#2018-2028.

[electronalytics]

Electronic Timers Market Emerging Trends and Forecast by 2017-2032

The global electronic timers market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period, 2018-2028.

The competitive analysis of the Electronic Timers Market offers a comprehensive examination of key market players. It encompasses detailed company profiles, insights into revenue distribution, innovations within their product portfolios, regional market presence, strategic development plans, pricing strategies, identified target markets, and immediate future initiatives of industry leaders. This section serves as a valuable resource for readers to understand the driving forces behind competition and what strategies can set them apart in capturing new target markets.

Market projections and forecasts are underpinned by extensive primary research, further validated through precise secondary research specific to the Electronic Timers Market. Our research analysts have dedicated substantial time and effort to curate essential industry insights from key industry participants, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), top-tier suppliers, distributors, and relevant government entities.

Benefits of a Market Research Report:

Informed Decision-Making: Market research reports provide critical data and insights that enable businesses to make informed decisions. This can include decisions related to product development, market entry, expansion, and investment.

Competitive Advantage: By staying up-to-date with market trends and competitor strategies, companies can gain a competitive advantage. Market research helps identify gaps and opportunities in the market.

Risk Mitigation: Understanding market dynamics and potential challenges allows companies to proactively address risks and uncertainties, reducing the likelihood of costly setbacks.

Targeted Marketing: Market research helps in identifying and understanding the target audience, enabling companies to tailor their marketing efforts for maximum effectiveness and customer engagement.

Product Development and Improvement: Research reports provide insights into consumer preferences and needs, aiding in the development and improvement of products or services that meet market demands.

Key Trends in Market Research Reports:

Digital Transformation: Market research is increasingly leveraging digital technologies, including AI and big data analytics, to gather, process, and analyze data more efficiently.

Globalization: With the globalization of markets, companies are relying on market research to assess opportunities in international markets and navigate cross-border complexities.

Sustainability and ESG: There's a growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, and market research is often used to understand and align with sustainability trends and consumer preferences.

Data Privacy and Security: As data privacy regulations evolve, market research reports are adapting to address concerns related to data collection, handling, and protection.

Predictive Analytics: The use of predictive analytics in market research is on the rise, allowing businesses to anticipate market shifts and consumer behavior more accurately. This trend is particularly prominent in forecasting future market conditions.

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Market Segmentations:

Global Electronic Timers Market: By Company • Honeywell • Legrand • OMRON • Leviton • Intermatic • Schneider Electric • Panasonic • Theben Group • Kubler Group • Eaton • Hager • Enerlites • Crouzet • Autonics Corporation • Ascon Tecnologic • Marsh Bellofram • Trumeter • SELEC Controls Pvt. Ltd. • Tempatron • Sisel Engineering Inc. • ANLY Electronics Co.,Ltd • Kübler Group • Dwyer Instruments • Pujing • Any Electronics Co.,Ltd

(This is a tentative list, the report on delivery will have additional companies profiled with potential/new entrants within the major shareholder market: Please subscribe to the latest sample report to know more)

Global Electronic Timers Market: By Type • Analogue Timers • Digital Timers Global Electronic Timers Market: By Application • Industrial Device • Lighting System • Others

Regional Analysis of Global Electronic Timers Market

All the regional segmentation has been studied based on recent and future trends, and the market is forecasted throughout the prediction period. The countries covered in the regional analysis of the Global Electronic Timers market report are U.S., Canada, and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Rest of Europe in Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Argentina, Brazil, and Rest of South America as part of South America.

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Executive Summary: A brief summary of the report, including its purpose, methodology, key findings, and recommendations.

Market Overview: An introduction to the market, its size, and its growth potential.

Market Size and Growth: Information about the current market size and anticipated growth trends, including historical data and forecasts.

Market Segmentation: Details about how the market is divided into segments based on factors like product type, application, region, and more.

Competitive Landscape: Analysis of key players in the market, their market share, strategies, and competitive positioning.

Market Trends: Identification of current and emerging trends that are shaping the market, including technological advancements and shifts in consumer behavior.

Market Drivers: Factors that are fueling market growth, such as changing consumer preferences, regulatory changes, or technological innovation.

Market Challenges: Obstacles or issues that the market faces, such as regulatory hurdles, economic downturns, or supply chain disruptions.

Opportunities: Areas of growth and potential that can be harnessed by businesses and investors.

Consumer Behavior: Insights into consumer preferences, buying patterns, and the factors influencing purchasing decisions.

Regional Analysis: Information about the market's performance in different geographical regions, including factors specific to those regions.

Industry Best Practices: Recommendations and insights into best practices for businesses operating in the market.

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[cadygroves]

I'll never understand why people hate Mania??? Are we listening to the same album??? Have you listened to CHURCH???? HEAVEN'S GATE????

[destinyc1020]

I THOUGHT this place looked familiar! 😅

[foggieststars]

ur newest wip…? 👀

yes!! i'm working on some vague time slip au where sauber charles wakes up in 2028 and gasp....he's in bed with max........how could this be....how on earth will he get back

basically i just kept seeing pics of 2018 charles and current max and being like wow. do people know about this?

[askinnyblackman]

thanks for joining our thing! you can complete the courses at your own pace :)

cool, so that means I can speed up the videos right?

:)

[reekrockk]

size

[tajikistan24]

ПОЗДРАВИТЕЛЬНОЕ ПОСЛАНИЕ Лидера нации Эмомали Рахмона по случаю принятия резолюции ГА ООН

ПОЗДРАВИТЕЛЬНОЕ ПОСЛАНИЕ Лидера нации Эмомали Рахмона по случаю принятия резолюции ГА ООН

15.12.2022, город Душанбе Уважаемые соотечественники! Вчера, 14 декабря 2022 года Генеральная Ассамблея ООН консенсусом приняла специальную резолюцию по нашей пятой инициативе в сфере воды. Согласно данной резолюции, во-первых, 2025-й год объявляется Международным годом сохранения ледников. Во-вторых, начиная с 2025-го года и в последующем, дата 21 марта ежегодно будет отмечаться как Всемирный…

[reasonsforhope]

"The last coal-fired power plant in New England, which had been the focus of a lawsuit and protests, is set to close in a victory for environmentalists.

Granite Shore Power said Wednesday it reached an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to close the Merrimack Station in New Hampshire by June 2028. As part of the deal, the company said the site will be turned into the state’s first renewable energy park that host solar power and battery storage systems. The company also said it would shutter Schiller Station in Portsmouth in December 2025. That facility, which is permitted to use oil, coal and biomass, has not operated for several years...

The 460-megawatt station in Bow has long been a thorn in the side of environmental groups. Most recently, the Sierra Club and the Conservation Law Foundation filed a lawsuit against plant owners, alleging it was violating the Clean Water Act. The plant was owned by Eversource until 2018, when it was sold to Connecticut-based Granite Shore Power. Both were named as defendants.

The environmental groups claimed the plant draws about 287 million gallons (1.1 billion liters) of water per day from the Merrimack River, heats that water as a result of its cooling process, and then discharges the water back into the river at temperatures that often exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

Climate activists also protested the plant and demanded its closure over concerns it is a major source of air pollution. [Note: Coal plants are by definition major sources of air pollution. x] In one incident, climate activists last year paddled canoes and kayaks down the Merrimack River to the plant site and were arrested after going onto the property.

“This historic victory is a testament to the strength and resolve of those who never wavered in the fight for their communities and future,” Ben Jealous, Sierra Club Executive Director, said in a statement. “The people of New Hampshire and all of New England will soon breathe cleaner air and drink safer water.”

The Sierra Club said the announcement will make New Hampshire the 16th state that is coal-free and New England the second coal-free region in the country."

-via AP News, March 28, 2024

--

Note: It doesn't say it in this article, but the coal plants are being replaced by renewables! Specifically solar and battery farms! Source

[strawberrychampagneglass]

Roses - pt. 1

Paige x Azzi

CW: cursing, implications of domestic violence (ONLY AT THE END), angst, maybe some fluff?, pining

9.3k words DAMN

A/N: holy shit guys I did not think I could pull this off and to think that this is gonna be a series is wild to me. Jokes aside, this took me about 2.5 weeks so expect (somewhat) infrequent updates due to school work and all that. Ik y'all have been waiting so I'll drop the first chapter. Something to be mindful of: initially this thing was in GSV then I changed it to LA last minute and then I changed Nika to Cam and Gabby to Dearica because Gabby and Nika didn't make sense to me at all so yea enjoy AND PLEASE DO GIVE ME FEEDBACK!!! I appreciate it a lot I WILL ADD A MASTERLIST WHEN MY HEART COMPELS ME TO

October 15th, 2028

Los Angeles, California

“Azzi,” her urgent voice calls out to the dark. She nearly trips over the entrance mat as she enters her apartment in the early morning hours. She drunkenly yells for her again as she stumbles towards her bedroom. 

The only response she gets is an echo of her voice.

She lands in her bed with a soft thud, her hand searching for the familiar warmth of another body. When she feels the cold bed sheet under her hand instead, the only thing she can hear is the hammering inside of her head while her heart throbs, threatening to pry itself out of its cage. Tears well in her eyes as she falls asleep. 

When she wakes up and checks her phone, she has one notification: a text message from Curt Miller. While it makes her heart palpitate as she remembers the happy memories, alarms blare in her head, reminding her of the bad that outweighed the good. 

Her excitement quickly turns to bitterness. Paige doesn’t want to play on the same team as Azzi. Not after the incident in her redshirt senior year. Not after their catastrophic argument at the 2025 WNBA draft. Not after she saw a new person with her Azzi. Not after she saw the diamond-studded ring on her fourth finger. 

Most of all, not after she built a stronghold with the most formidable defenses around her heart. 

July 29th, 2018

Minsk, Belarus 

The Belarusian crowd roars during the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup final, drowning out the melody created by a screeching flute and deep, dulcet drum. With a very comfortable 32 point lead against the French in the middle of the fourth quarter, Paige is subbed out. She accepts the high-fives from her teammates before taking a seat at the end of the bench. Cheers flood the bench while they watch the clock wind down intently, waiting to relish in the intoxicating adrenaline following the victory. 

The blonde raps her foot against the floor anxiously; her jaw propped up by her clenched fists. From the point of view of her teammates, she is engaged in the game. However, inside of her mind, a storm brews.  She thinks of her best friend, the brunette girl with the number 6 on her back who is sat two seats to her left. Paige indulges in the memory of her fingers lingering on Azzi’s for that extra second after a high-five, their intertwined hands during the national anthem, and even when their shoulders brushed together in the team huddles and neither of them moved.

Her mind continues to wander until the bench unexpectedly explodes with chants of “USA” as the clock winds down into the last minute of the game. Paige springs from her seat on the bench, hollering as the adrenaline pumps through every vein in her body. When the final buzzer sounds, she shakes hands with the opposing team before hurling herself into the sea of navy jerseys. 

The rest goes by in a blur, her adrenaline depletes rapidly. The energetic girl is uncharacteristically quiet during their team dinner and even on the bus ride home where she opts to sit alone in the back, leaning her head against the cool window that soothed her aching head. 

As the bus pulls up to the hotel, Paige and Azzi lock eyes from opposing ends of the bus. The fatigue she once felt is quickly replaced with delight when Azzi gives her a tired smile with softened eyes, making her heart beat erratically. It’s still early in the evening, but the team agrees to celebrate in Cameron Brink’s room, without the coaches’ knowledge. While the team shuffles off the bus in a single-file line, Paige pushes through the never-ending hoard of her teammates until her eyes rest on a familiar brunette. She puts her hand on the brunette’s cold shoulder, catching her attention as she leaned into the warmth of Paige’s hand. Azzi chooses to ignore the pink that rose to the older girl’s cheeks and smiles at her. 

“Are you going to Cam’s?” Paige asks sheepishly, trying to hide her smile. Azzi chuckles before responding with a nod. 

“She is my roommate, so I guess I’m obligated to go.” Paige grins from ear-to-ear as they chat until they reach their respective hotel rooms. She changes into sweatpants and opts for a Hopkins Basketball hoodie. Although it's the middle of summer, the temperatures in Minsk are frigid compared to the Minnesota heat. 

Furtively leaving her hotel room, she spots her teammate, Zia Cooke, attempting to sneak several bottles of cheap vodka into Cam’s room, her shoulders are tense and eyes rove across the empty hallway. Paige giggles before walking over to the shorter girl to offer a hand. When her teammate’s eyes land on her friendly face, the muscles in her shoulders loosen.

“Paige, thank god,” she breathes, relieved. “I was so scared that Carla or Stephen would jump out of their rooms.” Paige laughs at the image of Coach Berube catching Zia while looking like a deer in headlights, juggling 5 bottles of vodka. Feeling bad for her teammate, she takes three bottles from her arms and opens the door to Cam’s room. The two girls are met with 10 pairs of curious eyes who cheer at the sight of the vodka bottles.

***

An hour later, the potent odor of vodka floods the room. Most of her teammates gossip about their crushes back home; others watch the late-night shows on the Belarusian TV channels, a few are even snoring obnoxiously on Azzi’s bed. Paige, who is completely sober, feels irritated from her spot on the floor as she watches the dramatic show that is being projected on the TV. She isn’t sure if it was the lack of alcohol, or if it was the sight of her best friend who presses her body against Hailey Van Lith while an arm that wasn’t hers is strung around the brunette’s waist and resting on her toned abdominal muscles. 

When Azzi notices the blonde’s glare at Hailey, she walks off the bed and carefully treads towards the table of alcohol, pouring a full glass of vodka. Her eyes flick to Paige, who stares at the glass of vodka in her hand. Unamused and frustrated, Paige returns her attention to the show on the TV until she feels a warm hand tilt her chin back. Azzi looks at her, emotionless, as she stands behind her. They stare at each other wordlessly before the older head lands on a soft, toned leg. Her lower lip meets the cool rim of the glass that Azzi filled with vodka.

The brunette moves her face closer before she tips the glass upward while noticing a light streak of red across Paige’s cheeks. “Drink,” she whispers, and Paige complies. She feels the alcohol burn her esophagus as she swallows the oily and bitter liquid. Their faces linger in the close proximity as they breathe in synchronization. It takes every ounce of self control in Paige’s body to not close the distance between their lips. 

“You look pretty,” Paige smiles, hoping for a laugh and a friendly slap across the shoulder from her friend. Instead, Azzi returns a frown with furrowed eyebrows, moving her head away. 

“Paige, I can’t enjoy my evening when you’re glaring at everyone I’m sitting with,” Azzi huffs with an edge to her voice. “Go get drunk and leave me alone.” Paige scowls; she knows that Azzi isn’t exclusive to her, but she wants some exclusivity. At the end of the day, they’re just best friends, nothing more. Nevertheless, the thought of another girl’s body pressing her body flush against Azzi infuriates her. From her spot on the floor, she feels the warmth of her friend’s body disappear as she walks back to her spot next to Hailey. 

She grabs her wallet and phone and leaves the room. 

***

When she returns to her hotel room hours later, she slams the newly-bought bottle of vodka on her nightstand, shaking the entire room. It isn’t a big bottle; it’s around the size of a Gatorade bottle. The cashier at the convenience store didn’t bother checking the 16-year-old’s ID, assuming she was of legal drinking age. She popped the cap off the bottle and brought it to her mouth. Her lips begin to form a suction around the opening as she tilts her head back, swallowing the searing liquid. She throws the rest of the liquid down her throat when the thought of Azzi’s words cross her mind. She tightens her grip on the bottle and her tongue scours for the last few drops of the liquid, hungry for the feeling of the alcohol. She sits on her bed in silence, staring at her feet until she feels the effects of the alcohol course through her veins. Her vision begins to blur and the entire room begins to swirl. Through her blurred vision, she still manages to identify the lamp that sits perfectly still on the nightstand. Her free hand reaches for the dangling chain that serves as a lever for the light. Giving it a slight tug, the light flickers briefly before illuminating the entire room. To her shock, a familiar brunette girl with bronze skin sits across from her.

“Are you done being an alcoholic so we can talk?”

“Azzi, what the fuck?” the blonde stammers, frustrated. She sets the bottle down and stares at her friend in disbelief. When Paige gets no response from her, she stands up and starts stumbling towards the door, nearly tripping over herself.

“Paige, wait,” Azzi catches the blonde, observing the older girl’s cloudy eyes. Even while drunk, her blue eyes remind her of her lake house; her second home. The thought makes her heart flutter despite the agonized look painted across her best friend’s entire face. “I’m sorry, we can talk about this if you want. I know I hurt you, and I take full accountability for it.” 

Paige knows she is in damage control mode, but she has a soft spot for the girl; a part that is willing to forgive her and move on. 

She chooses to ignore it and let her irritation control her words. “You didn’t want to talk before, so you don’t get to talk now,” she hisses. Azzi flinches, unaccustomed to her hostility. “You told me to leave you alone, and now you’re in my room, begging for forgiveness. I don’t understand you.” Her arms fly erratically before reaching the collar of her hoodie, tugging it down to ease her tense muscles.“For god’s sake, we’re best friends. Sure, best friends tell each other everything, but my best friend doesn’t get to tell me to leave her alone and show up in my hotel room 2 fucking hours later.”

“I’m not yours, Paige. You don’t have any right to control my actions.” The retort makes Paige wince. “If I want to be with Hailey, you have to respect that. I have a right to be frustrated because I don’t belong to you.” 

“Okay, how about a heads up next time instead of you getting cozy with someone else in front of your best fucking friend. I thought we agreed that we would ‘see each other later’” 

“She was drunk and she came up to me, and we did see each other. There was nothing binding about that agreement. I can be friends with other people and you can too, unless I’m your only friend.” Azzi’s anger rises as well as she picks at her cuticles. 

“You’re an asshole.” Paige breathes, releasing the hoodie. “You tried to get me drunk while trying to seduce me.” The other girl’s mouth opens before getting cut off. “Then, you went back over and cuddled up to her. I don’t have a problem with you seeing people, but even a short-term notice would’ve been nice. It’s fucking awkward when I’m sitting there–surrounded by drunk people who are all passed out on the damn floor–and my best friend is cuddling up to a person we barely even know.” 

“You know what? You sound really fucking insecure right now. Maybe you should go book a flight back to fucking Minnesota and we’ll never have to see each other again. You’ll never get jealous over me when I go on dates with other people.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, she wishes that she can take them back and shove them down her throat. Paige stares at her, emotionless. After a few minutes, Azzi’s voice cuts through the thick air. “Say something, please. You’re freaking me out.” 

“I wish I was yours, Azzi,” Paige whispers softly, so softly that Azzi thinks she mishears. She scowls, but her heart flutters from the confession.

“I need you to tell me that when you’re completely sober. I can’t trust you when you’re drunk.” she sighs, looking at the blonde who has tears brimming in her eyes. However, she can’t shake the warm, fuzzy feeling in her heart from her words. She can’t describe the feelings, and the thought of treading into unexplored emotional territory makes her queasy. 

“I wish I was yours,” Paige urges, with genuine sincerity in her tone despite the alcohol.

“Paige–”

Before she could finish her sentence, Paige grabs her wrist and pulls the younger girl into her. The blonde drags her along a premeditated route, stumbling several times. Biting the nails on her free hand, Azzi’s mind swarms with endless possibilities of danger; they could be kidnapped by random Belarusians, the coaches could catch them while getting a midnight snack, or they could get lost and never see their families again. But Paige was Paige, guiding her to their destination. The warmth radiating from the other girl’s body hypnotized her. It felt safe. Too safe. 

Paige leads her through the maze of the city until they reach the edge of a river. Even under the late-night sky, airplanes weave between silhouettes of clouds; their green and red lights blink, bringing life to the sky. The city is calm and serene at this hour, with the occasional passer-byer that ignores the two girls. The solitude is disrupted by cars gliding across the bustling road across the river bank with horns that blare occasionally. Street lights hug the river bank; streaks of yellow and orange rippled back and forth on the water. The breeze is soft, like a baby’s blanket. It carries the occasional, faint scent of cigarette smoke which is unexpectedly comforting. 

The two sit in mutual silence, away from each other. They both avoided the topic of the prior conversation. Paige hums softly, her body warm from the alcohol. “I didn’t know they had fireworks this late at night.” Her speech is slurred, yet Azzi still laughs in response. The sound of her laugh is like a piece of music written by Beethoven to her; a sound that can be played over and over without getting old. 

“They’re not fireworks, they’re street lights reflecting off the water.” The blonde squints, squatting on the large cement block that she had been sitting on. As she cranes her head closer, nearly falling off the block, Azzi scrambles to catch the blonde as she reflexively yanks her waist backwards. They laugh before Paige puts her hand on hers. 

“You’re acting really sober,” Paige declares while studying Azzi’s facial features. 

“I am sober, so I think it’s a good thing that I’m acting sober.” The younger girl chuckles, punching her friend’s arm lightly with her free hand. Flustered, Paige averts her gaze to the shimmering undulations on the surface of the water. Unsure of whether it was the alcohol that was twisting her mind, or if it was the dim, golden lighting that lights up the left side of Azzi’s face, all she can think about is that her best friend is beautiful.  It drives Paige insane; her bronze skin gleams and her umber eyes light up and become a light, almost golden shade of brown. 

“Sometimes I wish that you could be in Minnesota with me all the time.” 

“Well, you could come to Virginia and stay with me…” Azzi proposes before smiling at Paige, but she doesn't meet her eyes. The blonde is scrunching her face with her attention on Azzi’s arms, and not her face. “What’s wrong? Paige?”

“You’re cold,” Paige whispers, shifting her weight so she and Azzi sit facing each other. Trailing her hand up the other girl’s arm, her fingertips dance along the mountain ranges of goosebumps on her tender skin. Paige’s warm touch makes her feel something. Their eyes clash, uncertainty swarming in both pairs. “I meant what I said earlier,” Paige glances at her lips, breaking the eye contact. “I wish I was yours.” Her hand reaches for Azzi’s cheek, cupping it lightly, and the brunette melts into her touch.

Panic rises as a lump in her throat. They’re young–too young. Azzi’s feelings are new and confusing. She doesn’t know what love feels like and it scares her. As a kid, she was told that “love” was when two people cared for each other a lot. It was obvious that they care for each other a lot. They talk for hours, each word flowing effortlessly while they howl in laughter about something that the other said. Every touch they share is electric: sparks fly erratically through every vein of their bodies. After every argument, Paige is the first to apologize because she knows that Azzi overthinks. 

She moves her face closer and drapes her hands on the blonde’s nape. Paige takes the bait.

Her slightly-parted lips meet Azzi’s warm and soft lips. She closes her eyes, pulling the younger girl’s face in before pulling away after several seconds. The kiss is short, but sweet. Azzi looks at her hands, not wanting to meet the blue eyes knowing that she made a mistake, and the kiss shouldn’t have happened. The once well-established boundaries of their friendship are permanently breached. Yet her cheeks flush and she misses the warmth provided by the close proximity of Paige’s body.

“Raise your arms,” Paige mutters shyly as Azzi is enveloped in the warmth of a thick hoodie. Paige’s hoodie. The scent of Paige’s rosy perfume encases her and a contented sigh escapes her lips. 

“Are you cold?” Azzi observed her best friend’s exposed arms. 

“Nah, I’m alright. You can keep that by the way,” she motions to the hoodie that hugged Azzi’s torso. “It can be a souvenir from Belarus from me. Something that can remind you of tonight forever.” The brunette smiles and wraps her arms around the blonde; she is the clay that Paige can shape into anything she wants. They just fit together. 

The girls dance through the city and totter unsteadily to the hotel, where they collapse in the comfort of Paige’s bed, satisfied laughs slipping out of their mouths after sneaking past the rooms of their teammates. 

“Would you like me to walk you back to your room, Madame Fudd?” Paige teases before a pillow slams into her face. “Hey! Azzi!” She shrieks, scrambling to grab another pillow before falling flat on her face. Azzi laughs hysterically for a few moments until the room stills into an unsettling quiet. 

“You’re so chivalrous, Bueckers.” Azzi looks around her room, fidgeting with her fingers. “But, uh, since there’s a few drunk bodies on my bed,” The blonde cocks her head at her and smirks; the simple motion makes her heart lurch. “And also because you also don’t have a roommate and I thought that you might be a little lonely tonight, especially because you’ll be hungover in the morning, I was wondering if I could stay here tonight.” Paige breaks out into an ear-to-ear grin and tackles her in a bear hug, shoving them to the bed where their bodies melded into each other. 

Amongst the clamor, there is an uneasy feeling in Paige’s gut that she can’t shake, but she chooses to ignore the feeling as she lets her body intertwine with the younger girl’s. 

October 19th, 2028

New York City, New York

Azzi is selfish. 

Anything she gets her hands on, she wants to keep for herself. She is a hoarder who wants to keep everything that she loves forever. 

Unfortunately, when you fall in love with everything, you can’t have it all.

She paces back and forth at the gate, biting her nails and avoiding the gaze of her fiancé. Tugging the collar of her hoodie from her high school days over her head, she allows a satisfied sigh to escape her mouth as she is cloaked with a comforting rose scent. It was nostalgic; it held so many memories that felt so important and so irrelevant at the same time. But the scent made her feel hopeful of something she couldn’t place. 

“Is everything okay, babe?” startled, she drops the hoodie to smile weakly at her fiancé.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little tired. The thought of everything scares me a little.” Azzi chuckles. Instead of a friendly smile from her fiancé, she notices his scowl at the text on her hoodie. Her heart drops into her stomach, knowing that this would prompt an argument from him over a certain college teammate. 

“I’m so happy you finally chose to leave the cesspool of New York,” her fiancé sneers, “and, I’m so excited to soak up the LA sun.” Azzi doesn’t react to his comments, avoiding an argument at all costs. He came to all her games and cheered her on, but he always hated New York City. It was either too cold or too hot, too rainy or too sunny and never the perfect balance between the two. 

As long as he’s happy, I am too. 

Los Angeles, California

Paige is protective. 

She loves her possessions and hates it when people take them. She wants to shield everything she loves from hurt and pain. 

Orange and pink rays of sunlight stream through the tall glass panes by Paige’s bedside, bathing her bedroom in a warm glow. She stirs awake, her sore body begging for 15 extra minutes of sleep. Her throat feels raw and her eyelids are weighted. Instead of fighting against the weight, Paige lets her eyes close while thinking about the consequences of not showing up to Azzi’s welcome party. When she first caught wind of the news, she called Cameron Brink to come to her apartment. She complained to her for hours while blackout drunk before inevitably passing out. When she woke up the next morning to dozens of angry texts from Cam, she apologized profusely, showing up to her apartment with the shoes that her friend had been eyeing for months and bags of Sour Patch Kids.

It was safe to say that Paige wasn’t allowed anywhere near alcohol tonight if she chose to go. At least, not under Cam’s watch. 

The Sparks had an extremely successful campaign last year and capped off the season with a championship title along with Paige’s first league MVP and finals MVP awards. The feeling is still surreal, and the thought of it pumps more adrenaline through her body. Even though the season was extremely successful, the threat of injuries plagued the guards last year. Also, the Sparks were in desperate need of a guard with the ability to knock down shots and step into the role of a strong playmaker.

Was she expecting Azzi to join the Sparks? Eventually, yes. She is desperate for a championship run. 

Did she want to celebrate a piece of her past she let go before her birthday? No. 

Is she happy about it? Absolutely not. 

Her phone began to vibrate violently under her pillow, prying her from her thoughts. She rolls over to scrutinize the contact name with a groan. Her blood runs cold and she taps the green phone icon on the 4th ring.

“Paige! Thank god I got in contact with you.” Katie Fudd exhales. Paige feels the weight of her panic that reciprocates her own through the phone. “I know we haven’t really talked in about, um, three years,” she pauses, unsure of how to continue when she hears Paige’s sharp inhale, “but, have you heard from Azzi recently? She’s supposed to be arriving in LA today, at least that’s what the media says.” 

“No, I…I haven’t heard anything, Katie,” she rasps, her throat ablaze. Her lips run dry. The media?

Paige makes small talk with Katie, catching up on major events in their life while both of them try to avoid the topic of Azzi. It was brought up once and Paige could barely perceive the muffled, yet pained sobs on the other end of the phone.

“I know you have your Unrivaled league coming up in the new year, but it would be great if you could come visit us during Thanksgiving or even Christmas,” Katie proposes as they near the end of their conversation. 

“I’ll take a look at my schedule and try to pull some strings, but no promises. I have plans to visit my dad and Drew over the Thanksgiving weekend in Maryland, so we’ll see what happens.” Paige replies, acknowledging the piece of her that wants to let the past go. The part where she was too close to Azzi and her family. She knows that visiting them means treading into foreign territory. 

“We miss you, Paige. Jon and Jose miss their ‘son’ too,” Katie laughs, relieving Paige of a heavy, bone-crushing weight on her heart. “Happy early birthday too, we could never forget. We love you, you’re still family to us.”

Paige smiles, a genuine ear-to-ear grin. “Love you too, Kaite. Tell the brothers and Tim I say hi as well.” She says before hanging up. 

“You’re still family to us.” The words rang in her head, warming her frozen heart. It wasn’t enough to thaw it, but it was enough to invoke thoughts of hope. She was torn from her reverie by a knock at her door. Humming to herself as she sauntered out of her bedroom, she opened the door to her apartment.

“Woah, I never thought I’d see you smiling like you’re on Disney Channel,” the blonde at the door laughs, surprised. Paige scowls at her words which prompts Cam to laugh harder. “I did bring breakfast though, knowing your current mental state. You look like shit, Paige.” She sets two paper bags on Paige’s kitchen island. They sit across each other on the spinning bar stools Cam loves. 

The two chat buoyantly; Cam tells her stories about her boyfriend, Ben, and his new obsession with cars or whatever. Paige doesn’t really pay attention to her rambling because of a painful ache in her heart. Even though it had been a year since Cam moved to Los Angeles, the two still learn new details about Over the past year, Cam used the fact that the shorter woman struggled to maintain a relationship for more than a few weeks as the butt of all her jokes. Despite being annoyed at first, Paige was quite amused with herself.

“Azzi’s mom called me earlier,” Paige abruptly says, interrupting Cam in her spiel about her brother’s recent breakup.

“...is that why you were smiling earlier? Paige, not even 5 days ago you made me-”

“From what I’ve…figured out, they haven’t been able to get in contact with Azzi. Katie seemed distraught when she accidentally brought her up.” 

“Are you implying that she got kidnapped?” Cam laughs uncomfortably, trying to avoid the weight of the situation. 

“It’s a possibility.” Paige mutters. Cam stops laughing and an uneasy silence drapes the room like a heavy curtain.

“I guess we’ll find out later, but don’t stress about it. You could be overthinking the entire situation. Don’t make that face, I know that you don’t want to go, but out of respect for your future teammate, you need to.” Cam sighs while rubbing circles on her temples. “I’m going to pick her and her supposed fiancé up at the airport. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Thanks for breakfast, Cam. Drive safe,” she calls out as the door to her apartment shuts. And suddenly, her mind is thrown back 5 years to the keychain that Azzi bought them in their early 20s as a gift. Drive safe, I need you here with me. I love you. 

***

“Azzi Fudd! This is Kendra Andrews with ESPN. What are your thoughts on the Sparks franchise?” 

“What prompted the move from New York to LA?” 

“How do you plan to integrate yourself into the team?” 

“What excites you the most about the LA Sparks franchise?”

Dozens of reporters and journalists surround her. They fight amongst each other to thrust microphones into her face. Sweat beads down the back of Azzi’s neck as she tries to answer as many questions as she can while being mindful of her fiancé’s limited patience. He had gone on his phone, ignoring Azzi as she drowns in a sea of cheap cologne and felt-tipped microphones. She quickly interrupts the reporters after 10 minutes and bid a polite farewell. Her heart stings with a bit of remorse when some of the reporters in the crowd express their frustration through whisper-shouts to their colleagues because they got a different answer than what they would’ve hoped. As she makes her way to her fiancé, her head hanging low, she mentally prepares herself for the incoming argument. 

“You’re a piece of shit,” her fiancé hisses, “you took ten fucking minutes to talk to some fans.”

“Please, not here. Not while the reporters are still around,” Azzi whispers, frantically scouting for reporters. 

“Save your bullshit for later. Call an Uber and get me out of here.” While leading her fiancé towards the airport exit, Azzi picks at her cuticles. “Oh, and next time,” her fiancé continues, “don’t be a pussy-sucking people pleaser and just give them an autograph. I don’t have the time for this, there are better things I should be doing that does not include waiting for you.” Tears begin to well but she blinks them back, trying to put up a facade for the public as she smiles half-heartedly for selfies. The lump in her throat threatens to roll out of her mouth. The thought of a night in the hotel sends a cold bead of sweat down her back. She doesn’t want to be left alone with her fiancé. She doesn’t trust him. 

A firm hand grabs Azzi’s wrist, pulling her back into the present. She rips her hand away reflexively before processing the familiar face that belonged to her temporary roommate in Belarus. For the first time since she left New York, Azzi breaks out in a full-faced smile and throws herself into Cam’s open arms.

Her mind wanders to the other future WNBA teammate, who she had not seen since the 2025 WNBA draft. The thought of her quickened her heart, but the feeling sours when she becomes aware of her fiancé by her side. 

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever, oh my god,” Cam laughs, punching Azzi’s arm lightly, a gesture from her USA basketball days when Coach Berube made an off-handed comment. She flinches in response, which Cam chooses to ignore. “Oh, and you must be Azzi’s fiancé. I’ve heard so much about you, and it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Cam,” the blonde chirps, turning her attention to Azzi’s fiancé, offering a friendly smile and a hand. “I don’t think I ever got your name.” Her fiancé remains silent, but his jaw muscles tighten and his cold, green eyes look at her with animosity and spite. Not wanting to raise suspicion, Cam plasters a smile and leads them to her car.

Cam makes a mental note to tell Paige about their interaction with an emphasis on the flinch. 

“...This is the Uber you ordered?” her fiancé snarls when the other woman is out of earshot. 

“You need to calm down. She’s my teammate, and this is a thoughtful gesture,” Azzi retorts before covering her mouth. Her breathing becomes shallow and her face pales as her fiancé inches his face closer to her ear until his hot, rancid breath drowns out her awareness of everything around her. The hustling environment of the airport disappears and her world is engulfed in silence until four words snap her out of her trance. 

“Drop this shit, now.” 

***

The ride to the hotel where the two would be temporarily staying was brisk, although Azzi wished it would have lasted longer. The brunettes reminisced on their college days while laughing hysterically. 

“Have you talked to Geno after he finally retired?” Cam asks playfully, making eye contact with Azzi through the rear-view mirror. Instead of Azzi’s warm brown eyes, she meets her fiancé’s swampy green eyes. The blonde feels a chill run down her spine, unable to detect any emotion on the fiancé’s face. 

“Nope, not at all.” Cam raises her eyebrows, clearly amused. 

“Wow, it’s been two years since he retired. He even went to the draft to support you and, um, nevermind.” The blonde shakes her head, cursing to herself. Azzi laughs awkwardly, trying to lift the guilt off her friend’s shoulders, but her fiancé is unamused. “About time though, I thought that he nearly got a heart attack during the March Madness championship in 2025.” The two erupt in laughter, tears falling from their eyes. Her fiancé glares at Cam through the mirror, prompting her to awkwardly change the topic to the Sparks and their team culture. Azzi ignores the glare and continues her conversation with her friend. 

Her fiancé isn’t completely out of the loop despite his apathy towards Azzi’s WNBA career. He knows who Paige Bueckers is, the national championship they won in 2025, but he only vaguely knows about the relationship that she and Azzi shared during their collegiate campaigns. If their relationship was an iceberg, her fiancé only sees the tip of the iceberg, the visible part that the media shared, the two in a million SLAM cover, their rise to stardom in USA U16 basketball, and most importantly, their adversities through injury together. What she doesn’t know is the true depth and complexity of their relationship, veiled beneath a thick layer of dark, murky water that neither she nor Paige are ready to uncover. As their lives began to diverge, so did the currents in the water; they pushed and pushed on their relationship until it came crumbling down, splitting the iceberg into two parts that are now just Azzi and just Paige. 

Thanking Cam as they slip out of the car, Azzi checks into the hotel room where she and her fiancé sit on opposite sides of the king-sized bed. Her head hangs and she looks at her hands before her fiancé breaks the silence first.

“Hey,” he sighs, walking over to Azzi. When she lifts her head to meet her fiancé’s eyes, branches of tears stream from her eyes and down her cheeks, splitting into multitudes of different directions. 

“Am I not good enough for you? One moment you hate me, and the next you’re suddenly in love with me again.” Azzi sobs, pulling her hair in frustration. “I’m trying my hardest, and it hurts when you don’t reciprocate the feelings.” She wipes her eyes while her fiancé stares at her in disbelief, masking his anger. He paces to the door before walking back to Azzi, feigning an empathetic look. 

“No, baby, you’re perfect.” Her fiancé mutters , pulling the brunette’s head to his chest as he kisses her forehead softly while wiping her tears. “I love you so much. I appreciate everything you do.” Azzi could feel that his words felt wrong and uncomfortable coming out of his mouth. 

“Love you too”

***

Paige walks in circles around her room while Cam summarizes the airport pickup, sprawled out on the blonde’s bed. “You didn’t even get his name. Damn.” Paige’s voice is laced with worry. 

“All you need to know is that her fiancé is fucking weird. He was like ‘I’m so sick of this bullshit’ the whole time without speaking a single word. I introduced myself to him like a normal fucking person and he stood there and stared me down, as if I was competition or something.” Cam breathes, putting her face in her hands. Paige feels the same, unable to piece together the puzzling situation. “This whole situation is  crazy. I was talking about Geno’s retirement and she hasn’t talked to him in years. Isn’t that weird? I feel like he’s also the jealous type. She wore your Hopkins hoodie and her fiancé kept eyeing it the whole time.”

Paige’s heart skips a beat at her words. Her Hopkins hoodie. The one from the night in Belarus: even though it had been over 10 years, Paige remembers it clearly. It was the first time she was in love. “That’s weird. You picked them up from the airport, and he was glaring at you the entire time in the car. Then, you- like, jokingly punched her. How hard was this punch?”

“KK-punching-Ice-after-losing-a-bet-about-your-life hard.” 

“Okay, so not that hard.”

“I’m pretty sure I heard her fiancé call her a stuck-up pussy eater while they argued about the reporters before I picked them up.” Paige raises an eyebrow at the statement before coughing awkwardly, mumbling under her breath.

“Just– be careful Paige. She isn’t yours anymore. I know you’re still not over her,” She winces at her friend’s words, “and it’s the harsh truth, but I seriously think that you need to find someone else to distract you.” 

“We both know that finding someone else hasn’t worked for me either. I’m worried about her. She’s my best friend, my ride or die.”

“She betrayed you. You need to move on. Best friends don’t betray each other like… that.”

***

Flanked by her fiancé, Azzi walks through the large, wooden doors of the restaurant next to her hotel. It was a short walk, but she took in the salty smell of the city. The breeze was sharp and it nipped her exposed arms. She was shivering and rubbing her hands up and down her arms. 

“You must be Ms. Fudd,” the waitress waiting for her arrival smiles at her, “your table is over here, please follow me.”  The short walk through the labyrinth of tables set with velvety red cloths that had a golden trim on its edges was interrupted by a crimson-colored curtain. The chatter behind the curtains feels daunting, and she wants to turn around and run back to Arlington. The waitress pulls the curtain to the side to reveal a table full with people, her teammates, laughing and talking boisterously amongst themselves. The first person to stand up is Cam, who embraces her in a loose hug. Seconds later, nearly all of her new teammates have thrown themselves into her arms.

The last person to stand up is the blonde. Her wavy, blonde hair, lighter from the Californian sun, is tucked behind her ears and falls down her back like a loose shawl. Her skin glows gold against the yellow lighting of the dining room. She wears a freshly ironed button-up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose her toned forearms. Only the right side of her shirt was tucked into her brown trousers that hang loosely from her hip, ghosting her ankles. A beige bomber jacket that matches her pants is slung around her shoulders and a watercolor-patterned scarf is draped around her neck. The gold studs and helix ring on her left ear reflect the light of the chandelier that hangs from chains above the dining table. When their eyes meet, Azzi searches her eyes for a sense of comfort in her familiar blue eyes that her dark mascara emphasizes. Instead, she finds nothing in her cold and emotionless eyes. Paige embraces her new teammate in a stiff and loose hug, her muscles tense when Azzi’s hands roam her back. Immediately, she is engulfed in her rosy perfume, the same scent that she finds solace and comfort in. Her stomach churns, yet there is a certain warmth that flickers in her heart. Everything about the blonde screamed Paige, and Paige is beautiful. 

“Welcome to LA,” she says while pulling out of the hug. Refusing to look at her, she turns to the man looming in the corner while offering a hand. At the table, Cam sucks a sharp breath in, casting a warning glance at Paige which is ignored. Azzi stiffens and her heart hammers. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Paige, and you are?”

“I’m Charles,” he murmurs, accepting the handshake and offering a small, sly smile. Azzi’s eyes widen. Her fiancé is rarely friendly, especially not to Paige. They glare at each other for a brief moment before she takes a seat next to Cam. 

Her fiancé and her sit side-by-side at the table, across from Paige and Cam. Charles slides his hand into Azzi’s under the table, squeezing it softly. The small gesture makes Azzi smile as she leans into her fiancé, enjoying his comforting presence. It isn’t much, but it’s enough to take her mind off of the blonde sitting directly across from her, laughing with her WNBA teammates. It annoys her.

Azzi is selfish. 

***

The entire table has some sort of alcoholic beverage in their hands or in their stomachs. Paige sits awkwardly, sipping a Shirley Temple whose sugary and overly sweet grenadine has become bitter on her tongue. Nausea seeps into the edges of her head and begins to spread like wildfire and she finds herself rubbing circles on her forehead. She can’t stand the sound of Azzi’s bubbly laughter across the table. The sound that threatened to burn a hole through her heart. 

“So, how did you guys meet?” Dijonai Carrington cocks an eyebrow at the couple while swirling her cocktail in her cup. 

A brief panicked look flashes across Azzi’s face before Charles cuts in. “We met in college.” His answer is curt and dry, yet polite. Several of her teammates cooed at his response, gushing over the couple. The two women jump into a conversation about their college lovers. 

That should’ve been me.

“What a fucking people pleaser.” Paige snickers to Cam while blinking back the unwelcome moisture that began to form under her eyes. She throws back the rest of her drink before dropping her head into her arms.

“Are you sure you don’t want any alcohol? Like, a thousand percent positive?” Dearica Hamby, the star forward of the Valkyries asks Paige while rubbing the taller woman’s back. Through the seemingly innocent image of the question, she notices genuine concern painted in the woman’s softened eyes.

“She’s alright without it,” Cam answers before she could open her mouth. “We made an agreement that she would have no alcohol tonight because I had to clean up after her last time.” The entire table howls in laughter, and Paige joins them with a half-hearted smile while heart fractures. 

If her smile didn’t split into a frown at the corners of her mouth or her chin didn’t wrinkle, Azzi’s heart wouldn’t have stopped and she would’ve been laughing with her teammates. 

“Yeah, I had to show up to her apartment with shoes and a shit load of candy because I felt so guilty.” She sneaks a glance at the brunette sitting across from her. Instead of laughing with the team, she was engaged in a conversation with her fiancé, prompting her to avert her gaze. It takes every piece of her dignity not to stare at the brunette. Her dark, curly hair is braided and hangs just above her shoulders; the same hairstyle that she jokingly called a bob back in their college days. She wears a baby blue knitted tank that reveals her muscular arms and white, flowy linen pants that hug her hips. 

However, when Paige’s eyes pass by the soon-to-be married couple, searching for something, they follow the pattern of their intertwined arms and hands hidden under the table. Looking at Cam, she whispers, “I need to get out of here.” the taller woman waves a hand at her, signaling for her to go ahead. She files through her wallet and grabs a few hundred-dollar bills and hands them to Cam, which she graciously accepts. Dearica flashes her a sympathetic look before returning to her drinking game. 

“I got a call from my mom and I gotta take it. I’ll be right back.” Announcing to the table, she grabs her phone and stands up, stepping over her drunk and overly rowdy teammates. When she finally slips behind the thick velvet curtain, she finally feels as if she can breathe. The curtain has become a barrier between her and a certain pair of brown eyes that burns holes through the back of her head. She knows that man. The blur of dark curls and olive and brown skin became too vivid. She needs to get out. It hurts her. 

Paige is protective. 

*** 

The neat blonde bun disappears behind the curtain with a soft, almost inaudible swoosh. She tries to talk with her teammates, laughing at their jokes, but everything feels forced. The image of Paige's stiff posture and the death grip she had on her phone haunts her. All of a sudden, her fiancé’s once soft hand feels heavy and scratchy against her skin.

“I need some air. I’ll be right back,” She announces as she gets up, dropping her fiancé’s hand. Cam and Dearica pause their argument over their stupid drinking game and stare at her with their mouths agape. There is undeniable panic swirling in both pairs of wide-open eyes, but Cam gives a hesitant nod.  

“Is everything alright babe?” Charles’s voice is soft but urgent. “I can come with you.” Azzi looks at him with a warm smile before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. 

As she exits the restaurant, she is met with an intricate spectacle of orange, pink, and blue. The light of the day quickly disappears, but she discerns a hunched silhouette on the beach that glows under the golden light. Her attention shifts to the orange circle that barely peeks out through the edge of the horizon as it slowly sinks underneath the water, leaving a trail of orange and pink light rippling across the surface of the water. Waves crash loudly against the shore before they are drawn back to the ocean while laughter and joyful screams from children join the peaceful ambience. 

“Are you just gonna stand there or do you wanna sit?” A tired voice rips her out of her thoughts as she tears her gaze from the astonishing scene in front of her. She glances at the woman sitting next to her who has her knees up to her chest and her head resting on her forearms. Azzi decides to sit a few feet away from her. For a split second, it feels like their fragmented friendship could be salvaged again. 

She slips her sandals off and lets her feet absorb the texture of the flaky sand while shivering when a gust of wind hits her skin. Instead of ignoring the mechanical sound of teeth chattering, Paige shakes the jacket off her shoulders and hands it to her which Azzi graciously accepts. When she wraps it around her shoulders, she is engulfed in the aroma of roses again. 

“I thought you had a call to take,” Azzi remarks, her voice soft. Veins snake down the woman’s arms and hands until they disappear behind her knuckles. Her pale skin had become golden and her biceps protrude from the rest of her arm. The neat braids in her hair are now ruffled and frizzy, and small wisps of hair dance with the breeze. On her wrist is a beaded bracelet that reads “RESILIENCE.” The bracelet from her camp before their explosive argument. The sight of it makes her heart flutter, but when she reaches her face, a cold wave of dread washes over her as she notices the smeared mascara and faint patches of salty skin on her cheeks. 

“Yeah, I did.” Paige answers bluntly, her voice cracking slightly. An uncomfortable silence falls upon them; the air heavy from their unspoken words. Azzi’s heart throbs at her cold tone. “What brings you out here?” she asks after a few moments. 

“I felt nauseous.” Paige scoffs at her response, shaking her head. 

“Bullshit.” 

“Paige, why are you so fucking blunt?” Azzi exasperates, throwing her hands up in the air in surrender. “You hugged me earlier and that whole time, you were stiff as a rock. It’s been 3 fucking years, it’s time to grow the fuck up.” When Paige says nothing in response, Azzi continues. “I’m trying to be the bigger person here and you’re being unfair. I told you that we can stay friends and then you fucking gho-”

“Your fiancé,” the blonde sneers, tearing Azzi out of her rant. Her voice is shaky and dangerously close to breaking. Through the golden light, she can see the tears brimming behind her smudged eyelashes. “He’s the one that you met at Ted’s, right?” Azzi stays silent, giving Paige the confirmation she needed. “You’re not being the bigger person, not at all. You’re only talking to me because you want something out of me. Azzi, you’re being selfish.”  The last word hits Azzi like a cold bucket of water. 

“You’re being unfair,” Azzi says shakily, refusing to meet the blonde’s eyes. 

Paige lets out a strangled sputter before opening her mouth. “I’m being unfair? Me being mad over you getting cozy with another man after our natty suddenly means that I’m being unfair?” 

“No, that’s not what I meant. You’re being unfair because you’re hurting him with your comments. Do you think I can’t hear the derogatory names you’ve called him tonight?” Azzi scrunches her face and turns to the blonde, whose attention is on the sand that snakes between her toes. 

“Are you happy?” the older woman finally asks after a period of silence.

“I don’t know.”

“What?” Her blue eyes dart towards hers. 

“P.” Paige freezes at the use of her nickname, “I miss you. My offer still stands. We can go back to our friendship.” The last words are quiet, almost as if they aren’t supposed to be spoken. Memories of what they were rush through both of their minds. The women have something unreadable in both of their eyes as they stare at each other. 

“No, we.. we can’t.” Paige finally speaks, tearing her gaze away from her, letting out a shaky breath and gets up to leave, but before she can take a step forward, she feels a forceful hand clasp around her wrist that prompts a wave of panic to flood through her. “Azzi, let me go. You can’t do this. You’re getting married soon for god’s sake.”  

“Our last night in Belarus, I know you remember it. You wear the same perfume, you even gave me your hoodie. Shit, Paige, that was the time I knew that I fell in love with you. Every little thing you did for me felt like you were giving me your entire world. You fell in love with me too. Every argument we had, we made up, and we can make up from this too. I’m asking you to believe in us again. I won’t leave you.” For a split second, Paige’s eyes soften and she lets her walls down. She desperately wants to let go of her "tough guy" facade and let herself taste Azzi's lips again.

“No. You don’t get to say that now. Not when you have a fiancé waiting for you in the restaurant.” The vulnerability that Paige showed is once again blocked by the ramparts of her castle. The remembrance of Charles’s presence hits Azzi like an 18-wheeler. “It’s evident that you can’t own up to any of the mistakes that you made.” 

“You’re not taking any accountability for it either! Do you think I haven’t tried?” Paige flinches, backing away from Azzi who is now screaming. “You had to address it at the fucking draft. For fuck’s sake, let me explain my side of the story.” 

“I tried to give you space because clearly, you wanted to fuck around with him. You don’t get to explain your side of the story. It was the night of the March Madness championship and you ch-”

“Oh, shit.” A new voice joins their argument. Paige whips her head around and sees Dearica and Cameron looking at them with wide eyes. “Azzi, I don’t think you should-” 

“No it’s okay,” Paige feigns a smile before pulling out of Azzi’s grip. “Welcome to the City of Dreams, Azzi. I’m sorry for having to leave so abruptly.” 

And she’s gone. Packed away in the backseat of an Uber. It hurts Azzi more than it should. The doors to Paige’s heart that used to be held open for Azzi are now barricaded off, isolating her. 

“What the fuck happened?” The blonde turns to Azzi with an edge of hostility in her tone. Dearica glares at her, and Azzi’s heart free-falls into her stomach. 

“Azzi?!” Charles’s deep voice calls out, and Azzi is grateful to be saved from the awkward confrontation. When his eyes land on her, they soften and he wraps her into a tight embrace. Every piece of contact between them feels scratchy and uncomfortable, especially in Paige’s jacket. “Don’t fucking leave me again.” He snarls into her ear before glaring at her jacket. 

The other women turn to leave before exchanging an uncomfortable look with each other. 

***

An empty bottle of tequila is the only company Paige has on her bar table. Right as she lets the effects of the alcohol take her consciousness, her front door flies open. Every muscle in her body tenses and she buries her head into her arms in hopes that she will disappear. 

“P?” It’s Cam. Her body relaxes. 

A second pair of heavy footsteps make their way to the table. She stiffens again.

“It’s me, don’t worry. You’re alright” The other voice belongs to Dearica. She exhales and looks up. Cam’s eyes are fixed on the empty bottle of tequila and a heavy breath falls out of her mouth. 

“Again? Seriously, Paige?” When Paige puts her head back down into her arms, Cam’s hands rub her back. 

“Yeah. Again.” Sobs begin to wreck the blonde’s body and she shakes violently. Dearica and Cam exchange a panicked look before embracing their teammate. 

“I’m sorry, Paige. What she did is fucked up” Dearica’s voice is soft and reassuring. “We tried to talk to her but, her, um, we were interrupted.” She and Cam are walking on thin ice; one bad step and their teammate will plunge in the freezing cold water.

“Let’s get you to bed. You have a big day tomorrow, so let’s make the most out of it.” Cam and Dearica carry their teammate, whose body is shaking violently while sobbing to bed.

For the 5th night in a row, she cries herself to sleep. 

I need you.

***

“Charles, why do you want to marry me?”

“Because I love you baby, and I want to spend every second of my life with you. With us.”

“...Okay.”

“I promise I’ll never hurt you. I’ll be the one to protect you forever.” 

“Azzi Fudd. What the fuck was that?” Charles sneers. His emerald eyes are alive, burning with acrimony. She doesn’t look up from her phone screen where her fingers shakily hover over the call button under Paige’s name. 

“I’m sorry? I told you I was getting some air and I ran into Paige.” Her tone is surprisingly even and steady despite her trembling body. When a dark look falls across his face, she shudders. Suddenly, her phone is ripped from her hands and shattered against the wall with a loud smash that rings in her ears.

“Don’t fucking talk back to me. You saw what happened to your phone, and I know that you don’t want to be next.” He slams the door of their hotel room and stomps down the hall. When she doesn't hear the obnoxiously loud footsteps anymore, she allows her body to collapse and cries into her pillow while she thinks about the promises that they made on their engagement night.

I need you.

[lilghostiequinni]

Times & Turns

Main Masterlist Lando Masterlist

Pairing: F1 Champion!female oc (Valentina;Val) x Lando Norris

Warnings: Fluffy, Established relationship, previously mentioned Pregnancy, Engagment

Summary: She's the first female driver in F1 to race in a whole season, and she's the first to win more than a handful of race, let alone the World Champion, she's done it once, at the beginning of Red Bull dominance, can she do it again as it's dominance diminishes?

Requested: NO / yes

In 2018, history was made when Valentina Norr signed for a full season as a Red Bull driver rather than a extended contract of a reserve driver for McLaren or Mercedes.

It was in 2020, when she made history again, when she became the first woman to win the World Championship, having taken Lewis Hamilton on for most of the season to win the championship and won by a mere 3 points.

It was speculated for months that after her win she would move to Mercedes then it was Ferrari, then McLaren. Also being speculated that after a mere two years of racing full time she was going to retire as it was only a 2-year contract with Red Bull.

But in the end it was announced for a contract extension to the 2022 season, a 2-year extension.

Then in 2022, there were more speculations of her moving from Red Bull to McLaren to be teammates rather than rivals with her boyfriend of six years Lando Norris.

Having met at McLaren in late 2016 and later in October 2017 starting to date.

But again stayed in Red Bull with both her and Max being announced to stay until the end of the 2028 season, a 6-year extension.

But it was just before the start of the 2023 season that it was announced that Sergio Perez would be taking the place of Valentina Norr as she would be unable to compete in the 2023 season.

During the season it was speculated many times as to why she was missing the entire season as no injury could make her stay out that long.

It wasn't until the 7th race of the season that she could be seen in the garage on the pit wall of Red Bull seemingly helping out her teammate Max Verstappen.

Again fans went crazy, speculating what could possibly be wrong, she seemed fine with no injuries.

Then at the 9th race of the season, ahead of race weekend Valentina took the social media to address rumors on why she was not participating in the season saying, "I have personal reasons to not race in the 2023 season, I want to be in the races and on the podiums so badly with Max, but my world changed over break and now revolves around more things than racing. I know so many of you miss me on that track, I miss being on the track too. But rest assured, I should be fine and ready to race next season. I look forward to seeing you all. But for now root for Max and Lando."

It captioned photos of her that where taken on the put wall and throughout the races she had been at during the season.

Then from the 10th race of the Spanish Grand Prix to the 17th race of the Italian Grand Prix fans noticed that she seemed to not appear at all in the Pit Wall or garage of Red Bull.

But when she returned in Singapore for the 18th race, she wasn't seen in Red Bull, but in McLaren all decked out in McLaren merch, having been seen watching from the Pit Wall.

She was seen at the rest of the races for the season, never straying far from McLaren, leading many to speculate that she would be moving to McLaren in 2024, taking Oscar's seat.

But when it was announced that Valentina Norr was going to be returning to Red Bull in the 2024 season, fans loved that she would be returning.

Though over the break before the 2024 season there was many rumors on why she left and opted out of the 2023 season so close to start, but with the speculations of why also came the paranoia of if it would happen again in 2024.

Which it didn't, Valentina was there from the first race of the season in Bahrain, getting P2 on the podium with Max and Lando.

In Saudi Arabia, she got P1 just milliseconds before Max.

Australia, she got P2 ahead of Lando and Charles, behind Carlos.

Then came Japan, and her getting P2 again behind Max and ahead of Carlos.

In China, she got P1 ahead of Lando and Max, P2 and P3 respectively.

In Miami, Valentina got P4, just under the podium, but still celebrated for Lando's win.

At Imola, she got P1 just milliseconds before Lando, who got P2.

With Monaco, she got P5 behind both Ferraris and McLarens.

In Canada, she got P1 with Lando and George following.

The Spanish and Austrian races having the same result of P1.

In Silverstone, she got P2 behind Lando, but got fastest lap.

At Hungary, she again got P1.

Belgium, Valentina got P2 and fastest lap.

The Dutch Grand Prix resulted in her ending in 2nd behind Max and ahead of Lando.

The Grand Prixes of Italy, Baku, Singapore, and the United States all had her ending P1 with two fastest laps.

In Mexico, she pitted at the wrong time losing her P1 place to Max and P2 to Lando, but she got fastest lap.

The three races of Brazil, Las Vegas, and Qatar, she ended P1 with fastest lap in Brazil.

At Abu Dhabi, she got fastest lap and P1, making history again by winning a second World Championship with 526 points.

On the podium, Valentina stood on the 1st place podium with Max in P2 and Lando in P3.

After the champagne spray and podium celebration, no one in the podium platform moved as Valentina went to get off of the podium stage, but Max pointed behind her to her boyfriend.

When she turned she found that Lando was on one knee.

"Valentina Norr, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making the happiest man alive by adding is to your name? You are the mother of my children and took a break from your career to be the best mom ever and you still are, but you could also be the perfect wife. So will you, Valentina Norr of Peru, marry me, Lando Norris of England?" Lando opened the ring box in his hand.

Valentina had tears in her eyes and quickly nodded her head, as Lando stood up and put the ring on her finger, leaving her speechless.

When she finds her voice all she can say is, "I love you, so so much."

She does find her voice seconds later, "You are the best father to our children and will continue to be and you are going to make the most amazing husband."

Then their three kids were brought out onto the podium, two boys and a girl, one of the boys seemed to be older than the other and the girl.

"It's your turn to win next year," Valentina says to Lando.

A/N: I just want to say the last name of Norr was not the original plan of Noor, but I looked up Norr name meaning and it means north with Norris meaning northerner and I though it was funny and kept it. Shall we finish all of the 9 that I have to do? This is 2 of 9. I changed it from 12 because a two for today are collections that I'm still finalizing some things, and one I'm thinking of making it into two parts.

Tags: @poppyflower-22 @samantha-chicago @barcelonaloverf1life @tallrock35 @hellothere9597

If you want to be removed from a tag list, let me know so I don't keep tagging you. If you are striked through, I don't know if you want to be tagged, but just let me know if you want me to continue or stop

[disneyprincemuke]

the valentine's tradition (2016-2025) * fem!driver

notes: this is supposed to go all the way to 2028 but i got lazy so lMFAOOOOOO

2016

“no, that’s so stupid,” she mutters, turning to the boy next to her, hand in the air with a spoon in his mouth. logan looks at her from the corner of his eyes with raised eyebrows and turns to her. “rocky road with extra marshmallows? seriously?”

logan hums and reaches out his bowl towards her along with his spoon. “try it. it’s not bad.”

she furrows her eyebrows and stares at him with skepticism. logan urges her to take the bowl from him and leans back on the arm of the couch behind him. “it’s just so stupid. rocky road already has marshmallows.”

“just try it, fussy eater,” logan scoffs, taking it upon himself to scoop ice cream out for her with a couple extra marshmallows. “trust me. it’s good.”

she hums and hesitantly leans in towards the spoon. she glances at logan. “you’re sure?”

logan nods, lips pursed. “when have i ever disappointed you when it came to food?”

“a couple times,” she mutters, slowly inching in as she maintains her gaze at logan. “american food is not as good as you said it was, logan.”

“eat the ice cream before it gets on the couch!”

she whines and leans in to eat the ice cream. and instantly, it’s like something clicked in her head. who knew that chocolate ice cream with extra marshmallows would taste so good? she grabs logan’s shoulder. “where’s the marshmallows?”

“shelf above the microwave. you like it?” logan raises his eyebrows.

she doesn’t spare him an answer, scrambling off the couch to jog towards the kitchen. as she enters the kitchen, oscar passes the determined girl and tilts his head. “is she okay?”

“she likes the rocky road with marshmallows,” logan mutters with a grin. he pushes himself upright when oscar approaches, hands out to aid oscar with the plates on the coffee table. “what snacks did you prepare?”

“snacks?” oscar snorts. “i made dinner for us. i’m hungry. made pasta.” he wipes his hands on his sweatpants as he turns to the tv. “what are we watching tonight?”

logan huffs. “10 things i hate about you. something about it being valentine’s day she was rambling about.”

oscar shrugs and takes the seat on the other end of the couch. “yeah, okay.”

the girl comes back out, prancing with a bowl of ice cream in her hands. “this ice cream combination is great, logan. i’m stealing it.”

2017

“alright, what are we watching?” oscar hums, dropping himself on the couch, squeezing himself between her and logan. “i made popcorn.”

she groans and shuffles away from oscar, whining as she drags her leg from under his generally larger stature. “i chose he’s just not that into you.”

logan throws his head back with a soft whine and scratches his head. “are you serious? you couldn’t have picked something else?”

“no, we have to watch romcoms movies every valentine’s day. duh?” she rolls her eyes. “it’s the day’s right. it’s literally what the day was made for. ice cream, popcorn and a silly little movie with my 2 stupid friends.”

oscar turns to her, his glare boring holes into her as she bubbles up into a giggle. “keep that up and you’ll be watching the movie by yourself.”

“i’m kidding,” she scoffs with a playful eye roll. she slides down the couch slightly and rests her head on oscar’s arm as logan grabs the tv remote. “do you guys think we’re too single?”

there’s a moment of silence. “what?”

“it’s valentine’s day and we’re in our living room watching a romantic movie,” she mutters, reaching over to grab a handful of popcorn. “we’ll be fine, right? this is healthy.”

logan leans forward to look over at her. “we’re literally just watching a movie, mate.”

“i’m just making sure.”

2018

“i’m here! i’m not late, right?” the door swings open, the young girl’s heels clicking along the floor before the door slams shut behind her. “i’m not late.”

logan, from one side of the couch, looks over to where she’s tearing her heels off. “you’re just in time, actually. we were just about to start.”

“wow, without me?” she frowns, struggling slightly to tear her jacket from her arms. “what are we watching tonight?”

“how to lose a guy in 10 days,” oscar says softly yet monotonously. “i made dinner. it’s on the table. i wasn’t sure if what’s-his-face fed you dinner or not.”

“oh, come on,” she sighs, making a beeline for the couch where her friends are sitting. she stands and towers over them with her hands on her hips. “you’re not seriously still mad, are you? i made it home on time.”

oscar looks up at her. “just sit down. we’re watching a damn movie.”

she looks at logan and throws her arms in the air. “he’s still mad at me, isn’t he? talk to him, logan!”

logan turns his head back to the tv screen and shakes his head. “keep me out of this. i woke up at 4pm today and the only reason i got out of bed was because oscar and i had to get snacks from the store.”

“oscar, don’t stay mad at me!” she looks back at oscar. “i made it home for the valentine’s movie night. you can’t be mad.”

“you almost didn’t make it home in time,” oscar deadpans. “get your dinner and come sit so we can start the movie. i made pasta specifically for you.”

she smiles and walks away. “i knew you wouldn’t stay mad at me for long. you love me too much.”

“just shut up and join us here.”

2019

“i’m home!” oscar shouts, stumbling through the front door only to find the living room empty. he stands up a little straighter and tilts his head. “no one’s home yet. i won.”

the girl pops out of the kitchen, a bowl of popcorn in her hands as she saunters in her pyjamas. “no, you didn’t. i’ve been home all day.”

oscar furrows his eyebrows as he takes his shoes off. “i thought you had a valentine’s date in the afternoon today.”

she presses her lips together and shakes her head, hunching to put the popcorn bowl down on the coffee table. “nope. cancelled.”

she turns back around and heads right for the kitchen. oscar hums in confusion as he walks further into the house. “you didn’t tell us it got cancelled. we could have made it home a little earlier for you.”

“it’s okay,” she laughs, reappearing out with three glasses and a bottle of vodka in her arms. “i spent time with dalton at the park.”

the front door opens again, revealing logan with a heaving chest and head thrown back slightly. he opens his mouth to say something and immediately closes it when he meets oscar’s eyes by the couch. he slumps his shoulders, “oh, you guys are already home.”

“she never even left,” oscar shrugs.

“you didn’t go on your date?” logan repeats in urgency, quickly kicking his shoes off and walking over to her. “why didn’t you call us? we could have come home.”

she furrows her eyebrows. “it’s really not that serious. he cancelled so i went out with dalton.”

logan shakes his head. “you still should have told us earlier instead of now.” he looks at the tv. “what are we watching?”

“easy a!” she grins excitedly. “could you guys get the sprite? i couldn’t reach it — mum’s put it on the top shelf to make sure i couldn’t get a hold of it all day.”

“sure?” logan hums, walking past them. “tell us earlier next time, okay? we could have spent time with you.”

2020

“i’m so glad you could join us this year,” she grins, throwing her head back as the door opens. “lily, i saved you a spot next to me.”

“oh! thank you!” lily grins, immediately leaving oscar at the door and approaches the girl cozied up under a blanket. “we brought popcorn and some wantons you like from that one chinese restaurant.”

“aw, thank you so much!” she squeaks, pouting her bottom lip out. she scrambles from her position on the couch and moves over, patting the spot next to her for lily to occupy. “we’re watching 50 first dates tonight.”

“what? why?” oscar frowns as he closes the door behind him. “did logan choose the movie? he’s been asking to watch that again forever.”

“it’s a fun movie,” she shrugs. “logan’s gone out to get the drinks. i prepared dinner.”

oscar hums. “did you?”

she shakes her head immediately. “blythe prepared dinner. where did you guys go for your date?”

“we went to the amusement park,” lily grins, “he won me a bear.”

“wow, i didn’t realise you were good like that, mate,” she teases, watching as oscar takes his place on the other couch. “was it cute?”

“it is,” lily grins. “what did blythe make for dinner? can i have some?”

“of course. it’s in the kitchen,” she mutters, tapping away on her phone. “made some filipino food for dinner. adobo, i think.”

oscar gets up from the couch. “i love adobo. let me get some.”

the door opens again. “didn’t have mojito mix, so we’re gonna have to make it from scratch. got everything from the grocery, though,” logan announces. “are oscar and lily here? why is there a huge bear sat in your passenger seat? i swear i almost had a heart attack thinking it was either of you.”

“they went to the amusement park for their date earlier,” she answers. “you’re making the mojito, yeah?”

logan makes a sharp turn towards the kitchen. “i wouldn’t trust you to make it, so duh.”

2021

“we’re here!”

oscar drops himself from the couch, leaving lily laid back on it. he scrambles to his feet. “what are you idiots doing here?”

her and logan, now at the dining table, turn to stare at him blankly. “it’s valentine’s day.”

“we agreed that you come over at 7!” oscar glances at the clock. “it’s 6.15!”

the young girl, without looking, shrugs before she pads towards the kitchen of oscar’s new apartment. “logan had the great idea of making dinner instead of ordering in. blythe taught him how to cook this yummy indonesian food — we texted you we were going to be here early, mate.”

“what?” oscar sighs hopelessly, resting on his knees as he reaches for his phone that’s strewn on the carpet. sure enough, there’s a text from her letting him know that they’re on their way to his apartment. “you should have called if i wasn’t texting you, mate.”

logan shrugs. “what are we watching tonight?”

“set it up,” lily finally speaks, flipping herself on the couch to get a look at logan. she smiles, hair disheveled with a small smile. “the one with zoey deutch and glen powell.”

“oh, i love zoey!” she pops out of the kitchen with a wide grin. “i heard that movie’s really good.”

oscar throws his head back with the shake of his head. “seriously. you guys have got to stop barging into our apartment. it’s not fair; we never do that to you.”

“we’ve only done it twice,” logan scowls.

oscar huffs. “we’ve only lived here for 2 weeks.”

“potato, potato,” the girl rolls her eyes. “come on, make dinner before i start making it.”

2022

“for the love of god, logan!” she shrieks, smacking logan on the shoulder lightly. she steps back as she watches the glass shatter upon contact with the ground.

there’s a silence that takes them over before they simultaneously lift their heads to meet eyes.

logan drops his head again. “i’m so sorry.”

“you had one job, mate,” she cries, throwing her head back. “i told you i was going to pour the drink in now!”

“clearly was not paying attention,” logan frowns, lifting his eyes once more. “i’m sorry. i didn’t mean to.”

she sighs before crouching down to pick up the pieces from the ground. “good thing i bought an extra glass.”

“good thing you didn’t listen to me when i asked you to just get 2 since oscar isn’t spending the evening with us,” logan snorts, rolling his eyes. he joins her on the ground and starts picking up the pieces of the broken wine glass. “who’s picking the movie tonight?”

“i picked the movie tonight,” she mutters with a soft sigh. “confessions of a shopaholic.”

“well, it just sucks oscar’s not here with us this year.” logan stands up and looks down at the girl. “stay here. i’ll sweep everything up and we can continue making drinks.”

2023

she lies back down, deadpanning into the camera of her ipad. “i’m actually going to hang up.”

“don’t,” logan scoffs with an eye roll. “i just don’t feel like drinking tonight!”

“how are we supposed to enjoy a stupid, cringe romcom if you’re not drinking? you’re just going to shit on it and be a hater.”

“she’s right,” oscar speaks with a small scowl. “i can’t believe you’re not sticking to tradition, lo.”

logan throws his arms in the air. “my car launch is tomorrow. i literally cannot show up hungover.”

the girl rolls her eyes. “so you’re saying it’s your team’s fault for launching their car the day after valentine’s day, then?”

“i did not even say that!” logan grabs the screen of his laptop. “first day on the job in front of the public — i can’t come in with a headache and looking a mess.”

“says you,” she mutters, shrugging. “what are we watching tonight?”

oscar nods. “i thought you were choosing the movie.”

she tilts her head, slowly shaking it as she tries raking her brain as to when they’d agreed to that. “no, i thought logan was choosing a movie.”

logan raises his eyebrows. “we literally never agreed to that.”

she sighs, eyes closing in frustration. “you’re telling me that we hopped into this call for nothing since nobody’s prepared a movie for us to watch?”

“should we just hang up and get a good night’s sleep then?” logan suggests with a small smile. “we meet in a couple of days anyway in bahrain. surely cupid won’t mind that we skip one valentine’s day, right?”

“how about just at least one episode of something?” she begs, batting her eyelashes. “it’s valentine’s day and we’re not even gonna watch anything at all?”

“fine. but one episode. i have an early day tomorrow.”

2024

“remind me why you’re not with logan again today?” mick lifts an eyebrow as she takes the bouquet of flowers into her hands. “don’t you guys usually spend valentine’s together?”

she purses her lips and grazes over the petals. “are these crocheted flowers? where did you get this at the last minute?” she looks up at him and tilts her head. “and you really didn’t have to get me flowers.”

“are you kidding?” mick snorts. “it’s valentine’s day with the andretti rocky. of course, i have to get her flowers. so… logan?”

“he’s busy,” she shrugs, starting to walk the sidewalks. “so what are we doing today? i was thinking… i saw there’s this mini golf place down the road. do you maybe wanna do that?”

“busy?” mick repeats, picking his feet up to chase her down. “don’t you guys usually do movie night? his shoot bleeds into the evening?”

she shrugs again, glancing at him over the shoulder with a small and polite grin. “literally have got no idea. i didn’t get to ask — just left the airbnb. he wasn’t up when i got out.”

“he wasn’t– is everything okay?” mick rests his elbow on her shoulder as they walk. “mini golf sounds kinda fun. wanna get some food before then?”

“i saw a ‘five guys’ down that road over there yesterday when i was taking a walk. can we get that?” she mutters, pointing ahead at the road.

“sure,” mick glances at her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “but seriously–”

she stops walking and turns, a hand landing on mick’s chest to stop him from walking any further. he comes to a halt and takes a step back, glancing down at the hand against his chest. “what?”

“i don’t know what he’s doing. we just don’t want to spend valentine’s together this year, okay?” she grins. “can we stop talking about logan now? i’ve been thinking of a five guys burger all night.”

mick puts his hands in the air with a small grin. “okay. five guys then mini golf.” they start walking again. “anything in mind for tonight?”

2025

“bub! i’m home!” she peels her heels off and closes the door behind her, dropping her keys in the key dish. “i bought ice cream.”

matt appears from around the corner into her apartment, arms held wide with a spoon in his hand. “you’re home! hi!”

“hi!” she squeaks, resting her hand on his chest, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to her lips. “where’s kidnapper?”

“couch taking a nap,” he announces. “so, um. oscar and logan are coming over tonight.”

she stops halfway towards the couch and tilts her head. “what?”

“something about a valentine’s day tradition where you guys watch romcoms and drink?” he hums with a small grin. “mick and liam are coming too — with girlfriends. it’s a whole thing.”

“oh! we’re having a gathering,” she coos, walking right back to him and follows him into the kitchen. “would be nice to have a heads up before you invited my friends to spend valentine’s day with us, bub. our first one together too.”

matt hums, furrowing his eyebrows with a small grin. he turns back around to what’s in his pan. “it was in the group chat, bub. you know them — i don’t really have a choice when it’s their words against mine. it’s practically a 4 versus 1.”

“i guess you’re right,” she sighs, walking towards where he stands over the stove, wrapping her arms around him from behind and peeks over his body. “i was just so excited to spend my first valentine’s day with you. i didn’t know those losers were going to be intruding on our alone time.”

“we do have plans tomorrow,” he states, his hand resting over her arms resting over his stomach. “cause you know… you had stuff with work all day. it’s okay.”

“yeah, but it’s different,” she frowns. “did they tell you what movie they wanna watch?”

“you’re not going to like the answer,” he mumbles quickly. he turns the stove off before turning around, leaning back on the counter and looks down at her. “you’re going to absolutely try and gouge your eyes out before they arrive.”

she throws her head back with her bottom lip pouted out. “it can’t be that bad.”

he grins. “they wanna watch prom pact.”

she scowls and tears herself off him, taking a step back. “no! those plotting imbeciles!”

“yeah,” he sighs. “i told you you’re not going to like it.”

she presses the back of her hand against her forehead, turning on her heel. she starts to walk away, “isn’t your stupid friend in that movie? the one with the cute dog; super annoying guy?”

“i’m going to ignore that you said that last part.”

“you should. though i think his dog happens to be very cute,” she shrugs. “how long until everyone gets here?”

he glances at the clock, “half hour? 45 minutes?”

she shrugs her jacket off and sighs exasperatedly. “that’s enough time to prepare myself for the horrors of your friend starring in a movie from 2 years ago.”

“anything i can do to help you prepare?” he teases with a small grin, trailing behind her shortly. “cocktail? margarita or mojito? some pepsi?”

she looks over her shoulder, scrunching her nose. “lay with me for a little bit? i think i need a nap before the chaos starts.”

taglist: @wcnorris @treehouse-mouse @laura-naruto-fan1998 @mindless-rock @vellicora @ironmaiden1313 @angsthology @cherry-piee @christianpulisic10 @elliegrey2803 @33-81 @darleneslane @nikfigueiredo @happy-nico @namgification @localwhoore @notawc @sadg3 @kazuha-pista-badam @mellowarcadefun @megatrilss1885 @peqch-pie @woozarts @meadhbhcavanagh @2bormaybenot @a-disturbing-self-reflection @mclarengf @inejismywife @love4lando @louvrepool

[jflemings]

PIPER'S WORLD 🪄

everything can be found under #piper’s world

crossed out fics are wips

✿ fluff, ☆ angst

FICS

the first year

(2018)

— first camp ☆ ✿

ages 1-3

(2019-2021)

— the first night ☆

— a helping hand ☆ ✿

— making the best of it ☆ ✿

ages 4-6

(2022-2024)

— busted ✿

— nightmares ✿

— promise ✿ ▼

— mini ✿ ▼

— lovechild ✿

— the smallest man who ever lived ☆, pt2 ✿ , pt3

— under the bus ✿ ▼ ft sam kerr

— can we always be this close? ✿

— raso’s piper’s ribbons ✿ ▼

— unnamed fic ✿ ft teagan micah

— meerkat mccabe ✿

— future planning ✿

ages 7-9

(2025-2027)

— secret keeper ☆ ✿

— not mine ☆ ✿

— troublesome ✿

ages 10-12

(2028-2030)

FAQ's

break up & pregnancy

piper’s godmother

chaotic tillies camp & meeting jessie

jessie coming into the picture & arsenal and auswnt’s reactions

piper + the acl squad & injured reader

kyra, mini and charli moving to london & free baby sitters

who is piper’s godmother

were jessie’s parents worried?

conversations about baby #2

going to camp with jessie, mother’s day cards & sick reader

HEADCANONS

piper and jessie headcanons

meeting the arsenal girls

more arsenal + piper hcs

meeting the chelsea girls

alanna & piper hcs

first time calling jessie mama

jessie’s jersey

piper’s footballing future

the wedding

niamh and sam’s day

aunties leah, steph and sam

the mirroring phase

saint steph & sam accidentally playing cupid

piper’s birth

piper and the fleming’s

tillies post piper

sister plushies

trimester 2

the arsenal vs chelsea debate

invisible string

permission to marry you

piper’s dating questions

[louisupdates]

WORLDMUSICAWARD: Happy 32nd birthday to the gorgeous, hugely talented chart-topping, record-breaking singer, songwriter, producer & Global Icon #LouisTomlinson, who rose to fame as a member of #OneDirection, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time! Tomlinson contributed more in songwriting to One D than any other band member, with credits on most of the tracks of 'Midnight Memories', 'Four', and 'Made in the A.M.' and on 38 songs across the band's discography, and was the main guy in shifting 1D's music towards a more mature sound...

Louis is a chart-topping Superstar in his own right, and has released 2 studio albums, 10 singles, 10 music videos and 1 promotional single as a solo act, debuting at #1 in the UK with his 2nd studio album 'Faith In The Future' '2022). Louis' early influences are #RobbieWilliams, #TheFray, #GreenDay, and #EdSheeran although his debut album was inspired by #ArcticMonkeys & #Oasis. His solo accolades include an MTV Europe Award for Best UK Act (2017), an iHeartRadio Music Award for Best Solo Breakout (2028) + 3 Teen choice Awards for Choice Music Collaboration for "Just Hold On" (2017), Choice Male Artist (2018) & Choice single Male Artist (2020)! In 2021, Louis founded and curated the indie music festival 'Away From Home' and in 2023, he officially launched his 28 streetwear-inspired unisex clothing line!👏🎂🥳🎁🎉🎈🌟👑🐐🖤

#HappyBirthdayLouis

#LT32

[Twitter 24.12.2023]

[our-happygirl500-fan]

Something I’ve been trying to figure out is a general time frame of when Casey Junior was born 

We know that the start of the movie takes place in the year 2044 (when Leo would be 40 & Mikey would be 39) each season of Rise takes place over the course of one year with season 1 taking place in 2018 & season 2 taking place in 2019 since it’s confirmed that the movie takes place a few months after the end of season two the movie most likely takes place in 2020.

The gives a 24 year age gap between the start of the Krang invasion in 2020 & the start of the movie in 2044 though we aren’t given Casey Junior’s exact age  it can be assumed that he’s at least a teenager so the oldest he could possibly be would be 19 while the youngest he could possibly be would be 13.

For Casey Junior to be a teenager at the time of the movie that would mean that he would have to have been born sometime between 2025 at the earliest & 2031 at the latest

Depending on the year that Casey Junior was born in the Hamato clan would have been in their early 20′s at the earliest or nearing their 30′s at the latest, & though we are never given an official year of birth for Cassandra the same way we were for April & the Turtles it’s said that Cassandra is around April’s age so Cassandra would have become a mother somewhere between the ages of 23-29

A popular head canon I’ve seen is making Casey Junior the same age as Leo (16 years old) to create the affect of Casey Junior suddenly finding himself being the same age as his sensei meaning that it’s possible that Casey Junior could have been born in around 2028.

[penumbramewtwos]

Featuring Grannewt

[TW: slight blood]

1st image: Around her movie 2013 - 2018 2nd image: Around 2028, soon after Okita was taken)

[tajikistan24]

Международные инициативы Таджикистана представлены в Женеве

Международные инициативы Таджикистана представлены в Женеве

ДУШАНБЕ, 14.12.2022 /НИАТ «Ховар»/. На «Саммите эффективного сотрудничества для развития-2022» в Женеве (Швейцарская Конфедерация) представлены международные инициативы Таджикистана, в том числе о Международном десятилетии действий «Вода для устойчивого развития, 2018-2028 годы», об объявлении 2025 года «Международным годом защиты ледников». Об этом сообщает Министерство экономического развития и…