#he's well trained and everything and i think he's supposed to be a bulldog but he does pee in the house and try to fight wolves

[fingertipsmp3]

I love TS2 but it has some really stupid mechanics built into it

[uhhhhyandere]

I love, love, love you ❤️ I was hoping I could request where the main character begs for Yandere Light to let her get a doggo bc she’s so lonely since he made her quit a job. Like full on having a full ass fit. I’m talking full blown brat shit. Just how he would react and what she would have to do to convince him if you catch that drift 😏😉

yeah, i know what i said in my last post. whatever. never believe anything that comes out of my stupid mouth i am the single biggest sob in the universe. 

um… i took this in a… direction to say the least. someone has to stop me from riding suck n’ ride smut bc… it always goes like this. 

next light smut there is going to be ass-eating or i swear to god my name isn’t kerry literally all im thinking about is giving him a rimjob. really. this is where we are at folks. 

warnings: smut, face fucking (oops), dick sucking, sex, rough sex. he not happy boi

word count: 3.5k 

All you did was watch dog videos anymore. Of course, you watched them because you literally had little else to do during the day, but you just… happened to be more open about it when Light came through the door. Did it have anything to do with the fact you’ve been thinking about getting a furry friend to keep you company from the silence of an empty house and the dark recesses of your mind?

No, of course not. It had nothing at all to do with it, and it certainly had nothing to do with the fact that if you ask him directly, he would say no before any more words could breach the air. You would have to be creative, because when Light said “no,” there was no more argument, and you wanted this argument.

“A Pug. Wow. Beautiful.”

“Look, it’s a—it’s a Corgi. Oh my—wow. That’s amazing.”

You’d play around with different sizes.

“This Mastiff? This gentle giant? Can do nothing wrong.”

“This Bichon matches with the snow!”

And you’d talk about listings you just happened to see online from the local shelters.

“This one—wow. All of her shots. She looks so nice. Oh, and potty trained! What a girl. Damn.”

“He’s sitting down—oh a paw. I see a paw. Can he do the other paw? Oh, yes he can. Also has all his shots. Wonderful.”

Considering the man you lived with, you were pretty positive that he figured out your intentions day one or day two max. It’s been about a week since you’ve been… outgoing in your interest. At this point, it was a game as to who would break first. You bet he was waiting for you to get annoyed with his ignoring of anything you said related to the subject with how blatant he was with shirking you off, forcing you to simply ask.

You weren’t going to make it so easy on him. Though he happened to be the king of hiding his emotions, you knew you had to be getting to him. Light would never admit it, and he would certainly never show it. He wanted to keep that satisfaction as far away from you as possible.

So, you turned up the heat.

Before, you would break off the dog topic after a time, wanting to etch it in your daily schedule only bits at a time. Now? It’s the only thing you talk about, no matter the actual subject at hand.

“There’s another event we have to—.”

“The animal shelter is having an event in the park next week for adoptions.”

“I’m going to have to go for groceries soon.”

“Look at this weenie dog dressed in a weenie costume.”

“I—.”

“Doggo cute.”

It was only a matter of time until—.

“This French Bulldog is—.”

“Y/N.” His voice was clear, demanding. Even after all this time, like a teacher scolding elementary students, it immediately brought you to silence. You sat on your shared bed, legs crossed, as he leered down at you from the bathroom. “I would say it was cute at first, but you know it’s a waste of time to try asking anything indirectly. As if I would succumb to your manipulation, but I let you carry on. You would get bored. You would stop and think and realize that it was pointless to keep it up, but you persisted. I thought to myself maybe you were just trying to see if I would crack and give you the satisfaction of indulging in your antics, and I was right.

“It begs the question. Why didn’t you just ask directly? Easy. Because I would say no, and you would be correct. To allow something else besides me your devotion? Not likely. But what? Did you think showing me videos of Shibu Inus and Pomeranians would make me want one first? You have the logic of a six-year-old, Y/N,” Light began to unbutton his shirt, “Did you honestly think it would work? Or did you simply want to get a rise out of me?” He removed the shirt entirely, then lifted his undershirt over his head just as easily. Light tossed the fabric into the hamper, leaving a pale, lithe abdomen on display. He turned to fully face you and took two easy steps forward. “Why would you want one in the first place? Have I not given my fiancée enough attention recently? Is this your way of getting back at me, hm?”

You were almost at an even height to his belt buckle, but you did your best to ignore that as his eyes demanded attention upwards. His gaze was near malicious, but not quite so. Ah. Lascivious. That’s what they were. You swallowed the knot out of your throat.

“Y-you wish.”

“Your hesitation is very resounding. Then, if you’re so sure, indulge me. Don’t tell me you wanted a distraction from your loving husband-to-be. I know you didn’t want something else to focus on besides me when I’m away at work, so tell me. Tell me why you desired a filthy, shedding ball of fur. Your answer may earn you some mercy.”

You unfolded your legs from underneath you as your foot began to numb under the weight of your leg. Your hands glided back and forth on your thighs. Was there a point in lying? No, scratch that. Was there a point in lying to someone who already knew the truth? Well, his own truth that Light would undoubtedly make yours. There was little purpose in making it worse on yourself.

“No, you’re—uh—right.” Light set his hands on his hips.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I’m just… lonely when you’re at work. So… yeah.” You risked a peek upwards. Oh, geez the smirk on that fucker. “I’m sorry.” His arms rose from his hips to cross over his chest.

“For?”

“Huh?”

“What are you sorry for? Annoying me for days with your drivel? Wanting a mutt? Lying?” You furrowed your brows. “Oh, that one confused you, hm? Alright, well, if you won’t admit it, I can do it for you. Lonely-“ he scoffed- “You can’t be serious. Such a blatant lie from your lips. The second time you are insulting my intelligence. I’ll ask one more time. Where does your motivation lie?”

“I’m not lying!” You hissed, jumping off the mattress to stand. “What—just what am I supposed to do all day cooped up in this place like a goddamned prisoner? Clean? The place is clean. Cook? As if you’d even let me try. Watch TV? My brain is rotting. You don’t even let me help kids with math anymore online. Just what am I to do? Next thing I may just throw myself out the window—,” Hands gripped your shoulders, causing a slight pain at the intensity.

“You think I’d let you? I expect you to stay here and be good and thankful that you are where you are. I, just as much as you, know—knew women who died to be in your shoes, and you’re ungrateful to be alive and safe? You want more?” You tried to shrug out of his grip, and he allowed you to take the steps away from him.

“I’m asking to be a human being, for fuck’s sake! I’m going to sit here and go crazy. Isn’t it enough that I don’t fuck with the rules anymore? I’m quiet. I don’t say anything. I put every façade you ask me to. All I want is something for me! Something to distract me from literally going insane here! To distract me from everything.”

 Light’s eyes sometimes spoke more truth than his mouth ever could. Right about now, the browns were all-consuming, aflame with ire, but his lips were upturned in a challenge.

“A distraction. Caught in a lie, Y/N. Bad form, even for you. After all this time, you still can’t face reality, dearest. I knew you’ve been pitting your mind in some gutter you call the truth. Makes this all easier to accept, but to go to the physical extent? I won’t allow it, and you won’t be able to recess your mind for long, so enjoy that pleasure while you can.” He paused, countenance recessing to something more composed. “You love me, don’t you, Y/N?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation, no lie in that affirmation. It was the easiest of his questions to answer. “I love you.” Light inhaled deeply, chest flexing with the exhale.

“With love comes compromise, correct?” You responded with a glare. His tone was all too insinuating. “So, let’s compromise, yes? I hate arguing with you.” He reached an arm out, hand open. Your eyes glanced between the extended limb and his eyes before cautiously taking it. His hand squeezed and pulled you in tight. Light twisted and adjusted you so when he fell onto the bed, you landed comfortably on his lap. Releasing your hand, he brought his own up to gingerly glide his fingers across your cheek, a trail of bumps in its wake as it curled into your locks. Almost like a lover. Almost.

His fingers seized the strands and pulled, forcing your head back and opening your neck for his mouth to latch. “Then compromise, dearest. Prove to me what you think you deserve.” He spoke against your skin, open-mouth kisses with a hint of teeth between his words. “And I’ll make judgement.” His hand let go of your hair and traced to the back of your skull to slant your lips onto his impatient ones. The other wrapped itself to pull your body closer until he pushed you off with an unexpected force, almost knocking you to the ground.

From the unbalanced position, you watched him adjust his position to lie in the center of the bed, head angled to watch you from the pillows with both his hands as another cushion for his crown. Light smirked, watching you stand straight. “Well, go on. Compromise.” 

Light was never on the bottom. It was non-negotiable. Being anything else was utterly unacceptable for a god. This situation, despite the physical placement of both bodies, was no different. You may be the one crawling on top of him, fiddling with his belt buckle, but he had every bit of this situation in his control. Under his watchful gaze, you removed the strip of leather and threw it across the room.

“You’re going to have to help me here,” you muttered after undoing the fly. Wordlessly, he obliged, allowing you to slip the trousers off of his person. You glanced at his feet. Thank god he took his shoes off already, so he only lied in his boxers.

No, you would never be accustomed to this.

“You always look like it’s your first time,” he remarked. “As if you haven’t seen my cock before. From my recollection, you should be quite familiar with it by now.” You inhaled sharply. “Unless you don’t want to compro—.”

“Shut up,” you hissed, crawling to straddle his legs. “Just be quiet,” you said more quietly. You reached out to rub the only half-erect cock through the fabric. Only small groans were elicited above you. Light was not a noisy one, to say the least. It took your first, painful, terrible experience of deep-throating to even get him to moan fully.

“Do you think teasing is going to get you anywhere?” His voice is always composed during sex, and it really was alarming because… you really couldn’t relate. You glowered, fingers digging under the waistband and pulling. He helped again, lifting so you can get the fabric off. “If you think you’re doing anything fully clothed, I should take a cold shower.”

You made quick work of taking the layers of comfort clothes you had on, off. “You really know how to put on a show,” he deadpanned.

“Shut. Up.” You returned to your position, seeing his cock now fully erect from your previous work. You were sure you were wet, but you ignored it as best you could. You had a feeling you would not be serviced tonight. Before you can even lean down, he spoke again.

“Beg for it. Beg for the honor of sucking my cock. Convince me you deserve it if you believe you are so entitled.” There was not a single physical restriction to keep you from taking it into your mouth, but his words were powerful enough to keep you still. Light was daring you to try and misbehave, and you really couldn’t help the physical reaction his words always do to you.

“Please—,”

“Pathetic. I can have any girl in my bed. I can stick my cock in any person interested, and here you are, an ungrateful brat who wants more. You’re making quite an unremarkable argument for yourself. Perhaps I will take away—.”

“Please, Light. Allow me the honor of sucking your cock, of you fucking my throat. I want the privilege of swallowing your seed. Fuck—please. I’ll do anything.” You leaned down close, but not touching anything. You only lifted your eyes up to his. “Please. I know I’ve been bad. Please, let me make up for it.”

Your words in bed were always forced. He knew you hated dirty talk as much as you did, therefore he always made you speak, always made you confess how much you craved him, wanted him, and whenever you spoke it was hardly ever in lies. Your embarrassment was too prominent in your body language to tell him otherwise.

“Go on, then. Show me.” You licked up his length first, then around the head and back down. “Teasing will get you nowhere,” he repeated. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes and took him in, inch by inch. Light was incredibly average despite his ego. It wasn’t impossible to fit the entire length into your mouth with slow adjustment, but that didn’t mean it was fun. You would continue to work his length, getting more and less intense with your pressure and the speed your head bobbed. Still, there was little reaction from him, not there really never was any mind the grunts you could make out. Your inclinations to keep going, and you did until you pulled back.

“How’s—,” His hand was at the back of your head immediately, forcing your head back down, pushing his cock down your throat, pushing until you could feel his balls against your chin. No hair. He was pristine down there. You convulsed, gagged, choked, but he did not release his grip. Hand keeping its hold, he dragged your head up just a hair enough to thrust upwards. Water began to pool at the waterline of your eyes. You had to relax your throat, or this was going to be just worse.

But it was hard, so hard at the pace he was thrusting at. You squeezed your eyes shut and took it the best you can. Listening to his quiet grunts and groans, you forced your lips to continue covering your teeth, but you could not force your throat to loosen. Drool pooled at both sides of your mouth, carelessly falling into both him and the sheets along with the liquid of your tears. 

“Your throat is so fucking tight. That’s it. Choke on my cock. This is what your dirty mouth deserves.” Your limited experience could be to blame for its restricting. That, or the selfishness of the man whose grip on your hair tightened even more right before he allowed you to breathe once more.

And breath you did. Gasping, reeling for air as drool continued to leak down. From beneath your hair, you looked at Light, his eyes wild and alive with lust. Small heaves from his smiling mouth mixed with your wet and heavy ones. “Do you think you deserved that, dearest?” You finally wiped your mouth and shook the spit from your arm. “You’re lucky I am so generous. Come. For doing such a decent job.” His hands patted his hips. Swollen eyes met his. “Ride me, before I change my mind and fuck you into the mattress.”

Regaining some semblance of control, you moved to straddle his length. “Oh, your pussy is glistening. Did me fucking your throat really do that much to you? You loved to be controlled, don’t you?” You did not answer, shaky hands guiding his cock so you can sink onto it. You groaned at the feeling. “Tell me how good it makes you feel. How only I can make you feel like this.” You bit your lip, sinking down another inch or so.

“God, Light. Your cock feels so good. Only yours can make me feel like this. No one—no man, no woman, no person—can make me feel anything—like—this—fuck!” You sunk down to the hilt before you lifted yourself again, easing yourself up and down his length. “It’s so good—so good.” Light allowed you more time but decided your gentle pace was not enough to soothe him. He roughly grabbed you and flipped your positions.

“Too slow, Y/N. What did I say about teasing?” He brought his hips back and then snapped them into yours. You screamed, and you wondered if the neighbors would call again, but his pace did not relent.

“Light—please. It’s too—too much! It’s too fast. I can’t…” He smiled, a wicked grin over you.

“And you won’t. Don’t you dare think about cumming. I decided you don’t deserve it. This is your compromise. You get to live, marry, and get fucked by me, and only by me, and I will only have eyes for you. You’ll never feel like you need a… distraction again.” You clenched your teeth and pushed your head farther into the pillows. “I feel you clenching onto me. Don’t you dare think about disobeying me.” His thrusts were even, balanced.

“Please, please, please let me cum. It feels too good. You feel too good. I’ll do anything.”

“Then don’t cum.” You threw your hands back and gripped the headboard, feeling it rock in rhythm to his thrusts. They were beginning to become, sloppy, wild, he was close while you were holding back for dear life. “Y/N. You are mine and mine alone. Your body. Your actions. Your mind. I am the only thing you are allowed to think about.” With one final push, his seed released, filling and coating your insides. He rode it out, making sure every drop stayed. He hated to have to wash the sheets after, though your drool stains remained.

Pulling out, he retreated and stood, ignoring your writing, unfulfilled form. “Come. You aren’t going to sleep like—get those hands away from there. Let’s get you clean before you ruin the sheets even more.” Like before, he extended his hand to your heaving form. “Alright, alright, I’ll take care of you, but you need to get cleaned up first.” An unstable hand fit into his own. His gently pulled you to stand and allowed you to lean your weight onto his.

Hot water cascaded down your body. Though Light effortlessly scrubbed washed his hair, you could not bring yourself to match his speed, and by the time he was already done, you hadn’t even washed your body yet. You heard an incomprehensible mutter amidst the running water as he left you alone. He was washing his face as you finally emerged, wrapped in your towel. No romance tonight, you figured. Not that it was any different than any other night. You followed, brushing your teeth, washing your face, and taking your pills while he huddled in bed.

You could only dream of romance anymore. Getting your pajamas on, you approached the empty side of the bed. Before you could get on, Light shifted, opening his arms and staring at you expectantly. You froze. Did… did he want…? “Well, come on.” Ah. Was this supposed to be the ‘I’ll take care of you,’ he mentioned earlier? You supposed he would never wash you in the shower, so this would have to be it. You swallowed and fell into them, feeling his arm wrap you close to him so you lied nearly on your stomach, face buried in the crook between his neck and shoulders. His arm lied around your neck, the other near your elbow on the arm that sprawled on his chest. Oh, hello? What is this?

Ah. This is the quote-on-quote, attention he promised as a fiancé. His eyes remained closed as you stared. How forced was this? You wondered if he hated it, if he saw it was succumbing to your wishes, but it was unlikely. Perhaps it was him showing the physical love outside of sex that you lacked thinking it would keep you from having another outburst as you did before. Him keeping his side of the compromise so you would keep yours.

You allowed yourself to close your eyes before you thought too hard about his actions. The more you thought about it, the more—and less—real it all became, but if he was offering more conventional couple things: cuddling, dates, attention, you would not pose another argument.

“So, no dog?” you whispered.

[thelazyhermits]

A New Furry Friend

So, my original intention was to just write a cute little drabble to go along with something that was brought up near the end of the first chapter of @euan112358‘s, A Bright Celebration, but I just kept writing until I got over 3000 words. Oops lol

I hope y’all enjoy it! ^-^

After preparing and eating a light lunch with Class 1-A, you find yourself cleaning up in the kitchen while the students are practicing their super moves that they have to have ready in time for the provisional license exam. Several of the students wanted to help you out with the cleaning, but you told them it’d be wiser to spend all their available time practicing rather than worry about taking care of some dirty dishes.

Besides, you don’t really mind being on cleanup duty since it gives you something to do. Aside from helping Hagakure improve on her hand-to-hand combat skills, you haven’t really been able to contribute much to the special training, meaning you’ve had a lot of free time on your hands.

So, right now, you’re perfectly fine doing anything that keeps you preoccupied since the last thing you want is to be stuck on the sidelines with nothing to do. Even something as mundane as washing dishes is more preferable to you than that.

Still, it’s not like you have a lot of cleaning up to do, so it doesn’t take you very long to take care of everything. As a result, it’s not long before you find yourself with nothing to do again.

Deciding you might as well see what’s going on with the students rather than try to find something else to do at the dorm, you head outside and make your way to the auditorium where Class 1-A is currently practicing. Not long after you start walking, a sound you’re not used to hearing on campus reaches your ears.

Your brows furrow. Am I hearing....barking?

Confused, you turn toward the direction the sound is coming from and see a brown and white bulldog running toward you at top speed. All you can do is stare at it with wide eyes. A dog?! Where in the world did a dog come from?!

As you’re mentally questioning his origins, the bulldog finally reaches his destination and starts running around you, giving you a little woof every so often. By the looks of it, the animal seems very excited to see you.

Once you realize that, your shocked expression fades, replaced with an excited one. “Awww, you’re so cute! Come here, boy!”

When you kneel down and outstretch your arms, the dog doesn’t hesitate to accept your invitation. You start giggling as he licks your face. “That tickles!”

For the next several minutes, you just pet the animal while showering him with compliments. Eventually, once you get over your excitement caused from meeting and interacting with a dog for the first time, you remember how strange this situation is. “It’s not unusual to see cats on campus since cats can pretty much get anywhere, but the same can’t be said for dogs. How in the world did you get here? You have a collar, so you’re obviously someone’s pet. Do you belong to someone here on campus?”

Unsurprisingly, you don’t get an actual answer from the bulldog just a soft woof. Thankfully, it doesn’t take you long to realize there’s someone who could get a proper response from the animal.

Smiling, you rise to your feet and motion for the dog to follow you. “Follow me! I know just the guy we need!”

Fortunately, you have no issues getting the bulldog to come along with you. Despite how enthusiastic he was to see you, you had thought he might not want to follow you to the gymnasium, but by the looks of it, the pet has no problem with accompanying you.

It’s when you both eventually come to a stop right outside the gymnasium that an idea comes to mind. “I wonder if you know any tricks.”

Deciding it wouldn’t hurt to try, you face the bulldog and hold out your hand toward him with your palm facing downwards. “Sit!”

A grin forms on your lips when the dog immediately sits down. “Good boy! Now, roll over!”

When he does just that, you clap your hands together before holding out one to him. “Shake!”

Your grin grows when he places his paw in your hand. “Amazing! You’re so well trained! What a good dog you are! I really wish I had some treats to give you!”

After you say that, the bulldog gives you a look that can only be described as being disappointed, making you feel really guilty. “Aw, please don’t look at me like that! I’m not used to meeting dogs, so I never thought to have dog treats on hand!”

Since your words don’t seem to appease the animal, you come up with an idea to hopefully cheer him up. “How about I learn how to make some doggy treats? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that they can be made at home, so all I’d need to do is look up a good recipe. Once I find one I think I can do, I’ll make a batch and bring them to you. How’s that sound?”

Considering how the dog is now energetically circling you, you think he likes your idea a lot. Giggling, you move to open the door to the gymnasium, allowing the bulldog to enter first before you follow after him.

Shortly after you walk into the gym, you hear Aizawa’s voice addressing you. “Care to explain why you brought Vlad’s dog to the gym?”

You do a slow blink. “This is Vlad-san’s dog?”

He raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t know whose dog it was? Then, how the hell did you find it?”

While Midnight and Yagi take turns petting the bulldog, you move to approach the underground hero. “I didn’t find him. He found me. I was just walking over here from the dorm when he suddenly came running toward me out of nowhere. Since he’s not wearing any tags, I thought I’d ask Kouda who he belonged to, but I guess I don’t need to now.”

Aizawa sighs, “Not quite. We still have no idea why the dog is running free when Vlad should currently be off campus for hero work.”

Guess Kouda’s assistance will be needed after all. Before you can offer to go find the quiet boy, Ectoplasm says one of his clones has already told Kouda to start heading your way. How convenient.

Not long after that, a confused Kouda comes to a stop in front of you and Aizawa. He takes turns looking in between the two of you and the bulldog which is currently being doted on by the other teachers much to your amusement and Aizawa’s exasperation. 

The corners of your lips curve upwards. “Sorry to take you away from your training, Kouda, but we were hoping you could shed a little light on this situation. I found Vlad-san’s dog running free on my way here, but according to Aizawa-san, Vlad-san should be off campus right now. So, we’re wondering how his dog got out. Do you think you could ask him for us?”

Nodding, Kouda walks over to the bulldog and kneels down in front of him. You watch fascinated as the two hold a conversation that you can only understand half of all the while wondering what exactly the dog is saying.

A few minutes later, Kouda pets the animal’s head before rising to his feet and turning to face you. “Wally says that Vlad-sensei left his class in charge of him while Vlad-sensei was gone. Since it’s such a nice day, Vlad-sensei didn’t want to leave Wally cooped up inside all day, so he asked Class 1-B to look after him.”

Aizawa raises an eyebrow. “Obviously, they’re doing a great job at that considering where he is now. Did he explain how he ended up with Y/N?”

Kouda scratches his cheek. “It seems he ran away from Class 1-B while they were distracted. Wally said he smelt a delicious scent and went after it which eventually brought him to Y/N-sensei.”

An amused huff passes your lips. “I guess he smelled what I made for lunch and wanted a bite for himself.”

Wally barks in response to your words, making most of the teachers snort. Kouda hides a smile behind his hand as he nods his head to show that the bulldog is agreeing with you. 

With a sigh, Aizawa tiredly runs a hand down his face. “Most likely, Class 1-B is currently running around campus frantically looking for him, hoping to find him before Vlad gets back.”

Midnight laughs, “Oh yeah definitely. Those kids are in for some hellish training if he comes back and finds out they lost his dog. His training will make yours look like a walk in the park.”

Taking pity on Class 1-B, you decide you should ensure that doesn’t happen. “Then, I better hurry and get Wally back to them before it’s too late. I really don’t wanna see what training that’s more hellish than Aizawa-san’s looks like.”

A large scary grin appears on the underground hero’s face. “I dunno. Might be good inspiration for what I can do next for Class 1-A. Maybe we should just sit back and watch the show.”

As Kouda goes pale, you shake your head before gently patting the quiet boy’s arm. “It’s alright, Kouda. That won’t happen ‘cause I’m gonna take Wally back now. Thank you for translating for us.”

After giving you a shy smile, your student hurries back to the pillar that he was training on earlier. Meanwhile, you approach Wally who appears to be enjoying all the attention he’s getting from the teachers. “Alright, Wally, let’s go find Class 1-B. I bet they’re going crazy looking for you.”

Ectoplasm chuckles, “I think that’s an understatement. They’re likely looking for him like their lives depend on it.”

Cementoss nods, “Thankfully, Vlad should still be off campus, so if you hurry, I think you’ll be able to return Wally to his class before he can find out.”

Midnight smirks as she rises from her crouched position beside Wally. “Of course, that is if no one here tells Vlad.”

A frown forms on your lips as you wag a disapproving finger at her. “Midnight-san…”

She pouts, “Come on, Y/N. Let me have a little fun. I wanna tease them a little bit.”

While the other teachers shake their heads, Yagi sighs, “I don’t think that’s something a teacher should be saying, Midnight-kun.”

Her pout deepens. “You guys are no fun! Live a little!”

Aizawa just rolls his eyes. “Hurry up and get the dog to where he’s supposed to be, Y/N. The sooner this mess is taken care of, the better.”

Nodding, you motion for the bulldog to follow you out of the gymnasium. Once you’re outside, you decide to head for the 1-B dorm, figuring you’re more likely to find some 1-B students there even though you’re sure a lot of them are currently running around campus looking for Wally.

Not long after you start walking toward the dorm, you hear familiar voices shouting in the distance.

“Wally! Here boy!”

“Wally!”

You give the aforementioned dog, who remains at your side, an amused look before heading in the direction of the voices. That’s how you eventually find a frantic Tsuburaba and a strangely calm Honenuki. 

When they notice your approach and see who’s walking beside you, both boys’ eyes widen in surprise. Relief quickly replaces the surprise as they immediately run over to where you’re now standing.

“Miracles do exist! We’re actually gonna live to see tomorrow!”

“See? I told you things would work out in the end.”

“You were the only one who thought that, Honenuki! I still don’t know how you could be calm while I was literally starting to see my life flash before my eyes!”

The corners of your lips curve upwards. “Lose somebody, boys?”

Honenuki sheepishly smiles as he rubs the back of his neck. “Yes, actually. Vlad-sensei asked us to look after his dog today, but he slipped away while we weren’t looking. Has he been with you all this time, Sensei?”

Nodding, you crouch down so you can pet the bulldog. “According to Kouda, Wally ran off ‘cause he smelled a delicious scent which happened to be coming from me. Apparently, he was very interested in what I made for lunch.”

While the taller student chuckles, Tsuburaba snorts, “Can’t say I blame him. But, I still wanna complain about him almost giving me a heart attack.”

An amused huff passes your lips. “Well, just let this be a lesson to you guys that whoever’s in charge of watching Wally better keep an extra close eye on him from now on.”

Both boys quickly nod their heads at your words. After you see that, you bring your gaze back to Wally. “And, you be a good boy and don’t run off anymore, okay, Wally? These kids are too young to be having heart attacks, you know.”

Wally gives you an acknowledging woof which hopefully means he will. Figuring you better let the students take over from here, you bid goodbye to the boys and turn to head back to the gymnasium.

Those plans are quickly derailed when, rather than stay with the kids, Wally follows after you and starts running around you. All you can do is stare at the dog with obvious confusion. “Uh, Wally? You’re supposed to go back with Honenuki and Tsuburaba, not me.”

Tsuburaba tries to grab the bulldog but is unsuccessful. “Come on, Wally! You gotta come back with us! Haven’t you already played enough with Sensei?”

With a bark, Wally evades capture again all the while remaining close to where you’re standing, watching the events unfold before you with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Meanwhile, Honenuki rubs his chin thoughtfully. “I guess Wally wants to hang out with her more. In that case, Sensei, would you be willing to come back with us to the dorm? Maybe Wally will be more willing to part with you if he got to spend some more time with you first.”

Since you don’t have any other plans this afternoon, you don’t see the harm in agreeing with his request. Besides, you wouldn’t be opposed to spending time with Class 1-B and Wally.

Just as you open your mouth to agree, an idea comes to mind that makes you grin. “Actually, I have an even better idea in mind.”

You quickly turn around and start walking in the direction of the front gate. “Come on, boys! We’re going shopping!”

Wally barks excitedly before quickly running after you. Meanwhile, the two surprised students share a confused look. 

Shrugging, Honenuki calmly follows after you. “I have no idea where this is going, but I guess we’ll be finding out soon enough. Better text the others so they’ll know they don’t need to keep searching for Wally.”

As his taller classmate is pulling out his cellphone, Tsuburaba just sighs, “Sometimes, I worry that you’re too flexible in your thinking, Honenuki. At least, consider questioning where the hell she’s taking us.”

A grin appears on Honenuki’s face. “Rather than worry about that, maybe you should think about how the rest of the class we’ll react once they realize who we’re with, especially one particular classmate of ours.”

There’s a brief pause before a matching grin forms on the other boy’s lips. “Oh hell yes. This is gonna be hilarious. I cannot wait to see his reaction.”

Because you’re preoccupied with searching for something on your phone, you completely miss the students’ conversation. You eventually don a triumphant grin when you finally find what you were looking for on the Internet. “Got it! Now, all we need are ingredients!” 

Tsuburaba raises an eyebrow. “Ingredients for what exactly?”

Your grin grows. “Doggy treats! Since I promised to try making some for Wally earlier, I thought I might as well give it a try while hanging out at the 1-B dorm. Learning how to cook something new is always a fun way to pass the time!”

As if to show his agreement, Wally woofs as he excitedly runs around you. Seeing this, Honenuki chuckles, “Well, Wally seems to be all for the idea.”

His classmate snorts, “Can’t say I’m surprised. Considering how good Sensei is at cooking human food, I bet that dog is about to get some of the best treats he’s ever had.”

You reach over to ruffle his hair. “Aww, thanks, Tsuburaba. I’m flattered you think so highly of my cooking.”

While a flush colors Tsuburaba’s cheeks, Honenuki grins, “You won a lot of people in our class over with those eclairs you made, Sensei. Awase was just the most vocal about it.”

With a laugh, you clasp your hands behind your back. “In that case, we’ll need to buy more ingredients so everyone at the 1-B dorm can have a tasty treat.”

You wink at the two boys. “I’ll let you boys be in charge of deciding what we make for your class. You can request whatever you want.”

Both students’ faces brighten at your words. A large grin quickly forms on the brown haired boy’s lips. “Hell yes. This is gonna be awesome. I take back all the complaints I made earlier about losing Wally. That near heart attack was totally worth it.”

Honenuki smiles, “Things worked out even better than I expected. I always love when that happens.”

Your expression turns amused. “Just don’t make a habit of losing him, okay? You managed to avoid Vlad-san finding out this time. You might not be so lucky next time.”

Tsuburaba quickly shakes his head. “Don’t get me wrong. I love how this turned out, but I am never allowing myself to be put through that torture again. If we ever have to babysit Wally again, I’ll keep an eye on him the whole time myself if I have to.”

While an amused Honenuki nods his head in agreement, you look down at Wally and giggle, “You hear that, Wally? No more disappearing acts for you.”

Wally barks before breaking off into a sprint. You blink in surprise as the dog runs off into the distance while a cursing Tsuburaba chases after him. 

“Dammit, Wally! That wasn’t a challenge! Get back here!”

As the brown haired boy goes after the bulldog, who is thankfully still heading in the direction of UA’s front gate, you turn to give a strangely calm Honenuki, who remains at your side, an amused look. “Looks like you guys have your work cut out for you.”

Honenuki huffs in amusement. “I think those dog treats you plan on making are gonna come in real handy in the near future.”

His response makes you laugh. “Guess I better make a lot just in case, huh?”

At that moment, the sound of Tsuburaba’s voices reaches your ears. “Wally! Quit chasing that squirrel! You’re going the wrong way!”

The taller boy scratches his cheek. “Yeah, the more, the better.”

All you can do is shake your head. Oh well, you were looking for something to keep yourself preoccupied today, and this situation definitely fits the bill.

At least, now you won’t have to worry about being bored.

[ourkarlanicoleuniverse]

Sweet Nothing (MHA Staff AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 19 

Warnings: None, swf. 

Pairing: Shouta Aizawa x OC (Mai Montoya, Pro Hero Zion) 

If you want to read of the events before this chapter here is the Master List 😊

If I wasn't in the compromising position I was in right now, I swear my reaction to Vlad telling me that the hero course final's practical exam was being changed this year, I would be stomping over to Nezu to give him a piece of my mind.

We were currently sitting on my couch with his bulldog perched up on my lap, snoring his little life away, and Vlad placing my feet in his lap while we were watching a movie. Vlad thought it was best to tell me the news after spending some time with his dog since he knew it would have me in a good mood. How dare he use my love for dogs against me?

"I can't believe this. Why didn't anyone tell the counselors? Wasn't Hounddog in the meeting?" I chastised while lightly caressing the dog's ear.

"You mean, you and Lily? The only two hero course counselors? Because you would both be against it, and Nezu didn't want to deal with the two of you." He said as he lightly massaged my feet.

"Well, he wouldn't have to deal with us if he treated our students like students and not soldiers," I grumbled. The bulldog started to rustle in his sleep, waking up slightly to cuddle further into me. "I think your dog likes me more than you."

"He's just a spoiled baby and likes when he gets attention. Have fun with her while you can buddy, I have her for the rest of the night." I couldn't help but laugh at how he acted with his dog. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before the week off the exam. But I can't say I disagree with Nezu and Aizawa about upping the exams' difficulty. With the recent villain attack and how more and more villains are popping up. Or with how All Might is right now. I can see that we do need to train them more efficiently to be better prepared for the changing world."

"But they're only first-year students. It's a little excessive to me to be putting so much on them so early. I understand the need. I do. I just feel like the pace needs to slow down a bit."

"Midnight said that in the meeting. I'm surprised that you haven't asked what they wanted to do for the practical yet. I figured that would've been the first thing that came to mind." Vlad looked away from the TV to meet my gaze.

"What did they wanted to do?" I let my face fall in disgruntlement.

"They want the teachers to fight the students." He flatly said.

"THEY WHAT?" Vlad aggressively shushed me and pointed to the dog, who was scared awake. I quickly patted the little guy and cooed him, "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie, I didn't mean to scare you. Relax and go back to sleep."

Vlad looked at me for a moment. His eyes were a little unreadable. He then shrugged and spoke a matter-of-factly, "I told you that we didn't tell you and Lily for a reason."

"What am I supposed to do now? Just sit and watch while grown adults fight students?" He nodded in response, "Vlad." No response, "Vlad?" Nothing. "Sekijiro?"

He finally went back to giving me his attention, "Yeah?"

"You really agreed to this?" I pleaded.

"You called me by my first name?" He squinted in confusion, then relaxed, "Yes, I did. They made valid arguments."

I simply hummed and nodded, dropping the subject, not like I can do anything about it. Then I looked at him while he had his attention on the screen in front of us. "Did I cross a line? Was it not okay to call you by Sekjiro?"

"Hmm? No, it's not that. Just didn't expect it, that's all. You rarely call me by it, only Vlad or my family name." He rubbed the back of his neck, he was trying not to show that he was uncomfortable, but the whole room felt different from a minute ago.

"I'm sorry. I should've probably asked first. I just assumed that since-- never mind. If it made you uncomfortable, I'd just call you by Vlad or by your last name until you want me to call you something else." I didn't mean to look so wounded, but I couldn't help the way my voice got quiet and the way I held my chin low. I didn't mean to make things so awkward. Since high school, we've known each other, and now we were sort of dating, so it was a simple mistake—no big deal.

"No, I get it, you assumed that we were close enough... which we are... I.. uh." Vlad struggled to find the words he wanted to say. He moved from his spot on the couch to stand and walk over to me and kissed my forehead, "We are close. I just didn't expect it." He said that, and he looked at me lovingly when he did. But it didn't feel like it was the truth.

I still leaned forward to give him a small peck, "Okay, let's just finish the movie and call it a night." We exchanged smiles and continued the night with the awkwardness hanging above our heads. Luckily I had the dog to distract me.

__________

Midnight was walking into the teacher lounge to find Lily and I waiting for her at her desk. She went from her normal sultry demeanor to a slow and bewildered one, "Yes?"

Lily spoke up first, "So the practical exam was changed, and you were against it but didn't warn us?"

"Who snitched?" Midnight scrunched her face in anguish like a shameless kid that got caught doing something they knew they weren't supposed to do. She slumped and leaned on one foot folding her arms. Her signature whip in hand. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to look like a whiny, childish colleague to the teachers. Despite my seniority, I still have to pick my battles when I want to be voicing out issues during meetings."

"If it's because you are one of the few women on the teacher's staff, I could definitely whip the men into shape to take you seriously," I reassured her.

"I would've expected for you to have a lot more say than anyone." Lily mirrored Midnight's pose, "But I guess it's different when no one else is backing you up."

"To be fair, I think you guys will be amused with the way we teachers were paired off with the students, especially your students, Mai." Midnight brushed off the topic of the inequity between the men and women staff and moved on to explain how the exam changed.

"Let me guess. You are up against Mineta." I tried to stay serious, but the image of the little weasel being chased around by Midnight was too hilarious not to burst out laughing.

"Don't worry, you two. We'll be tough on them but not too tough. We're going to leave some leeway for them to pass." She put her hands on both of our shoulders in reassurance.

"You better, or you all will have hell to pay." We both glared at her, to which she responded with a giggle.

"Shouldn't you be getting to the examination room with Recovery Girl?" She raised an eyebrow and smirked down at me while I puffed my cheeks and started getting out of her chair.

"Yeah... I really hate that I wasn't allowed to give my students a pep talk before their exams, but Aizawa had them so nervous for this exam that they were more busy studying that I didn't feel comfortable taking their time away from it. Especially when some of them were in dire need of studying. On the bright side, they all mentioned to me that they formed study groups. So I guess it's good that they are relying on each other."

I grabbed my bag and waved them goodbye while walking out of the office to meet with Recovery Girl. The little old lady was waiting in the nurse's office on her little chair. Her feet dangled as she lightly kicked them as I walked in. She then motioned for me to help her down, and we walked off to the examination room.

"You look really comfortable today." She said, noting my outfit. I had some white sneakers on with a mid-length a-line white skirt with a collared shirt underneath my green UCLA sweatshirt. I decided to keep my hair in a fishtail braid with a few hairs framing my face. My glasses sat on top of my head.

"I figured since it was exam day, I wasn't going to need to do a lot of work today." I shrugged and put my glasses on.

"I haven't seen your necklace until now. It's charming." My necklace? My hand went up to reach the silver chain with the small lopsided heart. I've had it for years, rarely do I ever take it off. Sometimes I forget I am even wearing it. Ironically, it was a gift from Aizawa back when we were kids. Despite being detached from him for so long, I still kind of had a piece of him with me.

"Thank you. I wear it all the time, actually."

"You should tell me where you got it. Maybe I'll buy one."

"I wish I could tell you, but I'm afraid I was never told." I smiled wholeheartedly at the little old lady.

We made it to the room, and I opened the door for her, and as she walked in ahead of me, she decided to comment, "Oh, I'm sure Aizawa remembers, I'll ask him." Sometimes I hate her for knowing everything. But hey, that's part of her being the heart of UA.

Soon after we got situated, a few of my students came in to watch their peers during their examination. Specifically, it was Midoriya and Uraraka that walked in along with Aoyama and Bakugo. I'm guessing they were paired off with each other and were going to be tested later. I sat next to Recovery Girl and leaned back in my seat, swiveling side to side as we watched the screen waiting for the exams to begin.

"You seem as anxious as the students, Ms. Montoya." Recovery Girl mentioned as the first match between Sato and Kirishima and Cementoss was about to begin.

"Well, I don't think it was right to change the practical on them, so I am a little nervous. I want them all to pass." I chewed on my bottom lip as I switched to tapping my foot instead.

"If we don't pass, Mr. Aizawa said we don't get to go to the training camp." Uraraka mentioned as she noticed that we were talking about the exam and the students, "I don't know if he was really serious, but it definitely got us wanting to make sure we passed more."

I grimaced, "I really hate how Aizawa adds more pressure on you guys, and he knows it, so it pisses me more off."

"Yes, I don't know why that man is so hard on his students. But I am sure that it is just a ruse." Recovery Girl did her best to reassure the student. "Now, let's watch your classmates."

One by one, each round of fights passed by, poor Kirishima and Sato were the first to fail the practical, which made all of us watching upset. The matches with Tsu and Tokoyami and Iida and Ojiro were nerve-wracking to watch but ended with all four of them winning and meeting back here to watch the rest of the class.

The current match that was about to start was between Todoroki and Momo and Aizawa. I had high hopes for the team, but both Aizawa and I noticed the shift in Momo's confidence after the Sports Festival. So it was hard to see if she was going to trust herself when making decisions in the practical exam. With Todoroki, my main concern was his inability to work with others and strategizing, but hopefully, the two actually work together and beat Aizawa. Lord knows that man isn't going to go easy on them. He lives for these moments where he can strike fear into his students. Not like I am expecting him to purposely fail them though, he's not THAT sadistic. I looked over at the students in the examination room and noticed the worried look on Ochako's face. She was getting more nervous as it got closer to her exam. I couldn't blame her. I haven't seen her and Aoyama really discuss a plan for how they will fight Thirteen. Midoriya was mumbling strategies to himself, oblivious to his friend's silent mental turmoil. "Ochako, sweetheart, why don't you come over here and watch the round with me?"

She slightly jumped, surprised at my sudden suggestion, but then shuffled her way over to me with a nervous smile.

"You okay? You seem like the nerves are eating away at you?" I swiveled to face her and placed my elbows on my knees and my chin on my hands as I looked up at her.

"Honestly? I am not okay, but I don't know how I am going to make a plan when my partner doesn't try to communicate with me and just focuses on how their suit looks." She looked glumly at her partner, who was still focusing on his reflection rather than the screen.

I looked at Aoyama, too, with my eyebrows scrunching together, trying to find the words to help her. "To give you some advice, you just have to smack some sense to them, but verbally, I'm not saying to smack Aoyama literally, but tell him upfront that he needed to take this exam seriously just like it was a real-life situation. Only then can you guys can collaborate. And don't worry about not having a plan at this current moment. It's always good to get used to thinking on the spot because you will rarely have time to plan before dealing with villains on the field."

She nodded with a slight pout, which reminded me how Midoriya would listen to me. I was about to continue speaking when Recovery Girl's voice spoke up, "It looks like Yaoyorozu and Todoroki aren't collaborating well, Todoroki got tied up, and she's running off."

Once she spoke up, we decided to keep the focus on the screen, Ochako quietly saying, "I'll take your advice, maybe I'll be able to make up some last-minute plan with Aoyama as we walk to our exam. Thank you, but I think I'll go back with Deku if you don't mind." I waved her off with a warm, reassuring smile as she walked back to her spot next to Midoriya.

As we watched the match, Recovery Girl and I kept making quiet remarks about the students and Aizawa. "I think Aizawa is going easy on them. I think he noticed that their plan shouldn't work if their timing is off." I noted.

"It looks like they figured out that Aizawa needs longer breaks between moments he uses his quirk after his injuries." Recovery Girl pointed, and I nodded in agreement. Eventually, the two students managed to capture Aizawa and won the match, and the students with us were filled with joy and relief, watching them win. I couldn't help but giggle a little. I feel like they were happier to see Aizawa get his ass beaten than just seeing their peers pass. "My, my, I guess that man is a big softie after all." Recovery Girl gleamed out loud and then smirked at me, lowering her voice again, "Not like I am surprised, I remember how he was in high school."

I decided to tease the grump and texted him a congratulations message, not really expecting a response.

Me

You sure like to give your students handouts for someone who likes not to give handouts to his students. Thank you for not failing Momo and Todoroki. They really needed the win. Counselor Montoya approves! 👍🏻💕

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱

Shut up. I wasn't going easy on them.

Me

Yes, you were. It's okay to admit you care about them. I won't tell anyone and ruin your reputation. Scouts honor! 😇🤞🏻

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱

🙄

Me

😱YOU USE EMOJIS?! SINCE WHEN?!

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱

I'm putting you on Do Not Disturb for the rest of the exam.

Me

Awe, but I love talking to u. I can feel the annoyance through my screen 😚😚

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱

Those better have been typos because Vlad probably doesn't appreciate you sending other guys kissy emojis.

Me

😚 This is for friends.

😘 This is for bfs/gfs

Don't flatter yourself, Sho.

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱 is typing...

"Who are you texting that is making you smiling and giggling so much?" Recovery Girl asked as she tried to look over my phone. Is it an old person thing to try and see people's phones? Torino did that, too, at the hospital.

"I'm just teasing Mr. Aizawa, and he's taking the bait," I said, not looking up from my phone reading his messages.

Grumpy Caterpillar 🐛🐱

I'm not the one doing the flattering.

Me

Wdym? 🤔

Read at 12:45 pm

Me

???????

I pouted at my phone and stuffed it into my skirt pocket. "He left me on read, how rude."

"Maybe he got tired of the teasing. You can be annoying at times. Now let's continue with the exams." The blunt old lady bumped my head with her cane lightly, or at least what she thought it was lightly.

"Ow, that cane should be registered as a weapon." I rubbed my head.

"Don't take advantage of the attention that man gives you. You're smarter than that to string someone along." She huffed protectively.

"I am not doing anything, just being friendly, that's all."

"You should try being less friendly unless you actually want to pursue anything with him. But considering your relationship with Vlad, I don't think that's happening."

"I'm teasing, not flirting. Plus, it's not like Aizawa to catch feelings."

"You can't catch feelings when you always had them, sweetheart." I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, not really understanding where she was coming from. "For such a smart young lady, you seem to be oblivious when it comes to love. Unless you're just denying the inevitable."

"And what is the inevitable, Ms. I Know Everything?"

"That you and Shota never got over your feelings for one another. So the feelings are rising to the surface once more, but that isn't any of my business." Recovery Girl mentioned not taking her eyes off of the screen. "And you can't deny it, Gran Torino and I like to talk, you know? He told me about you two at the hospital. And don't think I didn't see you guys in my office looking like you wanted to smash your faces together. You're not kids anymore, be mature about this, Mai, please."

Be mature... Yeah, right... If it goes both ways, then he should be doing something about it, too, not just me. It can't all be me. "Let's just watch the rest of the exams and drop this subject. Not like anything could happen. I'm leaving at the end of the year."

"And you're with Vlad." Recovery Girl felt the need to remind me.

"Eh, I'm starting to think it might not be as serious as I thought," I say, remembering how awkward Vlad got when I misunderstood how close we were. I still enjoyed being around him, and I enjoyed the attention, but after that, it made me second guess myself a lot when it came to him. Like, if I couldn't even call him by his first name, how could he and I be close enough to sleep together? It didn't sit right with me. I think he felt it, too, because we weren't really intimate after the name debacle. Recovery Girl then turned to me to see the serious look on my face while I watched Ochako and Aoyama go through their exam, and then she put her hand on my head as a way to comfort me. Nothing was going on between Aizawa and me, just displaced feelings. We'll eventually get to be just friends without the feelings of what if's and what could be's getting in the way.

------------------------------------------------------

Taglist

@multifandoms916​ @inumorph​ @thatgirlwithcamera​ @mel-sanch​

[wayward-river]

My Escape

Reggie x Blossom! Reader to Sweet Pea x Blossom!Reader 

AN: This was requested I hope you like it! Also this was voted to be posted so you will get part two of Loving the Enemy on Sunday! All mistakes are my own. I do not own the gif.  Let me know what y’all think! I love getting y’alls feedback.

Warnings: Cheating, self doubt, slight smut if you squint. 

You looked down the hall your eyes searching. Your sister Cheryl was leaning against her locker with Toni at her side. You looked a few feet behind her noticing Reggie Mantle. Your boyfriend, the person who was supposed to be the love of your life. I mean he was a Mantle and you were a Blossom so why wouldn’t you two be together, you had to be?

You sighed as you watched him flirt with a dirty blonde haired vixen.

“I could have her kicked off” You muttered to yourself as you made your way to him.

At first your relationship with Reggie was amazing, he had put you in a whirlwind of emotions but everything had changed.

You tucked your recently Y/H/C dyed hair behind your ear.

“Hey Reg.” You smiled hoping today would be a good day.

Just as he was about to respond to you, Archie Andrews showed up next to you.

“Hey man, you ready to go?”

Reggie looked at him nodding. “Yeah man lets go.”

“Reggie I thought we were going to grab lunch today?” You asked your shoulders sagging forward just a bit. You hadn’t gotten any quality time with him lately.

“Sorry baby, gotta practice.” He replied already half way down the hall.

You leaned against his locker sighing. Fighting back the tears. You guys were okay. It was just practice you would see him after school.

You walked to your next class. Sitting down in the back not in the mood for any of the dramatics today. Hoping people would get the hint and leave you alone.

That was not the case just before the bell rang you looked up to see a leather clad Sweet Pea sit down next to you.

Sweet Pea. Southside serpent, typical southside bad boy, he was the annoyance in your days but he sometimes haunted your dreams at night.

He was once your best friend, you had gotten close two summers ago when Cheryl had become a serpent. He had held your heart before Reggie Mantle stole it that same summer at a classic thistle house pool party. Reggie wasn’t a fan of the southside so you had kept your distance once you started dating him, severing your ties with Sweet Pea.

You rolled your eyes huffing out a sigh.

“Not like I want to sit by you either Blossom but it was the only desk open.”

You rolled your eyes before sliding forward and resting your head on your arms, trying to get out of your own head.

You felt your desk shake. You turned your head to where it was still resting on your arms but now you had direct eye contact with Sweet Pea. “Can I help you?”

He rolled his eyes. “Just strange to see a Blossom not be front and center.”

“Yeah well, if you want that go find my sister.” You turned your head back into the darkness of your folded arms.

Sweet Pea left you alone the rest of the class, kicking the leg of your desk right before the bell rang so you didn’t get caught. You popped your head up grabbing your bag. “Uh thanks.”

He nodded as he walked forward towards Fangs, who gave you a slight smile and walked out of the class with Sweet Pea.

Thank god that was your last class, you weren’t sure if you could make it through one more hour of dragging on like this. You walked to your locker throwing in your book bag and tying up your hair as your grabbed the gym bag and headed towards the girls locker room.

Fixing your high ponytail you hadn’t noticed the tall serpent in front of you, you collided with his solid chest, almost sending you to the ground before his arms wrapped around you holding you up.

“Watch where you are going Sweet Pea” You spat out as you pushed yourself out of his grip accidentally bumping into Fangs as you changed your course to head to the gym first. You didn’t want to be mean or rude to Sweet Pea but it was the only way you could keep him at a distance.

Sweet Pea watched you leave, being pulled out of his thoughts by Fangs.

“Dude, you think she saw him?”

Sweet Pea looked over his shoulder to see Reggie making out with one of the other vixens.

He rolled his eyes. “I don’t think so.”

“Good, I mean it’s weird you are protecting Y/N Blossom, but I feel like she’s been through enough in her life.”

Sweet Pea nodded. “Yeah plus she doesn’t need to waste any tears on that bulldog.”

Fangs nodded but had a smirk plastered on his face. “You falling for a Blossom.”

Sweet Pea scoffed. “Sure Fogarty, cause Y/N Blossom and I would actually happen.”

Fangs hummed as they walked towards the boys locker room.

You walked into the gym, seeing your sister stretching out.

“Y/N, you are always like the first one here. You okay?”

You looked to your sister. “Yeah Cher, I’m fine. I’m going to go change though.”

“Okay, don’t abuse your status, you can still get kicked off the squad for being late little sister!”

You rolled your eyes as you flipped Cheryl off. You got to the locker room quickly changing and heading back out, Cheryl didn’t play with Vixen practice and you seemed to get the brunt of things.

Fixing your ponytail once again you headed back out this time looking up a smile lighting up your face as you saw Reggie filling up his water bottle. You walked over sliding your arms through and wrapping him tightly to you.

“This would be so much better if you weren’t so sweaty.” You laughed. Reggie grabbed your arms gently pulling them away and spinning so he was facing you.

“Can’t be the star player if you don’t get sweaty baby.” He teased as he leaned down stealing a small kiss.

“Shouldn’t you be at practice?” Reggie asked.

“Shouldn’t you?” You sassed him back.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve been to practice, where were you baby girl?”

“I was changing.” You informed him, you rubbed your arm slightly nervous. “Hey Reg. Can we do dinner at Pops after we are done practicing?” You asked.

Reggie leaned back in his lips pressing to yours once more. “Anything you want baby girl. Just meet me outside when you are done practicing.”

You smiled nodding, as you started to run back towards the open gym for the Vixens. Cheryl banning the basketball boys last week after one too many Vixens were caught staring, so they were residing in another gym.

Practice seemed to fly by with your newly made plans to actually spend time with your boyfriend. Cheryl was doing the last bit of the stretches and you were itching to just bolt to go change. You knew Reggie would get done before you and he normally waited for all the other boys to leave so he could shower quickly, so you thought a shower session with Mantle the Magnificent would put you two back to normal before your small date.

“Y/N...Y/N Blossom!”

You were pulled out of your thoughts by your sisters shouting of your name.

“Sorry Cheryl...what’s up?” You replied meekly. Never wanting to be on your sisters bad side.

“TT and I are going to get Pops, do you want to join?” She asked you.

You shook your head. “No but I’ll see you there after a bit, Reggie and I are going to go after he’s done.”

Cheryl looked at you puzzled. “You and Reggie are okay? I thought you were worried that he didn’t want to be with you anymore.”

“I mean yeah this morning and today was rough but before I came back for practice he seemed really excited to go to dinner and spend some time just us.”

Cheryl nodded. “Okay just be careful.”

You pulled Cheryl into you, wrapping her up tightly. “I love you”

“I love you too, now let me go before you crease my outfit.”

You rolled your eyes, sticking your tongue out. “Have fun!” You hollered to her as you walked towards the gym doors and made your way to the boys locker room.

You opened the door slightly already hearing the shower running. You smirked thinking about the way his eyes would light up as he saw you. Just as you were about to turn the corner you heard a sound, you held your breath hoping, praying that it wasn’t what you thought it was.

You waited in the dead silence until your heart shattered hearing it again.

A moan, and not from Reggie, a girl moaning out his name. Your boyfriends name.

“Oh Reg,”

You shut your eyes tightly the tears unwilling to fall. Hoping that this was just a sick dream. A sick game Reggie was playing. You moved around the corner slightly your eyes confirming your worst nightmare. Your stomach dropping as you held in a choked sob. Reggie was pressing some girl up against the shower tiles as he kissed down her neck the water spraying the both of them.

You turned, bolting towards the locker room door, not wanting him to know what you had seen.

You had no idea where you were going as you pushed open the gym doors, hoping all the girls had left especially hoping Cheryl had already made her way to Pops.

You crumbled to the gym floor as you let out your choked sob you were holding in. The tears flowing down your cheeks with no end in sight as you tried to breathe. You hugged your knees tightly, screwing your eyes shut as the sobs continued to move through you, shaking your body.

“Y/N?”

You looked up but your tears had blurred your vision you had no idea who this was and a Blossom was not supposed to be seen being weak.

“Please just go away” You sobbed out unable to stop the train wreck in your mind.

You could feel the person get close to you, squatting down in front of you, you recognized Sweet Pea.

He moved forward cupping your face with both hands as he thumbed your tears away.

“Y/N what happened? What’s wrong?”

You tried to speak again but all that came out was another strangled sob.

Sweet Pea sat down on the cold gym floor then, pulling you into his chest as he let you sob against him. His Riverdale high shirt collecting your salty tears.

He held you tightly to him with one arm as the other cradled your head, running his fingers through your hair.

You closed your eyes. You hadn’t been held like this for the longest time. Reggie had held you like this when Jason died and after the funeral, before that Jason would sing to you as he held you on your bad days.

“You got my number you can call on me

If you're in trouble put the fall on me

When you're mad you can take it out on me

When it don't add up you can count on me

When you're low come get high on me

Make it slow take your time on me

Said let, let it out

Come and lay on me

When it gets heavy put the weight on me

Baby put it all on me

Put it all on me”

You pulled your head away, looking up your Y/E/C eyes searching Sweet Peas for the meaning of this. It seemed to work as your sobs turned to small sniffles. “What are you doing” You softly asked.

Sweet Pea kept you in his arms. “I, well uh, for English once we had to write papers about favorite memories and I remembered you said yours were of your brother when he would hold and sing to you to calm you down, and that song was just in my head, Fogarty was singing it earlier so I thought I’d give it a shot”

You couldn’t believe the confession that had left his lips. “Thank you.”

You closed your eyes once more leaning your head back on Sweet Peas chest.

“What’d he do Y/N?” Sweet Pea asked you.

“How did you know it was him?”

“A wild guess” He paused. “I’ve been trying to protect you Y/N, I guess I didn’t do that great of a job.”

You sighed. “He’s cheating on me.”

You felt Sweet Pea tense. You placed your hand on his chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.”

“Y/N, leave him. You need to be with someone who appreciates you.”

You sighed dropping your hand. “I-I can’t.”

“Why?”

Sweet Peas one word question put you into a whirlwind. “Why? Well, I’d be disowned for one. I know Cheryl has issues with mommy dearest but I’ve had to play peacekeeper so I stay with our mother so Cheryl can have thistle house and a life.”

You moved out of Sweet Peas grip slowly standing back up. Once on your feet you reached your hand out to him.

“You can get out, you know that right? You deserve just as much of a life as Cheryl does.”

You nodded, letting Sweet Peas words sink in. “Yeah maybe if I had the option. My only escape is Reggie Mantle.”

You headed out the gym doors with Sweet Pea, both of you silent as you headed towards the parking lot. The boys locker room door swinging open and laughter being heard stilled you in your steps. Sweet Pea stopped trying to push you behind him so you wouldn’t have to see anything.

“Pea don’t”

Sweet Pea dropped his arm, his stance still protective. You both stood there as you watched Reggie walk out his arm around the girls waist. She let out a soft giggle as he pulled her to him kissing her lips softly.

You stood frozen, how could he not notice you?

At that point Sweet Pea had seen enough clearing his throat. The noise catching Reggies attention. He looked up, frozen, deer caught in headlights all over his face.

He pushed the other girl away, turning and quickly walking towards you.

“Baby, it’s not what it looks like.” he started.

You scoffed. “Sure Reggie, please explain to me what it looks like then.”

Reggie stepped closer to you making Sweet Pea step in front of you blocking you from Reggies reach.

“Don’t touch her Mantle.” Sweet Pea growled out.

“She’s my girlfriend I can do what I want”

“You don’t have a choice Mantle don’t touch her or I drop you right now”

Reggie dropped his hands to his side. “Baby girl okay I kissed her I just I don’t know what came over me. It won’t happen again, please forgive me.”

“Oh so you are just going to hide the fact that you were just fucking her in the boys locker room shower?” You folded your arms across your chest.

Reggies mouth opened as he was going to say something, before his demeanor changed. “You need me Blossom. I’m your escape. I’m your home. You’ll never get out of that tight grip your mother has around you without me.”

You went silent. Tears stinging in your eyes. Reggie was right. He was your escape. Your shoulders slumped forward, just as you were about to open your mouth to forgive him it was shut by Sweet Peas words.

“I’ll be her escape, she’ll have a home with me.”

Reggie scoffed. “What? In Sunny Side? Like Y/N would ever agree to that.”

You looked in between both boys. Sweet Peas words ringing in your ears.

“She’ll have a home with me. I’ll be her escape.”

“We’re over.” You gritted out as you looked to Reggie, tears spilling out of your eyes.

“Are you serious Y/N, you are choosing this...this snake?”

You nodded your head. “You clearly don’t want this Reggie, you’ve been showing me for months but I was hopeless I just wanted you to love me, but I don’t think you ever will.”

“Whatever go be a Serpent -”

Sweet Pea had shoved Reggie backwards before the rest of his sentence could come out.

“Get out of here Mantle before you do or say something you’ll regret.”

Reggie rolled his eyes as he turned wrapping his arm around the girl that had come from the locker room with him.

“Enjoy southside Y/N.”

You turned to Sweet Pea ignoring Reggie. “Did you mean that?”

Sweet Pea took your hands in his. “Yes, Y/N, I meant every word.”

You threw your arms around his neck pulling him down to you the tears falling freely down your cheeks once again.

“I love you.”

Sweet Pea went silent. “What?”

You pulled away looking up at him. “I love you Pea. I’ve always loved you, it’s always been you. I wasn’t supposed to be with Reggie. I was supposed to be with you, but my mother she threatened Cheryl and I had to do something, and then Reggie didn’t like that we were friends and I had to push you away. I’m so sorry Pea, please...please forgive me.”

Sweet Pea leaned down pressing a hesitant kiss against your soft lips. “I forgive you. I’ve always forgiven you. Please be mine.”

You nodded as he pulled you into his chest. “Let's go home?” He asked.

“Let’s go home.” you echoed his words as he took your hand and led you to his bike, heading towards Sunny Side a place that felt like your home even before it was, you were never meant to be a prissy cheerleader and deep down you knew it and right now you felt it, you could finally be happy with the guy you knew you would end up running back to.

[tanoraqui]

a scene for the ol’ Infamous Harem AU, and @girlgeniusevents‘ Day 3: Construct/Clank/Machine

“I knew it!”

The shout came from within a deceptively large cave, the entrance hidden by an overhand of ice, rock, and more ice. The shouter was Gil Holzfäller, Captain in the Mechanicsburg Militia and Chief Minion to Lady Agatha Heterodyne.

He poked his head out of the cave, crawling-height, and blinked at the brightness at the ten jägers standing around with various degrees of interest, from peering anxiously after him (Beto) to standing on a rock and looking around for the next monster to fight, even as someone else tried to pull him down so she could bind his the sizeable chunk now missing from his arm (Dante and Katka, respectively.)

“There are cubs,” Gil explained. “That’s why she attacked- one sec.”

He vanished again, and this time there were considerably more scuffling noises.

“Hyu hokay in dere?” Dimas called. He almost in half to look, upside-down, into the abandoned den. Abandoned by the mother, at least - she lay several meters away, now, with Oggie’s axe through her neck. Maxim was alternately keeping watch and laughing at his attempts to dislodge it from the thick vertebrae and thicker fur.

The rest of the squad ranged around them: Georgi on another ice-covered boulder, actually keeping watch; Elizaveta idly humming; Armin flipping a knife while he waited by the cave, and Helias and Mattias holding up the wolf-creature’s tail to Helias’s hat and arguing over how best to attach it. It had been a good fight, but not a particularly dangerous one, and this was just a patrol - with a side mission of impulsive heroics, because it was Gil’s squad. The Lady wasn’t a hero, but she didn’t mind.

“It’s okay. I’m okay, you’re all okay...” Gil murmured as he emerged, not to the jägers but to the four oversized puppies he could just barely hold- 

To the three oversized puppies he could just barely hold, and the one who fell out of his arms, quickly righted itself, hid behind his knee and growled at the jägermonsters.

“They’re not quite wolves,” he said as he clambered, arms occupied, to his feet. “See the noses - there’s hound ancestry, there. And some bulldog, if the fangs are anything to go by. And the eyes are a little too luminescent...”

Gil frowned at the puppy still growling from behind his ankle. A second was trying to tear open his jacket; a third alternated between snapping at the nearest jägers and trying to climb up his chest; and the fourth simply burrowed, whimpering, into one elbow.

“They were much more peaceful in there. I suppose it’s the change, and the blood.”

The rest of the squad exchanged glances, between each other, the not-quite-wolves, Gil, and each other again. All ten, very quickly, recalled three things:

First, that these were Wulfenhunds of the Wulfenbach Barony, or descended from them - not a monster in the group cared to debate whether an animal could still have a breed name if it hadn’t been raised and trained by the proprietary family in at least a generation, and had quite possibly bred with a pure wolf sometime since.

Second, that Gil - Gil Holzfäller, their friend and captain, and more importantly their Lady’s Chief Minion and - very good money said - future first husband (though not necessarily last, nor only)...Gil Holzfäller, orphan from Mechanicsburg, was also Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, son of Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, whom the late Bill Heterodyne had killed some 20 years ago upon returning to Europa to find his once-best friend trying to conquer it, presumably for their mutual ex.

(Second-and-a-halfth: This was why the wulfenhunds took very easily to Gil, and very easily against jägermonsters. Centuries of training by Mechanicsburg-adjacent, surviving nobility will do that to a breed.)

Third - and this was the kicker - that neither Gil nor Lady Agatha nor even Lord Bill (when he was alive), nor anyone outside the jägerkin, save perhaps old Carson (who knew everything and everybody)...none of them, per se, knew or had known the previous two facts. Well, the immediately previous fact and a half. Many Mechanicsburgers, and people of other areas, would recognize the distinctive long-jawed silhouette of a hunting Wulfenhund.

They hadn’t meant to keep the secret, really. It was just that nobody had noticed at first, mixed in as the boy was with all the other children on the airship, and then Lord Bill was so busy being mad with grief and guilt and a raging determination to burn every last trace Lady Lucrezia’s machinations off the face of the earth that they hadn’t wanted to bother him. And then Agatha started breaking through, miraculously young, and Gil was just half a step behind - loyal and helpful and sparking enough to keep up with her, which nobody else but her father could do! 

They should have said something then, but it was already getting awkwardly long to have been not saying anything, feeding the vicious circle of silence. And then, before anyone expected it, Lord Bill was dead, and Lady Agatha was in charge, and did it matter, really, who his father was, when it was Gil who pulled her out of the lab, ignoring traps and death rays and tears in equal measure, and got her to eat and sleep and look after herself as well as her people...and the prospect of telling them the truth just kept getting more awkward as more time passed, as over a dozen more years passed...

“Dey probably tink hyu schmells better dan uz!” Oggie said brightly, proving once again that not-quite-lying to superior officers is the ultimate skill of a soldier.

“Yah,” Elizaveta added sagely. “Lots uv monsters up here knows ve iz de REAL monsters. Hyu schmells all human and heasy-peasy prey.”

She smiled a jäger’s smile of teeth, reminding everyone where they fell in the food chain.

The puppy on the ground snarled back at her, fierce from beyond the protection of Gil’s ankle.

“Hoo, ve gots a fighter, dere!” Beto crowed. He picked the puppy up by its scruff, holding it at arm’s length as it yelped and swiped at him. “Yez hyu is! Hyu is going to claw mine eyes out if hyu ken, izn’t hyu!” He tickled its belly with one claw. “Who’s a cutie wulfenhund?”

Maxim, Dimas, Oggie, Mattias, and Katka glared at him. Elizaveta, Helios, and Georgi kept their faces still. Dante didn’t notice anything was wrong.

“’Wulfenhund’?” asked Gil.

“Ah...” Beto said quickly, “becawz dey iz a little bit volf und a little bit hund. Hound. Hyu see?” He flashed smug fangs. “I iz doink a vordplay.”

“I like it. ’Wulfenhunds.’” Gil rolled the word around on his tongue, and adjusted his grip so that the burrowing pup could hide more comfortably in the crook of elbow, without letting the climber fall off his shoulder. The fighter was still growling, and the bitey one attacking his jacket. Absentmindedly, he undid the zipper for it.

“Do you think Agatha would like some dogs?”

[hopeishappinessff]

Holding Onto Hope: Chapter 3

Chris

Propping my left elbow against the arm rest of the door, I yawned and ran a hand over my face. I’d had the longest day and I was truly tempted to pull the truck to the side of the road and allow sleep to cradle me like a baby. However, I’d rather not risk the threat of having a cop mistake me for some type of criminal just for sleeping publicly in my car, so I decided to just wait until I reached my destination.

I’d had a nice long discussion with my coach yesterday right after practice and though the decision had been made long ago and I knew I wouldn’t be sticking around to deal with Trent’s annoying ass any longer, I filled coach in on his obnoxious nightly habits anyway. It was nearly a full twenty-four hours ago that I’d spoken to coach and now… now I’ve finally arrived at my new dorm and I really couldn’t have been any more eager take my ass to sleep. With one final yawn, I shut off the truck and pushed the door open, stepping foot onto a definite territory that I was more than willing to get used to. As I’d been instructed by the letter I’d received back at Syracuse, I headed up to the dorm’s main entrance and made my way to the front desk that I spotted the moment I pulled one of the double glass doors open.

“Hi, welcome to Rooker Hall. My name is Shelly, is there anything I can do for you, uh…”

“Chris,” I said, smirking politely as the girl, Shelly, grinned at me… chick must really enjoy her job, “Christopher…”

“Brown, right?” She asked, beaming even brighter than she’d been only seconds ago, which I didn’t even believe to be possible. I nodded and raised a brow skeptically… I mean, how else was I supposed to react to this girl just blurting my last name out like she knew me personally?

“I’ve heard a lot about you… from the other players and the coaches who come through here sometimes.”

Nodding slowly, I gazed off to the side and wondered when exactly would she just give me directions to my room so I could take my ass there and get out of her weird presence. Shit got a bit awkward after a few seconds of her just standing there, smiling at me… with this peculiar twinkle in her eyes. Not to say I had anything against her obvious Anglo Saxon race, but um… the staring contest she was tryna engage in just wasn’t something I was interested in.

“Can I uh… can I get directions to my room? I asked.

“Oh, your roommate should actually be down to greet you momentarily. You can just have a seat right over there if you wanna wait for him.” She said, pointing over at the lounge area… that happened to be at the perfect angle from where she sat behind the front desk. I did not want to risk sitting there while she stared at me, creepily, so I let her know that she could just send ole dude out to my truck just outside the front door.

I sat out in my truck for only about five minutes before glancing up from my phone and spotting a slim guy about the same height as me heading in my direction. He threw a hand up at me and I decided then to go ahead and exit the truck so I could address the nigga.

“Chris, right?” He asked, stepping off the curb and stopping a few feet away from me.

“Yeah man. You my roommate?” He nodded and smiled then stuck a hand out for me to shake.

“Yep, I’m Benny. I’ve heard a lot about you man… we all have. You came from Syracuse right?”

I smirked and lowered my gaze to the ground, wondering how these people just seemed to magically know all about me “Yeah, I was out there for a three-month training camp.”

“Cool, cool… I guess that means we really will have the number one team in the nation this year… got dudes coming all the way from Syracuse to play for the Bulldogs.”

We both chuckled and I dapped him, shaking my head at his humor… I could already tell this nigga was about to be a hell of a lot better than Trent’s whack ass.

 Hope

Destani and I had only been at the school for about a week now and I guess it was safe to say I’d gained a greater level of comfort with the campus itself… it was just the people that crowded the campus that were becoming a huge hindrance for me. I’d found myself becoming greatly acquainted with the four walls of our dorm room. Everything on the outside of this space just seemed to be such a temptation for me and Lord knows I couldn’t afford to risk allowing my eyes to roam for even an instant. I’d even started to feel an ounce of regret for coming to the school in the first place… if I wasn’t mistaken, nearly every guy I’d laid eyes on thus far was way too easy on the eyes.

As for Destani and Taylor, they’d talked practically every day since the first day they met. He ended up making his way back to our room the same day we met after having her call him up to let him know that she was indeed holding up her half of their deal to tour the campus. I was more than relieved when he knocked on our door, in his lonesome… without Benny. Being anywhere close to that boy and his intensely captivating eyes was entirely too much of a temptation that I just couldn’t risk dealing with. Any guy who could leave a female speechless with only one look screamed trouble to me and for that I would definitely keep my distance from him… as much as humanly possible.

I hadn’t spoken to Chris in a few days and though I’d been worrying my head off, I decided not to do the most and blow his phone up like some type of stalker. I didn’t want to become that crazed and annoying girlfriend who had to know precisely where her boyfriend was at all times. I figured with the amount of time that Chris and I spent on the phone throughout the day, it was probably a good idea to give each other a bit of space. But if I didn’t hear from him some time soon, I knew I would be the first to crack and call him… he had no idea, but I’d become pretty dependent on hearing his voice at least once a day.

To make matters worse for me, Taylor had apparently told Destani about some type of gathering later tonight, specifically put together to welcome the new undergraduates to the campus and give us an opportunity to meet a few of our fellow freshman class. My initial response when asked if I wanted to go to the event was a distinct no… if I didn’t want to jeopardize exiting this room just to go outside for fresh air, what would make Destani think I would want to go to some party? She refused to hear it, of course, and before I had time to fully register her antics, I found myself slipping into a pair of ripped dark denim jeans, a white quarter length sleeve crop top, and a pair of black and white converse. I’d recently spent almost an entire day straightening my curly tresses, so I wore it in a middle part and bone straight with it falling down nearly to the top of my butt.

The amount of people crowded into the Tate Student Center was much more than I was willing to handle… there were bodies covering every inch of wall space in the building. From the parking lot to the front atrium, tons of people loitered the pavement, mingling and dancing to the bass of the music blasting through the speaks that lined not only the inside of the building, but the outside as well. I couldn’t help but feel a slight rush from the scene… it was all very new to me and as much as I grumbled just hours ago back in our room, I had to say I was quite content with my decision to come out tonight.

“Well, this is it Sy,” Destani said, snapping me from my thoughts and seizing my attention, “We have arrived at this nigga convention and I expect to walk outta here with two of these beautiful motherfuckers… both for me of course.” She tossed me a slutty little wink and I rolled my eyes and scoffed at her words. She was a complete fool if she actually thought we would be leaving this party tonight and going back to our dorm with some random guys she picked up. I walked alongside her, watching as she warily smoothed her freshly manicured hands down the front of her snug fitting t-shirt dress and rubbed her lips together, making sure her sugar maple lipgloss was evenly distributed over her lips.

“Dez, you’re fine.” I assured her, suddenly becoming all too annoyed with her over scrutiny of herself.

“Oh, this I know young grasshopper… this I know.” I shook my head and snickered at her… I could see that evidently if I was gonna stick with her throughout the entire party, I was gonna have the longest night. As we neared the building, I could see a beaming Taylor approaching us unexpectedly.

“Well look at you two… walking up in this bitch, stealing the show ‘n shit.” He licked his lips and reversed his stare from Destani’s legs, to my own then lastly up to my face “What’s good Sy’Diyah?”

I threw a tight-lipped smile his way and shook my head, mumbling a small “Nothing much” before turning my attention elsewhere.

“Yo, I’m glad ya’ll came through though. Ya’ll can dance, right?” He asked, rubbing his hands together and eyeing us both closely as we marched toward the front entrance.

Destani halted in her tracks, raising a questioning brow at him “Does it look like we can dance?”

Taylor chuckled, lifting his hands to yield to her question “Hey, I was just asking.”

“And I was just telling, boo.” She replied, whipping back around to continue her hip switching strut through one of the open doors. With one last roll of my eyes, I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped in behind her, followed by Taylor, who I could only hope kept his gaze from wandering.

 --

The wall became a safe haven for me and the small amount of floor space about three steps in front of me became center stage for Destani’s dancing body. She made it a point to hold eye contact with Taylor, who’d gone over to stand near who I guessed to be a few of his friends to wait for Benny’s arrival. I could see that he was smirking lustfully at her, nibbling into his bottom lip as he bobbed his head to the beat of the music. He tore his attention away from Destani for only about a second to look over at the open glass doors adjacent to us. I too turned my head to face the door, curious to know what’d abruptly caught his attention. My traveling orbs landed on a head of curly hair followed by a caramel colored face, a set of glimmering dark brown eyes, and a pair of plump smiling lips.

I told myself that I would never set eyes on this boy again, yet there I stood… gawking at him like a young groupie to a celebrity. I eyed him closely as he walked past clusters of people, smiling at some and stopping for mere seconds to dap a few. My visual excursion didn’t end there though… I noticed that the noise level increased almost immediately and if I heard correctly, the females surrounding Benny were primarily accountable for the commotion. Several of them squealed excitedly by his presence… or perhaps by the additional body that floated smoothly right behind him. I couldn’t get a clear view of the face, but his height, complexion, and entire swagger seemed oddly familiar to me.

“Damn, who is that? Stepping through here like the fucking president or something.” Destani exclaimed, stepping back to stand beside me. She gripped onto my wrist and rolled onto the tips of her toes, lifting her gaze as high as she could over the crowd to get a clear visual of the unknown figure walking with Benny.

“I can’t even see who the hell it is. All these bitches flocking to the nigga… can’t see shit!” She fussed as she let go of my wrist and flattened her red converse down on the floor. Because I had no clue who this person was and I apparently wasn’t going to be looking them in the face any time soon, I turned my head in the opposite direction, quickly losing interest in what every other girl in the room seemed to be freaking out over.

Minutes passed before several of the people, or females shall I say, returned to their normal routines of dancing. I scanned the crowd once, suddenly regretting even agreeing to waste my time and energy coming here. With a sigh, I turned to face Destani, parting my lips to tell her I’d made up my mind that I wanted to leave with or without her. I found myself looking at Taylor instead and I sighed once more, just as Benny made his appearance right behind him. I smiled cordially at him when I caught his gaze, acknowledging the fact that I had indeed noticed him standing there and I hoped that he wouldn’t make it a point to approach me… like he unfortunately was now.

“’Sup Sy’Diyah?” He asked, catching me off guard with his abrupt proximity.

“Oh, um… nothing.” I mumbled fretfully… his fragrance was more intoxicating than I anticipated and it was becoming entirely too difficult for me to focus on anything other than those hypnotizing brown eyes.

He smirked and glanced over at Destani, offering her a friendly salutation “What’s going on Destani?”

“Nothing much.” She furrowed her brows and twisted her lips to one side, staring off past Benny with a curious expression “Hey Benny, lemme ask you something.”

“What’s up?” He asked as he stepped closer to her to hear her over the blaring music.

“Who was that guy you walked in here with?” He grinned like a proud father as he quickly glanced back at the anonymous guy now standing a few feet away from us with his back turned in our direction, dapping up and greeting a few random guys “Oh, that’s my roommate. He just got in earlier this afternoon.”

He turned promptly to face his new roommate, yelling a few incoherent words to get his attention. I stared at the back of the roommate’s head as he turned to acknowledge Benny and nearly choked on my next breath, reaching desperately for Destani’s arm and gripping it tight because surely I had to be seeing a ghost…

 Chris

My stare settled on her rather than Benny, who stood there looking from her to me and back again. She looked… so… fucking… sexy just standing there, staring back at me with one hand gripping Destani’s arm and the other pressed against the wall behind her. I smirked at the expression on her face… it really looked like she’d just seen a ghost. The thought of my presence rendering her speechless had me feeling like I was on top of the world and I couldn’t help but feel even more thankful for the fact that I’d approached her with her back pressed against a wall rather than some nigga.

“Sy’Diyah, this is my roommate Chris. Chris, this is… a new friend of mine Sy’Diyah.” I cut my eyes at Benny and I had to stop myself from blurting out a ‘what the fuck’ after his weak ass introduction to my damn girlfriend. The whole ‘new friend of mine’ bullshit was what threw me off and I knew that would be means for a nice lil conversation with Hope later. But for now, my main goal was to snap her out of her daze and get my hands around her tiny little waist for the first time in months.

“Chris,” Quickly shifting my gaze to the right, I instantly caught the green-eyed gaze of a bewildered Destani, who I thought was gonna hit me by the look on her face “Nigga, what the fuck are you doing here?”

I smirked and licked my lips from habit, chuckling as I listened to her loud ass speaking clearly over the bass of the music “What it look like Dez? I drove all the damn way from Syracuse to come chill at this party.”

She raised a hand and swiftly stuck her middle finger up at me, rolling her eyes as she swung her head followed by a mass of curls to face some dark-skinned nigga standing beside her.

“Oh, ya’ll already know each other?” Benny asked, obviously oblivious to my relation to both Hope and Destani.

“Yeah man, she’s like one of my best friends since childhood,” I explained, pointing a finger over at Dez “And this… this is my girl.”

His head snapped back with surprise, but he quickly composed himself and smiled awkwardly “Oh… damn man. I ain’t know… I’m sorry.” “Nah,” I slipped into place at Hope’s side and curled one hand eagerly around her waist, “It’s cool man. You straight.”

He gave a quick nod and stepped back away from us before finally turning and straying off into the crowd, but not before staring at Hope for a few seconds too long.

I watched him closely as he walked off, wondering what his deal was because something was definitely off with the way he looked at her. Ignoring my thoughts, I lowered my gaze to the stunning beauty on my arm, only to find her already peering up at me with her mouth hanging open and her eyes unblinking. I smirked at her, leaning down to close the space between my face and hers by placing my lips beside her ear so I could finally speak to her.

“What’s wrong?” Standing back up at a slouched height, I eyed her as she finally pressed her lips together and blinked a few times. She still wasn’t speaking and though I was fully enjoying watching her stand there in all her radiating beauty, I was ready to hear that voice that’d been keeping me focused and sane for nearly four months.

“Why you acting so scared to speak love? I’m not gone bite.” I joked, discreetly running the tips of my fingers up along her exposed side. I could feel her body shudder beneath my touch and I smirked, loving the way she leaned closer to me to stable herself. She raised her gaze to meet mine, tilting her head completely to accommodate my height.

“I… I just… I’m…” She stuttered.

“Surprised?” I said, sensing how overwhelmed she was. She nodded and swallowed down her anxiety and lowered her stare down to my feet, slowly raised it to my face once more. It was clear she was still trying to accept the fact that I was indeed standing here and I wouldn’t rush her from that… hell, I’d be just as surprised if roles were reversed and she popped up on me at my school.

“Wha… what are you doing here?” She finally managed to mumble her first question after staring at me for what felt like forever. Biting down on my bottom lip with a smirk, I leaned in close to her ear and slid both hands around her waist to pull her closer to me.

“Syracuse was just a camp.” I could feel her gasp against the skin of my neck and I moved back a bit to catch her ‘I just saw a ghost… again’ expression.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked, clenching onto the front of my shirt as she balanced herself on the tips of her toes.

“I wanted to surprise you.” I leaned in closer and nuzzled my face in the crook of her neck, savoring her delectable scent.

In all actuality, UGA had been the very first school I’d been accepted to and I’d mapped out my plan long before she or anyone else knew. Though I only chose to attend Syracuse’s summer camp, I decided to tell Hope that I’d actually be enrolling in the school to really seal the deal of surprising her. During the graduation ceremony back in May, I’d even excluded The University of Georgia from the list of schools I’d been accepted to, so for that I knew she could never assume I’d be making my way right behind her to Georgia.

With my hands still tightly gripping her waist, I grinned and flicked my tongue out over my lips when I felt her hands sliding up my chest, stopping and linking together at the back of my neck. She pulled me as close to her as her chest would allow and buried her face in the crook of my neck, pressing her lips against my flesh before leaning up until her lips were near my ear.

“God, I missed you so much Chris.” She whispered. Moving my hands down to her lower back, I slid them back up and discreetly made sure to maneuver them beneath the material of her crop top. If my hands weren’t deceiving me, I’d say she’d gotten a hell of a lot thicker in just a matter of months. Easing my hands down a bit further, I didn’t even bother to bite back a groan as I buried my face in her tropical scented hair while I groped her ass… either I was just losing my mind from months of sex deprivation or she was seriously fucking thick.

“I missed you too baby.” I mumbled, turning and stepping back until I felt the solid wall against my back. The bass of the music vibrated through my chest and I kept my hands glued to her waist, rocking her hips subtly from side to side. She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and gazed up at me, catching the beat on her own and reached down to place her hands on the top of mine. She pried them off her waist and turned around, meshing her plump little ass against my crotch. My hands were planted on her waist again in seconds and I looked down at her, enjoying the view of her ass grinding side to side against me.

The entire moment was so surreal for me. I mean, there I was just leaning against the wall of a party in a school no one had a clue I would be attending, with the love of my life slow grinding against my growing erection to the tune of Jeremih’s 5 Senses. It didn’t even feel like I’d just driven all those miles from Syracuse. And just days ago, I was completely aggravated because I had to deal with a dumbass for a roommate and I’d been battling the strongest craving for what I quickly noted to be my new addiction… my face was buried in the crook of her neck and I reveled in the mouthwatering scent of whatever body spray or perfume she’d doused herself with. With a smirk, I twisted my tongue out and toyed with the ball in my mouth for a while, grunting and groaning incessantly as she pressed harder against me and ignored the few spectators we’d gained in a matter of minutes. 

I couldn’t resist the urge to latch my hands into her hair as I stared down at the new style I’d failed to notice. She’d taken the time to straighten those platinum and honey blonde tresses and the tips of her hair rested… right above the crack of her ass. When the fuck did it get that long? With a low hiss and eyes weary and glazed with lust, I ran a hand up the length of her hair and pulled it back, watching as her head fell back against my shoulder.

“Baby,” leaning forward to press my lips against the side of her jaw, I kept my grip firm on those tresses and eyed her as her eyes squinted and finally shut, “Where are the restrooms?”

 Hope

The feeling of him thrusting into me leisurely yet forcefully was almost too much to bear. The pain had since subsided and he was now on his way to replacing the ache of not feeling him in months with pure pleasure. I unsuccessfully bit back a squeal and attempted to ease back from him when I felt an unwelcome jolt against a spot that I’d nearly forgotten all about.

“Where you going baby?” He asked, gripping onto my thighs as he pulled me back to the edge of the countertop. He’d asked about the location of the restrooms in the middle of our slow dance and surprisingly, I was able to get us here quick enough to avoid him stripping me of my clothes in the middle of the dance floor. The choice was clear to him the moment we stepped around the corner leading to the hall with the restrooms in our lust infused frenzy… the ladies room would have to do for our rendezvous, seeing as it was the closet to us when we rounded that corner.

From where I sat propped against the extended countertop, I could see that these past few months had been good to him… better than I could have ever imagined. Before he left Virginia for Syracuse, he had an average physique for a high school basketball player… he was lean and muscular in all the necessary areas. But now, after months of waking up in the wee hours of the morning and running drills for hours every day… now he was burlier than I’d ever seen him. His arms projected from his shirt with a perspired sheen, accenting the ink embellishments and the muscles that seemed to have developed overnight. His abdomen was a replica of a washboard and I felt almost intimidated as I watched those muscles retract and constrict with every powerful thrust he delivered.

Biting down into my bottom lip, I tossed my head back and moaned as I brought my gaze up to meet his golden eyes. I couldn’t resist the urge to smirk as I adored the sight of his now deep butterscotch complexion and the luscious curls projecting with perfection from his head. His physical transformation had my body leaking like a broken faucet and coating his shaft as he continued to pummel in and out of me. He leaned down unexpectedly, trapping me between his body and the mirror behind me. His hands were flat against the glass, his forehead pressed against mine and his lower half was steady rocking back and forth, sending continuous bursts of undeniable pleasure through my womb.

“You been keeping this pussy tight and wet for me baby?” He huffed.

“Yeah.” I muttered, clenching my eyes shut.

“This shit is so fucking tight girl. You know how I like my pussy, don’t you?” Moaning out for him like a crazy person, I used the back of my neck and head to push myself forward to capture his lips with my own. Suckling his bottom lip into my mouth like a pacifier, I slithered the tip of my tongue over it, enjoying the sweet flavor of cherry lip balm. I could feel one of his hands toying at the tips of my hair and half a second later, he yanked my head back and eased his tongue, and the new little ball pierced through it, from the base of my neck up to my chin… all the while keeping himself balanced with one hand against the mirror.

With a sudden boost of confidence, I brought my hands up and pressed them flat against his chest, pushing him back away from me. He continued to thrust strategically, eyeing me with a teasing smirk as I moved up away from the mirrored wall and leaned close to him. My forehead was pressed against his and I arched my back, enjoying the friction his shirt created against my naked chest. I slid one hand up along the back of his neck and into the curls atop his head then used the other hand to brace myself on the countertop, gripping the edge of it so I wouldn’t slip thanks to the puddle beneath my thighs. With my legs now wrapped securely around his waist, I started up a slow grind on him and smiled once he caught onto my rhythm.

“Damn baby,” He grunted, glancing down past his incredibly toned and perfectly sculpted abdomen, “You see that shit? You making a mess girl.”

Dropping my gaze from his honey tainted eyes, I stared down past the connection his body made with mine and carefully watched as my excitement dripped all over the glossy counter, making a complete mess just as he’d said. I kept my hand glued to the top of his head, gently tugging at the curls there before sliding my hand down to the side of his face. My body shivered at the sensation of his fingertips gliding down the center of my back, stopping just above my butt. He pressed his lips against mine at that exact moment and slipped his tongue deep into my mouth, swiftly pressing both of his hands into my back. I gasped into his mouth, enduring the discomfort of his entire length filling me to the brim.

I didn’t know if it was because I hadn’t felt him in such a way in so long, but he felt much larger than what I was used to… the thing was literally like a child’s leg! Not like it wasn’t a healthy size before, but now… now it felt like he was simply ripping me apart. As I continued to focus on his enormity, he slid me completely off the counter and bounced me up and down offering me as many inches of himself that my body would allow.

“Oh God Chris… unnnnnnh!” I groaned, tossing my head back and leaning back to catch the edge of the counter before I slipped right out of his grasp. He gripped my waist loosely in his large hands as he dug in and out of me and I nearly lost all my senses the moment I felt him rotate his hips into figures eights.  

I’d gotten so wrapped up in the whirlwind of passion we’d created in the five-stall space, I failed to realize we were indeed selfishly holding up the restroom as though there was no one else who’d need to use it. Chris had locked the door as soon as we set foot in the space, blocking any unnecessary spectators from walking in on our personal porn scene. We’d been locked away in this bathroom for nearly half an hour and I hadn’t thought twice about listening to anyone or anything other than Chris, but now it wasn’t hard to tell that there was a line forming just outside the locked door. 

“Ba…by, the do… doooor.” I attempted to say as I rolled my head to one side and stared up at him. He kept his head low, focusing merely on the disappearing act his shaft performed.

“Fuck that,” He grunted huskily, glancing briefly into my eyes, “They can wait.”

My concern for anyone standing outside the door faded into thin air almost instantly and I found myself using the edge of the counter to balance myself as I met his thrusts halfway focusing on bringing us both to a much needed and well-deserved climax.

In the following minutes he gave me his all, thrusting into me with so much force and power I was sure my pelvic bone would snap at any second.

“Give me my nut girl,” He growled, leaning down and flattening both palms suddenly against the glossy counter, “Fuck this dick good and make it cum baby.”

Those words and that tone were all I needed to push me right over the edge… my head flew back, sending my hair flying about wildly and with a throaty moan, an intense series of convulsions washed over me and I instinctively pulled my legs back from his waist. He caught them before I could fully move away from him and plowed back into me mid-squirt.

I’d squirted all over his midsection, screaming and squealing like a mad woman because I didn’t know how else to convey just how wonderfully powerful this orgasm felt. Chris had already yanked me back to him and picked up his pace, completely ignoring my screams of insanity.

“Why you running? I ain’t tell you to go anywhere.” He fussed breathlessly.

“Chri… I can’t… bre…” My own breath was beginning to come out in short gusts and I just knew at any second I was sure to pass out.

“Make me cum and I’ll let you fucking breathe. Gimme that shit… what you holding it for?” He grunted, reaching down between my thighs to use his thumb to knead my clit. I reached up for my own hair and tugged at it desperately, nearly losing my mind and seeing stars as I reached my peak all over again… this time convulsing with so much strength that I pulled Chris into a whirlwind orgasm right along with me.

He cursed hysterically and with one final thrust, he gripped onto my hips and burrowed his fingertips into my skin, pulling his softening erection out and leaning down to press his lips against my perspired forehead “Fuck Hope, I really fucking missed your ass… and your pussy.”

With a huff and a giggle, I licked my parched lips and gripped onto his shoulders to pull myself into an upright position. The commotion outside the door grew to a level that neither of us could continue to ignore and I sighed and pushed Chris back from me, sliding down to my feet and leaning against him to keep my balance after my legs nearly gave out.

“Why the fuck can’t they wait a damn minute?” He fussed. I rested my head against his chest and peered up at him, giving him a warning glare to let him know he needed to calm down. He took heed to my firm stare and after a few minutes of helping me pull my clothes back on, he boldly headed for the door and unlocked it, pulling it open to reveal himself to the livid turned adoring eyes of the feisty females barricading the outside of the door.

[katelides]

One Shot 26

@rejection-isnt-failure

Promt Yes yes yes yes. I've read this so many times my friend. High school aus are amazing, especially when cheerleading and other sports are concerned!! Amazing!! Can you continue doing this type of au? ❤❤ Ooooh. Could we also maybe have a prequel, where Beca gets up the nerve to ask Chloe out?! Ie. Where Beca first sees Chloe and makes an idiot out of herself because she has a crush, but maybe Chloe has a bf on the basketball team, which is why she initially tries out before finding out she's really good at it... and Chloe finds herself charmed by Beca's attempts to talk to her... I dunno. You get my drift ;)

WHEN I READ THIS I OPENLY CRIED FOR AN HOUR!!! THIS IS THE CUTEST THING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS! I COULD NOT NOT WRITE THIS AS SOON AS I GOT THIS SOOOO HERE WE GO

find previous one shots on ff.net or AO3

One Shot 26:

Beca is nervously pacing in the locker-room. She had told the rest of the girls to go and warm up and that she would join them in a minute. She has been thinking of telling Chloe about her feelings for her but the fear of losing her forever kind of puts a hold on that. The redhead had been one of her best friends since they were little kids and her feelings had grown over the years and she always pushed them down. But she couldn’t do it anymore, she has to tell her.

The brunette is so deep in thought that she doesn’t hear the door open nor does she see Aubrey and Stacie walk in. “Beca? Are you alright?” Stacie’s voice sounds worried as she watches her tiny friend freeze in shock. “W-what are you doing here?” Aubrey rolls her eyes in annoyance. “We came looking for you when the team ran in but you weren’t with them. Chloe got worried.” At the mention of the redhead’s name Beca tenses. “What’s going on? Why are you being so weird?”

Beca mumbles something inaudible. “Ok, what did you just say? I didn’t get that.” The short brunette takes a deep breath before answering Aubrey’s question. “I like Chloe, like I like-like her.” Beca cringes at how weird and pathetic that just sounded. “Freaking finally!” Stacie shouts throwing her hands up. “What are you still doing here? Go and tell her.” Aubrey adds pointing at the door. “You really think I should?” The two girls roll their eyes. “I swear to god Mitchell, if you don’t go out there and tell her how you feel I’m going to kick your ass.”

“Relax Posen, I want to tell her but I also want to do something special?” The longer she talks the more insecure she gets. “What were you thinking about doing?” Stacie asks genuinely interested. “If I want this to work I’ll need help and I mean all the cheerleaders, I’ll talk to the team and maybe we can make it happen during the finals.” Aubrey nods. “Of course we’ll help you out with whatever you need.”

Beca puts up a nervous smile. “Relax Mitchell, she’ll say yes. Trust us.” Aubrey nods in affirmation before pushing the two brunette’s out of the locker-room. “Let’s go, we need to get to practice. And you need to train your team so we can claim another victory this year.”

The three girls walk into the gym. Aubrey and Stacie slam into Beca when she suddenly stops. “What the hell?” Stacie wants to shake the tiny captain but stops when she sees what Beca is looking at. They are watching Chloe getting hit on by Tom. He’s a senior and it was no secret that the older guy had a crush on their redheaded friend. And apparently he said something funny and Chloe is laughing out loud. The girls watch as the tall basketball player leans in and kisses Chloe on her cheek. The two cheerleaders watch as Beca tenses up right before their eyes. “Beca-“

“I’m fine… I’ll be alright.” Beca shakes her head. “Team huddle up!” Beca runs off towards her co-captain Jesse and ignores everything else around her. “Bree, please tell me that everything Chloe told you about Beca was real because if any of it was a joke I’m not sure… I’m not sure how this is going to end well.” Aubrey looks at her girlfriend, then at her best friend and then at Beca. “Chloe has always had feelings for Beca, and right now I’m going to talk some sense into our cheer captain.”

Stacie watches Aubrey walk over to Chloe. The tall brunette looks over to Beca and their eyes meet. Stacie waves her over. Beca hesitates for a brief moment but decides to join her best friend anyway. “Before you get mad or walk away please hear me out.” Beca rolls her eyes but waits for the speech she knows will come. “I have an idea, at the finals game during halftime we can plan something huge for you to ask Chloe out. She won’t be able to say no.”

“And what do you suppose we do huh? By the time we do it it’ll be too late.” Stacie groans. “Have some faith, we’ll get the teams together today after school and plan the perfect surprise.” Beca lets out a sigh. “Fine but how do we get Chloe away from the team?” Stacie smirks. “Leave that to me.” Just at that moment Jesse runs up to them. “Talking about a perfect opportunity… Hey Jesse, I need a favor.”

Stacie quickly explains the situation and Jesse and the co-captain grin at his tiny friend. “Sure, no problem, anything for my favorite girls.” Beca hits Jesse against his shoulder. “Alright lets go we have teams to train… Thank you for everything you guys.” The three high-five and Stacie quickly joins the rest of the girls. So all

Both basketball teams and the cheerleaders are sitting outside on the grass. Well, everyone except for Chloe, Jesse and Tom. “So if I get this straight you want us to get all of this ready by the finals in 2 weeks?” One of the cheerleaders asks incredulously. “If we all pitch in we can make it work.” Aubrey says. “Well, I guess it’s the least we can do for our amazing captains and friends.” A girl from the basketball teams says with a little whoop at the end.

Beca chuckles at the cheers following. “Hey what are you guys cheering about?” Chloe’s bubbly voice finds its way to the group. “Chloe… uhm-uhm-uhm…” Beca is starting to panicking and everyone is starting to notice so they try to help out by shouting anything that springs to mind.

“Nothing”

“You”

“Just talking”

“Love”

“Memories”

“The game”

Before it can get out of hand Aubrey shushes the group. “What they are trying to say is… we were talking about how amazing the final is going to be in two weeks.” Chloe raises her brow in confusion. “Uhm are you all ok? You’re acting weird.” Beca jumps up with a slightly forced laugh. “Whaaaat? Nooo,” Aubrey rolls her eyes at the high pitched brunette waving her arms around. “everything is fine, right guys?”

Chloe laughs at the brunette’s antics. “Relax, I believe you Becs.” Beca awkwardly scratches the back of her neck. “I don’t know about you guys but I need to study for a test so I’m going home.” One by one the others follow Stacie’s lead and slowly the only people left are Beca, Chloe, Jesse and Tom. “Hey Chlo do you want to go and study together?” Tom asks with an unusually large smirk. Beca’s face falls and she prepares for the hard sting that’s going to follow when Chloe accepts.

“Actually Beca and I always study for our tests together and I am having some trouble with math and she knows how to explain things to me.” Beca tries to stifle a laugh when she picks up Tom’s scowl. “I mean only if that’s ok with you?” Chloe turns around to face the brunette with a soft smile. “Of course, I would never let you down.”

Not in a million year Beca could ever say no to the adorableness that’s Chloe Beale. “Great, can we go get some take out on our way? My parents are out tonight and we have no food.” Beca quickly agrees and takes Chloe’s bag from her because she always does. All Chloe can do is smile and peck Beca on the cheek because arguing about it is a lost cause.

-,-,-,-,-

2 WEEKS LATER

The game is about to start and Beca is freaking out internally. She’s going over the plays with the rest of the team. “Alright, we’re going to rock this. BHS Bulldogs on 3… ONE-TWO-BULDOGS WHOE WHOE WHOE!” The team gets cheered on even more by their awesome cheer squad. That’s the last push the team needs before running out on the field.

The game has been really intense since the very beginning. The score is tight until the break when the opponents knock Beca down so they can steal the ball when the buzzer sounds. The team quickly makes their way towards their captain on the floor. “Are you ok?” One of the girls asks slightly panicked. “I’m fine but that was a dirty trick.” The brunette grunts when she gets up. “Hey I don’t want to be a spoilsport but if you want to get that surprise going you should get ready.”

“Oh shoot yeah you’re right.” Beca makes her way to the side line so she can give Aubrey and Stacie a sign. They get the clue and take Chloe down while Beca makes her way to the manager who is totally in on the plan. Music starts playing and the whole field gets extremely quiet. Chloe is just confused, she recognizes the song because it’s one of her favorites.

Her heart stops for a moment when she hears the sweet voice that can only belong to one person. The person she has been crushing on forever. The one person she couldn’t live without. “Beca?”

I wanna follow where she goes I think about her and she knows it I wanna let her take control 'Cause everytime that she gets close, yeah

She pulls me in enough to keep me guessing And maybe I should stop and start confessing Confessing, yeah

Beca makes herself fully visible so she can really see Chloe’s reaction to everything. The girls from the cheer squad make their way down and start dancing to the beat.

Oh, I've been shaking I love it when you go crazy You take all my inhibitions Baby, there's nothing holding me back You take me places that tear up my reputation Manipulate my decisions Baby, there's nothing holding me back There's nothing holding me back There's nothing holding me back

She says that she's never afraid Just picture everybody naked She really doesn't like to wait Not really into hesitation

Pulls me in enough to keep me guessing And maybe I should stop and start confessing Confessing, yeah

The boys from the other Barden University Basketball team run out and join is as best as they can.

Oh, I've been shaking I love it when you go crazy You take all my inhibitions Baby, there's nothing holding me back You take me places that tear up my reputation Manipulate my decisions Baby, there's nothing holding me back There's nothing holding me back

Beca is standing on the middle of a perfectly formed circle while Aubrey and Stacie lead Chloe toward her. The redhead is gently crying with a huge smile plastered on her face.

'Cause if we lost our minds and we took it way too far I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright If you were by my side and we stumbled in the dark I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright 'Cause if we lost our minds and we took it way too far But I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright If you were by my side and we stumbled in the dark I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright

Chloe has no idea when the girls had broken the circle – who would blame her, she’s mesmerized by the most amazing girl in the world – to come back with huge boards with the words ‘WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?’ being spelled out.

Oh, I've been shaking I love it when you go crazy You take all my inhibitions Baby, there's nothing holding me back You take me places that tear up my reputation Manipulate my decisions Baby, there's nothing holding me back There's nothing holding me back I feel so free when you're with me, baby Baby, there's nothing holding me back

The song ends and Beca sheepishly smiles at the redhead before her. She drops her arm that’s holding the microphone. “Sooooo,” Beca drags out awkwardly. “I guess the signs kind of speak for me but… Chloe Anne Beale will you go out on a date with me?”

Chloe stays extremely quiet and Beca starts panicking. The brunette takes a few steps back preparing herself to bolt if Chloe turns her down. Aubrey and Stacie see this happening so step up and stop her. “Chloe?” Aubrey questions her best friend. “Beca I-I would be honored…” the redhead runs forward and leaps into the brunette’s arms, wrapping her arms around her neck to pull her in for a long, tight hug. The field erupts in loud cheers and the girls break apart with huge smiles.

The announcer clears his throat hesitantly. “I’m really sorry folks, I hate to interrupt this wonderful moment but we have a game to play.” Beca looks up to the booth and waves at the guy to show him it’s ok. Chloe pecks Beca on the lips whispering “Go win this game.”

With a new found boost Beca pumps her fist up. “Let’s go team.” The teams all go to their initial places. The basketball girls on the field, the basketball boys sitting on the bleachers and the cheerleaders making their way to the side to cheer even louder for their team.

-,-,-,-,-

30 seconds left on the clock and the score is 99 – 98 and the BHS Bulldogs are losing by one point. Beca is open wide and gets passed the ball.

15 seconds left on the clock. The brunette still has to get to the other side of the field but it’s going to be a very tight stretch.  

8 seconds left on the clock. She decides to make a run for it but the opposing team does not make it easy for her.

3 seconds left, Beca’s far behind the three point line and the shot is risky and maybe too far away. Now or never… Beca takes the risk, and shoots.

2 seconds… the ball travels through the air.

1 seconds… the ball hits the ring.

The buzzer sounds the end of the game but no one makes a sound, no one even dares to take a breath. The ball goes around the ring once… twice… thr-

Beca’s world freezes and she doesn’t hear the loud cheers erupting from the crowd. She gets crushed by her team and the rest of the high school teams. They won only 2 points difference but they still won. The brunette gets lifted up by the boys. Chloe is beaming right up to her. Beca taps the boys on their shoulders to let her down which they quickly comply to.

The brunette gets tapped on her shoulder before she can reach Chloe. She turns around and is being offered the cup by the team captain of the opposing team. “Great game you guys are amazing opponents.”  She takes the cup and holds out her hand so the two captains can shake on it. “Not so bad yourself can’t wait to see what you have in store next year.” The two girls part with smiles and no hard feelings.

Beca finally gets to turn around to face the redhead she’s been waiting to hug. “Hey…” Chloe looks down at her shoes, looking extremely adorable. “Hey…” Beca chuckles. Stacie rolls her eyes and can’t take it. “Oh for crying out loud Beca, just  kiss her already.” Beca cups Chloe’s cheek to make her look up, straight into her eyes searching for a sign from the girl that she might not want to be kissed. But luckily her smile only grows wider. They both lean in to press their lips against the other’s.

It feels like thousands for butterflies just escaped their bodies and fireworks are being lit around them. They thought it something like this would only happen in movies but boy were they wrong. They don’t want to break apart but have too, seeing that they’re still surrounded by way too many people.

Life couldn’t get sweeter for our two high school basketball and cheerleading captains. And it would only get better.

I DO NOT OWN PITCH PERFECT!

FOLLOW ME ON TUMBLR FOR SNEEK PEAKS FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS –katelides

Let me know what you think, feedback is always fun to have :D

[enbysaurus-wrex]

All-American Boy chapter 10

http://archiveofourown.org/works/13196649/chapters/31138806

Chapter 10

Bet you're probably perfect for me

Bet you're made of gold

-Train, Wonder What You’re Doing For the Rest of Your LIfe

Dean:

On Valentine’s Day, Dean got up before seven in the morning to grab Cas breakfast before his boyfriend's eight AM class. When Dean's alarm went off, Cas groaned and rolled over but didn’t wake up. Dean figured he had somehow trained his brain to ignore all other alarms but his, and was grateful for the opportunity to slip away unseen. After taking a piss, he pulled on some sweatpants and a tee shirt and stepped into a pair of flip flops so he could at least be semi-presentable. He doubted they’d let him into the cafeteria in just his boxers anyway.

The hallway between the dorms and the cafeteria was cold. Dean could feel the chill seeping in through the window covered walls. The snow hadn’t melted yet, but it was okay because there wasn’t any new snow either. Operation Hamilton (Dean’s super romantic plan for the best evening ever with his boyfriend and love of his life) was still a go.

At the griddle, Dean asked for two short stacks of chocolate chip pancakes. He also grabbed a packet of hashbrowns to share - since two came in a pouch - and some syrup and ketchup in little to-go containers. He then got two large cappuccinos from one of those machines you found at gas stations, the kind with the sickly sweet coffee. He selected a red velvet cupcake flavor and a caramel macchiato. Hopefully, Cas would like at least one of them.

It ended up being more than his meal allotment and he had to use some of his Bulldog Cash but it was worth it. Cas deserved breakfast in bed for being the best boyfriend ever.

By the time he made his way back to their room, Cas was hitting snooze on his alarm. His adorable-as-fuck boyfriend squinted up at him as the light from the hallway pooled in. Quickly closing the door, he sat down at the edge of their bed.

“Morning sleepyhead,” Dean sang, plucking the phone off of Cas’s chest and opening his clock app. He cancelled the snooze and sat it down on the end table. “I got you breakfast!”

Cas looked down at the tray he’d smuggled out of the lunchroom that was currently resting in Dean’s lap. They weren’t supposed to leave with them, but people did it all the time. He’d return it later.

“What’s that?” Cas asked, pointing at one of the large coffees.

“That one’s caramel macchiato,” Dean said, remembering he punched the top of that one’s lid to say ‘decaf’ to tell them apart even though it was fully caffeinated. “And this one’s red velvet cupcake.”

Cas made a face at the flavor. “Sounds like something Gabe would drink,” he grunted as he sat up.

“Well, how about this, you can try them both and I’ll take whatever one you don’t want,” Dean offered.

Cas nodded and grabbed the red velvet one. He brought it to his nose and sniffed at the contents through the lid before taking a tentative sip. He shrugged at the flavor and took another swallow.

Just now noticing there was also food on the tray, he grabbed one of the stacks of pancakes Dean put on plates rather than to-go boxes and picked up a fork and knife. Dean handed him the syrup and his boyfriend poured the sticky contents over his fluffy cakes. Taking a bite, the freshman closed his eyes and made a noise of approval.

“There’s hashbrowns too,” Dean said, plucking one up and putting it on Cas's plate. “And ketchup.”

The other boy took one of the containers of ketchup and began dipping the fried potato patty into the red condiment.

Dean put his own hash brown on the his own pancake plate, and covered both shortstack and potato with syrup.

Cas made a face. “That’s disgusting,” he said, but took another bite of his own hash brown anyway.

“Nah,” Dean said with a shrug. “I pour syrup on everything.”

Cas snorted. “Yeah, okay Buddy the Elf.”

“Everything breakfast , Cas!” Dean corrected him with an affectionate eye roll. “Don’t think I’m gonna start putting that shit on spaghetti.”

Cas chuckled before digging into his pancakes again. “I still say we should try that,” he said around his mouthful.

Dean rolled his eyes again. “Only you would think it’s gross to, I don’t know, dip french fries in a milkshake and then suggest that idea.”

“Yeah, well, you think peanut butter and banana sandwiches are gross,” Cas said with a shrug. “And you actually like licorice.”

“One, peanut butter and banana is a disgusting slimey mess,” Dean said, giving Cas a mock-angry look. “And two, I like red licorice. Like twizzlers. Nobody likes black licorice.”

“Twizzlers taste like plastic.”

“If people hated them, they wouldn’t sell them at movie theaters, Cas!”

“Whatever,” Cas shrugged again, shoving the last bit of pancake into his mouth. “I have to get ready for class.”

He leaned forward to give Dean a kiss. The other boy’s lips tasted like chocolate.

“Hurry back,” Dean groaned, kissing the boy again.

Trying to be suave, Cas awkwardly winked at him before sliding off the bed and disappearing into the bathroom.

He was such a dork and Dean loved every second of it.

Dean went to his engineering class at ten but skipped his two afternoon classes. Instead, he waited for Cas to come back from his final class of the day. Lucky bastard’s last MWF class was at eleven and he usually napped until they met for lunch at one. The plan was to surprise him by already having the covers warmed up for him. Maybe they’d do more than just cuddle. Dean was ready. Not for sex sex but he wanted to explore the other man’s body. Cas was too sexy to resist.

When Cas unlocked their door, he dropped his bag as soon as he saw Dean sitting up in bed. He was under the covers, and naked from the waist up. Noticing his state of undress, Cas’s face morphed into a gummy smile.

“Hey!” he said as he closed the door. “You skipped class?”

Cas was smiling so Dean knew he wasn’t upset. He offered the freshman a small shrug and shifted so the covers slipped down, revealing his hip bones. When Cas noticed, his eyebrows rose to his hairline.

“Are you naked?” he asked and Dean chuckled.

“Yeah.”

“Oh,” Cas muttered, sitting on the edge of the bed. He began taking off his shoes. “I guess I should have figured, since it’s Valentine's Day and all, but I wasn’t sure since you wanted to wait.”

Dean frowned. “Do you want to wait?”

“Of course not!” Cas said, turning to look at him. “I mean… As long as you’re ready…”

Dean looked down at the covers, suddenly embarrassed. “I’m ready for some stuff but, uh, just not everything. Not yet.”

“Hey, look at me,” Cas said, as he gently touched Dean’s cheek. The sophomore looked up and was met with deep baby blues that he swore could see into his very soul. “I love you. I don’t care if we have sex today or next week or next year. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

Dean sniffed to avoid the tears that were forming. How could he be so in love with someone he’d only met a handful of months ago? It may seem crazy, but he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Cas. Not that he was planning to do anything about that just yet. But when he pictured his life five, ten, fifteen years from now, it was always Cas he imagined would be by his side through it all. And even though he didn’t like to think about it (what twenty-something does?), he wanted Cas even when they were old and grey.

“I love you too,” Dean said, leaning in to give him a kiss. He tasted like icy mint gum. Dean whispered into his lips, “More than you know.”

Cas moved so he was straddling Dean over the covers. “Is this okay?” he asked, looking shy.

In response, Dean pulled him closer and kissed him tenderly. The kiss began closed mouthed and chaste but soon became desperate as Dean began tugging on Cas’s hair and Cas ran his fingers down Dean’s spine. They drew each other closer, as if trying to morph into one another and Cas thrusted against Dean’s crotch. Even though all the layers it sent a shiver down his spine. Cas began kissing down his neck, his hand trailing down Dean’s chest towards his stomach.

“Cas…” Dean moaned when his boyfriend sucked a bruise into the soft flesh of his clavicle. It was all teeth and tongue, but it felt fantastic. Just the way Dean liked it.

Cas moved his hand lower until he was palming Dean’s hardened cock. “Is this okay?” he asked, his breath hot against Dean’s chest.

“Yeah,’ Dean gulped. He didn’t know why he was so nervous, it was just Cas. But then again, they hadn’t even been dating for a week yet. Which was crazy because he and Cas just fit . They had been hovering in a place between friends and lovers ever since that first weekend they hung out, and Dean was just too stupid to notice.

He didn’t have much time to think on that, however, because Cas’s hand slipped down beneath the covers as he took Dean in his palm. He began pumping his fist up and down while simultaneously sucking one of Dean’s hardened nipples into his mouth. He flicked his tongue around the pink bud and Dean gasped at the sensation. Cas then drug his thumb through the pre-cum forming at the tip of Dean’s penis and slicked up his shaft. The combination of attention to more than one region of Dean’s body soon became too much, especially when Cas drug his teeth over Dean’s sensitive nipple. Dean thrust his hips in time with Cas’s ministrations and he felt his balls tighten and his vision become blurry.

“Cas… gonna…” was all he got out before he was coming under the covers, shooting onto Cas’s fist and the sheets.

Cas unlatched himself from Dean’s pectoral and kissed him sweetly before going to the sink and washing his hands. He wet a washcloth and wiped Dean down with the warm rag. He then pulled the covers back and tossed them over the side of the bed. Yeah, they’d have to wash those. But it was so worth it.

Cas sat back down on the bed, and only then did Dean realize he was still fully clothed. Dean kneeled and moved towards him, putting his arms around his waist and drawing him closer.

“You’re a fucking angel, you know that right?” he said to his boyfriend.

Cas chuckled and kissed him again, putting his head on Dean’s forehead. He seemed to be breathing heavy in spite of his calm demeanor. He was probably trying to ignore the boner that was tenting his pants and currently pressing into Dean’s thigh.

Dean kissed his lips once before making his way down his jaw and neck, leaving a mark of his own. He began tugging on Cas’s shirt, feeling the smooth, toned skin underneath and Cas reached down to slip the garment over his head, revealing those hip bones Dean was so obsessed with. The sophomore sank lower as he began kissing down the other boy’s chest, mouthing at a freckle above his nipple. When he made his way to the glorious divet of his hips, he sucked a bruise into the tender flesh. Cas drew in a breath and threw his head back, quivering as he knelt.

Dean chuckled lightly at the reaction before he reached for his boyfriend’s jeans. He unbuttoned and unzipped the offending garment that separates him from what he knew was sure to be a beautiful sight. As he slipped Cas’s boxers down past his hips and ass, he was rewarded with a wonderfly flushed cock bobbing towards the other man’s stomach. Dean licked his lips before bending over and sucking the head into his mouth.

He waited there for a moment, just in case Cas decided to push him away, but his boyfriend dug his hands into Dean’s hair, prompting him to swallow the whole thing down in one solid movement. He hollowed out his cheeks and began bobbing up and down, saliva collecting at his chin. Cas groaned as Dean rose to swirl his tongue around his slit, and bucked his hips slightly, not enough to choke Dean, but just enough to make him feel the weight of Cas’s heavy cock near the back of his throat. He swallowed around it and Cas moaned again, tugging on Dean’s hair. Despite the tears forming at the corner of his eyes, Dean secretly begged for more. It was so deliciously toeing the line between pain and pleasure and that was something Dean had never tried before.

He tucked those thoughts away for another time and ran the flat of his tongue up the vain and lapped the salty pre-cum from the tip before sinking back down and swallowing down to the root.

“Dean… I-I…” Cas began to say when Dean repeated the action once more.

Dean swallowed around his cock again and soon his boyfriend was coming down the back of his throat. He lapped it all up, relishing in the bitter flavor that was uniquely Cas. When his dick began to soften and Cas tugged him away from his now-oversensitive member, Dean kissed up his stomach and chest before meeting his lips again.

They both collapsed on the bed and layed down so they were looking into each other’s eyes. Cas grinned at him and Dean grinned back, pulling his boyfriend - his angel, the love of his life - close against his chest. Soon, the two of them were snoring lightly.

As it turned out, Cas got his nap after all.

After giving Cas what was probably the best blow job of his life, if Dean did say so himself, they took a cab - not a bus - to a hibachi place in the city. Cas had mentioned never having been before, so Dean decided to get them reservations for four o’clock. Too early for dinner, but considering their show started at seven and they had to take another cab to get there, he thought it might be best if they ate early. Not only that, but hibachi was kinda a show in itself and the whole event took a hell of a long time. That, and it was Valentines Day so of course the place ran out of the prime reservation sports fairly early.

Either way, Cas didn’t complain a he sat beside Dean in the cab. Dean actually called Uber ahead of time to request a driver with a semi decent vehicle. Dean would have gotten him a limo, but he thought that might be a little much and too high school prom-ish. Instead, a guy in a black 2015 Chevy Impala had pulled up. At first, Dean cringed at the insult to his dad’s beloved car, but he quickly got over it as Cas held his hand in the back. He could tell his boyfriend was excited, and that made Dean happy. He really wanted their first holiday as a couple to be something to remember.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Dean put a finger up, singling Cas to wait a moment while he got out of the car and ran around to open Cas’s door.

Cas stepped out and smiled at Dean. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, as Dean reached down to take his hand.

Dean casually shrugged. “Wanted to. I’ve… Well I’ve never really had a real relationship before…” he said, trailing off and looking away.

Cas kissed his cheek. “I’m not complaining. I kinda like it,” the freshman said as he and Dean approached the doors of the restaurant. “I’ve never really been doted on before.”

That made Dean smile. “Well, you better get used to it,” he told Cas, opening the door for him.

They walked to the hostess and Dean gave her his name. After confirming they had a reservation, she directed them to a table where a few other couples were already seated. There was an older, graying couple, two ladies who looked like they were in their mid to late thirties, and a couple around their own age.

Cas gave Dean a skeptical look before taking a set. He leaned over to whisper in Dean’s ear, “I didn’t realize we’d be sharing a table…”

“That’s part of the fun. You’ll see,” Dean assured him.

After a waitress took their drink and food orders, a guy in his late twenties came up to the grill.

“Hey everybody! I’m Jackson, I’ll be your cook for the evening,” the man said as he began pulling supplies out from under the grill.

He spun the eggs as he sat them to the side and drew a picture with the oil before lighting the grill. The moon and stars he’d drawn lit up in flame, and Dean felt a rush of heat hit his face. Cas clapped and the other people at the table oohed and ahhed. Yeah, that part was always pretty cool. Dean looked at Cas, raising his eyebrows in a silent question. But Cas wasn’t looking at him. In fact, he didn’t even notice when his drink was sat down in front of him. He was too busy watching their cook balancing eggs on his spatula before tossing them up into the air and cracking them with the kitchen tool’s edge.

When their miso soup and ginger salads were set down in front of them, Cas pushed his spoon around, but never brought the broth to his mouth. He just continued to watch the show. Taking delite as the cook made the rice mounds into hearts and created an onion volcano with oil and a lighter. Their cook began tossing vegetables into people’s mouths, Cas got the giggles. Dean just couldn’t seem to catch the zucchini the guy was tossing his way. The cook, of course, skipped them when he began squirting sake down customer’s throats, which was okay because there was always next year. Even so, Cas watched the entire ordeal with his jaw hanging loose. Sure, all hibachi places pretty much had the same routine, one that Dean had seen at least a couple times in his life, but the first time was always special. Dean was kind of jealous of Cas for being able to go into this thing fresh, with no expectations. He still had fun, of course, but watching his boyfriend marvel at the display in front of him made it all worth it. The glee in Cas’s eyes was something to behold.

After dinner, they took another Uber to the theatre and took their seats up in the balcony after getting help from one of the ushers. Now, this was an experience Cas was familiar with, having seen Phantom of the Opera with Balthazar. Dean, unfortunately, had never been to the theatre. He really loved Rent though, secretly, and was dying to see Wicked when it came to town next season.

Cas didn’t even seem to mind that they didn’t have prime seats. He was just really happy to be seeing another Broadway show.

At intermission, Cas excused himself to use the restroom so Dean took the opportunity to text Sam.

Dean: You and Sarah enjoying yourselves ;)

Sam texted back almost instantly.

Sam: Actually, we broke up. I’m with Amelia now.

Sam: Her dog is the coolest!!!

Dean chuckled to himself. Of course the dog was a selling point for his little bro. The kid had always wanted one, but their father never let him.

Dean: Sounds like a catch (pun intended)

Sam sent him back the rolling eyes emoji followed by a second message.

Sam: Yeah… So you seeinging anyone? Just wondering.

Dean knew his baby brother was just curious as to what he was up to, but Sam had no idea Dean dated men. He never knew about Max and Dean hadn’t exactly told him about Cas. At least not yet. It wasn’t as if he thought his little brother would reject him or anything, you just never know. And Dean knew that John was kind of homophobic. If somehow the information that Dean was bi got back to John… Dean shuttered at the thought.

Dean: Nope. Single af.

Sam: :( sorry to hear that. I’m sure you’ll find somebody.

Dean frowned down at his phone as Cas came back and sat down beside him. His boyfriend kissed him on the cheek.

“I’m having a really great day, Dean. I want you to know that,” the other boy said with sincerity.

Dean smiled back at him, trying to calm the sick feeling in his stomach. He didn’t like lying about Cas. Not one bit.

To be continued...

[anchorsandadderall]

Love Me Tinder

Laura Hale Appreciation Week

Day 5 Theme: Lovable Laura

Also on AO3

Laura doesn’t ask how Erica got ahold of her phone. She stopped asking questions like that a long time ago. She just gives in to her own position of powerlessness in the universe (which is supposed to be peaceful, according to her yoga instructor) and sets the plastic tray on the table. 

“Laura, how are we supposed to have a Tinder Update meeting if you’ve deleted the Tinder app?” Erica asks, turning that unimpressed look on Laura. Ugh, now she knows how Isaac feels. That’s some powerful judgement in those smoky eyes.

“I used it for over a week,” Laura protests, sitting across from her and taking her phone back. “That counts.”

“Not when there’s also no new phone numbers and not a single dick pic.” Erica grabs her styrofoam cup. “And you got a muffin.”

“You like muffins.”

“You’re buttering me up with pastries.”

Laura groans and rubs her forehead. “You know, you’re supposed to respect your Alpha.”

“Sure.” Erica pries the top off of the muffin and pushes the stump away. “So. Let’s hear the tragic tale.”

~~

“Okay, so first there was Kevin. We matched pretty well and he sent me cute pictures of his dog, so we decided to get dinner. He came to pick me up-”

“You gave a guy your address?” 

Laura gives her a Look. “I could have snapped him in half.”

“Fine, carry on.”

“So Kevin came to pick me up on Thursday night…”

“Hi!” Laura says, probably with too much enthusiasm, when she opens the door. Kevin is as cute as his picture, with his surfer hair and his dimples. 

“Hi! You must be Laura.” The guy is smiling just as wide and also sounding way too excited. Oh thank god, someone else who’s bad at this. Laura knows basic dating. Classic, awkward as hell, ‘let me sell myself like this is a job interview’ dating. Familiar territory, this is good. 

“Yes. Yes, I am. And you must be Kevin.” Who else would he be? At least she’s still good at the awkward part of this. 

“That’s me. Glad you recognize me without Kiki posing with me.”

Laura laughs and grabs her keys from the hook by the door. “Not that I object to men showing up with bulldogs tucked under their arm, but-”

BANG

Laura startles when the walls shake a little from something upstairs. Kevin must have heard it too because he’s looking at the ceiling of the foyer with concern.

“Uh… everything okay?”

‘Yes. Everything is absolutely fine. We should definitely go, right now, while I can still assume everything is fine,’ should have come out of Laura’s mouth. 

“My brother is home,” is what Laura says instead. “I… should probably run upstairs and check on him, actually. Uh, come in.” She steps back and lets Kevin into the foyer. It seems rude to make him stand outside on the porch. 

Laura takes the steps up two at a time. When there a second, loud BANG, she takes them three at a time and sprints down the hall, shoving the door open. 

“What-”

Derek scowls at her from where he has Stiles shoved back against the wall with his arms pinned over his head in a way that makes his shirt lift just enough to show off a sliver of stomach. Laura doesn’t miss the last flicker of blue that dies out in Derek’s eyes.

“Seriously?” she asks, looking between the two of them.

“Weren’t you leaving on a date with some weird online guy?” Derek asks, not even pretending to be ashamed.

“He’s not a weird online guy. Lots of people meet online.” Laura puts her hands on her hips. “What have I told you about manhandling Stiles?”

“He likes it,” Derek says, shrugging and leaning in to nudge Stiles’ neck with his nose. 

“I don’t mind,” Stiles agrees. “But you should be nicer, dude. Meeting online is totally acceptable these days. What’s he like, Laura?”

Laura rubs her sinuses. “He’s patient enough to wait downstairs while you two slam each other around up here.”

Derek rolls his eyes. “Sounds like a keeper.”

Stiles hits his shoulder. “Sorry Laura. We didn’t mean to delay you. Uh… have fun on your date?”

Laura sighs and shuts the door just in time to hear something (probably Stiles) hit the wall again. Or maybe it was the desk this time. “Stop with the dominance displays, Derek! Jesus!” It takes her until halfway down the stairs when she suddenly smells Kevin again that she remembers she left him standing in full hearing range. 

“Oh my god, I’m really sorry you had to hear that,” she says as she makes it to the landing. “My brother is just… rowdy.”

“Oh, sure,” Kevin agrees way too quickly. And Laura can see him looking around the room and then back at the door. Well, that’s probably not good. “Look, uh… I’m not…” Kevin looks like he’s trying to pick his words carefully. Tactfully, even, which is kind of him. Damn, this was a nice one. “I’m not really a part of your scene. No judgement, okay? Just not my thing.”

“My… scene?”

“Yeah, S&M is just a little… heavy for me. Uh, it was super great to meet you, though. And I’ll tell Kiki you were awesome.” And then Kevin is backing out the door and making a beeline for his car so fast that Laura doesn’t think it’s worth yelling after him that she actually thinks chains are a total mood killer.

~~

“Well… at least he respectfully declined.”

“Erica.” Laura grabs the discarded stump of muffin and peels the wrapper down. She deserves chocolate chip goodness after all of this. “So then Jerome happened. We made it all the way to dinner, at least.”

Jerome is pretty okay. Their match wasn’t super strong, and he’s got a car with way too many crude bumper stickers. There’s at least four of them of Calvin peeing on other vehicle logos. This on the back of a Toyota Cressida, which doesn’t really seem like bragging territory but… Laura gets it. She loves her car too. She would never junk her up with stickers and let her get quite as dirty as Jerome’s car, but…

Judging, Laura. Stop it. It’s a car. And maybe he just has a more juvenile sense of humor. That’s not a deal breaker. And even if it was, they haven’t even gotten their entrees yet. And he’s had some good stories from when he was in the basic training for the army. 

“Shit, sorry,” Laura says when she has to fumble for her phone in her purse right as Jerome is getting to the good part where one of the snooty recruits in his group is probably about to get a lousy deployment order as comeuppance for being snooty.

(“You answered your phone on a date?”

“I told him I had siblings. I know dating protocols, stop looking at me like that.”)

It’s a number she doesn’t recognize, so she sends it to voicemail. “Probably a telemarketer. Okay, so you guys were all getting your orders?”

“Yeah,” Jerome nods. “So we’re all getting out deployment orders, right? And Johnson, he just knows he’s gonna get some sweet gig like Germany. Everyone wants to go to Germany.”

Laura’s phone buzzes to show she has a message before she’s even got it pack into her purse. She glances at it. Shit, what if someone got arrested or something?

“Uh.. I’m gonna need to check this. Sorry.”

“Sure,” Jerome sighs, pushing back from the table. “I’m gonna hit the men’s room.” 

“Thanks.” Laura immediately takes the voicemail.

“Good evening,” a pleasant, mechanical female voice says. “This is American Express. We need to verify your recent purchase for one hundred and twenty-one dollars and forty-four cents.”

Laura rubs the bridge of her nose as she hangs up and dials again.

“Yeah?” Cora says when she picks up.

“Cora. I thought you were just taking Lydia to dinner,” she says, forcing her voice to stay calm and steady. 

“Yeah, I just dropped her off. Why?”

“You spent over a hundred dollars in a restaurant?” Laura will not lose her temper in the middle of a dining room full of strangers. She will not. 

“Yeah. It was a nice place.”

“There are no restaurants that nice in Beacon Hills. What the hell did you two have?”

“Well, I had a steak.”

“Uh huh.”

“A big steak.”

“Cora.”

“And Lydia had a salad with chicken.” Laura can hear the eye roll in Cora’s voice that says ‘as always.’

“And dessert was… what? Gold?”

“No. Lydia didn’t want dessert. She’s on a no-sugar kick again.”

“Cora!” Laura forces an apologetic smile when Jerome chooses that moment to come back to the table. Great, he’s looking at her weird now.

“I just ordered a few salads to go, geeze!”

“What? Why?” Laura feels like there’s something she’s just not getting because Cora seems to think this is all pretty normal. 

“For Lydia.”

“Why did you need more salads for Lydia if you already ate?”

“Y’know. In case she got hungry later. Like, when no one is there to bring her food.”

Laura watches a drop of condensation slide down her glass and down onto the table cloth as she tries to fit these puzzle pieces into any other order, but she’s pretty sure she’s got it. Oh god… “Are you… are you trying to provide for Lydia?”

“What? No!” Cora scoffs, sounding as offended as possible.

“Oh my god, you are!” Laura isn’t sure if this is horrifying or hilarious. It might be both. “You’re a step away from dragging a deer carcass to her door!”

“Laura, no I’m not! Shut up, you don’t even know what you’re saying!”

“I’m saying you’re courting a human with a food display!” Cora abruptly hangs up the phone and leaves Laura very alone and very aware of the conversation she just had in a crowded dining room.

~~

“So… that probably didn’t go much further.”

Laura glares at Erica. “You think?” she mutters around a mouthful of her muffin. “It was a disaster.”

“Was that the worst one, at least?”

“I gave it one more shot,” Laura says darkly. “Because I just don’t fucking learn.”

Laura and Laird are not going to be a thing. For one, the alliteration in their names would make for an introduction where everyone laughs awkwardly at the end. After an amazingly bad nine days on Tinder, Laura doesn’t even give a fuck if that’s a stupid reason. Also, though, she’s pretty sure they don’t really like each other much. Or dislike each other much. There were only so many people in Beacon Hills on Tinder, though, and a vague match was good enough for one quick round of Netflix and chill, never to be spoken about again.

It takes two beers and a shared plate of onion rings at a sports bar for them to decide that they’re both fed up with dating apps and horny enough to settle on this for tonight. Laura excuses herself to the bathroom so she can call Derek and let him know she’ll be out tonight so he doesn’t show up at some ungodly hour thinking he has to murder someone.

“Hi Laura,” Cora says cheerfully. Well, that sets the alarm bells off instantly.

“Why are you answering Derek’s phone? And what’s wrong?” she asks, frowning.

“Uh… nah, I think it’s all fine. Derek can’t come to the phone right now.” Something shatters in the background, and then something heavy falls against something else. “How’s your date?”

“What the hell is going on there?”

“Derek and Scott are having a mild disagreement.”

Laura winces, hearing something wooden splinter. “It sounds like they’re trying to kill each other.”

“Well… yeah, but they’ll knock it off.”

Laura sighs. “What are they fighting about?”

“Derek said Scott touches Stiles too much and said he’s scenting him. Scott wouldn’t knock it off, so then Derek started scenting Isaac. Now they’re both pissed.”

“Great. I’m on my way. Tell them if either one of them are dead by the time I get home, I’m going to be pissed.”

~~

“So after I got home and separated them and figured out how much shit was broken, I deleted the app.” Laura shoves the last bite of the muffin into her mouth and chews moodily.

“Jesus,” Erica breathes, and she actually looks impressed. “I can’t even say you’ve up too easily. You have the worst dating luck ever.”

“I’m running two relationships pretty successfully right now.”

Erica barks out a laugh, like she wasn’t expect to. “Yeah, but you’re not actually in either of them.”

Laura sighs and brushes away the crumbs from the muffin demolition. “Yeah, well. What are big sisters for?”

[extraplanetarystory]

Part 2

Miles down the wide, pristine road from home stood a tall, cylindrical building, the Zega tower. It was no Burj Khalifa. Hell, it wasn't even close to the Chrysler Building. But it was pretty, shiny, and, at fifteen stories, was still the tallest building on the planet, standing like a guard overlooking the entrance to greater Zennae city on our side of the Aqyma.

Greater Zennae was a spread out expanse of neighborhoods and business buildings of various natures. "Lesser" Zennae was a bunch of space and travel ports, and the areas of land that begin when the river forks into three were full of some happy farms and agriculture (and space chickens). Several bridges stretched over the water, and every one of them came to the massive bridge that gatewayed the parks and roads that began just to the east of the Zega tower.

From what I'd been told, it was built specifically for Zega and whatever was going on now, despite the fact they're based on a planet called Mansion. It was lent out whenever Zega wasn't using it for the major holidays and local festivals. Zi'inra loved parties.

And this was certainly one. Certainly a zekdykar.

The parks and roads around the tower were endless walks and grassy areas with trees here and there. That was a footnote, though, as thousands of people were crowded the entire place like it was the most popular street fair on the planet. Which it probably was. It looked like hardly any of them were actually heading toward Zega.

It was downright chaotic. Toward the bank of the river, and on the sides of pretty much any walkway imaginable, were merchants who took their opportunities to set up stalls and take advantage of the influx of people, selling food and knickknacks and clothes and anything else. I saw floating space puffs.

There was music coming from different locations. One area was flutey. One was just drums. One area was massively twangy. And I swear one area had some combination of sitar, hang drum, and throat singing.

The merchant voices competed with the cacophony of the crowd as they called this way and that when they weren't busy with their potential customers. I could barely understand any of the Copan in their accents. I was used to clear, enunciated way of speaking Zi'inrans had, not... all the slurring and slang. I wondered how many of them were from this planet and how many of them were from elsewhere.

"What is that?" I yanked on Tawyn's arm and stopped walking. The sight of a qi'qop and a short cat-ape crouching together at the corner of a stall caught my attention. No, it wasn't a cat-ape, it was a person? It looked like a person, but it had a tail and long, pointed ears and hair all over its—her—its—their?—face. Was that another kind of alien? Where has it been?!

"What is what?" Tawyn looked around. I pointed but, you know, subtly. Just enough for him to figure it out. I didn't want either of them to notice me. They probably wouldn't, they were focused on a caged parrot the size of a bulldog. I just didn't want to risk it.

"I have not seen something like that before. You have not told me about something like that before."

He seemed to huff a little, lips pulling into a sideways frown. "She's just a kjanxe. They live on B'une." He started walking again. I stayed attached to his side.

"What is a kjanxe? Where is B'une?"

Somehow, the crowd seemed to be getting thicker. The closer to the tower we got, the more there were.

Tawyn held up his hand, palm toward me, fingers spread, and pointed at his thumb. "This is Zi'inra." He pointed to the tip of his little finger. "This is Dubleh." He pointed to his ring finger. "This is Bea system."

"Far." I needed to learn the planets and their locations, because thumb to pinky didn't tell me all that much. Just far. "And kanxe?"

"Kee-an-sha," he said, emphasizing the first syllable. "They're just humans that live—"

"She was a human? She did not look human!" I turned my head back around, trying to find the kjanxe through the crowd again.

"No, they're not. Do not ever call a kjanxe a human." He reached back and put both his hands on my shoulders so he could push me in front of him. I couldn't exactly place why—maybe it was the way he was pushing and directing—but it felt like he was suddenly leading me toward the tower itself, not just showing me the commotion.

"It's hard to explain, Jiaal," he said with some kind of finality. "It's a complicated conversation to have. I'll explain it to you when we have less to focus on. Just don't call them humans. They don't like it."

I was definitely going to hold him to that. "But why have I not heard about them before? I thought—"

We made it through the crowd. An old man stood before us with a grin and arms opened wide. He stood between us and the building, just ten feet from a double wide set of doors. The ever thickening crowd just stopped here, like an invisible line was holding them all back, save the few that were actually walking into the tower.

"Ah, Tay! I was beginning to think you had changed your mind! You're usually early!"

He was shorter than Tawyn, still taller than me, and mostly bald with an oddly typical ring of white hair leftover.

"Pilot! I had to drag this one along, remember?" Tawyn pat my shoulders. I could plainly hear a grin that matched the other man's in his voice. He stepped to the side and reached for his arm. They grabbed each other's wrists and held on.

"So," Pilot looked at me, grin fallen, with a raised eyebrow, "this is the, uh..."

What, rudkjurt? Yep, that's me!

"Yes." Tawyn let go of his wrist and gestured, as if I was a presentation. He was still smiling.

The man's smile fell even more, turned into a very serious expression of scrutiny as he looked me over. He looked like he was expecting me.

"Hello," I nodded, smiled as awkwardless as I could, and tried not to shrink under the stare. Did I reach for his wrist? Was I supposed to say something? Did Tawyn tell me something I should know in this moment and I forgot?

"Hah, hello!" Pilot grinned again and started speaking slower. "Tawyn has told me that you are smarter than you like to pretend. I look forward to seeing how you do during the event. Welcome to the academy, iuon Foxise! I'm sure you're worth the risk."

With that, he slapped my arm and half jogged away to catch up and talk to a group of people massive feathered mohawks walking into the tower.

"Ah," Tawyn chuckled. "Well, that's one way to tell you."

I stared at the doors in front of me with eyes almost as wide as them. "I am smarter than—" That was't the important question. "What is happening?" I felt like the weight was drifting from my body as it seemed my already unreal life just took an unreal turn. Welcome to what?

"I've signed you up for the selection. I got Pilot to let you in, since you have no other notable merits beyond being my child and Atlyana's child." What?!

"Tawyn, I do not know half the planets! I did not even know about kjanxe until two seconds ago!" My voice didn't want to come out. It was a shrill whisper as I fought to not slip out of Copan.

He stepped in front of me. "This isn't about knowledge. Information can be obtained and learned as needed. This isn't about what you know; this is—"

"It is always about what you know!" He sighed as I stopped him and I went on. "Everything is about what you know! The NASA requires at the very least a bachelor's in everything before you can do anything, not counting the ridiculous about of physical training! Starfleet requires, like, two tests before you can become a cadet and those are notoriously hard! It's always about what you know!"

Tawyn was nodding along, then he shook his head. "You know I didn't understand a single word of anything you just said, but I know they were bad arguments." Oh, I slipped out of Copan. "Stop fighting. I know you are capable of doing things if you just did them. You watch and you learn more than you let on. I can see it."

I bit my cheeks. "I still do not know where half the planets are."

"Because you haven't had the opportunity to really learn about them. They're easy information to come by when you want to."

Why was this happening? Why was he doing this? "Those words went against themselves."

"No, they didn't," he chuckled. "Zega selection is about how you deal with assignments, with each other, and with what you don't know."

A horn blared somewhere from above, making both of us look up. The unfocused noise of the sea of people quieted for a moment, then became a near unified roar of cheers as there was a sudden rush for those to enter the building.

"I do not know how to read!" I watched the humans all head through the doors with their confidence.

"Stop fighting. Do the ulyendad, and see how you feel afterward." He gave me a nudge, urging me to walk through the doors. "Just don't speak your language, and you'll be the first rudkjurt with a career in Zega."

Thanks, Tawyn. I doubted I would be the first rudkjurt in Zega, if I made it into Zega. There had to be others before me.

"Arlyxe, I will do today. And then we will talk." I straightened up and made myself look like I was ready. Tawyn smiled a toothy grin. He stepped away, moved into the still roaring crowd. The horn blared again.

Arlyxe was the one bit of slang I was actually comfortable using. Where someone would start a sentence with "okay," "alright," or "well" back home, they just said "arlyxe" here.

I pushed my way inside with a few stragglers. The doors closed behind us.

I could do this. I could totally do...today.

[roxanneiisms]

Title → Behind Closed Doors Character(s) → Max Goof & Roxanne French (ft. Rufus & Marlene French) Setting → Friday Evening, Late May 1996 General Background → Preparations for Prom at Spoonerville High was suppose to be peaceful until Spoonerville High’s auburn bombshell is exposed for by demons at home

Her delicate finger swirled one last time through the strand by her ear, giving it that last bounce of volume she needed before giving herself one last breeze of hairspray in order to get the job done. It was rare when she could look at herself with a genuine sense of satisfaction as bright brown eyes bounced off the reflection of the lit up vanity mirror. Daddy thought it would be nice to rent for the ambience of the occasion. “Nothing but the best for his Princess,” he says. Ember waves of her hair was actually tamed for the evening in a nice slick back low bun with two strands of loose wave curls in the front to frame her face. Her hair was darkened by the amount of mousse needed to hold down her tresses but once dried it would illuminate her bright orange greatness once again. Roxanne wasn’t used to the control she had over her hair. Most of the time it was just an ocean of crazy, yet she enjoyed it to some extent. It made her see herself in a different light. A new light, a mature light.

Roxanne never thought she’d make it to senior year, nevertheless the end of her senior year. Yet here she was…getting ready for prom. And what a year it was. Sure she had her fun with senior year activities, but it was also bombarded with AP English and multiple Student Council campaigns that she reluctantly signed up for. But it was for her Stacey, so she would go above and beyond for her quirky best friend who wanted her last year as President to go out with a bang. Not to mention, she was nearing one year with the love of her life.

Roxanne wouldn’t have made it from August to May if it weren’t for the Goof Boy himself shaking her back into reality. She never recognized she had a “do everything” mentality until one day Max sat her down and ripped up her calendar to show all the chaos she had to do that whole week. She would have had three meltdowns in a row if he didn’t convince her to slow down half way through. With that, Max made her last school year as glorious as it could be and beyond, every second making her fall in love with him more and more. Being able to walk into school as a couple after the summer of a lifetime made her confidence skyrocket to a brand new dimension. Finally with the guy who made it easy to be herself around and refused to let her fall into that false sense of phony she found herself going through school with in the past without realizing it. Not to mention days with PJ and Bobby always kept her laughing, two guys Roxanne never thought she’d hang out with. But there was she was, having the time of her life. That year Roxanne learned how to genuinely smile and laugh again. Something she lost over the first couple years of high school. Together they all rushed for the finish line that was high school!

…However then May came and everything ended up in a halt. There was nothing else to do but make it to finals and then – graduate. She was done. Roxanne’s face melted to a disgruntled frown at the thought of not being a high schooler anymore. As much as she wished it could be, not everything was perfect. Sometime in the end of March, college acceptance letters came out. One said Spoonerville State, the other Brookmere University. Two colleges a total of three hours away from each other. Roxanne completely forgot about the idea of distance seeing that she was with Max every day of her life that year. It seemed impossible for them to be separated. However, Roxanne dreamed of Brookmere’s event planning program her entire life while Max wanted to be the first freshmen team to win the X-Games at State. Two completely different dreams that couldn’t be accomplished unless they went their separate ways.

Roxanne tried her best not to think about it these past couple months, but the thought of graduation made the thought creep up even more now. Her love ran deep and when she can’t be there to show her waves of affection, she felt uneasy. It was a conversation she and Max needed to have sometime soon, but she feared that the resolution would result in a breakup. It was her biggest fear yet, but she wouldn’t tell him that in case he had the idea…

A sharp knock on her bedroom door snapped the canine out of her sullen state before she turned her head to the wooden frame.

“Yes?” She called out, her response was a soft growl from her father. A small smile crept onto her face as she stood up.

That was her father’s way to telling her to hurry up. She was sitting in her underwear with her makeup and hair done for twenty extra minutes while she was deep in thought. Roxanne had to pull herself together, IT WAS PROM NIGHT! It was so quick for her to forget that detail. Senior prom was something she had dreamt of as soon as she walked through the doors of Spoonerville High. But, of course, Stacey had to take that extra step to make her thought a reality with the added on experience of Roxanne somehow getting nominated for Prom Queen.

She knew it was all Stacey, even though her friend tried to assure her that it was all Spoonerville High’s power and Roxanne’s already known popularity around the school. Roxanne didn’t really care about the title and status, seeing that no one really cared after graduation was over. Not to mention, Max wasn’t even nominated for King so she really couldn’t care less anymore. Yet, Stacey decided to take her “campaign” into her own hands to encourage the student body to vote for her. But Roxanne was sure it was just so that Lisa wouldn’t get the win.

Roxanne chuckled to herself as she walked over to her dress. Her dress would give her a transformation of elegance and simplicity. An silk emerald train with a upper thigh slit paired with a laced off the shoulder top. Green really was her color no matter what shade it was. Yet the moment she put this dress on, she felt like a woman. Daddy wasn’t a huge fan; he said she looked too seductive. Not to mention the dress was well over $1000, close to $1500. So when it showed up in her room three days later, she couldn’t help but crumple into tears of joy. How she got her hands on this masterpiece, Roxanne didn’t know. She knew her family couldn’t afford it at all, yet her father went above and beyond to make sure she got what she desired. Something she’ll be forever grateful for her father for.

She took the dress off the hanger and proceeded to slip into the silky number. The cool interior of the material tickled at her legs. Her left knee poked out from her slit with ease as she pulled up the top part of her dress over her breasts. The lace and silk textures contrasted against the parts of her body. Her arms tried to reach behind and fix the zipper but she couldn’t reach. And she didn’t want to ruin it otherwise she would have had a meltdown for ten days straight. “Daddy?” She called, “I need an adult!”

The creaking of the stairway could be heard even from the back of the upper floor. The rumbling of his footsteps sent warm vibrations of comfort through her. It would never get old knowing her father’s steps coming towards her. There were always met with good intentions. The bedroom door creaked open and Roxanne looked to the side to see her father met with a stare of shock on his face. Roxanne was worried for a moment before she pointed to the back of her dress, “I need help.” Her father’s face softened, showing a rare smile before he waddled over zip up the dress. Once tightly fastened, Roxanne felt like an official Barbie Doll. She stepped forward and did a small twirl for her dad,

“Soooo…how do I look?”

The bulldog let out an assuring sigh, giving Roxanne another smile this one bigger than the other, “Outstanding.” His gruff tone made the room shake as Roxanne gave him a bright grin. Her father was a man of silence and allowed his body language and growls communicate for him. So for him to actually give her a solid answer made Roxanne’s heart flutter and tackle – or fail to – her father into a tight hug. No matter what, the two of them always made it through together. Even when her mother was present, Rufus and Roxanne managed to stick it out and here they were. Prom night. Together. Roxanne let out a small breath of relief, all of the stress she had going into the evening suddenly washed away in her father’s arms. Even though she was the woman of the house, she was still an only daughter in a single parent home. Her father tries as hard as he can to provide for her and raise her correctly and Roxanne was proud to show him that she was alive and well. He had did his job magnificently.

Their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door, which made Roxanne break from the hold with a loud gasp. Fuck, Max was here. “Ohhhhhhh my God, he’s here! He’s early! Why does he have to be early today of all days?!” A whirlwind of emerald and auburn rushed around the small bedroom, circling the grumpy bulldog. Roxanne ran back and forth trying to find her jewelry, clutch, and back to her shoes, not grabbing any of them due to the amount of panic coursing through her. The older canine had enough, slowly trudging over, picking Roxanne up from her shoulders, which made the girl pause. He walked her over to the end of her bed and plopped her down, her body bouncing from the creaky mattress. Rufus pointed towards her feet, “Shoes.” He said in a curt rumble.

Roxanne nodded, taking a deep breath and bent down to grab her shoes. “Daddy, please don’t try to scare him tonight. It’s special.” She pleaded with a sweet pout. Rufus only snorted and walked out of the room, having no intention on listening to what Roxanne had to say. Her father would never let up on Max for taking the heart and attention of his only daughter, which was exhausting. But that also let Roxanne know that Max was accepted, and that’s all that mattered. Before she could put on her shoes, Roxanne decided to grab her opal earrings and her silver collar. As she put the accessories on, Roxanne heard a feminine voice coming from outside the open door of her bedroom.

“Now where is she? I want to see my little girl off to her big night.” “You’re not suppose to be here…” “And why not? I have as much a right to see Roxanne as you do.” “She gon’ be upset…” “She’ll be fine for just a few moments. Roxanne, sweetie, come down here! Mama wants to see you!”

Roxanne rushed barefoot to the balcony of the stairs, to pierce down as the nightmare flashed before her eyes. Marlene Susanna Doan-French aka the worst thing that ever happened to Roxanne. That bob of auburn hair that mirrored her own locks, button nose twisted in a permanent pretentious expression, and that nasty smile that was disguised with good intentions but really meant there was going to be trouble. Roxanne’s growl roared under her throat as her hands tried to squeeze the life out of the lifeless barricade. Frustrated, Roxanne marched her way to the stairs. Her face molded into a face of scorn and resentment as she stared eye to eye with her mother. A literal spitting image of herself and it made her sick to her stomach.

However, she was going to play nice just this once. The faster she could play along and get her out, the faster she can get herself together so that she and Max could have the night of their lives with their friends. Her cordovan irises were darkened to an sleek ebony color as she eyed her mother. “What are you doing here?” Roxanne’s voice straight and to the point.

Marlene merely scuffed at the attitude, “Come on, Roxanne, there’s no need to have the claws out I come in peace. I just wanted to see my little girl off to prom,” She boldly took a step closer to Roxanne, which made the younger girl step back, flinching away from her. “You can quit with the dramatics.”

“It’s not dramatics, I specifically told you not to come here. It was suppose to be me and Daddy tonight.” Roxanne looked over to her father who had stood ground in the background, leaving room for Marlene and Roxanne to do whatever they were going to do unless he had to step in. Her vision reverted back to Marlene, “So I ask again, what are you doing here?”

“Well since I didn’t receive a ticket to your graduation, Roxanne, I thought it would be fair to come see you off to prom. I’m really trying to be a good mother but I can’t do it if you aren’t cooperating. Why don’t you try to be the bigger person for once?”

Roxanne laughed in her face at that one. The plastic mask she had on her face almost seemed convincing. And her speech? Hilarious! Being the bigger person? She’s 17! If her mother wanted her to be the bigger person, she would have proper intentions on being here with her. But Roxanne knew why she was here. It was to take away her spotlight, which was why she always came around. The thought of her father still flaunting over her and not her mother irked her soul no matter how much damage she did to the family. The moment Roxanne told her she wanted it to be her father and herself, Marlene was already gearing up to ruin it. She didn’t even care! That woman didn’t want to be a good mother; she couldn’t even spell the damn word.

“Right…right, there’s a reason why I didn’t give you a ticket to graduation. It’s because I knew you would try to pull something like this! I was going to wait until after tonight to give it to you but since you want to completely ignore what I ask you to do, you don’t get to see me graduate! I mean, it’s not like you really care about my diploma anyways. All you care about is trying to show everyone that our “family” is doing perfect in the public eye rather than showing everyone that you two aren’t together because YOU fucked up! Your reputation is on the line and you know it, that’s why you’re trying to be seen at all of my stuff! It’s not like you gave a shit back then, did you?!”

Roxanne knew she was throwing a temper tantrum but she couldn’t care less. All of her frustration needed to come out right then and there so she could attempt to enjoy herself. She just wanted her to go away but she wouldn’t L E A V E ! Roxanne was sure that after her blow up her mother would just storm off.

Her mother huffed in frustration, her plastic smile finally falling to show the expression that Roxanne knew. Distaste, jealousy, and resentful, everything that made up her mother was finally shown to the light. “I thought I would come and see you off to prom peacefully. You don’t want me at your graduation? Fine. I know what you told me but what you need to understand, young lady, that I am the mother and you are the child. And it’s about time you start acting like one instead of the entitled spoiled brat you’ve always been.”

That was the trigger pulled in record time. Roxanne stared emptily at the older woman, the sigh of exhaustion coming from behind her as her father geared up for another explosion.

Roxanne snorted, bouncing her eyebrows at Marlene and folded her arms across her chest with a facetious smirk. “I’m sorry for not acting like a child, mother. But somebody had to be the bigger woman after you decided to cheat and walk out on us! Safe to say I had to grow up just a little early because of your mistakes. Try not to be a whore next time and I will act like the child you want me to be.” A sharp gasp sucked in from the older woman, the impulse action sparked to lift her hand to Roxanne. Roxanne winced prematurely, ready for the strike to hit her face before a loud cascade shook the house.

“THAT’S ENOUGH.”

Roxanne opened her eyes to see her father standing in between herself and her mother, Marlene’s wrist held in his right hand to block her from hitting Roxanne. Black tears coursed down her face, the adrenaline causing her body to quake as she realized everything she just said and what would have happened if her father wasn’t in the room. Roxanne turned her head to the left to see a lone figure in the open doorway. Bright azure eyes staring on at the scene broadcasted in front of him.

Clad in a freshly rented tuxedo, jacket opened and relaxed, and accessorized with a silk emerald handkerchief. Never had the boy felt so crisp. The white and green corsage grip felt limp in his hand as he looked on his shock at his girlfriend’s family. Roxanne’s heart dropped seeing Max staring right at her. What all did he see? How much did he hear? What did he think of her now? He was probably disgusted, believed she was vile and impotent. The tears grew as her face flushed in embarrassment before storming off towards the back of the house to her back door, ready to run away from the world.

“Roxanne!”

She heard Max call out behind her but she only ran faster, one hand holding her clutch while the other held her dress up so she wouldn’t trip over herself. Through the back gate, she ran across the street, deep into the back forest of Spoonerville National Park. She ran to her safe place, her place where she could just let out all of her emotion so no one would see. It was adopted by her at she was 12 years old when her family mess started. Roxanne would spend the night in this area just to run away from her home life. It was one of the reasons why her father kept a tight leash on her now until she promised him that she would return home.

Roxanne was sure that she would have seen the last of this place. She didn’t have a reason to escape to here anymore until this point. Passing through the trees, she made it to the abandoned bandstand surrounded by vines with Star Jasmine fully bloomed from them. The pastel colors of the sun hiding to the horizon bounced off her hair as she ran up the stairs of the structure, immediately collapsing into a mush of emotions. Roxanne hadn’t let herself get this emotional in a long time. The ruined mascara turned into black pools around her eyes. The sobs of her embarrassment and frustration echoed off the structure and out into the abandoned woods, her cries expected to drown out before they reached the public eye. But they did reach someone.

“Roxanne?” A sweet voice rang from behind her, but the girl merely sunk further into the floor. Ashamed to show her face to her love after he witnessed her at her literal lowest. It made her realize that she had snapped when she shouldn’t and made a fool out of herself when she made so much progress with her anger and lethal tongue. “Please don’t hide from me…”

Creaks rang from the old construction as the Goof cautiously made his way closer to Roxanne. Max didn’t know what to do. Seeing Roxanne so broken was foreign knowing that she was the one who usually put the puzzle pieces back together. The scenes that played out made Max realize that he didn’t know Roxanne as well as he thought he did. There was so much about her that needed to learn and didn’t realize he hadn’t shared with her. Of course he knew that her parents were broken up, but that was it. Roxanne never opened up about her family outside of her father who Max had to know because he was constantly in the man’s house. But never mention of her mother, who Max assumed was the woman that he had never seen before in the doorway. However, the escalation of that conflict was the least of his worries as the aftermath left his girl leaving a trail of tears and currently sitting in shambles in the middle of nowhere ten minutes before their prom night.

“You weren’t suppose to see that…” A ghostly whisper whistled through sniffles. The auburn haired beauty swung her legs around to hug her knees to her chest and bury her face. Max’s eyes softened as he took one more step to get closer to her, pausing when her voice interrupted again. “No – just…go, okay?”

“I’m not going anywhere, Roxanne. I need to know that you’re oka— ”

“I’m NOT okay, Max!” It was the first time Roxanne ever snapped at Max, which startled both of them. Her eyes widened after realizing her voice raising again before she swallowed the lump in her throat. Max was hit with a wave of hurt at the sudden outburst of the girl, but he understood how tense she was. He watched as her head slowly turned around, dark eyes peaking over her shoulder as she stared at him in a need for help. “I…” She bit at her lip as more tears fell down her cheeks. Max wasn’t used to seeing Roxanne so – broken. She was the rock in their relationship but now she needed him more than anything. His chest jumped as he rushed over to her as her guard fell, taking the cue to take his seat beside her but knew not to touch her until she was ready.

Roxanne couldn’t say no to Max forever. After the events that took place, all she wanted was his affection. She kept a distance between them as he slowly took a seat next to her. She still hid her face from him. Her night was officially ruined which meant that he would be to and it was all her fault. Everything that ever went wrong in her life was all thanks to H E R. And she was sick of being the pawn in her game. It was like it was “her” life goal to ruin everything about her life. And now Max was drug into her family bullshit, which made Roxanne feel 10,000 times worse than she had before. Roxanne wasn’t ready to reveal to Max all of the shit her family went through. It was bound to ruin the perfect image he had of her, and her fear was for Max to think less of her because of the things she’s done and said to her mother. They sat in silence for about ten minutes just allowing for themselves to collect their thoughts on what to do next.

“I just hate her so much.” Roxanne finally spoke, her dead eyes now staring ahead. “She just…” Another lump was caught in her throat, which made her pause. She didn’t want to break down again. It was enough tears over that vile woman, especially now that she had some explaining to do.

“You don’t have to explain anything, Roxanne…” Max tried to stop her; he could just see how hard it was for her to talk. But the girl shook her head knowing that she had to say something. Throwing her clutch in her lap to the side, Roxanne relaxed her body. Reaching back, she completely destroyed the masterpiece she had for her hair as she released the bun. Her long locks exploding into the wavy mess as her hair fell into her face.

“No, you deserve answers to at least something. Everything was out of line and I didn’t expect it to happen in front of you. I’m more embarrassed than anything for you to see me that way.” Roxanne sighed, finally looking up at her lover. Her solemn eyes mirrored his own as he stayed silent to allow her to speak at her own pace. “I haven’t gotten that angry in so long. It was always a problem but I guess I have you to thank for that. I haven’t blown up at that woman for a whole year until she pulled this stunt.”

Roxanne wiped at her eyes, allowing the black product to stain her hands. Her face was completely ruined and her hair was unmolded from perfection. She knew she wasn’t going anywhere anymore. Not like she was in the mood to dance and be under spotlights anyways. “There are so many things that I could tell you, but you’d be so ashamed of me.” She looked straight ahead at the wooden stacks that constructed her safe place. The early summer breeze whistling around them as Roxanne tried to collect her thoughts.

“I don’t know why she’s always hated me. It’s like ever since I was born, it was her life’s duty to ruin me. She’s just a jealous woman and won’t acknowledge the mistakes she’s made. All she does is try to turn them back on me.” Roxanne felt a warm hand along her back, sighing as she realized at the touch of her love. Reaching behind, she grabbed his hand and brought it around to firmly hold it. Max took the next step to lace their fingers together. Roxanne’s heart fluttered feeling their energy mold together once again. She moved her body over to be closer to him, which gave her the strength to keep going. “My mother was never really a mother to me, which really hurts. We don’t have the best relationship; it’s not even a relationship at all. Our family broke up once she realized she wasn’t in the spotlight anymore and that her family didn’t live up to her expectations. My father loved that woman with every fiber of his being just for her to break his heart with her infidelity. After that, I knew I could never trust her ever again. I vowed to never treat anyone I care about like that. Just throwing them to the side once she was done, it was awful.”

Roxanne looked up at Max again, “She knew that I wasn’t willing to allow her to treat me any type of way like she does my father which led to us butting heads.” She resentfully smiled and shook her head again. “I’m not a violent person but when she’s around I feel like I have to literally fight for my life. It got so bad to the point where my dad wouldn’t let me go to her home ever again. That’s why my dad is always so protective of me; he refuses to let anyone hurt me. Yet, he continues to let her back into our lives. And then we fall into the cycle all over again. It makes me feel awful that you even seen her try to raise her hand to me…nobody deserves that even though I was being a smartass.”

Max was stuck in a loop of massaging the back of her hand with his gloved clad one but he fell into a trance as he processed all his love had to say. He would have never realized she was going through all of that from what he seen. Roxanne always had a calm demeanor to herself. Motherly and somewhat strict, but he didn’t think it was because she had to grow up quickly due to the lack of support from her mother. She always had that beautiful smile on her face and that adoring glow in her eyes. No one would suspect she was really going through hell as soon as he left her behind closed doors. How could he be so blind to it? It made him admire the strength she displayed everyday but every strong person has a breaking point. And he would be there for her in her time of recuperation. They took another few minutes to sit in silence as the new wave of information marinated between the two of them.

Max’s blue orbs flicker back to Roxanne, which made the girl glance back at him. Roxanne could usually read what was going through Max’s head. The two of them let their emotions lie on their sleeves but she was completely clueless on what he thought. And that worried her because she was sure he wouldn’t want anything to do with her and her drama anymore. But his question took her by surprise.

“How come you never told me about your mother?” Max asked innocently but was met with a bitter laugh.

“Because I could literally live happily with the thought of her not even being aliv—” Roxanne stopped realizing that her words were inappropriate. Her mouth went faster than her head, making her curse to herself. Wrong move, Roxanne. It was no secret that Max’s mother was not in his life for completely different reasons than Roxanne. While Roxanne had a choice to see her mother, Max didn’t due to unfortunate events. Max’s face dropped as he dropped her hand, looking away from her in initial shock. Roxanne felt her heart tear in two as he inched away from her a bit. Not so much but it was enough to show Roxanne that she had really pushed a strong button. “M-Max, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…I just, its complicated.” Both hands roughly raked through her hair again, “Fuck I’m so sorry.” Max’s initial reaction was that he couldn’t believe the selfishness that she displayed. The things he would give to have his mother around, however they came from two different lives.

“You know it doesn’t have to be this way, Roxanne.” His tone made her gulp and quickly switch her head away from him in shame.

Roxanne knew it didn’t have to be this way, but she wouldn’t give that woman the satisfaction of knowing she had officially won. Roxanne was tired of fighting with her mother, which is why she wanted to avoid her at all costs, but Max was right. She’d just never admit it. “I don’t have the strength right now to forgive someone who made my life a living hell before I could make it to 18. I know I should be grateful that I still have a chance to replenish whatever it is with my mother who is still here. But to be honest, I wouldn’t want anyone who treats their daughter like this in my life. And if that makes me an awful brat…”

“It doesn’t make you a brat, Roxanne.” Max interjected, “It makes you genuine to have hesitations like this. But you can’t going on letting your mother control you like this, which leaves you running away from your problems. I get it, parents suck. You already know what I go through with my dad, but you were the one who told me that they’re going to be the ones with us no matter what. And anything could happen with them by our side.” Roxanne slowly looked back to him. His blue eyes inviting and bright shone to her and made her heart flutter again. Stray tears coursed down her cheeks which Max reached forward to wipe them away. As his hand cupped at her face, she instantly raised her hand to cover his. Taking the time to really look at Max, Roxanne sat in admiration as she seen Max in a new light. Accepted for who she was and loved regardless, Roxanne knew she was lucky to have someone like Max in her life. He came at the right time too. If it were anyone else, Roxanne was certain she would have driven herself off the rails by now.

Roxanne licked her lips as her finger tips tickled at the top of his hand on her cheek, “I’m so sorry for what I said, Max. I didn’t mean it I was just…no excuse, it wasn’t right.” Max shrugged but she could see the desolation behind his eyes from her comment. Roxanne knew she had a smart mouth but she never wanted to use it against Max. It made her feel like scum of the earth. “I’m sorry for ruining this night. We’ve already missed half the night.”

“Eh, prom is overrated anyways. Who needs music and dancing with a bunch of our friends? Sitting in a dark forest in the middle of the night is much more worthy of my time.” He said with an amused smirk. Roxanne giggled softly, lightly pushing him. Seeing her smile brightened his evening with ease. All Max wanted was to see that smile with every waking moment. Her tears were something he couldn’t bare to see her have anymore, especially now that he knew the reason why. Max didn’t realize how much of an impact he had over her when she shared that he taught her how to be happy again. But now that he knew the reason why, he vowed to make sure to keep her smiling even more than he already had. It was too beautiful to have it fade away.

“What? You’re telling me sitting in the middle of the dark with a hot mess like myself is thrilling and worthwhile?” Roxanne raised her eyebrow to the Goof boy, her own smirk forming.

“As long as the hot mess is you, I’m down for anything.” Max said with a laugh, a small “hyuck” running through his chuckle. Roxanne giggled back, her cheeks heating up at his laughter. It was the only thing that could help her bounce back.

“I’m offended by that, Goof boy. Even though it was cute, hyuck.” She teased, leaning forward to touch her nose with his. That snip resulted in Max tackling her over, tickling at her sides that led to a wave of laughter coming from the girl. The two of them just reveled in their moment of freedom from all of their problems they ran into that day. All that mattered was their smiles and the fact that they were together again. Max’s nose nuzzled into the crook of her neck, getting tickled by the wave of orange flood that sprawled over the floor. “Okay, okay, I g i v e!” She squealed out which made Max slow down his tickle attack. Their giggles slowed down as they took the time to really look at each other. From the ground, Roxanne stared up at the boy she spent all year falling in love with. No matter what he did, Roxanne was forever grateful for him being in her life. His bright blue eyes were hypnotic; she could stare into the ocean orbs for days and never get tired of seeing them. His sheepish smile was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. While Max looked down at his dream girl in his arms. Literal dreams of this moment for years and here she was basking in his embrace. He would do anything to see that sweet smile and hear that giggle that made the birds sing. As he stared into her eyes, he just wanted to fall into those chocolate pools until the world ended.

Roxanne broke the trance as she closed her eyes with a deep breath. She slowly sat up which made Max move. Roxanne stood up, smoothing out her surprisingly unmaim ensemble.  She was sure she had ruined it during her escape from reality but it was still in tact. Wish she could say the same for her hair and face. But Max thought she was beautiful no matter what. As nice as it was to see Roxanne in her hair and makeup, he would much rather have the girl she fell in love with her bare eyes, uncovered mole, and wild hair. Her natural beauty is what was the most breathtaking. Roxanne took his hand and led him out of the bandstand, grabbing a blanket from a small chest to the side, taking him by surprise. “I’ve spent many nights here, I like to keep blankets here for warmth.”

“Where are we going?” He questioned, looking back at the structure as they dove deeper into the woods.

Roxanne looked back at Max and smiled, “We’re going to have a prom all of our own.” She didn’t say anything else until they came to an open field. The only thing that was there with them was a bed of grass with a lake where the moon homed its bright reflection and the stars glistened from above. The only sound around them was the sound of the small breeze and cicadas in the distance. She let go of his hand and laid the blanket down for them to sit on later on. Staring up at the sky, Roxanne let the moon reflect in her eyes. Her face glowing with the illumination of the moon’s light. She looked back at Max who was staring up at the sky as she was. Just seeing how peaceful the sky could be when they were alone. Most of their alone time was spent in a garden during the day, so having the evening alone was an urge of freedom.

Max looked back at Roxanne, bowing and holding his hand out in a request to dance. One eyebrow rose as he glanced up at the auburn bombshell before she courtesy back to him. Taking his glove-clad hand, Roxanne was immediately pulled close to Max making her blush deepen on her cheeks. Together they danced under the moonlight, skating to the rhythm of their own music.  The clique, Cinderella story they played out was enough to distract Roxanne from her previous troubles. It was almost like Max paid attention to the movies she constantly made him watch with her.

The Goof dipped her back in a somewhat romantic way yet it just led to the collapsing of the two. One loud yelp and one screech and the two were on the ground together. Another eruption of laughter rumbled between the two of them as they laid together under the stars. Max looked over to Roxanne, eyes glowing as he looks at his girlfriend. In impulse, he reached forward clasping the inside of her neck to bring her into for their first kiss of the evening. Roxanne could feel herself melt along side him. Everything just felt right when they laid side by side. The illumination of the moon was their only light to see each other. Nothing ever felt so pure and intimate in their lives together until this moment. For once, Max initiated the first move, bringing her under his embrace. Roxanne pulled at his jacket, knowing that it had to be a pain. Not to mention it was in the way of where she wanted to touch him. Their tongues rolled around each other in a slow, zealous interlock as Roxanne’s hands tickled up his untucked shirt. One hand snaked through her auburn tresses as the other slipped down her curvy waist. Small nips and licks added to the simplicity of their kisses. One leg peaked through the long slit of her dress, snaking through his legs to pull their hips closer, resulting in a mutual purr from the two of them.

One swift shift and now Roxanne was on top, straddling the boy with a magnetic pull to his hips. One hand grabbed his own, linking them together as one. The heat radiating from their palms touch was enough to send a contrasting chill down Roxanne’s spine. Then she stopped. Max looked up, puzzled as to why she would pause their makeout session. His lips parted ready to question if something was wrong but Roxanne only smiled. Max let out a small sigh as he stared lovingly at the love of his life.

“I love you, Max.” She whispered, leaning forward to nuzzle her nose against his own.

His smiled tenderly back at her, leaning up to lay a small kiss onto her own muzzle. “I love you too, Roxanne.”

A small crinkle of her nose and a giggle echoed throughout the night as they opened the next step into their relationship together under the moonlight. @little-goof

[kawasakidragonno]

The Escape

It's the late late night. But in a big city, there's no such thing as turn the lights out and going sleep.

Skyscrapers stands up from the ground. Signs and lights light up the sky. A big city locates right in the middle of a flat land. Lights can be seen from far far away.

Bars, Clubs fill the downtown. Noisy music and flashes leak into the street. The city never fall asleep. But noisy as it get, there's always a place acts different.

Two motorcycles pass through the silent street. Only faint club music can be heard from here. This is the business block. Being light up by few lamps. Blue tone covers the dead silent block. Motorcycles turned right, into the backstreet and pulled over. Killed their yellow bright light.

Stepping down, two raccoons pulled their helmet down. Reveal their head furs. One is green, while other is Blue.

“Zee, you sure about this?” The raccoon with green fur says. “Yep. This is gonna be way faster than searching scrap yard.” Another raccoon replies.

They're both wearing black long jacket, with green and blue strips on. Giving a futuristic look. Their belt and pocket full of gadgets. Still no one knows what those gonna do.

“Alright, let's see...” The green raccoon pulls up his phone. Scanning the building. “I think this is it. The Bulldog. They have the chips we want. Bee, you brought that Disruptor with you right?” The green raccoon turned to blue raccoon.

“you really sure?” The blue raccoon sounds worried. “Yep, I turned it down a bit this time. It should just cover the wifi. Not frying our bike again.”

The blue raccoon then gives a uncertain look. But still nods. Pulling out a small black box from his pocket. Then press the button. A green light lights up. No spark or smoke. “Got it.” he says.

“Okay. Cool, let's do this. You ready?” The green raccoon pulls out a stun gun. Gives a confident look to blue raccoon. “Yeah, let's do this.” The blue raccoon nods.

They kick open the metal door. Making sure the disruptor suppress the alarm. Then sneaking into the building.

Few moments later, An Iron door swings open. A teaser gun sneak in first, then two raccoons step in. They found themselves inside a server room. Racks of computer lays in front of them. The whole room were cold, and cold blue light didn't make it warmer.

“Whoo, So cold. You think their database's here?” The green raccoon asks. His body shivering but he's really excited. The blue raccoon looks around and reply. he's also shivering from coldness. “Yeah, I pin down the IP. It's from here. Let's find a terminal and grab a higher access...then get out of here before we're frozen.”

Wandering through the racks, They stopped. Found a rack with screen and keyboard. Then plug in a usb sticks. Texts instantly fly through the screen, bringing some white light into the room.

But then, the screen went black. Nothing shows up. The green raccoon got confused. He turns to other raccoon. “Is this how it supposed to be?” The blue raccoon giggles. “Nah, just a screen saver. We're in.”

Tapping the keyboard, screen shows a desktop. The blue raccoon then begins exploring inside the system. “Okay. Let's find that chip we're looking for. Hope it's not in those chip bags inside vending machine.”

With green raccoon curious watching. Blue raccoon feed Lines of codes into the server. Run through the files. And a map shows up.

“I got it!” “What? So fast?” The green raccoon snorts. He was just about to wandering around. “Really?” “Yeah, They already put everything together. Watch this.” The blue raccoon taps the key. An unlock sound went through from far end. A glass door swings open.

“That's the storage room, let's grab the chip and get the hell outta here.”

The sky begins to bright. No longer pitch black but now dark blue-ish. The faint club music disappears from the street. It's the silent before dawn. The street seems really empty now.

Back door swings open. Two raccoons sneak out of the building, with giggles. “Dude, can't believe it's that easy. We should do this again.” “Sure.” They jump on their bike. Ignition. Just as they ready to roll out, A super bright light blocked their way. Making their eyes sore. And then, a loud shouting toward them.

“Get off your bike, now!” It's a guard. Two guards standing with guns armed. They been waiting for the two raccoons to come out.

“Damn, they're quicker than I thought.” The blue raccoon turns to the green raccoon. They both are blocking the light with hand. shrug, the blue raccoon seems not not scared at all. “How do you say, Zee?”

The guards shout again. Sounds really angry. “I say get off the bike, now!”

“well, time to do that I guess” The blue raccoon winks at his brother. And press a red button on the bike.

Suddenly, spark burst out from the guard's car. An EMP shock wave fried the car's system. Distracting two guards and leaves a big open space. The twins went full throttle, made engine screaming. “see you later slow-hos!”

Two bike disappeared and leave two guards breathing smokes.

“Oh yeah~ that was awesome Zee!” Riding down the street, the blue raccoon cheers. “Welp, that works. Still can't believe that worked.” Laughing and dashing down the street. It's almost dawn.

Buildings disappear behind the mirror.

They're leaving the downtown.

Jumping through a broken fences, two raccoons riding along the canal. On the side, flashy glass skyscrapers replaced by older apartments.

A moment later, In suburbs. They came to an old shack in the forest. The twins parked their bikes outside.

“Hey, Saki. We're back.” The Blue raccoon taps on the door. The from-the-scarp wooden door swings open. A tail tip greeted the twins on the door.

Inside the shack, 15 foot long eastern dragon lays along the wall. With the tail wiggling. He seems happy to see the twins. “Hey. How was last night?” “Nice, got a big one~” The Blue raccoon playful strokes the tail and walk in. The dragon then stretches his body happily.

The old shack is not big. But enough for two raccoons and a dragon. Some planks were pinned on the wall. Has many tools on it. A desk on the side. Piles of electronics on top of it. Some welding and cutting tool. And Two laptops with advanced look on them, plus transparent screens. Not blending well with old shack to be honest.

“So, how was the war? Did they push back?” The Green raccoon steps in. Dropping the bag on the table. The dragon shook his head. “Nah, they didn't make it. It's on the news.” He points at the laptop. “They're pulling out. The front line is moving this way fast. That's all I know. It's so hard to gather all these with trash news in the way.”

The green raccoon walks up and sits on the bed. He let out a long sigh. “Damn, looks like we might need to move then. I'll miss this small cozy shack.” The blue raccoon pulls a chair out. Sitting down in front the desk. Tapping on the keyboard, seems worried. “I hope we can find another place like this...IF we have to. We're lucky to find a place away from city still having electricity running.”

“Does that means, we are moving out tomorrow?” The dragon crawl up to the bed, laying besides the green raccoon. Letting the raccoon strokes his mane.

“Sorry Kawasaki, I'm afraid we need to use worst plan..” The Blue raccoon taps the enter key. hands a laptop to the green raccoon. “Here, take a look at this.”

A map showing on the screen. The dragon raise his head to take closer look. Some place were marked up.

“I already thought this could happen. So I find a cargo train driving to Glass city. We need to move tonight if we want to catch it.” The blue raccoon explains. Tapping the keys. A line drawing on the railroad. All the way to another city. “Train will be going for like hours. Unless we want to but tickets and get caught. This is our only ride.”

The green raccoon shrugs. “Guess time to pack up then. I'm gonna miss here. But before packing up...” He yawns and stretches his arm. Lies beside the dragon. “Ah...I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up at noon. Thanks~”

The dragon and the blue raccoon looks at the green raccoon. Then giggles together. “Hey Saki', you might want to see this.” The blue raccoon put his metal hand on table. Unscrewing a plate. Revealing few expansion slot. Some were already taken.

He then open the box at the corner. A shiny golden cartridge inside. “Woah... So this is the chip you got from the company?” The dragon raise his head. Staring at the golden cartridge like it's a treasure.

“Yeah” the raccoon saw the dragon's reaction, giggles a bit. “Some guard tried to get their chips back. They didn't made it. Okay, I'm gonna put it in. Let's hope my arm won't fry it.” He carefully insert the card into the slot. Then Both dragon and raccoon staring at the cartridge. Waiting. And....A green light lights up. The card's in now.

Closing the plate. The blue raccoon let out a relief. “Jesus, I thought it's gonna blow on my face.”

“What does this chip do?” The dragon tilt his head. Taping the metal arm. “Well, watch this.” The blue raccoon point his metal arm at the computer. The screen instantly fade out and went black.

“Nice, it worked.” The blue raccoon cheers. Then open the plate again and do some adjustment.

“Remote control to computer?” The dragon went over and tap the key. Bring the computer back on. “It's Wireless Remote Access Tool chip. I load some common protocols and decryption file on my arm. Now I can do simple hacking really fast. I guess we can hack some digital door for now. But who knows we can do in the future.”

The blue raccoon explains. sounds excited. “This is going to help us a lot on the trip. Alright, after I'm done with this then we need to pack up.”

-

The Sun went across the sky. The night falls. The city lights up again as usual. Moon doesn't come out. Tonight's a dark night for ferret twins and dragon.

Leaving the bikes in the shack. Covered up.Bags with some of their equipment. Far away from the noisy downtown. They are outside a train yard. Peeking inside the fence. There's many train parking. But not much going on. This scene got the dragon confused. “Hmm...strange, I thought everyone should be escaping now. But I don't see many people”

Blue raccoon turned his head and response. “That's why we're here Saki'. Stations in the town are jacked. But this station don't accept passengers. Hey Zee, you brought that pliers with you right?”

The green raccoon nods. Pulling out a big pliers from backpack. “Yep Bee, give me a sec.”

“So...that means we're not welcome here either?” The dragon asks, he's still peeking inside the yard. While the green raccoon clips a big hole on the metal fence. “Yep, plus we didn't pay for the tickets. So better watch out now. They're gonna be super mad at us.”

They waited and pay attention to surroundings. But no alarm goes off nor someone shows up. Then they sneaks in. giggling and excited.

In the yard, after crossing few tracks. They stopped between two cargo trains. The green raccoon turn to his brother. “Okay, which train we're looking for, Bee?“ The blue raccoon response, tapping his phone. “Looks like...Our train is on track 6. A long cargo train with white paint carriage. “

“Hey Saki' can you give me a hand? See if you can find it.”

The dragon nods. He leans his long body on the train and peeks out. Hope he won't draw attention. “Careful, don't want those people come find us.” the green raccoon says. The twins both are now watching the dragon peeking.

The train yard's really big. And the almost filled tracks aren't helping. He look around. Colorful carriage all over the place. But he don't see a white carriage at all.

“Come on....where is it? I don't want to get caught like this...... Ah screw it. I can't see stuff like this.“

The dragon raise his head higher. That scared the twins. But a pure white train catches the dragon's eyes. It was blocked by a taller train.

“Found it. 5 trains to that way. We need to cross these trains.” The dragon went down. Point at a direction and tell the twins. The green raccoon laughs.“Dude. you got some balls to stick your head out like that.” “I can't see stuff with that 'attitude' you know.” the dragon shrugs.

They then went to the gap between the carriages. Cross over and peek out. Everything remain silent. And  quietly cross another track. Three of them finally made it to the white train.

“There it is. Come on, get in.”The green raccoon pulls open the carriage door.  They climb inside the empty carriage. Let out a relief sigh. “Thank god no one find us. I think the guards are sleeping tonight.”

Suddenly, an echo of far steps approaches. “Shh! you hear that?” The blue raccoon lowers his voice. The twins ear both tens up and the dragon froze in place. “What's that?”green raccoon  whispers. They're listening. Silently.

Blur talking sound. Metal clinching. Carriage door slide open and close. That sounds like...

''Damn it. Just when I think they're lazy.” The green raccoon's tail tense up. Walks over and try to lock the door. “Wait, don't lock the door.” The dragon shouts in lowered voice. That confused Blue raccoon. “What? Why?” the raccoon's just pulling out a big teaser from his bag. “just wait.  You'll see”

Footstep gets louder. There's several guards approaching. The carriage door behind them slide open. Making a big noise. “Got anything?” “Nope.” Two man talks. The door slide close again. “So many people in the city. Hope they won't go this far to take a train. Or we will have form to fill. Damn I hate that.”

“I have an idea. Get your pack up and come here.”Inside the carriage. The dragon whispers. “We're playing advanced hide and seek.”

The footsteps come close. “Eeeep!” The metal door slide open. A bright light shoot inside the carriage the three is in.

“Yooo...look at this one” the gray uniform guard told another guard in blue suit. They both staring into the carriage now.

“So flashy and tidy. I bet this car's arrived here not long ago.” He let out a whistle at empty carriage. The raccoon twins and the dragon seems vanished.  The guards didn't see them. They then Lean  back a bit to see the shiny surface on the carriage. It's quite cleaner compare to other carriage in the same train.“Well. Come on Francis. we still got tons of cars to check.” The blue suit guard shrugs, shut the door close. And walk away with the other guard.

The food step went faint. And the talking  faded out.

“Whoo...that was close.“ The dragon was sticking on the ceceiling all the time. Lucky the guard did not look up or enter the carriage. Two raccoons also riding on dragon's back.

He then floats down from the ceiling. They get down on the floor. The green raccoon open the metal door for a peek. “Welp, They're gone. That scared the hell out of me.”

“Thanks, Saki. That was nice one. They didn't even know we're here.” The blue raccoon stroke the dragon's head. “Welp, free ride to glass city. What else can I ask for.”

They drop down the bags then lies down and relax. Prepare for a long ride.

After a while. The train horns the loud horn and start moving. “How long is this ride by the way?” The dragon asks. “8 hours I think. It's quite far from here.”

The train pick up the speed and leaves the train yard. Road lamps pass by. The metal's clinching. Crossing signal passed by. And now there's only the train's noise's left. They're really moving now.

Leaving the city behind. They went into the forest. On the way for another city. And another unknown adventure.

This is a small story I wrote not long ago. Kind of like a small experiments.

Featuring Zippers (The green raccoon. AKA Zee) and Buttons (The blue raccoon. AKA Bee) from @banzai-jinto

Thanks Banzai ^w^ hope you like it.

[auburnfamilynews]

If you like TWER, please consider supporting my work via Patreon. Thanks! You can listen to this article here.

There were a couple of madmen trying to take over the world, so, obviously, the handwriting was on the wall. But no one wanted to read it. And they definitely didn’t want to believe it, not after a season like 1942. 

Sure, with a 6-4-1 record, there had been a few hiccups — all on the road, all in the rain, let it be known. But get’em on a dry field and, Lord, were the Auburn Tigers ever better than that final No. 16 ranking! Those final three games? The blowout vs. Clemson in the only game at home? The upset over LSU? But most especially, forever and always, that upset win over No. 1 Georgia? We’re not talking some last-second miracle. It wasn’t a Hail Mary. It wasn’t some fluke field goal. No, it was a beating — a beating you were going to tell your grandkids about, the biggest upset of a generation, a coach’s film no one would ever lose. 

Georgia pretty much had the Rose Bowl locked up, the conference championship locked up, the national championship locked up if they won out — and maybe even if they didn’t — and they owed it all to their soon-to-be Heisman-winning halfback, Frankie Sinkwich, the best football player in the world… 

… not named Monk Gafford. 

All hail Mighty Monk! Let the national press be late to the party! Let some poor fool in Philadelphia who’d never seen him put him as a second-teamer, let some poor fool in Los Angeles who’d never heard of him leave him off his list completely! The Fort Deposit Express didn’t care about kudos in the papers. He cared about “hallelujahs” in the stands. 

During his All-American senior season, you could see pure joy on the faces of all the peanut-poppin’ Auburn old-timers as he made another cut toward a thousand-yard season. George Petrie had been there that November day in Columbus, the golden anniversary game. He’d felt reborn watching that kid. Monk Gafford was Dutch Dorsey and Moon Ducote and Jimmy Hitchcock rolled into one — a god. 149 yards on 20 carries. 

Sinkwich? Six yards on 23 carries. 

Georgia coach Wally Butts had done the whole “Auburn had a better team today” routine. Screw that, said Jack Meagher — Auburn had the better team, period… the best team he’d ever coached with the best man he’d ever coached. Meagher hadn’t even voted in the SEC coach’s MVP poll that year, and Gafford still beat out Sinkwich by one vote. It was the same margin in the SEC referee poll. 

Translation: The men who saw both boys in action, who knew the game better than anyone, thought Monk Gafford was better than the guy who was supposed to be the best player in the country. So, with all due respect to Butts, and to the Ohio Buckeyes, who were also claiming the crown, soft-spoken Jack Meagher had no problem with shouting it from the rooftops: for the month of November, he’d been in charge of the best damn football squad in America. Gafford and the gang had embarrassed the No. 1 teams in the nation, 27-13, right at the end of the season, right before the Bulldogs blanked No. 2 Georgia Tech 34-0 and shut out No. 13 UCLA in the Rose Bowl. 

Georgia had a great team. Auburn blew them out of the water. 

***

The 200 reservations were snapped up faster than ever. And it wasn’t for the steak. It was to “War Eagle” till midnight in the ballroom of the Jefferson Davis Hotel with the men who had smacked Georgia all over the field and embarrassed the little Yankee Heisman Trophy winner with the damn gall to tell New York City reporters that, no, the Tigers that beat them by two touchdowns weren’t nearly as tough as the Crimson Tide team that the Bulldogs beat by 11. The Atlanta Alumni Club had already done it up big for the boys, and there had just been a big congratulatory banquet down in Auburn a week or so back. Now it was the Montgomery Alumni Club’s turn. Word was that Meagher was bringing the reels with him, same as he’d done at other dinners and meetings and banquets over the past month — that he was going to narrate the whole game! They’d be clinking glasses to every Gafford gallup, every sack of Sinkwich. 

Ol’ George Penton, the granddaddy of the old Montgomery Auburn men, one of Heisman’s boys, was going to surprise the Little General with an inscribed wristwatch…  “Jack Meagher, Our All-America Coach — Montgomery Auburn Alumni.” Everyone would cheer and then Genial Jack would hit the podium and hold up some “Gafford Sinks Sinkwich” headlines and introduce Monk, and then Monk would probably say something about how the Memorial Stadium goal post was still up at Toomer’s Corner. Then they would dim the lights and flip the switch and Whispering Jack would stand at the mic with his low tenor voice and relive it right there in front of them. 

And, of course, after all that, Meagher would probably point out new captain elect Jimmy Pharr, who would probably stand up and say something great, and then Meagher would finally get around to talking about the upcoming season and about how, sure, it might get interesting because of the war, and that they might be down a few practice balls because of the leather rationing, but that plenty of the current boys probably wouldn’t be called up for a couple of semesters, and that even if they were, there’d probably be some decent new material coming in through the Army Specialized Training Program.

He’d already said as much to the Birmingham News a few days earlier when he was in the Magic City on some business. No, he’d said, despite all the Chicken Litttles, he just didn’t see the Army or the Navy saying no to the benefits of football. Want the men to have two hours of physical activity each day? Couldn’t find a better gymnasium than the gridiron. Again, it would be interesting, absolutely, but not to worry ol’ Jack would surely say — they would find a way to do America proud and still beat the hell out of Georgia again. That’s what was supposed to happen that Wednesday night. It was going to be great. 

***

Dr. Duncan stood up. He called for everyone’s attention. The room got quiet. Duncan wasn’t smiling. After a few seconds, neither was anyone else. Everyone loved Dr. Duncan and all, but they weren’t there for the college president. Was he supposed to introduce Coach Meagher or something? Wait, where was Coach Meagher? 

Coach Meagher, Duncan said, wasn’t there. He wouldn’t be coming. 

Lt. Commander Meagher, Duncan said, was on his way to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Right then. At that very moment. Uncle Sam had called that morning. Meagher had said yes. He was reporting for active duty. For the past 12 hours, Auburn hadn’t had a football coach.  

Damn. 

After a few seconds, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hartwell Davis, Class of ‘28, broke the silence. They were Auburn men, he reminded the room, they were Auburn women. He motioned that the club immediately wire Meagher a message: “Good luck in the big game.”  

***

For the past year or so, Meagher hadn’t exactly been shy about wanting to return to the service. He’d been telling people he’d wanted to come off the bench since Dec. 7, 1941. Great football coach, greater patriot. He’d withdrawn from Notre Dame to enlist in the Marines in 1917, finished the Great War as a captain, and still had connections with top Navy brass, including former Navy head coach Tom Hamilton, executive officer of the USS Enterprise.

Few knew, but as a favor to Hamilton, Meagher had actually taken charge of scheduling the 1942 season for Navy service elevens. Now Hamilton wanted him in charge of the Navy’s physical training division. Made sense. If you can whip boys into shape for football, you can get’em fit enough for a Flying Fortress. So, no, it wasn’t exactly a surprise, but damn, it was still a shock. People looked at each other. This did not bode well. It wasn’t just a feeling. Duncan was saying as much. 

“I don’t know whether we will have intercollegiate football this fall or not.”

Everyone tried to go on and have a good time; the Montgomery chapter always had a good time. And Mighty Monk was still there and everything. And Pharr. And they still watched the game. But it was the strangest invite-the-coach-and-star-player banquet ever. Instead of hearing about the upcoming season, there’s the school’s president telling everyone that there might not even be one.  

***

Meagher’s departure — and Duncan’s quote — hit the papers hard and fast, regionally and nationally. Every major paper in the country was eager to tease the To Play or Not To Play narrative with whatever they could get their hands on. That the football fate of the team that had spoiled a perfect season for mighty Georgia might now be decided not just by possible lack of material, which everyone would be dealing with, but lack of a head coach? And not just any head coach, but one Esquire Magazine had two years back called one of the top 10 in the country? 

Love of Country Trumps School Spirit! It was too good to pass up. 

It was natural to think an assistant could just step up and handle things for as long as necessary. The only problem was that there weren’t any assistants. Most had already shipped off themselves. Porter Grant, Boots Chambless, Jimmy Hitchcock, some guy named Shug Jordan… 

Suddenly, minus Meagher, Auburn’s athletics department was down to just two coaches — Jeff Beard and Wilbur Hutsell, both track men. And now, suddenly, minus Meagher, they were also without an athletics director; Gentleman Jack had pulled double duty. 

But still, Lord… surely it was still premature to say something as drastic as no football. It wasn’t just Meagher’s reassurances… SEC bigwigs had been promising business as usual not two months earlier, promising that perpetual pigskin was totally aligned with the war effort in every possible way — good for morale, good for fitness. And Auburn had kept the gridiron going during the last conflict, even when some other schools hadn’t. Why not now? Did Duncan know something he wasn’t saying? 1943 might look a lot different than 1942, and maybe they’d have to bring some old men out of the woodwork to coach the boys… and who the hell knew what they’d do about spring practice…  but couldn’t it work out if there were still boys to coach, like the January 27th War Department directive made it sound like there might be?

Almost certainly not, said the February 12th War Department directive. 

***

Two days… after that Wednesday night news out of Montgomery, Auburn folks had been able to hold out hope for just two days. 

The news broke that morning. That evening, President Roosevelt took to the airwaves to promise an expedited annihilation of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. 

In the Loveliest Village, word spread fast. Forget the “in a couple of semesters” talk — it was time to kiss your sweethearts. And to probably try to get excited about another sport. 

Because for Auburn and the 270 other colleges under the authority of the Army Specialized Training Program, as opposed to the less strict V-12 Navy College Training Program, the issue wasn’t just the new timetable… it was the new rules.

Any soldiers-in-waiting on campus might be able to play baseball, maybe basketball, track, tennis, table tennis, stuff like that; the details hadn’t been entirely ironed out. But one thing was clear as crystal. Risking life and limb for the fate of a football game rather than the fate of the free world was out of the question.

The decision to officially cancel the game would still be up to individual schools. They could still throw shoulder pads on some civilians, schedule as many games as they could with whatever teams were left and call it a football season if they wanted. If they could get people to pay to watch 17-year-olds, or any 18-year-olds who hadn’t been processed, or any of the 4-F boys classified as physically, mentally or morally unfit to defend the God-blessed United States of America, more power to them. But any man good enough for a fall roster was Uncle Sam’s, and Uncle Sam was no longer screwing around. 

“Football,” read a common headline, “is Doomed.” 

***

Everyone in town was, of course, on board with smashing the Axis anyway they could, students especially. Bonds were bought. Stamps were bought. Pearl Harbor was remembered. Chests swelled. You weren’t just doing right by yourself by studying for that test. You were doing right by your country. The forces of freedom needed minds and hands that worked wisely and skillfully. Patriotism meant work — hard work.

But it was not a fun spring for football fans, in Auburn or anywhere. Rumors reigned. Uncertainty loomed. Monk shipped off to Fort Macpherson. So did 10 current players, including Pharr, the captain without a team. Macpherson’s officers praised the “outfit from Auburn” as “quite a relief from the regular run of draftees.”

Meagher came back in March to check on his family, and to get his watch. He’d dropped several pounds. He told reporters he was happy with his decision, that physical training was more crucial for pilots than he’d realized, that his duty to country superseded his duty to Auburn. But he promised that he planned to return to football after the war, if the job was still there. 

In the meantime, despite the growing chorus of death knells (including the one from the bell he’d rung himself) he was privately encouraging Duncan to keep the game going, seemingly under the impression that lack of a competent coach (rather than competent players) was still the biggest obstacle to whatever miracle Duncan might be able to work. And along those lines, he had a suggestion.

Early on, even before the Navy officially reached out, Meagher had talked up former Texas Tech head coach Pete Cawthon as a possible (temporary) replacement were he to resign. Meagher had known Cawthon for 20 years. They were about the same age. There were some connections there. Meagher’s former line coach Dell Morgan had replaced Cawthon in Lubbock when Pete left to assist Frank Thomas at Alabama. Might be a good fit. As spring progressed, some boosters bought in. Informal feelers were put out. 

Cawthon had only been in Tuscaloosa for a year. He’d planned to stay a while. But, obviously, things had changed. Other than still having a head coach, and despite Thomas’ annoyed early insistence to reporters that, nope, the Army Specialized Training Program hadn’t factored into his plans for fall at all, the Crimson Tide was pretty much in the same predicament as Auburn and most everyone else. Even so, Thomas said he would go ahead with spring practice with whatever men he had. Plenty of other coaches said the same. But even if the Tide managed to field a team, most of the Auburn alumni pulling for Pete told Duncan that Thomas surely wouldn’t stand in Cawthon’s way to become a head coach again, especially under the circumstances. 

Duncan agreed, but pumped the brakes. He publicly praised Cawthon’s record. But that was it. He wasn’t going to be pressured. He didn’t care how many Auburn people knew the man, he wasn’t going to offer him a contract with the Army sending out new orders every few weeks. A team needed a coach — they could always get a coach — but a coach needed a team. That had become the primary problem. And so far, it didn’t have a solution, at least not one that any Auburn folks would want to get behind. 

Take the Tulane game. Auburn had just tied the series. But what would happen if Auburn sent out eleven men who hadn’t gone through spring training — men who might even still legally be children! — against the Green Wave on the first Saturday in October? Sure, Tulane wouldn’t have as many varsity men as they’d had in 1942, but the ones they did have could still play football — they’d be Navy trainees. You could actually say the same for plenty of team’s on Auburn’s tentative 1943 schedule. Georgia Tech had Navy men. LSU had Marines. Georgia thought they’d be allowed to tap into the university’s Naval Pre-Flight Program team, a veritable all-star squad stocked with professional players from across the country. The Skycrackers (thanks to Meagher’s scheduling services) had hung 41 on Auburn in ‘42 on the way to a 7-1-1 record. If Auburn lined up against its main rivals under current conditions, it wouldn’t matter how good of a pep talk Pete Cawthon could give. 

Patience, Duncan urged — patience. If things changed, Auburn would go after the best man for the job. There was even talk of possibly asking to borrow a helmsman from any SEC school that paused football for the duration, but still had a head coach who hadn’t gone into service. It sounded crazy. But these were crazy times. You never knew… 

And plenty of folks across the conference thought the Army might ultimately reverse course. Duncan doubted it. Highly. But September was still a little ways off. There was still a month or two to decide. Until there wasn’t.

***

It was Saturday, July 3. Duncan walked up the stairs to Samford Hall. He could hear the yellow J-3 Cubs off in the distance. Seemed like there were never fewer than five overhead at any given moment. The 100 cadet pilots who’d taken up residence for training at the airport — the Navy had taken over the tiny facility — averaged 100 hours in the air each day. No one minded. Maybe one of the boys would be in the Auburn plane by year’s end. The local Kiwanis had helped sell $175,000 in war bonds to bankroll a Billy Mitchell bomber, which bought them the right to paint “The Auburn Tiger” on the nose. They were already $25,000 toward naming another one “War Eagle.” It was exciting. 

The Loveliest Village hadn’t slowed down much for the summer. Plenty of men were already at Fort Macpherson, but plenty were still around, hoping to get in one last Saturday night street dance behind Samford Hall before reporting Monday for 12 weeks at Officer Candidate School. The party was set to start at 8:15 p.m. It was going to be a good one, doubling as a special Independence Day celebration. The khaki and white were joining forces for a big variety salute to the people of Auburn. Around the corner, boys from the Naval Radio Training School were rigging Ross Square to blast swing music, and a yankee private with a great set of pipes was going to be belting out “America the Beautiful.” 

If dancing wasn’t your thing, plenty of people were talking about catching the newest “March of Time” news film detailing the probable course of the Allied assault against the Nazis. It was debuting that night. The title had just gone up on the Tiger Theater marquee: “Invasion!” 

Duncan just wanted to be done with the afternoon. He wasn’t looking forward to the meeting. But it would be nice for the whole thing to finally be behind him. He didn’t know how long it would take. But he was pretty sure what the recently formed faculty committee on athletics was going to say.

At the beginning of the month, five SEC teams had already thrown in the towel. And then, just yesterday, Friday afternoon, the news from Knoxville hit the wire. That was six, half the conference.. 

They handed him the piece of paper. 

“It is recommended to the president that intercollegiate athletics at Alabama Polytechnic Institute be suspended for the present due to the insurmountable difficulties arising from the war.”

***

The Plainsman wasn’t happy. They understood, they accepted it. But still, Shirley Smith, the first woman to edit the paper, the Rosie the Riveter of the Ribbon, insisted that there would be students to cheer on any 97-lb weakling willing to strap on a helmet for the glory of ol’ Auburn. If they had to find some 17-year-olds, they’d find them. Hell, if the team needed underwire, so be it. 

But, no, she acknowledged — the kids didn’t have all the facts. So, for the July 9 issue, Robert Allen, dean of the school of science and literature, and chairman of the faculty athletic committee, sent them over. 

The recent decision to drop intercollegiate football at API for the duration was reluctantly made by Pres. Duncan upon the unanimous recommendation of the faculty athletic commission, the executive council, and prominent alumni, long been associated with Auburn Athletics, who urged similar action.

Some of the factors influencing the decision follow:

The entire football coaching staff is in the Army. Only one member of last year’s football squad is on hand. The Army shows no disposition to modify its decision that college trainees are not eligible for intercollegiate competition. Auburn’s 1943 squad would have to be composed of 17 to 18-year-old boys and those classified into 4F or 2A.

Without the advantage of spring or summer practice under the direction of an able coaching staff it would be impossible to build a team in the fall that could offer reasonable competition to those having the services of Navy trainees or those still retaining their coaching staffs. Unsuccessful efforts were made to borrow the services of head coaches from other Southeastern Conference colleges that have suspended athletics.

The majority of the SEC members have been faced with similar considerations and have elected to drop football. Those fortunate enough to have coaching facilities and eligible players are in the minority.

Under the circumstances, it did not seem possible to field a team that could acquit itself creditably. Every consideration dictated the wisdom of setting aside our intercollegiate sports until the bigger game is won.

***

It was Nov. 12, 1943, the Friday before what should have been the Auburn-LSU game in Birmingham. Physically, George Petrie, 77, was doing better than he had a year earlier when, for health reasons, he’d handed over the reins of Auburn’s history department after more than half a century. Emotionally, he may have been worse. 

His wife had passed a couple of months before he’d retired. A part of him had, too. His academic writing had almost completely dried up. These days, he barely had it in him to reply to letters. And now, thanks to Japan and Germany, he couldn’t even look forward to football.

Back in July, a week before Petrie mustered the strength to speak on Auburn tradition to a group of 400 soldiers enrolled in a crash course in engineering, his former student, Dr. Luther N. Duncan, believing it to be a practical world, announced that for the first time in more than half a century — and for who knew how long after that — the great game that Petrie had helped bring to Auburn would not be played on the Plains. 

And, yet, curiously, there on the front page of that day’s Plainsman, two words: “PEP RALLY!” 

“Next Thursday night the ‘Plains’ will once again echo with ‘War Eagles’ and the strains of ‘Tiger Rag’ as all the students, soldiers, sailors and naval air cadets are invited to take part in an ‘All Out For Victory’ Pep Rally.” 

Petrie kept reading.

It was supposed to be the Burn the Bulldogs rally, the biggest of the year. They couldn’t play Georgia. But there was no reason they couldn’t still burn things. 

They’d hold it at the stadium, then move to the parking lot for the bonfire. The cheerleaders would be out in full force. Even football players! Former ones, at least. The great Gafford boy would be there. So would plenty of the others from that great ‘42 team, back from Fort Macpherson, still with the Army Specialized Training Program, yet to ship overseas. Instead of Coach Meagher — instead of Lt. Commander Meagher — talking about the upcoming game, Col. John J. Waterman would talk on “Football Players at War.” Instead of orange and blue… red, white and blue. 

“No, there won’t be any football game anytime soon,” the Plainsman wrote. “We’re having the rally to show that Auburn Spirit is still very much alive.”

Amen. 

“On every fighting front in this war, you’ll find Auburn men in there with the best fighting for American democracy and the standards taught at API,” one soldier had written to the paper a few weeks earlier. “… even though we are some 4,000 miles from the Auburn campus, that ol’ Auburn Spirit is still strong in our hearts.” 

Strong on the way to class. Strong on the way to the dance. Strong on the way to the front. Strong when the team won. Strong when the team lost. Strong when there wasn’t even a damn team. 

Lord, Petrie loved his country. Lord, he loved his school. 

He got out a pencil and a blank piece of paper and began writing something he decided to call the Auburn Creed.  

***

People were still talking about the pep rally a week later. Ears were still ringing. Voices had gone hoarse. The Plainsman always called every pep rally the biggest and best ever, every bonfire one for the ages. This time they meant it. 

“This time we were not yelling for the Auburn football team because there is no Auburn football team this year. We were all down there yelling for a bigger and better team. The U. S. Army team! We were yelling for that team to march on to victory as our football team won victory over those Georgia Bulldogs last year.”

They’d saved the best part for last. 

Instead of papier-mâché bulldogs, they burned effigies of Hitler and Hirohito.

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from The War Eagle Reader https://www.thewareaglereader.com/2020/08/war-effort-eagle-the-year-auburn-cancelled-football/

[terryblount]

Warlander – PC Review

I learnt about Warlander’s existence back in mid-2019 while it was still being developed as an action-RPG. As a fan of the Fable series, I was hooked immediately by Warlander’s narrative, visual style and fantasy setting, all of which suggested the game had decent potential. Unfortunately, the developers – Clock Drive Games – announced in September they had to make some last-minute changes.

Due to developmental constraints, the devs announced that Warlander would now become a rogue-like, action game that would cut many of the features from the original design. The much broader, story-driven adventure that Clock Drive Games had originally intended to make was never going to be finished in time, so they settled for a genre that could work with what they had.

It’s particularly in the pretty environments that you can sense the ghost of what this game was supposed to be.

While there are surely some games that have managed to rise above such a major shift in development, Warlander is testimony to how this doesn’t always have a happy ending. Warlander has a serviceable combat system that can provide satisfying moments of exaggerated violence, but my play-through left little doubt that this game ended as little more than a comprise for what could have been.

A nice slice of life

In this game, players take on the role of a chieftain from the Warheart clan named Bruce. As hinted by the pieces of vine and bark jutting out of his body, Bruce is a revenant brought back from the dead by an ancient forest deity.

The reason behind his resurrection is that the mythical forest is under siege by a formidable army known as the Techno Order. Under the leadership of Morven the Immortal, the Techno Order seeks to decimate everything standing in the way of their leader’s supreme rule over all lands, which includes ancient deities of the forest.

The forest god therefore brings back the leader of a clan that was slaughtered by a common enemy, and gives Brucie Boy a luminous magical sword, a long vine that springs from his arm, wooden steaks that shoot from his hand, a wooden shield that grows from his other arm, and other special attack moves.

Pretty cool story, right? Unfortunately, most of what I just recounted of the game’s story comes off the in-game codex. Almost none of this is told organically through gameplay, and you cannot even access the codex from the main menu – for this you have to pause mid-game.

Such a shame, the devs obviously had a really thoughtful story planned

At least the narrative not only sets up an interesting fictional struggle between nature and machines, but gives a far deeper motivation to the gameplay and aesthetics themselves. Aside from several visual glitches and janky animations, the settings that the player fights in are big and dramatic, and the technological monoliths rising amidst the forest and ancient temples tell a story in themselves.

The enemies also look decent (if generic), and the particle affects and detailed enemy dismemberment give the combat a frantic, flashy feeling at times. For the most part, Warlander is actually pretty easy on the eyes when bearing in mind that it was made by such a small studio.

Cut to the chase

The actual gameplay involves progressing through a sequence of battles along a ladder that leads all the way up to the final boss: Morven the Immortal himself. In the simplest terms, the player enters an arena hosting between four to six waves of enemies to slice and dice, before making their way to the exit and saving before the next combat session.

The path to Morven. Each of the stops along the way represent a specific kind of arena. Some are fights, while others have a chest containing a permanent buff.

Warlander has a set number of arenas that get recycled throughout the player’s progression rather than procedurally generating the environments themselves as most rogue-likes tend to do. In other words, the game randomises the order in which you have to tackle each area, rather than randomizing the layout of arenas.

I was actually okay with this since it gradually trains the player to learn how the environment itself can also become a weapon. The repetition of each area creates a subconscious awareness on where the health orb is, where the best traps are, where the bottlenecks are, and which make the best drops to throw enemies back into the abyss.

Raiden would be proud

Much like Metal Gear Rising: Revengence, Warlander has a similar system in which the player can selectively chop enemies with Jedi-like accuracy. Heads will literally role as you use your eco-friendly lightsaber to decapitate Technos with weaknesses at the neck, or chop off their legs to make them hobble around after you.

As if that’s not enough, there is a carnivorous tree (enough to make a vegan faint) that Bruce can feed these severed body parts in exchange for upgrades and buffs. As I mentioned, he can gain anything from stamina upgrades, to a vine to throw enemies around, or to send his sword spinning through multiple enemies like a boomerang.

The skill tree… from an actual tree! Well not quite because it eats meat. You can reassign all your skill points if you want.

Chopping bored

If you add up everything I have listed thus far, it would probably look like Warlander presents a pretty competent rogue-like on paper. The game has interesting combat mechanics, it looks decent, and there is a true satisfaction in coming out on top against enemies.

What I haven’t mentioned is that all these elements feel underdeveloped, or nearly broken. From the menu screens which look like they use Arial as a font, to the meaningless bits of conversation between Bruce and his sword, much of Warlander smacks of a game that had to be squashed into a brutal crunch.

What is enjoyable in one moment of slicing enemies literally into two floppy halves of flesh, is eventually overruled by Bruce’s indescribably clumsy sword moves and cumbersome movement speed. He is so unresponsive that it seems as if his glowy forest sword must weight a ton, and there is only the option of a left or right swing with absolutely no ability to do even basic combos.

Above all, I think this “chieftain” seriously needs to consider running a few laps around the fields or laying off cigarettes because he has the physical stamina of an obese bulldog. Four or five slashes of the sword and your stamina bar is gone, leaving the protagonist standing stupidly still while the enemies can go to town on him. Nightmare fuel in a rogue-like.

Then there are the boss fights which are so poorly designed it is actually offensive. The bosses are laughably slow, and their AI occasionally stops working in which they stare vacantly at the player while you can freely hack away at their life bar. They will set off an attack occasionally, but I could see it coming a mile away, thus removing the last little ounce of challenge left in these encounters.

Aside from the final boss, Warlander has five lesser bosses which permanently unlock certain abilities after defeating them once (seen in the lower right corner of the screen).

Even the final boss is a total train wreck, but for exactly the opposite reasons. He attacks almost constantly – often with magical spells that can kill Bruce in one hit – and he can inexplicably guard almost every sword strike. The only way to deal any meaningful damage is by using ranged weapons, which basically flies in the face of all the effort the player invested in mastering the combat system.

And… cut!

A rogue-like is more than random numbers and permadeth mechanics: It is a style of gameplay design that allows the player to gain an appreciation for difficulty. A rogue-like represents an entire game that has been built around the core of allowing the player to think ahead, to manage their resources, and, above all, improve their skill by playing the game.

For this reason Warlander is a rogue-like in name only as the mechanics of this genre have been implemented here in a very superficial way. While Warlander can offer brief moments of fun swordplay, the experience is too saturated by how unfinished most of the game feel. I cannot recommend playing this above more well-rounded and refined titles.

Nice environments

Decent narrative

Slicing mechanic

Revolting boss fights

Very repetitive

Some animations

Serious lack of polish

Limited combat

Poor controller support

          PC Specs: Windows 10 64-bit computer using Nvidia GTX 1070, i5 4690K CPU, 16GB RAM

  The post Warlander – PC Review appeared first on DSOGaming.

Warlander – PC Review published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

[cupidschance-blog]

Chapter Two

  "Good evening and welcome to Boulevard, name on the reservation please."

"Carter Lockhart, I'm meeting Owen Danvers, has he arrived?"

"Not yet,  Jennifer will escort you to your table, Miss Lockhart." The maitre d' motioned toward a young waitress wearing a tailor fit uniform.

Carter gave the maitre d' a slight nod then followed the waitress to a nice quiet corner table.

"Would you care for something to drink while you wait for your guest?" asked Jennifer handing Carter a menu.

"Chardonnay will be fine, thank you," Carter said shifting her gaze toward the restaurant's entrance before looking at her watch.

He was late, which was very much unlike Owen. Normally she kept him waiting, but that didn't matter tonight, it would be special regardless--she was breaking her streak. Tonight marked the sixth month and one day of their relationship. To her it wasn't just a trivial milestone to celebrate; it was a freaking miracle. Carter Lockhart for the first time jumped the dreaded six-month relationship-hurdle.

By the time Jennifer made it back to the table, Carter had one of those silly grins on her face, the grin of someone considering whether she had fallen in love. She thanked the waitress and took a sip of her wine as she remembered the day she met Owen.

Owen Danvers was an artist who moved from Poland to San Francisco eight months ago. He set up a gallery and because most of the artwork was worth millions of dollars, he needed a security firm that specialized in moving expensive items. She was proud to run the company her father had built.

The day Owen walked through the door, her world shifted. He was a couple inches taller than her five foot four and slender enough to squeeze into her skinny jeans with a dark shaggy mop of hair on his head--not the type she dated. Owen's expressive eyes changed her mind the warmth and knowledge in his honey brown eyes belonged to an old soul and spoke to her. The first two months they spent a lot of time together working out the details of transporting his shipment. Three days after their business concluded, Owen walked into her office and presented her with a portrait he had painted of her from memory before inviting her to join him for dinner. Like all couples, they had their ups and downs, but they survived and now they had made it past the dreaded six months, she couldn't be happier.

"What has put that smile on your face?" The accented voice pulled her back to the present and she locked her gaze on his.

"Just having a good evening and thinking about things," Carter responded.

A faint smirk touched Owen's lips as he leaned down and placed a polite kiss to her cheek, avoiding the lips Cater tried to present him with. As he pulled back two things caused a brick to drop into the pit of her stomach. She'd caught a slight whiff of cheap perfume and a look in his eyes that seemed guarded.

Instead of taking the seat next to her, he chose the chair across the table from her, crossing his arms over the edge of the table he stared at the water glass in front of him. Taking a deep breath then releasing it in a slow sigh, he started, "I apologize for being late, though I must admit I never expect  you to arrive on time."

All the happiness she had been feeling faded as she watched him. Her stomach sent a big flashing neon sign to her brain that screamed get up and walk away now, but she couldn't move, her body was glued to the chair.

"I see," she said. I see! Seriously? That's the best she could come up with? Her throat felt dry, and she drained her wine before looking back to Owen.

"I don't want to endure this a moment longer than necessary, so I'll get straight to the point. I can't do this anymore Carter, I'm not happy and I don't want to pretend to be happy anymore. I'm sure you know this is long overdue." Owen paused, watching her, "Look at you, the way you sit there, perfectly stoic as if nothing I am saying is even getting through to you. That shouldn't surprise me, over the past six months not once have you allowed me even a slight glimpse into your heart."

As her world shifted for a second time due to the man seated across from her, she took a sip of her wine not trusting herself enough to speak just yet. It took all the strength she had to keep the moisture from gathering in her eyes. Carter held her head a little higher and squared her shoulders, adopting the approach she picked up in her military training before she responded.

"I was unaware you were so miserable. Why did you wait until now instead of bringing it up sooner? We could have fixed whatever made you so unhappy," she said with deadly calm.

"Unaware? That is priceless," Owen laughed. "I'm already fixing what made me unhappy. I'm leaving you."

Carter sat up straighter. She knew why he requested a public dinner, he wanted to make a scene and embarrass her, knowing she would not respond in kind. His words cut her like a knife and she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold herself together.

Owen smirked as he watched her and said, "Look at you, sitting there with ice running through your veins. The perfect ice queen."

"Six months and a day," Carters words were little more than a whisper as they passed her lips, afraid to speak any louder. She blinked to fight back the tears he was causing her.

"Don't, don't even try to feign sadness, it doesn't become you, Carter. Before I leave, let me give you some advice. In your next relationship, make sure you let the poor guy know you are an emotionless workaholic ice queen and if he needs references, give him my number. I'll be more than happy to fill him in." Owen rose from his chair, but Carter's tone of voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Sit down Owen, you have had your say, but now it's my turn," she said wrapping her slender fingers around the stem of her wine glass.

Carter drained the remaining contents of her glass before she locked her hazel eyes on the man that now turned her stomach. "This whole time, I sat here and listened to you belittle me and point out my flaws, but what you failed to inform me, is if you were so unhappy with me, why did it take so long to tell me? Just last week did you suggest moving into my house?"

She tapped her finger against the globe of the empty wine glass she still held in her hand. "But then I realized," She paused as Jennifer stepped over and to fill her glass. Carter glanced up at the girl and nodded her head in thanks, knowing full well she had been listening to their conversation and it made her wonder how many others were listening in. She took a sip of the wine then pinned her eyes back on Owen who was squirming in his seat.

"I'm not an imbecile, you have met someone. I hope she can give you what you deserve." She drained her glass of wine once again, then arched her brow at him. "You're dismissed."

Owen stood up and laughed, "Always have to get the last word in..." He shook his head and walked away.

Before Cater could even get her thoughts together, Jennifer was at her side.

"Are you all right, is there anything I can do or get for you?"

The concern in the waitresses' eyes made Carter sick to her stomach. Carter despised being pitied. She brushed everything off then glanced at the menu. "I'll start with the sea scallops then the Angus filet mignon, and bring me a bottle of Kistler Chardonnay, please."

Carter knew better than to run after drinking, but she needed to find a release for all the anger that had built up inside of her. At first, she had considered going home and cleaning her Colt 1911 but decided in her current mood, she would end up shooting out the windows of Owen's gallery and getting arrested. That would have been fun explaining to her father. She was on the trails that lead through Golden Gate Park pushing herself until she made it back home.

Her house was larger than necessary, but she had a love for historical homes. Her three-story Italianate-style house was classic with modern interior renovations. It was a home she wanted and hoped to one day start a family in. So far, that family only comprised her blue French bulldog Max, Russian blue cat Grizzelda, and herself.

The moment Carter reached her front door and opened it, she heard the clicking of Max's manicured nails striking the hardwood floor. Before she could even close the door behind her, Max was leaping at her. She leaned down and scratched behind his ears and said, "We have work to do buddy."

Max followed her into the garage and watched as she grabbed boxes and emptying them. She took the empty boxes pausing in the kitchen long enough to grab a bottle of water and a black marker from the junk drawer then continued up to her bedroom on the third floor. Carter dropped the boxes on her bed, almost hitting Grizz, who let her know she was lying in the center with a low growl. Max jumped on the bed and laid down causing Grizz to hiss and swat at him, but Carter shooed the evil cat off the bed. "You know you aren't supposed to be up here Grizz, now go."

The cat paused in the doorway and flicked her tail back and forth before sauntering down the stairs. Carter rolled her eyes said to Max, "Why can't you act like a normal dog and chase the cat away instead of letting her bully you?"

The phone rang as she pulled Owen's clothes from her closet. She dropped them on the bed--not caring if they wrinkled--and glancing at the number before answering her phone. If anyone else had called, she would have just shut the ringer off, but she couldn't ignore a call from Major-retired Silas Carter Lockhart.

"Major, you're up past your bedtime," She said putting the phone on speaker and laying it on the bed and continued shoving Owen's clothes in the box.

"Since when do  I have a bedtime?" His gruff voice caused Max to leap off the bed and run into the bathroom to hide.

Ignoring his question she asked, "What are you up to tonight, sir?"

"That's top secret," he responded.

"Since when have I not privileged to your top secret information?" she asked. She couldn't help but chuckle wondering what he had gotten himself into tonight.

Since when do you question when I say something is top secret?" he argued.

"When you call me at," she said then glanced at her clock, "10 pm, I have clearance for top secret information."

"I'm in hiding," he mumbled sounding embarrassed to admit it.

She thought she had misunderstood, but laughed. "In hiding? What or who are you hiding from Dad?"

"Claire," He said sounding defeated.

All thoughts of what had happened earlier disappeared from her mind.

"What did you do to Claire this time?" She asked sitting down on the bed, waiting to hear the story.

"Well, I may or may not have forgotten an important date she may or may not have told me about a month ago, along with a reminder a week ago and yesterday," he confessed.

"Please tell me you did not forget your 20-year anniversary." Carter shook her head in disappointment.

Claire was her father's second wife. It had taken him a few years to find someone after her mom had passed from brain cancer. At first, she wasn't sure if Claire was right for the Major, but after getting to know her better, Carter had decided that Claire and the Major needed each other. Claire was a recovered alcoholic for 20 hard years, but she spent ten of those with the major. He had helped her fight her demons while Claire helped him get over his guilt of not being there when his wife passed away.

"I know I fucked up, but she has been nagging a lot so I've been avoiding her and I guess it slipped my mind. I know it was important, but nothing I can do about it now but hide," he rambled.

"Just go home and apologize to her dad, throw a little party for her and make sure you shower her with attention. That will make her happy. You're been together too long for her not to forgive you."

He was silent for a moment then said with a sigh, "Well... That will be a problem.""Why? What did you do or say to her?" Carter asked.

"Oh, nothing like that... It's just when I go into hiding, you know I am superb at it and tonight I ended up out on the boat, in the harbor fishing."

"Still don't see the problem dad," She couldn't help but shake her head as she threw Owen's clothes into boxes again. Sometimes her dad could frustrate the hell out of her when it came to getting information out of him, like pulling teeth with tweezers.

"Dammit, I'm out of gas, okay? I'm out in the middle of the harbor in a boat, hungry, out of beer and no damn gas," he said feigning anger then chuckled. "Need you to get down to the slip and bring the dinghy out to rescue your poor old man."

There was something about a Major saying the word dinghy that made her laugh. "Yes sir, I'll be there in 20 minutes," she said with a laugh.

"And bring the pizza!" the major added.

"Want me to grab beer too?" Carter asked."If you don't, I'm throwing your ass into the ocean. Let me grab my coordinates for you," he said, but then Carter heard some kind of struggle. "Gotta bite, call you back in a minute... " The phone went dead.

Carter kept laughing and ran her hands over her face, the day had been one hell of a whirlwind and didn't look like it would come to an end soon. She grabbed her keys, purse and slipped on a pair of tennis shoes before heading out the door. As soon as she got into her car her cell rang again.

"So, what did you catch?" Carter asked.

"Nothing, it got loose," her dad grumbled. "Let me get you those coordinates."

"I can get your location on my phone GPS, I'll stop and grab the pizza, beer, and gas then head out to you."

"See you soon, Semper Fi," said the Major.

"Ooh-rah!" Carter said with as much enthusiasm she could muster then I hit the end button.

Carter gave her dad a short blast of the horn to let him know she was coming up on him. As she approached starboard, he tossed a line to her to tie the dinghy up. Once she was secure, she passed her cargo along to the Major then climbed onto his boat. It had been a couple of years since she had last been on the boat, the Major preferred to fish alone, claimed it allowed him to clear his mind."Here," Her father tossed her a beer then sat back in his captain's chair and eyed his daughter. "You look like you've been running, Marine."

Carter sat down on the bench seat and propped her feet up on the side of the boat as she twisted the top off the bottle. She knew she should have changed out of her running shorts and tank, hell, she should have taken a shower, but all she wanted to do when she got home was get rid of anything that reminded her of Owen. She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders and said, "Needed to expend energy, running was the most acceptable way to do so at the moment." She flashed him a grin and took a drink.

"Humph," He took a swig from his bottle and leaned back, resting his head against the top of the seat. "When are you going to bring that new guy around to meet me? What's his name again? Brad? Robert... or was it John?" He lifted his head enough to look over at her and smirked.

"You know damn well his name is Owen, and I won't be bringing him around. We broke up tonight," Carter said staring up at the stars in the sky.

"Owen... Ow-en... Owe-n... Who in the hell names their kid Owen? Is he owned? It's like they are in debt or something and they owe everyone. What was he again?" he asked.

She nearly choked on her beer as she laughed, using the back of her hand to wipe her chin. Her first thought was that Owen was an asshole, but that's not what her dad was asking. "He's the artist, the one we transported the art for, from Poland."

Silas tilted his head and scratched his jaw, looking as if he were trying to remember what Owen looked like. He gave a shake of his head. "Please tell me he was not that little wormy guy you were flirting up a storm with that day I came into the office."

Carter kept her interest in staring up at the beautiful night sky, hoping if she didn't respond, he'd just drop it--she should have known better.

"It was, wasn't it? Dammit, girl, you are better than that worm. Why can't you find someone like Troy? Now he is a fine example of a man. He's a hard-working family man and from what I hear he still goes to dinner at his mom's every Sunday evening. I think he even goes to church with her on Sunday mornings as well and so you know what the best thing about him is? He was a damn good Marine."

"Can we forget about Oworm! Its done. And Troy is my best friend and married with whom he has three wonderful children. Besides..." She finished her beer and dropped the empty bottle into the cooler and grabbed another. "We never clicked that way. I get to spend as much or as little time with him as I want, then I get to leave and his wife has to put up with him the rest of the time." As she lifted the fresh beer to take a drink, her cell phone rang. "Claire," she said reading her caller ID.

"Don't you dare..." her dad warned.

"Hello, Claire!" Carter said answering her phone and flashing a grin at her dad--that'll teach him to bring up her love life. "Oh yeah, Dad's sitting right across from me. He brought the boat out into the harbor and ran out of gas. I had to come rescue him. Want to talk to him?"

Carter couldn't stop grinning as she handed the phone over to her father then laid back down on the bench, to gaze at the stars. She knew he'd get her back for it, but right now it helped her mood. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought she heard wings flutter overhead.