#his nose is also cute but cute is not enough of a redeeming quality for me

[ndostairlyrium]

oh so I wasn't having a wtf moment, cullen does have a lil beauty mark on his right cheek!

[seiyasabi]

A Farmer Boy’s Crush

(This is a Yandere Ushijima x Female Reader story! I’m sorry in advance, because I think this man is scary ;(( Also, there will be no part two of this, and I’m sorry if it sucks lol.

TW: !Noncon!, Stalker Ushi!, Size kink!, Cumflation!, Spanking!, Dacryphilia?, Choking!, Breeding Kink!, Cockwarming, Threatening behaviour!, etc.. 

Please proceed with caution!)

“I’m sorry, Ushijima-san, but I’m not interested in you. I’m focusing on my career, so I don’t have time for a relationship.”

It started when you were in highschool. 

The volleyball player confessed to you on Valentines Day, equipped with handmade chocolates and roses from his Mother’s garden. At the time, you had no interest in boys. You were way too focused on your future career, viewing a significant other as a distraction. Ushijima, to his credit, didn’t lose his temper when you turned him down. He nodded, silently stalking off to the gym, his posture perfectly straight. 

You’d brushed the entire event off, feeling guilty for turning him down so nonchalantly, but also standing your ground. The large man has a harem of girls, and you were sure he’d find a girlfriend that would treat him right. 

But, what you didn’t know, was that all he wanted was you. He could never go for another girl, because you’re one of a kind. 

He loves how you pick weeds out of the pavement, loves how you help old people bring their groceries to their car, loves how you’re YOU. 

So, in his spare time (aka, when he’s not playing volleyball), he watches you. He’d followed you home one day, and he spotted you through your curtainless window. 

That’s how it started; watching. 

But watching wasn’t enough.

Soon, he’d break into your home, snagging a worn t-shirt or panties, a chapstick on your desk, a polaroid you recently took, etc.. Once in his possession, he’d stalk off home at a leisure pace. Ushijima would then place the item in the shrine in his closet, relishing the new item in his collection. 

This went on for years, up until today. Today, he’d had enough. He’d heard from your friends on campus that you’d scored a date with a boy named ‘Kane,’ causing the large man to drive like a mad man in the direction of your home. 

Seeing you from your room’s curtainless window, his nose flares in anger. You’re in a cute cherry patterned dress, (applying makeup/doing your skincare routine) in your vanity table’s mirror. 

Stomping up your concrete front stairs, he grabs the hidden key in your potted plant outside, and slips inside. Wakatoshi makes his way up your house’s steps, creeping towards your closed door. He can hear music playing, most likely from your phone, and can see your shadow moving from underneath your door. 

Grasping your metal door handle, he steps inside your air freshener infused room. His presence startles you, and he can’t help but feel pleasure at the look of shock on your face. 

“Ushijima-san? What the hell are you doing-?” His large hand grips your throat, dragging you to your lilac coloured sheets. The olive haired man forces you onto your mattress, large body stradling your smaller form. Your weak attempt at freeing yourself is heartwarming, your spluttering and hits seem kitten-like. 

“Why would you go to someone else?” You try to respond, but are unable to, his ministrations not allowing you to breathe. Noticing this, he releases his vice-like grip, merely hovering his calloused hand over your throat. 

“What-” Your voice cracks, causing you to clear your throat, as tears drip down your pretty face, “What are you talking about? Why are you in my house?” 

He ignores your questions, steely gaze glaring down at you, “Kane cannot provide for you. I have a stable income, he does not. I have my own home, he does not. He has no redeemable qualities. I cannot understand why you would wish to date him, when I am already in the picture.”

You start to sob pathetically, not understanding why your scary ex-classmate is assaulting you verbally and physically, “Ushijima, I don’t understand what you’re talking about! I haven’t spoken to you for years-”

His grip around your throat tightens once more, as he speaks through gritted teeth, “We may not have spoken, but I’ve kept a close eye on you. What happened to you ‘focusing on your career?’ You were such a good, hardworking girl until this point, but now you’re suddenly whoring yourself out to an unimpressive boy. Let me show you who you belong to, (Your Name), because it seems that you’ve forgotten.”

 Smacking at his muscular arms, you try to struggle out of his grip. Wakatoshi’s thick fingers tug at the zipper on the side of your dress, slipping it open with ease. He slides the thin straps off of your shoulders, forcing the straps up over your hands, and sliding the entire garment off of you. You’re left in your unmatching strapless bra and panties. He hums in delight at the sight; this must mean that you weren’t going to open your legs for that boy. 

“You look beautiful,” He releases his grip just enough for you to breathe with ease, before ragdolling you over his muscular thigh. Your cute ass is on display to the olive haired man, his warm palm ghosting over the fat, “It’s a shame that I must put you in your place.”

Without warning, he slams his hand down, all whilst his free one covers your mouth. A scream rips from your throat, only to be muffled by your ex-classmate. Raising his previously used hand, he spanks you once more, the skin on your ass feeling like it’s on fire. 

“I’m going to spank you twenty-five times, don’t try to struggle. If you do, I’ll increase it to fifty,” All you can do is sob in response, causing the large man to continue his assault. The ex-volleyball player doesn’t hold back in the slightest, bruising your ass down to the muscle. By the time he’s finished, your entire body is shaking, face slick with snot and tears. Ushijima can’t help but grow hard at your pain fueled expression. You’re just too cute, “Good. Now, let me reward you for your behaviour.”

You shake your head no, muffled pleas of ‘stop’ just barely heard. Your ex-classmate refuses to acknowledge your words, instead pulling your bruising ass against his hard cock. He unbuttons his trousers, pulling out his long, thick cock. It slaps against your bare stomach, as Ushijima shucks your panties and bra off of your body, exposing you fully to him. Removing his hand from your mouth, you’re finally able to speak as he gropes the fat of your tits, “Please stop! Don’t do this! I’m sorry that I refused you in highschool! Why don’t we go on a date right now? I-if we do that, then we can wait-” 

“Shh, there’s no need to panic. We can go to dinner after this; I’ve waited too long for this,” Long fingers reach down to play with your clit, rubbing and squeezing the bundle of nerves with two fingers. His ring finger dips into your opening, forcing your dry walls open. 

“Ushijima, please-”

“Call me Wakatoshi. We’re dating, afterall,” forcing his finger in and out whilst rubbing your clit, making your walls slick without your consent. 

“Wakatoshi-” He removes his finger from inside of you, before quickly replacing it with the tip of his red, precum slicked cock. Without warning, he slips inside, spearing you open painfully. A loud yelp leaves your lips, as more tears drip down your face, “Take it out! Take it out! It hurts so bad!” 

He relishes the way your slightly moistened walls knead him, practically sucking him in. He rubs your clit with quick, small circles, trying to help you accommodate his size. This, in turn, allows his wrist to lay against your tummy, feeling the way your tummy distends with his cock. 

“You’re so tight. I always knew you were perfect for me,” He starts to bounce you on his prick, making it feel like your pussy was being ripped from your body. A small scream leaves your lips at the feeling, only for you to be silenced by a heated kiss. Waka’s body curls into your own, forcing you further onto his cock, and making it even harder for you to get off of him. 

He bucks up into you like a mad man, fucking you on his length at top speed. The pain you previously felt slowly turns into pleasure, as the pressure on your clit increases. A few small moans escape your mouth into his, as he swallows them whole. 

Wakatoshi lightly smacks your clit, making your eyes roll to the back of your head in pleasure. He releases you from the kiss, choosing instead to suck hickies onto your lolling neck. He grunts at the feeling of you tightening with an oncoming orgasm, as he rubs your clit as hard and fast as he can. 

“Cum for me, cum right now. Let your womb swallow my seed, (Your Name), it’s clear that you need my baby to set you straight,” More tears drip down your face as you try to stop yourself from cumming. 

“No! I don’t want a baby!” Waka doesn’t respond, only slapping your clit one last time. A strangled scream erupts from your throat, as you squirt all over him and your light coloured sheets. The force almost knocks him out of you, but he presses you down completely on his cock, allowing him to cum directly against your unprotected cervix. 

Your body shakes with your sobs as you wrap yourself with your arms, and you try to get off of him. Wakatoshi wraps you in a constricting hug, keeping you completely enveloped by his large frame. 

“You’re such a good girl for me, (Your Name). Now, let’s get you home, you clearly can’t be independent. Just rely on me, and I’ll keep you well fed and happy.”

You shake your head no, trying to escape his arms, but it’s no use. He’s so much bigger and stronger than you, making it virtually impossible for you to escape. 

Grabbing your blanket, he wraps you with it, before standing to his feet. His cock is still inside of you, as he walks out of your house, and towards his parked Kei truck. He opens the door, and slips inside, you still cockwarming him. He sets a hand on your distended, cumfilled belly, and sighs in content. 

“Everything will be alright. Let’s get back to the farm, and I’ll make you a nutritious meal. After all, you need to be strong for our growing baby.” 

[slutzandcuckz]

Title: Sweetness

Rated M 18+ (MINORS ARE NOT WELCOME TO READ OR INTERACT WITH THIS POST. MINOR AND AGELESS BLOGS WILL BE BLOCKED) Go study for your geometry test or something 😒

Content Warning : all characters are 18+, toxic!incel!yandere!scumbag!eren x reader (gender-neutral language used, reader has a vagina), misogyny, toxic relationship, manipulation, brief mention of self-harm, Eren is a horrible person, smutish, reader got that super soaker 3000, lemme know if I missed anything 🧍🏾‍♀️

Estimated Word Count < 500 *I edit my writing too often to commit to a static number 🥴

You are sweet. Quite possibly the sweetest person known to human-kind. And authentically so— as though you were harvested from the most meticulously cultivated sugarcane stalk. And Eren is a roach; scarily enough one that flies, too. And as nature would have it, Eren, a victim to his own insatiable hunger, scurries between every crack and crevice to reach the sweetness that is you.

His baby.

His angel.

His fucking disguisting whore. He likes to throw that around to humble you—to remind you of your place, which is beneath him. Your only purpose: to please him. And your only redeeming qualities are your dick-sucking lips, and that gorilla grip vacuum you call a pussy. Dear god, he dreams about that kitty. How tight it is. How warm it feels. How wet it gets. You fucking gush around his dick. Every. Single. Time. He can’t help but stare. That perfect white ring that surrounds the base of his dick like a fucking halo. You are truly God's gift to this world.

He doesn’t deserve you. He knows he doesn’t, but he would kill to keep you all to himself. Quite literally. He would do it. He’s nearly done it before. But you don’t need to know that. All you need to worry your pretty little head about is draining his balls whenever he needs it, and yes, he does need it. How the fuck is he supposed to walk around with his half-hard horse-cock and those heavy breeder-balls, and not shove a fat load inside you?

Though he’s not a selfish lover. He starves over the taste of your cum; it’s just as sweet as you are. He’s sure if it were made from actual sugar, he’d have a mouth full of cavities. He rubs and licks and sucks that cute little clit of yours until it is puffy and raw. He lets you hump his face and release that sweet nectar all over his tongue. It is his duty to collect that flowery essence and store it safe within his belly. He could eat that sweet pussy of yours for hours and hours and hours on end. So pretty and petaled just like a flower. His flower.

His baby.

His angel.

His fucking disgusting whore. Who cries when he’s mean, and threatens to leave, but feels guilty when he promises to hurt himself. You’re too sweet to leave when he says things like that. He feels guilty too sometimes, especially when you’re shivering and sobbing and puffy-eyed and snot-nosed. But it also kinda turns him on, and he always makes sure to apologize with a thick gooey load. And if you ever muster up the courage to leave, he’d scurry between every crack and crevice to reach the sweetness that is you.

DO NOT REPOST, MODIFY, OR PLAGIARIZE MY CONTENT.

DO NOT SHARE MY CONTENT ON TIKTOK

[comicaurora]

I just finished rewatching inuyasha, are there any anime or cartoon recommendations you have? And yes, I have already seen reboot, it’s pretty great.

always nice to have my tastes validated, thank you 💖

In no particular order:

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes - recommended several times before, but it really is one of the best versions of the avengers I've ever seen. Fun ensemble cast with excellent dynamics means every main character has fun chemistry with every other main character, leading to teamups that feel like they shouldn't work but do, like Thor and Wasp having a lengthy conversation about how horrifying MODOK's giant weird head is, Hawkeye and Hulk developing an utterly bizarre friendship, etc. It's also got one of the least bland versions of Captain America who, despite being 100% rock-solid paragon, still manages to have a personality of his own well-written enough that when they do the Secret Invasion plotline the audience can actually tell that Skrull-Cap is a pale imitation of the real version.

Transformers Prime - the only Transformers cartoon I've ever watched, so I can't speak for how it measures up to the others, but it's very solid. Another show that nails a paragon's characterization, this has a really solid version of Optimus Prime, fitting his core characterization of "strong enough to be gentle" - and the rest of the cast is just as well-written, if somewhat less deep. There's a trio of human protagonists that are nominally the focus, but they're really only there to justify focusing on the more interesting robots, and get some focus but are more effectively utilized to communicate the somewhat terrifying scale of the bots and how scary it'd be to be human-sized in that context. The villains are also really solidly written - they manage to retain the Megatron-Starscream dynamic of "Starscream is always trying to backstab Megatron" without making Megatron seem like an idiot for putting up with him. This is probably one of the most intimidating versions of both Megatron and Starscream.

The Owl House - currently airing and not yet finished, but this show is really cute. Human protagonist stumbles through a portal into a magical otherworld that's literally hell with the serial numbers filed off and starts learning witchcraft from an extremely hilarious mentor figure. The first episode is deceptively basic and kids-show-y, but after that things start delving into more serious implications. The main character is written with an extremely on-the-nose portrayal of ADHD and some corresponding RSD (and has a romantic subplot that is both explicitly gay and getting more and more focus as the show goes on, which fuckin rules) and the show delves into some other fairly serious real-world concepts through fantasy coding (for instance, the mentor struggles with a curse that's treated like a progressing chronic illness, and an episode puts focus on how her mother keeps obsessively pursuing magical "cures" that'll theoretically "fix" the problem rather than helping her manage it or improve her quality of life) and doesn't shy away from the real psychological consequences of character traits that might originally seem like jokes, like how a character has comedic delusions of grandeur and reacts extremely badly when they eventually find out everyone around them has just been humoring them. There's also a lot of casual queer representation, which I find very refreshing.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power - I mean obviously this was making my list. Goofy 80s reboot of a toy commercial turns out to be an exploration of love, family, trauma and the cycle of abuse. She-Ra operates on the Rule Of Cool and its corollary, the Rule Of Maximum Emotional Impact. It's not not tropey, but that just kind of makes it comfortable, you know? Villains you like get redeemed, villains you hate get punished, downtrodden characters learn to stand up for themselves, heroes making mistakes realize they've messed up and work to make up for it, the power of love saves the day several times, etcetera etcetera. Also extremely gay. I still can't believe this show really happened sometimes.

Batman Beyond - a show I have described before as "it really, really shouldn't have worked, but somehow it did." A fifty-years-later sequel to Batman TAS focusing on a new kid becoming Batman under the mentorship of an old and cranky Bruce Wayne. Somewhat dystopian cyberpunk future setting, new Batman is basically just Spider-Man, eschewing stoic menace for quips and flips. The similarity extends down to a one-for-one correspondence between their respective rogues' galleries. And somehow it's really solid. Episodic with an open-ended "the adventure continues" wrapup, it's good to watch in one go but it also works for sporadic viewing, even out of order. There's some drift in the status quo, but after a while things get pretty firmly established and the episode order stops mattering.

Tales of Arcadia (Trollhunters, 3Below, Wizards) - Caveat that the finale movie just came out (Rise of the Titans) and I'm not recommending that. The experience of the series is better if you pretend it had an open ending when Wizards wrapped up. Anyway, Guillermo Del Toro loves him some urban fantasy and Netflix likes enabling him, so we got a great set of interconnected series (six seasons total) about an ensemble cast of weirdos dealing with crazy magic urban fantasy stuff. Starts off with a fairly standard unprepared chosen one protagonist navigating an unfamiliar secret world, but the scope quickly broadens and it becomes clear that the core message of this story is that "the lone chosen one must save the world with zero help" is total bunk and emotionally deeply unhealthy, and it's much easier to save the world with a bunch of other cool people who are also good at saving the world. 3D animation is very pretty but takes a little getting used to - all the human characters are a bit distractingly noodly proportion-wise. Has some fun twists and fakeouts and routinely went in directions I was fully not expecting.

Gargoyles - 90s Disney urban fantasy about a clan of gargoyles who end up frozen for a thousand years and wake up in 90s NYC. Don't watch season 3, but everything else is really fun, if extremely 90s. The voice cast is incredibly solid and I honestly recommend it just for the auditory experience (protagonist is Keith David doing his rumbliest baritone, major antagonists are Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis bringing more personality to their respective roles than Riker and Troi collectively had in the entire run of TNG, etc) but it's also just fun overall with lots of cool literary and historical references - the actual historical Macbeth is a recurring antagonist, as are Puck, Oberon and Titania. Fun fact, major romantic subplot between gargoyle protagonist and hard-boiled human cop is documented to have awakened an entire generation of monsterfuckers.

Ducktales (2017) - no, really. Aggressively cute, adventurous and funny 95% of the time so when it wallops you with the really intense scary tragic family feelings the other 5% of the time it's way more impactful. David Tennant gets to do his natural scottish accent as Scrooge. They weren't legally allowed to put Mickey Mouse in the show, so they just get his voice actor to play like five other characters. Sometimes the animation goes really hard for no reason. Surprise, the show that looks like it's about wacky adventures in disney properties is actually about family and togetherness and love and stuff. All this and more might explain why I like the show so much, but I still don't really know.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - old news, I know, I've recommended this show a hundred times and probably will a hundred more. Incredibly well-crafted, well-paced, a really solid 64-episode mystery/political intrigue series that only gets better on rewatches as more details and hints pop up. Vocal performances are excellent in both dub and sub, though the names fit a little better in the dub since they're mostly english words. I sometimes describe this show as the best anime I've ever seen, which is admittedly highly subjective, but overall what I mean is it's the best put-together overall - tightly paced, clearly planned out from the start, characters behave like real people and develop naturally as the story progresses, overall a show with very little wrong with it.

[what-the--curtains]

In a Week

Part 1/4 - A storm blows into town

(Frankie “catfish” Morales x f!reader)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summary: a drive down to a friends wedding gets complicated when you fail to head a warning.

Authors notes: Hello! Another fic cause it keeps snowing here and I’m SICK OF IT but wouldn’t mind it if I was stuck with Frankie💕. Anyways hope you enjoy as always comments are welcome but be nice!

TW: mentions of dead sibling (war related), swearing, mentions of a toxic relationship (based off of personal experience)

Tagged list: @agingerindenial

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~There was nothing worse than a February wedding, well at least one that took place in the frigid northern temperatures you were currently residing in. So you were eternally grateful that your best friend Stella had chosen to have hers down in sunny south Carolina where she had just accepted her first permanent hospital position. She was marrying her first love, a fact you’d usually cringe at but, they were extremely cute together. Stella had met Genevieve through her brothers Will and Benny, well more specifically Will, who had drunkenly run his head through a window one night. This incident resulted in two things, first a nickname that would stick with Will for the rest of his life and a late night call to Stella asking her to come down to the hospital to pick him up. The boys had put Stella down as their emergency contact in an effort to keep their antics hidden from their parents who they knew would only worry. The nurse patching up her idiot brother was none other than Genevieve who was working through her university's clinical course, and the rest? Well, the rest was history

You’d met Genevieve, as well as Will and Benny, sporadically throughout the 8 years you had roomed with Stella, first during your undergraduate degree at Boston University and then again at Stanford while attending medical school. You’d choses Stella as a roommate without much thought, but after just a few weeks together you were inseparable up until the day that you were assigned to your residency. You were slightly jealous when you found out that she would be spending the next four years in the warm embrace of Carolina (and Gen) while you would be living alone throughout the freezing Chicago winters. The pagne of jealousy didn’t last long though, Chicago med was your first choice after all. So here you were, in the last year of residency and in the middle of a brutal -20 degree winter, preparing to drive the 13 hours down to watch Stella get married. You’d considered flying but you knew how fickle airplanes could be in the winter and the last thing you wanted was a delayed flight because a door had frozen shut. Your friends had tried to convince you that driving down alone was far too dangerous a venture and none were more concerned than Santiago Garcia.

You’d known Santiago your whole life. Him being your brother's best friend resulted in him spending a lot of, some may argue too much, time at your house throughout both your childhoods. Your brother, Parker, was 8 years your senior, an age gap that often resulted in an argument over which one of you was the accident. An argument which usually ended with an agreement that in all likelihood you both were. Every summer from before you were born to the time they left for the military the two boys were a constant presence in your life. Hell, even after he left you’d watched him grow as he passed through your household over Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. One thing was for sure, if Parker was there Satiago Garcia wasn't far behind. He was also there the day you received the news that your brother had gone MIA and he was by your side at the funeral, as you watched the commanding officer hand your mother the flag your brother had died for. After the funeral, life continued to move on around you as did everyone else. You always found it funny how quickly you were supposed to recover from loss, apparently a week was long enough to get over it. At least according to the university and your employers who had started calling with empty condolences that quickly led to the real reason they were calling. Always wanting to know when you’d be coming back. After your brother's passing, Santiago took over his role of big brother to you. He read over your med school applications, scared off potential boyfriends and got all the embarrassing video footage of you at your graduations. He was a permanent fixture in your life, one you hoped you’d never lose. Even now as he continued to blow up your phone in an attempt to sway you from driving up alone, you were thankful for him. Over the past 5 days he sent you lengthy lectures in the form of voice messages and a slew of articles detailing the statistics of winter related accidents. His name pops up on your screen as does a picture you’d taken one night after he'd passed out drunk and you’d stuffed cheetos up his nostrils, an act he has yet to forgive you for. You contemplate ignoring the call, but knowing you were about to go radio silent for the next 8 hours you decide to pick it up.

"Hey Santi what’s up?" you ask, as you half heartedly spread cream cheese onto a poorly toasted bagel.

"Have I ever told you how much I value your friendship?” Even over the phone you could hear the layers of charm he was currently plastering on.

"What do you want?" you say, tossing the knife into the sink.

"Hey! Who says..." he starts, but you don't let him finish.

"Santi I've known you long enough to know your ‘please I need something’ tone by heart" you laugh.

"Okay well I still value you, but ya I absolutely need a favour" Santiago admits.

"Shoot." you say taking a bite of the bagel.

"I need you to pick up a friend of mine, his flight got cancelled. He's in Chicago at the moment, can you drive him down to the wedding?"

"Ughhh are you kidding me Santi? I’m just about to leave" you say through a half chewed mouthful.

"Please! He’s a great guy, Gen wants him at the wedding, he was in basic with us, so a frequent visitor to the hospital. He's usually pretty quiet so you won’t have to spend that much time making small talk, which I know you hate." He pleaded. For anyone else a last minute change like this would have gotten a laugh, and nothing more, but this was Garcia, and you knew he’d do anything for you, so you’d do this for him.

“Fine” you begrudgingly agree “text me his number, I'm heading out in 40 minutes so he'll have to wait at the airport for a bit" you say, finishing your breakfast.

"You’re a godsend! Seriously, what would I do without you?" He chuckles.

"Nothing good i'm sure, besides I figure I probably owe you like, 1000 favours after you

know....'' the phone goes quiet. Five years later and it still stung like it was yesterday, for you both. He was your family, but he was Santiago’s best friend, you knew the loss was equally as devastating for him. You also knew he'd been having a particularly hard time recently, after what he termed a mission gone wrong a few years back. Every time you'd ask about it he’d shut you down harshly refusing to share any details with you.

"You don’t owe me anything. We're family. Thank you for driving him. I owe you a drink at the wedding!" He responds, back to his chipper self. If it wasn’t for the silence he may just have convinced you that he really was doing fine. You toss the phone on the counter and rub your temples mentally rearranging your entire itinerary for the day. You'd already rifled through the gym bag that was constraining way more clothes than you’d need for the week. Everything you needed was there from bathing suits to your wedding outfit to the special lingerie you’d packed in case you ran into an old flame. If by in case you meant, for when you ran into him. You don’t know how but he’d gotten invited to the wedding reception. Stella hated the guy, so it must have been through Genevieve who likely would have felt bad excluding him, even if he was only a friend of a friend.

You’d met Jonathan in your undergrad and you had been together throughout various points in your life, though never in any official sense. He’d made that evidently clear to you at any opportunity he got. He kept you on a short leash, a retainer if you will. Only coming to you between relationships with women that he deemed worthy enough to be his girlfriends. You knew it was toxic, and your friends constant reminders of how unhealthy it was didn’t fall on deaf ears. The way he would use you and lose you always ended with you being an unstable and emotional wreck, only solidifying his claims of you being crazy. You hated it, the way he made you feel so small, but he held this strange power over you. A power not even you could explain. His redeeming qualities could only be found in the bedroom, he was the best you’d ever had, so you forgave his shitty personality. Always gravitating back towards him, restarting the cycle. You knew what it meant to do the same activity over and over expecting different results, but this was different. At least that's what you told yourself, as you’d traced your hands over the lingeries lace that morning, knowing it was bought for a man who would never appreciate it.

Brushing all thought of him aside for the time being you grab the duffle off the floor and sling it over your shoulder. Walking out into the cold February air you watch as your breath transforms into a small cloud in front. Your chest hurts and nose hairs freeze as you inhale, tossing your bag into the back seat before leaning into the car and starting it up. The engine sputters for a moment before breaking out into a loud rumble, maybe it was a good thing someone else would be in the car with you after all. You jog back inside to your townhouse and grab the cooler where you’d stored the snacks and sandwiches you’d prepared for the road, now realizing it likely wouldn’t be enough to feed two people. Tossing on your winter jacket you lock the door behind you and slide your sunglasses down over your eyes shielding them from the afternoon sun as you make your way into your car.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You pull up to the departure gate still cursing at the idiot who had almost smashed into you while they were going the wrong way down a one way street. You hated driving in the city and you couldn’t wait to get out on the open road, even if it was going to be with a total stranger. You find yourself second guessing your decision to drive down state with someone you’d never met. In all reality, even if Santi was vouching for him, he could be a serial killer, plenty of people had nice things to say about Ted Bundy before he got caught.

You shake off the nervous feeling taking over your body, deciding to put your faith in your friends judgment, at least for now. Worse comes to worse you had a pocket knife stowed within reach. As long as he didn’t complain about any playlists or podcasts and understood your need for complete silence from time to time, you’d get on just fine. Besides it was only a 13 hour drive, and you could put up with anything for 13 hours.

You open up your phone and pull up the conversation you and Santiago had been having, scrolling up until you see the contact he’d sent you which read “ Catfish”. You click on it hoping to get the guys real name as a result but no luck, you should have asked Garcia for more information about this “Catfish” guy. You click on the number opting to call, not wanting to waste time wondering if he’d gotten the text you’d sent. The phone rings a few times before you hear someone pick up.

"Catfish?" you say, less confident in yourself than you had been dialing.

"In the flesh, who's this?" the deep voice responds.

"Your ride, Santiago’s friend" you offer, hoping that this wasn't some elaborate prank.

"Oh shit ya, Pope told me you’d be later than you said. I'm still downstairs" he says.

"Of course he did the little shit" you mutter, causing Catfish to laugh "Im outside now, departures second floor"

“I'll be out in a second" he says, hanging up the phone before you can say anything else.

You plug your phone back into the aux setting it back to the playlist you’d made last night during another bout of insomnia. You're checking your email to see if anything came up from the hospital when a tap at the window causes you to jump. As you look over you see the man who must be “Catfish” gently tapping on the glass. You unlock the door, popping the trunk as you slide out the driver's seat.

“You can put your bags back here. Fuck!" you exclaim when you trunk won’t open, likely having frozen shut again.

"Here" he says dropping his bag on the salted pavement and heaving up on the trunk freeing it from its icy constraints with a relative ease causing him to smile down at you.

"I loosened it" you say defensively, as he tosses his bag in the back still grinning when he

slams the trunk shut.

"Fransico Morales, though most people just call me Frankie" he says as you sit back down in the driver seat rubbing your hands together to warm them and applying some chapstick.

"Y/N, nice to meet you Frankie, seat warmers are here, use as your leisure. There are snacks in the back, but no touching the phone.” you rattle off.

“Aye aye captain” he responds, saluting you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Santiago was right, Frankie was quiet. He offered you little in conversation or any noise at all really. You’d only heard him laugh maybe twice, once while listening to a podcast episode and then again when Britney Spears made her appearance on your soundtrack. "What? She’s America's sweetheart" you say trying to sound offended, but smiling when you notice his lopsided grin. You’d attempted to open up a dialogue with him a few times, but his one worded responses told you all you needed to know, so you stopped forcing it. It wasn’t a hostile environment, it was more of a comfortable silence one that you usually only found in people you had known for years. The silence gave you an opportunity to study the man’s features, glancing away from the road every now and then to slowly piece together his profile. You had pegged him as attractive the second his face had appeared in your passenger window, but it wasn't until now that the details that made him so could be seen; relatively tall, tanned skin, soft curls, deep brown eyes. Glancing over again you notice a concerned look spread across his face.

"What?" you ask, nervous that you’d creeped him out with your excessive, and not so subtle staring.

"Storms coming our way" he says, nodding up at the darkening sky.

"We’re not supposed to get snow for another week, I checked” you reassure.

"Things change" he says

" Sky’s clear, so we don’t stop for another 3 hours" you say, definitively.

" Your funeral, well mine as well I guess" he chuckles, earning him an icy glare from you.

“It's nothing, trust me” you affirm, confident in your ability to read a weather app.

" No one likes a know-it-all" he mutters still grinning.

"Could you help me with something" you ask smiling sweetly

"Sure" he responds, eager to help.

"Pull up the map and show me when I asked for your opinion"

"Eyes on the road” he says, causing your grip to tighten around the wheel.

Well crow wasn’t your favourite food to eat, but here you were eating it. Turns out Frankie was right. A storm was heading your way and it hit hard and fast. You’d managed to make it to a hotel off the freeway just as it came into full effect. What had started as a very pleasant road trip had quickly soured when you refused to apologize for not heading his warning. This paired with the 6 hours you had already driven had left you both irritable so much so that Frankie was now refusing to be any use in respect to figuring out what your next move was going to be.

"Hi" you say to the equally tired looking receptionist. Apparently, every other person travelling through Illinois had also missed the memo about the storm and were now all stuck at the same hotel.

"Hi, so sorry for the wait" she says, forcing a smile in a way that you recognized from your retail days.

"No need to apologize! What are the odds you have any rooms available?" you ask rubbing your eyes in an attempt to keep them open.

"Let me check, we have one... suite left on the... fourth floor” she says after a few moments of typing away into the computer.

"Perfect we’ll take it." you say, tapping your credit card to the machine. You walk back over to Frankie who was sitting with the bags and hand him a room key. He exhales deeply, not looking up from his phone as he takes it from you.

"There was only one room left so we’ll have to share" you say.

"Fine," he says, standing up, grabbing his bag and heading over to the elevator not bothering to wait for you. You watch as the elevator doors open and close behind him. Sure maybe it was your fault that you were stuck in this situation, but that was pretty rude. You push your way into the room after struggling with the key for a moment. Frankie must have been eager to get to sleep, or at least eager to not converse with you as he’d wasted no time in unpacking his bag and getting ready for bed. Your eyes move from the clothes on the floor, to the suit hung up in the closet, to the closed bathroom door. You hear the toilet flush and watch the door open as you drop your bag down onto the living room floor, grabbing the toiletries out of your bag's side pocket. You were far too tired to wrestle down to your pyjamas so you opted to stay in the leggings and sports bra you’d been wearing all day. Yes it was gross, but you couldn't be bothered to change at this point. Your eyes follow Frankie as he exits the bathroom in a green cotton t-shirt and a pair of plaid boxer shorts. You continue to watch as he plugs his phone in and shifts beneath the covers. Guess you were on the floor then. The couch was far too small, and you really weren't trying to break your neck sleeping on its arm rest.

"Pass me a pillow" you huff, as you grab a glass from the nightstand, turning back around to fill it up with water from the sink.

Why?" he asks, watching you take a sip from the overfilled cup.

"So I can sleep on the floor." you state, as if it was obvious.

“No, I’ll do that, you can have the bed" he says shifting up and pushing the blankets off himself. He hadn’t realized you were so averse to sharing a bed with him, but you had just met so he guessed it was fair enough.

"I’m not the one with the bad back old man" you state, the words sounding a lot harsher than you’d intended, but you were younger and thus more likely to recover.

"Fair point, but you’re not sleeping on the floor. Santi wouldn’t allow it. We can put up a pillow barrier between us if that would make you feel more comfortable" he offers, any hostility you had felt from him earlier now turned to tenderness. In all honesty, you hadn’t realized that sharing the bed was an option.

"I need two to sleep with so no point in making a barrier" you say, begrudgingly placing the glass back down on the nightstand "Shift" you say, fanning your hand.

"No" he says looking you dead in the eye "I got here first" he’s grinning slightly, further indicating he’d gotten over his anger from earlier. You could have just walked around to the other side, but for some unknown reason you don’t. Instead, you swing your leg over him pushing yourself up onto the bed, straddling him for the briefest moment before rolling over to the other side.

"Couldn’t have just walked around?" he chuckles

"Couldn’t have just shifted over?" you parrot back, moving onto your back, closing your eyes and dozing off.

[that-bi-bitch-writes]

The Rumor Around Hogwarts (Ch.4)

Chapter Four: The Train Ride There

1k+ Words a lot of it is taken from the book but as always I added a lot of [Name] in to make it.... chaotic and slightly angsty

Still uses he/him pronouns for now and later addition of they pronouns will be announced before the chapter. Hope you Enjoy!!!

Last  //  Next

“What the actual hell- Ow, heck i meant heck.” [Name] choked out while rubbing the back of his head

“Mhm sure you did”

“Anyway you mean to tell me I have to run at a wall.”

“Yup”

“In a muggle train station”

“Yes”

“In the middle of the day?”

“Look, do you want to go to Hogwarts or not?”

“I mean I do but-”

“If you don’t you’ll only disappoint Harry” [Mother’s name] interrupted

[Name] hesitated before responding “I’m sure he’ll be fine he like defeated an evil lord as a baby of course he can run at a wall and make other friends”

“[Name] if you miss the train I’m not taking you to school myself”

And just as [Name] seemed like he’d be okay with that aspect (anything to not embarrass himself in public really) all his hopes were completely crushed

“And I’m not taking you back home to ride on the house elf express”

“Okay but if I die or embarass myself I’m gonna have to find a way to jinx you or something. Maybe i’ll tell that weird muggle mailman you find him cute and force you to flee the country”

“You wouldn’t”

“That’s what you think”

[Name] seemed to gather the courage of all his ancestors (may they rest in peace) and ran straight at the obvious death trap. He had a chosen one to meet after all. He closed his eyes right before impact only to have his senses assaulted by the sounds and sights of something completely unexpected

‘Wow' he whispered under his breath

“I told you so”

“Alright alright I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. But I mean you’re not exactly the most trustworthy. If I needed someone to help me cover up a crime maybe, but a prank that could end in bodily harm..”

[Mo. Name] pretended not to hear a word as she fussed over [Name], the train departing soon. She’s a mother, she couldn’t help it. After running down a long list of things [Name] should have (And did) pack in his trunk she gave a forehead kiss and pushed him off to the trains. As he got on she did the unthinkable.

“Bye baby!! Momma loves you. Tell Peeves I said Hi’

Yeah [Name] definitely wasn't gonna be popular now. At least… not in a good way. There’d be rumors around hogwarts. And he’d be in the center of them.

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

Harry sat alone in an empty compartment after all the hustle and bustle that came with parents seeing their children off for the first time. And could’ve sworn he had heard someone say something about being peeved. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted when the door of the compartment slid open and the youngest red headed boy he had seen earlier came in.

“Anyone sitting there?” he asked, pointing at the seat opposite Harry. “Everywhere else is full.”

Harry shook his head and the boy sat down. He glanced at Harry and then looked quickly out of the window, pretending he hadn’t looked. Harry saw he still had a black mark on his nose.

“Hey, Ron”

The twins were back

“Listen we’re going down the middle of the train- Lee Jordan’s got a giant tarantula down there.”

“Right,” mumbled Ron.

“Harry,” said the other twin, “did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. See you later then.”

“Bye” said Harry and Ron. the twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

“Are you really Harry potter?” Ron blurted out

Harry went to nod but the compartment door slammed open once again

“Harry there you are. Thank God I found you.” [Name] gasped out “My mother totally embarrassed me as I was getting on the train screaming about someone named Peeves and she called me BABY. Anyway I’ve been trying to find you without drawing to much attention to you or myself.”

Harry had wondered how [Name] had said so much in one breath. He didn’t know [Name] to be particularly talkative. He of course had his moments when he’d stand up for someone but Harry had always seen name as a little bit of a worrier or an outsider like himself.

“Sorry." [Name] said almost as if he read Harry’s mind “It’s the nerves. I’m super glad that you’re not alone but I’m also jealous I didn’t get to you first.” [Name] continued as he moved to sit next to Harry.

“What were we talking about? Oh yeah he was asking about your chosen one status which is kind of cool and lame at the same time. Is that offensive?”

“Have you really got - you know?” He pointed at Harry's forehead.

Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. Ron stared. And surprisingly [Name] did too.

“Y’know as close as we are for two people who only met twice, I realized I haven’t gotten a good look at you Harry.” [Name] realized turning all of his attention on the resident Chosen One

Harry and [Name] stared at each other for a moment. [Name] was curious as to who the boy who lived really was and why he was drawn to him. It was like they were meant to meet up. At the Zoo, in Diagon Alley and now hopefully they would remain on the same path at Hogwarts too.

Harry on the other hand was staring at [Name] in appreciation. They were strangers, yet [Name] came to Harry’s rescue so naturally. Ron was to be a good friend to Harry, he’s sure of it, but it was different with [Name]. Their friendship wasn’t founded on titles, or reputations, or anything but mutual respect and destiny perhaps? If he were more naïve he might’ve attributed this feeling to a crush.

“So that’s where You-Know-Who-? Ron interrupted the staring contest

“Yes” said Harry “but I can’t remember it”

“Nothing?” Ron said eagerly.

“Well- I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else.

[Name] got incredibly bored of the topic, not really keen on discussing Voldemort’s attack on Harry so he began looking out the window like the main character. Only catching flashes of the conversation and adding his own commentary when appropriate. Apparently Ron had 5 brothers and a little bit of “a lot to live up to” but being friends with the chosen one was sure to give him some stories to tell..

[Name] didn’t interrupt with much about his family because he’d already talked about his embarrassing mother and there was nothing else to talk about but his incredibly large and empty house which would have made him a little uncomfortable and slightly awkward. Y’know since he was talking to an orphan and a poor kid with a huge family. How could either of them relate?

What he did however pay attention to was Harry’s bravery and generosity. Apparently he was only a little bit of an oblivious idiot. Sure he proudly said Voldemort’s name (a trend [Name] hoped to follow) but he was smart enough to realized in the wizarding world at least he was rich and could splurge a little bit on the less fortunate *ahem* Ron *ahem*

“Go on, have a pasty” said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten.)

“What are these?” Harry asked Ron and [Name] holding up a pack of chocolate frogs. “They’re not really frogs, are they/” He was starting to feel that nothing would surprise him

“No” said Ron “But see what the card is. I’m missing Agrippa”

“He has no idea what you’re talking about, look at his face” [Name] laughed out. Ron followed his line of sight and chuckled at Harry’s confused face as well.

“Oh, of course, you wouldn’t know - Chocolate frogs have cards inside them, you know to collect - famous witches and wizards. I’ve got about five hundred, but I haven’t got Agrippa or Ptolemy.”

Both Harry and [Name] removed the cards from the chocolate frogs. Harry got Dumbledore which set his curiosity aflame once again. [Name] kept his a secret for dramatic effect of course. After answering his questions Ron asked for a chocolate frog as well only to get Morgana.

“Well Ron” [name] started “if you show me a trick, I’ll give you this” flipping over the card Ron’s eyes went wide at the sight of a Ptolemy card.

After a long conversation about the dangers of eating Bertie's ever flavored beans (which [name] would never even touch) Ron eventually worked up the courage to perform a spell when the toadless boy from earlier appeared, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

“Has anyone seen a toad? Neville’s lost one,” she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth.

“We’ve already told him we haven’t seen it,” said Ron, but the girl wasn’t listening, she was looking at the wan in his hand.

‘Oh god.’ [name] said to himself as the girl’s thoughts assaulted him and drowned out the obvious awkward silence in the car ‘this girl may have redeeming qualities, or at least I’m hoping she does but she needs to get over herself’

“Oh, are you doing magic? Let’s see it, then.”

She sat down. Ron looked taken aback

“Er- alright” he cleared his throat

“Sunshine daises, butter mellow, Turn this stupid fat rat yellow”

He waved his wand but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.

“Are you sure that’s a real spell? Said the girl. “Well it’s not very good, is it? I’ve tried a few simple spells just for practice and it’s all worked for me. Nobody in my family’s magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but…

[Name] having heard most of this speech in his head already tried to tune her out and gave a snort at the end of her rambling when Harry and Ron looked at each other incredulously. Only a little offended when he heard Harry's comparison of Hermione to the nervous [Name] earlier

They all introduced themselves but Harry’s introduction led her on another tangent about him not looking himself up as if this was a common thing to do?? Then she asked what houses they thought they’d be in before leaving, taking the toadless boy with her. Poor Neville.

“Whatever house I’m in, I hope she’s not in it”

“I doubt we’ll be in the same house Ron” [Name] realized “you’ll probably be in whatever house your brothers are in”

“Gryffindor” Ron spoke up

“Right, and Harry will probably be with you where as I’ll end up in Slytherin probably”

The car went silent a bit before [name] spoke up again “I know what you’re thinking. Literally. I never had a Ptolemy card. I only said that because I wanted to show off my powers as a legilimens. I can see into your mind basically and I made you see what I wanted you to see. Don’t worry though I won’t like brainwash you or anything. Wouldn’t want to be a typical Slytherin and end up a dark wizard.

[Name] got ready to flee the cart after that whole speech and he could tell Ron felt kind of guilty but [Name] couldn’t risk Harry hating him. He was going to the house that produced Voldemort after all. He rushed out of the cart as some blond entered probably because Hermione had spread the rumor about seeing the chosen one.

Before [Name] knew it he was facing his newest worst enemy. The sorting hat.

[slowlydrowningme]

Anon asked: Hello!! So I love your batfam social media posts and was wondering if I could request one? The batfam finding out that Jason has a sweet yet protective female s/o through posts about her artwork (maybe him modeling for her) and being cute and nerdy with her while going to conventions and watching her kick some ass in video games, if that’s ok with you? Thank you!!

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” You turned and looked at the man, a few inches shorter than Jason and definitely half his weight at most. The curly blonde hair sat in a messy mop and you had to clench a fist to keep from wrinkling your nose in distaste at the obviously dirty shirt he wore. The only redeeming quality? The Red Hood shirt he wore. 

If only he knew who he had just insulted.

“You heard me, pretty girl. Your boy can’t man up and play himself so he sends you to do it. Pathetic.” You feel more than see Jason tense up, but you’re already moving to get in the guy’s face.

“Listen here you disgusting waste of space,” you growl, getting as in his face as your shorter body will allow. “Just because you can’t seem to find someone who will give you the time of day in any sense other than disgust, doesn’t give you any right to take your repressed sexual desires out on other people. If you want to try and have a dick measuring contest, then by all mean, whip it out. I dare you.” Stepping closer to him, you push up onto your toes and raise an eyebrow.

“Wh-what?”

“You heard me. But here’s the thing, my imaginary dick is bigger than yours. Let alone the actual dick in the pants of the man behind me.” You can hear snickers surrounding you as you continue to glare at the man who thought he was tough enough to take on someone like Jason, but you just keep your eyes on the boy in front of you. “You don’t deserve to wear that emblem.” You jab a finger into his chest, where Red Hood’s symbol stood out blood red against black. “Now run away with your tail between your legs and remember next time you want to insult a man who would chew you up and spit you back out before you can even blink, that a woman half your size dropped you on your ass last time.”

“Y/N,” Jason’s amused voice comes softly behind you, his warm hand wrapping around you bicep and pulling you back. You can tell the guy is tempted to say something about it, but the narrowing of your eyes seems to deter him just enough to turn tail and rush off.

The small crowd that had gathered clapped and laughed as he made his way through. There were a couple comments called out to the guy but most were ‘that was awesome’ or ‘you go girl!’ or something along those lines called out to you instead.

“That was fucking hot,” Jason mutters in your ear and you roll your eyes, but laugh all the same. “I also got the whole thing on tape. Gonna send that shit to the whole family.”

“Oh god,” you groan, dropping your forehead against his broad chest.

Tags: @this-is-what-makes-us-fandoms

[tcsauaskblog]

Love tcs! Question about Don/Daisy. What was the worst fight they ever had in the high school era?

I’m glad you specified in the high school era because there was definitely a worse fight than this, but the worst one probably happened when they first started dating in the summer of their junior year. Don and Daisy don’t really fight. They playfully bicker about small things occasionally, but it’s never about anything serious. They both know how bad Donald’s temper can get and how thin Daisy’s tolerance can be sometimes, and so they both work hard to avoid any conflicts with each other and with themselves. And it works really well.  But then Daisy starts hearing the hushed comments and snide remarks from others. About how Donald isn’t good enough for her. How he’s just some country bumpkin with no tools in his shed. How he doesn’t have many, if any at all, redeeming qualities. She first starts to hear it from her parents and sister. Their noses turned towards the sky and eyes sharp with judgment every time Donald’s dirty, beat-up pick up pulls into their driveway to pick Daisy up. Then she starts to hear it from her friends, voicing their hushed assertions in the guise of concerns in the hallways by Daisy’s locker as Donald passes them, his hair a mess and his flannel patched and worn and always stained with something. And then there are the whispers from people she doesn’t know. Passing them in the cafeteria or on the street, eyes darting between the two whenever Donald speaks or laughs or is at all loud. Like they can’t really see the connection, and if they did see one, they didn’t like it or approve. Donald’s own family even jokes about it sometimes. How Daisy is too ‘pretty’, too ‘smart’, too ‘whatever’, to be hanging out with some ‘dummy’ like Donald. How can she see anything in a guy who loses his composure over every little thing, whose voice is cracked almost to the point of unrecognition and whose hands are calloused and rough and whose poorer than dirt and has nothing significant going for him. And it’s only when Donald agrees to their ‘jokes’ with a shy and humble smile that Daisy finally loses her cool. It’s her turn to get unbelievably angry and defensive. 

Because it’s not about how she can see. It’s about how everyone else can’t see. 

Can’t see that the dirty pickup Donald drives is the one he built with his own two hands. How every part, every wire, every little screw was tested over and over again until the truck was in perfect condition. How Donald is meticulous about weekly maintenance checks. Not because he’s a car guy. Not because he even likes doing it. But because his parents died in a car accident. And Donald holds a weighted responsibility and guilt on his shoulders that no one else put there but him to make sure that that never happens again. So it looks beat up. So it’s covered in a bit of mud. Daisy would entrust her life in that truck any day of the week just because of the packed emergency first aid duffle bag in the back seat and Donald is always the one behind the wheel.   Can’t see that sure, his hair is a mess and his clothes are ruffed up. But that’s only because Donald spent the night before talking Fethry out of a panic attack from a nightmare he had, staying up long after Fethry had calmed down and gone back to sleep just to rub reassuring circles into Fethry’s back through the blanket and talk quiet nothings too him like a white noise machine. How his clothes are ragged and patched and stained because Donald also works part-time as an everyman for old man Otto a couple of fields over to earn a little bit more money for his family on top of all the other farm chores he has to do at home. That he’s ragged and tired, but still lets Fethry hang off his shoulders while he walks, and listens intently to everything under the sun that Della has to tell him excitedly and loudly, and will still get worked up enough to bite back at Gladstone when Gladstone pokes him in the sides to get a kick out of him because he knows he can get away with it. And he ‘doesn’t need new clothes’, he says after asking Daisy to patch up another hole in this shirt. He says he’d much rather use whatever money they had on tractor parts, or stocking up the pantry with Gladstone’s favorite foods so that ‘the moron will eat SOMETHING at least’, or getting that new book Della and Fethry have been talking about lately about space travel. He doesn’t need to look good. They’re just gonna get dirty while he works anyway. He’s fine with it. He’s fine with self-sacrificing everything about himself for his family’s sake.

Can't see that when Donald is loud and boisterous, it’s only because he’s finally happy and proud enough to be, after spending so long fearing and hating the way he sounds to others and how they perceive him. How long he spent in that dark place and how hard he worked to overcome it. And how when he’s loud, it’s only to make Daisy laugh hard enough to split her sides, and when he smiles, that cute, half-grin that’s just on the legal side of mischievous, it makes Daisy’s whole world brighter and lighter and warmer than the sun.

And Daisy know’s that his cousins and sister are just teasing him. She knows how much they love and respect and cherish him. But sometimes she feels that they can’t see the two together as a good pair. They can’t see the connection between the two deeper than the surface level. Can’t see that Daisy isn't too ‘pretty’ for Donald. She isn’t too ‘smart’ for him. Isn’t to anything for him. Donald is probably the most handsome guy she’s ever met, rugged and kind and absolutely alluring in every way. And despite working practically two jobs and reigning in his rambunctious cousins, he still gets amazing grades, and he’s incredibly knowledgeable in the things he’s passionate about. In things Daisy doesn’t have the slightest bit of info on. 

And why can’t anyone see just how amazing he is. How he’s a romantic at heart, always bringing her tiny gifts that remind him of her, liked pressed Corncockles and New England Asters. How he always saves her the best piece of any dessert he bakes, because he knows how much of a sweet tooth Daisy has. How he’s still so very polite to her parents, even though he knows how much they don’t like him. How he’ll find time in his busy day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, just to spend with her. To listen to her ramble or complain about whatever petty thing bothered her or to just hold her hand and enjoy each other’s company.

And Daisy hates how Donald’s fallen into everyone’s trap. How he sees himself through their eyes and refuses to listen to Daisy no matter how many times she tells him that they’re wrong. How he is good enough. How he’s more than enough. How he’s everything to her.

There first and worst fight involved the two of them hashing it out, with Daisy practically screaming at him to understand. To stop looking down on himself and to stop looking down on her. For thinking she’s only with him as a fluke. That she can’t possibly like him for any real reason and that she sees nothing in him worth admiring. She’s not superficial like that, and it hurts so much when Donald agrees with everyone's downcasted views of himself. How he’s so willing to believe that he isn’t worth Daisy’s, or anyone's, time.  Donald had never seen Daisy cry before that, and it completely threw his world upside and sideways. They talked for a really long time, out in the back of the ranch house by the big pond. About how Daisy wishes Donald would see himself through her eyes, and be as proud and amazed with himself as she was, and about how Donald would try, how he didn’t know she felt this way and was sorry. He made up relatively easily, and even though Donald still kind of puts himself down, he’s quick to regain and defend himself in front of Daisy. And she thinks that even if it’s baby steps, as long as he’s moving forward, Daisy will be right by his side moving forward with him.

[hexalt]

Schitt’s Creek and the Transformative Power of Love

I first watched the pilot for Schitt’s Creek in the early part of 2019 and found it...eccentric. Not really funny, the characters weren’t speaking to me (except for Stevie (Emily Hampshire), whom I felt a kinship with), and the story seemed odd. I decided this show just wasn’t for me, and I had given it my best shot. Many months later, one of my best friends was posting about it frequently. Since we have the same taste, I thought maybe it was just the pilot. Maybe I should give it another shot. Maybe this time I’ll actually like it. So I started it from the pilot again, and I kept watching even if I wasn’t thoroughly entertained. I soon grew to love the two black sheep and having characters you understand always makes things easier.

What I didn’t realize when I started the show was that the characters were each more than they seem, they weren’t meant to be shallow jokes of themselves and their personas. The way they acted was often a façade hiding their insecurities of not being good enough in a variety of ways. The only other show that I’ve seen with a somewhat similar premise is Arrested Development, but there the characters are supposed to be absolutely ignorant, privileged assholes with no redeeming qualities.

I didn’t realize each season is better than the last, an astounding and rare feat in television. The quality of each season improves as the show quickly finds its footing by discarding early storylines that didn’t really work and letting the characters slowly becoming more grounded and open. This family that was once so distant that the parents didn’t even know their daughter’s middle name eventually develop genuine relationships for the first time with each other and other people.

Schitt’s Creek, co-created by father and son, Eugene (American Pie, Best in Show) and Dan Levy, wanted us to ultimately empathize with these characters, even if the remnants of their wealth can make them profoundly delusional and hilarious a lot of the time. Before writing the show, they created timelines going back to their characters’ elementary school years, detailing everything from where they worked to what they wore.

The fashion on the show is distinct and the best dressed I’ve seen in any show (and most films). Dan is huge into fashion and personally selects a lot of pieces worn in the show (some of David’s clothes are even from his own wardrobe). Instead of constantly telling the audience that this family used to be rich, we are reminded of it through Moira’s wall of wigs and couture black and white ensembles, David’s patterned black sweaters and low crotch pants, Alexis’s bohemian dresses and headbands, and Johnny’s array of business suits. When they enter any room in town, they are clearly fish out of water.

Schitt’s Creek centers on the Roses, a once-disgustingly wealthy family who lose their fortune and are forced to move to the only asset they have left: a small town named Schitt’s Creek that Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) bought as a joke for his son, David (Dan Levy). So dilapidated is Schitt's Creek and so destitute are the Roses, they don't even have a house of their own; instead they are forced to live in a motel with two connecting rooms, forgoing all the luxury they had become accustomed to and, more terrifyingly, are now physically closer than ever.

While at first the family is horrified at the prospect of living in such a small town with townies, they eventually embrace the weirdness of the town, and it makes them grow in unexpected ways. Johnny was once the owner of the second-largest video rental store in the country and retains his businessman-like self through and through, but he also began the show more uppity. While he is often the most reasonable of the Roses, he often sees himself as above others in town and gets into awkward situations because of it. Over the course of the show he ends up developing a friendship with the town mayor to whom he initially had yelled “get the fuck out!” While he’s always devoted to his wife, he wasn’t so keen on his children, but being forced to live together makes him take a larger interest in their lives and become a better father.

Alexis (Annie Murphy) is the quintessential “dumb blonde” socialite who’s had a Schitt-ton of relationships with powerful men, making stories of her past highly entertaining, often illegal, and frequently frightening. She clearly grew up way too fast, never having had proper adult supervision. She’s reliant on men, and all she can think about in season one is trying to date cute guys. In the following seasons, she realizes it’s time to start growing up and gets her high school and Associate’s Degree to start her own PR business. She becomes a more enlightened version of herself, still deeply kind but also willing to put the happiness of others above her own. The Alexis who previously couldn’t see beyond her own nose becomes independent and more selfless.

David’s had hundreds of flings with people of all genders, but they seem to be replete with abuse, manipulation, and a lack of care for his being. This is unsurprising when we see how he hides his insecurity behind sarcasm and sometimes downplays things he doesn’t like to fit in. He fears showing kindness to anyone because others haven’t always been so kind to him. Early on, he has a panic attack and comes to the realization that he’s “really lonely here,” but he’s been lonely for a lot longer than that. What he doesn’t expect is to make his first best friend or find his soon-to-be husband in this backwater town. In the process, he learns to shed some of his armor.

Moira (Catherine O’Hara) was once on a soap opera, Sunrise Bay, and retains the melodrama in her day-to-day life and demeanor. She is constantly trying to become what she believes is a star: someone who acts in film, someone who everyone mourns when they die, someone who people will just pay one sliver of attention to. She’s desperately trying to cling to the spotlight, but in “Life is a Cabaret,” she finds what I believe will be her place come this final season. Rather than trying to constantly soak up attention, she gives Stevie the starring role in the town’s production of Cabaret (which Moira comes to direct) because getting that role was a “gift that once jolted [her] out of [her] little podunk routine.” From the wings of the stage, as Stevie slowly builds into “Maybe This Time” with such breathtaking passion and joy after starting off unsure and quiet, Moira is shocked at what she was able to bring out of Stevie. She’s finally realizing that her place isn’t center stage but in bringing out the best in others and helping them find their place in the world.

Stevie Budd begins as the desk clerk of the Schitt’s Creek motel until her great-aunt passes away, and she inherits the motel. From there she has to decide whether she’s ready to grow up and take over the family business, and she’s terrified. Johnny soon teams up with her in the business, renovating the motel and renaming it after both of them, so she sees the Roses aren’t going to abandon her. She is part of the Rose’s found family. Her and David are similar in their bluntness and sarcasm, but Stevie is insecure about never making it out of the town, never being more than a motel desk clerk, never having a long-term romantic relationship. She worries while everyone moves on with their lives, she’s “watching it all happen from behind the desk.”

Dan describes creating Schitt’s Creek as “writing a world that examines the transformational effects of love when the threat of hate and intolerance has been removed from the equation.” While homophobia is often front and center in any media depicting LGBT characters, Schitt’s Creek doesn’t give it as much thought. Where small towns are usually seen as ripe for homophobia, transphobia, and other discrimination, Schitt’s Creek doesn’t fall prey to this trope. Instead, this small town is bursting with love.

Dan purposely made David pansexual (it’s also the only show I’ve seen use the word) to challenge the viewer’s biases and push the boundaries of what it means to be masculine and feminine. David’s parents and others in the town never discuss it as anything strange or bad, it’s something he simply is and as common as the sky being blue. When David tells Stevie about his sexuality (“I like the wine, not the label”), she’s a bit surprised at first because she thought he was gay, but ultimately she doesn’t care.

This doesn’t mean the show never discusses what homophobia can be like, but it comes at it from a different lens.

For example, in “Meet the Parents,” David decides to throw a surprise birthday party for his boyfriend, Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid). What David doesn’t realize is Patrick hasn’t come out to his parents yet, they think David is solely his business partner. He tells David, “I know my parents are good people, I just...can’t shake this fear that there is a small chance that this could change everything.” David himself is prepared for homophobia from Patrick’s parents, but when they tell him they don’t care about that, just that he was hiding such an important part of himself from them, David who’s been trying to stay strong through it all wipes a tear.

“When I found myself in a position to tell stories on a global scale, I seized the opportunity to make a television show that might, in its own way, offer some support, encouragement and love to those who might not have it in their homes or in their schools or in their day to day lives. It’s a place where acceptance incubates joy and creates a clarity that allows people to see themselves and each other more deeply. It’s fiction, yes. But I’ve always been told to lead by example and this felt like a good place to start.”

— Dan Levy

I would be remiss to not touch on the comedic style of the show. This is a comedy that relies heavily on the physicality of its actors. Their facial expressions, accents and tonality, their limp wrists, each create uniquely funny characters with mannerisms unlike any I’ve seen. The cast brought nuance to the characters, when they could have easily fallen into vapid stereotypes.

As season 6 premiered on January 7, Schitt’s Creek is not done yet, and I can’t wait to see how its final season concludes. The characters are all happier now that they are achieving dreams they may not have known they had, they have fulfilling relationships with family and friends, and they all have grown into better people. Schitt’s Creek truly was their saving grace.

*

I’m in a TV group where we wrote essays on our favorite shows of the 2010s, so here is mine on Schitt’s Creek.

[regrettablewritings]

Finn Fluff Meme (I, K, V, & Y)

Because fucka this, it’s my blog and we need more Finn love dammit!

I = Impression (What was their first impression?):

Sweaty. You thought he was incredibly sweaty. And not in the sexy kind of way, but in the “somebody just got caught doing something they probably shouldn’t be doing” kind of way. And given that he appeared to be sneaking around the escape pods, you had every reason to determine that that was exactly the case.

It only got worse when you learned that this sweaty, stuttering mess was actually the same man whose name was traveling fast among the remaining Resistance members. Suffice to say, you had a completely different image built up in your head when you’d first heard about Finn: Strong, courageous, confident, cool . . . You might’ve been setting yourself up for disappointment when you had learned that, well, he was such some kid no older than yourself, just as frazzled as you were about your current circumstances but more willing to show it. Truth be told, you couldn’t exactly blame him, but you also couldn’t let him know that.

Admittedly, Finn didn’t exactly think much of you -- which wasn’t to say he thought lesser of you or that you had no redeeming qualities about you, he just wasn’t in a mindset to think much of you beyond “shorter than him”, “not Rey/unrecognizable”, and so on. To be fair, nearly everyone else he sprinted by had gotten just about the same assessment from him: He was more so focused on what happened, what was happening, where he even was, and where Rey was. Not the most pleasant first impression, where the person who would become your significant other is too busy focusing on another woman.

Thankfully, he got a second chance.

As it turned out, you were correct in your initial expectations of Finn -- to a degree. He was certainly brave, if foolhardy at times; his strength lay in his resilience and loyalty and willingness to help out in the end, even in the face of his own worries and wants; in addition, while there were very few especially unsavory characters you’d come across in the Resistance, Finn was, by far, one of the sweetest. You took back all your previous concerns: Finn was, without a doubt, the hero you’d imagined him to be -- only better.

And yet, the entire while, Finn didn’t see those traits about him. In fact, while you were convinced he was a hero, he was convinced more and more every day that you fit the hero title better. After all, you were competent even at the first sign of danger; you were able to actually compartmentalize and know when to be intense and when to allow your natural sensitivities show. When the two of you talked more, you weren’t too afraid to admit to him that you were actually constantly worried and sometimes even found yourself questioning the sense of it all, if the future held any promise worth fighting for. Yet here you were, a pilot still willing to fly out upon the first command. Not out of blind obedience, thankfully, but to you, it simply made sense: You didn’t know for sure if the Resistance would be victorious in the end, but you had to fight because at least there was a chance; by not fighting, then you already knew what the answer was.

It did well to remind Finn of this from time to time until, eventually, the roles were switched: In the beginning, you thought Finn would be your hero. He still was, though in a much more familial sense. Meanwhile, you had become Finn’s own hero.

K = Kiss (How do they kiss? Who initiated the first kiss?):

First kiss was sudden, excited, and very awkward; almost like a schoolboy’s. But it could be forgiven for two reasons:

For one, it’s not as though Finn had been in the right environment to learn how to properly kiss up until relatively recently. And for two, you were pretty sure he was riding on a high of excitement: A transmission had come in from one of the squadrons that the mission, initially deemed bleak, had turned for the better. Much better, in fact! Clearly, Finn had to ride this as far as he could -- including, apparently, down a path where he asked to take you on a date.

“Or, you know, well,” he stammered, face burning with blush. “As date-like as we can get in a more or less run-down base? Er, that didn’t sound promising . . . But I can promise you, I’ll make it work -- ”

You would’ve been a complete nerf-herder to say no to the Resistance’s “Big Deal”!

In hindsight, he should’ve known better than to be that excited. You hadn’t exactly been secretive about how fond you were of Finn: The two of you had grown rather close in spite of the less-than-promising first impressions. Any spare time he had that wasn’t spent resting or training was spent with you, talking or trying his best to stay awake just to he could enjoy every moment he could with you. And any free time you had, you were more than happy to spend watching him work or train or sharing stories of your life before joining the Resistance.

But then again, just because it wasn’t exactly a secret didn’t mean that neither of you requested a certain decorum about it: You had made many a threat to General Dameron that if he kept referencing your obviously budding feelings, you would “push him down a slope and make it look like an accident.” And while Finn’s attempts at shushing his friend weren’t as violent, he had no qualms attempting to manually shut his mouth. Thankfully, though, Poe wasn’t there to smirk proudly at the sight. And to directly witness what happened next.

In hindsight, Finn wasn’t even sure what possessed him to do it -- maybe he subconsciously saw other partners in the Resistance do it when they reunited or something? Maybe he thought it was just something you were meant to do? Maybe he was just way too high on the excitement of the moment? Well, whatever the hell it was, he sure did go for it: He grabbed you by the waist, picked you up, and went in for the kiss he’d been dreaming about for so long.

In hindsight, he should’ve probably taken it slow. Maybe keep his eyes open for a bit. Long enough to make sure your lips were actually going to connect, maybe. At least he had the decency to place you down gently, despite the sudden pain caused by your heads colliding and teeth bonking against one another.

As he sheepishly ushered you out of mission control and towards the infirmary to treat your now bleeding nose, that was of course when Poe decided to show up.

“The Hell did you do to her, did you headbutt her out of happiness?!” he quipped as he watched his hugely embarrassed companion skitter down the corridor with his new datemate, of whom was currently occupied with looking upwards while pinching their nose.

(After Poe got the story, he had to excuse himself from the room and wheeze himself into an infirmary visit.)

Thankfully, Finn hadn’t broken your nose, and thankfully you were a pretty good sport about it. 

“You were just caught up in the excitement, that’s all. It was cute, if a bit painful,” you smiled weakly. But you had meant it: As bonked up as the attempt had been, the one thing you couldn’t say was that it was forgettable. Though, from then on, you wanted to keep “kisses” like that strictly to that one memory: Any kisses from now on needed to be authorized so that surprises like that wouldn’t wind up with visits to the medical wing like this.

Though, you were more than happy to help him practice that.

V = Vaunt (What do they like to show off? What are they proud of?):

His accomplishments. To say that Finn ever saw his life turning out this way would be to tell an outright lie: The only expectations Stormtroopers are allowed to have is to remain loyal, to fire when told, and to be ready to lay down their lives for the First Order. The only hope or dream one could personally have is to live to fight destroy another day. But escape did happen in spite of the odds.

And even in the present, Finn has difficulty entirely believing that it had happened at all: He has a better understanding of the world around him; he has loved ones; he has a purpose where he, as an individual, is valued; he has a life! Ever since he could remember, he’d been taught to be melded with everyone else and to not stand out. So, as one could imagine, the rise from faceless Stormtrooper in sanitation to the general in a resistance organization would be nothing to sniff at or gloss over. And, truth be told, he can’t help but be prideful about it. Not arrogantly so, but enough to joke about it to you.

“Is that any way to speak to a general?” he jokes whenever you call him a goof.

“Come back safe. That’s an order from your superior,” he’ll tell you before you fly off for recon, adding in a clumsy wink.

(Additionally, Finn is actually proud of the fact that he’s Force-sensitive. Not loudly so, mind you, but in a quiet way. He’s not especially prone to showing it off due to his lack of experience with it, but that’s not going to stop this mad lad from trying to use it to pour you a cup of water, or bring him his jacket even though you’re right there. Heck, he’d going to try to use it to bring the jacket because you’re right there. The only problem is that when he does this, there’s a 50-50 chance that the water jog will go careening into a wall or be defenestrated, or that his jacket will collide so hard into his face that it’s accompanied by a slapping sound.)

(If there’s one thing Finn may not be proud of, it may be asking Rey to help him train after one too many Force Incidents.)

Y = Yes (Do they ever think of getting married/proposing?):

Yes. Eventually. Maybe. Just not now.

Let it be reminded, once more, that Finn’s entire life has been a cluster: He went from serving the First Order to going on the run to winding up with the Resistance and participating on the other side of a war he never wanted anything to do with in the first place. Don’t get the wrong idea, Finn doesn’t regret a bit of it. After all, so many great and amazing things came from this: He got out of a bad environment; he made lifelong friends; he discovered his Force sensitivity; he helped win on the right side of history; and he met you!

But all these happened sort of at once, all things considered. He needs a bit of breathing room. And now, with the war beginning to wind down, it seems he’ll have more opportunities to embrace exactly that.

Not having to stick around to be a general for a resistance group means he can explore his freedoms as never before. It means traversing the galaxy without needing any real reason to besides for enjoyment. The thought is actually almost overwhelming for Finn: There aren’t really any orders left to follow as the dust settles. The temptation to go buck wild is strong, but he does fight it off because alongside that, there’s also the excitement of knowing that he can now focus his time on himself. That is, exploring himself as he explores the galaxy -- with you.

He wants you to be there with him as he learns for the first time in his life what a freer world feels like. He wants to be there with you as you get to experience planets without being covert or on a mission. You both just want to be with each other without any expectations besides where you plan on going.

It is said that love in a time of war can bloom much like a flower in stone slab, and you both would dare to agree that you’re living proof of that. That being said, marriage can wait: For now, you’re both plenty fine with just being yourselves in a new era -- whatever that may mean for the both of you respectively.

[gloves94]

To Be So Lonely [Draco Malfoy] 7

Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Draco Malfoy/OC Chapter warnings: Bullying!

Raised as an orphan, Nel Saintday, endured years of torture from the Slytherin House. The Dark Lord only allowed her existence for her to serve a very specific vile purpose for him. Her birthright dictates for her to choose a side in the Wizarding War… But what would happen if she dares defy the Dark Lord and his wishes? And what happens when she falls for her tormentor? Will Nel fulfill her life’s purpose? And what side will her tormentor, Draco Malfoy, choose? The light that calls to him or the darkness…

CHAPTER MASTERLIST MY MASTERLIST

1 9 9 2, Sep 1st

Families, friends and siblings bid goodbye to students who would be starting their term at Hogwarts.

The compartment was quiet, it was also darker than Nel remembered. She sat with her hands being kept busy knitting. A hobby she had picked up since she was seven to entertain herself back at Wool’s. It was fairly time consuming and gave her something to do since she wasn’t allowed to have any art supplies and the hours of watching TV were limited to all orphans.

She still couldn’t shake off the memory of what had happened during this painful holiday. The only redeeming quality about being at Wool’s was that Lucy, probably the person she cared for the most, was there.

“Where’s Lucy?” She had demanded from a girl that was in the girls’ dormitory. The seven-year-old shrugged. She snapped her head to the side and asked a slightly older girl. “Where’s Bonilla?” She asked again.

And again, the girl muttered a simple ‘dunno.’

Hearing a slight snicker, she turned around, eyes fixed into slits as they landed on Wool’s favorites. Aisha and Alf, two orphans that were always together, and did everything and anything just to be on the Matron’s good graces with complete and absolute disregard to others.

“Oh? Don’t you know?” Aisha asked complacently. Her thick hair braided over her shoulder. In that moment Nel wanted nothing more than to drag her out of the orphanage by it. She still wore pink just like Wool.

“Your dear friend didn’t tell you? Didn’t bother writing to you?” Alf added.

“Bonilla got adopted,” Aisha announced.

That was a lie if Nel had ever heard one. Adoption was rare. Even more if you were a teenager. Children amongst the ages of one, two and three are the lucky ones, they’ll be in and out of here in a flash. Parents like that you see, their easily moldable to their ideals and virtues, still not hardened by trauma or the ruthless punches of life. After you turn five and stop being cute, your chances decrease more and more with each year. Being twelve, almost thirteen and living here. Nel had no question that she would be stuck living in this hellhole until she turned eighteen.

When she was a child Nel was kept locked up in the laundry room and prevented from attending the adoption fairs. Wool didn’t want to risk her doing something “done by the devil,” and have her make a teacup accidentally levitate or make butterflies come out from under her sleeves. This trauma scarred her innocence.

“That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one,” she scoffed not buying their shit for a moment.

There was no way Lucy, as wonderful as she was, had been adopted. If anything, maybe Wool had gotten out of hand with one of the little ones one day, maybe she had gotten out of hand with her and ran away? It wasn’t uncommon, but why would she leave without telling her?

“You best believe it,” Alf said clicking his tongue. “Besides, why would she even want to stay here and put up with you?” “She couldn’t wait to get away,” his sidekick commented snidely arms crossing over her chest.

“I know you’re lying,” she scowled at him. “Tell me where she it. What did Wool do to her?” She marched forward towards them with threatening steps.

“Truth hurts, don’t it?” Alf sneered with a malicious scowl.

She stopped a couple of steps away from them. The expressions on their faces were enough to set the girl’s already boiling blood into a blur of madness.  Nel couldn’t remember the last time she had been this angry. She didn’t even realize how mad she was until several loud pops echoed the room and shards of glass began raining down as the ceiling’s lights popped. Several girls scrambled out of the room screaming fearfully with Aisha leading the way.

“Freakshow,” Alf added.

She could hear Wool’s steps stomping up the steps as her large body came wobbling thought the door and gaping at the scattered glass. She didn’t waste a moment in throwing Nel into her room without dinner and locking her in. The girl was glad she had brought some treats with her. Treats she was going to give to Lucy…

She snapped out of her thoughts when the compartment door opened. Theodore leaned against the entrance. “Nel!” He greeted with a smile joining her in the compartment. His curly hair had gotten longer, but his green eyes remained the same. Soulful, insightful, his clothes dark and crisply ironed.

Both had exchanged a handful of letters over the summer and despite the friendship the two had, neither ever crossed the line of inquiring about anything outside of their school lives. Prying into their familiar lives was out of bounds. Nel had only heard rumors that circled the school, but she knew that Nott’s parents had been loyal followers of You-Know-Who, just like had Malfoy’s, Parkinson’s, Crabbe, Goyle and others in the class. She figured some things were better left unsaid. “What you got there?” He commented dropping opposite of her, raising his feet so that he could comfortably sit across the seat.

“Just trying to keep busy,” she responded mindlessly as she continued to knit a pair of black winter gloves.

“I trust you’re more than halfway ahead of all of our classes already?”

When you’re locked up in a laundry room 24 hours of the day with not much to do you really don’t have much of an alternative to preserve your sanity. “I have a business to tun Nott,” she hid her anguish and smiled before whipping out a handful of hard-earned galleons most courtesy of Misters Crabbe and Goyle. “Pumpkin pastries on me today!” She beamed at him.

Again the compartment’s door opened and much to her distaste Draco Malfoy stepped in.

“Nott,” He acknowledged, and his silver eyes turned to seethe at Elowen who was staring back at him with contempt. Let’s just say things hadn’t gone well when the two had a recent tun in at Flourish and Blotts.

“"I'm sure you can find better company that Saintday," Malfoy coughed. Looking between the two aghast at the friendship.

The twelve-year-old dark-haired girl was wondering inside of the shop scanning over the countless of book covers, titles and authors. She didn’t want to get any more books than what was required of the curriculum. Her brain was already more than fried from all of those exhaustive readings. It seemed like she had picked the wrong day to come to Diagon Alley since the bookshop was overcrowded with a famous Wizard that was doing a book signing. Not that she paid much attention to that.

Presently she walked around with a stack of books in her arms. This time she was alone. Seeing as Professor Snape had already showed her the ropes and string of Diagon Alley she did not require to be escorted. Not that she minded, it was almost better like this.  

Another twelve-year-old also happened to be in Flourish and Blotts. The bitter blonde was a couple of steps away on a balcony watching the girl with his eyes narrowed. He saw how she was taking her sweet time browsing the large stack that was on the shelf.

He looked down at the book he was reading and ripped off a page simply because he felt like it and folded it away. He walked down the short steps of the balcony and approached the Slytherin girl he had been carefully observing. She didn’t seem to have noticed his presence yet and if she did, she chose not to acknowledge it. Her hair was longer than the year before now reaching her shoulders and there was a distant look in her dark eyes. Of course, not that, that would’ve stopped him from acting like a total dick.

He forcefully ran into her on purpose. The impact so strong the tower of books she had been holding came tumbling down to the wood floor. He grabbed her lower arm before she could fall holding her up.

“Watch where you’re going Saintday,” He greeted her with a terribly rude scoff.

“Maybe you should watch where you’re going Malfoy,” she snapped back irate quickly withdrawing her arm back to her person. She groaned at the unwelcome presence and bent down to reach for her books when she saw his brand designer shoe stomp on them.

“Get your foot off my books, because Merlin help you if you don’t, I will gladly sock you,” she threatened with an angry scowl.

He huffed a weak chuckle. ‘Physical threats. How typical of Saintday,’ he thought to himself humorously. Not that he was unaware that the orphan would deliver on her promise. Instead, he stood unbothered and leaned against the bookshelf next to him with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Hm.. No, I don’t think I will. You see, I don’t really feel like it,” he hummed calmly while pretending to look at some invisible dirt underneath his fingernails.

Nel seetehed in her anger. Great. Now her day had been ruined. “What do you want Malfoy? Don’t you have anything better to do like hold your moms hand or something?”

“Jealous?” He was quick to respond. “At least I have one,” he shot back sharply. “Oh, boo-hoo,” she cried out the words mockingly, dripping with sarcasm. “Thank you for stating the obvious. Insulting an orphan on not having a family? That only makes you an even bigger prick!” She exclaimed. “Now move, before I make you,” she raised her want at his nose.

“Watch it slugbreath,” he did not move an inch, yet there was some hesitation in his voice divulging he was intimidated.

Nel suddenly stopped. She froze when she felt what felt like a harsh tap come down on her shoulder. She was familiar with this sensation. She turned slightly to see the shimmering silver snake head from Lucius Malfoy’s cane. It felt just as bad even worse than Old Man Cowell’s down by the General Store. “Mind your manners Draco. That is not way to speak to a lady,” a slithering voice spoke from behind her. The voice cold and emotionless holding a scolding edge. Without any hesitation whatso ever Draco finally stepped back and off her books.

Nel turned in surprise to see Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father, standing behind her. The man stood tall and was a refined contrast to the other witches and wizards in the room. His snake cane once again reached for her face and he brushed the stray bangs out of her face to get a better glance at the beauty marks that dotted her face.

“We meet again Ms. Saintday,” he said darkly. "I trust your studies are going well?" He pulled out his wand from his cane and with a flick all of her books neatly arranged in a tower back into her hands. She remained silent eyeing the man with suspicious. Draco appeared to be just as confused as to why his father was being so damn polite and to a Muggle-born witch out of all people. Why was Lucius Malfoy, one of the biggest muggle haters of all time, the man that had probably taught Draco the filthy slur of Mudblood and all of his hating virtues, being so damn polite? After all, racism was a learned behaviour. So why be so kind?

“Thanks,” she responded curly in a dry tone and witch much unease looking down at the stack of books.

"Draco's told me all about you,” Malfoy Sr. began. “He says you're quite the accomplished witch."

What?

Her expression shifted into one of pure shock. Eyes quickly darting to pale boy who was presently scarlet in the face. A more than irritated expression on his eyes as he shot his father a silencing glare.

“Also heard you have a knack for mischief. Particularly for head swelling spells…”

Boy, wouldn’t she like to swell his head right now. “I have to do well in order to keep my scholarship." She answered dully, disregarding his praises or mention of the head swelling hex. No way she was apologizing to daddy dearest over that. "And may I ask what you intend on doing after finish your studies?"

Why was he asking her so many questions? Why was he so invested in this topic of conversation?

She was twelve, soon to be thirteen in November. How on Earth was she supposed to know what she wanted to do the rest of her life.

"For now, I just want to make my own living in the world."

Which was a normal ambition for anyone. Getting out of Wool’s. Being able to afford decent clothing that wasn’t washed away, eaten by moths or destroyed by former owners. Beautiful things. Being able to treat her friends and loved ones to lovely things like ice cream and pastries… It was not an impossible dream.

"Of course. How ambitious of you." He paused for a moment and looked at her. Simply starred at her face. His intense glare made Nel shrink slightly. She had never been so uncomfortable when interacting with an adult. "We best be moving on," He turned his eyes to his son instructing him to follow.

"Wait Mr. Malfoy," Nel paused seeing something on top of her pile of books. "This isn't mine," she said handing out the small black book to him. "I've got more than enough reading to do. Don't need any more books to sit gathering dust in my dormitory," she said sheepishly. Malfoy Sr. Looked at the black book and then back to her before taking it in his hand and turning away without another word.

"I never said that!" Malfoy growled out at her leaning in closer wearing a scowl. His face angry. Elowen smirked at him. "Sure Malfoy." She said haughtily.

"Hmm…" Nel hummed an evil smirk growing on her face. "You know some people would describe me as being a terribly charming witch, others might even say, accomplished." She dangled his father’s words in his face, subtley taunting him.  

Again, Malfoy's ears turned red with embarrassment.

"My father only said that out of pity! What else was he supposed to say to a pitiful, filthy,Muggle-born orphan!" He shouted angrily before storming out of the compartment.

She highly doubted that Lucius Malfoy was a man running a charity of compliments to give to strange second years at bookstores. There was an underlying motive to his words. A secret he was hiding. Something even Draco didn’t know.

Theodore let out a small chuckle and brought his watch up to his face taking note of the time. "And… it begins," he laughed. "Merlin, we're not even there yet and you and Malfoy are already at each other's throats."

"He started it," She shrugged. "You saw!" She said incredulously meeting his green judging gaze.

"It's weird, I feel like he has a strange fixation on you… Sometimes it's almost like he goes out of his way just to bug you." Nott shook his head.

"Of course, he's got some strange fixation. I'm the only Muggle-born Slytherin as far as I know." Nel rolled her eyes. "He'd be just as bad if Granger had been sorted into Slytherin."

"But you're not," Theodore interjected. She arched an eyebrow in confusion. "Muggle-born, I mean." He closed the book he had initially opened to read and lowered his feet, so he was sitting up straight. "You don't know that. You don't know who your parents were."

"Are," She corrected icily in a strained voice. This was crossing on the boundary the two had outspokenly agreed never to cross which meant family or life outside of Hogwarts was outside of the bounds of conversation. "I also don't know if they're with life or not. For all that I know they abandoned me at a Muggle orphanage. When they could've left me anywhere else in this bloody damn world. I would've preferred to be left at Gringotts for all I care!" She didn't realize that her voice pitch had raised into an upset tone. Her eyes darkening as she shed a ray of light into her life and harbored resentment due to her abandonment.

Her parents had abandoned her, like it or not. Whatever had or hadn't happened to them. And Lucy… Wool had insisted that she had gotten adopted and refused to give Nel her new address claiming it was confidential information; Wool said that if Lucy wanted, she would’ve returned for Nel, even written to her. Even Lucy had abandoned her... Which almost stung more than her own parent's going amiss. Perhaps Aisha and Alf really were right. Maybe Lucy didn't want to be stuck with a freak like her. A freak that set rooms on fire when upset, that made light fixtures explode and bathrooms pipes burst and floor. She felt her eyes water and turned away from Nott. The emotional wound still fresh. She didn't apologize for her outburst.

Nott looked at her upset expression. At the pain behind her eyes and in that moment he knew. He knew that no matter how many hits life threw at her. How many punches and jabs others threw at her. She wasn't made of steel, she was wounded, every jab digging deeper and deeper. He was about to speak when the compartment's door was thrown open.

"Well if it isn't Nelly and Teddy!" Tracey tossed it open and put her trunk away before jumping on the seat next to Nel. She gave her a side hug. The interruption seemed to be enough for her to snap out of her dark thoughts.

"Salazar," Theodore grimaced, "I beg you, please do not start calling us that."

"What should we call you then?" Nel grinned at her friend despite the great distaste for the nickname. It was refreshing being back with her little Hogwarts family. With people she actually cared about.

Xxxxx

Arriving at Hogwarts second years don't take the boats to cross the lake to the castle. Instead they ride in enchanted carriages that take them across the road and up to the school.

Nel almost fell back when she saw the creatures that were pulling the carriages. She made a sound. Animals generally did not like her, and mutually she did not like them.

"What is it?" Tracey asked confused trying to see what was making her friend so upset.

"What are those?" Nel asked fearfully not removing her eyes from the large winged horses. Their gaunt bodies seemed to be skeletal almost ghostly with reptilian features, their skin leathery and worn and with massive wings that resembled a bat's or some nocturnal monster straight from your nightmares. Their eyes resembling foggy crystal balls.

"Nel, what are you talking about?" Tracey squinted really trying to see what the big deal was yet saw nothing. Hesitantly they approached the carriage and the three of them took a seat. They were joined by three Hufflepuffs who seemed too absorbed discussing which Quidditch team was better if the Holyhead Harpies or the Appleby Arrows.

Of course, Tracey felt the need to weight in her two cents and defend that Puddlemere United was the best of the best.

"You can see them too?" She turned to see Theodore with surprise. Tracey was much too distracted to listen in their conversation.

"They can't see them, can they?" She noticed the blank looks on the students around them and in the other carriages.

"Am.. Am I going mad?"

"No," Theodore explained. "They're Therstals, I've read about them." He licked his lips, his eyes forward expression turned into a solemn one.

"Only people who've witnessed death can see them."

Her jaw went slack at the information.

"So…" She egg shelled on that topic they never spoke about, their home lives. "You've seen someone die?"

He nodded grimly, pondering deep in his painful memories. "My mom, when I was five," he said. A dull expression on his eyes. She didn’t want to pry further.

"But…” She paused taking in a deep frustrating breath. “How can that be? I've never seen anyone die."

xxxxx

AN: Hey you! Thank you for tunning in. So, any theories on why Nel can see the Therstals? On what happened to Lucy? It’s been a slow story so far, but I’ve written a couple of chapters ahead and I just wrote out first Draco x OC moment! (This year will be short I promise). (Also a new romantic protagonist will be introduced soon ;) )

[oldtumblhurgoyf]

Lauren Orsini wants to kiss a cat man and that’s wrong*

Here’s a ranking of All 36 'Magic: The Gathering' War of the Spark Planeswalkers Ranked By Dateability in Forbes no less. But it’s so terribly wrong. Here’s my Empirically Correct List of Planeswalkers Ranked By Dateability.

*this is all very silly and Orsini’s list is fine, I’m sure... for her.

36-28 Undateable

36 and 35. Tie between Gideon Jura and Domri Rade (with an honorable mention to Dack Fayden).

Dudes are all literally dead. Sorry, but I’m not dating a corpse. Also, before Gideon’s death, he was running himself ragged hopping from plane to plane to save the world. He didn’t have the time for a relationship. Domri is an obnoxious child (emphasis on child too). Of the three, Dack had the most potential but even alive he’d be lucky to break the top 20 of my list. Good for a few fun weekends and that’s probably it. Tempting to hope your love could reform him but that’s just a good way to have your heart stolen.

34. Nicol Bolas

He’s downright evil and self-centered to an unfathomable degree. Hard pass, no thank you. Literally no redeeming qualities.

33. Ob Nixilis

The obvious date for him is someone into BDSM, right? Wrong. He’s not going to respect your boundaries or practice good after care. He’ll use and abuse you for what he wants and then probably murder you. That’s not a date.

32. Dovin Baan

This dude’s whole deal is that he sees the flaws in everything. He’d probably outright refuse to date and if not, he’d constantly be nitpicking your relationship and you. There’s probably a decent amount of built up angst and stuff and if he ever cut loose there could be some fun, but it would be very fleeting and comes at too great a cost (months later thinking “what did he mean by ‘your forehead is adequate, but your nose is not the ideal shape’?”).

31. Tibalt

See Ob Nixilis. Kind of crazy how similar these two are.

30. Ashiok

We don’t know a whole lot about them, but I’m envisioning they’re like Ob Nixilis/Tibalt except it’s all mental/psychological harm. It’s Dovin Baan but instead of an ostensible pursuit of perfection, the mental anguish is its own reward.

29. Ugin

Like dating a dad, but a really boring dad. And like any other dragon, he’s still very full of himself, he’s just a little more subtle about it. Besides, apparently you’d do all your dating in the Prison Realm and Bolas would be there trying to ruin your (already pretty miserable) date as some small payback for being trapped.

28. Sorin Markov

Things will be okay, but he gives me weird unwanted daddy vibes and he’s just going to ghost you anyway.

27-19 Redeeming Qualities, Not Long-Term Material

27.  The Wanderer

Not much to go on here but we do know she’s gonna ghost you though probably not voluntarily.

26.  Teyo Verada

He seems nice enough but he’s pretty young and super naive. He’s got some things to figure out and some growing to do before you’d want to date him.

25. Jiang Yanggu

What I said for Teyo goes for Yanggu as well. Plus side, every date with him there is a really cute pupper coming along.

24. Kaya

She’s giving me Gideon vibes. I think she’d be more fun than Gids, but she’s too devoted to her career to have time for a relationship.

23. Teferi

It’s a common refrain I’m running into here, but Teferi is also too dedicated to his job to make for a good relationship. Additionally he’s got lifetimes of experiences that make him “The Most Interesting Man in the Multiverse” and you’re always going to feel like a second fiddle to him, not an equal. This is a case where he’s almost too perfect.

22. Jaya

Jaya’s got distinct mother vibes for me. There’s just no way I could see a date with her that isn’t weird. It wouldn’t even be a bad date per se, but it’s not gonna happen.

21. Samut

I’m intimidated by Samut. I mean, who wouldn’t be? She’s been through Amonkhet’s trials and stood ready in front of Hazoret’s spear. That’s such a singular dedication that few others can match. I think I’d shrivel in front of her love.

20. Kiora

She’s a playful trickster and kind of flighty. You’ve got one good date with her and then maybe a follow up fling at some point, but there’s no building a relationship here. I mean, unless you’re really lucky, but I wouldn’t count on it.

19. Karn

Karn’s got plenty going for him. He’s done some really interesting stuff, he’s motivated, and deeply invested even if he doesn’t always show it. He can certainly show you a lot of cool things. But long term the lack of humanity creates distance and problems.

18-10 A Good Time, Let’s See How it Works Out

19. Liliana Vess

She’s a toss up to me at this point. She’s been through a whole helluva lot and this is the point where she could go completely good, or take her get out of demon-contract-death jail free card and double down on all her worst attributes. She’ll be a fun date, you just can’t be sure it should be more than that.

17. Angrath

Dude’s super dedicated to his family but he gets incredibly frustrated and pretty damn easily. His name’s literally angry wrath so you kind of have to expect that. If you think going to a dive bar and getting into a fight with a biker is a good date then Angrath is going to be a fun time.

16. Vivien Reid

Maybe I just haven’t been paying a whole lot of attention, but I know less about Vivien Reid than any other planeswalker on this list I think (which is wild when you consider exactly how little we know about the Wanderer or Kasmina). But as the Steve Irwin of the multiverse, there’s no way this date isn’t fun. You’ve just perhaps bitten off more than you can chew.

15. Ajani Goldmane

Ajani is a total sweetheart who will care for you like no other. The flip side of that is he is always pushing you to be your better self and, hon, that’s just a little much for me. Like can’t we just stay in and cuddle for once? I do NOT want to go to the gym again this week.

14. Arlinn Kord

Unlike Jaya, I don’t have mom vibes here. She’s a good looking lady who definitely seems to be here for a good time. 

13. Huatli

This one is totally an “it’s not you, it’s me situation.” She’s so big on community and sharing stories--I’m more of a homebody. There’s nothing wrong exactly, we just won’t be compatible, I don’t think. But somebody out there is, and the two of you will get along famously. Another list would totally rank her as marriage material.

12. Narset

This is another case of such dedication and perfectionism that I just don’t think I could measure up in a relationship with her. She’ll come home from exploring the multiverse and meditation and combat training and reading ancient scrolls to find all I’ve done is take out the trash and do some dishes before playing some games and... not be disappointed exactly, but it won’t inspire respect and desire in her. Another one where there’s incredible potential there... for the right person.

11. Kasmina

Mysterious as she is, I’m getting young Jaya vibes from Kasmina. Not as in, when Jaya was actually young and all fiery temper and stuff. But rather, current Jaya without the creepy (to me) mom vibes. There’s potential here but so much mystery it’s impossible to say for sure without taking a chance.

10. Nahiri

I can’t imagine anyone I’d have a better single date with. Like a real good time. She’s planned it out perfectly and she’s ready to go. It might not last, but you’ll enjoy it while it does. Keep the lines of communication clear, respect boundaries, and be aware she can hold a grudge, and I think this actually has a chance.

9-1 Marriage Material

9. Jace Beleren

He’s sort of what I see Yanggu or Teyo needing. He’s done that growing and learning and he’s a pretty solid guy. He’s learned a lot of lessons the hard way but he’s definitely better for it.

8. Tamiyo

She’s literally married and raising kids in a happy home. The potential is there (if we ignore her canon marriage and assume she is available to date), not to mention her chosen career of essentially multiverse astronomer is pretty damn cool and relatively safe compared to what these other planeswalkers have devoted themselves to. (Sure, there’s Innistrad and Emrakul, but I imagine most planes’ moons are much safer to observe than that.)

7. Sarkhan Vol

Like Jace, he’s worked through a lot and is a pretty awesome person because of it. Unlike Jace, he’s been attractive the whole time. He’s tender and vibrant and aware and just cool as all hell. Bringing him home would be like dating Brendan Frasier in his prime.

6. Vraska

Downside to Vraska is that she’s pretty clique-ish and suspect of anyone from outside her group. Her views have expanded recently, but I think she’s still going to put up a rock hard exterior. If you can chisel your way through that then you’ve got a heart of gold.

5. Davriel Cane

Forget the demon contracts and all that nonsense. What this guy wants deep down is to just be left alone. Let’s retire to a nice estate on the countryside and enjoy our time together.

4. Saheeli Rai

Creative and inspiring, Saheeli is an absolute sweetheart. And she’s dedicated to a craft that she can do at home. She doesn’t have go trooping about the multiverse on dangerous missions without you. She can work on amazing marvels in her workshop then come next door to take you out for ice cream.

3. Nissa Revane

Nissa is a bit aloof and distant, but don’t let that fool you. She’s nurturing in every way you could want and then some. She’s great if you can get past that stoic exterior.

2. Ral Zarek

Ral’s more romantic than I ever woulda thought. He’s dedicated and thoughtful, but not so stuffy that things get boring. Actually the biggest detractor here is that things will never be boring with Ral, but he’ll make it worth your while to stick beside him through it all.

1. Chandra Nalaar

Full of warmth and passion, Chandra’s got what it takes to make the strongest connection. And she’s another character who has made some incredible personal growth recently. She’s ready to take the next step with someone special and if that were you, the two of you are in for a long-burning love.

[jimlingss]

Love So Shallow [1]

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 (Finale)

Words: 11.4k

Genre: Fluff & Humour, Best Friend to Lover!Au, College!Au (sort of) Summary: There’s no doubt about it. You’ve always been thirsty. And *ahem, not just for water. Everyone and their mothers knows it and so does your best friend Taehyung. Though, rather than desperate, he’d like to say that you’re naturally bold. Sometimes, he wishes he could be that way too. Warnings: Themes of low self-esteem, hints of fat-shaming and very mean people. Swearing.

Cr.

The Ultimate Guide for the First Day of School:

Backpack

Pencil Case

Laptop

Pens and Pencils

A Notebook

Binoculars

That’s right. Binoculars are the absolute essential. If you forget everything else, you’ll still survive but without your trusty pair of binoculars - ten times zoom power, military and hunting purpose, night vision, made in Germany - you’ll be nothing.

“Oh man, he’s hot.” You press the lens to your eye sockets, licking your lips and salivating immediately. The guy you’re observing is at least six feet in height, a slight shadow around his mouth that exhibits how his testosterone levels are high enough to grow a beard, ab muscles defined through his tight shirt. “He’s smoking…ten-out-of-ten.”

As you’re snacking on your popcorn, hidden in the display bushes of your college grounds, your jaw drops.

The popcorn disgustingly rolls off your tongue into the dirt.

“Dammit. Please be a friend, please be a friend…” You watch as a pretty girl goes running up to the guy and as you’re muttering under your breath like it’s a prayer incantation, they lace their hands together. Okay.

Maybe they’re just overly affectionate friends...siblings, perhaps? Nope. Nope. They’re kissing.

You swing your head around to target another person. “Ooh, fresh meat.”

He’s a shorter kid, cute with bright eyes. You know that look all too well, the ‘I’m going to change the world and make the best out of my years here without procrastination!’. But you’re also aware that the moment they sit down in a lecture, the light will diminish. God forbid, midterms roll around. Finals will simply be the finishing attack.

But hey. If you’re around the kid, maybe you can save them.

“Impossible.” You swallow down your popcorn, almost falling into a coughing fit. Your spare fist pounds your chest as you watch the boy catch up to his friend. “You’re straight out of high school. There’s no way you’re dating…”

Dammit! They kissed each other! The world laughs at you. He has a boyfriend!

What the hell is up with public displays of affection today?! Were they trying to mock you?!

“Uh miss?” The campus security guard taps your shoulder and you crane your neck around. “You can’t be inside the bushes. They’re for display purposes.”

“Sorry.” You climb out, back cracking from crouching down for the past half-hour. The middle-aged man stares at you with a mix of horror, astonishment and slight repulsion. You don’t notice the other eyes that are on you as you brush off the leaves.

Whelp. You sling your binoculars around your neck. Might as well try some place else.

//

The tent is orange and brown amongst a field of different stands. There are beefy dudes in tank tops and mirror sunglasses, ripped muscles shredding through the fabric. To every chick that passes by, they slyly grin and let their eyes wander to their leaving asses. To any male that looks of any redeeming quality, they pass a flyer. In the huge bustle of crowds and of the hundreds of people promoting their own club or group, you’re standing in front of this one.

“If you think you’re a good fit, join Lambda Sigma Squared! We’re the best frat house on campus!” He hollers aloud, “We’ve got parties! We’ve got beer! We’ve got girls!”

You stride up to the man tall enough to make your neck tilt upwards to the sky. “Hi.”

The stranger looks down at you with a quirked eyebrow. “Hello?”

Your palm opens up. He looks at your hand. You nudge it forward. He doesn’t do anything. “Can I have a flyer, please?” You read his name tag, “Jungkook?”

He hums and slowly brings out the stack of paper in his arms. “Is this for you to give to someone else….?”

“Nope.” You wonder why there’s so much doubt in his voice. “It’s for me. I’d like to join!”

If there was one place ridden with testosterone and men, it was the resident frat house. You can already imagine waking up every single morning to a mansion full of glorious hunks. They’d worship you as their queen; a wake up call to cuties lying in your bed, nuzzling their hair into your neck and boys in the kitchen cooking steak, topless with only a thin apron to tease. It sounded like a Heaven ridden with sin….delicious sin. Your mouth waters.

Right as the paper is held between your fingertips, it’s snatched away. You look up to the college boy who has his brown hair slicked back with gel. “Uh, sorry. We don’t accept females.”

Your dreams are crushed.

“Well isn’t that unfair?” You laugh nervously, scrambling to find any arguments in order to win. There has to be some way. You rock back and forth on your feet, nibbling on your bottom lip. The so-called ‘Jungkook’ appears to be unfazed. “What about the people who don’t identify as one or the other? Isn’t it kind of discriminating to only strictly allow males? You should be all inclusive! I mean equality...right? I’ve heard of some fraternities that allow females...”

“Honey.” His fingers are squeezing the bridge of his nose and then he whips around to point at the banner. “We are a frat house. We have been for the past...I don’t know, fifty years? Our fraternity doesn’t allow females. If you want to join something, go to the female sorority. I’m sorry but I’m only handing out flyers. If there’s something you want to complain about, go contact the administration. I don’t make the rules.”

You part your lips, eyes watering up and a whimper leaves the back of your throat. “Please?”

“No.”

“Pretty, please?” You bat your lashes, “I’ll be good.”

“No.”

The morning hasn’t been going well for you. Okay. You’ll admit it but you’ve been shot down in your life numerous times before. You’re not going to give up so easily!

“If you’re fit and you love to run, join football!” An athletics major bellows with a smile and you march up. “Football- oh. Hello there. Are you lost? If you look for the people in blue, they can help you or give you a tour of the place.”

“I’m not a first-year.” You put your hands on your hips, attempting to appear tall and large. “Can I join football?”

If frat houses were out of the question then surely football would be a great second choice?

“Sorry. We’re a male team. No females.”

It’s not like it should be a surprise to you. You’ve already tried to join all these clubs and groups last year. But rejection after rejection makes your vigorous energy die down and you’re left in a moping puddle of your own sorrows. There’s only one thing that can cure you at a time like this...

You wander to the engineering faculty where the buildings are old and wearing down. The grounds are empty on orientation day when there aren’t any real lectures yet. Which means there aren’t any potential bachelors either. You continue to tread onwards anyways.

Sooner or later, after actively searching every corner, you come face to face with-

“Taehyung!”

As his expression blanches and he tries to make a run for it, you’ve already caught up. The honey brown haired boy sulks, slumping his shoulders. “How did you find me?”

You ignore him, gleaming irises pinned on the tall man beside him. “Who is this?! You’re handsome!” Taehyung’s friend with the blonde locks widens his eyes at your bluntness. You bat your eyelashes back and forth, standing on the tips of your toes. “Can I have your number?”

“No.” Taehyung answers for his friend. “He’s not free.”

“You’re not single? Aww…” Your pout returns and your best friend shakes his head with his infamous boxy grin.

“Namjoon’s too busy to be dating. He’s a new engineering friend by the way, met him by the vending machines.” Tae turns to the boy beside him who’s watching the two of you bicker back and forth in amusement. “Namjoon, this is Y/N. She’s a high school friend-”

You interrupt, “best friend!”

“Ah, debatable.”

“Is not!” You stamp your feet. “Kim Taehyung that is not debatable!”

“It is.” He argues back firmly and then juts his finger at the device slung around your neck. “Especially when you bring those binoculars with you. How thirsty can you even get?!”

You open your mouth to argue back but Taehyung turns to Namjoon. “You know what? I don’t know her after all.” The engineering major laughs it off, shaking your hand and smiling sheepishly. You marvel at the cuteness of his dimples and the messy ruffle of his hair.

“Are you sure you’re too busy to date?”

Namjoon scratches the back of his neck, “well…”

Taehyung shifts himself to stand in front of the dimpled boy, as if using his body as a shield. “Be gone dehydrated demon! Attempt to seduce elsewhere!” Your feet moves to kick him in the shin but Taehyung jumps back and he giggles. “Y/N!” He whines out your name childishly with a mock pout and you sob back at him. “You’re going to run off all my friends! Stopppp it!”

“You were going to run them off anyways.” You whine back to him, mimicking his pout and ugly expression. “Plus, you don’t need anyone else other than me. Let’s be honest here, I’m the bestest friend you could have.”

He pretends to cry into his sleeve. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“To deserve someone so beautiful and great and amazing?”

“Someone so shabby and shameless and horrible.” He corrects and then mischievously grins again. With his face hidden by the sleeve of his sweater, you only see the square shape of his mouth.

Before Namjoon can be left in the dust to observe the both of your antics and Taehyung completely forgets about his trip to the library to pick up his textbooks, a certain someone clears their throat behind you. The booming ‘ahem’ causes the pair of you to stop fake sobbing to turn around.

Taehyung’s eyes immediately light up. “Somi!” He leans over to his new friend. “That’s my other best friend, from high school as well-”

“What are you doing here, Miss Y/N?!” Her screeching voice causes you to visibly jump. You’re folding into yourself as if to disappear. “I turn around for one second and you’re gone! Are you harassing people still? Don’t you know Taehyung has better things to do than to deal with your sorry ass? You act like you’re drunk when you’re sober!”

“I can explain!” You sling your binoculars behind you but that doesn’t deter Somi from dropping her crossed arms to march over to you, ankle boots clanking on the cement. You have to admit she looks pretty great in her brown leather jacket and skinny jeans. “This isn’t what it looks like! Taehyung was the one who told me I should come over here!”

“I did not.”

You whip your head back. “Trader.”

Taehyung shrugs with a playful smile. Somi takes the collar of your shirt and begins to literally drag you away. Namjoon waves to you in slight bewilderment. “This is not fair!”

Your wail ricochets throughout the entire campus, causing the birds in the trees to fly into the sky, startled at your voice. “This is not fairrrrr!”

//

You didn’t have a lot in your life - never gifted in brains, beauty or strength. In elementary, you were called cling wrap since you attached to people and suffocated them even if they hated you. You’ve overheard teachers call you annoying behind your back, you’ve never made it to the top twenty list of smart kids in your class, never won at athletics either. But if there was one thing you had...it was blind will and determination.

“Girls! Line up!”

You listened to the frat boy’s advice, seeking out a sisterhood sorority and wow...things were not easy. They had taken one look at you and made a face of disgust. Everyone was ridiculously pretty here. They had long, clean legs and silky hair. They wore small dresses with high slits, thongs that you couldn’t even fit in, tiny bikinis that would only show off your rolls and how much you loved to eat. The women exuded confidence. All of them looked like they walked straight out of Forbes or Vogue magazine. You’d hit up any of these women in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.

In comparison, you are a pansy in the field of roses. But your enthusiasm won.

No matter what challenge, mission or the type of hazing they did, you never deterred. When the sorority sisters forced the newcomers to eat McDonald’s Big Macs and super sized chocolate bars, most whined about the potential weight gain and some threw up, a few even dropped out but you ate it all. You ate it with vigorous energy, secretly ecstatic since it’s free food. Sure, they mocked you as you stuffed your face and the word ‘fat’ was tossed around but whatever….if you became easily riled up by a few syllables from strangers, you’d be living a very difficult life.

It’s easier to live when you’re shameless.

The sisters forced you into the freezing showers in the middle of the night and you embraced the freshness while the others screamed. When they made you take out their garbage for them, you did it happily. You scrubbed the floors with a toothbrush, let them cut an inch of your hair off, let them throw food at you. They made you drink vodka and tequila but you had eaten a huge meal beforehand and secretly snuck in water between the shots. It’s the only reason why you didn’t become a huge drunken mess. On the coffee runs, you were the first to come back, having ran across campus with a huge brown stain on your shirt from bumping into someone. But you delivered it in record time and with a grin.

No matter what, the sisters had to acknowledge your eagerness.

“This is going to be one of the final missions!” The leader paces back and forth in front of the small group. The hundred candidates has dwindled down to ten people. “We’re going to be having dinner here in two nights. Bring each of your boyfriends. Fairly simple, right?”

The word ricochettes in the hollows of your brain. Boyfriend. Boyfriend. It ridicules you, laughing in your face. It echoes, reverberating in your ears. It plays over and over again. Boyfriend. Boyfriend. Boyfriend.

“What?”

“Is there a problem, number five?” Her eyes pin harshly onto you and you quickly shake your head. She smirks, continuing to strut around. “Here at Rho Alpha Beta, we are not whores who prostitute ourselves. We are committed, young women.” The leader spits her venomous words sharply and then giggles. “Bring your boyfriends, girls.”

NOOOOOO.

This is your worst nightmare. Of all the things they could’ve made you done….bring a boyfriend is literally impossible for you. You joined the sorority in order to find guys! Now what were you going to do?

“Difficult challenge, isn’t it?” You laugh awkwardly next to the gorgeous brunette beside you.

“Really?” She frowns. “I think this is a lot easier than when they made us stand for the entire night without letting us use the bathroom.”

You’re royally screwed.

//

“Are my eyes lying to me or is it my best friend that I’m suddenly seeing?” Taehyung blinks expressionlessly and then brushes past you. You whine out, stamping your feet and he finally stops walking down the hallway, turning around with a grin. “What?”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“I think it’s my head playing tricks on me.” He lays the back of his hand on his forehead and pretends to faint, backside dramatically hitting against the wall. “The Y/N that I used to know would never be such a hypocrite. She disappears for three weeks without a word. Then she comes back and demands not to be ignored when she’s been ignoring her dearest friend that would sacrifice his entire life for her.”

“Oh, quit it.” You throw your arm over his neck, locking him in a choke hold. Taehyung grips your arm and half-laughs, half-screams. The engineering students passing by rapidly shoot the two of you an odd look while they hasten their steps. “You suddenly want to be my best friend after you said you didn’t know me?!”

“Okay, okay. I do know you, okay?” He hits your arm and you begin to let him go. “I know that you had a bladder issue and pissed in your bed every night up until grade six!”

“Kim Taehyung.” You step forward as he takes a stride backwards, laughing his head off. A bunch of people are staring. “Shut up!”

“And that you still piss yourself when you have a nightmare!”

His scream pounds up against the ceilings for all to hear and you groan, kicking him in the knee and hearing him let out an ‘ow’. “I told you that once! How do you even remember?”

Tae has a rectangular shaped grin as he shrugs. “How could I forget?”

“Ugh! You are ridiculous. You know what?! Forget it! Pretend I wasn’t even here.”

“Y/N.” He complains when you begin to walk away and Taehyung holds you back. You scoff but yield to him nonetheless as the pair of you begin to walk out of the building together. “So what’s made you so busy that you can’t even spend time with your two dearest friends? You know Somi’s pissed, right? She told me not to pick up your calls or answer your texts.”

On the subject matter, you evade for now. “I’ve been busy….”

“With the sorority?” He takes a glimpse of your face and grimaces. “Why are you even joining? It’s not like you to be those…”

“Pretty girls? Are you saying I’m not good enough to join them?”

Taehyung sighs. “I was going to say shallow idiots.”

“That’s a stereotype. Some of them are really nice girls.”

“But they’ve been treating you okay?”

“Yeah I guess.” You clear your throat. “I only have a few things left to do before I can get officially accepted and do the pledge and all that. How’s classes been going for you?”

“It’s so painful for me to have to be such a skilled academic.” He laments with a smile. “Engineering takes up all of my time, so many math classes, so much thinking involved. My head is always full of numbers and complicated equations that you would never understand.”

Usually you’d scoff, maybe jab at him but you only answer with a- “nice”.

“So, what’s your real reason for looking for me?”

“Hey!” You snap back into it. “You’re my friend. Can’t I hang out with you without being suspected of other intentions?! Why does this feel like a witch hunt! How dare you accuse me of such thing?!”

“Y/N…” He gives you that look and you exhale in exasperation.

“Okay. Hear me out, alright?” You prepare yourself and the both of you stop under a shade of a tree. “The sisterhood sorority is doing this thing in two nights and it’s one of the last things I need to do before getting accepted. It’s really, really important to me and you’re my best friend. You wouldn’t want to disappoint me, right?”

He looks at you in growing suspicion, “What is it?”

“They want me to bring my boyfriend to the dinner.”

Taehyung laughs. He laughs and he laughs. Your limbs fall to your side and you stare at him unimpressed as he grabs a hold of his stomach. Tears fill Taehyung’s eyes and he still continues to laugh like he’s watched the best comedy of his life. “Tha-that’s impossible!” He tries to catch his breath, hyperventilating. “You’ve never had a boyfriend in your entire life!”

Your best friend spits out the last word before he’s thrown back into absolute hysterics. He howls, roars and snorts. At some point he says ‘stop it’ since his stomach is hurting so bad. But you’re doing nothing, staring at him with a sigh leaving your mouth.

“Yeah. I know.”

“Oh god.” He wipes his eyes and stands up straight, the last laughs leaving his throat. “What are you going to do?”

You stare at him. He stares at you. Your sparkling irises gazes into his darkening ones.

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Taehyung cries out, “I just can’t!”

“Taehyungggg.” You moan out the last syllable, drawing it for an extended time while pouting. His lips have fallen to the side, no longer laughing or joking around with you. You have a feeling that he won’t budge on this matter.

“Noooo…” He pulls out the last syllable like you, mimicking your childishness.

“Whyyy?”

“Because I don’t even want to be a fake boyfriend to you.” He thinks about it and then scrunches up his face, flailing his hands like it’s infested with germs. “The thought is so ewwwukkkkkk. Yuck! That’s like being a fake boyfriend to my sister!”

“You don’t even have a sister.” You have to admit the thought of being with Taehyung more than platonically is disgusting. It’s pretty gross but you’re in a desperate situation. “C’mon Taetae, it’s only for one night, for a few hours.”

He shakes his head. “Ask someone else, bro.”

“You know I have no one else.”

“No! Just...no.” He doesn’t look at you to make sure you won’t guilt trip him into it. “I’ve put up with enough of your antics over the years, okay? I’ve done a lot. Find someone else, Y/N.”

Before you can penetrate through the barriers, Taehyung takes off running in the opposite direction. You scream after him, chasing him across the courtyard before his long legs out run you. “Taehyung-! You bast….ard! I hate you!”

//

You show up like a sad puppy on her doorstep.

She takes one look at you and slams the door. But luckily you catch it, intruding into her apartment. “Somi. I-”

“Save it.” The girl in short blonde hair and pouty pink lips crosses her arms. “I already heard it all from Taehyung.”

You gasp, tearing off your shoes to march into the living room. “I knew it! I knew it! So you two do have a group chat without me!”

“I already know what you’re going to ask me.” Somi cuts to the chase with a pointed look. “No.”

Your body slumps down to the floor and you cry to the wooden floorboards. “Why?”

“You know I’m trying to go out with Suran.” She sits down on the floor with you, trying to appease you like you’re a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. “If she catches wind that I’m going out with you...fake or not...it won’t look good. Things are...delicate….”

You sniffle, “You fucked up, didn’t you?”

Somi smiles slightly. “I may or may not have accidentally ran into my psychotic ex on our last date.”

“Oh my god. The one that keyed your car?”

“Yep.” Somi shudders and shakes her head. “I’m sorry, pumpkin. Have you tried to ask someone else out? I mean...there’s plenty of people on campus and I’m sure there’s someone nice who would be willing to help y-”

“There’s no one!”

“Why does the sorority even matter?” Her eye twitches and the anger surges when she realizes everything that’s coming out of her mouth is right. “I’ve heard about the things they made you do and it sounds horrific. The people in there don’t give any shits about you! They’re bitches with shallow exteriors. They talk trash girls that are different from them and then turn around to talk about each other. It’s a backstabbing-bitch battlefield! Why are you doing this to yourself? You don’t need them or their validation.”

“I just...want to, okay?”

It’s true that they might treat you badly. Okay. Not might. They do.

You’ve been feeling like a modern day servant or slave. You’ve also been designated as the permanent one to go on their coffee runs. But you’re used to being treated badly. It doesn’t hurt that much. Plus, you’re too determined to give up.

//

Taehyung lugs his bag full of textbooks back to his dormitory, dragging his feet with him. He had gone for a three hour study session in the library, tackled a handful of assignments and readings, punching in page-long equations into his calculator. It’s only been less than a month into the school year. He has no idea how he’ll survive. All he wishes is to get a hot steaming shower and collapse on his bed for the next ten hours.

But as he opens the door, he screeches. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

You’re scrolling through his laptop, perched on top of his ruffled sheets. Your eyes don’t stray away from the screen and your mouth casually murmurs out, “came through the window.”

Taehyung quickly shuts the door before someone can catch a girl in his room. It would be even worse if the RA saw. He locks it for good measure and then skedaddles over to close the window that’s letting in a chilling breeze. “Y/N….”

“I’m on this site…” You squint your eyes and he flickers on his lamp, allowing the glow to provide more luminescence. “It’s called Rent-A-Boyfriend but it’s so...expensive.” You sob lightly. As a poor college student that’s completely broke, there’s no way you can afford a luxury like this.

Never mind eating instant ramen for the rest of your life, you would have to rely on photosynthesis and gaining nutrients from the polluted air.

Taehyung scoffs and he begins to unpack his belongings, throwing his things on his desk and not paying attention to you. “If I went to the corner street, do you think anyone would want me?”

“They’d probably throw you into their truck and drive to some abandoned warehouse. Then, they’d sell you off to some foreign country.” He mumbles, agonizing about his future study sessions as he skims his notes. Perhaps he’ll consult Namjoon who seems to be doing well.

“If I hold up a sign downtown, do you think anyone would help me?” You exhale, giving up on the site and escort pages you were looking at. You close the laptop, rolling on your stomach to look at your friend.

“No. The police might show up since you’d be loitering.”

You drop your face into his pillow, the onslaught of his cologne and clean shampoo filling your senses. “What do I do?!” Your voice is muffled but your cry is all too clear.

Taehyung finally twists around to look at you. He sighs for a long time. Ten agonizing seconds pass. “Fine.”

“What?!” You shoot right up and your eyes glimmer. “Really?!”

“You better be grateful that I’m such a good best friend and that I won’t dump your sorry ass even though Somi says I should.” Taehyung’s certain that he’ll regret this decision. But for now, you’re looking up at him like he’s lifted the sun back up and it makes him feel a bit better. “I’ll do it with the cost of five meals.”

“Three.”

“Six.”

Your jaw drops, “Hey! You raised it!”

“Keep talking and I’ll make it ten.” Taehyung grins and stretches out his aching muscles. He plops down beside your body and you pretend to zip up your lips.

Taehyung threatens to go eat the most expensive steak at the most expensive restaurant. It’s only after you whine to him that he tells you to pay for his convenience store food. Instead of showering and hitting the sack like he had intended to do, he’s out at midnight, sitting outside on a dingy bench with steaming hot instant noodles, eating with you.

It’s not such a horrible alternative.

//

The sorority is completely white with pillars on either side, a dim glow appearing from inside. At the brown double doors, it looks like a humongous palace and you gulp nervously. Your fingers pull on the modest blue dress you have and you look over at Taehyung.

He’s pulled out his fancy clothes, Gucci-whatever and you still don’t know he could afford it with his old part-time job of working at the diner. His long sleeved shirt is tucked into his pants, paired with a belt. You can admit when Taehyung cleans up and he doesn’t look like a stressed out college student half dying and burning in hell, he looks pretty damn good.

“Do whatever you need to do to prepare yourself.”

“Okay. I’m not standing next to Y/N.” He shuts his eyes and braces himself, murmuring under his breath. “This is Rachel Mcadams. I’m standing next to Rachel Mcadams. I’m going on a date with Rachel Mcadams. Okay….okay….” There’s an extended moment of silence. “Alright!”

You jump in a startled response when he suddenly grabs your hand and holds it.

Taehyung smiles and knocks on the door once. It swings open and one of the girls snarl at your appearance. “Oh. It’s number five. Did you bring your boyfriend?” The girl you recognize as Sandra swings her head over and then she does a double take. Her mouth drops and she openly ogles your best friend, scanning him up and down. “I- uh..this-”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Kim Taehyung.” He tips his head to the side, wearing a smirk and using his infamous charms to shake her hand. The girl gasps and wheezes. You hold back from rolling your eyes. “You’re a very beautiful lady. Thank you for opening the door for us.”

She makes a strangled noise. “Come in.”

As you enter, he leans over and angrily whispers to you. “Do they really call you by a number?” You hum, nudging him to be quiet as you turn the corner into the massive dining room.

“N-number five is here. I-I mean...”

“Y/N.” You correct when she turns around and stares at Taehyung some more.

“Y/N’s here.” She mutters and snaps out of it, shaking her head to sit down at the table. It’s then that it dawns on you that you were the last one to show up, about twenty two people seated around in total, six of them being sorority sisters There aren’t any more chairs and it occurs to you that two of the ten candidates never showed up.

Everyone is staring at Taehyung. “And..who is this?”

“Hello, my name is Kim Taehyung. It’s nice to meet all you pretty women.” He pulls out the chair for you and gestures you into it. You sit down and the leader nods her head slowly, perhaps in suspicion that you managed to reel in such a beautiful boy that looks like he was carved from angel tears.

“We were just beginning to eat. But now that everyone’s here, feel free to dig in.”

The hired waiters put down the plates and you begin to eat in small, delicate bites. Everyone around the table takes turns to introduce themselves, their majors and their relationship details. Some males appear highly uncomfortable and a few are basking in the attention, even going as far as to let their eyes wander to the pushed up breasts of the sorority sisters.

The leader smirks, going as far as to lean over the table more. The girlfriend of the guy has obviously realized what’s happening but she’s unable to say anything, trapped in utter humiliation.

Taehyung manages to keep his wits and realizes what the girls are trying to do. When you met the kid years ago, he was an awkward and introverted fellow. You wonder how he made such a change and how he could even enchant babies at the supermarket with one killer look.

“I met Y/N in high school and I don’t know but we’ve always had a connection.” He throws his arm over you and pulls you close to him. “Isn’t that right?”

You laugh lightly. “I was the one who approached him and told him to be my friend.” What you’re saying is the most truthful thing you’ve done all evening and night. “He attracted so many people and I thought it would be easier to make friends if I was around him.”

“Who knew we’d become the best of friends and gradually fall in love…”

Taehyung’s teeth are gritted and your own fists are clenched in your lap. You don’t have telepathic abilities but one glimpse of him is all it takes for you to know that he’s doing the exact same thing you are - cringing and screaming in your heads. “She helped me break out of my shell and loved me even when I had long limbs and so much acne.”

“You, having acne?” Krystal is a gorgeous sister with long, black hair and milky skin. Her aura has been that of an ice queen, cold and calculating, intimidating. She’s dazzling and reminds you of a porcelain doll.

Krystal bats Taehyung playfully on his shoulder and her sudden smile makes you blink twice. “I can’t imagine. But the two of you are so cute. High school sweethearts are always adorable.”

“Aren’t we?”

Taehyung gazes into your eyes, a millimeter away. “We are.” The guy has the audacity to nuzzle into you, rubbing his nose against yours. You hold in your vomit. Taehyung’s smile is tense.

Your best friend pulls away and pecks your forehead in another form of pda. You push him away, a bit harshly and he nearly falls out of his chair. “Oh, stop it, you.”

The entire table had to be witness to your cringey actions but at least they seem to believe you’re in a legitimate relationship now. The leader decides to move on, interrogating other couples.

“Do you both go on a lot of dates to fast food places?” The sorority head asks two of them and the girl fidgets in discomfort. Her boyfriend faintly grazes his rounded stomach and grimaces.

“You should try going on an exercise date. Running is really healthy.” The leader tips her head and smiles. “You two are actually the perfect pair. You should try losing weight together.”

You're becoming more and more irritated by the second but the chance to speak up is stolen by your best friend. “Isn't that a bit rude?” Taehyung swoops in, saving the couple and surprising you. The sisters seem even more shocked, appalled that he uttered a word and intervened. “I'm sorry but it's a bit difficult for me to sit here and watch.”

“I-”

“Such a pretty person shouldn't say such ugly words.” He leans his chin in his propped hand, attention solely on the flushing girl. “You don't want to be a bad girl now, do you? Only good girls get rewarded...in life, that is.”

The leader clears her throats with a quiet ‘alright’, moving on and the couple smile at him in thankfulness. You admire your friend for being able to muster the courage that you lack.

As you listen and munch on your salad, you notice some movement underneath the table. Taehyung is completely stiff, blushing from his chin to the top of his hairline. It’s a stark contrast from before and his cool facade has shattered. He discreetly elbows you as if to grab your attention but you can already see it.

Krystal is playing footsies underneath the table with Taehyung, caressing her bare leg against his. Her hand is also on his thigh, moving up and up. You instantly dart your pupils elsewhere.

“Uh-”

Before anything can be said, the leader stands up from the table and she smiles. “Ladies, could we have a brief meeting in the other room? Everyone is required to come. Men, feel free to continue.”

Krystal detaches from him and Taehyung releases a sigh of relief, eyeing you closely as you firmly nod, leaving the room. The sorority sisters surround the eight of you and they strangely appear friendly.

“Good job.” The redhead pats one of the candidates on the shoulder. “You all did a fantastic job.”

Your companions relieve themselves, including you. But then the brunette steps forward with the click of her heel. “There's one last obstacle before all of you can officially be part of the group.”

The leader smirks, pacing in front of the scared little lambs. “In this sorority, we are all sisters. Sisters meaning we share everything. That's how we build an everlasting bond. But boys always get in the way. They break up friendships and cause all sorts of drama. Hence, to prove the rule of sisters before any misters, you will watch us sleep with each of your boyfriends.”

The redhead giggles, “sharing is caring.”

Krystal and a few of the sorority sisters looked as shocked as the candidates. A girl beside you murmurs that she might be sick. They shiver and look to the floor, contemplating their morals while some look like they’re up for the challenge. You feel a muscle in your cheek jerk.

“I’m sorry.” You cough out. “I don’t think I can do this.”

The leader quirks her brow at you and the brunette seems to be disappointed she can’t lay a hand on your supposed ‘boyfriend’. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t think this sorority is right for me.”

You can live shamelessly and boldly to do what you want. You can self-sacrifice and allow yourself to be humiliated. But you will never let Taehyung be harmed in such a way.

“D-do you know what this means?!” The leader stammers out, appalled at your rejection.

“Yes.” Everything you worked so hard for will go to waste. “I’m sorry.”

You bow your head as you move past them out of the room. They can scream, throw objects at you, haze you but you have to let Taehyung walk out of this place with his dignity. You can only hope the other candidates will have enough respect for themselves and their significant others as well.

“What’s wrong?” Your dear best friend blinks up at you in bewilderment. The other eight males look at you and you shake your head. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, not really.” You grab onto his wrist pulling him up. Taehyung drops his scone and wipes his fingers on the napkin. “Let’s go home.”

“O-okay…”

The both of you lead yourselves outside, without turning back once but he stops you on their lawn. Taehyung laughs nervously at your serious expression. “No, seriously...what happened? Why did we leave? I thought this was important to you…”

You shrug. “I just came to my senses. They never treated me right and it feels wrong to be in there.”

“That’s it?” He looks at you in suspicion, studying your face. “There’s nothing more?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. Well, I’m glad.” He begins to walk with you, hands buried within his pockets. Tae grins, “that place is deranged. They’re really rude and it’s insane how long you stayed there for...”

“Yeah. They are.” There’s a long silence where the luminesces of the street lamps cascades down their glow. You bask in the peacefulness of the street. “Thanks.”

His eyebrow lifts. “What for?”

“I don’t know. For coming with me….putting up with them...being my friend.”

You know it’s the right thing to do. There was no doubt that you should leave such a toxic place behind but you can’t help feeling empty. Everything you’ve been working so hard towards, your goal and your backbreaking labour for the past three weeks has disappeared in front of your very eyes. You realize how difficult it is to let go of something that seems so important in the moment. But you know you’ll thank yourself later for it.

Despite feeling empty, you could be alone right now to dwell in your sorrows but you’re not. Taehyung’s still here with you.

“Okay. Now there must be something wrong with you.”

You match Taehyung’s humongous grin, laughing and bumping into him purposely. “Why?! I can’t thank you without being suspected of something?! Wow, what a friend!”

“Is there someone recording?” He tries to search for a hidden camera around. “Is this going to be a prank put on youtube? I don’t want to go viral. Someone’s hiding in these bushes, aren’t they?!” He screams at the plant, shooting out his hands in a martial arts position. “Ahh!”

You laugh, the misery slowly but surely evaporating from your heavy chest. “No one’s hiding in the bush, idiot. Maybe your brain. Did you forget to bring it with you again?!”

“Rude.” He snaps playfully, “you just thanked me for being your friend and now you’re insulting me. What kind of contradictions are you throwing out there, girl?”

You giggle but before you can retort and banter along with him, there are huffs and puffs behind you. When you turn, you find Krystal having dashed four blocks to catch up. The beautiful girl with long hair is bending over with her hands on her knees, catching her breath. “H..ey…”

There’s a look of exchange between you and Taehyung. He decides to go on ahead to allow some privacy and you stride up to the sorority female. “Are you okay?”

“I-...” She breathes in and sputters, pounding her chest. “I wanted to apologize. I didn’t know that they were going to do that. It went too far...I’m sorry. For everything actually...the girls, they can be really nice but they-”

“It’s okay.”

You’re fully aware that Krystal is a decent girl. She was never cruel to you like the other members. You also knew that she was intelligent and a fashion design major, ridiculously gorgeous and better than you can ever be. “I saw what you were doing to Taehyung.”

“I-” Her face transforms into a shade of scarlet. “I’m sorry. It was inappropriate of me.” She rushes to explain, “he’s your boyfriend and I-”

“Actually, he’s not. I don’t have a boyfriend.” You admit to the girl. “He’s just a friend who was helping me out.”

You shouldn’t stand in the way of Taehyung’s relationships. The best thing you can do is be a good friend, a good wingwoman and not cockblock him like you’ve done a handful of times before. He’s your dear friend that you want to treat well.

“Tae’s a really good guy so if you’re interested and serious about him, you should totally go for it.”

Krystal registers your approval and she nods with a bright smile. “Okay. Thanks, Y/N.”

“No problem.”

“You’re a really good person.” Krystal tucks a strand of her midnight hair behind her ear, lips puckered in a rosy shade. She looks like a painting. “I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone.”

Your head tilts to the starless sky. “Hopefully.”

//

The world is punishing you.

“Fifth ramen of the day! Let’s go!” You fist pump the air in an attempt to make yourself feel better as you stir up the cup noodle on your dingy cardboard box-makeshift-table, sitting on the stool you bought at the dollar store. “I’m not sick of it at all!”

You might be going crazy.

After you left the sorority, you tried to enter the dormitory but you were late to the application process and all their rooms were full. You talked to Somi about it and you couch surfed for a week at her place but you didn’t want to intrude on her and her evil roommate - who you swear has it out for you. The evil roommate threw out your food in the fridge and only said ‘oops’ when you asked her about it and your clothes were on the floor all the time for no reason.

There was no other choice but to move out on your own to some poor apartment that was as small as a closet with walls that were peeling, cabinets that came right off if you tried to open them and stained, coarse carpet that you don’t even want to know the story behind. You could’ve tried to move back with your dad but that’s a four hour transportation process, meaning eight hours a day and you would get endless questions from him. You’d be better off sleeping at the train station on a bench.

The apartment isn’t that bad…..it’s pretty close to your school at least...

“Are you a law student?” Someone at the buffet table looks at you.

“O-of course I am!” You laugh nervously. “I-I’m in your Criminal Law 101 class..your name is…”

“Seokjin.” He frowns and then smiles, piling food onto his plate like you are. “Strange. I’m sorry. I just thought I hadn’t seen you around before. What’s your name?”

“Somi.”

You hurry back to your table, sitting at the very back to stuff your face and grumbling stomach. For the past two weeks since you’ve moved into the place, you’ve been eating so meagerly that you discovered another solution - the holy grail that is conventions.

There were a ton of networking events for all sorts of majors and graduate students. The trick was to slip in, pretend you belong there and act casually. You’d listen in on the presenters trying to inspire future workers and then, you could completely raid the tables, stuff your face to your heart’s content. They often fed you better than your own mother did.

Sometimes, you’d get dragged out.

But six out of ten times, no one really noticed anything.

“You’ve been doing what now?!” Somi groans and facepalms when you reveal what you’ve been up to. “Oh, Y/N.”

Instead of being upset and telling you off, your best friend sympathizes with you as she looks around the tiny place. She’s sitting on the second stool, knees gathered together. At the sound of scattering in the corner, you ease her by telling her it’s not a cockroach.

Occasionally it’s better to lie than to tell the truth.

“You should’ve moved in with me when I asked you to. Now I can’t kick out my nutty roommate. Her lease is all the way to next year and my own is the same.” Somi exhales, “as much as I’d like to be poor together with you, I can’t. There is some old furniture we have though..if you want.”

Your eyes light up and you nod enthusiastically.

Well...your own life might be falling by the seams but other people seemed to be having a better time than you are, namely Taehyung. You’ve seen him around with Krystal lately and you tried not to intrude, only texting your friend to catch up with him. The sorority girl’s already making her move and you applaud her for it.

“You’re really so cute, do you know that Tae?” Her hands are on the boy’s thighs, stroking up and down at an excruciating pace. “You’re handsome too and so...thick.”

Taehyung gulps, scanning the library premise but when he’s in the corner and certain things are happening underneath the table, no one seems to notice at all. The only person that calls him ‘Tae’ is you or Somi - you’re the one who made up the nickname for him anyways. It sounds weird to have someone else call him that.

“D-don’t you have a boyfriend?” He sweats from his hairline, cheeks flaming up to a thousand degrees.

“No. I broke up with him awhile ago.” She shifts closer, bare thighs brushing against his and uncaring that her skirt is pooling higher and higher. Her hot breath whispers against the shell of his ear. “Things weren’t working out since he wasn’t able to satisfy me. I’m lonely at night, Tae. Do you think you can help me?”

Taehyung swallows hard and his eyes dart, thankful to see you.

He shoves Krystal off and hastily says ‘gotta go’. He abandons his belongings to chase your shadow in the maze of bookshelves and cases. “Y/N!”

“Oh dear god!” Your heart stopped beating, startled from him. The librarian immediately hushes you two sharply and a few studying students glare from their books. “What do you want?”

“What is up with that girl, Krystal.” He leans on the shelves, whispering hastily under his breath. “That girl’s coming onto me like strong….she's got game. I-I am just so confused right now. Like is this a dream?!”

You smile at your friend, taking the novel off the top shelf. “She's a nice girl. You should try to get it on with her or something. Wouldn't want the chance to fly away.”

He nods and hums in a delayed response. “Thanks Y/N. You hooked me up with her, right?”

You laugh as he suddenly throws his arms around you. He makes you pet his hair like he's some kind of dog. “At least one of us is getting some…”

//

Your friend is popular by nature. It’s always been that way. You can remember the awkward years but how he still managed to draw a crowd merely by being himself. In retrospect, no matter what you do, not many people stick around. It isn’t necessarily because you’re a bad person but you tend to make others feel uncomfortable with your natural boldness.

“I can’t believe you got invited into a frat party and I didn’t.” You mutter underneath your breath bitterly and Somi laughs.

“He is technically part of the house…”

From Krystal’s influence, Taehyung had entered the Lambda Sigma Squared fraternity and it didn’t take a full week before they accepted him. He didn’t even need to go through any hazing rituals or grueling challenges. You can’t help but feel a bit jealous.

But for now, the music is thumping the walls and ceiling, strobe lights flashing colourful hues in the dark crowd of sweaty bodies. You can’t feel a single thing aside from euphoria with the liquid courage burning through your veins. The red solo cup is filled with a concoction that you can’t begin to describe. It’s some part apple juice but most part vodka, tequila, whiskey and rum. It tastes atrocious but you feel great.

“Oh my god.” The brightness of Somi’s phone makes you and Taehyung wince. “Suran’s here. She’s at the front door.” Your friend is jumping for joy and you grin.

Tae shoots out his arm through the sea of people, “go forth young one and be with your truest love.”

“Will you guys be okay here?” She’s shaking and jittery, the type of excited drunk that for once overrides her calm rationale.

“What? Ditch us for your girlfriend? Psh, completely fine.” You make a waving motion and her smile dies down. “I’m joking! Gosh, why do you take everything so seriously?!” You push her through and she grins again, yelling a ‘see you later’ over the booming music.

There’s a long silence between you and Taehyung as you sway to the music and Tae leans against the wall. He takes a good look at you. “Are you alright? What’s up?”

Of course of all the people, he would know that there’s something wrong.

You take a long drink, tipping your head back and downing the entire cup until it’s empty. With a recoil at the bitter taste, you narrow your eyes. “If Somi can get a girlfriend, if you can find someone and all these people can get with other people…” You bite away the pain with a hard blink, “why can’t I have someone?”

“Y/N….”

The people who knew you would assume that you’re a psychotic drunk that jumps, climbs onto things, humps the floor and flirts with others. In reality, you’re the emotional type that tends to start crying for no reason. You know it’s happening but you can’t really help it.

Your emotion of sadness is amplified ten fold and a puppy walking past is enough for you to burst into tears, thinking about all the unloved pets in the world.

“I deserve love too!” You sob out and Taehyung sighs, begrudgingly patting your shoulder.

“Listen-”

In the mass of people grinding on each other, spilling alcohol on the floor, a certain girl in a short black dress revealing too much thigh and cleavage comes ripping through the horde. “Taehyung!”

“K-Krystal!” Your nervous friend smiles charmingly and she monopolizes him within an instant. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

“Same here. It must be fate that we ran into each other.” Her red stained lips are puckered and perfect, curls in her hair rest at her shoulders. “You look good, Tae.” Krystal runs her hand over his chest and she nibbles on her bottom lip. He staggers his breathing.

The woman emits an air of absolute sexiness and confidence. You feel envious but it’s overridden by the thought that your best friend is going to get lucky tonight. As her eyes flicker to yours, you know it’s your cue to leave.

“Y/N...I didn’t know you were here either.”

“Not for long. I’m a person on a mission.” You will find someone. You won’t be alone. And you’ll do whatever it takes. “Catch you later, Taehyung..”

As you dive into the crowd, he lets his eyes linger and follow until you’ve all but disappeared in the ocean of people. Taehyung simply laughs and shakes his head to himself.

//

The sunshine sears into his bedroom, causing him to groan with a thumping headache. The girl beside him whimpers and returns back to sleep. Taehyung staggers to the bathroom to find hickies marked all over his neck. His mind travels back in time and he remembers the alcohol and the bedroom, sweaty sheets and the feeling of skin on skin...also very loud noises, the unpleasant kind like banshees are shrieking.

The memory causes him to shiver.

As he goes down the stairs to find some aspirin that’s in a kitchen drawer, he catches a conversation in the living room. “Did you fuck her?”

“God no. I send her home without even making out or getting a blowjob.”

The voice he recognizes as Jungkook piques his interest. He hasn’t had many opportunities to talk to him before but he seemed like the typical guy and a well respected brother of the frat.

“Aw, why not man? She was so fucking desperate for that dick.” Hoseok laughs, “what was her name?”

“I don’t fucking know. Why would I know?” It’s not Taehyung’s intention to eavesdrop but it’s more of his ears accidentally being active. They’re only a wall away but he pays no mind as he gets a glass of water and takes the pill to ease the nausea. “It was...uh...Y/N, right. Fuck.”

Taehyung sputters.

“Why didn’t you just bang her? It’s not like you to refuse anyone.”

Jungkook exhales in irritation, “I would have but she’s just so fucking annoying.”

Hoseok giggles, “oh shit.”

“If only I somehow could’ve covered her face up and gag her so she’d shut up.”

The two frat boys are lying on the couch, catching up on some video games together. They partied all night and got woken up by their respective sleeping partners, cute girls that went dashing in yesterday’s dresses like a hot mess. The both of them don’t remember their names.

“You’re such an asshat, you know that?”

One second they’re joking around with each other, the next…

Taehyung’s marched into the other room and his clenched knuckles is meeting the cheek of Jeon Jungkook in a punch that nearly shatters bone.

//

It’s really odd. Taehyung had left his dormitory and went to the frat house and then left that place all in the course of two weeks. He never really tells you why and you’re completely bewildered when it seemed like he was having fun and fitting in nicely with his ‘brothers’.

Well, it’s ex-brothers now.

He doesn’t say anything about it and there aren’t any rumours spreading around at his sudden leave. You suspect that there’s been a cover-up, maybe an embarrassing situation had transpired. Krystal was the one who asked you for the reason when you were going to ask her. Somi was as confused as you are. Taehyung simply told you that it wasn’t a right fit, like how you didn’t match with the sorority you tried to join.

But everything ended up fine anyways.

“We can be poor together!” You celebrate in your tiny apartment, staring at the dirty couch you had bought from a guy living on the streets. He took fifty bucks for it and your best friend told you that you totally got scammed. “This is destiny, dude! Who knew that two separate bedrooms would come in handy? And here I thought I got duped when the realtor showed this place to me.”

“I wonder if I betrayed my nation in my past life.” Taehyung mutters dramatically as he attempts to hot glue the wallpaper back onto the wall. “What did I do to deserve this?”

You ignore his sobs, boiling some expired pasta on the weak gas stove - you’re pretty sure the extra salt you added will kill any germs or bacteria that could get you sick….probably.

It was a lot less lonely now that you have Taehyung around. You don’t feel like you’re suffering alone and with the extra money he’s chipping in, you don’t have to sneak into conferences or networking events to eat that often anymore.

“Maybe this opportunity will make you realize that you’ve been in love with me this entire time.”

Taehyung looks down from where he’s standing on the stool. You’re holding the slotted spoon in your hand, blinking up at him innocently.

“I’m moving out.”

“I’m joking!” You have to grab onto his ankle when he tries to get to the doorway. Taehyung drags your entire body while he lugs his anchored leg. “Please don’t go!”

Life with Taehyung is great.

“Did you just fucking fart?”

He chucks a grimy cushion at you and you evade the dust cloud. This evening, after an intense match of rock-paper-scissors, Taehyung has won couch privileges which means you get to sit on the floor to finish school work. But really, the floor isn’t as bad as the bug infested sofa.

“GOD! What did you even eat, lady?!” Taehyung pinches his nose.

You laugh as he shouts that there’s been a nuclear bomb attack. “I had bean burritos for lunch.”

What were you saying? Oh yeah… Life with Taehyung isn’t so bad-

“What are you doing?!” He shrieks and shuts his eyes, clawing at his face while simultaneously melting onto the floor. You scoff at him, kicking the side of his ribs before stepping over his body.

“I forgot to bring my clothes in the bathroom and I was doing laundry...so...no towels either. Nude life!” Your words shoot past the man who’s still groaning on the dirty floorboards. It’s as if he’s going through a metamorphosis or in the middle of an exorcist, screaming and flailing his limbs.

You question how he has so much energy at midnight and how he never fails to act childishly. But maybe that’s why the two of you are such close friends. “Oh c’mon. Don’t be embarrassed, Taehyung! You’ve seen it all before.”

Your naked body collapses on the sofa and he gets up off the floor. “Doesn’t mean I want to see it again.”

“Hey.” You fill your mouth with chips, stuffing your cheek. “My body is goddess-like. The whole world’s just missing out.”

“What? On those bee stings of yours?”

You gasp, “do not call my boobs bee stings!”

“Sorry.” Taehyung hurls your jacket on top of your head for you to wear temporarily, so you won’t get cold and complain about it. “I meant mosquito bites.”

“Rude.”

You’re beginning to question if life with Taehyung is that great or not.

It is fun. And you’re not so poor anymore which is a massive plus. Your best friend proves to be your best friend for a reason. Taehyung’s is a companion you adore to be with, to tease and to chat to. You almost don’t feel too bad about being single anymore. Almost.

“Aren’t you quiet today?” He frowns and spins around, deciding to finish his paper later or maybe tomorrow...or whenever the deadline is. “Y/N? Earth to Y/N…”

“Hm?” You lift your head from your phone monitor, met with Taehyung in his heart patterned pajamas. “What?”

“What are-...is that tinder?!” The honey brown haired boy gapes at you with an open mouth.

You continue to swipe left without looking. “Don’t judge me. You have hot Krystal taking you out on dates and leaving me here every other night.”

He collapses next to you, watching the netflix show on your laptop propped up on a chair. “Are you not even looking at their profiles?”

“Nope.” You pop the ‘p’ syllable, finger still moving erratically across the screen as your eyes pin on the monitor where two characters are running towards each other after being separated for ten years. “I think there’s a glitch with my app. Maybe it’s the wifi. I’m not getting any matches.”

“That’s weird.”

“I know right.”

The both of you sit in silence for the rest of the half hour, finishing the show. Taehyung chows down on your hot cheetos and feeds you when you open your mouth with an ‘ah’. He doesn’t really care that your hair has been unwashed for the past two days or that the rips in the couch scratch uncomfortably on his skin. The pair of you simply allow time to pass as the flickerings of the lights flash onto your faces until it dies out.

“What the fuck?!”

“Shit.” Taehyung jumps from your sudden yelling voice. “You startled me!”

“Why am I not getting any matches?!” You cry out, still swiping. “I’ve downloaded this, Bumble, eHarmony, OkCupid, everything under the damn sun!”

“Well maybe-”

“Ow.” You wince and the mobile device falls from your hand. Taehyung yawns, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He feels terribly drowsy and exhausted, no better dream than to collapse onto his bedsheets at this very moment.

He groans with your hiss, “What is it now, woman?”

“My thumb hurts, Tae.”

“Well yeah, you’ve been swiping for how long now?”

“Three hours...I think four actually.” You whimper out, trying to bend the bone.

“Dear lord.” He shakes his head and stretches his arms out. “Go ice it or something. I think I’m going to head to bed now. See you in the morni-”

A strangled shout erupts from your lips. Taehyung is jolted awake and he immediately flickers on the lights. It takes a second before electricity runs through the bulb but when he lays his eyes onto your thumb that you’re trying to fold into your palm, he sharply inhales. “Oh fuck.”

Your digit is not only swollen but bruised, bent in a weird direction, coloured blue and purple.

“You actually sprained it!”

“Did you think I was making it up?!”

“Oh my god...why can’t I have a day of peace with you?! Get up!”

“What?” You’re hauled up when his hand wraps around your other wrist. “Where are we going?!”

“The hospital.”

//

You’ve died.

Suddenly, as you peel back your lids, you’re in a large room of white. It burns to the back of your eyeballs, the immaculate shade of purity embracing your cold heart and the pain of your hand has dwindled into nothing. Wherever you look, wherever you go, there are good looking people everywhere. Women and men are dressed in ivory coats, slicked back hair and adorning gorgeous smiles. This is Heaven.

“Are you her guardian? Please register.” The nurse hands your best friend the clipboard and several sheets of paperwork. He sighs and drags you with him as he takes a spot in the open waiting room. Your eyes are going all over the place and you’re drooling.

He snaps his fingers in front of you. “Y/N, Y/N...Y/N?” When you look at him, he pets your hair like you’re a puppy. “Good girl. Now I need you to use your left hand and sign here.”

You obey his command and he nods, filling in your home address and your date of birth, everything in between for you. “Taehyung. Be honest with me…” You ogle a smoking surgeon as they ruffle their sweaty locks, rushing past you. “Am I dead?”

“Yes.” He giggles, deciding to entertain you despite it being one in the morning.

“If this is Heaven…” Your pupils find his. “Then why are you here?”

He uses the clipboard to lightly smack the top of your head. You let out an ‘ow’ but he saunters off to submit the papers to the counter before sitting back down. “How could you hit someone ill?”

“You’re not ill.” He nags, “and you did this to yourself.”

“Maybe it was worth it. Why are there so many good looking doctors and nurses, here? I’ve been missing out, Tae. This is where it’s at. Maybe you should break my leg so I can stay longer.”

“At this rate, I might run you over with a car first.” He holds his head in his hands, questioning every single deity and god he knows the name of, as to why you’re so thirsty and desperate.

Your best friend’s phone buzzes in his pocket and he pulls it out. You lean over, reading his messages over his shoulder. It’s Krystal and she’s asking him what he’s doing, sending a wink emoticon along with the message. He stares at it for a second and then puts his phone away.

“You’re not gonna answer that?”

“Nah.” He shuts his eyes, crosses his arms and leans back. “I’m too tired to.”

You let out a baffled scoff. If it was Taehyung, he could afford to give radio silence for two full weeks and people would still be all over him. If it were you, no matter how far and wide you would search, there would be absolutely no one.

You repress the urge to strangle Taehyung out of pure jealousy.

“I really don’t understand it.” Every once in a while, you would consult him on some girl advice, whether it’s on what preferences men have on lingerie or ranting as to why people are so difficult. He always listens and it reminds you of the sleepovers that you, Somi and Taehyung used to have in high school.

“Am I pretty, Taehyung? Or is it because I’m just unlovable?”

“I think you’re a bit psychotic but you’re honestly fine.” He mutters and opens his eyes slowly. “Half-decent, I guess.”

“Psh, thanks for the comfort, dude.” You nudge him and he laughs. The two of you don’t get to banter back and forth when Somi comes strutting down the hallway with her hands on her hips.

Her kitten heels click against the tiles and you suddenly feel you’re getting into trouble with your mom or a teacher. You stand up and Tae follows you, silenced by the menacing aura approaching. “What did you do, young lady?”

“Nothing.”

“She sprained her thumb by swiping left on tinder for four consecutive hours.” As if to further mock you, Taehyung hitches his healthy thumb to your form beside him.

You whip your head up with a sharp glare. “Tattletale.”

Taehyung grins mischievously, shrugging his shoulder upwards as his mouth moves into a boxy shape. Somi’s face falls within her hands as she mumbles something like ‘oh god’. “You’re an embarrassment, you know that?” She scolds you without restraint, “you should be lucky I’m working a graveyard shift.”

Somi’s in the nursing program and to help add to her resume, she’s working part time at the hospital. You never thought it would come in handy until now. “Thank you.”

“Wait here until I can get some bandages or something…” She gradually backs away. “Both of you. Do. not. move. I don’t need any trouble around here.” When you nod and Taehyung mimics your motion, she takes off running down the hall.

You’ve never had a boyfriend or girlfriend in your entire existence. You’ve never once been embraced tightly. You’ve never had a lover before. You haven’t been kissed. You haven’t held hands with someone. You haven’t been touched or caressed by another. You don’t know what it feels like to mean the world to someone or to be held close by a person’s heart. The words of ‘I love you’ have never been spoken on your tongue.

But you have also never been alone.

As you watch one of your best friends scatter away, you turn to directly face the other one beside you.

“Maybe the person I’ve been looking for this entire time has been standing right in front of me.”

Taehyung who’s standing in front of you, steps off to the side almost immediately, nearly getting whiplash from the movement. He bursts out into laughter and the corners of your own mouth lift upwards.

[once-upon-a-ouat]

OUAT Rewatch 1x01 “Pilot”

I had so many thoughts on this episode. I could literally write pages and pages but no one has the time for that so I decided to go with the short version.

The text at the beginning gives me chills every time. The idea that all the fairytale characters that we think we know are in our world and their happy endings are stolen is just so... wild. I’ve always loved fairytales and twists so give me a fairytale with a twist and you’ve got me hooked. It’s only been ten seconds and I’m already here like “Tell me more!”

I loved the introduction of Snow and Charming. The whole scene where he woke her from the curse was so cute it had me screeching. We got the first “I will always find you”. The transition between that scene and their wedding was perfect. I also loved Regina’s introduction and the interaction between the three of them. Snow pulling out David’s sword was hella badass. And I love how David told her “Don’t stoop to her level” but later when he saw how worried she was after Regina threatened them, he just lost it and threw the sword at Regina. The transition from that scene to the next was also awesome. We got to see the book for the first time and also Henry.

Emma’s introduction was pretty awesome too. She’s a badass just like her mom. But she’s also a woman who’s lonely and hurting. And then just as she wished not to be alone, Henry showed up at her door like “I’m your son”. Way to go, Henry. I honestly thought Emma would have a heart attack. Props to Jennifer Morrison for totally nailing that.

The part with Emma’s superpower was kinda lame but also cool. We later learn that Henry loves superheroes and it turns out that his mom has a superpower. That makes her even more the hero that Henry believes her to be. And on that note, I just loved the part where Emma told him “You’ve got problems” and Henry responded with “Yep, and you’re gonna fix them”. He has so much faith in her despite the fact that she gave him up. It’s just adorable.

Rumplestiltskin’s introduction was just mind-blowing. Robert Carlyle totally killed it. He’s so good that I can’t even put it in words. The other thing I loved about this scene is how Snow defied David constantly in her despair to find a way to protect her child. Rumple was also pretty desperate to learn Emma’s name and we saw why. He remembered everything when he heard her name in Storybrooke which I should say was kind of a flimsy plan. What would’ve happened if Snow hadn’t told him her child’s name? He was imprisoned and wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

I must say that I absolutely loved Leroy both in the Enchanted Forest and in Storybrooke.

We also got a glimpse of Ruby and Granny in the end of the episode and you could tell the Curse was affecting them. They were in the midst of a heated argument and judging by their words that was not a one-time thing while in the Enchanted Forest we saw Ruby rubbing Granny’s arm soothingly. That was during the ‘council meeting’ (if you can call it that) while they were trying to figure out a way to stop Regina and you could’ve missed it if you blinked but it was there. That was actually our only proof that the Curse is affecting the townspeople and making them miserable, except for Snow.

We got to see Snow in Storybrooke and you could tell she was miserable. The “... they will always find you” line about the birds was just gut-wrenching. She clearly remembered something from her past life but it was just enough to make her misery even worse. The fact that her True Love is right under her nose but she can’t recognize him completes the image of Regina’s victory. Mary Margaret did recognize Emma though without actually recognizing her. She immediately felt a connection to her when they were picking up the books and she just couldn’t stop looking at her and it was so bittersweet.

Regina is a major bitch in Storybrooke, her only redeeming quality being her love for Henry from which we saw only a peek when Emma brought him home and she was obviously worried sick about him. Other than that she’s totally the villain that we know her to be from the flashbacks.

Ultimately, it was Regina who pushed Emma to stay in Storybrooke and isn’t that ironic? The episode ended just on the right note with the clock starting to work again.

Favorite scene: I totally loved the scene between Emma and Henry at the castle. A part of Emma really wanted to believe that he was right and her parents only gave her up so that they could save her from the Curse. But she couldn’t let herself do that because she had grown up in a cruel world where happy endings only exist in fairytales. And she also wanted to stay with him but she still thought she wasn’t his best chance and he’d be better off without her. It was a heartfelt moment but it still doesn't change the fact that her decision to give him up was awful. I know it was really hard for her to do that and I really don’t want to judge her but it was a wrong decision considering the way she grew up. She knows what it is to be in the foster system, she has suffered from it, and yet she decided to put her child in the same shitty foster system. Henry was lucky that Regina adopted him but what if she hadn't? He could've grown up the same way Emma did.

Least favorite scene: The scene where Emma brought Henry home the second time. Regina went full Evil Queen on her and even if she did have a point (she is Henry’s mother after all), it was lost in all the venom she started spewing at Emma. Also I really hate how it was implied that Regina didn’t really love Henry. Y’know, when Emma asked if she loved him and she told her that she did. The look on Emma’s face suggested that she was lying and I just hate that. For me there has never been any doubt that Regina loves Henry.

Favorite line: “Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing.” - Mary Margaret to Emma

Least favorite line: “We have to believe that she’ll come back for us.” - Snow to David.

Now don’t get me wrong. I loved that scene. It was so emotional and heartbreaking but this was just stupid. They didn’t know where they were sending their infant daughter. Good luck for Emma that it turned out to be a place with a foster system although a shitty one. Also, how did they know that the wardrobe would send her to the same place where the Curse would take them? None of that made any sense.

So yeah, this is the short version of my thoughts. I loved this episode. It is the first peek into OUAT’s world and it had me hooked just like the first time I watched it. It was an emotional rollercoaster this time around because I know the characters and I’m attached to them and seeing how everything started just gave me all the feels. Also, the cast is just stellar and makes watching the show an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait to watch the next episode.

[theclosetpoet7]

And He Accepts Her Heart

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Notes on chapter: In which they say goodbye again.

Rating: T

Silent footsteps echo throughout the night as they navigate their way through the streets of Konoha. They just came from a late dinner with their teammates. And as cliche' as it always is, they said their goodbyes in Ichiraku Ramen. Well, it wasn't really their final goodbye before Sasuke sets out on his journey. In fact, they are planning to meet each other at the gates tomorrow.

However, it was their last meal in a long while.

How long is a while exactly?

Nobody knows.

But they enjoy each others' company even if this hurts all the members of Team Seven. Especially Sakura.

Leave it to Uzumaki Naruto to lighten up the mood though. And ever the cunning teammate that he is, because he has noticed the change in his comrades' dynamics, the blonde points a finger at Uchiha Sasuke and loudly declares.

"You have to walk Sakura-chan home."

Kakashi snickers into his orange book.

Sakura stares at him dumbfounded.

And Sasuke, fights down the urge to punch him.

"Dobe..."

"He doesn't need to you idiot!" Sakura cuts him off.

"But Sakura-chan! It's dark out!" If Naruto thinks that whining will get him into her good graces then he has another thing coming. Or he is simply delusional. His voice further irritates her. And she just couldn't contain the embarrassment upon being forced on Sasuke. Even if he has been walking her home for some time already.

Seriously, the Kyuubi vessel was ruining the moment.

"It's dangerous!" he further elaborates.

"Are you saying that I can't handle myself?"

She raises an eyebrow. With a hand on her left hip, she challenges her friend to dig his hole deeper.

"I... Uhm." Naruto squints his eyes, trying to find another reason to help his friends along the process of hooking up. Because it was taking them too damn long!

"Sakura, I'll walk you home."

All eyes turn to Uchiha Sasuke. He has his hands in his pockets and he has an indifferent face on.

"Sasuke-kun, you don't have..."

"I've been doing it since last month."

The revelation isn't one she expects him to admit. Well not yet at least.

"Wh- Whaaat?!" The blonde stutters out but his voice is clamped down when the Sixth Hokage hooks an arm around him and pulls him away from the scene.

Hatake Kakashi merely regards them with a knowing look and teasingly says.

"Don't forget to use protection you guys."

"Whaaaaaaaaaat?" If Naruto can get any louder, they don't really know. But Kakashi takes him away as he lets out a low chuckle and skips out of their sight.

The two remaining members of team seven just sweat drop at their comical antics. Though there is a conscious air around them at the implication of the closet pervert's words.

They fall into step with each other anyway.

.

Which leads us back to the duo at present.

.

Sakura nervously fumbles with her fingers clasped behind her back. She just couldn't seem to find the right words to tell him. The love of her life is leaving tomorrow. And though she is one of the smartest in this village, she can't think of anything to say. She searches through her brain but comes up with nothing. It doesn't take long for them to reach her apartment and she inwardly berates herself for being a coward. She actually knows what she wants to say. But from her previous experiences, pouring her heart out never works. When his motions indicate that he is about to withdraw, she lets out one last attempt.

"So, you're really leaving huh?"

Sasuke observes her quietly and lets out a tired sigh.

"Aa. Even if you have already forgiven me, it doesn't mean that everyone else has as well."

"I see."

She stares at him for a moment.

"There's no way I can convince you to stay?"

"Hn."

"Not even if I promise to make you tomato-based dishes everyday until Tsunade-sama finishes your prosthetic arm?" she lightly teases.

"Sakura."

It takes her less than a second to change to a more serious tone.

"I once promised that I would do anything for you Sasuke-kun. And I know that what you are about to do is good, noble even."

He gives her his silence to allow her to continue.

"But I just got you back."

She reddens at what she just said. Then wraps her fingers around her forearm as she looks to the side.

"I mean, we just got you back. And I know it's selfish, but I want more time with you."

She bows her head because there is already a rim of tears around her eyes and she puts the back of her hand to her nose to cover the sniffles.

"Or, is it because we're not enough for you?"

Bam!

He slams his right hand at her door, effectively pinning her in place. She gasps but does not cower in fear. She trusts him. She fully trusts him.

He lets out a "hn" and leans his forehead against her own. Then he releases a soft breath.

"Of course you're enough for me."

She blushes at his words but immediately crushes her own hopes because she is positive that he isn't referring to just her.

"Really?"

There is a sad smile on her face.

"I am glad that you still care about Team Seven, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto..."

He pushes away from the door and cups her face.

"And you."

The pink-haired Sannin's face heats up at her crush's proximity. They have never been this close before, face to face. Heart on heart.

"Sakura, the past few days..."

The young medic gulps in nervousness. His voice lowers to a low baritone.

"They weren't nothing."

______________________________

Sasuke leans in closer.

There is a sharp intake of breath as his teammate realizes what he is about to do. He feels his ears burning and there is a faint buzzing sound as he tilts his head to accommodate her better.

Sakura's eyes widen at first but she stares back at him, full of love.

Full of the potential to make him change his mind about leaving.

Her eyes are actually a deep emerald green with tiny yellowish specks, he notes, as he cautiously comes nearer, almost closing their distance. They were stunning. The fellow sannin raises a hand to hold onto his right bicep as she closes her eyes and purses her lips to receive his kiss.

The sharingan wielder lowers his lashes, eyes heavy lidded at the prospect of finally claiming her lips.

.

.

.

His hand grabs her shoulder and gently pushes her away. She is stunned but is quick to mask the rejected look on her porcelain face.

He resents himself for putting it there.

"I can't."

The dark haired nin manages to gasp out.

Sakura looks at him but because he is refusing to make eye contact, she decides to turn away.

"I understand."

He clenches his fist.

"I want to."

He grits out.

Sasuke almost catches his admission but fails to do so.

Because of course he wants to kiss her. Sakura was beautiful inside and out. And she was important to him. She had always been important to him.

"Naruto, You have to save Sakura no matter what."

He closes his eyes at the memory. At the time, he was willing to go all out even if it kills him. As long as he doesn't see those precious to him perish. Sakura doesn't really need his protection anymore, he thinks, as he regards her petite figure in front of him. She has become so strong.

And if he was being honest, he can tell her that he sees his future in her eyes.

And that the hand she fists in her shirt is one that he wants to hold on to and never let go.

Sakura is his future.

But it just isn't the right time. He had to redeem himself first, even if every minute spent with her entailed him to exert a lot of self control.

It would be so easy to fall in love with her.

So easy.

He might've already had.

But he needs time to sort his feelings out.

Because Sasuke can't remember a time when he was feeling anything other than the thirst for revenge.

So he steps back.

Upon sensing his distance Sakura surprises him yet again.

"I want to kiss you too Sasuke-kun."

There is a red tint to her cheeks and she is nervous in his presence.

The admission has him at her mercy though, and he fights for the last bit of self restraint he has to stop himself from kissing her anyway.

"It wouldn't be right. I'm leaving tomorrow."

She flinches at his words. Sasuke knows that he is hurting her in this moment. But he doesn't know how to explain himself yet. What good would it do her if their first kiss was one out of sadness from their impending separation?

She deserves something more.

She deserves his eternal commitment.

(Though he knows that there could never be anyone else for him aside from her.

Only Sakura.)

And she deserves someone better.

Not the current him.

Not the soon-to-be wanderer who has too many sins to atone for.

It is then he realizes that he wants to be better for her too. Not only for his clan. Not only for Konoha. But for Sakura.

For Sakura.

He takes another step back, trying to find the right words to end their night. But Sakura, as she predictably does, stops him again.

"Can I just tell you one thing?"

The young Uchiha nods his head.

"I know you probably don't want to hear this Sasuke-kun. But I'll wait. I'll wait for you! No matter how long it takes. So you can take your time in searching for yourself. Do your best in everything. Yakusoku. I'll wait for you. "

His eyes widened at her proclamation. Why is it that she always seemed to be all that he needs? She always knows what to say.

"It doesn't matter if your journey takes you away from us. From your friends. From me. You don't even have to hold yourself back from meeting someone else. Just tell me if you do. And eat properly! Well, I know you are particular with the quality of your food, so I guess I don't have to tell you that. Watch out for mischievous women! You're too handsome for your own good Shannaro...Don't overwork your body. Also, don't be too hard on yourself..."

She is rambling.

And Sasuke finds her cute in the way she lets out those sentences like she is running a marathon.

Sakura couldn't help but reach out to his right hand and grasps it tightly into her two small ones.

"... try to enjoy an onsen once in a while. Take the soldier pills I gave you. I know they taste bad but they're tomato flavored! A special Sasuke flavor. And please don't let a wound get infected. You're such an idiot sometimes, refusing medical treatment..."

Her shoulders shake as she tries to hold back her tears. But she finally holds her head up high and smiles at him.

"Write to me too! If you can. You don't need to tell me all the details but just let me know that you are alive. And lastly, don't worry if a stupid nin makes you feel guilty, heck don't worry if the whole world is against you. I'll beat them to a pulp if they do. Well, if that baka doesn't get to them first."

Sasuke lets out a smirk and holds back his own words to hear her out.

"I'll wait."

He nods his head as she tells him again.

"So when you find whatever it is you are looking for. Come back. Come home to us."

She blushes deeply this time.

"Come home to me."

Uchiha Sasuke sees Haruno Sakura in her rawest form. Her heart is out for him to see. She wears it on her sleeve and dons it as her armor. He closes his eyes and imagines taking it into his tainted hands and becomes conscious of the fact that he wants to treasure it.

He wants to treasure her.

So he pulls her to him without even thinking about it. He wraps his remaining arm around her as he breathes in her lemon shampoo. And he allows himself to be selfish. He allows himself to be selfish when it comes to this girl.

.

.

.

"I'll hold you to it then."

______________________________

A.N.:

Yakusoku: Promise

Just a little something I've been typing in my notepad. I hope you guys like it. Maybe it's obvious but this takes place the night before Sasuke leaves again. I might need to edit a little in the future. But Enjoy!

P.S. : I hope you guys forgive me for taking too long to update Sore ga ai deshou and Revolution. Take care!

Eat, Breathe, Love and Think SasuSaku

[onepumpofsyrup]

WHAT I SEE ll SEUNGRI ll PART 3

What  I See : Part 3

BigBang : Seungri

Pairing : Seungri x Reader

Genre : Fluff, Angst, Humor, Romance

Words : 1.6 k +

Summary: Seungri only sees the reader as a walking disaster. But the reader sees him as her night in shining armor.

Chapter 3  

Your feet slid back slightly with each step as you pushed a heavy cart filled with props towards the make shift drop and stage for the photoshoot. Jiyong had a mini crisis when he couldn’t “connect” with any of the props and you’d been sent to pick out another selection from the prop truck.  

Jiyong was one of the most entertaining people to work with, but he could also be one of the most infuriating. But then again, you had very little patience at times. Today in particular, was one of them.  

“Okay, I got all of this.” You dramatically waved towards the cart in front of you. “I’m not bringing out anymore. If you can’t “connect” with one of these, then you’ll have to just go to the truck and pick from there. I’m not bringing you back another cartful.”  

You batted his hand away as he gave a sweet smile and tried to ruffle your hair. “You’re too good to me, Kido.”  

Your lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s not my name.”

He ignored you, “But I’m really not feeling any of these either. Can you take me to the truck.”  

You restrained yourself from allowing your eyes to roll into the back of your skull.

“Stop acting like a diva, you’re killing the poor girl. Pick something from here and develop, “an emotional bond” or whatever.” Seungri chided from behind you.  

You looked over your shoulder and smiled slightly at Seungri. “It’s fine. I want him to be able to succeed and if he can’t “connect” then we should find something he can.”  

He pouted his lips and shook his head thoughtfully at you. “Nope, no can do. You can’t keep babying him.”  

Jiyong’s eyes slowly slid back and forth between you. “I’m just going to find the truck. Maybe Minhee can give me a hand.”  

You blinked and turned your attention back to Jiyong. “What? No, Minhee’s on lunch. She asked me to help you out.”

He smirked at you and poked your side. “Well, Minhee is supposed to be my assistant, not you. And it seems like Seungri is jonesing for some of your attention. So why don’t you help him out, before he explodes from jealousy. Hmm?”  

               “I’m not jealous!” Seungri snapped before encasing your hand in his own and pulling you away.  

***

You bit your lip and tapped your foot incessantly as you stood in the too long café line with Seungri.  

“If you keep tapping your foot like that, it’s going to get sore.”  

You blew a breath out your nose and glowered at the ground. “I hate long lines.”

Seungri turned his head to the side and rolled his eyes so you wouldn’t see. “You’ll be fine sweetheart.”

You looked up at him with dramatically wide eyes, allowing a slight crazed sheen to come to them. “Oh will I? Will I be all right? I can feel myself expiring.” You allowed your knees to buckle just the slightest bit, forcing Seungri to catch you against his body. Yours burned where you were connected.  

He chuckled, wrapping his arm more firmly around your waist, pulling you straighter against his body. You wished to see the smile on his lips but the black mask and dark sunglasses kept his features disguised. “You’re a little drama queen.”

“Drama queen or not, I’m still cute,” you winked.  

Again, he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back forward. He frowned and placed a hand on his stomach as it let out a quiet rumble. “I’m dying for a muffin.”  

You groaned and let your knees buckle once more, making Seungri bear your wait to keep you standing. “I’m going to die.”  

“Don’t be such a dork.”  

At the front of the line you gave the barista taking orders yours, and Seungri’s before pulling out your wallet to hand over the company card.

Your skin prickled as you noticed another barista come up behind the one taking orders. You kept your eyes down as you paid for the order but couldn’t help but notice the flirty tone coming to the barista’s voice as she asked. “What drink did this cutie order? I’ll make it specially for him.” She bit her lip and winked at Seungri.

Your spine went straight, jealousy coursed through you. You took a slow breath and looked up at him.  

Does he need me to pretend I’m his girlfriend again?

What do I do?

You chewed your lip nervously for a moment before making up your mind. Wrapping your arm around his you pulled yourself onto your toes and kissed the line of his jaw. “Honey, can we eat outside? It’s so pretty today.” You tried to ignore the blush that was easily overtaking your features.  

Seungri’s attention turned and stood still on your face. You could feel the familiar prickles of embarrassment sliding up your spin. Despite the dark glasses in front of his eyes you could feel the glare he was giving you. “How about we take a walk, Sweetheart?”

Every bit of warmth you’d gained from being so close to him fled your body from his simple action of calling you sweetheart. Something was off about it, it didn’t feel right.  

He took the order the baristas had placed in front of you before pushing you out the door. He grabbed your elbow and pulled your shorter form down the street at a swift pace, tossing what you’d just paid for in a trash as you passed.  “What the hell is your problem? Do you never think?”

Your bottom lip trembled just the slightest bit at his harsh questions. “Seungri…”  

“Do you not realize the message you’re giving to a guy like me by pulling shit like this?” His tight grip on you released as he stopped in front of a river.  

“I…I was just trying to help.”  

He ran his hand through his hair and made a frustrated sound. “You’re always “just trying to help”.” He sighs and runs a hand down his face. “You love me?”

You nod, unsure where he’s going with this new set of questions.  

“Then spend the night with me here.” He gestures towards the hotel, his face cold and hard. “I don’t want a girlfriend. A one night stand is all I want to give you.”

Your heart stopped, cracked, and came dangerously close to crumbling.

The hiss in his voice was nearly numbing, “Do you want that? For me to treat you like I treat every girl for the night? Will you leave me alone then?”

“Seungri…” Your mouth was dry and no words would come to you. You were clueless as how to reply. “I love you.”

He groaned and turned his back to you. He couldn’t look at you, not when your eyes were round and shining with tears at his own. He couldn’t look knowing he was hurting you. But he couldn’t control his anger, and he didn’t understand why. He didn’t understand why he was so unreasonably angry over you simply kissing his jaw.  

She’s a fucking idiot.  

I’ve offered her nothing.

I’m treating her like shit right now. And she still fucking wants me?  

What the hell is wrong with her?

He finally smirked and turned back to you. Pulling you into his arms he bent to whisper in your ear, “If you love me so much, show it tonight, and then get the fuck out of my life. You’re nothing but sex to me.”  

He felt your body tense against his own, your hands shove at his chest, and the slight sting from your small hand against his cheek. Anger rose and his voice turned gravelly. “I thought you wanted to give me anything? Didn't you say that once? Well I want this.”  

You shook your head wordlessly and turned your back to him and started to walk away. “I guess I don’t.”  

He grabbed your wrist and pulled you back to him. “Isn’t this what you wanted? I told you this was all I could give you. I warned you.”  

Your face snapped towards him, anger plain on your features. “I wanted to be with you, I didn’t want to be treated like a slut.” You closed your eyes and took a slow breath. “I expected better from you. You always act like you don’t need someone. You act like your tougher than you are and act like your jaded from living as an Idol. But you’re not that person! I see it every day. You’re better than you think. You’ve done some really shitty things. You’ve treated people badly. But I’ve always seen the good qualities you have. You don’t show it often, but you do care for other people. But now, after this, I don’t think your redeeming qualities can outshine all the bad.”

“Are you upset I’m not who you think I am, sweetheart?”  

 “I’m mad you have so little respect for yourself that you think this is who you are.”  

***

Seungri’s stomach turned as he sat on the couch in his living room, staring silently at his phone. Since returning home he’d been hopeful that it would light up with a message from you, but nothing. It’d been silent, just as you had been for the rest of the day’s schedule.  

After your disparaging words, you’d left him alone outside the hotel, returning back to the others separately. The silence didn’t rest well inside him. Anxiety bubbled inside him. Making him nervous as to how your relationship would change.  

He groaned and fell back against the couch.

This is what I wanted.

I wanted her to leave me alone.

To stop looking at me with those stupidly round eyes.  

But he’d still hurt you, and that didn’t sit well inside him.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow he’d apologize for what he’d said. He’d gently let you down, tell you he wasn’t interested. And maybe he’d be lucky enough for things to go back to normal.

***