#hallie nation lets go
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justinspoliticalcorner · 1 month ago
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Nick Visser at HuffPost:
Vice President Kamala Harris said her team is prepared to counter former President Donald Trump if he prematurely declares victory in the 2024 election. Harris spoke with NBC News’ Hallie Jackson on Tuesday, with just two weeks to go until voters head to the polls. Harris has been on a nonstop tour of swing states across the nation and has used her appearances to cast the race as a choice between stability and chaos. Jackson asked what her team planned to do if Trump once again declared victory — as he did in 2020 — before all votes had been counted. “Well let me say this: We’ve got two weeks to go, and I’m very much grounded in the present in terms of the task at hand,” Harris said. “And we will deal with election night and the days after, as they come, and we have the resources and the expertise and the focus on that as well.”
Jackson went on to ask if Harris had teams ready to go for that possibility, to which the vice president replied: “Of course.”
“This is a person, Donald Trump, who tried to undo a free and fair election, who still denies the will of the people, who incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol, and 140 law enforcement officers were attacked,” she said. “Some were killed. This is a serious matter. The American people are, at this point, two weeks out, being presented with a very, very serious decision about what will be the future of our country.”
During her NBC News interview with Hallie Jackson on Tuesday, Kamala Harris says she is prepared if Donald Trump prematurely declares “victory” like he did in 2020.
From the 10.22.2024 edition of NBC News Now's Hallie Jackson Now:
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♦️, 🖌️, 🎵, 😄, 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 :))
thank you!! 🥺 no character specified so we will zigzag about... diving under the cut!
♦️: Are there any motifs you associate with them? What do those motifs represent thematically?
HMM. a few! some intentionally, some arose inadvertently and then I realized I kept going back to the same imagery and was like "whoops! ...I LIKE it though" so we have -
Hallie: candles, prayer, drowning. thematically drawing lines to naivete, the terror-awe of being caught up in something much bigger than yourself, loss of control, and relentlessly, desperately trying despite a looming inevitability.
Molly: butterflies, bruises, tensed hands. for her it's metamorphosis, the unhealing stasis; a refusal to let go or move forward and being dragged through violent change repeatedly anyway. things that are small and pointless and sometimes horrible and still, always, worth it.
Kharish: small flowers, weight. (...and I've split her lip twice now which I guess technically means we are teetering on the edge of associated imagery territory sorry beloved!!!) gestures to her series title. Heavier Things Remain - the worst is yet to come - everything going back to beauty in unexpected places, undiluted optimism, and just Doing The Thing That Needs Doing. there's an other side to come out on, even from the worst of it!
🖌️: What is their go-to hobby? When did they start learning it? Why do they like it?
Hallie is not an especially accomplished artist, but she's not bad either; she likes the tactility and messiness of using pastels. she picked it up fairly young - Vakka-Ei is a painter, and sometimes uses pastels for her preliminary sketches. Hallie likes it because it gives her something that helps her focus her hands when she gets too restless and has a hard time sitting still, and it's something she and Ma can share :')
🎵: Are they any good at singing? What situations do/would they sing in? Would they sing in the shower?
I don't think any of them are, like, "win a national competition" good, but are varying degrees of passable - Molly would be the best but is more of a hummer than a singer. Hallie and Kharish would both sing in the shower ahaha.
😄: How can you tell when they're really happy? What sorts of things make them happy? How often do they smile?
going pre-Crisis: Molly at her happiest would complain (grinning) that her cheeks hurt from it. things that made her happy included Matty bringing home leftover pastries from the bakery, Agdis visibly brightening to see her, days when it was sunny but breezy and the air smelled like summer... she smiled fairly often. not so much nowadays!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦: What is their family like? Are there any family members that are particularly influential and/or important to them (whether in a positive or negative sense)?
I like to think Orsimer communities are very "it takes a village", but Kharish's immediate family is just Dad, Mom, and her, as Mom's a bit older. both parents were very influential in different ways - Dad was always making people laugh and was very popular as a result, so as a kid she took it upon herself to also learn the art of Make People Laugh (and then that means you're friends). Mom was the blueprint of ideal femininity: tall, elegant, smart... and taught her some basic handiness that unlocked the "oh I Like working with my hands to fix things" sentiment that would settle into bookbinding and repair!
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xtruss · 4 months ago
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“War Criminal and Genocidal Joe Biden” Picked Kamala Divi Harris For VP Because “Beau Biden” Had An Affair With Her @dom_lucre
Between 1994 to 1995 Harris, 30, was dating 60-year-old Willie Brown, who was married. In his capacity as a Democratic Speaker of the California Legislature, Brown appointed her to two political posts - first to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and then to the Medical Assistance Commission. The position paid over $70,000 per year, $120,700 in current money, and Harris served on the board until 1998. The medical commission met twice a month, and Harris, missed about 20% of the meetings each year, according to commission records obtained by the Washington Examiner. "Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago. Yes, I may have influenced her career by appointing her to two state commissions when I was Assembly speaker," Brown wrote. Harris: "I refuse to design my campaign around criticizing Willie Brown for the sake of appearing to be independent when I have no doubt that I am independent of him - and that he would probably right now express some fright about the fact that he cannot control me. His career is over; I will be alive and kicking for the next 40 years. I do not owe him a thing. Brown is an albatross hanging around my neck. Willie Brown is not going to be around. He's gone — hello people, move on. If there is corruption, it will be prosecuted. It's a no-brainer, but let's please move on."
"I was prepared for them to come after me, but I wasn't prepared for the person coming at me the way she came at me," Biden told CNN. "She knew Beau. She knows me." Beau was Kamala's beau: Harris: "There were times, when I was getting hot, that Beau and I talked every day, sometimes several times a day," Harris writes. "We supported each other." Hunter had already been kicked out of his marital home with estranged wife Kathleen over his heroin addiction - says he became "close" with Hallie, Beau Biden's wife, after a 2016 trip with her to the Hamptons and began spending most nights at her house while "sharing a very specific grief" over Beau's 2015 death. Yeah I'm sure there was plenty of moaning goin' on. But there has been speculation that while Beau was dying Hunter was having an affair with Hallie. This indicates there was something amiss in Beau's relationship with his wife and he may have looked to Harris for sexual gratification right out of the Kamala Sutra. "On other occasions, Harris and her team would fly to Washington to meet with Biden and his assistants. By the time Beau Biden died on May 30, 2015, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., his closest staffers had compiled a list of roughly 60 people they thought should know about his passing first. Harris was high on that list." Why fly to D.C?
Their business could have been conducted over the internet or telephonically?
Garbology: the Hallie / Hunter gun incident. @dom_lucre
Kamala wants to have Congress decriminalize prostitution under federal law which means decriminalizing the White Slave Act so bringing children across State line for the purpose of child prostitution will not be a crime. She claims decriminalize, not legalize, but it's just a matter of semantics.
New Sequel
— Carlos Latuff | July 26, 2024
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Cartoon: Carlos Latuff, Global Times
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millingroundireland · 1 year ago
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Who are the Spindles anyway? [Part 6]
continued in part 6
Furthermore, Edward is clearly the son of Hollis and Blanche, as evidenced by the 1900 (when two Ellises are living in the household), 1910, and 1920 censuses. [9] The 1910 and 1920 censuses also prove that Ida is the daughter of Hollis and Blanche as well. However, there's still the question of Elizabeth Chalmers, whom apparently was Elizabeth Mortimer but became wife of Kenneth Chalmers. How is she connected? As it turns out, there is an 1940 census entry for a Coloradan man Kenneth Chalmers in Fort Collins City, Larimer, Colorado, married to an Elizabeth. Then there's a 1930 census entry to the same effect, showing them living in Hartsel, Park, Colorado. [10] This is clearly our Elizabeth. That being determined, what is her maiden name and when was  she married? Well, we know that Elizabeth's full name is Elizabeth Muriel Mortimer and that she married Kenneth Wadley Chalmers on November 21,1925 in Colorado Springs. We also know that Kenneth, born in 1899, died in 1962 while Elizabeth, born in 1904, died in 1986. We only have one  source for Elizabeth prior to marriage listed on Family Search: a 1920 census listing her as the daughter of Stella L. Mortimer. Perhaps this is the Stella Mills whom was said to be Hollis's sister. [11] After all, this census lists  her as born in 1881, pretty close to the estimated 1880 I saw on Family Search.
Since her Family Search profile is inadequate, I looked further. The 1930 and 1940 censuses list her as married to an English-born man, John H. Mortimer, who was born in 1871, with the 1910 census also listing Elizabeth as her daughter. [12] However, the 1900  and 1910 censuses say she was born in 1880, while the 1930 and 1940 censuses say  she was born in 1881. The 1910 and 1920 censuses lists John's immigration date as 1894. This means he is the individual listed in varied records as born in Cornwall, England. [13] As another clue, the 1900 census shows John and Elizabeth living right next to Edward E. Mills and Edna Russell in Sanborn Precinct, Lincoln County, Colorado:
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This census seems to say that Stella and John were married in 1900. But what about the Stella Mills claim? Let's go back to that Family Search profile. Basically the "source" just cites the 1900 census as evidence! This isn't good.
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So far, I haven't found anything, even looking in the 1880 census specifically, to support that Stella is the sister of Hollis, and by extension, the daughter of Edward E. and Edna. Perhaps the evidence is out there, but I haven't found it yet. I did find the obituary of Kenneth, who was a Colorado state conservationist, which noted that at his death his wife Elizabeth and his half-sister Belle Wadley were surviving. I couldn't find much in Colorado Historical Newspapers Collection either, unfortunately.
So, this is a good first attempt! Until next time.
This post was originally published on WordPress in February 2019.
© 2019-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.
Notes
[9] "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Edward Mills in household of Hollis Mills, Precincts 3-4, 10-11, 14 Rockt Ford, Olney, Ordway, Hallrook Rocky Ford, Ordway & Sugar City t, Otero, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 81, sheet 57B, family 1130, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,127; "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch ( : accessed 20 June 2018), Edward E Mills in household of Hollis R Mills, Precinct 50, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 23, sheet 11A, family 38, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 118; FHL microfilm 1,374,131; "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch, Edward E Mills in household of Hallis R Mills, Hartsel, Park, Colorado, United States; citing ED 179, sheet 4A, line 15, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 168; FHL microfilm 1,820,168.There's also the claim on Edward's Family Search profile that he married a woman named Helen Mildred Robbins and had a child named Edward Ellis Mills, but this seems like an unfounded connection as he was clearly married to Marie S. Mills, otherwise known as Marie Steward as evidenced in the 1940 census, two years after this Edward was born. On the page for this, a family search user writes that "Helen had three sons and later divorced Ray Sanches and left the sons with him, went on to marry and have a son with Edward E. Mills, left him and married many more times after wards never had any more children that we know of. Have since found my father Alberts have brother and his children."
[10] "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Kenneth Chalmers, Ward C, Fort Collins, Fort Collins City, Larimer, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35-48, sheet 4A, line 22, family 95, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 467; "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, Kenneth W Chalmers, Hartsel, Park, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 13, sheet 1A, line 24, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 248; FHL microfilm 2,339,983; "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Kenneth W Chalmers in household of Harold Chalmers, Precincts 7-12, 17-18 Lake George, West Four Mile, Freshwater, Martsel, Garo, Salt Works, Howb, Park, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 188, sheet 3B, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,127; "Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006," database with images, FamilySearch ( : 10 December 2017), Kenneth Wadley Chalmers and Muriel Elizabeth Mortimer, 21 Nov 1925, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing no. 15254, State Archives, Denver; FHL microfilm 1,690,061.
[11] "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch, Muriel E Mortimer in household of Stella L Mortimer, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing ED 78, sheet 2A, line 17, family 36, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 163; FHL microfilm 1,820,163.
[12] "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Stella L Mortimer in household of John H Mortimer, Colorado Springs, Election Precinct 20, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 21-22, sheet 9B, line 41, family 218, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 461; "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, Stella L Mortimer in household of John H Mortimer, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 7A, line 46, family 164, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 241; FHL microfilm 2,339,976; "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Stella Mortimer in household of John H Mortimer, Colorado Springs Ward 3, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 41, sheet 1A, family 20, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 119; FHL microfilm 1,374,132; "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Stella L Mortimer in household of John H Mortimer, Precinct 1-7, 9 Hugo, Arriba, Bovina, Limon, Rush Creek, Sanbom, Urbana, Walks Camp, Lincoln, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 181, sheet 11B, family 189, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,126.
[13] "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch, John H Mortimer in household of Frank James, Ledbury, Herefordshire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Herefordshire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey; "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch, John H Mortimer in household of John Mortimer, Easington, Yorkshire,Yorkshire North Riding, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 9, Piece/Folio 4839/38, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,347.
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brazilianchild · 4 years ago
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guys i know i haven’t been posting my writing for a while but it’s because im writing this big The Society Downton Abbey AU and I wanna make sure I get the first couple chapters down perfectly before I start publishing (thanks maria for helping me get there). It’s gonna be different from my other fics bc it’s multi-pov, not just hallie (but still sorta hallie-centric because I couldn’t help myself)
But anyways its already 20k words and im not nearly close to done so I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE READY FOR THIS PERIOD DRAMA
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thislovintime · 2 years ago
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Peter Tork signing an autograph for 12-year-old Monkees fan Seth Brown in Portland, Maine, on April 6, 1995 (photo by David A. Rogers/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images); Peter outside the local radio station that same day (photo by Sue Rioux); and Peter onstage during his performance (photo via the Portland Sea Dogs).
“Because of a friend of another friend of a friend of his daughter Hallie, Peter Tork was asked to make an appearance in Portland, Maine, on April 6 to sing the National Anthem at the opening game for the hometown minor league (Double A) baseball team, the Portland Sea Dogs. Hours before the game, Peter appeared live on local radio station WOCN, Ocean 98, during the All-Request Lunch Hour, to promote his new album ‘Stranger Things Have Happened.’ At 11:45, Peter arrived in a long white limo, guitar in hand and accompanied by his current girlfriend. There were about four fans waiting outside the entrance. Peter smiled and was delighted to pose for a few photos. He looked in great health and mugged for the cameras, telling us that he would be out after the radio appearance was over. His time on-air was short but a few highlights came out of it. Peter was able to play two cuts off his new CD, ‘Milkshake’ and a half-live-half-studio version of ‘Take A Giant Step,’ which would’ve been really nice if only the engineer hadn’t messed up the transition from Peter’s live performance to the studio version. Peter also got to play a new song, ‘The Harder They Come,’ live. […] Within an hour, Peter was done. He came out and signed autographs and posed for more photos. By this time a few more fans had arrived. Peter said he was off to the afternoon Sea Dogs game for a soundcheck. Ever the baseball fan, Peter mentioned he was staying for the whole game. We made our way down to Hadlock Field to catch Peter’s opener. The doors were opened at 2 p.m. We first walked around to see where he would make his entrance. We spotted Peter up in the owner’s box, watching the players warm up for the game. A journalist was doing a story on a local 12-year-old Monkees fan who was to meet one of his idols for the first time. […] Peter came out about 3:45. He was now wearing a Sea Dogs jackets. He was introduced to Seth and did his best to make his young fan feel at ease. After Peter asked who the man standing next to Seth was, Seth proudly introduced him as his father. ‘Yeah, well, don’t let that go to your head,’ said Peter. ‘I’ve got one of those, too.’ When told that Seth knew everything there was about the Monkees, Peter said, ‘Yeah? Then what’s Mike’s middle name?’ After frightening seconds of uncertainty, Seth recalled that ‘Mike’ is Nesmith’s middle name. Then he came came up with each of the other Monkees’ middle names, thoroughly impressing Peter. It was then time for Peter to step out onto the field and sing the National Anthem to the sell-out crowd. It was announced that one of the Monkees was being escorted onto the field, and someone in a gorilla suit ran out, only to leave dejectedly when told he was the wrong one. Peter walked out carrying his guitar and said into the microphone, ‘That looked an awful lot like Mike Nesmith to me.’ He plugged his electric guitar into the amp that was miked, then hit a power chord and struck a heavy-metal type pose. The audience ate it up. Then Peter did the National Anthem like no way I’ve heard it before, a very heartfelt rendition. In the blink of an eye it was over. ‘Last Train To Clarksville’ played over the loudspeakers as Peter exited. Peter ran back to the gate he came out of and signed autographs for all those who wanted one.” - Chris Coyle, Monkee Business Fanzine, June 1995
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hoseokslefteyebrow · 3 years ago
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Bon 4oyage || K.SJ
Episode 1
Pairing: Kim Seokjin X Reader Summary: In which you're Jin's girlfriend of 9 years and tag along in Bon Voyage Season 4. Wordcount: 3.4k
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" Y/N ah, tell me, do you have any plans for the (random date) till the (another random date)? " Your boyfriend of nine years asks you suddenly. 
The two of you are simply chilling in your shared apartment. 
" Not as far as I'm concerned, why? " You ask, sitting down beside him. 
You were cleaning up the apartment before he asked you. 
" Y'know the boys and I will be going on Bon Voyage again, right? " He asks you, lacing your fingers together. 
You hum with a pout. 
" Yeah, it's my annual miss Jin ti-"
" Not this year love. " He cuts you off, a smile on his lips. 
You raise a brow in confusion. 
" Not this year? " 
" Yeah, I've asked the company, once again. And this time, they actually agreed. " He tells you with shining eyes. 
A smile makes it's way onto your face. 
" Really?! "
It was, in a way, hard to believe. The company liked you, but never actually approved of Jin having a relationship. When you became a couple back in 2010, the two of you had to keep it a secret for 4 years for the company, and another 5 years to the public. Until now, you didn't think that they would be okay with you going public.
You couldn't believe it. Finally your waiting for each other got paid off. 
" Yes. However, there are a few downsides. " He tells you, making a bit of a turtle face. 
You subconsciously run your thumb over his hand. 
" Just so you know, I will not come if I have to wear a mask for the whole thing-"
" No, no. -" He laughs. 
" Even worse. We can't have sex. For like a little longer than a whole week. " He tells you. 
You snort at his expression. You can tell it's genuinely bothering him. 
" Is that an issue for me or you? " You ask him. 
He huffs, turning around so he can lay against you instead. You run your unoccupied hand through his hair. Sure it's basically dead, but you know he likes it. 
" Both. I know your sex drive, plus that also means like, no sleeping naked. And I have to share your attention with the other boys. " He pouts. 
You grin, bending over to kiss his head. 
" Don't worry, it'll be fine, fun even. We'll just have a pg family trip. " 
And so you find yourself seated at a restaurant between your boyfriend and Taehyung. They're about to kick off the season, and today you're just going to talk about activities and what not. 
" There's trekking and a lavender farm. " Hoseok comments as he looks at his phone. 
" That sounds fun. " You comment, as the other boys give their own opinions. 
After a bit more of catching up, the staff calls out to all of you. 
" You've all done your research, right? " The staff member asks. 
You all hum in response. 
" Worry about the activities later, pick the accommodations first. " The producer tells all of you. 
Soon enough everyone's talking again, figuring stuff out. 
" We have to sleep in a campervan for three days. " Yoongi suddenly casually pops when you're drinking your tea. 
You almost choke. 
" eight of us in a campervan? How is that going to fit? " 
" eight of us in one campervan won't be comfortable. " Taehyung agrees with you. 
" We'll probably have 2 vans. " Jin tells the two of you. 
" Y'know, there's this thing I've always wanted to try- When you wake up in a campervan and then wash up in the river. " Jungkook smiles. 
You blink at him. 
" You want to wash up in the cold? " You ask him. 
He grins. 
" If I can manage, yes. It'll be fun. " He nods. 
" We didn't do research that thoroughly. " Namjoon tells the crew honestly. 
" Forget on where to stay! We'll figure that out somehow. Let's focus on the activities first. " Jin calls out, basically canceling the producer's idea. 
Soon enough everyone starts coming with ideas. 
Jimin wants to go to Aurora¿ and on a boat. Yoongi just wants to go fishing and Namjoon wants to go on a kart trek. 
" I want to go on the swing too." Jin says. 
" The swing? " Namjoon asks surprised. 
Namjoon had this great idea to go do some kind of bungee jump activity, just with a swing, as if that would magically make it better. 
Jin hums. 
" Yeah, it'll be fun with Y/N. We can both scream our heads off. " He smiles at you. 
You laugh, swallowing your bite. 
" Okay. But that does me we really are going, okay? No backing out last minute. " You tell him, knowing he's a scaredy cat sometimes. 
He laughs. 
" Yah! It's not like you're any better. " He points out. 
You laugh. 
That's true. 
" Okay, okay, I promise. Do you? " You ask him, holding out your pink. 
He smiles, taking your hand instead and kissing the top of it, sending you a wink playfully. 
None of the boys mind either of you by now, knowing the way you two act longer than a while. 
" I promise, m'lady. " 
" We just sealed our death. " You laughed. 
" We did. " He laughs with you. 
" Well, at least we'll die together. " You tell him. 
He smiles at you and winks again. 
" That we do. "
By the  the two of you tune back in, they're talking about trekking. 
" It only takes 2 hours to finish. " Yoongi speaks. 
Apparently they're talking about Mount Cook. 
Soon enough they're all talking, and giving their opinions on it. 
" It's really only a few hours, we should do it. " You catch Yoongi saying. 
Jin hums in agreement, slurping in his noodles. 
You raise your brow at both of them. 
" Bet, you two will regret it. " You tell Yoongi, who smiles at you and shakes his head. 
He makes an over confident face. 
" We'll be fine, we'll have fun, don't worry. " He tells you. 
" Should we stay in the campervan the whole time? " Jungkook suddenly wonders. 
You make a face but don't say anything. 
The editors do catch it, as does Taehyung. He nudges you with a smile. 
" We'll all stink by the third day. " You tell him softly. 
He laughs. 
Sleeping in a campervan with eight people doesn't sound too appealing for the whole week. 
" We can play Halli Galli. " Your boyfriend adds helpfully. 
" And BTS Uno! " Namjoon adds too. 
" Camping for sure. " Someone pops, probably Jungkook. 
" Does anyone know anything about camping? What do we need? " Namjoon asks. 
" Well, we start with a tent. " Hoseok provides helpfully. 
" I've camped a few times with my brother and his friends. Most stuff is usually inside the campervan."  You tell them. 
Jimin adds onto that, explaining most stuff to Namjoon, like a table that's built in. 
" Let me see the campervan? " Jungkook asks. 
" It's huge. " Hoseok responses. 
" If it's that big, will it be easy to drive? " Jin asks. 
" The road will probably be mostly empty. " Namjoon points out. 
" We do need shower facilities. It's not like we can shower outside. " Yoongi points out. 
" We don't need to shower. " Jin says vaguely. 
You give him a disgusted face. 
" Oh yes we do. " You tell him. 
" I want to too. " Jimin says. 
" We have to think of the rest too. " Yoongi tells Jin. 
" I normally shower though. " Jin says. 
" Yeah I know. " Yoongi grins. 
" You better. " You say with a scrunched nose. 
Jimin laughs. 
" Happy wife happy life, hyung. " Jimin tells the eldest. 
Jin turns to you and looks blankly at you for a second. You raise your brows before flipping your hair over your shoulder sassily, returning your attention to your meal. 
" No, I do take showers everyday, and my lady knows, thank you very much. " He grins playfully, one of his hands going under the table to rest on your thigh. 
After a bit more of discussing about Jin's shower habits, the producer cuts in. 
" We do need to choose an accommodation besides the campervan. " He points out. 
You breathe happily as Tae grins at you. 
For a moment it's a bit of chaos, most of the boys pointing out a 9.7 rated accommodation. 
With a bathtub.
As soon as it comes into view, Jin turns to you, and you give him a cheeky smile back, yet shake your head. 
Rules are rules. 
However, a moment later they're looking at a different accommodation, with cramped rooms. 
" it'll be fun. Like old times. " Jungkook smiles. 
A moment later they're back at discussing the campervan. 
" Jungkook and I will drive mostly though. " Hoseok calls out. 
" I don't mind driving. " Hoseok tells the others. 
" I'll get a driver's license on our days off too. " Namjoon pouts. 
" I can drive. " You tell them. 
Almost everyone turns to beam at you. 
" No, no. Not you, you drive like we're in Fast & Furious. " He points out. 
You grin. 
" Then she can be back up driver. " Yoongi gives you fake hope. 
" Back up driver? We already have enough drivers though.-"
" Yeah, we can't have you drive on national tv. " Jin says quickly. 
You laugh but don't bother with it. 
This can only mean you'll be in charge of the audio right? 
Soon after they're making a song about Bon Voyage. 
You can't really follow, but you clap along anyway. 
The scene wraps up with everyone clapping. 
-
A Few Months Later
" Yah! I went shopping with Y/N especially for this! " Jin says as his bandmates bully him. 
You don't pay a lot of attention, instead busy with helping the boys pack the last stuff and checking up on everyone. 
Soon enough a staff asked you aside. 
" Yeah? " You asked her. 
" This is for you, as you're coming with and the boys' are sponsored by Fila. The company thought it'd be nice if you'd at least have a jacket of the same brand too. " She smiles. 
" Oh, that's really nice. Thank you. "  You smile at her. 
She hands you a soft pink wintercoat. It's admittedly not your colour, nor your style, but you take the jacket gratefully, happy that they at least thought of you. 
" I look good in whatever I wear. " You hear Jin say. 
You come up to the mirror beside him, checking out the jacket on yourself. 
" Noona, your jacket looks nice on you too. " Jungkook compliments you. 
You smile at him. 
" Thank you! A staff member gave it to me, it's from the company. " You beam. 
And then they're arguing over Namjoon's accent. 
" We may be in the same group, but during our days off, I only saw Jimin hyung and Hobi hyung. And Y/N Noona. " Jungkook tells the camera, smiling cheekily at him as you give him a look. 
You too went to visit him on his birthday. 
" Yah! I called you so often! " Jin argues. 
Jungkook doesn't bother with Jin's complaint. 
From there the talk is mostly chaotic. First Jin's asking about an extra suitcase (which is really yours), Taehyung is showing of his Ramen noodles, Jimin has finally arrived and you found out that Yoongi's washing up. 
" At least someone showers. " You tease your boyfriend as you nudge him playfully, thinking of the small meeting a few months back. 
" Yah! I shower too! You of all people know that. " He shakes his head, playing along. 
You grin.
Soon enough you engage in small talk with Namjoon, and you can hear Jin somewhere in the back. 
" Compared to when you went to Malta-" The staff member begun. 
" We took a lot more this time, didn't we? " Jin says. 
" My pillow, something to hug when I have to sleep separately from Y/N, a down coat, fleece, pajamas. I also packed some slippers. And some of Y/N's clothes didn't fit it her suitcase, so it's in mine. " Jin laughs. 
" Do we need to bring shampoo and conditioner? " Jin asks a few moments later as everyone's seated together on the couch. 
"  We should bring our own, we might not be able to bring them. " Yoongi points out. 
" I'm taking mine with me, you guys can use it too if you don't mind smelling like fruit. " You shrug. 
" We can also get them at the airport. " Jungkook suggests. 
" Right, Duty-Free. "
 And then they suddenly spring to the topic of food, and before hopping over to talking about who's going to be the accountant. 
You don't bother adding in on that, you've never traveled with a group of eight before, and you aren't really willing to try when it comes down to it. After that, you're all tacking up your suitcases. 
Soon after they're suddenly grabbing some random bags, and Hoseok finds money. 
How they forget money, you don't know. 
You all sing the new Bon Voyage theme song before you finally set off towards the airport. 
" Did you search for 'huge luggage' when you bought your bag? " Yoongi teases Jungkook, though his bag is just as big. 
You're walking in front of the two, your left arm linked with Jin's right, your suitcase in your right hand and your backpack on top of it. 
You turn to give him a look. 
" I'm pretty sure we all did. " You point out. 
After a moment of rare silence (The only thing you hear is the rolling of suitcases), Jin claps again. 
" Bon Voyage! " 
" Why is no one reacting? " He asks the camera with a grin. 
" Bon Voyage! " Jungkook pitches in late. 
A moment later, the scene cuts, and you all get on the bus. 
You sit in the back with Jungkook and Hoseok. 
" How did you spend your vacations? " The producer asks them. 
They all each start talking about their vacation. 
Yoongi mentions his finished mixtape, Namjoon visited lots of museums and went to Europe, Hoseok points out about how he hasn't seen most of them in a while, Jimin basically went everywhere, from Korea to Russia, and Jungkook worked on some songs. 
" Jin what did you do in the vacation? " A staff member asks. 
You snort. 
" I spent half the time sleeping and half the time playing games. " He admits. 
" I went on dates with Y/N too. " He says quickly after. 
" It's no surprise, at least he made time for you. " Namjoon grins, looking at you. 
" I forced him. " You joke. 
" I wasn't that bad. But I mostly did play games whenever Y/N wasn't around. Or slept. " He nods along to his own words sleepily. 
" Then I realized I couldn't keep living like that, and so I met up with some friends too. " He laughed. 
" You had an important realization. " Hoseok comments. 
" I did. " Jin grins
After that came the question of Taehyung's where abouts and he mostly traveled the outskirts with friends. Most were shook when he mentioned one of his friends already being married. Jin too gave you a quick glance at the mention of marriage. Taehyung also mentioned working on a few songs too. Hoseok came soon after, and he mostly worked on his solo song 'Chicken Noodle Soup', and chilled at his apartment. 
After that they spoke about their pets. When the question came if you had any, you shook your head, though you did mention that your parents owned two cats. 
After that you all got a 'travel guide' made by crew for New Zealand. You didn't open it yet, instead opting to read through on the plane. 
Before you know it, you've all arrived at the airport.
And before you know it, you and Jin are waving the other boys off. 
" Bye guys! " 
" Bye! "
" Have a safe flight! "
" So they can't come? " Jimin asked, as Yoongi did so at the same time. 
" They can. " The staff answered shortly. 
" Huh, so you can't? " Jungkook asks you, still confused. 
" No, we can, we'll just have to take a different flight, we'll probably arrive a few hours later. " Jin tells Jungkook. 
" We have a connecting flight, we'll probably arrive around the same time. " Yoongi points out. 
" As long as you two can come it's fine. " Jungkook comments. 
[ Due to issues with Y/N and Jin's travel documents, the two are unable to board the same flight as the members. Luckily, they're able to take a different flight, and arrive an hour later. ]
Time flies, and before you know it, the two of you are walking in the airport, just having checked in. 
" Y'know, I might as well have forgotten my password. " Jin jokes. 
You shake your head. 
The humor appeared to be low budget. 
Soon after he's catching up with Army through the camera, simply babbling about his plans as you too listen, until, 
" Oh, is that RJ? " He wonders, looking at a shop. 
You sigh. 
" Oh please not again, we have so many of them-"
" Let's be cute and get matching RJ's Y/N. I'll pay. " He says, pulling you along with him as your arms are once again looped. 
Before you know it, the two of you are at the check out, with two matching RJ plushies. He's got a pretty big one, while you've got a smaller, cuter one. 
Soon enough it is time to get on your flight, and time,, flies,, by. 
" Now, we are going to find the other members. " Jin informs the camera as the two of you finally walk out of the airport. 
A crew member tells him it's all good like this, and he turns the camera off, handing it to the staff member. 
" Don't you think it's a little awkward to talk to a camera? " You ask Jin as the two of you and two other staff members get on a cab thing to go to the other members. 
He shrugs, holding out a hand for you to help you get in the car as the car has a bit of a elevation. 
" Not really, we're pretty used to having camera's on us by now. " He tells you honestly. 
You hum, and soon enough everyone's in the car, and easy conversation flows through. 
It doesn't take all too long before you're at the destination. 
Once you are spotted by the other members in the parking lot, Hoseok is the first to hop over, basically jumping on your boyfriend. 
You chuckle, being used to their way of greeting each other. 
" Y/N! " Hobi smiles, looping an arm around your shoulder casually as he leads to the rest, just as Jimin literally hops onto Jin. 
Jimin fetches your suitcases as Jin is quickly waved inside to do training. 
As Jin goes inside, you turn to help Jimin, Hoseok's arm falling off as you do so. 
" Wait, let me help with that. " You call, jogging over to help him. 
The two of you get it done quickly, and soon enough you're being informed by staff of the facility about the campervan. 
The water seems to be a bit of a problem. 
" Look,  how about we all shower together?" Jungkook suggests.
" Except for Y/N of course. " jungkook adds quickly as both you and Jin send him a look. 
" Let's coordinate time. " Hoseok suggests. 
" Yah, how do we do that? We can't control everything! " Jin complains. 
Luckily, the staff comes with a solution. 
" There's holiday parks, campervans can go there too. They have shower and toilet accommodations. " He quips helpfully. 
" That sounds much better. " You laugh. 
" Okay, let's only use the campervan's toilet for emergency. " Yoongi adds. 
" If you're about to die. " Namjoon pops. 
" Let's shower all at once too. " Jungkook keeps trying. 
" We can't shower long. "
" Only 5 minutes, after that, cut the water. " Jin says, as does Hoseok.
A ton of questions later, everyone's once again getting their suitcases, and Yoongi loads it into the campervan. Soon after all of you are clapping along again. 
" Jungkook did you bring your dumbbells again? " Jin jokes. 
" That's not my suitcase. " Jungkook informs. 
" That's mine actually, sorry. " You grin, not actually feeling sorry. 
Once that's over with, there's a small discussion about who's driving what car. It settles with Jungkook driving the campervan and Jin driving the SUV. 
" Where are we going? " You hear most around you asking. 
" The guide book mentioned (a random restaurant). " You tell them. 
" Alright, if you say so. " Jin says, already getting the navigation started without further questions. 
The other car either can't hear you or doesn't listen, as they instead listen to the producer, who agrees with you. 
[ A/N: Oh my god this is a 3.4 k chapter folks,, never done dat before. Anyway, how did you guys like it?  Also, no, there will be no smut in this story, but keep in mind that Jin & reader are both of age and in a 9 year relationship. ]
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infj-zen · 3 years ago
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Movies
Some movies to watch starring INFJ actors
The Acid House  Colin 'Coco' Bryce (segment "The Acid House")
Agent Game  Omar
Alien vs. Predator Graeme Miller 
All Hat Steve Allman
Almost Friends Charlie
Amanda & Jack Go Glamping Amanda
American Renegades Jim Rainey 
American Sausage Standoff Edward Hofler
Anonymous Thomas Dekker
Apostasy Elder Steven
The Arbor Young David
Around the World in 80 Days Inspector Fix
Arthur and the Invisibles Arthur
Arthur et la vengeance de Maltazard Arthur
Arthur 3: The War of the Two Worlds Arthur (voice)
The Art of Getting By George Zinavoy
Astro Boy Astro / Toby (voice) 
As You Like It Silvius
August Rush August Rush
Belfast Billy Clanton
Beneath a Sea of Lights Caweys 
Benjamin Benjamin 
Black Hawk Down Nelson
Blade Runner 2049 Doc Badger
Blindness Sergeant
Borg vs. McEnroe Vitas Gerulaitis 
Broken Rick
The Brothers Grimsby Tabansi Nyagura
The Cabin in the Woods Lin
Cadia: The World Within Tanion
Canyon Del Muerto Sylvanus Griswold Morley
Captain Phillips Muse
Catch Me If You Can Miggy
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Charlie Bucket
The Coming of the Martians George 
Creation Stories Alan McGee
Dance Flick Mr. Stache
Death at a Funeral Justin 
Deep Swimmer Theo
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Mailman
Dragon Rider Ben (voice) 
Exodus: Gods and Kings Expert
Extortion Miguel Kaba 
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Wiraj
Eye in the Sky Jama Farah
Faintheart Julien
Faintheart Tim
Fancy Dancing Bernard Schiff
Finding Neverland Peter Llewelyn Davies 
First Cow Lloyd
Five Children and It Robert 
Fool's Gold Alfonz
A Fox's Tale Little Jack (voice) 
Freedom's Path Silas
Get Santa PS Finkerton
A Girl from Mogadishu Hassan 
The Glimmer Man Det. Jim Campbell
The Golden Compass Pantalaimon (voice) 
Good Time Dash the Park Security Guard
A Good Year Young Max 
The Gospel According to Vic Stevie Deans 
Great Expectations Wemmick
Groom Lake Kate
Hallam Foe Andy / hotel employee
The Happy Prince Alfred Bosie Douglas
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Fred Weasley
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Fred Weasley
Hollywood Shuffle Donald / Jheri Curl 
The Huntsman: Winter's War Duke of Blackwood
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Jack Spade 
Island Calum 
Jack the Giant Slayer Wicke
The Journey Jack the Driver 
Judge Dredd Junior Angel 
Julien Donkey-Boy Julien
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Tech Merc
Justin and the Knights of Valour Justin (voice) 
Kick-Ass 2 Insect Man
Last Night in Soho Cloakroom Attendant 
Legend Frank Shea
Let's Kill Ward's Wife Gina
The Life of Stuff Fraser
A Low Down Dirty Shame Shame 
Marvelous Lars
Mary and the Witch's Flower Flanagan (English version, voice)
Master Harold and the Boys Hally Ballard 
Match Point Inspector Dowd 
Mediator Steven
Mirror Mirror Charles Renbock
Mojo Skinny
Most Wanted James Dunn
Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice 
National Theatre Live: All My Sons Chris Keller
The Novice Jill Yarrut
Paranoid Gordon
Parked Cathal O'Regan
Patchwork Garret 
Pearl Harbor Red 
Perfect Sense James
The Phoenix and the Magic Carpet Joe
The Pirates of Somalia Abdi 
The Reckoning Simon Damian
Rhinoceros Hunting in Budapest Chaz
Royal Deceit Frovin 
The Rundown Declan
Scary Movie Slave
The Selfish Giant Phil the Barman
7 Days: The story of Blind Dave Heeley Captain Williams
Sironia Molly
16 Years of Alcohol Jake 
Skagerrak Gabriel
Snatch Mullet
Snowpiercer Andrew
The Spiderwick Chronicles Jared Grace / Simon Grace 
Star 80 Comic
The Tempest Ariel 
Testament of Youth Victor Richardson 
Trainspotting Spud
T2 Trainspotting Spud
21 and a Wake-Up Caitlin Murphy
Two Brothers Raoul Normandin 
Tyson's Run Aklilu
The Vault  Thom
The Veil of Twilight Rabbi Dunbar
Waiting for You Paul Ashton 
War Horse David Lyons
Wide Open Spaces Austin
Wonder Woman Charlie
Wonder Woman 1984 Charlie (Photograph) (credit only)
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Henry Strangler
The Zero Sum Leonard Paulson
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yizihuo · 3 years ago
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˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ KARINA
stage name: karina name: yu jimin (유지민) birthday: april 11, 2000 height: 167.8cm nationality: korean blood type: b nicknames: yooji, karomi, rina, yuja, sunfish, quail egg special talent: halli galli, catching stuff with her feet
favourite colour: blue favourite season: spring favourite word: cute, bbuing, uing, mallang mallang favourite food: donkatsu, jelly, carbonated drinks, guo bao rou, nasi goreng favourite animal: cat, dog, crocodile, tiger, shark favourite movie: rapunzel and frozen
recommended songs
fun facts: 
she was first revealed as a dancer in taemin’s want
she has been training for 4 years
she wanted to be a mother when she was younger
she stans iu, f(x), red velvet, yoona, taeyeon, beenzino, and park soojin
she can play the piano and has won an award for it
she was a former ulzzang
a country she wanted to visit was croatia
her ideal guy is over 180cm tall
she likes green/barley tea
she didn't know that ningning was younger when they first met, so she used honorifics for 3 weeks
she likes reading in quiet places, eating good food, and shopping to relieve stress
her favourite flavours of pringles are butter caramel and mayo and cheese
cracks her knuckles a lot
likes playing pubg but is bad at it
she likes reading webtoons and gaming
🥺 is her most frequently used emoji
she is caring and quick-witted, but can be shy
she also has bad memory
she loves lipsticks: collecting them, gifting them, getting gifted them
when their makeup artists are short on time, they sometimes let her apply her lipstick
wants to learn cooking, makeup, and producing
she especially wants to go into producing, and has been learning lyric writing, so she wants to now learn composition
her favourite amusement park ride are carousels
she gets easily startled, hence the nickname sunfish
her stage name was derived from her baptism name katarina
she can't sit down for long since she has a longer than average tailbone
she went to english, chinese and math (kumon) academies
she has an older sister who is five years older than her and is the youngest in her family
always has lipstick, perfume, ice tea, and hand cream in her bag
she didn't think she had any natural musical talent because she was casted and didn't audition, she thought she should work harder
she was inspired to become an idol after snsd, and especially admires taeyeon
she has defended snsd from hate comments on her askfm
she is very clumsy, a heodang according to winter
giselle attributes their good chemistry to karina's mischievousness
ningning thinks that she is really warm and looks after her juniors well
the reason why she has a heart as her symbol is because she wants to make her warm image even warmer with her symbol
she's into watching netflix
up until forever, she said her most memorable memory was aespa's debut performance
if she goes to japan, she'd want to visit disneyland and see the cherry blossoms
as the leader, she cares a lot about the help and wellbeing of her members
she looks up to kendall jenner for her power and aura as a model, and camila cabello for her timbre and charisma
she believes that hard work will never fail you, and that your efforts will always be recognized
prefers chicken over pizza, seasoned/marinated chicken over fried chicken
she likes watermelons
her favourite food is guo bao rou
would prefer having a five year old winter over five winters
has a bruise on her right shoulder from when she fell down from heaven, took 8 months to heal
describes giselle as long-legged person with the purest heart
describes winter as an angry maltese
describes ningning as baby with a loud voice
if she were to describe herself with three words/phrases, they would be blue, the mole next to my mouth, and I love you
if she were to describe aespa with three words, they would be sparkling, rainbow, and when we're together, the atmosphere is friendly and harmonious
musicians she looks up to include taeyeon, iu, lee hi, and kehlani
the first thing she notices of other people are their etiquette and good scent of their perfume/cologne
she uses pink shade lipsticks and keeps her fingernails short to maintain her beauty
her favourite tiktok that she did was the one where she parodied an old krn cartoon called old black shoes; it took a lot more retakes than expected but she remembered having a lot of fun filming it
enjoys swimming
once dreamt about being on a hippo with giselle
took her ged on the same day and same classroom as winter
bought succulents for the dorms named ttung-geun (short for ttungttung-han dangeun)
auditioned with taeyeon’s 11:11
was casted through instagram dms
ddongi (ningning’s pet gecko) really likes her
has a black belt in taekwondo
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jandjsalmon · 4 years ago
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FICS I’VE READ THIS WEEK (23)
Hello everybody!! It’s been a busy week for me. 
I’ve read a lot of fanfiction. I have stayed up WAAY too late to read a lot of fanfiction. Over a million words just this week! I’ve beta read a really delicious wolfy bughead chapter that I’m super excited about. I managed to add more than a single word to one of my wips - so I’m considering myself heroic (it was only two words - so I’m not that heroic). Spent the first half of the week reading Peter/Lara Jean fics and ended it by rereading old Veronica Mars favourites. Remind me how we EVER read fics at ff.net. What a nightmare that was.
ANYWAY - I’ve started making a super cute sock monkey toque (beanie). I’ve drank far too many Super Big Gulps. I’ve done all my laundry. I’ve made bread twice. I’ve learned how to curl my daughter’s hair with socks. I have tried out two new recipes (one was a success and one - I’ll let you know after dinner). I’ve had philosophical discussions with friends and borrowed a super fun book from the library (at the recommendation of two friends here). All whilst working remotely. 
All in all, it’s been a full week. I hope you guys are having a wonderful week too. 
Stay healthy and stay safe. 😘
Here is my reading list for the week of Sept 18th-Sept 24th
Week 1 (119 chapters)
Week 2 (158 chapters)
Week 3 (81 chapters)
Week 4 (98 chapters)
Week 5 (117 chapters)
Week 6 (99 chapters)
Week 7 (88 chapters)
Week 8 (149 chapters)
Week 9 (194 chapters)
Week 10 (220 chapters)
Week 11 (157 chapters)
Week 12 (97 chapters)
Week 13 (89 chapters)
Week 14 (44 chapters)
Week 15 (78 chapters)
Week 16 (72 chapters)
Week 17 (160 chapters)
Week 18 (119 chapter)
Week 19 (118 chapters)
Week 20 (73 chapters)
Week 21 (111 chapters)
Week 22 (146 chapters)
Week 23 (334 chapters)
RIVERDALE (Bughead) - 15
obsidian daydreams by @lilibug–xx​ (chapter 3)
one single thread of gold (tied me to you) by @thesunandthestarss​ (chapter 3)
Time after Time by @go-ldy​ (1/1)
Elastic Heart by @easyluckyfree45​ (6/6)
Life. by BookLabrynth (chapter 6)
Never No Locomotive by @thepointoftheneedle​ (first chapter - now removed)
a Prince and a Witch by @aam-loves​ (1/1)
Daemon Bound by @writeradamanteve​ (chapter 16)
(you make me feel) so summer fling by @fallout-mars (chapter 6)
Beauty Rich & Rare by @blackberry-beee​ (first chapter)
Bughead Rereads - 10
i think you’re moving in too close by @thetaoofbetty​ (1/1)
haven’t you heard (it’s national ferris wheel day)? by @thetaoofbetty​ (1/1)
The blonde in the window by @sadie-quinn​ (3/3)
Six Years by @itstrashwitch​ (5/5)
MISC. NON RIVERDALE - 80
Always You by @queenie-004​ (Peter/LJ) - 4/4
Wildflower by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
Talk to me, Baby by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
A Different Kind of Tension by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
All the Strings Attached by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 20/20  
Pretend You’re Mine by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1        
Love You Like a Love Song by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
Just Give Me the Key by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 2/2      
This Sweet Desire by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
Look What You Started by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 1/1  
Can’t Keep My Hands to Myself by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 2/2     
Heat Lightning by @queenie-004​  (Peter/LJ) - 2/2    
Bullets and Cupcakes by @theopensea & threemeows (Peter/LJ) - 19/19    
Bullets and Cupcakes: Duet by threemeows (Peter/LJ) - chapters 1-11
The Dream Of The Fisherman’s Wife by qodarkness (Theon/Sansa) - 1/1
Something To Believe by Daisey_May (Laura/Sweeney) - chapter 21
Bruce and Maisel by @allthyheart​ (Lenny/Miriam) - chapter 11
A Royal Engagement by @hallie-society​ (Harry/Allie) - chapter 11
Bedlam of My Own by @loveliescrossing​ (Five/Vanya) - chapter 1 
A different life by Chevalier_Barthelemy (Five/Vanya) - chapters 3, 4, & 5
Everything I Do I Do For You by SuperNav_2991 (Five/Vanya) - chapters 1 & 2
the heartbreak prince by @kylorenvevo​ (Ben/Rey) - chapter 28
JAM 6.0 by DoomGoose (Jim/Pam) - chapters 13 & 14
— 
Misc. Rereads - 229
Almost all my rereads were Veronica Mars fic this week - mostly Mac/Dick *but some LoVe as periphery relationships. All started with my desire to reread one of my favourite fics EVER in any fandom (Sinclair-Mackenzie) - and then I just fell into my ff.net bookmarked fics. The fics marked with a ** are my particular favourites. If you’ve never read any of these, I hope you’ll give them a try. If they’re ones you’ve read before, I hope you love them too! Enjoy!!
Sinclair-Mackenzie by BIFF1 (Mac/Dick) - 18/18 **
Ringer by BIFF1 - 16/16 **
Casablancas Kryptonite by BIFF1 (Mac/Dick) - 35/35 **
Mrs Casablancas by BIFF1  (Mac/Dick) - 3/3   
Bleeding Knuckles by BIFF1 (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Commitment Buffers by BIFF1 (Mac/Dick) - 38/38
Cindy Mackenzie slayer of Lovecraftian Horror by BIFF1 (Mac/Dick) - 23/23   
Postcode Envy by  BeWitchingRedhead36 (Mac/Dick) - chapters 1-24  
Mercy on the Undeserved by LVfangirl (Mac/Dick & LoVe) - 37/37
Last Kiss by MadMooMe (Mac/Dick) - 10/10 **
Valid Delusions by @ohdarlingnicole​ (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
would feel strange, boneless by sheriff stilinski (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
experimental group by sheriff stilinski (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Life’s Funny That Way by Linnie22 (Mac/Dick) - five chapters
By Any Other Name by sweetumms633 (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Something Real by in2deep495 (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Rooftop of Broken Souls by @forgetxdecember​​ (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Dude Like I Have No Idea by Chounette (Mac/Dick) - 1/1
Blue Hair by Chounette (Mac/Dick) - 1/1  
Good Eye, Sniper by FallAway (Mac/Dick) - 11/11     
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sabraeal · 4 years ago
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In Plain Sight, Chapter 4
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3
Written for @k-itsmaywriting​‘s birthday! I hope that, despite how weird the world is right now, you have an amazing day!
Shirayuki understands how this is supposed to work. She’s seem movies after all-- Witness, of course; Sister Act 1 & 2, if only because Opa thought Whoopie Goldberg was a national treasure and Oma thought she was too young to be watching Ghost; and Our Lips Are Sealed about eight times on video cassette, since she’s old enough (and Opa resisted DVD long enough) have both VCRs and wholesome Olsen twins content as a part of her childhood.
(Her favorite formative twins were Annie and Hallie from The Parent Trap; they were red-headed, just like her, and one of them had a British accent. She’d been devastated to find out that not only were both of them American, but they were also only one girl. She’d watched Double Trouble to console herself)
In any case, she knows how this goes, at least narratively. She lays down in this amazingly comfortable bed, stares up at the ceiling in a tense yet melancholy fashion for hours, and dreams in plot-relevant flashbacks. Extra points if they reference the crime she witnessed.
The problem is: she didn’t. She’s just the unfortunate collateral to her father’s personal redemption. All the life ruining without ever being part of the A plot.
There’s an upside though: the second she hits that firm cloud of a mattress, she’s out like a light.
Absolutely nothing wakes her, but Shirayuki jolts into consciousness anyway, as unpleasant as any false start. She expects to be confused; she’s not a graceful riser to begin with, and every morning in temporary housing, she’d bounce off three walls at minimum trying to find a bathroom that didn’t exist.
(Well, the bathroom did exist, it just didn’t exist where it should, which was down the hall to the right, and was compounded by the door being in exactly the wrong place too.)
Instead, she knows exactly where she is. Knowledge which is quickly followed by the low-key, seething resentment for the man who put her here.
She groans, lifting her head from the pillow. It’s fine. She’s fine. It’s just--
7:00, her alarm clock says. Tuesday, her brain provides after a long moment.
She should be getting up, habit told her. Getting her morning fix of avocado toast and orange juice with Paul Newman’s face stamped on it.
There’s worse ways to start your day than having a fine pair of eyes smiling at you, Oma would say.
What can I say? Opa’d grumble back, flipping through the paper. It’s impossible to compete with Butch Cassidy.
Her fingers curl into the sheets. There’d be none of that today. Agent Jiang-- Obi’s assistant had gotten her Simply Orange instead. A small mercy. It’s hard enough to be someone else when there’s still so much her clinging to the edges.
It’s tempting to linger in bed; she’s always been a morning person, up with the birds, but maybe Claire isn’t. Maybe Claire likes to stay up late and sleep in, sleeping past the three alarms she sets for herself. Maybe she likes to have waffles for breakfast, straight from a box, and drinks pomegranate juice. Maybe she doesn’t bike into the lab at eight because--
She groans. Because Claire doesn’t have a job. A thing that will have to change soon, since Claire has to pay for this house.
There’s a great deal of compromise that happens between bedside and bathroom; habit insists she needs to be fully dressed, ready to greet the day, but everything else--
Well, she’s not going anywhere is she? There’s no reason she couldn’t wallow in her pj’s all day
Standards, habit insists. But those belonged to Shirayuki, not Claire. Claire has no job, no friends, and nothing to do on a Tuesday morning besides--
Oh no, the recycling.
The bin is nearly two-thirds her height, but with only one day under her belt, it’s already overflowing. Good thing she’d looked at that brochure when it slipped out from between the takeout menus.
She shrugs her hoodie a little tighter, pulling it down over her leggings-- habit and hedonism settled on exercise wear as a happy medium-- and grips the handle, tugging it out the opening garage door, right into the fresh Texas morning--
And promptly throws her hoodie back into the garage. She might need that with the downright frosty temperature the house is set to, but oh, she was not going to cover her skin out here any more than necessary. Even now, she’s starting to sweat in impossible places beneath her leggings.
Hooking her palm back around the handle, she tugs the bin down the drive. Her gaze fixes to the pavement-- the last thing she needs is to trip right over herself on her own driveway taking out the trash-- and she doesn’t look up until she hits the sidewalk. It’s a struggle to get it to sit right-- these are proper curbs, white poured cement with squared edges meant to puncture cheeky tires; one of the wheels catches in a gap and refuses to budge until she hip checks it out onto the next slab.
She’s damp at this point, skin dewing with giant drops of sweat she’s tempted to shake off like a dog, but--
But Martha Kino has an arm slung along their fence, holding a tall glass of iced tea that makes her mouth water just to look at.
“Oh, um, good morning!” she calls out with a weak wave. “I didn’t, um, see you there.”
It’s only when Martha slides her gaze to her that she realizes her neighbor hadn’t been looking at her at all. Her mouth curves into a knowing smile at the sight of her. “Good morning, honey. You here for the show?”
Shirayuki blinks. “The show?”
“Mm-hm.” Martha takes a long drag from her straw, ice clinking against the glass. “Here it comes now.”
Shirayuki tracks her line of sight right across the cul-de-sac, squinting at half acre of immaculately trimmed, completely invasive Bermuda grass. Their front garden is well-kept, as well; thickly mulched with giant hibiscus blooming blood red against pristine stone facade.
Oh, and there’s a man as well. That’s probably what Mrs Kino is looking at.
He’s tall. No, tall is an understatement; he’s a giant, six foot four at least with shoulders to match. He’s trimmed with the same military precision as his lawn, clean shaven with an undercut that could scratch glass. Heavy brows draw sharply over his nose, forehead rumpling as he tears a box right down the fold--
Ah, well, all right. It’s not doing much of anything for her, but the Vitruvian man’s more ideal cousin ripping up boxes definitely counts as a show. Halfway through, he grabs the hem of his shirt, mopping his brow, and ah, hm, he could definitely have made money as an anatomical model. His rectus abdominis are, ah...very defined.
“Is he--” Shirayuki searches for the words-- “from around here?”
“Oh, him?” Martha’s gaze doesn’t stray for a second, not even as she sips at her tea. “That’s Scott. Aspen’s husband. They just moved in a few weeks ago.”
Shirayuki glances around the neighborhood. Seems like more than a few of her neighbors hope they’ll never leave either.
“Quite the pair, those two,” Martha hums. “She’ll be at the luncheon. I know you two will just get on like houses.”
More like houses on fire if she mentions she’s seen her husband’s floor show. “Oh, right. The um, luncheon.”
Mrs Kino grins as Scott hops back inside, out of this heat, just like she’s dying to do. “By the way, he mows the lawn on Sunday, just before lunch.”
“Oh, um, great.” She’ll be sure to miss it. “Can’t wait.”
It’s too early to bake cookies.
There’s not a baked good on earth that tastes as good two days later as it does fresh out of the oven; Shirayuki knows that down to her toes and bones, but still--
Stress baking. It’s a thing. And she doesn’t have to make anything right now. She could get all the ingredients together, just to make sure she has them. And then...just not do anything.
She can. Definitely. Absolutely. She’s Claire now. Claire probably doesn’t even like chocolate chip cookies.
Oh gosh, who is she kidding? Only monsters don’t like chocolate chip cookies. What next, Claire doesn’t like brownies? Apple pie? Snickerdoodles?
It’s a slippery slope, not liking things. Best to just keep it simple and eat everything, that’s what Opa always said at the church potluck.
The morsels and brown sugar already sit out on the counter when her phone lets out a piercing ting. She’s half tempted to ignore it; she’s having a contentious battle with the ten pounds of King Arthur flour that’s tucked away in her cabinet-- what was she thinking?-- and she refuses to show any fear in the face of baking supplies but--
Ting. No one knows her number. Well, no one except the government.She settles back on her heels with a sneeze. The government probably doesn’t take kindly to being left on read.
Her hands clap against her thighs, flour misting into the air as she leaves two partial prints right over the helical print. She frowns, plucking at the fabric, nose wrinkling as more powder burst into the air. Ting.
“I’m coming,” she mutters, stumbling over to the island. “I’m coming.”
Sugar Daddy i got just what u need pumpkin check ur email
The corners of her mouth dig furrows into her cheeks as she clicks on the notification. It’s the only message in her inbox, aside from the ubiquitous Welcome to Gmail spam and a few coupons for Banana Republic and a couple of other retailers. They’d taught her about this at orientation; they couldn’t do much about an empty inbox, but everyone had at least a few mailing lists they’d either forgotten to opt out of or regularly used.
Still...what about her said Banana Republic? She glances down at her spandex-clad legs. If they were going to go for a too-expensive clothing line, they could have at least sprung for Lululemon.
Ah, but that wasn’t the point. Marshal Jiang-- Obi hadn’t texted all...that...to show off some spam. Sitting at the very top of her inbox is a Cornell email address-- Cornell-- with an attachment.
Dear Claire, the message reads, We’re so sorry to see you go, but I’m glad we’re able to keep in touch. Of course we kept the copy of your old CV. Good luck to you in all your endeavors.
It’s signed by some professor; not high profile enough for her to have heard of, but she doesn’t doubt that he’s real, someone a curious party could look up on Cornell’s directory. Well, at least for the next six months.
The Columbia alumna inside her writhes in agony. Cornell. She doubts it’s a coincidence.
Me Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of me?
Not that she’s very, um, up on the specifics of such a relationship, but she’d been under the impression that sugar...children?...were supposed to be fully reliant on their sugar parent. Her mouth pulls thin. Already she’s thinking about this far more than she’d ever hope to.
Sugar Daddy a good daddy makes sure his baby can take care of herself ;)
This declaration is followed by a stream of emojis, ending with an eggplant and a peach, and she just-- doesn’t need to know. She wipes away the sweat that beads at her hairline-- from embarrassment, of course-- and downloads the attachment.
Me I’ll take a look. Thank you.
She sets the phone back on the island, face down, and glares. He can’t possibly be like this to everyone. People would complain. They wouldn’t just let him insinuate that he-- that they--
Ting.
Sugar Daddy good girl
All right. Maybe they would.
Shirayuki doesn't get homesick.
She’d been the first brownie to leap out of her car at summer camp; Opa barely had time to lurch into park before she was traipsing across the field, backpack slung over her shoulder and duffel bag dragging on the grass. Freshman year, she moved into the dorm by herself, pressing kisses to wrinkled cheeks as she lugged her suitcases onto the train; she’d almost forgotten to wave from the window.
But as soon as she lays down in bed, the lights snuffed out and the world still, it hits her. Just a soft roll of her stomach at first, the barest itch on her skin, like wearing a wool sweater on a spring afternoon. It’s fine; too much to ignore but nothing that would keep her up too long.
It doesn’t stay that way.
Her stomach clenches, tears pricking at her eyes, and it’s everything she can do to just roll onto her side, letting the chills wrack through her body. She shivers so hard her teeth chatter, and this-- this isn’t the gentle ache of nostalgia her books prepared her for. This is an illness, plain and simple, like when she caught norovirus in eighth grade can could hardly do anything but lay on the bathroom floor and wait for the next wave to begin.
This isn’t her, she isn’t like this, she doesn’t get like this, but-- but--
Before she always knew her home was waiting for her; she could leave but Oma and Opa would always keep the front lamp on, waiting for weary travelers and last minute bookings.
It’s different now that there’s no home to come back to.
7:00, her alarm clock says. She watches it tick over, like she has for every hour before it.
She must have slept at some point; it’s impossible that she’s lain awake, staring at the clock for eight hours. But that doesn’t make her any less tired, and so when her alarm starts up, beeps cutting through the quiet white noise of the air conditioner, she reaches out and slaps it off.
Shirayuki may not sleep in, but Claire is certainly warming to the idea.
Her notebook sits open on the island; neat, looping script stretches across the page, straining the boundaries of the blue lines that contains it. She’d done her homework yesterday, combing through job sites to find the most likely candidates. There’s five on her list right now, ranked according to preference, and oh, is Shirayuki glad she had the gumption to do this before, because this morning she feels like roadkill being scraped off the blacktop.
Still, she worries at her lip as her laptop boots up, peering over her list. In the cold light of the morning, five seems too few, but...desperation hasn’t set in yet. She’s allowed to still have standards.
Wrapping her hands around her mug, she glances at the next page: another list. No, a set of instructions. Edit CV. Write cover letters.
Shirayuki groans. Even with the bullet points she left for herself, composing cover letters is a circle of hell all its own. With only three hours of solid sleep under her belt, it’s an insurmountable hurdle to getting hired.
“Right,” she murmurs, hooking an ankle around a stool and pulling it under her. “Editing it is.”
She clicks on the pdf Obi sent her, scrolling down and--
“Oh no.” She rears back from the screen, heart pounding. “No, no. There’s got to be a mistake...”
“Hey, baby,” Obi’s voice rumbles through her speaker. It’s thick and warm and would be utterly distracting if she were in any less of a crisis. “A little early for a b--?”
“What happened to my papers?”
“Uh.” All the suggestion in his tone evaporates. “What?”
“My papers.” Her hand grips the phone so tight it creaks. “They’re gone.”
His end goes silent. Silent enough to make that weird click, like the line’s cut out, and she pulls back to check--
“Someone stole your passport?” He laughs, incredulous. “Some sort of luck you have, Miss. Barely had it for a day and already you’ve gotten your identity stolen.”
She blinks into the barren air of her kitchen. “What?”
“You know,” he hums, too amused, “I picked out a cute house in the suburbs for safety, and here you are, getting robbed. Did you leave them in your car? Or did you just go out--”
“N-no!” She’s honestly half tempted to say what car, until she remembers the tasteful mid-sized SUV in the driveway, the one she’s still been calling the girlfriend car in her head, and realizes-- it’s hers. She’s the girlfriend.
Except she’s not. At all. Which is fine! She doesn’t even want that! If she’s still thinking about what his mouth feels like as he wraps them around his words, then--
She really can’t be thinking about this right now. “I mean my papers! I just looked at my CV and it’s a page!”
He hesitates, though not enough for the line to click again. “Isn’t that long enough?”
“CVs aren’t resumes,” she informs him patiently, pen twisting between her fingers. “They’re dick measuring contests--”
Her teeth snap around the words, but oh, it’s too late. They’re already out there in the aether, and he’s laughing.
“Now there’s something I didn’t think I’d hear out of you, Miss.” He doesn’t need to sound so pleased about it.
“It’s something my old PI used to say,” she mutters. Oh, Garak would be so proud of herself if she knew. “It’s not very polite, but she’s not, um, wrong.”
“I’m sorry the US government made you under endowed.” His words practically rattle as he says them. “It’s not the size that matters, Miss, but how you use it.”
“Obi,” she huffs. “All the work I’ve done for the past ten years of my life now is attributed to my birth name and my birth name only! According to this CV I have the same level of experience, but less papers than an undergrad! And you can’t tell me that any of these are searchable on PubMed.”
And none of them are first authors, is what she doesn’t say. It’s a petty thing to worry about when her entire academic career is functionally extinct.
“Hm.” His fingers drum quickly on a table. Desk? It’s strange not knowing anything about the man who is her only lifeline. “I’ll look into it.”
“I don’t want to be, um, alarmist, but I can’t get a job with this.” Her hand shakes as she scrolls down her screen. “No one is going to hire a post-doc with a one page CV.”
“Don’t worry, Miss. There’s a plan for this, somewhere.” She can feel his grin when he says, “You can’t be the first academic who’s had to go into hiding.”
She smiles, despite herself. “Considering some of the conferences I’ve been to, I can believe it.”
“Besides, you could always apply to pharmaceuticals.” The very word is like a donkey kick to her gut. “The pay’s supposed to be better--”
“I can’t work for Big Pharma.”
He hesitates. “You...can’t?”
“Obi, they make little old grandmas pay eight hundred dollars for insulin!” She presses a hand to her chest. “Banting and Best didn’t sell the patent for one dollar so that people could get gouged by--”
“I get it, I get it,” he assured her. “Preaching to the choir. But as a safety, I’m sure you could find one that isn’t stealing candy from babies.”
She huffs. “I doubt it.”
He rasps out a laugh. “I’ll see what I can do. As I said, can’t be the first PhD on the lam.”
Her mouth twitches. “Just yours?”
“You are certainly some kind of education, Miss.” He hums. “Give me a day. See what I can turn up.”
“You have two,” she informs him magnanimously. “I have the luncheon tomorrow.”
“Oh, right.” She doesn’t need to see him to know he’s lounging, smug like a cat post-canary. “Looking forward to joining the neighborhood’s Ladies’ Committee?”
“Ha ha,” she drawls flatly. “Very funny.”
He is unnervingly silent on the other end.
“You’re kidding, right?” Her voice certainly does not fill with a nervous quaver. “You guys don’t have things like that around here.”
Obi hums, humoring her.
“W-what would they even do?” She picks nervously at the sticker on her laptop, prying up part of NVIDIA. “Plan potlucks? Organize the Neighborhood Watch? Cotillions?”
She doesn’t know how he makes his grin so palpable over 4G. “Looking forward to your debut, Miss?”
Shirayuki scowls down at her screen. “I think I’m firmly up on the shelf, thank you. Now if you don’t mind, I have cookies to make.”
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lost-n-stereo · 4 years ago
Text
A/N: For anon who prompted me “Hallie+Sunshine”. Have a little 4th of July summer fic :)
and the sparks start flying (like the fourth of july)
She gets invited on a camping trip the first week of June, and when she says an invite she means that she quite literally received an e-vite from Helena through Facebook. There’s a group page and everything, with people RSVP’ing and talking about what alcohol they are going to bring and which campsites around the state are the best.
It’s not surprising to see the usual suspects on the list of people going. If Helena is setting it up that means that Luke is definitely going, since they are engaged and it’s just sort of a given. If Luke’s going then Clark and Jason will tag along with their girlfriends, and if the girls go then all of their friends will too. It’s a bit of a surprise to Allie though when she sees Harry RSVP and she kind of wants to comment on his post about how boat shoes aren’t generally camping attire but it feels shitty and she doesn’t want to be a dick for no reason.
The trip is planned for Fourth of July weekend, which is a little cliché but she doesn’t mind all that much. She orders a new tent off Amazon and an expensive pair of hiking boots because she’s not sure where exactly they are going yet but she feels like she should be prepared for anything. Becca calls her and asks if they should do some bathing suit shopping before the trip and they spend the day trying on different suits and drinking their daily calories in the form of food court smoothies.
It’s one of those rare times that the fourth falls on a weekend, so she takes the Friday before and the Monday after off from work and thanks the gods above that she works with a majority of older people that don’t care about the holiday weekend. They decided on a state park that has campgrounds that will fit all of them, she thinks it’s nearing twenty plus people going at last count, and a giant lake with tons of water sports and activities to do. She heard a rumor that someone rented out the entire stretch of sites on one side of the lake so they wouldn’t be bothered. No one said it was Harry but she can make an educated guess that was his doing.
There’s an honest to god party bus taking a large group of people to the lake but she decides to hitch a ride with Elle instead. The girl has a kick ass Jeep with no doors and it feels good flying down the highway with their camping gear piled high in the back and old school hip hop blaring out of the radio. Elle takes a sharp turn into the campground’s parking lot and Allie laughs as her body jerks out of the open door and her hair flies into her face as they jerk to a stop.
“You’re an absolute maniac,” Allie says on a laugh as they unbuckle their seat belts. “I fucking love it.”
Elle just flashes a grin and gets to work on unloading her tent from the back of the Jeep.
“Need some help?”
Allie rolls her eyes at the sound of Harry’s voice behind her and he’s grinning and eating an apple with a pocket knife when she turns around.
“I think we got it, thanks.”
He just shrugs, throws her a wink before heading over to where a group of people are unloading cases of beer out of the back of someone’s pickup. The parking lot is a madhouse. People are everywhere and Allie wonders in amusement if Helena is currently freaking out because there definitely were not this many RSVP’s in her Facebook group.
As if she conjured up the woman herself, Helena rushes up to Allie with a panicked look on her face. There are people Allie’s never seen falling out of backseats in fits of giggles, girls running around in barely there bikinis and dude-bros in board shorts lining up shots on the tailgate of a truck. It’s like a very cliché music video set to the sound of Post Malone pumping from someone’s car speakers.
“Are you seeing this shit?”
Allie laughs and reaches behind the seat for her backpack. “Yeah, it’s nuts. Who even are all these people?”
“Friends of friends,” Helena says, rolling her eyes as she takes a headcount. “There has to be over fifty people here already. It’s a good thing Harry rented so many campsites otherwise we’d be totally fucked.”
It’s the first confirmation she’s heard of Harry being the party benefactor but it doesn’t surprise her at all. He was always the one throwing giant parties in high school. His parents even rented an entire hotel for their senior prom, not just a banquet hall but the entire fucking thing.
“Let’s just be thankful no families with children will have to be in a tent next to that.” Allie points with her chin to where Lexie is currently pushed up against the side of a Suburban with a guy kissing down the column of her throat. “So much for a low key camping trip, ‘Lena.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Harry says, coming up to them with a Stella bottle hanging between his fingers. She wonders why he’s just randomly popping up when she knows his friends are here somewhere. Allie notices for the first time that he’s wearing flip flops, briefly stunned by the sight of his sort of bare feet. She’s not sure if she’s ever seen this man’s toes in the entire time they’ve known each other. The four years since high school have been good to him but that’s not a surprise. He has unimaginable wealth and a great job on top of that so she’s not shocked that he’s doing so well for himself so soon after graduating.
She went to school for accounting, ended up at a decent firm after graduating where the median age is mid forties, but she’s living in Brooklyn now which she loves and that’s what counts. Last she heard Harry was living in Manhattan but she doesn’t go that way often and someone like him probably wouldn’t be caught dead in her neighborhood.
Not that she cares or anything because what Harry Bingham does with his time has nothing to do with her.
“Better hope you get your deposit back,” Allie quips as she grabs a bottle of water out of her pack. Harry holds up his beer and asks if she wants one of her own. “No, Harry. It’s like nine-thirty in the morning. And don’t even say it’s five o’clock somewhere.”
Harry chuckles and takes a deep pull from the bottle. She shouldn’t think it’s sexy how he licks his lips after but well, it is. He smirks a little like he knows what she’s thinking and she rolls her eyes.
“I wasn’t going to,” he tells her. “I was just going to remind you that it’s Friday, you’re not at work at that stuffy job you go to every day, and it’s a fucking holiday. Enjoy yourself for once, Pressman.”
There’s not an ounce of heat in his words but it still cuts a little because she has fun, thank you very much. She might spend a lot of time in her studio apartment and she may only have a small group of good friends but she’s happy and that’s what matters. Helena just looks between them with her eyebrows raised, as if she’s waiting for world war three to start right there in the parking lot but Allie just shrugs, grabs the beer from his hand and chugs the rest of it before using her thumb to wipe foam from the side of her lip. Her heart pounds a little as Harry tracks the movement with laser focus and then she’s the one smirking, pushing the empty bottle into his chest.
“Looks like you need a refill.”
The absolute shock on his face makes her feel better than it probably should and Helena’s jaw is practically on the floor.
“Well played, Pressman.” Harry tilts his bottle towards her in what may be a show of respect and leaves again without a word.
“What the hell was that?” Helena presses when he’s out of earshot. Allie just shrugs, asks Helena if she’d mind helping her grab her tent out of the back of the Jeep so she can set up camp somewhere.
***
It’s dark when the real crazy stuff starts to happen.
There’s a group of people running around naked because someone thought it would be a good idea to go skinny dipping in a national park. Allie is pretty sure there are supposed to be park rangers patrolling but she supposes it wouldn’t be hard for a certain someone to grease a few palms to keep them away for the night.
Speak of the devil…
“You look like you could use a drink.”
An ice cold White Claw drops into her lap and she gasps, her thighs bare since she’s just in a bikini top and denim cutoffs.
“What in the fuck, Harry!”
He just laughs, drops down beside her in a pair of bright orange board shorts and nothing else. “Just paying you back for that little stunt with my beer this morning.”
Allie rolls her eyes, pops the cap of the cocktail and drinks half of it in one go. “You deserved that. You’re always antagonizing me. Been that way since we were kids.”
“Bullshit,” he says but when she looks at him out of the corner of her eye he’s grinning a little, fingers playing with the string of his shorts. It’s fucking distracting. “Maybe I was flirting.”
Her cheeks heat a little but she knows Harry, has known him practically all her life. Maybe sometimes things he’s done could be considered flirting but that’s only because he flirts with everyone.
“I’m sure,” she says, finishing off the drink and tossing the can into a bin nearby designated for recycling. “Shouldn’t you be over there with your friends?”
“They aren’t as fun to fuck with as you are.” 
Allie points at him. “Ah! So you admit you like fucking with me!” 
There’s no denying his eyes go a little dark and then she’s wishing that she could take that back because now it just sounds dirty. She’s expecting a dirty comment in return but that’s not at all what she gets.
“Maybe I just like talking to you. Maybe…”
She tilts her head a little when he doesn’t continue. “Maybe what, Harry?”
His teeth scrape across his bottom lip a little as he thinks but then he shakes his head like he’s literally trying to erase a thought from his mind. He stands up abruptly, brushes a little dirt and sand off his board shorts and throws her a casual wink.
“It’s nothing. Have a good night, Al.”
***
She wakes up with the hangover from hell and finds herself cuddled in between Sam and Grizz.
“What the shit?”
Grizz mumbles a little, presses his nose into the back of her neck and she giggles. “Shhh, you’re so comfortable and my brain is heavy.”
It makes no sense at all but she also completely gets it because her brain feels heavy too. It’s hot as fuck in this tent, which she realizes now is not her own. She tries to piece together what happened after Harry left her the night before. Not that she got blackout drunk or anything but she did let Becca and Grizz talk her into Jägerbombs which are never a good idea.
Sam’s eyes blink open and then he smiles and it reminds her of the sleepovers they used to have as kids. She signs, asks him if he wants some coffee and he nods, so she gets up to go find the little brew pot that Helena said she was bringing.
She can see the row of little camp areas stretching all the way down to the end of the lake, each with its own barbecue and campfire area. Every site can fit three or four tents and the one she set her tent up in is shared with Grizz and Sam, Helena and Luke, and Becca. Grizz’s tent is huge with multi rooms and she knows it’s probably because he’s really into spending time outdoors, fishing and camping all over the state. What they are all doing this week borders somewhere on glamping, because she’s almost positive she saw someone set up portable solar panels to run some gaming station and a small television. 
There’s a pack of water bottles next to their makeshift “kitchen” by the campfire so she grabs one, empties it into the brew pot and waits for it to get hot so she can make coffee for her and her friends. Most of the campsites are quiet, which makes sense because it’s eight in the morning and the party raged until at least six this morning. When the coffee is ready she brings a cup to Sam, who puts a finger to his lips and nods to Grizz, who’s already passed out again. Allie grins, hands him the cup and signs have a good morning to him before quietly leaving the tent. 
“Top of the morning to you, Pressman.” 
Harry is helping himself to a cup of coffee from the pot and Allie rolls her eyes. “Don’t you have someone else to bug this morning, Bingham?” 
“I like bugging you more,” he says with a smirk and she doesn’t miss the way he doesn’t say maybe like he did the night before. It’s like he’s finally acknowledging the fact that he’s always trying to get under her skin. She used to think it was because he was annoyed by her but after last night she wonders if maybe she was wrong about that. “Cup of coffee?” 
Allie huffs and takes it from him. “I made that for me and my friends, if you couldn’t tell.” 
Harry puts on a fake pout, which makes his lips look really fucking good and she tries to ignore the little flutter in her stomach when she notices it. “I’m hurt, Al. I thought we were friends?” 
“Why are you even up this early?” She asks, ignoring the question of their friendship. It’s not that they aren’t friendly but they aren’t exactly hanging out on weekends either. Which...okay so she knows they are quite literally hanging out on a weekend right now but that doesn’t count. They have just always known each other, from him being in the same class all through school as Cassandra. She remembers one year when they were science partners and he was at their house once a week during the second semester to complete a project. Cassandra had complained about him being lazy and incompetent but Allie knows he put effort into it because she’d sometimes hang out in the kitchen while they worked and he was always putting in his own ideas just to have her sister throw them out. Which, if you know her sister, is par for the course on pretty much everything. 
“Work hours,” Harry says with a roll of his eyes. “No matter what I do or how late I stay up the night before I’m always up at sunrise. What about you?” 
“Same,” she admits. “I feel like a total bum if I sleep past ten.” 
They both laugh and she realizes they are actually having a conversation, even if it’s stupid and doesn’t really mean anything. But he’s not picking on her and she’s not throwing attitude back at his snark and it’s actually sort of nice. 
“So I hear we have a busy day this morning,” he says as he lowers himself into a folding chair that’s set up near the unlit campfire. “Helena has planned our day down to the minute, it seems.” 
Allie chuckles, pulls up a chair and sets it near him but where she can still see his face. “Sounds like my girl.” 
“Actually it’s my girl,” Luke says from behind her and they all laugh. “You made coffee? Allie, you’re a lifesaver.” 
When she looks at Harry she sees a little flash of disappointment in his eyes and she can’t help but wonder if it’s because it’s not just the two of them anymore.
She also wonders if the same look of disappointment flashes in her own eyes when Harry gets up, tells them he’s off to get ready for the day, and leaves her and Luke to wake up the rest of their friends. 
***
Her feet hurt. 
It was Helena’s idea to take a drive up the road to a hiking trail less than ten minutes away from the lake. And while Allie might have remembered to purchase new hiking boots what she forgot to do was break them in before wearing them. 
“You look miserable,” Harry comments as they move up the trail, which just seems to go up and up and up. He’s not even breaking a sweat and she sees well worn boots on his feet which surprises her. “When was the last time you went hiking?” 
“Um...never?” 
Harry chuckles and pulls her to the side, his hand on her arm as he guides her to a large rock just off the path. “Let me help,” he says, kneeling down in front of her and unlacing her boot. Helena passes by, eyebrows high, but Harry just waves her off, tells the group they will catch up. 
“What are you doing?” Her voice is far more breathless than she wants it to be but holy shit, Harry Bingham is crouched in front of her, picking up her sore foot delicately and placing it on his knee. 
“Helping,” he says simply as he unlaces her boot and works it off her right foot, followed by her sock. After repeating the same steps with her other foot, he places them gently on the ground before standing in front of her. “Lift your legs.” 
“Excuse me?” Her face flushes but he just smirks, grabs each foot and places them on his thighs with her knees together.
“You need to elevate your feet,” he explains as he positions her just so. “It’ll work, trust me.” 
They probably look ridiculous, him standing in front of her with a pair of dark sunglasses covering his eyes and his hair a ruffled mess and her perched on a rock with her feet on his legs. But he wasn’t wrong and after a few minutes she can feel the pain lessening by the second. 
“How long do I have to do this?” 
Harry looks down at his watch. “About fifteen minutes and we’ve been here for eight so get comfortable.” 
Allie laughs and tilts her head back. “You’re not sitting on the hardest rock known to man. My bony ass can’t handle this.”
“Your ass isn’t that bony,” he says but it’s not an insult, she can tell. It’s definitely a compliment, and a heated one at that.
“Spend a lot of time checking out my ass, Bingham?” 
Harry just shrugs, a little grin playing on his lips as he looks down at her. Her cheeks heat again and she rolls her eyes for something to do because she’s not exactly sure what to say back. The last thing she expected this morning was to be hiking with Harry, who’s apparently some sort of expert, and then have him basically admit to checking her out before. 
“We should catch up with everyone,” she says a few minutes later and he checks his watch again, nods and moves her legs carefully so she can put her shoes and socks back on. “Thanks,” she says quietly as she flexes her toes. “That really did help.” 
“You should trust me more often.” He puts a hand out for her to grab and she accepts, ignores the little electricity she feels when her skin touches his. It’s hard not to be attracted to someone like Harry, who exudes confidence in everything that he does. And he’s obviously not bad to look at even though he dresses like a future senator eighty percent of the time and wears his cockiness like a badge. He just keeps showing her these little sides of personality that she’s never seen before and frankly, it’s hard to ignore. 
They make up time quickly, thanks to Harry’s hiking skills and her mostly refreshed feet. When they reach the others everyone is standing at the top of the little mountain they just climbed, eyes focused on something in the distance. 
“What is everyone looking at?” Allie asks no one in particular but stops short with a little gasp when she takes in the view they are all gaping at. The entire lake is visible from their viewpoint, the crystal blue water shimmering in the mid afternoon sun. She can see their side of the lake, with people milling around the sites like little ants. There are boats pulling people on water skis and tons of water crafts making waves for people in floating inner tubes. The lake is surrounded by trees on three sides and Allie thinks it might be one of the most beautiful views she’s ever seen in real life. 
“This is breathtaking,” she says, mostly to herself, but then she feels a hand bump hers as Harry steps up next to her. 
“It sure is,” he says quietly, his eyes sliding from the view before them to her face and then back again. His pinkie touches the side of her hand just barely and the idea to reach over to hold his hand is sudden and unexpected. She doesn’t do it but she finds that she wants to and that confuses her even more.
***
“Fifty bucks says I can chug this entire bottle of Jack in under a minute!” 
Allie rolls her eyes as she passes by a group of guys that she went to high school with, all of them former jocks and not so bright. 
“Pretty sure fifty bucks isn’t going to be enough to get your stomach pumped,” she tosses back in their direction before heading towards the campfire that’s currently warming the majority of her friend group. 
After the hike they spent the day in the water, swimming and riding around on the Jet Skis that Helena had brought for the weekend. Harry offered to rent a boat to take them out but the boats were all rented out by the time they made it back to the lake.
“Tomorrow then,” he had said, dropping his credit card on the counter and winking at the girl making the reservations. Allie’d rolled her eyes and Harry had just laughed and winked at her too.
It’s hard not to notice that he looks really good right now, sitting by the fire with a bottle of beer hanging from his fingertips, his skin perfectly tanned from being in the sun all day. He’s wearing board shorts again but he finally put a shirt on, a white button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It annoys her that he can make anything look good. 
The little smile he gives her when she walks up to the fire pit is almost too much to handle. 
“Need a drink?” Becca asks, pushing a wine cooler into her hand before she can even answer. Allie laughs, thanks her and lowers herself into a chair that just happens to be next to Harry. He smirks a little around the mouth of his beer but doesn’t comment on where she chose to sit down. 
“When do the fireworks start?” She asks Helena, who checks her watch before pointing towards the west of the lake, where there’s no trees and wide open skies. 
“They will be over there in about an hour,” she says. “They won’t be super close because they are technically lit in town but we’ll see the show pretty clearly.” 
They sit around for the next forty minutes drinking and laughing around the fire. Luke and Clark decide to have a rock skipping competition and Allie laughs as everyone scurries around to find the perfect flat rock to enter. Right before the fireworks are about to start Harry nudges her, leans over so he’s almost whispering in her ear.
“Want to find somewhere quiet to watch the show?” 
Everyone around them is either drunk, searching for rocks or both, and no one is paying attention when she nods, stands up and tells him to lead the way. 
They walk side by side next to the lake heading away from the party that’s already raging despite the fact that it’s barely ten at night. Allie practically chokes when they pass a couple full on having sex against a tree and Harry laughs, steers them away from the obnoxious moaning and towards an empty spot on the beach. 
“I should have bought a blanket,” he complains as he settles in the sand and Allie smiles as she drops down next to him. 
“A little sand never hurt anyone. Don’t be a baby.” He quirks an eyebrow at her and she giggles, which she only does when she’s this side of perfectly drunk. 
Harry is quiet as he pulls his knees up and sits with his arms dangling in between them. “You’ve been different today,” he says so softly she can barely hear him. “More like you used to be.” 
“What does that mean?” She’s sitting cross legged and stays that way as she turns so she’s facing him. He just shrugs which makes her roll her eyes. “You’ve been different too.” 
“Oh yeah?” He asks with a raised eyebrow and she nods. “How so?” 
She snorts, leans back on her hands which makes her knees touch the side of his leg. “If you’re not going to tell me, why should I tell you?” 
“What are we, twelve?” He says on a laugh and she shrugs, giving him a dose of his own medicine. He sighs, like it’s a total inconvenience to explain something that he started anyways. “You were fun. Carefree.” 
“It was a good day,” she says and he nods. “And you were flirting with me, which is new.” It’s a bold statement because maybe he wasn’t, maybe it was just like all the other times when he was flirty because he’s Harry Bingham and that’s just how he is. He charms, it’s in his DNA. 
Harry scoffs a little and shakes his head like she’s missing something. “Me flirting with you is not new, Allie.” 
The way he says her name does something to her, the way she can see his tongue when his mouth forms the word. They aren’t saying anything, just staring at each other when the first boom of fireworks sounds off overhead. Neither of them startle or even really acknowledge the show going off above them. She likes the way the colors flash across his face, bright blue and neon pink, and before she realizes what’s happening he’s leaning forward, pressing his lips against hers quickly in a surprisingly gentle and innocent kiss. 
He pulls away first, rests his forehead on hers with a little smile playing on his face. 
“What was that?” The words are practically whispered, breath feather light over almost touching lips. 
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” He doesn’t say anything else, doesn’t go to kiss her again, just smiles softly before pulling away.
Allie smiles too and pulls away, rests her hands behind her in the sand and settles in to watch the show.
***
“Where did you run off to last night?” 
The campsites are stirring the next morning with activity as everyone wakes up after the sun is high and the weather is warm. Helena is sitting by the campfire, a cup of coffee in one hand and her phone in the other. 
“I went for a walk,” Allie says carefully, not sure if she should say anything about what happened with Harry or not. They only shared one little kiss, and while it was wildly romantic with the fireworks sounding off above them, she’s not quite sure where they go from here. “What are you up to?”
Helena holds up her phone. “Trying to secure our boat for the day online. Harry already gave his credit card information to the rental place, I’m on hold.” 
It’s then that Allie can hear the hold music playing quietly from Helena’s phone which is on speaker mode. Allie snorts when she recognizes the song, some piano version of a top 40 hit, and pours herself a cup of coffee. 
A few minutes later a woman’s voice comes over the line, letting Helena know that she’s secured a boat for them that they can pick up in an hour. Helena thanks the woman and ends the call, stands up and wipes sand from the back of her shorts. 
“This place is too fucking sandy,” she says and Allie laughs into her coffee mug. “I’m going to start rounding up the usual suspects. You’re in, right?” 
Allie nods. “Definitely. I’ll get ready and meet you back here at ten.” 
She finishes up her drink and heads to her tent to get ready for the day. There are two options for swimming suits, the one she wore yesterday which was bright blue and white, perfect for the fourth. But she decides on the flashier suit she’d purchased just because it was beautiful in the store and she couldn’t help herself. She slides on a pair of denim shorts and throws a sun hat on for good measure. She’s just finished applying sunscreen when a throat clearing at the tent’s entrance makes her jump. 
“Jesus, Allie.” 
Harry is standing there, one fist up to his mouth as he takes her in from head to toe. And now she knows this bathing suit was worth the price tag because he’s looking at her like he never has before. 
“That suit..” 
Allie laughs quietly and looks down at the top, a white ruffled halter top embellished with gold jewels that sit right under her breasts. There’s an additional piece connected to the bottoms that wraps around her middle that is purely for show, the gold jewels trailing down her stomach to meet the top of her shorts. With her recently tanned skin the stark white of the suit pops, making her look even more sunkissed. 
“You like?” She asks with a cocked eyebrow and Harry nods slowly as he takes her in.
He looks around outside quickly before stepping into her tent. “That is by far the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he says when he’s right in front of her. She inhales sharply when he gently touches the jeweled piece on her tummy. He’s making her feel all kinds of things and he’s not even touching her skin. 
“I’m glad you like it,” she says breathlessly and it makes him smile. Feeling a little bold she pushes up closer to him, leans up so she can whisper in his ear. “Wait until you see the rest of it.” 
Harry lets out a little groan that makes her giggle as she pushes past him. She’s not exactly sure why she’s being so bold, or flirty at all for that matter, but it’s like their kiss from the night before has unlocked something she didn’t really know how to admit before. 
She sort of likes him.
Half an hour later she’s got a beer in her hand as the boat floats lazily along the lake. It was big enough for a fairly large group of people and they are everywhere, laughing and drinking like it’s not before noon on a Sunday. Helena and Luke are talking quietly and kissing in a corner and Allie finds herself wishing for the first time in a long time that she had someone in her life to giggle and kiss whenever she wanted. 
“They are disgustingly in love, don’t you think?” 
Harry chooses that moment to drop down beside her, his chin nodding towards the engaged couple. 
“I think it’s sweet,” Allie says, her eyes taking in Harry’s board shorts and bare chest. A pair of Ray Bans cover his eyes as he lays down in the lounge chair next to hers and gets comfortable. He rests his phone face down on his stomach and Allie snorts. “You’re going to get a weird tan if you leave that there.” 
Harry just smirks and glances at her suit. “You’re one to talk, Pressman” 
Allie just shakes her head with a laugh. “I lathered myself up in sunscreen before we left. I think I’ll be okay.” 
Harry shifts in his chair and gives her a heated look. “I know, I saw.” 
She remembers him coming in after she put on her sunscreen, wonders how long he was standing there before he cleared his throat.
“Perv,” she says with a smile to show him she’s not mad and he laughs, a bright and loud sound that makes a few people look their way.
They spend the day eating, drinking and playing in the lake. By the time they dock she’s perfectly buzzed, warmed by the setting sun and the margaritas Elle made for the girls on the boat. 
“Let’s party!” Clark yells as he jumps into the sand and Allie rolls her eyes as everyone cheers as if that’s not what they’ve been doing all day. But it is their last night here so she follows her tipsy friends through the campsites until they arrive back at hers, which is apparently party central tonight.
Someone turns on music and Billie Eilish starts playing, a thumping bass beat that has everyone up and dancing around the now lit campfire. Elle stumbles up to her, a wide grin splitting her face, and Allie knows the girl is definitely tequila wasted right now which means she’s probably feeling on top of the world.
“Dance with me!” 
Allie laughs and lets Elle pull her into the crowd of people dancing to “Bad Guy” like it hasn’t been on the radio for the past two summers. She turns when she feels eyes on her, sees Harry sitting on the tailgate of Luke’s truck. His eyes are following her every move, and he doesn’t look away as he takes a pull from the long neck bottle in his hands. Even from this far away she can feel her skin heat when he licks his lips, eyes fixed on her like he doesn’t see anyone else. 
“Dude, I think Harry likes you!” Elle yells over the music and Allie stills, tears her eyes away from him to face her friend. 
“What makes you say that?” 
Elle shrugs, which looks ridiculous because she’s drunk dancing all over the place. “He hasn’t stopped looking at you since we got here. Go talk to him.” 
Allie pales, looks around to see if anyone is listening to this conversation. It’s not that she really cares what anyone thinks, and he has been flirting with her more than usual. But he’s a known womanizer and it honestly scares her a little to think that maybe this is just the norm for him. Flirting with a girl until he gets what he wants and where will she be then? In a surprisingly sober move Elle puts her hands on Allie’s shoulders and looks her in the eye. 
“Stop being afraid, Al.” 
Allie takes a deep breath and nods, stands up taller and squares her shoulders back as she heads to where Harry’s sitting. 
His eyebrows go up a little in surprise when she stops right in front of him, practically standing in between where his legs are open and dangling off the tailgate. 
“What are we doing, Harry? You kiss me last night and then never mention it, and now you’re watching me like…” 
“Like what?” He asks when she doesn’t finish her sentence and she melts a little at the deep and husky tone of his voice. “Tell me, Allie.” 
“Like you want to do it again and never stop.” 
He lets out a little breath of surprise as she steps in between his legs and leans up to kiss him. When he doesn’t immediately return the kiss she sort of panics but then he’s sliding down off the tailgate and pulling her into his arms to deepen the kiss. It’s not like the sweet kiss from the night before, it’s raw and full of emotion, his teeth nipping at her bottom lip until she’s weak in the knees. 
There are hoots and hollers around them as he continues to kiss her but she doesn’t care. Maybe it’s the faint tequila buzz she’s still feeling or maybe it’s just how drunk she’s getting off this kiss, the taste of expensive beer on Harry’s lips as he sips at her lips her right there in front of their friends. 
“Maybe we should rejoin the party,” he murmurs against her lips several minutes later and she smiles, reaches for his hand and pulls him in the direction of his tent one campsite over. 
“Maybe we should have our own?” 
He practically growls in agreement and follows behind her as she makes her way through the crowd. Elle winks her as they pass and Allie just grins, turns around to see Harry’s eyes lit up with alcohol and want, as they make their way over to his tent. 
***
The lake is quiet when she steps down to the shore the next morning. It’s still early, everyone getting some much needed rest after the debauchery of the night before. Even from Harry’s tent, where they spent the night making out (plus a little more) and talking until neither could keep their eyes open, they could hear the party raging from the next campsite over.
“Morning, Pressman.” 
Allie smiles when Harry comes up behind her, puts his arms around her waist and drops a kiss to her temple. “Good morning to you too.” 
“I didn’t like waking up alone,” he admits quietly. “I fell asleep with you in my arms, kinda wanted to wake up like that too.” 
The sentiment is sweet and it makes her heart beat furiously in her chest. “What happens next, Harry?” 
He kisses her cheek. “What do you mean?” 
Allie sighs, turns around in his arms so she can look up at him. “I mean, we’re on vacation. This weekend has been fun but what happens in two hours when it ends?” 
“Then we don’t let it end,” he says simply. “You swear like Brooklyn and Manhattan are two separate planets. We can do this, Allie. I want to.” 
She inhales sharply, surprised by how earnest his words are. “You do?” 
Harry rolls his eyes a little and chuckles. “Allie, I’ve liked you since high school. This shouldn’t be such a shock.” 
“I didn’t know,” she says but maybe she just missed it. Maybe all the flirting, every time he randomly joined in a conversation, maybe it wasn’t him being a womanizer. Maybe he really did just like her. “Why didn’t you just tell me?” 
“Honestly?” He asks and she rolls her eyes as if to say duh. “It just never felt like the right time. You were younger, your sister hated me. One of us was always dating someone else. And then life, you know?” 
She nods because she does know. “Well I’m glad you told me now. But I do have issue with one thing that you said.” 
His eyebrows dip together. “Oh yeah? What’s that?” 
Allie smiles as she leans up to kiss him. “Manhattan and Brooklyn are like two different planets.” 
Harry laughs and wraps his arms around her, dropping kisses from her mouth to her shoulder and then back up again. 
“Guess we’ll just have to compromise,” he says, turning her around so they can watch the sun shine on the still water of the lake. “Some nights at my place, some nights at yours.” 
“Sounds perfect.”
She settles back into his arms, enjoying the way the sun warms her face as it rises high in the sky, welcoming the new day.
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ladyreapermc · 5 years ago
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Fic: Parent Trap 2/? (Keanu x Reader)
Summary: Annie and Hallie are twin sisters who never met until they end up in the same summer camp together. They decide to switch places to see how the other lives. Hallie heads to Los Angeles to meet Keanu, owner of Arch Motorcycle Company, while Annie goes to New York to meet you, rising fashion designer. Their plan is simple: get their parents together to make the perfect family. If only it could be that easy…
Prologue | Chapter 1
Author’s notes: So we finally get to see a bit more about these clueless parents. Hope you enjoy it and feedback is always appreciated.
Wordcount: 2446
Warnings: none.
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New York, August 2019
You checked your watch for the third time in the last ten minutes before glancing at the arrival board again. Hallie’s flight had landed twenty minutes ago, but the girl had yet to appear. You knew your niece was probably just waiting for her luggage, but you were anxious to see her.
Hallie had spent a month away at camp and you truly didn’t think you would miss the girl this much. As a matter of fact, you’ve always believed you would be that kind of parent that taught their kids how to be independent, have more autonomy. Raise them for the world, isn’t that the saying?
You weren’t expecting the emptiness associated with Hallie being away though. The apartment was so silent and lonely that you had to contain your urge to call the girl every night, see how the camp was going. You didn’t want to be one of those overbearing parents that smothered their kids.
So you waited for Hallie’s calls and texts, even if they started to become rarer and rarer as the month progressed. You knew that was probably a good sign. She was having too much fun to remember to check-in, but it still made you worry and stare at the phone, trying to will it to ring.
That was over now though. Hallie was finally back and you weren’t planning on letting her out of your sight. She still had another month of summer break before classes started and you planned to enjoy with her everything New York had to offer.
You rose to your tiptoes to get a better look at the new wave of people stepping through the doors. Finally, you caught sight of the familiar redhead and your lips tilted into a smile as you took a moment to just watch as your niece looked around.
Was it possible that Hallie seemed a little taller than the last time you saw her? Her jawline a little sharper? It had really been only a month? Felt like so much longer. The longest you ever had been away from her since you adopted Hallie.
It had been so hard. Especially with knowing that Annie was still out there. No matter what everyone else said, you knew in your heart that she was alive somewhere and every inch of you craved to search for Annie, but Hallie needed you too and you had been only twenty-five and all by yourself.  
You definitely didn’t regret it a second of it, though. Almost thirteen years later and look at Hallie: such an amazing, sweet kid. Maybe you managed to do this parenting thing well enough. Even if it meant you ended up making a few sacrifices in your career and romantic life. It was all worth for Hallie.
“Hallie!” you shouted and waved and the girl took a second to look your way, but her eyes lighted up as she saw you.
You didn’t know why she looked a little awed at seeing you, but before you had time to really think about it, she was rushing towards you, but stopping almost as if in hesitation.
“Welcome back, Hal!” you greeted, pulling her into a tight hug, which the girl returned.
“Thanks, m…,” Hallie paused, clearing her throat quickly. “Dave.”
You pulled back to look at her with a smile and a frown. Had Hallie been about to say what you thought she was going to? She had never called you mom and you never pushed her to do so, even if that was how you felt in your heart.
“I missed you, kiddo,” you said pushing away the thought, before bringing the girl back into your arms, inhaling the scent of her strawberry shampoo. You could swear you missed Hallie so much even her hug seemed a little different. Like you had forgotten how they felt like.
“Missed you too,” Hallie replied as she pulled back and looked up at you. Once again with that awed expression.
“Come on,” you said, picking her duffle bag while throwing an arm around her shoulders. “I wanna hear all about camp.”
In the taxi ride home, Hallie told you everything with such detail, her eyes shining bright and you couldn’t help but grin.
“It does sound you had a great time, sweetie,” you commented as the two of you stepped through the front door and you handed Hallie the keys. “Why don’t you go ahead? I wanna check the mailbox.”
Hallie just nodded and you waited until the girl had disappeared up the stairs to unlock the box and pull out three envelops. You grimaced at the words overdue on them, but shoved inside your jacket pocket, way from sight. The last thing you wanted was to worry Hallie. you would think about these bills later.
Once you arrived at your floor you couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Hallie was struggling against the old lock. Moving closer, you set the girl’s bag on the ground.
“What? Been away so long you forgot the trick?” you joked, taking the girl’s place in front of the door, jiggling the keys three times while turning it so you could unlock and push it open.
“Salem!” You called. “Look who’s here!”
You looked around at the familiar room, searching for the black cat Hallie had adopted, but he was nowhere in sight. Weird. He was always waiting for you two at the door unless there was a stranger around.
You glanced over at Hallie, hoping the girl wasn’t too disappointed at not seeing her cat. You knew how much she loved Salem.
“It’s fine,” Hallie shrugged, a strange smile on her face. “I probably just smell like camp and the airplane.”
She shouldered her duffel and headed to her room without another word. As soon as she was out of sight, Salem peeked his head from under the couch, meowing softly and you sighed, kneeling to caress the cat.
“Everyone’s weird tonight,” you whispered, before flopping on the couch and ordering a pizza before checking her emails.
Yet another magazine had politely refused to feature your designs on their fashion section and you had to take a deep breath to battle sadness and tears. It wasn’t exactly surprising because your latest collection was far from your best work but you had to get something out there, find a way to keep the business afloat or be forced to sell your brand and that was the last thing you wanted.
With another sigh, you set your phone aside and moved towards your room, surprised to find Hallie standing there browsing your old sketches, the ones that hung on your wall since forever but Hallie was looking at them as if it was the first time.
“Hal?” you called to catch her attention and the girl jumped startled, looking at you almost guiltily.
“Everything ok, honey?”
“Yeah,” Hallie replied a little too quickly as her eyes shifted to the framed picture of you and Mary that you kept on your bedside table.
You watched the way the girl gently ran her finger over her mother’s face in the picture almost as if a caress; as if she was seeing for the first time.
“You’re sure?” you asked and it was impossible to miss the way Hallie wiped her eyes before turning to look at you with a smile.
“Guess I was just homesick,” she replied, voice rough with emotion.
“You’re home now,” you said, gathering your kid in your arms. “Everything’s back to normal.”
---
Los Angeles, August 2019
Keanu knew he should be paying closer attention to the meeting unfolding in front of him. A company as big as Harley interested in funding Arch meant he and Gard could go from being a custom shop based in LA to actually start selling nationally, maybe even internationally. They would be able to expand their business, maybe even start to build some of the parts they still have to import from other companies. It was huge.
Still, Keanu’s attention wavered, his eyes shifting periodically to the clock, before he glanced down at his cellphone, willing it to ring. Annie should be arriving soon and all he wanted was to be there to greet his baby girl as soon as she stepped through the gates, but this last-minute meeting had made it impossible, so Karina had to pick her up.
“We’ll get in touch once we make our decision,” Gard announced, bringing Keanu back from his musings.
He stood up from his seat to shake hands with the two sharply dressed men in their fancy elegant suits. Even Gard had thrown on a dress shirt for this meeting, but it wasn’t enough to make Keanu feel all that bad for his t-shirt and, jeans and brown hiking boots. Suits weren’t really his style.
“Did you hear a word they said?” Gard asked with an amused smile playing in his lips and Keanu chuckled, running his fingers through his messy raven locks.
“Maybe two or three,” he admitted with a sheepish look. His friend and partner snorted and shook his head, walking out of the office.
“You’re supposed to be the businessman, Ke. I’m the mechanic, remember?”
“I know, I know,” Keanu sighed, following Gard to the shop where the prototype of their new bike was waiting. “It won’t happen again. It’s just…”
“Annie is coming home, I know,” Gard smiled and patted Keanu’s back, who grinned and nodded.
Keanu had always wanted to be a father, everyone knew that. Call him old fashioned, but along with Arch, having a wife and a kid had to be one of his biggest dreams and for a while, he thought he wouldn’t be able to have it because he still hadn’t found that person he wanted to spent the rest of his life with.
In his head, Keanu thought he would first find the woman of his life, that one person that completed him, then they would have their kids and live happily ever after. Cheesy? Yes, but it had been his picture-perfect idea.
Keanu had never imagined that Annie would be the one to complete him, make him the happiest man ever. His daughter was his everything and even if he still hoped to find that person to be his partner and share his life Keanu knew now he had almost everything he wanted. He was a happy man. Especially when he was with his bikes.
Running his fingers over the smooth metal of the motorcycle, Keanu glanced at the clock again. Annie should’ve arrived by now. Why hasn’t Karina called yet?
“Maybe the flight was delayed,” Gard offered and Keanu had to smile at how his friend knew exactly what he was thinking about. “Come on. Let’s test this baby. It’ll get your mind off things.”
With a sigh, Keanu nodded. Gard was right. No matter how much he wanted his daughter to get home, staring a the clock wouldn’t make her arrive any faster. He changed into his race gear and pushed the bike to track.
It was one of the reasons Keanu and Gard had chosen to build their store in Hawthorne instead of Los Angeles itself was to be able to add this small track so they could make their tests without prying eyes.
With another glance at the clock, Keanu put on his helmet and climbed on the bike, gloved hands tightening on the handles as he twisted the accelerator, the roaring of the engine bringing a grin to his face as he settled a little more comfortably on the seat.
“Ready?” Gard asked, his voice coming loud and clear from the speaker in the helmet. Keanu only hummed in agreement. “Alright. Go.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Keanu sped away, his mind going peacefully blank as the wind rushed through him and he became one with the bike. The machine easily responding to every little nudge and twist of his body. It was one of Gard’s greatest creations and at that moment Keanu knew they couldn’t merge with Harley. This was an Arch. This was theirs and no one else’s.
After a couple of rounds in the track, Keanu brought the bike back to the gate, meeting Gard’s expectant look as he pulled off his helmet.
“It’s perfect, man!” Keanu grinned, breathless from adrenaline and excitement. “I can’t wait to show this baby off in the next circuit!”
“Great!” Gard’s grin matched his, but there was so underlying relief too. He had been working on this bike for months now, tweaking it until it was just right. “We’re ready then.”
If possible, Keanu’s grin widened even more as he handed his helmet off and walked back inside the shop, freezing in place when he saw the girl peering at the bikes exposed. His heart raced and all of the sudden, that gaping hole he had been experiencing in his chest felt full again. It was always like that whenever he was away from Annie.
“Annie,” he spoke softly but the girl’s head snapped his way, her green eyes widening slightly as her lips twisted into a smile.
“Dad...” Her voice sounded almost hesitant and he thought he saw her eyes welling up, but it was for just a second before Keanu found himself wrapped into a tight hug.
Keanu grinned widely, kissing the top of her head, sighing in relief and from the corner of his eye, he saw Karina standing there, phone in her hand and smirk on her face. Gard right beside her. They knew. They planned this. Sneaky bastards!
 “Ke, you’re gonna smother the girl,” Karina joked moving closer.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, finally letting go of Annie and being able to properly take a look at his daughter, who was watching him with something close to wonder. “I like the new hair.”
“Oh. Thanks,” she said, touching the long bob she was spotting. When he dropped her off at camp, Annie’s hair felt to mid-back. He noticed her cheeks turning a little red and Keanu frowned.
“Everything ok, sweetie?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Annie hurried to say with a quick smile. “Just tired.”
“Well, you’re home now so you can rest as much as you want,” Keanu said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
Annie looked up at him, once again with that hint of hesitation and wonder, before her gaze shifted to the bike being brought inside, curiosity shining through.
“Wanna take a look at the new arch?”
“Yes!” She flashed him a big, eager smile.
“Come on then,” Keanu said, guiding her closer excitement making him forget Annie never really cared for motorcycles before today.
xxx (tbc) xxx
Go to Chapter 3
Tag list (give it a shout to be added or removed)
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quilavastudy · 5 years ago
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Hi Hallie! I’m interested in going into medicine, but my social anxiety and fear of public speaking make me doubt myself. I find it so nerve-wracking that I feel like I have to let go my dream of becoming a doctor to do something else instead. Do you think introverted/shy people makes great doctors?
Hello, quiet introverted person right here! So I’d kinda be dissing myself if I said introverted people wouldn’t make great doctors ;)
Firstly, some people talk as if being quiet or introverted is something you have to change, as if it’s bad. It isn’t, and in medicine introverted people bring their own qualities - we’re often good listeners, we get on and do things, we are often conscientious. Don’t go thinking it’s just for extroverted people, medicine needs its introverts! 
Sometimes certain things in medicine can be more difficult for people like us - contributing in discussions for example, working in a team, and like you say, public speaking. I used to get incredibly anxious about public speaking, and tbh I think a lot of people do, even some extroverts. It’s nerve-wracking! You know yourself best, but I do think for a lot of people it gets better over time and with practice:
In first year, I was very shy and was scared to do basically anything at med school. I hardly ever talked in PBL sessions. But my confidence slowly built up as I was forced to partake in more things and got better and more confident in medicine. In my intercalation year, I ended up giving a talk to nearly 200 medical students, and also won a prize for my presentation at a national conference. No one who knew me when I was 18 would have thought I’d be able to do that. You can develop and change - again, not saying it’s bad to be an introvert, I’m still a massive one, but you can definitely combat the shyness and social anxiety. And when you do something like that, you get such a confidence boost and think ‘wow, I can do this!’ - I’m a big advocate for stepping out of your comfort zone, instead of shying away from these things. I know it might not work for everyone, but I think it’s worth giving a go.
Even if you decide you still hate public speaking after a few years in medicine, it’s not like you have to do much of it, and not to hundreds of people. Maybe a few assignments to a handful of people, and maybe in a few meetings when you’re a doctor. And there’s fields of medicine that are more suited to introverts! It’s not like everyone who becomes a doctor has to be the extroverted emergency doctor bouncing around giving speeches. You can even go into a field where you don’t talk to patients either! 
You know yourself best, but I’d urge you not to give up your dream if you really want to be a doctor! x
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mattpitman · 5 years ago
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Premiere.
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Well, the countdown is now on to the first day of what is being called the “new normal” in education. Personally, I am not a fan of the use of “normal” in this case. What we used to have was “normal”. I want better than what we used to have...
A new reality for education. Meh. It’s getting there.
The point is, this is the premiere of the new educational landscape post-isolation. I say premiere because I miss new movies. What a first world problem to have. But I do. So I have been forced to look through my catalog of old movies. Some classics, some personal favourites and some randoms thrown in for fun.
The premiere of “new school” is much like what I imagine the premiere of a movie to be like for an actor or a director. You spend hours and hours trying to put something together that ticks all of the boxes, something that the community will get behind and support but ultimately, it could go either way. 
Will the premiere of “#school2020″ be a rousing success or a resounding flop?
The best way to look forward is in this case, is to look back at the astonishing remote learning period and the rapid adaptation of a whole system to maintain continuous learning. 
What better way to do that than with the help of the movies?
Apollo 13 🚀
In March we were stranded in an unfamiliar “space”, desperately contemplating “where to from here”. We looked at what we had on hand, what we had managed to pack from our offices and desks and started designing. Like the team at NASA we had to find a way to fit a “square peg in a round hole”. A way to keep the life in our learning programs. Many of us had a familiarity with the technology, the applications and the platforms, but never had we expected to completely rely on them. We had success early, but then faced a new challenge.
Groundhog Day ⏰
Like Phil Connors before us, we found ourselves in our own Punxsutawney, a repetitious environment characterised early on by hours of video conferencing, emails and quizzes. Every day we put in long hours to ensure we had differentiated our lessons, but each morning felt like waking up to the same tune on the alarm clock. As the weeks ticked over we found small successes in communicating with our students and like Phil, we learned the value of the little things. We come out of this remote learning period treasuring what we had before COVID-19, but understanding that there is greater work to be done. We came to appreciate the technology when it worked, but when it didn’t, well that was a different story.
Jurassic Park 🦖
When you have just managed to accept everyone into a lesson from the waiting room and then the internet drops out you start to feel a little agitated. It only happened a few times, but every one of them felt a bit like Dennis turning the power off and the letting the monsters out of the cage. When the video stream got a little bit laggy in the middle of a question and answer session, I felt a bit like the “blood sucking lawyer” sitting on the toilet about to be an entree. It was unpredictable at times, but we teachers adapt. “Life finds a way” and so do we, I wasn’t joking about the students being monsters though.
The Parent Trap 📱
I had the pleasure of contacting home quite often during this period. Quite a few students took a little while to warm up to the realities of learning remotely. It seemed like everything they had ever wanted; wake up late, watch TV at lunch, no more trains to catch. Unfortunately for some, the reality of being at home, surrounded by their creature comforts and their teachers confined to a box, was a little too tempting. Netflix seemed more valuable than studying the intricacies of Australia’s healthcare system. Like Hallie and Annie, they tried to pull a fast one on their parents using the tried and tested “I haven’t got any work to do” (at 11am? Nice try!) When the teacher came calling the truth came out and ultimately it brought teachers, parents and students a little bit closer albeit digitally.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 🌌
What a great movie... moving on...
The Dark Knight 🦇
Small gains locally didn’t stop the “jokers” claiming that quote/unquote “homeschooling” had to stop and young people had to return to school immediately. The educational discourse has been a little bit chaotic and like good old Bruce, we teachers find ourselves in a battle we can’t really win. There is inequity across this great nation of ours and many students need to return to school. Is it safe is a big question I can’t answer, but I was hopeful this whole ordeal would increase the overall respect for educators in general. I am no Batman, but it does feel like we are being chased back into the classroom. This, despite our actions over the past few months proving that things can be different. We found a way to maintain order despite the whirlwind of chaos. Speaking of...
The Wizard of Oz 🤖
We now find ourselves in an educational world of opportunity. There isn’t necessarily a Wizard to seek out (or a giant head) and grant our wishes but we can still work to create a brain (creative & critical thinking), a heart (empathy) and courage (resilience). It’s time for us to band together and head off down our yellow brick road to the brighter future beyond the chaos. Sure, there might be a wicked witch or two, hopefully no flying monkeys, but if anything, school staff have proved that they can band together and work through anything. Like the random group found across the road, educators have collaborated without anything more to connect them than a Twitter account, that’s incredibly impressive. Let’s carry some water just in case.
Back to the Future 🚙
We can’t afford to treat this future recklessly like Marty did with his. We need to realise our past mistakes, identify what has worked recently and attempt to create real change for our students future. There is no Delorean for our students. They need our help now. We can’t afford to be looking at our remote learning programs like Marty looking at his photo, watching the gains we have made fade away. We need to take drastic steps (maybe not as drastic as his) to ensure we are preparing our students for their future. There is no going back and there is no almanac. We need to do this together.
This is it.
It is almost time to premiere. There is a mixture of nerves and anticipation. The big question: what will the future hold for education?
Time to decide. 
Are you one of the directors of this new future? Or are you in the audience?
Action!
Here’s a few things that have inspired me this past week as an educator and a leader:
President Obama’s Message to the Class of 2020
(https://youtu.be/H8Ego3_43lQ)
“With so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up for grabs, this is your generations world to shape”. A powerful message for young people everywhere from a truly inspirational leader.
Staff 2030: Future-Ready Teaching
(https://lnkd.in/gYSQYC2)
Essential reading for educators who want to be the directors of this new future.
Image by Sabine Lange from Pixabay 
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A Halcyon Nightscape
Hallie yawns and stretches once again. It feels nice to spend a night out. Far away from the busy hectic city life. No horns, no crowd, no pollution, just peace. And bliss.
She should go out for late night walks more often, Hallie makes a mental note. The two hours long stroll along the logs in the midst of greenery was worth every bit.
The entire area is strangely quiet. People aren't around at this side of the tarn. But at least there is supposed to be sounds made by birds, crickets, squirrels, chipmunks, rats or any other animals likewise. As far as she knows, Jordan Pond doesn't have any presence of carnivorous beasts. So she shouldn't be afraid, right? Well, a black bear might be a rare sight. But still not impossible.
She again checks the Glock 21 in her pocket, just in case. Her dad was the one to teach her marksmanship. Hallie remembers how her dad used to train her every single day from dawn to dusk, not that she ever regretted. Besides the boring homeschooling sessions and day-and-night training, the dynamic father daughter duo also had occasional camping schedules just for fun. Here in this very Acadia National Park. This place was their sanctuary.
She misses him. She misses the times when the two used to come here at the campgrounds and enjoyed fishing and swimming all day in the ocean, having barbeque under the starry night summer sky and munching s'mores in front of the crackling fire. Also, stargazing. Not with open eyes, with necessary equipment, telescope and everything.
Her dad was the one to teach her all about the constellation. He was a walking encyclopedia when it came to guns and stars. Quite contradictory, isn't it?
Hallie and her father considered themselves lucky. Especially after that narrow escape from death, only minutes away from a rockfall accident. But even that luck was not enough to make her dad live longer. Coronary artery complications made him suffer an early death.
Hallie sighs. She feels sad because she misses him, nostalgic because the place reminds her of all those sweet memories.
Conquer your fears, Hale. Don't let them stop you from anything. Listen to your heart.
Those were his last words to her. She still can remember that day so vividly, as if it were yesterday. A sunny, bright and white yet mundane room that smelled sterile and disinfectant. His father, fragile on a cot, yet acting like he's the strongest man on earth. The hero Hallie always saw in him, the hero he felt he needed to pretend.
She wanted to tell her dad to stop trying. It's okay to let go. It's okay to show weaknesses. Her throat tightened, and in the end, no words came out. Only silent tears.
Focus on your target, Halcyon. Tighten your grip. Don't hesitate.
To her dad, she was either Hale or Halcyon. After his departure, she didn't hear either of the two names anymore. She became Hallie, just Hallie. Not so lucky any longer.
She walks up to the lakeshore as she reminisces about the good old halcyon days. It's the first time she came to visit the park after that tragic loss.
Silence seems more prominent around the shoreline. It's a bit chilly here as well. Foggy breeze is blowing gently above the water surface. The air is crisp, cold and earthy. It smells of leaves, bark and grass - somewhat tinged with a bit of melancholy and nostalgia.
Sad or not, the night sure is beautiful. Especially now during the fall, the whole park is covered in vermillion foliage.
Something seems enchanting about the entire atmosphere. And unearthly. Is it because she came here after so long or...
What can it be? It's just another ordinary night.
Nothing is ordinary. Nothing is coincidental.
Her father used to say. She concentrates on warming her hands, rubbing them together continuously.
First the silence and now this outlandish steamy breeze. No, it's nothing unusual. Hallie crouches down near the shore and looks at her own reflection in the water. Under the midnight blue sky, she can see her faint reflection moving in a slow rhythm along with the gentle flow of the lake-water.
The color in the water surface starts to change ever so slowly. Then the pace fastens exponentially. The midnight blue turns into hazy dark mauve, then magenta and then into coral, to the faintest of crimson aiming for a brighter scarlet. It's not even dawn yet. The silence seems to be ceasing as well. At first, the sound was distant. The faint sound is now getting louder and clearer.
Alert, she stands up looking at the sky. No sign of the sun. Instead she catches a shooting star crossing the sky. But... The direction...
Why is it coming down? Is it gonna fall down here? It can't just land here. Or it can...
And once she thought she was lucky to be saved by minutes from a common rockfall. This huge chunk is freaking falling from the sky. Maybe she was destined to die this way. The rockfall accident in the past was only a reminder.
Now, the gun inside her hoodie pocket seems useless. She's surrounded by dark woods, stark mountains and a motionless tarn. Even in this vast space, she's feeling claustrophobic. Perhaps, that's how deaths are - sudden, unpredictable, unapologetic. Will anybody know if she dies here? There are definitely people around a few miles away, probably enjoying dinners in the nearby inns. Closing her eyes, she braces herself and gathers the guts to face her departure.
One second, two seconds, three seconds. Like this another twenty seconds have passed. Nothing happens. Tentatively, she opens her eyes.
Nothing has changed. The reflection on water now dull, the sound no longer audible. Just like before. Of course, the sky is back to its former self, cloudless indigo filled with twinkling stars. No sign of the shooting star or whatever it was. It must've aimed for another galaxy.
All of a sudden, there's this tiniest speck of light just above the centre of the lake. It stayed only for a moment.
"What's going on here?" She says to herself. Her voice echoes in the mountains.
Hallie feels lightheaded. But at the same time, excitement begins to build up inside her. She stands still, waiting for the speck to reappear.
And her wish comes true. The light came back, only wider this time, just a little bit. It's coming closer towards her. One might think of the source to be a firefly but the color is so different. It's not golden, it's more than that. It's all the colors she has witnessed a few moments ago reflected on the lake surface and beyond.
Hallie is so mesmerized by it that she has forgotten to move away. The idea of it being something threatening does not occur to her.
The little circle of brightness begins to dance around her. As if Hallie became its new buddy. Everytime she tries to catch it, it slips away from her. Such a tease. After several attempts, she gives up, tired.
As she's busy panting, the sphere approaches her gingerly, like a child. She understands the ball-like particle is telling her to touch it. Hallie gives it a wry look.
"Now you're telling me? After all the chasing?" She complains, crossing her arms.
The two have been communicating as if both the parties were human beings, not just one. Hallie seems to have forgotten it as well.
She feels curious, but the next moment she's hesitant. Should she touch the ring of light? Won't she get burnt?
Conquer your fears.
Don't hesitate.
Listen to your heart.
The voice in her head is telling her to take a leap of faith. Thus she shakes off her doubts and fears and at last comes to contact with the mysterious luminous little sphere.
At her touch, the sphere acts like it's going to burst. Hallie, long forgotten about the danger, stands there holding her breath. Ready to see what it turns out to be. What it has to offer.
It's like fireworks. Unearthly, eccentric, ethereal fireworks. Shimmery golden hued spots have started to swirl, twirl and waltz around her. It's like the little speck got multiplied into millions. As if the little specks have taken the form of the starlight of the galaxy.
Hallie is gaping at this whimsical but spectacular performance, both marveled and dumbfounded. Is she dreaming?
The colors have started to take a different shade. Now they're no longer golden. It has been divided into shades of blue and red. Just like how the sky was previously. The tiny little particles of light fly altogether up in the sky and accumulate. The colors, the shape, they seem so familiar.
Halcyon.
Just like the bird.
It's her favorite bird. Well, aside from songbirds and kookaburras.
Are they really doing it for her?
"That's impossible," her voice was barely above a whisper.
After the almost shape of a mythical bird has been formed, the cluster flies higher and higher until it disperses and transforms falling down as rain. Rain of stardust.
Hallie has been showered by it. She tries to catch some of the specks. Too bad, she doesn't have a jar with her to contain these. So she rubs her hands inside her pockets hoping the memories would stay there. After she returns home, maybe she might be able to collect them in a container. If she's lucky enough.
She pulls her hands out to inspect them again. Some of the dust is still on her palm. But another peculiar thing occurs, as if the night couldn't get any stranger. Her palms begin absorbing the dust.
There's the earth, the stars and the planets. And there's the human race made from clotted coagulated blood which is actually earth! Honestly Hale, everything is more connected than we can ever imagine.
If only her father was with her tonight. Maybe he is with her. Not in person, but the memories of him are alive in her mind, warm and fresh. Hallie buries her hands around hugging herself, full of gratitude. She hasn't realized it until now, that she's crying.
Rubbing her eyes with her sleeves, she views her surroundings in a new light. As if she's a new person. Different not altogether, the core is still the same. But she's been awakened and enlightened.
The lakeshore looks tranquil and serene. The waves are calm. The sky is clear. The stars are bright, like glittering jewels.
Halcyon.
Placid. Joyful, peaceful, blissful.
She doesn't realize she's been standing in one place all this time. She drops on the ground and stares up at the sky smiling. Inhaling the fresh salty air, appreciating the breathtaking nightscape.
There are sounds of people around. Realizing, she gets up to find the source. She doesn't have to walk very further because people are coming in her direction. Many of them are carrying tripods with cameras, some are holding their phones, some are just chatting.
"Is something about to happen?" She asks one of them. In her mind, she thinks something has happened already. What else could there be?
"Haven't you heard of the news?" The nearby person asks back. When Hallie shakes her head slowly he says, "There's news about the arrival of the Northern Lights. Within a few minutes."
Hallie stares at the dude, brows knitted in concentration. "But I thought if the Northern Lights would be displayed… Shouldn't everyone be here way earlier?"
The guy nods repeatedly, "That's the thing. Nobody knew about it. It's unexpected. We all were in the camp houses when we heard of the news. We got notified half an hour ago. See?" He gestures around. "Everyone came here running."
Hallie acknowledges nodding. She takes in the information.
Within a few minutes, it happens as the news predicted, Aurora Borealis. At first the sky turns gray, there are barely some distinct lines of hazy gray. Then there's a little bit of movement followed by striking green, red, blue, pink and purple layers vibrating beneath one another. They're like rippling curtains. The colorful columns make rhythmic waves. The sky is a literal disco ball. The cloudless sky has turned technicolor, with an eerie glow. The overall feeling is full of magic and charisma.
Everyone is awed. Some may probably have seen it thousands of times but each time the beauty mystifies them. Hallie is no exception. Some are shouting, some are capturing the moments on their cameras. Some are running, trying to follow where the hazy band of light is going towards.
Hallie remembers her father once told her that the excited oxygen atoms are responsible for the green shades while the nitrogen atoms are responsible for the blue and deep red hues.
Just think about it, Halcyon! If the magnetic fields weren't there to deflect the solar storm, we would've been dead!
Magnetosphere saved us from such a catastrophe! And not just that. It tamed the plasma and turned it into this spectacular display! Aren't we so lucky?
"Yes Dad, we're very lucky. You were right, the universe is remarkable indeed." Hallie mutters under her breath. She glances at her side, everyone is busy cherishing mother nature. Her eyes fall on Jordan Pond again. The water is reflecting the colorful carnival. But it's ever calm. Just…
Halcyon.
Hallie is glad once again that she came here tonight. She shoves her hands into the pockets to check the stardusts. They're there. She smiles broadly. It feels like a little secret between nature and her.
Who knew, this fated night would be full of so much serendipity?
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