#dorian is gonna HATE to leave their baby girl alone hes gonna be like i wouldnt abandon my child like how my father abandoned me!!!!

[bumblesimagines]

Forgotten Fairytale

Part 2

Request: Yes or No

I'm not afraid of this series not becoming as well loved as Green Thumb and I don't expect it to be popular. I've had the idea stuck in my head for a while and I'm getting it all out.

~

You looked over the artifacts the school had stored. You gave a small scoff, shaking your head as you noticed things that didn’t belong in a school.

“They call us thieves and hoarders yet half this shit was stolen off a corpse.” You muttered, stopping in front of a glass case protecting a sword.

“I wouldn’t suggest stealing that. It’ll be obvious.” You turned towards the redhead, sighing and tilting your head as she walked towards you.

“You’re a pain in the ass.” You looked back at the sword, eyes raking over it. 

“You know what this is?” You asked. Hope stood beside you, looking down at the sword. She shook her head, pursing her lips slightly.

“A man named Lord Jameson Wraith owned this sword. He was… a hunter of sorts and specialized in killing dragons. When he stabbed this through the chest of a dragon, the sword would light up and the dragon would burn from the inside. A gruesome, slow death. We were hunted like all others but it wasn’t just to protect humans. We were hunted for our meat, our teeth, and our scales. Humans declared war on us and when we fought back, we were erased from everyone's minds and deemed fairy tales where we continue to be killed by a so-called knight.” You explained, running your finger over the glass. 

“Some dragons were able to survive Malivore but as soon as they shifted… They were taken. They disappeared and left no trace.” You turned to look at Hope. The redhead stayed silent, a frown etched on her face.

“I’m sorry you lost your father. We’re working on finding Malivore and when we do, there’s a chance you’ll be able to see your father again.” Hope said softly, gaze still trained on the sword. 

“Where’s your mother? Alaric mentioned she was a vampire.”

“I was never able to meet her but.. I believe she’s dead.” You walked around the case, looking back up at Hope. You locked eyes with her, hearing her clear her throat.

“I’m sure she would’ve wanted to be in your life.” Hope offered a small smile, nails gently tapping against the case. 

“Are you being nice to me cause you need to find out more about me?” You asked, head tilting. Hope cocked a brow, eyes rolling as she turned away from you.

“Alaric really doesn’t trust me, does he?”

“He trusts you more than I do, that’s for sure. It’s just too much of a coincidence for you, a dragon, to show up when we’re dealing with monster after monster. If it weren’t for Alaric, I would’ve already done a spell on you.” Hope said as she walked around the room, features hard and serious. 

“A little witch spell wouldn’t work on me. You haven’t been trained to deal with dragons. If I was really one of those monsters, why didn’t I burn the building down and search for whatever it is that you have?” You asked curiously. Hope didn’t answer, thinking for a moment.

“Because you’d need to know if it was hidden.”

“Alaric asked if I felt a pull to this place. I suppose that means I would feel a pull towards the artifact, right?” You slowly walked towards her, a soft chuckle leaving you.

“You can kick and scream all you want, Red. I’m here to stay, whether you like it or not.” You reached out, twirling a strand of her red hair around your finger. Hope grabbed your wrist, pushing your hand away.

“You’re up to something and I’m gonna figure out what it is.” Hope sneered, eyes narrowed. She turned around, walking towards the doors. She almost bumped into a man on her way out, quietly apologizing before moving past him. The man entered the room, clasping his hands together. 

“I’m Dorian Williams, the liberian and occasional substitute teacher.” Dorian introduced himself, finding a table and taking a seat. He motioned for you to sit across from him. You did so, taking a seat and crossing your arms as you eyed him.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, (Y/N). I do have some suspicions that you might be after the artifact but.. You’re a kid. A kid who lost their father and wants answers. I’m not here to interrogate you about your intentions.” Dorian explained, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed. 

“Do the other students know what I am?” 

“News spread like wildfire here, especially amongst the students so.. Yes, most likely. I can assure you that you’ll be treated like any other student-”

“So, Hope goes around telling every student she’s gonna figure out what they’re up to? No wonder she’s not popular.” Dorian let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

“I promise Hope isn’t always like that. The monster problem we’ve been having has everyone on edge. Do.. Do you know anything about Malivore?” Dorian asked, sitting up and leaning forward. 

“I thought you weren’t gonna interrogate me.” You tilted your head, brow cocked. Dorian hummed softly, nodding. 

“Alright, we can talk about something else. The neck is a dragon's soft spot, right?”

“Depends.” You answered, licking your lips as you reached up to touch your necklace. 

“If a dragon is older and stronger, a hit to the neck isn’t gonna hurt them much. It might piss them off and they could lose their ability to speak or even stop them from breathing fire cause it’ll hurt to do so. We can still kill someone by stepping on them or snacking on them. We were on the top of the fucking food chain and humans just couldn’t deal with that.” 

“I’m not your enemy, (Y/N). I want to believe I can trust you. You’re a child and like all children, you need guidance. I see a lot of rage built up inside you. I can tell from the way you interacted with Hope and from what I heard. Landon and Rafael aren’t your enemies. They’re new and they have a rough past. The first dragon they met wanted to burn them into a pile of ashes so.. I’d say they’re being pretty welcoming.” Dorian held a soft yet stern gaze. It was obvious that he sympathized with you but at the same time, he wasn’t gonna deal with an attitude.

“Tell me about your father. What was he like?” Dorian asked softly. Your gaze dropped to the table, fingers squeezing around the key. 

“I’d appreciate it if everyone could stop talking about him as if he’s dead.” You breathed out, standing up abruptly as your eyes began to sting from tears.

“I don’t need to be welcomed into this school. I’ve been to high school before, I’m not some little kid whose hand needs to be held.” You walked out of the room, heading back to your dorm room. You entered the dorm, shutting the door behind you. You sniffled softly, walking towards the window and opening it. You stepped out, taking a seat on the roof. You brought your knees up to your chest, feeling the wind gently hitting your face. 

“The key to food is passion, remember that (Y/N).”

“I thought it was seasoning.” You grinned as you watched your father cook. He hummed, nodding with a chuckle.

“It is but food from a chef who feels no passion for it will taste bland and bitter. It’s the same with any other job. If you hate it, it’ll show and you’ll only hurt yourself. That’s why I always tell you to look for things you’re interested in.” (F/N) said, handing you a wooden spoon so you could help with stirring the soup.

“What was mom passionate about?”

“Your mother was.. She was a hurricane.” He began, sighing deeply. “She destroyed everything in her path and took down anyone in her way. Not many people have fond memories of her but I saw the good in her. I didn’t love her romantically but I considered her a good friend of mine. I’ll always be grateful to her for giving me the best gift a man could ever have.” You smiled widely, chuckling softly and rolling your eyes. (F/N) smiled softly, leaning over and pressing a kiss to your temple.

“No treasure could ever compare to you.” 

You bit your bottom lip, letting out a shaky sigh. You weren't used to being alone. Your father had always been there to back you up, to support you, and to provide comfort when you needed it.

“Christ, pull yourself together. You come from dragons and a psycho vampire.” You mumbled, carefully going back inside. You picked up the phone, turning it on and waiting for it to power on completely. You responded to a text, watching a call pop up. You clicked the green button and held the phone up to your ear.

“I thought you said it was stupid to be in contact.” You took a seat on the bed.

“Yeah, well, I was expecting you to be back by now. You do know your fathers return lies in your hands, right? Only I can help you get him back but I’ll only do that if you give me what I need.”

“I have a plan-”

“Speed up that plan before I change my mind, (Y/N). While you were on your way to the school, I bumped into some of your new friends. They were a redhead and an older man. I believe the girl went by the name Jessica but I doubt it was her real name.” You let out a deep sigh, head tilting upwards. Hope Mikaelson was gonna be a real pain in the ass.

“Yeah, I’ve met the redhead.” You breathed out, dropping your head and pinching the bridge of your nose. 

“I just need you to relax, Ryan. I’ve got it handled but I really don’t need you fucking things up for me. You just keep up your end of the deal and I’ll keep up mine. You might be able to save my father but I can also keep you from helping yours.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a fact. Don’t bother me again unless it’s an emergency.” You pulled the phone away from your ear despite Ryan continuing to talk. You hung up and tossed the phone to the side, burying your face in your hands. 

“Am I paying for my mothers crimes?” You whispered. You flinched when you heard two knocks on the door, standing up and approaching it. You opened the door, staring at Josie.

“What do you want, baby face?” You asked with a frown, looking down at the ice cream tub in her hands. Josie’s brows furrowed at the nickname but she ignored it, choosing to raise the tub. 

“I.. I kind of eavesdropped on you and Dorian and saw you rush out. Ice cream always makes me feel better when I’m feeling down, so I brought you some.” Josie shrugged lightly. You blinked, opening your mouth but nothing came out. 

“If you don’t like ice cream then I could see if-”

“Thanks.” You cut her off, watching her relax and give a small smile. Josie nodded, perking up when you stepped aside so she could enter. Josie looked around the room, humming. 

“If you want, we could go shopping for some decorations tomorrow after school.” Josie said, moving one hand under her skirt as she sat down. You nodded, taking a seat beside her and subtly turning the phone off. Josie opened the lid of the tub, handing you a spoon and giving a small shy smile.

“Well, Welcome to Salvatore School. I’m pretty sure dad is still figuring out your class schedule.” 

“Dad?”

“Oh, uhm, the headmaster is my dad.” Josie shrugged, digging her spoon into the ice cream. Your brows raised, a small smile spreading across your face. 

“Really? You look nothing like him.. Which is a big compliment.” You grinned as Josie let out a soft giggle. Things were definitely starting to look up.

[that-cartoony-villain]

critrole time baby!!! lets gooo!

nordvpn ad continuation!!! this is actually looking like an ad lmao!! THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE WAS READY HSUABEUbua i cant with these nerds

lets see if travis needs a new character sheet next week or not.... this chase is exciting!! they really are the type to fuck their way out of combat and i love that

our favorite kleptomaniacs fearne and ashton! marisha awkwardly trying to hide is an amazing laudna moment AND I LOVE HER CREEPY ASS SO MUCH

dont leave chetney alone... thats how bell died.. how many one shots pcs can we make travis go through in this campaign?

ashleys chaotic side thrives with fearne and i love her for it... and fearne and imogen being laudnas biggest hypewomen is the best!!

the metagaming pigeons are back! fcg goes on the date yay!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN DOUBLE DATE IMOGEN??? FEARNE IS A SMOKER LMAO

chetney is the best! imogen really is just trying to keep them out of trouble... just a soft dorym moment... i love them

the growth of dorian x chetney travis really tried to be a troll with robbie but immediately fell in love with him and dorian (which i dont blame him) oooh that was such a good line from dorian

imogen you sweet horse girl.... NOT THE TRASH BOUQUET LMAOOOO date time lets go!!

PRETTY I LOVE YOU!!! he got them presents ;-; i love this ogre so much... perfect presents and then they give him trash lmao CHARLESS! its the Soot and Swipe tv show ;)

I LOVE THESE AWKWARD BITCHES SO MUCH BEST DATE EVER!!!!! matt really is rethinking his life as he has a date with the three women of the table hauabsuabi let the date fanfics appear!

ASHTON TIME LETS GO!!!! i want to see what theyre up to... fancy elf oohh ashton and his secrets are so mysterious i really like them and hope taliesin gets to explore a lot of that

THE BOSS???? this is getting interesting.... we getting the side quests out of the way to do them slowly!! so mysterious.... i love it!

I LOVE PRETTY!!! they really went to the theater... HE IS LETTING THEM DOWN SOFTLY I LOVE MATTHEW HE IS SO DONE WITH THEIR BULLSHIT PLS PRETTY IS THE BEST

i love these ladies so much!!! FCG PLEASE jsiahsua sam really is enjoying making the most passive aggressive comments and then be sweet and im so here for this... WITCHY BITCHES!!!!

the group name should be Witchy Bitches and the Others because the girls already have a group name before the whole group lmao

ASTHON BACKSTORY ASHTON BACKSTORY!!! i love them ;-; hes just a sweetheart and i really hope they get a good end to their story.... i am so sad with this backstory this poor enby rock ;-;

they really are just going back to crime right after hsusbaubs theyre so dumb omg... the least stealthy people ever lmao HOW THE FUCK DO THEY KEEP MANAGING TO SCARE PEOPLE OFF AND PULL THIS SHIT OFF???

oh god... another B&E that is gonna go badly... THE CREEPY SHIT IS SAVING THE FUCKING DAY LETS GO LAUDNA!!!! its also a plus that we get to see travis get scared shitless

this is going better than i thought.... love the creepy girl just hanging out with them... PLEASE TELL ME WE'RE GOING FULL CREEPY THIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I LOVE IT yes we're going full creepy lets fucking gooooo!!!

we're gonna end on the prebattle arent we?? I LOVE THE CREEPY VIBES SO FUCKING MUCH IM EXCITED!!!! i just love that everyone has a 'i hate this' reaction except for marisha and taliesin... those two plus matt must be fun to watch horror movies with...

i hope they dont fight this creepy person but talk with them and maybe get something out of it... who knows??? see yall next week!!!

[elvesofnoldor]

. 

[veridium]

the dark side of your room

hey, it’s an All Time Low song for the College AU Update!! Woo!

Time for some more queer fluff and anxiety, what I do best!

masterpost // last chapter 

--

Olivia: Hey, still down for me to come over in an hour?

Cassandra: Yeah, I’m just running errands. I will be back but I might hop in the shower. I’ll leave a key under the mat.

Olivia: Ohhh, a key...we’re getting heavy.

Cassandra: Don’t get cocky.

This must be like what people who are ‘Superb Owl’ fans experience the week leading up to the big sports game they all watch. Day after day, since the one when she asked her to come to the party it gets harder to breathe. It might also be from the surmounting happiness that she is in no way used to, that is nevertheless overwhelming. She can’t do what she usually does and hideout in Ellinor’s company, because she is just as nervous as she is -- if not more. Poor Ellinor. Their conversation by the soccer field is still fresh in her mind even two days after. Now, it’s Friday, making it 24 hours until it all goes down.

Whatever ‘it all’ is, remains to be seen.

Speak of the devil. She catches a familiar, similarly petite figure walking past her open doorway while she’s finishing up getting ready for the night. 

“Hey!” she peers out the doorway to see Ellinor fumbling with keys sluggishly, backpack on her shoulder. “Everything okay?”

Ellinor glances briefly. “Yep! All good.”

“You sure?”

“...Are you?”

Olivia strolls out into the hall and to her, all the while Ellinor finds her key and slides it into the lock. She stops short of twisting it, mouth tight with bated breath behind it, so it seems. In return, Liv grins in order to provide some form of comfort. 

“At least our costumes look hot.”

“They do. They really do.”

“...Ugh, I’m so worried Dorian is going to make Cassandra want to punch him or something--”

“And if the lesbians scare the shit out of Cullen, I’m gonna--”

“Oh God, Cullen and gays...Cullen and the leftist kombucha hipsters?! Do we even know--”

“We don’t! That’s what I’m saying! And isn’t this Cassandra’s first real thing, going out with a girl?”

Olivia bites her lip. Fuck. She’s right. “Oh no. I’m taking her to the lion’s den right off the bat. Oh my God, why didn’t I think of this. I should have called for brunch like normal queer people do. The fuck is wrong with me?”

“I don’t know! I don’t know the gay agenda protocol for this, you never gave me a copy!”

“You aren’t supposed to have one, Ellinor, it’s not a Reader’s Digest.”

“Pfft,” Ellinor leans unto her hip and rolls her eyes. “Fine. Figure out the heirosapphics all on your own, then.”

Olivia pouts. “You stole that joke from me,” she grumbles, before brushing hair out of her eyes. “I have to get going, I’m supposed to be at Cassandra’s in like...whatever amount of minutes is left. I don’t know.” She pulls out her phone to check the time. Fifteen minutes, to be exact.

“Well then go on, get out of here,” Ellinor shoos, “I got plans too, anyway.”

“With C--”

“Yes, with him! Who else, the Pope?”

Olivia shrugs and dances off back on her toes towards her door. “Touchy Ducky!”

“I hate when you call me th--” the rest of Ellinor’s avarice is cut off by the door shutting. Yeah, yeah, she hates being called a touchy ducky. Which means, naturally, Olivia will have to tell it to Cullen and say she loves it, because pranks are healthy for any sustainable friendship. She giggle-snorts all by herself and searches around for her pair of sneakers she tossed somewhere earlier in the week, the perfect casual cap-off to her black leggings and tank top. Whatever tomorrow night turns out to be, at least she has tonight.

--

Only five minutes late, Olivia makes use of the key hiding for her when knocking doesn’t work. When she enters, the holiest of smells -- Italian spices that promise carbs -- greets her first. The kitchen is lit up, and on the stove is a big pasta pot that seems to sing to her. She follows the aroma over to it and finds steaming spaghetti, sauce, meat balls, large forked serving spoon and all. Beside it are two small bowls, and only two. Was Cullen not around? Eh, figures, if Ellinor said they had plans.

That means Cassandra made this. Cassandra made this for her. God, it’s been too long since she had any close associates who knew their way around a kitchen. Ellinor is a walking bio-hazard, Theia knows every order-in number in the city, and Josephine...well, she probably cooks, but she just doesn’t brag about it.

A whine gets caught in her throat -- the kind of “aw” one she makes at puppies in the mall and kids in the park. This is so sweet.

She drops her shoulder bag on the small dining table and lets herself wander. One slow loop around the coffee table, absentmindedly observing all the furniture. Sounds of a shower echo from the other side of the suite, and the mystery is solved just as to where Cassandra is. She must have gotten right into cooking and forgotten to shower when she got home.

Olivia comes to a halt at the mouth of the dark hallway and peeks with growing curiosity...

She’s been down to Cullen’s side, during the infamous occasion she went a bit Rutherferal, but that’s long in the past. Okay, a week, but the past is the past. Cassandra’s, on the other hand, is like some mystical Narnia closet. No one’s been in, and no one’s gotten out as far as she knows. The first time she slept over it was implicitly clear the living room was where she was invited and nowhere else.

What’s so mysterious about a dorm suite bedroom, anyway? What, is she hiding two twin beds down there put together to make a queen? The more she speculates, the more her feet inch closer and closer to the mostly-shut door. The light from the other side almost adds to the temptation. Liv, don’t, this is so weird. Yet, she keeps going, all the way until she reaches the door. She looks back down the other end, silent as sin: the shower is still going. So, against all logic in her head saying ‘stay in your lane,’ she pushes the door open. Expecting the worst, like in that Fifty Shades bullshit film.

The first thing to hit, again, is the smell -- it’s not spaghetti. Lavender? Lavender. In the corner on a desk a diffuser is on, spouting steam into the air. It invites her in like a shiny thing would to a squirrel, and in the process, the rest of the space becomes unfolds: A made bed with navy blue comforter and pillow cases, a stuffed bear against the throw pillow -- wait a minute, she has a stuffed bear? Yes, a stuffed bear with a button nose and all. Is that what she doesn’t want anyone seeing? Just a stuffed animal? I have five under my bed alone...

On the wall facing the door the curtains are pulled but the window is shut, and the floor is completely clean. The laundry basket by the door is almost empty, holding nothing but a t-shirt and a few socks. Up on the wall lining her bed there are origami stars and shapes taped all over, some making what look like constellations. They’re beautifully meticulous, just like Cassandra.

Nothing surprises her more than what she finds in and around her corner desk on the right, diagonal to her bed. Standard dorm honey-colored wood and red upholstery on the chair. Her laptop squarely centered, with a cup of pens and pencils off to the side. Books stacked neatly all around. On the attached shelf above it all are pictures with black frames, all shorter than the gold, silver, and blue trophy for some sport or another.

The pictures, though: that is what draws her in even more. From left to right there are four, total: the first shows two adults smiling with two kids: a boy, standing in front of the man holding onto his arm across his chest, and the other, a girl, held on the woman’s hip. She’s wearing a pale pink babydoll dress, she can’t be any other than six by the look of her baby face and twisted pair of buns in her long, dark hair.

Is that her? Wait, shit, then this must be her family.

The next picture provides more answers: the same adult couple, only the kids are older. The teenage boy is holding a soccer ball against his hip, and he has his hand on his Mother’s shoulder. They’re at the park, or somewhere green, and Cassandra is sitting on the blanket hugging her knees in a similar fashion as she did when she and Olivia lounged on the field. No baby pink anything in sight, though, just grey basketball shorts and a shirt, both a little big on her. The third is one of her and the boy again, her on his back riding piggyback and smiling such a joyous smile, it looks as if she was about to burst. Cheesy, and Cassandra is never cheesy. It’s heartwarming, the way the boy is looking at her from his periphery, chest puffed with pride.

The fourth and final one, though, is just him. He’s much older, and the picture is weathered even with the glass shielding it. As if it spend years just by itself, stashed or crammed somewhere, before finally being framed. The shot is off-center, tilted at an angle that cuts off the top of his head, making the shot look clumsy. He’s leaning against a car front, arms crossed and strong. The washed out lighting, like it was taken by a disposable camera, makes everything seem too bright: except for him, his smile, and his car.

He looks so nice. Why does she never talk ab--

“What are you doing?”

Olivia flinches like a cat struck by lightning, whirling around with her hands linking up behind her. She had been leaning over, soaking up every last inch of detail, but to the outside eye she simply looked nosy.

“I! Ah!” she struggles, “I’m...I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Cassandra shows no sign of intended placation. “You didn’t mean to, but you did.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I fucked up. “I did, b-but, I’m sorry. I just wanted...I think I was just…”

She tosses her clothes several feet into the hamper. “Just what? Going into someone’s room without asking or telling them?”

Olivia blushes and looks away, suddenly aware that she’s standing there with nothing but a blue towel on her and skin still damp from the shower. If there was a God, he would smite her this instant from her foolishness.

“Cassandra, I’m sorry,” she can’t say it enough, “I just--”

“Can you at least let me get clothes on?” Her tone is straight-and-narrow, and Olivia can’t quite discern whether she is deeply pissed or deeply understanding. She knows what she sounds like when she’s losing her cool, and it’s not anything like this. It’s unnerving, to say the least. Though, the guilt leads her to vacate the room without so much as a word, shoulders hunched and arms crossed as she skims past her.

The door shuts, leaving her to think about what she did. And boy, does she: making a slow death-march to the couch where she sits smack-dab in the middle. Every half-second feels like an hour, her knee anxiously bobbing. Her arms haven’t left her chest, and her lungs feel like kiddy pools for air.

Then, at last, Cassandra re-emerges. She’s wearing shorts, a black, slim hoodie, and a frown. Rather than join her on the couch she leans against the corner of the hallway wall and folds her own arms, phone in her hand. Olivia gets the courage to meet her eyes, and when she does, she’s reminded of how fatal ‘disappointment’ can feel.

“Well, I’m waiting,” Cassandra says flatly.

“Waiting for...for what?”

“For an explanation as to why you were nosing around my bedroom.”

“I was...um, the thing is, I couldn’t find forks in the--”

“Olivia Sinclair.”

Liv swallows and curls her legs up against her, hands hooking under her thighs. Humor won’t save her this time. “I don’t know! I just...the door was open, and for some reason, I just kept going and going until I was hip-deep and I just...didn’t think...well, fuck, okay, I didn’t think. That’s what happened. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again, just please, don’t…” she’s spiraling into nervousness and it makes her words start to blur into one another. The sound of pleading, the kind that comes from someone who’s grown up being corrected too harshly for her age. “Please, I didn’t mean to...t-to...ugh, shit.”

Cassandra’s stoic, but just as Olivia is about to break from the tension it causes, she sighs through her nose and rolls her eyes, chin lifting towards the ceiling as she does so. “At least you’re bad at lying.”

“I know I c--h-hey! I’m not...I…” as she grumbles, she only vindicates Cassandra’s opinion, and elects to shut her mouth rather than dig the hole any deeper.

“Mhm,” Cassandra hums, moving away from the wall. The way her hips sway, like she has the upper hand and most of the battlefield already won, is both attractive and disconcerting. She comes to the side of the coffee table closest to the couch, sitting down on it directly in front of her. It’s so close, she has to keep a knee on either side of Olivia’s legs, but she makes do.

“I don’t like people invading my space,” she says as she settles in, very matter-of-fact.

Olivia is stiller than a grave casket, and stays that way. “Mhm...”

Cassandra smirks drily. “If you know, then why did you do it?”

“Because I didn’t think...”

“You weren’t thinking? You sure about that?” Her stare focuses, as if she has the power to break glass with it alone; only, Olivia is the one to crack.

“I...guess I just wanted to know about you. Maybe I thought your room would...satiate my curiosity.”

Cassandra raises a brow. “Ah, so there’s the answer.”

Olivia wants to leap out the window for a cold breeze. Or escape...kill two birds with one stone, as it were. No one likes their space to be invaded. Why did I do it? That’s such a no-go. God dammit.

“I guess I just wondered.”

“Wondered?”

“About your background. Your...childhood...and your interests…”

“Snooping is a great tactic...if it’s a matter of national security.”

Olivia huffs through her nose. “Oh, yeah, okay, technically that is correct. But...but…”

“But what, Liv? Are you suddenly scared of me?”

No. No, no, no. “No, it’s just!” She stops herself before she is definitely in yelling territory for no good reason. “I’m just nervous about everything, all the time, and sometimes it’s weird. I overthink even when I do impulsive things like go in someone’s room and look at their family pictures and gawk at their teddy bear and their fancy oil diffuser and yes, okay, I gawked. I admit it. It was all gawk….just...gawk-able...fuck, is that even a word? Fuck…” she whispers the last expletive as she leans forward onto her lap, putting her face in her hands. The solace she finds from Cassandra’s discerning capabilities only goes so far, though.

Then, in the self-induced darkness, she hears Cassandra chuckle, low and warm despite the conflict. It’s almost unbelievable, until it’s followed up by the sensation of hands holding onto her forearms and lips pressing to the top of her head. That makes it definitely unbelievable. A lingering kiss, before her hands move up to Olivia’s shoulders and start to rub nice and slow.

“I was only looking for an apology, not to put you to the guillotine.”

“I apologized like five times in one breath, though,” Olivia replies as she lifts her eyes out from her palms.

“Yeah, but you panicked.”

“I did.”

“I was looking for more of a calm, collected, sophisticated apology. Maybe even slightly poetic. Rhyme optional.”

Olivia’s mortification is olympic swimming pool levels, but even then, she finds she cannot escape the desire to giggle at her humor when it shows. It’s both kind-hearted and measured. Her hands go to her lap and she sits up more, chin still tucked from bashfulness.

“I can’t rhyme for shit, but...I can do sophisticated.”

Cassandra grins. “I’ll take it.”

Olivia takes a deep breath, mostly for herself and her still racing heartbeat. “I’m sorry I went into your space uninvited. I should have asked, and communicated, and respected your boundaries. I will take care to do that from now on.” The few seconds of ‘deliberation’ are more than enough on what remains of her nerves.

Luckily, Cassandra ends the anguish with a soft smile. “Very impressive. I don’t forgive you, but it’s impre--”

“What!?”

Cassandra bursts into a laugh, leaning back as she puts her fingers to her mouth. “I’m sor-rry, I couldn’t h...help--”

“You could help it, Pentaghast,” Olivia smiles, and takes it upon herself to push Cassandra the rest of the way down by her shoulders until she’s laying flat and expectant. Rather than do as she did in the field and make it interesting, she jumps off the couch and jogs to the kitchen.

“Kiss my ass, I’m getting pasta!”

“Hey!” Cass jumps up,  “do I not get any appreciation as the cook?”

“No! Psh, you must be new here.” Olivia grabs a bowl and takes hold of the serving spoon.

“Oh am I?”

“Yep! Fresh mea-yAGH!” She shrieks as Cassandra’s hands rush around Olivia’s sides so quick they tickle her, cutting her off in her triumph. She giggles and curls against her hold, dropping the thankfully hardy bowl onto the stove while the spoon remains in a death grip. It’s not enough calamity to distract her from the silly awe she’s in, being like this. And Cassandra just rests her chin on her shoulder and chuckles along. Her strength nearly picks Olivia clean up off the kitchen tile.

“Stoopp! Let me!--” Olivia gets out in between laughs, “let me eat, woman!”

“Woman!? Is that all I am to you?!”

Olivia tries to wiggle free, but it’s a lost cause. “Yes! Ugh!” she huffs as Cassandra inches them both away from the stovetop, “A heartless, tormenting, merciless woman!” She finally pivots around to face her, arms bracing against her shoulders. Cassandra is smiling so big and bright...just like the way she did in the picture. Her arms stretch up straight until they wrap around her neck loosely, and Cassandra only glows more. Their laughs simmer down into tired, but wonderful giggling, and Olivia feels nothing but the urge to keep her this way.

“But...you’re my woman.”

“Yeah?” Cassandra mutters back as their faces draw nearer, her hands travel low down Olivia’s back.

Olivia makes a ‘tsk’ sound with her tongue. “Yeah, but...only part time.”

Gullible if only for a moment, she catches on. “...Ugh. Ok, I deserve that.” They move together as she pushes Olivia back against the edge of the counter.

Olivia gasps and giggles more. “Is this the way you’re gonna try to dance with me tomorrow night? All nice and close, then bumper cars?” Olivia teases, tongue sticking out for added effect.

“Tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, tomorrow night. The party..?”

Cassandra pauses and grins, but loses exuberance. She rubs Olivia’s arm lovingly before breaking from her. Her side-step brings her to the stove, where she picks back up the bowl Olivia dropped, and the spoon she surrendered; the pot needs stirring, apparently.

“Cass?” Olivia asks, feeling a bit left to hang, her hands going behind her and resting on the counter.

“Hm?”

“Is...everything alright?”

Cassandra nods, eyes still on her very important stirring. “I’m just hungry. Running you down must have reinspired my appetite.”

Olivia lowers a brow. “Uh-huh.” Her skepticism is either undetected or ignored, though, as Cassandra spoons the first generous spoonful into the bowl and hands it to her. Once it’s taken off her hands she goes to the second, and is equally as unceremonious with her own serving. Olivia stares down at the amazing looking meal in her hands but can’t seem to just enjoy it. Is she trying to ditch out? Is this a ditch-out attitude? Ugh, she does hate it. She’s just going for--

Cassandra hands her a fork. “I was thinking we could all ride together. I know how to drive Cullen’s car, anyways.”

“I mean, sure, but that means you’d have to…” it’s a wonder it takes her so long to figure it out, but when she does, the sentence doesn’t need finishing.

“Yeah, but that’s fine. I wasn’t planning on it, anyway,” Cassandra seems to read her thoughts anyways, and begins twirling the first bite of noodles around her fork.

“Okay. I just...I dunno, I thought you might want to since you did at Rylen’s…”

Cassandra shrugs, and leans her hip against the stove. Her forkful suspended in the air. “Yeah, but, that’s Rylen’s.”

Olivia scoffs, and begins forking around for a meatball to take a bit out of. “That place isn’t exactly child safety approved. What’s the difference?”

Cassandra swallows and tucks an ankle behind the other. “The difference is I don’t want to be drinking when I meet all your friends at once.”

“Oh, come on, it won’t be that bad. I mean, I went whiskey-hunting up in the cupboards the first...time…” crap, this isn’t a shining example. “You know, nevermind.” She shoves her first bite into her mouth to help ignore the sound of Cassandra’s smug chuckling. At first, she’s pressed, but then she looks down again in amazement.

“What the fuck? Cassandra, this is so good,” she mumbles with a full mouth, preparing another forkful, “oh my God.”

“Have you never had spaghetti before?”

“Ugh! Yes, I have! That’s not…” she forks it into her mouth some more, reckless abandon and starvation taking over. “Holy shit.”

Cassandra smiles and keeps modestly twisting and preparing her mature, normal person serving. “Here I was worrying I wouldn’t compare to your standards.”

“What, am I Rachael Ray all of a sudden?”

“By the way Ellinor looks at you in reverent fear while you explain how you get your onions diced so fine, I’d say it’s a strong possibility.”

“It’s just the way you hold the kn--you know what, I’m gonna just…” Olivia shakes her head, wiping her dirty mouth on her wrist. “Did you just know how to do this?”

“No way, I learned a long time ago. It’s one of the few things I can cook off memory.”

Olivia eyes her as she takes another bite. She wants to ask where, or who, did. Someone, at some point, had to have taught her -- and maybe there’s a story. A funny story, or a cheesy one. It doesn’t matter what kind, as long as it is one that could help her discover more about what makes her tick. Olivia’s never wanted to know every crumb of a person like this before like she does now, for her.

“Hm. Good to know, but I think I wanna know if you got the better bowl.”

Cassandra peers up, nonplussed. “What? But, it’s the same dish…”

Olivia draws herself in, step by devious step. “You sure? ‘Cause I think I gotta do a quality check.”

“Really.”

“Yeah. This is a democracy, right?”

Cassandra snorts, twisting another forkful just as Olivia is about to collide with her. She holds it out carefully, bowl underneath for insurance. “You are ridiculous.”

“Mhm,” Olivia repeats, before she takes the bite with glee.

“And this is a democratic-republic, woman.”

“...Woman?” she asks, but with her mouth full, it sounds more like ‘wuhmin.’

They link eyes, and Cassandra shakes her head slow. “You heard me.”

Olivia swallows, wiping the corners of her mouth and proper, before she sets down her bowl off to the side. She does the same with Cassandra’s, so that it can rest beside hers.

“Say that to my face,” she dares, pitting her torso against hers.

In return, Cassandra tilts her head, hand wrapping around her. “I just did. That was kind of the point.”

“You really don’t know how to play along with things without critique, do you?”

“I just don’t like double-standards.”

Their mouths veer in close as Olivia’s hands slide up her Cassandra’s arms. “You don’t like a lot of things.”

“No, but I like you.”

Olivia’s eyes widen. “Oh? Prove it.”

That’s the kind of thing you say right before you get kissed so well the world could end around your feet and you wouldn’t care: which is exactly why she said it. And the competitive look in Cassandra’s eye doesn’t disprove it. But just as she’s about to make her move, a ruckus erupts on the door. Out of nowhere Cassandra’s hold turns from casual to protective, and she whirls around to face the corner where the door is shaking from what sounds like hooves rather than fists. It isn’t long until the perpetrators are identified.

“Cass! I really gotta pee, help a guy out!”

“Yeah, Cass!! wake up, grandma!”

“Answer the group chat!!”

Three voices, all somewhat slurred, and definitely gregarious. Cassandra’s shoulders release and she moans in disgust, letting go of Olivia and marching towards the door to save it before the hinges break. She opens the door wide and fast, and two of the three stumble in while she stands by.

The boys make various ‘woah’ sounds as they collect themselves. Olivia recognizes one of them, the guy who opened the door at Rylen’s party. Which means he must be Rylen, of course. The other has a fresh undercut and is wearing a white v-neck and jeans, too well-dressed for a jock she’d think. The cloud of Axe-smelling odor overtakes the room and makes Olivia’s nose itch.

“What have I told you all about coming over on the weekends?” Cassandra asks, indignant. 

They all straighten up. The third of them, a woman with brown hair tied back and wearing jean shorts and a sports bra underneath a flannel, walks in with keys in-hand. “You said...uh...call?”

“Yes. That is exactly what I said.”

“We’re just stopping by! We cut through campus on the way home. A break was in order.” She glides on through between the two others, immediately spotting Olivia standing with a thoughtless bitch face on. Or, she must be, because she stops dead in her tracks, and even backs up.

“Woah, dude, I’m sorry,” she puts his hands up, “I didn’t know--”

“Hey! You’re Ellinor’s friend!” Rylen manages to collect himself. He shoots a look at Cassandra and smiles big, “wait...what are you two doing wi--”

“You said you had to use the bathroom,” Cass is quick to usurp, still glaring.

Rylen’s happy-go-lucky act subsides, and he keeps his head down as he walks off out towards the hall. He gives a “Yes, Ma’am,” before disappearing completely.

“Sorry, Cass,” the one in jeans says as he pulls out a chair and sits sideways. “We haven’t been...uh...well, we’ve had a few.” He whisper yells it like he’s trying to tell a secret across a room. Oh boy.

“I couldn’t tell,” she replied, shutting the door and going to the cabinet. “You need water?”

“Nah!”

“Uh huh, okay,” she takes a couple plastic cups out and goes to the sink.

While she is busy filling them with tap water, Olivia is still there like a Greek statue, unsure of what to do. Jocks in close proximity like this feels...odd. Like they’re just as apt to sniff her hair as shake her hand; or maybe that’s just her snobbery. She takes hold of her elbow and slides herself up on top the counter to the right of the stove, reminiscent of her climbing escapade at Rylen’s house, only now she’s just trying to keep out of the way rather than day drink.

The seated guy’s gaze flickers over to her, as if he just now realizes she’s there, watching. “Hey, I’m Krem. I don’t think we’ve ever met,” he waves.

She nods once, and manages a grin. “Hello.”

“So your name is Hello? Is it a f-family name?” he gurgles out the last half, unable to keep himself from chuckling while the other stands wide and joins in. Oh great, they’re both laughing at her, and she’s only said one word. Can she phone a friend? Surely Ellinor knows what to do.

“Krem, cut it out,” Cassandra hands them both their cups. “This is Olivia. Olivia, these are some of my teammates, Krem and Lysette. You already know the brute using too much of our soap in the bathroom.” She returns to Olivia’s side and places her hand on the stove handle where a clean towel hangs.

Olivia side-eyes her, before the staring from both of them provokes a response. “Nice to meet you all.”

“Cass, is this the girl you--”

“Not a word, Lys.”

“...Right,” Lysette answers, rolling her lips shut and looking off to the side. “Well, good to meet you finally. We see you on the field with Ellinor all the time!”

“Yeah, we...we do that,” Olivia shrugs, but it comes off a little mechanical in her attempt to be approachable.

Krem finishes a gulp of water. “I think we had a class together. Was it anthropology…?”

“Oh, hah, no it couldn’t have, I haven’t taken any anthro classes here.”

“...Oh! Gotcha. Hm. I wonder who that blonde was then…”

“There are quite a few of us around. We have a local chapter established. We call ourselves “The Bleach Bunnies.””

They both laugh, a bit uncoordinated, but they laugh. Cass shoots her a grin, but in her Captain persona, she can’t shake her vigilance for her inebriated peers. A door opens from out in the hall, and heavy feet track on the carpet towards where they are all congregated.

“So, Liv,” Rylen dusts his hopefully freshly washed hands off, “you have eyes for our Master and Commander, here?”

Cassandra growls. “Rylen.”

“No, no, Cass! This is tradition--”

“Since when is it ‘tradition’?”

“Since uh, 2003! Approxim-manly!” He waves a hand dismissively, and Cassandra rolls her eyes and snorts with frustration. “Now, look. You’ve let Cullen get all the action from us even though  you’ve been having a little escapowerade all on your own.”

“Esca...power..?” Olivia tilts her head and looks to Cass for answers, but she’s above trying to figure out the linguistics of the situations. The scene from Finding Nemo where Marlin yells ‘it’s like he’s trying to speak to me, I know it!’ comes to mind.

“You know, a randall-view--”

“Okay, okay,” Krem saves his friend from further butchering the English and now French language, “I think she gets it, dude.”

“Alright, fine! But she has to do the thing!”

“What thing?” Lysette asks, folding her arms against her leather bomber jacket.

“She has to do a shot!”

Do jocks just test each other for every little rite of passage with shots? Is that all there is to their courage? Jesus Christ. Olivia waits for him to say something, anything, to clue in that he’s joking. Or that he’s wrong. But he just stands there, t-shirt, khakis, crocs and all, hands sliding into his pockets and chest puffed out like he’s the big ol’ man of the house.

“Rylen, I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Olivia says calmly.

“Oh? You think yourself above the rules?”

“No, I think myself already indebted to you in the amount of half a bottle of whiskey, the one I nabbed out your cupboard about…two? Three? Weekends ago. I prepaid my hazing process.”

They all go quiet, eyes and mouths agape at varying degrees. Even Cassandra has teeny bit of a wince on her lips. 

Rylen, now rebuffed, blinks like that white guy gif. “Uh...oh. Indeb-ted.”

“Yeah.”

“Uh...that would...yeah that would do it. Wait, but, I thought Elli--”

“She had the rest of it, but she shared that with Cullen. I alone took down the first half.”

“But...but you’re tiny.”

Cassandra scowls while the others try not to giggle. Olivia only shrugs a second time, and picks up her bowl of spaghetti and brings it to her lap.

“What can I say: the shorter the woman, the closer to hell, Rylen.” A bit more comfortable, she lifts the fork of noodles to her lips. For some reason the other two start to making low noises of ‘oohs!’ and ‘uhh!” which seems to mean they approve? Or are at least entertained. It occurs to her that this must mean she bested him.

“Good one, Olive,” Krem remarks, so cheerful that she doesn’t have the heart to correct him on her name.

“I think that is answer enough,” Cassandra agrees, shifting her weight onto her feet. “I think you all should get going, it looks like the night’s just begun for you.”

“Ah, yeah, shit,” Rylen shakes his shoulders and saunters with that wide machismo walk, sizing Olivia up some more in his inebriated state, before he ushers them all with him. It all happens as quickly and rumbly as it began, and they stampede back from whence they came with much less fuss. A symphony of “Later, Cass!” and “Sorry, Cass!” with one “See ya, Olive!” as the cherry on top of a socially-awkward sundae. At last the door shuts, swiftly locks, and the quiet is welcomed back into the room. The nice, sober quiet.

Cassandra comes back, palms pressed to her thighs before she uses them to rub her face with a little exasperation. “Ugh. That won’t be the end of it.”

“Do they come around often?”

“More during the season, but...now it’s playoffs, so I don’t know. Rylen’s place tends to be headquarters, but sometimes...they just...ugh.” She elects to stand in the middle of the tile floor and fold her arms. She still looks a bit anxious, trying to decompress from the rush of events. Olivia can’t help but fixate on it while slicing a meatball that’s too big for one bite. Did that actually scare her?  

“Hey,” she holds up the forked half and offers it, and takes on her best ‘Rylen’ voice, “I think you need more meat, bro.”

Cassandra rolls her eyes and grins with dread. “Don’t even start.”

“Bro, come on, get that protein. How else are you supposed to get--”

“No one ever says ‘get that protein,’” she chuckles and walks to her, and Olivia spreads her knees to invite her in; something she happily plays along with. All trapped in her hold, Olivia feeds her the sacred bite, and tries not to burst into giggles again.

“Do you still need your proof of my affection for you?” Cassandra inquires, wiping the corner of her mouth and then resting her hands on Olivia’s thighs.

There’s the penchant to continue the jest and say no: put up a fight and see where it gets her. Olivia is always ready for more playful fighting. But what can you say to a woman who was ready to deploy herself as a human shield against the unknown forces on the other side of a burgeoning door?

“I think I’m good.” She sets down her meal in favor of the rim of Cass’s hood and brings her in even closer.

“Are you sure? Because I did have a plan of action.”

“A plan?” she says hushed, “and what is this plan, exactly?”

“Uh...debating over whether to watch Titanic or Love, Actually. Then debating over the acting abilities of either cast. Then...more debate about the historical accuracies and politics that you will inevitably bring up when a male character is awful or another character is racist--”

“Or classist. You forgot classist. I hate that shit.”

“Yes. Classist.”

“Yeah.” Her smile widens, and she knocks noses with her playfully. “I suppose that all could be evidence to further support your claim. I can oblige. We should get started though, it’s already kinda late and I might have forgotten my ID to get into my dorm after 10...again...because I’m a dumbass.”

“Or you could just not go home.”

Olivia’s stomach erupts into butterflies drenched in pasta sauce and garlic seasoning, so much so her back arches like she’s being secretly zapped up with electricity. “I...could also do that.”

“What, you don’t want to?”

“No, I do, I guess I’m just...nevermind. I’m down!”

She smiles again. “Okay, good.”

“On one condition.”

Cassandra blinks and stops just as they are about to kiss. “Hm?”

“Only...if we do the thing I wanted to do the first night I stayed over.”

“You...you still want to make a pillow fort?”

Her shoulders bunch up in pre-eminent glee. “Yeeaaah.”

Cassandra sighs, but it doesn’t sound completely out of patience. “Alright, fine, you drive a hard bargain.”

More butterflies. More spaghetti butterflies. I can’t wait to brag about this to Ellinor, she’s gonna be so jealous. Yeah Cullen can eat two burgers in five minutes flat but can he say that he made a pillow fort?!  Can anyone? This is some next-level shit. They kiss to seal the deal, and to her delight, she tastes like marinara.

[jay-bizzleimagines]

Bad Blood (Changed from Starting a War) // Chapter Two

The Next Day

I laid in my unmade bed writing notes for my finals yet again, while Justin went on about how Hailey and Kylie's decorations were amazing over facetime.

Stopping in her tracks my roommate, Maya, stood outside my door, "Is that Justin?"

Her heavy Australian accent was easy for me to understand, but Justin on the other hand stopped talking only when he heard his name.

"Yeah."

She made her way to the bed to sit in front of my Mac, "Have you told your dill friends to lay off Lina for the night?"

Most everyone called me Lina, the only exceptions to this were Justin's friends who instead chose to call me Ev against my will. On the screen Justin shook his head, "They are the ones that are throwing the party, they wanted to. There's not going to be any fights tonight as long as you and Dorian don't start any."

"Justin, you're friends start the fights. I may finish them but they start them."

"Whatever Maya, you always start fights with someone." Usually when Justin and Maya argued I let it happen. The problem was most of the time they both were right and instead of admitting the other was right also they would argue, which left me in the middle.

"No, I start fights with you because you treat Lina like shit. I wish she wouldn't have gotten back together with you after the shit you pulled."

"But she did and that shit kills you doesn't it, Maya? You always wanna talk for Lina but she doesn't need you to."

With that Maya threw the middle finger to Justin and left the room, leaving Justin with a small grin on his face.

"So it begins."

His smile faltered, and he ran his hand over his face, "Me and Maya just don't click."

"You did. Before everything we all got along but then you and Maya started fighting and that made your friends not like me and here we are."

"You can say it's my fault."

I got up and turned the laptop to face my small closet so I could pick an outfit. I did this to avoid the conversation that was about to start and also because there was no way I could say this wasn't a little bit his fault.

Justin could sense that I wasn't going to comment back and turned the conversation in a better direction, "Is that what you're wearing tonight?"

I nodded and held up lace and mesh dress that had a slit up the leg I had picked out.

"I don't know what shoes to wear yet though."

"What about the ones you wore for my birthday? They made your legs look so sexy and with that dress- damn."

I smiled at his comment, but again did not reply. The truth was the shoes along with the outfit I wore for his birthday had gotten returned because I needed to pay my part of rent that month. I didn't tell Justin because that would start two conversations: one being why didn't I let him buy the clothes and two would be why didn't I let him give me the money for the rent.

My parents were paying for what my scholarships didn't cover in my tuition, but they did not agree with me living on my own so did not agree to help with the rent. Letting Justin didn't feel right to me and it would also aide his friends' "she uses you" conspiracy.

"Those were Nessa's and I think she is going to wear them, I'll find something. Anyway I've got to go, we'll be at your house around nine. I love you."

Justin returned the sentiment and I ended the facetime, before doing my make up and straightening some hairs.

At 8:30 there was a knock on my door from Nessa indicating that it was time to leave. I quickly grabbed black heels from my closet and left to Justin's.

-------

Arriving at Justin's was no different from the day before, the only cars that sat in the large driveway, that was more like a parking lot, were Justin's, Hailey's, and Za's. I already knew that the rest of the girls drove with Hailey and the boys with Za. That is one thing Justin's friends had in their favor, numbers.

The door to Justin's large multi-million dollar mansion was unlocked and the sounds of everyone from the back yard could already be heard. Maya groaned and made her way to the bar with Dorian while Nessa and I headed to the back.

We were greeted by a loud, blasted Khalil who yelled across the pool, "AYYY, Ev, what up?"

Knowing he wouldn't remember five minutes from now that I was even here I gave a small, barely noticeable wave. Justin was sitting in the fire pit off to the side, that already had a fire going, and laughed with Kylie Jenner and what looked like her friend Harry.

I slowly made my way to him, glancing towards the DJ's table that was right next to a small stage further in the lawn. I shook my head and gently put a hand on Justin's shoulder.

Finally noticing my presence he hopped up and pulled me into a strong hug, "Hey baby, Kylie pushed back the time for everyone to be here because she said nine is too early for a party and it let's us all chill for a little."

I nodded and Justin laid a sloppy kiss on the edge of my lips. As he did I could smell the heavy scent of weed and alcohol on him already.

"How long have the guys been here?" I asked, knowing that they would have been the ones to smoke with Justin.

"Maybe an hour and a half. Why?"

"You stink."

Justin pulled away with no answer, confirming my suspicions. Just a few weeks ago I had stopped smoking for school and out of respect Justin stopped smoking around me. But with this came him smoking with everyone else and left me wondering what happened in that time.

"You didn't ask me to stop smoking."

I nodded and looked up to him, "I know. But with your history of smoking with them."

Justin nodded in acknowledgement and a voice behind us said, "Hey Lina."

Turning around I was met with Justin's oldest friend and the only friend of his that I actually got along with, Ryan.

"Butler, Hey! I didn't know you were coming!"

Ryan pulled me into a hug and laughed, "Nessa called me and then I called Justin. So I came and brought Chaz."

"What? Chaz, really?"

He nodded and pointed over in his direction before he greeted Justin, "Hey man. Haven't seen you in awhile."

They continued their conversation and I walked over to Chaz Somers, whose dark brown hair was significantly longer than the last time I had seen him and facial hair covered a good amount of his face. Without a word he pulled me into a hug and let out a laugh.

"I don't know how Ryan got me here, if I'm honest." Chaz felt the way about Justin's other friends the way you would feel about your estranged family at a reunion. He didn't like being around them but it was a small price to pay to hang out with Justin.

"Not gonna lie, I'm surprised. I miss you guys." I sighed and walked over to a set of chairs with Chaz.

"I miss being around but shit's changed. But tonight's not about all that sad shit, you're graduating!"

I laughed and nodded, "Yeah, it's crazy."

Chaz and I continued to talk, and slowly but surely more people started to join us. Somewhere in the chaos of conversation Justin left my side. My eyes glanced over the crowd, searching for Justin's familiar head until I was suddenly being pulled by Kylie towards the stage.

Kylie smiled while she spoke, "There's a surprise." Surprisingly, out of all of Justin's friend Kylie probably liked me the most and for the most part she treated me like a friend.

Looking around Justin's backyard I could now see that there was a good amount of people here and as expected I knew very few of them personally. As Kylie pulled me up the stairs to the stage I spotted Dorian and the girls who were all sitting quietly watching at the bar that had been set up.

Eventually Kylie let go of my hand and made her way to the microphone at the center of the stage, and the DJ behind her lowered the music.

"Hey guys! You all havin' fun?" The crowd screamed and Kylie laughed, "Good. As you all know this isn't just a regular Justin Bieber party, it's a party to celebrate his girl's, here, graduation because fuck yeah!"

Kylie paused allowing the crowd to again scream and clap in excitement. Most of the people out there probably didn't know my name let alone that I was in college, but the fake excitement for me still made me smile.

"So since this is such a big moment Justin asked a few people to come up and say a few things to Ev. If that's all right?"

As Kylie walked away everyone, including me, waiting to see who would come out. Unexpectedly, I heard voice come from behind me and instead of someone being there, the faces of my parents were displayed on a large projector.

I smiled at their faces because though I lived only an hour away from them I didn't get to see them as much as I wanted. My mom was the first to speak, "Hello my beautiful Mimi, god how I love you and how proud I am of you. Words cannot begin to describe how proud I really am of how far you've come."

My mom's face turned from the camera, wiping away tears that had begun to fall and soon I began to cry too, "You are such an amazing women and you have change my life for the better in so many ways, we know you will go on to change the world. You're bright and so, so smart it inspires me. I love you so, Mimi. I know you hate that nickname but deal."

She jokingly smiled before letting my dad speak, his words just as tear jerking as my mother's. As the video ended I wiped my tears away with a tissue that Kylie handed to me. Next another video started revealing the face of Ed Sheeran and causing the crowd behind me to erupt in screams.

"Hello, Evelina. Justin called me up and said that a very important someone in his life was graduating college soon, that I was her favorite artist, aside from him of course, and he wanted me to say a few words to you. As everyone knows I don't have a Uni degree so this is something to be celebrated and rather than tell you so over a screen I'd like to tell you in person, if that's alright? Well, of course it is."

Behind me the DJ started the music to Barcelona and on the other side of the stage a redheaded figure made it's way to where I stood. My hands quickly hand their way over my mouth and stood in shock. There was still no sign of Justin but Nessa ran up the stage stairs, laughing at my reaction.

As Ed made his way through the song I danced with Nessa, letting myself enjoy this moment that wouldn't last forever. Once he finished, Ed gave me a long hug that made me realize that tears were streaming down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry I'm crying." Laughing Ed shook his head, "It's fine! There is one last surprise for you though, this party would not be complete without a message from your man, now would it?"

Ed pointed to the back of the stage where Justin now stood in a new suit. Smiling he stayed where he stood, "Hello, beautiful. Stop that crying okay?"

I nodded and started to make my way to him before he shook his head and winked, "You gotta stay there for now. But hey listen, guys, this amazing women is just that amazing. Many of you don't know her, but I'm sure all of you can see just how incredible she is tonight. She's graduated with a 4.0 GPA that she worked day in and day out to get, she tutored kids when she didn't have to, she stayed up until ungodly hours to study, she works every night and has never called off against my will, she makes time for her friends and helps any time she can, she rarely says no, and even though I suck sometimes she still loves me."

Even though I was told not to cry, it was hard for me not to. Justin was an incredible person and I knew my friends didn't see that, but I did.

Justin paused to smile at me and give me a look that said 'stop crying' before continuing, "You deserve everything good that comes your way, Evelina Laurel King, and I want to ask you a very important question tonight..."

His hand quickly gestured to the screen that now read, "Will you accept my promise ring?"

Before he could say anything else I ran towards him, nodding my head, "Yes!" My arms tightly wrapped around him, his doing the same before bringing my face to his and kissing my lips.

"Well, thank you, babe but I also have something else for you." Looking back up at the screen it now read, "Can I pay your tuition now?"

-------

Something you guys should know about Evelina is she's like me and has a lot of pride and is really stubborn. But I'm gonna leave it here for now, thoughts?

[stagesofabreakup]

Stages of a Breakup: Week 25

1. Miss the eclipse because you’re depressed and you didn’t get the glasses

2. Finish Insecure (up to the most recent one) and write a review of it

3. Go to your friend Ariel’s show with her, Liz and Jordan

4. Get a free drink with her drink ticket

5. It’s Rose cider which is intriguing, but it comes in a disappointingly small glass

6. Leave the show after Ariel’s set and get Mexican food which is good but you also wanted to see the show

7. Pay 13 dollars for a margarita

8. Eat really good nine dollar nachos

9. Go back to Liz and Jordan’s and watch an episode of the Carmichael Show about rape that everyone is sure you’ll love

10. You hate it

11. Have a conversation afterwards that gets very heated/intense

12. You cry

13. In front of 3 people you just met and their 2 cats

14. You keep crying for the rest of the hour that you stay there while other people talk around you about other things

15. You keep crying because you realize you have no place to go that’s yours where you can rest and recoup and be yourself

16. Also cause a bunch of other stuff is spiraling

17. Finally Ariel and you leave

18. You hug Jordan on the way out and he genuinely apologizes

19. You cry and get mad in the car for a while while Ariel sits and listens

20. Make a joke

21. Feel better

22. Go back to her house

23. Watch Burning Love with her for a little bit

24. Try to sleep

25. Wake up early-ish

26. Meet your friend Dorian who used to be Lauren

27. Go to a nearby bakery

28. Get an oreo cheesecake on suggestion, regret it

29. Talk about stuff

30. Walk

31. Go into some stores

32. Talk & walk more

33. Go back home

34. Sit and talk some

35. Dorian leaves

36. You go get groceries!!!!!

37. You had just been being hungry all the time and eating out!!!

38. Go with Ariel to her spot at a comedy club

39. Stand and watch almost all of the show

40. Feel old because your knees keep locking

41. Meet two women who treat you like a person, that feel refreshing

42. Go home

43. Watch the documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest with Ariel and her boyfriend about a girl who kills her mom because she had Munchausen by Proxy

44. Try to sleep

45. Go to the beach with your friend Alana

46. It takes 4.5 hours to get there instead of 1.5 because trains

47. You go past the town your Grandma has a house in and you have visited since you were little

48. Feel good about that

49. Drink beer and eat guacamole on the beach

50. Pee in the ocean

51. Get attacked by flies

52. Have a really good conversation with Alana, remember your friendship

53. Go to a Mexican place for tacos, the kitchen is closed, drink 32 dollars worth of beer for dinner instead

54. Take two more hours to get home

55. Regret taking your book out of your bag

56. Try to sleep

57. Your ex-boyfriend gets to New York this day

58. You know because of social media, he doesn’t contact you

59. You stay inside all day and try to work on a packet Ariel sent you, but mostly you watch Burning Love and feel depressed and think about your ex-boyfriend

60. Walk Ariel’s dog and meet her at the train

61. She gets you dinner because she is an angel (chicken schwarma)

62. Have a difficult time without alcohol (you purposelydidn’t get any when you went grocery shopping)

63. Try to sleep

64. Meet your friend Chad at Washington Square Park

65. Meet his other friends briefly who have a baby

66. Go to some vintage clothing stores looking for an outfit for him for Afropunk which is tomorrow

67. Try on 1 million pairs of overalls and some men’s basketball shoes

68. Meet his friend James for Mexican

69. Get some

70. Walk to your first show as a NY resident!!

71. Go up first

72. Be nervous but have a good set

73. Get a free drink ticket sour beer

74. Hang afterwards

75. Be talking to a guy who introduces his girlfriend to you do forcefully it feels like a rejection

76. Walk to a pizza place

77. Don’t get pizza

78. Walk back to the bar

79. Talk to the host of the show who is also one of your good friend’s from college little brothers

80. Marvel at him and his fiancé who are getting married soon

81. Walk a long way to the train, feel good about that

82. Have a guy start to follow you but you say, “I’m gonna keep walking by myself now” and he falls back

83. Your feet hurt so bad

84. Finally make it home

85. Try to sleep

86. Let Ariel’s dog out in the backyard

87. Go to a CVS and buy cold sore medicine because you’re starting to get one (can’t possibly see why??) and you left yours in North Carolina

88. Babysit for 25 dollar an hour!!!

89. Get free Seamless for dinner on them too

90. Watch The Lion King

91. Walk home

92. Your ex-boyfriend finally texted you today after being in the city for three days but he didn’t try to make plans to meet up, he just texted you he had so much fun at a block party he cried

93. You feel empty and also full of shit feelings

94. Call your friend Molly, talk it through, decide you need beer

95. Buy two single tallboy Naragansetts

96. Walk Ariel’s dog

97. Drink both while talking to Ariel’s boyfriend about something?

98. Watch some of Burning Love

99. Try to sleep

100. Walk Ariel’s dog with her

101. Get bagels

102. Carry a heavy vacuum a couple blocks to Ariel’s car to drop off with a friend

103. Go to Molly’s with Ariel, drink beer and eat fudge while you work on this packet and they record two podcast episodes

104. All write together

105. Order Chinese food

106. Eat

107. Watch an episode of the show

108. Write more

109. Leave

110. Work on it some more

111. Finalize plans with your ex-boyfriend to see him Tuesday because he finally texted but you didn’t know if you really wanted to see him but decided to because you don’t know when your next chance will be and you still love him but he hurt you a lot and it all sucks

112. Pack up all your things

113. Smoke weed with Ariel

114. Watch the latest episode of Insecure

115. Talk about it for a little

116. Try to download Lyft or Uber

117. It won’t work on your phone

118. Ariel does it for you and you Venmo her

119. Take a ride with a nice driver

120. Pick up another rider who is a 40ish year old white man who works for HBO and Major League Baseball who has a lot of opinions about how you should feel about moving to New York and keeps trying to explain the city to you

121. Get to your Grandma’s apartment

122. As you’re getting out the man says, “I hope I’ve been at least a little helpful”

123. You say, “Not at all” and smile

124. Drag all 4 of your huge bags to the building

125. The doorman has to go to the other entrance to get the key

126. He loads your bags on a cart, puts it in the elevator

127. You take everything up

128. There’s construction stuff all over the door and it looks sealed/permavacced/weird

129. Unload all your bags

130. Bring the cart back downstairs very ungracefully

131. Unload groceries and put them in refrigerator

132. Feel sad and alone

133. Text Ariel

134. Look at your phone without blinking for 1 hour

135. Write this

136. Miss your ex-boyfriend because the last time you were here you were with him and you remember calling him every night before going to sleep

137. Accept the emptiness

138. Try to sleep