#kinda mad that they spoil it from the blurb on the back since the point is not knowing when it's gonna hit

[cymothoid]

good god do i love a nasty, evil book. i love a book you have to read through your fingers but keep reading anyway. love a book that you cannot in good conscience recommend to normal people. love a book that makes you feel a little bit nauseous in your soul.

[amburly]

word count: 2959

a/n: hii. i literally cannot write. srry this kinda sucks and is rlly long. i got inspo from west side story!! i wanna create a blurb for my cutie patootie mae but i'm not sure how. i also wanna incorporate my music taste bc i love music but idk how imma do that too.

DIAMONDS AND RUST

CHAPTER 2 5:17 PM - April 3rd, 2001

“Daddy?” I say, as my dad looks at a document. All I can see from this angle is “Zweig Industries”. It’s that big company, the one that’s taking down my neighbourhood, and replacing it for the newer, “futuristic”, looking buildings. They want to “innovate” the neighbourhood. What they really mean is to get rich families to move in, with their custom-made designer purses, spoiled children, and cheating husbands, but most importantly, to get all the immigrants to move out. I’m drawn back to the document. What’s it for? His face is stern, with a slight frown, and his breathing is heavy. “Stupid company..” My dad mumbles before slamming down the document. “Why? What happened?” 

“Don’t worry about it.” He says, dismissing me, using his hand to shoo me off.

I try to glimpse at the paper, but it’s face down on our dining room table. I walk away, looking at my dad, worriedly.

7:30 PM - September 9th, 2006

Fuck him. Fuck Zweig and his shitty fucking company. Fuck his eyecatching grin. Fuck his family. At this point, he looked away, breaking the eye-contact. I almost broke the glass bottle with the juice in it, I swear. What was he doing here? Did his daddy buy him an invite? For what he did to my family, and the others, he didn’t deserve to be here. Tashi walked over, probably because she couldn’t find me. “What’s wrong Mae?” She asked, taking a sip of her drink.

I ignored her, too in thought about what was happening. She must’ve noticed my gaze at Patrick and the other boy, and looked over to them. She smirked. 

“You wanna talk to them or something?” She nudged me with her elbow, to get my attention.

“No. No! Do you know who that is?” I said, my mood shifting. “Who?” “Zweig.” I replied.

“Oh wait, they’re the junior boys winner.” Tashi said, pointing out the other boy, but my focus going back to Patrick

So that’s why he’s here.. Then the other boy must be a tennis player too. He’s probably as stuck up as Zweig. Does Patrick know what he did? How he almost ruined my life? 

“You have a crush on them or something?” Tashi said, catching me off-guard.

I looked at her like she just killed someone. Then I remembered, I never told her. I probably should’ve, considering why she’s my best friend, but I don’t talk about it. She chuckled at me, probably because I almost never get mad. 

“Sorry, it’s just.. I have some backstory with Zweig.” I said.

“Did you guys hook up? Exes?” She said,

There’s no way that’d ever happen. Even if I didn’t have a death-threat towards him, he’s rich. Me and Tashi grew up in middle-class families, so we wouldn’t even be able to talk to him. Maybe Tashi, since she had connections in tennis. And even if I did grow up rich, there’s no way I’d fall for someone who demolished neighbourhoods with such history towards them, and market them to rich families. Sure, maybe he looked great, but he’s a Zweig. And there’s no amount of beauty or charm that could tempt me into falling for a Zweig.

“No, no. I just don’t like his family. And please..” I looked at her sympathetically, hoping she’d listen. “Don’t ask me any more questions.. I don’t like to talk about it. Sorry.”

“Okay.” Tashi said, taking a sip of her drink, without hesitation.

That was one of the main things I liked about Tashi. She never pushed you into doing anything you didn’t want to. And if she really wanted it, and you declined, she’d get it no matter what. 

“Thanks.” I gave her a half-smile.

1:00 PM - April 17th, 2001

The sale prices and posters on our shop were inevitable. The Zweig company had been demolishing every building, and people have been moving. Some people to other states, some to a town not so far away, and some even to Canada. My family doesn’t have enough money to move. My dad said we had to make “sacrifices” to leave. My dad has been working extra hard to get the last stuff in the convenience store to sell out, but most of our customers have already moved, and the others couldn’t afford to buy gum or magazines. I stay even later now to help my dad pack up the store, and take off all the decorations from Lunar new year that we forgot to take down. My mother has been worrying about him. She tells me about it, sometimes, when she has had a little bit too much to drink. She tells me about the arguing and how Zweig Industries is a money-hungry company, and that we are nothing alike to them. 

“Go to stanford one day. Become a lawyer. You will save us from.. This.” She says, swirling the red wine in her cup.

“Okay.” My mumbling is barely audible, but she manages to hear me still, and gives me a proud sly smile.

If it makes her happy, I’ll do it. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire by being a bad daughter. She’s already got lots on her plate, she has to help pack, make us food every day, and get along with daddy. Daddy can be hard to get along with, I agree. It’s hard though. How can I go to stanford? I’m not that smart.

“Go to sleep.” She says, looking down at her cup.

I get up from the chair and go to my room. My sewing machine and all my fabric is on the floor, I was hoping to clean it up today, but I’m too tired. The view does draw me back to what my mother says. ‘Become a lawyer.’ I really want to help our family, I do. I mean, we barely have enough money as is, and becoming a lawyer is technically going to help me but.. I don’t want to. Is that selfish of me? Is it bad? I want to design and create, not read documents or whatever lawyers do. Whatever, I’ll think about this tomorrow.

7:32 - September 9th, 2006

“Let’s go sit down. I’m tired.” Tashi announced

“Okay.” We found a seat near the dancefloor, eyeing Anna Mueller again. She’s crying, still. Hasn’t she accepted that she’s lost already? And second place is still good, she should be happy. Just then, the blonde boy and Patrick Zweig showed up.

“Hi, I’m Patrick Zweig. Art Donaldson.” They greeted.

They seemed pretty eager to talk to Tashi, rushing towards her as soon as we left. Makes sense. She just has this energy, this aura, that makes her so compelling. “I know who you are. You’re fire and ice, right?” Tashi replied.

The fuck? Why are all tennis names so random? They must be good though. Y’know, winning the juniors after all. It’s no easy feat. But, if you have connections, like the Zweig has, you have to be good. They didn’t earn it. Not like Tashi did. She didn’t have connections to all the good players and coaches, she just won some random tennis competition and got all those connections. 

“Oh my god..” Art replied. “In the flesh.” Patrick said in his awfully charming grin

I just stared up at them and observed. How did Art get his nickname? Did his parents have a really big thing for Art? Was it short for Arthur? Artemis? I could practically see Art drooling all over Tashi. He didn’t seem as bad as Patrick. He seemed more kind. But why should I trust him? I don’t know him yet. Which makes me also contradict myself.. Why should I hate Patrick? I don’t know him. I know his parents, and their awful choice of a lifestyle, but what if he’s different. Y’know what? I’ll get to know them (if they talk to me), and I won’t judge them.. Yet.

“Which one’s which?” Tashi inquired, pointing at the two of them.

“What do you think?” 

God.. This is really fucking awkward. It’s just me sitting here waiting for Tashi to finish her conversation while she goes around talking to boys. I really am a loser. But, I’m happy this way. Happy, but lame.

“You were fucking incredible today.” 

“Thank you.” Tashi said, in her preformed voice, she gets that a lot.

“No, really, I mean, it wasn’t even like tennis. It was an entirely different game. I felt bad for Anna.” “Oh, uh, don’t. She’s a sore loser and a racist bitch.”

They started chuckling, I did too. I guess my laugh caught their attention. They looked at me, waiting for me to say something. I’m guessing they felt bad for ignoring me while I was right beside Tashi, and wanted to include me. I wish I was invisible. “Oh, I’m Mae. Nice to meet you.” I said, in a meek tone, giving them a fake-smile. “I’m Art, and he’s Patrick.” “Cool.” Why the fuck would I say that? Cool?! I just want to shrivel up in a hole and bury myself. They chuckled at the weird interaction. Tashi smirked at me, knowing I almost never talk to boys. 

“So, Mae, do you play tennis?” Patrick chimed in. “No, I’m uh.. I’m Tashi’s plus one.” “Huh.. So, what do you do?” Art inquired. What do I do? Nothing really.. I make clothing? But that’s weird. Tashi please save me.

“She’s a big studier. Gonna be a lawyer or doctor, something smart. She’s going to Stanford, with me. Speaking of, you’re going to Stanford right?” Tashi said to Art.

Thank you for saving me Tashi. You’re an angel. I look at Patrick. For once, he looks left out. I don’t think he’s going to Stanford, if so, Tashi wouldn’t mention it to the two of them, but her attention is towards Art right now.

“Yeah, how’d you know that?” 

Tashi looked at Patrick, noticing his left out expression. He must be not used to being the centre of attention. Welcome to my world. “Um.. I just accepted my offer, and they mentioned you.”

“You’re not going pro?” Patrick asked. “No, not yet.”

“Why do you waste your time playing college tennis?” Our attention was drawn towards Gerald (Tashi’s dad) right after Patrick had said that. She didn’t answer his question. Gerald asked Tashi to go take pictures.

“I have to go take pictures, so um.. It was nice meeting you both.”

“Yeah.” They said in unison, nodding and grinning

Should I go with her? No, it’s her moment. God, now I have to talk with them. There was a brief pause, silence filling the air. 

“So, um, Mae. Are you excited about Stanford?” Patrick asked.

“Yeah, I guess so..”

I need to think of other things to talk about! Can I for once not be awkward?!

“Uhm, Art, what are you majoring in?” “Political science.” Art said. “Huh, I didn’t take you for that type of guy..” I said. I didn’t mean to say that out loud, I really didn’t. I noticed my rudeness after Patrick started snickering at my rudeness, and Art the same. “I didn’t-” 

“It’s okay. I get what you mean. You probably expected me to do something basic and easy, right?” I did, I just didn’t say it out loud. I mean, stereotypical rich white guy, going to college for tennis, and picking out some easy major is what I thought of him as. “No, No, I didn’t. It’s just, political science might be hard, from what I’ve heard.” I lied. “Well, Art here cares about deep philosophical theories and politics and that shit. W-What was it? Clito ergos sums?” Patrick says, poking at Art. “Cogito ergo sum.. I think therefore I am.” Art corrected him. He reminds me of those highschoolers who reached an age where they think everything is philosophical and deep. He’s not though. I can tell he’s more genuine about it.

“Why didn’t you just take philosophy then? Y’know since you like it.” “I think that philosophy might be too hard for my little tennis brain to understand. Hopefully, political science is easier.” Art said, making fun of himself.

Well, good luck on that one champ. 

“So, what are you majoring in?” Art asked. “Uhm, law, minoring in political science. So I might see you around.”

“Sounds fun.” Patrick says ironically. I chuckled. 

“Y’know what’s even funner, years of debt from college.” I joked.

They looked confused though, not laughing like that joke was supposed to land. Did I mess it up? Make it awkward? No, no. Not by their expression did the joke not land. They just don’t get it. They probably don’t know what college debt is. I mean, being rich and all, I don’t blame them. “College debt, I didn’t have enough money to pay for tuition, so I borrowed from the government.” I explained. “Oh.” They said, giving me a nod, full of understanding and pity. I hate pity, don’t feel bad for me just because I’m not as rich as you. Their eyes turn toward Tashi. Right, they were here for Tashi all along.

“I’m gonna go to Tashi, it was nice meeting you..” I said, bragging in their faces that they couldn’t just go up to Tashi like I could.

8:04 - September 9th, 2006

I walked down the stairs, there sat both of them, still here. They were probably waiting for Tashi. We looked at each other when we saw them, talking in our secret language. We both knew they wanted her, and how complimenting this was for Tashi’s ego. 

“Shouldn’t you two be preparing for the finals or something?” Tashi asked. “Oh, it’s just the juniors.” Art said, brushing it off “We both know how it’s gonna go.” Patrick uttered in unison to Art, making himself look bigger. 

Art looked at Patrick, betrayed. I admit, that was a shitty thing to do.

“Okay, well um, it’s cool that you stayed.”

“I actually wanted to ask you about that point earlier-” Art chimed in, before being cut off.

“Hey, do you smoke? Cigarettes?” 

“No. Do you?” Tashi countered.

“Yeah.” Patrick said, giving a nod, knowing she won’t like his answer.

“You?” Patrick asked me. “Me? Uhm, no.” I shook my head.

“Wanna go down to the beach?”

“Sure.” Tashi said, looking down at the beach. I nodded as well, as if my answer made any difference. I just followed them down there like some puppy. The moonlight shone on Tashi, she looked to the ocean like some sort of siren. In some aspects, she was a siren. She pulled people in with her charm and demolished them if she wanted to. 

“So, Mae, do you do any sports?” Art asked me. “Uhm, no. I mean, Tashi tried to teach me tennis, but I was no good at it. I swam for a brief period of time. Like for 4 years. But compared to your training, it’s nothing.”

“Do you want to be a lawyer?” Patrick asked. Did I want to be a lawyer? To some that question might sound stupid, considering I am going to be majoring in law and all that, but it’s a good question. Do I want to? Honestly, no. My real dream is to become a fashion designer, but I got into Stanford, so might as well be something useful. It’s not like I’m going to be the next Coco Chanel. “Yeah.. Yeah, I want to.” I said, the lie slipping out in parts of my sentence.

The waves crashed on, and the conversation continued. Ones with Tashi, and Stanford, and them both ogling their eyes out at her, and Tennis. Always tennis. There was never a time I couldn’t escape the grasp of Tennis. 

“Wait, are you on Facebook?” 

“What?” I got my shoes and stood beside Tashi. I just wanted to get back to our hotel room.

“He’s asking for your number, and so am I.” Art said, with more confidence in his voice. “You both want my number?”

“Very much so,yeah.”

“Okay, well I’m not a homewrecker.” “We don’t live together.”

“It’s an open relationship.” I chuckled at that one. After that, I sort of zoned out, my eyes glued to the ocean. They were babbling about some girlfriend.

“Hey, come hang out with us later.” Patrick invited.

“We’re in room 206.”

“Want me to come tuck you in?” Tashi jokes.

“No, we just keep talking about Tennis.”

“Good night.” Tashi said, dismissing them.

“We have beer.”

8:54 - September 9th, 2006

“I can’t believe we got a suite. This is crazy.” I said, flopping onto the bed, still in my dress and heels. Tashi sat next to me, playing with my hair lullingly. She took off my heels, then hers, and got closer. “Wanna go to their hotel?” Tashi asked “Who? Art and Patrick?”

“Yeah. I don’t wanna go if you don’t.” “I thought they only invited you though. They don’t want me there.” 

“Yes they do! Did you see how Art was eyeing you?” Tashi said

“He was not.” 

“He was! Patrick too!”

“You’re just trying to convince me to go, and they were drooling over you, not me.” “Just come, please? It’s gonna be fun, we’re gonna drink, and all that stuff! Please, I’ll buy you more fabric?” That caught my attention. “All I want?” “All you want.” Tashi reassured me. “Fine..” “Yay!” She pulled me into a hug before finding some clothes. I got changed into something more comfortable, sweatpants and Tashi’s baby tee.

8:45 - September 9th, 2006

“It’s gonna be fun, I promise. And, you’ll get to talk to two really cute boys.”

I sighed and Tashi knocked on the door.

END OF CHAPTER 2

[ladylooch]

Oh can we get Nico and Lexi's reactions to finding out about the pregnancies of each of their grandkids??

This got a little long beacause it's basically three blurbs, but I love how different each one of these reactions is!

Stella:

I want to say they are surprised, but that isn’t really the right word. Nico and Lexi are very aware of how hot and heavy Lucie and Connor are. But, they assumed they were being smart and careful about their sessions. Obviously, with this news, not as much as they thought. But when they look at Lucie’s face over the phone, even with the thousands of miles between them, they can both see that Lucie is scared and trying to put on a brave face. 

“Connor, can we have a second with our daughter.” Nico murmurs. 

“Um.” He looks over at Lucie. “Sure.” He nods, then leaves the frame. Lucie looks back at her parents when he is gone.

“Are you okay?” Nico asks. She nods, but big tears are forming in her eyes. “Sweets, it’s okay if you’re not.” Lucie swallows hard.

“I’m fine. I’m just really emotional. It’s been hard for us since we found out.” 

“Is this why you two broke up a few weeks ago? Is he not supportive?” Lexi chimes in.

“No! He is! Um, I just.. think we bit off more than we can chew.”

“Oh.” Lexi asks. “Are you saying this was planned?”

“Kind of. But then it wasn’t. And then it still happened.” Then Lucie begins to cry hard. “I know, I know. I’m stupid. You’re so disappointed in me.”

“LuLu…” Nico sighs reaching out for the phone screen, trying to wipe her tears off there. “We love you so much. Mama and I are right here for you. Do you want us to come?”

“Yes. Both of you. Please. And Soph.”

“Okay, we will look at flights tonight and get out to you soon.” Lucie nods. Then looks away to get herself more together.

“Don’t be mad at Connor. He is being so good to me. To both of us…” She trails off. 

“As long as he keeps doing that, him and us are good.” 

Winnie: 

Excitement! Tons and tons of excitement! Stella being a big sister! Another baby joining the family! Lucie and Connor are literally floating on cloud nine when they tell her parents. The joy is palpable and they spend the rest of Nico and Lexi’s U.S. trip dreaming about the newest addition to the family. They cannot stop talking about how blessed they are to be having another grand-baby to spoil. It is Lexi who reminds Nico that they have to be careful about showing enough attention to Stella. She has a feeling big sis may be excited now, but when that baby comes, so much of her life is going to change…

Baby Carlson: 

SHOCK. SHOOK. THE EARTH IS SHAKING. WHAT DID MACK JUST SAY?! 

“You’re…. Kidding?” Nico asks, looking over at his wife quickly. She shakes her head no like, this is a shock to me too.

“I know this is probably surprising because we said we weren’t having kids. But we changed our minds and I’m pregnant. Completely planned. I did not follow in Lucie’s footsteps.” Mack smirks. 

“Hey! Technically… both were kinda planned.” Lucie points from across the room. Then cringes. She looks over at Connor. “We were so dumb.”

“So stupid.” Connor agrees and chuckles. “Best, dumbest thing we have ever done.” He pulls her into his lap, kissing her hard, not caring about their audience. 

“Oh wow.” Lexi sighs, tears in her eyes. “Wow, wow, wow, wow!!!” She claps her hands together excitedly. “Another baby! We are so happy for you two.” Lexi clutches both David and Mack in her arms. “Nico get over here.”

“You aren’t kidding huh?” He jokes with an incredulous laugh. “Mackenzie Hischier is gonna have a kid.” His electric grin could be seen from space.