#awkward situation. idiots be in love. jealousy guaranteed. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thebluemallet · 2 years

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Immediate thoughts on Bridgerton, Season 2, Episode 5 ("An Unthinkable Fate") under the cut

The YEARNING is PAINFUL. SO. PAINFUL.

Queen Charlotte is hijacking the wedding. Making it a big spectacle, putting more pressure on her diamond, and she is guaranteeing this wedding to blow up in the messiest way possible.

Kate with the teacup!

While Portia made a misstep, I'm glad that Penelope doesn't have to contend with Cressida Cowper all the time. Having her marry Cousin Jack would have been a nightmare for Penelope.

Anthony whipping his head around at the mention of Kate reminds me of when Daphne did the same when Hyacinth asked about Simon.

Edwina is managing to say all of the wrong things and twisting that knife. While Kate is trying to bear it all as well as she can.

Kate and Anthony meeting with the jeweler third-wheeling is so awkward. They're both heartbroken over the turn of events and they're both lashing out in hurt.

Kate and Anthony panicking when the jeweler says they can size the ring on Kate's finger instead. The only way the jeweler could have made that situation more awkward was if he insisted that Anthony be the one to put the ring on Kate's finger.

And of course the tension that was building is interrupted by Edwina's return and Kate getting the ring stuck on her finger. Great bit of physical comedy.

Anthony is not an idiot, or he's just very attuned to Kate's emotions at this point, and he picks up on the awkward vibe concerning the Sheffields.

Lady Danbury is loving the drama and she's not going to let Kate hide. She also really needs to talk to Kate about the Sheffields, so she couldn't let Kate stay behind. Danbury is being less and less subtle about Kate's true feelings as time goes on. She pretty much asks Kate "You want them to call off the wedding, don't you?" Yes, Kate might secretly love Anthony, but she still isn't at a place where she would allow herself the happiness she wants.

Danbury being the wing woman for Kate and Dorset is great. Kate definitely only accepted because she knew it would annoy Anthony. And it worked. The stares, the stern expression, not paying attention to a single word his mother and Edwina are saying. Anthony is jealous.

Kate keeps telling people that she'll be happy to leave England and go back to India. Sure, Kate. Keep telling yourself that. Anthony may be panicking about that idea, but the audience knows better. Lady Danbury probably does, too.

If Anthony wasn't obvious about his feelings for Kate before, his jealousy is making it glaringly obvious. From the dick-measuring contest with Dorset over the knot. Then he had to shove Dorset out of the way to help Kate out of the boat. Since I'm not going to get Anthony shoving people out of the way to get to Kate in a ballroom this season, I'll take this one moment of him shoving Dorset.

At least Dorset makes the best out of a bad situation when he is knocked into the water. He seems like a nice fellow. I hope he finds a nice lady one day.

The one thing I don't like about Benedict getting a crush on the nude art model is that it'll perpetuate the myth that staring at a naked person in a drawing class is "sexy" and a "turn on." I've taken figure drawing classes and it's not like that at all. It's all very business-like. Not to say that it never happens. Someone did ask one of our nude models for their number once.

Mary is saying all the things in the garden to make Kate feel more guilty than she already does. The dinner is going to blow up in Kate's face.

Violet trying to get through to Anthony again. She's trying to suggest so many outs to Anthony and practically begging him to take one of them, but Anthony is stubborn and won't do it. "It would break my heart to see you live the rest of your life in regret."

Kate's about to go through the dinner from hell. She tried to tell Edwina the truth about them, but they were interrupted. So now it will blow up in Kate's face. Danbury is getting less and less subtle about Kate and Anthony as time goes on.

Because I know Grandpa Sheffield's actor has played asshole characters in other productions, I thought he would be the dick at dinner, but it was Grandma Sheffield! Mary Sharma standing up for her TWO, yes TWO daughters to her absolute shithead of a mother was excellent.

Yes, the dinner wasn't going to end in anything except disaster, but it was worth it to see Anthony save the day and kick out the Sheffields.

Anthony immediately jumping at the chance to call off the engagement.

Alright, truth be told: I always found "I burn for you" to be such a cheesy ass line. In fact, when I started reading the books and both Anthony and Benedict mentioned burning for their partners, my immediate thought was "either the Bridgertons need a fire extinguisher or a chlamydia test." Anthony's speech to Kate, by comparison, is much more romantic. Part of it is even lifted straight from the book. The tension in this scene could be cut with a knife but Anthony and Kate are just shy of actually admitting their feelings. They're acknowledging that the feelings are there, but they're identifying them as a problem.

Edwina thinks she loves Anthony after seeing him defend them at dinner. It's very reminiscent of Harriet being rescued by Mr. Knightley with a dance and to me, it's another point in the EDWINA ONLY THINKS SHE'S IN LOVE WITH ANTHONY category.

Anthony is getting ready to break things off with Edwina and never see Kate again because that's preferable to marrying Edwina and being tied to Kate forever. And both of these idiots know everything has gone too far for them to do something for themselves and marry each other. But they always put family, duty, and responsibility first. So these two are heartbroken, devastated, and resigning themselves to a lifetime of unhappiness. I can't believe Kate managed not to cry until Anthony was gone. I thought the previous episode was heartbreaking with the proposal but this is so much worse.

#bridgerton #bridgerton season 2 #bridgerton spoilers

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wewillwriteyou · 4 years

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Crazy Little Thing Called Love || Chapter 9

A few elements from the main plot: A fine line falls between fiction and reality: what starts as a musical slowly becomes a game-changer. Tables will turn and it will get clear as the sun that the only unstoppable power in life … is love.

Summary Chapter 9: When someone needs her, Denise is always there. And while she’s comforting a friend, she might discover something that was hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, Joe decides it’s time he figured out what he wants.

Word count: 4.4k+

Warnings: Only swearing, cause this chapter is pure FLUFF. Some angst then and there what would our blog be without it? but it’s mostly fluff 🥰🌸

A/N: This one will make your teeth rot from all the sweetness that it holds... 🍯 Hope you enjoy, sweeties 💕

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

The gardener didn’t understand that feeling. He had never felt such a sentiment towards anyone. He felt hopelessly lost and mercifully blessed at once.

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘰’𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘈𝘍𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘉𝘌𝘍𝘖𝘙𝘌 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦.*

Denise yawned loudly and closed the book in front of her. She checked the hour on her phone: 10:30 am.

“A break. I need a break,” she said to herself, getting up from the chair and starting to look for her ankle boots.

Once she found them under her bed, she grabbed her jacket and stepped out from her bedroom adventuring herself down the hallways of the dormitory. On her way out, she ran into a few girls, who reserved her the gaze.

The gaze that meant ‘you’re not a real girl’. The gaze that meant ‘what is she doing here in our dormitory’.

The gaze that Denise had learned to ignore.

A cold breeze was blowing that morning, but the park that surrounded the campus swarmed with students here and there. Denise hid her nose inside the jacket and, with the head lowered to shield her face from the wind she headed toward the cafeteria with rapid strides.

Suddenly, she bumped into a guy with her shoulder and when she turned around to apologize, she noticed that guy was Joe.

“Hey, Joe” but his name died on her lips as soon as she realized he was already far away. She stood there for a moment, observing him as he entered the female dormitory, and it did not take any longer for her mind to put two and two together.

He was going to Liz’s room. It was obvious and clear as the sun.

She shrugged her shoulders and kept walking, trying to swallow the beginning of jealousy that was building up inside her throat. However, it took the entire route to the canteen to cast out completely her still-twisted feelings towards Joe.

When she opened the doors of the building, a blast of warm air hit her face and Denise smiled bathing her nostrils into the sweet perfume of croissants and black coffee.

The dishes at the cafeteria were usually pretty bad, but brioches and breakfast food were definitely excluded by the ‘too-bad-to-be-eaten’ category.

Denise lined up with the tray in her hands and, while she patiently waited for her turn, she cast a glance towards the tables and in the remote corner of the room, she saw Gwilym.

He was sitting alone and his head was abandoned in his right palm while his free hand was absentmindedly mixing the sugar inside the coffee.

Even from that distance, Denise could tell he was upset. Very upset. The usual welcoming smile that often curved his lips was turned upside-down and every form of lively expression seemed to have faded away from his face.

“Miss, it’s your turn” the lunch lady’s voice recalled Denise’s attention. She reserved one last look to Gwilym, before focusing her attention toward the food.

“Yes, I’d like a hot chocolate, medium size. And one – she then stopped and almost unintentionally, turned her head in Gwil’s direction – let’s make two muffins. Thanks”

When everything was well placed on her tray, Denise paid and thanking one last time she headed with decisive steps towards Gwilym’s table.

In the meanwhile, Gwilym was on another planet lost in the nebula of his thoughts. He was so concentrated on the melting sugar inside the black liquid, that he did not notice his friend approaching him.

“Unbelievable! A rare appearance of the opera’s phantom at the cafeteria, what an honour!” Denise’s voice startled him and, when he raised his head, he saw her standing there with a cheeky expression on her face.

“Hi,” he said not being able to contain a hushed chuckle. Denise proudly smiled, happy to see him giggle at her flamboyant words.

“Can I sit here?” she then asked, receiving a friendly nod. Once she had her back rested against the chair, she took one of the two muffins and placed it in front of Gwilym. He furrowed his eyebrows and Denise shrugged.

“I saw you here alone, with the face of a stray dog and I thought that a little bit of sweetness could help”

Gwilym smiled and darted his eyes from Denise to the muffin on the table.

“Is this so evident that I’m … you know, a little blue?” he then asked, taking a sip from his by now cold coffee. Denise, who was drinking her chocolate as well, scoffed on her drink.

“A little? Gwil, you look devastated! – but seeing his face twisting into an even sadder expression, made her regret her choice of words – what I meant is, I hate seeing you like that. The Gwilym I know wouldn’t sit here in a corner with an unshaved beard and black circles under his eyes”

“The Gwilym you know was not heartbroken” he replied sadly and had to look away and inhale sharply to swallow the bitterness that was still haunting his insides.

Denise felt a wave of sorrow hitting her like a wave that crashes against the cliffs.

“Gwil, look at me – she started, placing her palm on his abandoned hand on the table – it won’t always be like this, I guarantee you. One day, you’re going to get up and feel lighter and freer and what today feels like unbearable, will make you feel stronger tomorrow. You’ll feel better sooner than you think. But, in the meanwhile, as my mom taught me, you need a muffin. They always solve everything,” she said winking.

Gwilym stared at her for a while. He felt like seeing her for the first time: he noticed the tiny, yellow flakes inside the brown irises of her eyes, he noticed the first hint of regrowth on the roots of her hair where her natural black was mixed with the purple of her braids, he noticed the small gap between her front teeth.

But, most importantly, he noticed her. At his eyes, that morning, Denise felt like a gift; her words had woken something up inside of him, and he could not help but warmly and sincerely smile at her.

“Thank you, Didi. That means a lot”

Denise nodded and smiled back, as they both took a bite of their respective muffin. Then, an abrupt sighed chuckle from Gwilym made Denise furrow her eyebrows.

“What an idiot I must look right now. I mean, after everything you’ve been through, all of this must feel like the stupidest thing to you" he commented, face-palming his face.

“It doesn’t – Denise giggled in response – emotions are emotions, and we can’t control them. Besides, what I’ve been through was my choice and, even if it is still hard sometimes, I don't regret a minute of my journey. I mean, look at me now: I am fa-bu-lous!” and at each syllable, she snapped her fingers, to emphasize even more her last statement.

They both burst out laughing and Denise felt relieved in seeing him finally a little bit happier. When the laughter faded away, they stared into each other’s eyes for a while until Gwilym nodded and said:

“You do look fabulous”

And he really meant that.

And Denise, really felt that, while warmth spread all over her cheeks.

"Well, yeah, I agree," she said, clearing her throat. Gwilym scrolled his head and looked away for a second.

Denise stared at him and suddenly her heart started to beat faster. When he turned around, she wore another shy smile and drank some of her chocolate.

“So, has Joe told you something or complained about me because I skipped rehearsals?” Gwilym asked out of the blue, scratching his chin.

“Are you being serious? Aren’t you roommates? – seeing his awkward expression, Denise opened her mouth in disbelief – Gwil, are you kidding me? When is the last time you two have spoken?” she asked with concern in her voice, as she leaned both of her elbows on the table.

“We do talk, but it feels like we’re strangers. I guess we need some more time to, you know… to adjust our friendship, after what happened”

Denise inhaled and nodded.

“And with… Liz?” she hesitated a little before asking and she could see Gwilym’s muscles tense at the mention of her name.

“What do you think? – he rhetorically asked, grudge thick in his voice – she’s also kind of self-isolated now, because Joe mumbled something about her missing rehearsal too”

In her mind, the image of Joe entering the female dormitory kept coming back every time Joe’s name was pronounced in their conversation. She almost let it slip out of her mouth, but she decided it was not the right time for that.

Besides, she might have misunderstood the entire situation and Gwilym did not seem in the mood for useless drama. So, she decided to change topic.

“Not only you’ve missed rehearsals, but you both also missed Lucy making a scene in front of everybody because Ben had ‘accidentally’ kissed Alex ‘a little too much’ on stage”

“No way! Are you kidding? – Denise scrolled her head and Gwilym widened his eyes even more – jeez, that’s insane”

“Don’t forget you used to like her. That girl is insane!”

"You don't like her, don't yah?" Gwilym asked and an amused smiled appeared on his lips.

"I can't like everyone – Denise replied, shrugging her shoulders – besides I think the feeling is mutual so I don't make a big deal out of it"

“Sounds legit - Gwilym commented, finishing his coffee – what about me?” his tone a little cheekier as he licked the sugar on his lips.

“What about me, what?” she laughed back, eating her last piece of muffin.

“Am I on your blacklist of people you don’t like because ‘you can’t like everyone’, or I am likable enough?”

He did not know if that rush of positivity was coming from the caffeine or from Denise’s presence. Even though, he preferred to opt for the second option.

She chuckled, rolling her eyes.

“You were okay, before this question. Now I might consider adding you to the dead pool. You should have kept your mouth closed, dear Mr. Lee”

“Not a bigger downgrading, considering I was just okay, before my question. Well done, Miss. Daniels, ‘ve just hurt my feelings”

The giggles grew louder from their table as they both could sense just a little hint of flirting in the air.

“I’ve already bought you a muffin”

“Oh, so this does excuse you for calling me: first, phantom of the opera, then a stray dog and then again just an okay guy who might end up in the list of people you can’t stand?”

Denise laughed louder, while Gwilym kept thinking how much she shined when she was happy.

“Doofus” she commented.

The two kept talking for a while more until Denise’s phone rang and Alex’s name appeared on her screen.

“Hey Alex, what’s up? … Are you okay, babe? … Sure, ‘ll be there in a few minutes. No problem, sweetie. Bye” her expression showed a little bit of apprehension and Gwilym frowned, waiting for her to put her phone back inside the pocket of her jacket.

“Everything’s alright?” he questioned.

“She said yes, but I guess it’s not. She asked me to catch up with her at the music laboratory because she needs to talk with me”

“I’ll walk you,” Gwilym promptly suggested, suddenly not feeling ready to interrupt their talking. Denise widely smiled and thanked him, then they got up and put their coats back on, heading towards the exit.

When they reached the door, he stretched his arm and opened it for her. As a response, he received a shy bow-head from Denise, who stepped outside in the cold air.

Winter had kicked in and the Christmas atmosphere was starting to wrap the whole campus. All around, there were little lights and some students were already decorating the traditional, big pine in the middle of the college’s park.

“I hope it snows this year – Gwilym commented all of sudden, following with his gaze a bunch of girls that were carrying some white decorations – growing up in the north of Wales got me used to white Christmases”

Denise looked at him and could not contain a spontaneous smile: he seemed so at peace talking about his home, with his face’s features finally relaxed.

“Going back for holidays, I suppose” she elbowed him and he chuckled, nodding along.

“Yep, for sure. Still not know what ‘m going to do on New Year though, because my family mentioned something about a party but I know their idea of party and … well, let’s say ‘m not that interested in it” Gwilym answered and his tone made Denise laugh.

“It can’t be that boring. Can it?”

Now they were both giggling, as froze breaths were escaping their lips.

“I’d say it’s actually the opposite of boring. Just, one of those big ass parties where middle-aged people get drunk and revival their younger memories. And you know, if those middle-aged people are all your relatives, it can be a little bit embarrassing”

Denise burst out in a peal of sonorous laughter and had to cover her mouth to contain herself. Gwilym stared at her and a big smile curved his lips.

He could not help himself but think how pretty she looked under the morning winter sun, laughing along to his funny stories.

“Got it, I understand now,” she then answered, raising her hands in the air.

A moment of pleasant silence fell between them, as they were still adventuring themselves headed towards the music department.

"And what about you?" Gwilym then asked and, once again, keeping the building's door open for Denise, who commented:

“I’m not used to this kind of chivalry, by the way – he shrugged his shoulders and, for the hundredth time that morning, they giggled in unison – anyway, to answer your question, nothing special. I’m probably gonna stay here at the campus”

“Why?” Gwilym looked concerned and Denise patted on his arm to reassure him.

“Nothing’s wrong, don’t worry. Just, my mom is always super busy at Christmas because she usually organizes some kind of event for the children of her tip tap's class. So this year, my brothers and I bought her a ticket for a Christmas cruise on the Mediterranean Sea”

“Wow, that sounds great” Gwilym stated, widening his eyes.

“Yes, I’m happy she can finally relax a little bit. Besides, I decided to take part in the campus project to bring some gifts at the town’s hospital on Christmas night. I painted so many dolls and greeting cards, that it would have been a waste of time if, in the end, I decided not to stay here”

Denise said scrolling her head and kept walking down the hallway until she noticed Gwilym was not by her side anymore. She turned around and saw him standing there a few steps away from her.

“What?” she asked visibly confused.

Gwilym curved his lips in an incredulous smile.

“Really, you ask me ‘what?’! Denise, you are incredible – he said, reaching her and stopping right in front of her – like, you’re always there for everybody. Even on Christmas, you think it’s better to do something to help others”

Denise lowered her head and blushed a little at those words.

“I guess it’s something I got from my mother”

“Well, I don’t know where you’ve gotten that from but it’s a rare thing,” he said, smiling even more. Denise, at first, shyly gazed at the floor, but then she raised her chin and cheekily grinned.

“But I’m free on New Year’s Eve. At least at the moment, I am”

“Is that a threat or an invitation?” Gwilym asked, with the same brazen tone.

“Let’s say both. If you are quick enough to decide what to do, we might catch up, but remember ‘m a busy woman. Tomorrow I could already have plans”

In response, he scrolled his head.

“I’ll think about that, then”

Denise was about to respond with an amused ‘good’ when a familiar voice called her name. She turned around and saw Alex standing at the end of the corridor.

She felt bad for almost forgetting the real reason she had walked until there, but Gwilym’s company had been particularly more pleasant than usual and, for a brief moment, she had only been able to think about him.

“Alex, dear, are you okay?” Denise immediately said when they both started to walk in each other’s direction.

When she was close enough, Alex opened her mouth to answer. She tried to put on a smile, but her lower lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears.

Denise didn’t have to extend her arms, that Alex had already thrown herself inside her embrace and had started crying.

“Gosh, Alex. What happened?” Gwilym reached the two girls and placed a hand on the brunette’s shoulder.

Alex broke the hug and dried the tears on her face with the palms of her hands.

“Long story – a nervous chuckle escaped her lips – if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay alone with Didi. Unless you guys were doing something, I don’t want to-”

“Alex, it’s alright” Gwilym caringly cut off her stuttering. Denise nodded in agreement when Alex looked at her, searching for confirmation.

“Let’s go, darling – Denise then suggested, leaning her palm on Alex’s lower back; they started to walk down the hallway heading toward the exit when Denise turned around to look at Gwilym – maybe I’ll … I’ll text you later” her voice took more the form of a question, herself uncertain of what she was saying.

Gwilym smiled widely.

“I’d love that”

They shared one last gaze followed by a friendly smile, then the two girls stepped outside and Gwilym was left alone in the middle of the corridor.

He was aware of the stupid grin that was still curving his lips. And he was even more aware of the beating heart knocking inside his chest.

He tried to cast out everything and hoped that the cold air that hit him when he exited the building would have helped. But crowded and confused feelings kept following him around until he reached his dormitory.

That whole morning with Denise had made him feel strange. Not a bad kind of strange, a beautiful kind of strange. A strange that he could hardly unscramble.

For the first time, since what he felt like a century, Gwilym wanted to talk with Joe. He wanted to talk with him about Denise.

He did not know what he was, but he was sure of one thing: he had never looked at Denise with those eyes. And he needed confirmation or, otherwise, a denial.

About what? Well, not even Gwilym knew. He would have discovered that talking with Joe.

But, with big disappointment, he could note that Joe was not there the moment he opened the door of their bedroom. He noticed the bed still unmade and a book about cinema abandoned on the desk.

A feeling of emptiness hit Gwilym and, as he slowly sat down on the bed, he took the phone from the coat he had not removed yet, and searched between his messages for the name of the only person he wanted to speak to at that moment.

He opened the chat and wrote a few words: ‘beaten to the punch ;)’

Then he let himself fall on the mattress, staring at the ceiling. He was sure he had also dozed off at some point until his phone vibrated in his hand.

Denise’s name appeared on his screen and, as a natural response, a big smile appeared on Gwilym’s face.

***

Joe was zealously typing on his computer the assignment he had due in a couple of weeks and he still had a hard time writing.

Sure, plays are easy, whereas ‘The birth of cinema’ is the impossible one, he sarcastically said to himself.

The truth was that he had a lot on his mind those last few days.

He had tried to keep himself busy all week, waiting for a sign to tell him he could talk to her.

One sign could have been if Elizabeth had texted him since the last time he had seen her – on Thursday when he’d walked her from the park to her dorm. They had barely spoken three words the whole walk and had awkwardly waved each other goodbye. One of the most embarrassing moments in their years of friendship.

He needed to know what she wanted to say to him that day at the park.

He wanted to talk to her again.

He needed to see her.

Screw the signs, he thought and, closing his computer, he put on his shoes and coat and headed out of his room.

His feet walked him in no time in a direction he knew far too well. He crossed the small park in front of the building, indifferent to the people sitting there or bumping into him. His brain was too focused on his feet to worry about looking around. He got to the front door and followed some students to get through security then ran upstairs towards room 986.

When he got in front of it he halted himself. Normally he wouldn’t knock but in desperate times…

He waited for her to answer with his finger crossed and blood pumping in his temples.

“Who is it?” Elizabeth almost instantly asked.

“It’s Joe” he calmly said, totally unmatching his actual state of mind.

When the door opened he could see why he hadn’t seen Elizabeth around: plates and water bottles were laying around, her desk was messy and her bed was undone at 11 in the morning, the blinds slightly closed.

“Hi” she just said with a small smile. She then realised they’d been standing there for more seconds than comfortable so she gestured him to step inside.

Joe thanked her with a smile and looked around.

“I know… – Elizabeth beat him to say anything – this doesn’t look like my room”

“I was thinking it looked more like a cave to goblins and vampires” Joe commented and Elizabeth chuckled.

He turned around to watch her and he was happy to see her smiling sincerely.

“How have you been?” he asked her in a soothing tone, pushing down the urge to ask her what he wanted to know.

She nodded to no one in particular and gave him a small smile, “I’ve been better… but I’m catching up”

Joe smiled back and looked around her side of the room “I’m glad to hear that Liz, but seriously… we have to do something about this… mess… Have you seen Alex recently? Or is she buried somewhere in here?”

She lightly chuckled again and waved her hand at him pretending to be slapping his arm, “Stop taking the piss, Joe, I promise I’ll clear this up when I get better”

“Absolutely fucking not, - his voice drop-dead serious – you’re getting better right now,” and with that said he started picking up plates and piling them on the desk.

“Well, I have to say I appreciate your finesse… - she commented, hiding a smile while starting to tide up her nightstand – I almost missed it…”

Joe was kneeling on the floor, picking up socks and tissues from under her bed, and he smirked. He turned his head in her direction and rested his chin on his upper arm.

“You missed me cursing to make you move your ass?” he asked with his signature nonchalance.

Elizabeth couldn’t contain herself this time and laughed, and she realised she did miss his cursing and their playfully bossing around each other.

When she recomposed herself she took a second to think about what she wanted to say, then, “I really did – she said – I really missed you. Us. This…”

Joe could feel his heart beating faster and he just smiled because that was the only reaction he allowed himself to have.

“I missed us too…” he then added and standing up he closed the distance between them by hugging her tight.

They weren’t realising it, but they were having the same reaction: they both closed their eyes into the hug and inhaled deeply like you’d do when you come home after being away too long. For all the fun you may have had, nothing’s quite like home.

“Thanks for helping me pick up the pieces of my life,” Elizabeth muttered against his shirt.

“No worries. I can't see you living like this… – he started – Looks like some homeless raccoon is living here”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pushed him away with a hand, while Joe chuckled at his own joke. She crossed her arms on her chest and tried forcing down a smile.

“You are a doofus, you know that right? – she told him – That will never change.”. And thank God for that, she kept to herself.

His chuckle faded and he smiled, “You can always count on me, Liz.”

She smiled back, “I know”. And she did know. Since he’d entered her room, her world just looked brighter and the laughs he caused… she’d really missed them.

They stared at one another for a few seconds before realising they were slipping into ‘awkward’ again.

Joe cleared his throat, “Well, we should get back to it…”

Elizabeth wanted to say more… to tell him what she wanted to tell him at the park that day.

I think there might be more between us other than friendship.

There. Clear as day.

But the thought of what happened at the park halted her galloping heart: what if what happened with Gwilym happens with Joe?

That thought made the blood freeze in her veins: she couldn’t let it happen. Her stupid, changeable heart had caused enough trouble. She’d already lost Gwilym, she couldn’t afford to lose Joe as well. Especially not Joe.

They’d just got close again… she couldn’t risk screwing it up.

Friendship sounds okay right now, she thought.

God knows how much she needed her friendship with Joe and not just in that moment of her life. In every moment of her life.

When she’d rushed things with Gwilym she hadn’t even thought that it would make her lose Joe. And deep down her heart, she knew that was the reason why she didn’t feel like things were working out with Gwilym.

She would have done anything not to hurt Joe anymore and preserve what they had just found again.

She picked up the blanket, pulling it over her bed. “Yeah, sure”.

Chapters: ⬸ previous | next ⤑

A/N: So? What do you say of this turn of events? Can you tell that we like to mix and match our characters as if we are puppeteers? We are having so much fun writing this story, so if you like reading it, please tell us with a comment, a reblog or leave a little heart ♥ ! We’d love to hear what you think 💕

By the way: here [*] we embedded a link to a site that lets you see Michelangelo’s David if you are not familiar with it. Also, we made it look like you were reading Denise’s textbook, by underlining the words we think she would want to underline.

Pretty cool, huh?

Cheers, folks! 💗

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