#anyway it still makes me laugh that my friend thought veronica was Tall because i said she was pretty buff you FOOL shes short and powerful

[dirt-str1der]

Hehe

[artificialqueens]

Carousel (Taywhora) - Plegdoctor

A/N: Right, so fun fact about me, the first drag race fic I ever wrote was actually an Aquaria/Cracker one. It was going to be a high school au but I never ended up finishing it. I recently found it and reread it and found this one scene where they all go to the fair together. So this is a rewrite of a fic that never was! I've obviously had to change some bits to fit the UK2 girls but a lot of it is word for word what I wrote in that little notebook years ago. So yeah, enjoy!

--

Aurora shivered and wrapped her leather jacket tighter around herself. The cool air of the early winter night fluttered through her hair, threading the blonde strands into a tangle. Lights flashed around her, so bright that she could still see them when she closed her eyes.

Although it was cold, she was comfortable. Content. She could hear the music blaring from various rides and stands, the screams of children and the laughter of teens, the chattering of adults. The air was full of food, candyfloss sugar and savoury smells of greasy burgers and hotdogs that would leave her with a stomach ache for two days.

Best of all, the air was electric. There was an energy like no other fizzing across the atmosphere as she looked at her friends with a smile.

Lawrence had dragged Ellie onto the dodgems, despite desperate protestations from the taller girl. And then of course Lawrence had to challenge Tia to a duel of sorts on the damned things, so Tia had persuaded Veronica to go with her and prove the Scot wrong. She could see them now, Ellie’s blonde hair all over Lawrence’s shoulder as she squealed and cuddled into her.

She was going to miss this.

“Look at those two. Bloody disgusting.”

She didn’t even jump as the voice appeared beside her, the smooth Welsh accent already giving it’s owner away. She held her hand out expectantly, pleased when a bag of candyfloss was placed in it.

“They’re so lovesick. It’s cute. Talking of lovesick, where are Bim and Asttina?”

Tayce sighed. “I think they’re still googling whether candyfloss is vegan or not. I told Bims it was because it’s just sugar but they weren’t convinced.”

Aurora held back a giggle and shivered again. Tayce frowned slightly.

“You cold?”

“A little. I’ll be alright when we get moving again.”

“Right. Who’s winning this duel anyway?”

Aurora snorted. “Fuck knows babe, I’m pretty sure Tia and Lawrence have both committed various war crimes while Ellie and Veronica are just trying to stay alive.”

“Well I’ll warm you up while we wait.” Tayce said, slinging an arm around Aurora’s shoulders and pulling her in close. Aurora sighed and snuggled into her friend, her heartrate increasing with the close proximity. She could feel the soft material of Tayce’s coat, count her steady heartbeat, smell the mixture of her expensive floral perfume and the cheap sugar on her breath.

Aurora could’ve stayed there forever, getting drunk on Tayce’s touch.

“We might wanna go back on guys, we shouldn’t interrupt this sexual tension.” Her peace was cut short by a thick Scottish accent.

She sighed. Tayce simply laughed. “Wind your neck in Lozza, let’s not pretend you didn’t take Ellie on that ride just so she’d be pressed up against you.” She called out playfully, her grip not leaving Aurora’s shoulders.

“Get to fuck Tayce, as if I would lower my standards.” She replied, Ellie giving a little cry of indignation from where she was hanging off her arm.

“That’s not what you told me last night, hen.” She teased, the girls erupting into screams of laughter.

They stumbled through the fair together, arms linked as they all shouted along to the tacky music being played. Bimini and Asttina joined them eventually, Asttina carrying Bimini on her back to “give them the experience of being tall.” Eventually they came to a stop in front of the carousel where Ellie gave a gasp of delight and immediately begged them all to go on it.

They dug through their pockets for the £1 needed, handing it to the bored looking man. Ellie immediately found a pure white horse with a pink saddle and clambered onto it, pulling Lawrence up behind her. Bimini and Asttina chose a blue and grey one, while Veronica and Tia predictably end up on a horse with a green saddle.

Aurora circled the horses a few times, scrutinising them.

“It’s not a house you’re looking for Rory, just get on a horse.” Ellie yelled from where she was, Lawrence’s arms around her middle as her head rested on her fluffy pink jacket.

“Here, this one is good.” Tayce said from atop a black and gold one. She reached out a hand to Aurora who took it. She wrapped her arms around her, her head fitting perfectly in the crevice of her shoulder.

“You’re comfy.” She murmured into Tayce’s neck.

“Girls! Picture!” Tia called behind her, holding up her phone as they all smiled at the camera. Aurora’s eyes flicked to the side to see Tayce sticking her tongue out and threw her head back in laughter.

“Did you get my whole outfit in there, Tia?”

“Els, babe, I don’t know how I couldn’t, I’m surprised Lawrence managed to hold onto you.”

“Think you’ll find I’m very good at holding onto her.” Lawrence’s voice was muffled by the fur of Ellie’s jacket. Aurora giggled at Asttina’s fake retch.

“Hold on tight you hound.” Aurora obeyed Tayce’s whispered command immediately, lacing her fingers together over Tayce’s stomach as the music started and the ride started moving.

She wished the ride would never end, savouring the cries of joy from Tayce like they were her favourite sweet. A pang of jealously struck through her heart when she saw Tia in front of them, leaning down to drop a kiss on Veronica’s head that was resting on her chest. Briefly she caught eye contact with Tayce and ripped her eyes away, loosening her grip as a blush spread under her foundation.

“Why’ve you let go Rory? We can’t have you falling off and dying.” Tayce adjusted her hands to once again be tightly looped on her waist. Aurora momentarily stopped breathing.

They remained that way until the ride stopped and they all clambered down from their respective horses. Bimini was back on Asttina’s back while Tia tried to convince Veronica that she was strong enough to carry her like that. Veronica vehemently rejected the idea as Aurora laughed at her friends, her hand entwined with Tayce’s.

People have always told Aurora how brave she is. Brave to wear clashing patterns (yet still make them work), brave to be the first in her friendship group in year five to get the bus alone, brave to be able to talk to anyone. But she doesn’t believe them. If Aurora were as brave as people have told her she is, she would be able to tell Tayce about how she feels.

She has spent many nights curled up in bed, hugging a pillow to her chest as she imagines letting the words spill from her mouth and into Tayce’s heart. The scenarios all have different outcomes. Sometimes Tayce laughed. Harshly, cruelly, softly, disbelievingly. Sometimes she swept Aurora into her arms and dipped her down low, her long fingers curled into Aurora’s blonde hair as she desperately pressed their lips together. Sometimes she gently let Aurora down, promising that they could still be friends.

That one always hurt the worst.

Who would want to be just friends with the girl that they’ve been in love with for two years?

The question spins her head for the rest of the night, until they’ve moved on from the rides and the food and are hanging around the games.

“Maybe someone will win a goldfish.” She suggested idly, wrapped up with Bimini in Tia’s massive puffer jacket. Bimini shook their head from beside her.

“No one gets fish at fairs babe, that’s like an American thing innit.”

“Well how would I know, do I look American?”

“We’ve been coming here since year seven, you would’ve thought you’d learn by now.”

Aurora huffed, her breath coming out as a harsh mist. “I can live in hope that one day I’ll go home with a new pet that my mum can’t say no to.”

“Bold of you to assume you’d win a goldfish; you can barely hook a duck.” Tia called goadingly to her. Aurora rose immediately to the bait.

“I can so hook a duck! Come on slags, we’re going to the hook-a-duck!” Her battle cry rose into the air as she strode in the general direction of the stall, Bimini hopping to keep up.

It emerges that Tia is, unfortunately, right. Aurora is shit at hook-a-duck.

“How can you be bad at hooking a duck? They’re literally right in front of you.” Ellie wondered out loud, leaning on Lawrence as they watched three of their friends hanging over the wooden slats as they poked sticks at floating rubber ducks. Lawrence let out a bark of laughter, and Veronica on her other side spluttered.

“It’s not as easy as it fucking looks!” Aurora threw back, stretching her arm until her shoulder almost popped from its socket.

She pulled back, dejected, and turned around to admit defeat. “Alright Tia, you win this time.”

“You’re great at many things Aurora, but hand eye coordination is not one of them.” Tia replied calmly as Aurora rolled her eyes.

“It’s alright Rory. Look I won this for you.” Tayce pressed a doll into her hands as Aurora spun it in her hands, looking at it with interest. It had blonde hair like hers, done up in a bun the way she wore it all through year eight. It’s dress was green, leaf shaped, with matching wings in the back.

“Tinkerbell?”

“Yep. She reminds me of you.”

“Aww.’ Aurora flushed pink with a mixture of pleasure and embarrassment at Tayce’s words. ‘Why, because I’m just as gorgeous as her?” She suggested, batting her eyelashes jokingly and curling herself around Tayce’s arm. Tayce looked down at her, a glint in her eye.

“Not exactly.”

“Well why then?”

Tayce’s laugh sent the butterflies in Aurora’s stomach insane. “Because she needs attention or she dies.”

“Oh piss off.” She giggled, nudging the taller girl with her hip as the rest of their friends laughed into the open night sky.

She stayed at Tayce’s side, the doll tucked into her bag.

The meandered further around the fair, stopping every now and then for any ride or games that struck their fancy. Their pockets grew lighter as pound coins disappeared, exchanged for screams of laughter and memories that will forever remind them of being young and free.

“You’ll have to tell her eventually.” Ellie said while they’re waiting for the others on the Helter Skelter, arms laden with coats. Aurora shook her head obstinately, her hair swishing down her back.

“Never.”

“You said you’d tell her when I told Loz! And look how happy we are together. Come on hen, you’ve got to take a chance.” Ellie whacked her with Bimini’s leopard print jacket as though to make a point and Aurora batted it away with a long-suffering sigh.

“We’re not like you and Lawrence, Els.”

“You could be though.”

She fixed her friend with a pointed glare, the effect rather ruined with the amount that she has to look up due to Ellie’s (frankly insane) height.

Ellie relented, looking away with a slight furrow in her brow. “Just do it tonight. Get her alone or something.”

Aurora snorted at the assumption that the pair would ever be alone at the fairground.

But, surely enough, the girls began to peel off one by one. More like two by two, it’s Noah’s bloody Ark over here Aurora thought, ignoring Asttina’s weird look when she snorted quietly to herself.

Tia and Veronica said goodbye first, walking off in the direction of Tia’s house with their arms slung around each other. Asttina and Bim were next, both shooting sly glances at Aurora that made her retreat into her jacket as she waved them off. Lawrence seemed ready to stay the entire night, until Ellie began loudly yawning, poking her girlfriend sharply in the ribs with her elbow. Eventually Lawrence got the point Ellie was trying to make (a point that Aurora will murder her for later) and the two sloped off, whispering and giggling. Aurora turned to Tayce with a bright smile plastered on her face.

“Do you want to stay for a bit?” She ventured. Tayce nodded. She linked her arm with Aurora’s, the simple gesture flooding her brain with serotonin.

They circled the fair, tired yet bright eyes looking out for anything they had missed. It seemed ridiculous to Aurora to expect that there was anything new. The fair hadn’t changed since they first went in Year Seven, eight nervous eleven- and twelve-year-olds with pounds in their pockets begged from their mums. Aurora could still remember everything from that night, fresh in her mind as if it had been yesterday.

She remembered the skirt she wore, black and way too short for her age. She remembered the music playing and the way it filled the air with a joy that she had never felt in her life before. She remembered Ellie getting scared at the top of the Helter Skelter and refusing to go down it without Lawrence holding her hand. She remembered the way Bimini had their hair, long crimped locks that frizzed up for at least the next week.

But, perhaps most importantly, she remembered Tayce. What she was wearing, how her hair looked, the brand of eyeliner that was haphazardly pencilled in her waterline. Her generosity in buying the whole group chips and burgers (aside from Bimini, of course, who only had chips). The way her breath curled into the cold air as she yelled encouragements to a trembling Ellie. That moment where she grabbed Aurora’s hand and Aurora felt something small yet inexplicable tug in her chest.

Sometimes she wished they could go back to those days of innocence. Of clumsy flirting and messy mascara. Before everyone coupled up like it was an episode of Love Island.

Before she realised she had a crush on her best friend.

“There’s nothing new here.”

Tayce’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to look at her friend who had a glint of disappointment in her eyes. She snorted and squeezed her arm.

“What did you expect? This place never changes.”

Tayce grinned, the trace of sadness gone from her eyes. “Yeah, I know. That’s what I like about this place sometimes. It’s reliable.”

Aurora shook her head in mock despair. Tayce began walking purposefully, dragging Aurora behind her.

“Where are we going?”

“I want to go on the carousel again!”

“Oh my God my friend is a literal child. Did you have a good day at primary school?” She teased. Tayce screamed and whacked her.

“You bitch! I know that this is your favourite too, Rory, you can’t hide from me!”

It doesn’t take nearly as long to find a horse this time, and soon they’re in a familiar position, Aurora’s chin on Tayce’s shoulder.

“I’m gonna miss this place, Tayce.” She whispered. Her wavering voice betrayed her emotions. Tayce gently ran her thumb over her knuckles.

“Me too.’ She paused, turning her head around as if to take in everything she could. ‘Do you remember when we first came here?”

“Course I do. And we all went on the carousel and you laughed at me because I got my foot stuck and tripped as I was getting off.”

She clung on tighter as Tayce screeched. “Oh, I had almost forgotten about that! See, those are the kind of memories we’re going to take away.”

“What if we didn’t take them away?”

“Are you suggesting we stay here forever?”

“…maybe?”

“Aurora, you’ve been trying to get out of here for the past four years!”

“I know, it’s just,’ She sighed, her nostalgia coming out in a swirl of haze. ‘This is where we all consolidated our friendship.”

“We’ll come back for the fair.”

“Maybe for the first year. But then we’ll all get busy with life and degrees until it gets to the point where we look at old pictures and can’t even remember what year it was.”

“Nah, Bim’s shit hair dying skills have improved over the years, use their hair to judge the year.”

“Tayce-“

“I know, I know.”

They slipped into a brief silence, the background music still loud in their ears as they strained to memorise the notes.

Aurora wasn’t feeling brave.

But, even with her heart heavy from the feeling that this was the end of something, she found that she was happy.

Aurora spent hours looking in her Nan’s battered thesaurus, trying to find better words for ‘happy’ after her English teacher told her she needed a more varied vocabulary. But sometimes there was no other word to describe it. She was just simply happy when she was with Tayce.

“I’m going to miss you the most.” The words slipped out of her lips.

Tayce stiffened for a moment. Then she spoke.

“I’ll miss you the most too. Not just… as a friend. Even though you are my friend, it’s just,’ She twisted to look at her friend and laughed. ‘Don’t make me say this.”

“No, go on! I want to hear what you’re going to say!” Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

“I like you Rory. Not just as a friend. As more than a friend. And I wish I told you earlier so we could have more time together.”

Her heart stopped beating altogether as she let the new information seep into her brain.

Tayce liked her.

Tayce liked her as much as she liked her.

She pushed herself forwards slightly. Her arms still entwined around the other girl’s waist, her chest pressed against her back. Slowly, shyly, and in the least Aurora way known to man, she gently kissed Tayce’s smooth cheek.

“I like you too.’ She murmured into her ear. ‘More than friends. So much more than friends.”

“Oh my God.” Tayce said under her breath.

She twisted round until she was facing Aurora. Her long thin fingers found their way to Aurora’s face and then her hair as their lips met for the first time.

Aurora felt like all the electricity and magic of the fair was sucked from the air and contained entirely within her. She felt as if she might explode, every particle that made her up buzzing with joy as she clung to her best friend and kissed her like her life depended on it.

They pulled away when they felt the ride come to a stop. Aurora couldn’t breathe.

“Can we take a selfie?” Her cheeks are flushed as she speaks, embarrassed that this is the first thing to exit her mouth after finally admitting her love for Tayce after years of pining.

Tayce scrunched her nose. “Why?”

She shrugged. “I want to remember this forever. And never run the risk of forgetting.”

Tayce just laughed and kissed her again. And again. And again.

The next September, Aurora stands alone in a room. It’s technically hers, but it doesn’t feel like that yet. She slips on her headphones as she begins her task of decorating, hoping that when she’s done she won’t feel like she wants to cry anymore.

Just an hour later she slips her headphones off to do the last part in tranquil silence.

She’s methodical as she pins pictures to the board. Her family on one side, her friends on the other, with both of them mingling in the centre. She giggles as she tacks up the first group selfie they ever took, all squished on the ghost train that made Ellie scream bloody murder. She swears she can smell candyfloss and greasy burgers as she puts the rest of them up, revelling in the memories that flood her mind.

The group one from last year might be her favourite group one to date. Tia and Veronica at the front, smiling like they’ve won the life lottery as they curled together. Lawrence and Ellie cosily close, Lawrence playfully throwing a peace sign while Ellie stretched to make sure Tia got her whole outfit in. Bim and Asttina smirking, their eyes betraying the pure excitement that Aurora knows was within them.

Her and Tayce. Tayce’s pointed tongue stuck out cheekily that caused Aurora to throw her head back in the most genuine display of happiness ever captured on camera.

There was one final picture to put up. Although, it may have been a bit unnecessary. It was already her phone background, in a frame by her bed, and plastered all over her social media.

Slightly swollen lips, windswept hair, matching euphoric smiles.

Their first kiss, and the time that Aurora knew she would be in love with Tayce until the end of time.

It gets stuck right in the middle, pride of place.

Aurora takes a quick picture of the finished board. She sends it to the groupchat and flings herself onto her bed to read the rapid replies, her Tinkerbell doll cradled in the crook of her arm.

Basic <3: Omg!! That’s so cute, I love those pictures so much!

Loch Ness Bitch: are ya getting soppy already Rory, you’ve only been gone five minutes

Dirty D: Loz shut up it’s cute! All those memories <333

Sailor Vee: Ahh I can’t wait to go to the fair again this year. We’re defo all coming back, right?

Rude: Course we are Ronnie I wouldn’t miss it for the world

Vegan: Greasy chips on me, ladies x

Hound: I bloody hope so Bim, think you all still owe me from year 7

She’s happy. Aurora is happy as the groupchat descends into chaos, happy that they can still be like this while spread around the country. Her phone pings again.

Tayce: The carousel will always be there Rory. I’ll be waiting for you there x

She smiles as she taps out her reply.

Aurora: I love you so much <3

When she closes her eyes, Aurora can feel the cool winter air threading through her hair. She can smell the candyfloss sugar and savoury smells of greasy burgers and hotdogs that would leave her with a stomach ache for two days. She can hear the tacky tunes she loved to shout along too.

But best of all, she knows that in her heart, her love for Tayce is electric. It’s steady, reliable, and comforting.

Just like riding the carousel.

[amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines]

Sweet Pea//i can't get her off of my brain

Request: Can I request a Sweet Pea/Reader with the song If U Seek Amy by Britney Spears, i can't think of anything plot wise but probably something to do with a party, maybe smut if you're up for it?

hey! enemies to lovers! i repeat, enemies to lovers! is that surprise though? do i know any other tropes? yes. am i going to use them in my writing? no. i hope you like it!! and have a great day everybody!! 

You’re not sure whose party this is. Rebecca’s, Ruby’s? No, it definitely begins with a J. Juliet? Nope. Jade! It’s Jade’s party. It was Juliet’s last night. Although you’re not sure how you can have two separate parties in the same house. Juliet and Jade being twins, they have to share everything, but their parties are separate, or at least thats what they tell people. Most of the time however, they blend into one. 

Its very rare that they have an empty house, but when they do they have weekend long parties. Both insisting that they’re nothing alike. But they both involve a copious amounts of alcohol, loud music, and drama. 

A flash of dark purple hair rushes past you as you walk through the front door and Jade sends you a quick wave and smile as she passes, she’s quickly followed by Juliet, with her pastel purple hair knotted in a braid and almost hitting you in the face as she chases her sister into the kitchen. 

“Give me that back. Its mine!” Juliet shouts angrily. You hear Jade laugh loudly over the music and then they’re both arguing. 

“If you wanted it, you shouldn’t have left it.” Jade replies, her voice teasing as she ignores her sisters tone. 

You’ve known them since you were a kid, and they’ve always argued like this. When it was their birthday, you had to bring the exact same present for both of them otherwise all hell would break lose. Even the box had to be identical.

“You don’t even drink. What do you want with vodka.” 

“I want to annoy you.” She shrugs. 

“Fuck off.” She snatches the bottle back and Jade pouts at her. 

“Someone’s touchy. Have you and Rebecca had a lovers quarrel?” 

“Shut up.” She huffs before storming off. She’s clutching the bottle tight to her chest when she passes you, her head hung low as she stares at the cream carpet and your eyes follow her as she makes her way through the large group of teenagers stood in the living room. 

You feel an arm around your shoulder making you look beside you, and you’re greeted with a very happy Jade. 

“Is she okay?” You ask, pointing in the direction that Juliet slumped off to.

“Yeah.” She glances towards the stairs and you see a slightly worried expression replace her smile. “Her and Rebecca had a very minor argument before the party about something idiotic and she’s been in a foul mood ever since.” 

“Oh.” 

“Anyway.” She changes the subject, the smile reappearing on her face and she greets a few people walking through the door. “Lets get drunk!” 

“You don’t drink.” You laugh, letting her lead you to the kitchen. 

“But you do though, so you’re drinking for the both of us. So, get this down you.” She hands you a shot of something bright red that burns when you drink it and tastes like a mix of fire and soil. “And this.” She shoves another one in your hand and you grimace, but down it anyway. “And take this for the road.” She gives you a red cup with an undisclosed liquid in it and pats you on the back. “I’m gonna go see if Juliet has stopped moping, but I’ll talk to you later.” 

“Have fun.” The two of you walk out of the kitchen and into the crowded living room. In the five minutes you’ve been in the drinking, there seems to be at least twenty more people just in the living room alone and you grimace as you watch the people dance and spill their drinks. 

You honestly have no idea how Jade and Juliet manage to clean up after their parties, and you’re even more confused as to how their parents haven’t found out yet. There’s been a few times where you’ve fallen asleep on the floor (or in the bath) and when you’ve woken up, the house has been spotless. 

Jade walks up the stairs, pushing past the couple’s making out before she disappears. And you’re left standing in the middle of the makeshift dance floor (the lighter patch of the carpet thats usually covered by a very expensive rug) trying to find your friends. 

You instead find Sweet Pea, looking smug as ever while he talks to some girl from your English class. The school year is coming to a close and graduation is looming. For some people, that means studying as hard as they can, getting ready for college and trying to cling on to the last bits of high school before they go off into the big wide world. 

For Sweet Pea however, he’s clinging onto something but its certainly not memories. He’s hooked up with somebody different at every single party you’ve been in the past month, and rumors are spread around the school like wildfire. 

People that have been to several parties in one night have seen him at every single one of them, all with somebody different. And it leaves you wondering what he says to these girls that gets them into bed so quickly or if he just doesn’t last that long when he actually gets to it. You’re favourite theory being the latter. 

He looks away from the girl he’s taking to, feeling eyes on him and before you can look away, the two of you make eye contact. A smirk takes over his appearance and you send him a disgusted stare when he winks at you before going back to flirting. 

The origin behind yours and Sweet Pea’s hatred for each other is unknown to everyone, even the two of you yourselves. But its notorious around Riverdale High. You don’t like him, he doesn’t like you. Its been that way since the serpents started, and even though the hatred between the two sides has long been over, you and Sweet Pea still can’t stand to be in the same room as each other. 

You find him cocky, arrogant and annoying. He finds you stubborn, irritating and very petty. When the two of you are in the same room you can bet that within two minutes there’s going to be an argument. Usually because you like to wind each other up, despite claiming to hate talking to each other. 

If there’s an opportunity to annoy one of you, the others going to take it, no matter the situation. Which has grown increasingly irritating to your friends when they can’t get through a conversation without being interrupted by Sweet Pea throwing something at you or you continuously flicking him in the head until he gets annoyed. And then it ends in name calling until one of you goes to far and the other storms off.  

You pull your gaze away from the tall serpent, now swapping spit with a blonde  and find Betty instead, sat on the sofa with a frown on her face while she holds a full bottle of beer. 

“Hey.” You don’t mean to startle her, but with the volume of the music only getting louder as you approach her, you have to practically shout. She jumps, seemingly being pulled from her thoughts and sends you a small smile as she watches you sit down. “Are you okay?” You lean in, until you’re practically shouting in her ear. It takes a few seconds for her to realize what you’ve said, but when she does she just shrugs and slumps back into the soft furniture. 

“I’m not really in the partying mood.” She replies and you send her a sympathetic smile. 

“Whats up.” 

“Boy trouble.” She huffs and looks out into the crowd. You follow her gaze until you find Jughead leaning against a wall, a drink in his hand as he watches Archie and Veronica dance. 

Large grins are on all of their faces and Betty lets out a deep sigh. The only problem is, you don’t know why one she’s referring to so you have no way to cheer her up. 

Betty’s relationship with Jughead and Archie is almost as complicated as yours and Sweet Pea-Wait. No, thats not right because you and Sweet Pea have the complete opposite of a relationship. You have an, un-relationship. Or, whatever. 

You shake your head, willing that thought and any other like it out of your brain forever, before looking back at Betty and hoping the right words to say will come to you soon. 

“Its okay.” You place a gentle hand on hers and she looks down at it. “I get it. Boys are complicated. But you are far better than any Riverdale High boy. Just think, you’ll be at college in a few months and you’ll have your pick of all the highly educated men that know what to do and how to treat you right.” You nudge her gently and a soft smile twitches at her lips. 

“I suppose so yeah.” She shrugs. 

“But tonight, we’re high schoolers. And do you know what high schoolers do at parties?” 

“What?” 

“They drink and make bad decision that they regret in the morning! So drink that and lets dance.” You say, pushing the bottle towards her. She rolls her eyes, but you can tell she’s suppressing a smile as she takes her first sip. “To peer pressure.” You bump your cup against her bottle before taking a drink. 

“Y/n!” Willow shouts from across the room gaining yours and Betty’s attention. Her red hair bounces as she pushes excitedly through the crowd and by the time she makes it to where you’re stood there’s a bright smile lighting up her entire face. She hugs you and then Betty, complimenting both of your outfits before finally remembering why she came over in the first place. “Have you seen Amy tonight?” 

“Nope.” You shake your head. “But I have only been in here and the kitchen so she could be anywhere.”��

“Damn.” She sighs. 

“She could be in the bathroom.” Betty suggests.

“Or smoking up outside.” You add and she ponders the idea for a minute before nodding. 

“Yeah.” She nods. “Probably. I’ll see you around.” She waves at the two of you before wandering through the house and disappearing out the patio doors. 

“Come on Cooper.” You grab the blondes hand, pulling her off the couch and into the sweaty group of people. She follows reluctantly, keeping her head down as she tries her best not to bump into anybody. 

“Baby, it wasn’t like that.” A guy you pass says desperately to his girlfriend who’s stood with her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl stuck on her face. 

“What is ‘does she take a piece of lime for the drink that I’mma buy her’ mean?” She replies impatiently and you and Betty stop a few feet away from them, wanting to hear more of whatever this conversation is. 

“I was talking about you.” 

“You were talking about me?” She repeats and you and Betty share a look, both of you knowing where this is going. When your question is repeated, you’re in a big trouble. “I have a citrus allergy, you know this.” She shouts and storms off leaving the guy alone and you and Betty holding in laughter. 

“See, we haven’t even started dancing yet and you’re already cheered up.” 

“True.” She shrugs. The song changes to something even more upbeat and the two of you start dancing (jumping around). 

Halfway through though you get distracted by a familiar serpent, passing you and a wicked smile takes over your face. 

You stick your foot out while dancing and the next thing you know Sweet Pea stumbles, spilling his drink over himself and a few other people. You stifle a laugh while he apologizes to the people around him and Betty sends you a disapproving look. 

“What the fuck!” He shouts and looks around, his eyes instantly settling on you and a deep scowl takes over his face. A few people around you stop dancing to watch what is happening, all waiting for the inevitable argument thats about to break out. You however, are unaffected. You just look at him, a sweet smile plastered on your face while you watch him dab at his t-shirt. 

“Oops.” You mumble, looking him up and down as he mutters curse words under his breath. Betty moves closer to you, a part of her worrying that an actual fight is about to break out, and you notice that even Jughead, Archie and Veronica have shuffled a little closer to the three of you. 

Betty exchanges awkward glances with Jughead and Archie before looking down at the floor, and you and Sweet Pea continue the small staring contest you’ve found yourselves in. 

He gives up first, looking down at his now stained shirt and you smirk triumphantly. “I hate you.” He mutters before shoving past you, making sure to bump your shoulder. 

“It was nice bumping in to you Pea.” You tease, watching him storm off and he flips you off over his shoulder. 

“You guys are actually ridiculous.” Betty shakes her head at you. People start dancing again, the moment seeming to have been forgotten already and you just shrug at her. 

Amy rushes past you a second later, distracting you from dancing and your eyes follow her as she runs further away. 

“I found Amy!” You say to nobody in particular making Betty laugh. 

“What do you think Willow wanted Amy for?” She asks and you send her a look. 

“What everybody wants Amy for.” 

“Se-” 

“Weed.” You interrupt, before looking at her confused. “Where you about to say sex?” 

“What? No.” She says quickly and you furrow your eyebrows in confusion. “Did she look upset to you?” She’s changed the subject and you look in the direction she ran off to. 

“I mean maybe. I dunno. Is Willow around?” You ask and the two of you crane your necks to look around. You spot Willow stood by the patio doors. Her arms are wrapped around her, and she’s crying a little. You frown before slowly pushing through the stumbling teens “Are you coming?” You ask Betty, but she’s too distracted staring at Jughead. You sigh, and grab her shoulder, turning her to face you. “I think its clear who you want. Archie may have been the boy next door you had a crush on, but Jughead was your first love. Go talk to him, those college guys can wait.” 

“Are you sure?” She asks, looking at you quickly and you roll your eyes at her. 

“Yes. He looks a little lonely to be honest. If you know what you want, you should go for it.” 

“Maybe you should take your own advice.” She replies and glances at Sweet Pea sulking in the corner. 

“What are you talking about?” You frown. 

“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “Go see whats wrong with Willow.” 

“Have fun!” You smile, she nods before taking a deep breath and slowly approaching Jughead. When you get to the patio doors, Willow is no where to be seen and you let out a frustrated sigh. 

Why do high school parties always have to filled with angst and drama? Why can’t they be light, fun, easy? Why is there always something? Speaking of something...

“Sweet Pea.” You take a deep breath and turn around to face the very angry boy. 

“Y/n.” He says through gritted teeth as he clenches his beer bottle. 

“To what do I owe this pleasure.” You ask, really not caring about the situation. 

You want to know if Amy is okay, when she comes to parties she’s usually in high demand due to the stuff she brings with her, but sometimes that makes her a target. And if you’ve lost her, and now also a very upset Willow, you’re screwed. 

“The pleasure is all mine.” He smirks, looking you up and down. He’s back to his usual self and that only means one thing, he’s planning something. 

“You’re disgusting. Do you know that?” You huff. 

“Yep. You tell me at least once a day.”

“And yet you never listen.” You sigh and lazily pick at your nails. When you don’t get a reply you look back at him to see him watching a game of beer pong. 

“Sorry, what did you say?” He says, suddenly remembering what he was doing. 

“You’re an ass.”

“You also tell me that every day.” 

“I know. It’s a very tedious job but someone has to do it.” You send him a sarcastic smile and go back to looking around the crowded room. 

“What are you looking for? A life?” 

“Wow, I’m so hurt. Seriously what year is this and how old are you?” You roll your eyes. “And if you must know, I’m looking for Amy and/or Willow.” 

“Why?” His face lights up as he also looks around the dark room and you have to admit you’re glad he’s decided to help you. His height certainly gives him an advantage, and if anything does happen, you can just leave him to deal with it while you run away. 

You watch him look around, the way his jaw tightens and the muscles in his neck tense when he thinks he see’s her...oh god. What the hell had Jade given you? 

Your eyes widen as you try to ignore your drunken thoughts and Sweet Pea looks back at you confused as he waves his hand in front of your face. 

“Are you involved in the devils lettuce?” 

“The devils lettuce? Did you seriously just say that?” You snort, whatever lapse of judgement you’ve just had, has definitely passed. 

“Yes, I did. And I’m standing by it.” He huffs, moving to lean against the wall beside you. 

“Well, no. I’m looking for Amy because she looked upset. Willow was looking for her earlier but twenty minutes after they found each other, Amy stormed past me and then Willow was crying.” 

“What’s this got to do with you?” He asks rudely and you send him an annoyed look. 

“They’re my friends. I do have them things you know.” 

“Yeah, yeah. I know. It surprises me really.” He nods along. “Well, Amy told me that she’s going to meet me.” He says and your eyes widen as you turn to look at him. 

“Are you actually about to useful for once in your life?” You say, you’re tone becoming happier as he looks at you smugly. His smirk falters a little when the thought of you being cute crosses his mind, but he just does the same thing he does every time he has a thought like that. He locks it in a box in his brain and shoves it as far away as possible. “Where are you-” 

“I don’t know where or when.” He says and you huff loudly at him, punching him in the arm. “I’ve seen her once or twice around here though and I think she knows my face. I dunno, the person I used to get the dev-that stuff from, got caught and so he had to stop doing it.” 

“Was it Fangs?” 

“It wasn’t Fangs.” 

“It was Fangs wasn’t it?” 

“Yeah...it was Fangs.” He finally admits. 

“And it was Jughead that caught him wasn’t it?” 

“It wasn’t Jughead.” 

“It was Jughead wasn’t it?” 

“Yes fine! It was Jughead.” He huffs making you giggle. The two of you look at each other, a begrudging smile playing on his lips as he watches you laugh. The changing lights dance across your skin and he feels himself getting lost watching you. 

“Its hard to see with all the people standing in my way.” You mutter. “You’re a giant. Have another look.” You interrupt his thoughts and he feels his cheeks heat up at the fact that he was was looking at you like that. “Come on.” You grab his arm and lead him towards the stairs. He looks at your fingers wrapped around his arm and his mind blanks. 

It seems whatever he’s been drinking was stronger than he thought. 

“Wait.” You stop suddenly making him walk right into you. You feel yourself fall but he grabs you just in time, steadying you before the two of you jump away from each other. 

“I found them.” You point to the red head and black haired girls sat on the fourth step making out. “Well, that was short lived.” 

“At least they’re happy.” He shrugs. 

“Very happy it looks like.” You agree, the two of you watch as the kiss gets more heated and then suddenly you feel like you’re intruding. Both of you turn around and make you’re way toward the kitchen, both in desperate need of a drink, maybe not as strong as your others. 

“Damn.” Sweet Pea sighs dramatically as he leans against the counter. You don’t acknowledge him, instead pouring two drink out and handing him one. “I said damn.” He repeats and you suddenly remember why you don’t like hanging out with him. 

“What?” 

“I’m not gonna get any tonight.” 

“How awful. I’m sure your parts can take a day off.” You glance down and he rolls his eyes at you. 

“No, not that.” He shakes his head. “Thats fine, and it never takes a day off.” 

“Thats gross.” 

“I’m talking about weed. If Amy’s busy, where am I gonna get it?” 

“I dunno.” You shrug, now very bored of this conversation. 

“You can get it wherever you like as long as you do it outside.” Jade interrupts, saving you from a very tedious chat with someone that annoys you more and more with each passing second. Or at least thats what you’re trying to tell yourself. Because the five minutes you spent not arguing and actually helping each other, was actually quite pleasant. 

“Of course.” He says. She looks between the two of you and a knowing smile settles on her lips. Her and Sweet Pea seem to have a silent conversation while you just stand and stare at them confused. 

“How was Juliet?” You ask and Sweet Pea lets out a soft breath. 

“She fine. More than fine actually, when I found her she was already making out with Rebecca.” 

“Ohhhh.” You laugh. 

“What about you two. Have you been up to anything exciting?” 

“We watched two girls make out.” Sweet Pea shrugs, not realizing the implications and you and Jade just stare at him. “Not like that.” He blushes. 

“Willow and Amy.” You say, deciding to help him out of the hole he’s dug himself. 

“Ohhh. Aw. Thats cute.” 

“Yeah I know right.” You nod. “I think its been something thats coming for a while though.”

“What is it with everybody boning at my parties.” She wonders. 

“I think it shows how good your parties are. How many people hook up at Juliet’s?” 

“Very true.” She agrees. “Speaking of boning. You’s two seem oddly close.” She looks between the two of you and Sweet Pea and you both look at her disgusted. 

“We were both looking for Amy.” You defend yourself. The tone in your voice makes Sweet Pea’s chest ache. He no longer wants to talk to you, or anyone really, so he stays silent, trying his hardest to blend into the kitchen cabinets and figure out why he’s feeling all of these things all of a sudden. 

He’s been in the same room as you countless of times before, some would say too many times. And all of those times he’s wanted to kill you, but as cheesy as it sounds, the way you said that killed him a little and he can’t quite understand why. 

“Sure you were.” She teases. 

“Shut up.” You grumble.

“Jade, somebody’s thrown up in Aunt Vera’s vase.” Juliet rushes into the kitchen. Jade huffs loudly, placing her drink on the counter before following her sister out, leaving you and Sweet Pea in silence. 

You hum along to the Britney song playing, awkwardly looking around and trying your hardest to think of something to say that isn’t insulting. You haven’t quite realized why you don’t want to insult him yet, but when you try and thing of anything nice to say, you’re mind goes blank. 

He does look good though, even if his t-shirt is stained. And now you feel a little bad about doing that. His hair isn’t styled meticulously like it usually is. Its more hurried, less effort in it but you think he suits it more. He still has the curl at the front and you have a need to brush it away. 

nope. nope. this is not happening. nope.

“So...” You trail off, your lips forming a pout while you stare at the tiles on the floor. 

You can feel him watching you, and a blush creeps up his neck. He’s waiting for you to do something, say something, anything. But nothing happens. There’s no big, magical moment that you’re both apparently desperate for. You just stew in silence, letting the awkwardness fill the room until its almost unbearable.   

“I’m gonna look for Betty.” 

“I’m gonna go find Fangs.” 

Both of you say at the same time and rush out of the room, heading in different directions in search of anyone to talk to. 

You find Betty pretty quickly, but she’s sat on Jughead’s lap making out with him so thats a bust. Jade is busy cleaning vomit up with Juliet and Rebecca  and as much as you’re want a distraction, you’re not that desperate. Willow and Amy have just walked up the stairs so they’ll probably be locked in a bathroom or bedroom somewhere in the next five minutes. 

You’re only option is Veronica and Archie. And to your surprise, they’re not dry humping. They seem to be having an actual conversation. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey.” They reply in sync. It creeps you out but you push past it, sitting down beside them. 

“Have you seen Amy tonight?” Archie asks quickly and you nod your head, not really paying attention to what he’s just said. Its only after a few seconds do you realize whats he’s said that you look at him confused. It seems Archie Andrews is not the boy next door everyone seems to love.

“I have.” You nod. “But any dealings are cancelled for the time being. She’s busy.” 

“Doing what?” 

“Willow.” 

“Ohhhh.”

“What dealings? What are you two on about?” Veronica asks, only now joining in the conversation. She spaced out after saying hi, staring at the lights as they bounce around the room. 

“Nothing V.” You laugh, making eye contact with Archie. “What have you guys been doing?” 

“Drinkinggggg!” She cheers excitedly, lifting her cup up. Liquid spills out the side of it, landing on her shoe and the next thing you know she’s crying uncontrollably. 

“Some of us more than others.” Archie adds. “Come on Ronnie. Lets get you home.” He picks her up easily and she laughs loudly while flopping backwards in his arms. 

Soon its just you, sat on the sofa with half of your drink and nobody to talk to. A part of you kind of wants Sweet Pea back and you suddenly find yourself looking for him in the crowd. 

From across the room, he’s doing exactly the same thing, and when the two of you make eye contact, you find yourself smiling. 

“Why the hell did you do that?” You mumble quietly as you quickly look away. “Oh god, he’s coming over now. Fuc-Hi Sweet Pea.” 

“Er-hi.” He’s nervous. None of the usual confidence he has is in sight. He’s stood in front of you awkwardly, with his hands in his pockets while he thinks of what to say. “Bye.” He says quickly and turns around, whispering curses to himself while he moves through the crowd. 

Okay, maybe being alone isn’t so bad. That was weird. Really weird and you don’t like it. You need it to go back to normal, so you decide to follow him. Managing to catch him just before he goes back into the kitchen. 

“Pea!” You grab his arm, spinning him around. He looks slightly startled and you find yourself staring at him confused, its an unfamiliar expression on him and you feel an unfamiliar feeling stirring in your stomach. “It seems those five minutes we spend helping each other has fucked up our dynamic and I can’t stand it anymore. So I’m giving you permission to insult me.” You know you sound insane, but maybe its something you need. 

“I don’t want to insult you Y/n.” 

“What?” Your jaw drops as you stare at him in utter shock. “Why the hell not? I have plenty of things to insult.” 

“Because I don’t feel like it.” He shakes his head.

“There’s got to be something that you don’t like. What if I start?” You suggest. He just stares at you, eyebrows raised and arms crossed. 

“Why are you doing this?” 

“Because this.” You motion between the two of you. “Us being awkward and weird around each other. Its not normal. We insult and upset and sometimes cause physical pain. Thats our thing. But not knowing how to talk to each other isn’t. And not wanting to say awful things to each other, certainly isn’t. The world doesn’t feel right if we’re not verbally abusing each other.” 

“Have you just made a romantic speech about hating each other?” 

“Yes. And I’d do it all again...for you Sweet Pea.” You say, a smile twitching at the corners of your mouth while you wait for a response. 

“I have been wanting an excuse to tell you that your hair look absolutely awful tonight.” He mumbles making you grin. You move to hug him, but catch yourself in time. Sweet Pea looks at you weirdly and you send him a forced smile, trying to laugh it off. 

“So, where’s the blonde you were sucking face with earlier?” You look around. 

“I dunno.” He shrugs. “Why? Are you jealous?” 

“Yes.” You deadpan. “I’m just so desperate for you that I get jealous of any other girl that so much as looks at you. 

“Aw, babe.” He teases. And odd feeling washes over you when he says babe, a mix of butterflies and breathlessness. “You should have told me sooner. There’s plenty of Sweet Pea to go around.” 

“Have I told you today that you’re disgusting?” 

“Yes, you have in fact.”

“And yet you still don’t do anything about it?” 

“Love me or hate me, its not my fault everyone wants me.” He shrugs and you roll your eyes.

“Please. The only people that want you are either moronic or desperate.”

“Ohhhh, so that explains why you’re constantly flirting with me.” He says cheekily and you look at him offended. 

“I would honestly rather flirt with Reggie than you.”

“Ouch. You’d really chose Mantle over me?” He asks. 

“Definitely.” You nod confidently. 

“Well, thats good because look who’s coming over. Hey Mantle!” He shouts over the music, waving his arms around and your eyes widen when you quickly look around. Reggie is slowly making his way towards the two of you.

“What do you want Sweet Pea?”

“Y/n was just telling me how much she likes you.” Sweet Pea replies and you send him a death glare. He glances at you, sending you a quick wink before looking back him.

“Oh, really?” Reggie asks and turns to look at you. 

“I-”

“Yes. She would not shut up about you. Just constantly, Reggie this, Reggie the-ow! Anyway, gotta go.” Despite hitting him as hard as you could, he seemed relatively unaffected by it, instead walking away and leaving you alone with Reggie.

“So, you like me huh?” 

Yep, Sweet Pea definitely won this round. 

After half an hour of small talk with Reggie, you finally managed to get away. Sending him to get you a drink so you could slip off and hide upstairs for a bit so he could find somebody else. 

You’ve decided to sit in the spare room for a bit. Your thoughts about Sweet Pea are going a million miles a minute in your head and so you need some time to think. To figure out where they’ve come from all of a sudden. Or maybe you’ve been thinking them for a while and you just haven’t paid much attention until now. Until you saw that he could actually be nice, and that you wanted to see more. 

Ever since Sweet Pea left you alone with Mantle, he’s been thinking about you. About the way you look at him when you’re annoyed, or your smile when he says something funny. Or the look you get when you’re about to insult him. You always look so pleased with yourself.

He remembers the way you looked at him when you thought he knew where Amy was, and he remembered the way his chest hurt when he couldn’t help you. 

He then remembers that you gave him a speech as to why the two of you need to insult each other. In a very sad way, its the most romantic thing anybody has ever done for him. 

But he wants more. He wants real moments with you that aren’t just filled with childish name calling and shoving. He wants sweet nicknames, and story sharing and getting to know more about you. But when he thinks about, he knows a lot. He knows you’re favourite film, you’re favourite band. He knows the reason you don’t like that one song from them and why you’re favourite is your favourite. Your memories behind you’re favourite place in Riverdale and he wants to take you there and add to them and oh

He’s the worst. He left you alone with Mantle of all people. He doesn’t mind Reggie now, but he knows what he’s like. And he knows he can get practically anybody in bed. 

“Have you seen Y/n?” He doesn’t care that he’s interrupting Betty and Jughead. He doesn’t even register the way they’re looking at him, annoyed expressions mirroring each other. He’s too busy looking around the dark and busy room, scanning the crowd for you. They shift slightly to look at him properly and a knowing smile appears on each of their lips. 

“Can’t get her off your brain huh?” Jughead teases. 

“Shut up and just tell me if you’ve seen her.” He snaps. 

“She went upstairs.” Jade chimes in as she passes and Sweet Pea sends her a thankful smile as he hurries past her. 

He takes the steps two at a time, narrowly avoiding kicking people in the head and just as he’s about to search every single room, scaring himself in the process when he interrupts couples, he see’s you walking out of one of the rooms. 

“Sweet Pea. Hi.” You say startled. “Thanks for leaving with Reggie by the way.” You grumble angrily. “For twenty minutes he talked about football and girls he’s hooked up with.” 

“Shut up.” He shushes and you stare at him offended. 

“Excuse me?” 

“Y/n. I hate you.” 

“Thanks?” 

“Or at least I thought I did. I thought I hated you more than I hate peas and rich people.” 

“You hate peas?” 

“Yeah.” He nods his head. “Thats not really the point I’m trying to make though.” 

“Sorry.” 

“I thought I hated you, and maybe I did for a bit. But then I think somewhere my hate got confused with a different emotion and I found myself looking forward to seeing you. Even if it was to insult you. And then tonight, we were nice to each other for the first time ever and even though it was only for five minutes, I liked it. Despite how weird and awkward it was. And I want more. I want more of it until it stops being weird and awkward and its just us. Being nice. I want to hate you less Y/n.” 

“I think what you just said was nice.” You say unsure, trying to figure out what exactly he’s trying to say. “But either way I have a need to kiss you so I’m going to do that okay?” 

“Okay.” He nods eagerly and within seconds your lips are on his, your body pushing him into a door as your fingers tangle in his hair. His hands grip your waist tight as he kisses back with just as much desperation.

You pull away first, breathless and panting and he’s looking at like you’re the only person he sees. But the sweet look is soon replaced by his smug smile and you know whats coming next. 

“I thought you’d rather choose Reggie over me.” He teases making you roll your eyes playfully. 

“Yeah, well I guess I’m moronic.” You shrug and his smile grows. 

“You’re only just figuring this out no-” He’s interrupted by you kissing him again. And he figures that whatever insult he had, can wait until afterwards. 

[aresaphrodites]

run to you

just a little bughead fic i felt like writing today. it’s an au where they’re sixteen and best friends. betty has frequent nightmares and jughead is always there to help her out. betty is pining. so is jughead. but she doesn’t know that. (( i’m on mobile so i don’t know how to insert a ‘read more’. i’m sorry and i’ll fix this as soon as i’m on my laptop. ))

——————————————————————-

She doesn’t know when the nightmares started. Maybe she had always had them, or maybe they had only started recently; when things had started to get a little worse.

She’s not a little girl anymore. She’s sixteen years old and she shouldn’t want to cry everytime she hears her parents yelling from downstairs, but she does. The yelling is louder now; meaner. Words that she’s never even thought of are thrown around like grenades, detonating and ruining all the beautiful things that used to lay in their wake.

And suddenly it’s quiet.

She listens to the sound of two separate doors slamming shut and she finally opens her eyes again. She blinks and looks at the clock on her bedside table. It’s already midnight, but she knows now that she won’t be able to sleep. She doesn’t sleep well in general, but the nightmares she gets after an especially bad night of fighting are enough to make her want to stay awake all night.

She grabs her phone from where it’s charging on the table and opens up her most recent thread of messages.

Betty: Are you still up?

The response is instantaneous.

Jughead: Of course, my dear Betty. The night is young after all, and it’s ours for the taking.

Betty smiles at the words on the screen for many different reasons. Jughead is funny. He’s hilarious actually, and it doesn’t matter what kind of mood she’s in, he’s always been able to make her smile. He’s her best friend and she loves him. Which is a sobering thought that causes her smile to drop a little bit.

Jughead: But why are you up?

Jughead: Are the nightmares bad again?

Her heart clenches. How is she supposed to not fall in love with him, when he’s always been there for her through her worst times? He’s the only one who knows about the nightmares and the only one who knows how to help her. She knows that they’re just friends, but a part of her will always wonder what else they could be. If things were different.

Betty: I haven’t actually fallen asleep yet.

Jughead: Betts…

Betty: I know, I know. It’s just… tonight was a bad one, Jug. I think this might be it.

And that’s another sobering thought all on its own. She knows that people can fall out of love as they grow older; it’s just life. She hadn’t thought that would be her parents, though. She thought they would stay together forever and that the three of them would be a happy family, but she’d been wrong. Not even the prim and perfect Coopers were exempt from the harsh realities of life.

Jughead: I’m coming over.

Betty’s eyes widen as she types back a fast reply.

Betty: You don’t have to do that, Jug! It’s really late and we have school tomorrow.

Jughead: I’m coming over.

Jughead: I’ll be there in ten minutes.

Betty sighs, knowing she’s lost this fight, but her heart beats a little faster as she thinks about Jughead sneaking over right now. It’s not the first time he’s done it, and it probably won’t be the last, but it still makes butterflies dance in her stomach.

Betty: Park your dad’s truck down the road. I’m not sure if one of them left or when they’ll be back.

Jughead: Got it.

She spends the next ten minutes looking at herself in her vanity mirror, and laughs when she realizes what she’s doing here. She’s brushing out her hair and making sure her face looks okay and switching out of her oversized shirt from science camp into a pair of cute plaid pajamas. She’s being ridiculous. She doesn’t need to get nice for Jughead. He’s her best friend and besides, he isn’t interested in her like that. He looks at her like one of the guys, but maybe that’s her fault for beating him in arm wrestling one too many times.

The quiet knock at her window pulls her out of her thoughts and she jumps up in surprise before walking over to open it.

“Shhh,” she hisses when he hits his leg on the wall.

“I’m too tall for this shit now,” he grumbles before falling to the floor in a heap. Betty catches him by his arms and stops the fall from making any real noise, but she still glares at him all the same.

“You’re always so loud! One day my parents are going to come up here wondering what’s going on.”

“Yeah, right,” he laughs and Betty hits him as she tells him to shut up. “Remember that one time when Archie and I had to sneak in because we’d been drinking and his parents were still awake? We were so loud and yet your dad’s snoring somehow blocked all of it out.”

Betty laughs quietly at the memory, but she can’t help but to feel a little sad at the mention of her dad. Jughead notices this because he immediately pulls her in for a hug.

He smells like his Irish Spring soap and Betty realizes that his hair is kinda wet; he must have been in the shower before Betty had texted him. She takes a deep breath, letting him wrap himself around her as she falls into his chest.

He’s holding her tightly and swaying them back and forth gently. Her head is resting on his shoulder and she wishes, more than anything, that they could just stay like this forever.

“I’m sorry you have to witness all of this,” he says. “But you know I’m always here for you, right? All you have to do is text me and I’ll be here.”

“I feel bad that you had to drive here so late. I would have been okay.”

“Maybe so, but I wouldn’t have been. I’d never be okay with myself if I knew you were upset and I didn’t do anything to help you.” His lips are so close to her ear that it almost feels like they’re grazing her skin.

“You’re the best friend I could ever ask for,” she tells him, her face pressed into his neck.

Jughead pauses before saying, “That’s me. A friend for all seasons.”

Betty rolls her eyes before pulling away from him. He’s smiling down at her and, not for the first time, she thinks his smile might be the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.

“You look tired,” he tells her.

“Gee, thanks.”

Now it’s his turn to roll his eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant. You’re beautiful, Betts, always. You just look like you need some sleep.”

She drops her eyes to the ground at the compliment. She can feel her heart slamming against her chest, and she hopes that he can’t tell that she’s about five seconds away from turning into a pile of goo because of him.

“Will you stay?”

He snorts and she looks up in surprise. “I didn’t wear my best pajamas for nothing.” He gestures down to the red plaid pants he’s wearing and the black cotton tee. “Oh, look! We match.”

She looks down at her own red plaid pajamas and smiles. “Great minds and all that, right?”

“Exactly.”

She yawns unexpectedly and Jughead immediately ushers her over to the bed.

“Okay, okay. You really do need to get some rest, Betty.”

“Yeah.” She’s even starting to feel a little tired now. It’s crazy how easily Jughead’s presence can soothe her. She wonders if that’s normal. “Promise you’ll stay?”

“I’m not changing my mind.” He hops on top of her bed right next to her, but stops on top of the covers like he always does. He settles a hand behind his head and looks down at her with a smile. “You have the most comfortable bed ever, Cooper. I wouldn’t leave if you tried to kick me out.”

She laughs as she settles comfortably into the sheets, wrapping them tightly around herself as she tilts her head up to look at him. She can faintly make out the features of his face from the moonlight that seeps in through her window.

“Thank you for coming, Jughead. Really. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Betts. Our sandbox love will never die.” She reaches out and pushes him playfully. “But really, you’re my best friend. I’m always going to be here for you, okay? No matter what.”

“I know,” she whispers, almost sadly. Her crush on him is all consuming and sometimes she thinks she likes him so much that it physically hurts her. She’s destined to be his best friend, though, because that’s the way the world works. It’s life.

She loves being his best friend anyway.

“Don’t worry,” he repeats. “One day when we’re older and I’m a bestselling author and you’re a badass journalist taking down all the bad guys, we’re going to get far away from here.”

“Oh yeah?” She asks, intrigued. “Where will we go?”

He looks up to her ceiling with a dopey smile on his face.

“Anywhere,” he tells her before looking back down at her. “But I’m going to take you far away from here and you’ll never have to be scared again.”

She can feel her eyes start to water.

“And we’ll live in a really shitty studio apartment somewhere,” he continues. “Well, when we’re first starting out at least, because that’s pretty much a rite of passage I hear. And then we’ll get a nice townhouse somewhere. I imagine that Archie and Veronica will follow us in this situation, because they’re leeches.” The two of them laugh at the mention of their best friends. “We’ll get you a big dog like you’ve always wanted and I’ll write my novels and you’ll bring justice to the unspoken voices of the world.”

“And we’ll be okay,” Betty finishes for him.

He smiles. “And we’ll be okay.”

I love you. I love you. I love you.

“That’s a nice thing to imagine,” she says, voice softening as sleep finally begins to take over.

“Just you wait, Betts. When we turn eighteen, we’re going to leave Riverdale and we’ll never look back.”

“Are we going to steal your dad’s truck and ride off to California?”

“Hmm, I was thinking Washington.”

“You’re very random.”

“Gotta keep you on your toes.”

Betty wiggles a little closer to him and closes her eyes.

“Jughead?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you be here when I wake up?”

“Of course.”

As she drifts off, she feels the featherlight touch of Jughead running his fingers through her hair. She lets the comforting touch lull her into a deep sleep, where she dreams of long open roads, clear blue skies, and a boy with dark hair and light eyes who loves her back.

[skullrock]

the partners, chapter seven - Steve x Reader

chapter seven - well I wonder

series summary: you and Steve are police apprentices at Hawkins Police Station in the fall of 1986. you get along famously, but there’s something Steve is hiding, and there is an unknown evil lurking in Hawkins. [friends to lovers, angst, hurt/comfort, fluff]

chapter summary: Steve learns what’s been going on in Hawkins; You head to Bartini to find and rescue him.

warnings: swearing, angst!

word count: 3.5k

a/n: here’s the Spotify playlist that goes with the series, and you can catch up here. would luv to thank @comedy-witch​ again for helping me out bc I was really bout to lose it on this chapter!!! hope yall enjoy :)

===

Steve wakes up with a jolt, gasping. The bright lights in the room make him jerk backwards and cover his eyes. He’s hungover, for sure, and the stark white of the room doesn’t help. He’s on the floor, dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt. He furrows his brows before it all comes back to him.

After you’d left, he heard the door open again. He thought maybe it was you and threw some sweatpants on, intending on telling you once again to get lost, despite his weak and crying state. But instead of you, he was met with tall men speaking Russian. Steve started to panic, instinct kicking in as he started to fight back. He punched and kicked but they were sloppy and weak. One hit him with the butt of their gun, and he blacked out.

Now he’s here, in a bright room, confused and in pain.

Steve’s confused because he isn’t tied down. He isn’t chained to a chair. He’s free to roam within this large room, equipped with only a table, two chairs, and an ashtray.  There are mirrors everywhere; he knows they’re two-way. His paranoia spikes upon the realization that he’s probably being watched, but he puts on a brave face and starts to shout over his headache.

“Hey, dickheads!”

He pounds on the glass with no response. He goes to the door and tries the handle in vain, then goes back to the glass. “I’m awake, assholes!”

The lack of a response, the lack of violence, makes his head spin. He’s painfully disoriented by every single thing happening – or, not happening. He’s not used to the lack of punches or chaos, and it makes him feel ill. He slips into one of the chairs at the table and puts his head in his hands, trying to breathe deeply. He remembers the process you taught him for when he feels panicked, and he goes through it – five things he can hear, four things he can see, three things he can smell – this one was difficult – two things he can feel, one thing he can taste. He does this as he takes in gulps of air, and he’s soon composed enough to be able to sit upright. Steve’s heart pangs painfully as he remembers your hands on his in his car that night. Back before all of this bullshit happened. Back before he fucked everything up.

The door bursts open and Steve jumps to his feet. Men in green uniforms file in with guns, and behind them comes Chief Edwards, still wearing his uniform from duty that day. Anger flares in Steve, twisting in him sharply. He flinches, fists clenched, but stays still. The men stand beside Edwards, who stares coolly at Steve, hands in his pockets. His back is straight as an arrow and he glares back at Steve.

“Take a seat,” Edwards says. Steve remains motionless, arms crossed. The men stride towards him and Steve flinches as they grab him, pulling him towards one of the chairs at the other end of the room. They throw him down and he winces, pain shooting through his head. Edwards makes a motion with his hands and the guards walk out, clicking the door shut behind them.

Edwards walks towards Steve, continuing their staring contest. He pulls a cigar out and lights it, taking a slow inhale, and exhaling with his eyes closed. He opens them back up and chuckles at Steve’s continued glare.

“You were right,” Edwards starts. He doesn’t take a seat, but paces. “It wasn’t a suicide.”

No shit, Steve thinks.

“You were right about the bar, too. And the napkin. Right about it all.” Edwards turns on his heel and looks at Steve. “Want me to tell you everything?”

Steve stares bitterly for a moment before nodding slowly. He wants to know what happened, what is happening – even if he probably won’t make it out alive, anyway. He wants to know why he isn’t tied up, or beaten, or bloody.

“Bartini was a front, like Starcourt. Signed off and supported by Kline, poor bastard… but built by the Soviets. Normal bar at the top, whole other world at the bottom. That’s where we are now, actually. Not too far down, but down far enough.”

Steve’s brows furrow as he mulls the statement over. Were they in a base like Starcourt had, miles underground? Were they only a bit underground?

“You might remember what happened in 1984. The tunnels built underground.”

Steve leans forward slightly, expecting more of an explanation. But when Edwards gestures around him, Steve gets it. They’re in the tunnels. It makes Steve’s stomach drop and knocks the air out of him, and he clenches the side of the table, making Edwards chuckle again.

“Amazing what can happen in two years, huh? All they had to do was find the farthest corner and build on it. Use the bar as a meeting place, a distraction, and bam!” Edwards claps his hands together and Steve jumps, terrified. He relaxes after a moment, but his jaw stays clenched tight.

“That man didn’t commit suicide. He stumbled into our meeting, too drunk for his own good.”

Steve becomes nauseous and he leans heavily into the table.

“It was easy to get him into a car. Drove to Brimborn and –“ he mimics shooting a gun and Steve shakes, a hand going up to his mouth. Edwards smiles at him. “Don’t worry kid – he didn’t feel a thing.”

Edwards flicks the ash from his cigar onto the floor and brings it up again, taking another long drag. “You weren’t very sly, you know. I know you sent Veronica into the evidence room to get that napkin.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t so slick either,” Steve mumbles.

Edwards laughs. “He speaks!”

Steve shakes his head and rests it in his hands. His mind is spinning, and he takes some deep breaths to try to calm down. Edwards gives him some time, smoking as he waits. Finally, Steve lifts his head and looks at him. “Why?”

“Why not?”

It’s a simply answer, but one that makes Steve’s blood boil. “No, I want an answer, god dammit. Why did you do all of this? Why are you such an asshole?”

Edwards lifts his chin, looking at Steve in the eyes. “Because I can be. Don’t you remember what that was like?”

Steve feels like he’s been punched, and he recoils from the comment. “You don’t know me.”

“I trained you, didn’t I? Taught you everything you know. I’ve learned a lot about you, Steve. I learned that you’re only here because you’re trying to run away from who you were before. But you know what?” Edwards walks towards Steve, towering over him. “You’re still that same kid from years ago.”

“You don’t know me,” Steve repeats, louder this time. He feels his heart hammering in his chest and his fists clench again, eyes narrowing bitterly.

“And it’s a shame Y/N got involved with you,” Edwards continues. Steve’s breath hitches at the mention of you and his eyes shoot downward in guilt. “She had some real potential before you got her involved in all of this. She was my favorite, you know. I taught her everything. And she let me. But this morning – you wouldn’t believe it. She came in and accused me of having something to do with all this!”

Edwards slams his hand on the table and Steve jumps again before standing and shoving him away, anger and guilt raging in him. “Don’t get her involved in this.” He doesn’t fight Steve back, which infuriates him.

“I don’t think I did,” Edwards says smoothly, poking Steve in the chest with his finger. “I’m pretty sure you’re the one who involved her in this.”

Guilt floods through Steve and he staggers back, sitting again. “Did you hurt her?”

“Me? No. You though….” Edwards smiles sadly. “Should’ve seen her when she came in today. Looked like she hadn’t slept, hair was a mess. Came in defending you to the death… but you couldn’t do the same for her, huh?”

Steve pushes his tongue against the roof of his mouth to hold back the tears. He looks away again, unable to keep eye contact. His eyes train on the tile of the floor while Edwards continues.

“What happened last night, Harrington? Did you break another heart?”

Steve stays silent. The less he says, the better.

“Either way,” Edwards says after a moment. “I fired her. So hopefully she doesn’t come looking for you.”

“You fired her?”

Edwards smiles sadly. “Guess she has you to thank for that, too, huh?”

Steve is stunned into silence. This was probably worse than any physical torture they could have thrown on him. The inner turmoil reminds Steve of the lack of physical torture he's gotten so used to. He weakly asks, “Why aren’t you hurting me?”

“There are other ways to, kid,” Edwards says. He leans over and puts his Cigar out on the ashtray sitting on the table and straightens. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He turns on his heel to leave but Steve stands and grabs the back of his shirt. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll see,” Edwards says, shrugging out of Steve’s grip. “Soon enough.”

When Edwards leaves, the door clicks shut, and the lights go off. Steve is left in pitch black and silence, and he falls into a heap on the floor. Anger and guilt cut through him like knives, quick and sharp and painful. His head aches from more than the hangover. His thoughts race in his mind and he presses the heels of his palms into his eyes to hold back the tears.

He went through this entire investigation just to get kidnapped and probably killed. All that time and energy wasted. All the danger he put you in – for nothing. Steve’s not certain what Edwards meant by his statement, but he hopes it has nothing to do with you. He hopes you’re safe at home, eating ice cream and grieving the happiness he never gave you.

He hopes you’re not getting more involved.

===

“Ready?”

You nod at Robin, trying to steady your hands. You were scared shitless, literally going into this blind, hoping you don’t get shot down the moment you go inside. Luckily you had your gun under the seat and you grabbed it, keeping a firm grip on the handle. You’d never had to use it outside of training, but you weren’t opposed to using it tonight.

“Alright, one more time,” Dustin says. “Robin and I distract the guards –”

“They’re called bouncers.”

Dustin blinks. “Is that really what’s important right now?”

You frown and look away. “No.”

“Didn’t think so.” He clears his throat purposefully and starts again. “Robin and I distract the bouncers by causing a scene. We’re going to shout, throw rocks, whatever. When the bouncers run after us – assuming they do – you sneak in and find out what goes on in there.”

“And you two circle back to the car when you lose the bouncers and we’ll stay in touch,” you add, and they nod.

You’d parked the car about half a mile away from the bar, just to be safe. It was nerve wracking to walk that far to almost certain death, but the three of you had agreed that it was the safest option. Every step felt like a moment closer to the unknown, and the panic rises in your gut. It’s like the Yellow Brick Road to Hell. Dustin notices your nervousness and he loops his arm through yours, Robin repeating the motion on your other side. You smile sadly and laugh.

“At least Steve brought me new friends, if nothing else,” you say with a sniffle.

Robin squeezes your arm. “I’m glad dingus brought us together, too.”

“If Steve lives through this, I’m giving him hell,” Dustin says. “He’s such an idiot. I can’t believe he wouldn’t like someone as cool and as pretty as you.”

“Dustin?” you say weakly.

“Yeah?”

“Now’s not a good time.”

“Sorry.”

“Look,” Robin says, kicking some gravel. “I want to teach you some phrases that might help you down there.”

Your brows furrow. “You know Russian?”

“No time to explain. Listen. ‘No’ sounds like ‘nyet’. ‘Yes’ sounds like ‘da’.”

“Tell her how to say Silver Cat,” Dustin rushes. “That might help.”

“Silver cat?” you question.

“That was the name of their operation under Starcourt, like a secret code. It might help. It’s something like… serebryanyy kot? Am I saying that right?”

“I don’t know, I don’t remember.”

“How don’t you remember? You listened to that tape just as much as me.”

“Look, Robin, my goal wasn’t to learn, it was to –“

“Okay!” you interrupt. “Sabrini cox or whatever.”

“No, it’s like, serebryanyy kot –“

“Yeah, sure Rob, I got it.”

You see the neon lights of Bartini in the distance, and sigh heavily.

“If I don’t call back within half an hour, at any time, call Owens, and get the hell out of here.”

You can sense their apprehension. You stop walking and look at them both, hands on your hips. “I mean it. No sitting around and trying to be heroes. There’s no time for that, alright? If there are actually Russians here, we don’t have time to act like we are bigger than we are.”

“I assure you, we can manage,” Robin says, and Dustin nods beside her.

“You don’t even know half of what we’ve gone through,” Dustin adds. “You know, like, a quarter of it.”

“I still don’t want you playing heroes, okay?”

They both roll their eyes and continue walking. They start to pick up large rocks on the side of the road. Throwing rocks and shouting isn’t the best idea, but it’s all you can think of in a short period of time. Dustin promises he’s got good aim, and Robin agrees.

“It can be surprisingly simple with these guys,” Robin assures. “They’re morons.”

“Assuming they’re Russians,” you mumble, but you’re pretty positive that they are.

You all slip into the tree line as you get closer, hearts pounding and breath hitching. Robin and Dustin seem more relaxed than you; you assume that’s just what happens after a while of dealing with stuff like this.

“Ready?” Robin asks again. You squeeze the handle of your gun and nod. Robin and Dustin share a glance and a nod before taking off, sprinting silently to the other side of the road, closing in on the bar. They duck behind a car on the street and after a moment, Dustin jumps up, throwing a rock at the bouncers. It narrowly misses one and you want to look away, but you can’t. You watch as the bouncers stiffen, then turn towards the road. Robin jumps up this time and throws another rock, and the bouncers take off towards them. You slink back into the tree line more as Robin and Dustin sprint off in the other direction, bouncers on their tails.

“Jesus,” you whisper. “That was easy.”

You slink out from behind the trees and run towards the door, thankful that it’s unlocked. You take a deep breath and step in, gun raised. To your surprise, the room is empty, but it’s filled with cigarette smoke – people must have just left. You lower your weapon and look around for a moment, still stiff. The walls are painted crimson, and the floor is checkered in black and white. A few black couches line the room, and at the very back, there’s a door that blends in with the wall. Your breath hitches and you take a step towards it, but it suddenly opens, revealing a young man in a green uniform.

You both freeze, staring at each other in shock, and then you raise your gun at him. He lifts his hands in surrender, shaking slightly, and you realize he probably has some useful stuff on him.

“Your clothes!” you say, tugging on your shirt. You point to yourself. “Give them to me!”

He seems confused so you twitch your gun a bit. “Clothes!”

He shakes his head and you sigh, stepping towards him. “I’m sorry, man,” you say before pistol whipping him, sending him to the floor. You sigh again – poor bastard – but you quickly start to rummage through his belongings. You pull his uniform off and put it on. It’s a bit big, but it’ll do. You search the pockets and find two key cards. You keep one in your pocket and stare at the other one uncertainly before slipping it into the waistband of your underwear. You figure it’s probably smart to hide one in case you get caught. You grab his hat last and stride over to the door.

When opened, it’s not a door at all; it’s actually a large elevator with red padded walls. You step inside and shut the door behind you. You see a pad next to the buttons and swipe a card over it. It lights up green and you press the only floor button on the panel. The elevator lurches and it slowly starts heading down.

You grab your walkie talkie and hold it up. “This is Juliet, does anybody copy?”

“Goonies speaking, copy that,” you hear Mike say. “Don’t forget to say over when you’re done speaking. Over.”

You sigh heavily. “I know how to use a walkie talkie, Mike, I’m in the force. Over.”

“Good to hear, Juliet. What’s your 20? Over.”

“I’m inside and on an elevator. I think I’m going underground. I’ll keep you updated. Over.”

“Copy that.”

You turn it off and wait for the elevator to stop. You turn the handle and step out into a brightly lit hallway. You soon realize that wherever you are is like a maze, with multiple hallways branching out of one hub. You roll your shoulders back and move forward, not sure what else you could do except keep moving until something happens.

As you walk, you think about Steve. You’re actually kind of pissed that you’re about to break him out, assuming he’s here. You’ve done so much for him: threatened, gotten fired, wasted countless nights in a car staring at nothing, and now you’re breaking and entering to save his ass. The worst part is that you’re not expecting or even wanting an apology – you just want him safe. You want him out of wherever he is, and you want him out alive. You’re still fond of him despite everything, but what difference does it make?

You slip into closets and wait for people to pass before continuing. You’re running blind, each hallway or hub more confusing than the last. But you finally step into a hub that’s different from the others. The lights are much dimmer and it’s filled with many rooms that are locked from the outside. You know immediately it’s got to be interrogation rooms, and you figure it’s your best bet.

“Juliet to Goonies, do you copy?”

“Goonies copy, what’s going on? Over.”

“Dynamic Duo copies too, over,” you hear Dustin say, and you sigh, relieved at their safety.

“I think I found interrogation chambers. Going to check them for… Romeo. If I don’t radio back in fifteen, call Owens. Do you have the number? Over.”

“My mom has it. She’s at standby, but very confused and concerned, over,” Will says.

You sigh and close your eyes. “Tell Joyce what’s going on. Make sure she knows I’m here, and St- Romeo might be, too. I don’t want anyone coming in here, guns blazing, killing us. Do you copy? Over.”

“Copy that,” Will says, although he sounds fearful.

“The Dynamic Duo is ready for assistance when necessary! Over,” Dustin says.

“Thanks guys, I’ll keep you updated as I can. Remember if there’s no transmission in fifteen, call Owens. Copy?”

“Copy that,” Mike says.

“Godspeed,” Dustin and Robin say in unison.

You turn the walkie off again and start towards one door that was locked. You swipe the key card and open. Lights on, empty. Next one – lights on, empty. And the next one – lights on, empty. Each door you open twists your gut a little tighter, and you find it hard to keep looking. The fourth door you try opens and it’s pitch black inside. Brows furrowed, you take a step in, and you’re immediately ambushed. Someone swipes your feet out from under you and tackles you, trying to pin your hands beside you. You kick and twist, but the person is way stronger than you, pinning your legs down as they lay on you.

“Get off!” you shout, and your attacker immediately does so, which gives you whiplash. You sit up and a hand reaches out, running down your face, making you wince.

“Y/N?!” they gasp.

Your heart stops. “Steve?!”

===

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[jpat82]

Death Of The Bachelor

Chapter 4

    The next day you were in the back at the bar, running down an inventory log of what the bar needed so you could place an order when you heard the bell above the door in the main part go off. You set your pad and pencil down as you heard it chime again, looking at your watch you saw it was 10:30 am. Almost close enough for lunches.

     "Good morning." You stated coming from around back to see Steve and Bucky.

     "Morning, Y/n." Steve greeted you cheerfully as he sat down at the bar followed by Bucky who looked a little worse for wear.

    Steve looked as well groomed as he always did. Hair brushed back in that old 1940's way he always did but it seemed to work on him. Clean baby blue t that hugged his frame and muscles just perfectly and the same with antiqued denim jeans he was wearing. However, Bucky's hair was slightly messy and he seemed to be wearing the same clothes he had last night. His eyes were rimmed red and he hunched over at the door looking miserable.

    "Looks like someone is hungover." You chuckled as you pulled both bottles down.

     "Yeah, he was trying to out drink our pal Banner and that man is a beast." Steve laughed as clapped Bucky on the shoulder making him wince and glare at Steve out of the corner of his eye.

      "Banner was there? Was there any booze left over by the end of the night?" You chuckled as you slid them both a drink, Bucky pushed his back.

     "Water, please." He asked quietly, wincing as he spoke. You shook your head as you poured him a tall water.

      "Dude, hair of the dog, telling ya you'll feel better." Steve remarked before turning to face you again. "Oh, Yeah, Banner challenged Bucky here to a drinking game, and well, Bucky doesn't know Banner. Well didn't, and now he does."

      "Hey," You chuckled. "Leave the poor guy alone, not everyone knows how Banner drinks or how the hell a man his size can hold that much liquor."

      "Go ahead, make fun of the man with a killer hang over." Bucky groaned, slowly putting his head on the bar.

      "Where did you go last night, y/n? I went looking for you after I heard Bucky challenged Banner." Steve asked, turning his attention toward you.

     "Well, I was fired actually." You told him, giving him shrug.

     "What!" He stated, his eyes widening. "Why the hell did they fire you?"

    "Besides my coworker complaining, I had two complaints that I 'chumming it up towards the patrons' or some shit like that and refusal to serve." You stated, anger slipping in a bit. Maybe it still bugged you that you had been fired for something so ridiculously not true.

     "Seriously?" Steve asked, brows pinching together, you looked at the crown of Bucky's head since his face was still on the bar top.

      "Yep, except I didn't refuse anybody but I did tell someone that I was out of whiskey." You retorted still burning holes into the other man's head.

     "Fuck." Bucky hissed before lifting his head, wincing as he did. "That bitch."

     "What do you mean by that?" Steve asked suspiciously.

      "God, Mandy? Mindy, Veronica? I can't remember her name, the cute blonde that was all over me." Bucky started but you couldn’t help but chime in.

     "Ya know, the same one that was all over Sam a couple weeks back because she wants to marry a rich man so she doesn't have to work." You spat out with a smile, watching as Bucky narrowed his eyes at you.

     "She didn't like the fact that y/n was teasing with me. She got up right after you left and was gone for a bit before she came back and sat back down next me." Bucky explained. "I thought she went to the bathroom, I didn't realize what she was doing."

     "Doesn't matter, because of that I was fired. My boss was told if he didn't fire me, that nobody would ever use him for catering again." You told him and crossed your arms.

     "Dude, I'm sorry." Bucky said, as he gently set his head on his arm, while he leaned back down on the bar. "If I had known what she was doing I would of stopped her.

     "Meh, what's done is done. I hate catering those kind of events anyway." You shrugged as you left the two of them to go grab your inventory book that you had left in the back room.

"So how far back does that set you?" Steve yelled as you came back into the main part of the bar.

"How far back?" Bucky asked in a cranky voice his blues flicking back to his friend.

"Little miss amazing bar tender here is trying to buy an old historic building downtown, she wants to open her own bar." Steve explain, grinning and giving you a wink.

"A couple months, pretty close to having the down payment and closing costs. I've got another account set up for inventory and that's ready." You replied as you started counting bottle in the main part.

"Which building? There's only a dozen for sale." Bucky croaked, but starting to sound a bit more alive then dead.

"It's the one on main." Steve replied before you could speak.

"The big one? The one with brick facade, and the arched stained glass windows above the main level? It's a two story building, right? With the cool brick work." Bucky asked, sounding intrigued. You turned to face him, his whole demeanor had changed. He was alert and those deep blues were solely focused on you, the whole cool famous playboy facade was gone.

"Yeah, that's the one. I've been eyeing it for a couple years now." You replied with a smile. "It's been on the market for a bit now, Steve has been really good about not letting developers buy for demolition."

"Hey, you kept my butt out of jail so it's the least I can do." Steve shrugged with a smile.

"Okay, I gotta hear this." Bucky chuckled looking from Steve to you.

"Well, there was scuffle in the parking lot a couple years back. Steve was never much of hot head but he is never one to back down." You said grinning from ear to ear.

"Anyway, a politicians kid came into the bar causing issues, starting trouble." Steve added with a chuckle.

"So this kid challenges Steve here and asked him to go outside, and this idiot had been drinking for hours." You added.

"Guessing you got in a fight?" Bucky asked watching in amusement.

"Actually no, the kid goes outside and winds up in a fight with a guy that was part of a biker gang, Rumlow." You stated. "Put the kid in a coma for a couple days and when he woke up he swore up and down it was Steve."

"Y/n has excellent memory, except names, she remembered that day. When the kid went outside I went to the bathroom cause I need to puke my guts out." Steve stated. "Never drinking saki again, no matter how much Tony insists."

"Because the kid was the son of a politician the guy that did best the tar out of him end up behind bars for ten years." You told him, looking over at Steve. "His dad owns the building I want, and he's promised me one hell of deal. I've got the loan on hold cause I've got some stellar credit it's just I'm still not quite there with the rest."

"And that gig last night would of put you one step closer." Bucky sighed leaned back slightly in his seat. "What if someone were to invest in your bar?"

"What do you mean?" You asked raising your eyebrow at him.

"Say someone gave you the rest of the money, had just a little say and took just like 10% off the top." He stated, leaning forward on the bar.

"Dude, you don't think Sam or I have offered?" Steve asked looking over the brunette.

"With you or Sam it would be another loan, one she would have to pay back, this she would get to keep. I could continue to invest, no doubt that building is going to need some renovations." Bucky stayed, looking over at Steve and then back to you. "Plus if it does well enough, the there is the upstairs, what would do there? You could have just regular bar on the bottom and then a vip style club up top."

"A bar on top of a bar?" You asked looking from him to Steve.

"Think about it, the super rich don't like quaint bar like this, ones were blue collar workers go. The famous rich ones only go to VIP high end club style bars, you could have both in one building."

"Can I think about it first?" You asked looking back to Bucky who had a smile across his face. He licked his bottom lip as he grabbed a napkin and a Keno pencil. Quickly he scrawled his number out and handed over.

"Just let me know, either way. You would be the owner, I could be your manager."

Permanent tag-

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If I missed you/you would like to be added just let me know!

[lonelypond]

Soldier Game: Operation LA Smile, Ch. 3

NicoMaki, Love Live, 4K, 3/?

Nico shouldn’t be nervous. It was her party. Her idea. Her reminder that whatever else was going on in the universe, whatever unappreciative individuals might think of Nico’s charm and abilities, Yazawa Nico could always draw a crowd. With almost no notice. Take that aloof, rich, redheaded sexcapade. Nico didn’t care. Casual came with the territory. Hearts broken all over the globe.

Kotori had done an amazing job with the panther theme, finding huge, stuffed velvet panthers and leopards to scatter across the rooftop terrace under strings and strings of multicolored fairy lights, small brightness against the stunning Tokyo nightscape. Charged by the atmosphere, Nico twirled under the lights to the amusement of the woman setting up the bar. Nico winked. It was always good to appreciate your audience. She adjusted the bow at the neck of her black and gray glitter clouded leopard pattern sleeveless maxi dress. Kotori had a shiny brown jaguar fabric in a shirt tucked into high gold disco glamour trousers. Nico’s see through black stockings with vine texture added to the wild vibe.

Pretty soon, pretty pretty women were going to be screaming to be let in. Nico wondered when the celebrity guests of honor would arrive and then Kotori stepped out onto the roof, Umi on her arm, in a very elegant and modest little black dress, with a fascinating and subtle open knit texture Nico would have killed to design. What would the boxing redhead show up in, Nico wondered? Some more expensive designer than Nico?

###

Think casual. Last night in Tokyo. Eli smiled and bobbed her head at a young woman who couldn’t decide between approaching Eli or joining the swarm around Nico. Eli was enjoying the breeze, the cool darkness. She’d spent all day in their cramped office, having to deal with various government functionaries who did not believe Eli was official enough for the level of clearance she held. She was looking forward to being in the field, making spur of the moment decisions based on reconnaissance and sitreps. She pushed the sleeves of her loose white blazer up, black cigarette pants, and light blue linen shirt completing the outfit. Feather Smile had dressed like the sizzling hot, shine the spotlight here team they were and Umi had chosen her dress with her usual exquisite attention to detail. Eli smiled and leaned on the bar, “Vodka tonic, please.”

“Yes, miss.”

And then there was Maki. Arriving late, as always. Because it wasn’t a truly fashionable party unil Nishikino Maki arrived. The room practically stopped. No conversation as Maki strode through, brazen, confident, shooting dagger sparks if anyone dared glance her way. Maki pulled entire rooms without even trying and tonight, when she was letting the banked down fire burning in her core light those priceless amethyst eyes, there were actual gasps when she walked into a space for the first time. Eli was expecting something designer, but Maki had opted for gym chic?!!!? And then, Nico gestured at the DJ and a song Eli had almost forgotten came over the speaker system.

“Three, two, one, zero! Here's my intro Please look at me; I'm completely serious My thrilling beauty will win, without fail”

Soldier Game. The silly pop single they’d recorded in high school. Umi seemed surprised but smiled when Kotori giggled. Maki whirled, completely red, glaring at Nico, who dismissed her with an offhand wave and went back to being surrounded by a crushing crowd as the song continued. Maki, arms wrapped around her torso, was slouched behind a panther, nearly obscured, her bold energy burst.

Eli took her drink over, “Want this?”

Maki shook her head, cheeks still reddened.

“That’s a real blast from the past. I keep trying to forget it. Those photoshoots.”

“That tiara dug into my skull. I hate photoshoots.” Maki groaned.

“So this assignment will be fun.”

Maki’s nostrils flared. Eli knew she was biting back an ‘only if l get to shoot someone’ comment and kept the conversation going before Maki totally lost her temper.

“Well, you’ve made an entrance anyway.”

Maki scowled, “Now we do small talk?”

“I’ve had a government bureaucracy runaround kind of a day and I just want to stay off my phone, enjoy a breeze, listen to music, and have a few drinks. In order to do that in peace, I have to first make sure you won’t throw anyone off the roof.”

“What did Umi tell you?” Immediate suspicion.

Eli shrugged.

Maki sounded ready to strangle someone, “Just leave me alone, Eli.”

“Fine.” Eli raised a glass in a toast, “But remember why we’re here.”

“Fine.” Maki shoved past Eli. “I’m going to go be a rich brat.”

And she wasn’t even going to have to try, Eli thought as she downed her drink.

###

Nico was sliding across the floor, new, top tier dance moves, to amuse a set of twins, one with pink streaks, one with purple, both with leopard ears topping their hair.

“Nico Ni always dances her way to ideas. And then once Kotori creates them, Nico dances in them, because if cute girls can’t move and breathe in a Feather Smile design, no one but Nico sees it.”

“Do you get your ideas from concerts...or movies...or celebrities?” Pink Streak asked with a giggle. “Or do you just dream them up?”

“Nico only hangs out with the most stylish....”

“Zookeepers?” Maki asked drily as she leaned over the panther, having fueled her courage with double tequila shots. “”S really not innovative, or…” a shrug and the whole panther moved, “interesting really. The feline as an expression of feline…fury...furry...” she blinked, “I mean female sensuality. Overdone. Copied from cooler…” a pause for frantic blinking, “errors...ermines…”Maki couldn’t find the word and had to settle “years...not even rocker chic,” Maki giggled as Nico felt annoyance start to prick and Maki continued, “scraping rocker bottom chick.”

Nico rolled her eyes, Maki was obviously inebriated. She and the streak twins watched as the redhead stood, swayed, and decided she wasn’t finished

“Unless…” Maki leaned forward again, supported by both arms on the stuffed panther, and only a quick shoulder shove by Nico prevented Pink and Purple Streak from having two panthers sprawled all over them, “you’re into that?”

Pink Streak was closer so Nico grabbed those ears, leaned forward, stuck them firmly in sweaty red hair, whispered, “Do you purr?” and watched in amusement as Maki jumped back, dragging the panther with her, and sprinted for a bar.

###

Eli had spent much of the past three days sharing an office with Tojo Nozomi and the only conclusion she had drawn was that Nozomi, as she’d forced Eli to call her, was an enigma, with little hints of tantalizing layers of....mischief occasionally surfacing in those sea green labyrinth of eyes. Having done her duty as a friend to Maki and provided her temperamental compatriot an opportunity to vent off some steam, Eli found herself wondering where Nozomi was at this event. Not at one of the bars on the terrace, or rubbing up against the nearly five foot tall stuffed panthers like so many of the younger dancers, nor, as far as Eli could see, tucked into a corner conversation somewhere. Maybe she was inside, in one of the cool, dark wood alcoves, staring out at the Tokyo nightscape. This was certainly a view worth the price of one of the hotel’s rooms.

Eli wandered back into the bar. Not as many people clumped here, some masked, because now masks were fashionable. Eli had by now thoroughly reviewed the FeatherSmile dossier. They were one of the first companies to develop a gossamer fabric, diaphanous, like a movie genie’s veil, that still cut the dispersion of droplets. Thanks to Yazawa’s connections and innovative demands, FeatherSmile was often on the leading edge of textile tech. No Nozomi here though, veiled or not.

Eli wandered back out, to the high ceilinged open terrace, casually grabbing a handful of chocolate eclairs and macarons, and there was Nozomi, legs pulled up underneath her, in a very formal navy business suit, a floral shirt her only concession to the non office setting, sitting in the very middle of things, on something that in the very middle of furniture and sculpture

Eli, hands full of chocolate, slid in next to her, “You still look like you’re at the office.”

Nozomi smiled, “I am still on the job.”

“What is your job?” Eli couldn’t help it. She was usually good at figuring people out, at knowing who to ask for a briefing, at knowing which paperwork would fill in the sketch of a briefing, but Nozomi, for all that she looked a proper, mid-level bureaucrat, had none of the mid-level bureaucrat paper trail attached to her name or office, which made Eli think there was more going on here than a simple tourist jaunt covering for a drop off.

Nozomi shrugged, “I manage people.”

Another veronica, swing the distracting cape of an answer. Eli bit into a meltingly amazing pastry to consider the next tack to take.

“Ever been to America?”

“Yes. You?”

Eli ate the final, exquisite bite, “I haven’t spent as much time there as Maki. Family business kept me mainly in Russia or Tokyo.”

“Yes, it’s a very unique nexus you three represent: Japan, America, and Russia. Must have been an interesting high school.”

Eli laughed, “It was. I was student council president.”

As if cued, another Soldier Game song played.

“And the high school idol’ing?”

Eli sighed. No more chocolate left. And this was the topic.

Nozomi leaned forward a little, almost touching Eli’s knee, “Sorry, was that too personal? Something you want to forget?”

“No. It’s pretty common knowledge, although most people don’t know the backstory.”

“Backstory?”

“Maki’s drive to compose, Umi’s need to express herself in lyrics, my….”

Nozomi gave off a calming aura, encouraging Eli to talk. This wasn’t top secret info. Nothing was really stopping Eli from sharing. It was just a part of her past she preferred to…

Nozomi had waved a waiter over to break the tension, “Shirley Temple, please. Eli?”

“Vodka tonic.”

“Of course.” The waiter bowed.

“Sorry to push you. We can talk about the lovely view if you’d rather?” There was that mischief as Nozomi’s eyes met hers, and Nozomi giggled. “Or you can tell me if Maki always gets this drunk.”

“Only on tequila.”

“And you?”

“Never on tequila.” Eli laughed and leaned back against a concrete pillar, “I could never crack the upper echelon of Russian ballet schools. So I had something to prove.”

“Ah.”

Eli heard a confirmation in the ‘ah.” So Nozomi had already looked up the story. No real connection here. Price of doing business. Everyone knows more than they say and still fillets you for information. Confirm, look for weaknesses, memorize flaws. Eli suddenly felt worn.

“I’d better check in with Umi.” Eli stood, “I’ll see you on the plane tomorrow.”

Nozomi half rose, startled, but then settled back down, hands composed in her lap, “Of course. I hope you get some rest, Eli.”

Eli’s name sounded flat as Nozomi said it, but Eli still smiled and returned the courtesy, “I hope you can manage some off the job time.”

Nozomi shrugged. Eli turned away. Chocolate first, then Umi, then sleep. It had been too long a day.

###

Maki glared, then threw back the tequila shot she’d been carrying. Florrie’s ‘Begging Me’ was echoing and she wondered exactly how much control Nico had exerted over the DJ’s playlist. Long Island Iced Tea next, this was a Long Island Iced Tea night.

She marched up to the bartender, demanded the drink, took the bare minimum amount of time to drink it down through a cold metal straw, lips nearly frozen. A little buzzy, a little daring, feeling the need to just…

Everyone not actively chatting up a potential partner in the low lighting, dark wood interior of the bar had spilled out onto the roof, where with no time at all, Feather Smile had set up a sort of prowling fur extravaganza, huge velvet panthers and leopards arrayed in clusters, doubling as seating, people leaning or riding on them, a bar at either end of the terrace. The lights of Tokyo were everywhere there weren’t stars or fairy lights and Maki took a deep breath, trying to just check out of the party scene and let the lights and movement scatter her looping thoughts. It was usually a very solid escape plan, but just as her shoulders relaxed, someone giggled, “Oh, Nico, that tickles” and Maki spun to see Nico leaning over a woman leaning back into a velvet black panther, the woman’s shirt off, her see through black lace bra shimmering darkly. Nico had a metallic pen and finished off her signature with a flourish. And a kiss on the fabric to seal it.

Another giggle. And something whispered. And Nico leaning over the woman to whisper a reply. Maki headed back to the bartender who’d done her marginally satisfying Long Island Ice Tea.

“Make it better this time or I’ll make sure you’re fired.” Maki snapped.

The bartender bowed, “Of course. I’m so sorry the last one was not satisfying.”

“More tequila.”

Umi’s voice cut in, “Whatever she’s having, make it with less tequila. Cute ears by the way.”

Maki reached up and ripped the Nico tainted accessory out of her hair.

Umi leaned on the bar, shaking her head at Maki. “You have to stop getting random staffers fired. People won’t like you.”

“People,” Maki couldn’t help that her glance went to Nico, “Don’t like me now.”

Nico had her arms around a woman’s waist and they were swaying to music that was too sexy to be swaying to in public. Maki pushed herself off the bar, but Umi caught her arm.

“Weapons.” Umi demanded.

Maki waved her hands down the length of her torso. Her side slashed, short, armless tunic covering a sports bra, offered a view of her torso that showed no hidden armament. Her form fitting shorts also proved that there was nothing unnatural about any of the curves the fabric was clinging to. “I just want to dance.”

Visual check cleared, Umi offered Maki the terrace, “Enjoy.”

Maki’s eyes burned with fierce intensity, ‘I plan to.”

And a mellow song, Surf Mesa’s "ILY", rolled but there was nothing mellow about the way Maki walked into the center of the terrace, threw out her arms, closed her eyes, and started mouthing “I love you, baby” as Emilie did, arms raising, wrists crossed over each other, muscle pulses so tight that it seemed like her whole torso was throbbing as she circled her abdomen, thrusting her hips incrementally forward, flexing her knees to crouch down to bounce up, tossing her hair back in near slow motion and red strands flamed in the pattern of flashes that suddenly surrounded her as everyone pulled out their phone, images of Maki lost in a blur, not captive, as the Tokyo nightscape provided a brilliant, blinding backdrop.

###

Nico did not like the speculative, predatory look in Kotori’s eye. She was very familiar with it and they had a strict first seen, first claimed agreement that Nico’s boxing ring encounter with Maki certainly would have invoked but Nico did not want to be so open about her...there was no right word..interest, annoyance, remembering her most recent encounter with Maki, Nico laughed at herself and decided animal attraction was probably the truest.

With so much attention on Maki and the terrace full of dark patches, Nico and Kotori had found a moment to meet. Kotori was leaning into her elbows, watching Maki, idly twisting the straw in her drink.

“Don’t you have a very stylish samurai stashed somewhere?” Nico decided on a diversionary tactic.

Nico knew her partner very well. Kotori turned away from watching Maki, with a squeal, “Did you see that dress, Nico? And the texture, exquisite, I couldn’t rip my hands away. I just want to take it off her so I can see how they did that open knit.”

Nico leaned into obvious, with a snort, “That’s not the only reason.”

Kotori arched an eyebrow, “I never discuss proprietary tactics, Nico.”

Nico chuckled, ‘Well, there seem to be a few other people interested in that…” Nico paused and pointed over her shoulder to where Umi was walled off by a crowd of women fascinated by the most inscrutable member of Soldier Game, now that Maki had decided to dry heave near a plant, “dress.”

Kotori’s lips twisted and anger flared briefly in now cold golden eyes, “I’ll see if Umi-chan wants to sit and sip some champagne.”

Nico was watching Maki run shaky fingers through her hair and slap herself on the cheeks. “And I’ll get the dancing started up again.”

###

Eli leaving had left Nozomi unsettled. So she took her Shirley Temple in hand and decided to roam. Her first target, Nico, who was once again somehow not being crushed by a crowd of young women demanding Nico sign their bras with her private contact info. Nico’s flirt style was an art, all wink and dash, never lingering, but always making a connection. Eager, thirsty eyes followed her everywhere. Nozomi was impressed by the range of her charisma and how professionally in stride Nico took the adoration.

“Care to sign something a little less personal for me?” Nozomi asked when Nico spun into her zone.

Nico demurred. “Nico always needs a treat.” A completely outrageous wink as Nico moved to the next young woman, who had unbuttoned her blouse, exposing ample curves that almost escaped their lacy lilac support, “Hi. Nico Ni wants to know. What’s your name and favorite color?”

“Oki and Green.” The blonde woman flushed as Nico let the pen linger a little.

“Nico will design a holiday set to showcase these memorable curves.” NIco finished her signature with a flourish, “Look for it. Nico thinks Santa will bring a good girl like you, Oki, a very special set.”

“Don’t talk about Santa like that.” An angry voice interrupted.

“Maki! We haven’t had a chance to talk all night.” Nozomi stepped in, trying to divert Maki and guide her away by the elbow, but the riled up heiress brushed off any restraint.

Maki had one target in her laser focused sights. Nico. “Don’t use Santa as a shill for your lingerie.”

Nico winked at the blonde, before answering Maki, “Nico got all her elf paperwork in on time last year. Completely certified to deliver North Pole approved presents. Ask half of Tokyo.”

“Ask Santa.” Maki’s fist were clenched. Nico had no idea why she was in the middle of a fight about two beloved holiday traditions, Santa Claus and FeatherSmile’s Christmas Cuddle lingerie line, but Maki had once again impulsively shoved them both into something unexpected.

“Okay, Nico will.” Nico took her pen and started to write a note on her arm, but Maki grabbed the pen and wrote a number on Nico’s arm as she spoke.

“Text me when he tells you you’re officially on the naughty list.” Maki snorted, “I want to laugh at you.”

This was an incredibly strange way to get the number of the hot, crazy girl she’d already had sex with. But Nico could roll with anything. That was her real superpower. And why she was so good at ALL of her jobs.

But before Nico could retort, Nozomi took the pen and wrote a number under Maki’s on Nico’s arm, “Text me too.”

The blonde giggled. Nozomi smirked at her, and leaned down to whisper, “I’d like to see green on you. Can I get you a drink? I have a Christmas at the South Pole story that you’ll never forget.”

And that left Nico with the glaring Maki. The crowd had been repelled by the waves of fury rolling off Maki. Nico sighed, “What are we really fighting about?”

“Santa.” Maki said stubbornly.

“It’s June, Nico loves Christmas, but Nico was planning to think about the beach and bikinis for at least a week.”

Maki crossed her arms over her torso as another Soldier Game song came over the speakers. “Did you have to play them?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“People expect it.” Nico listened for a verse, “Plus, they’re catchy. You sound good. You wrote the music, right?”

“Composed.”

“Wrote, composed…”

Maki leaned very much into Nico’s face, blinking, “Sewed, painted, same thing, right?”

“Fine. Nico will use the right words. Do you still compose?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“What do you want to talk about?” Nico opened her arms to the room, “Nico has adoring fans eager for a few minutes of her time and your minutes,” Nico glanced at her watch, “are up.”

Maki pulled back. “I don’t want to talk.”

Nico stepped close, and could feel Maki tense at the proximity, “Well, Nico does have a suite reserved if you really need some…”

“Stop.” Maki’s hands shot out, Nico guessed to push Nico away, but they just lingered on her shoulders.

“Well, if you want to dance, Nico never disappoints a pretty lady.” And Nico dropped both hands to Maki’s waist, pulling her in, and starting to sway as the tempo of the music slowed. Maki shadowed the motion, her eyes closing, for a minute and then she froze, eyes wide open, looking down at Nico in horror.

“Um...why...no…I have to…”

“Run?” Nico suggested, her tone teasing.

Maki’s wry smile, full of unguarded charm, was a change of mood more surprising than anything that had happened to Nico so far, “How’d you guess?”

Nico was getting intrigued. This wasn’t the plan. But Nico always had a stock answer, “Nico knows.”

“Santa knows. Nico fakes it.” Almost a playful growl.

“Still on Santa? Did I mention June?” Nico decided to pull Maki close enough that their hips were bumping. “And nothing Nico does is faked.” Nico dropped her voice, closing in on Maki’s ear, “Don’t you remember?”

Full, complete flush. WIld blinking. Nico had a sudden inspiration and released Maki’s waist. “Thanks for your number. Nico might call you, if you’re lucky,”

With a frustrated growl, Maki suddenly had both hands in her own hair, rough tearing it, and Nico wanted to feel the texture so bad it took enormous physical effort to hold her hands back. Then Maki was standing straight again, so tall, slashed tunic showing muscle and tan and curves, a sexy dream fuel snarl mouthing words that took Nico a few seconds to actually register the foreignness of, “Da parte mia, ritengo che sia meglio essere avventurosi che cauti, perché la fortuna è una donna.”

Was that Italian? How many languages did Maki speak? Nico decided she needed less homework not more as Maki walked away from her, a tequila induced sway threatening to tilt her into a bystander.

####

Hanayo glanced away from the FeatherSmile party livestream. If she’d been there, she would have been a mouse in a quiet corner. She couldn’t hear anything but the music but the party was still almost as engaging as a good Korean drama. Hanayo enjoyed watching the women move in and out of conversation groups, dancing, leaning into close, cozy chats that Hanayo could imagine might result in even cozier conversations. Nico was a blur of motion and charisma, Kotori cool and calm and centered as she glided everywhere, from woman to woman, a quick kiss on so many cheeks, a sly smile when no one was looking but the camera. Hanayo wondered what it would be like to be in the same room with them.

She glanced at the small chat window on her business phone. Her agricultural contacts wanted an in person meeting coinciding with her FeatherSmile obligations. She opened a text window on her laptop. Nozomi had warned her about something like this happening.

A/N: The Italian is a quote from Machiavelli: "For my part I consider that it is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman."Hi.

[ladymelissaduthe]

Challenge #1.75

Aka The Greenhouse RP with Jackson (Day Mode)

a/n: this is by far my fav fic so far JKDSNKDJK also I really just want this out because,,, reasons YEETHAW 

Thank you Bri @jackson-graham​ for this RP and Jackson, the sweetest bean around. (I love him, okay????) Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this one as much as I’ve enjoyed writing this one. (3696 words) 

I really love plants, most especially flowers.

Plants always brightened up a room whenever you placed them by a windowsill.

All they ask is a little tender love and care, some water, and some sunlight.

Plants also didn’t typically weren’t around secret passageways in full blown dark mode.

It was safe to say that after getting trapped in that one secret hallway in the palace, I was going to avoid the library for a little while to make sure I didn’t end up in another precarious situation, only this time with no one to really help me.

That’s probably why I liked the palace’s greenhouse among all the places here, more than the palace gardens themselves.

It was bright, but not too hot. The surrounding greenery kept the greenhouse cool enough to lounge around in. It reminded me of my own garden back in Orleans, except it was probably twenty times larger. My favorite part about it was that no one else frequented it. I guess people preferred the palace air conditioning.

It was nice to walk around the greenhouse and be one with the greens, maybe soak in the sunlight just for a while and feel it warm my skin. Vegans have to photosynthesize somehow.

As usual the main entrance was open. The light hum of some watering system the palace filling the room. The west side of the greenhouse was full of vegetables and easy to grow fruits: tomatoes, eggplants, raspberries…

Sometimes I was tempted to pick some from their stems and sneak some of the flowering citrus plants here. Angeles was hot enough to grow those kinds of fruits, just like Orleans really.

The east side was mostly flowering plants aside from a bit of extra aesthetic weeds. I had a feeling that the gardeners here grew some of the flowers here before moving them to other spots in the main garden. There were occasionally patches of flowers that would be empty the next day, probably relocated to somewhere else on the grounds.

My eyes scan through the kinds of flowers. They kept a lot of flowers I was familiar with, actually. Floral arrangements were a regular aspect of my job back home, if not something I loved to do.

I got secondhand butterflies every time a bride asked me to help piece together her bouquet, or whenever I would go to my flower supplier and see the fields and varieties of flowers they have got. The options were always lovely, no matter the season.

A lot of flowers grew around these parts. Roses, veronicas, lavender, dahlias, daisies, hydrangeas. I wonder if the palace kept sunflowers.

Oh, a chunk of the gardenias were gone. I wonder where they were moved.

I could barely make it out, but there was some movement close to the dahlias.

Maybe it was a gardener who could help me figure out where the gardenias had moved.

I walk towards the dahlia section to investigate, stopping right in my tracks when I get a better view.

“Oh, well good afternoon.” I say before I feel my foot go behind mine in a quick dip.

The other person pops up from where they were half hidden by a couple of taller plants.

Dark hair, nice eyebrows, and a warm smile.

Jackson Graham…. with a couple of flowers in his gloved hand.

“Good afternoon, Missy.”

“Hello, Jackson.” I smile at him, still eyeing the flowers in his hand.

Dahlias. Lisianthus, and Roses. Boy’s got some good taste.

I gesture to the bunch.

“Pretty bunch of flowers you’ve got over there.” I lift an eyebrow. “Special Occasion? A date?”

A short laugh comes from Jackson.

“No. No, not a date.” He holds up the flowers in his gloved hands, “My mom’s birthday.”

Wow. You don’t typically see a boy making a bouquet from scratch. I feel a smile creeping on my lips.  

“Oh, that’s so sweet.” I look over the flowers in his hands, curling my lips in. They were all focal flowers. I hope he wasn’t going to pick another huge flower to add to it, that would be a shame. He needed some greenery, some lines, some verticals to fill in the gaps.

“If that’s the case, mind if I make a suggestion?” I ask, impulsively wanting to help piece a bouquet together. It was one of those little things I missed about my job back at home.

“Um,” he looks down at the flowers for a second before looking up. “Sure. Why not?”

GREAT. I saw some line flowers close to the lavenders. I put my hands behind my back, looking for some nice line flowers.

I couldn’t help it, a part of me was itching to do something I used to do back home; and well, it looked like planning a wedding wasn’t exactly on the list. Floral arrangements, well—that was something close enough.

“I’m not being too intrusive, am I?”  

He shakes his head. I really hope he didn’t mind me wanting to help.

“Not at all. I think if anyone knows about bouquets, it’s you.” A smile seems to grow on his face.

I laugh lightly, shaking my own head.

“Actually, most of the time, I don’t pick the bouquets.” I lift a shoulder up. “I just make… friendly suggestions.”

Friendly suggestions. Mama taught me to use that word when brides were two steps away from making some tacky choice. Thankfully, the clients I had usually asked me what I thought looked great or what was in style for the season. Friendly suggestions.

“Right, friendly suggestions.” Jackson chuckles softly before raising a brow, “I’m guessing they always take them.”

I consider it for a bit, bobbling my head still determined to find the perfect line flower.

“They do, but you’ll be surprised by the number of brides that still want their perfect Pinterest board weddings.” I muse before laughing ever so slightly at a few memories of how great a wedding they wanted on a specific budget.

“Happiest day of their lives is almost a paradox.” He says, and I catch him smiling to himself before he looks away.

“It’s my job to make them feel like they’re not stressed out,” I lift a shoulder, looking around the greenhouse before I catch the perfect addition by my feet.

“Aha! Found you.” I crouch down, making sure not to topple over in my platforms, inspecting the patch if they were fully grown. “Astilbe.”

False goat’s beard. Not the prettiest alternative name, but the flower was perfect to compliment the dahlias in Jackson’s hand. It also helped give some fullness to the bouquet.

I feel Jackson peek over my shoulder, “Looks nice.”

“They’re just filler flowers.” I look to him, holding a hand out for the scissors he was holding in his other hand. “You’ve picked out some real nice focal flowers though, just needs a little…” I wave a hand in the air, “jzhusing up to really make it pop.”

“Jzhushing?” I see the corner of his mouth tilt up as he offers me the scissors.

“Yes. Jzhushing. The difference of something that’s good and something that’s great.” I explain, giving him the explanation my Grammy used on me when I was a kid. That little something you add to make it extra special.

I snip at the stems, making sure not to destroy them, then standing up to hand it to Jackson to add to the bunch. “Jzhushing up.”

Jackson’s smile suddenly widens as I give him the stems. I hope he thought they were a good addition and smiling for the sake of just being nice.

“Any more suggestions on how to give my mom the best for her birthday?”

Well, he sounded genuine….

I place a hand on my chin, tapping it lightly. How else could I make this look even better?

“Dahlia, lisianthus, and roses are the focal, astilbe for the filler,” I blink, trying to figure the kind of flowers I could still help add. “You just need a line flower and some greenery, and you’re good to go.”

Jackson’s head turns slightly, giving me a half squinting side glance.

“Line flower.” He looks a bit amused. “You lost me.”

My smile tilts, right… it sounds kind of crazy without the explanations. “A tall flower, it’s meant to dictate the shape and height of the arrangement… or something like that.” My hand rises up slightly to make a gesture of height.

He seems to understand the term now. “The more extravagant for my mom, the better.” The amused look on his face doesn’t leave as he starts to arrange the Astilbes I gave him into the bunch.

“I’ll make sure that your mom’s bouquet turns out great.” I assure him, looking around the greenhouse for any line flowers and making my way around. I was determined to give him something pretty for his mom. I still thought that this was a sweet gesture. “Jumping off the effort you’re putting into this, I suppose you two are close?”

I hear his footsteps from behind me as he answers, “More or less. I still like to give her what I can regardless of that. What about you?”

“Me and my mother?” I bobble my head, my eyes still scanning the greenhouse. The answer way too easy. “She’s like my best friend.” I laugh. “It’s kind of weird for most people, but,” a giggle escapes me. “That’s what happens when you see her at work almost every single day.”

In all honesty, my mother didn’t feel like my mother. She had me when she was 17, and being pretty young… well… it felt like the two of us grew up around the same ages. At least Grammy was the mother figure we both needed.

“Family business.” There’s a half smile on his face. “Did it start with your mother?”

I shake my head at that. Knowing the humble beginnings of Duthé Debuts and Weddings. “Grandmother, actually. Grammy started it when my mom and dad got married.”  

Grammy loved the idea of planning my parent’s wedding, young as they were. “First wedding she ever planned was in her very own backyard.”

My parent’s wedding.

“Quite the origin.” His focus shifts to one of the flower stems, picking at a small dead leaf. “Did you always want to follow in their footsteps?”

The answer to this was easy.

“For as long as I could remember.” I laugh. “I mean it’s all I’ve ever really know, ya know? Baking’s fun and all but it’s more of my dad’s thing, and well—someone needed to take over the business eventually.”

Oh wow, that sounded like I didn’t have a choice into this. In all honesty, Grammy and Mama wouldn’t have minded if I didn’t join the family business. It just so happened that I loved it anyway. Who couldn’t say no to planning weddings without having to actually getting married?

“No complaints though, I love my job.” I glance back to him, clarifying how happy my job actually made me.

He looks back up to me, giving me a curious look. “What’s your favorite part of the job?”

Another easy question.

“When the groom sees the bride for the first time in her wedding dress, hands down, no question.” I raise both of my hands to make a point. There was no arguing about that one single moment. “That part makes me cry inside a little every time.” I laugh at the memories of me holding one of my fellow coordinator’s hands whenever that moment happens, again: secondhand butterflies.

“What about you?” I ask, blinking for a second. Oh gosh, I think I forgot what exactly Jackson did. “Uh, I’m sorry… I… forgot your job.” I think I just wanted to dive into a bunch of plants from the embarrassment, but I settled for covering part of my face instead. I know we talked about this before in the kitchen. I know it was happy… it had something to do with animals.

He chuckles, shaking his head. Okay he didn’t look offended, thank God.

“It’s alright.” He clears his throat. “I work at an animal shelter. I start veterinary school in the fall.”

“Oh right, the just as happy job choice!” I chuckle to myself, “Saving little critters and treating them. I’m sorry, it’s hard remembering everything about everyone I’ve met here so far.” Sometimes I felt overwhelmed by it all, but that was a welcomed problem. To be surrounded by so many interesting people.

I blink once, bringing myself back to my conversation with Jackson. “So are you taking up any specializations in vet school?”

“You know, I’m still undecided actually.” He hums for a bit. “You’re the first person who’s asked me that in a while.” A breathy chuckle escapes him before he looks down at the flowers again.

“Well, it’s something to always keep in mind.” I bobble my head. “You still have a lot of time to decide, no rush amirite?”

“Not at all.” Jackson looks back up at me. “How’s the first couple weeks been?”

My eyes still try to search the greenhouse for the right line flowers, when he asks that.

“I don’t really have the right words to describe it.” I turn to look to him. “Exciting but also nerve-wracking? Informative but also a bit of an overload?” I feel myself curl my lips in. “Comfortable but also not?”

To be honest, living in the palace as Selected… was a paradox. I did quite like being called Lady Melissa Duthé, had a nice ring to it.

But oh boy, the whole living in the public eye, just waiting for Prince Arin to take me out on a date… that didn’t feel… nice.

Only adds to the amount of people I needed to keep on impressing.

“I think you’ve perfectly encapsulated what it’s like to be a royal.” I laugh at that. He smiles briefly before taking a seat on a nearby ledge. “Not that I would know completely. Mostly observed.”

“Have you and Arin really been friends since you were kids?” I ask, multitasking as a particular patch of greens catch my eye, making myself crouch down to get a better look.

“Pretty much. Though it’s Safiya who I was always a bit closer to when she could be torn away from my sister.” He seems to speak fondly about them, before he blinks and stands up straighter than he was a while ago.

“Your sister and the princess seem… close too.” I reach up and tuck some of my hair behind my ear. The princess and Felicity seemed close indeed based on our etiquette lesson from day 1 here in the palace.

My eyes catch a patch of Veronicas and I shuffle over to the nearby patch, and look up to Jackson. “Do you think these would do? These are Veronicas if I’m not mistaken.”

He looks over to the patch and nods quickly. “Yes. They look nice.” He reaches up to rub his nape before glancing away.

Why… was he… acting like that? Was it because of Felicity?

“I can imagine it might be odd. What with… Felicity.” Jackson then adds quietly.

I shrug, “Oh please, engagements are broken all the time.”

I take the pair of scissors and start snipping at the Veronicas, my hand then moving over to a nearby patch of silver dollars.

Engagements are broken all the time? Great observation, Melissa.

“Better to break it off earlier than,” I continue with a snip of veronicas and silver dollars, “after you’ve married someone. Now that’s messy.” I snip again at the flowers. Divorce. That indeed was the messier circumstance.

“I suppose that line of thinking is… efficient.”

“Well, being in the wedding industry makes you realize certain things.” I lift a shoulder, thinking about it. “If I had a bride or groom express doubts about marriage, typical action is to make sure that they’re still committed.”

God forbid that I have to see another bride walk down the aisle and watch a groom leave her standing alone at the altar. Never again.

I stand and hand over the new bunch of greens and flowers to Jackson.

Jackson’s eyebrows raise, taking the flowers. “Does that happen often?”

“Not too often,” I meet his eyes, “it just happens and I’d rather help make sure that there isn’t much long term damage.”  If I were interested in the long term damage, I would have studied to become a Divorce lawyer. Now that would be ironic.

I click my tongue, the conversation topic digging a pit in my stomach. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore, or think about it.

“Most of the time, people reach the altar on my watch.” I point to the bouquet. “Does this look good enough for your mom?”

It just needed to be arranged a little more. Maybe I could convince him to let me just.. make… some adjustments.

Jackson lifts the bunch up, and higher to his nose to smell them. He flashes me one of those sincere smiles. “They’re beautiful. Thank you, it’s greatly appreciated.”

He glances around for a few moments, and walking over to a nearby bush of flowers, ones I didn’t quick recognize. I watch him as he bends to gently pluck one and walk back and hold it out to me.

“I know you gave me flowers, so here’s one for you. As a thanks.”

For a moment, I just stand there and look at the flower. It was definitely different from the ones he gave me. It was pretty.

I smile, taking the flower. “That’s mighty gentlemanly of you.” I laugh. “I just gave you a bunch of glorified decorative weeds.”

He laughs deeply, his eyes closing for a moment. “What my mother doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

It was quite the adorable look on his face.

“Well,” I tilt my head and look away, not sure why I did before looking back to him and use the flower in my hand to point at the bouquet in his hand, I’ve outdone myself with this one. “at least it’s pretty. I hope she likes it.”

Jackson smiles before saying, “I’ll send you a thank you note if she does. If not, well, maybe you’ll get a weed.”

I shake my head at that, “No need to send me a thank you note, ooooor,” I lift a brow, “a weed.”

I look at it for a quick second before adding, “This was more your work than mine really. You might wanna wrap the bouquet in some paper and ribbon. Might help with the final presentation.” I give him a bright smile.

He nods his head once before starting to tug off his gloves and setting them on a table filled with other things. He then turns to me with knit brows.

“I think I forgot to ask why you came here.”

“I come here whenever I can.” I explain, my eyes scanning through the greenhouse. “I used to garden a lot back in Orleans and well, this greenhouse definitely is a lot better than what I had before back home. It’s a nice place to breathe and get out of that Women’s Room they usually ask us to stay in.”

“Do you actually garden here? Or is it more of sit and observe activity?” He asks, as I watch him take some string to tie all the stems together.

A part of me wishes I could garden in a place like this.

“Sit and observe, mostly. Can’t quite get my hands dirty over here, or well dresses like this.” I gesture to my dress, a light yellow number for today, before continuing. “Sometimes I’d find flowers that have fallen and press them into some old books. It’s a nice little routine.”

I don’t think I’ve told anyone that before.

“If you haven’t seen it already, I recommended a bench near the east corner.” Jackson gestures to the east side of the greenhouse. “Near the hydrangeas. Pretty secluded view of the gardens, especially near the sunset. I think you’ll enjoy it.” A small smile appears on his face, shifting to hold the bouquet with both of his hands.

“Thank you.” I look over to the east corner of the greenhouse, feeling myself smile while my hands fiddled with the flower Jackson gave me. I think I knew the spot he meant.

“I’ll take your word on that.” I add before my eyes fall back on Jackson and the bouquet, one of the pieces was sticking out and hanging dangerously. My hand reaches out to help fix it for him.

Jackson doesn’t look down immediately, looking slightly confused before a sheepish look ghosts his features. “I guess I should be more careful.”

“Wouldn’t want that to fall.” I can’t help but laugh before pulling my hand away. “It’d be a shame if it fell off while you were moving.” I put my hands behind my back, still fiddling with the flower Jackson gave me. I look around, the daylight having already started to fade.

It must be close to dinner time. I needed to retouch my make up, I needed to maybe change my dress. I must have gotten a bit of it slightly dirty.

“I guess it’s time for me to take my leave. I have to fix myself up for dinner.” I say before lifting up the flower, “Thank you again for this.”

“Sure.” A crooked smile forms on his face. “I um, I should be leaving for home. I have a delivery, thanks to you.”

“Be safe going home. It was nice talking to you again.” I remark, giving him a small wave with my free hand. I then take my leave towards the exit of the greenhouse, adding while I leave, “Give your mom my regards!”

“I will.” I hear Jackson say, catching him wave, a smile on his face from the corner of my eye.

As I walk back to my room, my eyes look down on the flower Jackson gave me.

I raise it up to my nose and smile.

I loved flowers.

[s3r-en-d1p-ity]

Ego // Sweet Pea (part 1)

first imagine for sweets <33333 did this in honor of Riverdale s4 coming out ehehehehe also this is from the pov of sCaRLEtT bc I really like that name eheheh

As a serpent, she had an ego just like all of the other members. When Scarlett Calahan’s dad died the day she turned 13, FP was quick to follow James Callahan’s (known as JC) orders and she became a serpent.

Only, Joaquin, FP and Jughead were the only ones who knew that her dad died. FP told all the Serpents that he was diagnosed with alzheimer and that he should be left alone.

Scarlett had an amazing group of friends, until that fateful day. Her, Fangs, Sweet Pea, Joaquin, and Toni were that group of friends that everyone wished they had. When JC died, she moved to the Northside, enrolled in Riverdale High for freshman year, and abandoned her group of friends. She was taken under the wing by Fred Andrews, per se FP’s request. Because her and Archie were the same age, they got along quite nicely. Archie wasn’t bothered that she came off as rude sometimes, or that she had a massive ego and was quite the pessimist. He was, however, bothered by the fact that she was a Serpent.

“I just don't understand,” Archie had shrugged one day, sitting on his bed doing homework while Scarlett sat across from him, staring at that stupid football poster on his wall. “How could you be apart of a gang that’s so... violent?” He had said it like he was disgusted. And he was. Disgusted that a girl he was so in love with was in a gang, full of drugs, murders, and thieves.

“Dad’s request, Arch. I don’t mind, though. It makes me feel like I’m in control of something.”

She continued to show up to Serpent meetings and sometimes special occasions, if necessary. She fit in nicely in the corner, observing. On rare occasions, Tall Boy noticed her and gave her a smile.

Of course, even after she moved to the Northside, Joaquin was always in contact with her. On Fridays, when he wasn’t at the Wyrm, he’d climb up to her window and she’d tell him about her week. Sometimes during meetings he’d slip in the back with her.

At school, she didn’t have very many friends. Archie and Jughead, of course, but they all usually stayed clear of each other during school. Betty was very much creeped out by Scarlett, so that meant Kevin was too even though he was dating her best friend.

By the middle of sophomore year, everyone had found out that Scarlett was a serpent. She didn’t bother to hide her serpent jacket, and wore it to school. Josie started talking to her more, probably to use her as a charity case.

Cheryl, who was okay with her before, began the shaming as soon as she found out. All Scarlett could do was clench her fists and squeeze her eyes shut to avoid a fight, but one too many times that didn’t work.

One by one, everything crashed. She was accused of Jason Blossom’s death, found out her best friend and FP were partly responsible for Jason’s death, found out Mustang was found dead in a bathtub, and Joaquin had to wish her a tearful goodbye before he left town for good. Fred was shot, she spent days in the hospital, and the Black Hood was born.

“So, a little birdie told me today was your first day at Southside High? How’d that go?” Scarlett asked, finding Jughead typing on his computer at Pop’s.

Jughead looked up, smiling at Scarlett. “It was... interesting. Place is a shit show, I feel bad for all of them.” Jughead shrugged. Scarlett laughed softly, not expecting anything more from the Southside.

“Yeah? How was lunch? No Ghoulies messed with you, right?” Scarlett piled on the questions, narrowing her eyes. Jughead snorted, shaking his head.

“Sat alone. This girl named... Toni Topaz? You probably know her. Anyways, she showed me around and invited me to sit with her and the serpents since my dad’s one. I said no, and blah blah blah. Day went on and I met uh... some very interesting people.” Jughead explained.

“Yeah?” She raised her eyebrows. “Yeah. I know Toni. Who’d you meet?” Toni had since brushed her off after she left the Southside. She remembers one time, just a few months after she cut them off, she was walking back to the trailer park to talk to FP, and Toni slammed her against the wall and slapped her.

“You think you’re so cool, ditching us for Northsiders huh? Were we really that bad? Stupid bitch, you may be a serpent by tattoo now but you’ll never be a serpent by heart.”

“This one guy, he asked me about you. His name’s Fangs I think? He seemed like he genuinely cared. Then, Toni cut him off before I could say anything and told him to shut up. This other guy, Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. Sweet Pea’s a real jerk, got mad at me because I wouldn’t hang out with them after school.” Jughead said.

Her heart jumped at the mention of Sweet Pea. She’d always had a huge crush on him when they were younger, and even now sometimes she found it hard to get him off her mind. She hadn’t talked to him or seen him since before she left unexpectedly. On another note, The fact that Fangs asked about her too surprised her.

Her phone dinged, and she picked it up only to find Fred messaging her that Archie was going to be with friends tonight and that he was almost done making dinner if she wanted some.

“Hey, Jug, I gotta go. But... will you do me a favor?” She asked, sliding her phone in to her pocket. Jughead hummed in response, looking up at her. “Tomorrow, you know, if Sweet Pea gets his head out of his ass, would you ask him about me?”

Jughead furrowed his eyebrows, but nodded nonetheless. I waved goodbye to him and then left, hopping on my motorcycle and going home, thoughts of Sweet Pea in my head.

Not but a few days later, Archie’s video of the Red Circle spread around and the red dot painted on white t-shirts everywhere began to make her feel sick. She had voiced her opinion to Archie, who completely brushed it off. The first red Circle meeting was held at their house, where Scarlett stayed in the kitchen and did her homework, since she had nothing better to do. She also just wanted to eavesdrop on them.

Then, there were people at the door. Veronica walked in to the kitchen, breaking Scarlett from her trance. “Um, Scarlett? Your... buddies are here. And I think they want to cause trouble.”

Cause trouble my ass, Scarlett thought. If only Archie could use his brain, this wouldn’t be happening right now. She got up, walking down the hallway to where everyone was crowded around the front door.

She pushed past everyone, joining Archie. “No, Scarlett-” Archie started, but was cut off by a tall black haired hottie she didn’t recognize.

“Calahan? This is the fucking idiot you’re living with? I thought Jones was lying.” He scoffed. Then, she recognized him.

“Sweet Pea?” She mumbled. He stared at her for a second, then looked back at Archie.

Before she knew it, they were all outside. She watched, with slight pride. She’d never doubt the Serpents’ pride.

After a while, she began to feel like something was going to go wrong. She saw Dilton bend down, pulling something out of his pocket.

“Oh hell no.” She grumbled. She ran over to him, tackling him to the ground. Then, she groaned in pain and felt Dilton do the same. The knife had sliced them both. Then, a gunshot rang out. She sat up in pain, seeing Veronica with a gun in the air and the Serpents racing away in their bikes.

Dilton was helped up by Reggie, and Archie grabbed her and helped her inside. Scarlett could tell Archie was pissed, so she didn't say anything to him when he stormed out of her room.

“Did you guys really jump Dilton Doiley and Scarlett? She’s a fucking serpent.” Jughead stormed out to the courtyard at Southside High during lunch. He approached Toni, Fangs, and Sweet Pea who all looked at each other.

“Where’d you hear that from, Jones?” Toni scoffed, crossing her arms.

“Archie.” Jughead responded plainly, looking between all of them.

“No,” Fangs shook his head. “The idiot stabbed himself, and when Scarlett tried to stop him from stabbing Sweet Pea, he stabbed her too.” 

Sweet Pea’s eyebrows raised in surprise, unaware of this. Of course, somewhere down inside his black heart, he had a soft spot for Scarlett. That spot was covered by a hard shell though, especially after she left them for some stupid Northsiders and thought she could remain a serpent.

“Um.. speaking of Scarlett... How is she?” Toni asked carefully. Jughead sighed, shrugging. “No one really knows these days. Not even me or Archie. Used to talk to Joaquin, but ever since he left... not really.” He explained.

“She was still talking to Joaquin? He never said anything about her.” Fangs said, looking at his friends. Toni shrugged, confused too.

“Um.. she’s coming to my trial tonight. If you guys wanted to see her.” Jughead added. Toni nodded and looked at Fangs. Sweet Pea only scoffed, mumbling something under his breath.

Scarlett found herself standing in the corner at the Wyrm, like always. Just this time, she didn’t have Joaquin making unnecessary, hilarious side comments. As  if someone was reading her mind, a tall figure appeared next to her. “Didn’t know you actually came to events like these.” Sweet Pea scoffed. She rolled her eyes.

“I’m a serpent, whether you like it or not, Sweet Pea.” She snapped back, not bothering to look at him, and lose her whole I’m-a-bad-girl facade.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Calahan.” The tall boy replied. He stepped closer to her, and she only straightened her posture to show him she was just as tough as him. “You may think you’re a serpent because of your jacket, or your tattoo, but you’ll never be a serpent by heart. How could you be, if you ditch the people that need you the most? Your own family? If you never show up to the meetings, mingle with the enemies, you could never be a serpent.” Sweet Pea said, in his slow, deep, intimidating voice.

Scarlett snickered, stepping closer to him. They were chest to chest. “Honey, you’ve got me all wrong. I’ve been here the whole time. Maybe not the same school, but I’ve been at all the meetings, all of the important events, hell, I was there when you were initiated, I was there when Toni was, I was there when Fangs was. You just didn’t see me. And, don’t assume things if you don’t know the whole story. You think you know shit, but you don’t. Get your head out of your ass.”

“I should be the one saying that to you, Calahan. You think you’re hot shit, prancing around with the Bulldogs, pretending you don’t know us. You ditched us for crying out loud! And not once did you explain, or even say bye! This is the first time I’ve seen you in 3 years, for gods sake!” He yelled.

I rolled my eyes, pushing past him and walking out of the bar. I could hear his footsteps behind me, and before I knew it, I was being turned around and my lips were pressed against the one person I’ve been dreaming of kissing since second grade.

i think this is really bad ahahahah i didn’t edit it oops

[stattic-writes]

Line of Sight

https://statticscribbles.tumblr.com/post/639099629845233664/masterlist

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[addictofsupernatural]

The Southsider (pt. 5)

Sweet Pea x reader

Chapter Summary: School isn't going too well for y/n, but there are both old and new friends that have her back. And later, she prepares for her first date.

Author's Note: y/i means "your initial"

Word Count: 2410

Chapter 1 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 6

You walked into Biology with a big smile on your face. Sweet Pea had just asked you out. You felt people staring at you, but you didn't care. You didn't care how they looked at you or what they were saying about you. Sweet Pea had just asked you out.

"Hey." Toni said as you sat at your joined table you two shared together. "You okay?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm good."

"Are you sure?" She put a hand on your shoulder.

"What? Oh, yesterday. Um, lot of crying, lot of drama, found out some stuff about my mom, but Sweet Pea was there for me the whole time. And, uh, yeah." You fiddled with your pen.

"And what?" Toni teasingly smiled.

"We may have started going out." You looked up. "And we have a date later today."

She playfully pushed your shoulder. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Am am I." Cheryl said, smiling. "Today we're supposed to work in groups of three. Is that okay with you, raggamuffin?"

"Sure." Toni said, scooting her chair away as Cheryl brought up a chair in between you two.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to her." You said.

"You talking to me or her?" Toni asked.

"Yes." You smiled.

"Anyways," Cheryl said. "Before we get on the topic of that date, what did you learn about your mom?"

"Oh, about that." You took the jacket out of your backpack. Both of them were shocked. You nervously laughed. "So funny story."

You explained to them everything that happened, from what happened at Jughead's trailer to the letter. "Wow." Cheryl said.

"Yeah." Toni agreed. "So, are you going to join?"

"I don't know. I'm thinking about it."

"You should start thinking about going back to the Southside." Some bulldog said as he passed your table.

"And you should start thinking of getting your head out of your ass." You said sweetly. "It's not a hat." You then turned to Cheryl and Toni, who were both trying to hold in their laughter. "So yeah, that's the story."

"Alright," Cheryl said, still smiling from your comment. "Back to the date. What are you going to wear?"

"This?" You didn't think anything was wrong with your outfit. It was just jeans and a t-shirt with the Back to the Future car on it.

"Yeah, if you guys were going to a classic rock concert. You do have clothes better than this, right?"

You shifted in your seat. "No. All I have are novelty tees and jeans. I don't see anything wrong with that."

"And there's nothing wrong with that." Toni interrupted.

Cheryl shook her head. "Okay, here's the plan. After school you and I are going to my house, where we will find you the perfect attire for your date with that tall gang member."

"Uh, okay. I just need to go shopping for food first. I haven't had anything to eat in my house for a few days now."

"Then it's settled. I'll go grocery shopping with you, then we go to my house to make you a better you." Toni rolled her eyes as Cheryl smiled.

As you went to second period, you felt the stares of people burning into your back. You told yourself that it wouldn't get to you, but you were beginning to get fed up. Instead of being embarrassed and sad like you thought, you were just annoyed. You didn't even know most of these people. They had no right to talk about you.

During break you were heading to your locker, finding Fangs in the hallway. You two had the same third period, so he went with you. As you two walked together you felt people stare at you.

One person harshly bumped your elbow, making you stumble into Fangs. "Hey!" Fangs yelled. "Apologize."

"Fangs it's fine." You tapped his arm. "Let's just go." You were a little happy that someone new had your back. The Serpents really were loyal, even when you only knew them for a short time.

As you got to your locker there was a crowd of people around it. You and Fangs slipped your way through to find someone had written Southside Slut on it. This one hurt.

You slowly unlock your locker, and open it. Suddenly it's slammed shut by a guy in a letterman jacket. A bulldog. He's expecting you to be mad, but you couldn't have that. You give him a smile. "So, how's Reggie?"

"Suspended because of you. For two weeks. And he's off the basketball team." He glared.

"Aw, RIP." You flash a smile.

"But don't worry," he says. "Until then we'll carry out what he wanted."

You scoffed. "You know, I am so fed up with all of you. None of you even knew I was from the Southside, and we sure as hell didn't have a problem then. I don't even know you."

You unzipped your backpack. Taking out the jacket, you slipped it on. It was a good fit. You grabbed your textbook, slamming the locker shut. You then leaned on your locker, smiling. "Tell your mouth breathing leader that I say thank you, for making me remember where I came from. Because of him, I think I'll embrace my roots." You then turned to a shocked Fangs. You grabbed your backpack, slinging a strap around your shoulder. "Let's go."

After their period the two of you went to English together. Sweet Pea was already there. Fangs went in before you, quickly going to Sweet Pea and hitting him on the shoulder. "Dude." He said, smiling. Sweet Pea looked at his friend in confusion, until he saw you walking to your desk in a Southside Serpent jacket. He sat up quickly and smiled at you. Were you going to do it?

As you sat Toni passed you a note. It told you to send a picture of your outfit, as well as her number. You gave her an okay sign with your hand. Sweet Pea and Fangs looked at the two of you confused.

After the bell rang you walked towards the school library, where your friends always meet up for lunch. Sweet Pea walked right in front of you l, gently ghosting his left hand over your right hip, barely touching. He leaned into your ear. "I'll pick you up at your house at 5." He whispered, kissing just below your ear.

He then walked off smoothly, with you watching him go as you put your hand where his kiss was. You snapped out of your daze when you couldn't see him anymore and continued walking. You sat down next to Kevin when you got there.

"Jug, Bets-" You began.

"Look, I wanted to say that I'm sorry. My dad shouldn't have kept that from you for so long, and I-" Jughead cut you off.

"Jug." You got his attention. "It's fine. I read the letter, I get it. I'm not mad anymore. I'm sorry for overreacting."

"No, y/n. You didn't overreact." Betty said. "We understand that you were going through an emotional time, and it was perfectly okay to react the way you did."

"Thanks guys." The three of you went into a group hug. The other three joined in.

"Betty told us about everything. Sorry if you didn't want us to know." Archie explained.

"No, it's fine. I'm okay now."

"So," Veronica said. "Are you going to join the Serpents? You're wearing the jacket."

"Yeah, I think it'll be good for me." You nodded, looking at Archie. He was still your friend, and has had run-ins with the Serpents before.

"We support you, no matter what." Archie said. You beamed and nodded your head giddily.

You meet up with Cheryl at the outside of the gym after school. You both go to the grocery store and shop for food. "If you want something, I don't mind getting it for you." You offer.

"No thanks." She said, looking around. "Shouldn't your guardian or something be shopping for food instead?"

"It's just me looking after myself." You explain. "My aunt sends money while she's on her business trips. She sometimes doesn't send enough, so I picked up a job at Pop's. I mean I don't have any parental figure breathing down my neck, so I'm fine."

But you weren't. You were lonely. Sure, you have Jughead and FP, but you didn't feel like you belonged with them. Hopefully the Serpents would change that feeling.

You went to your house and put your groceries on the kitchen counter. You then went to Cheryl's house. As you entered the mansion, you went to a living room where Cheryl's mom and grandma were. "Mother, Nana Rose, this is y/n."

Her mom glared at you, as if looking down upon you. "Oh, dear," Nana Rose said. "You look just like your mother."

She then gained your attention. "You knew my mom?" There was something about her that was unsettling, although you also felt that she was harmless.

"Oh yes. Sweet little thing. Her mother abandoned her when she was so young, going on about not being ready or whatnot. She was always such a stickler. How is she, by the way?"

"Um, she passed away four years ago."

"How awful. I bet that man she was dating had something to do with it. I never did like him."

You let out a humorless laugh. "Me neither." Cheryl then led you to her room.

While Cheryl was looking for an outfit for you I'm her walk-in closet, you were looking at all her lipsticks. "I get that your Nana is creepy and stuff, and I'll just let that go since I have a soft spot for old people, but what's up with your mom?"

"Mother is horrendous." She said from the closet. "She dislikes it when I only bring one person to my room."

You were confused by that response. You would understand if it were a guy. Then it clicked. "Oh my God!" You said, walking towards the closet. "You're bi."

She quickly turned around. "Excuse me?"

"Holy crap you are!"

"I don't appreciate you making accusations about me. Especially when I invited you into my home." She stomped over to you.

You sighed and walked to the bed, taking a seat. "Sit." You gently said. She stared at you, but reluctantly agreed as she sat next to you with a huff. "Cheryl, I don't give a crap what your sexuality is." You laughed. "It doesn't make you any different. And I promise I won't tell anyone."

She looked straight ahead, refusing to look at you. She kept a straight face. "So there's nothing wrong with me?"

"No." You urged.

"People look at me differently." Her voice was starting to waver.

"People look at you the same way they look at me. It's because of our crazy ass family, not your sexuality. Okay?"

"Okay." She sounded like she was crying. You gave her a side hug and put your head on her shoulder.

"Hey, this is kind of like our first date, huh?" She shrugged you off as you giggled.

She then got up and grabbed an outfit. You snorted and looked down at your hands, smiling. "What?"

You then quietly say, "You're in the closet." You bursted out laughing.

"Just put this on!"

You took a look at yourself in her mirror. You wore tight leather pants and a dark green crop top. You ran your hands over your stomach, not used to showing this much skin. "I feel like I look awkward."

"Nonsense, your greasy snake boyfriend with love it." She said, choosing to ignore the look you gave her. "Sit. I need to do your makeup."

She put a dark burgundy lipstick on you. She put on a small amount of eye liner and blush. She then put your hair in a half bun half down style.

She took a step back, examining her work. She then snapped her fingers, going into one of her many drawers. "Of course. You need a choker." The choker she handed you had a design of little black vines with tiny red roses on them. You put it on. "Perfect."

You smiled. "Okay, I usually hate taking pictures of myself, but I told my friends I would. Do you want to take some pictures together?" She smiled back.

After taking a few pictures, you went to your jacket and took out your camera from your pocket. "One more picture." She looked at it, amused. "Don't judge. This thing is special."

Cheryl led you downstairs, where her mom and grandmother still were. "Oh my," Nana Rose said. She reached out for your hands, which you took. "Are you going somewhere dear?"

"Yeah. I'm going somewhere with someone special."

She gently squeezed your hands. "Well have fun dear."

"Thank you so much." You smiled. "I'm so glad that Cheryl has at least one family member who isn't evil." She laughed in return, giving her daughter-in-law a look of triumph. She let go of your hands. "Bye guys."

As Cheryl compressed her laughter, she led you the door. "Have fun. Your serpent boy will be pleased with you."

"Thanks." You laughed. "You know, you and Toni would look really cute together."

She gave you an annoyed look. "Bye now." And with that she closed the door.

When you got home you texted a picture of yourself to your friends.

V ~ OMG you look amazing 😍😍

V ~ He's going to love it💓💓🐍

Gay Best Friend ~ masterpiece 🖤

Gay Best Friend ~ you look like Sandy in Grease at the end of the movie

B ~ you look great y/i have fun

Jugster ~ you're really going out like that?

You ~ thanks Jug🙃

V ~ he's just mad that his sister and friend are dating each other🙄😏

Archie ~ have fun y/n

Archie ~ if anything happens though let me know

Jugster ~ ditto

You ~ will do ._.

You then texted Toni. You sent her a picture of you and Cheryl.

Toni ~ looks hot

You ~ me or her lol

Toni ~ ha ha

You checked the time. 4:50. You saw your forgotten groceries and decided to preoccupy yourself by putting them away. You finished a lot more quicker than you wanted and sat on the couch nervously.

You then heard a knock. You checked yourself though your phone and stuffed it in your pocket. You opened the door to a Sweet Pea who wasn't wearing his jacket. He only had his black flannel and a smile on his face.

"Wow."

-------

Author's Note: sorry that there was less Sweet Pea and more y/n in this part

-------

Also (pls read): I already have the gist of the date planned in my head. I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions that I could add

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Tag List:

@madaboutlili @sireennotsiren @elsie2018 @greyfairie @iamaunicorn4704 @wanna-plan-world-domination @whenallsaidanddone @t-a-i-l-o-r-m-a-d-e @live-love-bailar @thecraziestcrayon @cvvlxx @grim-adventures58 @official--fangirl @jesus-jagiya @skeletalwolfcat @theunofficialduke

[artificialqueens]

Down with the Recipe, Bake from the Heart, 7/10 (Taywhora) - Juno

Chapter Summary: Pastry week will see a nostalgic signature, a Breton technical, and a tricky and fiddly showstopper that will cause some to crumble. Meanwhile, Tayce finds a friend in Veronica after Aurora’s outburst causes a rift between them, and Lawrence and Ellie make up for lost time.

WEEK 7: PASTRY WEEK

Aurora was the only person who had arrived so far when Tayce came down to the common room at Norton Hall, sitting on one of the sofas and jiggling her leg. She looked up and smiled a pinched smile at Tayce as she came over, but said nothing.

“You okay, Rory?”

“Yeah, good.” But her smile seemed to indicate otherwise.

It was a little concerning. Aurora had been quieter last weekend, withdrawing into her shell, which pained Tayce to see. She’d hoped that trying to cheer her up in the Showstopper, by spending some more time with her, would let her relax; but for some reason it seemed to have the opposite effect.

“I’m gonna miss Tia,” Tayce said, wondering if Aurora wanted to talk about her. “She was always humming something while she baked. It was nice to hear her, she had such a nice voice. Not like me! I can’t hold a note!”

Aurora managed a half-hearted laugh.

“I know. It’s shit seeing people leave at this point, isn’t it?” Tayce continued, injecting as much sympathy as she could into her voice. “We’re all getting dead close. It’ll be shit when anyone leaves now.”

“Alright, babes?” Lawrence entered, interrupting their thoughts, looking shattered as she crossed to them. “How’s it hanging?”

They both gave her a wave, and to Tayce’s surprise, Lawrence tugged on their wrists until they both stood, and then engulfed them in a hug, pulling them both in tightly.

“Lozza?”

“I just really needed to hug you both,” Lawrence was muttering into their ears. “Just … yeah. I just wanted hugs today, alright? Just don’t tell Ellie, she’ll be thinking I’ve gone soft.”

Lawrence sounded strained, her sarcasm fading each week, as quickly as the bright purple of her hair had faded into a dusty lilac over the last six weeks. Tayce hugged her back, looping a hand around Aurora’s waist too; Aurora was still hesitant, but returned it.

When Lawrence finally let the two of them go, Tayce saw Veronica come in, and perked up. She’d waited all week to see her.

“Vee?”

Tayce beckoned a worried-looking Veronica to sit with her on the sofa as they waited to go into the tent, and Veronica joined her. Tayce held out one hand to her.

“Look, Vee, I’m sorry for what I said to you last week when Tia left. I meant it to be light-hearted, to try to make you smile, but it was the wrong time and the wrong thing to say. I’ve wanted to say sorry all week for it.”

“Right,” Veronica nodded. “I knew it was a joke. I know you wouldn’t have meant it in a mean way, Tayce, I know you’re not like that - I just wasn’t in the frame of mind to have a joke back with you, you know? Tia had just left. And … yeah.”

“I didn’t want Tia to go, no one did, you know?” Tayce added, “But at the end of the day … it’s still a competition. And there’s still three of us that need to go before the finale.”

Tayce took a deep breath, her heart suddenly heavy at the thought. “That’s half of us that are left.”

“I know.” Veronica’s eyes were distant.

Tia’s departure had shifted something in the air. Tayce could feel it as the six of them traipsed down to the tent, all of them chatting for the cameras, but none of them feeling the same jovial way from before.

Maybe it had been Tia’s self-deprecation that had kept them all reminded not to take this too seriously. Now back in the tent, they were all showing their true fear.

Veronica didn’t look like she wanted to make any more friends, grinding her teeth and chewing her tongue. Lawrence kept reaching back on her stool, to lay a hand on Ellie’s forearm, as if Ellie’s narrow escape last week made Lawrence want to make sure she was still there. Bimini was deflated, running out of steam, her small stature appearing to shrink even further.

And when Tayce looked over at Aurora, her fingers drummed incessantly.

——

Signature: Hand-risen pie with the filling flavour of your choice.

“Hand-risen pie?” Tayce folded her arms when she crossed to Aurora’s workbench. “Doesn’t sound dirty at all, does it! What filling are you using for the pie?”

“Manchego cheese and chorizo. You?” Aurora asked flatly, looking at her ingredients.

Tayce opened her mouth to answer, but as she did, she was distracted by the glint of the light reflected in the camcorder lens, the camera coming over, the hungry eyes of the nation watching their every move.

She unfurled her arms and threaded one around Aurora’s waist. “It’s my mum’s secret recipe. I’m making this pie the way my mum always made her pies. She makes the best pies around.”

Tayce hoped that her actions would be reciprocated, but Aurora was stiff at her side.

“Please. My nan’s from Yorkshire. You’d struggle to beat her pies.”

Even her tone of voice wasn’t the same as usual. Her monotonous words, her serious expression, the frostiness in her eyes made Tayce shiver.

She must be really worrying about her bakes this week.

“Are you using your nan’s recipe then? I bet it’s gonna be amazing. You’re gonna do good, bitch!”

“Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

Aurora’s voice was still flat, monotonous, her eyes cool as she surveyed Tayce. Trying to encourage Aurora hadn’t really had the desired effect, and Aurora didn’t look as if she wanted Tayce here. She let Aurora go, and when Aurora turned back to her pastry dough without another word, Tayce made her way to her own workbench, the cameras swivelling to focus Veronica speaking to the judges instead.

What’s all this about now?

Pastry week was one Tayce was hoping she would make it to. She’d made pies and flans quite a bit as a teenager, and they always turned out really well. Her family always loved them.

Unfortunately, pastry week wasn’t going as well as Tayce hoped.

She’d cooked off the filling for the pie, and set it to cool; but the pastry did not seem to want to cooperate. The dough for the first pastry was too wet she found, and when she shaped it against the cake tin, it fell apart.

“No worries, can’t help a soggy bottom sometimes, don’t panic, let’s start again.”

As she was mixing her new dough, she heard Ellie give a yelp of pain, prompting the medics to sprint over to her for what must have been the twentieth time this season. But Veronica was the one with the cameramen all over her today, worrying about her pastry, and Tayce could hear her huffing and growling at her bake.

“You alright, babes?” That was Bimini’s cautious voice at Veronica’s bench, resting on their elbows as Veronica gave a heavy sigh.

“I’m gonna have to restart,” she muttered.

“You’re not, you’re doing fine,” Bimini’s voice carried over.

Tayce could see Veronica leaning against the workbench, her knuckles white as she gripped it, her head downcast and her shoulders tensed.

“Don’t you get all defeatist, babes,” Bimini shook their head.

“Come on Vee,” Tayce said, crossing to grab Veronica’s hand, “you’ve got this! And if it’s a bit wonky donkey, who cares! It’s a pie! You’re from Yorkshire, you’re already gonna be amazing at pies!”

“Lancashire.” Veronica’s teeth were gritted.

Tayce waved her remark away. “What are your fillings?”

Tayce looked over to see the chicken and mushroom in a creamy sauce cooling patiently on the hob. The pastry she’d made and sculpted around the cake tin, as they’d been instructed to do, was a little droopy, but not as wet as Tayce’s had been, and nothing that couldn’t be salvaged.

“You’re fine! You’re gonna win with this, what are you talking about! Just bung it in the fridge and get it set, girl!”

Veronica huffed again, but she nodded, taking the pastry and walking to the fridge to let it set. Bimini gave Tayce an appreciative smile as they turned back to their own workbench, sipping the cup of tea before grabbing their own pastry from the fridge, theirs already set and ready for the oven.

Tayce couldn’t look at what Bimini was wearing this week. Something else inspired by Noel in that show no doubt, but it was a sequined bodysuit, catching the lights and reflecting into all their eyes. She hoped Bimini wasn’t going to do a repeat of last week, coming round to give everyone baking tips, or they’d all be going blind from the light.

But before she could ponder much more, Tayce’s thoughts were interrupted by another squeak from the other side. Ellie’s finger was bleeding again, and the medics jogging up the aisle to get to her. Lawrence had paused at her own workbench, a hand hovering at her mouth, to watch the medics putting more plasters on Ellie.

“All these blue plasters!” Ellie held her hand up with a sigh, wriggling her fingers.

“You’re gonna look like a smurf soon, all that blue,” Tayce said with a grin.

Ellie gave a snort of laughter, but behind her, Aurora turned to glare at Tayce.

She held up her hands. “Relax! It’s a joke! Besides, she’s too tall to be a smurf.”

“Why don’t you focus on yourself, that’s what youdo best anyway, instead of trying to bring other people down all the time?”

Aurora’s words made Ellie’s laughter freeze in her throat, and Tayce’s stomach plummet to the floor. There was no friendliness there any more; all pretence had been cast aside, and Tayce could feel the cold in her eyes from here, ten feet away.

“What’s brought this on? I don’t bring other people down! And it’s a baking contest, what’s wrong with focusing on myself, anyway?”

“Because you can do that without belittling other people, too! All you care about is winning, even if it means putting other people down to make yourself feel better, and I’m sick of hearing it!”

Aurora’s voice rose an octave, while everyone else swivelled round to watch the two of them.

“Is this about what Tayce said to me after Tia was sent home last week, Aurora?” Veronica asked. “Because I knew it was a joke, and in any case Tayce has already apologised to me this morning, you saw that, you were there. It’s all fine!”

Aurora blinked, momentarily struck dumb, but she regained a little bit of fire power. “And just now? Was it really necessary to belittle Ellie for having a load of blue plasters?”

“I wasn’t belittling her, I was just trying to make a joke! Lighten the mood a little bit!” Tayce held back a laugh at how absurd this sounded. “Why are you so uptight today? Chillax!”

“Aurora,” Ellie was saying quietly, “it’s just a joke -“

“Uptight?” Aurora retorted, ignoring Ellie, a derisive snort of laughter echoing round the tent. “Uptight, in a really stressful place where cameras are following your every moment, and you can’t even take a shit without worrying that you’re being recorded?”

As if to illustrate her point, the cameramen were pointing cameras at them both; when Aurora saw the shine of the lens, she gave an exasperated growl and stormed out of the tent.

Where had this come from? She’d been so quiet all morning, not her usual, bubbly self. Tayce knew this competition was taking a toll on them all, herself included, but this was a far cry from the warm, tender woman who had comforted Tayce just last weekend when she was thinking about her grandad. Was she really this worried about the bake on its own?

“Tayce,” came Veronica’s voice, “you need to go see her. Make sure she’s okay.”

“What?” Tayce looked up in surprise. “She won’t want me - best she’s left -“

“Tayce, I’m not asking you, I’m tellingyou, you need to go after her,” Veronica’s tone was stern, her blue eyes firm. “Go! Go on!”

Tayce looked from the door of the tent to her pie, fresh from the fridge for cooling.

It can wait. I can still get the pie done in time.

So she left the tent, but a glance to her left and to her right showed no one there, no noise except for birdsong in the trees beyond them.

“Rory? Where have you gone?”

But Aurora appeared at that moment, carrying her mug of tea, casting a disdainful look at Tayce the moment she saw her.

“Rory -“

“Tayce, don’t. I don’t even want to speak to you right now, I can’t deal with the - the -“ But Aurora seemed to lose her words, looking at Tayce; and Tayce watched a flash of uncertainty behind her eyes before she shook her head and walked past Tayce back into the tent.

She ignored everyone as she went back to her workbench and started spooning her filling into the pastry case, averting her eyes from them all, even waving Ellie away from her as she leaned over the workbench.

——

The mood was subdued by the time they were back in the common room at Norton Hall after the Signature, even the weather mimicking their sombre expressions, the grey sky and drizzle mingling in the wind and casting the whole tent into a dull shadow through the window.

Tayce was feeling the cold, and not just because of the weather. The common room in Norton Hall was distinctly frosty as soon as she’d entered. Lawrence and Ellie were absent, but Veronica, Aurora and Bimini were nestled on the sofa. Veronica was the only person of the three of them who came to see Tayce, looping a hand through the crook of her elbow.

“One good turn deserves another and all,” Veronica murmured. “Thank you, Tayce. I was freaking out more than what I would have done at home with that pastry. I appreciate what you said to me.”

It was almost a little too formal, but Tayce was glad to have a friendly face at her side.

“You’d have done the same for me,” Tayce muttered. “How long d’you reckon before Rory stops being annoyed at me?”

Veronica grimaced. “I think she’s feeling a bit better now she’s asked me about you apologising, but she said she feels like you’re a different person all the time, and honestly, what you said at the end of last week definitely didn’t help.”

“I only meant it to be a joke! It’s just my humour, I don’t mean it to be hurtful.” Tayce shrugged. “Is she properly annoyed at me?”

“She’s not annoyed at you, she’s just … everything’s just a bit tense in the competition. It’s a bit harder to not be nervous. And I feel like Aurora’s just nervous for everything at the moment.”

“You’re always nervous as well, though,” Tayce said.

Veronica managed a shy laugh. “Yeah, but - Tia always reminded me that nerves just mean I’m caring about the bake. And caring about what you bake is a good thing, right? So that’s a good feeling to put into your bake. And if it’s not perfect - then, well, it’s not perfect, but if the care you put in it makes it tasty, and if it tastes alright, then it’s probably fine.”

They were at the table, looking over the pies. Lawrence’s beautifully-shaped pie and Veronica’s patterned design were in stark contrast to Tayce’s own under baked disaster and Ellie’s collapsed mess at the end, untouched. Tayce picked up a piece of Aurora’s, even though she didn’t really like mushrooms, to put onto her plate.

“Aurora’s nervous, yeah, but that means she cares, about the contest andyou,” Veronica said, helping herself to a piece of Lawrence’s pie as she did. “The way I see it, if she didn’t care about you, she wouldn’t be worrying so much about thinking you’ve gone from being a nice person to being horrible to people for the sake of the competition.”

Tayce stared at her. “Vee - that was almost …”

“Sense?”

“Yeah!” Tayce laughed. “Do that more when you bake instead of freaking out, and you’re good!”

“Give over!” But Veronica was starting to smile again, tentatively, but it was there.

Tayce followed Veronica to sit with her, but Veronica seemed to recede back into her shell, licking her lips repeatedly and eventually taking out her book and starting to read. Over on the other side of the room, Aurora cast her a look, her eyes a little softer now, before turning back to Bimini.

I’ll have to try to talk to her about what she thinks I did, after Technical.

——

Technical: Krouign Amann

“What advice do you have for the bakers on this one, Prue?” Noel asked.

“Trust the ingredients, and trust the instructions.” Prue nodded at them all.

“Well. That’s nice and clear,” Noel said, indicating to the confused expressions on all the bakers’ faces. “Now, if you’d like to exit the tent, we can start the Technical.”

Everyone’s collective jaw had dropped when confronted with the technical’s name on the top of the page, and the ingredients. Krouign Amann? It sounded like a New Wave band on acid to Tayce.

And the ingredients were confusing. There was almost as much butter as flour and sugar, a huge quantity of all of them.

“Is this … really the amount of butter we need?” Veronica was mumbling to herself as soon as the cloth was taken off. “Is this for real? Is it April Fool’s Day or something? I’ve lost track of the bloody days here …”

And the uncertainty was catching. Bimini stood staring at the ingredients for a good minute before they even picked up their pencil to annotate the recipe. Aurora resumed her drumming on the workbench. Lawrence tapped her pencil against her chin, muttering “… the fuck d’you pronounce that?”

Tayce relied on her usual tactic: jump straight in and fix it later.

Trust the instructions. You haven’t come bottom yet, have you?

Well, she had, but she pushed that to the back of her mind. Don’t live in the past, Tayce.

She hastily shooed the thought away and started to measure out the ingredients, still a bit confused as to the sheer amount of butter - about three times as much as any pastry she’d made before - but trying to let herself trust the process.

By the time the hour and a half was up, she sighed, relieved at the fact that what she had produced looked vaguely like a cake of some sort - which was what Matt and Noel had suggested - and it smelled alright, she thought. Somehow she always thought that a cake that smelled decent would turn out decent.

Tayce seemed to be the only person in the tent who had had much luck. Lawrence’s looked like a cake too, but it was very flat and heavy, while Veronica’s looked extremely pale. Ellie nearly dropped hers in getting it out of the oven, before fighting to get it off the baking tray, and she was almost in tears.

When she found herself at judging sitting on the stool between Lawrence and Aurora, Tayce thought maybe they were making up, but Aurora’s usual hand was not made available to her this time; Aurora choosing to hold her right hand in her lap and her left clinging onto Bimini’s right.

Something’s still going on. I’ll have to find out afterwards.

Bottom of the pack was Ellie, whose bake simply oozed with fluid once cut into. Veronica’s was next, and then Bimini’s. When Aurora raised her hand for third place, Tayce felt her heart beating in her throat, thinking she was about to win … until Paul motioned to hers for second place, again, and Lawrence’s mouth spread to a grin as she realised she had taken first place for the Technical.

“You’re doing good this week, Lozza,” Tayce whispered to her after the applause had died down. “They loved your pie as well, didn’t they! You’re gonna get yourself a win!”

Lawrence looked aghast, slapping her leg with the back of her hand. “No, don’t say that, I don’t want to jinx it now!”

Tayce opened her mouth to make another joking response - but thought better of it, biting her tongue and grinning as widely as she could at Lawrence instead.

——

“Why can’t I just get it right?” Veronica moaned, as they all relaxed in the common room afterwards.

“You ran out of time, didn’t you? Otherwise it would have baked fine. What’s happening with you and timing, girl?” Tayce asked.

Veronica shrugged. “I just keep running over with the prep stuff. I try to stay in the time but I keep going over!”

“How? You’ve got enough alarms for the rest of the room.”

“I don’t know - I just can’t get it exactly right.”

“The judges keep giving you the same critiques every week, Vee - you just need a bit more time in the oven. Like five more minutes. Maybe you need to just spend less time making the prep absolutely perfect, and get that five minutes back.”

“I can’t!” Veronica’s voice hitched up. “I can’t! It will go wrong!”

“Yeah, and so? You can always start again, and it’s just baking! Chillax!”

“I can’t chillax, Tayce, I’m -“ but Veronica froze, her hands in her hair, staring at the table like a woman possessed. Her breathing gradually slowed again, the red in her face fading.

“It’s just baking, isn’t it?” Veronica muttered, still not smiling, but her voice no longer panicked. “Tia would say that too. That it doesn’t need to be perfect.”

“That’s it! You just need to not panic, and you’re good!”

“Thanks, Tayce. Again! I just … I feel like I have to take the win home,” Veronica sighed. “And that worries me. I feel like I have the weight of Lancashire on my shoulders at this point. But you’re right.” Veronica’s voice was dark all of a sudden, low and quiet. “There are six of us, and three still have to go.”

“We all feel that same pressure, Vee,” Tayce soothed, rubbing her arm, “and we all deserve to win, now. We’re all great. Not just bakers, but people.”

And they were, Tayce thought to herself as she watched Aurora and Bimini talking on the other sofa, quiet and calm.

There was Bimini, who had essentially given up their badge last week to give them all advice and make them better bakers. Veronica, whose precision and artistry meant she could probably be a professional in disguise. Lawrence and Ellie - who hadn’t come back to the common room yet again after the Technical - who both had imagination and incredible skill, and although Lawrence’s were more refined, Ellie was baking things at twenty-one that Tayce couldn’t do with five more years on her.

And Aurora, the only one in the tent who truly loved baking, who poured her entire soul into her creations; and who was now rising from the sofa where she sat with Bimini, making her way to their rooms again.

Now’s my chance.

Tayce patted Veronica’s arm and got up to jog after her, finding her halfway up the stairs.

“Rory! Aurora!” Aurora definitely heard Tayce’s shout, as she froze on the stairs, her shoulders stiffening, tensing up. When she turned, it was slowly, as if she were fighting not to.

“Can we talk? I want to talk to you about us.”

“What, us? Right now?” Aurora’s laugh was a bitter sound on her tongue. “I’m shocked you even want to be around me now, with no cameras around.”

Tayce took half a step backwards. “What are you talking about?”

But Aurora just huffed out a great breath of air, jamming a hand into the pocket of her jeans. “It doesn’t matter, Tayce. I get it. It’s all part of the game.”

“What does that mean?” Tayce said, but Aurora had turned and was disappearing up the stairs. “Rory?”

“Stop calling me that!” Was Aurora’s shrill yell in reply.

She followed her up the stairs, hearing the slam of her door, but Tayce paused outside it, knocking gently at first, and then harder when there was no response.

“Honestly, I really don’t know what’s happened. Can we talk? Please?”

Tayce waited for a few moments, but not hearing any noise on the other side of the door, she sighed. She was just turning to head to her own room when the handle turned, and Aurora stood there, arms folded, leaning on the doorframe.

“Alright. Let’s talk. What’s happened to you the last couple of weeks, Tayce? Hmm? Be honest with me. Is this fake-flirting thing to help us bothout, or just you?”

“Both of us!” Tayce exclaimed. “It’s meant to help us both do better! And for the audience to enjoy us both bonding! What are you talking about? How can I be the only person benefiting from that?”

Aurora pursed her lips. “You say you want to fake-flirt, fine. But what does all thismean?” Aurora swooped one arm in an arc, indicating all thisas she spoke.

“All what?”

“Don’t play that game.”

“I’m not playing a game, Rory,” Tayce said, ignoring Aurora’s wince, “I don’t know where you’re getting this from.”

Aurora did the same sweeping motion. “You staying in my room? Where are we meant to be drawing the line with the fake thing, Tayce?”

But Tayce found her tongue heavy in her mouth, her heart thumping against her chest at the coolness in her voice. “Don’t you want me around you apart from when filming is happening?”

“No, it’s not that,” Aurora’s voice was edged with sadness. “But … I feel like when the cameras are off, you’re just … different! And I don’t know who you are, and it’s confusing for me …”

“In what way do you think I’m different?” This was news to Tayce. Fake-flirting aside, Tayce had been nothing but genuine with her feelings towards Aurora back in the common room, out by the lake; but Aurora’s chin quivered as she continued.

“You’re nice to me, we flirt, and then when filming is done, you just …” Aurora took a shaky breath. “I just don’t know where I stand with you. I don’t know what you’re thinking about me, whether we’re even friends, whether you’d be saying things about me if I’d gone home -“

“Aurora,” Tayce replied, her skin tingling.

“Tayce.” Her voice was firm, but her fingers drummed against her arm where her arms folded.

This is wrong. This is all wrong.

Tayce took a deep breath, knowing she was going to have to just admit her feelings for Aurora and put this fake-flirting thing to rest. “Aurora, I’m … I care about you a lot -“

“But how do I know you’re not just being fake now? Hmm?”

"It isn’t fake! Look, I promise you -”

“Tayce,” Aurora interrupted her, a painful crack in her voice, “I can’t do this right now. I just can’t -”

With a shake of her head and an expression of utter despair, she closed the door to her room again with a crash, and this time, when Tayce knocked repeatedly, she got no response.

She leaned against the wall with a huff, tears stinging the backs of her eyes again.

Why did I think faking my feelings was a good idea?

Tayce had thought that they were getting on really well at first with the flirting. They laughed, they talked, they baked together. What did this strange direction Aurora had taken mean? Were they even friends any more? That was more than Tayce could bear. Her chest ached, radiating to her ribcage, and Tayce briefly wondered if this was what heartbreak was like.

Does she really dislike me so much that she doesn’t even want me near her after filming is done?

Her thoughts were interrupted by giggling, voices chatting rapidly in excitement, more giggling. Tayce wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as she watched Ellie running up the stairs, closely followed by Lawrence, although both of them stopped, wide-eyed at the sight of Tayce, hastily letting go of each others’ hands.

“Hi, Tayce. We thought you’d gone for an early one,” Ellie said, still giggling.

“Aye, we thought you were having Netflix and chillax or something,” Lawrence continued, as the two of them stuck their tongues out at each other before falling back into giggles.

Tayce forced a grin at them both. “How much have you two had?”

Ellie blinked.

“Not enough,” was Lawrence’s reply, causing Ellie to snort with laughter and Lawrence to grab her forearm.

“Lawrence tried to push me in the lake!” Ellie cried, while Lawrence’s jaw dropped and she slapped her arm.

“I did not, I just said maybe you should get in the lakewhen I said I was like the Loch Ness monster and you said what, non-existent?”

Ellie flipped her hair over her shoulder before slapping Lawrence back. “If you’re not laughing at my jokes, you don’t have a sense of humour.”

“Get fucked!” Lawrence pushed her a little harder this time, and Ellie fell against the wall, still giggling and evidently unhurt.

“Oh my god, did you see what she did to me! Tayce, you’re my witness!” Ellie shrieked with laughter, as Lawrence, eyes rolling in mock-exasperation, took her hand again, pretense cast to the wind, and led her away past Tayce down the corridor. “This is contestant abuse this is! Sabotage! She’s trying to break my arm so I can’t bake tomorrow! Tayce, Tayce help me!”

“Have fun you two!” Tayce waved with a smile, which Lawrence returned, pulling a still-giggling Ellie into her room.

Tayce sighed. They hadn’t had to fake anything.

——

Showstopper: 36 puff pastry canapés (12 filled, 12 unfilled, 12 your choice)

Tayce was wishing she had as many alarms as Veronica did. Making three types of canapés with puff pastry was challenging as it got. Tayce would have to be delicate, but also creative, and make sure everything was baked to the right time, even getting the shelf of the oven right. Before long, tunnel vision kicked in. She whisked, proved, folded, rolled, until she had all the pastry ready and baking.

It wasn’t until everything was baking that she saw Aurora in her peripheral vision, coming over, tucking her hair behind her ear with her free hand, putting the mug down on the corner of Tayce’s workbench.

“Thought you could use some tea.”

“Thanks.” She nodded, picking up the mug and sipping. “Thanks, Rory. I appreciate that.”

Aurora lingered, and Tayce took a scalding swig of tea as Aurora drank from her cup of coffee, both of them silent. Maybe it wasn’t quite an olive branch, but an olive branch shoot.

“Can we talk?” Tayce said eventually, as Aurora chewed her lip beside her.

Eventually, Aurora gathered herself. “Let’s talk after this is done, okay? I need to focus for now.” And she went back to her workbench, wringing her hands.

It was good enough. Tayce pushed the thought to the back of her mind for now. She had puff pastry to concentrate on.

The time seemed to fly, filled with bakes to worry about. Around the room, everyone else was also concentrating: heads down, barely any chit chat, getting on with their bakes. Aurora piped something into her filled pastries, her mouth a thin line; Ellie, by contrast, constantly licked her lips as she concentrated, and that still didn’t stop the piping bag from dropping to the ground through her fingers.

But by the time they had all come to an end, the last decorations going on, Tayce put her last touch to the last canapé to hear Noel announce there were still five minutes to go.

Bimini was also done, sipping their cup of tea and nodding at Tayce; but the rest of them were piling pastries onto the trays, grabbing chocolate and powdered sugar and cinnamon and anything else that was going on the top.

“You good, Rory?” Tayce called to her; and Aurora nodded curtly, still cool, still concentrating, and looked on target to finish.

“God,” Veronica hissed into the air, taking Tayce by surprise. She turned to see Veronica twirling the piping bag over and over in her hands, her hair coming apart from her bun with the amount she had been clutching it.

“What’s up, Vee?”

But Veronica’s breathing was speeding up again as she hastily fiddled with her pastry layers, her fingers quivering. Evidently Tia’s words had vanished from her mind as panic crept back through her.

Tayce rounded her workbench to get to Veronica’s. “Don’t panic, don’t panic girl - here, let me give you a hand -“

“Oh, god, thank you -“ Veronica’s relief made her hands go weak momentarily as Tayce started grabbing pastries and loading them onto the tray. Somewhere behind her, Bimini sprinted to the other side to do the same for Lawrence, whose pastries were also making her groan.

With the two of them loading the tray, Noel announced a minute to go. Veronica inhaled with a hiss, her hands quivering, but Tayce shushed her.

“It’s alright, you’ve got this Vee -”

Tayce had never seen anyone fill miniature buns so quickly, but Veronica was managing it, all decorum gone; the mess on her fingers and the tray was piling up but Veronica was a woman possessed and no longer seemed to give a damn about perfection. On her right, Tayce saw Bimini doing a similar thing for Lawrence, while Noel bit his lip at the front of the room, watching them all.

“Right, time’s up bakers, step away from the bakes!”

Noel’s announcement came a second after Veronica had put the final canapé in place.

Tayce sighed, but before she could wipe her brow, Veronica had wrapped her arms around Tayce’s waist and was hugging her so tightly for such a small woman that Tayce had to struggle to take another breath.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Veronica’s hushed voice was an octave higher than usual, and she was shaking. Tayce rubbed her shoulders gently until Veronica untangled herself and let her go back to her workbench.

Looking around, everyone was silent, hunched over their benches, puffing and panting with the efforts. Every tray held thirty six pastries each - two hundred and eighteen in total - and they all left the tent to sit in the shelter, letting the pastries cool and wait for the judges, without the usual springs in their steps at finishing the challenges for the day.

It was the seventh weekend of constant baking, constant pressure, and an enclosed environment where all emotions were bottled and shaken up until they fizzed and exploded like Diet Coke.

Tayce could see that Lawrence’s eyes were ringed with circles. Ellie’s nails were all bitten down, the pastel pink polish chipped. Aurora’s tight-lipped silence was a far cry from the bubbly woman of the first couple of weeks. Bimini’s leg jiggled uncontrollably as they sat and watched the tent in silence. Veronica hooked a hand into Tayce’s elbow as they walked together, her knees rattling, unable to balance without support.

And Tayce herself. As the day had gone on, her stomach had been in a constant, dull ache; she’d ran to the loo more times than she could count, and she’d noticed her want for bakes dimming the more she was given them.

All of them were exhausted.

Aurora caught Tayce’s arm after Veronica had gone inside, leading her to the trees again, back where they’d started this whole arrangement.

“You helped out Veronica. Like you helped meout with my brownies.”

Tayce frowned. “I don’t get what you mean. Of courseI helped out Veronica. Why wouldn’t I help her out? It’s just a baking contest, at the end of the day! She was struggling, I wanted to help her! Like I wanted to help you!”

Aurora opened her mouth, closing it again, tucking her hair behind her ear in a nervous motion that made Tayce want to hold her, but she stayed put, her heart gently aching.

“Rory - I mean, Aurora - please tell me what’s on your mind, girl. You were so happy a couple of weeks ago! So relaxed! And you got Star Baker! But this week you’ve just been worried and anxious and shutting everyone out, and you snapped at Ellie and like … you’re making me worried. And Lawrence says I’m horizontal, so that’s something.”

The ache in her heart grew and grew as Aurora’s face screwed up, fighting back tears, until she regained her composure, sighing.

“Look, Tayce,” Aurora began, her voice heavy with sadness, “I need to make one thing clear. I can’t really do this fake flirting thing any more. It’s too much for my nerves. It’s making me distracted from baking. I just need to be focused on me for now.”

“That’s fine, if that’s what you need to focus on -“ Tayce reached to rub her arm, but Aurora pulled back.

“I’m serious. No more flirting, no more kisses, no nothing.”

Tayce tried to keep a stoic face as she nodded. “That’s absolutely fine. I want you to do well at this. I do.”

Aurora’s eyes searched her, still cool, but after a moment that went on far too long, she blinked with a sigh, her gaze softening.

“Alright. Good. Maybe - maybe we can go back to friends.”

Go back to friends. Goback. She … she really doesn’t like me at all right now.

All sensation left Tayce’s body to the ground below her, save the ache in her chest that spread through her body like poison, numbing her from the inside out. She didn’t move a muscle, letting Aurora nod grimly, expectantly, peering at her to have some sort of reaction.

“Yeah.” Tayce’s tongue was thick and dry as she managed to speak. “Friends. That’d be good.”

——

“Lawrence! Congratulations!”

Noel’s announcement of Lawrence being Star Baker had prompted Lawrence to relinquish Tayce’s hand and put both her hands to her mouth, as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She’d been praised on the recipe for the pie, and when the judges had given their commentary on her canapes, it was clear she was about to take this week; but Lawrence couldn’t stop the tears once they’d started.

It’s her first win,Tayce realised with a gulp. That’s why she’s so emotional. Now we’ve all won at least once. God.

All of them had a badge now, with Lawrence getting her first.

The person to go home would be a winner in their own right.

Tayce’s other hand was gripped by Veronica, and Tayce wrapped both her hands around it, while Lawrence gripped Ellie’s. Neither of them had been given fantastic critiques on their Showstoppers; with Veronica’s being apparently over-filled and Ellie’s under-baked.

They were both amazing bakers. Tayce knew that either of them leaving would be a loss. But as Tayce squeezed Veronica’s hand in hers, she knew that they’d still both have to go eventually for Tayce to win the show.

And that thought sounded hollow in her head. An echo of a past she wasn’t connected to any more.

Matt Lucas looked as if he was trying to keep calm too, as he opened his mouth to announce the eliminated person this week.

“The person who will be leaving us will be …”

Veronica’s hands were sticky with sweat, her breath haggard against Tayce’s shoulder. Tayce stroked her knuckles soothingly, as Matt looked between everyone, finally settling his gaze on …

“… Ellie. I’m so sorry, Ellie.”

The squeaky noise from Lawrence caught in her throat, but Ellie tossed her hair over her shoulders and blinked the sadness back, smiling and nodding at Matt as she stood.

“That’s fine. I’m - yeah.”

Tayce heard a sharp inhale next to her, surprised to see Aurora dabbing her eyes with the pads of her thumbs as everyone stood to hug Ellie, who was still wearing the cake-shaped badge on her chest, grinning and muttering to them all as she hugged them individually.

“It’s fine - ah, don’t cry - I’ll be cheering you on in the final, don’t worry - you’ll see me again soon -“

But Tayce caught the sad flicker in her eyes before she managed to tuck it away.

“Girl,” Tayce said when it came to her turn, leaning up as Ellie bent a little, resting her chin on Ellie’s fluffy shoulder. “Ellie, you can’t just comfort everyone around you, you have to let other people comfort youas well.”

Ellie’s hands gripped her a little bit tighter at her words. “I’m happy though - you all get to go on -“ she forced a giggle. “I’m not that great - I’m chaos in the kitchen -“

“Yeah, but you’re an amazing baker, and you’re allowed to feel sad that you’re not going on, you know! It’s not just about being self-sacrificing.”

As Ellie pulled away, she took the deepest breath, as if robbing the tent of all its remaining oxygen, blinking and forcing a wide smile on her face that made Tayce wince.

“I’m fine.”

Her voice was low, firm.

Tayce kept hold of her, just a second longer. “Okay, Ellie. I get it. Sometimes it’s easier to fake what you’re feeling than to face it, I know.”

The poison still numbed her. She licked her lips, hoping her words made sense.

“Just … just don’t lie to Lozza at least, alright?” She squeezed her arm, trying to hold back a sudden tear. “Let her in. Even if you lie to everyone else - and yourself - just be honest with her. Please. Don’t fake being happy with her. Honesty is always gonna be best for -“ Tayce swallowed, “for people you genuinely love.”

And Ellie’s mask faltered at the last word, the smile fading just a shadow, her breath catching at her throat. Swallowing, her chin starting to tremble, she nodded, but said nothing else as she turned away from Tayce to try to face Lawrence’s open arms.

——

FIVE BAKERS REMAIN

[deaky-disco-queen]

King!AU Week Day 5 - Touring causing a strain on the relationship

A/N: My last piece for @stayinqpower‘s genderbent week and- admittedly- not my best writing but I wanted to get some Johnica for the week because those two make me soft and while I am kind of miffed to end on a weak note, I still wanted to do it. 

+++

Johanna was way past being tipsy when she finally managed to get away from the afterparty and she stumbled towards the payphone outside the club, fumbling a little bit to get the coins in but she did it and dialed. It only took two rings for Veronica to pick up. 

    “Hello?”

    “Hey, Ronnie.” She slurred into the phone, leaning heavily against the rough brick wall and enjoying the cold air against her hot cheeks. “I miss you.” 

She could hear rustling from the other end of the line and she could imagine her, sitting on the sofa in their apartment while wearing one of her pretty nightgown with her hair falling loosely over her shoulders.

    “I miss you, too, Jo. How was the show?” 

    “The show was fantastic! The crowd loved us and it was so much fun!” 

Johanna kept rambling about the show for a while, then trailed off and both lines were quiet for a while. She didn’t know what to say. 

Their tour had been going on for months and she called Veronica as often as she could but even with that, she could feel the strain it put on them. The time difference didn’t help at all. When they had been in England, she had at least been able to call whenever because she didn’t had to do some mental maths to decide whether or not Veronica had time to talk. 

    “I miss you.” She repeated, swallowing hard. 

She didn’t like this, at all. If there had been even a tiny chance to take Veronica along for the tour, she would have done it but it didn’t work with her teaching job. So she stayed at home. 

    “Miss you, too.” Veronica sighed. “Take care of yourself, yeah? Drink a glass of water before going to bed.” 

    “Yeah.” 

A loud laugh caught Johanna’s attention and she had to smile when she saw Roger stumbling out of the club, both arms wrapped around a pretty girl, followed closely by Freddie and Brian. The guitarist was holding up the singer who was laughing loudly about something Johanna didn’t know. 

    “Deaky!” Freddie yelled once he spotted her, brushing off Brian’s arm to rush towards her. 

He was warm as he crashed into her, his arms wrapping around her and Johanna laughed, grabbing onto him as she struggled to keep her balance. 

    “We’re going back to the hotel now. You coming?” 

    “Ye- Yeah, hold on a second. Ronnie, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Love you.”

    “Love you.”  

She hung up and let Freddie pull her away and towards their car. She sunk against him, letting him wrap a arm around her. But even her friend couldn’t console her right now. 

+++

A girl smiled at her across the bar and Johanna took a deep gulp of her drink, biting back a cough at the burn of alcohol. 

She had accompanied Freddie to the gay club to make sure he wouldn’t get overboard with the drinks and be useless for the show tomorrow but had lost him in the crowd and had to look for him later to bring him back to the hotel. 

    “Hey there.” 

The girl sat down on the bar stool next to her, grinning seductively at her, leaning forward slightly to give Johanna a good look down her cleavage. Johanna’s eyes snapped back up to her face and a blush rose on her cheeks. 

    “Hi.”

She was very pretty, Johanna had to admit, with her long dark hair, light eyes accented with kohl and dark lipstick. 

    “I’m Michelle, what’s your name?” 

    “I’m Johanna.” 

Her fingers brushed over her hand and she nodded towards the bathrooms, licking her lips. 

    “Excuse me-” Johanna choked out and slid of her stool.

She spotted Freddie on the dance floor, grinding against a tall and handsome guy and Johanna almost felt bad when she grabbed him and pulled him away. 

    “What the hell, Deaky?!” 

    “Do you have some coins?” 

Grumbling, Freddie went through his pockets, giving her whatever he could find and showing her where the payphone was. She made him come with her despite his protests, both of them squeezing into the small phone box as she called Veronica. 

     “I could have gotten laid, y’know.” 

Johanna sighed, hoping her girlfriend would pick up as she gently kicked his leg. She knew he wasn’t particularly angry at her, maybe a little bit miffed but both of them were very well aware that he would have enough chances to get laid later. 

    “So could I, honestly.” She murmured and Freddie sighed, rolling his eyes.

Eventually, Veronica picked up. 

    “Johanna?” 

    “Hello, sweetie. How are you doing?”

Freddie leaned against her as she made small talk with Veronica, humming a song under his breath while Johanna tried to calm her racing heart. She didn’t want to think about the fact that she had been tempted- just for a second but it had freaked her out nonetheless. 

    “I love you.” She breathed into the phone. “And I miss you so much.” 

    “Me too. I have to go now. Love you.” 

Johanna put the receiver down heavily and let her head fall against Freddie and groaned loudly. 

+++

Brian’s voice came muffled from the next room, not loud enough to be understandable but Johanna could hear he was angry and yelling but she only sighed and exchanged a look with Roger who rolled his eyes at her. 

    “Is he fighting with Chrissie again?” She asked. 

Roger nodded and offered her his bag of crisps and she took a handful, stuffing her mouth as she tried to focus on her magazine instead of their bandmate having yet another argument with his girlfriend. 

She and Veronica weren’t fighting like this but Johanna feared it was only a matter of time until they would be doing just the same, yelling at each other over the phone, accusing each other of things whether or not they were true. It scared her because she didn’t want that to happen. 

    “How’s Veronica?” Roger asked. 

    “Good, busy with work but she’s doing fine.” 

He nodded and held the bag out for her again and Johanna smiled at him, thankful he wasn’t asking any more questions because he just knew. She didn’t have to tell him what she was worried about. 

    “Only one more month to go. It will be fine.” 

Johanna nodded and hoped he was right. 

+++

One week later, a magazine published a picture of her and Roger with his arm around her waist and it looked like they were kissing. They weren’t. Johanna knew because she remembered that moment clearly as Roger had almost collapsed from exhaustion after the show and she had been the one to catch him. The picture was taken in an inconvenient angle that made it look like they were kissing when in reality, she had just checked up on him as she had been worried. 

And now the picture was all over the cover of a magazine. 

She had seen it in the morning during breakfast and immediately rushed back to her room, leaving Freddie and Brian at their table so she could call Veronica immediately. She had probably seen the pictures already and while Johanna hoped she didn’t believe the bullshit magazines said, she did want to clear it up as fast as possible, just in case. 

Veronica picked up almost instantly, which worried Johanna because it meant she had expected the call. 

    “Please tell me there is an explanation for this.” 

    “There is! I swear, I’m not kissing him! I’m- I’m holding him! He was exhausted and- his oxygen- he didn’t use it in the break because he thought he was fine but he wasn’t and then- then he just fell and I- I swear I’m not cheating on you with Roger! I was just holding him up and talking to him.” 

There was a long silence from the other line and Johanna could feel panic rising in her chest. 

    “You swear you’re not cheating on me?” Veronica asked quietly and Johanna didn’t miss the phrasing. 

    “I swear I’m not cheating on you.”

Veronica sighed and Johanna swallowed heavily. Her hands were shaking. 

    “Is Roger alright?” 

    “Yeah, he’s doing fine.” 

She hadn’t even closed the door in her panic and could see Brian sticking his head in, looking worried but she waved him away, nodding quickly when he wordlessly asked if she was alright. He didn’t look convinced but left anyway, mouthing “Fuck the magazine” which made the corner of her mouth twitch. 

    “I want you to come home.” Veronica said, sounding desperate. “I miss you.” 

    “I miss you, too. But I’ll be home soon. Very soon.” 

+++

Their flight arrived late at night in London and it was even later when Johanna finally made it back to their apartment. She got in as quietly as she could, placing her suitcase and anything on the sofa so it wouldn’t make any noise and snuck into the bedroom, dropping her clothes carelessly on the floor before crawling into bed. 

    “Jo?” 

Obviously, she hadn’t been quiet enough because Veronica turned around, her face barely visible in the dark. Johanna smiled softly. 

    “Go back to sleep, love.” 

Veronica pulled her into a hug and Johanna immediately melted against her and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close and burying her face in her neck. Their legs tangled together as they lay back down and Veronica pressed a kiss against her temple. 

    “I missed you.” She whispered. 

    “Missed you more.” Johanna murmured against her skin. 

She pushed a hand underneath Veronica’s shirt, craving the close skin-to-skin contact after such a long separation. One part of her wanted to go to sleep immediately but another part of her wanted to stay awake because Veronica was with her now and she wanted to use that time. 

    “Go to sleep, we can catch up tomorrow.” Veronica said as if she could read her mind. 

Johanna sighed, feeling herself falling asleep already with Veronica slowly rubbing up and down her back and she pressed a tired kiss into her shoulder before letting herself slip into a deep slumber.

[inthedayswhenlandswerefew]

Superheroes By Day (Queen fic)

Summary: Queen are rock stars by night, superheroes by day. Each member has his own exceptional powers. They assemble for an important mission cerca 1986. Also, cellphones exist.

Inspiration: Totally random, pure ridiculousness, plz enjoy.

Warnings: Language.

Link to all my writing HERE

My burner phone rings. They always call me. I’m the only one who can be trusted to pick up.

“This is John.”

Freddie always loses his phone; he would lose his moustache if it wasn’t attached. Brian spends too much time frolicking with and rehabilitating forest creatures, so his phone goes dead and he can never charge it because surprise surprise, there are no wall sockets in the fucking woods. Rog is hopeless, hopeless. Last time they gave him a phone it ended up at the bottom of a jacuzzi tub in Morocco. I’ll let you try to figure that one out.

I listen to our latest mission, jotting down a few notes with the pen and notepad I keep in my fanny pack. Yes, I use a fanny pack. You would too if you had four kids. Shut up about it.

“You are tasked with assembling the others.”

I sigh, quite dramatically. “Can’t you...I don’t know, send limos or something?”

“Complete the mission, John.” They hang up. Superheroes get a lot less fanfare than rock stars.

I sprint outside and jump into my Mercedes-Benz 190E. I turn the key in the ignition. Nothing.

“No!” I gasp. I try again. Nothing. “No no no!”

I rush back inside the house. Veronica is taking fish sticks out of the oven and forking them onto plates for the kids.

“Babe, there’s something wrong with the Benz!”

“Oh,” she replies, unbothered. “Well I can take it to the shop tomorrow.”

“But I need it now! I have a mission!”

She peers out the kitchen window and into the driveway. “What’s wrong with the minivan?”

I follow her gaze, horrified. “Babe, love of my life, I cannot pick up the band in a Plymouth Voyager.”

“Why not?” she replies innocently. “Kids, lunch is ready!” I hear the stampede beginning upstairs. Veronica looks at me with her eyebrows raised. “Do you want the van or not?”

I tug at my permed hair in exasperation. “Okay, okay, I’ll take the van!”

She tosses me the keys and I’m out the door like a bolt of lightning. The Voyager roars to life without any hesitation.

I arrive at Brian’s house first. I honk precisely six times: the secret honk, the we-have-a-mission honk. A neighbor lady leans out her window, shakes her fist menacingly, and calls me a barmy wanker. Thanks, lady.

Brian toddles out of his house looking very sensible: button-up shirt, slim white trousers, general demeanor of a brooding academic. And then there are the clogs.

“You, ah, you’re not going to trip in those?” I venture.

He glares at me and slips wordlessly into the passenger’s seat. The Plymouth Voyager pulls out of his driveway. I fumble with the radio, and eventually find a good song. It’s disco. I bop my head and sing along, entirely offkey. Brian stares sullenly out the window and presumably wishes for death.

Roger is next. Six honks.

“Good god, there must be a more practical way to communicate in this day and age!” Brian says.

“I could try turning up the disco,” I suggest. He is not amused.

Rog is wearing all black, including his prescription sunglasses. He climbs into the back seat. “Good morning, gentlemen!” he announces cheerfully. He reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants and produces an entire bottle of tequila.

“It’s 2:37 p.m., Rog,” Brian informs him.

Rog recoils, bewildered, then shrugs. He knocks back a few swallows of tequila and glances around the minivan. “Ooo, there are cupholders!”

I return to singing disco. Brian peers back at Rog. “Give me a swig of that.”

Freddie is waiting at the curb with a lit cigarette between his fingers. I roll up beside him. He appraises the Plymouth Voyager.

“Um, excuse me, but what the fuck.”

“I know, I know, the Benz wouldn’t start. Why are you out here already? Did someone call you? Did you actually know where your phone was?”

“Oh no, darling, the cats just don’t like me smoking indoors.”

“Whatever you say, Fred.”

“Miko sneezes terribly!”

He crawls into the back seat with Rog. They immediately begin giggling and shoving each other and inventing drinking games.

“Okay,” Freddie instructs, “every time Bri says something pretentious you have to take a shot.”

“Fred, I’ll fucking die!”

Brian buries his head in his hands. I clear my throat as I speed through traffic. “Um, is anyone actually interested in the mission?”

They settle down. “Oh yeah,” Roger says. “Go ahead, Deaks.”

“There is a family in Ealing whose dog, Mr. Doodles, has been stolen, probably to be held for ransom. We’re in pursuit of the burglar.”

“Wait, isn’t he going to be, like, way ahead of us by now?” Bri asks, ever the skeptic.

Roger rolls his eyes. “Fortunately, we happen to have...” He does jazz hands. “Superpowers!”

“Right. I’ll find him.” Freddie rubs his temples and closes his eyes in concentration. He has a dash of telepathy, but it only works on bad guys. Thank god for that, or the constant bombardment of space nonsense and disjointed basslines and naked women and car engine revs from us would completely drown out anything useful. “He’s heading west on Warwick Road!” 

I put the pedal to the metal and within a few minutes we’ve spotted him. The Plymouth Voyager squeals to a halt along the sidewalk. All four of us dive out of the van and into the street.

The burglar is tall and burly and wearing a black ski mask, how original. He’s also cloaked in a tremendously tacky mustard yellow coat and carrying a satchel that likely contains the aforementioned Mr. Doodles. He sees us and pulls a gun out of his international fashion crime of a coat.

Roger unleashes a sonic scream—“aaaaaAAAAAAAhhhhAAAAAAAAAA!”—and the gun flies out of the burglar’s hand. He curses in frustration.

“Avian friends, attack!” Brian calls out. A flock of ducks descend upon the burglar, swooping and pecking at him. He attempts to smack them away clumsily.

Freddie flies to the burglar’s side. Did I mention Freddie can fly? Well, he can fly. Short distances, anyway. “That coat is awful and you should feel bad about it.”

Now it’s my turn: snark so savage it can incapacitate a wrongdoer in seconds.

Freddie, reading the burglar’s deepest thoughts and darkest fears, gives me the information I need. “Deaky, he’s still traumatized from middle school algebra! Talk about algebra!”

“Quadratic equations! Polynomials!”

“Ahh!” the burglar screams, crumpling to the ground. He loses his grip on the satchel, and a small white ball of fluff tumbles out. Mr. Doodles barks, panicked and disoriented, and Brian rushes over to comfort him.

I shout: “If x times seven equals 49, what is the value of x?!”

“Please stop! I’ll do anything!” The burglar writhes helplessly, vanquished.

Brian laughs, cradling Mr. Doodles in his arms. “Pathetic!”

I unzip my fanny pack and sift through the stationary and toast crumbs. “Oh dammit, I forgot the handcuffs!”

“I got it,” Rog says. He reaches into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulls out a pair of fuzzy pink handcuffs. He clicks them around the burglar’s wrists and flashes a grin. Oh my god. Did I really just see that? Oh my god. “Do you need a blindfold too—?”

“No, Roger.”

The police arrive to take the thwarted burglar away and return Mr. Doodles to his rightful owners. Brian thanks the ducks kindly and feeds them cracked corn from his outstretched palm. Roger argues with the police because he wants to be sure he gets his fuzzy handcuffs back.

“Alright, darlings.” Freddie claps his hands together. “Job well done. Back to Garden Lodge. I’ll have Jim put some cookies in the oven for us.”

Roger raises his tequila bottle into the air and winks. “I’ll make the tea.”

[screamingintosilence]

You Were the Greatest Thing (That Ever Happened to Me)

Songfic Writing Challenge Day 10

Terrible Things - Mayday Parade

Warning: Major Character Death

Jughead Jones watched in amusement from across the yard as his 16 year old son brushed a hand through his own dark locks, looking nervous and slightly sweaty as he stuttered over his words while talking to the beautiful red headed 15 year old daughter of Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge.

To his chagrin, Betty had put her foot down during pregnancy and that's how their sweet, beautiful baby boy ended up being named Forsythe Pendelton Jones the Fourth. FP had laughed heartily when they told him, he knew it was definitely Betty's choice. But when their little guy came into the world, screaming, pink, and a head full of downy black hair, Betty had looked at him with a smile that said, “See? He's your son and I was right.”

And she was right, she was always right. The only concession she gave him when it came to their child's name was letting him pick out a nickname because “Betts, if that's going to be his name, we’re not actually calling him that.” And that is how Cooper Jones the Fourth made his entrance into their lives.

He watched as his son turned and ran towards him, smile splitting across his face and all Jughead could think was his much he looked like Betty in that moment. His eyes, his nose, his cheeks, they all came from his wife.

“Hey Dad!” Cooper was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Son,” Jughead smirked at the boy while raising the glass of sweet tea to his lips.

“Can I borrow your truck? I finally did it! I asked Jules to the movies and she said yes!” Both Joneses looked over to where the redhead girl was excitedly talking to her mother, the look on Cooper’s face one of adoration. Jughead smiled, it reminded him of how he must have looked when he first fell in love with Betty.

“Don’t stay out too late. You behave tonight, ok? And you treat her right Bud, got it?” The ring of keys rested on the older man's finger, waiting for his son to take it.

“He always does, Mr. Jones!” the young Juliet Andrews cut in, skipping over to them, not realizing how her words made Jughead's heart stutter and stop for a few moments before picking up again.

“Always! Thanks Dad!” Cooper grabbed the keys before interlocking his fingers with the petite girl next to him, both getting lost in each other as they walked to the front of the house where he had parked when they came over to the Andrews’. Neither teen noticing how tears brimmed in Jughead's eyes.

He felt a slim arm loop itself through his own at the same time as a heavy, familiar hand came to rest and squeeze his shoulder.

“B and I used to joke about this happening,” he heard Veronica softly say next to him as she too squeezed his arm, resting her head on his other shoulder. “We would talk about just how long it would take them, like how long it took for you two.”

The tears started to slowly fall. “He must take after me,” he let out a watery laugh. “I'm pretty sure he's been in love with her since I told him what love was. Probably took until reading his mom's words from when we were his age about how she wished I would just make a move for him to pluck up his own courage.”

The pressure from the hand his redhead best friend increased. “You were the very best thing to happen to her, Jug. Believe it. She glued us all together, figuring out in her Betty way just how this crazy jigsaw fit together.” He nodded, sniffling to keep from sobbing.

“She did,” he swiped at his eyes. “It's been nearly eleven years, but it still feels like yesterday, ya know?” He could see tears rimming Archie's eyes as Veronica let hers stream down her cheeks as they both nodded.

“Let's get you home, Jug,” Archie's arm wrapped securely around his friend’s shoulders as Veronica's hand dropped to his, holding it firmly. He might have always been friends with Archie, but it was Betty's doing that they had stuck together through even the toughest of times; and it was Betty who had brought the whirlwind that was Veronica Lodge into his life, even if it was begrudgingly at first.

--

It had been hours since the Andrewses had seen him safely home. He had pulled some of Betty's old journals from her last few days to read, a habit of his from the past ten years.

His was reading over her passage from the day she had told him the news, his heart breaking over every sentence.

I told Juggie the news today, it didn't go well. I had gotten the call this morning from the doctor that my results came in. It was devastating. Juggie and Cooper were out having a boys day with FP and I just didn't have the heart to interrupt to have him come with me.

Crying in the middle of a doctor's office without my husband definitely makes it on my top 5 most embarrassing moments... But I won't have many of those moments left to make, I guess.

I've been in tears all day, but there's nothing to be done about it. I was told that I can still give it a shot to fight this, but the cancer was progressing so rapidly that my chances are very slim. The oncologist said that my counts have jumped exponentially and that I'm already Stage 4. Stage 4 cancer at 33….

Cooper is only 5, what will Juggie do? He's the most amazing dad, I know he'll be ok, but God, I'm far from it. There won't be chances to see him grow from my tiny little squirt to being as tall as Jug. There won't be any Homecoming, Formal, or Prom pictures of me pinching his cheeks. I won't get to meet the person he'll fall irrevocably in love with and I won't get to tell him that that's how it was with his father.

I know Jug will do all of these things, and he'll be wonderful and amazing and everything or baby boy needs. It's just so hard to come to terms with one’s own demise.

And Jug, God, Jug. We won't have our 90 years together like we joke about. I don't know if we'll even have 1. God what I would give for the assurance of just one more year together.

I love him more than all the stars in all the galaxies. He was everything I ever needed, always there for me from the beginning. God, I don't know if he even knows how much I love him, how much he means to me.

I-

The front door opened as Jughead hastily wiped the tears from his cheeks and dabbed at the page of Betty's diary gently, careful to try and not smudge it even more from where his past years and even hers had fallen.

His 16 year old son, his and Betty's pride and joy, waltzed in with a look of having his head in the clouds. Jughead smiled, though some rouge tears still fell free.

“You guys have a good time?” His question came out a little choked, causing Cooper to come to, taking in the scene of his father on the couch, nose and eyes red, with his mother's journals in front of him.

“Yeah, the movie was good. Jules was just…” His eyes got a little dreamy at the mention of his best friend, now potentially girlfriend. “You ok, Dad?”

“Yeah, just…” Jughead trailed off.

Cooper sat next to him wrapping an arm around his shoulders, shoulders that used to carry his son on them for hours, but now felt like they carried the world, especially in moments like this. “Just missing Mom?”

Jughead tried swallowing past the lump in his throat, wiped his hands over his face, and nodded. “Yeah. She would have been so proud of you, Cooper. You were her baby boy, and now you're all grown up.”

Tears filled the young man's emerald green orbs (ones just like his mother's) as he ducked his head to gather his thoughts.

“You know, she was terrified of being a mother, scared after the way she was raised and seeing how crazy your Aunt Polly. But God, Cooper, you made her so happy. She took one look at you and it clicked. She looked at me and said, ‘This is it, Jug. This is how it was always meant to be. I was always meant to be his mommy and you his daddy.’ And like always, she was right. I was always meant to be your dad. You made it so easy, you were such a wonderful baby and child. You have me the strength and will to keep going, Buddy.”

Jug pulled Cooper into a tight embrace, kissing the top of his head. He could feel the tears staining his shirt from where his son's head rested.

After a few moments of silence, the younger man pulled back, wiping away the tears that lingered on his face.

“Dad?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you tell me about the time that you first kissed Mom again?”

Jughead laughed. “Sure, Bud. Well I had went over to her house one afternoon to see how she was. We had snuck into The Sisters of Quiet Mercy, where your grandparents had put Aunt Polly when she was pregnant with the twins, the day before.” Cooper was nodding along. Jughead had told him this story so many times now but it was one of his son's favorites.

“We got caught by your grandmother, and she was so furious that she kept your mom home from school without access to her phone. So naturally I grabbed the ladder from your Uncle Archie's dad's garage and scaled the side of the house to your mom's window.” He gave his son a stern look suddenly, “Don't even think about doing that with Jules, you hear me? Your aunt would kick my ass.”

Cooper snorted, “I won't, but Aunt Veronica wouldn't do that. She loves me too much to care,” he grinned mischievously.

Jughead jokingly cuffed his ear, “Let’s not test that theory, shall we?” The young man laughed, settling down one more.

“So, anyways. I could see your mom through the glass looking very serious and contemplative, kinda like how you get sometimes. She was still trying to solve everything in that beautiful blonde head of hers, and I just knew that that was my moment. I had loved her for years already, but seeing her be Nancy Drew,” he looked down at the floor, his mind conjuring up the image of his love. “She was something else, Coop.

“I knocked on her window to get her attention, thinking I was so clever and smooth. I remember the first thing I said was ‘Hey there Juliet, nurse off duty?’” Cooper snorted again. “Yeah, it was as cheesy as it sounds, but God, your mom? She just brought that mushy side out of me.” He grinned at the memories.

“You know, that's where Jules got her name.”

“Wait, what? You never told me this. How?” Cooper looked bewildered at the new information.

“Yeah. After the complications of your birth made it so we couldn't have any more kids, your aunt decided that she would use the name for us. She loved your mom so much and knew how much she wanted to name a little girl Juliet that Veronica said she'd name her daughter that to honor her. Jules was originally going to be named Elizabeth but your mom insisted that they go with Juliet once you were born.”

Cooper sat, stunned that the love of his life got her name from his parents love story.

“Betty desperately wished she could watch the man you would become, she's so proud of you, Bud. I just know it.” Cooper's and Jug’s eyes glistened.

“She's so proud of you too, Dad.”

“Thanks, Coop. Now, enough sad. Tell me about your date,” giving his son the biggest shit-eating grin.

“Daaaad-”

[kimsgoeun]

♫ - veronica/logan

♫  five times my muse swears it’s not a date, and the one time it maybe is. @kaceyrps​

i.  They end up bumping into each other coincidentally at some show downtown. They seem to do that a lot, but that’s somehow supposed to be a part of Neptune’s charm.  “Didn’t realize this was your kind of thing,” Logan casually says. She pulls a face. “And what’s supposed to be my kind of thing?” It’s out of jest that she says this though. They don’t know each other well enough to know what the other likes anyway. “Well, I guess I’ll see you in there then,” he nods. “Or,” she interjects, “we can just go in together. Unless you’re meeting someone else.” She isn’t sure what compels her to suggest it, but she tries not to think about it, nor does she linger on the satisfaction she feels in knowing he is here on his own. 

ii. Technically it’s his sister who invites her over to some family soiree, but it’s Logan who insists she comes after Veronica offers to decline if it’s weird. It’s weirder to see him in that famous Echoll lifestyle when he clearly isn’t comfortable. But it doesn’t take long for her to put the pieces together that maybe he wants her here for that very reason. They end up chatting most of the evening on the sidelines with Logan feeding her tidbits of information about the people in the room. She adds some colorful commentary of her own making him laugh and helping him forget why it is exactly he doesn’t like being around his family’s people. She forgets why she she was so hesitant on attending. Or she does until Trina saunters over to them after having one too many drinks. “Aww, well aren’t you two lovebirds adorable. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the two of you were on some kind of a date.” Logan rolls his eyes but its Veronica who says something. “Oh, no, this definitely isn’t a date.” Both eyes fall on her, Trina’s moving between her and her brother. “Oh-kay. Well I think that’s my cue. Have fun you two!” she says before taking off. Veronica watches her go but finds Logan still staring at her. “What?”

iii. Her father’s visiting Neptune when they run into Logan on the pier. She tries to act indifferent about her father meeting him, but it’s a little weird. Even her dad knows something’s up when he waggles his brows at her when he isn’t looking. It doesn’t help when he tells Logan that Veronica has mentioned him once or twice. Betrayed by my own father, she thought. Attempting to end this little slice of hell she found herself in she interjects, “Well we were just on the way to the store, so we should probably-- “ Only to have her dad interrupt and conveniently say he’s actually feeling tired and might head back to her place and oh, wouldn’t it just be swell if Logan went with her instead? She glares at him when he waves his goodbyes to the pair and quickly hides it when Logan asks if they should head out. An awkward air hangs over her head now that they’re walking together to the store. That awkward silence makes her want to bolt. They both begin speaking at the same time and she presses her lips together into a frown. “Go ahead,” he offers. Now she feels bad about trying to find a reason to leave. It’s not as if they’re doing anything weird. Friends can walk around and do some shopping together. She shakes her head, “It’s nothing. What were you going to say.” A more serious look flashes over his face and for a second she’s concerned. And then he ruins it by saying, “So you talk about me with your dad, huh?” and laughing at the annoyed reaction on her face after hearing it. “You know what. I really don’t think I need another set of hands to help me pick up some groceries, so you can go,” she deadpans and picks up her pace. It’s even more annoying that it doesn’t take much for him to catch up with her. Damn his tallness.

iv. She tries not to grimace when Dick Casablancas comes barging in. The blond stares at the scene in front of them - Veronica and Logan eating Chinese take-out with some show playing on the TV - before some idiotic, smug smile spreads across his face. “Soooo am I interrupting something? Because if I am I don’t want to be a co--” Logan cuts him off. “--Did you need something?” She mutters under her breath, “A brain for instance...” It takes all of her will power and control not to throw her food at him when he goes on some winded story about some girl he met and her friend and how he needs Logan to be his wing man. “...But since you’re on some “not” date with Veronica, I can bring in someone else.” She hears him sigh and suspects he’s going to tell him to leave (or tell him good luck) but she’s already standing up. The idea of being on some “not-date” date ruins her already appetite. “It’s fine. I think I’m going to head out anyway,” she says, trying to make a quick getaway. “Have fun helping Dick get laid.” She sidesteps past the other man and pretends not to notice Logan attempting to stop her from leaving. 

v. Veronica asks for another favor with the promise of dinner being involved. The place is fancier than she prefers and she knows she’ll stick out like a sore thumb if she goes alone, so that’s where Logan comes in. The nicest thing she owns still doesn’t seem like enough--whoever said a little black dress would always be timeless and classy clearly never went to Neptune--as she takes in the other patrons once they’re seated. Her focus is busy on searching the room as the waiter begins chatting to them. She probably looks like some lousy date to the waiter as Logan does all the talking and she’s staring off in every direction, but she can’t waste a breath on caring about the opinion of what some stranger thinks of her. Nothing. Veronica deflates in her seat. Crap, did I get the wrong information? “Something not going according to plan?” he asks. For a second she’s caught off guard by the question before remembering how often she asks him for these kind of favors. She sighs, “Yeah, but that’s okay. I’ll figure something else out.” She frowns apologetically. “Sorry. Guess we can split. I don’t know if it’s worth spending this much on food we can easily get elsewhere for less.” She’s collecting her purse when Logan stops her. “Well we’re already here and you did promise me dinner...” She purses her lips as he holds her promise to him over her head. Without staking out someone while they’re here it almost feels like they’re on a date and Veronica stares at him quizzically to make sure he doesn’t think that’s the case. But Logan raises a brow at her in question and goes back to looking over the menu, not at all bothered the way she seems to be under the surface. As long as he wasn’t reading into it then she wouldn’t either. This definitely wasn’t a date.

vi. She offers to buy him a drink after obtaining the evidence she needs to prove her client was innocent. He’s the one that says he wants to buy to help her celebrate the win. Not wanting  to be rude, she happily agrees. They meet up at some bar in town after seven. She hates to admit it but she’s put in the slightest bit of effort into how she looks -- hates it even more that she notes how nice Logan looks after splitting ways earlier in the day. There are a few times she catches him staring at her, but then again, she’s staring right back. One drink turns to two, two turns to three, and by the fourth, it almost seems like they’re waiting for the other to call an end to their night. One of them suggests dancing at some point, but she can’t recall who. The alcohol makes her feel light and happy and less concerned that her hand lingers in his or the space between them inches closer and closer between songs. There’s a good chance she won’t remember half of what happens tonight, but through the hazy bar lights, she could almost consider this a date.