#wes high school story

[ryp3004]

Day 4) picnic date 💛

[highschoolstoryliveson]

This is Chloe, my MC. She's full of spirit and creativity, wanting to be friends with everyone and to find her place in the world. Until she was about six years old, Chloe and her twin brother, Chase, bounced around the foster care system. None of their foster parents were bad, but she learned early on not to get attached. When they went to live with the McMannons, it became clear that this was her family. It wasn't even a year after the twins started living with them that they were adopted and brought into the family. Things were good for a while, but in high school Chloe was outed as trans to her entire school. Being in the south, things went downhill quickly. It didn't take long to decide that a move was in order, her parents finding jobs and a new house near a new school opening up.

Not long after the move, Chase got a chance to go on a year-long trip to Europe for an exchange program, leaving her to go through the new process alone.

Autumn is her best friend in the entire universe. She was actually the first person Chloe came out to at the school.

For a long time Chloe and Beckett dated, him taking her on the city romantic adventure. They date for a while, only breaking up when Chloe starts to run out of time to be a good partner. They parted on great terms, still being close friends.

She also dates Hannah for a while, but it was more of a fling than anything.

When Wes comes to the school, she's hesitant to trust him but makes it clear that she's willing to give him a chance. He starts calling her 'sunshine' sarcastically, but the nickname sticks. They don't actually get together for a while, since Wes and Autumn get back together for a period of time after he joins the school. It's months after the breakup that the two decide to give things a chance.

[hsslilly-blog]

irrelevant information but someone has to keep track of this and i volunteer to be the one to do so. @ryp3004 cute ask made me want to share all the cars wes is mentioned having/driving since pixelberry did Not keep a game bible.

the first time he is mentioned with a car is in the hearst plotline (hearst school story). it’s a van. it’s not made clear if it’s his van (or if he borrowed it), but a possessive is used.

interestingly, it’s the mc who drives him around on his classmate/personal quest (guitar job). i imagine these were written with the same time frame in mind.

then you have his new convertible from his date quests (love on the run). which is my favourite one for obvious reasons.

he has a car in vandal scandal, koh's side-quest. this quest came out prior to his first date quest, so i’m not sure if this is supposed to be the same car as the convertible. either way, he loves his car.

they give him a motorbike in weekend warrior, ace’s side-quest. for some reason.

if you have your mc dating him, the date side-quests (love and the city, etc) always make it a point to mention the retractable roof, so i guess the convertible is his... main car (?). anyway, those are the ones i kept track of, but maybe they've mentioned something else... i wouldn't doubt it!

[astriiformes]

Some of this is an expansion of a thesis that I was prodding at in my speech and debate piece ten years ago in high school (which was an admittedly somewhat naïve exploration of the relationship between science fiction, optimism about the future, and scientific progress, though I stand by elements of it), but there really is something fascinating about the way Back to the Future, as a piece of science fiction media, engages with its own genre.

In the "better" timeline, George McFly, an avid sci-fi fan, goes on to become a science fiction writer. Doc Brown was inspired to become a scientist by the works of Jules Verne (and in the video game, has another Eureka moment when he sees the 1931 Frankenstein film for the first time); in the musical, he describes his time machine as "A car for the stars / Like Captain Kirk's." As a sickly girl, isolated from her peers, Clara Clayton fell in love with amateur astronomy and stories about traveling from the Earth to the Moon.

I'm just so enamored with the fact that, unlike some other media, Back to the Future loves being sci-fi so much. There's a consistent throughline in every piece of BttF media--even the newer ones--that science fiction is something good, and inspirational, that makes people feel less alone, and forges connections, and encourages people to learn and invent. And that throughline is absolutely in conversation with the fact that the 2015 segment of the second film presented a decidedly aspirational vision of the future, even though other contemporary portrayals on the new millennium were starting to skew bleaker and more cyberpunk. It would come across as a little self-aggrandizing if it didn't feel so genuine--and it also helps that some of the positive impacts shown are smaller, and more personal. George finds a fulfilling career. Doc and Clara fall in love. It's more like watching a work of fiction earnestly believe it has something to say than it is watching it be self-important.

"You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it," "Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one." Do you see. Do you see it.

[share-the-damn-bed]

JANCYWEEK2024 | mythos ✨

The myth spread across the land, quickly gaining notoriety: Nancy Wheeler— goddess of grain— had been wandering the mortal realm when all of a sudden Jonathan Byers— god of the dead— dragged her to the underworld, trapping her there with him until the end of time. The story, as horrifying and tragic as it is, is just that. A myth. Something Tommy probably sneered about in spiteful jest only for Carol to repeat to all who would listen. But it is still just a myth, and a bullshit one at that. The real story is far less scandalous, if you care to know... Nancy Wheeler had been in the mortal realm, but she was the one who sought out Jonathan Byers. You see, her best friend, Barbara Holland— a mortal— had been missing for days, leaving behind no evidence of her whereabouts. Nancy, fearing the worst, confronted Jonathan to see if Barbara's soul had made it to the underworld. Together, they embarked on a journey across the realms to solve the mystery of Barbara's death and during that time, they grew fond of one another, surprised at how different the other was from their preconceived assumptions. Once they ensured justice for Barbara's murder, and it was time to part ways, Jonathan was prepared to let Nancy return to the heavens and resume his lonely rule in isolation. But just before he could send her away, Nancy grabbed a pomegranate off his table, popped a handful of seeds in her mouth, and expressed her desire to stay at his side. In truth, Nancy is able to come and go from the underworld as she pleases but she chooses to stay with Jonathan so they can rule the underworld, together and in love.

[stormyoceans]

CAN THEY KISS CAN THESE TWO JUST KISS CAN THEY PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD KISS

[just-somedude]

.

[aidenzhouappreciationweek]

Welcome! To Aiden Zhou Appreciation Week!

This is the official blog for the appreciation week for the amazing Aiden Zhou, from the High School Story trilogy on Choices: Stories You Play!

This year's event will be taking place over October 9, 2024 - October 15, 2024. But we will continue accepting submissions for the 2024 Prompts until August 1, 2025, which is when the new prompts will be announced.

Aiden Zhou Appreication Week 2024: Prompts List

Day 1 (October 9): Music Man Aiden

Day 2 (October 10): Fashion/Design + Beauty + Flowers

Day 3 (October 11): Relationships: Romance, Friendships, Family

Day 4 (October 12): Free Prompt! (also the day I headcanon as Aiden’s birthday)

Day 5 (October 13): Cunty Aiden + Cutie Aiden + Weather/Seasons

Day 6 (October 14): AU + Crossover

Day 7 (October 15): Pride + Culture/Ethnicity/Heritage + Colors

Feel free to suggest your own possible prompt ideas for future years’ events, btw!

See below for the submission guidelines and (eventually) previous years' masterlists!

General Guidelines for Submission:

We’ll reblog pretty much any posts that are Aiden-centric and Aiden-appreciative/positive, whether or not it’s made for this event. But if you want your post to be considered a submission and listed on the masterlist, you must A) mention this blog and B) specify which prompt or prompts you’re submitting for.

The tags #AidenZhouAppreciationWeek, #AZAW, #AZAW2024, are highly recommended, but not necessary.

If your post is very long in length (eg. if it’s a long fic, has images that take up a lot of length), we highly recommend putting a “Read More” button in your post.

Any submissions that lean into NSFW or suggestive territory, and/or feature sensitive topics should be tagged accordingly.

You don’t have to create for each prompt or each day. Create for as many prompts and days as you like.

You don’t have to create for a prompt on its respective assigned day. Eg. You can create for a Day 1 prompt on Day 4.

You don’t have to create only one piece per prompt. If you have multiple pieces you want to create for a certain prompt, then by all means, go for it.

You don’t have to use only a specific day’s prompts together Eg. You can have a piece that uses a Day 1 prompt and a Day 4 prompt together.

We will still accept submissions even after the event dates have passed. You will have until the next year’s August 1 to submit posts/creations for the current prompts! Eg. For the AZAW 2024 prompts, you will be able to submit for them until August 1, 2025.

What IS welcome:

Any medium of human creation. Art, fanfic, poetry, edits, animation, picrews/meikers* moodboards/stimboards/gifboards, icons, memes/shitposts, gifs, AMVs, playlists, headcanons, character recreation in another game (eg. The Sims), etc!

Meta posts. Eg. screenshots of favorite scenes/moments from the Choices game itself, essay/analytical writing, even just simply gushing/rambling over Aiden nonstop!

Pieces or posts that you made prior to this event and/or initially not for this event, but you've decided you want to submit them!

WIP/unfinished pieces.

Submissions can be works that you have made yourself, or works that you have commissioned from someone else.

*If you’re submitting a picrew or meiker piece or anything similar, please link to the template in your post!

What is NOT welcome:

Bigotry of any kind. Posts of a nature that is sexist, racist (especially Sinophobic), queerphobic, ableist, xenophobic, etc. are obviously not allowed.

AI-generated material of any kind. This includes images or writing made by genAI, ChatGPT/character.AI screenshots, etc. Feel free to let us know if we accidentally promote AI generated material. We support human creators here!

Just don’t be a dick, tbh.

Previous Years’ Masterlists

[Will be linked here]

[lover-also-fighter-also]

THE PRINCE SWAP

Hi everyone,

So me and @cadybear420 had this idea of writing an adaptation of The Princess Swap, but featuring our OG: HSS MC's, Jeremy Rin (my MC) and Alan Parke (Cady's MC). Hope you enjoy it. And please tell us in the comments/reblogs about how it is.

Tagging @choicesficwriterscreations for this work.

Additional tags: @somerandomjewelleryonthefloor @choicesmc

@choicescommunityevents

@choicesmonthlychallenge

Chapter 1 part 1: Worlds Collide

It was a gorgeous day in the kingdom of Monterre, and Jeremy Rin, new exchange student of Julivert University and member of the Delta Theta Delta sorority was in his room, putting final touches to his presentation.

'That's done! Now time for a break.' he said, stretching himself out, and hopping off the bed. Just then, the bedroom door opens, and Jeremy's best friend, and the first person he met in this country, Faye, enters.

'You done?' she asks, taking his laptop. 'Yep.' said Jeremy, 'Think that's good for a perfect grade?' Faye frowns as she skims through the presentation. 'Not bad, but you are certainly not going to get a perfect grade for this.' she said. 'That's okay.' said Jeremy, 'A decent grade is enough for me.'

'Come on, Jer. Don't you want to put a little more effort into this?' asked Faye. 'Nah, I'm good. Besides, I was hoping we hit the pub tonight. Come on Faye, live a little.' said Jeremy, grinning and giving a light punch on her shoulder. 'Besides, I think I would want to find more adventure than homework, now that I'm in another country.' Despite herself, Faye smiles a little. 'Okay Jer, you win. You always manage to smooth talk your way out of things. Wish I knew how you do that.' Jeremy grins. 'It's my secret talent. I can't share all my secrets, not even to my best friend.' as Faye gave him a look.

Meanwhile, at the Monterre Palace…

Prince Alan of Monterre stood in front of his mirror, while his closest friend and lady-in-waiting, Aveline fits him into his new pink and floral dress. 'Don't you think it's a little too loose, Ave?' said Alan, adjusting himself to the new dress.

'Not if you want to enjoy your afternoon tea, your highness.' said Aveline, rushing around and taking final adjustments. 'Relax Ave, its not the end of the world - oof', he stopped as Aveline made an adjustment tighter. 'But its my job to make things perfect for you, your highness.' she said, taking short breaths.

'Ave, look at me.' said Alan, grabbing her arms. 'You are doing just fine. Besides, I would hate to see that beautiful face of yours get wrinkled because of the constant frowning.' he said, giving a small wink. Aveline laughed. 'You flatter me, your highness. Oh, I almost forgot, your father sent this.' She pulled out a letter with the royal seal. Alan frowns.

'Why does he always have to be this formal? He is my dad for god's sake.' He said, as he broke the seal and read the letter out loud. 'My dearest son, I have cancelled your afternoon schedule, to make time for a more relaxing itinerary (attached below). You also need not worry about the royal council meeting either. I will see you for dinner tonight. Love, Father.'

Alan skims through the itinerary, his frown deepening 'Lunch, socialization, walk through the garden…What does he think I am? A kid? He can't control my life!' Aveline rubs his shoulder, comfortingly 'He has certainly got a lot more protective since your mother passed.'

'You know what, I can't deal with this right now. I am heading to the conservatory to clear my head.' He leaves his room, followed by Aveline.

At the Delta Theta Delta Sorority…

'It's a beautiful day.' says Jeremy, looking out of the building. 'If only there was a place that I can go that can help me relax for a while..'. 'I would say try the conservatory.' said Faye, looking up from her work. They say it has very unique varieties of plants and its a really cool place..'

'Yeah, I know all about it.' said Jeremy, pulling a picture out of his wallet, showing a beautiful young woman sitting at the fountain. She had Jeremy's eyes and the same smile. 'That's where my mom and dad met, and mom might have told me the story a million times.'

'Your mom was a Monterrian? You never told me Jer.' said Faye, looking at the photo. 'Nah, she is American, she was just visiting here when she met my dad.'

'Wow, that's cute.' said Faye. 'So that's where you disappear off to for hours'. she said looking up at him. Jeremy shrugged. 'Guilty as charged. Sort of feels like home that place, you know.' he said, looking pensive. Faye touched his shoulder, 'Jeremy…' she said, which made Jeremy snap out of his daze. 'Hey, don't go all sentimental on me, I'm fine!' he said, putting back his usual grin.

'I'm heading over there and will be right back before we hit the pub.' he said. Before Faye could say anything, he rushed out of the sorority building, taking a walk to the city's royal conservatory. He passed by the rows of familiar flowers and plants, musing in his thoughts. He turns to the corner, and bumps into a stranger. 'Woah watch it…' starts Jeremy, but stops mid-speech when he sees the stranger.

'Who are you?' says Jeremy. 'And why do we look alike?' say the two of them at the same time.

Just then, a young woman rushes to the corner, and stops to look at the two of them.

'Um…Prince Alan, why are there two of you?'

[cadybear420]

Just finished Texts from HSS. I quite enjoyed it, but uh... I need to get something off my chest, real quick...

WHERE THE FUCK WAS AIDEN!!!!!!! HE DOESNT APPEAR ONCE EVEN THOUGH HE'S ON THE FREAKING COVER!!!! LITERALLY EVERY OTHER LI GETS TO APPEAR IN THIS STORY EVEN FOR A LITTLE BIT BUT AIDEN DOESN'T AT ALL!?!?!?!?!?! PB HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US

[ryp3004]

Day 2) Sharing a milkshake 🩷

[highschoolstoryliveson]

Insecure

With the weight of the world almost always on her back, Chloe only found a few moments of peace. While things were hard or busy most of the time, usually she could sit next to the fountain at the back of the courtyard and breathe. Today was different though. 

It wasn’t that she was mad at Koh for kissing Wes. She wasn’t even mad at Wes. She understood that they needed something to get Razor to come out, but that didn’t help the pit in her stomach or the hollow feeling in her chest. 

Chloe looked down at her dress and tights. One of the wallflowers had given it to her, and she loved the outfit. She rubbed the fabric of the dress between her fingers, trying to let the soft fabric distract her. It wasn’t working. 

She was startled when she noticed someone next to her. Koh was there, looking somewhat guilty. That was new. 

Putting on a bright and welcoming smile, Chloe turned to face her completely. “Oh! Koh! I didn’t see you there!” She said, “Did you need something?” 

Koh was quiet for a moment, not meeting Chloe’s eyes before looking up. “I guess I just wanted to say that it may have been a little… not cool to kiss Wes in front of you. If you don’t want to help me anymore, I get it.” Their teeth were gnashed together, and Chloe realized how hard that must’ve been. 

Chloe’s eyebrows shot up in concern, “No! That’s not it at all! I’m not mad at you, and I certainly don’t want to stop helping you.” she assured the girl next to her, repressing the urge to touch the other’s arm. 

Looking at her suspiciously, Koh turned a little more to face Chloe. “Oh. Well you shouldn’t be mad at Wes. I mean, yeah he’s hot and kissed me but-”

Before Koh could make Chloe feel any worse, she cut the rebel off, “I’m not mad at Wes either, Koh. I know he only did it to help out.”

Koh’s face dropped, then twisted in confusion, “Okay, well if you’re not mad at either of us, why are you here moping instead of helping out some loser who can’t solve their own problems?” they asked bluntly. 

“Well my friends aren’t losers, first of all.” Chloe stated. Koh just rolled her eyes and motioned for her to continue. “And I don’t know, really.” She looked around to make sure no one was listening. “Promise not to tell anyone?” She asked.

Koh raised her eyebrows, then nodded. Chloe took a deep breath before continuing. “I guess that when I saw you and Wes kissing, it looked kind of… right. You know? Like, you’re both big on ‘taking down the man’ and fighting for what you believe in. You’re both a bit shady, no offense, and you guys are tough as nails. Compared to you, I’m a big old marshmallow.”

“So, what? You think Wes is going to leave you for someone like me?” Koh asked. Chloe shook her head and thought for a moment, trying to find a way to explain how she was feeling. 

When she had an idea of what she wanted to say, she took a deep breath, “I don’t think Wes would ever leave me or cheat. He’s this amazing guy with this big heart under all of those layers of ‘tough mysterious dude’.” She let out a dreamy sigh, thinking of her boyfriend, “But look at us. I talk to everyone in the school and help out with anyone who needs it, so I never have time to go on big dates. And we’re not into the same stuff most of the time. Maybe it would be better if we broke things off, so that he could find someone like you.”

Koh thought on Chloe’s words for a moment, then smiled as an idea popped into their head. She grabbed Chloe’s wrist and dragged the confused girl to her motorcycle. 

“Where are we going?” Chloe asked, putting on the helmet Koh threw at her. 

“Trust me, okay Marshmallow?” Koh winked and hopped on the bike, letting Chloe climb into the sidecar. The ride to their house was short and pleasant. 

Both of them got off of the bike and Chloe let the other girl put it away. The house was a little older and run down, but it reminded Chloe of some of the foster houses she had been in before getting adopted by the McMannon’s. 

She followed Koh inside and followed her to Koh’s room. The walls were covered in posters and protest signs were scattered around. There were so many causes that she supported; Chloe suspected that Koh was just as busy as her sometimes. 

“Not that I’m not happy to be here, what are we doing at your house?” Chloe asked, tilting her head. 

Instead of a verbal answer, Koh threw a wad of clothes at her, pushing Chloe back onto the bed. “Change into this, then we’ll head back to the school.” 

“What are you planning?” Chloe asked, looking at the studded red leather jacket. 

“Well you think Wes would be happier with someone like me, right?” Chloe nodded, “But you don’t want to break up?” She shook her head. “So we’re meeting in the middle. I’ll help you dress and act more like a rebel, and you’ll see if Wes is happier with you that way.”

Chloe looked at them suspiciously, “Okay, but why are you doing this? I thought you didn’t like me?”

“Who said I didn’t like you? And that’s not the point. You’re doing something for me with the whole Razor thing, so I’ll help you with the whole Wes thing so we’re even.” She explained. 

“You don’t have to-”

Koh stomped to the door, “Just shut up and put on the clothes. Little Miss Perfect wouldn’t want to be late for school.” And with that, the door was slammed and Chloe was left alone. 

Quickly put on her new outfit, Chloe looked in Koh’s broken mirror. It was comfortable, she had to give it that. The boots were nice, and the jacket was cool, but it felt like she was wearing a costume. 

Stuffing her real clothes into her bag, she walked out to see Koh waiting. Looking Chloe up and down, they smirked, “Well if Wes isn’t into this, I certainly am.” Chloe blushed and Koh laughed, “Alright, let’s get back to the school.” 

Just as Koh pulled up to the school, the bell rang. Chloe climbed out of the sidecar and smiled at Koh, “Thanks for the makeover.” She said. 

Koh shrugged and left, leaving Chloe alone. The pink haired girl grabbed her bag and ran, not wanting to be late to art. 

She skidded in just as the bell rang, and all of the students turned to her when they heard the door closing.  Everyone’s eyes widened at her new ensemble and they stared as she quickly made her way to her seat next to Autumn. 

“This is certainly… new.” The artist pointed out, looking over Chloe. Chloe rubbed her arm, looking away. “It’s not that it looks bad! It’s just, you’ve never really worn something like this before.” Autumn backtracked. 

“I wore that dress during the poetry slam!” Chloe defended, then realized that she had only had access to that dress because it was in her mom’s old stuff from the eighties. 

“Like I said, it’s not bad. Just new. You kind of look like Koh.” She pointed out. Autumn then got back to her painting of Mia and Julian posing. It was so realistic that Chloe had thought it was a photo when she first saw it. 

The day went on very similarly. In cheer, Mia pointed out her distaste for the outfit but also admiration for the jacket. During band practice, Ezra called her a punk and Payton got excited about the idea of a makeover. 

By the end of the day Chloe didn’t want to talk to anyone, let alone go on a date. Usually seeing her boyfriend made her feel better, but she was scared. Scared that he would like this version of her better than the ‘old’ version. 

Wes was waiting by his car for her, so she had no real escape. Mentally she scolded herself for trying to escape anything. She was a strong woman who didn’t need to be afraid of her loving boyfriend. 

Wes’s eyebrows rose when he saw Chloe, but he didn’t say anything. He got into the driver's seat and smiled when Chloe climbed in. “So, where to? Tonight the drive in is playing some crappy horror movie from the sixties, or we could go get something to eat at the diner than stargaze at the hill.”

“The hill that just so happens to be nicknamed ‘makeout point’?” Chloe laughed at his blush. “You’re smart, but I’m always one step ahead.” She smiled. 

“Alright, you caught me, but who can help it? I just want to kiss my beautiful girlfriend.” He shrugged, turning the keys. 

Chloe leaned over and gave him a peck before putting her seatbelt on, “Well it’s going to be a beautiful night, so going to dinner then to the hill sounds like a perfect idea.” 

They drove to the local diner and ordered, Chloe sticking with her burger and strawberry milkshake while Wes tried something new. After the waitress left, Wes looked back at Chloe. “So, I like your jacket. This whole look, it’s… cool.”

Refusing to look up from her milkshake, Chloe bit her lip and hummed in acknowledgement, “You think so?”

Wes nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s new, for sure. I didn’t know that you owned something like that.”

Shrugging, Chloe looked down. “There are some things you don’t know about me.” She tried to tease. Even if her voice hadn’t come out strained and false, they both knew that it wasn’t true. 

Not knowing what was bothering her and not wanting to make things worse, Wes reached over the table to hold her hand. Watching her shoulders relax, he smiled as she slowly glanced up to meet his eyes. Things seemed to calm down a little, the two able to talk like normal. As always, they were there long after they finished their plates, 

Once he had paid and the two of them were back in his car, Wes absentmindedly flipped on the radio. When they hit the road an obnoxiously poppy song started blaring for the speakers. As he reached his hand for the switch, Chloe slapped Wes’s hand away from the dial with the first real smile she had given all day. “I love this song!” She defended. “Payton showed it to me!”

Singing along nearly over the radio, Wes couldn’t help his soft smile as he watched his girlfriend let loose. Her voice wasn’t awful, but it was clear that she was better suited for her fiddle. What made it amazing was that it was her. 

With the stars blanketing the sky and the area empty, both felt anticipation rising in their stomachs. Leaving the radio on, the two stepped out of the car and met back in front of the headlights. 

Smiling, Chloe stood on her toes to kiss her boyfriend. Gently he grabbed her arm and sat the two of them onto the hood of his car, the music from the radio pleasantly blowing through the wind outside. When she shifted herself closer to place her hands on his chest, Wes ran a hand slowly up her arm. 

Both of them were taken completely out of the moment when he yelped, pulling his hand back. There was a small scratch from where his hand had brushed one of the spikes on the shoulder, a small drop of blood falling between them. ��Koh sharpens the spikes on her jacket.” He realized. 

Before he could say anything else, Chloe broke down into tears. For a moment Wes stilled, having no idea what he was supposed to do. He didn’t know why she was so upset. They had talked at length about him kissing Koh, and she really didn’t seem to be angry about that. “Woah, woah.” Gently, he grabbed her arms and pulled Chloe into a hug. “What’s wrong?” He asked, rubbing circles into her back. 

Through hiccups and sniffles, she explained everything. From the kiss to the impromptu makeover, Chloe told him about the insecurities running through her head. Before she could get too lost in her rant and start crying again, Wes cupped her face. “Sunshine, I love you. If you weren’t always helping other people or getting caught up in every mess that comes along, you wouldn’t be you.” A sly smile took over his features, “And besides, it doesn’t hurt that through you I have access to everyone in the school. Secrets are worth a lot, and I don’t know anyone that people trust more than you.” 

Rolling her eyes, the scoff she let out pulled Chloe out of her spiral. “Whatever.” She smiled, “as if I’m telling you anything anyone says to me in private.” 

Taking the red leather into his hands, Wes removed the jacket so he could pull Chloe back onto the car. She squealed and giggled as he practically dragged her down, “I have my ways of getting through to you.” 

Smiling, she kissed him again. She guessed he did.

[hsslilly-blog]

i love you. fyi!

i love you portwart. this is a redraw of a drawing from 2021. based on the scene here, from "the perfect day". the actual bit this is referring to is under the cut.

joker moment! hahahaha!!

[dragonsareawesome123]

Wait, so even bromance was too gay for them??? This show’s production is a WHOLE mess.

[ghosttotheparty]

also on ao3

(cw: tics, bullying)

Eddie started shivering in seventh grade.

Even when it was hot, even when he was sweating and desperately wanted a non-rattly fan or a better air conditioner. They weren't normal shivers. He wasn't cold. But his shoulders would jerk or shake, or he would tremble for a second, and he didn't know what else it could have been. Others didn't question it for a while, because it started in October. Everyone was shivering. But by March, it hadn't stopped, and he had to explain himself when people gave him questioning looks or asked if he was okay. (Back when people cared.)

'S just a shiver, I'm fine.

He wasn't fine. It got worse over time. He got used to it, to the weird feeling that took over his body for a few seconds, got used to telling people he was cold, joking that he must be low on vitamins or iron, joking that in the future, someone is walking over his grave. But other people didn't get used to it. They thought he was weird. That was fine with him. Wayne realised something was wrong before Eddie started the tenth grade, because he wasn't just shivering anymore. His whole body was jerking sharply, suddenly, his shoulders drawing up, fists clenching. Eddie didn't question it. Wayne did.

It wasn't normal. But nothing about Eddie was normal. Wayne took him to see a doctor. The doctor make him do things, walk in a line, hold his arms out and push the doctor's hands away as hard as he could, follow a flashlight with his eyes without moving his head. It was all weird. It kind of scared Eddie. The doctor kept writing things in a notebook, and Eddie couldn't tell if he was doing well or not. But Wayne was there, watching and listening intently.

The doctor said he had tics. It sounded funny to Eddie, but then it wasn't funny, because the doctor didn't give him anything for it. He just said there wasn't anything really wrong with him. His brain just worked a little differently. (Which Eddie was already used to hearing.) That his tics could get better or go away as he got older, or they could get worse.

They got worse.

By the end of that summer, his arms were moving, flying over his head suddenly, randomly, and his head was jerking back so sharply it hurt. Wayne was worried about him getting whiplash. Eddie was worried about going to school.

That year, he became the freak.

At first, he tried to explain it to people. The movements were involuntary, he couldn't control them. Wayne contacted all his teachers, who mostly got it, but still preferred to make him sit in the hallway so he didn't distract the class. But the other students thought he was possessed, faking it for attention, and everything in between. They'd throw things at him, and complain to the teachers that he was distracting even when he wasn't moving, just to get him out of the room. They would mimic him, make fun of him, and by September, he learned that the tics get worse when he's upset. He could hear them all snickering and giggling as he shoved his hands under his legs and tucked his chin to his chest or held his shirt over his face, as he held his limbs tense so they wouldn't move, so tense he was exhausted and sore all the time, and then he'd go home and cry because he couldn't control his own body.

He'd have to sit on the sofa so when his head threw itself back, it would hit the back of the sofa instead of the wall, and Wayne would just wait, watching with that fucking sadness in his eyes that made Eddie ache even more. When it finally stopped, sometimes after a few minutes, sometimes after an hour or two, he was so exhausted he'd fall asleep right there on the sofa. He couldn't do his homework. His grades dropped even more, but he managed to keep himself afloat. He did the best he could, doing his homework early in the morning before school or in detention. (Some of his teachers thought he was faking. Mr Peterson was in charge of detention, and he was nice. Considerate. Eddie counted him as one of his few blessings.)

His tics got worse.

In December of his junior year, he started making noises. Short screams, grunts, quiet vocalizations. It scared him. He didn't want to go back to school, but he did. The laughter around him got louder, and he was sent out to the hallways more. He started skipping classes. He knew he'd be forced to leave anyway. So he'd sit in the boys' room, on top of a lidded toiler, his feet up on the stall door, and he'd leave cigarette burns on the walls.

Not everyone was awful. Some kids were just curious about him, asked why he acted the way he did, and he did his best to calmly explain it all. I can't help it, actually. It's just my brain works different. That turned into Eddie's brain's fucked. It's broken. He's a fucking--

So he used it. Eddie the Freak. Attention-seeking, desperate for people to notice him. So he started making devil horns, yelling from tabletops, making himself The Freak so no one could use it against him.

No one, not even Wayne, saw him cry at night, because the attention he got was never the attention he wanted. Because he was tired. So fucking tired. His limbs were sore and his voice was rough, and his neck hurt, and he was sick of being laughed at. But that was all he got.

He kept counting his blessings. Mr Peterson, who never minded Eddie's noises or the way his fists would bang against the table loudly in the silent room, who scolded the other detention-goers when they tried to tease. The Hellfire guys, who got used to his tics fairly quickly, and knew when to pause whatever they were doing if Eddie couldn't hear them over a scream or was distracted by his own body. That nice girl, Chrissy Cunningham, who would slip notes from the classes he missed or skipped into his locker or backpack with sweet smiles. (If Eddie wasn't gay, he would have fallen in love with her.) The other few students that ignored him when his tics acted up, just glancing and moving on. Wayne, bless his soul, who would come to the school to confront Eddie's teachers and complain to the principal about Eddie being mistreated by the staff.

And, oddly enough, Steve Harrington.

Eddie never saw it coming. It was a particularly bad day. He was at his locker, trying to line his books up, but a tic threw his hands up, and some books fell from his locker to the floor. He watched helplessly as papers scattered across the floor, as most students stepped around them, ignoring them, as some jocks trampled over them, over Chrissy's neat handwriting, his fists clenched at his sides. When they passed, he kneeled, picking up the books, and when he looked up, Steve Harrington was kneeling too, gathering the crumpled papers and carefully straightening them out.

He gave them to Eddie with a smile, and Eddie thought he might be dying, in some weird, upside-down dimension where Steve Harrington smiles at Eddie Munson. Eddie took them hesitantly, said thank you, and then he hit him.

He was mortified, almost dropping the papers again, jumping back as his whole body flushed with heat, staring at Steve's shoulder where his hand had just landed heavily, and he burst with a Fuck, I'm so sorry, oh my god--

But Steve had just laughed. Amazingly, it was a kind laugh, with sparkling eyes, and soft cheeks, and he said It's okay.

And then he was gone. Down the hall, after his friends, and Eddie realised his hands were trembling.

Steve kept smiling at him. Even when his friends were making fun of Eddie's Satanic cult, and of the way he couldn't keep still, and of his sad, broken brain. Even when Eddie's brain made him flip Steve off across the cafeteria, Steve saw how Eddie pulled his hand down sharply, and Steve just... laughed. Eddie fell in love with his laugh. It was kind, and it made Eddie feel better, even when he wanted to cry.

Steve graduated the next year. But he didn't leave Eddie alone. Eddie couldn't stop thinking about him, and his kind laugh, and his pretty eyes, and then the sheep Eddie adopted told him all about how cool and brave Steve was, and Eddie fell harder without even seeing him.

The world went to shit. But Eddie got to see Steve again.

Steve was still kind, even though the world was ending, and even during serious discussions, plan-making, how-to-save-the-world conversations, Eddie's tics kept going. His body jerked and shivered, and his head threw back, and his fists hit his own chest and shoulders, and he had to sit down. And Eddie found out that there are more kind people than he thought. When his tics slowed, Nancy wordlessly got him an ice pack to hold to his chest, and when he flung it across the room, Robin caught it with a casual oops, and brought it back to him. No one questioned him, or stared, or laughed, even though he knew how annoying he was.

When he woke up in the hospital, he hurt so badly he couldn't move. He just cried. Steve sat by his bed and held onto his hand. He was crying too. When Eddie stopped crying, Steve carefully slid his rings, clean of blood, onto his fingers.

This one goes here, right?

Yeah.

On the second day, his brain didn't care that he hurt. As Steve was telling him about what was going on with the others (Max was staying with the Sinclairs, Dustin's leg was almost healed), Eddie's hand smacked him across the face sharply, the sting of his rings bringing tears to his eyes before he even processed what happened. Steve wordlessly crawled onto the bed, carefully pulled Eddie against himself, and set a pillow over Eddie's lap for when his fists started hitting his legs. He'd just murmured those words, the first words he'd said to Eddie years ago.

It's okay. It's okay.

And he waited until Eddie's body fell lax against him before he carefully found Eddie's hand, laced their fingers, and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Eddie was released from the hospital a few weeks later. He stayed in the Wheelers' basement for a few days until Steve's parents left town, for good this time, and then he moved into the Harrington house.

He likes it there. Steve is still kind. Always. He lets Eddie lay his head in his lap when his body hurts or won't stop moving, and he drags his fingers through his hair or holds a joint to his lips for him, and he smiles. (Eddie would go through the end of the world all over again for that smile.) When Eddie's head hits the wall while they're in the waiting room of the hospital for a checkup, Steve just shifts to face him and holds a hand up to the back of his head so his hand hits the wall instead, saying quietly that Eddie isn't allowed to beat his record number of concussions. He drives Eddie to Wayne's even though Eddie doesn't tic when he drives except for a few facial or vocal ones.

When Eddie whistles one night, Steve just smiles at him and says Was that a tic or are you hitting on me? and Eddie freezes, his face burning. Which would you prefer, pretty boy?

Steve kisses him.

And then Steve starts holding his hand even when he isn't having tics, even when they're with the Party. Eddie moves into Steve's room. (They always slept better when they accidentally fell asleep on the sofa together anyway.) Steve holds him when his tics are bad, and Eddie holds him during his migraines, pressing kisses as softly as he can to his forehead and his temples. Steve takes his hand when it moves to hit Eddie's face or chest. Eddie stands steady and holds Steve's hand to himself when he gets dizzy. Steve keeps ready-made ice packs in the freezer to hold to Eddie's chest and legs when they bruise from his fists. Eddie keeps his handwriting as neat as possible when he writes notes in case Steve forgets anything. When they wake up at night, breathless and sweaty and crying, the other is there, arms open, lips waiting.

One night Eddie says very softly, You know, they used to say my brain was broken.

Steve just says, Mine too.

[youareinlove]

to be in love you have to fight to have the upper hand -> i took your matches before fire could catch me so don’t look now -> love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right -> love’s a game, wanna play -> was it over when she laid down on your couch, was it over when he unbuttoned my blouse -> baby, let the games begin -> you did a number on me, but honestly baby, who’s counting -> back when we were card sharks, playing games, i thought you were leading me on -> but then you called, showed your hand -> but you called my bluff and saw through all my tells -> my winless fight -> you have beaten my heart -> and you asked me to dance, but i said “dancing is a dangerous game” -> i didn’t know you were keeping count -> he runs because he loves me -> i can take the upper hand and touch your body -> and she's laughing, drawing aces -> hearts are hers for the breaking, there's escape in escaping -> the sign on your heart says it's still reserved for me -> we've been on a winning streak