#he should go on a coffee date with thom | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mldrgrl · 3 years ago

Text

His’n

by: mldrgrl Rating: PG Summary: A Hanella Twitter prompt, of sorts. Hank introducing Stella as his wife. https://twitter.com/hole4gillian/status/1411255101990203392?s=21

The whole Zoom appearance thing was getting to be old hat, so when Hank was asked to appear live and in person at the reopening of an independent book store he frequented, he jumped at the opportunity. He missed reading to people that actually existed and weren’t just little boxes on a screen. He missed that instant feedback and energy that only a live audience could provide. He missed being the center of attention.

The appearance was on a Tuesday evening. He asked Stella to go, but she had a late class that night. He asked Becca to come, but Ziggy had a puppy training session. He wasn’t terribly disappointed. It was a rare occurrence to have any of his family at an event and he was fine with it.

Hank was greeted by the owner and manager of Read This, a man named Philip, who he considered to be a step above an acquaintance, but not quite a friend. They had a relationship built upon reciprocity. Hank was a regular customer, even name dropped the store a few times in interviews to give it a boost, and Philip always stocked his books and made sure signed copies were on display.

The event space in the store was just a small stage at the back, barely large enough to fit two chairs comfortably, and an assortment of mismatched folding chairs scattered in front of it. The bookstacks were at angles, pointed towards the stage in a vee formation like an arrow down the aisle. Hank had done a few signings there in the past and they always felt more like intimate gatherings than events.

Philip kicked off the appearance with a short speech thanking everyone for coming out and for supporting the store over the years. He kept it short and simple and then gave Hank the floor to a round of applause. Hank stepped up onto the stage and gave Philip a quick hug before he sat down. All the seats out in the audience were full - all fifteen or twenty of them. He took a passing glance at the crowd as he unfolded the pages he’d brought with him that had been tucked into his back pocket.

“Any of you motherfuckers blog about this later and call me an old man for what I’m about to do, fuck you in advance,” he said, taking out the reading glasses he had hooked to the collar of his shirt that had recently become a necessity.

Everyone laughed. Someone woo-hooed from the audience and Hank dropped his chin to look over the rim of his glasses.

“Philip said I could read whatever the hell I wanted,” Hank said. “So I’m going to read an excerpt from a new novel I’ve got coming out in a few months called Alone Together. A couple things you should know going in, the novel follows the story of Miranda and Scott, a married couple who are on the verge of calling it quits after fifteen years when the pandemic hits and forces them hunker down together when they’d really rather be anywhere else. This bit I’m about to read is about half-way in, when Scott is starting to reflect on what exactly went wrong and when.”

Hank paused to smooth his pages again. When he looked up, he straightened his shoulders in surprise. He saw Stella, leaning against one of the bookstacks with a mild smile on her face. She was in her work clothes, a white silk blouse and fawn colored pencil skirt and tan heels. She had a tan blazer over her arm and her briefcase in hand as well. He took a subtle glance at his watch as he adjusted his pages. Her night class should have only started a half an hour ago.

“Uh,” Hank started and then hid a grin behind his fist as he cleared his throat. “Scott watched his wife at her computer from across the room. She had her headset on and she was laughing. He couldn’t actually remember the last time he’d heard her laugh. It occurred to him that he’d forgotten what it sounded like.”

It took about fifteen minutes for Hank to read the full excerpt. He was momentarily distracted when he saw Becca walking down the aisle. She went straight to Stella, gave her a hug, and then turned towards the stage with Stella’s arm across her shoulders. The surprise of having both his wife and daughter there for him almost made him cry.

When he finished, the audience clapped, and Philip came back onto the stage to moderate audience questions. All the questions were the same variations of questions he had been asked his entire career. He could answer them in his sleep. While he was droning on about his routine and writing habits, he saw Becca tip her head back, whisper something in Stella’s ear, and then duck out from under her arm and walk away. He hoped she wasn’t leaving without saying goodbye.

“Gentleman in the green shirt,” Philip said.

“You said earlier that you were inspired by the pandemic, so I have to ask, how much is fiction and how much is reality?”

“Are you asking me if I based it off my own life?” Hank asked. “Well, first of all, I want to make a broad statement about writing in general. That whole ‘write what you know’ garbage that people, mainly professors, let’s be honest, try to instill into you, is bullshit. Do you think Bram Stoker was a vampire? Do you think Thoms Harris was a cannibal? And believe me, I’m not saying that writers don’t cull from their real life when they’re putting words to paper, but there always seems to be this assumption that if you’re writing a modern story, set in a modern world, that somehow that must be your life and your voice.

“Unlike Scott, I am happily married to the most beautiful, intelligent, way out of my league woman and I would never forget, not even for a hot second, that I am the luckiest bastard alive. We started off the pandemic in very close quarters and when I was trying to think about what I might be interested in writing next, it occurred to me that I could very well be in a miserable position if my life was different. But, it’s not my life that I was imagining when I finally sat down to write. It was two people who were at odds with each other and how would they respond to this?

“I’ll say this, though, and then I’ll get off my high horse on the subject. There is one thing in the story that I gave to Scott that belongs to me. I even read from that passage tonight, and I’ll read it again.”

Hank put his glasses back on and flipped through his pages until he found the paragraph he wanted. He glanced up and out to where Stella was before he re-read the lines.

“He could recall in stunning detail the moment he knew he was in love with her. It wasn’t a romantic moment. They weren’t out on a date. It wasn’t during or after sex, when he was naturally euphoric. It was on a hot summer morning in August when the air conditioner had gone out overnight and they’d both slept poorly and were pissed off at the world. He watched her angrily brushing her teeth with her pink cheeks and dark circles under her eyes and in his exhaustion and anger he wished for a moment that she wasn’t there, but then he had a flash of his life without her and suddenly he felt a swelling in his chest that stole his breath. He never wanted to envision a life without her again, not for a minute.”

Hank stared at the page for a few beats before he finally took off his glasses again and looked up. He first looked for the man that had asked the question and then he turned his gaze to Stella.

“The fictional situation was different,” he said. “But, the feeling was the same.”

Stella gave him a subtle smile and her lips puckered very briefly. His own lips twitched in response and he finally cut his eyes away. He took a few more questions and then Philip thanked him for his time and invited anyone that wanted to stay to have a book signed to wait for a few minutes as they set up the table.

As people began to talk amongst themselves, Hank left the stage to go to Stella. She was chatting with Becca, who had returned with two cups of coffee from the cafe next door.

“Hey,” Hank said, sliding his arm around Stella’s waist and squeezing her hip.

Stella put a hand on Hank’s face and her thumb briefly circled his mouth. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes held his in a warm gaze. She tilted her chin up at him and he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Daughter,” he said, turning to Becca while still holding onto Stella. He put his hand on the top of her head and kissed the part in her hair.

“Father.”

“I’m glad you came.”

“We thought we would take you to dinner,” Stella said. “When you’re finished.”

“I would love that.”

Philip came up from behind Hank and said his name. “We’re ready for you,” Philip said.

“Philip, this is my wife, Stella Gibson. And my daughter, Rebecca Moody.”

“Lovely to meet you,” Philip said to Stella and then nodded to Becca. “We sold out of the hardcover of your last book. Please, let me know if you’d ever like to do a signing.”

“Sure,” Becca said.

“You’d have to put twice as many chairs out,” Hank said. He could tell Becca wanted to roll her eyes at him so bad.

“Go do your thing,” Stella said, putting her hand over Hank’s on her hip. She rubbed her thumb over his and he captured it and pinned it down for a moment. He nodded and then kissed her cheek again.

“Love you,” he whispered into her ear.

“I see what you mean,” Philip said, walking Hank back to the stage where a folding table was set up. “She is out of your league.”

“Right?” Hank said with a laugh. “And she married me. Unfuckingbelievable.”

The End

#i wrote this #hanella #hank moody #stella gibson #marrieds #the fall #californication

70 notes · View notes

thelittleboyfromloveactually · 4 years ago

Text

Record Store (pt 2)

Thomas Brodie Sangster x reader

Word count: 1989

Part 1

I hope y’all like this mini series! I am having fun writing it, enjoy!

“Hey Y/N!” Jane yelled

Jane was another one of your best friends. You had known her since high school but you became close when you found out you would be attending the same college. Jane is studying to be a pediatric oncologist, at least for now. You were walking across campus from your previous class headed to Anesthesiology. Jane was joining you in this class. You hadn’t really told anyone about you and Thomas because you weren’t sure if he wanted you. And who says there is anything going on, you haven’t even been on a date yet. You could go on this date and then decide he isn’t for you. So you didn’t want to make a big deal about it.

“Hey Jane! Are you ready to die of boredom?” Anesthesiology was not your strong suit nor your main interest. And if you were being honest it was very boring, but it was a requirement.

“Yup i have had so much coffee i think it's going to be impossible to fall asleep this time” she said practically bouncing up and down

You laughed “great!”

“You wanna hang out tonight there is going to be a party, or we could just chill, get some homework done” she asked

Great , now you had to explain why you couldn't hang out. “Um actually i am busy, sorry” you said

“That's fine, what are you doing?” she asked looking at you

“Um work”

“No your not”

“No im not” you both laughed, you sucked at lying “i have a date actually”

“Oh really? Who's the lucky guy?” she asked teasingly

“I met him at Royal Records, he asked Felix where i worked, he came to the cafe and asked for my number. He is taking me to dinner tonight” you said, trying to avoid saying his name

“Cool, who is he though?” she asked

“Um his name is thomas” you said

“Nice! Well you will have to introduce me, and make sure to ask if he has any friends” she said, winking at you and giggling. Oh I'm sure he has friends, you thought, famous ones. “Where is he taking you?”

“Chiltern Firehouse” you responded

“Wow, he must be rich, that's a really nice restaurant, i've never been” she rambled

You laughed nervously, before now you never thought through if you two did become a thing, how hard it would be. He is famous and probably rich, not that you cared you just figured that the public would. You shook the bad thought out of your head and walked into class taking your seat.

After your 4 classes, you went home, or to your dorm. Your roommate, Cleo, was sitting on the couch eating from a bag of chips. You greeted her and went straight to your room. You looked at the time it was 4:13 pm, you had about 2 hours before you were supposed to meet him. Your reservation was at 7:00 but Thomas had texted saying that you could go for a walk beforehand. You showered, did your hair and put on make -up. You ended up picking a champagne colored silk dress that just before your knees. You grabbed your purse and your jacket and headed out the door. Thoms had offered many times to pick you up, but because of the dorms you thought it would be too complicated. You told him you would meet him outside of your dorm building, and then he would pick you up. As you walked out the door of the building you felt a brush of cold breeze hit your face, you smiled. Then a black car pulled up and Thomas stepped out of it.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, love” he said with a smile, he took your hand and opened the passenger side car door for you.

“Thank you kind sir” you said jokingly

“Of Course my lady” he shut the door and headed onto the other side, he sat down and you were off. You loved London at night, all the lights and the people. You smiled as you looked around, you didn't know it but Thomas kept glancing over at you and admiring your beauty.

THOMAS’ POV

She looked absolutely gorgeous. It has been a while since I have been on a date so I hope she likes it. I couldn't help but admire her features as she looked so longingly at the city. She looked at me and smiled, I looked back on the road and smiled too.

“How long have you been acting?” she asked sweetly

I was genuinely surprised that she didn't know, most girls that I go on a date with know more about me than I do myself, “almost my entire life, how long have you been wanting to be a doctor?” i asked

“Since highschool. I have been exposed to a lot of medical stuff my entire life. My dad was a surgeon. And I just want to help people” she said fidgeting with her hands

“Oh nice! Would you like to play some music?” i asked handing her my phone

“I would love to” a few seconds later back in black came on and she started mumbling the lyrics. I smiled, she was adorable. Throughout the song her words became more clear and I was able to hear her voice. It was beautiful. She even made the roughness of the song sound smooth and angelic. I kept looking over at her, I couldn't help it.

About 5 minutes later I pulled into the valet parking lot. I walked to the other side, opening her door and helping her out. We walked across the street to the park that was lit by some street lights. We had about 30 minutes to kill before our reservation.

“So Y/N, tell me a little bit about yourself,” I asked her. I was honestly intrigued by her. I wanted to know everything.

“Um well what do you want to know?” she asked as we walked along

“Anything really” i responded, still looking at her

“Well as you know i am a med student at cambridge, i went there for college too, i actually graduated top of my class.” she said proudly

“Wow, that's awesome! You're pretty smart huh?”

“Ya i guess you could say that, how about you? Why did you decide to become an actor?” she asked

I looked ahead “well my parents where theater actors, i also didn't always like school so acting became a sort of escape”

“That's sweet, why didn't you like school?” she pushed, my hand was swaying net to her as we walked, our fingers brushing occasionally

“I guess I just struggled with reading especially” I gave in. I put my hand into hers slowly, her hands were cold. She looked at me and I smiled, she smiled back. The conversation continued, and we kept walking until it was time to go inside.

NORMAL POV

They escorted us to our table and we sat down. It was a very nice restaurant. There was classical music playing in the background, you could hear the sound of forks against plates and wine glasses clinking together.

“Bonjour! How can I help you today?” the waiter asked, you could hear the french accent in his voice, you decided that you would try to have a conversation.

“Bonjour, je pense que nous allons juste prendre un verre pour le moment” you told him that you were just going to order some drinks for the moment. The waiter smiled, you looked at Thomas, his mouth was opened in surprise. You giggled

“Great, what can i get for you, we have a very nice champagne that just came in if you would like?” the waiter suggested

“That sounds great, is uh that ok with you?” thomas asked

“Yup” you nodded

“Ok we will take two glasses of that please, thank you, oh and some waters” thomas said

“Of course i'll be right back” the waiter left

“Sooo,” Thomas started, “you speak french huh?”

“That's really cool, i took french in highschool but im afraid its all left me now” he said leaning closer to you

“Shame, we would have secret conversations” you said giggling

Thomas loved to laugh, it sounded so happy.

A few minutes later the waiter came back with your drinks. You both ordered your food which was brought out shortly after. The food was very fancy, and very good. After you finished Thomas paid and escorted you back outside.

“Would you like to go get some ice cream?” he asked putting his hand in the small of your back

You nodded “that sounds amazing”

The two of you walked down the street hand and hand. You both were adorably nervous. Both you and Thomas had red cheeks. The ice cream shop was adorable.

“Hi, what can I get for you today?” the girl at the counter asked

You looked at Thomas, asking permission to order, he nodded encouragingly.

“Hi! May i please have the lavender honeycomb please” you said politely

“Yes, and for you sir?” she asked

“I'll have the same” thomas said taking out his wallet

You smiled at him

The girl handed you your ice cream and the two of you left. You licked your ice cream cone happily.

“How is it?” asked thomas

“Amazing! Thank you so much” you said

“Anytime, this had been really fun” he said his eyes scanning over your face

“Yes it has” you said smiling at him

“Oh um you've uh, you have some-” he tried to show you where on your face the ice cream was but you couldn't seem to find it

“Did I get it?” you asked laughing

He laughed “uh no, here um, may i?”

You nodded, his thumb brushed under your lower lip, revoking the ice cream. You felt the butterflies return.

“There” he said

You blushed smiling, “thanks”

“Your very welcome” he said smiling back at you

You finished your ice cream and walked back over to the car. The car ride back to your dorm was filled with laughs and singing. You could seem to stop smiling, and neither could thomas. By the time you got to your dorm it was late, but you didn't want to get out of the car. Thomas opened the door for you and helped you out. He walked you to the door of the building

“I had an amazing time tonight” he said

“Me too, we should do this again” you said

“Yes, yes we should” it was quiet, he moved a piece of stray hair behind your ear

“I never told you how beautiful your voice was” he said looking into your eyes

You blushed “thank you”

“Ya” was all he said before his lips were on yours. His lips were soft and moved perfectly with yours. His hands move to your hips, pulling you closer to him. You noses brush against each other. Your heart began to race. The two of you pulled away, both in need of air.

He stared into your eyes, and pecke you lips one last time

“good night Y/N” he said in a whisper, he still had a tight hold on you

“Good night” you said

He looked down and let go fo you, he turned to walk away, but he didnt he didn't even make it 3 steps before he was turning around and coming back to you

“Maybe just one more kiss” he said, bridging your lips to meet him again. You smiled into the kiss. This boy would be the end of you. Then, too soon it was over, he broke apart and smiled

“Bye” he said with a slight laugh

You giggled “bye”

He walked away looking back at you, before getting into the car. You waved him off. Then when he was out of sight, you squealed. Maybe there was hope for you two yet.

25 notes · View notes

jlalafics · 4 years ago

Note

Could you please reblog your lesbian!Peeta story for me

Sure! I hope this is the one you’re thinking of!

_______

“You can shut off the lights now.”

Delly Cartwright, Peeta’s friend and business manager, looked to her and gave a sympathetic smile.

“You did well for a new business owner, Peeta,” she continued. Gathering some of the go-backs, Delly started to head over to the racks. “You opened a record shop. It wasn’t exactly going to be busy every day, but from a business standpoint, you did well for your first week.”

Peeta gathered her golden locks into a ponytail and took the broom next to her to sweep up.

“I guess you’re right,” Peeta replied.

She had fair sales for her opening week; it had always been her dream to open a shop of her own and her love for vinyl clinched her decision to open a record store. There was hope of expanding to a used bookstore, but it seemed that it would be awhile before that would happen.

“Don’t you have a husband to get home to?” Peeta asked her friend. “Thom must be annoyed that you’re spending all your time with me.”

“Thom wouldn’t have a full-service coffee bar if it weren’t for his wife’s business savvy,” Delly retorted. She pushed herself onto the wood counter. “He can sacrifice time so I can help out one of my best friends.”

“Really though.” Returning the broom to its place, Peeta met her friend’s light eyes. “Thanks.”

“Of course.” Suddenly, Delly’s mouth formed into a smirk. “I mean it wouldn’t hurt if you had a partner to support and help you out. I met this great girl at Thom’s bar—”

“You know what—” Peeta lifted her petite friend off the counter easily, placing her by the front door. “—I think you should go home. You’re obviously exhausted.”

“You win this round, Mellark,” Delly declared with a chuckle. “We’ll see you for Sunday brunch at our place.”

Stepping out, Peeta watched her friend get into her car and drive off before walking back into the store.

Sighing, she let herself admit that she was lonely.

It had been two years since her last relationship and about six months since her last date. Her brothers were both in long-term relationships; Dean, her eldest brother, married to Olivia, his college girlfriend, with two kids and one on the way while Rye, the middle child, engaged to Johanna, one of Peeta’s closest friends and her former roommate.

While she, the youngest and only girl, was still single.

Peeta wasn’t looking for just anyone.

Whoever she was had to be more.

So, for the time being, she would just have to focus on getting the store up and running.

++++++

Locking up the store, Peeta buttoned her rust peacoat and headed towards her bus stop. Her place was fifteen minutes away—just a few blocks—but the fall season had caused the city to go dark once it hit six in the evening.

“Hey girl!”

The group of guys from the bar across the street called out. There were a few catcalls and she ignored it, speeding up her pace towards the bus stop at the end of the block. Her heart stuttered in nervousness as she heard the footfalls heading towards her.

Suddenly, one of the guys was standing in front of her. “Where you heading, sweetheart?”

Peeta didn’t reply, only taking in a description of the guy…mid-twenties, dark beard, medium height, sharp dark eyes wearing a grey hoodie, black tank, and dark jeans.

So, basically any random guy.

Dean was a cop and he had always taught her what to do if she was in a situation like this. However, it didn’t seem to be helping as she found herself surrounded by the rest of the group.

So, Peeta went for Rye’s method and fully rushed at the guy in front of her, trying to knee him in the groin.

He pushed her and Peeta was knocked down, the back of her head hitting the concrete.

There was the pain of impact…and then darkness.

++++++

“Miss Mellark…can you open your eyes?” Peeta blinked, her vision blurred and the white light causing her eyes to close again. “Take your time.”

She followed the kind voice, allowing herself to adjust before opening her eyes once more.

“There you go,” the voice said gently. “You gave us a scare when you came in.”

Her vision cleared and the warmest set of eyes greeted her. Almond-shaped and dove grey, the eyes were set in a heart-shaped face along with a pert nose and rose lips, her skin was a soft olive and her raven hair was tied back in a neat braid.

“Where am I?” she asked as the bed was slowly elevated.

“You are in the hospital,” the woman in the blue scrubs informed her. “My name is Katniss and I’m your nurse. You were mugged; the perp got your credit cards but left the rest of your wallet since there wasn’t any money. Can you tell me your name?”

“Peeta. Peeta Mellark.”

Katniss looked at her in confusion. “Your ID says Pieta Mellark.”

“When I was born, my parents tried to teach my brother Rye how to say me name properly, Pee-et-ta, but he couldn’t get it and kept pronouncing my name as Pee-ta. So, it kind of stuck.”

The nurse chuckled. “I like both your names.” Katniss looked over her chart and then to her. “We’re just making sure that you’re CT scan comes out clean and then we can release you. Do you have anyone that we can call? Your family?”

“I don’t want to worry my parents and they’re an hour away, and my brothers have families,” she explained. “Once I’m released, I’ll just head on home.”

“Your name fits you,” Katniss remarked. “Pieta means compassion. A lot of people would milk themselves getting injured, but not you. You’re more concerned about everyone else around you.”

“Give me a day or two and I’ll be at home, feeling sorry for myself,” Peeta replied. “Your name is a plant.”

The nurse grinned. “How did you know?”

“When we were all kids, my parents took us camping,” she explained. “And my Dad told me that if for some reason, I got lost in the woods then I just needed to find you to survive.”

Katniss blushed, her cheeks flooding with color, and Peeta found herself breathless in the prettiness of it all.

“I suppose that could also apply to non-camping situations,” Katniss responded. “Get some rest, Peeta, and I’ll check up on your results.”

++++++

“I’m really alright, Haymitch,” Peeta assured her business partner on the phone. “They kept me overnight for observation, but they didn’t see anything in the CT scan.”

“We should install cameras in the front,” the man insisted. “You could’ve been killed or assaulted!”

“Well, they checked if there was any trauma down there and everything seemed right as rain,” she assured him. “My vagina is perfectly intact.”

There was a cough and she turned to see Katniss standing before, a black bomber jacket over her scrubs and her hair down in long waves.

“I really didn’t need to hear that,” the man muttered. “Just call me when you get home, okay? Also, get an Uber and put it on our business credit card.”

“Ah…you should probably call about that,” Peeta replied. “Some of my credit cards are missing.”

“I’m right on it,” Haymitch responded. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll open the store tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” Hanging up, Peeta stuffed her phone into her jean pocket before turning to the woman. “Getting off?”

Katniss looked to her in confusion. “Excuse me?”

“Work. You off from your shift?”

The blush invaded her lovely face and she nodded quickly. “Oh yeah! Just heading out. How about you?”

“Yeah, just needed to check in with Haymitch, my partner,” Peeta explained.

“Oh.” Katniss’ expression dropped. “Why wouldn’t your boyfriend pick you up?”

Peeta snorted at the idea.

“Haymitch is my business partner.” She looked to the woman beside her. “You heading home to your boyfriend?”

The woman shook her head. “I’ve got some leftover pasta and A Walk to Remember on Netflix, but that’s about it.”

“Would you want to join me for a cup of coffee?” Peeta found herself asking. “Thom, my best friend’s husband owns a coffee shop a few blocks down. It will be on me—or on Delly, my best friend—your coffee, I mean…”

Shit, Peeta was going about this all wrong. She didn’t even know if Katniss was into girls.

“Sure.”

Her head snapped up at Katniss’ response and Peeta smiled. “Okay.”

They headed onto the sidewalk in front of the hospital. It was a beautiful morning, chilled but brimming with potential to be a gorgeous day of clear skies and temperate weather.

“How long have you been a nurse?” Peeta asked as they headed down towards Thom’s coffee bar.

“About three years,” Katniss said. “Got this job right out of school. My mom was head nurse at the hospital before retiring a few years ago and I guess nepotism worked in my favor. I might actually be a really crappy nurse.”

“No, you definitely aren’t,” Peeta argued. “You have a natural empathy.”

“How so?”

“When I woke up, I was scared as hell,” she told the woman next to her. They stopped at the crosswalk and Peeta met Katniss’ gaze. “But, when I heard your voice, I knew that I would be okay. You made me feel safe.”

“That’s a lot to put on a girl,” Katniss said quietly. “But I’m glad that I could help.”

Their eyes met and it was like a magnetic force that Peeta found her hand tucking back a tendril of Katniss’ hair behind her ear. Her fingers lingered, feeling the softness of her dark waves and Katniss’ breath caught at the gesture.

Her hand covered Peeta’s and the sensation drew a sharp gasp from Peeta’s mouth.

It had been a long time since she had felt like this.

Stepping towards Katniss, she waited to see if the woman would retreat.

However, Katniss remained still, her mouth parted and her eyelids going half-lidded as Peeta close the space between.

The kiss was careful, her mouth slanting over Katniss’ gently. The feeling of her soft lips caused a groan to draw up from the pit of Peeta’s stomach and escape between their mouths.

It was scary but exhilarating all at once and Peeta never wanted to let her go.

However, Katniss hummed against her lips and reluctantly she pulled away.

“I probably wasn’t supposed to do that,” Peeta told her.

Katniss looked disappointed. “Oh, okay.”

“I mean not without taking you out on a date first.”

Katniss let out a relieved laugh. “Well, we just cut out the needless tension of the first kiss, didn’t we?”

“I guess so,” Peeta replied, taking her hand. “So…”

‘…would like to stay indefinitely?’

“Would you like to have coffee first and then dinner later?”

“And, between then?” Katniss asked, her thumb caressing the top of Peeta’s hand.

“Whatever we want, I have all day.”

I have forever for you.

“Okay.” Katniss beamed. “Let’s start with the coffee.”

#anon #repost #lesbian!Everlark #genderswap #Everlark Fanfiction #Everlark

38 notes · View notes

alj4890 · 4 years ago

Text

Kiss Prompts

(Maxwell Beaumont x Nadia Park) with the prompt: A gentle kiss that quickly descends into passion, with little regard for what’s going on around them as requested by Anonymous. (Thomas Hunt x oc*Amanda) with the prompt: Staring at each other’s lips for a moment before moving closer, as if drawn together by some unseen force also requested by Anonymous. And the prompt: "I shouldn't be here." As requested by @krsnlove

(Maxwell x Nadia) (Thomas x Amanda) in a The Royal Heir/Red Carpet Diaries/Perfect Match crossover Fan Fiction

@lxaah11 @alleksa16 @penguininapinktuxedo @blackcoffee85 @stopforamoment @hopelessromantic1352 @krsnlove @annekebbphotography @hopelessromantic1352 . @sunflowergirl05 @desireepow-1986 @greywitchyshots @lilyofchoices @moodyvalentinestories @emceesynonymroll @my-heart-beats-for-ya @aworldoffandoms @ab1901 @lolablackwrites @flyawayboo @i-bloody-love-drake-walker @trappedinfandoms @kate-mckenzie

Masterlist

A/N Another day has come. Plans are made. Some are beautifully executed. Then there’s always that one, teeny tiny little unforeseen occurrence that makes it all fall down.

Part 1

A Not So Perfect Match (Part 2)

The Beverly Wiltshire, Amanda’s suite, very early morning…

“So?” Maxwell poured himself a cup of coffee. “How did each little conversation go yesterday with Ryan?”

“What?” Amanda yawned behind her hand. “Fine, I suppose.”

“Fine, huh?” He waggled his eyebrows. “I’m assuming there was a lot of flirting.”

“You would be wrong.” She muttered, reaching for the cup of tea he prepared for her.

“What do you mean?” Maxwell sat down across from her. “He didn’t flirt once while talking to you?”

“Not at all.”

His brow creased in thought. “Maybe he is a method actor and has to stay in character throughout the shoot.”

“Or maybe he isn’t attracted to me.” Amanda countered, yawning once more.

“That’s impossible.” Maxwell declared. “You’re the whole package! Sweet, intelligent, pretty, supportive, sense of humor. Who wouldn’t love you?”

A tender smile peeked out at him from behind her teacup. “That’s sweet, but I think we can add Ryan to the list of men who don’t see me as the whole package.”

“I’ll talk to him.” Maxwell decided. “Make him see how great you are.”

“Maxwell, look at me.” Amanda leaned over the table. “I don’t want a man who has to have everything positive pointed out to him by someone else. If he was the one, wouldn’t he able to see all that for himself after hours spent around me?”

“Yeah, but, he isn’t in date mode. He’s in acting like me mode.” He countered. “A little nudge is what is needed to open his eyes to you.”

“It isn’t any big deal.” Amanda promised. “In fact, I don’t really feel anything for him either. He’s still handsome and charming, but I can actually talk to him like he is just some average guy.” She shrugged. “No love lost on either end.”

Maxwell stood steadfast in his belief. “But you belong with someone charming, great sense of humor, and handsome.”

She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Why do I need that when I already have a best friend with all those attributes?” Her lips curved into a smirk. “A girl can only take so many charming men in her life.”

“You need the Royal Romance Treatment.” He responded, squeezing her hand affectionately. “If I could do it for Riley, then I’m doing it for you.” He reached for the plate of eggs. “And Ryan Summers is Hollywood Royalty.”

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

Thomas Hunt's new home, still early morning...

"Hellllloooo!" Rachel called out. "Thomas?"

She shut the front door and walked throughout the downstairs, pausing to admire each room she passed.

"Thom--"she stopped at the sight of the stranger in the kitchen.

He turned around and flashed a friendly smile. "Can I help you?"

Rachel blinked at how cute she thought he was. "I was looking for my brother."

"You must be Rachel." He walked forward and held his hand out. "I'm Steve Petellier, the architect Thomas hired."

"You designed this?" She said, not bothering to hide the awe in her voice.

"Guilty." He leaned closer as if to impart a grave secret. "Though most of this is all because of your brother's ideas."

"Yes, but you made his ideas a reality." She responded. "It's beautiful."

"Thank you." Steve smiled even more at her. "Your brother should be out in a minute. He had to take a phone call."

He returned to the blueprints he had spread out on the kitchen table.

Rachel set her box of pastries down on the counter and tried to catch peek at what he was working on over his shoulder.

He glanced up and grinned at her interest. "These are a few ideas for his guest house."

She blushed at being caught sneaking a look. "Oh."

He stood up and pulled a chair out for her, apologizing for not doing so earlier. "Would you mind giving me your opinion?"

"Mine?" She stuttered. "I'm not sure I could give one worth having."

"You did just say how beautiful this is," he reminded her. "Though I would love to hear more compliments, I would like some constructive criticism on these."

She nervously tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Of course."

He smiled again, causing her heart to beat a little faster.

What is wrong with me? I never have such instant attraction to--

"Ms. Hunt?" Steve tilted his head to the side when he heard her shortness of breath. "You okay?"

"Yes. Fine." She closed her eyes briefly at her inability to talk like the intelligent woman she prided herself on being.

"It is, Ms. Hunt, right?"

"Huh?" She shook her head. "No. I mean yes. I'm single. I mean...please feel free to call me Rachel."

She longed to bury her head in her hands.

Steve didn't bother to hide his amused smile.

"Good to know." He placed a rendering of the outside of his first drawing in front of her. "Rachel, what does this one make you think of?"

She missed his question completely. Something about the way he said her name just...sigh...she never liked it as well as hearing his voice utter the two syllables.

I've become a romantic idiot.

"Pastries!" She abruptly jumped up.

"The house reminds you of pastries?" Steve asked.

"Yes. NO!" She stilled, trying to get a grip. "I brought pastries. Would you care for one?"

"Thank you." He reached into the box she shoved in his face. "I'll admit these are my weakness."

Her lips curved when he bit into the powdered doughnut. Sugar covered his bottom lip.

Her cheeks burned with the thoughts she was having about his mouth.

"Rachel?"

She let out a startled yelp and spun around. "Thomas! There you are. I came by with breakfast and to see your new home."

He grimaced. "I appreciate it, but I have to get to the studio." He glanced at Steve. "I should be back in a few hours."

"No problem." He stood up and gathered his plans. "It will give me a chance to draw up some other options."

Rachel felt her shoulders slump at not being able to spend any more time with the architect.

Perhaps it was for the best. He had made her forget her true mission for coming by: encouraging her brother to date Nadia.

Holly popped her head around the corner. "Leaving boss?"

"Yes." He checked his bag for the script. "If you wouldn't mind, would you finish unpacking the books in the study?"

"On it." She then greeted Rachel.

Rachel managed to barely say a goodbye as both Thomas and Steve walked out the door.

Steve backtracked. "Hey Holly! What time are we supposed to meet at The Blvd?"

"Six!" Holly yelled back. "Addison says she can't do another late night."

He chuckled and noticed Rachel still standing there. "It was nice to meet you, Rachel."

"You too." She replied, smiling until he shut the door.

Before she could think too much about why she needed to know, she hurried in the direction Holly had vanished to.

"Holly?"

"Yes?" She mumbled, twisting her hair into a bun.

"How do you know Steve?" Rachel blurted out.

"He lived in the boat next to mine." Holly replied.

"Oh.” Holly’s words finally hit her. “A boat?!”

"Yes. I always wanted to literally live on the water." Holly admitted. "So, I saved up to rent a houseboat one year." She smiled over her shoulder at Rachel. "Steve had rented the one next door."

"Oh." She sank down into a chair. "How long have you known him?"

Holly paused in her sorting of books. "Must be about six years now."

"He seems nice."

"He's one of the best." Holly turned around, wondering why this sudden interest.

Rachel noticed her looking curiously at her. "I guess I better go."

"Don't rush on my account."

"I--Steve is so--I have to go." Rachel nearly tripped over her feet to escape.

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

The Royal Romance Set...

Amanda wandered about behind the scenes while her friends were meeting with their acting counterparts. She had walked by the same sets over and over to the point that she was a little bored.

"Excuse me."

She turned around and smiled at the costume designer. "Yes?"

Addison held her hand out. "I'm Addison. I'm the one who keeps everyone clothed appropriately. "

"Amanda." She laughed and shook her hand. "I have to say that if you ever get tired of making the costumes for movies, that you would be in high demand in Cordonia." She pointed toward one of the ballgowns an extra was wearing. "These are gorgeous."

"Thank you." Addison beamed at her, already planning the wedding gown she would make for Amanda when she married Thomas. "It's my break right now and I know how long those meetings can go..." She crossed her fingers behind her back. "Would you like to see more of the studio?"

"Can we?” Amanda exclaimed. "I am dying to see more."

"I have access to another soundstage." Addison tried to play it casual. "It has begun to be set for Thomas Hunt's next film--"

"Brighter Than the Stars?!" Amanda apologized for interrupting. "I'm a big fan of his and read that the sci-fi romance was his next project."

Addison laughed, now planning stylish maternity wear she would create for her. "That's the one."

Amanda softly squealed. "Addison, you are now my favorite person in Hollywood." She leaned closer to whisper. "I would say world, but I don't want to hurt Maxwell's feelings."

Delighted with her excited response, Addison continued to talk to her about her life in Cordonia while answering questions about Thomas as they left The Royal Romance set.

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

Soundstage 26…

"Wow." Amanda stared at what had to be a long hallway in a spaceship. A large window showed what appeared to be the vastness of space. A lone planet with three moons and twinkling stars was seen in the distance.

Addison nudged her. "Want to go up there?"

"Can I?" Amanda asked, hesitating. "I won't touch anything."

"Of course!" She gently urged her forward. "You're helping me out by doing so."

"I am?" Amanda stepped up on the metal platform.

"I have a couple of costumes in mind for the main character. I could use someone standing there, looking wistfully out the window, like Xo--"

"Xora?" Amanda interrupted.

"You do know a lot about this movie." Addison teased.

The duchess blushed, lowering her eyes. "Sorry. I get carried away with movies." She cleared her throat. "I read up on it when it was first announced."

"I think--" Addison paused when she heard the door open.

Amanda froze when the one she had most hoped to meet walked up to her. Without looking directly at her, he handed her the script.

"Start at page 43, after Caiden explains his findings."

"I--" Amanda swallowed. The script shook in her hand when he finally lifted his eyes up to her face.

Addison unashamedly filmed the entire encounter for Holly and Steve. And, she thought, also the future babies that will be brought into the world by the two I match together.

Her face hurt from smiling at Thomas being struck momentarily speechless.

Amanda tried to hand him back the script. "Mr. Hunt, I'm--I shouldn’t be here."

"Thomas." He finally uttered.

She smiled shyly at him. "Thomas, I'm afraid you are mistaken. I'm not an actress."

He blinked before turning toward Addison. "This is her first role?"

"You could say that." Addison winked at Amanda.

He turned back toward the now confused woman. He leaned in closer, causing her hazel eyes to widen. The gold flecks shimmered in the dark, gray-green depths, before her long lashes hid them for a moment.

Amanda looked directly in his brown nearly black eyes, nearly swaying toward him. She allowed herself to take in the rest of his handsome face before ending this charade.

"Your eyes," he muttered, “they’re perfect." He straightened from her. "Er, for the film."

She pressed the script in his hand. "Thank you, but I'm only here taking a tour."

"A tour?" He repeated.

"She's one of Maxwell Beaumont's friends." Addison explained. "Amanda is a fan of your movies and I wanted to show her your next project."

"Oh." His eyes narrowed when another thought struck. "Didn't you call me with a possible actress?"

"I did but she had to leave." Addison felt a twinge of guilt for the lie but she knew she had to keep him from taking his frustration out on Amanda. "Family emergency." She decided to admit to the deception after their wedding. Probably during the toast.

"I see." He stepped off the platform and gathered his things.

"Thomas!" Addison hissed.

He looked up. She gestured impatiently toward Amanda. "She is a fan of yours."

He rolled his eyes at this unwanted aspect of stardom. "Forgive me." He looked over at Amanda. "Is there anything you want me to autograph or..." He blinked when she smiled warmly at him.

"I won't bother you with something like that." She assured him, stepping down off the set. "I'm just happy to have met you." She held her hand out to him. "And perhaps a little thrilled you thought my eyes were perfect."

A smile tugged at his lips while he took her hand. "I hope you know that it will be impossible to find an actress with eyes that emote like yours."

"I am sorry for the mistake." She tilted her head up at him. "But you made my day with that compliment." She reluctantly eased her hand from his grasp while thanking Addison for bringing her here. "Good luck with the film, Thomas. I can’t wait to see it."

"Thank you." He watched her leave.

Addison cleared her throat a couple of times when he still had his eyes on the closed door that the duchess had walked out of.

"Professor?"

He snapped out of his daze. "Er, right. You should get back to Phelps before you're missed." He dropped his bag and quickly snatched it up. "This evening, I'll try and look over those designs you sent over."

"Don't worry about it." Addison replied, ready to drop another temptation his way. "Holly and I are meeting Steve at the Beverly Wiltshire. Those two are curious about the Cordonians."

He paused. "They're staying at the Beverly Wiltshire?"

"Hmm?" Addison pretended to be distracted by her phone. "Oh. Yeah. The whole group is there. I overheard Maxwell saying that they would be dining at the hotel's Blvd restaurant around six."

The director remained silent in thought before muttering a farewell and walking out the door.

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

6:05p.m. The Beverly Wiltshire...

"...I thought I saw him get into an elevator earlier, but it was some other man." Nadia concluded. "He was not impressed with my nearly running him down in the hope that he was Maxwell Beaumont."

She noticed how quiet Rachel was.

"Did you hear anything I said?"

Rachel jerked her eyes away from the restaurant. "Sorry. I was keeping an eye out for Ste--the royal couple."

"Do you think they will come down here?" Nadia rose halfway out of her barstool to look about.

"Possibly." Rachel muttered, wondering what time Holly and Addison would show up with Steve.

How could she casually bump into him if she didn’t know when he would arrive?

The two were soon seated at a table near the back.

"I think we will have a hard time seeing if they come in." Nadia mumbled.

"You're right." Rachel slumped in her seat.

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

6:15 p.m. The Blvd's Lounge...

"An old fashioned please." Amanda slid onto a barstool and checked her messages.

Everyone was running late. Maxwell sent one more group text.

I called downstairs. They'll have us another table by 7:30.

Amanda sighed softly at an hour of waiting on them. She was tempted to go back upstairs and order room service.

"What can I get for you?" The bartender asked the person who sat down beside her.

"Scotch on the rocks."

Recognizing the voice, she looked up and smiled. "Hello again."

Ryan smiled back. "If it isn't my favorite duchess."

She laughed and lowered her eyes. "I bet you say that to all the nobles."

"You caught me." He admitted, making her laugh once more. "Seems like we are the only two on time tonight."

She grimaced slightly. "Did you get Maxwell's latest text?"

"I did along with a number of crying emojis." He held up his phone for her to see. "Should I be worried?"

"Only when there are no words along with them." She teased.

"Phew. I was about to change my charming cool guy portrayal to charming crazy guy for the movie." He joked.

"Good to know you still would have kept Maxwell's signature charm."

"I meant my charm." His smile grew when she started laughing again. "I suppose I have to adjust it to his now."

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

6:22p.m.

"What is Ryan doing with Thomas's future wife?!" Addison hissed.

"I'm going to go with flirting." Steve whispered.

"I think it's more his I just can't help myself charm." Holly added. "Not serious flirting."

"It's going to make Thomas stay away from her if he sees them like this." Addison pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath through her mouth. "If only I could have thought of a way to lock them up on the set."

"Who? Ryan?" Holly asked.

"No! Thomas and Amanda." She huffed, flopping back in their booth. "I showed you the footage. You can't tell me there weren't sparks."

"There was definitely something there." Steve readily agreed. "After working with the man for months, I've never seen him like that around a woman. And my firm has a number of ladies that cause men to do a double take."

"He ignored them?" Holly asked.

"Only unless speaking directly to them about the house." Steve chuckled. "I at first thought that he was playing hard to get, now after watching that video, I see he just needed to meet the right person."

"Thank you!" Addison threw her hands up. "That's what I have been saying for years now."

"So, what's the plan?" Holly asked. "We go interrupt what could or could not be an honest flirtation on the very unlikely chance that Thomas does decides to show up to pursue--" her eyes widened at seeing Thomas walk into the lounge.

"Hurry!" Addison sprang out of her booth.

"What about the food?" Steve gasped when Holly grabbed his tie and yanked him out.

"This is no time to be thinking of your stomach." She grumbled.

"I’m only thinking of breathing now." He choked out.

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

Thomas paused at the sight of Amanda and Ryan talking at the bar.

He didn't know if he should approach or--

"There you are!" Addison called out to Ryan.

Everyone at the bar turned toward her.

"Maxwell invited you to dinner too?" Ryan asked.

Thomas relaxed some at that. It was not a chance meeting or a date. They were all waiting on the other Cordonians.

As the Hollywood group talked, Amanda looked about the bar, backtracking when she saw Thomas.

The same smile he had been the recipient of earlier that day now flashed once more.

He returned it and made his way over.

Ryan called out a greeting and introduced him to Amanda.

"We've met." Thomas explained, taking the barstool on the other side of her.

She turned away from Ryan and the others, focusing on him. Addison squeezed Holly's hand at the telling action.

Thomas felt a quick burst of satisfaction when she did. He had seen first-hand that many women rarely turned away when Ryan was near and was his usual charming self.

"What brings you out tonight?" Amanda asked, after warmly greeting him.

"I had a desire to go out to dinner." He explained. His eyes briefly dropped down to her mouth. "And it looks like I came to the right place."

"Would you like to join us for dinner?" She asked. "I wish you would." A slight flush on her face and neck was visible in the dim light. "I promise I won't pester you with too many questions." Her teasing smile reappeared. "A hundred isn't too many, right?"

Thomas didn’t bother to subdue his answering smile at her invitation.

His eyes raised back to hers. "I would love to."

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

7:50 p.m.

"Something must have happened." Nadia blew a frustrated breath. "We should have seen them by now."

Rachel handed the waiter a signed receipt. "I think you're right." She looped her arm through Nadia's as they walked through the restaurant. "We need ice cream."

"I think I'll just crawl into bed and dream about what could have been." Nadia mumbled.

"At least you'll meet the love of your life tomorrow night." Rachel added, thinking happily about one of her plans succeeding.

"The love of my--" Nadia stilled. "I completely forgot about the blind date."

"Understandable." Rachel squeezed her in a side hug. "If I had met Maxwell Beaumont and knew he and the others were here, I would only be thinking of ways to casually bump into them too." Just like I was hoping with Steve.

The two missed the large party that had been set at a table to the far left. They would have recognized a face or two.

"If you're going up to your room, I'm going to head home." Rachel reminded her of the shopping they would do in the morning before her date.

They parted in the lobby and Nadia went over to the elevators.

She stood there a few moments, watching the numbers count down. When the doors opened, she was nearly knocked over by a blur in black.

Arms wrapped around her to keep her upright. Her eyes lifted to the shocked face that quickly became thrilled at seeing her again.

"I think fate either wants you injured or us to plan on meeting so that I don't hurt you in the process." Maxwell teased.

Nadia smiled, unable to think of anything other than Maxwell Beaumont was most definitely flirting with her.

"Where are you going?" He asked, letting his arms remain around her waist.

"To my room." She motioned with her head toward the restaurant. "I just met a friend for dinner."

"Have you had dessert?" He asked.

She shook her head.

"Good. Then you will have it with me and my nearest and dearest." He took her hand and held on to it as they walked.

"I saw some of your paintings." He added as they entered the restaurant. "You're really talented."

"Really? You think so?" She asked.

"I do." He rubbed the back of his neck while grinning. "It took forever to find you online since I only know your first name and that you are from New York. There are a lot of artists named Nadia in that city."

She laughed and shook her head. "That might be the sweetest compliment anyone has given me." She tilted her head to the side, watching him flush at her smile. "I don't think I've ever had anyone go to so much trouble to see my work."

His bashful grin deepened. "Seemed only fair that I have a chance to fangirl over your talent too."

"Fangirl huh?" She placed her free hand on her hip, playfully scowling at him. "I believe I was a little more dignified when you splashed me." Her lips trembled with mirth. "I only squealed after you left."

He burst into laughter, causing many patrons to stop and look at the two. Seeing the many curious stares, he threw his arm around Nadia and guided her on to their table.

He paused during the introductions at the four uninvited guests.

Addison silently pleaded he wouldn't out them for pretending to be invited.

He smiled at her. "Okay, I know that's our awesome costume designer, Addison, and I'm assuming those are her friends--"

"Holly and Steve." Addison added.

His brow furrowed at who was sitting beside his best friend. It was not the actor he was working towards matching her with.

"Thomas." The director said when Nadia said hello.

Her eyes widened in recognition. "You're Rachel's brother."

His lips parted in surprise. "Nadia Park?"

She nodded, suddenly wishing the floor would open and swallow her whole.

He shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. Rachel always speaks of you fondly."

Steve grimaced when both Holly and Addison elbowed him on either side of his ribs.

"You're the Nadia Rachel brought home for Thomas!" Ryan exclaimed, when her name struck him. He then noticed the death glares from his Hollywood friends. "Er, I mean, her former roommate from NYU."

Maxwell's arm slipped off her waist. He turned his head back and forth between Nadia and Thomas, hoping one would say it wasn't true.

Amanda did the same, feeling her heart sink. Knowing the polite thing to do would be to offer her seat to Nadia, she rose from the table.

"Please, sit here." She smiled apologetically at everyone. "If you'll forgive me, I will say goodnight." Her hand trembled as she rubbed her forehead. "Sudden headache."

"Amanda, wait--" Thomas rose as she quickly skirted around him.

"It was nice to see you again." She said softly, leaving his side before he could respond.

Ryan spoke up. "Let me know if we need to reschedule our dinner tomorrow night."

Thomas's head jerked around toward him.

Amanda ignored everyone staring at her in shock. "Thank you, Ryan, but I should be fine by then. I'll meet you there." With another strained smile, she turned on her heel and hurried off.

"Excuse me a moment." Thomas muttered. He tossed his napkin down and stalked after her.

Maxwell held Amanda's empty chair out for dejected Nadia before sitting down across from her.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the table. Eyes darted first at the director chasing down the duchess then back to the artist sending pleading looks to the man she had entered in with.

Unable to take another second of the strained atmosphere, Maxwell leaned forward and plucked up a discarded menu. He forced a smile at everyone else while avoiding direct eye contact with Nadia. "Any recommendations?"

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

"Come on." Amanda muttered as she waited on the elevator to come down.

She knew she shouldn't feel this way over a man she had known for only a handful of hours, but she wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and not necessarily cry but at the very least be blue.

She was certain Thomas had been in the process of inviting her to see his new home when Maxwell arrived with Nadia.

And poor Maxwell! He had talked nearly nonstop about the lady he had nearly drowned. Now to see she was setup with another must have been a cruel blow.

If Nadia is as wonderful as Maxwell seems to think, then Thomas will fall in love with her too.

And I will go back to Cordonia and lead the life I was before I came here.

Alone. Utterly. Hopelessly. Alone.

"Amanda?"

Why?

She directed her silent question to the heavens before answering the man behind her. "Yes?"

Thomas cleared his throat. "My sister insisted I take her friend out to dinner."

"That's actually very sweet." Amanda mumbled. "She knows you both and probably realizes you'll be happy together."

"I don't think it will work out like she expects." He closely observed her reflection in the elevator doors to gauge her reaction to his words.

He wished she would turn around and talk to him.

Amanda bit her lip while doing the only other decent thing she could in such a situation. "You'll never know until you try." The doors opened and she nearly sagged with relief. Turning her head toward him, she nodded in parting. "Goodnight."

She walked inside and offered him a half-hearted smile. "I am happy I had a chance to see you again." She pressed the button for her floor and kept her eyes downcast.

He slipped inside right as the doors were shutting.

Her eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

He trapped her escape by placing his hands on the wall, one on either side of her shoulders.

"This dinner with Ryan," He began.

"Tomorrow night." She reminded him, needing to prove to the universe that she wasn't going to sit in her room and pine away for Thomas Hunt.

His eyes narrowed briefly at that not so subtle jab. "Is it a date?"

It sat on the tip of her tongue to say it was. Her pride practically screamed that she say yes, the actor took one look at me and fell head over heels in love. Ryan’s got it so bad for me. But...she knew deep down that Ryan honestly thought of it as a kind gesture and a way to learn more about the man he was portraying

"Maxwell set it up with the intention to be a date, but Ryan is under the misconception that it is for his part in The Royal Romance." She responded, disgusted with her inability to lie to this man in front of her.

Thomas leaned in closer. His eyes remained on hers. "And how do you want it to go?"

"I..." She swallowed and tried to think. "I intended to keep it platonic."

"Intended?" He wondered at her choice to use the past tense.

"Intend to." She corrected. "I intend to keep it platonic."

She folded her arms, eyes narrowing at his question. "I don't understand why you need clarification about what my dinners out with others are labeled as."

He lowered his eyes to her mouth once more. "If I were to invite you to dinner..."

The doors opened on her floor. She waited an extra three seconds for him to continue.

"If you were to invite me to dinner?" She prodded.

His eyes lifted to hers. "Would you want it to be a date?"

Thomas eased away from her, hoping she would answer him.

She bit down on her bottom lip and stepped out of the elevator.

Amanda paused and looked back at him. "Yes, I would."

His eyes widened at hearing her admittance just as the elevator doors shut.

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

A few hours later...

"Maxwell! Wait!" Nadia nearly slid down in her heels as she chased him outside.

His shoulders stiffened. Unable to ignore her yelp at nearly falling into the pool, he stopped and waited on her to catch up.

She still jogged over; afraid he would end up taking off. "That blind date with Rachel's brother--"

"Thomas Hunt." He muttered.

He decided then and there to dislike the man. The guy didn't know how lucky he was.

"Yes, him." She gripped his arm while balancing to adjust the strap on her shoe. "The date was--"

"Former underwear model." Maxwell continued, counting off each job title on his fingers. "Actor. Director. Screenwriter. College pro--"

"It was set up before I met you!" Nadia burst out.

Maxwell shoved his hands in his pockets and scuffed his shoe against the concrete. "Yeah, well, it must be a pretty important dinner for you to fly across the country for it."

She placed her hands on her hips. "I came here because of you."

He snorted. "Sure, you did." His ocean blue eyes cut to her face. "My coming to Hollywood was never in the news."

"Perhaps not directly, but Thomas Hunt has been invited to a party Tommy Phelps is hosting for you. When Rachel told me that Thomas would take us both to it, so I could meet you, I jumped at the chance to get here." She let out an irritated huff. "The date was only agreed upon because it was Rachel asking me. I'm sure with how you describe your close relationship with Riley, Liam, and the others that you would have done the same if they had asked you."

Nadia almost did not think he would respond to her speech. Why she was explaining herself to this man she had obsessed over, she would never know.

"Now that you've met Thomas..." Maxwell said softly. "Do you still want, I mean, is there any spark for him?"

"Spark?" Her lips eased into a smile. "Like the kind you get when nearly knocked down at an elevator?"

His own dimples deepened. "Or partially drowned?"

She laughed and shook head. "I didn't feel any of that when I met Thomas."

Nadia covered her mouth with her next confession. "I was secretly hoping he wanted your friend."

"Amanda?" Maxwell shook his head. "She's meant for Ryan. They are perfect for each other."

Nadia took a step closer to him. "My point is that I wish it was you I was meeting for a romantic dinner for two."

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

An hour later at the Blvd lounge…

"What. A. Disaster. Thomas can't go out with Nadia! She's clearly crushing on Maxwell." Addison dropped her head on the bar. "Ryan and Amanda...how did I miss that blind date?!"

"Yeah." Holly hiccupped. "I keep hoping it is just as a friend."

Addison's brow furrowed at the hint of bitter sadness in her friend's tone.

"It really is a small world." Steve took a long sip of the fruity cocktail Holly had ordered for them. "Who knew that Thomas's Nadia would show up?"

"About that..." Holly squirmed in her seat. "That might be our fault."

"Our fault?" Addison sat up and leaned her head on her hand. "What do you mean?"

Holly focused on Steve. "I think Rachel Hunt might have been here with Nadia earlier."

"Why would you think that?" Addison asked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Steve asked, leaning away from Holly.

"I think she likes you."

He snorted and shook his head. "Good one, Holly."

"I'm serious!" She narrowed her eyes on him. "I think they both came to not only see Maxwell and gang but also to see you." Holly persisted. "She overheard our time and place, then came to ask me how I knew you."

"Really?" His jaw dropped. "I- I don't know what to say." A goofy grin formed the longer he thought of the striking brunette coming out in the hopes of bumping into him.

"Do you--"

"Shh!" Addison waved her hands for the other two to stop talking.

"Addi- "

"Hush!"

"Okay, why are you--"

"Seriously, stop talking!" She ordered. "I'm about to be brilliant."

Steve and Holly closed their mouths and focused on her scrunched in deep thought face.

"Oh yes. This will work." Addison jumped up. "Come on. We have work to do."

#Thomas Hunt #choices the royal romance #choices red carpet diaries #maxwell beaumont #maxwell x nadia #thomas hunt x amanda #thomas hunt x oc #kiss prompts #choices perfect match #perfect match nadia #pm nadia park #rcd ryan summers #rcd addison #rcd holly chang

13 notes · View notes

consultingsister-aa · 4 years ago

Text

@alreadybrcken said: Tommy & Cee bc yes

𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄 // 𝐍𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

Who is a night owl: Thomas doesn’t sleep well at night but Cecelia is the night owl; she starts working at like 7pm and keeps going till she falls asleep at her desk. Luckily, Thomas is there to pick her up and carry her to bed. Who is a morning person: Tommy, for sure. He might not sleep well at night but this does tend to mean he’s up early. Cee would sleep till lunch if she was allowed. She can be tempted out of bed with the smell of food or coffee. Are they cuddlers: Cee would oppose the word cuddlers but they are happiest in each others arms. Celia has a gesture which basically means, ‘I need you to hold me right now and I can’t admit that outloud to put your arms around me.’ Who is the big spoon: 9/10 it’s Tommy, although it will be Cecelia if sometimes is going wrong at work and Thomas has sort of shut off when he comes home. But she mostly does it to annoy him out of his dark mood. What is their favourite sleeping position: Tommy on his back, Cee on her front, her arm draped across his chest. Not too much touching but enough to say, I’m here if you need me. Who steals all the blankets: Cecelia, everynight, totally unaware she’s ever doing it. What they wear to bed: Underwear or nothing. Who likes seeing the other wearing their t-shirt: Celia is happiest in one of Tommy’s shirts, especially if he’s worn it and she can smell him on it. Who falls asleep mid-conversation: Tommy falls asleep mid-Cee-chatting. Who wakes up in the middle of the night with nightmares: Thomas. Who accidentally punched the other in their sleep: Celia. Who can’t keep their hands to themself: Most of the time it’s Cecelia but when Thomas is focused on that then he takes the lead. Who said “I love you” first: Cee did. Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background: Thomas has Cee, Cee has a zoomed in aestheitc inage of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Although it should be mentioned that Cee ‘updates’ Thomas’ phone often. Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror: Cee. Who buys the other cheesy gifts: Usually Tommy, because Cee is hard to buy for being that she is a woman who has everything. Who initiated the first kiss: Thomas, but Cee argues she did because she said, are you going to kiss me or what? But Tommy lent in. Who kisses the other awake in the morning: Cee would kiss Tommy awake if she was up first, Thomas wouldn’t even try to wake up Cee before she’s ready. Who starts tickle fights: Cee starts them, Tommy ends them. Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower: Nobody asks. Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch: Cee will sometimes but she usually stays away from Thomas’ work, so Thom. Who was nervous and shy on the first date: Cee will admit to it, Tommy wont. Who kills/takes out the spiders: Thomas, it’s why they’re together. Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk: Cecelia, standing on the bar, right before she falls off and has to be carried home.

#alreadybrcken #( i. message )#( vi. should know better )#//bbs//#( v. main )

2 notes · View notes

everlarkbirthdaygifts · 7 years ago

Text

Happy Birthday, neonsnail!

We wish @neonsnail a very Happy Birthday for the 5th of April! To add further joy to your special day, the lovely @herainab has written a special Everlark fic just for you! We hope you enjoy it :)

I check myself in the rear view mirror, fixing my hair and placing my sunglasses on. I look at the kids in the mirror and smile at them.

“Ready, Lola Boo?” I ask her.

She nods enthusiastically.

“Let’s go then.” I say.

I clip the Ergo on, grabbing 9 month old Scarlett out and placing her in the Ergo and then helping Eamon and Lola out of the car. I hold Lola and Eamon’s hand and walk them into school and I know I turn heads. I know the other mother’s are looking at me. Looking at me, Peeta Mellark the stay at home dad with the three perfect children entering the schoolyard. I’ve been turning heads since Lola’s first day of school a month ago. It’s actually the group of stay at home dad’s that turn heads. We walk in together in an entourage, kids, babies, toddlers and school bags hanging off our bodies. And we have them all looking at us. The swanky dad’s who are proud to run car pool, attend bake sales, run the canteen, go to excursions, come in for reading, braid hair, do soccer drop offs and are happy watching ballet.

We were proud to let our wives and partners work to provide for our families. Most of our wives and partners worked exceptional careers. High careers that we were proud to see them striving to achieve. All of us stepped down when we became fathers. We worked around our wives, let them still strive and we stepped down. Despite some of our careers, we made it work.

Like Katniss, whilst on maternity leave I did the work thing, worked my commissioned jobs in the 6 or 7 months she had off before returning home when she was ready to go back to work. It gave me my break, my chance to work and provide for my family to allow my wife the opportunity to bond with our children before she went back to work. She did this for all three kids.

We both worked our arses off since we were 18. She worked full time at City Hall. I worked for my parents in the bakery until Katniss’ manager commissioned me for an artwork piece, which then set off my art career and set our family up. I travelled the world, painting buildings, silos and anything else I was commissioned for. The work set me apart from Katniss for sometimes months at a time but we managed. She worked her butt off whilst I travelled the world painting and creating.

And I felt for all the time Katniss spent early in our relationship alone, I owed her the opportunity to be the fulltime worker and make a name for herself. Which she did, she’s become one of the youngest directors in the country. And I didn’t mind being the stay at home Dad or the househusband as she so called it. It was sexy. Or Katniss made it seem sexy.

“We’ve got their attention.” Rye comments, nudging my arm with a teenage smirk on his face.

He loved the attention from the ladies. He loved the stares, the flirting and the wandering eyes. He played it up, always showed off when he had all of his four kids with him. I knew his wife would shake her head if she saw him. But in good humour. Nothing of jealousy or hate. She was used to it and she’d just brush it off. And Rye loved Octavia. They were soul mates and destined for each other. He just liked the attention, reminding him of his school days and the ladies that used to follow him.

“Put that hard on away, we’re in a school.” Gale tells Rye jokingly.

“Hey, you get off on it.” Rye responds laughing.

“Maybe we should tell the mother’s to stop staring.” Gale says.

Rye laughs and places a hand on Gale’s shoulder. “We never stop them, this is the highlight of their day.”

Gale rolls his eyes, laughs and unclips his youngest, Cade from the jogging stroller. He’s the Dad that walks them to and from school, with backpacks hanging off the stroller and the two kids walking beside him or carrying one of them after a long day. He shows up in his gym gear and usually runs a few miles after school drop off with Cade in the stroller. Most of the mother’s I notice follow him home in the car to perve as he pounds the pavement with toddler in tow.

He’s all about a holistic lifestyle. They only eat a clean diet filled with fresh fruit, vegetables and white meat like fish or chicken. There’s nothing artificial in their diets and everything is ‘raw’. The kids have the healthiest lunches premade by Gale himself who also manages to make clean treats and prepare dinners he serves at 6pm every night. He also makes and delivers healthy lunches to Madge everyday, especially if she’s in court, he wants her to have a wholesome lunch.

He’s that parent we all strive to be but never find the time.

The school bell sounds and slowly the kids find their way to their lines and their teachers join them. We round up the little kids, strapping them into strollers and grabbing their hands to keep them contained during the assembly.

The frumpy principal arrives with her grey hair, icy eyes and in her shapeless signature grey suit.

The kids quieten down after her third attempt and she stands with a sour look on her face, unimpressed at the kindergartens, grade 1’s and 2’s. I just roll my eyes and listen to what she has to say.

“Parents, thank you for taking time out of your morning to stay behind and listen. I will make this quick.” She announces. Eamon motions to be picked up and I lift him up. “As you know, we put together our parent committee each year. Everyone is invited to attend and have a say in what you’ll like to see in the school, positive changes and run ideas for fundraisers throughout the years. If any of you feel like you could dedicate your time, then please feel free to show up tomorrow night at 6pm in the admin building. We will be voting for our committee as well, all those who are paying members will be eligible to vote. Thank you and please return to your days.”

“We should do it.” Thom suggests placing his youngest Frankie up on his shoulders. “We’ve got time to dedicate and lots of ideas to shake up the parent committee.”

“We’ve got to get through them first.” Gale points out, motioning towards group he refers to as the lycra bitches. They drive their range rovers, dropping their kids off in their active wear and then following school drop off with appointments and coffee dates. They don’t go to the gym at all, just wear the active wear to give off the motion that they do.

“We’re married to wonderful and powerful women and we’re scared of the lycra bitches.” Rye whispers

The leader of the lycra bitches moves towards us. Cashmere Baker.

Cashmere popped out twins, which happened to be the same time around the same time Lola was born. Katniss and Cashmere shared a room, as there was a private room shortage. Cashmere had an elected caesarean, made out it was the hardest thing she’s done in her life, had visitors arriving all day everyday who made our stay uncomfortable as they constantly butted in or stuck their head through the curtain. She was given six expensive push presents. Had two whinging babies who she hardly picked up the entire time and Cashmere herself big noted the wonderful job she did with all the drugs and epidurals to deliver her son and daughter and not ruin her vagina whilst Katniss went drug free in our home bath tub with my holding her hand and Prim delivering her niece.

Cashmere crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her fake boobs out even more and sticking her hip out.

“I hope you men don’t think you’re going to make it on the committee.” She states. “There’s never been men on the committee, just the mother’s because we know best.” She claims. “Just because your wives and life partners work high demanding jobs and you do school drop off, doesn’t entitle you to be on the committee. It’s for those of us who have a brain and the best interest of our children.”

“It’s called the parents committee, not the Mother’s meeting!” Finnick claims. “We’re more than welcome to attend.”

She scowls, over exaggerating her filled lips. “If you show up, all of your votes will just count as one singular vote. You men don’t get a say in this school.”

“We should be allowed to, our children attend.” Gale demands.

“Doesn’t mean anything, see you tomorrow boys if you’re game enough to show.”

“You can’t do this to us.” Darius claims. “What ever happened to free speech?”

She shrugs her shoulders and turns on her heel, motioning for the lyrca bitches to follow so they can go for their Monday coffee in their active wear and boast about how wonderful their husbands and children are. Despite most of their husbands having a wandering eye, a little too touchy with their assistants and co-workers and their children who drive them up the wall.

“We can’t let them walk over us.” I say. “We’re entitled to as much as a vote than they are.”

“So we attend tomorrow night, we brainstorm some ideas for future fundraising and some changes.” Gale says. “I’ll look up the laws and do some research online about parent committees and try and speak to the Principal.” He announces, taking the break off the stroller. “I’ll try and catch her now and I’ll text you all to let you know how I go.”

He rushes off through the playground to the admin building to try and catch Principal Coin. The rest of us decide we’ll head on home to do our research for the meeting tomorrow night.

“Come on Little Man, we’re going to go and quickly meet Mommy.” I tell Eamon reaching for his hand. “Say bye to everyone.”

Eamon sweetly hugs his friend’s goodbye and I take him to the car, getting him and his sister into the SUV and driving across town to the site of the future adventure playground.

Katniss takes Scarlett out of the car and I help Eamon out and he goes and hugs his mother.

“I missed you two this morning.” She tells them as she embraces them both. “Were you a good boy for Daddy?” Eamon nods with his dimpled smile and she ruffles his hair and kisses his forehead. “Mommy has something to show you.”

This had been her goal since she started working. The only good playground in town was demolished due to asbestos and a massive sinkhole and the land deemed unusable almost 18 years ago to the day. There was no other land big enough to accommodate a park and everything was already developed.

Then came this gem about 2 years ago.

The site of the old steel works. The ruins had almost fallen down, the site deemed unsafe. The owner of the land passed away and gifted the land to his niece with a sizeable fortune included and she paid for the demolishing of the land and then gifted the land to the council with a promise it had to be used for the community.

Which is where Katniss got her hands on it and her dream has slowly come to life.

And in 6 weeks will be open to the public. She’s freaking out just a little. But it’ll all work out fine and everyone will love it.

She puts a safety vest on Eamon and I slip one on as well. It’s still an active work site but she’s been granted permission to step on site and today she needs me as I’m doing a big commission piece throughout the park scheduled to start within the week weather permitting. The perks of being married to an artist, I give up my time for free. She just repays me in the privacy of the bedroom.

I carry Eamon on my shoulders and the site foreman lets us in.

“How are we Mrs Mellark?”

“Mrs Mellark is my mother-in-law, its Katniss remember?”

“Sorry, Katniss.”

“It’s fine, we right to head to the painting sites?”

“Yep, just be careful.”

“Always am.”

It’s amazing the work they’ve done here in the last couple of months and with the good weather over the spring and summer, it’s truly paid off for the quick turn around.

I measure up my canvases, take a few photographs of my future work and the surrounding area, do a few sketches and take a walk around just to get a feel. I had a plan for the artworks I just wanted to be sure of the site before I committed.

Katniss has taken the kids for a short walk to show off the work. Eamon has loved watching this come to life and he’s excited to finally ride his bike around the bike path and play on the big slide which Katniss doesn’t want him to go down just yet but he’s convinced his cousins to take him.

“Got everything?” Katniss asks, returning with the kids. Scarlett is getting a little fussy, ready for a feed and a sleep.

I nod and we head to the car where she tells me she’ll nurse Scarlett. We sit in my car and Eamon happily sits on my lap playing a game on my phone.

“The Lycra bitches our total bitches.” I tell her.

“What happened?” She asks. She loved hearing about the crazy school gossip. Especially involving the lyrca bitches that do nothing but judge her. She’s judged Katniss since the day they shared the hospital room together. Judgement for a natural delivery and for breast-feeding. For also Katniss being the fulltime worker. Katniss couldn’t catch a break but she was slowly learning to let it go.

“The guys and I wanted to go to the parent committee meeting and Cashmere basically told me that the father’s weren’t allowed anywhere near the committee and if we vote then collectively it’ll count as 1.”

“She can’t do that.”

“We’re still going to go. Gale is doing some research on the laws of parents committee and meet with the principal.”

“It’s called the parents committee not the mother’s meeting so what’s her issue? Scared you guys will do a better job?” She rolls her eyes. “Well if they won’t let you in, then just start your own. The house-husband committee.”

My eyes go wide and I lean over and kiss her cheek. “I knew I married you for a reason!”

“I hope it was more than my smartness?”

“It was for everything, babe.” I remind her. “You’re a genius. We’ll start our own committee for the outcasts because there’s a few other mother’s and guardians who I know won’t be included.”

“Look at us, I’m running a huge multimillion dollar project and you’re planning to outsmart the lycra bitches over a school committee.”

“Hey, I know you find me sexy taking charged over our daughter’s school.”

“You’re too right!” She winks. “You leave me breathless taking charge and all. I like a man who takes charge, especially over bitching women.” She murmurs sexily.

I blush slightly and wish we were home where we could take this further. “Just as much as I love you and running a whole department, I remind you how much I love that don’t I?”

“All the time my love.”

“You’re getting some good loving tonight.”

She bites her lip and I watch her smile, her eyes lighting up.

It’s been rough for her since returning after Scarlett’s birth, her city manager has left and they’re stuck with an interim manager who is creating more issues than need be. Then there’s her staff who are still giving her hell. Issues that should have been resolved on her returning three months ago but nothing has been done and I know this project is the only thing getting her by for now.

“See you this afternoon.” She tells Eamon as she buckles him in. She kisses him goodbye and waves goodbye to him.

She stands at my window and leans in and kisses me.

“Breathe. Call if you need me.” I remind her. “And if not talk to Annie.”

She nods, kisses me again and waves us goodbye, blowing a kiss to us.

I just hope she has enough mental strength to get through the next few weeks.

…

“So, the principal told us that we’re more than welcome to attend.” Gale tells me in the school yard. “We’re all allowed a vote if we’re a paying member which is a dollar. I talked to Madge and she said she’d come for support as will the other’s wives and partners.”

“And if all else fails we create our own committee where all are welcome.” I tell him. “Because we know Cashmere has an agenda and it’s to have a committee that will vote with her. She wants to change things her way, which won’t suit a lot of other families, especially those not as well off as her. We need to think of everyone and every situation.”

“We can do this.” Gale states. “We’ve got this.”

“If not, it’ll be the first parents committee that the police attend.” I laugh.

Gale fills the dads in when they arrive and we get about writing down our ideals and pitch. I’m naturally selected as the speaker and I plan to write out a pitch for all those who attend. The rest of the dad’s are going to do their best to encourage the other parents to attend and voice their opinion. We had even rounded up some of our parents to come and watch the kids of the parents who had no alternate babysitting arrangements. We’d just have a movie on, some toys, games and some food.

“So we got some interest.” I tell Katniss that night. The kids are winding down for the night and are playing with puzzles and reading books.

“That’s good. I’m coming along for the meeting too. I don’t want to miss it for the world.”

I kiss her hand. “We’ll walk out if anything happens or if they play politics.”

“Good, then you can start your own committee and I’m sure a few people will follow you.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.” She smiles at me.

Scarlett crawls towards us and I lift her up onto the couch with us. She crawls to her mother and cuddles her. Katniss relishes in the cuddles she gets at night and holds the kids tightly. We usually end up with the three youngest on the couch embracing their mother whichever way they can manage and they just all hold each other until they get sleepy.

At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about. Us and our tribe of kids. The bedtime cuddles, the kisses and embraces. The goodnights and the love you’s.

Katniss does the bedtime routine with the three younger ones and I spend some time drawing up in bed waiting for Katniss. I can hear her with the kids, wishing them a goodnight and tucking them in.

And I know she enjoys this part of the evening, it’s a nice way to end the day. Some nights she misses this when she has late meetings but she tries to make it home in time. If not, she’ll cuddle them, watch them sleep and kiss them goodnight.

She comes in almost an hour later after nursing Scarlett and putting her to sleep. Most nights she just holds her, rocking her for a few extra moments before laying her down for the night.

She cuddles into me, resting her head on my chest and just sighing after a long day.

“Something wrong?” I ask her.

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep up with work.”

“Why? You’ve got the project.”

“But that’s it. Everything else is paperwork and budgets and arseholes. I don’t have joy anymore. I don’t look forward to work like I used to. Haymitch has left me. Annie is talking about leaving. Everyone else has left me. I have no more friends or people.” She cries. “I’ve had another complaint put in against me.”

“What?” I stiffen up, annoyed this crap hasn’t finished. “Who?”

“I don’t know, they won’t tell me but I’ve got a meeting with the investigator on Friday morning.”

I hated the toxicity of her workplace, especially since returning from maternity leave and Haymitch no longer there. She was an open target now and she had no one to protect her. The treatment she was receiving was harassment and despite her many complaints, nothing has been done.

I nuzzle her temple and hold her in my arms. “You should speak to Madge.” I suggest to her.

“She’s got enough on her plate.”

“She’s your friend and she’ll help you.”

She nods, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I just wish this wasn’t taking away from my project.”

“I know.” I agree. “Remember I’m ready to pick up the slack.”

She nods remembering the promises from the day we found out we were expecting Lola. She’s managed this long but I don’t know if she’ll see the end of the year.

…

“You ready?” Katniss whispers.

I nod at her. She’s got Scarlett on her lap. The other two are in a classroom with two dozen other kids with a few of the grandparents watching them. Prim sits beside her sister, still in her scrubs. Rory beside Prim. The two of them have been dating for a few years now and has stepped up as Asher’s stepfather. He’s also part of the househusband group and takes care of Asher when Prim is saving lives.

We’ve got a full house tonight filled with the parents of the K to 2 kids.

“So our first point of order is electing our new committee.” Coin begins. “Are there are any nominations for secretary?”

Cashmere nominates one of the lycra bitches. We put forward Annie. And she wins fairly.

Katniss and Rye share the joint role as treasurer beating one of the lyrca girls I would not trust with finances especially as she’s gone into debt a few times and the repo man arriving on her doorstep a few times.

There’s calls for a vice president, Cashmere calls upon her sidekick Glimmer. We call upon Gale Hawthorne.

Gale takes Vice president.

Then there’s the vote for the president. The lycra bitches call forward Cashmere.

“Anymore nominations?” Coin asks.

“I nominate, Peeta Mellark.”

I wasn’t expecting to be nominated with the plan for one of the other’s to be nominated.

We turn to see who nominated me and it’s someone not in our group. Another mother. Cecelia Grey. Cecelia’s daughter is in the same class as Lola. She’s a single mother, has to send her kids to and from school on the bus. She struggles day to day but she made the effort to get here tonight, which says a lot.

I see the unpleasant look on Cashmere’s face as she knows she’s up for competition.

“If there are no more nominations then I ask the two nominees to please step outside.”

“This total bullshit.” Cashmere states as I stand up. “There’s never been men run this committee before. There’s been no men involved ever and now you all want to see a male run the association? What traits does he have that are better than mine?” The men try to not snicker and she stares them all down. “I assure you, Peeta Mellark will not run this committee better than myself and my fellow lady friends. I would like his nomination revoked.”

Coin laughs and seats herself forward. “We can’t revoke a vote. He’s a paying member, he hasn’t breached any laws and I see his nomination fit.”

Cashmere huffs. “Well I don’t want him nominated. This was a committee filled with women with the best interest of our children put forward. Not some club for these men to joke around and not be proactive.”

“Everyone is invited. It’s called democracy. Free speech too is allowed. Let’s see if Peeta has anything he’d like to say. Any changes or ideas he may have that could revamp this committee and fundraising ideas for the next twelve months.”

I feel my palms are sweaty at being put on the spot but I stand up and clear my throat.

“I don’t know if I will do a better job than previous presidents but I deserve a chance to try. Yes you may not like the idea of men being in the committee but we’re devoted father’s with children who attend this school. We are an equal part of this school community as the mother’s and caregivers. We’re entitled to this opportunity. It’s a new era, men take a step back and focus on their children and that’s what we’re doing. We have the interest of not just our children but our whole family and community on our minds and we want to do the best to enable our children to new things with major fundraisers. Most of us are new to this so it’ll take a bit of work ironing out the kinks. And I’m not perfect but I believe I can be the right person for this job. I show up, I engage and I listen.”

Obviously my spur of the moment speech wins them over and I’m voted in as president. Cashmere’s scream of terror can be heard all the way down to the classroom where the kids all are playing.

“I’m not being in this committee if they are in it. I’m going to form my own.” Cashmere states.

“Cashmere, we don’t want that. We want you as a member.” I tell her.

“Nope, I’m done, I’m speak to the association and finding out my rights.” She claims gathering up her bag and motioning for her lycra bitches to follow. Which they do. “This means war, Peeta Mellark!” She points to me.

“What have I done?” I ask her.

“You set this up. You turned them all on your side. I had them, I had it all worked out and now you’re ruining everything.”

“Cashmere, we didn’t do anything.” I tell her. “We just rallied everyone to attend and vote for what they wanted. To do it for their children. To think of who they want to represent them not swayed them to vote for me. I didn’t even speak to them.”

“I don’t want to hear your lies. I’m leaving and Alma, I want a meeting with you tomorrow morning. And I want to form my own committee. And say goodbye to the $5000 I was going to donate.”

It’s all too funny for Katniss and Prim who giggle in their hands.

“Shut up.” Cashmere shouts at Prim and Katniss. “You two are immature and don’t deserve to be here either.”

“Cashmere, let’s just go.” Glimmer suggests.

“Yes, this toxic air is making me angry.” She huffs. “You’ll be sorry, Mellark.”

Katniss and Prim burst out laughing as Cashmere leaves the room almost in tears shouting and cussing at us all who have ruined her dream of being that Mom who can boast about the changes she’s brought in for her children’s school.

I think she’s being immature but that’s up for debate.

“So, if all our winning nominees intend to take their position then I call them forward to accept their position and to sign their names on this declaration.”

All positions are filled which Coin seems thrilled about. Fresh faces and fresh ideas. No more grandmothers’ with children who haven’t attended the school for twenty years and mother’s who reject every idea and have it run like a reform school. Things were stale and times were changing.

“I can’t wait to get you into bed tonight, Mr President.” Katniss whispers in my ear as we lean over the to sign our names.

I still, almost messing up my signature and try to not let the blood run south.

“Wait until we get home.” She adds and moves to the side with Scarlett in her arms.

With the meeting concluding, Coin promises to email us meeting times for the next school year. We gather the kids, being held up by nearly everyone which isn’t helping so much with how turned on I am.

With a fussing Scarlett we make a quick exit home, bathing the kids quickly and getting them in their pyjamas.

“Come here, MR President.” Katniss purrs, patting the empty spot beside her on the bed. I’ve just put Eamon to bed and she finished nursing Scarlett.

I all but jump beside her, pinning her body under mine and kissing her deeply. I’ve been turned on since we signed our declaration.

“You should stop doing that in public.” I tell her between kisses and roaming my hands over her body.

“Well you should stop being so damn hot in public.” She throws back with a smirk.

“I’m sorry, I’ll try and contain it next time.” I tell her, nipping at her neck and tickling her sides.

This is what I loved. Our usual banter. Our silliness. Our ability to go from laughing to teasing and turning each other on.

20 years of loving her and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s been some of the best years of my life and I’ve nearly officially known her over half my life.

“I love you so much.”

“I know.” She replies.

“I know you do but I don’t tell you enough.” I smile at her, kissing her softly.

…

I stand at the entrance of the park and exhale a deep breath. Katniss did this. She created this masterpiece from the ground up. Her blood, sweat and tears went into this and she’s created a masterpiece.

And we’re banking on the opening day with a school fundraiser. It’s a warm Fall weekend and a perfect day for a harvest style fundraiser.

It’s early morning, the crowd not yet having shown up and I send all my good vibes to Katniss who is fussing around the site with Annie and a few other’s following.

The kids are still at home with Katniss’ mother and will be brought by later.

But this is perfect and Katniss has nailed it. And with the stress of work, the impending investigation and her pursuing her case further, it’s nice for her to have this to keep her distracted for the now.

The house husbands are due to arrive soon to set up marques for the bake sale with Mellark’s bakery donating cakes to us to sell. There’ll be face painting, children entertainers, games, a huge scavenger hunt that is Prim will set up when she arrives. A professional skateboarder I met during my travels is coming to show the kids some tricks and how to skate. The local police will be teaching bike safety to the kids and have brought some of their biggest and coolest toys, as have the ambulance and fire fighters. There’ll be additional market stalls, a mini fun run around the outskirts of the site, live entertainment and food stalls to keep the families entertained.

We approached City Hall to hopefully double up on opening day as a fundraising type day and they approved, allowing us to do anything and even donating some money towards paying for some entertainment. They also agreed for the yet to be completed walkway, for families to have the opportunity to have their names in the pavers. It was the biggest seller and we sold all the pavers within the week.

City Hall has agreed to give our family the pick of where our paver will go. We’ve decided right in the heart of the pathway because this was Katniss’ baby. This came from her heart. Her mother and father will have a paver beside ours. Prim, Rory and Asher another. Even my family bought pavers, which will go near each other. Our friends as well will be situated close by surrounding us.

It’ll be something to walk this pathway and see our names right in the middle. To know that Katniss’ dream came true. Even for our family to say, she did this. For our grandchildren to know their grandmother made this possible.

We’ve made a lot of money already and it hasn’t even begun.

Katniss finds me over near the café and I hand her a hot chocolate and a cheese bun that’s warm. We sit with each other, I hold her hand and we enjoy each other’s company.

We enjoy this moment because we never thought it’d come true.

“You did this.” I keep reminding her.

“I did this.” She eventually says smiling.

We capture a photo together, a selfie to remember this morning and the kids arrive shortly after with our parents coming to lend a hand. Her mother takes a photograph of us to remember this day as well.

“What do you think, kids?” Katniss asks them, kneeling beside both Lola and Eamon.

“It’s amazing!” Lola exclaims.

“Good.” Eamon smiles. He’s just ready to ride his bike on the bike path that has been set up with stop and give way sighs and mini ramps and hills to ride up and over.

“Do you want to get a sneak peak before everyone gets here?” I ask them.

And they nod, eager to go.

“Come on, let’s show the kids what amazing work you did.” I say taking Katniss’ hand and the stroller in my other.

We start with the water play area which I know will be popular in the summer. The musical makers is next with musical instruments. Sandpits and the baby playground. Then the big climbing equipment with spider webs and then a huge jungle gym up to a big twisty slippery dip and a climbing frame for the bigger kids. There’s also a smaller slide that comes out the other side for those not daring enough to reach the top. There’s a huge flying fox near the climbing equipment. A huge basket swing as well that can fit quite a few kids at once.

Over the back near the mini rotunda wired up for events is the skate park with the huge mural I painted that wraps the whole back of the park wall. There’s plenty of picnic tables, BBQ’s, a public toilet block I’ve got plans to paint in the spring as well as a café close by.

This has been made for families of all ages. Designed with the old steel works in mind and the jungle gym slightly replicated to look like the old pump house. Some of the old bricks from the site has created garden beds and marked off areas.

Katniss has blown me away and the kids are excited.

“Mommy, can we go on the equipment now? Before the other’s do?” Lola asks.

She nods with a big smile. “Go on.”

“Come on Eam.” Lola reaches for his hand and they make a move towards the jungle gym.

“I’m not climbing up there to save them.” Katniss tells me.

“That’s what the older cousins are for.” I tell her laughing.

They just play on the lower level, Eamon is a little more daring and climbs up to the next level and Lola follows him right to the top.

Katniss holds her breath and watches.

“Ready, let’s go down the slide Eamon.” Lola suggests.

We watch as she sits behind him and I quickly snap them coming down the slide together. The smiles on their faces convince Katniss she truly did this.

The park is scheduled to officially open at 9:30 and we watch families arrive with picnic blankets and baskets and set up a place. There’s rope that has cordoned off the park and we they can only access the rotunda where councillors will gather to say a few words and the Mayor and Katniss will cut the rope, inviting the public in.

Katniss’ old manager would also be saying a few words as he headlined this project alongside Katniss until he left 10 months ago when Katniss went on maternity leave.

We have crowd control keeping the kids from ducking under the rope. The parents keep a hold of them and many of the children entertainers keep them distracted with balloons, face painting and magic tricks.

The school committee has set up their stand, Prim is finishing up the scavenger hunt which will begin as soon as the rope is cut. The fun run is scheduled for when the hunt ends.

“Peeta, Katniss we have trouble.” Annie tells us.

“What now?”

She leads us to the car park where the lyrca bitches have set themselves up with a pathetic table trying to convince those to not step foot in the park as we stole her idea of a fundraiser. She also wants people to sign her petition to convince them that we’re not reasonable enough to run a parents committee.

“Cashmere, what is this?”

“Our committee. I told you we’d run our own.”

“Of 6 people?”

“Yes and we’re managing just fine.” She tells us, throwing the petition in front of a family as they walk in.

“Cashmere, this is ridiculous.” I tell her. “You’re welcome in the committee along with everyone else. Just come and see how we run. You’re more than welcome to help.”

“No, we don’t associate with traitors.”

“So I suppose we won’t see your families here today?” I ask her.

She doesn’t answer and I know all too well they’ll sneak in somehow.

“Cashmere, for the interest of your own safety, can you please move off the road?”

“No, we’re fine here.”

“Well if you change your mind, you know where we are.” I tell her.

We’re called over for the formality part. There is a huge turn out already, with the media also in attendance. I check my watch, fix the collar of my shirt the committee is wearing and follow Katniss.

She’s talking to Haymitch and his wife Effie. She’s got Scarlett in her arms, rocking her side to side. She’s teething and not doing so well today.

“You did this, Katniss.”

“With your help.” She reminds him.

“My guidance really paid off, didn’t it?”

“Yes.” She nods. “I’ll always be thankful for what you did for us.”

He smiles proudly, hugging her slightly and tickling Scarlett’s cheek. He looks so much better than he did 12 months ago. It was a good idea him stepping down.

The City Manager steps up to the microphone and thanks everyone for being here. He calls upon Mayor Undersee to speak a few words and I see him get a little chocked up.

“I never thought we’d see something like this in the town.” He admits. “I thought the kids would miss out and there’d be nowhere to engage their minds, for them to meet friends and spend their summers. I thought all was lost and that my grandchildren wouldn’t have something to use.” He smiles. “But with the vision of one person, the donation of this land and a working party, we are here and from what I can see, what an amazing job that has been done. I’m honoured to be here, opening this new adventure park that will hopefully be here for years to come. For generations to come. For my grandchildren to bring their children to.” He cheers. “So, I would like you to all go crazy for this woman here, Katniss Mellark who created this for you all!”

Katniss goes red from the attention and smiles shyly at brushes the attention off as she bounces Scarlett.

“So during the day, if you see Katniss, make sure you thank her, tell her what you love best. Just praise this woman a lot because most of this she did while she was pregnant with miss Scarlett here and on maternity leave. So I think she deserves a lot of applause.” He smiles. “And to the working party who helped Katniss whilst she was on leave. They carried the vision and made sure targets were reached and the work was going steady and with their exceptional work, the park was opened two months earlier than planned.” No wonder he’s been mayor for so long, the town love him, think he is a gracious man. “And we can’t not forget the woman who also helped this project start. The niece of Grayson Peters, Missy Peters who donated this land to City Hall for the purpose of a park. Without her, this project would not have gotten off the ground.” He says. “I’d love to invite Katniss to share a few words and I assure you, they’ll only be a few words.” He laughs.

I laugh so does Katniss and she steps up to say a few words.

“Wow, I didn’t expect this many of you to show up. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your overwhelming support when we pitched this to the public. I’ve had this dream since I was 18 to create a space for everyone to use. To be proud to use. Something for my future children and family to use. It wasn’t until 6 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with my first that I wanted something done and a few years later, we were given Missy’s wonderful donation of the land and then 13 months ago this man, Haymitch Abernathy approached me when I was 4 months out from going on maternity leave to say it was time for one last ride together. He knew of my dream and he facilitated the work right until we turned the first sod which you probably remember was 10 months ago and my last day of work. And in 10 months, we’ve created this. So I hope you all enjoy this new community space just as much as I will enjoy seeing my kids enjoy it. And I’ve given the tick of approval from the two older ones so hopefully the rest of you kids will approve.” She smiles. “Thanks for showing up today and hopefully you enjoy Panem Elementary school as well who have provided all these fun things to coincide with the opening. Have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoy the Blast Furnace Adventure Park!”

Councillors, City Hall workers, the mayor and myself all stand for photo opportunities, posing with the ceremonial scissors. The kids are brought to us as well and Haymitch also gets his photograph taken.

“So, as a whole bringing this full circle, we’d like Katniss and her three adorable children to cut the ribbon and officially open this site.” Mayor Undersee announces.

Katniss holds the scissors and Lola and Eamon help her with the cutting of the ribbon which receives a huge applause and we watch as a swarm of kids make their way towards the playground. And I hold Katniss and we watch, as this place becomes the publics once again. We watch as her dream comes to life.

“You did it.” I tell her.

And we embrace our little family and know the tears, sweat and pain was all worth it. Those late nights and early mornings accounted for this moment.

She goes off to compete in the scavenger hunt with the kids and I return to my post.

And the day is a huge success. There are smiles, laughter and pure happiness. I watch parents, grandparents and children thank Katniss during the day. She’s taken aback and close to tears by the time the hundredth kid has thanked her.

“She’s done a wonderful job.” Gale comments as we do a coffee run. “She pulled it off.”

“I’m glad she did.” I admit. “I was scared she wouldn’t return to work to finish it off.”

“She’s tough and she needs a lot to knock her down.”

“I think she’s slowly being knocked down. This has built her up a few pegs but it’s the only thing she had to look forward to and now she’s got nothing.”

He nods. “She should maybe take some time off then, just to recharge her batteries. I’m sure she has quite a bit of leave?”

“Plenty.”

“A month might do her well. See where her heart lies when she returns.”

I nod, maybe we could go off on a family holiday for a week before the weather turns bad and it’s Christmas time.

She finds me that afternoon, most of the activities have wound down for the day and I’m supervising Rye and Annie count the money, leaving them separately in their tins. We wanted a breakdown of the most popular fundraisers. I’ve got a sleeping baby asleep across my chest and am rocking my niece Lily to sleep in her stroller. Haymitch and Effie are hovering around, chatting with Prim, Johanna and Madge.

“Hey, where are the kids?”

“Mom and Dad have them.”

I smile and she pulls up a chair beside me. She’s exhausted and I offer her my water.

“How’s the money looking?” She asks.

“We’ve sold out of everything. And our donations bucket filled up a couple of times. Some of the events made a lot of money. We did a good job.” I tell her.

“I’m glad it was a good day.”

“Well it was you who suggested it.” I remind her.

Pigging backing this event saved us having to bring in kids rides that cost quite a bit to hire. At least we had the equipment to keep them preoccupied. She just made sure it seemed as if the idea came from me and not her. They hadn’t yet publicly announced the opening of the park but I knew it was in the coming weeks and we could throw something together quickly.

Which we proved we did.

I couldn’t wait until our meeting on Tuesday night.

I turn to look at Katniss and see her wiping her cheeks. She’s crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“I did this.” She cries.

“You did.”

“I created all this happiness for all these kids and these families.” She cries. “I did this.” I nod. “I did something good but I feel like a failure.”

This gets everyone’s attention under the marque and they all swarm her, giving her words of encouragement and support.

“Katniss you did not fail anyone today.” Haymitch tells her. He was always someone who could through to her. He pulls out his phone and shows her pictures he’s taken. “See these faces, they don’t look like faces of those who think you failed. You created this. All of this.” He reminds her.

He then flicks to another photograph of all the groups kids. The arms around each other, the smiles and happiness beaming from their eyes. Our three are front and centre, Lola holding her sister protectively with a happy smile.

“You’ve had this dream since I first met you. I know it’s a little overwhelming but please don’t dampen the day. I’ve dealt with too many of your hormones over the years.” He laughs, hoping to make her smile at least. “You did this and you should be proud. It might not be right now but hopefully in a month, a year, ten years you will sit back and realise that you did this.”

“With your help.”

“Sweetheart, I just got the approval, I didn’t plan any of it. I let you create something to prove not only to the councillors but also to yourself that you can do great things in this job. You can create a happier community with your ideas. You can fund a multimillion-dollar project without any hiccups or kinks. You can do this.” He reminds her. “You’ll realise you did this and know you didn’t fail you succeeded.”

She nods, smiling through the tears and he embraces her. “You did well, Sweetheart.”

We wrap things up when the afternoon has almost disappeared and we all go out to celebrate a successful day with all the kids and team. There’s plenty of us and the kids are too tired to even make a sound and eat their dinner and the workers comment that they hardly know they’re there.

And after a celebratory ice cream we head on home with three tired kids who we just tuck into bed in their street clothes and decide we’ll deal with them tomorrow morning.

And Katniss and I share a bath together, also exhausted physically and mentally from the day.

Katniss can hardly keep her eyes open and rests her head on my shoulder.

“I’m so proud of you.” I remind her for the thousandth time, kissing the curve of her shoulder towards her neck. “And whatever you decide to do now, I’m here to support you.” I remind her.

“I know.” She mumbles.

“Just don’t rush into any decisions.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.” I tell her. “We love you, Katniss.”

After our bath, we find Lola and Eamon creeping into our room. We lay them beside us, cuddle their tiny bodies to ours and just relish in the feeling that we had a great day.

And I feel that now Katniss has completed this, she’s leading more towards stepping back and being the full time Mom. Which I was half expecting anyway after this project was completed. And I’ve gotten my almost six years, I don’t mind giving Katniss the next 6 years or even longer.

I reach out over Lola finding her hand in the darkness of our room and smile at her. Reminding her that I’m here and that whatever happens we’ve got this under control.

“We’re going to be fine.” I whisper to her.

“Always.”

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #everlarkbirthdaygifts #fan fic #by herainab

96 notes · View notes

coffeeflavoredtearsold · 6 years ago

Text

Only Know You Love Him When You Let Him Go Pt.5

Okay, so I forgot to post this chapter, since I had already posted it on AO3. So to everyone who read chapter 6 without chapter 5, here you go xD

PART 1 // LAST PART // NEXT PART

Read it on AO3 HERE

Everything was almost perfect over the next few weeks. Alexander was finally happy again, spending his time with his new and updated group of friends. Nobody had spoken to John, unless it was to make a witty remark, since The Incident ™.

Alexander had grown closer to Thomas over these few weeks, and despite all their friends telling them they should just get together already, they had agreed they didn’t want to rush anything, and Alexander had made it clear he wasn’t ready to start another relationship yet. Despite this, they were constantly flirting with each other, and not subtly either.

Everyone noticed the biggest change, however, was Alexander. Everyone noticed the difference. The once dark and prominent bags under his eyes were beginning to fade, he left his dorm more often to join the rest of them, and he seemed all around happier.

Through all this, James had started staying in the other’s dorms as to avoid John as much as possible. Despite Alexander’s happiness, John had begun to sulk around all day, almost never showering. James had sworn the room started smelling like a dumpster.

Even Washington had noticed the difference. Especially in debate, whereas Alexander and Thomas would be at each other's throats with insults, it was much calmer. When they insult each other, it was always something petty, and never in the cutthroat tones used before.

Lafayette seemed the most pleased at how things were going. He enjoyed seeing Alexander doing so well. He was like a brother to him, and he knew everyone was enjoying it. Thomas had even mentioned he had been having his nightmares less lately, which made the Frenchman happy.

Alexander was finally going to fix this. Sure, he still felt a pang in his chest whenever he thought of John, but he knew it was going to be okay. Sure, he still loved John, Alexander had even said so to Thomas, but he was somehow happier. He knew everyone was enjoying him sleeping more, and he was enjoying it as well. He didn’t need to drink as much coffee and was much more productive.

Everything at the moment just felt right .

»»————- ————-««

John watched out the window, where he had a perfect view of Alexander and Thoms eating lunch together under a tree. He felt the warm tears falling down his face but he ignored them. It hurt him so much to see Alexander sitting there, laughing with their- no his friends. He saw Thomas had an arm casually placed around him, and Alexander’s happy expression as he leaned into the touch.

He was supposed to be there with him. It should be him out there, making Alexander smile like that. But he had lost that privilege when he broke Alexander’s heart. John knew he should be happy for him- and he was. But he missed Alexander.

He felt himself begin to shake, his sobs becoming louder as he pulled himself from the window to continue crying. He felt so worthless lying there.

John had been thinking about it for a while. He knew everyone would be better off without him. So why don’t you do it? He asked himself. No. he still had a shot. He knew they weren’t technically together. He might be able to get Alexander back. Even if it’s just as his friend.

But you ruined that when you raised a hand to hit him. You know what he had been through with people in his past. You lost him for good. The thoughts ran through John’s mind while he sobbed, blocking out the world around him.

I’ll wait and see . Was the last thing that ran through John’s mind before he let the darkness of sleep overtake him once again.

»»————- ————-««

Alexander sat down to eat smiling his ass off. He knew he had no real reason, but he was just extremely happy at the moment. It was a Friday and he was excited for the weekend, sure, but he was really excited to be able to spend some time with Thomas without Lafayette constantly following them. He knew he was just being protective, he had done the same thing when he and John had gotten together. Even though he and Thomas weren’t technically together, everyone always told them they acted like they were.

Alexander felt Thomas sit next to him and snake an arm around his waist, and he leaned into the contact. “What are you so happy about?” He heard Thomas ask, and he looked up to meet his eyes.

“Nothing,” Alexander spoke, his giddiness showing in his voice. He watched Thomas nod and smile at him. Thomas looked like he wanted to speak, but was cut off by Lafayette as him and Hercules walked up to join them.

“Mes amies! Comment allez-vous?” Alexander looked over at his friends, smile still evident on his face.

“I’m doing fine, I dunno why he’s so happy.” Thomas motioned to Alexander with the hand that wasn’t wrapped around his waist.

“Come on! Can’t someone just be in a good mood?” Alexander got defensive, jokingly pulling his hands to his chest as if someone had hurt him.

Hercules was the one to respond this time, “Alexander, with a normal person, yes, but with you, no there has to be a reason.”

Alexander crossed his arms and pouted, receiving a laugh from everyone there. Alexander bit his lip when he felt someone tickling his side, looking to see it was Thomas. He tried to hold in his want to laugh, but failed, breaking out in laughter after a few moments.

“Thomas stop!” He screeched, laughing.

Alexander shut his eyes until he felt Thomas stop, opening them to see his friends grinning, Lafayette then narrowing his eyes at Thomas and giving him a joking, don’t touch him look. This made everyone else burst into laughter.

Lafayette looked pleased to Alexander at the success of his silent joke.

James joined them not long after, and they started eating, everyone seeming pleased to have Alexander eat more than a few chips or something of the sort.

They spent the rest of the lunch period laughing and messing around with each other before they a had to go to their separate classes, save Alexander and Thomas, who had debate together next.

»»————- ————-««

The rest of the day went without incident. Debate went smoothly, minus the end when Alexander had gotten into a heated argument with Seabury and they had to be separated by Thomas and Washington before punches were thrown.

Later that night, before Alexander and Thomas were about to watch a movie, they got a text from James saying there was a party going on, and they should come. Seeing as there was no reason not to go, they decided to get ready and head over.

When they walked in, they knew almost immediately knew it wasn't going to be a fun party. They found James and chatted with him for a while, upset when the found out there was no alcohol there.

Alexander felt Thomas lean in close to his ear, feeling his face warm up at the closeness of it all. “You wanna get out of here and go get ice cream?” He felt Thomas’ breath on his neck, making him shiver, despite the innocence of the request.

Alexander nodded and gave him a smile before Thomas grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the dorm and off to Baskin-Robbins. They walked, since it was only a few blocks away, Thomas never letting go of Alexander’s hand.

They walk in a comfortable silence, Alexander leaning his head on Thomas’ shoulder. They walk in and get their ice cream, sitting at a table across from each other.

“We should go ice skating,” Thomas said, breaking the silence.

“What?” Alexander looked at him confused.

“We should go ice skating. It’s getting colder and it would be fun... Like an actual date.” Thomas gave the smaller man a nervous smile.

Thomas watched Alexander’s face turn a bright shade of red, but he nodded anyway. “Okay. Yeah. That would be nice.”

Thomas’ smile widened when Alexander smile.

They spent the rest of their night out laughing and having fun. They eventually made their way back to the dorm, falling onto the couch in a giggling mess. Alexander wrapped his arms around the Virginian’s neck, pulling him into a quick kiss.

Thomas pulled away and smiled, Thomas resting his forehead against the immigrant’s. “We should get to bed. It’s late.”

Alexander nodded and reluctantly broke away, grabbing one of Thomas’ sweatshirts before he went into the bathroom to change. Thomas smiled and quickly got into some pajama pants, laying in bed and scrolling through his social media. Not long after he felt Alexander lay down beside him, and he turned off his phone to look at the smaller man.

After reaching over to set his phone on the nightstand, he wrapped his arm around Alexander once the man had turned off the light. Thomas fell asleep quickly and happily that night, having no dreams.

»»————- ————-««

Alexander awoke to an empty bed the next morning, looking around confused as to where Thomas had gone. When he couldn’t see him, Alexander got out of bed and looked around the dorm, still finding nobody. When Alexander went to call him, Thomas came in holding a bag and two coffees.

Noticing Alexander was awake, Thomas smiled at him and sat down on the couch next to the Caribbean man. “Sorry. I had hoped you wouldn’t wake up before I got back,”

“It’s alright.” Alexander took one of the coffees and sipped on it, smiling. “Now if you came back without coffee, we’d have an issue.”

Thomas grinned. “Well, then I guess it’s good I came bearing coffee for the caffeine gremlin living here.”

Alexander pretended to look offended but didn’t have much luck, as he broke out in laughter during his attempt.

Grabbing the bag, Thomas pulled out a donut and handed it to Alexander, who took it with a smile, thanking the taller man.

The pair ate in a comfortable silence, Thomas wrapping an arm around Alexander, who rested his head on the Virginian’s shoulder. When they were done they set their trash on the coffee table and stayed like that.

Alexander didn’t notice how much time had passed before there was a knock on the door. He reluctantly moved away from Thomas so he could go open the door. On the other side was James, looking annoyed.

“You guys cool if I stay here for a bit? John keeps whining and it’s getting obnoxious.” James said the name looking at Alexander, hoping he wouldn’t upset him too much.

Much to James’ displeasure, Alexander’s smile faltered, and he bit his lip, before putting another smile on his face. When Thomas opened the door a little more to let his friend in, James plopped in a seat near Alexander, while Thomas went back to what James assumed was his original spot, next to Alexander.

James had found it odd at first, how quickly Alexander had warmed up to Thomas. He had originally assumed he was just a rebound, but when Thomas told him that Alexander had said he wasn’t ready to start another relationship, James eased up a little.

Lafayette, however, had not. But his reasoning was more in him being protective. James gave them a small smile when he saw Thomas wrap an arm around the immigrant protectively.

They ended up having a Disney marathon, Lafayette and Hercules coming to join them after a while. Alexander smiled as he looked around at his friends and, whatever Thomas was to him. He didn’t know that they were, but he did know that he was happy about whatever it was.

// Again I’m so sorry to everyone who was confused, I hope this fills in any questions you may have

2 notes · View notes

d3ndroica · 7 years ago

Text

Big Apple 8

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

Friday morning, Madge headed to work with an extra spring in her step. Maybe because it was Friday and there was an afternoon holiday party at work. Or maybe because she had weekend plans with Gale. There was a constant fluttering in the pit of her stomach, half anticipation and half anxiety. In the morning she threw herself into the minutiae of lab work. She had a quick meeting over lunch confirming the expected schedule for the holidays - Madge had a few days off including Christmas. The lab’s holiday party was a casual thing starting at 2pm. Madge had finished most of her lab work in the morning, and as she checked email her mind wandered. Saturday dinner with Gale loomed in her mind. A Date! Okay, maybe a date. They hadn’t really specified, but Madge was feeling optimistic.

To help distract herself from the inevitable overthinking, Madge texted with Thom. He had been super grumpy since his show ended and she figured she could kill two birds with one stone, cheering him up and distracting herself. She convinced him she would come to his place for dinner and a movie or something. He only agreed because it was “totally gross” out and he had practically no disposable income, but at least he agreed.

The holiday party was, well, a bit awkward. Even though she’d done a few happy hours, having the bosses and other people she didn’t know put a damper on the party spirit. But there was wine and free food and a group gift exchange in which Madge scored a new travel mug and coffee shop gift card, so it wasn’t all bad.

She showed up at Thom’s after work with frozen pizza and ice cream. As usual, Thom proved to be an excellent distraction from whatever was on her mind. They watched a stupid comedy and made snarky comments through the whole thing. When the movie was over Thom switched over to Real Housewives and before Madge realized how late it was, she was half asleep on the couch, so she just stayed the night. Saturday was cold but clear. Madge was bundled up on the subway, reading a book on her way home when she got Gale’s message. She had to fish for the phone from her coat pocket and take off her gloves to unlock it. Gale 10:51am can’t make it tonight something came up sorry :(

Madge 10:54am OK. Everything OK?

Gale 10:55am Yeah OK. rain check?

Madge 10:57am Yeah np

Except, of course, it was a problem. Why, she wondered. He hadn’t explained, and she hadn’t asked, but it felt like rejection. Something came up, which could mean anything at all, or nothing. The idea of a rain check was little consolation.

Madge tried to make new plans. Well, she texted Rue about doing something, but Rue had a performance. She’d be free on Monday, so Madge agreed to meet up then. Madge also emailed Delly a sad diatribe about men being stupid, but mostly she felt like the stupid one. Ugh. So she wound up spending Saturday night doing laundry, watching Sex and the City streaming online, and getting drunk on cheap wine. She glared at her phone but did not text him. She’d decided that since he had canceled the plans she’d initiated, it was up to him to re-engage. Sunday she finished her holiday shopping. Delly called to commiserate about their lack of dating lives. That evening, Madge called her dad, catching him up on work and the city - everything except Gale. She didn’t talk about her dating life with family if she could avoid it. Her dad spent about 20 minutes describing the latest episode of Midsomer Murders he’d seen, practically scene by scene, except he kept mixing up which characters were which, so Madge was left with a bizarre muddle of people who may have been blackmailing and/or sleeping with each other.

Monday rolled around all too quickly. Madge felt forlorn, a cold dreary Monday and still nothing from Gale. She had a busy day scheduled in the lab, prepping her new cell cultures. She was determined to be sure everything was pristine this time around. As she was breaking for lunch, she ran into another lab tech, Vinayak, whom she’d chatted with at the holiday party. He was watching some viral video a student had made for their biology class about cell reproduction processes - Madge had to appreciate it, it mentioned apoptosis! She got sucked into a short conversation with him and some other coworkers about it and other biomed social media. When she finally got back to her desk she checked her phone and found a series of messages waiting. Rue had messaged with a suggestion for a dive bar to meet at before the movie. And Gale had texted. Finally. Gale 11:23am hey

Gale 11:29am you free tonight?

Madge 12:41pm Sorry :( have plans Been stuck in the lab Maybe tomorrow?

Madge sighed. The more she thought about it, she realized she was angry at him. Did he think Monday night plans were just as good as Saturday? And why was it always the same day, couldn’t he make plans a few days out, give her some warning? She hadn’t really thought about it before but now it occurred to her that he had only ever made plans on the same day with her - never in advance. She wasn’t sure if that was supposed to tell her something about him - or about her. And he was mostly MIA on weekends which seemed, if anything, not promising. The whole things left her feeling grumpy. She was happy that she had enough of a life to not be at his beck and call (not a fair accounting but whatever, she still considered herself new to the city and for once she had plans so she could at least feel good about that). She was also annoyed that she wouldn’t see him.

Still, she was determined to have fun tonight, meeting up with Rue to see the latest Wonder Woman movie. Returning to the lab after lunch, Madge struggled to get through all the steps of the day’s protocol. After a hectic afternoon, Madge managed to be only a little late meeting Rue at a dive bar, just in time to take advantage of the cheap (and weak) happy hour specials before the movie. Madge barely even had time to look at her phone. They talked about the holidays - Rue’s shows were scheduled throughout so she would be in town working through all the holidays. She asked about Madge’s work. Madge started explaining her day, but gave up when she saw Rue’s blank look. They moved onto other topics before walking to the theater. The movie was entertaining, and they made vague promises of getting together again soon before each heading home.

Gale 1:03pm tomorrow should be ok I have a meeting til 5 then free

Madge 6:20pm Sounds good. I should be able to get off early tomorrow

Gale 6:41pm U up for morningside? Could eat nearby?

Madge 10:34pm ok Any ideas? Or just meet at subway stn?

Gale 10:39pm sure just meet 116th st subway @ 6?

Madge 10:50pm Soudns good ….so I just did the thing where I turned on the computer and started scanning the exact same feeds I’ve been looking at on my phone 😩😫

Gale 10:52pm 😆 home now?

Madge 10:54pm 👣🍿🎵

Gale 10:59pm long day?

Madge 11:04pm soo long It was hard But good, you know?

Gale 11:06pm you know i said day not date right? you didn’t send a going home with someone emoji

Madge smirked at her phone.

Madge 11:07pm You think if I were with long hard & good I would be on my phone?

Gale 11:08pm well good isn’t mindblowing so it depends if you want 🍆 or 💏

Madge 11:09pm It can’t be both? (Unless you’re accusing me of ethnic cleansing bc those people are weirdly yellow)

Gale 11:09pm ok you’re alone so want to explain what was long, hard, and good for you today? inquiring minds want to know 😉

Madge 11:10pm Just another busy day curing cancer ;-)

Gale 11:11pm I heard it’s more complicated than that

Madge 11:12pm Well that’s what makes it so hard

Gale 11:14pm lol, guess i have to give you that one sounds stimulating 😎

Madge 11:16pm So - how was your day?

Gale 11:17pm well not as long or hard as yours 😉

Madge 11:18pm Well It’s not about the length of your day but what you do with it ;-)

Gale 11:20pm 🙊 I’ll try to remember that looking forward to 2moro

Madge 11:21pm Me 2 :)

Gale 11:22pm 👍

Madge hesitated, typed, it’s a date, and told herself to press send. She wavered. She wanted him to say it was a date. Why couldn’t he say that? She knew he could see that she’d been typing. She deleted the words she’d written.

Madge 11:25pm my long day is catching up with me See you tomorrow

Gale 11:26pm goodnight Madge set down her phone and thought about what she would wear the next day. She took a shower, washed and dried her hair. She pulled on comfy flannel pajamas and laid down for bed. And laid there. Awake.

Madge 12:13am Hi

Thom 12:15am Yo

Madge 12:16am Seeing GH tomorrow

Thom 12:17am 👍🔥 r u 2 DTF

Madge 12:18am NO We’re not even dating

Thom 12:19am nedn fuck him then u’ll know

Madge 12:21am Can you be serious for one minute? We’re supposed to go to morningside park Is that a terrible idea?

Thom 12:22am u rly worried?

Madge 12:23am I barely know him and we’re going for a nighttime stroll in a strange park. If this were a horror movie I’d be saying how dumb I was

Thom 12:24am STOP UR NOT IN A MOVIE anw he’s mr consent 100% ggg

Madge laughed out loud at that - mostly at herself. She didn’t even know where that had come from but Thom as usual managed to calm her while bordering on TMI.

Madge 12:25am lol Sorry

Thom 12:26am npgf now go 2 bed b ;)

Tuesday morning she opted for a shorter workout than usual, allowing some extra time to prepare for that night. She could not even pretend she thought this was going to be casual. She was still a little annoyed at him, but having a little advance warning was better than none. She could at least pick out her outfit knowing she’d see him.

She wondered what would happen. She knew she could be in for a big disappointment, but she couldn’t help hope. As distracted as she was, work was helpful for keeping her occupied. She was still determined to get the labwork right. She managed to push most of the thoughts of Gale to the side as she peered into her microscope to observe her lab cultures.

They sent a few texts midday, not much more than confirming the night’s plans. Before she knew where the time had gone, it was 6pm and she was packed with a thousand other strangers on the train, protecting her small allotment of breathing room from the other jostling passengers, speeding towards … something. She came through the turnstiles and he was there. Leaning on the wall, head bent down toward his phone, his eyes were skimming the turnstiles. For her. Her heart beat a little faster. How long had it been? He looked good. He was clean shaven; he wore a beanie with a Knicks logo pulled down low over his head.

Was this happening? She ran her fingers through her hair and walked over. Gale smiled when he saw her and tucked his phone into a pocket. His “hi” was warm. Madge’s mind chased the question whether it was a friendly warm or something more. If she had been hoping for time to stop, it didn’t - their eyes met for a moment and then suddenly he was adjusting his scarf and leading her toward the subway exit far too quickly.

She had done a cursory web search to see what food was nearby. Maybe Gale had too, or maybe he just knew the neighborhood. As they left the station he said, “Well, there’s seafood, a beer garden, or middle eastern right on the corner. There’s other stuff nearby. What are you in the mood for?”

“How about middle eastern?” she suggested. “I haven’t had a good falafel in ages.” Madge had already checked out their website.

“Falafel?” From his dubious tone, she guessed it wasn’t what he’d expected her to choose.

“Is that okay?” She quirked up an eyebrow and looked at him. She had assumed he would be okay with his own list.

“Sure,” he agreed, seeming amused.

They quickly spotted the middle eastern cafe across the street, with a cute storefront. Gale took that extra stride as they approached the door and held it open for her. As he stepped through after her, Madge rubbed her hands in the warmth of the cafe.

They were led to a small table along the wall, and quickly shed their coats and scarves. They sat, Madge facing the inner restaurant and Gale facing the window, coats draped over chairs. Sitting across from each other, Gale asked Madge about her day. Whether real or imagined, the gleam in his eye led her thoughts directly to the long and hard convo … Shit, was he trying to be dirty or was it just her? It was going to be harder to keep her head clear with him right here in front of her. Madge saw the waiter coming to fill their water glasses and opened her menu as if to remind herself where they were. She was sure her cheeks flushed as she rambled something about her workday. When she asked about his day, Gale talked briefly about work, about working through bugs in their code, and a customer who kept changing their priorities.

The menu choices looked pretty standard by Madge’s experience. They decided to share the appetizer sampler which included hummus, baba ghanoush, grape leaves and the like. Madge added falafel; Gale picked chicken shawarma. It wasn’t long before they’d put in their order with the young waiter.

Soon after the drinks arrived Gale asked, “So when are you going home for Christmas?”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah,” she said. “Not til next week, my flight is Tuesday. I hope the weather doesn’t mess up my flights or anything. I’m just going for a few days - visit my dad and see a few friends. You?”

Gale shook his head. “Still need to get tickets. I’m going, I just don’t know the details yet.”

“Really? Isn’t it kind of late for that?”

“Well, I’m just catching a train. I’ll figure it out this week.”

Madge shook her head, amazed at how cavalier he was about leaving Christmas travel details to the last minute. “What about work?” she asked. As odd as it seemed, he had to know what he was doing; unlike her, he had done this before. He had lived here a lot longer than her.

“I took some time off,” he shrugged. “And i can work remotely if i need to.”

“Must be nice,” she answered.

Talking about Christmas plans led to talking about family. Gale talked about his more than she expected - two college aged brothers she had trouble keeping straight, and a twelve year old sister. He seemed extremely protective and fond of them. The waiter came and went, bringing appetizers and main courses. Gale asked about her family and hometown, things she usually didn’t talk much about.

She told him about her dad’s obsession with British crime dramas. ”We always watch a few when I’m home, except half the time he falls asleep in the middle, so I don’t know what the point is,” she laughed.

One side of Gale’s mouth twisted up in a half smile and their gazes held. “What do you do if he falls asleep?” He popped the last stuffed grape leaf into his mouth.

Madge shrugged. “I still watch it. I mean, by then I’m usually hooked anyway.”

“Are you sure he’s the one who’s obsessed?” he asked with a smirk.

They dawdled over the last crumbs on their plates until Madge asked the passing waiter for the bill. Turning back to Gale she asked, “So how far is Morningside from here?”

“A couple blocks. But we don’t have to go tonight,” Gale hedged.

“No I want to,” Madge countered. “I mean, that was the plan right? And a walk would be nice.”

“Okay, then,” Gale agreed, but he didn’t seem as enthusiastic as Madge had expected. A little doubt worried her thoughts.

After Madge paid the bill, they pulled their coats on and headed for the street. “Thanks for dinner,” Gale said.

“Well I did owe you,” she answered. “But you’re welcome.”

Outside the sky was that strange shade of purple caused by orange city lights reflecting off the dark clouds overhead. The streetlights lit their way down 116th street to the park. Madge shivered against the cold and pulled her gloves on as they walked.

“We could do the park another time,” Gale offered. “If it’s too cold.”

“Shut up,” Madge said, eyeing the darkness ahead of them. “I’ll be fine once we’re walking.”

Other than her toes, because her boots that could both look good and can handle walking were not well insulated, and her nose, she did warm quickly. She kept her hands in her pockets,mostly because Gale’s hands were in his pockets. Now that they were on their way, Gale seemed relaxed.

As they approached the park, Madge’s uncertainty grew. She felt her awareness of the dark shadows ramping up and her heartbeat picking up the pace.

“Do you do this a lot?” she asked.

“No,” he admitted with a grin. A jogger with a dog passed by.

“I’m all for trying new things but are you sure this is safe? Because it seems kinda crazy. And I would really like to not wake up dead in a ditch somewhere tomorrow.”

“Trust me, we’ll be fine,” he shrugged off her concern. “Give it a chance and if you want to leave, just say so and we’ll leave. Buddy system, remember?” On her own, Madge thought the buddy system sounded awfully platonic, but somehow he made it sound flirtatious.

“Right,” she said.

There weren’t many people around, just a few figures here and there who all appeared to be on their way somewhere. Gale headed to the left when they entered the park. There were street lamps here and there providing pools of light enough to follow the path easily. You could see the buildings on either side of the park, the ones to the west towering over them from the top of a steep and tree-covered hillside. They walked together past the dog run where a few stragglers were still chasing each other. Their owners stood off to one side, chatting to pass the time while watching the dogs. Gale raised an arm in a friendly gesture; one of the dog walkers reciprocated. When they reached a fork in the path, they turned further into the park and north again.

Other than being dark off the path, the park seemed fairly innocuous. Madge’s nerves began to calm down. “So is this your favorite park?” she asked.

Gale shook his head. “Nah. It’s too small. But I like it. It feels homey.”

“Homey?” Madge was dubious.

“Well, yeah. You’ve got playgrounds and b-ball hoops, baseball fields, the dog walk. You’ll have to see it in the daylight sometime,” Gale said.

Madge pursed her lips, annoyed.

Gale must have realized it. “Sorry I bailed on Saturday,” he said quietly.

“Uh-huh,” Madge replied, noncommittal. The silence stretched between them as she debated whether to ask more. Her mouth was dry. “So … what happened?”

With a rueful sigh Gale answered, “um, well. It’s not a good story. My roommate Jimmy had stomach flu last week. As in, literally immediately after we talked about getting together, he starts puking his guts out. And doesn’t stop. I was kind of hoping it was just food poisoning or something. But then it hit Carlo on Saturday morning. I figured I was next.”

“Oh,” Madge said, wrinkling her nose and, to be honest, trying not to laugh.

“It wasn’t pretty,” he added. “I basically spent the weekend watching sports in my room and cleaning everything in the apartment. I figured if we came Saturday I’d ruin it by getting sick. Or something. It didn’t matter - I never got sick, but still - guess I got lucky. They’re both fine now, anyway.”

“Oh, that’s good,” she agreed. “So ... um. Why didn’t you say so?”

“Sorry,” he sighed. “It’s not exactly, you know, a pleasant image. I was going to email you … but I don’t have your email. So that plan kinda fell apart.”

“Oh,” she said. “Well I’m glad you’re okay. And at least we’re here now.” She was mostly relieved that it was a decent reason. Still, if she had only known, the last few days would have been easier, at least. But, complaining now seemed silly -she felt immature, and didn’t want him to know she’d felt so insecure and jealous over it. She had no right to feel those things.

“Yeah, we are,” Gale agreed, his mouth curving into a smile as he looked back at her - she hadn’t even realized she’d slowed down. He reached out a hand to her. “C’mon, then.” She took it, feeling his heat through the fingers of her gloves.

Up ahead there was water on their left, between the hillside - no, the cliff - and the path. Madge eyed the water as they walked. She joked, “My roommate knows where I am and who I’m with. So, you know, you can forget about any plans you had to slash my throat and toss my body in the water.” The cliff face across the water looked imposing in the dark, a hulking shadow.

“What?” Gale shook his head. “Wow that would make me the worst buddy ever.”

“I’m just saying, logically, it’s a bad idea,” she argued, trying to sound matter of fact.

“Oh, thanks,” Gale answered. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? I think you’ve been watching too many crime dramas with your dad. And come on, Slash your throat? Seems unnecessarily messy.”

She laughed.

“Besides this is no place to dump a body. It’s not THAT remote,” he scoffed.

“Oh, thanks, that’s comforting,” she answered, still laughing.

“Well when you said you were afraid to go in city parks alone in the dark I had no idea you would accuse me of being a knife-wielding maniac.”

“I never said maniac,” she protested.

“It was implied. If you can’t trust your buddy who can you trust?”

“I trust you,” She grumbled. “But -”

“But what?”

“You want to talk about implications, how about this? What are the implications of me being alone with you in a strange park at night. I want to see the park and I’m sure it’s great but it’s really not why I’m here. If you want to be buddies that’s fine, but -”

He cut her off, saying, “I thought it would be romantic.”

“What?”

“The park. I thought it would be romantic. A walk through the park, moonlight, holding hands.“

Madge stepped in close. She tilted her face to his and kissed him. Her lips moved against his, soft and slow. He responded, and she felt his arms wrap around her.

She smiled against his lips.

“Romantic, huh?”

#gadge #nyc-verse #my-fanfic #my fanfic #gadge fanfic

9 notes · View notes

aint-no-baby-mama-drama · 7 years ago

Text

Klaroline AU - Vampire Hunter

Prompt-

Klaroline AU- Basically Caroline is a vampire hunter, training since she was 9. Her mom died on a hunt a few weeks after Caroline's 18th birthday and right around that time is when Klaus appeared in her life. And a few years later, Caroline got a break in her moms case and figured out that she was hunting an original and so Caroline (and Klaus who has worked very hard in the past few years to pretend to be human because he really likes Caroline.) head off on a trip to try to track down the original, plot twist - It's klaus. Liz was tracking him and before he killed her she told him that her daughter would kill him. So he found Caroline, with intent to kill her before she became a threat just to spite Liz, but then accidentally fell in love with her

---------

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, at least that's what Klaus told himself to avoid feeling even a sliver of guilty as he watched Caroline move about the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee and yawning. It was never supposed to go this far, it actually wasn't supposed to go anywhere at all. It was a long story that started almost 2 years ago. Klaus had caught wind of a vampire hunter on his tail, and being over 1,000 years old this wasn't anything new to him. He did the usual duck and dodge, and basically ignored her, feeling she was no real threat. But she was, she almost had him one night. She had caught him off guard and managed to stab him with a white oak stake, which was something he hadn't anticipated as he had destroyed all of them, or so he thought. Luckily, he had moved as she swung the stake forward and she only caught his arm. The fact that she had come so close had infuriated Klaus, but not to the point that he killed her immediately. Instead he wanted answers, like where in the world she had gotten the stake and how many others she had. But as he had expected, she was on vervain. So he had held her for a few days, as soon as the vervain was out of her system, he got the information that he needed. There were 2 stakes, she had one and her daughter had the other but she didn't know where her daughter kept hers. There were also a set of daggers, also in the daughters possession. Klaus compelled her to kill herself, not wanting the burden that came with killing a vampire hunter and went about his business. Packing up and making his way to the small town of Mystic Falls, where the woman's license said she lived. And he hadn't anticipated the hunter's daughter to be so beautiful, and smart, and funny. He hadn't anticipated being unable to kill her because she made him laugh harder than anyone had in awhile. But he also hadn't anticipated her turning to him, someone she had known for a week, and sobbing on his shoulder when she got the call about her mothers untimely death, and he certainly didn't expect the guilt that filled his chest as he wiped the tears off her face.

And almost two years later he still wasn't used to the guilt she made him feel without realizing it. The occasional time he would catch her crying in the bathroom, or when she would recall an old story to tell him. At first he was able to ignore the attraction, or at least for the most part. He would pop in and out with her, telling himself to let it go and just kill her as soon as he found the stake and daggers. But Caroline Forbes just wasn't someone he could let go of. So he let himself be around her. It only took a few months for her to tell him she was a vampire hunter and he did his best to act shocked as she told him about the different things she had seen and the different vampires she had personally killed. He had kept up the facade of being human, though he was almost busted around the time they started dating, she really cared for him and so she started putting vervain in his food and drinks to. He was over for tea and took a big gulp, immediately spitting it out and turning to face her. She had her suspicions, but he just played it off like it was hot and he didn't expect it to be so hot. Then he proceeded to take small sips, ignoring the burn, so that she would believe him. Caroline was no longer on vervain, although she thought that she was, he had switched it all out with an herb that looked similar but was harmless to vampires, so there were no more accidents he couldn't talk his way out of. He had thought of a lie to cover everything that wasn’t human about him, his strength (which she had seen a small amount of) he brushed off as being a personal trainer by day. His hunger he was able to fill in the few hours where he pretended to be at work.

So Klaus spent a few years fighting to pretend to be normal, and falling more in love with the feisty blonde every day, and life seemed to settle down in the small town where no one knew him. But that all changed after a phone call one morning. Caroline sat up in the bed reaching over and grabbing the phone before lifting it to her ear. Klaus laid there, pretending he couldn't hear everything that was being said. It was her uncle Thom, who he had heard tons about but never actually met. He was a hunter too, always busy and on the move. He had a break in her mothers case though. Those words being pieced together made Klaus sit up in the bed and listen a little closer, while trying to maintain a calm composure.

"It was an Original. She had somehow caught his tracks and that’s who she was following. Did you know?" The man asked through the receiver. Caroline stood from the bed, shaking her head so her blonde curls brushed against her shoulders.

"Absolutely not... I had no idea. She didn't tell me. Just to give her a head start and meet her down there later. Which I didn't get the chance to do" she spoke, pacing by the bed and beginning to twirl the bottom of her fingers in her hair which Klaus had learned to recognize as something she did when she was feeling upset. He sat up a bit more in the bed, feeling a bit uneasy about the situation. "An original, though?" I thought there were only a few of them left, why would she try to take on one on her own?" She asked her uncle, who just sighed heavily on the other line.

"My best guess is she was trying to protect you, the originals are a different breed," Thom told her though the phone, letting another sigh. "They're stronger, and faster, and smarter. So she probably didn't want you to have to meet one. You probably won't be able to handle one, you're not trained enough" He told her, Caroline sighed and stopped her pacing, feeling a stiffen in her spine from being told she couldn't do something. Klaus smirked softly from the bed, barely able to keep his snide comment in about Caroline handling him quite well.

"Ok, so basically all you know is that he's an original, that’s all you’ve got for me?" She asked, feeling her irritation overwhelm the upset feeling she had a few moments ago

“Caroline do you think I would have called you if I had only that? I have a name for you” Her uncle spoke clearly and Caroline turned, digging through her night stand until she produced pen and paper. Klaus found himself sitting straight up, tensing as he waited to hear his own name. But he didn’t. “Elijah Mikaelson” her uncle spoke as Caroline quickly scribbled out the name. “We don’t know if he’s the one that she was looking for but I’ve got sources at the hotel your mom stayed, it’s one that we all use when we are in that area. My source tells me Elijah checked in a day before her body was found, and video footage has him leaving a day after her body was found. Now that’s not much to go off, other than the fact that there’s check ins for another mikaelson, no first name, about a week prior, there was no checkout date he just disappeared. I think we’ve stumbled upon a family” her uncle finished and Klaus found himself slowly nodding his head. He had to give the older man credit, he was very very close. Elijah had likely come to town looking for Klaus, which he normally did when he felt like Klaus was doing bad things. But if he was at the hotel, it was likely he seen the body. Which means he should have had no problem tracking Klaus to Mystic Falls, but if he had, why hadn’t he said anything or made himself known. Klaus slid out of the bed and walked down the hall, unlocking his phone and dialing the familiar number. He changed his, like he did every time he didn’t want to be found. But Elijah was trusty and was always the same.

“Hello?” A voice answered, and Klaus couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face.

“Brother, what are you up to?” He asked, unable to piece together why Elijah hadn’t intervened or said anything about the fact that Klaus had all but moved in with a vampire hunter when he clearly knew. Elijah chuckled on the other end of the line.

“I can assure you that right now I’m doing nothing” he responded, Klaus glanced back to the bedroom door before moving further into the kitchen.

“It’s not like you to not butt into my life, especially when I’m making reckless decisions” Klaus told him, leaning against the counter and positioning himself so he could see down the hall.

“A reckless decision? You mean like shacking up with a little blonde hunter? Yeah I seen that, I chose to ignore it. I feel like you can handle her brother, although I’m not sure why you’re there, wasting time with a hunter when you’re personally responsible for offing her mother. My best guess is that she doesn’t know what you are and I’m a bit worried for when she does” he finished speaking just as the bedroom door opened and Caroline stepped into the hallway, moving towards the kitchen. Klaus quickly hung up and set his phone on the counter.

“Who was that?” She asked, walking across the tile and resting her head on his chest as she hugged him. He just wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.

“Wrong number, what was your call about? Something about an original?” He asked, nodding his head as she spoke as though it was the first time hearing it.

"I'm going to find him, Elijah. And I'm going to get my answers" She said, nodding her head in determination. Klaus chewed the inside of his cheek, trying to decide his next move. Her finding Elijah wouldn't be good for many reasons but he knew that trying to discourage her wouldn't work at all, it would do the exact opposite. So he decided to both encourage her and lead her on a wild goose chase. And that's what he did. He was able to convince her to let him come with, promising that he would stay out of harms way if she told him too (all while laughing to himself because he was the most dangerous being walking the earth). He had also gotten the chance to see the white oak stake for the first time. She had it hidden well in a panel in her floor. And that's how he found himself in their current situation. He had spent the better part of two months sneaking out in the middle of the night and pulling strings to leave bread crumbs, leading Caroline full circle around. And that was going fine. Until it wasn't. Klaus had fallen asleep and woke up to a dark hotel room, that was minus a blonde hunter. He had immediately bolted out of the bed, hunting for his phone in his pants pockets. Upon digging it out, he realized he had a missed text from Caroline, just letting him know she got a lead and would be back soon. He panicked a few moments but then relaxed a bit as he realized there was no way she got a lead on Elijah, he was at least 200 miles away, Klaus had made sure of it. But after a few hours had passed, something felt off. And this feeling was only magnified as Elijah began to blow up his phone with messages. He stopped where he was, halfway to the bedroom area and lifted his phone to his ear. Met immediately by Elijah’s voice.

"Where are you? And where is your hunter?" He asked. Klaus felt his spine stiffen at the firmness of his brothers voice, it could really only mean that something was terribly wrong.

"Why?" He demanded. "Where are you? And Caroline." He said, moving towards the window and pushing the curtain back, looking down on the dark street.

"I don't know where she is. Kol has her. He was with me when she showed up, busting the door down like she was the police and I stepped in the way from him immediately killing her which just made it worse. After he found out she was yours, it was over. I wasn't able to stop him and I'm sor-" Klaus disconnected the call and immediately dialed the number he had for Kol, cursing under his breath as it rang and went to voicemail. If Kol had Caroline, it was all over. Kol hated him the most out of all of them, likely because of how many times he had daggered him. After the 5th attempt and threatening voicemail, Kol answered.

***

Caroline woke up and immediately knew something wasn't right. She was cold, likely from the fact that her jacket was no longer on her and she regretted only wearing a tank top under the black leather jacket, although if she wore anything else she felt restricted, which was a no no for vampire hunting. She forced her eyes open and strained to look around but the room was too dark and her head was killing her. Caroline went to shift and realized she couldn't her arms were tied above her head and they weren't budging. Panic began to fill her before as her eyes darted around the dark room, trying to make out anything. She groaned and gave one last tug against the ropes before giving up and shutting her eyes again, trying to think back. She remembered sliding out of the hotel and driving over an hour to arrive to a house that was currently being rented to an Elijah Michaels. She was sure it was a good lead and as she busted in the house, she was met by a man who was definitely a vampire, he had the speed. But before he could say anything else, another man rounded the corner, the first vampire turning his back to her and standing between them. She slowly shifted the white oak stake until it was out of her sleeve and into her hand and lunged forward quickly, aiming for the vamp with his back to her and that was all she could remember. But she knew she was screwed, if she was still alive. It means they wanted something else and all she could think about was how much she would much rather be back at the hotel, curled into the bed with Klaus instead of in this dark and cold room, arms lifted above her head in the most uncomfortable position. After a few more moments of silence she decided to try to stand. Caroline pulled herself to her feet and grabbed onto the metal pole coming out of the wall that her ropes were tied to. She gripped the bar tight and lifted one foot, placing it against the wall and pulling. After three or four tugs, she felt the metal give and she quickly slid the rope off. Hands still tied together, she finished pulling the bar off of the wall and lifted it above her head, moving towards the door. As she got close to it, she heard footsteps approaching from the outside and quickly moved to the door, lifting the pipe above her head and waiting, bringing the pipe down hard as soon as the door opened, connecting with a dark head of hair. He fell to the ground and she dropped the pipe, jumping over his body and turning to head down the hall. The man was up in a minute, grabbing her body and shoving her face first into the wall. She struggled against him, throwing her head back and slamming it into his nose. But it was no use. He had clasped onto her arms like vice grips and drug her back into the room she was just in, turning a light on this time. He threw her into the room and stood between her and the door as she rolled over onto her back.

“I can do this all night sweetheart. You’re at the disadvantage of no hands and me being better than you. So the choice is yours, be a good girl and stop fighting so we can have a chat, or this can go down a path I am really trying to avoid.” He said, watching Caroline a few moments as she struggled internally, she ultimately decided to wait it out and attempt to attack later at an opportune time. She sat up onto her butt and scooched away from him until her back was to the wall. He just smiled and grabbed a chair from the corner, sitting on it facing her. “Good choice, princess. I’m Kol. I doubt you’ve heard of me, my brother doesn’t consider me his favorite” He started. Caroline ran her tongue over her split lip and stared at him a few moments, opening her mouth to speak when he began again. “I can see you’re a bit confused, you’re probably thinking no way do you know my brother. A hunter wouldn’t be friends with a vampire right? Much less an original? That’s what I was thinking too, that it doesn’t make sense for a hunter to be sleeping with an original, then again Niklaus always was a very good liar. And you are very lovely.” He said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees and resting his chin in his hands. Caroline shifted a bit from her spot in the chair.

“Klaus?” She asked before shaking her head. “He’s not an Original, I would have known. And his last name isn’t even Mikaelson, its….Mitchells….” She argued back, suddenly feeling very unsure as she caught onto the similarity. Kol couldn’t hold back the laugh that escaped from his throat.

“I can very much promise you that Niklaus Mikaelson is very much so an Original, in fact, he’s a hybrid. Which makes him a bit worse.” Kol stood, pacing around the chair as he continued to speak. “Now I’ve got a chunk of gossip in from Elijah and I’m going to tell you my version of how I think your relationship started. I think Klaus took care of your sweet mommy dearest when she tried to attack him, and then, knowing him, he probably went to find you to kill you, just to spite her. And then, like my brother does, he became infatuated with a shiny thing and forgot what he came to do.” Kol turned to her. “You might be wondering why I’m telling you this instead of just compelling you to jump out of that window, which I can do by the way, you’re vervain free, which I anticipated with Klaus.” He spoke softly, a grin coming to his face as he ran a tongue over his bottom lip and she quickly gathered that the only way for him to tell if she was vervain free would have been to bite her. Caroline shivered a bit and backed up a bit further, pressing hard against the wall. “I’m only telling this because I want to ruin my brothers life. And now that you know all of this, you’re free to go.” He said. Caroline blinked a few times, feeling a bit shocked.

“Just like that? Why?” She asked, unable to keep the shake from her voice. Kol just laughed.

“Because I’m smart, I want to ruin my brothers life but I also want to live a bit longer. So I won't be here when he arrives. Anyways, it was great meeting you.” He said, turning to walk towards the door.

“I’m going to kill you, you know? Every single one of you” She told him in a very matter of fact voice. Kol turned to glance back at her, standing in the doorway. He smirked and immediately Caroline could see the family resemblance.

“I look forward to it, sweetheart” He said, and then he was gone and Caroline was left in the silence of the house. She groaned and threw her head back against the wall, feeling like crying. It all made sense, from the first time she’d given him tea with vervain to his strength. She believed him when he said he was a personal trainer, and had no siblings. The more she sat and thought, the more embarrassed she was. She had let her mother down, her whole family down. She was supposed to be a vampire hunter but instead she fell in love with one. And the embarrassed feeling mixed in with the anger and sadness that rushed over her until she was just one big emotional wreck who needed to get out of that house before Klaus did arrive. She got up and moved through the house, ending up in the kitchen where she was able to cut the ropes off before grabbing her jacket, which was missing the white oak stake and a few other of her essentials, no shock, and heading out the front door. She didn’t recognize anything in the area, but her phone was still in the jacket pocket so she pulled it out and began walking down the sidewalk, waiting to get service so she could figure it all out and get home. Caroline slid her fingers up to her neck as she walked, sure enough feeling the spot where he had bit her, which just embarrassed her more. She wasn’t a full 10 minutes into her walk before a car pulled up behind her, idling before a door slammed. Caroline turned around in time to see none other than Klaus jogging towards her. She put her hand out and started walking back.

“You need to get away from me” She said, feeling her emotions rise back up as she looked at his face before shaking her head and turning to walk away. He moved towards her, reaching out to grab her arm. Caroline whipped back towards him, hair flying around as she did so. “Let go of me, Niklaus” She said his full name like a curse word and his grip loosened on her arm as the realization hit his face.

“Caroline…”He started, she put her hand up, silencing his speech.

“Shut up, I don’t want to hear it and honestly if I had my stake still I would shove it through your chest.” She snapped at him, grabbing her hairband off her wrist and pulling her hair up into a pony tail whipping away from him. Klaus moved up behind her again, grabbing her hand to stop her as they moved under a street light. She pulled her hand from his grasp and kept walking, only stopping as he flashed in front of her. She looked up defiantly. “Must be nice to finally be yourself around me.” She glared before moving to go around him. He caught her again and quickly moved his hand up to her chin, gently tipping her head to look at the marks on her neck. She slapped his hand away from her and took a step back, not missing the anger that crossed Klaus’ face. “What? Get mad because someone else marked your territory? Don’t act so shocked, like you haven’t done it. We both know that I’m not on vervain anymore, you took care of that so who knows what I’ve forgotten that you’ve done” She snapped. Klaus shook his head quickly.

“Caroline.. I’ve never bit you. Or compelled you for that matter. I wouldn’t do that to you” He told her, looking down at her. She just scoffed and turned away from him. Walking. “Dammit Caroline, stop walking away and talk to me” He demanded, moving quickly behind her.

“You want to talk, Klaus? Cool let's talk” Caroline began speaking as she continued to walk down the sidewalk. “Let’s talk about how much of a liar you are, and how stupid I am. Let’s talk about how I was actually planning a future with you. Oh oh, I have one better.” She said, lifting her finger in the air. “Let’s talk about how you made me an orphan” She said, feeling the emotions well up. “And to think, I thought it was fate when you showed up and stepped in to comfort me after my mom's death. I thought god had sent you for me. But no…” She stopped walking suddenly, feeling the tears fall and hating herself for being such a girl. She turned and slammed her hands into his chest. “Turns out you were the devil in disguise and you killed my mommy...And I hate you Klaus, I really hate you. And if I ever see you again, I will drop you” She said, full sobs coming as she spoke the last words. She shoved him back before turning to move down the street, honestly unsure of where she was headed but knowing that anywhere was better than with him. He didn’t follow her this time and she eventually made it back down to where his car was. She got in it and made a u-turn quickly, turning the navigation system on and heading home.

The following months came different for Klaus and Caroline. For the first few weeks, Klaus was fueled by his anger towards Kol. He had spent weeks chasing his brother around, country to country. But then, somewhere between Rome and Italy, the sadness kicked in. Klaus had tried calling and texting Caroline so many times that after the first week she actually changed her number. It was awful, not being near her and knowing she hated him and it just made him regret all of the bad things he’s done his entire life. Not even just tricking her, but everything before that too. Spending two years with Caroline, being by her side almost everyday and then being completely without her, he knew he was going through withdrawls, or what he could only describe as that. He really didn’t sleep much, nor did he feed like he should. For a few months his primary sustenance was from blood bags because he didn’t feel like a hunt, or even trying to feed from the source. After 3 months of no contact, and him doing his best to stay away from her, he caved. He had to find her and at least see her, the pain in his chest had become too much to bear. So he left, he bought a one way ticket and got there that night. Upon entering her house, things felt different than when he lived there. The furniture was all rearranged, some different pieces entirely. Her bedroom was a wreck though, there were clothes thrown on the bed and her closet door was wide open, like she couldn’t decide what to wear. But no Caroline in sight. He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for what felt like hours. Growing more nervous by the second. Finally as it was nearing 1 am, he heard her keys in the door and the door shutting after she stepped in, heard the soft clicking of her heels as she walked through the house, making her way to the bedroom. He felt his heart rate increase with each click that got closer, waiting until she was moments away from walking in before he jumped and moved away from the bed and into the half open closet, feeling like a stalker as he watched Caroline move into the room and sit on the bed. He took the time to just observe her though. She looked good, at least better than Klaus felt, which honestly hurt him a little more.

Caroline moved towards the bed, taking a seat on the edge of and sliding her favorite red heels off of her ankles before dropping her feet to the soft carpet. She sat there for a few moments before standing and walking towards her dresser, looking in the mirror as she pulled the earrings out of her ears and reached back to unzip her dress. A movement in the mirror caught her attention and she turned immediately to find Klaus standing in the center of her room.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, putting her hand across her chest as her heart continued to beat fast. She stared at him a few moments, deciding how fast she could get to her closet and grab one of the daggers, which was her only weapon against him seeing as how Kol had taken her white oak stake. Klaus watched her eyes shift back and as she inched closer to the closet.

"Caroline... I'm not here to hurt you. I just needed to see you" He told her, taking the time to look her over. She looked fantastic. Even through the lack of light in the room, her skin looked shiny, her hair looked soft and she looked like everything Klaus had dreamt of for the past few months.

"Well you could have waited until it was daytime instead of being a creeper." She snapped back, completely frozen in place. "Then again I suppose vampires do enjoy the nighttime don't they" She asked, crinkling her nose up and moving her hands to her hips as her irritation overwhelmed her surprise. "You know what, I'm glad you're here" She said, turning and walking towards the closet. Caroline pushed the door open and shuffled around a few moments before pulling a red duffle bag out that Klaus recognized as his own. "Here" She said, tossing it towards him. Before he got a chance to say anything, she moved bag into the closet, tossing things around. He stepped over the bag and moved closer to the door as she came out, nearly colliding with him. "And here" She paused, pushing a smaller black bag against his chest. "Take these. And go back to doing whatever you were doing before you decided to ruin my life. You better be gone when I get back" She said, storming out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and Klaus couldn't stop the grin that came to his face at her flair for the dramatics, before shifting the bag in his hands, there was a distinct sound of metal clashing together and it made him curious enough to open it. He moved to the bed and set it down before unzipping the zipper. Klaus wasn't sure what he expected to be in the bag but it certainly wasn't the complete set of daggers, aka the only weapon she had against any original. Klaus' eyebrows furrowed together as he stared into the bag a few more moments, feeling more than a bit confused. He stood in the center of his room, not really wanting to leave without actually talking to her first. He wasn't sure that he would make it much longer without some type of resolution. So he decided to take a seat on the edge of the bed and wait. But the longer he sat on the bed, listening to the water running down the hall, the more memories came flooding back to him. Memories of him laying in that exact bed, watching Caroline walk out of the room with just a sheet wrapped around her body as she walked to the shower. But this time was different. This time he wasn’t basking in the aftermath of her loving on him and he wasn’t waiting on her to come back so he could kiss her again. Instead he was waiting on her to come back out so he could get a final resolution. A few minutes after the water shut off, the bathroom door opened and Caroline appeared in the bedroom, a towel wrapped around her body and one up in her hair. As soon as her feet hit the carpet she looked up at him and sighed heavily. “No by all means, by leave I meant stay” she said, moving towards her dresser and grabbing a pair of pants out before stepping into the closet.

“We need to talk, love...” he told her. She snorted from inside the closet but didn’t respond. “I’m seriously Caroline... please” He asked, standing but not moving towards the closet. She stepped out with a pair of shorts and a T-shirt on, her wet hair resting on her shoulders.

“I don’t think we really do, Nik.” She said, sure to put emphasis on his name. Klaus sighed and felt his irritation spark up. “In fact I think the talking is done. Now it’s the middle of the night, I’ve had a few drinks, and I’m ready for bed” she said, moving towards the side of the bed.

“No the talking isn’t done” he said, reaching out and grabbing her arm. “We’re going to talk now. Because I haven’t slept right in two months, because I haven’t been eating right, and I miss you” He finished speaking. Caroline just stood there, unsure of what to respond. “In the two years we were together, I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t even threaten to kill anyone, which may not be a big deal to you but that’s the best I’ve done since I was still human..you changed me. And I just.. I don’t want to be without you.” Klaus said, turning her body slightly to face him. Caroline just looked up at him, really struggling to form her next words. She was a cross between wanting to tell him to kiss her ass and wanting to push him into the bed and snuggle. There was a silence that filled the air between them for a few moments.

“Well you do look like shit” She agreed, pulling her arm from his grasp and crossing them in front of her chest. Klaus let a smile hitch at the corner of his lips and she took the chance to really look at him. He really didn’t look like he had been taking care of himself and it almost made her feel better, almost. She, on the other hand, was able to look normal on the outside while she was dying on the inside. The past few months had been trying for her. She had fallen for an original, and spent every day thinking how stupid she was for that. But she did her best to keep up appearances even though she was dying inside. Caroline had convinced herself that it was normal to toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep while thoughts of how good he was to her creep into her mind. She was also sure it didn’t mean anything that in the past few months she hadn’t been hunting at all either. Although the more they stood less than 3 feet from each other in the house where they shared many good memories, she was almost able to forget he was a vampire, she almost was able to forget that he killed her mom. But almost isn’t good enough. “Fine. We can talk tomorrow over lunch. I’ll be at Chief’s at 1.” She said, moving away from him and throwing the blankets back on the bed. Klaus just smiled softly to himself. It wasn’t much but it was a start and Klaus would take anything Caroline would give him at this point.

**Wwweeellll what’dja think? Ideas? I’m always taking prompts for pretty much all ships just ask!

#klaroline #klaroline prompts #klaroline AU #klaroline fic #klaus x caroline #caroline mikaelson #caroline forbes #klaus mikaelson #writing #prompt fill #klaroline story #the vampire diaries #the original

36 notes · View notes

southeastasianists · 7 years ago

Link

“When I was 10 years old, I saw a film about the Killing Fields,” Lomorpich Rithy recalls. “I said, OK, that’s a Cambodian-Hollywood film.

“But 15 years later, it’s still all about the Khmer Rouge. Khmer Rouge and Angkor Wat are the only two things that outside people know about us. What about my generation?”

While Angelina Jolie’s First They Killed My Father may have reminded the international community of Cambodia’s heavy history, the nation’s arts still remain unknown to most outside the country.

That’s set to change, however, if Rithy has anything to do with it. Along with her sister and two other friends, she’s the driving force behind the annual Bonn Phum festival, which takes place in a different village each year.

A free three-day celebration of traditional performing arts, games, and food, it grew out of Rithy’s friendship with one of Cambodia’s best known artists: Mann Kosal, who runs Sovanna Phum Arts Association in Phnom Penh.

Kosal established Sovanna Phum, the first independent art association in Cambodia, in 1994. At his small theatre in Phnom Penh, he directs actors and musicians in weekly shows combining music, dance, and Sbek Thom: the sacred art of vast-scale shadow puppetry that dates back to pre-Angkor Wat times, used for tales based on ancient Sanskrit epic the Ramayana. Unesco declared Sbek Thom an “intangible cultural heritage” in 2005.

Not that Rithy knew anything about it back then. “I had zero knowledge about my own country’s art,” she admits. In 2012, when a Japanese exchange programme required her to research her cultural heritage, she went along to a performance. “I remember the darkness and the sound of the drum. Master Kosal started to sing. It was the key to my soul.” Afterwards, she and her sister, Lomorkesor, began volunteering at the theatre.

Over the years, Rithy’s post-show talks with Kosal gave rise to the idea of Bonn Phum. “We talked about a setting for people to sit down and see performances in a traditional environment.” The first festival in 2014 was such a success, the team decided to make it a yearly event.

However, unbeknownst to Rithy, her mentor was growing increasingly desperate. Last year, after 20 years running the theatre, Kosal almost quit to become a tuk-tuk driver. Without government or NGO funding, income from ticket sales couldn’t keep up with rent hikes and expenditure. What’s more, after years of hand-carving the 2m-high puppets from cowhide, Kosal suffered from chronic back pain. To pay his hospital bills, he sold his car, then some of his puppets. Finally, he went to the papers and announced his intended change of career.

Rithy was in Thailand when her sister called with the news. “I felt like…oh my god, without Sovanna Phum, shadow puppet theatre is going to die,” she tells The Independent. “I knew it couldn’t end like this. I know Master Kosal, and how much he loves the place. I tried to call him but he didn’t answer the phone. He wanted to disappear. It was too much for him to handle alone.”

So she took on his fight. Determined not to let Sovanna Phum close, Rithy and the team behind Bonn Phum launched a Kickstarter campaign, organised puppet-carving workshops and garnered support from Cambodian franchise Brown Coffee. Pop star Tena was even inspired to use Sbek Thom in a music video.

“It was first time we saw the culture of sharing money in Cambodia for art,” she says. “Usually that only happens around religion. We are a country with a lot of culture and art history, but we don’t really value it.”

Though he plays a vital part in conserving Sbek Thom, Kosal tells The Independent that he’s no purist. He welcomes collaboration, for starters, saying, “all types of artists should learn from each other.” He also breaks with tradition by including female performers. It’s “not about gender,” he says; instead his bid to work with women is “questioning why we need to class this and that. There are many classes even within art forms in Cambodia. It's such a reflection of our society.”

In the planning stages for the fifth Bonn Phum festival due to take place next April, Rithy is passionate about modern Cambodia’s duty to critique itself through art. “We only ever look 1,000 years back and say, ‘We are the sons and daughters of Angkor Wat,’” she says. “But how about now? Who are we now?” The festival, she hopes, will answer that question.

More information

Sovanna Phum Theatre in Phnom Penh has shows every Friday and Saturday at 7pm. The gallery is open 9am-5pm, Monday to Saturday. Workshops and other activities are also available upon request. Contact them through Facebook, or by calling +855 10 33 75 52 to book.

The Bonn Phum Festival takes place every April. The location for the 2018 festival has yet to be announced

#Southeast Asia #Cambodia #Sbek Thom #Traditions #Culture

22 notes · View notes

missingverse · 7 years ago

Text

Missing Chapter Twelve

A week until:

She'd been up at the cave for three days and whatever mystery illness she had was clearly getting killed off by the fresh air and clear springwater up there (she figured, anyway) but she had to go home eventually.

After school, she tossed her clothes and sleeping bag in the washing machine, made a mental note to pick up some paraffin for the camping stove and batteries for her flashlight and showered. Just as she was getting out of the bathroom she caught the scent of cooking wafting from the kitchen. It didn't smell all that appetizing (way too much garlic and five-spice) but after three days of char-grilling over a campfire something cooked on an actual hob would be nice.

“Hi honey, how was your day,” Miriam drawled, already halfway into a Long Island iced tea.

“Pretty good,” Helga drawled back, sitting across from her. “Got an A on my History report.”

“That's nice,” Miriam sniffed, and swigged from her glass.

“Hit three home runs in practice yesterday.”

“That's super,” Miriam slurred, stirring her ice cubes with a straw.

“Then I beat a homeless man to death with my baseball bat. He had it coming.”

“That's nice,” she said again.

“Went to the park to celebrate and ended up doing a whole bunch of meth with some crackheads.”

“Well, the important thing is that you tried, dear,” Miriam slurred, blinking heavily.

Helga rolled her eyes; the 'say outrageous shit and see how long it takes Miriam to notice' game used to be fun when she was younger, but it was getting dull. Miriam just didn't react to anything anymore.

Bob blustered in just then with a pot full of some mysterious bubbling 'stuff.' Probably chili again. He looked surprised to see Helga there.

“Where the hell have you been?” he growled.

“Overnight field trip,” Helga shrugged. “I gave you the permission slip, remember?”

She gave him nothing of the sort but Bob nodded anyway.

“Uh, yeah,” he muttered. “Hang on, I'll get you a plate.”

He took the pot back with him for whatever reason, and there was a big production of opening and slamming cupboard doors. When he came back, he dumped two plates of 'stuff' in front of Helga and Miriam. Helga poked at what might have been a pinto bean with her fork gingerly.

“What's in this?” she asked as Bob sat down with his own plate.

“Little bit of everything,” he said, but he wouldn't look at her; he just shoveled the stuff into his own mouth. “Eat it and stop whining. I didn't spend all day in that kitchen to have you turn up your nose at it.”

She rolled her eyes again, but took a dainty bite of the mystery stuff. It was gritty, and oddly chalky and the aftertaste reminded her of accidentally inhaling aerosol spray.

…..

Phoebe caught up with Arnold at lunch, just as he was telling Thom from Social Studies about some cliff notes he had found.

“You were going to tell me something this morning,” she said instead of hello.

Arnold was acutely aware that people were looking at them and whispering. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Gerald frowning. He gathered up his lunch tray, excused himself to Thom and brought Phoebe over to one of the empty tables at the back of the cafeteria.

“Yes, I was,” he said. “Something I came across this morning, it triggered a memory for Helga.”

“What was it?”

Arnold glanced around him; if Phoebe got upset, the rumours would be pretty wild....

“Arnold, stop it.”

“Hm? Stop what?”

She threw down her sandwich and fixed him with a hard glare.

“Stop keeping things from me because you think I'll be upset,” she said. “I've been upset for five years. I know it's going to be bad but I can deal with it. I want to help Helga just as much as you do.”

“Okay,” he sighed. “What do you know about Pocaselas?”

“Not much,” she said, brows furrowed in concentration. “I got a bus from there once when my Dad's car broke down.”

“Helga sees the name of the place in her dreams,” he told her. “I think it's like a residual memory. She also said she feels like there's something around her neck when she's asleep.”

Phoebe paled, but braced herself.

“Pocaselas is known for being a place that runaways go to a lot,” Arnold continued. “Do you think she might have gone there?”

“No,” Phoebe answered abruptly. “She always said she was determined to wait it out. She would have qualified for boarding school scholarships in another year, she was talking to Mr Simmons about it.”

Arnold hadn't thought about Mr Simmons for a long time. In the aftermath of Helga's disappearance he'd taken early retirement and left Hillwood. A paper reporting on the case quoted him as 'heartbroken.'

“She wouldn't have gone voluntarily,” Phoebe said, shaking her head with certainty.

Arnold swallowed. “Then that leaves us with the other solution. Have you heard of the Black Gulch Ripper?”

Phoebe paled even more, which should have been impossible.

“Yes,” she murmured. “Bits and pieces.”

“Most theories say he's an experienced woodsman,” Arnold said, bringing up the slew of articles he had looked up on his phone between classes. “Pocaselas is bordered by a stretch of woodland and marsh that meets Hillwood's forests on the other side. There's no roads connecting them and it's about two days walk if you don't mind wading through sinkholes in bear-infested wildland.”

“All the Rippers' victims were adults,” Phoebe countered.

“They were young women, or at least looked it,” Arnold said. “The youngest was nineteen, and all of them were taken from Pocaselas. Then he went quiet about three years before Helga went missing. It's not unknown for murderers to keep picking younger and younger victims.”

“So you think he caught her in the forest when she was out there? He walked for two days through bear-infested wildland, as you put it, and just happened to come across her? That's kind of far-fetched...”

“Is it really? Because none of the buses leaving Hillwood, none of the cars going through the speed cameras picked up anyone fitting Helga's description. As far as we can see, she never left the forest.”

“All his victims were dumped in the Gulch,” Phoebe said. “They never found Helga's body.”

“All of his known victims,” Arnold countered. “People disappear from Pocaselas at four times the national average. An experienced woodsman would be better suited to dragging someone through the marshes.”

Mute and unhappy, Phoebe stared down at her nibbled-on sandwich and Arnold did the same to his own mostly untouched lunch. They were almost relieved when the bell rang and they went back to class.

And then, something very unexpected happened.

Just as Arnold was pulling out his Algebra homework, Rhonda Lloyd Wellington stopped in front of his desk. Tapping her foot irritably and frowning down at him, she was oddly twitchy.

“I need to talk to you about something,” she said, glancing around the room at anyone who was looking in their direction.

“Uh, sure?” he said, surprised. She hadn't spoken a word to him in over a year.

“Not here,” she said furtively. “Meet me in the coffee house after school. If you're even a minute past four, I'm leaving.”

And then she was gone.

…..

The girls were furious, because Helga Pataki was flaunting her older boyfriend in front of the school with absolutely no shame.

Well, flaunting wasn't the word Arnold would have used. Helga was talking quietly to the boy at the wall that separated the school grounds from the street, and he was gently teasing her about something because she laughed and jokingly punched his arm. He flashed his teen-idol-worthy smile at her, the kind that seemed designed to make preteen girls swoon, and she rolled her eyes because she was all too used to it.

To the other girls, they might as well have been making out in full view of the entire school.

“He treats her like one of the boys,” Angela Harper sniffed with an injured air. “If that's the kind of thing he goes for, good luck to them.”

“Wasn't there another boy walking her home yesterday?” Nadine piped up.

“That's Martin,” Phoebe said over the spine of her book. “Patrick was away yesterday and they don't like letting Helga walk home in the dark. She's not dating either of them.”

“Whatever,” Angela said, tossing her hair back. “Personally I don't think a boy should walk you home unless you're dating but that's just...”

“Could you all just shut the fuck up?” Rhonda growled suddenly, looking up from her phone for the first time.

A touchy silence fell on the girls, they exchanged nervous glances. Rhonda smoothed down her hair, and over her shoulder Arnold could see she wasn't looking at her phone but rather at her own reflection in the blackened shine of the screen.

…..

Rhonda glared when she saw Arnold had brought Phoebe with him.

“You could have warned me you were bringing her.”

“Sorry,” Arnold shrugged. “I get the feeling this is about Helga. You were behind us in the cafeteria.”

“Bingo, Sherlock,” Rhonda laughed scornfully, and then she looked nervous again. “Hey, you mind getting me a latte or something? They don't let me vape in here, can you believe that?”

“Okay,” Arnold nodded, and went to the counter to order. Phoebe followed him.

“Can you believe her?” Phoebe hissed into his ear. “As if she's doing you a favour being here...!”

“She might be, we don't know yet,” Arnold hissed back. “If she gives us something new, it's worth the price of a latte, right?”

Phoebe grudgingly agreed.

Even when she had her coffee in front of her, Rhonda fidgeted, took out her vape and put it away again, touched up her mascara and fiddled with her phone before she even tried to speak to them. Her hands were trembling, Arnold noted with surprise.

“Did you want to tell us anything or are we just here to watch you be Rhonda?” Phoebe bit out at last.

“Ooh, that's told me,” Rhonda laughed mockingly. “Fine, let's get this over with.”

But as she took a sip of her latte, her demeanor changed once again, her eyes dropped to the table in front of her.

“Look, you have to understand something first, okay?” she began. “I was a stupid kid. A really fucking stupid kid. I did stupid shit and nobody ever stopped me so I just kept on doing it. Get that?”

Arnold nodded, Phoebe folded her arms and stared. Rhonda sipped her latte again.

“Back then, I was really pissed off at Helga,” she continued. “I didn't even think she liked boys... and she didn't give a shit about looking nice or anything so it was kind of annoying when suddenly all these older boys are fawning all over her like she's some fucking supermodel....

“She wasn't dating them,” Phoebe cut in. “You know she wasn't!”

“Whatever,” Rhonda quipped. “Anyway, it made me mad, okay? And I thought fine, if she can do it so can I. How hard would it really be to get myself an older boyfriend? Turns out it's not that hard at all. Especially if you do it online.”

Arnold's heart sank; he had a feeling he knew where this was going.

“You'd better believe I got lots of attention. As many older boys as I could ever want. Way older. And then there's this one guy who pops up, and he's really nice to me. Listens to all my complaints about school and home and whatever, and then he sends me a picture.”

“What kind of picture?” Arnold asked, his mouth gone dry with the horror of it.

“A picture of Helga. Not a creepy picture or anything, except she's asleep in it. And he tells me she's his cousin and asks if I know her. I didn't even know she had a cousin.”

“She doesn't,” Phoebe said quietly, as if from very far away.

“I didn't know that. So I said yeah, she's in my class. He tells me he wants to meet up with his family because they got separated or some shit, and I figure if he meets up with them he would be in Hillwood and I could date him properly. Like I said, I was a stupid fucking kid.”

“what did you do, Rhonda?” Arnold gulped.

“I told him where we lived.”

Phoebe reacted before Arnold could stop her. There was a loud crack as her palm met Rhonda's cheek. Rhonda's head snapped to the side and she stayed there, stunned, as her face reddened.

“You bitch,” Phoebe growled. “You sold her out because you wanted a boyfriend? You fucking bitch!”

She went to slap her again, but Arnold stood up and grabbed her arms, pulling her back, as Rhonda shakily sat up again cradling her cheek in her hand.

“Phoebe, no,” he hissed, trying to drag her back down to her seat. “Come on, what's done is done.”

Phoebe swung back and pushed him away, and then she grabbed her bag and stormed out. As the door of the coffee shop slammed shut, he could see she was in tears. He could go after her, but....

“Rhonda, are you okay?” he asked quietly.

Tears were glittering in her eyes, but she blinked them away and tried to act casual, sipping her latte like nothing had happened.

“You're a nice guy, you know that?” she laughed bitterly. “It's no less than I deserved, right? As if I haven't been thinking about it ever since...”

“Did you tell the police when they questioned you?” he asked, already guessing she hadn't.

“No,” she said, and Arnold's heart sank. “Arnold, I sent pictures to some of those guys! Pictures I didn't want my folks seeing....and you know how that kind of thing gets around....I'd have been finished at school.”

“Helga's probably dead, Rhonda,” Arnold reminded her. “And whoever got her is still out there. I think it's a bit more important than your reputation.”

“Yeah, well,” she laughed again, so bitter it stung. “Like I said, I was a stupid fucking kid.”

…..

Helga was asleep in his bed when he got back, and Arnold's heart thumped hard because she had been sleeping more and more lately. Did it mean something? Were they running out of time to find her closure?

The PC was on, and a folder of his finished homework was open on the screen. It was only 8pm, but he dressed for bed and slid in beside her anyway, to watch her breathe. His eyes traced the long line of her throat, looking for the mark of whatever she felt was around her neck. Sure enough, there was a faint red line circling her neck, near the juncture of her chest. He reached out and stroked it gently with his finger.

Suddenly, Helga mumbled something frenzied-sounding in her sleep, turned over and ended up just an inch or two from Arnold's face. He saw something he hadn't noticed before.

On her bottom jaw, on the right side, two teeth were missing.

#hey arnold fanfiction #hey arnold #tw: crime #tw: abuse #tw: violence

2 notes · View notes

readingontheedge · 5 years ago

Photo

Lies, a steamy, fast paced standalone filled with the perfect blend of heat and humor from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, is available now!

Betty Dawsey knows that breaking things off with Thom Lange is for the best. He’s nice, but boring, and their relationship has lost its spark. But steady and predictable Thom, suddenly doesn’t seem so steady and predictable when their condo explodes and she’s kidnapped by a couple of crazies claiming that Thom isn’t who he says he is.

Thom is having a hellish week. Not only is he hunting a double agent, but his fiancé dumped him, and thanks to his undercover life, she’s been kidnapped.

Turns out Thom is Operative Thom and he’s got more than a few secrets to share with Betty if he’s going to keep her alive. With both their lives on the line, their lackluster connection is suddenly replaced by an intense one. But in his line of work, feelings aren’t wanted or desired. Because feelings can be a lethal distraction.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Mpws0a

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2Z7eEIE

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LiesKS

Nook: http://bit.ly/2WdNaPZ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Z3ME8X

Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2XzZz1O

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/31cAz3h

Excerpt:

“You’re going to break his heart.”

“No, I’m not,” I say. “That’s sort of the whole point. If I really thought leaving him would break his heart, then I probably wouldn’t be leaving him in the first place.”

My best friend, Jen, does not look convinced.

Boxes fill a good half of the room. What a mess. Who knew you could accumulate so much junk in only twelve months? At least we weren’t together so long that I can’t remember who owns what. One year is about the sweet spot for this issue in relationships, apparently.

“The fact of the matter is, we’re not in love. We have no business being engaged, let alone getting married.” I sigh. “Have you seen the packing tape?”

“No. He’s just such a nice guy.”

“I’m not debating that.” I climb to my feet, then head up the stairs to the second bedroom. Thom’s unofficial workout room/home office. Not a room I normally go into. But it only takes a bit of rummaging to find what I’m looking for. Whatever else might be said about them, insurance assessors are organized. The bottom drawer of Thom’s desk has a neat stash of stationery. I grab a couple rolls of thick tape.

“And leaving him this way…” Jen continues as I head back down.

“How many times have I told him we need to talk? He’s always putting it off, saying it’s not a good time. And now he’s away again. I’ve been messaging him for the last week and he barely replies.”

“You know he has to drop everything once a job comes up. I realize he’s not the most exciting guy, Betty, but—”

“I know.” I smack down a line of tape with extra zest, sealing the lid of the last box. In this Operation Abandon Ship Posthaste, I know I’m definitely slightly the bad guy. But not totally. Say sixty/forty. Or maybe seventy/thirty. It’s hard to tell to what degree. “I do know all of that. But he’s always busy with work or away on some business trip. What am I supposed to do?”

A sigh from Jen.

“When you realize you’ve made such a monumental mistake, it’s hard to sit and wait to fix things. Nor is it fair on either of us to keep up the pretense.”

“Guess so.”

“And the fact that he’s yet again made no effort to prioritize our relationship and make a little time for me in his busy schedule is just further proof that I’ve made the right choice in ending this now before it gets any more complicated. End of rant.”

Nothing from her.

“Anyway, you’re supposed to be on my side. Stop questioning me.”

“You wanted to get married and have children so badly.”

“Yeah.” I sit back on my heels. “I blame it all on playing with Ken and Barbie’s dreamhouse when I was little. But it turns out that being in a relationship with the wrong person can be even lonelier than being alone.”

Jen and I have been friends since sharing a room in college. We’ve witnessed the bulk of each other’s dating ups and downs. For some reason, I’m the type of girl who guys will go out with, but don’t tend to stick with. Apparently, I’m fuckable—just not girlfriend material. Maybe it’s my smart mouth. Maybe it’s the whole not fitting current societal expectations of beauty i.e. I’m fat. Maybe I was born under an unlucky star. I don’t know; it’s their loss. Like anyone, I have my faults, but all in all, I’m awesome. And I have a lot to give. Too often in the past few months, I’ve had to keep reminding myself of this fact.

“There are just so many jerks out there,” Jen says. “I was happy that you’d found a good one.”

“I think I’d prefer a jerk who was genuinely into me than a nice guy phoning it in.

Honestly, I’d rather go adopt a dozen cats and settle into old age and isolation than be with someone who treats me as if I’m an afterthought.”

She looks at me for a long moment, then nods slowly. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

“Me too.”

“Time to start filling up the cars. Boy, do you owe me.”

I smile. “That I do.”

Jen stands and stretches before picking up one of the boxes labeled kitchen. “I just didn’t want you to do something you’d regret, you know?”

“I know. Thank you.”

Alone in the two-bedroom condo, everything is silent. My parting letter sits waiting on the coffee table with his name written on the front. A slight bulge in the envelope betrays the shape of my engagement ring. It’s a sweet, simple ring. One small diamond perched on a band of yellow gold. My hand feels wrong without it. Naked. They say there are different love languages and you have to take the time to learn your partner’s needs. It’s like he and I never quite got there. Or maybe I’m just crappy at relationships.

The bridal magazines I’d collected are in the trash. Perhaps I should have taken them into the florist shop where I work so someone could get some use out of them. But this feels more symbolic, more definite. My family are a couple of states away, and I have only a few of what I’d classify as good friends. Being an introvert makes it hard to meet people. A boyfriend, a husband, would mean I’m no longer alone. Someone cares about me and puts me first. At least part of the time. Only Thom doesn’t any of the time, so here we are.

I tighten my ponytail of long dark hair. Then, in a rare display of dexterity that my yoga instructor would be proud of, I stack three boxes in my arms and head outside into the hot afternoon sun. Jen’s Honda Civic is parked at the curb, the trunk standing open as she moves things about inside. My old Subaru sits in the driveway waiting to be filled. Birds are singing and insects chirping. It’s your typical mild autumn day in California.

That’s when the condo blows up behind me.

About Kylie Scott

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Connect with Kylie Scott

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XujcZh

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GngiQq

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyliescottwriter Twitter: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks Instagram: http://bit.ly/2EUrx11

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Imusk3

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/kyliescottbooks/

Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ

Website:

https://kyliescott.com/

0 notes

jlalafics · 4 years ago

Note

Could you write some lesbian!Everlark please?🥺

Anon, I really enjoyed writing this. I hope you enjoy reading.

Summary: Peeta Mellark has an instant connection with a savior in scrubs.

“You can shut off the lights now.”

Delly Cartwright, Peeta’s friend and business manager, looked to her and gave a sympathetic smile.

Peeta gathered her golden locks into a ponytail and took the broom next to her to sweep up.

“I guess you’re right,” Peeta replied.

She had fair sales for her opening week; it had always been her dream to open a shop of her own and her love for vinyls clinched her decision to open a record store. There was hope of expanding to a used bookstore, but it seemed that it would be awhile before that would happen.