow i’ll bring an energy drink to school, i need it.

how are you ?? your day, my love? i’d apologize for such a late response, but doesn’t seem you like my apologies too much.

— 🐢

i’ve already told you pretty much all of them. i’m also watching the squid game! thought i would get it out of the way…

oh no, i adore shatter me. so so so much. the series is my only solace. they make perfect sense <3

sounds very very terrifying. imagine if your shoes just disappeared. for no reason. ha! it wouldn’t be too bad.. i feel like i’ve gone to school without shoes before but that also seems crazy. uhh basically i showed up in a tiny red car, spencer reid asked me some things— note two characters from greys anatomy were there, arguing —and then i decided to leave? and then i just dragged the car away. and i was married? not sure. it doesn’t make sense now.

ha! i cry at everything. literally. when i’m mad, sad, happy. it’s not too bad most of the time, crying is cathartic.

eclipse is the best— despite also being the worst. honestly just pages 400-560 of new moon are absolute perfection.

boooo. as we can see, i’m clearly more hilarious.

it’s not the same thing! you didn’t even know it was snowing in this hypothetical situation. exactly. genius. would you rather do a “why did the chicken cross the road..” joke?

yay! i believe it’s hooray. darling, i mean this with all the love in my heart: of course it matters! especially because she asked you to let her know. she would care if you felt uncomfortable, so if you do, you should tell her. school is a place you should feel safe. well are you lying? maybe you have a bad poker face. i think that’s interesting… we always seem more secretive to ourselves.

get some sleep!

today was fine. had a math test. had anxiety. had work. all that. favorite parts of the day: this lovely person (anna) sitting next to me in english and telling me i should be an english teacher cause “you write sentences!” as she points dramatically to the sentence i’ve written. uhh at work there was a nice guy who said he wanted a peach-pecan salad and then almost immediately after went “uhh let’s go ahead and do that without the pecans” and i thought it was funny.

miss you, darling, but i’ll never accept the apologizes.

-v

[thedaveandkimmershow]

We left our story yesterday on our way back to our suite for some peace and rest… which we got. Even the kids were seriously down for a nap. In fact, we woke up before they did.

Now, one of the items on Kimmer's and Rachel's To-Do lists is to hit a Disney outlet store 'cause 1) Kimmer's quite taken by the idea of scoring a t-shirt or something from cruises that actually didn't happen. That would be merchandise manufactured for cruises that we're to take place in 2020 but didn't since all cruise ships were grounded. And 2) Rachel's on the hunt for other and less expensive Disney gifts for friends and family.

In the end, I think none of us were really drawn to anything we saw at that store. I think Kimmer walked away with a very sweet Mulan pin and exactly half of what Rachel found was for herself.

We were in a mall, though, so we poked around for a bit. Kimmer found me a black Hurley t-shirt because yup.

I've gotta sunburn.

I think this t-shirt's called a rash guard in surfing circles. Whatever it is, it's comfy, it fits, and I'll be wearing it with my swim trunks tomorrow at Blizzard Beach 'cause I really don't need any more burn than I've already got.

New shirt in hand, we jump a Lyft to Epcot where we pick up our day in The Land pavilion. Soarin' first, wonders of the world. Then that boat ride, Living With The Land, where you learn a little about ecosystem, farming, and some pretty impressive, better sustainable,.used in the park methods for growing food.

After that, the girls head off to the Magic Kingdom where they wanna end the night whilst we head off to the food & wine festival happening around the lake. Our plan's to explore around the UK side but we immediately fall for the temptation of Canada's menus of fillet mignon and cheddar soup with pretzel bread.

Seriously, it was the first stand we passed. But it.

Was.

Yummy.

😁

After, we continued walking in the direction of France… but nothing spoke to us and all the lines in France were too long. So we head back down the lake, out if the park, to the monorail station where we meet a.lovely family of four from Georgia. They're a little anxious on behalf of their kids 'cause the Disney Magic Kingdom fireworks show could start any minute now and they won't get a shot at seeing this particular version of that show.

Unfortunately, by the time we walk through the front gates of the Magic Kingdom, the show's in full swing.

☹️

We had no such expectations, fortunately, no plans to see the fireworks or the imagery projected onto Sleeping Beauty's Castle. That was all lovely and spectacular, of course…

But we were there for dessert.

We purposefully, then, make our way along Main Street to the Ice Cream parlor, last establishment on the right before the park's hub.

Now here's the thing. Kimmer has a nut allergy that encompasses all nuts except coconuts. So desserts… are always a challenge.

Always.

So Kimmer asks the question about nuts and exposure… and it's a pretty noisy environment just then and I think I see the cashier shake her head and mouth "no". Which I take to mean that everything's been exposed to nuts

But.

Turns out the opposite's true as the manager even offers to make Kimmer's Coke Float in a separate area with newly cleaned utensils.

And yes. That absolutely sealed the deal. And it's how, for the second time this trip, Disney's managed to provide her with a delicious, no risk dessert.

You have no idea what a gift that is

Me, I ordered an ice cream sundae with warm brownie and we walked our desserts across the way.

Quick Disney Tip: these tables clear out almost immediately once the fireworks are done. So if you don't care as much about endings, you can order your ice cream and score a table right away.

Also:

If you're looking to score ice cream on your way out the park at closing, the parlour on your right, walking from the direction of Sleeping Beauty's Castle will be closed whilst the one on the left, the one we landed on, stays open. In fact a long, packed line of people forms just as soon as the show's over and everyone starts streaming to the front gates.

By the way, one of the employees there, bless her heart, was super into the music outside. She sang along with her eyes open. She sang with her eyes closed. She sang with all her heart. And when she was done, she rushed to the window to see if Tinker Bell was flying.

Which.

She.

Was.

It's important, by the way, because she always has a good night when that happens.

🙂

The four of us finished out our night with desserts and stories around a table for four right there across from Sleeping Beauty's Castle before heading home for the night.

We weren't quite done with our day, though. There was laundry to do 'cause there's a washer/dryer in our suite and it's super easy to handle.

Also, the day turned into quite a time for losing things: my water bottle that I actually left on the ride. I got it back when I was sent through the exit to the platform where they'd already found it and cheerfully handed it over

Linzy lost her water bottle too, although pretty much she simply forgot that she left it on the counter when we left for the evening.

Rachel, though, the bag in which she stashed gifts for family and friends was legitimately gone. Most likely on the Disney shuttle that took us from the Magic Kingdom to the Transportation.

We don't know what's gonna happen but Disney personnel will go through the bus at end of shift and relay anything they find with Disney City Hall. Rachel's already contacted them and we'll just have to hope for a touch of luck

We've definitely got a routine that gets us out the door by eight… so we do that again and begin our fourth day in the Animal Kingdom with a return engagement of the Na'vi River Journey, an experience that's even better the second time around because there's so much depth to what Imagineers have created.

After that, Kimmer and Rachel make their way to the Tough To Be A Bug 3D performance whilst Linzy 'n I head over to Expedition Everest 'cause we're just straight up gluttons for punishment.

On the way, we're distracted by a live presentation of Macaws, a type of New World parrots that are long-tailed and colorful.

They were magnificent. At the end, one flew straight at and over me. And then a few beats later a bunch of them followed suit.

It was all amazing and terrifying at the same time

After the roller coaster and a few photo ops, Linzy and I met up with Kimmer and Rachel. We did a quick partner swap that sent the girls out for more shopping whilst the missus 'n I shared a breakfast sandwich over the river.

We rejoined the girls I'm Dino Land where Linzy's identified a ride that was built over the Indiana Jones ride track design but with a dino narrative. The girls enjoyed it first, we followed a few minutes later, then we all took a moment at a table in the main part of Dino Land for some photo reviewing and popcorn.

Afterward, the girls head off for Africa looking for a gift for Rachel's sister whilst we hop a bus (a wonderfully empty bus) for our second visit to Blizzard Beach.

Once we had our swimwear on, we walked a little until we notice inflatable chairs floating invitingly in the Lazy River. So we race down and situate ourselves in them and they.

We're.

Wonderful.

Good grief. They're super easy to get into. There's like zero chance of flipping over when you do. And, for me at least, they also seem to facilitate naps.

About three quarters of the way around our lap, we changed to clear ones with green handles 'cause Kimmer loves green and, you know, what the heck.

About three quarters of the way around our second lap, the girls ran into is, having slipped into the river a half hour before.

After that, the four of us in the warm waters of the wave pool followed by a tuna sandwich and chips lunch whilst air drying under an intense sun while then girls, I'm thinking, scored some donuts.

The girls caught up again when we were indulging our new tradition of grape fruit hefeweizen at Freddy's Shack.

Okay one last thing:

The ride back to our condo was helmed by another charming gentleman from Venezuela. We actually got into a pretty involved conversation that ranged from working as a bank executive to being forced to leave his country to trying to starting new in this country to facing employment language and age barriers to teaching in a Spanish teaching school to transportation management to Uber to Lyft to real estate.

Then we talked family. A pair of kids. Five grandkids that he and his wife help with during the day.

But his kids?

A teacher. A NASA engineer. And then the spouse of one of his kids who's also a NASA engineer. And then the fact that he's gotten to watch four shuttle launches. Two during the day. Two at night. And those nighttime launches absolutely turn the darkness of night into the brightness of day.

And so on.

It really is something when you talk stories with people you don't know.

🙂🙂🙂

[babylon-bitch]

Just Friends ~ I'm Late (part 35)

A/N: I’ve been really inactive all week, I’ve been busy writing this and an imagine, it’s currently at 5k+ I’m really liking it so far. I said it’d be out this week but it will probably be out next week, if not the week after. Sorry it’s taken so long :/

Harper White is best friends with Luke Hemmings, they always have been. Not only is she friends with the rockstar, but with the rest of 5 Seconds Of Summer, as well as a really nice girl named Erika.

Harper has a few secrets, she can play all the instruments the boys play and many more. It’s a talent she has kept hidden, only very few people know.

What will happen to the six teens, wondering around the world together?

***

I’ve had an awful week, I’ve been sick, but only in the morning then the rest of the day my stomach hurts, I have a headache, I’m always tired, and weirdly, my boobs hurt a lot.

I’ve been really stressed recently too, revising for exams. My driving test has been stressing me out, my driving instructer is a total dick. Very strict and I don’t know how he became a driving instructer because he has some serious road rage problems. I have to stifle a laugh at some of the things he says.

Luke has been really worried about me, saying I should go to the doctor, but even if I was throwing up blood, I’d still not go to the doctors. Luke claims that it should be over, it’s nearly been a week. I don’t know, sometimes it feels as if I’m feeling better then in a couple of hours I feel like shit again.

Rushing out of bed and into the bathroom and vomiting, I lean on the toilet, waiting for more to come. Here it is, I hold my hair back as I vomit my guts out, one again. I think I’m finished, so I brush my teeth to get the taste out of my mouth.

I open the bathroom door and I’m met by the sun blinding me and my mum. “Hello?” I squint.

“How long have you been sick for?” She dives straight in.

“All week.” I answer but it comes out as a question

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She questions.

“Didn’t think it was necessary, I’m 18 I can deal with being ill myself. Now if you excuse me, I’m gonna go back to bed.” I huff.

I’ve been having a lot of mood swings too, maybe I’m gonna have a monster period.

“Why don’t you go to the doctors?” She asks.

“I don’t need to, I’m only sick. Now see you in a bit.” I wave and close my door. I hear her mumble something but choose to ignore it and face plant my bed. I feel so ill, but I can eat fine, even more than I usually eat.

“Luke’s here.” In hear someone shout.

I wait for him to come up and I still have my face against my sheets, struggling to breathe.

“How are you feeling, babygirl?” A familiar voice asks.

I groan in response and I hear him chuckle, I’m not really into talking right now. “I take that as no difference.”

“I’ve already been sick this morning and my mum found out too.” I tell him.

“You mean you didn’t tell her?” He asks.

“No, why would I?” I question.

“Because she’s your mother maybe?”

“Whatever.” I mutter and finally turn around onto my back. “I’ve been ill for a week, when will this stop?”

“When is your period due?” He questions.

“Tomorrow, I think.” I answer and he nods.

I decide to freshen up and get in the shower, changing into some gym shorts the type you wear in volleyball, a very thin graphic tee crop top, with a sports bra underneath.

Work out gear is so comfy.

I brush my hair through and just leave it, not even doing my parting. Putting on a little concealer, mascara and blush so I don’t look so dead.

Walking into my bedroom and look for some trainer socks because my feet are cold.

I’ve got loads of school stuff to do and then Erika and I are meeting up to do some work to our book. Sitting down in my deskchair and starting some chemistry homework.

“I believe you have a guest.” Luke claims.

“Well you were on your phone,” I tell him.

“Shut up.”

“I’ve got a load of homework and revision and shit to do. I’m not gonna be any fun.” I shrug.

“I’ll be on the roof.”

“Do you know how weird that sounds?” I laugh.

Luke kisses my forehead before walking out of my bedroom. I haven’t been able to kiss Luke at all this week, only on the forehead and cheek, and I appreciate that he doesn’t makeout with my cheek.

After an hour and a bit I get board of chemicals so I decide to find Luke, if he’s here still that is.

Taking the easy route that the boy’s don’t know about and go into the loft and then through that window. Closing the loft door behind me and stepping on a box to reache the window, opening that to as far as it goes and closing that behind me.

Walking over to where Luke is and sitting next to him, dangling my feet over the roof. “Where the fuck, did you come from?” He questions after a minute or two of silence.

“I’m magic.” I smirk.

“Magic ways of making me fall in love with you.” He says and I blush and giggle.

“Always so cheesy, Hemmings.” I rest my head on his shoulder.

“You love it.” He laughs as he puts his arm around me.

“What have you been up to whilst I was in my room?” I ask.

“I’ve been writing a song.” He tells me and picks up his acoustic that has a smiley face on it, drawn by me.

“Now, where the fuck did that come from?” I question.

“I went home quickly and then came back.” He explains.

“Oh.”

“I’m stuck with the transition from the chorus and then the next verse, I can’t get it to be smooth.” Luke frustratedly states.

I tell him some chords and his face lights up, he tries it and it sounds great. “How did you know that?” He asks.

“I think you’ve forgotten I’ve been with you when you learnt guitar, you’d always tell me about the stuff you’d learnt.”

“Oh yeah, I did, didn’t I?” He smiles at the memory.

“Yeah, it was quite interesting though.”

“Y-”

“No, I’ve told you this before and I’m going to tell you one more time, I’m not learning to play.” I cut him off.

“You’d be good at it though.” He claims.

Damn right I am.

“Luke.” I warn.

“Just keep it in mind and I’ll be your sexy guitar teacher, that you can sleep with all the time.” Luke smirks.

“I think I’d get Michael to teach me.”

“Uh no, you wouldn’t.”

***

I’m late, like really late.

A week late and I’m rarely late, I thought I was just stressed and all but it’s been 6 days. I’m starting to get nervous because a couple of weeks ago, Luke and I did the deed and didn’t use a condom, I am on birth control but I know for a fact that I’ve forgotten to take it some days.

I haven’t told Luke or anyone yet, I’m scared as fuck. Luke is still 17, he’s not even a legal adult, there’s no way he would stay with me if I had a child. If I am pregnant, I’m probably not gonna keep it.

Now that I think about it, being sick in the mornings, tender breasts, feeling sick a lot, mood swings, but that could also be period symptoms, besides being sick in the morning.

Maybe I should just call Luke and I will take a test, just to be sure. I’ve been crying all morning, it was hard being in school whilst that happened, I skipped geography and went to a secluded part of the school to cry. I was laying in bed at night, starting to panic, because of the possibility that I could be pregnant. Then I thought about it and I’ve been a shaking, worrisome, terrified, over analysing mess.

Picking up my phone and clicking on Luke’s contact, waiting for Luke to pick up. “Hey babe, I’m with the guys ri- NO, MY BALL, you’re hacking.” Luke gets distracted.

“Luke.” I sob.

“Woah, Harp, what’s wrong?” He questions, concern filling his voice.

“Please, c-come over, we n-need to talk.” I stutter.

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.” He tells me.

“Don’t hang up, please.” I beg.

“Okay, it’s alright, baby.” He soothes.

“What’s going on?” Someone that sounds like Michael asks.

“I don’t know, Harper seems upset, I don’t know when I’ll be back.” He tells them, whilst I continue to cry into the phone.

“Um, okay, I hope she is alright.”

“Yeah, I’ll be back later, bye.” Luke says to the guys and I here him sigh. “Hey, Harper, it’s alright, calm down, I’ll be there in a matter of seconds.”

I sniffle and wipe my smudged mascara.

Within seconds the door bell goes off and I race down the stairs, swinging the door open and collapsing into Luke, he quickly wraps his arms around me. “What’s up?” He whispers in my ear.

I try to form a sentance but no words come out and I breakdown again. “C'mon.” Luke sighs and picks me up, I wrap my legs around his waist and continue to sob into his shoulder.

Luke sets me down on his lap and he sits on my bed. “Gorgeous, I’d love to help you, but I need to know what’s wrong.” Luke says.

“I’m late.” I wipe away my tears away, trying to compose myself again.

“To what? I’m sure you can get there if you leave.” He chuckles.

“No, Luke, my period is late.” I confess and his eyes widen.

“By how much?” He gulps nervously.

“6 days, but if you t-think about it, I’ve been having morning sickness, all the pregnancy symptoms.”

“But we’ve been safe.” He furrows his eyebrows.

“Remember a couple of weeks ago we didn’t have any protection?” I question.

“But you said that you were on the pill.”

“Yeah, but I forget to take it sometimes.” I sigh.

“Have you told anyone else?” He asks.

“No, I’ve been too nervous.”

“Why don’t we go out and get some tests, then see what happenes.” Luke suggests.

“Okay, let me just freshen up and put on some trousers.”  I mutter and get off his lap, going into the bathroom, putting on some perfume on, brushing my teeth, cleaning up my tears, deciding to go make up free and last but not least, I put on some black leggings.

“Ready?” Luke questions.

I know that inside he is probably panicking as much as I am, but from the outside he looks so calm. I can see right through your smile Hemmings.

“Yeah,” I nod and put on some shoes before walking the door.

“It’s gonna be alright, despite the outcome.” Luke smiles down at me and intwines our fingers.

“Will you stay with me?” I ask the question that has been hovering over me. Luke looks a mixture of being offended and a ‘are you serious’ look.

“Of course, I’d be with you if you were a zombie, I never want to leave you. Plus this possible baby is mine, right?” He panicks a little bit.

“Yes, or course,” and now its my turn to give him a ‘are you serious’ look.

“I had to make sure.” He jokes.

Classic Luke, trying to make me smile whatever the situation.

“If-if you are pregnant, will you keep it?” He asks.

“Do you want me to?” I question.

“It’s your body so it’s totally your choice.” He claims.

“I probably won’t, I’ve got a f-future, I can hardly go to uni if I’ve got a child to look after. I’m not ready, maybe in ten years but definitely not now.”

“When would you want to have a child? Preferably with me.”

“Ten years, probably in my late twenties, we’ve only been going out for 5 or 6 months, we’re too young to have any responsibilities of that kind, you’re not even a legal adult yet. To be honest, I’ve never really thought about having children with you, of course I’d want to, but it’s never crossed my mind.” I explain.

“I don’t think that our relationship in numbers count, we’ve known each other practically all our lives, so I think when we are the right age, we’ll have children, not when we’ve been dating for a significant amount of time.” He points out.

“That’s very true. When would you want to have children?” I ask.

“Mid/late twenties maybe, when ever you’re ready to be honest.” He answers.

“Here it is,” I say as we walk into the shop. “This is so weird, I’ve never done this before, actually yeah I have, I went with Erika once.”

“Erika thought she was pregnant?” Luke questions.

“Yeah, she wasn’t though.” I explain.

“Should we get a couple, just to make sure?” Luke questions.

“Uh sure,” I nod my head, starting to panic again.

“Hey, it’s alright, I’m here.” Luke cooes and rubs the small of my back.

“I know, it’s just I’m eighteen, I’m not ready to even think about being a mum. How could we be so irresponsible?”

“We made a mistake but we learn from our mistakes.” He states.

“Ugh it’s gonna be so awkward buying these.” I groan as I pick up two prefnancy tests.

“Why don’t you put an act on, it will be funny, I’ll give you a backstory. You and your sexy husband, Luke Hemmings have been trying for a baby. You’re 29 and you think your finally pregnant. Go.” He tells me and pushes me towards the counter by my ass.

I’ll be staying away from sex for a while, I can tell you that.

“Hey, you need to come with me.” I tell him.

“Ugh, fine, but I need a backstory.”

“You are a 28 year old idiot, oh wait, you already are. You’re a 32 year old male and are dating a hot 29 year old, called Harper White. Oh you’ve got an interest in My Little Pony. That gets all the ladies.”

“I’m 32, dating you, a 27 year old and I’ve got an interest in My Little Pony.” He concludes.

“Let’s go see if I’m pregnant.” I exclaim and Luke chuckles.

Luke puts his arm around me and we go pay for these.

The lady at the check out gave us a funny look but I just ignored her and put the pregnancy tests into my bag.

“I am so nervous.”

We’re at my house now and I’m so fucking worried, and kind of ashamed.

“Well I guess I should find out what my future holds.” I sigh.

Taking one test with me and closing the door behind me. Taking the pregnancy test out of the box and reading the instructions. I finally build up enough confidence to just take it.

I do my business on the stick and I put the cap on, placing it on the counter. I sit on the toilet lid as I wait, a million thoughts going through my mind, 1 second feels like one minute.

I never thought I’d be taking a pregnancy test at eighteen, let alone ever, I’ve never really seen myself getting married or having children. I wouldn’t be upset if I was pregnant in the right time, in the future, but it’s never been my scene.

My hands are shaking, my heart is beating so fast and I’m pretty sure England can hear it, a million thoughts going through my mind, I probably look as if I’ve seen a ghost.

Time should be up by now and I’m just not ready, I can’t do this. “Luke.” I call out and open the door.

“Yeah?” He questions, his breath hitching as he walks onto the landing.

“I can’t look at it, I need you to look at it.” I claim

“Okay, baby.” He nods.

Probably not the best nickname to use right now.

Luke wraps his arm around me and pulls me into an embrace. He picks up the pregnancy test with his arm still around me and his breathing picks up. “What do two lines mean?” He questions.

I burst out crying into his chest. Luke quickly puts the test down and wraps his other arm around me, one rubbing up and down my back and the other in my hair.

“Hey, it’s gonna me alright, we can get through this.” He whispers into my ear.

“How is it going to be okay? We’re fucking pregnant, I’m 18 your 17, we can’t have a baby.” I claim.

“Are pregnancy tests always 100%?”

“Not all the time, but it’s quite rare for them to be wrong.” I tell him.

“Why don’t you take the other one, just to be sure?” He suggests.

“What’s even the point?” I mutter.

“Come on Harper, now isn’t the time to mope around, we need to find this out.” Luke sighs.

I nod, knowing he is right.

“I’ll um, leave you to it.” He awkwardly says, and if I wasn’t in this state, I would’ve laughed at him.

I nod and fill a glass up with water before downing, and waiting for it to pass through.

After a while I do the test again, this time it isn’t as bad as last time, but it’s still terrifying. After the time period is up, I timidly look at it and it comes back as negative.

The fuck?

“Luke,” I call him.

“Yeah?” He asks as he walks in, a terrified look on his face.

“It’s negative.”

“But, what?” He questions.

“I don’t know, we’re gonna have to book an appointment, I’m not going through the stress of taking a fucking pregnancy test again.”

“Yeah, okay, do you think we’ll able to book an appointment now for tomorrow?” He asks.

“It’s half five, so probably, I’m not sure about tomorrow though.” I answer.

“Who’s gonna do it?” Luke asks.

“I should probably do it because I am possibly carrying our child.” I sigh.

I take my phone out of my pocket and phone the hospital.

After 10 minutes it’s all booked and surprisingly enough, I’ve got a slot for tomorrow.

“Okay, we’ve got an appointment at 1:15 tomorrow afternoon. Is that alright?”

“Uh, yeah I think so.” He nods.

“Whats happening at 1:15 tomorrow?” Someone asks and I drop my head onto Luke’s chest, letting out a groan.

“Whats wrong with her?” Michael asks.

“Dunno.” He shrugs and wraps his arms around me.

“So what’s happening tomorrow?” Calum asks.

“Uh, Harper and I are… going on a date.” He trails off.

“Romantic.” I mutter and he squeezes me.

“But Harper doesn’t like going on dates.” Erika points out.

“Trying something new.” He covers.

“Oh, like your sex positions?” Ashton asks.

“The fuck?” I question.

“Just leave us alone, we have… things to sort out, nothing that concerns you guys.”

“What things?” Mike asks.

“Nothing that concerns you.” I say as I walk out of my room and make my way down into the kitchen.

“Harper, can I talk to you for a minute?” Someone asks and I quickly turn around, being met my Maddie.

“Oh, hello, I was wondering where you were.” I smile.

“Do you have a minute?” She questions.

“Um, yeah sure.” I shrug and I sit on the counter, Maddie sitting on the island opposite me.

“I’m going to go ask/show you something.” She starts off. “So I found this on Twitter about 10 minutes ago, not many people have seen it, yet.”

Maddie plays a video of Luke and I at the shop we went to, it’s more of just audio, but at some parts you can see us. You can literally hear us, word by word talking about it all, they must’ve been on the other isle, or even behind us. We must’ve been so caught up in the moment and didn’t check our surroundings.

“So…” Maddie trails off.

“Um uh.” I stutter. Do I tell her? I guess I should seek some female help, I definitely can’t ask my mum, because of obvious reasons, Erika wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut. I haven’t really done anything like this with Maddie so now’s my chance I guess. “I may or may not be pregnant.” I quietly say.

“Have you taken the test yet?” She questions.

“Uh, y-yes, one came out positive and the other came out negative.” I tell her.

“What are you gonna do?”

“I literally just booked a doctor’s appointment and then we’ll see what happens. I’m not gonna keep it, I don’t have time for a baby right now. I don’t even know if I want children in the future, let alone one now. I’m 18 for Christ sake. Are you disappointed in me or us?”

“Of course not, I could never think bad of you guys. What happened? Failed condom, unprotected sex? What birth control do you use?” She asks.

“Why?” I question.

“Need to take notes.” She claims.

“Maddie,” I can’t help but laugh, “you’re gay, you aren’t going to get pregnant with Erika anytime soon.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Anyway, it was unprotected sex, I feel so stupid and ashamed.” I groan.

“Don’t be ashamed, I’ve had a pregnancy scare before. I’ve only done it with a dude once and I’ve never gone back after that,” she laughs. “No, but I had a scare, had to take a pregnancy test, it came back negative. I think it’s more common than you think.”

“Thanks Maddie.” I smile.

“What will you do if you are pregnant?” She asks.

“I probably won’t keep it, but I just know I’m gonna get an overwhelming feeling of guilt.”