#i’m having this chance to travel for free to the beach for a week

[albtrosz]

i’d be so fucking powerful if i let myself enjoy things

[everygayhere]

May the fun commence

hey this the first fanfic i've ever posted so like if you could give any notes that would be really appreciated and also go a little easy maybe... possible pls.

summary: Y/N a college student who is traveling to Malibu beach and have a fun vacation and maybe get to know her crush Marlow a bit more, while also avoiding Tara the most annoying person. Little does she know that maybe more interesting paths await her at this beach house. Tara carpenter a free spirted women who likes to have her fun drinking and hanging out with friends and avoiding the one person she knows won't be here Y/N.

Part 1, Part 2

Loud sounds of pelting rain hit the roof. As Y/N sits in her room with the murmurs of the television in the background which has been forgotten. Scrolling through her Instagram mindlessly noticing everyone enjoying their summer, FOMO at an all time high. She has a long exhale of breath as she sees her crush Marlows’s post. Jealousy consumes her as she analyzes the photo of a random girl’s arms wrapped around their body. To close for her comfort she thinks. Quickly scrolling past to see her friend Alva’s post about her lavash vacation and the summer sun, wishing she could be there.

Yet here she lays in the comfort of her bed wasting the day away. You see it’s not like she wasn’t invited to come along with them on their vacation. She just said no. Her parents didn’t mind her going, it's just that sometimes they embarrass her. When she told them that her friends wanted her to come along on their vacation her parents were fine with it; they were actually happy. They couldn’t wait to get their daughter out of their house for some alone time and so their daughter could have fun.

To Y/n credit she was packing to get ready to go but then her mum pulled the stunt of giving her condoms and a sex talk and that just made her not want to go. So now the envy of her friends having fun, well she was stuck at home once again was on her this time, but maybe it was for the best since Tara Carpenter was there. A part of her didn’t mind that she wasn’t on Malibu Beach sun tanning and basking in the warm air but the other part was so pissed off.

A knock was heard at Y/N’s door, “darling hey I was just coming up to see if you were okay or needed anything?”. Her mother questions at the closed door. “Ah no i’m good thanks though mum” Y/N heard her mother sigh as her footsteps became distant. Is it possible for my summer to get any worse she thought to herself. *DING* the sound of a notification rang out into her room, her screen lighting up from the right of her. Of Course it could, why the hell would it not. There on her locked screen lit up a notification of a post Marlow  just uploaded and in the tagged mentions was Tara Carpenter insta. As Y/N clicked the notification the image of Tara and Marlow was brought up to her face. The two of them grinning into the camera with their eyes covered by sunglasses. Marlow was wearing a wife beater while Tara had an unbuttoned Hawaiian style shirt and a Nike sports bra underneath.

Now normally Y/N would be smiling at this photo like a kid in a candy store but she couldn’t seem to hold that expression not when Tara was in it arms crossed over her chest, abs on display her biceps popping out with the sweat that dripped from her arms. Ugh why the hell did Tara have to ruin everything. She just had to be friends with Marlow. I mean who cares if they were friends since the start of college, maybe Y/N didn’t want Tara to ruin her only chance with Marlow. 

That’s it this is how my love life is going to be something or someone is going to always get in the way. No matter what. I am just destined to be alone forever. Y/N thinks to herself as she continues to see her mutuals all hanging out and having fun, couples kissing each other and posting about their life while on vacation. She then decides to get up and leave her room and go somewhere. I mean she has several more weeks before she’s back at school. Maybe she should just go to Malibu and hang with her friends. They did say that she could fly over and stay at their villa when she was ready, and this is her being ready.

Y/N packs her bags once again and heads down stairs where she sees her parents in the living room. They both turn when they hear her footsteps coming down the stairs. “Hey honey, what are you doing with those bags?” her mum asks.  “I’ve decided to get ready to leave for that vacation with my friends in LA” Y/N says looking at her mother with her head held high. “Well that’s wonderful news, but how are you going to get there darling? Flights are already fully booked for the next 2 weeks” her father responded with a confused look on his face. Amelia nudges her husband. “I was just going to drive there, nothing says great freedom like taking a 9 hour and 53 minute drive from here to LA, well LA Malibu beach”  Y/N responded. “ Well okay then have a fun message when you get there and remember safe sex is the best option besides no sex but you know what i mean” her mother smiles at her giving her a wink. “Ew mum like I said I am not going to have sex i’m just going to hangout with Alva and the others” Y/N responded while walking out the front door towards her car. “Okay well don't forget that you have to wear protection when you get a little frisky with girls honey and also, please understand you could still get an STD!” her mother shouts out towards her. “Yes, I know mum, I take health class!” Y/N  responded back, packing her bags into her car.

She hops into the front of her car and puts the directions on her GPS and connects her phone so she can listen to music on her way there. As she’s driving off she decides that this time is probably the best to get herself a coffee. So she pulls up to a cafe and off onto the road she goes. 

Several hours of driving and great playlist’s later she arrives at the villa Alva messaged her when she was driving down. At this moment she second guesses herself on whether or not she should be here. Then she sees Alva on the balcony and texts her telling her she's here, she can see Anika read it since Alva bolts from the balcony 2 minutes later she’s running out of the front door and towards Y/N’s car. “You actually came!!! Oh my god, holy shit I really thought you were bullshitting again.” “At this moment I really do wish I was too.” Y/N responded with dread filling her face.

“Oh come on, it's not that Y/nn” Alva responded by wrapping her arm around her shoulder and dragging her along with her. “Not that bad?... look how many people are here.” as Y/N scans the driveway jammed packed with cars like a goddamn puzzle. With the music blasting out to the where the two stand outside facing the front entrance. “Look it’s really not this packed all the time we just so happen to have a party the day you arrived….” Alva says well looking away from Y/N to the house. Y/N turns back to face Anika and gives her a raised eyebrow “oh really? You know that's pretty weird considering you’re good at planning ahead of time and you knew I was going to be here today.” Alva doesn’t look at her as she response “what… that’s not-” in the middle of Anika responding she turns to Y/n to explain and see the really? Face Y/n is giving her “okay maybe i did know… but it doesn’t matter now you're here and you are going to have fun with me.” Alva gives Y/N a big smile and drags her to the house by her forearm.  ‘May the fun commence.. I guess’ Y/n thought as she entered the front door.

[discountdemonwarehouse]

Domestic December Day 9

Day 9 prompt - Staycation

Quinn and Terzo visit a beach town. It's a staycation in that they stayed in Italy, mostly within reasonable distance. A03 Link to this prompt and all the others.

More or less SFW, some mention of drinking, sex, swearing, but nothing too explicit or crazy.

Ages → Quinn – 18, Terzo, 22.

        With Terzo’s increased duties from being in the clergy, the pastime of traveling abroad with Quinn’s parents had become difficult. In the past, they had tacked a week or two vacation alongside a business trip of her father’s. Terzo had accompanied them as a friend and then as a temporary assistant to Russel before that was too difficult to coordinate. He had managed to squeeze a week’s vacation into his schedule during the summer however, proudly informing Quinn of this fact.. “You’re old enough to travel without your parents now, tesoro,” he teased. “And you’re the legal drinking age.” “I’ve been the legal drinking age since December, dumbass. Besides, Italy doesn’t push back too much if you drink wine with your parents as a youth either.” “Sì, but now you can party. Legally. Not hidden in the woods.” Quinn rolled her eyes, laughing a little. “Okay, and?” “And I booked us hotel rooms in Alassio, right on the beach. For just under a week.” “Hm, I’ll have to check my calendar…” She smirked. “I already cleared your schedule.” “Presumptuous. What if I didn’t want to go?” He raised an eyebrow. “Really? Miss the chance to escape The Ministry for a week? I think not.” “When are we going?” “Next week. We leave Monday.”

        After a few days in Alassio, Quinn had more or less abandoned Terzo to his flirting. After breakfast each morning he unveiled a new pair of short swim trunks or swim briefs before he headed across the street to the beach, ready to lounge the day away in a chair under the shade of a sun umbrella or on a blanket in the sun, interrupted only by the gaggle of admirers he inevitably attracted. Quinn would often join him after lunch, having spent the morning wandering the streets and investigating the little shops. She had done some flirting of her own, something not unnoticed by Terzo, who seemed able to interrupt at the most inopportune times despite his own flirting. His words made the young men quickly flee, Quinn’s resulting glares answered with his disapproving look over his sunglasses, as if to say, “Really? That caught your eye?” But during her shopping one day, Quinn decided to up the ante. She saw the swimsuit on display in the window and smirked to herself before entering the shop. Soon enough she left, carrying a small bag as she made her way back to the hotel. She felt quite proud of herself as she met Terzo for lunch, the day’s purchase hidden beneath her sundress. Terzo met her in the hallway, a young woman waving her farewell as she left his room. Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you worried about catching something? Or pregnancy?” “That’s what this is for,” he declared, tapping one of his earrings. “You’re not the only one who can make deals with imps, you know. Also, condoms and the pill exist for a reason.” Quinn rolled her eyes, but was glad her friend took precautions. He studied her for a moment. “I suppose we’ll have to figure out something for you if you plan to keep flirting.” “I’m not planning to act on any of that flirting,” she said snidely, walking towards the restaurant they’d chosen. “Not everything is planned, tesoro,” he replied, tugging her ponytail. “I don’t want to see you with an unplanned pregnancy.” “Don’t worry; you won’t.”

        They managed to beat the post-lunch return to the beach, and found a free sun umbrella to settle under. Quinn kicked off her sandals and spread out a blanket while Terzo lounged in the chair, flagging down a hotel employee to bring drinks. It was now or never, and Quinn quickly took a breath, then undid the tie on her wrap dress, slipping it from her shoulders to reveal the black bikini. The bottoms slung low across her hips, the black fabric connected on each side by gold chains, the same chain that connected the center bust portion. She double checked the black strings tied around her neck and torso, hearing Terzo’s breath suddenly hiss behind her. She smirked, but cleared her face before turning. “What?” “That’s barely a swimsuit.” “I’m not planning on swimming in it.” She sat on the blanket before applying the sun lotion. “Besides, you don’t complain when the other girls wear them.” “You’re not other girls. You’re like my little sister.” She arched a brow at him over her sunglasses. “You’d shame your little sister for her sexuality? Tsk, tsk, bad Satanic priest.” Terzo grunted, staying silent until a man approached.

        The man gave her a dazzling smile. “Do you need assistance with your lotion, signorina?” “She does not,” Terzo snarled. “Adesso vai a fanculo.” (Now go fuck yourself.) “I did not realize you were together,” the man stammered at the venom in Terzo’s tone. “I had seen you with another this morning…” “Go. Away.” The man bolted at Terzo’s words. “Terzo, behave.” “Why are you doing this?” “Doing what?” “This.” He gestured at her bikini. “You’re going to ruin all my flirting.” “I’m just enjoying my vacation as an adult – that is what you wanted, isn’t it?” She kept her voice sweet and innocent. “It’s not like I would do this out of boredom because you can’t keep it in your pants, and I’ve been dragged hours from home to entertain myself after you promised a fun time.” “You’re such a bitch sometimes, Quinn.” He suddenly grinned. “But that’s why you’re fun.” Quinn settled on her back on the blanket, enjoying the sun. After a little while she could feel him staring at her. “You’re staring.” “Someone has to keep an eye on you, they’re circling like vultures. She looked around then laid back again. “They are not. You pervert; looking at your ‘little sister.’ Tch.” She teased him. “Not so loud or you’ll really drive all the potential flirters away!” Quinn snorted, then let herself relax.

Note: Quinn's bikini is based off this vintage 1970s Gucci bikini.

[n0resistance]

June 

   The first of June I got engaged.  I actually didn’t think he would do it this soon because of life and everything that gets in the way of this moment. I hated the fact that women have to wait for the guy to ask us, even if we know we’re ready. 

    When Dom proposed it made me the happiest I ever been. Then during the month of June he worked nights because his rotation was the emergency room, which meant I got to spend mornings and days with him. And before this we always had opposite schedules.

    He even got to play volleyball with my group. We would have breakfast together and watch movies. I got to go to Jersey with him and hang with my family. His mom came to visit from Vegas. 

    I got this job near my house recently and living near your job if you don’t work remotely is pretty amazing. Especially if you live in Queens. I’ve gained peace of mind. I don’t dread my days, there’s no toxicity, no fighting, and all of this is the biggest relief. I don’t get out at 3 am anymore and that is a game changer. To your happiness and to your health. 

    So I got engaged to the love of my life, I have peaceful jobs, I got to go home, go to the beach, I play volleyball, the weather makes my mood better, and I really love my apartment. I don’t hang out in groups and hangout with friends one on one. 

    I don’t travel any chance I get anymore. Or go out partying after work. I also don’t get to do acting classes or am putting on any show at the moment either.  That’s always my m/o. Trying to save for a wedding now. 

   I compensated the pain I had with my old jobs with travel, drinking, and escaping with art (which is healthier than the other two). I audition, I write movies I want to make, and I write this blog still. And nobody really talks about this but laundry, cleaning, and cooking is a never ending job at home. 

    My life isn’t overly stimulating or exciting anymore. The excitement revolves around getting a job I actually enjoy. Finding and booking our venue for our wedding. Free time to go to the beach. A workout. I feel healthier. Clearer. 

    I think we overcomplicate our lives thinking we need stuff all the time we don’t really need. I think we put stress on ourselves to make other people happy. I don’t think people care about what I do with my life and I used to be so insecure always trying to figure out how to explain it. 

    The things that are hard to deal with in a corporate environment I’ve experienced is you never get paid enough, schedule is inflexible, management is always coming down on you for things that aren’t your fault. Your stuck there because it’s your only job. And I was just over it for a while. 

    I think what’s important is that we care about ourselves enough to step away from  toxic environments. Yes it’s a risk. Yes your pay isn’t exactly as it was. But I feel that with space comes opportunities of what you do want. There’s always this internal battle. Of compromising what we don’t want for money or stability. I saw this meme that said I don’t even waste an hour on something I don’t care about anymore. When most people waste 40 hours or more a week on what they don’t care about. 

   I’m turning 33 soon and the thing I figured out is I have to like my job. Or what I’m doing outside of my job. It’s a means to an end. I have to enjoy where I live and the people I surround myself with. That it’s okay to be boring. I guess I finally don’t want to live out of a backpack anymore, I want to really take my time with a project and I really have to enjoy and find purpose with work, and any free time I get I want to spend with my fiancé. People pleasing doesn’t interest me anymore. If they don’t like it, sucks to be them. 

    I’m glad I grew up. It was hard to find sustainability living a fast life. Feeling stuck. Being sad. I’m glad I found someone who can be there with me in good times and in bad. I have to say, June has been the best month of year. The month we’ve waited all winter for. & It just went by in a instant. 

[fluffywolverine]

so season 6 of lucifer came out.

there were some things that i liked, but generally i hated it. i believe that was SUCH. BAD. WRITING and it left me frustrated. so i decided to write down all things that pissed me off and sometimes i try to fix this by giving other ideas that – in my opinion – would have made the story better. Check my points out and feel free to add your points of view. without further ado: let’s talk.

- imma start with the big one – fucking time travel. ok I generally hate this trope in the media, because it’s complicated and often leads to some logical mistakes – and they happened here. so rory time travels because of her anger which was caused… by her anger?? i think this was unnecessary. it also brings trouble with this whole free will vs. fate discourse. lucifer says, that he chooses free will… but at the same time he goes the path of his fate. he disappears from rory’s life, because he HAS TO in order of the events of the season to happen. just because he chose to do it, doesn’t mean it’s free will.

- lucifer becomes the very thing he desperately didn’t want to become. “bUt It WaS fOr ThE gReAtEr GoOd” screw this bullshit, if writers wanted to make it better, they could have easily do so. they could have altered the rules of time travel so that his choice of staying could have resulted in rory disappearing. yes, that would have been heart-breaking, but it would have been a great lesson for lucifer, that he can’t make the same mistakes his father did.

- chloe and Lucifer get a child without even talking about it. “bUt MaYbE tHeY tAlKeD aBoUt It We JuSt DiDn’T sEe It” you may say. but the point of writing anything  - whether it’s a book or a script – is to show any thing that matters. and talking about having kids is one of the most things any couple should do. also not every couple needs to have kids and forcing deckerstar to have it feels so far-fetched. this thread was very unnecessary.

- rory herself is a big problem. to begin with – she wanted to KILL her FATHER. i get her frustration, but commiting a murder?? just because he wasn’t there for her?? I would have thought that chloe taught her better, taught her that, like, killing people is bad. turns out she did not. secondly… she just isn’t necessary here. i elaborate later so in conclusion – her thread could be altered with michael’s and it would have made much more sense. i also don’t like the actress (why was she blinking so much??) so i certainly didn’t help.

- of course ella has to end up with a boyfriend. because earlier she always ended up with “bad boys” and now, without any help, she is just able to have a healthy relationship! yay! for me this creates a toxic view, that in order to be happy one HAS TO be in a relationship, because being alone is aLwAyS bAd. well, it’s not.

- i also have troubles with lucifer starting up a foundation for her. firstly, he didn’t ask her. secondly it – AGAIN – shows, that anything good ella got, was because of another man. firstly because of her relationship with carol, secondly because of lucifer’s idea. it could have been so easily altered! there could have been a scene of a conversation e.g. with amenadiel where she expressed a will to do better and be better for someone (given that she sees a lot of dark in herself). amenadiel could have then told her, that she is an inspiration and that it is her biggest strength. that could have been where ella came up with an idea to start a foundation blah blah – it’s just a rough idea but I believe that written well, it could have been so much better;

- and the last thing about ella – of course she had to find out about celestial stuff because sHe WaS tHe OnLy OnE rEmAiNiNg. umm what about trixie? i'll come back to her later. ella was portrayed as the only one believing in god and having her seeing that he really exists ruins the concept of faith. it’s not about knowing something exists, it’s about believing in it.

- WHERE THE FUCK IS MICHAEL. i must admit that i loved this character AND I CAN’T STAND HOW AWFULLY HE WAS TREATED HERE. so at the end of season 5 lucifer says “everyone deserves a second chance, even you michael". and what does he do then? COMMANDS HIS TWIN TO CLEAR THE FLOOR IN HELL. yes, i agree that michael should have been punished for his rebellion plan, but… he already has his wing cut off. now he’s stuck in hell, with no way out and is he supposed to learn his lesson? this is cruel. instead of this the entire season could have been centred on him – his journey to self-acceptance, learning how manipulating someone is toxic and starting to realise how to be a better person. at the end he could have become god (because amenadiel is such an obvious choice), which would create a beautiful connection – michael in heaven and his twin in hell.

- lucifer doesn’t feel like being god and that’s cool. damn. people died for him to win this place and he’s like “actually you know guys i’m not the right person bye”. while i believe that anyone should step out if they have a reason, but at the same time lucifer should have faced any consequences of his decisions. falling frog and kool aid in the river are not enough.

- adam’s plot feels just quickly sketched, not actually written. i really appreciate this take on toxic masculinity but it all felt too fast-paced. it’s good that they show this idea of “strong and not-showing-any-feelings man” kind of attitude, but it is impossible for ANYONE (especially The ManTM) to change their mind in a matter of a few days. it takes weeks, months, years even, especially given that adam is like a gazillion years old, he should have especially taken a long time to process this.

- carol is just too pure to exist. he’s also one of the most boring, plain and one-dimensional character i’ve ever seen. i feel like they gave him a problem with alcohol because the writers were like “hmmmmm he has to have some weakness. LET’S MAKE HIM AN ALCOHOLIC”. we don’t see any signs of his everyday struggle, why did he fell into this problem, how did struggle. it just feels like a dull plot device to show that he has flaws. oh and also he’s so pure that he doesn’t mind ella BREAKING INTO HIS HOUSE. acceptance should have boundaries and violating someone’s personal space isn’t right.

- why did they forget about trixie again? yes, i know that scarlett estevez had another project but this does not justify the bad writing. the girl lost her father and we only see her crying once because of that. no signs of this affecting her everyday life, not showing any consequences of her relationships with other people, not  glimpse of any change in her behaviour. oh and also she loses lucifer too because time travel! great idea, writers! losing another close to her person would have been soooooo good for her psychic for sure.

- i also hate the idea that suddenly rory becomes the only child they care for. where is trixie when they spend their day on the beach? where is she when her mother dies? did writers forget about her as well as they did about michael?

- amenadiel being a police officer is… problematic. i was looking forward to this thread, i was kinda scared too and it turned out… meh. i’m white and not American, so this of course does not involve me at all, but i felt like this was not enough. harris basically said that there is nothing they can do to make it better for black folks. even though chloe and amenadiel want to make everything more just, we don’t actually see any change. the only thing is that harris becomes a detective (right? i’m not sure if i understood it correctly, so correct me if i’m wrong, please) which is a total contradiction of what she said before. suddenly she does not have to protect people anymore?

- in season 5 they stated that heaven and hell need to be fixed, as the system is unfair and unjust. at the end we don’t see any change, the only thing that is different is lucifer helping damned souls. it doesn’t help at all! these people still go to hell, they still suffer and there’s nothing that changed here! plus there is also this thing, that a sociopath who murdered people in cold blood goes to heaven (because he does not feel any guilt) and a person abused by her parents/partner/whoever goes to hell (because have been manipulated to feel guilt).

- dan making amends with trixie while… there wasn’t really anything to make amends about. like, most of the parents make mistakes while upbringing their children, but does this make them unworthy of heaven? i would have preferred dan to slowly regain his self-consciousness, how he positively affected the lives of people around him and by doing so – through conversations or maybe reliving some of the memories, he could have proved to himself that he is worthy of love and redemption.

phew, what a ride. i really liked dan being reunited with charlotte (it went just as i imagined) and mazeve dynamics. i even felt like they are finally a real life relationship – with people hurting each other by not understanding each other, but then talking and seeing other’s perspective. generally though, i’m very disappointed.

sorry for any mistakes, lacking commas etc. writing a text this long in not my native language was not easy.

[sunrisefairy]

Last chances

Pairing: George Weasley x reader Warning: Alcohol, swearing, angst (but worth it i promise) Summary: Y/N is getting married. To someone that isn’t George. 

A/N: this was written for @inglourious-imagines​​ 1K writing challenge (i just realised i didnt tell you before hand what prompts i was gonna do so i hope thats okay) based off the prompts ‘you need to leave’ and ‘d-did you just k-kiss me?’

Taglist: @hufflepuff5972​ @inglourious-imagines​ @klausdatprettyboi​ @georgeweasleyswhre​ @horrorxweasley​ @amourtentiaa​ send me an ask if you would like to be added

———————————————————————————————————

George felt all the air being sucked out of his lungs as he read over the golden cursive words printed onto the crisp white paper. He could feel Fred’s pitiful stare burning holes into the side of his head, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the paper in his grasp. George’s brain was overflowing with thoughts, but his head was empty at the same time, as if every time he reached out his thoughts were dissolving into liquid and slipping through his fingers.

By the time George managed to make eye contact with Fred, his eyes were red and burning with tears, the only thought he could wrap his fingers around was the one which was destroying him the most, “she’s getting married?”

~~~

The sun was beating down harshly making the sand feel like tiny grains of lava, but George didn’t care. It was the middle of summer and the Weasley family had invited the Y/L/N’s to the beach. John and Nancy Y/L/N had been very good friends with Molly and Arthur Weasley for many years having met during high school. But soon after graduation John and Nancy got married and decided to travel the world which they had done for a few years before having their daughter Y/N. They moved around a lot while Y/N was a baby, still wanting to explore and see what the world had to offer. But now, Y/N was 7 and they decided it would do her and themselves some good to settle down somewhere, plant some roots so to speak. Which is how they ended back in the small town John and Nancy grew up in, the one where the Weasleys were still living.

Giving that it was summer, and the weather was reaching high temperatures the Weasley family decided to spend the day at the beach so the children could kill some energy and excitedly invited their old friends, John and Nancy to catch up.

George was particularly thrilled not only because he loved days at the beach playing with his siblings and making sandcastles just to pretend he was a giant and stomp on them, but he couldn’t wait to meet Y/N. His parents had told him and Fred that Y/N was their age and although Fred wasn’t very interested in playing with a girl and would much rather prank Ron, George had a good feeling about Y/N.

George had just finished constructing a sandcastle he named ‘Castle Weasley’ and was about to jump on it when his mum calls for him. He drags his bare feet through the hot sand over to his parents who are chatting with 2 people he doesn’t recognise.

“Fred, George this is John and Nancy, and this is their little girl Y/N.” Molly gestures to the timid girl hiding behind her mum’s leg.

Reluctantly Y/N moves from her previous hiding spot and stares doe eyes up at the twins in front of her. George’s mouth is dry and his palms are clammy, but he doesn’t think it’s from the blistering heat. George Weasley is staring at the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.

~~~

It’s been 3 weeks since Y/N’s wedding invitation arrived in the mail and George had shoved it under a pile of bills he was also planning to ignore. Although he doesn’t need to see the invitations to remember the words which were written on the paper ‘kindly join us for the wedding of Y/N L/N and William Chapman. Saturday the seventeenth of April at 11 o’clock.’

It was the 10th of April today, just 7 days till Y/N’s wedding. George felt bile rising in the back of his throat every time he thinks about Y/N marrying someone which wasn’t himself. George has had a crush on the girl ever since he first met her that day on the beach. Back then he only ever saw it as a silly little crush which he hoped he’d eventually get over. But years went on and his crush only grew and grew until it was suffocating. When they reached high school, George planned to tell Y/N about his feelings but chickened out each time, scared of ruining their friendship.

To be honest George always felt (maybe he just hoped) that him and Y/N were meant for each other and sooner or later they’d be together. He held tightly onto this when Y/N started dating William. George was optimistic that William and Y/N’s relationship wasn’t serious and eventually they’d break up and George could finally confess his feelings. All of that went down the drain the second George open up that stupid envelope.

“I ran into Y/N today. At the store,” Fred says carefully trying to gage his brother’s reaction to her name. George just offers a grunt in response, eye staring blankly at the tv in front of him. “she asked about you, wants to know if you’re going to the wedding since she hasn’t heard anything from you.”

George doesn’t reply. Fred just sighs, ”c’mon mate. You’re really not going to go? It’s Y/N we’re talking about here. She’s your best mate.”

George racks his ringers through his already messy hair, squeezing his eyes closed. “That’s exactly why I can’t go. It’s Y/N. How can I sit there and watch Y/N marry some other guy and pretend I’m okay with it?” George feels tears threatening to fall down his cheeks, it’s a wonder he has any tears left to cry.

Fred moves closer to George on the couch, wrapping his arm around his twin who chokes out a sob, “I know buddy, I know it fucking hurts.”

~~~

Since graduating high school George and Y/N made it tradition to catch up once a week if not more so they wouldn’t lose touch. But their newfound busy lives with university and work meant they hadn’t seen each other for a month. They finally found a day that they were both free and decided to meet up for coffee. George had paid for Y/N’s latte while she found them a table by the window. He set their drinks down admiring how beautiful Y/N looked, she was practically glowing.

“So, Y/N what’s new with you? I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you,” George takes a long sip of his coffee.

George knows Y/N must have some important news for him, judging solely off the smile that she’s failing to conceal. “Well, if you must know. I met someone.”

The colour drains from George’s face and he coughs trying to regain his composure. “Like a boy?”

“Yes a boy silly, his name is William and I met him at the library. It was actually really funny I was turning down one of the aisles and he” George drowns out Y/N’s voice, he can hear his heart thumping in his chest, threatening to jump out.

George knows, he knows it’s his own fault for not telling Y/N how he feels sooner. He knows he doesn’t have anyone else to blame but himself, but it doesn’t make this hurt any less. Sweet, kind Y/N, who had gently cradled George’s heart unknowingly since they were 7, has squeezed it between her slender fingers like a stress ball.

“George?” Y/N words break him from his trance.

“That sounds amazing Y/N, I’m really happy for you.”

~~~

It’s Monday and Y/N has been trying to contact George for days with no luck. She ran into Fred last Saturday who said George has just been super busy with work, she didn’t believe it one bit, she needed to find out why George has been ignoring her.

She pushes the store door open and the bell above chimes announcing her arrival.

“Sorry we’re closed for the day!” a voice travels through the store before it’s owner exits the storeroom to see who the culprit is, who clearly cannot read the ‘closed’ sign hanging on the door.

George’s eyes land on Y/N who is standing by the front door unmoving and twiddling with her fingers, playing with an engagement ring that seems out of place on her left hand. “What are you doing here?”

Y/N steps closer, not noticing the way George takes a small step back, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

George doesn’t speak, he’s certain that his voice would be unsteady if he did. Y/N hates the silence, so speaks again, “I’m getting married you know, on Saturday.”

George sucks in a breath, turning his back to fix one of the displays. “Yeah, congratulations,” he mumbles.

“I didn’t know if you got the invitation or not, kind of expected you to call.” Y/N shoves her hands into the pockets of her jeans, moving so she is standing beside George who is avoiding her gaze. “What’s the matter Georgie?”

George shakes his head, “kind of fast isn’t it? Why the rush to get married to that twat?”

Y/N rolls her eyes, ever since George met William, he made it very clear he didn’t like the bloke. “George stop it. He proposed and I said yes. We figured why wait to start our lives together, y’know? So on Saturday I thought that-“

“-I’m not going.” George’s words felt like a hot knife to Y/N’s chest. When George finally mets her gaze he continues, “I’m not going to the wedding Y/N.”

“Why?”

“Because! Because William is a prick and doesn’t deserve you. I can’t sit there and watch you marry some idiot.” George knows his voice is getting louder and that his hands are flailing around but he doesn’t care. “He’s an absolute tosser! You deserve better than William.” You deserve me.

“William has done nothing but love me, George.” The thought of George not being there at her wedding breaks her heart. George was her best friend; how could she not have her best friend at the wedding. “Are you really not going to be there for me?” Y/N’s voice is quiet and timid.

It shatters George to see her so upset and the next words almost kill him.

“No, I won’t be there.”

~~~

Click.

Click.

Click.

“Okay mum that’s enough photos now!” Y/N giggles trying to hide her face behind her hands.

“Just one more please! George put your arm around her this time.” Nancy says holding the camera up to her face.

George wraps his arm around Y/N waist pulling her closer to him very aware of the way Y/N leans into his side. It’s the night on the school dance and somehow he had gathered enough courage to ask Y/N to go with him, she agreed of course and now they were standing out the front of Y/N’s house in front of the rose bushes while Y/N and George’s parents took photos.

“Okay now one with the four of you together,” Molly says pushing Fred and his date over to the rose bush. The four of them stood together smiling at all the flashing cameras which almost blinded them.

Molly wipes a tear that slips down her cheek, she always got emotional during things like this, “I cannot believe my little babies are growing up. 16 and going to a school dance with their gorgeous dates.”

“Right mum that’s enough, we’re gonna be late,” George groans although he didn’t mind having his arm around Y/N’s middle.

Molly nods agreeing, “right fine! Don’t want to keep you from your dance, have fun!”

Arthur drops the 4 of them off at the school hall reminding them he’d be back at 12 to pick them up.

All 4 of them spend most of the night dancing together and laughing at Fred’s questionable dance moves. Soon the upbeat song comes to an end and a much slowly one started playing. Immediately Fred extends a hand to his date, “m’lady. Care to dance?”

George turns his body to face Y/N who is gazing up at his tall frame, he gulps “Y/N do you wanna dance with me?”

The smile that spreads across her face could light up the room, “yes please.”

For the remainder of the night George and Y/N sway slowly to the music, Y/N moves closer to George until her head is resting against his chest and his arms find their place on her hips.

Y/N can hear George humming to the music above her and she smiles giving his shoulders a small squeeze, then whispers so quietly she’s worried George doesn’t hear her. “I hope we are always best friends Georgie.”

“I promise we will be love.”

~~~

Friday night and George hasn’t spoken to Y/N since she visited the shop. He’s ignored her phone calls and text messages; she came into the shop again on Wednesday, but George locked himself in the backroom telling Fred he had to do stocktake.

George could feel himself falling apart, Y/N was upset with him, Fred was annoyed at his childish behaviour. George felt himself fall deeper and deeper as his heartache and sorrow grew stronger every time he remembered Y/N’s engagement. The only thing which seems to numb his feelings was the alcohol.

At this point George wasn’t sure how much he had had to drink, but the buzz running through his system was better than the bitterness he was feeling before. It had just hit 11:30pm at night and he had finished the last of the tequila from the bottle. With no alcohol to distract his brain his eyes drift over the numerous photo frames he has hanging on the living room wall. His eyes stop at one photo in particular, it’s of him and Y/N from the day at the beach when they were 7. Despite it being the first time the two had met, they looked like they’d known each other since birth. Y/N had been very shy when she was introduced to the twins, but George quickly made her feel comfortable and the day was spent with lots of laughter and smiles. In the photo George and Y/N are stood side by side on the sand, grinning up at the camera. They had just made a huge sandcastle village and were very proud to show off their creation. George’s eyes wander down the photograph to their hands which are tightly intertwined. He bites his lip before stumbling out the front door.

~~~

“Do you ever think about getting married Georgie?” Y/N questions, she’s lying beside George outside on the grass, staring up at the clouds moving above them. They did this a lot, gazing at the sky trying to find the funniest shapes in the clouds.

George is only 12 but he knows exactly who he wants to marry, not that he will admit that.

“No, not really.” George tries not to freak out when he feels Y/N’s hand intertwine with his own, “do you?”

Y/N nods, “yep, I want to marry someone who is funny and will let me eat ice cream for dinner.” She giggles and it makes George’s heart soar, it the 5 years of knowing Y/N it had quickly become George’s favourite sound.

He turns his head to face Y/N, she’s still looking up at the sky, there’s a faint smile on her lips.

“I’m funny.” George isn’t sure what he’s insinuating.

Y/N turns to face him, “you are. Would you let me eat ice cream for dinner?” he nods eagerly.

Y/N purses her lips before smiling, “well then Georgie, maybe I’ll marry you.”

George can only hope that’s true.

~~~

George’s fist hammers against the wooden door. It knows it late and there’s a chance William will answer instead of Y/N but in this moment he doesn’t care. “C’mon Y/N open up! It’s me George.”

The door swings open and Y/N is standing on the other side in a fluffy dressing gown wrapped snuggly around her body rubbing her eyes. “George what the hell are you doing here?” There’s a trace of annoying on her voice, mostly because he’d woken her up but also because she’s been trying to talk to him all week and he decides to show up at her house at midnight the night before her wedding.

“I-um,” George stammers, his words getting stuck in this throat. He has spent practically his whole life wanting to tell Y/N he loves her but never being able to find the words, this time was no exception. So, in George’s alcohol fuelled mind he decides if he can’t use words then actions are the next best thing.

Y/N is staring blanking at the redhead on her porch, eager to know the reason why he’s standing in front of her after ignoring her all week. George timidly steps closer towards Y/N before resting his hands on her cheeks and pressing their lips together roughly.

Y/N is stood frozen on the spot until her hands reach up to rest on George’s chest. She can taste the strong alcohol on Georges mouth, and she’s pulled back to reality and pushing him away. “D-did you just k-kiss me?”

George nods.

Y/N is filled with anger and it starts to bubble up inside of her. “What the fuck George? You’ve been ignoring me all week not answering my calls or texts and-and then you just come here drunk and do that? You can’t come here the night before my wedding and kiss me. It’s not fair!”

George’s shoulders slump, “I’m sorry, I just had to say- that I…” he pauses again, his eyes scanning over Y/N’s face hoping somehow she’s learnt how to mind read.

“What? You had to say what George?” Y/N is aware that she’s yelling but she can’t bring herself to care.

“That I love you.”

Y/N doesn’t speak her brain is running a hundred miles a minute. The silence is unpleasant and unbearable, George looking into Y/N’s eyes trying to read her expression.

“You need to leave,” Y/N utters, her face unmoving.

It’s like George’s feet are glued to the ground, he’s brain is screaming at him to move but he can’t.

“You need to leave George.” Y/N’s voice is firmer this time, “I’m getting married tomorrow and you need to leave right now.”

~~~

George Weasley is an idiot. No, he’s more than an idiot, George Weasley is a dickhead, plain and simple.

He hadn’t been able to fall asleep when he got home, he kept replaying the night over and over. Every time he closed his eyes, he was met with Y/N staring back at him. Except she’s staring with so much disgust it makes George feel sick, he can still hear Y/N’s voice telling him to leave. George Weasley not only managed to lose the life of his life in one night but also his best friend. He feels like a dickhead.

George glances over at the clock next to his bed. 10:30 am. Y/N is getting married in 30 minutes. His chest pains, he thinks he might throw up.

George staggers out of bed and towards the kitchen, he needs water. His journey is interrupted by a harsh knock from the front door. He sighs, he knew Fred would come around to try and convince him to go to the wedding. George figures he couldn’t go to the wedding even if he wanted to, sure that his invitation was no longer valid after last night.

“Fred, seriously I’m not going,” George flings open the door and he almost passes out.

Y/N was standing there looking like an angel, he thinks maybe he died from alcohol poisoning and was actually in heaven. Y/N’s hair was laying loosely across her shoulders, she was wearing a breathtaking white gown which hugged her body perfectly.

George mouth is gaping open his voice coming out breathless and in a whisper, “what-what are you doing here?” He’s half expecting Y/N to slap him across the face for his antics last night.

“I couldn’t do it,” Y/N also whispers, as if this is a secret conversation, only meant for the two of them.

“Why?” George squeaks.

“Because I love you.”

Y/N steps closer and drapes her arms around George’s neck pulling him closer so their foreheads are resting against each other.

As soon as she woke up this morning Y/N felt ill. It wasn’t until she was standing in her wedding dress by the church did she realise why she felt sick. It was because the man that was waiting for her inside the church wasn’t George. Her mum sensed her daughters doubts and offered a comforting hand on her shoulder, “darling, you tell me right now if you want out. I’ll get a car, I’ll sort out this whole thing, you won’t have to worry about a thing.”

Without thinking Y/N had responded, “I want out mum.” That lead to Y/N zooming away in her dad’s car straight for George’s place.

Y/N gazes into George’s warm and gentle eyes, she felt home, “I love you even though you’re an idiot who waited to tell me you loved me till the night before my wedding to someone else.”

George chuckles, “yeah I guess I am but I’m your idiot.”

[myherofanfictionacademy]

Problem

A/N: This is the last story I'm going to be posting from my older stories. I think I might add onto this one in the future though...

Female Detective Reader

Their Pov.:

"Hey Aizawa fancy seeing you here." Hawks said as he spotted Aizawa in front of the agency building. "I just have some business to do here." Aizawa responded. "By hiding in those bushes? Are you spying on someone by any chance?" "Just drop it." "Always with a cold attitude."

Once Aizawa had started to help Dabi, it didn't take long for Hawks to start appearing around him often. He was a double agent, but besides that he had some history with Dabi. Aizawa didn't really get along with Hawks because of how flamboyant his personality was, so he could only tolerate him for so long.

"So how long are you just going to watch me for?" Aizawa asked Hawks, who had not moved away from him in over ten minutes. "Until you tell me what you're up to." Hawks responded. "I'm just looking out for someone. They helped me so I'm just trying to repay the favor." "Whose the person? Oh... Don't tell me it's a girl?" Hawks started to tease Aizawa, but he had already shut him out.

"Did I miss the memo for a meeting or something?" Dabi asked as he approached the two. "Oh hey Dabi." Hawks greeted. "Aizawa here finally got a girlfriend." "Just shut it you." Aizawa glared at him. Hawks had other plans and just continued to poke fun at him. "Come on, just point her out and I'll leave you alone."

The doors to the agency opened up as a few members of the agency headed out for lunch. After a few minutes the three watched as y/n walked out of the building. "Her." Aizawa said. "Are you satisfied now?" "No way!" both Hawks and Dabi exclaimed. "Wait you too?!" Hawks directed towards Dabi. "Looks like we have a problem. And there's no way you two are gonna steal her away from me." Dabi said.

"I Don't Think So." Hawks took off in the direction that y/n had gone. He didn't get very far as he found himself wrapped up in Aizawa's scarf. "Not before me you don't" Dabi and Aizawa began to race each other, with Hawks catching up a little bit later after freeing himself from the scarf. "No way am I going to lose to you two." This was going to end in the most heated competition, and with three passionate men after the heart of y/n, it was going to get very heated.

1st-Person Pov.:

The time was 12:15pm, and I was headed to my favorite café for lunch. "One cup of coffee and a bagel." I ordered. The day had been going great so far, and to top it off my boss gave me the rest of the day off, since I've been working overtime this past week. I also got the weekend off so I needed to find something to do.

"Hey there Kid." Hawks said as he sat down beside me. "How are you doing today." "I'm good." I responded. "Good to see you’re looking better." "Yeah, well.....would you believe me if I told you that I got a visit from a beautiful angel?" I became startled for a second. "You died?!"

Hawks burst out into a fit of laughter. "Actually I was talking about you." I felt my cheeks heat up a little. I wasn't used to receiving comments like this, so I lost my voice. Fortunately I didn't need to worry about replying.

"Hey Little Mouse." Dabi said as he took a seat across from us, Aizawa soon following. "I don't think I've ever seen you three in the same place at once." I commented. "It's not the first time." Aizawa told me. "We actually worked together, that's why I'm in a predicament right now." "Oh. I didn't know that Hawks was there though."

Hawks looked over at me. "I have some history with Dabi from years ago, which is why I became a double agent in the first place." I nodded my head as I followed along with what they were telling me. Hawks and Dabi's pasts connected when they were younger where they were put into a "program" to become "better".

"You seem to be getting along pretty well which is surprising." I told them. "We didn't get along very well before, but now we have a common denominator in our equation." Aizawa told me. "Anyways, the time has really flown by. Don't you need to get back to the agency?" "Nope. I'm off 'til Monday."

"Then how about we do something?" Hawks suggested. "Like what?" I asked. "We could go to the spring festival." Dabi said. We all agreed on it and that we would head there tomorrow morning, then went our separate ways. I was glad to see that the three of them were doing so much better.

I didn't bother packing that night and instead did it in the morning. We would be spending the weekend somewhere on the beach, but Aizawa, Dabi, and Hawks wouldn't tell me much. It was around 10am. when I received a text from Hawks:

Hawks: Good morning Songbird. Send me your address so we can pick you up.

I sent him my address and in no time at all, the three of them were knocking on my apartment door. "Looking good kid." Hawks complimented me. I gave him a quiet thanks then we headed off to the train station. It was only an hour train ride to get to the beach.

"Wow this place is packed." I thought as we waited for the train to arrive. "I'm guessing that it's going to be pretty busy at the beach as well." "Is something wrong little mouse?" Dabi asked me. "Just thinking about how many people are traveling." I responded. "It is spring break, but besides that it makes it easier on me because no one will pay attention to who I am."

The train was a little delayed due to some maintenance issues, but it was nothing major. The seats we were taken to were in business class so they were really nice. It wasn't as cramped as I thought it would be. I even got to sit next to the window with Aizawa next to me, and Hawks and Dabi in front of us.

The train ride was pretty calm, until Hawks pulled out a card game for us to play. He did step away with the other two for a couple minutes before the game started. I assumed that they made some sort of a bet because of how competitive they got over the simple card game. At the end of it, Aizawa won the first round and Dabi won the second one.

"Wow there really are a lot of people here." I said as we exited the train station. The beach was right in front of us. The crystal clear water sparkled under the light from the sun. The waves weren't very high, and all along the beach there were a ton of people.

"It might be hard to find a spot to relax on the beach." I sighed. "Don't worry Kitty." Aizawa said. "We already came up with a solution for that." "Don't tell her too much." Hawks said appearing behind me. "It will ruin the surprise. Now let's get a move on it." Hawks immediately picked me up and flew into the sky.

Aizawa and Dabi shouted as they ran after us. "Hawks....we should go back for them." I said after I could no longer see Dabi or Aizawa. "Come on Kid. I just wanted to spend some time alone with you." Hawks said. "Besides I was the one who put in the most work for planning this special trip. I'm also the one with the key." "Fine...But we have to stop and pick something up to surprise them."

Hawks landed near a café that was selling cakes. "This should work." He said. I looked at all the cakes before deciding on one that had chocolate and (insert your favorite flavor) pocky sticks. "How about this one?" I asked Hawks. "Looks good. Now hurry up before the other two beat us to our destination."

In just a few minutes we had arrived in front of a pretty big house that was right on the beach. "Wow, it's so beautiful." I told Hawks. "Did you rent this?" "Actually, it's a place that I own." He responded. "I have a few places for when I travel for work." He unlocked the door and gestured for me to enter ahead of him.

The place had a very cozy setup. I wanted to look around a bit, but I wanted to set the cake out in the kitchen first. I put out some cups by the cake and Hawks got out some drinks.

"What do you think your doing leaving us behind like that?" Dabi said as he and Aizawa entered the kitchen. They both had a dark aura around them, so I came up with something to save Hawks from becoming fried chicken. "Sorry, but I asked him to because I wanted to surprise you both." I said.

Fortunately, the mood seemed to have calmed down after that. "Don't forget that I won earlier." I overheard Aizawa say in the kitchen as I sat in the living room. "Yeah...yeah. Just stop rubbing it in." Hawks responded. "Still, I don't think I'm going to be able to hold back soon." "Me too. We should just all come out and tell y/n." Dabi said.

Their vagueness of things was really starting to get on my nerves. I decided to just go ahead and confront them. "What's up with you three?" I started. " You keep being so vague. You keep calling me by these pet names. You keep being so competitive w....."

"Okay I'm going to stop you right there before you run out of breath songbird." Hawks said. "It's not something that's easy to tell you." "You see Little Mouse, You have gained all of our attention." Dabi continued. "You've caused quite the problem between the four of us." Aizawa added. "Songbird...." "Little Mouse...." "Kitty...." "We adore you."

I was frozen for a few seconds because I could not believe that the three men in front of me just declared their fondness towards me. "But I..." I started. "Why?" "Why not?" Aizawa asked in return. "You're beautiful, kind, independent, and strong." "What kind of a man wouldn't be attracted to that kind of a woman." Hawks said.

My face was bright red, and I felt like hiding myself away from them in embarrassment. "All three of you though?" I asked. "Yep." Dabi said. "If you tried to get rid of even one of us, we might have to just tie you up." In my head I was completely freaking out, but I tried to remain calm on the outside, although I'm sure that it didn't work because of how the three looked at me.

[bechloe-week]

Voting for Bechloe Week 2021 is officially OPEN!

This year’s Bechloe week had a record high number of prompts submitted - just shy of 100! See the list below. To reduce the chances of multiple ties, the number of prompts you’re allowed to vote for has been increased!

How to vote: Send me an ask with your top FIVE choices for Bechloe Week. You must not be set to anon or your votes will not be counted. Only one vote per person, please!

Voting will start as of right now, June 21st, and will be open until the evening of Sunday, June 27th.

Your choices for Bechloe Week 2021 prompts are:

Treehouse

Paintbrush

“Amy, that’s a terrible idea.”

My wish for you

Wait for me

She needs you

“You don’t know who I am, do you?”

Enemies to lovers

Burlesque

Break up

Kendrick and/or Snow movies AU

80’s 

Karaoke

Our song

Friends AU

“Cause I’m in love with you, dumbass!”

Promposal

Bed sharing/one bed

Oblivious

Amusement Park

Gay panic

Airport

Children’s graduation

Clothes

Confessions

Photo booth

Arcade

“How do you eat your Oreos?”

“What if we didn’t tell anyone?”

Pandemic

Dragons

Cheesy pick up line (“I can’t taste my lips, could you do it for me?” “Hi, I’m planning my future, and I wanted to ask, are you free for the rest of your life?” etc)

“I don’t hate to lose!”

“This is me trying”

Homesickness

Solitude

Single parent

Lifesaver

“It’s you”

Help

Break up/make up

Fate

Fast and Furious

Comic Book

Regret

Last minute

I can’t do this anymore

Blind

Labor and/or childbirth

Scandal

Triplets

Bubble bath

“Is it supposed to be that color?”

Neighbors AU

PP3 AU

Disagreement

Cabin in the woods

Show me

I missed you

Comfort

“Come here!”

Argument

Near death experience

Beach

Proposal

Toys

Prank war

Famous AU

Flirting

“Can I show you how I like it?”

Adventure

Post-covid

Long distance

Secrets

“What’s my name?”

Magic

Fairy tale

Wrong number

A/B/O

Snow day

Superpowers

Time Travel

Crying wolf

“Who said that?”

“You’re the only person in the galaxy I know who would do right by it”

Journal/diary

Stranded 

“You fell asleep?”

Power outage

Game night

Bathrobes

Lightning

Childhood friends

Teacher

Doctor-patient

Teenagers

Vacation

“Yes ma’am!”

Watch and learn

Some prompts were not included in this list if they were too specific, innapropriate, or have been used previously. Some were also submitted that were close variations of one topic, so they were combined.

Reminder, no votes will be counted if submitted anonymously!

Happy voting!

[organic-guacamole]

episode 209 spoilers below

I'm so late today but here it is

I love EJ, he's finally learning to be happy. I'm so proud.

Ms Jenn = every boomer during zoom calls, like jeez yes we can hear you stop shouting at me.

LOVE THE SUBTLE JOKE ABOUT QUARANTINE "these dark times" "you mean spring break?"

ah yes, remember when we thought covid was just gonna give us a longer spring break? good times

SEBLOS

damn the passive aggressiveness from Carlos and the absolutely over it tone from seb✋

CASWELL COUSINS!!!!! THEY'RE THE BEST!!!!

we needed more if this kind of goofiness for the first part of season 2 that only such an iconic duo can provide.

old old movies-

is it even that old, or is Nini being a gen alpha rn-

i choose to imagine EJ being scared of the movie and hiding in Ashlyn's shoulder while she keeps a straight face and then EJ pretending to be tough afterwards

aww redlyn are soulmates.... yknow, if gingers had souls

(please ignore me)

y'all saw how EJ's face *lit up* when Gina logged on? how dare you tell me he doesn't like her

ofc she's no damsel in distress, she's Gina porter, she's amazing.

so do we think she'd be the type to just glare at suspicious people? or bark at them

do they not know that Rini broke up? or is Ms Jenn just wanting Nini to suffer through her heartbreak to make her a better actress....

speaking of, why is Nini in the call? she's not in the show anymore. Unless she is, even after the rose and the song got cut, which would be so unfair to all those that auditioned properly before she even came back but whatever, she's the main character I get it 🙄

big red is a hero honestly, Nini better thank him for changing the subject like that

I can't-

i won't work you over the break-

this woman would 100% work her kids 24/7 if it was legal and idk how to feel about it.

YES GINA USE THAT CHARM

QUEEN

FRENCH QUEEN

SHE LEARNT FROM THE BEST (antoine obvi)

smh the airport lady, eavesdropping on Gina's call.

The way she was so happy to answer EJ's call, "eej"

I love them your honour.

EJ WITH PAINTED NAILS YES PLEASE

great now we need to see Gina, Ashlyn and EJ having a complete spa day and EJ getting really into it and Gina and Ashlyn take pictures of him when he's laying down in a robe with a mask and cucumbers on his eyes.

finally we get to see Gina's side of portwell

the way she considered it as flirting, this is the sign she asked for in episode 6 come onnnnn

no is Asher/jack really doing tiktok dances in an airport-

Ricky is me. I am burrito.

oh Lynne, sweetie, I'm sorry but the blonde hair is not it

is that even the same lady or-

THE BEAN

THE CHICAGO BEAN

THE BIG OLD METAL BEAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY 😭

jetlag is my go to excuse for anything... I haven't travelled in 2 years.

"welcome to the Lynne and Mike gossip show. where we talk about our depressed son that we both neglect in certain ways! And now a word from our sponsor, Nord VPN..."

SO MANY CANDLES

WHAT DEMON IS LYNNE TRYING TO SUMMON IN HIS ROOM-

is Nina becoming social media obsessed EJ from season 1? AND SHE LIED ABOUT HAVING SONGS TOO PLEASE WHY ARW THEY RECYCLING THE SAME PLOT-

Gina smiling at the picture of her family on Instagram makes me so happy, idek why.

EJ's nails are so pretty, we needed to see it more (unless he had it on for the rest of the episode and I just.... didn't notice🧍🏽‍♀️)

oh not the tiktok kid✋

yes ma'am end this strange mans whole tiktok career

sir take a hint and leave

GINA NO DONT SAY YOUR LAST NAME HE COULD BE A HUMAN TRAFFICKER

Ricky, walking in style✨

weird kid, ok then Lynne, can't you see he's this close to the edge?

not all your fault baby Ricky, Nini sucks a bit more

RICKY YOU DIDN'T COME DOWN HARD ON THE SONG-

YOU ASKED WHAT IT WAS ABOUT AND SHE SHUT YOU DOWN-

PLEASE DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF

ok but the deleting comment thing was very bad

still don't know if I like Jack honestly

hmmm so Nini's calling herself Nini instead of Nina in her little egg seat, while trying to write a song without inspiration.... Nini, honey, Ricky was your muse, he inspired you to write all those songs, even if it wasn't good for the relationship.

that doesn't mean you gotta get back with him, or that you can't write a song that not about him butttt it'll take some time

the rainbow sticker in her box and her rainbow shirt-

anyways wbk she's not totally straight

Jack are you a criminal?

quick, Gina, check his ankle for a tracker

THE YES AND PRACTICE STRIKES AGAIN

the way Gina wasn't into it in episode 6 but she's used the technique twice now

stole her grandma's Pomeranian-

Jack where the hell did you pull that out from-

the fake crying killed me, that looks like so much fun though

anyone wanna raid a first class lounge with me?

wait so is jack not gonna go in with her?

wouldn't he go in too? help look for the credit card? SO CONFUSED

the first class lounge guy was so into the drama though, watch his face when they start arguing 😭

sorry to break this to you Kourtney, but you haven't even blocked the second act yet soooo...

take that as you will

I love how all of them are totally dissing the dance off

that's the most realistic part of this show tbh

shouldn't Nini have asked how she knew....since the start? why is the fact that her best friend has knowledge of a North high secret now dawning on her...

Howie is sweet honestly, at least he's trying to help. but I stand with Kourtney, don't take him back just because he sang an amazing song, and is giving you a heads up on what's gonna happen...

KOURTNEY IS ME TRYING TO LEAVE AN ONLINE CLASS

I hate school

ooo Nini's writing a song about bad internet connection 🤩🤩🤩

I never lie, except when I do-

son that is the creepiest thing you could say to a stranger that you've been "helping"

2 truths and a lie👀

he's an Ariana fan 100%

called it.

OLDER BROTHER-

WHAT-

free spirit? damn so brother porter was in that horse movie

so has she been kissed or not?????????

I feel like she's moved more than 15 times though so possibly

but then if she's moved so much, and before east high she never opened up to anyone, she's never been kissed then?? damn

same though Gina so let's be besties please

heartbreak president is a great song title idea, give Nini a call rn

but wait

is the no strings attached feeling thing about her telling Ricky she liked him? she thought she was moving away so she thought it'd be no strings attached???

guys I think I figured it out insert the "I've connected two dots" meme

THE DUKE SWEATSHIRT

IS THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND'S

OMG I LOVE I LOVE

NOT THAT I KNOW OF???

ma'am did you just kill me

yes you did

Lynne and Ricky have such a weird relationship

YES IT DID SUCK

TODD SUCKS

LYNNE SUCKS

yeah I get that you wanted Ricky to like Todd BUT THAT WASN'T THE TIME

right so we already know that Ricky was so desperate to keep Nini cuz he didn't want to be like his parents, and now Lynne's talking about this-

Richard needs a long hug

yes Lynne, it is your fault. thank you for finally admitting it.

YES DYE YOUR HAIR

BLOND HIGHLIGHTS RICKY WILL RISE AGAIN

"sometimes the best, last thing you can do for someone you love, is let them go."

gotta admit I teared up at that point

not me thinking big red was calling ms Jenn cupcake for a hot second-

Carlos please omg, you're at the "beach" and they're leaving for the pool?

also, why not just do the call from the hotel room please omg

"don't ask me"

"Carlos"

OMG WHAT HAPPENED

big red wants the tea

O M G

SEB IS JEALOUS

JEALOUS SEBBY IS MY FAVOURITE THING IDC

I'm surprised ms Jenn knew how to give Nini permission to screenshare tbh

So lily's been stalking the East high kids and spending time editing this video while she's supposedly in an immersion trip.... right

EJ and Ashlyn's picture is so chaotic, what even is happening there

"slacking off" bestie its spring break, obviously they're confident enough that they'll get it done in time so why not focus on your own musical.

jealous seb = sassy seb

please what if those guys Carlos is posing with are his cousins or something and that's why he's so confused about Seb

6 YEAR OLD EJ I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM

Nini saying she's obsessed with her ex, that's not weird at all 👍

I can just tell Matt had a blast harassing Julia with those puppets.

Jack please dont be like that, "yet"

chances are you'll never see eachother again 🥰

(honestly sometimes I really miss those friends I made on trips and stuff when we'd spend the day or week together, only to never see them again....those were the good days though)

Ashlyn and Nini should write more songs..... something better than this one at least

Nini: "im good"

cue the Tia Mowry (please I can't spell) crying gif

oh I forgot Ricky was in the show for a hot second

1. where did Gina get to film this without people being around

2. did she just... randomly change her clothes???

ok but the transition between Carlos and EJ

*chefs kiss*

now everyone shut up, EJ's singing

oh i think I'm pregnant

HIS MUSCLES

YES KOURTNEY

I love how big red and Kourtney went from being "the best friends™" to the couple in season 1, to kinda close themselves and having their own plots

sebby makes me so happy

props to biggies editing skills honestly

PORTWELL BEING SIDE TO SIDE I CANT

AND SEBLOS OMG

big red lives for the drama

"wow" so true Ricky

no he is not cute, stop it

"holding" ok that's kinda cute

yeah EJ's a lucky guy😌

jokes aside, it's not that hard to exchange numbers-

keep in touch if you want

ok I really like Jack now

if he comes back in season 3, maybe have him be LGBTQ+ ?

like the only out characters they have rn are Seb and Carlos and they're like the sterotypes, yk?

I'd love to see jack kinda break the mold

Ricky's breaking my heart

that song just hurts

the only thing

now I don't hate Lynne????????

HOW DARE THEY WRITE IN A PROPER REDEMPTION ARC FOR HER

UGH IM SUPPOSED TO HATE HER FOREVER

I mean I don't live her now but she's good

but honestly

"mom can I show you something"

IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

THE PICTURE AND EVERYTHING OMG

I'm sobbing please help

Gina saying she's just waiting for the right guy and then EJ coming to the airport to pick her up late at night without her asking, offering to bring her back in the morning so she won't have to Uber, bringing her a granola bar (WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE FORGOT TO PACK) and without expecting anything in return???

ms ma'am you've got a keeper right there

her smile at the end was so heartwarming I really can't.

this episode was great.

it felt really short but I liked it, great character development for Ricky, Lynne and Gina.

Cant wait for next episode to see more of EJ being the ideal boyfriend /hj

[calswildflcwer]

Small rant and a little info incoming; Feel free to skip over this if y’all want.

First off; I know I’ve been MIA the past couple of days but I want y’all to know that there’s a reason for that - which will be mentioned in said rant. However, that inactivity may continue as I’m going away to Manchester over Tuesday and Wednesday as I have the Louis Tomlinson concert on Tuesday so won’t be active then and will be travelling home on Wednesday with the family. Oh, also, I’m at the hospital on Thursday so there might not be an update then either 😭

Now, onto the small explanation/rant (it isn’t bad, I swear. It’s just me explaining myself lmao.)

So, as y’all know, I’ve been hella inactive the past couple of days and a little slow with the next chapter for the Carlos story. I keep saying “It’ll be tomorrow.” “Tomorrow is when I’ll post it.” but a lot of y’all are my besties here and I don’t wanna be lying to y’all so imma say this, I can’t make any promises on it.

As most of y’all already know, I work full time at a hotel as a housekeeper and it is currently the Easter holidays which means that school is out for the children and a lot of people are holidaying in the town I live and work in as it is a holiday/beach town which also means that the hotel is super busy 😭

Anyways, work is absolutely fucking kicking my ass recently. The amount of panic attacks I’ve had since the Easter holidays started last week isn’t countable, seriously, I’ve lost count. Work really is making me wanna scream and rip my hair out recently. All I wanna do is sleep all day as soon as I get home.

As for the past two days, y’all probably know by now that my four year old nephew was staying over and I was in charge of looking after him, he’s so freaking energetic and being an adult with 0 energy chasing after a four year old who’s full of energy isn’t the easiest thing to deal with 😭

I haven’t even had the chance to make edits for my Instagram recently omg, I just haven’t been in the right headspace.

I have so so many ideas for the next chapter of the Carlos fic but the thought of writing it right now just makes me wanna vomit, I’m not even joking. I just wanna sleep for an eternity.

Half of this, y’all didn’t even need to know but I’m prone to oversharing so fuck it.

Long story short; I’m sorry for the inactivity but it’s bound to continue at least until the schools Easter breaks are over 😭

[thebigqueer]

"The Demise of Nico's Rainbow Socks" - Solangelo - One-Shot

Summary: Nico and Will find themselves caught in the rain and can't have the picnic they wanted. This is inspired by the rainy day prompt for @solangeloweek !!

TW: There is some mention of food in here.

Read on AO3

Word Count: 1508

“Will, I absolutely do not think this is a good idea.”

“And why not? I already have everything ready.”

“Which is why you need to pack it all up. It’s literally about to rain.” As if to prove his point, Nico gestures harshly at the gray clouds that threaten the sanctity of the wide blue expanse above. A low thunder rumbles from the mass of gray, and a moist breeze throws both Nico’s and Will’s hair around.

The son of Apollo pouts and gestures to the picnic before him. “But I worked so hard on this. Do you really want all my efforts going to waste?”

Nico raises an eyebrow, and a small smile quivers against his mouth. He crosses his arms. “Did you, by any chance, make these sandwiches, Will?”

A bright grin flashes against Will’s lips. “I did. That’s why it’s a rare treat, since I never cook.”

Despite Nico’s hesitance with settling in, he drops to his knees and watches the food nervously.

“You see,” he says, “that is exactly why I should be afraid. You know how bad you are at cooking. And besides, the rain is going to soak all your hard work. Do you really want that?”

Will huffs and crosses his arms. “The least I could get is a thank you. It’s not like you could do any better.”

Nico laughs and grazes his finger against the sandwich in front of him. There isn’t much here - only two sandwiches, one for Nico and one for Will, and a pack of apple juice boxes. A wicker basket sits comfortably at the far corner of the red-and-white picnic blanket, but Nico doesn’t really know why it was necessary - they could really have just carried all this to the beach. Will’s a natural overachiever, though, which probably explains why he brought it with him.

“Instead of touching it, I think you should actually taste the sandwich,” Will suggests, nodding sarcastically. “Might be a better experience.”

Nico shakes his head. “I don’t really trust anything you make. The last time you tried to barbecue for the camp, almost everyone got sick.” Nico leans in, his eyes peering at Will’s with sincerity. “And I’m telling you, Will, it’s all going to soak through if we don’t leave right now. This thunderstorm doesn’t look merciful.” Then a new smile cracks against Nico’s face and he takes Will’s warm hands into his own, brushing his fingers against the blond’s palms. A softer look takes over Will’s eyes. “Besides, we can take this time to actually learn to cook. I could teach you things I know.”

For a moment, Will almost looks convinced. His eyebrows lower as he considers his options, and his fingers tangle with Nico’s. Then he shakes his head and sighs. “I don’t want to go inside, though,” he murmurs.

Nico frowns and tilts his head, confusion rippling over his face. A hesitant look overwhelms Will’s features and he looks away from his boyfriend, turning his eyes to the rippling blue water underneath.

“Hey,” Nico says, gently brushing his fingers against Will’s cheek. The latter turns his gaze back, but there’s something sadder in there, something desperate. “What’s wrong?”

The son of Apollo offers a gentle, sad chuckle. “It’s not a big deal, Nico. Don’t look so worried.”

“But you look sad.���

“It’s just…” Will sighs. “I don’t know. I feel like we haven’t had an actual moment to ourselves these days, you know? Hades has been on your case for the past few weeks about all these different things, and I guess I’ve been busy getting ready for college. I just miss you. I don’t want to go inside and be around my siblings.”

“Then we don’t have to go to your cabin,” Nico says. “We can shadow-travel back to mine so no one gets suspicious.”

“Yeah, but…” A small smile blooms across Will’s pink lips. “I like the rain. There’s something really intimate about it. And I want to be intimate with you.”

Nico gazes at Will. His blue eyes radiate a warm, loving energy, and his skin glows softly under the clouds. At the sight of his boyfriend’s golden glory, Nico’s heartbeat quickens.

Even in the overwhelming darkness, Will somehow still finds a way to shine.

Another rumble of thunder - this time louder and more insistent - rolls across the camp, and Nico and Will both jump. Silence envelops the two as they wait for the haunting moment to subside.

After a few agonizing moments, Nico lets loose a gentle laugh. “Then we can be alone in my cabin. We can just stand on my porch or something. I don’t want to get soaked like your sandwiches. You know how much I hate wet socks, and I am literally not wearing shoes right now.” As if to prove his point, Nico shifts his leg and showcases a rainbow sock. “Do you see this? I already have sand in it. Do you really think I want to get these fuzzy socks wet?”

A grimace slashes against WIll features. “Okay, yeah. That wouldn’t be fair to you. You’re already going through so much, as I can see.”

Nico nods morosely. “So much.” Then he smiles. “I’ll help you pack, though.”

But just as Nico’s fingers graze against his plate, another round of thunder rumbles throughout camp. Nico and Will snap their gazes back to each other, surprise and anxiety sparking in their eyes. They’re frozen in time, unable to move out of fear that just one act will bring the rains crashing down on them.

Lightning cracks against the darkness. Instead of doing the logical thing, like shoving the sandwiches into the wicker basket, Nico immediately moves his feet underneath himself to protect his socks. Will covers his head with his arms.

“Uh oh,” Nico murmurs.

A beat of silence passes. A gust of wind ruffles through their hair. Then the first drop falls, landing gracefully on Nico’s hand and trailing over his skin. After a few seconds, another bead of water comes down, this one bursting against the picnic blanket. One more catches up, then another, and soon the rain tumbles over the boys, blooming against the fabric of their clothing, breaking against their clear faces as the two of them tilt their heads up to watch the debris of the clouds fall.

Nico and Will look at each other in shock. Silence billows in the space between them, broken only by the loud torrent of rain. Next to them, the drops seep through the sandwiches, rendering them inedible.

Another sound breaks through the rain, and it takes a moment for Nico to realize it’s a laugh. Will’s laugh. A bright grin flashes against his golden features, and he gleams under the dark clouds. His light spills into the dock and saturates Nico’s skin, and a sense of warmth blooms under the latter’s skin. Nico bites his lip as he watches the pure childlike wonder that illuminates Will’s face.

It’s not often that he’s like this. Nico wants to savor this moment.

“It’s raining!” Will exclaims, almost like he can’t believe it. His blue eyes burst with color in the darkness. “This is so cool.”

Nico opens his mouth to speak, but under the loud cracks of thunder and lightning, his voice barely weaves through the raindrops. He huffs and pulls himself closer to Will, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s shoulders and leaning his head against his neck.

“Great,” he mutters. “Now we’re wet.”

“How are your socks?”

“Dead. I hate this.”

“We can go inside, if you want. But I’m not sure it’ll do much.”

“No.” Nico tilts his head to face Will, and a smile of his own glimmers against his face. Nico’s dark eyes lock with Will’s blue ones, and they face each other, basking in the intimacy of the torrents. “No, you were right. There is something nice about the rain.”

It’s freeing. It’s liberating. It makes Nico feel like he’s washing away all his sins and mistakes, like he’s starting anew. And in Will’s embrace, he’s finding a new version of himself.

“Yeah?” Will whispers. His own arms wrap around his boyfriend’s waist and he leans his forehead against Nico’s, lending some of his warmth. “I thought so, too.”

Nico presses his fingers against Will’s cheeks and kisses him, stealing some more of his loving energy and comforting heat. They move to the sound of the rain, to the ripple of the water, to the cracking of branches and the rumble of thunder. They move with the nature around them, with the storms above them, with the air through them. They become one with the world encompassing them.

When they break apart, Nico smiles. “Now we need to figure out a way to get through the sand without making my socks more uncomfortable than they already are.”

Will chuckles and presses his head against Nico’s. “I’m sorry about your socks, but I love you.”

Nico tightens his fingers against Will’s sweatshirt, yearning for his warmth. “I love you, too.”

[mhdiaries]

SDCC 2015 Kieran Valentine Diary

May 1st

When I left Monster High after Draculaura’s Sweet 1,600 birthday party, I was angry, humiliated and stinky from falling into that pit of eternal body odor. I stank so bad, Mom wouldn’t even let me in the house: I had to sleep in the guest room above the garage. Looking back, I can see it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. Even my considerable powers to charm were no match for the power of the stench that surrounded me. My powers slowly weakened as I was deprived of what sustained them: the love I selfishly took from others. I was in a stench-induced imprisonment - rarely leaving the garage - but it allowed me time to do some serious thinking, and I realized I wasn’t being true to myself. Then one day there was a knock at my door, and I opened it to see a little old goblin woman with a cane staring up at me through thick glasses. “I’m Mrs. Goblin, but you can call me “Mrs. Goblin.” I’m a friend of your mother’s.” She said, “you need to get out of that room, and I need some help, so let’s go.” She turned and walked off, and, with nothing left to lose, I followed. It turned out that she ran an unwanted-creature shelter and couldn’t keep up with all the cleaning, feeding and daily upkeep. It also turned out that she had no sense of smell. “Lost it back in ‘72,” she told me. Mrs. G. ran me through the daily routines and gave me the tour. “You can start today,” she said as she handed me a mop and a bucket. It’s hard to believe I agreed, but I didn’t have any other options. The shelter was home to an unusual collection of exotic creatures: gremlins, flying monkeys, lap dragons, miniature manticores, and many others that had been picked up as strays or turned in by monsters who didn’t want them. Even though the work was hard, and not always pleasant, I began to look forward to it. In fact, I usually felt more energized after I finished a day than when I started. I felt my powers returning and every day I got stronger. Eventually, I mentioned it to Mrs. Goblin who snickered, “You emotional vampires never get it - stolen love is just empty calories. I’ll never sustain you for long.” She could tell I still didn’t get it. “Love that’s freely given is the most powerful source of energy in the monster universe. You’ve been coming here every day, taking care of these critters, showing them kindness, and the only thing they have to give you is their love - and believe me, they have a lot to give.” I couldn’t believe what she was telling me. I must have been standing there looking stupid because she said, “Close your mouth before the the flies get in and go clean the flying monkey cage. They’ve been throwing stuff again.” I was in a daze. Why had no one ever explained this to me? Rather than dwelling on it, I was just happy I finally knew. 

May 3rd

I now know that I did it - stealing love - because I thought that’s want an emotional vampire was supposed to do. But it never felt quite right. I thought if I kept doing it, it would eventually feel right. But it only made me angry and frustrated. Then when Draculaura called me - well, Toralei, really - I thought that if I could get the heart that got away, it would change me and everything would be fine. But I was just a real pain in the fang to everyone and made a fool of myself. So I’ve come to a conclusion: being myself has to be easier than not being myself, right? Back then, I hated the thought of who I really was, and that conflict made me become someone who wasn’t me. It’s time to be true to myself, but it’s scary. 

July 1st

Today was my one-year anniversary at the shelter. As I left the garage, I ran into Mom. She sniffed. “You don’t stink anymore.” It was true - the stench was gone. I gave Mom a hug and told her it must be due to what I’d learned from working for Mrs. Goblin. I thanked Mom for telling her I needed help. Mom looked at me strangely, “What are you going on about? I don’t know a Mrs. Goblin.” What? I ran to the shelter but when I got there it was boarded up and empty. How could this be? I crawled through a broken out window. A thick layer of dust covered everything and it looked like no one had been there in years. Then I noticed a piece of paper on the table where Mrs. G. used to sit and drink her tea. It was a not addressed to me:

V, 

There’s nothing more I can teach you. The rest will come when you put what you’ve learned into practice. Know that you are loved for what, and who you are.

Sincerely, 

“Mrs. Goblin”

P.S. Do the right thing or I’ll come back and make you clean out flying monkey cages again. 

July 2nd

I decided that I would try and “do the right thing” by heading back to MH to try and make up for my mistakes. I thought if I hid in the shadows and helped the couples of MH, you know be a Cupid to what was my destruction of love, I could make a difference and they would see that I was a changed monster. Well, my intentions were good, but things did not go as I had planned. I kinda, no, did, mess things up. Luckily, it all seemed to work out in the end, I guess, just not as I had hoped. I don’t think any of Draculaura and her friends will ever really trust me. And while I hope one day they can see I have changed, I know it will take time, too. I guess I can’t expect them to just forgive me right away. I will say one good thing hopefully came out of it. While attempting to hide in the shadows I bumped into a student I didn’t recognize. He said his name was Spelldon Cauldronello, he had only been at MH a couple weeks as he had been traveling with his older sister. Meeting him totally made me space and forget to send a text that was supposed to help Clawd. He asked if I went to MH and I said I was just visiting, but I would love to go to MH one day if I can. He said he’d keep me up on the groanings on around the halls if I wanted, so I gave him my number. At least the trip wasn’t a total stake. I do wish I could figure out how to make it up to Draculaura and her friends though. I know now that real friends help each other with their problems, not try to solve them for them.

July 7th

I was tempted to stay in my room today and treat myself to a monstrous blue funk, but, instead, I walked aimlessly outside until I found myself sitting on the beach watching the sun go down. That’s when I noticed something unusual partially buried in the sand. I pulled it out and die-scovered it was an ornate lantern caked with seaweed. I brushed it off... and got the shock of my unlife! The lantern began vibrating and glowing, like I had awakened something inside and it was not trying to get out. I dropped it like it was hot and fell back as smoke swirled up and out of this thing. When the smoke cleared away there was a ghoul floating above me. “I am the djinni of the lantern. What is your wish?”

July 10th

The djinni’s name is Whisp and we have something in common: the direction of our unlives changed because of Monster High. We shared our stories and struggles; neither of us has made the beast decisions, but we both want to be better monsters. We talked so much that Whisp had to remind me I had three wishes. I asked her I should wish for and she said, “I cannot tell you what to wish for, nor can I tell you what not to wish for, but I can say be scareful what you wish for.” I laughed and told her that sounded ominous. She didn’t see the humor in her statement. “Wishes are tricky things,” she replied, “They often have a mind of their own and don’t always come true in the way you expected.” I thought for a moment, and wish I could go back to Monster High and fix the things I had broken. Whisp rose into the air, her eyes glowing, and said, “As you wish.” Instantly, I was back at Draculaura’s Sweet 1600 party, only I was dressed like a repairman - tool belt and all. Headless Headmistress Bloodgood stood in front of me with her hands on her hips. “You need to repair the barrier around the pit of eternal body odor before another monster falls into it!” This wasn’t what I meant by “fixing what I had broken,” and there was no way I was getting close to that pit again. That’s when the other students saw me. A very large minotaur pointed his finger at me, “There he is again! Throw him back into the pit!” I wished myself out of MH and back in my room just in time to avoid another dunking. Two wishes down, one to go.

July 12th

Whisp has been very apologetic but she needn’t be. I wished for something so general that it could have been granted in numerous ways. What I really wanted was a chance to do something unselfish for the monsters I hurt - to give and not take. When I started working for Mrs. G., there were times I wished what someone else would do the dirty work so I could just play with the creatures. Now I know I just wished it to be easy. Whenever I was in the middle of something particularly loathsome, Mrs. G. would cackle, “Sometimes work stinks, doesn’t it?” The first few times she said it, I wanted to drop everything and go home. But I stuck it out, and, although I still have a long way to go, I’m a better monster for it. Unlife is a lot of work and I guess some problems aren’t meant to be solved by wishing them so. Speaking of wishes, I need to think of something non-ambiguous for the last one...

August 1st

I summoned Whisp today to grant my final wish. I admit I put it off because I was being selfish. I’ve never had a friend like her, and once my last wish is granted, the lantern will move on and I will probably never see her again. I considered freeing her from the lantern, but I don’t think she wants that: she loves being a djinni, appearing in new places and granting wishes. But I know she gets lonely at times, so this was my wish: “Whisp, I wish we could always be friends.” Whisp rose up, her eyes glowing: “As you wish!” I could see her smiling as she turned to smoke and returned to the lantern, which shot up and disappeared. I thought for a second that my wish wasn’t granted, but then my iCoffin lit up and I noticed a new app icon that looked like a little mirror. I tapped it and there was Whisp! Now, not matter where in the monster universe she is, we can talk to each other! “Yes, Mother, I’m talking to myself down here.”

[dopestxxdope]

Dexter never dreamt he would have gone on such an incredible trip in his life. From the young boy he had once been, trapped in a nightmare childhood and bouncing around in the foster care system to living a life of crime he never dreamt he would make it to a place like Hawaii. But not only had he gone and spent an incredible week in the sun on on the warm sandy beaches but he had done it with his wife and children, creating memories that would last a lifetime. He had never seen his children so happy, they had wanted to go everywhere and do everything, and the way they drank everything up with such childlike wonder made him feel like he was doing right by them. Then there was his wife, Ophelia. She was undoubtedly his person, the love of his life, and he would do anything to see her happy. Traveling this far into her pregnancy was scary, she was only a couple short months from having the twins, and he knew that traveling this far into a pregnancy could be dangerous and cause early labor, but the doctor had said it was okay, so they had gone for it. In a way, it was the honeymoon they had never gotten. Having found out they were married the way they had, they never really got the chance to celebrate properly and plan a trip away from the island, so the trip to Hawaii had come at the perfect time. And he had taken full advantage, doing whatever pregnancy safe activities they could and enjoying every moment alone they got to share. They had to do it now, before the twins were born because once they were they would have four little ones to care for, and time alone would be scarce. 

When the time had come to go home, Dexter felt a mix of emotions. A big part of him had fallen in love with Hawaii, with the water and warmth, with the complete shift from Mackinac but he knew they needed to return home. They had the Grand, the dispensary, the kids had school. It was unrealistic to dream of staying there, and with Ophelia being so close to delivering the babies they needed to get home and ensure she was settled and everything was ready before their arrival. What he hadn’t anticipated when they arrived back home, was the flood of media posts, naming him the Mackinac Serial Killer. Waiting on the plane for their turn to de-board, his wife had shown him the article, and he knew what was to come. “There has to be some kind of mistake, that's insane. I'm not the Island killer... baby please don't listen to anything they say, we will get to the bottom of this, I promise.” He kissed her then, kissed her as if it was the last time he ever would, and then he gathered up Brodi and Brooklyn giving them both a tightly bound hug and pressing kisses against their cheeks and foreheads. “Daddy has to go away for a day or two, but I promise, I won’t be gone long and I’ll be back home with you soon. Just remember how much daddy loves you, okay? I promise I will do everything to get back to you soon. You be good for Ophelia okay? We will get through this.” Brodi started to cry and he picked him up, gently comforting him and rubbing his back, “It’s okay buddy, don’t worry it’s going to be okay I promise. I love you.” 

Instead of letting people start getting off the private jet the pilot announced they were asked to say aboard for the time being and he knew why. Dexter still held Brodi in his lap, while his free hand held onto Ophelia’s, and she held onto Brooke. They were the picture of a perfect family, but soon they would be torn apart. He dreaded every moment as they waited for his fate, knowing exactly what was to come. As they waited he kept telling Ophelia and the children how much he loved them, how they were his entire world, how he would do everything to make this right. “This is all a big mistake and misunderstanding, I will be back home with you and the kids before you know it, be strong for me baby.” He paused to pull her in for a kiss, pressing his forehead to hers as they sat there, soaking up this moment with her and the children. “You’re my entire world, Ophelia, I love you so fucking much.”  The only thing keeping his hands from shaking was the strength he  felt from his wife, but he was absolutely terrified of what was to come. His mouth was dry and his heart was racing, but she held onto his hand until the very last second, when they were rushed by authorities who pulled him away and took his son out of his arms. “It’s okay buddy,” he said to Brodi, who had started to cry and reach out for him. Ophelia moved to comfort him and pick him up and he curled into her, sobbing against her shoulders as he cried for his dad. It broke Dexter’s heart and tears streamed his face as they forced him into cuffs and read him his rights. 

“I love you so much, it’s okay I am going to fix this and be home soon I promise. Stay strong for me, I love you so much.” He kept his eyes on his little family as they began to haul him away, all the way up until the moment he could no longer see them as he was forced down the steps of the private jet. Tears streamed his face silently but he remained quiet and kept his head held high as they made their way off the plane. He blinked as they stepped outside and the flash of camera’s in his face nearly blinded him, he could see all the gawking faces and stares, the looks of shock and all the cell phones aimed right at him. This was one of his worst nightmares, and all he could think of was his family that was more affected by this than anyone. He had to make this right, to prove his innocence and get back to his family. Whatever mistake this was, he had to make it right and fix it before it spiraled anymore out of control. He didn’t say a word as they loaded him into the police cruiser, which had only recently been shipped to the island. It was strange, being in a car here, but that was the least of his concerns as they began driving him to the station for interrogation. 

Dexter was frustrated, it had been hours since his arrest and he sat in the interrogation room while cops sat and asked him the same questions over and over again. “We have it on good authority that you hired Johnathan Andrews to rid the island of those remains. At least twelve murders, and five remains of yet to be identified bodies. We know it was you, so why don’t you quit with the games and just confess. Save your wife the heartache of wondering if you are a killer and just admit it.” Dexter ground his teeth, glaring daggers at the male in front of him, “Don’t talk about my wife. And this is insane. Do you have a single shred of evidence aside from hearsay? Is that even legal? I have never met anyone named Johnathan Andrews, I don’t know why he named me but what proof do you have? Texts? Emails? Phone calls? Anything at all? Is there a shred of my DNA on any of those bodies? Because otherwise, you have no right to hold me here.  I didn’t kill those people. I have alibis for all of them, this is insane. I’m a father of two, soon to be a father of four, I’m a married man. This is insane. You’re wasting tax dollars to interrogate an innocent man, meanwhile the killer is still on the loose. You have to realize this is crazy.” The officer sighed, his frustration palpable, and Dexter was feeling the very same. “Let me go, I’m tired, I’m hungry, I need to be with my wife and kids. You’ve traumatized them, and my wife could literally go into labor any time, I need to be with her. Unless you have proof of my guilt, you don’t have a case against me, and you’ll see that soon enough.” 

Despite his best efforts to prove his innocence and get released to return to his family, it all fell on deaf ears and they put him in a holding cell. He sat in the corner with his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands, his leg bouncing with anxiety and worry. He didn’t care what anyone thought of him, he knew there was likely already a debate on his innocence or guilt, and those who knew him were either questioning everything or defending him because they knew better. But literally all he cared about was Ophelia and the kids, he needed to get back to them, needed to know they believed him, and they didn’t think he was a killer. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he heard the sound of a tap against the bars and the jingle of keys, “Must be your lucky day Quinn, you’re being released.” Dexter looked up, surprise on his face as he stood and moved to the doors without hesitation. “Why the sudden change of heart?” He asked, furrowing his brows. Was this some kind of trap? Some method of releasing him only to follow him in hopes of catching him in the act? “The killer struck again, and since you’ve been in here the past twenty-four hours… it couldn’t very well be you, could it?” The words barely registered but he let them sink in for a moment and nodded, “Glad you’ve decided to see some sense.” The doors opened and he held out his hands to be freed from the cuffs they had left on, just to spite him. He rubbed at them as the cuffs fell away and nodded, moving past the male who had let him out. He had to get his stuff together and get home to make sure everyone was okay and comfort them. He didn’t care what he had just gone through, all he cared about was them. 

When he returned home, he was shocked to find the house empty. His panic set in as he wondered where they might be, and after multiple calls that were left unanswered to his wife he started to fear the worst. Had they left the island? Was all this too much? Finally he called Whitley, the panic clear in his voice as she answered and he asked her where his wife and children were. He was pacing back and forth and quickly explained that they had released him because they realized they made a mistake, but that wasn’t what was important. Finally she told him, the children were taken into protective custody, and his wife had gone into labor. His heart sank again and he left immediately, heading for the hospital. “Can you please please go get Brooke and Brodi for me, whatever you need from me for their release I can do but I have to be with Ophelia right now, she can’t go through this without me.” He was relieved when she agreed, and he quickly made his way to the hospital. He was glad she wasn’t alone there, having Josie and Whitley there, but he didn’t want to miss this moment for anything. He rushed in to find she had not yet delivered, but was having contractions and was definitely going to have them soon. It was early, too early, and he couldn’t help but feel at fault. Had the shock of his arrest caused her to go into early labor? He had a feeling in his stomach that was the case, but he wasn’t going to stress, because that wasn’t what she needed right now. “I’m here baby, I’m right here, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner but I’m here now. You’re not alone.” 

Dexter had always known Ophelia was strong as hell, but after watching her spend so much time in labor, and seeing the strength she showed during their delivery he knew she was even stronger than he had previously thought. He admired her strength and felt himself falling even more in love with her as she brought their two beautiful baby girls into the world. They might have been early, but they were absolutely perfect, and they were strong and fighters just like their mom. When he held them in his arms for the first time, he wept tears of happiness and joy. Joy that he was here for this, here with her in this moment, and that he could see his daughters come into the world. The last couple weeks had been a whirlwind, he never thought their return from Hawaii would end like this, he had spent a day in jail for crimes he hadn’t committed and now there was a town wide curfew. He knew things on the island were about to change but he felt, in a way, they were changing for him more than most. He now had two more children to worry about and protect, and he knew his release and the retraction of his previous charges weren’t going away that easily. There would be those who wouldn’t believe, or who would still suspect him, and that was something he would have to learn to live with. All he cared about right now was that he was a free man, free to be with his wife and children, free to watch his daughters grow, and free to prove his innocence, no matter how long it took. He sat with his wife, holding one of their perfect daughters while she held the other and he looked at her with nothing but adoration in his eyes, “I love you, Ophelia, you’re incredible and so strong. I still don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’ll fight till the end to be right here with you. I’m not going anywhere.” 

[ateezmakemeweep]

you’re the one that i want (part 13)

word count: 5k

angst

(part 12) (series masterlist)

tag list: @chogiout ; @psshwa​ ; @yeocult​ ; @seongghwaa​ ; @cherryeonii​ ; @chaoticbanqtan​ ; @8teenee​ ; @nczenniez​ ; @atinyarmyx1​ ; @mingtopiaa​ ; @chubsluda​ ; @joongiebug​ ; @mochibabycakes​ ; @jisungity​ ; @skz-on-my-mind​ ; @nlost21​ ; @myonlyaurora​ ; @closer-stars​ ; @kuaenam3g​ ; @byungaji​ ; @floweryjh​ ; @joeycheungg​ ; @lostscenarios​ ; @atinyxtopia​ ; @sanisms​ ; @kpopnightingale​ ; @simpforhyunjin​ ; @89staytinyzen21​ ; @lokicaramel​ ; @ttalgimin​ ; @sakura-uji​ ; @songsoomin​ ; @toffee-hwa​ ; @deobitiful​ ; @hyunjeansuniverse​ ; 

“your first meal back home and you’re not even gonna touch it?”

you look down at the chicken and rice in front of you, the scent alone making your stomach queasy. you haven’t been hungry since you woke this morning, the second your eyes fluttered open feeling your heart sink. 

you felt seonghwa’s hand running through your hair, your face on his chest as you just laid there silently.

you knew he knew you were up by the way he kissed the top of your head, his deeply mumbled “morning, baby,” knotting your stomach even more; you knew it was gonna be the last time you heard that. the last time you woke up next to him and melted under his soft gaze and heard his voice in person.

“what time is it?” you asked quietly.

you both had been up until almost four in the morning, quietly talking and laughing as words just kept pouring out from your mouth. 

about your first impressions of each other and wondering how you both had been coming here but never crossed paths until this year. about your fears for the upcoming school year and his crazy friends back home.

you were exhausted by the time the clock struck three but you couldn’t find in yourself to stop talking to him. to close your eyes and miss out on the last moments of time you had to spend with him.

“almost ten,” he mumbled in response. he can feel your pout against his chest, picking your head up and placing a kiss on your lips.

he’d woken up two hours prior and had just been watching you sleep, the calming inhale and exhale of your even breaths wafting against his skin. any time you whined sleepily or thrashed, all he had to do was run his hand through your hair and hum that he was here.

it made his heart soar but also crack a little bit, knowing that tonight, you’ll both be sleeping alone.

“oh,” you say, voice short and quiet and his adams apple bobs as he swallows down his sorrows.

you can’t speak in fear that you’re gonna start crying and you think you’ve cried enough over this goodbye. you’ve made him listen to your weeping and wipe your tears and no matter how much you want to, you can’t do it anymore. 

you can’t put either of you through it anymore.

silence hangs between the both of you, his lips against your head and your arm wrapped around his waist as you lay in the sunlight. it’s just like any other day here, the hot summer sun shining and waves crashing and people laughing as they walk down to the beach.

“i have your number and you have mine,” his deep morning voice reminded you lowly. 

he takes your face in his hand and makes you look at him, his thumb brushing over your lower lip as his eyes look down at you softly. 

“i’ll answer whenever you call, okay? whenever you need me, i’ll be there.”

your lips press into one another so a tiny cry doesn’t leave you, simply nodding as tears burn behind your eyes. you watch his gaze roam over you but he doesn’t comment on the tears, just strokes your face gently and presses a parting kiss to your forehead.

it was the last kiss he gave you before the final one in your room, lips parted and your arms wrapped around his shoulders. it was full of desperation and love and left like a true goodbye kiss, his hand on the back of your head as he held you to his chest and told you you would talk soon.

you walked downstairs hand in hand, fingers intertwined and a sad silence between you before your aunt came over and hugged seonghwa goodbye. the two of them shared a knowing look that went unnoticed by you, too sad and upset to notice anything except the sinking feeling in your stomach and chest.

the same feeling in his as he hugs you one last time, kissing the top of your head with such a gentleness it makes you wanna let your building sob break free and cling on to him.

makes him wish you guys could just rewind back to that first day in june so you could have the summer again.

but summer is over and time travel isn’t possible. nor is it gonna be possible for him to go on like this, every shred of vulnerability he has completely exposed and leaving him ready to be even more hurt. 

it took you just a few weeks to bring down the walls he’d put around himself and he knows, after the tears he’s gonna cry in his car in the next few seconds, he has to work extra hard to build them up again. forget about who you made him become while not forgetting about you.

but is that possible? can he actually do that? because with the way he’s barely able to pull himself away from you, he’s truly fearful for his emotional state during the next few weeks.

you watched him walk to his car before he waved goodbye, finally letting out the cry that was so desperate to leave your throat once he was out of sight. your aunt pulled you into a hug and told you everything was gonna be okay, that you and seonghwa’s feelings were true and nothing would change between you guys.

“i’m just not very hungry,” you mumble, looking at the plate as your fork scoops up pieces of rice. 

the familiar clatter of utensils being slammed down on the glass causes you to jump and squeeze your eyes shut, half expecting something to be thrown across the table.

but nothing of the sort happens, your mom just stomps off and leaves you and your father alone. you don’t raise your eyes from the table, just continue to play with your food before sucking it up and shoveling it in your mouth.

“she talked about making this shit all morning for you,” your dad’s harsh voice finally says. 

you look up to see disgust in his eyes, the words falling from his mouth making your stomach sink in guilt. 

“she was excited for you to come back and see the new house but you’ve been nothing but an ungrateful bitch.”

you bite the inside of your cheek and let out a sigh, a quiet “sorry,” leaving you that just proves to make the man angrier. he lets out a scoff when you blink at him, swallowing nervously and feeling yourself shrink in your seat; you don’t like the look in his eyes because you know he’s about to rip into you.

“i don’t know what you’ve been doing at fucko’s house but you’re back here now, y/n, and we won’t tolerate your nonsense,” he growls at you. 

you raise your eyebrow as you look up at him, the elapsed silence only making him grow more and more tense. 

“we’re also expecting you to get a job now, maybe finally pitch in a little.”

you nod your head immediately because that’s not a problem at all; it’ll give you a reason to be out of this house even longer. and when he sees that you’re agreeing too easy, he’s quick to tell you not to make a fuss at your new school and to stay out of the way.

“this is a nicer area so keep to yourself.”

you swallow down the nervousness as you nod and know that he’s not gonna let you leave this table until you at least try to eat, his harsh, cold gaze on you successfully bullying you into eating.

when he gets up with a final grunt, you feel yourself relax. you take a few calming breaths in and out, itching to run into your room and talk to seonghwa; you were too nervous to text him first and hope that you’re gonna walk into your room with a message from him.

but after you throw out your food and clean your plate, you turn to see your mom in the doorway. 

this kitchen, the whole house really, is a lot nicer than your old one. it’s bigger and has a more modern feel, the tall glass windows covered with nice white curtains because god forbid anyone saw what goes on in this house.

you see her looking at you with a blank expression and feel your stomach sink again thinking about her this morning. because if she really was excited for your arrival and planned that dinner for you, you completely blew your chances at starting your return on the right foot.

“i’m sorry i wasn’t hungry,” you say quietly. “i...the food was really good so thank you. but i really just wasn’t-”

“it’s fine,” she says shortly and you swallow at her snappy tone. 

you look at the floor as you rock on your feet nervously, biting down on your lip before deciding to speak again; talking to a parent shouldn’t be this hard, the small talk should be natural and nice, like the way it is with your aunt.

“so...what’d you guys do this summer?”

her eyes narrow slightly at your question, turning her head to the side as she looks over you carefully. you feel more and more uneasy the longer she looks at you, her head leant lazily against the wall like she can’t hold herself up on her own.

“i think the better question is what did you do this summer,” she says and the vengeful tone in her voice makes you bite down on yor lip. “with your fun, amazing spectacular aunt that can do no wrong.”

your face drops at the bitterness that seeps into her tone, looking at her with furrowed eyebrows as you swallow the lump in your throat. and just because she’s petty and needs to get another little dig in, you hear her mutter “i bet you ate all of her food.”

you let out a humorless laugh, one of just utter disbelief really because it all just seems so surreal. 

you’d been dealing with some of the nicest people you’d ever met and that was weird to you; but now this is weird, adjusting to the way you used to live before summer started and dealing with stupid little digs from your grown parents.

“mom, i just wasn’t hungry. it had nothing to do with-”

“whatever, y/n,” she snaps.

the words die in your throat and you can only look at her, wide-eyed and begging for her to just let it go for tonight. to let your first night in the new house be relatively incident free; and it would’ve been if she hadn’t mentioned something about her visit there.

“wasn’t only your aunt keeping you company either it seemed.”

you bite down on your wobbling lip as you look at her, shaking your head because the last thing you wanna do right now is talk about him. but she must see the pain in your eyes and know immediately what happened, a smirk spreading right across her face.

because she saw the way you all but jumped to go over to the dirty blonde boy when they visited that july day, heard your lowly spoken whispers and saw the way he looked about ready to kill for you. 

“was he your boyfriend?”

when you don’t answer, only blink at her as your stomach starts to churn even more, she lets out a groan like you’re being overdramatic and keeping gossip from her.

“c’mon, isn’t this what mothers and daughters do? tell me all about your summer romance.”

you wanna snap at her that you haven’t done any mother daughter activities before this so why start now? that she never cared to ask about your life before this so why now over something that’s obviously upsetting to you?

“i don’t wanna talk about it.”

your short tone causes her eyes to narrow, eyebrow quirked up and you know she’s just gonna try to get back at you for not eating her food tonight. 

it’s why she keeps going on and on, asking if he took you on a dates and if you exchanged numbers. if your aunt approved of him and if you guys all sat around the table like a happy little family.

“i said i don’t wanna talk about it,” you finally snap. 

and probably because she’s never heard you fight back before, it takes her a second to respond. for her vengeful, mocking look to turn into one of anger before she stomps toward you and slaps you right across the face.

the harsh sting on your cheek causes you to wince, tears burning your eyes as you remember that this is it; you’re home now and they’re not gonna let you forget it. they hold the control and power over you until you’re quite and docile and the shell of a person you were three months ago.

to not give them any trouble or talk or express your feelings, just act solely like a piece of furniture they can ignore and forget about.

“really must’ve hurt leaving him since you’ve been such a little shit today,” your mom growls lowly. 

your teary eyes meet hers and they hold not an ounce of remorse, just a hot anger and disgust because she was trying. she was trying to connect with you and how dare you deny her? she knows you were talking to her fabulous sister with no problem.

“i hope for your sake he doesn’t forget all about you,” she sneers, “but something tells me he’s gonna.” 

you fight the tears threatening to leave your eyes before she raises an eyebrow at you, her eyes roaming your red stinging cheek. you can’t help but flinch away when she lifts her hand up, soothingly running over the mark on your skin. 

“that’s just how those things work, sweet girl.”

you bite down on your lip harder so you don’t cry or scream, simply swallowing the lump in your throat as you move your head away from her. she lets out a scoff as you do so, looking over you coldly one last time before turning around wordlessly. 

you feel ready to completely break down right there in the kitchen when she’s gone, walking straight to your new room that’s in complete disarray.

much to your surprise, your bed frame and dressers were actually set up. but your mattress was bare and boxes and boxes of your clothes and furniture litter the floor. 

you only tackled half of it when you got home and you certainly don’t feel like doing it now, laying face down on your mattress as you try to calm yourself.

it’s the first day and you’re all just getting used to each other again; it’s gonna be an adjustment for all of you. you’re gonna have to remember to just keep your mouth shut the way you used to to avoid injury - pick your battles and speak up for yourself at the right moments.

your phone vibrating on your bedside table causes you to jump up frantically, snatching your phone and the tight knot in your stomach immediately vanishes when you see two messages from seonghwa; you bite down on your lip so you don’t squeal or giggle too loudly when you open them.

seonghwa [7:42] hey baby

seonghwa [8:27] don’t tell me you forgot about me already

you can’t stop the smile from spreading across your face, thumbs frantically working to write back a message. 

and it’s with your heart racing and palms sweating that you think maybe this could work out for you guys. that even if you’re back in such a toxic, draining environment, they’ll be at least one good thing in your life getting you through it.

“and she PUKED on him! like legit all over him, chunky and disgusting. i didn’t even think that was-”

“wait, mingi! this fuck’s not even listening!”

“he hasn’t been listening all week!” wooyoung exclaims, knocking into seonghwa’s arm as the boy smirks down at his phone. “he’s been talking to his summer lover with the golden pussy.”

seonghwa’s head snaps up and he kicks the boy in the leg, wooyoung falling back with a grunt that causes the others to laugh.

“shut the fuck up.”

mingi and yeosang share a knowing smirk with one another, seonghwa raising an eyebrow when he sees the look on their faces; because just as he predicted, his friends were obnoxious.

they greeted him his first day back excitedly, wooyoung and yeosang tripping over and hitting into one another to tackle him in a hug before mingi’s towering figure completed knocked them away with loud whines and grunts. 

seonghwa only rolled his eyes and pat their backs awkwardly, the boys asking how his beach town was before he could even get out a hello.

“the same,” he told his friends as they spread out on mingi’s couch, seonghwa pushing yeosang out of his spot on the sectional before plopping down.

dick,” yeosang grunted, seonghwa rolling his eyes at his friend’s tone. “and when are you gonna let us come one year?”

“yeah!” mingi whines, “we wanna go to the beach.”

“never,” seonghwa says. 

because the last thing he thinks he can deal with is his summer friends and his school friends meeting. he doesn’t know which group is more headache inducing so seeing them together? his absolute worst nightmare.

“oh, c’mon,” wooyoung whines, daringly jumping on the chaise where seonghwa’s legs rest. “then we can meet your friends. and see all the girls you hook up with on the beach.”

seonghwa rolls his eyes despite the sinking feeling in his stomach, knocking his foot into the boy. “i don’t know what you’re even talking about. i don’t hook up with anyone there.”

and it was that blatant lie right there that got the boys intrigued, adding on to the fact that he’d been all but attached to his phone since his return; smirking down and checking it immediately after it vibrated. 

it took four days of their whining and screaming and nosy eyes to tell he’d hung out with one girl.

he didn’t want them to know the extent of it, to know how he completely changed this summer and allowed himself to fall for you; but it felt gross, diminishing what you guys had as he told them you guys “hung out.” 

and when wooyoung nosily asked if you hung out and did other things, seonghwa only raised an eyebrow and it sent the immature boys squealing.

“are you ever gonna tell us more about her?” wooyoung asks, his hand in a bag of chips as he can’t help but be nosy. 

they’d all been in able to sense something different in their friend, the way he’s being so cryptic about his summer and avoiding the topic of girls.

“there’s nothing to tell,” he says, locking his phone and sticking it in his back pocket. “she was cool and we had fun but there’s nothing more to it.”

he hates how easily he lies through his teeth, making it seem as if you were just a small part of his summer opposed to everything. everything had revolved around you.

“then why are you texting her?” yeosang asks, a smirk on his face as he looks at seonghwa unconvinced. but the dirty blonde can only roll his eyes and not say a word, giving the boy a dead stare that tells all of them he’s not gonna give them an answer.

“i’ll tell you why,” wooyoung says, “she’s got him pussy whipped. i never thought we’d see the day, guys but here it is. seonghwa’s balls are in a jar and now he’s gonna be a little bitch.”

“pussy whipped by a virgin?” seonghwa blurts out sarcastically and he doesn’t even realize what he’s said it until it’s too late. until he sees the wide eyed look from his friends, a mix of disbelief and amusement glinted in their eyes. until he feels right in his heart and stomach that he already fucked up.

“a virgin? are you fuckin’ nuts!” mingi yelps. “no wonder she’s texting you nonstop!”

seonghwa rolls his eyes and shrugs, ignoring the way his stomach sinks because talking about you like that doesn’t feel right at all. 

you had been nothing but honest and trusting with him during that time and it was something he cherished so why the fuck did he just blurt that out like it was some conquest?

but then he remembers this is what happens. that this summer he wasn’t himself; he isn’t kind or thoughtful or capable of love. he fucks around with his friends and they’re known to be bad, to break girls (and maybe some boys) hearts and use them without any regard for another person.

“how did you even let that happen?” yeosang asks in disbelief; they all knew it was like an unspoken rule to never get with someone like that. that almost always, they need to coddled afterward and get attached.

seonghwa only shrugs his shoulders, popping his neck to the side as he looks at his friends. “just did,” he hums lowly, wanting so desperately to talk about something else; his phone vibrates against the couch and all the boys let out amused snorts.

“well i bet you’re regretting that shit now,” wooyoung laughs out, yelping suddenly when yeosang smacks him in the back of the head.

“stop hogging the bag fat boy!”

seonghwa smirks hearing his friends fighting, ignoring the way his hands are itching you look at the two unread messages in his back pocket. but he'll get back to you later, he thinks, he can't be completely consumed by you anymore.

no matter how much he wants to be.

you woke up for your first day of school more nervous than usual. and that’s pretty bad, given the way the three weeks in this house have completely drained you. 

the tension and prickly feeling that comes with living with your parents came back full force, reduced you to the meek and timid girl you were before; the only time you felt okay was when you talked to seonghwa. 

smiling and feeling yourself relax immediately at the sound of his voice, his deep words and occasional chuckle making the knots in your stomach disappear for just a little bit.

“you find a job yet?”

you’d been keeping him updated on your job search for the past few weeks, applying to cafes and restaurants and movie theaters all over your new town.

 you’d just about given up in a fit of frustration, accept whatever punishment your parents had for not being able to pitch in, when a cafe down the block from your new school called you back.

“i did! a cute little cafe, it’s down the block from my new school too.”

“that’s good,” he says, smiling to himself at the way you sound hopeful and positive; it’s the happiest he’s heard you sound in these last few weeks, your voice quiet and mousy that way he was once so used to.

“you start tomorrow, right?”

“yeah,” you tell him quietly, feeling nerves flood through your stomach at the thought of tomorrow morning. “i’m scared.”

“no need to be, baby, it’ll be fine. you walked around the other day, yeah?”

you nod your head as you tell him more about the school, how big and daunting it seemed even though it wasn’t much different than your other one. your counselor seemed nice too, walking you through the building and giving you your schedule early so tomorrow would go a little smoother.

“see, so you’ll be okay,” he says to you softly. 

you let out a small sigh as you nod your head, the both of you talking quietly until you tell him you should shower and get ready for bed. he says goodbye and wishes you good luck tomorrow, reminding you that if anything really gets that bad, you can always text him.

“wait. but don’t you start tomorrow, too?”

“yeah,” he says flatly, “so?” and when the silence lapses he can’t help the chuckle that leaves his mouth as warmth spreads through his chest. “oh, baby don’t tell me you’re gonna say i shouldn’t text during school hours.”

your conversation with seonghwa did little to calm your nerves though. because the whole time you’re getting ready and walking to school the next morning, your mind is racing. 

wondering what the people are like and how they’re gonna treat you. will they be indifferent to your presence or target you, sense your vulnerability and exhaustion and make it even worse?

you recognize the building when you’re just down the block, seeing a flood of cars dropping off students into the mass of other bodies. people are laughing and hugging and smiling as they reunite, a seemingly pleasant scene that you wish you yourself could take part in. reuniting with friends and hearing about their summer as you excitedly walk into school with bumping arms.

but instead you fumble and try to avoid the other bodies, wincing when you walk right through a big group of people with a quiet “sorry.” 

you’re looking down at the schedule you wrote in your phone when you hit into someone’s body, a tiny squeal leaving your mouth as your heart immediately drops into your stomach.

“i’m sorry,” you repeat to the boy quietly, watching him turn around and look down at you. his lips quirk up in a small smirk when he sees your face, your pink cheeks and roaming eyes a dead give away you’re nervous and flustered so it’s probably your first day.

“it’s okay,” he smiles. “you new?” but he already knows that, he’s never seen you here before.

you press your lips together as you nod, biting down on your lip when an awkward chuckle leaves your mouth. “yeah, is it that obvious?”

“painfully,” he says and your blushing cheeks immediately cause him to laugh. “i’m kidding. just watch where you’re going next time, yeah?”

your face drops when you hear those words ring in your head, except it’s seonghwa’s voice on the beach on that first day. when you saw him and then bumped into him on your walk, so shy and frazzled by his sharp gaze on you.

the boy can’t even say another word before you nod your head and smile shyly, making your way around him and into the building. he watches your back as you walk into the school, a quiet hum leaving his mouth because that’s very interesting. 

you looked to be about his age, he wonders if you’re in the same grade and how everyone is gonna-

“wooyoung! the fuck are you doing just standing there?”

the boy rolls his eyes at mingi’s shouting, making his way over to the tree they always hang out under before class. the cigarette buds are a dead giveaway it’s their spot, seonghwa sitting against the wooden rail as he looks up at the boy.

“a girl bumped into me, think she’s our age and new,” he tells them, mingi and yeosang’s eyes widening as seonghwa looks questioningly at him; his eyes travel to where wooyoung was standing just a few seconds ago.

he feels something settle in the pit of his stomach, like nervousness or apprehension. because there’s no way. there’s no fucking way. 

“was she hot?” the tallest boy asks, seonghwa rolling his eyes as he lights up his morning cigarette; this was another bad habit he immediately started up again after returning home.

"eh. not my type. a little too timid."

“or a little too girly.”

wooyoung smirks at yeosang’s comment before shrugging his shoulders, stealing the pack of cigarettes from his hand that immediately causes the boy to shout. 

the ruckus pulls seonghwa's attention away from the yard and back to his friends, mingi noticing his set jaw and bouncing leg. but before he can comment on it, the ten-minute warning bell blares from inside.

they all put out their cigarettes and make their way inside as they talk about how crazy and stupid it was that they all had the same homeroom; they bet that within the first week of school, they’ll be separated and put into four different classrooms.

you heard the ten minute bell, courtesy of your counselors warning, when you were at your locker and thought you had perfectly planned everything out. you had ample time to open your locker, run to the bathroom and walk to your class in an uncharacteristically relaxed manner.

but an error on your schedule with your locker combination had you almost in the midst of a full blown anxiety attack, doing it over and over a hundred times before scurrying down to the office and telling them about your problem.

it took them about twenty minutes to get the situation sorted, telling you to go your class and that it’ll all be sorted out by the time you’re done; and while you were grateful for that, you now had to walk into class ten minutes late. with everyone’s curious eyes on you and a horrible first impression to your homeroom teacher.

you took deep breaths and tried to calm your shaky hands, wiping your clammy skin on your shirt as you stand in front of the door. you make eye contact with the teacher sitting at the desk and she gestures for you to come in, swallowing the lump in your throat as you do so.

“can i help you?”

“h-hi, i’m sorry i’m late. i...i’m a new student but there was a problem with my locker. i have this pass from the-”

“it’s okay, just take a deep breath,” she says softly, her smile and kid tone immediately making you relax. but you’re still all too aware of the eyes on you, your shaky voice and stutter already embarrassing you.

“what’s your name?”

“_____”.

you hear people whispering but do your best to ignore it, instead listening to her tell you where to sit and welcoming you to the school.

“there’s a empty seat toward the back. wooyoung, can you raise your hand?”

“we meet again new girl,” you hear the teasing voice say, snapping your head to the side and feeling a blush creep on you cheeks - of course it’s the boy you bumped into; what kind of sick luck is that? that the person you embarrassed yourself in front of already just happens to be in-

a familiar shade of dirty blonde catches your eye and you can’t control the small gasp that leaves you. because there park seonghwa sits just a few seats away, staring right at you with a look you’d never seen in his eye before.

you feel like your heart is about to explode out of your chest, blinking in disbelief because you almost think you’re seeing things. but then as you continue to stare at him, you see that’s he not disappearing. he’s meeting your stare and looking right back at you and it brings a smile to your face.

but then you feel your heart drop when his remains blank, squinting his eyes and raising a brow as if to say what the fuck are you doing here? you cock your head to the side as the smile falls from your face, looking at him in confusion as hurt swirls in your chest before the teacher calls your name.

“y/n?” she asks softly.

you tear your gaze away from seonghwa and swallow the panic and confusion down, shaking your head as you mutter what feels like your 100th apology today.

you walk to where wooyoung is sitting and immediately plop down, feeling your hands shake as you sink into your seat and try to figure out why seonghwa looked like he just saw a ghost.

mingi and yeosang watched the whole exchange between you two, the latter boy catching seonghwa’s face when you sat down. he ran his hands through his hair and his leg started bouncing frantically, jaw clenched and eyes wide before yeosang kicked his foot.

“hey,” he whispers lowly, watching the storm of emotions in his friend’s dark eyes. “what the fuck was that? do you two know each other?”

(part 14)

[333dolans]

If By Chance // E.D

Summary: It’s been 2 years since she’d last seen him, what would happen if by chance they were to meet once more?

Tags: @rhyrhy462 @evergreendolan @dolansficsandpics @fangdolan @livexdolan @blindedbythelightt @baby-grayson @prettyboydolan @delightfuldolan @bingexdolan @sosweetgrethan @episkygrant @soledadgray @dolanissues @pineappledols @vinylhazza @hydrograyson @velvetdolan @baby-turtles @szadolans @cutestdolans @brockdolan @mercurygrant @abstractstardiva @guiltydols @blazedgraysons @blackpinkdolan @vintagedolan @babeygray @babey-gray @dolanpornhub @tadadolan @onlyyyariii @voidmalfoy @glossydols @nikesbailey @graysonsdol

If someone were to tell Aurora Beckett’s 12 year old self that by the time she was 20, she would of lost all contact with Ethan Dolan? She would of thought the notion to be absolutely absurd.

Since the first day of 4th grade when two identical boys approached her as she sat alone, leg bobbing up and down nervously and thumbs twirling together, the twins had decided then and there that she was going to be their best friend.

They wanted to make her feel included and seen. Although they knew all to well themselves how it feels to be alienated, they’d never been alone, always having each other. They swore that day she’d never feel alone again.

Ever since that day, they’d been true to their word. Endless amounts of movie nights, beach trips, late night snack runs. They had experienced so much of their teen years together. Aurora had caught herself gravitating more towards the older twin, finding a particular comfort in his vibrant presence. God knows she loves both of them with her whole heart and would drop everything in an instant for either of them, but there has seemingly always been something more between her and Ethan, just below the surface, yearning to be acknowledged. Yet here she was 11 years down the line, now having gone almost two years without so much as a hello from the only boy she’s ever been in love with.

When the twins turned 15, they decided to chase their growing career across the country from the state they’d all called home for so long. After a lot of tears and begging her best friends not to leave her behind, Aurora came around to their decision. She wanted nothing more than for them to be happy and if moving to Los Angeles meant they could follow their lifelong dream? She sure as hell wasn’t going to be the thing that stopped them, no matter how much it hurt her heart to wave them goodbye as they boarded the plane.

Everything had ran smoothly from there. They FaceTimed at every and any moment they could. They frequently flew back to Jersey for the holidays and birthdays, she would also fly out to California whenever she could. Her relationship with both twins remained strong and never once faltered.

That was until a certain twin began to drift, blaming it on meetings and work. This would of been a valid argument, were it not for Grayson, who confirmed that they in fact wouldn’t be busy when Ethan claimed to be swamped with business. It became very apparent that he was curving her, she just didn’t know nor could she understand why.

Was the new increase in fame getting to his head? He was always so grounded, so humble. Did he think he was above her now? Her superior? Maybe she wasn’t good enough for him? He’d always sworn her that she was the most important person in his life besides his family. These were the questions shed’d found herself asking every single day like a broken record.

Soon enough he’d dropped Aurora completely. She knew it was coming, she wasn’t naive, but it didn’t make it hurt any less when it did. Grayson kept contact as best he could, still asking to FaceTime at least once a month but she’d began to push him away. His face mirroring the boy she loathed but still craved so badly, it pained her to speak to Gray when his identical twin had caused her to cry herself to sleep most nights.

It had only been 4 months since she’d last spoken to Ethan when she discovered his sudden change of heart. The reason he’d ended their lifelong friendship? He’d met a girl. A gorgeous girl who Aurora later discovered to be called Arabella. He’d cut her off simply because he’d found a girlfriend? It didn’t make any sense.

But here she was now, sat on a 13 hour plane heading for the west coast. She couldn’t help but succumb to the memories pounding in her head, begging to fill her thoughts. All the times she’d been in this exact place making this journey, dying for the plane to hurry up and take her to the place she longed to be, wrapped up in Ethan’s arms. However, today she wouldn’t get to beeline towards the brown haired boy that filled her mind whilst awake and asleep. Today she would be picking up her rental car alone and driving towards her new start.

As she entered the door to her apartment, she found her racing mind instantly slowed. She already felt so much calmer in this place, it felt like home. Like this is where she was meant to be. She had received a promotion at her job, which happened to be located in the city of angels. Of course she accepted, the pay was incredible and she was never one to turn down the opportunity to travel and see the sights this amazing earth has to offer. It hadn’t even registered in her mind until just weeks before she was set to fly out that her once closest friends lived out there, now nothing but mere strangers.

She was just placing down the boxes after carrying them up the never ending flights of stairs that led to her new home, when she heard the notification. Reaching for her phone, expecting a text from her landlord, she was met with an all too familiar name.

From Grayson Dolan: Hey! I was just checking snap maps to see where the friend I’m meeting up with was and i saw your bitmoji. You’re in LA? Since when? For how long?

To Grayson Dolan: Hi G, I just moved out here for a promotion! I live here now i guess haha. We should grab coffee!

She didn’t know why she asked him to meet up, they hadn’t spoken in a long time and it would surely be awkward. Before she had time to overthink her decision too much, she received a reply.

From Grayson Dolan: Name the time and place and ill be there, I’ve missed you so much Rory.

To Grayson Dolan: Missed you more Grapeson!

From Grayson Dolan: Oh no we are not bringing that back.

To Grapeson🍇: Too late! Pick me up at 4 if you’re free?

From Grapeson🍇: See you soon love x

She couldn’t fight off the beaming smile that pulled at her lips. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss her best friend, after all he’d tried to keep contact. She’d let her feelings for Ethan get in the way of her friendship with Gray and ultimately lost one of the brightest lights the world had to offer. She’d be damned before she let herself mess that up again.

[snarksandkisses]

What I think about COVID-19 this morning - Malia Jones, PhD, MPH

What I think about COVID-19 this morning

March 5, 2020

 Maybe I'm the closest thing you personally know to an infectious disease epidemiologist. Maybe not--I'm not an expert on this virus by any stretch, but I have general knowledge and training from studying epidemics that is applicable, so here are my thoughts. 

 First and foremost: we are going to see a tremendous increase in the number of US cases of COVID-19 in the next week. This is not because of some new pattern in the spread of the disease, but rather due to a major change in the requirements to be tested. Until yesterday, if you had flulike illness but had not recently traveled to China, Italy, South Korea, or Iran, you could not be tested. This is just the way healthcare works, you get tested if you meet the case definition and the case definition included travel.

 As of yesterday, you can be tested if you are sick and have a doctor's order to be tested. So expect things to feel a lot more panicky all of a sudden. We will see hundreds or thousands of new cases as a result of testing increases.

 Second: is that panic legitimate? Sort of. This is not the zombie apocalypse. The death rate of 30 deaths per 1000 cases is probably a wild overestimate. (The denominator is almost certainly wrong because it is confirmed cases--and we only confirm cases when we test for them). That said, even at 3 per 1000 cases, this would be a big deal. A very big deal. By way of comparison, the death rate for influenza is between 1 and 2 in 1000 cases. So, yeah. Roughly 0x to 30x worse than a huge global flu pandemic? That's a problem.

 Unlike flu, COVID-19 is not *particularly* dangerous for children, so that’s some happy news. It is dangerous for older adults and those with lung conditions, so we need to be extra careful to protect those populations from exposure. 

Also, for millions of Americans, getting any serious illness requiring a hospitalization is a major problem because they can't pay for it. And our health care system is probably going to struggle to keep up with it all. And with China basically closed, our global economy is going to take a huge hit and we'll feel the shockwaves for years. Those are real concerns.

 What can we do? Our focus should be on *slowing down the spread* of this disease so that we have time to get caught up. Here is my advice:

 1. Wash. Your. Hands. Wash them so much.

The current best guess is that coronavirus is transmitted via close contact and surface contamination. A very small study came out yesterday suggesting that the virus causing COVID-19 is *mostly* transmitted via contact with contaminated surfaces.

I have started washing my hands each time I enter a new building and after being in shared spaces (classrooms especially), in addition to the standard practice of washing after using the bathroom and before eating. Soap and water. Hand sanitizer also kills this virus, as does rubbing alcohol (the main ingredient in hand sanitizer).

 There is no need to be obsessive about this. Just wash your hands. A little bit more effort here goes a long way. 

 2. Don’t pick your nose. Or put your fingers in your mouth, on your lips, or in your eyes. Surface contact works like this: you touch something dirty. Maybe it's an elevator button. Virus sticks to your hands. Then you rub your eye. Then you touch your sandwich, and put the sandwich in your mouth. Now there is virus in your eyes and mouth. See?

 You may be thinking, but I don’t pick my nose because I am an adult! An observational study found that people sitting at a desk working touched their eyes, nose, or lips between 3 and 50 times per hour. Perfectly normal grown-ups, not lowlifes like my friends.

 2a. There was one note that came out suggesting that face masks actually promote surface contamination because you're always adjusting them--i.e., touching your face. I don’t know if that’s true. But face masks should not be worn by the public right now, unless you are the person who is sick and you're on your way to or actually at the doctor's office. The mask’s function is to prevent spit from flying out of your mouth and landing on things when you cough or sneeze. It flies out of your mouth and is caught in the mask instead. If you are the person who is sick and not on the way to the doctor, go home. Let the people who really need them have the masks. Like doctors.

 [ETA on 3/6/2020 honestly people I am getting so much push back on the mask recommendation!! The world is running low on masks. If everyone wants a mask so they can feel ok about keeping their Daytona Beach Spring Break plans and then hospitals in India can't buy them anymore, shame on us.]

 Coronavirus does not appear to be airborne in the sense that doesn't remain floating around freely in the air for a long time, like measles does. You are probably not going to breathe it in, unless someone is coughing in front of you. If someone is coughing in your face, feel free to tell them to get their ass home and move 6 feet away from them. (Yeah I know, if you have a toddler, you're screwed.)

 3. Sanitize the objects you and lots of other people touch, especially people outside your family--like door handles, shared keyboards at schools (brrr), salad bar tongs, etc. Best guesses are that the virus can live on surfaces for 2-48 hours, maybe even longer, depending on the surface, temperature, and humidity.

 Many common household cleaning products will kill this virus. However, white vinegar solution does not. You can make your own inexpensive antimicrobial spray by mixing 1 part household bleach to 99 parts cold tap water. Spray this on surfaces and leave for 10-30 minutes. Note: this is bleach. It will ruin your sofa.

 4. "Social distancing." You're going to get so sick of this phrase. This means keeping people apart from one another (preferably 6 feet apart, and sanitizing shared objects). This public health strategy is our next line of defense, and its implementation is what will lead to flights and events cancelled, borders closed, and schools closed.

 For now, you could limit face-to-face meetings, especially large ones. Zoom is an excellent videoconferencing option. If you spend time in shared spaces, see #1. Ask your child's school about their hygiene plan, if they haven't already told you what it is. If I were in charge of a school setting, I'd be hand sanitizing the s*** out of the kids' hands, including in and out of each space, and taking temperatures at the door. I am planning to email our school nurse right after this to ask if they need my volunteer help cleaning surfaces.

 If you can telecommute, do that a little more. If you are someone's boss and they could do their job remotely, encourage them to do that. 

 Avoid large gatherings of people if at all possible, especially if they are in an area with cases OR places that lots of people travel to. If you attend group events and start to feel even a little bit sick within 2 to 14 days, you need to self isolate immediately. Like for a tiny tickle in your throat.

 5. All your travel plans are about to get screwed up. If you are considering booking flights right now, get refundable tickets. ETA: most trip insurance will not cover cancellations due to a pandemic. Look for "cancel for any reason" trip insurance. 

 Considerations for risks related to that trip you’re planning: how bad would it be if you got stuck where you are going for 3 to 6 weeks? How bad would it be to be isolated at home for 2-3 weeks upon your return? Do you have direct contact with people who are over 70 and/or have lung conditions? If those seem really bad to you, rethink your trip, especially if it is to a location where there are confirmed cases. 

 6. If you are sick, stay home. Please! For the love of all that is holy. Stay at home. Your contributions to the world are really just not that important.

 7. There is a good chance some communities will see school cancelled and asked to limit non-essential movement. If someone in your family gets sick your family will almost certainly be isolated for 2-3 weeks (asked to stay at home). You could start stocking up with essentials for that scenario, but don't run out and buy a years' worth of toilet paper. Again, not the apocalypse. 2 weeks' worth of essential items. Refill any prescriptions, check your supply of coffee, kitty litter, and jigsaw puzzles.

 8. I do want to remind everyone that when public health works, the result is the least newsworthy thing ever: nothing happens. If this all fizzles out and you start feeling like ‘Wah, all that fuss for nothing??’ Then send a thank-you note to your local department of public health for a job well done. Fingers crossed for that outcome.

 9. Look, I think there are some positives here. All this handwashing could stop flu season in its tracks! We have an opportunity to reduce our global carbon footprint by telecommuting more, flying less, and understanding where our stuff comes from. We can use this to think about the problems with our healthcare system. We can use this to reflect on our positions of privilege and implicit biases. We can start greeting each other using jazz hands. I'm genuinely excited about those opportunities.

 There is a lot we don't yet know about this virus. It didn't even exist 90 days ago. So stay tuned, it is an evolving situation. The WHO website has a decent FAQ. Free to email or text with questions, and you can forward this to others if you think it's useful.

 May the force be with you. 

 Malia Jones, PhD, MPH

maliajones@gmail.com

 I’m an Assistant Scientist in Health Geography at the Applied Population Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I study social contact of humans, and spatial patterns of infectious disease, among other things. 

   P.S. The number one question I am getting is, did you really write this? Yes. I wrote this. 

 I didn't write it for professional purposes, so I didn't put my work email on it. It was really just meant to be an email to my friends and family in advance of what I expect to be an escalation in the panic level. But it was apparently welcome information and went viral on FB. I've decided not to edit out the swears, even though I wrote this with a much smaller audience in mind. 

 Thanks for checking your facts! Go science!