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DYLAN O'BRIEN Men's Health

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QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY (2023—) 01×06 : “Crown Jewels”

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CARING FOR THE SICK PROMPTS.

i found this list and kinda fed into it each time i got the flu or a migraine, and u know what, it's just me revealing just how much i love the caring threads and the soft threads and the fondly exasperated "let me help you" threads! use at your pleasure, DO NOT ADD TO THE LIST NOR EDIT IT! i will be changing it accordingly!

" i found you passed out in the kitchen. you wanna stop working yourself so hard? or do i need to keep hitting the gym to carry you to bed every day? "

" you're burning up. "

" your neighbour called me and said you could use a nurse. looks like they were right, too. "

" you were told to take it easy, so... yeah. this is kinda on you. "

" you took a sick day. you NEVER take a sick day. so yeah, i got worried, and i figured i'd come over and keep an eye on you. "

" you texted me a long and incoherent text that held about 90% of the emoji list and about four different languages. figured it wouldn't hurt to drop by and see how you were doing. "

" how long have you been sick for? and don't lie. "

" you look like hell. "

" i brought you some soup; let me heat some up for you? "

" okay. it's time you went to the hospital. "

" hey… hello there, sleeping beauty. you gave me a bit of a scare yesterday. how are you feeling? "

" i swear, if you even think of getting out of that bed… "

" you know when i said to call if it's an emergency? a fever is most DEFINITELY considered an emergency! "

" if you think you're going to work like this, you better think again. "

" don't worry. my family swears by this remedy; just let it work its magic and you'll feel good as new in no time. "

" I don't care about getting sick. i'm not leaving you until you're back to full health. "

" you didn't stop to think that this might happen when you're burning the candle at both ends? "

" yeah, I can play the role of nurse AND say "I told you so" at the same time, actually. "

" you better drink every last drop of this tea, no matter how disgusting it is. "

" i told my boss it was an emergency so they've given me a full week to look after you. "

" quit being so stubborn and get into BED! "

" what part of doctor's orders hasn't sunk in yet? bed rest! for the WEEK! "

" right, where do you keep your saucepans? i'm going to make you my famous noodle soup. it's a cure-all, i'm telling you! "

" hey, unless you're going to the bathroom or the sofa, I don't want to see you out of that bed. got it? "

" when are you gonna start letting people look after you, huh? "

" i know, i know, i turned off all the lights once i figured you had the migraine. you want some tea? water? "

" don't be mad, but i saw your fridge, and... it frightened me. so i've taken you back to my place, and i'm gonna get deliveroo to bring some groceries to your place tomorrow. okay? "

" i know your appetite is a little off, so i ordered in a whole tonne of options. just try a little bit of something, please? for me? "

" i've brought half a pharmacy, enough movies and boardgames to last us a decade, and every single snack i could fit into the basket at the grocery store. so sit your butt down, eat your soup, and try and make the most of your bed rest for the next week, will you? "

ACTION PROMPTS ( SEND THE FULL LINE! and feel free to reverse if u wish! ):

[ TOUCH ]: sender gently rests a hand against the receiver's forehead to check their temperature.

[ DAMP ]: sender presses a cool cloth against the receiver's face, neck and forehead to try and lower their fever.

[ BLANKET ]: sender wraps another blanket around the receiver to try and stop them from shivering.

[ SPOON ]: sender gently coaxes spoons of soup into the receiver's mouth to build up their strength after an illness.

[ CARRY ]: sender, finding the receiver weakened/unconscious on the floor, immediately lifts them up and carries them back to bed.

[ AROUND ]: sender keeps a protective arm around the receiver to help them walk without the risk of stumbling or collapsing.

[ STAY ]: sender decides to stay by the receiver's bedside after learning that they're sick.

[ HAIR ]: sender smooths back the receiver's hair in a soothing gesture to try and help them go back to sleep.

[ TILT ]: sender tips a bottle of water up for the receiver to sip from.

[ HUM ]: sender hums/sings to soothe a sick receiver back to sleep.

[ BACK ]: sender gently rubs the receiver's back, either to soothe them or warm them while they're unwell.

[ SHARE ]: sender climbs into the receiver's sickbed with them, wrapping their arms around them to offer warmth and comfort.

[ SHOWER ]: sender, learning the receiver has a high fever, takes a cold shower with them in order to lower their temperature.

[ WAKEN ]: the receiver wakes up in bed, having been found unconscious by the sender and carried into the bed from the floor.

[ QUARANTINE ]: the sender and receiver, both being sick, decide to quarantine together and spend the recovery period with each other.

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hey…….. hey……. sorry i’m still d*pressed but feeling better ! i’m not sure how soon i’ll be able to get to replies the next few weeks with my school work load (haha i could cry) but i’m hoping they r coming soon !!!!!!! or at least i’ll be back begging for new things soon enough wodjwidj anyway !

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hiiii if ur waiting on a reply from me i'm sooooo sorry it might be a while bc my mental health + stupid life obligations on top of that are just 😮‍💨 i'm going thruuuuuu it but i shall hopefully feel like writing again soon !

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devon didn’t quite know how to act, after a conversation like that. it’s obvious that eden felt threatened, that she wanted devon to believe that there was no chance of a reconciliation between her and miller, that he didn’t want her, any longer. it’s hard to believe that’s true, though, with how they were just minutes prior to the other’s appearance at the door— hands trailing along each other’s skin, all whispered words and heated looks. still, it's confusing, and she’s not immune from worrying about what people thought, now realizing that they weren’t really as discreet with all of it as they believed. if eden noticed how they looked at each other, then that means everyone could. that’s why she averted her gaze from him for the remainder of the night, haunted by the other’s words. fletcher hadn’t said anything yet, but he didn’t have to— she already knew how he felt about her and miller’s relationship. still, that might be why she’s stalling, choosing to do the dishes instead of potentially engaging in another confrontation. and she doesn’t mind it when miller joins her, at least not initially, focusing on the task at hand, on how this used to be a normal, almost every night occurrence for them. it’s only when his vulnerability filters out that her actions pause, unsure how to answer any of his questions. was everything alright ? not really. “ what, she hasn’t told you ? ” it really wasn’t her place to say anything, she thinks, but it’s miller. she couldn’t hide anything from him, anyway. “ she’s noticed, you know. how we look at each other, i mean, ” she pauses to let out a sigh, leaning against the sink as her head hangs low, deciding to steal one glimpse of him before tucking it back down. “ pretty sure if i looked at you again tonight, she’d pull out that guillotine you mentioned before. ” now wasn’t the time to reminisce, however. “ and she said there’s no way you would ever choose to be with me, again. didn’t work out the first time, so why try again ? ” tries to laugh it off, then, to feign like it didn’t hurt, but it did. “ she really doesn’t like me, or just… us, being around each other. ”

doesn’t know much about what was said between the pair, but since they’ve joined back in with the rest of the group, he can tell that something’s just off. it’s not like they’ve particularly gotten along, or ever really interacted with one another unless forced to, but the fact that neither one can meet his eye tells him all that he needs to know. there’s a hundred and one scenarios that shift through his head, and somehow being on the outskirts of it, and not knowing, has his anxiety skyrocketing. tries to play it as cool as he can, like the ability to remain calm and collected is an ability that comes easy to him, when in reality, he can’t quite keep still, always shifting his weight, in some way, or rubbing at tired eyes, scratching at the underside of his jaw. gets snippets of eden’s mood— that’s she’s obviously not happy about what was said, and that’s only confirmed when she insists that they’ll talk about it later when he makes an attempt to ask about it. it isn’t until everyone’s packing up for the night, downing the last of their drinks and retreating to their rooms, that he makes an effort to try again, but this time with devon. he approaches her in the kitchen, taking the spot beside her to help with the dishes, towel in hand to start drying what she washes. such a mundane task, but one that comes with a flood of memories— a life like this, that they once shared together. a life that he had to say goodbye to all too soon; one that he always thought they’d have together. “ everything’s alright, yeah? ” the question is phrased simple, easy. but he knows the complication that’s tied within it. “ like, you’re okay, i mean? feel like you haven’t been able to look at me, all night long, ” pauses, then, vulnerability on show for a second. “ did she say something to you? ”

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is it just her, or did this feel impossible ? not only was she battling her own guilt, forced to engage with the other when she can’t stop replaying what happened between her and miller not all that long ago, but she’s beginning to feel like this entire conversation was calculated. like eden wanted to sow doubt, to knock her off her balance, somehow. and even though she’s not outright saying it, devon can tell that she suspects something, or at least, she’s noticed just how close they are again, and she doesn’t like it. this would be so much easier if she just said that, though. well, maybe not easier, but she would at least feel less… on edge. cheeks flush slightly at the mention of fletcher, embarrassed that she forgot to mention him. god, even if she isn’t purposefully trying to be cruel, she’s beginning to think that maybe she is, anyway. can’t ponder that for long, though, as eden’s words strike her square in the jaw. she could make it sound as innocent as she wanted, but she didn’t believe the act for a second. she could claim she wasn’t trying to sabotage, or play a game, but devon’s not stupid— that’s exactly what she’s doing. and she doesn’t want it to work, and it isn’t, for the most part, but there’s a tiny piece of her that she knows will cling to it, certain that she’ll spiral about it later when she’s staring up at the ceiling. what if she’s right— what if that wasn’t their ending ? no, it couldn’t be. “ i… well, no, it’s not really that simple, ” she defends, eyes narrowed. “ i did what i thought was the right thing, at the time. i just… wanted him to be happy. ” a cliché, but it was true. does she wish things were different now ? of course, but there was no going back. and part of her knows, now, that she possesses knowledge that could shatter eden’s view of this in an instant by repeating the words he said to her, not all that long ago— that he would leave her, if devon asked him to. if she was cruel, like she suggested earlier, that’s exactly what she would say. instead, she tries to tamper down the smirk that threatens to tug at her lips, looking at the other intently. “ what makes you say that, hm ? ” — “ just say it, eden. stop bullshitting me and tell me how you really feel, for once. ”

she expects deflection. is waiting for it with each second that passes, while the initial shock of the confrontation wears off. trust her when she says she doesn’t want to be having this conversation either, but something needs to be said— surely neither of them think this could continue in the way it has been, right under her nose? so, yes, she anticipates there will be some form of divergence, but this just makes her blood boil. hopes her countenance doesn’t give her away, that her face isn’t growing hot, like she feels it is. at least they can’t look at each other, her own gaze travelling beyond the other female, to the view beyond glass doors. “ i didn’t say anything about playing a game. ” but eden’s good at that, isn’t she? planting seeds of doubt without needing to say much at all. she’ll allow the other to think that, however, like maybe it’ll act as enough to have her think differently about how they all move forward, from here. she, for one, refuses to continue turning a blind eye to what was happening right in front of her— clearly unfinished business. has ignored it for as long as she can; let them sneak off into unoccupied rooms, text at all hours throughout the night, call each other when their days were rough. isn’t outright opposed to them being cordial, but as close as they are, as they act… it was weird, wasn’t it? was she the only one who saw through it? “ right, and fletcher, ” she adds quickly, again, a reminder that there was a fourth party tangled up in their mess; one she was certain was catching onto… whatever it is they’re trying to do here, hiding from them. that’s the part she still hasn’t figured out, and she hates them for it. “ i get it, though. you have history, ” and i can’t compete with that. head shakes then, ignoring the sinking feeling in her gut. she’d heard the same from him, too. “ it’s just… you chose to let him go, right? ” poses the question, intentions not as pure as the way it initially comes out. “ i’m not trying to sabotage either, but i just don’t see an ending in this where he’s going to choose you, again. ”

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the pit in devon’s stomach feels heavier, now, as she watches eden’s pretense fall away once they’re completely alone. no one wants to be alone in a room with their ex’s current partner, but especially not if they’re still hopelessly in love with said ex, like she was. and there’s an incredible amount of guilt, too, finding it difficult to look her directly in the eye as she thinks about how miller’s hands were just pressed against her skin, how she would’ve done anything he asked of her, in that moment. that’s why it was dangerous for them to get so close— all rationality fell away, and they forgot about the people they would hurt. now that she’s face to face with it, hearing the edge to the other’s voice, devon wishes she could just melt into the floor and escape it all. brows furrow slightly at her words, at her mention of cruelty— that’s not how she saw any of this. then again, she still hasn’t quite figured out what’s happening between them, what the future might hold, just that that spark had never actually extinguished. and apparently, other people could see it, too, judging by the other’s observation, that she noticed how they look at one another. fuck, that’s not good. she thought they were being discreet, but apparently not. guilt slaps her right in the face, teeth chewing on the inside of her cheek. so why hold on ? she lets out a quiet sigh at that question, certain that she didn’t want her to say that she held on because she loved him, because he was all she thought about, that she still believed they were soulmates, in the end. tries not to take offense at her repeated insistence that their relationship wouldn’t work, that everyone thought so, too, but she’d be lying if she said it didn’t affect her at all. “ that’s not… i mean i’m not, like, just playing some kind of game with him, if that’s what you’re saying, ” at least, that’s not her intent, and she hopes he knows that, too. “ and i’m not trying to sabotage anything, or— ” she pauses, to let out another sigh. she owed her some kind of honesty, as she’s never been able to share her side of all of it. “ look, with miller and i… there’s always going to be something between us. i mean, we were together so long, i never thought we would— ” break up, she thinks, but she should probably save it. “ think we can agree he’s just… really special. it’s hard to not imagine him in my life, somehow, i guess, but i’m really not trying to be cruel. not to you or him. ” 

hates that it feels like she’s just walked in on them— that she’s the one who has interrupted something, when they both isolated themselves away from the rest of the group, retreating to a space only the two of them occupied. this isn’t the first time she’s experienced this, isn’t the first time that sense of dread has taken over her frame, when she’s realised that neither party were to be seen, convincing herself, in those weaker moments, that they were doing something they shouldn’t be, despite her lack of substance and proof. it’s a simmering rage coiling inside her, now, a kettle about to reach its boiling point. tampers it down as much as she can— to play it cool and calm, even if that’s the last thing she is right now. truth is, eden craves control, and that’s a concept that’s slipping further from her grasp by the second. still, she wears a smile at her lips, at least until miller’s departure, the pretence faltering once it’s just the two of them that remain. how the hell was she going to do this? “ i know we have no reason to be the best of friends… ” she begins, slight edge to her voice. even without the given circumstances, she doesn’t think they’d ever be the type to gravitate to one another. they were just so… different. “ and i promise i’m not trying to be the crazy girlfriend that controls how you spend your time together, ” except, that’s exactly how she’s been feeling. “ it’s just… cruel, don’t you think? allowing him to have hope for something that isn’t going to happen again? ” doesn’t allow her own insecurities rise to the surface, despite how they swim just below it. “ because i’m not stupid, you know? i see the way you look at him, and how he looks at you— don’t think i’m the only one who notices it, either, ” head shakes, referring to the other involved. “ it didn’t work out the first time, and i think we all know it won’t work again. so why hold on? ”

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was  she  naive  to  believe  things  might  be  different  now  ?  probably.  drew  always  thought  she  was  smarter  than  this,  but  there’s  something  about  corey—  even  when  he  fucks  up,  she  just  wants  him more.  can  only  hope  it’s  the  same  for  him,  too,  considering  she’s  not  immune  to  fucking  up,  either.  she’ll  choose  to  believe  his  promise,  though,  smirk  lighting  up  her  face  as  she  lowers  her  crossed  arms,  shrugging  at  him.  “  i  don’t  know,  corey.  do  you ? ”  it’s  a  challenge  of  sorts,  leaving  it  up  to  him.  she  did  enough  work  trying  to  make  him  realize  what  he  was  missing—  now  it's  his  turn.  “  depends  on  how  badly  you  want  it.  "

only  a  foolish  man  would  promise  something  like  that    –    it  was  a  damn  good  thing  he  never  went  to  college,    no  one  more  foolish  than  a  blue  collar  man  with  nothing  but  two  dimes  to  rub  together.    they  both  had  said  things  they  didn’t  mean,    done  things  that  they  shouldn’t  have.    the  chances  of  them  falling  back  into  the  same  routine  was  highly  likely,    but  he  would  do  everything  in  his  power  to  keep  it  from  happening.    ❛  i  promise.  ❜  sincerity  is  woven  into  each  word.    ❛  do  i  get  that  kiss  now  or  what?  ❜

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this  would  be  so  much  easier  if  she  hated  him.  much  easier  than  witnessing  the  sadness  written  upon  her  features,  the  tears  that  threaten  to  cascade  down  her  cheeks.  having  her  yell  at  him  in  anger  would  be  far  less  painless  to  witness  than  this.  “  i  thought  i  did,  ”  he  begins,  rubbing  a  hand  over  his  jaw  nervously.  “   but  i  just  think  we  want  different  things,  lia.  ”

she  wants  to.    god,    does  she  want  to.    hating  him  would  make  this  so  much  easier    –  hating  him  would  replace  the  feeling  of  her  guts  being  wrung  out  like  a  wet  washcloth  with  relief  instead.    ❛  i  know  i  should.  ❜    eyes  glance  upwards,    willing  her  tears  to  stay  inside.    ❛  did  you  mean  anything  you  said to me?  ❜

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a smirk toys at hudson’s features as he observes quinn, wonders if he’s right in detecting some jealousy in her words. “ oh, it does matter, because harlowe’s super pissed at me right now, and she’ll say or do anything to make my life hell. ” when they weren’t angry at each other, they were best friends, thick as thieves, but when they fought… well, everyone knew and suffered in turn. he wouldn’t let her fuck things up with quinn, though. sure, he flirted with a lot of his sister’s friends, but he didn’t want quinn to believe that lessened his interest in her. “ what if i’m only a little bit of a slut ? is that okay ? ” he teases, looking at her. “ come on, quinn— you know i like you, don’t you ? ”

" oh, please, " murmurs out in response. of course, she's going to call him out on his bluff. " you must like all of us, in that case. " not that quinn's jealous, or anything. just doesn't like being lied to, toyed with. and that's what he's doing, isn't it ? " does it really matter who told me ? " yes, her best friend totally spilled on her brother. not quite harlowe's fault that quinn always seems casually interested about what he's up to or who he's been seeing. " what does matter is how you're going to convince me you're not a total slut. " there's a tinge of amusement in her words. quinn can't take anything entirely seriously, not even when her feelings might be at stake.

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this was all part of harlowe’s fun— watching him weigh his options, deciding if she was worth the potential consequences or not. she doesn’t think she’s ever had someone turn her down, though, regardless of how close they are with her brother, so why start now ? “ i promise, ” she says, a pleased grin stretching across her lips as he appears to yield to her, peering up at him with doe eyes. “ i’ve always wanted to kiss you, you know ? ” and sure, that’s true, but she doesn’t tell him she’s only acting on it now because she and hudson aren't currently on speaking terms. seems like the perfect way to get back at him, even if he never knows it transpired. “ he’d kill me, too, if he ever found out, so we’re in this together. ”

" no, it isn't that. it's just that . . . " can't bring himself to sputter out that age - old excuse. she's heard it a million times before, he's sure. " not saying it's fair, but i'm pretty sure he'd kick my ass for even talking to you longer than ten minutes. " not that he's sure he even cares at this point. her lips look soft enough to be worth the risk. " you promise not to tell him ? " pauses, giving her face another once over. she's so beautiful, so enticing. it's a wonder how someone like her could even be single. " if you can keep it our secret, then i might. " he's already yielding, though. unfortunately, pretty girls have always been the bane of his existence.

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hehe hiiii replies will be slow as i’m pretty busy this weekend but everything’s in my drafts & i’ll be working on it bit by bit <3

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of course it was one of the absolute worst people devon could think of waiting for them on the other side of that door. the interruption was probably for the best, though, considering she was ready and willing to do something incredibly stupid with him, just by hearing those three words fall from his lips. and of course, she held no ounce of guilt when his hands were pressed to her skin, her thumb running along his bottom lip, desperate to taste him, but now it was overflowing, knowing they were almost caught. the rationality is kicking in, realizing just how reckless all of this was. she hopes her guilt isn’t as palpable to the other, though, attempting to avoid wincing at the timbre of her voice ringing out around them. call her biased, but there’s something about eden that devon found… well, insincere. all their previous conversations (they’ve only shared a few) were riddled with passive aggression and fake niceties— they were merely acquaintances, and that was for the best. honestly, after what she overheard in the bathroom on new year’s eve, she wanted to avoid speaking to eden entirely. and she has no plans to change that, now. in fact, she’s already plotting her escape, stomach roiling as she watches the other press a chaste kiss to his lips, remembering just how close she was to doing something similar a few moments prior. she returns his apologetic glance with one of her own for whatever grief he might receive for this later, ready to slide out behind him and atone for their almost indiscretion in silence for the rest of the night, but to her surprise, eden’s not letting her go that easy. fuck. anxiety pummels her in an instant, heart racing as she looks at the blonde, attempting to plaster a smile over her stunned features. “ i was gonna go help out, too, but uh… yeah, sure, ” she breathes, crossing her arms against her chest in preparation. “ what’s up ? ”

little by little, the concept of self-control seems to trickle further away from his conscience. there isn’t much else going through his head other than the thought of her— not the fact that anybody could walk into their confined quarters, see them both as they are now, wrapped up within one another. he doesn’t think about how the image will blow everything up, the consequences that will arise from their close proximity. no, he only thinks of her. just her— the warmth of her skin beneath calloused palms, the spark her own touch leaves against his skin, igniting little fires in the areas it skims along; his jaw, his lips. it’s all that circles his mind: her, her her. “ dev, ” he breathes, the sound equally as shaky, like there’s dependence there, keeping him grounded, losing himself in the feel of her, the thought of of her. it acts as a warning, too, a reminder of the line they’re so close to falling beyond; something they can’t come back from. the longer he stands here, though, he realises, maybe he doesn’t care, half-tempted to fully pull her against him, in order to feel all that she’s stirring within him. “ i want you, too. ” he whispers, without thinking anymore about it, the implications those words have. needs her doesn’t need to be said, he doesn’t think— doesn’t she know that it’s never changed, for him? that there hasn’t been a day, an hour, a second where that’s hasn’t been the case, for him? can’t help it, then, the way his gaze falls to her lips too, tracing their outline— god, just how easy it would be to lean forward, press his lips to hers? was she thinking the same? and he’s just about to say fuck it, press forward in the way he’s keening for when he hears the same, the sound of someone else on the other side of their haven, about to burst in on their bubble. retreats from her in an instant, the pang of guilt coursing in his chest, when a familiar face pops into view, beckoning him closer, already loaded with a request that he’s ready to follow, if only to draw attention away from them, an apologetic glance sent over his shoulder towards devon before he exits the room.

hates that she hesitates before she reaches for the door handle, as if she’s afraid to see what awaits her on the other side— the two of them together, no doubt. she’s all smiles, despite the lingering sense of dread that manifests in her stomach. it’s always there, however, whenever he drags her along to these sort of getaways. with his friends that barely accept her, his ex-girlfriend that’s clearly still held up on him. until recently, she’s refused to believe that his feelings are reciprocated, that he feels any inkling of anything towards the brunette, but she’s caught the glances between them over the course of the night, any excuse they can take to remain close. they’re so… opposite that she’s never believed he could have lingering feelings for either parties, but observing them tonight (as well as the constant contact… the messages, the calls over the past few months— she’s trying to remain calm, collected), she’s afraid that sinking feeling in the gut is right. wonders if either can name the simmering anger behind her hues, bright smile painted across her features as if to mask it. “ there you two are! ” her voice has never sounded so fucking chirpy in her life: a common occurrence, she’s noticed, when her body detects competition. “ we were just about to send out a search and rescue party, ” she crosses over to miller, only to make her presence known, hands grasping at his forearms, smile dancing at her lips, as she requests his help— fletcher needed a hand with getting the fire started, as well as everyone else getting ready for games night. makes a point of pressing her lips to his in a silent thank you when he agrees, as well as blocking devon’s path before she gets the chance to run off with him. “ — you have a second, don’t you? ”

[bluestsdays]

                it’s  just  not  the  same  with  other  people.  her  head  doesn’t  quite  hurt  as  much  after  hearing  that;  in  fact,  she’s  unsure  if  she  can  feel  it  at  all.  it’s  something  marley’s  always  wondered  about—  why  did  his  interest  in  her  never  wane,  when  she  only  gave  him  cruelty  in  return  ?  thought  maybe  he  just  liked  it,  that  he  was  one  of  those  people  that  craved  that  instead  of  affection,  but  now  she’s  unsure.  she’s  just  as  much  part  of  this  as  he  is,  though,  with  all  the  mixed  signals  and  signs  she  continues  to  throw  out.  releases  a  groan,  then,  at  his  admission,  affronted  by  his  honesty.  “  don’t  you  dare  fucking  repeat  that  to  anyone  else,  ”  because  it’s  cliché  to  say  she  had  a  reputation  to  preserve,  but  honestly…  she  did.  no  one  needed  to  know  why  the  one  person  she  was  sometimes  nice  to  was  nolan.  she  didn’t  need  anyone  prying  further  into  whatever  this  was  between  them,  either,  not  when  she  couldn’t  even  explain  it  to  herself.  maybe  that’s  why  she  finds  his  plea  somewhat  sobering,  choosing  to  take  mercy  on  him  for  once.  “  fine,  ”  she  breathes,  yet  her  brows  furrow  as  he  slings  his  arm  over  her  shoulder,  attempting  to  stand  on  wobbly  legs.  “  but  we’re  not  going  to  the  hospital,  and  you’re  not  pretending  to  be  my  boyfriend—  i'd  rather  you  just  leave  me  here,  ”  it’s  practically  a  command,  considering  the  thought  of  stepping  foot  in  one  could  make  her  vomit  out  of  fear.  and  if  he  won’t  listen  to  her,  she’ll  force  him  with  her  signature  cruelty.  “  i  really  don’t  know  why  i  hang  out  with  you,  ”  she  snaps.  “  because,  honestly,  you  piss  me  off.  you  know  why  ?  because  i  like  you,  a  lot,  and  that  pisses  me  off,  ”  fuck.  that’s  not  what  she  was  supposed  to  say.  maybe  she  should  go  to  the  hospital.  “  see  !  god,  i  fucking  hate  you.  ”

               "  pretty  sure  jesus  said  that  too,  "  nolan  lazily  tosses  back,  voice  slightly  obscured  as  he  bites  the  inside  of  his  lip.  his  anxiety  continued  to  burgeon,  instincts  screaming  that  he  should  do  something  better  than  shoot  the  shit.  "  well,  you're  certainly  not  captain  howdy,  are  you?"   his  head  lolls  over  to  find  her  eyes,  and  an  electrical  current  of  nerves  shoots  down  his  spine.  it's  a  fair  question,  one  that  he's  been  asked  a  thousand  times  over,  by  a  multitude  of  different  people.  the  answer  was  always  different  depending  on  who  was  in  front  of  him.  "  i  dunno,  "  he  shrugs.  he's  uncharacteristically  dissembled,  no  inkling  of  jest  or  upcoming  punchline.  "  it's  just  not  the  same  with  other  people,  i  guess.  "  nolan  looks  down  at  his  hands  after  this,  back  to  biting  at  the  inside  of  his  lip.  "  besides  ...  you're  not  always  mean,  "  adds,  implication  clear.  every  now  and  then,  an  acquaintance  had  stuck  out  their  head  from  the  party  as  if  to  check  on  marley.  nolan,  now  on  his  fourth  thumbs  up  and  hearing  her  flirting,  knew  his  instincts  were  right.  "  come  on,  marley  ...  not  like  this.  "  the  plea  is  genuine  as  he  looks  back  up  at  her,  finding  no  gratification  from  her  attention  if  it  took  a  head  trauma  to  inspire  it.  "  let  me  pretend  to  be  your  boyfriend  and  take  you  to  the  hospital.  "  he  stands  up,  slinging  her  arm  over  his  shoulder  as  he  hoisted  her  up  on  two  feet.  "  on  the  drive  over,  you  can  tell  me  why  you  hang  out  with  me  when  all  you  do  is  throw  darts  at  my  photo.  "