#his curly flat hair and big brown eyes oh save me pretty boy. save me

[vcrnons]

FOR ME?

[alloftheimaginesblog]

three times {e.m}

Plot: You happen to bump into Eddie Munson three times and you start to see a different side to him.

Character: Eddie Munson x Plus Size Female Reader

Warnings: bullying surrounding weight

part of my e.m ‘pretty eyes’ series

There were three times you officially ran into Eddie Munson. Three times you happened to be in the same place as him at the same time within a period of a few days. You knew who he was, he was infamous and in the same year as you (though this was a repeat year for him). You'd never spoken to him, never interacted until fate decided to throw you together three times in three days.

The first time you and Eddie met happened when you were leaving your English class. You had turned right, heading down a hallway, when all of a sudden Jason Carver - the idiot - stuck his foot out in front of you. You let out a surprised yelp as he tripped you up, your books flying from your hands. You squeezed your eyes shut, expecting to hit the ground but instead your body was grabbed and forced upright by two strong hands. You stumbled, falling against them, your face in their shoulder and when they spoke you immediately knew who it was.

"Shoving random girls because you lost your 'throwing balls into laundry baskets' game huh? Your ego is that fragile that you need to torment the rest of the school to make you feel good again?"

Your head snapped upwards to see those familiar curls and those brown eyes. Eddie Munson, King of the Freaks, had grabbed you, stopping you from falling flat on your face and was currently holding you against him. You wiggled and he immediately dropped his hands from you.

"Aw," Jason cooed, "the freak and the fatso. Lovely couple." You swallowed, your gaze moving to the floor. It wasn't a secret that you were fat, everyone could see it. Honestly you didn't see the big deal, you didn't get why idiots like Jason thought it was something funny to point and laugh at? It was a body, one that wasn't theirs, one that didn't impact on their lives whatsoever and yet he still commented and poked fun at you whenever he had the chance to. You hated Jason but the thing you hated most was how much his words affected you. You knew that he was nothing more than shit on the bottom of your shoe yet why did his words hurt you so much? You'd tried to convince yourself to not listen, to try and love yourself but no matter if you heard one hundred compliments about yourself, that one negative comment set you back big time. You hated it.

Eddie didn't miss a beat, "Know who else is a lovely couple, Carver? Me and your mom." Jason's friends let out a 'oh shit' and Jason's jaw clenched, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. He stalked towards Eddie, which had you darting behind the curly haired boy, but not once did Eddie flinch or react, "You don't scare me, Carver. I see right through you, you know." Eddie's grin was wide, that shit eating grin that annoyed Jason Carver so much, "On you go. Go stroke your ego by bullying some other innocent person."

Jason, displeased that he wasn't getting the reaction of cowardice he wanted, scoffed before storming away, his friends following behind. Eddie waited until he was gone before he turned to you, "Are you alright?" He asked, eyes scanning over you, "I didn't hurt you when I grabbed you, did I? I didn't want you to fall and hurt yourself."

Surprised that it had been Eddie who saved you, you shook your head, "Uh, n-no. I'm fine... Thanks."

Eddie gave you a small smile, "Oh shit," he said as he remembered your books were scattered on the floor, "managed to save you but not your books." You barely had a chance to react before he'd bent low and picked the three of them up before handing them to you with a wider smile this time, "Here you go."

"Thank you," your voice was quiet, unsure and a little on edge after everything that happened.

"He's a dick," Eddie frowned, glancing back at where Jason and friends had been, "Gets off on putting other people down." He rocked back and forth on his heels as though wanting to say something but unsure how and unsure whether he should.

"I should go," you cleared your throat, hands tighter on your books, "Thanks again."

He nodded, "Yeah, yeah." You began to walk away when he called out, "Hey, pretty eyes!"

You turned around, frowning and looking around, "Are you talking to me?"

He gave a shrug and a half grin, "Don't know your name." Your cheeks felt warm as you looked at him smiling at you. He'd called you 'pretty eyes', no one had ever complimented your eyes before. It sent your stomach into a frenzy but you tried your hardest to remain neutral as you responded with your name. Eddie smiled, "I prefer 'pretty eyes', I like the colour it's making your cheeks go." He didn't miss anything, did he? And bringing attention to your pink cheeks only made them flush a darker shade. Eddie laughed slightly before saying, "Don't listen to him or anyone else that says stuff like that to you."

You frowned, "I mean, he's not wrong though, I am fat. It's not a secret."

Eddie nodded, "I know but people like him... they say it as though it's a bad thing, they say it like it makes you ugly... It doesn't... So yeah, don't listen to them..." He took a few steps backwards, "You're worth more than them all put together." You blinked, touched by how sincere he sounded, "I'll see you around, pretty eyes." He left leaving you feeling a mixture of things but mainly you were just confused.

The second time you encountered Eddie was as you were working. You'd managed to get a job as a cashier in the local supermarket. It wasn't a particularly exciting job, scanning groceries and dealing with the general public but it paid decently so you put up with it. It was a mundane job but usually passed by quite quick. It helped that no people from school usually came by here, their parents would do the grocery shopping for them... That was until a familiar curly haired boy came through your check out with that shit eating grin.

"Hey, pretty eyes." He rocked back and forth on his Converse.

Oh fuck.

The Jason thing had happened yesterday in school and truth be told, you hadn't stopped thinking about Eddie and what he'd said to you yesterday but you hadn't expected him to crop up at your job.

"Are you stalking me?" You asked him with a raised eyebrow as you started scanning his stuff.

He rolled his eyes, "I'm buying my shit for the week, thank you."

You continued to scan his items before you realised that his items consisted of soda, microwave dinners and chips, "Varied diet," you commented with a smirk. If your boss heard you, you'd be fired on the spot but you felt like Eddie could handle a little teasing.

He grinned, "Oh, so she does have a sense of humour!" He clapped his hands together, "Why yes, thank you, I mean have you ever tried one of these?" He asked as he started bagging his food, he held up one of the microwave dinners, "Fucking delicious. Maybe I'll cook you one some day."

You rolled your eyes, laughing slightly, "Sounds great and I'm not selling you this," you held up the six pack of beer, "Gotta be 21, Munson."

Eddie scoffed, "Never stopped anyone from selling it to me before though."

You smiled, putting the beer on the side, "Sorry, I happen to kind of like this job and I like money so no."

He frowned realising you'd referred to him by his surname a moment ago, "You know my name?" He didn't really know why he was so surprised to hear you say it but he liked it, as weird as that sounds. He was used to people saying his name with venom or disgust or attaching 'freak' somewhere to it so it felt nice to have his name said in a playful way.

"Course I know your name, Eddie. You're pretty infamous plus we took a class together last year."

He considered this for a moment before shrugging, "Who's really stalking who then?" He teased before grabbing his stuff, "I'll see you around, pretty eyes." He threw a wink at you before he walked away. As you continued your shift, you couldn't help but keep thinking of that curly haired, brown eyed boy and that silly nickname he had for you.

The third time you happened to meet Eddie Munson was as you were driving through town. You'd been driving on the back roads which always saved time since they were always deserted but as you were driving, your engine began to cut out.

"Seriously?!" You yelled as it began to slow, "Here of all places?! Middle of nowhere?! Ugh." You pulled into the side of the road and just about managed to pull in when the engine completely died and the car came to a complete stop. You got out of your car, looking around to see if anyone was coming but no, no one else was on the road. That was the bad thing about the back roads, if you broke down then it would be pretty hard to find someone to help since they were usually always deserted.

You were hopeless with cars too. You didn't know how to diagnose the issue never mind try and fix it so you needed help. You knew that to get onto the main road it would be a forty minute walk pretty much either way and you just didn't want to do that. You didn't know where the nearest phone box was either to call for help but then as you turned around you realised that you happened to be right outside of the trailer park. With a shrug, you decided to venture down to it to see if you could either a: find someone who'd call a mechanic for you or better yet b: find someone who'd be able to fix the issue.

You'd never been in the trailer park actually. You'd heard some dodgy stuff about it but then again, those were murmurs of judgemental people and who were you to judge? You passed by a couple of trailers that didn't look like anyone was home before your eyes landed on a trailer which had the windows open and you could hear someone playing guitar. They were good, whoever it was.

You approached the door and knocked as loud as you could so that you could be heard over the noise of their guitar playing. You were as they stopped and you could hear shuffling as they approached the door before it swung open to reveal-

"Holy shit." You couldn't help the murmur of surprise as you saw Eddie Munson.

There he stood, eyebrows raised in surprise with that smirk, as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, "Now I'm really starting to think you're stalking me, pretty eyes."

You couldn't help but laugh because of course the trailer you'd happened to knock upon was Eddie Munson's; of course it was. Eddie looked at you amused as you laughed, "For fuck's sake," you breathed out before you were able to tell him why you were here, "Sorry, I didn't expect you of all people... Anyway, my car broke down just outside the trailer park. Your trailer was the first one I decided to knock, no stalking just sheer coincidence."

"Three times in three days doesn't seem like coincidence, I'd say that fate is working here, wanting us to meet, pretty eyes." He widened his eyes before winking, that grin a permanent fixture on his lips.

You rolled your eyes, "You know my name's (y/n)."

"I know," he said, "but I like pretty eyes better cause you have, as it says on the tin, pretty eyes." You liked the way he spoke, so playful and teasing, it was refreshing to be around actually, "Car troubles, huh? Lead the way for I shall be your saviour!" You giggled at his silliness, you really quite liked that about him actually. You liked how unserious he was, how playful his nature was. He never took himself or life too seriously, you needed that actually. Eddie Munson felt like a breath of fresh air.

As the two of you walked, you didn't really know what to say to him but Eddie filled the silence as the pair of you walked up the hill to your car, "What were you doing driving in these parts anyway?" He asked, "Figured you'd live on the other side of town."

"I do," you nodded, "I just use the back roads since it's quicker, never anyone on it... Not the best idea when my car happened to break down though."

"Ach, don't lie, pretty eyes. You probably broke it down on purpose just so I could be your saviour and call you pretty eyes again, huh?" He nudged your side making you roll your eyes.

"Oh totally because running into you twice in two days wasn't enough I had to make it a third."

Eddie laughed, liking that you could banter back with him, before the two of you stopped short of your car. Eddie popped the hood and had you turn the engine a few times, "Seems like your battery's dead," he concluded, closing the hood of your car, "I can charge it for you, we just need to get it to my trailer."

"And how do we do that?"

He rolled the sleeves of his Hellfire Club t-shirt up ("Do you always wear that?" You'd asked. Eddie replied with a, "Always.") before he told you that you would get into the car and steer and brake and he'd be behind the car pushing it.

So, that's what you did.

It didn't take too long but when the two of you got to the hill to get into the trailer park, you were freaking out. Eddie had climbed into the passenger side since he didn't need to push as your foot pressed the brake down for all it was worth.

"Just ease it off and then put it down again," he coached you, "A little bit at a time. Easy. You've got this."

But oh no, you didn't have this.

The first few metres were easy but then the steeper the hill got, the less the car reacted to the brakes and then... your foot slipped. "Oh shit!" You squealed, squeezing your eyes shut and clutching the steering wheel as the car began to pick up pace, rolling down the hill.

"Why are your eyes shut? Oh my god!" Eddie yelled as he grabbed the steering wheel trying to direct the car in a direction that wouldn't be into the side of his van, "Brake! Brake! Brake!" With eyes still closed, you slammed your foot on the brakes and the car stopped suddenly, jolting the two of you forwards. "Jesus H Christ," Eddie muttered releasing a breath.

You opened your eyes, looking out of the window. You were right outside Eddie's trailer, car narrowly missing the back of the van. You turned your head to look at Eddie who was looking at you before the two of you burst into laughter, that type of laughter that you can't calm down and when you do, you look at each other and burst into laughter again. It took around five minutes before the two of you were composed enough to leave the car.

"I'm never letting you drive again," Eddie muttered as he led you to his trailer.

"I'm a perfectly good driver, thank you. Just not when the car doesn't really work and there's a hill involved!"

He rolled his eyes before dramatically opening the door, bowing low before saying, "Enter into my humble abode."

"I really don't mind just sitting in my car you know, I don't want to intrude-"

"C'mon," he said, taking your wrist and giving you a gentle tug into his trailer, "I apologise for the mess, I was not expecting a pretty girl to visit today or any day for that matter."

You scoffed, "I'm not pretty so you don't have to worry about that-"

Eddie turned to look at you with a frown, "I happen to think you're very pretty, hence the name pretty eyes... You're actually pretty beautiful, (y/n)." It was the first time that he'd ever addressed you by name. It shocked you since it made you realise he was serious, made you straighten up and made you nod in acceptance of his answer as those butterflies swarmed in your stomach like the previous day.

Eddie directed you to the couch where the TV played and handed you the remote, "I'll sort out the battery stuff, you can chill here or you can explore," he shrugged, "whatever." He raided through a cupboard before producing a battery charger and then he left to start charging it.

You decided to wander a little. The trailer was pretty cramped yet very homely. Hats and mugs adorned the walls, a pretty large collection that spanned decades. As you walked down the hall, you could see a mattress on the floor and on top of it was the guitar that he'd been playing before you'd knocked on the door. You walked into his bedroom, seeing posters that covered the walls, posters of bands, some you knew, some you didn't. From people's pre-conceived ideas of Eddie Munson, they would say he worshipped the devil, that his trailer would be full of satanic shit and yet as you looked around, it was a normal bedroom. The mattress on the floor with a crumpled duvet and various pillows, a couple of chests of drawers with various knick-knacks that rested atop. He had a record player and various records along with a boombox and lots of cassettes. On the bed side table, a framed photo of a young Eddie (who you wouldn't have recognised had it not been for the wide grin and dark eyes since his hair was buzzed) and an older man. You weren't sure who it was. Your attention turned back to the posters on the walls.

"You know any?"

You spun around, seeing Eddie leaning against the doorframe watching you with curious eyes, "Shit, sorry. I was just curious."

He shook his head, "By all means... Do you know any of the bands?"

"Some of them," you said, turning back to look at the variety of posters, "most of them I don't."

"Well maybe one day you'll let me play them for you."

"Yeah, I'd like that." And you meant it. There was something that you liked about Eddie, something that interested you and intrigued you and honestly, you wanted to know more. You followed him back out into the living room.

"So it's charging but it's gonna take a while. A full charge will take like half a day but a little boost to at least get you home will take a couple of hours..." He tucked his hands into his pockets, "Now I don't expect you to stay here for that length of time, it's too long and I know you don't wanna be stuck with me-"

"Who said I didn't want to be stuck with you?" You asked, challenging him with a raised brow and a slight smile.

Eddie held his hands up, "I'm just saying, it's not the most fun place to be so I don't mind driving you home and then once your car's charged I could drop it off at your place."

You flopped onto the couch, "You're not getting rid of me that easy, Munson. I'll stay a couple of hours, if that's okay?"

Eddie nodded all too eagerly, "That's- Yeah! That's fine with me." He rubbed the back of his neck, "Are you hungry?"

Not three and a half minutes later and Eddie was serving you a microwaveable dinner. It was a roast chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy which he'd generously poured on for you, "It's delicious," he told you as he gave it to you, "they're just as good as a the real homemade thing. I mean, you don't have to have me telling you that me and my uncle aren't the richest so... it works for us."

You tried it, taking a bit of everything before you turned to him, "Holy shit," you murmured, "you're right. This is freaking good!"

Eddie grinned. He liked that you didn't judge him for the trailer or his run down van or the fact they couldn't afford ingredients to make a proper meal. He liked that you just enjoyed his slice of life with him, it meant a lot to him actually. He'd never had a girl over who ate dinner with him and hung out on the sofa, most would leave after an hour in the bedroom, "Didn't I tell you?" He said as he tucked into his own, "They're great." The two of you finished eating, discarding the plates by the side.

"I can get you a discount, you know," you told him as you took a sip of the water he'd given you, "only when I'm working though so we'd have to arrange it on days I'm in the shop. Fifteen percent off all items in store." Eddie went to decline, not wanting any charity but you quickly told him, "I give it to all my friends. My friends will buy hair and beauty stuff with the discount. My dad will buy his beer with the discount. My mum does the full shop with the discount. I just... I just like helping people I care about."

His brow quirked upwards, "Oh, so you care about me?" Your cheeks burned and Eddie cackled as he saw that familiar shade of red.

"So what if I do?" You asked, feeling a little bit brave, "Is that so bad that Eddie Munson has a friend?"

"A friend?" He asked, "Oh, Princess-" your heart accelerated at the nickname, "that would be terrible."

"And why would it be terrible?" You asked, not realising that you and Eddie had both been leaning in towards each other until you felt your noses softly bump off the other.

"Because I want to be more than your friend," he whispered, pulling back slightly to gauge your reaction. Again your cheeks burned but you didn't pull away, you didn't show any negative signs actually so Eddie moved back in, watching as your eyes fluttered shut before he pulled back with a wide grin, "Are you waiting for something, pretty eyes?"

Your eyes shot open, seeing that he'd moved away and was grinning. You gasped in shock, "Eddie Munson, you tease!" He laughed again, loud and booming, "I should walk out of here right now and-" you stood but he was quicker, stepping towards you, stalking you, cornering you.

"Yeah?" He asked, cutting you off, eyes darker with a hint of lust behind them, "Where would you go, pretty eyes? Can't use your car, you're in an unfamiliar part of town... Where would you go?" He lifted his arms so that they were pressed against either side of the wall next to your head.

You swallowed hard as your heart beat faster and faster. You could smell him - weed, cologne and leather all mixed together - and my god, you hadn't noticed how nice his eyes were. Deciding to tease him back, you leaned in, lips skimming over his cheek as your hands slipped down his torso and into his pocket. His breath hitched.

"I'd use your car," you whispered before plucking his keys from his pocket and dangling them in front of his face.

He blinked, confused for a second, before he realised, "Oooh, you're a bit of a tease too." He snatched them back from you, pocketing them once again.

"I don't know what you're talking about," you said as you tried your best to not smirk. Eddie leaned in close as his hand cupped your cheek gently, cold rings against your warm skin, "Kiss me," you whispered, needy and desperate, "Please, Eds."

He grinned, "Now how could I refuse such a pretty girl with pretty eyes and pretty words?" He responded softly before finally, pressing your lips together. It all felt right, as he deepened the kiss, hands pulling your body to meet his in the middle. You didn't flinch away when he touched you, no, in fact you craved it; craved his touch and his attention. It was all too soon he pulled away, panting and grinning as he pressed your foreheads together.

"I guess it was fate all alone," he whispered before moving back in to capture your lips. Those few hours would pass by pretty quickly when you can't stop making out with a boy who drives you crazy.

There were three times you officially ran into Eddie Munson by accident... Every time after that, every date, every late night rendezvous, well those were all very much intentional.

[60schickgroovy]

Beach Volleyball

(Micky)

              I was laying on the beach trying to get some sun with my best friend.  It was a perfect day, there were a few puffy clouds rolling lazily across the noonday sky the sun bounced off the rolling waves and the hot sand.  I felt it soak into my amber skin and I couldn’t help but smile.  The only sounds were lapping water, rustling wind and the distant calls of seagulls. Then, suddenly, the peace was broken by loud laughter.  “Davy, she looked like a vampire!”  “Yea, man! How do you expect us to not end up in trouble when you’re off making out with monsters?”  We both glanced at the noisy passersby.  Four young men carrying beach gear were talking animatedly and, not so subtly, looking back at us!  There was a short one, in a red speedo who had a cute British accent, one with dark blonde hair and a sweet smile, a tall one with a southern accent and green wool hat… in the middle of august!  And the last one… wow.  He was tall with curly brown hair and his laugh was contagious.  

              They stopped a few yards away from us and settled in.  “Wow.” Ash whispered.  “I know.”  I said. I tried not to stare as they tossed a beach ball around.  My heart leapt as the guy with the curly hair kept looking my way.  Every time he caught me peeking he’d try to flex his muscles or toss the ball really high.  I blushed at how bad he was at showing off and how it was still, absolutely, working!  I was so excited but I didn’t know what to do, I was so nervous!  “Ona, he’s checking you out!”  I smirked to myself.  We both sat up on our elbows and the curly haired guy shot me a cheeky wink. I decided to be bold, I slid my sunglasses down my nose and looked at him through half lidded eyes, then I waved coyly with an innocent smile.  He stopped in his tracks and his eyes went wide.  We held each other’s gaze for a moment, unfortunately my flirting had distracted him from his game and he was abruptly knocked to the ground by a flying beach ball to the head!  Aisling and I fell over laughing, but tried to cover it up quickly to save his pride.

              I was happy they came by today, I was wearing my cutest burgundy swimsuit, it complimented my long black hair and my make-up was on-point.  A few minutes later one of the guys approached us.  I felt my stomach do a flip as I looked up.  “Hello, Ladies!”  He was even cuter close up and that grin…, “Hi, there.”  I said.  “Hey.” I could feel Ash nudge me with her toe as she said it, but I ignored her.  “Um, so we were wondering if you girls would like to join us for a friendly game of beach volleyball?  I’m Micky by the way.”  “We’d love to, Micky.”  “Yea, that sounds like fun.”  I went to get up and tried not to fluster as I watched him extend his hand to me. “Thank you.”  I smiled.  “My pleasure!”  He said with a goofy grin and a half bow.  He kept hold of my hand as he led me over to where the boys were waiting. “Micky are you going to introduce us to your pretty friends?”  The British guy asked him.  I watched him become animated and goofy again, “Ahem, ladies, may I present Lord David Jones, King Peter Tork and Sir Michael Nesmith.”  The boys waved and bowed in turns, it was too cute.  “I’m Aisling!”  She smiled and waved flirtatiously, eyeing Peter, who blushed and grinned.  “I’m Iona.” I said, feeling a little on the spot.  “Wow!”  I turned to Micky who wore a lopsided grin that made my knees weak.  “That’s beautiful.”  “Thank you.” Davy shook his head and cleared his throat, “So are we gonna play or aren’t we?”  “Yea, let’s do it!!”  We approached the net and Micky caught up to me, “I haven’t really played volleyball before. Is it hard?”  I watched my feet, a little embarrassed about agreeing to a game I’d never played before.  He put an arm around me and I felt the blood rush to my face.  “No way!  You’ve never played?  You’ll love it.  I’ll teach you!”  I smiled meeting his gaze, “Well, if you’re going to teach me…”  His eyes held my gaze, occasionally flicking down to lips. His own were slightly parted and the space between us felt like miles and nothing at the same time.  “Okay, Ladies, pick your teams!”  Ash nodded to me and I grinned, then I paused, do I pick Micky?  Or is that too eager… Screw it!  “Micky! You’re with me!”  He ran over to join me on the far court.  He unzipped his jacket and cast it aside, all that was left was his matching swim trunks.  It took all my strength not to flat out stare.  Ash chose Peter and I chose Mike.  “Who gets the ball first?”  Ash asked everyone, though she was looking at Peter.  “Let’s choose for it!”  Davy said and the boy all sprinted to the net.  “Odd finger’s it!”  Mike said. We watched with interest as they counted off and showed either one or two fingers.  “Ooo!  Look I won!” I looked around as everyone got ready and tried to mimic their poses.  “What do I do?”  I whispered to Micky.  “Oh! Okay you want to hit the ball like this,” he bumped an imaginary ball, “This,” he set it, “or this!” he spiked the air.  “You want it to hit the sand on their side of the net, but not on ours!”  “Okay!”

              Mike tossed the ball in the air and bumped it over the net, Davy caught it with a set and I watched it come flying right at me! I tied to remember what Micky showed me but my bump was an utter failure the ball hit the sand and rolled under the net to the other side.  I blushed a little as Micky hopped over, “Sorry.”  “Hey, don’t worry about it!  You’re really close just put your thumbs…”  I didn’t hear a word he said after that.  He stood behind me, wrapping his arms around me and moving my fingers gently.  I felt his chest against my back and his arms around me.  His hands were so big and strong around mine, I felt hot flush on my cheeks as his lips spoke softly next to my ear.  “You see?”  He asked cheerfully.  “Mm hm.” I nodded as my breath caught in my throat.  He ran back to his place and I tried to recompose myself.  The game was way more flirtatious than I think it is meant to be. Davy picked Ash up once so she could spike the ball onto our court and soon a round didn’t go by where one of us wasn’t lifted off our feet.  Then there was the general clumsiness.  We kept bumping into the guys!  Ash was definitely worse than me, I knew it was basically all fake and it just seemed silly.  I rolled my eyes as she and Peter fell over and wound up in a tangled heap in the sand. “Hup!”  Davy spiked the ball and I ran after it, the adrenaline pumping in my ears made me deaf to the surrounding world, which must be how I ended up crashing right into Micky!  My eyes shut instinctively and when I opened them I was face to face with him.  I was blushing horribly.  I was laying on top of him in a very compromising position. I felt his chest muscles pressed against mine and our legs were tangled together.  My dark hair fell around our faces as he looked at me.  My heart fluttered, his eyes were wide and they sparkled as they looked right into me.  I hardly knew this man but as I looked at that wonderful expression on his face I just wanted to stay there forever.  Someone cleared their throat and I jumped off of him, smiling to show I was okay, but I wasn’t.  I was feeling a lot of weird and new feelings.  

              We had shifted spots so that I was now in the front right position and I thought this was a bad plan, I still wasn’t very good and they knew it.  The ball flew back and forth and I saw it fly at Davy who was preparing to spike it down in front of me.  As his hand hit the ball I leapt forward, the world moved in slow motion as I threw my hands out in front of me, clasped together.  I felt the smack against my thumbs and wrists and watched the ball change directions.  Mike spiked it over the net as my stomach hit the sand.  That was it, we won the game.  I heard the loud cheers from either side of the net as I was lifted off the ground and onto the shoulders of Micky and Mike.   They pumped their fists and everyone cheered, I looked down at Micky and smirked as he shot me a cheeky wink.  

              A little while later, Davy had followed a girl down the beach, Mike was reading, Peter and Ash were in the water and Micky and I were laying on beach towels together.  “…and that’s how we will meet the aliens.”  I finished smiling at him.  “I don’t think I’ve ever met a girl as smart as you, Ona.”  I blushed looking away, tracing patterns on the towel. Suddenly I felt the soft brush of fingers on my cheek and I looked up to find his face so close to mine.  He glanced at my lips and my eyes closed as he leaned in.  My heart was beating in my ears and there were fireworks in my brain.  The kiss was sweet and soft, he could be crazy and energetic, but with me he was sincere and kind.  When I talked to him I felt like the only person in the room.  I felt his hand on my side as mine went to cup his cheek. The kiss sped up quickly, he tugged at my lips turning his head to bring us closer.  When our lips breathlessly parted we rested our foreheads together, smiles plastered to our faces.  “Hey, Ona? Would you want to go dancing with me on Friday?”  I laughed heartily, how could I not, he asked me as though we hadn’t just made out!  “I’d love to, Micky.”  Relief washed over him as we shared a smile and that was my favorite day at the beach.

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*I don’t own the Monkees or anything under their brand, I just wrote this story*

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This one is for my wonderful friend @jdarcy25​!  Thanks for being awesome, Honey!

Also, for people who are unfamiliar with Irish names:

Iona (eye - own - uh)

Aisling (ash - ling)

[combat-wombatus]

uHm if you do these and if you want to do it I’d love a bnha matchup <3?

• my name is Aubri, I’m bi but prefer MHA boys tbh. I go by she/her, too.

• I’m a very Gryffindor person. (Sorry if you don’t know Harry Potter - 😖)

• I’m a June cancer, and I have ADHD and anxiety. My anxiety can be literally crippling somedays, but it’s gotten better overtime.

• I’m a bit of a class clown and usually just a clown 🤡 but that’s irrelevant. My teachers all hate me but like school-wise I do well so we have a love and mostly hate relationship 🤧

• I’m usually the ‘entertaining’ friend, in elementary the popular kids would invite me to play games with them because, “you’re funny” and it was like the biggest achievement ever 😭👍🏻 then they’d ignore me but that’s another therapy session

• I’m usually made fun of by people for being ‘weird’ and ‘insane’. Like all through elementary everyone thought I’d be a criminal when I grew up JUST BECAUSE I HAD UNDIAGNOSED ADHD - I hate it here 😐🦶🏻

• I’ve always been super into crime stories/true crime (where my anxiety comes from, I’m always worried about a pesky serial killer just killing me. It’s usually being kidnapped tho lmao) so I knew and still know like all these murder facts and sometimes I’d just randomly be like;

“Hey did you know it takes 12 hours and 2 days to dissolve a body in acid?”

or

“If you bury a dead deer over a dead body you buried deep in the ground, when police dogs sniff it and people dig they’ll just think it was the deer and won’t dig any farther.”

• So maybe people had a reason to be scared of me and think I’ll be a criminal someday, i dunno.

• I love love love reading and writing, and also debating. The things I’ve wanted to be when I grow up are basically: Dog shelter worker, actress, FBI agent, politician, and a writer. But usually I just want to do something that makes a positive impact on people. Like i wanted to be an FBI agent to solve crimes for people. I wanted to be a politican so I could actually help a lot of people. The entertainment industry also seemed like a way to make people happy. Idk, but then I decided I couldn’t be a politican at 10 because they were all corrupt and to be one I would have to be too. 😫🤌🏻 we love some good childhood angst

• the only subjects I’ve ever excelled at are ELA and Social Studies aka History, and Math I can’t do to save my life. ELA comes easy for me and I usually don’t have to work that hard and/or get too stressed over it. But I always get the meanest teachers for some reason. For example, one time I did my final essay for like 30% of my grade in 30 minutes the day it was due and I got an A+ 🦟🦗🦟🦗

• Uhhh id describe myself as a pretty loyal friend, I’m a ride or die type of girl. A story from my childhood that summarizes it pretty well is when I was in 2nd grade my friend wet her pants and she didn’t want to go to the nurse for it alone so I peed my pants so I could go with her and she wouldn’t have to be alone. Like, you know, a professional problem solver

• and I have genuinely attacked people for fucking with my friends but don’t snitch pls 🕳🏃‍♀️💨

• But also just anyone, people at my school tend to come to me with their problems for me to either help solve them by reasoning, or just to confront the other person like the bad bleep I am 😈😈

• I also have a huge daydreaming problem, it’s literally maladaptive daydreaming. So paired with my ADHD I don’t get shit done like ever.

• I have really high empathy levels I guess, like I always say hi to everyone I see on the street, especially if they look sad 😔 I’ve done it ever since I was a little kiddo.

• My fashion sense is very much a preppy/alt style. I wear those ripped tights and fishnets, I also have the MOST BIZARRE JEWELRY- like who allowed me to buy the gummy worm glittery earrings, hmmm???????? and those Mary Janes???????

• But I love crew necks and pleated skirts so I always obide by the National “hoes dont get cold” policy 🇺🇸😫🦅

• I wanna move somewhere someday, I don’t want to stay in America for very long

• I can speak Latin, French, and my native language which is English.

• My music taste varies, but my all-time favorite artists who all of their music they’ve ever put out has been my favorites are, Billie Eilish, Melanie Martinez, and Conan Gray.

• I no-joke have a sign in my front yard that says;

In ✍️ this ✍️ house we ✍️ don’t ✍️ worship Jesus ✍️ but instead ✍️ Melanie ✍️ Martinez

• My favorite shows are MHA (duh), The Promised Neverland, and Malcolm in The Middle.

• and I’m not going to tell you what I prefer in a partner, because that ruins the fun 😤

• but I will say I cannot be friends with someone who doesn’t really make me laugh. Like I’m used to doing most of the talking in convos but if you’re just boring I’m sorry it’s nothing personal but no thanks 😐✌🏻

• About my physical appearance, I have fluffy n curly brown hair, but when it’s in the sunlight it looks sort of brown but golden yk?? It’s shoulder length :) I have bleach blonde streaks in the front. I like wearing eyeliner most days, too. I’m pretty average size/ on the skinnier side. Kinda high key inscure abt my body bc I got flat shamed in elementary EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TIDDIES NOW- whatever 😤🙄. I also have crystal type blue eyes, and I do have fairly big eyes. But, like, not weirdly big. A good big. My cheekbones are ALWAYS PRESENT so sometimes I get called a Tim Burton character but it’s cool ig ☠️☠️ oh and I’m kinda short. I’m 5’3, even though my doctor said I’d be 5’7. I feel like I was either tricked by the doctor or someone just stole my destined height while I was asleep. It’s probably cause I didn’t keep an eye out for Selener 👁 😔😔

• I’m a definite night owl, like all of my energy comes at night which really sucks cuz I can’t do much since everyone else is asleep.

• My love language is touch starved so I’ve never figured it out ✌🏻😗🔫

• but I am an attention whore so idk 😏

• I’m a huge introvert with social anxiety. It isn’t as bad as it used to be cuz I used to not be able to like go to restaurants but now I’m much better.

• I’m a huge history person, mostly like sad history LMFAO. Uh but a lot of my hyperfixations have been on history. Some examples are The Roman Empire, Julius Caesar himself, Anne Frank, The Titanic, the Black Plauge, Helen Keller, Marie Curie, Slavery in the US, Joan of Arc, and just a lot more. I always love talking about these things if someone would let me ramble to them but no one ever does 😖 it also got to a point where for all these subjects I’d go to the library and try to find a book on them but usually I’d either have already read it or I’d read it and know all the information.

• I’m super into Greek Mythology, I have 7 books filled with the stories, I’m going to Greece maybe this summer to see it’s history, and named my hamster Aphrodite but we call her Aphie. I also will talk about this forever and ever if you let me.

• My favorite color is yellow, my favorite food is literally nothing I never have an appetite, my favorite planet is Saturn, favorite song is Tag Your It by Melanie Martinez atm but it changes like everyday.

• Music is a huge safe-space for me if I’m feeling down or having a panic attack. It calms me down n is overall my coping mechanism 💃🏻💃🏻

• Biggest fear is spiders, even looking at one gives me a panic attack and I cannot sleep at all for that night, adding to my insomniac ass 🧎🏻‍♂️🏌️‍♀️

• I’m mature for my age, I don’t exactly like hanging around kids my age and I get along better with older crowds.

• i don’t like conventional dates, (I PROMISE IM NOT TRYING TO SOUND ‘QUIRKY’ AHAHA) I kind of like having a best-friend type partner more so dates that aren’t as romantic as like the movies or a fancy restaurant suite me better. My dream date is playing Monopoly on my bedroom floor 🦧

• Also I hate getting gifts. End of story. If someone gets me a gift like awe that’s nice but never again, I’d prefer to get you one. Especially in a romantic partner 😐 i keep a journal of my friends’ interests and hobbies so I can get them the perfect gifts for their bdays and Christmas’s. Been doing this ever since 4th grade.

• Though I don’t have much actual experience with relationships🧍🏻‍♀️

• I’m a huge believer in ‘family isn’t blood, it’s who you make it’ because I have a pretty shitty family life and my childhood has been trash. My friends are my family to me.

• Also if my friends don’t like my romantic partner ✨ GOODBYE ✨. Sorry girlie, bros before hoes 🦨💨

I was going to put more but I’m so so sorry for how LONG AND COMPLICATED THIS IS- idk if this is a autobiography or a matchup at this point 🤦‍♀️ don’t feel pressured to do this and if matchups aren’t open IM SO SO SORRY LMAO uh yeah ilysm 🦎🎂🧃

OMG ASLDFKJHASLKDJH

🥺 i’m so sorry bby but matchups are closed ;-; my 100 follower event was over while ago (i guess i should’ve specified that in the asks i answered LKSAJHFLKJAHDS SORRY IT’S MY BAD) but you sound so cool?? i had a lot of the same hyperfixations interests (heLLO helen keller was badass AF and the roman empire was messed up but still v cool, anne frank was awesome too) i also may or may not have wanted to be a politician when i was younger alskdjfhalkdhj but now i’m just 🧍🏻‍♀️ lost and anyways you’re amazing >.< love u lots and don’t forget to drink water and eat a lil something hehe :p 

[perfectlyandrogynousbouquetworld]

Gilbert & Anne in Anne of green gables’ book

« That's Gilbert Blythe sitting right across the aisle from you, Anne. Just look at him and see if you don't think he's handsome."      Anne looked accordingly. She had a good chance to do so, for the said Gilbert Blythe was absorbed in stealthily pinning the long yellow braid of Ruby Gillis, who sat in front of him, to the back of her seat. He was a tall boy, with curly brown hair, roguish hazel eyes, and a mouth twisted into a teasing smile. Presently Ruby Gillis started up to take a sum to the master; she fell back into her seat with a little shriek, believing that her hair was pulled out by the roots. Everybody looked at her and Mr. Phillips glared so sternly that Ruby began to cry. Gilbert had whisked the pin out of sight and was studying his history with the soberest face in the world; but when the commotion subsided he looked at Anne and winked with inexpressible drollery.      "I think your Gilbert Blythe IS handsome," confided Anne to Diana, "but I think he's very bold. It isn't good manners to wink at a strange girl."      But it was not until the afternoon that« things really began to happen.      Mr. Phillips was back in the corner explaining a problem in algebra to Prissy Andrews and the rest of the scholars were doing pretty much as they pleased eating green apples, whispering, drawing pictures on their slates, and driving crickets harnessed to strings, up and down aisle. Gilbert Blythe was trying to make Anne Shirley look at him and failing utterly, because Anne was at that moment totally oblivious not only to the very existence of Gilbert Blythe, but of every other scholar in Avonlea school itself. With her chin propped on her hands and her eyes fixed on the blue glimpse of the Lake of Shining Waters that the west window afforded, she was far away in a gorgeous dreamland hearing and seeing nothing save her own wonderful visions. » « Gilbert Blythe wasn't used to putting himself out to make a girl look at him and meeting with failure. She SHOULD look at him, that red-haired Shirley girl with the little pointed chin and the big eyes that weren't like the eyes of any other girl in Avonlea school.      Gilbert reached across the aisle, picked up the end of Anne's long red braid, held it out at arm's length and said in a piercing whisper:      "Carrots! Carrots!"      Then Anne looked at him with a vengeance!      She did more than look. She sprang to her feet, her bright fancies fallen into cureless ruin. She flashed one indignant glance at Gilbert from eyes whose angry sparkle was swiftly quenched in equally angry tears.      "You mean, hateful boy!" she exclaimed passionately. "How dare you!"      And then--thwack! Anne had brought her slate down on Gilbert's head and cracked it--slate not head--clear across.      Avonlea school always enjoyed a scene. This was an especially enjoyable one. Everybody said "Oh" in horrified delight. Diana gasped. Ruby Gillis, who was inclined to be hysterical, began to cry. Tommy Sloane let his team of crickets escape him altogether while he stared open-mouthed at« tableau.      Mr. Phillips stalked down the aisle and laid his hand heavily on Anne's shoulder.      "Anne Shirley, what does this mean?" he said angrily. Anne returned no answer. It was asking too much of flesh and blood to expect her to tell before the whole school that she had been called "carrots." Gilbert it was who spoke up stoutly.      "It was my fault Mr. Phillips. I teased her."      Mr. Phillips paid no heed to Gilbert.      "I am sorry to see a pupil of mine displaying such a temper and such a vindictive spirit," he said in a solemn tone, as if the mere fact of being a pupil  » « When school was dismissed Anne marched out with her red head held high. Gilbert Blythe tried to intercept her at the porch door.      "I'm awfully sorry I made fun of your hair, Anne," he whispered contritely. "Honest I am. Don't be mad for keeps, now"      Anne swept by disdainfully, without look or sign of hearing. "Oh how could you, Anne?" breathed Diana as they went down the road half reproachfully, half admiringly. Diana felt that SHE could never have resisted Gilbert's plea.      "I shall never forgive Gilbert Blythe," said Anne firmly.  » « Mr. Phillips's brief reforming energy was over; he didn't want the bother of punishing a dozen pupils; but it was necessary to do something to save his word, so he looked about for a scapegoat and found it in Anne, who had dropped into her seat, gasping for breath, with a forgotten lily wreath hanging askew over one ear and giving her a particularly rakish and disheveled appearance.      "Anne Shirley, since you seem to be so fond of the boys' company we shall indulge your taste for it this afternoon," he said sarcastically. "Take those flowers out of your hair and sit with Gilbert Blythe."      The other boys snickered. Diana, turning pale with pity, plucked the wreath from Anne's hair and squeezed her hand. Anne stared at the master as if turned to stone.      "Did you hear what I said, Anne?" queried Mr. Phillips sternly.      "Yes, sir," said Anne slowly "but I didn't suppose you really meant it."      "I assure you I did"--still with the sarcastic inflection which all the children, and Anne especially, hated. It flicked on the raw. "Obey me at once."      For a moment Anne looked as if she meant to disobey. Then, realizing that « there was no help for it, she rose haughtily, stepped across the aisle, sat down beside Gilbert Blythe, and buried her face in her arms on the desk. Ruby Gillis, who got a glimpse of it as it went down, told the others going home from school that she'd "acksually never seen anything like it--it was so white, with awful little red spots in it."      To Anne, this was as the end of all things. It was bad enough to be singled out for punishment from among a dozen equally guilty ones; it was worse still to be sent to sit with a boy, but that that boy should be Gilbert Blythe was heaping insult on injury to a degree utterly unbearable. Anne felt that she could not bear it and it would be of no use to try. Her whole being seethed with shame and anger and humiliation.      At first the other scholars looked and whispered and giggled and nudged. But as Anne never lifted her head and as Gilbert worked fractions as if his whole soul was absorbed in them and them only, they soon returned to their own tasks and Anne was forgotten. When Mr. Phillips called the history class out Anne should have gone, but Anne did not move, and Mr. Phillips, who had been writing some « verses "To Priscilla" before he called the class, was thinking about an obstinate rhyme still and never missed her. Once, when nobody was looking, Gilbert took from his desk a little pink candy heart with a gold motto on it, "You are sweet," and slipped it under the curve of Anne's arm. Whereupon Anne arose, took the pink heart gingerly between the tips of her fingers, dropped it on the floor, ground it to powder beneath her heel, and resumed her position without deigning to bestow a glance on Gilbert. « but when she met Gilbert Blythe on the road or encountered him in Sunday school she passed him by with an icy contempt that was no whit thawed by his evident desire to appease her. Even Diana's efforts as a peacemaker were of no avail. Anne had evidently made up her mind to hate Gilbert Blythe to the end of life. « She flung herself into her studies heart and soul, determined not to be outdone in any class by Gilbert Blythe. The rivalry between them was soon apparent; it was entirely good natured on Gilbert's side; but it is much to be feared that the same thing cannot be said of Anne, who had certainly an unpraiseworthy tenacity for holding grudges. She was as intense in her hatreds as in her loves. She would not stoop to admit that she meant to rival Gilbert in schoolwork, because that would have been to acknowledge his existence which Anne persistently ignored; but the rivalry was there and honors fluctuated between them. Now Gilbert was head of the spelling class; now Anne, with a toss of her long red braids, spelled him down. One morning Gilbert had all his sums done correctly and had his name written on the blackboard on the roll of honor; the next morning Anne, having wrestled wildly with decimals the entire evening before, would be first. One awful day they were ties and their names were written up together. It was almost as bad as a take-notice and Anne's mortification was as evident as Gilbert's satisfaction. When[…] » « When Gilbert Blythe recited "Bingen on the Rhine" Anne picked up Rhoda Murray's library book and read it until he had finished, when she sat rigidly stiff and motionless while Diana clapped her hands until they tingled. » « Then, just as she thought she really could not endure the ache in her arms and wrists another moment, Gilbert Blythe came rowing under the bridge in Harmon Andrews's dory!      Gilbert glanced up and, much to his amazement, beheld a little white scornful face looking down upon him with big, frightened but also scornful gray eyes.      "Anne Shirley! How on earth did you get there?" he exclaimed.      Without waiting for an answer he pulled close to the pile and extended his hand. There was no help for it; Anne, clinging to Gilbert Blythe's hand, scrambled down into the dory, where she sat, drabbled and furious, in the stern with her arms full of dripping shawl and wet crepe. It was certainly extremely difficult to be dignified under the circumstances!      "What has happened, Anne?" asked Gilbert, taking up his oars. "We were playing Elaine" explained Anne frigidly, without even looking at her rescuer, "and I had to drift down to Camelot in the barge--I mean the flat. The flat began to leak and I climbed out on the pile. The girls went for help. Will you be kind enough to row me to the landing?"      Gilbert obligingly rowed to the landing and Anne, disdaining assistance, sprang nimbly on shore.      "I'm very much obliged to you," she said haughtily as she turned away. But Gilbert had also sprung from the boat and now laid a detaining hand on her arm.      "Anne," he said hurriedly, "look here. Can't we be good friends? I'm awfully sorry I made fun of your hair that time. I didn't mean to vex you and I only meant it for a joke. Besides, it's so long ago. I think your hair is awfully pretty now--honest I do.   « Let's be friends."      For a moment Anne hesitated. She had an odd, newly awakened consciousness under all her outraged dignity that the half-shy, half-eager expression in Gilbert's hazel eyes was something that was very good to see. Her heart gave a quick, queer little beat. But the bitterness of her old grievance promptly stiffened up her wavering determination. That scene of two years before flashed back into her recollection as vividly as if it had taken place yesterday. Gilbert had called her "carrots" and had brought about her disgrace before the whole school. Her resentment, which to other and older people might be as laughable as its cause, was in no whit allayed and softened by time seemingly. She hated Gilbert Blythe! She would never forgive him!      "No," she said coldly, "I shall never be friends with you, Gilbert Blythe; and I don't want to be!"      "All right!" Gilbert sprang into his skiff with an angry color in his cheeks. "I'll never ask you to be friends again, Anne Shirley. And I don't care either!"      He pulled away with swift defiant strokes, and Anne went up the steep, ferny little path under the maples. She held her head very high, but she was conscious of an odd feeling of regret. She almost wished she had answered Gilbert differently. Of course, he had insulted her terribly, but still--! Altogether, Anne rather thought it would be a relief to sit down and have a good cry. She was really quite unstrung, for the reaction from her fright and cramped clinging was making itself felt. » « Previously the rivalry had been rather onesided, but there was no longer any doubt that Gilbert was as determined to be first in class as Anne was. He was a foeman worthy of her steel. The other members of the class tacitly acknowledged their superiority, and never dreamed of trying to compete with them.      Since the day by the pond when she had refused to listen to his plea for forgiveness, Gilbert, save for the aforesaid determined rivalry, had evinced no recognition whatever of the existence of Anne Shirley. He talked and jested with the other girls, exchanged books and puzzles with them, discussed lessons and plans, sometimes walked home with one or the other of them from prayer meeting or Debating Club. But Anne Shirley he simply ignored, and Anne found out that it is not pleasant to be ignored. It was in vain that she told herself with a toss of her head that she did not care. Deep down in her wayward, feminine little heart she knew that she did care, and that if she had that chance of the Lake of Shining Waters again she would answer very differently. All at once, as it seemed« and to her secret dismay, she found that the old resentment she had cherished against him was gone--gone just when she most needed its sustaining power. It was in vain that she recalled every incident and emotion of that memorable occasion and tried to feel the old satisfying anger. That day by the pond had witnessed its last spasmodic flicker. Anne realized that she had forgiven and forgotten without knowing it. But it was too late.      And at least neither Gilbert nor anybody else, not even Diana, should ever suspect how sorry she was and how much she wished she hadn't been so proud and horrid! She determined to "shroud her feelings in deepest oblivion," and it may be stated here and now that she did it, so successfully that Gilbert, who possibly was not quite so indifferent as he seemed, could not console himself with any« belief that Anne felt his retaliatory scorn. The only poor comfort he had was that she snubbed Charlie Sloane, unmercifully, continually, and undeservedly. » « They had met and passed each other on the street a dozen times without any sign of recognition and every time Anne had held her head a little higher and wished a little more earnestly that she had made friends with Gilbert when he asked her, and vowed a little more determinedly to surpass him in the examination. « not a word could she utter, and the next moment she would have fled from the platform despite the humiliation which, she felt, must ever after be her portion if she did so.      But suddenly, as her dilated, frightened eyes gazed out over the audience, she saw Gilbert Blythe away at the back of the room, bending forward with a smile on his face--a smile which seemed to Anne at once triumphant and taunting. In reality it was nothing of the kind. Gilbert was merely smiling with appreciation of the whole affair in general and of the effect produced by Anne's slender white form and spiritual face against a background of palms in particular. Josie Pye, whom he had driven over, sat beside him, and her face certainly was both triumphant and taunting. But Anne did not see Josie, and would not have cared if she had. She drew a long breath and flung her head up proudly, courage and determination tingling over her like an electric shock. She WOULD NOT fail before Gilbert Blythe--he should never be able to laugh at her, never, never! Her fright and nervousness vanished; and she began her recitation, her clear« sweet voice reaching to the farthest corner of the room without a tremor or a break. Self-possession was fully restored to her, and in the reaction from that horrible moment of powerlessness she recited as she had never done before. When she finished there were bursts of honest applause. Anne, stepping back to her seat, blushing with shyness and delight, found her hand vigorously clasped and shaken by the stout lady in pink silk. » « I wouldn't feel comfortable without it," she thought. "Gilbert looks awfully determined. I suppose he's making up his mind, here and now, to win« the medal. What a splendid chin he has! I never noticed it before. I do wish Jane and Ruby had gone in for First Class, too. » « Gilbert Blythe nearly always walked with Ruby Gillis and carried her satchel for her. Ruby was a very handsome young lady, now thinking herself quite as grown up as she really was; she wore her skirts as long as her mother would let her and did her hair up in town, though she had to take it down when she went home. She had large, bright-blue eyes, a brilliant complexion, and a plump showy figure. She laughed a great deal, was cheerful and good-tempered, and enjoyed the pleasant things of life frankly.      "But I shouldn't think she was the sort of girl Gilbert would like," whispered Jane to Anne. Anne did not think so either, but she would not have said so for the Avery scholarship. She could not help thinking, too, that it would be very pleasant to have such a friend as Gilbert to jest and chatter with and exchange ideas about books and studies and ambitions. Gilbert had ambitions, she knew, and Ruby Gillis did not seem the sort of person with whom such could be profitably discussed.      There was no silly sentiment in Anne's ideas concerning Gilbert. Boys were to her, when she« when she thought about them at all, merely possible good comrades. If she and Gilbert had been friends she would not have cared how many other friends he had nor with whom he walked. She had a genius for friendship; girl friends she had in plenty; but she had a vague consciousness that masculine friendship might also be a good thing to round out one's conceptions of companionship and furnish broader standpoints of judgment and comparison. Not that Anne could have put her feelings on the matter into just such clear definition. But she thought that if Gilbert had ever walked home with her from the train, over the crisp fields and along the ferny byways, they might have had many and merry and interesting conversations about the new world that was opening around them and their hopes and« ambitions therein. Gilbert was a clever young fellow, with his own thoughts about things and a determination to get the best out of life and put the best into it. Ruby Gillis told Jane Andrews that she didn't understand half the things Gilbert Blythe said; he talked just like Anne Shirley did when she had a thoughtful fit on and for her part she didn't think it any fun to be bothering about books and that sort of thing when you didn't have to. Frank Stockley had lots more dash and go, but then he wasn't half as good-looking as Gilbert and she really couldn't decide which she liked best! » « Anne worked hard and steadily. Her rivalry with Gilbert was as intense as it had ever been in Avonlea school, although it was not known in the class at large, but somehow the bitterness had gone out of it. Anne no longer wished to win for the sake of defeating Gilbert; rather, for the proud consciousness of a well-won victory over a worthy foeman. It would be worth while to win, but she no longer thought life would be insupportable if she did not. » « Jane promised solemnly; but, as it happened, there was no necessity for such a promise. When they went up the entrance steps of Queen's they found the hall full of boys who were carrying Gilbert Blythe around on their shoulders and yelling at the tops of their voices, "Hurrah for Blythe, Medalist!"      For a moment Anne felt one sickening pang of defeat and disappointment. So she had failed and Gilbert had won! Well, Matthew would be sorry--he had been so sure she would win.      And then!      Somebody called out:      "Three cheers for Miss Shirley, winner of the Avery! » « I don't know it. I guess you're going to teach right here in Avonlea. The trustees have decided to give you the school."      "Mrs. Lynde!" cried Anne, springing to her feet in her surprise. "Why, I thought they had promised it to Gilbert Blythe!"      "So they did. But as soon as Gilbert heard that you had applied for it he went to them--they had a business meeting at the school last night, you know--and told them that he withdrew his application, and suggested that they accept yours. He said he was going to teach at White Sands. Of course he knew how much you wanted to stay with Marilla, and I must say I think it was real kind and thoughtful in him, that's what. Real self-sacrificing, too, for he'll have his board to pay at White Sands, and everybody knows he's got to earn his own way through college. So the trustees decided to take you. I was tickled to death when Thomas came home and told me."      "I don't feel that I ought to take it," murmured Anne. "I mean--I don't think I ought to let Gilbert make such a sacrifice for--for me[…] » « I guess you can't prevent him now. He's signed papers with the White Sands trustees. So it wouldn't do him any good now if you were to refuse. Of course you'll take the school. » « The beauty of it all thrilled Anne's heart, and she gratefully opened the gates of her soul to it.      "Dear old world," she murmured, "you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you."      Halfway down the hill a tall lad came whistling out of a gate before the Blythe homestead. It was Gilbert, and the whistle died on his lips as he recognized Anne. He lifted his cap courteously, but he would have passed on in silence, if Anne had not stopped and held out her hand.      "Gilbert," she said, with scarlet cheeks, "I want to thank you for giving up the school for me. It was very good of you--and I want you to know that I appreciate it."      Gilbert took the offered hand eagerly.      "It wasn't particularly good of me at all, Anne. I was pleased to be able to do you some small service. Are we going to be friends after this? Have you really forgiven me my old fault?"      Anne laughed and tried unsuccessfully to withdraw her hand.      "I forgave you that day by the pond landing, although I didn't know it. What a stubborn little goose I was. I’ve« been--I may as well make a complete confession--I've been sorry ever since."      "We are going to be the best of friends," said Gilbert, jubilantly. "We were born to be good friends, Anne. You've thwarted destiny enough. I know we can help each other in many ways. You are going to keep up your studies, aren't you? So am I. Come, I'm going to walk home with you."      Marilla looked curiously at Anne when the latter entered the kitchen.      "Who was that came up the lane with you, Anne?"      "Gilbert Blythe," answered Anne, vexed to find herself blushing. "I met him on Barry's hill."      "I didn't think you and Gilbert Blythe were such good friends that you'd stand for half an hour at the« gate talking to him," said Marilla with a dry smile.      "We haven't been--we've been good enemies. But we have decided that it will be much more sensible to be good friends in the future. Were we really there half an hour? It seemed just a few minutes. But, you see, we have five years' lost conversations to catch up with, Marilla. » « Something about the firm outlines of Anne’s lips told that Mrs. Rachel was not far astray in this estimate. Anne’s heart was bent on forming the Improvement Society. Gilbert Blythe, who was to teach in White Sands but would always be home from Friday night to Monday morning, was enthusiastic about it; and most of the other folks were willing to go in for anything that meant occasional meetings, and consequently some “fun.” As for what the “improvements” were to be, nobody had any very clear idea except Anne and Gilbert. They had talked them over and planned them out until an ideal Avonlea existed in their minds, if nowhere else. » « I could never whip a child,” said Anne with equal decision. “I don’t believe in it at all. Miss Stacy never whipped any of us and she had perfect order; and Mr. Phillips was always whipping and he had no order at all. No, if I can’t get along without whipping I shall not try to teach school. There are better ways of managing. I shall try to win my pupils’ affections and then they will want to do what I tell them.” “But suppose they don’t?” said practical Jane. “I wouldn’t whip them anyhow. I’m sure it wouldn’t do any good. Oh, don’t whip your pupils, Jane, dear, no matter what they do.” “What do you think about it, Gilbert?” demanded Jane. “Don’t you think there are some children who really need a whipping now and then?” “Don’t you think it’s a cruel, barbarous thing to whip a child…any child?” exclaimed Anne, her face flushing with earnestness. “Well,” said Gilbert slowly, torn between his real convictions and his wish to measure up to Anne’s ideal, “there’s something to be said on both sides. I don’t believe in whipping children much. I think, as you say, Anne, that there are better ways of managing as a rule, and that corporal punishment should be a last resort. But on the other hand, as Jane says, I believe there is an occasional child who can’t be influenced in any other way and who, in short, needs a whipping and would be improved by it. Corporal punishment as a last resort is to be my rule.” Gilbert, having tried to please both sides, succeeded, as is usual and eminently right, in pleasing neither. Jane tossed her head. » « Anne gave Gilbert a disappointed glance. “I shall never whip a child,” she repeated firmly. “I feel sure it isn’t either right or necessary.” “Suppose a boy sauced you back when you told him to do something?” said Jane. “I’d keep him in after school and talk kindly and firmly to him,” said Anne. “There is some good in every person if you can find it. It is a teacher’s duty to find and develop it. That is what our School Management professor at Queen’s told us, you know. Do you suppose you could find any good in a child by whipping him? It’s far more important to influence the children aright than it is even to teach them the three R’s, Professor Rennie says.” “But the Inspector examines them in the three R’s, mind you, and he won’t give you a good report if they don’t come up to his standard,” protested Jane. “I’d rather have my pupils love me and look back to me in after years as a real helper than be on the roll of honor,” asserted Anne decidedly. “Wouldn’t you punish children at all, when they misbehaved?” asked Gilbert. “Oh, yes, I suppose I« shall have to, although I know I’ll hate to do it. But you can keep them in at recess or stand them on the floor or give them lines to write.” “I suppose you won’t punish the girls by making them sit with the boys?” said Jane slyly. Gilbert and Anne looked at each other and smiled rather foolishly. Once upon a time, Anne had been made to sit with Gilbert for punishment, and sad and bitter had been the consequences thereof. “Well, time will tell which is the best way,” said Jane philosophically as they parted. » « What is the matter?” asked Gilbert, who had arrived at the open kitchen door just in time to hear the sigh. Anne colored, and thrust her writing out of sight under some school compositions. “Nothing very dreadful. I was just trying to write out some of my thoughts, as Professor Hamilton advised me, but I couldn’t get them to please me. They seem so stiff and foolish directly they’re written down on white paper with black ink. Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward dancing things. But perhaps I’ll learn the secret some day if I keep on trying. I haven’t a great many spare moments, you know. By the time I finish correcting school exercises and compositions, I don’t always feel like writing any of my own.” “You are getting on splendidly in school, Anne. All the children like you,” said Gilbert, sitting down on the stone step. » « Gilbert had finally made up his mind that he was going to be a doctor. “It’s a splendid profession,” he said enthusiastically. “A fellow has to fight something all through life…didn’t somebody once define man as a fighting animal?…and I want to fight disease and pain and ignorance…which are all members one of another. I want to do my share of honest, real work in the « world, Anne…add a little to the sum of human knowledge that all the good men have been accumulating since it began. The folks who lived before me have done so much for me that I want to show my gratitude by doing something for the folks who will live after me. It seems to me that is the only way a fellow can get square with his obligations to the race.” “I’d like to add some beauty to life,” said Anne dreamily. “I don’t exactly want to make people know more…though I know that is the noblest ambition…but I’d love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me…to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn’t been born.” “I think you’re fulfilling that ambition every day,” said Gilbert admiringly. And he was right. Anne was one of the children of light by birthright. After she had passed through a life with a smile or a word thrown across it like a gleam of sunshine the owner of that life saw it, for the time being at least, as hopeful and lovely and of good report. Finally« Gilbert rose regretfully. “Well, I must run up to MacPhersons’. Moody Spurgeon came home from Queen’s today for Sunday and he was to bring me out a book Professor Boyd is lending me. » « In the twilight Anne sauntered down to the Dryad’s Bubble and saw Gilbert Blythe coming down through the dusky Haunted Wood. She had a sudden realization that Gilbert was a schoolboy no longer. And how manly he looked—the tall, frank- « faced fellow, with the clear, straightforward eyes and the broad shoulders. Anne thought Gilbert was a very handsome lad, even though he didn’t look at all like her ideal man. She and Diana had long ago decided what kind of a man they admired and their tastes seemed exactly similar. He must be very tall and distinguished-looking, with melancholy, inscrutable eyes, and a melting, sympathetic voice. There was nothing either melancholy or inscrutable in Gilbert’s physiognomy, but of course that didn’t matter in friendship! Gilbert stretched himself out on the ferns beside the Bubble and looked approvingly at Anne. If Gilbert had been asked to describe his ideal woman the description would have answered point for point to Anne, even to those seven tiny freckles whose obnoxious presence still continued to vex her soul. Gilbert was as yet little more than a boy; but a boy has his dreams as have others, and in Gilbert’s future there was always a girl with big, limpid gray eyes, and a face as fine and delicate as a flower. He had made up his mind, also, that his future must be worthy of its goddess. Even in quiet Avonlea there were« temptations to be met and faced. White Sands youth were a rather “fast” set, and Gilbert was popular wherever he went. But he meant to keep himself worthy of Anne’s friendship and perhaps some distant day her love; and he watched over word and thought and deed as jealously as if her clear eyes were to pass in judgment on it. She held over him the unconscious influence that every girl whose ideals are high and pure, wields over her friends; an influence which would endure as long as she was faithful to those ideals and which she would as certainly lose if she were ever false to them. In Gilbert’s eyes Anne’s greatest charm was the fact that she never stooped to the petty practices of so many of the Avonlea girls—the small jealousies, the little deceits and rivalries, the palpable bids for favor. Anne held herself apart « from all this, not consciously or of design, but simply because anything of the sort was utterly foreign to her transparent, impulsive nature, crystal clear in its motives and aspirations. But Gilbert did not attempt to put his thoughts into words, for he had already too good reason to know that Anne would mercilessly and frostily nip all attempts at sentiment in the bud—or laugh at him, which was ten times worse. “You look like a real dryad under that birch tree,” he said teasingly. » « Gilbert Blythe was probably the only person to whom the news of Anne’s resignation brought unmixed pleasure. » « But there’ll be so many clever girls at Redmond,” sighed Diana, “and I’m only a stupid little country girl who says ‘I seen’ sometimes…though I really know better when I stop to think. Well, of course these past two years have really been too pleasant to last. I know somebody who is glad you are going to Redmond, anyhow. Anne, I’m going to ask you a question…a serious question. Don’t be vexed and do answer seriously. Do you care anything for Gilbert?” “Ever so much as a friend and not a bit in the way you mean,” said Anne calmly and decidedly; she also thought she was speaking sincerely. » « Then she locked the door and sat down under the silver poplar to wait for Gilbert, feeling very tired but still unweariedly thinking “long, long thoughts.” “What are you thinking of, Anne?” asked Gilbert, coming down the walk. He had left his horse and buggy out at the road. “Of Miss Lavendar and Mr. Irving,” answered Anne dreamily. “Isn’t it beautiful to think how everything has turned out…how they have come together again after all the years of separation and misunderstanding?” “Yes, it’s beautiful,” said Gilbert, looking steadily down into Anne’s uplifted face, “but wouldn’t it have been more beautiful still, Anne, if there had been no separation or misunderstanding…if they had come hand in hand all the way through life, with no memories behind them but those which belonged to each other?” For a moment Anne’s heart fluttered queerly and for the first time her eyes faltered under Gilbert’s gaze and a rosy flush stained the paleness of her face. It was as if a veil that had hung before her inner consciousness had been lifted, giving to her view a revelation of unsuspected feelings and realities. « Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it  « revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps…perhaps…love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath. Then the veil dropped again; but the Anne who walked up the dark lane was not quite the same Anne who had driven gaily down it the evening before. The page of girlhood had been turned, as by an unseen finger, and the page of womanhood was before her with all its charm and mystery, its pain and gladness. Gilbert wisely said nothing more; but in his silence he read the history of the next four years in the light of Anne’s remembered blush. Four years of earnest, happy work…and then the guerdon of a useful knowledge gained and a sweet heart won. » « They were leaning on the bridge of the old pond, drinking deep of the enchantment of the dusk, just at the spot where Anne had climbed from her sinking Dory on the day Elaine floated down to Camelot. The fine, empurpling dye of sunset still stained the western skies, but the moon was rising and the water lay like a great, silver dream in her light. Remembrance wove a sweet and subtle spell over the two young creatures. "You are very quiet, Anne," said Gilbert at last. "I'm afraid to speak or move for fear all this wonderful beauty will vanish just like a broken silence," breathed Anne. » « Gilbert suddenly laid his hand over the slender white one lying on the rail of the bridge. His hazel eyes deepened into darkness, his still boyish lips opened to say something of the dream and hope that thrilled his soul. But Anne snatched her hand away and turned quickly. The spell of the dusk was broken for her. "I must go home," she exclaimed, with a rather overdone carelessness. "Marilla had a headache this afternoon, and I'm sure the twins will be in some dreadful mischief by this time. I really shouldn't have stayed away so long." She chattered ceaselessly and inconsequently until they reached the Green Gables lane. Poor Gilbert hardly had a chance to get a word in edgewise. Anne felt rather relieved when they parted. There had been a new, secret self-consciousness in her heart with regard to Gilbert, ever since that fleeting moment of revelation in the garden of Echo Lodge. Something alien had intruded into the old, perfect, school-day comradeship -- something that threatened to mar it. "I never felt glad to see Gilbert go before," she thought, half- resentfully, half-sorrowfully, as she walked alone up the lane. "Our friendship will be« spoiled if he goes on with this nonsense. It mustn't be spoiled -- I won't let it. Oh, WHY can't boys be just sensible!" Anne had an uneasy doubt that it was not strictly "sensible" that she should still feel on her hand the warm pressure of Gilbert's, as distinctly as she had felt it for the swift second his had rested there; and still less sensible that the sensation was far from being an unpleasant one -- very different from that which had attended a similar demonstration on Charlie Sloane's part, when she had been sitting out a dance with him at a White Sands party three nights before. Anne shivered over the disagreeable recollection. But all problems connected with infatuated swains vanished from her mind  » « Gilbert Blythe and Charlie Sloane, both trying to keep as near the elusive Anne as possible » « She enjoyed the evening tremendously, but the end of it rather spoiled all. Gilbert again made the mistake of saying something sentimental to her as they ate their supper on the moonlit verandah; and Anne, to punish him, was gracious to Charlie Sloane and allowed the latter to walk home with her. She found, however, that revenge hurts nobody quite so much as the one who tries to inflict it. Gilbert walked airily off with Ruby Gillis, and Anne could hear them laughing and talking gaily as they loitered along in the still, crisp autumn air. They were evidently having the best of good times, while she was horribly bored by Charlie Sloane, who talked unbrokenly on, and never, even by accident, said one thing that was worth listening to. Anne gave an occasional absent "yes" or "no," and thought how beautiful Ruby had looked that night, how very goggly Charlie's eyes were in the moonlight »« worse even than by daylight -- and that the world, somehow, wasn't quite such a nice place as she had believed it to be earlier in the evening. "I'm just tired out -- that is what is the matter with me," she said, when she thankfully found herself alone in her own room. And she honestly believed it was. But a certain little gush of joy, as from some secret, unknown spring, bubbled up in her heart the next evening, when she saw Gilbert striding down through the Haunted Wood and crossing the old log bridge with that firm, quick step of his. So Gilbert was not going to spend this last evening with Ruby Gillis after all! » « They started gaily off. Anne, remembering the unpleasantness of the preceding evening, was very nice to Gilbert; and Gilbert, who was learning wisdom, took care to be nothing save the schoolboy comrade again. Mrs. Lynde and Marilla watched them from the kitchen window. "That'll be a match some day," Mrs. Lynde said approvingly. Marilla winced slightly. In her heart she hoped it would, but it went against her grain to hear the matter spoken of in Mrs. Lynde's gossipy matter-of-fact way. "They're only children yet," she said shortly. Mrs. Lynde laughed good-naturedly. "Anne is eighteen; I was married when I was that age. We old folks, Marilla, are too much given to thinking children never grow up, that's what. Anne is a young woman and Gilbert's a man, and he worships the ground she walks on, as any one can see. He's a fine fellow, and Anne can't do better. I hope she won't get any romantic nonsense into her head at Redmond. I don't approve of them coeducational places and never did, that's what. I don't believe," concluded Mrs. Lynde solemnly, "that the students at such colleges ever do much else than flirt. » « Gilbert and Anne loitered a little behind the others, enjoying the calm, still beauty of the autumn afternoon under the pines of the park, on the road that climbed and twisted round the harbor shore. "The silence here is like a prayer, isn't it?" said Anne, her face upturned to the shining sky. "How I love the pines! They seem to strike their roots deep into the romance of all the ages. It is so comforting to creep away now and then for a good talk with them. I always feel so happy out here." "`And so in mountain solitudes o'ertaken As by some spell divine, Their cares drop from them like the needles shaken From out the gusty pine,'" quoted Gilbert. "They make our little ambitions seem rather petty, don't they, Anne?" "I think, if ever any great sorrow came to me, I would come to the pines for comfort," said Anne dreamily. "I hope no great sorrow ever will come to you, Anne," said Gilbert, who could not connect the idea of sorrow with the vivid, joyous creature beside him, unwitting that those who can soar to the highest heights can also plunge to the deepest depths, and that the natures which enjoy most keenly are those which also suffer most sharply. » « But there must -- sometime," mused Anne. "Life seems like a cup of glory held to my lips just now. But there must be some bitterness in it -- there is in every cup. I shall taste mine some day. Well, I hope I shall be strong and brave to meet it. And I hope it won't be through my own fault that it will come. Do you remember what Dr. Davis said last Sunday evening -- that the sorrows God sent us brought comfort and strength with them, while the sorrows we brought on ourselves, through folly or wickedness, were by far the hardest to bear? But we mustn't talk of sorrow on an afternoon like this. It's meant for the sheer joy of living, isn't it?" "If I had my way I'd shut everything out of your life but happiness and pleasure, Anne," said Gilbert in the tone that meant "danger ahead." "Then you would be very unwise," rejoined Anne hastily. "I'm sure no life can be properly developed and rounded out without some trial and sorrow -- though I suppose it is only when we are pretty comfortable that we admit it. Come -- the others have got to the pavilion[…] » « Gilbert did not love any of them, and he was exceedingly careful to give none of them the advantage over him by any untimely display of his real feelings Anne-ward. To her he had become again the boy-comrade of Avonlea days, and as such could hold his own against any smitten swain who had so far entered the lists against him. As a companion, Anne honestly acknowledged nobody could be so satisfactory as Gilbert; she was very glad, so she told herself, that he had evidently dropped all nonsensical ideas -- though she spent considerable time secretly wondering why. » « Gilbert, to be sure, was still faithful, and waded up to Green Gables every possible evening. But Gilbert's visits were not what they once were. Anne almost dreaded them. It was very disconcerting to look up in the midst of a sudden silence and find Gilbert's hazel eyes fixed upon her with a quite unmistakable expression in their grave depths; and it was still more disconcerting to find herself blushing hotly and uncomfortably under his gaze, just as if -- just as if -- well, it was very embarrassing. Anne wished herself back at Patty's Place, where there was always somebody else about to take the edge off a delicate situation. At Green Gables Marilla went promptly to Mrs. Lynde's domain when Gilbert came and insisted on taking the twins with her. The significance of this was unmistakable and Anne was in a helpless fury over it. » « You mustn't work too HARD," said Anne, without any very clear idea of what she was saying. She wished desperately that Phil would come out. "You've studied very constantly this winter. Isn't this a delightful evening? Do you know, I found a cluster of white violets under that old twisted tree over there today? I felt as if I had discovered a gold mine." "You are always discovering gold mines," said Gilbert -- also absently. "Let us go and see if we can find some more," suggested Anne eagerly. "I'll call Phil and -- " "Never mind Phil and the violets just now, Anne," said Gilbert quietly, taking her hand in a clasp from which she could not free it. "There is something I want to say to you." "Oh, don't say it," cried Anne, pleadingly. "Don't -- PLEASE, Gilbert." "I must. Things can't go on like this any longer. Anne, I love you. You know I do. I -- I can't tell you how much. Will you promise me that some day you'll be my wife?" "I -- I can't," said Anne miserably. "Oh, Gilbert -- you -- you've spoiled everything." "Don't you care for me at all?" Gilbert asked after a very dreadful pause, during« which Anne had not dared to look up. "Not -- not in that way. I do care a great deal for you as a friend. But I don't love you, Gilbert." "But can't you give me some hope that you will -- yet?" "No, I can't," exclaimed Anne desperately. "I never, never can love you -- in that way -- Gilbert. You must never speak of this to me again." There was another pause -- so long and so dreadful that Anne was driven at last to look up. Gilbert's face was white to the lips. And his eyes -- but Anne shuddered and looked away. There was « nothing romantic about this. Must proposals be either grotesque or -- horrible? Could she ever forget Gilbert's face? "Is there anybody else?" he asked at last in a low voice. "No -- no," said Anne eagerly. "I don't care for any one like THAT -- and I LIKE you better than anybody else in the world, Gilbert. And we must -- we must go on being friends, Gilbert." Gilbert gave a bitter little laugh. "Friends! Your friendship can't satisfy me, Anne. I want your love -- and you tell me I can never have that." "I'm sorry. Forgive me, Gilbert," was all Anne could say. Where, oh, where were all the gracious and graceful speeches wherewith, in imagination, she had been wont to dismiss rejected suitors? Gilbert released her hand gently. "There isn't anything to forgive. There have been times when I thought you did care. I've deceived myself, that's all. Goodbye, Anne. » « Phil," pleaded Anne, "please go away and leave me alone for a little while. My world has tumbled into pieces. I want to reconstruct it." "Without any Gilbert in it?" said Phil, going. A world without any Gilbert in it! Anne repeated the words drearily. Would it not be a very lonely, forlorn place? Well, it was all Gilbert's fault. He had spoiled their beautiful comradeship. She must just learn to live without it. » « Life was very pleasant in Avonlea that summer, although Anne, amid all her vacation joys, was haunted by a sense of "something gone which should be there." She would not admit, even in her inmost reflections, that this was caused by Gilbert's absence.  » « Gilbert would never have dreamed of writing a sonnet to her eyebrows. But then, Gilbert could see a joke. She had once told Roy a funny story -- and he had not seen the point of it. She recalled the chummy laugh she and Gilbert had had together over it, and wondered uneasily if life with a man who had no sense of humor might not be somewhat uninteresting in the long run. But who could expect a melancholy, inscrutable hero to see the humorous side of things? It would be flatly unreasonable. » « Fred and Diana drove away through the moonlight to their new home, and Gilbert walked with Anne to Green Gables. Something of their old comradeship had returned during the informal mirth of the evening. Oh, it was nice to be walking over that well-known road with Gilbert again! The night was so very still that one should have been able to hear the whisper of roses in blossom --  « the laughter of daisies -- the piping of grasses -- many sweet sounds, all tangled up together. The beauty of moonlight on familiar fields irradiated the world. "Can't we take a ramble up Lovers' Lane before you go in?" asked Gilbert as they crossed the bridge over the Lake of Shining Waters, in which the moon lay like a great, drowned blossom of gold. Anne assented readily. Lovers' Lane was a veritable path in a fairyland that night -- a shimmering, mysterious place, full of wizardry in the white-woven enchantment of moonlight. There had been a time when such a walk with Gilbert through Lovers' Lane would have been far too dangerous. But Roy and Christine had made it very safe now. Anne found herself thinking a good deal about Christine as she chatted lightly to Gilbert. She had met her several times before leaving Kingsport, and had been charmingly sweet to her. Christine had also been charmingly sweet. Indeed, they were a most cordial pair. But for all that, their acquaintance had not ripened into friendship. Evidently Christine was not a kindred spirit. "Are you going to be in Avonlea all summer?" asked Gilbert. » « It was filled with lilies-of-the-valley, as fresh and fragrant as those which bloomed in the Green Gables yard when June came to Avonlea. Gilbert Blythe's card lay beside it. Anne wondered why Gilbert should have sent her flowers for Convocation. She had seen very little of him during the past winter. » «  On the accompanying card was written, "With all good wishes from your old chum, Gilbert." Anne, laughing over the memory the enamel heart conjured up the fatal day when Gilbert had called her "Carrots" and vainly tried to make his peace with a pink candy heart, had written him a nice little note of thanks. But she had never worn the trinket. Tonight she fastened it about her white throat with a dreamy smile. » « Say, Anne, did you know that Gilbert Blythe is dying?" Anne stood quite silent and motionless, looking at Davy. Her face had gone so white that Marilla thought she was going to faint. "Davy, hold your tongue," said Mrs. Rachel angrily. "Anne, don't look like that -- DON'T LOOK LIKE THAT! We didn't mean to tell you so suddenly." "Is -- it -- true?" asked Anne in a voice that was not hers. "Gilbert is very ill," said Mrs. Lynde gravely. "He took down with typhoid fever just after you left for Echo Lodge. Did you never hear of it?" "No," said that unknown voice. "It was a very bad case from the start. The doctor said he'd been terribly run down. They've a trained nurse and everything's been done. DON'T look like that, Anne. While there's life there's hope." "Mr. Harrison was here this evening and he said they had no hope of him," reiterated Davy. » « Marilla, looking old and worn and tired, got up and marched Davy grimly out of the kitchen. "Oh, DON'T look so, dear," said Mrs. Rachel, putting her kind old arms about the pallid girl. "I haven't given up hope, indeed I haven't. He's got the Blythe constitution in his favor, that's what." Anne gently put Mrs. Lynde's arms away from her, walked blindly across the kitchen, through the hall, up the stairs to her old room. At its window she knelt down, staring out unseeingly. It was very dark. The rain was beating down over the shivering fields. The Haunted Woods was full of the groans of mighty trees wrung in the tempest, and the air throbbed with the thunderous crash of billows on the distant shore. And Gilbert was dying! There is a book of Revelation in every one's life, as there is in the Bible. Anne read hers that bitter night, as she kept her agonized vigil through the hours of storm and darkness. She loved Gilbert -- had always loved him! She knew that now. She knew that she could no more cast him out of her life without agony than she could have cut off her« her right hand and cast it from her. And the knowledge had come too late -- too late even for the bitter solace of being with him at the last. If she had not been so blind -- so foolish -- she would have had the right to go to him now. But he would never know that she loved him -- he would go away from this life thinking that she did not care. Oh, the black years of emptiness stretching before her! She could not live through them -- she could not! She cowered down by her window and wished, for the first time in her gay young life, that she could die, too. If Gilbert went away from her, without one word or sign or message, she could not live. Nothing was of any value without him. She belonged to him and he to her. In her hour of supreme agony she had no doubt of that. He did not love Christine Stuart -- never had loved Christine Stuart. Oh, what a fool she had been not to realize what the bond « was that had held her to Gilbert -- to think that the flattered fancy she had felt for Roy Gardner had been love. And now she must pay for her folly as for a crime. Mrs. Lynde and Marilla crept to her door before they went to bed, shook their heads doubtfully at each other over the silence, and went away. The storm raged all night, but when the dawn came it was spent. Anne saw a fairy fringe of light on the skirts of darkness. Soon the eastern hilltops had a fire-shot ruby rim. The clouds rolled themselves away into great, soft, white masses on the horizon; the sky gleamed blue and silvery. A hush fell over the world. Anne rose from her knees and crept downstairs. The freshness of the rain-wind blew against her white face as she went out into the yard, and cooled her dry, burning eyes. A merry rollicking whistle was lilting up the lane. A moment later Pacifique Buote came in sight. Anne's physical strength suddenly failed her. If she had not clutched at a low willow bough she would have fallen. Pacifique was George Fletcher's hired man, and George Fletcher lived« next door to the Blythes. Mrs. Fletcher was Gilbert's aunt. Pacifique would know if -- if -- Pacifique would know what there was to be known. Pacifique strode sturdily on along the red lane, whistling. He did not see Anne. She made three futile attempts to call him. He was almost past before she succeeded in making her quivering lips call, "Pacifique!" Pacifique turned with a grin and a cheerful good morning. "Pacifique," said Anne faintly, "did you come from George Fletcher's this morning?" "Sure," said Pacifique amiably. "I got de word las' night dat my fader, he was seeck. It was so stormy dat I couldn't go den, so I start vair early dis mornin'. I'm goin' troo de woods for short cut. » « Did you hear how Gilbert Blythe was this morning?" Anne's desperation drove her to the question. Even the worst would be more endurable than this hideous suspense. "He's better," said Pacifique. "He got de turn las' night. De doctor say he'll be all right now dis soon while. Had close shave, dough! Dat boy, he jus' keel himself at college. Well, I mus' hurry. De old man, he'll be in hurry to see me." Pacifique resumed his walk and his whistle. Anne gazed after him with eyes where joy was driving out the strained anguish of the night. He was a very lank, very ragged, very homely youth. But in her sight he was as beautiful as those who bring good tidings on the mountains. Never, as long as she lived, would Anne see Pacifique's brown, round, black-eyed face without a warm remembrance of the moment when he had given to her the oil of joy for mourning. Long after Pacifique's gay whistle had faded into the phantom of music and then into silence far up under the maples of Lover's Lane Anne stood under the willows, tasting the poignant sweetness of life when some great dread has« been removed from it. The morning was a cup filled with mist and glamor. In the corner near her was a rich surprise of new-blown, crystal-dewed roses. The trills and trickles of song from the birds in the big tree above her seemed in perfect accord with her mood. A sentence from a very old, very true, very wonderful Book came to her lips, "Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning." XLI Love Takes Up the Glass of Time "I've come up to ask you to go for one of our old-time rambles through September woods and `over hills where spices grow,' this afternoon," said « Gilbert, coming suddenly around the porch corner. "Suppose we visit Hester Gray's garden." Anne, sitting on the stone step with her lap full of a pale, filmy, green stuff, looked up rather blankly. "Oh, I wish I could," she said slowly, "but I really can't, Gilbert. I'm going to Alice Penhallow's wedding this evening, you know. I've got to do something to this dress, and by the time it's finished I'll have to get ready. I'm so sorry. I'd love to go." "Well, can you go tomorrow afternoon, then?" asked Gilbert, apparently not much disappointed. "Yes, I think so. » « Is that the dress you're going to wear tonight?" asked Gilbert, looking down at the fluffs and frills. "Yes. Isn't it pretty? And I shall wear starflowers in my hair. The Haunted Wood is full of them this « summer." Gilbert had a sudden vision of Anne, arrayed in a frilly green gown, with the virginal curves of arms and throat slipping out of it, and white stars shining against the coils of her ruddy hair. The vision made him catch his breath. But he turned lightly away. "Well, I'll be up tomorrow. Hope you'll have a nice time tonight." Anne looked after him as he strode away, and sighed. Gilbert was friendly -- very friendly -- far too friendly. He had come quite often to Green Gables after his recovery, and something of their old comradeship had returned. But Anne no longer found it satisfying. The rose of love made the blossom of friendship pale and scentless by contrast. And Anne had again begun to doubt if Gilbert now felt anything for her but friendship. In the common light of common day her radiant certainty of that rapt morning had faded. She was haunted by a miserable fear that her mistake could never be rectified. It was quite likely that it was Christine whom Gilbert loved after all. Perhaps he was even engaged to her. Anne tried to put all unsettling hopes out of her heart, and reconcile herself« to a future where work and ambition must take the place of love. She could do good, if not noble, work as a teacher; and the success her little sketches were beginning to meet with in certain editorial sanctums augured well for her budding literary dreams. But -- but -- Anne picked up her green dress and sighed again. When Gilbert came the next afternoon he found Anne waiting for him, fresh as the dawn and fair as a star, after all the gaiety of the preceding night. She wore a green dress -- not the one she had worn to the wedding, but an old one which Gilbert had told her at a Redmond reception he liked especially. It was just the shade of green that brought out the rich tints of her hair, and the starry gray of her eyes and the iris-like delicacy of her skin. Gilbert, glanc« ing at her sideways as they walked along a shadowy woodpath, thought she had never looked so lovely. Anne, glancing sideways at Gilbert, now and then, thought how much older he looked since his illness. It was as if he had put boyhood behind him forever. The day was beautiful and the way was beautiful. Anne was almost sorry when they reached Hester Gray's garden, and sat down on the old bench. But it was beautiful there, too -- as beautiful as it had been on the faraway day of the Golden Picnic, when Diana and Jane and Priscilla and she had found it. Then it had been lovely with narcissus and violets; now golden rod had kindled its fairy torches in the corners and asters dotted it bluely. The call of the brook came up through the woods from the valley of birches with all its old allurement; the mellow air was full of the purr of the sea; beyond were fields rimmed by fences bleached silvery gray in the suns of many summers, and long hills scarfed with the shadows of autumnal clouds; with the blowing of the west wind old dreams returned. "I think," said Anne softly« that `the land where dreams come true' is in the blue haze yonder, over that little valley." "Have you any unfulfilled dreams, Anne?" asked Gilbert. Something in his tone -- something she had not heard since that miserable evening in the orchard at Patty's Place -- made Anne's heart beat wildly. But she made answer lightly. "Of course. Everybody has. It wouldn't do for us to have all our dreams fulfilled. We would be as good as dead if we had nothing left to dream about. What a delicious aroma that low-descending sun is extracting from the asters and ferns. I wish we could see perfumes as well as smell them. I'm sure they would be very beautiful." Gilbert was not to be thus sidetracked. « I have a dream," he said slowly. "I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it could never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and dog, the footsteps of friends -- and YOU!" Anne wanted to speak but she could find no words. Happiness was breaking over her like a wave. It almost frightened her. "I asked you a question over two years ago, Anne. If I ask it again today will you give me a different answer?" Still Anne could not speak. But she lifted her eyes, shining with all the love-rapture of countless generations, and looked into his for a moment. He wanted no other answer. They lingered in the old garden until twilight, sweet as dusk in Eden must have been, crept over it. There was so much to talk over and recall -- things said and done and heard and thought and felt and misunderstood. "I thought you loved Christine Stuart," Anne told him, as reproachfully as if she had not given him every reason to suppose that she loved Roy Gardner. Gilbert laughed boyishly. "Christine was engaged to somebody in her« home town. I knew it and she knew I knew it. When her brother graduated he told me his sister was coming to Kingsport the next winter to take music, and asked me if I would look after her a bit, as she knew no one and would be very lonely. So I did. And then I liked Christine for her own sake. She is one of the nicest girls I've ever known. I knew college gossip credited us with being in love with each other. I didn't care. Nothing mattered much to me for a time there, after you told me you could never love me, Anne. There was nobody else -- there never could be anybody else for me but you. I've loved you ever since that day you broke your slate over my head in school. » « I don't see how you could keep on loving me when I was such a little fool," said Anne. "Well, I tried to stop," said Gilbert frankly, "not because I thought you what you call yourself, but because I felt sure there was no chance for me after Gardner came on the scene. But I couldn't -- and I can't tell you, either, what it's meant to me these two years to believe you were going to marry him, and be told every week by some busybody that your engagement was on the point of being announced. I believed it until one blessed day when I was sitting up after the fever. I got a letter from Phil Gordon -- Phil Blake, rather -- in which she told me there was really nothing between you and Roy, and advised me to `try again.' Well, the doctor was amazed at my rapid recovery after that." Anne laughed -- then shivered. "I can never forget the night I thought you were dying, Gilbert. Oh, I knew -- I KNEW then -- and I thought it was too late." "But it wasn't, sweetheart. Oh, Anne, this makes up for everything, doesn't it? Let's resolve to keep this day« sacred to perfect beauty all our lives for the gift it has given us." "It's the birthday of our happiness," said Anne softly. "I've always loved this old garden of Hester Gray's, and now it will be dearer than ever." "But I'll have to ask you to wait a long time, Anne," said Gilbert sadly. "It will be three years before I'll finish my medical course. And even then there will be no diamond sunbursts and marble halls." Anne laughed. "I don't want sunbursts and marble halls. I just want YOU. You see I'm quite as shameless as Phil about it. Sunbursts and marble halls may be all very well, but there is more `scope for imagination' without them. And as for the waiting, that doesn't matter. We'll just be happy, waiting and working for « each other -- and dreaming. Oh, dreams will be very sweet now." Gilbert drew her close to him and kissed her. Then they walked home together in the dusk, crowned king and queen in the bridal realm of love, along winding paths fringed with the sweetest flowers that ever bloomed, and over haunted meadows where winds of hope and memory blew. » « Gilbert lifted Anne from the buggy and led her into the garden, through the little gate between the ruddy-tipped firs, up the trim, red path to the sandstone step. "Welcome home," he whispered, and hand in hand they stepped over the threshold of their house of dreams. » « Anne, this is Captain Boyd. Captain Boyd, my wife." It was the first time Gilbert had said "my wife" to anybody but Anne, and he narrowly escaped bursting with the pride of it. » Extrait de: L. M. Montgomery. « The Complete Anne of Green. » iBooks. 

[h3adcarsbending]

pity party • matty healy x reader

Pity Party - M.H.

wc- 2856 or smth like that

The reader, in the midst of a particularly bad day, is dragged along to a party by her boyfriend Matty. But she really doesn’t want to be a burden or ruin his night.

It was a stressful day for poor Y/N, and being dragged along to a party by her boyfriend didn’t help much either. Not like she’d ever let Matty know what was up - she hated burdening him with her problems. She didn’t want to scare him off, now did she? Her curly haired rockstar was the best thing that had ever happened to her. If she lost Matty, who knows what she’d do.

But, anything for him. She would go to the party, pretend to have a good time, and hope for the best, because let’s be honest for a moment…  not much could go wrong. Or could it? Oh, shut up with the cliches, will you!

    “Love, are you almost ready?” called the boyfriend in question from the living room of their shared Manchester flat.

Y/N sighed apologetically, attempting to quickly gain at least some composure before having to face Matty. “Y-yeah. Just one second, babe…”

With that, she took a final glance in the mirror and confirmed she looked alright. She didn’t feel too hot today. But there wasn’t much she could do to tend to her overwhelming insecurities at this very moment. Turning the knob with shaky, but freshly manicured hands, she exited the bathroom - her favourite place to cry - and greeted the beautiful, curly haired man in front of her, a fake smile a stark contrast to his genuine one. She felt somewhat guilty, but she’d feel guiltier if she let him know what was wrong. Letting him have a lovely time at George’s carouse was all she wanted. She knew firsthand how hard Matty and the boys worked, and how little rest they got… frankly, it amazed her. How he could do everything he did seldom any breaks was perplexing to the Y/H/C girl.

Matty looked at her up and down, practically tearing off her beautiful sequined black dress with his gorgeous chocolate (ha) brown eyes alone. He snaked a pale, inked arm around her waist, planting a soft, heartfelt kiss on her cheek. “You look breathtaking, love!” he exclaimed, a look of pure and utter adoration on his lovely face. Oh, how lucky she was. She didn’t think she deserved him - but then again, he didn’t think he deserved her, either. Again with the guilt.

She averted her gaze to the floor at an alarming speed, biting back a flood of tears in an attempt to do two things; save both her dignity and the glittery smokey eye she’d spent an unreasonable amount of time on. “Thank you. You look quite fit yourself, Matty,” she squeaked, trying to hide the burning of oncoming tears at the back of her throat that often resulted in a rather telling voice crack which made her sound like a twelve year old boy. She did not succeed. “Sorry. Eyeshadow in my eye. That stuff hurts,” she chuckled, giving her all to play it off. She felt terrible lying to him but it was all she could do right then and there, hm?

Matty looked concerned. He suspected she was upset - but for both her and the night’s sake decided not to make a big deal of it, raising his thick eyebrows worriedly. “I’d imagine it does, love,” he replied, squeezing her hand affectionately. “You sure you’re alright? We can tell George we can’t come--”

“No! No, no, no, don’t do that!” she pleaded, cutting him off. “I’m okay. It’s fine, babe, it’s nothing. Promise!” 

“Alright,” he sighed, pulling her in for a hug. Y/N melted into the embrace, her head lying on his comfortable (albeit bony) chest. Listening to his heartbeat was quite therapeutic for her, and he knew that. “Let’s go.”

She nodded, and off they went.

To say the car ride was tense was a bit of an understatement. Y/N chewed at her glossy, made up lips, and Matty’s elegant free hand diverged from its usual spot at his girlfriend’s thigh and instead rested on the wheel of the car, bouncing up and down in coordination with his thigh. She didn’t dare gaze anywhere but outside the window, meanwhile he routinely checked up on her. For what reason, he wasn’t sure. It vaguely reminded them of the aftermath of their arguments -- but even then there was less… silence. It was deafening. Matty quickly turned on the radio (conveniently playing some sad, mainstream pop tune by the latest one-hit wonder) to elevate the mood and diminish the awkwardness. He wanted to talk, he just wasn’t sure how to go about doing so.

For the first time, Y/N looked away from the window and instead at her thighs. And her stomach. She cringed inwardly upon the sight, regretting giving in to the hearty lunch Matty had fixed for the two of them - it tasted surprisingly good, but she was quite bloated, even after a good five or so hours, which made her pretty anxious. Her soft, thick thighs, which he liked, weren’t to her liking. Not even close. Subconsciously, she tugged at her hair, threatening to rip it all out and scream, once again holding back a waterfall of tears. Then, back to staring at the cars passing by.

Eventually, they made it to George’s place. They could hear the music blaring from the opposite end of the block -- it was loud. Impossibly tumultuous. That by itself was already stressing Y/N out, to the point where she didn’t even realize Matty had stopped the car until he opened her door and helped her out. She thanked him, clinging onto his hand as if it was her last breath; his other hand rubbed her back in a soothing matter. They got to the door and were greeted by none other than Adam Hann after a brief sequence of knocks, his beautifully angled eyebrows sitting at an even higher angle once his eyes met with the pair’s own. “Y/N! Matty! A bit late, but come in! We’ve been waiting for ages,” he chirped, a slight slur to his words, especially when he emphasized ‘ages’. 

Matty gave his close friend a slight chuckle, you instinctively following suit. “Yeah, sorry about that, mate. My love-” he ruffled your curled hair with his free hand, pulling you in a bit closer to him and kissing your forehead “-here is just so distractingly beautiful!” A very, very, embarrassingly bright blush crept onto your cheeks, and you let out the first genuine giggle you had all day. It was those small, yet memorable moments of pure cuteness that really made you fall in love with him. You cherished those memories -- you remembered every single time he’d done something like that. It was a mix of hilarity and endearment that you felt every time Matty shed his bad boy, rock star demeanour and replaced his it with a soft, loving one. One that secretly preferred being the little spoon sometimes. One that was surprisingly vulnerable. It was a side of Matty most people didn’t get to experience - and boy, was she grateful she got to. 

“Not as pretty as you, Matthew,” you teased, wrapping your arms around his neck (which was covered in a mop of dark brown ringlets). He looked at you with a face that could only be described as an odd mix of amusement, adoration, and disgust.

“Don’t ever call me Matthew again, for the love of God.” Matty laughed, even harder as Adam faked a gag. “Oh, shut the fuck up, Hann! S’not like you and Carly are any different.”

“Not publicly. That’s gross.”

“Shut your trap,” he quipped as he jokingly shoved the blonde guitarist away so he could enter George’s not-so-humble abode (though he was quite humble about it nevertheless) with his girlfriend in tow.

    The lights were bright. They flashed a lot, too (they flashed even more than those God-awful ‘groupies’ at literally every show the boys played), and they were far from pleasant; Y/N felt slightly queasy but, not like she herself would throw up… rather like her mind would. It seemed to be a combination of stress, body image, and  an unexpectedly onset depressive episode. She felt herself stumble, almost as if she was as intoxicated as the vast majority of people attending this event, but she caught herself before Matty noticed. He was talking to some old friend he hadn’t seen since high school, which made her job easier as he assumed she was just being lovey-dovey when she gripped his arm - his obliviousness was a gift at times. This being one of them.

    The friend - Y/N gathered her name was Tiera - was stunning. Jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Model material. Her bone structure was immaculate, and her platinum blonde box braids contrasted beautifully with her glowing dark skin. Her body was just as, if not more perfect than her face. She was fit in every sense of the word, with curves that would be the death of any woman or man who laid eyes on them… and YN’s brain insisted that this mesmerizing lady was going to be the end of her Matty too, and taking in the sight of them innocently catching up was when she lost it.

    You see, she wasn’t normally a very jealous person; but the pure self loathing she had felt towards her own body that day, and then seeing how flawless Tiera’s was and how friendly her and Matty were especially compared to the distance they kept on the way to George’s, was just too much. She let go of Matty’s long, thin arm, pushing it away as hard as she could, and wriggled out of his grasp as if he was some sort of rat who was going to give her the Bubonic plague. Shocked, he looked back at her - his arrestingly ravishing girlfriend, the apple of his eye (dare I say - I do apologize for the cheesiness), her Y/H/C hair and black dress swaying in sync as she bolted towards his best friend’s restroom. What the fuck? He thought, his mouth agape just as it had been the first time he laid eyes on her. Except, rather than admiration, he stared in confusion. 

    Remember when I said that their bathroom was Y/N’s favourite place to cry? Well, I wasn’t lying. She found George’s to have the same pleasant, calming atmosphere that screamed “I AM HERE FOR YOU”, just as Matty wanted to earlier - unbeknownst to her.

    She locked the door behind her as fast as she could, finding the light to be already on. She paced towards the mirror, recoiling in shock - she didn’t remember being that hideous at home. Maybe that’s because she hadn’t yet seen Tiera or any of the beautiful faces and bodies that peppered the gathering.

    After inspecting her face and looking as hard as she could, she managed to scavenge every single little ‘flaw’ in existence. She rushed to smash the lightswitch back off with every ounce of rage in her body, hurting her delicate palms in the process, which made the tears she didn’t even realize were there spill out even harder. Great, now she hurt physically and mentally. 

She slumped in the corner beside the sink, but not before pulling a fluffy green bathmat underneath her for a little bit of cushioning. Last time she cried in George’s bathroom, she split her palm open and thus felt as though she had every right to bawl her eyes out, considering the depth of the cut and her shockingly low pain tolerance - her and Matty were on the cold marble tile, hugging in intervals before her bandage was soaked through and needed to be replaced again--

    Oh dear. Matty. Thinking of him again made her sobs grow in volume and frequency, and she could’ve sworn that by now she looked like some sort of raccoon. And although she trusted him with her heart and soul and deep down knew he would never, she couldn’t help but think that he was probably making out with some thotty little twerp. She put her head in her hands, numerous thoughts flooding her mind as she cried and cried. The room was spinning. Just like out in the main room. It was spinning, it was blurry, she was hyperventilating, and although she knew she would have to leave the bathroom and face Matty eventually, she continued to hide, sulking in solitude. 

    Suddenly, knocks boomed throughout the echoey room, and Y/N hoarsely got out a small confirmation that the room was in use.

    “Y/N, we know it’s in use,” a gentle yet profoundly low voice replied. The voice was familiar - because, well, it belonged to the owner of the bathroom. “Could you come out, please? We’re worried sick.”

    She cried harder. She hated being a burden - that’s why she came here - but she’d made it ten times worse. Like always. “W-who’s w-we?”

    “Matty and me. Adam and Ross would be too, but we don’t know what they’ve gotten into.”

    “I’m not coming out.”

    “Please?”

    Y/N dragged her quivering body to the door and unlocked it, guilt and shame apparent on her features as she faced the two men in front of her. Matty scooped her up, tears in his eyes, holding her as close as he possibly could. He thanked George for having him over and bid his goodbyes before making his way to their shared car and buckling her into the passenger’s seat. He’d had an amaretto or two and knew he probably shouldn’t have been driving, but whatever; he could pay for whatever fine they gave him. Y/N was worth a DUI and a ticket.

    “What happened out there, love?” Matty inquired, sad brown gaze trying to read into her Y/E/C one.

    She shook her head, face and hair still caked with the salty liquid that wouldn’t dare stop seeping out of her eyes.

    He pursed his soft lips, before moving his hand too caress her wet cheek. “You have to tell me so I can help you, babe. I love you. How about we talk about it in bed?” He didn’t mean it sexually, at least not right now.

    She nodded. That was really all he needed, leaning in to place a heartfelt kiss on her lips, grinning as he saw a small smile form. He offered his hand, and she took it, and they stayed like that for the rest of their journey home.

    As soon as they got back, Matty made sure to tend to her every need - he tied her hair back, removed her rodent-like mess of makeup, and helped her get into more comfortable attire (his shirt, which secretly made him swoon). He frowned upon her refusal of chicken noodle soup - her favourite, especially when he made it. He carried her to their bed and decided to take charge and be the big spoon this time. “Alright, love. What’s up?”

    She bit the inside of her cheek anxiously. She’d stopped crying, however she was still on the verge of tears. “I think I had a panic attack in George’s bathroom. But that’s not th-the point. This week has been terrible. I’ve been getting a ton of hate, you’ve had interviews, which is good and all, but… bad timing, I guess? Ah, I don’t know. And you know that… that lunch that you made for us? It was good, really good, but, I was pretty bloated after that which never fails to get me down! And then we had to go to that party, and I felt ugly and disgusting, and it just… wouldn’t stop. At the party, I felt even worse. Sick. And everyone there was gorgeous, especially… what’s her name? Tia? Tyra? Tiera. Yes. And I thought you liked her because I’m a mess. And…” she paused, a tear falling down her cheek. “I think that’s it?”

    It hurt Matty’s heart to hear her pour hers out to him in such a melancholy way. He’d known of her insecurities -- it’s why she was usually quite hesitant about any intimacy whatsoever, even a simple hug -- and every single one of his attempts to comfort her, restore her self esteem, assure her she was the most gorgeous girl he’d ever laid eyes on (hence why they were dating). He sighed, pulling her into a warm embrace. “You’re breathtaking. Don’t ever think otherwise. And by the way,” he began, pausing as she cocked her head to the side. “I’ve got worry about her more than you do. She told me you were quite fit before you ran off.” They shared warm laughs, before Y/N looked into his eyes once again.

    “I love you, rockstar.”

    “I love you too.”

    And with that, both my hands and the star-crossed lovers got some rest. Writing six pages is not easy on the wrist.

[c-atm]

Fighting Flirty: Character Select Pt2

Steven stood in front of the Maheswaran household, waiting for Connie to come down. He wasn't alone though as Priyanka and Doug stood waiting with him, still wearing their sleepwear,robes and slippers; wanting to see the two off.

"So Empire for the whole day, huh? That's quite a trip. What are you planning to do? Take in the sights?" Priyanka inquired with a smirk, a very Connie-esque one.

"Maybe, the main thing is costume shopping, but depending on how long that take we might just take food breaks." Steven shrugged shoulders with a slightly mischievous smirk.

"I heard you two are coming to the party though...What's that about? You're getting dressed up?"

Doug smirked confidently with a slight nod causing Steven smile starred eye.

"Yes, Yes! What your gonna go as, Huh?" .

Doug smirked as he pulled his wife close to him, getting a squeak out of the doctor. "Should we tell, my master?"

Priyanka gulped and bit her lip a bit at her husband before stealing a quick peck and wrapping her hands behind his neck. She spoke in a slight sultry tone. "Stop Durga..We'll kill the boy."  

Steven was indeed red face, but also smirking at the two. "Don't mind me. I'll just turn around."

"Good man." Doug called before turning his wife a very lecherous smirk on his face. "Now master 'Integra', I believe I deserve a bite."

"Ahem! Can't wait to I leave the house, I swear that trip did wonders for you two."

The trio turned to see Connie standing in the doorway, overnight bag on her shoulders, arms folded under her breast with a joy filled smile on her face.

The husband and wife looked at each other before turning to the result of their love.  "It really did."

“You see what I have to deal with Steven. Love struck teenagers, both of them.” The younger Maheswaren joked before giving her parents a tight hug.

“Before you go, Steven come talk with me a moment. “

Steven arched an eyebrow as he walked with Doug to his car, with the women looking on. Priyanka looked over at her daughter, giving her a once over, unnoticeably.

A form accentuating cobalt halter sweater dress, a black short bomber jacket, and a pair of brown knee high boots. Hair, mostly flowing down except  for a small pink star hair clip in the middle and a small bang. A small smile came to the mother's face at the little bit of onyx eye shadow and the small bit of lip balm. Her daughter has grown into a beautiful woman in love. The look in her daughter's eyes says everything about her feelings.

“You’ve chosen well, Kahanni.”  

Connie looked back at her mother with a blush. “Thanks Mom.”

“Just...be safe.”

Connie is bright red at the accusation “What?.. Wait me and Stev-”

“Empire could be tough..Even for heroes like you two.”Priyanka smirked at her daughter. “What about you and Steven, though?”

Connie pouted red face. “That was mean.”

Priyanka chuckled. “Yeah, I know...You’re not coming back tonight.”

Connie realized it wasn’t a question. “Yeah. I might stay by-”

The prideful smile the older maheswaran gave her stopped her in her tracks and caused her to look away.

“I’m protected...Just in case”

Priyanka chuckled as she kissed her daughters temple. “That’s my girl...Good luck.”

“Thanks mom..” She arched an eyebrow at her mother before continuing. “You’re actually handling the implications pretty well...Thought you be more against the idea.”

  “Well..You look at him the same way I look at your father after 20 years of marriage. Besides he already considers us family and vice versa..” Priyanka rubbed her chin as she got a cheeky grin on her face. “ Though you two always were lovestruck.”

Connie looked scandalized at her mother, but before she can say anything to defend herself.

“Yo Heart berry, we’re ready?”

Connie looked forward and saw Steven waiting by the donadi, looking a bit red but proud. Connie felt a small push on her back making her take a few steps forward. She turned to see Piyansk finger waving at her daughter. Connie for her gave her mom a confidant look  before heading to the car. As she did her dad stopped her by holding her shoulders. Pride shining in his eyes.

"Look at you, My swashbuckling sword swinger....Good looking kid."

She shrugged playfully, a snarky grin on her face "Well, I take after mom."

He jokingly rubs his chin. "True..So when should you be back around these parts?"

"I mean.. We should back in town tonight. If everything goes according to plan."

Doug looked at his daughter with a smirk before giving her a hug. "Have fun..Be safe.. Watch out and take care of each other...We trust you two."

She returned the hug with a smile. "Of course...Love you Daddy."

"Love you too, Kahanni." He gives her a kiss on the top of her head before  opening the car for her, exchanging a look of understanding with the hybrid.

Steven got in the car as Connie place on her seat belt and a black blanket from the back over her.  Steven looked over her and already saw that she was more sleepy than she let on.

"Hey Berry."

"Hey yourself, Mister.. You're  looking nice"

Steven was dressed in a black turtleneck, under a pink vest with a star on its back, black jeans; a pair of size 15 pink and black sneakers. He had his hair in a ponytail, except for one single curly strand that felt in front of his face. She found herself giggling at how handsome he was.

"Wanted to compliment you, beauty berry."

Connie just shook her head at the sly teasing.

"You look tired, too excited to sleep."

Connie groaned in sleepiness as she sent a small glare at Steven. "Did you tell Peridot about today, cause she gave me a job of taking pictures and sending them to her for those spheres."

"Yeah..We're gonna talk about that, but for now..Let's headout Connie. "

Connie gulped at the low tone of his voice, there was a bit of mischief there. She turned to wave at her parents as they pulled off and quickly  turned around as her father was already carrying her mother in..with that look on his face.

'Go dad'. Connie thought as she leaned back in the passenger seat getting all comfy. She turned to her companion who gave her a half smile.

"So..What is it, huh?* She pokes his cheeks playfully.

" Why you never told me about that incident?"

"It's not much to tell, the first run with the Cospheres ..Name pending...had complications, we looked at it and fixed it."

Connie's nonchalant attitude cause a small chuckle from the boys lips. "Complications, huh? You're certainly tough. I would think fighting a possessed costume would be more than a complications."

Connie sighed as she felt a bit bashful. "Magical infused AI ...Not po-

Steven smirk stopped her in her tracks.

"I'm not gonna save any face this ride, right?,"

Steven shook his head. "You, Bismuth, and Pearl, got beaten up..By a coat rack!!."

"IT WAS A MANNEQUIN!”

Steven chuckled at her exclaim as a slightly somber look took over.

“I am a little mad that you got hurt and didn't tell me..”

Connie looked at her biscuit accusingly. “Well it wasn't that bad. We were fighting a real life fighting game character, basically. A nice impromptu sparring session."

Steven looked at his Berry and kissed his teeth. "I don't like the idea of you hiding things like that from me."

Connie blushed shamefully "Wasn't trying to hide it. Just didn't think too much of it."

Steven said nothing as he continued to drive, he did smile a bit when she gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

“Besides you were flaring that day...Me getting beat up by a coat rack is funny. You, having having a random purple spot and spike, not funny."

Steven arched an eyebrow and chuckled. "I thought it was a mannequin."

Connie laid back into the chair with the blanket and closed her eyes. "Doesn't matter, we won. Wake me up when we get there, Mister."

Steven nodded as he exited  Delmarva limits.

It was three hours and fifteen before Connie stirred into consciousness. She stretched with a yawn as she looked around and realized...

She was not in the car with Steven, but in a king size bed inside of a hotel room, with Steven. His head was on her lap and his arms around her waist holding her close. Connie couldn’t help the smile that enveloped her face as she toyed with his hair.

“Mmmh Heart Berry.”

Conie giggled at his moans, wondering what he could be dreaming about. She took notice of her surroundings and she concluded that they weren't just in a room, but the bedroom of a suite; a quite large one too.

The walls were painted white with a flat screen embedded in the northern wall, a dresser and mirror on the east wall and the door to the bathroom on the west wall. She looked up and saw a mirror looking back, causing her to blush at their reflection.

“Oh my. That’s bold...Bathroom.”

Connie slowly and carefully pulled herself out of the big man hold, feeling colder than before, She walked into the bathroom. Her jaw dropped.

Porcelain tiles, a dual sink, a beautifully large mirror with fluorescent lights,a shower with a cylinder head and...

“A jacuzzi tub..Yeah, we’re staying tonight.”

Connie giggled to herself before closing the door lightly as to not wake her slumbering snoring companion. Who unnoticed to her, was smirking to himself.

'Good looking out Daddio.' was his last thought before falling back to sleep.

It's a half hour when he wakes up, his head against something warm. A feminine melody in his ear, and someone messing with his hair  He opens his eyes and see cobalt colored wool.

"Hey Gamy..That's my stomach you're staring at."

"Oh really..."

Connie laughed as Steven grabbed her by the waist and nuzzled closer to her mid, the feeling causing her to nearly burst into hysterics.That soon became  couple like wrestling. Laughing at each other's antics and pinning each other to the bed just for it to be overturned.

After a few minutes, Connie was victorious as she straddled the big man's  waist just below his gem. Her hands on his chest. His hands on her thighs slightly under her dress. Both panting with disheveled hair.  His looking more normal..Hers out of place with a half bang covering her right eye.

"Hey, Mister." Her breathy tone and bitten lips. She could feel his reaction under her and how his half lidded eyes displayed a tug load if excitement..She tries to stop the thoughts running through her mind but…

"Sup, Heart Berry". His husk fueled voice caused it.. The slight increase grip of his shirt. The increased pressure from her thigh, the instinctive humm of love and lust. She looked so delectable right now. On top, a victorious warrior.

"I guess you win."

She nodded, a smug smile on her face. "I beat a diamond. I think I earned a reward."

"Oh, and what pray tell can this diamond do for you, human paragon?"

Connie chortle before beckoning him to sit up with flex of her index finger. He does obediently, a boyish trouble maker grin plastered on his face. She for her part, locks her arms over his shoulders before placing her forehead  to his. A devilish smile on her face.

"As the old saying goes.."What you promise. You must perform."

Steven looks at her from the side for a moment. It when she licks her teeth with a click, his eyes widen before he mimics her smile.

"Really, Heart Berry?"  

"Umm-hmm." She plays with his hair as her smile becomes even more impish.

He licks his teeth, changing from his canines to the fangs he showed off as his tongue passes. Connie, reached to touch them and shivered a bit..They were the real thing.

"You having second thoughts?" He smiled but his tone was a bit uncertain. Connie shook her head, her black eyes embers of emotion for him.

"Smile bright for me, Biscuit."

Steven gave her what she wanted and placed his fangs on display. The look of amazement in his berry's eyes made him feel great pride and love from  her actions.

Connie was truly stunned at his transformation. She was afraid to touch them. 'They looked sharp but was a bit dull at the point, so they won't break the skin... Ok.'

That's when Connie surprised him by kissing said fangs, small pecks, enough to get his attention so he'll wrestle her under him.

He lowered his face to hers. Her breath became anxious anticipation surged through her. He grin became a bit hungry for her as he inched closer.  He bit her lips. They interlaced their fingers as foreheads touched.

"So Berry, What was you want me to do again."

She whimpered at the husk in his voice, but refused to give in..not until she got what she wanted.

"Sink them innnnn"

Steven let loose a snarl at her beckoning as he kissed the back of Connie ear and down her collarbone. She loved the tingles of it, but she wanted the real thing.

"SINK THEM IN!"

Steven chuckled against her and prepared to do just that….

"NYEHEHEHE"

Both turned to Steven phone on the side table ,Peridot name flashing.  He just remembered he told her to call to wake him up.

"No!" Connie shook her head. Pleading him not to answer.

With a heavy sigh Steven, reached for the phone and to both their dismay, got off Connie.

"Hey Peridot."

With a glare that would shatter white she got up and walked to the bathroom..Stating she needed a shower

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

In and out (Part 2) (Nathan Drake x Male Reader)

Description: There was a deal between Elena and Nathan to make her way to Yemen for managing to get them to the city. But plans don't go so easily as they should. Well, isn't that pretty common thing for Nathan & Co.™?

Based on the request from @march-moon

A/N: So we’re establishing the relationships between our main characters, getting to know them (like I know you know Nate the Pure Boi™ and Sully the Womanizer™), and so on. Enjoy! Also, their song will most probably be I’m your man from Leonard Cohen. (Youll see whose song I'm talking about, especially you, @missdictatorme ) 

Warnings: None really, just some my adding to adjust the story and making Sully a caring old man. And it looks like it will be a slow-burn fanfiction. Sorry! 

Word count: 1 884 (+/-)

They walked into the airport in a rushed pace, their eyes were almost burning by the light of evening sun which was getting low. Sully couldn't be concentrated for one minute straight, thinking only about their friends being in danger. He was constantly nervous about it.

And Drake smiled when he saw the woman who he and Sully were talking about. It felt relieving that he didn't lie to Sully and she was truly alright. She has clothed some nice jeans and a clean sweater, her hair was loosely held in a black clip and her face looked straight murderous. She was sick worried for both of them, almost broke in tears on the airport when they weren't answering her calls. They got lost the track of time in there and Sully’s phone broke. 

But now she saw them alive and she seriously thanked God for seeing them.

"Where were you?" She whisper-yelled at them in her nice voice, coming to hug them and help them with the beverage. Her name was Florence, but Nathan rather called her Carter, and she was one of them.

For Nathan it was just a friend who could kick ass pretty well and who laughed at his stupid jokes, she even shared his love for archeology, but she was so much more for Sullivan. Not like they were in an openly well-known relationship, but it was quite some time ago since Sully proposed to her. To be quite honest, Nathan had the suspicion that she made him propose because Sully wasn't exactly the family-life or commitment man. Their history was a bit... Complicated, per se, but it always felt somehow good to see them back by each others' side.

They had huge ups and downs in the last few years, and they even broke up for two years, getting back together just shortly after they came back from the Himalayas last year. Especially hard it was when Sully just disappeared with Nathan for a few months all of a sudden without even letting her know to Greece-or-where-the-fuck-did-you-two-assholes-go (as she called it).

'Ya know Nate, there's something about that girl that just makes me twirl inside,' Sullivan always said to Nathan when he got the news of them putting it back together.

It all started in 1996 when Florence and Sullivan meeting on Cuba. He was forty-six at that time and to be honest, Nathan had to admit that he was a real hit with the ladies around that time - but she was only twenty-one at that time and unbelievably, they put it together only a year after that. And since then, they somehow managed to stay together... Let's put it that way.

She tolerated all his ailments as well as he managed to keep her nature under control. They were never directly explicit about their relationship, they didn't hold hands in public or kiss each other in front anyone much often - the biggest reason for that was their seriously huge age gap, but there were looks and sparks in their eyes when they were talking about each other or when they were around each other. When Sullivan spoke about her and Nate, he always said:

“These two are the worst catastrophes that stumbled into my life and both of them had the best outcomes that changed my life eternally. I never wanted a fiancé or someone, who will be a son to me and yet I got them.” 

"I almost went mad from fear," Florence bumped her head in Sullivan's shoulder as she put his hand oh the back of her neck. "I'm so glad that you're all right, big guy," Flo smiled firmly and circled her arms around Sully's neck, while he bumped with his forehead to hers lightly, smoothing her cheek with his thumb. "Sugar," Sullivan answered with a low and firm voice and Flo made a step backward from him.

She hugged Nathan too, but that hug was faster and lighter than Sully's hug.

"Thought they took you as hostages. Were you two trying to get killed again?" Florence started to calm down and joked around in an unsure voice, taking Nate's bag and following Sully to their seats which Florence took by the rest of their beverages.

Nate was still fascinated by how that woman could lift spirits to his best friend so easily, just by being present somewhere near him. Even if he looked pretty calm down, he still frowned a little, because of the fear for Frazer and Cutter.

"Don't say that you were worried about two big hunks like us," Nate answered with a childish tone and she managed to give him a gentle punch to the shoulder.

"Don't let her lure you into her lies, she wasn't afraid, she was just happy that no one will irritate her anymore," Sully warned him and Florence laughed at that, finally getting back in the mood. But Drake looked kinda scared. "Hey, if you don't want to have a dinner today, just continue. I want to eat, so I'll say that she would definitely kick some arses on a way to our rescue. If necessary, of course." He put a hand on his heart with a serious expression on his face.

"You are an incredible social ranking climber, Drake," Florence threw him a cold burrito wrapped in cellophane. Flo also got one for Sully, giving him the burrito and a bottle of coke directly to the hands. 

“About that gig,” Nathan touched his bum and pulled a little diary out of his pocket. He handed it to Florence and suggested to her, which page she should open. And when she opened it, she just opened up her mouth and looked at both of them with a surprise in her face.

“Are you two kidding me right now?” Florence said and her voice went up and down as the voice of a boy going through puberty. “You actually found something in there?"

“We do know, in fact.” Nate agreed, but Florence ignored him completely. She was so excited that she actually quit noticing reality even at the slightest. 

“She has her own little Christmas right now. Let her be, she calms down eventually.” Sully whispered to Nathan in a low voice, but he was smiling at the sight of her fiancé being so happy.

“It’s next clue, some sort of amulet I would presume!” Florence whispered to herself as Nathan sat on his arse on of the airport seat, slowly eating his burrito.

“Do you think that she’ll,” Nathan looked at Sully with a question in his eyes. He was curious about Florence lecturing them about things they already knew. And just as he looked at Sully, Florence turned to them with a look of a small child in her eyes. “And here we go,” Nate whispered as he listened to every word Florence said. 

She was pretty right about everything she said and Nate with Sully just slowly nodded their heads in the rhythm of her speech. Nathan sorta saw what Sully liked about her so much - it wasn’t her big brown eyes or curly ginger hair, no. It was her personality. She managed to stay optimistic at most of the times and she could be seriously stubborn sometimes, and Nathan knew that her stubbornness is what she got Sully on. 

He was a huge ladies man before he met Florence or tried his luck with Maggie during their break up, Sully spent every one of his nights with a different lady. And that was the problem, they went directly to the bed and not offering him to fight for it. When Nate met him, he was on the top of his strengths and he was a definite womanizer.

And one day Sully just came to the flat they were living in with a huge smile on his lips, talking about some pretty pert girl in the museum they were doing research in. And she seriously made him fighting for even a drop of her affection, Florence sometimes did that till that day when she got mad at Sully. And his adoration for her was seriously infinite because of that.

“... So that’s why I find it so fascinating, boys.” She finally finished her speech and went to take a bite of Sully’s burrito. 

“You had your own, missy,” Sullivan warned her as she gently put her fingertip on his own hand and took a huge bite. Florence almost ate half of Sully’s burrito.

“But it’s so good.” She moaned. Nathan just looked their direction with a disgusted and confused look on his face. She frowned to his direction and she looked seriously murderous. “What's your problem, Drake? We're talking about the burrito you pervert.” 

“And I don’t doubt that Florence,” Nate answered innocently, but something on Victors amused look told him that she’s probably lying. But what should he do about that? “Not at all.” 

His motto, expect Greatness from small beggings, was Live and let live. This situation was in fact seriously ideal, just partially fucked up as they were used to. Everyone was safe and sound, everyone was alive at that point and they were together. And Nathan had to be true; he had cheesier pickup lines than Flo had. 

And so they joked there around an hour, waiting for their airplane to Syria. They stood under the sun which was getting lower and lower and watched the stars which started to show up above the plane. It was so beautiful because they were at the end of the world in France, on a small airport distant at least two kilometers away from the city. 

Sully started to showing Florence the stars as countless times before to keep her entertained and to keep her from thinking about Cutter and Chloe who they were about to save of at least to find if they weren't in any sort of danger.

When the plane finally took off, Nate assumed that he better get some sleep even though the people were seriously watching them with a curiousness written in their faces. They smelled pretty bad and they had the dirtiest clothes on them, so people assumed that they’ve done something pretty wild. 

They had three seats, one next to the other, and Florence sat in the middle, letting Sully put a pillow on her shoulder to get some sleep too. And when Nathan started to slowly fall asleep, he heard Sully and Florence bickering about her engagement ring. 

“Why don’t you still wear it, honey? I'm back for almost half a year and haven't seen it once on your hand.” Sully asked in a low raspy voice and Nate heard that he's about to fall asleep too. He saw their hands entwined in almost secretive was just as if they were afraid of the judging that could come anytime and from anyone.

“Because of I'm afraid that I’ll break it or lose it and I just think that you would not buy me a new one, would you Victor?” Florence laughed back, smoothing his sweaty jaw. 

“I will buy you every ring on this goddamn planet if you promise me that you'll stay safe.” He promised and with that, they went completely silent, slowly entering the realm of dreams together. 

[xiaobaemoon]

Moon: A Taeil Au Part Five: Connected

A/N: My story slowly comes to an end and I hope you will stick with me through it. Thank you so much for your support. It really means a lot to me. Thank you also for over 60 followers! I’ve never imagined something like that! <3

Warning: contains smut (it basically is one tbh)

Word Count:2.122 Words

this gif is so hot omg I’ll never get over it

Connected- united, having a connection, having accompany

Taeil would have to leave in two months and you were not prepared for it. He had already quit his part-time job at the local library and used his savings to buy food. Every time you visited the so familiar flat of your boyfriend, new shelves were being emptied. However, Taeil looked happier than ever before. He laughed talking about his home. You knew that he missed his family and his culture. It was hard for you to imagine how life on the moon might be, what the people had to deal with on a daily basis or what the news would report on. You tried to imagine his parents and his friends, yet it was hard for you. You did not want him to leave. You loved him more than every other person

. “Look at this, Y/n!” he screamed and gave you a photo frame. The picture showed a man holding a baby on his arm while a woman was standing beside them and smiled with a smile you knew. “Are those your parents?” you asked and seated yourself on the messy bed behind you. Taeil was usually a very clean person, but his bed always seemed to be messy. He nodded and seated himself next to you. The bed squeaked because of the weight.

The man appeared tall and manly, yet kind of soft and caring. His jawline was as sharp as Taeil ones, but his mouth area was covered with a five o’clock shadow. The brown hair was full and carefully combed to the left sight. His smile seemed like it could lighten up a room. Perfect teeth were showing and the dimples around the mouth were deeper than the sea. Surprisingly you could not make out any similarities with your boyfriend beside the face shape and the hair color. The woman on the right side of the picture, however, she looked exactly like him. The nose and the eyes, which looked happily at the two young men, were giving out a very lovely vibe. Her hair was short and curly, no longer than to her chin. The age difference must have been small, yet the height difference was another story. The woman seemed to reach her husband not even to the shoulders. “We took this picture when I was around one year old” Taeil said and you turned your eyes to him. His eyes were clinging to the picture as he continued. “My parents met at a school dance. They both were always kind to me. My mother has always encouraged me when I felt down and my dad taught me Korean and English. He is a teacher at our local school.  His dream was to get chosen by the tottery but he did not have luck as a child. That’s why my parents were so supportive. I basically live the dream of my father. They would like you. I bet you would get along pretty well.” His voice sounded soft and melancholic. He missed his parents, yet he still thought of you.  You laid your arm around him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “They seem very nice. I’m sure you are right” you answered before resting your head on his shoulder. “You know, I’m all alone tonight. Do you want to come over and help me study?” The question was a lie. You were indeed alone tonight, but you did not want to study with him. You wanted to give him a present which you planned to give him for a long time now. You wanted him to feel a happy emotion again. You wanted him to feel what it means to be in a romantic relationship. You wanted to show him the feeling of connection.

Around 8 pm your door bell rung. You opened the huge glass door and Taeil was standing there holding his filled binder between his hands. You let him in and walked inside your room. For merely an hour you studied for your biology test, but while Taeil was reviewing his notes and took sips of his coffee, you nervously bit your lip. He sighed. “I don’t like biology and I never did. I even hated it on the moon. I do not care how my cells look.” He crossed his arms behind his neck and yawned. This was your chance. “Do you wanna have a break?” you smiled at him. He nodded and seated himself on your bed. You stood up and walked in front of him, smiling cheeky. “What is it?” he asked.” You seem different tonight? Are you nervous because of the exam?”

You shook your head and slowly touched his thighs. Your finger made their way up and down and drew little circles on his slender muscles. A small sigh came out of his mouth. “I wanted to show you something” you whispered into the tension filled air. You could hear his breath getting faster. How inexperienced he seemed! Or was it because of you? “I want to show you how to feel good in a way you have never felt it before. Do you want me to show it to you?”You needed his consent. You wanted to hear it. In a raspy voice he stuttered a yes, while his cheeks turned red. The mouth of yours smiled while your hands started to go up further. He leaned in for a passionate kiss you returned. You slowly opened his belt. He stood up to strove down his pants, when he suddenly stopped. “Y/n, you do not have to this” he whispered but his eyes were filled with lust. You just shook your head again and looked at his now naked crotch area. He seated himself down, but his penis did not care, it was erected and seemed to be very hard. It looked kind of painful. You slowly opened the bathing robe you had been wearing and presented yourself to your boyfriend. Your body was covered by a set of black lace lingerie. It had a beautiful pattern of black roses covering all the important parts, while the rest of your body could be seen through mesh parts. “Fuck, you look so good” Taeil gasped. You loved how admiring he looked at you. His eyes were fixated on you, moving up and downwards. The darkness of his eyes disappeared and the shine of lust became stronger.  You got your usually calm boyfriend to swear. A real accomplishment! He runs his hand through his messy hair. His mouth stayed open for a bit, until you grabbed his thumbing wood. As expected, it was hard and felt bigger and heavier in your hands than you had imagined. Just being touched by you made your boyfriend moan, but you wanted more.

You got on your knees and slowly touched his tip with your tongue. His hands were softly combing through your hair as louder moans made his body shake. You smirked and decided to put all inside your mouth. It was hard for you to move your tongue now, since your mouth was filled with the throbbing penis of your boyfriend, but you tried to do it anyways. Taeil wanted to say something, but every time he tried to say more than two words his voice cracked and all that could leave his mouth were raspy moans. “Oh Y/n” he started, but he choked on his words. The more you sucked on his hard dick, the stronger he grabbed your head. You felt your own crotch throbbing, longing for your boyfriend, but you first wanted to please him. “I don’t think I can hold it any longer. Gosh, y/n” Taeil gasped. The moment you nodded you felt a warm liquid filling your mouth. You took his still hard wood out of your mouth and looked him in the eyes. They seemed glassy. He grabbed you by your hips and threw you on your bed. This move took you by surprise.” Thank you babe” he smirked. “No Problem, Taeil. I want you so much.” You whispered into his ear, letting him feel your warm breath. His left hand slowly wandered down your body, stopping by your chest, while the other hand helped you out of your lace panties. “They look so good on you, thank you so much” his raspy voice whispered while you felt your heart racing faster than ever. Your body felt hot and you longed for his touch.

His hand drew small circles around your nipple, while two other fingers slipped inside of you. Your body started to shake. He slowly opened his fingers which made your whole body feel an electric shock. For your surprise he was quite dominant and you liked it. He was always fast to surprise you with his actions. It did not matter that the light was still on. You looked at him. Taeil bit his lips. His eyes were fixated on his fingers, scared of doing something wrong. “Do you like it?”He asked, before kissing your neck. You could just answer him with a loud moan. He kissed your neck and put the finger out of your dripping private part. His sudden stop left you whining but he made up for it by sticking his hardness inside of you as fast as his fingers were gone. “You are so hot” he said in between moans.” We are one now.” You crossed your hands behind his neck. His thrusts were slow but effective. Taeil was still kissing your neck, leaving marks on it while listening to your moans. Your body was shaking as your legs also crossed around him. “Harder” you begged him. You could feel his smile on your neck before his thrusts got faster. Your whole body felt like it was filled with him and you enjoyed every single second of it. Your moans were synchronized by now, yet yours were louder. He wanted to listen to your moans better than hear his own. His body was shaking too and you felt like you would lose your mind. His thrusts got faster with every move, but they were still soft and gentle. His hands were both next to your body, revealing his muscles. “I think I have to cum again” he murmured into your neck. You nodded. “I take the pill, do it, moon-boy.” He bit gently into your neck as both of you felt the orgasm arrive. Your bodies pressed even more against each other. You screamed his name and felt his warm liquid filling you up again.

The both of you were laying next to each other on your bed. He had his boxer shorts back on and you wore his old white shirt. It was way too big for you, but it smelled like him. Actually your entire bed smelled like him now and you loved it. “I love you so much, y/n”. He placed a loving kiss on the back of your hand. Your hands were laced again.  You smiled and turned to him, observing your boyfriend. His brown hair was sweaty and his eyes were dark and deep again. He looked exhausted. “This was a great experience” he continued .His raspy voice was back to his normal angelic one. “I felt like we were just one person. Do you know what I mean? This felt so private and naughty. It was a rollercoaster. I have never felt something similar before. I felt like you would know everything about me and like I could know everything about you.” He looked at the ceiling and a genuine smile appeared on his face. “I’m glad you liked it. That was what I wanted to show you. I wanted to show you the feeling of a connection between two people loving each other with the help of their bodies. The most private and vulnerable thing there is. “Your mouth was dry and your voice hoarse. But you did not regret a single thing. Taeil nodded, he understood what you meant and you understood him. He turned in your direction, grabbing your head with his hand and placing a kiss on your forehead. “I wish we could stay like this forever” he spoke and you noticed the sudden crack in his voice.  

This was probably not the best situation to ask him, but you just had to. “Taeil, what are you saying in your sleep? You always seem to say something important.” He closed his eyes and whispered: “I tell my parents about you and how I wish to stay with you.” With these words he closed his eyes and felt asleep, letting you with a confused mind behind. Was there really a way he could stay by your side?

[nobravery]

The Neighbor — Part. I

a Shawn Mendes Series.

Requested: No.

A/N: Finally I’m posting something. I was inspired at the very beginning but I believe that it’s getting worse and worse this story, rip it’s completely unrealistic whereas I always write in a way as realistic as possible. But never mind, I had fun. It’s always a pleasure for me to write. Also big shoutout to @babyshawwn because she’s the Queen of the Fics, and @illumendes my fav cunt who told me to go on. Ah, and @saysweartogod for your name.

WordCount: 3,815

Two weeks later. It was almost midday. That day, the sun didn’t put in an appearance, but it wasn’t raining for all that. It was just kinda cloudy. y/n was working on her classes in her bedroom, while Emily was keeping an eye on the spaghetti carbonara, reading some school books and with music in her headphones. Both were very concentrating, when y/n thought she heard someone knocking at the door. She didn’t hear anything more, so she shrugged her shoulders and plunged back into her sheets of paper. But she heard the knock again. So she frowned, before calling Emily from her bedroom. Obviously the latter didn’t hear whatever, but y/n ignored that. « Emily, someone’s knocking, go and answer the door! she yelled a little louder. » No answer from Emily. Emily, I’m going to kill you, she thought. Then she stood up, came out of her bedroom and quickened her step; entering the living-room, she immediately saw Emily who acted as if nothing was happening. But when she saw y/n, she removed her headphones quickly. « Hey y/n, is there a prob? – Yeah, I called you like two or three times but obviously you didn’t hear, I understand why now. Someone’s knocking at the door, y/n informed eventually. – Ah? Who’s this? the other inquired. – I don’t know, I’ll get it. » So straight away y/n rushed to the door, not wanting the person on the doorway to wait even more. She unlocked it, pressed the handle and finally opened the door. The guy in front of her was so tall that she had to raise her head to look at him. His hair was brown, curly, nicely done and looked very soft. Clad in a white tshirt, he was smiling at y/n; his teeth were perfectly lined up and as white as his tshirt. His mandible was well-traced as well and she could guess that his zygomatic bone was too. Hands in his jeans pockets, his brown eyes were looking at her, and she noticed it a few seconds later. « Hum, hello? she managed to say finally with a smile. How may I help you? » Then she heard Emily who was still in the kitchen saying something like « Who’s that? ». Meanwhile, the guy was smiling even more. « Well, I’m your new neighbor and I didn’t have the time at all to buy sugar. I was wondering if you had some. » The young girl was gazing out at him, and frowned weakly at a moment, but still smiling. « Yeah, we have sugar for sure. Come in, don’t stay outside the door. » So the guy complied and immediately Emily joined them near the entrance. « Hello! the newcomer said. What’s up there? – Euh… » Definitely y/n was looking for his name that she didn’t know yet, turning her forefinger in circles and pressing her lips together. « Oh sorry. Shawn. I’m Shawn, he saved her eventually. I was wondering if you had some sugar, he explained to Emily. » y/n approved with a nod, while her friend had her eyes wide open, meaning she understood. « Okay, Shawn, I’ll get it, I’ll get you what you want. » She dashed towards the little cupboard above the sink, and finally grabbed the sugar. She rejoined the two others after. « Here is it, she declared, holding the sugar box out to Shawn. » He took it right away, and he thanked her with a smile. « I’m Emily. And this is y/n who let you in. – Nice to meet you, he greeted. Have you been longer here? » Emily and y/n looked each other in the eyes, then y/n finally replied. « No, we’ve been here for a little more than two weeks. We just settled. – We’re there for studies, added her flatmate. For a year. We’re not even from Canada. – Wow, I see, and what do you study? Do you enjoy Toronto? » As Emily was going to have a quick look at the spaghetti before she could forget them, she let y/n and Shawn carried on the conversation. « Criminology is our major, Anthropology our minor. Both are interesting. » With that, Emily who was still hearing what her bestie said, came back a few seconds later. « We do enjoy Toronto, she continued, although we don’t know everything yet. But the vibe looks cool there. – Yeah it is, the young boy simply answered. » All three had been talking for two little minutes about Canada and especially Toronto and U of T, before the time when Shawn announced that he had to leave. He greeted his neighbors, having a final talk with them and finally joined the door; the girls went with him. « Hope to see you soon! he called once he crossed the doorstep. – Obviously, you live just nearby, Emily replied. – Yes, true but I’m leaving soon. – Vacation? questioned y/n. » Shawn laughed a bit then smiled. « Not really, but let’s consider that yes. – Oh okay, well, Emily said. When will you leave? – In four or five days. – Fine, I hope you’ll enjoy! » He smiled by way of thanks, told his two neighbors that he will go past again to give them back the sugar box and a few seconds after, he got back to his door and returned home. The girls, who just closed their door, could hear his one shut. While y/n was on her way to set the table for lunch, her friend had still her hand leaning against the door, thinking. « You’re coming? y/n asked her. Lunch is ready right now! » Emily complied and finally took a seat opposite her best friend who was serving them with pasta. Then y/n immediately noticed that she was kinda preoccupied. « What are you thinking about? she inquired when she took a seat as well. » Emily chewed before answering. « I don’t know, didn’t you have a feeling of déjà-vu? I mean, when you saw the guy. – Ah, Shawn? No, why? I should have? This is absurd, Em, we don’t know anybody here. Moreover I don’t know any Shawn. » Nevertheless y/n was thinking about what her flatmate said, in vain, when the latter replied to her. « I know that, me neither, but I’ve the impression that I’ve already seen him somewhere. Never mind, I’m probably too tired. »

An hour later, the two girls were playing a game of chess on the table when they heard a knock at the door. « This must be Shawn. I’ll get it again, declared y/n. » Emily nodded. Meanwhile, the other reached the door and opened it. Indeed, it was Shawn on the doorstep, the sugar box in his hand. « I didn’t want to bother you earlier, so here I am. Thanks for the sugar, he said, giving it back to y/n. – You’re welcome, we can help each other, among neighbors. » They smiled at each other. « By the way, maybe you already know it but it’s Canada Day in two days, I’m going to celebrate it with some friends, I wanted to know if you wanted to join us, if you don’t mind, of course. » At the time, the young girl said nothing, because she didn’t know what to answer, quite simply. So she called Emily out and the latter came, practically straight away. « What’s going on? Is everything okay? » Then y/n beckoned to Shawn to repeat what he had said just before, so he did it, asking again in front of the two flatmates. When y/n seemed hesitant about accepting, and unlike her Emily looked completely in. « Hey, come on! she encouraged. Let’s have fun for once. » y/n thought a bit, rolled her eyes and finally she gave in. « Well, Shawn spoke, I’m delighted you have accepted, I’ll see you in two days so! » Then they said goodbye to each other and all of them returned to their respective apartments. Emily and y/n went back to their seats and to their game of chess. « It’ll be cool, we will have fun in two days, Em said as her mate was focusing on the game. – Hum hum, yes! she replied while moving one of her two knights. I guess so. » In actual fact, y/n wasn’t the one who had often parties — which didn’t mean that she didn’t like parties —, contrary to her best friend, who had always said that y/n didn’t know how to have fun whereas it was actually wrong, and who never missed the opportunity to live it up and to hook up with some guys during parties. But this didn’t stop Emily from being as serious and invested as y/n when it came to studies. Both were rather intellectual; indeed their favourite places ever had always been libraries, places full of books at least. Besides, they had met each other for the very first time in a library. « Checkmate, Em, she declared a few minutes later. – What? How’s that? No? Already? » She looked for another move to do, but she found nothing. « Checkmate, y/n repeated with a smile and amusedly this time. » Emily murmured something which looked like a « Too bad », and asked to take a revenge on her, but she lost one more time. « You should tell me how you can do that. You just checkmated in six moves. – Girl, you know I’ve been playing chess for ages. I’ll teach you one day. » Em smiled, while y/n was putting away the chess set in a storage drawer. Then she retraced her steps and went back to her bestie. « I think I’m going to– – Library? » y/n sighed loudly, rolling her eyes out of despair. « Not at all, let me finish my sentence. I’m going to buy blank sheets and I’ll try to find some cool postcards for my family. You’re coming? » But the other didn’t answer; she was smiling widely. It was a mocking and mischievous smile. « What? Why are you smiling like that? Did I say something funny? » Emily continued to smile in the same way as before. « Nothing special. I was wondering… – Hm? » She finally burst out laughing, making y/n, who was preparing her stuff to go outside, frowned. « You know, the neighbor… Shawn… He’s rather cute, uh? Do you think he’s currently single? » y/n let her billfold down, with the element of surprise. « What? I don’t know, Em, I don’t care about that, it is not our business– – Hm hm, you still love bets and challenges? – That doesn’t change actually, said y/n. » Even though she was rather a good loser usually, she was afraid of what her friend could say about Shawn. Emily was the kind of person who could challenged the others to do everything and anything. But it was always harebrained ideas. « What if one of us tried to get off with him for Canada Day? It could be funny. » y/n shook her head straight away, which meant no. « Certainly not, I decline this. But you can. That’s your genre to do this, not really mine. I’m the one who wants serious things. » Emily shrugged her shoulders. « You’re not funny, y/n. But okay, I’ll try during his party in two days, she explained. That could be really fun. – Obviously. One more on your list of conquests, her flatmate replied in a sigh, taking her bag. » They looked each other in the eyes; Emily’s one were full of challenge. « You’re crazy, Em, the other added. He might have a girlfriend who’s just next door and we don’t even know about it. You’ll see blurry when we’ll arrive and when he’ll say something like “and this is blablabla, my girlfriend”. » Her best friend shrugged her shoulders again, and then y/n asked her again if she wanted to go outside with her. Em declined, wanted to study a little. So with that, her friend went to the door, unlocked it, opened it and shut it again behind her. She was now in the corridor. She walked right up to the grey metal elevator, pressed the button to call it and then turned her gaze on the floor in an automatic way. The elevator arrived at her floor few seconds after, and its doors opened. When she raised her head again, she found someone who was familiar to her inside the lift, in front of her. « Hey, y/n! You’re going for a walk? – Hello again, Shawn, she replied while they inverted their positions, and she pressed the button that allowed to keep the elevator doors open. Yeah, last-minute shopping. » They talked for about five good minutes, about everything and nothing, whereas they had already talked together earlier. He asked about Em, what she was doing at the moment, what they haven’t discovered in Toronto yet. Also he questioned if both of them were still in for Canada Day. « Of course, she confirmed. We both are. That will be great. Thank you. » Shawn smiled at her, his hand pressing against the wall. His hands. y/n noticed how large they were. « Okay, I’m gonna let you go so, he finally declared. » After saying goodbye to each other, the elevator led y/n to the first floor and she left the building.

Many hours later, it was about a quarter past five, y/n just returned to the condo. She had spent a lot of time at a library in the centre, after buying what she had to buy. She had got lost in books and hadn’t pay attention to the time. She crossed the doorstep, and entered the apartment. « Hey, y/n, finally! Where were you? » Emily was sitting on the sofa, reading a whodunnit. « I did what I had to do, and as you can guess, I went to a library! It was very huge. You should have come, you missed something dude! – Ah? You’ll show me next time so. » After putting down her bag and stuff, y/n sat next to Em on the couch. The latter put her book on the living-room table, and the newcomer told her everything in details about what she saw in town, how the library and stores were… And eventually she told her that she passed Shawn as she went to the lift. Emily didn’t really comment about it. « You should have come with me outside if you wanted to pass him. If you want to catch his eye… – Yeah, patience… » y/n smiled at Em, who gave it back to her.

The following day, y/n just woke up. It was already twenty past ten. It was unusual for her to wake up at this time, because she was rather an early bird. For once, it was Em who was awake first, because when she came to the kitchen, she had already breakfast. « Hey y/n, her friend called her, what’s up? This is the first time you’re the second one to wake up. – Nothing much, I don’t know. There’s a first time for everything in life. » Actually, she didn’t sleep well. And Emily knew why. « You’re still thinking about Chris? she ventured. » y/n flinched and winced when she heard this name. « Yeah, maybe. I don’t want to talk about this. About him. » This guy, Christopher, was y/n’s ex with whom she had been for almost two years. She was really in love with him, and she thought it was mutual. But the day which had marked their breakup was the one when she had found out that he was cheating on her with a girl she had always hated, and that for several weeks. And the worst was that both were still dating, while it had been already nine months since the split-up. « Don’t even think about him and his slut anymore, Emily recommended to her while pouring her cereals into her milk again. They’re not worth you giving them attention. » y/n approved with a simple « hum », while eating some French toasts and drinking her milk. She was just trying to hold back her tears. « I know this ain’t easy, Em carried on, but you have to try. They’re toxic. You mustn’t think about these assholes. – I know, Em, her bestie retorted. And you’re totally right. »

Two hours later, Emily had gone into town in her turn, but y/n didn’t want to go outside for the day, feeling a little tired this morning. Em should be back very soon. y/n was watching TV, when someone knocked at the door. Surely Em, she thought. She didn’t hurry over answering the door, dragging her feet. She opened the door eventually. It wasn’t Em. It was Shawn. Again. « Heya, Shawn, how may I help you? – Hey, y/n. Is Emily there? – No, she’s in town. You can wait inside if you have to see and talk to her. » He frowned, which surprised the young girl. « What? she asked. » He grinned weakly. « Actually I wanted to see you. » So she pressed her hand on her clavicule. It was always the sign that she was nervous; nobody knew, except herself and Emily, obviously. « Oh. I’m listening. You want to? she suggested him, inviting him to enter. – No, it won’t be very long. » Shawn was staring at his feet, and finally he raised his head, looking his neighbor in the eyes. « I wanted to ask you something, actually. y/n… » The latter flinched for the second time in a morning. What did he have in mind? Did she do something? Did she say something? Thousands thoughts crossed her mind in one millisecond. She was looking at him. She got lost in his eyes. He was so neutral, and usually she could perceive what people thought and how their emotions were reflected through their eyes. But this time, she couldn’t perceive anything about him. Because his eyes weren’t talking.

A/N: So here was Part. I. I’ll try to post a Part. II very soon whether you want it or not lmao, idk when exactly, given that I haven’t written the end yet lmao I don’t even know how to end the story so rip me but I’ll find, don’t worry lol. As usual, any feedback is appreciated and welcome, it’s always a pleasure to know your opinion, etc.

[eliniei]

Those Hard Days -  Epilogue II - END

Summary: Rae’s brother always made sure she was tough as nails. But when her father flips her world upside down, will she find that there’s a limit on how strong she can be?

Warnings: Rape/Non-con (non-graphic, fade-to-black), child abuse, underage drinking, underage smoking, drug use, violence, major character death

AO3: here Fanfiction.net: here

Masterlist

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Chapter 46 - Epilogue II

Four years later, Rae walked into the cemetery where Dally and Johnny had been buried. She tossed her brown hair over the shoulder of her dark t-shirt and felt a cool breeze blow through the strands. Her top and jeans were covered in dried dirt and grass stains, her cheek red with a forming bruise and a line of dried blood running from the corner of her mouth down to the collar of her shirt. The Saint Christopher medal around her neck shone in the late afternoon sunlight. In the crook of one arm, she carried a bunch of brilliant, red roses. She stopped in front of Johnny’s grave, first. 

“Hey, Johnnycake,” Rae started. She pulled a few roses from the paper wrapping and set them down by the bottom of his headstone. “Thought I’d bring ya some flowers.” She wiped the top of the stone off, pushing a few dead, shrivelled leaves off. “Looks like Pony’s been keepin’ your place pretty clean, huh? Does he still come a lot? The gang misses you somethin’ fierce, ya know.” She smiled softly, and after a few more words, moved down to her brother.

"Hey, Dally,” she greeted him, sitting down criss-cross in the dirt, facing the stone, a bright smile on her face. “Just got outta a rumble. Shepard territory this time. Even Darry came on out to help. I got roughed up a bit, but ain’t nothin’ I can’t handle.” She set the rest of the roses down. 

"I know, I know. You don't like roses but it’s all I could get." She cleaned off the top of the headstone, then ran her fingers down the lettering engraved on it. 

Dallas Tucker Winston November 9, 1948-1965 Devoted Brother and Friend

Rae’s eyes clouded over for a moment, her smile drooping, his face that night flashing in her mind. But she snapped herself out of it, remembering what her therapist had said, and replaced that image with one of him smiling. 

"I-I have something amazing to tell you, Dally," she confessed, smiling again. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement and turned her head to see Curly approaching from where he’d parked his car. She tilted her head back. "Well, more than one thing, I guess.” She huffed a laughed. 

“First thing’s first. Remember how I told you that I was takin’ a year after high school to get a job and save up for college?” She paused, reaching for the hair ties at her wrist. Still doin’ the same old shit. “Ponyboy, Two-Bit, Curly, and I are all going to the University of Oklahoma here in a few weeks. Yeah, Two-Bit finally graduated. Amazing, ain’t it? Barb says I was a good influence on him." Rae looked up at the sun for a moment, then back down. “I’m a little sad since Carrie’s stayin’ here in Tulsa so she can be close to Tim, but at least I’ll have the boys. I guess she’s gonna help him with the gang when Curly heads off. She ended up turnin’ real tough, and you’re the one who started it, teachin’ her how to fight.” She felt Curly squat down next to her.

“You tell him yet?”

“Nah, not yet. I was waitin’ for ya.” He smiled and she turned back to her brother’s grave. "So, Dally," she continued, holding out her left hand to the gravestone. There was a silver ring with a small, blue rock sitting on it. "I know you’d prob’ly wanna beat our heads in for this. Curly asked me to marry him and, well, I-I said yes. Tim was sure pissed as hell, ya know?” 

“That’s an understatement,” Curly said with a short laugh.

“We ain’t gonna get marrried anytime soon, so ya ain’t gotta worry about that. I ain’t knocked up or anythin’. That’s what Tim thought, anyhow.”

Rae paused, her smile fading. 

"Dally, you know how we talked about how I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life? I...I think I decided, okay? I wanna to become a therapist...maybe even a certified, professional psychiatrist.” She laughed under her breath. “I know that’s a big word. A-and I’d have to go to medical school for it. Imagine me, a doctor. My therapist was...very supportive.” Curly draped his arm across her back, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. She looked back at him, her smile turned sad. He nodded and kissed her temple.

“I’ll wait in the car.” She nodded and watched him walk away, then turned back to her brother.

“I think I wanna help kids like us." She looked down at the grass and pulled up a few blades. “Kids who...ain’t got good parents or...lost someone...ya know?” Her lip trembled a little, and she sucked in a breath. "But, I'm scared, Dally. I’m afraid of leavin’ ya here without me. I’m scared of leavin’ the rest of the boys behind. Scared of bein’ someplace...new. Therapist says it’s somethin’ called...uh...separation anxiety." Rae let the blade of grass fall out of her hands. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though, huh?”

"It ain’t ever been the same without ya, ya know. I miss ya Dally. You-you remember those nightmares I had when ya first died? Kinda like Pony’s, huh? When his parents..." Rae sighed. “Well, I had one again the other night. My-my therapist says it’s prob’ly ‘cause I’m nervous to leave. She’s gonna...refer me to someone at the college. She says I made some real good progress over the past few years and hopes I will keep it up.” She sat quietly for a few seconds, but finally stood up, looking towards Curly’s car. He stood with his back to her, leaning against the driver side door.

"Guess I better get goin’. The boys are havin’ a cookout tonight for the fourth. Everyone’s gonna be there.” Her stomach did a nervous flip as she stared down at the headstone. 

“Oh, that’s right. Cherry Valance told me to tell you 'hi' for her. She's back in town for the summer. Said she’ll prob’ly come visit soon, too. She’s gonna show us around when we get up to the college.”

She looked back at Curly again. He held up his hand and pointed to his wrist. She huffed a laugh and nodded.

“Alright," she said, turning back one last time. "We’re gonna be late. Do-do me a favor and keep watchin’ over us, okay?" She smiled wide. "I hope I'm makin’ ya proud, big brother. I hope...I hope I’m livin’ life the way ya hoped I would. I love ya, Dally. I’ll...I’ll come visit on my breaks, okay?" She touched the top of his headstone again and started moving back towards the car, letting her hand slide off the smooth, glossy stone.

"Ready?" Curly asked as Rae slid into the passenger seat and closed the door.

"Yeah," she said with a nod. "Let's go."

When they pulled up to the Curtis house, they could smell the grill had been lit already. When they’d made their way to the backyard, Darry was standing in front of it, flipping a burger. He looked up and his face split into a smile. He looked like he’d gone away from the rumble unscathed.

“There ya’ll are,” he called. Soda and Tim turned from their lawn chairs to see who his brother was talking to. Angel and Chrissy were laid out on beach towels, next to them, in nothing but bikinis and sunglasses. A cigarette hung out the corner of Angela’s mouth. She lifted her glasses and peered at them through squinted eyes, then dropped them back on her face and gave them a lazy wave before going back to her own business. Chrissy turned over onto her stomach and waved as well.

“Hey guys!” she called, then laid down flat, trying to get an even tan.

“Took ya long enough,” Darry chided. 

“Oh, yeah. We went to the cemetery real quick.” 

“Hey guys,” the middle Curtis brother greeted, lifting himself out of the chair. Rae smiled and made her way over. He went over to a large cooler and pulled a couple cans of beer out. He threw one to Curly, and held the other out to her. He inspected her face as she took the drink from his hands. “Looks like someone got you good, huh?” She smiled a sly smile.

“Maybe, but I think he looks way worse.” Soda laughed and clapped her on the shoulder. She popped the can open.

“You’re really somethin’, kid.” 

Steve came around from the front of the house, plates and napkins in hand. He set them down on the table the boys had set up outside. Evie came out after him, carrying a bowl of potato salad, followed closely by Cherry, who was carrying a salad, the tongs sticking out. They were smiling, giggling, even.

“Oh yeah, I can totally show ya how I do it,” Evie said to the redhead. They set their bowls down on the table and headed back towards the house to get whatever was left inside. Cherry turned as they walked to wave at her. Rae waved back. Steve came over to them and shook hands with Curly. 

“Hey guys,” he said with a grin, his chipped front tooth prominent. He took Curly from her side and the two went to talk about the car they’d driven over in, mumbling to each other. “Yeah. It is-? Okay, that ain’t gonna be a hard fix or anythin’. Let’s have a look...”

Two-Bit, hopped over the back fence, his hand already wrapped around a bottle of his favorite beer. She smiled and went to meet him. He laid his arm across her shoulders as they made their way over to the chairs. 

“Mom’s gonna kill you, lookin’ the way you do,” he informed her and took a sip of his drink. “How was the rumble?”

“Pretty fun,” she responded. “Got smacked in the mouth with a pipe, but I got him back.”

“Good girl,” he said with a smirk. “Always been a tough kid.” She shrugged.

“Well, ya know where I get it from.” She tugged at the medal around her neck.

“Yeah, I do.”

A sudden scream had her spinning, looking for the source. Carrie came running from the other side of the house in a bikini top and jean shorts, bare feet running through the grass. She had a neon pink plastic squirt gun in her hand, a bruise spreading across the knuckles from a punch she’d landed across some poor kid’s cheekbone earlier that day. Ponyboy came around after her, a green gun in his hand, squirting water at her. 

“Hey, Rae!” she yelled as she passed, then squealed again when the cold water hit her back. Pony ran after her. 

“Hey, Rae!” he repeated. She smiled and shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest, watching them go. 

Tim got up out of his chair and came up next to them. His eye was starting to turn black.

“Make it out okay, Tim?” Rae asked, leaning forward to see him past Two-Bit.

“Alright,” he confirmed and reached his hand into his back pocket. Her foster brother must have seen what Tim had in his hand, because he jumped out of the way, quickly. Before she could do anything, Rae found herself on the barrel-end of a blue squirt gun with a wet face, the water dripping onto her shirt. 

A flash of a memory appeared behind her eyes- but it quickly melted back into reality. Darry was right, she guessed. Time really did help.

She stared at Tim in shock for a moment, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. He tossed the gun over to her and pulled an orange one out of his other back pocket, then gave her a slanted grin and took off running in the same direction Carrie had.

Rae shook her head, a wide grin spreading across her face. 

“Oh, you’re dead fuckin’ meat, now,” she yelled and chased after him until Darry called them all for dinner.

[destinyduke]

RWBY: Chronicles of Vault

Chapter 5: Hiding In Plain Sight

Cedar was very thankful lunchtime went by without any complications. There were a few times he could’ve sworn Ozzy was about to fling a chicken leg at a passing Silas, but Martin played idiot’s keeper and kept his hand down. He settled in a little easier, the reassuring presence of his teammates quelling the rush of fear and uncertainty that had been bubbling inside him. Or maybe he’d just been super hungry, he sure felt a lot better with some food inside him.

“Food soothes the heart n’ the soul.” Isaac claimed when Cedar had shared a glance with him.

“I think you mean music, Isaac..” Yasmin quipped with a little smile.

“Now I don’t think music is awfully tasty.” Isaac rebutted jokingly, the two going back and forth for a little bit. It was like watching a double act on television, Cedar thought with a happy smile.

Soon enough, the bell rang once again and the four students made their way to their next class. Which, according to the timetable Cedar had finally downloaded, was Tracking and Hunting… kind of a weird title, Cedar thought. After all, wasn’t killing Grimm considered hunting? Or was this something else entirely? Why have a separate class for it?

Once they arrived at the classroom, it seemed very similar in build to Professor Saccharo’s classroom, same rows of seats, same desks, same stairs, same open front section. The difference here was in decor. This time the desk was a drab grey table with some drawers on its other side, in front of a modern looking swivel chair with wheels on its underside. The walls were fairly bare aside from nasty looking devices hung up, some kind of large sharp toothed mechanical jaws, a rope tied into a noose, a cage with spring locked hinges, opened like a cube and a bolas with a red stain on it. Cedar winced a little at all these vicious looking contraptions as he sat next to Yasmin. There was also a large object covered by a black cloth sitting over in the corner behind the desk.

The students chattered amongst themselves as once again, there was no sign of their teacher. And as time passed, their teacher still didn’t arrive. So the students continued to chatter.

“I bet he’s off drinking behind the school.” Silas snickered, chatting with his team. “I hear he’s from Mistral, he’s probably some criminal.”

“Bloody hell, y’think they’d give us someone like that for a teacher?” Ozzy whispered to Lariah, overhearing him.

“I don’t know! I mean… i’d sure hope not.” the copper haired beefcake also seemed uneasy. .

“Mistrallian sitting right here, you know.” Yasmin glared slightly at the gossipers. “Though this level of tardiness is rather unprofessional.”

“Maybe he just lost track of time?” Cedar suggested. “I mean that’s reasonab-”

“You know it’s rude to talk in class, even if your teacher isn't there yet.” A voice suddenly silenced the students, all of them looking around from where it came from. It sounded like an adult’s voice… but there was no sign of whoever was speaking. “Oh and you all fail my first test, seeing what’s blatantly right in front of you.” the voice added. And on cue, something seemed to happen over by the swivel chair. A figure appeared in the seat as if by magic, dressed in light leather armour with a red ascot around his neck. He got up off the seat and sighed slightly, his expression flat and lifeless.

“See, if I was some assassin, all of you would be dead right now. All because you didn’t see what was right in front of you. If you can’t see that, you’re gonna be a bad huntsman.” he stood in front of his desk and leaned back on it. “Name’s Hearst Redwood. Guess you can call me Professor, but I don’t care, just call me whatever.” he moved back onto his feet. “I’m here to teach you about tracking and survival outside of dealing with Grimm.”

“Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why do you need to learn tracking and survival, huh?” he spoke listlessly with very little enthusiasm in his voice. “Grimm will just come to you and it’s not like you need to seek them out, right? Well if you think that, you’re a fool.”

Cedar heard a whisper and a snigger amongst some nearby students. In the blink of an eye, the Professor pulled a small crossbow from his belt and fired a bolt into their group. They jumped just in time to dodge it. They stared at the professor in shock.

“I’m talking. Save your little jokes for later.” The teacher said flatly, slipping his crossbow away as the students recoiled in fear. “Look, Grimm might come to you, but you can still track them if they’re particularly big and nasty. Any huntsman worth their salt can tell you about a Grimm from a footprint and hide from them for days.” Redwood claimed, idly strolling around his desk. “And then there’s people. I don’t know what you imagine a huntsman job is like, but you’re gonna come across bad people sooner or later. Be it a bandit, some terrorist or a rogue huntsman, it’s gonna happen. And you’ve gotta learn how to hide from them, track them and outmatch them, if you want to survive.”

That was something Cedar admittedly hadn’t thought about. Fighting and killing Grimm wasn’t anything he felt bad about, they were just monsters. But people, with thoughts, feelings and histories? That he felt uneasy about. Sure, they were probably going to be bad guys, but would he be able to fight them? Or even kill them?

“Now, seeing as you all can’t see a man sitting in a chair, why don’t we start simple?” Hearst talked down to them, surveying the room with half lidded eyes. “Who can tell me the most important qualities needed when hunting Grimm?” A number of hands raised.

“Skill in battle.” Yasmin answered when Redwood pointed to her.

“Teamwork!” Candi answered, her eyes shining slightly.

“A plan?” Martin asked, Redwood nodding in return. After that, no-one else seemed to have any answers. The professor sighed.

“Well you’ve got most of it, but you’ve got the most important thing missing.” Cedar honestly couldn’t think of what else there was as Redwood smirked slightly. “Emotional stability.” that caused a stir, the class unsure of what he meant. “Look, you do know how Grimm work, don’t you? They’re attracted to negative emotions, anger, fear, sadness, jealousy. Negative emotions are like ringing a dinner bell for Grimm.” he strolled over to the back of the room, toward the large object covered by the black cloth. “And conversely, Grimm find it harder to track and seek out folks who are feeling good about themselves.” he dragged the huge object to the front of the class and wheeled his chair in front of it.

“So, for today’s lesson, i’m gonna need an assistant. Good thing I got one earlier.” he then whipped off the cloth from the box and the whole class reeled from the shock of what lay beneath it. Under the cloth was a large plastic square container. And inside that container, was a Beowolf. It snarled and scratched at the wall of its container, bumping into it to try and escape. Redwood smirked, tapping the side of the box and the Beowolf smacked it with its paw in response. “Isn’t he adorable? He hates me so much.” he snickered, turning on his heel to face the astonished class.

“Why the bloody hell didja bring a Grimm to class?!” Ozzy snapped.

“If you sit down and wait, i’ll tell you.” Redwood snapped as the class sank back into their seats. “See, Grimm are pretty close to animals. They can hunt you as any other animal can. They see you.” he waved at the Beowolf in the box. “They hear you.” he knocked on the box’s wall. “And they smell you, like any predator. But they’ve got that keen sense for negativity to seek you out too.” he then picked up the cloth and draped it back over the box, hiding the Beowolf. Cedar just blinked, this whole lesson taking him on a rollercoaster ride of doubt and uncertainty.

“If you’re emotionally stable, hidden from sight, being quiet and don’t stink, Grimm can’t track you. And in a situation where you’re outmanned, outgunned or just out of luck, you’re gonna have to hide. And when you hide, you need to be emotionally stable. That’s why it’s so important. You’ve gotta remove that advantage these things have in finding you, to survive.” Redwood leaned against the box. “Now, i’m gonna call you one at a time. I want you to sit in front of the box and be as emotionally stable as you can. If you manage it, my charming assistant won’t make any noise. Otherwise he will, and you fail. Got it? Good? Okay.” he didn’t wait for any questions before he took out his scroll and looked down a list of names, scratching the slight stubble under his chin.

At first Cedar was under the impression professor Redwood would call them in alphabetical order, so naturally the first one picked was Lariah, just to prove him wrong. He whispered a ‘good luck’ to her as she made her way down to sit in front of the box. Her usual smile wasn’t present, instead her face was pure concentration, her hands clenched into fists as she did her best to stay focused. But after a few seconds, the Beowolf began snarling and struck the side of the box, making her recoil in fear.

“You’re dead. Next.” Redwood callously showed her off and she returned to her seat, disappointed. Several more students came and went. Terrance barely even got to sit down before the Beowolf started making noise. Violetta lasted a little while as she fiddled with her violet hair but soon enough, the box started rocking. Isaac lasted the longest so far, sitting arms folded, his usual smile on his face… then one little flinch and the box rattled with noise.

“Stizza Hamelin, you’re up.” The mysterious masked boy approached the box next. Cedar remembered him from the exam, still wearing that eye mask with his curly brown locks cascading around his head. Somehow it just made him all the stranger to look at. He sat calmly in the chair, putting one leg over his lap, fixing the box with an intense stare. Seconds passed, torturously long as the container was silent and the students waited with baited breath. But nothing happened. No noise, no movement, the Beowolf couldn’t sense him.

“...well, i’ll be.” Hearst seemed honestly surprised. “Not bad, Hamelin. Nice to know someone in this class gets it.”

“Thank you, sir.” Stizza replied politely, then stood and returned to his seat. Cedar watched, dumbfounded as the student went to sit with his team, the girls congratulating him and the other boy just staring with his jaw hanging open. How had he managed to maintain that calm when no-one else could?!

“Cedar Glade.” Redwood’s voice brought him back to reality. It was his turn… and with that performance to top, Cedar wasn’t feeling too confident. He got up and headed down, trying to steel himself as much as he could. The moment he took a seat, the Beowolf slammed into the side of the box.

“Very, very dead. Next.” Redwood didn’t even bat an eye and defeated, Cedar returned to his seat. No-one matched Stizza’s level of calm after that, only Yasmin and Martin were able to keep it quiet for nearly as long.

“Great news kids, with this kind of stability, even a blind baby Beowolf could find you in a snowstorm.” Redwood chastised them, idly moving the boxed Grimm to the back of the classroom. “We’re gonna keep doing this at the start of every class, so the lot of you had better figure out how to keep yourselves calm. Think of something happy, meditate, play a song in your head, just find something that keeps you out of the negative. I can’t tell you what you’re gonna need.” Redwood sighed, checking his scroll. “Alright, well now the fun stuff’s out the way, you’d better start taking notes.”

The rest of the class was, as Redwood put it, pretty boring. Cedar made sure to take plenty of notes as Redwood talked about how to track Grimm, noting footprint sizes, forms of destruction left on structures, injuries on other hunters. He had to admit, this did seem a little more useful if they were out in the field… from the classroom it was a little harder to appreciate, not to mention Redwood’s entirely disinterested tone didn’t exactly liven the lesson up at all. Something about his lifeless nature and his cold quips really irritated Cedar. Really, he seemed younger than professor Saccharo too, how was this guy fit to teach them at all?!

“Alright, hope you all took notes because I hate repeating myself. Find your centre and focus for next lesson. Now go away.” The bell rang as he finished his statement and no-one in class seemed particularly interested in sticking around. That was except for Brock. As Cedar was headed out with his team, he noticed the black and white Faunus going to ask the teacher some questions. He didn’t stick around to find out what he was asking, not his place to intrude, despite his curiosity.

“Never thought we’d have a teacher like that…” Isaac pondered aloud as they walked down the hall.

“Quite.” Yasmin seemed particularly irritated. “His attitude is terrible and he shouldn’t be shooting at students. I’ve half a mind to complain to the headmaster.”

“After just one lesson?” Lariah asked, hanging behind them. “Cmon, he was still at least giving us information, right? Why not give him a chance?”

“His chance was today.” Yasmin retorted, rolling her eyes. “First impressions count for everything and his was very poor.” The debate continued as the group returned to their room and decided to change out of their uniforms for the rest of the day. There was still some time until dinner, after all.

“So… what do you guys want to do now?” Cedar asked as he slipped his comfy green jacket back on but left his scarf behind.

“We could go explore the grounds! We still haven’t seen everything in the school yet, right?.” Lariah suggested, slipping on her armless top.

“I think we got quite the tour when you got us lost.” Yasmin joked and Lariah just pouted at that.

“Well, I reckon’ we should take a proper gander round. We are livin’ here a long time after all.” Isaac suggested, wedging his stetson back onto his head.

“I agree with Isaac.” Cedar piped up. The others had no real arguments, so they began their tour of the school.

The first thing they realised when they arrived in the entrance hall was, Lustre was actually fairly easy to navigate. By now they’d figured out the basics, the entrance hall was at the front of the school, off through the left exit was the dining hall but the area to the right was unknown to them. A little foray into that revealed it to be a gym area, various exercise and weightlifting equipment around the room, plus a shower and changing room nearby.

“Nice!” Lariah beamed at the sight of it. “I’m coming here before breakfast from now on!” Cedar had seen a gym back in Vault, but Lustre’s certainly kicked its backside in terms of equipment. There was even a boxing ring nearby for sparring matches.

“So, where to from here?” Yasmin asked. They found another passage from the gym and wound up following the corridor deeper into Lustre Academy’s ground floor. They passed by a couple of classrooms lining the left and right walls before they came upon a set of double doors. Beyond them was a large sports hall, seating on either side, a vast space in the middle for various forms of sport and another changing room off to the side. There also seemed to be a room for equipment, Cedar spying a net and some cones through the slightly ajar door.

“Well, the curriculum did mention sports.” Yasmin stroked her chin slightly as they looked around. Cedar was a little excited seeing this. He wondered if the school had a track team or did hurdles. He was sure he could excel at that.

Leaving the sports hall, they passed by a number of rooms with computers set up in them and even what looked like a technician's lab, full of equipment and machinery. Lariah almost had to be pulled away from the sight as she stared at it.

“Awww I could make soooo much cool stuff in there!” She gawked with Cedar tugging on one of her huge arms just to get her moving again. They continued to wander the halls and came upon what appeared to be an elevator, standing out a little compared to the stairwells they’d been using to access the second floor, where their dorms were. It was akin to a strange mystical gate leading to places unknown. Though when Cedar pushed the button and it slid open, it seemed a little less mystical.

He checked the buttons inside the elevator. Curiously, there were only three available. The one lit up read “Ground floor” which seemed simple enough. The one above it read “Headmaster’s office.” That was kind of cool, having an office in the tallest tower of Lustre… kinda dramatic, really, did he need an elevator just for that? That was answered with a solid ‘no’ when he read the bottom button, which read “Basement.” It seemed innocuous enough, but he couldn’t help but wonder about why they needed an elevator to get down there. The stairwells didn’t go down, as far as he’d seen… so why need an elevator for it? Were there no service entrances?

“Are you quite finished admiring the lift, Cedar?” Yasmin teased as the Faunus realised he’d just been standing in there, staring at the buttons for some time.

“Uhhh yeah, i’m done.” Cedar put the thought behind him and slipped out to rejoin his team, making a mental note of it. As they continued, they passed by the teacher’s lounge and heard what sounded like muffled shouting from within, deciding not to investigate at the risk of it having something to do with Professor Redwood. Then beyond that, another set of double doors presented themselves, leading into a large library. This room definitely bore the style of Vale, with its oaken wooden floor, curled stair banisters and huge bookshelves simply stuffed with brightly coloured tomes, an open skylight shining on the two floor archive. A hushed, calming atmosphere wrapped around them as seats and tables beckoned them to sit and study.

“Now this… is my heaven.” Yasmin was amazed at the sight, awash with a need to read. “Everyone, why don’t we use this chance to study for our history homework?”

“But it’s not due in til-” Lariah tried to say before Yasmin silenced her, pressing a fan over her mouth.

“We can’t waste a chance with a resource like this, Lariah! Come on, let’s just throw ourselves into it!” She was so insistent, poor Lariah was finding it hard to say no. Cedar had to admit, he wanted to stay as well, wondering if he could find a good story book to borrow. Isaac however was distracted when his scroll started to ring.

“Yello?” he answered, holding the device steady.

“Isaac? It’s me, Candi!” the familiar, bubbly voice on the other end replied. “Say, are you busy? I’m kinda in need of a spotter in the gym and my team are busy!”

“Whas’ a spotter?” Isaac blinked, unfamiliar with the term.

“Someone to help me with the weights, silly!” Candi giggled at the other end and Isaac smiled a little.

“Well I s’pose I could. Why me, though? Actually, how’dja get my scroll number?” Isaac questioned.

“I-I just trust you Isaac! You seem like such a nice guy! It’ll be fuuuuuun.” Candi insisted in a sing song voice.

“Well, alright. I’ll be over in just a sec.” He hung up and looked to his team. “Sorry fellers, y’all can get started on the studyin’ without me, I got a pal to help.”

“Sure, Isaac! Just come meet us here later!” Lariah managed to say before Yasmin dragged her into the library to her paper backed doom. Cedar just nodded in Isaac’s direction before going to join the others and lose himself in a good book, just like he used to at combat school.

Isaac made his way down the hall back toward the gym. He’d more or less gotten the hang of how Lustre was set out now and so, made it there in due time. He was turning over the conversation with Candi in his head. She had seemed very eager to speak with him… maybe she had feelings for him beyond friendship? Or was he being presumptuous? It’d be pretty rude to assume that, especially after just one day together. He continued ruminating on these ideas til he arrived at the door of the gym, the door slightly ajar. With a quick push, he strolled right in.

SPLAT!

Before Isaac could realise something was off, a metal bucket propped on the slightly open door fell down and landed on his head. A rich smokey smell filled his nostrils as the contents of the bucket glooped down around his head, covering him in a brown sticky substance, staining the collar of his shirt and covering his stetson entirely.

Initially the Vacuoan boy was so stunned he couldn’t even react. Then, he grasped the bucket and yanked it off his head, leaving him dripping and annoyed. One sniff had told him all he needed to know about the substance. Barbeque sauce.

“Consarnit, what hornswoggler did that?!” Isaac bellowed, his usual calm wavering when he heard voices around him. He flecked sauce out of his eyes so he could open them and check for the culprit, hearing a snickering and the click of something mechanical. By the time he could see, he spotted someone dashing out of the room via the door to the gym corridor. Isaac gave chase, barrelling down the corridor after the footsteps. Rounding the corner, he spied Candi walking and talking with Martin. He approached them with long strides, hands clenched into fists from irritation. “Hey!” he called out to them. Both turned in surprise.

“Isaac? What happened to you?” Martin’s eyebrows raised behind his glasses, the cowboy focusing on the pink haired girl beside him.

“Thas a low down trick you dun pulled, Candi. Mighty terrible.” Isaac frowned, arms folded in disgust.

“Huh? Trick?” Candi blinked in surprise.

“Callin’ me into the gym and dumpin’ a bucket o’ sauce on me? I ain’t laughin’.” Isaac looked sternly at her but the pastel haired girl just looked confused.

“Call you? What do you mean?” She asked, half curious and half concerned.

“Y’all called me out to spotcha in the gym, n’ya set that bucket up to fall on m’noggin.” Isaac frowned, flecking a glob of sauce out of his eyes.

“What? But I didn’t…” Candi suddenly looked a little upset at Isaac’s accusations.

“I hate to intrude, Isaac,” Martin spoke up. “But Candi’s been with me, she hasn’t made any phone calls.”

“Well she called me, it was her voice. I’m telling ya, it-” Before Isaac could finish, his scroll buzzed, as did Martin’s and Candi’s. He wiped his hand on his vest and took it out, looking at it. It was an update from the school’s message board… a picture of Isaac with the bucket on his head and the sauce splattering his body, a caption reading ‘Classic Vacuo Barbeque’. And below, the uploader’s name. Candi Cotton.

“Wait… that’s not…?” Candi gasped at the sight.

“Hmm…?” Martin’s glasses flashed slightly.

“What in tarnation?” Isaac uttered in disbelief. Just what was going on around this school?