#choice Bryce lahela

[rjschoicesstuff]

Yippee here they are, thank u everyone who sent a character/characters!!!

[dwiankus]

The S-Tier LI *male edition*

I am proud of my babies

[storyofmychoices]

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Bryce Lahela 💖

October 23 is his birthday in my AU so I'm happy to finally have been able to post something. It's not much but it's all I had time for!

A/N: The first post references the fic "Will You?"; The book featured in the second post is a customizable book by Wonderbly.

[Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Masterlist] 

[jerzwriter]

New Discoveries

This fic is part of "MOC (Merida, Olivia, Casey) World," but it focuses on the guys! This is a dual ask from @annoyingmillenialnewbie and also prompts provided by @storyofmychoices. I love writing for these three together! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

Book: Open Heart (Post Series) Characters: Ethan Ramsey, Bryce Lahela, Tobias Carrick Rating: Teen Words: 2,099 Trope: There's just one bed.... Summary: A boy's weekend camping takes a few different turns (literally and figuratively), but they endure and make some new discoveries along the way.

A/N: This is part of the Merida, Olivia, and Casey world. Merida belongs to the lovely @lilyoffandoms, and Olivia belongs to our dear @storyofmychoices. The prompts can be found on this list created by @creativepromptsforwriting. (The prompts are bolded in text.) Participating in @choicesjunechallenge2024 - Beginning.

The mountainous road was perilous, to say the least. Yet, if Tobias was fazed by it, it didn't show. The day was beautiful, with a brilliant blue sky stretching endlessly without a cloud in sight. They were the only travelers on the road, and the rugged terrain was no match for his new Range Rover. All in all, it was perfect.

The SUV jolted hard to the right... then to the left...

“Look out!” Ethan shouted.

Then to the right again.

While Tobias was living his best life, Bryce was left to wonder how much life he had left. He had to be cajoled to go camping in the first place, and now he lost hope of arriving at the cabin alive. Tobias glanced at him in the rearview mirror, smiling sardonically when he noticed his friend’s pale, green complexion.

“You all right there, buddy?” he bellowed.

“Of course he’s not all right!” Ethan replied from the passenger’s seat. “We’re both wondering how many more sharp turns you'll take before this tin can goes toppling over the side of the mountain.”

“For fucks sake, Ramsey,” Tobias chuckled. “Grow some hair on them. We’re absolutely fine.”

“We are not fine,” Bryce insisted. “If I don’t make it, please tell Olivia I love her.”

“OK, maybe you are being a tad too dramatic,” Ethan reconsidered, to Tobias’s delight.

“That’s better!”

Nevertheless, two of the three men couldn’t have been more relieved when they pulled up to the rustic cabin that would serve as their home for the weekend. Tobias stepped out of the car with his usual swagger. Black Ray-Bans in place and an Original Gourmet Lollipop in his mouth, he surveyed the land, filled his lungs with the fresh air, and smiled.

“Welcome home, friends!”

Bryce’s exit was a little different. Stumbling out the back door, he looked peaked, but the fear started to vanish from his eyes when he realized they were on solid earth.

“I would lean over and kiss the ground, but I’m pretty sure I’d throw up,” he announced as Ethan mumbled under his breath.

 “What was that, boss?" Tobias called out. "If you have something to say, you really should tell the whole class.”

“I said I don’t know how you convinced me to do this.”

With his hands in his pockets, Tobias rolled back and forth on his feet with a grin. “First, you love us, no matter how much you try to deny it. Second, Merida would have kicked your ass if you backed out.”

“Not to mention you would have never lived down the ribbing we'd give you if you admitted you couldn’t rough it for one weekend.”

“I can rough it, Bryce!” Ethan replied. “Make no mistake about that... I just don’t know if I can rough it with the two of you.”

Tobias clapped his hand against Ethan's shoulder before removing his backpack from the trunk.

“You’re full of shit,” he said, tossing Ethan his bag.

Bryce shielded his eyes to take a better look at the cabin. He had to admit that the bucolic setting was beautiful, ushering in a sense of tranquility that Boston could never deliver.

“The cabin does look really nice,” he observed.

Ethan shrugged with a wrinkled nose. “Looks smaller than I expected.”

Tobias pulled the lollipop out of his mouth, his face glowing like he had just won the jackpot. “Now, there are five words Ramsey has heard repeatedly throughout his life.”

He and Bryce broke into a fit of laughter while Ethan rambled about their juvenile behavior.

“Relax, old man,” Tobias teased. “It is small, but it’s not like we’ll be inside much anyway. Come on, let’s go set up.”  

Ethan and Tobias lingered on the porch as Bryce stepped inside, but he returned in an instant.

“Uh, Tobias, are you sure this is the right cabin?”

“Well, the keys I gave you just opened the door, didn’t they? Of course, it’s the right cabin.” Noting the look on Bryce’s face, he continued. “What’s the matter, Lahela? Did you see a mouse?”

“Oh,” Bryce chuckled. “I wish.”

Ethan raised a brow at Bryce while Tobias stepped inside.

“Wait for it,” Bryce mouthed just before they heard...

“Oh, for fucks sake!!”

Ethan rushed into the cabin with Bryce trailing behind him, and his eyes went wide.

“Are you kidding me?” Ethan scowled. “One bed? What the hell did you do, Carrick? Rent the honeymoon suite?”

Tobias turned to his friend, lips twisted. “Who’d take anyone on a honeymoon here, Ramsey! Even you’re not that clueless.”

“You’re right, and I’m also not clueless enough to get us a cabin with ONE bed.”

Tobias ran his hand over his head with a sigh. “The listing said one single bed and two bunks!”

“Well,” Bryce simpered. “The listing lied.”

“I told you we should have just brought tents and sleeping bags,” Tobias admonished. “But noooo, you two couldn’t rough it!”

“Says the man with the luxury Range Rover,” Ethan smirked.

Ignoring him, Tobias placed his phone back into his pocket. “There’s no service here, but if you want, we can drive back down the to the main road. We passed a Motel 6; we could just stay there tonight if you like.”

“Yeah, I’m not about to head back down that death trap of a road in this weather!” Bryce stated.

“In this weather? It’s beautiful out,” Tobias said just before a loud thunderclap shook them. “Wait! What?” He gasped. “Where the hell did this come from! It was gorgeous out! There was no rain predicted, and... how?”

“What was that you said about not spending much time inside the cabin anyway?” Ethan mocked.

Tobias threw himself back on the bed. “This isn’t happening.”

“It’s all right,” Bryce said, trying to lighten the mood. “ “It’s just for two nights; we can handle that.”

“Maybe you can,” Ethan deadpanned. “I’m not so sure.”

“Well, unless you want to take my keys and drive yourself down the mountain in this monsoon, it doesn’t look like you’ll have much of a choice.”

~~~~~

The afternoon and evening looked different than they had anticipated. Envigorating hikes were replaced by several rounds of poker. An open campfire under the stars turned into hotdogs and baked beans prepared on the hotplate. It was as if a woodland fairy godmother had appeared and reversed her magic.

“I wonder what the girls are doing now,” Bryce asked forlornly.

Ethan pulled a chunk of fat out of the beans with a grimace. “Eating better than we are, that’s for sure!”

“All right!” Tobias snapped. “Enough of this. Hopefully, the rain will pass tonight, and we will have two days to enjoy the great outdoors. But tonight... let's make the best of it. There could be worse things than the three of us stuck in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with copious amounts of beer.”

“The beer will help,” Bryce agreed.

“As long as you two don’t overdo it,” Ethan said, popping a can open. “If either of you falls into a drunken stupor and pees in the bed tonight, we'll be returning to Boston with a lighter load."

“How are we going to sleep?” Bryce asked the question they had all been pondering. “What’s that, a full-size bed? How are the three of us going to fit on that?”

“It’s a queen-size,” Tobias corrected. “We’ll make do.”

“Do you have your sleeping bag, T?” Bryce asked. “Maybe one of us could sleep on the floor.”

“Negative,” he replied. “Once you two overruled tents, I had no reason to pack it.”

“I could just sleep on the floor anyway.”

“Bryce, you’ll freeze,” Ethan pointed out. “The temperature drops significantly during the night in these parts, and this place isn't exactly insulated."

“Yeah, and those cute little shorts and crop tops you bought won’t do a damn thing to keep you warm,” Tobias chortled.

Bryce let out a sigh. “I told you a beach weekend would have been better, but noooo....”

“Weren’t you the one saying it’s just two nights, we’ll survive?” Ethan yawned. “Look, it’s late, I’m exhausted, and I don’t want to freeze, so why don’t we just get this over with?”

“I’m with you,” a weary Tobias replied.

“All right, question. Who sleeps in the middle?”

Bryce's words stopped the other two men in their tracks.

“Well, I hadn’t thought of that,” Tobias snickered.

“This is going to be the longest night of my life,” Ethan groaned.

“Come on, princess,” Tobias winked. “You could do much worse than sharing a bed with two lookers like Lahela and me.”

“I mean, we’re all bi,” Bryce reminded. “It’s not like we’ve never shared a bed with a man before."

“That doesn’t mean I want to be sharing a bed with these two men,” Ethan said, gesturing furiously between his two friends.

“Look, I’m freaking tired,” Tobias interrupted. “I say we pick straws. Short straw gets the middle.”

“Works for me!” Bryce agreed.

No one waited for Ethan to reply, which was unfortunate since he picked the short straw.

“Motherfucker!” he cursed.

“Look,” Tobias pointed out. “None of us are going to sleep well tonight anyway, so what does it really matter.”

“Fine! You want the middle, then?”

“Nope!” Tobias said, claiming his spot against the wall. “I’m good.”

“Wait! That means I’ll be on the edge!” Bryce realized. “I’m going to end up on the floor!”

“Would you like the short stick?” Ethan offered.

“Mmmhh. Nah,” Bryce replied. “Just try not to push me off the bed."

The three men spent the next few minutes squiggling and shifting, doing their best to find a position that would be remotely comfortable for all, and the jokes kept coming, at least from Tobias and Bryce.

“Remember, Ramsey... if your hands get cold during the night, my butt cheeks are not pillows, all right?”

“Jesus Christ!” Ethan groused, rolling to his other side.

“What?” Bryce replied. “Do you think my butt cheeks are available? We can get you some socks for those hands of yours.”

Bryce and Tobias couldn't stop giggling as Ethan seethed between them.

“Come on, Ethan,” Tobias laughed. “You’re amongst friends, and at least you won’t freeze to death.”

“Sure won’t. You’re like a damn furnace! I felt like I needed to remove my clothes.”

“Oh, so you're getting fresh now?” Tobias teased, but Ethan wasn't remotely amused.

“Good night!!” He huffed.

“Sorry,” Bryce yawned. “But you walked right into that one.”

“GOOD NIGHT!”

And then something miraculous occurred; against all odds, the men managed to fall asleep.

~~~

When the sun rose, Bryce was the first to wake. He was already sitting in a folding chair near the window, eating a container of yogurt, when Ethan and Tobias began to stir.

“Good morning!” He chirped, as buoyant as the birds flying around the sunny sky. “It’s about time you're awake.”

“Why are you already up?” Tobias said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Ethan groaned as he threw his legs over the edge of the bed, attempting to stretch his sore muscles. “And how the hell are you not in pain!”

“The benefits of youth, old men!” Bryce laughed. “I really do need to get some friends my own age.”

“Yeah, screw you!” Tobias said, vaulting out of bed to prove a point, but he couldn't hold back an ouch moments later.

“You were saying?” Ethan mocked.

“Of course, I’m in pain!” Tobias shot back. “I can’t barely feel my arm anymore; you were lying on it all night.”

“Are you aware that you talk in your sleep?” Ethan snickered, completely changing the course of conversation.

"Wait... what?" Tobias turned around, the blood rushing from his face. “What...what did I say?”

“I don’t remember everything,” Ethan smirked. “But I’m pretty confident you proposed to me.”

“Yeah, right!” Tobias laughed nervously.

Bryce mindlessly scraped his yogurt container with his spoon. “Honestly, he’s not joking. You were going on and on about getting married.”

“Do you have something to share?” Ethan grinned.

“Well,” Tobias hesitated. “I guess if the cat’s out of the bag. I'm planning on proposing soon, just not to either of you fuckers.”

“You’re proposing to Casey,” Bryce gasped. “Oh my God, Olivia is going to lose her mind!”

“Yeah,” Ethan ran a hand down his neck. “Merida will probably be all over this, too.”

"If you wouldn't mind keeping this from them for the time being," Tobias pled. "It's not that I don't trust them, but..."

"No need to ask," Ethan smiled, shaking his friend's hand. "Congratulations, buddy. All joking aside, I couldn’t be happier for you.”

“Yeah,” Bryce agreed. “This is great news! When are you planning on doing it?”

“Next week, it’s the anniversary of the day we met. I don’t know if she remembers, but I do, so....”

“Do you think she knows?” Bryce asked.

“Nah,” Tobias smiled. “She doesn’t have a clue.”

“You're sure about that?” Ethan asked, preparing a cup of coffee.

“Pretty sure.... why?”

Ethan handed the steaming cup to Tobias with a wink. “Because, apparently.... you talk in your sleep.”

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

[blackcatkita]

"All I can think about is getting you home."

Open Heart's Bryce and MC (Kayla in my case) commissioned by me from the wonderful, talented, marvelous @pilitella

Isn't it beautiful?!?! The detail, their gorgeous faces, Bryce's smirk, his creeping hand... ugh, these two, I can't.

Please do not use or share without giving credit to the very talented artist @pilitella

[lilyoffandoms]

Forgotten Paint Brush (Luna x Bryce) for @peonierose

Happy Spread Kindness Week!! Thank you for sharing all your creations with us all and thank you for all the sunshine you bring to our little fandom ♥️

My Art Ish Thing Tag (Choices Edition): @storyofmychoices @aallotarenunelma @twinkleallnight @dutifullynuttywitch @thosehallowedhalls @peonierose

Event Tags: @choicesfandomappreciation (spread kindness)

[liaromancewriter]

Hold My Drink

Premise: Bryce and Cassie teach the new intern class a lesson in etiquette.

Book: Open Heart (post series) Characters: Bryce Lahela & F!MC (Cassie Valentine) Rating/Category: Teen. Fluff. Words: 1,135

A/N: For @dr-colossal-pita from @creativepromptsforwriting Drabble list (prompts 56 & 57). Tagging for reblog to @creativepromptfills. Submission to @choicesmonthlychallenge October prompt "mischief" and @choicesprompts Flufftober prompt "Friendship"

Donahue’s was busier than usual, the music from the jukebox competing with the rattle of balls from the pool table. It was always such on the first night of a new intern class starting residency at nearby Edenbrook Hospital.

Voices rose in excitement, others somewhat raspy from exhaustion after a long fourteen-hour shift. Drinks flowed freely under the dingy neon lights that the owner Reggie insisted added to the ambiance but was likely an attempt at keeping the electricity bill down.

After three years of this, Cassie Valentine could distinguish the newbies from the regulars. Once upon a time, she had been one of them. Finding her way in a new city and job, struggling with her self-esteem and wondering if she’d just made the worst mistake of her life.

She remembered doing tequila shots with her future roommates as they boasted of how they’d take over from the attendings that hadn’t exactly left a good first impression. Now, they were one of the senior physicians charged with molding the next generation of doctors.

Well, she was anyway, Cassie thought smugly with a side-eyed glance at Bryce Lahela, surgeon extraordinaire. He still had a year left in his general surgery residency and likely a few more years after that for specialization.

In what? He hadn’t quite figured it out yet, not that anyone could read the uncertainty in his demeanor, not with an ego the size of Alaska. Cassie was the only one who knew the man behind the carefree mask and his struggles with living up to his own expectations.

So, like any good friend, Cassie took great pleasure in rubbing her success in his face. After all, she was doing exactly what she’d set out to do when she set her sights on Edenbrook and training under Dr. Ethan Ramsey.

She was three years ahead of schedule on account of winning a coveted junior fellowship with his diagnostics team. And three months away from heading up the team.

“This place is a zoo,” Bryce groused as someone bumped into him, causing his beer to splash onto the sanded floor. “Anyway, what was I saying?”

They were standing near the bar, their attempts at securing a booth or a two-top thwarted by the sheer number of people spilling into the bar during Happy Hour.

“You were complaining about the lack of action in your sex life and maybe even shaving your head,” Cassie teased, tipping the beer bottle for a sip.

Bryce nearly choked on his drink, coughing and sputtering as it went down the wrong pipe.

“You trying to give me a heart attack?” he glared as Cassie thumped his back. “I’m fairly positive I said Tanaka wants me to focus on what kind of surgeon I want to be and that there might be a trauma fellowship at Mass Kenmore.”

“Not nearly as interesting as your love life, or lack thereof.”

Bryce ran a hand through his hair, the light-brown streaks gleaming under the light, and spread his arms with a grin. “Come on! This body gets plenty of action.”

Cassie was about to continue the smack talk when a group of rowdy residents pushed past them on their way to the bar.

“Hey!” Bryce shouted, grabbing her arm to steady her before she could lose her footing. “Watch where you’re going.”

“Whatever, bruh,” one of them sneered, his words slurring at the edges. He was built like a linebacker, flexing his beefy arms for effect. “Isn't it past your bedtime, pops?”

His friends guffawed and slapped high-fives. Grabbing their drinks, they brushed past them, their crude laughter trailing behind them.

Bryce stared daggers at their retreating backs, correctly guessing they were Ortho Bros—more muscle than sense. He knew most of the orthopedic surgeons at Edenbrook, but this group was new.

His eyes narrowed as they commandeered a dartboard, crowding out another group of interns who had been enjoying a lighthearted game.

Cassie followed his gaze, and a plan began to form. Nothing but total humiliation would do.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked, nudging Bryce, a mischievous gleam in her green eyes.

“I don’t even want to know what you’re thinking,” he shuddered. “You’re scaring me with that look.”

“Come on, Lahela,” Cassie urged, her voice taking on the grim tone of a TV evangelist. “Are you going to let those meathead interns get away with disrespecting us? What’s next? You’ll let them muscle you out of your OR?”

Bryce shook his head at the dramatic declarations, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself. Cassie’s competitiveness matched his own, but he’d rather be on this side than facing off against her. She might look like an innocent blonde princess, but she fought dirty.

He squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and shot her a sideways glance, a glint of amusement in his eyes now. “Let’s teach these Ortho Bros the pecking order at Donahue’s and Edenbrook.”

Cassie smirked as Bryce added an exaggerated swagger to his step as they marched toward the dartboards.

“Yo! Didn’t anyone teach you ‘kids’ to respect your seniors?” Bryce called out.

“Isn’t Dr. Tanaka putting you in charge of the surgical intern OR schedule, Dr. Lahela?” Cassie remarked slowly, her tone sweet as honey. “I don’t know about you, but these four could probably use a time-out before you add them to the board. What do you think? Three months?”

She grinned as the realization dawned on them—they’d just dissed the man who controlled their surgical schedules and access to the OR.

“Six months, minimum,” Bryce nodded, enjoying as their smirks faded into looks of alarm. Surgeons needed to cut. Getting benched for even a day was torture.

“Wait, you’re that Dr. Lahela?” gawked the beefy intern. “You’re the one that performed the extrapleural pneumonectomy solo as a second-year resident?”

“Focus, Bryce,” Cassie whispered sharply out of the corner of her mouth, knowing her friend’s weakness for praise. He’d always loved an audience.

Bryce threw her a frustrated look, his ego fighting with his desire to take the interns down a peg. Cassie was pleased to see that common sense prevailed.

He straightened to his full six-feet-three height and stared down his nose. “Yeah, I’m that Lahela. And if you don’t want your surgical career to go down in a flaming pile of shit after only one day, you’ll check your ‘bruhs’ at the door.”

The Ortho Bros started to apologize, their voices coming out strangled as they tripped over the words while Bryce scowled.

Cassie folded her arms across her chest, her steely-eyed glare mirroring his. She peeked at Bryce and the satisfied grin threatening to break across his lips. He met her look and winked.

Oh, yeah. Annihilation was so much more satisfying than humiliation.

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

All Fics & Edits: @bluebelle08 @coffeeheartaddict2 @crazy-loca-blog @jerzwriter @justyourusualash

@lady-calypso @kyra75 @mainstreetreader @peonierose @potionsprefect

@queencarb @quixoticdreamer16 @snoopdogcone @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction

Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[weetlebeetle]

My choices chibi charms are available for pre-order until October 6th!

Get them here!

[gambit-blogs]

Continuing the relationship with Ethan Ramsey

Takes place in the second half of book 2 and book 3

[playchoicesconfessions]

Sent by anonymous

‘I MISS YOU BRYCE LAHELA’

POST/CONFESSIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE MOD’S PERSONAL OPINIONS!

[aces-and-angels]

i love the self-reflection going on in regards to checking yourselves for your own internal biases and in the spirit of that- i want to address one last thing.

the FIRST step in taking accountability is admitting what you've done is wrong. fully and transparently. apologies are a commitment made to those who have been wronged that you'll do better. they need to explicitly showcase what was wrong and who needs to own up to their wrongdoings (if you know anyone who needs to, ofc). otherwise it's only an apology made to save face so you can feel better and move on. not for the people affected.

so as someone done wrong, hear me when i say this:

whitewashing any canonically poc character is racist. supporting content that whitewashes poc characters is racist. and if you genuinely want to take accountability, you'll need to admit this out loud. fully and transparently for everyone to see:

bryce lahela from open heart was whitewashed. bryce lahela is an indigenous hawaiian person. [insert your name here] endorsed/supported fanart that whitewashed bryce lahela by [insert what you did here].

and before y'all start with the "i want to protect people's privacy" or "allow people the opportunity to acknowledge it themselves"--

being vague in your apology does no one any favors. it gives people an out. a reason to believe that whatever it is you're saying sorry for doesn't involve them. if they genuinely are unaware, you saying it out loud point blank period will go a long way.

thank you for listening 🖤

[storyofmychoices]

A Date to Remember

[Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Masterlist] 

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley (F!OC)

Book: Open Heart

Word Count: 360

Rating/Warnings: general, no warnings

Synopsis: Bryce has a very important question for Olivia. (iykyk)

Her focus was on the patient file in her hands. She flipped through the pages, searching for the biopsy results. The breath she had been holding released as her eyes settled on the two words she had been hoping to find: "not cancerous." Her heart fluttered in her chest. There was nothing she loved more than being able to share good news with a patient and their family.

Her steps quickened as she headed to share the good news. Not taking care as she turned the corner, she was met by a strong chest in pink scrubs and a familiar set of arms.

"Someone's in a hurry." 

"Bryce! I didn't see you." Her surprised expression faded, giving away to delight. 

"I noticed." He grinned, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Where are you heading in such a rush?"

"I just got incredible news for a patient." She held the file close to her chest. "I was on my way to share it!"

"Then, I won't stand in your way." He brushed a feathery kiss on her forehead and stood to the side, watching as she flitted down the hall. 

"Oh, Liv, just one quick thing." He leaned against the wall, his arms folded in front of him. 

She turned back to him, her eyes bright as she met his gaze.

"What day is it?" 

Her brow pulled in confusion for a moment, not expecting such a question. She glanced down at her watch, a smirk growing as she read the date, now understanding his insistence on wearing his pink scrubs this morning even though it wasn't Wednesday. She took a step back toward him. "It's October 3rd."

"Ah," he nodded his approval, shifting closer to her. "Indeed it is." 

"You came all the way up to the peds ward for that, didn't you?"

"You know I had to do it," he offered with a light chuckle. 

"Have you been waiting all year for this?" 

"I mean, not the whole year," his voice trailed away.

Her brow rose challengingly as a smile spread across her features. "Bryce!"

"Yes, Liv, the whole year. This year and every year." His words trailed away as she met him with a kiss. 

Just a quick pointless drabble I wrote. It's nothing exciting or special but it's the first thing I've written in a month? Maybe more? so I figured I'd share it. 💖💖💖

[jerzwriter]

OK, it took a little over two months, but I actually finished a fic request list, and as someone with far too many items in my inbox, I'm proud of this! lol What better way to end than with "One Bed Fic Prompts" than with Merida, Olivia, and Casey on a road trip? II hope you enjoy it!

Book: Open Heart Pairings: Ethan x Merida (MC); Bryce x Oliva (F!OC); Tobias x Casey (F!MC) Rating: Teen Trope: There's Just One Bed! Words: 1,175 Summary: Merida, Olivia, and Casey's weekend adventure is off to a rainy start, but they always manage to find their own sunshine.

A/N: Based on the prompts below from @storyofmychoices. Also, participating in @choicesaugustchallenge Prompt 14 - Road Trip. Merida belongs to the amazing @lilyoffandoms and Olivia belongs to the wonderful @storyofmychoices. It was fun to write for our girls again!

MOC World Masterlist || Open Heart Masterlist Full Masterlist

Merida always knew how to play it cool. As the rain hammered on the roof of their car, she convinced Olivia and Casey that she had it totally under control. They never suspected that she had been white-knuckling it the whole time and was the most relieved of all when she saw the small motel they were staying in overnight in the distance.

The Snugglin' Inn looked nothing like it did online. The -g was missing from the neon sign flickering ominously in the night. Its garish pink light reflected in the dozens of little lakes that had formed in the potholes in the parking lot. But after hours on the road in treacherous conditions, the women were willing to stay anywhere... except for maybe Olivia.

“Are you sure this is the place?” she asked nervously.

“Yep, this is it!” Merida smiled. “Rustic charm! Just like the website said!”

"Ah,” Casey said, stretching her arms over her head. “If by charm they mean probably haunted, then yeah, no false advertising claim here! But as long as our room is dry... I’ll fight off the resident ax murderer for one night."

“You don’t really think there’s an ax murderer,” Olivia swallowed. “Do you?”

“Of course there is,” Merida winked. “All motels in Pennsylvania have one. Didn’t you know?”

Casey nodded in agreement. "Yep, state code!"

They rushed to the trunk to grab their bags, then dashed to the tiny lobby dripping wet. The clerk barely glanced at them as she handed over a room key while half-heartedly warning about the air conditioner being on the blink. Normally, faulty air conditioning would be enough to make Casey sleep in the car, but between the rain and talk of murderers, she was eager to get to their room.

“What’s the likelihood that this place has room service?” Olivia asked as they made their way down the outside corridor, her stomach growling.

“About as likely as it is to have comfortable beds,” Merida chuckled.

“Hey,” Casey laughed. “These places are known for being rented by the hour... the beds are what they’re all about.”

“You would know that,” Olivia grinned as Merida pushed the door open.

"Well, this is cozy," Merida said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she tossed her bag onto the bed. The sole queen-sized bed in the tiny room.

Olivia looked around, nervously biting her lip. "Uhm, where are the other beds?"

"There aren’t any," Casey sighed. “It’s OK. One of us can sleep in the bathtub.”

“No one is sleeping in the bathroom; that’s ridiculous!” Merida insisted. “Have you not seen Psycho? No one goes in the bathroom! If we have to pee – do it in the corner of the room.”

“We probably wouldn’t be the first ones to do that,” Casey observed.

“Guys! Are you sure we should stay here?” Oliva worried.

“We’ll be fine,” Casey assured. “It’s just a night.”

Ever practical, Merida was already looking for solutions to the sleeping arrangements. “If we push the bed against the wall, that should prevent at least one of us from falling onto the floor. It might be a little crowded, but it will do.”

"Crowding is inevitable,” Casey smiled. "But we’re all friends, and it’s not like this is the first time we’ve had to share a bed. Remember the time we stayed at that place in The Berkshires?"

Merida couldn’t help but giggle at the memory. "You mean the time you woke up spooning Olivia, and she nearly had a stroke?"

"Hey, I was asleep! I can’t control what I do in my sleep," Casey defended, although her playful grin betrayed her. "Besides, Olivia was fine with it. Being spooned by Casey is kind of a badge of honor!”

"She’s not wrong," Olivia blushed.

After changing quickly, they all settled into bed with Casey in the middle, Merida against the wall, and Olivia on her other side.

“If I fall on the floor during the night, do you think I’ll catch anything contagious?” Oliva asked.

“Liv,” Merida said pointedly. “We're all doctors. Even if you do, we should be able to cure you.”

Just as they were beginning to get comfortable, Merida’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and rolled her eyes.

"It's Ethan. Look what he sent me.”

“Again? What does he mean again?” Olivia asked. “He never bailed us out before!”

Merida and Casey exchanged sheepish grins, and Oliva was too frightened to ask.

“Tell Ethan to bite me!” Casey laughed. “Tobias would bail us out in a heartbeat. In fact, he’s probably home looking forward to it right now.”

“Speaking of Tobias,” Olivia smiled, handing Casey her phone from the nightstand beside her.

“Oh, my husband thinks he has jokes,” Casey chuckled, showing her friends her phone.

“He's calling me an octopus! He's seriously like an octopus! I mean it! Those arms go everywhere."

Merida let out a groan. “For the love of God, Casey... if you start talking about your sex life, I will make you sleep in the bathtub with the ax murderer... and I might sharpen his ax."

"Well, tell Tobias not to get too jealous," Olivia giggled. "We’re just here to sleep, not to, you know..."

“Speak for yourself,” Merida laughed, playfully pawing her friend. "You never know what kind of mischief we'll get into!"

Olivia’s phone vibrated next. “It’s Bryce!” She beamed, handing her phone to Casey. “My boyfriend has a warning for you.”

“You know our three idiots are sitting in Donahues Googling memes, believing themselves to be much funnier than they actually are!" Merida insisted.

But Casey didn't hear her; she was too busy shaking her head in righteous indignation. “You spoon a person one time!” She lamented. “One time! I don’t know how I got this reputation!”

“Really?” Merida chortled. “We could give you examples, but I'd like to do other things this weekend, and that would take all our time!"

“Yeah,” Oliva laughed as Casey feigned horror.

“Et tu, Brute!”

With that, Merida hopped over her friends, pushing Casey against the wall and leaving Olivia sandwiched in the middle.

“Hey, what are you doing!” Olivia hollered.

“Tell Bryce you’re safe from Casey on this trip,” Merida laughed, holding her from behind. “But not from me.”

“Hey!” Olivia blushed.

“Sorry! I can't let Casey be the only one with the depraved reputation!" She teased.

Olivia and Merida turned to Casey as she giggled in delight.

“What are you laughing at?" Olivia asked.

“Since Merida is spooning you, I told Tobias I'm forking you. Of course, he wants photos!"

“He wants photos?” Merida chided. "Give me your phone. I’ll give him a photo!"

The friends descended into giggles as they recalled stories, blissfully unaware of their less-than-perfect surroundings. By the time they finally fell asleep, daw was already starting to break, and before they knew it, Merida's alarm went off.

Casey groaned as she snuggled closer to Olivia. "Can we delay getting up for a few more minutes, please?"

"I'm with Casey," Olivia mumbled, resting her head on Merida's shoulder.

Merida shook her head with a grin. "Fine," she said, setting the alarm for fifteen minutes later and then getting back under the cover with her friends. "This is actually kind of nice."

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, I think so too."

"Best road trip ever," Casey yawned. "Now, back to sleep!"

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

Tagging others separately.

[mydemonsdrivealimo]

i love how pb canonically made bryce this hot pathetic loser of a man. like no actually he can't cook and yes he has daddy issues. but he's pretty so what about it

[cashweasel]

miss u scalpel jockey 😔❤️

[lilyoffandoms]

Go Edenbrook!

Thanks for the idea @peonyblossom! Went with vintage baseball cards for the design.

In the chaos that my life became at the beginning of September I now realize I never posted these 😬 Better late than never? Maybe? How late is too late?

Event Tag: @choicesaugustchallenge (take me out to the ball game)

My Art Ish Thing Tag (Choices Edition): @storyofmychoices @aallotarenunelma @twinkleallnight @thosehallowedhalls @dutifullynuttywitch