#i wanted a cute thing to match the ras ones but yeah my sickness did not help......

[caramelmochacrow]

happy birthday chu2!!!!!!! (she is on a cute date w pareo hehe!)

[meltypes-blog]

peadpod mchanzo week day 3

[mr. krabs voice] day 3, give it up for day 3! Also, this is a college au because I’m weak for those and young mchanzo is cute

3. Secret Admirer | ao3 link |

Jesse normally wasn’t the type to get flustered. His mama had told him that since he was 4, his three defining characteristics were cute, charming, and shameless. Growing up in a loving and accepting family had given him the right ingredients to bake into that particular mix, but when his mama passed ten years after, and the collectors came after his Pa’s farm, those particular traits rotted and left a bad taste in his mouth. Cute and charming didn’t get him out of the orphanages quick enough, so he ran. At 17, before his new dads swooped in and grabbed his ass out of the fire, his gang buddies described him as quick, deadly, and reckless. It showed in his steady trigger finger, the unnerving accuracy of his aim, the lopsided smiles and toothy smirks. But all the swagger and confidence from his misguided teenage years were particularly missing from his mug shots; a single heist inevitably gone wrong, most of his ‘family’ dead yet again, and half a missing arm later were enough to sober him entirely.

His new dads….they tried not to define him. When they got to him, he was hollow. Quiet. Sad. As hardened war vets, they’d seen some shit, so they knew a little bit in dealing with what Jesse had gone through. They brought Jesse home with them after a grueling two years in court, though Jesse never did get a clear reason why. Gabe told him that he’d seen something in Jesse. Jack joked that he was blind, so he just went along with whatever Gabe saw. They helped heal him by letting him be, doing the opposite when his mistakes hit him hard and left him gasping at night, and encouraging him to believe in himself just as fervently as they did.

Now, at 24, GED under his belt and close to graduating with a bachelors in investigative journalism, Jesse had proudly improved upon his mama’s words. Cute turned into roguishly handsome, his shamelessness transformed into easy-going confidence, and his charming demeanor- well, that was a welcome fixed trait. But despite the fact that no one had ever called Jesse smart aloud, he wasn’t dumb. Any smart person could see that there was more to the man than a cowboy hat and smiles, and that you didn’t get a prosthetic arm and criminal record by riding a horse (unless, of course, you were a bandit from the 18th century). Even dumber people didn’t know what to make of Jesse, most of the time caught off guard when it turned out he wasn’t a complete idiot. In conclusion, no, Jesse didn’t think he was desirable in the long-term, romantic sense of things, despite his many trysts and conquests, so he put it out of his mind.

At least, that was the case, until the fourth flower delivery.

“Again, Reeha?” Jesse asked, face hot as she dropped a sunflower in his hands. “You’re not doing this as a joke right?”

His RA leant against the open doorway of his dorm with crossed arms and snorted. “I’m a college student, Jes. Flowers are expensive. If I wanted to prank you, I could just put a bucket on your door.”

“Zero points for creativity.” He responded, thumbing the back of the card attached to it. He flipped it over, getting significantly redder at the note.

Fareeha snickered. “What’s it say, loverboy?”

Jesse knew she wasn’t going to leave until he told her (she hadn’t for the last two deliveries) so he cleared his throat and read. “‘You are as brilliant as when the sun rises, you bring me warmth as its beams do. Your smile is just as bright. Thank you for existing.’”

“Aw, Jesse.” Fareeha gave him a genuine, wide smile. “Whoever that is has really lost it over you.”

His chest fluttered. “Nah, this is- it’s a joke. Someone here has just got a sick sense of humor.” He looked back to her. “Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“Jes, half the people on this floor are pretty much into you,” she responded, rolling her eyes. “It’s the cowboy hat, probably.”

Jesse chuckled. “Yeah, sure. Wait ‘til I bust out the chaps, that’ll get everyone hot and bothered.”

“It sounds genuine, though,” she said, frowning at his tone. “You’ve just gotta put your degree to use. Do some investigating.” She clapped his shoulder and stood up. “You’re good at that.”

The wheels in Jesse’s head started turning. “Do you know who puts ‘em on your desk?”

Fareeha shrugged. “Satya brings them in from the mailroom, and I’ve asked her who delivers them there, but she says she doesn’t know. Just that there’s a sticky note to have them brought to you.”

“Huh.”

After a bit more brainstorming, Fareeha waved her goodbye and left Jesse in his door, flower clutched in his good hand. He went inside, thumbing the soft petals gently, a plan developing in his head.

He was going to find whoever this was.

“Maybe they do not want to be found.”

Jesse snorted into his coffee. He and Hanzo were seated in the campus coffee shop, taking a break from an especially grueling math homework session. Jesse had first met him in his second semester Research Writing class, which, much to Jesse’s surprise and Hanzo’s embarrassment, the other man was failing. Their professor had insisted Hanzo visit Jesse for tutoring (which, up until his junior year, he did as a work-study student), and the two hit it off. The pair (sometimes with the addition of Hanzo’s younger brother) met up regularly for study sessions, finding that they worked well together despite their differing majors.

Jesse raised his brows. “Then why do they send them in the first place?”

“Perhaps they get off on buying flowers for cowboys,” Hanzo smirked.

“Gross Han,” Jesse laughed, wrinkling his nose. Hanzo smiled and Jesse felt his insides warm, a pleasant syrupy feeling in his gut.

This….thing he started feeling for Hanzo wasn’t a new development. He only needed to spend four months in Hanzo’s presence to become infatuated, though he ignored it for the most part, reasoning that shallow appreciation for an attractive man was nothing worth exploring. Then the man got a haircut, pierced himself up, changed his major to what he was actually passionate about, and Jesse’s heart was a goner. What he felt was honestly too childish to be called a crush and the other option scared the hell out of him, because even after knowing Hanzo for 2 years, he still had trouble figuring out if the man was seriously flirting or not.

“But really,” Jesse continued, “it seems a bit….I don’t know. Weird.”

Hanzo raised a brow. “You do not enjoy the attention?”

Maybe if it was from you, Jesse thought unhelpfully. “‘S not that, it’s just….I never thought I’d get romanced like this. Flowers.” He chuckled. “What’s next, chocolates? A full bouquet?”

Hanzo’s eyes got that strange glint in them Jesse had been noticing lately. “Is that something you would like?”

“Oh, hell no, that’s a bit much to be coming from a stranger,” Jesse said. He leant forward. “You got any idea who it could be?”

Hanzo’s face fell flat. “You have many admirers, Jesse. Many find you attractive, you know this.”

“You sayin’ I’m good looking?” He teased, smiling at Hanzo’s eye roll.

“I am saying,” Hanzo smirked, “Many people lack taste.”

Jesse barked a laugh. “Right where it hurts, Han. Your aim is unerring.”

“You just make it too easy,” he replied. “Speaking of,” he tapped his notebook, “we should finish these equations.”

Jesse groaned. “Easy for you, Mr. Math Major. Some of us are better with words than numbers.”

“Oh, I am well aware of that,” he chuckled. “But why you would choose a math course for your last elective if you hate it so much is beyond me.”

Jesse just smiled. “I like a challenge.”

The fifth flower arrived during Jesse’s investigation. He made his way down to the dorm mailroom, deciding to ask Satya herself if she knew anything essential.

She scoffed at Jesse’s question, putting her cell phone down. “Why would I keep the sticky notes? They are trash once their duty is fulfilled.”

Jesse sighed. There went his first lead.

“Okay,” he said. “But did you get a look at the handwriting? Was it neat? Messy?”

Satya considered the question. “Well….all of them were written in capital letters.”

“Hm.” Jessed hummed. “And….no one else gets flower deliveries?”

“Not that I have seen, no.” She smirked slightly, picking her phone back up. “It seems you have a secret admirer, McCree.”

He sighed again, pink in the face. “Seems that way.”

It didn’t help much, but he thanked her anyways, heading out into the hall. He closed the mailroom door behind him and exhaled, exasperated. He didn’t really think that asking about the sticky notes would help, but it was the first thing that came to his mind to check. He stepped forward- and almost tripped when he realized there was something on the ground in front of him. His heart pounded when he bent down to look closer.

“No way,” he breathed, picking up the single pink rose. He straightened quickly, looking to his left and right, trying to catch a glimpse of someone, anything, but the hall was empty save for himself and the dorm event bulletin board. He looked to the card and laughed softly.

“They did not have red ones, so I hope you are fine with pink. It reminds me of the times you are silly, blushing and happy. I wish you many more moments like that.”

Jesse would’ve written the secret gifts off as insincere if they’d called him sexy or complimented his ass, but the notes were always heartfelt and profound. The first, paired with a camellia, had regaled his beauty, declaring that “the depths of which are rivaled only by that of the oceans.” The second, attached to a sweet smelling gardenia, paid homage to his intelligence; “an incomparable mind” and “a smart mouth to match a smart man.” The third came with a red carnation, calling him kind-hearted and wonderful; “you inspire me to be my best.” The strangest part was that each delivery had happened in the span of a single month, each floral arrival erratic and unpredictable. The timing made little sense too: February was three months ago, and his birthday was in December. Jesse brainstormed the motivations himself but decided that they were 100% genuine, the other option being that it was an elaborate prank before grad. Most of his friends were too busy with finals or too short on cash. Jesse trudged back to his room, placing the flower in the same vase near the window as the previous ones and the note in the small ornate box on his desk that held the others, deciding to enact the next part of his investigation the following weekend.

Now, Jesse usually liked Genji, considered him a brother even- but right now, he felt like throwing him to the wolves. The green-haired bastard was cackling loud enough to draw the attention of almost everyone in the coffee shop to their small corner; he found Jesse’s floral predicament particularly funny. Jesse looked to Hanzo for help, but the man just gave him a toothy smile and shrugged.

“So, you have no idea who it could be?” Genji asked, after having calmed. “Not a single inkling?”

Jesse’s eyes flitted briefly to Hanzo (he immediately squashed that hope down, Hanzo didn’t seem like the flower giving type) before he turned to Genji. “I wouldn’t be askin’ for your help if I did, ninja.”

“Some investigator you are,” Genji snorted.

He pointed to him. “Hey now, I just haven’t finished looking around yet. I’ve got a plan.”

“Oh? Do tell.” Hanzo spoke, sounding amused.

“Well,” Jesse started confidently, settling back into his seat,” it’s gotta be someone on campus right? And the flowers gotta come from somewhere. So I sussed out the location of every flower shop in the area- which there are three of, by the way- and I plan on bringing the notes and asking around. They’re bound to know something.”

Genji hummed appreciatively and Hanzo balked.

“How do you know they didn’t order them in advance? Or that they would remember their patrons?” Genji gave his brother a weird look at the question while Jesse chuckled.

“No one has the time for advanced orders during finals. Plus, it seems like these gifts were a last minute kinda thing, because there’s no pattern to the delivery times. And if my hunch is right,” Jesse leaned forward conspiratorially,” it’s probably someone I know.”

Hanzo’s face seemed to go through a myriad of emotions before smoothing over into a blank expression. “You truly are intelligent, then.”

“I know,” Jesse grinned cheekily, feeling proud.

Genji let out a choked noise at something and stared incredulously at Hanzo. Then at Jesse. Then back to Hanzo.

“Jesse. You really can’t guess? Really?” Genji’s eyes were pleading.

Jesse furrowed his brow. “If you know something I don’t, the help is appreciated.”

Genji muttered something in Japanese and stood up suddenly, grabbing his bag. “No. I don’t know anything, apparently. If you will excuse me, I’m going to go somewhere else before I throw up.” He turned a devious smile to Hanzo, who sat uncharacteristically frozen. “I will talk to you later, brother.” Then he was gone.

“Well, that sounded foreboding,” Jesse commented to a strangely flushing Hanzo. “Did you catch what he said under his breath?”

“No,” Hanzo answered quickly. He stood up too. “I- I have to go. Satya needs my help with a project.”

“Oh.” Jesse sat back disappointed. “Okay. See ya later, then.”

Hanzo gave him a tense smile before he hurriedly departed. Finals week, Jesse decided, was a bitch.

The sixth flower was thankfully delivered in person.

He woke up that morning feeling motivated, ready to find the mystery person behind the roses. His trip to the first floral shop wasn’t what he expected, considering it closed down 5 years ago and sat on the side of the road as a sad, dilapidated building (thanks, Google)- but he wasn’t deterred. The second shop, however, didn’t yield satisfactory results either. He showed the owner the notes, and much to his embarrassment, she said that they didn’t even use the same cards or ribbon as the ones the stranger gave him.

“Whoever it was probably made them themselves,” she said, eyes twinkling. “That’s so sweet!” Jesse mechanically nodded his agreement, said his thanks, and left feeling flustered at the situation all over again. Handmade note cards. Maybe they really didn’t want to be known.

So found Jesse on his way to the last floral shop- Bastion’s Bouquets- and losing all semblance of hope. He pushed the door open, bell ringing overhead, and was instantly assaulted by the sweet aroma of flora.

Flowers ranging from roses to calla lilies to desert flowers crowded on shelves that stretched to the ceiling. Long vines and leaves from medium sized palms and ferns leaned over Jesse’s head as he traversed deeper into the store, reaching the counter. It was colorful, and wonderful, and Jesse began to wonder if he was in the wrong line of work at the sight of a bright pink bougainvillea trailing along the wall behind the cashier’s desk.

“Howdy,” he called to the empty space in front of him, resting his hands on the wood. “Anybody in?”

A clatter of noise and a curse responded. Then, in a strange accent:

“Be right out!”

Jesse took to looking around as he waited, exclaiming in pleased surprise as he found a small bird hiding among a gorgeous display of hyacinths. It chirped quietly as it settled in Jesse’s outreached hand and fluffed its wings. Jesse cooed and it tilted its head, chirping louder as he rubbed a finger down its back.

“Ganymede, stop begging for attention. The name is Torb, what can I do for you, son?”

Jesse turned to find a short- very, very short- man behind him. He had a mechanical arm, a fake eye, and was wearing a pink apron with the store name and a cartoon robot on the front. Jesse immediately liked him.

“Ah, well, ya see,” he muttered, struggling to get the notecards out of his back pocket with his prosthetic, not wanting to jostle the bird. “I got- aha! I got these cards along with a bunch of different flowers over the past month and was wondering if they were ordered from you, or if you remembered who ordered them.”

Torb took the cards from Jesse’s hand, sifting through them. His ears grew hot as the short man chuckled and raised a brow at him.

“Sounds like someone really likes you, eh?”

Jesse cleared his throat, cheeks flaming. “I mean, it could be a prank. Haven’t gotten rid of that possibility.”

Torb laughed harder and handed the cards back to Jesse. “I, for one, think you should throw that thought out the window. What were the flowers?”

Jesse told him and Torb rubbed his chin.

“Well,” he started. “We do carry all of those.”

Jesse felt a surge of hope.

“But carnations, camellias and roses are popular ones, and we haven't sold any sunflowers recently. I would remember that.” He gave Jesse a sympathetic look. “‘M sorry lass, I can’t help you there.”

Jesse’s stomach plummeted and he sighed. Ganymede chirped softly and flew away to the back room, probably to eat or sleep. He looked at Torb imploringly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Are there any other flower shops around here that have the same selection you do?”

Torb shook his head. “Afraid not. Otherwise, we would be out of business.”

Jesse nodded and said his thanks, ready to give up when Ganymede came flying back out, a small slip in her talons. She landed on Torb’s shoulder and dropped the paper into his open hand.

“Ah! That’s right, it almost slipped my mind!” He said, reading through it. He looked back up to Jesse with a toothy grin, waving around what looked like a receipt. “Seems I was wrong. There is one other place that carries the same selection we do, though it only orders a small amount from our stock.”

The supermarket. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

Jesse had walked by the flower freezer in there every time he shopped, but he never paid it enough attention for its presence to register in his head. He ran hurriedly from Torb’s shop to the market a few blocks over, hope swelling. It was getting late, the sun almost finished setting, and he knew the store was going to be closed in a couple of hours. He would get in there, and he would- well, he would look and- huh.

Jesse slowed to a jog, coming to a stop in front of the store. He frowned, realizing he had no plan. What would he do? Rather, what could he do? Too many people went in and out, and it’s not like a chain market would take note of each customer that bought sunflowers. He swallowed, feeling his hope shatter yet again.

He could….stake the place, he guessed. But his admirer obviously knew what he looked like, and loitering was still considered a crime. He was about to walk inside, maybe buy some booze and drown in it, when a voice ripped him from his thoughts.

“Jesse?”

He turned to his right to find Hanzo, looking as attractive as ever in his dark jacket and jeans, with a comically stricken expression on his face.

Jesse wondered what was wrong, until his eyes zeroed in on the package in his hands, and he sucked in a breath.

A bouquet of roses.

Hanzo held the flowers in a tight grip, an entire bouquet of expensive red roses, and Jesse, tired and emotionally charged at the sight, blurted the first thing that came to mind.

“You get off on buying flowers for cowboys?”

Hanzo turned red and made an audible noise in the back of his throat, taking a step backward, away from him.

He’s gonna run, Jesse suddenly realized, and he raised his hands in apology, a hysterical laugh bubbling in his throat at the relief he felt that it was him, at what this situation had come to.

“Hanzo,” he laughed, slightly breathless, and the man took another step backward. Jesse took a large step towards him and fought down another laugh. “Hanzo, wait.”

“I did not think you would find my affections funny,” he said, looking and sounding hurt.

Jesse sobered instantly, realizing what was at stake, and took those last few steps to reach him. “Hanzo, wait no, I’m not laughing at you. It’s just- this whole time?” He reached for Hanzo’s free hand. “You could’ve just talked to me, hon.”

“I am not good with words,” he responded, looking anywhere but at Jesse. “I know it is childish, but Genji told me that you had never had a serious relationship before, and with you leaving in two months for that job in Gibraltar, I just….”

He sighed, searching Jesse’s eyes. “I wanted to make sure you at least knew that someone cared for you, in that way….still cares.”

Jesse’s heart pounded and he gripped Hanzo’s hand tighter, not knowing what to say. He had Hanzo right where he had wanted him since he first saw him, and he was speechless.

“Okay, here’s the thing.” Jesse decided to lay it all out. “I’ve been in love with you for almost a year now, and if you’re willing, I’d like to try. Gibraltar or not, I’ve been absolutely hopeless for you. If you’ll have me.”

Hanzo lowered his burning face and heaved a deep, shaky breath. Then, he looked up and pressed the bouquet to Jesse’s chest, a small smile making its way onto his face. Jesse held the flowers there with his prosthetic, face burning.

“You said that you wouldn’t take a bouquet from a stranger and I was actually going to give these to you in person, when I found the right thing to say.” He pressed himself closer to Jesse. “I do not have a card this time, so I apologize.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Jesse breathed, moving his hand to the small of Hanzo’s back, the roses crinkling between them. “What were you going to say?”

“I love you, too.” Hanzo leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to Jesse’s lips, and Jesse brought him even closer, closing his eyes, Hanzo and the scent of roses overtaking him.

After he and Hanzo made their way back to the dorms, the roses (a bit crumpled, but still whole) found their way into the vase near the window, the other flowers pressed safely into a textbook. And when Jesse finally left to Gibraltar, Hanzo sent him off with his seventh- a snapdragon that Jesse snuck in his carry-on. The message on the notecard was pretty much the same as the last one, but it didn’t make him feel any less flustered and happy.

I love you. Come back soon.

[x0401x]

Mekakucity Talkers Chapter 2

The second chapter is about Momo and Kido’s girls’ talk!?

← Previous || Index || Next →

Momo: Hello~! Uwah! The sentences are showing up! Ama~zing! It’s like I’m speaking! KI-SA-RA-GI MO-MO ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Kido: You seem to be having fun, Kisaragi.

Momo: Waaaah! Da-Danchou-san! For how long have you been watching me!?

Kido: From the get-go.

Momo: Man~! Then why didn’t you talk to me~!?

Kido: You had started something out before I could talk. I thought I shouldn’t get in your way.

Momo: Please don’t mind what I did earlier... More importantly, good timing!

Kido: What, you have some business with me?

Momo: Fufufu~... I found something nice in the street a while ago.

Kido: “Something nice”?

Momo: Something really pretty and cute! I thought about showing it to you, Danchou-san, so I took a picture! I decided to use this chat, since it was already made, to show it to you!

Kido: Is that so? I kind of don’t get it very well, but if you’re thinking about showing it to me, then do it.

Momo: E~rm... How do we send photos in here? Is it with this button? A weird indicator just appeared... P-Please wait a bit~. Erm, here is where the kaomoji are, so... ei! ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝ Huh?

Kido: You don’t have to write everything down, y’know? Also, no need to hurry. It’s not like I have anything to do. On second thought, “something cute”, huh...? Is it a cat? Or maybe a dog?

Momo: Eh? Why?

Kido: Ah, no reason. It’s not like I’m curious. I just thought of putting my imagination to work.

Momo: Ehehe, Danchou-san, you do like cute things after all.

Kido: O fon’t. *I don’t. I don’t really.

Momo: Eh~? Is that so~? But unfortunately, it’s not a cat or dog.

Kido: I see... You’d said it was something pretty. Is it a flower?

Momo: Ah~, wrong~. Do you like flowers?

Kido: You’re mista—I don’t. No... It’s not as if I don’t like them.

Momo: Which is it?! Man~, you don’t have to hide it, y’know? Danchou-san, you’re so shy~

Kido: Don’t tease me. I just have doubtful thoughts about them.

Momo: Ye~s, I understand~.

Kido: In the end, what’s the picture of?

Momo: Fufu, then I’ll give a hint. Decisively, it’s a living being!

Kido: The range of that is too wide so it’s not “decisive” at all... Then again, a living being that can be found by the road, huh? Pretty and cute... Is it a bird?

Momo: Ah~! Close one! You’re not getting it right at all~

Kido: This was also wrong? But there’s no other animal in the streets...

Momo: There is~

Kido: Kisaragi, are you still not gonna send the photo?

Momo: Hu~n, I have a feeling it will take just a little more~. Is it this button? Ei! ( ☝ ͡ ° ਊ ͡ °)☝

Kido: Now that we’ve come this far, I’ve gotten interested. Tell me the answer before you send the picture.

Momo: Eh? You’ll hear it out~?

Kido: Yeah, I don’t mind it. Just what kind of living thing is it?

Momo: Understood! Then I shall tell you! A pretty and cute living being by the roadside! The answer is~

Kido: “The answer is”...?

Momo: The right guess was “a bug”! My, you got close with “bird”~! Since birds eat bugs! Ah! It seems the photo is about to be sent so I’m sending it right no~w.

Kido: pleadr dyopp

Momo: Eh?

Kido: *Please stop. Stop it.

Momo: Huh?

Kido: You don’t have to send it. You absolutely don’t have to send it.

Momo: Eeh!? It’s really pretty and cute, y’know!? It was probably a rainbow shield bug, I guess~. It’s an especially famous insect even in Japan! Their shades of green and orange are awesome.

Kido: It’s fine!!! Just your feelings are enough.

Momo: Eh~, why?! Didn’t you say earlier that you were interested?! If a cute bug is no good... then I’ll send a picture of a cool bug I saw lately! One that is a lot like the tailless Tanzanian giant whip scorpion.

(T/N: Momo, that’s not a fucking b u g)

Kido: Kisaragi!! Just forget the photos!! Let’s quit this topic!!

Momo: Ah, could it be you don’t like bugs? I’m sorry for not realizing it... Every now and then, I hear of people who are no good with bugs.

Kido: No, it’s not like I’m no good with them. It’s just that there are times when I’m not in the mood to look at them.

Momo: Then, in exchange, how about frogs?

Kido: KISARAGI!!!!!!! Please, stop it. I’m begging.

Momo: W-What’s the matter, Danchou-san? Could it be you’re feeling unwell or something?

Kido: T-That’s right. I’m a bit sick today. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to look at your pictures.

Momo: Was that so...? I took a really cute one of the frog...

Kido: About the photo, that’s right... how about you show it to Seto? Wouldn’t he be pleased? See, he’s into the color green, and it seems he’d be fond of frogs and the like, doesn’t it?

Momo: Aah, that’s true! Seto-san also knows the names of rare reptiles, and our conversations match~. I’ll show it to Seto-san!

Kido: Yeah. Do that.

Momo: Ehehe.

Kido: What? What’s up all of a sudden? It’s not that I hate or am scared of bugs or anything like it. I simply said that showing it to someone who would be more pleased was better. Don’t misunderstand in a weird way.

Momo: Ah, you got it wrong. I’m happy! I’d never had a carefree talk in a chatroom like this until now.

Kido: Kisaragi...

Momo: Being able to announce casual things such as cute stuff I found in the city and whatnot makes me really happy!

Kido: Yeah, that’s right. I am also having fun talking with you like this. From now on, too, come talk to me casually in the chatroom.

Momo: Thank you very much! Whenever I find something cute, I’ll take a picture and contact you as soon as possible!

Kido: You don’t need to show me that. I’ll listen to what you have to say, so don’t take photos.

Momo: Is that so...? But I just took a lot of them, y’know? I wanted to show you the images I got of bugs until now...

Kido: Leave them to Seto.

Momo: Eh?

Kido: See, he has things that resemble the eyes of a bug in his hood. Surely he’s keen of insects.

Momo: Now that you’ve mentioned it, you’re right.

Kido: Send them to him in a separate chat.

Momo: I will! I have a huge stock! About 100 just from different angles!

A Few Days Later

Seto: To tell the truth, I’ve been receiving a lot of photos of bugs all the time from Kisaragi-san lately, even when I’m eating or sleeping. Did I do anything that made her angry...?

Kano: What’s with that? Scary.

[tea-and-cardigans]

Movie Night - Bughead!College AU

Summary:

Betty is sick of the substandard movies that are chosen to play at the makeshift college ‘drive in’ she decides she has had enough and on her mission to correct this injustice bumps into a beanie wearing student who is just as outraged.

Based on the following prompt:

You’re the only other one who voted for my favorite movie on movie night so do you just want to watch it in my room au

Author’s Note: I have been dying to do a college AU with these two and I came across this prompt and I couldn’t resist. This will basically just be a cute little two parter full of fluff. This is part one. Also I apologise to lovers of the film Twilight, it’s not my thing so it’s the movie I chose. The Lobster however is one of my favourite films and if you haven’t seen it I would highly recommend it (although I do feel like it needs a trigger warning for a certain scene). I was going to go with the classic Bughead film, Rebel Without a Cause but I have never seen it and would find it hard to have the two of them discussing it without seeing it myself.

As always sorry mobile users for the ‘Keep Reading’ cut.

Part One: The ‘Drive In’ Dilemma

“You have to be kidding me. Again! Everytime.” Betty threw the flyer that had been posted under her door in the wastepaper basket under her desk. Her roommate Veronica looked at her as if she had lost her mind, which wasn’t exactly a look she was unfamiliar with receiving.

Betty had braced herself for a year of pain when she first saw her roommate Veronica Lodge walk into their college dorm room with her pearls around her neck, designer dress and Louis Voitton suitcase. Not to mention the man who had arrived with her carrying another set of perfectly matched suitcases. He wore white gloves and was dressed in a uniform. The girl had servants for Christs Sake. But Betty being Betty had smiled politely and offered her first choice of the beds.

Veronica had not turned out to be anything like Betty had imagined. She was not stuck up, well she was, but not in an unkind way. She had been raised in privilege which had shaped her personality in some ways but she was still a good person, a kind person and the two of them had become fast friends.

“What did the piece of paper do to you?” Veronica asked as Betty only humphed in response sitting on her bed cross legged as Veronica continued to lay on her bed flipping through her magazine.

“The college drive in.” Betty spat out after she had tried to hold it in. She remembered her elation when she had first heard about the makeshift drive in that the student residences put on every month. Her older sister Polly had told her all about it t Betty’s eager ears. An old style projector, onto the side of the student hall, picnic blankets and cocktails in summer and everyone snuggled and cuddled together in warm blankets and hot toddies in winter. The idea of it had captured the imagination of the cinephile in her and she had bounded happily to her dorm room to let Veronica know. That was until she had received the slip of paper under their door the first time. You see they let the student population choose. And in Betty’s opinion they had no taste whatsoever.

“Who chooses Twilight?” She exclaimed throwing her hands in the air. “Twilight?” she repeated her face screwed up as she said the words.

“I chose Twilight.” Veronica admitted, casually looking up at Betty to see the plain horror on her face before returning to her magazine.

“It’s like I don’t even know you sometimes.” Betty said dramatically shaking her head.

“Come on Betty.” Veronica sat up on her bed, closing her magazine. “It’s not even about the movie. It’s about snuggling up to some college hottie with a multitude of blankets while sipping on mulled wine.”

“Maybe for you Veronica. But I take my cinema experience very seriously.” She glanced at the crumpled up piece of paper in her wastebasket and could feel her anger and frustration bubbling up again. She hopped up of her bed and stalked over to the basket pulling out the leaflet before smoothing it out. Veronica watched her cautiously.

“What are you doing B?” A hint of trepidation in her voice.

“I’m going to complain.” Betty announced as she started putting on her flats. She looked at herself briefly in her wardrobe mirror before smoothing down her sweater and pulling her ponytail that little bit tighter. She gave herself a reassuring nod before spinning around to face the door, Veronica who was still eyeing her as if she had lost it. “I’m taking this to the RA and demanding that they put something of quality on that screen.” Veronica sighed as she picked up her magazine again.

“Well let me know how it all goes.” She said as she started to look through her magazine again.

“Oh I will.” Betty said determinedly as she left the room slamming the door behind her. Veronica rolled her eyes as she left. She pitied the poor person who was about to encounter Betty’s wrath.

Betty stalked the hallway leading up to the RA’s residence. Her feet hitting the ground beneath her hard, her ponytail swinging side to side, her jaw set in determination. She could hear as she was approaching that the RA was not alone. She cursed under her breath as she waited outside the doorway as she tried to take deep breaths so she wouldn’t go barging in there. She didn’t have to wait too long until the door swung open and another student, male, was standing in the doorway. He was tall, taller than her and wore a woollen beanie on his head, which wasn’t unusual for the weather this time of year. It did seem to be shaped like a crown though which was somewhat more noteworthy.

“This is bullshit,” he shouted behind him before he turned to leave almost knocking into Betty on the way out. “Sorry,” he mumbled under his breath before he continued past her. An older red headed boy stuck his head out from the door, to catch sight of Betty, his features softening as he saw her. That was until he saw what she was clutching in her hand his eyes widening. Betty regained her composure before straightening herself and looking their RA, Jason Blossom in the eyes.

“I’m here to make a formal complaint about the drive in movie selection,” she announced.

“Oh God, another one.” Jason dragged his hand over his face. “Look,” he sighed. “I’ll tell you what I told Jughead. We live in a democracy, we put what movie is shown out to a vote by the students. Everyone votes and we show that movie.”

“But surely the movies that are shown in college should have some substance, some meaning to them. We are in a place of learning.” Betty argued.

“Listen….,” he paused realising that he hadn’t caught her name.

“Betty,” she supplied. “Betty Cooper.”

“Right, Betty. Yes we are in a place of learning but that usually means people want to have fun when they’re not learning. The drive in provides that.”

“But what about the sacredness of the cinematic experience.” Jason sighed again as he felt he was reliving the same argument he had just had with Jughead all over again.

“Did Jughead put you up to this?” He was getting frustrated now, he had had this argument with Jughead every time his suggested movie was not picked by the student population, it seemed he was now recruiting fellow students to make his life hell.

“I don’t know a Jughead.” Betty would remember meeting someone called that. “Wait was that the guy who just left. With the crown beanie.”

“Yeah he also came to share his disapproval with me, despite the fact, and I’m going to say it once again because maybe then it will sink in. I have no control over what plays.” Betty took a deep breath and was about to launch into another argument when the RA’s door was shut in her face and the click of a lock was heard. Betty stood fuming outside the door, her fists balled tightly as she tried to take deep calming breaths. She thought about raising her fist and banging on the door until it opened but thought better of it. Jason wasn’t going to budge. He’d made that clear, and if this Jughead had been trying for months then she was hardly going to sway his decision.

She slumped her shoulders in defeat before she started to walk back to her dorm room her feet dragging along.

“So how did it go?” Veronica asked as Betty came through the door. Betty glared at her before laying down on her bed face first. “That well hey.” Veronica teased as she came to sit next to Betty on the bed. She rubbed her friend’s shoulder gently and Betty turned to face her.

“He said there’s nothing he can do. Democracy.” Betty spat out. Veronica squeezed her shoulder sympathetically before smiling brightly at her.

“You should still come B. We can make it a girl’s night.”

“I thought you were going with Archie.” Betty sighed moving herself upright sitting up with her legs dangling over the side of her bed.

“I can tell him I need to spend some quality time cheering up my girl.” Veronica nudged her playfully and Betty couldn’t help the smile that was forming on her face. She felt so lucky to have found a friend like Veronica.

But then she remembered how happy and excited Veronica had been when she had burst through their door exclaiming that Archie had invited her to the drive in. They had gossiped all night that night. Veronica swooning over her new found love and Betty was happy for her although also wishing that she had someone of her own who could make her feel like that.

“No it’s okay.” Veronica’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “ Really I’ll be fine.”

“You could come with us?” Veronica suggested. Betty balked at the suggestion.

“No, I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

“Please if anything Archie would be the third wheel.” Betty laughed and Veronica smiled proudly happy to see the smile return to Betty’s face.

“I’ll just watch my movie here. Sure my laptop and bed are no substitute for the drive in but I can make it work.”

“Okay. If you are sure.” Betty nodded. “Well can you help me choose something to wear for tomorrow night then?”

“Of course.”

Betty decided after trying to concentrate on her notes for a good half hour without being able to focus that she would take a walk around the campus. Veronica had gone to cheer practice, after they had picked out her dress, leaving Betty alone in their room. She walked down the path pulling her coat tighter around herself to protect herself from the cold biting wind. She thought about what Veronica had said about having someone to snuggle with. Betty hadn’t dated much. She had had one boyfriend in high school which had never really progressed further than some awkward kisses and hand holding. Betty was always so focussed on her future that sometimes she forgot to be in the present.

Veronica always encouraged her at the parties they attended together. Trying to get her to participate in the games they played but Betty felt she had transcended the game of Spin the Bottle since attending college. Veronica said she was just being a spoil sport. Veronica would try to get Betty to talk to boys, or boys to talk to Betty, but she found she couldn’t connect with them and they couldn’t with her. Although she didn’t actively pursue a love life it didn’t mean she didn’t yearn for one. She couldn’t deny that little pang of jealousy she felt when Veronica announced that Archie had invited her to a date at the drive in, not because she was interested in Archie or Veronica for that matter but she was jealous that they had been able to find a connection in each other.

It was while she wandered the grounds not quite sure of her destination that she saw the boy from earlier. Jughead Jason had called him. A strange name sure to have some deep and poignant meaning behind it. She hesitated whether she should approach him. To him she was a stranger coming up and chatting with him wouldn’t that seem odd, what if he thought she was a crazy stalker or something but she rationalised that people struck up conversations with each other everyday. She was good at talking to people, why couldn’t she talk to him especially if he was as passionate about film as she was.

She quickly pulled her ponytail a little tighter as she approached the table that he was sitting at hunched over the keyboard of his laptop and takeaway coffee cup to the side of it. She hovered near him, waiting for him to look up at her presence but he seemed too engrossed in his work to notice her.

“Hey Jug-Head?” She said softly the name sounding foreign on her tongue as she spoke it. He looked up at her hearing his name, and his eyes moved over her carefully before realisation seemed to strike.

“Hey, oh, you were outside Jason’s room today.” His face softening as he recognised her from their very brief encounter earlier that day.

“Yeah, you almost took me out. I'm Betty by the way. ” She joked as she nodded towards the spare seat next to him and he moved over with his laptop providing her more space so that she could sit.

“Sorry about that I was pretty pissed off.” His eyes flicking back towards his laptop before he minimised the document he had been working on.

“About the drive in.”

“Yeah, how did you know.” He eyed her curiously.

“Jason told me. I was kind of there to complain about it too.”

“Twilight.” The disgust in his voice was clear. “I mean, if you are going to choose a vampire movie at least make it a good one.” There was an edge to his tone. He obviously was still unhappy with the decision much like Betty herself.

“I mean Nosferatu would be classic.” Betty answered.

“Exactly.” He said as he turned his body to face her. His laptop forgotten and his focus now directed at her. “I am glad there is at least one person on campus who shares my opinion.” There was a gleam in his eye and a smile spreading across his face that did funny things to Betty’s insides. “I am trying to suggest films that will make us think about things not just blindly absorb what we are shown. To question the narrative, the story, the character’s motivations. But my suggestions only ever seem to garner a few measly votes.”

“Well I think The Lobster would have been a much better choice,” Betty said encouragingly, her hand itching to touch his hand in comfort. The need to be someone’s comfort was overwhelming at times.  “I saw it at the Bijou when it opened. On my own couldn’t convince anyone else to come with me.”

“Hey I work at the Bijou, although in the projection room so kind of out of sight.” She could imagine him in the projector room, it seemed right that he would be there, strange woolen cap, suspenders, those tight jeans, the light from the projector flickering across his face catching the angles of his cheekbones.

“You are so lucky,” she responded snapping herself out of her own thoughts. She would have loved to have worked part time or even casually at the Bijou but with her course load and other pressures she couldn’t commit the time. That and her parents had worked so hard so that she would have the time to solely focus on her course work and not be distracted by working. But the Bijou had still become a safe haven for her. But she couldn’t imagine sitting up there in that projection booth getting to see every movie, she was jealous.

“Yeah I guess I am.” He nodded, as he took a sip from his coffee cup.

“Well I think your choices are always inspired. I just wish one of them would win, just once.” She sighed wistfully. She wanted nothing more to go to the drive in and actually watch something that meant something to her. It wasn’t just about snuggling next to a cute boy for her, it was a far greater experience and besides she didn’t have a cute boy to snuggle up to. As she kept reminding Veronica.

“Well I think the track record shows that I do not have a popular opinion.” A self deprecating smile crossed his face.

“I was so looking forward to watching it again as well.” Betty bowed her head in disappointment.

“We could.” Betty looked up at him. Had he really just suggested? “I mean, I have a copy of the movie if you wanted to - ”  

“I would really like that.” She agreed without considering further. She yearned to watch the film with someone who was as interested in the narrative as she was. Maybe it would be better than watching it on her own in her dorm room as she had already planned to do.

“Well, my roommate is attending the travesty that will be the drive in tomorrow night so if you wanted to come over to my room. Or I can bring the copy to your room if that would make you more comfortable.” He was playing with the sleeve of his shirt, not quite meeting her eyes as he spoke.

“I don’t mind going to yours. I can bring snacks,” she said cheerfully.

“Good, ah, my roommate is leaving pretty early for his date so anytime after 5.00pm would work.”

“Great it’s a date,” she clasped her hand over her mouth immediately as the words left her lips. “I mean it’s not a date, date, but like a calendar date. It’s a time, a meeting point.” She was rambling and she knew it desperately trying to grasp at words and dig herself out of her own embarrassment. The widening of his eyes had not gone unnoticed as she started to get up. She almost tripped over the seat as she made her legs move in the direction of her dorm before she started to blush and further embarrass herself.

“It’s 42C Jameson Wing.” Betty stopped for a moment to look at him confused. “My room,” he clarified.

“Great 42C.” she repeated back to him as she swung her bag over her shoulder and gave a quick wave as she walked away from the table the blush she was sure now fully across her cheeks. She was flustered, her stomach feeling like it was doing cartwheels and flips and all kinds of things a stomach should not be doing. He was cute, he had great taste in movies, and she was going to his room, just to two of them to watching a movie. She couldn’t wait to tell Veronica.

[lindseyluvsdrag]

Letters From My Glass Jar Ch. 11

Warning: Writing is not fundamental. Ignore the typos.

“Alley's dead.”

---

After immediately postponing the tour, Matt and Jason flew back to Brooklyn and a week of tears and confusion ensued as they tried to figure out what'd happened to the girl. Questions, answers and theories all swirled about until the funeral. Even then, Jason felt sick to his stomach as he paced the back of the church.

“Matt, I shouldn't be here,” he sniffled. “She was one of the first people that accepted me into your group of friends. She was so sweet to me and I failed her. Like, I was too busy recording albums and shit to give her a call to just check on her. Ugh,” the boy got out before covering his face and breaking down again.

Matt pulled his boyfriend close. “Babe, even if you would've tried to call, she would've ignored it. Her family hadn't heard from her in months and nobody really saw this coming.”

“I should've tried harder,” he sighed. “She was awesome.”

“She was,” he agreed prior to kissing Jason's head.

“And they still don't know what happened to her?”

“Drug overdose,” Matt exhaled and before the boy could tear up again, he pulled him close. “Just remember the good times. Like Miami when everyone played truth or dare.”

The boy laughed as he wiped his eyes. “Streaking in front of everyone.”

“You were trying so hard to fit in.”

He nodded. “I was. But Alley was cool with hanging out and would just listen to me rattle on about music.”

Matt smiled. “And prom.”

“Oh my God, prom was amazing.”

“It was. So let those good times inspire you when you go out there and sing.”

“I will.”

Matt adjusted Jason's tie and kissed the boy before exiting to the front of the church where Alley's white casket rested. It was surrounded by various floral arrangements and notes pinned to wreaths that her family and friends have left for her. The mortician had worked his magic and made the girl look as if she'd wake up any minute. Her long hair had been restored, her makeup covered any scars and was timelessly classic. She was dressed in her favorite pale pink chiffon dress, the very one that she'd worn to her high school graduation. The inside of the casket was lined with soft, billowy white satin that made Alley look as if she was already an angel floating on clouds. Her hands rested delicately over her heart and the girl finally looked at peace.

Matt took a deep breath as he made his way to the second pew and sat next to his old friend April. He wrapped his arm around the weeping girl. “It's so hard. She was so young, I mean, we all are. The gang will never be the same.”

“The gang died way before she did,” April sniffled. “Different schools and hanging out with new people- but at least most of us have the decency to show up. Where the fuck is Jake? And even that piece of shit ex of mine should've been here.”

Matt leaned in towards the girl's ear. “I heard that Alley's family didn't want Jake here,” he whispered. “It sucks but I don't think the poor guy would've been able to take it anyway.”

“Their relationship was always a goal. I just really hate that it ended the way it did. I hate that her life ended the way it did,” the girl got out before burying her face into the shoulder of Matt's suit just as the pastor of the church spoke.

“We'll now have Amazing Grace sang by Alley's old classmate, Jason Dardo.”

Usually taking the stage to the sound of thunderous applause, Jason felt nauseous as the silence and faint sobs reminded him that his friend was really gone. He avoided looking directly into her casket as he approached the podium. The brunette adjusted tilted the microphone upwards before clearing his throat. “It devastates me that Alley and I had to met again under such tragic circumstances. I regret not making more time for my friends and the important people in my life, but I hope that she can forgive me. My favorite memory of Alley is when she came over to my house one night and we ate junk food, shared secrets and just watched Disney movies until she fell asleep. There was something about the way she slept that seemed so tranquil and the worries of her world just melted away and I hope that she found that peace again,” the boy got out prior to clearing his throat and beginning his soulful rendition of the classic song.

By the time Jason finished singing, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. “I love you, Alley,” he sobbed before leaving the stage and quickly taking his spot next to Matt. The boy rubbed the brunette's back and consoled him while the pastor took to the podium again.

“And now we'll have a few words from…” He squinted his eyes to read the elegant script on the note the dark haired girl had just handed him. “Alley's best friend, Raven.”

Low murmuring spread throughout the pews, some over how the eulogy wasn't in the program and others over how inappropriately the girl was dressed.

Raven sauntered towards the podium in a skin tight, black spaghetti strap dress that hung low in the front and in the back. The only modest thing about the girl's dress was its length. The fitted material stopped below her knees, but the bright red stilettos and matching shade of her lipstick quickly demeaned that. Raven thumped the microphone with her razor sharp nails, sending a loud thud over the speakers.

“Testing, testing,” she said seductively before grinning. “Thank you, Jason for that beautiful speech and song. Meet me out back later.”

“Is she seriously doing this right now?” Matt growled under his breath.

“I have quite a few words to say about my best friend, Alley. My friend Alley and I met at the beginning of eighth grade, I thought she was cute and she had that all American thing going on so I said sure why not? When we got to high school, we both challenged ourselves to have boyfriends within the first week. Just my luck, a certain Jake Ludwig showed interest in me, but I'm a girl who likes options. “I didn't turn him down, I put him on hold to find the boys with the best prospects which I eventually found in the captain of the football team. Even though we couldn't be public because he was already dating Becky with the good hair on the cheer squad, but I didn't mind cause he gave me gifts and we had sex underneath the bleachers-”

“Where is this going?” the pastor quietly interjected.

“Oh my God, let me share my memory! You didn't rush anyone else, Gramps. You're being very disrespectful.”

To avoid an even bigger scene, the man stepped back and allowed the girl to continue.

“The moral of the story is that I actually sorta kinda liked Jake Ludwig and although I picked others, he was still my number four. I called dibs but Alley chose to date him anyway. I forgave her but I never forgot and if she were alive today I'm sure she'd say, 'Raven, I'm sorry that your beauty was is so intimidating. I shouldn’t have dated a guy you claimed, but I'm just that kind of girl.’”

---

Kurtis passed the blunt to Jake and the boy took two deep inhales then handed it back.

“Dude, I can't believe you're not crying.”

“I’ve cried enough,” he said quietly. “I was too pathetic to be there for her when she needed me the most.”

“Sorry, bro. I wish I would've known you were looking for her when you were. The last time I saw her was the day before she died, going to Raven's place.”

Jake turned to look at the other boy so fast that he nearly feel off of his seat. “Ra-Raven saw her?”

“Yeah. And before she kicked me out, they were talking about something. Pfft, I barely remember.”

The boy leaned in and grabbed his friend's shirt. “Kurtis, you have to try and remember what they talked about,” he said intently.

“Okay, okay,” Kurtis groaned as he pulled away. “Something about Raven being grossed out by her, um, and her losing a baby or something? Dude, my memory is as reliable as an old lady with dementia. I- where are you going?”

“To Alley's funeral,” he growled.

---

“When she became valedictorian, I was impressed but not that impressed,” Raven continued. “I always knew she was smart but since she got pregnant by Jake twice, it was definitely questionable.”

Whispering took over the audience and Alley's parents debated over whether to end the ceremony altogether but things quickly went further downhill when Jake sprinted out of the back of the church, stormed the altar and slapped Raven across the face so hard that she fell to the floor.

The whispering turned to gasps and shouts of how disrespectful the entire ceremony had become.

“Call the police!” Alley's mother ordered.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Matt groaned as he rushed out of his seat to the stop his best friend from making things worse. But he didn't make it before Jake grabbed the microphone.

“Raven doesn't deserve to be here! She's the  reason that Alley is dead!”

“That's bullshit!” Alley's sister protested. “You knew how bad she had declined and you didn't even think to call us!”

“No, no, I didn't,” the boy said, tone pleading for them to understand. “I-”

“She called me once saying that she knew for a fact that you were avoiding her! So you tell me whose fault it is?! She needed you Jake and you were the piece of shit that you've always been!”

“No! I loved her!”

Matt grabbed his friend's arms. “Jake, stop it. You're ruining this for her family. Get out of here before the cops come.”

The boy snatched away. “No!’ he sobbed. “I loved her more than anyone!”

“Get the fuck out of here, Jake!” Alley's father demanded.

The boy's heart sank but before he could respond, turn to leave or do anything, Raven's perfectly manicured nails were being jabbed into his eyes.

“Fuck!” he groaned in agony.

Before Raven could blind him completely, Matt snatched the girl away and restrained her.

“I'm going to fucking kill you, Jake!” she shouted. “Nobody puts their hands on me and survives! I'm going to shoot you in the fucking head and that's a promise!” Raven spat on the boy before Matt lead her away completely.

“Ay dios mios,” April gasped. Jason let go of her hand and quickly followed his boyfriend to the back of the church before all hell broke loose.

Alley's father quickly took to the altar and shoved the boy who was still trying to assess the damage to his corneas.

“You ruined my baby's life! How dare you show up here?!”

“I'm sorry! I'll leave, I just have something for her,” he said as he blinked, gratefully taking the blurry vision over nothing.

“You don't have anything for her! And what did Raven mean about pregnancies?”

Jake took a deep breath. “Mr. Taylor, It was true but-”

The man punched the boy in the face and when he was down, he punched him again then again and again until his wife rushed over and begged him to stop. She pulled the sobbing man into an embrace. “You can't take it out on him,” she cooed. The woman led her husband to the back of the church to get cleaned up, leaving Jake in the fetal position as blood began to pool around his head, wishing he was the one in the casket instead of her.

---

“I'm gonna kill him. I'm going to fucking kill him,” Raven mumbled relentlessly as Matt guided her to her car.

“Raven, you gotta try to understand the mindset he's in. He just lost the love of his life and her family hates his guts.”

“And now he has to worry about me,” she snarled. “Nobody hurts me and lives to tell about it.”

“Babe, you okay?” Jason asked as he approached.

“Yeah. Just making sure that Raven gets out of here safely.”

“It's not my safety you need to worry about,” the girl said calmly. She removed a cigarette from her clutch and lit it. “You're looking really good, Jason. Grammy nominations must do wonders for the skin.”

He blushed. “Um, thanks.”

“Wanna go back to my place?”

“Goodbye, Raven,” Matt hissed.

“I'll leave as soon as I finish my cigarette,” the girl assured.

The boy rolled his eyes, grabbed his boyfriend's hand and returned into the church. As soon as they were out of sight, Raven flicked her cigarette and sauntered over to Jake's Jeep. She pulled out her keys and carved 'FUCK YOU’ deep into the silver paint. “Nobody gets away with it,” she said with a devilish smirk before returning to her black Mustang.

---

When Matt and Jason returned inside the church, police had already swarmed the place and they were struggling to get handcuffs on Jake.

“Stop resisting!” they demanded.

“I will, I just need someone to take the fucking necklace! This is my last chance to give it to her! Anyone please!”

Matt rushed over but was immediately stopped by an officer.

“Stay back,” the woman ordered.

“He’s my best friend.”

“I don't care! Stay back.”

“Look at his face! You guys are going down for excessive force!”

“His face was like that when we got here, now get back!” she warned for the final time.

“Matt, get the necklace out of my pocket!” Jake shouted. “It's for Alley!”

“Just let me get the necklace and I promise he'll cooperate. It's his girlfriend's funeral for fucks sake.”

The woman sighed and turned around. “Hold on.” She reached into the boy's pocket, pulled out the gold necklace and car keys. She handed them to Matt.

“Thank you.”

Jake relaxed and the handcuffs were finally able to be placed on him, extra tight as payback for struggling.

“What's he gonna be charged with?” Matt asked.

“Disturbing the peace, he reeks of marijuana so that'll be a nice public intoxication and resisting arrest for starters. Witnesses say there was a  girl he assaulted but she fled so there's not much we can do with that unless she comes forward,” the woman said before gripping the boy's arm. “Let's go.”

“Jake, what do you want me to do with this?”

“Give it to her!” he got out before he was forced out of the church.

“Okay, okay,” the pastor said into the microphone. “This is a funeral, not a circus. The level of buffoonery, disrespect and disregard for this child's life are far too great. Let us bow our heads in prayer.”

While everyone lowered their heads in silence, Matt glanced at Jake's necklace, a gold heart shaped locket. He popped it open and nestled on each half of the heart were two small ultrasounds. The boy gulped as a lump swelled in his throat and before the prayer was over, he worked up the nerve to place the trinket in Alley's hand as it rested over her heart.

“Amen,” the pastor said, followed by the congregation.

Matt returned to his seat next to Jason and they sat through the remainder of the ceremony as everyone said their final goodbyes until the casket was closed then loaded into the hersh. After arriving at the cemetery, everyone somberly watched as Alley was lowered six feet into the ground and the first shove full of dirt was thrown onto her casket.

When it was time to go, Matt wrapped his arm around Jason's shoulder as they made it to the parking lot. “Tired?”

“I don't know,” he sniffled.

“Well, I'm gonna drive Jake's car to his house. Will you trail me?”

The brunette nodded so they loaded into Jason's Honda and drove back to the church. The couple shared a kiss before Matt made his way to his friend's Jeep and when he saw how it'd been vandalized, his jaw dropped. “That bitch,” he hissed. Matt thought about confronting the girl but when he glanced back at Jason and saw that the boy was still crying, he put it on the back burner and decided to complete the task at hand.

---

“Today just keeps getting shitter,” Matt groaned as he climbed into the passenger side of Jason's car. “A funeral and telling Mrs. Ludwig that Jake's in jail was hard as fuck. She's in there bawling her eyes out.”

“I'm sorry, babe,” his boyfriend offered.

The boy exhaled loudly. “Now we have to wait until Jake's processed in to see what his bail will be and that can take hours.”

“Damn. So what should we do in the meantime?”

---

“Oh, fuck,” Jason panted as his boyfriend slowly thrusted into him.

After they'd driven to the brunette's empty glass house, Matt's back massage offer quickly escalated and the boy was already teetering on his second orgasm.

Matt placed his hands on his lover's waist and gave it a slight lift so that he could enter him at a new angle. “Shit, babe you feel so good,” he moaned.

Jason replied with a feeble groan, toes curling as the stimulation from his prostate sent warm tingles throughout his body.

“Turn over,” Matt ordered as he pulled out and flipped the brunette onto his back. “I wanna see your beautiful face as you come.”

When the boy entered him a second time, Jason wrapped his arms around his lover and with a few more thrusts against his sensitive bundle of nerves, he moaned as clear fluid leaked out of his dick. Normally he'd be disappointed, but his first load of cum had been already lapped up by Matt.

The boy's face and light trembling alone was so erotic to Matt that whimpered as he came, filling the condom with his hot cum. The thought and sensation of only having a thin layer of latex between them never failed to give Jason butterflies. They shared a few passionate kisses prior to Matt pulling out, tossing the condom in the trash and settling onto the bed next to Jason.

“Life is way too short, babe.”

“I know,” the brunette sighed as he turned on his side and wrapped his arm around Matt's chest.

“You've already accomplished so much in your eighteen years. Enough for two lifetimes.”

“I suppose...whats up?”

“I don't know. I just feel like I haven't done anything.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I want my artistic inclination to take me somewhere, ya know?”

“Well you're working towards your advertisement art degree. I can see you being the head of an advertising company one day. Making logos and cartoon characters for cereal,” he giggled.

Matt's laugh was half hearted.

“And you're already credited for the art on my album cover and once your royalty money starts coming in, that should be nice.”

“Yeah,” he sighed.

Jason sat up. “What's really bothering you?”

“Nothing, I just...really want to explore my talents.”

“Okay. How?”

“Can I do your makeup?” he asked, tone overly hopeful.

Jason frowned. “I don't wear makeup.”

“I know, I know but I'm really fascinated by how it can change someone's entire appearance and it's really like art in a way. I mean, did you see how great they made Alley look? Makeup is like magic.”

“Ugh, I knew I should've never let Ronis do your makeup.”

“Well, that was kinda necessary. I have warrants for my arrest in London and I needed a disguise,” he chuckled.

Jason simply shook his head.

“So will you let me?”

“Why don't you do your own makeup?”

“Because when Liz did your face, you looked so fucking beautiful and I want to see if I can recreate it.”

The brunette groaned.

Babe, pleaseeee. I just want to experiment. Pleaseeee,” he begged with a wide eyed pout.

“Fine,” Jason sighed.

“Yes! I love you!” the boy exploded in excitement as he flung himself out of the bed then out of the room.

“Where are you going?!” the brunette shouted after him.

“To the store!”

“Babe!”

“Yeah?”

“You need to put on some pants!”

---

Matt soon returned with at least one hundred dollars worth of makeup. He dumped the cosmetics onto the bed and quickly began to sift through it.

“Why so much?” Jason asked.

“I couldn't help myself. Lipstick come in so many shades and then the slightest undertone of blue or red color completely!” he said, bursting with excitement.

The brunette had to admit that the boy was being absolutely adorable, but he wasn't looking forward to having the gunk slathered onto his face.

“Okay, step one is...primer...I think.”

“Like for a house?”

“Yeah. It'll protect your skin, let your makeup go on smooth and allow foundation to last all day,” he recited.

“Do you really know what you're talking about or did you just read that off of the box?”

“I’ve been watching a lot of tutorials,” he laughed. “So I sorta kinda know what I'm talking about.”

“Oh, God.”

“But it's all a learning experience!” Matt washed his hands and once he returned, he applied a liberal amount of the cream onto his boyfriend's face.

“This smells really good, babe,” Jason complemented, finally deciding to be fully cooperative and be supportive as Matt lived out his bizarre fantasy.

“Good,” the boy said in relief. “Next step, foundation. I think you have a more cool undertone so I wanna try this one.”

“Okay.”

Matt opened the glass bottle of the liquid foundation before pouring a fair amount onto the pear shaped sponge.

“Is that a butt plug?”

Matt cackled. “No, it's called a beauty blender.”

“Damn. I got excited for a second there.”

“You're such a dork,” the boy said as he began to dab the foundation onto Jason's face and neck.

“Why are you putting it so far down? Oh my God, why my ears?!”

“You have to cover up everything so your tone matches all overrr.” Once he had full coverage, Matt did his best to fill in the boy's brows and contour and highlight the planes of his face. He chose a shimmery shade of blue eyeshadow paired with a thick winged eyeliner to, in his mind, make Jason's eyes sparkle.

“What if I have to sneeze?” Jason asked. “Hypothetically.”

“Hold it 'til you take a shower.”

The brunette scoffed and allowed his boyfriend to continue to add layers of creams and powders to his face. The real struggle came when he attempted to secure the false lashes to the boy's lids.

“Owww,” Jason whimpered when Matt poked him in the eye for the third time.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorryyyy.” He kissed the boy's head and tried again. Once the glue adhered to his skin, Jason could barely open his eyes.

“It feels like I had a stroke. What part of this is supposed to be glamorous?”

“It might feel crazy but I think you look greatttt.”

“Are you done?”

“Can I put your hair in a sock bun?”

“Don't push it.”

Matt laughed. “Okay, okay, I saved the best for last. Lipstickkkk.” The boy began to sift through the twenty shades he'd purchased. Using Jason's arm as a swatch board, he finally settled on the exact same color his mother owned. “It's called Vampire Blood,” he said in his best attempt at a Transylvanian accent. Matt shaped Jason's lips with a pencil, even overdrawing them for a fuller effect, before he applied a thick coat of the bright red lipstick. “Oh my Goddd.”

“Whatttt?”

“You look so good!”

“Are you done?” Jason asked impatiently.

“Yep.”

Matt grabbed his boyfriend's hand and excitedly led him into the bathroom. When Jason saw his reflection, he burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughinggg?”

“I look like a clown. A pale, clown prostitute.”

The boy's face fell a little. “Well, I think you look beautiful.”

“Thank you, baby. But I think you should start practicing on your own face.”

“Yeah...well, thanks for letting me try, Pumpkin.”

Jason turned to look at him. “Are you sure you're okay?”

“Mhm, why?”

“You hardly ever call me Pumpkin.”

“I just appreciate you. I need you to know that.”

“Of course I do, babe. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

The couple shared a kiss.

“Sorry,” Jason giggled as he wiped the lipstick off of Matt's face.

“It's okay.”

“I bet you're into it anyway.”

“Well you are looking like Megan Fox,” Matt growled as he lifted the boy by his ass. “Round two?”

“Let me wash my face first.”

“Come onnn let's just do it. Heat of the moment type shit.”

“Nooo. I do not feel sexy with this on my face.”

“Okay,” Matt sighed as he returned the boy to his feet.

“Are you upset?”

“No,” the boy quietly replied.

“Babe.”

“Why would I be upset?”

“Because you tend to get an attitude when things don't go your way.”

“Says the boy with the broken hand,” Matt scoffed. “I'm not upset. Just wash your face.” The boy made his way to the bedroom, checked his phone and saw that he had three missed calls from Jake's mother. He immediately called the woman back.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mrs. Ludwig. What's up?”

“Jake called me. His bail was set at five thousand dollars and we're about to go get him now. I thought you'd like to go.”

“Of course,” he panted as he grabbed his shoes. “I'll be right over.”

“Babe, this stuff is so hard to get offff!” Jason whined from the bathroom.

“You were supposed to use a makeup wipe first.”

“Could you get me one?”

“Yeah.” The boy pulled on his coat, grabbed the case of makeup wipes and passed them to the boy in the bathroom.

Jason glanced at him through one eye as water dripped off of his face. “Where are you going?”

“Jake's parents are bailing him out of jail. I'm going with them.”

“Why didn't you tell me? I don't wanna be alone, wait for me.”

“Babe, I have to go now. You're taking too long.”

“You're the one who put this shit on my face in the first place! The least you could do is wait for me!”

“If you were in jail, you'd want someone to come as quickly as possible! Now I gotta go. I'll be back.” Matt leaned in to kiss the boy but Jason pulled away. “Whatever,” he grumbled before walking off.

“You don't even have a fucking car to get there!”

��So I can't borrow yours?”

“No! Especially if you don't want to wait for me!”

“You're so fucking petty,” Matt groaned as he tossed the keys across the room. They hit the wall in a loud thud and the boy stormed off.

“Don’t even bother coming back!”

“Whatever, Jason,” Matt said over the intercom before exiting the glass house altogether.

---

After being dropped off by Jackie, Oliver stormed into his dorm and flopped onto his bed. Instead of telling Ronis that he'd gotten back early, the boy took the time to pull on his headphones and blast the music at full volume.

---

Bored out of her mind, Ronis considered visiting her parents while Oliver was away, but she opted for study hall instead. The girl wanted to get a head start on next semester’s piano syllabus and she knew that there was always an upper classman in the area willing to offer a lesson.

When she entered the room, Ronis debated turning on her heel when she saw it was empty aside from Edwin, but the girl held her head high and strutted towards the first piano she saw. She flipped through the music book set atop the instrument and she settled on something that she figured would be easy enough to start with but before she could play a note, the boy's voice broke the silence.

“It's usually customary to say 'hello’ when you enter a room.”

Ronis decided to play nice. “Hello,” she said dryly.

“What are you doing in here?”

“Well, this is the piano room. Isn't it obvious?”

The boy chuckled. “Touché. But you should be on holiday. Tomorrow is new year's eve.”

“I suppose I should be but nope. I'm here...minding my own business,” she said underhandedly before the curiosity set in. “Aren't you like the son of an Earl or something? Why aren't you with your family?”

“My family is in Barcelona on 'official business’ which actually means a lot of standing and meeting people who really don't give a fuck about you.”

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“It just sounds sad. Everyone should get to enjoy their family around this time of year.”

“Well, I had dinner with my nanny and butlers the other night. That counts.”

Ronis let out an uncomfortable chuckle before turning her attention back to the sheet music.

“What are you working on?” Edwin asked.

“Twinkle twinkle little star,” she replied, slightly embarrassed. But she assumed that the boy must've been inexperienced too if he was spending his time in there. “You?”

“I’m composing my own piece called L'évolution de L'amour.”

“Oh...The Evolution of Love. Sounds interesting.”

“Tu parle Français?” he asked.

“Qui,” she replied smugly.

Edwin smiled and turned his attention back to his work. Ronis played the beginning notes to the simple lullaby in front of her before the elegant flourish of complicated melodies came out of the blonde boy's instrument.

The girl scoffed. “Show off.”

He laughed. “I could help you...if you want,” he suggested as his melody slowed to a softer tune then picked back up again, effectively showing the range of the boy's talent.

“As much as I'd love help, I don't think getting it from you would be a good idea.”

“Why not? I don't bite.”

“Well, I do. And if your girlfriend ever oversteps her bounds with my boyfriend again, it'll be a problem.”

“She's not my girlfriend,” the boy retorted.

“Pfft, since when?”

Edwin was silent for a long time. “Since she cheated on me.”

“I'm sorry,” Ronis offered.

“At first it seemed like she was just trying to be social but I quickly realized that every guy she was hanging out with, she was also sleeping with. The girl just can't be trusted.”

She scowled. “I figured.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I guess I'd take that help offer if it still stands.”

Edwin grinned. “I'd be happy to. Give me a second.”

“Okay.”

The boy sent a quick text to Jinkx before collecting his things and moving next to Ronis on the small stool. “Okay, the first thing I like to do is actually stretch.”

“Why?”

“Because carpal tunnel is a thing and I don't want it. I mean your hands have like seventeen muscles, attached to the eighteen in your forearm...then there's your biceps...and shoulders.”

“Um, okay...so how do you stretch?”

“Well I just pop my knuckles and go at it, but since you're a beginner, you'll need to loosen all the way up.” Edwin pushed himself off of the stool and stood behind the girl. “Do you mind if I touch you?”

“What?”

“Your shoulders. Do you mind if I touch your shoulders?”

“Um... I guess not.”

Edwin gently placed his hands on the girl's shoulders over her thick coat. “For the best results, this should probably come off.”

Ronis hesitated before relenting and removing the article of clothing. “Okay, but no funny business.”

“Never,” the boy chuckled as he placed his hands on the shoulders covered by a thin, long sleeved shirt. With his thumbs at her shoulder blades, he began to rub circles into the girl's muscles while he spoke. “Wow, much too tense for the piano. Relax.”

The girl closed her eyes and melted into Edwin's touch.

---

“Ow,” Jinkx whimpered as she covered her black eye with cream foundation. “Stop making him so angry.”

Once she finally managed to get full coverage, her phone beeped at the incoming text message. Based on the tone, she knew it was her boyfriend so she had to respond as quickly as possible.

Edwin: Get Oliver to the piano room, now!

Jinkx: Is he even here?

Edwin: I don't fucking know. Go see and if he is, get him down here, dumbass! It's not rocket science!

Jinkx: ok

The girl sighed, pulled on her coat and exited the female dorms. She slowly made it to the Oliver's room and knocked. When he didn't answer right away, Jinkx turned on her heel and began to take the long corridor back towards the elevator.

“Hello?” Oliver called from behind her.

Jinkx groaned before turning around. “Hey

.. I didn't know you were here.”

“Well I am. What do you want?”

“Nothing... I shouldn't have come here. I don't want to get involved in your relationship anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw Ronis and Edwin enter the piano room together. I don't know, with hardly anyone on campus, I just thought it was weird. But...that’s none of my business.”

The boy frowned. “Are you sure?”

“I'd know that big curly hair anywhere.”

“I really don't have time for this right now,” Oliver sighed with thoughts of his mother still in the back of his mind. He pulled on his coat and followed the girl down the corridor.

---

“Are you loose yet?” Edwin whispered.

“Excuse me?”

“Are you loosened up yet?”

“Oh, um, yeah.”

“Well...to just be sure,” he chuckled as he continued to massage her. Moments later, Jinkx entered the room followed by Oliver who scowled when he saw his girlfriend being touched by, of all people, Edwin.

“What the fuck is this?” he asked.

“Piano lessons,” the girl replied when she saw Jinkx, she scowled. “When did you get back to campus?”

“An hour ago, but what does that matter?”

“I didn't know that you were here. Why-”

“That doesn't give you an excuse to be a-” the boy caught himself before he said it.

“What are you stalking me now, Jinkx?” Edwin added just to instigate. “Are you sleeping with Oli too?”

“Wait what?” Oliver scoffed.

“Yeah, Oliver David. Explain to me why you're even associating yourself with this bitch!” Ronis demanded.

“You're not about to turn this around on me! You're in here practically having sex on the piano! When you get bored, you really should stop finding random guys to occupy your time.”

“What the fu-”

“Sshhhh,” an administrative assistant demanded when she entered the room. “Take the drama to the quad.”

Oliver stormed out of the room leaving Ronis to fumble with her things as she tried to catch up with him. “I'm really sorry, Edwin but this will be our first and last lesson,” the girl sighed before exiting. “Oliver!” she shouted after the boy who was already halfway across campus. After having to sprint through the snow to catch up to him, the girl was completely out of breath when she stopped the boy. “What are you two?” she panted. “Stop running away, I'm trying to talk to you!”

“Maybe I am two,” Oliver snapped back with a shrug. “I don't have time for your bullshit.”

“My bullshit?!”

“Yes! Why are you in there with him, getting felt up and shit?! And I'll bet you have some great excuse for it too!”

“First of all, you're at an unnecessary ten and you really need to bring it down to a two or-”

“Ugh!” the boy groaned before pushing past the girl.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Before she knew it, Ronis picked up a handful of snow, squeezed it onto a ball and lobbed it at the Oliver's back.

He quickly turned around. “Did you seriously just throw a snowball at me?”

“Yeah because you're being an asshole!”

Oliver swiftly scooped up two handfuls of the icy crystals and tossed them at the girl, hitting her in the chest. A rage fueled snowball fight quickly ensued and when a chunk of dirty ice got into the girl's hair, the boy knew that it was on.

“This is so pathetic,” Edwin groaned as he watched from a safe distance.

Oliver took refuge behind a bench but fueled by the heat of their argument and fury over her hair, Ronis was hot on his trail. She somehow managed to get a fistful of snow into the back of the boy's shirt and Oliver immediately pleaded for a truce when the ice began to make him shiver uncontrollable.

“That's for my hair.” Ronis tossed one last ball at the boy's head. “And that's for barging into that room with Jinkx and not listening to me. Now we can have a truce.”

“Fine,” Oliver panted. “But I had to come and see what was up. Jinkx told me that she'd seen you and Edwin go into the piano room together and it's been a hard enough day without hearing shit like that.”

“She said what?”

“That-”

“Wait…” Ronis got an eerie feeling that they were being watched. “Let's go to your dorm.”

“Fucking hell,” Edwin hissed. “This shit is really starting to piss me off.”

“How do you know that they're even a threat? What if you're in the league for the scholarship anyway?”

“Because I checked the school records, my dear idiot. Now that the American is gone, Ronis is the student that professors are 'looking out for’ and it's bullshit. Fuck!”

“I'm sorry,” Jinkx said quietly.

“Whatever,” he groaned. “Let's go.”

Once they made it back to the Edwin's dorm, he slammed a few things around before settling onto the plush chaise. Due to his parent's influence,  the boy didn't have a roommate and his room had been furnished with the best of the best. A full sized bed with silk sheets and an entire bathroom to himself, Jinkx opted to spend most of her time here rather than be sequestered with a roommate that she knew hated her.

“Babe, why don't we just run away? Start a record label of our own. I mean, that'd be a massive accomplishment and it'll be all on your own accord and not your parents.”

“Oh, Jinkx. Sweet little Jinkx,” he sighed. “If I drop out, then I'd be cut off from their money. Don't you ever use your brain?”

“I guess not,” she said quietly.

“But it was a fantastic gesture, my love. Get over here.”

After sex was swiftly initiated by the boy, Jinkx stared blankly at the ceiling and counted the swirls in the crown molding while she waited for Edwin to finish.

“Oh, yeah baby, right there,” the girl always added for good measure and an ego boost on the boy's end. “Feels so good.”

“Fuck yeah it does,” Edwin panted before slapping her.

Jinkx wanted to wince but didn't show it. “Mmm,” she moaned before turning her attention back to the ceiling.

---

“Jinkx told you that she saw me and Edwin go into the piano room together?”

“Yes.”

“With her own two eyes?”

“Yes! Is that not true?”

Ronis shot her boyfriend a look. “That fact that you have to question it hurts my feelings.”

“Well, why would Jinkx lie about that?”

“She's trying to break us up!”

Oliver rolled his eyes.

“I'm serious! And I think it was way too convenient that she 'saw’ Edwin and I. There's no way she would've known I was in there unless she followed me or Edwin told her.”

“Why would Edwin tell her that?”

“That's what I can't figure out,” she groaned. “I think she or he or both wanted you there to see him massaging me to upset you.”

“Yeah, because there's just a big 'let's upset Oliver conspiracy going on,” he said sarcastically.

“Have you had this nasty attitude all day?” Ronis asked before remembering that the boy had met his mother. “Oh, how was seeing Jennifer?”

“Oh now, you want to ask about my day?”

“Yes, now. Had I known you were even on campus earlier I would've asked sooner.”

“Meeting her was terrible.”

“Oh God, what happened?”

“Hmm, let's see. She had proof that she's been trying to see me since she left, I found out that everything I know about my childhood is a lie because my dad was the one keeping me away from her and oh, she fucking loves candy. Now I see where I got it from. It was so fucking terrible.”

“Well, she doesn't sound too bad. I know that things with your dad will probably be weird for awhile, but that doesn't mean you can't get to know your mum.”

“She's not my mum!”

“Are you on your man period?”

The boy frowned. “Why would you say that to me?”

“Because you're being so goddamn moody that I was wondering if you needed to borrow a fucking tampon.”

Without another word, Oliver entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

“You're totally taking that the wrong way aren't you?” Ronis groaned aloud.

“Just leave me alone,” he sighed.

“No because you're taking what I said to heart. I say that to anyone: men, women and children who are being overly emotional, especially when it's not how they usually behave.”

“Thank you for calling me overly emotional. It's not like I met Jennifer today. That had no impact on me whatsoever,” he said sarcastically.

“Oh my Godddd,” she groaned in exasperation as she sank to the floor, pressing her neck against the bathroom door. Unbeknownst to Ronis, Oliver had done the same. “Even though you're being a total brat right now, I still love you.”

The boy didn't respond for a long time. “I love you too,” he said quietly. “And I'm sorry for being such a jerk.”

“It's okay, babe. I know it's been a really tough couple of days.”

“It has. Ya know...Jennifer was everything I dreamt she would be and that scared me. It would've been easier if she was just an evil bitch, but why? Whyyyy do I suddenly have to accept this stranger into my life and view my dad as the bad guy?”

“But you don't have to view your dad as the bad guy. He did what he thought he had to do.”

“By keeping a healthy, willing and able mother away from her kid- oh! Not even healthy, she had fucking cancer! That's the only reason she put gaining custody on hold and once she was in remission, she continued but my dad never gave her a chance.”

“Even knowing she had cancer?”

“Nobody knew. To this day, Jackie doesn't even know.”

“Ugh, that had to be so hard.”

“Ya think?! And now I have to deprogram my brain from thinking she's the devil but at the same time I feel like I'm betraying my dad and it's just ugh. It fucking sucks.”

“Oli, you shouldn't have to feel like you're choosing sides when they're the grown ass adults in the situation. They should've figured that shit out years ago and it's not your fault. My advice to you is talking to your dad about it-”

“He'll never admit to doing anything wrong.”

“At this point, it's not about right and wrong. It's about coming to an agreement that you and Jennifer were robbed of each other for fourteen years and he has to allow you guys to have a relationship, if you want one of course, and he can't be upset about it. A boy needs a mother.”

“I guess you're right,” Oliver sighed. “So you think I should try to get them into the same room?”

“Well sure, if you want to start World War III.”

He laughed.

“I'm seriousss. But I'd be there for it.”

“That's it! If you go with me to meet them, you can keep everything under control.”

The girl's eyes grew wide. “Whoa, what?! Since when did I become a referee?”

“Since I remembered that you can take down my dad with that Kung Fu stuff!”

Ronis sighed. “It's Krav Maga.”

“Yeah, thattt. So everything should go smoothly if you're there.”

“I'm glad you have so much confidence in me.”

“I do.”

“So then take what I said about Jinkx and Edwin seriously. They're really weird and I don't trust them.”

“Yeah, it seems like Jinkx instigates a lot of shit.”

“She does! It's testing my patience and I want to punch her in the fucking face.”

“Whoa, calm down, tiger,” Oliver chuckled even though he was slightly turned on by the girl's rage.

“No, I swear to God, if she continues to concern herself with anything that we have going on, I'll-” the girl stopped to compose herself.

“You'll what?” the boy urged.

“I’m being a lady right now,” she said through a clenched jaw.

“What if Jinkx tries to touch my ass?”

“I'll beat the shit out of her!”

Oliver covered his mouth to suppress his laughter. “But babe, it's my ass. I have a right to let whomever I want to touch it do so.”

Ronis quickly stood and rattled the doorknob. It was locked so she banged on the wood. “You must be in there huffing fumes! Nobody will be touching your ass but me!”

“Hmm, I don't know, love. Your grip just isn't firm enough.”

“I'll show you a firm grip!” she snarled. “Open the door!”

“I'll open it once you calm down.”

The girl took a deep breath. “I am calm.”

“You sure?”

“Mm hmm.”

“Alright.” Oliver stood, opened the door and the girl immediately pounced on him.

---

After he finally washed the layers of makeup off of his face, Jason showered prior to getting dressed  and sulking.

“He left me aloneeee,” he whined. “Now if burglars or kidnappers come, he'd feel really shitty.” The bored boy flopped onto his bed and began scrolling through Instagram. He'd never live streamed anything before so he decided to give it a try. Within seconds of turning it on, the boy was joined by several viewers. “One thousand...five thousand...twelve-oh my God there's no way that there are- eighty thousand people here!” The number continued to climb as the boy was flooded with hearts and comments coming in so fast that he could hardly keep up with them.

Hey Jason!

You look tired

Gorgeousss 😍😍

Omg have my babies 😘😂

COME TO BRAZIL!

“Wow, this is intense. Um, but I'll try to respond to what I can. Hey, first person. I am pretty tired. Thank youuu. I wish I could have your babies and I'd love to come to Brazil.”

Where's Matt??

Say hello to Marie!

Why'd you cancel your promo tour?? I was supposed to meet you today 😭

“Matt's not here right now. Hi, Marie. How are you? Aww, I'm sorry but my promo tour was not cancelled. A friend of mine passed away and I..yeah. Took a few days off.”

Sorry to hear about your friend 😖

Are you okay?

Mark Diller️: I hope you're okay

When he saw the name, Jason frowned and contemplated ending the stream but quickly remembered that he had thousands of other people who cared about him still tuning in. “Thanks guys, I'm fine.”

Where are you?

Mark Diller: Also, Congrats on your Grammy nominations 😊

“I'm actually in my bedroom. I know it's not really fancy or decorated, my old room is way cooler. And um...thanks. I'm really excited about the Grammys.”

Can we have a tour of your house??

Oh my Godddd are you going to perform at the Grammys?

Mark Diller: You're welcome

“My house really isn't that interesting. Unless you guys wanna see the studio? Um, I don't think new artists perform at the Grammys, but I honestly have no details on anything yet besides it being at held at the end of February.”

Yeah we wanna see the studio!

Mark Diller: Any resolutions for the new year?

Yeah, what are your resolutions?

“Okay, let's go to the studio,” the boy said excitedly as he pushed himself off of the bed then out of his bed room. “And um, I don't have a resolution for the new year besides continuing to make music and getting through the new year without falling apart.”

So excited to hear the new music!

How's your hand?

Soooo are you and Matt engaged??!

Mark Diller: Such good questions

“And I'm excited for you guys to hear it. Although a little itchy, my hand is fine,” he said before chuckling at the last question. “Y'all so nosy.”

The boy took the elevator down to his studio and  turned his camera to show off the elaborate room. “What do you guys think?” Jason then pointed to his keyboard and worn stool. “This is where the magic happens. I've written every single one of my songs on this stool. It used to belong to my mother.”

He turned the camera to read the comments and the only one that stood out was made by Mark.

Mark Diller: Is that a Fisher-Price keyboard? 😂😂

“Fuck all the way off, it's not a toy keyboard,” Jason said as he played a few notes.

Mark Diller: It's a hunk of plastic

“You're a hunk of plastic,” the boy mumbled prior to sitting down. “It's just as good as a real piano.”

Mark Diller: You and I both know that isn't true. You're a star and need to work with the best

“Well, this keyboard got me where I am today. When the time comes, sure, I'll get myself a fancy shmancy piano but I see no reason to buy one now. Maybe just because,” Jason said with a shrug.

Mark Diller: Just because 🤔

“Yep yep.

Matt Lent: I’m knee deep in blood while you're showing off

Jason scoffed. “If I remember correctly, you left me so.. whatever.”

Matt Lent: You should've come when you were finished

“Oh my God, why would I?!”

Mark Diller: 🍿

“I'm gonna get going guys. Thank you all for tuning in. Thank you for the support. And I'll definitely be finishing out my promo tour soon so watch out for that. Byeee,” he got out before ending the live stream. “Ugh, he has some fucking audacity.”

His phone began to ring with a picture of he and Matt taking up the screen. “Hello?” he answered nonchalantly.

“Nothing was stopping you from coming after you were done,” Matt replied.

“Matt, I don't give a fuck about Jake being in jail. You left me and you just tried to air our personal business in front of all those people. I literally have nothing to say to you right now.”

“Well God forbid that Jason looks like an asshole in front of his bagillion fans,” the boy mocked.

“Goodbye, Matthew,” Jason said before hanging up.

---

After the line went dead, Matt instantly regretted the conversation and how easily he'd allowed himself to take his frustrations out of the wrong person. He returned into the hospital room where his friend was now resting in bed. His head and left eye were bandaged in gauze.

“I'm sorry, Jake.”

“Would you stop apologizing?”

“No, I just…I should've been there for you. You wouldn't be in here. You wouldn't have gone to jail, you'd...still have both eyes.”

“Matt, it's not your fault. And they still may be able to save my eye, we just have to wait.”

“Jake, a three percent chance ain't shit and that doctor was just stringing you along so he wouldn't hurt your feelings.”

“Ya know, you aren't really making me feel better,” his friend chuckled before groaning at the pain his bruised ribs were inducing.

Matt sank into the nearby seat and buried his face. “I know, I know. I'm so sorry. I'm fucking up with everyone.”

“It's all good, bro. And if I lose an eye, I'll just get a fake one. I'd pop it out at bars and touch people with it and go 'I’ve got my eye on you’.”

The boy laughed. “You're sick.”

“So if eyes are the windows to the soul, if I'm missing one, does that mean my house has been downgraded to a condo?”

“Hmm. I'd say more of a cottage.”

“What the fuck? How'd I end up there?”

“After being busted as an international drug lord, the government seized all of your assets, leaving you with only enough money for a cottage without plumbing so you gotta get water out of a well and befriend all the woodland creatures like Snow White. It's a temporary home until you regain your connections, but you'll enjoy it.”

“Sounds about right. As long as the birds and squirrels dress me and the deer have an amazing sense of humor.”

The duo cackled before things went quiet.

“You know, it should be me trying to cheer you up. Not the other way around,” Matt sighed.

“I'm trying to distract you from going to her house and doing something stupid. When you just went left to ‘call Jason’ I swore that you'd just run out of this place and go kick her door down.”

“Raven is a fucking psycho and she can't get away with this,” Matt snarled as he dug his fingernails into armrests of the chair.

“But I hit her first, of course she's going to act crazy.”

“Pfft, she deserved it.”

“Nobody deserves that. Especially a girl that can already be overpowered as is and if you do anything, you'll look like an asshole. Just leave it alone.”

“Okay,” he said simply, but Jake knew better.

“Matty,” his friend said sternly. “Don’t confront her. She has a gun and isn't afraid to use it.”

“I'm not scared of a gun and I'm definitely not scared of Raven. Do you think she does drugs?”

“Knock, knock,” Carmen said as she entered the room.

“Hey, Carmen,” Matt greeted.

“Heyyy,” Jake rasped.

“How are you?”

“Terrible...I'm in so much pain and I may lose an eye,” he sniffled.

Matt shot the boy a concerned look.

“I think I need some tlc,” Jake continued. When he said that, it finally dawned on Matt what the boy was doing.

“Well, I bought you flowers,” Carmen said as she pulled the colorful assortment from behind her back. “And beef jerky.” She handed him the pack of dried meat.

“Thank you so much, Carmen. You've always been so- owww. Thoughtful.”

Carmen pouted.

“Just set the flowers over there.”

The girl turned and as she made her way across the room, Jake watched her ass.

Perv, Matt mouthed.

I deserve it, he replied. I have to look with my good eye anyway, give me a break.

The boy pursed his lips to suppress his laughter.

“Thank you so much, Carmen,” Jake said when she turned back around, making sure to groan in agony as he spoke.

The girl caressed his cheek. “I hate seeing you like this.”

“Well, I can only see half of you so…”

“Oh my God, I'm sorry.”

“No, it's okay...your touch makes it a lot better.”

Matt rolled his eyes. “I'm gonna get going,” he said as he pushed himself out of the chair.

“Bye, Matty,” Jake chirped.

“See you later, Matt,” Carmen said. “And by the way, Raven doesn't do drugs. She’s too much of a control freak for that and being on drugs would compromise that.”

“Good to know.”

“Be good, Matt,” his friend ordered.

“You too. I left condoms in your drawer,” he joked before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

---

“So what's the plan?” Ronis asked her boyfriend as they climbed out of the taxi.

“We're meeting Jen here and I have to get her to forgive me.”

“Which I'm sure she will.”

“And then convince her to be in the same room as my Dad.”

“Good luck with that.”

The duo entered the restaurant and Ronis immediately spotted the woman. “Oh my God, is that her?”

“Yeah,” Oliver said nervously as he tightened his grip on the girl's hand.

Jennifer jumped up and anxiously smoothed her blouse. “Oh my Goddd. I didn't know that you'd be coming too!” she squealed. “May I hug you?”

“Of course!” Ronis said excitedly as she accepted the woman's embrace.

The hug was short lived before Jennifer pulled away to look at the girl again. “You are so goddamn beautifulll and I love your Twitter! I'm trying not to fangirl. Is that what the kids say? Fangirl?”

Ronis giggled. “I guessss. Thank you so much. You're looking good yourself! I thought Oliver looked like David but he has your cheekbones and dimple.”

“The only thing he got from David are those hazel eyes. But his smarts and common sense come from my side of the family,” she whispered.

“Oh my God, I went to the Riddle household for Christmas and it was insanity.”

“Just one Christmas?! Honey, let me tell you-”

“Hey,” Oliver interjected. “They're still my family.”

“Sorry,” the duo said in unison before giggling.

The boy shook his head. “Are you guys done?”

“Babe, loosen up,” Ronis said before kissing his tense lips.

“Awww,” Jennifer squealed. “So cuteeee.”

Oliver turned bright crimson. “Can we eat?”

“Well I think you have something to tell Jennifer first don't you?”

“Umm, yeah,” Oliver said quietly. “I'm sorry for the way I behaved at your home. It was disrespectful and uncalled for. I'm really sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize, sweetheart. Ever. I'm just so happy that you're giving me a second chance,” she said through a broken voice.

“Hug it outtt,” Ronis whispered.

The woman wrapped her arms around Oliver and immediately began to cry. “My beautiful baby boy.”

He pursed his lips to stop himself from becoming emotional.

“Oli, this is what you wanteddd,” Ronis intentionally commented. “You have your mummy.”

At that, a few tears escaped the boy's eyes. The girl pulled out her phone and snapped a picture.

“You better not post that,” Oliver sniffled as he attempted to grab her phone.

“I won'tttt. It'll just be my background.”

“Ugh.”

“I love youuu.”

“Group hug,” Jennifer said as she pulled Ronis into the embrace.

“Okay, okay, that's enough,” Oliver sighed as he pulled away. “The happy times won't last when I ask you to do me a favor.”

“Oh nooo, anything you want it's yours,” Jennifer assured as she wiped her eyes.

“I want you to meet up with my dad.”

The woman gulped. “Umm...are weapons allowed?”

Ronis cackled and the boy frowned. “It's not funny.”

“I'm sorry, but you know David isn't the easiest person to deal with,” his girlfriend reminded.

“I know that but he's still my dad and neither of you have the right to talk shit about him.”

“Well I think I've earned that right, but for your sake, I will keep quiet,” Jennifer said as she gestured zipping her lips.

“Thank you,” he sighed. “I just need to get him to understand that you aren't the bad guy here. I want to have both of you in my life and to do that, I need to at least make an attempt to get you both on the same page.”

“You should probably warn him beforehand,” Ronis suggested.

Oliver exhaled loudly.

---

“Dad, would you ever consider meeting up with my mum?”

“Fuck no.”

“What if-”

“Nope.”

“Or-”

“Nah.”

“But-”

“I'd rather chop off my own dick.”

Oliver winced.

---

“Okay, plan B,” the boy told his girlfriend.

---

“Do you really think an ambush is a good idea?” Ronis asked.

“It's not an ambush. Jen will just have coincidentally stumbled into the same restaurant we're dining at,” he said as he held the door open for her.

“Okayyy. I just think you're playing with fire.”

“Well, that's what I have you for. You'd look hot in a firefighter's outfit,” the boy laughed.

Ronis rolled her eyes.

“Get it? Firefighter, hot.”

“Yeah, I got it you cheesy boy.”

Oliver scoffed. “It was funny.” The approached the table where David was already seated, greeted the man and then joined him.

“Good, you're here. I was just about to order without you.” He called the waiter over. “I'll have a gin and tonic.”

“No, Dad you've been drinking for the past three days,” Oliver sighed.

“So what? I'm celebrating the new year.”

“The new year isn't for another thirty hours.”

“Well if I can't drink then why did we have to come out to eat?” the man demanded.

“Because I wanted to spend time with you...and talk about my mum.”

“Then I'll need a fucking drink!”

“Dad, you never told me that she actually tried really hard to see me over the years.”

“That's because it was a ridiculous conspiracy to make me look bad.”

The boy frowned in confusion. “What?”

“We can't have this conversation right now. I feel like you just got back on my side after not speaking to me for a nearly a goddamn week. That's the longest I've ever gone without hearing your voice and I refuse to let that happen again. Especially not over that bitch.”

“But that's the thing, Dad. You can't call her a bitch anymore.”

“I'll call her whatever I want.”

The boy sighed. “I'll take a drink.”

Seeing how frustrated her boyfriend was, Ronis decided to give it a try. “Well, I'm sure that you loved Jen at some point. Out of respect for that love, can't you sit down with her for a few minutes?”

“Love?” David said questionably. “She had good pussy and that was about it.”

“Dad! Come on.”

“Then stop trying to make this into something it's not.”

“Fine,” the boy sighed in defeat.

Ronis aggressively poked his leg underneath the table and shot a look. No, you need to stand up to him, she mouthed.

Before Oliver could say anything, Jennifer approached the table.

“Oh, fuck no! Who the fuck let this cheap ass,  low rent- bitch, you look like motherfucking Anne Frank with that hair!”

Jennifer exhaled. “Hello, David.” The woman grabbed the fourth, empty chair and the man jumped out of his.

“I'm not eating with you!” He turned to Oliver. “So this is what all this 'oh my mummy’ talk was about?! You had already met this bitch behind my back and now you wanna ambush me?!”

“You will not talk to my son like that, David,” Jennifer snarled.

“Your son?! Bitch, when you spend fourteen years providing for him and staying up all night when he's sick, then you can call him your son!”

The manager quickly approached and cleared her throat. “Um, excuse-”

“Don't fuck with me right now, Melissa!” David warned. “I've been kicked out of here three times and I'm not scared of the fucking cops!”

“Could you at least take it to the back patio? Other patrons won't be disturbed if you're outside.”

“Fuck that, I'm leaving.”

“David Flynn Riddle,” Jennifer quietly hissed. “You kept my child away from me and there's little stopping me from grabbing that fork off of the table and stabbing you in the eye with it. But I don't do cheap shots, I'm not you. This time around, I refuse to let you control the situation so these are your two options: sit down and talk to me like the tough guy you think that you are or run away like a little bitch like you have for been for the past fourteen years.”

David took a deep breath. “Why am I so turned on right now?”

“And on that note,” Ronis said as she pushed herself away from the table. “I bid you all farewell.”

“Babe,” Oliver pleaded.

“I really don't wanna hear Flynn talk about being turned on,” she whispered.

“Neither do I,” Jennifer said as she retched.

“Pfft, you used to gag on me every night.”

Ronis turned on her heel and practically ran out of the restaurant while Oliver opted for burying his entire head underneath his arms.

“What kind of sick pervert are you?!” Jennifer demanded. “Why would you say that in front of these kids?!”

“Because I can say whatever the fuck I want.”

“Clearly. Even if it makes everyone around you uncomfortable.”

“Especially if it makes everyone around me uncomfortable.”

Oliver removed his arms from around his head. “Dad, you're being really selfish right now. Bottom line is, I want you both in my life and you need to be able to get along. Surgeries, birthdays, and even my wedding one day, I need my parents there.”

“Wedding?” Jennifer squealed excitedly.

The boy blushed. “Well, one day. But yeah, I just don't need a brawl at every event. So you both should sit down and resolve the issue.”

“The issue is that this bitch needs get some anal cancer to combat her rotten insides.”

The woman pursed her lips.

“Dad,” Oliver said in sheer disbelief.

“The only one with the rotten insides is you, sweetheart,” Jennifer said quietly.

“Mum, if you wanna leave I'll understand,” the boy sighed.

The woman scoffed. “I'm not going anywhere. If I can survive breast cancer, I can definitely survive the cancer in front of me,” she said as she sat down.

“Wait what?” David asked.

“David, if you want any chance of a relationship with me ever again, you'll sit down, apologize, and have an adult conversation, otherwise just get the fuck out,” Oliver said, barely able to look at the man.

“Oh, so I'm David and she's 'Mum’ now? Damn, Oli I never knew betrayal tasted so good.”

“Just sit the fuck down!” Jennifer exploded.

“Yes ma'am,” the man said as he obliged.

“My God, you're even more vile than I remember. Honestly, the only reason I'm not going to jail right now is because I refuse to lose another second with my son and your ass isn't worth it. I'm surprised Oli didn't run away or something because I've been here five minutes and I can barely tolerate your shit.”

“Well, he needed at least one parent in his life,” David hissed.

“I tried to be in his life!”

“You signed over your rights.”

“Yeah, but I instantly regretted it and-”

“I don't give a fuck! Once you sign that paper saying, 'I don't want this kid’, that's not something you can take back! That shit is unforgivable and I don't get how you can even stomach being around her,” he snapped at his son who simply stared down at his thumbs. “She didn't want you!”

“Oooo, I'm fighting tooth and nail not to fucking slap you!” Jennifer groaned as her leg began to shake.

“Slap me! It still won't change the fact that as a mother, you gave your child away and no fucking cop, court, judge or law was gonna force me to allow you back into his life just to hurt him again!”

“Fuck you, David.”

“No, fuck you! Fuck your proof! Fuck your lawyers, I hope their dogs die, fuck your Anne Frank hair and fuck this conversation! Fuck!”

“Well, this isn't getting anywhere,” the woman sighed. “Oliver, is there anything else you'd like me to do?”

The boy shook his head. “Thank you for trying.”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

“Oh, fucking shoot me,” David groaned. “Right in head.”

“Don't tempt me,” Jennifer snarled.

“I just might. I mean, I always could persuade you to do interesting things.”

“Yeah, like marrying you.”

“Pfft, you were happy.”

“No, now I'm happy and my husband is incredible.”

“Really? Does he make your knees-”

“You're in the presence of your child.”

“True. My child,” he emphasized.

“Exactly and I'm baffled that you can't see how much he's hurting.”

“Well, you're like meth and he's like a new user. Of course telling him that you'll eventually kill him will be upsetting.”

Jennifer couldn't help but laugh. “You're ridiculous.”

“My bitches think otherwise.”

“Oh, you're still living that life?”

“I am. Jealous?”

“Those poor women will figure out that you're a joke soon enough.”

“The only joke around here is your fucking hair.”

“Ha-ha. I think I'm going to get out of here.”

“Can't take the hair jokes?”

“They're fine, I’m just done for the day. I have a life if you must know.”

As he watched her stand, David was surprised that he actually felt the urge to ask the woman to stay. “Good idea, I have so much shit to do. Money to make, bitches to fuck.”

Jennifer exhaled loudly. “David, grow up.  guarantee you that it'll solve all of your problems.”

The man scoffed.

“Oliver, are you okay? What are you doing after this? Do you have a ride home?”

“I'm fine,” he said quietly. “Well, first I have to find Ronis.”

“Good idea,” Jennifer chuckled.

“I'll take a taxi home.”

“How come you don't have a car of your own?” she asked, almost accusingly.

“It was my personal preference. Finding parking in this city is damn near impossible.”

“Ooo, okay,” she chirped. “As long as it isn't because of a lack of finances.” After her underhanded comments, the woman smiled and kissed her son's head. “I'll call you later. I love you, sweetheart.”

“Ditto.”

The response was dry but it was more than the woman could ask so early in the resurrection of their relationship so she grinned excitedly as she turned on her heel and sauntered away.

“She's definitely had work done. There's no way her ass still looks like it did when we were eighteen by the grace of good genes.”

“You meet when you were eighteen?”

“Hell no, I've known her since we were kids. We went to primary school together and she lived a few doors down from me. I couldn't fucking stand her.”

Oliver was mildly curious about the history of his parents. Until now, it'd been like pulling teeth to get the man to talk about it. “Why didn't you like her?”

“Because she was little miss sunshine and she thought she was so perfecttttt. Ugh.”

“So when did you end up, ya know...together?”

“There isn't a romantic story behind it all. We got grouped together for a project and I ended up at her house. A lot of shit talking led to us having sex. We were fifteen and for next two years she was one of many fuck buddies, then she got pregnant. We had Jackie and whatnot but I wasn't ready to settle down. I fucked bitches from east to west, I mean I still took care of my kid but...you know the best part about the early days?”

“What?”

“Jen never nagged me about anything. Not about the baby, or money or being together for the sake of having a family...that's actually what made me fall in love with her.”

Oliver's smile was soft. “So you really did love her?”

“I wouldn't have married her if I didn't. Like, I won't go into how cool she was back in the day because I fucking hate her now, but at one point she was alright.”

“Well-”

“Until she abandoned us.”

“She didn't understand what it meant to be trans and you-’”

“No, she just called you a thing and gave you up. Don't try and convince me otherwise. I've been there since day one, I didn't fucking give up and if that makes me a bad dad then-” the man stopped abruptly to take a deep breath.

“Dad, you were an incredible father but man to man, you did some fucked up stuff when it came to your communication with my mum.”

“I can admit that but also as a man, I don't respect her as a woman who gave up her kid. And that'll probably never change.”

Oliver sighed. “Okay. But I really appreciate you for sitting down and sorta speaking to her.”

“After your threat, did I have a choice?”

The boy's laugh was breathy. “I guess not.”

“I love you, buddy.”

“I love you too.”

“Can I have that gin and tonic now?”

“Sure.”

“It's the last drink I'll have before I leave for Brooklyn.”

“Wait, what? Why are you going to Brooklyn?”

“To get my woman back.”

“Oh. Does Lisa know about these 'bitches’ of yours?”

“Pfft, I don't have bitches. You think I can let that bitc- I mean, Jen, waltz in her with her big ring and firm ass and brag about her life so that I can combat it with ‘I get drunk and watch cat videos every night’? I had to get the upper hand.”

The boy shook his head. “I'm sure that's exactly what you did.”

“Besides, I really miss Lisa.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“Nope.”

“Then how-”

“She planned this big engagement dinner for us a few weeks ago and I'm gonna show up and get her back.”

“But...you broke up with her. I'm sure she cancelled it.”

“Nah. The venue is booked, cake is ordered and she invited family from out of town. Flights have been purchased, hotels have been reserved, etc. Now if I know Lisa, she wouldn't want to disappoint or upset anyone by cancelling. She may have turned it into an 'I hate David’ fest, but that makes me want to go even more.”

“Why?”

“It'll give me a sense of what my funeral will be like.”

Oliver laughed. “Starting with Ronis. 'Here lies David, I'm sorry for killing him, but he made me leave Jasper's before I could order my ribs’.”

---

“When is your court date?” Carmen asked as she snuggled up to the hospitalized boy.

“The fifteenth of next month,” Jake replied.

“I'll be there.”

“Thanks,” he sighed. “I'll need all the support I can get.”

The girl was quiet for a moment. “I'm sorry that I didn't go to the funeral. I didn't really know Alley that well, besides um, fighting her that one time...and punching her on Christmas. And since you weren't initially going- I don't know. I'm sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize for that.”

“Well, I'm still sorry for your loss.”

“I just wish I knew what happened to her.”

“Wasn't it an overdose?”

The boy exhaled loudly. “I guess but I just can't.”

“Can't what?”

“Accept that guilt! I did all I could to find her but even her family wouldn't take me seriously! They should share responsibility in the guilt. And that goddamn Raven,” he snarled.

Carmen's body became tense.

“Sorry.”

“It's okay.”

“I mean, the girl saw Alley before she died and told her that it was her fault that she lost her ‘baby’.”

“That's insane,” she said quietly. “I really regret going back to see her.”

Despite the pain, Jake sat up. “You went to see her?”

“Yeah, before we found out about Alley's death. I thought I could salvage our relationship but she wasn't having it.”

“What happened?”

“She opened the door and initially refused to even let me in, but then changed her mind. I spilled my heart out and told her how I felt before she flipped the switch and told me to ‘get the fuck out’. Like, it was just really weird even for her.”

“She’s just so fucking heartless. Ugh, I'm sorry she did that to you.”

“Well, it was pretty much expected. You don't get to hurt her and get a second chance.” Carmen exhaled.

“Matt has a vendetta against her for what she did to my car and eye and especially for that Oscar award winning performance she gave at the funeral.”

“I don't blame him,” she sighed, wheels in her head clearly beginning to turn.

“Carmen,” Jake said accusingly. “What are you thinking?”

“Well, I mean, Matt and I have become pretty close...and if he needs any insider information..”

“Oh, God. Don't fuel his fire any further.”

“I won't encourage anything, but if he asks, I won't hold back.”

“You know you're kinda cute when you're being all cynical,” Jake chuckled.

She laughed. “I'm not being cynical!”

“Well, whatever it is, it works for you. You look incredible...I mean, from what I can see.”

“Thank you, Jake.” When he smiled, Carmen became secure in the feelings that she'd felt the first time that they kissed so without hesitation, the girl placed her lips against the boy's and the connection made her tingle all over. “So, um. Do you really think, Matt left a condom in the drawer?”

Jake gulped. “Oh my God, woman, you can't ask me such things! Are you trying to give me heart palpitations? Good thing I'm already in the hospital.”

Carmen laughed. “Just as well, I have some in my purse,” she whispered against his lips.

“Nurse,” the boy let out in a feeble groan before pulling her into a kiss.

---

With red roses in hand, Matt rang the buzzer on the entrance gate of Jason's glass house. Moments later, the bitter boy answered over the intercom.

“What are you doing here, Matt? I thought I told you not to bother coming back.”

“I know, but I couldn't help myself, babe. I don't want you to be mad at me so I came here to apologize and look,” he said as he held the bouquet up towards the camera. “I bought you roses. That's how you know I'm really sorry because I think buying flowers is like flushing money down the toilet. But you're worth flushing money down the toilet for.”

“That’s the smallest bouquet I've ever seen in my life,” Jason commented after counting half a dozen.

“Babe, I'm trying here. What the-” The loud honk of the large truck behind him made the boy jump. “Why’s there a moving truck here?”

“I have no idea,” Jason admitted.

Moments later, Bill pulled up behind the truck in his black SUV. When he climbed out of the car, Matt was surprised to see the man in regular clothes over his usual dark suit. Bill raised an eyebrow when he saw the boy waiting out by the gate. “Is Mr. Dardo here?”

“By Mr. Dardo do you meannnn-”

“Jason,” the man said as if it was obvious.

“Yeah he's in there mad at me.”

“Um, hellooo,” Jason said into the speaker. “You people are aware that I can't hear you unless you hold down the button, right?”

Bill pushed the red button. “Sorry, sir.”

“Bill, don't call me sir and what are you doing here? It's your day off.”

“A call came into my office about a delivery for you and you know all packages are inspected before we get them to you.”

“Yeah, I know but it's Friday. Couldn't it have waited until Monday? I just don't like the idea of you working on New Year's Eve.”

“I know, sir- Jason. I don't think these delivery guys are willing to wait all weekend. Besides, this is something I'm sure you'll really like.”

“What is it?”

“I'll let you open it and see.”

“Okay...who’s is from?”

“It doesn't say.”

“Billlllll,” the boy whined.

“The sooner you buzz us in, the sooner you can find out for yourself.”

“Fine.”

“Do you want Matt to stay out here?”

There was a long pause. “You can let him in. Poor thing looks cold chihuahua.”

Matt would take what he could get with the boy and entered the estate after the lock on the gate released followed by Bill and the delivery truck.

Jason opened the door, Matt offered the boy the roses.

“Thanks,” the brunette said dryly.

“You're welcome.” He leaned in to kiss him but Jason turned his head, causing Matt's lips to collide with his cheek.

“Okay,” Matt sighed.

“Bill,” Jason said as he walked off. “Open the truck, I wanna see what this is.”

“This card came with it.” The man pulled the envelope out of his coat pocket and handed it to the boy. Jason ripped into the paper and pulled out the small note that simply read: Just Because…

“Huh?” The dots didn't officially connect until the truck was opened and Jason saw the 1871 Steinway Grand piano. “Oh my God!” he gasped, dropping Matt's bouquet as he rushed out of the door. “There's no fucking way that he's giving this to me!”

“Wait, what is it?” Matt asked as he followed his boyfriend. “Well, it's clearly a piano but who sent it?”

The questions went on deaf ears as Jason climbed into truck and caressed the perfectly aged Brazilian rosewood.

“Jason!” Matt shouted, practically begging for his boyfriend's attention.

“What?” he groaned in exasperation.

“Who sent you this? It looks really fancy.”

“Mark!”

The boy was taken aback. “Mark Mark? The Mark that you're not supposed to be talking to anymore?”

“I don't talk to him. But before you ruined my live, he was on there talking shit about my keyboard but then he just sent this out of blue. She's so beautifulllll.”

“Jason...you can't accept this.”

The brunette paused. “Excuse me?”

Matt stood his ground. “You can't accept this.”

“Oh, you bet your ass I'm accepting it. This is a 1871 classic and it's so rare that I couldn't find and buy another one even if I wanted to.”

“But if you accept it, what will he want from you?”

“Matt, the note says ‘just because’ I mean if he wants something in return, I'd seriously take him to court over this thing. I want it, I need itttt.”

“Okay, so if I went out and bought a girl the Hope Diamond, would you be okay with it?!”

Jason scoffed. “You can't afford the Hope Diamond.”

“That's not the point!” the boy exploded.

“Fuck your point, Matt! I'm keeping it and if you have a problem with that then leave!”

Matt kicked the bouquet of roses, effectively destroying the flowers and sending petals all over the room before storming out of the place.

“Now who's being petty?!” Jason shouted after him. “Whatever. Bring her in guys. I want her right in the center of that glass living room so everyone can admire her beauty. Be careful! If you as so much put a nick in that rosewood, I will go medieval on your ass!”

The boy anxiously watched as the men carefully removed the priceless instrument from the back of the truck, through the double doors and into the living room.

“She's so perfecttttt,” Jason squealed. “Thank you guys so much.” After the men and Bill left, the boy eased onto the ornate stool and gently pushed down one of the keys. Despite the piano’s age, the sound that emanated from it was pristine and it gave the boy goosebumps. “How the fuck am I supposed to thank him for this?” He took a deep breath, searched for the man's Instagram and realized that there were two accounts under the name Mark Diller; the that one he had blocked, and a new one. Jason raised an eyebrow as he sent the new one a message.

Jason: Did you make another account because I blocked you? 👀

Mark: Maybe…

Jason: I wouldn't be surprised 😋

Mark: I'm sorry... I was a fan before we met and that hasn't changed.

Jason: Well I appreciate it

And I really wanna say thank you for the Steinway. It's probably the second best gift that I’ve ever received

Mark: Well damn. What was the first? 🤔

Jason: The 'Fisher Price’ keyboard. My mother gave it to me

Mark: Oh…well I can't top that.

Jason: You couldn't top anything 😋

Mark: No, but you do. How else do you think you'll pay for the piano?

Jason: Excuse me? Um, how about you go fuck yourself! You won't pull that 'free house for rent’ shit again! This was a gift and I'll take you to court to prove it!

Mark: OH MY GOD, I'M JOKING! The sarcasm didn't translate via text, I'm so sorry 😂

Jason: Ugh, I hate you

Mark: Maybe so, but the piano is all yours, FOR FREE (you may screenshot and print this for legal or scientific purposes). It needed a loving home and not house where the only love she got was the housekeeper's feather duster. I know you'll take good care of it.

Jason: I will! Thank you so much 😊

Mark: You're welcome 😁 Friends again?

Jason: I wouldn't go that far Mark: Touché lol but it is nice to hear your cyber voice again Jason: It may be the last, Matt can't stand you and I gotta respect his decisions Mark: So how did he feel about the piano coming from me? Or did you not tell him? I mean if you didn't that's your business but is your relationship really secure if you gotta withhold something like that? Jason: Well Oprah, I did tell him Mark: And?

Jason: He's probably on his way to kill you as we speak 😂 Mark: So even though he's pissed, you're keeping it? Jason: Absofuckinglutely, he can build a bridge and get over it. This is like receiving the Mona Lisa to me Mark: Good to know 😋 Jason: Yeah so I might not get laid for a few days but she's honestly worth it Mark: But you're Jason Dardo, there are always options for you Jason: I'm loyal to my boyfriend Mark: Which is why you flirt back with me 😋 Jason: I'm just trying to be nice Mark: The harder you fight it...the more you tell me that Matt will rip my head off for even looking at you the right way...it just makes me want you even more Jason bit down on his bottom lip and did his best to ignore the physical reaction his body had to the words. He took a deep breath before responding. Jason: As I said, this is strictly platonic and Matt will rip you to pieces if he ever thought otherwise Mark: Game on sweetheart 😉

---

Lisa compulsively adjusted the table settings while she rehearsed her lines. “‘Hello, my family and friends who took time out of their busy schedules to come to this special engagement dinner. As you can see, there is no engagement anymore and-’ ugh, no that's way to pathetic. But that's pretty accurate,” she sniffled before stopping herself and rushing to the mirror. “No, no, Matty said no crying or it'll ruin your eyeliner.”

She took a deep breath and smoothed the cream colored lace of her skirt before going back to anxiously tweaking the details on the table until her children entered.

“Sup,” Matt sighed.

“Hi, sweetheart,” the woman greeted. “How are you? Where's Jason?”

“I told him not to come.”

Lisa pouted. “Why?”

“We're just going through some things right now and I didn't think it was a good idea.”

“But it's New Year's Eve,” she whimpered.

“Yeah,” Matt said quietly. “Your makeup looks really good.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“Hey, Mom,” Josh greeted with his wife in tow.

“Hi, honey. Oh my God, Lace you're starting to showwww!”

Lace blushed. “Is it really that noticeable?”

“Only in that dress because it's fitted. To flatter those, not so flattering areas,” the woman said, seemingly reciting the three am infomercials, “you need a fuller skirt.”

She giggled. “I just didn't anticipate showing until  five months or so and when I bought this dress I just got my usual size.”

“Pfft, you'll only be able to pull that off for another month.”

“I actually look forward to it. The Snorlax cosplay will be on pointttt.”

“I have no idea what that means but I'm sure the climaxes will be amazing.”

“Whoa, wha-”

“Oh my God, they're here. Um, everyone sit down- no stand up to greet them- ugh!”

“Mom, chill,” Matt demanded. “This is family.”

“Judgemental family,” she sighed just as her younger sister entered the room. The thin blonde with no children and large silicone boobs fluffed her hair. “Hi, Lisa.”

“Hey, Claire,” the woman chirped as joyfully as she could.

“This is a gorgeous setup.”

“Thank you.”

“So, where is the fiancé?”

“Um, wait until everyone is comfortably seated for further information.”

“Always one to be extra,” the woman sighed as she whipped out her compact and added another layer of red lipstick to her lips.

“Hey, Auntie,” Matt said to his favorite relative outside of his immediate family.

“Hi, my love!” Claire said as she pulled the boy into an embrace. “How are you?”

“I'm good. You? I really like your makeup.”

“Good, good. Just trying to keep these daddies in line. And thank you, Matty. It's MAC.”

“Yeah?” the boy asked while also making a mental note. He'd always been drawn to the woman's loose morals and her opinions on men and their disposable nature. “How is Uncle Travis?”

“Hopefully dead, I need that insurance money.”

Matt laughed.

“So how's that boyfriend of yours? Are you doing what I taught you?”

“No, Auntie I don't go through his wallet or withhold sex for money.”

“It works, sweetheart.”

“I'll bet, I mean your new lips are incredible.”

“Thank you, Dr. Zizmor.”

“Are you sleeping with him?”

“No!” she gasped, clearly offended. “My friend is.”

The boy shook his head just as his mother called everyone to attention.

“Okay, I think everyone is here. Could I invite you all to sit down in your designated seats?”

Matt saw that he was assigned to sit next to cousin Marco, but the boy had a tendency to spit whenever he spoke so Matt quickly switched his labeled place seating with that of his Aunt Claire.

“Let me help you into your seat, Auntie,” he said sweetly.

“Thank you, my love,” she replied as she sat down. “Remind me to get you some new lips for your birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“So what do you know about your mom's fiance?”

Matt cleared his throat. “Can I get a drink?”

“Matty, no. You're not drinking,” his mother chastised.

“It was jokeee.”

“The only joke is this event,” Lisa's mother interjected. “Where is your so called fiancé?”

“Mother, if you'd just allow me to follow my  schedule, the food will come out first-”

“Pftt, really Lisa?”

“What?”

“Does the chair have to break before you realize that you've gotten morbidly obese?”

Matt scowled. “She is not obese.”

“Bullshit,” the elderly woman scoffed. “You just want to be nice to her because she's your mother. But as her mother, I refuse to sit back and watch her destroy herself.”

“A little lipo never hurt anyone,” Claire suggested. “Come with me next week, we can sister procedures.”

“I don't want lipo,” Lisa sighed.

“Then you need to go to the gym,” her mother said.

“Why don't you just leave her alone?!” Matt shouted.

“Matty, don't be disrespectful,” his mother chastised.

“Grandma is the one being disrespectful! You set this entire thing up and before you could even speak, she was talking shit!”

“Matt, chill out,” Josh intervened.

“I will if these people would let Mom speak, like damn.”

“What do you mean these people?” cousin Marco asked, shooting a spray of saliva into Claire's face.

The woman jumped out of her seat. “Ugh, I forgot that this kid was a fucking human sprinkler!”

“Hey, don't talk about my kid like that!” a man shouted from across the table.

“Get your kid a fucking a goddamn face mask!”

“Claire, please calm down,” Lisa begged.

“You're the one who needs to calm down and back away from the table,” her mother commented.

Overlapping voices and argues quickly ensued. As Lisa felt the lump in her throat swell, she rushed out of the room and bumped right into David as he was entering.

“Jesus, woman,” he groaned. “I've heard of coming in like a wrecking ball but damn.”

“David,” Lisa said in disbelief. “What are you doing here? I-I-I thought-”

The man wrapped his arms around the woman. “I'm so sorry for everything I did to you. You deserve the world and in a selfish moment, I didn't give it to you. But I'm here now. And if you forgive me, I'll stay. Baby, I'll never leave you again.”

“Please don't leave,” she said through a broken voice.

“Never.” David pressed his lips Lisa's and the woman immediately melted into his arms.

“I really missed you,” she sniffled.

“I missed you too.”

Clearly on the verge of tears, David dabbed the corners of her eyes with his handkerchief. “Please don't cry, darling. I'm here and I wanna meet your family.”

The woman smiled and exhaled in relief as she grabbed David's hand before leading the man into the room her family had nearly turned upside down. She loudly cleared her throat. “Everyone, this is David.”

A hush washed over the room.

“Well, holy shit,” Claire declared. “And here I was starting to think that this man didn't exist. The would be Playboy Playmate made her way across the room and purred as she extended her hand towards the man. “Hi, I'm Claire. Lisa's younger sister,” she emphasized as she stuck out her chest.

David accepted her hand. “Pleasure.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

“I'm sure it is.”

“So I hear you're a doctor.”

“I am.”

“What kind of doctor?”

“I'm not a plastic surgeon, if that's what you're wondering. Nor do I plump lips or eliminate wrinkles.”

Claire self consciously placed her hand over her forehead, the area where she swore her age was beginning to show. “Well, that's valuable information,” the woman scoffed as she turned on her heel.

“If it's okay with everyone, I'd really like to sit down and um..I guess everyone else can eat while they get acquainted with David,” Lisa suggested.

“What do you mean everyone else?” he asked. “Are you not eating?”

She pursed her lips. “I've lost my appetite.”

“Thank God,” her mother groaned.

David raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“You're excused,” she snarked.

“Do you have an issue with Lisa's weight?”

“You don't?”

“Actually, yeah I do.” Lisa felt sick to her stomach but the man continued to speak. “Her weight gain has given her a surplus of tits and ass so now when we go places she gets all the best second glances from people. Personally, I'm used to being the most beautiful person in the room but now that Lisa's around, I'm dealing with the demotion.”

The woman's cheeks flushed an endearing shade of pink while her mother's tense lips had nothing more to say.

“I just want to thank everyone here for showing up even if it was questionable if I would,” David announced. “I love Lisa with all of my heart and making her happy is now my life goal.” He pulled a small black box from his pocket. “I never did this the traditional way, so I guess I'll start now. Josh, may I have your mother's hand in marriage?”

Josh pushed himself out of his seat. “Of course, dude. I've supported this from day one.” He gave him a hug and then embraced his mother.

“Matt,” David said, tone meek. “May I have your mother's hand in marriage?”

The boy's silence caused the tension in the room to hang heavy. Matt cleared his throat. “Anyone who can put the old bat in her place is a winner in my book.” He stood and shook the man's hand. “Make her happy.”

“I will,” David promised as he grabbed Lisa's hand, sank to one knee and opened the box to reveal the elegant the pear shaped diamond surrounded by brilliant smaller gems that were all set rose gold.

“Lisa Faye Jankowski, will you marry me?”

The blubbering woman nodded. “Yes. Yes!”

David smiled, pulled out the ring and slid it onto her finger. When he tried to stand, the man groaned at the strain in his knee. “Oh fuckety, fuck. I'm old.” He stretched it out as he stood and wiped the woman's tears away before kissing her. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“Where's the goddamn food?! I'm hungry and I wanna feed you some cake damn it.”

“Okay, I'll have them bring the food out.”

“And you'll eat some?”

“Well I mean if you're offering to feed it to me, that's pretty hard to turn down.”

“Better not,” he growled as he attacked her neck with a firm bite.

“Daviddd,” she squealed, slightly embarrassed that her family was potentially watching.

“Whatttt? I told you that I was hungry. But I mean...if you meet me in the broom closet, I can fill up on something else,” he whispered into her ear.

Lisa gulped. “Um, Joshy, make sure they bring out the food, sweetheart. David wants to show me something,” Lisa said as the couple rushed out of the room.

“What a pig,” Claire grumbled. She pulled out her compact and examined the two fine lines on her forehead. “Gross.”

“You look fine, Auntie. When I grow up I wanna be you.”

“You wanna be a woman?”

“Not exactly. But I'd like to dabble in drag,” he openly told his favorite aunt.

“Why?”

“As a way of expressing myself, I suppose.”

“For fun or as a side hobby performing and shit?”

“I'm not sure.”

“Well you know that I know many gay men and many drag queens so if you ever want to go to a show or something, let me know, my love. Ugh, fucking wrinkles!”

“Oh my God, Auntie, I'd love thatttt.”

“Anything for you, Matty. I always knew you were a little weirdo. I appreciate it.”

Matt laughed. “Thanks,” he said before sighing.

“I knowww, the wrinkles are unforgivable.”

“It's not that, you look amazing. I just wish I wouldn't have exploded on Jason like I did. He doesn't deserve that.”

“Well, your first reaction is usually the correct reaction. If it's meant to be, it'll work out, but never apologize for your reactions, my love. People won't respect you.”

“I guess.”

“Do you wanna get matching nephew-auntie nose jobs?”

“No, thanks. I'm sure contouring will do just fine.”

“Ehh. What about my brow bone? Do you think I should have it lifted?”

“No, Auntie,” Matt sighed as food was finally brought out. After taking a few bites, the boy began to mindlessly push the scalloped potatoes around his plate.

“Oh my God, Matty your sulking is starting to make me miserable. If you miss the boy that bad, go be with him.”

“You wanna know something funny?”

“Sure.”

“I used to always worry about Jason pouting all the time and I’d tell him, 'stop frowning or you'll get wrinkles’ and then I would physically smooth his face which never failed to make him giggle. Those were much simpler times.”

“So? Make things simple again. You say your point, he says his point and then you have to convince him why you're right.”

“Hmm. Sounds simple enough to me.”

“It's very simple and you only have a few hours until until midnight. Find him, make up, and ring in the new year with him. It'll be romantic.”

“Yeah,” he exhaled.

“Goodness me, it's getting late. Hurry up dear, his balls can't wait. Have a good time, dance, be gay! Now off you go, you're on way!” she sang in a perverted version of Cinderella's famous Bibbity Bobbity Boo.

Matt laughed. “Alright, alright. Thanks, Auntie,” he said as he kissed her cheek and pushed himself out of his seat. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“I'll be calling you about that drag show offer.”

“Drag show?” the boy's grandmother said in disgust. “Oh, I forgot that this one doesn't like girls.”

“Grandma, I- nevermind. I'll see you guys later. Hopefully some of you will be dead before that happens though.”

“Matt, be nice,” Josh reprimanded.

“Oh, I do apologize to dear Granny. I'm sure she'll unhinge her jaw and finish you all off. I'm not sticking around for it. Happy new year.”

“What’s up with you?” his brother asked.

“Oh, nothing at all,” Matt said sarcastically. “I'm merely a teenage boy who has to handle a growing family, school and a relationship with a superstar. I don’t know how to balance sharing him with the world and sometimes I'm really selfish and it gets me into trouble. Not to mention that one of my good friends just died and my  best friend is in the hospital, about to lose a fucking eye all because of some snake who I'm supposedly not allowed to confront and it's all so messy and eating me up inside. You wanna know what's up with me? I can't seem to catch a fucking break!” the boy shouted before storming out of the restaurant.

Matt shivered at the brisk wind that hit the back of his neck so he pulled up his hood, then placed the motorcycle helmet over it and hopped on his Harley. He decided that he couldn't go to Jason's house empty handed, so the boy sped to his own home, grabbed a bag and stuffed it with necessary supplies: a box of hot chocolate, mini marshmallows and condoms.

Not wanting to show up to the glass house unannounced again, Matt called his boyfriend. The brunette allowed the first attempt to go to voicemail, but then hesitantly answered the second call.

“Hello?” Jason answered nonchalantly.

“Hey…”

“Hi.”

“What's up?”

“Nothing. Just showered and now I'm about to watch a movie.”

“Oh? What movie?”

“Cleopatra.”

“Oh...um, do you think I could come over? We need to talk and I have some things for you.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Sure, Matt.”

“Okay, good. I'm on my way. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he sighed.

After hanging up, Matt secured his care package to his Harley and began to make the journey towards his boyfriend's house. The route he had chosen was a guaranteed shortcut, but as he drove, the boy spotted the hospital that Jake had been admitted to. Deciding to take a small detour to give the boy some cocoa, Matt pulled into the parking lot before making his way towards his friend's room.

He knocked and slowly entered. The sleeping boy was being cuddled by Carmen as she scrolled through her phone. “Hey,” she greeted, stifling a yawn as she sat up.

“Hey. How is he?”

“The pain meds put him to sleep before I could,” she chuckled.

The extra information made Matt blushing. “That sucks.”

“Yeah, but good news. His eye was jabbed pretty bad so it's really bloody and he won't be able to see for a few weeks, but once it heals, the doctor said his vision should come back.”

“Oh God, that's a relief.”

“It really is.”

Matt removed the cocoa packets from his pocket. “I bought these for him.” He handed them to the girl.

“Aw, he loves hot chocolate. Thank you.”

“So, are you guys a thing now, orrrr?”

“Two friends trying to find comfort within each other and it may or may not lead to something else. But why not try?”

“Fair enough,” Matt chuckled. “I'm gonna get going.”

“Wait,” Carmen pleaded as she pushed herself off of the bed.

“What's up?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Um, okay,” the boy said with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

She stepped out of the room and Matt followed her.

“I hear you want revenge against Raven.”

“Oh, I'm sorry. I know she's your boo or whatever but she needs a fucking reality check.”

“I know. I want to help.”

The boy was pleasantly surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah, she's fucked me and so many others over and it's time to put a stop to it.”

“Agreed. So what information do you have for me?”

“Well, to start off, she has an irrational fear of cats.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, I had a few kittens when I was younger. I got midway through telling her about it before she freaked out and demanded that she had to shower.”

“That is very valuable information,” Matt said as he took mental notes. “What else?”

“She has an older brother who's in prison for armed robbery. I looked him up after she told me that he had abandoned her in their youth. She was genuinely distraught over what could've happened to him, but never had the courage to look.”

“Has she spoken to him at all?”

“No, she's been putting it off. She's scared that if she sees him, all the anger she has harbored inside will explode and she'd rather think of him as dead than the guy that abandoned her.”

“You keep using the word 'abandoned’. He was her brother, not her parent. How does that classify as abandonment?”

“After her brother ran away, Raven was subjected to relentless mental, emotional and sexual abuse by her mother's boyfriend. She just feels like if her brother had been there, it would've never happened.”

“Damn,” Matt sighed. “That makes me want to rethink this entire thing.”

“Well, the ending isn't too horrible. She got her revenge on the guy,” Carmen said before quickly pursing her lips.

The boy raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Carmen,” he pressed.

“Okay, um. Let's just say, 'nobody hurts her and lives to tell about it’.”

Matt scoffed. “Did she tell you that just to seem tough?”

“No, I looked up the police reports. The guy died of a single 9 mm bullet. And turns out, Raven has a 9mm glock.”

"Pfft. She probably bought it afterwards just to tell that story.”

“But she doesn't tell anyone about it. She trusted me as her 'main squeeze’ and finally opened up. Matt, she did it.”

“Okay,” he replied, clearly unconvinced. “Raven's a murderer. Is there anything else?”

“No,” Carmen exhaled. “I've already said too much.”

“Well, what you told me will help a lot.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I need a cat.”

---

Jason checked the time on his phone and it'd been nearly two hours since his boyfriend had called him. The boy exhaled while he climbed into bed before starting the movie without Matt.

---

“Ssshhh,” Matt told the frisky creature he'd tucked into his coat. “We're almost there.” He approached Raven's doorstep and knocked.

Not long after, he heard the clatter of high heels against the hardwood floor. “You're here, early,” the girl said as she flung the door open. When she saw that it was Matt, curiosity quickly took over her expression. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

Raven raised an eyebrow. “Although I'd love to get another notch on my belt, I'm expecting someone else tonight, darling.”

“Well, could I come in until they arrive?”

The girl began to think.

“You look look...incredible,” he exhaled as added insurance that she'd say yes. It worked.

“Fine,” Raven sighed as she placed an unlit cigarette between her red stained lips.

Matt grinned as he entered. “I've never been to your house.”

“Then how did you know where I live?”

“I shook down Carmen for information.”

“Ah, that bitch,” she said as she lit the cigarette and took a deep inhale. “Looks like she's moved on to Jake's dick- oh my God, no, she posted a picture of the two,” the girl manage to get out before cackling, “the two of them and Jake looks like a fucking cyclops! Or better yet, that one-eyed bitch from American Horror Story!”

Matt scowled. “It's not funny. He could've lost a fucking eye because of you!”

Raven shrugged as she flipped her long dark hair. “I'll bedazzle an eye patch for him.” The girl squished her lit cigarette into her crystal ashtray. “Listen, you little-” The meow that bellowed out from Matt's chest made go pale. “D-D-Do y-y-”

Before she could finish her question, Matt confirmed it by pulling the bright orange tabby cat from his coat causing Raven to sprint into her bedroom. “Y-Y-You fucking m-m-motherfucker!”

Mary cackled. “Aww, relax Raven. He just wants to be your friend. I'll leave him on the couch.”

“If you leave that thing, I swear to God I'll shoot you both in the head! Now get out!”

“Fine. Do me a favor and send Jake an apology, okay? For his eye and his car.” With the cat in hand, Matt turned on his heel and exited the girl's apartment.

After he ruled out that the feline would be a good gift for Jason, the boy had no choice but to take the creature back to the shelter. When he arrived, he was surprised to see Alley's father slowly treading the aisles. “Hey, Mr. Taylor.”

“Hey, Matt,” he greeted quietly. “How are you?”

“Pfft, I'm fine. How are you?”

“I'm...trying to deal.”

“Mm. How is the family?”

“The same. I'm looking for a friend to boost some morale in the new year. We're just all so confused right now. They found my princess in an old abandoned house with enough drugs in her system to kill five people... I don't get it. The tips of her fingers were so burned from the pipe and that they think she had to be in pain to keep going or she was so doped up already that she didn't feel pain at all... I don't get that either. Why didn't she call me?” the man sniffled. “They found long dark near her body.”

Matt's blood turned to ice.

“My Alley cat is a natural blonde, but in the end, her hair was short, choppy and purple. Where the he would a long dark one come from? The house hadn't been lived in for years.”

“Can't they test the hair to find out who it came from?”

“They did, but it doesn't match anyone in their system. The person has no criminal history.”

“Hm.”

“I'm just so confused right now, I don't know what any of it means and I miss my fucking daughter.”

The boy pursed his lips and held the cat towards the man. “This guy needs a home. Alley would've loved him.”

“Aww, he's so cute,” Mr. Taylor said as he accepted the cat. “What's his name?”

“He needs one.”

The man thought for a second. “Her favorite color was red. I'll call him Red.”

Matt quickly suppressed his knowledge of the girl's old safe word. “ It's a great name, Mr. Taylor. I know he'll be happy with you and vice versa.”

“Thank you, Matt.”

“No problem.”

“You should probably get home.”

“You too! I'm sure someone will have some fireworks going off soon.”

“Yeah, I'll go home, but I have more pressing matters to tend to first.”

---

Matt couldn't help but replay the man's words in his mind as he stormed to the girl's front door and began to bang on it.

This time, Raven answered with a loaded gun. She pointed it directly at his head. “You are no longer welcome here!”

The boy contemplated tackling her to the ground, but he took a second to let his rational thinking catch up to his impulses. “What did you do to Alley?”

The girl frowned but didn't lower the gun. “What are you talking about?”

“I just saw her father and he told me that there were long, dark strands of hair near her body! Nobody has long dark hair but you!”

“First of all, lower your fucking voice. A lot of people have long dark hair! Maybe it was one of her crack head friends.”

“No, they did a DNA test. That person has no previous record. Hm, neither do you!”

“So?! Neither do you with all the pot you used to smoke! Neither did Alley! All of us have just been lucky and have never been busted by the cops.”

Matt took a deep breath. “You did something to her...and I'm going to find out what.”

Raven took a step closer and placed the icy tip of her glock against his forehead. “Are you sure you wanna do that, Matty? Alley's dead...let her be the only one.”

Matt could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“Bang!” she shouted to get a reaction out of him but the boy didn't flinch. Angered by this, Raven hit him in the left eye with the butt of her gun.

“Fuck!” Matt groaned in agony as he doubled over in pain.

“Now you and Jake can have matching eye patches,” she said before slamming the door.

---

One week earlier

Alley sank to her knees on the frosty cement of Raven's porch. “Jake told me that you weren't pregnant anymore. Please. I'll do anything for your forgiveness.”

“I'll never forgive you, you goddamn meth head. I lost my baby because of you! You're disgusting. You seriously make me want to vomit at the sight of pus infested face. You're revolting, bitch. Just stay away from me!”

“No, please-” Alley got out before the door was slammed in her face.

Raven groaned prior to grabbing a dildo off of the  shelf. She entered her bedroom and quickly removed her top, afterwards, the girl flopped onto her bed and grabbed her phone to FaceTime one of her favorite lovers.

“What’s up?” Daniel whispered. “Why are you calling me?”

“For an alibi,” she said jokingly. “What cha doing?”

“Babe, it’s Christmas. I'm with my wife and kid.”

Raven rolled her eyes. “You have the cutest facade, Mr. Donigan.”

“I know, I know. I'd give it all up for you, but my boss is a big family man and if I left the bitch now, I wouldn't be able to buy you the things that you love anymore.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she dismissed. “Does she have tits like mine?” Raven asked as she lowered the camera.

Daniel let out a feeble groan. “Nobody has tits like you, babe.”

She smiled as she revealed the dildo. “Wanna watch?”

“Oooh, you know I do.”

“Well too fucking bad. As punishment for not being here, you only get to listen to my moans.”

“Nooo, come on, babe,” he pleaded.

“You don't get to see anythingggg,” the girl said as she covered up her front camera. As soon as the man was sheathed in the dark, Raven pulled out her laptop.

“Are you touching yourself?”

“Yes, baby,” she moaned. “I wish you were here.” Raven pulled up a random video of a girl masturbating with all the proper noises.

“Fuckkk, you sound amazing,” Daniel panted.

“Yes, yes,” the girl on the video seemingly replied as Raven pulled on her top then shoes before grabbing her gun and making her way out the front door. She took a few steps to the left and knocked on her neighbor’s door, a junior at her university that she'd surprisingly never slept with.

“Heyyy, Raven!” the boy greeted when he answered.

“Pete, can I use your phone to make a call? I just broke mine.”

“I mean, if you let me take you out one of these days, broken phones wouldn't be a problemmm.”

“Fuck you, Pete. We've lived next door to each other for like four years. You're like a brother, now let me see your phone.”

“Fineee,” the boy sighed as he handed over his device.

The girl swiftly typed in the number and placed it to her ear. “Hey...meet me at the place that you always used to say that you'd buy and fix up one day. I have a surprise for you...nope, it's to die for.”

---

Alley shivered and sniffled as she paced in front of the old abandoned house but when the familiar black Mustang pulled up, the prospect at being forgiven helped to warm her from the inside out.

“Hey,” she sighed, when the other girl exited the car.

“Hey, yourself.” Raven grabbed a brown paper sack from her car and approached. “Let's go inside and see what we have to work with.”

“Inside here? Oh, God what about the spiders?”

“Sweetheart, spiders are the least of your problems.”

Alley frowned. “Raven, I really wish that you'd find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“Entering the house would be a start.”

The girl took a deep breath that sent a cloud of cool air swirling around her face before she made her way inside the house, followed by Raven who closed the door behind them.

“It's so dark in here,” Alley commented. “I don't know how we'll see what we're working with.” The other girl quickly resolved the problem by lighting a candle. “Whew. Um, I love the crown molding. What about you?” When she turned around, she was greeted by the barrel of a gun. “R-R-Raven...what’s g-g-going on?”

“This is for you,” she said as she handed Alley the brown paper sack.

“Wha-”

“Just open it!”

Alley flinched and quickly opened the bag to reveal the large amount of drugs.

“Merry Christmas.”

“Raven...I'm genuinely thinking about quitting. Earlier was the last time I'll ever touch the stuff.”

“Ya know, usually when someone gives you something, you say thank you.”

“Thank you, but-” She froze when the girl cocked the gun.

“Try some.”

Alley whimpered as she sank to the floor. “Why are you doing this?”

“You fucking hit me.”

“I'm sorry,” she sniffled.

“And I'm horny so let's speed this up.”

The girl began to weep as she set up the drugs, placed the pipe to her lips and inhaled while she lit the base. “It's very potent.”

“Good. Try some more.”

Sobbing at this point, Alley obliged and took another hit. And then another. Then another, then another, all under the threat of her best friend's gun. “I'm so sorry, Ravennn,” she slurred. “You would've been a great motherrrrr.”

“I wish I could say the same. Do some more.”

“My fi-fi-fingers hurt. They're burninggggg.”

Raven fired one shot into the floor boards. “I don't give a fuck! Do it!”

Trembling from the cold, fear and the massive amount of drugs taking over her system, the girl picked up the pipe for the final time, placed it to her lips and lit it. When she couldn't keep her eyelids open anymore, Alley dropped her hands and slumped over.

Raven tipped toed over towards the unconscious girl and checked her pulse. When she felt a faint beat, she pushed Alley onto her back and dumped the remaining contents of the drugs into her mouth. “That ought to do it, sweetheart. Feel free to safeword at any time,” she chuckled before she felt something crawling on her head. “Oh my God, ew!” Raven whimpered as she swatted at herself, racking the bug out of her hair, sending strands of her dark tresses to the floor in the process. She quickly rushed out of the house. “At least the bitch was right about something. Fucking spiders.” The girl composed herself and glanced around for potential eyewitnesses. When she didn't see anyone, the sultry brunette lit a cigarette and sauntered to her car.

---

When she returned home, the masterbation video was still up and Daniel was still on the phone.

“Fuck, babe,” he whimpered. “I came twice. Even over the phone you're so amazing.”

“Yes, yes,” the video girl moaned. Raven quickly covered her mouth to suppress her laughter before she paused the video. “I'm done,” she panted.

“Me too,” the man exhaled.

“Goodnight, baby. I'll call you later.”

“Goodnight.” The girl quickly ended the video chat and decided to further her alibi. She called Carmen.

Once the girl arrived, Raven had to sit through five minutes of tears, declarations of love and the begging of her forgiveness. After she figured that she'd been there long enough, she kicked Carmen out and hoped that the girl would tell others where she'd been and how her heart had been broken.

“I think I'll go to church in the morning,” Raven chirped, quite proud of herself. “I may need some phrases for my eulogy.”