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wiypt-writes · 4 years

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Riding High

Ch8: Adler vs Adler

Chapter Summary: The gloves are off in court as Frank faces off against his mother.

Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words. Talk of suicide.

Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher

A/N: Contains SPOILERS for the film!!!!! If you haven’t seen it please be aware of that before you read on. Also, those of you who do know this film well will see that I’ve changed the dates referenced in the court case, that’s because I brought the timeline of Gifted forward from 2015 (when it was filmed) to 2017 (when it was released). This was mainly to suit Fliss’ backstory of the Olympics. 2015 is too close to 2012 for me to make it work. Also Frank’s middle name is an absolute H/C too as I couldn’t find it anywhere so, sorry if this annoys any of you but, to quote @icanfeelastormbrewing- “my coffee, my fic, my rules…”

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Fliss Gallagher and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Riding High Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 7

“And love, if your wings are broken, borrow mine so yours can open too…’cause I’m gonna stand by you”

The first bit of evidence the next morning was the findings of the Welfare Department’s investigation. It had thrown nothing out of the ordinary up. The house was clean enough, Mary was fed, but they did point out that their current living arrangements wouldn’t be suitable for much longer as Mary would need her own room as she grew older, something which Frank’s attorney accepted on behalf of Frank, stating to the court that Frank had already considered this. Which in fairness he had. The Welfare Department continued then, stating that Mary’s interview the previous day hadn’t thrown up anything of concern, even if there were some questionable TV viewing habits, namely Ultimate Fighting on a Saturday night, but they were satisfied that overall Mary was suffering no ill effects, mentally or physically from being with Frank.

This took them just under an hour, as they were factual reports. Both Attorney’s requested clarification on certain points but there were no questions or cross examinations to be done. As such they had concluded just after eleven am and there was then a small ten minute break to allow a quick consultation between clients and attorney’s before Evelyn was to take to the stand. As people moved around, passing papers and files to one another, Frank turned in his seat and just as he glanced round, someone left the courtroom and through the open door Fliss walked in, dressed in a smart pair of black jeans and a light blue strappy top. He flashed her a smile and she gave a small wave, settling onto a seat next to Roberta who gave her a hug. She’d missed the early session due to having to sort the horses out but she’d cleared her diary and brought in cover for the rest of the day so she could be there to lend him support.

And even though the morning had, all in all, been favourable to him, Frank felt his spirits raise even more at the sight of her there in his corner so to speak. Tearing his eyes away from her, Frankturned back to Greg who was watching him, eyebrow raised.

“Well that’s a mighty big smile Frank.”

“I just spotted some additional back up, that’s all.” Greg turned to see the woman who was now talking to Roberta and he grinned, spinning back to Frank “Let me guess, Fliss?”

Frank nodded “Yeah, I’ll introduce you later.”

Greg raised his eyebrow, smiling a little. “I look forward to it. Anyway, back to business. That opening report from the Welfare Department was good, well as good as it’s gonna get. But dude, Ultimate Fighting? Really?”

“It’s harmless fun.” Frank shrugged

Greg shook his head “Whatever. This next bit ain’t gonna be as easy.” “No shit.” Frank mumbled, looking at his mother as she said something to Highsmith, her attorney. “She’s going to rip me to pieces, and no doubt enjoy doing it too.” “Yep.” Greg nodded “But just keep doing what you’re doing. No outbursts, stay quiet, focussed and listen. If she says something that isn’t accurate, or you think of anything we can use, note it down and I’ll use it in my cross examination, okay?” Frank nodded as Judge Nicholls banged his gavel down and issued instructions for everyone to reconvene. He called Evelyn to the stand where she was sworn in and Highsmith stood up and began firing questions at her, a well-practiced dance, Frank could tell.

From the gallery Fliss watched intently. She’d been missed the first session but Roberta had hastily filled her in, telling her it had gone well. She shot Frank another encouraging smile, just as the judge called them back to order, and couldn’t help but notice how good he looked in his suit. A far cry from his dirty jeans and ratty work t-shirts. Which, if she was honest, she preferred…

Evelyn took to the stand and Fliss felt herself bristling as she proceeded to utterly character assassinate Frank, depicting him as nothing more than an irresponsible bum, floating around with no purpose to life, a man who didn’t care about Mary’s welfare, preferring to simply fly by the seat of his pants instead of giving her any decent roots or thoughts to her needs. At one point, they started to question his motivations towards taking Mary being more about punishing Evelyn that actually caring about the girl. To this Frank’s attorney objected and as the two lawyers began to argue, Fliss found her nails cutting into her palms as she clenched her fists. Roberta gently reached out and squeezed her arm and she turned to the woman next to her and gave her a tight smile.

“Frank’s attorney, Greg Cullen, he’s good…” Roberta whispered, “He’ll go at her when he gets his chance, you’ll see.”

The objection was overruled, the judge telling Cullen he would get his chance to challenge that statement in his cross examination, and Cullen sat down, leaning over to whisper something to Frank who nodded, his eyes not once leaving his mother. Cullen jotted something down as Evelyn continued.

By the time she finished it was almost one pm so they broke for lunch, Judge Nicholls instructing everyone to be back in an hour. Fliss and Roberta headed outside to wait for Frank who met them shortly after.

“Hey.” Fliss gave him a gentle hug. “How you holding up?”

“About as well as I can for someone whose own mother just tore them to shreds under oath.” Fliss’ eyes narrowed “I hope your guy is gonna give her as much of a shredding as she gave you.” “I’ll do my best.” A voice spoke from behind them. Fliss spun round to be greeted by Frank’s attorney.

“Fliss, this is Greg Cullen, Greg, Fliss Gallagher.” Frank introduced them to one another. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” Greg smiled at her, shaking her hand. Fliss looked up at Frank and was surprised to find a faint flush of red on his cheeks.

“All good I hope?” she grimaced and Cullen nodded.

“Oh, very good indeed. I’ve been dying to meet the woman who’s made such an impression on him.” “Greg, piss off.” Frank groaned in a tired voice before he nodded over the road to the café “Shall we grab some lunch?”

They ate together, making small talk, before Greg requested Frank join him alone for fifteen minutes to go over their plan for the rest of the afternoon. Frank stood, and without even thinking about it gave Fliss a quick peck on the cheek. He winced as soon as he had, noticing that Cullen and Roberta were watching him and, knowing Fliss was going to get an absolute drilling from Roberta, he shot her an apologetic look as he walked away. She simply smiled through her blush and shook her head, turning to Roberta who nudged her arm.

“Okay, what was that?” Greg asked as they walked back over the road. “Are you two erm…”

“It’s complicated.” Frank shrugged after a little pause. “We both, well we both like each other but with everything that’s going on we’re just kind of waiting, I suppose. I’m focussing on getting through whatever it is that happens with Mary and then hopefully...what?” he trailed off as Greg was smirking at him.

“Frank Adler. Finally found a girl he likes that much he ain’t simply trying to get her into bed. Wait till I tell the guys.”

Frank rolled his eyes and pointed to the courtroom “How about you concentrate on what’s gonna go on in there instead of what is or isn’t going on in my bedroom?”

Greg gave out a chuckle and patted his friend on the shoulder as they made their way in and headed into the side room they had reserved.

****

“Mrs. Adler, in your earlier testimony here today, you painted a pretty dim picture of your own son don't you think?” Cullen asked, tapping his pen on his note pad. Frank remained stony faced, watching his mother.

“I'm under oath, I take no pleasure in it.” She said with a glance at Frank before she looked down, almost convincingly.

Frank just about managed to refrain from rolling his eyes.

“So, your son is a failure in life, your daughter took her life, you know, you're oh for two.”

Fliss winced and glanced at Roberta as Highsmith said “Objection” in an almost bored voice

“Withdrawn.” Cullen’s voice took on an amused edge but as Fliss watched as Evelyn simply eyed him, completely un-phased.

“If I go one for three, I'm in the Hall of Fame.” she shot back.

“You know baseball.” Cullen pushed his chair back. “Fenway Park.”

At that something flickered in Evelyn’s eye as she glanced at Frank. Fliss followed her gaze and watched, just able to see the side of Frank’s face. His eyes were locked onto her, his expression never faltering.

“You know, I'd like to go there sometime.” Cullen stood up, pushing his glasses up onto his head as Evelyn turned back to him “How often in a year did you take Diane to the baseball game?”

“Diane wasn't interested in sports.” Evelyn replied

“She never wanted to go to a game? Ever?”

“I don't recall her ever asking.”

Cullen moved forwards a step and Fliss saw Frank’s eyes flick to him as he continued to question his mother.

“Just out of curiosity, Fenway, that's a tough ticket. Where do you get yours?”

“My husband has season tickets.”

“And how long has he had them?” Cullen enquired

“Thirty years. But I've only been married to him for twenty.” Evelyn informed him.

“And Diane never went to one game?”

Evelyn didn’t reply, simply raised her eyebrows slightly as if she was failing to see the point. Fliss’ eyes once again flicked to Frank who still hadn’t moved an inch.

“What colour was the dress Diane wore to prom?” Cullen changed his line of questions.

“Diane didn't attend the prom, because she didn't attend the high school.” Evelyn replied calmly

“No prom.” Cullen mused before he asked suddenly.“What sports did she play?”

“As I told you earlier, she wasn't interested in sports.”

“She’s calm.” Roberta whispered to Fliss as Cullen continued to question Evelyn about Diane’s lack of interaction with other children her age.

“Too calm.” Fliss nodded. “But I can see what he’s doing, trying to paint a picture of how she isolated Diane to imply that she’d do the same to Mary. You’re right, he’s good.”

As they tuned back into the examination again, Cullen took a deep breath and glanced to his left

“Mrs. Adler,” he looked back at her, “who's Paul Riva?”

At that Evelyn glanced at Frank, her calm mask slipping ever so slightly but still Frank didn’t move. Fliss could see his expression now carried a faint, and every so sad, smile.

Evelyn gave a silent huff before she looked back at Cullen “He was a boy from the neighbourhood.”

Her tone was clipped and Fliss noticed the judge sit forward slightly at her shift in attitude, narrowing his eyes a little as he watched her curiously.

“Oh, come on. He was much more than just a boy from the neighbourhood. Paul was Diane's first love. Wasn't he?” Cullen asked.

Fliss and Roberta exchanged a glance.

“I wouldn't characterize it that way, no.” Evelyn shook her head.

“And how would Diane characterize it?”

“Diane was seventeen years old at the time. She didn't know anything about love.”

At that Fliss caught the first movement Frank had made since his mother had started talking. He took a deep breath and looked to his left before turning back, his shoulders moving slightly in frustration as he shook his head slightly, his eyes locking back onto his mother who was carefully avoiding his gaze.

“Mrs. Adler, in January 2000 didn't Diane and young Mr. Riva run away together?” Cullen looked at her.

“He coerced her.” Evelyn corrected with the air of someone picking her words carefully.

“And where did they go?”

“Vermont.”

“And you called the police, didn't you?” Cullen stated rather than asked.

“Yes.”

“Because he kidnapped her?”

“Yes”

“And where did the police find young Mr. Riva and Diane?” Cullen looked at Evelyn

“I told you, Vermont.” Evelyn looked at Cullen, her voice suddenly taking on an icy edge which made Fliss lean forward slightly.

“Stowe, Vermont. Wasn't it? A resort town.” Cullen looked round the court room as Evelyn shifted uncomfortably. “Stowe Mountain. He took her skiing. You see, kidnappers don't usually take their victims skiing.” Cullen paused from his explanation. When he spoke again his voice was calm, and slow, stressing the point perfectly “But this is what Paul did because he and Diane were in love.”

“No.” Evelyn refuted firmly

“And when they returned, you pressed kidnapping charges.” Cullen’s voice rose in volume and speed as he spoke. “You filed a lawsuit against his parents, until Paul stopped calling Diane. Didn't you?”

“Yes.”

“And Diane never heard of or saw Paul Riva again. Did she?” Cullen’s tone was harsh, accusatory as he stared at Evelyn.

“Poor girl.” Roberta mumbled besides her and Fliss shook her head, in utter shock at how a mother could be so damned cruel and out of touch with her own daughter. It made her feel a pang of sympathy for Mary’s mother despite never having known her. Fliss couldn’t imagine what she would do without either of her parents being as supportive as they were.

Evelyn must have answered as by the time Fliss turned her attention fully to what she was saying, as Cullen had asked another question.

“And how did she take it?”

“She was upset for a while. She lost focus.”

“She lost focus.” Cullen turned back to the desk and picked up a small file. “Mrs. Adler,” he turned back, file in hand, “in March of 2001 didn't Diane Adler attempt to take her own life?”

“This episode was minor. It was nothing.” Evelyn replied, her tone harsh.

“Nothing?” Fliss drew in a breath, shaking her head. For a moment she almost lost herself in another memory, of one rainy afternoon in Boston in October 2015, but she took a deep breath and focussed on where she was, as Cullen flashed the file at Evelyn.

“I have the hospital report in my hand.” he informed her

“It was nothing.” Evelyn said again, and now Fliss could see she was rattled. “Diane was not like regular people. She was extraordinary. And extraordinary people come with singular issues and needs.”

Fliss watched as Evelyn leant forward, her face creased in anger as she hissed “You have no idea of the capability she possessed. One in a billion. And you would say fine, let's throw that away, so the boy who cuts our yard can make a sexual conquest? Well maybe before you make that decision, you stand in my shoes. I had responsibilities, which went beyond the mother-daughter relationship.”

She took a deep breath and spoke again, her voice louder this time “The greatest discoveries, which have proved life on this planet have come from minds rarer than radium. Without them, we'd still be crawling in mud. And for your information, counsellor, a year after this incident with this boy Diane thanked me for my intervention. She realized she'd made a mistake and she thanked me. You see, Diane understood. She was accountable for the gift she'd been given. And she didn't shy from it.”

Every inch of Evelyn’s face was contorted with a mixture of pain and anger, and she radiated absolute fury across the courtroom as her rant built to its climax

“And I think, if she were here today, Mr. Attorney, she would refute your baseless insinuations, that she would give up her brilliant future and take her own life just because mummy didn't get her a little red wagon

There was a pause as she took a breath and sat back.

“No more questions.” Cullen said simply, turning back to his seat.

Fliss watched Frank who shifted, rubbing his chin with his left hand, his fingers curling round his jaw in an L shape as he stared at this mother, his face completely unreadable to anyone who didn’t know him, but to her she could see the pain in his eyes.

And from the look Evelyn gave him, it was obvious she’d seen it too.

***** When Mary returned home on the school bus that afternoon, Frank did his best to remain positive and keep his broodings to himself, and was thankful when Fliss suggested they head out for dinner with Roberta. The four of them went to the same restaurant he had met his mother at not long before where he ate, not really tasting his food, or listening as Fliss and Roberta chatted away. Instead his attention was completely on Mary who was stood with one of the waitresses at another table, pouring sand out of one of the bottles that was used to keep the tablecloths from blowing away. The thought that she could be without such simple pleasure of looking through sand for shells, and lost to a world of pressure and solitude like Diane had been, was breaking his heart.

He felt someone squeeze his hand at the same time Mary held up a shell and showed it to him. He took a deep breath and tried to rearrange his face into a smile as he turned to face Fliss.

“It’s going to be okay, Frank.” She looked at him and he swallowed, unable to form his words. Instead his fingers tightened around hers and she simply held his hand whilst they finished up their drinks.

Later that evening, once Mary was asleep inside the apartment, Frank and Fliss sat outside the kitchen door, shoulder to shoulder along the top step.

“You know, until I met you I thought sitting on a porch drinking beer was something only red necked hillbillies did.” Fliss teased him.

“Well, according to my mother that’s what I am.” he scoffed.

“And according to me your mother is a callous, cold hearted bitch.” Fliss spat, with such venom it made Frank look at her, his eyebrow raising a little. She took a deep breath, her voice softening “How can anyone dismiss a suicide attempt as nothing.”

Frank looked away, taking a pull from his beer. They sat in silence for a moment before Fliss broke it.

“You know back in 2015, about five months after I’d gotten married, I almost did it you know? Killed myself.”

Frank’s head turned to face her. She wasn’t looking at him, instead she remained focussed on a spot in the distance as she stared straight ahead. “My life was out of my control, and it was the only way I could think of getting some of that control back. So I took a shit load of buproprion and washed it down with half a litre of vodka.”

“Shit, Lissy I’m sorry, I had-” She waved his sympathy off and continued “After that I was offered all this help and support and-” she snorted bitterly, “I still went back to him. He convinced everyone, including me that the issue was the fact that I was still brooding over my career being cut so short, and then told me that having a kid would fix the issue. In reality there was no issue to fix. I wasn’t depressed as such, I was abused. And that was simply another way of him taking control.”

After a moment she turned to look at him, “I’m not saying your mother abused Diane, not as such but she isolated her for her own, selfish reasons, no matter how she tries to dress them up or convince herself that it was for Diane’s own good. That first suicide attempt your sister would have made a normal, loving parent sit up and pay attention to what was going on. I know it did mine, as Bill never trusted John’s explanation, not one word.” “I should have done more too.” Frank’s voice was choked as he looked down at his feet. “But I was so busy, wrapped up in my finals and…”

“Frank, Diane wasn’t your responsibility, you’re not her parent.”

“No but when Dad died, I promised I’d take care of her, always be there for her. I should have done more, and I should have known, when she turned up that day at mine with Mary…”

“Frankie.” Fliss cut him off, her hand taking his. “Take it from me, my mum and dad and brother went through all of this in their head. Did Diane give you any warnings at all because I know I didn’t? Look at the lies and the world of fantasy I let John build up round me and detract from what was going on. I told nobody I was gonna do it Frank. And I told no body why I did it either.”

Frank sniffed and wiped at his nose slightly with his free hand.

“So you can either carry on beating yourself up over something that isn’t your fault or you can concentrate on getting the best outcome here for Mary.”

He reached for his beer which was on the step below him between his legs and nodded. She was right, he knew she was, but there would always be that part of him that wondered if he could have done more, it he should have done more.

“Are you planning on coming tomorrow?” he asked, looking at Fliss.

“Yeah, Joanne is covering again.”

“I don’t want to put you out.” he said gently, but she shook her head.

“It’s sorted.” Fliss smiled. “She wants the week of Thanksgiving off so she’s racking up the favours.”

“Well, from a purely selfish standpoint I’m glad.” He flexed his fingers against hers, looking down at where they were entwined.

“I’m not missing your testimony, if only for the sole reason of discovering what your full name is.” she teased as he looked at her. Frank gave a huff of a laugh “Francis Preston Adler, nice to meet you.” He tipped his bottle in her direction. “Preston?” She snorted “Get out of town! There’s a place in England called Preston, it’s like thirty miles away from my home!”

Frank smiled, before he sighed.

“Last day tomorrow isn’t it?” Fliss looked at him as he stared straight ahead.

He let out a breath “Yeah, well last day of evidence. Then we have to wait for however long it takes the judge to read all the reports and make a ruling.”

“Well then, I suggest you get some sleep, or as much as you can.” Fliss kissed his cheek, and with that she released his hand and stood up. Frank followed her lead, rising to her feet. “Oh, and FYI I got an absolute interrogation off Roberta before when you did that to me. Felt like it was me in the dock, not Evelyn.” For the first time all evening Frank laughed.

******

The gloomy, rainy morning matched Frank’s mood perfectly.

He sat in the dock dressed in his suit, feeling as out of place as anyone could. Greg went through the questions he had coached Frank on, questions designed not to paint him as a saint but to simply be real and portray him as a normal person, doing the best he could for his niece in line with his sister’s wishes. Frank answered them honestly. Was he perfect? No. Had he done things correctly? No. Did he wish he had spotted Diane was struggling? Yes. Did he love Mary and want the best for her? With every breath he had.

The questions continued along those lines until they broke for lunch. And then came the cross examination, and Frank knew he was in for a beating.

“Mr. Adler where are you currently employed?” Highsmith asked sitting on the desk to the left of Evelyn.

“I repair boats.” Frank answered clearly

“Oh, really? At which marina?”

“I don't work at a marina. I freelance.”

“So, safe to say, no health insurance.”

“No.” Frank shook his head

“About a week before your sister took her life what were you doing for a living then?”

“I was a teacher.” Frank replied.

“You're being modest, aren't you?” Highsmith said, standing up and walking towards the dock “You were a professor at Boston University Isn't that right?

“Yes, well, assistant professor.”

“And what'd you teach?”

“Philosophy.”

“Truth and logic. That sort of thing.” Highsmith gestured with his hands and Frank simply smiled as the man continued. “Your attorney said that the primary reason that you took Mary is because it was what your sister would've wanted you to do. Is that a truth?”

“Yes.” Frank implored

“So Diane had visited Pinellas County before?”

“No.” Frank said with almost an air of amusement on his face as he looked at his mother for a second before he glanced down and joined his hands in front of him in his lap.

“She indicated she wanted her daughter uprooted and moved here?”

Frank shook his head, closing his eyes. “No”

“No.” Highsmith repeated “So you decided to bring Mary here, didn't you?”

Frank licked his lips and drew in a deep breath as he simply stared as his mother. He was pleased so see her shift in her seat

“Did Diane had a problem with your health plan at Boston University?” Highsmith pressed.

Frank wanted to laugh. The guy was doing exactly what Greg had warned him he would do, attack his lack of healthcare, insinuate he wasn’t able or fit to provide for Mary. When he spoke his voice was calm, and he fought to keep his face as amicable as possible.

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Do you think she would want her daughter to have access to healthcare?”

Dumbass question

“Of course.” Frank nodded.

“So what do you do, when little Mary gets sick? You repair a doctor's boat?”

Frank scoffed a laugh as Cullen objected.

“Sustained.” Judge Nicholls shot Highsmith a look and Frank stole a glance at Fliss. If the situation wasn’t so serious he would have laughed at the identical look she wore to Roberta, both glaring at Highsmith like they were plotting his very painful death.

The rain outside continued to drive down as did Highsmith’s questions, the air punctuated every so often by a low rumble of thunder from the outside storm echoing what Frank was feeling inside.

“Prior to Mrs. Adler giving her one. Did Mary have a computer?”

“She used mine.”

“Mr. Adler, does Diane's daughter have her own bedroom?”

“No.”

“Does she sleep in a bed that you bought in a second hand shop?”

“Yes.” Frank looked ahead, focussing on keeping calm as Highsmith walked towards the dock, gesturing now with his hands, his tone winding up

“So, the truth is, Mr. Adler, that you didn't come down here because your sister wanted it to and you certainly didn't come here because it was good for Mary.”

Frank swallowed slightly and shifted a little, avoiding looking at the man as he tapped his hand on the side of the dock.

“No, it was personal. Diane was a star. You weren't. Diane got the attention. You didn't.”

Frank scoffed silently, oh please, and turned to look in the opposite direction.

“..and over the years You got angry. And here comes Mary. What a great way to get even.”

At that he audibly sighed. He had known this was coming, that his mother’s attorney would try and paint him as petty and vindictive but it still hurt to hear it. Hurt that his own mother would have someone attack him in such a way. He’d defend Mary to the hilt if someone was doing this to her…

“You've uprooted that little girl and brought her here for one reason only. To do harm to your mother. You blamed her for your sister.”

“No, I don't.” Frank broke his silence.

“And Mary to you is just a pawn in all this.”

And that did it, Mary wasn’t a pawn. She was a little girl, a little girl who he was doing is best by.

“Diane wanted Mary, to be a kid” Frank’s voice betrayed his desperation and emotion, and he knew that, but now he was past caring, this was the truth, it was how he felt, and he was nothing if not honest. He locked eyes with his mother as he spoke, driving his words home “.She wanted her to have a life. She wanted her to have friends and to play…”

At that his mother looked away, her eyes glistening but Frank kept his on hers as she turned back to him, his final words were almost whispered

“…and to be happy.”

“You realize the consequences of boredom for a gifted child, Mr. Adler? They become resentful and sullen.”

“Mary's not an angry kid.” Frank’s voice was calm once more.

“Really? Did she not attack a child on the school bus?”

Shit.

“A twelve year old tripped a seven year old and she came to his defense.” Frank shrugged slightly

“Did she break the boy's nose?”

“Yes.”

“On October 16th last year, were you arrested for assault?”

“Oh, my God.” Frank groaned, and he looked down before he glanced back up, momentarily locking eyes with Fliss who he noticed had taken a deep breath. He looked back down, shaking his head

“You have to answer the question Mr. Adler.” Judge Nicholls reminded him

Frank swallowed and focussed on a spot on the varnished surface of the wood in front of him, just by the microphone. “A drunk idiot attacked me and I defended myself. What does that have to do…”

“Did you spend the night in jail?” Highsmith cut him off.

“Yeah.” Frank nodded.

“You are in way over your head here. You're depriving that girl…”

Frank stayed still, shaking his head and glaring at his mother, all the while Highsmith continued ranting on at him

“…you're gambling with her future and now you’re being presented with an opportunity to do right by her.”

“Does council have a question for my client?” Cullen asked loudly

“Take the high road, Mr. Adler before she's rapidly damaged.”

“Does council have a question for my client or not?” Cullen repeated, this time standing up.

“Yes, sir. I do have a question.” Highsmith said. “Tell us. Is your continued guardianship really in the best interest of this little girl?”

“You do your best, Frank. And that’s all any of us can do…” Fliss’s voice rattled in his head, and he took a deep breath. No he wasn’t perfect. Yes, Evelyn could provide for her better than he could but could she love Mary like he did. No, no she couldn’t

He stared at his mother, as he lifted his chin and spoke loudly and clearly.

“Yes.Yes, it is.”

“I have no further questions.” Highsmith spoke.

Frank scratched at his head and left the dock.

***** Following the summing up, they were all dismissed. Frank shook Greg’s hand who told him he would be in touch and Frank left the courtroom with Roberta, Fliss nowhere to be seen. He took a deep breath, realising she was probably going to run a mile after hearing about the assault. That wasn’t how he wanted her to find out. However, to his amazement and joy she was waiting for him by his truck. Roberta nodded to him and made an excuse to nip over the road to the store for a water leaving them to talk alone.

“Thought you’d gone?” he said gently.

“No, I had to take a call from Joanne about a lesson. Why would I leave without saying goodbye?” she frowned

“The assault”

Fliss sighed “Okay, I admit it was a shock to hear but…”

“At least let me explain.”

“There’s really no need. You said you were defending yourself and I believe you.”

“He was a drunk idiot.” Frank continued anyway. “I was actually out with a friend, Jacob and his fiancée, Lisa. Jake had gone to the bathroom and this guy bumped into us and sent Lisa flying into the table, knocking a load of glasses over. When I told him to be careful he took a swing at me only he missed and, well I didn’t.”

“You’re a regular knight in shining armour, Sailor.” Fliss smiled before she looked at him softly. “I know that was hard today. I was so angry and the things he was saying to you but it’s done now. Try not to think on it because you can’t change the outcome. Whatever it is, you did your best.”

“You know I remembered you saying that to me.” he smiled, “Right as he was telling me what a lousy life I give Mary.” “It’s not lousy.” Fliss shook her head. “She’s loved Frank. And she’s happy.”

He smiled again as she took a deep breath.

“Look, I have to go, I have a lesson in an hour now this rain has let up, but what are you doing tomorrow night?”

“Working.” he said, chuckling as she raised her eyebrow. “Yeah I know, second Friday night in a row but, well I’m behind thanks to this case and whilst Roberta has Mary I can get a good few hours in during the night and then get my head down for a few hours before she comes back.”

“How about I keep you company?” Fliss offered. “Only if that’s ok?”

Frank smiled “As long as you don’t distract me too much.” “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

**** The next evening, Frank and Fliss were in the workshop at the Marina, Frank explaining to Fliss the different components of the oil filter he was stripping down. She gave a loud, exaggerated yawn and he nudged her playfully. She grinned at him, and he didn’t miss the flash in her eyes as she looked him quickly up and down, taking in his dirty jeans, hands covered in oil and his long sleeved thin blue sweater which he knew fit him pretty well. Part of the reason he had worn it.

“Hey.” a familiar voice said, and they both looked up to see Cullen as he stood in the entrance.

“Hey.” Frank frowned “What’s…” “I got some news, and I wanted to give it to you in person.”

“I’ll er, give you a moment.” Fliss offered, and she went to leave but Frank caught her elbow gently.

“No, stay, please.”

She looked at him for a second and nodded as Frank turned his attention to Cullen.

“What is it Greg.”

“Highsmith called. They want to cut a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

Cullen took a breath. “A foster family.”

“No way.” Frank dismissed the notion straight up and Greg continued to try and win him round, informing him that they could cherry pick and that it would be mutually approved and he’d already found a family in Tampa, which was what he had been working on all day.

“She’ll attend the Oaks, you and Evelyn will get visitation right, and then, when she’s twelve, you can go back into court and Mary can decide where, and with who, she wants to live.”

“You’re supposed to be on my team.” Frank cut his friend off, glaring at him “Why are you bringing me this deal?

“Other than I'm required to by law?” Greg looked back at him, and then suddenly Frank understood.

“You like this deal.” he stated and Greg nodded.

“I love this deal.”

“They think they're gonna lose.” Frank leaned on the work-desk in front of him, looking at Cullen.

“Yeah. They do.”

“You think we're gonna lose.”

“Yes.” Greg replied honestly. “I do, Frank.”

Frank looked down, swallowing before he turned to his friend who sighed.

“I gotta go put my kids to bed. I'll do whatever you want me to do. But, if we leave this up to the judge, Nicholls, he's old school, Frank. Does he like your mother? No. Does he like her income? Does he like her health plan? Does he like her home? You better believe it.”

Frank looked down again, shaking his head, unable to do anything else.

“I've been in his courtroom. A hundred times. And if it's a coin toss...Look at me.”

Frank turned to Greg, his arms still leaning on the top, muscles straining as he grasped at a wrench in front of him in frustration.

“If it's a coin toss, that old boy is going to side with the money.” Greg said gently “So, do me a favour, Frank. Just meet the family. See how it feels. It's all I ask.” With that he took a deep breath. “I gotta go, I’ll see you later. Goodnight Fliss.”

“Night.” she replied, watching him leave.

There was a pause before Frank picked up the wrench in his hand and threw it hard against the wall at the opposite side of the garage, before he stood up tall and turned to Fliss who was watching him, her face contorted in sympathy and sadness.

“I don’t know what to do.” He looked at her, and every single emotion he had been holding back cascaded over him in a wave as he felt utterly and hopelessly overwhelmed. He couldn’t stop the tears brimming in his eyes and he bowed his head, once more leaning on the desk. He felt a warm pair of hands gently on his arm, nudging him to turn slightly and he did so to look at Fliss as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a hug. He pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder, his tears falling onto her soft skin as she smoothed a hand through his hair, gently soothing him.

“Sorry.” he mumbled after a moment pulling back.

She placed her hands on his face, wiping his tears with her thumbs, her own filling her eyes. “Don’t ever apologise to me for being upset, Frankie.”

He let out a soft, watery laugh as he dropped his forehead to hers, his eyes closing as he took a deep breath, composing himself.

“You now no one’s called me Frankie since I was a little kid” he smiled.

“Well it suits you.” she pulled away slightly. “You good?” He nodded, moving back out of her arms. “Do you think I should go?” he asked “Meet this family?”

“Frank, I can’t answer that.” “What would you do?”

“I honestly don’t know.” she shook her head. “I suppose there’s no harm in meeting them. But you have to be sure this is what is right for Mary. I do know one thing though, whatever you decide to do, I’ll be there all the way. I told you, I was here for the road trip, no matter how bumpy it gets.”

He nodded, taking a deep breath. He gently took her hand and raised it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “Thankyou.”

**** Chapter 9

#riding high #frank adler #frank adler x ofc #frank adler x original female character #gifted #gifted fan fic

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theroguequeenaniki · 3 years

Text

Questions 2009 -> 2021

This is from my Facebook. It popped up on my memories page thing. I originally answered this in 2009 when I was 15, it’s now 2021 & and I am 27, so I’m gonna do it again. Leaving the original answers. Original answers will be italicized. Commentary on the original answers in parentheses & crossed out? Lol. (I’m not gonna tag anyone, but, like, I guess if you want to answer these random questions from Facebook 12 years ago, go ahead lol)

Questions

Can you fill this out without lying? You've been tagged, so now you need to answer all the questions HONESTLY. At the end, choose people to tag. Don't forget to tag me so I can see your answers! To do this, copy this entire message, then go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, delete my answers, and type yours. Easy! Next, tag people that you think may enjoy this (in the right hand corner of the app). Click publish (at the bottom). Have fun! :) 1.What was the last thing you put in your mouth? My cup with my Big Red in it The straw to my Kate Spade tumbler to drink my HEB Cola Lol.

2.Where was your profile picture taken? I got it off the internet. it's a random anime girl. My bedroom. 3.Can you play Guitar Hero? Never played it. Probably wouldn't be good at it. Not to good at video games. But I am good at Mario Cart, both 64 and the Wii. plus I'm good at some Sonic games. Still never played it. Idk if I’m any good at Mario Cart or the Sonic games anymore, I haven’t played either in years lol

4.Name someone who made you laugh today? Doctor Who TikTok. My cats.

5.How late did you stay up last night and why? Umm, probably about 10:00 cause it took me forevor to get into bed. Uh..Past 4am. Lol. B/c my sleep schedule is fucked. I was in bed by 3am though, but I was playing games & watching TikToks on my phone. Lol.

6.If you could move somewhere else, would you? Yes. I'd move to either New York or Sweden. I don’t know. Part of me says yes. But part of me says no..b/c even though Texas has it’s faults (a LOT of them), I cannot imagine living anywhere else long-term..

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? HAHA. Yeah right. I've never even been kissed! Still nope. I have been kissed though. He just didn’t kiss me under the fireworks the one NYE we spent together...

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? Um, I think R, but D might also. D is accross Stasney from me and R is a couple blocks down (I don’t talk to these people much anymore & I’m not going to share their names on Tumblr) Uh. I think Maybe Raven? B/c they’re the only one who lives in the same city still. But, Sarah might technically be closer distance wise? Hold on. Ok, yeah, Sarah’s closer, even though she doesn’t live in this city anymore.

9. Do you believe exes can be friends? It all depends on the situation.(I totally stold M's answer but it's true) (I don’t talk to this person anymore & I’m not gonna share their name on Tumblr) I mean, yeah. Two of my best friends are each others exes and they’re still friends. I haven’t stayed friend with my ex, but, uh, he ghosted me so? Lol.

10. How do you feel about Dr. Pepper? I love it. I still love it. Lol.

11. When was the last time you cried really hard? I can't remember. I don't think it was that long ago, I had a light cry on Saturday, but I don't remember the last time I cried really hard. When we got back from our trip in July. Had a full on breakdown that night. Overheated all weekend. Overwhelmed. Anxiety. It was not a very good vacation..I cry a lot though.

12. Who took your profile picture? I got it off of google. I did.

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? Umm, either myself, or one of my family members. Aside from myself. I think my dad, on his phone, b/c there was a cicada on his shoulder and he wanted to ask the family group chat if he could keep it. Lol. I take a LOT of pictures of cats though. Lol.

14. Was yesterday better than today? Hail yes! To much drama today! And I couldn't avoid it cause I was in the middle of it! (Oof, what drama was 15 yo Linda dealing with that she couldn’t avoid? Lol. I mean, I guess, Sophomore year was a bit full of drama lol) Anyway, I mean, they were pretty much the same. One wasn’t better than the other. One wasn’t worse than the other.

15. Can you live a day without TV? yeah. Now Music there is something I can't live without! Yep, Do it almost everyday. Sentiments about music remain the same. Lol.

16. Are you upset about anything? Yes. I'm annoyed about something and it's making me upset. (I assume this has something to do with the the drama mentioned earlier lol) Always. Anxiety & depression are a bitch. My rooms a mess & I can’t get myself to clean it. My shelves are still a mess.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? yeah. though i havent really had one yet. I mean, yeah. Even though I haven’t had one last, aside from friendships, but they’re worth it.

18. Are you a bad influence? I hope not. If so, let me know.(again I took M's answer but it's true) Probably. Idk. Lol.

19. Night out or night in? Depends on what's going on and how I feel about it. Night in usually. I do like going out sometimes, but, like, to dinner. Maybe a movie or a show. But, you know, we’ve been in a panini press, the only thing I’ve been comfortable doing is going to dinner (fully vaxxed & masked). But I also prefer staying home anyway. (Like I usually just go to dinner with my family lol)

20. What items could you not go without during the day? my computer. my book. my journal and a pen. My phone. My journal (b/c I write in it every night, as a diary, 14yo Linda wrote stories). Uh. I didn’t take food or drinks into account in the og, so I won’t in those. But, yeah. My phone & journal. I can go a day without my laptop if I need to. (Went the whole trip in July without pulling it out, though maybe that’s not a good example since my anxiety on that trip was so high..) I want to say a book, but I’ve been in a massive reading slump so...I wish I read as much as 15yo Linda did..

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? I don't remember. I think it was myself.(if you want to know, ask me in person) I honestly don’t know. I don’t remember the last time I was in a hospital.

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? "Mrbobbybones: wish ted would finally meet their mother already. geez. get to it. However, I see myself in that character more and more each episode." yeah. That's what it says. It's from Twitter. (Huh? and I can’t even go check b/c my inbox doesn’t go back to 2009 on Twitter?? (I haven’t had my account that long) Wait wait wait just remembered I used to get tweets to my phone as text messages lol)

Facebook messenger: “ Cool” From our group chat. Lol.

From actual text messages on my phone: “ heeey! Just put up the Tuesday PDS just for you it’s a big one.” From Phillip Defranco’s text line Lol.

23. How do you feel about your life right now? I'm loving and hating it. but hey nobody gets out alive right? Uh..I mean. I’m alive. I have WiFi. Food. Family. I haven’t seen my friends in 2 years. (Minus Alex, b/c they were here in July to cat/house sit, but I saw them for like, one night..) There’s a lot that could be better. A lot that could be worse.

24. Do you hate anyone? yes!!! Oof. I mean, kinda.

25. If we were to look in your Facebook Inbox, what would we find? some random conversations. most of my convos on her though have been in chat or through comments. Facebook Inbox is now Facebook Messenger. So you’ll find all my Facebook Messenger convos. Mostly our group chat. And side group chats for secret planning (birthdays & stuff). Plus other chats? Lol.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? I better! (excuse me miss 15yo Linda you absolutely could have passed a drug test you ALSO didn’t drink or smoke or take any drugs lol) Yeah. Absolutely. I don’t drink or smoke or take any drugs so, yeah? Lol.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?

Yes. But I can't remember when... Yeah. Pretty sure.

28. What song is stuck in your head? Gee by SNSD(Girls Generation) They're Korean. A few My Chemical Romance songs

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be? EDWARD CULLEN! Joke! lol. No I don't know. If it was Edward, I'd call the cops. whoever it is though better have an explaination or they are gonna get hit in the head with my Book of Shadows. (Maybe I wouldn’t mind Edward at my window though? Lol.) Uh. My friends? Lol. Idk if I want anyone knocking on my window at 2am.

30.Wanna have grandkids before you’re 50? I don't know....... Uh. No? Idk. Most likely not gonna happen.

31. Name something you have to do tomorrow? I can't think of anything right now... Eat. Should probably clean my room.

32. Do you think too much or too little? Way to much! lol. Way way way too much

33. Do you smile a lot? i try to. I think I do. I get told that alot in Theater...

I think so

#questions #throwback #is this a get to know me #idk

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sleepy-sunlight · 4 years

Note

uhh idk if you do these anymore- but if u do... maybe an inquisitor who is quite physically weak but packs a whole load of magic to make up for it... but having such a vast amount of magical potential in a small and fragile body, it sometimes hurts her? 👀 she never says anything, but mayhaps that pain one day gets much too unbearable

Absolutely! I’d like to get back into writing prompts again, especially since I still have a ridiculous love for Dragon Age and have now played the whole series! Hopefully, you enjoy this prompt and have a marvelous day, thank you <3

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Since you were a child your magic was known to be... finicky. ‘Finicky’ was the word the Grand Enchanter would use to describe your surges when a simple spell resulted in a ball of fire destroying a good chunk of the parlor. ‘Terrifying’ was the term the templars preferred, but few could stay mad at the sniveling child sheepishly trying to clean up their mess that was you.

You’d spent many nights with your fellow mages learning all the best methods to keep your magic under control -- falling asleep into the late hours over books and a cloak that the Grand Enchanter would drape over you. Yet no matter what you did, no matter the training and the desperate efforts, somewhere, somehow it always spiraled out of control. Eventually, it cast a toll on your entire body -- so feeble and tiny your childhood became littered with fevers and aching limbs.

You didn’t grow much as you aged. Of course, your legs earned a few inches, but your magic only multiplied. The mage circle, however, found a way to contain you. Instead of spurts that left the tower’s library in shambles or the quarters with a sizable hole in its wall, your magic was contained within you -- a thousand stitches to cover up loose ends where your magic poured out.

The only problem remaining was the pain and the great deal of it that came with the containment. It was a fire brimming upon a thin layer, you could always feel the pressure against your body like a dull, forceful knocking upon a door -- brash knuckles banging again and again without end. Thankfully, you’d gotten used to it... most of the time. Everyone had their breaking point after all, and your sutures too, came undone.

Of course, being the Inquisitor did little to help the situation. Every moment you stepped out of Skyhold’s gates you were opening yourself up to every facet for danger and peril. But it could’ve been worse -- you could’ve not had the Commander waiting for you each time you returned. The wrinkles upon Cullen’s face when he smiled at the sight of you and the way his eyes glimmered would’ve been awful to miss out on.

“Emerald Graves,” Cullen said quietly to himself as the two of you walked the barracks. “How was it?” The day you were expected to return Cullen couldn’t help pacing about Skyhold’s courtyard -- letters only did so much, after all. Your first evenings back were always spent catching up with your Commander -- ‘strategy and reports’ were the official reasoning, but everyone knew better.

You chuckled. “Well, considering on the first day we stumbled into a dragon... I’d say just peachy. But otherwise, peaking so quickly the rest felt a bit boring.”

“Oh, I know that can’t be true,” Cullen remarked, nudging you amusedly. “Between your daily hobbies of reading and puzzles I find it hard to believe taking down red templars is ‘boring’.”

Admittedly, he wasn’t wrong, but you didn’t exactly have a splendid time either.

Taking down a High Dragon on the first day was an exciting, thrilling task, but a taxing one as well. Your magic had been unyielding and vigorous but each spell cast brought a shiver down your spine and fire sparking in your lungs. It took all your remaining strength not to collapse alongside the dragon when the beast fell in defeat.

Since then you’d made poor attempts to keep your shambling body under control -- sparks of magic erupting from your fingertips and a continuous delirium heavy upon your mind. The reason most of your trip was ‘boring’ was because you could barely remember it. Even now your magic had yet to settle itself. You clenched your firsts together tightly just to keep a crackle of lightning or an inferno from surging out.

“I mean it,” You managed a faint if strained laugh. “I doubt Varric would even use any of it for his writing.”

Mentioning Varric reminded you that you’d have to actually ask him for a recap.

“Nothing... bad happened did it? Nothing you’d want to leave out of reports?”

Cullen was always dreadfully good at reading people -- something awful considering he himself could be impossible to read in comparison.

A red hot searing pain pressed against your skin and you cringed, knowing it all too well. You clenched your jaw. “No! Nothing. Just uneventful.”

“I didn’t think such a thing existed in Thedas,” Cullen muttered. “Especially wherever the Herald of Andraste went.”

Your strained laugh didn’t help to assuage his suspicions. It was slow and heavy like your slowing footsteps on the cobblestone. “Miracles still happen I suppose!”

Cullen reached for your hands and even beneath the thickness of his gloves he felt the warmth radiating off you. His eyes widened like saucers and his brows furrowed into a deep knot. “Maker’s breath, are you alright?”

You wrenched your arm back as a sharp sting burst at his touch. Your feet staggered backward against the barrack wall and that split second in which your hands broke apart was all it took for your secret to be revealed.

In an instant, an explosion of lightning crackled forth from your fingertips and a ripple of pain shot through your core. Your legs buckled beneath you and you folded your stomach over your hands as you hunched over, heaving and gasping from the small shocks still igniting.

Anyone else would’ve run -- perhaps to find help or to shelter themselves. Yet Cullen, as you’d found, wasn’t like most others.

He rushed after you and knelt down with an expression painted with panic and concern. Cullen perhaps best represented the definition of a worrier.

“What’s happening? What can I do?” He looked over you frantically. His hands were stretched out but still utterly bewildered on just what to do. This wasn’t a blood mage revealing themself or a demon overtaking a vessel in a possession. This was you, his love, in pain and afraid.

Whatever words you managed to sputter out were lost in a harrowing scream. Tears brimmed at the edge of your eyes and your heart had leaped to your throat. The only thing you could manage to do was look up at Cullen. It reminded Cullen how he couldn’t stand to be helpless.

He wanted to do something. He had to do something, and so he did the only thing that came to mind. He held you.

He pulled you into his arms and gripped you tight. One could’ve thought you stood on the edge of disaster by his hold, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong.

When he held you, you felt the soft fur of his shroud and took in the smell of Skyhold’s garden and the thick smell of ink and parchment from all his reports and writings. He truly never stopped working, did he?

The thought brought up a weary laugh. Your throat had gone hoarse from your yelling, leaving your shoulders heaving and dry breaths spilling out -- but for just a moment you laughed. In the next few seconds the pain would overwhelm you to such an extent that you’d pass out but even if only briefly, you knew relief.

You later woke in your quarters, moonlight streaming through the windows and the faintest night breeze sweeping under your blankets. From the hall, you heard Cullen’s voice amid a few others, hushed and nervous until the door was shut.

You hardly managed to sit up before realizing the weight hanging over your chest. Your lungs scrambled for a breath and each inch of yourself was wracked with discomfort. The pain you’d known was gone, at least.

Cullen entered the room slowly but at the sight of you, he bolted to your bedside. “You’re up! How’re you feeling?”

“About as expected,” You groaned. “Have you been here the whole time?”

Cullen scoffed as if the answer were clear as glass. “Of course. Where else would I be?”

“Well, didn’t you have others thing to do I-I didn’t mean to-”

“Hush. I want to be here,” A grin cracked across his face. “It’s not like I’d rather be writing those damned reports anyway.”

He paused, reaching his hand up to touch you but hesitated. You’d been in so much agony earlier.

“Can I...?”

You nodded and took Cullen’s hand to press against your cheek, sinking against his palm and all the grooves and healed over scars drawing his skin.

You offered him a gentle smile, but a tinge still weighed upon Cullen’s shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

It was a question that warmed your heart. You pressed a small kiss to his palm, and all the pain of earlier felt so far away.

“I will be.” You murmured. “Would you stay until then?”

It was a question that you both already knew the answer to. Still, Cullen nodded, saying a quiet ‘yes’.

And if only a little bit, you already began to feel better.

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vintagedaydreams · 4 years

Text

True Love Never Runs Smoothly Part FIVE (Carlisle)

What? Two updates in a week? I’m actually sure I’ve been replaced with an alien. Hope she gets my laundry done while she’s here.

Warnings: suicidal/depressed thoughts, anxiety attack, language, bit of blood, same ol’ same ol’ really.

Enjoy!!

@kettnerjanea @jelly-fishy-babie @the-graceful-ace @amwolowicz @batsdothings @waxingmoonstone @littlebabybatthings @mauvette268 @sagittarius-flowerchild @katsav17 @batsuperflashmartianwonderman @imyourapocalypse

The next morning found you wandering the castle corridors, looking for any member of the Volturi. You needed to go home. You had a life you’d very much like to get back to and a job that you’d very much like to keep.

You had only come here because you were Carlisle’s Mate and you and Bella were still human.

You stumbled a bit. Shit. There hadn’t been any discussion about you and Bella being human. And hopefully staying human. At least for a bit longer.

Or maybe there had and you missed it. You had been sequestered in your room an awful lot the past few days. And for good bloody reason.

You really needed to find one of the Kings – Aro preferably. Marcus you didn’t really want to bother – he seemed like he was always miles away. And Caius… well he still scared the crap out of you. While the rest of the Volturi had been ridiculously nice, he hadn’t given you much attention. Which was absolutely fine with you, but you also hadn’t had any chance to get to know him. Again, absolutely fine with you, but not knowing him made you wary around him.

Yes, Aro would be the preferred option.

If only this castle wasn’t so confusing!

You wandered around for who knows how long before you stumbled across yet another hallway that didn’t look the least bit familiar to you. Well, it looked like every other hallway, but other than that, completely unknown to you.

But it was darker than other hallways in the castle and you felt your skin prickle in awareness. Okay, so in hindsight, a human wandering through a castle that housed creatures that ate humans wasn’t like…the brightest idea you’d ever had.

Though, in your defense, you had been greeted, and quite quickly too, any other time you’d ventured out of your rooms. Except for today.

Just your luck. You need to leave and then can’t find anybody.

At this point, you’d even be willing to meet up with a Cullen!

Well…maybe you weren’t quite that desperate yet.

Movement at the end of the hall had your ears metaphorically perked and goosebumps erupted on your arms. There were little to no lights in the halls as you wandered deeper into the castle – guess vampires didn’t need lights to see in the dark.

You did though. And right now, the one feebly glowing torch, (an actual fire torch!), was giving off a very small halo of light that you’d stopped in.

You couldn’t see much further down the hall.

But you could hear the noise of something moving again.

You couldn’t help the shiver that raced through you. It would be very…inconvenient if you were to die here, today. After all the shit you’d been through recently…it… it would actually be just your luck, come to think of it.

Of course you’d die when you finally made up your mind to leave all of this, all of them, behind.

But, if a vampire was trying to stalk you, wouldn’t they move silently so you couldn’t hear them?

A nasty voice in your head shot back, Why would they move silently when there is no one else around to hear?

…True. You hadn’t seen anyone since you left our room. The vampire trying to eat you would not need to move quietly. It’s not like you could do anything against them and with no one else in hearing range…

Shit.

There was a scrape on the stone ahead of you in the dark and then a gust of wind and suddenly, the lit torch was out and you were thrown into total darkness.

You broke out in a cold sweat and desperately turned your head this way and that to try to see something. Anything.

But it was too dark. You couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face.

Another gust of wind blew past you and then, you felt the chill of a nearby vampire seeping into your skin.

Whoever it was, they were standing close. Very close.

A soft whimper escaped without your permission when you were suddenly pushed to the wall behind you and a cold hard body was pressed against you.

“You and the other human have been guarded quite carefully,” an unknown male voice breathed out, sweet smelling breath wafting across your face and turning your stomach. “The other human’s mate has not left her side, but you…your mate has not been seen by your side since you first arrived. And now that the Volturi Guards are no longer protecting you, you are…free for the taking.”

Another whimper made it past your lips and you clenched your eyes shut as a long fingered hand ran through your hair in a mock expression of tenderness.

“Hush,” came the purred command. “I won’t hurt you. Much.”

You bit your lip hard to stifle another sound.

“You should be thanking me,” the male vampire continued, voice pitched low and soothing. “Your mate doesn’t want you and no vampire wants an Unwanted Bond Mate. You’re too entangled with the Vampire world to be set free now. You’ll likely either be changed or killed. But…no one will want you as a vampire.”

You flinched at that and the vampire in front of you moved even closer to you.

“A Bond Mate is a sacred thing,” he continued, voice near a purr. “If you are Unwanted, there is something wrong with you that no vampire will want to touch. But I…I can help you.”

The hand in your hair suddenly tangled deep and your head was jerked back to bounce against the stone behind you and bare your neck.

“I can save you from an eternity of loneliness by killing you now. And, as you have no guards and no Mate here to say otherwise, why shouldn’t I?”

You couldn’t quite keep the half sob from escaping this time but you froze as you felt a hand around your throat.

“I said to hush,” the vampire growled, fingers tightening around your neck threateningly. “I do not want to rush this, Unwanted Mate. I would like to enjoy this. But if you keep making sounds, I won’t be quite so nice to you.”

Dutifully, you swallowed your cries, though you were unable to keep yourself from trembling.

You had never been scared of vampires before – not like this. The Cullens and Hales had been rude, angry and completely destroyed your self esteem, but they had never actively tried to kill you before. Neither had the Volturi.

But this one—

A sharp pain on the side of your face startled a gasp out of you and your eyes flew open, even though you couldn’t see.

“That’s better,” the vampire purred, the sound of sucking reaching your ears. Something wet ran down the side of your face and you realized with a full body shudder that the vampire had cut your cheek and was licking the blood off his finger.

His fingers were no longer locked around your throat, but they were still tangled deep in your hair, keeping your head up and your neck exposed.

“I want your attention solely on me when I feed from you,” your assailant purred, “not lost up in your head.”

You clenched your eyes shut again as you felt the vampire lean in, a lone tear snaking it’s way down your face.

“Crying will not help you now,” he whispered, breath fanning your neck against your jugular. There was the barest hint of a fang scraping your skin and then suddenly, a loud cracking was heard by your face and the presence in front of you was gone.

Something gently hit the side of your head and with a rolling stomach, you realized the unknown vampire’s hand was still in your hair and hanging limply, detached from the rest of his body that was now no longer near you.

What sounded like metal being torn apart, and loud feral growls, alerted you to the fact that a bit farther down the hall, your attacker was being attacked.

By who, you didn’t know.

A cold hand gripped your elbow and you screamed, startled.

“Easy, Cara,” came Aro’s low voice, “you are safe now.”

Gentle hands began to untangle the vampire’s fingers still buried in your hair and you felt your trembling worsen. This was the most terrifying thing you had ever experienced.

The pressure eased off your head, but you felt your chest tighten as it got harder to breathe. You’d almost died. You’d been attacked and toyed with by a vampire that was about to drain you. Kill you. You had almost been murdered!

“Cara,” Aro’s voice sounded from far away, “Cara, you are safe now. That vampire will not be able to touch you again. Your mate has taken care of him. Come, cara, breathe for me.”

You tried, you really did, but you couldn’t get your mind to stop spinning in circles around the fact that you had just been attacked and almost drained by a vampire a few moments ago!

Aro’s voice faded back to the background again as you tried to get air into your lungs, only to spiral down into a deeper panic when you couldn’t get enough air. You managed to survive being almost killed by a vampire only to suffocate yourself immediately after!

Cold arms were suddenly wrapped around you and you were lowered to sit in a cold lap. You struggled for a moment – you would not be almost drained again! – but then the scent registered. Woods and spice and home.

Carlisle.

Whatever reservations you had, whatever anger you were feeling towards the man who had shoved you aside to the mercy of his family, all disappeared as you felt a strong feeling of safety envelop you.

Burying yourself in his chest, you wrapped your arms around him in return and started giving off hiccoughing sobs in between your struggle for air.

You just wanted to go home!

The cold chest you were pressed against started vibrating with a low purr and a large hand started rubbing up and down your back.

“Y/N,” Carlisle murmured, voice calm and doctor-like, (though was that a hint of fear you detected?), “you are safe. I need you to listen to my breathing and try and match yours, okay? You need to calm down before you hurt yourself. Breathe in, hold it…and breathe out, hold it.”

It took a few tries, but you followed along to both his instructions and his exaggerated breathing as best you could.

“Good, Y/N, good. In, hold…and out, hold.”

You weren’t sure how long you sat there in a darkened corridor in Carlisle’s lap, but finally, finally, you felt your breathing coming more naturally and the pain in your chest started to ease, leaving a bone deep weariness in its place.

This was…not how you had envisioned you leaving Volterra to happen. You had been hoping you could just slip out and not think about the supernatural again.

Obviously that didn’t work out.

“Cara,” Aro’s voice spoke up suddenly from somewhere to your left, “what were you doing down here?”

“I was looking for you,” you murmured out, surprised at how hoarse and exhausted your voice sounded.

“Me?” Aro said in surprise and you nodded against Carlisle’s chest.

Right. Carlisle.

You needed to move, like now. But he felt so safe and so good, you were having a hard time reminding yourself of all the reasons why staying here with him was a bad idea.

And there were many.

“Yeah,” you said with a sigh, finally unlocking your arms from around the doctor and pushing away from him. “I wanted to talk to you about leaving. I need to get back home.”

There was silence in the corridor and then a gust of air that had you instinctively flinching back towards Carlisle.

A soft whoosh and the torch was relit and placed back on the wall from where it’d fallen.

You blinked at the sudden light, eyes trying to focus on Carlise and Aro who were both very close to you.

Neither one of them looked happy.

“Do you have a first aid kit?” Carlisle asked Aro after a long moment and you looked at the blond vampire in confusion. First aid kit?

Your eyes flitted down to all the parts of Carlisle you could see. If he had taken care of your attacker, (and a fuzzy memory of Aro saying your mate had done so came to mind), he looked no worse for wear. Why would he need a first aid kit?

“There should be one in the human wing,” Aro murmured after a moment, blood red eyes narrowed at the side of your face.

You made a little sound. Right. Your assailant had scraped you.

“It’s really not that bad,” you muttered, starting to detangle yourself from Carlisle’s lap. Nope. No dutiful mate, no happily ever afters, no knight in shining armor, no doctor to save the day and patch you up like some Lifetime movie.

You just wanted to go home.

Besides, you were pretty sure it had stopped bleeding already. Probably already started to coagulate and close up with how long it took you to get your head on right.

He did not get to play the part of caring mate!

You were grateful he saved you from being drained or from suffocating yourself, but that was as far as your good will extended.

You had to be strong. You were not going to be someone’s second choice!

“If you insist,” Aro said after a moment and a cold hand left your arm. Good. Aro saw your reasoning and agreed with it. Or at least wasn’t going to fight you on it.

You didn’t need another fight right now. You were all done in from the last one.

“Carlisle, my friend,” Aro said suddenly, “why don’t you go and let the rest of your family know what is going on? I will take Y/N here and make sure she gets settled and taken care of.”

Carlisle looked like he was about to argue, but a faint buzzing told you that they were talking vampire speed, and then Carlisle took off down the hall after another long look at you.

You felt all the tension drain from you as soon as he was out of sight.

“Come, Cara,” Aro said from right next to you as he gently lifted you up and into his arms. “Let’s get you back to your room.”

“Home,” you murmured, eyes closing, “I want to go home.”

“And you will,” Aro promised lowly, “we’ll discuss it when you’re rested.”

#Twilght Imagine #Reader Insert #Carlisle x Reader #Carlisle Cullen #Volturi

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kunstpause-archive · 4 years

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Incentive - Kinktober Day 2

Kinktober Day 2 || Phone-Sex || Read on Ao3

“Hm,” came Cassia’s thoughtful voice over the phone. “I definitely don’t enjoy having to spend my nights alone.”

At her somber tone, Cullen had to actually laugh out loud this time. “Oh, is that the issue?” he asked playfully. “And here I thought you missed my personality and my compelling sense of humor.”

“They are alright, I guess.” Cassia’s voice was painfully dry. “I mean, I can do a day or two without them.”

“Wow,” Cullen muttered, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. “So much love I’m returning home to.” When her reply was nothing but a playful chuckle, he shook his head. “Nothing else you missed, besides your favorite heat source for your cold feet at night? My dashing smile perhaps or my uncanny ability to gauge what you want for breakfast?”

“Well, if you are asking like this, I definitely missed your cock…”

“Cassia!” Cullen sputtered for a moment. A sudden streak of heat shot down his spine at her unexpected bluntness that gave their so far rather playful conversation a decidedly different turn.

“What? I did! Very much so even.” She laughed lightly before she continued in her most serious voice, “In fact, I am missing it right now. Terribly so.”

Cullen could hear a faint rustle through the connection. He would have instinctively put it down as static during any other phone call, nothing to think about any further, but when it happened again, he was absolutely certain that what he also heard was a soft gasp for air.

For a moment, he wasn’t quite sure whether it was the best idea to go down this line of inquiry while he was driving, but when a soft moan followed a sharp intake of breath, he couldn’t help himself. “Cassia,” he asked, sounding much rougher than before. “What exactly are you doing right now?”

A delighted-sounding chuckle came through the phone as Cassia sighed. “What does it sound like?”

Read the rest on Ao3

#Kinktober 2020 #Hawke x Cullen #Da2 #dragon age fanfiction #cullen rutherford #Kunstpause writes stuff

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welllpthisishappening · 4 years

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Welllp These Are Books: the February 2021 Edition

Most of my last month was spent on deadline and waiting for people to respond to my emails, which meant I did not have the time (or energy) to write much of anything, but had plenty of time to read, quite frankly, an absurd number of books. Some of which were very good, some of which were very cheesy, and some of which I have now told multiple people was quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. As always, though, what are my opinions if I am not sharing them with the internet? Ridiculous headlines, links, and those aforementioned opinions under the cut. As always, part two, feel free to send me any and all recommendations. It cannot possibly be worse than this one book. Seriously, you’ll understand in a second.

———

Quite Possibly the First Book I’ve Gone Out of My Way to Buy On Release Day Since Breaking Dawn, Which Says a lot About Me. As a Person.

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other's arms.

I’m not kidding when I tell you that I was counting the days until this came out. I was kind of indifferent to Nesta after the original ACOTAR books, but intrigued enough that I was like, I need to read this, and then I did read this and now I care quite a lot about Nesta. And how in love with Cassian she is. And vice versa. Because, let’s be honest, dude is in l o v e. There were some parts of the story I was not super into — namely, Ferye having to die in childbirth. Like, you’re telling me Cassian could have his guts hanging out at one point and we don’t know how to do a c-section? Nah, that ain’t it. Also, pregnancy as a storyline is not always my favorite thing, but more on that in a second. Also, also, here’s a bunch more words about ACOSF.

A “Huh, So That Happened” Sort of Ending. Which Was Disappointing.

A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

Emberfall is crumbling fast, torn between those who believe Rhen is the rightful prince and those who are eager to begin a new era under Grey, the true heir. Grey has agreed to wait two months before attacking Emberfall, and in that time, Rhen has turned away from everyone--even Harper, as she desperately tries to help him find a path to peace.

Fight the battle, save the kingdom. Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles to rule Syhl Shallow with a gentler hand than her mother. But after enjoying decades of peace once magic was driven out of their lands, some of her subjects are angry Lia Mara has an enchanted prince and a magical scraver by her side. As Grey's deadline draws nearer, Lia Mara questions if she can be the queen her country needs.

As the two kingdoms come closer to conflict, loyalties are tested, love is threatened, and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all, in this stunning conclusion to bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer's Cursebreaker series.

I loved the first book in this series. Absolutely adored it. So much so that I pretty quickly got the second one and read it. Enjoyed that on its own, but like I said in that one ask, I’m fairly certain A Curse So Dark and Lonely could have very easily been a standalone story. Should have been a standalone story? There was just SO MUCH going on here, and not nearly enough of it was resolved. Plot points just hung by the end of the trilogy, I was not ever entirely convinced Rhen and Harper were actually in love, let alone liked each other, and I thought Rhen got the very short end of an exceptionally cracked stick by the time the whole story wrapped up. Really, I think this tried to do too much in not enough time and there should probably be another book. Also Lia Mara getting pregnant was dumb. There I said it.

Free Books On Amazon Unlimited That Were Better Than Expected, But Also Read Like Fic

The Bargainer Series by Laura Thalassa

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want … at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

No one is going to be able to convince me this wasn’t ACOTAR fan fic. I don’t care about timing or dates, or whatever. The similarities just...did not stop. In all three books, even. There were three books in this series, by the way. Most of which I really enjoyed. I read them all in like four days of email waiting, so they must have been doing something right. Des was a good love interest and I really liked the flashbacks in the first book. Also Callie didn’t super annoy me. That being said, whoever edited this book. Oof. Some of the prose was so goddamn cringe, I literally lol’ed. Right out loud. Every now and then it was like we had to be reminded that Des was a BAD GUY ™ but it felt very Edward “I’m a killer, Bella” Cullen, and Callie’s internal monologue was occasionally hysterical. Not in a good way. Also Temper was the worst. She was so annoying. Every time she talked, I was like, oh, her again. The first book was the best one.

HITTING ALL MY ROM COM BOXES! BASEBALL! ROMANCE! PINING! ONLY VAGUELY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN THEY HAD SEX IN THE PORT JEFF DUGOUT BECAUSE I’VE BEEN IN THE PORT JEFF DUGOUT.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since. Frankly, she’s over it. Georgie loves planning children’s birthday parties and making people laugh, just not at her own expense. She’s determined to fix herself up into a Woman of the World... whatever that means.

Phase one: new framework for her business (a website from this decade, perhaps?)

Phase two: a gut-reno on her wardrobe (fyi, leggings are pants.)

Phase three: updates to her exterior (do people still wax?)

Phase four: put herself on the market (and stop crushing on Travis Ford!)

Travis Ford was major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days. But he can’t even cross the street without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there's Georgie, his best friend’s sister, who is not a kid anymore. When she proposes a wild scheme—that they pretend to date, to shock her family and help him land a new job—he agrees. What’s the harm? It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her...

Living her best life means facing the truth: Georgie hasn’t been on a date since, well, ever. Nobody’s asking the town clown out for a night of hot sex, that’s for sure. Maybe if people think she’s having a steamy love affair, they’ll acknowledge she’s not just the “little sister” who paints faces for a living. And who better to help demolish that image than the resident sports star and tabloid favorite.

Legit, I saw the description for this and I was like—did I write this? Kind of. (Shameless plug to read my own rom com, it also has baseball and pining) It didn’t matter, I loved it. Seriously, it hit all my rom com boxes: childhood friends, best friend’s sister, coming back home under duress, FAKE DATING and, let’s be honest, I am not immune to the use of “baby girl” as an endearment. Every time Travis called Georgie “baby girl” I was like, oh, ok, this is cool. It was cool! I only have two quips. One, that the fake dating didn’t last a little longer. The pacing of the story felt very quick, but that’s also this genre’s style. So I kind of get it. And two, that it happened in Port Jefferson, which is a town in Suffolk County that I have not only been to, but have spent significant time in. Meaning I could picture every single thing, knew exactly where they were and have used the exit on the Northern State Parkway that the final moments of the book took place at. The Port Jeff girls basketball team won a Long Island championship last weekend. In real life, not the book.

In Which Spinoffs Continue to be my Kryptonite. Especially Well-Written Ones

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Sarah Morgenthaler

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really...how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

I mentioned The Tourist Attraction in my January list, and this is the second in the Moose Springs trio. And it’s so good! I wish people were all as nice to Lana as Rick was. It’s what she deserved! More small-town antics, more kissing, another moose. This one was just as cute as the original book, especially because it brought back original characters and Zoey and Graham were so goddamn adorable as a committed couple I genuinely feared for the state of my teeth.

Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.

Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.

Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

Wrapping up the Moose Springs trio, this one might have been my least favorite, but that’s not really saying much. Since I loved them all pretty equally. River and Easton’s banter was grade-A, top-notch, which is a one-way ticket to my reading-heart. Maybe part of the problem (I say problem like there really was one) was that most of the story took place on a mountain. I kind of wanted more small-town shenanigans, and updates on the condos and the state of the town and Graham being mayor. Still, this was very cute. I swooned multiple times. I’ll probably read anything Sarah Morgenthaler writes from here on out.

Seriously, What Is YA? Does Anyone Know?

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.

When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.

Like I said last month, I put a hold on pretty much everything Renee Ahdieh had written in my library. And this was just as good as the last series I read. Her world building is just—chef’s kiss, gorgeous. I dream of writing this airy, magical way, that makes you feel like you’re in New Orleans. That being said, I do not know what kid is reading this because apparently this is YA and I had to read every single word to figure out what was going on. Now, I know there are two more books in the series, but this one felt like a lot of set up and I spent most of it being like...will this make sense eventually? It did, but only during a very rushed climax of final few chapters. The sequel isn’t available on Kindle at the library, and I haven’t bought it yet. So, that’s probably kind of telling.

In Which You Cannot Always Depend On Old Favorites

No Judgments by Meg Cabot

When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake.

But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker.

But when Bree starts falling for Drew, just as Little Bridge’s power is restored and her penitent ex shows up, she has to ask herself if her island fling was only a result of the stormy weather, or if it could last during clear skies too.

I love Meg Cabot. That should be stated upfront and at the very beginning because for a very long time I have claimed that being Meg Cabot was my dream job. I’ve read pretty much every book Meg Cabot has ever written and was fairly certain I’d be into these once I did read them. Only I was...not. Not really. Everything in this book happened so quickly, I felt like I was the one in the hurricane. People were kissing and then they were having sex and there was a storm and pets and then—it was over? The pacing was all over the place, I had no idea why Drew and Bree liked each other, some guy kicked a dog at one point?? It was weird. Which leads us to—

No Offense by Meg Cabot

A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from the Colorado Rockies to the Florida Keys. Now, as Little Bridge Island Public Library’s head of children’s services, Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk. But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas. So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “abandonment”. When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal, Molly begs to differ and asks what he’s doing about the Island’s real crime wave (if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that). Not the best of starts, but the man’s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes. Almost…

John would be pretty irritated if one of his deputies had a desk as disorderly as Molly’s. Good thing she doesn’t work for him, considering how attracted he is to her. Molly’s lilting librarian voice makes even the saltiest remarks go down sweeter, which is bad as long as she’s a witness but might be good once the case is solved—provided he hasn’t gotten on her last nerve by then. Recently divorced, John has been having trouble adjusting to single life as well as single parenthood. But something in Molly’s beautiful smile gives John hope that his old life on Little Bridge might suddenly hold new promise—if only they can get over their differences.

This isn’t a sequel SEQUEL, but another one of those “exists in the same universe,” or same town, as it were, and it was better than No Judgments. Molly and John actually had a few legitimate conversations before they started kissing. The conflict was still weird and sort of forced, this was not Meg’s usual banter (I fell like I can call her Meg at this point, y’know?) and, again, the ending just felt like it...happened. I don’t know guys, maybe I should just reread The Boy Is Back. Or that quasi Persephone-Hades series. It’s been awhile. On that one, at least. I read The Boy Is Back like six months ago.

ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING ROM COM THAT I CANNOT BELIEVE I FINISHED, SOMEONE GIVE ME A PRIZE FOR FINISHING THIS

Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn't hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava's ever had. And that's all it was--until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her...

When I tell you guys that this was the worst book I have read in recent memory, I am not kidding. Might actually be the worst book I have ever read. Bar none. And that’s saying something because one time I had to read Ender’s Game in college and that, like, physically pained me. This was awful. Awful people. Awful plot. Awful resolution. AWFUL. Where to start? Well, I’m not going to apologize for spoilers, because God help us all, do not read this book. Ava has been through so many horrible things in her life it was like someone was trying to set a record. Bad parents, cheating ex-boyfriend, dead former best friend who was former because of the cheating ex-boyfriend. Naturally, this made her a control freak because—of course, or something. And Caleb! Oh my God, fucking Caleb Scott. The dickwad. I’ve never rooted for anyone to not get the girl more. When Ava “broke up” with him (they were never really together) I might have cheered. Shitty things does not give you an excuse to be a dick, and Caleb was a dick. Seriously, he started crying about how his ex-fiance KILLED THEIR BABY and I was like—this cannot possibly be a real book. It was! With lots of abortion opinions out of FUCKING nowhere, and weird possessive behavior from, like, every dude in it. Both Ava AND her best friend (not the dead one, a different one) got assaulted at one point. I kept reading solely because I was desperate to see how they rationalized Ava and Caleb getting back together at the end and they didn’t. He showed up on her flight when her boss came up with a fake work trip so he could sit next to her on the plane. What? WHAT?? It was so dumb. So bad. I can’t believe I read it.

#book recs #fiction rec #rom com recs #fantasy recs #laura reads books #i swear i do other things besides read #really #welllp these are books

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like-rain-or-confetti · 4 years

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High School Reunions (Heidi Volturi x Reader)

You groaned again. You dreaded this day even the very first moment you were officially no longer in high school. High school reunions weren't fun, nor completely friendly from what you knew. You'd be surrounded by your year group who had gone off to do major and minuscule things and the many things that sat in between. Maybe there would be doctors and lawyers but there'd also be those who would be considered failing at life. That category had no discrimination. Married? Kids? Stable job? Salary? Vacations? How many cars? The thousands upon thousands of contacts people would promise to get in touch with to help an old friend when in reality they'd do no such thing and instead leech off of the gossip and ego boost. It was a competition, who did life better? You wanted no part in it but you couldn't just simply not go. That would be so much worse. The gossip would thrive! However, you had nothing to 'show off', nothing in your eyes anyway. Nothing is ever enough in this game and you were content with what you had. However, that didn't mean you weren't affected by judgement.

Emmett nudged you. "Cheer up lil' human." He teased. "It won't be as bad as you think!" "It'll be worse." You grumbled into your hands. "At least you don't have to re-live highschool." Emmett grinned. You jumped slightly hearing Heidi's heels clicking behind you. You had forgotten the Volturi were visiting the Cullen's for a full ten minutes after receiving the invite to the reunion. "What's wrong?" Heidi smiled brightly. "(Y/N) has a high school reunion to go to." Emmett grinned at you. Heidi hummed, intrigued. "What's that exactly?" She twirled a lick of curled hair between her fingers, head tilting slightly. "Hell." You sighed. "I meet up with my year group for a reunion. The idea is innocent, but in actuality it's a sea of adults flaunting their successes like it's a competition." Heidi hummed. "What's so bad about that?" "It's condescending! I'll be around people with high paid jobs, massive houses and many cars and married with hundreds of kids!" You paused. "So maybe not hundreds of kids but you know what I mean." "I do, but you can flaunt too. That's the fun in it." Heidi leaned over the counter slightly in front of you as though you had her full attention. Her red eyes boring into yours. "I don't flaunt. I don't have anything to flaunt. I'm not married, I don't have kids and I don't have an amazing mansion or a fancy car or any of that stuff. I'm just me and that wasn't enough in high school." You sighed. "I had a tough time in school, other kids weren't...friendly toward me." Heidi narrowed her eyes slightly, quiet for a moment. "When is it?" "Three days away." "I'll go with you. Tell them we're engaged or that we're married. Flaunt me all you like. In return, I get to feed on one of them- my choice."

Heidi was very attractive, it was her gift. Humans nor vampires could resist her. You were no exception but your guilt set in quickly. "I couldn't do that. You're not an object-" "I'm not asking, sweetie. It'll be fun! I get to feed and enjoy a little revenge and you get to be on the winning team. It's a win-win." That's how it began and she kept true to her word.

Your jaw hit the floor. Heidi was gorgeous. You weren't surprised when she had chosen a red dress. Her curled hair perfectly framing her face and her make-up was perfect. More notably, she wore a very expensive looking ring on her ring finger. That must have been the 'engagement ring' . "Ready to knock 'em dead?" Heidi smirked seductively. Your heart was racing and you weren't entirely sure of your response. No words coming to mind. "Well one of them more literally." She winked, looping her arm in yours.

The punches rolled in immediately. You barely arrived and were immediately greeted by Hayley. She was the head cheerleader and was a nice person, soft spoken but her company were vicious. So much so that many didn't speak to her just so they wouldn't have to endure her group of friends. "Hi! (Y/N), yeah?" You nodded. "Yeah." "Oh you look great! It's so good to see you!" You chuckled nervously before attempting to divert the attention from yourself. "Hayley, this is Heidi. She's my-" You stumbled, bit entirely certain of what to call her. Luckily Heidi didn't skip a beat, leaning into your side. "I'm their fiancee. It's so nice to meet you." Hayley looked taken aback. There was a brief second she looked enamored my Heidi before shaking herself out of her daze. "You look lovely tonight! Congratulations on your engagement. That's very exciting!" "It is!" Heidi mirrored Hayley's pleasant and polite smile, although Heidi seemed more enthusiastic. Heidi raised her hand, showing the ring. "I'm very lucky to have gotten such a great catch." You stifled a laugh at the dark humour, her job was considered 'fishing' after all. Hayley seemed to look you over slightly, before her eyes moving back to Heidi. Hayley seemed to be judging that statement for herself. "It's beautiful! I'm afraid I must be going, so many people to see! I'll be sure to catch you soon!" You looked at Heidi who turned to look back at you. "I'm very good at this game." She smirked. "She doesn't think I'm good enough for you. I've seen that look a million times." Heidi scoffed. "I bet she thinks a lot of things. I do too but there is a distinct difference between people like me and her." "What's that?" You asked. "I have the guts to say them." Heidi twirled a lock of hair as her eyes travelled around the room. You eyed a few familiar faces around the room. "Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe we should go." "No, we had a deal. Besides, I've got your back. You don't need to worry. We're going to show them how wrong they are about you." "Promise me you have my back." You said quickly as you locked eyes with someone who made their way towards you. "Promise."

"(Y/N) (L/N), I cannot believe it!" The blonde slightly overweight man grinned, pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose, a darker haired and scrawny man followed behind him closely. The blonde was your old classmate Tommy. You remembered how lovely he was and that he was the theatre kid. He lived and breathed theatres and knew just about every single musical every written. "This is my husband Theodore!" Tommy gestured to the dark haired man who offered a small smile, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I knew it was you! I told him! I told you Theo!" You smiled at Tommy. He seemed genuinely glad to see you. Then again, Tommy was always a good guy. "This is my fiancee, Heidi." You felt a little guilt about lying to Tommy but this was how it has to be. You couldn't go back now. Heidi greeted the couple. "Tell me everything!" Tommy said in delight. "I want to know everything I've missed!" You told him of your job and the real details of your life. Heidi was quick, creating the story of how you both first met and how Heidi fell for you immediately. After a couple of years you proposed. She gave such a convincing story that even you forgot she was talking about you and that you hadn't done anything of these things.

You weren't sure if Tommy and Heidi got on well naturally of if Heidi was just playing along. "Well, in the summer time we hope to finally bring our little girl home permanently. We're finalising the papers." Tommy grinned and even Theodore cracked a smile. "You're adopting? That's amazing, Tommy. Congrats." "I know, I always wanted a daughter! What about you two? Any kids?" "Actually-" Heidi wrapped her arms over your shoulders. "None yet but I'm sure there will be one or two not long after the wedding." Heidi went even further planting a kiss to the corner of your mouth.

Heidi's eyes shifted to a woman before nudging you. "Who is that over there?" "Oh... That is Jessica. Why?" "Because I'm trying to listen to everyone's boring lives and all I can hear is her shrill voice shrieking about her golden child who can do no wrong." "Oh...well it looks like she's coming this way." Heidi exhaled slowly, you could tell Jessica aggravated her. "Hello there!" Jessica sang. "My, how you've changed!" Her eyes moved up and down your body making you hold back a shiver. You remembered Jessica to be a snob, much like her parents. You tried to avoid her as much as possible during school. She always wanted to flaunt and that got annoying after ten minutes. "Tommy tells me there is possible little ones in your future! Good for you! And congratulations on your engagement!" Of course Tommy told her. Anyone would give up any information to divert her attention from them and onto someone else. "Yes, perhaps after the wedding." Heidi said sweetly, sickeningly sweet. It had to be intentional but you couldn't tell her that Jessica had no kind of radar for such hints to back off. "We're waiting until I'm more financially secure." You played along in hopes of settling any tension with Heidi. You were practically saving Jessica's life in your eyes. "I'm hoping a promotion is in the near future for me. A lot of my money has went to the wedding." "Oh I wish I had time for a job!" Jessica swooned. "I simply don't have time for that. I have a little one of my own, she's seven and quite possibly a genius! Naturally all my time goes to her and I'm absolutely exhausted! Oh how she's worth it though. My extraordinary child. Any other parent would be jealous!" Heidi hummed pleasantly but it was very forced. Anyone but Jessica could see it. "(Y/N) works for the government. I want a big white wedding and my (Y/N) made my dreams come true! Now we hope to have children after the wedding and put some money away for private schooling. We'll have to be careful though in timing." Heidi pulled you closer to her, wrapping an arm around you. "I'd like to enjoy (Y/N) myself without any interruptions. Oh the things they can do!" Your jaw dropped. "Heidi!" "Honey, I promised I wouldn’t talk about your position in the government since it's a secret. You never said I couldn't talk about you." Jessica chuckled slightly uncomfortable. "Well if you excuse me..."

"Really? Implying sex? Really?" Your eyes were wide. "She was insufferable before she came over here, I did you a favour. I said it because she's recently divorced and is very jealous of every couple here." Heidi paused. "Besides if she said rammed one more brag about her child in our faces I'd expect she'd pull the child out of her bag and trying to force her down our throats. Children are not that special, I don't care who you are." You sighed before a thought occurred to you. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone say something like that about their child. She just promised us a prodigy." "That's because she's insecure in herself, she's trying to show everyone she's a great mother who's managing perfectly her divorce from her husband who likely got bored of her long ago." "Maybe she is coping well." "Perhaps, but no one copes perfectly. That's the difference. She doesn't want a single crack to show and I bet on the inside she is one more crack away from falling to pieces." "I feel like everyone has it put together but me." Heidi snorted. "Are you kidding? Look. See Hayley over there? She went from everyone's perfect princess and now has nothing to show for it. She's learned she's normal like the rest of us. Tommy, no doubt has his issues with his husband because he couldn’t stress enough that his life was perfect along with his marriage. Even with the right person, marriages aren't always easy. I've made my case with that Jessica over there already." Heidi turned to look at you. "Everyone here is miserable and insecure and trying to pretend they aren't. They feel they have something to prove just like you do. As soon as they leave here, they'll be ripping one another apart just to make themselves feel better...it's a little cute if you ask me." Heidi finished with a smile.

You suddenly stifled with a gasp. Liam. The ringleader of all bullies was in front of you and heading your way with a sickening smirk. You were his favourite to torment and judging by the smile he gave you, they're wouldn't be much difference. Liam looked down at you, a good head taller than you. "(Y/N) (L/N). I didn't expect you'd make it. We all know what you're like around...people." He smirked and you couldn't bring yourself to respond. "Who's this? How much did you pay her to go with you, hm?" Heidi's nostrils flared before she responded. "I'm their fiancee." She said sweetly, holding up her ring. "Has to be a fake. This moron can barely tie their own shoes never mind get you a ring like that." He snorted. Then his eyes ran up and down Heidi, the sight making your skin crawl. "Let me know when this one bores you princess. I can show you a better time." As soon as he left, you exhaled. "Can we go?" You asked Heidi. "No." She said looking at Liam who had walked away. "Why?" "Because I found my meal." "Him? Really? He might make you sick. I think he has tar for blood." "Oh no, he's the one." She said smoothly. "That's the one who gave you a rough time?" "Yeah, but it doesn't matter, let's just go-" "We'll stay for another half an hour. Right now, let's get you a drink."

Heidi kept you distracted for the next twenty minutes, talking about everything and anything with you as you sipped on your drink. She even reassured you that you were the better catch than Liam...the pun was intended. "Listen honey, I'd spend my time with you before him. He's the type of guy who doesn't have a brain." She tilted her head almost adoringly in his direction. "He's a loser." "That's...not a compliment." "It's not supposed to be honey. Anyway, say your goodbyes. I'm going to get my meal. I'll meet you outside in ten minutes." She kissed you cheek before leaving. She didn't have to go so far in this act but you wouldn't complain.

You moved away from your original position to see Heidi brush past Liam and giving him a seductive smile, all the while nodding at him to follow her. Liam had no problems and immediately complied.

You left exactly ten minutes later, saying your final goodbyes to Tommy before Heidi turned the corner, smiling. "Darling, I was just checking the car. Are you ready to go?" Tommy was quick to pull you into a hug. "It was great seeing you (Y/N), remember to add my number! I'd love to hear from you again soon!" You nodded with a smile. "Bye, Tommy." There was something oddly sad about the situation. You already missed him and didn't know why. Perhaps he represented normal human life. Ever since you've known about vampires, your life hasn't been normal. An adjective you missed greatly. Heidi's cold hand slipping into yours broke you out of your thoughts before she lightly pulled you away. You offered a wave to Tommy as Heidi called back that it was lovely to have met him. "Your hand is freezing." You mumbled. "Would you like me to let go?" "No, it was way too hot in there, the cold is welcomed." Heidi smiled in response. "Did you...is he alive?" You asked. "No, he isn't." Heidi said simply. "He was delicious, just the right amount of Karma too "

Heidi walked you to the Cullen door before kissing your cheek. You blushed immediately. "You were a lovely date tonight and I'm happy to have helped you. Perhaps you should take me out more often." She winked.

#twilight #volturi #the volturi #Heidi Volturi #reader #one shot #oneshot

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what-is-your-plan-today · 4 years

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Riding High Ch 8- Adler Vs Adler

Chapter Summary: The gloves are off in court as mother and son go head to head.

Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words. Talk of suicide.

Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher

This chapter is a mix of Fliss and Frank’s POV…hope you all enjoy it. As always I’m a ho for a REBLOG and COMMENT!

Series Masterlist Main Masterlist

Chapter Song: Stand By You- Rachel Platten

And love, if your wings are broken, borrow mine so yours can open too…’cause I’m gonna stand by you

The first bit of evidence the next morning was the findings of the Welfare Department’s investigation. It had thrown nothing out of the ordinary up. The house was clean enough, Mary was fed…but they did point out that it wouldn’t be suitable for much longer as Mary would need her own room as she grew older, something which Frank’s attorney accepted on behalf of Frank, stating to the court that Frank had already considered this. Which in fairness he had. The Welfare Department continued then, stating that Mary’s interview the previous day hadn’t thrown up anything of concern, even if there were some questionable TV viewing habits, namely Ultimate Fighting but they were satisfied that overall Mary suffering no ill effects, mentally or physically from being with Frank.

This took them just under an hour, as they were factual reports. Both Attorneys requested clarification points but there were no questions or cross examinations. As such they had concluded just after 11 am and there was then a small 10 minute break to allow a quick consultation between clients and lawyers before Evelyn was to take to the stand. As people moved around, passing papers and files to one another, Frank turned in his seat and just as he glanced round, someone left the courtroom and through the open door Fliss walked in, dressed in a smart pair of black jeans and a light blue strappy top. He flashed her a smile and she gave a small wave, settling onto a seat next to Roberta who gave her a hug. She’d missed the early session due to having to sort the horses out but she’d cleared her diary and brought in cover for the rest of the day.

Frank turned back to Greg who was watching him, eyebrow raised.

“Well that was a mighty big smile Frank…”

“Yeah, well just spotted some back up, that’s all.” Greg turned to see the woman who was now talking to Roberta and he grinned, spinning back to Frank “Let me guess, Fliss?”

Frank nodded “Yeah, I’ll introduce you later.”

Greg nodded “I look forward to it. Anyway, back to business, that opening report from the Welfare Department was good, well as good as it’s gonna get. But man, Ultimate Fighting?”

“It’s harmless…” Frank shrugged

Greg shook his head “Whatever. This next bit ain’t gonna be as easy.” “No shit…” Frank mumbled, looking at his mother as she said something to Highsmith, her attorney. “She’s going to rip me to pieces, and no doubt enjoy doing it too.” “Yep.” Greg nodded “But, keep doing what you’re doing. No outbursts, stay quiet, focussed, listen. And if she says anything that isn’t accurate, or you think of anything we can use, note it down and I’ll use it in my cross examination, ok?” Frank nodded as Judge Nicholls banged his gavel down an issued instructions for everyone to reconvene. He called Evelyn to the stand where she was sworn in and Highsmith stood up and began firing questions at her, a well-practiced dance, Frank could tell.

From the gallery Fliss watched intently. She’d been late due to having to open up at the yard but had rushed home, changed and got here as soon as she could. As such she had missed the first session but Roberta had hastily filled her in, telling her it had gone well. She shot Frank another encouraging smile, just as the judge called them back to order, and couldn’t help but notice how good that man looked in his grey suit, light grey shirt and maroon and white speckled tie. He certainly looked the part.

Evelyn took to the stand and Fliss felt herself bristling as she utterly character assassinated Frank, depicting him as nothing more than an irresponsible bum, floating around with no purpose to life, who didn’t care about Mary’s welfare, preferring to simply fly by the seat of his pants instead of giving her any decent roots or thoughts to her needs. At one point, they started to question his motivations towards taking Mary being more about punishing Evelyn that actually caring about the girl. To this Frank’s attorney objected and as the two attorneys began to argue, Fliss found her nails cutting into her palms as she clenched her fists. Roberta gently reached out and squeezed her arm and she turned to the woman next to her and gave her a tight smile.

“Frank’s attorney, Greg Cullen, well he’s good…” she whispered, “He’ll go at her when he gets his chance…you’ll see.”

By the time she finished it was almost midday so they broke for lunch, Judge Nicholls instructing everyone to be back in an hour. Fliss and Roberta headed outside to wait for Frank who met them shortly after.

“Hey…” Fliss said, giving him a gentle hug. “How you holding up?”

“About as well as I can for someone whose own other just tore them to shreds under oath.” Fliss’ eyes narrowed “I hope your guy is gonna give as good as she did…” “I’ll do my best.” A voice said. Fliss spun round to be greeted by Frank’s attorney.

“Fliss, this is Greg Cullen, Greg this is Fliss Gallagher.” Frank introduced them to one another. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” Greg smiled at her, shaking her hand. Fliss looked up at Frank and was surprised to find a faint flush of red on his cheeks.

“All good I hope?” she grimaced and Cullen nodded.

“Oh…very good indeed. I’ve been dying to meet the woman who’s made such an impression on him…” “Greg, piss off.” Frank said in a tired voice, before he nodded over the road to the café “Shall we grab some lunch?”

They ate together, made small talk, before Greg requested Frank join him alone for 15 minutes to go over the rest of the afternoon. Frank stood, and without even thinking about it gave Fliss a quick peck on the cheek. He winced as soon as he had, noticing that Cullen and Roberta were watching him and knowing Fliss was going to get an absolute drilling from Roberta he shot her an apologetic look as he walked away. She simply smiled through her blush and shook her head, turning to Roberta who nudged her arm.

“Ok, so…what was that?” Greg asked as they walked back over the road.

“It’s complicate.” Frank sighed “we both…we like each other but with everything that’s going on we’re…well I suppose we’re taking it slow. I’m focussing on getting through whatever it is that happens with Mary and then hopefully…what?” he trailed off as Greg was smirking at him.

“Frank Adler. Finally found a girl he likes that much he ain’t simply trying to get her into bed…”

Frank rolled his eyes and pointed to the courtroom “How about you concentrate on what’s gonna go on in there instead of what is or isn’t going on in my bedroom?”

Greg gave out a chuckle and patted his friend on the shoulder as they made their way in and headed into the side room they had reserved.

****

“Mrs. Adler, in your earlier testimony here today… you painted a pretty dim picture of your own son don’t you think?” Cullen asked, tapping his pen on his note pad. Frank remained stony faced, watching his mother.

“I’m under oath, I take no pleasure in it.” she said with a glance at Frank before she looked down, almost convincingly.

Frank just about managed to refrain from rolling his eyes.

“So, your son is a failure in life, your daughter took her life…you know, you’re oh for two.”

Fliss winced and glanced at Roberta as Highsmith said “Objection” in an almost bored voice

“Withdrawn.” Cullen said, his voice taking on an amused edge but as Fliss watched Evelyn simply eyed him, completely un-phased.

“If I go one for three, I’m in the Hall of Fame.” she shot back.

“You know baseball.” Cullen said, pushing his chair back “Fenway Park.”

At that something flickered in Evelyn’s eye as she glanced at Frank. Fliss followed her gaze and watched, just able to see the side of Frank’s face. His eyes locked onto her, his expression never faltering.

“You know, I’d like to go there sometime.” Cullen said standing up, pushing his glasses up onto his head as Evelyn turned back to him “How often in a year did you take Diane to the baseball game?”

“Diane wasn’t interested in sports.” Evelyn replied

“She never wanted to go to a game? Ever?”

“I don’t recall her ever asking.”

Cullen moved forwards a step and Fliss saw Frank’s eyes flick to him as he continued to question his mother.

“Just out of curiosity, Fenway, that’s a tough ticket. Where do you get yours?”

“My husband has season tickets.”

“And how long has he had them?” Cullen enquired

“30 years. But I’ve only been married to him for 20.” Evelyn informed him.

“And Diane never went to one game?”

Evelyn didn’t reply, simply raised her eyebrows slightly as if she was failing to see the point. Fliss’ eyes once again flicked to Frank who still hadn’t moved an inch.

“What colour was the dress Diane wore to prom?” Cullen changed his line of questions.

“Diane didn’t attend the prom, because she didn’t attend the high school.” Evelyn replied calmly

“No prom.” Cullen mused before he asked suddenly “What sports did she play?”

“As I told you earlier, she wasn’t interested in sports.”

“She’s calm…” Roberta whispered to Fliss as Cullen continued to question Evelyn about Diane’s lack of interaction with other children her age

“Too calm…” Fliss said “But I can see what he’s doing, trying to paint a picture of how she isolated Diane to imply that she’d do the same to Mary. You’re right, he is good…”

As they tuned back into the examination again, Cullen took a deep breath and glanced to his left

“Mrs. Adler, he said, looking back at her who’s Paul Riva?”

At that Evelyn glanced at Frank, her calm mask slipped ever so slightly but still Frank didn’t move. Fliss could see his expression now carried a faint, and every so sad, smile.

Evelyn gave a silent huff before she looked back at Cullen “He was a boy from the neighbourhood.”

Her tone was clipped and Fliss noticed the judge sit forward slightly at her change in tone, narrowing his eyes a little as he watched her curiously

“Oh, come on. He was much more than just a boy from the neighbourhood. Paul was Diane’s first love. Wasn’t he?” Cullen asked.

Fliss and Roberta exchanged a glance.

“I wouldn’t characterize it that way, no.” Evelyn shook her head.

“And how would Diane characterize it?”

“Diane was 17 years old at the time. She didn’t know anything about love.”

At that Fliss caught the first movement Frank had made as he took a deep breath and looked to his left before turning back, his shoulders moving slightly in frustration as he shook his head slightly, his eyes locking back onto his mother who was carefully avoiding his gaze.

“Mrs. Adler… in January 2000 didn’t Diane and young Mr. Riva run away together?” Cullen looked at her.

“He coerced her” Evelyn corrected with the air of someone picking her words carefully.

“And where did they go?”

“Vermont.”

“And you called the police, didn’t you?” Cullen stated rather than asked.

“Yes.”

“Because he kidnapped her?”

“Yes”

“And where did the police find young Mr. Riva and Diane?” Cullen looked at Evelyn

“I told you, Vermont.” Evelyn looked at Cullen, her voice suddenly taking on an edge which made Fliss lean forward slightly.

“Stowe, Vermont. Wasn’t it? A resort town.” Cullen said, looking round the court room as Evelyn shifted uncomfortably. “Stowe Mountain. He took her skiing. You see, kidnappers don’t usually take their victims skiing.” Cullen paused from his explanation, when he spoke again his voice was calm, and slow, stressing the point perfectly “But this is what Paul did because he and Diane were in love.”

“No” Evelyn said firmly

“And when they returned, you pressed kidnapping charges.” Cullen’s voice rose in volume and speed as he spoke “You filed a lawsuit against his parents…until Paul stopped calling Diane. Didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And Diane never heard of or saw Paul Riva again. Did she?” Cullen’s tone was harsh, accusatory as he stared at Evelyn.

“Poor girl…” Roberta mumbled besides her and Fliss shook her head, in utter shock at how a mother could be so damned cruel and out of touch with her own daughter. It made her feel a pang of sympathy for Mary’s mother despite never having known her. Fliss couldn’t imagine what she would do without either of her parents being as supportive as they were.

Evelyn must have answered as by the time Fliss turned her attention fully to what she was saying, Cullen had asked another question.

“And how did she take it?”

“She was upset for a while. She lost focus.”

“She lost focus” Cullen said, turning back to the desk and picking up a small file “Mrs. Adler,” he turned back, file in hand “…in March of 2001 didn’t Diane Adler attempt to take her own life?”

“This episode was minor. It was nothing.” Evelyn said, her tone harsh.

“Nothing?” Fliss drew in a breath, shaking her head. For a moment she almost lost herself in another memory, of one rainy afternoon in Boston in October 2015…but she took a deep breath and focussed on where she was, as Cullen flashed the file at Evelyn.

“I have the hospital report in my hand.” he informed her

Fliss watched as Evelyn leant forward, her face creased in anger as hissed “You have no idea of the capability she possessed. One in a billion. And you would say fine, let’s throw that away, so the boy who cuts our yard can make sexual conquest? Well maybe before you make that decision, you stand in my shoes .I had responsibilities, which went beyond the mother-daughter relationship.”

She took a deep breath and spoke again, her voice louder this time “The greatest discoveries, which have proved life on this planet have come from minds rarer than radium. Without them, we’d still be crawling in mud. And for your information, counsellor, a year after this incident with this boy Diane thanked me for my intervention. She realized she’d made a mistake and she thanked me. You see, Diane understood. She’s was accountable for the gift she’d been given. And she didn’t shy from it.”

Every inch of Evelyn’s face was contorted with a mixture of pain and anger, and she radiated absolute fury across the courtroom as her rant built to its climax

There was a pause as she took a breath and sat back.

“No more questions.” Cullen said simply, turning back to his seat.

Fliss watched Frank who shifted, rubbing his chin with his left hand, his fingers curling round his jaw in an L shape as he stared at this mother.

***** When Mary returned home on the bus, Frank did his best to remain positive and keep his broodings to himself, and was thankful when Fliss suggested they head out for dinner. The four of them headed to the same restaurant he had met his mother at not long before. He ate, not really tasting his food, or listening as Fliss and Roberta chatted away. Instead his attention was completely on Mary who was stood with one of the waitresses at another table, where Mary was pouring sand out of one of the bottles that was used to keep the tablecloths from blowing away. The thought that she could be without such simple pleasure of looking through sand for shells, and lost to a world pressure and solitude like Diane had been killed him.

“Hey…” he felt someone squeeze his hand at the same time Mary held up a shell and showed it to him. He took a deep breath and tried to rearrange his face into a smile as his fingers tightened around Fliss’s.

“You know until I met you I thought sitting on steps drinking beer was something only red necked hillbillies did.” Fliss teased him when they were alone later that evening, Mary asleep inside the apartment as they sat outside the kitchen door, shoulder to shoulder along the top rung.

“Well, according to my mother that’s what I am.” he scoffed.

“And according to me your mother is a callous, cold hearted bitch.” Fliss said, with such venom it made Frank look at her. She took a deep breath, her voice softening “How can anyone dismiss a suicide attempt as nothing.”

Frank looked away, taking a pull from his beer. They sat in silence for a moment before Fliss broke it.

“You know back in 2015, about 18 months after we’d gotten married…I almost did it you know? Killed myself.”

Frank’s head turned to face her. She wasn’t looking at him, instead she remained focussed on a spot in the distance as she looked straight ahead. “My life was out of my control, and it was the only way I could think of getting some of that control back. So I took a shit load of buproprion and washed it down with half a litre of vodka.”

“Shit, Lissy I…” She waved his sympathy off and continued “After that I was offered all this help and support and…” she snorted bitterly “I still went back to him. He convinced everyone, including me that the issue was the fact that I was still brooding over my career being cut so short…and then told me that having a kid would fix the issue. In reality there was no issue to fix. I wasn’t depressed as such, I was abused. And that was simply another way of him taking control”

After a moment she turned to look at him, “And I’m not saying your mother abused Diane, not as such but she isolated her for her own, selfish reasons…no matter how she tries to dress them up or convince herself that it was for Diane’s own good. That first suicide attempt your sister would have made a normal, loving parent sit up and pay attention to what was going on. I know it did mine, as Bill never trusted John’s explanation, not one word.” “I should have done more too.” Frank said, looking down “But I was so busy, wrapped up in my finals and…”

“Frank, you were what? 20 and preparing for finals at Harvard.” Fliss frowned “Diane wasn’t your responsibility, you’re not her parent.”

“No but when Dad died, I promised I’d take care of her, always be there for her. I should have done more, and I should have known…when she turned up that day…”

“Frankie…” Fliss cut him off, her hand taking his “Take it from me, my mum and dad and brother went through all of this in their head. Did Diane give you any warnings at all because I know I didn’t? Look at the lies and the world of fantasy I let John build up round me and detract from what was going on. I told nobody I was gonna do it Frank. And I told no body why I did it either.”

Frank sniffed and wiped at his nose slightly with his free hand.

“So you can either carry on beating yourself up over something that isn’t your fault or you can concentrate on getting the best outcome here for Mary.”

“Are you planning on coming tomorrow?” he asked, looking at Fliss.

“Yeah, Joanne is covering again.”

“I don’t want to put you out…” he began but she shook her head.

“It’s sorted.” Fliss smiled. “She wants the week of Thanksgiving off so she’s racking up the favours.”

“Well, from a selfish reason I’m glad.” he said, flexing his fingers against hers, looking down at where they were entwined.

“I’m not missing your testimony, if only for the sole reason of discovering what your full name is.” she teased. Frank gave a huff of a laugh “Francis Preston Adler, nice to meet you.” he tipped his bottle in her direction. “Preston?” She snorted “Get out of town! There’s a place in England called Preston, it’s like 30 miles away from my home!”

Frank smiled, before he sighed.

“Last day tomorrow isn’t it?” Fliss looked at him as he stared straight ahead.

He let out a breath “Yeah, well last day of evidence…then we have to wait for however long it takes him to read all the reports and make a ruling.”

“Well then, I suggest you get some sleep, or as much as you can.” she said, and with that she released his hand and stood up. Frank did the same and he smiled as she leaned up and he ducked his head so she could kiss his cheek. “Oh, and FYI I got an absolute interrogation off Roberta before when you did that. Felt like it was me in the dock, not Evelyn.” For the first time all evening Frank laughed.

******

The gloomy, rainy morning matched Frank’s mood perfectly.

He sat in the dock dressed in his suit this time paired with a light green shirt and a dark blue and silver tie, feeling as out of place as anyone could. Cullen went through the questions he had coached Frank on, questions designed not to paint him as a saint but as a normal person, doing the best he could for his niece in line with his sister’s wishes. Frank answered them honestly. Was he perfect? No. Had he done things correctly? No. Did he wish he had spotted Diane was struggling? Yes. Did he love Mary and want the best for her? Yes.

The questions continued along those lines until they broke for lunch. And then came the cross examination, and Frank knew he was in for a beating.

“Mr. Adler where are you currently employed?” Highsmith asked sitting on the desk to the left of Evelyn.

“I repair boats.” Frank answered clearly

“Oh, really? At which marina?”

“I don’t work at a marina. I freelance.”

“So, safe to say, no health insurance.”

“No.” Frank shook his head

“About a week before your sister took her life what were you doing for a living then?”

“I was a teacher.” Frank replied.

“You’re being modest, aren’t you?” Highsmith said, standing up and walking towards the dock “You were a professor at Boston University Isn’t that right?

“Yes, well, assistant professor.”

“And what’d you teach?”

“Philosophy.” Frank said, looking at him

“Truth and logic. That sort of thing” Highsmith gestured with his hands and Frank simply smile as he continued “Your attorney said that the primary reason that you took Mary is because it was what your sister would’ve wanted you to do. Is that a truth?”

“Yes.” Frank implored

“So Diane had visited Pinellas County before?”

“No” frank said with almost an air of amusement on his face as he looked at his mother for a second before he looked down and joined his hands in front of him in his lap.

“She indicated she wanted her daughter rooted and moved here?

Frank shook his head, closing his eyes “No”

“No.” Highsmith repeated “So you decided to bring Mary here, didn’t you?”

Frank licked his lips and drew in a deep breath as he simply stared as his mother. He was pleased so see her shift in her seat

“Did Diane had a problem with your health plan at Boston University?” Highsmith pressed.

“Not to my knowledge.”

“Do you think she would want her daughter to have access to healthcare?”

Dumbass question

“Of course.” Frank nodded.

“So what do you do, when little Mary gets sick? You repair a doctor’s boat?”

Frank scoffed a laugh as Cullen objected.

The questions continued. He was asked why he turned down the scholarship at the Oaks in favour of learning at a first grade level, a level way below that she was capable of. The rain continued to drive down as did Highsmith’s questions, as they were punctuated every so often by a low rumble of thunder from the outside storm.

“Prior to Mrs. Adler giving her one. Did Mary have a computer?”

“She used mine.”

“Mr. Adler, does Diane’s daughter have her own bedroom?”

“No.”

“Does she sleep in a bed that you bought in a second hand shop?”

“Yes” Frank looked ahead, focussing on keeping calm as Highsmith walked towards the dock, gesturing now with his hands, his tone winding up

“So, the truth is, Mr. Adler that you didn’t come down here because your sister wanted it to and you certainly didn’t come here because it was good for Mary.”

Frank swallowed slightly and shifted a little, avoiding looking at the man as he tapped his hand on the side of the dock.

“No, it was personal. Diane was a star. You weren’t. Diane got the attention. You didn’t.”

Frank scoffed silently, oh please, and turned to look in the opposite direction.

“..and over the years You got angry. And here comes Mary. What a great way to get even.

“You’ve uprooted that little girl and brought her here for 1 reason only. To do harm to your mother. You blamed her for your sister.”

“No, I don't” Frank broke his silence.

“And Mary to you is just a pawn in all this.”

And that did it, Mary wasn’t a pawn. She was a little girl, a little girl who he was doing is best by.

“Diane wanted Mary… to be a kid” Frank’s voice betrayed his desperation and emotion, and he knew that…but now he was past caring, this was the truth, it was how he felt, and he was nothing if not honest. He locked eyes with his mother as he spoke, driving his words home “.She wanted her to have a life. She wanted her to have friends and to play…”

At that his mother looked away, her eyes glistening but Frank kept his on hers as she turned back to him, his final words were almost whispered

“…and to be happy.”

“You realize the consequences of boredom for a gifted child, Mr. Adler? They become resentful and sullen.”

“Mary’s not an angry kid.” Frank said, his voice calm once more.

“Really? Did she not attack a child on the school bus?”

Shit.

“A 12 year old tripped a 7 year old and she came to his defense.” Frank said, shrugging slightly

“Did she break the boy’s nose?”

“Yes.” Frank said, a little louder as he nodded.

“On October 16th last year, were you arrested for assault?”

“Oh, my God.” Frank groaned, and he looked down before he glanced back up, momentarily locked eyes with Fliss who he noticed had taken a deep breath. He looked back down, shaking his head

“You have to answer the question Mr. Adler.” Judge Nicholls reminded him

Frank swallowed and focussed on a spot on the varnished surface of the wood in font of him, just by the microphone. “A drunk idiot attacked me and I defended myself. What does that have to do…”

“Did you spend the night in jail?” Highsmith cut him off.

“Yeah.” Frank nodded.

“You are in way over your head here. You’re depriving that girl…”

Frank stayed still, shaking his head and glaring at his mother, all the while Highsmith continued ranting on at him

“…you’re gambling with her future and now you being presented with an opportunity to do right by her.”

“Does council have a question for my client?” Cullen said loudly

“Take the high road, Mr. Adler before she’s rapidly damaged.”

“Does council have a question for my client or not?” Cullen said, standing up.

“Yes, sir. I do have a question.” Highsmith said “Tell us. Is your continued guardianship really in the best interest of this little girl?

He stared at his mother, as he lifted his chine and spoke loudly and clearly.

“Yes.Yes, it is.”

“I have no further questions.” Highsmith spoke.

Frank scratched at his head and left the dock. Following the summing up, they were all dismissed. Frank shook Greg’s hand who told him he would be in touch Frank left the courtroom with Roberta, Fliss nowhere to be seen. He took a deep breath, realising she was probably going to run a mile after hearing about the assault. That wasn’t how he wanted her to find out. However, to his amazement and joy she was waiting for him by his truck. Roberta nodded to him and made an excuse to nip over the road to the store for a water leaving them to talk alone.

“Thought you’d gone?” he said gently.

“No I had to take a call from Joanne about a lesson… why would I leave without saying goodbye?” she frowned

“The assault”

Fliss sighed “Frank, I admit it was a shock to hear but…”

“At least let me explain.” he shrugged.

“There’s really no need…we all do dumb shit right?”

“He was a drunk idiot.” Frank cut her off “I was actually out with a friend, Jacob and his fiancée, Lisa, that night. Jake had gone to the bathroom and this guy bumped into us and sent Lisa flying into the table, knocking a load of glasses over. When I told him to be careful he took a swing at me only he missed and, well I didn’t…”

“You’re a regular knight in shining armour Sailor.” she smiled before she looked at him softly. “I know that was hard today. I was so angry and the things he was saying to you but…it’s done now. Try not to think on it because you can’t change the outcome. Whatever it is, you did your best.”

He smiled again as she took a deep breath.

“Look, I have to go, I have a lesson in an hour now this rain has let up, but…what are you doing tomorrow night?”

“Working.” he said, chuckling as she raised her eyebrow “ Yeah I know, second Friday night in a row but…well I’m behind thanks to this case and whilst Roberta has Mary I can get a good few hours in and then get my head down before she comes back at midday”

“How about I keep you company?” she asked, “Only if that’s ok?”

Frank smiled “As long as you don’t distract me too much.” “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

**** Turns out Fliss wasn’t the distraction, Cullen was. He rocked up at the garage Frank was working at just as he was explaining to Fliss the different components of the oil filter he was working on, nudging her as she gave a loud, exaggerated yawn. She grinned at him, and he didn’t miss the flash in her eyes as she looked him quickly up and down, taking in his dirty jeans, hands covered in oil and his long sleeved thin blue sweater which he knew fit him pretty well. Part of the reason he had worn it.

“Hey…” Cullen said.

“Hey.” Frank frowned “What’s…” “I wanted to do this in person.” Greg said.

“I’ll er, give you a moment.” Fliss said. She went to leave but Frank caught her elbow gently.

“No, stay, please…” he said. She looked at him for a second and nodded.

Cullen explained how Highsmith had called him first thing that morning saying that they wanted to cut a deal which would see Mary in a fostering situation. Frank dismissed the notion straight up and Cullen continued to try and win him round, informing him that they could cherry pick and that it would be mutually approved and he’d already found a family in Tampa, which was what he had been working on all day. He continued to explain how Mary would attend the Oaks and Evelyn would get visiting rights and that when Mary was 12 she could go back into court and decide where, and with who, she wanted to live.

“You’re supposed to be on my team.” Frank cut his friend off, glaring at him “Why are you bringing me this deal?

“Other than I’m required to by law?” Greg looked back at him, and then suddenly Frank understood.

“You like this deal?” he asked

“I love this deal.” Greg noded.

“They think they’re gonna lose.” Frank leaned on the work-desk in front of him, looking at Cullen.

“Yeah. They do.”

“You think we’re gonna lose.”

“Yes.” Greg replied honestly. “I do, Frank.”

Frank looked down, swallowing before he turned to his friend.

“I gotta go put my kids to bed. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. But, if we leave this up to the judge…Nicholls, he’s old school, Frank. Does he like your mother? No. Does he like her income? Does he like her health plan? Does he like her home? You better believe it.”

Frank looked down again, shaking his head, unable to do anything else.

“I’ve been in his courtroom. A hundred times. And if it’s a coin toss…Look at me.”

Frank turned to Greg, his arms still leaning on the top, muscles straining as he grasped at a wrench in front of him in frustration, something to squeeze.

“If it’s a coin toss, that old boy is going to side with the money.” Greg said gently “So, do me a favour, Frank. Just meet the family. See how it feels. It’s all I ask.” with that he took a deep breath. “I gotta go…see you later. Goodnight Fliss.”

“Night…” she said to him, watching him leave.

“I don’t know what to do.” he looked at her, and every single emotion he had been holding back cascaded over him in a wave and he felt utterly and hopelessly overwhelmed. He couldn’t stop the tears brimming in his eyes and he bowed his head, once more leaning on the desk. He felt a warm pair of hands gently on his arm, nudging him to turn slightly and he did so to look at Fliss as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a gently hug. He pressed his face into the crook of her shoulder, his tears falling gently onto her soft skin as she smoothed a hand through his hair, gently soothing him.

“Sorry…” he said after a moment pulling back.

“Hey…” she said, ducking slightly, her hands now on his face as she wiped his tears with her thumbs, her own now filling her eyes. “Don’t ever apologise to me for being upset, Frankie. I told you, I was here for the road trip remember? However bumpy the ride. I’m not going anywhere Sailor.”

He let out a soft, watery laugh as he dropped his forehead to hers, his eyes closing as hook a deep breath, composing himself.

“You now no ones called me Frankie since I was a little kid” he smiled.

“Well it suits you.” she smiled, pulling away slightly. “You good?” He nodded, moving back out of her arms. “Do you think I should go?” he asked “Meet this family?”

“Frank…”she said gently “I can’t answer that.” “What would you do?”

“I honestly don’t know.” she shook her head. “I suppose there’s no harm in meeting them but, you have to be sure this is what is right for Mary. But I do know one thing, whatever you decide to do, I’ll be there all the way.”

He nodded, taking a deep breath. He gently took her hand and raised it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. “Thankyou.”

@the-omni-princess @momobaby227 @geekofmanythings16 @angelofhell-666 @thewackywriter @marvelfansworld @cobalt-gear @asgardlover75 @jennmurawski13 @jtargaryen18 @saiyanprincessswanie @navispalace @patzammit @joannaliceevans-fanficblog @djeniiscorner @ayamenimthiriel @coldmuffinbanditshoe @disneylovingal @madzmilllz @sgtjaamesbaarnes @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @southerngracela @goldenfightergir @kellymat @official-and-unstable-satan @icanfeelastormbrewing @pagesoflauren

#frank adler x ofc #frank adler #gifted #gifted fan fic

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artificialqueens · 4 years

Text

It's Nice to Have a Friend, Chapter Two (Branjie) - Holtzmanns

(read on ao3) (word count: 8307)

Brooke shrugs. “I did a little research a few months ago. Google was useless, not really much on sharing dreams with another person, no pages on Reddit or any Facebook groups or anything like that. Nothing really relevant and recent. But…there were a lot of myths. Legends.”

Vanessa looks down at Brooke, the moments of her hand pausing. “Myths?”

“Yeah. And in all sorts of cultures, stories about people meeting in dreams over and over again and finding each other in the awake world. Soulmates, almost. They’d become close friends, some would even…get together. Find each other outside of their dreams and get married, so they could be together forever.” Brooke whispers the last part, and Vanessa feels her breath hitch in her throat.

“Wow. Falling in love and everything, huh?”

“Something like that.”

AN: Thank you all so much for the love on the first chapter! I’m so glad it was enjoyable to read and hope you enjoy this second chapter just as much. It’s quite a bit longer, but it didn’t feel right to break it up anywhere so here it is, in all of its 8k glory. Enjoy and tell me what you think! Thank you writ for betaing and talking it through with me as always <3

Vanessa had a lot of time to think on her bus ride to see Brooke, with endless buildings and bus stops and intersections passing by through the window. She had wondered what it would be like, finally seeing Brooke in person. Brooke, alive and breathing and in front of her and most importantly, awake.

But now that they’re here, now that Brooke’s in front of her?

It feels normal. It feels like them.

Brooke has twenty five minutes until her lyrical solo and her coach is letting Vanessa sit with the team. How couldn’t she, when Brooke had acted her heart out and explained that Vanessa used to be her next door neighbour, of course, one who had moved away from Toronto and all the way to Miami and now they finally have the chance to reunite?

It had been an easy sell.

Vanessa has to push the rising feelings of inadequacy down in her chest, being surrounded by girls in tracksuits that cover up their sparkly costumes, whose eyes bat with fake lashes. She feels a little underdressed in her jeans and her docs and her backpack, but it’s okay, really, because Brooke’s still looking at her with an aura of awe and wonder.

“I wish I wasn’t in this clown makeup for our first meeting.” Brooke’s cheeks are dusted with red, the bashfulness a rare sight on her but one that makes Vanessa’s heart melt.

Vanessa nudges her arm. “I like it. Makes you look all fancy and like a singer or something.”

“Does not.” Brooke wrinkles her nose, pointing to the glitter that’s spilling onto her tracksuit. “I look like Edward Cullen with these sparkles.”

“So you’re telling me you’ve been a vampire this whole time?” Vanessa’s quip has the intended effect of making Brooke giggle, releasing the tension in her shoulders.

Being around Brooke makes Vanessa expect to see a dragon around the corner, a unicorn down the hall. Because when they’re dreaming anything is possible, all sorts of plot twists that the two of them take in stride. Right now, though, sitting in a convention hall on plastic chairs that squeak whenever they move, Vanessa feels a different kind of magic. The way that Brooke’s head is resting in her lap, the rise and fall of her chest reminds Vanessa that she’s really here. Neither of them are going to wake up in their own beds, countries and hours apart from each other. Vanessa can just reach out and Brooke’s hand is right there, immediately squeezing hers back when she grabs it and the resulting calm that blooms in Vanessa’s chest serves as a reminder that Brooke truly is comfort. Home in a person.

Her best friend.

“I still can’t believe your coach and your team think I’m your ex-neighbour.” Vanessa snickers, because the fact that they’ve pulled this off is still a little surreal.

Brooke grins up at her. “As if they’d believe the actual truth. Would anybody, really?”

“True that.” Vanessa can’t help the sigh that leaves her lips as she looks down at Brooke, running her fingers along the detailing on Brooke’s jacket.

Alexis had been wrong, back in the day. Brooke’s real, Brooke’s here in Miami and she’s a living, breathing, person, not a figment of Vanessa’s imagination. Vanessa knows that Brooke’s had the same problem, getting people to believe her, and now the two of them have gotten to the point that it’s easier just to not mention their connection.

Who else is going to understand exactly what they’re going through, anyway?

“Do you think there’s anyone else? Like us?” Vanessa can’t help the question, because she’s never really thought about it. It’s always just been her and Brooke, but maybe there’s other people with their own dream friends. But if such a thing is more common, wouldn’t they know about it?

Vanessa looks down at Brooke, the moments of her hand pausing. “Myths?”

“Wow. Falling in love and everything, huh?”

“Something like that.”

Damn. Now that Vanessa thinks about it, her and Brooke would make a cool movie. Even if they’re just best friends, but still. It’s quite a story.

“Does that mean we’ll be cool enough to be a legend or a myth centuries from now?” Vanessa asks, and Brooke grins at the question.

“I gotta say, you are pretty unforgettable.”

“Right answer.”

Vanessa cheers the loudest during Brooke’s solo, because watching her dance is art in motion, a bit of magic. It doesn’t matter that Vanessa’s seen the numbers for the competition a million times because Brooke’s been practicing in their dreams, because there’s always something new that takes Vanessa’s breath away.

“What did you think?” Brooke is breathless, her eyes alight and Vanessa can’t help but pull her into a hug.

“Perfect, as usual.”

“You’re biased.”

“Am not.” Vanessa looks up at Brooke, still nestled in her arms because the hug is comfortable. “I’m an extremely fair judge.”

“I don’t believe that one bit.”

But Brooke’s eyes are twinkling as she says it, and Vanessa’s not sure if she imagines the way Brooke snuggles in for a second before letting go.

The beeping of Vanessa’s watch makes them both jump, and Vanessa’s face falls because it’s the alarm that she’d set this morning, marking the time she has to head for the bus to get home in time without arousing too much suspicion. But she’s not ready to leave, and even though she’s going to see Brooke that night in their dream, it’s still too soon.

She doesn’t want it to end.

“I have to go.” Vanessa doesn’t mean to pout, really, because she’s not a kid anymore, but she can’t help it, not when it feels as if she’s only just gotten here.

Except that Brooke’s face is mirroring hers, and the slump in her shoulders lets Vanessa know that she’s not the only one who’s disappointed.

“I’ll miss you.”

“Miss you, too.”

“But see you tonight?” And Brooke’s smiling again, hopeful and Vanessa can’t help but grin, too.

“Duh.”

Vanessa is fourteen and she wants to learn magic like Willow and Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

She’s marathoning the show with Silky and Kiki, mostly because Silky wants to watch it for one of the vampire characters. It’s hard not to be sucked in to the show, though, not when Willow and Tara are the only two who are interested in witchcraft and learn spells together and hang out, just the two of them in Tara’s dorm room.

The two characters remind Vanessa of her and Brooke - the friendship, the shared secret bond over something that no one else has. Vanessa almost wishes that she could fast forward the scenes with the other characters, get back to Willow and Tara because they’re the most interesting, after all, at least to her.

The episode that they’re on has Vanessa at the edge of her seat, despite the way Silky is munching on popcorn and Kiki is texting beside her. Because on screen, Willow is upset and Tara is comforting her and…

Oh.

“Woah.” Vanessa barely registers when the word leaves her mouth in a breath, because her eyes are still wide and focused on the way that Willow and Tara are…kissing.

They’re kissing.

Vanessa’s never seen two girls kiss on screen before but she can’t look away, not when Tara is holding Willow’s face so gently and she’s not sure why her cheeks are feeling all warm, her palms sweaty as they grip the bowl of trail mix on her lap for dear life. The characters break apart and the episode continues on but Vanessa has no idea what happens, because the kiss is on a loop in her brain, playing over and over again until it’s all she can see when she closes her eyes.

She bikes home from Kiki’s house that evening in a daze, because Willow and Tara kissed. They’re best friends and they kissed and it was absolutely perfect.

Are they in love? Will they be together? Can they be together? Is that allowed? Willow’s dated boys on the show but now maybe she’s going to date Tara, and somehow the thought makes Vanessa more excited and breathless than any other plot twist has.

She reaches their dream that night before Brooke does, lying down in a pretty meadow covered in flowers and staring up at the clouds, trying to calm her beating heart that’s been fluttering since the episode.

“Boo.”

“Aah!” Vanessa shrieks, nearly peeing herself from the scare while Brooke cackles behind her, and she huffs, turning around so that she can reach out and tickle her in revenge. Brooke’s resulting screech is enough to spur Vanessa on, tickling her sides until she’s yelling out for mercy.

Brooke giggles, turning to lie on her side as her hair brushes against the daffodils peeking out between the grass. “What a welcome, huh?”

“You’re ridiculous.” Vanessa snorts, pretending to roll her eyes except that something makes her breath hitch in her throat.

Maybe it’s the way Brooke’s smiling at her. Maybe it’s how close the two of them are laying to each other, close enough that the hand of Brooke’s that is trailing along the grass would be able to reach Vanessa.

“How was your day?” Brooke’s voice is soft now that they’re resting on their sides, her eyes kind and open and waiting, and Vanessa wants to scoot closer to her.

She thinks of Willow and Tara, the way they were friends and hung out together and then they kissed and-

No, she can’t think of kissing Brooke, because they’re not like that, they can’t do that, and-

“Nessa?”

“Huh? What?” Vanessa lets out a breath, and Brooke’s staring at her with her brow furrowing in concern and she has to calm her beating heart, because Brooke’s going to think that something’s up.

But nothing is up, not at all. It can’t be.

They’re Vanessa and Brooke, that’s it. Nothing more.

She tries to take the butterflies that are rising up in her chest and tuck them into a little box, push them away into a corner of her mind that she can think about later. Because she doesn’t want Brooke to think she’s acting weird, because she’s not , but she also can’t focus on thoughts like those right now, not when they leave her unable to think of anything else.

Part of Vanessa feels guilty, for thinking of Brooke like that. Imagining what it would be like to kiss her, wrapping her arms around Brooke’s waist and maybe tucking her hair behind her ear. It doesn’t feel wrong, per se, but would Brooke be disgusted and hate her for it? Would she not want to hang out with Vanessa anymore as a result?

Vanessa needs to get a grip. Even if her best friend is as beautiful as always and her lips look soft, if she were to kiss them.

But she needs to stop.

She closes the box on the butterflies, trying to clear her brain and focus on telling Brooke about how she almost got caught passing notes to Kiki in science today.

Vanessa is fifteen and the only one out of her friends who hasn’t had her first kiss, and she can’t help but feel a little behind.

It’s Monique’s birthday and she’s invited them all over but also some of the boys, too, and Kiki and Silky are hell bent on getting Vanessa to have her first kiss tonight.

Not that she wants it, really. Not with any of these guys.

“We’re playing spin the bottle, c’mon Vanj!” Silky drums on Vanessa’s shoulders before grabbing her hand, dragging her to the circle that their friends are beginning to form on the floor.

“I really don’t know if-”

“C’mon, it’ll be fun.” Kiki’s wiggling her eyebrows and Vanessa knows it’s because she’s gunning to kiss Marcus, after having a crush on him for the entire term.

The bottle on the floor makes Vanessa wrinkle her nose every time it gets close to landing on her, though it’s entertaining to watch her friends go at it. Monique and Monet screech for approximately five minutes before kissing each other on the cheek, while Silky kisses Kiki’s crush and makes her sulk for the next twenty minutes until she gets a turn, too. It’s actually kind of fun, until the bottle lands on a boy named Sebastian and then the bottle gets spun again and it lands on…her.

Monique lets out an ooooh and Silky is cheering and the rest of the boys are clapping Sebastian on the back and Vanessa wants to sink into the floor. When she looks at Sebastian’s face, he’s looking a little apologetic and like he doesn’t want to be here, either.

Vanessa had always expected her first kiss to be a magical moment. One where there’s butterflies in her stomach and her head feels all floaty, but this?

This feels a little silly.

The kiss is over in two seconds, and at least Sebastian’s lips don’t feel that gross, but Vanessa can still taste the Mountain Dew that he’s just had a swig from. She shrugs when she sits down again in between Silky and Kiki, making a face when they start to wiggle their eyebrows because really, this can’t be what they’ve all been hyping up for so long.

A tiny part of Vanessa knows, deep down, that she isn’t interested in boys like Sebastian. Though there must be some boy out there that will give her butterflies.

There’s gotta be, right?

Vanessa tells Brooke about it that night in their dream, when they’re on a faraway planet and there’s flying cats in the sky.

“It just felt like we were smashing our faces together.” Vanessa doesn’t intend for her words to come out so grumpy as she reaches out to pet one of the animals, but Brooke cracks up beside her nonetheless.

“That’s pretty much exactly what you were doing.” Brooke plucks one of the kittens out of the sky, cuddling it in her arms and the sight really shouldn’t be as adorable as it is. “Pressing your lips together. Wrestling with your tongues.”

Vanessa shrieks, shaking her head as hard as she can. “Ew! First of all, we did not do that. Second, I think I would barf.”

She doesn’t want to imagine doing that with Sebastian. Gross. No offense to him, but Vanessa’s going to leave him for that girl in their English class who never stops staring at him when they’re all reading Shakespeare out loud as a group.

Brooke shrugs. “I mean, it doesn’t seem all that bad. Some people look like they actually like it.”

“That’s true. Kiki made out with Marcus for like five minutes straight before we had to pull them apart.” Vanessa snorts, shaking her head. “I bet they’ll end up dating in a week or two.”

“I guess it’s fun when it’s with the right person.” Brooke’s voice is uncharacteristically soft, and it makes Vanessa’s gaze linger on her for a second more than usual, and the familiar flip flop in her chest starts to rise again, the feeling that she’s normally so good at pushing away to think about at a later time.

Vanessa wouldn’t say that it’s a crush. It’s not. Because Brooke is her best friend, and she can’t have a crush on her best friend. She’s known Brooke since their dreams consisted of eating cotton candy and talking about their elementary school problems, and it’s not right. She can’t like Brooke that way.

Maybe if Vanessa tells herself that enough, her heart will start to believe it, too.

“Have you had a kiss like that before?”

Vanessa’s a sucker for punishment, because she can’t help herself from asking. Not when there’s a chance that maybe Brooke has, maybe she even has a crush on someone in her life. But she’d tell Vanessa if she did, right?

“Me? Nah.” Brooke shrugs, letting go of the cat in her arms so that it can climb onto a nearby tree branch. “I’ve only kissed two boys and both were…”

Vanessa leans in closer, raising an eyebrow when Brooke trails off. “Both were what?”

“Mediocre? Not that great? I don’t know.”

“I guess they weren’t the right ones, then.” Vanessa mumbles, because what else can she say, really?

She can’t say how much she really wants to kiss Brooke. How she wants to see if the butterflies in her stomach will increase tenfold if she did. If wrapping her arms around Brooke is going to make her feel giddy inside.

Vanessa feels like she’s speaking in code, having to disguise the subtext that threatens to spill out and it’s hard, because part of her just wants to blurt it out, let it be known but the other half of her is terrified. Because telling Brooke how she feels could maybe ruin their friendship, all of their memories and their dreams and how does she even know that Brooke feels the same way? Maybe Brooke would be uncomfortable, not even know how to properly reject her and then it would make their dreams awkward and Brooke would have to avoid her for the rest of their lives?

It’s too much of a risk, no matter how much Vanessa’s heart is aching for it.

Vanessa’s sixteen and has just gotten her learner’s permit and she’s excited to tell Brooke about it.

Except that Brooke’s news is bigger.

Brooke has a boyfriend.

It’s okay, it really is, because Brooke is happy and telling her about their first date and about how they saw a movie and how he kissed her cheek when he dropped her off at the end.

“His name is Paul.” Brooke says, and Vanessa sincerely hopes that she is imagining the dreamy look that’s taking over her face.

What kind of name is Paul, anyway? It sounds like the name of a middle-aged man who’s an accountant and plays golf every weekend before coming home to his wife, Susan, and their two kids.

Paul sounds stupid.

“That’s nice.”

Vanessa doesn’t mean to sound so glum, and she tries to plaster an encouraging smile on her face, because good for Brooke, really. She hasn’t dated anyone before and maybe she’s happy in this new relationship and that’s a good thing, right? At least Brooke is happy.

Doesn’t mean Vanessa is any less grumpy about it, though. And the shitty thing is that she can’t even explain why, not to her mom or to Kiki and Silky because how can she even explain Brooke without sounding like a lunatic? Her mom still thinks that Brooke is her imaginary friend from childhood, and Vanessa knows that telling her friends that her best friend lives in her dreams is not exactly going to be believable.

So all she can do is sulk to herself.

It’s annoying, though, seeing all the happy couples in the cafeteria holding hands and even Kiki texting Marcus all the time, because it feels like Vanessa just can’t get away from it. It’s nauseating, especially when the couples kiss against the lockers and Vanessa has to see tongue and honestly? She hates romance.

Well, that’s a lie, because Vanessa’s watched Titanic approximately forty seven times, but when it comes to real life and something she’ll never be able to have? Romance can suck it.

Vanessa tries not to think about Paul when Marcus buys Kiki’s lunch for her, and when the girls at the table beside theirs in the cafeteria start talking about their weekend plans with their boyfriends. The fact that Paul gets to do all of it with Brooke?

It sucks.

Maybe if Vanessa had said something to Brooke earlier, mentioned the fact that hey, she has a big fat crush which is getting more and more impossible to ignore, maybe Paul wouldn’t be in the picture. Maybe Brooke would be interested in Vanessa, too, and want to date her.

Or maybe Brooke would be understandably freaked out and never want to hang out with her or be her friend anymore. Could go either way.

Vanessa knows that the risk is too high, that she can’t lose her friendship with Brooke because it’s the most important thing in the world, but this alternative? Watching as Brooke dates other people and lives her best life while being hopelessly single and across the continent? It’s hard. Real freaking hard.

The end of the day is almost a blessing, because at least it’s Friday and Vanessa can sulk at home for two days, free of the nauseating couples that line the hallways and away from the faux sympathetic looks from Kiki and Silky when they tell her that she’ll find a boyfriend, too, she’ll see. The slam of her locker before as she hoists her backpack over her shoulder is cathartic, the noise barely heard over the noise filling the corridor.

The expectant face on the other side of the locker door, though, nearly makes Vanessa jump out of her skin.

“What the fuck?”

Sebastian’s expression goes from charming to apologetic, his face sheepish as he scratches the back of his head. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“What do you want?” Vanessa really doesn’t care what Sebastian has to say, not when her couch is waiting for her with a bag of Cheetos and Gilmore Girls reruns.

But Sebastian is undeterred, keeping pace with Vanessa as she pushes through the hallway. “So. The spin the bottle kiss.��

Vanessa stops, nearly bumping into him. Cold dread sinks down onto her shoulders as possibilities for what Sebastian’s about to say circle through her mind. Does he want to date her? Is he going to say that he wants to kiss her again? Worst of all, is he going to say that she’s a bad kisser?

She’s only kissed one person so far, but she hopes that she isn’t.

“We did some great teamwork there.” Sebastian shoots finger guns, actual finger guns at her and Vanessa snorts, starting to walk once more.

“I’m not interested in repeating that performance.”

Though Sebastian’s reply is quick. “Not what I’m here to ask.”

“Oh?” It’s enough to make Vanessa stop again, and let Sebastian catch up with her.

“Listen. My friends won’t stop trying to set me up with people. Doesn’t matter if I tell them I’m not interested right now. They just want us all to have girlfriends and don’t really care that I don’t.”

Vanessa raises an eyebrow. “How is that my problem?”

“You telling me your friends aren’t doing the same thing?” Sebastian asks, and Vanessa sighs, because he’s right. “I know you’re not interested in me, which is great. I’m not interested in you either.”

“Okay?” Vanessa’s about to walk again again, because the conversation truly feels as if it’s going nowhere.

“It’s easy to see that you’re watching the cheerleaders rather than the football players on game nights.” Sebastian continues, and Vanessa freezes, because what?

“I am not!” So maybe Vanessa crosses her arms a little too soon, and her voice is a bit indignant, because Sebastian’s shooting her a look and how the fuck does he even know? “Does anyone else know?”

Sebastian shrugs. “Not my secret to tell, that’s yours. I got shit to hide too. But one way we can both keep things under wraps for a little while longer? Working together.”

“What does that even mean?” Vanessa can feel her cheeks heat up, because the fact that Sebastian can tell, the fact that he knows means that maybe others can tell and what if they already know and-

“We pretend to date. No funny business, promise. I don’t want that either. But then my friends won’t bother me about getting a girlfriend and your friends won’t bother you about a boyfriend, and we can look straighter than the meter stick in Mrs. Sanchez’s math room.” Sebastian shrugs. “Think about it. Let me know. And don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. As long as you don’t either.”

Sebastian’s a good twenty yards away from her before Vanessa’s able to move her legs from where they’re rooted to the spot, her grip on her backpack straps a little sweaty. The pounding of her heart only spurs her thoughts faster, because Sebastian knows. Someone in her school knows that she’s not straight, and she hasn’t even told anyone on purpose yet.

Fuck.

But Sebastian had said that he has something to hide, too. Does that mean…he’s not straight, either?

Vanessa’s still not sure if she wants to do it, though. Pretend to date someone for the sake of their friends. How will it even work, anyway? Will they have to hold hands and do fake PDA and will Vanessa have to pretend to be obsessed with him?

She’s torn about it that evening, throwing the options back and forth because maybe it could be good, having a fake boyfriend. Not having to worry about anyone bothering her about dating someone.

It could also keep people from realizing that she’s…

Well. Realizing exactly what Sebastian has realized about her.

But if she does say yes, it’ll be a true test of her acting abilities. Trying not to roll her eyes every five minutes when they have to pretend to be as nauseatingly adorable as the rest of the couples in their grade.

Vanessa’s dream that night is in her kitchen, of all places, flipping pancakes at the stove while Brooke cuts up fruit and arranges it on their plates in the shape of smiley faces. Maybe she should tell Brooke about what Sebastian’s proposed. Maybe she’ll get a kick out of it.

“So Paul wants to take me to the fair this weekend, y’know, those ones with the ferris wheel and those games that you play to win prizes. He said he’ll win me one of the giant stuffed animals.”

Gross.

In that instant, Vanessa’s decided what she wants to do. What she’s going to say to Sebastian.

“That’ll be fun. Speaking of boys,” Vanessa keeps her tone light as she piles another pancake on the stack beside her, before pouring more batter into the pan, “guess who has a boyfriend?”

The way Brooke’s jaw goes slack almost makes it worth it. “What? Who?”

Vanessa shrugs, trying to contain the satisfaction rising in her chest because Brooke looks like she’s about to combust. “Sebastian wore me down.”

“I thought you said the spin the bottle kiss wasn’t that great?” Brooke’s tone is suspicious and Vanessa makes a noncommittal noise, as if Brooke isn’t absolutely right.

“Gotta say, the butterflies are definitely there when we kiss now.” It’s a lie, a bold-faced lie, and Vanessa knows it.

Brooke’s nose wrinkles as if she’s smelled something terrible. “Really?”

“Really.” Not really, but Brooke doesn’t need to know that. “I get why you’re so excited about Paul now.”

Brooke pauses, and it seems as if Vanessa’s truly left her speechless. Excellent.

Now Vanessa has the chance to really put the icing on the cake. “Imagine if we lived closer to each other. We could double date!”

Brooke turns positively green. “Yeah, I guess we could.”

The pancakes they eat in the dream are truly delicious, something Vanessa wishes she could have the next morning for breakfast when she wakes up. Except that the satisfaction of the dream fades, a little, as she tries to think about what everything actually means.

Sure, Vanessa’s doing exactly what Brooke’s doing. Not exactly, because she’s not really dating Sebastian, but now she doesn’t have to feel weird when Brooke starts waxing on about Paul, because then she can bring up Sebastian.

Which leads her to another factor - Brooke’s reaction. Brooke had looked stricken at the news, rather than happy for her, the way Vanessa was trying to be when Brooke had told her about Paul. Vanessa had hidden her true feelings.

Does it mean something that Brooke couldn’t? What does the reaction she had even mean?

If Brooke is jealous the way that Vanessa knows that she herself is, then she wouldn’t be straight up dating a guy. She wouldn’t already have a boyfriend. Except that Brooke does, which means that she likes Paul. Not Vanessa.

Maybe Brooke just thinks that Vanessa can do better, which she’d be right about. The only problem is, the only ‘better’ that Vanessa wants is Brooke.

Vanessa really enjoys making things harder for herself, she truly does.

Vanessa’s only sixteen, but the weird vibes between her and Brooke make her feel as if she’s aged a few decades in the last week or so.

It’s mostly fine and dandy. The two of them are still exploring and having adventures and doing the fun things in their dreams that they always do, but then Brooke mentions Paul, and Vanessa mentions Sebastian, and Brooke gets all short and snippy and none of it really makes sense at all.

If Vanessa’s being honest, she doesn’t mind spending time with Sebastian. He likes watching The Bachelorette too and is always ready to talk about it with her, and tells her about his best friend’s brother who he may or may not have a crush on but can’t do anything about.

Vanessa tells him a little bit about Brooke, too. She keeps it vague at first, mentioning Brooke as a friend of hers who doesn’t live in their city anymore, but then it just slips out when Vanessa accidentally mentions a dream where they explored a jungle. But Sebastian surprisingly takes it in stride.

“That’s totally out of a movie. Damn. I want a dream boyfriend. My dreams usually just consist of me being unable to find my clothes in the morning and having to come to school in my boxers.” Sebastian makes a face. “Never that well received in the dream.”

Vanessa can’t even laugh at his statement, not when Sebastian is munching on his fries as if the information doesn’t surprise him at all. “Wait. You actually believe me? You don’t think I’m lying?”

Sebastian shrugs. “I dunno, seems like it would be a weird thing to lie about. So it’s gotta be true. Also I want it to be true and I want a dream soulmate, so there’s that. Now tell me about more of your dreams.”

It’s nice, having a friend that Vanessa can talk about it with. She tells him about the dreams from when they were kids and how they’ve changed but also stayed the same as they’ve grown older. She shows him the pictures that they’d taken on Brooke’s disposable camera back when Brooke had come for her competition, the ones that she keeps in her school binder so that she doesn’t ever lose them.

Sebastian lets out a whistle. “Geez. You gotta move to Canada or something and be with her. Even if our fake relationship ends? That’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

Vanessa snorts. “So noble. I can’t date her, though.”

“What?! Why?” Sebastian almost looks offended, and Vanessa has to hold back a sigh.

“‘Cause she has a boyfriend. Named Paul.”

“Gross, what is he, an insurance salesman?” Sebastian makes a face and Vanessa nods frantically because dang, he gets it.

“I’m saying! But ‘cause of that, we ain’t together. Also ‘cause she doesn’t like me like that.”

Vanessa doesn’t mean to sound so glum as she says it, but the truth of it feels like a brick in her stomach. There’s always been a tiny part of her that hopes, wants Brooke to feel the same way. The part of her that wonders if there’s a reason that Brooke always grabs her hand, and if Brooke looks at all of her friends with such a soft expression.

But Brooke has a boyfriend, so she can’t like Vanessa, and it’s something that Vanessa has to come to terms with, no matter how much she doesn’t want to.

“Maybe Paul is her beard, too.” Sebastian snickers. “Maybe both of you are playing chicken.”

Vanessa scoffs. “Why does she rave about him, then?”

“What, you don’t rave about me? I’m hurt.” Sebastian pretends to pout, and Vanessa rolls her eyes.

“You wish.”

Brooke is acting differently though, and it’s something that Vanessa can’t deny anymore. Not when she stops bringing up Paul, which is a nice reprieve in itself, but Vanessa becomes more hesitant to bring up Sebastian, too, even when he ate an entire hot dog in two bites at lunch which in Vanessa’s opinion was absolutely hilarious. But some things don’t seem worth sharing, not when they’ll make Brooke huff, and it feels easier to just enjoy her time with Brooke in their dreams focused on just the two of them.

Vanessa is confused one night, though when Brooke is on edge as soon as she reaches their dream, not even paying attention to the giant flowers that seem to be growing from the sky.

“What’s got you all grumpy?” Vanessa tries to climb the stem of the flower above her, swinging herself up onto one of the giant leaves.

Brooke scoffs from her position on the ground, not even trying to climb the stems even though her height would definitely make it easier for her. “I’m not grumpy. What would make me grumpy?”

“You look mighty grumpy to me from up here, all huffing and puffing and crossing your arms as if you’re…wait for it…grumpy.”

Vanessa knows she’s pushing Brooke’s buttons - after all, knowing Brooke for most of her life means that she knows exactly how to do it, too. Brooke’s quick to set off today, though, already beginning to scowl.

“I broke up with Paul.”

The five words made Vanessa’s brain stop working for approximately half a second, the gears coming to a halt. “Wait, you did what?”

“I just said it. I broke up with him.” Brooke looks everywhere except towards her, turning her gaze towards the flowers as if she hasn’t dropped the biggest bombshell possible.

Brooke’s not with Paul anymore. She’s not dating a boy whose name is the equivalent of a paperclip. What’s more, she broke up with him , which has to mean something, right? Except….why?

“But why? I thought you liked him.” Vanessa can’t help it, it’s a genuine question because Brooke seemed happy and seemed to like their stupid dates. What possible reason would she have to break up with Paul?

Why doesn’t she want the guy with the world’s most boring name to date her anymore?

Brooke’a still not looking at her, instead paying attention to the soil underneath her feet. “I don’t know, I just did.”

“That’s not a reason.”

“Why does everything have to have a reason? I can’t get tired of being tied down to a guy?” Brooke starts to climb the stem of the flower next to the one Vanessa’s on, her attention directed towards reaching for the giant leaves.

Tied down. Interesting. Vanessa’s never heard that from Brooke before. She’s seemed weirdly happy with Paul the entire time. But hey, maybe she hasn’t been. What does Vanessa know about their relationship, anyway, when she tries her best to tune it out?

“Is that it? You don’t want to be chained to someone, even if it’s Paul?” Vanessa raises an eyebrow, because the explanation sounds flimsy once she says it out loud.

“Since when do you care about Paul?”

The question makes Vanessa wrinkle her nose. She most definitely does not, although Brooke doesn’t know that. “Just curious. And you’re being weirdly touchy about it.”

Brooke’s not necessarily an open book of a person, but she’s always been willing to share her pages with Vanessa, talking about her hopes and dreams and all the little details of her life that Vanessa feels privileged to hear. It’s nice, to have a sense of familiarity with someone who just gets it because they always have, because they’ve been around for everything since the beginning. Vanessa feels like she barely keeps anything from Brooke because there’s no reason to, and that Brooke’s the same. Except now, it’s like the two of them are on opposite ends of a river that Vanessa doesn’t exactly know how to cross.

“I’m not touchy.” Brooke’s huff and crossing of her arms reminds Vanessa of when they were younger, back in grade school, and has to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

But she drops it, because maybe it doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it’ll come out with time when Brooke is done being pissed about it.

“Whatever you say, grumpy pants.”

Vanessa brings it up to Sebastian when they’re studying in the library one day, whispering over their calculus questions that Vanessa’s only gotten a quarter of the way through.

“Brooke broke up with him. But she didn’t tell me why, even though she seemed weirdly happy dating him. None of this makes sense.” Vanessa drops her head onto her notebook but her brain continues to spin because everything is too confusing when it comes to Brooke.

Sebastian, though, looks at her as if she has two heads. “Doesn’t make sense? It makes perfect sense.”

“How?”

“It’s because Brooke likes you. You said she gets annoyed if you talk about me, right?” Sebastian asks, his fingers tapping on the table with excitement.

Vanessa raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, so?”

“She’s jealous. It’s so clear.” Sebastian says it as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “She thinks that we’re dating, ‘cause she has no idea that there’s a million people I’d rather date first-”

“Bitch, me too, you ain’t special-”

“-And now she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place ‘cause she’s realizing that Peter isn’t all that and that she would rather be with you, except now you’re taken.” Sebastian claps his hands together, grinning. “My god. This drama is the best thing that’s happened all term.”

Vanessa scoffs. “There’s no drama. It’s just your overactive imagination coming up with a story. There’s no proof Brooke even likes me like that.”

“Okay, I haven’t been in your dreams and even I know that that’s full of shit.” Sebastian rubs his temples, closing his eyes before continuing. “Who else has saved your life a million times and in a million different scenarios?”

“Those were during dreams, it doesn’t count-”

“Who else grabs your hand and plays with your hair and kisses your forehead, which, by the way, sounds nauseating?”

“Okay, she does that, yeah, but she could just be doing that as a friend.” Vanessa squeaks out the words because Sebastian looks like he’s about to lose his mind.

“Jesus Christ. I’m infiltrating the next dream and just making you two kiss already.”

Sebastian’s convinced of his words and Vanessa wants to believe them, she really does. There’s nothing she wants more for Brooke to like her, too, for Brooke to feel the same way. Except…what if Brooke doesn’t? What if Vanessa saying something to her makes everything fall to pieces because Brooke is on a completely different wavelength, and finds it weird that Vanessa likes her and never wants to see her again, and-

Vanessa can’t lose Brooke. She can’t.

She needs to wait for more proof.

Vanessa’s turning seventeen tomorrow but she doesn’t feel grown up, not quite yet.

She can drive and she’s starting college next year but she still can’t vote, and she’s technically not an adult for another year. But still, there’s a certain feeling to seventeen. Maybe because it’s the year of being a dancing queen, maybe because it’s one step closer to eighteen. But so far, Vanessa’s a fan of it.

Brooke’s arranged their dream for the night with everything Vanessa likes for her birthday, from life sized Pokémon and a herd of fluffy cats and even conjuring up a dream Rihanna to put on a private concert just for her. Brooke wraps her arms around her as they watch, her chin against Vanessa’s head and Vanessa’s never felt so safe and warm and happy.

“Thank you.” Vanessa mumbles the words, turning around so that she can hug Brooke, bury her face against her.

Brooke kisses the top of Vanessa’s head, squeezes her a little bit tighter. “Anything for you. Not sure if it tops all the magical creatures we met during the dream on my birthday, though. You killed that one.”

“You’re very easy to plan a birthday surprise for. You cry at seeing literally any animal ever.” Vanessa grins, starting to giggle when Brooke flushes crimson.

“They’re all so cute! I can’t help it.”

“You’re cute.”

“Nah, you.”

It’s wild to Vanessa, how easily the words fall from both of their lips. Vanessa still hasn’t said anything to Brooke about wanting anything more because she doesn’t want to ruin anything, but it’s easy to avoid the topic and just hold her hand instead. Brooke allows it, seeking it out herself. She tells Vanessa how much she means to her, as if it’s normal best friend behaviour. Between the two of them? It certainly is. And it’s driving Vanessa crazy.

The dream that night feels like it goes by faster than normal, and maybe it’s because Vanessa doesn’t ever want time like this with Brooke to end. It’s nice to pretend for a little, that maybe they’re together and that’s why they’re holding hands and close to each other, even though she knows the truth. Being on the receiving end of Brooke’s soft gazes is something that Vanessa’s never going to tire of, not when they make her feel so loved.

Vanessa wants to pet the Pokémon before the dream ends and she wakes up but she feels a tug on her hand, and Brooke’s pulling her close before she has a chance to walk away.

“What?”

Vanessa usually prides herself on being able to read Brooke and figure out what she’s going to say before she says it, but right now she’s not so sure. Brooke looks like she’s holding something back, her eyes wide and her breath caught in her throat, and she’s still as beautiful as ever. Vanessa never wants to look away.

“I…” Brooke trails off, biting her lip, and Vanessa takes a slight step forward, as if it’ll make Brooke spit out what she wants to say. “Are you happy?”

What? That’s what Brooke’s asking her?

“Right now, in this dream? I just met Rihanna and we dreamed up some life sized Pokémon, ‘course I’m happy.” Brooke knows what she loves and fiddled with the dream for her birthday, and Vanessa doesn’t want to wake up from it. She’s plenty happy.

Brooke shakes her head, her grip tightening on Vanessa’s hand. “No, not right now. In general. With…Sebastian. With him. Are you happy with him?”

Vanessa can feel her own heart pounding against her ribcage, threatening to escape, and she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear as if it’ll calm her down. “Plenty happy. He’s fun.”

As a friend. He’s fun as a friend who wants nothing more than for her to get together with Brooke. But how does Vanessa tell her that?

“Oh.” Brooke almost seems to deflate, her grip loosening and Vanessa can see the way her expression drops. “Okay.”

Except this is not the way things are supposed to be, she’s not even with Sebastian but Brooke doesn’t know that and she looks like she’s about to pull away. So Vanessa squeezes her hand once, twice, until Brooke’s looking back up at her and she has to ask, she has to know. “Why did you break up with Paul?”

“Ness-”

“Tell me this time.”

It’s hard for Vanessa to keep herself from pleading, because she doesn’t want to put herself and their friendship on the line until she’s absolutely sure and there’s no chance for her to be interpreting this wrong.

She needs proof.

“You already know.” Brooke whispers as she says it, not looking at her but rather at the grass beneath them and Vanessa wants to scream.

“I don’t, I really don’t know ‘cause we keep dancing around it and you know that-”

And just like that, Vanessa’s train of thought stops.

Because Brooke is kissing her, Brooke has her face cradled in her hands and she’s kissing her.

And it’s more than she felt the one time that she kissed Sebastian during spin the bottle. It’s the butterflies that only Brooke can give her but they’re tenfold, about to take flight in her stomach and give her wings of her own because it’s too much, it’s too perfect.

Vanessa goes on her tiptoes so that she can get even closer to Brooke, wrapping her arms around her neck and she gasps into the kiss when Brooke’s arm brackets her waist, because she knows now.

And it’s everything.

When they break the kiss, Brooke’s eyes are wide and her cheeks are pink and her chest is heaving because they’re both trying to catch their breath, and Vanessa can’t stop looking at her. Because Brooke is hers, her person and her soulmate and maybe not just her best friend and Vanessa never wants to have to let her go.

“I know you’re happy with Sebastian, and that’s cool and I’m sorry for kissing you when you’re dating someone else but I had to, and you need to know because I really like you, Ness, I like you more than I can say and our dreams are my favourite part of the day because I get to see you and I hope this doesn’t ruin anything but I couldn’t hold back any longer because it’s torture-”

Vanessa’s the one to kiss Brooke this time, pulling her face close and trying to convey everything that she can’t say with words. When they pull apart she smiles, and Brooke is smiling back and not looking so anxious and maybe, the knots in Vanessa’s chest are undoing themselves, too.

“Sebastian and I aren’t dating.”

The words hang in the air for two, three seconds while Brooke’s brows furrow together. Vanessa can almost see the gears turning in Brooke’s brain and it makes her want to laugh.

“Wait, what?”

“See, having a significant other means that neither of our friends suspect anything. Y’know, the fact that I like girls and he likes guys, and that I actually have a crush on my best friend. Who lives in a different country.”

Vanessa’s heart picks up speed because it’s the first time that she’s said those words out loud, that she likes girls and she’s said them to Brooke, and she’s said that she has a crush on her, and shit. Her mouth really does go faster than her brain. Except Brooke’s sucking a breath in, and there’s a sparkle in her eyes that has to mean that things are going to be okay even though she’s said too much.

“You do?” Brooke’s voice is laced with hope and wonder and part of Vanessa is amazed that Brooke is surprised by it. That she hasn’t already known.

“Wait.” Brooke makes a face, her bottom lip protruding slightly in a frown. “Why didn’t you tell me that you guys weren’t dating?”

“Well, you were dating Paul! What was I supposed to do?” Vanessa huffs, frowning a little when it makes Brooke giggle.

“I didn’t like him that much, anyway. Every time I kissed him, I just pictured you.” Brooke’s tone is sheepish but Vanessa can feel her cheeks warming up.

Brooke’s thought about kissing her, too.

Brooke likes her.

Brooke actually likes her.

“Now you can kiss me for real.” Vanessa grins, and she feels like she’s about to lift off the ground and take flight because she can actually say these words to Brooke now. Because now she knows, has the proof.

Except that Brooke’s wiggling her eyebrows as she grins right back. “Is that your way of asking me for another kiss?”

“Two minutes into me saying I like you and you already have a big head about it-”

When Brooke kisses her, it feels right. Brooke’s arms are home, in the way that she holds her close and the warmth that radiates off of her as both of their hearts beat faster and faster. Vanessa never wants to come up for air because it means that they have to separate, even just for a second, when all she wants is to have Brooke in her grasp forever and ever.

Vanessa’s pulled from the dream in the middle of the kiss when her alarm blares like a siren and she’s not in Brooke’s arms anymore, her hands aren’t in Brooke’s hair but in reality it’s a Thursday morning at seven a.m. and she has school today and now she’s finally seventeen.

Her phone buzzes, and the message makes her face break out into a smile.

Brooke: Happy birthday. Miss you already.

It’s followed by a picture of Brooke in her pyjamas blowing a kiss towards the camera, and Vanessa gets it, the meaning of a soulmate.

For her, it’s a girl in Toronto that knows her better than anyone else in the world ever could.

#rpdr fanfiction #branjie #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #lesbian au #soulmate au #holtzmanns

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