#listen to codi ramble about stuff literally no one but he cares about !!

[collisiondiscourse]

Man, why does it feel like the threshold for success has a time limit? I always feel like if I'm not an insanely popular artist or powerful influencer by the time I turn eighteen, then I am an utter failure and a waste of my teenage years. I think one of the biggest pitfalls of how the generation of kids today has been raised is that we've basically been socialized to think that our best achievements have to come in our youth or else they become virtually worthless.

Like... Oh? you're a talented pianist and played in front of an auditorium of hundreds at an opera house? how old were you when that happened?

A forty-seven-year-old would be met with a few impressed nods, maybe, and people congratulating them for all their hard work and experience.

A fourteen-year-old would get news articles. they'd go viral on the internet and thousands of people would be clambering over each other to sing praises of how they were blessed with such innate talent.

I get it. It's impressive, right? Because they're young and haven't had plenty of years of experience. These kids, by all means, deserve all the praise and attention for working hard to get where they were!

But that's not the case, is it? And the culture of people putting more credit for young people's achievements doesn't even fuckin end there.

Because not only does this exact same pattern happen with literally every single thing ever, even totally non-competitive hobbies like painting, it happens with such frequency that it's considered normal. Articles use age markers about successes to serve as clickbait for their articles. Cable companies start shows purely about young prodigies and how they've beaten their adult competitors. Because who wouldn't wanna hear about a ten-year-old chess champion, right?

And what's even worse is that it then becomes a competition even among young people themselves! You scroll down on a video of a pre-teen playing Winter Wind and I promise you there will be at least one asshole saying shit like "This kid is not impressive. I saw a nine year old do the same thing the other day!"

It eats away at you! It really fucking does! because we go down this stupid rabbit-hole wherein younger and younger kids get paraded around and raised to be prodigies and meanwhile here you are, sixteen, and having a panic attack because you can't go back in time and force your eight-year-old self to keep playing the violin. It's stressful. It aches. Instead of bringing up younger people around us, we're stuck in this miserable zone where we constantly get compared and pitted against each other because we couldn't "maximize our childhood".

Isn't it enough to just... exist?

There have already been many conversations on the nature of college. How it's utter BS that people have to choose what career they want for the rest of their lives as early as junior year in HS. But what a lot of people don't talk about is just how early people are forced to decide what hobbies they want to do for the rest of their lives. People who start learning how to play an instrument at 28 can't do so without constantly being questioned why they started so late. A drawing with decent coloring garners more credit and attention for the average tween than the struggling middle-aged woman, despite both having an equal amount of experience with visual arts.

Parents constantly tell their children to study harder, to practice more--to just keep on work, work, working until their children become the perfect model dolls they use flex to one another over brunch. It's constantly having your name be followed up by your latest achievement and not anything about who you are as a person.

"This is Codi. She is a straight-A student and got invited to compete at Harvard."

"This is Codi. She is on her school's math team and knows how to play the piano."

"This is Codi. She is--"

I am a human being, thank you.

It's never "This is Codi, and he loves fashion and losing at video games." or "This is Codi, and he likes listening to annoying pop songs from the early 2010s and laying down in the rain."

Why? because none of that matters! None of that is worth listening to because anything less than what I can do to represent my family, my school, my team, my country will never be anything more than a waste of time. It's toxic, how today's generation of teenagers have to be celebrities or important figures or champions or prodigies before they are people.

It gets worse, though.

People start counting your talents like tally marks for points. You can't "just be an artist" anymore. If you draw, then you also have to be good at writing. And poetry. And graphic design. And a sport. Oh, you only know one language? Oh, you've only learned the basics of the guitar? It's like a fucking marker, ticking off boxes to determine the worth of these teenagers on the marketability of their achievements.

And, okay, it's a misrepresentation to only blame parents, right? Because it's a systematic thing. A new societal expectation for kids to be the next fucking Renaissance--with peer pressure for things like relationship experience and wild stories too. We kids now worry about not being special enough, not phenomenal enough, or beautiful enough, or talented enough, or smart enough, or experienced enough. And it's weird!

It's weird how teens now flex how tired and burnt out they are! It's weird how I've had conversations that turned into competitions of how many bullshit responsibilities we have on our plate. It's weird how I've met kids on the honor roll that are so adamant to prove to people that they've gone to parties, had alcohol, and slept around.

It's a goddamn tragedy, watching so many of my peers turning into burnouts before they've even graduated high school.

We are expected to be the most. If that one singer could do it, if that one global warming activist could do it, if that one Olympic athlete could do it--then why can't you? Why can't you have over 20.7k followers on Twitter? Why can't you have started your own band and release a popular album? Why can't you have published your own book by now? Why can't you be good enough?

I sit here, typing away at this stupid post and being unhappy and feeling like I am not good enough. I am an artist. I am a writer. I speak more than one language and play more than one instrument. I used to be a straight-A student and nationally competed in maths and sciences competitions. I am an international finalist for my sport and have multiple gold medals from foreign countries.

Yet still, I feel like my timer is running short.

[number-one-micoverse-fan]

Everybody Knows That Dom Has Depression Except For Dom

It’s what it says on the tin, fellas.

----------

“And I have a couple of pre-made meals for you too!” Miranda heaves a giant refrigerated bag onto the table, beaming at Dom as she rips open the velcro and starts pulling out stacks of tupperware containers.

“Pre-made…?” Dom ventures, watching with growing wonderment as the stack of containers continues to grow. That bag must be bigger on the inside.

“Yeah, meals that are already cooked up and ready to go,” Miranda explains, finally setting the bag aside and walking around to open the fridge. There’s plenty of room inside for the castle of tupperware, “So you can just pull one out, stick it in the microwave, and you’re all set! It’ll be great for those days when you’re too tired or worked too late to make something.”

Dom blinks, considers, makes a soft noise of agreement. He absently hands containers to Miranda as she fills his refrigerator. He’s trying to figure out why someone would spend this much time on him. The only conclusion he manages to come to is that he definitely needs to find a way to pay Miranda back for her generosity.

He doesn’t deserve this kind of attention.

*******

“I—I’m so sorry about this!” Dom is scurrying around the house in the pre-dawn gloom, lit only by the sodium yellow burn of the streetlights through the window and the dim light over the kitchen sink. He’s flustered and tired, his tie undone around his neck, his shirt half tucked in, and his hair a mess.

“It’s fine,” Jake is hovering in the doorway to Dom’s kitchen, his hands wrapped around a thermos of of coffee. His expression is sympathetic, if a little strained, “Seriously, it’s not a big deal.”

“I know, I know,” Dom says in a stag whisper, struggling to do up his tie and tuck in his shirt at the same time, harried and fretting and continuously glancing towards the stairs to the second floor of the house, “B-but it’s just—it’s so early and—“

“I was already up anyway.”

“—you have Milo—“

“Dan’s still at the house for him.”

“—this meeting was so last minute—“

“Employers can be jerks.”

“—but Cody—“

“Dom.”

“—I didn’t want him to wake up alone—“

“Dom!” Jake snatches at Dominic’s shoulder, stopping the other man in his tracks. Dom’s eyes are wide and worried, heavy with exhaustion and stress. Jake gives his best comforting smile, changing his grip to a gentle pat,

“It’s okay. Honestly. I’m happy to help. You’re a—a friend. And you’d do the same for Milo, yeah?”

Dom swallows, takes a deep breath and smooths the front of his shirt down, “Yeah. Of course. Thanks Jake.”

“Anytime.”

*********

Cody flops onto the couch next to his dad and offers him a bowl of popcorn.

Dom takes it hesitantly, his brow furrowed, “I thought you were going to spend time with Milo…”

“He needs to do homework,” Cody says, settling into his spot. The light from the television reflects off his glasses, “And I wanna hang out with my cool dad!” He beams up at his dad, honest happiness on his face, “What’re we watchin’?”

“O-oh, um…” The hollowed out cavern in Dom’s chest is suddenly flooding with warmth and it makes a wobbly smile spread slowly across his face, “I…I dunno, actually, I just…had the TV on. Was there something you wanted to watch?”

“Mmmm, not really. Maybe we should channel surf until we find something good!”

“Okay…”

Dom flips through some channels rather absently, asking Cody about his day, about homework, about the MiCo channel. Cody happily rambles at him about everything and Dom listens, questions, smiles until his smile can’t get any bigger. He’s not really paying attention to the television, watching Cody talk and gesture animatedly about his latest attempt at catching proof of ghosts. The teen is lit up, literally and figuratively, glowing in the blue-white of the screen, smile flashing in the shadows, hands directing his words, a conductor of his own story.

“—so the audio should be finished by—ooh! Wait go back! Go back!”

The remote almost falls out of Dom’s hands as he fumbles to change the channel again. The sports cast flickers to something softer; a crowd of people milling about or standing in lines in a large indoor area. There are tables and booths set up in the background, but the foreground is dominated by a table at which sit a middle-aged woman and an older man in a tweed jacket. On the table between them is an intricately designed lamp with a garish shade made of bright glass and brass swirls. The man in the tweed jacket is indicating areas of the lamp with a pen and talking about the authenticity of the item in a low rumble of a voice.

“The…Antique Roadshow?” Dom questions, glancing at Cody.

“Yeah! It’s kind of cool to see what historical stuff shows up and to learn the history of it,” Cody says, “Also, sometimes, me and Milo would play this game where we would guess if something is haunted or not and then try and decide what kinda ghost is doing the haunting. He gets bored of it real quick though.”

“Hm…” Dom looks back at the—frankly hideous—lamp on the screen, “Well, uh, I don’t know a lot about ghosts but…if there was a ghost haunting that thing, it would probably be someone really annoying with no taste.”

Cody laughs, “I think I would feel bad for anyone who was stuck haunting that! It’s ugly!”

Dom finds himself chuckling along with him, “A, uh, I think the word is…ostentatious?”

They both laugh.

They’re still laughing an hour or so later, when the popcorn bowls are empty and it’s gone dark outside. Cody has tucked himself against Dom’s side, Dom’s arm around his shoulders, holding him close.

The cold, bitter hole that had been chewing him up on the inside is long gone. It’s nothing but tenderness and warmth and little rays of sunshine. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Dom knows it will come back. But it’s gone, for now. And he’s warm.

He’s happy.

*********

“Ah! Here! Lemme help with that!” A burly arm sweeps out of nowhere and scoops some of grocery bags from Dom’s struggling grip. Most of the grocery bags, really.

“Thanks…” Dom breathes, sending an uneven smile up at Dan, “Sorry about the trouble…”

“Not trouble at all!” Dan’s own smile is wide and bright and honest, his stride confident and comfortable as he follows Dom to the front door, “I was just coming home and you looked like you needed some help. And it never hurts to help.”

Dom only hums in response, holding open the door to let Dan sidle past and set the groceries down in the kitchen. The house is quiet—Cody’s out, probably getting into trouble with Milo—and Dom feels selfish for enjoying the peace of it. He’s exhausted, drained, his entire body feels heavy and his thoughts are muddy. He sinks into a chair at the kitchen table and rubs his eyes. He still has to put away the groceries and make some dinner and he should probably shower and maybe he should fold those clean clothes he hasn’t touched in a week and when’s the last time he vacuumed and—

“Long day?” Dan’s voice cuts through the deluge of thoughts threatening to drown him. Dom sighs into his hands, can only nod in response because even talking feels like it would take too much energy, “Sorry you had a rough day, buddy. But, hey, lookit that! You still went and bought groceries and you’re home now! So you can relax, just a for a bit. Take a breather, Dom, you look like you need it.”

His fingers tangle in his hair as Dom raises his head to explain that while he appreciates Dan’s advice, he really doesn’t have time to sit about and daydream. But he finds himself struck a bit speechless because Dan has put all the groceries away while Dom’s just been sitting on his ass feeling sorry for himself. It doesn’t shock him that Dan knows where everything goes, just that Dan would even take the time to do it. Dom could have done it, he’d just needed a minute.

Dan’s still smiling as he folds up the paper bags and stows them in the pantry, “Oh yeah, almost forgot—would you and Cody like to join us for dinner tonight?” He straightens up, hands on his hips, a life preserver to a man floundering in a sea of responsibilities and fears, “I’m making lasagna and I always make way too much of it. And it’s been a while since we’ve had dinner together.”

The relief that makes the burdens of the day slough off his shoulders makes Dom feel like he could float away. It buzzes in his chest, louder than the nasty little voice that says he’s lazy or that he’s taking advantage of Dan’s good nature.

“Thanks, I…I’d like that…”

********

Miranda hands him a small stack of thick, hardcover books. They’re a little banged up and well loved, the spines soft and their corner dented, but they’re well cared for all the same. Dom cycles through them—there’s four of them and all of them are about woodworking of various degrees. He glances up at her, half from confusion and half from wondering if she’s trying to say something.

She’s twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, something he recognizes as a bit of a nervous habit, a twinge of uncertainty, “A coworker had a bunch of old books they were getting rid of. Brought in a couple of milk crates worth of them. I know you like working with your hands and—and building stuff, that kind of thing. So I thought I’d…snag them for you.” Her face is a delicate shade of pink and she keeps glancing at him from under her lashes.

Dom looks from her to the books. He opens the top book to a random page, skims a description of re-scaling an existing design to make a miniature version of it. He might have gotten caught up in it completely if he hadn’t been hyper away of Miranda standing in front of him.

He lets the book fall closed and smiles at her. That pleasantly warm feeling is curling in his chest again, pooling wonderfully in his stomach until his cheeks flush,

“These are—they’re awesome. Wonderful, Mira. I love them. Thank you.”

Miranda’s smiles explodes and she throws her arms around him. Her lips touch the corner of his mouth and Dom feels soda bubbles burst inside him like fireworks.

*********

Something a little like frustrated panic clutches tightly at Dom’s throat when he hears a knock on the front door.

It still feels like its on the verge of choking him when he opens the door and finds Milo standing there with a folder clutched to his chest.

“Hi, um, I know Cody’s sick but I brought his homework from school so if he feels kinda better sometime he won’t get behind in class.” Milo is unusually subdued, no doubt missing his usual partner in crime and as equally worried about Cody as Dom is.

“Thank you, Milo, that’s very kind of you.” Dom runs a hand through his hair, realizes it’s shaking and quickly takes the offered folder from Milo before the teenager can notice.

Milo rocks back on his heels, glances from Dom to the house behind him and then back to Dom, “Um. Dom—um—Mister Bridges—uh, I know—um. That is, uh…” He fidgets, fumbles, wrinkling his nose as he searches for the right words and Dom is more than prepared to tell him that no, he cannot see Cody, Jake would hang him for it if he did, when Milo blurts out,

“Do you need help with anything?”

“You ca—I…I’m sorry, what?”

Milo’s ears are red, “I, uh, d-do you need any help? With anything?” He’s tugging absently on his hoodie strings, self conscious and still rocking back and forth on his heels, “You’re probably—well I know—um. Shoot. Y-you’re taking care of Cody so I wanted…to ask…if there’s was anything…you needed help with…”

Dom hesitates, wants to tell Milo to just go home because he’s a teenager and he’s been in school all day and he deserves to enjoy his youth. But Milo’s expression is so earnest and he certainly looks like he’s been worrying and fretting all day. Dom wants to think that maybe Jake or Dan put him up to this but Milo’s still got his school bag slung over his shoulder which means he hasn’t even been home himself yet. Dom can’t fight the soft and gentle smile that appears on his face,

“Go ask your dads if they’re okay with it first. Then maybe you can help me tackle these dishes, okay?”

Milo brightens instantly, “Okay!” And he scurries off to burst into the house next door.

To be honest, Dom doesn’t expect him to come back. But he does, full of energy and ready to go. He’s a bit infectious and soon Dom finds himself caught up in the whirlwind that is Milo Junior. Dom spends his time flitting up and down the stairs between Cody’s room and the kitchen and by the time he’s gotten some food in his son and coaxed him to go back to sleep, Milo has washed and put away all the dirty dishes in the sink.

“Shhh! Don’t tell Jake I know how to load a dishwasher!” Milo hisses in a loud whisper as he shoves Dom’s dishwasher closed with a clunk, “I’ve been doing it bad on purpose so he stopped asking me!”

Dom laughs. It feels bright and hot and brilliant inside him, spilling liquid honey up his throat,

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

********

Miranda’s humming something, her fingers carding lazily through Dom’s hair. Her other hand is draped over his chest, their fingers woven together, puzzle pieces that click together perfectly. Dom’s free hand is resting at the base of his throat, his thumb idly rubbing against the edge of the top button on his shirt. He has his head on her lap, his eyes heavy and lidded and unfocused. In this moment, he simply is. He is safe and comfortable and the warm gentleness of the whole thing has him floating on a delicate cloud of candy floss and downy feathers, lethargically sinking into a hot bath of love, attention, and affection.

More out of habit than anything else, Dom glances at the clock on the television stand. It takes his tired brain a moment to process the time, but once it does, he jolts into alertness,

“Dinner! We—we gotta get ready if we’re gonna make it!”

He goes to get up, already dreading the notion of being out in public where people can see him and judge him and make their assumptions, where he has to communicate with those who don’t understand him, where out there will never be as safe as in here. It makes his stomach clench and his appetite sink rapidly into a tar pit of nausea.

“Wait.”

Miranda presses a hand to his shoulder, steers him to lay back down in her lap. Dom holds her wrist, brow furrowed,

“Mira, our dinner…”

“Let’s just…stay in.” She says in a low voice, leaning over him. Her golden hair frames her face in the lamplight, curtaining them both off from the rest of the world, “We can order some pizza or something, I don’t mind. I’d like it to just…be you and me.” She leans closer and the heat rises in Dom’s face, “Just the two of us,” She’s a breath away and Dom can smell peppermint and lilacs and just a hint of that clean, slightly chemical scent that follows a doctor everywhere,

“Together.”

If they kiss, no one would be able to see it past the golden cascades of Miranda’s hair.

Her hand stays in Dom’s and he forgets about how relieved he is that they’re staying home because he’s too busy falling in love with her all over again.

********

Cody sets a glass of water down in front of Dom, smiles when Dom looks up at him with a question on his face.

“I was getting one for myself so I got one for you too,” Cody says with a shrug, “You looked thirsty!”

It’s not until Dom takes a drink that he realizes how parched he is.

It also strikes him that he hasn’t gotten up from the table in several hours. His joints pop and groan in protest when he stands up.

The numbers and words on the bills in front of him were blurring into obscurity anyway. He’s going to check on what Cody’s up to instead.

The bills are long forgotten as he spends the rest of the day watching his son play video games, simply enjoying the enthusiastic company.

********

Dom pushes his safety glasses to the top of his head and gives up starring at the miter saw with a heavy sigh. He’s not going to be getting anything done today.

He wanders to the front of his garage and sinks down onto the pile of lumber by the open door facing the street, peeling his work gloves off his hands and dropping them onto the wood beside him. He feels heavy, like something’s pushing down on him, crushing him slowly into the dirt. All the plans he’d made for the day feel pointless and empty.

He feels pointless and empty.

And stupid.

He’s staring an infinite black hole into the pavement between his peeling sneakers when someone’s approaching footsteps make him raise his head. It feels like lifting a thousand ton weight.

Jake is standing a few feet away, hands in the pockets of his slim jeans, his button up open to show a faded band t-shirt underneath. His expression is carefully blank but he’s chewing on his bottom lip in a manner that suggests there’s a thousand thoughts going through his head.

“Hi,” Says Dom and his voice sounds flat and lifeless and it makes his throat close up.

“Hey,” Jake nods, shifts his weight awkwardly, “Mind if I, uh, take a seat?”

Dom pats the lumber next to him and Jake eases down, glancing at the wood as if checking for splinters. His hands leave his pockets and his fingers get tangled in each other, twisting in and out and over as he fidgets. Dom can see the movement out of the corner of his eye but it’s much easier to keep staring at the sun bleached pavement.

“Thought I would have heard your power tools going by now.” Jake says in a somewhat forced conversational manner. Dom shrugs, makes a noncommittal noise. Jake sighs, takes a deep breath, lets it out again, finally says in a stern voice,

“Dom. You have depression.”

That startles him out of his stupor enough to turn and look at Jake, “What? What, no. I don’t.”

Jake frowns, not in disappointment, in something like solidarity and determination, “Yes, you do.”

“No, I—“

“Dominic, I literally have depression. I know what I’m talking about.” When Dom opens his mouth to protest further, Jake cuts him off,

“You feel tired almost all the time, even when you’ve gotten enough sleep. Sometimes you don’t sleep at all and sometimes that’s all you do. You either eat too much or you don’t eat at all or you eat just enough to keep going, even when you feel nauseous at the idea of food. You get frustrated with yourself because you can’t do what you want, you feel like you never have enough energy, and you blame everything on yourself.” Jake’s talking faster now, words spilling out, a floodgate of awful truths and buried thoughts cascading out in an awful tidal wave that’s black as pitch, “You feel like everything is your fault and nothing will ever be okay ever again and you’re going to be stuck in this hellish tar pit for the rest of your life! Because there isn’t anything better! There’s nothing outside the tar pit and you’d rather let yourself sink to the bottom and drown there than try to struggle anymore because you’re tried and you’re hurt and no one can ever understand how hard it is to live like this! And even though you hate yourself for giving up you just can’t do it anymore!”

The words break off into a ringing silence.

Jake is trembling slightly, shivering in the summer heat, because it feels so damn cold all of a sudden. His eyes are bright and hard but there are tears clinging to the corners and his jaw in clenched and his gaze pins Dom to the spot with accusation and something like desperation. And maybe not a hint of fear. Dom wants to look away, to shake his head, to tell Jake he’s got it wrong. But, god, he can’t.

Not when Jake’s dropped his guard like this.

To his eternal shame, Dom’s eyes get hot and his lower lip trembles. He drops his face into his hands with a muffled curse, trying to push it all back down, trying to bury it all back where it belongs deep inside him where it can’t bother anyone else.

“Dom, please…” Jake’s hand is on his shoulder, squeezing, grounding, reassuring, “I’ve…I didn’t want to say anything, I really didn’t because—I know it’s such a hard thing—personal. And I wouldn’t have said—I would have left this alone if I thought you were…” He trails off, steels himself, takes a shaky breath,

“Cody came to talk to me.”

Dom looks up at him, can’t decide if he’s horrified or in despair or hurt. Jake looks apologetic, his expression crinkling up and his hands shaking, holding himself steady despite the lingering threads of fear tugging at him to run from the situation.

“Cody?” Dom croaks, hates that he sounds so damaged, hates that it’s another thing to prove Jake right, “Is he—“

“Cody’s fine, this was a while ago.” Jake’s gaze darts away, comes back, drops to his knees, looks up at Dom again, “I just…wasn’t sure how to approach you about it.” A weird, slightly manic and cynical chuckle rattles out of his lungs, “I guess now’s a good a time as any.” Seriousness falls back into place, a door clicking shut but the key still in the lock,

“He approached me because…because he knows you’re hurting. Dom, he came up to me and he was trying hard not to cry and he told me “I think my dad’s sick and he won’t get help”.”

Dom thinks his heart shatters into a million pieces when he hears those words. His shaking hands fist into the front of his paint-stained shirt and he makes a choked off noise that desperately wants to be a sob, but Dom refuses to let it be.

Jake expression is desperate, begging, pleading for Dom to understand, “He knows something’s wrong and he wants to know how to help you. I know this probably isn’t something you want to hear, that it’s—it’s such an impossible thing to try and process but, Dom, he’s just a kid and he knows that you’re not doing okay.”

And Dominic Bridges finally breaks.

Right there, on a pile of lumber in his garage, talking to his neighbor, he puts his face in his hands and he cries.

Because he knows Jake is right.

And it kills him.

********

“It’s okay, I’ll be right out here for you,” Miranda says quietly, squeezing Dominic’s hand in her own, “I’m really proud of you for doing this.”

Dom is shaking in his seat, his leg bouncing insistently, cold sweat sticking to the back of his shirt. His mouth is dry and every time he swallows that just seems to make it worse. He feels like his voice is stuck somewhere in the vicinity of his shoes and he wants so badly to trample it as he runs out the building.

But there’s a fee for canceling appointments after 24 hours and Miranda has taken the time to come with him and she’d be so disappointed and—

—and Dom actually wants to try.

So when the therapist steps into the waiting room and calls his name, he takes a deep breath and stands up. His legs are jelly and he thinks he might pass out and some part of him is screaming that this is a waste of his time and money and he shouldn’t be here. But when he glances over his shoulder at Miranda before he walks through the door, she gives him a huge smile and makes a little heart with her hands.

And Dom thinks that maybe, just this one time, he can try and do something for himself for a change.

[meteor752]

Alright but like...what if a female clone was bred??

(Pssst! I made an continuation here)

How? I don’t know! Hiccup in the system or whatever! She just exists!

And it has been shown that Clones that are a little *cough cough* Defected, has been “Kept” (Enter, the bad batch)

But anyway, here we have CT-7526, a smol little babbu girl that no one knows what to do with. So they assign her to a squad, because what can go wrong??

So now poor Lil’ CT-7526 (T7, as she is commonly called) gets her first doubts, coming from the Reptile Squad (I have no fucking clue how they name these squads, so I just chose one for plot stuff), and she’s like ??? Rude???

And after that, her whole life is changed because I’m a fucking capable soldier! So she trains a little extra, and when she doesn’t she spends hours on her holopad watching previous battles and training sessions.

Let's just say she crushes her vods in the citadel challenge, finishing it by herself before her brothers are halfway across. Yeah, Commander Colt wasn’t too happy about that, and spoke words that literally changed her worldview and that she would repeat multiple times in her life

“A good soldier follow orders, a great soldier listens to orders”

Anyhow, Reptile squad graduates.

And let us talk about them!:

We have Turtle, the squad leader and squad sweetheart, Gecco, the hothead, Cobra, the tough guy, and Mongoose who just wants to take a nap.

They all are separated, and both Mongoose and T7 ends up in the 501st (Because PLOT), while Gecco’s in the 104th, Turtle in 327th and Cobra a coruscant guard.

T7′s first real meeting with Skywalker is...interesting, as it takes place after the second battle of Geonosis. It basically goes down as she marches up to him, throws her helmet on the ground and yells at him because you threw my brother over a wall?! Are you TRYING, to get us killed?!

And poor Ani is just. stunned. because why is she a woman. when did this happen.

Yeah, those news hadn’t quite reached the Jedi temple just yet.

Not long after that she is promoted to ARC-trooper. So yeah go T7!

And two days after that Turtle dies in battle. It was sad. Gecco and Mongoose cried a lot.

So now we have ARC-trooper T7, and since I can’t draw I will just describe how she looks. Mohawk, zick zack tattoo under her eyes, female symbol on the side of her forehead. Boom.

But anyway, not too much happens after that in her life. I mean, Gecco dies after his ship was shot down and Cobra in an explosion, but life is chill.

Her relationships with the others in 501st is...interesting.

She likes Kix. He’s chill

Jesse is tolerable, but he jokes around to much of you ask her

Hardcase is annoying, but she can stand him

Tup reminds her of Turtle. Everyone likes Tup

Dogma (Droidma) needs to stop following orders blindly (A good soldier follow orders, a great soldier listens to orders)

Echo is cool

Fives could go die in a hole and she wouldn’t care. They have a very stereotypical sibling relationship

Rex is awesome, nobody fucking hurt him yes that includes you Cody I don’t care if your his riduur back off!

T7 also has no respect whatsoever for Skywalker and Tano, because fuck them. She isn’t much for Jedi

Kenobi is a fucking boss though

Anyways, the battle of Umbara happens! This is where shit hits the fan for T7

T7 is easily one of the first to doubt Krell, because you’re killing my brothers how are you a General?!

And she absolutely helps Jesse, Hardcase and Fives with stealing the ships and blowing shit up. And no she did not cry when Hardcase died what are you talking about?!

After that she officially chooses her name, Tori, which translates to Victory. And after that she almost gets executed. Fuck You Droidma

Oh and after that Mongoose dies in the “Clone battle”. Yeah, that hurt

So she is more than happy to arrest (or kill) Krell, like let’s go boys!

Then Droidma kills Krell, and she gains at least some respect for the Trooper.

But Umbara was a hard blow for Tori. Not just the whole “Mongoose dying” shit, but also the realization that this is much bigger than any of them, and their lives are entirely in their Jedis, and she’d had enough of it.

So that night...she leaves. Rex catches her in the act, but after she explaines herself, he promises to keep her updated. Then she’s off.

Tori lands on some random planet, idk which, where she gets a job as a bartender just because.

She chats with Rex once a week for one hour, no more no less. Well, unless it’s an emergency. Like Fives and Tup.

Aka two deaths she takes hard because hello? That was my vod’ikas how dare they?? Rex also tells her about the chips Fives was rambling about, so she urged him to do more research.

And then...order 66. She of course has no contact with the emperor, so the order doesn’t reach her, but she gets to hear about it and just. collapses.

After that, she puts her old life entirely behind her. She wants nothing to do with the empire not the rebellion, she just stays put.

Until Rex accidentally stumbled upon her that is. Yeah, after like what, Seven years? he came into the bar and they talked for like thirty seconds before going “Hey wait a minute!”

After that, she sticks around Rex, have a reunion with Wolffe who she does not like, and meets Gregor for the first time.

And yeah, that’s how it is for a couple of years. They try to track doen any of their Vods that isn’t a mindless slave of the empire, but none is found.

Then the whole Rebel shit happens and Tori is really done with it, because hurray! More Jedi!

She do follow the Ghost Crew and going the rebellion though, but more as a trainer than a soldier. And she gets her first rank, say hello to Lieutenant Tori!

Tori Finally meets her doom in the battle of Yavin, where she’s one of the pilots who tries to blow up the Death Star. It’s tragic, sure, but that’s life.

Plus, she did fight beside a Skywalker one last time (Well, two, but we don’t talk about her), and this kid is a lot more responsible and less insane than you Ani! Got some Padme in him that’s for sure.

But yeah! That’s the story of the Female Clone! This could have gone in so many directions, but when I discussed this with my Clone Wars Squad, we all thought that this would be the most interesting direction to take the story.

Shoutout to Molly for coming up with her name and her squad, you really helped!

I might add some more shit to this who fucking knows

[amnachil]

To the Perfection Chapter 1 Part 2

I’m very stupid :o I totally forgot to post the next part !! I’m sorry :( I hope you’ll like it anyway

Thomas Monday January 7

The last week of the holiday went and ended like a blur. Monday came. The end of the holidays. Thomas wasn't particulary sad about it. After all, he mostly stayed at home where he played video games. Of course, he had a very organized schedule for his training too. But well, he didn't want to be back at school either. He hadn't any difficulties and he had already studied more than enough. It was more a social problem. It would be false to say he didn't have friends, only they weren't real friends. They do like me. Because I'm smart, good-looking and Raphaël's brother. Nonetheless, he wasn't sure a single one of them knew his favorite game or his favorite movie. In the end, they liked his reputation more than anything else.

"Hi Thomas." greeted Ilhan. "You look good today."

"Thanks." smiled the ginger lad.

You don't even ask me how I am doing anymore, uh ? He had met Ilhan during last year, when this one moved in town from the south. At first, the newcomer was acting more friendly, more kind with Thomas. Now I guess he thinks someone like me can only be fine. They all think that way.

"I saw your brother on TV last week." continued his classmate, far away his thoughts. "He's so awesome. You're so lucky to be related."

Really ? Thomas liked his big brother, yes, but it was sometimes hard to live in his shadow. He had always tried to be nicer, kinder, and now he thought about it, it probably explained his whole personality. Anyway, Raphaël was still far better in everything. Even in love...

"Hey guys." intervened Cody.

Thomas barely looked at him. He joined his class, letting his mind ramble.

At noon, the young lad escorted some of his friends to the local Mcdo. According to them, it was to celebrate the end of the holidays. Most of them were soccer players, just like him. They were hanging together for years, but none of them knew how much he hated burgers. They just don't care at all. Once in the restaurant, Thomas quickly found a table and took a sit. He looked around, bored. The flavor made him sick. A new year eh... It started like the last. Well, except for Dan who was moving in. Only the idea of this made him shiver with pleasure. The two of us, alone at home... Around him, his friends were coming with their order, but he ignored their waffles. He looked foward to be wednesday, when his mother would leave. (Of course he was sad about her departure, but better watch the good side of it, right ?).

"Thomy, what do you think ?"

The ginger turned towards his friends, surprised to hear his name. They were all waiting for an answer to the question he didn't listen.

"Cody and Ilhan are convinced the little Ulrich will be the next captain of the team once we graduate." resumed his third fellow, Joël. "I say otherwise, he's too cocky, don't you think ?"

"Man, you're hella cocky and you're the supporting striker." retorted Ilhan.

The other smirked. He was tall (around 184 cm or 6'1") and definitely ripped. Joël was Thomas's partner for work out, so this explained that. Well, it's true he's arrogant.

"Still, little Ulrich is just... unfit for the role." he stated.

A waiter went to refill Cody's glass with coke. Thomas recognized an old friend of Raphaël, Sam. Back in highschool, he was an awful jock, a bit like Joël. But with my brother's control, he became what he truly wanted to be. A kinda fat young adult. At least, his personnality had softened along his body. The young teenager greeted him with a nod, and then focused bad on his friend's conversation. They were still arguing about this nonsense.

"Guys, it doesn't matter right now." he smiled. "We have to focus on our games until graduation, okay ?"

They all agreed. What a bunch of boot-lickers.

This evening, when Thomas arrived at home, his mother was waiting for him. She wanted to talk. The ginger smiled cheerfully and sat on the couch. Another unecessary discussion... He loved her, but as the others, she didn't know him very well. She always said he was "as perfect as Raphaël." Why people couldn't see past their resemblance ?

"I'm leaving in two days now..." she started. "I wanted to be sure you're okay with that ? I know this isn't what we planned, but your father and I think you're very capable..."

He could guess the rest. Like my brother, right ?

"...Like your brother. Anyway, tell me what do you think ?"

You won't like what I think. Hey mom, I'm totally gay and you will literally let me alone with my crush for almost five years. I hate your new shoes, by the way.

"Everything gonna be fine." he assured kindly. "I already know how to survive on my own, and Dan will be there with me. I know you miss dad, and I know you two want to be together as fast as possible."

His mother sighed, reassured. She was so predictable. Raphaël and him were free to do whatever they wanted for years now, since they knew how to manipulate her.

"I'll cook diner." he decided.

After all, he couldn't wait to see Dan eating his food.

Dan Wednesday January 9

"Looks like we got everything. I'm sure you'll feel like home quickly."

Dan smiled to Raphaël's mother. He had always be welcome in their house, it wouldn't be much of a change to move in. He looked at his "new" environment. His boyfriend had a wide bedroom, with a lot of full bookcases. Some old clothes were lying around. A portrait of them during Raphaël's departure party caught his attention. We're together for one year and more than seven months now. As long as he remembered, he had always been friend with Raphaël. When he had done his coming out, the soccer's genius had asked for a date. I was so surprised, back then. I would have never guessed he was on the same side.

"I know this is a selfish request." said suddenly Mrs. Muller. "But I really hope you'll watch over Thomas. He's so grown-up, it worries me sometimes. I mean, he's completely capable but... He's not even 17 yet."

"It's normal to be stressed but I'll be there all the time. I'm not going anywhere."

She nodded. It was easy to reassure her apparently.

"I hope he will relax a little, he looks so tensed..." she whispered. "Thomas is always taking things too seriously. He should learn some tips from Raphaël."

Dan made a face, a bit skeptical. Raphaël's definition of fun is very personal, to my humble opinion. Make the man genuinely smile was very hard, not to mention laugh.

"They must be waiting for us." Mrs. Muller stated. "Let's go."

All the family went to the bus station. She was going to New York, and then she would take a plane to England. A long trip, but she seemed almost glad to do it.

"My boys. You're both amazing, you know that ?" she said as a goodbye. "I love you. I'm really proud of you."

Thomas nodded silently. Raphaël did nothing but stare at her. I can only imagine how bizarre it must have been to educate these two...

"Raphaël, I'm sure you'll shine as the best center foward of our country." she smiled. "Also, I know you're still hesitating, but you should start this career in modelling. You're so handsome."

He didn't answer at all. Dan knew he wasn't approving this. He saw the little tautness of his jaw, the almost invisible twicthing of his fingers. And his eyes. They were so emotionless. He's too polite to say anything, but he's far from convinced.

"And you my dear Thomas." Mrs. Muller continued, far away these considerations. "You'll be as good as your brother, I'm sure of it. Try to have some fun okay ?"

He did his warmest smile.

"Of course mom. I love you too."

It was a different way to express his feelings, but it was just as much significant. He's also disappointed. But he'll not say it either. In this family, they weren't saying much. You had to read between the lines, to guess what they were thinking. An exercise Dan started to get used too. Anyway, their mother left after a last good bye. And they went back home.

This evening, probably to distract himself from his mother's departure, Thomas cooked another feast. According to Raphaël, he was always cooking a lot when he was troubled. Much for Dan pleasure, he was the one taking advantage of it. And boy, he cooks so well. Apparently, Thomas wasn't interested in a culinary's career, but he was so gifted for it.

"You enjoyed yourself." whispered Dan's boyfriend while stroking his distended stomach.

His rubs caused a slight series of belch. They were comfortably lying on their bed after this succulent diner.

"I can't resist a good meal." confessed the junior. "You know I have zero control over my eatings habits."

"Yeah, I noticed." chuckled Raphaël.

Slowly, he kissed his boyfriend with passion. I love him so much. People always said Raphaël was insensitive, but that was so not true. The ginger lad smoothly rolled over Dan and kissed him again.

"If Thomas doesn't stop, you will end up fat again. And I'm pretty sure he won't stop."

As he spoke, he fondled Dan's chest and belly. His touch was sensual, enjoyable. It feels so nice. Raphaël was more than appealing, and the junior was already getting aroused.

"I don't care about that." he replied. "Do you ?"

"Absolutely not."

Dan's hands found a way to Raphaël's ass. A firm and solid ass. His boyfriend unclothed them. Oh boy. I'm gonna love this night.

Raphaël left early in the morning, around 6 a.m. He would be gone for almost two weeks, until saturday 19th. Dan escorted him to his bus. It wasn't the first time they were separated for a long time, but it always felt bad. I miss him each time. But they would manage, they always did.

"I'll call you once I'm there." assured Raphaël. "And I'll relay my schedule to you."

"Sure thing."

Dan hugged him firmly. I want to have you a bit more.

"You'll look over Thomas, right ? I know he's acting weird since this case with Liam last year... I think he's more disturbed by this stuff than he pretends to be."

"You worry too much honey." reassured him Dan. "But I swear I'll take care of him."

It's only the third time you and your mother ask me to do it after all. The bus left five minutes later. The junior looked his boyfriend go away for a moment, gloomy. Then, he headed back home. Much to his surprise, Thomas was already awake. And he had made breakfast. A big breakfast. Well, what is the more worrying right now is how much weight I'll put on in only two weeks ?

To be continued

The setting is now finished. Let’s see if Thomas will be able to resist his desire with his crush... Especially when Dan has no problem with the feeding part at all ;)

[amylillian22]

I’m In Love With My Best Friend – Cody Christian Imagine

Requested by Anon: Could you write an imagine where you told your sister that you have a boyfriend so she’d stop trying to set you up with guys, but now she’s coming to visit for surprise and you need a fake boyfriend during your sister's visit so you ask Cody (your best friend) to pretendbe your boyfriend and everything seems goes right until the act stop being act?

Word Count: 3,141

Warnings: None other than Cody saying a curse word, ha. Fluff?

Author’s Note: Y/S/N = Your Sister’s Name. I did this because in previous imagines where I’ve named a sibling or best friend, some of y’all have mentioned it was weird to read your own name. So I decided to let y’all use your actual sister’s name or come up with the name yourselves if you don’t have a sister.

Also, I sneaked in a line from Gilmore Girls. I wonder if anyone can point it out.

[My Teen Wolf Master List]

"Come on. Come on. Come on." Y/N whispered repeatedly as the phone rang. She paced back and forth in her bedroom, hoping her best friend would answer. "Pick up the damn ph-"

The sound of her best friend's groggy and sleepy voice interrupted her rambling. "Hello?"

"It's about time! Why aren't you answering your phone? I only called you like a hundred times! I could have been dying and-“

Cody noticed the nervous rush in her voice and rubbed this tired eyes. He cleared his throat before he interrupted her. "Okay, first of all I was filming all night and I just got home a couple of hours ago. Second of all, you're obviously not dying so this better be good, because as much as I love ya, you know I get cranky when I don't get enough sleep. Lastly, breathe. Just breathe," he inhaled and exhaled, which Y/N mimicked, making her feel a little better.

"Now tell me what's wrong?" He asked groggily yet genuinely concerned at the same time.

"I lied to my sister," she started as she finally sat on the edge of her bed.

"About...?" He trailed.

"That I had a boyfriend. I only did it so she would stop setting me up with all these guys she knew. I thought my plan would work," she continued.

Cody hummed, following along with her story with his eyes closed. "I remember you told me that. So, what's the problem?" 

"The idiot decided to surprise me by coming into town without any warning! Now she's on her way here, because not only does she miss me, but also because she wants to meet my boyfriend of two months..." she trailed for a second, silently praying Cody would agree to the favor she was about to ask him. "So, I was hoping if you could come over and play the part."

Cody's eyes flew wide open. He heard what she said but he still had a hard time believing it. "Come again?" He asked, needing confirmation.

"I need you to be my fake boyfriend for my sister," she explained as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt nervously. "I promise you, I'll get you a gift card for Chipotle that will last you for at least three months," she bargained knowing Chipotle was Cody's weakness.

Cody quickly sat up, "I'm getting in the shower right now and I'll meet you at your place."

Y/N smiled widely. "Seriously, you are the best. Thank you so much."

"Hey, you know I'd do anything for you," Cody smiled back even though she couldn't see him. “What time will your sister get there?" 

"She said she was about 2 hours away," she answered.

"Alright, I'll get there before she does," he said as he walked into his bathroom. "Hey, Y/N?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget the gift card," Cody smiled as Y/N laughed.

"This is ridiculous," Y/N's sister said as she blew her bangs out of her face repeatedly, trying to keep herself entertained. "I'm starting to think you made him up."

"I didn't make up my boyfriend. He's real. I just..." Y/N trailed as she looked at her phone for the millionth time. "I don't know where he is. He said he’d be here, so he'll be here. He's probably running late."

"Sureeee," she said annoyed. "If he's not here in 10 minutes, I'm taking you out to lunch to meet up with one of my friends I went to high school with. His name is Logan and he moved to LA a few months ago."

Y/N rolled her eyes at her sister, but deep down she was nervous she might have to meet another one of her sister's friends. Also, she was beginning to get worried, as she hadn't heard from Cody for the past two hours. He's never one to leave her hanging. He always calls or sends her a quick message if he's running late or if something came up.

"He'll be here. He's just a busy guy," Y/N defended both herself and Cody.

"Who is this guy? You've been dating him for two months and you didn't even tell me," Y/N's sister looked at her closely, seeing if there were any hints that might imply Y/N is making up a boyfriend.

"It's-" 

Before Y/N could even finish her sentence, her front door swung open as Cody walked in with a plastic bag. "I'm so sorry," he quickly apologized as he rushed inside and closed the door behind him with his hip. 

"An accident literally happened right in front of me, which naturally had me stuck in traffic until the tow trucks came to pick up the cars. While waiting for that to happen, the cops questioned me because technically I'm a witness, which took forever. By the time everything was settled and the road was clear for me to leave, my phone had died," Cody explained.

Y/N's facial expression went from worried the second she heard the word 'accident' to relaxed as Cody's story came to end. He was okay. That's all the mattered. 

She quickly walked up to him and hugged him. He immediately hugged her back as he pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You're okay," she whispered.

"I told you I'd be here, didn't I?" He whispered back before he pulled back and gave her a genuine smile.

This entire time Y/N's sister was speechless, as she knew exactly who the guy was. She didn't need any introduction. She was a fan of Pretty Little Liars and she couldn't believe Aria's little brother was less than 2 feet away from her. 

Cody turned around to face Y/N's sister. He had never met her before but he had seen pictures Y/N had shown him. He smiled as he extended his hand, "Hi, you must be Y/S/N. I'm sorry I'm late. This is not exactly the first impression I wanted to make," he chuckled. “I'm-“

"Mike," she said still shaking his hand with a wide smile.

Cody chuckled again as he nodded. "I'm guessing you're a fan of PPL?"

"Duh! I mean I got into the show kind of late. I found it on Netflix and binged watched the entire series. Now I'm just waiting for the final season, which I don't know if I want to watch because I don't want it to be over. Oh my god! Are you going to make an appearance in the final season?!" She literally rambled nonstop with so much excitement. Y/N was a little embarrassed her sister was being a total fan girl in front of the most important person in her life.

"You can let go now," Y/N pulled her sister's hand from Cody’s. Cody couldn’t help but chuckle through all of this.

"Actually, I can't say if I’m coming back to PPL or not," Cody answered her question.

Y/N's sister sighed. "I figured but it didn't hurt to ask. Wait a minute..." she paused as she looked back and forth between her sister and Cody. "Is that why you didn't tell me, because you two are secretly dating?"

"Yes," Cody answered, taking Y/N a bit by surprised. They hadn't discussed their story and she had planned to do that when he was suppose to come over before her sister did. Now she's hoping one of them wouldn't blow their cover.

"Well that makes sense. He's in the public eye and you wanted to keep this between you two. I get it now." Y/N relaxed a bit as her sister bought the lie.

"I didn't want the media up in our business and I didn't want people harassing her online," Cody said as he grabbed her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. Y/N looked down at their locked fingers and her heart skipped a beat. They had never held hands like that before and it felt right. Like his fingers fit perfectly between the spaces of her fingers.

"I care about your sister and I want to protect her as much as I can," Cody said as he squeezed her hand, causing Y/N to look at him. He was already staring at her with a genuine smile on his face. Y/N couldn't help but smile back at him as her heart raced.

Then she remembered this was all an act. This wasn't real. They were just best friends. Not a couple. She didn't understand where this was coming from, as she never had feelings for him before. 

She slowly pulled her hand away from his and walked towards the bag he brought in and placed it on the coffee table. "What did you bring, babe?"

"Oh!" Cody suddenly remembered as he walked next to her. "I brought some Chinese food for us, but with the accident stuff that happened, I'm sure it's cold by now."

"I love Chinese food!" Y/N's sister gushed.

"I know. That's why I got your favorite," Cody smiled.

"How did-"

"I listen to every thing your sister tells me," Cody smiled. Y/N was taken back that Cody actually remembered. "I also got your favorite, baby," he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Y/N felt her cheeks heat up, no doubt hinting a shade of pink. "Thanks, babe."

"I hope this makes up for being late," Cody said. 

"Cody, all was forgiven the second you walked into to door," Y/N's sister said. "I'll go into the kitchen and heat this up."

Y/N and Cody waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before they both spoke at the same time. "Are you okay?" "I'm sorry I'm late."

"Yes," Cody answered as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a hug.

Y/N relaxed a little as she hugged him back. "I was worried something had happened to you, and then the second you said accident-"

"Shh," Cody ran his fingers through her silky hair. "I'm fine. I'm right here." She looked up at him at the same time he looked down at her, their eyes instantly locking. Y/N had seen and looked into Cody's eyes a million times, but this time it was different. It's like he was also looking at her differently.

They both slowly leaned in, the anticipation making their hearts beat fast against their chests and echo in their eardrums.

"Are you two coming or not?!" Y/N's sister yelled from the kitchen, causing Cody and Y/N to pull away from one another. Cody hated that Y/N's sister ruined the moment, as he wanted nothing more than to finally kiss Y/N. 

Y/N cleared her throat. "Yeah, we’re coming!" She yelled back before she grabbed Cody's hand and dragged him to the kitchen.  

They walked in to find everything warmed up and set up on the table. Y/N's sister had already dug her chopsticks in the carton of Kung Pao chicken. "What took you two so long?" She said between bites. "If I didn't know any better I'd think you two were feeling each other up of something." 

"Y/S/N!" Y/N shouted with embarrassment as she sunk into her seat.

Cody chuckled as he sat next to her. "You're cute when you're embarrassed," he playfully nudged her shoulder with his before he reached in for his carton of Orange Chicken.

"So, tell me the story of how you two met," Y/S/N's asked before she took a bite of her egg roll.

"Can I tell it?" Cody asked Y/N.

Although she knew how they met and who approached the other first, Y/N was curious to hear his side of story. So she nodded her head and motioned him to tell the story as she took a bite of her Teriyaki Chicken.

"There was a party in Hollywood. I was with my friends from work. We were having a good time laughing and joking around. The normal shit, ya know?" Cody started. "Then from the corner of my eye, I noticed someone walking up to people with a tray full with drinks." 

Y/S/N raised an eyebrow at Y/N. "When did you become a waitress?"

Y/N shook her head. "My friend got sick that night and needed someone to fill in for her. So she asked me if I could do her a favor. Her boss didn't care who it was as long as there was someone passing out drinks. I figured it was easy. So I told her I'd do it," Y/N explained. "Go on, babe."

"Right. So when I saw her, I was completely blown away. She was beautiful with her light make up and pretty fishtail braid-"

"I was a mess, babe," Y/N remembered thinking how tired and exhausted she was. She had rushed from school and dealt with traffic, which caused her to change in the car to make the party on time.

Cody shook his head. "No, you were the most beautiful woman in the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off you the entire night."

Her stomach flipped. "Really?" She whispered.

Cody grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before he continued, "I watched her throughout the night. I mean, not in a creepy, like, 'I'm watching you'," Cody made a creepy looking face, which made both of the girls laugh. "But sort of in a way where I just noticed her."

Y/N looked at Cody surprised and in awe. She never knew that part of the story. She just knew the moment when he approached her.

"So then who made the first move?" Y/S/N asked. 

"Cody," Y/N smiled as she remembered. "There was this guy-

"An asshole," Cody interrupted.

The upset tone in his voice had Y/S/N's attention. "I wanna hear Cody's side of the story."

"There was a guy who kept harassing her and I could tell he was really starting to make her uncomfortable. So I chugged my champagne glass and walked over to her to get a refill. Except, I pretended to be her boyfriend to let the guy know she's taken and he needed to back off. It worked. He left her alone and I stayed by her side throughout the night between trays."

"I honestly don't know what would have happened if Cody hadn't come in and saved me," Y/N said honestly. "But I'm glad I did," she leaned into him, which Cody immediately wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

The sound of Y/S/N's ringtone blasted through the room. Refusing to leave his embrace, Y/N turned her head and rested it on Cody's shoulder as she watched her sister say hi to someone.

"Oh shit! I completely forgot," she stood up quickly to throw away her trash. "I know, but I'm sorry you won't be able to meet her," she quickly washed her hands in the sink. "No, because she's seeing someone and she's happy," she smiled back at Y/N and winked.

Suddenly there was a pang of guilt in Y/N's chest. She hated that she was lying to her sister and the second Y/S/N would leave the apartment, it would be back to the reality of being single and just being Cody's best friend. Truthfully, she never realized she had feelings for Cody until today. It was unexpected. Sure they got along really well, hung out all the time, and connected on a level they never had with anyone else, but she never knew the deep feelings she had hiding somewhere deep in her heart. She was in love with her best friend and she had no clue if he felt the same way.

"Yeah, I'm on my way now," Y/S/N said before she hung up. "I'm sorry, but I gotta go and meet a friend before I drive back home."

Y/N got up and hugged her sister. "It's okay. I'm glad you came to see me for a little bit and meet my man."

Cody chuckled as he leaned in and hugged Y/S/N. "It was nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise," she hugged him back. "I hope to see you more often."

"You will," Cody smiled as he and Y/N walked Y/S/N to the door and to the driveway. Cody wrapped an arm around Y/N shoulder as she leaned into him. They watched her pull out of the driveway and waved goodbye as she drove off. When her car was out of sight, Y/N pulled away from Cody and walked back inside the apartment without saying a word.

Cody followed and stayed quiet himself. From the moment he saw Y/N that night of the party, he was in complete awe with her. He really did feel something for her, but she never gave him the same impression. So he settled to be her best friend instead of not having her in his life. He had gotten so comfortable being her best friend that he had completely forgotten what it would be like if they were something more until that moment they had in the living room. It's not that his feelings for her disappeared at some point, because that's not the case. He's always cared and loved the girl. He just didn't push the idea if she wasn't ready, but he doesn’t know she wanted to kiss him just as much as he wanted to kiss her in the living room.

Y/N was throwing away the trash and cleaning up the kitchen when Cody decided it was time to do something about his feelings for her. He walked up to her, causing her to stop what she was doing to look at him. He had a serious look on his face as he bored into her eyes. 

"Cody-" She started, but quickly silenced herself the second Cody cupped her cheeks gently and closed his eyes as he leaned forward. Her heart suddenly raced against her chest as his hold paralyzed her. She knew exactly what was about to happen.

Cody hesitated for a second as his lips brushed against hers. When she didn't pull back or give him any signs of not wanting to kiss him back, he captured her lips with his. The kiss was slow, yet deep and passionate. It was as if everything finally fell into place and made sense.

Their hearts were bursting through their chest as their stomachs flipped and a spark of electricity ran down their spines to their toes. Y/N leaned up on her toes as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Cody wrapped his arms around her waist and walked backwards until he pressed her up against the fridge without breaking the kiss. Their lips moved in perfect sync until their lungs were begging for air.

Cody pulled back slowly as Y/N kept her eyes closed. Cody had literally taken her breath away and she just wanted to take in the blissful kiss they just shared. 

Cody cupped her cheek again as she slowly fluttered her eyes open. "I have something to tell you," he traced her cheekbone with his thumb, his eyes never leaving hers. She held his gaze, wondering what he was about to tell her next. "I'm in love with my best friend..." he trailed nervously.

Y/N smiled before she pulled him in and kissed him deeply once more. Cody kissed her back with so much passion and desire as his arms tightened around her. She pulled back, instantly locking her eyes with his once more. "I'm in love with my best friend too," she smiled.