#i dropped my laptop off my desk in fifth period

[cyfffff]

been having a friday the 13th moment but i made a firefox logo in adobe illustrator with spider-gwen colors in graphic arts class today

[daisybeewrites]

Academy Blues

avoi-dance!

word count: 3.7k

warnings: nightmares

ship: dousy (daisy johnson/daniel sousa)

ahahaha dousy is becoming a spark

Shaking.

Quaking.

Rubble falling.

Bones snapping.

Something dark on the floor.

He’s gone.

He’s gone.

He’s gone.

Daisy bolted upright, ribs expanding and contracting rapidly. The bed was shaking. A small cacti was on the floor, sand and pebbles thrown across the rug, pieces of the decorative pot shattered. She looked over at her clock.

2:14am. Great.

Daisy quickly rose, gathering her rug in one hand and a sweatshirt in the other. She walked down the hall, quiet as a mouse, still shaky.

Breathe, Daisy, She told herself.

She reached the bathroom without encountering anyone. She set the rug on the counter, gathering the tiny cactus and shaking it out of the soil.

“Ouch,” She inhaled sharply. Cacti are prickly.

The mirror rattled a bit as Daisy shook the sand and pebbles into the trash. She held back tears, the aftershocks of her nightmare hitting her.

A presence in the doorway caught her attention.

“Daisy? What’re you doin’?”

Jemma sounded like she had just woken up, her accented voice thick and scratchy with sleep.

Daisy opened her mouth to respond, but her voice cracked on the first syllable. Jemma’s eyes widened, registering the sight before her. She rushed over, enveloping Daisy in a tight hug. Jemma could feel Daisy’s chest racking with sobs. At least she could comfort her now, like she wasn’t allowed to before.

Jemma slowly pulled away as Daisy’s cries became quieter and less frequent. The small cacti was still resting on the counter, the rug discarded on the tiled floor.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Jemma asked gently.

Daisy looked up, the rattling of the mirror lessening as she exhaled.

“I broke my cactus,” She sniffled, a few tears escaping as she stared at the broken succulent. She was really looking forward to watching this one grow.

Daisy shook her head, wiping her eyes with her sweatshirt sleeve. Silently, the pair picked up the rug and walked back to Daisy’s room. Daisy saved the small cacti, not quite able to just throw it in the trash. Jemma surveyed the furniture, making sure that nothing else had fallen. Her room was in its usual messy yet organized array. It made Jemma’s skin itch, but at least Daisy knew where everything was. Daisy collapsed onto her bed, pulling a fuzzy blanket around her shoulders.

“Do you want me to stay?”

Daisy thought for a moment, watching Jemma fidget with her fingers and rub her neck, noting her under eye circles and the sluggish way she smiled.

“I’m good,” Daisy said.

Jemma raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. “Are you sure? I don’t mind, really,” She offered.

Daisy nodded. “I promise, I’m good.”

Jemma hesitantly nodded, then left, softly closing the door behind her.

Daisy flopped backwards onto her pillows. She wasn't sleeping anytime soon.

Daisy woke at 9:36 later that day, her alarm buzzing softly and her phone screen lit with several missed calls from Elena and May.

7:04–May

Are you otw?

7:10–Yo-yo

daisy, you’re late

7:15–Missed call from May (2)

8:02–Yo-yo

may is pissed

get your best sorry ready

Daisy sighed. Fuck nightmares.

She had already missed half of second period, not that it wasn’t anything she didn’t already know how to do. Might as well take advantage of the empty canteen.

After speedily brushing her teeth and getting dressed, Daisy grabbed her backpack and headed out.

True to routine, the canteen was void of people, save for a group of fifth-years chatting in the corner. Daisy grabbed her usual cinnamon raisin bagel and coffee and found a spot near the back doors. If May came in, she would run. It was too early and Daisy was too tired to deal with May’s concern.

Daisy glanced up as the doors across the large hall opened again, almost spitting out her coffee at who walked in.

Ohmygodhe’scomingoverhere, don’t be an idiot!

“Hey, Danny Boy,” Daisy greeted. Smooth, very good start.

“Hey, Dais,” He said, morning voice rough and low. Daisy ignored the rising number on her biometer watch and quickly hid her hand under the table, resting on her bouncing knee.

She cocked an eyebrow. “Just getting up, are we?”

Daniel shrugged, “My alarm clock is broken, and I’m ahead in all my classes anyway. Missing one to trade for sleep won’t hurt me.”

“Aren’t you in May’s class, though? She hates when people skip,” Daisy asked.

Daniel thought this over for a second before responding, demeanor a tad sheepish. “I might have already asked for the notes for this week, everything she’s teaching today I’ve already been studying.”

Daisy smiled. Nerd.

“Well, in that case, would you care to join me in my avoidance of classes?”

Daniel checked his analog watch, second period was almost over. “Sure. My third is calculus, and all we do in there is textbook work anyway.”

Daisy stood up, stretching a bit. Daniel followed her out of the canteen, across the grounds, and around the girls’ dorms.

“Uh, Daisy, where exactly are we going?”

Daisy grinned. “Ever been on the roof, Sousa?”

Sousa looked up at the top of the building. “Are we allowed up there?”

Daisy furrowed her brows, responding with a noncommittal hum. Did he not want to go up there?

“To master the art of avoidance, you must be unpredictable. Go where no one will find you. Dance along the edge of expectations,” Daisy exclaimed dramatically. “That’s why it’s called avoi-dance. We don’t have to, if you don’t want to.”

Daniel laughed, eyes smiling. “Ladies first,” He offered.

Daisy clambered onto the iron fire escape, waiting for Daniel on the first landing and giving him a hand. They started up the stairs together, wind blowing softly over their faces.

“So,” Daisy started when they reached the top, “This is it.”

Daniel watched as Daisy made a grand gesture, crouching down near an outlet to plug in the lights.

Putting on her best realtor voice, Daisy led Daniel around the space.

“In this corner we have a lovely, absolutely gorgeous three-hundred-sixty degree view of campus. Look! There are students in their natural habitat!

“And over here, we have a wonderful assortment of plants, both alive and barely clinging to life, just like most of the human inhabitants of the building!”

Daniel chuckled, nodding sagely. “Now, let’s talk money. What is the price per square foot, and how much are you suggesting as a down payment?”

Daisy’s grin faltered, not sure exactly what Sousa was talking about. Daniel’s smile grew wider at the slightly confused, completely adorable look on her face.

“Were you planning on getting work done?” Daniel asked.

Daisy shrugged, setting her backpack down and leaning against the low wall surrounding the edge of the roof. He joined her, sitting with one leg out and the other bent at his knee.

“It won’t take me long to finish this,” Daisy said, opening her laptop.

Daniel watched on as Daisy coded, taking mental notes of how her fingers glided over the keys, typing at a speed he could barely comprehend. She bit her bottom lip in concentration, pausing for a moment to assess her work, then continuing to circumvent the little red error messages that appeared at the top of her screen.

“How do you know what all that means?” Daniel asked. Daisy stopped typing for a moment to look over at him, tilting her head a bit.

“I guess I just picked it up pretty quick. When I was still living in my van, before Coulson found me, I had to make money somehow, so I started building codes and programs for people who needed it. They were definitely shady, and it got me into a couple tough spots, but I could always just move my van away, drive somewhere else.”

Daniel didn’t press for more information. Daisy seemed not to want to talk about it, as she turned back to her computer and let her hair fall into her face. A few minutes later, she pressed enter, and threw her hands up.

“Yes! Finally!”

Daniel peeked at her screen. Instead of a red error message, there was a small check at the top of her screen.

“So what exactly did you just do with the numbers and the symbol things?”

Daisy laughed lightly. “Sometimes SHIELD creates programs specifically for Academy students to hack into, so we can practice getting around firewalls and beating different layers of protection. At the end is usually some redacted file or just a blank document. Sometimes the Professors let the advanced students hack into companies and emails if they need help. It gives us ‘a wide range of practical experience.’”

Daniel scrunched his eyebrows, checking his watch. “So does it normally only take you fifteen minutes to complete assignments like this?”

Daisy smirked, “I don’t mean to brag, but yes. Most kids in my class can do it in forty-five, but I like to challenge myself.”

Daniel’s jaw dropped, amazed. “Wow. So in a couple years I’ll be doing that? I can keep up with CS 1, but that is…” He trailed off, not sure exactly how to describe it.

Daisy nodded, “It takes awhile to get used to, to understand. It’s like learning any other language, it helps if you start young, and I practically depended on coding for survival when I was in my teens. It gave me a huge leg up.”

Daniel let his gaze wander over Daisy’s face. She had a lot more to her than meets the eye. He looked into her eyes, finding her already staring at him, an intent look on her face. She opened her mouth to say somethi—

Briiiiiiiiiiing.

The bell cut her off. Daisy looked away quickly, cheeks tinted pink. Daniel made no move to get up, and neither did Daisy. They waited until it was over to speak again.

“I guess we should probably get going?”

Daisy agreed, standing up and reaching out a hand for Sousa to take. They walked back to campus together, parting ways to get to their classes.

Daisy passed by May’s room on her way to Physics, walking quickly and staring straight ahead.

“Daisy!”

Daisy stopped, walking backwards to stand in the open door of May’s classroom. No one was there but May.

Daisy slowly approached May down the rows of desks, smiling rather guiltily.

“Hey, May! How are you?” Daisy asked, voice an octave higher than normal. May had on her ‘Mom Face’, as Daisy called it, eyebrows slightly raised and lips pursed in a straight line.

“You know, leather jackets look great on you!” Daisy tried, picking at her nails, unable to maintain eye-contact without her chest constricting. May stayed silent.

Daisy dropped the cheery façade, sighing. This would get her nowhere.

“I’m sorry. I had a rough night and slept through my alarm. If it makes you feel better, I also missed my first three periods,” Daisy rushed out, exhaling sharply.

May sat back onto her desk, patting the space beside her.

“Call me next time,” May said, voice soft. “Asking for help isn’t weak, Daisy, and I don’t know how to help if you don’t tell me. I don’t have a class next period.”

Daisy nodded, a slight sting in her eyes. May continued, “You’ve had a rough year. I get it. But Daisy, running from those you love, who love you? It doesn’t work. Trust me, I’ve tried. The only thing that will work is facing your fears head-on, and keep running at them until eventually they’re powerless. You need closure.”

Daisy rested her head on May’s shoulder, unable to look her in the eye.

“I’m sorry, May,” Daisy apologized, voice small.

May wrapped an arm around her in a side hug.

“You don’t need to apologize. Let’s go work out some problems, my way.”

In the canteen, Jemma and Fitz sat in their usual spot by the back windows, both munching on spaghetti and rolls.

“Fitz! Tell me you didn’t!”

Fitz looked up from where he was tinkering with a piece of tech that looked suspiciously like an ICER with a small cloaking device attached to the side.

“I didn’t,” He replied. He kept tinkering with the small gun until it made a loud pop! and shocked him.

“Ouch!” Fitz winced, promptly dropping the modified ICER on the table, empty cartridge bouncing onto the floor. He bent to pick it up, reassembling the tech and taking another bite of pasta.

“Have you figured out the problem?” Jemma asked.

Fitz rolled his eyes. “It’s not a problem, Jemma, it’s just that I, uh, I can’t get the…” Fitz paused, waggling his hands in the air as if he was grasping for the right word.

“The concentration? Weight? Bullets?” Jemma supplied.

“The bullets work! Non-lethal, heavy stopping power, break up under the subcutaneous tissue. Same ones from when we were working on The Bus. No, it’s the, um, the safety. It keeps going off without my permission,” Fitz finished.

Jemma took a bite of her roll. “Are you using one-hundred nano-liters of dendrotoxin like I suggested?”

Fitz nodded. “That’s in the bullets. This is just the design. I can’t figure out the balance, with the addition of cloaking, it’s thrown my whole design off.”

“Maybe Daisy has an idea? She’s listened to us ramble on for years, she’s actually used them.”

Fitz and Jemma looked around for Daisy. It was 6, dinner started at 5, and they always ate together.

“Usually she’s here by now,” Jemma frowned. The three of them had fallen into a comfortable routine, meeting at lunch and dinner and making plans to study after.

“There’s that guy she’s been hanging out with, er,” Fitz paused, snapping his fingers, “Sousa! Maybe he knows something,” Fitz pointed to where Sousa was eating a plate of chicken and rice near the entrance to the canteen.

“Are you going to go talk to him?”

Fitz looked back at Daniel, considering his options. On one hand, he had never talked to the guy. What if he said something wrong and made a bad first impression? On the other hand, Fitz needed to make sure Daisy was okay. They had a routine they had agreed to stick to, and if she was off routine, it meant something was wrong.

“Let’s go together,” Fitz half-suggested, half-asked.

Jemma nodded, getting up and walking with Fitz across the cafeteria to stand in front of Daniel.

“Hello,” Jemma started, “Have you seen Daisy lately? We’ve noticed the two of you together recently.”

Fitz stood slightly behind Jemma, fingers weaving themselves together.

Daniel took in the two of them, noticing Jemma’s thumb swiping nervously across her palm.

“Would you like to sit down?” Daniel offered.

“No, thank you, we’d really just like to find Daisy,” Fitz rushed out, looking slightly above Daniel’s eyes as he talked.

Daniel nodded. “Are you guys Fitzsimmons? Daisy talks about you a lot, I’m glad to finally meet you. But to answer your question, I haven’t seen her since third period. Is something wrong?”

Jemma sighed. “She had a bad nightmare last night, but when I left she said she was fine. I went to check on her this morning but she didn’t answer, I assumed she was out for a run.”

Daniel furrowed his brows. Daisy hadn’t mentioned a nightmare. “Is that why she was missing her morning classes?”

“She’s sleep deprived and has a tendency to entirely abandon routines if she doesn’t get off on the right foot. I bet she’s with May,” Jemma said, looking to Fitz for confirmation.

Fitz just nodded, staring at Jemma.

“Great,” Jemma clapped her hands, “Should we go find her?”

It took Daniel a moment to realize the question was directed at him. “Oh, uh, yes, sure,” He stammered, getting up and jogging a bit to catch up to Fitz and Jemma.

“Oof!” Daisy exclaimed. She and May had been sparring for the past couple hours. Hours. Daisy was absolutely exhausted. May was feeling fine.

From the mat, Daisy reached a hand up so May could pull her up. Instead of getting up, though, Daisy pulled hard, flipping May over. May rolled rather chunkily, ending in a position that was half-squatting, half-sitting.

Maybe she was a little more tired than she let on.

“Good one. Next time, roll with the flip, too. If your attacker is faster than you, you could’ve just given them a free shot.”

Daisy got up slowly, dusting herself off and extending a hand out to May.

“Truce?”

May nodded. Then Daisy’s world spun, and she was flat on her back.

“Ughh. I deserved that,” Daisy panted.

May smirked, staying on the floor with Daisy.

“Feel any better?”

Daisy shrugged. “I’ll at least sleep hard,” She said, still catching her breath.

“There you are! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Daisy lifted her head off the mat to see Jemma and Fitz walking into the gym. Daniel was behind them.

Daisy sat fully up, allowing Jemma to help her to her feet.

“Sorry guys. I should have called,” Daisy grimaced.

Fitz shrugged, “It’s okay, Dais, we got Daniel to, er, tag along with us. He was a good ‘replacement you’ for a while.”

Daisy looked over to Daniel, who was trying to hide a blush by clearing his throat and looking anywhere but Daisy.

Oh, right. She was wearing nothing but a sports bra and spandex training shorts.

Daisy walked over to the edge of the mat, stretching out her arms and grabbing her SHIELD sweatshirt, tugging it on.

“Thank you, guys, I appreciate the concern,” Daisy checked her watch, “You already ate dinner?”

Jemma and Fitz nodded.

“Okay, I’ll grab something with May and see you at the dorms?”

Fitz gave her a thumbs up and left, Jemma right behind him. May grabbed her water bottle, letting Daisy know that she’d be in the canteen.

“And then there were two,” Daisy laughed nervously, threading her fingers together and shifting from side to side.

Daniel smiled, “And then there were two.”

An uncomfortable silence settled over them.

“Thanks for hanging out with me this morning. You didn’t have to,” Daisy blurted.

Daniel shrugged, frowning, “I wanted to.”

Daisy turned away from Daniel, face heating up. He wanted to hang out with her?

Daisy bent to grab her gym bag. When she turned back around, Daniel was waiting for her.

“You can tell me, you know, if you’re having a rough go of it. I won’t judge,” He stated, calm and collected.

Daisy nodded, unsure how to respond. She rose up onto her tiptoes and rocked back, once, twice, three times before letting out a slow exhale.

“Have you eaten dinner?” She asked.

“Sorta. I was about to eat before I left with Fitz and Simmons,” He said.

“Well, you’re welcome to eat with me and May,” Daisy offered.

Daniel grinned.

“I’ll take your bag.”

They arrived a number of minutes later at the canteen, Daisy offering to take her bag every couple minutes and Daniel readjusting the black duffel on his shoulder, refusing.

May thought they were exceptionally cute.

“Took you long enough,” The short woman said, amusement lacing her words.

Daisy plopped into a seat before Daniel could pull one out.

“I’m gonna go get some grub, I’ll leave you ladies to it,” Daniel announced.

May raised an eyebrow at Daisy, whose face promptly went pink.

“He’s a dork,” She said, “He was awed by my CS homework.”

“Was it the homework, or was it you?”

May shot Daisy a very pointed look, to which Daisy rolled her eyes.

“Whatever.”

“He’s very square” May observed, watching him over Daisy’s shoulder.

Daniel came up behind her, holding a plate with a cinnamon raisin bagel in one hand and a plate of chicken and rice in the other.

“I didn’t know what else you’d like, but I felt bad for not grabbing you anything.”

May hid a laugh by clearing her throat. Daisy reached out to accept the bagel, avoiding eye contact with May.

After dinner, back at the dorm, Jemma and Daisy were sprawled out on Daisy’s bed. Jemma held her flashcards in her hand, quizzing herself while Daisy talked.

“May says I need ‘closure’, whatever that means. I thought I had closure. I went to his funeral. I hugged his sister!”

Jemma set her cards down, accepting that she wasn’t going to get any more studying done.

“But you don’t know what happened. You were being controlled, you weren’t here. Daisy, you’ve always needed answers. You’ve never been able to leave a problem alone if you didn’t have the full story.”

Daisy sighed. Jemma was right.

“Well… On to happier subjects. Tell me about the new marine bio elective. How’s that going?”

Daisy smiled softly as Jemma’s face lit up and her hands came up to flap excitedly. Jemma went off on several different tangents about the professor’s experiences as a wildlife photographer and the different coral reefs they were studying in class. Daisy tried to listen, really, she did, but she found herself stuck in her head, responding with passive hums and ‘yeah’s.

Eventually, Jemma seemed to run out of steam, her smile still wide and face slightly flushed from how she had been ranting about climate change’s effects on the world’s reefs.

“It’s 10. I’m going to head up to bed.”

Daisy nodded. She had a plan.

She walked with Jemma back down the hall to her room, bidding her a good night. Daisy got back to her room, breathing in the quiet, then settled onto her rug against her bed, laptop sat in front of her. Lines of code danced on the screen, the light from the computer highlighting her face.

“You have to do this. You need closure,” Daisy murmured.

Daisy sat up, stretching. She changed positions several times, finally landing upside down on her bed. She craned her neck to read her clock, 11:23. Last chance to turn back, you know the consequences. You could get kicked out of SHIELD. They won’t trust you anymore.

Daisy pressed enter.

[sociallyawkward--fics]

52 and/or 61

Oh! And let’s do a Thomas Sanders Analogical. (I’m a sucker for analogical.)

———————–

[ao3 link]

Yup yup yup! Coming right up! The only idea for a while to occur to me was one VERY similar that I’d already written for Prinxiety so hopefully I managed to get far enough away from that one lol (I think I did at least)

(Also now I meet a conundrum because I want to title this the quote from 61, but I already have the Prinxiety fic titled that lol)

Also also, Punk Logan, except I don’t really know how to write Punk Logan but it’s whatever lol. And if this seems choppy it’s because I wrote it in segments at weird times lol

52. “Are you going to talk to me?”

61. “I told you not to fall in love with me.”

Word Count: 2779 (I was trying to keep it short but this is where we ended up lol)

——————————–

This was Virgil’s own personal hell. He was well and truly fucked. He should’ve never gone to school ever a day in his life just to avoid this moment.

He had to adapt a scene from a play, probably Shakespeare, he zoned out in terror before the teacher finished explaining, into modern-day language and then perform it in front of the entire class. And to top it all off, it was a partner project. He had to work with another person.

At least he wouldn’t have to perform alone.

But, just his luck, Virgil couldn’t just flock to Roman for the partner project like he always did. The teacher just had to assign partners. And Roman, with all his good luck, got that super nice new kid. Patton, Virgil thought his name was?

And Virgil got stuck with Logan Berry. The most intimidating kid in the class, maybe the school, notorious for getting into trouble on a regular basis.

“You have the rest of the class period to work with your partner,” Mrs. Mitchell said. “Pair up. And I better see working! No goofing around!”

Virgil hesitantly looked over at Logan, seeing him already packing his stuff up and and standing from his desk. Virgil took a deep breath and curled in on himself.

Roman clapped his shoulder as he left his desk next to Virgil, heading over to Patton. “Good luck, Virge. Tame the beast.”

“Yeah, right,” Virgil hissed back, glaring at Roman’s retreating back.

He jumped as Logan plopped down in Roman’s seat. Barely holding back another jump when Logan’s backpack was tossed to the ground between them.

“So we got some scene between Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing,” Logan said, sounding bored.

Virgil nodded.

“So I guess we’ll have to adapt it so that Beatrice is a dude, unless one of us wants to dress in drag.”

Virgil nodded.

“And then I suppose we’ll do the hula and get chased down by hyenas.”

Virgil started to nod, then jerked slightly and shot Logan a weird look as best as he could without meeting his eyes.

Logan rolled his eyes, Virgil could tell by the head movement, and tugged at one of the studs in his ears. “Just checking if you were actually listening.”

Virgil nodded again.

Logan buried his head in his hands. He looked up, exasperation rolling off of him in waves. “Look, we need to do this project. Are you going to talk to me? Or not?”

Virgil opened and shut his mouth a few times.

Logan ran a hand through his hair, wincing when his fingers caught in a knot and carelessly dropping the blue strands that came loose to the floor. Virgil scowled a little. That was kind of gross.

“Look, I get it, I’m scary, whatever. Everyone’s freaked out by me. Can we just do the project?”

Virgil nodded and tried to take a deep breath. “Making Beatrice a guy would be okay,” Virgil got out in a choked whisper.

Logan raised his hands to the sky, as if in praise. “He speaks!”

Virgil looked back down at his desk and scowled.

By the time they got to actually discussing their plans for switching Beatrice’s gender, the period was almost over. Virgil winced apologetically when the bell rang in the middle of one of Logan’s comments.

“You won’t have any more class time for this,” the teacher called. “You have a month and a half to finish this project, make sure you get together with your partner to finish and rehearse!”

Virgil wanted to growl at their teacher’s words. Logan actually did.

“Of course she doesn’t give us any more class time for this, she can’t even fucking teach.”

Virgil’s eyes widened and snapped to Logan’s face.

Logan turned his glare on him. “What?”

Virgil averted his eyes again and raised his hand in surrender, speedily packing his stuff. Logan ripped his notebook out of his hands, scribbled something in the margins, and shoved it back at Virgil, standing to leave.

“Let me know when you’re free to work on the project,” he said as he left.

Virgil looked down at the notebook. Messily scrawled in blue ink was a phone number.

Ugh, Virgil hated texting first.

Roman had to talk him into at lunch, Patton joining them for the meal and providing his own support. 

Eventually, Virgil did text, right before the bell to signal the end of lunch rang. Logan texted back nearly immediately and they (unfortunately) made plan’s to walk to Logan’s after school (because Virgil absolutely refused to do this at his house, even if Logan also absolutely did not want to do it at his) to make more progress on their project.

Virgil worried about it throughout the rest of his classes. He’d worked himself well up by the time he was walking out the front doors with Roman and Patton.

“He can’t be that bad,” Patton chirped, bouncing next to Roman. “Lots of people can seem scary, even if they’re super nice.”

Roman laughed. “Not sure about that, but he definitely won’t murder you if he has to do a project with you. I’ve heard others who have worked with him say that he’s secretly a nerd. Could even be in the running for valedictorian.”

“Great,” Virgil muttered. “Now I have him insulting my poor intelligence on the list of things to dread.”

Roman rolled his eyes. “You’re plenty smart.”

Virgil turned when he heard a new set of footsteps speedily coming up on them. Logan speedwalked right past their group, brushing Virgil’s shoulder as he went.

“Let’s go, then,” Logan said.

Virgil shot a panicked look at Roman and Patton before rushing to catch up.

The two of them walked in silence for the full fifteen minutes it took to get to Logan’s house. Logan unlocked the door a much smoother motion than Virgil had ever accomplished in his life and slipped his shoes off in the entryway, motioning for Virgil to do the same.

“I’m home,” Logan called into the house. “I have a classmate with me.”

A frail looking woman poked her head out from what Virgil assumed to be the kitchen. “Blueberry, dear, just in time. Can you come help me with something?”

Logan slipped his backpack off, tossing it over onto the couch, and followed what Virgil assumed to be his grandmother into the kitchen. Uncertain of what to do, Virgil followed suit.

Logan reached up and handed his grandmother a dish from the cabinet before turning back to face Virgil, still standing awkwardly in the entrance to the kitchen.

“Nan, this is Virgil. We’re working on an English project together.”

Logan’s grandmother’s face lit up. “Oh, it’s so lovely to meet you! Logan never brings home friends!” She walked forward and pulled him into a hug.

Virgil shot Logan a panicked look over her shoulder, but Logan wasn’t paying attention. Instead he had his face buried in his hands in what seemed to be mortification, his ears pink.

“Nan, we really should get to work–”

Logan’s grandmother pulled back. “Oh, of course! Virgil, will you be staying for dinner?”

He shot a look at Logan, who shrugged. “I–I guess I can?”

“Wonderful! Alright, now you boys go on and get to work. I’ll come get you when it’s time to eat.”

“Thanks, Nan.”

Logan grabbed his backpack off the couch and led Virgil to his bedroom. Which was a lot more plan than Virgil had expected.

There was a bed with navy blue sheets. A desk with a laptop. A few astronomy posters. The walls were a typical beige. Nothing at all like Virgil expected. He glanced back over at Logan to find him wiping makeup off his face.

“Not what you expected?” Logan asked.

“Not really,” Virgil mumbled, finally setting his backpack down off to the side, where it wouldn’t get in the way.

Logan sighed. “There’s a reason I didn’t want to do this here. Get set up, I’m taking my contacts out, they’ve been bugging me since fifth period.”

Virgil furrowed his brow. This was not the same guy that told the (frankly, pretty shitty) principal to suck his dick. Maybe this wouldn’t be as terrible as he had feared?

Virgil got out his English stuff and waited for Logan to come back.

They made good progress on updating their characters that night. Virgil was able to relax and finally stop whispering and mumbling. Logan’s grandmother’s cooking was delicious.

By the time Roman had arrived to pick him up and take him home, Virgil had decided that Patton was right and that Logan was a pretty chill guy. Roman still didn’t believe him, but Virgil knew it wouldn’t be that easy to convince him.

The days and weeks that followed went similarly. Logan started joining Virgil and Roman (and now Patton, as well) at lunch. At least three days of the week after school, Virgil and Logan would go to Logan’s house to work on the project. Sometimes they would meet up on weekends, too.

There was one night when Virgil had accidentally stayed too late to leave and the two had an impromptu sleepover, deciding to work further on the project as long as they were awake. At least, they were pretending to work further on the project while goofing off.

“Mrs. Mitchell is absolutely going to kill us,” Virgil snickered.

Logan let out his own laugh. “Not our fault she thinks Shakespeare is the height of literature, “nothing” literally meant “dick” back then and she gave us Much Ado About Nothing.”

Virgil buried his face in the borrowed pillow to cackle without having to worry about waking Nan.

“Not to mention,” Virgil said as he lifted his face back up, “we’re turning it into two gay guys. She’s going to hate that, I don’t think she thinks her lesson plans through.”

Logan threw his head back, lost in snorting laughter and sending his glasses flying. “Just don’t fall in love with me and we’ll be golden.”

Virgil made some sound between a scoff and a snort. “No problem, I’m just here to piss of the student body, be gay, and do crime.”

They continued their routine after that. Roman and Patton started hanging out with them on weekends, and for some reason Roman kept sending him sly looks whenever the four of them were together. Every one was met with a confused look from Virgil, but Roman would simply shrug and not say anything.

It took another three weeks, to the point where Virgil and Logan were finally getting into the rehearsal stage, for Virgil to finally realize what those sly looks meant.

Virgil tripped over his unfinished costume and Logan darted forward to catch him before he could hit the ground. Virgil laughed it off and they reset, but his cheeks were warm and his heart was beating far too quickly.

But how did Roman realize it before he did? Had he been obvious before he’d even realized he liked Logan? Did Logan know?

This was Virgil’s own personal hell. He was well and truly fucked. He should’ve never gone to school ever a day in his life just to avoid this moment.

He could not be in love with Logan Berry. There was just no way he’d like him back! 

They were only hanging out together because they were working on a project together. Another week and a half and Logan would move on, probably not even give him the time of day.

No, he couldn’t act on these feelings, and he just had to pray that Logan hadn’t noticed. He would get through this project, they would stop talking, and Virgil would get over it.

Even if Roman nagged him from that day forward.

Even if Patton started giving him sad looks when he thought none of them were looking.

Even if Logan asked him why he started being so weird.

At least Logan questioning him he was able to play off as anxiety over having to perform. And Logan bought it, thankfully, not questioning him further.

They finished their project and performed it for the class (thought not without numerous anxiety attacks on Virgil’s end, as well as him nearly throwing up the moment they stood in front of the class in their costumes and all their makeup), but even so, Logan didn’t leave.

He ate lunch with them everyday. He invited Virgil over at least one day every week, if not more. At least every other weekend they would end up having a sleepover.

And Virgil’s feelings, unfortunately, only grew.

Luckily, it seemed he had gotten rather good at keeping a cap on them. Roman and Patton stopped nagging and teasing and giving him looks. If fact, they stopped bringing it up at all. Virgil would be suspicious if he wasn’t so relieved.

It was another Friday night that turned into an impromptu sleepover. Really, it was more Saturday morning by that point, but Virgil certainly wasn’t paying attention.

Somehow in their sleepy states, Virgil had let his guard down. The two of them laid on the floor of Logan’s room, laptop at an angle they could both see and playing Star Trek episodes in the background. Virgil’s head rested on Logan’s stomach as they laid perpendicular to each other, Logan’s hand combing absent-mindedly through his hair.

“You know,” Logan sleepily mumbled, scratching a bit more against Virgil’s scalp.

Virgil hummed, both in pleasure and to show that he was listening.

“I told you not to fall in love with me. Back when we were working on that English project, remember?”

Virgil tensed, eyes shooting wide open. He was suddenly very awake, but he didn’t dare move and startle Logan out of his sleepy state. There was a chance he could pass out any minute and forget all of this, Virgil just had to keep it cool.

“I was joking, of course. But I didn’t plan on one thing. You know what that was?”

Virgil hummed again, not trusting his voice. His hands had started shaking and he twisted them into the blanket that had been haphazardly thrown over him at some point.

“I didn’t plan on me falling in love with you. And yet, here we are, aren’t we?”

Virgil gasped, shooting up into a sitting position and twisting around to look down at Logan. Logan looked startled and sat up as well.

“I-I’m sorry. The late hour must be getting to me, just ignore me, I–”

Virgil shot forward, grabbing one of Logan’s hands and using his free hand to cup Logan’s jaw. He leaned forward until their noses were touching.

“Do you mean it,” he said lowly.

“I–Yes, I mean it.”

“Well thank fuck,” Virgil said.

He leaned forward to capture Logan’s lips, feeling Logan draw in a quick breath through his nose. For a moment, Logan didn’t kiss back, and Virgil panicked. 

Then Logan pushed forward to kiss back with so much force that Virgil fell toppled backwards onto his back, landing in a pile of pillows that they’d been smacking each other with earlier. Virgil laughed and Logan leaned over him, chuckling.

“Guess I got a little overexcited,” Logan said sheepishly.

“Hey,” Virgil said flirtatiously, “I’m not complaining.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Roman teach you that?”

Virgil laughed. “Just shut up and kiss me, nerd.”

Logan complied, moving in and pinning Virgil down to the pillow pile with his body. They continued on like that for a few long minutes, completely lost in each other, the Star Trek marathon completely forgotten.

Then there was a loud knocking at the door and the two of them pulled their lips apart to look at it in a panic.

“You boys best be behaving in there,” Nan called through the door. “I don’t want to be hearing any suspicious sounds.”

Virgil threw his head back and cackled. Logan flushed from his collarbones to his hairline.

“Nan!” He yelled back. “It’s three in the morning, why are you up?!”

“I could ask the same of you boys,” she answered. “Keep it PG in there!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Virgil called through his snickers.

Logan shoved at his shoulder, which was rather ineffective considering the fact that he was the one laying down against a solid surface.

“You’re cute when you blush,” Virgil laughed.

Logan cocked his head, as if listening, then moved forward into Virgil’s space again. “Stop flirting and kiss me some more.”

Virgil grabbed Logan and rolled them over, pinning Logan down instead, grinning when his blush returned.

“Whatever you say,” he said.

Needless to say, they did not separate for some time after that.

[urdbell18]

A Seed Hidden in the Heart Chapter 12: The One With the Movie Date

AN:Okay so to be completely honest with you guys I am working on the next chapter but two things happened, one that is mine fault and another that isn't in my control. Basically, I don't want you guys to panic if the next chapter ends up being a little late. What happening is that my work for the next two weeks is taking a lot of time and when I'm done I'm usually not in the mood to write, I hate to admit it but it's true. Where I am at fault is that I started reading Harry Potter number 5 and it took up all of my free time over this weekend. I'm sorry you guys but again I am working on it. Thank you for your understanding and have a safe and happy Pride.

January was not a good month for Baxter High. It was testing month, there was the junior and seniors SATs, state mandated testing, and mid terms. The SATs caused Zelda’s upper students to show up for her classes blurred eye due to lack of sleep, two of her students even fell asleep. Not even two weeks in and Zelda was already tired and a little bit annoyed by it all. And while she had to move some things around there was some things she refused to compromise on. Like the book report her fourth period Spanish 1 and fifth period French 1 class were to give in the day they came in. They all went pale in fear when they read the board that they would be presenting their reports. And they had every right to be afraid, none of them were prepared, about half had the actual type up report and they all jumped in their seats when she called their name. There was exceptions, like Roz and Susie who were the only two to earn a passing grade. And of course, Seth Grinwis wasn’t prepared at all. Zelda called on him first and after he stuttered for a minute to say he didn’t even have it she served him with two weeks detention, one week for destroying the book and another for not doing the assignment. He flushed in embarrassment before retaking his seat and he sat there in a stew.

Mid term week wasn’t as bad as she expected. It was more tedious than anything with all the grading that she had to do but with the students going home so early and having about five hours to kill before she had to pick up Vida she didn’t mind. While they didn’t have an official lunch hour Mary still came around the same time, it provided her with a welcomed break. Because the cafeteria was closed during term week Zelda split her lunch with Mary. This all worked fine until Thursday came.

By Thursday all of the schools were getting out early, a fact that Zelda completely forgot until Vida’s school called her. Zelda mumbled a curse when she ended the call, she had to pick up Vida but she was scheduled to submit her grades into the computer. She didn’t know what she was going to do until Mary showed up.

“Lunch?”

“Actually I need a favor.”

“Sure. Is something wrong?”

“Not exactly. Vida got out early but I need to submit my grades into the computer. Could you pick her up, please?”

“Absolutely. You do what you have to do I got Vida.”

“Mary thank you.” Mary just smirked and kissed Zelda on the cheek. Zelda responded by giving Mary a quick peck on the lips. Together they walked to the front of the school, grades could only be submitted with the computers in the school office, that’s where they parted Zelda watching Mary leaving through the front doors of the school. Another teacher was leaving the office, Zelda vaguely recognized him from the science department and they gave each other a silent head nod in greeting. Zelda sat at an unoccupied terminal with a heavy sigh. Let the fun begin.

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

Mary decided to walk to Vida’s school. The elementary school wasn’t that far and without any new snow the sidewalks were relatively hazard free. Not knowing where when she was going when she got there she asked the school secretary who pointed her in the direction of where Vida was. There weren’t that many kids left so they combined them all into the school gym since they couldn’t go outside to play. Vida was sitting against a wall by herself reading a book.

“Gotten to the good part yet?” Vida jumped but when she saw that it was Mary she smiled a large smile and hugged Mary. Mary picked her up which was when a teacher came over. Mary handed her the note that Zelda wrote her, it was signed and after comparing the signatures Mary was allowed to take Vida. They walked back to the high school with Vida talking the whole way and her hand in Mary’s. After thinking it over Mary took Vida to her office instead of Zelda��s, it didn’t feel right to just use the space without permission and besides she needed to do some lesson revision so her office was best. Vida looked around the space with wide eyes, taking in everything that was new to her like the paintings and the books. Next to Mary’s desk was some newspapers, Mary picked them up sometimes when she was at the store, they were cheap and she could usually find another use for them. Vida looked them over and that’s when she remembered something that she have been meaning to ask.

“Mary?” Mary hummed and she looked up from her papers. “What does ‘going to the movies’ mean?”

“What do you mean baby bear?”

“Sabrina keeps saying that she goes to the movies but I know we watch movies on the TV and she leaves when she says that. Where does she go? Does she go to the actual movie?” For a moment Mary was confused to what Vida wanted but when it clicked she smiled.

“Oh! No, honey when Sabrina says that she’s going to the movie theater.”

“Oooohhhhh okay. What’s that?”

“A movie theater is a place that shows movies on really big screens.”

“And it’s fun?”

“It can be.”

“Can I go to the movies?”

“If your mom says it’s okay absolutely.” That brought a bright smile to Vida’s face and she climbed into one of Mary’s spare chairs. With her curiosity satisfied she brought out her book and started to read. Mary smiled at her and brought out her laptop, it never hurt to do some beforehand research.

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

After three grueling hours Zelda was done. She hated that they had to submit their grades into the computer. It wasn’t that she hated technology she just didn’t have the patience for it which was why between that and time she had to submit grades for the whole quarter plus the mid term. After she submitted her grades she got a picture on where her students stood and she wrote a list of students to talk to. She even wrote down Seth’s name because even though there was no way he could pass the class by the end of the year there was a chance he could boost his grade with some hard work and summer school. It wasn’t a conversation she was particularly looking forward to but it had to be done. Her office was dark when she reached it, Mary must have taken Vida to hers. Zelda didn’t mind, she collected what she needed for the weekend and her coat and locked up. Mary was at her desk, looking something up on her laptop and Vida curled in her lap fast asleep. She looked up when Zelda knocked on the door frame.

“Hey.”

“Thank you again for watching her.”

“No need it’s always a pleasure.” Zelda went over to Mary to take Vida. Vida made a little noise but didn’t wake up despite being moved. When Zelda turned to straighten up she saw what Mary was lookin at.

“Why are you looking at movie times?”

“Oh, Vida wanted to go so I was looking at movies for us to possible take her to.”

“Us?”

“Well yeah you said you wanted us to spend more time together and this was something that Vida wanted so I thought it be a good place to start.”

“I know but… the way you said it just took me back.”

“The way I said it? What’s wrong with the way I said it?”

“Nothing. It was just so natural that I wasn’t expecting it.”

“Zelda, can I tell you a secret?” Zelda nodded but her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. ���After the football game I did some deep thinking about you and Vida. I knew that any relationship I pursued with you you and Vida came as a packaged deal and I was okay with that. I didn’t enter into this relationship not knowing what I was getting into and if you say you’re ready to take it up a level I’ll be right behind you ready for whatever it is you need from me.” Zelda was speechless. She knew how Mary felt about her and Vida but knowing that Mary was ready to navigate the next part of their relationship it filled her with so much warmth that despite her effort a tear or two escaped her eyes.

“You’re unfair you know that? I already love you you don’t need to keep on giving me reminders why.” Mary smirked and stood up from her desk. She kissed Zelda soundly on the lips being careful of Vida between them.

“I don’t need a reminder why I love you. Shall we?” Zelda nodded and after locking up she and Mary left.

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

Zelda took Friday off. With her grading finished there was no need for her to come in so she slept in and then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with her daughter, niece, and Mary. After leaving the school Zelda followed Mary to her house so she could drop off her car and pack what she needed for the weekend. After thinking about it Friday was also the perfect day to take Vida to the movies. Vida smiled and she sat in Mary’s lap as she looked over the possible movies to go to. When she heard the plans Sabrina also wanted in, no one minded and she even helped pick the movie, why they choose Mary Poppins Returns was beyond Zelda. Nevertheless, she agreed to it and the time. The only thing she didn’t like was that the movie was in Riverdale but it couldn’t be helped, Vida really wanted to see the movie and it was only being shown in Riverdale. So after breakfast everyone got ready and then they made their way to Riverdale.

The movie theater wasn’t that crowded, there was no line for the concession stands so Sabrina was in and out in less than five minutes. Though why she needed popcorn so close after breakfast was something Zelda couldn’t wrap her head around. When they took their seats Zelda gave Vida a quick rundown on the common courtesy of the movies, mainly not talking during the movie. Vida understood and she sat in her seat silently but eagerly waiting for the movie to start. And she stayed that way for the whole two hours, silent but when Zelda took quick glances at her daughter she could tell that Vida was enjoying the movie. When it was over Vida wouldn’t stop talking about it, which was fine because she had Sabrina who gushed over the movie with her. Zelda let them chatter on.

“What do you think?” Zelda looked at Mary who walked next to her as Sabrina and Vida walked ahead of them in their own little bubble. Zelda didn’t think twice about taking Mary’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Mary gave her hand a light squeeze and it made her smile.

“I think she liked it. She did better than I expected.” It was true, parents don’t usually expect their four year olds to sit quietly for two plus hours, but then again Vida wasn’t like the average child. This was definitely something to keep in mind to do again. Mary hummed and they both brought their attention back to Vida and Sabrina who were still chattering away.

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

When they got home Zelda brought Vida upstairs. Vida had fallen asleep sometime during the journey back and Zelda, who never had the heart to wake her daughter when she was sleeping, decided to carry her up the stairs. Zelda laid Vida on her bed, putting the sheet over her daughter’s small body for some warmth but not overheating like the comforter would do. Instead of going downstairs to join Mary and Sabrina for a late lunch Zelda stayed, taking a seat at her vanity. As she watched her daughter sleep Zelda went over in her head what she was going to say to her daughter. This was a conversation that she should of had with Vida a long time ago but if she was serious with Mary being more involved in their lives she wanted to make sure Vida was okay with it. Vida woke up half an hour later and despite having all that time Zelda felt grossly unprepared.

“Vida can I talk to you about something?” While Vida snuggled into her lap when Zelda joined her on the bed when Vida showed the first signs of waking her face clearly showed worry. “It’s nothing bad. At least I hope not.” The worry that left Vida’s face was quickly replaced with confusion.

“I don’t understand mommy.”

“Vida do you remember what I told you about Ambrose.”

“Yes. You said that cousin Ambrose liked boys despite him being a boy as well but it was okay for him to like who he liked and that was the same for me and Sabrina.”

“Very good. Now, what if I told you that mommy was special friends with another woman?”

“You mean like Sabrina and Harvey?”

“Just like Sabrina and Harvey.”

“It be okay I guess… just… what about Mary?”

“What about Mary baby?”

“Would we have to see her less because of your special friend?”

“Honey, Mary is my special friend.”

“Why didn’t you say so!” Though a little taken back by Vida’s sudden outburst a smile graced Zelda’s face. Zelda realized that pass her worry Vida would take the news well. Vida liked Mary and while there was more things that Zelda would have to explain it could wait for later. Vida’s stomach growled, it cause Vida to blush lightly and Zelda chuckled. “I think someone is ready for lunch.” Zelda held out her hand which Vida took and they went downstairs to join the others.

PS: sorry about the dotted lines, I couldn’t figure out how to do page brakes.

[were-cheetah-stiles]

The Bad Parts In (Part 1) - Void!Stiles Stilinski

Author: @were-cheetah-stiles

Title: “The Flock It Has Bred”

Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Nogitsune, Noah Stilinski, Scott McCall & Reader

Prompt: “I Need You To Trust Me Now”

Author’s Note: This is my entry for @fillthevoid-stilinski‘s writing challenge and it’s kind of hilarious that this happened because I have about two parts, of three, fully written for a 1000% different FBI!Stiles fic which was supposed to be my submission for the WC but I was so not in love with it. It’ll come out eventually, but I was much more in love with this. Tomorrow is also Halloween, or as I have now dubbed it, “Nogitsuween 2017″ and I thought this was more fitting. I have never written Void before but there is a song by a band, called Brand New, and the lyrics essentially, more or less, describe Void and every time I hear the song, I think of him. So this fic was going to be done sooner or later. I went with sooner. This will probably only be two parts. :) enjoy.

Additional Note: I’ve never used an actual episode of TW as the template for one of my fics, but I sort of did with this. I hope it doesn’t suck.

Thanks: to the forever homies and the little boo’s @rememberstilinski and @maddie110201 for looking over part of this for me last night.

Song: I worked as many of the lyrics, or the directions in the lyrics, to ‘Degausser’, by Brand New, off of their aptly name third album, “The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me”. It’s a phenomenal song. You should give it a listen. 

“The Flock It Has Bred” - “The Sleep In The Alkaline”

"Well, I guess I can say goodbye to sleep." Stiles chewed on his nub of a thumbnail, while twisting in his desk chair, his elbow digging into his thigh as the rest of his body moved back and forth.

You glanced up at his comment, a sadness resting in every muscle of your body over the recent events. You had run into Scott and Stiles in the hallway on your way to fifth period, on their first day back at school since sacrificing themselves for their parents. Scott pulled you into the locker room to help him calm Stiles, in the throes of a panic attack, and you knelt in front of him, helping him to count his fingers and letting him count yours after, just to make double sure that he was not dreaming. You were real, this was real, he was awake. The trouble only began from there. 

You were the one that immediately recognized Stiles' handwriting on the chalkboard, spelling out Kira's name, essentially directing William Barrow on who to kill. You were with Scott, the Sheriff, and Melissa when Stiles went to the hospital to have the MRI figure out if he had frontotemporal dementia, like his mother, and you were there when Deaton finally injected the lichen into Stiles' veins, rendering the Nogitsune inert, at least for the time being. It had been a nightmare of a week or so, you weren’t even sure how much time had passed since you held Stiles under the water in the animal clinic. Time always seemed to stand still when your world was crumbling around you.

"Please don't do this. Don't leave me to figure this out by myself.... Just don't, don't leave me, Sti." You pleaded with him quietly from across his bedroom.

He leaned forward in his chair, rubbing his sinewy hand against the black, engorged veins on the back of his neck, unable to make eye contact with you anymore, and wanting to confirm that the marks were still there. He was still him. For now. "I have to go... Me being locked up in Eichen is the safest option for everyone. I can't hurt anyone there, Y/n." He glanced up, your hands resting awkwardly in your lap, your thumb pushing into your palm as if you were trying to work out a kink in the muscle. Stiles tried to lighten the mood. "Besides, I think that staying up is exactly what I need.. I can read, I can work out the theories, and you can come help me during visiting hours." He paused when he saw you shaking your head, and looking down at your lap.

"Not sleeping is not the answer, Sti. You already look like a train hit you going full speed. What's a few more days going to do you?" You wanted to know the answer to that question. You began typing on your laptop, resting on top of his blue plaid comforter, dimly lit in front of you.

Stiles got up from the desk chair to sit next to you on the bed. He had been somewhat afraid to touch you since the Nogitsune took over, afraid to hurt you, but you looked so distraught that he couldn't stifle the innate need to comfort you. You didn't look up when you felt the mattress shift next to you, or when Stiles' smooth and sweet voice rang out near your ear. "It's going to keep the Nogitsune at bay for a bit longer... What are you looking up?" He asked, running his veiny hand under your shirt and absentmindedly began rubbing away the stress in your lower back. "'How many days can you go without sleep without dying?'" Stiles scrunched his face and nodded. "Morbid, babe, very grim, and maybe a little overdramatic."

You shot him an unamused glare and then wrapped your hand under his thigh, your physical connections with each other simply happening naturally, without much thought. "Eleven days... and it doesn't clarify whether that person then slept or just dropped dead. You can't stay up forever."

"I don't need to stay up forever, I just need to stay up long enough for you to figure out how to take apart my head. I know you'll be able to crack why I suddenly can't count or read or do anything right, and we'll just figure out how to get rid of this thing." Stiles climbed the tips of his fingers up and down your spine, an action that usually tickled you or made you think of a spider and generally earned a laugh from you. He couldn't leave for Eichen without seeing you smile one last time first. "It'll be okay, I promise."

You closed your eyes, hoping it would seal in the tears. It didn't. You felt your bony elbows dig into your knees, as you buried your head in your hands, shaking your head back and forth. "I'm just scared. I don't want to lose you or this, or us..."

Stiles wrapped his arms and legs around your folded up body, and rested his head against your upper back, feeling your y/e/c hair tickling his nostrils. He smoothed your hair against your back with his cheek, and closed his eyes. "This isn't goodbye to us, or love, or anything. It's just a preca-"

"What if they don't let you out?" You cut him off, panic seeping through your words.

"Then you and Scott and Isaac and Allison and Lydia and my Dad will break me out. It'll be okay. They can't keep me. I'm not crazy... I don’t think." Stiles said before practically falling forward as you rose from the bed and walked over to the open space of his bedroom. He watched you begin to pace, trying to find the words that would convince him to stay, but he got up to stand in front of you, and interrupted your thoughts before you could ever even form a coherent sentence. "It's what's right, babe. Don't worry about me being in there, worry about trying to fix what's in my head."

You shook your head, blotchy patches scattered across your face as you fought tooth and nail not to cry. Stiles was the one who was possessed, so he needed you to be the strong one this time. "I'm just, what if it takes apart your head before I do, and it just... chews you up and swallows you whole before I figure any of this out. I would never be able to live with myself, I would never be able to let it go or you go. I'd never move on. I'd spend the rest of my days trying to get you back, while everyone else would probably hav-"

Stiles cut you off from your rambling when he pressed his normally soft, but now somewhat chapped and cracked pink lips to yours. Your feet followed his movements naturally, and suddenly, Stiles had you pushed up against the wall between to his bedroom door and his closet. His lips moved against yours, as his hands gripped your hip and the back of your neck. A soft thud echoed through the room as your body met the wall. The thud was replaced with soft moans as Stiles slipped his tongue into your mouth and your hands ran up into his thick brown hair. You melted into his hold, and calmed down as he continued kissing you. Slowly, Stiles began to separate from you, stepping back just far enough that he could get a good look at if there was a change in your overall demeanor. It seemed slightly better.

"You were spiraling a little, bear." He whispered, a melancholy look on his face.

You returned the smile, a bit more genuinely happy than his. He gave you the nickname when you were little kids, you didn't even remember why at this point, but it always made you smile. "I could feel it happening, and I just couldn't stop it." You cracked a mediocre joke, but Stiles laughed. He was relieved that you were relaxing a little. He went to walk over to his desk to slip his shoes back on, but you grabbed at his muted navy blue and white zip up hoodie. "Wait, no."

Stiles turned back to you and sighed. "Bear... come on."

You shook your head and stepped forward to wrap your hands underneath his sweatshirt, gripping at his dark gray t-shirt around his back. "I know, I just, just a minute more." You asked, and Stiles, with his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets, wrapped his sweatshirt around your body, hugging you tight against him. His body temperature was a little cooler than usual, so he drank in your warmth.

"Okay, baby, just a few minutes more." He pressed a few long kisses onto the top of your head and you nuzzled your cheek against his chest. Your moment was finally interrupted by a knocking on the door.

"Kids, it's time to go. We told them we'd get there around eight." Noah peeked his head through the door and frowned when he saw Stiles comforting you. The Sheriff understood your agony and guilt for not being able to stop Stiles from admitting himself into the infamous institution.

Stiles nodded, but didn't release you from his warm embrace yet. "I'll be down in a couple of minutes, Dad." Noah simply nodded and closed the door, leaving you to your goodbyes. "Bear, it's time." Stiles whispered into your ear, followed by a long kiss against your temple. You nodded and the two of you finally separated. "Visiting hours start at one, so just come after school and we'll have a few hours to dig through the books and the internet together. Deal?" He asked, glancing up as he tied the laces on his white and green Adidas.

"Last period is free, so I'll rush straight over." You told him.

Stiles smiled, as he beckoned you to come sit on his lap. His desk chair swiveled ever so slightly as you sat down. He wrapped one hand across both of your thighs, keeping you tight against him, and the other reached up to caress your cheek. "I need you to trust me now, bear. It will be okay. I'll be safe. You'll be safe. We'll get through this." You nodded, sadness evident in your eyes. "I love you."

"So much?"

Stiles couldn't help but snicker quietly and smile genuinely over you invoking a little tradition of yours. "Too much." He replied, as he always did.

"I love you too." You said, instead of your next usual line. You dipped your head in once more and kissed him. He squeezed you, as your soft lips tugged at his dry ones. He adored you more than you knew, and letting go felt impossible. He knew if he didn't pull away now, he never would go to Eichen. So, he parted from your embrace.

"Alright, baby. It's really time, this time." He scooped you up, carried you the few steps over, and placed you on his bed, trying to memorize what your y/h/c hair looked like against his blue plaid sheets. He grabbed his backpack full of underwear, socks, sweats and t-shirts off of the floor and slung it over his shoulder. He watched your eyes fill with tears and he sent you a lopsided frown. "Stay here as long as you need to, little bear, but if you leave before my Dad gets back, can you lock up?" You nodded, sitting up on the bed to watch him, as he stepped towards the door. "You can sleep here if you want though. My dad doesn't ever mind."

"I'm sure he doesn't want to have to worry about me too, Sti. I'm gonna head home in a little." He nodded, and placed his hand on the door knob.

"Alright. Goodnight, Y/n." He quirked his eyebrows up, while pushing his fists down against his hoodie pockets. "You need to sleep tonight. Someone’s gotta be fresh for tomorrow, and god knows it won’t be me." You nodded. "Love you." He said, as he pulled the door open.

"Wait!" His heart shattered a little thinking that you were still trying to keep him there. "Your pillow. You forgot your pillow."

Stiles turned and smiled, backing into the hallway. "I didn't forget it. Not sleeping, remember? You take it home. It probably smells like me. Maybe it'll help you sleep."

"Okay. Just let me know when you want it, and I'll bring it." Stiles nodded, and waited, hoping you'd say it back. You sighed. "Love you back."

And just like that, he was gone. You watched the Sheriff's car pull down the street from his window and then grabbed your phone out of your pocket. You pressed the contact info for the number two in your 'Favorites' and waited for the call to connect.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Scott, I need to tell you where Stiles is going. Maybe you can stop him."

Scott went to Eichen and caught Stiles and the Sheriff before they made it through the security gates. It was no use though, the moment Stiles had managed to leave you, his mind was made up. He was determined not to hurt anyone else. 

They wouldn’t let you see him the next afternoon; citing that visiting hours had been canceled for the day, but refusing to tell you why. Then he somehow escaped from the old institution. 

You and Deaton and Chris Argent scowered books and the internet, trying to find anything that would lead you all in the direction of saving Stiles and defeating the trickster. There was a lead on a scroll, but it offered so little and the inscription was so cryptic, you continued searching for another way. When the Nogitsune sent out the swarm of flies, targeting the werewolves and creating a distraction, you went to Scott and tried to keep the focus on saving Stiles.

"Call Peter, call Deaton, I don't care what's happening with the rest of them right now. I’m sure that Allison and Kira have it under control, but you and I don't have the slightest idea as to what to do next."

"Y/n, we should go help Allison and Kira first." Scott reasoned, trying to move to get you to turn around from your drive to the animal clinic, but you wouldn't hear it.

"They have it, Scott! They're fucking strong, okay? Stiles isn't! We don't even know where he is!"

"Y/n, pull over." Scott put his hand on your wrist, trying to cajole you into letting him drive. You were too upset, and you were scaring him.

"No!" You yanked your wrist out of his hold and felt the car swerve slightly with your movement. "I'm fine. Just call them.... Please." You looked over at Scott, deep concern set into his brown eyes. "Please, Scott. I, I just can't shake this little feeling that I'll never get anything right without Stiles' help, so I need them. I need their separate expertise. Please just, just call them." He nodded finally.

"Um, hold on, Lydia's calling me." Scott answered the call and you tried to watch him as much as you were watching the road, curious about what your banshee friend had found. "Hey Lyds, what's up-" Scott paused. "What?"

"What?" You asked, enraptured by his surprise. "What is it?"

"Yea, take him to my house. My mom is there already, and we'll be right there with Deaton. I'll call Peter." He hung up, and realized that you had pulled over finally. "Lydia and Aiden found Stiles. We have to get Deaton and head back to my house." Before Scott could finish his sentence, he was thrown back by the momentum of the car accelerating suddenly. You zipped through the streets to Peter's home with purpose.

"Call Peter then! Damnit, Scott, I'm not going to kill us. I've never even gotten a speeding ticket." You yelled, not meaning to be short with him, but not being able to help yourself.

Scott dialed Peter and while he waited for it to ring, he turned to you. "Just to be clear, you've never gotten a speeding ticket because you're dating the Sheriff's son, not because you don't speed like a maniac." You rolled your eyes and raced through traffic.

You stood behind the group, next to Lydia, watching as Dr. Deaton pulled a brown vial out of his bag. He poured an eye dropper of a liquid into Stiles' open mouth, while tightly gripping his jaw. The action roused him and his eyes shot open. He reached up for Aiden first, wrapping his large hand around Aiden's throat, and thrashing against the werewolves hold, until suddenly he let go.

Stiles' attention became directed at Deaton, waiting patiently in the middle of the living room, and he shook as his limbs relaxed into the cushions around him. "Kanima vemon. Nice touch."

With that, you understood that Lydia and Aiden had not found Stiles. It was fully the Nogitsune now. The thought made you want to vomit. You watched as the Nogitsune calmly taunted and threatened Aiden. Scott sent Aiden to the school to save Ethan from whatever fate the Nogitsune had planned out for him, and his aggressions were suddenly redirected on to the remainder of the group. But you stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, simply watching the demon's movements and listening to his threats.

"Doc, you brought something to paralyze his body. You got anything for his mouth?" You heard Melissa ask, fed up with the way he was controlling the conversation and holding everyone hostage in fear through his words.

"Yes, I do." Dr. Deaton nodded once, before ripping apart a piece of duct tape long enough to cover Stiles' lips. The Nogitsune chuckled as Deaton approached, but the moment the tape covered his face, he screamed. It quickly devolved into a malevolent giggle. You wondered if Stiles was even remotely still in there.

Deaton, Lydia and Scott gathered in the kitchen discussing the game plan, while you stood on the periphery of the room, arms folded across your chest, your back leaning against the wall, as you watched Melissa try to mend the healing wound on Stiles' abdomen. Suddenly, Stiles' entire body language changed. He trembled and his eyes welled up with tears.

"Stiles?" Melissa asked, seeing the change in demeanor as well. He nodded, his brow furrowed heavily.

You weren't convinced, however. "Melissa, I wouldn't.."

Melissa glanced behind her at you, then looked at Stiles, his lashlines brimming with tears, threatening to spill over at any moment. She pulled the tape off of his face, and watched sadly as a tear finally spilled over on to his cheek. He went from devastated and scared, to cocky and disappointed in less than a second, and you knew you were right.

The Nogitsune shook his head and wrinkled his forehead in fake surprise. "Really, Melissa?" He asked. "I shed one tear? That's all it takes? Come on now, you can't crumble that easily. You should've listened to Y/n. I don't think I've fooled her once yet." He smirked at you from across the room. "At least not today."

The Nogitsune threatened to expose the truth about Scott's dad, angering Melissa, who simply shook her head and tried to feign a ferocity that she just didn't actually have in her in that moment. "This isn't you, Stiles." She tried to get him to stop by appealing to the boy inside.

"It is now." He shook his head with a grin. 

"Melissa, put the tape back on." You grumbled, sick of hearing the voice you loved come from that creature. Melissa nodded and pressed the tape back against his mouth.

You gave Melissa a break from watching the Nogitsune, while in the kitchen, Scott, Lydia and Deaton discussed what to do next, while Stiles' body was still paralyzed. You sat in the chair in the corner of the room, in a bit of a staring contest with the creature who looked like the person you were certain, even at sixteen, was the love of your life. He moved slower and more deliberate than Stiles. The air seemed thicker and flat in his presence. You weren't sure why, but to you, there was an almost palpable difference. His eyes were telling too. They darted around the room with purpose, always looking for the advantage, whereas Stiles' always moved with curiosity and wonder, always looking for his loved ones. 

The Nogitsune nodded you towards him, but you didn't budge. He dropped his jaw slightly, and quirked an eyebrow up, trying to appear submissive and trying to entice you over to him. Your curiosity got the better of you finally and you spoke softly. 

"What?"

He darted his eyes down to his mouth, and you shook your head. 

"Not gonna happen." You scowled at him. 

He mumbled something against the tape, and you simply shook your head, until he lifted his arm and peeled the tape away himself. Your eyes grew wide and you rose from your seat slowly, waiting to see if he would move and if you would have to scream for help. He simply watched you from across the room with a devilish smirk. You approached cautiously and sat on the coffee table in front of him, a hand pressed against the smooth wood behind you, and the other relaxed in your lap. He stayed resting against the couch cushions, eyes locked on your person. 

"How long have you been able to move?" The Nogitsune shrugged, playing coy. "What do you want?"

"You aren't like the others. You aren't afraid of me like they are. I assumed you, of all, would struggle with an evil entity possessing the boy you love." The Nogitsune spoke calmly, quietly, and arrogantly. 

"My Dad wasn't the greatest man in the world." You told the Nogitsune what you were sure he already knew. "It takes a little more than a bug wrapped in gauze hiding in a boy to scare me." 

A wide grin spread across his face. "Ah yes, the mean Daddy..." He taunted, fake pouting at you. "Ooh, Stiles doesn't like me talking to you about this." 

You tried to hide the fact that him mentioning Stiles made you perk up a bit. He had your attention. "He's in there still?"

"Where else would he be, little bear?" The corners of his mouth twitched up when you reacted. He spoke quietly as to not attract the attention of the others. "He said he likes your sweater."

You narrowed your eyes at the Nogitsune, and then began shaking your head. "Fuck you. That's not... Just stop." You stared at him, calm and observant. You tried to move your hand quietly through Deaton's medical bag behind you on the table. Your fingers worked through the bag slowly, trying to identify the vial of kanima venom. Positively identifying and grabbing it was the first hurdle, figuring out how to get it in his mouth without him hurting you was something you'd worry about in five minutes. "You're being honest with me, aren't you?" You spoke to him, trying to keep his eyes focused on yours, instead of your hand. He nodded again. "Do you even know how to tell the truth, fox?" You asked, seething through your teeth at the last word. The Nogitsune blinked slowly and nodded. 

"He thinks you look beautiful, even though you clearly didn't sleep." He told you.

You shut your eyes for a moment, letting Stiles' words seep into your brain. It sounded like him. He would say something so goofy, and not something like 'I love you.' to let you know that he was okay. Stiles wouldn't want the Nogitsune to get to say 'I love you' to you, at least not from him. You sighed, and then refocused the subtle scowl onto your face. "Tell him I'm coming for him." 

The Nogitsune rubbed his tongue across the fronts of Stiles teeth, while grinning. He liked playing this game with you. "I get why he cares about you the way he does. The two of you were clearly made for each other. Sneaky little detectives."

You tried to fight the blush rising to your cheeks. You weren't sure if you had just been caught. "What are you talking about?"

"I've been playing nice so far because you intrigue me, and I may need your help yet, but if you think you are dosing me with more kanima venom, you are grossly overestimating your importance to me." His face grew serious, and you felt a chill move down your spine. A soft clunking noise came from behind you as you released the glass vial back into Deaton's bag. "Can you hear them, little bear?" The Nogitsune asked you, slightly tilting his head to the side and staring at you deep in your y/e/c.

"Don't fucking call me that." You seethed.

"Don't get distracted now, little bear. They're talking about you." He divulged, an eyebrow quirked up, pushing wrinkles onto his forehead. You grew silent, shifting your focus to the muffled conversation in the kitchen, wondering how he could hear them better. He finally leaned forward, shakily. You wondered if he only just now regained more control of his body. "I'll whistle if they're about to catch you." He grinned, and you scoffed, but then sighed. 

"Fuck." You got up and tip-toed towards the doorframe, separating the kitchen and the living room. You knew that the conversation must have been intense, otherwise Scott would've been paying attention enough to hear you lurking on the other side of the wall. 

"Scott, we have to try." Lydia reasoned. “Y/n will never forgive us if we don’t try.”

"You think I don't know that? I'm just saying, Derek and Peter may not be as willing to exhaust every option before we get... there."

"We also don't know if the scroll will even work..." Deaton spoke up. 

"But if it does..." Scott countered. 

"They are linked now, very linked. Stiles may still die anyway." Deaton told the truth.

Your head whipped around to look at The Nogitsune still resting on the couch. He looked up at you from under his dark lashes and tilted his head. You knew he was telling you, 'I told you so.' You padded quietly back over to him and waited for him to speak, not able to trust what your voice would divulge about what you were thinking or feeling in that moment: sheer terror and panic. "Are you going to let them kill me? Me and Stiles?" He asked, a knowing smirk resting on his lips suddenly. You were clearly still playing his game. 

"What am I supposed to do?" You whispered. 

His gaze moved from you to Deaton's bag on the table. "The vet has a four day supply of lichen in there, and at least a vile more of kanima venom. I'll give you Stiles back for the night, if you get us out of here and hide us. You can't tell anyone where we are going; somewhere with mountain ash preferably." He glanced back up at you, waiting. "Stiles is running out of time. Peter is already on his way here. He is another foot under the ground every minute you stand there contemplating."

He was right. You watched the door to the kitchen as you reached into Deaton's bag for the syringe and lichen mixture. He held his left arm out for you. You slipped the needle under his skin, and pushed down the plunger; watching the neon green liquid empty into the veins on the underside of his forearm. You waited, what felt like a decade, but was truly only moments. 

"Y/n?" Stiles demeanor changed drastically. "Baby, you shouldn't have done that..." 

"Can you walk?" You asked, zipping the bag back up. 

Stiles lifted his right leg slightly. "I think so, but Y/n, we-"

"If you love me at all, you will not argue, you will just get up. Right now. Please, Stiles. They're going to kill you."

Stiles' face was racked with guilt and fear. His golden amber eyes met yours and he nodded. "Let's go."

A second part to come...

@ninja-stiles @lightbreaksthrough @maddie110201 @hattyohatt @stilinski-stydia-obrien @jolomez @fuckwhateverfuck @iknowisoundcrazy @fox-lau @leilaelizabeth @5secsxofamnesia @awkwarddly @daddyxraeken @completebandgeek @chivesoup @ivette29 @sunshineystilinski @vmach29 @theneverendingracetrack @dailyburritos @spooky-stiles @im-very-odd33 @amethystmerm4id @anonimereader06 @sp00der-m00n @ellie-bee242 @nocturnalzeal @sumcp @gluetwentyfourobrien @stopit-ihateyou @wittystiles @mrs-mitch-rapp93 @lovefilledtragedy @r0s3mm @loveforbrains @arikachang @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone @susybird @omgimafuckingmermaid @inkedaztec @cafe-a-sabor-chocolate @shareece-erica @xmadwonderland @afraidofyourownminddrreid @behind-my-hazeleyes27 @itsamberh @nowthisiswaar @parislight @imjustakilljoybaby @dylanobemineforever @fckingnostalgia

[maggiejoehernandez4500-blog]

Treatment

The camera is at a bird’s eye view of a woman in bed. It starts at her feet and making its way up to her head. We can hear a buzzing and as we see her face it becomes clear that she is using a vibrator on herself. 

Cut to the woman (Mia) brushing her teeth and washing her face, getting ready for the day in a clearly perfected routine.This is when the credits and title will appear on the screen.

Cut to Mia sitting at a reception desk on her laptop, eating a grapefruit half. This will be a long shot, and the doorway to the office will give it a frame within a frame. The office is clearly in a middle school, as it is colorful and decorated with childrens crafts. A young girl, approx fifth or sixth grade walks into the shot and up to the desk. We then cut closer to Mia’s face, who looks up at the girl. The girl looks nervous, and Mia asks if everything is alright. Referring to Mia as Ms. ____, she timidly tells her that she thinks she has gotten her first period. Mia’s face is clearly caught off guard and she scrambles with finding the right thing to say.

Cut to a long shot in a bathroom, Mia stands outside of a stall, coaching the girl who is hidden within the stall on how to deal with the period. She says certain things and then takes them back, wondering how she should go about helping the girl. This scene has certain medium shots of Mia’s face leaning against the door, biting her thumb nail and wondering what she should say. She bites too hard on her thumb nail, and when she pulls it back, it’s bleeding. Finally, the girl comes out of the stall and Mia hugs her, to which the girl is not receptive.

Mia is getting in her car with a big bag of work stuff and her cell phone up to her ear. Finally, as she is scooting into the driver's seat, she starts to have a conversation. The camera is in the passenger's seat, and another camera will be set up on the outside of the car, looking toward the windshield with the playground in the back. Mia is having a conversation with her mother. She mentions that they are finally gonna let her start teaching at the end of the month, as another teacher is going on maternity leave. Her mother mentions that her birthday is coming up next weekend and asks what she has planned. Mia says she is unsure, that she doesn't want to celebrate at all. She says that this is the worst age to turn, that from here on out it's all downhill and that the fun is over. Her mother is only semi-empathetic and tells her that she has to knock it off and act excited on saturday night, because her grandma has been planning for weeks. Mia is confused and her mother curses, having accidentally ruined the surprise birthday party. Mia could not be more annoyed, begging her mom to cancel it, but eventually accepting it. She plays with a bandaid on her finger covering the broken nail. This conversation will be fluid and easygoing, as if she is just talking to a friend, revealing the closeness between mother and daughter. It ends by them saying bye and I love you, and that the mom will pick her up on saturday at 12. Mia starts the car.

Cut to a bathtub where the water is running hard. It will be loud. The water is now off and we see a bath bomb dropped into the water and we watch it fizz. Now we see a medium shot of Mias foot getting into the tub. This is followed by a variety of shots of Mia in the tub, putting her hair all the way in, but leaving her face above the surface. I will play with lighting and color gels here.

On thursday, she sits at her desk scrolling through nonsense on her computer, maybe taking one of those stupid quizzes, like “what food are you” or something dumb. A text pops up on her screen and she opens it. A short conversation occurs here where one of her friends tells her that she does not have a choice in the matter, and that they are going out to celebrate her birthday on Friday.

Cut to Mia getting ready, she is dressed nice and is applying lipstick in a mirror. A honk from outside, and she grabs a coat and walks out of the shot.

Mia is at the bars, clearly drunk and taking shots / having people buy her drinks. She is telling everyone that it’s her birthday the next day, and that this is her last night of fun. She is clearly overcompensating and drunkenly attempting to solve her issues by seeking validation of others. She is sloppy as hell and we follow her through a series of glimpses into conversations. In one of them she talks about how she is a teacher, in one of them she says that she _______ and at one point she just starts kissing somebody who clearly is not feeling it. At midnight, everybody starts to countdown from ten, Mia standing in the center, obviously way too drunk. At one, it cuts to black.

Black holds for a second or two, and then it reopens to a shot of Mia in bed. A birds eye view again, and then a cut into a closeup of her face. Her makeup is smudged and she looks like a horrible monster. She wakes up and is very disoriented. We see her looking down and shuffling through blankets. Cut back to the birds eye view, she pushes the blankets aside and we see that she has pissed the mf bed.

Next we see Mia at the sink, gulping water from a dirty glass that was on the counter. She leans her body against the sink, rubbing her head in one hand. Cut to Mia in the shower, this is where the camera will move in and get lots of close up shots of her body. She is obviously upset and arguably still a little drunk. The closeups will go over her whole body, jumping from feet to hips to dripping hair. She does a poor job of actually cleansing herself.

She walks into the bedroom, glancing at the bed with disgust and anger, then chooses to ignore it. A clock on the wall in the background tells us that it is around 11. We see her getting ready, dressing herself, and then sitting in a chair waiting and sipping water. There is finally a knock or two and her mom enters the house. She says hey and asks if she has everything that she needs for the evening. Mia is hardly responding and not really making eye contact. Her mom sits down next to her, putting her arm around her and rubbing her arm. She says that she knows how hard it is to grow up blah blah blah, but very causal. A close up of Mia’s face with her mothers face off screen shows that her lip is quivering and that she is about to cry. Finally, she breaks down into her mother’s breast, and through muffled sobs she says, I pissed my bed! Her mom is confused at first and then begins to softly laugh as she starts to tell the story. The girl is practically sobbing and the mom is shhh-ing her. Mia is saying how she feels so stupid and immature and wants to move away and never be seen again. The mom tells her to calm down, that everyone makes mistakes no matter how old or wise they are. She then asks Mia if she remembers the argument they got in a few years ago about something or other blah blah blah. Mia says yeah and asks why. The mom says that she was just irritated that whole day because the night before, she had gotten too drunk at a bar for her friends birthday and she threw up on a pool table. She laughs and tells Mia that she knows how it feels to be absolutely humiliated by feeling like a child, and that it sucks a lot. The conversation takes a shift now, as Mia starts to feel better. They sit there for a while and then the mom breaks the silence by making some kind of pee joke. The banter continues on and Mia begins to laugh about it, wiping snot from her nose.

The mom makes a comment about how Mia should go grab the sheets and bring them home to be washed, and that its absolutely disgusting that she left them there all day soaking. They are laughing steadily at this point. She also tells her that she needs to practice being surprised for her grandma, and so Mia starts making surprised faces. The final shot is a close up of Mia making an overly surprised face with her hands on her cheeks. Cut to black.