#will i ever sync w archie? absolutely not

[ribbonbonny]

finally some archie/maxie content in masters again even if its just an EX role upgrade. Wahoo

[brookepxlmer-blog]

Why would I even buy a new dress, just to impress? | Self Para

Week 1:

Know I said it’s true, I can feel the love, can you feel it too?

When she was small, she remembered drawing on the floor of her mother’s office. They would always be something magical, featuring a woman with hair spun of gold. She would watch as her mother wrote on paper, spoke on the phone, a soft smile on her face when she saw her daughter. She thought her mother was the strongest person in the world, nothing could ever bring her down. But as she got older, the place didn’t hold as many good memories. Her hand rested on the doorknob. It had become a place of yelling and arguments, of thrown glasses and shattered objects. Brooke had no idea what she was going to see when the door opened. It still creaked as she pushed on it.

“Mom?” She said softly and the woman looked up from the paper in her hand. Her mother looked up before there was a crash of a chair and her mother had her wrapped in a hug. Brooke held her tightly, tears springing into her eyes, a strangled sob coming from her. “My baby. Shh, it’s okay. I’m here.�� Her mother ran her fingers over her now dark hair softly as Brooke held tight. She heard her father burst through the door before she felt him hug her as well. “Papa.” She said softly, letting go of her mother before gripping him tightly. “I’m here, Brookie. I’m here.” They held her and Brooke cried. “You’re safe, you’re safe.” Her father kept saying it over and over and for the first time, she felt protected.

Time passed and her mother still hadn’t let go of her, her arm wrapped around her daughter. They sat in the lounge, Sophie rather uncomfortably, and Brooke drank her tea deeply, Grayson sitting across from them, his eyes shut. Lincoln wasn’t there, she knew he’d be with Cameron, the family still didn’t really know about that. Her eyes looked over the room, her father with a glass of whiskey in his hand, her mother with her bright eyes looking down at her, Grayson, finally relaxed after everything they had gone through. Her hand reached for Sophie’s.

She was home.

***

Her mother sat in her room, a small frown tugging on her lips. “Do you have to go out tonight?” Brooke put another coat of gloss on. “Mom…” She said warningly and her mother sighed. “I worry about you, baby. You know I do. You seem better but what if this…” Brooke put the cap back on the gloss and smiled softly at her mother. “I’ll be okay. I’ve been shot, Mom. There’s nothing I can’t handle anymore. It’s just a drink with some friends. I’ll come home, I’ll be okay.” She grab her mother’s hand and held it tightly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We have lunch plans, remember?”

The flashing lights, the thudding music, Brooke was in her version of heaven. There were throngs of people and Brooke found her way to the bar with Sophie. It didn’t take long for there to be a hand on her ass and a drink in her hand but she was up for something fun tonight. Someone was already chatting up Sophie as well and Brooke just grinned. She didn’t know why she looked up across the bar, she didn’t want to think about who she was looking for. Brooke just tipped the drink into her mouth and grabbed the stranger’s hand, leading him to the dance floor. 

Brooke was moving to the sound of the fast beat. It thrummed through her, hard and loud, the sound a heartbeat put to music. Her ass pressed against the crotch of her partner, her back against his chest and his hands sat on her hips, pulling her to him. He was panting in her ear, barely being able to keep up and Brooke sighed before she pushed him back, aiming for the bar again. Her sequined black dress sparkled in the light in the low light. It was impressive, watching her dance in the tight number, towering in six inch spiked heels. Her hair fell in loose, dark curls down her back and she licked her cherry lips as she ordered another round of tequila shots.  

Suddenly, a pair of eyes found her and Brooke held his gaze. Something prickled across her skin and Brooke was fixed to the spot. He walked over, dodging people like they weren’t even there and Brooke never lost his gaze. There was something about him, the look he was giving her. It was as though he was seeing into her soul, gazing at the damage in it. His hand slipped in hers, his skin cool and dry and Brooke allowed herself to be dragged away from her favourite place.  He didn’t press to the back of her, he pulled her to him, chest to chest. He danced with her slowly, his hands gliding up her sides, his forehead pressed against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed in. The warmth between them was growing more powerful by the second and she found herself being pressed impossibly closer. Her hips moved in sync with his and Brooke’s hands drifted down his arms. “Come home with me.” He murmured against her lips and Brooke only nodded. She pressed her keys into Sophie’s hand and gave her on the kiss. Sophie just grinned and shook her head.  “You’re shameless, Brooke.” “I know, babe. I know.”

His name was Archie, he drove a sleek black car and his hand didn’t leave Brooke’s thigh as they drove. He pressed her against a door, pinned her hands up the door and she groaned into his mouth. They separated for a moment and Brooke spoke her usual sentence. “You get one night.” She said softly and Archie chuckled, connecting their mouths again. “It’ll be a long night.” He finally replied and Brooke grinned at the promise. 

***

She woke up and Brooke sat up slowly, looking at him sleeping beside her. It hadn’t been perfect, it wasn’t exactly what she wanted but he had done well for the night. As she gazed at him longer, she saw the flaws. His nose was crooked, his hair had too much product, he was no longer a mystery as he had once been. This illusion hadn’t been worth it. She began to find her things, pulling on her dress and looking at her phone. Two hours before her lunch with her mother, that was enough time.  “Not even a coffee?” Brooke looked up at him, hair ruffled in bed, desperation on his face. Brooke just rolled her eyes before she walked out, the door slamming behind her. 

He’d get over it. 

Week 2:

God knows what is hiding in those weak and drunken hearts I guess the loneliness came knocking No one needs to be alone, oh save me

Her arm would always ache in the morning, a constant ghost pain that would have her gasping awake. Her hands ran through her hair, gripping it as she tried to get her breath back. It was always the same. Blood. Loss. Screaming. Pain. “Miss Palmer?” Edward seemed to always know when she needed him. He wasn’t a butler to her, he was just as much family as any of them.  “Sorry, Eddie.” “You were screaming again.” He said softly. 

That explained why her throat was feeling so scratchy, Brooke crumpling within herself in a moment. He sat at the edge of her bed and Brooke’s arms wrapped around him.  “I thought it would be over. It’s over. Why can’t my mind know that?” Edward just gripped the small girl tightly, kissing the top of her head. She breathed in deep, smelling peppermint and old spice. It was the best smell in the world. It took a long moment before Brooke could bring herself to let him go.  “You’re going to go back, aren’t you?” She could hear the fear in his voice and Brooke was reminded of all the times Edward picked her up from places that screamed pain and trouble, the times he would ask why she was drinking, why she was falling apart. Edward was the only person she had truly tried to stop for and she remembered each disappointed note in his voice when she failed. She nodded.  “I have an idea now, I know what I want to do. I know what I’m good at.” Edward raised his eyebrow and she just smiled.  “I’ve never liked reality. I found something that means I don’t have to put up with it.” It took Edward a moment before he smiled.  “Illusions. Truly?” “Yes, I want to do it.” “And there’s no reason for that?” He said, Brooke only laughing.  “I want to try, Eddie. Really try now.” His hand found hers and he squeezed before he let go.  “I have faith in you, Miss Palmer.” 

***

Sophie and Brooke were at the spa, both of them getting manicures. Brooke had gone for her signature deep purple as Sophie went for a forest green. Brooke was texting with her free hand, Sophie rolling her eyes.  “I thought you weren’t going to worry about them.” Brooke passed her phone over, a photo of Nic and Cole smirking at the camera, a gorgeous sunrise behind them sitting on the screen. She could already see the tans on their skin. Maybe she shouldn’t have fucked it up with Nic and Cole before she left but it was done and she’d deal with the fall out when she got back. “I’m not. They seem absolutely fine.” She leaned back in the chair before looked over at Sophie again. “Do you have to leave? It’s been so much fun having another girl in the house. I mean, chocolate and horror movie night was quite possibly the best time I had in that house.” Sophie smiled softly as Brooke looked at her with puppy dog eyes.  “I gotta see Liam, we’re finally in an okay place. I don’t want to fuck that up. Besides, you’re off to the Greek Isles. That’s too expensive for me.” “You know I’d pay in a heartbeat if it meant you were coming with me.” Sophie just put her free hand over Brooke’s wrist. “I’ll miss you too, babe. We’ll see each other in a week and a half.” 

Brooke sighed as her best friend rolled away with her suitcase down the drive, her Uber already there. She had hugged her twice, told her to call her when she landed and hugged her again.  “I love you. For everything. Thank you.” She whispered into her ear, pressing some macarons in her hand for the flight before letting her go. She might have been overdramatic, might have taken it too seriously but Sophie was the first girl that didn’t judge her insane life style. Other girls pretended not to but she knew how they spoke behind her back. Slut, whore, bitch. None of those words ever came from Sophie. 

She watched at the window as the car drove away.

Week 3:

Love it when I’m play-pretending Fuckin’ up my happy ending But I can take bullets to the heart

Brooke took a photo of her lounging in a chair, next to the Mediterranean. Her skin was slowly turning a dark brown, her white bikini standing out in stark contrast. She scrolled through her photos, smiling softly. The stress lines were fading from her face, her smiles were becoming more real. Sometimes it was being in a foreign place that could heal you. Home reminded you of who you were. Other places reminded you of who you could be. 

Her week in paradise was almost up and she was pouring over the texts that she had to read for class. Magic based around music was more complex than she realised and Brooke found herself looking up things that she was sure she once knew. Playing guitar wasn’t going to be enough, there was so much more to it. But something had changed in the girl, something was beginning to click. It wasn’t going to flow off her fingertips as easy as make up, fashion, sarcasm did. If she wanted anything, she was going to have to work for it, to begin trying, to give herself a damn chance first. 

“Beautiful and smart. Full package.” Brooke looked up to find the owner of the accented voice. Her breath caught in her throat. “Hello, Jacob.”  Her voice didn’t betray the emotion that was rolling under the surface. She felt sick, vulnerable, alone. She wrapped her towel over the top of her, hating that he had seen her like that. But his eyes didn’t move from her face.  “You look well, Brooke.” She moved her gaze to the ocean. All the places in the world, all the spots she could have hidden and he found this one. Jacob. “You can piss off now. I believe the restraining order is quite clear. You stay away from me. Even here.” “Oh, surely we’re over the little incident.” “Of course you call falling in love with you and then finding out it was all a con a little incident.” “Ah, but Miss Palmer. You were the only one that caught me. Call me insane but that intrigues me.” Brooke scrambled her books together, shoving them into her bag. Her hands could barely stop shaking. He never had that accent when he was with her. It had been American, slightly Southern when she had first met him.  “Fuck off. Fuck you being intrigued. Fuck all of this. You don’t get to ruin me anymore.” “How could I have ruined you?” He said with a smirk. “That implies there was something to ruin.”

Brooke almost hunched in on herself, but she knew better than this. She could handle Nic Carey insults, this was child’s play. Her eyes narrowed and she drew herself up to her full height. She wasn’t a 17 year old, still believing in love. She was 21, she was strong and she was going to beat this motherfucker within an inch of his life. 

“Listen and listen closely.” Her voice was harsh but soft, drawing in his attention more. Her eyebrow twitched and a curl of magic was around her fingers. “I will snap every joint in your body if you come near me. You will grab your things and you will leave this hotel. If you do not… well, I’m sure that the owners of this hotel will be very interested in the fact that there is a con man trying to win his way into their daughter. Oh, you didn’t think I thought you were here for me, did you? Please. Catching you was easy. Do you know why? Because you’re predictable. You showed your hand to me. Now I know every trick. I destroyed you once and I will do it again. So you can fuck off now.” She flicked her hand and Jacob’s shoulder was dislocated out of its joint. Her hand pushed on his chest and he went crashing into the pool, yelling in pain. 

Brooke smiled.