#i took a reactine as soon as i noticed it starting

[beansnpeets]

Boyfriend's sister and her husband arrived yesterday evening because I am taking them dog sledding today. They brought their dog with to boyfriend's house. 10 minutes after they arrived I began to have an allergic reaction. This was one of the worse ones I have had. I have also had this reaction when I met my sister's cat for the first time. Most other times I have had these reactions have been seemingly random. But this was absurd. I will go get an allergy test.

I work with 40 dogs at the kennel and have interacted with countless other dogs over the years, but in the last few years I have random allergic reactions sometimes when I meet a new animal. And this dog is so big and cute and soft and sweet and I want to love on him, but I can't ☹️ what kind of cruelty is that!

[headcanon-cafe]

Their Reaction To You Getting Hurt

For this one I combined two requests cause it just made sense cause you know, even if it was a prank he'd still be reactin how it would be real and yeah... I hope you guys enjoy

Reader gets beat up prank requested by @kanatoandtaddy

Reaction to reader getting hurt requested by @Artisticfreak-_-

Warnings- Fake blood and cursing

Izuku

-You decided it would be a good idea to practice makeup for cosplay in your boyfriends bathroom while he took a nap.

-Which in hindsight isn't a bad idea at all other than the fact that 1. he didn't know you were doing makeup and 2. the make up for the character you were cosplaying is always beat up and bloody

-Finishing up with the last bright bruise on the neck when you decided to do some work on your eyeliner which would have been fantastic if you didn't stab out your eye as soon as you brought it to your face.

-you gasp and let out a painful 'fuck'.Instamtly you could hear Izuku fall and scramble on the floor.

-"(Y-Y/N)! Are you okay?" As soon as he look into his bathroom and saw you you could see all of his worry quickly turn into tears of anxiety and anger.

-Quickly coming up to you and grabbing your hands he just continued to ramble while deliriously trying to care for you. Him being in his exhausted state not yet taking notice of the make up all around him.

-"Deku. I'm fine I swear. Look." Yet despite you talking to him he continued to accidentally ignore you in his rambling and exhausted state.

-The linger he went on the more panicked he looked. You eventually ended up grabbing his wrist and pulling to eye level. "Izuku! Baby, Look at the sink." As soon as he turned his body you could feel him start to relax as he slowly put it together.

-"It's... make up." He turned towards you and instantly relaxed his head into the crook of your shoulder. He hated to admit it but it honestly felt the same from when Kacchan got taken by the LOV. The same panic the same anxious thoughts and the same anger. Looking at you now it was very obvious of the fakeness of the bruising yet all the same left him in tears rocking you in his arms.

Katsuki

-Man you got some Latex and fake blood and Mann you were excited to get home and try it on.

-I mean he always is but still. Your plan was to prank him when he got home BUT you accidentally fell asleep waiting for him which gave you the lack of a chance to explain said joke.

-He was ready to beat a bitch

-Next thing you knew you were being picked up gentlest at the same time Katsuki cursing his mouth off while trying to maintain his quirk.

-You being in your tired state was SUPER confused. Why the hell was your puppy upset?

-"What's wrong Kat?" He snarls "who tHE FUCK TOUCHED YOU?" At first you were confused then remembering the makeup that you for once made look realistic you put it together.

-Instantly though he started you a bath and quickly left to get the first aid kit, still grumbling and cursing.

-Deciding that ripping the latex off as soon as he came back so he could watch you rip your "flesh" off would be funny that's exactly what you did.

It was funny you could see his heart stop for the first half of a second and the second of the second was realization.

-Well let's say that didn't go without getting punished. Refused to make dinner as well as he wouldn't talk to you until you came up to him that night and just coddled him.

Denki

-Well he was testing out and exercising how well he could control his quirk

-Well then this brilliant idea came to mind

-Well you could tell he was concentrating more and more by the way his smile slowly fell and how his biceps flexed instinctively.

-Getting close to behind him you started to talk to him " Ya know Denki, I was thinking we could have a date night next weekend!" He grunts and lets out a 'yeah baby?' You get closer to him "Yeah, I don't know I was thinking- '' In that moment you put your hand on his shoulder and let out a loud fake gasp.

-Instantly he jumped away from you and stopped his quirk.

-He turned around towards you, eyes wide and not breathing. Panic keeping his body frozen and just looking for noticable injuries on your body when he got to your face you let out a smirk and you just stared at him.

-As soon as he saw you face he glared and just walked away saying 'not cool'

////////////////////////////////////////////

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[thedyingmoon]

💜 This I Promise 💜

***

LVIII. Ackerman

***

(F/N) woke up to some noises she couldn't quite explain, and when she opened her eyes, she realized she was standing on the aisle of a little chapel. She noticed that the pews were filled with people she's not familiar with. A massive white carpet that reached up to the chapel's altar laid out beneath her feet.

She looked at her left and saw her father holding unto her hand. He was entirely in white.

"Are you ready, (F/N)?" he asked her with a smile.

"What?"

But before she could even ask any further, he started walking her down the white aisle, realizing that she was, apparently, wearing a long, white flowing gown of chiffon and lace as she slightly stumbled on her feet. She warily looked at the occupants of the chapel and noticed that the rest of her acquaintances in the Scouting Legion were all in attendance, all wearing white.

"Congratulations, (F/N)!" A redhead who she recognized as her friend Nifa waved at her.

"You can do it, (F/N)!" Eren said to her. Just beside him were Armin and Mikasa, also wearing white.

"Hey, don't be scared now." She turned to the left and saw Reiner, Jean, and Bertholdt smiling at her. She realized that the one who uttered the words was Reiner, himself.

"You look beautiful, (F/N)!" An excited Hange squeaked on her left.

"She's not just beautiful, she is stunning!" An achingly familiar voice uttered on her left. She turned and saw her sister Petra, wearing her most beautiful white dress, also in attendance. She sweetly smiled at her as tears flow down her face. "I'm so happy for you."

(F/N) focused her gaze on the altar before her, a feeling of frightful foreboding suddenly engulfing her senses.

And then, right there on the altar waiting for her, were two familiar men, also wearing white. Her father stopped walking and abruptly dropped her hand. (F/N), suddenly feeling as though she was just abandoned, tried to hold unto her father's hand, but failed.

"Don't be scared now, darling." Her father said to her with that eerily creepy smile. Her feelings of dread became even more evident as her father joined her mother in one of the front pews.

Her mother smiled calmly. But, it was not exactly the kind of calm smile full of warmth.

Somehow, it was filled with malice.

"You'll get over it, sweetheart." she said to her, her voice ringing all over the place like the Liberty Bells. "After all, you chose this for yourself."

(F/N)'s heart sank after hearing those words from hr beloved mother. She turned back to the altar and noticed the two men as they both held unto each of her hands. She looked up and gazed, in utter horror and disbelief, the two men who were leading her towards the lone priest who was garbed in complete black.

They were none other than Erwin Smith and Levi Ackerman.

"Commander? Captain?" She managed to get the words out of her mouth.

"I will give you everything in my power to make you happy, I promise." Erwin said to her on her left.

"There is nothing wrong with two people loving each other, am I correct?" Said Levi from her right.

All of a sudden, Erwin and Levi turned to each other, the reactin in their faces almost unfathomable. Then, after a few moments, they turned to look back at her.

"But, will you be happy after this? You're finally getting what you wished for." Erwin uttered, his voice suddenly dropping an octave lower.

"She must, or else I will kill her, I swear." Levi whispered, his hostile blue eyes boring into hers.

"Yes, I obtained the truth because of you. Thank you very much, (F/N), but we won't be needing you anymore." Erwin then said.

"No. We'll use her. Over and over again, until her body is rendered useless." Levi savagely said. "Until she runs out of blood. We'll use her over and over,..."

"... and over and over and over again." the crowd suddenly joined in what sounded like an ominous chant.

Her instinct told her to escape once and for all from this God - forsaken place, but the men just wouldn't let her. They held unto her with vicegrips and she was seriouslr getting hurt from it. She wanted to scream, but something unexplainable seemed to be in the way. They dragged her until they finally reached the priest garbed in black. She looked up from him,...

... and saw his wide - toothed evil grin.

"Howdy, Princess!" Kenny said. "Ready to get tied down?"

All of a sudden, the place was filled with disturbing sounds of gunshots and screams. She turned to look at the others and found them all dead with multiple wounds, soaking the white carpet with thick, deep red - colored liquid.

She turned to look at Kenny once more and she gasped at what she saw. On either side of him were Erwin and Levi, lying on the floor and swimming in their own blood. But, what's more frightening was Kenny's sudden change in appearance.

With the garb of a dark priest of the Underworld, he stood tall and proud before her own eyes. His white teeth shone in contrast to the darkness he eminated, his own blood trickling from his mouth.

He stretched out his arms as if in welcome, and as he did so, two large and twisted horns sprouted out of his forehead.

"Now," belowed Kenny with the voice of a monster. "offer your heart, Princess,..."

***

(F/N) jolted awake from the very frightening nightmare and found herself tied down to a chair. Feelings of nostalgia and fear slowly occupied her tired mind as she noticed the emptiness of the desolate room.

It felt awfully familiar to that time when she tried to retrieve the cure for Levi's weakness.

The door suddenly opened, and in came the devil, himself, bearing a tray of food.

"Oh, you're finally awake." Kenny said as he closed the door shut. "You hungry?"

(F/N) did her best to glare at the man she once thought was worthy of her trust, when, in fact, he's the biggest liar of all. Kenny noticed this and raised his eyebrow.

"Hey, don't look at me like that."

"YOU MURDERER! I TRUSTED YOU! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" (F/N) angrily bellowed at the top of her lungs, surpised at the gravity of hate her scream carried.

"Hey, hey! Stop assuming that I'll murder you." Kenny rebuked like someone arguing with a drunk person. "In fact, if I wanted to murder you, I'd have done that ages ago, even when you didn't have the rest of your memories."

"Liar!" (F/N) struggled on her strong binds, but seeing that it was futile, her shoulders slumped and she gave up. "What makes you think that you can play with people like this?!"

"I'm not playing with you." Kenny sat on the floor in front of her and placed the tray of food down. "After all, I did tell you that it's better for you not to gain your memories back."

(F/N)'s sweat ran cold at his mention of her memories. He knew after all she really was! He was just bidding his time until the inevitable happens. Until it was time for him to make his move.

"Are you with those men?" she asked through gritted teeth as she was trying not to struggle too much, for it will make her even more tired and worn out in the long run, she might not be able to use her full strength to escape.

But, unfortunately, this is Kenny Ackerman. A very dangerous and murderous man.

"Who?" Kenny took a bread and bit it.

"The men who hunt down the Ackermans!"

"Oh. You mean Sutherland and his fucking cult? Of course, not! I'm an Ackerman, for crying out loud!" Kenny chewed on the bread, and as if by inspiration, he offered it to (F/N), holding it against her mouth. "You must be starving by now. Here, have some." he generously offered.

(F/N) strongly declined his offer of bread by turning away her head in disgust. This infuriated Kenny. He stood and grabbed her chin, forcefully making her head turn towards him.

"I SAID, EAT!" he screamed and shoved the thing down her throat, choking her. She tried struggling once more, but it only hurt her. She had no choice but to hesitantly chew on the bread that invaded her mouth and gulp it down with utter disgust as spitting it would make the man even more infuriated.

Kenny sighed and sat back on the floor.

"When your elders told you to do something, you do it, alright, Princess?"

"Stop calling me PRINCESS!" she said, then coughed at the feeling of dryness in her mouth.

"Ah, there. Scream all you want, it's futile. No one will come and rescue you. We're in an isolated place." Kenny said, regaining his calm demeanor. "In fact, if my calculations are correct, then they must be - "

"Why are you doing this?! I trusted you! I tried to save your life,..."

"By what? By telling me that Sutherland and his men are coming for me? You have it all wrong there, kid." Kenny removed his hat and scratched the back of his head. "You see, Sutherland was extremely loyal to the King. But, he was an idiot for insisting that we, Ackermans should be purged, despite the King's orders to halt their persecutions. Said that we will soon kill the King and take over the crown and the Walls when he just wanted them all for himself. His zealous self had prevented him to see that the way of the King had long changed since the dark times. He and his followers were isolated from the rest of the nobles for violating the crown and the Ackermans' truce, but they still held unto their belief in a world without the us. Sutherland continued persecuting our clan, his true intentions marked by his own lies - of doing it all for the King."

(F/N) just stared at Kenny, unable to believe the words he uttered.

"So, the King sent me to hunt them down, but I was too late. You and my stupid nephew just had to come along ruining everything,..."

"Nephew?"

Kenny raised an eyebrow as he put his hat back on. "Didn't he tell you? I'm Levi's uncle. Oh, wait, he didn't know that, did he - ?"

(F/N)'s mouth dropped at what she just found out. No wonder they eminated the same aura of danger, not to mention the steel - blue eyes,...

They're relatives,...

"You loved him, don't you? I believe he does, too. Well, that will make you my niece, then,..."

"Stop this!" pleaded (F/N) as tears slowly flow out of her eyes.

"Why? You're the one at fault here, not me! You just had to gain your stupid memories back. The King has given us orders to silence every single person who was involved with Sutherland's crimes. One of the vital secrets of the Walls must be protected, and YOU just happened to know one of them."

(F/N)'s eyes widened, and they widened even further as Kenny stood, proud and tall, before her. He stooped down and gently held her chin.

"As of this moment, the people who were once involved with the shitty events that Sutherland had knitted together are all but dead, save for you, my stupid nephew, and another person. Just so you know, I made a mighty bargaining with the King to spare you, seeing that you had no memories of your past, thus being ignorant of what previously happened in Trost. But, you just had to have them back. How very, very unfortunate."

Kenny removed his hand from her chin and turned away from her.

"Very, very unfortunate, indeed." he said. "Now, you're making me do the very thing I'm against of."

"What? Kill me?" (F/N) retorted. "You've killed my comrades! And you might've killed my friends, as well! What is there to live for after all of this? KILL ME NOW!"

Kenny turned towards her once more, and she was shocked to see his anguished and contorted face.

Like he was actually hurting from what was happening.

What in the world,...

"Kill you? Didn't I tell you that if I really wanted you killed, you'd be dead by now?"

"So you don't want to kill me? MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE COMPASSION!"

"No." Kenny said, then pulled his gun from his holster. "You will be the one who should make up your own mind,..."

After those words, the door suddenly busted open, and in came both Erwin and Levi, both heaving and sweating heavily like they just went through an angry, armed mob just to get to where they were.

"KENNY!" Levi angrily screamed at the top of his lungs as he started to lunge forward towards him with the complete intention of killing him.

But then, Kenny was too fast. In a space of a split second, he was already behind (F/N) and pointing the gun at her temple.

"Now, you know the drill, boys." Kenny whispered savagely. "One wrong move and the pieces of her brain will splatter right in front of your sorry eyes."

"Levi!" Erwin said as he held unto the shorter man's shoulder.

The angry Captain angrily shrugged it off.

This made Kenny smile sadistically, the sight of the three helpless beings right at his mercy.

He licked his lips and gave them an evil look.

"Look at you, three." Kenny drawled. "The man who sold himself and the woman he loves in exchange for knowledge. The man who drove away the woman who loves him dearly. And the woman in the middle of it all,...

... how very, very interesting,..."

***

~ @levi4mikasa , @yepps , @chocolate-mmilk , @unhappysap , @shewolfofficial , @super-peace-fangirl , @nerdyphantomlady , @fangurl-ontgeside , and @emilyackerman78 . 💜

***

💜💜💜

***

[nickrbockr]

Simon Vs Fan Fic: Chapter 8 - Chemistry Plus Timing Times Confidence

Ao3

November didn’t last long and we were all finding ourselves at the airport to fly home for Thanksgiving. Leah and I booked our flight together, of course, and we sat at our gate with snacks, Leah with something healthy, me with Oreos of course. She was using airport wifi to work on a last-minute article for Buzzfeed and I was texting Bram and playing time wasting games on my phone.

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be all fun and games for Leah this year. As a member of the five-year reunion committee they took this advantage to schedule a meeting to help decide when and where (and if time, why?).

I broke the news to Mom and Dad that I decided to propose to Bram alone. Mom was hiding the fact she was just a little disappointed with rehearsed responses, but she was still supportive. Dad was supportive and he let me know that this was unlike me.

“So you’re going the surprise route. I must say that I’m surprised you picked that path. Bram won’t know what’s coming.”

Dad also told me he had finally taken care of the rings, but that I couldn’t see them yet.

“I want it to be a surprise to the both of you.” Dad told me over the phone. This, surprisingly, only hiked up my anxiety a little.

Since Halloween weekend with Bram, I’ve been uncharacteristically calm. I felt like I experienced an awakening and became more mature. Or that I've been being slipped Valium by Leah unknowingly. Either way, it was a weird feeling as I’ve lived with anxiety Simon for so long.

“Okay Dad, I get it, but I’ll need to see them eventually, like when I actually propose to him?” I say sarcastically.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, don’t worry you’ll love it!”

I hung up the phone and Leah looked at me with nostalgia. “I can’t believe it’s already Thanksgiving. This year has flown the F by.”

“You’re telling me, the show opens next week. It felt like I just came back from visiting Bram.”

After that weekend, Bram returned to flying under the radar, though he always made sure to text me between classes and work. Seems his busy year picked right back up, but he’ll be home this week for Thanksgiving, giving us an opportunity to spend a decent amount of time with each other.

“We’re two months away from the proposal,” Leah started, patting my knee. “How do you feel?”

“We're?” I laugh. “Yeah, I feel really great about it.”

“Good, you should. I think it’s nice you’re doing it privately.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s so unlike you that it will be an honest surprise to Bram. He’ll love it.”

Her phone vibrated and she laughed.

“Ian says hi.” She showed me a picture on her phone of Ian taken in our kitchen after finding the food we  cooked for him. It was a surprised and happy face. He couldn’t go home this year for Thanksgiving and Leah and I didn’t like that, so we cooked him all the typical side dishes found at Thanksgiving and left him instructions on how to cook the small chicken. I know it wasn’t turkey but we didn’t think Ian could eat an entire turkey in a few days…right?

“So Ian’s cool,” I state, obviously trying to pick Leah’s brain over a suspicion I’ve had for a few months. They were subtle hints, but only ones me or Nick could have picked up.

“Yeah, he is. It’s nice you have him up here so we can share your Simonisms.” She said as she bit into her apple. “I was worried because I didn’t have Abby or Nick to help me, but everything worked out great.”

“Uh-huh…you know, Ian has yet to have a long-term girlfriend, just so you’re aware.” I pretended to go right back to the game on my phone.

Leah turned and eyed with a defensive glare. “And why would that interest me at all?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I think that at his core, Ian is a relationship guy who just never found the right girl to show him that.”

I turn to meet her defensive glare that now downgraded to a mild annoyance glare. “How could you tell?”

“You laughed when he burped, Leah.” I say, laughing. “You’ve never laughed at a bodily function before and Nick is full of them."

She smiled. “I dunno. Maybe I’ve changed too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, I think I’ve softened in college.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Well,” I turn my body towards her in the uncomfortable airport chairs. “I personally don’t think you’ve changed that much. The only thing that I noticed is that you’re still the powerful, determined Leah that I’ve always known. But you know, even a porcupine can petted if you rub it the right way.”

“I’m a porcupine?!” Leah laments, laughing. “You’re the worst.”

“I don’t think you’re comprising yourself by falling in like with someone we’ve known for three years.” I follow up in a more serious tone with a small, Simon smile. “I mean Bram and I knew each other since Freshman yeah of high school and we never talked. But he couldn’t help the feelings he developed and I’m glad he took a change. Albeit, a long, drama-filled chance, but a chance nonetheless.” I finish smiling again.

“Maybe that’s it. That I know your proposing and my biological clock began to tick. Ugh! I hate it.”

“Don’t hate it, Leah. But you also don’t have to act on anything if you’re not ready or don’t want to. That’s the whole thing with dating, it’s chemistry plus timing times confidence.”

Leah quietly grabbed my hand to both thank me and to get me to stop talking about it. And I did.

We got on the flight and it always surprised me how short it was. As soon as I would get into my book, the pilot would tell us they were preparing for arrival.

Mom and Dad picked us up from the airport and Nora was in the back seat as well.

“Hey Si, Leah,” Nora spoke, not looking from her phone as we got into the back seat of the car. It appeared she eased into the new band she was forming with her friends in our garage to Dad’s quiet displeasure (I can’t get ot my tools when I need them cause they’re in there every day!). Seems she needed to over compensate in cool since the last Spier attended Creekwood.

“Busy as usual, Nora. Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule.”

She shoots me the peace sign and returns to her phone. If Bram were with us, she’d be already deep in conversation.

“Alice won’t be here until Thanksgiving day itself,” Mom informed me, a bit of melancholy in her voice. “Her trip was extended because apparently library staff can’t understand how computers work!” Mom slams the steering wheel to all of our bugged eyes. Don’t try to get between a mama bear and her cubs, no matter their age.

“I’m sure she wishes she could be here.” I reply.

“She does,” Nora responds, showing me the text from Alice saying the exact same thing.

The drive home is filled with questions about school from Mom and Dad to Leah and me and before Leah could answer question seventeen, we were at her house.

“Thanks for the ride you guys.”

“Anytime,” Mom responded. We drove the two seconds to our driveway and as soon as Nick saw the car in the driveway, he came over.

“Nick, how are ya?” Dad said while hugging him.

“Great, New York is craaazzyyy. Having a hell of a time keeping up but that’s what coffee is for right?”

“Right, right. I don’t know how you do it kid, but you’re doing it. Keep it up.”

“Thanks Mr. Spier.”

Nick followed us inside and we both went to my room.

“So Abby wanted me to talk to you.”

“Oh?” I said pulling out my computer and setting on my desk.

“Yeah. So…don’t be mad.” He starts.

“Not the best way to start, but continue,” I tease.

“Abby and I didn’t break up.”

I shot him a puzzled look. “That’s great! Why would I be mad?” I hug him and he hugs me back half-heartedly. I backed up and he was staring at the ground.

“Yeah, we didn’t break up, but we’re in an open relationship.”

My puzzled look returned with greater cartoon expression. “Oh.” My ‘oh’ wasn’t negative or positive, it just was.

“We just thought, that…it would be easier to tell people that we were broken up because if you tell people it’s an open relationship, they just ask so many questions about it.”

“Okay,” I respond, trying not ask questions about it, but I did have one. “Bram knew about this part too, didn’t he?”

“This is the part I didn’t want you to get mad at.” Nick said finally looking me in the eye. I smiled and shook my head.

“Nick, I’m not mad. Not mad at all.”

“Wait, really?” he replied, shocked.

I started to unpack my clothes from my suitcase.

“Really.Bram is a good friend and I never asked about it so he never had to lie, and even if he did have to lie to me he'd have his reasons.”

“Simon? Is that actually you Si?” Nick joked.

“In the flesh.”

“Okay…well I was expecting an entirely different conversation, so now I don’t know what to do.” Nick said, while texting someone on his phone.

“This may sound crazy, but you’re talking to the right guy about lying about a part of your life because you didn’t want to be asked questions immediately or have people think of you differently.” I smile as I place my hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, you mean you and the gayness.” We both burst out laughing as my hand turned to a fist and I punched him.

“Nick, it’s your life. And if you both are okay with it and happy and it works, then why wouldn't I be happy for you guys?”

Nick smiled and kicked around his feet. “Thanks, dude. Really.”

“Duh, ya idiot. So is that it?”

“You want to ask questions, don’t you?”

“SO MANY QUESTIONS!” I yell. “But only one. Is there someone one of you met that drove you to talk about this?”

“Well, we both…kinda met someone. We’re dating her as a couple.”

“No fuckin’ way.” Nick shook his head with a grin. “That’s what you’ve been trying to do since middle school. Two girls?! Middle school you must be so happy.”

“You know it! Best part, it wasn’t my idea, it was Abby’s.”

There was a knock at the door and Abby entered.

“Simon, I’m so sorry I didn’t come with Nick I was so nervous how you’d react and I got scared but I’m so glad you’re not mad at us.” Abby said in one long breath as she hugged me hard.

I told her roughly the same thing I told Nick.

“Si, no offence, but you’re reacting so…chill to all of this.”

“Well, in the interest of being honest, I’ve been much more chill ever since Bram and I stopped using condoms.”

Nick and Abby shot me an expression of happy confusion until Nick spoke.

“Oh, wait, is that a big deal?” Nick said.

“I thought you guys already did that.” Abby added.

“No! And it’s kinda a big deal. It’s hard to explain.”

“Well, whatever you guys are doing to make this Simon appear, keep it up.” Nick said.

“Oh I intend to,” I joke. “So Nick tells me you guys met a gal, huh?”

“Yes, we did…and you’re sure you’re okay with this?”

“Abbs, of course. Look I’m happy if you guys are happy. And non-traditional relationships are kind of an automatic for me.”

“Bram was right; we should have listened to him.”

I smiled. I love that Bram knows me so well, like we’re building hive mind. I also love that I’m becoming less of a nuisance to my friends. You do learn a lot about yourself in college. It honestly didn’t bother me and why should it? If this is what they want, this is what they want.

“Me too. I guess I’m growing up. Sorry guys.”

“So only you and Bram know about the open relationship, we’re going to tell Leah tonight and I think it goes without saying to not bring it up to your parents?”

“I don’t know, they were pretty responsive to me telling them I was gay.”

We went downstairs and Mom and Dad made Abby and Nick stay for lunch and they did once Nick deeply inhaled the barbecue pork Mom was cooking in the Crockpot.

“When is Bram getting in?” Nick asked, mouth slathered in barbecue sauce.

“Tonight at eight. He had to stay a little later on Saturday to finish up some work.”

“God that boy works hard.” Abby says, taking a bite of potato salad.

“Attention to detail is his forte,” I reply. “When we first started talking when he was Blue, he told me he figured it was me almost right away due to my speech patterns.”

“Awwww,” Abby crooned.

We talked further about Bram until Dad asked Abby and Nick about their projects in New York. After Nick finished his third sandwich, Abby and Nick bounced leaving me alone with Mom and Dad.

“So, since you’re privately proposing,” Mom said. “Where do you think you’ll do it?”

While Leah slept on the flight, I was thinking of multiple scenarios

“I think I want to give Bram the gold standard of proposals: I want to cook him dinner here-”

“YES!” Mom shouted as Dad placed his hand on her shoulder and calmed her down.”

“Yeah, but no hidden cameras to capture anything, Mom, promise me that.”

“I will be sure she doesn’t,” Dad chimed in.

“So yes, dinner here, then some movies, just…very low key and casual so that he doesn’t suspect anything. Then I will bring him into my room when I’ll have candles on my desk and maybe rose petals on the bed spelling out ‘Bram’ so he has to walk close to it and when he turns around to ask me what this is about I’m already on my knee, with the ring from Dad…and I shut the door and behind it hanging are hundreds of pictures of us from the last four years…but that’s just my first thoughts, what do you think.”

Mom’s hands were clasped around her mouth as she breathed heavily to try to control her tears. Dad nodded his head and smiled.

“That’s a pretty solid first thought, Si. Simple but powerful, always effective, I’m sure he’ll love it.”

“I was thinking of writing him a poem too, you know, get on his level, make him realize how much he means to me.” Bram’s was getting his degree in professional journalism, but he always writes me the best small, three sentence poems that make me swoon even deeper in love with him. “Try to speak his language.”

“Simon, that sounds…perfect.” Mom advised. “The most perfect thing in the world. He will have no choice but to say yes.”

I smile, confidently. Ever since Elijah told me I was confident, I guess I discovered more and more everyday that I really have been, even when I thought I was a coward. People can tell you over and over again that you are something, but unless you are ready to believe it yourself, it seems like they’re so wrong.

“Then I better get started, I want to be sure it’s perfect.”

I usually tell at least Leah everything, but this was something that I wanted to stay mine and mine alone. I want it to be so obviously me that Bram knew I wrote it with no help from an outside source. But, it seems it’s easier said than done.

My pen taps my notebook as I lay on my bed and stare off in the distance thinking about what things come to my mind when I think about Bram (both appropriate for a poem and less appropriate).

Grammar. Writing. Planning. Cautious. Loving. Smile. Brown eyes. Soccer. Calves. Cute. Sexy.

I know where this going, so I wrote a bunch of words down that came to mind when I thought of Bram and they started forming sentences. Some were nonsensical, but is that what poetry is? Out of a few pages a few good lines jumped out at me, but I wanted to spend more time on it so I hid it between the mattresses (on my side so Bram doesn’t notice if he stays the night).

Bzzz.

Bram I’m about to board, I’ll see you so soon! <<33

 Safe flight! I will be there to pick you up :)

. .. … I love telling people my boyfriend is picking me up from the airport. My boyfriend. Is it still weird to hear yourself say that phrase?

 Kinda. Only because it wasn’t something I thought could be an option Then I met you and I forgot all about that

. .. … Listen here, I was the one with the crush on you first! Jacques a dit. Oh, my group is next, see you shortly!

I can feel his energy in his text messages and its infections, flowing through my fingers, into my blood, and directly to my heart. Little Brams running through my blood and posting up in my heart. Well, his heart, cause I have his and he has mine per his poetic musings.

I quickly write that thought on my pad and bide my time with Nora until it’s time for me to leave for the airport.

I be sure to get there early and circle the arrivals area until he texted me that he landed. Round and round until it gets me dizzy like feel every I see Bram for the first time if it’s been more than a day.

And there he is, suitcase and backpack, looking like a sculpted statue where the sculptor focused on the calves. I wave to him like a dork because it’s an involuntary reaction when I see him. He tilts his head and smiles as he beelines towards the car.

“Hi!”

“Hi, Peanut!” He says as he places his luggage in the back. I knew I didn’t like it, but I did say I’d easily fall in love with it and it may be working.

He gets in the front seat and my pulse increases as he kisses me tenderly, his lips not chapped from the flight. Anytime we’re in a car together it always brings me back to his Honda Civic the day after the ferris wheel when both of us wanted until we could no longer contain ourselves. I leaned over and kissed him again for bringing the memory back.

“It’s so nice to have a real week off. I didn’t have to bring any work back with me.” He bragged as he picked up my iPod and searched through it to see any new releases to mentally catalog to listen to later. He finally picked a song and leaned his head on my shoulder the entire ride back to my house.

Mom and Dad know in the years of college that the first day we are back in Shady Creek, we stay with each other, this year it happens to my house.

We bring in his things and as soon as Nora hears Bram is in the house she runs downstairs.

“Bram!”

“Hey Nora, aren’t you the girl in that popular Creekwood band?”

“Working on it. You’re staying here this year right?”

“You know it.”

“Awesome. Come listen to some stuff we recorded last week.”

I wish Nora looked at me the way she looks at Bram. He looks at me and nod him away towards her room as she runs up the stairs. He kisses me on the cheek and follows her upstairs. She can borrow him now, I’m going to have him the rest of our lives.

*   *   *   *

“Happy Thanksgiving!!”

This was the first year that, after four years of dating, that I arranged The Greenfeld and Spier families to have Thanksgiving together.

Extra leaves were in our large kitchen table and sat all of us comfortably around it as Ruth ambled around after eating only a few bites of turkey and cranberry sauce.

The Dads sat at the head of the table with their respective wives to their right. Tracy sat on Ellijah’s left next to Bram, who was next to me. On my left Alice and I were in conversation and across from me was Nora and an empty seat to her where Ruth’s mostly full plate resided.

“I’m glad we were finally able to do this,” I mention. “Bram always mentioned we had similar Thanksgiving traditions, especially the one of eating Thanksgiving dinner at dinner time instead of one o’clock.”

“I mean,” Elijah started, “what the heck is that about?”

“No idea,” Dad joked back. Dad was always good at making people laugh. It was never what he said, but how he said it.

“These potatoes are delicious, Tracy.” My mom added.

“Thank you, they’re Abraham’s favorite.”

Bram blushed. It was so cute to see him revert to Quiet Bram Greenfeld when he was eating with a large group of people.

“So how does it feel you two to be almost done with school,” Alice asked while sipping her wine.

“Great,” Bram answered (surprisingly) first. “I’m ready to be done with school assignments and focus on real stories.”

“Yeah,” I add, “Bram’s already looking for places in New York and we have Abby and Nick keeping an eye on any diamonds in the rough.”

“If worst comes to worst, we can always stay with Nick and Abby for awhile.” Bram plans.

I smile lightly because if we’re engaged I don’t want to share him with roommates. I also see Elijah’s eyebrow raise and look at me slightly, knowing I’m going to be an actor trying to make it in New York.

“I know that acting won’t give me that much to begin,” I start.

“Hey,” Bram comforts.

“No, it’s true, but the play that opens next week, the playwright lives in New York and really likes me, so there’s another connection on top of the professor’s former students and friends. Plus Abby and Nick’s connections, I mean knowing a guy from Julliard has to have its perks.”

Tracy smiles and winks at me, almost saying ‘good answer’ as Elijah gives me a surprised smile.

“I can always find a part time job as well, I mean all actors usually wait tables or bartend, I know the risks involved.”

Thanksgiving always turns into an interview.

“We could live in a box on the street in Mid-Town, as long as we’re together.” Bram intervenes, sensing where the conversation could head and stopping it. My Mom smiles at me as Dad nods his head approvingly.

“You guys are always welcome to visit me when I’m in New York, they have a lot of libraries.” Alice adds. “Then we can order room service and bill the company.”

“You know we’ll do that,” I answer.

“The gauge rig is pretty!” Ruth says to Elijah.

I smile at Elijah as he looks at me.

“Gauge rig?” I ask, trying to move the topic off of me and onto one of the fishing terms I remembered from Provincetown. “You already taking her to the ocean?”

Bram looked at me with surprise, probably wondering how I knew it had to do with fishing.

“Just up at Lake Lanier for now, but she’s just like her old man and loves the water.”

Bram looked at me and smiled. “Look at you mister fisherman.”

“What can I say?”

Whew. Thankfully Bram left it at that. Dad’s eyes bugged because mine couldn’t and it made me laugh.

The rest of dinner was wonderful and we all got to talking in various groups. Bram was talking to Mom, Alice, and Nora in the kitchen as Tracy and Elijah and I were in the living room.

“You almost blew your cover there, son.” Elijah joked.

Nervous heat overwhelmed me as I put my face I my palm.

“I know, and I’ve been so good up to that point. Thanks for not asking me how I knew that.”

“Well it’s not a real term anyway, you are meshing two words about fishing together, but luckily you’re not the only actor.” Elijah laughs heartily.

“So, sweetie, do you know how you’re,” she looked at her son in the kitchen deep in conversation with my family. “Propose?” She whispered.

I told them the same thing I told Mom and Dad: roses, pictures, Poem, ring.

“Very nice, Simon,” Elijah approved. “Very nice.”

“That sounds so perfect. I wish I could get it on video.”

“I’ll take pictures after, I promise.” I said, sipping my water. “But now onto the other fun joint family tradition!”

“Let’s do it!”

We all cleared the table and played board games until at least midnight. Ruth had fallen asleep shortly after dinner and was up in my bed.

During one of the breaks in between the games, Bram found me lost in thought looking out the window staring at my old car that was Nora’s now. He laid his head on my shoulder.

“Tonight was the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had.”

I pulled him closer as we looked at my car. The car we got coffee in and the car I drove Bram to school the entirety of our senior year.

“Tonight was the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had too.”

“Come on guys,” Mom pokes her head in. “Time to play Scattergories and hear your father’s stories defending his bad answers.”

Bram and I said we’d be in shortly and Mom left the living room. I pulled Bram closer to me and we shared a kiss and went into the kitchen. We all laughed and played and it was a great, relaxing, family moment of two families coming together. It’s exactly the moment I wanted to repeat every year for the rest of my life.