#and ordinarily I’d say ‘good looking out bud thanks!’

[explode-this]

A PSA for partners/spouses/roommates, even if it seems like a kind and helpful thing to do, don’t take it upon yourself to level up another person’s battle pass for whatever game they’re playing, especially if they’re SO CLOSE and there’s still TWO DAYS in the season. Some of us have so few outlets of accomplishment in life, let us have this.

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Not Losing You (Part 4)

Summary: The reader has a confrontation with her parents before Dean gets some news about his prognosis...

Masterlist

Pairing: Mechanic!Dean x reader

Word Count: 3,700ish

Warnings: language, life-threatening illness, implied past sexual harassment/assault

_____

You froze halfway down the hall of the hospital the next morning. There were your parents standing outside of Dean’s room. You took a step forward before Sam rounded the corner and walked over to you.

“I’m not entirely sure how they found out about the Liam situation,” said Sam, pulling you away to a quiet hallway. “I’m guessing the douchebag had something to do with it. Either way, they know and Dean is pissed at them. A lot. I need them to leave. The stress isn’t good.”

“I’ll get rid of them,” you said as you closed your eyes. “I’m sorry, Sam.”

“It’s okay, Y/N. I don’t know and it’s not my business. Let’s save whatever this is though for a little time from now, alright?” he said.

“Yeah,” you said. “Benny and Cas will be by later they said. They should cheer Dean up.”

“I’m sorry Jess and I were out of town last night. Dean told us about your fight. We would have-”

“Sam. I’m okay. I’ll deal with this,” you said. After forcing a smile, you headed back down the hall, waving the two of them to you and away from Dean’s room. Sam walked past them and you frowned when they followed you to a waiting room. “What is wrong with you two? This is not the place-”

“Well we couldn’t find an address for you and since you refuse to answer the phone, we came to the one place we thought we could find you at,” said your dad.

“This is a hospital. We are in a very special area of the hospital mind you. The people here need rest and calm and you two showing up at my recovering boyfriend’s hospital room…” you said, tilting your head back. “Outside. Now.”

Three minutes later you were in the visitors parking lot, pacing back and forth on the sidewalk.

“Y/N-”

“Mom…” you said, holding up a hand. “Never, and I mean never, come here without my explicit permission again. Either one of you.”

“You are acting-” said your dad, your mom putting a hand on his chest. He took a deep breath and sighed. “You’re angry with us. We understand. But this Liam guy? Why didn’t you ever talk to us?”

“What part of you disowning me made you think I would ever speak to you about anything ever again?” you asked.

“You walked out on us,” he said.

“George grabbed my ass and you said I was making it up, then you said I was overreacting and that I’d embarrassed you two in front of the family and you really wonder why I wouldn’t tell you about fucking Liam? A situation that was a million times worse? I walked away because my parents didn’t believe me and then said maybe I’m single because I don’t realize when men are attracted to me. The last thing I need is dating advice from you two,” you said.

“Are you okay?” asked your mom. You shrugged but tilted your head.

“For the first time in a long time, actually, yeah, I am. My life is far from perfect but I have some good people in it now,” you said. She gave you a half-smile, watching you lean against a light post and cross your arms. “What do you want?”

“We came to apologize and make sure you’re okay. We couldn’t find an address for you,” said your dad.

“I’m kinda between places right now. I’m staying at my boyfriend’s,” you said.

“You two must be pretty serious,” he said. “How long have you been together?”

“Two months give or take,” you said.

“Two months?” asked your mom. “You’re already living together?”

“If you’re going to judge a situation you know nothing about-”

“We’re surprised is all,” she said.

“You said that’s a special part of the hospital,” said your dad.

“Yeah. It is. My boyfriend has cancer. It was fatal until he had a transplant done and there’s been ups and downs but after the next few weeks...odds are he’s going to be okay,” you said.

“He spoke to us for a moment before you arrived. He told us you were his donor,” said your dad.

“So.”

“So you’ve been going through a lot lately, obviously. We don’t have the full picture and…” said your dad.

“Spit it out already,” you said.

“I am sorry. We’re both sorry. We were wrong to not believe you and to tell you to brush it off and...we’re sorry. There was nothing wrong with you being single. We were assholes. We’re sorry. We know something is wrong. We don’t know what but we want to help however we can,” he said.

“I’ll think about the apology but I don’t want your help right now. You two have to rebuild our trust. From scratch. You will have to earn it back and maybe then, I will accept future help. But until then, the best thing for you both to do is to give Dean space and me too to be honest. If I decide I want a relationship again, I will contact you, understand?”

“Okay,” said your mom, digging into her purse. “We understand. We’ll be in town. We’ll let you know where we end up staying but we’ll wait for you to come to us.”

“Thank you,” you said. She held out an envelope at you and you took it, rolling your eyes when you opened it up.

“It’s $5,000. If you need it-” she said before you stuck it back in her purse.

“Mom. It’s your money, not mine. I’m okay. Please give me some space and time. That’s what I want from you both right now,” you said.

“Alright,” said your dad. “If you ever need help, just let us know.”

“I will,” you said as you headed back inside.

“Y/N? Doing what you did for that the young man...we screwed up but we must have done something right,” he said.

“You’re not bad people. You made mistakes. I have to decide if I want to forgive you is all,” you said. “I gotta check on Dean. I’ll contact you later.”

You headed back inside and up to Dean’s room, grateful to find him back in bed resting.

“I’m so sorry about that,” you said, leaning against the window. He sat up in bed and gave you a smile.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I told them to give me space. They finally believe me it seems. Somehow they found out about Liam. Probably from him. He was probably hoping they’d take his side,” you said. You turned around, Dean tsking you. After a moment you took a seat and looked over, Dean smiling at you.

“Do me a favor. Give them a chance to apologize,” he said. “One of us should have a relationship with our parents and for me that ship has sailed.”

“I’ll try. Your friends Benny and Cas, they’re good guys,” you said.

“Yeah. They’re alright,” he smirked. “I’m glad you came back.”

“Me too,” you said. “I’m sorry I got so mad. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. You were just trying to protect me.”

“It’s not an excuse like I said before. We’re together. I need to tell you things like that,” he said. “We’re okay, sweetheart.”

“Still feeling better?” you asked.

“Yeah. More energy today for sure. We’ll get through this. I promise.”

One Month Later

“Rossy,” said Dean, practically jumping out of his seat when the doctor walked in his office.

“Quite the crew here today,” he said, looking over your head at Sam, Jess, Benny and Cas. “Alright. As I’m sure you’re all aware, Dean’s had a rough few months. He underwent a transplant and participated in a specialized treatment plan to help his immune system come back.”

“Rossy,” said Dean, bouncing his knee. “Can I go home or not?”

“Always impatient,” said Dr. Ross as he took a seat behind his desk. “I know you’re itching to go home Dean but we need to make sure you’re healthy enough first.”

“What’d my tests show?” asked Dean, grabbing your hand. “Am I still screwed?”

“Remission,” he said with a smile, Dean letting out the breath he was holding. “With no signs of it coming back which is a very good sign. Your counts are in a normal range. You’re still a little underweight but once you begin to eat regularly again, I don’t worry about that.”

“I can go home?” he asked.

“Yes, you can go home, Dean. As you know, the first year is the hardest but you’re doing well. I need you to keep a close eye on yourself so we can nip anything in the bud if it pops up but I am cautiously optimistic about the odds of recurrence right now,” he said.

“So how do we know that it ain’t ever going to come back?” asked Benny.

“We don’t. We don’t know if any of us in this room will get sick someday either. But these milestones are important and Dean’s been hitting them and then some,” he said.

“Say it doesn’t come back,” said Sam. “What...does he…”

“I gonna live long enough to get old or did this thing screw that up for me I think is what Sammy’s trying time ask,” said Dean.

“If you take care of yourself and we get through the rest of this year with no major setbacks, I see no reason you couldn’t live a full and normal life,” he said.

“If I get through the rest of the year,” said Dean.

“Yes but it’s been two months already. A majority of the time, if something were to go wrong, it would have happened. I’m not saying you’re in the clear yet but I would say you can call this one a win today,” he said.

“Good,” said Dean, squeezing your hand. “That’s...good.”

“Y/N,” said Dr. Ross after everyone left the office, Sam off with Dean to help him get discharged. “A quick word if you don’t mind.”

“Yes?” you asked.

“I’ve had this conversation with Dean before but I felt we should have it as well. Most donors do not have the...relationship you do,” he said.

“Are we like...not allowed to kiss or something?” you asked.

“No, no,” he laughed. “You may do any and all things a couple would ordinarily do. I would advise holding off on anything physical until he gets more strength back. But I wanted to talk to you, ask how you’re doing after the transplant.”

“Fine?” you said. “Dean’s the one-“

“You underwent a medical procedure too. We took a bit more than we wanted to and I’m not the only one to notice you’re looking a little rundown still. I know this is a stressful process but you need to take care of yourself. I’ve made it clear to Dean that I want you both to take some time and rest. Hang around home for the next week or so. No work. Try to recover,” he said.

“I appreciate it Dr. Ross but-“

“No buts. You will do this, hm?”

“I need to work.”

“I will give you a doctors note and I know you work with Jessica so stop making up excuses. Sit. Rest. Enjoy the company of your boyfriend in your own home,” he said. “Understood?”

“Okay, okay,” you said holding up your hands. “I’ll take it easy.”

“Good. You guys deserve a break.”

Four Months Later

“Dean, I’m home,” you said, carrying some groceries into the apartment. He was quiet on the couch as you went past. You set the bags down and returned. “Dean. What’s wrong?”

“My parents know about me being sick,” said Dean. “Sam called. He figures it was Liam since they’re getting close on wrapping up your case.”

“Have you talked to them?” you asked as you sat down.

“No. They don’t know where I live. I haven’t spoken to them in years,” he said. 

“Do you want to talk to them?” you asked.

“I don’t know. It’s been a long time. Things didn’t end well and they’ll be angry I didn’t tell them,” he said.

“I’m not going to say that you should. I know my own parents are...questionable right now but they did move here to be close to me. They’re trying and I’m trying to forgive them. I’m more concerned with the best thing for you,” you said.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Maybe they’ll be more understanding when they see how successful the garage is,” you said.

“It wasn’t just what I wanted to do for a living that led to everything,” he said.

“I kinda always figured that. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” you said.

“Dad and I weren’t getting along because of the whole mechanic thing. It was no big deal though. We would have gotten past it. But...Sammy and I were in a little car accident. My dad was wasted when we got home and we told him about it. He lost his cool,” said Dean.

“He hit you,” you said.

“He was mad. Then he turned to Sammy and I thought not gonna happen and so I hit back,” said Dean. “It turned into a fight and after it was over, I left for good. I told my mom what happened but she made an excuse for his behavior and that wasn’t good enough for me. I get it. I was a hot head back then too but I wanted an apology and I never got it. Now, it’s been too long.”

“Sam still has a relationship with them, right?” you asked.

“Yeah. He says dad’s a different guy but he was always different with Sam. He’s never mentioned wanting to reconnect with me though so I always figured that bridge was burned,” said Dean.

“Do you think they still love you?”

He turned his head and looked at you, offering a small nod.

“Do you still love them?” you asked.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “But I won’t go to them. If he wants to apologize, they both do, they can come to me.”

“You can always offer to meet them in public, that way they don’t know where you live,” you said.

“Yours still don’t know you lived out of your car for half a year, do they,” he said.

“No. They know about Liam but I told them that since the case is settled, I don’t want to talk about it ever again,” you said.

“When do you get the payout?” asked Dean.

“Two weeks,” you said, looking around. “We can buy a townhouse, something bigger than this if you want.”

“How much is it again?” he asked.

“I never told you the actual figure,” you said, looking down at your lap. “It’s a lot.”

“How much a lot?” he asked.

“Seven figures a lot,” you said. 

“Shit. Rich people will do anything to keep shit quiet. How much time is he serving?”

“To be determined. I let the other family members off the hook for the payout. I don’t care about the money. I just want Liam put away and he will be so I’m happy with that,” you said.

“I never found out what he did to you,” he said.

“Liam...told everyone that I sexually harassed him at work and got physical even, against his will. He was my young attractive boss and I was his underling. He convinced everyone I hurt him and did things to him. Bastard,” you said.

“He did those things to you though.”

“I turned him down. No one turns him down. I turned him down over and over again but I didn’t report it because if I got fired, I had nowhere in town to go or no one. I wasn’t in the best state of mind back then. He called me into this conference room he was working out of one night, a big deadline project sort of deal. I thought it was just work and then I got dizzy and he had slipped something into my coffee. He touched what he wanted and did what he wanted and when I came in the next day to report it, he’d already spread the word about what I’d done to him,” you said.

“You know...I won’t let anyone do that to you ever again. I know you can take care of yourself and he tricked you but just in general. I’m not gonna let someone hurt you like that,” he said.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you either,” you said, taking his hand in yours.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” he said.

“Ditto,” you said, poking the scar on his arm from his IV line. He brushed his thumb over the spot.

“I should be dying you realize. I should have half a year left, if that,” he said. 

“No, you really shouldn’t,” you said, leaning over and kissing him.

“I hit six months okay. Rossy said that’s a big milestone,” he said.

“Still nothing?” you asked.

“It’s not back. Fingers crossed,” he said, resting his head on your shoulder. “Right?”

“Right?” you asked.

“I know you went to Rossy’s office earlier this week. You came home kind of quiet like,” he said.

“I donated more marrow,” you said. “Not as much as before but it wore me down.”

“Does someone else need-”

“It’s for you,” you said. He cocked his head and you smiled. “Just in case.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I donated for research. If you ever...if it ever came back, years from now, not that I’m expecting it to but if it did...I want them to have a healthy sample so they can figure out a better cure for you, something more permanent,” you said.

“You got to stop saving my life, sweetheart. It makes it really hard for me to use the I left my dishes in the sink excuse,” he chuckled, kissing your cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you,” you said. He was quiet but smiled for a few minutes, running his finger over your hip.

“I need to talk to my parents,” he said. 

“Do you want me to go with you?” you asked.

“Yeah, yeah I’d like that.”

“How are you feeling?” you asked Dean that night as you settled into bed. 

“Better,” he said softly, taking a deep breath. “I never knew my dad went to therapy after that whole thing.”

“Did he seem different?” you asked.

“Yeah. I think the whole me almost dying thing put everything into perspective,” he said, snuggling into you, a shuddering breath leaving his body. “I don’t want to go through it again. I don’t want to be scared anymore.”

“I can’t promise it won’t ever come back, Dean,” you said, wrapping your arms around him. “But there’s a lot of stuff we don’t know will happen either. Accidents or getting sick or whatever. But we can’t live being scared of everything.”

“You sound different than when we met you know,” he said. 

“I’m happier,” you said. “I was...neither one of us were in great places when we met, Dean. But you changed my life all because you asked if I was okay.”

“Granted I was also about to pass out,” he chuckled.

“Yeah but you were kind. I forgot what that was like,” you said.

“You wanted to be my friend despite everything,” he said, turning his head towards yours. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” you said, kissing him gently, his lips soft as he rolled over and pulled you into his chest.

“Do you want to do something fun this weekend? Take a trip?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’d really like that,” you said, rubbing your hand up and down his arm. “No camping though.”

“If I hit my year mark with no badness, you are so going camping with me,” he said. “Deal?”

“Alright, alright,” you said. “Maybe we could make it a group thing. Invite the boys and Sam and Jess.”

“I can agree to that,” he said. He took a deep breath and you felt him finally start to relax from the day. “You okay?”

“Mhm. You?”

“Yeah. I’m okay. I’m okay again, sweetheart . Hey, Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you want to marry me?”

You sat up in bed, your heart skipping a beat.

“I know I said two years but I got a good feeling,” he said. “What do you say? Want to put up with me for however long that is?”

“Yeah,” you said, nodding as he pulled you into a kiss. “Yeah. I take care of you, you take care of me. It’s our thing after all.”

“Wouldn’t want to stop now,” he said, resting his forehead against yours. “Sweetheart?”

“You’re still okay, right?” you asked.

“Still okay,” he chuckled. “I was gonna say, you lost the bet.”

“I did not,” you laughed. “You cheated and asked early.”

“Sue me. You are far too attractive for your own good,” he said.

“Sure I am, Casanova,” you said, getting another kiss from him. “I got my hottie.”

“We both got our hottie’s,” he said. “I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, Dean.”

______

[olliepig]

Waiting in the Wings ch 1

Many, many thanks to the ever patient @willow-salix for helping me with this (I hope you know what you’ve bitten off here!). It’s been a long time coming but here goes nothing - my first ever OC. It’s also available on AO3 here if you prefer.

*********

Scott surveyed the grand ballroom, still unsure as to why he was there in the first place. He had his suspicions of Gordon’s budding romance with Penelope, so the invite to one of her private parties was perhaps not unexpected for his brother but quite how and why he had been talked into going too was beyond him. While he was no stranger to socialising with Penny, it was more usual for it to be at events where their presence was required to keep up appearances rather than at a private party for some of her closest friends. Since they arrived, Gordon had perhaps inevitably attached himself to Penny’s side but Scott didn’t want to cramp his little brother’s style and, if he was honest, he wouldn’t have chosen to spend his evening off in this way if he was given the choice. Having already greeted his host and in the absence of anything else to do or anyone in attendance whom he needed to speak with, he made himself comfortable at the bar and lost himself in a glass or several of whisky. He had always enjoyed people watching so he contented himself with passing the time by trying to guess how Penelope knew everyone and perhaps more mystifyingly how she could possibly have the time to be close friends with the sheer number of people in attendance.

Scanning the room for someone she knew, Catriona was very glad for the glass of liquid courage that had been pressed into her hand upon her arrival. Having known Penny for years, she thought she’d have been used to these sorts of events by now but her heartrate would suggest otherwise although she hadn’t exactly helped herself this time by getting waylaid at work and arriving late. Seeing how dressed up everyone else was, she congratulated herself on her decision to at least curl her long hair and wear her favourite purple satin gown that always gave her a confidence boost when she needed it. Amongst the other guests there was not a hair out of place and she idly wondered how long everyone else had taken to prepare for the night. At an outside guess she thought it was probably a lot longer than her. Unable to see any familiar faces in the throng, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and started out into the crowd, nearly colliding with the hostess for the evening as she did so.

“Catriona! It’s so good to see you, I’m so glad you could come.” Penny was the first to recover and as ever did not let anything so small as a near miss with one of her guests faze her.

“Me too, it’s been forever since we’ve seen each other. Sorry I’m a bit late – I got stuck in rehearsals.”

“That’s no trouble at all, I’m just glad you’re here now. All ready for the performances?”

“Yup, we should be good I think. There’s always more to do but we’ve got the basics down now so that’s a good start” replied Catriona, noticing for the first time the nervous looking blonde man in an incredibly expensive looking suit with a sunny yellow bow tie standing beside Penny. She felt like she’d seen him somewhere before but couldn’t quite place him.

“Excellent, I shall look forward to seeing it then.” Noticing her friends gaze drifting and sounding uncharacteristically nervous she continued. “Um, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. It’s all still very much under wraps but this is the gentleman I was telling you about. Catriona, I’d like you to meet Gordon Tracy.”

Catriona was relieved to find that there was a good reason why she recognised the young man standing in front of her, having seen him on the news less than 24 hours before rescuing the crew of a submarine after they got trapped in amongst some undersea vents. “It’s lovely to meet you finally and put a face to the name. Penny’s told me all about you - you’re with International Rescue, right?”

“Oh, has she now?” Gordon’s previously anxious face was transformed into an impish grin which lit up his hazel eyes as he glanced at a reddening Penny before focusing back on Catriona. “Yeah, I’m the one with the yellow submarine. It’s lovely to meet you too. So, if Penny’s told you about me then I’m guessing you’re Penny’s best friend then?”

“Yup, guilty as charged. We were at the Royal Ballet School together back when she wanted to be a dancer and she didn’t manage to get rid of me after she left. So here we are.”

Gordon’s eyes widened as he turned to Penny for the second time in as many minutes. “I didn’t know you wanted to be a ballerina!”

“Oh, there’s a lot you don’t know about me dearest.” said Penny with a fond smile. “But there will be be plenty of time for you to find it all out, don’t you worry.”

Gordon raised an eyebrow at that, before smiling at Catriona again. “So, are you a dancer then?”

“Yeah, I dance for the Royal Ballet now but I was out in America for a bit when I was younger too.” She thought for a second before throwing caution to the wind, smiling as she prepared to surprise her friend. “Given your identity as Penny’s mystery crush, do you want to know a funny coincidence from when I was out there?”

“Always!” Gordons ears pricked up, hoping for some gossip.

“I used to date your brother…”

“Which one –”

“You didn’t tell me that –”

“It was Scott, but don’t get too excited – it was literally years ago.”

“Really? This world is far too small. How did that happen then? I didn’t think Scott had girlfriends.” Gordon seemed to have recovered from the revelation much faster than Penny, who was still looking aghast as not knowing something.

“Yeah, we dated for about a year when he was stationed at Langley and I was dancing with the Richmond Ballet. Must have been about 7 years ago now. Do you remember Penny – I was out there for a while after I graduated before I joined the Royal? I’d already been out there for about 2 years when I met Scott and we were together til he was deployed overseas and I moved to London. It’s not much more exciting than that I’m afraid.”

“Of course!” she tried to recover herself. “I remember now that you had a boyfriend out there but I had no idea he was a mutual friend.”

“To be fair, I don’t think I ever told you his second name at the time so there’s not really any way you could have known and I didn’t know you knew any of the Tracy’s anyway or it might have come up sooner.”

“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me it was Scott Tracy you were involved with!” Penny was aware that she was starting to sound petulant but she didn’t like being caught out, especially not in front of the man she’d spent years trying to impress and who was currently watching the unfolding back and forth between friends in a manner similar to a spectator at Wimbledon.

“Well look at it this way, why didn’t you tell me it was Gordon Tracy I was meeting tonight then?”

“Because there are expectations that come with that name…” Penny couldn’t hide the exasperation in her voice and was uncomfortably aware of the look that passed between Gordon and Catriona and the resulting grins on both their faces as she backed herself neatly into a corner.

“Uh huh. So…”

“Fine” she conceded with a smile, realising that Catriona had simply done exactly the same as she was doing in protecting the Tracy family. “You have me there.”

“That was amazing! I’ve never seen anyone manage to get Penny to admit she was wrong before. You gotta teach me how to do it?” It was safe to say that Gordon was impressed.

“I’d be happy to. Although I warn you, it’s a difficult course and takes a lot of practice – I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve managed it in 17 years.” Catriona glanced at Penny who simply smiled and rolled her eyes.

“It’ll be worth the effort! Well, seeing as you already know my brother then you should go and say hello – he’s standing over there at the bar.”

“What? Where?” Catriona was not prepared for this. She’d not seen Scott in years and had definitely not been expecting to be ambushed by him at a party that she was only attending in order to meet her friend’s new amour.

“There, wearing the black suit and looking like he’d rather be scrubbing gunk out of my ‘bird’s intakes than spending another moment here… No offence to your party Penny.”

Catriona looked over and immediately felt a familiar tug of attraction in her stomach when she spotted the tall, dark haired man standing across the room, oblivious to her presence. He was surrounded by beautiful young women, all of whom seemed to be intent on bagging themselves a Tracy for the night and all three observers could see that his body language screamed discomfort.

“He looks like he could do with being rescued” observed Penny. “I thought my guests would leave him alone but clearly I was wrong.”

“Don’t worry about it – this happens literally everywhere we go. To be fair he’s usually OK with it but I’m not so sure today.”

“Leave it to me” Catriona announced to everyone’s surprise, including her own. Before anyone had a chance to stop her, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.

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

Under normal circumstances, Scott may have been tempted by one of the ladies surrounding him but not tonight. He didn’t know why, but he was just not interested despite several being what could ordinarily be classed as his type. Looking for a way out, he spotted Gordon across the room. Catching his eye, he mouthed “help” but his brother only grinned and turned back to his conversation. Scott sighed and filed that away for future retribution. He’d not missed his brother and Penelope looking over at him in surprise a few minutes before as if he was the subject of some discussion but he hadn’t been able to see who the other member of the conversation was and frankly, he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He was starting to get a headache from the incessant giggling that seemed to be going on around him and he gratefully grabbed another glass of champagne from the bar behind him.

“Thank god I’ve found you! I’ve been looking everywhere! Excuse me, but I need to steal Mr Tracy I’m afraid” Suddenly, a blur of copper and purple appeared out of nowhere, taking a bewildered Scott’s hand and dragging him, bemused but willing, behind a pillar hidden away from everybody on the other side of the room. On their way, Scott had a chance to appreciate the figure-hugging qualities of the dress and the long distinctive hair that he was sure he’d seen once before attached to…

“Cat?? What’s going on?” asked a very bewildered but amused Scott as they came to a halt and his saviour turned around. “And what are you even doing here?”

“You looked like you needed rescued” she explained simply, flushing an endearing red as the first doubts about her actions crept into her mind.

“So, you rescued me?”

“Yup.” Her eyes met his for the first time, their icy blue depths drawing him in and he found he couldn’t look away.

“Usually that’s my line of business…” he commented with a wry smile.

“So I’ve heard, but even the rescuers need saving sometimes…” She had the faintest of smiles on her face as she held his eyes and Scott felt something deep inside him shudder to life in a flash of recognition.

“You have no idea how right you are!” laughed Scott, smiling broadly and pushing the moment aside. “Well, you’ve rescued me. I feel very safe and have been unharmed by my ordeal. So, what were your plans for me now?”

“I have no idea” admitted Catriona with a grin. “Forward planning still isn’t one of my strong points I’m afraid.”

“Well in that case, may I get a drink for my saviour? And then you actually do have to tell me why you’re here.”

“Of course. A drink sounds lovely and honestly, it’s no big secret – I went to ballet school with Penny. Nothing more sinister than that I’m afraid.” she replied, taking the arm that Scott hadn’t even realised he had offered and falling into an easy stride with him.

“Penny used to dance?” Scott stopped in his tracks in surprise, causing Cat to stumble and glare at him.

“Yes! Why is everyone so surprised about that tonight?” Scott heard the frustration in her voice and wisely decided to keep his mouth shut and start walking again as if nothing had ever happened. “Anyway, Gordon said I should speak to you and I thought it might be a good opportunity to help you escape. You looked like you wanted to lobotomise yourself with a spoon there.”

“Oh, how I’ve missed your turn of phrase. But yes, that’s almost exactly what I was considering when you appeared. Do you want to get out of here so we can catch up properly? If I remember rightly there’s a library just down the hall.”

“Sounds perfect. Let’s grab another drink then see what we can find.”

“You read my mind” replied Scott, flashing a brilliant smile which made Cat’s heart flutter dangerously.

In the library, they settled down at a table tucked away in a corner and Scott steeled himself for the thing that he knew he had to do.

“Listen, before we get any further, I owe you a pretty big apology…” he tailed off, not sure how to explain how bad he felt for the way he’d ended their relationship.

“Agreed! I can’t believe that after a year of dating you waited a month after you got deployed and then told me I was just a distraction that you couldn’t afford to have right then!” Cat’s voice was harsh and he felt terrible.

“Oh God, it’s worse than I remember.” Scott mumbled as he dropped his head into his hands momentarily before looking back up and catching her eyes with a look that he hoped conveyed both remorse and sincerity. “I can’t believe I actually said that. I’m so sorry. You have every right to be mad at me forever for that alone.”

“I sure do. But luckily for you I’m not. Not any more anyway.”

“Really?” Scott visibly brightened and Cat had to suppress a chuckle.

“Really” she reassured. “Look, I don’t hold grudges unless it’s something really bad. Yeah, you acted like a total arse but we were young, you were in an actual real-life warzone and it was 7 years ago. Holding onto something like that is just too much effort and I can’t be bothered if I’m honest.”

“So, you’re not going to kick my ass?”

“No Scott, I’m not going to give you the ass kicking you may or may not deserve. Now that’s out the way, what do you say we move on and catch up properly. I hear you’ve turned into somewhat of a real-life hero over the past few years…?”

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

As the evening was winding down, Cat found herself temporarily alone with Penny seeing off her last few guests and the two Tracy boys helping Parker to make sure nobody was left lingering in the gardens. Reflecting on the night, she had to admit that Penny’s choice of Gordon was very well suited. She liked him very much and the feeling seemed to be mutual in the little time they had spent together. The revelation of the night had been Scott however. He had been as charming as she remembered when they had dated and she was uncomfortably aware of how attractive she still found him. The fact that he lived on the other side of the world and had a tremendously dangerous and unpredictable job was definitely more inconvenient than she’d like to admit although the demands of her job didn’t help matters. She batted those thoughts away – there was no point in even considering it.

“So… What happened?” For the second time that night, Penny had managed to take her by surprise, this time jolting her out of a rather ill-advised daydream.

“Well, he apologised for being an idiot and breaking up with me. That was a good start. Then we just spent the rest of the night catching up and he did ask for my number so we can keep in touch from now on. He says he’d like to come and see me dance at some point but if that happens I’ll be very surprised if I’m honest. He came before when we were in Virginia but I think he hated it.”

“I’m glad to hear he apologised at least and that you both had a good night. If he’s serious about wanting to see you dance, I’ve still not allocated my tickets for your show in a few weeks. I wonder if both the boys would like to come…?”

“Would like to come where?” cut in Gordon appearing as if from nowhere with his big brother following close behind.

“To the ballet. Catriona is dancing Giselle 2 weeks tonight and I happen to have spare tickets. Then maybe we could do something together afterwards?”

“Sounds good to me” grinned Gordon. “I’ve never been to the ballet before. What part are you dancing?”

“Giselle… Um, the title role.” Cat elaborated when Gordon looked blankly at her.

“Awesome. It’ll be even more fun if we know the main dancer! You in Scott?”

“Absolutely. Wouldn’t miss it. Send me the details Penny and we’ll make sure we’re there.”

“Are you sure guys? That’s so sweet of you both. It’s one of my favourites so I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” Catriona was delighted that they had agreed to go so readily but was suddenly hit by a wave of nerves about her performance. Stifling a yawn, she decided it was on the list of things that she could worry about in the morning before admitting to her host that she would need to go and saying her goodbyes to the Tracy boys.

“Wait!” Cat turned around in surprise as Scott jogged up beside her as she waited in the cool night air for her taxi. “I didn’t want you to have to wait alone, or let you leave without telling you how much I’ve enjoyed seeing you again.”

“You already did that didn’t you? When you got my number and promised to message me in the morning?” she laughed.

“OK you caught me. I just wanted to say goodbye without an audience.” Scott admitted, holding out his arms and looking so hopeful that Cat couldn’t help but comply.

“Goodbye Scott” Cat folded herself into his embrace, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation of his warm body pressing against hers through the thin material of her dress, familiar strong arms around her waist holding her tightly. Pulling back slightly, ice blue and sapphire locked together as their eyes met. Cat didn’t move for a long while – held there by the sheer intensity of his gaze.

“We can’t” she said at length, breaking the moment. “We’ve both had a lot to drink and we’ve only just met each other again.”

Scott lowered his eyes. “I know” he sighed. No matter how much his brain knew that it was the right thing to do, it didn’t stop his heart from sagging in disappointment anyway.

The clung to each other a moment longer, their foreheads resting against each other in a pose that had been so familiar when they were together before she pulled back a little, a grin spreading over her face which experience told him meant trouble.

“And anyway, you’d just be a distraction if we did and I can’t afford to have that right now” she managed to deadpan before collapsing into giggles as Scott raised an eyebrow and tried to desperately to maintain some kind of dignity before her infectious laughter overtook him and they collapsed into each other, holding each other up as they gasped for breath.

Watching her walk away once they had regained some composure, Scott started to realise just how big a mistake he’d made all those years ago.

[pjbehindthesun]

chapter 28: rock, paper, scissors, shoot

(okay, I finally gave up on this impossibly long chapter that was taking me forever to complete and split it into two chapters so I’d have something to show for myself after such a long break. so here’s the first part. my apologies if this approach makes for an underwhelming update. here goes... something.)

Monday, November 12th, 1990

That wasn’t so bad. I mean, we were all pretty loose, so there were plenty of fuck-ups, which would ordinarily make me crazy, but perfection wasn’t the point of this show. That was never the point. Andy wouldn’t have given a shit about it, anyway. He was always able to roll with absolutely anything that happened and pull it off as though he’d planned it the whole time. Even though we just stepped off the stage, I’ve already forgotten the finer details of what we played or how we sounded. It already feels like a dream that’s slipping away the moment you wake up and try to pin down what was so memorable about it. All I’m hanging onto is the feeling that it was fucking fun, that the people here understood why we did it. I think he would have loved it. 

And, bonus: at least I remembered to wear pants this time. Nothing worse than playing a show and looking down at your guitar halfway through to realize you forgot to put on pants and the whole room’s just staring at your underwear. Brutal. 

Pushing my way further and further out from the stage isn't helping me regain my sense of clarity. People keep clapping me on the back, talking to me as I move by them, but I don’t recognize anyone, and the crush of people just gets denser, hotter, less familiar. More striking than anyone’s features is the glare from the disco ball, which keeps fucking up my equilibrium and making it that much harder to focus. Everyone’s shouting, god, why is it so fucking loud in here? and it feels like someone’s calling me, but I can’t figure out who, or from where. Everyone’s voice kinda sounds like Charlie Brown’s parents… distorted, underwater… except for that nagging feeling that someone’s calling my name, clear as a bell, and I can’t figure out who… 

Until a hand, smaller, with fingers that somehow manage to feel chilly despite the stifling heat in this place, slips into mine, lacing our fingers tightly before pulling my arm nearly out of its socket, and I break into a smile. None of the faceless people around me indicate that the hand is theirs, but that’s okay, I know exactly whose it is as it makes every effort to pull me off my feet unless I finally start moving and follow it. That’s fair. You got me. We’ve stalled long enough. “Sorry, excuse me, sorry,” I offer again and again as I stumble through the herd, shouldering past strangers, laughing in delirium, squinting ahead to try to get a glimpse of her as she tows me in her wake, but I can’t see shit, so it’s a wasted effort, at least until we get a little farther out from the center of the crowd. Where are we even going? Ah, fuck it, just let it happen. I’ve got a good feeling about it.

Sure enough, the sea of people thins out just enough that I can see my own hand, holding tightly to the one directing me on a circuitous path all throughout the room, and I let my gaze follow up along the arm it’s attached to: the arm wearing a much-too-big green sweater with the cuffs rolled up, the long red hair swaying to the quick rhythm of her gait, occasionally allowing the smallest glint of a tiny, brass, star-shaped earring if she turns her head just slightly, so fleeting that there’s no way I’d know what shape it was unless I already knew it was there, but of course I do. My laughter gets louder, and she doesn’t turn around, but her voice floats over her shoulder and into my ears with perfect clarity, cutting through any other noise even though it’s barely above a whisper. 

“Shut up, Stone, let’s get out of here.” 

“This isn’t the way outside…” 

“Did I say it was?” 

She’s dragged me back toward the stage, or behind it, and we’re squeezing behind an amp and a partial curtain into the world’s tiniest alcove. I didn’t know this was even here… how did she even know this was here? How does she always know? It’s so dark behind the curtain that I can’t even see her anymore, but I don’t need to, not once her arms are wound around my neck and her lips are on mine. The outcome is inexorable. I’m not going to put up a fight. I’ve got her skirt tugged up to her hips… it’s always the same skirt, every time, and thank god for that… and she’s just begun to unbuckle my belt when deafening sirens assault my ears and break my concentration. What the fuck? Who called the cops? Wait a minute… this is the fucking Off Ramp, not some baby teenage all-ages show, a raid doesn’t even make any sense, unless… 

...it’s my alarm clock. Fuck. 

That’s the third time in a week I’ve had this exact same dream. I close my eyes and sink back into the pillow, trying to hang onto the fading vividness of it, while at the same time feeling like an absolute moron for savoring this ridiculous fantasy my subconscious is so fond of. We’re in such a weird place right now, me and Cora. Who knows what the hell's gonna happen at the show tomorrow night, but definitely not that. No way. I mean, not that I’d protest if it did, but I’m pretty sure she’s too busy pretending I don’t exist to have time to drag me into a darkened corner and have her way with me.

Jesus, we’ve really made a mess of this whole thing. I don’t think she said a single word to me last night. I kept trying to get her attention, but she acted like I wasn’t even there! I'd even planned to try to ditch everyone else at the end of the night so I could get her alone for thirty seconds, but after receiving her silent treatment, I chickened out. I'm not exactly proud of myself, but what would I have even said? That I’m sorry I’ve made everything so awkward lately, that I was hoping to slow things down between us just a little bit but not All The Way Down, that I really want to talk to her, that there’s no rush, that she just needs to tell me when she’s ready and I’ll be here? 

...wait, actually, that’s probably a pretty good idea… 

Enough of this shit. I pick up the phone and punch in her number, but the sound of her answering machine after the fourth ring takes the wind out of my sails. Still, I’ve got to say something, the tape’s already picked up… 

***

“Hey, Eddie!” 

“Huh? Oh, hey.” I look up from the hallway carpet pattern to acknowledge the person I almost ran into: a sweaty, panting Cora, obviously just back from a run and waiting for me to get out of the way of her door. “Sorry,” I offer as I edge over to the other side of the hallway and try to keep going. Of all the people to run into, the person I always accidentally say too much around is the worst case scenario right now. I can’t catch a fucking break.

“You’ve got the worst timing, you know that?” she grins as she fumbles for her door key. 

“What do you --” 

“Not that it’s a bad thing! It’s kind of comforting at this point. I just feel like I always run into you at the worst possible times, like, some kind of terrible shit’s just happened in my personal life, or I look like I’ve been dragged by a city bus for sixteen blocks,” she waves lazily at her appearance with her free hand, glancing over with that characteristic Cheshire Cat look still plastered on her face. “Don’t know if I’ve ever actually told you that, but you have the worst timing in the world. It’s like you have some kind of ‘not right now’ sensor.” 

“I can fucking relate,” I mutter bitterly, sidestepping past her. 

“Hey! Get back here!” 

Her shout sets my teeth on edge. I should just keep walking. I should just keep walking. I should just get in my fucking truck and start driving. But something makes me stop, turn, and stare at her shoes. 

“Look, Cora, it’s just not a good time, alright?” 

“You could have just said that.” 

“I’m pretty sure I just did.” 

“Well you don’t have to bite my head off about it, I’m not trying to keep you against your will! And not that it matters now, but I actually meant it as a compliment.” 

“Yeah, you’ve got a funny way of paying people compliments.” 

“Don’t mind me, I’m still punishing you for calling me diplomatic.”

“Won’t make that mistake again.” 

She heaves a deep sigh, and I watch her sneakers shuffle as her posture shifts. “I meant it, Eddie, it’s always good to see you. Even when it’s not. I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to start a fight, it just came out wrong.” 

“Yeah… okay. Look, I should probably be going…” 

“What’s going on, bud, you okay?” 

When I finally force myself to look up at her face, it’s creased with something more like concern than the hostility I’d expected, and I feel my shoulders drop from my ears. I hadn’t even realized how tightly I’d been holding them there. I let my hands flex, aware now that they’d been balled up into fists. What an idiot. Of all the people I’d like to have a shouting match with right now, Cora’s pretty far down the list.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just… tired. You’re the same way, you know? You’re always running into me in the wrong place at the wrong time too.” I try for a smile, but it must be a pretty pitiful attempt, because it makes her crack up into that slightly husky laugh of hers.

“Terrible timing is our superpower, I guess.” 

“Guess so,” I concede, except to me, it’s not really all that terrible. The thing about this woman is that she always turns the wrong place at the wrong time into someplace that’s worth inhabiting. She always manages to pick me up and dust me off and make me feel like everything’s going to be okay. I have no idea how she does that, but I’m not about to try to admit it to her right now. 

“So you’re fleeing town, I take it?” 

“What?” 

One eyebrow shoots up. “Your bag?” 

“Oh. Uh, no, I'm driving back to San Diego tonight. To get the rest of my stuff." I wave my little duffel bag forward like a white flag, a plea for forgiveness after having been such a grouchy bastard.

"Didn't you already do that?" 

“Well, I did one trip, yeah, but not everything fit in my truck the first time, so my buddy’s been holding onto some of it for me. And… uh, Beth called him this weekend, she found some of my stuff mixed in with hers, you know, records and some other things I actually want back, so I kinda feel like I should…" 

"Oh." 

"Yeah."

“Is she gonna meet you to give it back, or...?”

“No, that’s the kicker, she gave it all to him already, said there wasn’t any point in us seeing each other.” 

“Fuck. That’s kind of harsh.” 

“You’re telling me.”

“And will this be another pharmacologically enhanced journey?” She mimes hand tremors. 

“Nah, I’ll be good.” 

“‘Good’ being defined as someone who pulls over onto the side of the road to take a nap like a normal human being, right? So I don’t have to delve into the dark arts and resurrect you from the dead just to kill you for being a fucking impulsive idiot, right?” The tremors start creeping toward my throat menacingly, and I can’t help laughing as I try to bat them away.  

“On my idiot honor.” 

“K. Good to know I still terrify you,” she nods approvingly as she drops her hands. 

She does terrify me. Yet another thing I can’t admit. You’d have to be a much more committed idiot than me not to recognize Stone’s feelings for her, and I’m not about to let this little fascination of mine make waves with my new bandmate. It’s just a phase. A phase with the worst timing in the world.

“But hey, this means you’ll have to fill me in on every detail of the show tomorrow night,” I plead. 

“Uh huh.” Cora starts fidgeting with her keys again. 

“You’re going, aren’t you?” 

“Uh, I haven’t decided. I have a lot of work to do this week, and extra shifts at Cyclops to make up for last week, and…” 

“...and I’m pretty sure both Chris and Stone will never forgive you if you don’t go, and neither will I, since I need the full report, so just accept your fate already.” 

“Don’t tell me what to do,” she snaps defiantly, but her face is pure mischief again as she opens her door and looks up. “Want me to earn some bad karma in exchange for Beth’s while you’re gone? I could put her number inside the mens’ bathroom door at the Off Ramp? You know, ‘for a good time, call...’”

My jaw drops, but I can’t stop myself from laughing. “Don’t! That’s diabolical!”

“Or maybe I could interest you in a donation to the Seattle Zoo in her honor?” 

“A charitable contribution? Not that I’m arguing, but how exactly is that karmic justice?” 

“They might be willing to name their most disgusting sea slug after her? Come to think of it, I don’t know the going rate for christening a sea slug, but it can’t be that expensive, right?” 

“Ha, you sound like you’ve given this revenge concept a fair amount of thought…” 

“Oh, never mind, you’re probably one of those boring decent human being types who takes the best revenge by falling in love again and being all happy and living some kind of long, fulfilling life, huh?” 

I study my own shoes this time, trying not to smile too crazily. “One can only hope.” 

“Drive safe, bud. I’ll miss you at the show.” 

One last Cheshire Cat grin is visible along her profile before she disappears into her apartment. With a big sigh, I continue my trajectory down the stairs and back into the mess of my old life. At least now I’ve got some more uplifting thoughts to mull over on my long drive. 

***

Only after a horrifically wasteful long, hot shower do I notice the light on my answering machine. Hmph. I wonder how many messages have racked up since whenever the last time was that I checked it. I haven't been home a lot lately, thanks to playing catch-up everywhere else -- the lab, the cafe, my friendships… at least, those friendships that seem to miss me… at any rate, it’s probably good for me to be away from this apartment as much as I can. It feels so alien now. Sterile. It probably mostly feels that way because I’ve been cleaning it obsessively whenever I have any downtime, but it’s hard to ignore how silent living alone is. I’ve never had to do that before. I used to think I’d be really good at living alone, I mean, Alex was hardly ever around when he did live here, so what difference does it make now that he’s moved out? Logically, it shouldn’t matter at all, but the bewildering vastness of a double bed that’s officially single-occupancy, the sink that stays clean after I do the dishes, the gap-toothed voids on the shelves where his things used to be, all team up to make the absence unmistakable. It’s too quiet and too clean here without him. Not that having him around would make my life any better. I don’t really miss him, but there’s this weird Alex-shaped hole in my life now. 

It feels forbidden to push play on the answering machine, like I’m making too much noise in church, but I have a sudden and violent need to fill this place with something different.  

A sharp, throat-clearing cough is the first sound that greets my ears. Recognizing instantly who the cough came from, I freeze up and start to chew my nails. 

"Hey, Cora, uh, sorry, guess you already left… I only tried calling this early because I figured you'd still be at home. Uh…" 

As Stone fumbles his words, I feel an intense desire to scoop each one up and hold onto them, turn them over in my hands, inspect them, stash them in my pockets for safekeeping. I really miss the sound of his stupid voice. 

"I was… I was actually hoping to talk to you last night, but y'know, with everyone around, I didn't want to…"

He trails off as though his meaning is obvious, but I want to reach through the phone and rattle him by his bony shoulders. WHAT? You didn't want to what? What couldn’t you say with everyone around? Why couldn’t you just shake them off and come back? Why can't you just say it now? Spit it out, Stoner! 

"Anyway, I just wanted to call and make sure you were coming to the show tomorrow. It's just… it's not a big deal or anything, it's just kind of a big deal to me that you're there, you know?" 

Oh. I mean, obviously, that was all it was. Just calling around to make sure people show up tomorrow night. I'm sure he and the guys have all been making the rounds. I shouldn't have expected anything different, honestly. I bet he called every single person he knows. 

But is it a big deal to him that every single person he knows is there? Or is it just a big deal that I’m there? 

God, I need to get over myself, why would it matter to him if I’m there? That’s not the reason I should go to the show. I should go to support him. To support all of them. My friends. That’s what tomorrow’s about. It’s not about… whatever this is… or was, or… what is it now, anyway? I wish I could just talk to him about it, I wish… 

I run out of time to angst, because his perfunctory message wraps up and I’m just contemplating saving this tape so I can replay it over and over to continue my obsessive analysis when the next message starts. A dry voice, with dry information. It’s the women’s health clinic I went to last week. My test results came back all clear, and they’re just calling to double-check the address of the pharmacy where I want my birth control prescription renewed. This set of sentences layers over top of the fresh memory of Stone’s voice in a way that makes my stomach fill with butterflies. Juvenile, maybe, but not unwelcome. But the next sound on the tape dissolves the butterflies in a churn of acid. 

“Hey, C….” Alex’s voice drapes itself over the tape in his usual bored, lazy tone. He’s overdoing it. It makes me wince. “How’s things?”

He waits, like he’s expecting an answer, and the silence in the apartment feels even more uncomfortable now that it’s been broken by his voice again. “I was just calling to give you my new number, if you want it, it’s --” 

I don’t. I don’t! Why the hell would I want your new number? 

“It’s, uh, well, it’s the number at Cindy’s place, I… I’m living here now, we, uh... just, if you need to find me for any reason.” 

I won’t. There’s no reason, ever, not ever. Get out of here, get out, stop talking, get out of my apartment…

“Uh, I think I saw you at the grocery store the other day. You looked… you looked really good. At least I’m pretty sure it was you. Heh, it’s hard to miss all that beautiful red hair. I didn’t want to come up and say hi, I figured I’d just be bothering you, but I just wanted you to know… you looked great. Seeya round, C.” 

The last message ends. I look down at the small cassette in my hands, already ejected from the machine with its ribbon unspooled and crushed in my fist, wondering dimly how it got there so fast. It’s not important now. There’s something else I need to take care of. My numb fingers deposit the tape in the trash, grab the kitchen scissors, and let down my soaking wet hair on the way to the bathroom. 

***

Tuesday, November 13th, 1990

“What’s on your mind?” 

I glance over at Jeff as we walk back to our building from the court, trying not to beam too openly as he goofs off with the ball and showcases a Globetrotters spin on his index finger. I’m not sure what the statute of limitations is for harboring a rampant schoolgirl crush on your own boyfriend, but it hasn’t expired yet. He always thinks these games of one-on-one basketball are his idea and that I’m just humoring him by playing along. But the truth is that I’ll gladly soak up any opportunity to marvel at the spectacle of him showing off. I’m dating an athlete? A tall, gorgeous, kind, sensitive, artistic athlete? What parallel universe am I in? Guys like Jeff are never interested in me. It still doesn’t feel real.

“I still can’t believe you let me win.” 

“I still can’t believe you don’t believe me. I got my ass handed to me back there! And I’m not talking about the groping,” he adds as my hand pats around to make sure his ass is still in place. 

“You’re a liar, Ament. I love you for it, but you’re a damn dirty liar.” 

“Am not. You’re just a way better ball-handler than I’ll ever be.” 

“I was talking about the basketball game.” 

“So was I… mostly.” 

“God, you have a one-track mind.” 

“At least you always know what’s on it. So?”

Jeff tucks the basketball under one arm and snakes the other arm around my waist. I always have to stretch out my stride to keep up with him when we walk this way, but it’s worth it to be able to lean into his solid, reassuring frame. Even if we’re both in bad need of a shower before his show tonight. Not that I’m complaining about that being next on our agenda.

“So what?” 

“So, moving in together. Have you given it any more thought or not?” 

Damn it. I knew he was going to bring it up again eventually, I mean, in fairness, I’ve left him no choice. I’ve acted for a week like he never said anything, and he’s been a gentleman not to hassle me about it. I was just kinda hoping he could keep being gentlemanly and stolid about it forever and save me the trouble of ever making up my mind. 

“Of course I have.” 

“And? What do you think?”

“I think…I need more time to think about it.” 

He deflates against my shoulder. “What’s to think about? You love me, right?” 

“Of course.” 

“We spend all our time together.” 

“As much as humanly possible.” I snuggle him tighter, hoping to squeeze more confidence into him. 

“This is the best relationship I’ve ever been in, I don’t plan on it ever ending.” 

“Well that’s good, because you’re definitely stuck with me.” 

“So? Moving in’s the next logical step.” 

“But just because something’s the next logical step, doesn’t mean you have to take it right away, right?” 

“...no…” 

“I mean, why mess with a good thing? What if we move in together and it screws the whole dynamic up, and we suddenly realize we hate each other?” 

Jeff stops in his tracks. “Do you think that’s likely?” 

“No! No, I’m not saying that’ll happen, just… everything’s so good right now, why do we need to change it?” I tug on his tree-like midsection to get him to start walking again, and he obliges. 

“Because what if the change is even better? Isn’t it a much more likely scenario that we’ll be really good at this whole living together thing?” 

“Sure.” 

“So why not just do it?” he huffs, sounding increasingly frustrated as we turn the last street corner and our building looms into view, as if it’s eavesdropping on our conversation. 

“I… just… I don’t know, if it isn’t broken…” 

“But we hardly ever spend time separately in our own apartments when we’re both home.” 

“No, but it’s kinda nice that we have the option…” 

“Is paying rent twice really worth the option? Is it that important to you to be able to get away from me?” 

“Hey! Don’t do that.” I’m the one who stops dead this time, dropping my arm from his waist. “It’s not about wanting to get away from you, I just… I like having the option to keep my own space, to change my mind if we need to blow off steam, or --” 

“God, Lucy, you’re so…”

“So what??” 

“So… stubborn! It’s the exact same with work! You hate your job, you know you want to do something else, you even know what you want that something else to be, you have a career path all picked out, so why don’t you fuckin’ go after it?” 

“Uhhh, because it’s a lot of additional classes and loans? And I’ve only been out of school a couple years and I’m enjoying not being a student for the first time ever? And my job may be boring but it pays well? And it’s fine for now, and I like the way my life is now? And it’s none of your damn business and you have no right to pressure me?” 

His face crumples in on itself, and I instantly feel horrible for unloading on him like that, even though he gave as good as he got. When he speaks again, his voice is more subdued. 

“I’m sorry, babe, I just… I don’t get it. I don’t get not going for the things you want, I don’t get wasting time if you want to change a situation, I don’t… I just don’t get it.”

I do. Well, I get where he’s coming from, at least. I know how many times he’s had the rug pulled out from under him when he worked hard for something he wanted. I know he’s lost people he’s close to. I know where this carpe diem thing comes from. But just because I get it, that doesn’t mean I have to abide by the same code. What if my version of carpe diem looks different than his? I wish he could get that into his head. But I’m turned inside out from our first real fight, so spitting out any kind of coherent explanation feels impossible. 

“I know. Just give me a little more time.” 

Jeff nods, accepting defeat, or at least a truce, and we plod up the stairs together in silence. I decide to stop at the third floor and let him go on to the fourth, because if ever there was a time to take advantage of having separate corners to cool down in, it’s now. We’re going to the show at separate times anyway. He doesn’t argue. He just shrugs and heads on without me. 

But I don’t key into my own place. I listen to his footsteps, wait for the sound of a door upstairs, count to ten, take a deep breath, and start up after him. This whole issue is so fucking stupid, why are we fighting about it? Obviously I love him and he loves me, and this is just a dumb misunderstanding of each other's priorities. I should just go spit it out, right? He'll understand, right?

Instead, I find myself stopped short in front of Cora's door. I know I should go talk to Jeff, but no one understands me quite like she does, and I really just want a sympathetic ear. As usual, her door is unlocked, and as usual, I let myself in like I live here, basking in the familiarity, in the reassurance of a known quantity, until… 

“Oh… my god… Cora... WHAT the FUCK did you do with your hair????”

[ghostsinthewoods]

"And so, basically, Cole's dad might be a cultist, and also might know we had something to do with his buds dying. Oh, and I've been having dreams about those dudes in the mine. So that's how my week's going."

It was early in the evening, and the band had finished practice. Mae had contacted Gregg on Chattrbox the night before, asking if he could set up a band practice day. He had been more than happy to. Maybe he'd known Mae had something she needed to talk about. Maybe he just wanted to chill with his friends.

Whatever it was, they'd taken another shot at playing Casey's song, Born to Lose. The more Mae thought about that song, the more it resonated with her. Had Casey been going through stuff like she was going through?

Minus the cult and weird dreams, of course.

When they'd finished their band jam, Mae sat everyone down and explained the situation. Bea was the only one who seemed overtly concerned. Gregg and Angus took what Mae was saying seriously, thank God, but they seemed more worried about Mae's panic attack.

Germ wasn't there, and that was odd. Germ had shown up at all of their band jams lately. Whatever. He was probably off doing his Germy business.

When Mae was done explaining her situation, Angus was the first one who spoke. "Mae," he said, "I don't mean to doubt you, but you don't have that much evidence to go off of. I mean, last year, you at least saw someone."

"And I had weird dreams," Mae pointed out quickly.

Angus seemed to reluctantly concede that point. "Okay, sure," he said. "This time, though, you just have a guy acting strange."

"Ordinarily I'd agree with you," Bea said as she too a drag of her cigarette. "But Mae told us all what Leon said at the mines. Talking about how he hoped no one was caught in the cave-in? That's kind of suspicious to me."

Everyone seemed to digest what Bea had just said. After a bit, Mae spoke. "Who's Leon?" She asked.

It must have been a dumb question, because Bea looked as if Mae had just asked what shoes were. "Cole's dad?" Bea said. "His name is Leon. Did you seriously not know that? You remember almost everyone's names."

Mae frowned. "Yeah, but when I was hanging out with Cole, I didn't, like, regularly ask him what his dad's name was. That's not something people do. When you made out with Steve, did you go around asking what his dad's name was?"

Bea groaned, rolling her eyes. Gregg and Angus both seemed taken aback.

"Wait, what?" Gregg asked, shocked. A big smile spread over his face. Apparently, he found this more hilarious than disturbing. "Oh. My. God. Bea made out with Scriggins?"

"Can we please get back on track?" Bea snapped. She sounded pretty impatient. Mae made a mental note to avoid bringing up her past with Steve from then on. Not unless it would be really, really funny.

"Right, so," Angus said, trying his best to move on from the Scriggins Smooching. "I guess it's possible he could be one of them. That means that there could be any number of others."

Oh, shit. Mae hadn't thought of that. If one member hadn't been there, then who knew how many others might have been absent on the night of the cave-in. If that was the case, then who in town was one of them? Who was planning revenge, or trying to get back into the mines?

Angus continued. "Even if he is one of them, there's no way he'd know we killed the others."

"What if he does know, though?" Mae asked. "What if he's, like, psychic or something? That lead guy said that some of them had a glimmer, or something." Not to mention how Eide had suddenly shown up behind them in the elevator. God, Mae had nightmares about that for weeks.

A weary sigh caught Mae off-guard. From the look on his face, Mae could see that it had come from Angus. He quickly noticed that everyone's eyes were on him, and his expression went bashful. "Sorry," he mumbled.

It took Mae a second to calculate what was going on. When she figured it out, though, she was baffled. "Angus, do you not think he could be psychic? That one guy, like, teleported or something."

Mae studied everyone's faces. From the look on Gregg's, it seemed he wasn't fully convinced, himself. Bea, meanwhile, just looked tired. Mae was guessing that she and Angus had discussed this topic before.

"I can't explain how the guy who grabbed you got on the elevator," Angus confessed. "But, I mean, my mind doesn't immediately leap to supernatural powers. He might have snuck on behind us."

Mae stared blankly at Angus. "Dude," she said. "You saw him. He popped in out of nowhere. That thing in the hole gave him, like, freaky powers."

Angus didn't respond right away. It seemed like he was having a hard time saying whatever he wanted to. Mae watched as Gregg reached out and put a comforting hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. It was gestures like that that made her love those two.

Finally, Angus spoke.

"Mae," he said. "I'm not entirely sure there was anything in that hole."

If Mae was baffled before, she needed a new word for how she felt now. Flummoxed? Shocked? Flabbergasted? Whatever. Angus had just thrown Mae for a loop, and she needed a minute to wrap her head around what he'd said. "What?" She asked.

Angus looked slightly embarrassed. "Like, I can't explain everything that happened last year. But the skeptic in me can't just instantly accept that there was some sort of… eldritch god in that mine."

"But we felt something!" Mae exclaimed. "Or at least I did!"

Angus sighed. "Mae, have you ever heard of Saint Luven's Lantern?"

Mae frowned. "What, is that an anime?" She asked. "I don't watch anime, Angus. Not since I was, like, twelve."

"No, it's not an anime," Angus said wearily. "It's a phenomenon where specific underground gases can lead to specific individuals experiencing hallucinations. They start hearing things, or feeling unseen presences. When the mines were open, Possum Springs had a real problem with gas leaks causing people to act strangely."

Mae wanted to retort that what she'd felt was no hallucination. But something about what Angus said scared her. Her experiences with that thing, that Black Goat, had just been feelings. Feelings and sounds and dreams. Saint Whoever's Lantern didn't explain everything, but it explained a lot.

"So, it wasn't a cult of murderous baby boomers," Bea said. "It was a cult of murderous baby boomers who'd been gassed out of their minds?"

Angus just shrugged. "I mean, it makes sense, doesn't it? There might be a gas leak in town that hasn't been discovered yet."

To Mae's surprise, Bea was the one out of the group to express some doubt. "I don't know if I buy that," she said. "At least, not completely. I definitely felt something down there. What are the odds that me and Mae would both be affected by the gas or whatever?"

"I mean, it's just a theory," Angus said defensively. "It doesn't even explain everything, but it's all I've got. I'd rather believe those guys were just crazy. It's better than believing there's something living in the mines."

Mae still couldn't believe that Angus didn't believe what she believed had happened, but she believed she could understand. After hearing about Whatever's Lantern, Mae wasn't so certain herself anymore. That night in the mines had had a dreamlike quality, and Mae herself wasn't sure what she'd experienced and what she'd imagined.

It was scary, not knowing what was real and what wasn't.

"Okay, getting back on track," Gregg said, "Even if this guy is one of those guys, what are we supposed to do?"

Mae thought about it for a bit. "We could stalk him!" She exclaimed. That got her more than a few odd looks from her friends. Jeez, why were Mae's friends always so down on her great ideas?

"Mae, that doesn't sound like a great idea," Bea said. "For a lot of reasons. I mean, either he's a cultist and he tries to kill us, or he's a normal guy and he calls the police."

"He'll only kill or arrest us if we get caught," Mae said slyly, an eyebrow cocked. Nobody seemed to be buying her logic.

Mae threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "Okay, fine." She said. "We'll just live the rest of our lives never knowing if we're gonna get murdered to death. That's cool. That's a good idea. Not like I don't already have enough on my plate already without this shit."

"I'm not saying we should do nothing," Bea said with a sigh. "But Mae, this isn't some kid's detective story. We need to be smart about this. Or at least smarter than we were last year."

"What about what we did last year wasn't smart?" Mae asked defensively.

"I mean, you wound up getting shot at and having a mini breakdown inside of a mine," Gregg pointed out. "I'd personally like to avoid anything that leads to that happening."

"Same," Angus said.

Okay, that was fair. But what were the odds of that happening again? Pretty good, actually. Lots of people in Possum Springs owned guns. Casey had been really looking forward to being able to buy a bunch of guns. That wasn't going to happen now, sadly. Unless they sold guns in the afterlife.

"I guess we could, like…" Mae rubbed her chin. "I dunno. We could go around town. Try and find leads about, like, culty stuff."

"What kinda leads?" Gregg asked.

Bea piped in with her own comment. "They were a secret cult that was only around since the 90's," she said. "That's only, like, twenty years. They might not have left a lot of clues. Or maybe they did. I don't know what people did in the 90's."

"I remember a lot of weird commercials," Angus said.

Mae struggled to keep her mind focused on the topic at hand, and not get distracted by thinking of commercials from the 90's she remembered. She tried, instead, to think of anything weird that had been happening lately; anything that might point towards cult activity.

Nothing really came to mind aside from Cole's dad. They could always check out the mines, but what would that accomplish? Those old tunnels were sealed shut, more or less.

There had to be something, though. Were Mae's feelings of general unease related to supernatural events, or was she just… sad? If Mae's dreams meant anything, she was carrying some serious guilt around. Guilt about things she couldn't say, and about secrets she had to keep.

Just then, Mae experienced what nerds in college refer to as a Eureka moment. Mae didn't know what Eureka meant, though, so instead she just thought 'Holy shit!'

There was one thing that all of Mae's dreams lately had had in common: Possum Leap. At first, Mae thought she was dreaming about Possum Leap because of her guilt towards Levy. But Levy and Mae were cool now. So why would Mae still be dreaming about it?

Mae remembered last year, on the night of Harfest, when she'd had a dream about a well. The well that had been their one way out after the cave-in. That had definitely been weird. Not a lot weirder than other stuff, but weird nonetheless.

The more Mae thought about it, the more sense it made. Finally, when she'd convinced herself, she spoke up. She tried her best to make her hunch sound as normal as humanly possible.

"Hey, I've had weird dreams about Possum Leap. Let's go up there."

Everyone stared at Mae for a minute. Mae was kind of used to people looking like that when she said something like this. Bea opened her mouth to speak. Mae didn't want to answer whatever question she had, so Mae just kept talking.

"Look, it's better than nothing, right?" Mae asked.

"Technically, I guess?" Angus said. "I haven't been up to Possum Leap since high school."

"None of us have, I think," Gregg said. "Not since that party where Mae got covered in chips and got into a fist fight with Ron Boonstra."

Mae frowned. "Okay, I've tried to block out a lot of that night, but I'm fairly certain that didn't happen." She felt like she'd remember getting into a fight with a big footballman. "Well, whatever. We can all head up there tonight, right?"

Gregg and Angus exchanged a look while Bea took a drag of her cigarette. Mae knew that look. It was the 'Should you tell her, or should I tell her we have plans?' look. Evidently, they settled on having Gregg tell her, as he was the one to speak up.

"We're actually expecting a phone call tonight," Gregg said. "Like, the landlord in Bright Harbor should be calling us. Probably."

This upset Mae, but not because of her mixed feelings about Gregg's move. "What kind of landlord makes a phone call after six?" She asked.

"Unorthodox business hours," Angus said, "are a sign of cheap apartments."

Mae guessed that made sense. She didn't have enough experience with apartments to question it, really.

"I can take you, Mae," Bea said. Mae felt herself let loose a sigh of relief. She didn't wanna hike out to Possum Leap, so Bea's car was a blessing. "Don't want you wandering around the woods at night. Alone. Again."

Mae groaned and rolled her eyes. "You guys are never gonna let that go, are you?"

It had been a few years since Casey had driven Mae and the gang up to Possum Leap. As Bea drove her up along that familiar road, though, Mae found that the sights were oddly familiar. She wasn't sure why; Possum Leap wasn't a very common destination for her.

Some landscapes just kind of stick in a person's mind.

Mae was still looking out the window when the car gradually came to a stop. Mae snapped back to reality to find that Bea hadn't driven up into the woods, like Mae had expected. Rather, Bea had done the boring thing and parked in the parking lot.

"Don't feel like off-roading?" Mae joked as she popped the door open and hopped out onto the black, hot parking lot.

"There's a parking lot for a reason, Mae," Bea said. Stepping out of the car, she slammed the door shut behind her and lit a fresh cigarette. Mae watched Bea take a long, deep drag before Mae decided to start walking to the forest.

Mae looked around at the nearly empty parking lot. Though it was late, the sky was darkening slowly. Days were getting longer and longer.

Aside from Bea's car, there were only a few trucks scattered around at opposite sides of the lot. They probably belonged to people who… went into the woods and did woods stuff. Like, the people who cleaned the woods and took care of the trees. Or maybe druids? Druids probably didn't drive trucks.

The trucks didn't matter. They were just something to look at. Mae had to look at them to avoid looking at the big, creepy statue at the very end of the parking lot. Unfortunately, with the way Bea had parked, the two of them had to pass by the statue as they made their way into the woods.

Mae was happy to just walk past the damn thing, but then Bea spoke up. "Wait, hold up. I wanna look at this."

Reluctantly, Mae came to a stop a few feet away from the memorial. Bea was looking at it with mild interest. Her eyes drifted from the statue to the podium it stood on, and the plaque that was attached. Judging by how quickly Bea had stopped looking at the statue, Mae guessed she found it creepy, too.

On the surface, the thing wasn't too creepy. It was just an old statue of a Civil War guy. But it was the details that really amped up the spook factor. Whatever they had made the statue out of, it was almost pitch black. Not gray, or dark gray, but as black as the space between the stars.

The stone figure's head was bowed. With Bea standing right in front of him, it looked like the statue was staring straight at her. The statue's eyes were big and featureless; freaky, stony circles that seemed to be looking at everything all at once.

Mae's family had come up here once or twice in the past, back when her Granddad was still alive. Mae had been really freaked out by the statue. Hell, she still was. They'd stopped coming to Possum Leap when Mae made it clear how scared she was of the thing.

As Bea read the plaque on the bottom of the statue, Mae wandered behind her best friend. She had always been so scared of the statue that she barely remembered what it said on the plaque. Over Bea's shoulder, Mae read the inscription:

MEMENTO MORI

DEDICATED TO THE 72 BRAVE MEN WHO TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE SKIRMISH AT POSSUM LEAP

NOBODY TOLD THEM THE WAR WAS OVER

Beneath this dedication was a list of the 72 soldiers who had started shooting at each other one week after the Civil War officially ended. Mae's Granddad had been a big Civil War buff, and he had always regarded the Skirmish at Possum Leap as one of the most embarrassing things to ever get a memorial dedicated to it.

Mae guessed it was kind of tragic, in a stupid way.

"Man, can't go ten feet in this town without running into a war memorial," Mae joked. Bea just made a sort of grunt in response. She took another drag of her cigarette and then turned to face Mae.

"So, where's the place you had this party?" She asked.

Mae reached out and pointed at the hill that led into the woods. "Somewhere out there," Mae said. "Amongst the trees and critters. There's, like, a bonfire pit, or whatever you call it. I dunno. Have you seriously never been up there?"

Bea just shrugged. "Don't think so. I don't think we went to a lot of the same parties in high school."

Mae nodded. It was kind of weird to look back and think about the period of time when she and Bea weren't friends. Back in middle school, they'd had a fight. Mae had more or less stopped interacting with Bea after that.

Then, a few months later, the softball incident had happened.

God, that whole stretch of time in Mae's life had been awful. As she and Bea made their way up into the woods, Mae wondered if everything had been kicked off by Granddad's passing. It wasn't the first time Mae had thought this might be the case. Her Granddad had been a huge part of her life, and one day he had just started to fade away.

Mae'd never really talked about this with anyone. She'd made peace with her Granddad's death, more or less, but she still felt as if it had left a mark on her. It was the first bad thing in a long line of bad things.

Another thing for Bort Feldman to hear about, Mae guessed. Her next appointment was what, a week from now? Mae had no idea, really. She needed a calendar or something.

Mae must have been lost in her thoughts for a while, because before she knew it, Bea had stopped. They'd reached the site of the party that Mae tried not to think about.

The place had definitely seen better days. There were all sorts of trash and pieces of crap littered around the site. Plastic cups, scraps of paper, and a countless amount of cigarettes. The charred-black bonfire looked like it hadn't been used in a long while. The trees that surrounded the clearing had all sorts of crude, lewd messages inscribed on them. Someone had actually tried spray painting some of them, it seemed.

"God, old party sites are so depressing," Bea grumbled. Mae was inclined to agree with her.

"I guess teens just don't hang around up here anymore," Mae said. Hands on her hips, she approached the burnt out remains of the last bonfire. She noticed with some disgust that there were a few condoms among the logs and ashes. She hoped they weren't used ones.

"With all the crap around here, I wouldn't either," Bea said.

Mae wandered to one of the overturned logs that formed a square around the burnt out bonfire. It was covered in black, grimy dirt, but Mae had sat on grosser stuff. She hopped onto the log and looked out at the ashen logs.

Bea walked over and joined her, but she didn't sit down. Mae kind of got that. Bea's clothes were nice and stuff. They were a lot nicer than Mae's old jeans that she wore almost every day, at least.

"So," Bea said. "What now?"

Mae pondered that question for a little while before simply shrugging. "I dunno," she said. "I'm not even sure why I thought this was a good idea. It just, like, popped into my head."

Bea raised a brow and gave Mae a mildly concerned look. She held her cigarette between the fingers of her left hand, and the smoke drifted over to tickle at Mae's nose. Mae hated that smell. It didn't help that she was allergic, either. Mae hoped that scientists would invent a cure for allergies soon.

"So, we came here for reasons you don't know, and we're trying to find something you don't know exists," Bea recapped, her tone carrying a light air of sarcasm. "Why are you the one in charge of these investigations, again?"

Mae just scoffed, rolling her eyes a bit. "You don't have to get all snippy, Beatrice. I know this is stupid."

"That's good, I guess," Bea said. "I mean, I'm supporting you here, Mae, but you've gotta plan crap out better."

"Bea, you've known me for years. When have I ever been able to plan anything successfully?"

Bea didn't have an answer for that.

The two sat there for a while longer before Mae finally got fed up with all of it. With a groan, she stood up. The bottom of her pants felt all dirty and muddy, but whatever. She had other jeans. Probably.

"Okay, this is a bust so far," Mae said. "Maybe we should, like, go further out into the woods?"

"I'm pretty sure that's not a good idea," Bea said. "There's, like, a bunch of old houses out here. If we wandered onto someone's private property, we could get arrested or shot at."

Mae laughed at that. "Wouldn't be the first time," she said. "Who lives out here, though? Hermits? Forest wizards?"

Bea sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "I dunno, Mae. Some of the guys at the shop come out here on fixit jobs. I think some rich guy lives out here, too. Like, his great-grandpa owned the old sawmill that shut down."

"You can get rich off of a sawmill?" Mae asked skeptically.

"Rich enough to buy an old cabin in the woods," Bea joked. "I just know about him because he's needed a lot of repair work done lately." She shrugged again, placing the cigarette between her lips. "I'm in no hurry to meet him. Bill says he's a creep."

"Well, he lives in the woods, so that's a given," Mae said.

Bea just laughed at that, and Mae felt her mood improve a little. Bea seemed so sad all the time. It cheered Mae up to make her laugh like that. Mae wished she could to more to help Bea than just make her laugh, though.

The warm spring air drifted through the trees. Everything looked so green as the sun's light began to die down. Mae could hear birds singing, and insects buzzing. Everything felt so relaxing that she almost didn't hear a twig snap from somewhere behind her.

Mae spun around quickly to catch whatever had made the noise. Bea looked on in confusion until her focus shifted to the man standing a few feet away from them.

Mae had never seen the man in town before. She felt like she'd recognize someone who looked like him. He was basically just a skeleton with skin. His angry eyes seemed almost sunken in, surrounded by black circles. The man wore a neck brace, and his right arm was in a sling.

Other than all that, though, he looked kind of like Mae. An older, effed-up, taller version of Mae who was a man who lived in the woods, but a version of Mae nonetheless.

When he spoke, his voice was deep and craggily, yet somehow vaguely familiar.

"What the hell are you kids doing out here?" He asked.

"Adults," Mae corrected. She might have been caught off-guard by this guy, but she wasn't going to let him call her a kid. "Do we need a reason to be out here?"

"Mae, no," Bea whispered. She sounded fairly agitated. Mae guessed she was freaked out by the walking corpse in front of them. That was kind of understandable, but Mae knew he was just some guy. Probably not a zombie.

The man scowled at Mae's response, and put his free arm on his hip. "If you brats don't tell me why you're out here, I'm calling the police. This is private property."

Mae balked at that. She may not have known much about the layout of the town, but she was fairly certain that this guy was screwing with them. "No it isn't!" She cried out.

The man's eyes narrowed. "It's adjacent to private property," he clarified.

"We were just going," Bea said quickly, and she forcibly grabbed onto Mae's shoulder and began guiding her away. Mae glanced over her shoulder at the stranger, who was still glaring at them. Mae didn't know if she'd ever seen anyone look so angry at… well, at everything.

The guy was clearly hostile. Mae decided the smartest decision would be to speak to him respectfully as she and Bea left.

"Have a good evening, creepo. Enjoy your trees."

"Mae, no!" Bea said again, though this time much more harshly. Mae didn't care, though. She didn't mind being chastised for calling out a creep.

The strange man watched angrily as Mae and Bea hurried away. Over her shoulder, Mae watched as the man lifted his free arm up high in the air and raised a single, solitary finger. Mae got the message loud and clear. She lifted her hand and returned the gesture, much to Bea's frustration.

"Oh my god, Mae," she hissed in Mae's ears. "Don't flip off strangers in the middle of the woods! That's common sense!"

"He started it," Mae grumbled. "Guy goes and calls us kids, but he's about as immature as I am."

Bea groaned as the ground evened out beneath them, and before too long they were back at the edge of the parking lot. The war memorial didn't look any less creepy in the dying spring sunlight. Its shadow stretched out across the parking lot; a long, thick arm reaching out to grab Bea's car.

"Who was that guy, anyway?" Bea asked. When they made it onto the blacktop of the parking lot, she finally let go of Mae. Mae, in turn, looked at Bea with a raised eyebrow.

"What makes you think I know?" Mae asked. "He was just some pissed dude in the woods. I don't know a whole lot of those."

Bea shrugged. Her cigarette had burnt down quite a bit. Mae guessed that it'd be going into the car's ashtray before too long. "Well," Bea explained, "I assumed he was pissed because you did something to him. A lot of folks in town have some sort of grudge against you."

Mae scoffed. "What, do you think I broke his arm? Or his neck? I've never seen the guy before today."

"So, he was just some asshole out in the woods?"

"Possum Springs is full of 'em," Mae said in a comically low voice, her eyes narrowed. She returned her expression to normal and chuckled soon after. "No, but seriously. I know this was kind of a bust, but thanks for taking me out here."

Bea nodded. She wasn't smiling; she didn't seem to do that too often anymore. It was a shame, really. Mae had always liked Bea's smile.

"It was no problem," Bea said. "I mean, it wasn't that far of a drive, and I didn't have anything better to do. At least this time we didn't dig up a corpse and get hassled by weird teens."

Mae, who still smiled quite often, did so. "There's always next time," she said.

That got another laugh out of Bea, and Mae was pleased to see it brought a smile to her friend's face. "Okay, you," she said. "Let's get you home. Hopefully we don't bump into any more assholes on the way."

As Mae and Bea made their way back to Bea's car, and the sun set in the darkening sky, Mae found herself feeling better than she had in a while. Hanging with Bea had gotten Mae's mind off of Casey, and Gregg, and Cole's cultist dad. Just being around a best friend could do that, Mae guess.

While Mae and Bea walked, they talked, joked, and Mae teased Bea over her kiss with Steve Scriggins.

Meanwhile, at the top of the hill that led to Possum Leap, the man with his arm in a sling watched them leave.