#i want bones to be their boytoy it sounds fun

[sundayinthcpark]

[this-world-of-beautiful-monsters]

27. Witching hour, Loak & Rjake

Story also posted on ao3!

(tw violence, fuck-it awareness of vampire lore, self-esteem issues, creepy behavior, non-consensual touching, non-consensual kissing)

"It's late, you know." The creature's eyes flash yellow, almost, but not quite as bright as its wicked fangs. "Long past time for good little boys to be in bed."

"Shut the fuck up." Lo'ak tightens his grip on his stake, heart hammering, trying to drown out the alarm shrieking at the back of his skull: stupid stupid stupid. He knew he shouldn't have run out like that, he knew it, and now he's paying for his temper like he always fucking does.

"Language." The bloodsucker's tongue dances teasingly, but its voice is a chiding growl, and Lo'ak chokes down the sorry, sir crawling up his throat. It's not Dad, he snarls at himself. It's not Dad, you fucking moron.

Lo'ak shouldn't be nearly as thrown as he is. They'd already known that one of the vampires they were hunting came from Dad's branch of the family, a great-times-a-billion uncle or some shit, who'd somehow weaseled his way into being the vampire king's head boytoy.

He just--he just hadn't expected the vamp to look so much like Dad, that's all. To be a perfect copy, even, except a few decades younger (a few centuries older).

Except for the way those golden eyes are roving over Lo'ak's skin, looking him over in a way that makes heat stir ragged in his belly. It scares the shit out of him, and like most things that scare him, it pisses him off.

"Y'know, I'm feeling generous," he snarks, flipping the stake around in his hand. "I'll give you a head start. To the count of ten, that sound good?"

The vamp blinks at him for a second, looking almost surprised--and then it laughs, the kind of ringing belly laugh Dad hasn't made since Neteyam was killed. "Damn, kid," it chortles, "you really are a bonafide Sully, aintcha?"

"That makes one of us," Lo'ak growls. The vamp's jaw tightens for a heartbeat, so quick Lo'ak could have imagined it, and then its face smooths out again.

"Yeah," it says, almost to itself. "This is gonna be fun." Its muscles tense and Lo'ak braces himself--watch for the blur, be ready, he's taken down a ton of vamps before, he--

Its smile is a heartbeat away before he can even blink, faster than any vamp he's ever seen. Lo'ak lunges with a roar, but the vamp's fingers (Dad's fingers, skillful, deadly) wrap around the stake, grabbing treated wood that should have burned its skin. 

Lo'ak feels something scrape his palms as the stake is ripped away, and then the vampire's breaking it over its knee with a crack like shattered bone. It tosses the pieces across the ground and shrugs, mock-apologetic: oops.

"Didn't your daddy ever tell you?" it asks, lip curled. "All the big bad monsters are stronger at this time of night. Especially for tough old fucks like me."

Then it's lunging, slamming him so hard against the ground it knocks the wind out of him, air scraping uselessly in his lungs. The vamp straddles him, arms over his head, teeth bared, and Lo'ak waits for pain, for death, wonders if he'll finally get to meet Grandpa Eytukan and Aunt Sylwanin, if Neteyam will forgive him--

But instead of fangs, it's a warm mouth that presses his neck, closed-mouth lips gently tickling his skin. Sully sighs, nostrils flaring, tongue licking out as if he's lapping up Lo'ak's scent and liking what he tastes.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," he murmurs, soft and steady as Dad's reassurances. "I won't hurt a hair on your pretty little head. Sullys stick together, remember?"Fuck you, Lo'ak wants to scream, but the words are stopped up on his throat, strangled in his guts. When he tries to breathe, everything around him smells of death and blood and the endless, hungry night.

[orleans-jester]

Lunchtime Conversations {Figaro, Agnes and Munro HC}

Munro, Agnes and Figaro tended to sit together at Halloweentown High. They had other acquaintances that they probably could have sat with, but didn’t know enough about them to engage in conversation. So the small table it was. It was mac and cheese day, and Figaro was carefully trying to get a noodle on each prong of her fork. Munro had eaten his in five minutes flat and was poking at the bowl with the fork. Agnes didn’t feel much like eating but was picking at what she had. She was still tense from the arguments with her family.

“What is it with girls and the Laveaus?” Munro asked, breaking the silence, He nudged at Agnes’s foot under the table, clearly teasing her. Those pictures had caused a bit of a stir among the students of both schools. “I’m a bit insulted that I wasn’t bad enough to keep being your boytoy.”

“River’s an alright dude,” Fig said, and hissed with satisfaction as she got the macaroni perfectly on her fork. “But y’all are really focusing on the wrong Laveau.”

“Okay,” Agnes said, interested now. Figaro never really showed a like or dislike for people, except for her closest friends. But never boys. “So who is the right Laveau?”

“Flotsam. The OG Papi,” Figaro said, finally biting into her food and then went back to trying to get the macaroni on her fork perfectly. “Seriously. He’s one of the coolest people. Hella good at karaoke. Great dancer. I love Summer but he’s the best slumber party bud I’ve ever had.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Munro said, dropping his fork onto the tray. “You had a slumber party with Flotsam Laveau? Like ... Chip and River’s dad? Dude - that’s sketch.”

“Nah, it’s not like he came for us,” Figaro argued. “He’s best friends with Summer’s dad or something. And he crashed our slumber party, sang a few songs, I painted his nails and then he passed out in the spare bedroom. It was a lot of fun though. I took some videos.”

Agnes stayed a bit quiet, thinking about Flotsam Laveau. Going through a divorce, house always empty, with only Chip defending it from the zombies. But that wasn’t any of Munro’s or Figaro’s business, so she didn’t say anything about that. Only laughed as the videos were shown of Figaro, Summer and Flotsam dancing around to some song that sounded familiar but she couldn’t remember the name of.

“Speaking of party, how’s your hand?” Munro asked, looking over at Fig with a grin. “Sure you didn’t cut your knuckles off of those sharp cheek bones?”

“What happened?” Agnes asked, finally taking note of some of the light bruising that was around Figaro’s knuckles. It wasn’t bad, just a dark pink color. Nothing to be concerned about but there had obviously been some sort of altercation. “Wait, did you get in a fist fight at the party? You?”

“Yeah, me, what are you saying?” Figaro asked, getting defensive. She was finished playing with her food, which she had been doing more than eating it, and started to actually put it on her fork like a normal person. Less fun, but also less time consuming. “You think that I wouldn’t punch someone in the face?”

“Not just someone,” Munro sang.

“Who?” Agnes asked.

“Your brother,” Figaro shrugged. “I mean, you gotta know that he’s a real douche-canoe sometimes. And he deserved it.”

“Oh God - did he hit on you?”

“Fuck no, he wasn’t desperate enough for that,” Figaro said, and continued before Agnes could try to refute that and try to say something nice about her. “Did you know that it was him that started that whole Killer Queen B-S? He called Summer that again. Not sure that she heard but man, what an ass.”

“No, I didn’t know. You did the right thing then,” Agnes said with a nod.

“Surprised it wasn’t the boyfriend that did it,” Munro added in. “Or that she would even get upset over it anymore. Delta and the tall guy go jumping off a tower and everyone’s forgotten that River actually killed people.”

“He had a name, Frank Skellington,” Agnes said, glaring at the boy. “And it was more than just some suicide story. They were more than just the suicide kids. I’ve heard a lot about Delta, and she wasn’t who you guys think that she was.”

“Besides,” Fig cut in. “You didn’t see the way that Summer was when all of that shit was going down. People were calling her names, vandalizing her house. I met her just before all of this was happening and people were even warning me off in front of her. Humans, they’re the worst kind of people.”

“They’re the only kind of people.” Munro said, but nodded, agreeing with Fig. “I got the feeling River didn’t like me much.”

“You tried to tell Summer what to do, you rude ass hoe,” Fig said, calmly, finishing her meal then picked at her teeth with her fingernails. “Course he isn’t going to like you. Right in front of him too.”

“You’re bold.” Agnes said, not sure if that was a good thing or not.

“Yeah, well, we all know she’s not much of a drinker,” Munro said, looking for back up. Fig just looked down at her tray and Agnes drank her apple juice. “Damn, I didn’t know I’d end up being friends with Laveau groupies.”

“Hey,” Agnes protested. “We’re definitely not groupies. Not like you, always going to the principal’s office to oogle the Headmistress.”

“Why would she put her tits out there if she didn’t want people to look?”

Agnes and Fig connected eyes, then in unison, rolled them. “Alright, I’m out, I’ve got track and I’ve got to start my stretching.”

“Is it wise to run after just eating?” Agnes asked.

“Are you going to barf?” Munro looked hopeful.

“Nah, I got it all out of my system when I saw your face this morning,” Figaro said, flicking Munro’s forehead. “See you later.”

“Later,” Agnes and Munro both said. A silence grew across the table, as they avoided eye contact with one another, unsure at what to say.

“You alright? Your dad was being a pretty big asshat.” Munro finally asked. There had been that tension around Agnes since she had come back to school. And knowing that he had overheard some of the conversation had brought that tension into their friendship.

“Yeah,” Agnes said with a nod. “I just ..  have to be a good girl for a little while. Then it’ll blow over.”

“But you are a good girl,” He asked, confused. “Just being yourself. What more could he want from you?”

“Ask him yourself, I don’t have the answers. I’m going to go too. I’ve got a test coming up.”

“Yeah, sure,” Munro said. She left without a goodbye and he watched her go, eyebrows furrowed, arms crossed. He had his own tensions that he held in his arms and shoulders, feeling like they were going to stiffen up and get sore at any time. Things didn’t feel right with anyone right now. Summer hadn’t returned his text when he asked her if she wanted to meet up this week. The party had changed a lot of things, for a lot of people.

[jackals-horny-jail-archive]

i also forgot about this, again it's not Horny but im like wh. where is this gonna go

under a cut for length, dog <> ghb having a cyber pile session

Dog: so update: i miss you >:c

Dog: remind me who's idea you wandering all the FUCK way off was?

Ghb: aww fuck best bud i miss you too

Ghb: BUT YOU UP AN KNOW I GOTTA DO HER IMPERIOUS'S BIDDING

Dog: bluhhhhhhhhhhh. bluh. bluh!!!!

Ghb: you gonna just spend all day bluhhin at me doll?

Dog: ….probably. maybe

Dog: anyway! hows your jobb goin?

Ghb: FUCKIN BORING HONESTLY. BUNCH OF FISH BITCHES TALKING ABOUT BULLSHIT I DONT RIGHTLY CARE ABOUT

Ghb: an guess. take a fucking guess who's here

Dog: OHHH let me guess hmmm. a certain drama queen fishy bastard?

Ghb: MOTHERFUCKIN. DUALSCAR. I SWEAR TO THE MESSIAHS I'M GONNA THROW HIM OUT THE AIRLOCK ONE OF THESE DAYS

Dog: no!!!! >:0 im the one that gets to murder him

Ghb: fine but i get to watch

Dog: pfft yeah okay deal babes, but you have to come back first >:/ i miss you??

Ghb: DONT YOU WORRY LIL BROTHER ILL BE BACK SOON. HOWVE YOU BEEN AT THE HIVE BY YOUR LONESOME? I KNOW SOMETIMES YOUR PAN UP AN RUNS AWAY FROM YA

Fg: aslfhsjo. listen,,,,,,

Ghb: im listenin :0) you know i always am <>

Dog: 1st off i hate you <>

Dog: 2nd off: i hate you! <><><>

Dog: 3rd off:

Ghb: HMMMM?

Dog: t h i r d off there's a v small tiniest of chances that a buoy has been struggling as it were

Dog: B O Y GOD DAMN IT THE BASTARD IS IN MY BRAIN

Ghb: awww best friend :0( you wanna glub about it?

Dog: FIRST OFF I LITERALLY HATE YOU

Dog: second again I'm. listen. i would not like,,,object to a feelings jam and or a pile abt it because my brain has been really dumb

Dog: BUT LIKE

Dog: I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY SO ITS FINE!!! no more typing im fine!!!!

Dog: you put those fingers down >:0 im f i n e

Ghb: HEY NOW BEST BUDDY, DEEP BREATH

Ghb: deeep breath for me most miraculous buddy of mine

Ghb: I CAN DUCK OUT OF HERE EARLY :0)

Ghb: her imperious condescension and her boytoy can just up and fucking deal

Ghb: JUST GIVE ME A FEW MINS ALRIGHTY BEST BUD?

Dog: akdhhsksl,,,,,,okay,,,,

-----

Ghb: honk honk honk :0)

Dog: ughh you're horrible i changed my mind go back,

Ghb: AWW YOU LOVE ME THOUGH ;0) <>

Dog: LIES AN SLANDER???

Dog: <><><><>

Ghb: so how you feelin lil bro? your pan still up an botherin you?

Dog: im! fine akdgk dw im okay my mini melt down was dumb bc i am jus a lil dumb,

Ghb: >:0( HEY NOW DONT YOU GO AN TALK ABOUT YOURSELF LIKE THAT

Ghb: youre not dumb, your pan just sometimes likes to scurry away without you an you know better than to say that nonsense about your fine self

Ghb: BEST BE UP AN GETTING YOUR APOLOGY ON

Dog: you come in my messaging,,,,you make me be nice to my me,,,,i hate you. but fine @ myself im sorry for being mean to my me Again

Ghb: thank you miraculous bro! that was a mighty fine apology :0) apology accepted?

Dog: akdhsk yes apology accepted an junk if it'll make you be quiet

Ghb: NOPE! :0)

Ghb: where you at best lil diamond mine? curled up on the pile?

Dog: there is a non zero chance i am yes,,,an i uh. added to it a lil

Ghb: OH?

Dog: i hate youuuuu

Dog: i uh. stole one a your jackets,,,,im cuddled up in it. i look like im in a pale porno GOD

Ghb: SHIT BROTHER THAT IS

Ghb: absolutely the cutest fuckin thing i've heard today :0)

Dog: shut!!!!

Dog: what uh. what about you?

Ghb: IM ALL LAYING ON A COMFY ASS PILE MYSELF, STOLE SOME EXTRA BLANKETS FROM SOME EMPTY ROOMS

Ghb: wish you were here though so i could warm a brother up ;0)

Dog: jfhjffk o..oh?

Dog: wh. how would you start?

Ghb: FIRST ID GET ALL COMFY NEXT TO YA, ALL CURLED UP AROUND YOUR TINY LIL SELF

Ghb: you're always so fuckin cold all the time, colder than the fish even

Dog: my body is simply a Bastard tbh. hfjk that sounds so nice tho,,,

Ghb: YEAH? WHY DONT YOU CUDDLE DOWN IN THE BLANKETS FOR ME, GET YOURSELF NICE AN TOASTY

Dog: mmmm,,,,,,yeah okay that's. that's good

Ghb: IT IS ISN'T IT? FEELS SO GOOD TO BE WARM

Ghb: you deserve to feel good lil bro, an id make you feel even better if i was there, rub your arms an get some of that good good heat in there, maybe even work out some of the knots in your shoulders, i know you keep a lot of tension there. it's like a couple a rocks in there

Dog: hhh y,,yeah i do huh?

Dog: id uh. id want to squirm around eventually so i can kiss at your jawline an neck. an maybe bite a lil? its. it's fun

Dog: not like ROUGH bites like i do with crofish but uh, lil nips. on, on your earfins too if that's okay

Ghb: ITS SO FUCKIN CUTE, YOU GOT THOSE LIL BABY FANGS IT FEELS LIKE A LIL PURR BEAST NIPPIN AT ME

Ghb: and it tickles something fierce when you get at my fins! id have to get you back in the ribs >:0)

Dog: jhdjfkf NO RUDE!! i changed my mind id bite you So Hard

Ghb: AWW YOURE SO MEAN TO ME WHEN IM TRYING TO TREAT YOU SWEET

Ghb: now a question for you: how do you want me to wind you down my most wonderful lil buddy?

Dog: maybe uh. fuck, damn

Ghb: SHH TAKE YOUR TIME SWEET THING YOU CAN DO IT

Dog: i uh. i like it when you pet me. an talk all sweet to me, but like that kinda mean sweet? s. smean,,,

Ghb: aww fuck i can certainly do that sweet thing :0)

Ghb: here im even gonna get all quiet for you, you like it when i talk soft with you huh? you get all blushy when i do with that miracle red on your cheeks

Ghb: why don't you touch yourself for me, real gentle. spread your hand out on your stomach an press down jus a lil bit

Ghb: i could break you right in half if i wanted on account of you being so little

Ghb: but i won't because im so pale for you sweetling

Dog: hhhhhfjgk shit

Ghb: aww look at you, that's my good boy

Ghb: you get flustered so easy, you never really let anyone treat you kind like you deserve huh?

Dog: noo,,,,it feels. weird hhf

Ghb: we'll were gonna have to change that aren't we? im just gonna have to treat you real soft til you learn it's safe

Ghb: fuck you're such a pitiable lil thing aren't you. why don't you trace your hand up your chest for me, just a lil bit of claw

Ghb: and then cup your cheek real soft

Dog: o. oh,,hm

Ghb: i wanna hold your face lil diamond, nuzzle up in your neck and tell you how precious you are to me

Ghb: just let yourself relax now okay? let me do the work for once <>

Ghb: you're such a pitiable lil doll, every time i look at you i feel like my blood pusher is about to stop. and you don't even know it? you don't even know what a sweetly pathetic lil thing you are? like a teeny lil purrbeast

Ghb: and you trust me so much, you shouldn't do that my lil diamond. you've seen the kind of things i can do. and yet i put my hand on your head and you melt like you ain't ever been touched gentle once in your whole life

Ghb: fuck i love to see that, i love you. im gonna keep telling you that til it gets in your pan proper

Ghb: i love you, i love you. im gonna take care of you always you hear me? you're always gonna be safe with me, im not gonna let a single damn person lay a hand on you without your permission

Ghb: you're probably starting to get a lil tired, i know you get all worked up and crash so fast. you gonna rest now lil diamond mine?

Dog: hhh y. yeah,,

Dog: m pale for you <>

Ghb: pale for you too lil lamb <> pale as bones and stardust :0)

Ghb: just a few more days and ill be home to pile with you proper

[theworldsmosthatedakacr7]

Title: The Day When He Wasn’t The Best In The World

Chapter title: Goodbye

Characters: Cristiano Ronaldo, Hayley Carrighan (OC)

Warnings: some cursing

Category: F/M, romance/friendship/humour

P.S.: There will be one last chapter after this that I hope to write very soon. Sorry for the terribly long delay. Hope whoever still reads it, is going to like it xx 

Some more one shots here

READ ON AO3

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

Tiny little hands pressed against the glass walls and with one last painful smile I turned my back to him, a single tear falling down my cheek. This was not supposed to play out this way. I was never supposed to be stuck here for so long. How could I fool myself and think everything was alright, natural? There was nothing right about this. I was supposed to gather some money and go back to college after a year, two on the top. But things rarely ever happen how we plan, take the most adorable kid on the planet, a bornt charmer as his father and you easily find yourself in my shoes.

2 WEEKS EARLIER

I sat in front of the tv with a box of Haagen Dazs in my lap, and a bowl of homemade potato snacks besides me. My hair was pulled into a loose knot on the top of my head, my pink fluffy sucks peaked out from under the blanket, the crown on my attire was the over 6 years old worn out Real Madrid shirt. People started to appear on the bright green carpet and I put a huge spoon of ice cream into my mouth. I was supposed to be among those people by Cristiano's side. He proposed me to accompany him. First I questioned his sanity. If we'd been to show up together, not only the media but fans would have gone crazy too. He said he didn't care, and this was a great event for me to dress in that gown I always complained not having an occasion to wear at. In the end I said yes. What woman would have said no, right? In the last couple of weeks things have gone back to normal after our kiss except for a couple of minor changes. Junior spent way more time with Dolores what I found rather odd but Cris reasoned it was so he could concentrate more on getting ready for the derby against Atleti. We had dinner together every evening, many times just the two of us, and he cooked. We talked, and argued and laughed, he even watched my favourite zombie films with me, not without constant complaining of course. I felt a slight shift in our relationship but it happened so slowly, and so quietly, my own feelings blindsided me.

Last night Cristiano came home late, with Selma on his side. I didn't want to believe he was serious. After all that woman put him through, hestill took her back when she crawled to his front door and cried that her current boytoy screwed her over. It was like a slap in the face to see her in my home again. Of course, she wanted to go to the award show, they should show the world they belong, no matter what happens, I could still hear her sickeningly sweet words in my mind. I stood there, unable to even shape a coherent sentence, my knuckles turned white, I was grabbing the kitchen island so tight. My hair was covered in all of the colours of rainbow, sparkling in a way even Edward Cullen would have been envious after Junior figured it'd be a great idea to try and turn me into a unicorn to impress the little girl he planned to marry. I smelled like onion and cabbage, wanted to surprise Cristiano with his favourite dish as a good luck for tomorrow present. I felt destroyed. I was utterly humiliated not only by him taking that whitch into our home all over again but by my own feelings as well. I was jealous, so jealous I felt like the raging emotions were going to break my bones.

My phone's ring brought me back from the unwanted memories. I glanced at the screen and sighed softly.

“Hey dad,” I answered the call, putting some effort trying not to sound too miserable. My dad could always tell when something was off with me, even from across the ocean.

“Is something wrong? You sound off,” he commented, slight concern coloured his words.

“All is fine, no worries.” I smiled softly. They said mothers had a sixth sense when it came to their kids, maybe because my father raised me alone, he developed it too.

“I always worry when you say no worries,” he chuckled lightly.

“Dad, I'm fine. However, there's the question why are you calling anyway? I thought you have a date with Connie.” It really would be time for the old man to confess his love and just marry the woman who he'd been dancing around for over 20 years.

“Your man is getting that award, what do you call it...”

“FIFA Best, dad and Cristiano is not my man,” I sighed with a shake of my head. He was old fashioned, if a woman lived with a man and his kid for years, they were a couple, end of story.

“The boss man then,” he corrected himself and I laughed. The boss man, Cris would hate to be called that. “Why are you not there? I thought you were going too?”

“Yeah, I changed my mind. You know I've never really been into the whole fancy dress up thing.” I wasn't about to tell my father Cristiano screwed me over. If I did, he'd be on the next plane to Spain, sending threatening messages that he would break Cris' legs.

“I don't like this,” he stated with a hard voice and I could tell he was having a hard time believing me.

“Yeah, dad, listen, I'm tired and you should go and dazzle your lady instead of using me as an excuse to bail on her again.” I deflected the topic, unable to deal with sharing my feelings with anyone.

“You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?”

“Yes, dad, I would tell you.” I sighed. “Go, enjoy your date.”

“Alright. I will call you tomorrow. And tell that boss man of yours I said congrats for his new award.”

“I will, dad. Have fun.” I ended the call and dropped the phone on the couch. My eyes moved back to the screen where I saw Messi and Antonella arrive. Not long and Cris would be there too, with Selma. You are pathetic, Hayley, I laughed at myself, hysteria slowly but surely sneaked up on me. What the hell was I doing? I was in my early twenties and I wasted my time on a man who used me as a rebound each time he got dumped. You worth more than this, Hayley. I switched off the tv and stared in front of myself. When did I become so sad? Things needed to change. I needed to get control back over my life. I stood from the couch with shakey legs, grabbed the laptop and headed out to the chilly October air in the yard. You can do this, Hayley I kept telling myself as I started writing my resignation.

Next morning I woke with a start when I heard the door opening. My eyes hurt from all the crying and my back ached terribly after I passed out in the chair last night.

“Hayley?” I rubbed my eyes, stood from the chair and went inside. “You look awful, are you okay?”

“You are home early.” I ignored his question and headed to the kitchen to make a coffee for myself.

“Yes, I wanted to talk to you about...”

“Me first,” I cut him off quickly. I didn't want to have a conversation about anything before I told him I was leaving.

“Okay.” He nodded slowly and sat to the kitchen island.

“I'm leaving,” I exhaled quickly. It wasn't that hard, was it? Just don't start sobbing now.

“What? Is your dad okay? Is there a problem? Can I help anyway?” He asked, concern deepening the line on his face. No wonder it took me years to realize what a foolish mistake I made.

“You don't understand, Ronaldo.” I shook my head, and closed my eyes. “I quit.” I opened my eyes and moved my gaze to him. The silence was so heavy it was almost suffocating. He stared at me with a completely blank expression on his face. “Did you hear me? I...”

“You tell Cristianinho,” he stated with a hard voice before he jumped from his seat and disappeared into his room.

For the last days of my stay we remained civils but we hardly said more than two words to each other. There wasn't anything to say. I could have blamed him for fooling me, he could have blamed me for staying too long when I knew I'd leave eventually but what would have been the point? It seemed we had nothing left to say to each other. Even Junior turned awfully quiet after I told him about my departure.

“It's time for me to go. They always pick me at security check.” I tried to joke with Dolores but she wasn't laughing.

“Can't you just stay a bit longer?” Junior stared up at me with his huge puppy eyes and I needed all of my strength not to break down in tears.

“I stayed too long as it is, buddy.” I sighed softly as I knelt down in front of him. “But you're always going to be my favourite human, and my best friend, and I'll call you everday. We will stay in touch.” I explained, but my own heart was in million pieces.

“I don't want you to go, Hayley,” he cried, his tiny arms wrapped tight around my neck.

“I'll always be a call away, pumpkin,” I patted a kiss on his tearsoaked cheek before I unlaced his arms from my neck and stood up. “He isn't coming home, is he?” I looked at Dolores. Maybe it was best that Cristiano wasn't here. It'd have made this even more difficult if possible.

“I'm sorry, sweety, I don't think so,” she said quietly and I nodded. It was for the best.

“Thank you for everything,” I told her as I stepped to her for a hug. “Cristiano, thank you for being my best friend for all these years.” I looked at Junior with a serious face. “It was an honour to be at your service.”

“Don't go, Hayley, please.” He sobbed and I swallowed hard.

“Just a call away, baby, never forget that.” I said him one last time before I took the handle of my suitcase and walked out of the house. This was right thing to do, I kept repeating to myself. Then why did it feel so wrong?