#Chapterone

[xoillumination]

Back To Being Friends - Chapter One

This is a Sombr fanfic. Please enjoy I’ll try and get a chapter out once every two days or so. Happy reading my fellow Sombr fans :)

Slightly proofread not fully though.

The air is thick as body push up against one another to get as close as they can to the barricade. I keep my arm linked with my friend. I hate concerts... well I hate the waiting. It's frustrating, people just push and shove. I hate being so close to people, but this is what my friend wanted. An hour passes and my feet feel like they're on fire. I stand on my toes to relieve the pain.

The lights finally dime and screams abrupt. The hall echoes, heads turn the the stage. My breathing hitches and there he is, all six feet nine inches of him. His black hair falls in his eyes just how it always does. My throat tightens as I look at him taking in the praise from the crowd. He looks the same just without the gleam in his eyes. His voice pierces through the air, “Hello, New York!” He looks out into the crowd, his eyes taking in every adoring fan. His eyes land on me and something flickers in his eyes. I bite my lip and look away. I can feel his pain from here. The band starts and just like that he’s back into character. I stand, staring at him as he towers over the mic stand and sings. People around us scream his lyrics but my mind is trapped in the night one year ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 8th 2024:

It’s strange tonight. The air is neither hot nor cold it’s a nice medium. I don’t know whether to shrug my jacket off or keep it on. I walk into a 711 and grab a monster and some lays before heading to pay. I turn to leave when I run into a wall of human flesh. I hear my nose crunch and I wince, “Shit.”

I glance up, nearly breaking my neck, “You good?” His voice soft but rough. I blink the light behind him making him look like a fallen angel, “Hello?” He clicks his fingers in front of me face.

“I’m okay.” I finally answer. My nose throbs. I can feel bruises forming under my eyes already, “Sorry about running into.” I take a few steps back out of his personal space, “I should’ve been paying attention.” I bend and pick up my monster.

When I straighten he’s gone. I scoff in confusion and exit the 711. I make it one block when I hear the pounding of footsteps behind me. My back straighten as I turn slightly to see who’s approaching me.

It’s that guy from 711. I slow and let him catch up, “Gosh,” he pants, “Give me a minute.” He rest his hands on his knees and takes a few deep breaths, before straightening and looking at me, “Your nose.” I blink slowly, “Here.” He passes me some tissues, “For the blood.”

My fingertips touch the top of my lip where blood pools. How did I not notice? I take the tissues and wipe the blood, “Thank you.” I give him a small smile. I probably look crazy with my frazzled hair and bloody nose.

“This is going to sound strange, but my hotel is just a bit further down why don’t you come in and actually wash your face with some warm water?” I don’t even take a second to think about how crazy the question was I just nod and we both fall in sync walking to his hotel.

When he opens the hotel room I enter the realisation hitting me that I just followed a random man back to his apartment, “What’s your name?” I ask. My body tensing, as he moves to drop his keys on the table.

“Sombr.” My brows furrow. Why does that name sound familiar? I question. I finally really look at him. Tall and slim, black fluffy hair and brown eyes. My eyes widen. Holy shit! I’m in Sombr’s hotel room a singers hotel room.

I squeeze my clammy hands, “I’m Heather.” He nods.

“The bathroom is this way.” He opens a door and nods. I walk in and close the bathroom door. I wash the blood off of my face before walking back out.

He sits on the couch his arms spread out along the back, “Thank you.” He looks over to me and smiles, “Well I should get going.” His smile slips for a second.

“Would you want to watch a movie?” The question catches me by surprise.

“What?” My tone harsher than I meant.

“Sorry I know I’m probably coming off a bit creepy, but you seem cool and would like to get to know you better, so movie?” He asks.

Just like that I sit down on the couch and spend the best weekend of my life in Sombr’s hotel room with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The memories from August last year flood my memories. Heat creeps up my cheeks. ‘Back To Friends’ starts playing. His coffee eyes meet mine as he sings every single lyric directly at me.

I feel every ounce of pain behind the words he sings. God how I wish I didn’t cause him pain. I bite my lip to hold back the tears as he finishes the song and says goodnight. As everyone moves to leave my feet stay planted solid in place. I lose sight of my friend. Everyone pushes and shoves around me, but I stand frozen, staring at the microphone, “Miss.” My attention snaps to the security guard, “Miss would you come with me please.” I don’t say anything I just follow the security guard backstage.

There he sits on a black leather couch drinking a bottle of water, “Hello sweetheart.”

To be continued…

[saladmanthemightys]

Birds chapter 1 (working title) - Birds - Chapter one. (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1538396250-birds-chapter-1-working-title-birds-chapter-one?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=spudlythegrand Chapter one of my first story, Birds (working title), a post apocalyptical story about a world dominated by bird people, This chapter is mainly an introduction to the main character Jay, and his house, though you also have a glimpse of somebody else to begin. I hope you enjoy reading it, its only chapter one so hopefully it isnt too much hassle to read. Please give me constructive criticism! I love to get better at writing. although this chapter is family friendly it could get graphic later on for anybody reading!

[theespadas]

2000, Cristalina, Rezende.

beginning | previous | next Transcript under the cut

Cristalina, Rezende - 11:30 AM

(sigh)

[Agnes] Christinne, I need you to listen to me very clearly.

St. Albans sets a new standard in society that is different from your previous school.

So, I need you to try harder than before. Smile. Stay proper. And, most importantly, avoid any behavior that may disappoint me or your father.

[Christinne] Don't worry, Mother. I have never disappointed you before, and I won't do so now.

[Agnes] Precisely, but know that your attendance at this school is very beneficial for our family.

[Christinne] But… why all this, Mother? Is there anything else I should know?

...

[Agnes] You know enough, Christinne. It is about a new beginning…

A new chance to be seen in our society.

(heavy breathing)

[Agnes] Oh, perfect. We have arrived.

St. Albans Academy - 12:00 AM

[Trevor] It's our final year, guys. I’m already missing Augustin's vacation home, his birthday party, the break from school…

[Fabi] Well… That sucks for me and Lydia, we still have two more! Can't believe we'll have to go a whole year without you…

[Otto] We should totally hang out at the Espadas' more often, right? I mean, just talking about it makes me feel like I'm getting roasted by Calla's sun…

[Augustin] Maybe next year, guys… Sorry…

I'm gonna be pretty busy this year. Got a lot of stuff to do and learn, and I'll also be keeping up with my parents' chaotic schedule of commitments.

[Otto] You're the heir to the throne, Gus. You already made a living! You've got all the perks that come with it, so why not enjoy them?

[Augustin] I think that's an even greater reason for me to try harder this year, don't you think? [Otto] Augustin?

Augustin... What are you lookin' at?

[Augustin] At my future... I hope.

[crisicsgames]

DOOM THE DARK AGES RITORNO DELLO SLAYER COL GUINZAGLIO

[keycomicbooks]

#SummerOfSuperman #ThePastthePresenttheFuture #ChapterOne #JorgeJiménez Artist #MarkWaid Writer

[deniciadev93]

From Fan to Forever: My Love Story with Chris Brown

From Fan to Forever: My Love Story with Chris Brown PREFACE: They say that meeting your favorite celebrity will lead to disappointment. But what if meeting him was just the beginning? Since the beginning of his career, I felt like nothing more than a face in the crowd,singing along to his music,watching from a distance, and daydreaming about what it would be like to be noticed. To me, CHris…

[passionateeuphoria369]

"Where do she go from here?"

Introduction: My heart racing, my pulse stops, my mind goes blank. Eventually, I start seeing red. How could he, how could she? How could they? I asked. There's no way I deserved this. Not like this, not in this way. Someone whom I trusted. Someone whom I thought I loved. Turned out to be a serpent. Yeah, you know the same serpent that got Eve. My mind was bamboozled, conflicted, and confused. Who I once thought was sent by God was sent by Satan himself. The torment this jackass brought into my life I will never forget. Do I get my revenge? Do I give it to God? If I take matters into my own hands, the Lord knows that wouldn't be a good thing. So where do I go from here? Where do I go from such a dark and angry space.

Chapter 1 of 34.

Do I kill them both? I asked myself. No, I can't, as I replied. I'll never forgive myself if I did. I can't lie and say the thought hasn't crossed my mind several times. As I grousemly imagined exactly what I'll do to the both of them. But being a child of God, I feel like the heavenly father quickly wiped those thoughts away from me. At the time, I didn't understand why. In that moment, I just wanted God to understand why I wanted to kill them both. Such betrayal right under your nose and in your face can most definitely make you feel that way. Can make anybody feel that way, I believe. The guy I once considered a lover betrayed me with someone close in the family. Both had motive. Both were out to get me. Both were successful, well, until they weren't. See, they both thought that had one up. Who are they, you might ask. Let's just call them Jezebel & Judas. If you read the Bible, you should understand the metaphors to the names as to why I chose to name them those specific names. I knew one day I'll be brave enough to tell my story. But will you be strong enough to read it?

[someplace-that-is-else]

And so it begins...

DARKENED SOUL: THE RYN, my latest Darkenverse project will be posted weekly on my Darkenverse page.

www.facebook.com/darkenverse

CHAPTER 1...currently pinned at the top.

#darkenedsoul #ryn #chapterone #forryn #fantasy #wolves #shortstory

[theformulaforsuccess]

Join Douglas Vandergraph as he delves into Chapter 1 of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, exploring the essential principles of desire, goal-setting, and persistence. Understand how a burning desire is the starting point of all achievement, and discover how to apply Hill's teachings to achieve your own success. Whether you're new to the book or revisiting its timeless wisdom, this discussion will guide you through practical steps to transform your dreams into reality.

#ThinkAndGrowRich #NapoleonHill #SuccessMindset #GoalSetting #LawOfAttraction #PersonalDevelopment #WealthMindset #SelfHelp #Motivation #AchieveYourGoals

[childishred]

The Weird World chronicles

Chapter 1 "The foundations of a house"

Only a couple of years ago, on some planet far far away, stood a big house. It was a female house which had a soul, she was strong and stable and stood the test of time. Bigger in height than in width, a mixed breed of dark red brick and birch wood, and she survived every storm there was, keeping her tenants safe.

There were many a rooms, many unoccupied. The house was owned by a very stereotypical fictional grandmother, Grandma Applehead. She was a short ample lady with short white curly hair who often wore green aprons and shower caps (that made her look like a harmless alien). She loved to bake fruit pies and clean and upgrade her rustic, colorful and traditional home.

The living room and kitchen were shared by all the tenants. They were BIG and BEAUTIFUL; colorful tiles, levels, wooden stairs, pretty counters, clay roosters, needlepoints, heavy polished chairs, detailed carpets, fruit baskets...And it always smelled like cleanliness and cinnamon.

However, only 3 people lived in the house. Even though it was an isolated house on an isolated planet, that wasn't really a problem because of the unique culture of that world. I think simply no one really heard of it, no one knew it was an option.

I would tell you more, but you have to tune in.

...

THE SECOND TENANT

She woke up and it was a monotonous morning. Rays of light stabbed the colorful glass of her window without even asking first. Kyrie rose in a simple white night gown and widely opened the window. The same old branch was still there. It was as if The Tree had grown it to keep her in check. Or perhaps Grandma Applehead asked it to, so her tenant could smell the luring scent of apple blossoms when time came.

As every day starts off, there really is nothing to do. Nothing to make it worth a diary entry. You have to really try, and often fail to find something weird.

She ran downstairs but no one was there in the joint living room/kitchen. No one was in the laundry room. The gryphon room was empty. The stuff room was really hollow when it came to people, but it was really not hollow when it came to stuff.

So she went outside and referred to The Tree and the guardian dragon.

"At least you're here." Kyrie said to her.

"I'm always here." The dragon's voice was deep and stable.

"Why? Don't you ever want to go fly?"

"I'm a noble animal, and this is my duty. I want to be here and protect the house."

"Well, do you know anything I could do today? Someplace I could go explore?"

"There is a mystery that was under your nose the whole time, but Grandma told me not to tell you unless you asked."

The dragoness moved and the ground beneath her opened up and presented a spiral staircase going under.

"It really was under my nose. Thanks, dragon!"

The girl was armed with nothing but a golden brown pretzel and messy hair and descended down the tiles. They were light pink and orange. Around the staircase there was nothing, just void. She wondered if she fell off to the side, would she ever meet a bottom.

Then there was a room behind a locked door. She couldn't see the walls around the door. It was like a hallway with no light on either side. And Kryie felt the hard bristles of a rug under her bare feet. She also felt a little scared.

"I watch enough TV to know where this goes!"

With a grin she flipped over the rug as if someone was watching her and she had to show off. The key was right there and she unlocked the room.

It wasn't what she expected; it was warm and rustic, like an extension of the house. She could hear rhythmic thumping. There were glass display cabinets with honey colored whiskey bottles. The room smelled like beeswax. Everywhere she looked she saw hung up pictures and documents. They were of financial nature, describing the price of construction material used to build the residence.

Big crumbles of wall were on the wooden floor. She looked up and the ceiling was fractured. The roots of The Tree had made their way there and climbed down. They led to the center of the room.

And right there, between the big fancy chairs was a casket made by the finest carpenter's hand. It was colored red and green with rose ornaments. And by the casket, a book in a glass case. With a push of a soft button the transparent box opened and she gently unfolded the book. It was fat and stuffed with little papers. But primarily, it was a photo and letter album. There were very old pictures in sepia and gray tones depicting a young Grandma Applehead with tight skin and her late husband.

There were pictures of them pouring cement, planting The Tree, holding peace signs next to a giant crab on some beach, and one was them embracing a baby. The baby was way too predictable and uncool sucking its thumb, she thought.

Little spiders ran across her feet.

[littlerednotebooks]

The Secret Book

Chapter one:

He could see his breath; the white mist appeared and disappeared before his icy blue eyes. He kept his back pressed tightly against the stone wall as the cold from the icy stone bricks seeped through his rag of a shirt. His heart raced, beating faster than a galloping horse. His long arms reached up to find a narrow windowsill above him. His muscles screamed in pain as he pulled himself up to perch on the sill.

"There!" someone called. Alex had pulled himself up to the sill of the three-story house just as a group of armed men, clad in silver and green robes, rushed down the small alley.

He pulled himself onto the roof and dashed across it. Loose stones and rocks fell off the roof as he jumped between the small gaps between roofs. The young man's heart pounded in his head as he ran for his life. A dark figure jumped in front of Alex, causing him to lose his footing. The young man fell onto the ground with a bang. Blood trickled down from his dark hair onto his pale face. Weakly, he opened his eyes to face the dark figure looming over him, where only green eyes and a smirk could be seen under the hood. The figure reached out a hand. Alex pulled a book out of his pocket; then everything went black.

[fixquotes]

"Many, many of my paintings have come from the first chapter of Moby Dick"

- Robert Indiana

[theespadas]

2000, Cristalina, Rezende.

beginning | previous | next | Maurice's letter to Christinne Transcript under the cut

Cristalina, Rezende - 12:10 AM

[Agnes] Very well, this is where I’ll leave you.

[Christinne] That's okay, Mother. I'll take it from here. (sigh)

[Agnes] I'm still your mother, Marie. I am hard on you because I only want the best for your future and I, for a fact, know you get easily distracted.

(sigh)

[Christinne] I know, Mom. (clears throat) [Agnes] Now, I’m officially off to Calla. I’ll call you on the weekend.

[Christinne] O-Okay, until then, Mom. I guess it's time to unpack... What the- He surely outdid himself this time... [?] So, you're famous? I mean...

[Lydia] ... considering the amount of flowers you just got delivered.

[Christinne] No… I-I mean, It was just my dad. He always does something like this on my first days of school, but he did a little too much this time. [Lydia] He also left you a note along with the flowers. You might want to read it... not that I'm curious or anything. (giggles)

[Christinne] I was right. It's from him. [Lydia] You will tell me what's written, won't you?

[Christinne] Nope...

[Lydia] Bummer... At least tell me how St. Albans is treating you...

Has anything interesting happened yet? I want to know all about my roommate.

[Christinne] I-I had just arrived, so nothing relevant has happened yet… [Lydia] Fantastic, so I’ll be the one to introduce you to your fresh, new life.

Starting now. You'll meet my friends today.

[Christinne] I'd like that, very much.

[itwasrealtome]

Uncharted Love — Part One

— A New Kickoff

•••

Chapter One

WillowBrook Library

"I keep turning over new leaves, and spoiling them, as I used to spoil my copybooks; and I make so many beginnings there never will be an end."

—From Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

•••

—Willowbrook, here we come!

Carter maneuvered the car skillfully, attempting to find the perfect spot in front of the bustling library.

The beige building towered four stories above them, hardly as impressive as the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. or the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Still, the site seemed to offer locals a wide range of knowledge and a few ways to get lost.

Glancing at his co-pilot, the young man couldn't help but notice her distant expression as she hummed along to the song playing on the speaker. He was aware of the change of scenery this was for her and couldn't help feeling worried for her. Coming here felt like the best thing to do, but maybe— maybe, they were both wrong.

—Hey, Ellie, everything's okay? Carter asked, his concern evident in his voice.

The car finally came to a halt, allowing Ellie to step out of it and take a few steps back. With a pensive look on her face, she paused for a moment, her head tilting slightly to the right — a familiar habit of hers.

After what felt like hours, she walked back up to the second-hand vehicle, finally addressing a glance to the driver.

—You know what, Carter? For a first attempt, you've done pretty good.

Carter's brows furrowed slightly.

—Good? I don't want good, Ellie. I want great, he replied, a hint of determination in his voice.

With a playful spark in her eyes, the blonde grabbed her belongings from the truck and playfully tapped the back of the car.

—Can't always have what we want, Tee'. C'mon, grab your stuff or we'll be late, she urged, her impatience growing.

Carter snorted, realizing he needed to keep up with his friend's energy. He quickly retrieved his bags and boxes and joined her, both of his arms loaded with stuff. The blonde didn't even bother, finding her way to the entrance without so much as a frown in his direction.

Together, they walked to the library, their footsteps echoing with anticipation.

As they took their first steps inside the building, the familiar scent of books filled their nostrils, instantly invoking a sense of comfort and adventure. The interior was a labyrinth of bookshelves, each aisle leading to a different world waiting to be explored. The soft murmur of hushed-conversations and the occasional page-turning created a serene atmosphere.

Ellie could not help but feel a sense of wonder as she glanced around, her eyes scanning the rows upon rows of books. It was as if she could feel the knowledge and stories contained within each volume, waiting to be discovered.

The library, though not in grand size, held a charm of its own, beckoning them to embark on a literary journey. In a matter of time, Carter lost sight of his friend, who had vanished down the aisles. He set his belongings down in a corner, taking refuge on one of the beanbags available to users.

What was the point of standing around if he had to wait hours after a bookworm?

While he kept himself busy on his smartphone, Ellie paced the rows, her interest growing with every book she set eyes on. She'd always had a knack for getting lost in places like this, intoxicated by the smell of paper and stunned by the number of words floating around her.

As a child, her mother always joked that she'd end up leaving her there, in their favorite bookshop, and that she'd pick her up a few hours later. In the end, the young child would always emerge with a stack of books, a welcome escape from her hectic daily routine.

Her fingers delicately traced the spines, in search of a literary treasure she might dive into. Driven by curiosity, she had often abandoned detective novels and thrillers for other genres. Literature classics had been part of her daily routine as a student, while psychological and sociological studies and romance novels had found their way onto her bookshelf by chance. Today, her heart was beating again for a classic in the detective genre.

Her thumb slid over the weathered writing. Despite wear and tear, it was still possible to detect the name of the author, Thomas Harris.

Ellie couldn't help remembering her previous readings. She had devoured every word of the Hannibal Lecter series, taking her books everywhere she went, notes scribbling down every page. Now, she wanted more. More investigations, more fear, more terrifying incarnations of evil. She needed to give herself that.

—Looking for an adrenaline rush?

Lost in her thoughts, Ellie startled as the voice broke the silence behind her. Book in hand, she pivoted on the back of her heels, a lock of her blond hair falling in front of her eyes. She couldn't help smiling slightly at her interlocutor's embarrassed expression. Being the reason behind a heart attack was therefore not in this woman's plans.

—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

At five-foot-five, Ellie had to slightly lower her gaze to meet the woman's hazel eyes, being at least one at two heads taller than her. She took the time to pay attention to the way her mid-length brown hair framed her face and how her smile gave her features a more approachable and sympathetic look. The blonde's silence meant nothing. She always needed time before talking to stranger.

—No problem, really. I tend to forget reality a bit quickly in places like this.

—It's a good thing, actually, we needed someone like you here, Ellie!

A laugh escaped the younger woman as she realized the situation. She quickly extended her hand in the brunette's direction, clasping the one already intended for her. Unlike her own, the hand of what was to be her new colleague was warm and welcoming. She could only feel annoyed by the cold emerging from her fingers.

—Now, I guess, it's my turn to apologize. Ellie instantly bit her lips, nervous. It's a pleasure to finally meet you...

—Johanna Adams. I'm the cultural manager, we spoke by e-mail.

—Oh, right. Well, it's great to finally put a face to the name.

As they got to know each other better, Ellie finally lost sight of the books she was so interested in. Instead, following her new guide towards what seemed to have become her friend's new hiding place.

Carter was slumped on the beanbag, his head bopping to the electric rhythm his headphones sent deep into his eardrums. Next to him was all his bags and boxes, trying to compete with the good old Leaning Tower of Pisa. For nothing in the world would he have noticed Ellie's return, or even Johanna's presence.

Unable to resist any longer, Ellie kicked him in the calf. The young man immediately opened his eyes, his hand instinctively protecting the affected area. He glanced accusingly at the blonde, a pinching remark on the tip of his tongue. With a simple clear throat, she told him to be quiet. They didn't need to show their true selves right from the start.

Arms folded against her chest, Ellie nodded at her new acquaintance. The brunette didn't seem impressed by the behavior of the two newcomers, letting out a smile as Carter scrambled to his feet and apologized. The flush on his cheeks was just one more reason to tease him afterwards.

Amused, Ellie made the presentations, her hands behind her back, waddling on the back of her heels. As she had done before, Johanna explained to the blond that their supervisor, Samuel Hawkins, had been unable to welcome them and show them around, so she volunteered to replace him.

—We'll start with a tour of the building, then I'll let you guys settle in at your desks.

If the young woman seemed to have lost her way in the aisles on the ground floor, she was not at the end of her surprises. The cultural manager led them through the floors, slaloming between the various literary collections. There was something for everyone, from the very young to the very old, from culinary enthusiasts to fans of the classics. Yet, while the two women turned their attention to the tour, Carter seemed to have eyes only for their guide.

He took care to slow his pace, following a little further, his gaze also a little lower than it should have been. Every word about the library didn't even reach his mind, failing to make any sense compared to the woman's silhouette.

On the stairs, his feet became entangled, causing him to lose his balance. He caught himself on the banister, clutching Ellie's arm with his other hand. She gave him a curious look, not yet fully acclimatized to his awkwardness. As discreetly as possible, he nodded to Johanna, a look of adoration on his face.

As much as they both knew how to appreciate a woman's beauty under normal circumstances, this was neither the time nor the place. It was Ellie's turn to grab his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

—Keep it together, Carter, she whispered, a scowl on her face. We're here to explore the library, not get distracted by our guide.

—Oh, c'mon El'. You can't tell me otherwise.

—Yes, I can. Now jus–

Someone cleared their throat, surprising both of them through their disagreement. Ellie held the blond's gaze, her eyes reflecting an unbearable seriousness and coldness.

—Just, behave.

Carter didn't need to be told twice. As much as Ellie often backed him in his nonsense, she had her own limits — him, had a hard time imposing some on himself.

—Is everything all right?

The two novices looked up at Johanna, a few steps above them. The blonde was the first to climb the few steps of difference, a fine smile returning on her lips even though her eyes didn't reflect it. She made up an excuse, not wanting to cause any trouble on their first day.

The older woman was overtook by Ellie, stuck on her step, a sympathetic look for Carter. As he climbed the last few steps, Johanna finally moved forward, leading them to the office part of the building.

It was certainly bigger than either of them could have imagined. As the door marked "Personnel Access Only" closed behind them, a long corridor appeared. The bay windows ran along one side of the wall, allowing the room to receive the sun's light and warmth. On her right, Ellie noted the location of the secretarial and manager's offices. Passing by, they respectfully greeted those present, quickly fleeing on Johanna's heels.

—Welcome to our little anthill, the brunette turned around, clasping her hands. This is where we work when we're not stationed on the floors below. Over there is my office, and here are your desks.

Stuck on the doorstep, the two friends took their time to assimilate all the information. It was a classic first day. The kind where people keep throwing all kinds of information at you, not caring if you've learned your lesson, or not.

Ellie felt dizzy in front of the immensity of the room. She had tried several times to imagine what her workspace would look like, but nothing her mind had created resembled reality.

The desks were cleverly laid out, with the various departments grouped side by side. In this way, she wasn't surprised to find hers opposite Carter's. They were supposed to work together, hand in hand, to implement each of the projects they had already discussed many times.

Nor was she surprised to note that the most senior positions were entitled to their own offices. They formed an L-shape along two sections of wall, barely separated from the rest of the room by glass. Among them, Ellie easily found the one with the name J.Adams on the door. From a distance, it looked organized, almost cozy. A vague resemblance to the person to whom the coin belonged.

—I'm gonna love this place!

Carter was the first to place his belongings on the desk bearing his name. He dropped into the wheelchair, spinning around several times, a bright smile on his face.

—Easy there, tiger, you'll get dizzy.

He stopped abruptly, a charming smile on his lips, his mouth acting before his brain.

—Oh, I know lots of other ways to get dizzy.

Ellie wished she could've palmed her face at that specific moment. She made a mental note about her friend needing a bit more lessons on flirting. Once again, she broke the silence, this time with a sincere smile.

—Thank you for showing us around, Johanna. We're both very happy to be working with all of you and look forward to adding our own touch to WillowBrook Library.

—You're very welcome, Ellie, smiled warmly the brunette. I have a feeling you'll bring something special to this place. If you ever need guidance or have questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Ellie nodded gratefully. She watched the cultural manager carefully make her way to her desk, before taking her own seat.

Opposite her, the blond had already spread out his trinkets and invaded every mini-meter of space. She couldn't help feeling amused by the simple process. Carter had always been a boy whose mind needed space and was overflowing in every sense of the word.

Here, he expressed this by exhibiting a mini Star Wars figurine, several Polaroid photos and several of his favorite chocolate bars. In a way, it was very cute indeed.

By comparison, her desk seemed empty. Her bag was filled with what she considered to be basic necessities: her old university pencil case, her laptop, a half-read book and her water bottle. Even if she'd wanted to, she'd be hard-pressed to find anything else in her loft. The boxes were still stacked and the scotch was struggling to come undone – or was it the ties of the past?

Taking the first step with this job meant giving herself yet another chance in life for Ellie. And as she sank a little further into her seat, her gaze falling directly on Johanna's silhouette over Carter's shoulder, she knew she had to try. WillowBrook Library was the perfect place for a fresh start.

—WillowBrook, here we come.

XXX

Taglist:

@womenlovingwomen-imagines @emskisworld @sammi1642 @marvelandotheruniversesloveradhd @wittygutsy

[endermen-impasta]

Chapter One out now guys :D

https://www.wattpad.com/1362323060?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_published&wp_page=create_on_publish&wp_uname=storiesfromthebrain&wp_originator=NhBe1cCUcVDo%2FaWzh%2FS9D40d5Gmf3gyvjvwacqxWQxm13xYvbReqE7gNILlf2uObtl2BOHfyyFuOZrUWOPF7wEEet6KQjEWzh6bEz3dT8va3%2FKxTvjBuQnUr46wbNZJq

Enjoy my people :D