#ness lc thoughts

[catguangcorner]

thinking about lu guang (save me) and how oftentimes he's both overly protective of cxs and yet at the same time quite hard on him/distant with him...what if it's because it hurts to much to be open and close with him—he cares for cxs in a way that aches. in a way that is so profound he breaks his own rules. what if he sees himself as no good, really, his only purpose being to protect a light that was kind enough to shine on him? what if he feels that he's sullied cheng xiaoshi, through his cruel rules, through 'making' cheng xiaoshi do these dives which keep him up at night?

i like the idea/theories that one of the bad endings for cxs, the worst one, was the one in which lu guang was the most vulnerable with him. and because of that, he can never let it happen again

[catguangcorner]

shiguang vibes 100% tbh, qiao ling is essentially cheng xiaoshi's older sister AND their landlady so she's not going anywhere (that is exactly the way lu guang and cheng xiaoshi like it ofc)

Couple + Sibling/relative third wheel is honestly an S-tier trio dynamic and I wish we saw more of this in media.

"You are my soulmate. We are forged together by battle and tears and love. Also my brother's coming along."

"Yo."

[nilboxes]

You're so right for toxic fubu aven, I wish people would stop equating him as someone who has no choice or control over what happens when in most scenes he's the one with the high ground and authority over the situation.

How do you think Ratio and Aven in his toxic fubu era would interact ?

Sometimes I feel like I'm putting the dial up to 11 a little too much, because Aventurine has always been a sweetheart on the outside, and toxic fubu is a little "one-facet" read on him but like, I just really am tired of him being characterized as a baby damsel uwu uke when he's actually a dudebro deep down. People are free to characterize how they like but like, I am also free to call it out as an interpretation that has gone a little too out there and it's not in the "spirit" of the character anymore.

Anyway

My friend on twitter succinctly puts it— "Aventurine is always where he wants to be, whether or not he is happy about it is another question entirely" and I have been thinking long and hard about this, to ne he is "where he is most advantageous in position" such as being a Stoneheart in the IPC but whether or not he is happy to be there is irrelevant, he is where he would be able to do what he wants with the most effectivity etc etc. His cornerstone is literally "Stratagems" which is also turning a bad situation into a good one.

So regarding uhh how Aventurine would be with Ratio during this era— I don't touch upon this in fics because I am waiting for Diamond appearance, but my personal headcanon is that Diamond periodically sends moles as potential partners to Aventurine as a way to fuck with him and potentially gain more influence/control over him. I kinda want to explain his fuck boy-ness through this, he knows he's being lead on, he is being baited, and he's playing the game and using the people sent to him in turn.

If Ratio met him during this time, I do believe Aventurine would still like, fall in love with him at first sight (let's say the Final Victor LC and my fic shenanigans where I imply Aventurine influenced bringing Ratio over to the IPC/IG was a thing) he'd be so smitten... he'd realize he doesn't want any other partner except Ratio, he doesn't even get off properly anymore (he's still the best at fucking though) and all his thoughts is consumed by how he's going to have Dr Veritas Ratio in his bed and his life.

He would really start a courtship with Ratio, he would like, get advise from various anonymous places to figure out how to woo the Doctor. He'd engineer a way to meet him and have introductions made. Give flowers, write letters (commissioned ones but he'd also add personal touches) and basically do all that until Dr Ratio agrees to go out to coffee with him (Not even dinner ToT coz Ratio is so hard to get to know) and they'll build from there, all the while Aven wouldn't be doing the casual sex anymore (much to Sugilite's sadness :()

[obsessedlovebird]

Y'all thought I was cursed, but the lc! Bloggers combined are, enough to rivalmy fucked-up-ness the @ultimateloscampblog drafts are a clusterfuck.

[twdmusicboxmystery]

TWB 1x08 + TTD Clues

Hey Everyone! So here, at last, is my TWB post. Sorry it took me an extra day to get it finished. But before I get into the awesome TD symbolism, I want to say something. Today is Thanksgiving in the states. It’s a day we eat lots of good food and appreciate everything we have and tell each other what we’re thankful for.

So today, I just want to say that I’m extremely thankful for this fandom and for all my lovely followers and fellow TDers. It’s been such a huge part of my life for these past years. It’s kept me company and shaped me in ways even I probably don’t appreciate. So thank you so much for all being on this journey with me. I’ve no doubt that our girl is coming home. And soon!

Okay, onto the episode. First, a quick run-down. Most of the episode is centered around whether or not Silas killed Tony and what they’re going to do about it. We do get a humdinger of a twist at the end: Huck is a double agent.

I rewatched part of episode 1 because I thought I remembered the lieutenant colonel (Julia Ormond – I’ll just call her LC, okay?) saying something to the girls about having a kid. And she did. It’s in the scene where Hope and Iris talk to her in the dark, still back at the University, and she gives them the map. She says she has a daughter who’s older than them and who is a soldier from the CRM, so she’s away from her mother a lot and LC misses her. Guess who that daughter is? It’s Huck. So, she’s been a spy for LC this whole time, and has been living at the university colony specifically to do her spying. When she “scouts ahead” of the group, she’s often reporting back to her mother.

LC asks Huck how “the asset” is and Huck says the asset is fine. My fellow theorists and I talked about who the asset actually is, and we’ve agreed that it’s probably Hope. I think the most obvious answer is Iris, because she’s more the “main” character and the one LC connected with the most in episode 1. But I think that’s misdirection. 

Not only because of the flashback conversation Hope had with her dad, where he hinted there might be something she needed to know that he hadn’t told her, but also because Huck is always with Hope. She’s the one Huck is friends with. Anytime the group splits up to check things out or look for supplies, Huck goes with Hope. Like she’s protecting her or something. So  for now, our theory is that Hope is the “asset.”

But let’s turn to Silas. We finally get flashbacks as to what happened with his father. And this is where more his Daryl-ness comes in. His father was super abusive. Silas beat him up in a fit of rage/self-defense. And while his father didn’t die immediately (it wouldn’t be fair to say Silas actually beat him to death) he died later of his injuries. And then as a walker, he attacked Silas’s mother and Silas had to put him down. It’s all pretty brutal and you understand why Silas is kinda messed up.

The point is, he has rage blackouts. That’s what happened with his dad. Silas goes into a rage and actually blacks out and, for at least a time, doesn’t remember what happened. So in the episode, even Silas thinks he probably killed Tony and Percy. I don’t think he did. The best evidence is that, when it happened with his dad, he didn’t remember what happened immediately, but within a few minutes, it does come back, and he remembers what he did.

In this episode, he doesn’t remember what happened with Tony and Percy, and it never comes back to him. And they specifically show us that that’s not how it worked with his dad. So, I’m thinking someone hit him over the head and that’s why he doesn’t remember: he didn’t do anything. But even he doesn’t believe that.

So, this struck me as being Silas’s Them episode. He’s super sad, hates himself, grieving a lot of things, and at one point even sort of gives up and is going to let a walker bite him until Hope shows up and saves him.

But the biggest thing is that he leaves at the end. Felix and Huck are trying to decide whether to leave him behind or not. They don’t want to, but they don’t know much about him and, in their eyes, he could be dangerous. Even if he doesn’t mean to, he could have another rage blackout and hurt someone.

Iris talks to him and says “just tell me you didn’t kill anyone and I’ll believe you.” He says he can’t because he thinks he might have done it. Then he just leaves so he’s not a burden on them anymore.

TONS of Beth dialogue at this point. Iris says he’s “gone.” He says he’s glad he got to know Iris (what Beth said of Zack in 4x01). So he leaves by himself and Elton wants to go with him (Hope finally confesses to Elton about his mother, so this episode ends very sad).

But here’s the real kicker, guys. At the end, we see Silas walking through the woods by himself, and he’s wearing his headphones. A walker comes toward him. The walker immediately caught my attention because it’s blond and female. Truly, it wasn’t any more or less Bethish than any other blond walker we’ve seen, but it still jumped out at me after all the other Beth symbolism around Silas in this episode.

He grabs a board or a branch and kills it. Doesn’t seem like that big a deal. He does injure it in the forehead, but it’s on the right side. And you know, no gun or anything. 

But then, at the VERY end, it shows the walker lying in the road up close and we see Silas walking away in the distance. 

And then it pans over, and his walkman and headphones are on the ground next to the walker. He left them behind. 

And the thing is, I don’t know why. Did he just abandon the music? Or did it stop working? I almost wonder if the walkman broke when he was fighting the walker.

If that’s the case, it’s a MASSIVE parallel to the broken music box. Lying next to the blond walker. With the forehead wound.

See why I’m having feels about this episode? 

So, either he’s just a massive Beth proxy, or he’s heading toward wherever she is. I almost feel like the writers are telling us Silas is heading toward Beth. (And granted, I’m not at all objective about this; it’s totally my TD hopefulness kicking in. But there’s one other reason I think this could be a thing. I’ll come back to it in a minute.)

Huck said something weird, too. When Iris told everyone Silas had left, Huck asks Felix, “Do you think he’ll change his mind and come back for us?” It’s just a weird way to word it. Why would he need to come back for them? Besides, they’re going to look for the girls’ dad, so they’re not going to hang around in the same place.

I feel like that’s definitely a foreshadow on the writers’ part. And it really may just be a Silas/plot thing. But it suggests that at some point he’ll return to save the group in some way. …Which is exactly what we’ve always thought about Beth, no?

Let’s talk about Percy for a minute. They couldn’t find his body, but there’s a trail of blood that ends at the river. The thing is, they’re all assuming Percy is dead. They think either he’s a walker and staggered away, in which case the river current simply took him. Or that even if he was alive when he staggered away, he was wounded, and no one can survive the river’s currents and undertow. If he went in wounded, he’s probably dead anyway.

It just stuck out to me that that’s EXACTLY what we think happened with Beth. The group went back for her, didn’t find her body, but maybe some blood or a trail that Daryl followed for a time, searching for her. But they’re assuming she died/staggered away as a walker (hence blond tree walker in 5x15) but they never found a body.

I siriusly doubt Percy is actually dead. It’s just meant to look like he is. And my main theory throughout the episode was that Percy must have killed Tony and framed Silas. No idea why he’d do that, but we’ve already discussed that Percy has kind of a sinister vibe about him, and I’m happy just going with it and waiting for them to eventually explain what happened and why.

But the reveal about Huck at the end throws a wrench in things. We have a second suspect, now. I still don’t know why, exactly, she would kill Tony and either kill or attempt to kill Percy, but the two of them did know a lot about CRM resources and were kind of flouting their rebelliousness and thievery. If she’s loyal to the CRM (because LC is her mom) maybe that would be enough for her to kill them. Or maybe something else went down we have no idea about yet (kinda like at Grady?). Or maybe it really wasn’t her. No way to know, yet. But it’s an interesting possibility.

There were plenty of other symbols to be had in this episode, but I don’t think I need to go over most of them, because by now you all know how to interpret them. Lots of stars. 

Boots. Pig references. Clocks. The scene where Elton and Iris talk and he tells her the stars she THINKS are dead are actually very much alive. (If that’s not on-the-nose, I don’t know what is.) And don’t forget the title: The Sky is a Graveyard. Lots of focus on the stars, including a shooting star indicative of Sirius, a blue bird toy at the playground, a song called “The Crosses Made.” Oh, and there were tons of dinosaurs behind Silas, especially in his room in flashbacks, which was interesting.

So yeah, you get the idea.

I said I had one other reason to think Silas might be heading toward Beth, right? Well, this didn’t come from the episode. Rather, it came from TTD, which they did for both FTWD and TWB this past week.

Among others, the actor who plays Silas (Hal Cumpston) was on. At the very end, as Chris Hardwick always does, he asked what the actors could tease about the rest of the season. Various answers were given, but Hal Cumpston said, “Rick.”

Now, don’t anyone freak out. The way he said it, laughingly, made it obvious he wasn’t being serious. He was teasing. It actually reminded me a lot of Lauren Ridloff being asked about Connie and Daryl and teasing a shower scene. The huge grin on her face is what let’s you know that’s not actually happening. She’s just having fun teasing fans about it. This was similar.

And let’s be real: if Rick WERE going to show up in TWB, no way they’d let this kid spoil that for everyone.

But one other possibility comes to mind: Beth. I have no idea if she’s what he was alluding to, but given the “new sheriff in town” symbolism and how interchangeable Rick and Beth symbolism is, it wouldn’t surprise me. I could be wrong, of course. I’m just throwing it out there as a possibility.

And given how many Beth parallels were in this episode, to have him say this on the TTD right after? Yeah, giving this a long, hard, side-eye.

That’s all I have for today. Happy Turkey Day, everyone!  

[sparklecryptid]

*slides revamped old plot bunny forward*

Ardyn and Aera had Kids AU where Aera sent her kids into hiding on the islands that would later become Galahd and Ardyn didn’t know about it so there’s TWO lines of LC’s running about expect everyone chocks the Galahdian LC’s, well, LC-ness up to it being Galahd.

(But the Galahdian’s didn’t ever really forget. They might have forgotten the names but they know that an Oracle left her children in their care and that that family is one of theirs now.)

So, OC (maybe oc insert? Maybe oc insert from different FF fandom? Who knows yet i do not) grows up with magic singing in their veins and while the healing magic has dimmed over time that doesn’t mean their family isn’t immune to the Scourge.

So, OC goes to mainland Lucis when Galahd falls, dragged there by their older brother Luche (Lazarus. They were named Lazarus because though the progenitors of their family were dead (or thought dead) the family itself still survived.

The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.)

So OC settles into a life in Insomnia and one day, one day five years before canon when they are 26 and decide that ‘Hey what if vacation to the Quay?’ So they go on vacation.

To Galdin.

Thing is, Ardyn is there. Ardyn is there and when the two meet the magic under their skin sings.

[legxllyblxndc]

city break ( @foreverwednesday ) 

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle had been looking forward to the weekend away. It wasn't like she and Edie had much going at home. The electricity was strictly forbidden and they were just trying to get by. Getting out and being able to let their hair down for a little while was definitely going to be better. She smiled as she poured herself, Edie and Emilie a shot. "Why did he have to bring her?" Annabelle hissed to her friends. She didn't understand why Florence would come when none of them actually liked her but she knew better than to say something to Tommy.

AG LC TC FM: Link tapped his foot as he looked at his friends. He knew it wouldn't be long until they started on something a little heavier than alcohol and he was really trying to ease things off a little with all of that. He was trying - but he was failing most days. He knew that this weekend was going to be almost impossible. He clapped Gabe on the back with a laugh. "This is gonna be a good weekend, right?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

AG LC TC FM: Theo thought that it was really nice that he was asked to go on the trip with the rest of them. He liked being included with Edies friends. He had no idea what was going on with the two of them but he knew that he wanted to be around her, he wanted to be near her and he wanted to be friends with her friends. He looked around at everyone before he moved to sit down, a beer in hand. Theo never knew where his place was with this lot but he was just glad to be there with them all.

AG LC TC FM: Florence knew that Emilie and Annabelle hated her but she didn't care. She was trying to ignore all of that. Because this meant that she got to spend time with Tommy. She knew that she wouldn't trust him enough to go to something like this on his own. She was pretty sure that Tommy was definitely an out of sight, out of mind kind of person. So she was there to keep an eye on everything that was going on.

EH GS EC TM joined the chat

EH GS EC TM: Emilie had been so excited to get away for a city break - until she found out that Florence was coming. She was still excited to spend time with her friends, but she was determined to spend as little time as possible around her. "It's disgusting. I don't even want to look at her - the upper class-ness is turning my stomach." She rolled her eyes. "Why does she have to be here?! It's ridiculous. It's supposed to a fucking friends trip. Not friends and the person you occasionally fuck." Emilie shook her head. "And he can think a-fucking-gain if he thinks he's palming her off on one of us when he wants to bring another girl back to the room."

EH GS EC TM: "It's gonna be the best weekend, man!" Gabe grinned, nodding his head. He had saved up his wages to be able to pitch in for the girls to come, even though Emilie had paid her own way and he'd been excited since he put away the very first pound. He knew that Link and Tommy could've afforded it between them, but he wanted to help. "Hey - can you believe Tommy brought Florence?" He chuckled.

EH GS EC TM: Edie hadn't wanted to be the one to suggest Theo coming on the trip because she didn't want people to question it, but when the others had asked if she wanted him to she'd been happy to say yes. She always felt better when he was around, she just loved his company and she was so happy that he was here. She had taken a little something when they'd first gotten to the apartment, so she felt fine so far. She smiled and went over to join Theo, sitting next to him with a smile. "Excited for this weekend, then?"

EH GS EC TM: Since Izzy and Nick's engagement party, Tommy and Florence had been seeing a lot of each other and Tommy didn't want to give that up for the weekend - so he'd brought her along. He didn't think it was a big deal since there was space in his room, but he knew the girls were furious that he hadn't asked. He rolled his eyes as he looked over at them, handing a drink to Florence. "For you. It's a surprise." He laughed - really, he had just mixed a bunch of stuff together.

AG LC TC FM: Like Emilie, Annabelle hated how Florence just flaunted her wealth. Especially when she knew that she and Edie and Gabe didn't have much. She thought that it was spiteful and she didn't like the girl at all. "Oh, absolutely not. And she's a fucking idiot if she thinks that Tommy won't be hitting on some random girl tonight." She rolled her eyes. She knew that she should probably feel bad for Florence but she thought that, that was all on her. She knew who Tommy was. She thought that Florence was just asking for it now. "You'd have thought she'd have learnt. Seriously - what little self respect must you have for yourself to keep going back to him?" Though she was 'talking' to Vance again so she knew she couldn't say much.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded as Gabe spoke. He was more than happy to pay all their ways tonight, he just didn't think that any of the others would appreciate it all that much. He would try his hardest though. "No. I can't. I can't believe he didn't say anything. Have you seen the look on Annabelle and Emilies faces?" It was so clear that they weren't happy with the fact that she was there.

AG LC TC FM: Though Theo knew that Edie didn't have to- he was glad that Edie had come over to him. He liked spending time with her and this weekend was no exception. He also liked being able to be there in case she needed a friend, like the last time. He didn't want her to have to go through everything on her own again. "Yeah - it should be really good." He smiled with a nod of his head, "Are you?"

AG LC TC FM: Florence liked that she and Tommy were spending more time together. It made her feel like he was actually serious about everything this time. She knew that she had given him too many chances but she thought that this was worth it. She raised an eyebrow as he handed her the drink, "Are you trying to get me drunk?" She asked, as she took a sip of the drink. She squinted her face at the taste. It was so strong.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie hated that Florence was just here for Tommy - she didn't understand why she couldn't let them have their weekend and just see him when they got back, if she was so desperate. "She's a fucking idiot anyway." She rolled her eyes, examining her nails as she spoke. She didn't feel any sympathy for Florence, mostly because Tommy made it quite clear who he was every single time. Deep down, though, she knew she couldn't really talk about self respect - she'd had a last minute outfit change due to a blooming bruise on her ribs as a result of Kurt not wanting her to go on the city break.

EH GS EC TM: "I know! I heard Emilie say she was going to kill her earlier... You don't think she will, do you?" Gabe asked frightfully, looking worriedly over at his friend. Usually, he would take it as a joke, but from Emilie or Annabelle he was never sure. He did wish Tommy had asked, though - he always changed a little bit when he was with Florence. "Oh well - it's still gonna be good!" He smiled, nodding his head. He knew they would have fun no matter what.

EH GS EC TM: Edie often found herself questioning whether she needed to distance herself from Theo a little bit more... Her feelings were definitely still there and when little things happened between them, she knew she was in hot water. "Yeah, of course - but just a little warning, do not do anything to piss off Anna and Em. They're in a mood already." She chuckled fondly, shaking her head.

EH GS EC TM: "Absolutely." Tommy laughed, nodding his head. "It's the only way you'll be able to fucking put up with those two." He rolled his eyes as he looked over at the girls. Although he thought Edie let them all walk all over her, he sometimes wished the other girls had a bit more of her chill. "Don't let them be fucking rude to you." He told her, although he knew Florence wouldn't. It was one of his favourite things about her. "Any requests with the bars we go to tonight?"

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't even think that Florence might be more friendly with them, if they gave her the chance. But Annabelle definitely did not want to. She just wasn't interested in getting to know one of Tommys girlfriends when it was clear that she probably wasn't going to be around more often. "That's the understatement of the century." She laughed bitterly with a nod of her head. "You know what we need? Drinking games." Annabelle smirked. That was absolutely what she wanted and she thought that it would add something a little more interesting to the night,.

AG LC TC FM: Link laughed as Gabe spoke and he nodded his head, "Yeah, she was definitely joking. Though I wouldn't put it past her to start something tonight." He shrugged. He thought that Emilie was one of the most firey people he knew and he actually loved that about her. Link wasn't particularly fond of when Florence was around but he knew how Tommy would react if he said anything about it. "Of course it will!"

AG LC TC FM: Theo had no idea what was going to happen between he and Edie. He liked her so much. He wished that he had never let her go in the first place but he knew that he couldn't say that to her. He was so afraid of saying the wrong thing and completely ruining everything between the two of them. He just liked that they were able to be together now. "Oh really? How come?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

AG LC TC FM: Florence laughed as Tommy mentioned Emilie and Annabelle. She had felt the glares from the two of them but it didn't bother Florence anymore. She didn't see why it had to matter. "Of course I won't." The blonde rolled her eyes. She never let them get away with it. She didn't care what they thought about her, she thought that they were too far up each others arses, that they couldn't see anyone else. "I want cocktails so as long as there's cocktails then that's all that matters to me."

EH GS EC TM: Emilie laughed, nodding her head. "Well if I said what I actually wanted to say, I think the festivities might start early. And we have to save some drama for later." She grinned wickedly, grabbing her bottle of rum and topping up her drink heavily. "You're a genius. Mr and Mrs?" She laughed, raising an eyebrow. That always got them good and drunk and she definitely felt like she needed that right now.

EH GS EC TM: "As long as there's no death, they can start what they want!" Gabe laughed, shrugging his shoulders. He would obviously prefer there to be no drama, but he knew the two girls too well - they couldn't keep their mouths shut, especially once they'd had a drink. A grin spread across his face as he heard the talk of games and he clapped his hands excitedly. "Yes! Mr and Mrs, please!" He loved playing that game.

EH GS EC TM: Even now, Edie found herself wondering if anything would happen between them this weekend and she knew that she shouldn't be thinking like that. She had to be content with his friendship and for the most part, she was. She just liked him so much. "Well, um, it's because he brought Florence without asking anybody... and they don't like Florence very much. At all. In fact, to say they hated her and wish she disappeared off the face of the Earth would be an understatement." She winced.

EH GS EC TM: "Good." Tommy smirked. He knew that he would've been furious if Annabelle or Emilie had brought one of their boyfriends without asking the others, but this was different. It was him. And Tommy didn't let anybody tell him what he could or couldn't do. "Alright, cocktails. Shouldn't be too hard." He laughed, shrugging his shoulders. "Mr and Mrs? You want to cause fights so early on in the night?" He laughed, raising an eyebrow.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle laughed. She was definitely in agreement with her friend. She thought that if both of them said exactly what they wanted to say, none of the others would forgive them. She laughed as she heard Emilie and then Tommy and she looked over at him with a shrug of her shoulders, "What? You don't think your ego can handle it, Morley? You and me, up first!" She smirked. She liked challenging Tommy. She always thought that it was fun for them to do something like this. Both of them had a bit of an ego, so fun was always gonna come with that.

AG LC TC FM: "Exactly." Link muttered with a nod of his head. As he heard the drinking game, he nodded. He definitely felt like he needed a little something to get them going. "I'm just gonna nip to the toilet." He muttered to Gabe. It felt like the drugs were burning a hole in his pocket and he definitely needed something now. but he didn't want to miss out on the festivities. Especially not if Annabelle and Tommy were first.

AG LC TC FM: "Oh right." Theo muttered with a nod of his head. He didn't really know what to do with that but he knew better than to question it. Annabelle and Emilie were a force and he was definitely intimidated by that. He thought that he remembered the game from when he was with Edie last time but it definitely make him a little nervous. he didn't see this ending well.

AG LC TC FM: Florence shrugged her shoulders slightly. She wondered if Tommy could make it easier for her with his friends but she wasn't about to say anything to that. She thought that he wouldn't like that at all. "Exactly. So you're all good." She chuckled with a shrug of her shoulders. She was definitely excited for tonight and she hoped that Tommy was as well. She raised an eyebrow as she heard the others, "Oh, this is definitely going to be fun."

EH GS EC TM: Tommy laughed at the question and it didn't even take him a second to drink, rolling his eyes as he realised that Annabelle had as well. He thought it was pretty obvious that he was the best looking one in the group and he liked it being that way. He looked around at his friends as he waited for the next question. He always enjoyed this game.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie knew, of course, where Link and Edie had gone and although she hated it, she wasn't about to say anything. She wasn't even against drugs - that much. She just thought that their problems spanned far beyond having fun and she wished she could help them. She crossed one leg over the other and took a sip of her drink as she watched Annabelle and Tommy both drink, smirking slightly.

EH GS EC TM: Edie felt much better as soon as she had a little fix - she didn't even mind playing the game anymore and although she knew everybody would know where she'd been, she didn't really care. She sat back in her previous place, cross-legged and eager to catch up on what she'd missed. She figured that they'd both drank - she did think Tommy was good looking, but his ego ruined it. She definitely regretted the one time they'd slept together.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe looked over at Florence as the game began - he often wondered how she felt, being around them all. She very much confused him as a person. Theo was an outsider too, but at least they all got along with him... He didn't think he would go anywhere with two people who disliked him so much, if he was Florence. He wondered if she actually liked any of them, other than Tommy.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't care what Tommy thought. She knew that he was probably better looking than she was but she could not admit that to him. She looked over at the others, wondering who the next person to ask a question would be. She thought that it was always fun to see what everyone seemed to want from these games. She knew that they wouldn't be tame either.

AG LC TC FM: Link rested against the wall, away from the others, when he got back. He wanted to watch for a little bit. Though he was looking forward to this one. He didn't think that Tommy and Annabelle were going to go easy on one another. Though he definitely felt better now that he had had a little bit of something. He looked at his friends as Annabelle and Tommy drank, then looked at the others, waiting for someone to say something.

AG LC TC FM: Theo smiled slightly as Edie sat down next to him. He wasn't about to do something which was going to upset her but he definitely knew where she had been. He just hoped that she would be okay tonight. He wasn't sure what to ask, he knew that he wouldn't say the right thing and he would probably be a little boring, so he waited for someone else to speak.

AG LC TC FM: Florence laughed as she saw both of them drink. She figured that everyone knew that Tommy was the most attractive one there. "Who has the worse temper?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a smile. She thought that if no one else was asking something, then she would. And she didn't think it was a bad question - until you took in who was playing.

EH GS EC TM: Tommy laughed at the question - he didn't even think that was a little bit of a competition. He knew that he could be hotheaded, but it was nothing compared to Annabelle. "Are you joking? She's a Gellar." He laughed, rolling his eyes. He didn't drink and he didn't think anybody would blame him for that.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie laughed as she heard the question, but raised an eyebrow at Tommy's answer. She didn't like what he was insinuating, but she was going to leave it to Annabelle to see if she wanted to pull him up on it or not. She pulled out a packet of cigarettes and cracked open the window, leaning out slightly to light up. She knew that it would probably be her and Florence asking the questions all night.

EH GS EC TM: Edie actually thought that both people had bad tempers, just in different ways- she knew that Annabelle blew up easily, but Tommy was absolutely the easiest to put in a mood, so she thought his reaction was pretty rich. She got up to join Emilie, turning to Theo with a smile. "Want one?"

EH GS EC TM: Gabe was usually pretty good with the questions, especially with this pair and he was thinking of what to ask once Annabelle had drank - or didn't drink. He liked playing games like this, because he knew it was never going to affect anybody's friendship - they were all pretty resilient that way.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle narrowed her eyes as she heard Tommy, but she drank anyway. "Would be different if you asked who got offended easier." She muttered with a shrug of her shoulders. She didn't like his comment about her having the worse temper just because she was a Gellar. Annabelle never liked being whittled down to just being a Gellar. Not when she was more than that.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head with a laugh as he watched the two of them talk. He figured it wouldn't be long before the two of them lost their temper at one another and he was already looking forward to the blow up. He liked that they could argue as much as they wanted and they would all still be okay again in the end.

AG LC TC FM: Theo was a very different person to the rest of them and he thought that it was kind of funny that Annabelle and Tommy were arguing about being the worst tempered. "I'm good. Thank you." Theo had never smoked and he didn't have any intention of starting now.

AG LC TC FM: Florence laughed as she heard Tommy because, if she was honest, she completely agreed with him. Annabelle obviously had the worst temper. She was a Gellar after all. And she thought that it was pretty rich of her to try and argue with him even though she had already had a drink.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie glared at Florence as she heard her laugh - it was okay for people in the group to laugh at each other, but not her. She wanted to ask something she knew Annabelle would win, to give her friend a bit of a leg up. "Who's the better friend?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. She didn't think there was a single competition there. Annabelle was fiercely loyal and Tommy? He picked and chose when he wanted to be a friend. She watched them carefully, curious as to what their answers would be.

EH GS EC TM: "Says the one who just got offended over a drinking game." Tommy sniggered, shaking his head. He always enjoyed winding people up, but especially when it came to Annabelle - knowing he could get a reaction was one of the finer pleasures, for him. He raised an eyebrow at the question and he took a sip of his drink. He had always been a good friend, he thought.

EH GS EC TM: Edie turned as she heard the question, curious to see what the answer would be. It seemed obvious to her that Annabelle was the better friend - but she also knew she was probably biased, because she and Annabelle had an understanding that nobody else in the group had. Not really.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe chuckled softly, looking over at Link with a raise of his eyebrows - this game always got tensions rising and he found it almost funny when Annabelle and Tommy bickered, because they could give as good as they got. He never had a clue who was going to win one of their arguments.

AG LC TC FM: "That's easy." Annabelle scoffed, quickly taking a drink. She would do anything for any of the people in that room, no matter what. She didn't think the same could be said about Tommy. If there was a girl involved, she was almost certain that he wouldn't. "You've got to be kidding, right?" Annabelle asked with a raise of an eyebrow as she realised that he had drank too. "You think you're a better friend than me? Are you serious?"

AG LC TC FM: Florence rolled her eyes as she saw the look on Emilies face. Though she didn't like her, she could've just smiled and pretended to get along. Something that it seemed like Emilie was unwilling to do. She thought that, that was incredibly childish and thought that she acted too high and mighty for that. She narrowed her eyes as Annabelle started debating Tommy, she thought that Tommy was a good friend too.

AG LC TC FM: Theo didn't think he liked this game. It seemed that the aim was just to get people annoyed at each other and he didn't understand why people found that fun. Though he kept quiet. He kind of just wanted to go to him room and read for a little bit. He sometimes didn't know why he came to things like this, when it was so far out of his comfort zone

AG LC TC FM: Link smirked as Gabe looked over to him. He found it entertaining to watch people, especially Tommy and Annabelle, play this game because he knew that neither would really give up. He laughed before he said his question, "Who has the better taste in partners?" He thought that, that would cause enough of a stir, especially since Florence was in the room.

EH GS EC TM: "Obviously I'm serious." Tommy rolled his eyes - he thought he was just as good of a friend as Annabelle, if not better. He was the person that kept the group entertained and having fun, after all. He thought that was just as important as all the other stuff. "Better taste in partners? Please - could there be an easier question?" He snorted and drank a big gulp of his drink. He didn't think there was any question there - Annabelle had the worst taste in boyfriends he'd ever seen.

EH GS EC TM: "Oh fucking hell, that's in impossible question. Nobody's a winner with this one." Emilie laughed, rolling her eyes. She couldn't stand Vance and she couldn't stand Florence - she thought they were both as bad as each other. She was already sick of having the blonde girl here and if she was honest, she just wanted to get drunk and go out so that she could get away from her.

EH GS EC TM: Like Theo, this game always managed to make Edie uncomfortable and although she loved her friends to the bones, sometimes she did feel a little bad for Florence - especially when Tommy didn't ever stand up for her. She looked over to Theo, sensing the same discomfort she felt. She nudged him gently. "Do you want to go upstairs for a bit?" She whispered, raising an eyebrow. She didn't think anybody would notice, anyway.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe grinned at Link's question - if he was totally honest, he thought Tommy had this one... He knew Florence could be too much sometimes, but he thought Vance was just a straight up terrible person. He finished his beer and reached to grab himself another - he was already through one six pack and he was definitely feeling a buzz

AG LC TC FM: "Well you're a liar then." She shrugged. Annabelle was convinced that she was a better friend than Tommy. She thought that she was there for the others way more than he was there for any of them. She thought the next question was in the bag so obviously drank. "Absolutely not!" Annabelle shook her head. She knew that none of her friends didn't like Vance but at least he was better than Florence, she thought. "Someone else play before I hit him." She rolled her eyes, downing the rest of her drink.

AG LC TC FM: Link laughed as he heard Emilies voice and he nodded his head, "Yeah, that's why I asked it." He didn't particularly care that Florence was right there and could hear everything that they were saying about her. He was pretty sure that she would be off with Tommy again soon anyway so it didn't even matter, he thought. It wasn't like they made much of an effort to stay together.

AG LC TC FM: Theo raised an eyebrow as Edie spoke to him. He so desperately wanted to but he didn't want to offend any of her friends. He was still trying to make a good impression on them all after all. "Your friends won't mind?" He asked her. he just wanted to make sure.

AG LC TC FM: Florence sighed at Links question and the responses. She thought that it was so rude of them to treat her liek they did. They didn't like each other but she would at least try. It felt like none of them could even be bothered with that. She finished off her drink and quickly moved over to making herself another one. She had told Tommy that she wouldn't let them walk all over her but she was too tired to deal with their bullshit.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie genuinely didn't think she was this mean to anybody else - she could be blunt, sure, but she just saw zero point in making an effort with Florence when Tommy was going to replace her soon anyway. "I'll play." She shrugged her shoulders as Annabelle spoke, looking over at Florence. "Me and you?" She raised an eyebrow, a little smirk on her face. She'd had half the bottle by this point and she was feeling bored. She wanted to spice things up a little bit.

EH GS EC TM: "Touchy, aren't we Gellar? Who was the most easily offended again?" Tommy smirked, finishing what was in his cup before he went to sit down. It never even occurred to him that he needed to stand up for Florence - as far as he was concerned, these were his best friends and this was the way they always were with each other. He treated Annabelle and Emilie's boyfriends with the same kind of contempt. He poured himself another drink, making sure it was strong and sat down to watch the next pair. He definitely thought this was going to be interesting.

EH GS EC TM: "They won't even notice." Edie laughed softly, shaking her head. She didn't say it in an angry way - she didn't mind it at all. She knew how much her friends loved her, but she was easily the most unremarkable among them and at times like this, she didn't contribute what the others did to these kinds of games. "Come on," she smiled, holding out her hand to him. The booze, coupled with what she'd taken earlier had given her a little bit more confidence and she knew she would much rather be on her own with him, than in here playing this game. Especially when the next pair was revealed to be Emilie and Florence.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe let out a giggle as Emilie got up and spoke to Florence - he was well on his way to being drunk and he could tell this was going to be fun. As Annabelle sat down, he moved across the room to sit next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You're a better friend than Tommy." He whispered with a little laugh.

AG LC TC FM: Florence had grown tired of expecting Tommy to stick up for her. She knew that if it was a choice between her and his friends, he would always be on their side. Florence sighed as Emilie spoke to her. It was probably the most words she had said to her and, if she was honest, she should've seen it coming. "Fine." She muttered, moving to stand back to back with Emilie. She knew that, whatever she did, these girls were going to have a problem with her.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle rolled her eyes, "Might be opinionated but at least I'm not deluded." She shrugged. She thought that it was obvious and she hated that Tommy was always able to push her buttons. She was easily angered but he did it better than most people. Annabelle smiled though, as she felt Gabes arm around her. He was basically the opposite of Tommy, to her. He kept her calm, most of the time. "I know. Don't worry." She smiled.

AG LC TC FM: Link smirked as he saw the look on Emilies face. He knew that look and he couldn't wait for this one. He thought quickly as he looked at the two girls. He definitely wanted to be able to think of a good one to start it all off. "Who is more dramatic?" Link asked. He'd never said it, but he had always thought that Emilie could be pretty dramatic. He didn't know how much she would like that though.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded. He didn't like that. It made him feel sad. He thought that Edie deserved more than that. He knew that she loved her friend and they loved her too but he thought that she deserved to have people who realised when she left the room, like he did. Theo smiled as he took a hold of her hand. He missed Edie so much and he wasn't about to pass up the chance to spend some time with her away from everyone .

EH GS EC TM: Emilie laughed at the question, rolling her eyes as she looked over at Link. She raised an eyebrow before she drank, shrugging her shoulders. "Keeps things entertaining, doesn't it?" She laughed. She knew she was dramatic and she didn't really care - most of the time, it was for good reason. She wondered if Florence would drink and she thought it would probably annoy her either way. The only person Emilie wouldn't drink against was Annabelle, she thought her friend definitely had her beat in that one.

EH GS EC TM: Tommy genuinely did think that Florence was the kind of person who could handle herself - another reason he never stepped in. He didn't realise how tiring it would be to be constantly fighting off Emilie and Annabelle. He laughed at the question, looking over to see if Florence was going to drink. He had seen her at probably her most dramatic and he still thought it didn't beat Emilie on a regular day.

EH GS EC TM: "Good." Gabe chuckled, keeping his arm around his best friend as he watched the game. It did sometimes occur to him that people outside the group probably didn't understand how they worked, probably thought that the way they treated each other wasn't nice... But they all knew each other so well that they knew where the line was and it was so far in the distance, even still.

EH GS EC TM: Edie knew that on a regular day, her absence would be noted - but when it came to something like this, she would actually rather slip away unnoticed. She smiled and lead the way to the girls room, figuring it would be tidier than the boys. "Did you bring a book?" She asked with a little smile. She knew he was always reading and she thought it was adorable. She had always liked reading, but she barely had time to do it now.

AG LC TC FM: Florence didn't drink at that one. She thought that it was pretty clear that Emilie was more dramatic than her. Though she knew that anything she did was probably going to wind the other up. She was prepared for Emilie to start up and so she looked over at Tommy, a small smirk on her lips. She wanted to pretend like she was ready for whatever Emilie was about to throw at her.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle rolled her eyes as Florence didn't drink, "Fucking bitch." She muttered with a shake of her head. She didn't really know - or care - if Florence was more dramatic than Emilie, but she didn't like that Florence would think that of her friend. She looked up at Gabe for a moment. If she thought about it, she knew why Vance didn't like Gabe. If Annabelle was completely honest with herself, she knew she would drop everything if he wanted her to.

AG LC TC FM: Link chuckled as he heard Emilie and he nodded his head, "That's one word for it." He felt better now that he had a little something in his system, more confident, more like himself. That was why he relied on it so much. He needed it. And even though he pretended otherwise, Link wouldn't change a single thing about Emilie. He thought she was probably the most amazing person there was.

AG LC TC FM: Theo was just happy to spend time with Edie. It didn't matter to him where that was. He just wanted to be able to be with her. He laughed as she spoke and nodded his head, "Of course I did. You know i'll probably end up holed away at some point." He shrugged. He wondered if that was why he didn't fit in as well with the others. They were so happy being in each others company. He preferred to just being by himself.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie laughed at Florence's words, a little smirk on her face - she liked the fact that she was biting, it meant that she was bothered. "Nope - I just have the one boyfriend. I don't need a back-up for whenever mine decides he's not interested anymore." She smiled sweetly, looking at the rest of the group. "Next question?" She was never going to let on that she was bothered, but it did piss her off just a little bit whenever people used Link against her. She didn't like how it made her think.

EH GS EC TM: Tommy grinned at Florence's response, nodding approvingly. He liked it when she stood up for herself, especially because he more than anybody knew that she could. He knew both girls could handle themselves, that's why he liked this game. "Go on, Anna. You've usually got something to say." He spoke to the blonde with a challenging raise of an eyebrow.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe giggled as Annabelle spoke - more at the thought of Florence sleeping with the PM than anything else. He had a very childish sense of humour and they all knew that. He looked over at Link as Florence mentioned his name, noting the scowl on his friends face. He thought Florence was stepping into dangerous territory there.

EH GS EC TM: Edie smiled, ducking her head slightly as Theo spoke. She didn't think she would ever understand why somebody like him would want to spend time with her. "Yeah - I read Reasons to Stay Alive." She nodded her head - she was pretty sure he had been the author. She missed reading. She missed how relaxed she felt when she really got into a book. She hadn't been excited about anything like that in quite a long time.

AG LC TC FM: "At least I actually have interest in me outside of a drug addict and a dickhead." Florence retorted as she shrugged her shoulders. She wondered if she would go as hard if Tommy had even attempted to stand up for her. There was no way that she was going to back down to Emilie. She thought that all the other was, was a bully. She looked at Annabelle as she rolled her eyes, knowing the girl would try and make something mean against her.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle was about to speak when she heard what Florence had to say. "This is why no-one fucking wants her here, Tommy. You hearing this?!" She asked as she looked over at him. Surely he couldn't just let her talk about Link like that? "Most likely to be fucking sleeping on the street because they're a fucking bitch?" Annabelle spat. She was annoyed now and she looked back at Gabe, sure that he couldn't even defend her.

AG LC TC FM: At the mention of his addiction, Link stood forward then. He didn't see why that had to be brought up if he was completely honest. "Fucking uptight, stupid bitch." Link spat as he shook his head. "You come here, with people who don't fucking like you and try and talk to us like that?" He was angry, the drugs in his system almost lighting a fire under him. He wanted a fight now.

AG LC TC FM: "Thats the one i'm reading now." Theo smile. If he was honest, he just wanted to be able to understand what it was like living with mental illness a little more, so he could understand Edie more. He wanted to be able to be there for her whenever she needed it. "Do you think the coast will be clear downstairs soon? Or are we stuck up here till we go out?

EH GS EC TM: Emilie didn't even hear what the question was - she was too enraged by what Florence had said to hear anything else. "You want to watch your fucking mouth." She hissed, turning around to face the other. "I don't know how you dare come in here, knowing that nobody wants you here. Even Tommy only asked you to come so he'd have somebody to fuck at the end of the night if it turns out badly. You come in here and you speak to my friends like that?" She asked, her eyes black and hard. "I swear to god, one more word and I will take that silver spoon out of your mouth and ram it down your fucking throat. Game's over." She spat, before looking at Tommy. "Control your pet, please."

EH GS EC TM: "Hey!" Gabe snapped as he heard what Florence had to say. He was usually the last one to speak up, but he wasn't going to let her speak about his friend that way just to try and get one up on Emilie. He sighed and turned to Tommy. "Why do you even bring her, Tommy? It's not fair!" His voice sounded sad - it was far from argumentative. It was an actual question. He just wished Tommy would stop doing things like this, again and again. "Alright - let's go outside." He muttered to Link, nodding his head towards the door. He looked at Annabelle and Emilie to follow them.

EH GS EC TM: Tommy internally groaned as things started to kick off - he'd wanted Florence to stand up for herself, but not like this. The addiction was one of those things that was off limits, when not many things were and she had absolutely done the only thing that could make them all hate her even more. "Alright! Let's all fucking calm down, shall we?" He called over everyone, shaking his head. "Can we talk upstairs?" He said quietly to Florence, raising an eyebrow. He wasn't going to do it in front of everybody and give them the satisfaction of seeing what they wanted. He thought they had been just as bad to her, if he was honest. Maybe even worse.

EH GS EC TM: "Do you like it?" Edie smiled curiously, rolling over so that she was on her stomach, facing him. She had really enjoyed the book - she'd got it out of the university library, unable to afford a copy for herself and sat there all night until she'd finished it. She wondered what Theo was thinking as he read it - was he thinking about her? "Soon... It needs to peak before it gets better. We'll hear when it happens." She knew her friends like she knew the back of her hand. She nodded as she started to hear footsteps. "Right on cue."

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle smirked as Emilie talked to Florence. She figured that her friend would be able to handle it, if she was completely honest. "Leave it Em, she's not fucking worth the breath." Annabelle rolled her eyes. She thought that Florence was the lowest of the low. She thought that she was the worst person that Tommy could've picked to be with and sometimes, she wondered why he was even with her.

AG LC TC FM: Link didn't think he was done. He wanted to fight someone. But as he heard Gabe, he followed after his friend regardless. He wasn't going to stay there for much longer because he was absolutely sure that he'd punch Florence and then he really would be in the wrong. Instead, he punched the wall once he was outside. He didn't even feel how bad his hand hurt after that. "Fucking BITCH!" Link shouted again. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got about it all.

AG LC TC FM: Florence knew that she would push buttons, that's why she had said it to them. If they had spoke to her about it all, she would tell them that she could probably figure out some ways in order to help Link, rather than letting it all be brushed under the carpet. But instead they all just seemed to want to make her the bad guy. Florence wanted to say more to her but she thought that would just be pushing it. She sometimes wondered if Emilie even realised how mean she could be. "Why? So you can stand up for them?" She looked at Tommy. That was what frustrated her the most. He would never stand up for her but he would have his friends backs, no matter what.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded, "Yeah, it's really interesting. I don't think i've ever understood mental health more than this, you know?" He asked with a small smile. Theo really did think Edie was the most wonderful person and learning more about her issues was something that made him even more in awe of her. Theo wished he was braver. If he was, he would've reached to kiss her then.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie laughed, nodding her head. "You're right." She picked up her drink and started to follow the boys outside - she loved Gabe, but she didn't know if he was the best person to handle Link when he was like this. "Go on, be a good little girl." She told Florence with a smirk as she refused to speak with Tommy. She didn't know why she felt the need to be this mean, but something about Florence offended her personally - especially after what she'd said about Link. She would never, ever take that. "Come on," she muttered to Annabelle, heading out of the door. "Oi! What's that gonna do?" She sighed as she saw Link punching the wall, putting a hand on his arm lightly.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe jumped slightly as his friend shouted, wincing as he saw blood on his hand as he pulled it away from the wall. He completely understood why Link was angry, because he was angry too - he just felt it in a very different way. He lit a cigarette for himself and one for his friend, handing it over silently. He wished Tommy had stood up for him more - this was what he meant when he'd said Annabelle was a better friend than Tommy ever was. He looked to her with a sad smile, shrugging his shoulders. He felt very disappointed in Tommy.

EH GS EC TM: Tommy sighed, shaking his head. "They're my friends, Flo. You shouldn't have said that." They had all been through so much with Link that people outside the group didn't seem to understand - nobody else had been the ones getting him out of fights, sitting in the hospital with him, trying to keep an eye on him so he didn't do anything stupid. For somebody else to make a dig about it just felt like a kick in the teeth. "Look, just - let things calm down a bit before we go out and they'll be fine. It'll be fine." He thought his friends would cool off surprisingly quickly - they usually did.

EH GS EC TM: Theo's words brought a smile to Edie's face and she nodded her head - the book had given her a lot of understanding about even herself and the fact that Theo was trying to educate himself was something she thought was amazing. She looked at him for a couple of seconds, her breath hitching in her throat as she wondered if he was going to kiss her, but as he didn't she moved slightly awkwardly. "Um - we can probably go downstairs now." She smiled.

AG LC TC FM: Link rolled his eyes as Emilie spoke to him. He was so annoyed. Part of him knew that it was because he knew Florence was right. He wasn't ever going to deserve Emilie. Link didn't think that he would even be around for much longer. Since Amelia had died, he had figured that he would probably follow suit with it. And if he was honest, he was completely fine with that. "Made me feel better."

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle sighed as Link hit the wall. She moved closer to Gabe and took a hold of his hand. She knew that it took a lot to make him angry and that fact made her even angrier with Florence. She hated that she had managed to upset Gabe too. "Can I have one?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow as Gabe took out the cigarettes. She hadn't been able to afford them, recently, so she was just trying to get one wherever she could.

AG LC TC FM: Florence shook her head as she listened to Tommy. "There we go. Defending actual fucking bullies!" She snapped at him. She was so hurt. Florence knew that she could fight her battles but sometimes, she thought it would be nice if he could stand up for her too. "No. Doesn't matter. I'm gonna get the last train home." She shook her head before she looked up at him. "I don't want do this anymore, Tommy." She spoke, against her better judgement. Florence loved him but the way he was with his friends, the way his friends were with her, it was all too much. "I can't be made to be the fucking bad guy just for wanting to go somewhere with my boyfriend! It's not fair."

AG LC TC FM: Theo was just about to reach over to kiss her - when she moved away from him. He nodded as she spoke again, "Yeah. If you wanna go back down, that - that's fine." He smiled at her. Theo wished that he could've talked to her. He wished he could express what he was thinking but it was difficult. he didn't know if he could go through things wit h the two of them not working out again.

EH GS EC TM: Emilie shook her head, the tiniest of smiles on her face. "Punch away, then." She rolled her eyes playfully, but she didn't move away. She would absolutely love to go back in there and drag Florence out by her hair for what she'd said about Link, but she knew she'd only hate her more if she actually let her ruin the night. She was determined that they could still go out and have fun, to rectify everything and spend time together. "Don't let her fucking ruin the weekend because she can't control her mouth. She won't be saying anything else." She would make sure of that.

EH GS EC TM: Gabe squeezed Annabelle's hand as she took his, looking down at her with a little smile. "Yeah, of course." He nodded his head. He let go of her hand to take five from the packet, slipping them into his pocket before handing the rest of the pack to her. He knew she couldn't afford a lot at the minute and although he was by no means loaded, he made a steady wage at the coffee shop. What was his, was hers - it had been that way since they were kids. His parents had always instilled it in him. What the Saracens had, the Gellars had too.

EH GS EC TM: "Oh, come on! They're not bullies!" Tommy argued, shaking his head. He thought that was a bit much - he knew they could be a lot, but they weren't bullies. "Flo, don't get the train home - come on! This was supposed to be a nice weekend together!" He still wanted them to have the weekend, to do everything that was planned. "I want you to stay, okay? Please?" It was the closest Tommy would get to begging. "Stay and then tomorrow we'll do something just me and you. Leave the rest of them here. They'll be too hungover to move, anyway." He had no idea how being with Florence was ever going to work when his friends hated her, but he would try.

EH GS EC TM: Edie never had a clue where she was standing when it came to her and Theo and not because of him, but because of herself. She knew she loved him still and she always wanted him around, but she also didn't think she could handle them not working out again - she thought that might actually tip her over the edge this time. That, along with the fact that he didn't deserve to have to put up with her, when she was in a bad way. She cleared her throat slightly. "Yeah, let's go - before they actually notice we're gone." She laughed softly, shaking her head as she got up off the bed and started to move downstairs.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head. "I'm good now." He shrugged. He really didn't think that he wanted to see Florence for the rest of the night. He thought that she was nasty and he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his cool if he had to spend time with her. "I'm not going too." He snapped as he shook his head. he didn't like that Emilie was telling him what to do and he was already in a bad mood so he couldn't help himself.

AG LC TC FM: "Thanks." Annabelle smiled. The Saracens had always been so generous with her and her siblings and Annabelle didn't know how she would ever repay them all for that. That was why, no matter what, she would never let anyone say anything bad about Gabe. That was why she constantly fought with Vance about him. She didn't think it was more than, that. "Where the fuck is Edie?"

AG LC TC FM: "No? Then what have I done to warrant them to treat me like that? Because I think it's baseless and that's basically the definition of bully." Florence shook her head. She knew that he was never going to agree with her though. She sighed as he started talking to her again. "They all hate me Tommy and Emilies right - you'll be off with the first girl who shows you a bit of attention, won't you?" She knew that, that was probably harsh but it wasn't like it hadn't happened before. "And I didn't even just mean this weekend, anyway."

AG LC TC FM: Theo knew that he had to be patient. If Edie wanted to be with him, he hoped that she would tell him. He hoped that if she felt like she was ready, the two of them could really have something good. He nodded his head and got off the bed. As much as he wanted to stay there with Edie for the rest of the night, he knew that they were all there to spend time with ehr friends.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie rolled her eyes as Link snapped at her, stepping away from him. "Don't fucking snap at me." She muttered, but she left it there. She looked over at Annabelle as she realised that she actually didn't know where Edie was - she felt bad that she hadn't realised earlier, but she didn't think she'd been around for a while. "Where the fuck did she go?" She asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. She thought Theo was pretty harmless and he and Edie made sense as a pair, but she still looked out for her like a little sister.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe shrugged his shoulders in response to the thanks - he wouldn't want to have something that he couldn't share with his friends, not really. Especially when it came to Annabelle - that was why he had wanted to pitch in for the weekend away. "Oh yeah... When did she leave?" He asked, realising that she hadn't been there for most of the game. He wasn't the most perceptive person anyway, but he knew he probably should've realised that part of the group wasn't there.

EH GS TM EC: "Florence, nobody's acting like a fucking angel here, are they? You went after Link out of nowhere and he hadn't even said a word to you." Tommy raised an eyebrow. He didn't think that was fair and he didn't think anybody was especially in the right here. He rolled his eyes as she continued to speak - it made him angry that even though he was trying, even though he'd brought her this weekend, she still thought the worst of him. "Fucking fine. Get the train home then, if that's what you think. See if I fucking care." He snapped, shaking his head. His attitude could change so fast, because he hated feeling humiliated.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was pretty sure that the game would be over by now, so she didn't hesitate before walking into the living room - and stepped back out again as she realised that Florence and Tommy were in the middle of an argument. She winced slightly and looked at Theo, shaking her head as she closed the door. "It might be a little bit worse than we thought?"

AG LC TC FM joined the chat

AG LC TC FM: Link rolled his eyes as Emilie snapped back, though he should've guessed that she wouldn't like him snapping. He raised an eyebrow as he heard that Edie wasn't there and instantly felt bad that he hadn't realised that Edie wasn't there. Their families had always been close and Edie was definitely like a little sister to him, "Fuck sake." He muttered with a shake of his head. He was getting annoyed at the smallest things and he knew he needed something else to take the edge off.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle would usually feel like a charity case if it was anyone but Gabe and the others. She definitely appreciated that her friends were willing to help her and Edie out, rather than just not doing it at all. Annabelle smirked as she realised that Theo had gone too. "She's probably having a wonderful time." The blonde rolled her eyes. She thought that Theo and Edie were really good together. She hoped her friend would let herself have this one.

AG LC TC FM: "Why do you never stand up for me?! Of course your friends think it's fine to continuously dig into me because YOU don't say otherwise!" Florence was getting upset now. She really would do anything for Tommy. She was continuously defending him when it came to her friends. Florence rolled her eyes as he spoke, "Fucking thought so." She snapped. "I'm done, Tommy." She snapped, before she moved out of the room, pushing past Edie and Theo so she could get upstairs to grab her stuff. She wanted to be out of there as soon as possible.

AG LC TC FM: Theo raised an eyebrow as he heard the voices and then as he realised that Florence was coming their way too. "I think we're definitely in the wrong place.." He muttered. "Where are the others?" He was really curious and definitely wanted to find out what had happened.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie looked at Annabelle curiously as she spoke, realising quickly what wavelength she was on and laughing slightly. She thought Edie deserved some happiness and she hoped that she was off somewhere with Theo, because then she wouldn't feel as bad about not realising that she'd left. She could hear Florence shouting from inside the house and she was dying to know what was going on, but she was sure she'd get it from Tommy later.

EH GS TM EC: "They're so cute." Gabe smiled, shaking his head. He thought it was time that they just admitted they wanted to be together and took the plunge. "Can we just go out now? I'll call us a taxi, Tommy and Florence can meet us out or whatever." He shrugged his shoulders.

EH GS TM EC: "Because you can fucking handle yourself! What did they even say that was so bad?!" Tommy argued, shaking his head. He didn't think Emilie had said anything that Florence hadn't refuted with something just as bad. "Fine, whatever. You'll be back in a week." He laughed bitterly, watching as Florence walked out of the room. He wanted her to stay, he wanted them to talk about it and fix it - but he wasn't going to beg. He never would.

EH GS TM EC: Edie couldn't help but feel a little bit bad for Florence - she didn't like her, not by any means, but she could only imagine how awful it would feel for your boyfriend not to stand up for you at all. "They'll be outside, I think." She headed that way, waving slightly as she saw them. "What happened?" She asked, looking at Annabelle.

AG LC TC FM: Link rested against the wall with a sigh. He nodded his head as he heard Gabe, "Lets get the fuck out of here." He muttered with a sigh. He really did want to get out of there, get to some kind of party sooner rather than later.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle smiled as Edie came out, "Hey gorgeous!" She laughed as she heard her friends question. "Florence was a bitch to Link." She thought that, that pretty much summed up what she thought on the whole subject. She didn't want to spend too long talking about what had happened. She laughed, though, as she heard the word 'done'. "Okay - looks like Tommy will actually be bringing some random girl back." She rolled her eyes.

AG LC TC FM: Florence loved Tommy. She loved him so much but she didn't know how much more of his bullshit, she could take. She could handle herself but she didn't think that, she should have to. "You know - she said the same damn thing that I did and you found it funny when she brought it up. Fucking insane." She snapped. She continued up the stairs. She really didn't want to be near him anymore, near any of them. She wanted to be home now. "Not on your life." Florence shouted over her shoulder. "I am DONE!" And she really did mean it this time.

AG LC TC FM: Theo sighed as the others spoke. He really liked Edie and her friends but he thought that it was a little harsh when they spoke about other people, when they found enjoyment in the hurt they caused other people.

EH GS TM EC: **a few hours later**

EH GS TM EC: Since arguing with Florence, Tommy had pretty much spent the entire night with any remotely attractive girl in the club and yet it wasn't cheering him up. He'd had plenty to drink and even something a little stronger last time he'd gone to the bathroom, but he was still in a foul mood and it was written all over his face. He couldn't snap himself out of it and to be honest, that alone was pissing him off.

EH GS TM EC: "Have you seen the look on Tommy's face?" Gabe whispered to Link, raising an eyebrow. He didn't understand why Tommy didn't just admit that he was having a terrible night and go home - he had been snapping at all of them all night, he didn't seem to want to spend any time with them, so it felt like a waste. "Anyway! Another drink?" He grinned, gesturing towards their empty glasses. He wanted to enjoy himself, even if Tommy wasn't.

EH GS TM EC: "Make them all doubles." Emilie told the bartender with a smile, waiting until he'd poured their drinks and handing them over to Annabelle and Edie. She had been buying the drinks pretty much all night, but she didn't care - she would rather that than them struggle. "I can't believe she actually got the train home, can you?" She laughed, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Annabelle. She really had thought Florence would at least stick around for the night.

EH GS TM EC: "Thanks." Edie smiled as she took the drink - she hated being a charity case, but she knew that it was either this or she and Annabelle stayed at home. She didn't get paid for another week and even then it wouldn't be a lot. She took Emilie and Annabelle talking about Florence as her cue to go and she looked around for Theo, going to join him. "Hey! It's really cool here, right?" She smiled.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded his head as he heard Gabes question. He was pretty annoyed with Tommy, if he was honest. He wanted to have a good weekend with his friends and it seemed like nothing was making him any happier. "He's being a baby." Link growled. They all knew he would end up with someone so he didn't understand why he was being such a baby about it. "Definitely." He laughed as he nodded his head. "And shots. The girls will want shots."

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle knew that Emilie only did it because she wanted her friends to have a good time too but sometimes she felt like the other could be a little flaunting with the cash. She knew it came from a good place but she couldn't help but be a little annoyed about it. "She knew what you said was right. There's no way he would go back with her." Annabelle shook her head. She found it pretty funny, if she was honest. She didn't realise how mean that made her seem.

AG LC TC FM: Theo had pretty much spent the entire booth that he and the others had found at the start of the night. The club life wasn't for him but he was trying. He smiled as Edie made her way over to him. He really did think that she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. "Yeah, it's pretty cool." he chuckled with a nod of his head. "What're you drinking?"

EH GS TM EC: "He is being a baby." Gabe agreed, nodding his head. They usually had such a fun time and Tommy was the life of the party, so he didn't understand why that was so different tonight, just because he and Florence had argued. He wished he would perk up a bit. "Yes! Of course they'll want shots." He laughed, looking over to see the girls. They, at least, seemed to be having a good night and he knew that his and Link's night would improve significantly if they ignored Tommy and spent time with the girls, instead.

EH GS TM EC: "He is being a baby." Gabe agreed, nodding his head. They usually had such a fun time and Tommy was the life of the party, so he didn't understand why that was so different tonight, just because he and Florence had argued. He wished he would perk up a bit. "Yes! Of course they'll want shots." He laughed, looking over to see the girls. They, at least, seemed to be having a good night and he knew that his and Link's night would improve significantly if they ignored Tommy and spent time with the girls, instead.

EH GS TM EC: If Emilie had known that her friends thought she was flaunting her money, she would've been mortified - it wasn't even that she had that much of it, just that she worked a lot aside having her student loan and she knew she was more fortunate in the family department than either of the girls. "Yeah, but he's walking around with a face like a smacked arse now as well. I wish he'd gone with her." She laughed, rolling her eyes.

EH GS TM EC: Edie slid into the booth across from Theo with a little smile on her face; she loved that no matter where they were, he was always completely himself. He didn't pretend to be anybody else to fit in with them all. She thought it was amazing. "Malibu, I think. Emilie bought it." She laughed, in a way of explanation. It wasn't what she would've chosen, but she'd told her friend to get her whatever she was having. Everytime she looked over, she was so happy that Theo was there.

AG LC TC FM: Sometimes, Link wondered if Tommy liked FLorence more than he let on. He didn't think he had ever seen Tommy get so upset over a girl before. He thought that, that was pretty telling. Link would always prefer Emilies company over anyone elses so he definitely wanted to spend more time with the girls. He got up then, and moved over to the bar. "What you thinking?"

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle had never known even a small amount of wealth. Her brother worked his hardest but it still wasn't enough some times. There was no way he could give her a helping hand and she refused to ask anyone else for it. It was why she liked that her friends knew her as well as they did. She didn't have to ask. "Leave him to it." Annabelle rolled her eyes. "I can't believe he'd be so fucking winey over Florence of all people.

AG LC TC FM: Theo wondered, sometimes, if he would be more accepted into the group if he tried to be a little more like the rest of them. He liked them all a lot but he didn't think the feeling was all that mutual, "Got it." Theo nodded. He liked that Edie wanted to spend time with him. He liked that she had come over. He definitely wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.

EH GS TM EC: "They'll want tequila, I think - but I'll be sick. So I'll have Sambuca." Gabe laughed, raising an eyebrow. The girls tolerance - and Link's, for that matter - never failed to amaze him. He was excited to spend time with Annabelle, though - she was his best friend and he always loved her company.

EH GS TM EC: "I know, what the actual fuck?" Emilie rolled her eyes, leaning against the bar as she sipped her drink through a straw. She had turned her phone off earlier in the night so that she wasn't being bombarded with messages and she felt so much more relaxed because of it. "Oh well, he'll get over it soon." She laughed, shrugging her shoulders. She didn't think this would stay a big deal for very long.

EH GS TM EC: If Edie knew how Theo was feeling, she would absolutely reassure him that the others just simply wouldn't invite him if they didn't want him around - and that meant a lot to her. "What about you, do you have a drink?" She raised an eyebrow. His calmness always kind of spread to her, it made her feel so relaxed.

AG LC TC FM: "They will definitely want tequila. Me too." Link nodded. He loved Gabe, like a little brother, but sometimes the others inability to keep up with the rest of them annoyed him. It was why he liked going out out with Tommy. Tommy could keep up with him - probably drink him under the table sometimes. "Is she back with Vance yet?" He asked, seeing Gabe glance over at their friends.

AG LC TC FM: "It's fucking stupid." Annabelle didn't think she had seen him like this with anyone. It was why - sometimes - she wondered if she and Emilie should go a little easier on Florence. It seemed like Tommy was pretty set on Florence. "Yeah - he will. Doesn't fucking matter." Though Annabelle wasn't with Vance, she had been texting him all night. She knew that he was going out too so she liked that he was thinking about her and not some other girl.

AG LC TC FM: "I just got a coke." Theo shrugged his shoulders with a laugh. He had never been a big drinking, he much preferred being able to be on guard in case any of his friends needed him .And he had a lot of fun without it. He didn't feel like he needed the alcohol.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe knew that he probably wasn't as advanced as the others when it came to drinking, but he still always enjoyed himself and he was always there at the end of the night, with the rest of them. He ordered the shots and his and Link's drinks and swiped his card - he would check how much damage he'd done in the morning. He shrugged his shoulders at his friends question. "Beats me. Probably, though. She's been looking at her phone all night." He rolled his eyes. He hated the way Vance treated Annabelle.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe knew that he probably wasn't as advanced as the others when it came to drinking, but he still always enjoyed himself and he was always there at the end of the night, with the rest of them. He ordered the shots and his and Link's drinks and swiped his card - he would check how much damage he'd done in the morning. He shrugged his shoulders at his friends question. "Beats me. Probably, though. She's been looking at her phone all night." He rolled his eyes. He hated the way Vance treated Annabelle.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie knew she had probably baited Florence a little bit too much and if she hadn't said what she had about Link, she might even feel bad about it - but right now, she didn't. She took another sip of her drink and felt eyes on her, turning slightly to look over the bar. "Those men won't stop staring at us." She rolled her eyes, giving them a sarcastic smile. She was pretty used to male attention, but it didn't mean it didn't annoy her when she didn't want it.

EH GS TM EC: Edie nodded her head, smiling. She wished she had the self control that Theo had, but she could never imagine choosing a soft drink over an alcoholic one... The feeling it gave her was too good. "Aren't you bored? Sitting alone?" She asked. Her tone wasn't judgmental, she was just genuinely curious about how he was so content to sit alone.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded as he listened to the other. "Of course she hasn't." He chuckled. He didn't like either Emilie or Annabelles boyfriends. He thought that both the girls could do so much better. "Those guys keep staring at them." He growled, nodding over to the pair. He nodded his head at the bar tender and took a hold of the tray, not trusting how clumsy Gabe was, "Lets go."

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle raised an eyebrow as Emilie spoke and looked over to see who she was talking about. She was almost certain that they were only interested in Emilie. Annabelle knew that she was basically a sack of potatoes next to her. "You think they'll get us some drinks?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a smile. Even if she wasn't interested, she was definitely willing to get whatever they could from them.

AG LC TC FM: "No." Theo smiled as he shook his head, "And i'm not alone right now, am I? I'm with you." He chuckled. Theo loved sitting and people watching. Especially in a place like this. But he was more than happy that Edie had joined them.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe looked over as Link pointed out some guys and narrowed his eyes slightly - they looked pretty harmless to him and he couldn't blame them for looking, but he definitely wanted to be around the girls to make sure they were safe. He laughed as Link took the tray from him, not even trusting himself to carry them. "Hey!" He grinned as they reached the girls, gesturing to the shots. "Look what we brought!" He knew that the four of them were still going to have the most fun, no matter what.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie would never deny that she thought a lot of herself, but she also thought Annabelle was absolutely gorgeous and she would always champion that. She laughed as the other spoke. "Why don't you find out?" She asked. The guys didn't look particularly creepy, she just wasn't interested. She turned as she heard the boys, a smile on her face. "Didn't trust Gabe to carry them?" She asked Link with a laugh, raising an eyebrow.

EH GS TM EC: Edie smiled at that, playing with the ends of her hair almost subconsciously. "I guess not... And it's easy to watch people from here." She smiled, looking around them. The booth was in the perfect spot for people watching and she always found that so interesting. "I'm really happy you're here." She told him shyly, ducking her head ever so slightly.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle was about to go over to them, to see what they had to say, when she heard Gabes voice and she turned to face them. "You know the way to my heart, Saracen!" Annabelle laughed with a nod of her head. She took one of the shots quickly, looking around at her friends with a wide smile. She loved Edie and Tommy but Gabe and Emilie and Link was definitely her safe place.

AG LC TC FM: Link shrugged as Emilie spoke, "Would you?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "And figured that you wouldn't like it, if we turned up and you didn't have a shot." He was keeping half an eye on the men that kept looking at Emilie though. He didn't like the look of them, even if Gabe thought they seemed harmless. "Bottoms up, Horowitz" He chuckled. He felt good tonight.

AG LC TC FM: Sometimes, it surprised him how well, Edie knew him and he nodded. "Yeah, that's exactly it." He chuckled. He was feeling brave, for the fleetest of moments, so he moved to sit closer to her and took her hand in his, "I'm happy i'm here too." Theo was always happy when he was with Edie and he hated that he had almost lost that.

EH GS TM EC: "Of course I do!" Gabe laughed, taking the little black shot that was his with a grin. "I can't take all the credit though, it was Link's idea." He laughed before he knocked back the shot with a little wince. He couldn't ever imagine having better friends than these guys and he just wished that Tommy would snap out of his mood and join them.

EH GS TM EC: "Not even a little bit." Emilie laughed with a shake of her head. She was glad that Link seemed to be in a better mood than before, although she was sure she knew why and she didn't like it. "You're right, I would've sent you back." She smiled, holding up her shot with a laugh as he spoke and tipping her head back slightly as she downed it. She loved the other two, but she thought she'd probably be just as happy if it was just her and Link.

EH GS TM EC: "Not even a little bit." Emilie laughed with a shake of her head. She was glad that Link seemed to be in a better mood than before, although she was sure she knew why and she didn't like it. "You're right, I would've sent you back." She smiled, holding up her shot with a laugh as he spoke and tipping her head back slightly as she downed it. She loved the other two, but she thought she'd probably be just as happy if it was just her and Link.

EH GS TM EC: It was hard for Edie to believe that there had been a time where she and Theo weren't stuck in this awkward limbo - where they had actually been together and done everything together and they had been so happy. She smiled widely as he took her hand, looking down at their interlocked fingers happily. She loved the way her hand felt in his.

AG LC TC FM: "And here I thought you'd gotten smart." Annabelle shrugged her shoulders slightly with a laugh. She knocked back her shot, without so much of a grimace. She was definitely used to tequila by now and she absolutely liked the taste of it. "So - Gabriel - any plans for tonight?" She asked, looking around, "Or are you gonna be as pathetic as Tommy and go for all of them?"

AG LC TC FM: "Point proven then." Link nodded. He knew that he could easily switch. That something could happen and it could set him off but for now, at least, he was good. "So it was just worth me carrying them." He shrugged. Link loved being around Emilie. He never paid much attention to when people made comments about the two of them. It didn't bother him because he knew that it would never happen.

AG LC TC FM: Theo really wanted to kiss Edie and he thought that this was a step closer to being able to do that. He wanted things to be good between them again. He thought that things had been good - before they weren't. He thought that they could have all of that again."Is that okaY?" He whispered as he saw her looking down.

EH GS TM EC: "I'm learning every day." Gabe laughed, nudging Annabelle jokingly. He clapped as she necked the shot, impressed at how easily it seemed to go down. "Plans?" He asked with a confused chuckle. "Oh - you mean plans." He grinned. "Oh, what? And leave you brokenhearted?" He smirked. He was obviously joking, but he did almost hope that Annabelle wanted to go home with him tonight. He thought she looked incredible - better than any of the other girls in the club, easily.

EH GS TM EC: By now, Emilie knew that a lot of her feelings towards Link probably weren't just friendly... She didn't act the way she did towards him towards anybody else, not even her own boyfriend - but things just weren't that simple. She was with Kurt and she couldn't see a way out of that and besides, Link had a lot of demons of his own - not even to say that he had the same thoughts she did. "Oh for gods sake," she muttered as she saw the guys from across the bar making their way over.

EH GS TM EC: "Is wha -- oh, yeah - of course it is." Edie said softly with a nod of her head, squeezing his hand softly. She knew that there were reasons they weren't together and couldn't be together, but they'd almost left her head in that moment. And feeling a rush of confidence from the substances rushing through her veins, she put a cold hand on the side of his face and leaned into kiss him gently, pulling away almost instantly. "Is that okay?"

AG LC TC FM: "You are. And yet we're still surpassing you." Annabelle smiled. She loved spending time with Gabe. He had been one of the few constants in her entire life and she knew that she would forever owe him for that. "Is that what you think I'll be?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a smile. Annabelle never stopped to think about what more she and gabe could be. All she knew was that, usually, friends didn't go home together as much as the two of them did.

AG LC TC FM: If things with Amelia hadn't been so messy, Link knew that he would've told Emilie how he felt by now. He knew that he would've told he that he loved her, Kurt be damned. But he couldn't do it. Emilie deserved so much more than that and he hated that he couldn't be the man that she deserved. "Fuck sake." Link muttered as he spotted one of the guys.

AG LC TC FM: Theo smiled. He was so nervous when he was around Edie because he never wanted to do something that was going to upset her. Her kiss took him completely off guard. He nodded enthusiastically as she spoke again, "That was - yeah - it was more than okay." He chuckled, before he lent in to kiss her again.

EH GS TM EC: "I must be a slow learner." Gabe laughed, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. Annabelle would always be and always had been his best friend - he loved her company above anybody else's and he couldn't imagine that not being the case. "You wouldn't be disappointed?" He pouted slightly, raising an eyebrow. He didn't think he would bother going home with anybody else, even if nothing happened between he and Annabelle. It wasn't what he wanted the night to be about. Not tonight, anyway.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie turned sharply as the guy reached their side of the bar, a cold look on her face, a single eyebrow raised. "What?" She asked, as though he was taking up entirely too much of her time. "I was just wondering if I could get you a drink?" He had an annoyingly confident smirk on his face and it pissed her off. "No." She answered firmly, holding up her still half-full drink, but he wasn't stopping there. Usually, she would kick off, but she couldn't be bothered tonight. "You can buy me one drink. And you can leave it there." She told him, pointing to the space on the bar. She turned back to Link with a roll of her eyes. She didn't plan on drinking it - Annabelle could have it, if she wanted it.

EH GS TM EC: Edie couldn't help but giggle as she saw Theo's enthusiastic nod, his words bringing the biggest smile to her face before he leaned in to kiss her again. When they were like this, nothing felt any different from the first time they had been together, to the happiness they had felt. And kissing Theo felt so right. She had barely kissed anybody else - maybe two other people in her whole life, but she still knew enough to know that it wasn't like this with anybody else.

AG LC TC FM: "I think that is almost definitely it. Charlie took all the brains." It felt so easy with Gabe. It never felt like this when she was with Vance. He was difficult and they fought and sometimes - Annabelle enjoyed all of that. Most of the time, she just wanted an easier life. She shrugged her shoulders, "Depending who you went with." she laughed. Though deep down, she knew she would be upset if he did. Annabelle had no idea what was going on between them but she never liked to think about it for too long.

AG LC TC FM: Link kept a close eye on the man as he hounded Emilie. He half wanted her to tell him what for, to tell him that she wasn't interested. So he was surprised when she said that he could get her a drink. And even though Emilie turned back to him, Link kept an eye on the other. It was how he saw what was put in her drink. "The fuck did you just do?!" He snapped, grabbing the other by the collar and pinning him against the bar, "Huh!? What did you put in her drink?"

AG LC TC FM: Nothing felt more right to him, than kissing Edie. Theo hadn't been with anyone else since he and Edie broke up. He hadn't been interested in any of it, if he was completely honest. But he knew that if Edie asked, he would be right back there with her. He loved her so much and he wondered if tonight was going to change anything. He hoped so.

EH GS TM EC: "Are you joking? Clancy took all the brains and she didn't leave enough for the rest of us." Gabe laughed, rolling his eyes. With the exception of Clancy and Felicity, none of their family were exceptionally bright, but he didn't think any of them really cared all that much. Their strengths lay in different areas. "Really?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. He thought he'd be pretty disappointed if Annabelle went home with a random guy over him, but he wasn't about to say that right now. He knew people were always curious about what was going on between them and he didn't really know - he was just happy being best friends with the occasional benefit.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie wasn't in the least bit interested, especially because she was spending time with Link - but she knew she was in for an easier life if she didn't kick off right now... But as Link moved past her to shove the other guy against the bar, she spun around to see what was going on. "What the fuck?" She snapped, looking at the drink on the bar, which definitely didn't look right. It was scary how easily she could've given that to her friend or maybe even drank it herself, if her glass had been empty. The guy squirmed, but couldn't quite make it out of Link's grip. "I didn't fucking do anything, let go of me. She said I could buy her a fucking drink!" He spat, pushing the other guy angrily.

EH GS TM EC: It was very out of character for Edie to be sat kissing anybody in the middle of a packed club, but because it was Theo she just didn't care. She kissed him for a few more minutes before she pulled away, slightly breathlessly. "Do you - do you want to go back to the apartment? Before the others get back?" She asked, her voice nervous but hopeful. She just wanted to be alone with him.

AG LC TC FM: "Okay - that's very fair. Clancy and Felicity. Though she could've gotten them from her mums side." Annabelle laughed. She loved that both Gabe and Charlie didn't care that they weren't the smartest. They were always so true to themselves and she really liked that about them. "I mean - if you pull like Beyonce level gorgeous i'm not going to tear you away, am I?" She asked with a raise of an eyebrow. Though Annabelle knew that didn't really answer the question. She knew she would be upset if he went home with someone that wasn't her.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head. "Yeah, buy her a drink, not fucking spike it." He snapped. He wanted to kick the shit out of him, if he was completely honest. His fist was still stinging from earlier, but Link didn't care. Link punched him once, twice, before security grabbed him. "He's trying to spike girls! And you're throwing me out!? Is this some fucking joke?!" Link shouted.

AG LC TC FM: This was probably the furthest thing from himself that Theo could think off but he couldn't waste this opportunity. He looked at her for a second as she pulled away from him and nodded his head. "Yeah - I'd like that." He nodded. He didn't care if anything more happened, he just wanted it to be the two of them.

EH GS TM EC: "Yeah, that's how I like to see it. Clancy got my mums brains, Fel got her mums and the rest of us got what was left of dads to share between us." Gabe laughed loudly, shrugging his shoulders. His dad also wasn't the smartest person around - everybody always said how similar Gabe and his dad were. "Beyonce level gorgeous?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Why don't you just cut the crap and admit that you'd be disappointed?" He laughed as he looked at her.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie was still slightly in shock that she'd even given this guy the time of day just to get him off her back and she hadn't seen what a creep he was - she was usually so good at that. As soon as she'd processed that thought, however, Link was already slamming his fist into the others face. "Link, stop!" She shouted over the noise, sure that he was going to get thrown out or hurt himself - or both. Sure enough, the security guard was soon dragging him out and she followed quickly, not even having time to tell the others. "For fucks SAKE!" She shouted after him as they got outside. "Why did you lose it like that?! You should've just let me handle it!"

EH GS TM EC: If Edie knew what was happening with her friends at that very minute, she would've felt awful about leaving the club... But she didn't and she just wanted to be on her own with Theo, now. She kept their hands intertwined and got up, leading the way out of the club with a little smile on her face. It didn't take long to get a cab and she didn't let go of his hand, even as she buckled herself in.

AG LC TC FM: "That's an excellent way of seeing it. Maybe you're not as slow as we think you are." Annabelle laughed as she shrugged her shoulders. She loved how similar Gabe and his dad was. Though Annabelle worried she was like her mother, she didn't really think she was like either of them. She didn't think she was like anyone she knew and sometimes that felt really lonely. "Because that would be telling, my friend."

AG LC TC FM: Link knew that, sometimes, he could let his temper get the better of him. He could flip without a moments notice. But he had always been protective of Emilie and that wasn't going to stop now. "What?! You wouldn't have even known, if I hadn't been watching him, Emilie!" Link shouted back at her. He had done the right thing and he wouldn't let her tell him otherwise.

AG LC TC FM: Like Edie, theo had no idea what was going on with her friends. He hadn't seen any of them all night and he hoped that, that didn't mean they had gone back. He really wanted to be alone with Edie. He liked that they kept the contact the entire way home. He was worried that they would bottle it, that they would forget again, if they didn't.

EH GS TM EC: "Maybe I'm one of those TV show tropes who starts out really dumb but ends up going to Harvard or something." Gabe laughed, raising an eyebrow. He didn't think Annabelle was like either of her parents - he thought she was entirely her own person and that was absolutely incredible. He loved who she was. "You're an impossible woman, Gellar!" He laughed, pretending to scowl down at her. "Another drink?" He beamed as he realised both of their glasses were empty.

EH GS TM EC: "I wasn't going to drink it, I'm not an idiot!" Emilie argued, rolling her eyes dramatically. "And besides, you should've just told me and we could've gotten him fucking kicked out! Not you!" She shouted frustratedly, putting her head in her hands for a second before she looked back at him. "You didn't need to do that, that was so fucking stupid!" She knew that if they were in a different place, he could've been arrested for that and if they realised what else he had in his system then he'd have been fucked.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was pretty quiet for the journey home, but she knew they were still on the same page - it was just something she could feel. Her hands shook slightly as she reached to get the key out of her bag and into the lock - the fact that the door was locked seemed like a good sign; it meant the others weren't back yet. "Upstairs?" She asked softly, wondering if he wanted to stay down here or not.

AG LC TC FM: "Oh yeah - i could totally see you in Harvard." Annabelle laughed. She knew that she was pretty harsh on herself but she thought that it was warranted. Annabelle had never understood how she could have gotten so lucky to have friends like she did. They were some of the most amazing people she had ever met and she didn't understand why they still wanted her around. "That's why you love me." Annabelle laughed as she shrugged her shoulders. "Absolutely!"

AG LC TC FM: "Then why tell him you wanted it?" Link shouted back at her. He wasn't going to be made out to be the bad person, that he had done something wrong. He would always look after her, no matter what had happened. "It's done now Emilie, doesn't fucking matter now, does it?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "You know what is stupid?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "Being in love with someone who has a fucking boyfriend. Who deserves more than a fucking drug addict." He rolled his eyes as he repeated Florences words from earlier, almost sure that she would know who he was talking about.

AG LC TC FM: Theo didn't mind the quiet but he could feel the sense of anticipation between the two of them. He liked that feeling, because he knew that something good was coming, something that they had waited for, for a while. "Yeah.." Theo nodded. A small smile on his face. Although this wasn't something new with Edie, he was definitely nervous.

EH GS TM EC: "What would I study?" Gabe laughed curiously - he loved that he and Annabelle could talk for so long about pretty much nothing, but entertain themselves so much in the process. "One of the reasons." He laughed in agreement, nodding his head. He could probably write a book on all of the reasons he thought Annabelle was the best person alive - without even exaggerating once. "Yes! What do you want?" He smiled, thinking for a second about what to get himself. He was already pretty drunk, but he wanted to be even more so.

EH GS TM EC: "For a fucking easy life!" Emilie knew that Link was only protecting her and she did appreciate it, but she wished he wouldn't be so reckless sometimes because she really didn't want to see him get into trouble. Not anymore. "It does matter, because --" She stopped as he spoke again, her face the picture of confusion. "What the fuck are you even talking about?" She asked, shaking her head. Surely he couldn't be saying what she thought he was saying? Surely he wasn't talking about the two of them?

EH GS TM EC: Edie knew that she should probably let her friends know that she'd come back, so that they didn't worry if they decided to look for her - but she didn't want to think about anything other than Theo and what was going to happen between them. "Okay..." The smile on her face matched his as she lead the way up the stairs and into the room, standing almost nervously.

AG LC TC FM: "ooh good question. Oh my god, you could be Elle Woods and go to the law school!" Annabelle laughed as she nodded her head. She was so glad to be able to spend more time with Gabe, without having to worry about what Vance had to say about it. She liked that she hadn't really thought about him since talking to Gabe. "A long island ice tea, please!" Annabelle was pretty drunk already but she wanted to be worse.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head as Emilie question him. "You know exactly what i am saying, Emilie. You've always fucking known." Everyone around them, knew how mmuch Link liked Emilie. They saw it before he ever had. He shook his head, "Doesn't fucking matter. Go back inside. I'm gonna walk home." He figured that, that was probably the best best. She had a boyfriend. It didn't matter what he thought, what he wanted.

AG LC TC FM: These were the moments which made Theo wish that he could talk to his brother. He wanted to celebrate with his brother that he and Edie were getting somewhere. He followed her up the stairs, a small smile on his face as he looked over at her. Theo looked at her for a moment, before he kissed her again. That was all he had been thinking about as they made their way home.

EH GS TM EC: "I could do that! Would you be my Greek chorus?" Gabe grinned, pulling a pouty face. He had never even considered going to university and he didn't regret not going, even now - it just wasn't for him. He had struggled in school and in college, other than in drama and he didn't want to repeat that experience for another three years. Not when there was such an obvious out. "Ooh, I'll have the same please!" He called, nodding his head approvingly. "A long island ice tea has everything! It's the perfect choice!"

EH GS TM EC: Despite what everybody had always said, Emilie genuinely hadn't had a clue that Link felt that way - they had both always denied it and she'd thought that was that. But the revelation that things might be different... It changed things. "What?! No I haven't, I didn't know anything!" She was completely in shock and she didn't know what to do. "Don't tell me what to do! And don't you dare walk away, don't be a fucking coward - tell me what you're saying, now!" She demanded, one second away from stamping her foot on the floor. She wanted to hear it.

EH GS TM EC: Edie just thought Theo was the best person she had ever met - she was lucky to even be in his company, never mind have spent time being his girlfriend... and now this. It was hard not to feel lucky when he was looking at her the way he was. She closed her eyes as he kissed her again, wrapping her arms around him tightly as she kissed him back. In that moment, everything felt okay.

AG LC TC FM: "I'd be your Emmett, duh." Annabelle laughed with a shrug of her shoulders. Annabelle definitely didn't think less of Gabe for not going to Uni. Sometimes, she wondered if it really was the right place for her. She liked living with Edie and she liked the social side of it all - but she found it hard to concentrate on anything that went on in class. "You're such a copy cat." Annabelle rolled her eyes.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head as Emilie spoke. He found it insane that Emilie seemed to not understand what had happened. He didn't know what to say to her though because she was right, he was a coward. Link sighed as he looked at her. "I'm in fucking love with you Emilie, you happy now?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He wanted to leave, he wanted to run. He knew he wouldn't be saying this if he was sober.

AG LC TC FM: Theo wanted to ask her what this meant. He wanted to know if this would change anything between them - but all of his courage was taken by kissing her and he didn't want to do something which was going to change what they were doing.

EH GS TM EC: "Oh, yes! I love this! Tommy's my Warner." Gabe laughed, nodding his head enthusiastically. He had to admit, he had been surprised when Annabelle had said she was applying to university - but he knew she could do anything she put her mind to and he would never refute that. "What can I say? You're my idol, if you do something - I just have to follow." He shrugged, a jovial expression on his face.

EH GS TM EC: Even though she had demanded it, Emilie didn't expect Link to be so truthful with her and all she could do was stand and look at him, like an idiot. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, too. She wanted to kiss him and to tell him that nothing else mattered, they could make it work. But nothing was that simple. Everything was against them working out and she knew it. But she loved him. All she could say was: "Why did you never tell me?"

EH GS TM EC: Edie didn't know what was going to happen after this - all of the reasons for them not to be together still existed and she knew that, but she didn't want to think about it right now. She just wanted this to happen and it was. She didn't break the kiss, but she took a couple of steps back, almost leading him towards the bed. She felt nervous, but an excited kind - he never made her feel nervous in a bad way.

AG LC TC FM: "Oooh, you pick me over Tommy, i love that!" Annabelle smiled. She had decided to go to university because she wanted to prove that she could do it. She thought that most of them would think that she couldn't and she wanted to show them all wrong. That was really the only reason why she was going. That and Emilie and Edie were also there. "Of course. I'm just such a trend settle, it's so obvious, don't you think?"

AG LC TC FM: The time it took for Emilie to say something, felt like the longest he had ever had to wait. It was like time stood still. And Link felt like he couldn't breath. Though when she did speak again, he sighed. Because that felt like an impossible answer. "Where do I fucking start?" He asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "You're with Kurt before that Amelia had just dies.." He shrugged.

AG LC TC FM: Theo was doing better now. He was better after everything with his brother - but it wasn't the case for Edie. She was still the same. Theo felt like he was in a better place to handle all of that, to deal with it but he didn't like that he still wasn't completely sure.

EH GS TM EC: "Of course I do!" Gabe laughed. Tommy was one of his best friends, but nobody was more important to him than Annabelle and he would pick her every single time. He knew that in whatever way, they would end up in each others lives somehow and he was excited to find out how. "Naturally - I'm going to start plaiting my hair and wearing mini skirts soon." He grinned, pretending to show off his legs.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie nodded as Link spoke; because as much as she hated it, she understood... There had never been a right time for him to say - now, wasn't even the right time. But it was out and there was no avoiding that fact. "I don't - I don't know what to say." She sighed, taking a couple of steps back and a deep breath, to try and get her head in order. She loved him. She knew that. And she had to leave Kurt as soon as she got home, as terrifying as that was. "There would be so much standing in our way."

EH GS TM EC: Edie never wanted to be something that Theo had to handle. She wanted to be an equal, somebody he didn't always have to worry about and look after - but she just wasn't there yet and she didn't think she would ever be. She was a mess and that was just who she was. She wouldn't ever put that on him again and she knew that in the morning, she would be sure of all of this... But she wasn't thinking straight right now. She wasn't even thinking about the fact that the others could be back whenever, really.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle beamed as Gabe confirmed what she had said. She liked to know he would pick her over the others. Annabelle loved all of her friends but she knew that the same could be said for him - even over Emilie. She loved her but there was something more with Gabe. She knew she would be with him for the rest of her life, in some capacity. "You're the worst." Annabelle laughed with a shake of her head. "Have you seen any of the others recently?"

AG LC TC FM: Link had felt like this for so long and he didn't know what to say to her or what to do. He loved her but he knew that he couldn't risk the friendship. She was too important to him. "Then what's the point?" Link asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He didn't say it because he expected something from Emilie but because he wanted to get it off of his chest. "Seriously - just ignore me, Emilie. It doesn't matter."

AG LC TC FM: Theo wrapped his arms around Edie and pulled her closer to him. He knew that he would not be able to go back now - not unless she said something. And he was so glad that the two of them got to spend tonight together.

EH GS TM EC: "And the best?" Gabe grinned proudly, taking their drinks from the barman and handing Annabelle's over. "To being the best and the worst!" He laughed, clinking his against hers before he took a big gulp. He loved how easy cocktails were to drink. He tilted his head slightly as he thought about her question. "Well - Tommy is over there, but I can only see half of his face seeing as the other half is attached to that girls mouth." He chuckled, rolling his eyes. "But I haven't seen the others, no... I wonder where they are?"

EH GS TM EC: Emilie always pretended that everything was easy for her - she would never admit to struggling or needing help, but she knew that everything in her life could fall apart so easily and that scared the hell out of her. "But I --" As Link said it didn't matter, she wanted so badly to tell him that it did matter, because he felt the same... But she couldn't. Not now. "Yeah, okay." She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she spoke. "Yeah. I'm just gonna go home." She muttered.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was never this type of person and she knew that Theo wasn't either - and she'd be mortified if any of the others came back, but she didn't think they would just yet. Her hands reached for the bottom of her dress, but she paused for a second and pulled away. "Wait - is the door locked?" She whispered, looking back to Theo.

AG LC TC FM: "Yeah - I guess so." Annabelle laughed as she shrugged her shoulders. She smiled as they were handed their drinks. Annabelle hated that she couldn't pay for them though. "To being the best and the worst!!" She repeated, taking a gulp of her drink. Annabelle raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Tommy. "Didn't take him long." She sighed. She wondered how Florence would feel with that. She quickly shot a message into the group cheat with the two girls, "I've asked Edie and Emilie."

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head as Emilie spoke. Now that she said she was going home - it was the last thing that he wanted. "Fine. See you in the morning - maybe." He sighed. He didn't want to say much more on that. He didn't think he wanted to go home. He didn't know what he was going to do but he figured he would be able to find some bar or party to take him through.

AG LC TC FM: Theo raised an eyebrow as Edie pulled back from him and he shook his head. He turned and locked the door. "It is now." He smiled. He couldn't believe that this was happening. He was so happy though. He hoped that this was a step in the right direction.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe didn't care about paying for the drinks - he didn't have a lot of money himself, but his parents didn't ask for rent and they cooked a lot of his meals, so it wasn't like he was going to starve until his next payday. He nodded his head, pulling out his phone and texting Link. "I've asked Link." He smiled. He was sure they'd all be fine, though, wherever they'd gotten to. They'd have heard about it if not.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie ignored what Link was saying, turning away and beginning to walk. She knew it would be a lot easier to just get a cab, but she quite wanted the walk and it was only about half an hour away anyway. She was completely in shock from what had just happened and all she could keep on telling herself was don't fucking cry. Link loved her but he didn't even seem like he wanted to be alive half the time and she had no idea how to help him, but she loved him too. Kurt said he loved her, but he hit her and she couldn't even remember a time when she had loved him. She had no idea what to do.

EH GS TM EC: Edie smiled, the last thing on her mind flying away as Theo locked the door - they were totally alone, just the two of them and that was how she wanted it. As she heard the click of the lock, she took another step forward and kissed him again, completely wrapped up in him.

AG LC TC FM: **the morning**

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle woke up with a sigh, still wrapped in Gabes arms. Of course the two of them had gone home together. She was glad that they had managed to get the room that was meant for Tommy and Florence. She smiled as she looked at him. Sometimes, she wished this was how it could be for the rest of time. But Annabelle would never know how to focalise that. "Morning." She whispered to him as she kissed his cheek.

AG LC TC FM: Link had spent the night wondering the street once the bar had kicked him out. He hadn't slept and he was still in the worst mood. He couldn't believe that he had told Emilie how he felt - and that she hadn't said anything back. She had basically brushed him off. He was so annoyed. He slammed the door as he got back, not caring who was awake and who wasn't and went up to his room - he was surprised as he found Tommy there.

AG LC TC FM: Theo had slept pretty soundly, with Edie by his side. He hadn't felt this content since the two of them were last together. He startled awake, as he heard the door slamming. "What was that?" THeo whispered, wondering if Edie was awake too. He didn't see how she couldn't be after that.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe hadn't had a doubt that he and Annabelle were going to go home together since they'd had an actual conversation about it and he wasn't disappointed. As usual, he had slept like a baby and especially with Annabelle wrapped up in his arms. He was still half asleep when she spoke to him and he gave her a sleepy smile as she kissed his cheek, yawning tiredly. "Morning. What time is it?" He opened one eye.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie thought she'd probably gotten about forty five minutes of sleep, if she was lucky and she was not a happy bunny because of it. When she'd tried to get into her bedroom, the door was locked and she was pretty sure she knew why. There was no way she was sleeping in the boys room when she knew Link would be in there and she was pretty sure Tommy would be in his room with some tramp, so she'd gotten changed and grabbed a blanket and ended up on the sofa. Which, again, did not make her happy. It was about seven or eight in the morning when she'd finally drifted off, only to be awoken by the loud slamming of a door. "Shut UP!" She shouted angrily, not caring who it was.

EH GS TM EC: Tommy had absolutely not planned on coming home alone and he'd so almost brought a girl with him just for the sake of it, but he hadn't been into it and so he'd told her to go home alone. He was pretty cut up about him and Florence and the more he thought about it, the more he regretted what he'd done. He was going to call her when he got back into London. He'd gone home around four and gone straight to sleep, surprised that the others boys weren't in the room. He'd been excited to hear about their nights, but when he'd woken up again at eight and nobody was there, he thought it was weird. By the time Link came in, he'd already gotten up and showered and was literally waiting for someone to come back. He looked up as his friend came in. "The fuck are you slamming the door for?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was never a good sleeper, so this was probably the first time in months that she'd actually slept through the night - and she knew it was because she had Theo's arms around her all night. She jumped as she heard the door slam, her eyes opening quickly as she turned onto her side to see if Theo was awake. "I don't know... I guess somebody didn't have such a good night." She sighed. Now that it was light and she was sober, she was slightly embarrassed that everybody was going to know the reason they'd locked the door.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't know why the two of them ended up like this. They tried to pretend like it was nothing more than friendship but she didn't think they could avoid it anymore. She wondered if Gabe would ever tell her that he liked her, or if it would just continue to be a friends with benefits kind of thing. She sighed as she turned over to check her phone. She had a few missed calls from Vance. She sighed before she turned to look at Gabe. "It's like half eight. Do you know what happened to the others?"

AG LC TC FM: Link rolled his eyes as he heard Emilie. He didn't care if she knew it was him or not, he was annoyed and he wanted to get into bed. he didn't want to talk to anyone. But Tommy seemed to have other ideas. "Because I haven't fucking slept." He snapped as he climbed into the bed. He had his clothes still on but he didn't care. "You didn't bring someone home with you?"

AG LC TC FM: Theo sighed. He had been having a good nights sleep and he wished that he could slip back into that now - though he knew that, that couldn't be the case now. "I guess so." He muttered with a nod of his head. Theo wondered if anyone would say something about he and Edie sleeping together. He hoped not. He didn't know how he would react to that. "You okay?" He whispered to her. He sat up and grabbed some of his clothes, passing her, her dress as he did so.

EH GS TM EC: It was times like this when Gabe knew that they couldn't just continue to say they were only best friends forever, but it was a lot easier this way - and he liked the benefits part too much to ever put a stop to it. "No," he yawned tiredly, stretching his arms out. "I reckon they'll be downstairs by now, some of them at least. Should we go down?" He asked, yawning again as he swung his legs out of bed and jumped out, pulling his pants back on. He didn't bother getting dressed anymore than that - they had all seen him in less.

EH GS TM EC: Subconsciously, Emilie knew that a lot of the reason she hadn't slept was because she'd been waiting for Link to come home - she knew where everybody else was but she couldn't help but worry about him, especially after what he'd said. See you in the morning, maybe. It made her even more pissed off that he'd come in and woken her up. She took a deep breath and finally switched her phone back on. As expected, there was a flurry of messages. Nice ones, nasty ones, back to nice ones and vice versa. She sighed and pressed the call button. "Hi, could you come and pick me up, please?" She asked him with a sigh. She needed to talk to him and she was scared, but she thought that maybe if he came and picked her up and they spoke on the journey home, things wouldn't be as bad. "Yeah, set off whenever, it'll take you like an hour anyway."

EH GS TM EC: Tommy rolled his eyes as Link snapped, shaking his head. "Well, don't think you're fucking sleeping now - it's not our fault you didn't come home, is it? You're not wasting half the day in bed. Get up." He bossed. He was always an active person and hardly ever slept in, even when he was hungover. "What's it to you?" He asked, slightly snappier than usually. "Who's pissed you off, anyway?" He wondered why his friend had only just come home and where the hell he'd been.

EH GS TM EC: Edie nodded her head as Theo asked if she was okay, smiling softly. "Better than." She told him quietly, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Are you?" She didn't regret what had happened at all and she was happy that they had another night left, she just hoped he didn't regret it either. "Thanks." She smiled as he passed her the dress, but she covered herself with the duvet as she grabbed her bag and pulled some more appropriate clothes on.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle couldn't help but be curious as to what happened with her friends. She could tell by the sound of Emilies shouts, that she definitely wasn't happy about something and she wondered what had happened. "I guess you've already decided that's what we're doing." Annabelle laughed. She would've liked to stay in bed for a little while longer, with Gabe, with it just being the two of them. But she figured that Gabe wanted to get the day started. She stood up though, and pulled on the dress she had brought for the morning.

AG LC TC FM: Link rolled his eyes as he heard Tommy, "Fuck off. You don't get to tell me what to do." He snapped. Though he knew that he wouldn't be sleeping. Link was still high out of his brain. He had had more, heavier stuff, since he had left Emilie. He wasn't really sure he was going to go back at all, if he was completely honest. and since he hadn't heard from anyone, he was pretty sure that they didn't care anyway. "No one!"

AG LC TC FM: Theo smiled as Edie spoke and he nodded his head. He liked that she had said that, he liked that she didn't seem to regret what had happened between the two of them, "Yeah. I'm more than okay." He chuckled as he got dressed. He wanted breakfast, he was already hungry, but Theo wanted to wait until Edie was ready to go down stairs. "Emilie doesn't sound happy." He sighed.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe was usually the laziest of people, but because everybody had gone AWOL last night he was excited to catch up and find out where the hell everybody had been all night. He laughed, nodding his head. "Come on! I'm starving." He grinned, beckoning for Annabelle to follow him as soon as she was dressed. He didn't care at all that he was still in his underwear whilst she was dressed.

EH GS TM EC: Already, Emilie's confidence was waning - she knew that she would probably chicken out of having a conversation with Kurt, that she wouldn't want to do it once she was in the car... But at least she would be out of here and back in London and maybe he'd feel bad about the texts. Maybe he'd be on good behaviour and he'd have missed her. Then she'd have a few more days to get her head in order, rather than having to have the conversation right now. She got up and busied herself making breakfast for everybody - she had promised it after all. It was the least she could do before she left.

EH GS TM EC: "Uh, yes I do. Get up." Tommy demanded, throwing his pillow over at his friends bed. Last night had already been ruined and he wasn't having today and tonight ruined as well, not a chance. "Well, obviously fucking somebody has, mate." He rolled his eyes, reaching for the glass of water on his bedside table and taking a sip. "Seriously, where the fuck have you been?"

EH GS TM EC: Edie smiled as Theo said he was more than okay - she felt so happy that morning and she hoped that nobody would tease her about it. She yawned as she quickly dragged a brush through her hair, getting up and straightening out her clothes before she joined Theo at the door. "No, she doesn't..." She sighed. She hoped her friend was okay. "Ready?" She smiled.

AG LC TC FM: "You're always hungry. What else is new?" Annabelle asked with a raise of an eyebrow and a laugh. She loved how comfortable Gabe was in himself and around them. She knew that most of the people there had seen her in less than clothes but she didn't care. "I"m coming. Calm down!" Annabelle laughed as she followed after him. She sometimes wondered what her friends were thinking about her and Gabe. She was so curious. But she didn't dare ask. "Hey gorgeous!" Annabelle chimed as she saw Emilie cooking, "Where'd you get too last night?"

AG LC TC FM: "Tommy - I fucking mean it." Link wasn't going to relent with this and if he was honest, he was two seconds away from completely blowing up at the other. He was tired, he was high and he was in a bad mood. "Doesn't matter, does it?" He snapped. He shook his head as Tommy continued. "Out. I've been out. What is it with the interrogation?!"

AG LC TC FM: Theo really did feel on cloud nine. He was so happy with how things had gone the night before. He didn't know what the others would say but he really didn't care. He didn't think anything could ruin the mood now. "Ready." Theo nodded. He wanted to take her hand but he didn't want to assume that the two of them were more than what they were the night before.

EH GS TM EC: "So then you should've been prepared for this!" Gabe laughed, practically running full speed down the stairs as he started to smell breakfast. "That's breakfast! I can smell breakfast!" He beamed, his voice probably loud enough for everybody in London to hear him, now. This was always his favourite part - chilling with everybody the morning after, filling each other in and catching up. He had no idea that people weren't in the best moods.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie turned to see who was coming down the stairs and smiled slightly as she saw Annabelle and Gabe - she thought the same about them as she did about Edie and Theo; she wished they'd just hurry up and be together. "Morning." She raised an eyebrow, flipping the bacon in the pan. "Gabe, couldn't you have put some more clothes on? You'll put people off." She laughed. "Home. And I'm going back to London today. I'm not feeling it."

EH GS TM EC: Tommy rolled his eyes as Link spoke, but he could tell he wasn't going to give in - and that pissed him off a little bit, but he knew why. He sighed and left the room for a second, only to return with a big glass of water that he put on the table next to his friend. "I'll save you some breakfast. Fucking boring bastard." His words were harsh, but he knew he wouldn't be making any effort at all if it wasn't for his very best friend.

EH GS TM EC: Edie's stomach turned slightly as she smelled the breakfast - she was starving, but she didn't want to eat in front of all of these people when she knew they would be watching her. She wondered if Theo was going to take her hand, but as he didn't she smiled and headed down the stairs. "Morning!" She called tiredly.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle couldn't help but laugh as Gabe spoke. She liked being around him so much because he always managed to put her in a good mood. "You're lucky he's wearing that, honestly." The blonde muttered with a shake of her head. It didn't really bother her that he wasn't wearing much. She shook her head as she heard Emilie. "What? No you're not!" Annabelle pouted. "No. We all came away tonight! You're not going home. You're not gonna be cheered up by your fucking boyfriend, are you?"

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head slightly, "I don't want anything." He was so frustrated but he was glad that Tommy was at least leaving him alone now. Link wasn't sure how today was going to go. He didn't know if he could face Emilie, that was why he had stayed outside for most of the night. And now he definitely didn't plan on getting out of bed. He didn't want to talk to anyone else.

AG LC TC FM: Theo didn't realise how hungry he was, until he could smell breakfast. "Is Emilie cooking?" He asked, as he followed Edie down the stairs, "Good morning." He smiled at the others. He moved so he could sit down, twisting so he could look at the others. Theo really liked all of Edies friends, he just hoped things would be okay today. he wanted them to all have a good time.

EH GS TM EC: "Thank you." Gabe smiled sweetly as Annabelle defended his attire, reaching to pick up an untoasted slice of bread and shoving it into his mouth whole - he was too hungry to wait until everything was cooked. "Why are you going home?!" He asked through his mouthful, his eyes alarmed. "And where's Link and Tommy?" He demanded. He wanted to see his friends now.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie sighed, shaking her head as she began to plate up everybody's food. "Yeah, I am. Don't Annabelle, I'm going home - he's coming to pick me up now." To be honest, she was already slightly regretting calling Kurt to pick her up, but the damage had been done and she wasn't going back on it now. "Morning." She smiled as Edie and Theo came down, putting Edie's vegan food in front of her first. Then Gabe's huge plate. Then everybody else's.

EH GS TM EC: "Whatever you say." Tommy muttered, but he shook his head - he knew his friend well enough to know that something had gone down last night and he just wished he would tell him what. Then maybe he could help. "I'm here, Gabe." He laughed as he finally got downstairs, patting his friend on the head fondly and sitting in front of his breakfast. "Link's upstairs, won't come down. Who's gonna tell me what's wrong with him?"

EH GS TM EC: Edie smiled. "Of course she is." For all her friends faults, she really did look after them like a mother. She felt especially guilty when the vegan food was put in front of her - she knew she wasn't going to eat it and she felt terrible. But she knew that if she had one bite, she wouldn't stop. She frowned as she heard Emilie was going home and that Link wouldn't come down. "What's going on?" She asked softly.

AG LC TC FM: "Fuck sake." Annabelle snapped with a shake of her head. The good mood that she had been in just moments ago, completely gone. Emilie was her best friend, she didn't want to be away without her. She narrowed her eyes though, as Tommy said Link wasn't going to come downstairs - and she looked up at Emilie, basically ignoring the food in front of her, "What happened?" She asked, almost certain that it had something to do with her friend.

AG LC TC FM: "Thank you." Theo smiled as Emilie placed the food in front of him. He felt bad, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. He hoped that Emilie was okay. She had been so kind to him and he wished that she wasn't going. Though he knew better than to say anything. He didn't think it was really his place to ask her to stay. "Do you need help packing up anything, Emilie?"

AG LC TC FM: Link didn't feel bad for not going downstairs. He really didn't want to be near any of them. He was so annoyed and knew that he'd just take it out on them. He just wanted to sleep. He wanted to forget what he had said to Emilie. He didn't know what had compelled him to say it and he was so frustrated with himself.

EH GS TM EC: "What do you mean he's not coming down?!" Gabe hated the fact that he'd woken up this morning so excited for the day and now one of them was going home and another was refusing to come downstairs. "Should I go and get him?" He asked, looking at Tommy naively as he shoved a bit of bacon into his mouth. He really wanted them to have today altogether, he hadn't even planned on having a drink.

EH GS TM EC: "No, don't go and get him Gabe. Leave him alone." Tommy said firmly, making a start on his own food. He knew that if Link didn't want to be around him, then he definitely couldn't stomach Gabe first thing on a morning, never mind the rest of them. "Alright, what the fuck is going on? What do you mean you're going home?" He rolled his eyes. He was getting sick of everybody already. "Obviously something's happened, so spill."

EH GS TM EC: Emilie rolled her eyes as everybody started in - she'd known they would and honestly, she just wanted to get away from it all. Her head was still ringing after last nights events and now Link wouldn't even come downstairs and face her? What did that mean? She shrugged her shoulders as Annabelle looked at her, feigning innocence. "I don't know. Nothing to do with me." She lied, pouring some coffee into her cup.

EH GS TM EC: *continued* She smiled as Theo spoke - she really did like him, and she shook her head. "No, it's fine thanks. I might need help carrying my bags down later."

EH GS TM EC: Edie felt worried about Emilie, but she felt especially so about Link... He was like a big brother to her and they were in the same boat when it came to a lot of their troubles, so she wished more than anybody she could help him. "Are you sure you can't just wait until tomorrow? And we can all go home together?" She asked quietly, chewing on her bottom lip. Underneath the table, her hand searched for Theo's, needing to know he was there.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle was so annoyed that Emilie was leaving and that Link wouldn't come downstairs. She had no idea what had happened but she was getting frustrated that Emilie wouldn't tell them. She thought that, that meant that it was a big deal. "You're fucking lying. But whatever." She rolled her eyes before she looked at Gabe, "You want some of mine?" She asked. She really didn't feel like eating. Sometimes, she wondered why Emilie even bothered to cook her anything.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded his head as Emilie spoke, "Yeah. Of course. Just let me know." He smiled. He took Edies hand under the table. He had no idea what was happening but he knew that he wanted to be able to be there for her. He cared for her so much and he knew that she would want to check in on Link. He didn't know what to even think about all of this.

AG LC TC FM: Link didn't even know that Emilie was going. If he did, he probably would've gone downstairs so they could all spend the morning together. He didn't want to face the others, because he didn't want to talk to them about what had happened. He didn't want to be questioned. Link half expected one of them - Maybe Gabe or Edie - to come up and check on him but he was so glad that they didn't

EH GS TM EC: "Does it matter?" Emilie snapped, sighing as Annabelle offered her food to Gabe. "No, he doesn't. He can have Link's food." She muttered, sliding the plate over to him. She wasn't going to let Annabelle get away with it that easily, not today. She had known that Annabelle would figure out she was lying, but it annoyed her - she just wanted to go home and get away from what had happened. She couldn't believe that he wouldn't even come downstairs and she was pretty sure it was because she was there.

EH GS TM EC: "I'll go and get it." Tommy muttered, pushing his plate away from him. He had eaten a surprisingly large amount in the little time he'd been downstairs, but his frustration with the others was ruining his appetite. The weekend was turning out to be a bust and he just didn't understand why. As Emilie and Annabelle snapped at each other, he got up from the table and went upstairs to grab Emilie's bags, leaving them by the door. He really wished Florence had stayed. He got out his phone and thought about calling her, but he didn't.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe sat like piggy in the middle as Emilie and Annabelle argued on either side of him, finishing the food on his plate and looking around at both of them before he started on Link's plate too. He knew that Annabelle didn't eat a lot, but he didn't like to push her on it - he didn't think that would ever get a good reaction. He felt really sad that the weekend wasn't turning out to be as good as they'd hoped, when he'd enjoyed last night so much.

EH GS TM EC: Edie sighed as the girls started in on each other - she knew they were both just upset and frustrated, but she wished they could all figure out what was going on and enjoy a last night together. She didn't want the weekend to end on a bad note. "Do you think I should go upstairs?" She whispered to Theo, raising an eyebrow. She didn't want Link to think nobody cared.

AG LC TC FM: "If you're going home of course it does." Annabelle rolled her eyes. She had no idea what was wrong with Emilie but it pissed her off that her friend wouldn't even tell her. She sighed as Emilie said he could have Links. "Fine. Then I'm not having this." She snapped, pushing her plate away from her. She didn't like people trying to police her, trying to tell her that she couldn't do whatever it was that she wanted.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded slightly as Tommy went upstairs. He had wanted to help but it seemed like the other just needed to do something. Theo really wasn't sure what to do. It felt like he shouldn't be there. Like this should just be between the five of them ,whatever it was that was going on. He shrugged his shoulders as Edie spoke, "I dunno - do you want to check on him?"

AG LC TC FM: Link hated this. He hated that he couldn't be with his friends. He really hated that he had messed things up so badly. He didn't know how he would face Emilie again. He was so embarrassed. He had told Emilie that he loved her and he had got nothing back. He didn't know how he could come back from that.

EH GS TM EC: "I can't lie, I don't know if I'm winning or not because I still don't know how to play this game." Gabe laughed, looking up at Annabelle with a shrug of his shoulders. He sat resting against her legs whilst playing a game of poker that Tommy had forced him to play. After the way the morning had gone, they'd settled for a night in rather than going out and he didn't mind that. He did wish they hadn't had to get a takeaway, though. He preferred Emilie's cooking. "Am I winning?"

EH GS TM EC: Tommy laughed, rolling his eyes. "I don't know mate, you're fucking confusing me as well now. How can you be so bad at this?" He chuckled. He was glad they'd all stayed, but there was definitely still a bit of an awkward atmosphere in the room. They'd pretty much done their own thing all day until the nighttime and now they'd come back together he was just trying to make the most of the night. "Don't help him cheat." He told Annabelle with a raise of an eyebrow.

EH GS TM EC: Edie had been pretty quiet since Emilie had left - she didn't like that the girl had gone without any of them knowing why, but she'd still relished the chance to spend the day with Theo and she was still enjoying that even now. She had borrowed one of his books and was sat reading, her head on his shoulder as she turned the pages fast, dying to see what happened at the end. She looked up as Gabe spoke, letting out a little laugh.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle had been in a pretty bad mood since Emilie had left. She missed her friend. She wanted to know what was going on. If it wasn't for Gabe, Annabelle probably would've gone home herself. She rolled her eyes as Tommy spoke to her, "You think so little off me? I'm offended." She chuckled though. She liked this, being sat with her friends.

AG LC TC FM: Theo felt really content, his arm wrapped around Edie. Despite the rocky start, he thought that they had made a pretty good day of it all. Link still hadn't come down though and Theo was starting to get a little worried about it. He was reading, like Edie. He felt so good like that. He glanced up at the others with a chuckle. "You'd definitely beat me, Gabe." He had no idea how to play poker.

AG LC TC FM: Link had slept for most of the day. He still wasn't even aware that Emilie had gone home. He woke up with a grown. His head was pounding and he was still in a bad mood but he knew he couldn't hide away for forever. He sighed as he got up, got dressed and headed down the stairs. He sat on the floor, next to Tommy, without saying a word to any of them. He figured that Emilie was just upstairs or something.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe laughed as the others spoke, shaking his head and looking over to Theo. "Honestly mate, I don't think I would. Tommy's skinting me here." He laughed, kicking his foot out at Tommy jokingly. He looked up as Link came in, shooting a small smile at his friend. He was glad he'd finally decided to join them - he had been getting really worried about him and even though Tommy said not to, tempted to go upstairs and see him.

EH GS TM EC: Tommy laughed, nodding his head. "You would absolutely help him cheat if you thought he could beat me." He grinned, putting down his cards and beating Gabe for about the sixth time that night. He smiled as Link came and sat down next to him, giving his friend a nod of acknowledgement. "Alright?" He asked. He wasn't going to be the one to say Emilie had gone home.

EH GS TM EC: Edie felt a sense of relief as Link came down the stairs, even though she didn't realise she'd been waiting for it. Everything felt a little bit better now. "You should definitely help him cheat Anna, he'll be getting the bus home instead of the train if he loses anymore." She teased, laughing softly. Despite the obvious, it had been a really nice night and she just wished they had all been here for it.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle smiled at Edie and nodded her head. "Alright - move over. I'll beat him for you." Annabelle laughed. It was one of the few things that they used to play with Nick. None of it was with money, of course, but Annabelle seemed to remember she was pretty good at it. She didn't look at Link, just smiled slightly. She wondered how he would take the fact that Emilie had gone home.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded in way of greeting to Tommy, he didn't really have much to say but he knew he needed to try and be present with his friends. "Emilie allowed you to have takeaway?" He asked, nodding to the boxes. He didn't think that she had ever not cooked for them all when they went away together. Not for a second did he think that she had gone. Especially not without saying bye to him. Things were weird but he didn't think they were that weird.

AG LC TC FM: Theo didn't know how to respond to Link. He knew that he definitely shouldn't be the one to tell the other that Emilie had gone home. For the second time that day, he felt like he shouldn't be there. He felt like it should definitely just be the others, so they could all talk about it together. Theo wondered if Emilie might've stayed if Theo wasn't there, so she could talk to her friends.

-: “Yes! Time to eat dust Morley!” Gabe laughed excitedly, sliding over so that Annabelle could sit in his place. He thought he remembered Nick teaching his sisters this game and he was excited to watch her in action. He reached over to grab a slice of pizza, half of it in his mouth already as he heard Link speak. “She went home, mate.” He mumbled through the mouthful, not realising that he was probably being quite insensitive. He thought Link would’ve known, that Emilie would’ve at least said bye.

-: “Fucking hell, Gabe.” Tommy rolled his eyes as Gabe guffawed his way through saying Emilie had gone, pushing his friend by the shoulder. “Alright Gellar, what are we playing for? If I win, you have to be my slave for a whole day.” He smirked. He knew they couldn’t play for money, so in his own way he was trying to make that fact a bit less obvious.

-: Edie could tell that Theo maybe felt a little bit out of place and she wished everybody else wasn’t there for a second so that she could tell him Emilie would’ve gone either way. She was determined like that. “I don’t think she was feeling very well.” She said discreetly, looking up from her book. She wished Gabe hadn’t said it like that.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle was even more convinced that something had happened with Link and that was why Emilie had gone home, as she realised that he didn't even know she had gone. Why else wouldn't Emilie have said something to him? "Works for me. And I play to get Gabes money back." She shrugged. It seemed pretty fair to her. Especially because she was convinced that she would win.

AG LC TC FM: Link raised an eyebrow as Gabe said that Emilie had gone home and he just felt even worse for what had happened the night before. She had gone and hadn't said anything to him. She was mad at him or she didn't want to see him or something. But none of it was good. He nodded slightly as Edie spoke, "Right." He sighed. He'd only just woken up but right now, he wished he hadn't.

AG LC TC FM: Theo felt really uncomfortable in that room. He liked Link. He was really good to Edie but he knew that he could blow at any moment and so the other scared him a little bit. He tried not to let on though and went back to reading his book. He figured that he wasn't needed in this conversation.

-: “Alright - sounds like a fair deal to me.” Tommy grinned, shrugging his shoulders. It was another competition with Annabelle and he always enjoyed them. He didn’t think for a second she’d win, but he was excited to find out. He thought it was really weird that Link didn’t even know that Emilie had gone, but he didn’t want to keep going on about it. “You were probably asleep when she went.” He nodded his head, as though that explained it. They all knew something had happened.

-: Gabe felt bad instantly for the way he’d spoken, but he knew he couldn’t really go back on it now without making a bigger deal out of everything than was necessary. He hoped Link didn’t go back upstairs - he really wanted to spend time with his friend. “Do you want anything to eat? There’s loads left.” He smiled, pushing the box towards his friend.

-: Edie knew that Link could have a short temper, but she didn’t think he was going to blow tonight - he seemed more sad than anything else and she hated that. She folded down the edge of the page she was on and put the book down, looking around at her friends with a little smile. It was so almost perfect.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle smirked as she looked over at Tommy, "You have no idea what is about to hit you." She laughed. She loved played games with Tommy. He was probably one of the few people who were actually as competitive as she was and she liked that. She was just about to start - when she heard her phone ring. She checked who it was and was quite confused. "It's Ems mum." Annabelle loved Emilies mum but the two didn't really speak unless she was at the others house. She stood up, "I'll be two seconds." She muttered as she walked out into the hallway, answering the phone as she went, "Hello?"

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded, "Yeah, probably." He sighed. He wished that he had been able to talk to her before she had gone. He didn't think that this needed to be made into a bigger deal that it was but he knew he couldn't say anything to the others. Clearly, Emilie hadn't told them. "Yeah - fucking starving." He muttered with a short laugh. He reached over so that he could grab a slice of pizza.

AG LC TC FM: Once Theo realised that Edie had stopped reading, he finished the bit he was on and put it down too. He didn't want to make a bad impression on the people around him. He wanted to be able to have them as his friends too - he definitely hoped that he would be around them all for a while.

-: “Her mum?” Tommy asked, pulling a face. He had no idea why Emilie’s mum would call Annabelle when she knew they were all away - maybe she hadn’t told her mum she was going home? Either way, he thought it was strange and he was annoyed that it was interrupting their game. “Hurry up!” He shouted, laughing to show that he was joking.

-: Edie didn’t know why, but as soon as Annabelle said that Emilie’s mum was on the other end of the phone, her stomach dropped. It was like she knew it was going to be something bad and she half wanted to follow Annabelle out into the corridor to find out what was going on. She waited with baited breath to hear what was being said.

-: Gabe was none the wiser as to why any of their parents would be calling, but he didnt think it was a big deal. “I’m not surprised.” He laughed as Link said he was hungry, shaking his head. He couldn’t go a couple of hours without eating never mind nearly a whole day. He was glad the food was still pretty warm for his friend.

AG LC TC FM: Theo could sense the tension from Edie as soon as Annabelle said that it was Emilies mum. He didn't understand why she would be calling if it was anything good and so Theo was definitely worried too. He squeezed Edies shoulder, wanting her to know that he was there and that she had support but he had no idea what to say. He hoped that Emilie was okay though.

AG LC TC FM: Link narrowed his eyes as Annabelle said it was Emilies mum. He didn't think that, that would be good but he didn't see what could have happened. None of them knew just how bad Kurt was. "Not everyone is like you, Gabe. We can go a few hours without some food." he nudged his friend, the hint of a smile on his lips.

AG LC TC FM: "Hello Annabelle. I'm sorry to be ringing with this news but i'm going to get straight to it." She could hear that her mum was upset but Annabelle had no idea why. "Emilie is in hospital. She had a trip and fell down the stairs. She really wants you here." Annabelle listened to everything that Emilies mum had to say - but from the word hospital, she felt like she was underwater. her head was ringing and she could hardly concentrate on anything else. "Okay - er - we'll.- I'm coming." Annabelle spoke. They didn't say much else after that before they hung up. Annabelle stood, her phone to her ear but the line dead, for a couple seconds. She had no idea how she was going to get home but she needed to be home now

-: Edie waited just a couple of seconds before she got up and went out to find Annabelle. She knew that if it was just a casual call, she would’ve heard laughter or Annabelle would’ve been back by now. “What’s going on?” She asked softly, coming round the side of the door. If she hadn’t been sure that something was wrong before, she was certain now.

-: Even as Edie got up and went out, it didn’t strike Gabe that it was anything bigger than Emilie’s mum just wanting to know what was going on - his parents would do the same, he thought. “It’s because I’m tall, there’s more space to fill.” He laughed, reaching for another slice himself. He was glad that Link seemed to be in better spirits

-: Tommy let out a loud yawn, trying to show Annabelle that he was getting bored waiting for her - if he knew how serious the situation was then he wouldn’t be playing around at all, but he had no clue. He couldn’t stand Kurt, but he never ever thought he’d do something like this. Or that Emilie would let him.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle just stared at Edie for a moment as her friend spoke. She still felt like her head was spinning. "Erm --" She shook her head, almost trying to shake herself out of it. "Emilie is in the hospital." She whispered to Edie. She couldn't believe it. She didn't know how something like this could happen and Annabelle felt even worse for letting her go. "I need - i need to get home. I need someone to pick me up or something. I need to get home."

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head, "Yeah, of course that's it." He laughed. He looked at Tommy as his friend yawned. He loved the two of them. They were his best friends. Link genuinely wasn't sure he would still be alive right now if it wasn't for Gabe and Tommy. They were his saviours and he didn't think either of them knew that.

AG LC TC FM: Theo didn't want to listen in but he couldn't help it. He was closest to the door and so he overheard what Annabelle was saying, naturally. He looked at the three boys, wondering how they were going to react to the news. He didn't think any of it was going to be pretty.

-: Edie could see that Annabelle was spiralling and she wasn’t even sure how to help her, but her heart sank as she heard what had happened. Emilie had gone home with Kurt and now she was in the hospital. “Him?” She asked softly, feeling sick at the very thought. It seemed very obvious to her. “Oh god, okay, um...” She knew neither of their parents would come for them. “What about Gabe’s parents? They have the seven seater?” She suggested. She wanted to go, too - even if Emilie wouldn’t let her in, she would go.

-: Tommy laughed as Link looked over at him, but his gaze snapped to Annabelle as he heard what she was saying. “She’s what?” He asked, his eyes boring into the blonde. They were a family, through and through. And if somebody had hurt one of them, they would pay. There was no question about that.

-: Gabe first heard the word hospital and he turned around to listen, knowing he looked nosy but not really caring. “She’s in the hospital?” He asked softly, his face falling. He didn’t know what had happened, but based on who had picked her up today he could imagine. They had been arguing even as she’d gotten into the car. “My dad would pick us up.” He nodded his head. He knew that, without a doubt.

AG LC TC FM: "I don't know." Though annabelle was pretty sure that it wasn't. Emilie wasn't a clumsy person. She wouldn't have just fallen down some stairs, Annabelle knew that. "I don't know her mum just said that she fell down the stairs and is now in hospital." She looked at Gabe as he said his dad would take them. "Will you call him? Right now?" She needed to be with Emilie otherwise she was pretty sure that she was going to lose his mind.

AG LC TC FM: Link was so confused as he listened to the others. Emilie was in hospital. She had gone home and something had happened and now she was in the hospital. "I'll fucking kill him if it was." Link growled. All thoughts of a good mood was gone. Link would never let anything happen to Emilie, he always made sure of that. And now, because they had, had fight, she had gone home and gotten herself hurt. And he was so angry.

AG LC TC FM: Theo quickly got up as he heard Annabelle and started to put things together. he knew that no-one would want to be messing around once Gabes dad got there. He definitely wouldn't go the hospital, he knew that, that wasn't his place but he wanted to do what he could whilst he was there.

-: Edie shook her head as Annabelle told her what had apparently happened - she was absolutely sure that wasn’t the case. Emilie wasn’t even a little bit clumsy, she had never seen her so much as slip on the ice. She hadnt fallen down the stairs, not bad enough to land herself in hospital. “She lives in a bloody studio apartment.” She whispered with a shake of her head. She didn’t even have any stairs apart from the ones to get from flat to flat. Like Theo, she instantly started putting her things together, not wanting to be any hinderance.

-: “I’ll call him now.” Gabe nodded his head, already picking up his phone and calling his dad. “Dad? Can you please come and pick us up? Yeah, all of us. Emilie’s in the hospital and the train doesn’t come for another hour.” He spoke a little more with his dad before hanging up the call. “He’s on his way.” He told them, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He didn’t understand how this had all happened so suddenly, but he was sure they all knew what had happened. He wished they had never let her leave.

-: Tommy remembered the way Kurt had been this morning when he had arrived to pick their friend up and he wished he’d said something, wished he’d stopped her from leaving... because he thought it was pretty obvious what had happened. And part of him might have known it all along or at least suspected. Why else would that be what his mind jumped to? “I’ll be there with you, mate.” He muttered to Link. He was just glad Gabe’s dad was coming for them all.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle nodded her head as Gabe spoke and almost as though the relief of knowing someone was coming for them, Annabelle burst into tears. She shouldn't have let Emilie go. Kurt was in such a bad mood when he had picked Emilie up. They should've realised that something bad was going to happen. She needed to see Emilie. She needed to do something but she didn't know what.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded as Tommy spoke. He knew that none of them would go easy on Kurt if he had really done this. Link was so angry at himself. "Fuck sake." He muttered with a shake of his head as he stood up. "How long is he going to be?!" He asked Gabe. He needed something. He needed to do something and so he paced the floor. It was all he could think to do.

AG LC TC FM: THe more they spoke, the worse Theo felt about what had been happening. He, like the others , had seen how angry Kurt was when he had gotten there and they hadn't done anything to stop it. He couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty. "Does anyone need me to do anything?" He asked the others. He just needed to be able to help, especially as Annabelle started to cry.

-: Gabe’s heart broke as Annabelle started to cry - it was usually he who was weak and she was the strong one, but he knew it had to be different now. “Come here,” he muttered, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He knew the only way she would feel better is if she saw Emilie... and maybe not even then. “It’ll take him about an hour to get here. Should we all go to the hospital, or...?” He didn’t think they’d let them all in but he had no idea how to decide who went.

-: “Oh, Anna...” Edie whispered as her friend started to cry, hugging her arms around her waist. She felt like she was seconds away from crying herself. Emilie was the strongest of their group and now this had happened to her. “Did she just ask for you?” She asked Annabelle softly. It was unspoken that Annabelle would get to see her, above any of them - but Edie thought that she or Link should get second priority. She felt like she needed to see her friend. “We should clean up?” She whispered to Theo. They could leave the apartment like this, after all.

-: Tommy chewed on the inside of his cheek as he thought about what the hell they were going to do. Nobody hurt one of them and got away with it. “Come on, sit down mate...” he sighed as Link began pacing, taking a seat on the sofa. All they could do was wait to be picked up now. “They won’t let us all in.” He shook his head in response to Gabe. He wished they would, but he didn’t think that would be the case.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle was usually able to keep herself together, especially when she was around her friends but Emilie was her closest friend and Annabelle hated that this had happened, and they could've maybe stopped it. If she had spent her night with Emilie instead of going off with Gabe, would this have even happened? "I think she just wanted me.." She muttered to Edie. She knew that she would probably want the others eventually but right now, it was just her.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head as Tommy spoke... though he still went and sat down next to him with a sigh. He didn't know what to do. He felt stuck there and he needed to be able to see Emilie. "They fucking better." Link was ready to fight whoever he had to in order to see Emilie - He just hoped that she wanted to see him too. He needed to make sure that she was okay.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded and quickly moved to start to clean the place up. He figured if he could do something, then he would. He thought that they needed some time to be able to process it all, "I've got it. I'll sort it." He nodded at Edie, shooting her a small smile.

EH GS TM EC: Gabe kept on wondering if he could've prevented this from happening, but he had to accept that the answer was probably no - Emilie had been determined to go home and they weren't to know what was going to happen... But that didn't stop the massive guilt he felt. "Then you go in first." He told her softly with a nod of his head. He didn't think any of them would fight that. It seemed obvious to him that the girls would want a moment alone, first.

EH GS TM EC: Tommy clapped his friend on the back lightly as he came to sit down next to him - he didn't really know if there was anything any of them could say to make themselves feel better, but he was so curious about what had happened between Link and Emilie to make her go home like she had. "You'll be able to go in. Both of you." He nodded at Annabelle and Link.

EH GS TM EC: "I'll help." Edie returned Theo's little smile; it made her feel better to have something to do, to feel like she was helping... They had never expected it to come to this and the whole weekend felt dark now, like they should never have come here. Time felt like it was going quickly and slowly all at once.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle wondered if Vance was there, if he knew that Kurt was hurting Emilie. She wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Annabelle knew that she needed to end things with him. She couldn't let any part of Kurt near Emilie but Annabelle also knew that she couldn't be the one to end it. It had to be him otherwise he wouldn't stop. "God - where is your dad?" Annabelle hissed. She hated that they were so far away.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head as Tommy spoke to him, "Emilie definitely doesn't want to see me." He sighed. He knew that is Emilie wanted to talk to him, then she would've said bye. He felt guilty for what had happened the last night. He was the reason why she had wanted to go home. If he had kept his mouth shut, then she would've been fine. He could've been the reason for a second person that he loved, death.

AG LC TC FM: "Thanks." Theo smiled with a nod of his head. He was already making a plan in his head for them all to go away again, when Emilie was better and things were good. He had some savings so he knew that he would be able to save enough for a place like this for the weekend. He wanted them all to be able to have a good time together.

EH GS TM EC: "He'll be here soon, it can't be much longer." Gabe sighed. He knew his dad would be going as fast as he was allowed, but it felt like it had been ages, even though it hadn't actually been that long. "Have you got everything you need?" He asked her - he'd not unpacked anything at all, really, so his bag was ready for him to grab and go. He hoped his dad wasn't far away, because he could feel how antsy they all were.

EH GS TM EC: "Don't be stupid, of course she will." Tommy shook his head. He had never seen a friendship as close as Emilie and Link's and he thought that whatever had happened, it wouldn't matter after all of this. He didn't see how Link could blame himself, but he knew his friend and he was sure he would find away somehow.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was a little scared of what they were actually going to see when they got to the hospital - she didn't think she'd have been admitted if it wasn't really bad and she wasn't sure if she was ready to see her friend like that. "Let's bring everybody's bags down?" She suggested to Theo, raising an eyebrow.

AG LC TC FM: "I swear I'm this close to making a fucking run for it." Annabelle whispered with a shake of her head. She just wanted to see Emilie with her own two eyes. She nodded, "Yeah, I didn't take anything out." She had her clothes from last night in the room that she had shared with Gabe but that was it. But she didn't want to start packing. She didn't want to do anything.

AG LC TC FM: Link shook his head. He made sure that no-one was looking, listening, before he spoke to Tommy again. "I fucking told her I loved her." He muttered with a shake of his head. "And we had a fucking huge fight. She's not gonna want to see me." He hadn't even told Tommy and Gabe that he thought he loved Emilie before. But he knew his friend was wondering what had happened and he figured this made everything make more sense.

AG LC TC FM: Theo really wanted to ask how Edie was feeling but he didn't think that it needed to be asked. He just wasn't sure what to say to her at all. He was at a loss, if he was completely honest. "Yeah, sounds like a plan." He nodded and started up the stairs. "Is there a bag or something? We can just throw all the random little bits in that and go through it later?"

EH GS TM EC: "Not long to go, honestly..." Gabe sighed, trying to be comforting but also freaking out a little bit himself. He didn't know why none of them had thought anything of how angry the man had been when he'd arrived this morning. He was never particularly pleasant, but he'd been horrible and they'd just kind of gone with it - he didn't understand why. "Okay, good... It's all sorted then." He sighed, checking his phone. "He's like ten minutes away." He told her. He hoped they would pass quickly.

EH GS TM EC: Tommy's eyebrows raised in surprise as he listened to what Link was telling him, turning to face his friend whilst trying not to make it too obvious. "What the fuck?" He whispered, trying to process what he was hearing. "Why'd you say that? Do you?" He asked. It was the first he'd heard of it, although he'd always had his suspicions deep down. He didn't get why they would fight over that, though.

EH GS TM EC: To be honest, Edie was so happy that Theo wasn't asking her any questions, because she was pretty sure that would be when she broke down properly. She just couldn't think about it right now. "Yeah, we can use this one." She nodded her head, throwing pretty much everything into the spare bag. "Is that all of it?" She asked, looking around them.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle had just thought that it was Vance being Vance. He had always been pretty horrible. She hadn't thought much of it. She really hoped that they were wrong in all of this. She really hoped that Emilie had just tripped - but even as she thought it, she knew that would never be the case. "Ten minutes?" She sighed as she shook her head. She wanted them there now.

AG LC TC FM: Link knew that he would surprise his friend with that but he needed to tell someone what had happened. "I dunno. I was fucking drunk and high. And I shouted it at her." He shook his head. He knew he hadn't told anyone and that was because he was trying to hide it from them all. he didn't want anyone to know, not even himself. "Course I do, Tommy.

AG LC TC FM: All Theo knew was that he wanted to be there for Edie and to be able to do whatever it was that she needed. He loved her so much. "Perfect." He nodded. They went through room to room, getting everything they needed. He nodded as he heard Edie. "Yeah, I think so. We're good to go when he gets here." He just hoped that it wouldn't be much longer.

EH GS TM EC: "Ten minutes." Gabe nodded his head. He knew it sounded like forever, especially when you considered that they had the whole drive back to London... And he couldn't seem to get away from the fact that this could so easily be Annabelle, with Vance. It scared him so much. He was beside himself for Emilie, but he didn't think he'd actually be able to function if this was Annabelle. "Do you want me to get you anything for the car? Whatever or whatever?" He asked. He was just trying to do what he could, trying to make anything seem more bearable.

EH GS TM EC: "What did she say back?" Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow. Everything was starting to make a little more sense now that he knew what had actually happened between them and as much as Tommy wasn't the person to believe that love was the be all and end all, he felt sad for his friend that this was the way things were today. "Yeah, I thought so..." He sighed, putting a comforting hand on his friends shoulder.

EH GS TM EC: "Okay, good..." Edie sighed, nodding her head. "I'm just going to use the bathroom before we go." She whispered, pulling on her backpack as she walked into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. But instead of actually using it, she sat down on the closed lid of the toilet and pulled a bottle of vodka out of her backpack, unscrewing the top and taking three big gulps before she put it back and sighed in relief, flushing the toilet to make it seem like she'd been. She couldn't handle all of this sober, she just couldn't. It wasn't working.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't think that Vance would ever hurt her liked this - but she had never thought that Kurt would do the same to Emilie. She hated that she hadn't been able to see this coming, see the signs. "No. Will your dad drop me off at the hospital though?" She didn't want to waste a second. "I'm scared to see her, Gabe." Emilie was her best friend. She knew that she would be there for her but she was so scared to see her. She was the strongest person that Annabelle knew. She didn't want to see her friend so vulnerable.

AG LC TC FM: "That there was too much in the way. Or something, I don't know. I don't remember." Link sighed as he shook his head. He didn't know what to make of any of it. He just remembered that she was mad at him and that was all. Link shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Tommy with a sigh. "But then she went home and now she's in the fucking hospital."

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded, "Alright - i'll be downstairs." He had no idea what it was that Edie was going to do. And he wouldn't know what to do even if he did. He walked down the stairs slowly, carrying as many of the bags as he could. He didn't want to disturb anyone in the living room so he placed the bags by the front door and sat down in the chair nearby .

EH GS TM EC: "I love you." Gabe muttered, kissing the top of Annabelle's head before jumping into action as he heard his dads car pull up. Despite being an adult now, he still felt a little sense of relief that his parent was here, that somebody older than them was there to tell them it would be okay. "Hi dad," he sighed as he got into the car, patting the seat next to him as he looked at Annabelle. "Alright, where does everybody want dropping off?" He asked, looking behind him at his friends. He knew they had to get things done as soon as possible.

EH GS TM EC: "You don't know that." Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "And anyway - it doesn't matter now, does it? It happened." He was trying to be comforting, but he didn't know if he was doing a very good job. He was already up on his feet when Edie shouted and it didn't take him long to get into the car, buckling himself in with a sigh. "I'll - I dunno, where should we all go?" He sighed. He wanted to wait at the hospital, but he didn't know if they would even let him.

EH GS TM EC: Edie gratefully took Theo's hand as they climbed into the car, resting against him as soon as he sat down. She had been trying so hard not to rely on him for support, but today that had all gone out of the window. "I want to go to the hospital." She replied to Gabe quietly. Even if she had to wait outside in the cold, she didn't care. She wanted to go, in case any of them needed her to do anything. She couldn't go back to her and Annabelle's horrible flat and be alone there.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle quickly climbed into the car, next to Gabe. "Hi Peter." She muttered, as she rested her head again Gabes shoulder, "Thank you for coming to get us." She already knew that Gabe knew where she was going so she didn't say anything. She just wanted to get on the road now, "Will you hurry up?!" She shouted at the others. She was getting frustrated and she knew that it wasn't fair.

AG LC TC FM: No matter what Tommy said to him, he knew that it wouldn't change his mind. He was the reason that this had happened to Emilie. She was the only reason why he hadn't taken anything. He knew that she would be so angry with him if he did. He needed to be there for her, he needed to be ready when - if, he wanted to see her. "We'll wait outside." He nodded. He knew that he couldn't go home and if Edie wanted to go to the hospital, he'd stay with her.

AG LC TC FM: Theo wrapped an arm around Edie. He wanted to keep her close to him, he wanted to make sure that she knew he would look after her, no matter what. He kissed her forehead as she spoke, "Do you want me to stay with you?" He asked her. Theo would go home if not. He just wanted to make sure that she knew he was going to be there, if she wanted him to be.

EH GS TM EC: "Don't thank me - I came as quickly as I could, but there was a lot of traffic." Gabe's dad sighed, giving Annabelle a sympathetic smile in the mirror. Gabe always felt lucky to have parents like his - they would look after any of his friends like they were their own and he knew that not everybody in the car had parents like that. He sighed and reached for his bottle of water, taking a sip just to give himself something to do.

EH GS TM EC: If he was totally honest, Tommy was just glad that Link didn't seem to have taken anything - it was the first thing he thought his friend would've done when they'd found out about all of this and he thought they'd have been looking after him as well as her.

EH GS TM EC: Edie was so grateful to have Theo next to her, she couldn't even put it into words. She shook her head as he spoke, though. "No, it's okay - but thank you." She whispered. She didn't even know if Emilie was going to let the rest of them see her, but she definitely didn't think she'd like Theo being there. "Do you think anybody has told Charlotte or Ayla?" She asked quietly. She was sure Emilie would want them to know.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle nodded as Mr Saracen spoke. She had always really appreciated him. He had been kind and he had made sure that she and her siblings always had everything they needed. The Saracens didn't need the strain of an extra four people, but they made it work, they looked after them. She tapped her food as they made their way back to London. She needed to do something and there wasn't much else to do.

AG LC TC FM: Link didn't think his new found sobriety would last for forever but he knew that right now, he didn't have a choice. He needed to be sober. He needed to make sure that Emilie had whatever she needed, that his friends had what they needed too.

AG LC TC FM: "No problem." He nodded. He hoped that she would know he would be there for her if she needed her , no matter what time it was. He shrugged his shoulders at her next question though. "Emilies mum rang her, she'd ring them, wouldn't she?" He wasn't sure though. He didn't know any of them as well as Edie did, though. "I can call them? Do you have their numbers?"

EH GS TM EC: Gabe was pretty much silent for the rest of the journey back - he didn't want to talk if Annabelle didn't want to. He just wanted things to be as easy as possible for her, because they were going to be so hard once they got to the hospital and he wouldn't be able to stop that then. "I think we're nearly there." He sighed as he saw a sign for the hospital.

EH GS TM EC: It was late and Tommy knew that if the situation was different, he'd be flat out by now... They were all supposed to still be in the apartment having the best time, laughing and joking - but it felt a million miles away now. He closed his eyes just to rest them, opening them when he heard Gabe speak. It all felt just a bit too real now. As big as he was, he almost wished it was his parents picking them up, so that he could see them.

EH GS TM EC: Edie nodded her head; Theo was probably right, her mum would've called them. "I'll see if they're there, first." She whispered. Trying to help was the only way she was coping with all of this, she just felt like he needed something to do, a job that was hers. "Are you going to be okay getting home from here?" She whispered. She hadn't realised how late it was.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle sighed as Gabe said they were almost there. As much as she had wanted to get there, she was so nervous now that they were pulling up. Annabelle nodded her head. "Im gonna go straight in, see what they say, see if I can see her." She hoped so. if not, she hoped that she could at least see Emilies mum. She thought that she would get all her answers from the other woman.

AG LC TC FM: Link was almost glad that he had slept all day. He was wide awake now. He was high on adrenaline too. Because he needed to see Emilie. He had no idea if they were going to be allowed in tonight, but it didn't matter. They would wait for however long it took.

AG LC TC FM: Theo nodded, "Alright." He smiled slightly. He was at a loss of where he could help. Theo had always hated hospitals, but since his brother, even more so. They made him nervous and he didn't think anything good ever happened there. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Will you call me if you need anything? Anyone." He spoke a little louder so they could all here. He wanted to help them all, if he could.

EH GS TM EC: "Okay, I won't be far behind." Gabe nodded his head, letting Annabelle take the lead. He was a little bit scared to go in, because of what he thought they were going to see. Emilie's mum was waiting for Annabelle in the entrance, her face tear stained, but relieved to see the blonde girl. "Annabelle, she smiled sadly, taking a step towards her. "Thank you... Thanks for coming. She's awake."

EH GS TM EC: Tommy thanked Gabe's dad before he got out of the car slowly, taking in a deep breath as they finally got into the fresh air. "You alright?" He asked Link with a raise of an eyebrow, running a hand over his hair. Now that they were here, he almost wished they wouldn't let them wait... As selfish as he knew that was.

EH GS TM EC: "Of course. Thank you. For everything." Edie whispered, squeezing Theo's hand gently. She didn't think a better person existed and just seeing how much he was willing to do for them all only reinforced that. She wished she could ask him to stay, but she knew it was selfish.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle smiled as she saw Emilies mum, blinking back the tears as she looked at the other woman, "Of course. We all got here as quickly as we could." She looked over her shoulder to her friends. "Can I see her?" She asked, as she looked back to Enid. She didn't know what she would do if she wasn't able to see her friend now. She needed to be able to see Emilie otherwise she was sure that she would go crazy.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded, "Yeah." He muttered. But the really answer was that he wasn't. How could he be? He didn't know how bad things were with Emilie but if they were keeping her in over night, he could imagine. He wanted to see her but he knew that he couldn't impose. He hung back with the others, letting Annabelle talk to Emilies mum.

AG LC TC FM: "You never have to thank me." Theo smiled as he shook his head. He would do anything for Edie, anything for anyone that he considered a friend, if he was completely honest. He didn't live far from the hospital so he could be there in a heartbeat if Edie needed him.

EH GS TM EC: Enid nodded, wiping a tear from her eye as she did so. "She asked if you can go in by yourself, at first?" She sighed. She knew the others would want to see her daughter, but she knew that she was embarrassed and the only person she wanted to see right now was Annabelle. At least, initially. "Annabelle -" She said softly before the other one went in. "She doesn't... She doesn't look like herself. Just be prepared." Seeing her daughter in that state had been worse than she'd ever imagined.

EH GS TM EC: "Come on, we'll go and sit inside or something." Tommy muttered, nodding his head towards the automatic doors. He didn't think there was any point in freezing out here when they could sit and wait inside, until they got told they couldn't. He thought it was obvious they were going to be here for a while, so he at least wanted to grab a seat. "Is Annabelle going to be okay on her own?" He raised an eyebrow. He didn't often show concern, but this was one of those rare times.

EH GS TM EC: Edie nodded her head, giving Theo one last grateful smile before she turned and followed the boys into the hospital, pulling her feet up into a cross-legged position on the chair as she waited. She didn't care if she had to wait all night, she would be there. She was determined to be there whenever Emilie decided she wanted to see the rest of them.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle nodded her head, "Yeah, we thought that she would. I think they just wanted to be here." She loved her friends, she loved how they were always going to be there for one another, no matter what. As Enid continued, Annabelle bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying. She didn't think that the older woman needed that. "Okay." She whispered ,her voice cracking a little as she did so. She was scared but she needed to see her friend.

AG LC TC FM: Link nodded and followed Tommy into the hospital. He was just glad that they were all there now. he was just glad that they could be there and they were closer to Emilie if she needed him. He just hoped that Kurt didn't show his face because Link didn't think that he would be able to stop himself if he did. He shrugged his shoulders as Tommy asked about Annabelle and he looked to Gabe and Edie, those two would know better than he ever would.

EH GS TM EC: "I know. I'm so glad you're all here." Enid nodded her head. She was well aware of what had happened to her daughter, even though Emilie hadn't said it yet and it absolutely broke her heart. But seeing the support she had from her friends made it the tiniest bit better. She put a comforting hand on the younger girls arm before she opened the door for her.

EH GS TM EC: Like Link, Tommy was wondering what he'd do if Kurt - or Vance, showed their face in the hospital. He was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to stop himself or his friend from lunging at them - and to be honest, he wouldn't want to. He thought the guy deserved everything that was coming to him and he hoped he ended up behind bars.

EH GS TM EC: Edie shook her head as Link looked at her. She thought going in alone was something that Annabelle had to do, especially if it was what Emilie had asked for - who were they not to respect that?

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle knew that her friends would be there for her when she was done talking to Emilie - not that she thought she would be leaving her friend any time soon. She was almost sure that her heart stopped beating as she saw the state her friend was in and she blinked hard to keep back the tears. "Fucking hell, Em.." Annabelle muttered with a shake of her head before she moved to sit down beside her.

AG LC TC FM: Link didn't know what to do as they waited. He wanted to be able to do something but he didn't think that he could. He knew they just had to wait there and see what happened. He just wanted to know if she was okay, what hte fuck actually happened.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie hadn't seen herself yet, so she didn't really know how bad it was... But the way she felt gave her a fair idea of what it must be. She could only remember what had happened in snippets. The car journey had been fine - he'd just been angry because of the traffic and because she'd sounded blunt on the phone. It was when they got home that he'd wanted to hear all about her weekend and when she'd not wanted to talk about it, he'd gotten angrier than he'd ever been. Her eyes flickered upwards as she heard Annabelle's voice and she shook her head slightly. "Don't..." She whispered through swollen lips, turning as best she could to look at her best friend. She had only wanted to see her, first - partly because she was her best friend, but also because she knew Annabelle had the best chance of understanding what had happened.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle took Emilies hand, just needing to have some sort of contact with her best friend. Despite Enids warnings, she looked worse than Annabelle could've ever imagined. "What the hell happened?" She whispered. She had to ask. If Emilie didn't want to tell her, then she wouldn't push her but she had to ask. And if Emilie didn't tell her, then she already knew what had happened. If Kurt had really done this, if he had hurt Emilie like this, then she knew that she had to go and talk to him. She knew that she would kick the shit out of him. She wouldn't let him get away with any of this.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie and Annabelle were never the touchy feely type of friends that other people seemed to be, but she appreciated the contact and she squeezed her friends hand lightly. She swallowed hard as Annabelle asked what happened, even that hurting more than she'd thought it would. Every part of her was screaming out in pain. "He didn't want me to go in the first place." She whispered. This was the only time she had ever, ever admitted that Kurt did any of this to her... Or had done in the past. "And then I got him to pick me up and he said he'd told me so. And I said he didn't have to be like that. And he told me to tell him everything that happened. And I said no. And he didn't like it." It had been a little bit more in depth than that, but that was the short version. And she really didn't want to go into the long one. A single tear rolled down her face and she swiped at it furiously.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't say a word as Emilie spoke about what had happened. She couldn't believe that she hadn't realised, that none of them had realised. Annabelle knew, from the way that Emilie was speaking, that this wasn't the first time something like this had happened. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. She wouldn't. She couldn't let Emilie worry about her right now. And she knew that she couldn't get angry in front of Emilie either. She had, had enough of that tonight. The blonde nodded her head, trying to figure out what to say. "Why didn't you tell me?" She whispered. Her voice was so full of emotion, unable to hide anything that she was feeling.

EH GS TM EC: Really, Emilie didn't know why she hadn't said anything to her friends other than that she didn't want to - she had been embarrassed and she had been scared. She didn't want them to look at her any differently and besides, most of the time, Kurt had been so sorry about what he'd done. He could go months without laying a finger on her... But it would always happen in the end. "Didn't know what to say." She said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "Everyone had their own shit to deal with and I just - didn't want you all to think I was fucking weak. Or whatever." She whispered. That was how she felt now, lying here. That was how she felt as she'd crawled to her phone, smashed on the floor and called her mum, crying and telling her she'd fallen down the stairs.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle should've realised that something was happening. She should've realised that Kurt was being more than just mean to Emilie. She was her best friend and she should've realised that something was happening. She loved Emilie so much and she hated that her friend had to go through something like this on her own. She felt even more sad as her friend said that she thought they'd think that she was weak. That was the last thing that Annabelle would ever think. "Are you kidding?" Annabelle asked with a raise of an eyebrow. "Emilie, you're one of the fucking strongest people I know. And I think it even more now I know you've gone through this."

EH GS TM EC: "Don't. Don't say that because you feel bad for me. Makes me feel fucking pathetic." Emilie muttered, shaking her head. She blinked a couple of times, wanting to get rid of the tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe it had come to this - she couldn't believe she had let this happen to her. It had never been this bad before, but it had still been bad and she didn't understand how she had let it go so far. "Who's outside?" She asked quietly. What she was really asking, was if Link was there. Had he forgiven her? Or was he still too angry?

AG LC TC FM: "I'm not saying it because I feel bad for you. Fuck that. You know me Emilie, when would I ever?" Annabelle asked with a raise of an eyebrow. She wasn't going to repeat what she had said but she really meant it. She thought that Emilie was one of the strongest people she knew. She thought it took a strong person to even put up with all of that. Annabelle knew that she couldn't say how she would be if she was in Emilies position but she didn't think she would be like her friend was. "Everyone. Gabe, Edie, Tommy and Link. Edie told Theo to go home."

EH GS TM EC: Emilie knew that Annabelle was probably right - she wouldn't say it for no reason, but that reason felt a lot like pity right now. She sighed as her friend told her who was outside. She really wanted to see them, but she didn't want them to see her. "I don't want them to see me like this. Is it really bad?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper. She knew that Annabelle would give her an honest answer and she needed one.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle never saw the point in lying to Emilie, even now. She loved her best friend and so she knew that they could say anything to one another and it was all going to be fine. "It's not good." Annabelle muttered with a shake of her head. "I can try and cover a bit up with some makeup or something if you want? See what I can do so you can see the others?" She wouldn't put any pressure on her but she knew that they, especially Link, would like to be able to see her.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie nodded her head. "Yeah, I didn't think it was." She sighed, touching her face gingerly with her fingers. There wasn't a part of her that didn't hurt. "I don't think you can... I can't even touch my face without it hurting." She sighed. "Can I use your phone? So I can see?" She asked, looking at her friend hopefully. She wanted to look better before the others saw her. Annabelle was the only person she felt okay with seeing her this way. They had seen each other in every state possible.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle didn't think she had seen anyone in such a bad state as Emilie right now. She knew that this wasn't something she was going to forget about in a long, long time. "Okay.." Annabelle nodded. She didn't know how patient Link would want to be but she knew that she wouldn't let him pressure Emilie into seeing him. If she didn't want to see him, or the others, then she wouldn't. "Yeah, here." She handed over her phone to her friend. She wouldn't deny Emilie anything right now. "Please tell me you're done with him, em." Annabelle whispered. She needed to know her friend would be safe, that she wouldn't see her like this again.

EH GS TM EC: Emilie knew it probably wasn't fair on the others... If this was one of them, she'd be trying to bust the door down right about now - but she hoped they'd just give her a little while longer, to try and sort herself out a little bit. She hated the idea of anybody thinking less of her, especially them. She reached out and took Annabelle's phone with a shaking hand, a gasp escaping her mouth as she saw what must be her own reflection. Whatever she'd expected, it wasn't this. Her eyes filled with tears and another, single one spilled over. How had she let anybody do this to her? She sniffed hard, not wanting anymore tears to spill. "I have to be, don't I?" She looked at her friend, shrugging her shoulders. It wasn't that she loved Kurt - she hadn't for a very long time, but he had made her think she wouldn't be able to cope without him. But this had broken any spell that he had left on her. "I'm done." She promised. Looking into the phone, she pulled her hair out of its tie and let it fall down, moving it so that it covered at least some of the marks.

AG LC TC FM: Annabelle blinked back tears as she watched Emilie look at herself. She hated seeing her friend so sad. Annabelle loved her so much and this was completely breaking her head. Annabelle nodded as Emilie spoke. The last thing she wanted was for Emilie to go back to that. "You can stay with me and Edie for a bit when you get out of here, if you want? We'll get the locks changed on your apartment and make sure it's safe for you." She didn't know how she would get the money but she knew she would do anything to make sure that Emilie was safe.

[headandheartcatholic]

Letter to an Atheist about Religion & Dialogue

For the Head

Dear Greta,

I read your article ‘Why should atheists have to show respect for religion?’[i] [here]. [Warning to reader: Greta’s article contains vulgar language.]  

As a Catholic priest who has often reflected on questions such as atheism, agnosticism, and the multiplicity of religions, I felt compelled to reply. I want to affirm the importance of religious truth; encourage serious religious dialogue, and, argue for the unity of faith and reason.

I actually agree with a key point in your article: truth about God matters. I much prefer the honest atheist who says, ‘I think you’re off your rocker,’ to those who insist that we should not fret over the silly little details about God and religion. While the former may be confrontational, the latter is condescending, and, as you put it, ‘shows a callous disregard for the truth.’ Any serious thinker about the matter of God and religion, regardless of his or her position, will not treat the subject superficially. I found your indignation at such an irrational approach very similar to my own, and refreshingly honest.

I also agree with you that we can respect another person’s freedom of speech, while disagreeing with his or her ideas. Ideas only have value to the degree that they are true, and to discover the truth should be the very purpose of dialogue. Ironically, it is often the desire to be polite at all costs that has eroded real dialogue in our culture. We are afraid to have meaningful conversations with those who differ with us due to our fear of confrontation, so we merely talk about ‘the other side’ rather than to them. I too have been guilty of this.

I disagree, however, that the only two types of religious believers are either: a) intolerant theocrats who shun, outlaw and brutalize those who think differently from them; or, b) uncritical ecumenicalists, who reduce religion to personal preference with no reference to the truth. I believe there is a third category of religious believer: one who takes faith seriously while continuing to deepen his or her understanding of perennial issues such as good, evil, life, death, and the afterlife. Furthermore, struggling with difficult questions and insufficient answers is not exclusive to religious believers; that includes atheists, agnostics and all people. I would also argue that the same applies to the temptation of shunning, outlawing or brutalizing those who think otherwise. Atheistic regimes in the 20th Century were quite brutal. The capacity for cruelty is something against which we must all be on guard.

The Catholic understanding of faith and reason is that the two need not be at odds. At its root, the problem of both a fundamentalist approach to religion and the intellectually vapid ecumenicalism is a negation of the role of reason in matters regarding faith. Pope John Paul II wrote that a faith deprived of reason and stressing feelings and experience, ‘runs the grave risk of withering into myth or superstition.’[ii] Faith does not preclude thought; faith requires it. While certain questions do not allow for easy answers, the Catholic Church has developed a very rich intellectual patrimony showing that it does not shy away from tough questions. Inversely, reason needs faith, otherwise it risks ‘losing sight of its final goal.’ That is, if we cut off a priori the possibility of man’s transcendence, could we not risk missing that which is most important?[iii]

Finally, where are the believers and non-believers to meet? We should meet on the common ground of our reason, or philosophy, which seeks after the deeper truths that empirical science alone cannot answer. They key, as you rightly said, is truth, truth and respect in an ongoing dialogue. In the process, perhaps we can learn something from each other.

Respectfully,

Fr. John Bullock, LC

TKC!

Photo by Joshua Ness on Unsplash

Originally Sent to Greta Christina: Sunday, March 29, 2015 11:58 AM. Current post contains changes.

[catguangcorner]

manhua!lu guang being unbothered/not fussed past filling the general objective of the clients UNTIL cxs is emotional/having nightmares/cries and then lu guang suddenly going above and beyond scrambling to fix things or provide some sense of closure/justice is my favourite, actually

[whatelsetodoaboutit]

Five

I’ve decided that I want to keep a written record of my first year of sobriety: of the small victories and the huge mistakes and of the dread thoughts and feelings that accompany my waking-up life for the next 360 days. I’ve decided to do this for the same reason I got an AA slogan literally tattooed on my body where I can see it, a la Memento (2000) -- I’ve got built-in forgetters, and they keep on getting me into serious fucking trouble. 

My new sober date is 4/20, which is only really Alanis-level ironic (as opposed to actually ironic) on account of weed’s not exactly my #1 Drug of (No) Choice; if there were an international holiday dedicated to the consumption of mixed amphetamine salts, and I’d managed to get sober on that day, now that would be something to write home about. My old sponsor, KW, told me yesterday that 4/20 is Eminem’s sober date, too. I guess that makes me feel kinda special, insofar as I’m capable of feeling special at all right now. 

How am I feeling right now? I don’t really trust myself to say with any degree of accuracy, to tell the truth. Last night I spoke to JD (one of SIX sober women I talked to on the phone yesterday. That’s a new record, by about a half dozen) and she asked me how I was feeling and I said, “Oh, you know, hollow and miserable.” To which she replied, “Well, you sound a lot better than you did on Friday.” And that’s when I remembered how truly terrible I had felt on Friday -- not to mention how utterly, unspeakably atrocious I had felt on Thursday, when I was still drinking, and gearing up to come clean with my current sponsor (LC) about my relapse. And I realized -- shit, there goes my mind again. Because this happens on the reg. My disease, if you will, convinces me that the relatively slight discomfort I am experiencing in any given moment is, in fact, unbearable. I forget the ACTUAL “incomprehensible demoralization” of a few days or weeks or months earlier. I feel like I feel much worse than I actually do. And, historically speaking, when I feel bad, I drink. And then of course I am subjected to the sublime pleasure of experiencing the ACTUAL pain I had forgotten about all over again. Eager as it is to fool me one minute into thinking I have it worse than I do, my mind’ll just as quickly lead me back to the behaviors that really do make it worse. “You think this is pain? I’LL show you pain!” And so it goes. 

I think one of the reasons I may be inclined to believe that I’m worse off than I am, in moments like these, is that I’m abjectly terrified of what may happen if I admit (to myself, to God, to another human being) that I’m alright. As if speaking those words -- “I’m alright” -- will make it not so; as if I will scare my alright-ness away if I acknowledge it. I’m very superstitious when it comes to the observer principle; and, loath to see a good thing change (because what could it possibly change into but a bad thing?), I spend a lot of time willfully ignoring the positive. Only since I’ve been bopping around the Program in earnest (~c. Oct. 2016) have I started to realize that that’s no way to live. You miss all the good shit, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

So I want to change my negative cognitive bias; and so, for now, today, I will say that I am okay (I think [still have to hedge a little bit]). At the very least, because I have taken the time to think about it (i.e., play that tape back!), I can say that I am considerably better than I was just a few short days ago. And for that, I am grateful. 

What else? Well, last night, after I shared in a meeting, CB asked me what I’m going to do differently this time. A few of my answers:

- Actually try to do 90 in 90

- Not lie (f’rinstance, when I inevitably fall short of doing a 90 in 90, not lying and telling LC I went to a meeting when I didn’t)

- Call at least 3 sober alcoholics a day

- Pray (maybe even on my knees!)

- Stay celibate

And then there’s this lil guy. We’ll see if I actually continue to post -- I’ve never been good at anything that could be described as “journaling”. But then, I’ve never been good at staying sober, either. And that I HAVE to do, now. So we’ll just see about the other thing. 

[certifiablyplatinum]

“‘Call the police’, cause I been arrested for an improper display of rockin’!” LCD Soundsystem at the Masonic Temple, Detroit

So, when I got notified of the “early bird sale” for this show waaaay back when in June,, I whipped out my plastic as I am wont to do without thinking…. of course I did. Because… James Murphy, and one of my favorite bands of all time. I consider LCD Soundsystem my Depeche Mode 2.0, and for anyone who knows me that’s all the summation that needs.

Well, because when you get old, time moves in a different way (as in, faster), summer basically didn’t happen, and before I knew it, it was time to hit the road to Detroit. I was beyond stoked, and played my favorite classics all morning as I finished up some work…. North American Scum, Losing My Edge (probably my favorite lyrics of any song,* and even more pointed AND poignant as an aging creative in my industry. Like, I GET that song:  “But I was THERE!”

Anyway- Russ (so game! So indulgent of my schedule dictations and crazy plans!) and I made our escape in the Escape and off we went. We checked into an Air B & B 3 hours later that seemed KIND of sketchy but was “actually really, really nice.”*  We poured some warm vodka into a solo cup I had brought along in my bag just in case (it pays to be prepared, and I can be weird about other peoples’ dishes) and about an hour later, after playing tunes and sitting on the bed looking at each other, we summoned an Uber and went to the Whitney, a gorgeous 1800′s mansion converted into a restaurant, dessert parlor, gardens, etc.  When Russ saw the white tablecloths he looked at me with wide eyes and said, “Holy shit” and promptly covered his “God Save the Queen” sex pistols shirt with a classy flannel. We agonized in stage whispers how to plan, mesh and merge our overeating vs. cocktailing- (Russ said somewhat accusingly: “THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A FULL FISH DINNER COMPLETE WITH SIDES AND BREAD YOU WENT HOME AND SLEPT”) along with figuring our budget for this meal, which there was none. So, I ordered a crab cake (playing it off with a coquettish “Oh, I don’t have much of an appetite!” to the waiter), and kept asking for more bread.  

Yes, I’m cutting to the chase, but I like to add a little background flavor to my “reviews” (which are turning into stories.) Anyway, we ate our way to a pleasant satisfaction, NOT stuffage (key to a good evening.) We left the Whitney and popped into another Uber and got dropped off in front of the imposing, castle-like Masonic Temple theatre (the largest in the world.)  It was about 7:30, and the line already snaked around the building. As we exited our Uber, we were met by my fellow LCD fan and Columbus-ite, Kerrie, and her BFF Dani, who had also road-tripped up. We gathered together and moved simultaneously in a clump until we reached the front doors and presented our tickets.

Inside was already a bit of pandemonium. The auditorium was the size of the indoor LC, (oops, Express Live) with the ornate-ness of the Ohio Theatre, with arches leading through to aisleways into the venue and beverage/snack counters like the Schott or any basketball arena.. Kerrie and Dani had balcony seats so up they went, and Russ and I made our way to the floor. (Earlier Russ had asked, “Is there an opener?” I had said, “I bet there will just be a DJ” and bingo.) Thudding bass beats blasted into the auditorium, and I rocked out with my Rum and Diet once we found a seat. Get this.  Our seats were on the aisle, second row from the floor.  (The whole show was GA, and I couldn’t believe what a great spot we got.) It was like being on the floor, but– I could see better because we were elevated a bit OVER the floor, and I could sit if I damn well chose to do so.

The DJ spun, the floor in front of us filled, and before I knew it the place was maxium capacity, with people even spilling into the aisles.  A wisp of smoke, a darkened stage, and the screams began… as the opening notes of the first track off their new album, “Oh Baby” filtered into our eardrums.  The build of swirling, tinkling keys sounded like a fairy tale, or Tinkerbell, or making one feel they  should be standing in a darkened field with stars swirling dizzingly around them in sparkling rotation.

I was agog at taking in the sight of James Murphy (and all his gear!), my shaggy-haired hero. Who IS this odd genius, cool yet mad, hipster yet pushing 50, dapper yet rough, a singer/songwriter/drummer/pianist/programmer/DJ/mixmaster? Such a hodgepodge of talent, so much so that I can’t pin him down with a word. He almost seemed as if he was the maestro of an orchestra, or big-band leader at a supper club, in his white shirt and black jacket (and  black jeans). For the entire show, he was the beacon  on the stage that everyone revolved around.  Even when laying down the most danceable beats, he stood  tall and composed, a beam of light shining upon him.

After the magical vibe of “Oh Baby” faded away, the band launched into a rapid-fire, doubletime, raw take on “Daft Punk is Playing at My House”, causing a frenzy of moshing and screaming. The stage turned red under the lights, fists were pumped, and a cowbell made a bold and badass appearance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLWUIy0dvTk&feature=youtu.be

“Call the Police”, with its deep bass riff toward the end (ba bum bum bum da da ad DA da, repeat) slayed the crowd;  like “Daft Punk…”, the tempo was amped considerably. In fact, most songs were played with a driving, energetic urgency, almost as if the band couldn’t keep up with themselves. Everything was spot-on… clear vocals, an assured presence, drummers that bounced up and down as they slammed the sticks– James hit every high note with thoughtful preparation… (’we don’t waste time with…love”). He commands this song with Bono-like intensity. (I think he sounds like Bono on a lot of the new album, if you must know).

Get Innocuous, You Wanted a Hit,  ferocious and fun, blasted out next.  And then, I made a critical error. Fateful, dare I say.  Like Icarus soaring cockily to the sun, because I have done this hundreds of times before with no negative consequence… I left to “bring back drinks.”  

I headed up the packed aisle and walked down the marble steps to the basement- the quickest and closest bar. I pulled my sweaty 20 from my bosom and got a bottle of water, a Pabst (lol) for Russ, and a rum and diet. After waiting 10 minutes, I gathered my sundries and climbed back upstairs, finding my entry way to “aisle 3.”  And I was met by a wall of bodies. No, more like..a CONE of bodies, packing every square, breathable atom of space and air from the top of the entryway down to the floor. My 5′2 self, carrying three beverages, pushed boldly on, and then confusedly, and then feebly.  The oxygen was sucked from my lungs, I was being eaten alive by warm, sweaty, douchebag bodies as they sucked me in the Upside Down like Barb.  My cracking, forlorn, yet agitated voice called “RUSS..” (dear God, why. The auditorium was powering out decibels with the same power of the sun.)  It was so dark, so loud, so packed, I didn’t even know where I was heading.  To top it all off, in the cruelest sense of irony, during my time of woe the band was blissfully singing their gentlest, saddest song, “Someone Great.” As I pushed and sloshed through the Upside Down of bodies, my wrists wet from rum, a ragged sob burst forth from my throat.  I sensed I was getting close to the floor… and then I was being grabbed and clawed, some colossal dickhead grabbing the neck of my shirt to keep me from getting through, grabbing my drink and spilling it, and then his friends laughing – I felt I was in a fucking funhouse hall of horrifying mirrors. Like, if it was a movie, I would have seen their faces in slow mo moving toward me with deep, slowed-down, “HA, HA, HA’s.”  Somehow, I found myself on the floor, which meant I had bypassed my second row seat. As the haunting lyrics, “when someone  great is gone… when someone great is gone…” were being sung, in a weird way I trying to listen to it  I was pissed I was missing it, while the rest of me was painfully aware I had no idea how to find Russ. Would Russ be singing those lines about me when I never returned?  I wondered forlornly. A girl yelled - “YOU’RE ON THE FLOOR” and I stared at her blankly and yelled back, “I’M ON THE FLOOR?”  All my instincts could do was send me away from the floor. Like a penguin on their programmed quest for winter food, I marched back toward the packed aisle. My foot felt a step up- I had made the front row.  My eyes scanned the seats, and finally I saw Russ standing. I shoved my way into any available hole that a human body made as it stood next to another human body it was not connected to, and I slithered my way to my (unbelievably) still-empty seat.  I collapsed, tossed Russ his pabst, and wiped an exhausted, emotional , drunken tear from my cheek, barely able to blurt: “I WAS ASSAULTED AND THE AISLE WAS PACKED.”  I then slammed the remaining droplets  at the bottom of my spilled drink.

SO, YEAH!  ‘Someone Grea’t was… great. (It really was. I was hyperaware of it as I was going through my trauma.) Once settled, though, I shook it off, and danced with vigor at Yr City’s a Sucker and Tonite, Tonite (which sounds like a Daft Punk song. Ironic? Discuss.).

“We’re going to the bathroom, then we’re coming back,” James informed the crowd, so we settled down a bit because I had a feeling that Dance Yrself Clean may be one of the encores… I was not disappointed!  It put a worthwhile capper on the whole evening. “Ahhh ahhhhhh, ahhh ahhh….” rang out the harmonies, with the chirpy RD2-D2 synth sounds peppering underneath, and then, the big, bold, reverb-y breakdown…. ahhhh! Washed clean. Danced clean.

Here I am, sweaty with the abovementioned cleanse.  I look like I’ve been through the “wringer”, so to speak. Hot mess!:

(as my POS phone had died, I was begging Russ to document the evening in a photographic sense.) Anyway, we weren’t quite sure what to do because we were both feeling pretty rough and tired at this point… so we wandered toward the casino.  Once we got there, we sat down at a metal table in a glorified food court, looked at each other and said, “what the hell are we doing here?”  I really just wanted a huge bottle of water, and maybe a sub. Like- Justin and Karly, if you are reading this, I really just wanted that pizza place/bar we stumbled into on the way back from the U2 show in Cleveland. Quiet, dark,dumpy, whatever. SOOOO, we ubered back to the air b & b (in Lafayette Park- which I am reading was a hotbed for Mies Van Der Rohe’s’ residential buildings, and I wonder if the apartment building we stayed in was one of them?)

I had a half a bottle of water waiting for me from earlier, which I chugged; I ripped out my contacts, changed into my slug clothes, and hopped in bed. I wondered aloud if I would be able to sleep– many times after a concert I am too jacked up, especially when rum & diet is involved. Like a magical elf, Russ rolls toward me, producing a Klonopin he takes for his own sleep issues.  I cracked the hell up.  Russ then literally proffered it on his finger and put it in my mouth, saying in a creepy voice, “Take it, kid… just let it dissolve and see the rainbow.”  Holllllllyyyy  shite.

So- I love this band, they are a sinuous, living, silvery, fluid octopus of harmony and rhythm, soft and loud, thundering and syncopated and layers of weirdness and stops and starts.  As I read weeks ago– the only band who could produce a 9-minute pop song and leave you wanting more.  WHO are they? WHAT do they create?  Just like me getting trapped in a throng of screaming, pulsating bodies, there are some things we may never understand.

[helh55mers]

Thought via Path

2⃣7⃣ RAZÕES PORQUE O REINO DE YAHWH EM YESHUA HAMASHIACH SERÁ NA TERRA! 1º - O Eterno Elohim jamais deu o Céu aos homens: ● “Porque os malfeitores serão exterminados, mas aqueles que esperam no Eterno herdarão a terra.Pois ainda um pouco, e o ímpio não existirá (na terra); atentarás para o seu lugar, e ele ali não estará. Mas os mansos herdarão a terra, e se deleitarão na abundância de paz” SL 37:9-11 2º - O céu é o Trono de Elohim: ● “O céu é Meu trono, e a terra o escabelo dos meus pés. Que casa me edificareis, diz o (Eterno) YHWH, ou qual o lugar do meu repouso?” Nota: O Eterno não nos deu o trono (Céus) mas o estrado de seus pés (a terra)! 3º - Na terra habitarão os que esperam no YHWH: ● “Porque os malfeitores serão exterminados, mas aqueles que esperam em YHWH herdarão a terra” SL 37:9 4º - Os tsedkim (justos) herdarão a terra e nela habitarão: ● “Os justos herdarão a terra e nela habitarão para sempre” SL 37:29 5º - Yeshua o messias de Israel e o rei David ratificaram as Escrituras: David disse: ● “Mas os mansos herdarão a terra, e se deleitarão na abundância de paz” Yeshua disse: ● “Vendo pois as multidões, subiu ao monte; e, tendo se assentado, aproximaram-se os seus Talmidim, e ele se pôs a ensiná-los, dizendo... Bem aventurados os humildes de espírito, porque deles é o reino DOS céus... Bem aventurados os mansos, porque eles herdarão a terra” MT 5:1-5 6º - Os remidos por Yeshua reinarão aqui: ● “E para o nosso Elohim os fizeste reino, e sacerdotes; e eles reinarão sobre a terra” Ap 5:10 7º - É na terra que habitarão os eleitos de Adonai: ● “E produzirei descendência a Israel, e a Yehudá (Judá) um herdeiro dos meus montes; e os meus escolhidos herdarão a terra e os meus servos nela habitarão” IS 65:9 8º - Os sinceros não serão jamais removidos daqui: “Porque os retos habitarão a terra, e os íntegros permanecerão nela. Mas os ímpios serão exterminados da terra, e dela os aleivosos serão desarraigados” Provérbios 2:21,22 9º - O Globo terrestre é o limite para a habitação humana: ● “E de um (Adão) só fez todas as raças dos homens, para habitarem sobre toda a face da terra, determinando-lhes ... os limites da sua habitação” AT 17:26 10º - O homem não é celestial, mas terreno: ● “Tu, Eterno, ouvirás os desejos dos mansos...a fim de que o homem, que é da terra, não mais inspire terror” Sl 10:17,18 11º - Ninguém poderá seguir Yeshua no céu: a) Nem os judeus incrédulos: ● “Disse-lhes, pois, Yeshua outra vez: Eu me retiro; buscar-me-eis, e morrereis no vosso pecado transgressão da Torah. Para onde eu vou, vós não podeis ir. Então diziam os judeus: Será que ele vai suicidar-se, pois diz: Para onde eu vou, vós não podeis ir? Disse-lhes ele: Porque Vós sois de baixo, eu sou de cima (do céu); vós sois deste mundo, eu não sou deste mundo” Yochanam (Jo) 8:21-23 b) Nem seus próprios discípulos que também eram judeus: ●“Filhinhos, ainda por um pouco estou convosco. Procurar-me-eis; e, como eu disse aos judeus, também a vós o digo agora: Para onde eu vou, não podeis vós ir” Yochanam (Jo) 13:33 12º - Yeshua nos prometeu lugar em Seu Trono: “Ao que vencer, eu lhe concederei que se assente comigo no meu trono” AP 3:21 Nota: Yeshua atualmente está no Trono do Pai e não no dele! 13º - A promessa é que o Reino de Yeshua será aqui na terra: ● “Mandará o Filho do homem os seus anjos, e eles ajuntarão do seu reino todos os que servem de tropeço, e os que praticam a iniquidade e lançá-los-ão na fornalha de fogo” MT 13:41,42 Nota: Onde estão “os que servem de tropeço” ou “os que cometem a iniquidade”? Não é na terra? Segundo o próprio Yeshua, seus anjos os “ajuntarão de seu Reino”! Por quê? Eles estão poluindo o Reino de Yeshua e precisam ser removidos. 14º - O Trono de David em Yerushalaim (Jerusalém) será ocupado por Yeshua: ● “Eis que conceberás e darás à luz um filho, ao qual porás o nome de Yeshua (Salvação)....o Eterno lhe dará o trono de David seu pai; e reinará eternamente sobre a casa de Israel, e o seu reino não terá fim” LC 1:31-33 Confira onde está o trono de David: “Jerusalém, que és edificada como uma cidade compacta...Pois ali estão postos os tronos de julgamento, os tronos da casa de David” SL 122:3-5 Kefah (Pedro) pela Ruach (espírito) identifica o local do Reino messiânico: ● “Irmãos, seja-me permitido dizer-vos livremente acerca do patriarca David.... Sendo pois, ele profeta, e sabendo que Elohim lhe havia prometido com juramento que do fruto de seus lombos, segundo a carne, levantaria o Messias para o assentar sobre o seu trono” AT 2:29,30 15º - Yeshua ocupará este trono quando regressar a terra: ● “Quando, pois vier o Filho do homem na sua majestade, e todos os anjos com ele, então se assentará no trono do seu poder” MT 25:31 16º - Os ímpios é que serão tirados da terra: ● “Porque os retos habitarão a terra, e os íntegros permanecerão nela. Mas os ímpios serão exterminados da terra, e dela os aleivosos serão desarraigados” PR 2:21,22 ● “Mandará o Filho do homem os seus anjos, e eles ajuntarão do seu reino todos os que servem de tropeço, e os que praticam a iniquidade e lançá-los-ão na fornalha de fogo” MT 13:41,42 17º - A terra é reino e lugar do governo de Yeshua: ● “Eis que vêm dias, diz o Eterno YHWH, em que levantarei a David um Renovo justo; e, sendo rei, reinará e procederá sabiamente, executando o juízo e a justiça na terra” JR 23:5 ● “E foi-lhe dado domínio, e majestade, e um reino, para que todos os povos, nações e línguas o servissem; o seu domínio é um domínio eterno, que não passará, e o seu reino tal, que não será destruído” DN 7:14 18º - Seu reino é debaixo dos céus; portanto, na terra: “O reino, e o domínio, e a grandeza dos reinos debaixo de todo o céu serão dados ao povo dos santos do Altíssimo. O seu reino será um reino eterno, e todos os domínios o servirão, e lhe obedecerão” DN 7:27 19º - O trigo, isto é, os filhos do Reino permanecerão na terra: ●“O campo é o mundo; a boa semente são os filhos do reino; o joio são os filhos do maligno” MT 13:38 Nota: Onde, segundo a parábola é o campo em que a boa semente (os justos) foi plantada? O mundo! “Deixai crescer ambos juntos até a ceifa; e, por ocasião da ceifa, direi aos ceifeiros: Ajuntai primeiro o joio, e atai-o em molhos para o queimar; o trigo, porém, recolhei-o no meu celeiro (Seu Reino)” MT 13:3O ●“Respondeu-lhes Yeshua: Toda planta que meu Pai celestial não plantou será arrancada”. MT 15:13 Nota: Nas duas comparações os ímpios é que foram desarraigados da terra! 20º - Yeshua vem para ficar aqui: ●“Estavas vendo isto, quando uma pedra foi cortada, sem auxílio de mãos, a qual feriu a estátua nos pés de ferro e de barro, e os esmiuçou.... a pedra, porém, que feriu a estátua se tornou uma grande montanha, e encheu toda a terra... Mas, nos dias desses reis, o Elohim do céu suscitará um reino que não será jamais destruído; nem passará a soberania deste reino a outro povo; mas esmiuçará e consumirá todos esses reinos, e subsistirá para sempre” DN 2:34,35,44 22º - Os salvos reinarão sobre as nações sobreviventes do armagedom: ● “Mas o que tendes, retende-o até que eu venha. Ao que vencer, e ao que guardar as minhas obras até o fim, eu lhe darei autoridade sobre as nações, e com vara de ferro as regerá” AP 2:25-27 23º - A terra não ficará vazia durante o Reino de Yeshua: ● “Ele prendeu o dragão, a antiga serpente, que é o Diabo e Ha’satan, e o amarrou por mil anos...para que não enganasse mais as nações até que os mil anos se completassem. Depois disto é necessário que ele seja solto por um pouco de tempo” AP 20:2,3 Nota: O acusador será preso justamente por ter pessoas na terra, Reino de Yeshua! 24º - Você não sobe, o Reino é que desce: ● “E vi a santa cidade, a nova Jerusalém, que descia do céu da parte de Elohim, adereçada como uma noiva ataviada para o seu noivo (virgem/inviolada). E ouvi uma grande voz, vinda do trono, que dizia: Eis que o tabernáculo de Elohim está com os homens (foi entregue), pois com eles habitará, e eles serão o seu povo, e Elohim mesmo estará com eles” AP 21:2,3 Nota: A morada de Jo 14 desce a terra. ● “Na casa de meu Pai há muitas moradas; se não fosse assim, eu vo-lo teria dito; vou preparar-vos lugar. E, se eu for e vos preparar lugar, virei outra vez, e vos tomarei para mim mesmo, para que onde eu estiver (sobre o trono de David) estejais vós também” Jo 14:2,3 No verso 4 Yeshua acrescenta: “E para onde eu vou vós conheceis o caminho” A pergunta que não quer calar é: Para onde Yeshua estava indo e qual o caminho? Será o céu? Vamos deixar o próprio Yeshua responder: Versos 5,6: “Disse-lhe Tomé: Adon, não sabemos para onde vais; e como podemos saber o caminho? Respondeu-lhe Yeshua: Eu sou o caminho, e a verdade, e a vida; ninguém vem ao Pai, senão por mim” Nota: Os discípulos deveriam ir por Yeshua (o Caminho) para chegar ao Pai! Ele não estava falando de céu, mas do Pai: “E para onde eu vou vós conheceis o caminho” 25º - Quarenta dias de aula sobre o Reino em Yerushalaim (Jerusalém): ● “Tambem, depois de haver padecido (morto), se apresentou ressuscitado, com muitas provas infalíveis, aparecendo-lhes por espaço de quarenta dias, e lhes falando das coisas concernentes ao Reino de Elohim... Aqueles, pois, que se haviam reunido perguntavam-lhe, dizendo: Adon Yeshua, é nesse tempo que restauras o reino a Israel? Respondeu-lhes: A vós não vos compete saber os tempos ou as épocas, que o Pai reservou à sua própria autoridade. AT 1:3-7 Nota: Este texto é um flagrante contra a teoria da estadia no céu. Qual foi a pergunta dos seguidores de Yeshua após suas palestras que duraram “QUARENTA DIAS” falando-lhes acerca do “REINO DE ELOHIM?” Se o assunto das palestras do reino de Elohim tratava de levá-los aos céus é lógico que a pergunta após o “curso” sobre o reino devesse ser: Senhor quando nos levará para o céu? No entanto, a indagação foi muito diferente: é nesse tempo que restauras o reino a Israel? 26º - A promessa é de Restauração da Terra: ● “Ao qual convém que o céu receba até os tempos da restauração de todas as coisas, das quais Elohim falou pela boca dos seus santos profetas, desde o princípio” AT 3:21 Nota: É isto, desde o princípio Elohim prometeu restaurar todas as coisas, fazer tudo voltar ao estado de origem. Fazer a terra ser novamente um Gan Eden (Jardim do Édem) e não mudanças de planos. Se haverá transporte de seres vivos para outra dimensao, isso já é outra historia... 27º - Yeshua pediu a Elohim para que você não fosse tirado do mundo: ● “Eu vou para ti. Pai santo, guarda-os no teu NOME...Enquanto eu estava com eles, eu os guardava no teu NOME que me deste...Não peço que os tires do mundo, mas que os guardes do Maligno” Conclusão: Estas razões fundamentadas nos Escritos Sagrados demonstram CLARAMENTE que os profetas e seguidores de Yeshua estavam seguros do estabelecimento do Reino de Elohim na terra e desconheciam totalmente a moderna teoria da estadia provisória ou eterna nos céus. Yeshua ascendeu ao céu para tomar posse deste Reino. Hoje está assentado no Trono de Elohim, seu Pai. Voltará para se assentar no seu próprio Trono; o Trono do Seu Poder: ● “Quando, pois vier o Filho do homem no seu poder, e todos os anjos com ele, então se assentará no trono do seu poder; e diante dele serão reunidas todas as nações” MT 25:31,32 Com a vinda de Yeshua, cumprir-se-á o mistério de Elohim, anunciado aos seus santos profetas; os Reinos terrenos lhe serão entregues, e Ele dominará toda a terra: ● “E tocou o sétimo anjo a sua trombeta, e houve no céu grandes vozes, que diziam: O reino do mundo passou a ser de nosso YHWH e do seu Mashiach (Ungido), e ele reinará pelos séculos dos séculos” AP 11:15 ● “E o YHWH será Rei sobre toda a terra; naquele dia um será o YHWH, e um será o seu NOME” ZC 14:9 – Read on Path.

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Are you on the “LG has always controlled which dives they did bc he has foresight (or at least that’s how I’m referring to it)” or “LG became more meticulous with which dives they did because of pervious experiences” ?

anon im so so sorry i forgot this ask was here i was sitting on it because i was CONTEMPLATING and i Cannot decide!!!!

( warning for mcd and suicide mention ahead )

for sheer angst potential my heart is telling me the latter one—maybe in one of the timelines lu guang gave cheng xiaoshi more agency to choose and it ended in More earthquake adjacent scenarios. maybe lu guang was even too careless and cheng xiaoshi becams so traumatised by the events he had to experience that THAT'S the timeline in which (as some people have theorised) he took his own life, unable to withstand the burdens of so many others' lives (apologies for the extreme angst....)

but also, i think lu guang has always had Foresight, and perhaps after watching cxs die in the first timeline he just became more protective and controlling almost as a coping mechanism. death is, as he said himself, a node that cannot be avoided; there's probably some part of him that still has this belief in spite of him trying to save cxs, and so he zones in on what he can Definitely Do. that being protecting cheng xiaoshi to the best of his abilities, and being there to pick up the pieces when things go wrong. so yeah, I'm torn, and I think a mixture of both is good basically!!

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ok finally watched the first ep of LINK CLICK LA and IT'S SO SILLY here are my notes:

cxs has tremendous loser boy energy here, like just the epitome of The Silly goofy guy

it's very much a reimagining of the canon donghua and a lot more typical in its narrative flow—by that i mean in the donghua we start in medias res, with cxs and lg's dynamic already being established, whereas in the LA we get a more typical hero's journey progression

first five mins of the show and la!cxs is getting his ass handed to him 😭 donghua!cxs rolling in his grave rn

in this, lg saves him from the guys beating him up and he's very handsome and mysterious about it before disappearing

ONLY to track cxs down and find the photo studio, fumble to ask for an ID photo he doesn't need, complains and deletes all the pictures, is asked to leave and has THE DOOR SLAMMED IN HIS FACE before saying "did you ever feel weird and different as a child?" which does get cxs intrigued

basically they're both losers <3

i also think it's hilarious how impolite lg is, he talks to cxs EXACTLY as would if they were long time friends (as it's implied in the donghua). it would make sense tho if this isn't the first timeline and lg (in his lg way of course) is overly familiar because He Does know him

qiao ling's actress is PERFECT for her omg think it might be my favourite casting<33

the ending song slaps in link click music we trust !!!!!

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good morning, today's link click thought: vampire!lu guang. i think he'd be such a funny lil guy. i imagine that he's very polite and restrained, definitely the sort of vampire who won't come in unless invited (it would be funnier if that's not a Strict vampire rule but a Lu Guang vampire rule). having said that, my god cheng xiaoshi gets on his NERVES. he can't tell if it is annoyance or vampire lust for blood, and cheng xiaoshi likes to push his buttons with no regard for his self preservation. regardless he's even more protective over cheng xiaoshi. i mean, he's a vampire—if you hurt cheng xiaoshi he's hunting you down and ripping ur throat out. he probably doesn't tell cheng xiaoshi he's doing this tho, coming back to the shop and cleaning up and responding vaguely to cheng xiaoshi's "where WERE you tonight???"

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FAVE time studio trio activity to do when dealing w hot days and high humidity

hellooo thank you sm for sending in an ask (also im sorry this has been sitting in my ask box for a little bit too ahh)

to me, the trio strike me as the sort who would laze around and sit and complain about the heat lol. i can imagine qiao ling and cheng xiaoshi doing a shop run before the heat gets realllyyy bad and stocking up on ice lollies and frozen fruit and colddd things, refreshing things too! cxs makes them all iced tea :D meanwhile lu guang is king of cat napping on the sofa to try sleep off the heat. qiao ling complains that she wants to go to the beach and cheng xiaoshi agrees with giddy enthusiasm, and pokes lu guang awake to ask him if they can go and all he says is, "we have no car. and we're poor," before curling up again to nap some more. also qiao ling doesn't give them time off. so. no beach.

i bet cxs is so disappointed by this that lg asks ql and they arrange a surprise trip to the beach for cxs the next time it's Really hot