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jbbarnesnnoble · 4 years ago

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JBBarnesNNoble's 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Challenge 2021

Hello lovely people! And welcome to the 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Writing Challenge. The aim of this challenge is to shine a light on mental health, medical conditions, and the things that can have impacts on us. This started out initially being a PCOS Awareness challenge last year but through conversations with other writers over Discord, it evolved into a Mental Health Awareness Month Writing Challenge last year. I’m reusing some of the unused prompts from last year’s challenge and adding in some new ones!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal of this challenge is to lift each other up, and show that it’s okay not to be okay. Spread some love and light during a challenging time in the world to those who struggle with chronic illness, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, grief, PCOS, acceptance from their families and communities for being LGBT+, and anyone struggling with insecurity.

This challenge will run through July 31st, 2021. It will run through Mental Health Awareness Month, Pride Month, and the month of July to give people time to write. You can submit it at any time. I probably have too many prompts, but I wanted to ensure that there was a wide array to choose from. Please don’t hesitate to message me if I haven’t interacted with your fic after a few days! Sometimes the tag system doesn’t work and I miss things!

The Rules:

1. Utilize resources available online if you’re dealing with subject matter you’re not that familiar with. I’m not going to go all “cite sources” on y’all, but please do make sure to do your research. Writing about some of these issues can be hard if you don’t have first hand knowledge of how it can affect you. The goal of this challenge is to write about topics that we tend to shy away from, that many of us struggle with, from mental health struggles to chronic illnesses to low-self esteem. A gentle reminder that if you think writing about a subject will be triggering for you, please look after yourself first.

2. Use #JBBNNMHAM21 to tag your fic

3. Dark!Fic- Due to the subject matter involved in this challenge, please don’t submit dark!fic. I enjoy dark fics, but this challenge isn’t the place for them.

4. Smut- Smut is welcome! Make sure you tag it appropriately.

5. No inc*st, dubcon/noncon, underage, etc

6. Ships- I prefer reader inserts, but show me what ya got.

7. NO JOHN WALKER FICS. Please. Please no. I beg of you.

8. Selecting Prompts: Just let me know which one you want to do! 2 people per prompt! The song prompts have a line from them under it. You DO NOT need to use the line in your submission! It’s mostly to help you decide if you’re interested in a song before you take a listen to it.

You also can alter the sentence and dialogue prompts as needed for grammar, be it altering the pronouns used or changing the pluralization of a word.

9. Trigger Warnings: Use warnings as needed. Fics dealing with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health issues should be tagged appropriately to ensure that readers that may be triggered by the subject matter can avoid the fic. Trigger warnings are non-negotiable

The prompts are under the cut!

Prompts:

Dialogue Prompts:

“I feel like if I let go, if I move on, I’ll only be proving them right.”

“I don’t know. Am I? Because from where I’m standing it’s pretty damn clear that’s how you see me.”

“You don’t believe that do you? Tell me you don’t. Please.”

“It’d probably be easier if you left”

“Please leave me alone”

“Everyone’s got broken pieces. Some have more, some have less. It doesn’t make you less of a person to have those broken pieces.” @nekoannie-chan

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll take that shake now.”

“What’s the point if I’m going to end up breaking that promise too?”

“You sure about that, moonman?”

“It made you smile though. And that will always be a win in my book.”

“That’s not true. And I will tell you that every day of your life until you believe me.”

Sentence Prompts:

Feel free to adjust the pronouns as needed

It was a day. It was the only way it could be described.

Summer had a smell that reminded her of innocence and a time long since past.

In that moment, the world stopped spinning on its axis as it all shattered down around her.

Some things, there would never be a way to understand. @justrunamok

Like shattered glass, in that moment the illusion was broken.

Forever was a lie, just like everything else.

If you had another condescending doctor tell you your problem wasn’t a problem you were going to scream.

They’d say it was easy, like riding a bike. Except, you never learned how to ride a bike in the first place.

Today was going to be good. It had to be.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this was going south.

AU and Trope Prompts:

Soulmate @samsgoddess

College

Childhood Friends @tellmealovestory

Friends to Lovers

Enemies to Lovers

Musicians

Writer

Professional Athlete

Teacher

Coffee Shop

Fake Dating

Accidental Marriage

Royal

Librarian

Doctor

Song Prompts:

1. Nobody Ever Told You - Carrie Underwood

Lyric Snippet: “Wish you could see yourself the way I do. Nobody ever told you, nobody ever told you. Shine like a diamond, glitter like gold, and you need to know what nobody ever told you”

2. Missing You - All Time Low

Lyric Snippet: “And if you need a friend, I’ll help you stitch up your wounds. I heard that you’ve been, having some trouble finding your place in the world. I know how much that hurts. But if you need a friend, then please just say the word.”

3. Barefoot and Bruised - Jamestown Story

Lyric Snippet: “Maybe when your sky comes crashing down, I can be your angel on the ground. If you get tired and can’t go on, I will carry you along, when the rocks below your feet wear out your shoes, when you’re barefoot and bruised”

4. Hold On Till May- Pierce the Veil

Lyric Snippet: “If were you, I’d put that away. See you’re just wasted and thinking about the past again. Darling, you’ll be okay.”

5. If I Surrender - Citizen Soldier

Lyric Snippet: “If I surrender, surrender, to the monsters in me, will it set me free?”

6. Home - Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors, Beba Rexha

Lyric Snippet: “All these miles, feet, inches, they can’t add up to the distance that I have been through just to get to a place where even if there’s no closure I’m still safe. I still ache from trying to keep pace. Somebody give me a sign, I’m starting to lose faith”

7. Broken Arrows - Daughtry

Lyric Snippet: “The best of intentions I lay at your feet. And I need you to see past the worst part of me.”

8. Used - Serious Matters

Lyric Snippet: “The wounds are gone and the pain still lingers. But this time I won’t stand by, I don’t need you in my life”

9. According to You - Orianthi

Lyric Snippet: “According to you, I’m stupid, I’m useless, I can’t do anything right”

10. Let It Land - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “And everything we hate is something we just bought along the line”

11. Cold As You - Taylor Swift

Lyric Snippet: “You put up walls and paint them all a shade of grey. And I stood there loving you and wished them all away. And you come away with a great little story, of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you”

12. Tied Together with a Smile - Taylor Swift

Lyric Snippet: “Hold on, baby you’re losing it. The water’s high, you’re jumping into it, and letting go, and no one knows. That you cry but you don’t tell anyone that you might not be the golden one. And you’re tied together with a smile, but you’re coming undone.”

13. Human Interaction - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “I don’t know love. I don’t know hate. I am numb. Wish I could find the words to say. Asking please, as colors fade. I need to breathe. Before I turn the world to grey.”

14. Therapy - All Time Low

Lyric Snippet: “Give me therapy, I’m a walking travesty, but I’m smiling at everything. Therapy you were never a friend to me, and you can keep all your misery”

15. Scars - Alison Iraheta

Lyric Snippet: “Do you know how hard I’ve tried to become what you want me to be. Take me, this is all that I’ve got, this is all that I’m not, all that I’ll ever be. I got flaws, I got faults, keep searching for your perfect heart. It doesn’t matter who you are, we’ve all got our scars”

16. Hurts to Know - 1551

Lyric Snippet: “I can’t remember what I did to earn you by my side. I can’t surrender. I’ll fight as long as you’re in my life”

17. Spinning Bottles - Carrie Underwood

Lyric Snippet: “He’s in a hotel room, with the tv on. Getting lost in the static with the curtains drawn, knowing this could be the time that gets her gone for good, he’d quit if he could. But one down, two down, three down, four, can’t even recognize the man in the mirror anymore”

18. Praying - Kesha

Lyric Snippet: “Well you were wrong and now the best is yet to come. ‘Cause I can make it on my own. And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known.”

19. Jersey On the Wall (I’m Just Asking) - Tenille Townes

Lyric Snippet: “If I ever get to heaven, you know I got a long list of questions. Like how do you make a snowflake, are you angry when the earth quakes? How does the sky change in a minutes, how do you keep this big rock spinning? Why can’t you stop a car from crashing? Forgive me, I’m just asking”

20. Five More Minutes - Scotty McCreery

Lyric Snippet: “Time rolls by, the clock don’t stop. I wish I had a few more drops of the good stuff, the good times. Oh, but they just keep on flying right on by like it ain’t nothing, wish I had me a, a pause button. Moments like those, Lord knows I’d hit it. Give myself five more minutes”

21. Dad’s Old Number - Cole Swindell

Lyric Snippet: “Sometimes I forget, these ten digits ain’t my lifeline anymore. Every now and then I dial them up when life gets tough or when the Braves score. Sorry about the one ring hang ups, early morning and late night wake ups. It was just me. In case you wondered, you’ve got dad’s old number.”

22. The Other Side - Lauren Alaina

Lyric Snippet: “There’s gonna be a lot of sadness on a lot of happy days, I’ll try to think of this moment, this place”

23. I Was Here - Beyonce

Lyric Snippet: “So they won’t forget I was here. I lived. I loved. I was here. I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted and it was more than I thought it would be. I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here.”

24. Gone Too Soon - Simple Plan

Lyric Snippet: “Like a shooting star, flying across the room. So fast, so far, you were gone too soon. You’re a part of me. And I’ll never be the same here without you. You were gone too soon.”

25. Amelia - Tonight Alive

Lyric Snippet: “And you will always be perfect, you’ll always be beautiful, our hearts, will never forget you. You didn’t belong here, and it’s become so clear why heaven called your name.”

26. Heaven Right Now - Thomas Rhett

Lyric Snippet: “When the whole crew gets together, memory lane goes on forever. We twist a top and pour a little Jack D out.”

#JBBNNMHAM21 #writing challenge #marvel fanfic

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cakesunflower · 6 years ago

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Fall From Grace [C.H. AU] Part 2

A/N: here’s part 2 of Fall From Grace! there will be one more part after this!! happy reading hehe

p.s.: since i’m gonna be at work when this is posted, i don’t know if tumblr would have fucked up the format and have a bunch of this story missing like it does on desktop. that being said, to avoid potentially missing sections of this part, pls READ ON MOBILE!!!!

thank you.

Previous Part: Part 1

Part 2

“TO OLIVIA—NO one is more deserving of this promotion than you, sweetheart.”

Cheeks warming at Dan’s words, Olivia smiled as everyone else sounded their cheerful agreements before clinking their glasses together and sipping them. Truthfully, she thought they were making ac far greater deal out of this than necessary—they being Alana, Daniel, Claudia, and Calum. Olivia sat with the four of them at one of the nicer Italian restaurants Bridgelake had to offer right by the beach, dressed up and drinking wine, all because she was now the assistant manager of the store.

The insecure part of her, because that always existed, kept reminding her mockingly that it wasn’t a big achievement. That she still was a retail worker in a boutique—though the nicest one in their town—at a random place in North Carolina. Nothing extraordinary. But those she cared about thought differently; they saw it as something to be celebrated. Which, okay, maybe it was. Addy had taken her out for drinks the night before, and now Olivia was having dinner with Alana, Calum, and his grandparents, and she smiled happily. Retail or not, she was proud of herself for getting that promotion—especially since it meant a higher pay.

So Olivia told that self-deprecating part of herself to shut up, and enjoyed dinner with her family to celebrate her.

It wasn’t hard to do so, she realized, as she drank her wine and ate her pasta and looked around the table. Everyone was all smiles—smiles for her—and it warmed Olivia more than the wine she was drinking. Moments like these were what reminded her that maybe not the entire world was against her, even if it felt that way most times. This promotion was an example of that, and while it didn’t feel quite as big of an accomplishment as Alana and the Hoods were making it seem to be, part of Olivia knew it was a step in the right direction. Maybe a small step, but a step nonetheless.

The smile on her face was genuine, feeling so lucky to be around these people as they enjoyed their dinner. She reminded herself that, despite what many people thought, there were still people who loved and cared for her. It was difficult to remember that at times in the damn near hateful little town of Bridgelake, but with her fourteen year old sister looking at her with admiring eyes, Claudia and Daniel being so vocal about how proud they were, and Calum embracing her in warm hugs she never wanted to end, Olivia found it relatively easy to get lost in the joy of this celebratory dinner.

✩✩✩✩✩

“Did you enjoy dinner?” Calum inquired, voice a lulled murmur over the sound of waves crashing on the shore. The damp sand was cold and unsoftened under his bare feet, and occasionally the ocean water would rush around his feet and send shivers up and down his spine. It was just the two of the now; Calum wasn’t entirely sure how he’d manage to talk Olivia in joining him to the beach after dinner. His grandparents took Alana home, so it was just him and Olivia walking along the shore with their shoes in her car parked on the sidewalk. The night was quiet, just the sounds of their voices and the water crashing on the shore, and Calum reveled in it.

“I did,” Olivia hummed thoughtfully, fingers fiddling with the skirt of her dress, spaghetti strapped and floral in a pretty turquoise color. Her head bowed so her gaze could drop to her white painted toes, a typical nail color for the summer on her part, and Olivia let out a breath through her nose as her lips puckered. She hated the way the sour thoughts slipped back into her head once the dinner was over, hated even more that she voiced them as she said, “Such a fuss over something so little.”

Calum’s eyebrows drew together into a frown as he looked at her while they continued walking, the downturn and dismayed tone of her muttering voice not going ignored. His lips parted slightly as he took her in, her own twisted to the side and shoulders slumped. He didn’t like it—he didn’t like Olivia diminishing the worth of her accomplishment. She was being awarded for being a hard worker, for her devotion to the boutique, and she should embrace it proudly because it was something to celebrate. In the past month and half Calum had been living in Bridgelake, he got to see just how much Olivia worked, providing for herself and Alana, and while sometimes Calum found himself worrying that Olivia worked herself too hard, though his admiration of her never wavered.

From that to how much she took care of Alana, to how she held her head high around the judgemental eyes prickling at her skin even though he could see the hint of sadness in her eyes he wished he could take away—there was nothing to not like about Olivia. And the more time he spent with her, got to know her more and more. . . God, Calum couldn’t even pinpoint where he started developing feelings for her. They just came naturally, slowly building up where it was almost unnoticeable at first. Now, every time he looked at Olivia, Calum could feel his heart jump into his throat and stomach lurch giddily.

Seeing anything but her beautiful smile didn’t settle well with him.

“Hey, don’t do that,” Calum found himself saying, the disappoint clear in his tone as he came to a stop. Olivia looked at him, realizing he had stopped when she was a step or two ahead before turning to face him. Calum shook his head, eyebrows still drawn together. “Don’t try to brush off something you worked hard for. We’re all proud of you, Liv. It’s worth celebrating.”

Olivia gave a shake of her head, licking her lips as she looked off to her right towards the vast ocean. The moon reflected off the dark water, the beach deserted for the most part given the nighttime, and Calum couldn’t stop himself from memorizing the soft shadows of the moonlight dancing off her features. She was glowing, with her dark hair dancing gently in the ocean breeze. “I just wanna skip this part, you know?” Olivia spoke, sounding almost defeated. “Wanna get to the point in my life where Alana’s in college and I somehow managed to run my own little store. I want to—I wanna skip all of this because right now it feels like my life is stuck at a standstill and it’s just—I’m not going anywhere.”

She was struggling to articulate her thoughts, her emotions running rampant and trying to grasp onto words that fit her musings best, letting out a frustrated breath by the end of it. But Calum understood what she was saying; maybe he couldn’t relate to her situation, but he could empathize. In a way, he knew what it was like to want to just skip to the end; he’d felt that way when he first arrived to Bridgelake, and he often felt that way every time there was a new rumor about him developing back home. One to end for another to start, and he hated going through the endless cycles of questions and demands for answers. Calum hated having to submit to others, to being unable to live his life without offering an explanation and maybe. . . Maybe Olivia was sick of the same. Maybe he could relate, just on different scales.

Calum let out a slow breath, lips quirking up in an empathetic smile as his hands remained in the pockets of his leather jacket. With a slow shake of his head, he softly responded, “Don’t think that’s how it works, babe.”

Her cheeks flushed at the small term of endearment, one that had been slipping past his lips more and more often as of late, Olivia couldn’t help but recall. It made the butterflies in her stomach come alive each time and tickle her wonderfully, warming her face and yearning to hear it again in the sound of his deep rasp.

Olivia’s shoulders dropped as she looked at him, wondering if the chill that ran down her spine was from the cool breeze or the way his dark eyes seemed to be locked onto her blue, watching her closely. God, he always stared at her as if he was taking in every detail she had to offer. No one ever looked at her the way Calum did, as if he was truly taking in her presence because he wanted to. Like he was memorizing her in his mind. She wrapped her arms around herself, hands rubbing at the skin of her upper arms to warm herself up absently as she responded in a mumbled, “I’m sick of life kicking me in the ass.”

Calum’s eyebrows drew together gently at her words, understanding flushing through him because while he may not know her exact feelings and experiences, he could only imagine the pain that she’s endured, and it sat heavily on his heart. His gaze dropped to the skin of her arms, bare thanks to her dress, noticing through the shadows that goosebumps had raised. Without a thought, Calum shrugged off his leather jacket and Olivia watched, blinking in too late of a realization as he took a step towards her and draped the jacket over her shoulders, leaving him in just a half sleeved black button down.

She was suddenly enveloped in the smell of Calum, a scent that tickled her nose wonderfully as the jacket provided instant warmth. Olivia could feel her heart drumming within her chest, hearing it louder than the water crashing around their feet as her dark hair remained tucked in under the collar of the oversized jacket, arms still hugging herself as she looked up at Calum. His fingers, with a few rings glinting against the moonlight above, held onto the lapels of the jacket, keeping it tight around her frame as his eyes never left hers, and Olivia’s throat dried at their proximity.

All she could focus on was him in that moment, not on the disheartened weight pressing down on her body or the cold water around her feet; just Calum and his jacket keeping her so pleasantly warm and his dark curls brushing across his forehead since he was forced to duck his head a bit to maintain eye contact with her.

“I wish there was somethin’ I could say to make you feel better.” His voice was quiet, the familiar deep rasp soothing her as she heard it. Once again, the way Calum was gazing at her rendered Olivia breathless; every time he did, she felt a bit of herself just. . . Come alive. He looked at her like she was truly seeing her, like she was someone worth being acknowledged, someone who was worth giving his attention to. It made breathing that much more difficult; except that instead of feeling suffocated by unwanted attention, Olivia felt dizzy with the desire for more.

Calum’s dark eyes remained on her blue ones, and she barely noticed the small smile that twitched at the corner of his lips, too entranced by his brown eyes, as he added, “You’re deserving of every ounce of happiness that comes your way, Olivia. Fuck what anyone else thinks.”

On God, Olivia was sure he was trying to send her heart into overdrive. The fluttering in her chest only grew more intense, a sweet warmth spreading across her cheeks at the utter sincerity dancing in his dark eyes under the moonlight. So badly did she want to close the distance between them. Instead, Olivia softly responded, “I hope you live by that, too.”

His eyebrows drew together, letting out a breathless scoff as he asked, “What do you mean?”

A tender, knowing smile tugged at Olivia’s lips as she said in an airy tone, “Let’s just say I’m better at hiding my feelings when it comes to what others are saying about me.” She let out a quiet laugh as Calum’s frown deepened, head tilting to the side ever so slightly in adorable confusion, hands still holding the front of the jacket closed. Olivia gazed up at him, raising her eyebrows. “What, you don’t think I’ve noticed your off mood over the past few days? Why do you keep reading those dumb articles if they only end up upsetting you?”

Over the past week or so, back in California, what Olivia could only describe as trashy tabloids had published articles concerning Calum’s whereabouts, despite his parents already giving a vague and simple statement of him visiting family—which was true. But of course, the media liked to put a spin on things, putting out stories of how Calum’s wild lifestyle finally got the better of him, and there were some insensitive and inconsiderate words thrown together like him admitting himself to rehab for a supposed drinking problem, or how he was in hiding because of some scandalized situation or another. Every article flocked in on him, tearing him apart and saying it was only a matter of time that someone who lived the way he did finally had a breakdown or something. It disgusted Olivia, hated that she was even reading the words on the screen being written about someone she had come to care for, and it wrenched her heart to know Calum was reading them, too.

But as they tried to pick him apart back in California, Olivia had noted the way Calum had adjusted to his life here in Bridgelake. His anger and aggravation towards his parents for sending him here was gone, and while it took him a moment to get used to not having an endless amount of money to throw around—not that he had much to throw it on over here—Calum eventually adjusted to keeping his credit card in his wallet. Olivia would even go as far as to say he was enjoying himself in her small North Carolina town, and it was because of Calum finally relaxing and letting himself breathe that allowed them to grow so close. That, and because she never derailed from her promise of showing him the beauty of Bridgelake.

She removed her left hand where it was gripping her right arm, pulling it out from the bottom of the jacket to reach up and grab one of Calum’s hand still gripping the jacket. His skin was warm under hers, his chunky rings only slightly cold. The touch, though she was the one to initiate it, had Olivia’s heart jumping, though she tried to focus on her words. “No point in being a masochist, Cal. Why do you care what people say about you?” She squeezed his hand, her earnest tone accompanying the considerate look in her near translucent eyes. “How can you tell me to stop caring about what my world says about me when you haven’t done the same yet?”

A slow breath escaped Calum’s nose at Olivia’s words, lips pressing together as he kept his eyes on hers. She had a point, he knew, with her question that wasn’t unkind or accusatory, just curious and tender. Like she was prodding him into following his own advice because she knew he needed to hear it for himself, too, knew just how hard it was to do exactly what he was saying. They could put on a brave face all they wanted, but sometimes it just hurt to know what others thought of you, and it was easier said than done to just not care.

He chuckled shortly, gaze dropping to his hands holding the jacket, to Olivia’s hand covering his, and Calum’s throat worked as he muttered his admittance of, “Guess I’m still learnin’.”

Olivia’s teeth worried her lower lip, feeling his grip tighten and wanting nothing more than for him to pull her into him, to be even more engulfed in Calum and his scent than she already was. Her hand remained on his as she smiled, breathless with a racing heart, feel drowned in cold water as she whispered, unable to find her voice, “You and me both.”

She could feel her breath catch in her throat as she spoke, caused by the sight of his brown eyes gazing intently into her blue, and once again Olivia forgot what it was like to be able to breathe. They stood close together, their proximity at a stand still, both unsure if the other wanted them to move in, to do the one thing they craved because they weren’t entirely positive if the other wanted the same thing. Calum’s eyes were on Olivia’s lips, and her own gaze didn’t venture higher than his own mouth, too lost in how soft his lips looked and feeling her head muddle with similar thoughts of wondering if they felt just how they looked, wondering with her toes digging into the sand what he tasted like.

The waves kept crashing around them on the shore, sending shivers up their spines each time, and Olivia surprised both of them by murmuring, “Calum?”

His lips twitched at the way his name fell past her mouth, his eyes still on her lips as he watched it curl out of her. He couldn’t bring himself to look away, voice quiet as if not to disturb the silence existing only between them as he responded, “Yeah, sweetheart?”

The term of endearment only served to excite Olivia more, heart hammering and blood rushing in her ears as she tried to calm herself down. Her mouth suddenly felt dry as she vaguely realized what she was about to do, too lost in her growing desire to truly think it through, too enamored by the man in front of her to actually consider anything else as she requested, almost begged, with her eyes still on his lips, “Please kiss me.”

Those three words had the air instantly rushing out of Calum’s lungs, a moment of frozen disbelief washing over him as he wondered if he’d heard her right. His gaze flickered up ever so slightly, going from her lips to her eyes, only to see her stare fixated on his own mouth. He noted the way her breathing was slightly shallowed, the anticipation quickening her breath the same way it was causing his heart to race wildly. The words she’d spoken rang clearly in his head, but actually being able to see just how much she wanted him to do as she said had his stomach churning excitedly.

So Calum finally gave into what they both so desperately wanted, one hand letting go of the jacket, whereas the other was still covered by Olivia’s, and cupped her cheek to tilt her head up enough so he could duck his and press his lips to hers in a soft, slow kiss. Calum felt Olivia instantly lean into him, her free hand fisting the front of his button down as his hand remained on her soft cheek, fingers gently tangling in the strands of her dark hair as he reveled in the plush skin of her lips.

It was a tender kiss, a question he was silently asking despite heeding her request. Calum pulled away, her thundering in his chest and blood heating in his veins, forehead pressed against Olivia’s and nose brushing against hers. It had ended too soon, much too quick for either of their liking as Olivia’s eyes fluttered open, letting out a slow breath so her blue eyes could meet Calum’s brown. The warmth she felt from being under his stare, from feeling his skin against hers, was so much stronger than the chill of the water around her feet, yet the shuddering breath still escaped her as she let her gaze drop to his mouth once more, lips parted yet no words seem to escape.

Though, she didn’t need to say much. Her eyes were convincing enough in that moment, and Calum was leaning his mouth towards Olivia’s once more to capture her lips in another kiss, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. This was one more sure, getting the answer Calum wanted, as he pushed her lips apart with his to slide his tongue against hers to deepen the kiss. A quiet whimper hummed through Olivia as her hand that had been holding his settled in his curls at the back of his head, allowing him to move his arm around her waist to keep her close. They tasted the wine they drank over dinner, sweet on their tongues, their senses being taken over by the other.

Electricity shot through Calum’s veins as he kissed her, moving his lips with hers earnestly because, God, he’d wanted to do this for so long. From the moment he’d gotten his head out of his ass and realized just how gorgeous Olivia’s smile was, how there was a reason why his grandparents adored her so much and he’d been able to see it so quickly, Calum had wanted this. All he could think of was her; the softness of her lips and the taste of her tongue, how the smell of her flowery perfume and fruity shampoo overpowered that of the salty ocean, and how she spread such a warmth through his body that he forgot all about the cold water occasionally pooling around his feet.

It was only him and Olivia that existed in this moment, and it was a moment Calum yearned to stretch out for as long as he could.

✩✩✩✩✩

When Calum entered Moonflower, his eyes scanned the boutique before almost instantly landing on Olivia. She was towards the back where the registers were, holding a small box to her hip as she pulled out packs of pretty phone cases out and hung them on the rack they were displayed on. The store was fairly busy, being the middle of the day on a Tuesday, and Calum offered a small greeting smile to the employee folding shirts over to the right as she welcomed him to the store. His eyes, though, went back to Olivia as if she was a magnet drawing him in, and he rubbed his hands together as he made his way through the store to reach her.

Calum was only vaguely aware of feeling a couple of eyes on him, his presence in Bridgelake still one of the main talks of the town, much to his disappointment. Though, it wasn’t something he wasn’t used to; while in California everyone talked about him online and through tabloid articles, here it was just much more intimate in the small town setting where everyone was on top of each other. There were aspects of Bridgelake Calum had grown used to, even liked, but this wasn’t one of them.

When he reached Olivia, who was still putting up phone cases, Calum stepped up behind her with his hands clasped behind him as he leaned down slightly, murmuring quietly by her ear, “’M here to steal you away.”

He heard the gentle gasp Olivia inhaled at the sound of his voice over the music playing through the boutique as well as David Bowie playing through the single earbud Calum had in, turning around so her surprised blue eyes could meet his brown ones. Calum smiled at her, at the way her long lashes framed her eyes and her lips were pink and glossed and begging to be kissed, feeling his heart jump when she returned the grin. She really did have a hold on him, and Calum had no idea how it got so powerful. He also didn’t mind it. “Hey,” Olivia greeted, adorably breathless. “What’re you doing here?”

“’S almost your lunch break, isn’t it?” Olivia nodded, still holding onto the box. “Well, I picked up some food from the diner and thought we could, like, eat together? At the park? If you wanted to.”

His last few words rushed out nervously, a feeling he only experienced around Olivia, as he worried that he may have overstepped. Sure, in the past month and a half he’d been in Bridgelake, Calum joined Olivia during her lunch break, but those times were always planned by her. She’d ask if he wanted to join her and his answer would always be yes. This time, though, he’d shown up and surprised her without her knowledge, and Calum didn’t want to seem overbearing.

Just because they kissed two nights ago, didn’t mean he could suddenly just pop in whenever. Even though, technically, both of them had been doing a lot of that once their friendship was established.

Except now it was just. . . More.

“That sounds so much better than the frozen meal I’ve got in the fridge,” Olivia told him, letting out a giggle as the relieved grin spread on Calum’s face. “My break’s in five minutes. I’ll meet you at the park?”

He smiled, biting down on his bottom lip as he did so, hands shoved in the deep pockets of his somewhat baggy pants as he began walking backwards. “See you in a bit,” Calum responded smoothly and, God, his cheeks began hurting from how hard he was smiling because of her.

The next few minutes were spent with Calum taking the bags of food out of the car, still warm since they were freshly made and the diner wasn’t too far, before he made his way to the park that was by the strip of stores Moonflower was located on. Now John Mayer was playing through his earbud as he settled on a picnic table on the edge of the park, his eyes taking in the kids running around in the distant playground as well as a few people jogging along the path. The sun occasionally made itself known as it appeared from behind the occasional clouds that drifted by, while cars drove past on the street over.

Once he put his takeout box in front of him and Olivia’s across from him, Calum tapped his fingers on the wooden table, unable to keep his foot from bouncing under. He wasn’t entirely sure if he was nervous or impatient for Olivia to show up—the probable answer being a combination of both. What she made him feel—Calum never knew anything like it. And it would be frightening, how quick of an effect Olivia had on him, had it not been for how completely taken he was with her. How it felt so real and natural and right.

Calum looked up from his phone when someone settled across from him, grin appearing as Olivia put her bag down on the table and opened the takeout box to reveal her favorite diner meal of a grilled chicken sandwich with French fries. He also smiled at her store tag that she wore proudly, her name with the words Asst. Manager written underneath. “A man after my own heart,” she declared with a grin, picking up a fry. Olivia’s smile turned softer as Calum opened his own box, adding, “This was really sweet of you, Cal.”

Her blue eyes glimmered under the afternoon sun, and Calum felt his throat work as he gave a single shake of his head. “’S nothin’,” he returned, picking up his panini.

Olivia chuckled at his modesty after swallowing a bite of her sandwich, nodding at him as she asked, “What’re you listening to?”

Calum pulled out his headphones from his phone, allowing the sound of Post Malone’s voice drift between them as they continued with their lunch. Their conversations flowed smoothly, as they always did, as Calum enjoyed Olivia’s company as they sat in the park. This particular bench had become their spot whenever Calum would join her for lunch during her break, always hearing the distant laughter of kids on the playground and hum of cars driving by, none of it ever distracting his focus from Olivia.

Over the past month, spending time with her had become a near daily activity. Calum would busy himself if Olivia was at work, but otherwise, they spent almost every day together; they’d talk about whatever came to mind, including Calum’s life back home, conversations about any and every topic, and sometimes Olivia would talk about her mother, too. She stayed away from the subject of her father, which Calum respected and understood, and he admired the way her eyes shone with nostalgia as she talked about her mother. And it made his heart hurt, knowing that she lost such an important person in her life, and the first time they talked about her, Calum had called his own mother after just to hear her voice.

The two of them talked as they ate, but neither brought up what had happened the other night—neither even acknowledged that they had kissed. But it was there, hanging between them, and it had changed something. Calum felt at ease around Olivia before, but after getting a taste and feel of her lips, he felt as though there wasn’t anything stopping them from trying to take what they did and evolve it. Truthfully, Calum didn’t even find it necessary to talk about it; he knew what he felt for Olivia, could see that she felt the same every time her eyes met his and her lips quirked into that sweet smile that rendered him breathless.

And when his hand slipped into hers after they’d finished eating, waiting to cross the street, and he felt Olivia squeeze his hand in content, Calum knew: there really was nothing to discuss. Their feelings were clear enough.

“Thanks for lunch,” Olivia smiled at him as they reached the front of the boutique, hearing the music playing inside flow through the doors that remained open during business hours, weather permitting. Olivia stood in front of him, his hand still holding hers, as her blue eyes met his brown with her heart beating excitedly all at the same time. “The company wasn’t half bad, either.”

Calum let out a raspy laugh, head bowing as he did so, causing his gaze to briefly linger on their joined hands. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand before he lifted his head and smirked at the pretty girl in front of him. “That’s good to know,” he responded easily, lifting his chin with a quirk of an eyebrow. “Glad to know you’re not sick of me yet.”

Olivia blew a gentle raspberry before shaking her head with a giggle. She took a step closer to him, surprising Calum as she got on her toes with her free hand on his chest, assuring with a quiet, “Never,” before pressing her lips to his.

His eyes fell shut at the pressure of her lips against his, the kiss completely welcome and a pleasant surprise as Calum felt a warmth shoot through him. Olivia didn’t deepen the kiss, just a brief touch of lips, an action that was completely impulsive yet had felt so natural to do as she pulled away reluctantly. Her eyes fluttered open, hand still against Calum’s chest as she rolled her smiling lips into her mouth as her gaze met Calum’s. He looked at her as though he couldn’t look away, the intensity of his familiar stare stirring something in the pit of Olivia’s stomach as she settled on her feet once more.

It may have been a spontaneous decision on her part to kiss Calum, but Olivia had been craving to do so since they’d kissed on the beach, yearning to feel his lips on hers once more. And while this one had been chaste, it still ignited the familiar fire in her veins, caused her to hear her heart thundering in her ears, especially when she noted the way Calum was looking at her, curls brushing across his forehead.

But their little bubble, their little moment of serenity and adoration, was quickly burst when a few women walked out of the store and, as they went past them, Olivia could clearly hear one of them click her tongue to the others, “He’s Claudia and Dan’s grandson—of course he’s found himself attached to her. The Moore girls are their charity case, afterall.”

While Olivia felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach at those words, not entirely unfamiliar with being known as a charity case, she felt her throat dry at the sight of Calum when her gaze happened to flicker back to his face. He wore a thunderous expression, one she’d never seen on him before, with dark eyes narrowed under scowling eyebrows, full lips pressed together to accentuate the tightened jaw he was sporting. Olivia felt her heart jump into her throat—she’d never seen him look so angry. And it was all directed to the women making their way down the street, and absently Olivia wondered how they couldn’t feel the way his gaze was burning holes in their back.

A sharp breath escaped Calum’s nose as he began taking a step towards them, his demeanor nothing but threatening and only being emphasized by the deep growl he spoke in, “Are they fucki—”

Olivia instantly tightened her hold on his hand, forcing him in place as she begged, “Calum, don’t.”

His gaze snapped to her and she would’ve shrunk under the fire in his eyes if she didn’t know that none of it was directed towards her. Calum just looked at Olivia in exasperated shock, nothing else. “Olivia, you’re gonna just let them say that bullshit ’bout you?”

Her throat worked, her other hand going to hold the one of Calum’s that she was already holding. Their words hurt, like always, but Olivia. . . She was better than that. Better than them. She knew to keep her head high even when she was being kicked down. “I’m not gonna let what they say get to me, okay?” she told him, her voice tender as always as her blue eyes remained on his brown. “I’m not gonna let something someone else said make me feel any less happy than I am right now. I—I don’t care what they say.”

Calum gaped at her, eyes flickering to where the women went, jaw tightening and nose scrunching for a split second in annoyance when he realized they were gone before looking back at Olivia. “But—”

“Weren’t you the one telling me not to care what others think of me?” Olivia cut in with a prodding smile, raising her eyebrows as she used his own words against him. Yeah, he’d said that to her, but fuck it if it didn’t piss Calum the fuck off that these people were saying shit about her. Right to her face, no less, uncaring if she heard. It was pathetic and pitiful, especially when these were grown women saying bullshit about someone much younger than them. What the fuck did they get out of it? “That’s what I’m gonna try to do.”

The fire was still bubbling in Calum’s veins, fury boiling his blood at those women. And almost everyone else in this town. But when he looked at Olivia, with bright blue eyes and a sweet smile and an even kinder heart, Calum felt a bit of the tension in his shoulders easing. Still, he squeezed her hand and said, “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand up for yourself, doll. Don’t be afraid of putting those fuckers in their place.”

Olivia’s gentle smile twitched ever so slightly at his words. She knew he was right, knew there wasn’t anything really stopping her from sticking up for herself, but she just. . . Let it be. “There’s no point in fueling the fire, Cal. It’s not going to change anyone’s mind or opinion. The best thing I can do is just ignore them and show that I don’t care.”

Isn’t that what she’s been doing, though? Ignoring them in hopes of it going away? Calum wanted to tell her that her plan didn’t entirely seem to be working, but the words died on his tongue when he saw the desperation swirling in her blue eyes. He could pick up on the way she was begging for him to let it go. Like she knew that her so-called plan wasn’t as ingenious as she declared, but still she didn’t want to truly do anything else. Calum hoped, with his heart twisting in his chest, that Olivia wasn’t giving up to endure this kind of bullshit treatment forever. God, she didn’t deserve any of it.

He let out a breath, yet it did nothing to relieve any of the remaining tension straining his muscles. It hurt, knowing that she was hurting even though she was trying to put on a brave face. She endured so much for no fucking reason and Calum hated it. He found himself muttering, “The least you could do is let me make them fucking cry.”

His words, though they carried more seriousness than humor, prompted Olivia to let out an airy laugh. “The fact that you haven’t done that for the time you’ve been here is impressive on its own,” she mused, giving his hands a squeeze. “Thanks for lunch, Cal. I’ll see you later, hm?”

Calum huffed, not for the first time feeling his stomach twist at Olivia’s ability to disregard what’s being said about her. He kind of felt like a hypocrite, since he had told her to stop caring about what others thought of her. But actually hearing the shit they said about Olivia had Calum forgetting all about his advice, instead making him want to curl his fingers into fists and put these people in their place. God, Calum thought he hated knowing the shit people said about him online—that feeling was intensified tenfold, completely overwhelming and making him feel like he was burning from the inside out, when it came to Olivia. He’d take all the heat in the world if it meant getting all of it off Olivia.

Who the fuck were they to diminish the bright light of her blue eyes?

Calming himself down, Calum returned Olivia’s words with a smile, bringing the hand she was holding up to his face so he could press a kiss to the back of Olivia’s hand. His eyes never left hers as an uncharacteristically soft tone took over his voice, saying the few words he hoped would come true, “Have a good day, sweetheart.”

✩✩✩✩✩

When Calum pulled his grandfather’s truck into the driveway after visiting Grams at the pet shelter, right next to an unfamiliar Range Rover, Calum’s eyebrows furrowed together as he stepped out of the truck, eyes taking in the vehicle. He hadn’t really seen any Range Rovers around Bridgelake in the past month and a half—then again, Calum really didn’t care for the residents’ choice of vehicles.

Using his keys, Calum opened the door and entered the house, his greeting of, “Gramps, I’m home,” being drowned out by racacious laughter that had Calum freezing in the entryway. Laughter he was all too familiar with. For a moment, Calum wondered if he was imagining the sounds of his three best friends’ laughter, but as he entered the living room, he realized with a disbelieving grin spreading on his lips that reality was far kinder.

“Oh, shit,” Calum found himself laughing, making his presence known as Gramps looked at him from where he sat on his recliner, while the three other gazes belonging to Ashton, Luke, and Michael landed on him as well. “No fuckin’ way.”

“There he is!” Ashton exclaimed happily, slapping his thighs as he got up from the couch, bright red hair one of the first things Calum noticed as Ashton walked around the couch with open arms before he enveloped Calum in them. The brunette returned the hug, taking a breath at the presence of his best friends as he grinned at Luke and Michael over Ashton’s shoulder, who were making their way over as well. “Missed you, man.”

Calum laughed, pulling away from him as Michael stepped towards him. “I missed you guys, too,” he returned honestly, clapping Michael’s back before Luke walked over for his own hug. He looked between the three of them, eyebrows raised and brown eyes glinting happily, barely aware of Gramps watching with a smile of his own as he said, “What’re you guys doing here? How are you here?”

“A thing called a plane,” Luke responded with a grin, prompting Calum to roll his eyes with a scoff. “Like Ash said, we missed you, so we got your grandparents’ address from your dad and rented a car from the airport.”

Calum raised his eyebrows, Luke’s words surprising him. His father knew? “Dad never told me anything.”

Michael chuckled, shrugging as he lifted the black cap off his head, his initials on the side of it, as he fixed his blonde hair before settling the hat back on. “Surprise.”

The laugh that escaped Calum resonated in his chest, still in a state of disbelief at the sight of his friends standing in his grandparents’ living room with him in the middle of North Carolina. Sure, he’d talked to the three of them almost every day for the past month and a half, but them actually being here was completely different. And Calum found himself being unable to stop smiling; his three best friends surprising him was one of the nicest things they’d ever done for him.

“How long are you here for?” Calum questioned as they settled back on the couch after he rubbed at Bruno’s head, who was settled by Gramps’ feet.

“Two weeks,” Ashton responded, leaning back with his leg crossed over his left knee.

Gramps raised an eyebrow as he asked, “You boys have a place to stay?”

Luke nodded. “We checked into a motel when we got into town.” Calum held back a scoff at that. Silently, he wondered if his friends would be able to actually stay in a small town motel. Their lifestyle back home was the same as Calum’s, all from the same social groups as Calum’s family, and he remembered how it had taken him a while to adjust to living in his grandparents’ home. The thought of these guys living in a motel was almost amusing. “But we’re really ever gonna be there to sleep. Plan on driving this one crazy with our company,” Luke added, grinning with his signature dimples appearing as he clapped Calum’s shoulder, who this time let the snort escape.

Gramps laughed, satisfied with Luke’s answer. “Sounds like a plan. You arrived just in time for the fair.” His gaze then met Calum’s as he raised an eyebrow. “I’m assuming you’re going to introduce them to Olivia?”

Before Calum could get a word in, Michael sat up. “Oh, he definitely is,” he answered, grinning widely as he shot Calum a brief knowing look. “He talks about her all the time—we’re excited to meet her.”

Calum shook his head in mild amusement, smiling lips pressing together as he felt the familiar warmth spread on his cheeks at the mention of Olivia. He had no qualms in introducing her to his three best friends—especially since she had quite quickly become so close to him. It was almost funny, how Calum let her in so quickly upon his arrival to Bridgelake, given that it took him a while to ever truly be himself around new people. Though, Calum knew with Olivia, it was partly because his grandparents always talked about how she was such a good person, and partly because Calum had seen it for himself. He was lucky to have her in his life.

“We also brought you something,” Ashton said, standing up from the couch and walking towards the kitchen. Calum watched, eyebrows furrowed, before realization dawned and a grin spread on his face at the sight of his guitar case that Ashton brought in. “Figured you were missing this baby.”

Calum grinned, opening the case and catching sight of one of his Gibson acoustics nestled in there. He’d been annoyed that he’d forgotten to bring any one of his guitars with him when he arrived to North Carolina, had told himself he’d get his parents to send one of them over but the thought kept slipping his mind the more he got involved with spending time with Olivia. Lots of going out to eat, going to the movies, taking Bruno out on walks, and just spending time at her place left Calum forgetting about his guitar.

“Thanks,” Calum breathed, running his fingers over the sleek instrument before smiling at his friend. His gaze, then, flickered to Ashton’s hair and Calum’s grin widened. “The red’s a good look on you.”

Ashton chuckled, running his fingers through the red strands. “Think of makin’ a change?”

Calum rolled his lower lip into his mouth, considering Ashton’s words. His life had dealt with a lot of changes in the past month or so. . . What was another?

✩✩✩✩✩

Yeah, still at grams’ booth.

Pocketing her phone, Olivia looked over at Moonflower’s manager, Val, and asked her, “Do you need me to do anything before I go?”

Straightening out the jewelry display on the table, Val placed her hands on her hips before looking at Olivia and shooting her a smile. “No, we’ve got it covered. Go, enjoy the fair—you’ve been here since set up.”

Olivia returned the smile, nodding before bidding goodbye to her and the two other girls that were working the booth before she walked around it and began walking down the street where she’d seen Claudia Hood’s animal shelter booth. All of Bridgelake seemed to have made it out, just like every year, and Olivia could smell the delicious food all the restaurants had set up in their booths and could hear the laughter and squeals of children enjoying themselves in the park on the other side of the row of booths to her right.

Music was playing through speakers planted some place or another as Olivia made her way down, mindful of the few eyes she felt lingering on her, as always. It kind of made her nervous, truthfully, being in the middle of a town event where everyone was present; she felt as though she was a target, having to brace herself against someone’s glare or words. Nothing she wasn’t used to, of course, but around so many people. . . It wasn’t the easiest thing to be amidst.

But what she had said to Calum the other day. . . Olivia was adamant on sticking to it. She wasn’t going to let anyone get to her. It was time she learned how to live unapologetically, no matter how hard it may seem. Baby steps. She could do it though, she knew; for herself and for Alana.

“Finally—there you are.”

Calum’s familiar voice pulled Olivia out of her thoughts, looking to where he’d sounded from, only to stop in her tracks when her eyes landed on him. Olivia’s jaw dropped with a startled laugh, eyes widening and eyebrows shooting up as she took in the lack of dark curls, which were replaced by a blonder, buzzed haircut. She could feel the world moving around her, but Olivia was frozen in place at the sight of Calum; he still looked good, fuck of course he did, but the new style was completely unexpected and it easily stirred something in the pit of her stomach as she took in the grin on his face that pushed his cheeks up and showed off the crinkles by his eyes.

She knew he was taking in her reaction, brown eyes intently focused on her, and Olivia found her feet moving towards him until his familiarly pleasant scent of vanilla and his favorite cologne overpowered that of the food around them. Her hand reached up, lips still parted as her fingers ran along the smooth buzz of his hair. “Oh, my God,” she laughed in incredulity, looking up at him in wonder. His hair felt starkly different than it had when there were actual strands to tangle her fingers in, but it wasn’t a bad feeling. Different but. . . Something she didn’t mind getting used to. Her blue eyes met his, wide and surprised as she asked, “What did you do?”

He raised his eyebrows, his smile faltering ever so slightly, nearly unnoticeable—except Olivia had picked up on it as he spoke, trying to keep his tone light, “What, you don’t like it?”

“No, no,” she was quick to reassure, tone holding nothing but honestly. He could’ve dyed his hair neon green and Olivia would still feel her heart skip ten beats for him. A new hairstyle wasn’t going to just make Olivia’s feelings for Calum go away—not when they were so strong. Her hand slid from his hair to his cheek, unable to stop herself from rubbing her thumb across his cheekbone before her hand gripped the front of his Taste Testers shirt. “It looks. . .” she trailed off, eyes once again taking the short blonde, almost silvery, hair before her eyes met his expectant brown ones, and Olivia’s smile widened. “I love it.”

She saw the relief that melted into his eyes, and Olivia’s heart did a leap at the knowledge of her opinion meaning so much to him. When the smile on his face returned more sincerely, Olivia let out an airy laugh and smoothed the front of his shirt before Calum’s arm easily draped over her shoulders before turning her towards his grandmother’s booth where Olivia saw three other men gathered. “Wanna introduce you to my best mates,” he told her just as the three guys looked at her, all grinning and all very tall as Olivia sent a quick wave to Claudia and Alana, who was helping at the booth. “Guys, this is Olivia. And this is Luke, Ashton, and Michael.”

They were friendly in their greetings, giving Olivia hugs she hadn’t expected but gladly returned. The group of them stepped aside as a few people stepped up to the booth to see the puppies and kittens that were running around in little play pens, waiting to be adopted, and Ashton grinned down at her. “It’s so great to finally meet you—Cal doesn’t stop talking about you.”

Olivia raised her eyebrows at that, glancing at Calum to her right only to see him shrugging unapologetically, because he really did spam his group chat with the boys about her, and it only served to heat up Olivia’s cheeks as she smiled at the three guys. Ignoring the drumming rhythm of her heart wasn’t easy, especially with Calum’s fingers innocently trailing short lines up and down on the bare skin of her upper arm. “He talks about you guys all the time, too,” Olivia responded truthfully, smiling.

Calum had told her all about his three best friends, how the men standing in front of her were the only ones he truly considered his friends back home because everyone else around him were always after something. As unfortunate as that was, Olivia wasn’t surprised that Los Angeles was full of those trying to use others for their own benefit, but after getting to know Calum for the person he was, Olivia was glad he had some people in his life that were friends with him for him—just like she liked him for him. Even if she hated the fact that he was surrounded by those who’d rather use him for his status and money than actually get to know him. He was someone worth knowing.

“Why don’t you two take your friends to the park?” Claudia spoke up, nodding to the location on the other side with a grin. “Have fun on those slides.”

Calum let out a short chuckle, raising his eyebrows at his grandmother. “Those are for kids, Grams.”

Olivia shot him an unimpressed raise of her eyebrow. “You’re not a kid? You dragged me to watch the new Toy Story movie last week.”

That prompted everyone to chuckle, but Calum merely jutted his lip out and bumped his hip to Olivia’s—or, well, her waist thanks to their height difference. “You wanted to watch it just as badly.”

Still, after their banter, Olivia and the four boys made their way down the street and towards the park, where all of the big inflatable bounce houses, slides, and obstacle course were for people to enjoy. Contrary to Calum’s previous statement, people of all ages were taking advantage of them, and the five of them were quick to make their way towards the large slides.

For the first time in years, Olivia didn’t find herself worrying about being among so many of Bridgelake’s residents—many of whom turned away at the sight of her. Right now, she was truly enjoying herself in Calum and his friends’ company, laughing as she heard them cheer boyishly and loudly every time they rushed down the slide, only to run around to go back up again. At one point, she and Luke got on a slide next to each other, racing down as he claimed victory and Olivia pouted sorely and complained that his extra long legs gave him an advantage, to which Luke put an arm around her and took her back up for another go. She lost that one too.

Eventually Addy found them, and after being introduced to the boys—and gushing in Olivia’s ear how pretty they all were—she too joined in on their fun. The smile never vanished from Olivia’s face—it was the most fun she’d had in years.

“Come on,” Calum spoke, hand finding hers and ring clad fingers interlocking with hers. Olivia looked up at him, at the boyish smile on his face that melted her heart, as he nodded towards the slides. “One last go before we get something to eat.”

She couldn’t really say no to him, smiling as they went around the giant slide and climbed to the top. As Olivia settled down on top of the slide, she felt Calum sit down behind her rather than the slide next to her, his arms wrapping around her waist and chest pressing into her back. His scent enveloped her, her gaze dropping to the tattoos decorating his brown skin, biting her lower lip as her smile returned when she felt his lips brush her ear.

“Ready?” he questioned, giving her a squeeze as her hands settled on his wrist, feeling the cool metal of his chain bracelet under her left hand.

Olivia leaned back into him, the warmth spreading through her familiar and welcome, as she hummed an affirmative. Calum scooted them forward then until they were rushing down the slide, a childish and thrilled squeal escaping Olivia as the wind of their speed cooled her skin. She could feel Calum’s chest rumbling with the laughter that escaped him, keeping his hold on her as they went all the way down, stumbling onto their feet with his arms still around her and giggles falling past Olivia.

Calum moved them so they weren’t standing directly in front of the slides, not wanting to get accidentally hit by someone coming down, moving before turning Olivia in his arms she was facing him. The grin was still on her face, cheeks flushed with a giddy joy that twisted Calum’s chest happily. Her bright blue eyes glimmered under the sunlight, the few near invisible freckles on the bridge of her nose in full view as Calum looked down at her. He kept his arms around her, taking her in; she was so beautiful and so happy.

He ducked his head, his own grin gentle as he bumped his nose with hers and murmured lowly, only for her to hear, “You’ve got such a pretty smile.”

Complimenting women wasn’t a foreign concept to Calum—of course he’d said and meant them before. But with Olivia—he almost felt shy, as if admitting to a schoolboy crush, but he couldn’t bring it in himself to care. He’d given up, a while ago, trying to understand just how much of an effect Olivia had on him. Calum just knew she had a tight hold on him, on his heart, in a startlingly short period of time, but he also knew he was perfectly fine with that. She was better than most people he knew, she was good and warm, unadulteratedly so, and it just drew him to her like a magnet. She was a woman deserving of more than what she had, and Calum just. . . Never wanted her to feel like she lacked anything. How was it okay for someone who put so much kindness into the world didn’t receive some of it back?

He felt Olivia’s right arm hook around his neck, keeping him close as that smile he was so damn enamored with never faltered. She stood on her toes, giving herself more height as she hummed, “So do you,” before closing the gap between them and pressing her lips to his.

Calum couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he returned the kiss, hugging Olivia to him as his scruff tickled her skin and the giggles still fell from her mouth to his. He felt her left hand cup his cheek as she kissed him, and Calum could swear he’d never felt so content before. Truthfully, he wasn’t much for displaying so much affection in public, but Olivia was excellent at ridding him of any trivialities such as that. Showing how much he liked her in public wasn’t something he was opposed to, the tattooed blonde realized.

“Cal, Olivia!” Luke’s laughing voice broke through their private bubble, prompting the two to pull away to see the boys and Addy watching them just a few feet away with amused smirks on their faces. It only prompted Olivia’s face to heat up. Raising his eyebrows, dimpled grin still on his face, Luke asked, “Can we get food now?”

The two parted, though Calum’s arm still remained around Olivia’s waist as he responded, “Yeah, let’s—”

“You! They still fucking allow you to run around here?”

The angered, hostile voice instantly wiped the smile off of Olivia’s face, blue eyes meeting a fiery pair of green ones as Eddie Pearlman stalked towards her in strong strides, clenched fists, and a scowl on his face vicious enough to have Olivia stumbling a step back. She noted the way Calum looked at her, concern and furrowing his brows as he looked between her and the pissed off thirty-something year old making his way over. But she felt frozen in place under Eddie’s glare, a look she’d seen a number of times over the past four years, as he neared them.

“You think you can still walk around this town after what your drunk of a dad did to us?”

His words were coated with a thick anger that locked Olivia’s throat, stepping away as she felt Calum’s arm drop from around her waist yet his hand caught hers to keep her in place. Her heart found a new home in her stomach, stirring uneasily as she noticed Addy take a few steps towards them from her peripheral, her narrowed eyes on the aggressive man in front of Olivia.

“E-Eddie—”

The older man sneered, the hostility twisting his expression to the point of silencing Olivia before she could even hope to say anything. “Who do you think you are, walking around the fair where families come to enjoy themselves? After your father took away mine?”

Olivia instantly squeezed Calum’s hand, feeling the familiar burn in her nose and eyes that was always followed by tears pooling in them. She was well aware of the gazes that were settling on them, anyone around them stopping what they were doing to watch the berating exchange, and Olivia’s body flushed with a terrified, guilty heat that had her gaze dropping to the ground, blinking to keep back the tears threatening to spill.

She couldn’t think of what to say, of what to do; Eddie Pearlman’s anger was justified. His father had been a victim of the accident hers had caused, and neither Eddie nor his family had forgiven Olivia’s for what had happened—much like the rest of the town. Aggressive confrontations such as this were rare, with most of the townsfolk keeping to whispering behind her back her to her face, but they had happened before. Twice, including one the first one with Eddie just months after the accident, and both times settled heavily on Olivia’s heart. Both times had the guilt of an accident that wasn’t even her fault eating her alive.

Thank God Alana wasn’t here.

“’Ey, man, take a step back and relax, alright?” Calum spoke up, his voice eerily calm as he moved to take a step in front of Olivia, effectively blocking her from Eddie’s view. As much as Calum’s tall, broad frame eased Olivia, her heart was still drumming erratically in her chest, panicked over the unexpected confrontation that was drawing so much unwanted attention to her. God, she could feel Calum’s friends looking at her and she wondered what they were thinking. Did they know? Had Calum told them? She doubted it but, fuck, this surely wasn’t a good impression.

Eddie’s burning gaze flickered to Calum, none of the aggression slipping from his face as he snapped, “Who the hell are you to ask me that?”

Olivia, with her body feeling like it was on fire and head still bowed under all of this attention, allowed her eyes to lift up to catch the way Calum’s muscles tensed, despite the gentle grip he still had on her hand. She couldn’t see his face and looked over to where Addy was, catching the way her best friend was glaring at Eddie but looked away long enough to send her a reassuring smile. Olivia didn’t bring herself to look at the three confused, alarmed men standing with her.

She heard the edge in Calum’s raspy voice as he returned coldly, “I wasn’t asking.” His tone had Olivia’s throat working; she’s heard him sound indifferent and bored and happy and gentle, but she’d never heard the sharpness in his voice like in this moment. Like he was controlling himself from doing something stupid. His hand shifted, moving his fingers to lock with hers behind his back as he kept his dark, narrowed eyes on Eddie. “Like you said—there are families around. So I think your time would be better spent not being an asshole to an innocent girl.”

Olivia took a breath, though it still scratched at her throat, as she looked up at Calum with her lips rolling into her mouth. Him defending her. . . It lifted her heart from where it had sank, blinking back the hot tears that had gathered. It wasn’t like no one had stood up for her before—Addy, Claudia, Dan and the very few others who didn’t hold her father’s actions against her had been there for her. But with Calum, even though she was just as grateful, it felt different. She wondered if his dark tone matched the look on his face—the one that had Eddie leaning back a bit.

Still, the scowl remained, lips curling as he pointed an accusatory finger towards her. “You’re not from here, kid. That girl is not inno—”

Calum let go of her hand and Olivia blinked as her lips parted in mild alarm when he took a step towards Eddie. They’d drawn a bit of a crowd—no one was actually gathering around them as if they were watching a high school fight go on, but Olivia could feel their eyes on them. Could feel it in the way her skin was still warm and heart was drumming in her ears.

“She wasn’t the one driving,” Calum cut Eddie off, gruff and hard and undeterred. “And you’re not the only one who faced a loss that day, yeah? I’m sorry for what happened, mate, I am, but don’t fucking take it out on my girl.”

Olivia’s breath hitched in her throat at his words, Calum’s defense of her and the last two words he’d uttered making her stomach flutter despite the circumstances. It may be the wrong time to analyze what he’d said but the two of them hadn’t really discussed what they were and for him to effortlessly give them some kind of label. . . It was hard to bite back the smile threatening to grow in the face of confrontation. Leave it to Calum to have her feeling like she was cared for even when someone was screaming in her face.

Eddie’s jaw tightened, glare once again directed at Calum as he gave him a once over, nothing but disdain and contempt in his eyes as he scoffed. “’Course you’d be defending her. Wouldn’t expect anything else from Claudia and Dan’s grandson.”

His words were all to similar to what the women outside of the boutique had said the other day, pushing Calum into curling his fingers into fists, nails digging into his palms. His teeth ached from how hard he was clenching his jaw, heated gaze and towering figure intimidating enough to make many people watching on look away. His blood was boiling, hating that people thought him defending Olivia, or wanting to be with her, was something to be ashamed of. He fucking hated that she was a pariah in her town. He wished he could just. . . Take her away.

Calum lifted his chin, dark eyes still narrowed as he snapped sharply, “Would you expect their grandson to break your fucking nose? ’Cause I damn well will if you don’t walk away now.”

Her eyes widened, blinking in surprise at the threat that effortlessly fell past Calum’s lips, gaze drifting towards where her friends stood. For the first time Olivia looked at the three boys, all of whom wore frowns on their faces as they looked at Eddie, unfazed by the threat, and then she looked at Addy, who stood with her arms crossed and an impressed look across her face at Calum’s words. She’d seen his temper be triggered before, just the other day, but she didn’t realize just how far he’d go for her.

Calum’s defense of Olivia was different—no one ever threatened to hit someone for her before. And as alarming as it was. . . Was it strange to say Olivia felt the fluttering in her chest only intensify? Gratitude overwhelmed her as she took a shaky breath, lips pressed together in a small smile as she gazed up at Calum’s back. He stood so tall and strong and sturdy in front of her, unafraid of coming to her defense, finally being able to do so after many of her attempts of telling him to just let it go.

Much to her surprise, Olivia watched as Eddie leaned away after hearing Calum’s promising threat, one she believed he had every intention of fulfilling if Eddie didn’t back away. And then, with one last glare feebly thrown in her direction, mostly blocked by Calum’s frame, the man stalked away, muscles still tense with aggression he hadn’t really gotten the chance to let out. Not that Olivia minded.

She noted the way Calum looked around, could tell with the way his head moved, and she figured that fearsome glare was still on his face with how those that had been looking on quickly averted their gazes, not wanting to be the next one Calum threatened. Olivia only found herself truly relaxing now that she could feel everyone’s stares off her being, the weight of it being lifted and finally allowing her to breathe easily, releasing a trembling sigh now that the ordeal was over. She still felt rattled, truthfully, but with Calum in front of her. . . She also felt safe.

He suddenly turned around to face her, and instead of seeing the tight, angered glare he’d been showing everyone else, all Olivia was gifted with seeing was the worry dancing in his brown eyes and eyebrows drawn together in concern, hands coming to rub at her upper arms as he quietly asked, “You alright, love?” Her lips parted at the way he was looking at her, Calum’s only focus her and how she was feeling, unable to really find the words to express herself. He quickly carried on, a nervous tint taking over his tone, “I know you’ve told me to just keep my mouth shut but I couldn’t just let that guy talk to you like that. You don’t deserve to be treated like that and I’m not sorry for defending you but I am sorry for, like, not listening to you. If that makes sense.”

He sounded uncharacteristically anxious by the time he finished speaking, adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, though Olivia understood why. She was well aware of her constantly telling Calum to just ignore the people who talked shit about her, hell she’d done it just the other day, but God did it feel good to hear someone, hear him, be so unafraid to defend her. Granted, Olivia had a feeling there was so much more Calum had wanted to say to Eddie, to everyone else, but he kept it relatively calm—threat of bodily harm aside. Hearing him stand up for her had Olivia forgetting all about her reasons not to provoke those who turned their noses up at the sight of her. Sure, she was learning to not care, but she also needed to learn to let others come to her defense. Maybe then she’d be able to defend herself. Maybe she’d truly realize she was worth defending.

“I’m not mad, Calum, I’m. . .” Olivia shook her head, smiling up at him prettily, forgetting those around her as she gripped Calum’s left wrist, tattooed arm dropping so she could hold onto his hand then. “Lucky. I’m lucky to have you.”

Calum blinked at her words, shoulders relaxing as he looked down at her with eyebrows knitting together gently. “You are?”

“Yes,” Olivia responded, giving no room for explanation with the confidence in which she spoke that single word in, her grin widening, which only served to cause Calum to let out a breathless laugh through his gorgeous smile. “I am,” she whispered through a smile before getting on her toes and pressing her lips to his in a kiss that she hoped would convey just how thankful and lucky she felt.

Calum returned her kiss just as earnestly, full lips pushing into hers as his arm wound around her neck to keep her close. He enjoyed kissing her, loved kissing her. God, there was nothing else he wanted to do.

Until Luke spoke up once more. “Hate to interrupt—but I still want food.”

tags: @irwinkitten @glitterprincelu @sweetcherrymike @meetashthere @valentinelrh @astroashtonio @hereforlukescruff @calsangel @novacanecalum @captain-what-is-going-on @txcobell @angelbbycal @singt0mecalum @hopelessxcynic @lfwallscouldtalk @bodhi-black @findingliam-o @softlrh @calntynes @calumsmermaid @erikamarie41 @quintodosuniversos @longlastingdaydream @babylon-corgis @lukehemmingsunflower @spideyseavey @imfuckin10plybud @pastelpapermoons @malumharmonies @conquerwhatliesahead92 @rotten-kandy @metangi @neigcthood @ohhmuke @old-zeppelin-shirt @5sos-and-hessa @trustmeimawhalebiologist @vxlentinecal @pettybassists @vaporshawn @lu-my-golden-boi @heartbreak-5sos @visualm3nte @isabella-mae13 @dontjinx-it @lifeakaharry @neonweeknds @antisocialbandmate @ixcantxdecidexwhosxmyxfave @calpalbby @grreatgooglymoogly @cocktail-calum @miahelizaaabeth @madelynerin @dramallamawithsparkles @hzi0 @aulxna @theagenderwhocriedwolf @kaytiebug14 @hoodskillerqueen @bitchinbabylon @empathycth @xhaileyreneex @inlovehoodx @calistheloml @aestheticrelated @bloodlinecal @sublimehood @madbomb @raabiac @britnicole1 @5sosses @cthoodsthetic

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