#did mom weston and dad weston take turns?

[cloveroctobers]

hold on — carmy berzatto

a/n: we want soft moments for carmy only!! It is the season of love after all. I’m taking a stab at writing a little bit this month, I’ve been more in the spirit this time around. Nothing too long but hopefully makes you feel a little something.

S/n: always written with a blk or brown woman in mind. Not overly descriptive so you’re welcome to imagine whomever.

prompt: running a bath for a loved one + catering to them like Destiny’s child :)

WARNINGS: things get eccentric? Idk I have no ties with the spirit realm or healers lol. I did minimal research, not gonna lie. This is just for story purposes, don’t take it too seriously if it’s not really your thing—It’s not Carmy’s either! + gif belongs to its rightful owner! You know the deal.

˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ

“Uh, how the hell did you get into my apartment?” Carmy stood frozen in the entryway of his living room.

That last thing he expected to see was his old and only friend from high school swaying away in his living room.

A deep dimple appeared in her cheek as she glanced over her shoulder at the blue eyed man.

“Carmy! Welcome home!” She waved the incense in the air as if it was a wand, before walking on her toes towards him, he knew that habit to be from years of gymnastics.

Interlocking her wrists around Carmy’s neck, her dark eyes connected with his much lighter ones.

“Not that it’s not great to see you but…what are you doing here?” Carmy pried, almost waiting for her to drop some form of news on him.

They shared the same sentiments yet Carmy knew how to deal with it better. He found a sense of comfort being attached to his family, that was one thing that he was sure of, having family at the end of the day. Carmy already knew that he would be right down at the original beef after graduation, beside his brother, Mikey, continuing to help what their parents could no longer do.

They shared the same sentiments yet Carmy knew how to deal with it better. He found a sense of comfort being attached to his family, that was one thing that he was sure of, having family at the end of the day. Carmy already knew that he would be right down at the original beef after graduation, beside his brother, Mikey, continuing to help what their parents could no longer do.

He was the youngest so whenever Carmy was exposed to questioning events in the Berzatto household, his head was always turned to face another direction. That’s how it always was. From the moment he entered senior year and his dad started complaining about chest pains, Mikey would push Carmy to help their mom clean the kitchen, when he would catch his mother and sugar giggling about some special date she was excited about, Mrs. Berzatto would ask if he had a date of his own with her tonight, and when there would be arguments between his mother, Mikey, and their father about Mr. Berzatto putting off doctor visits, Sugar would drag Carmy back upstairs to talk about school.

It seemed as if everyone wanted to lead Carmen to another path, a better one in their eyes but it all ended up bittersweet in the process.

She suddenly gripped Carmy’s face, analyzing every detail as if she could ever forget what he looked like. Round blue glaciers for eyes, a tall pointed nose, scruff all along his jaw and chin, long brows and thin at the tips, faint moles underneath his left eye and another on his cheek by the scar sugar accidentally gave him one summer.

Still Carmy.

Except she always seemed to know more than what she let on, even if they haven’t talked but that didn’t mean she didn’t attempt to in her own way. They were always on different time zones and she sent a post card every once in awhile that he kept tucked inside a impressive bookcase.

“You need to prioritize self-care, my friend.”

“That’s doesn’t answer my question.” Carmy sighed, he was used to his friend’s mind wandering.

Huffing she spun away from him, long lettuce trimmed skirt ruffled at her ankles as she placed the incense in a ashtray that sat on the coffee table. The woman stood in almost perfect posture, inhaling and turning back with hands on her waist.

Her arms were equally decorated in tattoos as she twisted her fingers out to Carmy who just blinked at her, “isn’t it obvious? I’m here to provide that self-care.”

“Which entails…what exactly?” Carmy leaned from one foot to the other, while crossing his arms.

She walked up to place her fingertips against Carmy’s abdomen, “your gut-health is heavy. I can just tell by looking at you. It’s holding a lot and we need to clear that up.”

“No.” Carmy lightly flicked her hand away to plop down on the couch, “Whatever spiritual shit you wanna do, I don’t have the energy to get into tonight. I just worked a twelve hour shift and all I want to do is try to get a nap in—

“Napping is not full sleep. This cleanse will help with that and that’s what I’m here for.”

“Who says I need it? Let me guess? Sugar?” Carmy scratched at his hair, “‘ppreciate that but I’m not feeling it. Take it up with her for wasting your trip back here.”

“Spending time with you is never a waste,” she stated patiently with her hands clasped in front of her, “I know you’re not into my whole spiritual shit, which is fine. But I’m here and we need to do something better than just holding on.”

Carmy felt his brows twitch into a frown but found himself pressing his chin into the palm of his hand in thought. It was his turn to look at his old friend. Of course he had a idea that she found some sort of spiritual awakening when he received a postcard from Nepal…and he knew this was genuine but Carmy always had to keep moving.

He didn’t have time to let things settle.

Carmy also noticed that she said, “we,” which wasn’t so foreign. She’s always been the kind of person to take your problems as her own. However Carmy couldn’t help but to think that something else might be going on with her too. After all it’s been two years since they physically saw each other and a lot can happen in two years, hell—even a year!

“Can we start with a simple conversation first?” Carmy started, “how’ve you been?”

“Ah,” she kicked out a bare foot, “I already made myself comfortable. We can do the socializing after we take care of you first.”

“I don’t need—

A look was sent his way and Carmy found himself scoffing out laughter. She was not letting this whole “gut saving,” thing go. He pinched at the skin in between his brows as he thought this over. One thing he was aware of is, he wouldn’t get as much sleep as he needed so at least he would continue to be productive?

“Okay honey, what do we—

Before he could finish his sentence she skipped right up to him. She interlocked their fingers together and tugged for him to get back on his feet. Carmy was used to the soreness in his feet; being on them hours at a time so he ignored the buckle in his knees as he stood. His eyes locked on her frame as she sent him a sweet smile, leading the way with her woodsy but powdery scent lingering in the air.

Carmy did not expect to be brought into his bathroom. How the cubed space was only illuminated by pillar candles and smelled citrusy instead of the usual bleach and Lysol filled bathroom. His eyes then shifted to the greenery that was hooked to the tub.

“Why is there eucalyptus hanging on my shower?

“There’s also small bags of it combined with lavender wrapped around the sink,” she added, “I told you, I’m here to help.”

“By putting a hex on me?”

Suddenly she gasped as if the man she’s known for the longest offended her, “I would never! Not to you, my true soulmate. But I don’t recommend reaching out to my last two partners though. They might say something different.”

Carmy snorted out a laugh.

He was still skeptical but he also knew her. It was not in her nature to want to hurt him, they were too connected.

“alright uh, what do I need to do? Is there a pentagram hiding underneath one of these rugs or what?” Carmy lightly joked while she rolled her eyes.

She sat on the edge of the tub and ran her hand across, which echoed the sound of water splashing around. Shaking her hand out she crossed one leg over the other and dipped her head, “remove your clothing.”

“What?”

“Connecting with the water in the way that we first entered the planet is key. We as humans have had a spiritual connection to water for generations, it’s what we need to survive but it’s also energetically healing.” She explained to the man who listened but still couldn’t find that correlation.

Carmen hummed as he nodded his head, “that’s cool to know and I respect it but I’m not getting naked.”

“Do you shower with your clothes on?”

“Of course not.”

Her stare was intense,“Then what are you so afraid of?”

“I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you, that’s out!” Carmen hissed while she exhaled.

She pushed off the edge of the tub, “I never said you had to get completely naked…you’re not ready for that step in vulnerability and that’s okay. I’ll do that for the both of us.”

In that moment Carmy felt like his eyes were about to bulge out of his head like one of those squeak toys. He stalked towards her, reaching for her wrist to halt her from yanking the tie that was around her neck.

“Don’t do that, it’s not necessary.”

Her laugh sounded like bells as a small one escaped her full lips, “it kinda is and I can say that because I’m a healer. This is my territory. You don’t have to be shy, we’ve seen each other in our natural glory plenty of times before! You have a wonderful body…from what I can remember anyways.”

Carmy puffed out a breath, “God! what am I? A fifteen year old boy who just had their mother walk in on them fresh out the shower and is trying to erase her son’s embarrassment?”

“Did that happen with you and Mrs. Berzatto?” Her head tilted to the side while Carmy dropped her wrist.

He ran a hand over his mouth in frustration, “shut up. I’m not doing this stupid therapy session with you so that you feel…whatever it is you think you’re gonna feel. I don’t need you to fix me…I’m going to the sessions okay? and why won’t you answer why you’re really here?”

It was the first silence that filled the bathroom that made Carmy flick his eyes back to his old friend. She began slowly pacing the bathroom now as she took in his emotions. They’ve always been a “weird” duo growing up, with her wearing all sorts of whacky colors and patterns, a large vitiligo patch that took up the apple of her right cheek trailing up to her temple, and preferred doodling and creating stories than talking to other people.

Yet she never seemed to mind talking to Carmen. He had the stutter and preferred her speaking for them both when they were around large groups of people, especially when he got nervous. Carmen’s mind was always wandering but whenever she was near it tended to slow down for some time.

Like the possibility of a dream could be reality when their eyes held onto each other.

“Please don’t forget who you’re talking to here,” she softly said, “I’ve always loved you for all that you are…even if you don’t exactly know who that is yet. My intentions are to solely just be here, next to you, while you heal.”

She didn’t attend Michael’s funeral because she didn’t deal with death well. However she knew that it wasn’t about her and sent her condolences to Mrs. Berzatto while sharing a lengthy phone call with sugar. With Carmy? He dodged her attempts to reach out to him and she didn’t take it personal. Sure death was part of the life experience but it always felt so out of place to her back then. She also learned that Carmy didn’t attend either—not mentally anyways…he was in town for the service but he couldn’t bring himself to stay inside the church or watch them place his big brother into the ground.

She understood that better than he did.

“No, I get that. Fuck, I’m sorry…Even if the philosophy is strange as hell,” Carmy let out a long exhale, “but I’m sensing something else is going on. What is it?”

That’s when she let her top fall and Carmy immediately put his back to her, “Jesus! Why!? Are you serious right now?”

“Very.” She responded walking to the tub and climbing in with only her low-waist skirt, “the water’s starting to cool off. Are you getting in or is this going to be a one person session?”

What did Carmen really have to lose?

He still wasn’t getting naked but he did kick his shoes to the side and step out of his work-day trousers. He swallowed with his eyes closed and took a deep breath before he moved to head to the tub. Just as he was getting ready to climb in, her voice halted him.

“Against me, instead of across. My heart to your sacral and possibly solar plexus.” She instructed.

Carmy kept his eyes on her face and figured this would be easier with him in front. Shaking his head, he held onto the edge of the tub before he shifted to face the opposite direction and stepped in. The water was much hotter than he expected, letting out a hiss as the water stung at his ankles. Although the bathroom was dim he could see swirls of pink salt and petals, orange and lemon slices, and herbs floating around.

“Sit.”

“I’m gonna!”

“Your flat ass is still in my face.”

“Oh, Fuck off.”

“I love you too.”

Carmy rolled his eyes as he slowly allowed his body to sink into the steaming water. He sat forward, both tatted hands resting against the edge of the tub. Briefly he glanced over his shoulder at her in question, “so what now?”

Her hand shot out, reaching under his arm and over to push at his chest, urging him to rest his head back against her clavicle. Carmy exhaled as he felt his shirt become damp and cling to him now.

“You know…you’re still very bossy.”

“Coming from a chef? I think not.”

A twitch of a smile appeared on his lips at that.

Her arm remained wrapped across his chest and hugged him from underneath the pit.

“We’re going to set the intention now.”

“Which means what?”

“Set what the purpose of this healing will be for you.”

“You said you could see the gut issues all on me…whatever that means,” Carmy began talking with his hands, the droplets fell from the tips of his fingers, “so I’m guessing it would be for that?”

“You got it.”

“…and what about you?”

“Hm?”

“You wouldn’t be inside the water with me if this healing sesh was just for me, now would you?” Carmy asked.

The man was smarter than he gave himself credit for.

She thought fast, “I had to get you in here somehow right?”

It was Carmy’s turn to hum now. The hand that was once covered in water and herbs, lifted to press against her’s. Silently that was his way of knowing and telling her that when she was ready, he was around.

“So,” she breathed, “let’s start by closing our eyes, focus on your breathing, and then the feeling of the water.” She coached.

Carmen always had trouble focusing but the second he closed his eyes, blackening his sight momentarily and inhaled the multitude of scents that were in the room with him now, it all began to feel natural. He didn’t feel himself flinch as another hand gently rested on his stomach as he inhaled then exhaled.

He got comfortable with his back pressed against her front, a ink embedded arm was secure around his body, while the rest of him gradually felt lighter the longer he kept his eyes closed. Any negative thought that occurred in his day that dared to swirl through his mind, was almost instantly bum rushed away with a snarl he was familiar with.

He wanted to open his eyes to question it, how the ball of emotions he kept bottled up could be smacked away just like that? It couldn’t be that easy…although his legs and feet felt like he was floating but was still leveled by the guide that held him by the chest. Up ahead of his body, he felt the tugging of the organ that beat inside of it’s cage, covered in barbed wire until his head rolled to the side.

He thought when his eyes adjusted to the few burned out candles, that he must have dozed off for maybe ten-twenty minutes? It wasn’t until he felt the once steaming water was now barely lukewarm. Abruptly he sat up, water sloshing as he looked around, before he twisted his body to face his friend who sat peacefully with a J pressed to her lips.

“How do you feel?” She asked around a cloud of smoke that she blew to the side.

Carmy used the palms of his hands to press into his eyes until he saw stars, “ah…what the hell was that?”

“Did you see something?”

“I saw a lot that doesn’t really make a whole lotta sense to me.” Carmy admitted.

She dipped her head in understanding, “yeah, my first time also fucked with my head…then it all came together.” She responded before leaning forward, “here.”

Carmy plucked the j and brought it to his lips, taking a few puffs before he scooted forward, getting ready to explain but she held out her hands to stop him. “We don’t have to discuss it now. You marinate on it first after you get more sleep and see if your perception changes in twenty-four hours.”

He blinked, unsure what to say to that. Sometimes dreams? Illusions? weren’t meant to be discussed. Just felt. However Carmy felt like he had some concerns from what he just witnessed.

“How long was I out?”

“Almost an hour.”

Carmy let out a low whistle, “Can I?”

She motioned for him to feel free as he slid back to rest against her chest. He took another puff before passing it back to the woman who held onto it between her fingers. Carmen also did the honors of grabbing her other hand to play with her fingers.

It started to come back to him in spurts, almost like a spasm until she pressed her nose to the side of his face. “You need a official shower now, stinky bear.”

Carmy breathed out a laugh joking, “are you taking that with me too, honey bear?”

“Only if you’re comfortable.”

And that’s how they ended their night, standing face to face with Carmy underneath the shower head. It was his turn to search her face, cradling it while using the pads of his thumbs to caress her skin. Her hands stayed on his wrists, as they shared this intimate moment with the cleanse running down the drain.

Carmy hoped she didn’t run away once he revealed that he knew her secret. However it gave him some sort of warmth inside to know that she wanted to be near him when it happened. So he held her stare for as long as she wanted before she fully stepped into his embrace.

Skin to skin.

Her head fit right against his neck and he used the arm that didn’t rest against her back, to reach up to take the claw-clip that held her twists up. They fell down like a curtain around her and Carmy felt her squeeze herself even tighter to him then.

“I see you too, ya know?” He whispered over her head.

“It feels good to be seen doesn’t it,” she replied, “that’s why I’m glad the universe made you my person.”

She didn’t give much away, she was tricky like that and it was on the tip of Carmy’s tongue but he knew she didn’t want to make tonight about her.

It was not her intention.

So he’d save it for another day and hoped she stayed long enough for him to comfort her in return—no further questions asked—if the cleanse was right.

He gripped her chin this time, turning her face to place his lips on both of her eyes.

That hold that she had on him would not go unseen.

He cared too much to let that happen.

After all, she was just as much as his soulmate as he was her’s.

˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ ˚ ◌༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ꕥ

taglist: @louderfortheback

Continue along with my winter anthology prompts here.

[forest-reblogs]

Chapter 2 of Loving You Is A Losing Game

Danny had, very reluctantly, joined his parents in their once-in-a-blue-moon family dinners. He had only done this because he had needed to figure out exactly how his parents had captured that shade. He would have preferred eating Nasty Burger takeout in his room, or going to Elmerton and eating at one of their breakfast-for-dinner places, or accepting one of the many, many dinner invitations Johnny and Kitty kept sending him now that they had finally agreed to keep property damage to a minimum whenever they entered Amity Park.

Duty calls , he thought to himself sourly.

“So, mom, dad,” he asked, “did you do anything interesting in the lab today?”

Jack Fenton immediately replied, “We created a device that can find ghosts and used it to capture one! It was invisible, of course - probably trying to evade capture. But never fear, Danny, because we caught it! It’s successfully contained in the Fenton Ghost Containment Device, and your mother and I are going to study it before ripping it molecule by molecule!”

Danny ignored the sinking feeling in his chest. “Right. Any chance I could take a look at your tracking device after dinner? I wanna learn how you guys make such cool things.”

It wasn’t even a lie.

“Of course, honey,” Madeleine Fenton said. “You’ll have to make do with the blueprints, however, as we need the device so we know where the ghost is. Unless it realizes there’s no point in hiding from us.”

You’ll be waiting a long time in that case, seeing as I sent it to the zone , Danny thought to himself.

Danny woke up to a blue mist rising above him, and mentally groaned. Why couldn’t he have just one night of peaceful sleep? That was all he was asking for, but noooo. He was exempt from pretty much anything even remotely normal.

He slipped out of bed and turned himself intangible, falling through the floor and into the basement, where the ghost was (hopefully) located, and found himself staring down a ghost vulture.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Danny groaned. “Why are you out, Nutty?”

The vulture’s name wasn’t actually Nutty, but Danny thought it was funny, and despite the fact that the vulture had protested the name before, he got the sense that they liked it.

“I got a new job, kid. Pays well, too. All I gotta do is find and kill this one guy. Apparently he got on a lotta people’s nerves.”

Hopefully it’s not Dad, he thought. Out loud he asked, “Yeah? Who is this mystery person?”

“Some kid called Wes Weston,” Nutty croaked.

Danny froze for a full five seconds. Then he moved. He slammed Nutty into the wall so hard the vulture left a crater.

“Who paid you to kill Wes?” He snarled. "̶̠̅̓Ẁ̸̢͔̻̘̍̃̈́̀͘h̵̡̘̥̠͇̒õ̵͙̰̬̦̻̹̂͗̌̈̐̏͑̊̓͝?̷̢̟̰̮̗̲͘"̵̝̂̿̽̓̒̑͐͑̓̆̊̄̚

“I don’t know!" Nuty squawked. Danny pressed them further into the wall, and Nutty seemed to panic. "No, really, I don't know! It was some person in a hood! I never saw their face!"

"You sure it wasn't Plasmius?" Danny asked. If Vlad had decided to go after Wes, for whatever reason, Danny wouldn't hold back. Not this time, not anymore. Not when the life of his only remaining friend was on the line.

Wes couldn't die.

"I'm sure!" Nutty croaked. "Now can you please let me go?"

“Not until you promise not to hurt Wes,” Danny growled. “Promise me that, and I’ll let you go.”

“I promise!” Nutty all but shrieked, and true to word, Danny released him.

Nutty squawked once, flapping his wings in indignance. “Forget this, I’m going back to the Ruins. Much less of a chance of getting your body slammed into a wall there.” He shot a look at Danny.

Danny sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry about that, Nutty. I just - I couldn’t let you hurt him.”

Nutty snorted, then took off through the open portal. Danny watched him go before returning to his room. He sank back into bed hoping to finally get some sleep -

His phone rang.

Aggravated, Danny threw back the covers, snatched up his phone, and said, “What?”

“You left the portal open,” came Wes’s dry reply.

Danny stiffened, before falling through the floor and into the basement - again - and yes, he had indeed left the portal open. Danny groaned.

“Just one night,” he said into the phone, “all I want is one night I can sleep through without having to worry about ghosts.”

When Wes spoke again, he sounded tired. “I know. I don’t like it either.”

“Well, guess it’s time to die,” Danny chuckled. He took a deep breath. “I’m going -”

“Wait!” Wes exclaimed.

Danny paused. “What’s wrong?”

“The portal’s open. You could leave.”

All of a sudden, Danny was extremely aware of the glowing green tunnel in the wall (the tunnel he had died in). He swallowed.

“I don’t think I can, Wes,” he whispered, hating the words even as he spoke them, hating the weakness they revealed.

Wes was silent on the other end of the phone.

“Do you want me to be there when you do it?” he asked.

Danny released a shaky breath. “I think that would be worse, actually.”

“Danny. I know you don’t want to, but you need to leave. Amity Park isn’t safe for you anymore. Your parents have contracts with the GIW. Vlad is kidnapping you pretty much every week. Valerie hates you. Sam and Tucker don’t even care that you exist at this point.”

“I can’t leave you,” Danny whispered. His hands were shaking. “You heard what Nutty said. Someone wants to kill you, Wes. They could -”

“I can protect myself.” Wes cut him off. “And whoever wants to kill me hired Nutty from the Zone. If you want to find out who’s after me,

you’d have to go to the Zone regardless. Why not go there permanently?”

“Because you and Jazz are both here!” Danny shouted. “I can’t abandon you! If the GIW realize that you’re liminal, they’ll kill you both!”

“You wouldn’t be abandoning us, Danny,” Wes soothed. “The GIW are only after you and the other ghosts. They don’t even know that liminals exist. After you leave, if the ghosts attack again, Val, your parents or the GIW will scare them enough to send them back to the Zone for good. And when the ghost attacks stop and Amity Park settles down a bit, I’ll see what I can do to come visit. I have the blueprints for the portal. I’m sure I could convince Kyle to help me build it.”

With every word Wes spoke, Danny relaxed a bit more. Wes was right. Everything would be fine.

He’s lying to you, he’s going to turn on you and leave you just like everyone else as soon as he realises how worthless and insignificant you are

“Okay.” Danny said. “I’ll do it.” And with a click, he hung up. Bracing himself, and turned to look at the self-destruct button. He jumped forward and pressed the button, leaping back almost immediately.

The basement lit up in red. A siren wailed. A pleasant, robotic voice said, “Self-destruct mode activated. You have 60 seconds. Also, the ham is spoiled.”

Danny flew up, grabbed his parents, and flew out of the house. He left them on the front door of their neighbours, then flew back in. He hesitated in his room, before grabbing his model rockets and returning

to the basement. With a deep breath, he flew into the green, green, green portal, all the way to the other side. He flew till he was surrounded by the green, till he could feel the ectoplasm in the air, till he could see the Ruins surrounding him.

The Ruins are gonna get ruined , he thought, and chuckled.

Behind him, there was an explosion.

[yes-divine-ruler]

Boy Next Door

part 10: what’s in the box?

pairing: alex (from adult world) x fem!reader

cw: mention of sex toys

Taglist/ @v-love @evanpetersfav @demxnicprxncess @kitwalkersgfff @quicksilversg1rl @dahmevan @charsdunkie @iruzias @alexxavicry @soaringcloud @laynna-mcknight @slimshadyvol2 @simp4petermaximoff @sultrysullen @evan4ever

word count: 1640

last part ↤ ↦ next part

all parts

I didn't know my parents were due to visit me the next morning because I didn't see the text they'd sent me the night before. Alex had been at work for hours when they arrived, and luckily, I was on my own sofa trying to catch up on the book I'd borrowed from the library.

My doorbell rung out, the one notifying me when someone was trying to be let into the building, and for a moment I thought it might've been Alex forgetting his apartment key. When I picked up the phone to speak, my blood ran cold hearing my father's voice down the line. It wasn't like I didn't want to see them, but I almost felt caught out and guilty for the activities I engaged in the night before. I was a grown woman, and these feelings were entirely fruitless, but being the way I had been all these years, especially after my brother's death, everything felt almost too different. For a moment I didn't think they'd recognise me because of how much I'd changed.

I buzzed them in, waiting anxiously by my opened front door with my head poking out to watch the elevator. When the elevator dinged, my heart rate picked up, and my eyes watered at the sight of my dear parents. My dad shot me a smile, my mother quickly walking down the carpeted hallway to greet me.

"Y/N! We were so worried when you didn't answer our texts we had to come see you!" Mom wrapped me into a tight hug, the scarf around her neck almost suffocating me. I hugged her back of course, tucking my head into the crook of her neck.

"Sorry mom," I said sheepishly, pulling away, "I must've been in bed at that time."

"Glad to see you're alright kid," it was dad's turn to offer me a warm hug, and then I ushered them into my apartment.

They sat on my sofa, and my mother was the first to scrutinise the mess I'd left on my dining table from Alex's and I's dinner nights ago. I did have to admit, I'd been more slack when it came it maintaining the place recently, but it was only because my spare time was almost completely filled with spending time with Alex.

"So, how's everything been with you guys?" I'd interrupted my mom's careful examination as quick as I could before she could make a comment on it. She has always been very prim and proper, a real lady who enjoys staying at home to tend to the house and serve her husband - it must be a generational thing because I was nothing like that.

"Yes good, we're going away to Hawaii next week," your father said, "I need a break from all my clients at work, they're driving me insane," he laughed.

"Oh of course," you were too old to be invited to family holidays anymore, "have you got everything packed?"

"No not yet, we may need you to take care of Weston for us," my mom was referring to our 12 year old Yorkshire terrier, that particularly never took a liking to me.

"Yeah sure," I faked a smile, as our catch-up conversation dwindled down to small talk.

Thankfully, we were interrupted by loud music blasting through the far-side wall, which I knew was the one I shared with Alex. I laughed apprehensively,  as dad's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is that your neighbour? It's not Mr Hangar is it?" Dad seemed utterly perplexed by the rock music shaking my apartment, and it sent me into a fit of laughter.

"No dad!" Suddenly my face dropped, "Mr Hangar passed away, my new neighbour's name is Alex." I were hoping my parent's first impression of Alex might've been a little less presumptuous.

"It doesn't sound like a nice person to have as a neighbour, maybe you should put in a complain about the music," my mother suggested, but I just shook my head in disagreement.

"No mom, he's really nice actually, he's an artist, he like- the music is never loud for very long," I hadn't realised how hot my face had gotten speaking of Alex until I pressed my hand to my cheek.

"Hm right," my mother nodded, before her gaze returned to raking over my apartment.

"Didn't I tell you to get that fixed months ago?" My mom pointed over at the flaking paint above my dining room table. I only rolled my eyes in response - it wasn't a life or death situation, and I frankly didn't have the money to fix it.

"We told you we'd pay for it," my mother urged, as if she read my mind.

Our conversation got cut short for a second time by a loud knock at the door.

"Who's that?" My father asked, perking up on the sofa. Who else could it be if not Alex? Oh shit.

"Um- it may be my neighbour," I smiled cautiously at my parents, before getting up from the sofa.

"Is he harassing you?" My mother was just too much sometimes.

"No mom," I pined, pacing to the door and only opening it a crack.

"Hey beautiful I got-"

My eyes widened as I realised I'd shut the door on Alex's face to stop my parents from hearing his pet names. They'd either think he really was harassing me now, or the truth, that I were trying to hide him from them.

I cursed under my breath, before opening it up again to face a very confused Alex. He furrowed his eyebrows at me, his forehead creased with small wrinkles, his lips formed into a pout.

"What was that for?" He asked, as you turned back towards your parents and flashed them a small smile, before slipping out into the hallway with Alex.

"I'm sorry, my parents are here," I explained, only just noticing the small box in Alex's hands. Had he bought me something? The thought alone made me swoon, I was a sucker for gifts. Alex must've noticed me staring at the box, because he offered it to me with outstretched arms.

"This is for you," he said with a dimpled smile, "I got it today."

I was so ecstatic, I pulled him into a tight hug. He hugged me back, immediately placing his big hands on my ass. My head moved from his shoulder, to look him in the eyes.

"Should I come in and say hello?" He joked, biting his lip in a smile.

"Well they've just heard your loud music and they were not pleased, so maybe another time," I joke back, before he leans down and captures my lips in a soft kiss.

He pulled away, licking his lips, before he loosened his grip on me.

"Okay well I'll see you later then?" He suggested, as I opened the door up to slip back inside.

"Okay," I replied simply, about to shut the door before he stopped me with his hand.

"Sorry one more thing- I forgot to mention, maybe don't open it in front of your parents," Alex said just above a whisper, my eyes widening at his explicit instructions.

"Why? What is it?" I asked back, shaking the box but not being able to tell much from the sound alone.

"Don't worry you'll see just- not in front of your parents."

Alex waved goodbye and disappeared back into his apartment, the music suddenly softer. I smiled at his consideration, tucking the box under my arm as I made my way back inside my apartment.

“Who was that?” My mother asks me, eyeing the box in my hand.

“Oh just my neighbour, we didn’t realise his music was so loud, he turned it down,” my lips curled up into a feeble smile, hoping that they wouldn’t question me about the box under my arm.

Fortunately they didn’t, and it was time for them to leave. My parents both gave me a hug goodbye, and I walked them to the elevator.

“Get that paint fixed,” mom said to me during our farewell hug, before travelling down to the ground floor in the elevator.

I let out a sigh of relief when they were gone, and almost ran back to my apartment to see what Alex had gotten me.

When I got to the box that I’d laid carefully on my kitchen counter, I tore open the packaging, my eyes widening once I opened the box.

Oh my god, I thought, that’s not what I think it is, is it?

I picked it up, turning it in my hand to see it from every angle. Bright blue, and totally discernible, I clicked it on to feel the vibrations warm and tingle my hand.

Did Alex buy me a fucking vibrator? He did work in a sex shop after all but, did he… my body got all hot just thinking about it. I placed it back into the box after switching it off, and just stared at it. Id never bothered to own one before, and I was sure I’d really know how to use it.

My phone pinged in my pocket, and taking it out, I saw a message from Alex.

Alex (next door): don’t worry if ur not sure how to use it, I can help with that ;)

I couldn’t help but let out a laugh, but it felt like I was choking on my own tongue from how skittish it made me. Trying not to think of last night’s activities as I sunk back into my couch to read, I asked Alex to come over in an hour, and bring some take out. He happily agreed, and to finally distract my mind from thinking of Alex’s toned torso and his warm hands and his velvet tongue and lips, I dove back into my book.

[darkeralmond]

MAMA KNOWS BEST

TREVOR ZEGRAS X FEM! OC

october series

synopsis: hayden and her friends go up to her mom’s house in huntington beach

warnings: swearing

word count: 2.6k

a/n: okay but did yall see trevor and dixie’s hard launch???? INSANE.

It had been a couple of days since Trevor and I's "situation" which Wes had walked in on, but he kept quiet about it for the rest of the other two since we both knew they would flip out. Trevor left for Nashville yesterday to play against the Predators. Our date night Friday felt like years away, but I had to take it one step at a time. It was the first Monday of November and the radio stations had already been corrupted by Christmas music.

Alex complained about it, whining about how it was too early for them to play Christmas music, but Mal and I disagreed. Listening to all this Christmas music Mal played from the Alexa in our living room as the 4 of us lounged around reminded me so much of my mom. I proposed the question to the group, "You guys wanna have a beach day at my mom's place?" I prayed they would say yes just so I could see her and update her about life recently.

One by one they agreed, Wes exclaimed, "I haven't seen Ms. Janene in so long!" Though Wes grew up with me because of his mom, Karina, being my mom's all-time best friend, he still called my mom 'Ms. Janene'.

I texted my mom to see if she was home and if we could come up to her house, and she said yes. The group split up after we got my mom's approval and got ready for our beach trip. I put on a two-piece black bathing suit, throwing on a white halter tank top and jorts over top. I paired it with my sunglasses and white Birkenstocks. I covered up the dark purple hickeys Trevor left on my neck with color corrector and foundation. I then grabbed my tote bag and grabbed my book, annotation kit, Airpods, a portable charger plus cord, and wallet. I went into the kitchen and grabbed my navy blue off-brand hydro flask, filling it up with water.

It didn't take long for the others to finish getting ready. We didn't bring a lot since my mom's house was right on the beach. Jacob, her boyfriend and the perfect guy for her, owned some sort of online company that made him loaded, so he bought a house for him and her to live in together which was right by the water.

"You guys ready?" I asked as I grabbed my car keys.

🎵

It was only supposed to be a 40-minute drive up to Huntington, but it took almost an hour due to traffic. When we finally made it to the house, I pulled into the driveway and parked the car. We all piled out of the car and like excited children trick-or-treating, Alex and Weston ran up to the door. I was more focused on the Christmas decorations that were already up, it hadn't even been a week since Halloween. Alex was the first to make it to the doorbell which gave him the honor of ringing it. Mal and I finally made it up to the porch when the door opened.

Jacob had a wide smile on his face as he greeted the boys. "Hey! Come on in," he invited as he moved out of the way for us all to enter. When we all made it inside, we each got a hug from him. Each of us took our shoes off and lined them up by the front door. "Your mom is in the kitchen." I knew he intended to say that for just me, but my mom felt like everyone's mom, especially Weston's.

"Thanks, Jacob," I said as I led the group through the large arch door frame that led to the kitchen. There my mom was, taking cookies out of the oven and placing them on top of the stove. "Hi, mama!"

She turned back to me and flashed an enthusiastic grin as she threw the mitts off. "Hi, sweet pea!" She rushed over to me and gave me a tight hug. "I missed you so much!" She gave me a kiss on my forehead. She then turned to the rest of my party and said, "I missed you too, children!" She gave each of them a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I could hear the Christmas music coming from the living room which is where Jacob kept the record player his dad had gifted to him before he passed away. "You guys came at the perfect time, just let the cookies cool down for a bit and then they'll be good to eat. Go get yourselves comfortable in the living room and I'll bring them out."

"Yes, ma'am!" Alex skipped to the living room and flopped onto his favorite spot on the couch. Mal popped down next to him and Weston and I sat on the couch we claimed. I found out that the vinyl my mom had playing was Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album, 'Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas'.

Shortly after we sat down on the couch, Jacob also joined us. He sat on his reclining chair like he always had since they bought the house. My mom came out with cookies a couple of minutes later and placed the Christmas-themed plate in the center of the glass coffee table. Jacob reached for a cookie, but my mom slapped his hand away. "Let the kids get some first!" she tutted. Each of us got a cookie quickly, and then Jacob got one. "Hayden and Wes, will you come with me to get some hot chocolate?"

"Yes, mama!" I sprung up from my spot on the couch along with Weston and made our way to the kitchen with my mom.

She grabbed 6 mugs from the cabinet above the dishwasher and lined them up along the countertop. "How have you guys been?" she asked as she made her way over to the refrigerator. "Could you grab some hot cocoa mix from the pantry?"

Wes and I made our way over to the pantry and grabbed 6 packets. I decided I would answer first since I didn't think Wes really wanted to talk about Alejandro. "I've been good," I said as she poured the milk into the milk boiler on the stove.

"Yeah, she's got herself a little boyfriend now," Wes added as he nudged me with his elbow playfully. I rolled my eyes and laughed with red cheeks.

"Do you really?" My mom's eyes lit up as a smile grew on her face. "What's his name?" She turned on the boiler and then turned to me, leaning against the counter with one hand.

"Well, we're not dating yet, we're just seeing each other," I had a sheepish smile on my face as I answered. "His name is Trevor and he's really sweet."

"I'm sure he is," Weston chimed in, now causing me to nudge him with my elbow. He laughed at my attempt to keep him quiet.

My mom giggled a bit and said, "Oh, you two. Spill what's going on. What does he do?"

"He plays hockey for the Anaheim Ducks." I sat down on a stool near the island in the middle of the unnecessarily large kitchen.

She gasped, "You got yourself a professional athlete! You're officially a WAG like Taylor Swift." I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "I'm serious, that's a huge thing. I'm happy that you're happy, sweet pea." She then turned to Wes who sat down next to me and asked him how he was doing. He sighed as a faint smile appeared on his face. "Well, I found out that Alejandro left me for one of my best friends, now my ex-best friend, so I'm not doing the best." My mom gave him a sympathetic look as came over to the island where we were. "But nothing like how shocked I was to find Hayden on top of Trevor as he gave her hickeys."

I gasped loudly and covered his mouth, my cheeks flushed bright red. My mom gasped as she looked over at me. "Oh, my God, Wes! I do not need to know this stuff about my daughter!" she snorted as she looked back at me. "But the fact you tried to hide them from me like a high schooler is hilarious. Foundation?" I nodded my head, embarrassed. "The trick, sweet pea, is using a cold spoon to get rid of the color." She then looked over at my neck and winced, "Yeah, I can kind of see the dark marks. Holy shit, they're huge!"

"Can we please stop talking about my hickeys?" I begged, causing my mom and Weston to laugh.

It took a moment for me to come back from the embarrassment of my mom finding out Trevor had marked my neck up and lecturing me about how I to get rid of them better. She poured the now warm milk into the mugs and Wes and I mixed in the cocoa. My mom decorated them with whipped cream, marshmallows, and red and green sprinkles. Each of us took 2 cups out and handed them off to Alex, Mal, and Jacob.

Jacob thanked my mom and took a sip of his hot cocoa. He then asked Alex and Mal, "So how long have you two been together now?"

Both of them became a flustered mess as they both looked at each other with wide eyes and anxious smiles. Like I said, they looked and acted like a couple. "We're not dating," they said in sync. My mom shot a doubtful glance at me as she took a sip of her hot cocoa causing me to crack a small smile. Alex then stuffed a cookie in his mouth while Mal took a long sip of her hot cocoa. It was all hysterical and brought the attention off me for a bit.

🎵

We hung out in the house longer than I thought we would, but we eventually went down to the water. My mom had given us towels for us to use and beach chairs. Alex grabbed a volleyball from my old bedroom and brought to the beach with us. The beach was exclusively for Shoreside residents and guests of the residents, you needed special permission to be able to access the beach. Since everyone around Shoreside knew Pink Slip, they knew we were special guests of both Jacob and my mom.

I set up my chair next to Mal's and soaked up the sun's rays. Weston and Alex were already running down to the water, splashing around like children. Jacob decided to stay up at the house, so my mom decided to accompany us. She sat down next to us on her beach chair and enjoyed her time with her two favorite girls. I'm an only child, so having a close group of best friends like this meant they were constantly around like family which my mom loved since she wanted more kids. "So, what else has been going on with you guys? Any music coming up?"

Mal turned to my mom and smiled brightly. "Actually, yeah! You know Hayden's writing songs for our new album coming up?"

"I did not!" My mom turned to me appalled. "That's great, sweet pea. What all do you have right now?"

I know I told Trevor that no one other than me and my bandmates were allowed to know about upcoming music, but technically I broke that rule since I decided to add 'Halley's Comet' to the album. Plus, she's my mom! Of course, I was gonna tell her what was going on. "I really only have two songs right now," I answered.

"Really?" Mal's eyebrows furrowed as a smile plastered her face. "What else did you write?"

"Well, I found something from my old sophomore year songbook," I replied. "Trevor's request."

"Of course it is," Mal teased. "Did you know your daughter is practically dating a famous hockey player?"

My mom glanced over at me and chuckled, "Yes, I do." She implied that she knew more than she needed to with her tone of voice, but Mal didn't pick up on it.

She instead grabbed her phone and pulled something. She then handed the phone over to my mom with a picture of Trevor and me from when we were with Jamie and him. "That's them together. Aren't they adorable?"

My mom put her sunglasses on the top of her head as she brought the screen closer to her face and squinted her eyes. "Oh, I remember that boy! He was at Jacob's mom's party, such a sweetheart. I think he's a good pick," she said as she winked.

"I think so too," I replied. "He's currently in Nashville for a game tomorrow, then he's going to Colorado for another game the next day. When he gets back, he's taking me out to dinner."

"Do you know where yet?" Mal asked as she took her phone back from my mom.

I shook my head. "I think he's surprising me or he's waiting until it's closer to Friday to tell me."

"You guys coming in the water or are you just gonna gossip the whole time?" Alex yelled from the water, his hands cupped around his mouth to project his voice louder. He was drenched, breathing heavily like a child. Wes came up from behind him and hopped on his back. He yelped, "You asshole!" Mal and I laughed loudly as we got from our chairs and stripped down to our bathing suits before running to the water.

🎵

I sat on the carpet with my songbook and keyboard, going through the process of writing a song. "It is currently November 2nd, 2023. Uh, it's just me this time trying to write some music." I felt like being isolated in my room writing would get me the best results for something more personal. While playing random keys on the keyboard, my mind kept running back to Trevor and I making out on the floor and my only thoughts being 'I'm falling in love again'.

I played a couple of chords on the piano and sang, almost in a hum, "Uh oh, I'm falling in love. Oh no, I'm falling in love again... Oh, I'm falling in love." I quickly moved my hands from the keys to my songbook and pen, writing those lyrics down as the chorus. I ran my fingers through my hair as I tried to remember any other thoughts from that night.

"Downward spiral," I muttered. "Downward spiral. Downward spiral..." By repeating it out loud, I thought it would help me come up with a line. I gasped and clasped my hands together as I said, "I thought the plane was going down, how'd you turn it right around?!" A bright smile formed on my face as I scribbled that lyric down on the songbook. I repeated this process and with the help of my memory with Trevor and my caffeinated tea, I was able to come up with 'Labyrinth'.

I recorded myself lazily singing on my MacBook and moved that recording to GarageBand. Now it was time to come up with some sort of instrumental track to match the vibe of the song. I had snuck a glance down at the voice memo I was recording on my phone, I had been here for almost an hour. I figured this song could use some piano, a different sound on the electric guitar, and a quieter bass and drum sound. With that, I came up with 3 different demos and decided to call it a night. The deadline I assigned myself was December 10th, which meant there was a little over a month left for me to write all 7 more songs, collect everyone to learn them, get Aubrey's approval, and then record them. I should've started this sooner.

[camels-pen]

love is blind (really REALLY blind)

Summary: Wes Weston was 14 years old when his soulmate died for the first time.

Ao3 Link | Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Soulmates. Not everyone had them, but a lot of those who did would gush and wax poetic about their fated partner, either in their heads or out loud.

Little Wesley was no different. He loved to imagine what his soulmate would be like, look like, sound like. He loved to ask his parents how they met over and over. He loved to write stories in his notebooks about a bunch of places he and his soulmate would visit and have lots and lots of fun.

And then Mom was gone. And Dad wouldn’t tell him how he met Mom anymore.

He wanted Mom back to tell him the story, but Dad said she went to some big farm up in the sky. And Kyle was sad a lot too.

Dad started buying a lot of yucky green apples and bananas too. Then he started taking Wes with him every time he went to the store. He didn’t wanna go, but Dad always said he needed his help.

Wesley didn’t get it.

And then one day, he did.

---

Wes Weston was 14 years old when his soulmate died for the first time.

It was usually only a few minutes at a time, and he hadn’t known anything about ghosts, so he accepted the fact that he had some sort of “complex colour blindness that manifested during intense moments of stress” or whatever his doctor called it.

But one day, when meat eater and vegan protesters ran screaming, when students similarly sprinted away as fast as they could, when Wes found himself stuck cowering under a tree and hoping the flimsy leaves and branches would protect him, he saw something.

Sucking the massive glowing meat monster into what he would later learn is a Fenton Thermos, was a glowing kid floating high in the sky. His hair glowed, his eyes pinpricks of some brighter colour, a grin on his face and some stupid pun leaving his lips.

And he didn’t know what it was like to see colour in grayscale, but, he thought, maybe this was what it was like.

Later, much much later, he would come to know that the boy’s name was Danny Phantom. 

Then Danny Fenton. 

Then the bane of his existence.

---

There was a clatter outside the window.

Wes, having fallen asleep on the couch part-way through an all nighter, had jerked awake to it. He blinked at the grayscale in his vision, rubbed his eyes a few times, and then sighed when it persisted. He grabbed the GameCube controller from where it’d fallen to the rug, ready to press play and get back to beating up that annoying blue hedgehog with the far superior black hedgehog, when he heard a suspiciously human sounding groan.

He scrambled to mute the TV and listen for any further sounds, hoping it was just a raccoon or a stray cat or something.

The fire escape creaked loudly, as if supporting a weight larger than just a raccoon.

Wes gulped. 

He grabbed Kyle’s skateboard from behind the couch, readied it over his shoulder like a bat and creeped low towards the window. He paused, just under it, and peeked his head up—

And then sighed, his shoulders slumping as he let the board dangle from a loose grip. 

Wes shoved open the window one handed, feeling exhaustion tugging at his bones. “Why are you on my fire escape, Fenton?”

“‘M not Fenton. ‘M Phantom,” he mumbled against the metal grating. “D’n’t worry ‘bout me. ‘M perfectly,”—he shifted, as if to turn onto his side, and groaned—“fine.”

“Uh huh, sure. Does this mean you won’t still be laying in a heap on my fire escape in the morning?” 

“Pr’bably.”

Wes hummed. Looked Fenton up and down, eyes lingering on a nasty gash on his hip. “Positive?”

“Ye, j’st go.”

And he was tempted. He’d seen how many hits Fenton could take without batting an eye. Seen it up close and personal more than once. 

But.

Something about how pitiful he looked, laying face down on his fire escape with the dark clouds rolling in, made Wes pause and think.

It wasn’t like the first aid kit got much use anymore, since it was off season for his and Kyle’s teams. And it was starting to get a problem to move it with how it was full to the brim. It’d probably help to use up some of the materials.

More than that, Fenton really looked pathetic and just the thought of him laying out here looking like a drowned rat would probably keep Wes up at night.

So, with barely any protest from Fenton, he awkwardly dragged him through the window and set him down on the floor. He cringed as some of Fenton’s weird green blood started to stain the rug. Wes would have to get rid of that later.

He left to grab the kit and when he returned, he saw Fenton fail once more to push himself up, his hand slipping in the growing pool of blood around him.

“Wh—?” Fenton blinked his eyes, looking around almost dazed. Well, that explained the lack of protest. “Are y’ gonna try getting a—a f’ckin picture? Now? S’riously?”

Wes rolled his eyes. “Yes, because taking a picture of you is the biggest of my concerns right now.” He unlocked the latch and kneeled next to Fenton, ignoring how sticky the blood made his legs feel. “Now sit still so I can keep you from dying.”

Fenton huffed a laugh, quiet and a little weak. “Too late for th’t.”

“Keep you from dying a second time, whatever.”

Fenton didn’t speak more after that and Wes was thankful for the quiet while he worked. Plus, when the guy wasn’t running his mouth all the time, he was actually pretty nice company. Like a cat or something.

Eventually though, Wes tied off the last of the gauze and tapped Fenton’s shoulder. “All done. You can leave now—” He glanced up to Fenton’s face and saw his eyes closed, breathing deep and even. Of course. 

He sighed. What was he supposed to do with the idiot now? 

Wes ended up putting Fenton on the couch, a towel covering the cushions under him just in case, and left him to sleep there the rest of the night while he dragged the rug five blocks away to a large dumpster outside a restaurant.

The next morning, Fenton was gone, the towel having disappeared with him.

---

It kept happening.

Between his own secret nightly investigations and frantic hair pulling by his inconsistently coloured vision though, Wes hadn’t really thought much of it.

Every so often, Fenton would show up in varying states of injury and knock on his window. Not the fire escape anymore, as one time he nearly got caught by Wes’ dad, up late trying to catch up on some last minute tax thing. After that, and an annoyed, “If you’re gonna keep showing up, why don’t you just knock on mine instead?” from Wes, Fenton had taken to knocking out the rhythm of whatever song was currently stuck in his head on the glass.

…It was kinda fun to try and guess what song he was thumping out, but simultaneously infuriating that the guy kept showing up so often to disrupt his research.

He said as much one day when Fenton had nothing more than a papercut and whined about wanting a bandaid. Wes had thrown the whole box at him and in his haste to kick him out, ended up letting slip that he was searching for his soulmate.

Fenton had quieted after that, a pitying look in his eye, and Wes had had enough.  

It was one thing to endure that look from his dad and his teachers and his so-called friends. But from Fenton? Someone who’d probably been giving his own soulmate the same problem as Wes?

Wes exploded.

“Don’t look at me like that. You think I’m just running through wild goose chases trying to find someone who’s in a coma or something, huh?” he yelled. “Think I’m just a weird kind of colourblind that changes every hour?!”

He gripped Fenton by the front of his hazmat suit. “Or are you gonna tell me there are other fish in the sea? That I should just move on and appreciate the brief moments of full colour while I still have them?!” He shook Fenton. “Well?!”

Fenton grabbed his hands. “Dude, I’m not gonna say any of that, what the fuck? Quit putting words in my mouth.” He pulled Wes' hands down to his lap, holding them there, firmly restraining them. “I just think it sucks that you got the short end of the stick. I hope you find them soon.”

Wes blinked. Felt himself deflate. “Oh. Uh. Thanks, I guess.”

They sat in silence for a bit, Wes’ hands warmed by Fenton’s. “Uh,”—Fenton began—“if it makes you feel better I’m probably driving my own soulmate to desperate measures trying to find me.” He added under his breath, “Not that I really care.”

Something in Wes’ gut twisted at the thought. He didn’t like trying to think of what Fenton’s soulmate was going through. He didn’t like thinking much about Fenton’s soulmate at all. “It really really doesn’t.”

“Right.” Danny scratched the back of his neck. “Anyway, I’m just gonna slide past that to skip all the awkwardness and get to the part where you give me a popsicle for being a good and brave patient.”

“What are you, 4? I’m not giving you any popsicles.”

“But Wes, I was so strong in the face of such a harrowing procedure!”

“You sat on the couch whining for two minutes while I made you a hot water bottle for your leg.” 

The rest of the night went about as smoothly as usual. Wes, however, couldn’t shake the thought of Fenton’s soulmate. Couldn’t shake the thought of his own soulmate and how much time she might have left.

As he dropped a spare blanket from the closet atop Fenton’s head, he scowled at the boy struggling to escape from under it. He wouldn’t be like Fenton and his nonchalant attitude. Wes wouldn’t stop until he found the person he was meant to be with. No matter what.

---

This was fucking stupid. 

Fenton kept touching him—usually via poking at his hands or giving a high five when he showed up as well as at seemingly random times throughout his visits. 

And he had no clue why.

Wes didn’t particularly love or hate it, but he could tolerate it since it seemed to put a stupid smile on Fenton’s face that looked kinda funny. 

Made him feel a little weird, a little warm, but again not really a problem.  

Or at least, that in itself wasn’t the problem.

The problem was this.

“Fenton.”

“Hm?”

“Fenton.”

Fenton nuzzled into his back, his forehead warming the space between Wes’ shoulder blades. “Yeah?” he said, voice muffled.

Wes gripped the controller with white knuckled hands, nails scratching at the plastic. “What are you doing?”

“Getting comfy.”

“That so?” he said, trying desperately to keep his eyes on the screen in front of him, heedless of the number ticking down. It was a timed stage, but Wes couldn’t bring himself to move his fingers the small distance to press pause. 

“Yup.” His tail loosened his hold around Wes’ waist. “Am I holding too tight?”

“No—” Wes cleared his throat, mortified at the crack in his voice. “Nope.” 

“Cool.” Danny’s tail tightened, slithering a little higher around his chest. He exhaled deeply, warm air ruffling the hair on the back of Wes’ neck. “I’m gonna just chill like this for a while.”

This was too much. Not in a bad ‘skin crawling’ way. Definitely not in a ‘if you touch me I will literally scream’ way. Just—

It was just too much, okay? It made him feel warm and fuzzy and—and—

It made him wonder what would happen if he just forgot about—

The game over screen chimed on the television.

Wes pressed continue.

It was dangerous. It wasn’t in his plans. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

And what of his soulmate? In and out of the hospital for years and then when she finally found him—when she finally braved her illness, and stepped out to the world to find her destined partner—

Would Wes just be… hanging on Fenton’s arm? Just like that?

Wes shook his head. Jamming the buttons on the controller with more force than necessary.

No. He wouldn’t be swayed. This was just his dumbass hormones acting up. 

Objectively Fenton was pretty cute— for a guy, he meant ‘cute for a guy’—and this used to happen all the time when he first joined the basketball team. Totally normal.

Wes was gonna find his soulmate, she was going to be awesome, and maybe they could team up to harass Fenton when he was fighting ghosts. To get payback for all the times he invited himself over whining about tummy aches and stiff shoulders.

Yeah. Just stick to the plan, Wes. Everything will be fine.

---

Everything was not fine.

He kept—kept thinking about it. Late at night, regardless of if Fenton was laying on his couch or not.

Kept wondering what it would be like to play with his hair, to hold him in his arms, to kiss—

Wes pounded his fists on his desk, sending his papers flying. 

The teacher, a substitute for English since Mr. Lancer was out sick, rubbed the bridge of his nose. 

Wes got after school detention. 

Fed up, Wes cornered Manson and Foley later in the day, between classes, asking why Fenton kept showing up and being annoying, clingy, or both. They shared some kind of look between them and then explained it was just a thing with Fenton. Apparently, he’d always loved hugs and high fives, but his penchant for seeking touch seemed to increase after becoming half-ghost. 

The running theory was that since he was getting into fights so often, and subsequently getting much more badly hurt than before his accident, he sought out comfort in proportion to how injured he was. And the best comfort to him was touch.

It was a pretty sound theory, considering everything, but Wes pressed them harder. They hadn’t explained why he continued to show up at Wes’ house no matter where his last ghost attack was—no matter if there was a ghost attack literally right around the block from one of their houses. 

—Not that he’d ever been to either of their houses, but he of course needed to scope out Fenton’s friends to see if he could gather some damning evidence from them. It had ended up pretty fruitless, but he had their addresses pinned to his bulletin board.—

The whole thing made no sense.  

And the way Fenton was starting to squirm into Wes’ heart was dangerous. Wes needed to find his soulmate, the person destined to love him one way or another. That was the only person he’d allow himself to be with. Anyone else would be too risky. Too vulnerable without guarantee.

Still they dodged the question. Trying to trick him into thinking a ghost was behind—oh, hmm, that was a ghost.

Later, when he had ducked into an empty classroom to avoid the attack, when Fenton and his friends had caught the ghost, he would overhear Manson and Foley teasing Fenton over some guy he had a crush on.

Wes would wait to sneak out long after they left to head home, trying to ignore the crushing grip around his heart.

---

Finally. Finally.

A lead. A real tangible plausible lead. On his soulmate— his soulmate!

Wes screamed a little to himself. 

God. God. He knew she was real. He knew she was going to be okay. But more importantly, he knew she was real!

He was straining himself not to print out the article on his monitor, barge into his dad’s room, and scream, “I fucking told you!”

Of course, despite his amazing discovery, that would get him grounded and part of his allowance put in the swear jar, so he settled for rereading the words on the screen again.

“Wraith Makes A Splash!” read the headline, followed by a girl who looked similar to Fenton’s ghost form standing over top the remains of Skulker’s soaking wet and sparking suit, while holding the little green ghost by his foot. The article went on to say the girl called herself ‘Wraith’ and used water-like attacks to short circuit and punch through Skulker’s suit. When asked for a statement, she shrugged and said she didn’t really have anything else to say. When asked to pose for a picture, however, she eagerly agreed.

The article also mentioned the time she had appeared on the scene. And Wes—

Ever since he’d started investigating his soulmate, he’d noted down the exact times his vision faded from full colour to black and white. Had a little notebook that he carried everywhere just for that purpose.

And his most recent entry matched near perfectly with Wraith’s appearance, with his entry being recorded only a few minutes earlier. Factoring in for travel time from wherever she was coming from, it was a no brainer.

And the fact that she looked so similar to Fenton meant that she might be half-ghost too. With a human form. 

She might’ve been going to his school.

The thought made him giddy.

So giddy, in fact, he didn’t notice Fenton appearing in his room until the boy stuck his face in front of Wes’, his own grin on his face.

“Whatcha smiling about?”

Wes jumped, smacking Fenton in the face and falling backwards in his chair. The back legs tipped dangerously and just as Wes started to get that weightless feeling that comes with falling, a hand grabbed his shirt. His torso was saved from the fall, but his legs, unfortunately, weren’t.

“Fuuuuck,” he said, trying to breathe through the pain. Fenton pulled him up into his arms and set him on his bed. After being set down, Wes immediately grabbed for his calves, rubbing at the muscles to attempt to soothe them. “Hell of a time to not bother with the window,” he hissed.

“I did use the window. Just went through it.” 

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“You looked,”—Fenton looked away—“busy.”

“Hasn’t stopped you before.” He groaned and laid back on the sheets. “What do you want? I’ll smack you if you say you want another bandaid.”

“No, I, uh,”—he quickly glanced at the screen and back to Wes—“wanted to tell you about someone, but I think you already know. I might’ve gotten a bit too excited.”

“‘A bit,’ he says.”

“Hey, it’s not everyday my cousin comes to visit, y’know.”

Wes perked up, pushing himself to sit up. “Wraith is your cousin?” He furrowed his brows. Thought of the very clear physical similarities. “Are you sure about that?”

“Well, that’s what we tell everyone anyway. And how we like to call our relationship.” Fenton pushed him to lay down again. “She’s really my clone. Courtesy of one of Vl— Plasmius’ messed up schemes.”

“You can just tell me his name. I’m not gonna tell anyone.” Fenton raised an eyebrow. “Hey, I’ve given up on outing secret identities.”

“Oh yeah? Since when?”

“Uhh,”—Shit, he couldn’t just say ‘since I got an annoyingly inconvenient crush on you that still hasn’t gone away even after finding my soulmate’—“Since Dash stopped wearing Axe body spray at the start of the semester.”

“He did not.”

“He did.”

“Source?”

“DJTM.”

“‘Dude, just trust me’? Really?” Fenton moved Wes’ hands away and started rubbing his calves himself. Wes very carefully kept himself relaxed, hoping beyond hope Fenton couldn’t hear his heartbeat thumping loudly in his chest. “You think I didn’t know what that meant? I’m insulted.”

“I’m insulted by how much of a blabbermouth you think I am.”

“It’s not that—” He paused. “Well, it’s not just that.”

“Hey! I’m not dumb enough to try outing somebody way stronger than you!”

Fenton tapped a hand to his chin. “So if I was, say, the mayor would you still try outing me?”

“Weird choice, but ehh,”—Wes wiggled his hand—“maybe. Depends on the circumstances.”

“You mean the circumstances of how I become the mayor or how much you end up liking me being the mayor?”

“Both. Also depends on if you still embarrass me, but in front of the town this time.”

Fenton’s lip twitched and he looked like he was holding in laughter, though Wes didn’t think he’d said anything particularly funny. “Listen, okay, I’m sorry, I didn’t think people would actually make fun of you this long.”

“Aha! But you did expect them to make fun of me!” He crossed his arms. “You should prove me right and reveal yourself to the school to make it up to me.”

Fenton huffed a laugh. “Not a chance. I’ll bring some donuts next time I come though.”

“Who says I’ll let you in next time?”

“You will,” he said simply, an easy smile on his face. As if those two words were some kind of absolute truth in the world. Wes didn’t know how to feel about that. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic. How come you were looking up Wraith?”

He lit up with the reminder of his earlier discovery, sitting up to grab Fenton’s shoulders. “I finally did it! I found her! Wraith is my soulmate!”

Fenton stared at him, the smile sliding off his lips in his shock. “What?” he said faintly.

Wes nodded. “It all makes sense! My vision keeps switching between full colour and grayscale because my soulmate is a half-ghost! Her!” He pointed at the monitor, a wide grin on his face. “All this time and effort and knowing I was right finally paid off!” He gripped Fenton’s shoulders tighter. “You have to introduce me.”

“But,” he said, sounding absolutely dumbfounded. “That’s impossible. Ellie can’t be your soulmate.” 

“I get the whole wanting to protect your younger family members thing—not literally because unfortunately Kyle and Easton are older than me—but like, in general, I get it. However,”—he leaned closer to Fenton, ignoring how it made his traitorous heart flutter—“I won’t let your stupid overprotectiveness stop me from meeting her.”

Fenton pulled away, looking a little uncomfortable. “I mean, if you wanna meet her so bad, I’m not gonna keep her away or anything, but I’m telling you it’s impossible she’s your soulmate. Literally,”—he waved a hand, movements jerky, robotic—“she might look our age, but she was only created six months ago. You’ve been dealing with your soulmate dying way longer than that.”

And just like that, Wes’ world was crumbling down, brick by brick, piece by piece. 

It was a possibility, in the back of his head, that the fact the timestamps didn’t line up exactly was an indication that this new ghost girl wasn’t his soulmate.

But what were the alternatives? What else could possibly explain his soulmate’s situation?

Plasmius was already ruled out. Wes had watched Fenton’s friends take care of him on the news once, while Fenton himself was huddled next to him, having knocked on his front door—in human form—to ask to stay with him a while. Wes’ vision had stayed in full colour long after Manson and Foley managed to blast the shit out of him, yelling something about kidnapping bitches getting stitches or something. 

Fenton, too, was out. There was that big fiasco with Technus a while back where Phantom was seen fighting him day and night for a few days. Apparently, not the whole time, though, as Wes had seen him in human form when his dad dragged him and Kyle out to go bowling. He was having fun with his friends and looking… happier than before. Though, something about him seemed inherently off. Not that Wes could investigate; he had his own problems.

Those few days with Phantom fighting Technus happened to coincide with the colour perception in his vision deciding to split in half. 

One eye could see in colour. 

The other couldn’t.

It was incredibly disorienting. And it had terrible timing.

The split colour vision had unfortunately happened at the same time as a practical test in Chemistry. When they were using litmus strips. He tried to ask for his test to be postponed until his vision returned to normal, or at least a longer time frame for the test itself— very adamantly, he might add—but the more he argued—the more frustrated he got—the less Ms. Faluca seemed to believe him. The students too.

And he guessed rumours spread quickly, because what little help he got from his classmates and teachers in other classes started to dwindle drastically. 

It lost what little respect he still had with his favourite science teacher. Lost him the scraps of help he was able to argue for over the past two years. Lost what little trust his own father had in him.

There was nothing else.

“Hey,” a soft voice said. He slowly looked up from where he’d been staring listlessly at his lap. “Just ‘cause it wasn’t Ellie doesn’t mean you’re wrong.”

Wes didn’t care about trying to figure out what he meant. “It’s not her. So I’m wrong. My soulmate just doesn’t exist. I’m—” He breathed through the tears welling up in his eyes. “I’m just making it all up. I’ve been one of those few people who never got one and I made this all up for attention. To be special. To get allowances other kids don’t—”

“Hey!” Fenton shouted, slapping his hands on Wes’ cheeks. “Do not say that shit about yourself. You aren’t any of those things.”

“Says who?” Wes said, feeling more present with the stinging pain. “The guy who’s been giving his own soulmate a heart attack every time he transforms?” Wes jabbed Fenton’s chest with each point, his voice raising the longer he went on. “The guy who got himself killed on a dare from his friends? The guy who shows up outside my window pathetically asking for kisses on his booboos and using me as a convenient distraction to forget the outside world? The guy who lets himself get shot at on the daily by his own parents because he’s afraid they might yell at him for keeping it secret?” 

“Wes, that’s not—”

“Not what? Not right? Then please, elaborate. What did I say that was wrong? Go on, I’ll wait.” Wes leaned back and crossed his arms. “Maybe if I wait long enough your soulmate will kick it too. Not that you’d care about that.”

Fenton closed his eyes, breathing deeply once. He floated off the bed, towards the window. He put one hand on the frame, pausing. 

“You’re my friend and you’re hurting,” he said quietly. “But I can’t be here right now.”

He left. 

Quietly and without a fuss.

Wes slammed a pillow over his head and screamed.

---

It took a long time for Fenton to come around again.

Less out of a want to visit and more because of a legitimate injury.

It wasn’t anything that bad—just a knife wound in his shoulder from Skulker—but it still needed to be cleaned and bandaged before the blood loss started to get to him.

Fenton stayed silent as Wes wrapped him up. 

Wes tied off the bandage. Left to put away the first aid kit. 

When he returned, Fenton was gone.

---

The days without Fenton were dull. Much more than before their argument. More, even, than before that first night the ghost boy showed up on his balcony. When he was trying to out Fenton’s identity for revenge.

When his primary focus was finding his—

He kicked his chair, watching as it rolled across the room and knocked into the wall. Ignored his dad yelling to keep it down.

His chest heaved. He grabbed the nearest object, moved to chuck it at the drywall—

He glanced at the window. The lock sitting open, collecting dust.

He felt the anger drain out of him.

It was all over. All that hope that he would finally find someone who understood him, who accepted him, who loved him for who he was not who he might be —

Gone. 

And then, the guy he would have probably called a friend, was now avoiding him because of Wes’ own stupid mistakes.

God fuck. What was he supposed to do now?

He moved to set down the little thing in his hand, but paused. Stared at it.

---

“Heyyyy, Wes,” Danny said in a sing-song voice, floating through his window with his arms behind his back.

“WWWWhaaat the fuck do you want?” Wes answered in kind.

“Well, I heard a rumour about someone’s birthday~”

Wes groaned. “Please don’t punch my arm with your stupid ghost strength.”

“What? Oh, right, I forgot about that.” Wes groaned louder. “Oh shut up, I’m not gonna give you birthday beats.”

Wes set his pencil down atop his homework. “You’re not?”

“Nope!” He set a large wrapped box down on Wes’ desk, right on top of his binder. Danny waited, eagerly bobbing in the air. “Go on, open it!”

He tore off the wrapping paper. Dug through a bunch of packing peanuts. Searching and searching and starting to get frustrated and wonder if it was all just a stupid fucking prank —

His hand met something smooth and detailed.

Wes pulled out a small figurine of himself, a clear and tinged light blue, standing confidently and wearing a Sherlock Holmes costume. He turned it over in his hand, looking at all the small details — the small ‘string’ on top of the deer cap, the plaid patterned etchings in the cape, the magnifying glass —

It was amazing. 

Danny grinned. “Happy birthday, Wes.”

---

Wes resolved himself, staring at that little figurine. 

Next time Fenton came over he’d—well, he would apologize first. Then maybe give him a popsicle.

[abbatoirablaze]

TM Tragedy, Season 2, Chapter 10

Word Count:  1k

Warnings:  angst, guns, gun violence/mentions of gun violence, mentions of the AB.

Mikey’s POV

Grandma picked me up after Tara and her had shot up Ima's car.

Yeah. Jax called me. He said that Ima called him and was flipping out about grandma. When I asked her about it, she just laughed. Until she received a text. Then she got a sour look on her face, "we need to stop at the station."

"What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to the dear old chief," she growled. A few minutes later we met our detour of the police station, "stay in the car. I'll only be a minute."

My phone buzzed.

'Keep an eye on your grandmother. She and Tara are fucking psychos today.'

I laughed, staring at the message from Jax.

'Juice said something about having to go with you guys tonight. M.C.C? Be careful, dad.'

I put my phone away and looked at the clock of the SUV mom was renting. It'd been a few minutes. I hopped out, and made my way in. Hale was sitting in the bullpen with mom. He was consoling her about something.

"You guys see grandma?"

"Honey," mom said, standing up and away from Hale, "your grandma was supposed to drop you off at the shop."

"She said she had to talk to Unser."

"They went back to the holding cells," Hale said briefly. I nodded and moved past them, not wanting to know what they were talking about.

"and nothing I know could stop that blast," she said. Her voice echoed into the hallway. I took a few steps forward, but not enough to let them know I was in the area, "Clay and Jax taking on what happened to me and Mandy would've....would've made it worse?"

"That's right."

"I'm sorry."

"Hey this ain't on you sweetheart."

"I'm starting to think that uh..it's all on me...she wanted to tell them...Mandy wanted to tell them from the start."

What the hell is she going on about?

What does she mean...what happened to her and Mandy? What did she want to tell them but grandma forced her not to?

Was it Mandy's pregnancy?

I took a few steps forward and saw grandma crying in front of Unser.

"Grandma?"

She hurriedly wiped away some tears, but it didn't help. Her mascara and eyeliner had begun to run, "what the hell are you doing in here, Mikey?  I told you to wait in the car."

"Grandma are you okay?"

She shook her head, "it's none of your damn business Mikey. You should've waited for me in the car."

"You said something about you and Aunt Mandy..."

"Chief..." a uni said, running into the holding cells, scaring all of us, "you guys better come quick...Hale told me to get you guys. Something happened."

Jax POV

"We kick in the doors. We grab Zobelle," Bobby said, "we grab him in front of an audience?"

"Com on it's Weston's crew," Tig said, trying to reason with him, "it's a handful of ex-cons and scum bags. Not really reliable witnesses."

"We let them make the first move."

I looked at Clay, "it's a membership rally. It's gonna be packed with AB."

"How the hell do you know that?"

I turned to Tig, "Hale grilled ZObelle's daughter. He's sending the sheriffs to pick him up for questioning."

Happy paled, "we got cops on the way?"

"Yup," I nodded. A few of the guys shook their heads at me. They seemed angry at my actions. But fuck, I wasn't gonna apologize for trying to do this the right way. Something felt off about it. It felt like some bad shit was gonna go down.

"Well then we better hurry," Clay said, "everyone good?"

Ope looked at me, "anything else you wanna tell us."

I nodded, "yeah. We do this, we go to jail. You know that, right?"

"AK's and Shotguns," Clay said, "Let's go."

As Clay began to lead the guys towards the Christian Center, I felt my pocket buzz. I grabbed it, hoping it was Hale telling me the cops would be here in a second so that I could call it all off. But it wasn't. It was Mikey.

"Daddy."

She sounded scared.

"Mikayla?" I asked, "is everything okay?"

I could hear crying, "Daddy where are you? Please come back."

"Mikey I really can't talk right now," I sighed, "is it something you can tell me later?" 

"Dad I-" 

But the phone was ripped out of my hands.  Clay was looking at me, "do we have issues?" 

"It's Mikey, Clay," I growled out, "something's wrong." 

He looked at my phone.  We could both hear crying on the other end, but he closed it, and put the phone in his pocket.  I felt my nostrils flaring.  He smirked, "what, tough guy?  You want to go?  You got something you wanna say?" 

"Give back my cell, Clay." 

"No cell phones during club business," he said, tapping his pocket, "don't worry.  I'll hold onto this until we're done." 

We glared one another down for a second before I caved. He led us back to the group.

"You, Juice, and Hap take the side," he said to Tig as we walked towards our spot, "come on."

I walked up with Clay to the guards, and we held our guns up, "keep your mouth shut."

"Give me that," Bobby said, taking their guns, and using one of them to knock out one of the guards. Opie got the other. Clay pulled out his cell and dialed Tig.

"Ready!" he said, "Five count. One...two..."

He hung up and I continued the count. On five we filtered in and my mind went blank.

It was a fucking trap.

"Jesus Christ."

Weston ducked from the podium and two shots rang out. Rich white people started screaming and heading for the door. Clay lifted his gun and I stood in front of him, stopping him, and pointing out the cameras.

Opie went after him and we tried to regroup.

"We gotta get the hell outta here," Bobby yelled, "Now."

We all ran to the closest exit. The sheriffs were outside waiting, with multiple cars. They were screaming at us to get down and to drop our weapons.

Fuck.

But the only thing that rang out in my mind was my daughter crying, begging for me to come back.  I glared at Clay as an officer knocked me to the ground.

Chapter 11

Tag List:  @lohnes16 @evyiione

[parkersbliss]

i don’t know if i tapped the right thing to request something well if I did could you do please (just if you want) a hollandxsister imagine where the reader has a lots of school work to do meanwhile all of the family is im quarantine and they like try to get her to take a break. Thanks :)

Take a Break | Holland Family

—

“She’s been in her room all day,” Harry said, sitting cross-armed in front of his brother.

“And?” Sam inquired, putting down his spatula.

“And?” Harry asked, appalled at the lack of common sense in his brother. “Who does that?”

“People who have work to do.”

“She can’t have that much work.”

“Mate,” Sam said, rolling his eyes, “the last time you were in school was centuries ago.”

“I am not that old, Sam,” Harry grumbled, grabbing a strawberry and chewing on it loudly.

Sam shrugs, grabbing a bowl from behind him.

“You’re probably just so bored that you’re relying on (Y/N) for entertainment,” Tom chimed in, taking a seat next to Harry.

“Paddy doesn’t do that much work!” Harry protested, gesturing over to their little brother who was playing some video game on TV.

“That’s because Paddy doesn’t do any work,” Tom said.

“Not true!” Paddy shouted.

Niki comes into the kitchen, hands on her hips, “That C in algebra says otherwise.”

“I’m telling you, mom, I don’t need to know parabolas!”

“He’s right,” Dom said, setting down his newspaper, “I can’t think of one time I’ve ever used a pear bowl.”

“It’s parabola, dad.”

“See what I mean?”

Harry groans loudly, “doesn’t matter, I’m getting her out of the room.”

Tom laughs, patting his little brother on the back, “Good luck.”

With eyes narrowed at his bother, Harry stands up from the table and knocks on your door.

“I’m busy!” Came your reply.

“No, you’re not. Come out!”

You internally groan, setting down your pencil, “Yes, I am Harry.”

“Then take a break,” he offers.

“No can do,” You said, grabbing another textbook from the shelf. “I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.”

Your brother sighs in defeat and slumps back to the kitchen.

“No luck?” Sam asked.

Harry shook his head, “No luck.”

Tom hums in thought, “Well, my turn.”

Tom strolls up to your room, not even bothering to knock, and opens the door.

“What the hell?” You asked, spinning around to face him.

“It’s time to take a break,” Your brother said simply.

You smile at him, standing up from your chair, “You're right.”

Tom grins widely, “great, well Sam’s making something really fancy for lunch and I was thinking we cou-”

Once Tom is outside your door, you slam it in his face.

“We could have a chess tournament,” he finishes to himself, nodding. “Well, that went well.”

Tom sits defeated on the couch next to Harry, “I think she might’ve locked the door.”

“Great,” Harry grumbled.

“Boys,” their mom said, “Have you considered that maybe you bothering her and interrupting the work isn’t making it go any faster?”

“But mom,” Harry whined, “I’m bored now! And it’s Friday, she has the whole weekend to do her work.”

Niki shrugs, “Maybe she wants to get it all done now so she can be free during the weekend.”

“Same difference,” Tom said.

“If you guys are so desperate,” Paddy said, standing up from his game, “let me try.”

Like before, Paddy strolls over to your room, knocking.

“I am not taking a break!” You shout from the inside.

“Not even to watch Love, Victor?” Paddy asked.

You admit the offer is tempting, and you consider it for a moment before looking at the piles of work in front of you and the list of assignments.

Felix Weston would have to wait another day…or two.

“Nope!” You said.

“But it’s Friday, and Sam’s making lunch, and we’re not doing anything, please?”

“No, Paddy,” You sigh. “I have to do this.”

“Well, you don’t have to.”

“Paddy.”

“Fine, I’m leaving.”

Paddy returns to the living room, much like his other brothers, with no sign of you.

“So,” Harry said.

“I offered Love, Victor,” Paddy said, staring at the TV with a look of defeat in his eyes. “And she said no.”

Tom scoffs, “Must be some really important assignment.”

“Think we can lure her out with the criminal minds theme?” Paddy asked as Harry shrugged, grabbing the remote. “Worth a try.”

Sam sighs at his brothers, grabbing a plate and knocking on your door.

“Now what?” You snap.

Sam chuckles, “I have a plate of your favorite lunch.”

Your head snaps up at the door, “You do?”

Sam nods, “If you take a break and hang out with us I’ll make cookies for dessert.”

Sam’s cookies are the best, always warm and chewy. You don’t think twice and open the door, grabbing the plate from Sam.

He smiles, walking back with you to the living room.

“You guys are watching Spencer Reid without me?” You ask, all three of your brothers turning their heads to you.

“You got her out?” They all ask.

Sam shrugged, “I just promised her cookies.”

You laugh, taking a seat on the couch next to your brothers and setting your food on the table.

“Well?” You questioned, looking to your brothers. “Are we gonna watch or what?”

[thesoulspulse]

Regarding Flynn Fenton...

(Updated 12/17/2020)

Alright so, confession time. I wasn’t planning on joining the bandwagon on this new character Butch ‘supposedly’ came up with all on his own apart from sharing a few thoughts or giving replies here and there, but now I just have to come out and say it. Most of his backstory makes no sense.

Also, let’s be honest here, the canon Butch gave him is borrowed from so many Marvel characters its not even funny and I have some serious questions about why Danny’s parents would happily keep experimenting with a ghost portal if they knew their FIRSTBORN CHILD was sucked into it! And even if they did they’d be treating the whole thing much more seriously if they were planning to mount a rescue mission into the Ghost Zone...

Next, lets talk about his design.

Now, we already know that while Maddie has reddish brown hair, normal red hair and green eyes does run in her family so let’s compare Flynn to Maddie’s older sister Aunt Alicia, which I might add is the ONLY named character we know of that’s indirectly part of the Fenton family through her younger sister Maddie after she married Jack. But we don’t actually know what their original maiden name was or what their parents might have looked like:

After that there’s one of the more obvious comparisons you can make which is Jazz, who definitely takes after her aunt more than her mom. By the way, I’m using a screenshot of her as a kid because I think when Flynn was still around she was supposed to be like six years old while Danny is only two:

So with that in mind, as far as genetics are concerned I think Flynn actually could have been born as a red-head just like his younger sister while Danny takes more after his dad with the black hair and blue eyes (borrowing Amethyst-Ocean’s version since I couldn’t find any good quality screenshots of Danny as a baby/toddler):

But here’s the real kicker, as soon as I actually SAW Flynn in Butch’s latest video after hearing everyone in the phandom talking about him, do you want to know which character I ACTUALLY think he looks like the most...?

Wes Weston, the random background character that the phandom adopted from the episode “Shades of Gray” that has since become a fully fledged character in his own right and recently you guys have even given him one or two brothers based on other red-headed background characters.

So you want to know my honest to god opinion here? I seriously think Butch is just pulling stuff from the phandom and taking credit for coming up with the idea of Flynn ‘randomly’ since it came from his show which we all know has only become a source of click-bait for him since he doesn’t legally own the rights to it anymore. Nickelodeon does.

That said, while I’ll admit some of Butch’s newer ideas are decent, most of them are uninspired and it’s the show’s fans who have turned these ideas into something more inventive and created this whole Danny Phantom universe with its very own lore with things such as ghost cores, spirits that only exist in the Ghost Zone vs ghost who were in fact once dead people or animals, the list goes on and I couldn’t be prouder of our community as a whole.

Either way, I look forward to seeing more cool ideas for Flynn gradually come out and I’ve already added at least one of my own too based on something another phan wrote. But I’m sure there are more to come since there are so many amazing authors and artists in the phandom that I truly admire even though this show ended all the way back in 2007. So there you go, I’ve added my two cents to get it out of my system so take from it what you will...

P.S. I still think Flynn’s ghost hero design is kinda uninspired too personally since he just looks like a red-headed version of Dan to me.

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

From friends to this | Pilar Salazar x Felix Weston

Summary: Pilar and Felix move from friends to a relationship

Pairing: Pilar Salazar x Felix Weston

Word count: 1.2k

-

Whenever she saw Felix, this stupid song by Studio Killers kept coming in Pilar's mind. I wanna ruin our friendship, we should be lovers instead. It was cliché - and she hated it -, but she did want to ruin their friendship.

But Felix was dating Lake and she didn't want to be a homewrecker. She wasn't that kind of person.

She had watched them all summer, holding hands and kissing at the mall she worked at. They were showing PDA at school too, now that class had started again and Pilar tried to hide her grimace and jealousy, but Rahim saw clear in her and easily guessed her feelings for her upstairs neighbor.

''You like him,'' he pointed out.

''Who?''

Rahim gave her a look. ''You know who.''

''I have no idea who you're talking about.''

''Felix.''

Then, Felix and Lake broke up. It should've been the perfect opportunity, but Felix was going through some things and it wasn't the right moment to confess her feelings for him.

''You should totally make a move!'' Rahim suggested. ''This is your chance, P.''

The chances of Felix liking her back were slim, but she listened to Rahim and invited Felix for coffee.

The 'date' didn't go as planned and Pilar might have ruined whatever was between them. At least she had her answer now - Felix didn't like her like that -, but it still hurt.

.

Felix didn't see it coming. He had been so focussed on fixing things between him and Lake that he didn't realize that he was having feelings for Pilar.

For a long time, he saw her as nothing more than Victor's moody little sister, but lately, he realized how she was always there for him. She was there when he needed a friend to hang out with - even if it was just to get coffee. She was there when he needed to vent. She was there when he was short on rent and needed money or he and his mom would've been kicked out. She was there when his mom was at the clinic. She was always there.

She even remembered that his mom liked Swedish Fishes and slippeed a bag in his jacket. Felix had smiled when reading the note. It was small, but thoughtful.

And that's when it clicked.

.

There was nothing romantic about making out by the trash, but that night wasn't one Pilar would forget about anytime soon. Thankfully, the trash had been picked up that morning so it didn't smell too bad.

Felix had looked so good in his plaid jacket and bow-tie. Pilar was never one for guy in suits or fancily dressed up, but when she answered the door and saw Felix with swooped back hair and a bow-tie, she really wanted to kiss him. Instead, she had pushed him away.

Almost a month had passed since Mia's dad's wedding and Pilar still hadn't told her parents about dating Felix.

''Are we gonna tell them soon? Your parents? Because I'm really bad at making up believable excuses on a whim and we almost got caught three times this past week. I can barely look your mom in the eye. She's always been so nice to me, I don't want to lie to her and get on her bad side. I love your mom.''

Pilar sighed. ''Can we talk about this another time? Mom is at a piano lesson and we only have one hour left before she returns.'' She tried to return to kissing, but Felix dodged her lips.

''You've been avoiding the conversation for weeks, Pilar. What is it? Do you not want to tell your parents? Do you think they won't approve of us? Are you...ashamed of me?''

''No!''

Admittedly, Felix was a little strange and the complete opposite of the boys she usually liked, but she wasn't ashamed of Felix. They kiss at school all the time and eat lunch together. It wasn't the problem.

''No, Felix, that's not-''

''Then, why are we always sneaking around? I'm tired of being anxious and over-analyzing and overthinking everything I do and say around your parents. I want to call you my girlfriend in front of them.''

Pilar's lips curled into a smile. She wanted that too. To call Felix her boyfriend in front of her parents. She wanted to tell them she's going out with Felix instead of 'I'm taking out the trash' or making up a History homework with Rahim.

''Do you remember Eric?''

How could he forget about Eric?

''The dick who cheated on you with one of your best friends? Yeah. Vaguely.''

Pilar bit back a smile, sensing the bitterness toward her ex in his voice. ''When I introduced him to my parents as my boyfriend, they didn't take it too well. They said I was too young to date anyone and told Eric to never step foot in our house again. He turned out to be a shitty person, but that's beside the point. What I meant to say is that I'm scared they'll react like that again.''

Felix understood her motives, but she couldn't live with the fear of something happening again. He had been in her shoes before. He had shielded everyone from his mom - and her mental illness -, scared she'll do something irrational or weird in front of his friends. All it did was put a strain in his relationships.

''I don't want to brag, but your parents adore me.''

''Adore?'' Pilar scoffed. ''That's a bit of a stretch.''

''Well, they like me.''

''They tolerate you.''

She was teasing, trying to get a reaction from Felix - and it was working.

''That's mean! Your mom loves me. I'm her favorite guest,'' Felix defended. ''What I'm trying to say is, I'm not like this Eric guy from Texas. Your parents know me. I've been having breakfast here almost every morning since you moved here. Do you really think they'll disapprove of me? Of us?'' He raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer, but Pilar said nothing. Felix would've been hurt if she had said something.

''Not tonight, though. My mom has a piano lesson at 6pm and I want both my parents to be there when we tell them.''

Felix nodded. That's a bargain he could work with. ''I can hold your hand when you tell them, if you want.''

Pilar shoved his shoulder. ''Shut up.''

Felix laughed. He knew she'd say that.

This time, when Pilar kissed him, Felix didn't dodge her lips. He cupped her face with one hand and kissed back, sighing contently when felt Pilar's fingers at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer.

The kiss got a little carried away, wandering hands slowly awaking as Pilar slung a leg over Felix, moving to a straddling position. Felix was taken by surprise, not expecting her to do that, but allowed Pilar to try new things. He may be more experienced, but he didn't want to go too fast with Pilar. She was only fifteen.

''Do you think your parents will mind that there's an age gap between us? It's only a few months, but-''

Pilar narrowed her eyes. ''Felix?'' He hummed, looking up at her. ''Less talking, more kissing.'' Pilar grabbed the front of his ugly sweater and brought their lips back together, falling back against the mattress.

They were playing with fire by making out in her bedroom. Luckily, Pilar had set an alarm on her phone that would leave them just enough time to fix themselves before Isabel would return from grocery shopping.

[five-rivers]

Interview with a Ghost (part 4: Strange)

Sort of a tenuous connection to the prompt.  Oh, well.  

(PART 1) (PART 2) (PART 3)

.

.

.

They had asked the Fenton parents for an interview with Daniel Fenton to ask him about things he might have seen at school. They had agreed, heartily, but had insisted on staying because 'the kids are a little biased towards Phantom, teens, you know,' and they wanted to keep the record straight.

The other two children had, with extreme reluctance, gone home. His sister, however, had refused to leave, saying that she knew just as much about things at the school as Danny, and they might as well question her at the same time. Collins couldn't really argue with that, and he had elbowed Paterson when she tried.

Daniel looked very small and meek against the large armchair he was perched on. Nothing at all like Phantom, who projected personality and confidence even when nervous.

Collins could see how he had gotten away with... whatever he had gotten away with... for so long. He still wasn't entirely convinced that Fenton was Phantom. It seemed pretty incredible, and there wasn't any physical evidence. Especially with the body gone.

Paterson took out a pad of paper and a recorder. "Do you mind if I record this?" she asked. "For record keeping purposes."

"Not at all!" said Jack, grinning. "We're glad to be of help!"

Daniel looked at the recorder as if he thought he'd be ill. He looked pale. Almost green. Was that because he was a ghost, or was he really just that nervous?

"Alright," said Collins. "Do you see Phantom around Casper High?"

"Not really," said Daniel.

"Everyone does," said Jasmine.

The siblings glanced at each other.

"I try to stay away from the ghost fights," said Daniel, shrugging.

"Yes. Your classmates seem to think that you have some kind of sixth sense, as you always leave class right before an attack."

Daniel's eyebrows pinched together in genuine confusion. "They think what?" He shook his head. "I just leave when I need to go," he said.

Paterson looked up from her notepad. "Go as in...?"

"You know, go," said Daniel, a blush dusting his features with pink.

"I see," said Paterson. Daniel blushed harder.

"Have you ever spoken to Phantom?" asked Collins.

"Yes," said Jasmine, crisply, to murmurs of disapproval from her parents. "He saved me from from Spectra. The ghost who masqueraded as a psychologist."

"I remember that," said Paterson. "Old Elroy had that case." It was from before the existence of ghosts had been widely accepted, even in Amity Park. "You were one of her victims?"

"I'm the one she tried to blow up."

"Ah," said Collins. "And what did you talk about?"

"With Spectra?"

"With Phantom."

"Nothing much," said Jasmine. "Not that I remember, anyway. It was over a year ago."

"Try to remember," said Collins.

Jasmine shrugged. "I think it was basically just agreeing that Spectra was terrible."

"Have you had any other interactions with Phantom?"

"None worth mentioning," said Jasmine.

What a strange way to phrase that. Collins decided not to call her on it, yet. Even with Paterson pointedly poking his ankle with her toe.

"Daniel, what about you?"

"It's Danny," the boy corrected. "I've never really talked to him. Unless you want to count things like 'look out!'"

"Nothing about his origins, then?"

"No?" said Danny.

"Have you heard anything about his origins from anywhere else?"

"We already told you about that," interrupted Maddie, frowning. "His origins are unknown, but he's existed for hundreds of years, at a minimum."

"Yes, but we'd like to hear from Danny and Jasmine," said Collins, giving Maddie his best professional smile. He turned back to Danny, expectantly.

"Someone once told me they thought he was a plague doctor, but, like, updated. I don't remember who, though."

"Right," said Collins. "Now, we'd like you to think back to about two years ago. Call it late summer, early fall. Did anything strange happen around that time?"

"Yeah," said Danny. "The Lunch Lady attacked the school for the first time. I don't remember the exact date, but it was right before the meat-vegetable protests."

"It was that early?" asked Collins, surprised. "That's months before the first recorded attack! Are you sure there was a ghost?"

"Pretty sure, yeah," said Danny, crossing his arms.

"Hey! That's about when we saw Phantom for the first time!" exclaimed Jack.

"Is it?" asked Collins.

"Yeah! He stole our prototype Fenton thermos! I still don't understand how he got it working." The last was a grumble.

"Interesting. And did anything strange happen other than that? Anything out of the norm?"

"Well," said Maddie, thoughtful, "we got our portal working about a month before that. Danny did, anyway."

"Did he? How?"

"Knocked a loose wire back into place!" boomed Jack, laughing. "That's my boy."

Danny's face was whey-colored again. Interesting.

Oh, hell. The portal definitely had something to do with all of this, didn't it.

"How does your portal work, exactly, anyway?"

"Excellent question!"

Fifteen minutes later, Collins had no better idea of how their portal worked except that it involved a great deal of ectoplasm and electricity, both of which they had found on the corpse. He couldn't help but think that he had finally discovered how Phantom had died.

And hearing Jack and Maddie, the boy's parents talk about the portal with such obvious pride while Danny squirmed in the armchair, looking for an escape...

"Thank you," said Collins, quickly, while Jack drew a breath. "I think that's all we need for today."

"But-" started Paterson.

"It's really all we need," repeated Collins. He saw Danny relax, marginally. "Just one more thing. Do you know anything about the break in at the city morgue last night?"

Various expressions flicked over the Fentons' faces. Jack's and Maddie's were blank. Danny's was was angry. Jasmine's was, surprisingly, guilty.

Did she steal the body? Collins would have never guessed it. The image she presented was too neat and mannered.

"Was it a ghost?" asked Maddie. "I'm afraid we can't do anything about it, otherwise."

"Right," said Collins. "We'll contact you if that evolves to be the case. And-"

"Oh, I can't take it anymore!" exclaimed Paterson. She pointed at Danny. "Are you Phantom?"

Danny jumped about a foot. "Wh-What? Nooooooooo. No, I'm not Phantom. I'm alive, aren't I?"

Damn. If that wasn't all but a confession.

The other Fentons started to laugh. The adults heartily. Jasmine uneasily.

"You've been listening to what's-his-name, haven't you? The West boy?"

"Weston," corrected Maddie. "No matter how many times we explained things to him..." She sighed. "I think there's something wrong with him, to be honest. But just to assuage your doubts..." She stood up and walked over to Danny. "Danny, do you mind."

"Nope," said Danny, standing up and holding out his wrist.

Maddie beckoned the detectives forward. "Here," she said, "feel this." She tapped her fingers on Danny's wrist.

"Go ahead," said Danny, staring up at him with a mix of apprehension and determination.

Collins put his fingers on Danny's wrist, on his pulse point. Danny's skin was smooth and cool, but not at all corpselike, or what Collins imagined a ghost would feel like.

"I have a pulse," said Danny. "Ghosts don't." Sure enough, Collins' fingers detected a slow but steady thump thump thump.

Maddie nodded. "Their closest equivalent is more of a constant rush. I could explain the science... but you were just leaving."

"Yes. Sorry about that. My partner can be a bit susceptible to conspiracy theories. I had to talk her out of hiring a psychic, once."

"Thank goodness you did," said Maddie, smiling. "Almost all psychics are fake."

.

"They don't believe it," said Danny, watching the detectives pull away from the curb below from the window of his room.

"Mom and dad? Of course not," said Jazz. "They won't believe you're Phantom unless you show them outright."

"No, the detectives. They don't believe I'm human. They still think I'm Phantom."

"Danny," said Jazz, cautiously. "Don't do anything rash."

"It isn't like I can make this any worse," said Danny. "I'm going to talk to them."

.

"What was that?" complained Paterson. "I never tried to hire a psychic!"

"Yeah, but you did agree that we wouldn't out Phantom in front of his parents. He said he doesn't want his family to know about him, and I don't want an angry ghost trying to throttle me! He can bench press a bus! I don't want his hands anywhere near my throat." He inhaled deeply and sighed. "At least we know what did him in."

"Do you?" asked a very cold voice.

It was a testament to Collins' steely nerves and rigorous police training that he didn't immediately crash the car upon finding a ghost in the back seat. Paterson nearly threw herself out of the car.

"Hi, Phantom," he said, instead, looking at the young ghost in the rear view mirror. "I don't suppose you know what happened to your body."

The ghost scowled. "It wasn't me. I told you to stop messing with stuff."

"Who, then? Your sister?"

Phantom's scowl deepened to something like rage. "Leave her out of this."

"Oh, god, you really are Fenton," said Paterson.

In her defense, Collins hadn't completely believed it, either.

Varied emotions passed over the ghost's face. "Come on, you don't believe Wes, do you?"

"There's other evidence," said Collins, voice wavering just a little. "I don't know how you're keeping up a pulse, or the rest of your human disguise, but you died in that portal, didn't you?"

Phantom was silent for a moment, then he reached through Paterson's chair and neatly plucked her recorder from her jacket, along with her phone. He tossed the phone into the seat next to him and crushed the recorder. Then he started riffling through Collins' pockets.

"Is that really necessary?" asked Collins. He guided the car to the side of the road and put it into park.

"You made it necessary," said Phantom. He pulled out Collins' phone as well and gave it a once over. "Look," he said. "I'm sort of," he paused, "upset that you guys dug up my body and then freaking lost it."

"Lost it-"

"Fine. Got it stolen from you by one of my enemies. One of my most dangerous enemies. Okay? Happy? Are you starting to understand why I wanted this left alone?"

"Are you trying to say that this isn't about your family not knowing you're dead?" asked Collins.

"Of course it's about that!" exclaimed Phantom. "It's just about half a dozen other things at the same time! You knowing about me could get me killed. Knowing about me could get you killed. The only reason Wes isn't dead is because he's completely ridiculous and no one believes him! You're credible!"

"By that enemy you mentioned?" asked Paterson, having regained some composure.

"Yeah," said Phantom. "He's got an interest in it not getting out."

"Why?" asked Paterson.

"Reasons," said Phantom, stubbornly.

"Does he have the same thing going on as you?"

Phantom crossed his arms and shrugged.

"One second," said Collins, "what do you mean, kill you? You're already dead."

"It's a figure of speech," mumbled Phantom. "Either way, the GIW would be more than happy to cut me open. Do you have any idea what they do to ghosts?"

"You- you're not actually dead, are you?" asked Collins. "Holy-"

"Yes, I am," said Phantom, quickly.

"How did you manage the pulse trick, then?"

"Lots of ghosts can do that. My parents don't know everything."

"You're a terrible liar. How the hell does that work? This- Ghost powers while alive?"

"I am dead," repeated Phantom. "How do you explain the body?"

"Half of it was missing," said Paterson.

Silence.

"I'm begging you to let this go," said Phantom. "People are going to get hurt. I'm going to get hurt."

"You don't think we'd let the GIW have you?" asked Paterson.

"I don't think it's a matter of 'let.' I-" he sighed and buried his face in his hands. "Ugh, I can't believe I made this even worse. What are you going to do?"

"We-" said Collins. Honestly, he had no idea. He looked at Paterson, who shrugged. "It isn't up to us, it's up to the captain."

"You can't tell more people!"

"Then you tell him. Come with us," said Paterson. "It's just one more, and he knows all of our suspicions, anyway." That wasn't completely true.

"If you really wanted to convince us not to, you could tell us more about your terrible enemy who may or may not be like you."

Phantom shook his head. "It's not worth it," he said, floating halfway out of his seat. "I'm going home."

"Wait," said Collins. "Your accident- It really was an accident, wasn't it? Your parents didn't-"

Phantom's face scrunched up. "Of course it was an accident. I was messing around someplace I shouldn't have been because of a dare. Are we done, now? Right up until you decide to ruin what's left of my life, anyway."

"Do you have a cell phone?" asked Paterson. "So we can call you, instead of your parents, if necessary." She offered up her notepad.

Phantom jerked it out of her hands and scrawled something on the paper. "Goodbye," he said, shortly, before flying out of the car.

Paterson swore, loudly.

"Yeah," agreed Collins. "Yeah."

[mediocre-writerr]

where were you in the morning [betty cooper]

Betty Cooper x fem reader

Summary: Betty and Y/n’s relationship is just getting started who knows what’s gonna happen today, tomorrow, next week, or in two minutes. 

Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3

*not my gif*

Your phone vibrates on the bedside table next to you, waking you up from your peaceful and restful slumber. Your head started to reel from what happened and the headache from all of the shots of whiskey you took from last night finally caught up to you. 

The feeling of Betty’s arms wrapped around you making you feel a feeling of comfort and safety. Her bare chest pressed up against your back as you felt her hot breath on your neck. You sigh in contentment and you feel your eyes slowly start to get heavy once again. Until your phone vibrates once again. 

“Hello?” you whisper not wanting to wake up Betty. 

“Y/N Y/L/N! Where are you young lady? The Wallace’s are coming over lunch and you need to look in tip top shape for Brett. We have a big deal with their family you know this!” Your mom yells at you over the phone and you look at the time. 

12:40 PM 

Oh shit! “Yes I’m coming Mom. I’ll be right there! I’m sorry Betty and I got caught up in homework, once we were finished it was too late and I crashed at her house. I’m sorry again.” I whisper.

“You better be home in 10 minutes or you will be hearing from your father!” you nod even though she can’t see you and then she hung up. You groaned softly annoyed with your mother and disappointed that you have to leave this heaven on Earth of being in Betty’s arms. 

Luckily for you Betty rolled and her body was facing the other side so you could slip out easily. As much as you didn’t want to, you had to. You put on your clothes from last night and just smiled at her sleeping figure. Before leaving the room you gave her a small little kiss on her head and brush the hair away from her face. She smiled softly and you thought for a second her eyes would open but they didn’t. 

You left and embarked on your cool walk home. It’s not even your own home, you live in an apartment away from the house. You convinced your parents to let you stay there since the house is for “dinner and business meetings”. It’ll allow them to keep the house in picture perfect shape and it’ll allow you to not be around them as often. It’s not like they’re around enough anyway. 

You enter your “home” before heading straight your room to change, but your mom stopped you on the way up, “Thank you for joining us. Now hurry and get ready the Wallace’s will be here soon.” 

“Yes Mom.” you respond solemnly. 

You get changed into your formal clothes and come down just in time for lunch. The Wallace’s door belled and you finally answered the door. The one and only Brett Weston Wallace was leaning against the doorframe, his snobbish parents not too far behind. 

“Y/N, always a pleasure to see you.” he smiles at you and you cringe ever so lightly, but he doesn’t notice. 

The Wallace’s or well the Weston Wallace’s if you want to be super formal. My parents and his parents are great business partners and “friends”. They call themselves friends, but all they ever talk about is business or you and their son Brett dating. It wasn’t your choice. Your heart has been set on Betty for as long as you can remember.  It’s something to keep their business deals alive because without this, their whole deal could fall apart. 

Brett attends Stonewall Prep, a prestigious boarding school, and just because he goes to this fancy place he believes he’s better than everyone. Yet he still has feelings for you, why? Because it’s just your luck. And if you break up with him, there goes your parents’ deals and they’ll lose a value partner. 

Brett kisses you lightly and all you can think about is Betty. You got to kiss Elizabeth Cooper last night. It felt safe and comforting, all it felt like was coming home from a long trip and finally getting to sleep in your own bed. While Brett feels wrong and disgusting. Something you don’t ever want to feel again.

Betty’s POV

I turn in my sleep and try to reach out for Y/N, but she wasn’t there. She was gone. All I felt was a cold bed. I sat up quickly and looked around for any note or explanation on why she left me alone, but there was nothing. 

Was that all I was to her? Just a simple one nightstand? That can’t be. Not after what Kevin told me. Kevin told me that she really liked me and has since kindergarten that just couldn’t go away. That couldn’t have been a lie, right?

I attempted to call her and text her, but I just ended up with straight to voicemail or no response. Maybe she’s busy right now. That has to be it, right? I got my hopes up for this girl. I really really like her and now she just pulled the rug from underneath me. 

I went back to my house and the hours went by. Still nothing from her. Maybe she’s doesn’t like me like that. Maybe this was just a one night stand, but I decided to call her anyway because that’s how pathetic I am. 

“Hey Y/N, i just wanted to check up on you and make sure I didn’t ruin our friendship or anything by what happened yesterday. Please give me a call back so we can just talk about this please.” I say after the ding for voicemail. 

Another hour went by and still nothing. So I decided to do the only logical thing and call Kevin.

“Kevin! You won’t believe what happened!” I yell into the phone when he picks up. 

“What?” he asks getting excited.

“So Y/N and I may or may not have hooked up yesterday after Veronica’s party-” I start to say before Kevin cuts me off.

“Didn’t I tell you that?! What did I tell you?! She likes you!! She really likes you!! I told you so!” Kevin yells and I can tell they’re he’s doing a happy dance.

“Before you get too excited Kevin, she’s now not responding to my text and left without a note and now I’m confused!” I yell out in frustration. 

“Well easy Betty, just go to her house and talk to her. I’m sure there has to be a reasonable explanation for this. Trust me the way she talked about you Betty. She got the brightest smile ever when she would. Her whole face would light up.” he responded. 

“Okay! Okay! I will!” Betty responded before hanging up.

Your POV

The time with the Wallace’s was really thrilling. You were sitting here playing charades. Couples against couples. Great. Just a great time. When there was a knock at the door. 

You took this as an opportunity to escape this horrible nightmare, “I got it!” you yell taking everybody by surprise. 

“Do you want me to come with you sweetheart?” Brett asks getting prepared to stand up. 

“No!” you answer a little too quickly and loudly, “It’s okay. You just stay and relax I’ll be right back.” you kiss his cheek tensely before walking to the doors. 

You opened the door and saw Betty pacing back and forth on your porch. Your eyes widened quickly before you closed the door behind you softly. Her head snaps towards you. 

“Hi.” Betty says nervously and you smile at her nervousness.

“Hey.” you respond still smiling and she smiles back finally relaxing, “What are you doing here?” 

“I wanted to talk to you about last night because I really like you Y/N. I don’t want this to be a one time thing. I want there to actually be an us Y/N. I’ve liked you for as long as I can remember.” she grabs your cheek in her hand and caresses it lightly with the pad of her thumb, “But if you don’t feel the same way I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” 

“I like you too Betty. I’ve liked you since kindergarten and trust me being with you last night has been a dream. A dream that finally came true.” you whisper softly and she started to lean in when the door swung open. 

“Hey Babe!” Brett says and you pull away from Betty quickly. Luckily he was looking down at the old fashioned your dad made him, “Who’s here?” he finally looks up and sees Betty.

“Uh oh this is Betty Cooper, my friend. Betty this is Brett Weston Wallace, my boyfriend...” you mumble the last part, but Betty hears it. She hears everything that you say because that’s all she can focus on. You. 

“Boyfriend?” Betty whispers staring at you in agape. 

[cyrellea]

TASK 03; NIGHTMARE —

WORD COUNT: around 1,200 CHARACTER(S) INCLUDED: Dean, Lydia SUMMARY: Cyrelle has a very sexy nightmare. Set around November/December 2020. TRIGGERS: implied alcoholism & implications of an unhealthy body image (not sure what’s the best way to describe it). also the dream itself is sliiiiightly nsfw, though i did try my best to keep it pg-13. NOTES: Sierra is the name of Cyrelle’s mom and Edgar is the name of Cyrelle’s dead dad, just FYI. Also template credit: johvny

This is different. It’s almost heavenly. The hands that brush over her skin are gentle, working Cyrelle towards her own pleasure instead of fumbling the way past partners have. She doesn’t have to guide them or give instructions on how to please her; her partner has been produced from her fantasies, so they move in perfect sync with her and know all the right ways to make her gasp in delight. Stars burst in her vision — everything is aglow. Is this what people mean when they talk about “making love”? Cyrelle has never been in love — the passionate, romantic, unconditional kind that’s fully reciprocated. But this has to be it. What else could it be?

All that light begins to dim once Cyrelle starts to reach her peak. It is the nature of all her fantasies to end abruptly, to leave her feeling dissatisfied and empty. But this time, her partner doesn’t turn to smoke in her hands, her pleasure doesn’t stop or stagnate. It steadily builds, and the environment around Cyrelle begins to sharpen in focus. She tears her lips away from her partner’s neck to get a clear look at the source of all this euphoria. She is curious — these sweet dreams are rare, and they never last this long.

The sight should horrify her. Cyrelle should be revolted with herself, should be trying to put an end to this before it goes any further. But what Cyrelle does is tug on Dean’s hair and bring his mouth onto hers. This dramatic reveal does not interrupt their pace, doesn’t change the course they’re working towards. This man has Dean’s face but it’s hard for Cyrelle to reconcile that when the movement is nothing like Dean’s. This is soft and passionate and romantic and made of the beautiful things that only lonely women can dream of. It’s not Dean’s name she calls out in the end but it is unmistakably his eyes boring into hers.

And then there’s another figure emerging from the corner of her eye. Cyrelle twists her neck in an unnatural way just to see Lydia looming over them. The fantasy has reached its natural end, the high has faded, but Cyrelle is still there. Dean is still there. Cyrelle suddenly becomes ashamed and embarrassed of her naked body entangled in Dean’s. She opens her mouth but no sound comes out; she can’t make any excuses or apologize even if she wanted to. Lydia looks too bored to deal with any convoluted explanations — she is apathetic, not here to listen. Instead, she stares at Cyrelle and Dean the way someone might study an unremarkable painting in a museum. She sees them for what they are, and they are nothing.

The MGM lion roars in Cyrelle’s ears, breaking through the hazy dreamscape and jolting her back into the real world. The couch she crashed in isn’t uncomfortable but the TV is too loud. Cyrelle guesses that her mother set the volume that high deliberately; it’s Sierra’s way of announcing her arrival home and waking up her sorry daughter. Cyrelle doesn’t have to see her mother to feel her disappointment radiating in the living room. Instead, she turns her head to the large TV screen to watch Elizabeth Taylor sleep through the opening credits of BUtterfield 8. 

“I hate this movie,” Cyrelle says in lieu of a greeting, her voice still heavy with sleep. Sierra finally comes into view, blocking the screen to hand Cyrelle a glass of water. Cyrelle empties it in seconds, trying to ignore the way her mother is assessing her. Sierra Ward could host a masterclass in how to command peoples’ attention, which is precisely why Cyrelle refuses to look directly at her. 

The specifics of the dream are already starting to fade away, but Cyrelle still can’t shake that strange feeling — that uncomfortable combination of shame and lust, overflowing from the gutter of her mind. God, she needed to get laid. Not with someone else’s partner, obviously. Not again. She really shouldn’t be thinking about this in front of her mother.

“You need a shower.” Her mother doesn’t sound judgemental or angry or annoyed. Her voice is neutral, soft, but all Cyrelle can wonder is how long she had to rehearse to sound like that. “Take one after we eat.”

Cyrelle lifted her wrist to glance at the time on her watch. She wore it mostly for aesthetics but it still worked either way. “It’s too early for dinner,” Cyrelle said.

“I just got off a long flight and I’m famished.” Only Sierra Ward used words like “famished” unironically. Cyrelle almost found it charming. Almost. “And I’m guessing you had a liquid lunch, if you didn’t sleep through it.” Again, there’s no judgement in Sierra’s tone. She speaks plainly, as though she’s commenting on the weather. She doesn’t need Cyrelle to tell her that she’s right. Cyrelle wishes she could hate her mother for it, but she’s too worn out to feel anything. 

Gloria Wandrous is long out of bed and covering the mirror with her lipstick scrawl by the time Cyrelle drags her body off the couch, though both women have scotch on their breath. Her mother has never been one for subtlety.

There’s an obscenely large bowl of salad placed in front of Cyrelle when she arrives in the dining area. Cyrelle can still hear the movie, but her eyes are focused on her mother. Despite being “famished,” Sierra hasn’t touched her own meal at all and is instead staring intently at Cyrelle. Cyrelle takes a forkful of salad in response, which is mixed with some kind of seasoned chicken and admittedly tastes pretty good. Yet Sierra still doesn’t eat; she just watches Cyrelle chew her food with an unreadable expression. Cyrelle quirks an eyebrow at her mother’s weird behavior, but doesn’t comment on it. 

“You’ve gotten so skinny,” her mother says suddenly, her voice so soft that it’s almost swept away by all the sound coming from the TV. Cyrelle stills, unsure of how to respond. It’s clearly not a compliment. Cyrelle isn’t sure if her mother meant to even say it at all, or if it just slipped out.

Cyrelle begins to shred a piece of chicken with her fork. “I’m sorry for worrying you,” she says, because she feels like she needs to apologize for something. Because she can’t be sorry for being a slut or for drinking too much or for dropping out of school, but she can be sorry for making her mother sad. 

The chicken is devoured quickly, and Cyrelle keeps eating until she’s stuffed and Gloria is talking to her own mother on screen. “Mama, face it: I was the slut of all time.” At least Gloria loved Weston. At least Elizabeth loved Eddie. At least Sierra loved Edgar. Cyrelle didn’t know if she was capable of loving someone or being loved by someone outside of a dream. It would’ve been a painful revelation if Cyrelle hadn’t resigned to being wretched and unlovable long ago.

Cyrelle gets up from the table and cleans her dishes. Then, Sierra wraps her arms around Cyrelle’s midriff without warning. Cyrelle is surprised to find how much she missed being hugged by her mother. “God, you smell terrible,” Sierra mutters, but she doesn’t let go. Cyrelle feels more tethered to the earth than she has in a long time.

[dahliawolfe]

Something More

CSI NY fanfic

Danny Messer/OFC

The buzzing of her cell woke her. Grunting, Nora reached for the phone and flipped it open.

“Hello,” she rasped.

“Nora, we’ve got a case,” Mac Taylor said, no preamble.

“Gotcha, Dad. Text me the address, please,” she swung her legs over the side of the bed and snapped the phone shut, throwing it onto the nightstand. She hurried into a pair of jeans from the floor and turned to look back at the bed. “Yo, Messer! Up and at ‘em! We got a case,” she demanded, throwing a balled up sock at Danny’s head. She and Danny had been fooling around for a few weeks now. When a case was stressful (and they usually were) they met up and blew off steam. She’d known Danny for nearly 6 years, and he was her best friend. It was strictly no strings attached when they hooked up.

“Lemme sleep,” Danny begged tiredly. They had been up until after 2 a.m. working on finishing up a case. It was now a little after 6.

“No can do. Boss man called himself.” She slid into her lace black bralette and grabbed the first discarded t-shirt she could reach. She shoved her feet into her boots and stood. “Lock up, will ya? See ya there.” Danny gave her a limp wave from the bed, and she snorted. She threw her leather jacket around her shoulders and made her way down to her Tahoe.

…

The Crestmont loomed in front of her, and Nora took a second to peer up. This place had always given her the creeps. Shaking herself, she made her way inside, flashing her badge at the patrol officer out front. She made her way to the elevator, taking it all the way to the 15 floor. She could smell the latex and print powder as she stepped out of the doors. She smiled. It smelled like home. Even before Nora became an investigator herself, her dad had been doing the job, and he always came home smelling like the tools of the trade.

“Nora, over here,” Flack called, waving her over. She nodded and made her way carefully across the penthouse suite.

“What have we got” she questioned, grabbing gloves from her kit and snapping them on.

“Alexander Trenton. He was a judge. On his way to the Supreme Court.” Nora whistled and stooped to take a look at the body.

“Looks like a through and through. Execution style,” she remarked, standing up.

“Is that Danny’s shirt?” Flack questioned, wrinkling his forehead in confusion.

She froze and glanced down at herself. It was indeed Danny’s shirt.

“Oh, yeah. I spilled coffee on myself last night. He lent it to me, and it was just what I threw on this morning on the way out the door.” The lie was easy enough. She needed to be more careful.

“Hmm. Well, you might wanna change before Mac gets here.”

“Where is Father Dearest, anyway?”

“Mayor wanted a word.” Nora rolled her eyes.

“Of course.”

“You guys start the party without me?!” Danny demanded, coming out of the elevator carrying 3 coffees.

“Fashionably late, as always,” Nora teased, grabbing her camera to document the scene.

…

Nora was leaned over the desk in the print lab when someone spoke behind her.

“Detective Eleanor Taylor?”

“Nora,” she replied, placing her file down and turning around, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the light table.

“We would like a word,” replied the man; obviously a federal agent of some sort.

“We can talk in my office,” Mac replied, coming out of nowhere. He led the two agents and Nora to his office, where he shut the door.

“What’s this about?” Nora asked. She didn’t have time for their bureaucratic crap.

The second agent pulled out a file and passed it to Nora. “We believe you know this man.”

Nora opened the file and felt her stomach tighten. “Jared Weston,” she said, the words threatening to choke her.

“Yes. You attended North Peak Academy with him, did you not?”

“That was years ago. Why are you here? I haven’t seen him in 7 years.”

Another file was handed to her. She flicked through it briefly, spotting bloody crime scenes and pages of notes on victims. “Okay?” she asked, dreading the answer.

“In the last 6 months, 6 judges, 3 military personnel, and 4 police have been murdered from Virginia, to Boston, to Delaware. The M.O. is all the same. And all evidence points to someone with a serious grudge against the government.” Nora felt the blood leave her body. She thought he was just an angry kid. Mad at his parents. She never thought he’d do anything like this.

“If you know all of this. And you have evidence against him, why are you here?”

“We’re always one step behind, but we got a lead on his next victim.”

“Judge Trenton?” she questioned, feeling the pieces fall into place. The agents shared a confused face.

“We thought he was a possible target, but Detective Taylor, we think you’re his next target.”

“Me?! What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Weston has it out for you. We found his manifestoes on our last case. He talks about how you betrayed him. And how you’re worse than any of the others.”

“Betrayed him how?” Mac asked, speaking for the first time.

Nora swallowed against a dry throat. “I need a minute,” she croaked, slamming out of the room, and making her way as quickly as possible to the roof, bending over, roughly hugging herself in a demand for oxygen.

“Nora!” came the call, as Danny joined her on the roof. “Hey. Hey. It’s ok. What happened?” he demanded, pulling her into his chest.

“We were kids! We were scared! And we were pissed that our parents sent us to a fucking military academy! That place was hell, Danny, and he was the only bright spot of it! How the hell does this happen?!”

“Ok. Ok. Shhh. It’s ok. I’m right here. I gotcha.” He held her close, rocking her gently until she could breathe again. When he deemed it safe, he pulled her away a pushed a stray curl out of her face. “Now, tell me. What happened in there.”

“Jared went to North Peak too. And we bonded. His mom and dad were both in the military. And he hated them for sending him away to be trained to be like them. And I was mad and Mac for sending me away to a military school upstate. I felt like he didn’t want me. Like I was a fuck up and he wanted to get rid of me and have something better. So, we would sit behind the bleachers and smoke cigarettes and drink beer and rage against the machine. I thought it was all just angsty teenage bullshit. Then the towers were hit. And Claire was gone. And I was devasted. She was the only mom I’d ever known. And she was gone. And I was scared. I was so angry, Danny. I remember just screaming at the stars and demanding to know why any of that bullshit had happened to us. And Jared, Jared sat with me all night and screamed too. And the next morning, Mac came and took me home to finish my senior year at St. Agatha’s. And I never saw Jared again. Truth be told, I didn’t want to. He reminded me of how ungrateful, and angry, and hurt I was, and I didn’t want that. But then I became a cop. And I betrayed him. I left him. And I don’t know what happened to him. But now he kills people, Danny. And he wants to kill me. And hell, maybe I deserve that.”

“Hey! Look at me!” Grabbing her chin, Danny forced her to look up at him. “You do not deserve that. You were a child! And he was sick! And none of that was your fault! You did not do this! He did! You hear me?!” He pressed a firm but gentle kiss to her lips then her forehead and pulled her close again.    

…

“We want to put you on 24-hour protection detail,” the FBI agent informed her, once she had relayed her story to them.

“We can do that in house,” Mac stated, folding his arms over his chest. He knew his people could protect his daughter better than the feds ever could. She was one of their own, and they took care of their own.

“I’ll do it,” Danny quickly stated, jumping into the conversation. He’d followed her back inside when she’d finally gained the courage to come in.

“Ok, who else can take a shift?” the agent asked, raising a brow at Mac.

“No, I mean I can be with her 24/7 until we catch this guy,” Danny said, standing straighter. The agent snorted, but Mac nodded.

“Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“Roger, Boss.”

…

Nora tossed her keys into the bowl by the front door and kicked her boots off. It had been a hell of a day, and she needed a drink and a hot bath.

“I’m making myself a rum and coke and I’m gonna sit in a hot bath for an undetermined amount of time. Make yourself at home,” she informed, stripping her tee off and throwing it somewhere to her left.

“Pizza tonight?” Danny asked, leaning over to look into the fridge.

“Sure. Extra cheese.”

͠

By the time Nora made it to the bathroom, she was down to her underwear. She had a cold glass of Bicardi and coke, which she sat down beside her claw foot tub, turning the water on, making sure it was hot enough, and adding some mint soak. After putting some music on her record player, she slid into the warm bubbles, sinking up to her neck. She sighed, feeling at least some of the day’s tension melt away.

͠

Danny peeked into the bathroom, admiring Nora. She looked like a goddess, head laid back, surrounded by bubbles, singing softly to the Frank Sinatra playing in the background.

“See something you like, Messer?” she teased, opening one eye and raising her brow at him.

“Very much so,” Danny replied, coming in to kneel by the tub, dipping his finger under the water. “But, pizza’s here.”

“Mmm. Good, I’m starving. Give me five, and I’ll be out.”

“Sure thing.” Before leaving, Danny leaned down and gave Nora a deep kiss. “Don’t keep me waiting,” he urged, heading back to the living area.

͠

When Nora emerged, she was wearing nothing but an overly large Led Zepplin t-shirt and a pair of black boyshorts. Danny had already set up the tv to reruns of The Golden Girls and had the pizza box open with a beer bottle on each side of the table. He gave her a grin. “Your feast, ma’am,” he joked, bowing for effect.

“Why thank you, sir. Truly, you do provide.” Nora took a seat on the couch, snagging the blue wool blanket from Danny’s end, snatching a slice of pizza, and hooking a beer with her ring finger and pinkie. Danny settled in close, lazily slinging his arm over her shoulder and sitting back with his own slice.

͠

“Fuck, Danny! Don’t stop!” Nora moaned, looking down to catch Danny giving her a cheeky wink, delving even deeper into his ministrations. And Nora was almost there, but then someone knocked on the door.

“Nora, it’s Flack!”

“Fuck!” she hissed, pushing Danny away from between her legs. “C-coming, Flack!”

“Two words you don’t really wanna hear when going down on your girl,” Danny commented, wiping his face off on the duvet. Nora frowned.

“Shut it, Messer. Your girl?” She huffed, standing to locate her discarded underwear, tossing Danny his jeans and making her way to the front door. She checked to make sure Danny was decent before unlocking the door and opening it.

“Flack, what’s up? It’s late, man?”

“Nora, there’s another vic. Mac wanted me to come pick you guys up.”

“Shit. Ok, let me get my pants.”

͠

“Jeffrey Conrad. 57. He’s an ex-homicide detective from Brooklyn,” Mac informed the second Nora got out of Flack’s car.

“Conrad? Why does that name sound familiar?” Nora questioned, grabbing a pair of gloves, ducking under the crime scene tape. Mac handed her a picture. It was of a greying man in a uniform. “Wait, Conrad. There was a kid at North Peak. Tyler…Tommy…”

“Trevor?” Mac replied.

“Yes! That’s it. Trevor, he was in our class. He killed himself a couple of years ago, I think.” Nora sighed, rubbing her temples. “He was always telling anyone who would listen how much of a bastard his dad was. I guess Jared blamed Trevor’s death on his dad.” Mac frowned. Nora could see that this case was wearing at him too. She tried not to give him a hard time. He was a single dad just trying to do what was best. And she knew he loved her, but she also knew how hellish North Peak had been. She gently touched her father’s arm. “Hey, listen. I know why you sent me to North Peak. I’m fine. Those other kids, their parents were terrible to them, but you weren’t like that to me. You and…” she gulped. “And Claire, you guys gave me a lot of good opportunities. You did your best. And I…I don’t blame you for anything.” Mac gave her a sad smile and nodded.

“I shouldn’t have sent you away. I’m sorry, Nora.” She gave him as soft smile.

“Mac! Nora!” Stella called from across the room. Sharing a brief glance at each other, Mac and Nora walked quickly to her side.

“What did you find, Stella?” Stella handed her a sealed envelope.

“It has your name on it.”

[goliath-de-senfina-sango]

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Danny Phantom
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Danny Fenton & Wesley Weston
Characters: Danny Fenton, Wesley Weston, Jazz Fenton, Maddie Fenton
Additional Tags: Walker is mentioned repeatedly, Phantom Family AU, Revelations, being a lil shit is genetic apparently, Danny swears in stars and constellations and space stuff, Wes swears with cuss words
Summary: Prompt from Tumblr: I wish you would write a fic about Danny being a little shit to Vlad by revealing him to Wes.
Wes comes over and nearly gets Danny’s half life ended, which leads to further family revelations that leave Danny’s head spinning.

Danny Fenton was having a weird and not particularly pleasant week. His Dad had finally encountered the Box Ghost, who took one look at him and glitched out like a Bethesda character before apparently regaining his memories. Apparently, the Box Ghost was Jason Fenton, older brother of Jack Fenton. The Box Ghost was Danny’s Uncle. That was weird as fuck to discover, especially when he implied that Box Lunch would be a person he’d have to deal with soonish. He was going to have a cousin. His already living cousin, Wes, had decided later that week to ruin Danny’s life by asking him right in front of Jazz and Mom if he still had that giant green dog thing he’d crashed a game with. Danny dragged him up to the third floor of Fentonworks, shoved him into his room, and learned very quickly that Wes had figured out that he was Phantom the moment he focused on him. “Orion, man, you can’t just imply I’m a ghost in front of Mom or Dad!” “Why not?” Wes stared at him like he’d grown a second head - he hadn’t, he knew the sensation - and Danny took a moment to redirect the energy surging to his eyes over his skin and outward. It blanketed the room in a wave and left what Tucker had described as the feeling of touching an old tv and feeling static on your fingers all over the place. Wes rubbed his arm and raised a brow at him. “Wes, tell me what Jack Fenton is going to think if you tell him ‘hey that ghost kid you shoot at all the time is your kid’? Actually, no, how the fuck did you even figure it out?” “You look like you put on your suit and then someone turned on the color inversion filter on their camera. Blue skin, white hair, black and white suit.” Wes paused and poked Danny’s cheek, looking him in the eye. “Your eyes should be orange instead of green though if that were the whole case. How’d this happen? Last time I talked to you, you n Tucker were talking about building a motorcycle that could fly.” “The hoverbike has sorta been put on hold, I’ll admit,” Danny grumbled, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. He pulled his hands away from his face and Wes was still there, tall and stupid and overly observant. “If I tell you what happened, do you promise not to out me to my parents?” “I-should I treat this like you’re in the closet?” Wes snorted at the idea. “Closeted dead guy. Alright, I can get that. But uh, if you’re dead, why are you still…” he wiggled his hand and then gestured at Danny’s room. “In a house with ghost hunters?” “Well, to start with, I’m not actually dead. Not entirely, anyway.” Danny sat down on his bed and Wes followed, and after taking a moment to triple check that Vlad’s bugs weren’t in his room with another wave of energy, Danny told Wes the story of the Accident. It was a short story, but he was slow about it. He’d never really discussed it with anyone, Sam and Tucker just sort of knew better than to bring it up and Jazz probably thought he’d tell her himself in his own time. By the time he finished, Wes looked almost as uncomfortable with the situation as Danny felt. “You know, not to sound like a cheesy 90’s cartoon character but this is why you shouldn’t give in to peer pressure.” Danny snorted and laughed at that, and Wes grinned even when Danny elbowed him. “Ok, so I’m putting together that you did a bunch of dumb shit and found yourself decided to be a superhero. What the fuck was up with the dog, or the mayor getting kidnapped? Your eyes were fuckin red when you stole a bunch of shit that one time too.” “Ok in order of what all happened: Axiom labs euthanized their guard dogs and one of them came looking for his squeaky toy but forgot where it was and no matter how many times I shoved Cujo back into the portal-” “ Cujo ?” Wes snorted and ruffled Danny’s hair. “Have you been reading the stuff Sam gives you or did your emo phase just never really end? You have the emo bangs.” “I do not!” Danny huffed, running a hand through his curly hair that, well, Wes couldn’t really ruin a mess, could he? “You’re the one with actual bangs, sasquatch hunter.” “Acknowledging that Big Foot is real doesn’t mean I’m gonna go and shoot it.” Wes crossed his arms and rested them on Danny’s head. “By the way, any idea when that growth spurt is due?” “Bold words for someone with his shins within targeting range.” “I can and will put you in a headlock Astroboy.” “I can slam dunk you through a hoop like your precious balls.” Wes said nothing to this and simply leaned more onto Danny’s head. “If I snap my neck because of you I’m suing. Anyway no matter how often I yeeted Cujo back into the Ghost Zone-” “I beg of you to call it something cooler. Call it the afterlife even, just. Please.” “He just kept digging his way out. So, I looked at his tag, saw that he came from Axiom, and we ended up in there, while getting shot at by the Red Huntress-” “Valerie, right?” “H-” “She appeared as the Huntress literally the same time the dog shit was happening, and I am getting increasingly worried that no one has noticed that she sounds the same in her Red Huntress suit as she does in the Nasty Burger mascot suit.” Wes dropped his arms to Danny’s shoulder, but still rested his chin in his hair, humming loudly. Danny slid into that spot between and snorted when Wes fell onto the bed. “I can’t tell you how pissed she was that I outed her to her dad about being the Huntress so that she wouldn’t get herself killed fighting Pariah Dark. Pretty sure if you tell her or anyone else about that, she’ll shoot you.” “I mean, it’d probably get her swarmed by so much hostility she stops shooting at you, so that’d be a plus. I’d just come back and bug you anyway.” “You’re a jerk, but I guess you’re alright.” Danny flopped back. “The mayor thing was a ghost, this douche bag prison warden named Walker in the GZ who decided that since I broke out of his prison I owe him over a thousand years and he’d make my home a prison instead.” Wes stared at him, clasped his hands flat against each other, and took a deep breath. “There are so many things wrong in that sentence. Why were you in ghost prison?” “I did ghost crimes.” Wes looked and sounded like he was in some deal of pain, and Danny couldn’t help but grin. “Dad’s anniversary present for Mom fell through the portal while I was cleaning up by shooting things into their proper place,” he covered Wes’ mouth as he opened it, “and so I flew in after it, but it was a ‘real world item’ as though the Ghost Zone is fake somehow, and that was ‘Against The Rules’ according to Walker.” Danny rolled his eyes. “I got the present out and back to Dad but I had to like, get to him at your mom’s place.” “Did you fly all the way from Minnesota to Arkansas for a present?” “Arcturus, no, not with my powers.” Danny laughed, laying back on his bed. “That’d take me like, 8 hours at top speed. No, I used the Speeder.” “Have you modified it to get into space?” “Not yet.” “Do you have permission to mod it for space travel?” “Do I have permission to be dead?” “Touche.” “Anyway, Walker is stronger than me, even when possessing a human, so when all eyes and cameras were on me he possessed the mayor and dragged me back inside to make it look like I was dragging him in. Whole invasion was his idea.” “Danny?” “And then with the robberies when my eyes were red, did you know about Circus Gothica? Cause me and some other ghosts were under the control of the ring master of the circus, Freakshow, who had this freakin crystal ball thing that could control ghosts attached to his staff. It shattered after a very long fall, thank Astrea.” “That’s really fucked up. You’ve had a fucked up life.” “Yeah.” Danny shrugged. “I guess I have.” “Know what’s more fucked up about this?” Wes had a too big grin on his face and Danny narrowed his eyes. “Do you remember my mom’s last name?” “Wal..ker… no. ” The two of them were thundering down the stairs in seconds, Danny half shouting in the livingroom. “ Mom was your dad, by chance, a law enforcement officer, or jail warden or something?” Mom looked up at him from the staff she was tinkering with on the table - note to self, sterilize the table before dinner - and blinked at him a couple of times before smiling and nodding. “Why yes, he did. Warden James Lamont Walker ran the Spittoon prison when he was alive. He was a good man, if a bit strict.  To my and Alicia’s fury and grief he was murdered during a prison break.” Mom stared off in the distance, the air around her curling with a dark cold that Danny was sure only he could see. Then she softened up a bit and smiled softly at them. “Why?” “No reason, auntie, I was just curious about something and Danny thought we should ask you.” Wes played with the hem of his shirt while maintaining eye contact and Danny wondered if he had a tell for awkwardness like that. Then he realized he was rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you have any pictures of him?” “Oh, yes! They’re in the shed! My boxes are actually labelled.” “Uh oh, careful, Dad might hear of organization and come to tear it up,” Danny said with a laugh, half dragging Wes out the back door. When they were out of his mom’s considerable ear shot, Danny said softly, but with feeling, “Fuck.” “Got locked up by grandpa, huh? That’s like, the worst way to get grounded ever .” Wes snickered and watched Danny run-walk up to the shed, hand glowing so softly you could only see it by staring directly at it as he turned the knob. “There are odds, slim ones, that this is a whole different Walker. It might even be his first name.” “Who the hell names their kid Walker?” “Walter, Wayne and Wesley Weston.” “Alright then.” For a few minutes the two of them searched through the mess known as the Fenton Family Shed for a box with a label neither had thought to ask for. Eventually, they found one labeled Scrapbooks and carefully eased it out of the mess of it all. “Y’knonw, Danny,” Wes said as they opened the box and started flipping through scrapbooks with just enough care not to damage them. “I’m feelin kinda good about investigating a ghost with you. Is this how it is with you n your boyfriend and best friend?” Danny almost tore a page out, turning to stare at Wes. He must’ve felt the temperature drop for a second because he looked up with a raised brow. “What?” “Boyfriend?” “Tucker. Tucker Foley.” Danny’s jaw dropped and Wes’ confusion morphed into a shit eating grin. “You know, Tucker spends most of his time with you Foley? The one you build shit with all the time? The nerd that you get sick in sync with? I’ve seen you lose a pencil and then he puts one behind your ear while you look for the one you lost. You made him a custom gaming computer disguised as a console.” Danny’s face burned red as a tomato at this point and he shoved Wes. “Shut up I’m not dating Tucker!” “I have to ask Jazz about this now, you’re killing me.” Wes snorted and flipped a page. He blinked down at the scrapbook and pointed at a picture. “James Walker. This look anything like him?” Danny took the book and looked at the picture. Looked at the several pictures of the man with his daughters, wearing a black pinstriped suit in a handful of them. And he let out a long, loud groan. “I hate this week, I hate it so much.” Wes started cackling and Danny scowled. “That reminds me.” He kicked Wes in the shins and grinned. “Much better. Also, Wes, I gotta tell you. I’m not one of a kind, as far as my living status goes.” “Oh what, there’s another Schrodinger’s little shit flying around out there?” Wes rubbed his ankle and hissed. “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but that fruitloop we call a mayor may have been elected because he possessed literally everyone that was voting.” Wes went silent and stared at him, and Danny nodded. “Think you can pester him instead of me? He wants to kill Dad and thinks that he can get Mom if he does that.” “Danny. My Dad works for Masters.” “This puts you in the perfect position to mess with him, I say. Just act like you’re there to see your dad.” “You oblivious asshole. I fuckin love you, cous.” “Same here, skyscraper.”

[theartisticintrovert]

Case #0130403

Statement of Jason Gale, regarding the strange occurrences surrounding Daniel Fenton. Original statement given 3rd April, 2013. Audio recording by Jonathan Sims, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London. Statement begins.

--

I wanna start this by saying that I barely knew Danny. I don’t know how he became what he is, but what I did see, well...I still have nightmares. I guess I should start at the beginning, though I’m not really sure how much of a beginning there is.

I never had the greatest home life. Pretty textbook, really. Shitty dad, dead mom, bad friends, the works. I ran away when I was fourteen, fell in with a real bad crowd. I’d been in and out of juvie every few months, but I didn’t meet Danny until I was sixteen. I’d been picked up at the scene of a robbery, don’t even remember where, and sent off to Amity Youth Detention Center. I’d been there for about three months when my old cellmate got released, so I was on my own for a bit. I didn’t mind, D Block wasn’t exactly the worst it could get.

Danny transferred in a few weeks later. At first, I didn’t think much of him. He was tiny, barely 5’4 I think, and he looked like a twig. His eyes, though.....his eyes were what scared me the most. They looked dead, like someone sucked all the life outta him, just leaving his corpse walkin’ around like some kinda zombie. They sent him in and he just.....stared, watching Officer McCarthy leave like he was already planning the poor bastard’s funeral. I freaked out a little. I’m not ashamed, kid was fuckin’ scary.

That’s when it happened. It’s like something snapped in him. The room got all cold, and the lights started flickering. He shoved me up against the wall and I dunno how but it felt like this.....predator staring at me. I don’t even remember what he said, but I just agreed to whatever it was so he’d stop staring at me. I swear his eyes were green, but it had to just be a trick of the light. It had to be, because I remember they were blue. I remember, because I remember thinking how weird it was for an Asian kid to have blue eyes.

Still, when he got mad......I swear to you, they were green.

Sorry, I got a little.....off track there. There were a few more weird things about him, but just little things. He never ate, and I know it wasn’t that he was eating when I couldn’t see him. AYDC has scheduled meal times for every block, and every single time it was D’s turn he just....stayed in bed. There’s no getting in or out once the door’s locked, so he wasn’t sneaking around. And yet, even after about a week and a half of this, he was fine. No complaining, no hunger pains, not even a little bit of nausea. Like.....like he didn’t need food. I asked him about it, but the answer, well.....I think he was a bit nutty. Everyone was in there. 

I managed to get him into the cafeteria one time, though not for very long. I think Emily, that is, Emily Grey, scared him off, but I can’t be sure. I do remember though, that the others felt it too. Danny was.....he had this like, aura of despair. Like you get near him, and nothing you do will make you feel again. Owen Coulter said he “felt like depression, if depression was a person”. I only remember that because it was so strange to hear a twelve year old say that with the knowledge that only an old man has, but there it was anyway.

He got transferred a few days later, or....I assume he was transferred, anyway. I heard he’d finally gotten his trial, but he didn’t come back after. I can only assume they sent him to F, because I didn’t see him for several months after that. I’d honestly just been starting to feel okay again when he came back to D. I only really noticed him because we were in the yard at the same time, and something in me wanted to turn around and bolt the second I spotted him. Still, he seemed.....different. Less angry, less......snappish. I noticed a few new scars on him too, which was strange just because the inmates at AYDC aren’t allowed any electronics, so how the hell did he get electrocution scars?

The next big one happened after he was released. He’d been out for about a week when I got a visitor. This was news to me, since my old man doesn’t give a rat’s ass about me and my friends wouldn’t be caught dead in a juvie visitation room. Only visitors I really got were my lawyer and sometimes my stepmom, but she didn’t come often. She doesn’t like me much, but that’s beside the point. When I saw Danny on the other side of that glass window, I about turned around right there. Unfortunately for me, the door was already shut and I couldn’t get anyone to open it, not from my side. Fuckin’ bastards probably stepped out for a donut break, who knows. The point is, Danny was....different. 

His scars curled up both of his cheeks now, pale and prominent against his sickly brown skin. His eyes seemed a little sharper now, a little more aware. I wasn’t entirely sure this was a good thing. We argued a bit, but....I think he was genuinely trying to help. I didn’t trust him a damn bit, but at least he was trying.

I’ve been dancing around the point long enough, I think. Sure, the kid’s weird, you’re thinking. He’s got scars, so what? He makes you miserable just being around him? Probably some emo bastard. The whole predator gaze? Well, he was in for assault. No, the thing I’ve been avoiding, the thing that I’ll never forget....it was his ghost.

Way back when we were still bunkmates, he’d told me about how he died. How his parents were some kind of Ghostbuster freaks, and they built a portal to Hell in his basement. Okay, well, he called it the “Ghost Zone”, but who gives a fuck, honestly. Then he told me he was stupid enough to go in the damn thing, and got zapped six ways to Sunday. He said he’d died in that portal, and I didn’t want to believe him. I couldn’t. When you die, you die. That’s it. Game over. Do not pass Go, do not collect two hundred dollars. The idea that he could be some sort of.....half-alive, half-dead.....thing, well....I didn’t want to think about it. I’d already come to terms with my own mortality, and I did not need it shoved back in my face by some freaky-ass kid.

But then he showed me. God, it was horrible. I was expecting him to fail, just the delusions of his poor fucked up scrambled brains, some side effect of getting zapped to hell and back. Maybe, if it were true, to just go a bit translucent. I didn’t expect the monster.

It came in a flash of light. Two sparking rings of bright white electricity, so bright they burned to look at. When I managed to blink the spots outta my eyes, I almost thought I’d hit my head. Where Danny had been standing, a floating, glowing thing stood in his place. It was pale, washed out, with only its acid green eyes and tongue giving it any color at all. It wore a jumpsuit of some sort, with thick gloves and attached boots, like the biohazard guys on TV. It still had the scars though, even if they were glowing an ominous neon green. It hissed at me, like it was trying to speak, but I didn’t understand a word it said. When it turned that empty, hungry gaze on me, I panicked. I shoved it back against the wall, where it connected with a sickening splat. Blood oozed on the concrete, or at least, I assume it was blood. It was red and green and sizzled, like it was eating away at the stone. I think there’s still marks there, where the acid ate away at the concrete.

The thing wanted to eat me, I’m sure of it, but it seemed too dizzy. I think shoving it only made it more angry, but at that point the light came back. I looked away just in time, and when the light died down Danny was back. Still scrawny, still fleshy, still alive. Only now, I wasn’t so sure.

I haven’t seen another ghost since, and I think it’s for the best. I’ve done my research, I’ve heard about these....mediums. I know I can’t see them, not on this plane. Honestly, I’m better off for it I think. I don’t want to see them, or hear them, or even think about them again. 

I didn’t give you this statement to have you do something about it. I don’t even know if you have the ability to do anything, since all this happened in Illinois. I didn’t come all the way to some dingy spooky library in fucking London for a solution. I’ve made my peace. I just.....I needed to tell somebody. Not the cops, I don’t trust them as far as I could throw them. And not anyone else either, they’d think I’m a schizo freak, like that Weston kid. No, I’m perfectly happy laying low, and never thinking about Daniel Fenton again. And now that I have this off my chest and stored away in your freaky little library, I finally can.

--

Statement ends. Although he said he didn’t want us to do anything about his experience, we did reach out to Mr. Gale. He replied in no uncertain terms for us to leave him alone, and that he absolutely would not be giving a follow-up statement. I....can’t say I blame him, but really, half-dead? A teenager that could turn into some paranormal entity? It all seems rather....far fetched. 

Still, we did do some basic follow-up research on what we could. The Fentons do exist, as well as the town of Amity Park. I’d like to take everything about said town with a hefty dose of salt however, as it claims to be “The Most Haunted Place in America”. Tourist trap nonsense, if you ask me. Daniel Fenton was arrested in late summer of 2010, though those records are obviously sealed. Emily Grey declined to give a follow-up statement as well, and Owen Coulter seems to have unfortunately passed away in the intervening years. 

Still, I can’t help but think that Mr. Gale’s statement is....unusually detailed, especially as it concerns a boy he himself claims to have no close connection to.

End recording.

[365days365movies]

February 1, 2021: Dirty Dancing (1987)

There are two people to credit for the beginning of this month. The first is my girlfriend, who asked that I represent her with this GIF.

Thank you, dear. Anyway, this is one of her favorite romance films, and she’s also not a big romance movie person. She was shocked that I hadn’t seen it, and that’s because of the second person to credit here: my Mom.

That is my Mom in the late ‘80s with her Pomeranian, Pugsley. Yup. This is just the GODDAMN SURFACE of my Mom, who’s quirky as shit. Love her for it, though. But, OK, why is my Mom involved here? Because this is also one of her favorite films. My Dad’s, too, but I’ll talk more about him in April.

However, if you read the Romance February introduction from yesterday, you might be wondering something. If my Mom’s taste in romance movies was so prevalent in my early life, how in the hell have I never seen this movie, one of her favorites? Especially considering the fact that, TMI here, but I WAS BORN TO THE FILM’S SOUNDTRACK. YES. REALLY. HOW HAVE I ESCAPED THIS MOVIE?

Yup. No clue. Shall we remedy that? SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap

It’s 1963 in the Catskills, where Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey), a politically conscious young woman on her way into the Peace Corps, is going on vacation with her parents, Jake and Majorie Houseman (Jerry Orbach and Kelly Bishop), and her sister, Lisa (Jane Brucker). The owner, Max Kellerman (Jack Weston), who’s a friend of the Housemans, welcomes them to the resort.

Later that night, Max is briefing the young male waiters and entertainment, all of whom are hired from Ivy League universities. Well...except for the intriguing young dance instructor in the sunglasses. THAT...would be Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

I wanna just say before I forget, I miss Patrick Swayze. He’s awesome, and he left far too soon.

The next night, during dinner, Max introduces Baby to his grandson, Neil (Lonny Price), who’s just graduated from Cornell’s Hotel Management school. A school which, for the record, is the best hotel school in the USA, and second or third in the world. Also, hotelies (that’s what we called them) are CRAZY. They’re an interesting...bunch...

I, uh... I went to CornellMOVING ON

As Neil awkwardly hits on Baby, everybody encourages them having a relationship, despite her CLEARLY not wanting any of this. She instead watches Johnny skillfully mambo with another girl on center floor. After being roped into a magic act by Neil, and given a chicken by Stan (Wayne Knight, which I’m a fan of), she leaves, annoyed and irritated.

On her way back, she sees Johnny’s cousin, Billy (Neal Jones) struggling with a few GIGANTIC watermelons. She offers to help him, and he brings her to a secret house party, where some dancing’s happening. Some...dirty dancing.

Interesting side note here: racial integration! In 1963, remember, so that’s interesting. I mean, if anybody’s a fan of that, it’s gonna be me. At the party, Johnny arrives with Penny Johnson (Cynthia Rhodes), his dance partner from the mambo floor. Johnny sees her there, and questions her presence, to which she makes an adorably awkward comment. And then...they do a dance of their own.

The next day, Lisa makes a love connection with one of the waiters, and asks Baby to cover for her. Baby also speaks to Penny, who doesn’t come from the best background. That night, Penny’s missing, and Neil gives Cornell students just the WORST goddamn name as he very awkwardly hits on Baby. He takes her to the kitchen, and that’s where Baby sees Penny.

Yeah, Penny’s not OK. Baby goes to Billy and Johnny, who go to get her. Turns out Penny’s pregnant, but Johnny’s not the father. They’re obviously quite close, although they aren’t romantically tangled. Baby, coming from a place of much higher privilege, doesn’t quite understand how difficult this is. Penny berates her for this, and it’s revealed that the father is Robbie Gould (Max Cantor), one of the waiters, who’s also the guy that’s been hanging around Lisa.

Baby confronts him the following day, where he states that “Some people count, some people don’t.” He also offers her a copy of The Fountainhead, a well-known book for complete and utter douchenozzles. She warns him to stay away from her sister, then goes to ask her father for money for the abortion. Which, by the way, was very illegal in 1963. She gets the money from her dad, who gives it without asking many questions.

However, there’s an issue; Johnny and Penny have to dance on the only night she can get the abortion. And there’s nobody to replace her...except maybe Baby? Johnny’s entirely against it, they end up convincing him, for Penny’s sake. And now, we get a hallmark of ‘80s cinema: the training montage.

This is a pretty good time to note three things. One, Jennifer Grey is the daughter of Joel Grey, one of the GREATEST actor/dancers ever to grace Hollywood and Broadway. Dude was one of the main characters in Cabaret, for which he won an Oscar, and originated the role of the Wizard of Oz in Wicked. So, yeah, she’s got dancing blood. Secondly, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey apparently HATED each other. Yeah, kind of a bummer. But their chemistry was SO GODDAMN POWERFUL, that they were able to push through their feelings and do this as well as they are. And third...THIS SOUNDTRACK BOPS. 

I get it. I GET IT.

Something else I get, too. The chemistry between Grey and Swayze really does sizzle, GODDAMN. Over the course of the montage, they clearly get closer emotionally...and physically. And yeah, it’s definitely there. Although, given the fact that they’re from different class backgrounds, it’s probably gonna be one of those stories. Well, OK. Let’s do it.

After a little too much time practicing, the two take a break. And yet, while on a nature excursion, they continue their training in different environments. Most iconically, they practice lifts in the lake.

Yeah...yeah, I get it.

The day approaches, and Baby and Penny have a bit of a heart-to-heart. Penny asks Lisa to cover for her (and I’m betting that she won’t, LIKE AN ASSHOLE), and she heads to the dance gig. It mostly goes OK, but the lift is aborted at the last second. However, the performance is still received well. They leave JUST before an elderly couple from the resort sees them. 

Johnny gives her a pep-talk, telling her that she did well, and the music on the car radio hints at their growing mutual attraction. But once they get there, tragedy’s struck. Turns out that the abortion doctor was a dangerous quack, and Penny’s now dangerous injured, in pain and possibly dying. Panicking, Baby does THE RIGHT THING, I can’t stress that enough, THE RIGHT GODDAMN THING, and gets her doctor father.

Understandably upset (and yeah, it is understandable, all things considered), Dr. Houseman forbids Baby from seeing Johnny or any of the others ever again. This situation...sucks. Damn. And Baby agrees, as she sneaks off to see Johnny anyway. She apologizes to Johnny for how her father treated her, but Johnny blames his own social status for it, rather than her father.

Their conversation becomes very real, and eventually turns into Baby declaring her love for Johnny. As a song comes on the radio, she asks him to dance with her. Giving in to his own feelings, he agrees. And together they engage in some...Dirty Dancing.

As the two dirty dance horizontally, the night turns to day. That morning, things are definitely awkward between Baby and her father, who almost takes his family away that night. But, his wife and Lisa convince him to stay. He even comes back to visit Penny, checking in to make sure she’s alright, which Baby finds out once she does the same.

Things are also a little awkward between Baby and Johnny, interestingly. Wonder how last night ended. Well, Penny figures it out, and warns Johnny about the risks off getting involved with the upper class. Which, remember, is how she ended up this way. The two have a tense-but-intimate exchange. Which just preludes this IMMEDIATELY happening.

Yeah, that’s not a surprise. Well, more heart-to-heart proceeds, and they continue to learn about each other’s lives. That night, Lisa tells Baby that she wants to go all the way with Robbie. Despite Baby’s warnings, Lisa simply tells her off, and is generally, I’ll be honest, a bitch. The next morning, though, Baby and Johnny have another dance session. And it’s THAT session. You know the one.

Neil interrupts, and proceeds to give a bad name to Cornellians everywhere (I’m not like that putz, I SWEAR), and pisses off Johnny in the process. She asks why he didn’t stand up for himself, and then immediately hides Johnny from her father, who’s walking with Robbie and Lisa. Rightfully calling her a hypocrite, he storms off.

And then they immediately resolve it. Which, GODDAMN, do I appreciate. Robbie strolls by, makes a typical crass comment about Baby, and then Johnny BEATS THE EVER-LOVING SHIT OUT OF HIM

OH FUCK YES. And if that wasn’t enough catharsis, Lisa catches Robbie with one of the high society wives from earlier, as they sleep together in a cabin. OH. YES. THAT’S SOME GOOOOOOOOOOOOD SHIT.

Baby and Johnny, in the actual good and fully-developed relationship of this movie, spend the night together. And are seen the next morning by the high society wife, who had the hots for Johnny.

The wife, Vivian (Miranda Garrison), implicates Johnny in stealing a wallet. Johnny’s about to be fired, and then BABY ADMITS THAT THEY WERE TOGETHER IN FRONT OF HER FATHER HOLY FUCK

She did it. She actually did it. Goddamn. And then, AND THEN, she TELLS HER FATHER OFF AND CALLS HER OUT FOR HIS ELITISM HOLY FUCKING SHIT I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS MOVIE. And then, Jerry Orbach fuckin’ starts tearing up, and I AM SHOOK MOTHERFUCKER

And yet, even though the wallets were actually stolen by an elderly couple that Baby actually implicated, Johnny gets fired anyway. GODDAMN. After Baby completely loses heart, Johnny confronts her father, and learns that he believes that he was the one who got Penny pregnant. Johnny semi-tells him off, then walks away.

At his car, Johnny and Baby say goodbye with a kiss, and Johnny heads off forever. I mean, probably not, there’s a good 16 minutes left, and we haven’t gotten to the most iconic scene of the film yet. But anyway, Baby mourns her lost relationship, and her sister actually bonds with her over this whole thing. Hot damn.

I want to punch Neil in the goddamn face. Mostly just because he’s on screen, but also because he LITERALLY ruins the goddamn anthem of Cornell University, by setting the anthem for the resort against its melody. Goddamn you, Neil. GODDAMN YOU. Also, fuck Robbie, because he LITERALLY OUTS HIMSELF to Dr. Houseman as Penny’s former deadbeat partner. As the anthem continues (to my rage), who shows up but Johnny, who comes to stick up for Baby and all she’s done.

He brings her up on stage, and interrupts the anthem (THANK YOU CHRIST) to perform the last dance of the season, as he always does. Despite Dr. Houseman’s would-be objections (prevented by his wife, who has moved up on my list of favorite characters), the two are left alone on stage. And that...is when the song plays. YOU KNOW THE GODDAMN SONG

Y’know, it’s funny, because this song is definitely an ‘80s song, making this whole sequence pretty goddamn anachronistic, but WHO CARES!? It’s one of the most iconic sequences in film history, especially of the era, and I love the hell out of it. The crowd cheers, the rest of the kids join in, the lift happens, father and daughter make up, everybody dances, I dance with my girlfriend, I LOVE IT! They kiss, they dance and the film fades to black.

Dirty Dancing! See you in the Review! Oh, I’m changing the name of that section, by the way. Alongside a few more things. You’ll see.