#its so funny because i remember in grade school we had something like that

[floralovebot]

i keep seeing penpal videos on tiktok and now i want one :')

[inmyheaddd]

walkin’ out the door with your bags - grayson hawthorne x reader - part one

⤷ “can you see me? im waiting for the right time. i can’t read you, but if you want, the pleasure’s all mine.”

summary: you and grayson hawthorne’s friendship is one that stretches over a long time. its a friendship that you cherish with your heart, and it’s also one that can be far too confusing for your own sake sometimes. warnings: glasses!grayson, reader & grayson are so oblivious it hurts a/n: new possible grayson childhood bsfs-to-lovers series??! wc: 1.5k masterlist || series masterlist — other parts!

you lay on your stomach, propped up on your elbows with your face in your hands.

next to you was grayson, sitting up against the headboard, typing up something as he listened to you rant about your day. 

“he’s genuinely the worst teacher i’ve ever had, you know what he told me on the last non uniform day we had?” your legs were bent at the knee, swinging back and forth in the air as you ranted, your eyes on grayson, as his eyes were on his laptop. 

“he asked me if i got into a bike accident on the way to school, because i wore ripped jeans.”

grayson hummed, his eyes meeting yours briefly before returning to his laptop. “ignore him, he’s trying too hard to be funny,” he commented with his voice taking on a hint of disgust,, “and miserably failing.” he added, as he adjusted his glasses on his nose bridge. “you have better things to focus on than strange men with their strange humor.” 

you let out a chuckle through your nose, “yeah, i guess. very strange men indeed.” 

you didn’t really wait for a response, as you continued to talk about your day and little things that happened. “oh!” you piped up,“and guess what?” 

that’s how it always was with you and grayson, you talked — a lot, and he listened. 

—

you walked over to the corner where a little blonde boy sat, sorting a puzzle by himself while all the other kids sat in the middle, a big bundle of chaos, toys, giggles, and shouts. 

“um, excuse me? i have a question.” you stood, your hands clasped behind your back as you swayed gently side to side. 

the boy— who you later learned to be grayson hawthorne, didn’t answer, only looking up at you in curiosity as a puzzle piece fell out of his hand. 

you took that as an invitation, clearing your throat before you spoke, “why don’t you play with everyone else over there?” you asked, pointing to where all the other kids sat. it was halfway through the year, and he never once sat with the other kids, even when teachers asked him to. 

you always found yourself absentmindedly looking at him as you played with friends, wondering why.

he was silent for a moment, and you debated going back. “i don’t really like kids.” he said quietly, his eyes back on the puzzle as he looked for the next piece. 

you giggled like he had said the most outrageous statement ever, “but you’re a kid, silly.” you said, taking a step closer and sitting down next to him unpromptedly.

“well, i don’t like those kids.” he said, eyes meeting yours and then he looked you up and down, surprised at the fact that you were sitting so close to him. 

“why are you sitting next to me?” he asked, his eyes wide with surprise and question as he looked at you. 

“um…” you trailed off, “because we’re friends now, duh.” you flashed him a big smile, shrugging your shoulders. 

—

he also made you laugh, and was there for you, and gave you advice, and helped you when you needed it, and he —well, he was just a really perfect friend in general. he always has been, since you were in the second grade. 

“i’m getting glasses,” you said in a singsong voice, “isn’t that crazy?”

“you’re getting glasses?” he arched a brow up at you, with an almost-barely-there smile.

“yeah,” you said through a chuckle, “i think it’s the universes way of getting me back for making fun of you, way back when you first got them.” 

grayson let out a breathy laugh and looked down at you, his gaze unwavering. “i distinctly remember you telling me how thankful you were to have 20/20 vision.”

“yeah, well…” you stifled a laugh, “you know what?” you voice perked up, a hint of humor present. “at least i know i’m gonna look better than you in them.” 

a smile found your face as you teased him— though deep down his glasses were one of your favorite things about him. 

the funny thing is, you distinctly remember teasing him about them to cover up just how much you adored them on him. 

—

“we aren’t friends. i don’t know you.” the little furrow in his brows only deepened as he looked at you.

“okay, well, i’m your friend. you don’t have to be my friend.” you shrugged simply, as you searched for the next puzzle piece on the floor, putting it into place once you did.

he watched you in silence, like you were saying something completely foreign to him, “but that’s rude of me, and it’s unbalanced,” his brows furrowed, his lips almost in a pout like he was severely stressed about this.

“okay, then just be my friend!” you smiled brightly at him once again, “problem solved.” you added, the look on your face a complete contrast to his — which was very confused. 

“but, friends are people who just want something from you. family always comes first.” he replied, like it was a rehearsed line he had heard a thousand times from someone else in his life. 

you wondered what kind of monster told him that, and you were determined on changing his mind. 

“what? no! friends are the best people you can find in the whole world. they’re your ‘family number two.’” you told him, but he didn’t seem convinced as he stared at you. “can i make you a proposal?” 

his blonde brows shot to the top of his head, “you want to marry me?” his eyes went wide as he slightly scooted back from you. 

“no, dummy! i meant like a deal,” you hummed, “i think i meant proposition…” you mumbled under your breath, more to yourself than to him.  

—

grayson smiled at you, his gaze unwavering. “oh, surely. without a doubt.” 

you gasped in mock offense, bringing yourself to sit up fully as you looked at him. “is that sarcasm you’re giving me, hawthorne?” 

grayson didn’t say anything in response, only laughing under his breath and shaking his head, returning back to typing whatever he was doing earlier. 

“you’re so rude, i don’t like you.” you said as you crossed your arms over your chest, sitting so close to him that you could rest your head on his shoulder. 

his eyes found you on his shoulder. though you didn’t meet his gaze, you definitely felt it. “well, i’m stuck with you forever, aren’t i?”

“yeah, unfortunately for me.” you said through an exhale. “i’m deeply regretting my choices right now.”  you mumbled , but you both knew that wasn’t true.

—

“deal? what deal are you giving me?“ 

“you just have to be my friend until friday! if you don’t like it, i’ll never talk to you again. i pinky swear.” you swore seriously, raising your eyebrows at the end to add to that effect. 

“buuuut,” you added, your voice taking on a complete 180. ”if you like it, even just a little, you’re stuck with me.” you paused for dramatic effect, adding in a singsong voice. “forever and ever.”

—

you felt him chuckle and you found yourself smiling at the mere action. he seemed to never laugh around anyone but you. “you know, that may have been the single choice in my life i don’t regret making.” 

the way he said that nearly undid you. you lifted your head, sitting upright to see him fully. 

your voice came out quieter than you thought it would, with a smile on your lips. “are you being serious?” your eyes searched his face, looking for any signs of teasing, even though you knew you wouldn’t find any. 

his answer was short, but it packed so much. “why wouldn’t i be?” there wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face anymore, and his eyes stayed locked on yours, apart from when they flickered down to your lips for a millisecond. 

“i…” you trailed off, literally at a loss for words as his eyes looked into yours. “i don’t know,” you managed to come up with, eyes glued to his for far too long. 

“sorry,” you said through a laugh, “i don’t know what that was.” you shook your head as you looked back at the bed beneath you. 

you adjusted the way you were sitting, perhaps subconsciously putting a little bit of space between you. well, you had to. 

you couldn’t ruin your friendship because of your silly feelings. it’s part of the reason it’s lasted so long. better to have hidden your feelings and still have him, than speak them aloud and lose him. right? right. 

—

grayson’s eyebrows knitted together as he watched you, noticing the little bit of space you put in between you two as you quickly switched the topic, noticing the way you didn’t look straight up at him for more than 2 seconds, and the way your fingers fiddled with each other. 

he said something wrong, didn’t he? 

in all honestly, he wasn’t listening to a word you said, albeit, you weren’t paying attention to what you were saying either, just letting the words fall of your tongue without even thinking; trying to fill the awkward silence you had put there. 

as he nodded and gave vague responses to you, he replayed all the other moments he had come so close to saying something, something about the way he felt for you, and had felt for god knows how long.  

—

you left his house a few minutes later, pretending to get a text from your friend asking for you urgently. 

in all realness though, you went straight home, lay in bed, and screamed into your pillow. 

‘why did i say that? why can’t i just speak about my feelings? why am i like this?’��were some of the many thoughts that ran through your head like clockwork. 

next time, you promised yourself. next time you would talk about your feelings — or — next time you wouldn’t slip up in the slightest, so that tiny crack that led to said feelings wouldn’t ever show.

you weren’t entirely sure which one of the two you were promising. 

a/n: this was honestly more of a prologue to set the scene, the real stuff comes soon i promise!!

part two

taglist: @x-liv25-jamieswife @wish-i-were-heather @thecircularlibrary @whatsamongus @taysbrina

@littlemissmentallyunstable @anintellectualintellectual @bewitchingkisses @maybxlle @sheisntyou

@emelia07 @midiosaamor @sweetreveriee @charsoamerican

[hearts4golbach]

could u do johnnie guilbert smut? maybe with him being sub? like whimpering and shit 💀 idk how else to explain lmao 😭

Disco Stick. (Johnnie Guilbert x Fem!Reader.)

warning: consensual sex under the influence of alcohol.

im not sure if all of this is true so if its not pretend it is!

-

The club was definitely not my first choice of entertainment, but it'd do. Me and F/n pulled up to the most popular club near us, hoping we'd meet new guys to spice up our boring lives.

we got in surprisingly quick and went to find somewhere to sit and get drinks. we settled on the bar, sitting in the very far corner so we wouldnt bother anyone. I ordered my usual while f/n decided not to drink at all so she could drive us home. sadly, next time id be designated driver.

"its boring over here, once you get your drink lets go walk around or something." she offered, sipping her sprite.

i nodded in agreement. shorty after, i finally got my drink and we got up to walk around. i sipped on my drink as we began to walk into a crowd. i was worried id spill it. i pushed through a couple people carefully, making not to disturb anyone. 2 guys with black hair stood in front of me, i began to swerve around them before one turned around, bumping into me. luckily, my drink didnt get spilt.

"shit, i am so sorry." i heard an old, oddly familiar voice apologize.

"its all good," i looked up to see his face. "no fucking way, johnnie? do you remember me from chemistry?"

excitement twinkled in his eyes as he smiled. "yeah, you were the best lab partner i ever had. how could i forget?"

"i remember you too!" jake said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"sorry, jake! how could i forget you, you always made chemistry genuinely funny!"

"junior year chem was the shit with the 3 of us!" johnnie added as he giggled.

"we should catch up! ill buy you 2 a drink!" i yell over the blaring music.

"im down." he grinned. i grabbed his hand and we walked back to the bar, f/n and jake behind us.

as we sat back down, i introduced them to f/n. "this is f/n, she didnt go to the same highschool as us but we went to middle school together and weve been friends ever since."

jake shook her hand and johnnie waved. "im jake, and this is johnnie." he said, tilting his head towards johnnie.

"hey! its nice to meet you guys." she smiled sweetly.

we spent a couple more hoirs drinking and reminiscing over all of the awkward but funny moments we had together. the three of us were the chemistry group as people would say. although we fucked off a lot, all of us ended with a 95% or higher because we made that class bearable. id rather not talk about my other grades, though.

by the time we were leaving, me and johnnie were drunk as fucking sailors. we held onto eachother, stuck like glue as we giggled over everything. we frequently tripped, unsure of our footing causing f/n or jake to help us regain our shared balance. i had my arm wrapped around his shoulders and the other holding onto the arm that was wrapped around my waist. me and johmnie clicked, just like old times.

f/n and jake threw us in the backseat. johnnie laid his head on my shoulder and i rested my head on top of his. i was nearly asleep before i was awoken by johnnie gagging loudly. "ew, what the fuck was that about?" i slurred.

"i felt like it." he laughed. i rolled my eyes and got out of the car as we parked. i dragged johnnie out behind me and gripped onto him the same way i had before.

while i was drifiting off, f/n and jake had decided theyd just stay the night at our apartment. me and johnnie were estatic about our sleepover. "why dont we just share your bed?" he smiled and laughed, making his eyes squint.

i sighed contently. "that sounds amazing. you can be my pillow." i smiled sweetly.

"of course." johnnie slurred, following me into my room.

"goodnight, lovebugs, sleep tight." f/n teased while jake ooo'd from the living room.

i laughed at her comment and laid in bed next to johnnie. he looked deeply into my eyes, looking like he had something to say but holding back. but i knew what he wanted to say, and i wanted to say it too. "i was in love with you all throughout highschool." i confessed.

"really?" his face brightened, "i was, too. theres not a day where you dont cross my mind, still." he admitted.

"me too, i was so scared to reach out. i wish you said something before we graduated." i frowned.

"me too." he whispered, his eyes flickering down to my lips then back up into my eyes. his blue eyes pierced through mine, making my insides turn to mush.

we gazed into eachothers eyes for a solid minute before i leaned in and kissed him. he immediately kissed me back, grabbing my waist and pulling me in. it was passionate and needy, making chills run down my spine. i pressed into him, wanting more. his tongue swiped my bottom lip. i ran my fingers through his hair before flipping us over and sitting on top of him. his hands carefully slid down to my ass, giving it a gentl squeeze before moving down to grip my thighs.

johnnie pulled back. "is this okay?" he asked, breathing heavily.

i nodded fast, pulling him back in. i grinded down onto his hard member, making him whimper quietly into my mouth. he began to take off my shirt, breaking the kiss long enough that i could get his off, too. i lazily unbuttoned his pants, not bothering to break the kiss. i felt his hot breath heavy on my face. i pulled his jeans down just enough so i could see his boxers.

"fuck, y/n," johnnie whispered, pulling my shorts and underwear off from under my skirt. he didnt bother removing it.

i desperately oulled his boxers down, revealing his hardened cock. i bit my lip as i looked up at him. "youre okay with this, right?"

"yes, please, i need you so bad." johnnie moaned quietly, gripping my hips as i

lined up my entrance with his tip.

i slowly began to sit, just as eager to feel him inside of me as he was. "you dont know how long ive wanted to do this, pretty boy. fuck, you feel so good." i moaned, leaning down to kiss his neck, i sucked and bit, leaving dark hickeys all over his neck and chest.

his fingertips left prints in my hips, which were most likely going to bruise in the morning but the pressure was perfect. he melted under my touch, whimpereing curses under his breath.

i sped up the pace, whispering sweet nothings in his ear. "youre so amazing," i moaned, placing my hands on his chest and tracing his tattoos.

"fuck, if you keep doing that im going to cum even quicker." he admitted, throwing his head back and biting down onto his lip.

i swiftly bounced on his cock, moaning and praises filled the room. "you fuck me so good." i tell johnnie, making his cock twitch inside of me.

"im going to cum," he whimpered and moaned, squeezing his eyes shut.

"cum with me, johnnie." i cursed under my breath.

my body tensed as i felt my stomach swirl and knot. i hit my climax, slowly riding his dick to help him ride out his high as well. he pulled out and came all over my stomach. "fuck." he said one last time, his body going limp.

i dropped down next to him, pulling the covers over our naked bodies. "i needed that so bad." i admitted before placing a soft kiss on his lips.

wrapped in eachothers arms, we slept like rocks.

[elegantsparklyllama]

Why we love Asha x Starboy

I just watched Wish, and it is because of the lack of meaningful character interaction in the movie. Aside from Asha and Magnifico, there are only so many characters to bounce off with Asha. There are 7 friends, but they're surface-level at best, with one line per character. The same goes for Sabino (Asha's grandfather), Asha's mom, and even the goat! Star in the final movie is a one-note "follow your dreams" character. There is no added dimension to these interactions, making the film feel hollow.

Giving the Star a humanoid appearance and a potential romance with Asha suddenly makes Wish more interesting. By making Star a human, writers are less likely to treat them like a random animal sidekick and more like a human character.

Meaningful character interactions give viewers something to cling to and relate to emotionally. The Disney Renaissance emphasizes romantic subplots and family conflicts for this reason. You can also find this when the main hero interacts with an animal sidekick. They provide the heart of a movie.

As a writer, I'm attracted to romance subplots because, like any relationship, they provide exciting character interactions and emotional investment. I'm beating a dead horse, but just because a princess has a romance arc doesn't mean she isn't empowered. Belle and Mulan are Disney princesses with love interests, yet they are still fully fleshed-out characters. Romance can also thematically enhance a story. Beauty and the Beast would not be the same without a romance between Belle and the Beast.

In the context of Wish, I think Asha already has an animal sidekick with the goat. She only needs one (they already have too many characters with the 7 teens). It is not that animal sidekicks couldn't be compelling characters. Mushu from Mulan is an example of creating entertaining animal sidekicks. He even has a character arc that complements Mulan, the main heroine. However, with Disney standards right now, you can't help but feel they might butcher the animal sidekicks.

Even the OG movie Snow White checks the mark for meaningful character interactions. It is not between the nameless prince and Snow White, but it is with the seven dwarves. Ironically this is where Asha's 7 friends are based off. The most important relationship of Snow White is literally in the title of her movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Unlike Wish, the reason why they can get away with 7 dwarfs is because the film is centered around the relationship between them and Snow White to avoid bloat.

It doesn't help that Asha and Magnifico themselves feel like bland cutouts. If you compare them to Disney's rosters of heroes and villains, they'd pale in comparison. They have the most interesting interactions but it feels like the bare minimum.

Whenever I look back on a movie, I remember a thought-provoking thematic beat or even a funny character interaction. Wish doesn't leave room for much. The movie feels like an amateur school play they show to grade-schoolers which is a low for Disney.

You know what's sadder?

I wish I could've had that meaningful character interaction with Asha and her grandfather, Sabino. They had something with Asha wanting to grant Sabino's wish but Sabino refused to let it be granted. In the movie, the conflict lasts for about a scene, and then it shifts to granting the wishes of everyone in Rosas.

You can see why the writers toyed with the idea of the Star Boy being a younger version of Sabino. The relationship between Sabino and Asha is the heart of the story.

This imaginary ship buried in concept art gave what the movie lacked: a heart. It is not enough to spew out inspirational messages and call people stars. One should also incorporate humanity.

I have a lot more thoughts on the story, specifically in its thematic beats but that is for another time.

[textfromthelookout]

Did you hear of the news?

I have. :(

Everyone else has their tributes so, here, a summary of my experience with Dragon Ball.

I was in fourth grade art class. A kid had the February 2005 issue of Shonen Jump, back when Shonen Jump was still physically printed here. I recognized Atem on the front cover because the Blockbuster around the corner from our house had DVDs (I think they were DVDs and not VHSs then since I distinctly remember it having a menu and special features) of some of the later episodes of Duelist Kingdom and my brother and I watched them on repeat. So I was like oh, hey, what's this? They make books of that stuff? I don't remember the conversation but the kid ended up giving me that issue, and I took it home with me.

There were a LOT of significant, groundwork things happening in that issue, now that I think about it. We were just beginning to see Sanji truly in action against Pearl. The Dark Tournament was in it's early stages still with Roto fucking around and finding out against Kurama. Sakura shears off her hair in a move that rearranged sexualities the world over. The reason Atem was on the cover was because Yu-Gi-Oh Millennium World was just debuting its first and second chapter. Bleach wasn't even serialized yet. And Dragon Ball, of course, was also there, about a hundred and fifty chapters ahead of everybody else.

Keep in mind that this was my first experience with manga, period. So my very first experience with Dragon Ball opened on this:

and ended on this:

Yeah. Truth be told, at the time Yu Yu Hakusho piqued my interest more than Dragon Ball (a guy fighting with plants? how creative!) but I never did forget these chapters. I thought the art style was so different from the others.

At some point after this, probably between several months and a year and a half, the TV happened to be on one evening when Toonami was airing Dragon Ball Z. Oh hey, I said, I recognize that art, I know those characters. So I hung around and watched some of episode 281. Two things about watching that episode stick with absolute crystal clarity in my mind to this day. Firstly: Buu choking Vegeta out with his arm freaked me the FUCK out as a child. I could not tell you why I had a fear reaction to it but hey, there you go. The second is this:

Specifically I remember 'You died once. If anything happens to you now, you won't exist anymore. There'll be nothing I can do to bring you back.' Not precisely word for word over the years, but Schemmel's tone of voice on this particular lineread. If I had to guess I'd say it was because at that point in my life, uh, death was kinda permanent? So wait, what do you mean died ONCE. Doesn't that apply to everyone?

This still wasn't enough to get me super invested in it though, it just didn't seem like something that would appeal to me that much. So a couple years go by, I don't think about it all that much, and then of course, TFS hits the scene and drops DBZ Abridged. So you know. As a shithead middle schooler with a shithead sense of humor I thought it was the best damn thing since sliced bread. (My biggest character flaw is that I still think a lot of Season 1 is genuinely funny)

And that was really the extent of my interaction with the franchise for the next several years. Say what you will about DBZA but they did manage to put it all together such that someone who had a nonexistent concept of what the original context was could grok it with not a lot of effort. Some time in high school, I think I was around 15, I decided to bite the bullet and read all the manga, as much to increase the funny factor of DBZA as sheerly for the sake of being able to say I had. Stick it to the other weebs, y'know. Now they can't say I didn't know anything about good anime. This was unfortunately at a time when all that was available online were dirty poor-quality scans and questionable translations, but read it I did. I went 'yep, that sure is about what I expected', and proceeded to get on with my life. GT came and went, I looked up and saw Battle of Gods coming out and went 'oh hey that's still a thing huh', kinda was peripherally aware of all the divisiveness of Super as it was happening, didn't really pay it much attention, just stuck to DBZA and quite a lot of wiki-ing.

And then, this time of year about three years ago now, in the middle of conversation with @prophecydungeon, Dragon Ball somehow came up. Something to do with 'Even though I'm not hugely into DBZ's story or whatever Toriyama does have some great character designs' (yes I was referring to Vegeta and Future Trunks at the time, no i will not stop being predictable, yes i am a parody of myself). They eventually brought up the DBS Broly movie and said, and i quote: 'that was a solid 1.5h of unbelievably fun and wacky animation'. Having seen the Gogeta vs Broly part of it on twitter and been like 'damn that animation's kinda off the hook actually, good for them good for them', my response was to be like. Oh word? I've got a spare hour and a half to kill, sure, fuck it, why not, time to watch DBS Broly.

I think that movie was precision crafted to hit me in the hyperfixation, if we're being honest. Opening on a solid 20 minutes of Lore and Worldbuilding and then having most of the rest of the runtime being mindless slobberknocker fun by way of some of the hardest animation flexes ever? I was done for.

In summation. I have been aware of Dragon Ball for a lot of my life, in that its presence was pervasive and enduring as I grew up. I may have been late to the game of actually wholeheartedly enjoying it, but enjoy it I do. Dragon Ball is the roots of a vast tree of anime, and in reading it I began to understand why that is. I respect it for that, and I love it for that. My current fixation may have shifted, but as far as time devoted to one individual thing goes... it took me a year and a half to watch my way through all of the anime and read all of the manga. ALL of it. So there's something good in there, I'd say.

[matthewmurdockswife]

Nick comforting you after a tough exam grade 💙🩵 (pls, I need this)

Just if you want, btw, love your blog, and work, and everything in general!! 💖

THE WAY IT ALL GOES

Nick Sturniolo x Reader Platonic

Tw: swearing, negative self talk kinda

It had been hard, You work with the triplets helping edit and when you joined university they offered to take over for a while. But you convinced them you could handle it, you had convinced yourself too. You were managing at first you had a schedule you would edit from 4-6 and then do homework or study whatever you had to do. But the work started piling up when youd finish editing there was no time to study and when you studied there was no time to edit and the threads were running thin.

“Shes been moping all day chris I know something is wrong” Nick complained to his brother “ Shes probably tired Nick just let her be”

Nick always knew you better than anyone else had he always picked up on minuscule mood changes really all the small details and its part of why you appreciated him so much so him ignoring chris advice and coming to check on you anyways wasnt a big suprise to anyone.

“Heyyy kiddo” he opened the door holding a bunch of your favourite candies and a pepsi “whats wrong” you went to open your mouth but nick cut you off “Dont lie to me I know there’s something”you sighed and unzipped your bag and pulled out The test the one you failed the one you couldnt do good enough on because you were busy. Nick sighed he set the test down and held my shoulder “I know you said you can do both and I believe you, But maybe we should focus on one, school is a lot and its going to take extra effort and time that you wont have if you’re working kid” “I dont want to freeload” he only laughed “freeload? You paid for half of this house im not sure how you’d think you’re freeloading. Y/N you do above and beyond for the three of us. You were the only one who looked after chris while he was sick. And then matt when chris gave it to him, you buy all the groceries and you always buy our favourite things even when we dont ask for them, You look out for us you take care of us and you’re always there to talk to when we need someone. You’re one of the greatest people we’ve ever met so no you’re not freeloading when you slow down to focus on school” Nick was always great at comforting he always made me feel safe and loved “ But nick i dont feel complete look at that grade” he didn’t even need to look at the paper he took my face in his hands “I dont care what any piece of paper says, No grade will define you. I love you girl and Some stupid ass little quiz wont change that” i smile softly at Nick “ I love you too” “so you promise to slow down?” He always made me laugh even if it wasn’t something particularly funny nick always found a way to make people laugh “I promise” “Good now lets go terrorize matt to take us to macdonalds”

My next grade I got back was a 96% the boys took me out to get mcflurries. I always knew that they all had my back but Nick always looked put for me in a special way, and I would forever remember the love he gave me.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// A/N

yall im tired its like 6 Am and i wanna sleep so i did not edit this im sorry pookies 🫵😔

taglist

@dwntwn-strnlo

@fenoy7

@stvrni0lo

[is1of1]

Transformers

Ok first of all its way too long but ok fine.

Secondly, Transformers would have been way better rated R for violence and cussing.

Ok. Away we go!

Optimus Prime says "An unknown world called Earth" No. An unknown planet in a distant part of the galaxy? sure. Not named. -- I completely forgot about the hacker angle! They take it so seriously! They are at DefCon OSHIT and its srsbsns. -- Shia's family is the worst. The only good part of him and his fam is the fact that Bumblebee is with him. So far. I cant actually remember a lot of details about him, which is telling ofc. -- The Hot Girl going to school with him since the first grade and not recognizing him when they currently have classes together? Please. -- Ooo they said more than meets the eye! -- Ok the way they make fun of President Bush is funny but harmless mostly. "Can you wrangle me up some ding dongs darlin?" Sir you're right there. -- Oh the hackers are catching the Decepticons stealing info. using headphones and audio feedback to detect the hack? I wonder if that is real.

"POTUS MAINFRAME" lol they deserve to be hacked Also Decepticons applies to the Autobots too, they are just 'good'. -- "We must find Ladiesman217" -- God the absolute douchebag of a cop whos asking him about what just happened with Bumblebee. Power Tripping piece of shit. -- The way the Autobots bow and defer to Optimus Prime feels a liiiiittlle too feudal. -- Chihuahua pees on the robot foot. Thats 30 seconds we arent getting back. -- Omg the MOM LOL Mom - "Sam were you masturbating?" Sam - "was I... mastur- ? no mom!" Dad - "Judy.. " Sam - "No, I dont masturbate!" LIES Dad - "Thats not something for you to bring up. Thats a father-and-son thing, OK?" Mom - "We don't have to call it that word if it makes you uncomfortable, we could call it 'Sams happy time' or.. 'my special alone time..' Dad - "stop" Mom - "...with myself. Sam - "Mom!" Mom - "Im sorry its just been a weird night. And ive had a little bit to drink" -- When Secret Goverment Prick calls the chihuahua a Taco Bell Dog it feels really racist. -- Leave Bumblebee alone! -- "What'd they get you for?" "Well, I bought a car... turned out to be an alien robot. Who knew?" -- "Theres only one way to end this war, destroy the cube!" I could be misremembering but dont they destroy the cube? and now theres like 19 movies? -- Megatron would be scarier if he was basically exactly like Optimus Prime except evil. Like in a really nice way being insane and murderous. Has lots of logical precepts that sound reasonable until the result in killing everything. -- Fighting on overpasses and elevated highways is cool and all but the old man in me is like "think of the repairs! how long it would take! just fucking make a hard left or right Optimus and take it off road!" -- Of course the girl who didnt remember Sam at the beginning is an amazing driver because reasons. -- What the fuck Hugo Weaving does Megatrons voice. -- They drop the dead decepticons into the deepest trench in ocean. Ok... but they dont appear to even like encase them in concrete first. Seems like they should? BC WHAT IF!! -- Oh, OP said More Than Meets The Eye again. And Starscream got away. The end.

[alllinesarebeautiful]

Day 425 Art meditation, August 29, 2024,

”Vote BluePaper Dress of the Tree Ring Art Heart Art Brand Bundle”

Dear You, 

Posting my “Vote Blue” paper dress for my ‘Tree Ring’ Heart Art Brand Bundle!  YAY !!!

It’s 45 days late, but I had some deep, deep stuff to go through. Lots of terrifying honesty and heavy conversations have been happening … Lots of journaling of themes I want to flesh out into book chapters …

It’s a new day. 🙏

The center art piece (much like a logo) of the Vote art is still the abstract tree ring image, but art moves and grows if I stop trying to control it so much. I try to make my idea without over-thinking and see what happens in the stage of it. I am intentionally trying NOT to be perfect.  

Even as I made this dress, I criticized my way through it. Stupid stupid stupid.  The final photos, taken by my in-house photographer G, and who forces me to laugh in the “photoshoot” with his brilliant sense of humor, came out much better than I thought it would.  

The main ideas that I want to convey is what happens to our heart-spaces WHEN we make any kind of art, 

or when we speak up for ourselves, 

or when we vote towards love, 

or when we vote with our Hearts, not our Egos,

or and when we have the courage to stand up for BLUE truth and justice - 

is that our very fragile inner heart space becomes STRONGER, and new ideas come in. 

Love and art creates beautiful things our minds could never have imagined!

The whole point of the Blue Wave right now is to make LOVE bigger. 

And for everything else, let God handle it. And if you don’t believe in God, then all I know is that there will come a moment in your life when you have to face yourself. Honesty has a way of catching up with us…

Two days ago I felt PURE JOY for about 2 minutes. TWO. Although, I will add, last night I made an entire 3 jokes in one night, in part thanks to the big glass of wine, but the fact that I made G laugh so hard, is proof they were good jokes. He only laughs when something is seriously funny. My usual joke rate is once a month, so was this a surge of healing??

This surge of joy made me ponder, I don’t think we know how MUCH we normalize being SUBDUED and JOYLESS.

I want the paper dress to remind us all that there is more joy, love and beauty. No hoarding is necessary. It just isn’t.

If all the men in the world who are creating war-separation-divide, would INSTEAD pick up a glue stick and colorful paper and a scissors, what a different world we would live in. 

This should be a requirement if you want to get into politics. Art has a way of leveling the playing field. Art has a way of reducing your ego, especially since it is one arena where there really are no rules. If you set out to be GREAT, art has a way of having its own will and taking you down a notch. 

For example, I remember when I took my only (blissful) oil painting class at Goshen College as an elective, in a dreamy art department which was a big sunny loft. My final project was to paint “like” an artist I admired. I picked Henri Matisse, and wanted to paint something like his Blue Nude.

What came out was so hideous. I remember being shocked, because some of Matisee’s art looks so easy to recreate / copy, I thought I would easily be able to recreate the joy Matisse creates in my heart. I still got a 90% grade, but I thought that was generous. It took a serious notch out of my ego. I wish I still had it and could show you. 

The point, which I get now, and I could not understand 35 years ago, is that we ARE as unique as the art and heart-ideas that come with each of us. So, again, no stealing, or dominating, or hoarding is necessary. 

My father loved the hideous stuff I made for that art class, plus the 2 art classes I took in high school. A few years ago I threw it all away, which is a shame, I realize now, but that’s my critical brain at work!

Now that this first paper dress is done, I can feel a kind of contentment, which I always try to remember this feeling and not let my sticky mind go backwards. Heart-space expansion!

Sending oodles of love,

Anne ◎

Ⓒ 2024 Anne Hunsicker | All Lines Are Beautiful. All rights reserved.

[vethsoddities]

Hold Me Like a Grudge

Summary: Ted Sankpoffski Holds A Grudge Against Stephanie Lauter For What She Had to Do In Cool As I Think I Am reprise

CW: Spoilers for NPMD and mentions of what Steph having to do in the moments after the summoning and during In Cool As I Think I Am reprise and mentions of canon things and spoilers for nightmare time 1 Time Bastard(kinda) Ted and Steph get into a argument

Master List

Credit 1:The idea was given to me by @veeicecream screenshot at the end of this post to see the idea

Credit 2:I took the white streak idea from @capriciouslyterminal with permission of corse

Credit 3: To me my idea of Duke Keane and Miss Holloway taking in Steph and teaching her how to bake and Steph working at mode Retro’s which is getting its own fic soon which is a technical part one of this story that on how Holloway and Duke took in Steph

remember requests are open and I evey so often rp if anyone wants to and I’m always looking for proofreaders if you are interested DM me if I messed up anywhere let me know the prequel to this coming at some point this took me long enough as it is lol I suck at endings lol

Ted Spankoffski was acutely aware of Eldrich away’s of the boring town of Hatchetfield, How couldn’t he when the local homeless man looked exactly like him but 50 years older than him and Pete, and how during the honey festival anyone crowned Honey Queen goes missing afterward even if there was reasoning to why the Honey Queen was no longer there in Hatchetfield. Or how so many people go missing every day and how most of the people in town seemed to always have a case of mass hysteria and blame each other like they were in a trial in a courtroom.

For example, in the recent murders of three Hatchetfield High students two out of three were Pete’s best friends Richie Lipschitz and Ruth Fleming and the third was Maxwell Jägerman Pete’s bully for years now since the fourth grade which from what Ted had seen for two weeks Pete seemed happier after Max went missing. Pete was even talking about Stephaine Lauter the mayor’s daughter and how she thought he was funny he even changed his outfit which was a tapestry of his trauma he dropped the bow tie and suspenders for her. 

 Ted approved of the new outfit maybe that was because he gave Pete the sweater a while back even if it didn’t follow the idea of picking an outfit and sticking with but, but sometimes change is good. Though he never moved on from Jenny he didn’t know where she was at all but where Jenny was he hoped she was safe. 

Speaking of being safe Ted sat in his apartment with his head in his hands in disbelief across him was his younger brother Pete was talking to him about some eldrich beings called The Lords In Black and Max Jägerman coming back from the dead which Ted didn’t know what to believe but he was wanting to hear him out. “After we went to the school which is one of many of the black alters and with the black book to summon The Lord’s In Black and the only way we could stop Max. Was one of us had to give up what we Cherish Above All Else,” Pete started as he looked at Ted whose head was still in his hands.

“And for a moment Steph was the one to do it from what one of them said she was lying to herself about what it was before one of them told Steph that,” Pete paused for a moment as he started to quote Wiggog Y'Wrath while trying his best to copy his voice “You can lie to yourself but not to me, think about it” after quoting Wiggog Y'Wrath Pete did his normal voice as he continued to tell Ted the whole story “When Steph Realized what he meant one of The Lords in Black had his hand on my hair said something like  ‘ah their he is’ that had me confused until I realized myself what he meant, which let me tell you having an eldrich being touch you is fucking terrifying. That thing even left a white streak in my hair which I honestly don’t know how to feel about it but Steph said she likes it and thinks it cool so that means that it has to be cool if she thinks then it must be,” Pete said trailing off topic for a moment. 

Ted was about to say something when  Pete got back on topic and  continued to speak “The whole time before and after Maylor Lauter brought us to the witchwood to get the black book Steph had a gun on her,” when Ted heard mention of a gun he looked up at Pete and cut him off to say “A fucking are you Serious Pete, Please don’t tell me this is going where I think is going.” 

To which the teen gave his brother a look and nodded his head and continued to speak before Ted could speak again 

“We didn’t have a choice at that moment, Ted it was either I die or the whole damn world did and I wanted to be cool this time and take the bullet, Ted don’t be mad at Steph she didn’t have a choice as I said and I’m still alive because of  Max stopping the bullet and Grace having sex with a fucking  ghost.” 

Ted had a Scowl on his face hearing that Stephanie Lauter the former Mayor’s daughter almost Sacrificed his younger brother screw the fact the world would have been doomed because of his living. Ted couldn’t even think of being i n a world without his nerdy little brother in  it 

“No Pete I think I will be mad at her hell I'm even holding a grudge against her she got you in trouble for cheating and she’s the reason Max beat you up and she almost fucking killed you and you expect me not to be mad or hold a grudge then you’re damn wrong Pete” Ted looking at Pete Scowl still on his face but it wasn’t directed towards Pete at all. Pete just sighed “I understand where you’re coming from Ted but we didn’t have a choice and I hope you know Steph would never hurt me on purpose and I hope someday you’ll understand that Ted.” With that, the Conversation between the brothers ended.

Over the course of a week after learning Stephaine had almost killed Pete, anytime Steph came over to Ted’s apartment to hang out with Pete she notched the looks Ted threw her way and the snide remarks that she got thrown her way from the elder Spankoffski. Though the remarks were never as harmful as her Father's were Ted was a sleazeball with a grudge but he was respectful to her he heard from Pete by accident what Solomon was like to her and he wouldn’t insult her too badly but he isn’t above being an asshole.

Eventually, the next time Steph came over was after she made brownies with Duke Keane and Miss. Holloway in Miss Retro’s.She had even brought hot chocolate that she also made at Miss Retro’s for Pete she’d rather make it herself or buy it from Starbucks.

Don’t get Steph wrong she’s all for supporting small businesses, But seeing as at Beanies they take forever for getting the order and spit into the drinks in general or if you’re a tad bit rude about not getting your order. Steph will always remember how Pete yelled in Beanies about not getting his hot coffee and how the barista spits in it she’d rather not get it from there.

But she also always liked Miss. Retro’s better because of how understanding and nice Miss. Holloway was to people than the baristas at Beanies were. Maybe she was a little biased on that account of liking Miss. Retro’s because she’s working there until she graduates and gets back on her feet. But that’s another story for another day.

The next time Steph came over was with brownies and hot chocolate like I said before was made with Miss. Holloway and Duke. So when she got to the apartment she knocked on the door and waited for it to open which it did but instead of Pete it was Ted “Hey Spankoffski senior I brought brownies and hot chocolate for Pete can I come in because it’s freezing out here” it was late October which was starting to get colder out.

Ted rolled his eyes and said “Sure come in sycophant make yourself at home and I’m not that old I’m 35 ” Ted muttered and then yelled “Pete your girlfriend’s here with a few things” After a second of Ted’s glaring at her Pete came out of his room and smiled wide at Steph.

“Hey,” Pete said starting to talk as he walked over to Steph “Steph you didn’t have to bring me anything at all” Steph smiled “Well Pete I did anyways plus Miss. Retro helped me make these” Stephanie said lifting her hand that had a dessert box with Miss—Retro’s Dinner logo on it.

“I also made you hot chocolate because I’d rather not give you a drink that the crappy barista at Beanies spits in,” Steph said Ted despite the fact he has a grudge against her agreed with Stephanie on that fact. He knew Emma was crabby he’d seen it himself and yet how co-worker and friend Paul liked her.

Steph gave Pete his hot Chocolate that wasn’t hot or cold it was warm which was just right to drink and Pete wouldn’t have to wait to drink it. After Pete Took the hot chocolate Steph handed him the brownies and he went to put the brownies in the kitchen.

Stephanie in general had enough of Ted’s snide remarks toward her Stephanie decided to confront him upfront about it when Pete wasn’t close enough to hear so she took the chance to confront Ted here and now. So she took the chance to speak to Ted

“I have a question Ted what the fuck did I ever do to you Ted to make you hate me enough to make snide remarks around me” Steph looked him in the eyes as she spoke “Because whatever I did please tell me so we can get over this whole irksome indifferent’s.”     

Ted looks back at Steph and lets out a harsh sigh “Alright i will we’re do I start you almost shot Pete and then acted like it’s nothing and causing nothing but trouble for Pete since you started to talk like how you caused him to get beaten,” Ted continues as he stares at Stephanie done

“And even summoned fucking Eldredge beings called the lords in black and one of them touched him which caused a white streak in his hair” Ted wasn’t going to hold back on what he was saying as he continued to speak. Steph looked at him with a sight shocked expression realizing what this was all about the snide remarks and comments that were aimed towards her.

It took her a moment to speak “Is that what this is about?” Steph said her brows furrowed as she looked at Ted a be it a little hurt “Yes that is what all of this is about Stephanie you act so alienating yourself from showing how you feel,”

“It seems like you don’t give a damn about shooting at my brother to save the whole damn world, and not because of you he only lived because of fucking Grace Chasity of all people.” Ted’s tone was one of anger and indifference towards Steph as the scowl Ted tended to get when angered or annoyed was etched onto his face.

Steph raised a brow and asked “Really? Is that why you hate me honestly I don’t blame you for that I don’t, but you know it was an impossible situation, you know there wasn't a lot of options, so what do you want from me!” Stephanie’s tone was a defensive one.

Ted took a breath and admitted “Yeah there weren't many options, but that's my baby brother, that's all I have And I almost lost him and I never would have known why. It isn't logical or rational to be pissed because I am.”

Ted and Steph sat in silence ending the conversation and the silence tension went painfully slow for a moment before it dawned on the two of them that Pete hadn’t come back yet from putting the hot chocolate on the counter that Steph brought for him. Almost as if it was on queue the sound of something dropping alerted both Steph and Ted.

Steph quickly got up and rushed to the kitchen beating Ted there before he could. Where the sound came from was from the kitchen Ted followed after to check on Pete in case he passed out from low blood sugar.

When Steph rushed into the Kitchen she saw Pete drop one of the hot chocolates she brought. Pete was panicking and Steph’s brows furrowed in concern “Pete? Are you okay can you hear me?” Steph asks knowing that he isn’t good but she thinks she might as well ask him.

Through panicked breaths, Pete looked up at Steph “Steph?” Pete asks his eyesight blurred by tears “Yeah Pete it’s me I’m going to need you to breathe with me okay can you do that?” Steph asks walking to Pete.

Pete nods as he feels Steph put a hand on his shoulder as she tells him to take a deep breath in which he does and then out. After awhile Pete is a bit more calm as Steph tells him to do ‘54321’ he starts to list enter off. “Hey how about we get you into the living room for you to have a seat would you like Pete?” Pete nods as Steph takes his hand and starts to walk back to the living room.

Ted seeing them move steps out of the way side eyeing Steph but with a less aggressive more softened seeing how She handles Pete with such care and compassion. This causes him a moment of trying to fathom how Steph was willing to shoot at Pete but seeing the caring and loving expression with care and understanding for Pete the look she held when she looked at Pete.

It reminded him of Jenny and himself. especially when Jenny did the same thing for him when he had a panic attack in college. He loved Jenny more than a friend but he never got to tell her seeing as she moved to Clivesdale before he got to. The more Ted stared at both Steph and Pete as they talked Pete seemed more calm than he was before.

As the time bastard watches the pare he starts to realize he missed judged Steph. Ted knows that if he had to shoot Jenny to save the world he’d would be especially to keep Pete safe. As he came to that realization he felt bad but he wouldn’t say it out loud at least not right now not in front of Pete.

Ted noticed Steph looked over at him her brows furrowed in confusion trying to pin out why Ted was staring. When he noticed Ted’s gaze had softened more he gave Steph a nod of approval and a scent promise that they’d talk about this later. When Steph got the nod of approval from Ted she had a small smile forming on her face.

Despite the irksome indifference that is sightly still there between Stephanie and Ted at the end of the day the two of them care for each other. Even if Ted still holds the grudge he has towards Stephanie it’s now softened as he slowly understands why she had to nearly sacrifice Pete for the sake of the world.

[schoolchaos]

Long, long time ago, back when I had drama class against my will and didn't know I was actually meant to be a theater kid, we were told to perform a monologue in front of the class. I, with my strong dislike of public speaking, dreaded this assignment, of course.

We were told to choose or write a monologue and that it could be in whatever form we wanted (poems, paragraphs, songs, etc.) as long as the performance was within the time limit and was school appropriate.

I was in a poetry phase at the time and decided that since they're short and easy to remember because of the rhymes, I would just choose one I had already written which was a hate letter to Valentines day because its a poor excuse for chocolate, flowers, and teddy bear companies to make money (just celebrate your loved ones every day, come on people). And my friends were all encouraging me to do it because it was bitter and kinda funny which I think is basically my entire personality.

However, I ended up second guessing myself and didn't wanna do the poem because of the risk of someone thinking I got my heart broken recently or something. Also it felt like something I'd struggle performing because I'd be too focused on panicking and trying to remember than actually remembering, like, I had trouble performing it just for my friends with the paper in front of me lol, I could not do it in class from memory.

So I decided, fuck the poem.

And wrote a small paragraph from the perspective of a person who was called up to perform despite their dislike for public speaking... Sound familiar?

My friends liked the idea again because it was pretty much me going up there and going "I hate this assignment, can I sit back down please, I'm going to cry" while playing it off as "Im just really in character, yknow? Method acting or something."

And my teacher said something like "a monologue about how you dont want to do a monologue... Points for creativity." and he gave me a decent grade. All for the low, low price of the ability to breath!

I could 100% be a perfect actor as long as all my roles are constantly terrified, sweating, and stuttering!

[riveramorylunar]

The pit’s fire was all the warmth Y/N needed that night. It was bright enough to scare the darkness away and what could bother to hide in it.

Its fire that it held in stone and dying wood, would bring life to her face. The defined features feeling the graze of its heat as it speckled its spotlight on her and her crew of four.

It was just the small group of friends that invited the girl to go camping with them.

A particular blonde would be the reason for that though. “So, Y/N, we normally don’t see you a lot lately. It’s like you’ve become a hermit.”

Steve Rogers would say with a small awkward smile as he sat next to you in his blue and red camping chair that would squeak every so often when he moved. “Oh-, it’s just because of homework and other school stuff you know? It’s been keeping me busy and stuck up in my room.”

Y/N replied to her classmate and friend while waving a small hand gesture as she talked.

“And, um- well you know finals too! Things need to be turned in and graded before the due date because you know… um- graduation.”

She said partially lying. She actually was trying to get things turned in so her grades looked as nice as a straight line of hammered nails in a block of wood. But to be more truthful, she was mostly binge watching horror movies all over again. Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street, all the Halloween movies, Trick or Treat, all the old classics!

“Huh, you could have just done a study group with us.”

He would simply say while gesturing to Bucky, Natasha and Wanda who were just having a conversation until his words interrupted them causing the spotlight to be on the girl who was just trying to enjoy the night without disturbance.

“Well—“

Y/N dragged the “L” in her one worded speech as she scratched the back of her neck while avoiding the glances.

“Steve, leave her alone. She probably wanted privacy from your chattering mouth.”

Bucky interrupted with a small smirk as his comment made Steve’s ears as red as an elf’s.

“Do I really chatter that much?”

Steve asked while leaning back in his seat causing another squeak to be heard. That thing was too old, like him, himself but in the mind. “Yes.” Was the simple answer that spewed out of everyone’s mouth. “Roger, not to be rude but sometimes when we’re studying you’ll mumble for hours on how we should be on task and how important this project is without even starting it.”

Natasha spoke while crossing her legs to eat a Marshmallow that was almost burnt to the crisp, but in her words. “It was better that way, crisp outside and gooey inside is the way to go.” Her words repeated in Y/N’s head for a second from earlier.

As her mind was having a small relapse. Her closed off brain would return once it heard bloody murder but it was just Wanda when she looked up quickly. Natasha had flung a small leaf that resembled a dead bug at her. The laughter in the air was intoxicating and she would soon suck it all in too causing a small laugh to escape her lips that played a small smile at Wanda. She was her horror buddy and from her looks she gave Y/N earlier would say she probably already knew what she was doing the entire time up in her room which is honestly understandable because a small horror break isn’t a bad thing. She just wished Y/N invited her along, which will cause a long conversation in the car once the group starts to head back tomorrow in the morning. “Okay- okay, I’m sorry Nat!”

Wanda said with laughter being her oxygen now.

“Do not steal my marshmallow again!”

Natasha said with a pout playing on her face that made it more funny. “It’s not my fault you have to make such good marshmallows-“

Which was a lie because Y/N clearly remembered how Wanda had a small fight with Natasha on what was the proper way to cook with marshmallows for a food drive when they were making small sweet desserts. While the argument began, Y/N would hear something behind her... It was only the wind she thought, but the heavy breathing didn’t sound like the screeching wind. Gloved hands would grab at her shoulders which caused her to scream from her throat like a rooster at day. The laughter for Wanda soon became Y/N’s as Steve let go of her shoulders and took off the bloody hockey mask.

“And I thought you weren’t afraid of scary things-“

Steve’s chuckle caught in every word as he sat back down causing another damn squeak. “Ya, I’m not when it’s in movies, jackass.”

She said while punching his shoulder. “Don’t tell me you brought that damn mask.”

Bucky said while glancing back at him. “It was for the scare but you know how I like to get when I tell stories. Especially scary ones.”

Steve said while scraping his fingertips against the rough markings of the “old mask” he probably bought from the dollar store. Bucky never liked scary things for a guy like him which was completely fine. It was just shocking kinda from how he dressed and acted but there’s a surprise to everyone. “Well, since you brought it. Go on and tell the tale of the poor girl who died here.”

Wanda said while sitting up to have her full attention on Steve as he was the best to tell these types of things. “Well perfect timing, I need to go take a piss so I’m out of here.”

Bucky announced while standing up, the fire making it easier to see his fake arm. “Gross, you don’t have to announce it every single time whenever you need to take a piss Bucky.”

Nat said with a cringe expression that strained over her pale face. “Well I’m sorry, I’ll go use the “powder” room.”

He mocked as there was no bathroom unless you wanted to walk far to the community one, which no one wanted to do at this time, this dark.

Y/N rolled her eyes at them before nudging Steve to continue. “Go on, I want to hear this one.”

She said while sitting up a little straighter.

“Well, we all know the well known fact that this place used to be an old boot camp, that’s why you can find so many old cabins and obstacle courses.

It’s said a girl was dropped off here by her father on the first day of summer. Her name was Maria and was said to be the only girl there causing her to be toyed with by the boys. She shocked most of them on what she could do and how much strength she already had, but that didn’t stop some from picking on her.”

He explained while he lifted the mask up to rest against his chin. “They would push her in mud, pick fights with her, frame her about things that she didn’t do. All the high school bully shit one could go through. They tried to make it hell for Maria at the point she would leave, but she couldn’t.”

Steve said while gesturing with his broad hands that waved in the cool air around them. “It was seven weeks stuck at the boot camp when they were practicing with real grenades for the training course that week. Grant, one of the kids at the boot camp, would invite her towards the lake with a small group of friends he had. Of course she wouldn’t oblige until he mocked her, calling her a coward. With a sharp glare she would follow him to prove what he said was wrong. When they made it they managed to gather extra grenades somehow. They would be throwing them in the big lake to create giant explosions of water that were too far for any superior officer to hear or notice. Grant would give Maria a grenade and invited her to throw one. She didn’t like the waste in supplies and she could tell it was a waste of fish too as she saw the corpses of scales and fish eyes in the gloomy water. Without her knowledge, Grant gave her one without the pin. As she held it she was about to give it back to him before all of sudden the boy pushed her in the lake. The bomb exploded as she hit the water!”

He would say loudly as he stood up for a dramatic effect. As if on queue, a loud snap in the trees would alert the three. “That was probably Bucky coming back, or just an animal.”

Wanda would say with a small chuckle as she combed her hand through her long hair. They would go back to the haunting tale, but Y/N’s eyes lingered in the darkness, hoping something would reveal itself but nothing did. Probably a bird… she thought.

“Anyway- heh Um.. she was said to have died from drowning in the water, but it’s said a lightning strike is what brought her back to life as it flowed through the lake’s body.

Pulling herself out of the lake she would have lost part of her hand, face, she was atrocious to look at! Walking back with more strength than a bear she would break through the cabin doors and revenge herself by killing Grant and his friends…

It’s said she covers her face with a hockey mask that Grant had as a trophy, but others say it’s a reminder of that night.

It’s said if you visit here, you have a chance to find her roaming the old camp grounds, waiting for her father to return and to chase anyone who stays…”

Steve said while placing the mask on his face.

“Okay this story is kinda bulshit- Where did the lighting strike come from all of sudden? how did it bring her back to life?”

Natasha spoke as she leaned back into her red camping chair.

“I don’t know, it was just a part of the story when I was told it.”

Steve explained while Y/N rolled her eyes. “Clearly you never read Frankenstein.”

She said, making Wanda snicker a little.

As they all spoke they would hear footsteps following along branches and leaves that covered the pathway.

“Finally Bucky, how long does it-“

Wanda’s words were interrupted by a plastic arm being thrown in the middle of the group, landing in the fire. If you looked closely enough they could see the specks of red dripping from its melting surface. “Holy fucking shit- Bucky are you insane?!”

Nat would spew words out fast as she stood up looking behind her. She wasn’t met with Bucky’s eyes, different blue irises would stare back- but she wouldn’t know that for now until the figure grew closer. As their footsteps grew louder, their stances would be more frozen in place. A dark mask, weathered and old would show itself in the tinted lighting of orange from the fire. “Ohh- good prank guys! Come on Steve tell Bucky to quit it.”

Nat spoke with some sarcasm as Wanda stepped back a little. “N-Nat, that’s not Bucky!”

Steve yelled but his warning was too late. A hammer would smash against her body’s ribcage. The feeling of her bones crunching and shattering in her would let a scream out through her throat and coughs that burned without a breath of air in between.

Natasha’s body fell in front of them against the dirt ground. One hit wasn’t enough as the steel block beated the body until the squirms and gasping was over like a bug being squished.

As the killer of Natasha was standing back to their full height, Steve would force himself on them. Pushing them to the ground as his hand reached for the hammer. “Run, …Run!”

His words loud and heavy as Y/N and Wanda ran into the forest without a thought on her mind as it was already filled and intoxicated with confusion and fear that crawled among their skin. Y/N could hear the blonde’s screams from afar as the beating of steel and flesh meat would echo to ears that were blocked by palms to hide away from the horrific noise. As they ran Wanda’s eyes would widen and reflect the hanging Bucky against tree branches. The murder scenes from horror movies didn’t prepare her eyes to see the unrecognizable body of her friend.

Y/N would pull the frozen Wanda along by her wrist until the heavy breathing of a woman would come closer. Calloused hands gripping the wrist of the brunette would force a whimper out of her lips as they pulled her closer to them harshly. If it wasn’t for the killer’s strength, Wanda would have had a chance at running away if it hadn’t for the harsh pull of her arm that yanked the humérus from its socket. The yank would force her face into the bloody hammer.

The sprinkle of blood sprayed against Y/N’s face lightly caused a sickness to dawn on her and a feeling that made her mouth gape open but nothing would come out but noises of squeaks and words that couldn’t escape her vocals completely. Y/N’s hands covering her face as if it was to hide and be safe, to not see the dull eyes that were hooded through the creases of a mask she could barely see from the darkness. Y/N could hear the breathing, but couldn't feel the heat of a body that would normally radiate off of someone. But it was only a guess and a need to be safe that she swung her fists towards the tall being. Eyes still closed she would hear a small grunt and groan before the sound of an object hit the dirt ground that crackled dying leaves.

E/C eyes would meet the face that flourished at moonlight. Only a small examination would tell her the anger that she felt around this woman she saw. Even if a third of her face was blown off and the rest scarred wouldn’t stop her from seeing the clenched jaw and the creased brow that hung above the eye. It came to realization that this… was Maria from the boot camp tale.

As it finally strikes Y/N’s head she would be pushed against a tree’s bark that pierced her back through thin fabric.

“I’m going to murder you.”

The heavy breath that followed along with words that rasped out of cut lips and clenched teeth. The heaving body in front of her was like an animal’s.

The shock of this reveal was too overwhelming for the body as Y/N couldn’t utter a word out, and if she tried it would only be a cry that would be barely auditable. Maria would drop her hammer to the ground and grab the woman by her neck to rise from the soil and beat her back against the tree harshly one more time. As bony hands choke Y/N out of oxygen that her lungs died to inhale, so would her vision as it became a blur of tears and how light headed she became. Y/N’s hands would give a fighting chance and scratch at the muscled arms and hands but her nails digging into spoiled skin wouldn’t harm or disturb this psychopath.

But she wasn’t strong enough, and the loss of air didn’t help much either. Her hands giving out and only settling against the wrists of Maria.

Sight becoming vivid, would make the killer’s face a blur, only recognizing those glacier eyes before it became a blank canvas.

When Maria noticed the squirming stopped she would have dropped her body on the crud, grassy ground. Leaving a light thump to be heard.

“Jesus…”

Maria muttered through her lips as she held Y/N’s figure close to her body beneath the blankets on the couch. Her eyes would squint at the scenes being performed before her. She wasn’t really scared but rather disturbed by how violent someone could create a character. “What, scared you?”

Y/N asked with a cocky grin as she leaned her head up to see her girlfriend. “No- not at all- just surprised. It’s not like those other movies we watched. It’s more graphic.”

“Ya.That's why this one is a yes and no for me.

Hey- you know what it’s almost Halloweennn, you could dress up as her!”

Y/N spoke with a smile towards Maria only causing her to chuckle and shake her head. “Hmph, no way in hell.”

“Come on.. please?”

Y/N only needed to ask once with her pleading eyes. It made Maria chuckle and sigh. “Fine- fine, you win Princess.”

Her response made her girlfriend’s eyes become stars as she started to fan over the idea of Maria dressing up as a horror character. “Yesss, it would be perfect! You look so much like her too.”

Y/N would explain excitedly as Maria placed an arm over her shoulder on the couch. Her glacier eyes would slowly glance back at the hammer that was kicked under the small night table’s wooden figure that displayed itself near the front door.

“Ya… I would.”

HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!!

This was absolutely amazing 😩🤌 I swear I couldn't stop smiling and giggling. Absolutely insane!!! I love it so much thank you thank you thank you for sharing this awesome piece of work 🥹🙏

Serial Killer Maria Hill might be my new favorite Maria Hill variant thanks to you buddy!!

[gayerthanevertbh]

Hi, u can call me l. I'm a Jap Filo who is currently living in Japan. A Carol stan and im new here.

I dont know how thise eorks but i usually read in ao3 and i saw people under comments that they interact eith the suthors more in tumblr so i msde one. And I happedn to came across your fic called: lights, camera, action only because i saw your icon which is natsha in bun and if I may ask are you planning to continue it?

I actually did experience the same thing as yours and I am really sorry you had to go through that. But mine was a lot different because it happened mostly online, I don't know how to put it but yeah. I was sent photos, videos, we made calls, she made me do things and have it sent to her online, I experienced it with my teacher in 7th grade; my Mom found out when we were about to migrate in Japan. We went to court once before I flew here and I actually forgot everything about it. But when I was in 10th grade evrything crashed back to me, I strted getting scared going to school also bullies here in Japan are worst. so I decided to work, I stopped studying.

Last year christmsd we flew back to the ph and the first news I got when I stepped in our van was I have to be attend a hearing because their side knew we were going back in home. I nver thought that the case was still on going after how many years. She even messaged me to show up in hearing, that she's sorry, she's building a family now and is 2 months pregnant and that at some point we have to put an end to it she said

But you know what? Nothing happened, I lost. My Mom couldn't pay the lawyer anymore and I had to go back here in Japan before the hearing could actually happen. I was so devastated, I only wanted her license to be revoked so she couldn't teach anymore. And ivee heard a lot of casesone from my friend back there in ph that if the teacher was caught or like reported harassing a student their license wouldn't be taken from them instead the school would just kick them out (it can be taken if the school are doing their job but gues what? Its Philippines. The system is fucked up, the justice is nowhere to be found if you lay under the lowest hierarchy). And funny thing my friend said, after they were kicked out they would always settle in the provinces there in PH, which I found very accurate because I found out that she moved in a suburban province in ph, i yhink its pampanga.

I could still remember how I lied being sick one sunday afternoon, my family are going to church that time so they left me to rest but I sneaked out and went to her place.

And also, the pandemic made much more worst. I started questioning everything, everything I receive and everything I feel. I remember saying, 'I love you' to her and the fact that when I went to the first hearing to find that I couldn't hate her. My cousins were explaining to me that it was wrong, she did something bad to me, but to me it was right it felt right. I never understood how court hearing lawyers works before but when I saw her I knew she has been crying, I could still remember her eyes fuck her look tht time it was the worst state of hers that I had ever seen and I knew from then that I want it to stop so I pleaded for my Mom not to go through the case and flying to Japan made me think that everything was finally over she wouldn't suffer anymore and so do I.

I even tried messaging one last time using the new account my Mom made me which she also had accessed that time, I risked it all but I never found her account it was already deleted i think

I never went to therapy, my Mom never sent me to one and I actually don't know if it'll help. But my friends in ph asked me to go to one and i also been working so i am considering it for a while and ive been also foing sh lately iwant yo go back yo school but my family back in ph eont let me.

I don't know why am I sharing this to you im actually crying while writing this. Because you know what? Until now, I still couldn't figure it out. Half of me still thinks that that was love and it's msking me sick that i was glad we werent able to bring everything back again in the court i fuvking hate it.

I don't know maybe i just wanted to find out your story, how your story went how you overcame everything. The freedom i would never feel.

I font know how this works i wish i could really talk to you.

I'm reall sorry

hi, i read through your message over and over again and im truly sorry. you have no idea how devastated i am for you, and i wish i could even hug you. please feel free to message me, talk to me if you want. im all ears for you. 🤍

[blazehedgehog]

Thoughts on South Park?

It's weird to think that South Park has been going for so long that I was in Elementary School (in Colorado!) when it premiered. I remember standing out in the snow waiting for the teacher to open the class room in 4th grade, complaining about how my nose was so cold it had gone numb, in between kids quoting Cartman and screaming "THEY KILLED KENNY!!"

That was probably something like 25 years ago. My Mom told me I was too young to watch it at the time, and I was. But you can't help it when the kids with looser parents are constantly telling you about it on the playground.

South Park has had lots of ups and downs over that time period. I never really got in to the show. Every time I tried, its humor was too abrasive and edgy to be anything that really hooked me over a long-term period. As it turns out, "Everything sucks and we hate everybody equally" isn't actually very funny, at least not to me.

And it's created a particular breed of Joker who embraces the show's ideals. People can say that Eric Cartman was always supposed to be the ultimate angry loser, but he's also been the one on the most merchandise and is generally the one under the spotlight the most often. There are a lot of people out there who think he's actually supposed to be cool and is just "telling it like it is," even when the show intentionally makes him toxic, or racist, or a bigot. It's seen as a form of empowerment. That's not great!

So much of that show has made so many people on this earth miserable. It has spearheaded campaigns of real hatred in this nation and gets to hide behind the excuse of cynical comedy when clearly some people see it less as a joke and more as a rallying cry for their destructive views. South Park didn't invent hate speech, but it definitely created a path to push for hate speech acceptance.

Nowadays, whenever I happen to see a clip of South Park, its brand of cynicism seems so sad. The show probably costs pennies to make -- there's a whole documentary about how they manage to turn an episode around in under a week, and there have even been instances where they have done episodes in just a day or two. Which is probably the reason its still on the air. There's a group of people who have been watching this show every week for most of their adult lives and its just a habit for them, and the costs are low enough that they'll keep making it forever.

But, like, there was a thing trending on twitter last week, because I guess there was an episode where Cartman had to use the restroom at school, but something was wrong with the boys room, so he threw on a cute bow and claimed to be transgender so he could use the girls bathroom.

And it felt so lame and boilerplate. It reminds me of that Eric Andre monologue where he makes fun of edgy 90's comedy. Every time I see earnestly edgy commentary like that I think about the smash zoom on Eric's face where he rips the parental advisory sticker off his mouth and goes "OH I'M SAYIN' IT." It makes me laugh to think there are people for whom this is their actual personality.

I suppose the real truth is I grew up in the world South Park said exists and it did not turn me in to a bitter, cynical monster who only wants to laugh at how much the world is burning.

[theresnohopelivinghere]

The Journal of Emme Walker, May 2019

If you walk the streets at night in Hope, there will be no hope for you.

My grandparents used to tell me that all the time when I was a little girl.  Even from a young age, I never took it seriously.  I was a prideful child.  I thought I was invincible and that nothing could take me down.  That’s probably why my mom, bless her heart, had such a hard time coming to terms with my rampant curiosity and my thirst for adventure.  But my grandparents would not be deterred from scaring some sense into me.

The thing about rural towns is that people love to make up stories about them to make them seem more interesting or just to pass the time.  Hope is no different.  It was once an out-of-the-way town out by the sea, in the middle of nowhere.  I’m talking about dusty roads, ample farming, spotty local transportation, stores that looked like they came straight out of a black-and-white film, and older residents living the last of their lives in the one place they’ve always called “home”.  

It used to be that I’d just spend my summers there with my grandparents, helping out with their garden while partaking of the harvest.  But after my dad died, my mom moved back there and I went to school there from grades 4 to 6.  We moved before the development push.  She was offered a cushy job in a city she'd always wanted to live in that would allow the two of us to live comfortably into the foreseeable future.  A get-out-of-rural-jail card, if you will.

Seriously. According to her, it was our one escape out of a town that had proven itself to be anything but idyllic. If she hadn't taken it...well, things would be very different.

She's not a fan of me going back there to interview people for my dissertation. Which is funny because growing up, she'd tell off my grandparents whenever they'd tell me all the stories about all the terrible monsters that lurked within the town of Hope. All the old folks in town had their own stories about what happened to children if they stayed out too late at night or didn't trust their intuition.  Mom didn't believe in using scary stories to ensure that kids behaved themselves.  She told me that if she wanted me to behave myself and be a good girl, she’d just say so.  But my grandparents wouldn’t listen.  They insisted on me telling me these tales so that I could protect myself. Because there were too many instances of children who disappeared because they weren't warned properly.

I'm glad they did. Mom won't admit it, but she's glad, too. And yet here I am, on my way back to that town, ready to hear the stories of the children who didn't escape from the elders that still remain. Hope may be different now - young families moved in to take their place and brought with them the promise for gentrification. Shopping, entertainment, the town holds its own.  The local elementary school is top notch and so is the high school. There’s train service that links up to the other parts of town as well as the bigger cities, and paved roads that get you to the highway system.  You can go everywhere now.

And yet...

I know studying modern folklore and urban legends in the town of her birth won't get me a cushy job in a corporate office but this is something I want to do. Have to do, even. The tale of a seaside town plagued with paranormal activity, rumored to be once started by and controlled by a mysterious cult who swore allegiance to malicious entity who has been around since time immemorial until one they just disappeared - it's all very juicy stuff.

I’m not sure what I'm doing with all this. Why I'm going back. Everyone says if you brush against the shadows of Hope and survive, you should never come back. But that's why I have to. Come back. If there’s one thing that living in Hope has taught me, it’s that old habits die hard and old legends never die. I can feel the shadows stirring again, unhappy that they've been forgotten. They want the people to remember...to fear their power. I can feel the chill in my bones, and the terror squeezes my heart like a vice. I don't know what I'm trying accomplish, but I know I have to do something. For my mother and my grandparents. And for the children who couldn't escape the shadows.

Including the boy I loved.

[yellowbluemoonshine]

Hey,manhwa anon,I was wondering if u have read seasons of blossom(sob) its recently ended so it'd be the best time to read I think you would like this story alot and as you said u liked romance in the response that make me more confident that u would like it

It's has romance but it's also touches other topic such as friendship,su1c1de,being bullied, pressure from parents to get grades etc nd imo all couple r good(execpt for one which I personally don't like) it's has 4 szn all have diff mc but! All of the characters r connected somehow it's funny,has good romance,touches serious topic,they help e/o through hardship

I love it nd I like ur opinion on many things so I wanted you to read this & give your opinions😅

Hey, anon, from this post. Thanks for your rec. Actually, i read first season before and maybe season 2 too, i dont really remember though. But i didnt complete it before but after getting your message, i decided to give another chance and i recently restarted it and finished the whole story. Also you made me curious about which one you didnt like, lol, let me know. And Here’s my opinion about series;

First of all, art is good and characters are generally good too . Though i prefer romance as sub-plot more because when it become main plot, it has cliches. I think this story make certain post too quick, like characters moving on, changing mind and growing and falling in love happened to fast, to the point i find it unrealistic. Though, i would still say this story is far better than most romances, at least.

Season 1; I think this one was my less interested in. I hate love triangle and misunderstandings, and all that fake boyfrien thing so cliche but also, i really didnt root for main couple since Jaemin and Bomi had a thing. And i thought what Bomi did is so unfair to Seounhi, Jaemin and Jinyoung, it was really frustrating because i think it was selfish act so. And i kinda felt sad about it and i wasnt big fan of Jinyeong and his brutal honesty and rudeness. He is cute but dude needs to learn some manners. But other than that, they look good together so i didnt really hate it. But i kinda get bored and forced myself to continue. And another problem with this one is the way Bomi described her feelings for Jaemin and Jinyoung. She says she feels more comfortable with Jaemin while to her, Jinyoung is unexpected, make her explode etc...I mean, actually love is all about feeling comfort, not unexpected events or excitement, thats more like lust and crush but we can also say love is different to anyone so. The fact that she fall in love with Jinyeong cause he is more rude while Jaemin was just kind...I mean, she just said she fell in love with Jinyoung because she felt more comfortable with his honesty at last scene of spring season, just like she said before when she talked with Jaemin.

Season 2; This one might be my favorite. Ironically, summer is my favorite season too. At first, i thought it was gonna be Jaemin x Somang but it turn out to be about Hamin and Somang. And you might say, Hamin is also rude to her so i wouldnt like it but actually, i love them together a lot. Their interaction happens so naturally and its also funny. Also sad. Jaemin and Somang making connection together is also very nice too. Something i didnt like, ‘its everyone’s fault but noone’s fault’ speech. Like , i get what she was trying to say but honestly, it is Hamin’s parents and school’s fault for him ending up like that. They are responsible for what happenned to Hamin. Its nowhere near to Jaemin and Somang, they were innocent. Also i wish story showed Jaemin’s tension building up in spring season, it would be better. Btw, i also like the fact that Hamin didnt kill himself because he was just in darkness but because he witnessed the light he couldnt reach make him suicide because thats how mental illness works. We dont feel miserable until we saw some people have better. Thats so realistic. And as last, i wish Jaemin and Hamin didnt look too similar. I mean, they look like twins, i feel weird when i see him with Somang and others lol. And this also the season i started to warm up to Seonhui and other mcs because they were kinda annoying at start/first season.

Season 3; This one might be my second favorite. At first i was so sure that i wouldnt like it because Gaeul’s revenge plan and using his feelings, also the fact that he was kinda related to her bullying but i actually liked it because they were so good together. The chemistry...between serious mature girl and kinda silly dense boy. My only issues would be she became too comfortable with someone who is indirectly related to her bullying, like that kind of discomfort dont go that easiely. And bully girl's plan was too silly and it got destroyed too quickly, it was kinda unrealistic. And even though Gauel was already comfortable with Subin, what was the point of them breaking up? I wish at least we saw her discomfort with Subin’s presence so it would make more sense that her wanting a little time and space. And one more thing, i hate the idea that Subin had to take care of that bully kid, just because he was indirectly related to his bullying as child....because i disagree. He doesnt have to be friends with him/them, after all they did. Another couple of the autumn season, i actually ship Jaemin and Seonhui more but i kinda warmed up with the idea of Seonhui and Jaehyeon more at the end of fall season and winter season. Like, i kinda like them too because they are cute together.

Season 4; And the winter season. I was waiting for this one since the beginning to the point sometimes i couldnt focus on others because how can i, when there is a bullying at the background? So messed up. But i was actually disappointed with this season. Because even though, i am glad to see other main characters with happy moments, we hardly get Dongchae as main character. He deserved more screentimes, more narrative but he was like a side character in his own story. I was also very dissapointed in Jaemin in this season. He literally lost his brother because of bullying but he saw someone else is also dealing with it and he said its none of my business and only interested in because he fell in love with his sister....Eunchae is good girl, i get it but your brother is being bullied and you have time for romance with random dude you just met? It was actually frustrating to read because Dongchae was suffering to the point that he was planning to kill himself while everyone is being lovey-dovey. It was painful to read. Though, i love his connection with Hamin and everyone coming together to save him from suicide. But instead of last minute speech before he was about to kill himself, we could’ve get more effort. Because you cant change someone who wants to kill himself’s mind that easiely. I wish we saw all that small efforts for Dongchae and that saving scene would be the last one, the one that finally reach Dongchae’s hearth but it all happenned one time. Until that moment they all (later Jinyoung’s friend too) ignored him when they know what was happening, so it was so annoying and disappointing but generally, ending is good. I didnt really ship Eunchane and Jaemin, Gyuri and Dongchae etc. And i ship Somang only with Hamin, not with glasses friend of Subin. And i am glad that Subin and Gaeul meet again and end up together. Anddddd i must admit i love the speech of ‘if you dont know how to love yourself, i will teach you’. That was amazing.

This is all but there might be things i forgot to say so for now, thats it. Despite some of the issues etc, i did have good/sad/emotional etc times too. So i think it was worth to read and give it another chance so again, thanks for rec. it to me.

[ndantalion]

Moving On

(homophobia cw) “A sharp but sensible blow to the head couldn’t hurt.” Millie accompanied this with a gesture that knocked a handful of already-dead leaves from a nearby tree. “Remind him he has something to lose.”

“His brain?” Emma looked concerned.

Millie laughed, “Not that he’s got one.” Then she turned to Emma, face sharp with scrutiny.

Emma said, “I don’t see why you all hate him so much.”

“You’re not seeing him again. Look at my face, please, and tell me you’re not seeing him again.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“You need to answer me.”

“I asked first.” Emma wasn’t actually sure she did, but she was willing to invoke ancient playground law over it.

Their walk had actually would them back to the playground by their old elementary, several times now they’d looped. It was now stripped of its most dangerous elements; the metal slide that was so hot in summer was replaced by already-faded red plastic, and the plank walkways—which couldn’t have been more than a foot or two off the ground—sported sturdy new railings.

“We’re talking about the same Adam Dean? The one who cheated on Sarah, if you didn’t remember?”

“That was in sixth grade, and I’m pretty sure Sarah’s completely over it.” Her second claim was admittedly not based on much evidence, but Sarah had a new boyfriend now so that meant basically the same thing.

“Seventh grade.” Millie could be trusted for this sort of detail. “And it was his cousin.”

“He told me they weren’t actually related. Becky just told people that when they moved here because she thought it was funny, but apparently their families are just really close.” Millie looked ruffled by this news, which had spread through the halls at the start of the school year, well after she had left. Emma decided to twist the knife. “Now she’s dating his sister.”

“Like gay dating?”

“No one’s being bad about it, not even the people you’d expect.” Emma said, ignoring troubling comments she’d overheard some boys saying about how hot it was, especially before the whole cousin thing.

“To be honest, Adam Dean is the top of my list of people you’d expect.”

“No, he’s been super sweet actually.” He even told those guys to cut it out.

“So you have been seeing him?”

“I mean, I haven’t like, lost my virginity to him.” Emma’s phrasing instantly seemed cringey and weird, and she’s thankful to the night for covering up her blush. “But I could do worse, right? It just feels like everyone hates him for no reason.”

Millie didn’t talk for a bit. They crossed over a creek-filled ditch to the old, empty soccer field. “You know, he said some things to me in middle school. Like he didn’t even know the right slurs, but it was still…”

She trailed off. Someone’s truck roared in the distance. “Oh,” Emma said.

“Maybe he’s growing.”

Emma didn’t speak until they hit the main road. “Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“Didn’t want to make it a thing. And you know, you do get overwhelmed by things sometimes.”

And now that she’d called attention to it, the world did seem to be crumbling apart in places, the ground below Emma’s feet insubstantial compared to how it was before. “People are terrible,” she concluded.

Millie nodded grimly. It was clearly a lesson she’d already learned. “We can talk about something else.”