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dodkart · 9 months ago

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Essential School Utilities for Kids: A Parent's Buying Guide

When it's time to gear up for the school year, every parent wants to ensure their child has the best supplies that foster learning, creativity, and responsibility. Whether it's keeping their pencils organized, inspiring them with beautiful stationery, or helping them express creativity through art, the right school supplies can make a big difference. This comprehensive guide walks you through essential school utilities to help make your back-to-school shopping easier and stress-free. From practical items like pencil boxes to unique accessories like magic water drawing books, we’ve got everything covered.

1. Pencil Boxes: Keep It Organized and Stylish

A pencil box is more than just a storage solution for pencils and erasers. It plays a key role in keeping your child’s school supplies organized and accessible. Imagine your child confidently pulling out their neatly arranged stationery during class — it boosts their confidence and teaches them responsibility.

Why Every Kid Needs a Pencil Box:

Organization: A pencil box keeps pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and pens in one secure place, ensuring nothing gets lost during the hustle of school days.

Durability: High-quality pencil boxes last longer, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them mid-year.

Style and Fun: Let’s not forget that kids love fun designs. The right pencil box can reflect their personality, making school a little more exciting.

Top-Selling Pencil Boxes:

Pencil Box with Lock Code Give your child the added thrill of privacy and security with a pencil box that comes with a lock code. This is especially helpful for kids who are protective of their belongings and want an extra layer of security in their school life.

Metal Pencil Box for Kids Perfect for durability and style, metal pencil boxes are tough enough to survive the rough and tumble of daily school life. They are ideal for younger kids who might drop or knock their pencil box around.

Naruto Pencil Box Set Anime lovers will adore a Naruto-themed pencil box. This set not only includes ample storage space for all essential tools but also gives children a fun, personalized experience that connects them to their favorite characters.

Unicorn Pencil Box for Girls For girls who love all things magical, a unicorn-themed pencil box is the perfect accessory. It’s charming, colorful, and adds a dash of fun to their school day while keeping everything organized.

Spiderman Pencil Box for Kids Superhero fans will absolutely love a Spiderman pencil box. It combines functionality with a cool design, making it the perfect addition to their school kit.

2. Writing Tools: Inspire Creativity and Improve Handwriting

A good writing tool is a student’s best friend. Whether it's for homework, journaling, or note-taking in class, having the right pen or pencil makes the writing experience smoother and more enjoyable. Fountain pens, in particular, are an excellent choice for young writers as they help improve grip, fine motor skills, and even handwriting quality.

Why Invest in Quality Writing Tools?

Handwriting Development: Using high-quality writing tools, especially fountain pens, can improve a child’s handwriting, encouraging a stronger grip and smoother flow.

Comfortable Use: Long writing sessions, especially during exams or class assignments, can be more comfortable with the right pens and pencils.

Variety: With a set of different nibs and inks, your child can explore various writing styles — perfect for calligraphy, drawing, and general note-taking.

Popular Writing Tools for Kids:

Fountain Pen for Kids A fountain pen designed specifically for children is not only stylish but also ergonomically shaped to ensure comfort during long writing sessions. It offers a smooth, gliding writing experience that can turn even simple note-taking into an enjoyable task.

Fountain Pen Set Cartoon If you want to make writing fun, a cartoon-themed fountain pen set is a great choice. This brings the world of their favorite cartoons into school, encouraging them to enjoy writing more.

Fountain Pen Gift Set Ideal for special occasions like birthdays, a fountain pen gift set includes extra cartridges and nibs, offering flexibility and a luxurious writing experience that’s perfect for older kids and teens.

Pencil and Eraser Set Sometimes simplicity is best. A classic pencil and eraser set is an essential part of every child’s stationery. Opt for colorful and themed designs to make the set even more appealing.

3. Drawing and Coloring Books: Boost Creativity and Imagination

Encouraging creativity in children is crucial for their cognitive and emotional development. Drawing and coloring books give kids a fun way to express themselves, and they are excellent tools for building fine motor skills. Whether it's doodling during free time or working on an art project, a high-quality drawing book is a must-have.

Creative Benefits of Drawing Books:

Enhances Focus and Patience: Completing a drawing or coloring page requires concentration, teaching kids to focus on details and take their time with tasks.

Develops Fine Motor Skills: Drawing and coloring help build the muscles in their hands, improving their grip and control over pencils and pens.

Encourages Expression: Art is a powerful form of expression. Through drawing, kids can showcase their imagination, feelings, and thoughts in a creative way.

Best Drawing and Coloring Tools:

Drawing Book with Colour A coloring book that comes with pre-drawn illustrations, ready to be filled in with vibrant colors, gives kids the opportunity to explore their artistic side. It’s a great way to encourage creativity at home or school.

Magic Water Drawing Book for Kids Perfect for younger kids, magic water drawing books offer a mess-free way for them to paint using water-based pens. Once the water dries, the pages become blank again, allowing endless fun and creativity.

Colour Drawing Book for Kids Filled with beautifully illustrated pages, these drawing books allow kids to bring the pictures to life with their favorite colors. They’re perfect for stimulating creativity and providing hours of entertainment.

Magical Practice Book for Kids These practice books are both educational and fun, teaching children to write letters, numbers, and shapes in an artistic and playful manner. They’re reusable and designed to engage young learners.

4. Stationery Sets: All-in-One Convenience for Busy Parents

As a parent, finding time to shop for individual school supplies can be challenging. That’s where all-in-one stationery sets come in handy. These sets often include everything a child needs — pencils, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, and more — in a single, neatly packaged bundle.

Advantages of Stationery Sets:

Convenience: With all essential items included, stationery sets save time and effort for parents who don’t want to shop for each item separately.

Cost-Effective: Purchasing a complete set is often more economical than buying individual pieces, making it a budget-friendly option.

Fun Designs: Kids love themed stationery sets! Whether it's unicorns, cartoons, or superheroes, these sets add an extra level of excitement to going back to school.

Top Stationery Sets:

Unicorn Stationery Set for Kids This charming set includes pencils, erasers, a sharpener, and a ruler, all designed with fun and vibrant unicorn motifs. It’s a favorite for girls who love cute and magical designs.

Unicorn Pencil Box Set Combining organization and fun, this set features a unicorn-themed pencil box along with all the necessary writing tools. It’s perfect for younger kids who love colorful and magical themes.

Naruto Pencil Box Set Fans of the Naruto anime series will love this stationery set. It includes everything they need for school, with themed designs that make homework and class time more fun.

5. Unique and Fun School Accessories: A Touch of Personality

While functionality is important, kids also love to express their personality through their school accessories. Whether it's a cool Spiderman Pencil Box or a Magic Water Drawing Book, these accessories make school more enjoyable while allowing kids to show off their favorite characters and themes.

Must-Have School Accessories:

Pencil Box for Kids With various designs available, from classic to themed, a pencil box is a great way to help kids stay organized while expressing their unique style.

Fountain Pen Gift Set A special item for children who love writing, this set offers elegance and functionality. It’s a great gift for kids who take pride in their handwriting and enjoy using beautiful stationery.

Magic Water Drawing Book for Kids A reusable and mess-free drawing book that’s perfect for creative play. It’s an ideal way to keep younger kids entertained without worrying about markers and paint messes.

6. Choosing Quality School Supplies for Long-Term Benefits

It’s tempting to go for the cheapest option when buying school supplies, but investing in higher-quality items can save you money and frustration in the long run. Durable, well-made stationery not only lasts longer but also provides a better experience for your child.

Key Benefits of Quality School Supplies:

Durability: Well-made items such as metal pencil boxes and stainless steel fountain pens are built to last, so you won’t have to keep replacing them throughout the school year.

Better Learning Experience: When kids use high-quality writing tools, drawing books, and stationery, they’re more engaged in their work, which leads to better learning outcomes.

Encourages Responsibility: When children have items they love and value, like a lockable pencil box or a fun stationery set, they’re more likely to take good care of their belongings.

7. Why Shop for School Utilities at Our Online Store

At our online store, we offer a wide range of top-selling school utilities that blend quality, functionality, and fun. We understand the needs of both parents and children, and we’ve curated a collection that makes back-to-school shopping easier and more enjoyable.

What Sets Us Apart:

Top Selling School Utilities: We offer the most popular and reliable school supplies that kids love and parents trust. Whether it's a Pencil Box with Lock Code or a Unicorn Pencil Pouch, you’ll find everything you need.

Affordable Prices: We believe in offering top-quality products at competitive prices, making it easy for parents to stay within their budget.

Fun Designs for Kids: From Naruto Pencil Box Sets to Magical Practice Books, we stock a variety of items that are not only practical but also fun and engaging for kids.

Quality You Can Trust: All our school utilities are carefully selected for durability and functionality, ensuring your child gets the best tools for learning and creativity.

8. Stationery for Office and Kids: Where to Buy

At our online store, we specialize in providing high-quality stationery for office and kids. Whether you’re looking for something simple like a pencil and eraser set or a premium fountain pen for kids, we’ve got a wide range of products to meet your needs.

Why Shop With Us?

Wide Selection: From the top-selling school utilities to themed sets like the Naruto pencil box set, we offer a variety of products that cater to both kids and office needs.

Affordable Prices: We pride ourselves on offering competitive prices without compromising on quality.

Fun and Functional Designs: Our stationery is not only practical but also designed to keep kids excited about school. Whether it’s a unicorn pencil box set or a Spiderman pencil box for kids, our products are sure to bring joy to school life.

9. Gift Ideas for School-Age Kids

School supplies can also double as great gifts for birthdays, holidays, or special milestones. Whether it’s a beautifully crafted fountain pen gift set or a unicorn pencil box set, gifting practical yet fun school supplies can make the occasion extra special.

Why School Supplies Make Great Gifts:

Practicality: Kids will always need stationery, making these gifts both fun and useful.

Personalization: Themed items like a unicorn pencil pouch for girls or a Spiderman pencil box for kids reflect their unique interests and personalities.

Encourages Learning: Gifts like a drawing book with colour or a magic water drawing book for kids foster creativity and inspire kids to explore their artistic side.

10. Encouraging Good Habits Through School Supplies

School supplies do more than just help kids with their schoolwork; they can also teach them essential life skills such as organization, responsibility, and time management.

How School Supplies Can Encourage Good Habits:

Responsibility: Kids learn to take care of their belongings when they have items like a pencil box with lock code or a metal pencil box for kids.

Organization: With the right tools, kids can easily keep their items in order, helping them stay organized and prepared for school each day.

Creativity: Tools like a magic water drawing book for kids or a colour drawing book for kids inspire children to think creatively and express themselves freely.

Conclusion

When it comes to preparing your child for school, having the right supplies can make all the difference. From Pencil Boxes with Lock Codes to Fountain Pen Gift Sets and Magic Water Drawing Books, these school utilities are designed to make learning fun and effective. Investing in high-quality items will not only help your child stay organized but also encourage their creativity, responsibility, and academic success.

Make back-to-school shopping easy and enjoyable by browsing our selection of stationery for office and kids. With our comprehensive range of products, you’ll find everything your child needs to excel in the new school year. Click Here!

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inventoryvaluation · 10 months ago

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carolunduke-04 · 1 year ago

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katherinejiaxin · 1 year ago

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Illustrator Class Task Fri 8 March

FINISHED WORK HERE

You’ll make two Illustrator pieces, in stages and document your process as you go along. For each of the two pieces, make the following steps:

1. Create a suitable drawing to work from

2. Mark on the drawing where the anchor points will be

3. Document the above, and make a note of what tools and methods you'll use, such as fills, gradients, reflect tool, pathfinder etc.

4. Make the graphic / illustration in Illustrator, with a scan of the drawing loaded into the layer beneath the vector artwork

5. Document the result with a reflection about how successful you were

Repeat this process twice -and make two graphics: NOTE: Pick / draw objects that are at the edge of your ability. This will vary from person to person depending on what your current drawing skill and Illustrator skills are at. As part of your assessment, this effort will be graded relative to your own skills as demonstrated so far - not relative to some other measure. Make notes in your reflection to discuss your current abilities with Illustrator, such as what you found hard, what you found easy and what you'd like to work on. Remember, this reflective element is part of what counts towards the grade. So push yourself, but don't compare yourself to some outside measure - this is about your own learning.

Graphic 1 - pick and draw or draw from reference / imagination, a graphic that is shown as a silhouette - for example: Skull and crossbones, an aeroplane, a wine bottle and a glass, a rubber plant

Graphic 2 - this should be an object or illustration that has an outline a fill colour and a shadow shading - using some of the same tradition as the penguin illustration

Select and design objects that challenge you slightly, and are manageable between the start of today’s session, finishing before next week. Plan it so the first one can be finished today in class and the second one is started today and finished as a homework assignment. Documentation and planning are KEY to this exercise. Your lecturer will be on hand to help out - record any new techniques and shortcuts and include them in your workbook alongside the screenshots of progress and scans of your drawings.

The drawings

The drawings can be traces of things you’ve printed off, but also you can make your own drawings from scratch. Use tracing paper or thin paper held over the window to refine the drawings or make a second drawing that shows the anchor points where you plan to put them. For extra kudos, show the handles on the anchor points to illustrate them being curve points, hybrid, corner or broken.

Must haves:

Create as few anchor points as possible

Adhere to the principle of putting your points at the apex

Adhere to good file keeping practices

Recommended:

Today is our final Illustrator session, so this is a good time to wrap up a list of your keyboard shortcuts

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maybeimamuppet · 3 years ago

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picking teams- chapter 8: cady

helloooo folks happy wednesday!! welcome to the homecoming chapter ooooh. also only next chapter you'll actually get some cadnis finally lol whoops

tw for

disordered eating thoughts

slut shaming

homophobia

implied SA

and as always if i've missed anything please let me know so i can add it :)

enjoy!

—————

Cady finds herself really enjoying the tutoring sessions she has with Janis.

Janis is polite. She always says hello and chats briefly with Cady's parents on the rare occasions they're there at the same time. She never leaves messes when Cady offers her something to eat while they work, and she's never pushy during the actual tutoring.

Cady's also learned that she's much smarter than people give her credit for. Janis' questions may be about things Cady finds simple, but after a more in depth explanation and a few extra practice problems, she picks things up in no time. Not to mention how much she's helped Cady with her English and history homework assignments.

But, the best part is, Janis is so... sweet. She always seems happy just to make conversation with Cady. She's always interested to hear Cady's Kenya stories. Nobody else in America has been. Except for Karen, but Cady knows she doesn't really understand what she's talking about. Janis tells Cady her own stories, and Cady likes to think they're becoming friends.

She certainly hopes they are, anyway.

Janis looks at her in confusion as she stands up towards the end of their session one Saturday, rooting through her closet for something to wear. "You going somewhere?"

"Hm?" Cady hums, turning around with a short skirt and a tank top in her hands. She grabs a denim jacket, too. It's chilly today, but Regina threatened to burn all her jeans if she wore them in public one more time. "Oh, I'm going homecoming shopping with Regina and Gretchen and Karen after this. It always takes me forever to figure out what to wear."

"Oh," Janis says. "Sounds fun."

"Yeah, shopping with them usually is," Cady says. "I mean, I always get totally overwhelmed and all the fabrics feel awful, but I like the process."

"That's about how it goes," Janis chuckles. "I always hated polyester too."

"It's the worst! It's never comfy," Cady pouts. "But it's all they say I look good in."

"You look good in anything."

"Thanks," Cady says with a smile. Janis won't look at her, for whatever reason. Cady shrugs and heads to the restroom to get changed. "I'll be right back."

"Okay," Janis says, her voice a bit squeaky. She must be having a weird day.

Cady does have to admit that her friends have good taste. As uncomfortable as the clothes are when she puts them on, she does look pretty in them. Regina's taught her that shorter skirts will make her legs look longer and more proportional to the rest of her body. Tighter shirts make her look thinner, and layers are an extra bonus. She tucks the shirt in to highlight her waistline, and sucks her tummy in the slightest bit to zip up her skirt.

Maybe one of these days she'll recognize herself when she looks in the mirror wearing these clothes.

Cady heads back into her bedroom after giving her curls a quick fluff. "How's it going?"

"Fine," Janis murmurs. Cady turns around to look at her and finds Janis staring quite interestedly at her math work.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Janis says, barely glancing at Cady. "You look nice."

"Thanks," Cady grins. She swipes on some quick makeup while Janis finishes working, then plops down next to her to look over it. "All right again! I think we can move on next time."

"Thank god," Janis sighs, going totally boneless in her beanbag. "If I had to do one more of those I think my brain would melt out my ears."

"I mean, you'll probably have to at some point," Cady says. "You do have that test next week."

"Shh. Let me have this moment of peace."

"Okay," Cady giggles. She relaxes on her own beanbag, looking up at her ceiling like Janis is doing next to her. Maybe she should get fairy lights like Regina has on hers.

"Do you have a date?" Janis murmurs after a couple minutes.

"Huh?"

"For homecoming. Are you going with anyone?"

"Oh," Cady says. "Nobody's asked me. I think we're just going, like, as a friend group."

"That's cool," Janis nods. "It's usually more fun that way."

"Do you have a date?" Cady asks, looking over at her.

"Yeah," Janis chuckles. Cady feels her heart squeeze a bit, but she can't figure out why. "Damian and I always go together. Every dance since ninth grade. He always drags me with him. I guess he just wants me to, like... get the 'proper high school experience' or whatever."

"You don't want to go?" Cady asks sadly.

"It's not the same for me as it is for you," Janis says quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"You're popular. You have a friend group," Janis says. "Everyone at school knows who you are, for a good reason. Everyone at school knows who I am for a bad reason. It's not that I don't want to go, or that he's not a good date, but... I only go with Damian because he's the only option I have. I don't have any other friends I can go with, or... an actual date I could ask."

"Oh," Cady says. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Janis says. "Damian always makes it fun. I'll have a good time. Don't worry."

"You could come with us, I'm sure," Cady offers. Janis laughs outright at that. Why is that funny?

"Really not an option," she chuckles sardonically. "But thanks for the offer."

"Why not?"

"I'm sure Regina's already given you some version of what happened," Janis says softly. "Just... not possible."

Cady gets the sense that she shouldn't push here, so she just nods sadly. Janis gives her a sad smile in return and gently takes her hand.

"I promise I'll have fun even if I can't go with you. For your sake, I'll have fun," she promises. Cady giggles and squeezes her hand.

"I'm holding you to that, Sarkisian."

"I always keep my promises."

"Good," Cady grins. "Can I ask you something?"

"Maybe," Janis chuckles.

"Is Damian, um..." Cady says, pausing awkwardly. "Gay?"

Janis laughs again, much harder this time. "Yes. He's almost too gay to function. You really couldn't tell?"

"I mean, kinda, but I don't like assuming things," Cady says in embarrassment. She decides to leave out the part about her friends telling her a good bit of Janis and Damian's life story within a few days of meeting them. Something tells her that wouldn't go over very well. Janis nods.

"That's good, though. And for future reference, Damian is very very gay. But if you want to know about anyone else you should probably ask them directly. It's... the kind of story someone should only tell for themselves, you know?"

Cady nods eagerly. "Got it."

"Tits. I'll see you Monday," Janis grins, zipping her backpack shut and standing up.

Cady's sad she has to go. She wonders what kinds of things Janis would pick to wear to homecoming. Wonders what going shopping with her would be like.

"Bye. Have a good weekend," Cady says before she can beg her to stay. Janis waves and is out Cady's bedroom door. Cady waves back and heads over to the mirror to make sure her makeup is perfect. Regina said that if even a single eyelash is out of place it ruins the image of their whole group.

With another coat of mascara she thinks she looks perfect enough for even Regina's standards. She rushes out, trying not to break an ankle on her ridiculously high heels, when she hears Regina laying on the horn outside. She's lucky her neighbors haven't filed a complaint yet.

"Hi," she says breathlessly as she takes her usual spot in the backseat.

"Hey," all three of her friends say at the same time.

"Are you excited, Cady?" Gretchen asks. Cady nods.

"Yeah! I never really wore dresses until I met you guys, I'm excited to get something more... snazzy. I've never had much reason to dress up super fancy before," she says.

"It's so fun, you'll love homecoming shopping," Karen says.

"Shopping with you guys is always fun," Cady grins. "I hope I find something."

"Oh, you will," Regina chuckles, almost ominously.

—-

Cady was expecting to go to the mall again, but apparently dress shopping at the mall is a total fashion faux pas. She looks around at the fancy dress store she's found herself in. They have everything from homecoming dresses to wedding dresses, and most of them seem very far out of her budget.

Her friends head over to the racks of homecoming outfits in their sizes and start grabbing just about everything they can see. Cady is confused by the tulle tornadoes rushing around her, but she shrugs and follows suit as best she can.

Once they all have a decent stack of potential dresses, they make their way over towards the changing rooms. One of the stacks of dresses asks, "Who goes first?"

"Me," another responds, so the other three all waddle over to the benches and plop down. Cady looks to either side now that the dresses aren't covering their faces and sees Karen is the one missing.

They all wait until the curtain opens and Karen comes back out, clad in a bright pink two piece dress. The top has a sort of criss-cross hem, and the skirt falls just above her knee.

She does a twirl so her friends can see the dress in all of its glory. They all hem and haw over it, showering her in rightfully deserved compliments.

The process is repeated for about six more dresses, until Karen reaches the last one she grabbed.

"Which one?" Karen asks, still wearing the last one.

"I think the first one, honestly," Gretchen says. "That one really suited you."

"Not this one. Makes you look like a cheap slut," Regina says like that's a completely normal thing to say. "Definitely go for the first one."

Karen nods sadly and goes back into the changing room. She returns in the original bubblegum pink dress just to make super sure this is the one she should choose. Everyone eagerly confirms it, so she changes back into her regular clothes and switches places with Gretchen.

Cady blinks through dress after dress after dress Gretchen tries on. She compliments every one, because Gretchen does genuinely look great in all of them.

She's more indecisive than Karen was. Cady thinks she will be too. So many choices. How are you meant to know which one is correct?

Each of them had a favorite dress that Gretchen tried on, so she goes back to try those three on again. When she has the last one on, she whines an, "I just don't know!"

"We could all wear pink dresses," Karen offers. "Crown emoji. Then we're, like, matching, but not matching enough to be totally cringe, teeth emoji."

Was that English? Cady asks herself desperately as Regina and Gretchen mull that over. Cady decides to pipe up with a, "The pink one did really suit you, Gretchen."

"Really?" Gretchen asks. "It didn't make my stomach too noticeable?"

That's an issue? Cady wonders. "I didn't think so."

Gretchen shoots her a thankful smile and goes to try that one yet again. Her friends all nod when she pulls the curtain open and steps out to reveal the tight watermelon pink dress. It has long tulle sleeves, which seems to make Gretchen a bit more comfortable in it as well.

"You look really pretty, Gretchen," Regina says. Cady and Karen nod in agreement. Gretchen sighs with a smile, the relief visible on her face as her turn is up. "My turn, bitches."

Cady finds herself bracing as Regina takes her pile of dresses, wondering what circle of hell she's in for now. Regina is always the most demanding when they go shopping. She almost never picks her clothes herself. She leaves that for her lackeys, demanding a certain fashion and quality, and compliments on top of everything.

Cady's definitely glad she made an exception today. Regina picked all her own dresses to try, so they just get to experience the hurricane of lace and satin they're about to be forced into.

Hurricane is an understatement. Regina looks fantastic in everything, because of course she does. They quickly run out of compliments to shower her in. Things turn to, "Ooh!" or "Wow!" rather quickly.

Cady feels like she's woken up from some kind of homecoming coma by the time Regina has tried on the last dress. She shakes her head to clear it when Regina sighs, "So which one?"

"Uh... that one looks great," Cady says.

"Yeah, your waist looks, like, so tiny!" Gretchen says eagerly. Karen just nods along like a little bobblehead.

"Really?" Regina asks haughtily, whipping her blonde hair around to find a mirror. She puts her hands on her hips and does various poses in her fuchsia bodycon dress.

"The, um... color really brings out your eyes," Cady agrees, trying to sound like she knows what she's talking about. Gretchen and Karen both nod again. "And your... hair."

Regina looks at the mirror with a thoughtful pout on her face. "Eh, as long as guys are staring at me."

Oh, definitely, Cady thinks to herself. It's oddly reminiscent of the time she watched a snake eat a cow. The snake has more sequins than the one in Kenya did, though. Wait, is that rude?

"Your turn, Cades," Regina says with a wink. She heads to change back into her (arguably fancier) normal clothes, so Cady gathers her mound of dresses.

"I don't have many pink ones," Cady says anxiously. Gretchen and Karen both take the ones that aren't at least pink-adjacent and give her the ones they have, since they're all close enough to the same size to get away with it. Cady is significantly shorter than the rest of them, but she thinks she'll be able to pull it off with a bit of tailoring if she needs to.

The first dress she tries is awful. The material is glittery, and it has long sleeves. So itchy. It's so tight Cady can't even reach far enough behind her to zip it up all the way. She settles for zipping it as much as she can and just holding the neckline at the top for the same effect.

"It's nice!" her friends say when she kicks the curtain open enough to wiggle through and show them.

"It's really uncomfortable," Cady says, wiggling in a ditch attempt to get the itchy fabric off her skin.

"Pick a different one, then. Can't have you squirming like you're about to piss yourself the whole night," Regina sighs, waving her back into the changing room.

Cady can't quite hide how relieved she is as she turns around and practically rips the dress off her body. She stands there in her underwear for a split second to recover from the awful fabric before she grabs the next dress.

The next few go about the same way, made of too-tight uncomfortable materials that Cady can hardly bear having on her body. Pink is also a tricky color for her to wear with her hair and complexion, so some of the shades simply don't suit her. All this makes for an... interesting homecoming dress shopping experience, to say the very least.

She's down to the last four or so and getting more and more worried. What if she can't find anything? What will Regina do to her?

The next one she tries on is a tight strappy contraption and turns out to be so complicated that Cady gets tangled in the wrong parts of it for a solid three minutes. She takes it off without even showing her friends and places it firmly in the no pile.

But the next one has promise.

She can get into it herself, which is a plus. She can even do the zipper up all the way. It's not saying much, since there's not much zipper in the first place, but it definitely helps.

"This one, I don't even need to see the rest," Regina says when Cady pulls the curtain open to show it off.

"Really?" Cady grins. All three of them nod eagerly and practically shove her over to the mirror so she can see for herself. Cady looks at herself, spinning from side to side to observe the dress from all angles. She does look beautiful.

It's a baby pink, one that actually brings out the red of her hair in a nice way, with small gold sequins scattered around. The bodice is tight and dips into her cleavage in a way she's not the most comfortable with, but she decides she's into it. Her back is almost totally bare, so she'll have to figure something out in terms of a bra that won't show, but that's manageable. The skirt flares out and falls to just above her knee. She shakes her hips the slightest bit, and the swish factor is excellent.

"I like it," Cady nods. "Are we done?"

"No, it's time for shoes!" Gretchen squeals.

Ah, hell.

—————

Aaron turns to look at her when she takes her seat behind him on Monday. "Hey."

"Hey," Cady grins. "How was your weekend?"

"Not bad, not bad. My dad made me spend most of it at a football workshop thing, but it was less tedious than most of them are," Aaron replies. "How about you?"

"Oh, mine was pretty good too. I didn't really do much," Cady says, trying to find an appropriate amount of time to stare into his eyes. So shiny.

"Uneventful weekends are always the best," Aaron says. Cady giggles and nods.

"Definitely."

Aaron chuckles as well. Cady can't help but smile at the sound. "So are you going to homecoming?"

"Yeah, Regina and Gretchen and Karen and I are all going together. Just, like, as friends," Cady says. "Are you?" Please say no, please say no.

"Yeah," Aaron nods, flipping his swoopy hair out of his eyes. Cady tries not to swoon. "Couple buddies of mine couldn't land any dates, so we're just going as a group too."

"That's cool," Cady says, squealing internally. He doesn't have a date. "I hope I see you."

"I'll save you a dance if you save one for me," Aaron says with a wink. Cady flushes bright pink and nods eagerly.

"I will."

"Cool," Aaron grins. Cady tries to stop blushing enough to grin back.

"Cool," she squeaks.

—————

Janis and Cady agree to push their weekly tutoring session back a week. They've decided to spend twice as long the next Saturday working to make up for it.

Which means Cady has all day on Saturday to get ready for the dance.

The dance starts at eight, but Cady's been instructed to be at Regina's house by eleven in the morning at the absolute latest. Apparently getting hot is an all day affair.

Cady's knocking on the door at 10:45 just to be safe. Mrs. George pulls it open and practically drags Cady along with it. Cady stumbles into the house and gives Mrs. George her usual hug. "I like your tracksuit today, Mrs. Sabrina."

"You do? Oh, thank you, honey! You're just the sweetest thing," Mrs. George replies. Cady's heart breaks the slightest bit at her eager response to a pretty basic compliment. "Well, I won't keep you too long. Regina's in her room getting everything set up for you guys."

"Thanks," Cady says, lugging her garment bag up the stairs and knocking on Regina's door.

"What?!" a voice yells from inside. "Kylie, I swear to god!"

"It's Cady!" Cady calls back.

"Oh," the voice says, quieter. The door opens in front of her, revealing a clearly tense Regina. "You don't have to knock, you know."

"Sorry. I didn't want to, like, barge in or anything. I didn't know if you were getting dressed or something," Cady says sheepishly.

"Not like it matters. Not like you're some kind of lesbo," Regina shrugs. "Anyway, are you hungry? You should eat now so you won't later and look all bloated in your dress."

"Oh, um... I guess I could go for some breakfast," Cady says, trying to seem casual about it. She actually hasn't eaten yet, so she's starving. But seeming too interested in eating isn't a good look. "If it's not too much trouble."

"Yeah, whatever," Regina says. Cady winces as she suddenly shrieks at the top of her lungs. "Mommy!"

Mrs. George is at the door in record time, slamming it open and stumbling into the room. "What's the matter? Ear piercing incident? Herpes?"

What kind of family is this? Cady thinks desperately. Regina turns and looks at her mother with that sickly sweet grin Cady has gotten very used to being on the receiving end of.

"Is there any breakfast left? Cady needs some," Regina coos. Her voice is almost unnaturally high, like she's talking to a young baby and not... her own mother.

"Oh, of course! Let me whip something up really quick, I'll be right back!"

"Thank you!" Cady calls as she goes running from the room at the same speed. "So... why do we have to be here so early?"

"Because we need time to wash and style your hair, do all the skincare we need, do makeup, and last minute touch ups and hemming to our dresses, duh," Regina says.

"Oh. I didn't think it was that involved," Cady says anxiously.

"It takes work to look this good, Cady," Regina says. "If we aren't the hottest bitches at the dance, do you have any idea what would happen?"

We wouldn't be the hottest bitches at the dance, Cady thinks immediately. Out loud, she just says, "Oh."

"Once Gretch and K get here we can get started," Regina sighs, already primping in the mirror. She already has makeup on, even though her bed hasn't even been made yet. Cady wonders if anyone has ever actually seen her without makeup. "Lazy bitches."

"I'm sure they'll be here soon," Cady replies, almost defensively.

"They'd better be," Regina huffs. "Where is my mom-"

"I can wait!" Cady interrupts as she sees Regina prepare to shout again. "It's totally fine. I, uh... have a quick metabolism. I shouldn't look too bloated in the dress."

"I have a spare corset if you need one," Regina says.

"We'll see," Cady replies.

—-

Gretchen and Karen arrive about fifteen minutes later, rapidly trailed into the room by Mrs. George returning with Cady's plate. French toast and some mixed fruit.

"Thank you, Mrs. George," Cady says.

"Oh, of course, honey! If you girls need anything you just let me know, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy, out!" Regina says desperately. Mrs. George's face falls the slightest bit before she nods and backs out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Cady eats her breakfast while Regina starts washing Gretchen and Karen's hair in her shower. Karen comes out first, a shower cap over her hair and some green goop on her face. Gretchen follows after another few minutes, just as Cady is swallowing her last strawberry.

"So have you seen any guys you think are cute, Cady?" is how Gretchen chooses to open a conversation.

"What? Uh..." Cady stutters. "There's this guy in my calculus class, he's really cute. Aaron Samuels?"

Gretchen makes some sort of squawking noise oddly reminiscent of some of the birds Cady got acquainted with in Kenya. "What?! No!"

"What do you mean?"

"Aaron is Regina's ex-boyfriend!" Gretchen says in shock. No. No, no, no! "He just broke up with her this summer."

"I thought she dumped him for Shane Oman," Karen pipes up absentmindedly. Cady feels her core go cold just at the mention of his name. Great taste, there, Regina.

"Irregardless," Gretchen huffs. "Exes are off limits to friends. That's just, like, the rules of feminism!"

"Um... okay," Cady says in confusion. No more talking about Aaron in public, got it.

"Oh, but don't worry. I'll never tell Regina what you said," Gretchen says. "I'm great at keeping secrets. Like, Karen and I are dating and we haven't told anyone!"

"Gretchen!" Karen yelps. Cady's eyes go wide as Gretchen claps her hands over her mouth.

"Hey, it's okay," Cady soothes as Gretchen's eyes well with tears. "I won't tell anyone, I promise. Secret for a secret. I'm happy for you guys."

"Really?" Gretchen asks, her voice wobbling.

"Yeah, of course. I wouldn't do anything like that," Cady promises. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you," Karen murmurs as she pulls Gretchen into a hug to comfort her, carefully, so the stuff on their faces doesn't smear.

"Cady! Come on, your turn!" Regina yells from the bathroom. Cady hops up and runs in, leaving Gretchen and Karen to have a moment to themselves. "Bend over."

"Huh?"

"Did I stutter? Bend over. We gotta wash your hair," Regina huffs.

"Oh," Cady says. She takes her hair out of the ponytail she had it in and shakes out her curls before she bends over Regina's very nice bathtub. Regina sets the water on and makes sure it's warm, checking it with her hand before she turns it on Cady and starts hosing her down. Cady flinches as the water hits her scalp and starts running down her auburn hair. "Ack."

"Sorry," Regina says, not sounding sorry in the slightest. "Your hair is really soft."

"Thanks," Cady says. "It smells nice in here."

"My shampoo," Regina replies. That explains it.

Regina massages some into Cady's roots and leaves it for a few minutes before rinsing it out, once again with absolutely no warning. She follows it with something in a tub Cady can't read from this angle, raking it through the ends and harshly ripping apart a few tangles. Cady winces and tries not to say anything at the tearing sound of her hair or the harsh pulling at her scalp. Beauty is pain.

Regina is quick if she's anything. Cady can't have been in for more than two minutes before Regina is twisting her hair around itself, clipping it to the top of her head, and covering the lot in a shower cap. "Hair mask. Holds in the moisture."

"Cool," Cady says. Regina snorts.

"Sure. Alright, over here," she says, beckoning her to the sink. Cady looks in the very well-lit mirror and carefully adjusts the shower cap on her head. "Avocado or melon?"

"Hm? Um... melon, I guess," Cady says, thinking she's talking about a snack. She jumps as Regina approaches her face with some pink goop on a silicone brush.

"What? It's just a face mask, it's not gonna bite you," Regina huffs.

"Oh," Cady says. "Sorry, I've just never done one before."

"Oh yeah," Regina says. "It'll make your skin softer. Makeup will go on smoother, blah blah blah. It's an important step. Now don't talk."

Cady listens, shutting her mouth firmly and allowing Regina to brush it over her face. She shuts her eyes when prompted and feels Regina brush more onto her forehead.

"Okay, you're set. Tell Karen to come do me," Regina says, rinsing the brush off under the tap and screwing the lid back on the face mask.

"Okay," Cady nods. She heads back out to the bedroom. Gretchen and Karen practically leap apart and put a sensible amount of distance between them. "Sorry, just me. Oh, and Regina wants you to help with her hair and stuff, Karen."

Gretchen looked like she was about to stand when Cady mentioned Regina wanting someone, and her face falls when she says Karen's name. Karen just shrugs and heads into the bathroom, so Cady takes her spot sitting on Regina's bed.

"Did Regina seem mad at me?" Gretchen asks as soon as Cady hits the mattress. "I'm always the one who does her hair."

"I don't think so. She's probably just stressed about today," Cady says, trying to comfort her. "I mean, you haven't done anything to upset her. I don't see why she'd be mad at you."

"It's always something I miss," Gretchen says anxiously. "I'll just buy her something nice."

"I really don't think you have to. And you shouldn't have to, she's your friend," Cady says sadly. "Just try not to worry about it, tonight should be fun."

"Okay," Gretchen says, her voice a mere squeak. "Yeah, okay."

Cady gently squeezes her shoulder. "I got your back either way. I'll talk to her if she is mad, you don't have to worry."

"Thanks, Cady," Gretchen says with a smile.

"Of course."

They both jump when Regina slams the bathroom door open and comes strutting out to the bedroom. Karen follows rapidly, returning to her perch on the bed.

They all jump yet again when Regina's mother suddenly slams the other door open, rushing in with a pink book in one hand and a cocktail in the other. It's eleven thirty in the morning.

"Regina, baby, before I forget! Look at what I found in the back of your closet the other day," she squeals, doing a weird mix between a dance and a walk over to her daughter.

"Why were you in my closet?" Regina demands.

"I was just admiring your dress," her mother says. "Keeps me young. Anyway, I found your... Burn Book!"

"No way!" Gretchen and Karen squeal. They both rush up to gently take the book from her hand and start flipping through it.

"Oh, Cady, this was just the funniest thing they did a few ye-"

"Out, Mom!" Regina insists, pointing to the door.

"You got it, baby! Have fun, let me know if you-" Mrs. George says as she scurries back to the door. Regina glares at her, so she jumps straight to a, "Bye." and shuts the door behind her.

"Cady, come look," Karen says, beckoning her over with a wave.

"We cut out people's pictures from the yearbook and wrote in comments," Gretchen says. They flip to the first page. "Trang Pak is a grotsky little beeyotch."

Cady's met Trang Pak. They have history class together and she's on the junior varsity cheer squad. She doesn't know what grotsky or beeyotch mean, but it doesn't sound like anything good. Cady frowns. Trang doesn't speak all that much English, but she's really nice.

"Still true," Regina titters as she's doing something to her eyebrows at her vanity. Gretchen flips to the next page.

"Dawn Schweitzer is a fat virgin."

"Still half true."

Cady knows Dawn, too. Dawn is one of her bases in cheer, and she's always nice to her. She's frowning and thinking so hard she almost misses them reading the next page. "Janis Sarkisian, space dyke. Oh my god, I forgot about that!"

Almost.

Cady feels her heart skip a beat. What does that mean?

"Who's that?" Karen asks, pointing to the page. Cady takes the excuse to peek over their shoulders at the photo.

It's Janis a few years younger, maybe a freshman. Her hair is much blonder, less of the roots having grown in. She's also wearing what Cady recognizes as her infamous army jacket. Janis said she had been working on painting it for a few years, and she can see it as a work in progress in the photo. She has her arm around Damian, smiling at the camera, but Janis' eyes are... empty, almost.

"That's that kid Damian, remember?" Gretchen says. "He's one of Cady's bases."

"Yeah, he's almost too gay to function," Cady laughs affectionately, quoting what Janis told her a few weeks ago. She loves Damian.

Regina whirls around in her chair. "That's really funny."

"Oh, I didn't mean that in a bad way, I-"

"No, put that in," Gretchen insists, handing over the book. Regina passes her a Sharpie, so Cady hesitantly scrawls the comment with an arrow pointing to Damian. "Oh, and put in that stuff about Ms. Norbury, too! I'll get her picture. The Book is great for venting."

"Karen, we should rinse you out now," Regina says. Karen scrambles to her feet with a nod and runs to the bathroom while Gretchen cuts Ms. Norbury's photo out of the yearbook.

The moment is over, but Cady stares at the drying ink in the book. She tries not to think too hard about what she's done as she closes it and rests it on the velvet seat at the foot of Regina's bed.

—-

Before Cady totally knows what's happened, her hair is rinsed and brushed and braided up and her face mask is cleaned off and she's being patted dry with cushy towels.

"How do you want your makeup?" Regina asks as she dabs some preparatory skincare onto Cady's face.

Cady thinks for a second. Aaron dated Regina at some point. Some point recently. Maybe Regina is the kind of girl he likes. She can't be with him directly, but nothing says she can't try. "I dunno, like yours?"

"Gotcha," Regina says. Cady braces for another whirlwind as Regina taps varying products over her cheeks and swipes blush on with itchy brushes and puts on more layers of eyeshadow than Cady thinks an average girl would apply in her lifetime.

Within an hour, she's done, and her spot is vacated to make room for Karen. Gretchen gasps when she gets a good look at her in full glamorous makeup for the first time. "Oh, Cady, you look so pretty!"

"Thanks," Cady smiles. "Is it supposed to itch this much?"

"Yeah, just don't scratch," Gretchen chuckles. "Look."

She grabs a handheld mirror from Regina's vanity and holds it out so Cady can check herself out without being in anyone's way. Cady takes it and turns her head from side to side to see herself.

It's almost reminiscent of her cheerleading makeup, with less blue and other bright colors. Her eyeshadow is gold to match the sequins on her dress. It's packed on so thick Cady can't really open her eyes all the way, which apparently makes her look sexier. Somehow.

Again, her freckles are totally covered, packed away beneath a thick layer of foundation. Light bronzer makes her look less dead, and blush gives her cheeks an admittedly adorable rosiness. The lipstick is natural looking, which Cady is thankful for. Her lips but better, as Regina explained.

Her look is very similar to all three of her friends', which Cady supposes really solidifies their whole group motif situation. They look nice, even if they all do look like clones of each other.

Regina is more okay with her mother taking pictures of them this time. Cady thinks she understands the point of dances now that she's all decked out in her fancy makeup and pretty dress.

"Look at those fly bitches!" Mrs. George coos as she snaps an unfathomable amount of pictures in just a few seconds. "Oh, you girls look so beautiful!"

"Thanks, Mrs. George," Gretchen, Karen and Cady all say. Regina just smiles the slightest bit wider in response.

"Just one more!" Mrs. George says. "Okay, I'll let you go. Cady, honey, do your parents have Facebook? Instagram? Marco Polo?"

"Uh... I don't think so. But I can give you their phone numbers," Cady replies.

"That'll work," Mrs. George nods eagerly. She hands over her sequined-cased phone that's almost too big for Cady to hold and lets her enter her parents' numbers. "I'll get those sent off. You girls have fun! And remember to use protection!"

"Mom!" Regina groans. "Bye!"

"Bye!"

"We got a limo?" Cady asks in awe as Regina pulls open the door to the fancy vehicle.

"You picked the right lunch table, Cady," Regina smirks.

————-

"Whoa," Cady says when they step into the school. The theme for homecoming this year is loosely based on a casino. One of the PTA parents is working a 'bar' and serving up alcohol free cocktails, with others working blackjack tables and other 'gambling' events.

"Good evening, ladies, would you care for some gambling money?" Principal Duvall greets, offering little goody bags of Monopoly money and poker chips so they can participate in the events.

"No, thanks," Regina hums haughtily before any of the others can speak up. They walk further in, making their way to the gym where the main dance is set up. "I'll never understand why they come up with those bullshit themes. People are here to dance and find people to hook up with, not for a cheap impersonation of Vegas."

"Yeah," Gretchen scoffs. She listens for a second before she squeals, "Oh my god, it's our song!"

Someone grabs Cady's hand and hauls her towards the dance floor, so Cady runs along so she doesn't roll an ankle on these absurdly high heels.

She's surprised to see Regina dancing too. Regina said she only dances to slow songs so she doesn't sweat. Maybe one song is okay for her.

Cady doesn't know how she should dance. She danced to the music the people in the villages played in Kenya, or whatever her parents managed to get their hands on in terms of CD's. But the only people around for hundreds of miles back then were her parents and a few isolated villagers, and they're much less judgmental than American high schoolers.

She tries her best to follow along with her friends' movements. Before she knows it, the song is done. She's slightly out of breath, but she's having fun.

"Alright, I'm gonna go sit down," Regina says. "Later, bitches."

"I'm gonna go too, but I'll find you guys in a minute, okay?" Cady asks.

"Yeah, of course!" Karen says. "Have fun."

"You too! You guys deserve it," Cady says. "I'll be back."

Cady goes to lean against the nearby wall and people watch. For the budget they have, the school is remarkably well decorated. Lots of red streamers and gold confetti scattered around. Cady takes a moment to breathe and try to get used to the thumping bass and blaring music playing through the loudspeakers. The lights are both too dark and too bright at the same time, and Cady's already totally overwhelmed by it all. And her feet already hurt in her shoes.

She screams the slightest bit when someone slides up next to her with a, "Hey."

"Aah! Oh, Aaron! Hi!" she says. "You look so nice!" Hold me 'til the pain goes away, pleasepleaseplease.

"You do too. This dress looks amazing on you," Aaron replies, looking Cady up and down with a small smile.

"Thank you," Cady replies. "How are your friends?"

"I dunno, they all abandoned me as soon as we got here," Aaron says, leaning against the wall next to her with a small but adorable pout.

"That's rude," Cady frowns. "They shouldn't just ditch you like that."

"Nah, they're fine. I get to do my own thing this way," Aaron shrugs. "Like come talk to you."

"Then I'm glad they ditched you," Cady grins, turning her head to look at him. "God, these shoes are the worst!"

"They look painful," Aaron acknowledges with a grimace. "I thought you looked taller."

"Four inches taller," Cady grumbles, rubbing the ball of her sore foot. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I never understood why girls wear those," Aaron says with a shake of his head. "Probably best to keep them on, though, god knows what's gonna be on this floor tonight."

"Ew," Cady whimpers. "Thanks for the tip, though."

"Anytime," Aaron chuckles. "Hey, uh... do you wanna dance?" he asks, offering her a hand. Cady grins and smooths down the skirt of her dress before she takes it.

"I would love to."

Aaron leads her out to the dance floor. Cady wishes she'd had the foresight to request a slow song, but she'll take the upbeat poppy one playing if it means she gets to dance with the boy of her dreams.

Dancing is a bit of a loose descriptor. They're actually just jumping up and down to the beat of the song, or as close to it as they can be fussed to get. Their hands are still linked, and Cady boldly shifts to twine their fingers together. Aaron pulls her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles, making Cady blush furiously beneath her wide smile.

They both deflate a bit when the song ends, pausing their dancing and looking at each other.

"Can I tell you something?" Cady murmurs.

"Yeah, of course. Anything," Aaron replies gently. "What is it?"

"I really-"

"What?!" Aaron yells as another song picks up. Cady sighs. Maybe now isn't the right time.

"Never mind," she says. "I'm gonna go get a drink, do you want anything?"

"Nah, thanks. I'll be here!" Aaron says, starting to dance like a madman once again. Cady giggles at his antics and heads over to the drinks table.

"I wouldn't drink that," a voice says as she pours herself a cup of punch. Cady whirls around in shock, and smiles when she sees Janis. "Already been spiked. Stick with water if you don't want a wilder night than I think you're expecting."

"Thanks," Cady replies with a grateful smile, leaving the cup on the table for someone who wants a buzz to take. Janis nods, but when Cady looks up after pouring herself some water, she's gone.

She finds out why when Regina is there instead. "Why were you talking to her?"

"I wasn't, she was here when I got here," Cady says. "I think she spiked the punch with something."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Regina hums, leaning casually against the bleachers. "She's probably planning some big lesbian orgy and trying to get everyone drunk."

"Probably," Cady agrees. It never gets easier, talking about one of the only decent people she knows like that.

"So how're things going with Aaron? I saw you two talking earlier," Regina says, a glint of something in her eye.

"You're not mad?" Cady asks sheepishly. "I know you... I mean, uh... that he just broke up with you. That must've been hard."

"Oh my god, of course I'm not mad," Regina says, seeming aghast at the mere suggestion. "I'm, like, totally over him. If you want... I could talk to him for you."

"You'd do that?" Cady asks.

"Of course! We're friends, aren't we?"

"Thank you so much, Regina," Cady says, sagging in relief. "Just don't say anything totally embarrassing, please?"

"I gotcha. I'll go right now," Regina hums, pushing off the wall and strutting in Aaron's direction. Cady hastily pours herself another cup of water and chugs it all in one go.

She tries not to make it too obvious that she's watching them, not wanting to seem like a total creeper. She does give a small, shy wave when both Aaron and Regina look in her direction, but beyond that she doesn't risk anything beyond an occasional glance.

Cady is confused when they seem to be getting closer together every time she looks their way.

Her worst fears are realized when she looks up and sees they're no longer there. She looks around the gym, trying to see where they've gone, and finds them on the dance floor. Regina is practically wrapped around Aaron, her arms linked behind his neck and his hands dangerously low on her hips. Regina meets Cady's eyes, a mocking, knowing look in her own before she pulls Aaron down for a kiss.

Cady blinks back tears that threaten to spill and turns around, dropping her cup behind her. The water splashes onto her shoes, but she doesn't care. All she can think about is getting out.

She runs out of the gym and out of the building, ending up on a small staircase that's meant to be a fire escape. She leans against the railing and breaks down.

She should've known. Regina would have never volunteered to do something like that for her without expecting something in return. Without a catch. And what a catch she's gotten.

Of course Aaron would pick Regina over her. Of course he'd pick the girl he's been with before, the one with experience, the one he knows. The pretty one, the hot one, the tall one, the... everything one.

Cady is nothing.

She's not sure how long she's out there, feeling the brisk wind against her bare arms and listening to the birds who have been brave enough to stick around this late into autumn. The one benefit of it being so chilly is that the sky is clearer.

Cady looks up at it, looking at the billions of stars surrounding her. They're not as comforting, anymore. Now they just make her feel small. Even more insignificant than she already felt.

It's not like it really matters. She can barely see them through her tears, anyway.

She about startles out of her skin when the door opens again behind her, whirling around in shock.

Of course it's Janis.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you," she says gently. She heads up next to her, leaning on her elbows against the railing and looking up at the sky with Cady. "Nice night."

"Yeah," Cady sighs, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

"You okay?" Janis asks lowly. "I know we don't... know each other all that well, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just wanted to check, I guess."

"Regina... Regina took Aaron back," Cady sniffs. "She just took him back."

Janis gasps gently, but it seems almost like that wasn't too surprising to her. "I'm sorry."

Cady doesn't know how to respond. It's not okay. Cady does care, a lot. She really likes Aaron. She is hurt.

"It's not-not your fault," is what she settles on after a long beat.

"Need a hug?" Janis murmurs gently. Cady nods, not even bothering to check for people who might see them before she sinks into an embrace with her... friend. She thinks she can call Janis that now.

If she couldn't before, she definitely can after this. Janis just holds her close, gently but with the occasional squeeze. She doesn't even mention the tears and snot soaking into the shoulder of her very nice blazer. Janis seems totally unbothered by it. Content just to let Cady do what she needs to do.

"Sorry," Cady sniffles when she pulls back. "I dunno where that came from. I'll get that dry cleaned for you."

"S'alright," Janis shrugs. "Don't worry about it. Hey, um... Damian and I were gonna ditch early and go get waffles, would you... maybe wanna come?"

That sounds amazing, getting away from the too-loud music and lights that hurt her head. And away from her, most of all. But...

"I can't," Cady says apologetically. "I'm sorry. I'd really like to, I just... can't... let her win. I can't let her ruin this night for me."

"Dangerous game," Janis chuckles lowly. Something about it makes the hair on the back of Cady's neck stand up. It's... a warning. "Well, if you're staying, we should fix your makeup."

"Shit, I didn't bring any," Cady realizes.

"Gimme two seconds," Janis says, hauling the heavy door back open and running inside. Cady waits, getting colder and more confused by the second.

Janis returns, as promised, with Damian and a large bag of makeup in tow. Damian coos sadly when he sees Cady's tear-stained face. He gently pulls her into a hug and gives her a squeeze before he pulls her back to observe his canvas.

"Theatre kid," Janis explains when he pulls out some makeup wipes and gets right to work. Cady lets him gently wipe off her ruined makeup and swipe on a quick replacement look. It looks similar enough to what she started with that she doesn't think anyone will be able to tell the difference.

"Thanks," Cady says with a sniffle. Damian holds up a mirror so she can see herself. She almost likes this look better. The foundation he used is thinner, so her freckles actually show through, and her eyeshadow compliments her eye shape more than the old makeup did. "I love it."

"Anytime. You sure you don't wanna come with us?" Damian asks. Cady nods.

"Some other time. But you guys have fun," she replies. She jumps as Damian spritzes her with some setting spray, coughing a bit as she accidentally inhales some.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," Cady giggles. "Thank you."

"We gotcha," Janis says with a wink. "Knock 'em dead, Caddy."

Cady wraps her in another hug, squeezing her so so tightly in thanks. Janis squeezes her back before she turns her around and sends her back into the gym with a pat to her shoulder.

Cady heads right back to the drinks table and grabs yet another cup of water. She chugs it, making extra sure not to smudge the very nice lipstick Damian applied.

Cady feels better once the ice cold water is settled in her stomach. She walks over to Gretchen and Karen, who are taking a break from the dancing to sit on the bleachers and people watch. "Hey!"

"Hey!" they reply, beckoning her over to sit with them.

"I saw Regina with Aaron," Gretchen says. "Are you okay?"

"Oh my god, of course!" Cady says like it's obvious. I've never been less okay in my life, Gretchen, but thanks. "She must've, like, really wanted him back if she was willing to take him like that. I'm glad they're working their stuff out. Do you guys wanna go dance?"

"Uh... sure," Karen agrees. She seems to catch on to Cady's odd demeanor more than Gretchen does, but wisely doesn't bring it up.

Gretchen and Karen follow her back to the dance floor. Both of them squeal when the next song comes on, some upbeat pop song both of them love but Cady doesn't recognize. She dances along anyway.

She looks over her shoulder at Regina as she holds hands with Gretchen and Karen and dances around. Regina has a challenging look, almost a glare, in her eyes. Waiting to see Cady's response, what she'll do, what she dares to try.

So Cady just smiles.

To anyone else watching, it's a friend smiling at a friend. But Cady knows. Regina knows. A smile can be a threat.

This one says you may have won the battle, but I will win the war.

A declaration.

May the best girl win.

————-

hope you enjoyed!!

here's the links to everyone's dresses! the colors aren't exactly what i was envisioning for most of them but the styles are so just bear that in mind :

regina: https://www.lucyinthesky.com/shop/giulia-square-neck-dress-in-pink-sequins

gretchen: https://www.lucyinthesky.com/shop/doe-power-mesh-long-sleeve-dress-in-purple

karen: https://www.elliewilde.com/ellie-wilde/fall-2020/ew22018s

cady: https://www.promgirl.com/shop/dresses/viewitem-PD2420297

have a lovely day!

#cadnis #paint by numbers #space safari #cady heron x janis sarkisian #cady x janis #cady heron #janis sarkisian #regina george #gretchen wieners #karen smith #aaron samuels #damian hubbard #mean girls #mean girls musical #mean girls broadway #mean girls the musical #mean girls on broadway #picking teams

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haikyuuhoo · 4 years ago

Text

Study “Dates”

Pairing: Sugawara x Reader

Summary: In which you attend a study date session with Suga.

Words: 2.0k

Warnings: None! Just fluff :)

A/N: It’s snowing here and I miss coffee shop study sessions so enjoy this fluff I wrote bc I want to go on a study date with Suga.

Your palm rested against your cheek as you gazed out the window, watching as snow fell and created a fluffy white blanket on the ground. The door to the coffee shop jingled, but you didn’t pay it any mind—it had become part of the soundtrack for your studying anyway.

“It doesn’t look like you’re getting much work done.”

You looked up as you heard the teasing voice call down to you and shake you out of your daydream. Sugawara set his bag down in the seat across from you. Snowflakes dusted the shoulders of his jacket, and you watched with a smile as some of them fluttered to the floor like their counterparts outside when he shrugged the layer off. He ran a hand through his hair to ruffle it and get the snow out of it too, and you couldn’t help the way your heart skipped a beat as you gazed at him.

“I was waiting for you,” you quipped back, a smirk tugging at the corners of your lips when you pulled your notebook from your bag.

He hummed, giving you a smile in return. His cheeks and nose were tinged pink from the cold. “I’m gonna get a drink. Do you want your usual?” he asked, jerking a thumb over his shoulder before beginning to remove his scarf and his gloves.

“Oh, sure, let me just get my wallet,” you murmured the last part, turning to your bag to search for it.

He shook his head and smiled wider. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay,” he assured you, and he left to go order your drinks before you could protest.

You watched him walk away, chewing on your lip and feeling your cheeks heat up.

It’s not a date, you reminded yourself, quickly busying yourself with getting out the assignment the two of you were supposed to be working on before he could catch you staring. We’re just studying.

A few minutes passed and a drink was set in front of you, tearing your attention away from your laptop.

“I’m sorry I was late,” he said softly before settling into his seat.

Your hands wrapped around the cup, relishing the warmth before you took a sip. “It’s fine, Suga, I wasn’t waiting very long,” you promised.

“Well I don’t like keeping you waiting,” he said softly, opening his bag and taking out his own materials. “I’m sure you’ve got more interesting things to do than study.”

You scoffed, turning your head away to look outside again. “Hardly,” you sighed. You wished that were true, but you were so busy between work and school this semester that you felt like you didn’t even have time to sleep. You wished you could be more like your roommate who tried urging you out to parties on numerous occasions, but you always declined, finding yourself cooped up in your room with your nose in a textbook more often than not.

He tilted his head, and his signature soft smile graced his face. “I doubt that,” he teased, “but I have to say I’m glad you’re here with me instead.”

You could feel the heat tingle in your cheeks and you turned to look at him again. “Well we do have to have this done by Monday,” you teased back with a grin. You liked this. Even if it wasn’t a date, the time you spent with Suga was always nice. It felt natural, easy, even if all you were doing was working on homework together.

“Then we should get going, huh?”

You nodded and took a deep breath before looking back at your laptop. “Yeah, we should.”

After he finished getting his things out and settling in, a comfortable silence fell between you two, broken only when either of you needed to ask for clarification on a topic or request a review of your section. The chatter of the other shop patrons coupled with the smell of coffee and the snow falling outside created a nice ambiance for the two of you to work in.

You looked up to ask him a question about something in the reading and found him already looking at you. Your words were lost in your throat and you felt your stomach do a flip when he didn’t look away.

“Hmm?” was all he said, urging you to ask whatever was on your mind.

“I-I—uh…” you sputtered, and he chuckled.

“You’re cute,” he mused before dropping his gaze back to his notes, leaving you with your mouth open in shock. You couldn’t place the tone, unsure of whether he meant it in his usual friendly teasing way or in the way you hoped he meant it.

You quickly ducked your head to go back to your reading, question long forgotten.

The two of you studied for a couple hours, and one of the workers brought by a plate of cookies once they noticed how long the two of you had been there. They set the plate between you and smiled, telling you they hoped you were having a good date, which sent both of you into nervous sputterings of “It-It’s not a date,” and “Oh, um, thank you, but we’re not—” to which they just chuckled and apologized, but not before glancing between the two of you and turning around with a knowing smile.

You adverted your gazes from each other, silently agreeing not to speak of the interaction. You both went back to your work, each with warm cheeks and the beginnings of butterflies fluttering their delicate wings in your stomachs.

You reached over to take a cookie off the plate with your gaze still focused on your laptop. And at the same time, however, Suga did too, and you both pulled your hands away when your fingertips brushed each other. “Sorry,” you whispered, wide-eyed gaze landing on his as he shook his head.

“Go ahead,” he breathed before clearing his throat and looking back at his work in an attempt to appear unphased.

“Thanks,” you murmured, retrieving a cookie from the plate and taking a small bite. You couldn’t shake the way your fingertips tingled as if his touch shocked your skin, and you bit the inside of your lip as you tried to refocus on your assignment.

When the two of you were finally packing up your things, signaling the end of another successful study session, Suga offered to walk you home.

“Are you sure?” you asked, tugging the strap of your bag over your shoulder. You knew he lived in the opposite direction, and you didn’t want him to go out of his way for you, especially not in this weather.

“Positive,” he said with a smile. He pulled his gloves on and then grabbed his bag, lifting the strap over his head before letting it settle on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t want you to walk by yourself with it snowing like this.”

You nodded, trying to fight the grin that was threatening to break out across your face. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

His smile widened and he walked to the door of the shop with you, holding it open for you as you exited. You walked side by side and he couldn’t help but notice the way you buried your hands deeper in your pockets, shoulders coming up in an attempt to shelter your ears from the cold. He unwrapped his scarf from around his neck and held it out to you. “Here.”

You looked up at him and your breath caught in your throat. “Are you sure?”

He laughed, starting to wrap the scarf around your neck himself. “Stop asking me that. I wouldn’t offer if I weren’t sure,” he said softly, and your heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in his tone.

“I just don’t want to be a bother,” you admitted, though you could already feel yourself warming up as he wrapped the scarf high on your neck so it nearly covered your ears.

“You could never be a bother to me,” he whispered, gazing down at you with an emotion you couldn’t quite place.

You pulled the scarf over your nose to hide your grin.

“Thank you, Suga.”

“Any time,” he hummed, and you could have sworn he took a step closer to you, able to feel his arm brushing yours even through all your layers.

“What did you mean when you said you didn’t have anything more interesting to do than study?” he asked after a while, looking down at you and smiling as he noticed the way snowflakes stuck to your eyelashes.

You shrugged your shoulders. “Exactly what it sounds like. It feels like all I’ve done this semester is work and study. I go to class and then I go to work and then I come home and study and go to bed,” you explained, inwardly cringing at how boring you sounded.

He laughed, and you looked up to see his head thrown back. “So what you’re saying is you really need to get out more.”

You pressed your lips together and looked away. “Don’t make fun of me, Suga,” you huffed.

“C’mon, you’re only in your twenties once,” he teased, nudging you with his elbow. “You can be all boring and stuffy when you’ve got a career.”

“I am not boring!” you protested.

“Tell that to your color-coordinated notes,” he teased with a grin, and you felt your ears heat up in embarrassment.

“I happen to like my notes, thank you very much. And it doesn’t make me boring, it makes me organized,” you said with a pout.

He hummed, keeping his gaze straight ahead with a smile lingering on his face. “Whatever you say.”

Once the two of you reached your home you turned to look at him. “Thanks for walking me home,” you said softly. “And thank you for letting me borrow this.” You reached up and began to remove his scarf from around your neck, but he placed a hand over yours to stop you.

“Keep it. You can wear it when we go back next week.”

Your eyebrows knitted together as you looked up at him in confusion. “But we don’t have anything assigned for next week yet.”

He shrugged and gave you a smile that caused warmth to bloom in your chest. “We might. And even if we don’t, we can still go back. On a real date this time,” he said softly.

Your eyes widened. “A real date?” you breathed.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled, nose scrunching up in a way that you found so incredibly cute. “A real date,” he affirmed. “If you’d like to, that is.”

“Yeah,” you said quickly, the breath puffing into a cloud between the two of you. “I’d really like that.”

“Great,” he breathed, and then he leaned down to press a kiss to your cheek. Sugawara was suddenly very glad for the way the cold caused his own cheeks to turn red, knowing that meant you couldn’t see the way he was blushing beneath it. He took a step backward, turning to head in the direction of his own home. “I promise I won’t be late next time!”

You couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you as you watched him step back out into the snow. “You’d better not be, or you’ll owe me another date to make up for it.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets, his usual soft smile turning into a smirk. “Don’t make promises like that or I might be late every time.”

You bit your lip and leaned back against your front door. “I’ll take what I can get as long as I get to see you.”

He shook his head, a beautiful laugh escaping his lips. “I’ll let you see me as much as you want.”

You hesitated, and as soon as you felt a bout of courage surge through your veins you acted on it before it could escape. You nodded your head toward the door. “How about you come inside then?”

He raised an eyebrow, eyes glinting with amusement. “I’d be glad to.”

You reached into your bag and retrieved your keys, unlocking the front door and pushing it open. You held your hand out to him with a smile. “C’mon then. I can’t go on a date with you if you freeze out there.”

He chuckled and stepped back up onto your patio, taking your hand and letting you lead him inside. “Well we wouldn’t want that.”

“No,” you laughed and kicked the door closed, “we wouldn’t.”

#sugawara x reader #sugawara koushi x reader #suga x reader #sugawara x reader fluff #suga x reader fluff #fluff #haikyuu #sugawara #sugawara koushi #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu fluff #haikyuu x reader fluff #my writing

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prayedtoyou · 5 years ago

Text

overrated - read it on ao3

<< when you get home, will you help me with a project?

>> sure thing. i have to stop by the gas station on my way back, want anything?

<< yeah, grab me some of those chocolate covered raisins that i like

>> you got it. see you in 15

Dean had plans to go home after his three classes of the day to watch Netflix with his hand in his pants and eat pepper jack Cheez-Its until his stomach hurt, but he supposes it wouldn’t hurt to cancel those plans to help out his roommate for a few hours. Dean doesn’t often interrupt plans with himself, especially on a day where he doesn’t have any homework and he doesn’t have to show up for a shift at the salvage yard, but Cas is someone Dean doesn’t mind giving up a few luxuries for.

Dean met Cas in their Design 101 class during freshman year. It was nothing more than a foundation class, one that Dean and Cas had to take in pursuit of their BFA degrees in film and television, and photography, respectively. Dean expected to jack off to the course by flirting with the fellow classmates while still paying just enough attention to pass the class and turn in projects and assignments on time, but when Cas started sitting next to him in the third week of the semester and heckled him about listening to the professor and taking better notes, Dean really started to buckle down and take it a little more seriously.

They’ve been friends ever since. They had late night study sessions during their first year when they were only an elevator ride away from each other’s dorm rooms. Their first college summer was mostly spent at the Biggerson’s just off SCAD’s campus where Cas served tables; Dean would come in to bother him, drink coffee, and take advantage of the free WiFi. They found an apartment they could barely afford just south of the metro area and moved in a week before the new school year started. They still have that same apartment.

This was to Charlie’s disappointment, at first. She had suggested moving in together before Cas had and Dean had been on the fence about it. He loved Charlie, they got along, she understood his nerdy references, they had similar taste in women--but he had been holding out for another photography major to make his move. She quickly forgave him when she met and later moved in with her girlfriend, Dorothy.

There was just something about Cas that set him apart from Dean’s other friends. It might have to do with how passionate Cas was about his classes and major; since sixth grade, he’s known that he would grow up to be a photographer for National Geographic so he could travel the world and take pictures of all his favorite creatures. Or it might have to do with his sense of humor--a little dark and always just flirtatious enough to make Dean wonder just how serious he is and whether or not he should laugh or take him up on his offers.

More than likely, though, it has to do with how attractive he is, how his smile is so bright it puts the sun to shame, how his laugh makes Dean’s heart swell up like a helium balloon, how he’s intelligent and eloquent, but also absolutely clueless about a lot of stuff Dean considers to be required life knowledge. Does most of that knowledge revolve around Star Wars, Back to the Future, and Indiana Jones movie references? Yes, but that’s beside the point.

And that’s what led Dean to living with the guy for going on three years, to spending entire days dedicated to showing Cas his favorite movies and shows, to picking up dark chocolate Raisinets on his way home from school, to walking into their apartment and calling out Cas’s name just like Ricky Ricardo.

Cas shouts back from the opposite side of the apartment where their bedrooms are. Dean finds Cas in his room, furniture pushed away from one wall and replaced with Cas’s favorite reading chair from the living room (that old, forest-green armchair that Cas found at an antique store on the Savannah River that Dean verbally hated, but secretly used when Cas wasn’t around because it’s about the most comfortable thing in the world), and a camera set up on a tripod facing the chair. Cas is wearing that white button down that looks especially good against the tan he got over the summer, the one that matches Dean’s after they spent several long days on Tybee Island right before their senior year started.

“So, what’s the project?” Dean asks, handing over the box of Raisinets. He curses at himself for forgetting to get a snack of his own while he was out.

Cas takes the box with a smile. “Thanks, Dean. This one is based on touch and what emotions it brings out in us, but we can’t have more than one subject in the shot. So, I need you to put this on.” Cas reaches out and drops a small black object into Dean’s palm.

It’s… a tube of lipstick.

“Uh, Cas? I thought we’ve established that I’m not really much of a model.”

Cas rolls his eyes, no doubt remembering the arguments they had on the river walk during their second year when Cas tried to shoot Dean for an assignment that ended up with them deciding that Dean would stick with filming and Cas would recruit performing arts majors to be his models. “I know, I'm not taking pictures of you, you’re taking pictures of me. I already have the camera focused and everything, you just need to put that on, give me a few kisses, and snap some pictures.”

Dean’s brain short-circuits. “K-kisses?”

“Yeah. I’m using lipstick kisses to represent my past relationships and how I feel about them touching me. Just cheek and forehead kisses. We’re not going to be Frenching or anything.”

“Oh.” Dean looks down at the lipstick, caught somewhere between disappointment and relief, wondering if it would be better or worse if these kisses were meant for Cas’s lips instead of the rest of his face. Would it even be right of him to take Cas up on this offer when he already fantasizes about putting kisses all over Cas’s skin? Would it be wrong for their first kisses to be over some project? “I don’t know how I feel about this, Cas.”

“About what, kissing me? They’re not even real kisses, you just have to pucker up like you're kissing your mom.”

Dean chews on his lip. Would it be so bad to take advantage of the situation and indulge in something he’s wanted since their second semester together? Shouldn’t he be a good friend and roommate and help Cas with his project, no matter the requirements?

Cas must see the uncertainty in Dean’s expression because he continues with, “Come on, Dean, we’re graduating next semester, we’re practically professionals. Are you really going to be embarrassed about a little lipstick when you could be filming HBO sex scenes a year from now?”

Dean looks back up at Cas. If he’s going to insist, who is Dean to tell him no? “Alright, asshole, I’ll do it. But you owe me.”

Cas smiles wide and, damn, Dean would wear lipstick every day if it meant Cas would look at him like that. “Okay, there’s a mirror behind you. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just put some on and lay it on me.”

Dean turns to find Cas’s mirror hung up with his portfolio. Photos are hung, tacked, and taped up from vacations, day trips, school projects, and family holidays. Dean is up there a few times: laughing on the opposite side of the table from Cas at Biggerson’s, a selfie of the two of them under the unflattering flash of a smartphone in a dark movie theater, the only good shot Cas got of Dean that day on the river walk, Dean asleep on the couch with a book folded up in his arms like a teddy bear.

Dean didn’t even know Cas took that last one.

He puts on the lipstick, ignoring the photos of himself. It’s definitely not as easy as he thought it would be--staying inside the lines was something he’s improved upon since childhood, but crayons are a lot different from makeup. He manages to swipe the color onto his face, grimacing at the taste of it.

When he looks back at Cas, all he gets is a blank stare and a slight nod. Feeling less than confident with deep red lips, Dean steps up to the plate.

“Where do you want it?”

Dean can hear the click of Cas’s throat as he swallows. He raises a hand, pointing to the knob of his left cheekbone.

“Here.”

Dean steps just a little closer. Cas is about his height, maybe an inch shorter, but it’s not even noticeable when Dean tilts Cas’s face up with a finger and thumb gently pinching his chin. He leans in and--smells Cas’s shampoo, notices the pores on his nose, finds trimmed whiskers along his cheeks--presses his lips right where Cas wanted them.

With the lipstick, Dean can’t taste Cas’s skin, but he can smell the face wash where his nose is sticking into Cas’s temple. Like pomegranates.

When he pulls away, he knows he’s blushing, but he has no way of hiding it, so he just smiles and says, “That’s a good color for you.”

Cas, a little pink himself, scoffs. “Just take the picture, Taylor Swift.”

Cas takes his seat, Dean steps behind the camera. He clicks the shutter button a few times, watching Cas’s face on the screen. He’s leaning his face up and slightly away, lips parted, eyes cast toward the door instead of the lense. It’s a great angle to show off that jawline of his.

Dean was never destined to be a model, but Cas looks just as good in photos as he does in real life. He knows exactly how to position himself, which light to use, how his face should look. He could model, if he ever wanted. Dean asked him if he would star in a short film Dean had to film, but Cas just laughed and said if he wanted to act he would have gone into performing arts.

“That should be enough,” Cas notes, and Dean realizes that he had taken way too many photos while thinking about Cas’s face. He backs away from the camera. “I’ll need a fresh layer for each kiss, so apply some more lipstick.”

Dean does as he’s told and goes back to Cas to kiss him again. This time it’s just above Cas’s right eyebrow. They go on like this a handful more times, until Cas has lipstick stains across his entire face. Each time feels like the first, and Dean has a harder and harder time removing his lips from Cas’s skin as they progress through the photos. Cas doesn’t seem to be as phased--he sits right down and assumes his pose. In each and every picture, Cas mostly just looks sad.

“Why do you look like that?” Dean finally asks after the sixth kiss, snapping pictures.

Cas unfurrows his brow and looks up from the floor. “Like what?”

“Like your dog just died.”

Cas cracks a small smile. “These kisses represent each of my exes and how I felt about my relationships with them.”

“They were all that bad?”

“They certainly weren’t good. After being cheated on, left for someone else, and dumped over text, I don’t exactly have fond memories of most of these people.”

“I remember when that dickhead Balth slept with that web designer. You didn’t leave the house for a week.”

“You took me to the Atlanta Aquarium and pointed at all the ugliest fish and said they looked like him.”

“And I was right. ”

When Cas smiles broadly, Dean sneaks in another picture. The shutter of the lense gives him away, but Cas doesn’t mention it.

“Remember when I watched 500 Days of Summer eight times in two days?” Cas asks. “That’s because Hannah kept telling me she didn’t want a relationship and ended up leaving me for someone who she got engaged to after five months.”

Dean chuckles low under his breath. “Yeah, I remember. I had to force you into the shower and then we went out for burgers.”

“And when Gadreel drunk texted me all the things he hated about me--”

“We toilet papered his frat house and went to a baseball game the next day. We got so sunburnt.”

Cas laughs at the memory and Dean captures it with the camera. He looks so much better like this, happy and covered in kisses from someone who actually cares about him. He deserves to be this happy for the rest of his life.

Cas sobers up and looks at Dean. His expression is soft, something closer to adoration than anything else. Dean wonders if he’s just amused by the makeup.

“You were always there for me, Dean.”

Since Dean can’t take a compliment to save his life, he shrugs it off. “I was just trying to be a good friend. You did the same for me when Lisa and I broke up.”

They go quiet for a moment. Dean reflects back on the two weeks after their break up. Dean was drinking daily, taking whiskey in a travel mug to his classes, going to bars at night, falling asleep on the couch with a bottle in his hands. It took Cas several tries to get him out of his rut, first by asking Dean what was wrong, then by requesting that he eat something solid, and finally by whacking him with his rolled up yoga mat until Dean cleaned himself up and changed into some fresh clothes.

Dean had grumbled about it for a few days, but it was just what he needed. He couldn’t mope around forever and fall into a pit of alcoholism just because his year-long girlfriend finally got fed up with his shit. Cas spent extra time with him that month, changing his schedule and cancelling plans to hang out or do homework in the same room as him, occasionally reaching out to lay a hand on Dean’s shoulder or knocking their feet together to remind him that he wasn’t alone. It helped tremendously.

The worst part wasn’t losing Lisa, it was coming to terms with everything he had been trying to deny since he was seventeen. His attraction to men was something he first noticed when a new kid came to his high school and he fell for the linebacker build and honey-sweet Cajun accent. But after dating women exclusively his whole life, the last thing he wanted was for Cas to feel like some sort of experiment.

“What happened? With Lisa. You never told me.”

Cas catches his eye, but Dean directs his gaze away quickly, suddenly finding the curves of the camera very interesting.

“I, um… I wasn’t very good to her. I was kind of using her to get past a crush I had on someone, but it didn’t go away and she said she couldn’t keep living like that. Like she was competing to be my girlfriend. I don’t blame her one bit, she was right to leave me. I just thought, if it was just a crush, it wouldn’t be a problem once I was with someone else, but when I couldn’t stop liking them…”

Dean chances a look at Cas, who looks just as sad as he had in those pictures. His eyes are wide and it almost looks comical with all the lipstick kisses on his face.

“I realized it was more than just some crush,” Dean finishes lamely.

Every part of him wants to tell Cas. But what would be the point? The two of them will graduate and Cas will become the next most famous National Geographic photographer and Dean will be looking for work as a camera holder on low budget movies and shows that may or may not be cancelled halfway through filming. He could always turn to porn as a last resort, but he'll never make it as far as Cas and he’ll never make it with Cas.

In the beginning, he didn’t want to ruin their relationship. They worked well together, whether it was study sessions or getting back at exes or picking out mismatching furniture at second-hand stores. He worried about losing his friend. Now he doesn’t want to say anything because he knows he’s going to lose Cas one way or another, and it will hurt less if they don’t get involved with each other any more than they already are.

Cas takes a deep breath, processing the information. He searches the room. His eyes land back on the camera.

“I have one more shot to get.”

Dean blinks. It’s what he expected. It wouldn’t matter if Dean subtly tried to imply how in love he is with Cas or if he bluntly told him, he would always get the cold shoulder. It’s for the best, he tries to convince himself. Any other way would just end in a bigger heartbreak than necessary.

He turns back to the mirror. He finds the photo of him and Cas in the movie theater again. He can’t remember what movie they saw, but their faces are nearly touching and Dean’s arm is around Cas and he wishes more than anything that he’d taken the chance to kiss him back then. Because, what’s the quote? ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Does it count when Dean is, technically, in love, but just hasn’t voiced it yet?

With a new coat of lipstick, he faces Cas again. He’s standing in the middle of the room, right next to the camera, ready for his last kiss. Dean musters up all his fake confidence and closes the distance between them, standing just a little closer than he had before.

“And this time?” Dean asks.

Cas looks hesitant. Maybe he’s finally realizing that he should have chosen someone else to kiss him over and over again. Someone who he wouldn’t have to awkwardly live with afterwards. Someone who wouldn’t have made a straightforward project into something uncomfortable.

His hand comes up to his face. He points a single finger to his bottom lip.

“Here.”

Dean’s breath catches in his throat. He hunts for any sort of lie in Cas’s eyes, any indication that he didn’t want it, that he wanted to take it back. But Cas just looks right back at him, waiting, patient.

Dean fits the corner of Cas’s jaw into the center of his palm, runs his thumb across Cas’s cheek. A lipstick kiss smears under the pad of his finger, wiping into nothing but a blur, just like the memory of whichever lover that one was meant to be.

When their lips meet, Dean forgets about every single reason he didn’t let himself have this before. Everything in his head melts away until there’s just Cas and mouth and hands and Cas and Cas and Cas.

Cas doesn’t hold back. He grips Dean’s waist like a life raft in the middle of the ocean, opens his mouth and moans when Dean slips his tongue in. He takes everything Dean gives him. He moves his head aside when Dean trails his mouth along his jaw and down his neck, kissing and sucking and nipping at the skin. Dean pulls him closer, desperate to feel as much of Cas as he possibly can.

Dean feels like he’s shaking, or maybe vibrating, with need. Everything is tilting, moving, wavering around him. The lights could blow and he wouldn't even notice, he’s too wrapped up, too confused about which way is left or right.

Their mouths come together again and the world straightens out on its axis. They slow down, brushing their lips together the way pages of a book slide against one another. They take their time. They learn the way they move with each other.

Eventually, they part. Not to gasp for breath, but to rest their foreheads together; to align their hearts. Between them, Dean can smell Cas’s toothpaste and taste the lipstick.

“We should do projects together more often,” Dean concludes humorlessly.

“I think we should skip the projects and just make out,” Cas counters.

Dean pulls back to laugh quietly at Cas, but then sees his face. Cas is covered in lipstick, all around his mouth, his chin, across his jaw, down his neck. The makeup follows the patterns of Dean’s kisses, right down to where he had sucked Cas’s earlobe into his mouth.

He lets loose, practically wheezing at the state of Cas’s face. Dean’s must look similar, because Cas erupts into laughter too and they both sink into each other, bodies convulsing in their arms.

“Come on, come on. One more picture,” Cas begs, pulling out of Dean’s grasp and positioning himself on the chair. He couldn't wipe that smile off his face if he tried, and it looks like he isn’t putting in any effort at all to push it away.

Dean presses the shutter button three times, hoping at least one of them is a good shot, before diving around the camera to pull Cas into his embrace again.

The lipstick ends up on chests, wrist, bed sheets, and hips, but they don’t mind. They might even keep the tube for another time.

tags below the cut!

#destiel #fanfic #my work #destiel college au

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perregrinstudiessometimes · 5 years ago

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Study tips/school advice

1- Once you get your syllabi put all of the due dates in your calendar

2- Make an assignment sheet for each class that you can look at throughout the year

3- Make a full assignment sheet with all due dates from all of your classes (organized by date)

4- Don’t be afraid to email your professors if you have a question that you can’t answer on your own

5- Be sure to send thank you emails to your professor when they help you with something

6- Don’t be afraid to go to your professor’s office hours. They exist for a reason (if you are not available during the professor’s office hours email them to find a time when you are both free)

7- Check your email! Seriously just do it! Check at least once a day! (but preferably more!)

8- If you don’t understand something do your best to get a good understanding of it as (if you have the same bad luck as I do) the one thing you don’t understand will most likely show up on the test. Don’t just hope it won’t show up on the test!

9- Don’t cram before an exam! Schedule your time so that you can relax/rest the night before the test (I will admit I normally take a glance over my notes the morning of the exam, but this is used as a refresher not an attempt for last-minute learning.

10- I see a lot of people suggest that you read through the whole exam before answering any questions. I would not recommend this as most exams are timed. Instead, I would suggest going through the exam in order skipping questions you don’t know to come back to later. (this way you can maximize the number of questions you get to that you do know the answer to without wasting time)

11- Over prepare for every test!

12- Take a mental note of how prepared you feel before a test/exam and the grade you make on said test/exam. The goal is to be able to have a pretty good guess as to what you will make on the test/exam based on how prepared you feel.

13- Use a final grade calculator (or this one) to see what you have to make on a final exam to get the grade you want (this is helpful to know what classes you will need to study more for)

14- Don’t skip class unless you absolutely have too. Showing up is half the battle.

15- On the first few days of each class wear layers because you never know how hot/cold each class will be. Take note of the temperature in each class and plan accordingly as the class goes on.

16- Show up to class a few minutes early (don’t bother showing up very early as the class before yours will probably still be in session, but you also don’t want to accidentally be late)

17- In class sit where is best for you (this will take some trial and error) I personally prefer to sit 2-3 rows back against the wall)

18- Write the date at the top of each of your papers (notes and handouts) this will make it easier to know what to study when your professor says the exam will cover everything from date A to date B.

19- Take class notes in your own words. If you can’t write it in your own words than you don’t understand it.

20- Learn and use abbreviations [here is @studyquirks post about it] and make your own for words you write often

21- read ahead in the textbooks so you will have a basic understanding when your professors bring a topic up.

22- Start studying from day one (even if it feels like there isn’t enough to go over)

23- Have specific goals for each study session.

24- Know your learning style and use it to your advantage

25- Find out what time of day you study best (for me this is first thing in the morning and around 3-6pm)

26- Don’t skip studying a section/subject just because you don’t find it interesting. Give each subject the time it deserves.

27- Get dressed to study (there is something about having shoes on that makes me feel productive)

28- This is a link to my main study method

29- Recall is the most important aspect of studying (as it is what you will have to do for a test)

30- Study what you are weakest on most but don’t neglect stuff that you already know. Review everything at least once.

31- Make the term memorable to YOU (for example I can remember what quid-pro-quo means because I have a trump voice in my head say “quid-pro-quo I’d like a favor though”)

32- Quizlet doesn’t work for me. The act of making physical flashcards helps me learn

33- Don’t make flashcards for things you already know

34- If you need a quick basic understanding of something to google the topic followed by “for kids” (example moon phases for kids)

35- If you get distracted while studying write down the distraction and promise yourself, you will deal with it during a break/ when you are done studying.

36- STOP MULTITASKING! Seriously you will get stuff done quicker if you give each task your full attention.

37- Studying is not a competition. (I see people on Tumblr/Instagram almost bragging about how long they study for, sometimes claiming 9+ hours, a day. This is not realistic!) remember quality over quantity.

38- Do the homework even if it isn’t graded. It will help you.

39- Make new deadlines for projects to make sure the projects get done on time (I usually set the new due take 3-7 days before the actual due date)

40- Start long term assignments within 3 days of it being assigned

41- Do all of your assignments (I often see people say it’s okay to skip a few assignments) in my opinion it is better to turn in a rushed/half-assed assignment than to have a 0 in the grade book.

42- When writing an opinion piece, you don’t have to write about your opinion (although you will probably enjoy writing about your own opinion more.)

43- If you plan on studying at the library find the least populated area (for my school this is the second floor)

44- Try and avoid the school’s library during exam season as it tends to get busy (instead try other places on campus, the public library, or a coffee shop)

45- Page flags/tabs/sticky notes are useful. Use them.

46- I prefer to use highlighters to underline rather than highlight the normal way. (the normal way makes it harder to reread as your eye is drawn to the highlighted portion)

47- Don’t over highlight (instead highlight small sections/words and expand on it in your own words in the margins/ on sticky notes)

48- When reading write summaries on sticky notes (keep these summaries concise and to the point)

59- When reading to take notes (such as from as a textbook) skim the section before doing a deep read (where you highlight/annotate) as it is difficult to know if a sentence is important without context.

50- When doing required readings for classes take detailed notes and summaries the reading in your own words both to help you understand the reading and so you can look back at the summaries when you need a refresher (like before an exam)

51- If you know you will be asked to write about the reading keep a list of quotes (with page numbers) and a description of why the quote is important/relevant

52- If you are reading a whole book, make sure to make summaries for each chapter and keep track of plot points (for when you are making an overall summary of the book/reading.

53- In short summarize! Summarize! Summarize!

54- ALL NIGHTERS ARE A WASTE OF TIME! Try and avoid them at all costs. Plan your time effectively and you won’t have to pull all-nighters.

55- Use a website like google drive or one drive to keep all of the assignments you are currently working on, so you don’t have to worry about carrying around a flash drive.

56- Give yourself a day off once a week where you don’t work on anything school-related (for me this is Sunday)

57- Use alarms to remind you to do things/ get you to do things (I use silent alarms on my watch to remind me when to leave so I can make it to my next class etc)

58- Study groups don’t work for me and I have found that they are a waste of my time.

59- Keep a list of all the places to study around campus for when the library is closed/busy

60- The Pomodoro method doesn’t work on me. I focus too much on how much time is left and not enough on my studies

61- Try a social media break

62- Mind maps don’t work for me. I find it much more effective to use a linear progression of thoughts

63- Don’t feel like you have to join clubs if you don’t want to.

64- Give yourself incentives (ex if I make a B+ or higher on this paper I will plan a movie night with friends, although don’t disregard pleasure if you don’t do well on a test/paper)

65- Clean your desk/study area every time you are done using it

66- Follow the two-minute rule, if it can be done in two minutes do it right then (don’t follow this while studying just write down a list of everything that needs to be done and do them once your study session is over)

67- Don’t rely on motivation. Rely on discipline. Be a parent to yourself.

68- Eat breakfast if you can (I know eating early upsets some people’s stomach) and always pack a snack in case you don’t have time for lunch

69- Try to carry as little as possible in your bag (if you can’t avoid carrying multiple textbooks try carrying one/some textbooks in your arms to help distribute the weight)

70- Keep a water bottle, chargers for all of your electronics, all the pens/highlighters, and study materials you will needs in your study area (so you won’t be tempted to get up and walk away from your studies)

71- Keep just one folder in your bag for all of the handouts you are given throughout the day. Organize these papers by class/topic/chapter when you get home

72- Clean out your bag often (I clean out mine every day)

73- Remember the best tips are the ones that work for you!!!!

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dark-strangeson-virgil · 5 years ago

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High School AU!

Roman Ryder:

Junior, second semester

Theater kid, but has never been the lead (in his freshman year he actually got a callback for the school musical and the director told him they were seriously considering casting him in the lead role, causing Roman to panic and spend that night in his room crying)

(He ran into the choir teacher’s room the next day asking for his name to be taken off the audition list, it was the only semester he didn’t do theater)

(He was crying because he felt like he was letting his teacher down and was disappointed in himself but just the idea of being in front of so many people made him want to throw up)

Clearly has some issues with self confidence and potentially a bit of anxiety, but began seeing a therapist in his freshman year after the callback incident and has been slowly been working on building his confidence

He decided to try again his second semester and has been in every school musical since, though he’s specifically requested to not get the lead because it’s still too much for him. The director is very understanding.

His dad and brother come to every one of his performances, and he can always hear Remus’ whistling loudest in the applause during curtain call

His friends usually come too, and knowing that they’re all proud of him really boosts his confidence

(Especially when he’s standing on the stage during the curtain call and sees Virgil clapping and smiling wider than he’s ever seen, looking so genuinely proud. Roman cried backstage after seeing that his first time, which may be slightly related to the fact that he’s had a crush on the boy for a while now)

His mother manages to make it to almost all of them, even though it’s difficult considering her hectic work schedule (she’s a trauma surgeon at the local hospital)

Despite popular belief, he does pretty well in school. He has an A in every class except English (He’s barely passing with a C)

He loves writing, but he doesn’t like having his creativity stifled with the strict guidelines of the essays they’re forced to write, and the old fashioned novels with outdated concepts they’re always forced to read in his class (not the typical high school assigned novels, more obscure ones that their teacher is convinced will eventually rise to popularity)

Loves writing in his spare time, mainly short stories

Multiple short stories of his have been put on the school website, though always under a pseudonym because he doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea knowing it’s his work they’re reading (he only submitted the first one because hardly any students even check the school’s website, but he could never be too careful)

His real passion, though (besides theater/singing, of course) is photography. Loves finding beauty in the world around him. Wants to be a photographer after college, ideally for natural geographic

HE. LOVES. ANIMALS.

Like, all animals. Dogs, bats, fish, literally any animal. He’s not picky.

He and Remus own a pit bull named Emma who he absolutely ADORES

Owns and can play a guitar, but tends to only do so in the late hours of the night when he can’t sleep. Not really a super prominent hobby of his.

Only ever officially came out to his family and close friends, the first of which being Logan. (It was really awkward at the time but Roman laughs now, thinking back on how disastrous such a simple conversation became) (Logan was completely accepting, that wasn’t the problem, Roman was just a disaster and Logan was painfully blunt, but we don’t talk about it) Everyone else just gradually found out through the small pride pin on his backpack or his pride vans he wore often

Remus Ryder:

Junior, Second Semester

Is actually a pretty good artist, his emotions aren’t always super clear or understandable to him and his thoughts can be kind of erratic so it’s a good way to express what he’s thinking/feeling

Is a really good cook, usually his group of friends will hang out at his house after school and he’ll cook dinner

Sometimes he adds interesting ingredients to try and “spice up” the recipes. Usually these ingredients worry the others, but he actually ends up making amazing creations most of the time. Trust his creative process people.

(There was that time Logan had to stop him from adding strawberry jam to spaghetti. And the time Logan had been sick and Remus had ended up putting 2 jars of pickle juice into a chili recipe. They ended up ordering pizza that night.)

(Sometimes he asks Roman to help because he feels like they aren’t quite as close as when they were kids, they’re in the same friend group and talk often but it’s not quite the same as when they were younger, but he’d never admit)

(Roman pretends to be annoyed, but he secretly enjoys spending time together just as much, getting to talk about things they can’t always talk to their other friends about)

Wants to be a graphic designer when he grows up, he really enjoys making art and worries that if he just made it a hobby he would forget about it or not have the time.

He knows how much Logan likes talking about his interests, so he makes a point of looking up the things Logan talks about a lot so Logan actually feels like he’s having a conversation. (Of course, they’re all very Remus-y facts. Logan went through a HUGE ocean phase earlier on in his junior year, so Remus spent HOURS researching the creepiest fish that lurk lower in the ocean, but it’s really the thought that counts. Logan doesn’t mind his gruesome details so it’s a win-win.)

Oh and of COURSE Remus has a huge crush on Logan. Unlike the others, he doesn’t necessarily try to hide his crush. He just usually turns it into a bit of a joke, acting like he’s “jokingly” flirting with Logan because, despite his chaotic nature, one of his biggest fears is rejection so he doesn’t actually plan on confessing any time soon.

He did really well in science after freshman year. He loved Biology and Chemistry, which surprised everyone at first. That’s curently the only class he has an A in.

He drags his friends to go camping at least once every summer because he really likes camping. He can be as chaotic as he wants and there’s nobody to judge him. (Well, his friends are there but he knows that they’re not going to judge him.)

He tries to make bets with his friends a lot. Even over dumb things. He’s a money hungry little rat boy.

He’s not big on extracurriculars but he is a part of his school’s art club/honors group after school. He once did an extremely detailed painting of a green octopus, which won him first place in the district-wide art competition.

He is banned from Pixie Stix. Permanently. They used to have them a lot at sleepovers, but two separate times Remus mixed all 4 flavors and snorted them, then whined about his nose hurting for like an hour. After that they banned Pixie Stix.

Doesn’t really like traditional reading much, but he has a small collection of comic books that he goes to if he’s bored because they keep his attention much easier.

Logan Sharpe:

Junior, second semester

Is incredibly good in school but hates the public school system

Pays baseball, started in Little League as a kid as bonding time between him and his dad, then slowly began to enjoy having a way to get his energy out after spending hours sitting in desks at school and more time doing homework

He has a specific baseball bat that he’s had since he was a kid (it wasn’t his first bat since that was a flimsy plastic one, but he got it when he was pretty young) and he doesn’t actually use it often (unless he feels like he needs luck, it’s his only superstitious thing yes he knows it’s not logical it’s just one small thing iTS FINE-) but he covers it in stickers

After his friends saw it they began buying any stickers they saw that reminded them of Logan, just as small presents whenever they felt like it. His bat is almost completely covered at this point, and he’s resorted to layering stickers over less important ones, but he doesn’t care. He’s just very happy his friends are thinking of him :’)

Wants to be a vet when he grows up, for him it’s slightly less emotional than dealing with human patients but still makes him feel like he’s doing good (people tend to think he doesn’t have many emotions but he actually enjoys helping others and making people happy)

Plus he really does love learning, and the medical field allows him to just expand his knowledge even further

He has study sessions with Janus every Tuesday and sometimes Thursdays if one of them really needs it, and he actually really looks forward to them. They don’t talk much, they spend most of the time silently studying or working on homework for their own classes, occasionally asking the other for clarification on something. He has a hard time studying in big groups, especially considering his friends’ tendency to easily get distracted, so he likes being able to quietly focus.

Usually they carpool home together after these study sessions, and talk together on the way home. It’s nice having someone who he can sometimes have simple small talk with, but sometimes they have serious conversations and it surprisingly doesn’t feel weird. Neither of them are great at opening up, and sometimes having someone who’s just as unfamiliar as you with something can make it a bit easier.

Surprisingly likes baking, his dad works at a bakery (if you can’t tell he kinda looks up to his dad) so he’s been around baked goods since he was really young and has a ton of recipes memorized by now. Sometime’s he’ll join Remus in the kitchen on sleepover nights. He helps Remus a bit with the cooking, and Remus returns the favor by helping him bake dessert for all of them. Plus this way he can stop Remus from getting distracted or getting a bit too crazy with changing recipes)

(One time Remus tried to add strawberry jam to spaghetti and Logan knew he had to put his foot down. It took 20 minutes of convincing but he eventually managed to get him to put down the Crofter’s. Logan loves jelly arugably more than the others, but there’s a time and place for everything)

(Somehow it was this exact moment when Logan realizes he liked Remus as more than a friend, and he has absolutely no idea how that happened.)

Usually when his friends are sad he invites whoever it is over to bake, focusing on something else makes it easier for him to try to understand what they’re going through and give thoughtful advice. Plus both the process and the treats at the end usually help cheer everyone up)

(Yes he has gotten into a cliche flour fight with each of the others at least once, and they’re actually some of his fondest memories. He felt so carefree in those moments, just letting himself be happy without worrying about any judgement or his image.)

He actually did officially come out to his friends, but it was pretty simple. He pretty much just said, “I know that the majority of you (actually all of them but a few hadn’t quite come out at the time) have already announced the fact that you are gay, so I’m assuming none of you will be offended by the fact that I am as well. Anyways…”

He just kinda… said it and moved on. The others were a bit shocked but just went with the flow. (of course they all supported him though)

(He had actually been just a bit worried about how the others would react. Hr knew that it was illogical, considering many of them were gay themselves, but he couldn’t help worrying, so he tried to just get it out and move on as quickly as possible. Their small gestures of showing they accept and care for him, such as Roman buying a rainbow-striped tie for him for his birthday, really make him happy because it validates his feelings and helps him understand there’s no need to worry when he’s with his friends.)

Virgil Alvaro:

Sophomore, second semester

On the school’s swimming team in the spring, has the record at their school for fastest lap with a breaststroke and butterfly stroke

Best friends with Patton, they’ve known each other since 6th grade and have always been practically inseparable

Orchestra kid, he’s played the violin since 4th grade (Even with his stage fright he loves the concerts, because he can feel proud and accomplished from his work without having to be in a spotlight by himself, with all eyes on him)

Longer, black hair (like down to his shoulders) but dyed a purple-pink gradient at the tips (He was originally just going for purple but while looking for reference photos online Patton saw a purple-pink gradient and loved it, and Virgil loves making his best friend happy)

(Plus he actually really likes the colors, but don’t tell anyone)

Does debate in the fall, he likes how it helps him see sides to issues he hadn’t considered before. Some friends told him it may help with his anxiety, and it makes him feel like people care about what he has to say

Loves showing up to support his friends in their extracirriculars (usually they all go together to support each other but even if the others can’t come he tries his hardest)

Will never admit it, but he’s a theater fan so he loves going to watch Roman’s musicals (and it’s not at ALL related to his tiny crush on Roman, why would you think that? It’s not even that big a deal we don’t even need to brING IT UP-)

Is a decent student, mostly B’s with a couple A’s sprinkled in. Used to be a straight A student but eventually kinda broke down because the pressure to get good grades was making his anxiety way worse, so after talking with his parents they told him as long as we was trying in classes and he was passing they were proud of him

Yes he was one of those gifted kids who had a high school reading level in second grade and got put in all the “smart” groups, but then got burnt out at the end of middle school. It’s why he’s such a perfectionist with his own work and it was a big contributor to his anxiety.

Absolutely LOVES history class, it’s been his favorite class since he was young

Is close with his history teacher (very sarcastic old man who somehow manages to be both strict on grading and one of the most fun, relaxed teachers he’s ever met)

He isn’t always great at having difficult conversations, so instead of formally coming out he just kinda started saying “haha same” whenever one of the others would make a gay joke, or commenting on how cute a guy in one of their classes was

Wants to be a teacher after college, he enjoys feeling like he’s making a positive differnece in people’s lives, and he’s personally dealt with unsympathetic teachers who didn’t have faith in him and only made his anxiety worse, so he wants to stop that from happening to other children if he can.

Also, he hates the school system almost as much as Logan, so he’s hoping being a teacher will give him the opportunity to try and improve the way kids learn, even if it’s just in his classroom

His hoodie is a comfort item for him, if he’s feeling extremely anxious and isn’t able to reach any of his friends to help him calm down usually fiddling with his sleeves or zipper helps calm him down pretty well (even if it’s usually only a temporary solution, as one of his friends almost always comes to help)

He likes to share earbuds with either Roman or Patton. As much as he hates to admit it, he actually really likes the musicals Roman listens to and he and Patton’s music tastes actually overlap at some points (cough cough MCR) and listening to music with someone else makes him feel less alone

Patton Myron:

Junior, second semester

Everyone assumes that he’s not very smart, but he actually has mostly A’s with only 2 B’s (woith those being Gym and History, it's hard for him to memorize specific dates)

Does tutoring on the weekends, his best subjects are Science and Math since they generally involve less memorization and are easy to understand for him

He joined band his freshman year and has loved it since, is first chair trumpet

Also does marching band in the fall, and always invited his friends to come sit with him and the rest of the band in the stands (he also convinces Janus to join marching band their sophomore year because he feels like they don’t talk enough, which actually helps the two bond)

Ends up getting a huge crush on Janus second semester of sophomore year.

Uses SO MANY emojis in his texts. He thinks they’re absolutely adorable, and the others are not big fans of emojis but don’t have the heart to be annoyed by it.

Virgil started using emojis ironically occasionally, and it made Patton so happy! (Eventually it was habitual, and he’s not sure when he started actually using them unironically)

Met Virgil in 6th grade when they were paired up on a project about bugs, Virgil cried because he was scared of leaf bugs the first day of the project so Patton tried to make him as comfortable as possible to help him calm down, and their friendship grew from there

LOVES fashion, he loves trying things out even if they don’t always look good. He saw that “gay brunch” meme one time and spent the next week at school dressing up in each of the outfits. Roman caught on immediately and did it with him on the last day. (His favorite outfit was the frog one. “It’s just so adorable and comfy and I love it!”)

YES, he’s worn skirts to school. Not often, but when he does he looks amazing.

He’s always trying to get Virgil to try out more color/”spice”, as he says it, in his style. He knows standing out is scary for Virgil, so every time Vee steps out of his comfort zone Patton’s super proud of him and makes sure to let him know. (Look I’m a sucker for sweet BFF Moxiety)

He listened to Virgil’s favorite bands once to try and relate to him more when Vee was going through a particularly rough time and ended up actually liking My Chemical Romance. He gets sad sometimes even if he doesn’t talk about it, so he likes that their music discusses that, but that band in particular also seems to have songs that show you life does get better rather than just convincing you to wallow in the sadness, especially on Black Parade and Danger Days (Ex. Famous Last Words). It’s morbid optimism but he loves it.

(Virgil actually cried when Patton told him, he had been really sturggling with his anxiety and knowing his best friend did that for him and actually liked his music got him when he was feeling extra sensitive. The two of them spent like 10 minutes fixing Virgil’s makeup in the bathroom, and only the two of them know about this.)

Never exactly came out, but is very open and proud. He has Vans that he painted rainbow that he wears at least once a week, among various other pride-related clothing and accessories.

Wants to be a nurse, he wants to do his part to make the world a better place

Gets a little overwhelmed when there’s too much noise, so he carries around a pair of earplugs to help keep him calm in loud classrooms/hallways.

When he gets sad (which happens more often than he admits) he does makeup. It’s a creative outlet that lets him get his feelings out, and he’s become amazingly good at it over the years. Occasionally he does makeup on the others, usually all together at sleepovers. (His favorite look he’s done was when he gave logan a galaxy-themed blue look. He was so proud of himself after that particular makeover, and Logan actually liked it!) He has the photo of all of them together in their makeup that night hanging on his vanity mirror.

One day Roman called him “puffball” as a joke, but now that’s sort of become his nickname within their group.

Remy Somnus:

Senior, second semester

Is head of sound for the tech crew in theater, has adipted all of the younger tech kids and will fight anyone who messes with any of his children

He’s the one who goes on energy drink and snack runs during tech week because that’s the only way the crew is functioning. None of them are sleepng or eating well. He even gets some for a few of his favorite actors (Including Roman, although Roman always tries to insist that Remy doesn’t have to do that for him.)

Him and Emile have also collectively adopted all of the others in their friend group (They’re the oldest so they have the right to) and HAVE turned into protective mama and papa bear over these children in multiple cases

He plays several instruments. Bass/electric guitar, flute (he was never a band kid, he just took private lessons when he was younger), the keyboard and the drums. He helped teach Janus when he was first trying to learn percussion

Wants to be a musician when he grows up

He's a vegetarian, and has been since middle school. He's been trying to learn how to cook from Remus so he can make his own meals rather than relying on Remus and Logan to make a vegetarian friendly addition to their meal of choice for him

Is not a morning person. Despite coming into school with Starbucks in hand almost every morning, it's still better to wait around 45 minutes after school starts to try and have a legitimate conversation with him, otherwise you'll likely just get grunting and mumbling as your response.

This bitch ADORES the vintage aesthetic. He wears his vintage’ ‘50’s leather jacket almost every day along with his sunglasses, and he has a whole collection of vintage t-shirts in his closet. Oh, and his record player is pretty much his most prized possession. When his friends don’t know what to get him for a present the go-to is always a record, and he loves it every time.

He does love older music, but he also listens to modern music so basically any album will make him happy.

He really loves cinnamon. He carries cinnamon gum around with him at all times. Some of his friends hate the smell, but they’ve learned to deal with it. Luckily, Emile also loves the taste of cinnamon gum.

He tends to spoil his friends. He goes all out for birthdays or gifts of any kind, and ALL of their families attend the holiday parties at his house because they’re the best.

Is honestly a total softie. Although he loves planning elaborate, fun dates, his favorite times with Emile are when the two of them just stay in, make homemade dinner and watch rom-coms together.

He also loves when they watch horror movies because Emile gets all scared and cuddles up to him for protection and it’s absolutely adorable.

Janus Cameron:

Junior, second semester

Patton convinced him to join the band his sophomore year (he was very confused at first because although they had been in the same friend group, he and Patton had barely interacted at this point. He had actually begun to wonder if Patton just didn’t like him), he plays percussion in both band class and marching band. He doesn’t always say it but he’s glad he and Patton became closer because of it.

He’s actually had a huge crush on Patton since end of freshman year, so he’s very happy that Patton at least considers him a legitimate friend now (Can you tell I love YEARNING and PINING)

He has an addiction to hot cheetos, you’ll hardly ever find him without a bag in his backpack. He doesn’t know how it happened but at this point he’s just accepted it.

Sometimes he forgets to grab a bag before school, and usually Virgil will run to get him some during lunch because he doesn’t like his friends being sad. Even if Virgil for some reason can’t one of the others usually will.

Has ginger hair but is kinda embarrassed about it so he usually dyes it black. Only his friends know his natural hair color and they’ve only ever seen his roots.

He also has freckles like every ginger, but they’re concentrated on the left side of his face. The right side has a typical amount, while the left has an extreme abundance of freckles. Nobody knows how it happened, but it did.

Loves. Sparkles.

He’s the kind of ultra sassy, dramaic gay that would adore sparkles and would absolutely rock them. For their sophomore winter formal he wore a black glittery vest, a yellow dress shirt, a black tie and black dress pants. (Patton literally swooned when he first saw him walk in, Logan caught it all on video and mercilessly teases Patton over it any chance he gets)

He reads a lot in his spare time. It’s calming and easy to lose yourself in. (Wow I really am projecting onto all of these characters huh)

His favorite books are mystery novels because he likes all the twists and turns and the satisfaction of the final reveal. However, he HATES cliffhangers. One time a book he was reading ended abruptly and what happened was unclear and he threw the book at his wall. It left a dent, and his friends point it out EVERY time they come over.

Sometimes when Patton, Roman or Virgil can’t sleep they call him and he reads to them. For Patton and Roman it’s super soft fluffy romance novels (that’s the only reason he owns any of those novels to begin wih. He really cares about his friends, even if he doesn’t show it) and for Virgil it’s sci-fi or fantasy because it really sucks him into a world completely different from his own.

Wants to be a marine biologist when he grows up. (Like Remus, he was a big fan of Logan’s ocean phase)

He obviously has a pet snake. He got her sophomore year and he absolutely loves her. Her name is Cuddles (Yes it was Patton’s suggestion. Janus loves the name too though.)

He loves video games and has a huge collection. He doesn’t have a lot of time to play, but he still tries when he can. Whenever his friends come over they end up playing all night because he has a bunch of old consoles. (Especially Nintendo. He owns every. Single. Nintendo. Console.)

He listens to jazz! Logan’s the only other one who really likes it but they add a few jazz songs to “The Playlist” anyways. (The playlist is what they play in the background whenever they stay over at each other’s houses, whether it’s for playing video games or cooking.)

Roman’s been trying to convince both him and Virgil to join the tech crew for theater so he has more friends in theater. Virgil’s pretty sold on the idea and plans to join his senior year (All it took was Roman’s puppy eyes and he had practically melted into a puddle and agreed on the spot). Janus knows it would be difficult while also doing marching band, but he knows he could work around it especially once marching season is over so he’s actually considering it.

Emile Picani:

Senior, second semester

Does both colorguard and winter guard, is the team captain. He joined as a sophomore and has loved it ever since.

He loves marching season, but he prefers winter guard because he loves having a full, detailed show

He also loves the weapon line! Saber’s his favorite (he’s also a really amazing dancer because he took gymnastics when he was younger so he’s frequently put on the dancing line), but he just adores the sport in general

Has been dating Remy since sophomore year (sophomore year was a pretty eventful year for Emile overall), people were confused at first but at this point it’s rare to see one without the other so everyone’s very used to it

Wants to be a therapist when he grows up (wow, shocker I know), has a high sense of empathy and wants to help people any way he can. He’s seen some of the people in his life struggle with mental health and he knows how difficult it can be, so all he wants is to make some people’s journey easier.

Loves cartoons, but is kinda embarrassed about it. He wears cartoon-related shirts, but he never openly talks about it unless it’s with people he trusts. (One time in freshman year a kid in the grade above him made fun of him for his Steven Universe shirt and Remy had to be held back from going after the kid)

Gets pretty good grades, mostly B’s with a few A’s. He knows being a therapist is going to require extensive work ethic so he made sure he had good work ethic early on in school so he’d be able to get through and get his degree

Blushes so easily. Literally the smallest compliment can set his face aflame. It's honestly adorable.

He just has that soft aesthetic. He loves cardigans, sweatpants, loose t-shirts, etc. He likes being comfy.

He has a whole wall dedicated to Funko Pops in his room. He’s even customized a few Funko’s to match some of his favorite characters that they don’t make figurines for.

He ALSO has a bucket of stuffed animals in his room, all of which he loves equally. He’s one of those people who worries about giving more attention to some of his stuffies than the others, so they rotate onto his bed. (He used to keep them all on his bed but he could barely fit so he developed this system instead.)

He and Remy try to have date nights at least once a week, like an adorable married couple. They really love spending time together.

One time on a date night they spent like 3 minutes just staring at each other from across the table at a restaurant with these goofy grins on their faces. This was pretty soon after they got together. The poor waiter had to bring them back to reality when he brought them their food.

(A/N: Wow. I’m really glad I finally finished this. I had this idea that was supposed to be a short introduction to these characters in this AU and ended up writing over 5K words. This is my first time writing anything fandom-related, so constructive criticism is appreciated. Big thank you to @coconut-cluster for giving me the encouragement I needed on the Logan sticker baseball bat idea, I was nervous and didn’t know how it would go. Thank you for reading!

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benbretter · 8 months ago

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Finding Balance: Managing School, Sports, and Social Life with Former Professional Lacrosse Players like Ben Bretter

Ben Bretter

Balancing school, sports, and social life is a multifaceted challenge for many lacrosse players. Effective management of these areas is crucial not only for achieving success on the field but also for maintaining overall well-being and personal satisfaction. Lacrosse, with its demanding physical and mental requirements, often adds an additional layer of complexity to this balancing act. This blog will explore practical strategies to help players excel in lacrosse while maintaining a harmonious balance between academic responsibilities and social activities. By implementing these strategies, players can enhance their performance, manage stress, and enjoy a well-rounded life.

Prioritizing and Setting Goals

To effectively balance school, sports, and social life, prioritizing tasks and setting clear goals are essential. Begin by establishing both short-term and long-term goals for each area of your life. Academic goals might include achieving a specific grade point average, while sports goals could involve improving performance metrics or mastering new skills. Social goals could focus on maintaining relationships and engaging in meaningful activities outside of lacrosse.

Moreover, prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Use tools such as planners or digital apps to organize your schedule and ensure that time is allocated efficiently. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, you can maintain focus and motivation while balancing the demands of school, sports, and social life. Regularly reviewing and adjusting these goals helps ensure that you stay on track and adapt to changing circumstances as highlighted by former professional lacrosse players like Ben Bretter.

Creating a Structured Schedule

A well-structured schedule is fundamental for managing multiple commitments effectively. Allocate specific time blocks for studying, practice sessions, and social activities. For instance, designate fixed times for homework, training, and social engagements to create a consistent routine. This structured approach helps reduce procrastination and ensures that each area of your life receives adequate attention.

Additionally, build flexibility into your schedule to accommodate unexpected events or changes. While a structured schedule provides a framework for balancing responsibilities, it's important to remain adaptable. Incorporate buffer times and contingency plans to handle any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. Balancing structure with flexibility allows for a more manageable and less stressful approach to juggling school, sports, and social life as noted by former lacrosse players such as Ben Bretter.

Efficient Time Management

Effective time management is crucial for balancing school, sports, and social activities as underscored by experienced lacrosse players including Ben Bretter. Start by identifying and minimizing time-wasting activities. Use techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique or time-blocking to maximize productivity during study sessions and practice times. This approach helps ensure that you complete tasks efficiently, leaving more time for other activities.

Furthermore, prioritize tasks based on their importance and deadlines. Use a to-do list or task management app to keep track of assignments, practices, and social engagements. Regularly reviewing and updating your list helps maintain focus and ensures that you meet deadlines and commitments. Efficient time management not only enhances productivity but also reduces stress and improves overall performance in both academic and athletic pursuits.

Incorporating Self-Care and Rest

Self-care and adequate rest are vital components of balancing school, sports, and social life. Ensure that you allocate time for relaxation, hobbies, and physical well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep are essential for maintaining peak performance in lacrosse and overall health.

Additionally, practice mindfulness and stress management techniques to maintain mental and emotional well-being. Incorporate activities such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or leisure reading into your routine. By prioritizing self-care as encouraged by former professional lacrosse players like Ben Bretter, you can enhance focus, reduce burnout, and improve overall life satisfaction. Balancing commitments while taking care of your health ensures sustained performance and well-being.

Communicating with Coaches and Teachers

Open communication with coaches and teachers is crucial for managing academic and athletic commitments. Inform them of your schedule and any potential conflicts well in advance. Discuss any challenges you may face in balancing schoolwork with practice or games, and seek their support in managing these responsibilities.

Furthermore, establish regular check-ins with both coaches and teachers to discuss progress and address any concerns. This proactive approach helps ensure that expectations are aligned and any issues are addressed promptly. Building strong relationships with coaches and teachers fosters a supportive environment and enhances your ability to balance school, sports, and social life effectively.

Building a Support Network

Building a support network of family, friends, and mentors is essential for managing the demands of school, sports, and social life. Surround yourself with individuals who understand and support your goals and commitments. Their encouragement and advice can provide valuable guidance and motivation.

Additionally, seek out mentors or peers who have successfully balanced similar responsibilities. Learning from their experiences and strategies can offer practical insights and inspiration. Former lacrosse players such as Ben Bretter express that engaging with a supportive community helps alleviate stress and provides a sense of belonging, contributing to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Successfully balancing school, sports, and social life requires effective prioritization, structured scheduling, efficient time management, self-care, communication, and a strong support network. By implementing these strategies, lacrosse players can enhance their performance on the field while maintaining a well-rounded and fulfilling personal life. Achieving this balance not only contributes to academic and athletic success but also fosters overall well-being and satisfaction.

Incorporating these practices into your daily routine will help you manage competing demands and maintain harmony between different aspects of your life. Embrace the challenges of balancing school, sports, and social life with a proactive and flexible approach. By doing so, you can enjoy the rewards of success in lacrosse and a well-balanced life.

#ben bretter

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xialing-gf · 6 years ago

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goodbye

summary: you do all 16 things you should do after a break up in hopes of moving on from MJ

(Week 7 of my 30 week prompt challenge: breaking up)

Wc: 2148

a/n: this is based off the poem “to do list (after the breakup)” by rupi kaur, from her book “milk and honey”

read on ao3!

1. take refuge in your bed

The pro of being dumped right before spring break was that you had the entire spring break to get over being broken up with. The con of being dumped right before spring break was that you had the entirety of spring break to think about MJ and the breakup.

Lying in your bed, memories of MJ replaying through your head. You were curled up underneath a few layers of blankets, seeking refuge from the chilly New York spring that seemed to still feel like winter. This was your first break up ever and there were certain things you should do, according to your experienced friends.

They told you that laying in bed for hours on end and feeling emotions was totally normal. So, instead of doing the generous amount of homework teachers assigned, you were bundled up in your blankets, wallowing in pity, which was supposed to be a good thing. The only reasons you got up was to get water and food (mainly ice cream) or to use the bathroom.

Your parents knew that MJ broke up with you and didn’t pressure you to get out of bed or to do work; they understood that you were mourning a loss and gave you plenty of space. Unlike how one could get tired from sitting in a chair for long periods of time, one could never get tired of lying in bed. While lying in bed, you had tried to watch funny clips from talk shows and adorable videos of animals that would make you smile until your cheeks hurt, but they only temporarily distracted you from the pain.

Most of the time, you just stared at your colorful bedroom walls or mindlessly browsed through photos of you and MJ in your camera roll that you couldn’t bring yourself to delete. You knew you would have to move on eventually but right now, you decided to indulge in the sharp pain of the shards of a failed love.

2. cry. till the tears stop (this will take a few days)

In addition to lying in bed for hours on end, thinking about MJ, you also coped with your emotions by crying. Crying is generally a healthy way to cope with emotions but you had cried so much in the past few days that you were starting to get worried about your own health.

Through the multiple days of crying and lying in your bed, you discovered there were different types of crying. The first type was crying after an event just happened, the pain still fresh in your heart. It was an intense cry, tears punctuated by small hiccups as you tried to breathe through the nonstop sobs climbing up your throat. The second type was crying a few hours later, remembering that you had just been separated from the love of your life. The third type of crying was the crying that occurred through the last couple of days of spring break; the type where you would cry into your pillow or tissues during random periods of time, a different type of grief mixed with withdrawal ejected into your tears.

Finally, the crying stopped and the rivers in your eyes were controlled.

3. don’t listen to slow songs

Once school started again, you decided that you shouldn’t continue moping or else people would pester you with more questions about you and MJ. You had already gotten quite a few questions and it took all your willpower not to start crying when you answered their prodding questions.

In order to deal with all the curious people, you decided that you should try to improve your mood and that staying positive would help you deal with your emotions. So, you scrapped the playlist that you made for crying sessions that mainly had slow, sad songs and made an entirely new playlist titled with a simple smiley face.

In that playlist, you included songs that were made to boost one’s mood, such as “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, and played the playlist whenever you could, usually between classes or when you were walking home.

The fast, upbeat songs did help improve your moods a few times but most of the time, it was just a temporary band-aid to help soothe the pain of breaking away from MJ.

4. delete their number from your phone even though it is memorized on your fingertips

If you had a dollar every time you picked up your phone wanting to call MJ, you would be richer than any president in the world. Fortunately, you had a lot of self-control and even though you would go to her contact and hover your finger above the “call” button, you would never press down.

During spring break, you noted the absence of MJ, even more, when you instinctively began texting her about your feelings, something you always did when you two were dating, but you always deleted your messages before sending them. So many messages were the same phrases repeated over and over again and you wanted nothing more but to let her see all the pain you were experiencing.

You knew that you were bound to accidentally call her or send a composed text so you deleted her number from your phone, even though it was etched into the walls of your heart and probably would never be forgotten.

5. don’t look at old photos

Technically, you had already broken the rule of “don’t look at old photos” during spring break but starting from now, you promised that you wouldn’t look at old photos, no matter how hard it would be. You promised yourself that you wouldn’t delete them but wait until you were ready to look at them and not feel pain upon seeing the smile of MJ’s face.

The hardest part was changing your phone’s wallpaper so it was no longer a picture of you and MJ smiling while hugging each other in front of a beautiful water fountain. Now, your wallpaper was simply a photo of the vast blue sea, filled with the uncertainty of waves and darkness.

6. find the closest ice cream shop and treat yourself to two scoops of mint chocolate chip, the min will calm your heart. you deserve the chocolate

Even though a dark cloud seemed to envelop you ever since the breakup, things were starting to get better and you felt ready to let go. You were proud of yourself for slowly getting better, even if it took longer than you expected.

This led to you deciding to treat yourself with a scoop of ice cream at your favorite ice cream shop. After school on Friday, you stopped by the ice cream shop and ordered a scoop of mint chocolate chip, your favorite flavor. You were in no rush to get home so once you got your scoop, you ate your ice cream as you watched people walk past the shop.

The sun was starting to peek out of the clouds and for the first time since MJ left you, you couldn’t help but smile.

7. buy new bed sheets

You couldn’t look at your bed sheets anymore. Every time you saw them, you were reminded of her or reminded of lying in bed after crying about her. You had these bed sheets for almost three years and while they did have some sentimental value, you wanted to get new ones. Luckily, your mother understood and you bought new bedsheets online.

They arrived within a few days and after laying them out on your bed, you felt as though you could finally get a fresh start.

8. collect all the gifts, t-shirts, and everything with their smell on it and drop it off at a donation center

When people say they did some spring cleaning, you highly doubted that their definition of spring cleaning was the same as yours. On a weekend, you finally gathered up the nerve to collect all the items MJ gave to you as gifts and anything else that had her scent on it and put it in a box labeled “Donation”. It would be a shame to see all those items thrown away so you decided to donate them all to the local Goodwill.

As you handed the box over to the person who was working at the store, she asked if these items were all yours and instead of giving a complete answer, you simply managed a smile and vaguely answered, “They don’t belong to me now.”

9. plan a trip

Getting out of New York to clear your head was another great idea suggested by your friends. They all saw that you were getting better and didn’t need to listen to your forcefully upbeat playlist to be happy so they planned a trip to Hawaii with you.

That trip was one of the best vacations of your life. It was a long weekend as teachers had some sort of events that resulted in the cancellation of three days of school after a weekend and during those five free days, you were in Hawaii with your friends, having a great time without MJ by your side.

10. perfect the art of smiling and nodding when someone brings their name up in conversation

Those two letters next to each other in any conversation was always devastating. Even though you believed you were finally over MJ, anytime somebody brought her name up, you would involuntarily tense up and unintentionally inject stiffness into your words. But, after countless conversations where her name was brought up, you finally mastered the art of smiling and holding back any pain that threatened to spill out from between your lips.

11. start a new project

The paintbrush no longer felt familiar to your fingers. At one point, you had painted whenever you could and that stopped once you reached high school. MJ did see a few of your paintings and asked a few times about it but you never fully explained why you loved painting so much. There wasn’t an exact reason you painted; perhaps it was a way for you to express yourself or maybe you just enjoyed the feeling of the brush gently dragging down a blank canvas. Either way, painting was one of your favorite hobbies and you decided to pick it up again.

Standing in front of a blank canvas propped up on your table surrounded by countless colors, you dipped your paintbrush in red and filled the empty canvas with colors.

12. whatever you do, do not call

You entertained the possibility of calling MJ again. You were in a good place and maybe you could finally talk to her without breaking down into tears. Your fingers hovered over her numbers and you gritted your teeth as you looked up at the ceiling, trying to gauge whether this was a good idea or not.

Logically, calling her would only bring you down to the place you were right after you two broke up but there was still a flicker of hope in you that maybe talking to her would help you move on. Your logical side won and you turned off your phone, setting it aside as the air you trapped in your lungs finally escaped.

13. do not beg for what does not want to stay

Begging for forgiveness was always seen as losing but if it meant you could get MJ back, you were willing to concede. However, you were held back by your friends, who helped you calm down and delete the message you were about to send to MJ, asking for her forgiveness. They were right to do so as you needed to move on and there was no fixing what was broken.

14. stop crying at some point

The rivers were back again and stronger than ever. Just when you thought you had gotten over her, something broke inside you again and tears began pouring out of your eyes as you clutched your pillow, willing for every emotion in you to just stop.

Pain was prodding at your stitched up heart, threating to slice it open again and when you opened your eyes after the last of sobs left your chest, shadows were crawling on your ceiling.

15. allow yourself to feel foolish for believing you could’ve built the rest of your life in someone else’s stomach

You still couldn’t believe that you allowed yourself to hope that you and MJ could have a future together. Whenever you were with her, you always imagined that you would be able to hold her hand ten years from now and that you two would be cuddling in an apartment, content as you could be. Reality slammed that fantasy down but looking back, love had made you foolish enough to believe that everything could work out.

16. Breathe

You take a deep breath in and a deep breath out and finally let go. Freedom.

check out my marvel page for more marvel fics! i also have an mj x reader masterlist!

Taglist: @dutchiewhotriestowrite @just-your-local-history-nerd @chickenstrips45

(Comment if you want to be tagged in my marvel fics!)

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elliemarchetti · 5 years ago

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The Deal (part 6)

Previous chapters

Words: 1713

"He sent me this," said Hermione, and held out the letter. Draco took it. The parchment was damp, and huge tears had made the ink drool so much that it was hard to read several words.

Dear Hermione,

we lost. They gave me permission to return him to Hogwarts. The date of execution must still be set. Buckbeak liked London. I won’t forget the help you gave us.

Hagrid

"They can't do it," Pansy said. "Buckbeak isn’t dangerous”

"My father terrorized those on the Committee until they were decided," Draco said, wiping his eyes wet with tears that he was stubborn about not spilling. “You know how he is and those are a bunch of trembling old men, some even older than Dumbledore! They’ve had fear. There will be the appeal, however, there’s always, but I see no hope, nothing will change.”

Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck and burst into tears softly. He patted her on the head until she stopped and it was time to go to class, right at Hagrid’s, who seemed stunned by the shock of the verdict.

"It's all my fault. I didn't know what to say. They were all sitting there with their black clothes and my notes kept falling and I forgot all the dates you found for me, Hermione. And then Lucius Malfoy got up and made his speech, and the Committee did what he said... " he explained to Hermione while Draco and the other Slytherins kept their distance, out of respect. Hermione had reassured them that the half-giant would never have blamed them for what happened but only Draco's father’s insistence and his stubbornness in wanting to avert his son from her but they didn't want to hear reasons and maybe it was even better that way , as Ron and Harry approached to console him too, allowing Hermione to stalk away to use undisturbed the Time-turner professor McGonagall gave her to attend all the lessons. Even with it following them all was starting to get on her nerves but fortunately, although the cause was extremely unpleasant, Hermione dropped out from divination and her schedule became way more bearable although the Easter holidays weren’t exactly soothing, with all the homework the professors had assigned them, not to mention the fact that with all those training sessions, Draco and Hermione had barely had time to greet each other when they met in the Great Hall, to the extreme joy of his father, who had even sent him a big package of which Hermione didn’t know the content.

"Do you think it's a Firebolt like Potter's?" asked Pansy one day during a study session, but Hermione hadn’t even raised her head from her book while Millicent replied that it couldn’t be, given the shape of the wrapper. "But what do you want to know about brooms?" Lily had asked, and Hermione, who already had nerves on edge, had told the three friends, badly, to shut up. Since that day, not even the three Slytherin's girls had wanted to study with her anymore until Hermione, the night before the game that everyone was waiting for so anxiously, didn’t decide to put the books aside and go down in the dungeons to wish Draco good luck.

"We thought we would never see you again." Pansy, the one who was most disappointed by her attitude, hissed.

"If you think it's a personal thing, or worse, a House thing, you can’t be more wrong." Hermione replied, without losing sight of Draco, who was perpetually surrounded by people.

"I'm sure it's not like that, but we didn't think we would see you again since Draco has gained so much popularity since he stopped hanging out with you. We thought, but correct me if I'm wrong, that you let him go for his own good."

Hermione caught Pansy's cold stare and wondered what she had lost in those weeks, until Millicent intervened to explain the situation to her, but only once her tiny friend got up to fetch a drink: “Ignore her, she wants to hurt you just because she's upset about your attitude over the last few weeks. I understand that you want to excel and we all know how you got to go well in potions so it doesn't surprise me you put all your efforts in it, but it’s only distancing you from the things that really matter in life and Pansy isn’t one that forgives quickly.”

“Then what’s your advice?”

"Give her time and actively engage in recovering her trust, with her it’s the only way." she cut short, seeing her friend was now returning with two butterbeers, but it was obvious that she too had had some disagreements she didn't want to talk about. To talk to Draco, however, she had to wait around the end of the party, at midnight.

"As usual, we don't have much time." he told her in a whisper, making her wince. The girls just left her alone, but in the silence of the dungeons she didn’t mind: the sound of the fireplace where the embers still crackled merrily and the chatter of the last few people awake had made her feel more at ease than anything that had ever happened in the Gryffindor Common Room. "Snape will arrive in less than half an hour, so you better be out of reach when it happens."

"We would’ve had more time if only you weren’t surrounded by a horde of admirers." she replied as her friend sat down next to her on the black leather sofa.

"The price of celebrity." he answered, making her laugh, but the moment of hilarity ended soon. "I heard you had an argument with Pansy. Or should I say a misunderstanding?”

Hermione smiled sadly: he was the king of misunderstandings.

"As I imagined.” he replied, contenting himself with her expression as an answer. "It’s typical of the Slytherins. You must understand that if they’ve relegated us down there, there should be a reason."

"I didn't know you wanted to be a comedian."

"I leave the part to the Weasleys, I'm just trying to cheer up a friend."

"So we're still friends? Even if I behaved like a bitch?" she asked and Draco widened his eyes, aghast.

“I'm a friend of Hermione Granger, the one who puts study first and never says a bad word. Who are you? What did you do to her?"

Hermione surrendered and dropped her head on the arm of the sofa only to sit back incredibly quickly when she heard footsteps outside the entrance.

"Snape is coming." she whispered, standing up with an agility that she didn’t believe she still had, after all that time spent on books. Even Draco was whippy and as soon as the teacher's shadow entered the Common Room he closed behind his shoulders the door of a dark room where two other boys were sleeping. Although her eyes hadn’t yet become well accustomed to the sudden darkness, Hermione noticed that the furniture was not so different from where she slept, as she had always imagined, but something made it all darker and less welcoming, more high-placed. Draco almost pushed her into the closet, and although Hermione wasn't very tall, she struggled to find an empty corner where she could crouch. The first thing she noticed was the lingering scent: in there everything smelled clean but also of the indistinguishable fragrance that Draco used, nothing you could find on the Muggle shelves, a richly layered perfume with notes of leather, tobacco, bright citrus fruits and spices. When they were younger, Hermione had always found it too sharp for a boy but now she warmed up to the scent and without it she wouldn't have felt like she was with Draco but with a substitute. The only thing that didn't have that unmistakable aroma was a dress covered with a black dress cover that unmistakably smelled like every new thing from Twilfitt and Tattings. Trying not to make any noise, Hermione leaned forward enough to discover a small part of it. To her utter astonishment, it didn’t hide a new cloak or a male ceremonial dress but a woman's dress of a beautiful emerald green.

"We can change color if you want." Draco commented, making her wince. "But I don't think you'd like the occasion for my mother sent it."

"They celebrate the verdict, don't they?" she asked, and even if Draco didn't nod she would still know the answer.

"Who they wanted you to take?" asked Hermione coming out of the closet.

“I think Pansy, they love her, but probably Lily would be fine too”

“I suppose as long as they are Slytherin and resemble your mother it’s fine, it doesn't matter if she has a brain smaller than a hippogriff's.” she replied. She didn't know whether to be heartbroken or somehow disappointed, even though she had no reason to feel either way.

"You gave the idea." he confirmed, sadly. “Not that I plan on going.”

"Don't you think they will get angry?" she asked, casually closing one of the doors and then resting her back on it. She knew that Draco's parents were disgusting but she didn't believe up to that point. Evidently, there was no limit to the worst.

"They are already angry, since they know that as far as possible I have helped you build the defense for Buckbeak. I think theirs is just a mocking gesture, as if to remind me that they are more powerful, and that despite my efforts I’ll never beat them by playing their game.”

He said it naturally, as if he were used to it, but Hermione doubted that there had ever been any war between the Malfoy before that year and it was only her fault.

"You can't win because they don't play by the rules." she tried to console him, but it was probably here that his parents wanted to arrive. “Don't let them change you with their machinations. I couldn’t bear to lose my best friend.”

“Best friend?” he asked, although the tone was a little disappointed.

“What do you want to be? My bestest best friend?” she asked sarcastically.

“Bestest best friend…” he repeated as if he really were weighing the appellation. “I like it.”

#the deal #dramione #draco malfoy #hermione granger #pansy parkinson #harry potter #ron weasley #lily moon #millicent bulstrode #fred weasley #george weasley #lucius malfoy #narcissa malfoy #minerva mcgonagall #rubeus hagrid #severus snape #albus dumbledore

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