#i mean. 50k is not a novel. it simply is not. it's a weird and arbitrary goal that means nothing

[recurring-polynya]

Me, a person who has struggled to get up to 3k words per week for all of 2023: Oh, hey, it's almost November. What if I just pulled a NaNoWriMo and wrote 50k words. Then my fanfic would be nearly done.

[truthoradair101]

WIP Tag for Project Blue Done 5/26/2019

Okay I’m going to go ahead and apologize for this being so long, but I went into detail for a lot of things... not really any spoilers that I can think of but if you’re really sensitive to those kind of things, I advise you to stay clear.

WIP TAG DONE 5/26/19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExyndnUSJMY I used the format Lainey did from Gingerreadslainey, I highly recommend you check this out.

Ok first off before we get started, Camp NaNoWriMo starts in five days so let me quickly give an update on that. I have a cabin and have been talking with my cabinmates and planned out writing sprints with friends and hopefully some other writeins would be nice. If you’d like to do a few with me or talk about your projects or have questions, my inbox is always open and you can always message me or send me an ask! I promise, I won’t bite! I’m still planning on doing six projects and the 50K words will all be split. Project Blue (this one) is the furthest along, and all this week my goal has been to do 300 words each of my current five projects a day (which is going well except for today so I sort of need to fix that at some point). More aesthetics and other things on this project and my others will happen soon.

So since I have everything already worked out for NaNo and am basically ready to start (although I still haven’t reoutlined in greater detail anything and need to finish some planning for the project I’m starting… I’m working on it… but still) I do have a little quick thing on what it’s about.

(from my Camp NaNo page)

“The Assassin Chronicles (Project Blue)- A YA world filled with disaster at every turn for 14 year old Timothy. Growing up in a poor town with a single mother was always hard for him, but he survived. What was harder was growing up with Alicia, his closest friend since before he can remember, their fates looming over them. They’ve known for years that when they turned fourteen their worth would be reduced to nothing, but now the time for them to be rated by the governors for their Assassin Camps is looming over them, the day hanging over their heads. They never wanted the fate to be seen as heartless and cold by the townsfolk, to be the ones doing the dirty work, but to the government they’re seen as easily spared.”

So that’s the gist of it, thanks for reading, hope you enjoy!

Working Title?

So the current working title for the overall series I have planned is the Assassin Chronicles, and yes, I do think that this could really be a series, it just has so much potential and so many things are set up for a sequel already that it’d be hard to be a standalone, besides, it ends on a cliffhanger because I’m awful. As for what this title in particular is, I genuinely have no idea… there are so many things I could call it, but nothing has sounded right so far...

Idea from book come from?

So interesting story…the idea came to me March of 2018 during math class of all things… which was odd… but anyways it worked so who am I to complain? But the idea came to me with Timothy of all things. I had the idea of a young assassin who was forced into this position and the world just developed itself… this dystopian where everything is affected by where you stand… and for most people it ends in certain death. From there throughout the next few months I got inspired for Alicia and knew I needed a third person who ended up being my favorite character in the world…. His name is Eric. They’ve all changed so much since then… at first they were all based heavily off of people I knew… now not at all. Just thinking about it is sooo weird. Like you have no idea, it’s surreal. Eric is the most differed. Anyways, I picked it back up in December and finished planning back in February, taking a break from writing to sort out my life for a while and started the first draft in the first week of May. Plotwise it’s all due to the characters, they’ve always been my first priority, I love all of them so dearly, and honestly I’ve freestyled a lot of subplot that I never expected until I was deep into writing all of it out, especially with Alicia in particular.

What genre does your book fall under?

I say “dystopian esk” which basically means that the world has those supprevise elements dystopian novels do, but it’s not quite dystopian, the entire world is different from ours… in a way. It’s a different world that’s all I’ll say. It’s considered a YA fantasy world in my mind, that’s the easiest way to say it, there’s just not really magic… but that’s not all too uncommon at this point so I say it works.

What actors would you choose to play your characters if there was a movie?

So if you don’t know…. Hi, I’m Grace, I’m obsessed with aesthetics. So obviously, I have faceclaims and pinterest boards because that’s just how I am. Eric is obviously in most of them, because even though he’s not the protagonist, he’s just the most important to me, like a lot of my friends like to say that I’m obsessed with him, because my mind is always focused on my writing, I talk about it a lot, specifically this project, because it’s the most developed, for one, but also because it’s my oldest project, my friends have been with me every step of the way. So while they hardly ever get spoiled, a few of them help me develop things all the time, especially with characters, so they know a lot about Eric… but there’s a lot of layers to him, nobody truly knows everything, there are even secrets he’s still hiding from me, so many, even though there’s already so much I have learned so quickly from just writing him. There’s a reason behind every action he takes, every word he says, and the way he is. He befriends Alicia and Timothy soon after they arrive at the camp, and is essential, so of course he was the first character I ever made aesthetics for. The person who is basically my exact vision for him is named Alex Storm, who is a model. He is a bit older than Eric (not even sure by how much) but a lot of pictures with him when he had short hair and no facial hair do look basically like Eric to a tee, which is amazing. Eventually, I could see Eric growing his hair out a bit once he’s a tad older, so there’s also that. (He’ll be pictured down below).

Alicia took me a long time to find, not as long as Timothy, who was just impossible to find a person who looked like the vision I had, but she was still hard. And she does differ a bit, her skin is a bronzish shade, which is due to her heritage being somewhat distantly middle eastern like, but it’s fairly distant. Her hair is still like a copper auburn color, eyes hazel, but she just… there had to be a certain build to her. Lean and quick, someone who I could see being teaseful, witty, sarcastic, with a fire that never dies from her eyes. Alicia is a true fighter, she’s stubborn and reckless, her huge personality is just hard to find a fit for, especially to match how I envisioned her. In the end, after probably a few weeks or so of looking, I found a person named Karol Queiroz, who was just perfect. There are some pictures of her when she had shorter hair, which is definitely Alicia, she ended up growing it out past her shoulders, but most of the pictures I use for Alicia at the moment have her hair barely brushing her shoulders. There will be a point where I really think Alicia will grow out her hair, it makes her really look older and at one point she will yearn to not be judged for her young age, she is a warrior and she strives to make it look that way. (She will also be pictured down below).

Timothy… is just so complex. He’s suchhhh a Hufflepuff. Everything he does is, very much like Eric, for a reason, but a completely different reason. Eric always is plotting ahead, he’s trying to save himself most of the time from everything that he doesn’t exactly want to ever face, he wants to live, and he’s willing to make sacrifices to do so. Timothy, on the other hand, would rather give himself up than see those close to him, especially Alicia, but in time Eric as well. She’s always in the back of his mind, he’s learned to watch out for her to put it simply. Also like I have specific descriptions of eyes, it just comes naturally to me because that’s how I perceive people, because my eyes always tell such a story, also like eyes show personality and mood, and I don’t know… I feel like eyes are kind of what I always judge people by, a single look can tell an entire story, and it’s often how I’ve seen through lies and been able to see things are wrong, so descriptions of eyes especially to me are always important. I will admit, I am one of those people who falls in love with someone because of eyes, it’s how I remember faces, all because of eyes, I don’t know how to describe it, it just is how it’s sort of always been for me. And let’s just say the person Timothy was originally based off of…. Yes they’re extremely different over a year later, but the eyes are the same. That was the main reason, very distinct eyes. So it was hard to find, and to be honest I’m looking while writing this, but I had a vision, and I’m not sure how accurate it is. Basically the eyes are kind, yet strong, which is Timothy’s character, when it comes to emotion, he’s the one support Alicia has and I think she’d find comfort in his eyes, like I do with so many people. They are a slate grey blue (oh but wait it gets more specific and I feel awful making it so specific) with hints of lighter blue and darker green, with flecks of a much lighter green, almost yellow, and it looks like lightning crackling through the night sky. That’s always how I’ve described them, and as specific as that is, I see that as how Timothy is. Eventually, I stumbled across Luke Powell, who I had seen many times before, but specific pictures screamed Timothy to me, specifically him with bangs.That just… the thicker hair, the eyes aren’t exactly what I saw, but you know… it just works! (He will be pictured down below as well).

Yes, I know Timothy and Eric look rather similar, it’s not for a particular reason, it just sort of fits them.

To put it simply, personality matters when I look at people to represent my characters as much as looks, if not more, so you get a long explanation, sorry.

Self published or traditional?

You know, I’m young, I’m a teen writer with a big dream, getting this published or really anything at my age is hard! But of course I want it, I’ve always been an overachiever. I could see it being self published, but really… I don’t know if I want that in a way, but things may change over the next few years.

How long did it take you to write the first draft?

I’m going on month three and half way… my goal is to finish by the end of August.

What other books would you compare this story to?

Honestly I get sort of Young Elite vibes, that was what I was reading while I came up with the idea, spring 2018, and I was obsessed, just the atmosphere. It’s like young elites mixed with… something without magic and set in like a hilly world with patches of forest, it’s sort of reminds me of the woods outside of district 12 in the hunger games movie, almost like that…

Who or what inspired you to write this story?

Honestly I came up with this two months after I won this huge writing competition in my district, I got a really good score and knew I needed to use that momentum to carry over and create something GREAT. Over that past year all the momentum has done is increase, I just sort of got the idea talking to my friend, also I was a dark child… I loved assassins. I truly did. I think it was because Teren was great later on in the Young Elites and… I don’t know just that sort of vibe of him I guess. I never really thought about it that way, but still. I love dark fantasy and the young elites is why… it’s where it started. This is a dark fantasy world without magic, which is what I have been wanting to see. It was really just coming up with the idea of Timothy and basing the world around what could motive and stop him.

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I know this is like the longest thing in the world, I’ll go into more detail later I promise (I can hear your groans in the distance…I said this was going to happen! I’m doing a ton of stuff all throughout July, this was addressed… besides, I like to think people actually care but I could be wrong...) specifically with the characters because they really are EVERYTHING. But anyways, it’s not touched on so far, but it’s implied (*cough cough* Eric *cough* Timothy *cough*) that there’s LGBTQ+ representation, like nobody is straight let’s be honest (at least in the main cast, so far it’s leaning towards all three of the main trio are multisexual, like meeee so that’s fun..) I like to think that it’s the trainees way of revolting against the traditional governors running the camps, like they would do that, they would start a gay cult, let’s be honest, they’re a bunch of angsty teens being trained to be assassins against their will, it’s a disaster waiting to happen because… plot! No, but seriously, in their world I like to think just like in ours, times are indeed changing.

There is hinted romance (there’s just a lot of hinted things let’s be honest), but it’s not the main plot at all! So… there you go. Establish ships if you want, don’t if you don’t, all is good with me.

Like oppressive governments? Here! Like characters who have various skill sets and have diverse personalities? HERE! I mean they’re all sort of sarcastic… but they’re teenagers I can confirm that it’s normal. I feel like I’m missing things but this is already too long so… I’m gonna end it here… my tags for my other projects will be up soon!

Alex Storm as Eric.

Karol Queiroz as Alicia.

Luke Powell As Timothy

All posts and information for all of my writing projects and Camp NaNoWriMo July 2019 can be found under the tag #GraceWritesYA2019

[go-redgirl]

Care About Impeachment When They Have 67 Senators 

Kurt Schlichter|Posted: Oct 28, 2019 12:01 AM

Can you count, suckers? I say, the future is ours...if you can count. Because if you can count, you can see where this entire impeachment kangaroo court is hopping to. You can see how this will all end. You can see that we are going to mop the floor with these petty fascist cretins.

Can you dig It!

Actually, I didn’t come up with the counting line – Walter Hill put those words in the mouth of gang overlord Cyrus in the amazing film The Warriors. It’s a movie that resonates today for a number of reasons, especially how it depicts a bunch of New York tough guys being framed and persecuted for a crime they did not commit. Everyone is against them – everyone. But they ruthlessly fight back against the entire establishment, which has turned all its power against them, and they eventually prevail. Sounds a little familiar, huh?

My money is on Donald Trump, the warrior. Not just because he knows the enemy better than anyone else, and because for nearly five years he has beaten the enemy every single time, but because I can count.And what I count to is a number that is less than 67. 

That’s the number of traitors to the Constitution you would need in the Senate to convict. 67. But right now, the count is about 50, maybe 49, or even 47 or 48. That’s the number of unAmerican creeps in the Senate who would vote to convict when the garbage Democrats in the house pass their garbage articles of garbage impeachment.

So, liberal elite, until you can count to 67, eat Schiff and die.We got a preview of the final tally this week when Lindsey Graham, who is all at once the most awesome and most useless of GOP senators, took a break from both non-stop TV gigs talking big and from not holding hearings on this abomination to actually do something marginally interesting – getting signatures for a resolution making GOP senators go on record against this Democrat lynching, as if there’s ever been any other kind. 

And yeah, I called it a lynching.

 I’ll say anything I please. I know, I know, we can’t use that word and Democrats can because it truly is “their word,” since Democrats did all the lynching and blocked the anti-lynching laws. 

But before you pinkos wet yourselves, remember that I’m just channeling your buddy Joe Biden. 

Next, I’d like to channel his son, Hoover, and get 50K a month from Slavic oligarchs, which is perfectly legit and nothing to see. I’ll forgo the forgetting my crack pipe in my Hertz part.Of the 53 GOP senators, 50 signed onto the Graham resolution as co-sponsors. 

The bad guys need 20 Republicans to flip minimum. Naturally, the loathsome Gimp Romneysubmitted and obeyed the Candy Crowleys of the media and refused to sign on. 

That puppy-persecuting, malignancy-dispensing sap is a sure vote for impeachment. Lisa Murkowski is too – why the normally sensible people in Alaska keep electing this human igloo is beyond me. 

And Susan Collins also refused. That’s weird. She’s usually very offended by unfairness and the lack of due process – look at her famed Kavanaugh speech. Why she is tolerating this disgraceful star chamber nonsense is unclear – is it because she’s in a tough election? The fact is, if she votes with the Dems, she loses every non-Never Trumper voter in her bizarre, moose-infested province. 

And the remaining collection of Fredocon maple marshmallows would deliver about 5% of the vote. Joining in on the lynching – HE SAID IT AGAIN! – would earn her exactly zero Democrat cross-over votes. None. So why she won’t sign on is a mystery. 

Susan Collins is frustratingly moderate, but while she is a RINO she’s not a dumb RINO. She is not a sure vote for impeachment.Most GOP senators know this farce is stupid and wrong, and they don’t have to even think about it. 

But some are weak and some desperately want to go back to the days of elite unaccountability and the pleasing submission to progressive progress that was in effect before Donald Trump came along and started making conservatives actually conserve stuff. 

They would love to dump Trump if they could, but they know that the base would utterly demolish them. This is good, because it means the system is working. Politicians should live in perpetual terror of offending their constituents. 

In any case, the Graham poll is pretty clear that out of 53 GOP members, 50 are solid against conviction, whether from conviction or from the conviction that if they betray us, we’ll convict them in the next primary.

On the Democrat side, there are likely 47 Democrats ready to throw out the elected president based on what is literally fourth-hand hearsay accusing him of doing what Joe Biden is on videotape literally bragging about doing. That Doug Jones guy who won in Alabama solely because the GOP insisted on nominating that teen-dating weirdo is facing reelection in 2020, and he might waver in an attempt to save his seat. 

Joe Manchin probably won’t jump onto this sinking ship and will likely vote “No” – though he would totally vote “Yes” if it was going to pass. But think of the hilarity that would ensue if Manchin was faced with being vote Number 67 – that finger-in-the-wind weasel would likely spontaneously combust.

Note how any consideration of the manifest injustice of invalidating the American people’s decision in the 2016 election based on Schiff’s sham plays no role in any of this for the Dems. 

But hey, this coup d’twerps is not about right or wrong, nor fact or evidence, and never was. Though he didn’t, Trump should have affirmatively conditioned Ukrainian military aid on that corrupt country ferreting out the truth about why snortunate son Hunter was getting a prima facie corrupt payoff from a foreign oligarch. T

hat’s irrelevant. The Democrats know they can’t beat Trump through the political process, or through the legal process, so they are simply going to try to manufacture a façade of high crimes and misdemeanors and take him out purely because they can. 

If they can. 

It’s all about power. It’s a gang fight. But it’s a gang fight we will win. Remember, the future belongs to those who can count.

Can you dig it?

You know who don’t count? The Never Trump losers who scribble away in their unread blogs dreaming of the day when once again the people in power will return their phone calls. 

These are the same cheesy defectives who called my action-packed yet hilarious novels of America torn apart by liberal malice, People's Republic, Indian Country and Wildfire (Number IV, Collapse, is done and drops in November!) “appalling,” which is the best recommendation I could ever hope for!

[literary-lioness]

Nanowrimo Day 9

This morning I was thinking about how behind I have felt in working on this novel and how bothered I had let myself become about not making my daily goals and word counts, and I realized something. Stressing about this was making me dread writing. Normally I have a pretty good time writing, I enjoy it, but I have not felt that way in the past few days, which is a big problem. 

My solution? Forget word counts and just enjoy writing again. Don’t get me wrong, I plan to continue working on this project, but if I don't finish all 50,000 words, or the story itself ends up being shorter than 50,000 words? I’m not going to stress about it. Again, I still hope to finish the 50k, but I’m not going to sacrifice my love of writing to do it. Anyways, here is what I wrote today.

Nanowrimo Word Count: 12230

                                                         VII

                                                       Emery

           Emery and Bucky were taking their nightly walk down main street, when Emery’s phone rang. She stopped walking to pull her phone out of her jacket pocket and check the caller id. Bucky pulled on his leash a little bit before stopping with a huff, one leg stuck straight backward in his funny little snow boot walk. He looked at her indignantly as if to say, first you make me wear these ridiculous things on my feet and now you make me stop walking?

           “Sorry, bud. It’s Lauren,” Emery said apologetically. She hit the green accept button and put the phone up to her ear, “Hello?”

           “I am dying over here, Em. Spiiillll,” Lauren said into the phone.

           “So dramatic,” Emery laughed.

           She resumed her walk knowing that Lauren had no intention of letting her off easy.

           “I am not dramatic! But, you defiantly made me wait too long!”

           “She’s dramatic,” She heard Dave say in the background.

           “Hush, you. Ok, so tell me about the very gorgeous Quinn Stone.”

           Emery felt her cheeks heat, “There is nothing to tell.”

           “Bullshit, tell me.”

           “She really just came so that I could show her some of her niece’s work, and then she left. She was there for less than five minutes, and that’s about it.”

           “Uhuh, and then?”

           “What makes you think there is an ‘and then’?”

           “’That’s about it’ is Emery code for, ‘there are other pieces of this story that I have not yet told you’.”

           “Unfair.”

           “Whatever, just tell meeee.”

           “When I was leaving, she and Daisy were throwing snowballs around, one hit me, and I might have engaged with them.”

           “Oh, spicy, a sexy snowball fight.”

           “Jesus, Lo, you heard the part where her niece, my student, was there correct?”

           “Admittedly it was out of my mouth before I could stop it.”

           “I see that,” Emery said chuckling.

           “And that was it?”

           “Yeah, that was it.”

           “Ok, so, you’re totally into her right.”

           Emery heaved a sigh, “I wouldn’t say totally.”

           Lauren screeched in delight, “I knew it! I saw the way you looked at her in when you walked in, all wistful.”

           “Knock it off, even if I am into her, I’m not going there.”

           “What?! Why?”

           “Well first of all, her niece is in my class, so that would be weird.”

           “Weak! Next reason.”

           “What? That’s not weak, it’s a valid concern, what if it causes a conflict of interest! Imagine how weird it would be if I gave Daisy a poor grade and then I had to face Quinn? What if she asked me to give Daisy a better grade?”

           “Does Quinn strike you as that type of person?”

           “Well no, but I mean, what if?”

           “Like I said, weak.”

           “Ok, well what about Daisy? She might now want her teacher and aunt to date. She’s my student first and foremost, I want her to feel comfortable in my class.”

           “While more valid, still weak. What if Daisy doesn’t care or is happy about it?”

           “Ugh, you’re turning it around on me.”

           “I’m just asking a different ‘what if’ than you, so if we’re done with that scenario. What is your next reason?” Lauren asked.

           “Ok, well I don’t know if she is interested,” Emery said.

           “That-is actually fair. I defiantly didn’t get a vibe from her one way or the other.”

           “Maybe because you were too busy staring?”

           “I was not,” Lauren said indignantly.

           “You were.”

           “Fine, maybe a little. Anyways, I get where you’re coming from, but I think you should put yourself out there.”

           “Lauren, I literally met this woman three days ago, and on two of the three occasions we met, it wasn’t exactly pleasant.”

           “And yet, here we are.”

           Emery groaned, “I just don’t think it’s the right move.”

           “Ok, but just like, be open to it?”

           “Maybe,” Emery said. She paused when she saw a familiar figure walking toward her. Jade. Great. “Hey, Lo, can I call you back?”

           “Sure, but be warned! I shall not be made to wait too long again!”

           “Drama Queen,” Emery said and hung the phone up.

           Bucky started growling, his hackles rising as Jade drew closer.

           “Bucky, you know me,” Jade said, trying to play nice with the little Frenchie.

           “And he doesn’t like you,” Emery said firmly.

           Jade’s laugh sounded forced and Emery had to fight the urge to draw away from her, “He never really did, huh?”

           Emery shrugged, “I can’t say that I blame him.”

    ��      “Ah, don’t be like that. I saw you walking and wanted to say hi to you.”

           “Pleasantry received. Look it’s cold, and I need to get Bucky home. I’ll catch you later.”

           Jade bit her bottom lip in what she probably felt was a seductive manner, but the only effect it had on Emery was to make her stomach roil, “Maybe I could walk you home.” She ended the statement with a wink. Clearly, Jade thought she had a chance of seeing the inside of Emery’s apartment.

           “No,” Emery said in a tone that would have shut down anyone else.

           “Ah, Em, don’t be like that,” Jade said reaching out to touch her arm and step closer to her.

           Emery pulled her arm back and wrapped her arms tightly around her torso. She stepped away despite her efforts to hold her ground, “Leave me alone Jade.”

           Jade leaned closer to her still, “Ah, but we had so much fun last time.”

           Emery shivered, shame and regret washed over her. She knew exactly what Jade was referring to, and it wasn’t something she liked to dwell on. Bucky let another threatening growl fill the space between them. He had never bit anyone, but in that moment, she wished he would just take a little bite out of Jade’s leg.

           “Ms. Webster!” A yell of joy ripped through the air, and Jade immediately drew back

           Emery looked past Jade to her savior, and saw Daisy barreling toward her. She caught the little girl in her arms and help her tightly like the lifeline she was, “Hey Daisy.”

           She looked up from Daisy and saw Quinn walking toward them with her hands in the front of a black Nike hoodie. Emery had never been so glad to see other people before.

           Quinn looked from Emery to Jade and raised an eyebrow, “Everything ok, here?”

           Jade forced a smile onto her face, “Of course, I was just offering to walk Emery home. I don’t think we’ve met; my name is Jade.” She stuck her hand out toward Quinn.

           For a moment Emery thought Quinn wouldn’t take Jade’s hand, but she shook it briefly, “Quinn.”

           Quinn looked back at Emery and asked more directly, “Are you ok?”

           Emery’s throat felt dry, Quinn was offering her a lifeline, she took it, she gave her head a small shake. Quinn raised an eyebrow and turned back to Jade, “You know, I think Daisy and I can handle walking Emery home.”

           Jade’s eyes narrowed, “Excuse-.”

           Quinn cut her off, “You’re excused. Have a good night.”

           Daisy, who Emery was still holding onto said, “Um, Ms. Webster? You have to let me go if we’re gonna walk you home.”

           “Oh! Sorry honey,” she released Daisy and turned toward the direction of her apartment, “I’m this way.”

           Quinn nodded stoically and walked closely beside her. So closely that she could smell the pleasant scent of cinnamon wafting from her.

           “Ms. Webster? May I walk your dog please?”

           “Sure, he’s a good boy, just make sure you keep an eye on him, if he sees a cat he might try to chase it,” she said handing Daisy the leash.

           “Is that how he ended up in the street the other night?” Quinn asked, casting a sideways glance at her.

           “Unfortunately.”

           They walked a little further, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but Emery could feel the questions hanging in the air between them, “Thank you, by the way, for the save.”

           “Thank Daisy, she’s the one who saw you when we came out of Sam’s.”

           “Still, you helped.”

           “You’re welcome. You looked pretty shaken up, I couldn’t leave you there. Who was that jerk anyways?”

           “My ex, she doesn’t seem to realize that all parts of the relationship are over.”

           “Ah, the worst,” Quinn said.

           “The very worst,” Emery replied.

           They continued to walk in silence, Emery’s hand brushed the back of Quinn’s, and she felt her cheeks heat at the simple contact. She had to fight against doing it again, or worse, grabbing Quinn’s hand. Finally they reached her apartment building, “Well, this is me.”

           “Woah! You live in a tall building, Ms. Webster,” Daisy said in wide eyed amazement.

           “I do! Except, I only live in a small part of this tall building,” she said smiling.

           “Oh, neat!”

           Quinn laughed, “Alright Daisy, tell Ms. Webster goodnight so we can head back.”

           Daisy gave her a third hug, “Bye Ms. Webster!”

           “Bye Daisy,” she turned her eyes to Quinn, “Bye, Quinn and thank you again.”

           “Bye,” Quinn said simply, before taking Daisy’s hand and walking back toward Sam’s pizza.

           Emery picked Bucky up and carried him up the stairs to their studio. When she got inside, she closed the door and leaned against it for support. Maybe totally was the correct word to describe just how into Quinn she was. She sighed and thought about calling Lauren but didn’t. Lauren would call when she wanted to talk anyways, and right now Emery just needed a moment to collect herself.

           She thought about Jade and their encounter. She wished that she had never muddied the waters after their break-up, somehow leading Jade to believe her door was open anytime she wanted. She knew she needed to get the situation with Jade under control, she didn’t ever want a repeat of those three minutes before Daisy and Quinn had saved her.

           She felt her heart do a flip when she thought of Quinn. She had saved Emery. With a single look she was able to tell that she needed help and hadn’t hesitated to swoop in to save her. That doesn’t mean she’s into you, crazy. Emery told herself, though that didn’t seem to stop her brain from thinking fondly of the red-headed woman. Of her soft hand, or her inviting lips.

           Emery’s eyes widened at the thought, and she shook her head. She forced the thought of kissing Quinn out of her mind. She refocused on all the reasons she would never get involved with Quinn Stone. The only probably was that now, as Lauren had said, they sounded weak.

           She turned the TV on as a distraction and flipped to Hallmark, they would be showing some sappy Christmas movie with a woman leaving her inattentive suit-wearing boyfriend, for the handsome, small-town carpenter that would defiantly take her mind off Quinn. Except the one that was showing was about a small-town doctor. Emery sighed, settled into her sofa, and accepted that the universe was going to force her to think about a woman she had sworn she wouldn’t get involved with as penance for her misdeeds.