#AP Support Project

[saptutorials]

SAP Project: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Implementation

SAP software (Systems Applications, Systems, and Products) is the enterprise’s Swiss Army knife. It is versatile and powerful, with the ability to revolutionize the way enterprises operate. The catch is that it is not a tool that fits all. This article will go into the realm of SAP projects, concentrating on their many forms, phases, methodologies, and responsibilities, as well as a little SAP…

[yeonjune]

Yeonjun about the strain he felt while preparing for his debut solo project ✙ "GGUM" MAKING FILM

[blackvahana]

i am really never going to understand why people post "shifting antis dni" in the astral projection tag. "here practice that constantly gets appropriated by us and used as a weird justification for a new set of beliefs that aren't really based in the same reality you work with, and that also gets completely misunderstood by our community because we don't care to understand what you do and just pretend we know it's what we do like christians saying other religions worship the christian god, have a post! Also dni if you don't like our practice that has nothing to do with the one whose tag we just shoved this into"

if you're not astral projecting don't put shit in the ap tag. if you don't even know the difference between AP and RS I dont think your opinion holds enough weight to counter the pushback against flooding a separate practice's tag with "if you dont like the practice I'm talking about in your tags dni"

[horsesource]

"You can say that [orangutans] are not dependent on social support and approval, and if you admire this in them, that an orang is irredeemably his own person, 'the most poetic of the apes', researcher Lynn Miles told me once in an unguarded moments. What she had in mind was the difference between orangs and chimps in the way they carry on their discourse with the world.

Chimps are much admired for their tool use and for their problem-solving relationship with things as they find them...the orang is, let us say, not so replete with enterprise. Give an orangutan the hexagonal peg and the several shapes of hole, and then hide behind the two-way mirror and watch how he engages with the problem.

And watch and watch and watch--because he does not engage with the problem. He uses the peg to scratch his back, has a look-see at his right wrist, makes a half-hearted and soon abandoned attempt to use his fur as a macramé project, stares dreamily out the window if there is one and at nothing in particular if not, and the sun begins to set. (The sun will also set if you are observing a chimp, but the chimp is more amusing, so you are less likely to mark the moment in your notes. An orang observer has plenty of time to be a student of the vanities of sunset.)

You watch, and the orang dreams...when casually and as if thinking of something else, the orang slips the hexagonal peg into the hexagonal hole. And continues staring off dreamily."

Vicki Hearne, "The Case of the Disobedient Orangutans"

[weepingfireflies]

People & countries mentioned in the thread:

DR Congo - M23, Cobalt

Darfur, Sudan - International Criminal Court, CNN, BBC (Overview); Twitter Explanation on Sudan

Tigray - Human Rights Watch (Ethnic Cleansing Report)

the Sámi people - IWGIA, Euronews

Hawai'i - IWGIA

Syria - Amnesty International

Kashmir- Amnesty Summary (PDF), Wikipedia (Jammu and Kashmir), Human Rights Watch (2022)

Iran - Human Rights Watch, Morality Police (Mahsa/Jina Amini - Al Jazeera, Wikipedia)

Uyghurs - Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) Q&A, Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, UN Report

Tibetans - SaveTibet.org, United Nations

Yazidi people - Wikipedia, United Nations

West Papua - Free West Papua, Genocide Watch

Yemen - Human Rights Watch (Saudi border guards kill migrants), Carrd

Sri Lanka (Tamils) - Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch

Afghans in Pakistan - Al Jazeera, NPR

Ongoing Edits: more from the notes / me

Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan (Artsakh) - Global Conflict Tracker ("Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict"), Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Watch (Azerbaijan overview), Armenian Food Bank

Baháʼís in Iran - Bahá'í International Community, Amnesty, Wikipedia, Minority Rights Group International

Kafala System in the Middle East - Council on Foreign Relations, Migrant Rights

Rohingya - Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, Al Jazeera, UNICEF

Montagnards (Vietnam Highlands) - World Without Genocide, Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO), VOA News

Ukraine - Human Rights Watch (April 2022), Support Ukraine Now (SUN), Ukraine Website, Schools & Education (HRW), Dnieper River advancement (Nov. 15, 2023 - Ap News)

Reblogs with Links / From Others

Indigenous Ppl of Canada, Cambodia, Mexico, Colombia

Libya

Armenia Reblog 1, Armenia Reblog 2

Armenia, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Indigenous Americans, Black ppl (US)

Rohingya (Myanmar)

More Hawai'i Links from @sageisnazty - Ka Lahui Hawaii, Nation of Hawai'i on Soverignty, Rejected Apology Resolution

From @rodeodeparis: Assyrian Policy Institute, Free Yezidi

From @is-this-a-cool-url: North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)

From @dougielombax & compiled by @azhdakha: Assyrians & Yazidis

West Sahara conflict

Last Updated: Feb. 19th, 2024 (If I missed smth before this, feel free to @ me to add it)

[stellarsecrets86]

Random Synastry Observations

Grab Your Valentine's Astro Reading -Here

1. Venus conjunct Mars lights the fire for hot attraction and passion.

Example: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

2. Mercury trine Uranus brings up peculiar ideas and stimulates conversation between two people.

Example: Probably shared between Elon Musk and Grimes to account for such an unconventional collaboration.

3. Moon square Saturn can make them emotionally cold or feel the relationship as a responsibility.

Example: Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

4. Mars opposite Pluto - Power struggles, intense chemistry.

Example: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

5. Venus trine Jupiter brings joy, generosity, and expansion in love at early stage of relationship.

Example: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.

6. Mercury conjunct Venus brings beautiful, harmonious communication.

Example: Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

7. Saturn conjunct Sun-One person acts as a guide or mentor for the other.

Example: Steve Jobs and Tim Cook.

8. Mars square Moon brings emotional frustration and passion collides.

Example: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian had intense emotional ups and downs.

9. Pluto trine Venus is a fated love which brings transformation.

Example: Beyoncé and Jay-Z

10. Jupiter square Mercury,Exaggerative or overly optimistic communication-the politicians like Donald Trump and his cohorts could be a good example.

11. Neptune conjunct Venus, an idealistic romance-these people are susceptible to illusions; for instance, the dreamy, complicated relationship of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

12. Moon trine Mars, Emotional harmony with passionate action.

Example: Serena and Venus Williams.

13. Uranus square Sun-Excitement but instability.

Example: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth.

14. Mars trine Jupiter- Big projects need collaborative energy.

Example: Serena Williams and her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

15. Mercury opposite Pluto brings intense and probing conversations. Investigative journalists or courtroom rivalries are often made of this aspect.

16. Venus sextile Neptune, Creative, romantic lovers .

17. Mars conjunct Saturn-Relationship Dynamic - Ambitious, frustrating.

Example: Thomas Edison versus Nikola Tesla's competitive professional relationship.

18. Pluto opposition Mercury can built a collaboration of power through communication.

19. Moon conjunct Uranus, Life is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Example: Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.

20. Saturn square Venus, love is restricted or delayed and painful.

21. Sun trine Neptune - inspirational to each other, spiritual connection.

22. Dynamic between two people is very energized with sharp conversations if they have Mars sextile Mercury in their synastry.

Example: Comedy duos Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

23. Pluto sextile Venus makes a partnership transformational, a love that fosters growth.

Example: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

24. Venus square Moon - There can be a clash between emotional needs and how one expresses their romantic self.

Example: The famous Princess Diana and Prince Charles couple.

25. Mercury trine Saturn, Communication is practical, realistic, and constructive with this aspect.

Example: Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger's decades-long business partnership.

26. Moon opposite Pluto makes two people emotionally intense & vulnerable in relationship.

Example: Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.

27. If someone's Sun sextile other person’s Jupiter, it is an expansive, optimistic partnership. They are very supportive of each other.

Example: Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

28. Uranus conjunct Mars brings sudden sparks of action or attraction and instant chemistry between 2 people.

Example: Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson.

29. Venus square Neptune makes romantic illusions or unfulfilled ideals between two people. Both of the people see this relationship in rose tinted glass. This is a very dreamy yet short-lived relationship.

Example: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.

30. Saturn trine Moon in synastry brings emotional support and stability in relationship. In the couples chart, this aspect makes the relationship very grounded and long lasting

Example: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

✨🐝

[sorsaky]

Mae x Noa → The Night We Met |Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes| MV

You are stronger and smarter than you think

Yay, finally a new Nomae (Noa x Mae) video! This time I tried editing with CapCut. It's just a simple edit since I'm still learning, but I thought it was still worth uploading the video, even if it's not the best. I also have other projects I'm working on with Sony Vegas, haha! Unfortunately, there are a few typos in the lyrics because I made the edit in the middle of the night and was super tired.

If you support this ship, you can also join our Discord server! :) Server: https://discord.gg/rezH7fFrKb

Just to clarify, I don't support bestiality or zoophilia in real life. This edit is purely for fun and creative expression, celebrating the fantasy world these characters belong to. Shipping fictional characters is a common and enjoyable part of fandoms, and if it's acceptable for movies like "Beauty and the Beast," then it's also fine for Noa x Mae!

Program: CapCut Song: Lord Huron - The Night We Met https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlgYxa6BMU Time Taken: 1 day Media: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdr5oedn7q8

planetoftheapes #kingdomoftheplanetoftheapes #noaxmae #nomae #beautyandthebeast

You can contact me here:

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sorsaky/

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

[saintagron]

Hello! Do u have any modern cait headcanons?

hello ! modern!caitlyn headcanons.

this was a welcome reprise after my ap lang mock exam thank yew <3 cw. age gaps referenced sparingly (older!reader), implied sex, first time together, drunk sex (you're both equally tipsy), just a bunch of cobbled together concepts okay let's go!!

✶. oh frazzled city girl you are so special to me. she's set up in manhattan with a street-view apartment, large enough to hold a master suite and a guest bedroom and a little hideaway bathroom without even encroaching on the joined living room + kitchen. all paid for, of course, mommy's credit card automatically set to send out rent the first of every month.

✶. you wouldn't know that though—not with the way she runs around like she's a missed paycheck away from homelessness. perhaps you're a ceo and you've seen men with families to support lazing around on your dime for long enough that her productivity is refreshing. or perhaps you're her coworker, finally having someone competent to do projects with. or maybe the barista she gets morning coffee from, or the girl at the bodega where she gets her breakfast... so many possibilities.

✶. absolutely enthralled by gay clubs and lesbian bars. you ever seen but i'm a cheerleader? she's megan walking into the cocksucker the first time she slips into the club, id clenched in hand and so grateful that her sharp cheekbones make her look old enough that she doesn't get carded at the bar. (cait who can hold her liquor annoyingly well... she's totally obnoxious about it too.)

✶. thinking about meeting her there, buying her a drink and cooing are you sure you're old enough to be here? just to watch her cheeks flush ruddy. (i don't think she'd have alcohol flush syndrome.. but it would be fun teasing her about it.) or maybe it's your first time at the club as well, and you huddle up in a corner booth and giggle at the drunken dancers, getting progressively tipsier before she eventually propositions you.

("so.. how about my place?" she's significantly less subtle when she's drunk—there's no sly grin on her face or soft coaxing. but it's irritatingly charming, and you're tipsy, so you'll give her a pass. "you're so drunk." you laugh, giggling against her jaw. why you're smushed into the center of the booth when there's four feet of space on either side of you is unclear. but you're both very, very tipsy, and it's hot enough in here that sitting next to each other isn't a bother. "so are you." she accuses, and then falls back into her pleas. "come home with me." "very romantic, cait." "is that a yes?" "...whatever, yeah.")

✶. very giggly, very soft first time—because you're drunk and she's drunk and she won't stop waxing poetically about how pretty you are or about how your arms or stomach or thighs look so beautiful contrasting against her navy sheets. know she's sucking bruises purple and blue onto your skin (working extra hard if you're dark-skinned and they don't show up as well...) and getting so embarrassed about it in the morning. yup yes yay!

✶. and if i say she's addicted to candy crush... needs reading glasses but usually wears contacts. so in the morning she looks so scrumptious with the frames perched low on her nose but delicious! and tasty! are coming out of her phone's tinny speakers. smacking her blindly when it's too early and you're still buried in your pillow, telling her to turn that shit down.

✶. she's absolutely the type of girl that people take videos and pictures of on the subway. tall, with a perfect ponytail and a killer outfit. goes viral every time and becomes a little bit of an internet phenomenon.. she starts an instagram to post random shit like her paper target after she's done at the shooting range (almost perfect, of course) or the sunset from your apartment and she's just flooded with followers. ends up turning off her comments because of it.

✶. from the way she dresses, where she comes from, and where she lives, you would expect her to be another sheltered brat—stuck in manhattan without even growing up there—but she takes you to the most obscure places. a peruvian place in harlem, a hole in the wall sushi place whose owners know her by name... she's got restaurants upon restaurants to take you to. (she only knows so many places because she cannot cook for herself and ate out almost every night before meeting you... don't tell her you know!)

[probablyasocialecologist]

“The Israeli military has a history of attacks on media structures,” Carlos Martinez de la Serna explained. In May 2021, a tower housing the Qatari media organization Al Jazeera and the American news agency The Associated Press (AP) was destroyed by three missiles, on the basis, the Israeli military claimed, of an imminent threat posed by Hamas’s presence in the building. When questioned publicly, Israel provided no evidence to support this claim. Since October 7, 2023, the phenomenon has taken on unprecedented proportions. In response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli soil, the Israeli military has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip, a 365-square-kilometer territory barely larger than Malta. News coverage in the Gaza Strip has become extremely limited. “When you look at the conflicts around the world … you would usually have the international media on the ground,” said Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. “None of them have been allowed access. Or they’re embedded within the IDF.” Only Gazan journalists can report on what is happening in the Gaza Strip. They struggle daily to survive and find places to take refuge. In many cases, their places of work no longer exist. According to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), around 70 press organizations, including local radio stations, news agencies, transmission towers, and journalist training institutes, have been partially or completely destroyed since the start of the war. Forbidden Stories has carried out this investigation in collaboration with AFP, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, Le Monde, Paper Trail Media and other international media outlets as part of the Gaza Project. Supported by the analyses of experts in ballistics and audio, it illustrates one of the many strategies used by the Israeli military to stifle information in Gaza: the destruction of press infrastructure.

25 June 2024

[nv-alexander]

About the election:

There was record voter turnout and record numbers of first time voters. This includes early voting.

It can take weeks to count all the ballots including mail-ins and absentees. There is no way the ballots were done being counted enough to call

AP called the race 8 hours after polls closed on the east coast. At the time the race was called, several states had only counted 40-85% of their ESTIMATED votes. AP says right under the election map that their results are based on demographic and statistical analysis of voting patterns in a district, not actual counts.

At the time the race was called, trump had only actually secured about 181 electoral votes. Kamala had secured 224. AP projected trump to win nearly 100 electoral votes he did not actually have at the time the race was called.

Thousands of ballots were thrown out for "signature verification" and over the past year, states have had court cases surrounding where polling places can be (my county shut refused to put in polling places for an entire town). Court cases surrounding legitimacy of absentee votes.

Polling places were shut down for hours at a time because of bomb threats or "technical issues" and the ones in PA opened back up after buses stopped running.

Several states refused federal oversight. Federal oversight of elections is standard practice. There was tampering with ballot boxes.

People have set fire to ballot drop boxes over the past few weeks.

AP called the election while results from many states--swing states specifically--were well within the margin of error, showing a less than 3% lead.

PA voters are currently getting emails saying their ballots were not counted.

Kamala would be the first democratic candidate this century to lose the popular vote. And by 6 million? High voter turnout generally goes in democrats favor. 3rd party votes were not enough to significantly split the vote.

Trump has said in no uncertain terms that he is a dictator and planned to take the election. He said it would be the last election the USA would have.

The Harris campaign rallies were absolutely packed. People were walking out of trumps rallies.

Tens of thousands of white men held phone banks for the harris campaign multiple times. Harris had strong social and political support. Fox News anchors even came to her defense multiple times.

There was confirmed Russian interference in the last 2 presidential elections.

Elon musk was buying votes.

Please, tell me how this whole thing is not suspicious as fuck.

Whitehouse.gov/contact/

Send an email to the president about election security, point out fishy shit, and demand an investigation

[saywhat-politics]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt.

The order threatened a quick halt to many of the billions of dollars in U.S.-funded projects globally to support health, education, development, job training, anti-corruption, security assistance and other efforts.

The U.S. provides more foreign aid globally than any other country, budgeting about $60 billion in 2023, or about 1% of the U.S. budget.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order, delivered in a cable sent to U.S. embassies worldwide, specifically exempted emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in warring Sudan.

The cable spells out the execution of the aid-freezing executive order President Donald Trump signed on Monday.

[crimson-mage-02]

Here is the last chapter of Fates Entwined By The Stars!! Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do! It's been an amazing ride, and thank you for all your support and love! ❤️❤️🙏🙏

[lupinqs]

CHAPTER SEVEN ━━ Break In, Break Up, Break Out

☆ ━ pairing: hopkins!paige x oc (dani callan)

☆ ━ word count: 6.9K

☆ ━ warnings: slight mention of conversion therapy, usage of “gayness” in a derogatory way, hella religious guilt

☆ ━ links: my masterlist, take me to church masterlist

☆ ━ author’s note: nothing, just enjoy!

PAIGE HASN’T seen Dani since what happened in the darkroom, on Friday. She doesn’t blame her, though. Dani’s been through hell—months of suppressing herself, living in fear of being who she is, and all under the roof of the man who had sent her to fucking conversion therapy of all places. Paige has felt the weight of that knowledge settle in her chest like a stone all weekend. But she knows better than to push Dani for anything more, not now. Dani needs space, time to figure out her next steps, and Paige is willing to give her all the time in the world—especially now that she knows why.

Still, it doesn’t stop her from worrying. Every time she thinks about Dani living under the same roof as her dad, the man who tried to change her, a sick feeling twists in her stomach. She hasn’t said anything about it yet, though—she doesn’t know if she plans to. She just doesn’t want to overwhelm Dani, not when they’re barely starting to reconnect.

It’s Monday morning now, and Paige is rushing to AP Lit—her first period that has been the victim of her tardiness recently. She steps into the classroom just as the bell rings, thankful that she’s just on time. Mrs. Donovan is already at the front of the room, writing something on the board about their next project. Paige’s eyes automatically drift to the familiar spot in front of her—Dani’s seat.

And there she is.

Dani sits at her desk, brown hair falling over her shoulders, her fingers drumming lightly on the surface as if she might be lost in thought. When Paige walks past her to take her own seat behind her like always, their eyes meet.

Dani’s lips curve into a small, tentative smile. It’s barely more than a flicker, but to Paige, it feels like a flash of sunlight breaking through the clouds. Her heart leaps in her chest, racing far faster than it should for something so simple, but after weeks—months, really—of being ignored by Dani, even the smallest gesture feels like a lifeline.

Paige smiles back, hoping Dani can feel just how much that small connection means to her.

She sits down, her pulse still thrumming in her ears, trying to focus as Mrs. Donovan begins explaining the project. Paige glances at the back of Dani’s head, her mind reeling, though she quickly snaps her attention to the teacher. They’ve been reading The Great Gatsby for the past few weeks, and now it’s time to wrap up the unit with their final project.

“Alright, class,” Mrs. Donovan begins as she turns to face them, “for this project, I’m going to be assigning you partners. Together, you’ll create a poster analyzing one of the central themes or symbols from Gatsby.”

Paige’s gaze wanders back to Dani’s profile as Mrs. Donovan speaks. Her mind drifts to the book they’ve been studying—for once, she didn’t hate it. She actually read the whole thing instead of reading the chapter summaries on SparkNotes. Maybe it’s because those stupid themes of longing, desire, and unattainable dreams all feels eerily close to home. Maybe not. She swallows, wondering if Dani has ever thought of it that way. She wonders if she sees their relationship—whatever this is now—as an unreachable dream, just like Gatsby’s vision of Daisy.

“As you know,” Mrs. Donovan continues, “The Great Gatsby is filled with themes of illusion and reality, the corruption of the American Dream, and the idea of trying to recapture a lost past. I want you and your partner to explore one of these ideas in depth, using specific scenes from the novel to support your argument. Your poster should clearly show how your chosen theme or symbol is reflected in the text, and, if you want to, you can even make connections to modern-day issues or personal reflections.”

Paige’s heart thuds in her chest. Mrs. Donovan’s words echo in her head—illusion and reality, the corruption of dreams, trying to recapture a lost past. Maybe she’s been thinking too hard—she’s been doing that a lot lately—but the parallels to her situation with Dani are almost painfully obvious. Everything between them feels like chasing something that’s just out of reach, something real but constantly slipping through their fingers.

Mrs. Donovan scans the room, looking down at her list of names. “Okay, partners are as follows… Noa and Lucy… Sam and Katie… Paige and Dani…”

Paige feels her breath catch in her throat. Of course. Of course, she and Dani are partners. It’s not a bad thing—it’s just… a little more nerve-racking than it would have been a few months back. She can feel her pulse quicken again as she glances at Dani, who turns her head just slightly, catching Paige’s eye with a soft gaze. There’s a hint of something unspoken there, a flicker of uncertainty mixed with… something else. Paige can’t quite place it.

“Once you know who your partner is, you can spend the rest of class working on your analysis,” Mrs. Donovan says, gesturing to the students.

Paige gathers her things and shifts to the empty desk next to Dani, her nerves buzzing under her skin. Dani glances at her with that same tentative smile, and Paige swears her cheeks are tinged with the faintest blush.

“So, uh…” Dani starts, her voice quieter than usual. “Which theme do you think we should focus on?”

Paige considers for a moment, her mind running through everything they’ve studied in the book. Lost dreams, unattainable desires, illusions. But there’s one that sticks out more than the rest. “What about… the idea of finding and taking back a lost past? You know, like how Gatsby’s obsessed with recreating what he had with Daisy?”

Dani’s eyes flicker with something—understanding, maybe?—and she nods. “Yeah, that could work. He spends the whole book trying to hold onto something that’s already gone, even though it’s never gonna be the same.”

Paige’s heart twists a little at the truth of those words. Is that that not what she’s been doing with Dani? Hoping to get back what they had before, even though so much has changed?

Dani continues, her voice a little more confident now that they’ve settled on a theme. “We could talk about the green light too, right? How it symbolizes Gatsby’s hope, but also how it’s just this unattainable thing that he’ll never really have. We could connect that with the idea of longing for something that’s already out of reach.”

Paige nods, her throat tightening. “Yeah, that’s good. The green light.” She pauses, her eyes drifting down to the notebook in front of her. “It’s like he’s always reaching for somethin’ that’s just… too far away.”

Their conversation flows more easily after that, though there’s an almost shyness between them that’s never been there before. Both of them are careful, cautious, as if the slightest misstep might break whatever fragile thing has started to grow between them again. But there are moments—brief, fleeting—where Paige feels the old connection, the spark that’s always been there. The accidental brushes of their hands as they pass each other the notebook, the tiny smiles exchanged when they find something they both agree on—it’s enough to make Paige’s heart race in a way that feels all too familiar.

As they work, Paige can’t help but steal glances at Dani, the way her brows furrow when she’s concentrating, the way her lips quirk into a soft smile when they find a particularly insightful analysis. It’s like seeing a version of Dani she hasn’t in so long—open, thoughtful, the girl Paige has always known (and loved).

When the bell rings, the sound startled both of them out of their quiet focus. Paige looks up, blinking in surprise as the reality of the time hits her. “We’re definitely not going to finish this in class,” she says, a little breathless.

Dani laughs softly, and it’s like a balm to Paige’s soul. “Yeah, I didn’t think we would.”

Paige hesitates for a moment, her mind racing with possibilities. She knows Dani’s still working through everything, not wanting to get too close again especially so soon, but maybe this is Paige’s chance to spend time with her again. “Do you want to… maybe come over to my house later? I have practice, but we could work on it after?”

Dani blinks, surprised. Paige watches the hesitation, the uncertainty flick across her face as her mouth opens and closes, searching for an answer. Paige can guess why—Dani’s scared. And Paige is about to think that Dani’s going to refuse, but then the brunette nods slowly, her lips curving into another small smile. “Yeah… I’d like that.”

Paige’s heart flutters, and she can’t help the wide grin that spreads across her face. “Great. I’ll text when you come over, okay?”

“Okay,” Dani replies, her voice soft, but there’s something in her eyes—a warmth, a glimmer—that makes Paige feel like things might finally be starting to fall into place again.

DANI’S HEART pounds, her stomach in knots as she paces back and forth in her bedroom. The sun is dipped low, casting the room in the kind of dim light that makes everything feel heavier than it is. Any minute now, Paige will text her to come over so they can finish their Lit project. She tries to tell herself it isn’t a big deal—just schoolwork, nothing more. It certainly isn’t a date. It isn’t even really two friends hanging out. It’s just schoolwork. Strictly to finish their assignment.

So why does she feel like her stomach is in knots? She’s been to Paige’s house a billion times over the years. Just because it’s been a few months doesn’t mean anything’s changed, right?

But it has changed. It’s all changed.

She runs a hand through her hair, her fingers shaking. Maybe she should cancel. Paige won’t hold it against her, right? She can just make up an excuse, say something came up. Lie. She can lie and stay in her room, burying herself in the Bible that sits on her bookshelf, pretending like she isn’t still thinking about Paige all the time, in that way. Pretending that her heart isn’t tearing itself apart.

Dani lets out a shaky breath and stops pacing, her hand drifting up to the cross necklace around her neck. The cool metal feels grounding in a way, like it’s tethering her to something larger than herself. Her father always says that God will give her strength, that if she prays enough, follows the rules, and sticks to the path, things will work out.

But the path feels so blurry now. What does strength even mean when every day feels like a battle inside her own head?

Her eyes drift to the crucifix on her wall, then once more to the Bible resting on the shelf. God doesn’t approve, she thinks, the words like a drumbeat in her mind. It isn’t just God either. She knows how her dad feels. She’s known from the moment he sent her to camp, from the moment he handed her over to people who told her she could be “fixed.”

But how can she be fixed when she isn’t even sure what’s broken?

Paige isn’t the problem. That much Dani knows. Paige has never been the problem, no matter how much the counselors or Dani’s father told her she was. It’s Dani that’s the problem. It’s her mind, her heart, her inability to let go of everything her father has drilled into her for years. She’s tried to be who he wants her to be. She’s tried to be the perfect daughter, the good Catholic girl who follows all the rules.

But nothing feels right anymore. Not when she’s spent an entire five months being torn apart from the inside out. Not when she can’t even look at herself in the mirror without feeling a deep sense of guilt she can’t shake.

She tugs on the cross hanging from her neck, feeling the familiar weight pressing against her chest. This is wrong, she tells herself again, but the words feel empty. It’s the words that feel wrong now, not everything else.

Because if it’s so wrong, why does it feel so right when Paige smiles at her? Why does her heart race whenever Paige looks at her like she’s the only person in the room? And why, despite everything, does she still want to go over there tonight? And maybe every other night?

Dani’s stomach churns as she glances at her phone, wondering if Paige is even going to text her at all. Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe it’s a bad idea to work together at all. They aren’t the same people they used to be, and things aren’t just going to magically fall back into place because of a stupid project.

She wants to cancel, she really does. It’s too confusing, too much to handle. But then what? She’ll sit here in her room, staring at the cross, thinking about Paige and how impossible it is to be near her but even more impossible to be without her. It’s a torturous cycle Dani can’t escape, no matter how much she prays or how hard she tries to push the thoughts away.

God doesn’t approve. The words echo again, louder this time. Dani’s fingers tighten around the necklace, her breath shallow as she stands in the middle of her room, paralyzed by indecision. She knows what her father would say. He would tell her to cancel, to stay away from Paige, to keep herself on the “right path.”

But what if she doesn’t want to stay on that path anymore?

What if she doesn’t even know where it leads?

Before she can spiral any further, a soft thud against her window pulls her from her thoughts. And then another. Dani blinks, startled, her heart jumping in her chest. She frowns, walking over to the window and pulling back the curtain. Her eyes widen in surprise when she looks down to see Paige standing in the yard, tossing tiny pebbles up at her window.

Paige grins up at her, looking a little sheepish but undeniably amused with herself. Her hair is damp and wavy, falling loose around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a Hopkins basketball long-sleeve with grey sweatpants—clearly fresh from practice and a shower. The sight of her makes Dani’s stomach flip. Dani digs a nail into her palm for the way her brain immediately dings with the thought of how good Paige looks.

“What are you doing?” Dani calls out, incredulous, though she can’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Paige shrugs, her grin widening. “Sorry about the rocks,” she says, a bit bashfully. “But, uh, you still have my number blocked. And my Snap. And my Instagram. And I didn’t want to knock on your door. Figured your dad probably wouldn’t love seeing me on the Ring camera.”

Dani’s stomach flips at the mention of her dad. She feels a wave of guilt, her mind instantly jumping to what he’d say if he knew Paige was outside her window. But at the same time, Paige’s grin is so disarming, so warm, that it makes everything else seem a little less suffocating.

Paige gestures to her house, right, next door, and flashes that same lopsided smile that makes Dani’s chest ache. “You can come over whenever now.”

Dani stands frozen at the window, her thoughts warring with each other, but before she can stop herself, she calls back, “Yeah, okay, I’ll be down in a sec.”

She closes the window, her heart racing as she grabs her things and heads downstairs, her fingers brushing against the cross necklace one last time before she opens the door to meet Paige outside.

They don’t say much as they start walking next door to Paige’s house. It isn’t a long walk—barely thirty seconds, given how their houses stand so close together. Yet, every step feels like it’s taking Dani deeper into a situation she isn’t ready to face.

Paige’s shoulder brushes against hers as they walk, sending a jolt of electricity down Dani’s spine. She stiffens, her heart skipping a beat. For a split second, she wants to lean into Paige’s warmth, to let that connection stay, to give into that sense of closeness she hasn’t let herself feel in months. But just as quickly, the urge to pull away surges inside her. Every alarm in her head screams at her to keep her distance, to remember what’s at stake, to remember how wrong it all is.

But Dani does neither. She doesn’t lean into Paige, nor does she pull away. She just keeps walking, her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her as they make their way up the driveway to Paige’s front door.

When they step inside, the warm glow of the house envelopes them, and Dani immediately hears the sounds of a football game coming from the living room. Paige’s dad, Bob, lounges on the couch, eyes glued to the TV. The moment the door closes behind them, though, he turns his head, clearly expecting to see Paige alone.

When his gaze lands on Dani standing beside her, a flicker of surprise crosses his face. Dani’s stomach tightens as she sees the confusion in his eyes, realizing how strange it must be for him to see her here after months of silence. She hasn’t exactly made it easy on Paige, and by extension, on him either. But just as quickly as the confusion appears, it fades into a warm grin.

“Well, look who it is!” Bob exclaims, his voice full of the same kindness that’s always made Dani feel like she belongs here with the Bueckers. “Dani Callan! I thought you forgot where we lived. How you been?” His teasing tone holds no bitterness, only affection, and Dani feels a knot she hadn’t even realized was there loosen in her chest.

“Hi, Bob,” Dani replies, managing a smile. “I’ve been, um… I’ve been good. How’re you?”

“Good, good,” Bob nods, sitting up a bit straighter. “It’s been a while, huh? You girls getting some schoolwork done tonight?”

“Yeah, we’ve got a project due soon,” Dani answers, her voice steady, but the warmth in her chest remains. Bob has always been easy to talk to, the kind of dad who seems to genuinely care about what’s going on in his daughter and her friends’ lives. Unlike Dani’s own father, who’s much more reserved and strict, and has no room for anyone who doesn’t fit the mold he wants. For years, Bob has been like a second father to her, always offering an easy smile, a playful joke, and the kind of acceptance she craves so desperately at home.

It feels strange to stand here now, knowing how much she’s pulled away from all of it. But seeing that he doesn’t hate her for it—doesn’t even seem mad—is a small comfort. He’s still the same Bob, welcoming her back like no time has passed at all.

Before she can get too caught up in the moment, she feels a gentle pressure on her back. Paige’s hand is there, pushing her ever so slightly towards the stairs. “Alright, Dad, we gotta lock in,” Paige says, her voice casual, but Dani can feel the spark from Paige’s touch traveling through her body like a current.

Dani’s breath catches for a moment, her senses heightening from the simple contact. The warmth of Paige’s hand lingers long after it’s left her back, and she finds herself biting her lip, trying to control the whirlwind of emotions it stirs up inside her.

As she steps away from the living room, Dani catches Bob sending Paige a curious, almost quizzical look, like he’s trying to piece something together. She isn’t sure what it meant, but Paige’s sharp glare and the quick shake of her head that follows makes it clear that Paige doesn’t want to discuss whatever is running through her dad’s mind.

Dani respectfully pretends not to notice, keeping her gaze straight ahead as they climb the stairs to Paige’s room. She doesn’t ask what the silent exchange was about, doesn’t press for any explanation. Instead, she focuses on the task at hand—the project they’re supposed to be working on.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Dani tries to calm the storm of feelings swirling inside her. It isn’t easy, not when Paige is this close, not when the past few months of distance between them suddenly feels like they’re collapsing in on themselves. But Dani does her best, forcing herself to focus on what is important.

They’re just here to work. Nothing more. Or at least, that’s what she needs to keep telling herself.

When Dani reaches Paige’s room, she hesitates for a second in the doorway before stepping inside. It hasn’t changed much in the months since Dani last saw it. The bed, with its white comforter and a few basketball jerseys thrown haphazardly over the footboard, takes up most of the space. A desk, cluttered with textbooks, a laptop, and some old Gatorade bottles, is tucked in the corner. Posters of basketball players—Maya Moore, Sue Bird, Kobe Bryant—still line the walls, and there’s a worn basketball resting on the windowsill, sunlight catching its faded leather.

Paige drops her backpack near the desk and gestures to the bed. “We can work here. More room to spread everything out,” she says casually, already pulling out the materials for their project. She’s moving around the room with ease, like nothing’s out of the ordinary, like the weight of everything between them isn’t bearing down on them both.

Dani, on the other hand, feels like she’s walking on eggshells. She crosses the room slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands tightening around the straps of her backpack before she lets it fall to the floor. She watches as Paige plops down on the bed, leaning back against the headboard, stretching her long legs out across the mattress.

For a brief moment, Dani can’t help but notice how comfortable Paige looks, her confidence and ease. She’s always had that about her—this effortless way of taking up space, like she belongs everywhere she goes. It’s one of the things Dani’s always admired about her.

“Okay, so I was thinking we could start with this quote,” Paige says, breaking Dani’s thoughts as she leans forward, flipping through The Great Gatsby. “I think it connects to the main theme pretty well, and it’s, like, kinda poetic, right? Teachers eat that shit up.”

Dani chuckles softly, more to ease her own nerves than anything else. “Yeah, they do. But if you’re gonna try to sell this as poetic, I’m the one doing the writing. Your handwriting is tragic, Paige.”

Paige looks up, mock-offended. “Hey! It’s not that bad.”

Dani raises an eyebrow, fighting back a smirk. “Drew is seven, and I think his is better than yours.”

Paige’s shakes her head, face breaking into a grin, and she tosses a balled-up sock at Dani. “You’re so mean.”

Dani laughs as she dodges the sock, some of the tension loosening in her chest. The teasing feels like old times—like before everything got so complicated. It’s easy, comfortable, and for a second, Dani lets herself enjoy it.

They settle into the work, spreading the poster board out on the bed between them. Dani takes the Sharpie, naturally assuming the role of the one in charge of writing, while Paige flips through their book, looking for quotes and points to add.

For a while, it feels almost normal. Paige is talking, rambling about how stupid it is Mrs. Donovan is for assigning such a tedious project on top of all their other assignments, and Dani merely listens, her focus split between writing and keeping herself from staring too long at Paige. But as they fall into a rhythm, Dani becomes aware of how close Paige is sitting, their knees brushing occasionally, Paige’s arm resting against hers as she points out things to add to the poster.

And then, Dani feels it—Paige’s breath, warm against the side of her face. She’s leaning in, watching Dani write something down, her face hovering close, too close. Dani’s heart skips a beat, her hand faltering for a split second before she forces herself to keep writing. But it’s hard—so fucking hard—because all she can think about is how close Paige is, how their proximity makes her skin tingle, how she’s suddenly hyper-aware of every movement, every shift in the air between them.

Paige doesn’t seem to notice—at least, not at first. She’s just watching Dani’s hand move across the poster board, her focus seemingly on the project. But then, Dani turns her head just slightly, feeling the heat of Paige’s breath on her cheek, and she makes the mistake of meeting Paige’s eyes.

Everything stops.

For a moment, it feels like time freezes, and all Dani can see is Paige—those bright blue eyes, intense and unwavering, locked onto hers. Dani’s heart races, pounding so hard she’s sure Paige can hear it. And then, Paige’s gaze flickers, dropping down to Dani’s lips, and Dani feels her stomach twist painfully, every nerve in her body screaming at her to just do it. To close the gap, to kiss her, to finally stop pretending.

But she can’t.

She can’t.

Dani’s head is spinning, the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once. Her body wants to lean in, to give in to the pull between them, but her mind—her mind is a storm of guilt, of shame, of fear.

It’s wrong.

It’s all wrong.

So she pulls away, turning her head sharply and forcing her gaze back down to the poster, her hand gripping the Sharpie so tightly it hurts. Her heart is still racing, her body still trembling with the aftermath of what almost happened. But she forces herself to focus, to breathe, to keep going as if nothing had just passed between them.

She hears Paige let out a long, quiet breath beside her, and then, softly, “I’m sorry.”

The words hang in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Dani feels them settle deep in her chest, a mix of relief and regret swirling together in a confusing mess of emotions. Paige’s apology is genuine—Dani can hear it in her voice—but it only makes things harder. Because the truth is, Dani isn’t sorry at all.

She’s only sorry that she pulled away.

And that’s the worst part.

Dani doesn’t look up. She doesn’t trust herself to. Instead, she murmurs, “It’s okay,” though she knows it’s not. Nothing about this is okay. But what else can she say?

They fall back into an uneasy silence after that, the weight of what almost happened still thick in the air. Dani focuses on finishing the poster, her hand moving mechanically, trying to pretend like her mind isn’t still reeling. Paige, for her part, stays quiet too, though Dani can feel her shifting beside her, can sense the tension in her body.

Finally, when the poster is nearly complete, Paige clears her throat, breaking the silence. “You, uh… you coming to the game tomorrow?” she asks, her voice casual, like she’s trying to lighten the mood.

Dani blinks, the sudden question catching her off guard. “The game?”

“Yeah. Season opener for both the boys’ and girls’ teams,” Paige says, her tone a little brighter now. “I thought you knew.”

Dani shakes her head, feeling a bit dazed. “No, I didn’t know.”

Paige gasps dramatically, her eyes widening in mock horror. “Dani! How could you not know? This is, like, the most important night of the school year so far!”

Dani can’t help but smile a little, despite herself. “I guess I’ve been… distracted.”

“Well, now you know,” Paige says, grinning at her. “And you have to come. Everyone’s going to be there, and you’ll get to watch me hoop. And, y’know, dominate.”

Dani rolls her eyes, but the playful banter eases some of the tension that’s been hanging between them. “Maybe,” she says, her tone noncommittal, though she’s already thinking about it. About seeing Paige out on the court, in her element, the way she always is.

Paige nudges her with her shoulder, her touch light and playful. “Come on. You know you want to.”

Dani shakes her head, trying not to smile. “We’ll see.”

But even as she says it, she knows she’ll be there. When it comes to Paige, even if she doesn’t want to be, she always is.

DANI’S STARTING to wish she didn’t come. She stands in the student section, squeezed between Beau and his friends, the noise of the gym around them loud and chaotic. The boys’ basketball game is in full swing, and Beau’s friends are hyped up, yelling and laughing. Beau’s arm is loosely draped over her shoulders, but it feels heavy, like a weight she can’t shake off.

She tries to focus on the game—basketball has always been something she’s enjoyed, not just because of Paige, but because she grew up around it. Paige’s passion for the sport had bled into Dani over the years, so watching a game, especially when the stakes are high, has always been something she genuinely likes.

But Beau is being obnoxious. They’ve been bickering the whole night, subtle digs and passive-aggressive comments about stupid things, and Dani’s patience is already running thin. Every time he opens his mouth, she feels herself getting more annoyed, his voice grating on her nerves.

“Why are you even getting mad?” Beau snaps, his tone sharp but low enough that his friends don’t catch it. “It’s not that deep, Dani.”

She grits her teeth, keeping her eyes on the court. “I’m not mad, I’m just—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. It’s not worth it. Not here, not in front of everyone.

The boys’ game is nearing the end, and Hopkins is winning. The student section is electric, buzzing with excitement as the clock winds down. Dani tries to get into it, cheering with the rest of them as the final buzzer sounds and the boys secure their win. Beau and his friends are all high-fiving, acting like they had something to do with it, and Dani plays along, smiling tightly.

But the second the boys’ game is over, Beau grabs her hand. “Let’s get outta here,” he says, already pulling her out of the student section.

Dani blinks, pulling her hand back. “What? The girls’ game hasn’t even started yet.”

Beau frowns, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah, and? Girls’ basketball is boring.”

Liam, one of Beau’s friends, overhears and looks at them, eyebrows raised. “Bro, what? No, it’s not. They won states last year.”

Dani crosses her arms, glaring at Beau. “Exactly. Hopkins’ girls’ team is legit, and Paige—”

“Bueckers is a dawg on the court, for real,” Liam adds, cutting in. “I know you don’t fuck with her for whatever reason, but come on, man, we’re supposed to be running the student section. Everyone’s staying for the girls’ game.”

Beau rolls his eyes, clearly irritated. He stares at Liam with his lips pursed for a moment, before his eyes flick down to Dani. They’re asking a silent question.

Dani raises her eyebrows at him, her voice cool. “I’m staying.”

Beau stares at her for a second longer, then sighs loudly, like he’s making some huge sacrifice. “Fine. Whatever.” He flops back down in his seat with an exaggerated groan, and Dani fights the urge to roll her eyes.

The girls’ game is about to start, and Dani can already feel the shift in energy. The stands are still full, and the Hopkins crowd is as loud as ever. When the girls’ team comes out onto the court, led by Paige, the cheers erupt again, the student section losing its mind.

Dani’s eyes immediately find Paige. It’s impossible not to. Paige moves with this effortless confidence, her face all focus and determination as she leads her team through warm-ups. The way she dribbles, the way she commands the court—it’s something Dani’s always admired, even if she’d never admit it out loud. Paige is great—better than great, honestly.

The game starts, and Dani locks in, watching as Paige takes control of Hopkins’ offense, setting the pace and threading passes that seem impossible. The whole team is clicking, and it’s easy to see why they’re such a powerhouse.

It’s not just Paige, Dani tells herself. She’s genuinely interested in the game.

But deep down, she knows that’s a lie.

Her eyes keep finding the blonde—how she cuts to the basket, how she dishes out assists, how every movement is calculated and precise. It’s hard to look away. There’s something magnetic about Paige when she’s playing, like she’s exactly where she belongs.

Just when Dani is fully absorbed in the game, Beau nudges her with his elbow. “You seriously like this?” he mutters under his breath.

Dani’s jaw tightens. “Yeah, I do,” she snaps back, her voice low but sharp. She doesn’t need this right now, not when she’s finally getting into the game.

Beau scoffs, shaking his head. “It’s so slow. No dunks, no excitement. I don’t get it.”

Dani’s patience is wearing thin. “I like it because it’s good basketball, Beau.”

He gives her a look, his lips curving into a smirk that she immediately hates. “Yeah, sure.”

She turns away from him, trying to ignore how irritated she feels, but Beau doesn’t let up. “You know, if you didn’t have a weird thing for Bueckers, maybe you’d see how boring this is.”

Dani’s stomach twists at the mention of Paige, and she sends him a sharp glare. “I don’t have a thing for her,” she mutters, her voice tight, but even she doesn’t believe the words.

Beau just laughs, clearly enjoying the fact that he’s getting under her skin. “Right. You’ve been staring at her this whole game.”

Dani digs a nail into the palm of her hand. “Just drop it, okay?”

“Whatever,” he mumbles, eyes returning to the game with such a disinterest that it makes Dani want to slap him.

Dani’s heart is racing now, a mix of anger and anxiety bubbling up in her chest. She’s not defensive—she just… she just likes watching a good game. That’s it. It has nothing to do with Paige. But the more Beau talks, the harder it is to convince herself of that.

Beau leans in closer, his voice lowering. “If you wanna stay for her, fine. But don’t pretend like this isn’t about her.”

Dani turns to him, her eyes narrowing. “You know what? I don’t need this right now.”

Beau’s smirk falters slightly, but he shrugs. “Whatever, Dani. You’re the one getting all worked up.”

Dani exhales slowly, forcing herself to look back at the game, but the moment is ruined. She can’t focus on the court anymore, can’t enjoy the way Paige is commanding the floor. All she can feel is Beau’s eyes on her, the weight of everything he’s implying pressing down on her.

Paige makes a slick pass to one of her teammates, and the crowd roars, but Dani barely registers it. She’s too distracted, too pissed off at Beau, and all she wants to do is yell at him, tell him to shut up, to stop ruining this for her.

Beau starts bouncing on his feet, clearly agitated, needing something to do. He leans over Dani to say to Liam, who sits next to her, “Man, this shit is so fuckin’ boring.”

Liam gives him a look, responding with, “Nah, it’s entertaining as hell. Quit being like that, bro.”

Beau rolls his eyes at his friend’s answer before his gaze returns to his girlfriend, and he mutters, “This game doesn’t even matter.”

Dani’s heart pounds in her chest, her frustration boiling over. “Yes, it does,” she hisses, turning to face him. “Have you not noticed that everyone but you likes watching them play? You’re acting like a misogynistic dick.”

Beau just laughs, shaking his head in what Dani thinks is disbelief. “You know, I really don’t get it, Dani,” he says, tongue poking at his cheek. “You used to be so fun. Now you’re just—”

“Just what?” she snaps, her voice louder than she intended. Several people in the student section glance over at them, but Dani doesn’t care.

“Forget it,” Beau mutters, looking away, but Dani’s had enough.

“No, say it,” she demands, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “What am I, Beau?”

He glares at her, his jaw tightening. “You’re pathetic. That’s what. Sitting here pretending you care about this stupid game just because your little crush is out there running the court.”

Dani’s breath catches in her throat, anger flaring hot and fast. “God, you’re such an asshole.”

Beau snorts, rolling his eyes. “Oh, I’m the asshole? You’ve been acting weird as hell for weeks!”

Before she can even think of a response, he stands up, making a move like he’s going to leave. “I’m done with this shit. Let’s just go.”

Dani’s had enough. Every word that comes out of his mouth feels like a punch to the gut, and the way he’s looking at her right now—like she’s some kind of burden—makes her want to scream. She can feel her pulse in her temples, the frustration clawing at her, and she can’t take it anymore.

“Fine,” she says, her voice clipped as she grabs her jacket off the bleacher. “Let’s go.”

She storms out of the student section, Beau right on her heels, muttering under his breath. The second they’re outside, the cold air hits her like a slap in the face. It’s dark now, the night settling in over the high school, and the quiet around them makes every word that follows feel louder, sharper.

“Jesus, what the hell is your problem?” Beau snaps, his voice echoing as they walk past the athletic entrance.

Dani spins around, her eyes blazing. “My problem? You’ve been a dick all night, Beau. I’m trying to have a good time, and all you do is bitch about everything. Why can’t you just—” She breaks off, throwing her hands up in frustration. “Why can’t you just be normal for one fucking night?”

He takes a step closer, his eyes narrowed. “Maybe I wouldn’t be pissed off if you weren’t so obvious about how much you still care about her. Y’know, I thought you were done with her. But it seems like her gayness is still rubbing off on you!”

Dani flinches, his words hitting too close to home. “This isn’t about Paige,” she lies, her voice cracking slightly.

Beau scoffs, his arms crossing over his chest. “Bullshit, Dani. It’s always about Paige with you. And it’s always about you with Paige. Do you know how many times she’s talked to me about you like some protective girlfriend? As if you’re dating her instead of me!”

“She and I aren’t fucking dating!” Dani yells, her frustration boiling over. “We hardly even speak any more, Jesus Christ! She’s only so protective because we’ve been best friends since we were kids, and she can probably tell how shit of a boyfriend you are!”

He shakes his head, his jaw clenched. “Bull-fucking-shit,” he denies, narrowing his eyes at her. “You’re not just friends with her, and we both know it.”

Dani freezes ever so slightly, her heart thudding in her chest. The accusation hangs in the air between them, thick and suffocating. Beau’s staring at her, his eyes hard, waiting for her to deny it, but she can’t. She doesn’t say anything, her mind racing, and in that silence, she knows that he knows.

“See?” Beau says bitterly, throwing his arms out. “You can’t even deny it.”

“I don’t—” Dani starts, but her voice falters. She doesn’t know what to say. She doesn’t even know how to process what’s happening. All she knows is that she’s so tired. Tired of pretending, tired of fighting, tired of this relationship that’s been falling apart ever since it started.

Beau shakes his head, turning away like he’s about to walk off. “I don’t know why I even bother anymore.”

Dani’s chest tightens, and before she can stop herself, she blurts out, “Then don’t.”

Beau stops, his back still to her, and when he turns around, his face is set in a hard, bitter expression. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dani takes a deep breath, the cold air stinging her lungs. “I don’t want to do this anymore, Beau. I can’t keep pretending like we’re good, because we’re not.”

His eyes flash with anger, but there’s something else there too—something like hurt. “So that’s it? You’re just gonna throw this all away because of her?”

Dani shakes her head, keeping her gaze firm. “This isn’t for her,” she responds. “This is for me. And I think this might be for you, too. You’re not happy; I’m not happy. We’ve been done for a while, and you know it.”

Beau stares at her for a long moment, and then he laughs—a pungent, humorless sound. “Fine. I don’t give a shit anymore.”

He turns on his heel, walking away, and Dani watches him go, her breath fogging in the cold night air. She should feel something—regret, sadness, anything—but all she feels is relief. A strange, dizzying sense of freedom washes over her as Beau disappears into the dark.

She stands there for a moment, staring at the empty parking lot, her heart still racing. The night is quiet now, the only sound the distant hum of the game still going on inside. And for the first time in a long time, Dani feels like she can finally breathe.

[theunholyvirginemilyprentiss]

THE BAU YEARBOOK

EMILY PRENTISS

Emily was a keen participant in the Exchange Student Program and a member of Model UN. She was voted ‘Most Likely to Flee to a Foreign Country’. Her favorite subjects were French and Social Studies. Her friends described her as ‘witty, defiant, and a little terrifying’.

“When I die, I want the people I did group projects with to lower me into the ground so they can let me down one last time.”

JENNIFER 'JJ' JAREAU

Prom Queen JJ was co-captain of the Soccer Team. She was voted ‘Miss Congeniality’. Her favorite subjects were Phys Ed and English Literature. Her friends described her as ‘sweet, compassionate, and athletic’.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. - Wendy Mass”

SPENCER REID

Spencer was president of the Chess Club and was Mathletes team captain. He was voted ‘Most Likely to Either Cure Cancer or End the World’. His favorite subjects were AP Math and AP English Literature. His peers described him as ‘quiet, awkward, and freakishly intelligent.’

“Iodine (I), Holmium (Ho), Phosphorus (P), Electron (e-), Thorium (Th), Iodine (I), Sulfur (S), Phosphorus (P), Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Boron (B), Uranium (U), Radon (Rn), Sulfur (S).”

PENELOPE GARCIA

Penelope was president of the IT Club and founder of the school’s AV Club. She was voted ‘Most Likely to Hack the FBI’. Her favorite subjects were AP Computer Science and Home Economics. Her friends described her as ‘cheerful, friendly, and geeky.’

“Remember that email you didn’t send to 10 people? Mark my words, that will come back to bite you.”

DEREK MORGAN

Prom King Derek was the quarterback of the school Football Team and volunteered for the school’s Basketball Team for At-Risk Youths. He was voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’. His favorite subjects were History and Psychology. His friends described him as ‘smooth, supportive, and charismatic.’

“Shoutout to my hallway crushes, you know who you are.”

ELLE GREENAWAY

Class President Elle was a member of the Track Team and the Debate Team. She was voted ‘Hottest Student’. Her favorite subjects were AP Gov and Philosophy. Her friends described her as ‘assertive, ambitious, and desirable.’

“I’m not really funny, I’m just mean and people think I’m joking.”

[artsying-ifer]

Finally finished my latest passion project - a zine aaaall about the different ape movies that came out in 2024! I think anyone who knows me will not be surprised I decided this topic was worth making a zine about lol

This was super different from the zines I usually make and was definitely a fun departure from the norm - hope u enjoy reading and perhaps get inspired to check out some of these films (especially if the film you're inspired to check out is better man. please watch better man. monkey man too obviously but better man needs the win right now)

And if you really enjoy reading, I'm gonna be dropping a link to download a printable version on itchio, if you fancy being able to print off and fold one of these bad boys at home. You can carry it around in your pocket for moral support or something!

And as always if you like what you see of my art and are interested in getting me to draw anything, you can check out my pinned post for info on commissions!

[phan3145]

Title: Slippery Slope. Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Rating: T. ( Cursing, almost drowning) Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.

**Notes: Probably no regular updates until the end of March, but it’s good to be back.

Chapter 14: Mother Knows Best

Noa

He and Anaya travelled back to the village in silence. Anaya, for his part, seemed to be satisfied with the point he made, wanting to return to his nest for the night. His Sunset Brother’s satisfaction was not shared. Instead, his mind raced with thoughts of what he had witnessed, as well as past events of the day. He could not sleep, though he did try. The deep breathing and snores of the apes around him would break his concentration, anger slowly building within. For the first time, he envied the ease of which the rest of the clan slept. He turned from his back to his side, shifting for probably the eighth time.

Another moment and he puffed out a sigh. He sat up, glancing to the sleeping apes around him, before pushing himself silently from his nest and heading outside. He needed to do something with his hands, as he could not silence his mind. There were multiple projects within the Eagle Tower he had left unattended since meeting their Echo; nests that needed to be repaired, fires that had gone cold, and beams that needed reinforcing.

It was a quick climb for him. Once in the tower, he approached his crafting table with a quicker gate, letting the relief of having something to focus on wash over him. He hummed, picking up his whittling tools for the new beam supports. This was long overdue. After a few moments though, a handful of wood chips in front of him, his attention drifted to the objects placed carefully on the back corner of the table. The dark piece of cloth, tenderly nestled next to the crown he had so diligently crafted at this very table, were suddenly out of place within the tower.

He huffed, shaking his head at the thought and returning to the task before him. Two more branches would need to be chiseled after this one. The nests would be easy fixes, the supply of silk over flowing since most apes had to wait an extra season to make their climb. With a final slice, he finished the branch in his hand. He blindly reached for the second branch, still inspecting the finished tip in front of him. Nodding in approval at his work, his gaze was unfortunately drawn once more to the Echo objects. His fingers were around the new branch, pulling it towards him, yet he was unable to look away now from that corner. He pinched his eyes closed, shaking his head, and fighting the urge that was rising up inside of him. He began to vigorously shave pieces of wood from the branch, halfway done before he stopped, sighing to himself. He dropped the branch then, reaching for the scrap of cloth.

It smelled of their Echo, the scent tickling his nose in waves as he ran the pads of his fingers over the shredded edges of it. He was unsure why he had kept it. Their Echo did not know he had taken it that day, and there was no real reason for him to keep it. At the thought of getting rid of it though, he was reminded of the look on their Echo’s face when she told him it had belonged to her mother. He remembered then, how attached he had been to his mother’s shawl when she had been taken from him.

He clutched the cloth even tighter, realizing that she had never told him what happened to her mother. She had trusted him with the worst year of her life, the death of her friends and her…partner, but she could not bring herself to talk about her mother. From that alone, he guessed it was nothing good. She had left with their Echo, travelled far from their clan if her story was true…but at some point, something must have happened. Something terrible, to have left their Echo all alone.

Suddenly being reminded of her lack of clan, only made his stomach feel empty. Something in him could not accept her being alone. Like with anything broken within the village, the urge to fix her situation clawed it’s way through his mind like a starving predator. It had not been so strong before, not until he saw her in pain. Not until he thought he would never speak with her again.

Flashes of images played behind his closed eyes, the impact of the days events weighing on his shoulders until he hunched forward. He rested his arms on the table, cradling the cloth along his cheek as his head fell heavily into his hands. He did not know what he was doing. He felt torn between his clan and their future, and their Echo. He wanted more for both. He wanted what Raka and Proximus had described, prosperity and evolution. He wanted what Caesar had. He was unsure how to go about it though, not knowing if the path he was currently on was the correct one.

Their Echo was angry with him, the elders were bickering amongst themselves, and while he was trying to do what was expected of him, he was failing at every turn.

“You always…had trouble sleeping…when thoughts burdened…your mind.”

He turned then, finding his mother standing next to him, a comforting smile greeting his solemn expression. He puffed out a breath, watching her pick up his finished branch and inspect it. The torch in her hand was held a safe distance away as she seemed to scrutinize his work. He watched her, worried she would disapprove, unconsciously shifting closer. Her eyes jumped to him then, that same small smile greeting him as she placed the branch down, walking passed him.

He turned quickly, following close behind as she made her way towards the burned out torches of the east wall. She lit the first, turning her head to him as she lit the second, “What troubles you…why do you…escape here?”

He could not meet her eyes then. Shifting in place, he hesitated to admit, “I…do not…know…I am…jumbled…the clan…then the Echo…she was…is…angry with me.”

His mother remained silent, leaning in closer and brushing her fingers against his chin. He hissed, a low growl of pain slipping past his throat, before hooting an apology. He took a step back, his own fingers searching the tender skin to find a scabbed over cut. The muscle hurt underneath more than the cut itself. His mother seemed to straighten, tilting her head back a bit, and fixing him with a stare he learned at a young age meant she discovered something he had been trying to hide.

“Hard lesson.” She guessed. He hesitated, but nodded. She nodded her head with him, waiting another moment before asking, “Did you…learn from it?”

He huffed, a sigh escaping him as he poked at his cut again. “I do not…think so…tried to help…made it…worse.”

His mother hummed, leaning closer, “What…help?”

He did not want to repeat himself. He did not want to repeat the Echo’s story again, but his mother was one of the wisest apes he knew, let alone trusted. He needed her guidance, so she needed to know everything. Not just their Echo’s story, but how she saved his life. More than that, he wanted her to understand why she was so important, why he cared for her so much.

So, there they stayed, in the Eagle tower. The rest of the clan slept peacefully below, while he recounted the worst year of their Echo’s life, and the best season and a half he can recall since becoming Master of Birds. His mother listened patiently, lighting the rest of the torches and giving him bits of silk while he mended the damaged nests. He was carving his third branch, back at his work table, when he finished. His mother did not ask any questions, remaining silent the entire time. Now that his story was done, she hummed, reaching her arm across the table.

He expected her to scrutinize his second branch, just as she had the first. Instead, her grasp travelled further, past the branch, and landed on that torn black cloth. He stopped carving then, watching his mother examine the cloth, just as closely as she had the branch. He could not tell what she was thinking, only that she was. She took the cloth in both hands then, stretching it as far as it would go, eyes focused on every rip and fray of the material. Finally, she grunted, carefully folding the material and returning it gently to it’s place on the table. She treated it as precious and as delicate as eagle’s egg.

Her eyes found his then, and he felt his throat go dry. Instead of confusion or anger, emotions Soona and Anaya had displayed, his mother chuffed, a hand patting his shoulder, “Do you know…why raising Eagle…is the final rite…of passage before…juvenile…is considered…adult?”

He felt his brows turn down and his mouth gape, struggling for words. He did not understand the purpose of her question. What did Eagle have to do with Echo?

Noticing his confusion, his mother explained, “Eagles are delicate…from egg to…hatchling…they take…gentle touch…but firm will…to be raised…the right amount…of silk…the right amount…of food…of water…then they mature…they need guidance…must have trust…to spread their wings…to know…they are safe…and you…can keep them safe…only then…do eagles fly.”

He huffed, looking away from his mother as he argued, “Echo…is not Eagle…Echo is mature…can care for…herself…not the same…as bonding.”

“How…would you…know?” His mother challenged, still with that patient tone of hers.

He opened his mouth to answer, but she held her hand up to silence him. She took a deep breath, sighing through her nose, “Since birth…you have been…different…Noa…your heart is pure…your spirit strong…your mind…soars high above sky…like eagles.”

He felt his shoulders pull in tighter, that feeling of not being enough starting to creep back in. Still, his mother continued, “You have…always wanted…to be like…other ape…yet you…do things…own way…pass…all other apes…do things different…faster…better.”

He turned his head then, brows narrowing, “I do not…understand.”

His mother hummed, “It is…good thing…but…fast can be bad…you have never bonded…with Eagle…you never grew…from juvenile…to adult…you bonded with…adult Eagle…forced to become adult…through fire and pain…forced to be…Master of Birds…before you were ready.”

He said nothing, shame overcoming him. His own mother could see he was not ready. He was an embarrassment to his father’s title. Before he could sink further down into those thoughts, his mother nudged a hand under his chin, grabbing his attention once more. “You can…care for egg…raise hatchling…but you do not…have patience…that Eagle needs…you can not…make her fly…before she is ready…she must choose to.”

“The Echo.” He guessed.

She nodded, “You can not…force her…to not be…afraid…she trusts you…but she was not…ready to spread…her wings…you pushed…and she fell…sinking talons…into you…in return.”

It suddenly made sense, and once again he considered his mother the wisest amongst the village. Honored teacher, could always explain things in ways he could understand. He pursed his lips, nodding along before asking, “How do I…mend things?”

“Time,” his mother said, patting his shoulder. She hobbled towards the exit of the tower, looking tired suddenly. “Trust is…earned again…start small…let her spread her wings…on her terms…respect your new…bonded…and she will…respect you.”

“We are not,” he began, watching his mother pause in the archway. “Echo…is not Eagle…we are not…bonded.”

She smiled, nodding once, “Yet you will…learn the same…as if…she was.”

With that, she left him to his thoughts. His mother was wrong, but she was also right. He needed to change his strategy when it came to helping their Echo overcome her fear of apes. He yawned then, feeling tired now that the night had waned enough to be closer to dawn. He paced over towards the spot he had made to nest in on nights he could not sleep, choosing the comfort of the eagles over the company of his Sunset Brother and Sister. He should have asked his mother how he should start small, but both of them were tired. It had been a long day. She probably did not have any better ideas than he did. Knowing now what the problem was, he was sure they would come up with a few ideas together.

Until then, it was time for sleep. He would mend things in the morning. He hoped to dream, dream of things that would inspire him to start out small. Instead, no sooner than he closed his eyes, he was awoken by Soona’s screeching.

“Noa! Wake…Noa!” She urged.

His sat up with a screech of his own, noticing it was just a little after sunrise, “Soona…what is…wrong?”

Soona grabbed his arm, hauling him to his feet roughly, “A youngling is missing.”

That got his attention.

…

He set Eagle Sun to the forest near the edge of the creek. His mother and the other younglings said they did not notice the youngest of the apes wander into or near the edge of the water. No one saw her leave at all. That was unlike his mother, not to notice a youngling wandering off. He could hardly blame her though, she had little sleep last night due to his own jumbled mind. So, he would fix this, if he could. He would find the youngling and bring her back to his mother.

Though riding would have covered more ground, he chose instead to climb the trees. He periodically hooted his clan’s call, scanning the ground beneath as he leapt from one branch to the other. Soona spoke of the youngling’s continued muteness, too young to have found her voice yet. She was born late in the season, so late the clan feared she would not survive. Elders of the past must have taken pity on her, not only did she survive, but she was smarter than most her age. That was why his mother had suggested she start learning now, many seasons sooner than she should have. What concerned him now, was how small the youngling was. He feared he would miss her if he did not search carefully enough.

He chose Anaya to keep watch over the perimeter of the woods surrounding their home, hoping maybe she would scent her way back. It would be a little too advanced for someone her age, but his mother did not share praise often. He hoped it would be that simple. Still, he sent Soona downstream with his mother’s eagle, while his mother stayed put with the other younglings. He could not imagine the young ape traveling much further from their home, but a smarter one would not have wandered off in the first place.

He huffed, glancing up to the sun. It was early yet, not close to midday, but he worried over their Echo. He did not know where to meet her, and he did not wish to keep her waiting. He let out a low growl, leaping from his current tree to the larger one a few feet away. He opened his mouth to call out again, but stopped when he heard the cry of the youngling. It was one of terror. He snapped his head in the direction of the noise and snarled, eating up the distance as he leapt from tree to tree. The branches trembled beneath his palms from his sudden weight, leaves falling like rain from the force of his movement.

She was close to the water, and he feared the worst. He panted, arms straining to throw himself further, faster, towards where the screech had come from. He heard it stop suddenly, and he feared he was too late. That was, until he heard a familiar voice.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Their Echo

“Okay. I’m going to come to you. I’m going to walk up to the bank and sit with you. Alright?”

He moved once more, landing on a branch strong enough to hold his weight. He dared not take another step towards the tree line, should their Echo spot him. She was with the youngling. He wanted to see what she would do. He was…curious, about the gentle voice she spoke in towards the young ape.

He watched her rise from the water as if she were made of clouds. The water did not weigh her down. Her clothes were wet, but they did not resemble the ones she normally wore. Were these special? Were they meant to be worn in water? Did they help her achieve her weightless appearance? One thing was for certain, he had never seen their Echo so bare before.

He could not help but stare at her, noticing small scars along her shoulders and legs that would normally be hidden by her clothes. The skin was a different color, not unlike ape scars. So different, and yet so similar. He noticed the youngling taking in her appearance as well, head falling back so far the youngling’s whole body nearly toppled. She seemed as dazed as he was by the soaking wet Echo. She recovered before he did, distancing herself from their Echo, while he was distracted by her face. Their Echo’s eyes held a warmth, her expression an openness, which he rarely saw other than when they were alone.

She was not scared.

He was delighted, watching her slowly sink to the ground in a non-threatening position. It was tense between the two. He silently begged and pleaded, urging the youngling to show courage. Just take small steps, a single step towards her would be enough. Please. Show mercy to her.

Then, as if she could hear his thoughts, the youngling inched towards their Echo. She brushed careful knuckles over her exposed thigh, flinching back quickly before their Echo smiled, letting out a breath and signing, Friend. Safe. Protect.

He felt his chest swell then, a strange sense of pride coursing through him. That seemed to have been enough for the youngling as well, who proceeded to climb into their Echo’s lap. He winced, waiting for her fear to set in, and though he could see her face twitch, she did not react otherwise. Perhaps, it was the fact the youngling was so small, so vulnerable. He noticed even the youngling’s curiosity regarding her strange body did not deter her from treating the ape with tenderness. And, if he was honest, she was touching their Echo far more than even he would permit were their roles reversed. Still, he remained motionless, a warm type of calm settling into his being.

That is when the thought occurred to him. He did not bring Eagle Sun with him. He should be alerting the clan that the youngling was found. He would…but just another moment first. After that moment, he will reveal himself and take the young ape home, before returning to their Echo.

Speaking of their Echo, he heard her small cackle, immediately drawn back to the spectacle on the ground.

“Do you know where your parents are?” She asked, slowly.

The youngling slowly processed her words before shaking her head in response.

This seemed to stress their Echo, causing her to take a deep breath before asking, “Do you have a name?”

The youngling signed her name, Eden. It was too fast, and as if realizing their Echo might not understand, did it several more times in a slower glide of her fingers. The name seemed familiar to him, but he could not quite place why. Of course he knew the names of every clan member, but had their been an Eden before her? He was sure there was another…somewhere distant in his memory.

He had no time to dwell on the thought, noticing their Echo shake her head, trying to explain that she did not understand. A stab of guilt turned his stomach, they had taught their Echo basic words in sign, but not how to recognize names. Eden snorted through her nose, frustrated at being unable to communicate. He thought this was the best moment to collect the young ape, but before he could, she did something that nearly caused him to fall out of the tree.

“E…E…E.” The youngling screeched, the first sound he had ever heard her produce. It was not a screech of an ape, but that of the letter E, the first sound in pronouncing her name. He could not believe it.

Their Echo was possibly too close to the sound, wincing and holding up a hand to plead, “Okay, okay, easy there. Don’t strain yourself. You can’t talk yet, that’s okay. E is good enough for me.”

The young ape seemed to be satisfied with that as well, returning to inspecting the Echo’s body. He could not see what she was so fascinated by, jumping silently to the next tree. He craned his neck, attempting to get a better look. Then, someone called their Echo’s name.

Soona

She began to screech and hoot in delight, running towards the two on the ground, “You…found her.”

“Her?” Their Echo parroted.

Soona pointed at Eden, then signaled to his mother’s Eagle to return to the group and let them know the youngling was found safe. Eagle Rock flew away quickly as Soona explained, “Wandered off…have been searching…long time.”

Their Echo seemed confused, if not a little angry, as she questioned, “Wandered off? Your village is far from here, how did she get this far by herself?”

Soona shook her head, falling down next to their Echo with a sigh of relief. She had worried herself into exhaustion. She had been searching non-stop since Eden went missing. He could not blame her for taking a break. She stretched her feet and toes as she explained, “Not from…village…from group of…younglings…upstream.”

Soona held out a hand, which Eden grasped as a form of greeting, but when Soona attempted to take the young ape, Eden screeched at her. It was obvious she did not want to be taken from their Echo, and to accentuate her point she shifted to the opposite side of their Echo’s body, completely out of Soona’s reach. He was surprised, Eden did not trust most apes outside of her parents and his mother. To choose their Echo over Soona at this time was…different. Strange. He had never seen an ape choose an Echo over another ape before.

In fairness, he had chosen Mae over Proximus, but those circumstances had been different compared to now. Eden was young, naturally she should want to cling to a female of her own kind, of her own clan, after being separated. Instead, she shunned Soona and chose to play with their Echo’s wet, matted hair that fell below her shoulders. She stood on two legs now, pulling and tugging at the long strands. He leaned closer, towards the edge of his branch, watching the way their Echo reacted to Eden’s rough treatment of her hair.

Creak

He jolted back, his weight threatening to break the branch he was standing on. That noise had been enough to catch Soona’s attention. She turned her head slightly, mouth opening to say something but he quickly stopped her. He shook his head violently, arms waving slightly as he signed, Do not reveal. Echo mad. Ignore Noa.

Their Echo noticed Soona’s attention towards the forest, ready to question her when she stiffly turned back to their Echo. She turned her head in curiosity, distracting their Echo as she asked, “You are…better…than yesterday?”

Their Echo seemed to avoid Soona’s eyes then, her attention placed on Eden. He chuffed, Eden had been taught a few moons ago how to weave a basket. It seemed the young ape was practicing her skills on their Echo’s hair.

Another moment of silence and then their Echo shrugged, “I guess. I hope you know that I never meant to offend you, or your clan. I’m sorry if you were expecting me and I never showed. I just wasn’t…prepared to see your village.”

Soona hummed, “Noa…should have told you…should have told us…sooner…I am…sorry…that apes have not…always been kind…to you.”

He winced. She spoke true. He should not have pushed their Echo to visit their village, and he should have told Anaya and Soona what had happened to her. He would do everything in his power to fix his mistake now. He could not do anything about the past, only learn from it. Humans often spoke of moving forward in their books and stories, in their Echo’s case, she had done just that. Maybe she could assist him in learning to do that as well?

Their Echo looked to Soona then, a small smile on her lips as she stated, “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It wasn’t you who was un-kind to me. You, Anaya, and Noa have been nothing but kind to me…for the most part.”

“You are…still angry…with Noa?” Soona asked, somewhat hesitantly. She was not asking for her benefit and he knew it.

Their Echo puffed out a long breath, thinking, the silence stretching so long he was afraid she would not answer at all. Finally, she sighed, “Can anyone truly stay mad at Noa?”

He felt relief he had never truly known before overtake him. He felt the corner of his mouth tilt up in a smile he could not fight, distracted for a moment before hearing their Echo add, “I understand why he did what he did. I don’t like it, but I understand it. The real problem that day…well…it’s just…. I know there are barriers between our species. It’s more than just speech, and I…I mean, these problems probably have carried over from hundreds of years of differences. You three have been great, but the part that upsets me is that Noa seems to choose to ignore the fact that apes and humans don’t normally co-exist peacefully. We do, but I’ve also experienced the other end of the spectrum between our species. And Noa just…”

He hung his head once more. They were different. He could not deny that, but where their Echo saw that as something bad, he could only see it as good. She was not as strong as him, but she was just as brave. He was not as…creative as she was, but he could fix things just as well as she could. And together, the two of them…they were good together. He was unsure how to describe it, but he wanted it. He wanted the differences, he wanted to learn and to teach each other. He wanted to grow with her. He wanted-

“Noa does know…what it is like…to be betrayed.”

The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, one he was unprepared for. What had caused Soona to say this? He had been too lost in thought, missing the conversation. Their Echo looked surprised, brows raising before lowering just as quickly. She seemed doubtful, asking, “By a fellow ape?”

Soona shook her head, “By a…Echo…you are not the first…that could speak…that Noa has met.”

He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling uneasy. Their Echo seemed too eager as she questioned, “There are other humans around who can speak?”

“There was one,” Soona answered, still speaking carefully. She knew he was there, and she knew this was not her story to tell. “We do not know…where she went…left five seasons ago…have not seen her since…her name was…Mae.”

Their Echo nodded slowly, voice lowering as she asked, “What happened with Mae? You said she…betrayed Noa? How?”

Soona sighed, “We do not…normally speak of her…she was a source…of much pain and…confusion for Noa…think…you should know.”

Soona hesitated, each second of silence feeling like an entire season. His heart was beating so loud he almost missed her next words. “There was ape…Proximus…he was king of apes…he searched for Mae…killed other humans that…were with her…wanted to get inside…a human vault…it held great weapons…that would make Proximus…more powerful.”

He saw their Echo’s immediate reaction. She seemed afraid, looking unwell, as if she had eaten bad berry. Her next question caused his own bad reaction. “Who was Sylva to Proximus?”

How?

How did she know that name? How did she know any of this? Something cold caused his hair to stand on end, a small thought in the back of his mind trying to make it to the front. He shook his head, refusing to hear it. Still, it remained. Quiet now, but there all the same.

He watched Soona, her surprise matching his. She did not speak of Sylva to their Echo, which only left two others that could have. Though surprised, Soona answered, “Sylva was…his General…not sure if that is an ape word…or a human word.”

“It’s human,” their Echo was quick to answer. “Proximus seems to have already been an advanced ape.”

Soona curled more into herself then, “He was….we all were afraid…if not for Noa…and Mae…Eagle Clan would not…be here.”

“Proximus ordered your clan to be stolen, and Sylva carried out his orders.” Their Echo, clever as always, was quick to make sense of their ape structure. “What happened to Proximus?”

“Noa stopped him,” Soona answered without hesitation.

Their Echo remained silent. He had seen that look on her face before. She was…processing. She was trying to make sense of what Soona had just told her. While she did this, Soona snuck a quick glance to his hidden location. They locked eyes, and she signed behind her back, Continue?

He grunted, signing back, You must now.

Soona hummed to herself, before letting out a grunt to recapture their Echo’s attention. “Noa says…Mae hid from Proximus…in our village…Noa accidentally…lead them to us…the entire clan was taken…Noa tracked us…for many days…Mae followed…Noa did not know she could speak…until she called his name…Sylva was close…she was scared…she chose Noa as…lesser of the two apes…to fear.”

“So, she lied.” Their Echo said in a flat tone.

Lie. To be untrue on purpose. He still was grasping the concept of the human word. He let loose a breath, admiring their Echo’s ability to see things as they were. She acknowledged the right and wrong without details to cloud her mind. Not like ape…not like him. Her experience with humans more than likely lead to this ability.

In that same, flat, straightforward tone, their Echo continued, “Noa was betrayed by her traveling with him, but he didn’t know she could speak, or that Proximus was hunting her.”

Soona nodded, “More than that…when Noa and Mae…were taken to Proximus…he learned she shared…the same goal…as Proximus…she wanted to…get inside…get a book…that could help humans…learn to speak…again.”

“That…”

Their Echo hesitated. That caught his attention. Why? He carefully took another step forward, feeling that same branch start to give way, but he had to get closer. He stared intently at her face- her eyes. Processing again. She was thinking…and there was something wrong. She seemed jumbled…but more. Like she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. Like she knew something, but did not want to speak. Like…like…

Like Mae.

Like Mae when she hid the truth.

He felt his teeth pierce his gums, his jaw tightening. He did not want to think that way, not after yesterday. Not after knowing what he did about her. She was not like Mae. She was not. Would never be. She may keep some things to herself, but it is never information that could hurt anyone. She has only ever hidden her own pain.

She shook her head then, finishing her original thought, “That sounds incredible. Did she find what she was looking for?”

He took a deep breath. Perhaps he had misjudged her intentions. Maybe the jumble, the pain, was hearing of something she could not understand. He certainly did not understand when Mae first mentioned it to him. Still, that nagging thought in the back of his mind remained there. Crouched in the shadows, lying in wait for the time to strike.

“Noa…”

The sound of his name brought his attention back to the conversation, catching Soona’s eyes as her attention shifted to him once more. She seemed nervous, as if seeking his permission once more. For what, he did not know. He saw their Echo become confused at Soona’s sudden shift, brows raised as she waited. He urged Soona to speak, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

Soona turned away from him, body rigid as she explained, “Noa was…different…after meeting Mae…is different…with you…now.”

Their Echo did not seem surprised by this. Did not ask for better understanding. Instead, asked, “Does Noa think I’ll turn out to be like Mae? That I’ll betray him? Hurt him or the clan? Is that why he’s always watching me, always careful around me?”

He did not always watch her, he grumbled to himself. Of course he was careful with her, she was fragile. Perhaps she confused the two.

Soona shook her head, “Noa knows…you are not like Mae…you are…what he wished…Mae was…wants to make sure…he does not become….like Mae…to you.”

He looked away then. Soona spoke true…though he did not wish to admit it to himself. He was more than careful with you, because he wanted to keep what companionship the two of you had built. The same way he had wanted to keep it with Mae. It was impossible with her. Too much had happened. He would never be her enemy, but they could never progress together. But with you…he wanted…he wanted to keep you.

He heard their Echo sigh then, ashamed, “I…I threw a rock at him yesterday. I made a mistake…I already hurt him. He shouldn’t think that I’m not like her…I could be. I’m human after all.”

He wanted to argue, protest against the thought, but Soona beat him to it.

“Human…does not mean bad…ape…does not mean good…Noa says…wants others to learn…we are better…stronger…good and bad…together…more alike…than either side…wants to speak of.”

He sensed the shift in their Echo’s emotions, watching as she and Soona embraced. It was unlike a human hug, and unlike an ape sign of affection. It was a strange blend of the two. He saw rather than heard their Echo say, “Thank you, Soona.”

Then, there was silence, no more to say between the two. He on the other hand, felt he had much more to say. In time though. Not now. This was a time of peace. Of course, it did not last long. His mother’s bird swooped through the trees, and as he attempted to stop her, he forgot where he was standing.

Crack

His feet gave out beneath him, the weight of his body carrying him down. He mashed his teeth to smother the screech he wanted to release, hands scrabbling for purchase on branches as he descended. He caught one, enough to slow him down, before it too snapped and he landed face first into the dirt below.

He grunted, pushing himself up enough to see over the underbrush. As he did, he saw their Echo’s head lower from its raised position, down towards him. He stilled, as if caught in the gaze of a predator, the very breath in his lungs freezing. Her eyes met his in an unseeing gaze, her hand raising as he realized the sun blocked him from her sight. His breathing resumed, pain blooming in his chest. He was reminded of his fall as their Echo’s attention was now on his mother’s bird.

He sat up carefully, pain in his chest slowing his movements. He watched as Soona stood with too much urgency. Something was wrong. He turned in the direction she was looking, forcing himself to his feet as he saw his mother and her group of younglings approach Soona and their Echo. She had no idea. He needed to get to her, he needed to be there to help her.

He took a step, hands clenching at the pain before he heard Soona beg, “Do not…be scared…do not run.”

Their Echo jumped up, clutching Eden to her chest in a single fluid motion. She was terrified. He made to move forward, but Soona discreetly held up a hand. She looked at him with the same determination he had seen before they made the climb in Proximus’ kingdom. She shook her head, signing, Wait.

He did not like it, but nodded all the same. His breath came harder, faster as the younglings approached. Eden heard the group approaching, stirring and hooting to call them closer to her. Their Echo did not know this, only knowing distress as she tried to backup. Soona stopped her then.

“I am…here…trust.” Soona spoke, not only to their Echo, as she halfway shielded her from the approaching group.

Their Echo stilled, swallowing around nothing as he scented her fear from deep within the canopy. After another moment, she nodded at Soona, who shrieked at the younglings to slow and stop. She might not have had to, as each one completely stopped in their tracks upon seeing their Echo. He remembered then, that they had never seen an Echo before, and that was including silent ones. The second their Echo opened her mouth to speak, the younglings might all just faint…or run.

He hoped they did not see her as a threat. He was prepared if they did though. One of the eldest stepped forward then. He scented their Echo to the best of his ability, senses still undeveloped. He hobbled closer, enough to scent her legs, and he must have picked up on her fear. His confusion was obvious, head tilting as he saw their Echo flinch back from him. He observed Eden, clasped closely to her, though she wanted nothing to do with him. With the anger of a child ignored in preference to another, he demanded, “Why does Eden…get to be carried…by the Echo?”

He heard their Echo release a breath that sounded more like a gasp. He could see her shoulders begin to shake, Eden sensing the rise in her fear, leaning down from her grasp to holler and hiss at the youngling before her. Surprisingly, the youngling backed away, hissing back as grumbled, “Newborn.”

This almost brought a smile to their Echo’s face, watching Eden snort in reply. Then, another voice broke through the crowd, “I believe…you have…found my…youngling.”

His mother.

Teaching staff in hand, she hobbled towards their Echo, the crowd of younglings parting in respect so she may pass. Though their Echo remained afraid, she took one look at his mother and nodded. She knelt then, slowly, to the ground. She softly urged Eden to release her hold on her hair and clothing. Though reluctant, Eden complied, walking hesitantly on all fours over to his mother. He expected her to be scolded, but was just as surprised as everyone by his mother’s next words.

“Well done, little one. You were very brave.”

What?!

“What?” Their Echo parroted his own disbelief, the sound causing an audible gasp and reaction from the rest of the group.