#with scott street ofc

[ameliatheamazing]

video edit of this post by @troynabed

[stillwithmeisonlyyou]

"Do you feel ashamed, when you hear my name?

...

Anyway don't be a stranger"

But it's Regulus to Sirius years after, because he's still broken inside from when his siri left him, but he has matured enough to admit he doesn't want him to be a stranger and they have missed so much of each other's life already. And it is all bittersweet.

[thewaythingsgojo]

finally at peace

[cordahliaa]

doing this receiptify thing bc i can:

no pressure tags @lesbianmckinnonn @artbyace @sunseeking-cryptid <3

[mschievousx]

now and then | b.b.

pairing: benedict bridgerton x ofc

summary: loraine silva always knew she was not normal. she loves unusual things. she loves her father's guns, horses, boxing, climbing a tree, falling from a tree, engineering, astronomy... oh, and a man eleven years older.

series masterlist

x. ten: live that way

it was the first time in a while that the sunlight touched her face and it did not hurt. she stirred awake, the light seemed to be poking her from sleep. raine tossed, pulling the sheets deeper to her.

"i was afraid you will not be here when i wake up."

his morning voice greeted her as he placed a hand on her head and played with her hair. ah yes, last night really did happen. she buried herself on his chest, taking in his natural smell.

she looked up at him, her lips grazing his collarbone as she spoke with a smile, "anthony and violet are going to kill us."

benedict chuckled lowly at her jest, "they will not."

she returned back to his chest, closing her eyes once again. he planted his face on top of her head, seemingly taking in her smell as well. this was it. these were the arms she has longed for—the comfort she has been seeking.

"i am too tired." her muffled voice resounded.

he planted a kiss on her for solace, "it is alright. i will be here."

raine pursed her lips, deciding if she should say anything about her grave situation later and ruin the moment or not. but as we have always known, she was a frank one. it would not be her if she wasn't.

"this may be the last time we will be together."

"then i will wait for you."

he replied with ease, professing confidence amidst the direness of everything around them.

raine was sure though—that the intensity of the situation has not sunk in on benedict yet. she was with him, alive and well right now. how easy it was to be lost in the blissfulness of the moment.

she slowly sat up, leaning for a kiss on his forehead as she removed herself from the sheets, "let us go. they will grow wary of our absence."

raine clothed herself as the man kept his eyes on her. she turned to him, instructing that he follow down after a couple of minutes to avoid suspicion from the family. she turned the knob, exiting the room silently.

as she looked up to walk, she was met with a viscount already staring curiously at her.

"what? it's my room. ho—how was the ball?" she said in a pitched voice, quite defensively, causing anthony to narrow his eyes at her.

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

she ate quite the breakfast, treating it as if it was her last meal. at the very least, she was happy she ate with the bridgertons—the only family she has left.

after a meal for breakfast, she excused herself at once, quickly going to anthony's office with raphael in tow. they have been going back to back for strategies on what to do for more than two hours already, now settling in silence to let themselves take a breath. the colonel called for her out of the blue, the latter waiting for him to continue.

"lord high chancellor scott will be there."

she looked with confusion at that. raine was familiar of the man, yes, but she has not seen him ever.

"i do not know what he is like."

"raine, i have not told you one thing." he began, words laced with shame, "they took general's body."

in truth, she knew already. raphael would have done anything to bring her father to her even if a lifeless body. he would actually give his life to his superior since the general saved him before in the streets of homelessness too.

"i have figured, given that you returned alone without his remains. you would not have left if you could."

she tightly smiled at him, the most form of comfort they could achieve in this moment.

"it was him. he was there when they attacked our quarters, ordering his men." he revealed, regret in his voice on how he was not able to do anything to save the general in that time.

raine put her pen down, closing her eyes for a second before turning to him, "why are you telling me this just now?"

"i was debating myself whether i should." he replied with doubt. he knew how the girl can get mad easily sometimes, especially that concerning her family.

she stared out of nowhere, trying to think of something. an idea popped in her head as she spoke with a realisation, "we will use that to our advantage then."

"no, that's..." raphael seemed go have caught on what she was thinking. he showed his clear disagreement with her plan, "you will be charged for high treason."

"by questioning his person?" she scoffed at the idea of a soft high chancellor.

"by questioning his person, you are accusing him." the colonel retorted, his arms on his waist, thinking of other solutions as well.

"it is not an accusation if it is true."

"it is an accusation if we cannot prove it."

raine knew he was right. they could do nothing about it if they cannot prove it, "we can build the story around us, put the rest of the soldiers outside of it all."

he sat beside her on the couch, facing her calmly as if giving up, "they all knew what we were doing, raine. there was nothing like only the general and i. the whole troop knew the issue we found and the measures we were taking. they are all highly ranked men and were the most trusted by your father."

"i do not care." she said with a slam, staring him down with firm, "forty-six soldiers, raphael. forty-six."

despite her best efforts, a tear fell from her already luminous eyes. the thought that these men who should have been celebrated by their services are coming close to dishonor angers and pities her at the same time.

"i will not let you all die."

he placed a hand over hers, "we are soldiers. we have been prepared for this."

"not without dignity."

raine declared with might. she will make sure to turn the tables, and if it will not, she will fucking flip it over.

he could do nothing but nod slowly, accepting her point. he took a glimpse at his watch, ruffling the girl's hair as he stood up.

"it's noon."

she nodded, following the man outside the study, "gather them."

currently in the hallway, waiting for carriages after carriages to arrive, the second daughter caught sight of her and took her hand.

"raine, come. just for a while."

she followed the young woman up to her bedroom where penelope stands, waiting in anxiety. eloise gestured to the redhead as she offered.

"penelope can help you turn the people's favor to you."

getting a hint of what she was trying to say, raine tightly smiled at them, "lady whistledown?"

penelope stopped her tiny movements of unease as she turned to the silva, both of them asking her in chorus, "how did you know?"

"no," she ignored the question. she was a daughter of a general, of course she would know. she stepped towards the girl, addressing their idea to help, "i appreciate you both trying to help, but no. they knew of my father's activities and he was a general."

raine took the featherington's hands and held them softly, "my best bet is they know you are lady whistledown and is just letting you be for now since you have not attacked them directly."

"but you cannot go there like this." eloise voiced in distress and worry.

she did not realise that other people were being affected by her situation this much. the young silva thought she has managed to keep them off and away—enough that they would not need to worry. evidently, that was not the case.

"come here." and so, she placed each of her arms on the girls' shoulders, bringing them in on a tight hug. it may have been her imagination, but eloise let out a small sob as she wrapped her arms on her.

they exited the room after, descending it with begrudging steps. the carriages have arrived and are only waiting for them. the bridgertons gathered near the door to bid her farewell. she turned, addressing them for possibly the last time.

"i ask of you all, do not go anywhere near the palace."

the matriarch could not help herself but grab the girl, enveloping her in one of the warmest hugs the young one has ever received. violet kissed the top of her head, a gesture that says all will be well.

raine knew it was not going to be.

and so, she continued on her way, exiting the bridgertons' home to see the carriages lined up, all filled with soldiers. they waited for her to get in just as benedict came forward. he held her hand tightly, prompting her chin up as he caught her lips in his.

she tasted like heartache and war.

━━━ ✦ ❘ ☽ 【❖】 ☾ ❘ ✦ ━━━

the twelve carriages that contained the forty-six soldiers and loraine silva arrived at the front of the palace in a processional manner. a significant number of citizens have gathered. at the sight of the hottest topic of the town—the country, even—some were yelling in support to them and some against.

the viscountess, the colonel, and the major sat on the first carriage, the men exiting first. she followed, not sparing any look to the people. they could not affored to cheer nor smile. this was the deciding moment of their future.

raphael and raine entered the palace alone, the soldiers all lined up in a row outside, facing the people. they were greeted coldly and strictly by both royal guards and other military that she was sure must have interacted with her father at least once. they were guided into different rooms. she was given nothing but the wary and observing gazes of the unknown soldiers guarding her.

the colonel has been away for more than an hour now. she understood that they were interrogating him first, squeezing all the details before they would deal with her nuisance. not later than her own planning of her statements in her head, the door opened to reveal the man, head leveled properly. but, she could tell. that it was only his rank that made him still have the dignity to raise his head. however, the inner raphael? she could see him conceding and casting the head downwards.

she was prompted to stand up, them crossing each other as she left the room and walked towards where raphael came from. the doors opened to reveal the queen, brimsley behind, and the lord high chancellor with two other parliamentary members and two decorated generals, it seems.

raine sat across them all as lord scott did not waste time to begin his questions, "did you know of your father's treacherous plans against the crown?"

just by the first question, she already knew she wanted to shoot him. he was enjoying this, evidently on his tone.

"i did not."

he scoffed sarcastically at that, turning to the other members present as if gaining their attention, "i find it hard to believe, considering how close you both were, especially after the death of your mother and brother—god rest their souls."

it was a foul. mentioning them both amidst all of this was a great foul. she narrowed her eyes at him, firmly and armed as her voice sounded with confidence, increasing in volume.

"i did not know because there were no treacherous plans in the first place."

the members of the parliament leaned back slowly with their chins raised in an insulted manner. the two generals present turned to them with a curious look. ah, these generals are not involved in this.

lord scott noticed their interest piqued and hurried to push the matter to the young lady, "major general silva was reported of having questionable communications within the military force. we were monitoring him for months."

he continued to reveal the story he has crafted so well against them, "in the most recent event, he was caught exchanging fire with the british military, resisting in the quarters that must have served as their unofficial office for such activities."

she sat up straight with a piercing look at him, offense clear intended on her tone, "and who can attest to this?"

"girl, you question the credibility of the sources of the highest governments of the crown?!" he bellowed, sitting at the edge of his seat as the other members gestured for him to calm down.

"yes, in fact, i do."

"loraine, address the assertions."

the queen spoke for the first time. ah, she was not involved either. raine could tell she was trying to help, trying to get her out of this.

"your majesty," the girl began, turning to the queen with respect in contrast to the lord high chancellor, "my father was not a traitor and neither am i or raphael."

"where is the quarters where armand was unfortunately killed?" she asked outright.

the young silva could see right through the queen's plans. her majesty has conceded the matters of the girl's father. there was no saving his legacy—he was not saved already. it was a lost cause.

charlotte focused on his offspring, saving her from this is the only thing she could do for the family. and fortunately, the girl looked like she did not know anything.

raine had no words to answer at all. all the planning they did, all the stories she prepared—they went to the drain in just one question.

the queen waved her hand, the footman understanding her language. he opened the door and there enters raphael. he sat on the other chair beside the girl as charlotte continued.

"colonel montague has admitted to all suspicions." at the mention, raine turned to the man instantly, looking at him in surprise. the queen continued, "your lack of knowledge in the basic information of their activities suggests that you were indeed oblivious to the acts of treachery to the crown."

the girl glared at the queen, completely opposing her idea of helping. she declared clearly, word per word in firmness, "there was no betrayal from our end."

she clutched the couch, anger rising at their refusal to listen and acknowledge her side. other than being known for her unceasing confessions to the second bridgerton son, raine is also infamous for her hatred and passive-agressiveness.

"the colonel has copies of multiple reports that were altered to provide misinformation and cause mayhem in the military communication." her voice maintained the strength of her argument, "they were investigating it for months, even during my debut. we can call people as witness—"

raine held her tongue in time. she does not wish to put people on the government's eyes anymore. she swiftly dismissed the previous idea, continuing her previous point.

"the night they were ambushed on the way to the ball... tell them, raphael."

she turned to the other man who stayed silent the whole time, beckoning him to talk about what he witnessed in all actuality. however, the latter refused to utter a single word. she furiously turned back to the high officials.

"he saw the british insignia—the very people my father promised to protect the crown with." the young one spat the words with absolute hate, pointing her finger to the high chancellor, "and in fact, when they attacked my father in the quarters, you were there lord scott, were you not?!"

"you dare declare such accusation when you do not even know its location!" lord scott raised his voice, growling in her disrespect, "we are not here to address the matters of your father. he was a traitor. you are here to be questioned about your involvement in the said treason!"

raphael moved, raising his head to the officials with a determined voice, "i have conceded to everything. i have divulged all you wanted to know. the girl is entirely unaware of our activities!"

"oh, stop making her look like a child!" the high chancellor sneered at him, looking at loraine with sarcasm, "the lady has been raised by a general. everyone knows of your physical skills and marksmanship, taught by your very own father since you were young."

he stood up with authority, slamming his words with distaste. he stepped forwards as he pointed down a finger to stress his point. the young silva's eyes darkened at that, her mind going blank as he continue.

"there is no need to stray far from the truth."

he was too loud for her, his words biting her. she recognised this tension, this atmosphere. this is the battle. this is the war.

"you grew up mostly with him, taught everything by him, discussed plans with him, strategised with him," he paused, as if gathering his breath before he spat with malice.

"and committed high treason with him!"

raine stood up at once, unclasping her gun from her thigh in the process as she shot the man on his chest twice, his blood getting on her dress and features. the queen jumped and recoiled at the sound, brimsley nearing her instantly. the rest of the members jumped away and the generals reached for their guns.

loraine silva has shot the lord high chancellor.

one of the generals opted to reach for the actively dying lord scott, his hands on his chest as his mouth froze and jaw locked in neural shock.

the girl turned to the general and pointed her gun at him, "help him and see what follows."

he slowly backed with the queen gesturing for him to stay down as well. her majesty understood the young lady. she was not a threat to anyone else at the room as long as they were not a threat to her.

she walked to near the chancellor that leaned back helplessly with blood on the foamed chair, "you were right about everything but one."

she did not dropped her gun, still aiming it to his head now with clear dark intent. her voice was neither loud nor small, neither hard nor soft. it was the kind that would cause you to squirm.

"we did not betray the crown. we did not betray its people."

her voice did not declare war. it proclaimed the ending.

"and if we did," she leaned down to him as if whispering, "none of you will ever know."

raine stood straight up, sneering at the chancellor below her, "we would not have been as stupid as you."

she pulled the trigger thrice more—with no mercy or pity, with no regards of the people around her. seeing him finally stop breathing, she dropped her arm down, still gripping the gun hard.

"it would have done you good to know that i have his patience as well."

by the remnants of her rage, the future became clear—it's going to fall apart.

"your majesty," raine turned to the queen. the two generals behind her went for their guns seeing the girl's back on them. charlotte raised her hand immediately, halting the actions of both men as the silva continued, "the reports and all related documents are in the care of viscount bridgerton."

she dipped her head down in a bow for a few respectful seconds before standing back upright, feet together, leaning in a martial manner.

"i apologise for the mess, aunt lottie."

raine walked away, raphael following closely. he wanted to say something so badly, but was fearful of disturbing the already unstable state of the girl.

they exited the palace with no other encounters, likely because of her majesty's intercession. reaching outside the fence, the people tripling in number than earlier. they all yelled unintelligibly at the sight of them. her father's soldiers turned about face at their arrival. it was obvious that they heard the gunshots—her father's silver flintlock pepperbox has a hell of a sound.

gilbert returned raphael's gun, the latter cocking it immediately up in the air before firing. the crowd silenced in chorus as the girl inhaled deeply.

"each and every one of you has seen my father. major general silva had always been for the people."

while her father carried the rank of a major general, he was not disconnected with the people. yes, he was still distant for security purposes, but for a man his rank, he willingly shook hands with the people that deserved it.

and, armand often told her that he gets to shake more hands of the commoners and the general public than the officials.

"he was not a traitor. they have blamed their own treachery to my father, killed my father, and killed his loyal men—men that were all defending the crown and its people. this is what has become of our society. i do not care if you are busy with the social season and of other pleasures. this should be your duty as a person behind the crown."

she walked at the center, nearing them all so that they would hear her words better—words that they shall engrave in their hearts and minds, etched in their very soul.

"i stand before you all, not only as his daughter, but as someone who will never sit whilst injustice is apparent."

the viscountess silva's voice deepened with conviction. her eyes were flaring with truth and patriotism. she caught everyone's gaze and held it until it hurt.

"one who will not cover her ears against the screams of the dead."

"one who will not close her eyes in the midst of people abusing their power."

"one who will never sleep soundly whilst there are bodies of the wronged under each of our beds. "

all of her will went to her voice as she declared her final words to the public.

"this is the age of awakening. do not go gentle into that good night!"

raine continued to speak in the words coded by her father, the late major general, the superior of all. the forty-six soldiers answering with equal strength.

"min koimitheís ísycha ekeíni tin kalí nýchta!"

"orgí, orgí enántia sto svísimo tou fotós!"

they placed their right fists on top of their heart as the young lady and raphael found the royal guards and other military personnel. there was no escaping their situation now. what they did ensured only one path, and that was their head to the execution block.

the queen has ordered to not execute them on the spot. she reasoned that it would mean making them martyrs on the eyes of the people and they want to avoid that—although in truth, she pushed for them to have a private execution because that is what the two wanted.

viscountess loraine silva and colonel raphael montague turned about face to the rest of the soldiers. the latter saluted in uniform to the colonel, him returning it. they were saluting their ranks for the last time. she saluted the men this time, and by her surprise, the soldiers then turned to the young lady and saluted to her.

they were not supposed to salute back to her. she has no official rank.

raphael nudged her, prompting the girl to dismiss the salute as did the soldiers. a warm smile settled on her lips before both of them turned to the guards.

this is it. there is no going back.

and just as raine entered the vehicle to transport them to the cells, she completely missed the familiar head standing out from the crowd like a sore thumb despite her telling him not to attend.

once again, he could do nothing but hold his head down and shut his eyes at the end of the day. his palms formed a fist, biting his lips intensely as tears graced the floor under him.

every storm runs out of rain.

taglist: @aadu2173 @imgondeletedis @pumkiinpasties @rebleforkicks @perseny @everavenclaw @datingbtr @peetahpahkah @idek-what-to-put @aysamuka

[concreteburialplot]

Cool About It

Meet: Amelia Alastor

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x OFC

A/N; I began writing this in December because it was meant to be a light, fluffy, hallmark-y one shot but the more I wrote the more it begged to be a sadder longer, more involved fic. I kept going back and forth between just scrapping it but ultimately I chose to continue. To not derail the original framework of the plot, I’ve decided to keep the holiday setting so… just roll with it & enjoy christmas in the spring ig 😅

Summary: When Noah comes home for the holidays with Nicholas, he runs into an old friend. While catching up, they fall back into the shoes of the children they used to be. Amelia quickly realizes that even after nearly 10 years apart, she still knows Noah like the back of her hand. Their reunion raises questions about Noah’s abrupt and secretive disappearance at 16.

Themes/warnings; childhood friends to lovers, ‘I know you better than anyone else’, hallmark-y? kinda?, [AU] family/childhood trauma/abuse, past family deaths, eventual smut, and as always, incredibly sad lol, 18+ MDNI

Disclaimer: this is an au that follows no actual timelines/events, and uses oc's for family members.

Comment if you’d like to be tagged❄️☕️

chapters with smut with have a *

CHAPTERS:

-> 01 - Breaking & Entering

-> 02 - Scott Street

[macaron-n-cheese]

I know this poll has been done before but I want to start a discussion and have an excuse to yap about the Hamilton children.

Honestly I find them more interesting than the man Alexander Hamilton himself.

Alexander Hamilton Jr. "had a "large and varied correspondence" with other political contemporaries including his close friend Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Salmon P. Chase, and Presidents James Monroe and Zachary Taylor" 💀💀 and like many of the below children met Lincoln.

John Church lived in mf Long Branch, New Jersey, on mf Ocean Avenue. HISTORY IS TEASING ME TO BAD AUGHHHH (look at the photo. Apparently they knew each other. Of course, they literally lived on the same street, practically neighbors)

John's children are super interesting too. Ahem...his son was enrolled at West Point overlapping with Grant by two years OF COUSE HE DID and bro interned for WILLIAM T SHERMAN AND EXCHANGED LETTERS WITH LINCOLN REGULARLY. and joHN'S DAUGHTER WAS MARRIED TO HENRY HALLECK WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT. This is driving me insane. Screaming crying throwing up.

William was in Galena and was friends with Elihu Washburne and probably met Lincoln ofc

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and Eliza Hamilton Holly literally met General Winfield Scott, Senator William H Seward, and President Millard Fillmore. This crossover is insane. Elizabeth Schyler Hamilton and William H Seward is a wild wild wild combination.

Phillip II prosecuted a Caribbean pirate who was hung in court dfusuidfhudi. He also was a stop on the Underground Railroad and an abolitionist.

John Church, William, and Philip II are my favorites :3333

[selmasemlan]

In the Arms of New Orleans

Summary: Stefan and Rebekah rush Luna to Marcel's arms in New Orleans after a near-fatal attack, finding solace and protection in his embrace.

Pairing: Marcel Gerard x Luna Salvatore (OFC), Stefan Salvatore x Rebekah Mikealson, Stefan Salvatore x Luna Salvatore (Platonic)

Author note: Once again, I´m not following the show's plot. There will be a part that explains how Rebekah knows about Marcel, don't worry

Warning: mention of death, hurt, comfort at the end

Word count: 963

Series Masterlist

Part 2

In the Arms of New Orleans

The night air was crisp and cold as the black SUV sped down the deserted road, headlights cutting through the darkness. Stefan Salvatore gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched with worry. Beside him, Rebekah Mikaelson cast anxious glances at his tense profile. They had left their quest for the cure behind, the urgency of the situation too great to ignore.

Luna was in danger.

The call had come out of nowhere. Stiles, frantic and barely coherent, had told Stefan about the assassination attempt. Someone had tried to drown Luna, and when that failed, they poisoned her. She was in the hospital, clinging to life.

Stiles and Malia had been tracking Luna’s location, following a hunch that something was wrong. They arrived just in time to see Luna being dragged out of the water. Without hesitation, Malia transformed, her inner coyote taking over as she lunged at the attackers. Stiles, armed with his bat and fierce determination, fought off the remaining assailants. They managed to subdue the attackers and get Luna to safety, but her condition was dire.

As they arrived at the hospital, the sterile smell of antiseptic hit them. Stefan rushed to Luna's room, Rebekah close behind. Inside, Luna lay pale and still, an IV drip connected to her arm. Stiles was there, his face etched with worry, pacing back and forth, unable to sit still. But Scott was nowhere to be seen. Luna opened her eyes slowly, a haunted look in her eyes. But she smiled and said “Hi” with a weak voice.

Stefan's anger flared. "Where's Scott?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Stiles looked down, guilt and frustration in his eyes. "He...he didn't come. He didn't even try to find her."

Stefan's fists clenched, but Luna's soft voice stopped him. "Don't, Stefan. It's not worth it."

He turned to her, his expression softening. "But he abandoned you, Luna."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just want to leave. I want Marcel."

Stefan exchanged a look with Rebekah, who nodded. Despite her surprise, she understood. Luna needed to be with someone who truly cared for her.

A few hours later, they were on the road again, heading for New Orleans. The journey was long and filled with tense silence. Luna rested in the back seat, her breathing shallow but steady, the toll of the night’s events evident in the way she winced with every bump on the road.

Rebekah turned in her seat to check on Luna, her gaze softening with concern. "We're almost there," she said gently, trying to offer some comfort.

Luna nodded, though her eyes remained closed, exhaustion weighing her down. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. The pain and fear were still there, gnawing at her, but the thought of seeing Marcel gave her the strength to keep going.

As they arrived in the city, the familiar sights and sounds of New Orleans enveloped them. The streets were alive with music and laughter, a stark contrast to the turmoil they carried with them. Stefan pulled up to Marcel's loft, and Luna took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confrontation.

Marcel opened the door, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he saw Luna. Stefan was holding her up, but she didn't hesitate. She threw herself into Marcel's arms, clutching him tightly, her body trembling from the weight of the night’s events.

Marcel wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if he would never let go. "You're safe now," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Everything will be fine."

Luna buried her face in his chest, finding solace in his embrace. For the first time in days, she felt a glimmer of hope. She was with Marcel, and that made everything better.

Rebekah and Stefan stood nearby, watching the reunion. Rebekah's hand slipped into Stefan's, offering silent support. Stefan felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly, knowing that Luna was where she needed to be.

Marcel looked up, meeting Stefan’s gaze. They, in mutual respect, nodded at each other. It was a silent acknowledgment of the night’s hardships and the bond that had formed between them.

Stefan cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "She needs rest," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "She’s been through a lot."

Marcel nodded, still holding Luna close. "I’ll take care of her," he assured them. "Thank you, both of you, for bringing her to me."

As Stefan and Rebekah prepared to leave, Luna’s hand reached out, catching Stefan’s arm. "Stay," she whispered, her voice pleading. "Just for a little while."

Rebekah smiled softly, her eyes meeting Stefan's in a silent conversation. "We’ll stay," she said, answering for both of them.

Together, they settled into the loft, the room gradually filling with the warmth of their presence. The tension slowly dissipated as they talked quietly, sharing stories and memories, anything to keep the darkness at bay.

Marcel stayed by Luna’s side the entire time, his hand never leaving hers. He watched as she drifted off to sleep, the lines of worry on her face finally easing. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, a silent promise that he would always protect her.

Stefan and Rebekah exchanged a look, understanding that this was where they were meant to be, at least for now. They knew Luna had a long road to recovery ahead, but with Marcel by her side, she would find the strength to heal.

In the heart of New Orleans, amidst the chaos and danger, Luna found the comfort and love she desperately needed. And as Marcel held her close, he vowed to protect her with everything he had.

[selcouth-angel]

Okay I wrote this like.... a month ago and since IT JUST FITS WITH THE ENDING OF MHA I'LL JUST POST IT

HEAR ME OUTTTT SCOTT STREET BY PHEOBE BRIDGERS FITS SM WITH IZUKU AND KATSUKI IF EVER IZUKU WONT BE A HERO!!! This could be romantic or platonic either is okay. I haven't posted anything I've written in years BUT PLS SEE MY VISION I CAN SEE ITS POTENTIALLLLL!!!!!!

"Walking Scott Street, feeling like a stranger. With an open heart, open container" is as he walks in the familiar streets of when HE used to patrol as a hero in training in UA.

"I've got a stack of mail and a tall can. It's a shower beer, it's a payment plan" for plot purposes, he's out for a drink and meeting his friend, I think we know who it is.

"There's helicopters over my head. Every night when I go to bed" THIS COULD be literal like he could be living in the city and crimes happen with heroes saving the day hence the helicopters for media or rescue, he sees it everyday. OR it could be a metaphor of some sorts like thoughts of WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IF HE STILL HAD A QUIRK and it keeps him awake at night.

"Spending money and I earned it. When I'm lonely, that's when I'll burn it." It's a fanfic, SO LETS SAY HE GOT MONEY FOR LITERALLY SAVING JAPAN AND HE'S ONLY A TEEN HELLO??? He deserves it of course, set for life or let's just say he has money for whatever reason I can think of (maybe he pursued in the support/educational department like Aizawa and still helps heroes except in his heart he really wants to go pro). And that's when he's lonely, he misses the past OFA users always there behind his back and he never forget how that felt, and just the feeling, the thrilling ways of how his body moves whenever he is out and fighting to do what he loves, to save and protect. And then finally, he meets up with his rival, childhood friend and the closest person he could ever confide or ever think of. They're drinking (adults & aged up ofc), just talking about their lives, I imagine they would do this every once in a while. After the war, trauma and other shit they had to deal with IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF UA (They all deserve the best I love Class 1-A) and with Midoriya leaving behind the hero life, the two felt like they couldn't just let it go just like that. So they meet up and keep that bond they strengthened after everything they've been through, even ALMOST DYING for each other. They do this regularly, Bakugou is still catching up to him just in different ways. And they talk about the past, it's nostalgic. He doesn't expect it as the memory of their... not so pleasant relationship before has resurfaced. Sometimes it randomly just comes up and he can't help but think of it.

"Do you feel ashamed, when you hear my name?" And he knows Bakugou wouldn't, they are far past that and consider the other the closest person they could attach themselves to. But he also knows Bakugou is not proud of how he treated him before and the fact he had to leave the hero life so early on, when he just got a taste of it only for it to be taken from him and that was the longest and simultaneously the fastest year of his life.

"I asked you, "How is your sister? I heard she got her degree" I know, Bakugou doesn't have a sister. BUT LETS IMAGINE MAHORO AND KATSUMA IS CLOSE TO BAKUGOU AFTER THE MOVIE AND THEY KEPT IN TOUCH SKDBKDBDKE (I've considered Eri and Kota but I think these two are just closer to Midoriya). Of course, Midoriya could also be close to them, but for the fanfics sake let's say he hasn't checked on them in a while, and that our babygirl graduated or something!!

"And I said, "That makes me feel old" You said, "What does that make me?" Then they share a laugh, because they realize that both of them are old. Older than high school. They aren't young anymore, and they have lives to live. His friends are all pros and living their dreams, high up in the hero ranks. He could've been there.

"I asked you, "How is playing drums?" You said, "It's too much shit to carry"..."And what about the band?"...You said, "They're all getting married"" OKAY THIS??? THIS COULD BE 1A OR THE BAKUSQUAD UEJEHFJSHJDD BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THEY WERE IN A BAND (Sports Festival) and they both know who he's talking about, or maybe it's an inside joke among their batch to call them a band, or they really did have a band and kept playing every sports festival once they became upperclassmen, it's up to you. And then they just reminisce about their highschool days, the good ones. And Midoriya, he feels emotional, choked up and longing.

"Do you feel ashamed, when you hear my name?" And Bakugou knows even if he doesn't glance at the green haired man beside him, he knows what he's thinking even if he doesn't say it as he takes a sip of his drink, knowing each other like the back of their hand, reading like an open book. He literally died for him. Bakugou pats his back, or maybe a hand on his shoulder. Just something, and Midoriya immediately knows he shouldn't worry.

"Anyway, don't be a stranger. Don't be a stranger." And they won't, they never were. They were always there, from childhood to present, they could never be a stranger to the other.

I jinxed myself bcs this was literally sitting in my drafts for a month... SHOULD I REWRITE IT TO FIT THE ACTUAL SPOILERS? Or nah

[k-evans-reads]

In Living Color

Chapter 16

Summary: When Natalie Marton, lead character designer for Buzz Lightyear, meets the voice of Buzz, Chris Evans, the sparks are undeniable. But when their work pushes them away from each other, both physically and emotionally, will the sheer differences between their worlds be enough to force them apart?

Pairing: Chris Evans x Pixar Animator OFC Natalie Marton

Word Count: 5,466

By: @k-evans-writes and @ourfinest-hour

We do NOT give permission for our works to be reuploaded, translated, or reposted on any other site. Our work is our own.

Warnings: None.

Previous | Main Masterlist | In Living Color Masterlist

December 17th, 2021

Chris shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked down the concrete sidewalk, full after dinner across the table from Scott. He kept laughing as they walked, listening to Scott’s ridiculous story he had started telling when they were leaving dinner and kept on telling the entire time they looked for a spot to parallel park on the LA street. He was fully invested in the story that was starting to wrap up but found his attention being pulled away when he spotted the a-frame sign sitting out on the sidewalk with a familiar name listed and a picture of his Nattie on it. 

Tonight was the opening of her art show and although he’d gone back to Massachusetts after coming to LA for some reshoots when he was fresh off of Disney World, he had flown back out for the weekend specifically for Nat’s art show because there was no way he was going to miss this. He remembered back in August one night when they had been snuggled on the couch watching a movie in her small apartment and she’d received a call from the gallery curator, inviting Nat to be their featured artist for this December show and a smile appeared on his face when he pictured the excitement on her face and the way she had squealed with joy after hanging up the phone. She’d been working in the little bit of spare time she had the past few months creating some new pieces for the show and in all of that time watching her create, he had been in awe, never being able to fully wrap his brain around just how incredibly talented and hardworking she was, watching with amazement each time she put a stroke of her brush on her paper. 

But now it was different. Now he was pulling open the glass door of the gallery, letting Scott walk in first before he followed right after as they walked into the bustling gallery full of people to see her art. He could picture her in his home, standing near the windows with that crazy curly hair pulled up haphazardly as one of his old tee shirts hung on her frame as she painted. Chris remembered how he had teased her about stealing his clothes and then getting them covered in paint and how she just laughed and shrugged, telling him there wasn’t much of hers that didn’t get covered in paint before she went back to her artwork. She hadn’t known it then but he had just sat on the couch with his laptop open but hadn’t looked at it. Instead, he’d just sat there and watched her dab her brush in the messy palette before swiping deliberate strokes across her canvas, furiously working for a long time before she’d let out a small mutter as she thought, taking a step back to study her work, tilting her head so cutely before stepping back closer and kept painting. And now, that piece of art was hanging up on these grandiose walls while a group of people stood around praising it. 

Scott nudged his arm, breaking him out of his deep thought to get Chris to move out of the doorway and hunker a little closer to the walls. Chris didn’t know what tonight would hold and if anyone would recognize him. As he looked around the room at the high brow group, he thought that there was a good chance none of them would be able to pinpoint him but somehow he just didn’t care even if they did. Tonight was Nattie’s night and he wasn’t going to let anything stop him from being here. They slowly walked over to the table where someone was putting down fresh appetizers, each grabbing one and a glass of champagne before surveying the room from the edges. 

As Chris scanned the crowd, he recognized a few people, some of Nat’s co-workers, a few of her friends that he’d met briefly here and there, but that wasn’t who he was looking for. He wanted to spy that head of curly hair that he had run his hands through late last night when he’d arrived in LA and went straight to her apartment, crawling into bed with her and holding her close. His blue eyes kept scanning the crowd of elegant black and white perfectly dressed people before his eyes finally landed on her. 

There she was, standing in that mustard yellow suit that she had been so excited about, finding it online when they had been laying in her tiny childhood bed at her dad’s house the week of Thanksgiving. He remembered teasing her that it was the color of dijon mustard but she had just told him that she wasn’t going to take style tips from a guy who’s closet consisted of tee shirts and baseball hats. Chris chuckled at the memory but remembered how she had quickly exited out of the page not long after, making him feel bad about his teasing and apologize for it but Nat had just waved it off, telling him instead that it was much too expensive and promptly forgot about it as she turned her phone off and fell asleep. 

But he hadn’t forgotten and had ordered it while in line for Space Mountain with his family at Disney World and had it sent to her apartment which had resulted in her calling him in tears only minutes after it was delivered. He was happy he had ordered it for her, knowing she looked like a million bucks in it, but more so because he knew it made her happy and anything that brought a smile to her face was worth any price to him. Chris was excited to go over to her, but in this moment he just took a minute to watch the way she animatedly spoke to the small group around her, hands moving wildly and curls shaking as her comically expressive face showed every happy emotion flowing through her. 

He was so in love with her that it almost hurt. 

Chris felt tears in his eyes as he looked around at all she had accomplished seeing each piece on the wall. Sure he knew she was talented, she was one of the lead designers at fucking Pixar which said more than enough for her talent, but there was something about seeing her dedicate so much time to a personal project, seeing her own original art come to life in a different way than on a screen and have every bit of this be hers without influence or help from anyone else. 

As the group stepped aside to look around some more and get some more champagne, Nat’s eyes looked hopefully around the room, her hands moving restlessly at her sides. He watched as she stared at the door, biting her lip as no one she recognized walked in, but as she scanned the room once more, she looked past Scott and Chris quickly before her eyes suddenly jumped back to them, her face lighting up as she finally found him. 

Chris abandoned his glass of champagne and plate on the high-top table and quickly made his way over to Nat’s display, unable to help the smile on his face as she met him halfway and wrapped her arms around him excitedly, the heels on her feet making her too tall for him to rest his chin on her head. His arms embraced her tightly as he squeezed her, feeling nothing but pride as he glanced at the pieces hanging on the wall in front of him. 

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she told him, her voice muffled as she tucked her face down against his shoulder. 

“I am too,” he murmured, eyes still moving over the various pieces before he glanced at her, smiling as she lifted her face and met his eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Nattie. So fucking proud.” 

He saw the emotions swirling through her eyes before her hand rested a hand on his stubbled cheek, his beard not having fully grown back in after he had shaved it for reshoots as Lloyd, before Nat pressed her lips against his that he happily reciprocated. Their kiss didn’t linger being in such a busy public place but he stole one last quick peck before she pulled back, hoping to fully communicate just how deep his pride in her ran. 

Scott had come over during the tender moment and shared his own hug with Nat before she took each of their hands and toured them around the space. Chris felt like an excited puppy, wanting to bounce around with excitement as he got to see each piece of hers here on display and listen to the eloquent and emotional way that she explained each one. He wanted to just stay there and listen to her all night but when a couple had come over wanting to speak with the artist, Chris and Scott took it as their moment to bow out and let Nat work the room in the authentic and charismatic way that was so uniquely her. 

They were back at a table, talking quietly as they looked at other artists’ work from a distance when a familiar group of people approached them, a smile on each of their faces. “Hey, I didn’t realize you guys were already here,” Chris smiled, hugging Lauren in greeting before he shook Mark and Jamie’s hands. 

“We just finished walking through all the other artwork,” Jamie explained, gesturing behind them before he took a sip from his champagne glass. “Have you guys been here long?” 

Chris shook his head as he ate one of the appetizers, his lips flipping into a sheepish smirk as the guys laughed at him eating, then explained to them, “No we just got here a few minutes ago.” 

They all nodded, then Lauren asked Scott, “Where’s Steve? Is he here?” 

Scott sighed and shook his head with a frown on his lips. Chris knew how much they’d all wanted Steve to be able to come tonight, but the plans couldn’t change. “He had to work late so we’re going to come back on Sunday with Chris and Nat so that she can give him the tour of the show then,” he explained to the group. 

Chris jutted his chin over to the other man, asking Mark, “What about you, Mark? Where’s the boyfriend?” 

Their group – of Scott, Steve, Chris, Nat, Jamie, Lauren, Mark, and his partner, Nick – had all become close over the past several months through standing weekly game nights. The guest list changed depending on who was in town, who was busy, and how Lightyear production was doing, with Chris coming in and out as he worked or spent time elsewhere and Nat, Mark, and Jamie occasionally skipping out if their work weeks had been especially high-stress. But overall, they got together at least twice a month at someone’s home, with jokes, drinks, and take out always on the menu. 

Mark frowned, shrugging as he informed Chris, “Things kind of fizzled around Thanksgiving.” 

“Oh I think Nat told me that when we were in Disney World. I’m sorry to hear that,” Chris apologized, shaking his head as he suddenly remembered that nugget of information. It’d slipped his mind after the crazy weeks he had in Washington and Florida, then flying straight to Los Angeles to get back into reshoots before heading home to Massachusetts… all before coming back here. 

“It’s okay, I didn’t really see it going anywhere so I’m not that upset about it,” Mark laughed, shrugging as he sipped his champagne. 

“Well in case you are, I’ll make sure to have plenty of beer stocked tomorrow when you all come over,” Chris offered, laughing when not only Mark, but every person in their group, including Scott, agreed wholeheartedly with his offer. 

They quieted down a bit before Jamie quietly told them all, “Nat really did an incredible job with this show, didn’t she?” 

“She really did,” Lauren agreed as she plucked a piece of lint off of her dress. “And everyone seems to think so from what I’ve heard people saying.” 

“I certainly do,” Chris replied, his voice low as his eyes found Nat from across the room, watching as she explained some of her pieces to a group of guests. “I’m just so fucking amazed at her. I just can’t believe that she did all of this.” 

Jamie knocked Chris’ hip with his elbow as he raised an eyebrow at him, telling Chris, “You’ve got one talented girl there, Evans.” 

“Don’t I know it,” Chris laughed, a smirk on his lips as he continued observing Nat. 

Soon enough, the group launched into catching up with each other. Chris had been so busy earlier in the month when he was out here that he hadn’t seen most of them, so they talked about what they did for Thanksgiving, about how Jamie and Lauren’s kids were, and about how work was going for everyone. It was nice to be back with them, but it was also nice to have a circle of non-industry friends, for once, out here, ones with more normal lives than he and some of his other friends had, where they went home every night to their kids and pets, and most of all weren’t scared to give him some shit but not judge him for what his life had since become, even if it sometimes threw their best friend for a loop sometimes. 

“Are you going to be in California a while, Chris?” Lauren asked as she sipped at a glass of seltzer, a single eyebrow raised as she looked at him. 

“Just for the weekend. I just flew in for Nat’s show and to spend a few days with her but Scott and I are headed back to Boston on Monday for a few weeks for Christmas,” Chris explained, knowing he and Nat were eating up any last visits they could get before the start of his busy season coming in a few weeks. “I’m already looking forward to New Year’s though.” 

“We are too,” Mark assured Chris, an excited look on his face as his hands began gesturing wildly. “That’s pretty much all we’ve been talking about during lunch at work ever since Nat invited us a couple weeks ago.” 

Scott laughed and Chris couldn’t help but tell the group, “We always used to go skiing on New Year’s in Vermont when we were younger and have been doing it for a few years again now so we thought it’d be fun to continue the tradition in Washington.” 

“I honestly thought that when Nat invited us, she’d be inviting us to the East Coast. I kind of figured you’d be spending Christmas together,” Jamie divulged, his voice low and quiet as the rest of the group murmured in agreement. 

“We talked about it but with me not being with my family on Thanksgiving and Nat having her new nephew and everything we thought it just made sense for us each to have Christmas with our families,” Chris explained, knowing they’d both instantly wanted to spend Christmas with their own families. He had been relieved that Nat was so willing to split Christmas after spending Thanksgiving together, but there was something else he was looking forward to as he told everyone, “There will be plenty of Christmases in the future that we’ll spend together.” 

“With the way Nat talks, I’m sure that’s true,” Mark laughed with a knowing look on his face. 

Lauren raised a single brow as she looked at Chris from across the high-top table, pointing out, “It seems like things are getting kind of serious between you two.” 

“Yeah, Nat told us what a hit you were at Thanksgiving,” Jamie agreed, a smirk on his lips as the rest of the group nodded and Scott laughed. Chris shook his head, looking down at the white tablecloth as a group of people passed them without a second glance. “It sounds like you officially were accepted into the Marton family.” 

Mark scowled, a twinkle in his eyes as he shrugged and spoke, “I don’t know about that, I mean, the Marton’s like you so…” 

“I’m also not Nat’s boyfriend,” Jamie laughed as he shook his head, then his expression turned sincere as he met Chris’ eyes. “I honestly thought after Shane that they’d be really giving the side eye to any guy she brought home so you obviously won them over.” 

“I genuinely like them all. They’re a great family and I’m so glad I get to be around them,” Chris told the group without a hint of hesitation. He truly enjoyed getting to spend time with Nat’s family, especially in the place that she’d grown up. They’d welcomed him with open arms and he’d never take that for granted, especially after – as Jamie said – the ringer that Shane put them all through. But having spent time back in Washington with them, watching football games throughout the week, taking the kids on walks around the neighborhood with Nat, running to the grocery store with Ryan and Zach… it all just had felt so right that he couldn’t imagine spending his life with anyone else but her. 

“God, you’re in so deep,” Scott muttered as he rolled his eyes, but the hint of a smile on his face betrayed him. “Poor Nattie.” 

Lauren laughed, a smirk on her lips as she interjected, “I don’t think that Nat seems to mind that he is.” 

Chris heard the round of laughter that went through the group before the subject changed to some of the latest funny stories from the office but not for the first time that night, Chris felt his mind wandering. His eyes flickered back over to where Nat was, laughing loudly and expressively chatting and those words Scott had just said, echoed in his mind. You’re in so deep. And boy was that true. 

There wasn’t hardly anything that he didn’t imagine in the future without thinking about if Nat would be able to be there or what she would think of it when he told her. He wondered if Nat would be able to come out to Boston for more extended time next fall once he was done with Lightyear and The Gray Man press, or if he would be out here in California. Although he wasn’t planning on proposing yet, the thought of them getting married wasn’t far from his mind because he already knew that she was the one for him in every way, shape and form. 

The whole group lingered around longer, taking in all the art and getting to talk with Nattie in spurts throughout the night but as it was growing later, each of their friends started filtering out while Chris stayed until the last glass of champagne was empty and the gallery was closing its doors. He finally got to have his arm slung around Nat’s shoulders as they walked down the street to her car, climbing in and heading back to his home in the Hollywood Hills. 

They were both quiet for a bit as she drove, enjoying the silence of the car after a long few hours of non-stop chatting. But before long, Chris glanced to the side, watching Nat as she drove with a faint smile on his lips, whispering, “Now I finally get to have the famous artist all to myself.” 

“I think the word famous is pretty exaggerated,” she laughed, but a smile made its way onto her face as she shifted into the turn lane, rolling to a stop at an intersection. 

“Well certainly the most talented,” Chris murmured, meaning every word of it. He was practically bursting with pride the whole night, knowing how much work she’d poured into this night, the countless hours of painting, then followed by stress over the layout of the pieces, all culminating in a few hectic days. “Your art is the only stuff that anyone wanted to see.” 

But Nat shook her head and shrugged off his praise by explaining, “Only because I was the featured artist and the other stuff had been there since the beginning of December.”

“I’m trying to brag about my girl here and all you’re doing is shooting me down!” He laughed, sitting up a bit straighter as she turned onto his dark street. 

“Your ego is already so big enough for the both of us,” she retorted with a chuckle, laughing at the mock-insulted look on Chris’ face as she reached for the garage door opener on her visor.

“Glad to see you haven’t lost your sarcasm now that you’re famous,” Chris replied as she pulled into the garage, next to his Tesla. He let out a yawn as she turned off her car, the pair each unbuckling and climbing out of the car to head inside. 

They’d barely stepped into his home when Nat slipped off her heels with a relieved sigh, but the smile she gave him when they caught each other’s eyes made his entire night. He stepped closer to her, slipping his arms around her waist just as hers looped around his neck, gazing up at him with a tired but happy smile. 

Chris leaned down, pressing his lips to hers and finally giving her the long kiss that he’d been wanting to all night. He felt her relax even more against him, a tiny sigh escaping her before she smiled into the kiss and caused him to do the same. His hands pressed into the small of her back as they pulled apart, and Chris shook his head faintly to himself as he looked down at his girl. 

“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby,” he couldn’t help but tell her again. “I just kept looking over at you thinking, ‘that’s my Nattie’ and I just was so amazed at you tonight.” 

“I’m just so happy that people actually showed up,” she laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. Her hand slowly made its way up and rested on the nape on his neck, her nails gently scratching his skin absentmindedly. “I honestly was nervous that nobody would come, but then I also was nervous that people would come and then hate it.” 

“Nobody did. I saw the looks on people’s faces and they loved it, Nat. Your work is beautiful and emotional and I guess I’d say even sensitive, but honestly it’s just fun,” he rambled, knowing just how much everyone had to enjoy her work. She had a tiny grin on her face, but her hand suddenly stopped its path up and down his neck as she leaned up, pressing another long, soft kiss to his lips. When they pulled apart, he pressed his lips to her forehead and told her quietly, “And it’s just like you. That’s exactly who you are and I just love you Nattie, and I’m so proud.” 

“That means so much to me,” she truthfully replied, her eyes tired but full of pride. “And I love you too, but I think you already knew that.” 

He shrugged, smirking as he mused, “I may have heard a rumor about something like that.” 

Nat pecked his lips again before she pulled her arms back to her sides and sighed, informing Chris, “I think after such a big night I deserve something to celebrate.” 

“I’ve got some champagne in the kitchen,” Chris suggested, raising a brow at her as he let go of her.

But there was a mischievous look on her face as she amended, “I was thinking more like ice cream.” 

“There’s my Nattie,” Chris laughed, slapping her ass lightly as he nodded towards the hall to his room. “Let’s go change and then I’ll grab that good chocolate stuff out of the freezer.” 

And that’s exactly where they ended up once they both had changed into sweatpants, Nat having wiped her face free of makeup and hair wrangled up before they plopped on the couch. Chris had sat with his feet up on the coffee table while Nat curled up next to him with her knees up, Chris reaching out to pull her legs across his lap before opening the carton of ice cream as they both dug in with their spoons. 

“I sent a bunch of pictures of your show to my family and they told me to tell you how great it looked,” he murmured, his voice low as they mindlessly half-watched an episode of The Office. He felt Nat’s head turn against his shoulder to look at him, adding, “Ma said she’s sad that she couldn’t see it in person but I told her that she’ll get to see the feature piece next time she comes out.” 

“My three main pieces? Actually she won’t see those, they all sold,” she informed him, but soon enough her brow furrowed and she frowned, whispering, “Chris… you didn’t…” 

He felt a blush spread across his cheeks and he gave her a timid smile before he explained, “I actually tried, but I could only get the big one. I got beat out by other people.” And it was the truth – he was so blown away by her art, by the culmination of almost four months of her hard work coming to life that he had wanted every piece. He was tired of everything he had here except for the family pictures anyways, and what better way to have his home refreshed than by his favorite artist? But when he’d gone to officially purchase them, there was only one piece left, and while it was certainly his favorite of them all and he could envision it hanging in either his dining room here or above the piano. 

“Really?” She asked, her brows raised as her eyes softened. 

“Yeah, that couple you were talking to for a while bought a lot of your pieces,” he told her, a sideways grin on his face as he remembered them introducing themselves to Nat, knowing that she had to have made quite the impression to have them purchase so much of her work after only an evening. “When I found out I couldn’t get the three main ones, I was going to buy one of the others but they were all sold too.” 

“I can’t even believe that,” she whispered, her hand sliding up from his lap to rest on his chest. She was quiet as she dipped her spoon into the ice cream, eating it for a moment before she added, “And I can’t believe you bought one.” 

“Well you painted it in my house, it seems only right that it stay here,” he shrugged, leaning his head back against the fluffy couch cushion. He abandoned his spoon, letting Nat finish the carton as he yawned and murmured, “Although I was really hoping for those other two for my place in Boston.” 

She chuckled as she ate the last spoonful of ice cream, leaning forward to put the empty pint and their spoons on the coffee table. “Luckily for you, you’ve got an in with the artist so I bet she’d paint you something,” she suggested to him, smirking as Chris laughed. 

“You think she would? She’s kind of a big deal now so I’m not sure that she’ll have time,” he told her, sighing with a grin. 

She cuddled back up against him, a comfortable sigh escaping them both as his arm wrapped around her, his hand holding her hip. “I have a feeling she’d make time for you,” she assured Chris. 

A smile crossed his lips at her words, feeling so touched that he got to be that special person in her life. He had known so many wonderful people in his life and he truly felt so privileged by that, but Nat seemed to be in her own category. Chris was just so in awe of her in every way. Sure he loved her creativity, but there was so much more to her than that. She was the most sensitive and authentic person he’d just about ever met. She knew how to say what she was feeling and speak so much truth while also simultaneously being the biggest cheerleader of everyone in her life. He loved everything about her but tonight he got to see that beautiful creative soul on display and shining so brightly. 

“Nattie, I just loved getting to see your show tonight but what I really loved was seeing the whole process,” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper but at her hum, he couldn’t help but feel encouraged and want to tell her what he’d been thinking for the last several hours. He was just so in awe of Nat and her talent, and he knew she’d never be satisfied with herself, but she defied expectations and blew past any misconceptions, proving her talent to not only every person in that gallery tonight, but also to herself. “It felt really special to see you sketching out the ideas for the theme on that receipt when we were out to dinner that night back in September to get to watch you actually bring it to life and now see it hanging in that gallery.” 

“It was so much more rewarding than I even realized,” she agreed with him, shrugging with a tiny smile on her lips. “I loved having the show and all of that, but I almost forgot just how good it feels to be creating again.” 

His lips flicked up into a grin, assuring Nat, “I’m pretty sure you create every day.” 

“Yeah, but doing it for work is different. This was painting and bringing something to life that I decided. It was a piece of myself that I put into those pieces and when I was creating them it just felt… centering almost,” she explained to him, struggling to be able to fully put it into words but he understood where she was coming from, knowing how it felt with his own creative appetite in acting and bringing characters to life.

“I can understand that,” Chris began, nodding as he mulled over her words, a slight frown on his lips. He shrugged, knowing how much of an outlet that the art show had given her over the last several months, but it didn’t mean she needed to keep putting her life aside for her work. “I know you love creating for Pixar but it’s still a job.” 

“Exactly. A job I love but still a job,” Nat nodded before motioning with her hands before she finished her thought, “So it’s completely different just creating purely for the sake of creating and it just felt good,” 

“I think you should do more things like this in the future,” Chris began, and at the slight frown on Nat’s lips he rushed to explain, “Not even doing shows necessarily but just creating more or even selling them if you want to.” 

“I’d like to, it’s just hard to have a lot of time for it when we’re closer to finishing on a movie at work because usually by the time I get home, I’m so exhausted or on the weekends usually we’re together,” Nat acknowledged while reaching up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, Chris being able to see her sudden deflation as she thought about the future for her. 

“It seems like something you should prioritize though, Nattie,” he encouraged, wanting nothing more than for Nat to finally do something outside of Pixar that made her creatively fulfilled. “It makes you so happy.” 

She was quiet for a moment, thinking over his words before smiling softly as she reached out to play with his fingers, staring at his hand and telling him, “I think you’re right. I love animation and digital art but it just feels good to paint.” 

Chris smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead as he squeezed her against him. “And if you ever need a place to store your finished paintings, the walls of my house would be a really good place for them,” he reminded her, smirking as Nat burst into laughter. 

And although Nat had just used the phrase moments earlier to describe painting, Chris thought her phrase of something just feeling good was the best way to describe how he felt when he was with her. While Chris wasn’t sure exactly what the future would look like in the day to day, the one thing he was completely sure of was that no matter what happened in their lives, he wanted their days to end like this - with them together. 

A/N: We hope you enjoyed this part of their story! We loved getting to share some of Nat's talents and loved writing it from Chris' perspective. Just as a quick disclaimer - we know that at this time in the US (and specifically CA), COVID was rampant. For the purposes of the story and plot, we are focusing more on the big picture vs the restrictions at the time. We don't want to be insensitive, but we also think that after the last 3 years, we all deserve a little bit of a break from that!

[happylandfill23]

hey babes x

welcome to my lovely little dumpster that may or may not be on fire hope ya have a great stay! here's a lil about me woohoo

☆ i'm ember aka the evil bisexual alien from pluto. or something. use whatever pronouns 4 me idc go wild

☆ i luv making art!! my art tag is styrofoamm if ya wanna check it out <3

☆ FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 don't forget to do your daily click! and here are palestinian blogs that have reached out to me

☆ more about me under the cut xoxo

where can u find me??? other than the bog. ofc

☆ my other blogs! -- @styrofoamm (art blog), @ask-cyberdevils (oc ask blog), @murdocniccalsreactionimages (exactly what it sounds like), and cyberdevils' blogs totally not mine - @gu1t4rf41ry (pixie), @acexofxspades (ace), and @shags-shags (shags)

☆ youtube (i post song covers n art-related stuff mainly. but i also just kind of do whatever y'know a bit like this blog but probably slightly less annoying probably)

☆ spotify (self explanitory. js playlists no original music btw lol)

for a more comprehensive list/info on my tagging system, here's my links page from my custom blog setup :] (there's fun stuff in there!!)

i have a lot of interests. yay

☆ damon albarn's numerous projects (gorillaz, blur, the good the bad & the queen, solo music, etc) as well as jamie hewlett's numerous projects (gorillaz once again, tank girl, phoo action/get the freebies, the 16s even tho there's not much content of it i just think they're neat dot jpeg, etc)

☆ manic street preachers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

☆ more britpop/britpop-adjacent stuff (elastica!!!!!!, suede, pulp, lush, oasis, the stone roses, etc etc)

☆ other music too (bikini kill, nine inch nails, björk, fiona apple, skinny puppy, einstürzende neubauten, joy division, siouxsie and the banshees, david bowie, MF DOOM, mars argo, nirvana, julie, my chemical romance, poppy, radiohead, and i'm going to stop now. sorry there's so many jesus fuck)

☆ the mighty boosh!!!!!! (vince noir ily. my special little princess)

☆ scott pilgrim :] (the comics, the movie, and the series! especially the series actually. never played the video game tho)

☆ um i luv comic stuff. and i plan on making comics in the future. i like a lot of comic stuff (tank girl, scott pilgrim as i mentioned b4, heartstopper, the st. hell series, nimona, the junji ito collection, etc) i also like reading books in general (some faves r the bell jar, solitaire, the spirit bares its teeth, and no longer human)

☆ daria/beavis and butthead

☆ i like movies too. woohoo (tank girl, rocky horror picture show, scott pilgrim again lol, velvet goldmine, american psycho, the machinist, perfect blue, nimona, labyrinth, corpse bride, atomic blonde, and other stuff too i'm avoiding saying 'etc' again bcuz i've said it a lot)

☆ moomin! as u can tell from my moomin cookie dividers yippee hooray (ily moomin shop i hope i go again soon <3) ← how did the text gwt that small holy shit

☆ skins uk <3 (my fav is gen 1 :] my fav character is probably cassie but i luv maxxie n jal)

☆ collecting objects such as records/cds (maybe i'll show off my respective collections of those sometime), buttons, soda can tabs, cool rocks, small broken pieces of things that used to be something such as zippers or little fake rhinestones or perhaps the tops of acorns

☆ goin 2 concerts!! in order (4 the most part) i've seen (not counting th openers) -- taylor swift (oh yeah ember lore i was super into her as a kid), depeche mode (2x), the rolling stones, queen w/ adam lambert, gorillaz, julie (2x), foo fighters, bikini kill, fontaines d.c., and paul mccartney!! my next stops r hopefully deftones, poppy, and/or pixies

ok that's enough interests 4 now figure everything else out on yr own lmao

currently reading: self-portraits by osamu dazai (god i need 2 finish that book i've done such a shit job reading recently)

currently watching: the day of the jackal, limmy's show!, the mighty boosh

currently listening to on perpetual loop: ana's song (open fire) by silverchair, for tomorrow by blur, revolving doors by gorillaz

spotify playlist of my current faves (hopefully i'll remember to update it regularly lmao)

that's all!

thanks 4 stoppin by lol i hope i haven't scared u off yet with my strange demeanor xx

divider here!

[andydrysdalerogers]

Sliding Into Home ~ It's A Ruff Life

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, S~M~U~T!!, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

Dividers by me

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: Not Just A Pretty Face

Sliding Into Home Master List Main Masterlist

“Where are we going?” 

“Places.”  

“Frank!” 

“Mary!” 

“Abby, where are we going?” 

“Surprise.”  

“Scott!” 

“Same answer.”  

Mary crossed her arms. “I don’t like this.”  She huffed her indignation and stared out the window.  

“Can’t you just trust me Nugget?” Frank looked back at her through the mirror.  “You don’t even know if it is good or bad.”  

“If you’re not telling me, then it’s bad.” Mary’s eyes widen.  “Are you sending me away?” 

“What?!” All three adults gave her a look.  

“Why would you think that Nugget?” Abby asked.  The bruising on her face had almost disappeared, just a few lingering lines left.  She still had to be gentle with her ribs, but her wrist had been removed from the cast and now just in a brace.  

“Because you’re not telling me where we are going or what we are doing.” Mary’s eyes glassed over. “Am I in trouble?” 

Frank calmly pulled over onto the side of the street and climbed out.  He opened Mary’s door and crouched down to her. “Mary, why are you thinking that?” She shrugged. “Mary, you have to be the most loved little girl in the whole world.” He undid her seatbelt so he could hold her close. “This is just a surprise. I won’t let anyone hurt you or take you away from us, ok?” 

Mary looked at him as two tears fell. “Promise?” 

“I promise Nugget. I love you, ok?” 

“Love you too Frank.”  She hugged his harder. “I wish you were my real dad,” she whispered against his chest. Frank’s heart clenched and he hugged her a little tighter. He couldn’t respond. When he felt her calm down, he pulled back.  

“Ready to trust me?”  She nodded and climbed back into her seat. Frank closed her door and took a moment.  Scott and Abby hadn’t heard Mary and he wasn’t going to bring attention to it. He wanted to be her father but feared that Mary would resent him at taking away her chance to find her real father.  But if what Diane had said was true, Mary’s father needed to stay far away from them.  He walked back to the driver's side and climbed in.  

“Everything all right, love?” Abby studied her husband.  Five years apart and she could still read him.  She could tell something upset him but he wasn’t distraught, so it wasn’t anything bad.  

“I’m alright Cricket,” he flashed her a smile.  “I’m just happy.” He put the car back into drive and took off.  

Arriving at their destination, Mary jumped out of the car.  “We’re at the animal shelter?!?” 

“Yep,” Frank said.  He offered his hand, and she took it. “I thought we would volunteer today.”  He walked them to the front.  “Hi, I’m Frank Adler and this is my family. Director Barnes is expecting us.”  

The receptionist batted her eyelashes, much to Abby’s annoyance, but she remained silent.  “Right this way, Mr. Adler,” the receptionist said, with a rather breathy tone.  

They followed the woman and opened the door to see a man seated at a desk, a large golden Labrador at his feet. Mary squealed when she saw the dog.  “Can I pet him?” 

Director Barnes smiled. “Of course, he’s very friendly. He’s name is Winter.” He watched the little girl bend down to pet his dog.  “You must be Mr. Adler.” He offered his hand. “I’m James Barnes.”  

He shook his hand. “Please call me Frank.  This is my wife Abby and my best friend Scott. The troublemaker on the floor is Mary.”  

Abby caught the eye of the receptionist, who was frowning at the introduction of Abby as Frank’s wife and Abby smirked a little.  Back off bitch, she thought as the receptionist retreated back to the front.  She turned back just as the director was offering his hand to her.  “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barnes,” she said.  

“Likewise, but please call me James.” After shaking hands with Scott, Director Barnes moved to the door. “Well, I know we talked about volunteering so follow me.  Its playtime for the dogs so you will be helping with that.” He guided the group to a large outdoor area.  “So, the rules are simple: toss, tug or run with the dogs.  They should all be friendly, but they might nip since we currently have a lot of younger dogs who are still learning.  If you need help, I’ll be back in about twenty, but our staff will be in the yard with you.  Have fun.”  

Mary let out another squeal of delight as a horde of dogs, some puppies, some older, raced into the yard.  They attacked the group with jumps and licks as they battled for attention.  Frank sat down and was ran over with puppies, his laughs loud as he was attacked.  Mary ran around as a group followed her.  Abby and Scott were like Frank, sitting on the floor, playing.  

They spent an hour playing with the dogs before helping the staff with feeding time.  But one puppy in particular followed Mary around any time she moved.  When Mary sat, the puppy climbed into her lap and stayed there, even when she was petting another dog. Frank went up to the director.  “What kind of dog is that?”  

“It’s a golden retriever.” The director smiled. “That one is very attached to your daughter.”  

Frank opened his mouth to correct him but decided to let it go. “Is it up for adoption?” 

“He is.” James checked his tablet.  “He’s the last of a litter that came in a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the mother died but a couple of good Samaritans saw the puppies and brought them in.  He was the runt, but he grew once he got some attention.  Funny enough, the staff named him Dodger, because he would dodge them when they tried to treat him.”  

All of the dogs were eating but the little guy wouldn’t budge from Mary’s lap. Mary decided to hand feed him and he ate his kibble right there. Frank crouched next to them. “You like him, Mary?” 

“He’s so fluffy.” Mary bent her head so her cheek could be against his fur. “He’s a cuddler.”  

“Would you like to take him home?” Frank smiled as Mary’s head whipped around to look at him.  

“Seriously?” 

“Seriously.”  

“I can take him home? Like for forever?“ Mary’s eyes began to glass over again, this time with happy tears.  

“Yeah, Nugget, for forever. But you have to promise to help take care of him. Walks, clean up, baths, everything.  Like you said, you’re nine now. Practically a grown up.” Frank scratched the puppy under his chin and received a few kisses in returned. “We got a deal?” He held out his hand.  

“Deal!”  Mary picked up the puppy in her arms and dove into Frank’s for a hug. Dodger was in between and squirmed to get free, licking both of faces.  Mary pulled away to show off her new puppy to Abby and Scott.  Frank stood up with a smile.  

“Ready for the paperwork?” James clapped Frank’s shoulder.  

“Let’s do it.  

A few days later and Frank was waiting on his family to get to the car to take them to the airport. “Let’s go!”  

“But what about Dodger? I can’t leave him here,” Mary said tearily.  

“Mary, he’s going with us,” Abby said. “Its why Frank got us a private flight.” She hugged her niece. “He’s still too little to stay home and we’re not about to leave anyone behind for this All Star game.”  Abby stood up. “Two minutes Frankie!” She ran back up the stairs. 

Mary smiled.  “Ok! Then I need to get his bag together.”  

Frank tilted his head in the air. “For the love of God, can we please get moving!” 

“Stressed, Frankie Boy?” 

Frank looked out the door to see Johnny and his sister smiling at him. “Hey guys, welcome to casa Chaos.” 

Dodger chooses that moment to make an appearance at Frank’s feet. “Oh my god, look at that precious little bean,” Sue squeals as she bends to pet him.  

“Dodger!” Mary comes screaming out of the hallway with the dog’s bag.  “Have you... Johnny!” 

“Hey Strawberry! Oof!” He catches Mary as she launches herself at him. Johnny adjust her in his arms. “Now, who were you calling for?” 

“My puppy!” She pointed down to where Sue and Dodger are on the floor.  “He’s coming with us since he’s still a baby.”  

"Nice. I like the name too!” Johnny put her down and looks back at Frank.  “I thought we had to leave at 1?” 

“We do, but try telling my wife, niece and best friend that.”  

“I’m here,” Scott said breathlessly.  “Ha! I beat Abby out!” 

“Not fair, I had to pack for three!” Abby yelled from upstairs.  

“I packed myself!” Frank yelled.  

“And who packed our niece?!” 

“Fuck,” he muttered, admitting defeat.  

“That’s a dollar for the swear jar,” Mary sings.  

“It’s a quarter,” Frank retorts.  

“Abby said for the f-word it’s a dollar so maybe you will learn not to use it so much,” she sassed back.  She grabbed the dog’s bag and the leash, clipping it on before taking Dodger down to the SUV that was taking them to the airport.  

“Abigail Cecilia Hernandez-Adler!” Frank yelled up the stairs.  “Let’s go!” 

“Did you just government name me?” 

“Yes and you just cost me a dollar to the swear jar with your stupid rule change so get your ass down here now!” 

“I need help with the bags Franklin!” 

“Fuck my life.”  He turned to move and pointed as his friends.  “Anyone tell Mary I said that, I will make you fly commercial home.”  

Arriving in Boston later that night, Frank carried a sleeping Mary down the steps to the waiting SUVs. He stopped mid staircase and smiled.  “Cricket, we have surprise weloming party.”  

“What do you mean by...” Abby stopped.  “Papi, mami!” She raced down the stairs and into the arms of her father.  

“Mi hija (my daughter),” William Hernandez said as he cradled his youngest child. “Welcome home!” 

“I missed you papi,” Abby cried as she held onto her dad before letting go and hugging her mother Ana. “Oh Mami.”  

“Mi bebita (my baby), you look so much better now.” Ana cradled her daughter’s face. “I’m sorry we couldn’t make it out to you.”  

“Its ok Mami. I had a good husband who took care of me.” She smiled before looking at Frank.  

“Mr and Mrs Hernandez,” he said. He shifted Mary to offer his hand but Ana pulled him in.  

“Stop it Frank. Its either William and Ana or Dad and Mom, mi hijo (my son).” She hugged him the best she could with Mary in his arms.  Frank shakes William’s hand before moving to put Mary in the car.  “She is getting bigger every time I see her.”  

“I know, she’s growing like a weed,” Abby giggles.  She sees movement in the corner of her eye.  “Oh! Mami, Papi, let me introduce you to Johnny Storm and his sister Susan and of course you know Scott.”  Handshakes around until Ana notices the fur ball on the floor.  “And that is our newest addition, Dodger.”  

“Que Lindo!” Ana scoops him up into her arms. “Are you staying at the hotel?” 

“Just for the two days of All Star stuff,” Frank said, “we’ll be at the house for the two days before and after.”  

“Perfect, then tomorrow dinner is at our house,” Ana said. “The whole family is in town to watch you, mi hijo. Johnny, Sue, of course you are welcome to join us.” The siblings nodded.  

Abby covered her mouth to squeal, not wanting to wake Mary. “My brothers?” 

“Everyone, bebita. We’re gonna head home and let you get our Mary to bed.  We’ll see you tomorrow?” 

“Of course Ana,” Frank said. “Mary’s been blabbering to see her abuleos (grandparents).”  

Abby’s parents waved as they walked to the car and everyone piled into the cars. “Are you sure its cool that we crash with you guys?” Johnny asked.  

“Of course,” Abby said.  “I would love to show you both around our hometown.” Abby smiled but inside she was nervous.  She hadn’t been back to this house since she had left almost six years prior. Her leg bounced and she clenched her fingers. Frank reached over and gently pulled her fingers apart.  

“Talk to me Cricket.”  

Abby’s lip wobbled a little.  “Haven’t been back to this house since...” 

Frank smiled softly. “I understand.” He kissed her hand. “It’ll be ok.”  

Pulling up to the house that she and Frank had started, Abby was thrown back to the day they bought it.  

Eight Years Earlier 

Abby stared at the house. “It’s big.”  

“Yep.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“We need the room, Cricket.”  

“No, we don’t.”  

“Yes, we do.”  

“Why?” 

“For our babies.” Frank smiled down at his girl. “We’ll have babies some day and I want this to be our forever home. Mary will be a big sister to them one day.”  

She smiled softly. “Promise?” 

“Promise. This will be our next adventure.” 

Abby walked through the door and it was as if time stood still. Their carefully chosen furniture, artwork, even some of the photographs were exactly as she left them. Her breath hitched with emotion.  

Frank let her have the moment. “I’m just going to put her down,” he said softly, kissing her shoulder. “Scott is showing Johnny and Sue to the guest rooms. I had the service open the rooms. Take your time, Cricket.”  

Abby walked the room and touched everything, needed to feel to make it real. This home that they had built themselves, made theirs and she just walked out, leaving it behind. She walked to the shelves and saw all the pictures of Mary growing up but one was in the back that caught her attention.  She picked it up and stared at it.  It was of her and Frank, at the Red Sox benefit, the first year he was with the team.  

“I couldn’t get rid of it.” Frank leaned in the doorway. “You looked so beautiful that night. It was...” 

“I remember.” Abby smiled. It was the first time they made love. She blinked to focus her eyes. “Frankie, I’m sorry.”  

Frank walked to her and lifted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her back to their bedroom and placed her on her feet by the bed. Cupping her face, Frank stared into her deep brown eyes, eyes that had always captivated and made him feel like he could lose himself. He didn’t know what to say, so he bent forward and captured her lips with his. Abby wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer.  

“Help me,” he rasped. “Help me erase all of the bad memories from this house, Cricket.”  

“Yes,” she whispered. Frank smiled against her lips and lifted her up again so he could lay her on the bed and stay on top of her. He gripped the back of her head to hold her in place as he placed open mouth kisses along her chin and neck.  She let out a low moan.  

“Quiet, baby. We have company.”  

“I can’t Frankie,” she groaned. “You feel so good on top of me.”  

Frank was holding himself off of her slightly, conscious of her ribs. “I’m not hurting you, right?” 

“No.”  

“Good.” He rolled his hips against her pelvis, and she arched, the feeling of his rock hard member against her heated core. As she exposed her neck, he took to the opportunity to nibble and lick down her chest.  

“I need you,” she moaned, trying to keep her voice down.  

“You have me. You’ve always had me, my love. My Cricket. My Abby.”  

They helped each other remove their clothes, Frank taking every opportunity to kiss Abby’s skin, remarking her as his. Abby couldn’t stop touching him, her feather-like touches sending bolts of lighting through his body.  He hadn’t touched her since the assault. He had been afraid to, scared to put her in more pain. But now, here in the home they made together, he was determined to put their relationship back to where it was before.  

Frank stared down at his love, her body open to him, miles of smooth, olive skin that had a slight tone of pink from her being heated. “Can I taste you?” 

“You don’t have to ask,” she said.  

“I won’t take from you anymore. Not after...” he stopped. “I’ll always ask Abigail. You’re my equal and I’ll protect you.  You’re mine.” Abby gasped at his words as Frank positions himself in front of her pussy.  “Am I yours?” 

“Mine,” she gasped as he licked from the bottom to the top. “Frankie,” she cried softly.  

Frank sucked and licked until he brought her to her first orgasm. “Fuck, you always taste amazing.  But I need to be inside you now.”  

“Yes, yes please,” she begged.  Frank flipped them to have her on top. “Why?”  

“I don’t want to hurt your ribs, baby.  Sink down on me.” He helped her lower himself onto him.  “Your pace Cricket. Take what you need.”  

She rocked back and forth as he held her hips to steady her. “Touch me,” she pleaded quietly. “I need you to touch me.”  

“Tell me where.” 

“My breasts,” she whined. “My clit, anywhere, Frankie. Just... ahh,” she cried as he took her breasts in his hands. He tweaks and pinched, watching as Abby’s head dropped back. He let his left hand wander down and his thumb pressed against her clit. He could see her about to wail so he clamped a hand over her mouth.  She looked down at him with wide eyes.  

“You have to be quiet,” he said with a smirk. He moved his hand away from her mouth and to her neck to pull her down to him.  He kissed her softly, distracting her when he pushed his hips up into her. He let go of her clit to pull her hips down on him. The action made his pelvis brush against her, giving her the stimulation to finish.  

“Frankie,” she mumbled against her lips.  

“Go,” he urged. “I’ve got you Cricket. I’ll catch you. Let go baby.”  

With a soft cry, she detonated around him, squeezing him as he helped her through, trying to reach his own end. After a couple of thrusts up, he released with his own groan in her ear, pumping her full.  

As he stopped, the only sounds that were made were from them catching their breath.  Frank held her close, staying inside of her, needing to feel the closeness.  “I love you, Cricket.” He kissed her head.  

“I love you too Frankie.” She smiled as she snuggled into him.  

“Welcome home Cricket. Its finally home again.”  

Next

A/N: The results are in and we finally meet Dodger! Also, I have no idea what's up with the taglist but hopeful doing it like this helps.

Taglist:

@patzammit

@texmexdarling

@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@before-we-get-started

@tinkerbelle67

@jennmurawski13-writes

@bunnyforhim

[thelastgenderbender]

As stated in my bio, I do NOT answer asks on this blog. Send them to my personal blog @levil0vesyou instead! DMs are fine tho

[Plain text: "As stated in my bio, I do not answer asks on this blog. Send them to my personal blog @levil0vesyou instead! DMs are fine though" End pt.]

Blog directory

So this is only my technical main (due to Tumblr Circumstances, i won't bore you) but I do actually have a lot of blogs, some of them relatively active.

@levil0vesyou is my personal/misc blog, I also sometimes call it my main even though it never was on either account

@quarks-pussy is my star trek blog, despite the url it's not 18+ or purely nsfw

@selfrighteousflowers is my cartoon blog (only cartoons aimed at younger audiences tho, adult cartoons go on the misc nowadays) and also lazytown

@dmitri-ilyich-volodin is my podcast blog (also also Cabin Pressure sometimes)

@thebitchlapin (formerly at-the-thistlespring-tree) is my Dimension 20/Dropout blog

@eating-your-beans is my NBC Community blog (and also Mythic Quest)

@system-arbeitet-korrekt is my StarStarSpace (and occasionally other coldmirror stuff) blog

@not-a-sesame-street-sideblog (added Nov 5th '23) mostly dormant (as of Aug 24th '24)

@transwomansambeckett Quantum Leap (the original one, tho theoretically the reboot would go here too if I watched it) blog (created Nov 18th '23)

@move-over-nine-its-fifteen-time Doctor Who and adjacent media (added June 23rd '24 but existed for a while, I just failed to consistently update this post)

@faggot-md House MD blog (same note as above)

@shortkingchilchuck Dungeon Meshi (same note as above)

@ghoul-for-lucys-dad-2296 Fallout, mostly show so far but I've started playing 4 now so y'know (same note as above) (mostly dormant as of Aug 24th '24 tho I'll use it again if I ever get around to playing New Vegas)

@2-dead-boys-and-1-sad-psychic Dead Boy Detectives (same note as above)

@lines-in-your-trailer Scott Pilgrim, not particularly active (same note as above)

@watchingiasiptoimpressmycrush It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (same note as above)

@grape-flavoured-wizard I honestly don't know how to explain this one either. (same note as above) (dormant. sorry)

@your-creepy-old-guy Beetlejuice but specifically and exclusively the musical version. Not really more than two or so reblogs from other blogs of mine yet but maybe next time I rewatch my favourite slime tutorial of it I'll start posting properly (same note as above)

@hawkeye-mpreg Mash, obviously. Like the trek blog, not actually 18+ despite the url (same note as above except midnight passed in my time zone so now it's June 24th)

@lassiesloveoflarping Psych blog (added July 6th '24) and I do blame @/under-loch-n-key personally /pos

@hashtag-dads (added Oct 11th '24 after being un-shadowbanned) Dan and Phil blog because I felt it might start being annoying to my personal blog followers how often I post about them there

@fun-burakhovsky-vacation (created and added December 31st '24) Pathologic blog. I haven't finished P2 yet (and don't really plan on playing 1 tho I ofc watched hbomb's book report many times) and 3 isn't out yet but the characters have already moved into my brain rent free and I need somewhere to put posts about them

I have a ton of other side blogs, both on this and on the old account, some of them are simply saved urls, (tumblr made me delete those and then some because they think people still use this site so I'm not allowed to "hoard") some are discontinued and some are secret for a variety of reasons - though I assure you, those reasons are mostly comedy.

I don't exactly have a dni per se but if you have shitty views or I otherwise don't like you, I might block you lol

Last added new blog: December 31st 2024

Last edited this post outside that: December 31st 2024

[sunnyie-eve]

9 | He did it

Series: Indispensable | Teen Wolf

Paring:  (Stiles Stilinski x OFC Martin)

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: Might be a few mistakes

| MASTERLIST |

~~~

"Did I miss anything?" I ask as the guys come out for practice.

"Scott said there's another werewolf on the team." Stiles whispers as I move closer to them.

"Who?" I ask looking around at the team.

"I couldn't tell who it was." Scott tells us.

"What if you can get him one-on-one? Would that help?" Stiles asks him.

"Yeah." Scott agrees making Stiles get up rushing off with an idea.

"Who could it be?" I keep looking at all they guys.

"We'll find out soon. I guess." Scott sighs as Stiles runs back.

"I told coach you're switching with Danny for the day." Stiles lets Scott know.

"But I hate playing goal." Scott tells them and I catch on.

"Remember when Stiles said he had an idea? That is the idea." I tell Scott.

"Oh." He nods his head.

"There we go." Stiles tells him.

"What's the idea?" Scott asks making us look at him.

"I seriously don't understand how you survive without me sometimes." Stiles tells him.

"Let's go! Line it up! Faster! Make daddy proud." Coach blows the whistle. Multiple times Scott runs out of the goal to knock down the other guys to get a good sniff of them.

As I watch I notice it was Isaac's turn and watch them hit each other like it was in slow motion in the air before landing. They both just stare at each other till we see Noah and other officers show up asking for Isaac. "His father's dead. They think he was murdered." Scott listens in on the conversation.

"Are they saying he's a suspect?" I ask him. I didn't know Isaac that well but I never would think of him a killer even as a werewolf. Plus a full moon hasn't happened yet.

"Why?" Stiles asks me.

"Because they can lock him in a holding cell for 24 hours. Like over night... during the full moon." I tell the guys.

"How good are these holding cells at holding people?" Scott looks at Stiles.

"People, good. Werewolves, probably both that good." He tells him.

"Stiles remember when I said I don't have the urge to maim and kill? He does." Scott tells us.

While in Mr. Harris class I listen to the guys conversation from my seat behind them. "Why would Derek choose Isaac?" I ask the guys.

"Peter told me that if the bite doesn't turn you it could kill you. And maybe teenagers have a better chance of surviving." Stiles whispers to us.

"Doesn't being a teenager mean your dad can't hold him?" Scott asks.

"Well, not unless they have solid evidence. Or a witness. Wait. Danny. Where's Jackson?" Stiles turns to Danny's table.

"In the principal's office talking to your dad." He tells him.

"What? Why?" Stiles asks.

"Maybe because he lives across the street from Isaac." He tells him.

"Witness" I say.

"We gotta get to the principal's office." Stiles tells us.

"How?" Scott asks making Stiles make a paper ball.

"Everyone please turn to page 73." Stiles throws the ball at Mr. Harris head. "Who in the hell did that?" He turns around. Stiles points at Scott, Scott points at me, and I point at Stiles so he sends all three of us to the principal's office.

We sit outside and we listen in to what was being said inside the room. When Noah comes out Stiles tries to hide his face with a magazine, Scott just looks at Noah, and I give a small smile and wave. "Hi, Scott, Julia." Noah says ignoring his son.

"Bye." I smile as he walks off.

"Boys, young lady." We turn our head to see Allison's grandfather. "Come on in." We look at each other then go inside the office. "Scott McCall. Academically not the most accomplished, but I see you have become quite the star athlete. Miss Julia Martin. Straight A student with a high IQ, helps tutor other students, and in the art club. Mr. Stilinski. Oh, perfect grades but little to no extracurriculars. Maybe you should try lacrosse." Gerard tells us.

"Oh, actually I'm already-,"

Gerard cuts him off, "Hold on. McCall. You're the Scott that was dating my granddaughter." He looks at Scott.

"We were dating but not anymore. Not dating, not seeing any of each other or doing anything with each other. At all." Scott gets nervous.

"Relax, Scott, you look like you're about to crack a cyanide pill with your teeth." Gerard tells him.

"Just a hard breakup." Scott tells him.

"Oh, that's too bad. You seem like a pretty nice kid to me. Now listen, guys. Yes, I am the principal, but I really don't want you to think of me as the enemy." He tells the three of us.

"Heh, is that so?" I give Stiles a look.

"However, this being my first day, I do need to support my teachers. So unfortunately someone is going to have to take the fall and stay behind for detention." He tells us so Scott and I look over at Stiles since he was the one to throw the paper and it was his idea to get sent here. He looks at us and sighs not happy about it.

"Stiles and I will stay behind for detention together. It was mostly our fault getting sent here and Scott got dragged into." I lie to Gerard.

"I'll let Mr. Harris know he'll see you both after school for detention." He lets us leave the office.

"Why did you volunteer yourself too? Couldn't you take the whole fault?" Stiles groans as Scott runs off.

"No, because you threw the paper ball. This was your whole idea to get us here." I explain to him. "I was just being nice so you won't be alone with Harris. I'll go back and lie saying you made me say that so you wouldn't be alone." I point back at the office turning slowly.

"No!" He grabs my arm walking us to our next class.

Once the day was over we head to Harris's classroom. "I'm not surprised to see that it's you both staying here. Put your phones on my desk take a seat where ever. I don't care if it's next to each other but no talking or I will move you two away from each other." Harris says as we walk through his door.

"What about for homework?" I ask.

"No." He groans. S

tiles and I sit next to each other and both sigh looking at the clock. I pull out some of my books and journals and start to write to talk to Stiles. I have a feeling he is going keep us late and I don't mean an hour and a half.I slide the paper over to him to read.

~ I hate this dude.

~I'm sure everyone does.

~ Thanks for joining me...

~ You're welcome. I had nothing else to do so why not? Plus normally you drag me around so... this is nothing. Except bad egg doing papers.

~ He looks more like a turtle than an egg.

I had to cover my mouth from laughing making Stiles silent laugh at me for almost making a noise. "If I hear one peep from either of you... I'll make you stay longer than an hour and a half." Harris glances up at us. Stiles rolls his eyes letting out a sigh.

~ Yeah, I can see that.

~ As you said in the past, if he hates us so much why teach!

~ Because he's miserable and wants us to be too.

~ He'll die alone because no woman is gonna want a mean sarcastic science teacher.

Stiles passes me the paper and Mr. Harris snatches it's from us reading over it. "Mr. Stilinski, Miss Martin, I hope both enjoy staying super late because you both will be leaving with the sun is no longer up. Now separate yourselves for each other so there will be no note passing, don't even look at each other till you leave this room. I know it might be hard for you both but couples annoy me." Harris tells us.

"We aren't a couple." We tell him.

"There it is... your voice." We both get up.

Stiles sits on the other side of the table facing the back of the room while I take a seat at the front facing the front. Slowly the hours pass and Harris says we could leave now so we get our phones back leaving.

"Hey, sorry, Harris literally just let me and Julia out of detention. Literally. And he had our phones the whole frickin' time." Stiles calls Allison back. "Wait, what guy?" I listen to Stiles. "They're sending him to the station for Isaac." I stop watching Stiles. "What was it?" He asks her.

"Yeah, wolfsbane. It means they're gonna kill him." I take his phone from him.

"Allison, do whatever you can to slow him down so we can try to get to Isaac and save him." I tell her.

"Okay, I'll call you when I do." She hangs up and we get in his jeep. We call Scott and come up with a plan.

"Hey, did you slow him down? All right, well, uh, we're headed to the station right now. Isaac's. Yeah, but not a very good one. And unfortunately we don't really have time to come up with anything better." Stiles tells Allison then hangs up.

"I'm worried about Isaac. From the times I've talk to him he's a really nice guy but now he's a werewolf on his first moon." I look out the window at the moon.

"Hopefully this plan works then." He says driving a little faster so we can pick up Derek.

"Okay, now the keys to every cell are in a password protected lockbox in my father's office. The problem is getting past the front desk." Stiles tells Derek.

"I'll distract her." Derek starts to get out but Stiles stops him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa-you? You're not going in there. I'm taking my hand off." He says after seeing Derek glare at it.

"I was exonerated." Derek lets him know.

"You're still a person of interest." Stiles add.

"An innocent person."

"An - you? Yeah, right! Okay, fine. What's your plan?" Stiles gives up.

"To distract her." I giggle at Derek's tone and facial expression.

"Uh - huh. How? By punching her in the face? Unh." Stiles asks him.

"Heh, by talking to her." Derek tells him.

"Okay, all right. Give me a sample. What are you gonna open with?" Derek doesn't say anything but glances back at me. "Dead silence. That should work beautifully. Any other ideas?" Stiles ask so he thinks.

"I'm thinking about punching you in the face." Derek nods his head.

"Derek, just go distract her." I pat the seat. Derek gives me a wink before getting out going inside and we follow.

"Good evening, how can I help - you?" The Deputy was taken by Derek's looks.

"Um, I had a question. Um, sorry I'm a little - a little thrown. I wasn't really expecting someone..." Derek talks to her as we sneak past.

"Like me?" She asks. "Oh, I was gonna say so incredibly beautiful but, yeah, I guess that'd be the same thing." He tells her as we rush to the office.

"Keep on eye on him." Stiles tells me so I wait for Derek but a few seconds later I get bored so I go look for Stiles.

When the fire alarm goes off I pick up my pace going to find the cells and rush in to see Isaac tackle the hunter. I see Stiles on the floor and he grabs my arm pulling me down crawling backing up against the wall. When Derek comes in Isaac looks at him but then us taking a step forward making Stiles wraps me in his arms. Derek step between us roaring at him, causing Isaac going straight in to a submissive scared mood, curling into a hall getting down whining turning back to normal.

"How did you do that?" Stiles asks breathing heavy letting me go.

"I'm the Alpha." Derek turns to us.

"You need to get him out now. I'm sure Stiles dad will be here soon." I get up walking over to Derek who turns to Isaac. "Hey, Isaac." I walk up to him bending down. "You gotta get up. Derek will get you somewhere safe." I help him up then Derek gets him out.

"What do we do about him?" Stiles stands next to me looking at the passes out hunter.

"I have no clue." We just stare at him and his dad walks in looking at the hunter then us waiting for an answer. Stiles looks back at the empty cell, his dad, the hunter then back at his dad.

"Uh, he did it." He says pointing at the man.

"We will have a talk at home young man. Just tell take Julia home, now." Noah tells him so we rush out to the jeep.

"Thank you for trying to protect me with the wrapping your arms around me." I laugh as we drive to my house.

"That, that was nothing you're welcome. I gotta keep you around because my dad goes easier on me when you are around." He says making us laugh.

"I believe that because I can see how mad he is by his eyes." I agree.

"Also what the hell was with Derek giving you a wink?" Stiles asks.

"He knew I knew he could distract her." I let him know.

"And how is that?" He raises an eyebrow.

"He's attractive..." I look out.

"I'm disappointed in you." He back hands me.

[pileofpigeons]

shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals <3 (no pressure ofc)

Ahhhhg I qualify as a favorite mutual??!! (Right back at ya ^^)

1. Come on elieen - Dexys Midnight Runners

2. I say a little prayer - Aretha Franklin

3. Scott street - Phoebe Bridgers

4. Valerie - Amy Winehouse

5. Cigarette Dust - Princess Chelsea

[concreteburialplot]

Cool About It // 02

02 - Scott Street

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x OFC [Amelia]

Masterlist: here | Crossposted: ao3 | Word count: 9k

Warnings; childhood best friends, mentions of underage drinking, mentions of past character deaths, being drunk, feelings panic, secrets, lots of flashbacks + lore, REMINDER: this is set in the winter lol sorry, 18+ MDNI

Summary; Amelia agrees to a midnight adventure with Noah in the hopes of getting answers to a decade’s worth of questions. Nicholas, Noah and Amelia then find themselves caught up in a game that fills them with nostalgia.

a/n: this is au, fictional, and follows no actual timelines/events, and uses oc's for family members. noah & nick are the same age here.

thanks to @sacredthefran for helping me edit this chapter 💞

don't like it don't read it. don’t be mean for no reason & let others enjoy things thnx :)

Do you feel ashamed,

When you hear my name?

Anyway, don’t be a stranger

Anyway, don’t be a stranger

Don’t be a stranger

- Scott Street // Phoebe Bridgers

The days after Amelia and Noah’s reunion began a thread of texts back and forth between the two – catching up on things that you miss within a 10 year separation like music they’ve discovered over the years, memes, stories from Noah’s tours or Amelia’s time in college, all in tandem with random occurrences that happened throughout the day. Noah was hungry for any information she spilled and soaked it right up like a sponge. 

He’s just bored – Amelia thought – big rock star from LA probably bored out of his mind bouncing from Vincent’s or the Ruffilos’ couch. She didn’t find herself particularly entertaining or interesting, it absolutely had to be his boredom that was fueling their reignited friendship. She was convinced that once he flies back to California with Nicholas that she’d dissolve back into the sky like a flickering star inevitably burning out. However, she intended to bask in the attention and fleeting nostalgia he gave her for as long as she could.

She too was thirsty for knowledge, asking so many questions that it was almost hard for him to keep up. The need to relearn him was too strong. She was curious about everything - the band, touring, recording, it was all so interesting to her compared to her tiny life in a snowglobe of a town.

There was a topic that Amelia had always wondered about over the years – his abrupt departure from their town in the middle of junior year. Her curiosity was just as strong then, asking too many questions that landed her in conversations thickly outlined with stern words and excuses. Not even Nicholas or his family would divulge the information. Not getting any knowledge, not even whispers about the situation in such a small town was odd. If it was one thing Amelia absolutely hated, it was being out of the loop and uninformed. Over time the mystery dissolved into a weird thing of the past, eventually getting overwritten by college exams, new friends, and different jobs, until Noah stepped back into her present. 

Now, Amelia had the opportunity to get the answers she had been seeking directly from the source. She just didn’t know how. She knew it had to be a sensitive topic with the amount of secrecy around the event and the fact that he hadn’t even returned home when his parents passed. It was hard for her to not steep in curiosity now that he’s made an appearance for the first time in years since then.

Amelia was snuggled up on her couch with a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, accompanied with an entire bag of marshmallows to replenish as she drank. She nearly jolted out of her skin and choked on a mallow when her phone abruptly rattled against the coffee table. Her brows furrowed wondering who on earth could be calling her so late.

She picked up the device to read Noah’s name lit up across the screen. Her finger slid across the glass before putting it up to her ear. “Hello?” She pulled her shoulder up to support her phone while her hand rifled through the marshmallows to grab a couple and dropped them into the mug. The steaming liquid immediately began dissolving the sugary puffs.

“Scout!” Noah greeted cheerily.

“Hey?” She replied cautiously, “What’s up?”

“Whatcha doin’ right now?” His tone indicating that he might have an impeding invitation.

“Um…” She looked down at the mug clasped in her hand then towards the tv that was playing Little Women in the background. “Pretty high-level stuff actually.”

“Weeeeeelllll,” He dragged out the word, “Would you wanna ditch your ‘high-level’ stuff for a night adventure?”

Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip mulling over his offer, then pulled her phone from her ear momentarily to check the time. “Noah, it’s 11 pm!”

“Soooooo? The night is young!”

She sighed a little, saying no to him was never her strong suit. “What were you thinking?” She asked, entertaining the idea for a moment.

“Hm…. Some wine? Some good ol’ fashion meandering?”

She chuckled at his word choice, “Meandering?” Her thumb grazed over a missing chip in her snowman-shaped mug.

“Meandering!” He repeated as if it was an obvious and normal suggestion.

A soft huff left her lips, “Fine. But we can’t be out too late.”

“Whatever you say grandma.” He teased and she could hear the smile tugging at his lips as he spoke.

“Hey!”

“Sorrrryyy.” He hummed into the speaker, “Just meet me at the skatepark, okay?”

She agreed and ended the call with him, falling back into the cushion supporting her. She laid her phone flat on her chest, taking a moment just staring at the ceiling. The hollows of her ribs filled with an anxious feeling, something not quite like butterflies but more akin to moths. Amelia had always been drawn to Noah like a moth to a flame. He burned so bright that it singed anything and anyone around him. If you wanted to stay close to him, you needed to master the art of resilience. The one she saw navigate it the best was Nicholas; it was like the fire never even affected him. He wasn’t necessarily a moth to Noah’s flame, but rather a firefly – someone who comfortably hovered in his warmth, soaking it in for what it was, all while glowing a joyous, blinding brilliance of his own right alongside Noah. They complimented each other perfectly, like puzzle pieces created in a factory, made to live next to each other forever. If there was anyone who loved Noah more than Amelia, it was definitely Nicholas.

It suddenly dawned on her that she’d supposed to be getting ready the entire time she’d been lost in her thoughts. She sat her mug down on the coffee table and jumped to her feet, just then realizing she had no idea what to wear to an abandoned skate park at midnight. 

After going back and forth on how she should dress, she decided to prioritize comfort over casual. She threw on some dark joggers with a cream-colored crewneck that had a small teddy bear embroidered on the upper left side. She stopped by her front door to check herself in the mirror that hung above a coat rack. Her finger roughly slid up the corner of her eye to wipe away the mascara that had fallen throughout the day. A sigh escaped her when she fully took in her own appearance. While she had no idea what sort of girls Noah dated after he left, she could only imagine. Visions of stereotypical LA girls suddenly filled her head and stole a bit of her excitement of going to see him. It had to be some fucked up super power that came with being a woman - the ability to pinpoint at least 3 things to be unhappy with within a split second. Her eyes focused on her lips that weren’t overly full with filler, then her lashes that were coated with some fancy mascara she bought on a whim, and finally, her cheeks rounder than the defined faces he was probably used to seeing. And he didn’t dare think about all the girls that scream for him at their shows. It was only then, as she picked apart her face, that it dawned on her how he seemingly had endless choices much better than her. She wasn’t just competing with girls from a high school or a small town anymore, but something much grander, something bigger than she would ever be.

She caught herself in her insecurity, wondering why it was even upsetting her that she couldn’t compare to others. It didn’t matter if she couldn’t measure up because she wasn’t even an option, she never was. 

Side by side Noah and Amelia aimlessly walked around the small, quiet town handing a bottle of white wine back and forth. Amelia wasn’t a big fan of wine but Noah seemed to have grown a liking to it. Well, thinking about it now, maybe Noah’s always had a taste for the bitter liquid. As she watched him take a swig from the bottle, for a split second, it was like looking directly into the past. She saw 16-year-old Noah taking a hefty chug from a stolen bottle of Barefoot Moscato. Even underage with limited accessibility, Noah always made sure to grab the only wine that made Amelia’s face twist the least. That crisp October night was originally supposed to include Nicholas until he bailed last minute for a brunette from his math class that needed “study help”. It was adorably hilarious watching a bright shade of pink adorn his cheeks as he tried to explain why he couldn’t make it. 

When Amelia looked back on that night, there was always a feeling she couldn’t quite place. It was something sweet that often comes with youthful midnight quests but also vaguely like being out of the loop about something she was unaware of. Noah was quieter than normal, not by much, but enough for Amelia to notice. Usually, alcohol had the opposite effect on the boy, however that night was different. There was hesitation beneath every word he spoke - a detail Amelia hadn’t picked up until years later after dissecting the night a million different ways in her head.

Noah wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling his best friend down to sit at the bottom of the cemented ramp with him. The sky was particularly bright that night, the stars looked closer than normal with shinier twinkles. 

“Look at that one, Noah! It’s so pretty!” Amelia exclaimed, sitting up a little bit, finger pointed out towards the sky. 

“Eh, it’s okay.” He shrugged.

She twisted her body towards him sharply. “‘Okay’?!” She turned back to the sky to admire the glittering star she was defending. “What could possibly be prettier than that?”

Amelia could hear the boy mumble something behind her, even though she couldn’t make out his words, she could still sense the thick apprehension laced between them. In the moment she just took it as fear of upsetting her with an opposing opinion. Peaking over her shoulder, she found Noah watching her with a gentleness she often found in his gaze. She offered the only viable option she could think of since it was the largest and brightest thing decorating the night sky. “The moon?”

A blush flooded her body when the boy chuckled, shaking his head and leaning forward to steal the bottle from her again. “Yes, Amelia. I’m talking about the moon.” He said in a tone that would normally accompany an eye roll. He brought the half empty bottle to his lips. She eyed him intently watching the bottle meet his mouth. She never knew it was possible to crave being a chunk of glass - yet there she was wanting nothing more to be the object touching his lips.

Walking beside him now made her realize that Noah had aged just like wine. Even from very early on he always held the dichotomy of being sweet and savory while simultaneously having the ability to leave a bitter, sour taste behind. When he was younger it was more subtle yet scattered, now it was the same, just stronger and refined through control. Wine isn’t wine without the intricate layers, the undertones, the top and bottom notes, all of it contributes to the integrity and skeleton of the liquid that creates something worth savoring. It’s impossible to separate the complex layers from each other and still claim it’s sophisticated wine. Noah was exactly that, elaborate and labyrinthian. If you wanted him whole, you needed to take every part, every layer. Back then, Amelia naively believed she knew, had and understood every layer of her best friend, her other half. It wasn’t until the morning after that adolescence-filled night that she got the worst awakening that she couldn’t have been more wrong. Overnight he somehow slipped from her grasp without even a goodbye or explanation. He disappeared into thin air. 

He was just, gone.

After a couple months went by with radio silence and no sight of return, in some twisted way, she mourned him while he was still alive. She had Nick of course, who was doing just as poorly as her but they grew distant over time and especially after graduation, she lost him too. Whenever she went back to the memory she would always wonder if she had known he was leaving for good, would she have told him how she felt. Would she have told him that she loved him and that she was jealous of every girl who had gotten the privilege to even hold his hand in the hall or share a kiss at a locker. Would her confession have made a difference? Would it have kept him from leaving?

She wondered if she’d still love him the same now — and if she did, would she tell him this time? Would it make a difference? Could it change or rewrite their history? Would it make up for lost time? Or would it just complicate their vastly different lives? Maybe some things were meant to stay hidden in the comfortable shadows of the past, even if they resurface.  

The scattering sound of Noah kicking a rock ripped her back to the present. She shook her head of the fuzzy memory. 

“So, you spend a lot of time ‘meandering’ in LA?” She teased, tilting the glass bottle backwards to slosh the light liquid into her mouth. The familiar sweet astringent taste caused her to twist the bottle in her palm. Barefoot Moscato.

“No.” He rolled his eyes with a smile and kicked a pebble across the empty skate ramp. “There’s nothing interesting in LA.”

She scoffed at his jaded statement. “Yeah right. And this old dusty skate park in your tiny hometown is more interesting than Los Angeles?”

He shrugged and took back the bottle. “Now that I’m back here? Yeah, definitely.” His inked fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle to take a sip of his own. “Everything in LA is the same. It gets really old, really fast.”

“Right.” She said skeptically, stuffing her freezing fingertips into her pockets. “Well, everything here has been really old for a really long time.” She wasn’t quite sure why she was being so combative about the sleepy town, most nights she prefers it that way. Whatever’s out there must be a better home for him to be so absent for so long. She knew he had his reasons, valid ones, but 10 years seemed excessive to avoid people who aren’t even alive anymore.

“Sometimes you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” He stated the popular phrase as if he didn’t believe it before that night.

“Oh, what?” She scoffed playfully, the alcohol riding her cadence. “You missed little ol’ me?” Her words slipped past her lips before she could think twice, and asked it more as a joke than a genuine question.

His flow of speech hiccupped a beat before he replied. “Yeah, and what if I did?” He inquired gently, but intentional in the way he kept moving forward slowly.

Her eyes flickered up at him from where they had been glued to the ground. She quickly mulled over what to say back – ‘I missed you too’ felt too vulnerable, too honest. “Then I’d ask what took you so long to come back.” Her voice was quiet and meek, lacking the confidence it really needed to land a punch.

His next step faltered, clearly not anticipating her rebuttal. “Well I-” He began without knowing how to answer. It wasn’t til he lifted his head that he realized where they had ended up in their aimless walking.

“Noah?” Amelia asked, curious at the reason for his abrupt pause.

His demeanor shifted significantly, the conversation they’d been having previously was nothing more than a memory now. His spine straightened and his shoulders squared, his eyebrows sunk along with the corners of his mouth.

Amelia studied him curiously. His facial structure became so harsh and angular, most people would think he was furious, but she could tell by the weight behind his eyes that it wasn’t so. He was sad, maybe there was anger mingled a bit as well, but it was mostly dejection in the darkness of his eyes.

At first, she thought maybe she’d crossed some line or breached some boundary, but it was the way he looked at their surroundings that told her otherwise. Her eyes bounced around them wondering what could possibly be upsetting him so much. They’d wandered into some random side street with colorful graffiti all over the walls. Her head tilted in the same way a dog's would at a peculiar noise and her eyes drifted to the nearest street post.

Scott Street

It was technically the same street Nick’s house was on, just much further down. This offshoot of Scott St. intersected with 13th Street which was a notorious adolescent hangout spot, at least it was back then. The trio would often spend time there years ago while the street was more nefarious. The boys would drag Amelia there, usually when the summer’s sparkle began to dull, and they ran out of things to do. While she never saw either of them spray painting, she had a sneaking suspicion that they’d leave their mark while she wasn’t with them. 

Most days they’d sit around the asphalt drinking alcohol disguised as energy drinks while Nicholas sketched on the sidewalk with chalk. His works were usually elaborate art pieces of the most obscure fixations of his. One of Amelia’s favorite Nick chalk art installations was when he decided to sketch different album art covers of his favorite artists. After watching him sketch Deftones, The Cure, and Prince, Amelia made a request for Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die album which Nick was resistant to. 

“That’s not real music.” He retorted with a roll of his eyes which landed a smack on his arm from Noah outing him saying, “Shut up you always sing along to Off To The Races in the car.”

“Whatever.” He’d wave off the admission and proceed to create the most beautiful installment of his album series. Amelia was over the moon at the result, taking a bunch of pictures and making them semi-famous on Tumblr.

Another of her favorites was their 16th summer where Nicholas had taken up trying to master flowers. It was rare that Noah jumped on any artistic band wagon that Nick drove, but flowers for some reason was one of the lucky ones. It was quite a sight, seeing them both hunched over themselves in the Virginia summer heat chalking elaborate flowers into the concrete. Nicholas naturally always out-did Noah in the art department, but this go around Noah was able to keep up fairly well and his flowers came out just as pretty as Nick’s.

The corner of Amelia’s lips peaked up remembering how beautiful the sidewalk looked filled with colorful pastel flowers. Her eyes fell to the asphalt and the pickaxe of time chipped nostalgia into her heart at how the chalk hadn’t magically remained engrained in the cement.

Even though the city had cracked down on the law enforcement in the area to “raise the city’s value” they somehow failed to stop the constant layered graffiti work on the grey brick wall. Most days Amelia forgot the street even existed despite driving past it every day to work.

She shook her head to break herself from the memory only to catch Noah walking away from the scene. “Wait where are you going?” She called, quickly walking to where he was.

“C’mon let’s get out of here.” He grumbled which only confused her further.

“Oh, well, I,” She started but fell short, not knowing what to say.

After walking a bit in silence vaguely in the direction of Amelia’s house, she cleared her throat. “Are you okay?” She asked quietly, fidgeting her fingers together nervously. Despite having history with Noah, she still got nervous whenever he was like this. At least when he was younger, he could be… explosive at times. She was never particularly scared of him, he’d never hurt her or anyone, it was just almost painful to see him like that. When he’d get that upset, it was quite rare to get him to share what was truly disturbing him. She didn’t have much hope this time, especially since they had just been reunited. Noah was a tough cookie to crack, she wondered if time had mended all the years of hard work on him.

He remained silent for a while before answering. “I’m fine.” He dismissed the insinuation that he wasn’t, even though his demeanor hadn’t improved.

Amelia pressed her lips together and nodded. “Got it.” Her thumbs wriggled against each other as she walked and decided that curiosity was stronger than her will to stay silent. “It’s just… you don’t seem fine.” Her speed picks up to keep with his increasing velocity.

His fists curl at his sides. “Can you just fucking drop it Amelia?” He snapped. 

It wasn’t often that he cursed at her or used her full first name, especially not in such a serious tone. She knew that when he did it was serious.

Her eyes widened at his response and she nodded again. “Okay.” She replied meekly. “Sorry.”

The remainder of the walk back to her home was quiet and uncomfortable. It was mainly made up of the sound of their sneakers scuffing against asphalt.

When they reached Amelia’s fence it was reminiscent of that first night after breaking into Nick’s house.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you.” He said quietly but genuinely. Noah could be volatile at times but it was always followed up by an apology once he calmed down.

“It’s okay.” Reassured Amelia. “I shouldn’t have pried, it wasn’t my business.”

He sighed. “It’s not that necessarily, I just didn’t want to talk about it.”

Amelia let a pause settle between them before speaking again. “You know that you can talk to me about anything, right? I mean…” Her eyes fell to her scuffed up Converse. “I mean, I know it’s been a while. And you probably don’t trust me like you used to but, I’d still never judge you or anything.” 

Noah’s heart sank at her words, at the implication that she doesn’t hold his trust. But she was right. Ten years is a long time and 16 is such a tricky age. Nobody is a complete person at 16, there’s so much change that occurs between then and a whole adult version of the same person. And yet, it was as if no time had passed between them. His whole life Noah had only fully trusted two people, and one of them was standing right in front of him. She never once gave him any reason to question her trust. The minute he laid eyes on Amelia in the bakery last week, he trusted her all over again. However, this wasn’t a matter of trust.

“That’s no-.” Noah hesitated for a second, inhaling a deep breath that forced his cheeks to puff out while his eyes stared blankly at the sidewalk where he stood. “Scout, I know you would never judge me. It’s just not important.” 

“Are you sure? It just seemed like you went somewhere else in your mind back there. I just,” Amelia exhaled, feeling a tinge of warmth coat her cheeks. “I just… worry about you. Sometimes.” She squeaked out. 

Noah’s eyes snapped up from the cement to Amelia’s eyes at her confession. Her gaze immediately darted from his hold, feeling the heat on her cheeks grow into a burn. Valleys formed between his brows in curiosity, “You worry about me?” He couldn’t help but ask - it had been so long and so much had changed, there was no way she still even thought about him in any real capacity before their reunion. 

“Well,” Her hands anxiously pulled down her sleeves to cover his freezing hands. “Yeah? Duh.”

His stomach filled with swirling butterflies as he took in the girl in front of him. Of course he thought about her too, all of the time. Guilt twisted his intestines knowing that he was keeping this secret from her. As kids, they never kept things from each other, there were no secrets between the three of them unless it was necessary. But this, this was definitely necessary. How could he in good conscience tell her that she was the reason he got distant on the nostalgic street, how could he tell her that she’s the reason he had to leave in the first place. 

Well, it wasn’t necessarily her fault directly, in all honest reality it was his. It was Noah’s fault that he was a rebellious teenager and doing everything under the sun to get him in trouble - with both his parents and the law. He didn’t know why he did it, in therapy he’s told it was for attention. Maybe that was the truth. Maybe he wanted his parents to acknowledge his existence even a little bit. Or maybe acting out landed him in mandatory escapes from home. He liked that reasoning the best. He wondered if perhaps that was why he dragged Amelia and Nicholas into every scheme. If they all got caught, they’d be forced into detention - forced to spend time together regardless of parental schedules or permission. Being home and being alone were the things he ran from the most. He should feel guilty about it, he thinks, for getting them in so much trouble - but for the most part, he can’t. They were his only lifeline, he wouldn’t have survived without them. He took the brunt of the punishments anyway, always taking the fall for them. He paid more than his fair shares of his dues for the choices he made. At the time it seemed worth it but looking at it now, he wasn’t sure. 

“Oh,” His hands fidgeted before meeting her soft eyes again. He could barely stand looking at her while she watched him with such kindness and concern for him in her eyes. “I didn’t,” He exhaled in order to compose his thoughts. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m okay Scout, I promise. I just, must be hangry or something.” He joked to break up the tension, his favorite coping mechanism. 

“Okay.” She replied quietly with a small nod. They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air. Amelia shifted on her feet and wrapping one arm around herself then brought the other to her lips, biting down on her thumbnail. “So, the Ruffilo Christmas party is still on for this weekend, right?”

Noah’s expression softened at the shift in topic. “Yeah! You still planning on coming?”

“Yeah, of course.” A smile formed on her lips. “How could I pass up a Ruffilo party?”

Noah couldn’t help but match the grin that painted across her lips. “It’ll be good to hang out like old times.”

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” She admitted softly. Her tummy that had just been twisted with anxiety was now buzzing with excitement. 

“Me too,” Noah agreed, his own smile widening. “It’ll be fun.”

“Yeah. Definitely.” Amelia nodded, scuffing the heel of her shoe against the pavement. After a quiet pause, she took a step back, glancing toward her small home. “I should get inside. It’s getting late.” She rubbed her own arms with a chattering smile. “And it’s really fucking cold.”

“Yeah, you should do that.” His smile fell a bit. “See you in a couple days?”

“Mhm.” She nodded, unlocking her wire fence as she waved at him. “Goodnight, Noah.”

He waved back, “G‘night, Scout.” His voice not as strong as before, sounding almost defeated.

The weekend arrived faster than Amelia was prepared for. After cycling through various outfits in the mirror, she landed on a mid-thigh length dark emerald velvet flowy dress paired with a bow in her hair of the same shade. The dress was adorned with bat-wing sleeves and a scooped neckline.

Between the anxious, panicked outfit changes and the flurries of butterflies in her tummy while waiting at the front door, it reminded her all too much of 7th grade when she attended one particular Ruffilo Christmas party. That year for some reason wasn’t the same as the ones before, things had shifted. She was growing into her body and suddenly boys looked a little different. Her stomach started feeling fluttery through all their hangouts, but she dismissed it as being due to the cute friends the boys kept around. 

She texted Noah, letting him know she was there and adjusted the bow in her half-up hair. Not long after, a tipsy Nicholas swings the door open wide. “Scout!” His grin reached his eyes, and he wrapped his arms around her, giving her a tight squeeze. “You know you could’ve just let yourself in, silly.”

She let out a content sigh, suddenly feeling much more at ease. Her arms wrapped around him, reciprocating the tight embrace, clinging onto him mostly because she genuinely missed him too. It had always been the three of them, not just Noah. “Nice to see you too Nicholas.”

He pulled back keeping her shoulders in a grip, “Augh my mom is gonna be so happy to see you!”

Walking into the two-story home felt like stepping into a time machine. The home was covered floor to ceiling with the same Christmas decorations she grew up seeing every year. Mama Ruffilo loved herself a good holiday, never passing up on an opportunity to decorate and celebrate something. Birthdays were treated as sacred holidays in their home – whenever anyone close to them had a birthday, that week was blocked off on their calendar. She took it upon herself to throw them a huge party with everyone they knew invited – even if you didn’t really know them. Their parties were grand and extravagant and lasted all day long. She pumped out delicious homemade food the entire day and ended it with a giant cake perfectly curated to the birthday person’s taste. Mama Ruffilo filled every event with enough love to go around for everyone, even the straggling strangers.

Their home was gorgeously dated, built in the early 1900’s and made up almost entirely out of wood. It was spacious but with a tight floor plan.

After some overdue catching up with Nick’s parents, the two of them made their way upstairs to meet up with Noah. The pair made sure to bring nearly overflowing solo cups full of Mama Ruffilo’s famous sparkling cranberry cocktail, an extra re-up for Noah.

The upstairs loft area was their domain, where all the kids used to hang out. The space was decked out with a couch, a couple bean bag chairs and a TV with every gaming console you could imagine. The Ruffilo’s were by no means wealthy, but they tried to give their kids as much as they could, and for the most part they succeeded. The loft area looked the same, as if it hadn’t been touched since the last time she had been there. It’s funny how there are moments in live, where you don’t realize that you’re experiencing something for the last time. Amelia would sometimes think about the last time she saw Noah that starry night at the skatepark, and how she had no idea it’d be their last.

Noah was sat on the couch playing some shooter game.

“Hey.” Amelia said meekly, giving him a little wave. Since the night at the park suddenly she felt shyer around him than before their reunion in the bakery.

“Hey Scout.” He said uninterrupted with his brows furrowed and his tongue stuck between his lips with his thumbs flying over the plastic controller. His gaze flickered up to her in a brief moment of respite, the look was fleeting as his eyes immediately went back reflexively to the game. It seemed as though his brain processed what he saw after the fact, his eyes snapping right back at her, lingering this time as he gave her a once over. It was clear he did not expect her to show up in a short dress that so perfectly accentuated the curves of her body. Of course, logically he knew she had grown up, but something about the way the fabric laid on her body clicked something in his brain. That was a woman standing in front of him, not the girl he used to call his best friend. The realization sent a buzzing warmth down his body that he didn’t anticipate. His focus stayed on her a couple seconds too long, and the sounds of defeat blared from the tv speakers.

“Fuck.” He mumbled, pausing the game and setting down the controller on the coffee table in front of him. He shook his head from the swirling thoughts and pulled himself up to his feet. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in for a half hug. “Glad you could make it Scout.” He smiled down at her.

She looked up at him, forgetting how much he actually towered over her – the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder, even with the almost two inches of added height from her shoes. “Thanks for inviting me.”

The boys gathered on the couch while Amelia opted for the matching armchair beside them. The trio spent some time catching up, sharing more stories of their time spent away from each other. Though the boys’ success stories seemed to outshine her modest life running a bakery, they still made her accomplishments seem just as significant and grandiose as their own.

Amelia watched the boys play a couple rounds of their shooter game while she was once again playing catch up to their drinking. She forgot the burn that came from the strong cranberry cocktail but that didn’t stop her from finishing 2 cups of it while now nursing a strong 3rd. The alcohol was quickly spreading tingly heat through her veins already reaching her fingertips.

Her eyes drifted to a corner of the room where a play tent used to sit, and a grin spread across her lips. Clear as day she could see herself at 9 years old hiding in it with her legs tucked up into her chest held tightly by her arms thinking it was the best hiding spot in the house.

“What’re ya smilin’ about?” Asked Nicholas, setting down the controller as their match ended.

She laughed and shook her head, “Nothin, just thinkin’ about how I’d always win at hide-and-seek.” She smirked with pride, straightening up before taking another sip of the fruity drink.

Noah scoffed, “Yeah fuckin’ right, I always won.”

“I don’t think so, not the way I remember it.” Amelia countered with a propped brow.

“Well, you’re definitely remembering wrong.” He challenged.

“Well, why don’t we find out?” Nick suggested with a playful glint in his eye. “For old times’ sake.”

“Fuck it, fine.” Amelia laughed, the nostalgic innocence of it all just as prevalent in her system as the alcohol.

“Sounds good to me.” Noah boasted and pointed a finger at her, narrowing his eyes. “You’re goin’ down, Alastor.” Noah was known to have a strong competitive streak and it showed when he began pulling last names out.

The trio gathered in the middle of the upstairs hallway just as they had years ago.

“Okay, 3 for 3?” Nick confirmed as that was their tradition.

The three looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They all downed the last of their drinks before the game began. Nick leaned against the railway of the foyer with covered eyes and began counting down while Noah and Amelia darted in opposite directions in search of their perfect hiding spots.

It felt silly, running around as 20-somethings looking for their old tried and true hiding locations assuming Nicholas wouldn’t remember them. But the rush of pure child-fueled adrenaline was too good to pass up for the pair, feeling better than they ever remembered. Whether it was the magic of the old house imprinted with their childhood wonderment or the alcohol swirling in their chests that fueled their fun, they couldn’t tell, but it was thrilling all the same.

In the first round, Amelia weaved through the downstairs crowd, somehow picking up another glass of cranberry cocktail along the way to warm her journey to her first spot. She was grateful no one was around to catch her sneaking into the coat closet below the stairs. Noah on the other hand, discovered that finding discreet hiding places now that he was lanky and 6’3 wasn’t the easiest thing to do. In a desperate last-minute attempt, he chose to hide behind some floor-length curtains in the living room. Noah was glad that the people around him were too drunk to question it.

Obviously, Amelia won that round.

By the second round, the trio were way past their limits on the wicked cranberry elixir. Their cheeks were rosy, their fingers tingly and their lips numb. Silly giggles and drunken fumbling were what gave away Amelia’s position, giving Noah the victory of the 2nd round.

Finally, after a sloppy team meeting downstairs, Nick began counting down, though he kept having to start over due to him tripping over his numbers and forgetting his place. Amelia and Noah split in separate directions, but they took advantage of Nick’s extra time. The brunette circled around downstairs but the racing urgency in her heart convinced her that she was running out of time and to give up and try upstairs. A brilliant idea bloomed in her mind like a light bulb in her head, an absolute genius spot she thought. She rushed her way through the traffic in the stairway and almost broke through the door of her destination with the force she ran into it.

She flicked the light on and took in the room, it looked so perfect, like it hadn’t been touched in the past 10 years. Nick’s bedroom was just as cluttered as she remembered it being, every surface covered with something – books, vinyls, figures, old instruments. Three of his walls were dark blue with one accent wall of chalkboard paint black.

She closed the door behind her and stumbled slightly as she turned to take in the chalkboard, covered with messages they'd left over the years. The notes stretched all the way back to an old Girl Scout schedule of hers. She walked towards the board, touching the chalk, reminiscing about that very first day. She rolled the blue powder between her middle finger and thumb remembering it as if it was yesterday. It was at the end of a Girl Scout meeting, and she was helping a younger girl in her troop with her sash. Just as she got it perfect, two older boys ran up to inform the dark-haired girl that their mom sent them to find her and that she was impatiently waiting in the car.

“Nice sash, loser.” Sneered 8-year old Nick with crossed arms.

“Amelia helped me with it.” The younger girl retorted proudly. “She said it’s cool.”

Nick scoffed at the idea, “Yeah right.”

“She worked hard for these badges, they’re special.” Amelia raised her brow, eyeing the small boy up and down. “I don’t see you with anything special.” She sassed.

“I like yours.” Squeaked Noah with wide eyes blinking at Amelia, not even looking the sash he was complimenting.

“Thanks.” A tiny smile formed on her lips, taking in the slightly taller boy with kindest brown eyes.

“I’m Noah-“ He began before getting cut off by Nick yanking his arm towards the exit.

As Noah was getting dragged away by Nick, he gave Amelia a big goodbye wave, “Nice meeting you… Scout!” He called back with a giant smile to the unnamed girl.

“You gonna hide or what!” A voice whisper-yelled from the closet, snapping her from her nostalgic trance.

Her brows furrowed and followed the mystery voice, yanking the closet door open.

“Hey! You’re in my hiding spot!” She whined spotting Noah in her genius idea.

“Finder’s keepers, find a different place!” He said competitively even though there was no real malice in his tone.

“No – I don’t think I will.” She straightened up, “I thought of it, I’m sitting in here.” In her hazy mind, the logic made perfect sense and, in that moment, sitting in her genius hiding spot might as well have meant winning the game.

Noah knew better than to challenge a drunk Amelia and just groaned with an eye roll, tucking his crossed legs further into himself. “Augh, fine, just get in before he walks in here.”

Amelia giggled proudly and plopped herself across from him. She was much smaller than Noah so her fitting into such a small space wasn’t much of a hassle. She brought her bent legs up, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees looking at him.

The edges of Noah’s lips quirked up into a wide grin as he looked over her, taking in how adorable she looked with her cheeks flushed and lips stained cranberry-red. “Oh, you’re drunk.”

The redness on her cheeks grew as she giggled at his words, bringing her long sleeves up to her face to hide her face. “Shut up, Noah!”

He let out a laugh at her reaction, finding it quite endearing.

“Hey! So are you!” She snapped at his laughter and smacked him with the access of her bell sleeve.

He shrugged, “Nick’s mom is a great bartender.” He chuckled, convinced that even drinking straight liquor couldn’t get him as drunk as that dreaded juice.

“Too bad Nick didn’t get any of that magic in his genes.” She quipped back with a grin beginning to spread.

They both erupted into a fit of cackles remembering the monstrous concoctions Nicholas would create at any given high school party they were at.

“No, he really didn’t!” Amelia couldn’t keep it together as she shook her head vigorously, almost making her dizzy.

“And you wanna know somethin’?” Noah leaned in and waited until she reciprocated in matched anticipation. “He still doesn’t!”

Amelia’s eyes filled with tears from how hard she was laughing, reaching out and grasping Noah’s arms for stability, pattering her feet as well as she could while sitting down. She shook Noah hard as if the more she moved him the easier it would be to breathe through her drunken laughter.

Noah didn’t help, only laughing harder because of her over-enthused amusement. The feeling of her delicate hands gripping him ignited some warm feeling in his chest that he couldn’t explain, or maybe it just didn’t make sense, or perhaps it was a feeling he forgot came with Amelia. The longer her hands lingered on him, the more familiar it became and in the pit of his stomach he realized that he remembered it vividly. Sitting on floors, wrapped up in fits of laughter always felt like that with her. It was electric and euphoric but soft like velvet and cashmere. Safe and exciting. Perhaps, maybe, it might be what people say home feels like. It seemed alcohol only amplified that feeling. A part of him thought that maybe if he kept her laughing, she’d never leave.

The pair suddenly perked up and their laughter ceased at a loud sound from past the room worried them that it might be Nick finally getting close to finding them.

“Shit!” Noah straightened up peek through the slats of the closet.

“What?”

“You didn’t turn the light off before getting in here.” He hissed.

Before Noah could stop her, she cracked the closet open and shakily pulled herself to her feet.

“Scout!” He called after her in a whisper and fell short of grabbing her wrist.

She sprinted across the room, flicking off the light casting the room in deep darkness.

“Fuck.” She muttered, not really thinking through the fact that she’d have to find her way back in the dark.

“’Melia.” Noah groaned letting his head fall back, pinching the bridge of his nose, suddenly remembering how ditzy she could get when intoxicated. “Just follow my voice and try not to knock anything down.”

“S’kay!” She slurred a bit and if on cue, she bumped into his dresser. “Ow!”

Noah covered his face with both hands, watching the vague movement in the dark through parted fingers like it was a train wreck he couldn’t look away from.

Her hands landed carefully on every surface she came in contact with, though the numbness that made home in her fingertips did not aid in that quest.

“I believe in you Scout, c’mon.” He chuckled, now tracking her with his light-adjusted eyes.

“I’m good, I’m good, I got it!”

By the grace of god, the girl made it back to the closet in one piece. However, it seemed that the precarious feat of finding her way back to her spot in the crowded closet was much more complicated in the darkness.

She stepped in just fine, “See, told you I got it!”

“Yeah, after you bumped into every piece of furniture!”

His comment starts the chain reaction of their drunken laughter. From all the combined laughter of the night, Amelia’s abdomen actively ached and when she couldn’t catch her breath, her midsection failed to support her weight any longer. She lost her balance and stumbled forward. She tried to catch herself, but the darkness and her tipsiness got the better of her. 

Amelia somehow landed in Noah’s lap and it’s only once the giggles died down that they realized her position on him.

Their smiles fall slowly once they notice just how close their faces were to each other’s.

“Hi.” Amelia breathes out quietly, being able to see him clearer with her eyes finally adjusted to the dark.

“Hi.” Noah replied, just as delicately as her. He shifts a bit beneath her, stretching his legs out allowing for her position to settle better. Each knee nestled at his sides, and she rested on his lap gently. Her palms found themselves on his chest, seeking warmth to ground her. A buzz laid claim across her skin and a prickling at her fingertips. She couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol playing tricks on her but could’ve sworn that she could feel his heart thumping quickly beneath her hand. If it was his heart she felt, hers was racing just as fast.

It’s Noah’s eyes that first flickered down to her lips and that’s all it takes to prompt Amelia to do the same. It’s a game that went on for what felt like an eternity to them, but in reality, it wasn’t even a minute. Noah doesn’t think, he just does, following his drunken impulse to close the gap between them. Amelia’s eyes widen at the unfamiliar feeling of his lips.

It was barely a millisecond before they recoiled away from each other. Their eyes darted back and forth trying to read the other’s expression. It’s Amelia this time that rejoins their lips. It was awkward, neither one of them thinking fully about their actions but understanding it was foreign.

This kiss lasted longer than the previous with their lips locked. When it became clear that neither one of them wanted it to end, Noah advanced by placing his hands on her hips hesitantly. Her hands delicately made their way up to his throat, tenderly cupping the sides and letting her fingers rest on the nape of his neck. He took the gesture as invitation to proceed to something that made him nervous, a heavy pit sitting in the deepest part of his belly. It was something that would cement and advance the alcohol-fueled moment into something more real. He cautiously swiped his tongue against her bottom lip asking for entrance and much to his surprise, she obliged.

Their tongues cautiously met in the middle and began to explore each other. One of Noah’s hands made its way up her body to cup her cheek and pull her in further to deepen the kiss. His touches were delicate and careful, like she was made of glass.

If they had been sober, their minds would have surely been racing with all the paranoia and implications of their actions, but there, wasted on cranberry cocktails, and in the bubble they always seemed to create, there was nothing on their minds except each other.

It doesn’t take long for the kiss to heat up. Amelia’s arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer and adjusting to be further in his lap. Amelia’s thumping heart jumped into her throat while his dropped into his hips. Their clashed lips were a messy display of suppressed frustration and drunken bliss - hungry and curious, but soft and cautious.

Her dainty fingers threaded into roots of his lengthy hair as her hips began to just barely roll against his lap. Between the alcohol and the buzzing that made home between her legs, he was about all she could think about. In her drunken state it made perfect sense to follow the urge commanded by the ache in her core.

Noah however being slightly less drunk than her, held the whisper of unrequited adoration in the back of his mind. Emphasis on whisper, his brain was too woozy and fogged up from the girl lazily moving herself against him to care all that much. He thought, if being loved by her only came like this, just one time while they were drunk, maybe it was okay to let her lips grace his just this once. He had no real plans to actually escalate the moment past a heated kiss. She didn’t know what she was doing and would probably forget tomorrow anyway, there was no harm in a kiss.

Amelia pulled away, letting reality drip into her brain just a bit. Her eyes bounced between his own, who looked at her with a look that didn’t waiver like before, completely down for whatever the night was delivering.

When the bedroom door abruptly opened, it was as if their bodies were ripped apart from the way Amelia instinctively flew back into her spot. Her chest rose and fell quickly with her heart racing so fast it threatened to shatter her ribcage. Her cheeks burned the way a child’s would with fear of getting caught breaking rules. Even though there were no rules that stated otherwise, she felt as though she’d broken some invisible law. She wouldn’t necessarily classify it as wrong, just perhaps forbidden.

From all the loud chaos of her fleeing from him to the opposite side of the closet, it was a dead giveaway for Nick of their hiding spot.

Amelia squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of his sneakered footsteps making their way to the closet. She thought maybe if she stayed completely still, by some miracle he’d second guess his trail.

The closet doors creaked open in an instant and light from the hallway flooded the dark room. From the way Nick’s face dropped, it was clear that he wasn’t expecting to see both their faces in the same spot. His expression shifted from knitted confused brows to a wide victorious grin.

“Ha! Y’all made it easy. Two birds, one stone, you lose!” He declared as if he won the olympics, which didn’t really make sense since he didn’t win either. It was a tie between the three of them with each winning a singular round. They all won, they all lost.

“Sorry I um,” Amelia cleared her throat and struggled to leave the closet, crushing old shoes and letting boxes tumble behind her. “Sorry, I just need to leave.” She mumbled quickly, brushing past Nick nearly knocking him backwards.

Her legs couldn’t keep up with her speeding around the house to gather her belongings to leave. She threw her jacket under her arm and tossed her crossbody purse over her shoulder. Her feet stumbled over the steps of the staircase and barreled through the bustling party to land on the cold front door handle. A harsh cold smacked her face immediately triggering her teeth to chatter. The freezing winter wind was vicious and relentless across her pale skin as her legs propelled her forward to a full-on sprint home.

It wasn’t until she bursted through her front door with her back against it that she finally felt a semblance of safety. Her back was so heavy against the door that when she tried to pull herself from it, her spine felt like magnetized concrete. She let out a weighty sigh before forcefully kicking herself off.

Even though the holiday cocktail was still rushing through her veins like vicious waters, she stumbled her way into her kitchen. Her legs ached from the drunken sprint home and her chest was sore from the heavy breathing. Her head spun like a basketball on the tip of a player’s finger.

The fridge light burned her retinas when she pulled the door open and quickly found her target, an old, gifted bottle of red wine. Her eyes landed on the cabinet door that hid her wine glasses but deemed the task too exhausting and pointless. There was a hollow echo from pulling the cork harshly from the bottle’s mouth. The sanguine liquid flowed past her lips and into a greedy gulp, leaving behind a dry bitter burn. Her face scrunched at the taste, disappointed that even at her level of intoxication the beverage was still horrid.

Amelia rested her hands against the granite edge of the countertop, letting the weight of her entire body pool into her palms. Her mind was a fuzzy blur, nauseatingly turbulent with the memories of the past few hours. The thoughts came in relentless waves, giving her brief moments of drunken distraction before crashing back in. She hoped she’d forget tomorrow after a good night’s sleep, and she hoped the same for Noah. God, she hoped the same for him.

A/N; thank you so much for reading 💗 i hope you enjoyed even though it is definitely not christmas time lmao 💗 let me know what you think ! 💗

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