#and offering me their next sport prospect puppies

[elvenferretots]

I went to my kennel club's obedience trial today in a little bit of a mope, but a show of support for my friends and mentors and mentees. Got to hold some leashes and film some runs and do cleanup crew.

It's incredible what a good community I've found. Not only did people go out of their way to say how much they missed us and love TenSoon, but had multiple people say they'd love to give me a puppy after seeing how well I've done with Ten and what a good life I'm giving him. I'm just touched beyond words with these people.

[stvharrngton]

a lesson in romantics; lesson four

summary: a multi-part series where reader is the new art teacher at hawkins high and the history teacher, mr. harrington, takes a shine to the new girl. mutual pining ensues on their road to love 🥀

a/n: aaaaand we're back!! i'm so sorry it took me so long to update this but i'm hoping to go back to weekly updates now <3

characters: steve harrington x fem!reader, mentions of robin and nancy

word count: 1.3k

warnings: none, steve is dorky af

taglist: @inkluvs @dukesmebby @sweetbabygirlsworld @kennedy-brooke @gvf23 @nix-rose

series taglist: @pbs-theundeadmaggot @alana4610 @onceuponaoneshot

SERIES MASTERLIST

HAWKINS HIGH, NOVEMBER 1922

Steve burst through the door of the teachers lounge, coffee cup and brown paper bag in hand. He came up behind you like a whirlwind, hair swept away by the wind, a cute red sweater fitted to his body.

“I snagged an extra muffin from our favourite bakery,” he started, unable to help that smile that painted his features, “and it’s got your name written all over it.”

You couldn’t help but giggle at him, he drew out those last few words as if he was trying to make a joke, but he was oh so serious. Steve’s smile grew wider as you laughed, the kind of smile that reached his eyes. And you didn’t even want to think about how he called it our favourite bakery.

“Oh yeah?” you asked, the promise of a free sweet treat sparking your interest, “Your place or mine?”

You meant classroom. You definitely meant the classroom.

“Mine? At lunch?” he said, eyes all hopeful.

“Sure,” you nodded, “sounds good.”

Steve’s eyes lit up at the prospect of having lunch with you, alone, in his classroom. Sporting a toothy grin as he began to retreat back towards the door now.

“It’s a date,” he stated, eyes wide as soon as he realised what he said, in front of everyone and Robin no less, “not a date, I mean, shit— shoot!” Steve stuttered, nervously stumbling over his words, “I’ll see you at lunch.”

Robin immediately looked in your direction as Steve left, doing her best to hide a snigger that was threatening to spill out into a full blown laugh at her friend’s expense. 

~

Lunch time soon rolled around as you made your way over to Steve’s classroom, lunch bag and fresh hot coffee in hand. You peaked your head into the room before clearing your throat as you stepped in.

“Is that offer for a free muffin still on the table, Mr. H?” you asked, a coy smile on your face.

The sandwich that was in his hand found its way back to the desk, a chuckle rumbling in Steve’s chest as he waved you in, “For you it is,” he scrambled to clear a place on his desk next to him, pulling a chair up, “come on, sit.”

You took your place next to him, pulling your own sandwich out. You ate in silence for a moment, neither awkward or uncomfortable. Steve spoke next, pointing a finger out to your side of the table, “What’d you bring?”

“A BLT,” you said confidently, “what about you?”

Steve nodded, an impressed look on his face. One that turned to minor embarrassment when he was about to reveal his own choice, “A PB and J.” Steve muttered.

You chuckled softly, one that made Steve’s cheeks light up pink, “That’s cute,” you said softly, fluttering your lashes as your teeth sunk into your bottom lip, trying to prevent any more laughs from spilling out.

“Oh, come on,” Steve defended, “it’s a solid choice! You can’t mock a man’s choice of sandwich in his own classroom.” 

“Sorry,” you said with a giggle. 

You didn’t realise as you went back to your own sandwich, but Steve looked at you now, really looked at you. With that sappy, love sick puppy dog look on his face, the kind of look he only sported when he was in too deep, way too deep.

Chin in the palm of his hand, eyes all soft as he realised that maybe Robin and Nancy were right. 

Shit. Robin and Nancy were right.

The sound of your voice broke him from his trance, your brows pinched together as he failed to answer whatever question you had for him. You looked at him puzzled, ready to ask him if he was alright when Steve piped up with a murmur that resembled a ‘hmm?’, a sheepish look on his face.

“I said,” you began, cheeks slowly heating up at you realise you may have just caught Steve staring at you, “what’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?”

“Just one?” a jovial tone finding its way to Steve’s voice, “Okay, so it was Sophomore year and I took this girl to a pool party that one of the kids on my

block was having and I had picked up this brand new white pair of swim shorts—,”

You purse your lips to hide the laughter that was ready to spill out, already seeing where this story was going, “and so we were in the pool having fun right, and when I got out I didn’t realise the entire thing turned see-through.”

Unable to hold it in any longer, you burst out laughing but Steve was still talking between his own bouts of laughter, “And you could see everything! And I mean everything.”

Your laughter was intoxicating, like music to Steve’s ears, the cutest laugh he’d ever heard by far. He was far too caught up in the happy sound to notice that you’d been clutching onto his arm whilst doubled over in laughter. He soon caught on, eyes soft as he gingerly placed his hand over yours, both of your giggles soon fading out.

“Easy there, tiger,” Steve hushed, as he stroked his thumb over the back of your hand. You stared at each other for what felt like an age, a lump swallowed in your throat, Steve’s gaze hopeful and yearning. You didn’t know if you saw it, but you swore his eyes flitted down to your lips for a second, or maybe you were just being hopeful, “What about you? What’s your worst ever date?”

Steve’s voice was low and quiet, a tone that sent a shiver down your spine as you attempted to compose yourself to answer. 

“It was my first year of college and my first date with my ex. He took me to the movies and it was all going perfectly well, bought myself a cute new dress, the works, right?” You reasoned, “We went to get snacks and he got a large Coke and on our way to the theatre he slipped on something wet on the floor–”

“No,” Steve exclaimed, hand slapping over his mouth, “don’t tell me–”

“Yep,” you sighed with a chuckle, “thing went up in the air and landed right on me, all over my dress! It was like something out of a cartoon,” you felt your cheeks heat up from just thinking of the memory, “the date itself wasn’t even bad but it was so mortifying.”

You both glanced at the clock simultaneously, the noise of kids chattering and hollering outside of Steve’s classroom told you that lunch would soon be coming to an end. You sighed as you dusted the crumbs from Steve’s desk, packing away your trash ready to go back to your own afternoon classes.

“No way have we been in here an hour already,” he sighed, dusting off his slacks, “well, thanks for the company, don’t forget your muffin.” Steve spoke casually, as if he wasn’t still thinking about the way you clutched at his bicep, or how soft your hand felt beneath his, or how he really wanted to kiss you.

You nodded as you took the brown bag from him, thanking him again for the free sweet treat. You went to let yourself out of his classroom as he spoke again, spinning on your heel as your hand was still clutching the door knob.

“I’m having a grading party at my place this weekend,” he began, fingers scratching at the scruff decorating his jaw, “we don’t get much grading done but I’d love it if you came along.”

He’d love it. The simple word, the implication that Steve would be miserable at his own party lest you be there, oh, how it made you swoon. You answered with a resounding yes, telling him you wouldn’t miss it as you skittered out into the hall with a small wave and a very big smile on your face.

What Steve wanted to do was ask you on a real date, just you and him, a real, proper date where he would go all out to impress you. Maybe a nice dinner or a picnic in the park, not rushed sandwiches during your lunch hour in his classroom.

But this was a start, right?

[irreverent-dobermans]

When You Ask Your Local Dog Expert For Help Finding A Breeder

Within the dog community I’m seeing this happen a lot right now, so I thought I’d write a post about it. With regards to asking a local dog expert for help finding a puppy (assuming you’re searching for a good sport or competition prospect or just a responsibly-bred pet). This is a brief idea of some of the things they MIGHT do in an effort to help you achieve your (perceived) goal of a responsibly sourced, well-bred puppy.

There are a ton of layers to each of these general steps I'm going to offer up, and even more pitfalls and red flags that can be stumbled across at each stage. Novices in the Purebred Dog World can certainly find themselves a great, responsibly sourced dog if they keep some of these steps/techniques in mind. BUT the most important thing is to have patience in your search. Most likely your responsible breeder of choice is going to have a wait list, and that's a GOOD thing! If you can turn around in a hot minute and land a dog, take a moment to really investigate that gift puppy. It might come with a price tag beyond a monetary level.

These steps are easier to navigate with a Dog Expert in your pocket or in your corner, but I'm breaking this down to show you that it can be done by a dedicated novice too! It's just going to take time and effort in this search. If you DO ask an expert and then completely disregard their advice in favor of the fast option, that expert probably isn't going to be too happy with you. If you ask me for help and I invest days or weeks in helping you on this path, using my expertise and possibly also my reputation to introduce you to responsible breeders producing stunning dogs, and then you turn around and buy the first puppy you can get near town because it's available RIGHT NOW and for cheap... well, I'm going to be annoyed. And I might not help you next time you ask.

When it comes down to it: If a FAST puppy is the goal, it probably isn't going to be as well-bred or responsibly sourced as one that you might have to research and wait for. (Can you strike it rich with that golden puppy? Absolutely. Is it less likely? Most certainly.)

Notice I am using the vague term of 'dog expert' because you could be asking a breeder friend, a local trainer, possibly someone in charge of boarding, maybe someone affiliated with a local club or vet, or just a known competitor/participant in the dog world. Any of these people could be considered experts, depending on one's personal definition. They can probably connect you to some absolutely AMAZING dogs, if you're willing to spend the time, do a little research, and pay what the breeder is asking for in order to take home a piece of their hard work.

Pretending I'm your local Dog Expert, I'm a known trainer and handler that participates in HELLA dog sports. (There's maybe 3 or 4 I haven't done OR don't regularly compete in.) You likely see me at shows for at least three different Registries, a multitude of sports, usually running or handling a string of dogs; and I’m a member in good standing of eight or so Breed Specific/All Breed/Sport AKC Clubs and so on. I'm also canine transport and can deliver a puppy. So we run into each other at your location of choice and you wind up asking: "Hey Toni! Can you help me find a responsibly bred puppy of [breed]?"

Step 1: Owner Interview/Initial Conversation

I surely can! But first we're likely to have a conversation about what you want. What are you looking for in your new canine companion? Sport or Show expectations? SD or Pet potential? General expectation/goal for activity level and what home looks like? Puppy vs Adult Dog? For an Adult or Jr Handler? Etc. We're establishing your goals and expectations! If you don't have a local expert, you can skip THIS part and move on to step 2, doing the next steps on your own. (I mean, you should get an idea to the answers of these questions for your own search, but that’s just my two cents.) Sure it will take a bit to learn what you need to be looking for, but these are steps that ANYONE can follow to get started in locating a responsibly and well bred puppy (or adult dog) for their needs!

Step 2: Breed Research.

We're going to assume you're looking for something that isn't what I would claim as "my" breed. If it's not something I've got a finger on the pulse of (and even if it is), my first steps are probably to swing by the official Breed Club resources to review standards, health testing expectations, recommended breeders and so on. In this stage I'll probably swing by a couple different responsible registries to see how the standards vary, and if there are different resources on those pages. (If you are doing this yourself, you've jumped past Step 1 and can get into this by asking yourself a few questions/doing some research!) Since I'm In America, we'll start with: Is it an AKC Breed? Yes?:  https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/ Hmm How About UKC? Yes?: https://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds Your breed doesn't turn up in those OR you want a lower pressure Show Environment? IABCA: https://www.iabca.com/showinfo.html ICKC: http://www.internationalcaninekennelclub.com/ (Already seem like a lot of work? This is only Stage 2!) For the second part of Stage 2 (the Breed Club) I'm going to pick one of my random (rare) breeds, as I'm part of the official Breed Club. Obviously for this part you sub in your breed of choice and search for a [Breed Club] for [Country]. Example Breed: Curly Coated Retriever Breed Club: https://www.ccrca.org/ The Breed Club's Breeder Directory Page with Additional Links: https://www.ccrca.org/breeders.html

Step 3: Health Testing Research.

The Breed Clubs typically have a list of preferred health testing for the breed. Those that meet this testing criteria would be considered more responsible breeders than those that don't perform the health testing. As health testing requirements vary by breed, you can look up the requirements on your breed club page OR on OFA.org, through their breed section. OFA: https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/ Once you have your list of health tests by breed, you can search OFA by breed to see dogs that have been tested and their results recorded. Keeping an eye out for Kennels with a concentration of testing or full on CHIC certification will give you an idea as to who actually has performed the health tests, and give you an idea of breeders to check into.

Step 4: Checking Into Breeders

Now we get to the actual stage of finding breeders in your breed of choice. Since you've looked at your Breed Club/OFA and presumably found some breeders that meet the health testing requirements for the breed, now you look for those breeders to have a Social Media or Website presence. Hopefully they have information about themselves and their program, their breed, contracts and their process to get a dog or puppy.

Red Flags:

Because the steps above can have any number of red flags, we're going to stop and touch on those for a moment! There are less than reputable Registries (like the Continental Kennel Club or ConKC), non-responsible/non-reputable breeders and more. If someone claims to Health Test but won't give you full registered names for you to double check their health testing, be wary. If they claim to health test and not turn the info into OFA, that's also another flag. Why isn't the information being officially recorded? If they health test on an international level there should be records of the health testing (PennHipp rather than OFA, perhaps) and documentation should be able to be provided. If they don't want to give you health testing info until you've paid a deposit, well, then you have to decide how you comfortable you are with the idea of proceeding. The same for if they don't want to release any information on the parents until you're already on the hook with a deposit or fully paying off the pup. I personally feel that those demanding deposits before any real agreement is reached should be considered a warning sign. Those breeders that charge more/less depending on: gender, breeding rights, colors or patterns, etc may also be a flag depending on nuance. These things are easier to spot if you've been in and out of the sport/competition world but can get an idea of it even as a novice. Just be open to the idea of critical thinking, carefully reading contracts and website details and so on. If this is an AKC/American based club or breed, and the website reads as something poorly translated through Google, maybe be wary.

Step 5: Make Contact!

So you've found out everything you can, found a breeder you're comfortable with, and now? It's time to contact the breeder. Try reaching out with a general idea of what you're looking for, how you found their information, and if you're active in clubs/sports with current dogs to give them some background on you. Don't just email asking "pups, price, etc" in an abrupt fashion. Try to start a dialogue! Ideally, this is someone you're going to at least be a casual aquaintence of for the next 1o or so years! Remember many responsible breeders have a waiting list, be prepared for this!

Note: If your local expert is doing this work for you, they may be using their own reputation in the show/sport world to help with their introduction to the breeder/breeders and trying to locate the perfect show/sport/breeding prospect for you. Try to honor their hard work, references, friendship what-have-you. If circumstances change, be forthright. And remember, if you ask someone to do this for you, and then run out to buy the first local BYB you find because it's cheaper/faster... well, don't be surprised if they don't want to assist you in the future.

Anyway, I hope this post gives you an idea as to what goes into trying to locate a responsibly-sourced, well-bred dog!

[chillwithaster]

SUMMARY: “Wo ho ho there, Kaedehara, where do you think you’re going?” Venti and Xiao moved to grip each of his wrists. If Kazuha had not known any better, he would think they were shackles by how deathly their holds were.

Venti gave him a light smile. As if he’s going to let this bleach-streaked, toothpaste-hogger fiend anywhere close to his date to the-

“Your date?” Xiao started.

Whoops, did he say that out loud?

RELATIONSHIPS : Albedo/Kong | Aether (Genshin Impact) || Kong | Aether/Xiao | Alatus (Genshin Impact || Kong | Aether/Venti (Genshin Impact) || Kaedehara Kazuha/Kong | Aether

Please consider supporting me on Ko-fi because im kind of in a need for extra cash to help out my family during the pandemic ! every little bit helps and I'm giving out incentives for donations ! A dollar for a personalized reviewer and study guide or a genshin fanfiction of your choice !

AO3

“Well, this is most unfortunate.”

Venti could already feel the caffeine in his systems fuel his flight-or-fight response as he saw not one but two of his roommates standing outside the library.

He really needed a drink and pronto.

This was supposed to be his shining moment; the ballad to end all ballads; the righteous bard’s claim to a golden prince’s heart after their loveless rendezvous.

Venti had finally gotten the courage to ask Aether out to the Ludi Harpastum Dance – one of the most anticipated events in the entirety of their university. It was known as a Mondstadtian custom that he himself absolutely adored for its flowers, games, cuisines, and especially romantic atmosphere.

It was going to be perfect, really.

But no, Barbatos above and mighty, these – unsultry fiends decided to rain over such a wonderful parade.

“Agreed.” He shot a half-hearted glare at the white-haired male next to him, who had decided to dress-up from his usual plain tees and jeans.

Instead, Kazuha was wearing a half-buttoned black blazer (one that Venti swore was his, mind you) with black skinny jeans and a white polo-shirt. His hair was tied tighter than his usual lopsided ponytail, and Venti swore the other’s glasses had never been cleaner.

Now, though Venti was quite ecstatic to see his friend out of his usual horrendous fashion-style, he was visibly irked by the bouquet of Carnations in Kazuha’s arms.

“Move. You’re blocking the entrance.” The other two broke from their staring contest to find slitted amber hues.

For as long as Venti knew Xiao, even the Contemporary Music major knew his roommate looked good in a turtleneck.

And unfortunately for him, Xiao knew that too.  

Sporting a sleeveless dark green turtleneck and a black leather jacket fastened firmly around his waist, Xiao glared from behind the brown, large toy dragon plushie he was hugging.

“Uh excuse me.” Venti chirped, a hand to his hip to assert his dominance as their senior. “I was here first, mind you. Now buzz off.”

Xiao cocked a brow at him. “Don’t tell me you’re bringing in food to a library.”

The braided boy gawked at him before guiltily looking down at the two boxes of doughnuts in his hands. Boxed in pastel green and white, his warm, delicious, better than what his other roommates could ever bake in their entire life, homemade desserts stared back in shame at the thought of being left behind.

“Of course not!”

Kazuha and Xiao did not believe him.

“Of course…” The Inazuman began before moving past Venti. “Now please excuse me, I need to speak with-“

“Wo ho ho there, Kaedehara, where do you think you’re going?” Venti and Xiao moved to grip each of his wrists. If Kazuha had not known any better, he would think they were shackles by how deathly their holds were.

Venti gave him a light smile. As if he’s going to let this bleach-streaked, toothpaste-hogger fiend anywhere close to his date to the-

“Your date?” Xiao started.

Whoops, did he say that out loud?

Venti turned to his supposed ally as he released Kazuha’s hand. However, despite his fumble, the Cheshire grin on his lips still slashed through. “Yeah. My date to the Ludi Harpastum Dance.”

If looks could kill, Venti would be six feet under.

“Isn’t it quite bold of you to assume he’d want … you?” Kazuha began, scanning him up and down.

“I am offended!” Damn, the senior could feel ten years being subtracted from his time on earth. “And yes I do! Unlike both of you, I’ve known Aether the longest. From all the way ever since he moved here, so that makes me his best friend.”

The other two were not convinced.

“Yeah. Friend.” Venti wanted to hurl something hard into Xiao’s smirk. “And aren’t you more mature than that? For such an old man, you’d think you’d be past using the length of a relationship to measure its worth.”

“I agree with Xiao.” Kazuha hissed from behind, and Venti almost held a high grin at knowing why he was so defensive. Kazuha only had a month in his little pool of Aether interactions, so he knew he stood no chance if that was the criterion. “One’s closeness mustn’t be measured by how much – but rather how well – that time spent together was.”

Venti rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever.”

Honestly, he had not expected this. Especially not from these two.

Venti had always assumed that Xiao wanted nothing to do with relationships, especially since Xiao had made it quite crystal clear to anyone that had tried making moves on him that he was not interested. Same goes for Kazuha, who seemed to be more inclined to pour his focus into his studies in Literature rather than pursuing a love life.

But alas, here they are.

“Excuse me.” The three snap out of their heated staring contest to find a mop of kempt blond hair behind them.

Albedo stared at the three suspicious figures with a raised brow. As the junior librarian of the campus, it was his job to make sure students were not loitering outside to cause a mess.

“You’re keeping others from entering. If you have no business here, could you please go back to your dormitories.” His eyes shift to the pastries in Venti’s arms. “No food inside.”

Venti could just hear the snickers from behind him.

“Right, of course.” He started. “Sorry, Albedo.”

The three would have moved to allow the blond entrance had Kazuha not seen the striking figure painted diligently on the canvas in Albedo’s arm.

“Wait.” The albino held a hand to Albedo’s shoulder. “That painting…”

The bright crimson on Albedo’s cheeks was already a dead giveaway.

Venti and Xiao stopped in horror before peering over Albedo’s shoulder. Ah shit.

Drawn with the precision only the famed Kreideprinz could attain was a figure basked in golden locks. The figure’s face was turned away ever so slightly from the viewer, framed by light bangs as soft eyes gazed longingly into the sunset behind them. But even without seeing any other details, the two already knew who this was.

Suddenly, a plushie and a batch of doughnuts just felt sad.

Albedo turned to face the trio, shamefully hiding the portrait behind his figure.

“You like Aether?” Venti began.

“Yes, and what of it?” Albedo brought his jacket’s sleeve to his mouth, covering the bright blush he was harboring. “I don’t believe that I have any reason to be quite ashamed of such…and for you to be so scrutinizing…”

The three stared at him like kicked puppies.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Albedo stopped and looked at the gifts in their hands.

“Ah.”

The weight of the situation just immediately dawned on the four.

“It seems the captor of ours hearts knows no restraint.” Kazuha sighed wistfully.

Xiao said nothing, but a nod was sufficient.

“…Are you all here to also ask him to the dance?” Albedo leaned on the door.

Even without an answer, he already knew.

“We can’t just go in there.” Xiao sighed. “It’ll end in a disaster, trust me.”

“But we cannot just let such an opportunity pass.” Venti saw how Kazuha was almost ready to barge in the doors for himself.

“Right, right, calm down there, he’s not going anywhere.” Venti offered.

Albedo moved to turn around, and the three watched him peer through the library’s wooden doors.

There seated amongst several stacks of books was their culprit. Aether had a textbook over his head and a whale pillow under his folded arms. With how slow his chest was rising, the four knew he was asleep.

“I should scold him next time. The library is not his bedroom.” Albedo smiled fondly at the figure, and the other three could only stare in defeat.

There was no way they could just barge in there and disturb his peace like that. Especially not when he looks so exhausted. Aether would just be overwhelmed by all their invitations, and the last thing they wanted was to be a burden to their beloved.

“So, now what?” Venti moved out of the way, glancing in confusion at the other three.

Kazuha and Xiao shared a look, but it was Albedo that first opened his mouth.

“We should take him to a date. A proper one. One from each of us. And one where we could help him alleviate his stress and show him a good time.”

The three stopped in consideration.

Albedo continued. “Think about it. He’s quite exhausted. If our feelings for him are genuine, then we should be willing to console him when he needs us the most. And only then – perhaps -  he can decide who he wishes to take to the dance.”

Venti had wished his first date with Aether were under different circumstances.

But at the same time…he isn’t against the thought of spoiling Aether silly. Even if it is shared sentimentally with three other people.

After a moment, it was Kazuha that gave an opinion. “But we should set ground rules. If the purpose of this date to help Aether unwind, it is imperative that none of us ask him to the dance.”

“Why?” Xiao crossed his arms. “Then wouldn’t that just render our dates pointless?”

“Not quite.” Kazuha offered a smile. “Aether’s happiness should come first.”

Xiao agreed in a heartbeat.

“Okay, let’s go with that.” Venti smiled at the prospect.

Yeah, Aether’s happiness is the topmost priority. And if none of them could provide that for Aether, then Venti thinks that none of them (himself included) are worthy of Aether’s kindness!

“But…” His thoughts blank. “Can I go last?”

“Why?” Albedo raised a brow.

“My paycheck doesn’t come until next Thursday.”

If his peers had one thing in common, it was how stupid they could make someone feel just by staring.

“I had to cut back time for my classes, okay? Sheesh!” Venti argued.

“Then that’s settled.” Albedo sighed.

“May I go first?” Kazuha offered, and though none of the other males seemed to object, Xiao was quick to reply with a sharp ‘why’. The albino bashfully chuckled. “There is a musical I have been meaning to bring him to that is in three days. It would be a shame to miss it.”

There were no objections.

Albedo raised an open palm, only to be met with several blank stares.

“A form of contract. May the best man win.”

The blonds lips were quirked upward slightly, and though apprehensive, Venti shook his hand.

Venti wasn’t the smartest person, but he wasn’t dumb either.

He may not know a lot when it comes to studies, but he knows one thing.

When these three wanted something, they would break the earth just to get their way.

“Indeed! May the winds guide you in your endeavor.”

But it also takes one to know one.

[doberbutts]

hey, if you have a minute, would you mind if I picked your brain about a decision I'm currently trying to make? I've found a cattle dog breeder I really like, who has produced nine working SDs so far, and she has a litter on the ground with a puppy she's identified as a good SD/sport prospect. this is really exciting. but also: I am in the process of trying to buy a permanent house rather than renting, and this litter will be ready to go home Mar 1. I don't have house in mind yet, tho. (1/?)

complications: the puppy is male, and SSA is really common in cattle dogs. I have one older female mix (10yrs) and one 20mo male ACD/pit mix (neither intact). I have plenty of experience with resource guarding, managing expression of feelings, and practicing impulse control, but I haven't owned two dogs of the same sex in my entire life and the spectre of potential SSA is pretty intimidating. Personality-wise, young male dog is much softer, more submissive, and more forgiving than old lady.

complication two: there will be another litter in the fall, and while there are two people ahead of me in reservation line for THAT litter, everyone wants girls because of the perception that SSA is way worse in ACDs for boys. (I think I would rather deal with SSA between two boys than two girls, but I am worrying about worst case scenario.) both of these other people want girls only. (The candidate puppy in THIS litter is available because litter was mostly boys.)

so I think what I am asking for advice on is that I see three choices ahead of me: 1) jump on bb Candidate Puppy even though the timing isn't ideal, maybe delay house buying plans? my lease isn't up until August, I just wanted to start looking for houses now that I've decided I do want to stay in MN for a couple of years. I have no idea if my landlord would be cool with Yet Another Critter but my existing two dogs and three cats are okay, so.

2) ask breeder if she would not mind holding Candidate Puppy a month or so longer, possibly in exchange for boarding fees, while I buy a house and move into it. 3) wait for next litter, hope enough girls with a promising temperament are born. 4) wait for next litter, agnostic about sex, make decisions based on who is born when.

Hmm. This is a bit of a difficult situation tbh. I was kind of in a similar situation- a friend offered me a puppy from a litter I was genuinely interested in, shortly after Creed died. However I was already in transition to moving in short term with a good friend of mine while I continued my hunt for a house, and then I also had no idea about when I would actually be able to close on a house. The puppies were scheduled to go home actually right about now and uh. I'm still living with that friend waiting to close on my house lmao. I at least have a tentative closing date and like an actual plan at this point but I'm still not anywhere near ready to bring home a puppy yet.

I ended up asking my friend if she could hold onto the puppy for a handful of months until I closed and finished moving in. She agreed, mostly because she was really excited that one of this breeding would be coming to live with me after watching me with Creed.

The litter ended up not taking and so it all turned out to be for nothing, which is a bit disappointing but also significantly less stressful to know that I'm not having to rush getting all this shit together for a hellion to come home pretty much the second keys are in my hand. She's tossed around the idea of repeating the breeding to see if we actually get anything this time and I'm still on the list for that, but at the same time no guarantees it won't end up the same. This litter would happen after I'm already moved in and settled so much better timing for me.

If this is a puppy/litter you feel strongly about, while you're in transition like this I would honestly see if the breeder could hold onto him or if you can find somewhere to board/train him with someone you trust while you figure out your life circumstances if you can afford it. The good news is that even if litters don't turn out- which listen I've been there for both the aforementioned puppy and even for Sushi there were some failed attempts before she was finally born- there will always be other litters and other puppies. Don't feel like you have to rush. It should feel right to bring your puppy home. If you have to force it? Then it's not the right time yet.

[cantgetoutofmyheda]

do you still take prompts? if so, how bout clexa going to a sports event and getting featured on the kiss cam

The entire arena roared a boastful cheer and Clarke looked around trying to figure out what caused the eruption of excitement.

Finn noticed the confusion on the girl’s face, “We just hit another three.” He said, his eyes already back on the court waiting to see how his favorite team would fare on this round of defense.

Clarke did not enjoy watching sports, let alone being surrounded by fifteen thousand screaming fans watching the game in person. In all honesty, Finn had been pestering her about going on a date ever since she accidentally got too drunk at a frat party and let the boy kiss her. When he sent her a text that his dad’s season tickets were up for grabs, she brushed it off. It wasn’t until her best friend squealed at the game in question. Lexa’s favorite team—the conferences underdog, naturally—was up against the leading team. She told Clarke to go, to take the date for her so at least one of them could “witness history when Polis beat Arkadia.”

Finn, the ever persistent puppy that wanted to forever impress the blonde, offered another ticket for Lexa to join them—if it meant Clarke would actually come, he didn’t care if she brought a friend to tag along. In his mind, Clarke with Lexa at her side was better than no Clarke at all.

Sounds of groans and booing peppered throughout the stadium—Clarke looked up and Polis had scored, then achieved a turnover as soon as Arkadia brought the ball across the half-court line. A few hints of cheers occured, and a smile drew over her lips as Lexa’s team sank another shot—bringing the game to a tie.

“This is bullshit,” Finn exhaled. “They suck. How is this even happening?”

Clarke eyed the boy, annoyed at the sound of his voice and wishing Lexa was back with their snacks—the only silver lining to any live sporting event, at least in the blonde’s mind, “I mean, they clearly don’t.”

“Are you rooting for Polis?” Finn quickly turned to face her, his face contorted into an expression between confusion and annoyance.

“Obviously,” Clarke shrugged. “They’re Lex’s favorite team.”

He wrinkled his nose, “But Arkadia is mine.”

Clarke raised a brow at the boy, “My loyalty is to Lexa, here.”

“But I brought you here,” he pointed out, the confusion was still ever-present in his demeanor.

“She went to get me snacks, though,” Clarke shrugged again, before looking over her shoulder for any sign of Lexa.

The truth of the matter was that Finn could have offered Clarke front row tickets to anything she could have dreamed of, and the blonde wouldn’t have accepted. The only reason she was sitting exactly where she was that day was because of the spark of excitement that lit up Lexa’s brilliant green eyes at the prospect of Lexa being able to tag along. Clarke knew that the brunette had a distaste for the boy, but she also knew that Lexa understood that she had zero interest in him. If the two could use the outing as an excuse for Lexa to enjoy the game and for Clarke to enjoy some nachos and freshly popped popcorn, then so be it.

Just as Finn was about to open his mouth—likely to make another asinine comment—the sound of a long buzzer went off. Clarke didn’t know much about sports, but it didn’t take long for her to realize they were now in half-time. Her eyes scanned the crowd again, and she finally saw Lexa making her walk through flocks of people flooding to get more beer and snacks and make a bathroom break. Instantly Clarke’s eyes lit up, thankful that the brunette was finally returning back to their seats.

“There you are,” Clarke smiled, as Lexa started handing her various little cardboard trays and a rather large plastic cup.

“Sorry,” Lexa finally took a seat. “That took longer than expected.”

“Was it super crowded?” Clarke asked. Now that Lexa had returned to her place, the blonde’s back was fully facing Finn and her undivided attention was at the brunette with the beautifully-flowing chestnut waves.

Lexa shook her head, “No, not really. The first place I went only had bottles of soda, so I walked around trying to find a stand with fountain soda because I know you like that better.”

Clarke jokingly batted her lashes at the confession, “My hero.”

Lexa rolled her eyes and brushed her off, “Please. It was just so I wouldn’t have to get up again. What’d I miss? I see we’re tied.”

“We are,” Clarke chimed. “And hopefully Polis takes a huge lead soon so we won’t have to stay the whole time.”

“We’re staying the full time,” Clarke heard both Lexa and Finn say.

She finally looked towards the boy, “You know I hate sports.”

“Yeah, but you’re still here,” he offered a sly grin, still not understanding that the blonde wanted nothing to do with him nor his fancy seats to the game.

“Because Lexa wanted to come,” she offered as a reminder. “I would be perfectly happy at home right now.”

The three sat in an awkward silence, Lexa was holding back a grin at Clarke’s latest remark to Finn. Finn was fumbling around on his phone, and Clarke was mindlessly watching the footage on the jumbotron. It was going from random commercials, to short interviews of a few important looking people on the floor, to the home team's dancers putting on some sort of halftime show. After their routine ended, the dancer’s cheered their way back to the locker room entrance and a voice boomed through the speaker system.

“Alright, Arkadia Arena—it’s time for everyone’s favorite halftime segment. Give us a cheer if you’re ready for the Arkadia Kiss Cam!”

Random bursts of cheering exploded throughout the arena and Clarke shook her head at the sound. Suddenly, noises of hooting and hollering came from the boy to her left, leaving a look of distaste and disdain crawling all over her face.

“Finn, what the fuck are you doing?” Clarke quipped.

He ignored the blonde and leaned behind her to get Lexa’s attention, “Ready to be a third wheel, Woods? The cameras always pan this way.”

Lexa raised a brow at his question and remark, then turned to her friend before pointing to the huge screen above the court, “Saddle up, Griff. Looks like he wasn’t kidding.”

Clarke’s eyes immediately darted up to the jumbotron and saw that Lexa wasn’t playing around—she was staring at a video feed of Finn starting to close his eyes and make his way to close the small gap between his face and her own.

In one swift movement, she pushed the boy away and muttered, “No fucking way.”

In a turn of events, she immediately turned around to face Lexa—the sound of laughter started to fill the arena at the sight, the cameraman definitely knew something was coming and didn’t want to miss the moment. Clarke offered her a smile, one more bashful than she could have anticipated, and brought her hand to the back of Lexa’s neck before bringing their lips gently together.

Dazed by what just happened, Lexa pulled away before she even had a chance to kiss her friend back. It took one look into the sea of Clarke’s blue eyes to realize this wasn’t just a show for their audience of fifteen thousand. Lexa returned the smile that was looking back at her and brought Clarke in for a second kiss. It was soft, it was gentle, it was something she didn’t realize she had been wanting.

They were met with the sounds of the full arena cheering and clapping until the camera finally made its way elsewhere.

Lexa grabbed Clarke’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze, before turning to the boy next to the blonde who was in total shock, “Who’s the third wheel now, Collins?”

[wandering-dogs]

Hi! I hope this is ok to ask, but why'd you pick a BC to be your service dog? Definitely not judging, because I've been really strongly considering it myself, but everyone tells me that BCs are generally too sensitive for public access!

Oh boy, I just managed to delete everything I wrote on this. =w=;Well. This is REALLY fucking long, so… Under the cut we go.TLDR; there were a lot of personal circumstances to think about between my disabilities, money, and timing, and it was moreso that a BC fit neatly into those than I necessarily wanted a BC from the beginning.

So! First off, I should mention, you’re absolutely correct. When I got Wander, this was a thing I was warned about. I specifically asked for a dog who rebounded off of scares quickly, and I got just that. He definitely recovers fast, but he is, absolutely, a sensitive dog. Moreso than I would have wanted.

But, there were a few things I had to think about that led me to getting a BC, even with the warning that they were sensitive.

1. I’ve seen a lot of successful border collie service dogs. Like, a surprising amount. This was one of the reasons I even started looking into them! That, combined with a few questions placed at a few different people, really made them seem like an option. Not necessarily, the ideal, but…

2. I don’t like the main service dog breeds. Or, rather, I hate living with them. I’ve owned labs and golden retrievers, and I really, truly, did not want to have to live with another. I think they’re great dogs! I think all my friends should have one! But I know myself, and I know that it would not be fair to me or my dog to get one of those two breeds. Even if they have a higher chance of success, what would that have mattered if I was constantly getting annoyed at things that are perfectly normal for those breeds? Poodles, which were another option, I just didn’t know enough about. There’s a lot of grooming that goes into them for one, which I have no experience in (though I’d love to learn) and I know nothing about their temperaments other than they are retriever-y dogs. Which is why I ended up vetoing them to be on the safe side.

3. An organization was likely out of the question. I don’t know enough about organizations and how they should run to tell a good one from a mediocre one, to start. Then there’s also that they normally choose breeds that I just simply don’t get along with. But the real kicker is that I really couldn’t locate one that would work with me. I’m autistic and have PTSD along with some other mental issues. Finding an organization that works with autistic adults? Near impossible. I, to this date, have not been able to locate one that looks decent. And PTSD ones are mostly geared towards veterans, which I am not. The other issue is time frame; I did not have a ton of waiting time.

4. So, I was majorly depressed at the time. Like, sleeping for days on end, not getting out of bed, angry, depressed. This was partially due to processing multiple layers of trauma! The main issue however was that I hit an autistic breakdown. Think of it as a mental break. I couldn’t read for several years after this happened, for example. I still, to this day, have some days where I cannot read more than a sentence at a time without losing the ability altogether. Typing up a paragraph? This whole thing that you’re currently reading? That was a pipe dream for me at the time. And for someone who spent their whole like from age 4 (yes, four) to 19 reading chapter book upon chapter book a day to cope? That was a devastating loss. I have still not been able to read as many books, but I’m improving! (for reference, I’m currently 23)

4.5. Animals are my life. At the time, we had lost our old rescue lab, and just gotten Simon, who had settled in beautifully. I’d intended to see if he would work out as a service dog, but was told no immediately (family dog, not YOUR dog), and wasn’t allowed to work with him. This meant his anxiety worsened because I couldn’t continue his socializing, and by the time they realised I really needed a service dog, it was too late for Simon to have a chance. (He’s also protective, so it wouldn’t have worked out anyways most likely) But, I was depressed, in bed, and had no purpose. Caring for a puppy would force me out of bed. I knew this, my mum knew this, and so it just kind of… It didn’t have a rush or timeline. I was willing to wait. But it definitely was something I couldn’t just sit around and wait years for either.

5. Originally, I’d planned on getting a Berger Blanc Suisse. And in all honesty, I still plan on getting one! I still think they would be better suited to my needs, and I certainly prefer the look and size of them! But, I couldn’t find a good BBS breeder near me, and shipping/flying out was likely not an option either. Now that I know more of where to look, I have my eye on a few, but… That’s neither here nor there.

6. I was worried that the dog would wash out. I couldn’t be sure that I would be able to afford regular training, as I am paid based off of commissions, and knew my parents wouldn’t make it a priority (i was correct). This meant that there was a pretty decent chance that the dog would wash out, because I was the only one who’d be training him. I didn’t really have any local dog training friends, all I had was some practice on Simon and a plethora of videos and research. Which meant that the dog washing out had to be taken into account from the start. I’m not a person who would be able to rehome a dog I raised as my own, though I understand why and how others do. But I definitely needed some sort of backup plan. Border collies are good at sports, make decent pets in case the dog washed out into an ESA, and yet also were okay service dog prospects! Not ideal, but it was one of the closest I could find to an ideal dog. A little bit of sensitivity seemed like a decent trade off for a dog who I knew I could do a ton of things with, even if my plans well through.

7. I’d been looking into BC’s already, more as a backup plan if I couldn’t locate a BBS breeder that would/could work with me, when I got a recommendation towards a BC breeder. I went in, looked at her page, looked at her dogs, joined her pup group and poked around, and finally sent her a message, asking if she was going to have any future breedings that would supply a dog with the temperament I needed. She messaged back saying she had a puppy there already who fit, and we worked out a discount contract. I’d already had some money saved up between commissions and some donations, and my parents offered to cover the rest of the cost. After that, its history.

I’m sure I forgot something, but that’s… a lot of info anyways.

I want to be very clear though, now that I’m at the end.

I don’t regret getting Wander. I am not on good terms with his breeder anymore, after a lot of drama, but I do know a lot of people who own her dogs, and like them very well. I love Wander a lot, and he really was the perfect dog for me at the time. I don’t know if I’d change any of my choices if I had the chance; I can’t claim to know that.He’s not perfect. I’m not perfect. I call him a service dog in training still because I feel that he very much is. I can’t say for sure that I’d wash him out. He has flaws, and I am afraid that they’re worse than I think. But when given the opportunity to act out or be afraid? He doesn’t. He constantly surpasses my expectations.He does have a few issues caused by my dad when he was a puppy; Barking at strangers, for example, or people leaning over him, which makes him a bit nervous.He also is not a perfect dog because I’m not a perfect trainer. With the right experience, I think Wander would have already been a fully fledged service dog. But I don’t have that experience; I couldn’t give him that.

If you wanted reasons to go for a border collie as a service dog, there are plenty.They make great dogs if they wash out. They pay attention to you. They’re ready to go whenever you want or need to. They aren’t grooming heavy. They’re not as talkative as some other breeds (Wander for example is near silent). They’re gorgeous, multipurpose dogs.But there are just as many, if not more reasons to go with a golden, or a lab, or a poodle.So my advice, unsolicited as it might be, is to make sure that your reasons, however many there are, are weighed correctly. I had fewer reasons to go with a border collie, but they were more important reasons to me. They weighed more than the reasons I could have chosen another breed.

Next time, I doubt I’ll get a border collie. But for me, with the timing and other concerns I had? A border collie, especially Wander, was the perfect choice.

I’d also definitely rather have a trainer next time, but I’d also have rather had one this time too.

[just-another-fan17]

Like You Never Left

Word count: 12,940 words (geez man)

Pairing(s): Romantic Prinxiety with some small side romantic Logicicality

Warnings: Lots of fluff, lots of angst, but we all love a happy ending (tbh I don’t think there’s any warnings...I guess anxious and or self-depreciating thoughts? Only a little though...don’t you worry) 

Author’s note: WOW OKAY. Hey guys! A little while ago I asked @tinysidestrashcaptain if I could tag them in a story I wrote featuring everyone’s favorite sides and I was really fake because I contacted them FOREVER AGO. I only just now worked up the courage to finish and post it. Oops? I’m sorry I’m doing my best over here. Please be kind to me, this is the first fanfic I’ve ever written.

Just some clarifications below…

 Anything in-between these…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>

…is a flashback

Anything before or after this…

………………………….

…is either a break in scenery or a P.O.V. change

 I included that just in case the writing isn’t clear enough, I’m so sorry. I’m a mess. I’ll go now.

~Laur

Roman’s P.O.V.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Okay, it’s a straight shot. Whoever gets down there first wins and gets to pick the movie for tonight.”

“Bold of you to assume there’s a chance you could ever beat me.”

The two best friends sat in their wagons preparing to take off down the steep hill, one boy ever more confident than the other. After the shouted count, “3…2…1…,” off they went, laughter echoing in the warm summer air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

Roman pulled into the university’s parking lot with far too much time to spend in the lecture hall than he would have preferred. After a quick text, to make sure his friend was already inside, he begrudgingly hauled his backpack on and walked towards the double doors. He’d already had a terrible start to his morning when, in a rush, his shirt got caught in a loose screw on the battered screen door, pulling the thread of the sleeve, causing a small tear. Everything seemed to go downhill from there. As he trekked down the pathway, he found his thoughts drifting to how little time he had left in this place.

Junior year. Spring of junior year to be exact. Graduation was rapidly approaching for seniors, and it was all anyone seemed to be talking about. He was walking up the steps of the main building and could hear a group of friends tittering about graduation parties and dinners. He eyed them wistfully.

After a rough battle with the zipper, he was finally able to wrench the books he needed out of his backpack for art history. He then promptly threw his bag down with a glare.

“Well, don’t you look lovely this fine Friday morning.”

Roman inwardly smiled at his friend’s obvious sarcasm. His mussed up brown hair hadn’t seen a brush yet and his shirt was wrinkled with a long thread dragging a mile behind him. Truth be told he wasn’t quite feeling like himself. He hadn’t for a while, but today he seemed especially frazzled and he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. He turned toward his friend sporting an indifferent expression.

“Logan, do me a solid and don’t attempt conversation before 8am,” he deadpanned.

Logan just smirked and raised an eyebrow, occupying the seat next to his friend.

“Is there any particular reason you look like you have not encountered a mirror this morning?” Logan eyed his friend’s out of place appearance.

Roman turned to his friend, hands flailing about, annoyance rolling off of him in waves, as he launched into his rather loud explanation.

“You wouldn’t believe the nonsense I’ve had to endure today! My alarm didn’t go off because my phone was never charging and lost it’s battery so I woke up late. I rushed out of my house only to tear my favorite shirt, suffered through an absolutely ridiculous amount of traffic, and then I didn’t have enough time to stop at Starbucks for my usual,” he finished bitterly.

Logan just smirked at his exasperated friend, barely holding back quiet laughter.

Logan McClure and Roman Prince had been close ever since the two had engaged in a very heated debate in freshman year English. While Logan is far more reserved than Roman, their drastic dynamic differences balance one another out quite seamlessly. Roman will often wax poetry about how it was written in the stars or some other such fated nonsense. Logan likes to think it was how often one was mistaken for the other. Though they only had a few lectures together, teachers always seemed to call them by the wrong name. Both with brown hair, hazel eyes, and a similar tall stature, it was difficult for most to tell them apart before Logan opted for his glasses instead of contacts. Though, in hindsight, their stark personality differences should have done the job.

Both boys waited for their teacher in amicable silence. Logan glanced at Roman out of the corner of his eye frowning. Something was going on with his friend, he could feel it. Logan knows he’s more emotionally inept than most, but if the great Roman Prince is known for one thing, it being obnoxiously loud and ‘looking absolutely fabulous at all times!’ He would be lying if he told himself Roman’s rather subdued expression and unkempt appearance wasn’t quite jarring.

“Hey, Roman-”

Roman’s text tone abruptly stopped him from voicing his thoughts.

Logan saw his face morph into something giddy…and that always spelled trouble.

“Remy’s friend is having a bonfire this Saturday!” Roman’s face lit up at the prospect, while Logan groaned internally.

Roman slowly turned to his friend, a sly expression already in place.

“Hey Lo-”

Logan, in turn, cut him off before he could even begin.

“No. I am not going to subject myself to the nonsense of Remy Marzena on one of my only two days of peace and quiet.”

Logan’s tone brooked no argument, but Roman’s puppy dog eyes had other plans.

“But I can’t go by myself! Besides, you know our dear friend Patton will be there too…” he trailed off enticingly.

“You say that as though it will influence my desire to go.” Logan leveled him with a look, fighting off the blush threatening to spread across his cheeks.

Patton Sanders had puzzled Logan ever since they’d met. He was always cheerful and optimistic at the strangest of times. Logan would forever deny how endearing the literal personification of sunshine could be. Unfortunately for Logan, he and Roman attended Springfield University, while Patton and Remy attended college up town at Pennbrook University. The only reason Logan had ever met Patton was through Roman’s rather unfortunate friendship with Remy. Both had met during the summer of freshman year at the district theater. Logan couldn’t comprehend how one person could be so…extra. Though Roman was quite theatrical himself, Remy, it seemed, was on another level. How he could be related to the sweet, kind, caring, lovable-

“Oh, do excuse me. If it weren’t for me the most socialization you’d ever experience would consist of late nights with your Advanced Methodical Statistics textbook.”

Logan didn’t appreciate the sarcasm, or the spot-on presumption. Roman’s pout was starting to get to him, and Roman did a mental victory dance when he saw the edges of Logan’s eyes soften ever so slightly.

“C’mon Lo, you wouldn’t leave me to fend for myself out there, now would you?”

Logan shifted his gaze to Roman knowing that his answer didn’t matter, seeing as he would be dragged there anyways. Roman’s pout persisted, and Logan winced as he finally felt himself give in.

“Ugh, you make me sick.”

Roman perked up at his friend’s response and texted back that he and Logan would be there. Worked every time. He learned from the best after all.

When the announcements crackled over the loudspeaker he turned and caught a glimpse of his hair in the window’s reflection.

A rat’s nest indeed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roman sat with his back against his bedroom door knowing the loud knocking would only continue the longer he remained stubborn.

“Come on Ro, open the door. It can’t be that bad!”

Oh, but it was. Sixth grade started tomorrow, and he had a haircut he only ever saw in his nightmares. Everyone, it seemed, has had their experience with this particular nightmarish milestone and he was devastated to have to suffer through it so soon.

“You’re just gonna laugh at me,” Roman huffed.

“I won’t laugh I promise! C’mon open the door,” he trailed off quietly, but encouragingly.

His friend was met with stubborn silence, until a muffled “fine,” could be heard. The door opened to reveal the same old Roman…except his hair was...different. He was sporting a bowl cut that was rather reminiscent of Justin Bieber. The other boy couldn’t help the huge smile that lit up his face, which he quickly attempted hiding behind his hand but to no avail.

“SEE. I knew you would betray me!” He stomped his foot to emphasize his point. He looked for all the world like an angry kitten.

“Aw c’mon it’s not even that bad. You made it sound like they shaved half of it off and cut the rest while wearing a blindfold or something,” he paused at Roman’s squeak of offence and continued, “Look, I know we have school tomorrow, but I practically begged your mom to let me stay and watch a movie and eat lots of food to make you feel better. So, will you come downstairs with me? It’ll take your mind off of it,” he pleaded with his eyes. Those stupid brown puppy dog eyes. He knew Roman couldn’t say no to those stupid brown puppy dog eyes.

Roman looked him up and down, pretending to ponder the offer already knowing he was going to give in, and brushed past him. “We are watching The Incredibles and I get the purple blanket.”

His friend laughed and followed him down the stairs, “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, moody.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

He caught a small smile on his face when he snapped back to reality. Almost immediately, his normally cheerful face was downcast, and he stared at his feet. He wouldn’t be thinking about it anymore. As his day wore on, he let his friend’s comments on how tired he seemed today roll off his back, brushing off the concern. He was fine. He just had to convince himself.

His day consisted of the usual monotony plus a lecture on self-representation by multiple teachers. When his last class ended he all but ran to his car. Once he plopped in the front seat he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. After a few minutes of blissful silence, he started the car and let the radio play quietly in the background as he drove. The sun shone through the trees painting the street with a soft afternoon glow.

“Alright listeners, our next set is going to take you back. We’ve got some oldies but goodies right here on 93.7 W.S.T.W…” that was all the warning he got before Dancing Queen followed by Welcome to the Black Parade came on the radio. An odd pairing, but that didn’t stop his squeal of delight as he turned the volume up and rolled the windows down. At stoplights people in neighboring cars and passersby on the street turned to stare. His bitter sweet singing could be heard by all as he turned left down his street.

“WE’LL CARRY OOONNN, WE’LL CARRY OOONNN, AND THOUGH YOU’RE-”

He was abruptly cut off when he almost hit the back of a large truck.

His car jerked to a stop. He turned the radio down as he tried to collect himself. He stayed frozen at the four-way, long after the truck continued on its way, in an attempt to calm his breathing down. The quiet guitar solo continued in his silence as he stared into space. He found his mind wandering to late nights listening to this album with him, the smile upon hearing his favorite solo, his voice…

Eventually, the laughter of three kids riding their bikes snapped him out of the staring contest he was currently having with his steering wheel. His small smile fell from his face as he watched the kids race each other to the townhouse at the end of the street, carelessly throwing their bikes down by the porch. They looked to be no older than 11 or 12 but Roman couldn’t be sure. Once other people moved into that townhouse he hardly paid attention to that sort of thing anymore. Bottling his emotions had served him well so far. Ignorance is a foolproof system.

His thoughts drifted to the occupants of Brookhaven Ave and how little he knew of them now-a-days. He mentally counted the five families that remained from his childhood. Wait, make that four. The Berkley’s had just moved out a two months ago in October. He hadn’t even bothered to get the name of the new family that lived across the street and neither had anyone else in his family. Roman continued to stare at nothing, his eyes glazed over as he was lost in thought.

A loud honk snapped him back to his senses.

“Oh shi-” the curse was mentally cut off as he hit the gas harder than intended, jerking the car forward.

He pulled up to his porch and ambled inside, with a quick “I’m home!” to announce his presence. Without a word from anyone else, he made it to his room where he released a big sigh that was supposed to release the tension from his shoulders. He flopped on his bed and looked out the window only to see those three kids back on their bikes circling around the corner. He let out a wistful sigh as his gaze caught the rope still attached to his bed. He smiled wryly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He used all the strength that a lanky, 9th grade emo could possibly muster to tie the rope securely to the bottom of the bedpost.

“There.” He stood up eyeing his work proudly.

“Okay, so what’s the plan exactly? You haven’t told me what you’re doing and honestly I’m starting to wonder if I should be scared,” Roman said teasingly.

He turned back, trying to hide the blush threatening to spread across his cheeks at Roman’s remark. Thank god for foundation. He took a deep breath that was supposed to help compose himself and turned around, smirk in place. “Okay, so, I know you’re not allowed out tomorrow for the Fourth of July-”

“Yeah no thanks to you,” Roman cut in, only slightly miffed.

He scowled the interruption and continued, “-Anyway…your parents know you’re not supposed to be out. Fortunately, mine do not,” he finished proudly.

“Am I supposed to be getting where you’re going with this?” he asked tiredly.

His friend rolled his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose. “The fireworks start at 9:30pm. You can still hang with me at my house and we can watch them from the roof as planned. All you have to do is throw this out the window and climb down. Easy. Simple.”

Roman wasn’t sure if he was supposed to laugh or scoff, so he settled for a mix of both.

“Y’know, if it were anyone else, I’d tell them I’m not scaling the side of my house to hang out with the person who put me on house arrest,” he finished.

Roman stood and grabbed the rope testing its strength.

“Ah, well, good thing I’m not anyone else,” he countered smugly.

Later that night, Roman’s parents would find his room empty. Too busy wondering how the heck he got out of the house, they missed the dangling rope keeping the window cracked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

The rest of the week continued with nothing more eventful than a pop quiz in art history. It was finally Friday night, and the small group of friends were hanging out in Logan’s basement as per Roman’s begging request. The guys had been informed of the bonfire earlier that week and apparently a good handful of people were going to be there, much to Logan’s distaste. All the sudden this weekend was looking to be pretty miserable. Logan didn’t realize he was scowling until someone was waving their hand in front of his face to get his attention. He looked up to see Patton with a confused look in his eye.

“Hey, you okay? You were…glaring,” he finished with an uncertain smile. Before he could respond, Remy opened his mouth from across the room.

“Astute observation Pat, but he’s been glaring at the corner of the room for the past 20 minutes now,” he said laughingly. Roman just looked on in amusement, at the flustered look on his friend’s face.

“I’m quite alright. I was just thinking about tomorrow and suffering through an entire evening with Remy.” He put his head in his hand and continued, “Maybe I’ll just stay home and tell everyone that I’m dying of a terminal illness,” he trailed off languidly. Logan inwardly grimaced at how utterly dramatic and Roman that statement was, though he quickly brightened up when Patton laughed.

Remy had finally had enough of this blatant disrespect. It was a party.

“God, you too? How many people do I have to bend over backwards to convince to quit being such a stick in the mud?” The frustration was clear on his face as his head flew back in exasperation. “It’ll be fun. Gurl, honestly, you can’t even talk. You always say shit like that and then you finally get there, and you end the night with: ‘That was actually pleasantly surprising,’ or ‘I suppose it was not as unbearable as I expected,’” he said imitating his voice with annoying accuracy.

Roman stayed quiet that night. He tuned out the good-natured bickering of Logan and Remy. The smile slipped off his face as his thoughts consumed him again. He glanced at Patton who was not so subtly staring at Logan, lovestruck expression in place. He sighed bitterly to himself. He was really happy for his pining friends, ecstatic even, but his lovesick heart could only take so much. Roman was suddenly shaken by his own thoughts.

“Oh god…lovesick?”

He was brought back to reality by Patton shouting over Logan and Remy.

“Guys, GUYS!” His dad voice captured the attention of his friends and they silenced immediately. “Enough fighting. You will settle your differences like civilized people.”

Roman looked up to see the Mario Kart loading screen and Patton holding four Wii remotes.

Logan and Remy just looked at each other sly grins in place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You better look out Princey, I’m catching up!”

“I don’t think so, you hot topic reject…” Roman threw back a red turtle shell and laughed victoriously when it hit head on.

They were on the last lap of the final race of the circuit and he was not about to give up yet. Roman was too cocky for his own good, and he looked to change that. His gaze hardened with determination, and a sadistic smirk grew on his face, as he gained another power up. A game changing power up. His smile quickly turned even more sinister as they sped closer towards the finish line.

“Hey, Princey.” Roman looked over at him briefly acknowledging his words.

“I’m sorry our friendship had to end this way.” Roman’s eyes flew wide with betrayal as he finally realized what was about to go down.

With no hint of guilt or remorse, the blue turtle shell was sent with a shout of victory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

Roman woke up the next day with not much else to do than wait around and start getting ready.

He was scrolling through the depths of YouTube when he got a text from Remy.

HEY if you don’t start getting ready you’ll never get there and then I’ll have to kill you and I don’t plan on going to jail for manslaughter

A few seconds later…

Yet

A laugh bubbled out of him before he could stop it.

How Remy seemed to sense these things was beyond him. He let out an overdramatic sigh and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Damn, it was 5:30pm already? After putting on fabulously subtle makeup, he decided to check the weather and of course it was going to be unreasonably cold. Why did life hate him so?! He ran his fingers through his hair pushing it out of his way and opened his closet.

His eyes locked onto the old, abandoned hoodie before his mind could catch up with him. His grip on the door loosened as his shoulders deflated ever so slightly. Suddenly struck with annoyance he scoffed and reached for the hoodie. He was so over being sad and melancholy all the damn time.

Besides, he was in an edgy mood as of late.

 Virgil’s P.O.V.

He stood in the middle of his room looking at all the packed boxes with his heart in his throat. It felt like the room was slowly suffocating him. He was going back soon, and if that didn’t fill him with enough terror and anxiety for the rest of this life and the next, he didn’t know what would. Worse than that? He was living on the same street. Right across the street. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? Never go outside and hope for the best?

Luckily, his mom knocked on his door frame and cut off his downward spiral.

“Hey V? You doing okay? The moving truck should be here in about 10 minutes…” she cut in gently.

“Yeah I-, yeah.” His gaze never left the pile of boxes as he answered.

His mom sighed and sat on his bed, motioning for him to do the same.

“Honey, I know this move is sudden. I know you’ve already begun school, but I thought you’d be thrilled being able to go back! You were devastated when we left Pennsylvania, and it’s still something I haven’t forgiven myself for but-…” she was rambling.

“Mom.” He cut her off. Her jaw snapped shut at the harsh tone. Something she still hadn’t gotten used to over the years.

“In case you’ve forgotten,” he continued, “I didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms,” he finished, scowl in place.

It was the one thing he would never forgive his father for. No, no he can’t even blame his father.

‘You were the one who kept it from him, remember? Remember how heartbroken he looked? How could he ever have trusted you after that?’

He had to shake himself from his thoughts. His mind consistently antagonizes him with everything he should have done differently, and damn him, for messing everything up. He knew whose fault it was. It was only natural that he’d try to find someone else to pin the blame on.

He knew he had changed over the years. There’s only so much pretending you can do to convince people everything is fine before it wears you down. Eventually, he just stopped trying. His smiles dimmed until they weren’t there anymore, leaving an almost permanent scowl. His broad shoulders hunched in on themselves. Any and all optimism flew out the window, replaced by stone-cold cynicism.

High school wasn’t easy on him. Best years of your life, my ass. He looked back at most of high school with a bitter resentment and longing. Finishing senior year somewhere totally new just seemed to taint what good memories he retained. It was hard enough for a gay, edgy emo to make friends as it was, but when they moved, V didn’t even try. He didn’t want to try anymore. The bullying only cemented that decision. So he kept building his walls higher and higher. No one could be allowed to see past his walls ever again.

“V, honey, it’s been years since I’ve seen you smile. I know that things have been less than ideal. This whole move, transferring all your credits, starting at a new university is scary. It’s okay to be scared.” She looked over only to see her son glaring at the floor, but continued. “Penenbrook is a great school and I just know that you’ll make friends this time around. Your father’s relocation could be good for you. Besides, I know at least one person will probably still be waiting for you when we get back.” She turned gauge his reaction. He could only offer a sad, barely-there smile still aimed at the grey carpet. He could only hope at least.

When he didn’t reply, she got up and grabbed a box. “C’mon. Let’s get some of these downstairs.”

The family packed their belongings in a tense silence. His mom tried to initiate small talk but the two Manson men didn’t feel like talking. It’s a surprise to no one that V and his dad don’t have the best relationship either. Both of his parents have jobs involved with the government that prevent them from sharing certain information with their family. V had to learn to understand that sometimes not one but both of his parents had to go away on the weekend and he wasn’t allowed to know where or why. As he grew older, he couldn’t help the part of his mind that wanted to resent his parents. When they moved away from his childhood home it only worsened.

Once the van was packed up, he slid into the back seat and put on his headphones almost immediately. T-minus 13 hours and 45 minutes. He passed the houses and streets he’d come to know the past three and a half years. He didn’t expect to feel any sadness upon leaving, and he was correct in that assumption.  He couldn’t help the jolt of excitement he felt when the car passed by a sign that said, “Now Leaving Florida, Come Back Real Soon!”  

Maybe things were finally looking up for him.

………………………………………………………………

Things were decidedly not looking up for him.

He and his family were all sitting at the dinner table when his mom dropped the bomb on him. The chit chat immediately stopped when she noticed his expression. He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.

“…What?” Silence reigned, so he tried again.

“What?”

His father had finally had enough with his apparent insolence and put down his utensils to stare his son in the eyes.

“Pennbrook is a fine school with top programs and teachers. I will not listen to your complaints simply because you are unable to live on campus,” he said with gruff finality.

In hindsight, he should have looked into it, but as of late, his mind has been…occupied by other things. Now, however, all he could think about is the lack of privacy he would now be subjected to living at home full time. On some days, he’d argue that it be worse than prison. He and his father were stuck in a glaring match until the boy finally gave up and sat back in his chair allowing an overdramatic sigh to fill the room.

Dinner continued, and he found himself staring out the window at the house across the street. The light was still on in his room.

…………………………………………………………………

Monday came sooner than he would have preferred.

He slammed his hand down on his alarm clock and looked over at the time. He blearily processed that it was 6:00am and that he needed to get up in order to ensure the least amount of embarrassment today. He pulled his blankets off and walked towards the door furiously trying to rub the remanence of sleep out of his eyes. A light switch would have been useful but that was all the way on the other side of the room, so he was flying blind. In his sleep induced stupor, he forgot that there were still boxes all over his room and that fate never planned on being kind to him. He barely took three steps before he stubbed his toe and fell forward.

“AH, fucking dammit!” He sat on the floor, his head between his knees, debating on whether he even wanted to stand up. Eventually, he decided he’d rather suffer in class than face his father’s wrath today.

He survived the rest of his morning routine without any other mishaps. He threw on his black skinny jeans, combat boots, and patched up hoodie. He didn’t even want to think about what he would have to endure today. He looked at himself and tried to look at the bright side. At least, there was going to be no picking on him. He learned early on that looking as scary and unapproachable as physically possible could really help you in the long run. He ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to tame it, but a few stubborn bangs still hung in his vision. His eyes were cold, and he prided himself on his disaffected scowl. If he was lucky he could just sit in the back and blend in. He put light, barely there, black eyeshadow under his eyes just for kicks. He supposed this new school could use an edgy loner. He would gladly fill that position.

He ran his fingers through his hair and walked downstairs. After grabbing his keys, his wallet, his backpack, and an apple on the way out the door, he roughly sat down in his old, beat up Honda Civic and plugged in his phone. An oldies emo playlist should lift his spirits. A loud guitar blasted through the speakers, and he was off down the street sparing a single glance back in the mirror.

His classes didn’t start until 8:00am but he was still surprised he found good parking at 7:15am. He parked his car in the visitor’s spot and walked up to the main entrance. He couldn’t help the scoff at the saying etched into the archway of the building.

“Pennbrook, where excellence is habit? Oh, god.” He shook his head and sighed.

He walked in towards the main office with his backpack slug over one shoulder, already slightly amused at the atmosphere this school was attempting to put forth. As he walked down the hall, he saw posters and signs with various absurd sayings: “Pennbrook University, where forward thinking begins,” “Preparing for life is more than just test scores,” and his favorite, “Be who you are and be it well.” Yeah, okay.

He walked into the main office and was greeted by a too-perky receptionist.

“Hello! What can I do for you, son?” He wore a light brown sweater, a pink tie, and glasses. His desk was covered in various amounts of different cartoon paraphernalia, some he recognized and others he did not. His blinding smile crinkled by his eyes.

“Hi, I’m the new transfer student? I was told to come early today for my official schedule and ID card?” He kept ending his statements as questions, but the man didn’t seem to mind.

“Ah, yes, of course! Manson, Vi-”

“-uh, just V sir. Please.” He was quick to cut him off with a wince, lest anyone else hear.

The man peered up at him through his glasses with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Of course.” He walked back over to his desk to fish around for V’s papers and handed them over with a sugary sweet smile.

“Your first class begins at 7:50am. Here is your schedule as well as your student ID. The school layout is pretty simple. Three ‘L’ shaped buildings, two floors. First floor room numbers begin with one and second floor room numbers begin with two. I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out. If for some reason you’re having any trouble, I’m sure one of our students or faculty members could help direct you,” he finished his rant looking to see if he caught all that.

“Thank you, Mr…” he trailed off inquiringly.

“…Picani,” he supplied.

“Mr. Picani. I really appreciate it,” he said with a slight smile. That smile immediately fell of his face as he turned to walk out into the hallway.

And with that, he was out in search of his first class. He had enough time to glance through his schedule and walk to all the classrooms he would be forced to suffer in for 50 minutes later that day. It was still only 7:40am, but he begrudgingly walked to his first lecture. The hallways were quite crowded at this point, but it didn’t matter. People parted like the red sea when he turned down the hallway. He was a few inches or so over six feet with dark eyes, an eyebrow piercing and a pointed glare in anyone and everyone’s general direction. His gait held a purpose as he walked swiftly and quietly into his homeroom. A quick scan of the room and he was walking toward the seat all the way in the back by the window. The room quieted ever so slightly as he made his way to his chosen seat. He dropped his bag to the floor and pulled his headset on determined to drown out the noise. Chatter slowly built back up as the clock approached 7:50am.

An older man in his mid to late 40’s walked in and called for silence. V took this time to actually look up and realize that someone had dared to occupy the seat next to him. The boy looked at him and smiled slightly before looking back at their professor.

“Good morning, delinquents,” he said as he set his things down. The class laughed as he prepared to take attendance.

V tensed in his seat because he knew what was undoubtably coming. He just had to appear unaffected and maybe it would pass over painlessly.

“…Jenson, Lombardo, Marzena, Mans,” The man started rattling off names, but stopped as though he wasn’t expecting one of them. No doubt his. God, didn’t they inform teachers of anything anymore?! The professor looked up scanning the room until his gaze landed on V.

“Manson?” he questioned.

V sat unmoving as all heads swiveled in his direction. Using every ounce of strength not to crumble as all eyes were on him, he only offered a two fingered solute as any indication his professor was correct.

“Ah, Mr. Manson, I was informed of your transfer. Might I inquire from which school?” He asked innocently, a tired smile in place.

V sighed but answered, “Sandalwood State in Florida. My family just moved back to PA.”

“Oh wonderful, I do hope you find Pennbrook to be a wonderful school to spend the remainder of your college years,” he said with gusto. He turned back to his attendance sheet, read off the rest of the names, and launched into the syllabus.

V was shocked to say the least. Maybe he could get by without his name being spoken aloud. A futile hope, but hey, he was doing good so far. Maybe this luck would stick with him. The kid next to him chose this moment to turn to him and try to introduce himself.

“Hi, I’m Patton,” he smiled amicably. He had a fairly tall build with brown hair and shinning blue eyes.

V just stared, shocked that anyone would even attempt conversation at this point. C’mon, his resting bitch face should’ve been enough!

“I’m V,” he supplied.

“Just V?”

“Just V.” He turned away trying to cut off anymore interaction.

V was hoping that this horrifying awkward tension would be enough to halt this conversation in its tracks, but then again, he was never that lucky. A kid wearing sunglasses chose this moment to turn around and introduce himself.

“Hey gurl. I’m Remy, the fun one, here for your viewing pleasure,” he spoke around the straw in his Starbucks iced macchiato bullshit. He had short brown hair swept back from his face. V couldn’t help the snort that came from his nose at the boy’s antics. He relaxed slightly in his chair.

“I’m V, the emo one, from your nightmares,” he deadpanned. That line had both Patton and Remy laughing.

Remy eyed the singular eyebrow piercing, eyeshadow and unruly hair.

“Honestly honey, I would’ve pegged you as a mellowing punk kid,” he pondered aloud. V just stared.

“A mellowing punk kid…” V tested the words on his own tongue. “Original. I haven’t heard that one yet,” he let a smirk ease its way onto his face.

The sudden shuffling startled him out of this impossible interaction. It seems the syllabus was all that was going to be covered today. V was at a loss. It was his first day, and he was supposed to be silently brooding in the corner. Patton reached for V’s schedule and scanned over it.

“Oh cool, you’ve got Philosophy with me at 2:30pm!” His eyes scanned over the rest of the sheet. “That means you can join us for lunch!” V tried to object but Patton looked back up and him with hopeful shinning eyes that were rather reminiscent of a small child, and V found his resolve weakening.

“I-…s-sure, whatever,” he mumbled.

With that, they grabbed their stuff as Remy dramatically gestured toward the door.

“Follow me, you tall, misunderstood shadowling!” V looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

“You’ll soon learn that my brother will be the most dramatic and theatrical person you’ve ever met,” Patton supplied helpfully.

Remy just laughed without denying his claims, and the three of them marched on to find food.

Maybe not the most theatrical…but he was pretty darn close.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was one of his cleverer ideas.

The two friends were lounging on V’s bed when inspiration struck. Roman jumped up jostling V, who had his head hanging over the side of the bed.

“Good sir, I think I have a particularly grand idea,” he declared with a regal stance.

“Thank God. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bored in my life,” V said unmoving.

“We shall construct a grand movie theatre and have an equally grand Disney movie marathon!” Roman shouted a bit loud for V’s taste, but he was intrigued nonetheless.

“How many times are you going to say ‘grand’ before you explain how exactly we will accomplish that?” He said with playful sarcasm.

“Dishonor me again peasant and I will see to it personally that you die a very painful, boring death.”

V fought to keep the smile off his face.

………………………………………………………….

“It’s a drive-in movie!” they chorused. V’s mom felt an amused smile tug at the corners of her mouth.

She had to admit, it was pretty well put together, considering they were only eight. The TV set had been pushed against the open bay window facing the deck with blankets draped around acting as curtains. The two friends had dug out their old, beat up wagons and piled them high with pillows, blankets and popcorn. They were her really expensive throw pillows, but she couldn’t find it in her heart to discipline them.

“Just make sure you kids put everything back where it’s supposed to be when the movie is over,” she said with a smile. The two just offered her cheeky grins and a promise that everything would be cleaned up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

Days turned into weeks, and weeks very quickly turned into a few months. Christmas and New Year’s had come and gone, and spring fever was in the air. V was honestly shocked at how fast time seemed to be going by. School was bearable. He had actually managed to make friends, but even then, he tried to keep his distance. They were constantly trying to get him to go out with them, but he was content with just observing from the side lines. He skipped out on all the hangouts. The only real friend he’d ever had was, it seemed, too far out of his reach. He didn’t need to depress himself further by going out to some party where everyone knew everybody else. That’s what he kept telling himself anyway. It was best not to think about it.

“Hey tall, dark, and emo. How are you this fine morning?”

Welp. The universe just shot that dream straight to hell.

Remy leaned against the door of V’s emptying lecture hall peering at him over his sunglasses with a suggestive smile, awaiting a response. V already knew where this conversation was headed, and honestly, he wasn’t sure how much more of this hounding he could take.

“I’m not going,” he said as he brushed past him avoiding eye contact. Remy hurried after him nonetheless. They both had lunch with Patton, so he wasn’t about to escape that easily.

“Oh, come on, dead girl walking, just come out with us this weekend. You need to get out and experience the people outside this mental asylum,” Remy complained. V smirked a little at his comment before carefully schooling his expression back to careless and uninterested. Despite his efforts, Remy saw it and decided to jump on it while he had the chance.

“Look, it’s a simple gathering with some food, some people, and a bonfire. There isn’t much that could go wrong, so you can give your anxious mind a break.” Remy was aiming for casual conversation, but he couldn’t conceal the whining annoyance in his tone. After being turned down too many times in the past week, there wasn’t much patience he had left to offer.

“My anxious mind is fine. And anyway, I couldn’t go out this weekend even if I wanted to. Both of my parents are away, and I need to watch the house,” V knew it was a weak excuse, but he’d had a long morning and lunch was calling his name. Remy scoffed.

“Where are your parents going that they needed to entrust you to ‘watch the house’? I don’t think your house would spontaneously combust if you left for a few hours.” Remy tried to keep the amusement out of his voice but failed miserably.

“My dad is involved with the government and sometimes his job requires my parents to go away for a few days. I’ve never known what for. He’s never legally been allowed to tell me. All I do know is that they’re both in Washington D.C., or so I’ve been told.” V spoke as if it didn’t really matter, but Remy could sense the underlying irritation.

Remy’s eyebrow quirked up at that. He and Pat had known him ever since a little ways through the first semester and he was quickly adopted by Patton, forming their little group of friends, but the ever-elusive boy was never really forthcoming with any information regarding his past or parents. The more he thought about it, he didn’t really know much about his dark, strange friend. Hell, they didn’t even know his name. Remy sought to change that. He continuously refuses to hang out with anyone outside of school and Remy just can’t fathom why. Who doesn’t want to have fun? Any outing with the fabulous Remy Marzena is surely not an outing to be missed.

“Damn that sounds frustrating. What did you do when you were little, and they had to go away?”

It was an innocent question. V knew that he didn’t mean anything by it.

That didn’t stop the pain in his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was 2:13am.

“I just don’t understand. I’m their son, right? I feel like I’m supposed to know. I must be obligated to know, right?” V asked anger coursing through his veins.

Roman just sat on his bed and listened to him vent. V was staying with his family for what seemed like the tenth weekend in a row. He could see this eating away at him. V always claimed that he was fine. That it didn’t really bother him. That there was nothing to worry about. He was just about done dealing with his fake smile until V’s careful control all but snapped about ten minutes ago.

“I mean, I know it was last minute, and they said they didn’t want to, but this happens all the time. We were all supposed to hang out this weekend, and last weekend, and the week before. It’s like they plan these things just so they don’t have to spend time with me,” he finished bitterly. His anger was quickly diminishing, a defeated expression overtaking his features. He stopped pacing to stare at the carpet.

He looked at V with sad eyes but didn’t interrupt. There were tears at the corners of his eyes when he finally let out a choked sob.

“Am I really so bad that they’ll take any and every chance to get away from me?” V turned to him, looking for something, anything that could prove him wrong.

Roman quickly stood up, crossed the room and pulled him into a tight embrace. V clung to him like he would disappear if he let go and cried on his shoulder until there were no more tears left. He pulled away, an apology on the tip of his tongue, but Roman cut him off before he could even begin.

“Don’t. Don’t you dare apologize,” he cut in hotly. He saw his friend’s thick tears, broken expression, and smudged eyeshadow and something inside him snapped.

V’s eyes widened, and his jaw snapped shut. He looked taken aback at his forcefulness. A few stubborn tears still rolled down his cheeks. He tugged him over to sit on the bed and forced V to look him in the eyes.

“It burns me up inside to see you apologizing for your emotions so don’t do it again.” V took a minute to absorb his words and nodded mutely, his eyes never straying from the determined, hazel pair staring back.

“I saw how upset your mom was when they left. Her strained smile may have fooled you, but it didn’t fool me,” his eyes softened as he decided to give up on the tough guy act and sit down beside him. He hesitated before taking V’s hand in his own. A blush took over his face but he continued. “I know this is hard for you. I know you wish that they were around more often. I don’t want this making you think that you aren’t worth anything to anyone. Your feelings matter. You matter. You have so many people that care about you. Hell, my parents have practically adopted you and I’m convinced that they like you more than me,” he huffed out a laugh trying to lighten the mood.

He saw the ghost of a smile on V’s face. He let the silence hang over them for a few minutes before continuing, “They do love you, y’know. They might not be so good at showing it, but they love you, so much,” he said desperately. V’s gaze remained resolutely on the floor. He resolutely ignored the part of his mind that thought Roman meant it wasn’t only his parents that loved him so much. His small smile fell into a thin line.

“How do you know?” he mumbled, voice was still strained. His friend perked up dramatically with his signature mega-watt smile.

“Because, I’m your best friend. I know everything,” he said proudly with his hand on his chest. He batted his eyelashes at V until he couldn’t resist a small laugh.

V turned to him and his eyes softened as he tried to think of how he could possibly put into words how much that meant to him. How much he meant to him. So, naturally, he did what any other emotionally insecure 17-year-old boy would have done at a time like this. V’s eyes turned mischievous and Roman looked at him confused by his sudden mood swing. Before he could blink, V snaked his arm around his waist and swung him around onto his back. His friend let out an undignified squeal as V quickly pinned him under his weight. He squirmed to get out of V’s hold, and had this been a few years ago he would have succeeded, but with V’s recent growth spurt his struggle was fruitless. V quickly pinned his hands above his head in victory. Their hysterical laughter dissipated the remaining atmosphere in the room.

However, as their laughter died down, both of them seemed to realize just how close they were. Both boys were panting heavily, sporting a pink blush. Roman was short-circuiting. Holy fucking shit he’s on top of me, he’s on TOP OF ME, HE’S-. V wasn’t doing too well himself, suddenly realizing the compromising position he threw himself into. Neither one dared move.

In the middle of V’s spiraling thoughts about forcing yourself on you best fucking friend for god’s sakes, what are you doing!? What were you thinking?!, Roman’s eyes shifted to V’s lips and back to his piercing stare.

That stopped his train of thought in its tracks, and his breath hitched audibly. V didn’t know what the heck he was doing, but he felt himself slowly leaning in anyway. Their lips were only a hairs breath apart-

A loud car horn snapped them both out of their fervor and V sat up with barely concealed panic. Roman sat up as well and the two of them were decidedly looking everywhere except each other.

Eventually, Roman cleared his throat and V’s gaze snapped back to him.

“Perhaps we should get some rest, yeah?”

V looked at him and nodded in agreement, and they both shared a small smile, silently agreeing to forget about whatever just almost happened. They rolled onto their backs, pulled up the covers, and stared at the ceiling. When V heard the steadying of Roman’s breath, he turned on his side and mumbled out a quiet, sincere “thank you,” into the silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

“I stayed at a friend’s house,” he said looking away. He was currently thanking whoever was looking out for him up there for his choice of an extra layer of foundation today.

Remy nodded his head and didn’t pry any further accepting his short explanation. They both fell into a comfortable silence as they paid for their food and made their way to a table in the back of the cafeteria. Pat was already there. Remy decided to leave a standing offer if he decided to change his mind.

“Well, if you feel like living dangerously tomorrow, you text me and I’ll pick you up on my way to the party. I can’t stay too long so that means you won’t have to stay too long if you’re really that hesitant.” Remy looked at him awaiting a response. V just sighed and looked over to him tiredly.

“If I consider it, will you let me suffer through the rest of my day in peace?” he huffed. Remy’s whole face practically lit up and Patton let out a tiny squeal in delight.

“I’ll take that as a definite maybe!” he cheered.

V just groaned and glared in the other direction.

 Both P.O.V.

He was not one for social outings. The bonfire started at 7 o’clock and he was no closer to a decision. He’d already received a text from Remy earlier that day asking if he was “ready to live a little.” He stared at his phone debating on whether he really wanted to face people tonight. Somewhere deep down he really did want to go, but his mind was constantly rattling off hinderances: “You’re just going to be sitting alone the whole time. They probably won’t even like you. Remy only offered to be nice.”

He was getting really sick of that voice. He stared down at his phone, the text bar blinking back at him. In a moment of pure impulsiveness, that he would probably regret later, he finally sent a message back:

Fine. But if this all goes to shit, I will never go outside again and you will be forced to live with that on your conscience forever.

He got an instant enthusiastic response:

YES. FINALLY. Fucking took you long enough lol

I’ll come by your house at 6:45pm…shouldn’t take us too long to get there but I will need an address from you 😉

V will never understand this boy’s constant positivity. Patton must be rubbing off on him. He sent his address nonetheless. He trudged up to his room trying to decide if his usual style would scare everyone. If he was being honest his style had really mellowed out over the years. People would laugh if they could see his 14-year-old self now. He shook himself of the thought and settled for ripped black skinny jeans, a distressed purple long sleeve, a black beanie, and his old black combat boots.

Time ticked by quicker than he would have liked. Soon enough he received a text from Remy saying he was waiting outside with Pat. He looked in the mirror and gave himself a mental pep-talk before heading out the door. His hand hesitated at the handle as he gazed through the window. He looked longingly across the street and saw all the downstairs lights on. He prayed no one could see him as he walked out and quickly made his way to the car waiting for him. Pat was driving it looked like and Remy was in the front passenger seat. He made his way into the back seat only to look up and find two pairs of eyes scrutinizing him.

“Uh, can I help you?” he said defensively. Both boys just laughed causing his scowl to grow.

“Relax, we just thought with all the glaring and brooding you do at school your outfit would be a little more emo than this,” Remy replied breezily.

“Weren’t you the one who dubbed me the mellowing punk?” V replied smirking. Remy just laughed and typed in the directions to his friend, Jake’s house.

“Hey kiddo! I love your eye makeup!” Patton looked awed and V was just shocked he’d received a compliment at all. He looked at Pat and smiled shyly.

“Thanks Pat.”

The car fell into an easy silence as they drove. Internally, V was freaking out a bit. He had agreed to go to this thing, but he had absolutely no idea what was in store for him. As if reading his thoughts, Patton piped up from the driver’s seat seemingly sensing his panic.

“We’re almost there, he lives in the next town over so it’s not too far,” he began. V took his chance to grill them for information.

“So…who’s going to be at this party exactly,” he said hesitantly.

“It going to be us and a few of the other guys and gals.” He looked both ways and turned left at the intersection.

“And who are these ‘other guys and girls’ exactly? Where do they go to school?” he asked. He stared at his phone trying to appear less anxious.

“Oh, they all go to Springfield University,” he replied easily. V’s head snapped up.

“Springfield University?” he parroted back, eyes wide.

He must have heard him wrong.

Patton glanced at him in the rear-view mirror in confusion.

“Yeah. Why, do you know someone?” Pat asked out of curiosity.

V took a minute to calm himself down and rationalize that Roman probably didn’t go there. V remembered that Ro had thought about it, but before they finished high school, he was still on the fence about Springfield and the local charter school. Besides…how could he know Remy or Patton anyway…The chances were infinitesimal at best.

“Yeah,” he replied without thinking. “Well, no, I mean I used to know someone who might go there, but I doubt he’d be wherever we’re going tonight.” Remy wasn’t sure if V was trying to reassure them or himself. Remy looked at Patton, then back at V before posing his own question.

“Oh. How’d you know him?”

V took a minute to respond. In that time, a small bitter sweet smile spread on his face.

“We were best friends,” he began. The other two boys thought that was all they were going to get out of him, but he continued after a small huff of laughter, “He lived down the street and we did practically everything together. Ever since we were little we were a neighborhood menace.” He laughed outright at that as he remembered a particular moment with Mrs. Berkley chewing them out for drawing on the side of her house with sidewalk chalk.

The other boys were stunned into silence. They had never seen V so easygoing and animated. He seemed almost wistful. But then his smile became crestfallen. “But-..uh…I haven’t really seen him since senior year of high school when I moved.” His head was in his hand as he looked out the window.

Remy was watching him carefully. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say V looked a little lovesick. Eventually, Patton spoke up and that was enough for V to catch himself and revert back to his usual closed off expression.

“Well, what’s his name?”

V just stared at the back of the driver’s seat. It was a simple question, so why was it so hard to just say it. This wasn’t Harry Potter and he wasn’t Voldemort. For so long, he never spoke his name simply because the memories were too much. Even his family had picked up on it. His mom was always so careful about it, like she was constantly walking on egg shells. Those mannerisms were eventually present in nearly every interaction, but V didn’t like to dwell on it much. He seemed to finally snap out of whatever daze he was in before he realized he hadn’t answered yet.

“Roman. Roman Prince,” he finally choked out.

Oh.

Oh.

Patton and Remy both shared a look of disbelief before they carefully schooled their expressions.

“Well hey, maybe one of these guys will know him,” Pat encouraged. V offered a noncommittal shrug before turning his gaze back down to his phone.

“Yeah. Maybe,” V mumbled.

……………………………………………………………………..

When they pulled up to the house V tried to quell his initial panic upon seeing the ridiculous amount of people. This had to qualify as some sort of public disturbance, right? The sound of Patton and Remy opening their respective car doors shook him from his anxious thoughts. He silently followed them towards the house. Once they got to the end of the driveway, a smiling blonde came walking towards them.

“Hi guys! Glad you could make it. Who’s your friend?” he asked with a welcoming hug and smile.

“Hey kiddo! This is V. He just moved here a few months ago,” Pat answered for him.

“Hi Jake, thanks for having me,” V replied nervously. After some relatively painless small talk, and an explanation as to where everything is, he left the three to their own devices.

There was a huge bonfire out back stocked with anything and everything to make s’mores, along with patio furniture and extra chairs set up on the driveway surrounding a smaller fire pit to accommodate the ridiculous throng of teenagers. Roman and Logan had just roasted some marshmallows, with only a few marshmallow fires to report, and were now sitting on the driveway chatting aimlessly. Roman snuggled deeper into his hoodie as a particularly cold breeze made him shiver.

Patton and Remy quickly surveyed those they could see and lit up when they spotted Roman and Logan. Remy finally spoke up and began to introduce everyone he knew from afar.

“Okay, so you’ve met Jake. Over on the couch is Julia, Maddie, Brandon, Matt, and Anna,” Remy rattled off. He smirked at Pat motioning for him to continue.

“And, over on the other side is Lia, Peyton, Roman, and Logan,” Patton finished. V was nodding his head along before what Pat said had finally caught up with him.

His entire body froze and his breath hitched audibly.

No. No.

His eyes were impossibly wide, and his mouth was opening and closing at a loss for words. He jumped behind Patton and curled his hands into fists, quietly cursing the air blue.

“Are you guys fucking kidding me right now?! Why the fuck didn’t you tell me he was going to be here!? I can’t fucking talk to him, you don’t get it!” He whisper-shouted.

Remy brushed off his panic. V could faintly hear Patton trying to calm him down, but his gaze was focused on the glowing man by the fire. He looked so different, yet the same. His heart leapt into his throat as he heard him laugh particularly loudly at whatever his friend had said. He hadn’t heard that sound in years. His brown hair was perfectly styled he noticed, the fire giving his hazel eyes a urethral quality. He noted the crinkle by his eyes, the gentle curve of his nose, the cupid’s bow of his lips. His blissful moment was broken when he heard Remy call him over here.

“Hey Ro, get over here!” Remy yelled with a laugh. V watched helplessly from behind Pat’s shoulder as he and his friend walked around the firepit in his direction. He couldn’t stop shaking and his eyes were blown impossibly wide. His voice was nowhere to be found and his feet seemed glued to the ground. His protests died on his lips as Roman came over and hugged Remy.

“Took you long enough. You’re the one who forced me to come to this thing and you show up late?” Logan asked playfully.

“Well, we had to make an extra pit stop,” Remy said while he hugged Roman as well. It was then that Roman noticed the dark figure behind Patton. V turned away from him hiding behind his hair as Roman tried to meet his eyes.

“Who’s your friend?” he asked but received no answer. “C’mon I don’t bite…much,” he tried to joke.

V knew he had to face the music. There was no way out of this, God there was no way out of this. He let out a shaky exhale and stepped out from behind Patton. He painfully tore his gaze from the ground and looked at him through his bangs.

“…Hey there Princey,” he tried to smile.

…………………………………………………………………………..

The world stopped.

His confident stance faltered as his phone clattered to the ground. His heart stopped. Tears gathered in his eyes without his permission. His mind was running a mile a minute. Roman wasn’t sure if he was sad, angry, happy…he had been numb for so long, and he only seemed to realize that in this moment. Only one person had ever called him that, and he left years ago, along with whatever genuine happiness he had. He took in two sharp breaths before he attempted to speak.

“…V?” he whispered.

A few tears were flowing freely now. A sob threatening to come out of his throat. Roman looked on to see panic on his face as he began rambling.

“No, no, no, no, no don’t cry!” Patton and Remy watched as V’s carefully constructed walls tumbled down. Gone were his cold eyes and standoffish stance and attitude. His eyes were scared and panicked, as he held his hands up to try to placate the man in front of him. “Please, I knew I shouldn’t have come I’m so sorry I didn’t know you were gonna be here and-” but he was cut off by Roman’s hysterics. His hand was over his mouth trying to calm down before he was all over him.

“Oh, just shut up and get over here,” Ro laughed through tears as he jumped him.

V staggered forward as Roman pulled him into his arms and burried his head into his neck. V hesitantly wrapped his arms around his back and rested his nose on his shoulder, a tear rolled silently down his cheek.

“Where have you been, you emo nightmare?” He laughed, but didn’t move from his current position.

V couldn’t have smiled wider as a loud laugh tore out of his throat. The first genuine laugh he’d allowed himself in a while. They only held one another tighter.

“I was in…it was Florida,” he mumbled quietly.

Roman pulled back to look him in the eyes, a ghost of a smile graced his face. He looked at him like he wasn’t real. His thumb brushed a stray tear from V’s cheek as he studied his face. Gone was the 2007 emo haircut and makeup. His hair was cut and styled a little shorter, hiding under his beanie. A few pieces hung in front of those brown, dough eyes he missed so dearly. His features grew sharper, and he most definitely grew taller. Only an inch or two shorter than Roman himself. V blushed under his scrutiny.

“Look at this hair,” Roman laughed as he ran his hand through it, effectively removing the beanie and mussing it up.

“I like it.” V tried not to melt at the affectionate touch. Roman looked over all his features, and after a beat of silence, Roman spoke up again, “You grew up.”

“Hey, so did you,” V said with a wide smile. “You’re taller than me now, damnit. And look, you finally got a haircut that fits your face,” he finished with a laugh.

“You know me, I couldn’t endure another-”

“-sixth grade bowl-cut disaster,” they finished together laughing.

Their giggles died down and looked at each other, faces turning serious.

“Roman…” V wanted to explain. He wanted to explain what he couldn’t all those years ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silence.

That’s all there was between them.

A heavy choked silence.

“…you’re moving…?” The way Roman’s voice cracked may as well have broken Virgil.

He wasn’t meant to see the text from his mom about the moving truck. V almost dropped the glass of water he was holding when Roman asked about it. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Virgil just needed a little more time.

Virgil tried to speak. He tried to find the right thing to say, to explain himself, but the words wouldn’t come.

“How long have you known about this?” Shock punctuated each word, and again V floundered for what to say.

“I-..it-…a few months.”

A choked scoff was all Virgil got in response.

“Where?” Roman tried to appear indifferent, but his eyes gave him away.

Tears started to gather in V’s eyes. That was the one question he couldn’t answer. He couldn’t, he couldn’t, and that pained him more than anything.

“I-…Roman, I can’t tell you.” V looked at his friend desperate for understanding, but he was met with barely concealed outrage. Roman knew why Virgil couldn’t tell him but that didn’t stop the anger permeating through his entire being. If it weren’t for his  fucking parents. But that didn’t matter in Roman’s head right now. He was just beyond hurt…betrayed that Virgil would keep this from him for so long.

Then suddenly Roman realized something. Virgil was crying. Something he would never normally do, even in front of his best friend. Roman was mad that he was just finding out about this, sure, but Virgil wouldn’t be so panicked if it weren’t a big deal.

“Is it close? Will we still be in school together?” Roman tried to sound hopeful, but he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“It’s-…no Ro…it’s out of state.” The dam finally broke and silent tears began to fall.

Roman let out a humorless laugh, and his face turned cold. He felt like he’d just been kicked in the stomach, and Virgil wasn’t much better.

“When.” Roman was desperate for answers. His whole world, it seemed, was being taken away from him. The one person that he cared about the most, the one person who understood him the most, the person he loved the most was about to move away.

Tears were flowing freely down V’s face. He opened his mouth to speak but after a few failed attempts at getting the words out. He took a deep, shaky breath and spoke up in a quiet voice.

“Five days.”

Roman’s eyes flew wide.

“Days?! You’re moving away in five days and you didn’t think to tell me months ago? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? When were you even going to tell me?!”

Angry. He was angry.

Virgil’s tears continued to fall. His hands we balled into tight fists at his sides and his breathing was labored as he stared resolutely at the floor.

“I-I tried to-, I didn’t mean-…” He couldn’t even form a sentence. He was overwhelmed, on the verge of an attack, but he was trying to keep himself together. He had to explain.

“It’s the middle of the school year! We’re supposed to be graduating high school in four months together. We’re supposed to be getting ready for college together. Getting ready for the rest of their lives together. I thought that you and I-…I thought…” Roman’s voice broke and he shook his head.

“V I’m your best friend! At least I thought I was. What possessed you to tell me five days before you had to leave that I’m probably never going to see you again, because I don’t even know where the hell you’re going!?” Roman was borderline hysterical, but his anger was overriding his sadness. Virgil continued to look at the floor, tears blurring his vision.

A beat of silence passed and suddenly everything that had been going on recently made more sense. Why they hadn’t been able to hang out at his house, why V’s mom always gave Virgil looks when Roman talked about what they were planning to do this summer. All of it.

Roman finally broke the silence.

“I have to go.”

Virgil’s head snapped up at his words, but his feet wouldn’t move to stop him.

He wanted to tell him everything.

He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs how he had tried to tell him before but he just couldn’t bring himself to do so because it hurt so damned much. He wanted to tell him how much he wishes to spend as much time together as they can before he has to say goodbye. He wanted to tell him how much he was going to miss him. His laugh, his nicknames, his dramatics, his limitless kindness and wit, his unbelievable ability to calm and reassure him in his darkest moments. His ability to understand. He just wanted to tell him how much he loved him.

It was a lonely five days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>

“I’m sorry.”

Virgil’s mouth snapped shut, confused.

“Roman, what in God’s name are you-”

“ -you didn’t deserve my temper tantrum.” He paused taking in V’s face of confusion. “I shouldn’t have shut you out. I should have stayed. I should have talked it out with you. There’s so much I should have done differently. Instead, I let you go without a goodbye,” he trailed off quietly. A rueful smile could be seen on his face.

“Ro, if I had just told you sooner. None of that would’ve happened.” V turned his face away trying to stop the second barrage of tears threatening to fall.

Roman grabbed his chin with one hand and forced Virgil to look at him. Shock replaced his sadness and a bright blush spread across his cheeks.

“V, I don’t blame you for anything, no matter how much you think this is your fault. I’m just-…I’m so glad to have you back,” he finished with a huff of laughter. There were still tears in his eyes and the laugh was strained, but it was something Virgil didn’t know he needed to hear all this time.

Roman’s eyes slid down to his lips before coming back up to meet his eyes. V briefly wondered if he’d imagined that.

“…Virgil?”

He was asking permission and Virgil sure as hell wasn’t going to lose this chance while he had it. He leaned forward, his lips lightly brushing Roman’s, hesitating only a moment longer before Roman captured his lips in a gentle kiss. Roman put his hands on the sides of V’s face while Virgil’s hands tangled themselves in Roman’s hair. The kiss slowly became more passionate as Virgil pulled him even closer. The butterflies in Virgil’s stomach had him dizzy, but he was about to complain. Roman smiled through the kiss absolutely elated. He caressed Virgil’s cheeks like he was something beautiful, trying to make up for the years they lost.

They were breathing heavily when air forced them away from one another. They didn’t break eye contact. They stood shell shocked at what had just happened, both on cloud nine. Then Virgil started laughing.

“You don’t know how long I’ve thought about that,” he eventually got out.

Roman’s smile could have lit up an entire city block.

They hugged each other again, both sporting ridiculous grins before something caught V’s eye. He moved away slightly and ran his hand over the hoodie Roman was wearing.

“Wait, is this…is this my MCR hoodie?” he said with mock outrage.

Roman had the decency to allow a blush to appear on his cheeks as he decided to feign innocence.

“What, this? I haven’t the faintest idea as to what you’re talking about…” Virgil raised an eyebrow in amusement. His smug smile hid the part of him that absolutely melted because it’s been years since they’ve seen each other, and yet Roman is wearing his sweatshirt. He waited about 30 more seconds before Roman gave up the charade, Virgil’s grin never faltering.

“Hey, you’re the one who left it in my room. Finders keepers, my chemically imbalanced romance.” He shot him a sly look and stuck out his tongue for good measure.

V just stared at him. He was smiling so wide he could barely talk.

“God, I missed you.” He spoke with such conviction that Roman could feel the warmth spreading through him at his words.

Roman tugged him forward and they remained in a silent hug. That’s when Remy took his chance.

“Not that this isn’t incredibly adorable or anything,” he waited to continue as the two finally realized that they had an audience.

Virgil quickly stepped away to ease the blush on his face, but Roman yanked him back with a firm pull, tucking him securely against his side with an easy smile. This only caused his blush to worsen.

“I have a clarifying question,” Remy continued.

Virgil looked on in confusion at his inquiry.

“Roman, what did you say his name was?”

And just like that Virgil went from super relaxed to super panicked. Roman looked over at him in confusion before he quickly cut in.

“No, no, no. Don’t. Do not.” He tried to sound menacing, but the fear showed on his face. He was in no place to give orders.

He looked at Virg and then turned back to Remy as realization dawned on his face.

“You mean to tell me you don’t know his actual name?” he said with barely contained amusement.

“He’s a dark, brooding emo! How could you expect us to know such private information?” Remy was going for sarcasm, but there was a hint of underlying exasperation. Roman let out a loud laugh at that.

“Oh please, Virgil is the softest emo I’ve ever encountered in my life, and he’s only gotten softer,” he finished pulling him closer, pecking his cheek. V…no, Virgil groaned while trying to bury his face in his hands.

Remy let out a soft snort. “Vir-gil?” He tested the name on his tongue. Virgil looked at Roman, a pout in place.

“Oh my GOODNESS, I love it,” Patt said cutting in with an adoring squeal. 

Virgil was not amused.

He threw some choice words at his prince charming and just like that the two reunited friends began to bicker back and forth, settling back into their dynamic seamlessly.

“Okay, you sir, are coming with me,” Roman declared.

“Where exactly are you taking me? Looks like some Blair Witch Project woods back there,” V trailed off jokingly. Roman just looked at him with a fond, amused smile.

“There are marshmallows down there with your name on them.” V abruptly stopped walking and stared up into his eyes, looking more serious than he ever has in his life.

“Take me to them.”

Roman laughed and tugged him along. The three people who witnessed this entire exchange decided to hang back to give them some well-deserved catch up time. Just as Logan was about to ask Remy and Patton what the hell was going on, a very loud and very undignified yelp was heard from across the driveway.

“D-did you just taze me?” Virgil sounded shocked and every bit as embarrassed as one could imagine. Roman just stood there with a smug smile. V looked back and saw Remy and Pat looking back at him with barely contained amusement, before turning to Roman with determination.

“You do realize of course now I’m going to have to kill you,” he said matter-of-factly.

Roman ran towards the bonfire with a shout of, “You’ll have to catch me first, Gerrard Way!”

“You are NOT getting away from me this time!” He laughed as Virgil ran after him.

………………………………………………………………………

Later that week one would find the two at the top of a hill, sitting in their rusty old wagons. They looked positively ridiculous with their long legs hanging over the sides, but they couldn’t find it in their hearts to care.

“Okay, we’ve got a straight shot. Whoever gets down there first wins and gets to pick the movie for tonight.”

Virgil looked back at Roman, smirk in place.

“Bold of you to assume there’s a chance you’ll beat me, Brendon Urie.”

The two best friends sat in their wagons preparing to take off down the steep hill, both men confident as ever. After the shouted count, “3…2…1…,” off they went, laughter echoing in the crisp spring air.

  And there she is! I just now realized that idk if “taze” is a universal word for poking at someone’s side to tickle them or if that’s something only my friends and I say…but it’s all I got. Also I made them all from Pennsylvania? Yeah. It’s fine, Florida is mentioned in there. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at writing these cuties! Perhaps I’ll continue to do so in the future.

Thanks, you muffins!

~Laur

[acuppellarp]

Welcome to A Cup-pella, Aly! We’re excited to have you and Ariana Abrams in the game! Please go through the checklist to make sure you’re ready to go and send in your account within the next 24 hours. 

OOC INFO

Name + pronouns: Aly + She/Her. Age: 27. Timezone: GMT. Ships: Ariana/Chemistry. Anti-Ships: Ariana/Forced.

IC INFO

Full Name: Ariana Jeanne Abrams. Face Claim: Haley Lu Richardson. Age/Birthday: Age 20/August 11th. Occupation: College student, aspiring director, creator and writer, currently working on her own web-series starring a handful of her friends. Personality: Creative, Driven, Eager, Go-Getter, Motivated, Self-Critical, Worrier. Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas. Bio:

CAR ACCIDENT TW.

The only child of Nancy and Drew (yes, really) Abrams, it would be unfair to say Ariana was spoiled, but it would also be a lie to say she wasn’t. Her parents earned a decent amount of money between them – decent but modest – and while the two enjoyed their fulfilling, individual careers, they craved the laughter of a child echoing from the walls of their Fort Worth home, though it didn’t seem to be on the cards for them. Try as they might (and they really did try, without complaint on either part…) it just wasn’t working. Until one day it was, and their bundle of joy came as a blessing to them, one they’d almost begun to accept wasn’t going to happen.

Ariana truly was her parents pride and joy. She was friendly, helpful, and much like her parents, she was eager. Eager to learn, eager to live, eager to soak up everything life had to offer her. Ariana was an active child, enrolled in dance classes, a key player for the local gymnastics team, and an (albeit not very good, but she tried) member of an out of school soccer league. Every day, she was changing her mind about what she wanted to be when she grew older. She wanted to dance professionally, then she wanted to sing, then she wanted to be a firefighter, then she wanted to swim for the US Olympic team. Ariana’s dreams were endless, and her parents humored and nurtured every one of them.

For some children, losing all hope at reaching their dreams in the blink of an eye at the age of only eight may have come as a shock, and while Ariana didn’t exactly take it lightly, she did handle it better than was to be expected. She and her mom were in the car one evening, driving home from a gymnastics meet. Nancy was doing everything right: eyes on the road, music not too loud, hands at ten and two��� It was the oncoming vehicle and its one-drink-too-many driver that caused the fateful collision, and while Nancy’s injuries were for the most part minor, her daughter hadn’t been so lucky. Ariana woke up from a minor coma two days later, the vehicle having slammed directly into the passenger side. Saving all of the medical jargon, the result was a little girl in a wheelchair, and the prospect that she may never use her legs again.

Determined as ever, while Ariana did hope to defy the odds and walk again someday, she also vowed not to let her new way of life define her. No, maybe she couldn’t use her legs, and therefore no, maybe she couldn’t partake in all of her sports and activities anymore, but that didn’t mean she had to stop living. Her recovery period saw Ariana watching movie after movie, television show after television show, and as inquisitive as ever, she had questions for her parents. She wanted to know all about the movies she watched; who came up with the ideas, who made them a reality? By the age of ten, she’d begun her own research, and by twelve, she’d written her very first script.

A career in the behind the scenes of show business had never even crossed her mind, but suddenly she was excited by the prospect of writing her own sketches, bringing joy and entertainment to everyday people like herself. Ariana joined the AV Club in high school, which maybe didn’t make her the most popular of students, but she got to dabble in a little bit of firsthand technical work, and that was something she always enjoyed. While she couldn’t act very well, nor did she have any interest in doing so, she loved being able to direct others, to manage stages and give her two cents for areas of improvement, so she found herself stage manager for all of the school’s plays to take place between her sophomore and senior years of high school.

While Ariana may never have let her disability define her, nor let it get in her way, the same could not be said for her parents. Unfortunately, Drew had made himself absent somewhere in her early teens, and Ariana had comforted her mother through the divorce. This meant, however, that her once work-oriented mother had found herself the single parent to a child with additional needs; couple that with her own guilt despite the accident not being her fault, and she’d become one very involved, helicopter parent. Her life had basically begun to revolve around her daughter, and while Ariana was appreciative of the help, she always kind of hated knowing that she was suddenly all Nancy had.

Leaving her mother behind was a decision that Ariana truly did lose many nights of sleep over. She knew what she wanted to do with her life, she wanted to go to New York, to film school, and to become a big director. What she didn’t want to do was leave Nancy in the lurch, so in the end, she and her mother made the decision to move to the big city together, though despite always being so sure of herself, Ariana found that she was somewhat embarrassed to admit it at first. She refused to have friends over, because she didn’t want them to feel she was a college student reliant on her mother. If it was up to her, she could take care of herself just fine, but with Nancy hovering, how would others know that?

Eventually, good things begun to happen for the two Abrams women. Somewhere before the end of Ariana’s freshman year, with her mother at her new job, she managed to open herself up to dating again, and she met the sweetest, most caring man Ariana could’ve imagined for her mother. As their relationship blossomed and progressed, Ariana was able to focus on herself, and on creating the works she’d always envisioned. Finally, she was able to pluck up the courage to tell Nancy she wanted to move out, to live in an apartment with friends from her sophomore year onwards, and although her mother was wary, she allowed it, and Ariana felt more independent than ever.

New York really has been kind to the two women. Not only is Ariana thriving in college and in a more independent living environment, but her mother also has her job and partner to focus on. Ariana also gets to call herself a director, creator and writer, with her currently working on the Untitled Ariana Abrams Project. She also has an ongoing web-series to add to her credits, starring friends she’s made since her move. It’s her first real taste of the career path she craves, and Ariana has her sights set on much bigger ventures once she has the correct degree under her belt. Until then, however, in spite of any negative hand life may have handed her in the past, Ariana is doing just fine. In fact, no, she’s doing great.

Pets: Ariana has a service dog named Buddy. He’s a golden retriever, and trained to raise the alarm if Ariana has any trouble with, for example, accidents with her wheelchair while home or out alone, and to bring her medication if she needs it and is unable to get to it. Buddy is a great service dog, but he’s also very lazy when he wants to be, too. He loves being pet, and has the puppy eyes thing down to a T. He also gets along well with other dogs, but can be very territorial where Ariana is concerned. Relationships: -

EXTRA INFO

[ This is for the masterlist, but also a fun little way to get to know your character! ]

Ariana Abrams 🎥/@arianabrams/description: @arianaspielberg was taken

Five latest tweets:

@arianabrams: i didn’t like the haunting of hill house until i learned about all of the hidden ghosties. call me a new fan, yo! @arianabrams: shocked and appalled to find out kate siegel is married. here’s my @ if it doesn’t work out, @k8siegel 😘😎 @arianabrams: someone just compared me to howard from #tbbt… depending on the season, i’m offended. @arianabrams: would it be weird to bathe in peppermint mocha? asking for a friend. @arianabrams: buddy learned a new trick. it’s called “laying in front of ariana’s wheelchair when she’s trying to get by" 🙃

[lastpic21]

DECIDING TO ADOPT A PUPPY

To form a healthy bond with someone requires that we take into consideration the genuine needs and possibilities of the other. This is true not only of people but of dogs. Certainly dogs should not be thought of as human, but they still have a unique value of their own. Many people fail to recognize that having a dog involves what any true relationship requires. We are most successful at adopting and raising a puppy when we build on a clear-sighted respect for the kind of creature a dog is; then we can understand and accept the responsibilities of caring for one properly. Such an attitude flies in the face of the me mentality, a one-dimensional mind-set that fails to respect a dog in its integrity as a dog and instead sees it only in terms of one’s own wants and desires.

So before you rush out to adopt a pup, we recommend that you step back for a moment to challenge yourself and your family on the seriousness of this step. Play devil’s advocate! Examine your motives. Why do you want a dog? What type of owner will you be? What are you prepared to give your dog in return for the pleasure of her company? Far better to raise the issue of responsibility and care before you get a pup than to learn of your mistake later, when you have a twelve-week-old puppy who is suddenly making demands on you… at 3:00 in the morning!

The One-dimensional Owner

Recently we received a call from a married couple inquiring whether we could find a new home for their five-month-old German shepherd puppy, Wolf, whom they were no longer able to keep. Though we explained that we did not offer that type of service, we asked them why they were giving up on their puppy. Embarrassed, the husband said he and his wife lived in a suburb of a large city and had adopted their pup after several local burglaries convinced them that a watchdog would be desirable. They had gone to a reputable breeder and had obtained a bright, affectionate puppy who they assumed would easily meet their needs. “Yet,” the man confessed, “we had no idea what we bargained for.” This was their first dog.

Being professional people, they had to be away from the apartment at least nine hours a day. In itself, this wasn’t a problem, since Wolf had been successfully house-trained in a matter of days, and they had arranged for a dog-walker to take him out for half an hour at midday.

“Then what is the problem?” we asked.

“He won’t leave us alone,” the man replied.

Having Wolf around, he complained, was like adding four more hours to an already hectic day. When he and his wife got home from work, they wanted to relax and be with each other, yet Wolf’s need for attention made that quite impossible. “I mean, he has to be fed, walked, played with…. It’s worse than having a kid.”

“And all that licking,” the wife chimed in on the other line. “It’s disgusting! He simply won’t settle down and be a good boy. The two of us are even starting to get into arguments because of the dog, and the neighbors are complaining about his barking and whining during the day. It’s just a pain having him around. I mean, who needs it?”

What the couple discovered too late was that they did not need a dog but a high-tech alarm system. They never really wanted a dog in the first place; they only thought they did. They were unwilling to accept (because they never dreamed of it!) the real demands a puppy would make on their lives, specifically his need for love and companionship. During our conversation it became obvious that it had never occurred to them to try to see things from Wolf’s perspective, to consider his needs in the relationship. Wolf was bought for protection, period. When it became clear that Wolf’s needs exceeded what they were willing to give—that Wolf was becoming a pain, an inconvenience—their solution was to get rid of him.

This is a frequent scenario that appears in many different disguises. Though nobody intentionally obtains a dog only to keep it for several months, things can easily turn out this way. Sometimes this is caused by the onset of a specific problem behavior in the dog; at other times it is merely the result of the owner’s fading interest. The common thread in so many failed owner-dog relationships is the belated discovery that having a dog is not what the owners thought it would be. Cold reality clashes with their one-dimensional expectations, and so they bypass the responsibility by opting for the easier solution: giving up the dog.

Who Should Have a Dog?

When it comes to dogs, romanticism abounds! Certainly one of the effects television has had on our culture is to create highly idealized images of what a dog should be like. Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Bullet, Benji, and Big Red are all presented as ideal companions who require no training and are faithfully devoted to attending to their owners’ every need. They never have soiling “accidents,” they do not need to be taken out for walks, and they are always obedient. They mind their own business when they are not wanted and are always ready to give love and affection whenit is asked of them. What could be easier or more wonderful?

The truth is that the Hollywood dog exists only in the movies. What we never hear about is the long and difficult training process these dogs go through to perform the amazing on-screen tricks and stunts, and the patience, love, and perseverance required on the part of their trainers! If you expect your puppy to rise effortlessly to the standards set by Lassie, you will be sorely disappointed.

Many people are simply unprepared for the changes that will take place in their lives once they adopt a puppy. In fact, our experience has taught us that anyone who thinks he or she wants a dog should postpone the decision until after thinking the matter through completely.

Not everyone should have a dog. Because of a variety of circumstances, many people simply do not have the time or ability to care for a puppy or even an adult dog. A pup will take us outside of ourselves and our own little world. Ordinary personal decisions that previously concerned only you or your family will now always have to take into account the presence of the puppy. Free time that was once for yourself alone must now be shared with your pup. How do you feel about that?

Caring for a dog is a lot of hard work. Canis familiaris, the pet dog, cannot attend to herself. From the moment of her adoption until the day of her death (which, barring accident or illness, can be fifteen years or more), she is a highly dependent creature who will count on you for all the essentials of canine living: food, water, shelter, exercise, training, and periodic veterinary care. But beyond these, the principal need a puppy has throughout her life is social. She requires an owner who is a companion in the fullest sense of the word. Can you see yourself or your family in such a role?

From this perspective, the old injunction is as relevant as ever: Know thyself! People who are willing to look at themselves honestly and who try to find a dog who blends in with their lifestyle and living environment stand the best chance of developing a healthy, long-term relationship with their puppy. Any normal puppy has a unique personality; he will naturally and actively seek out a relationship. Though there are a number of legitimate practical reasons for getting a pup (working, sport, show, breeding, protection, etc.), none of them should ever exclude or override the chief one: the desire for companionship and therefore the willingness to accept the obligations this entails. Taking the time to consider the choice realistically and listing the demands and responsibilities beforehand will bring rewarding results for both puppy and you.

So You Really Want a Dog?

Frequently visitors to our monastery are interested in obtaining one of our shepherds. On just such an occasion, after meeting many of our dogs and talking at length with one of the monks, a woman asked what she should do next in order to get a puppy. We explained that there would be a waiting period and that she would first have to fill out a puppy application form .This is a detailed application that we use to help match prospective customers with individual puppies. As she looked over the form, the woman expressed amazement, saying, “My heavens, you’d think I was adopting a child!”

This is precisely the point. Though a puppy is not a child, the decision to adopt one involves a similar sort of seriousness. It is entirely appropriate for breeders to question potential clients thoroughly, since their answers will help indicate what sort of puppy is best suited for them. Any conscientious breeder feels a personal sense of responsibility for the pups she has bred; her interest is less in selling them than in placing them in the right homes (that is, right for the owner and right for the puppy). Thus, if we prefer to use the term adopting a puppy instead of buying one, it is only because it puts the emphasis squarely where it belongs: bringing another member into your family.

All canids live naturally in packs, the immediate members of their social circle. With domestic dogs, those human beings with whom they live are considered fellow pack members, even if the “pack” involves only one other individual. There is nothing sentimental in regarding a new puppy as an additional member of your family: this is how he will view you.

That’s why it’s important that your choice be more than just a hit-or-miss proposition. It should involve serious thought and planning. Personal circumstances and those of the dog also must be considered. Dealing as we do with a large variety of dogs and people, we have files of case histories that repeatedly demonstrate the effects of poor selection on the human-dog relationship. Making a smart decision regarding a puppy is more complicated than most people imagine.

[titriwrites]

Scoop! - Chapter 3

Some Explaining To Do

“So, you’ve got something on that Hiddleston mate?”

“Hello and good morning to you, too, William. I’ve slept well, how are you this fine morning?” Jo spoke into the smartphone she pressed to her ear while pouring herself a cup of coffee with the other hand. It was 7 in the morning and she hasn’t even had breakfast yet. Still, her boss was already on the phone.

“Yes, good morning. You went to meet him yesterday, didn’t you?” Jo could almost see the impatience on his face.

“I did”, she said, “There isn’t anything to report, though.”

“Why not?”

Jo rolled her eyes, took her bowl with yoghurt and bananas to the table, and then went to fetch her coffee before she sat down. “Because we talked just for a little bit. What was I supposed to do? Meet him and then ten minutes later ask him, if his last relationship was fake and if he murders puppies?” William actually laughed out loud at that. “He’s supposed to tell me something deep, isn’t he?”

“Yes, that’s the plan. Well, did he at least get along with you? Are you going to meet him again?” Jo only had these types of conversations with her friends. Never with a boss, though.

“He’s got my number. We’re going to stay in contact.”

“Well, good for you. Listen”, he then said, suddenly hasty, “I won’t be in the office today. But there are still two articles from you for the deadline today, right? So I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

Jo sighed. “Yes, there are and yes, you will. Good-bye, William.” She didn’t even wait for him to reply, before she hung up the phone. She was stressed and she didn’t even know how she could make it for the next two months until the deadline for her big scoop. She was already sleep-deprived as it was. With shows and plays to review, movies and TV shows to watch and art shows and galleries to visit. She was up before Sam and Nicholas, Sam’s boyfriend. And Sam and her even had to go to the same work place.

She jerked when it suddenly came to her mind that she never texted Tom back. The day before, it had just been too strange to suddenly be texting with Tom Hiddleston. THE Tom Hiddleston. Jo knew she had to, to do her job properly, but that didn’t change the fact that he actually was the first celebrity she met privately. Well, not entirely privately, but at least he thought so. And he wrote her first, that never happened to her with a well-known person.

All of the sudden, Jo felt butterflies in her stomach. She felt giddy like when she actually met some nice man she really wanted to date. She sighed. That feeling was probably due to the fact that the last relationship she had was with Markus in Hamburg which has been over for more than a year now. She did have one or two dates with a few men she met while out with co-workers at one pub or another, but that never became more than a kiss good-night. Yes, she knew she had to spend time with Tom to make this work and the prospect of meeting a guy for more than one date must have sent her feelings in this weird twist.

She picked up her phone from the table she put it down to eat her breakfast and drink her coffee, and opened Tom’s message from yesterday. A smile graced her face as she typed her reply.

Hey, Tom. I did knock, the living room was empty, but the door to the bedroom was suspiciously closed. I had a great time yesterday as well, and I hope you’ll have a good day today. – Jo

Josefine frowned. She never was good at texting which was pretty ironic considering she was a freaking journalist. But this would have to do. She didn’t want to overdo it. Of course, Jo would have to write an article with great news in it, but for now it would have to go slowly. She jumped a little when her phone buzzed. She definitely didn’t expect an answer this fast.

Hi, Jo (I suppose I’ll call you Jo from now on). Is it pronounced like ‘Joe’? I bet it is. Though, in your actual name it’s pronounced differently. But anyway, I was already out for my run and I’ll have meetings later. What are you up to? – Tom

She couldn’t help it, she laughed out loud. Really? That was what Tom wondered about? Jo shook her head while heading to the bathroom to get in the shower before her two roommates woke up and occupied the room.

Don’t worry about that, please. But yes, it is pronounced ‘Joe’. It’s 7:15 and you’re already back from your run? Now I officially feel lazy. I was kind of proud to be up at 7. I’ll be busy at work.

It’s always good to know, what to call you when we meet again ;) And I wouldn’t be up before the sun comes up, if there was a chance to go running later in the day. No rest for the wicked, huh?

Jo had to be careful to be quiet and not scream when Tom basically wrote he wanted to meet her again.

No rest for the wicked indeed, Mr Hiddleston. But maybe one can find some time someday ;)

It was the last message she sent before going to the shower and prepare for the busy day ahead of her.

***

“Tom?” He was smiling and staring at his phone under the table while having lunch with Luke. They’ve ordered their food and waited for their second round of drinks, and the actor thought it would be a good opportunity to check his phone. Again. “Tom?!”

“Huh?” He looked up, and sheepishly smiled at his publicist sitting across from him.

“That’s kind of rude, you know that, right? Who are you texting anyway?”

Tom at least had the decency to blush and put his phone in his pocket. “Sorry”, he then said, very aware that he didn’t answer the question.

“No, please no! Don’t do that to me”, Luke whined and actually looked like he suffered.

“What?” Tom smirked at his publicist. “I don’t do anything. Absolutely nothing. I’m innocent.”

“I know you, Tom. You’re so far from innocent with that look on your face. Who is she?”

Tom wiped the smile off his face as fast as he could. “She? There is no ‘she’.”

“Yet?”

“Ha! Well. Funny you would say that.” Across from him, Luke groaned. “I’m merely texting. We just sort of met yesterday.”

His publicist closed his eyes for a moment before looking at the actor. “Alright. Do I have to know anything about her? As your publicist? Any skeletons in the closet?”

Now it was Tom’s turn to sigh. He knew that since this summer, when Luke could control absolutely nothing that was published in the press, he was very careful. As his friend, Luke surely would be delighted for Tom to start dating again. As his publicist, Tom was sure Luke’s motto was to better be safe than sorry. Thankfully, at that moment the waitress came with their drinks, and put their waters on the table, all the while sporting a big smile. She was gone too soon, Tom realised after the slightly impatient cough from the other side of the table.

“We’ve only met yesterday. She ran into me in the coffee shop. Or rather, I ran into her. I offered to pay for her new coffee, we talked for over an hour, and then she gave me her number. That’s all.”

“So, you know nothing about her? Do I need to check her?”

“You most definitely don’t have to check her. I know things about her. Her name’s Josefine. She’s a-, well, she’s a journalist-“, he actually saw Luke cringe at that, “and she’s from Germany. We’re just texting, Luke. I won’t be getting married tomorrow.”

“So, no visiting the parents next week, either?”

Tom shot Luke a look, but knew he was right. Damn, those three months really weren’t easy on Luke’s side of the story. “No, actually. We won’t visit anyone. I do however have the feeling that we’ll meet again.”

“You have a good feeling about her then?” When Tom shrugged, but nodded, Luke sighed – again – but then nodded himself. “Okay, I’m done being your publicist for the next thirty minutes. Do you like her? What does she look like? And why the hell do you run into journalists in coffee shops?” His eyes literally sparkled and Tom smiled.

Then he started talking about that woman he ran into and who sparked his interest like no woman did for the last six months. Or even before that.

***

“Well, my dear Jo, what has you smiling like this the whole day?”

Josefine looked up from her lasagne just in time to see the smirks Sam and Nicholas exchanged, before they looked at her with similar raised eyebrows. It was creepy, they could almost look like the twins from The Shining, if they wanted to. If it wasn’t for the case that they looked entirely different from each other.

While Sam was 5’9’’, with a normal body to match and ginger hair and beard, his boyfriend Nicholas was at least 6’4’’ tall, well-built and had dark brown hair. Working in the financial district, he was clean-shaven and wore expensive suits. Sam on the other hand always hoped there weren’t any important people to interview, since he loved to wear his jeans shirts to work. It was her red-haired co-worker who asked the question this time, but Nick looked just as eager to know the answer.

“No one”, Jo mumbled and went back to her food, before she realised her mistake.

“No one?! Josefine, what are you not telling us?” Nick spoke up then.

Jo sighed and looked at her two friends. “I may be texting someone. I met him yesterday, I gave him my number, he wrote, and I answered. Nothing big.”

“It is something big! You were smiling all day! I saw you at work. You were so stressed out one moment, then you looked at your phone and you had an expression as if you’ve just seen the cutest puppies in the world! You’re smitten.” Sam acted, as this was the most exciting thing that ever happened to him.

“Well, he is funny. So there’s that. And I’m not smitten, he’s just really nice and easy to talk to. We just met yesterday, it’s not like we’re about to get married tomorrow.”

“But you’re going to meet again?” Now, he actually looked like an overexcited puppy, and Nicholas reached over the table to pat his boyfriend’s arm.

This time, Jo smiled as well. “I hope so.” Just because she really needed him for a story, of course.

“Okay, so what’s his name, what is he doing? Do we get to meet him? Yes?”

“God, Sam. Let the girl breath. Do we get to meet him, though?”

She rolled her eyes, a little sparkle in her green eyes and a smirk on her lips. “Let me meet him for a second time first? And his name is Tom. He’s –“, Jo started, but didn’t get to finish her sentence as her phone buzzed with an incoming call. From Tom. She was literally saved by the bell. William didn’t want many people in the office to know about the story she was working on, not until the weekly big editorial meeting at least, the week it was about to get published, and she hated to lie to Sam.

Right now however, Jo was busy trying not to blush. Especially with the teasing “oooooh” from both sides of the table. “Oh, hush”, she said and got up from her chair while tapping the screen to answer the call. “Hi”, she then said and went to move up the stairs to the loft and her “room”.

“Hey. I hope you’re not busy?” came the smooth British voice over the line.

“I’ve just finished eating”, she answered, plopping down on the bed, and freeing her long brown hair from the messy bun she twisted it in when she changed from her work clothes into a sweatshirt and sleeping shorts.

“No naked dinner this time, I hope?” Tom chuckled.

Jo laughed out loud. “No, no naked dinner, everyone was dressed accordingly. They asked about you, though”, she said, biting her lip. She hoped she didn’t say too much already. But damn, for this to work, she really needed to meet him and answers she needed, too.

“Oh?” He sounded cautious.

“Yes, well, not you specifically. But they asked why I was smiling at my phone. I didn’t tell them more than your first name. Don’t worry.”

“Okay. Well, my publicist, or better my friend, Luke, he asked about you as well. Seems like we were texting quite a bit today then?” Jo basically heard the smile in Tom’s voice.

“Seems like that.”

“So…”

“So?”

“Maybe we can sort of see each other again?”

Jo chuckled. Okay, this was kind of sweet. “Sort of?”

A sigh came from the other end of the line. “Jo”, he stated, almost whiny, “don’t make fun of me, I’m trying to ask you out. Not on a date of course, if you don’t want to. But you said you had to work so much, and I thought that maybe a dinner would be nice to get your mind off things?” Oh, if he knew, how much work a dinner, and talks with him would entail. But Jo’s heart stopped at the word “date”. She couldn’t let it come that far, could she? Forming a friendship was one thing. Actually going out with him was something entirely different.

“I’d like to have dinner with you, Tom. Maybe not call it a date...yet? And maybe nothing too fancy? There’s something Indian, Thai, or burgers close to my flat. If you want to.”

“If I want to? I’d love to. So, what are you doing Friday evening?” Tom actually sounded eager and Jo started to feel excited. Like she was genuinely looking forward to this…meeting.

“Nothing. It seems like I’ll go grab a bite, though.”

“Great. Text me the address. Or your address, if you want me to pick you up.”

“Will do. Thank you for calling, and for asking, of course”, she smiled.

Tom’s “Believe me, it’s my pleasure” managed to make her blush again. “Good night, Jo. Don’t overwork yourself. And sleep tight.”

“You as well, Tom.” They hung up and Jo felt herself grinning at the phone in her hand. This was so stupid. It was just work. Though, it was much easier than she thought at the beginning.

“Hey, missy! You have some explaining to do!”

Jo rolled her eyes, but got up from the bed anyway. “Coming!” She had some explaining to do, indeed.

[kassiekahl011-blog]

Tips On Training Yorkie Puppies The Easy Way.

Coming when called is actually an actually valuable order to show your pet dog to sustain your personal property collection, and to keep him from reaching your personal or even your neighbor's yard as well as underbrush. Build your canine's range off the desk, move him far from the table in increases, 4', 6', 8', and so on. As your dog is comfortable involving you and resting on the desk, the next step is for you to build your span from the table as you call him to the table. Nowadays, much more dog proprietors are switching to an electrical pet dog fencing to include their pet because of its cheap and also convenience from establishing. Many electricity pet fence proprietors additionally have been appreciating the benefits of their fencing for a long times. Pets that are in ache is going to likely indicate that they are actually experiencing by offering you clues regarding where the area of soreness is. For instance, a canine that has stomach ache is going to continuously look towards their belly, attack or even lick the location, and are going to certainly not wish to leave behind his/her garden. Providing your pet a small break, a treat, as well as a trip outside now is always a smart idea. Deciding upon a male or women Australian Shepherd, is actually certainly not regularly an effortless selection for a prospective owner. Especially if you like boating, yachting, cruising or even another water sporting activity and also would like to do that along with a pet that isn't a knowledgeable as well as outstanding swimmer. Plastic kennels are actually normally designed along with little openings allowing the pet dog to continue to be in its own personal planet. A lap dog is envisioned below, yet this outfit is available in measurements for big ones too. It goes without saying, price increase incorporated along with returns turnout plus likely merging and also spin-off gains were prime factors in choosing this stock as the canine along with best possibility for 2016. Ticks are actually a form of canine bloodsucker that is actually very easy to view since they attach on their own to the canine's hair and drain their oral cavities right into the pet's skin layer to draw his blood stream. Kansas Urban area Pet dog: Finest called a frankfurter impersonating a Reuben club sandwich.

The presence from really good germs in the gut can easily likewise protect your pet dog off contamination. To learn more about the pet dog training video clips he used visit here Best of luck in instruction your dog to act and maybe even carry out some techniques !! An all-white dog or even a pet without white colored is disqualified from the conformation program ring. A loved ones dog will certainly be a member of your clan for years to come, ideally a number of the details here can aid all of them suit as well as come to be a nurturing portion of any sort of household. Nevertheless after the dog meals afraid a bit earlier and the health problems that my canine was actually possessing, that became all-natural to me to consider creating my own canine food. People along with canine allergy symptoms may struggle with itchy eyes, drippy nose, breathing problem indicators, red scratchy skin or even a rash. This sort of chain is not encouraged for an untrained pet dog as click this link now are going to motivate the pet to take on the chain for additional leash duration. Trainers may experience as though they do certainly not wish to be around others complying with an attack on their pet dog manuals.

[shgmpmseo]

Do You Need To Utilize A Funnel Or A Marketing System?

Advertising 20-30 years back was yet tougher and therefore easier. We’d less options (printing, paper, mail, stereo & Television), but we’d less information (no Google-Analytics, or sites, e-mail, online-video, podcasts and much more).

If advertising that is you’re online, certainly a large amount are of choices that are fresh that honestly I didn’t actually learn about years back — such things as digital personnel, and today you notice this discuss guide websites and funnels and landing websites and all of this things that is other. All of them seem useful and attractive and like something which can definitely enhance your company, however the query I do want to request nowadays is: are you aware the distinction between a marketing channel along with an advertising program?

What’s A Channel?

By taking a look at exactly what a channel is Let’s begin. A marketing channel can be used to steer people via a procedure — that’s, you receive them to some landingpage after which you provide them an offer, a, anything to obtain their current email address so you may proceed to speak together; or after they register, then you definitely consider them to next thing and obtain them to get what’s named a tripwire purchase, that could be free plus delivery. You’re likely to deliver them your book but they’ve surely got to purchase managing and the delivery, or you deliver them a statement or you provide them with use of a webinar or perhaps a movie or anything along these collections. The target would be to try guide them and to have them. It functions truly, really nicely, however the distinction is that there to develop your world of impact having a complete couple of people who possibly might purchase from you and also to collect titles. This can be a thing that is positive, but this isn’t the end be all.

Lots of occasions, you’ve to consider, what’s my end-game? What am I attempting to accomplish? I had been dealing with a person who called-up and stated, “Okay, I do want to perform a landing page.” The query I requested is, “Okay, nicely what’s the finish sport? What’re you attempting to accomplish?” Fundamentally, the things they tried to achieve booked a telephone call so they might qualify prospects to get a fairly high level program they have. My buddy, that, is just a program. There are of shifting components for this lots. Something demands taking a look at exactly what the outcome is and wherever you’re beginning .

Suggested For You Personally

What’s A Program?

I’d declare among the greatest variations between a channel along with there is a program the fact that something has components. A typical example of this could be that funnel application and many landingpage application have statistics included in it, but restricted to what’s occurring within that channel. A program that is genuine includes a large amount of items that are various . I would like to give a good example to you. In this one client’s case, they desired to produce a telephone call. That telephone call particularly was to qualify and evaluate whether someone will be a great fit-for this high level factor that marketing that is they’re. With having an internet site it starts. It’s a lot more than a website page since you have one internet page, you can state, “Okay, this really is advantageous to technicians and entrepreneurs and trainers etc and so on, but when you toss all those three different teams on a single getting page, it surely claims, ‘Well, could it be great for a manufacture along with a puppy coach?’”

That which you need to do is have a look and state, “Okay, I’m likely to produce a landingpage or perhaps a website that claims, ‘If you’re your dog coach, go here. Go here if you’re an engineer. If you’re a marketer, go here,’ but better still, you will find websites within the web site that chat particularly to every one of these people.” In making that program, why don’t you create some sites or produce some information? You will find plenty of methods to produce information. You can do blogging. You can do podcasting. You can do movie. You can do webinars. You can certainly do telesummits. You certainly can do a myriad of issues, however the objective would be to generate them for them as well as their requirements towards the page-specific.

When they’re on that site, you’ve a phone-to-motion. What’s that phone-to-motion? I’m prepared to begin today; go here to guide your free 15-second telephone discussion. Or, I’m not prepared to begin at this time, but I do want to remain in contact since I really like your sites; join our mail listing. You don’t wish to provide way too many options to individuals, but when they’re ready likely to do something. If they’re not, you wish to remain together in contact. That’s the largest difference between a program along with a channel.

Areas Of The Machine

Let’s take a look at a few of that system’s areas. Okay, let’s state that you’re likely to utilize webinars to generate individuals to a site that is particular. The webinars might have that revenue concept inside: “if you should be prepared to begin today, you are able to press this switch or visit this link and put up that free 15-second discussion” — however the issue is, are they qualified? Perhaps you wish to consider them to some link that’s a survey on the website. Are they prepared to buy today? How dedicated are they? Do they’ve the full time to perform what it’s that marketing that is you’re? More to the point, do they’ve the budget? Among The issues I discuss is the fact that you wish to use clients which have the three P’s. They’ve to truly have a goal. They’ve to possess enthusiasm. They’ve to truly have wallets with profit them, or a wallet.

You wish to make certain before you commit all this period performing 15-second services that you’re obtaining the people that are correct inside. It is best to make individuals qualify. Consider this. The webinar was completed by You’ve. Where they publish this today you receive them to some site. Today you wish to consider them once they’re accepted. Skill Arrangement is recommended by me. It’s a wonderful plan that combines having a complete couple of things that are various. It combines with PayPal. It combines together with your calendars. It combines with GoToWebinar and GoToMeeting, does lots of things that are various. You can now ask them to appear at your diary and really plan that and state, “Okay , likely to consider these telephone calls on Tuesdays between one and that’s it.” they are able to guide throughout that period – increments in 15.

That’s exactly what a program does for you personally. It allows people to be worked by you . Many people might state that’s a channel, but there is something what certainly combines each one of these various components. Today, if they’re not prepared to purchase, you wish to have them in your mail. I would recommend AWeber for many companies. Verify that out.

Today, you’ve surely got to produce the shape that claims, “Hey, I’m not prepared to begin, but I do want to remain in touch.” then you definitely wish to produce autoresponders that say, “Okay, here are a few of the main element factors about what we’re speaking about.” Perhaps it’ll induce them to say, “You understand what? After I’ve observed these 4 or 5 sequenced e-mails, I’m prepared to begin,” and at the end of every some of those emails may be the CTA: “isn’t it time to plan your 15-minute appointment?” You consider them through exactly the same procedure, however in another method. They are taken by you into that type that’s that survey that qualifies them if they’re prepared to purchase, after which, when they do qualify you provide them with the chance to pick that 15-second time-slot.

Conclusions

Ideally, you can observe a few of the variations, which creating a program is just a bit that is tiny more complicated. While only a channel itself isn’t likely to resolve everything it might include lots of 3rd party application. Contemplate placing something together should you actually want to collect the best people for the services and products. That’s basically what I actually do in my own company is aid individuals figure these methods out. Consider it. Are you simply attempting to collect titles or have you got a finish sport in your mind? be sure you sort out all those actions move-by-step in providing individuals a chance to purchase from you as time goes on and purchase from you today.

I’d like to notice remarks and your ideas with this topic. Remark below and share the way you have produced methods or funnels which have surpassed your objectives!

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