#the only one it was *kind of* missing was Carlos didn't say 'baby'

[walkinginland]

Top Tarlos baby-est episodes

have you been wondering which episodes Tarlos uses certain names/petnames the most? of course you have! here ya go!

TK and Carlos says _____ the most in...

First Names Total (Carlos/TK/Tyler/Tyler Kennedy): Twelve in 4x18 (runner up: eleven in 2x12, seven in 3x15)

Carlos: Seven in both 2x12 and 4x18 (runners up: five in both 2x04 and 4x04)

TK: Four in both 2x12 and 3x13 (runners up: three each in 3x15, 3x18, and 4x16)

Tyler: One in both 3x18 and 4x18

Tyler Kennedy: Two in 4x18

Babe: Four in 4x12 - three from TK and one from Carlos. (runners up: three in 3x15 and 4x18)

Baby: Five in 3x18 (runners up: four in 4x04, three in both 4x16 and 4x18)

and the most names dropped in one episode is *drumroll please*:

Eighteen (18) Carlos/TK/Tyler/Tyler Kennedy/Babe/Baby's in 4x18

[isroji]

Enjoy the silence | Travis Hackett | Chapter I

The sheriff of North kill

Summary: The summer finally arrives and Hackett's quarry opens it doors again. This year, with a new counselor. A pretty pretty particular one. Of course, as everything related to North kill, Travis Hackett ends up involved.

TW: Teen pregnancy, age gap relationship, eventual smut, topics such as immigration mentioned.

Things to know before reading: foreign OC, changes to the original plot.

Author's note: I needed so bad to write about this man. Please keep in mind English is not my first language, so, if you see any kind of grammar mistake, feel free to tell me about it. I hope you enjoy it.

•

—Oh, my little girl...

•

"So... we have a little shy one here, don't we?"

Chris Hackett's words made Camila smile. She moved her head slightly, looking at the little boy who was hiding behind her leg. A gentle hand rested on the child's head, caressing it tenderly.

"Carlos, this is Chris," the girl said, pointing to the man in front of her. "Come on, mi amor, say hi."

Carlitos, as his mother lovingly called him, peeked out one of his small eyes. Compared to him, Chris looked much bigger. He didn't like it when big men approached him and his mother, although he also had some parts of his hair painted white, which reminded him somehow of his grandfather. He waved his little hand in greeting.

"There he is!" Chris exclaimed happily.

Genuine happiness flashed across his eyes. Carlitos' shyness reminded him of his eldest daughter when she was just a little girl. Past times, better times.

Dylan, the boy next to Chris, scratched his neck uncomfortably. He knew how to deal with the children at the camp, but this one here was much smaller.

"So..." He squatted down, wanting to be at the same height as the kid "How old are you?" He asked, trying to sound as friendly as possible.

Carlos opened the palm of his hand, displaying the number 5. The only three people who heard the child speak were Camila and her grandparents. No one really understood why, but with the others he limited himself to mere physical expressions and whatever his big brown eyes could convey. This being a relief, since he was a very expressive little boy.

"Quite a big boy!" Said Abigail, who, along with the other two girls, seemed delighted by the presence of that boy.

She could already see the image of Carlos showing his hand captured in her drawing notebook.

Babies always caused a sensation among women, Camila knew it. Her's was no longer exactly a baby, but he was quite a cutie. She understood it. If she could, she would also spend the day squeezing those cheeks.

Again, shame flooded Carlos, hiding his face in his mother's leg.

Camila sighed.

"He's a little shy, but I assure you he's very kind. Right, Carlitos?" She asked, continuing with the action of stroking his head.

He nodded. He always got nervous when he had to be around so many people. Especially if they were big people. Lots of eyes on him, lots of attention.

"We are very happy that you have arrived, the other counselor who was supposed to work with you in the nursery has not arrived yet and from the looks of it, she will not." Chris spoke, finally bringing the important topic to the table; the job.

Camila clicked her tongue.

"Looks like it'll just be you and me in the infirmary, baby." She commented to his son.

Carlitos, with his face protected by his mother's leg, smiled. He liked being her assistant.

Ryan, the only one who hadn't said a single word in all this time, finally entered to the conversation.

"Actually, another counselor is also missing..." He sounded almost sorry. Kept looking at Carlos.

He was part of that group that didn't really know how to deal with the 5-year-old boy. Preteens were simple. He told them his horror stories and let them stay outside at night for 15 more minutes and they already loved him. In this case, he had a little boy just as reserved as him, who also didn't even know how to read or write. Or he did? At what age did children learn to write?

Chris looked at him, as if reproaching the comment. Camila didn't pay attention.

"It's good that there are two of us here." Was her response, making most of those present laugh.

Half joke, half reality. She would be lying if she said this was the first time her son accompanied her to work. Being a young single mother robbed her of many privileges, and the truth is that Carlitos was already more than used to following her everywhere, no matter what job it was.

When the laughter stopped, Chris returned to his usual role.

"Well, guys, no more wasting time. Show Camila and Carlos the cabins and the place in general. Our campers arrive tomorrow and everything must be ready." He ordered, encouraging the young people around him.

Camila, somewhat different from the rest, was very excited to start the work. Unlike the others, this was her first time as a counselor. Everyone already knew the place, except her and her faithful companion. She knew so few places in the country where she lived that this felt like a real adventure.

She took the bags with her. Watching Chris disappear through the door of the large house, she stopped to take a look to her surroundings. Carlitos mentioned when they were on the road that those trees were the biggest he had ever seen, and if she thought about it, believed the same. It was barely 7 in the morning and the sun was already beginning to shine brightly, forcing her to leave her pair of sunglasses on. Being the city girl that she was, she found it annoying how much people from areas like this exaggerated the subject of views and landscapes, but now that she walked among them herself, she admitted that even the colors felt more vivid and beautiful. How happy it made her that her son was going to spend one of his first summers in a place like that.

Lost in the landscape, a male voice brought her back to the moment.

"It's a long walk to the cabins, little friend..." Jacob, the "big guy" of the group, began to speak, addressing Carlos. "Do you want to ride on my shoulders?"

Suddenly, Carlos's shy face lit up. He let go of his mother's hand and ran to Jacob, just as he did with his grandfather, who, when taking him to preschool, also made him sit on his shoulders. Jacob smiled like a child, picking up the little boy as soon as he arrived and placing him on his shoulders.

"It's the best view, right?" He asked, holding the kid's legs firmly.

Camila, partly relieved at how comfortable her son seemed with him and partly anxious about the number of accidents her mind was imagining from such a sudden action, was not too sure about allowing her son to make the walk on Jacob's shoulders, the guy who seemed taken from the American series she watched when she was a teenager.

Jacob, noticing Camila's nervous gaze on him, spoke.

"Don't worry! I have carried much heavier things."

Things, not children. Specifically, not her child.

The blonde who had introduced herself as Emma a few minutes ago suddenly appeared near Camila.

"Don't worry about him, he's harmless," She said in a low, almost confident voice. "Your child will have another child to play with."

Oh, Camila knew it.

"That's precisely what worries me," she admitted, laughing.

The guys around her seemed nice. They all looked equally young, equally inexperienced. She probably looked like that in their eyes too, with the only difference being carrying a little guy at her side and the experience that this brought.

Carlos was always surrounded by teenagers. From his birth, when 17-year-old Camila cradled him in her arms, until today. Her mother's friends were the first babysitters in his life, the exception being when an university teacher would swing his baby carriage when she found Camila asleep in some corner of the classroom. In general, both his mother and his friends grew up with him. All this, being Camila's biggest concern regarding the summer that was coming. She was going to deal with people her own age, but unlike her, they did not yet have the responsibility of a child. Maybe she thought too much, according to Chris this was everyone's second year as monitors, they would already know how to handle the children. She didn't want to be prejudiced, she really didn't, but when it came to caring for her son...

"Calm down, mama bear." Emma whispered, almost reading Camila's thoughts.

She couldn't do anything but smile. It would definitely be a fun summer for her and Carlitos. The best, for sure. She had a feeling that this month and a half would feel like a class on how to stop being an overprotective mom. At least the first step had already been taken.

•

"New counselors?"

Chris Hackett looked away from the papers in his hand, watching his older brother in the doorway. Travis had this ability to appear suddenly, without even a single noise to warn of his presence. The years had gotten him used to it, but from time to time it gave him a little scare.

"Mhmm." Was his response, continuing with the long paperwork that would surely have him sitting there all day.

Could someone tell parents that information documents about their children didn't need to have things like "favorite food"?

Travis walked into the office. Chris couldn't see it, but he was tense. He didn't know how to shake off that discomfort that invaded him every time he had to talk to his brother about that topic, especially when the bad news was included.

A strange throat clearing came from the older one. Chris looked at him again.

This time the youngest Hackett did notice the image of his brother.

"Tell me no one is dead, please." He asked. His voice sounded pleading, matching the tiredness that his gaze conveyed.

Travis looked away. He hated being the bearer of bad news. He knew that from the moment the moon set and the sun gave way to a new day in Northkill, he must have talked to his brother about certain events of the previous night, he knew it. However, he couldn't.

"The counselors you told me about..." He started, but his brother didn't let him continue.

"Bitten? Dead?" He asked, straight to the point.

"Dead. It seems that Silas was on the road last night." He reported, as if it were another of his police reports. It was simpler that way.

If it didn't feel so personal, it didn't matter, right?

Liar. Damn old liar.

Chris sighed, letting his head fall.

Travis, now even more uncomfortable, walked towards one of the windows. Seeing the beauty of the camp where many years ago (too many, if he thought about it) he was so happy, always helped him feel better. However, it was something else that caught his attention. His face wrinkled, looking confused.

"I thought the children were arriving tomorrow..." He mentioned, watching the group of counselors walk.

He doubted his eyesight was failing him. He was more than sure that the one on the boy's shoulders was a kid, and one much smaller than the ones his brother received each year for camp.

Ugh, the camp. Cruel reminder that his job would become more difficult for a month and a half. He didn't like children and their ability to get into trouble.

Chris looked at his brother.

"Yes, they'll arrive tomorrow," he stated, getting up and walking towards the window with Travis. "He is the son of one of my counselors. The one who goes there."

Travis, taking his eyes off the boy and the child, followed his brother's finger until he found the aforementioned. He couldn't help but be surprised. Was he already that old? Or did that girl look exaggeratedly young?

Chris saw the surprise in his brother.

"I know." It was his only comment.

He also had the same expression as Travis when he first met Camila. Everyone, really. The other counselors, although a little less, were also surprised when that small human being appeared holding the girl's hand.

"She doesn't look older than Kaylee." Travis said, still looking at the young woman.

"She is, but only for two years. She is twenty-two." Chris answered.

As soon as his brother mentioned the girl's age, Travis stopped looking at her.

Don't you think you're too old to be seeing twenty-two-year-old girls?

The amount of questions Travis had in his head regarding her vanished. The less he knew, the better. He turned around, walking a couple of steps and leaving the window.

Great, as if it wasn't difficult to take care of teenagers and pre-teens, now he had to take care of that. Little children were a big no for him. Very curious, very easy to lose sight of. He remembered his nephew Caleb in his first years of life and all the scares he gave Chris and Amelia when he decided to play at being an adventurer in the forest.

"Don't you think it's a little dangerous to have such a young child in Hackett's Quarry?" he asked, back to his usual bitter sheriff appearance.

Chris, still at the window, didn't seem worried.

"You think too much."

His brother's favorite phrase. Travis hated it. It wasn't that he thought too much, it was that he was the only one in his family who thought. Of course, he fixed everything.

Sure, if the kid saw something he shouldn't have, if he got lost where he shouldn't get lost or something happened to him that wasn't supposed to happen to him; It would be his fault. Because, how could Sheriff Hackett let that happen?

The eldest Hackett hastened his departure. He wasn't going to talk to Chris, there was no point. They never listened to him, this wouldn't be the first time. He prayed that this girl would know how to take care of her little... creature.

Creature? Oh, Travis, what's wrong with you?

"Just... Keep the boy away from the forest, okay? Last year it was a pain in the ass to have to look for your lost camper."

And with that, he left. He had bigger problems waiting for him at his police station. Problems that perhaps he should have share with Chris, but he would prefer, of course, to be the one to bear the responsibility.

He did not expect that when he left the house, a meeting with that girl who he had looked so much from the window would be waiting for him.

Camila's big eyes met the tall, strange figure of a police officer. A policeman? It took her mind several seconds to assimilate that yes, she had a police officer in front of her. One too high. Too serious.

Camila, even though she had already passed that moment in her life where she should have had reasons to fear encountering a police officer, still felt a certain unease in their presence. There were no reasons, not anymore, but bad habits were difficult to erase. She didn't know if her face reflected it, but coming across one so abruptly (especially one so visually intimidating) left her in shock for a moment.

Long seconds of silence passed between the two. Travis, without transmitting any emotion in the sight of Camila. And she, of course, looking like a confused mouse in his eyes. He didn't find that reaction new, in fact, it was the most common.

Young and foolish, the older man imagined. How much shine in those scared eyes. Big and shiny.

Camila, seeking to somehow cut the awkwardness of the situation, decided to speak first. It was hard to get the words out of her mouth.

"Um..." She cut herself off, clearing her throat "Hello."

Travis didn't recognize the accent. He knew it wasn't even remotely close to Northkill, but he didn't find it similar to any he'd heard before. It was strong, too strong for such a high voice.

Camila waited for a word from the man, but her wait was in vain. More seconds full of silence and discomfort. Was it her idea or was he terrifying?

"I... I have to..." She didn't know what to say or how to make the moment less strange "Pass? Chris?"

Finally, the policeman in front of her showed signs of life. A raised eyebrow and an obvious what? captured on the man's face made Camila understand that he understood absolutely nothing of what she said. English in itself was difficult for her, in situations like this the concept of fluency was not exactly her strong point.

"I mean, I need to talk to Chris. The owner of the camp?" She said this time, still faltering over the words, but a little more coherent.

Even more doubt. No, that way of pronouncing the words... He didn't find it similar to anything.

Camila didn't know if a divine deity felt pity for her, or if Chris simply heard the strange interaction, but the owner of the camp appeared behind the police officer.

"Chris!" Camila exclaimed, relieved.

Chris looked at her and then at his brother. It was like going back years to when he would ask a girl out and by bad luck she would end up bumping into his brother. Travis Hackett was no expert when it came to human interactions. Worse if it was a woman, especially a pretty one.

A sight was heard from the youngest Hackett.

"Camila, this is my brother, Travis," he presented, placing a hand on the aforementioned's shoulder. "He is the sheriff of North kill."

Camila nodded slowly. They didn't look like brothers, and if they really were, they looked like a version of a good twin and a bad twin.

"Nice to meet you, Sheriff Hackett." She managed to say, extending her hand.

Travis contemplated not receiving the greeting, but something in the back of his brain screamed at him to move his hand. And so he did.

He couldn't remember the last time his cold skin had contact with such a warm place. The paleness of his hand was overshadowed by the girl's brown fingers. He couldn't help to notice how that caramel color shone with the reflection of the sun.

How could he not look at her? She literally glowed.

Speak, idiot.

"Likewise, miss... " He left the sentence in the air. He really didn't want to know anything about her, he knew he shouldn't, but curiosity got the better of him.

"Ramirez." Camila hurried to say. Suddenly didn't find the moment so terrible.

Travis understood in that moment. That's why he didn't recognize the accent. What a way to attract attention, it seemed like everything about that girl was trying to stand out. And she did it.

"Miss Ramirez." He pronounced, as best he could, the last name.

Camila couldn't help that giggle. Travis understood why, and even though he would have loved to smile back, like a normal human being, he did nothing but ignore her.

Travis broke contact with the girl. It was distracting him too much, and more important things than an attractive young woman were waiting for him at the police station.

"Have a good day."

Short, dry. As it should be.

Chris looked at Camila, almost telepathically apologizing.

Travis quickened the pace to his patrol car.

And as suddenly as he appeared, he left.

[sionisjaune]

So today I spent my day at a "circus" in a mall parking lot because my younger cousins were in town and we wanted to do something as a family. ANYWAY some of the acts were kind of dull BUT it was fodder for a circus AU:

Alright. Max is the lion tamer. He's too young for it, but he has a way with the animals--the lions snarl and bat at him with their giant paws, but he talks to them like people talk to babies, in a sort of weird, high voice. No one has seen him smile at a human.

Except for Daniel. Daniel is the ringleader because he's so fucking charismatic. He doesn't have a script for the show because he just steps under the spotlights and starts up a running narration. He makes most of the performers laugh when he introduces them and hypes up their acts, except for Max. So one evening he busts into Max's trailer and is like. Hey. What the fuck is your problem. Because he needs everyone to think he's funny because what if he isn't funny and everyone is just being nice to him and Max is the only honest one. Max is in there with one of the big cats, feeding it sushi with his bare fingers. Daniel freezes in the doorway because there's a giant ass tiger in this tiny trailer and Max is insane, right? Anyway Daniel cracks some joke about Max losing a hand and then Max's face cracks open and he laughs right in Daniel's face because silly Daniel, the cats would never hurt anyone.

Charles is an aerialist. He's startlingly beautiful, and everyone is kind of in love with him. In the air, he looks like a statue--not a single muscle twitches. He twists from position to position with a liquid grace. And he's a fucking daredevil. He wants the circus to remove the safety nets, but they won't. He wants to execute an impossible lift even if it threatens to dislocate his arm. He's fucking insane--it's hard to be near him sometimes. It's hard to soak in his single-minded, self-destructive perfectionism.

Carlos is his partner. Everyone thinks he's the level headed one--that he's the one who tempers Charles's insane choreography. He isn't. Charles says, I want you to throw me from the ceiling and I will land on my own, and Carlos says, okay, let's figure out how. He and Charles wear blood-red lycra and move in perfect symmetry. From afar, you might not know who is who. Charles didn't used to want a partner--he wanted a competitor, someone to throw his talent against in order to measure himself as winner or loser. With Carlos, winning means knowing the precise weight of Carlos's body and losing is over-extending his muscles and tumbling to the ground in Carlos's arms. Now Charles has someone who knows his body wordlessly and entirely. Sometimes it feels like he and Carlos are blurring at the edges--sometimes it feel like Carlos is Charles and Charles is Carlos and Carlos is Charles and--

Lewis is the trapeze artist. George is his new partner, and it's kind of tense. Kind of awkward. George is still learning and everyone talks about Lewis like he's George's mentor, and Lewis fucking hates it because 'mentor' is a nice way of calling Lewis old and washed-up and a fucking has been. But he likes George. George is a good kid, and his talent is startling, but he's stiff like a machine and cold like a calculator. Lewis needs him to loosen up--Lewis needs a partner that flows with him like water. Lewis's last partner was Valtteri, who is more of a strongman than an acrobat. Lewis liked it because he got to be the star--every eye under the big top was on him, but he missed the thrill of--

The thrill of Nico. Even when it was bad it was good. When it was good it was still bad. Nothing compares to performing with the person you're fucking. Nothing compares to fucking the person you perform with. When they were younger, Nico and Lewis studied at a prestigious European performing arts school, and Nico ran away with Lewis at seventeen and they felt like such adults and they had each other and the entire world. And Nico and Lewis were superstars, and they eclipsed even Seb, but the circus was a cage and it wasn't big enough for the two of them---or something like that, Lewis still doesn't totally understand what happened. He understands in that he can walk himself through the logical procession of things from bad to worse, but he doesn't understand in that maybe if he understood maybe he would be over it. But he isn't over it and maybe he is fucking old and maybe--

When they started fighting, they didn't stop fucking. Lewis's shoulders were sore from holding his body off the bed, and his chest stung with marks from Nico's teeth. Lewis knew it was coming when he felt the twitch in Nico's thigh while Nico clung to his waist in the penultimate swing of their routine. Lewis fell from the bar and so did Nico, and they landed in the net still tangled up in each other. It was a massive embarrassment for the both of them and for the circus. A year after Nico just fucking left. Told Lewis he wasn't going to do it anymore and fucking disappeared. Lewis knew it was coming.

Sebastian is the behind the scenes guy. He was the Charles of ten years ago. Enough time has passed that that's what people say--Seb was the old Charles instead of Charles is the new Seb. Lewis spends a lot of time in Seb's trailer. Lewis thinks that Seb put himself out of his misery too early--he had a few years left in him, Lewis thinks. He tells Seb as much, and Seb laughs and tells Lewis that he's happier now. Seb says it's a good thing, making space for the new generation. Lewis thinks that he never wants to make space. He never wants to vacate the space he carved for himself.

[sleepyfaceandsnark]

Liability

Carlos' past relationships weren't always good for him

AO3

Baby really hurt me Crying in the taxi He don't wanna know me Says he made the big mistake of dancing in my storm Says it was poison

They say, "You're a little much for me You're a liability You're a little much for me" So they pull back, make other plans I understand, I'm a liability Get you wild, make you leave I'm a little much for everyone.

The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy 'Til all of the tricks don't work anymore And then they are bored of me I know that it's exciting Running through the night, but Every perfect summer's Eating me alive until you're gone

Better on my own

"You could... stay a little longer," Carlos offers as he grins at the man in his bedroom. 

"Thanks, but I'm kind of a screw and leave sorta guy," the man says as he rebuttons his shirt.  

"Right. Of course. Me too." Carlos says. He sits on the edge of the bed. He watches the third guy he's had in his bedroom this month get redressed. Carlos doesn't think about the fact that the month isn’t even half over.

"I mean… you were good," The guy says. "Really good. I like that one move you do with the..." the guy laughs, stopping himself. "I'll save your profile in case of a dud night." 

Carlos nods.

"You seem upset." 

"No, no. It's just." He thinks for a moment. "You don't have to leave. You can stay a bit." 

The guy practically laughs at him. "Dude, you met me on tinder." 

It wasn't actually tinder (the guy was wrong about that). Maybe it was more of a hookup app but it wasn’t exclusively that. Or rather, it didn't have to be. 

"I'm not really looking for anything," the guy continues. "Relationships just aren't for me." 

Carlos nods again. "Right. Me either." A lie. 

"I'm sure you'll make some guy very lucky," the stranger says with a smile. "See you around, Carl.”

The man disappears behind Carlos' bedroom door, and in a few minutes, he hears the front one shut as well. He rolls his eyes. He can’t even use the correct name. 

Carlos wished these interactions were few and far between, but they were not. He knows what these men want him for; his body. He certainly works hard on it, but knowing that's all they want him for and nothing else makes him even more self-conscious.

He is easy to love, he's been told, granted it is usually by people he did favors for.

He thought he found love in so many men, only for them to tell him he was too much. He's always too much. 

He admits it. He falls in love too quickly, which might scare anyone off, but is it so much to ask for something more than a one-night stand?

He wasn't always like this. He had a boyfriend a little after High School. He had reasonably decided Texas wasn't best for him and moved away. They dated for just a little over six months. It was long enough for Carlos to like him but not enough to miss him when he left. Or maybe the spark just wasn't there anyway. 

He had a brief fling with another. Carlos ended up breaking the poor guy's heart, accidentally. He honestly didn't think the guy was into him. 

And one that creeped Carlos out. He tried to friend his entire family on Facebook before even meeting them. And they were only dating for a month. He did other things that put Carlos off too. Guy ended up posting hate messages about him while still being friends with his friends after Carlos didn't agree to a fourth date. It was all super weird. 

Then there was Trent.

He wasn't exactly someone to bring home to the parents, not that he would anyway, but Carlos was infatuated with him. He was hot and adventurous; he loved rock climbing and rode a motorcycle. Trent was kind of an asshole. Okay, he was really an asshole. Carlos couldn't read if it were just a front, like some kind of defense mechanism or if, to his core, he was an asshole. He'd soon find out which it was. 

Trent was the opposite of most of the guys he'd been with. He would parade Carlos around, almost like a prize. He would openly have his arm draped around Carlos. He’d whisper lewd acts he wanted to do to Carlos in his ear in public which caused Carlos to blush or outright shush him. He would grab Carlos' body in possessive ways. Sometimes Carlos liked it and sometimes he didn't. It wouldn't be as much of a bother, the parading, if it weren’t so drastically different when they were alone. In private Trent barely held on to Carlos for 5 minutes if they weren't fucking, let alone let Carlos kiss him.

The act of not wanting to kiss shouldn't have been a red flag, there could be a reason someone wouldn't want that kind of affection. The reaction to Carlos kissing his cheek one night should've been. He got met with a "what the hell do you think you're doing?" as Trent got up to wipe Carlos' kiss off his cheek like it was the vilest thing he had on his face. 

Carlos quickly apologized. Trent had left in a fury that night regardless. Carlos got a naked picture two days later, so it seemed all was forgiven. Despite the hold Trent had on him, Carlos still rolled his eyes at the gesture.

There were many hints they weren't in the same boat that Carlos' mind ignored. They'd go out to clubs. Trent wouldn't want to be near him besides to make a guy eyeing him jealous. Carlos told himself he didn't care. Trent always went home with him or showed up at his door at 2 am sometime after. Trent never inquired about Carlos' family, not that Carlos would tell him anyway. He never asked about Carlos' life or his past. Matter-of-fact they never talked about anything more than whatever sports were on at the time or what new gay bar was opening up. 

Carlos tried several date ideas Trent would turn down for one reason or another; "I don't like ice cream,” "Mini golf is boring,” "I'll only see a movie if it has (insert action star Carlos had no desire to see)," "Why would we pay for that when we can just eat at home?". Of course, they never did eat at either of their homes together anyways. 

But Carlos played along like he didn't care. Trent had chosen him, for the most part. 

The breaking point, for both of them, was a little year after their first time together. Carlos considered it an anniversary, but Trent did not. 

Trent didn't even think of the day or its significance despite Carlos dropping some hints here and there. He had gone off with one of his friends to hike someplace outside of Austin. He got hurt. Carlos' car broke down on the way to the hospital. Trent’s friends told him it was nothing serious. Just some bruising, a broken wrist, and a sprained ankle. Carlos' car was in the shop longer than Trent was in the hospital. He tried to go down to Trent's by getting an Uber, but work got in the way. 

When he finally got a day off, he went over to bring some things for him. He knew Trent was supposed to stay off the ankle and add a broken wrist on one arm, Carlos knew it was hard for him to do things himself.  

Carlos didn't mean anything more by it, and looking back, any person would've taken the gesture, especially if they were technically together. 

"I'm getting kind of bored of this..." Trent said after Carlos had been there less than an hour.

He cleaned some dishes, made sure Trent iced his injuries like the doctor said, and was about to make him the first meal that wasn't from a takeout box. 

"Of what?" Carlos asked. Trent had been bad-tempered since Carlos got there. He tried to tell himself it was just because of the pain Trent was experiencing.

Carlos figured Trent meant the tv station he flipped on. Carlos hadn’t been ready when Trent told him, "Us." 

"What?" Carlos let out. He was sure he didn't hear right. 

"You come here with your nursing kit and copying the shit your mother used to do when you scraped your knee. Touching me. Pampering me."

"You got hurt... I just thought that-"

"You offered to clean the apartment. You offered to cook. You keep asking if I'm okay, keep asking if I'm icing properly," Trent's started to rise. 

"And?"

"No guy wants to be doted on like that!"

Carlos let out a small, hurt laugh. "You're my boyfriend. I just wanted to -"

"Boyfriend? We were never boyfriends, Carlos." Trent said. 

Carlos knew that wasn’t true. Trent had called him his 'sexy boyfriend’ when he introduced Carlos to other people.  

"Why are you saying this?" Carlos stumbled on his sentence. "That's not-"

"Look, I'm not liable for your fucking feeling. It's not my fault you didn't understand what this was."

Carlos took a sharp breath in and blinked his eyes. "And what was this?" 

Trent didn't answer. 

Carlos was about to ask if he wanted him to leave. He was about to apologize even though he didn't do anything wrong. But Trent's mouth moved before Carlos could think of what to say. 

"You're like a poison..." He had mumbled so quietly Carlos swore he didn't hear it. "Forcing this domesticity constantly when everything in your head should've told you," Trent stopped himself. "You just...you're a little much."

There it was. 

Carlos looked down and tried to steady his breathing to keep himself from crying or screaming. 

"It was fun for a bit." Trent continued but stopped. Maybe he realized he had ripped Carlos' heart apart enough in the past few minutes. Trent gave a small laugh. "Look, man. You're hot. That's all you need to be."  

And Carlos never felt more disgusting. Trent had the nerve to grin at Carlos as if that line would get him one last fuck. 

It wouldn't. As Trent alluded to, Carlos could get that anywhere. 

"Would it make you feel better if I said it was my mistake?" Trent asked. "I let it go on too long. I should've stopped it. Might've given you the wrong idea." 

Carlos hadn’t been able to decide if that helped or not. The signs should've been there. Why did he ignore them?

"Think you wanted something that wasn't there so badly..." Trent said as if he could read Carlos' mind. 

"And what's that?" Carlos asked. His face turned stoic. 

"Love?”

Carlos shut his mouth in anger and nodded bitterly. 

That was the last hit for Carlos.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to get out. 

He couldn’t remember if he said one last remark to Trent before he left, or even if he slammed the door, but he remembers being grateful he got his car back before this happened. He doesn't know what he'd do if he had to stay to wait for a ride. He couldn't stay in that place any longer. 

Trent was right. Carlos wanted that so badly he was willing to look past the red flags, past the bad behavior.

He just wanted to love and be loved.

He wasn’t sure when he stopped caring if the men were kind or not. 

After Trent, Carlos decided to keep it casual with his relationships. He never kicked them out of his place and usually made them breakfast or a snack afterward. They'd kiss him goodbye. Some would tell him, "See you later.” Carlos would decide if that would happen. He never 'fell' for them exactly, but occasionally he'd catch himself daydreaming of a date with one or something more. He'd quickly shake his thoughts away from that. Not anymore, not again. And it was like that for a while. He had accepted it.

So, when a Firefighter and his Fire Captain father move into town, Carlos doesn’t know what started going through his head. The minute his eyes lay on TK everything he had fought against since Trent, fights back. Something was so different about TK. From the beginning, Carlos could tell he was genuinely sweet.  When he was new in town, he was friendly enough. TK wasn’t necessarily shy, possibly a little standoffish, but not in an intimidating way. He was always by his dad. Carlos remembers thinking something might've happened there. Or that it was just because his dad was the only person TK knew, and he didn't get to connect with the 126 yet. 

The first time he saw TK was on a call. It was barely a few minutes, but since that first one, Carlos spent his time hoping the 126 would be there when he was out on the field. 

One night they were on a call together. A baby was getting rescued from a tree. TK stood by him and put his hand on his shoulder as they anticipated the outcome.  They both shared a sigh of relief as it was carried down to safety. Carlos didn't let TK know then, but he melted from the touch and silently begged for another when TK pulled away. 

"He's a pretty impressive guy," Carlos said. 

"He's my dad," TK answered. 

Carlos watched as TK looked at his dad, proud. 

Carlos had tried at first to keep his thing with TK casual like the rest of the men (and like he talked about with TK), but TK just had this strong pull on him from the start.

TK is nothing like Trent. TK wanted love; he was just hurt so extraordinarily by it. He knew TK was different, even when he asked TK why he was “acting so crazy” that night. He didn't let himself see that there was something else when he mentioned their dinner 'wasn't a marriage proposal' because he convinced himself this was someone else he drove away.

But TK came back to him. Maybe it was fate that he worked that night and was the one to let TK go at the station. Or perhaps someone of higher power was throwing both of them a bone. 

After Trent, Carlos never thought the neck he kissed as part of a hookup would be the same neck he now finds comfort in. TK needs Carlos as much as Carlos needs him. They both are each other's second chance at love. 

"Hey," Carlos asks TK one night, long after they became established boyfriends. They turned the TV off an hour or so ago. Both were tired of trying to find something to watch. TK opened a magazine soon after. Carlos was reading some of it over his shoulder as TK lay between Carlos' legs. 

"Hm?" TK calls out, not sure if he should close the magazine yet or not. 

"If I ever," Carlos waits, unsure if he wants to bring it up. TK starts to lean his head back toward Carlos, but Carlos stares straight ahead. "If I ever dote on you too much, will you tell me?" 

"What?" TK asks as he closes the magazine. Carlos can feel him move under him as he tries to turn around, but Carlos still stares at the wall. 

"Like if I annoy you with that stuff...?"

"What stuff?" TK asks. Carlos' grip is lost on TK as he now faces him. "Loving me?" TK tries to say lightly, but he can tell by Carlos' face that he's serious. 

"Am I too much sometimes?" Carlos asks. He finally looks down and makes eye contact with TK. He has some relief at TK's confused face. 

"You're not too much, Carlos," TK assures him. "Who made you think that?" TK reaches to palm Carlos' hair as he stares into his beautiful brown eyes. 

Carlos smiles warmly and shakes his head. "No one important." He leans his head into TK's touch and welcomes the soft kiss TK plants on his lips. 

Any memories of Trent or the men before him wash away as TK leans back into Carlos’ body, fitting together as if they are one.

[woodchoc-magnum]

Lone Star Hate Watch 3x04

Sorry for how late this is - I was just delaying the inevitability of having to watch it 😅

Disclaimer: I hate this show, you love it - that's great! Please don't read, keep scrolling, and have a wonderful day

Eddie Diaz, as always, to remind us that the OG exists and is superior in every single way:

I can’t believe I have to sit through another episode of this fucking snow storm

I am slightly mollified because Billy's here

I'm really gonna need Billy to get a redemption arc here

Or do I even want that? I kind of like that he's a little bit villainous

Oh TK's still in a coma and I already know he doesn't die so everything is terrible

Ronen still can't act

"oh wow" TK says in a monotone

"Am I dead?" TK asks in a monotone, but god I wish you were dead

Don't tell him to stop dying - what are you fucking doing? Just let him go

These nurses are… I'm sure this is a pretty accurate portrayal of what nurses are like and you have to be kind of dry and unfeeling, but like, maybe check to make sure you're alone before talking about how TK's definitely going to die

I mean obviously I want him to die, so I'm fine with this entire conversation

You could do better Carlos

Do you think when Rob Lowe gets there he'll remember he has a son or will they have to remind him?

Oh my god Owen's SHAVING HIS DEPRESSION BEARD

Wow what a poignant and moving scene

Judd your wife is currently having a baby in a car in the middle of the snow

Marjan missed everything and instead of just telling her what happened, the show subjects us to Mateo talking in circles

There's going to be a bit of TK-and-Carlos rant in this whole thing so get ready

"I'm holding vigil for a man who doesn't even want me in his life" – Carlos. You could do better. Why are you settling for this piece of shit??

Nancy – "TK loves you." Does he? Really? Is TK capable of human emotions? Because I don't think so

I know people like Nancy but I'm going to be honest and say that I don't, and I find her character entirely forgettable and if she suddenly disappeared from the show I would just simply move on with my life and forget she had ever existed

Also she's a terrible friend. Does Carlos have any other friends? Who could be like, "Hey, you're a total catch, you don't need TK fucking you over like this?" Apparently not

I hate this relationship so much because Carlos deserves better

If I keep eye rolling my eyes are going to gain momentum and never stop

"If he loves me so much, then why did he break my heart?" BECAUSE HE SUCKS

HE FUCKING SUCKS

HE'S THE WORST

AND NO ONE CAN SEE IT

I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS

Is Tommy going to accept some responsibility for the fact that TK is dying in hospital? They literally didn't do anything to help him is all I'm saying

Oh Owen remembers he has a son, that's amazing

I hate this show

I'm ONLY NINE MINUTES IN YOU GUYS FUCKKKKKKKKKK

Owen sucks, everyone sucks, I hope everyone except Carlos, Judd and Grace die

"my boy to wake up" oh you remember you have a kid? But only when he's dying, right

I mean I love Grace but like I could do without the constant praying

Let me guess, are Carlos and his mom going to do some praying now? Because I can think of one thing we need and that's more praying

Oh Carlos you deserve so much better than TK (Please note - I realise I've said this multiple times through this but it bears repeating)

At least Carlos' mom is on his side because NO ONE ELSE IS

He needs a sassy best friend

Billy's my favourite character and I don't care what anyone says

I'm only fifteen minutes in, I'm going to eat some chocolate

They should not have dragged this shit out for four episodes

"there's something you could've done differently" – yeah like I don't know, trying to warm TK up after he nearly froze to death? Just my two cents

If Billy goes through all this shit and no one fucking thanks him, I'm going to scream

Is he perfect? No. But he's trying

My desktop background is a slideshow of pictures of Buck and Eddie and when I get bored with the show I just watch that for a little pick-me-up

So I'm watching my desktop background a lot, is what I'm saying

Billy's a big DAMN HERO

OH MY GOD BILLY NOOOO HE FAINTED

Judd's figured out that Grace is missing and this is the only thing I care about, but of course we flick right back to TK

Can he just die already?

Cannot BELIEVE TK broke up with Carlos

Carlos deserves so much better than this, I know I keep repeating that but I don't know how anyone can look at this relationship like it's a good thing for anyone but TK

Because at the end of the day this is all about TK, none of this is about Carlos

"Believe people when they tell you who they are" – YES CARLOS????!!! WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO YOUR OWN FUCKING ADVICE??????

HE'S SUCH A WHINY LITTLE FUCK I HATE HIM

Okay so let me get this straight. TK fell in love with an apartment, they couldn't rent but it had to buy it, and so as an act of love, Carlos bought him the apartment he fell in love with.

And this was an apartment they both liked – this wasn't Carlos picking a place for them to live, this was something they both loved

And TK breaks up with Carlos because of that.

Wow.

Who the fuck am I meant to feel sorry for here? Like, I am honestly asking how this show wants me to feel about this situation because all I feel is righteous indignation

"It's a total power move" TK says – THE FUCK? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME YOU ASSHOLE? He bought you the place YOU LOVED!!! ARE YOU FOR REAL? YOU FUCKING AAAAAAHHRHRHRHRHRHHRRH

Pausing I need more sugar holy fuck I'm so mad at this FUCKING SHOW

Okay I'm back and trying to think about it in less of a "TK is a narcissistic monster" kind of a way and more in a "how a normal person should react to this" way

And like – they've been together for like, over a year officially on the show, right? Maybe closer to two years? And if you're in a relationship with someone for that long you should have already talked about where this is going and what you both want out of the relationship. Communication, I guess? It seems to be a key component to any happy relationship

So thinking about it like that, should Carlos have asked TK? I guess, maybe – but it was a place they'd looked at together, they both liked it, and so he could make the assumption that if he bought it for TK, that was a gesture for them as a couple, going forward in their relationship, and it shows a level of commitment and love that you think would be somewhat appreciated, right?

Right.

In conclusion, TK is the fucking worst and I hope he gets syphilis and his penis falls off.

I've never hated a character more and I just sat through ten episodes of Che Diaz on And Just Like That

Okay Billy's fine, he's all good, he just fainted, we're fine

I only have fifteen minutes left

Tommy's going to deliver the baby!!!

This is the only storyline I care about

JUDDDDD

God damn it these two fucking kill me

Oh great TK's awake

Way to ruin a perfectly lovely moment in the show

Oh my god Owen just collapsed to his knees in the snow?? What the actual fuck

That baby is six months old

You know, in a movie TK would've died as the baby was born? The circle of life kind of a thing

Really wish they'd done that

Is the OG this heavy-handed? No, right?

Carlos you deserve better than this pile of trash disguised as a human

Oh great they're moving in together

Wow that's love you guys

He deserves fucking none of this

Not a single fucking thing

I hope this house burns down too, with TK in it

"you're the world's biggest control freak" – well you're the world's biggest piece of shit

That baby is a fully grown, six month old baby. It's practically old enough to drive

Their GoFundMe to save the 126 just got fully funded, wow, a fucking miracle! Who didn't see that one coming???

I thought it was finished but no. The rich family saved the 126. How wonderful.

Nice of them to invite my hero Billy to the ceremony

Are Billy and Judd mending fences? I'm really going to need Billy Burke to stay on the show, because he really brightens my day

God I miss the OG so much

In conclusion, I hate this show more than anything. How long until the OG is back?? 😩

Eddie Diaz because WE FUCKING NEED IT RIGHT NOW:

Bonus Christopher! We've earned it, you guys. I'm going to eat some more chocolate.

GREAT JOB TEAM

[encantosimpshey]

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓸

A dark shadow strode in the room as the door behind closed with a soft click.

The figure sitting on the bed didn't shift. "What do you want, Carlos?"

The shadow chuckled at the other's cold tone. "Can't I visit my baby brother?" He opened the lights in the room.

The man on the bed turned to him, his green eyes flashing, "you're only 2 minutes older."

Emerald clashed with emerald as they stared at each other down.

Surprisingly, Carlos broke it off first, shrugging his shoulders and inviting himself to take a seat as his twin was kind enough not to.

"I have a favor to ask." He spat out. Carlos had practiced this many times so he would actually say those words in a civil way and not have to beat his twin to submission. It would be bad if they get found out after all.

At his words, Camilo couldn't help but get appalled and suspicious. His twin? Asking for his help? Wha- Has he been possessed?

Camilo narrowed his eyes, "who are you?"

"Me? I'm the better, elder twin, of course." Carlos smoothly replied, not even looking at him.

Camilo didn't budge, already used to his brother's prideful remarks. "If you're the better twin then why are you asking for help?"

He watched as the other bristled in irritation before taking a deep breath.

"How do you feel about Princess Eliana?" Carlos restarted, making Camilo more confused. Carlos had never been formal with Princess Eliana so why now?

"What?"

Carlos threw his brother a bemused look, "did you hear what I said or do I have to make it so loud the entire castle will hear my question and be curious of your answer?"

The other exhaled in frustration. "Why would I tell you? So you can tell her? You already know anyway."

Carlos stared at him with a dead expression. "Enlighten me."

Camilo stared back at him with a perplexed look, like a confused puppy. What is he trying to do?

"Go on. We don't have the whole night and my tiredness is quickly draining my patience for you."

Camilo shot him a look before flopping back down on his bed.

"Well, she's pretty... but she's not my type."

Carlos nodded to himself. He knew his twin was about to comment "pretty boring" but held himself. She was one clear evidence of their differences, with one finding her interesting while the other did not.

Carlos didn't blame Camilo though. He also thought Eliana was just some pretty, prissy princess at first. But he guesses fate favored him more, allowing him to push past Eliana's polite front and discover a colorful gem he was immediately drawn to.

Camilo was missing out, and Carlos hoped he will continue to be the blind, unappreciative man he was.

"Well then, baby bro, you better remember how you feel about her because I have a proposition." He smirked, leaning forward to rest his chin on his hand.

How can a man be a good guy that will catch the princess's eye?

By pretending to be good? By acting like the complete opposite of himself?

Nope!

Switching places with the good guy himself in order to woo her is the way to go. That's how he'll catch her eye and make her like him too.

Since Eliana liked Camilo, if he wooed her as Carlos, she would definitely fall for Carlos. All the real Carlos needed to do was prevent Camilo from falling for her or his whole plan can burn in hell.

Though it seems like that won't be a hard job since Camilo didn't like her in any way, especially since he's the polar opposite of Carlos.

It was only common sense.

"What's in it for me?" Camilo was now sitting up to fully stare at his brother.

Carlos closed his eyes, pretending to think. "If you do your part well for the next week, she'll stop 'bothering' you because she'd be bothering me. Not that I mind of course.... Do we have a deal?"

"No."

The other made a face, "what?"

"It's not fair how I have to do all the work just for Princess Eliana to leave me alone. She doesn't even talk to me a lot so what's the point?" Camilo explained, also closing his eyes for a second.

A smug smirk crawled on his face, "though I may think differently if you have a better bargain... say, your seconds?"

How Carlos wanted to punch his teeth in. Silence consumed the room before a gritted "fine" broke it.

Despite the smug smile on his lips, Camilo couldn't help but feel he had still lost the bargain. "It's a deal then."

chapter 3 coming soon ! click here to go back to table of contents !

[zaine-m]

July 12th - Still behind but hoping to catch up today. We're on "What team?" then ta catch up I also have to watch "Thanksgiving". Tomorrow with "The Tech rehearsal" we won't get any Gina which sucks but we'll survive.

Previous -- next

Season 1 Episode 6: "What Team?" thoughts under the cut:

Okay so this episode is starting the Monday after Homecoming, which was Friday

Everyone is working together and is having fun, finally

Why do they have big red do all the miscellaneous stuff

Seb's little pink streak of hair 🥰

How tf did Gina turn her personality around so quickly

And just because of a guy, where did the don't change yourself for a guy message go?

Yes Nini feel that pain, Ricky has girls other than you in his life, you can't just drop him and pick him up as you see fit. Honestly I just like seeing her in pain

Why did Gina jump so early, her and that Ryan guy

Gina's "I figured", this girl takes responsibility for her actions

Please tell me I'm not the only one who feels like there was a deleted scene where a lot went down because Ricky told her like once that she was too ambitious and that's what caused all this change. Has no one ever called her out before? Was her entire confidence act really all that weak?

"It's was more like I felt like I had to get it" "That's the same thing"

It's hard to take them seriously when they're wearing the most brightly coloured outfits ever

"little too literal for my taste" she's such a english teacher (derogatory)

We never see the principle in season 2 do we?

Kourtney switched so fucking quickly like before she was stealing Gina's stuff because her friend had a hunch Gina stole her phone and now they're being all friendly. I guess if Nini told Kourtney what Gina said and Gina didn't know about Kourtney's part in it it doesn't matter that much but still, like Kourtney used to hate Gina

Carlos putting his acting skills to work

Nini, Carlos is already soo stressed about this, why are you making his life harder with all your questions?

"This is not a democracy"😂

Nini pushing Carlos to his limits then being like "are you okay? it's not that deep" like, you're the issue

Seb's little "You know you could've told me"

Ricky just hanging onto "the show will still go on" for sake of his dying mental health then Gina just being like, "wtf, you can hold onto to stuff, even when it's unlikely, not just run away at any sign things could fall apart, seems fake but okay"

Gina's making friends!!!! And they're close!!!!

"Has it occurred to you that Miss Jenn is responsible for her own untimely demise" This is why Mr. Mazzara is my favourite character

Ej being this unstoppable force of making bad decisions and Ashlyn trying her best to stop him

HE'S GROWING AS A PERSON. CHARACTER DEVLOPMENT. I'm so proud of my little asshole baby, he's doing the right thing on his own

"I've messed up. More than you know" He's so responsible

"The audience doesn't know what they're missing" And he still uplifts her after everything that happened where she was a pretty shitting girlfriend to him

This is peak EJ. He will never get better than in this scene

His little stop when he's checking to see if he has anything else to apologize for

We better get a billion sorrys 2.0 in season 3

Nini's suffering when she sees Rina😍😍😍😍

Why tf did you think you would be able to stroll back into Ricky's life after how you left him. Because of his fear of abandonment and change that makes him willing o do anything to get things back to the way they used to be? Oh, yeah, okay, fair

How many teachers does this school have? would none of them be willing to help the students finish the musical?

Big Red made friends outside of Ricky!!!!

Ashlyn inviting a ton of people to Big Red's house

Please tell me I'm not the only one who doesn't miss Natalie Bagley. Her sass is kind of funny at first but then it just gets annoying

Gina says that like she has a lot of skeletons in her closet

Again Nini with this voice thing. Show me one fucking scene where no one listens to her, where everyone ignores or invalidates what she's saying. Any decent writer would add a scene like that to make this actually be a believable issues

Unless what Nini means by being heard is to have her voice be scene as the only important one and it's just so fucking shitty for anyone to have that

Okay but Ashlyn, I don't think your parents would be as relaxed about a teacher lying about their sketchy past

So mike and Miss Jenn find out that they're both connected to Ricky. This seems so early in their relationship that they could just break it off now

This entire show acts like theater is this very hated community which I never saw at my school. Idk is it an American thing?

Are you allowed to fire people sp publicly, like that seems like humiliating people in the workplace. Is this a thing that actually happens?

Also those seem like pretty good reasons to fire her

The way Ricky looks at his dad when he stands up

Seb says "she's the one who cheers us on" but then she's always just saying "no seb"

Where is Nini's other mom???

The hugging scenes are always so fun because you can just see them randomly hugging eachother in the background. Like Ashlyn and Ricky, EJ and seb, Carlos and Nini

Yessss, more of Nini in pain!!!!

Ricky's look when he realises they're flirting

[librarianbusdriver]

Ted: Okay, where was I? You were telling us how you met mom. In excruciating detail. Right. So, back in 2005, When I was 27, My two best friends got engaged, And it got me thinking, maybe I should get married.

*Sigh*

And then I saw robin. She was incredible. I just knew I had to meet her. That's where your uncle barney came in. I suggest we play a little game I like to call Wait, no, no, no. We're not playing "have you met ted?" Hi. Have you met ted? So I asked her out. But after just one date, I was in love with her Which made me say something stupid. I think I'm in love with you. What?! Oh, dad. So then what happened? Nothing. I mean, I'd made a complete fool of myself. So, a week went by, and I decided not to call her. So you're not gonna call her? You went from, "I think I'm in love with you"

Trapped, the same hollow, dull story repeating again, and again, and again all around me. No way to change its course. No way to do anything but just... watch.

To "I'm not gonna call her"? I wasn't in love with her, okay? I was briefly in love with the abstract concept Of getting married. It had absolutely nothing to do with robin. Robin. Hi. Look who I ran into. Since when do you guys know each other? Oh, since about... Here. Lily recognized me From the news and... Hello, sailor! They just got engaged. Well, I should get back to the station. See you, guys. Nice seeing you, ted. Yeah, you, too. Thanks. What? Damn it! I'm in love with her. As your sponsor, I will not let you relapse. You blew it, it's over, move on. I don't know, I just have this feeling She's the future mrs. Ted mosby. ( Lily squeaks) Lily, you squeaked? She said something about me, didn't she? Come on, spill it, red! Fine. So, what do we think of ted? ( Iaughs) Ted's something else. Huh. I'm gonna spin that as good. Lots of guys are something, I'm something else. Comes on a little strong. But, that's part of my charm. But, that's part of his charm. Oh, totally. I mean, he's sweet, he's charming, He's just looking for something A little bit more serious than I am. I mean, the most I can handle right now is something casual. This just stays between us, right? Are you kidding? This flapper? Fort knox. Oops. She wants casual. Okay, I'll be casual. I'm going to be a mushroom cloud of casual. Cause it's a game... I want her to skip To the end and do the whole happily-ever-after thing. But you don't get there unless you play the game. So, are you going to ask her out? Yeah... No! I can't ask her out, Because if I ask her out, I'm asking her out. So, how do I Ask her out without asking her out? Did you guys get high? I got it. I don't ask her out. I invite her To our party next Friday. We're having a party next Friday? We are now. Casual. Like inviting a hundred people over just to mack on one girl. Oh, and lily, that's my leg. You waited five minutes to tell me that? All right, so call her up. No, calling's not casual. I just got to bump into her somewhere. Now, if only I knew her schedule, I could arrange a chance encounter. That's great, ted... you'll be the most casual stalker ever. Put that ring on her finger, lily had been, Well, extra affectionate. ( chuckling ): Baby, no. I have a 25-page paper on constitutional law due Monday. Hey, I'm just sitting here, wearing my ring,

Wallachia, how I miss you.

My beautiful ring. ( Typing) Kind of makes wearing other stuff seem wrong. Like my shirt. Kind of don't want to wear my shirt anymore. Or... My underwear. That's right, I'm not wearing any. ( Sighs ) No underwear? Not even slightly. Ted: Guys. Boundaries. Robin ( on tv ): Thanks, bill. I'm reporting from the razzle dazzle supermarket On 75th and columbus... 75th and columbus. Game on! Where four-year-old leroy ellenberg has climbed Inside a grab-a-prize machine and gotten stuck. ( Panting ) And, all in the pursuit of a stuffed, purple giraffe. For metro news 1, I'm robin trubotsky. Engineer: We're clear. Robin: Thanks, don. Whew. Ted. Robin, wow! What are the odds? Oh, you know, just, uh, shopping for, uh, dip. I love dip. I mean, I don't love dip, I like dip... ( chuckles ) so, uh, hey, you, uh, Reporting a news story or something? Yeah, kid stuck in a crane machine. How sweet of you to call it news. Wow. Kid in a crane machine. Mm-hmm. You just had to have that toy, didn't you? Couldn't play the game like everyone else. You're all sweaty! Cute kid. Um, you know, It's so funny I should run into you. We're, uh, we're having a party next Friday, If you feel like swinging by. But, you know, whatever. Oh, I'm going back home next weekend. It's too bad it's not tonight. It is... It's tonight. This Friday. Did I say next Friday? Sorry, I guess I've been saying next Friday all week. But, yeah, it's tonight, the, uh, the party's tonight. But, you know, whatever. ( Phone rings) Hello? Hey, am I interrupting anything? No, no, I'm just writing my paper. Hitting the books. Yeah, well, you and lily Might want to put some clothes on. We're throwing a party in two hours. Okay, bye. What are you gonna do when robin shows up? Okay, I got it all planned out. She steps through the door... and where's ted? Not eagerly waiting by the door. No, I'm across the room at my drafting table, Showing some foxy young thing all my cool architect stuff. So, robin strolls over, and I casually give her one of these: "hey, what's up?" She says, "hey, nice place, et cetera, et cetera." And then, I say, "well, make yourself at home." And, I casually return to my conversation. Then, an hour later... "oh, you're still here?" I say, like I don't really care, But it's a nice surprise. And then, very casually: Both: The roof! Get her up to the roof, And the roof takes care of the rest. What's so special about the roof? Oh, the moon, the stars, the shimmering skyline. You can't not fall in love on that roof. We do it up there, sometimes. Solid plan, my little friend. But, may I suggest one little modification. Barney: That foxy young thing you were chatting up, Take her up to the roof and have sex with her. Crazy monkey style... That's not the plan. Barney: Well, it should be the plan. I mean, look at her. Ted, look at her. She's smoking! Thank you! Yeah... But, she's not robin! Exactly! Ted, let's rap. Statistic: At every new york party, There's always a girl who has no idea Whose party she's at. She knows no one you know, And you will never see her again. Do you see where I'm going with this? Barney, I don't think so. ( groans ) Scoping.

I miss it all. The childhood spent in that bountiful castle, the beauty of those rolling green fields...

( Imitates sonar beeping ) Scoping. Man, you're a dork. ( Accelerates beeping sound ) Target acquired! Now it's time we play a little game I like to call "have you met ted?" oh, come on, not this. Hi. Have you met ted? No. Hi. Hi. Do you know marshall? Lily? Woman: No. Hmm. Do you know anyone at this party? I work with carlos. Excuse me. Anyone know a carlos? No. No. On a silver platter. Bon appétit. I don't think so. Your loss, her gain. Excuse me. Can I show you the roof? It's magical up there. Sure. Ted: Wait, wait. Hey, hey, I got that roof reserved. Dude, robin's not coming. Hey, she's going to show up! She'll show up. Ted: She didn't show up. At least it was a great party. I ate, like, four whole cans of dip. You always know what to say, old friend. ( Phone ringing ) It's robin. No, no, not right away... got to seem casual. ( Ringing continues ) Hello? I'm so sorry I missed your party. Who is this? Meredith? Robin. Oh, robin! Hey! Yeah, I, uh, guess you never showed up, did you? No, I got stuck at work. But, they finally got that kid out of the crane machine. Did he get to keep the purple giraffe? Yeah, they let him keep all the toys. He was in there a long time, And little kids have small bladders. ( Chuckles ) robin: I wish your party Was tonight. It is... the party's tonight. Yeah, uh... It's a two-day party, 'cause that's just how we roll. Uh, so, if you want to swing by, you know, it's casual. See ya. So, that was robin. What are you Doing to me, man?! I got a paper to write! I know! Sorry! It's terrible! I'll buy more dip! Ted! Ted, wait! Get french onion! Can you believe this guy? I got a paper to write. Okay, fine. But, it's got to be, like, super-quick, And no cuddling after. I'm the luckiest girl alive. You were so right about the roof! The roof! The roof is on fire, ted! That girl from last night... I took her back to my place, Spun her around a couple times and sent her walking. She will never find her way back, and there she is. How did she get here? Did you invite her? I have no idea who that is. She said she works with carlos. Who's carlos? I don't know any carlos. ( Frustrated groan)

The conquests... the blood of my enemies spilled, and villages burnt to the ground in my name.

Hi, you! You're back! I sure am. Mmm. Come on, sweetie, I need a drink. "Sweetie"? Really? ( Barely audible ): Help. Whoa! Whoa, rabbits! Come on, I got that roof reserved. All right. So, it's over between me and works-with-carlos girl. Whoa! That was fast. Yeah. I was trying to think, What's the quickest way to get rid of a girl you just met? I think I'm in love with you. What?! Thanks, bro. Glad I could help. What the... No, no, no. Come on. Sorry, ted. Great. What am I going to do when robin shows up? She'll show up. She didn't show up. All right. We threw two parties. Everybody had fun. Everybody wanged, everybody chunged. Now, the kid has got to get to work, And the kid is not to be disturbed. Repeat after me. I will not have sex with marshall. Both: I will not have sex with marshall. ( Phone ringing ) It's robin. Hello? Hi, ted. Amanda? Oh, denise! Sorry, you totally sounded like amanda. It's robin. Oh, robin. Hi. I totally wanted to come. I got stuck at work again. I feel like I live there. I'm sorry I missed your party, again. Hey, ain't no thing but a chicken wing, mamacita. Who am I? I guess there's no chance your two-dayer Turned into a three-dayer? It did, indeed. The party continues tonight. Yeah. Uh, last night, people were like, "keep it going, bro. Party trifecta." Wow! Okay, well, I'll be there. Great! See you tonight. So, that was robin. So, I threw a third party for robin... On a Sunday night. Well, this is lame. Lame... Or casual? Lame. Or casual? Hey, law books. Ready for a little 15 minute recess? Sorry, baby, I got to work. I need all my blood up here. Has anybody seen an introduction to contract tort And restitution statutes from 1865-1923? Anybody seen a big-ass book? All ( muttering ): No. Woman: Hello, barney. Of course. You look well. Is it weird they invited both of us? Who? Who invited you? No one even knows who you are! I understand you're hurt, but you don't have to be cruel. Carlos was right about you. Who is carlos?! Hey, where the hell is my...? Oh...! Okay... An introduction to contract tort And restitution statutes from 1865-1923 Is not a coaster! Ted, I'm jeopardizing my law career so you can throw not one, Not two, but three parties for some girl that you just met Who's probably not even going to show up! I mean, where is she, ted, huh? Where's robin? Hi. Hi, robin. Wow. So, you threw all these parties for me? No. Oh, you thought that... No! I... Okay, yes. You got me. One of the reasons I threw these parties Was so that I could introduce you To, um, this guy. Uh, I figured, you know, Since it didn't work out between us And now we can just laugh about it... ( laughs weakly) Anyway, robin, this is... Carlos. Oh! Oh! She's still talking to carlos. I can still win this. I-it's not over. Okay, buddy. Time for the tough talk. Robin seems great, but let's look at the facts. You want to get married. And right now, There's a million women in new york Looking for exactly you. But robin ain't one of them. She's not just one of them. She's the one. Yeah, well, the one is heading up to the roof. What are you going to do? Nothing. It's a game. I got to just keep playing it. ( Rock music playing ) Ted... Hey, carlos, can you give us a minute? Hey, no sweat, hombre. See ya. Robin...

Will I ever be freed of this damnable place?

Look, I didn't throw this party To set you up with carlos, Or the one before that, or the one before that. I threw these parties because I wanted to see you. Well, here I am. There's something here, look, unless I'm crazy. You're not crazy. I don't know, ted. I mean, we barely know each other And you're looking at me with that look. And, it's like... Like, "let's fall in love and get married And have kids and drive them to soccer practice." I'm not going to force sports on them Unless they're interested. ( Iaughing ) It's a great look. But you're looking at the wrong girl. No, I'm not. I don't want to get married right now, maybe ever. I'd feel like I'd either have to marry you Or break your heart, and... I just couldn't do either of those things. Just like you can't turn off the way you feel. Click. Off. Let's make out. What? What? That was the off switch. And I turned it off. I mean, look, sure, yes, I want to fall in love, get married, blah, blah, blah. But, on the other hand... You, me, the roof. There's no off switch. There is an off switch. And it's off. No, it's not. Yes, it is. No, it's not. Yes... It is. No, it's not. You're right. There's no off switch. God, I wish there was an off switch! Me, too. ( Both laughing ) ( both muttering nervously ) What do we do now? We could be friends. Oh... I know it sounds insincere when people say that, But... We could. I don't know, robin. I've made such a jackass of myself here. We start hanging out, every time I see you It'll be like, "oh, that's right. I'm a jackass." You're not a jackass. Look, I'm sorry. I only moved here in April and I'm always working And I just haven't met a lot of good people so far. But I understand. Well, uh, maybe in a few months, After it's not so fresh, We could all, uh, you know, get a beer. Yeah. That sounds good. I'll see you, ted. Or, you know, now. We could all get a beer now. I'd like that. My friends are going to love you... Like you, you know, as a friend. Jackass. Unbelievable. That's just a recipe For disaster. They work together! Are you jealous? Oh, please. What does carlos have that I don't? A date tonight. All: Oh! Stop the tape. Rewind. ( Imitates tape rewinding ) a date tonight. All: Oh! I'm not sure I like her. Hey, don't you have a paper to write? Dude, you're talking to the kid. I'm going to knock back this beer. I'm going to knock back one more beer. I'm going to write a 25-page paper. I'm going to hand it in and I'm going to get an "a." My name is rufus and that's the trufus. ( Iaughter ) Ted: He got a b-minus. But still, 25 pages in one night, b-minus? The kid was good. At least let me buy you a beer. Come on, I'll buy everyone a beer. I'll help carry. You know something, ted? What? You are a catch. You're going to make some girl very happy. And I am going to help you find her. Well, good luck. I mean, maybe new york's just too big a town. I mean, there's millions of people in this city. How, in all this mess, Is a guy supposed to find the love of his life? I mean, where do you even begin? Hi. Have you met ted? ( Music rises over dialogue )

I do not know if I can, but I must.

[STAB STAB STAB STAB STAB]

FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOUUU-

[iammarylastar]

1. Alone amongst brothers.

"Cal! Hey mate where are you?" Snowballs clicked his fingers under his nose, startling him.

Bad idea. Never startle an ex cop ex Marine who hadn't slept for years.

Chris -his real name was Chris- came out of his reverie and offered a poor smile to his brothers. Obviously missing his goal to reassure his squad.

Who was he kidding?

He hadn't been here for years. For 3 years. 3 fucking years.

He hadn't been the same since he came out of prison. Since his brother, his real brother fled to Canada, to never return.

Since Oyster, his little brother killed that asshole in a bar.

Thinking about it, all this shit had started after their mother died.

Big, huge mess she had left behind.

He reluctantly came back to the world, that world without his mom nor his brother, that world where he's a useless piece of shit, forbidden to serve his country in any way.

Reverie couldn't have been more inappropriate. Living nightmare would have fit better.

"Next round on me." Jaeger announced with too much enthusiasm.

"Same?" He quirked an eyebrow at Cal, who just nodded, not bothering to say a word.

He didn't need another beer. Alcohol free. Taste free too. He'd been nursing the same bottle since he settled his ass in the bar, mind absently scratching the corner of the label with his nail.

He had been sentenced to 6 years and spent 3 at Pittsburgh Correctional Institution. He got a release, good behaviour. He'd been lucky, somehow, half of the prisoners were there because of him. Death had waited for him at every corner, but freedom hadn't tasted better.

A lot had happened in 3 years. Life had gone on whilst his had stopped behind the bars.

Snowball found his soulmate Carlo, Jaeger finally got Claire back, they married last year and were expecting their first child. Milk spawned two boys, fuck he'd been out for a long time.

Brotherhood meant leave no one behind. He had Oyster's back, he did what had to be done to save his brother from jail. Sentencing himself, ruining his own life.

He got nothing left. No wife, no family. Sure, his bros had always cared, hanging out, working out, having him in for all their kids birthdays, family barbecues, even last Christmas when Claire and Jaeger announced the good news.

They all exploded, hugging Claire and clapping Jaeger's shoulder, whooping and cheering like madmen.

He was genuinely happy for both of them and tried to ignore the stab in his guts.

For once he wanted and was in the mood to celebrate. Till his eyes landed on the blessed couple's wedding pic pinned on the wall, then spotted another showing his brothers in uniform, proudly posing with the groom.

Stab.

He wasn't there and it killed him.

Claire told him they got a seat settled in his honor and it hurt more deeply.

He had missed so many events, so many people.

Oyster.

He had spent most of his miserable life to raise his little brother -half brother but who cares?- kicked his ass every morning to have him secured at school, kicking his own ass to quit both grief and booze and pass his exams to assure them a future.

Look what future both fucked up.

If only he could have the slightest news of him, knowing his brother was fine and safe somewhere in Canada, a letter, a call, an emoji on whatever social media... but no. The cops were still looking for Oyster for Ben Daley's murder and as a cop -ex cop- he knew he and his mates have been under surveillance since day one.

Oyster had been MIA for 3 years with no chance of brightest days.

And he was left alone with nobody to care for and nobody to love.

His sentence had him kicked out from the police department, along with his staff sergeant status. No job. No rules to give rhythm to his days. No incomes but a few light works here and there in the neighborhood. The people he knew always put in a good word about him and hopefully people didn't ask for his criminal record before hiring him for fixing their roof, painting their fronts or uprooting a tree stump.

Yeah he had a lot to add to his resume: by-the-book cop, dauntless staff sergeant in the Marine corps, 2 rounds in Iraq, baby sitter and groundskeeper. Impressive.

"Man, look at this chick over there." Milk nudged him. "She's been eyeing you like she's willing to drop her panties for you."

Cal finally lifted his eyes and glanced at the girl in question. Thin, sexy, a blouse full of goodies, gaudy red lipstick, prying eyes.

Maybe he needed to get laid. He hadn't had sex since he came out of prison. His mates planned a party to celebrate his freedom and got him a working girl for the occasion but he wasn't in the mood.

He hadn't been interested in sex, not after what has happened in prison, not even a quick handjob while watching a porn. No. Scratch that. He's been forced into lame and painful wankings when his balls threatened to explode, but it was no fun at all. Far, far from it.

A slight nausea invaded his throat of the reminder and he forced the thought out.

Double sentence. If he hadn't suffered PTSD after what he did and witnessed in Iraq, then he got his trauma.

He might never use his cock again. Playground out of order. Broken.

"Nahhh... She looks cheap. Guys I don't need another blind date, you know. Your Tracy girl was crazy, she scared the shit out of me with her earlobe-licking... fetishism." Cal rubbed his earlob with a disgusting frown on his face, having all his skwad laughing out loud, wiggling all tongues out.

"Listen Cal. You need to get laid. You need a good fuck to come back to life. You're hot stuff still, you just need to pick up some gorgeous chick and have some fun! Before your dick just deceases from dehydration." Jaeger joked, hilarity ensued.

He looked around the crowded bar, tired. Tired to pretend he could be interested in that kind of date.

He didn't need a one night stand. He didn't need some cunt to fuck. He needed someone to love. And be loved in return.

Like the ol'time when he lived with his mom. Or with Oyster. He needed someone who cared.

"Thank you guys but I'm tired. I better go home and get some sleep. Need to wake up early and..."

His lame excuses got cut off by an angry Milk.

"Oh yeah, because you do have so much to do tomorrow, don't you? Cleaning up the house and walk Mrs Riley's pet? That's why you're leaving your brothers now? Cal, when are you going to get rid of this shit and be alive again? It's been 3 years already, move on for fuck sake!"

Cal didn't blink. He deserved to be scolded by his gang. He's been no fun, nothing more than a burden for them. A big piece of shit, whining about all he'd lost. Poor thing. Soon he'd lose them.

He was whining again. He's got the best friends he could dream of, people he could call his brothers, who were totally devoted to him, heart and soul.

His family. His home.

Those guys made it all easy for him while his time in prison. Paying him a visit each week, twice a week when they were off. They paid for his lawyer, his loan for the house so he wouldn't be homeless when he got out of prison. So he didn't have to break into his savings and get ruined in 6 months.

They did it in a heartbeat, without thinking nor asking for his permission. They told him it was the right thing to do. The same way Cal had them home, safe and sound after their tour in Iraq. Beside Jaeger's leg, abandoned there. How guilty he had felt, and still.

He owed them... everything.

He leant on his elbows and rubbed his face. He considered staying and trying to relax and have some fun, but his mood was definitely shitty.

Time to shake his thoughts and his big ass. He survived the war, survived in jail, he could survive this night.

"OK fuckers. But I don't want to bury my future here." He emptied his drink, slammed it loudly on the table.

"Let's get home and shake the walls!"

He grabbed his other beer and clinked glasses with his mates, and chugged it whilst his bros cheered and downed their own drinks.

"Last one at my mailbox is a loser!" Cal jumped on his feet and started running through the door.

"Ohhhh, you bastard!" Milk shouted, running after him, quickly followed by an enthusiast Snowball.

Jeager rolled his eyes and took out his wallet to pay the bill. He wouldn't win anyway, his fucking metal leg was no match for those big machines.

The three guys were messing around by the front door, playfully wrestling to pass first.

Cal jammed Milk's head in between his bulging biceps and disheveled his neat hairstyle, having him struggling even more for his freedom, grunting with rage. Snowball was stuck against the wall, the two heavy guys struggling were keeping him to head towards the door.

In a joint effort to get free, Snowball and Milk pushed Cal with all their strength until he popped out like a Champagne cork, sent flying against the wall. Just as the door opened on someone coming in.

Cal ended up glued to them, pinned on the wall, crushed against his broad chest.

"Whoah, whoah, whoah! What the hell?" A muffled voice came from underneath Cal's body.

"Holy shit, I'm sorry!" He apologized, peeling his body from a smaller and thinner one.

His hands flat against the wall, each side of a face. A beautiful face. Still blurry, he was too close to focus.

Never too close... he thought. Her smell itself made him stop.

"I'm sorry!" He uttered, forcing a step back. Finally able to focus on delicate features.

"I'm fine, I'm fine...uh, hey... I'm Jessica. " She said in a big grin as she rearranged the strands of hair away from her face.

"Nice to meet you..." She started, inviting him to introduce himself.

"Milk, nice to meet you gorgeous." The bastard spoke first, getting on Cal's business, more than happy to embarrass his mate.

"And this is Snowball" he continued, shamelessly stepping on Cal's toes and bluntly pushing him to the side.

"Ma'am!" Snowball bowed before an amused Jessica, glancing at the three boys with a smirk. "Please, accept our sincere apologies. I hope this giant idiot didn't hurt you when so roughly trying to get your attention."

Jessica let her eyes wander at the big stud's body and face, making sure it didn't turn into a stare. The man was built like a brick house, huge arms, solid chest, his short hair suggested he was a cop or a soldier, his handsome face obviously annoyed by his friends' demeanour. His gorgeous self nodding his head while pressing his so soft looking lips together. She felt her heart stop and her inside melt when they locked stares. His blue eyes were captivating and something slapped her in the face. Through his hilarious expression and attractive features, he looked so... sad and lonely. So much she wanted to pull him in in a hug and never let him go.

She forced her eyes back at the two dummies still making the show for her.

"And this!" Milk nudged his pal, "this is Chris Callahan, the man you need.

The thoughtfulness itself, well, when it's not nearly killing you, this guy is not only strong, courageous and handsome, thanks God he's also single."

Cal wanted nothing more than vanish from embarrassment after getting rid of that motherfucker of a so called best friend. On a definitive way.

But the more Milk was blurting his shit out, the more Jessica looked amused and kind of interested in him.

Eyeing him. The cutest smile on her lips. Which she bit when she finally was caught staring.

"This big sweet heart is to take darling, and you'd be a fool not to try your luck with him."

Milk got a little closer and lowered his voice "I heard he's got amazing skills, like... look at the size of his feet!"

The 2 guys barked a laugh, clunching at each other while Cam just chuckled and sighed, more uncomfortable than ever. Jessica shared the guys big laugh then winked at Cal, before glancing down to judge their size by herself.

Milk wiped the tears from his face, oh Lord he loved making fun of his mate so very much. Calming down his panting, he stepped back, still hooked to an exhilarated Snowball.

"If you want to excuse us mylady, we're up for a male race contest, where the loser will have to walk butt naked the entire week." He said, bowing out at Jessica, then stepping out of the bar with renewed loud laughs.

Cal just shifted uneasily on his spot, figuring out a way to stop looking like the dumbest guy on Earth.

"Sorry... That was... pretty awkward, wasn't it?" He shyly tried, mentally kicking in own ass to not have found something clever to say.

"Found it very funny actually, you guys made my day!" Her genuine smile cheered him up a little.

"Those guys are total weirdoes, please do not believe a single word of what they say." Cal flashed one of his best smile, pretty sure it would work for him.

"Seems your friends think very highly of you. The resume they made of you is quite appealing, you know." She made it sounds like a joke but couldn't help wondering about that nice guy, nice looking guy all in embarrassment in front of her.

And the size of his... feet.

"Yeah... Well, wait to meet them once they're not drunk and you might hear a different story." Cal shoved his hands deep in his pockets. Looking so cute.

"So... Cal, I'm looking forward to hang out with your smartass group of friends, and hear all kind of stories about you, I bet each more embarrassing than the last!" Jessica's fingers were playing with a strand of her hair against her will, flirting.

And it seemed this didn't get unnoticed, by the way Cal's stare lingered on her delicate features.

"I... I've got to go and look after those drunken asses before they get into more trouble. I won't stop hearing of it if I don't beat them tonight. It was so nice to meet you and again, apologies for so rudely bumping into you."

Chris scratched the back of his neck, torn between two options. Stay and risk to embarrass himself more and more, or leave and risk to never see her again.

"It's OK, Chris I'm fine. We would find a way to make it up for nearly knocking me down earlier. Go get them, we could meet another time. I'm new in town but I'm here for some time, let's catch up later!"

Chris chuckled, mumbled a cocky "sure!" through an enormous grin, dared to throw a wink at her before turning heels and walked out of the bar.

"I hope you lose!" She shouted at him as he reluctantly started to jog towards his mates.

"Thank you...?" Chris turned to face her again, walking backward, wearing an astonished expression. That was not the kind of support he expected.

"I may not know much about you, but I figured seeing you walk up the streets butt naked could be fun!"

Chris couldn't help the large grin taped on his face to turn into a big smile, that charismatic pant-dropping smile that had been MIA for years was finally back.

As he jogged back to his drunken brothers, in absolute no hurry, a light in heart, he felt like that stupid smile wouldn't leave his face for quite a while.