#his curls were on full display until Matt grabbed him and was like “cut it. Cut it now. long curly hair MY thing. It's all I have you dick

[goldenstarprincesses]

There is one thing and one thing only that Matthew holds resentment towards his brother about 

It's not about Alfred being the world's only superpower. Not about Alfred's wealth. Not about Alfred clearly being Arthurs preferred son. Not even that Francis has historically always seeming gravitated towards being Alfred's mentor. All those things he can live with or has learned to live with.  

The thing that he holds the most resentment about? Alfred uses 5 in 1 Irish Spring and Dial bar soap yet has prefect hair and skin. All while Matthew spends thousands of dollars every year on expensive hair care and skincare products in the never-ending battle to get his acne prone skin and fly-away soft curly hair under control.

And to make matters worse, the Dial soap is actually a new addition to Alfred's routine. He was finally convinced to stop using homemade wood ash soap in the late 70s.

[devilatmydoor]

this christmas I l.r.h

a/n; the first installment of my ficmas event! this idea was totally and completely self indulgent but i thought it was a cute idea! it features one of my favorite tropes of all time!  enjoy! 

summary; You attend Michael and Crystal’s annual christmas party with your secret santa gift in hand. You receive an unexpected and priceless gift from your secret santa. 

pairing; luke/reader // word count;  1,905  masterlist / ficmas masterlist 

warnings; drinking/alcohol & fluff 

You cut the engine of your car as you reached Michael’s neighborhood, you looked at the bag in your passengers seat nervously as you grabbed it and got out of your car. You knew if you arrived any later to Crystal and Michael’s party someone would call you, most likely Luke or Ashton wondering when you’d show. You knew they wouldn’t start Secret Santa until you arrived but no telling what else would ensue as the party went on.

You locked your car and walked on the sidewalk , as you reached Michael’s place when you heard Christmas music playing. You walked up to the door and slowly opened it and by no surprise the first people you saw were Michael and Calum in the kitchen drinking the spiked eggnog you never thought you’d hear the end of. Ashton made eye contact with you and waved, you walked over to him as his dimples were on full display, “You're finally here! We were ready to send a search party for you!” He teased with a smile

"I'm hardly an hour late, where should I put my secret Santa gift?" You asked looking around for your secret Santa recipient.

"Oh right here," Ashton instructed as pointed to the table filled with gifts.

You set your gift down before Ashton led you into the kitchen as Calum and Michael refilled their cups with more eggnog, "Did you spike the drink?"

"Yeah Mike, I brought a bottle and spiked it when no one was looking." Calum shook his head as he saw you and smiled, "Eggnog?"

"I'll pass, thank you." You smile looking over the array of drink selections in front of you.

"Awh no eggnog?" You heard a familiar voice as his hand rested on the small of your back; your body tensed as your eyes met his ocean blues.

"I don't like eggnog, sue me." You shrugged as you giggled at Michael and Calum trying to figure out who spiked the drink.

His hand still on your back as he looked for something to drink, "Michael where is the tequila?"

You giggled at his desperation for his favorite drink, "Luke, I think you'll have to drink something else."

He says in frustration, the smile across his face makes it obvious he's just teasing. "But!"

All you could think about was his perfect butt. The bubble butt you found yourself staring at when he wasn't looking.

"You can't always get what you want Luke, how about peppermint schnapps?" You asked as you grabbed a cup and filled it halfway.

"Peppermint Schnapps? Love, have you ever seen me drink anything like it?" He asked as his eyes scanned the table.

"Try mine, see if you like it." You smiled handing him the cup to drink out of.

He took a sip and you looked to see his reaction, "Not so bad little one, I'll try it."

Little one, one of his pet names for you. Ever since you met he'd call you that.

"For the last time I am not little! Your just a giant and compared to you everything is small."

"Not everything," He winked as he poured a cup of schnapps.

You playfully hit his arm, "Luke!"

He chuckled as he walked with you towards an open spot on the couch. You sat next to him as you sipped your drink, he leaned toward you so only you'd hear him "Okay time to spill, who did you have?"

You giggled at his antics, you leaned closer to him to whisper, "Luke its Secret Santa for a reason!"

"Love, I'm dying to know who you have! You've been so secretive ever since we drew names." He looked around the room and then back at you.

"That's the whole point you dork! Be patient like everyone else." You teased getting off the couch as Crystal motioned you over.

"Where are you going?" He asked as his eyes never left you.

"Crystal is motioning me over, I'll be right back!" You giggled with your drinking hand as you walked towards her.

"You two are something else, I've been trying to get your attention for 5 minutes!" Crystal expressed. 

"Sorry, he's been hounding me about who I have for Secret Santa."

"Still? Him and Michael are the same! He kept bothering me!"

"Why am I not surprised? I'm gonna bring some cookies over, he's stuck drinking Peppermint Schnapps."  You joked playfully as you grabbed a plate and filled it with cookies.

"He'll never let Michael live down not buying any tequila."  She giggled as you walked toward Luke who was on his phone, you sat down and he put his phone away.

"Ouh cookies!" He smiled as he grabbed one and began eating it. You grabbed one of the iced cookies and took a bite.

"I thought you could use a snack." You smiled as you ate your cookie.

"Thank you love," He flashed his smile as you ate your cookie, "Oh you've got some. Uh-"

"I've got what?" You asked confused as he licked his thumb and swiped the pad of his thumb on the edges of your mouth.

"Icing darlin, you had some icing on your mouth." He winked as he finished his cookie and reached for another.

"Thank you, when do you think Cal and Michael will stop playing chess?" You giggled looking over at them in their own world as Ashton strummed the guitar while Kay Kay and Crystal talked.

"If one of us doesn't step in soon I reckon we'll be here past 1am with those two playing." He smiled sitting closer to you, "Now’s the time to tell me darlin, I won't tell anyone I promise.'

"Oh my god Luke!" You turned your head realizing how close his face was in proximity to yours. His pink lips agonizingly close to yours.

"Love, I'm just messing with you. When do you go home for the holidays?"

Your mind went completely blank, you suddenly couldn't remember if your family was coming to L.A or if you were going to them. Your eyes locked on his, "I'm not sure I'll be right back."  You shook your head before standing up straight and giving Ashton a knowing look. You made a run for the bathroom to take some deep breaths. You leaned against the door as you closed your eyes trying to calm down. You heard a knock at the door causing you to jump . Your eyes open as Ashton says your name.  “Yes?”

“We’re about to open presents!” He informs as you open the door to meet him.

Finally.

“Oh thank god, let’s go before they start without us.”

Ashton giggled as you walked with him towards the living room where everyone was waiting,  Matt Pauling had finally showed up which explained the wait. You sat next to the free space on the edge of the couch next to Crystal.

Ashton decided to open his first; everyone laughing at Calum’s facial expression which easily gave him away. He went next opening his gift as Crystal looked at you and then at Michael giving her tell away. Luke’s eyes met yours as you could feel your cheeks flush.

Ashton decided to switch things up as he handed Luke his gift, “Here ya go mate, you’ve been anxious all night.”

“Thanks Ash.” He smiled as he opened the gift, your heart rate increasing as you watched him open the gift from you. He looked at you, already knowing it was from you.

“Thank you love, I knew you had me.” He giggled as his cheeks turned a familiar shade of pink.

“Is that why you wouldn’t stop bothering me?” You teased as Ashton gave you your gift; you removed the tissue paper as you could cry from the contents. Everything in the bag were all of your favorite things you didn’t think anyone would pay attention to. Your favorite brand of lip balm, type of socks you loved and snacks always craved down to a gift card to your favorite store. It meant everything to you that someone paid that attention to what you loved so much.  Narrowing down who was left, Michael looked at Luke followed by you looking at him and you knew from the smile he was giving you that he gave you all of your favorites.

“Thank you Lu.” Was all you could get out as Crystal opened her gift from Matt before Michael opened his gift from Kay Kay.

Crystal leaned in, “You two had each other, no one else had each other.” She looked at Luke, “It’s almost as if-”

“Crystal don’t start with your fate nonsense.” You teased playfully shaking your head.

Michael joined in, “Crystal has a point.”

“Oh not you too, both of you need to stop watching Romcoms.”

As much as you wanted to deny that it was a coincidence, part of you wondered if it was.

Luke got off the couch and walked up to you and bent down so he was eye level with you, “Did you like your gift?”

You nodded as you smiled holding the bag in your arms, “I love it Luke, thank you.”

“Of course darlin, come with me.” He said with a smile as you followed him into the bathroom as the party continued on.

“Wanna help me put on the choker you got me?” He asked softly as he handed it to you.

“You wanna wear it?”

He nodded as you stepped closer to him as you looped his choker around his neck, his soft skin against yours as you nervously clasped the hook while Luke intently watched you.

Your eyes locked with his as you stepped backwards as your back met the door behind you. The tension between you thick as you cleared your throat hoping it would help the dryness. “Lu?”

“Yes?” He said as he ran his fingers through his curls.

“I know the timing of what I’m about to say isn’t perfect  but I can’t take it anymore.” You started as he tilted his head as he listened to the words spewing from your lips.

“I just- Uh.”

“Hey, talk to me what’s going on are you okay?” He asked, concerned as he stepped closer to you, “You know you can tell me anything.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Okay, I’m not saying this to ruin our relationship, that is the last thing I want. I’ve loved you from the moment we met and I know it’s the oldest story in the history of books,” You rambled, “But I do.”

“Is it safe to assume you're not talking about loving me as a friend but more?” You nodded as he took a deep breath, “It is the oldest story in the history of books but did you ever think  I felt the same?”

“I did but-”

“But what? I do. I always have, always will.”

You stepped closer to him as you cupped your face in his hands, “Say the words Luke.”

“I love you.”

Relieved the pad of your thumb touched his lips as he softly kissed your thumb, “I love you.”

“Oh just kiss me already will you?” He winked as he leaned forward to kiss you, his lips softer than you imagine.

You giggled as he continuously pecked your lips as your hands rested on the nape of his neck, “I had no idea the night would end like this.”

“Who said anything about it ending?”

taglist - @twilightmomentswithyou​ @lilacsos​ @suchalonelysunflower​ @calumrose​ @softlrh @clemmings @clemmings @esbisos @burstintocolor @redrattlers @himbocalum @sanrioluke @blackbutterfliescal @honeybunchcalum @sublimehood @talkfastromance4​ @redrattlers​ @lukeysdimples​ @myloverboyash​ @sublimehood​ @littledrummeraussie​ @flowers-on-the-graves​   @calumthomcs​​ @feliznavidaddycal​​ @calswildflower​​ @haikucal​​ @ukulelecal​​ @highscal​​ @sexgodashton​  @currentlyupcalsass​​​ @clemmings​​ @notinthesameguey​​ @calmlftv​​ @castaway-cashton​​ @mashlums​​ @cthwldflwr​​ @boytoynamedcalum​​  @wastelandcth​ @spicycal​ @tpwkatsumu 

[prxttylittle]

❝ we’re gonna have to keep ice on that. ❞, ❝ let me help with that. ❞, ❝ i’ll never let you go. ❞ for the thIRD time

❝ we’re gonna have to keep ice on that. ❞

{ v ;; the princess and the moon.   

 It had been a while since Prince needed patching up after a display of violence so the feeling of the antiseptic on his knuckles burned more than he remembered when Luna dabbed at the back of his hand with a cotton bud, causing him to gasp childishly. “That hurts!” He seethed but didn’t pull his hand away despite his instincts telling him that he should. He was appreciative of her helping him out, taking care of him. As a married couple, Prince  and Luna were a team– always. It was them against everyone else when it came down to it and that was how they worked. Hence why she was playing nurse and taking care of him instead of saying anything to him about getting physical though he’d been sure she’d be on his side from the get-go. Sitting on top of the counter, with Luna standing between his legs and tending to his hand, he wrapped both legs around her waist and pulled her closer to him. It made her move too suddenly and she wiped the bloody bud up his arm but he didn’t really care. He tried to kiss her but she only indulged him for a mere second before she reached across the countertop and picked up an ice-pack that he didn’t even know they had in the house. “We’re going to have to keep ice on that.” He watched her press the pack down on his hand, gasping again but this time from the cold. He didn’t know when he’d turned into such a baby, gasping and moaning at every touch to his sore hand compared to him as a teenager in which he could walk around with a full broken hand and barely feel it. How times have changed. “Nick’s such an asshole.” Prince exclaimed, as if it was Nick’s fault his hand was sore, as if maybe Nick’s face had pummelled Prince’s fist and not the other way around. That remark led to Luna questioning what happened. He was aware she’d been dying to stick her nose in and find out what led to Nick’s cheek shattering his knuckles. Prince didn’t plan on keeping it from her, he’d just been letting her tend to his wound before delving into the events of the weekend. 

Prince didn’t know if it was because he was now a boring married old man but he wasn’t too sure the way Nick was talking to that girl at the bar was appropriate for a guy in a relationship. He nudged Matt, urging him to weigh in. Just as Matt did look up, Nick’s hand dropped dangerously low on the girl’s waist. Prince frowned. It wasn’t really any of his business but on the other hand Cassie was his friend, and practically a sister to his wife. He aimed to stay out of it, returned to pretending to listen to Matt talking about his job instead. But Prince couldn’t help it but to glance over to Nick again noticing he was either whispering in that girls ear or nibbling on it, and now his hand was definitely too low. “What the fuck is he doing?” Prince seethed, interrupting Matt for a second time. He spotted Nick looking all around the bar, unable to locate Prince and Matt from across the room, before he was picking up the girl’s handbag and wrapping his jacket around her. He then led her out of the bar and it was no question to Matt or Prince what was happening. Like clockwork, their phones buzzed. ‘Sorry lads, drank too much, had to head off.’ A blatant lie which only furthered Prince’s theory. “Asshole.” Prince uttered before him and Matt got back to enjoying their night out.

It wasn’t until two days later when Prince was due to collect Luna at Nick and Cassie’s apartment when the girls got home from their weekend away did Prince confront Nick about what he saw at the club. “So. You were sick the other night?” Prince decided to play stupid, as if he hadn’t seen Nick. It seemed Nick was playing the same game, only he wasn’t playing stupid. The story was pretty convincing, Prince could admit. Nick looked like shit and he’d just been throwing beer cans in the bin which led Prince to believe his fling had been more than just a one night thing. “You’re pathetic, Nick. You’ve spent the last ten years pining after Cass just to cheat on her.” When Matt and Panda had first gotten together Prince had expected something like this to happen. Their relationship was such a shock to him that he expected no more from his best friend. When Nick and Cassie got together, Prince thought they’d wasted so much time not being together that something like this would never happen. It was possible his perception was a little off. “You’re not going to tell the girls.” It almost sounded like a warning from Nick which made Prince laugh. If Nick thought for one second that Prince wasn’t going to tell his own wife about this then he had another thing coming especially after the drama that Nick’s job caused between them when they first got engaged. “No, I’m not.” Nick’s surprised reaction was expected. “I’m going to tell Luna. You are going to tell Cass.” Always with the dramatics, Nick flew off the handle. He insisted he’d made a mistake, and telling Cassie wasn’t going to help anyone just hurt her. When Prince didn’t buy the sappy apology route, Nick turned to insults. He pointed out every mistake Prince made in his relationship (that Nick was aware of), every flaw between them. It was to Nick’s fortune that the girls walked in when they did, Cassie rushing to protect Nick from Prince’s flying fist. Her concern for her boyfriend was embarrassing and just pissed off Prince even further. He didn’t even bother to say anything further, just grabbed Luna’s suitcase and wrapped an arm over her shoulder to guide her out. All of which led to this very moment of Prince informing Luna of what he still wasn’t sure if Nick was going to Cassie or not. 

{ v ;; no reason. 

         An adult man, Jason was not. When Iola approached him with whatever piece of medical equipment he hadn’t even seen, he dodged her touch as quickly as he could, ducking under her arm and away from her. She stumbled slightly over his unexpected dash and he could tell she was getting tired of him. He shrugged. “Antiseptic hurts. If it gets infected, it gets infected. Just let me die.” What he wasn’t telling her was how he’d made his arm hurt even worse by swivelling around her as if he was Kim fucking Possible. It took at least thirty minutes but eventually Iola got around to cleaning up his scraped up knuckles. He obeyed as she commanded him to curl and uncurl his hand into a fist to see if he could. Technically, he could. It just hurt like no pain he’d ever felt before. He pouted. “Iola. It’ll be fine.” He urged. “I’ll get a job in a call centre or something if I can never paint again.” He winced when she tugged his hand toward herself. “We’re going to have to keep ice on that.” He hadn’t even seen her grab an ice-pack but before he knew it the cold sensation was pressing down on his knuckles. “Fuck, babe! That is so cold!” There was a chance his hand was broken and he knew Iola wanted him to get medical attention, and he probably would later on, but for now he couldn’t help but to be a big baby about it. “It’s a good thing you get jealous enough for the both of us” Jason began speaking, proving he really never thought about his words before letting them out. He was cradling his arm in his not-injured hand at this point. “I really don’t think it suits me.”

      When Jason saw some guy flirting with Iola up at the bar, he didn’t really think much of it. Jason experienced so many emotions on a daily basis that he was sure his body had run out of space for jealousy to fit in there. Iola was absolutely stunning, he wasn’t surprised that other guys found her attractive. Jason also knew Iola was too smart to be seduced by losers like that. It was Lip that put thoughts into his head. Every two seconds Lip was nudging Jason and asking why Jason wasn’t getting up to go over and ‘fight that loser flirting with your girlfriend.’ Jason tried to shut Lip up but eventually his words got to Jason which would have been fine until he spotted Iola waving at Jason to join her at the bar. He sighed and crossed the club to her. She asked him to help her carry the drinks back to their table and when the stranger made a snarky remark about Jason, –“You sure you can lift all those?”– usually Jason would shrug it off or honestly probably agree with the deprecation. This time, he had Lip’s voice in his head and three double-whiskeys in his system. “What did you just say?” Jason felt like he was floating out of his body and witnessing himself turn to rage because it was something he never did. Jason wasn’t an angry guy, most of the time he was pretty mellow but he was drunk and the sound of his friend telling him to fight for his girl was running around in his mind. The stranger, whom Jason was now realising was a good few inches taller and broader, retorted that he was just joking, Jason scoffed. “How about you go joke around somebody else’s girlfriend?” He glanced at Iola and back at the man. “She isn’t interested.” He turned to finally help Iola with the drinks, embarrassed about his outburst but ready to get back to having a good night with their friends. The stranger made another snarky remark and finally, and very out-of-character for him, Jason whipped around, arm reeled back with  his hand curled into a fist and as he hurled it toward the other male, he ducked and Jason’s hand smashed into the pillar behind him. His knuckles cracked on impact and the pain was enough to make Jason give up on jealous-quest and want to just go home. That was the first and last time Jason McLoughlin fights for his ladies honour. 

{ v ;; July 17th. 

    Zayn nodded in silence just as she pressed the ice-pack to his face. Ari could probably say she was going to cut his nose clean off and he would still follow her instructions just to keep on her good side. It gave him a slight glimmer of hope when she said ‘We’ about icing his face, rather than just advising him and heading out the door. He’d fallen out with so many people tonight but right now, Arianna Edwards was the most important. He didn’t expect her to take care of him when she appeared at his door only to stumble across him cradling his nose. She came to tell him she was leaving so it was a surprise when she hung around a bit longer to nurse him. Zayn took control of the cold plastic, tilting his head back only a small bit as he pressed the pack to his face. It felt a little dramatic considering he didn’t think at all that his nose was broken but he’d take Ari’s guidance just to keep her in the room for a bit longer. It was a little awkward to have her tend to his damaged face when it was his own fault and at her expense that this happened. Zayn didn’t expect Gabby to have such a mean right hook or for to defend Ari as fiercely as she had. At the time he was immediately instilled with regret because of his words and he didn’t even fight the slaps and single punch he got from it. He deserved each hit and even he knew that. Silence settled between them and it got too much for him. He sighed and removed the cold plastic from his face so he could look at her, just as she finished packing up the first-aid kid into the drawer. Zayn hadn’t even known Gyhab put first-aid kits in their rooms. Maybe just another sign that he was useless without Ari. “I’m sorry.” He could tell she didn’t want to talk about it again but he couldn’t let her leave without her knowing how badly he felt about everything that happened between them earlier in the night. “I shouldn’t have called you pathetic.” His throat closed in and curled around each of his words, forcing them out weakly and embarrassingly shaky. “You’re not. I didn’t mean it.” Zayn couldn’t explain why he said it if he didn’t mean it. It had just come out. It was for lack of understanding, and for lack of a better word. “I don’t think you’re pathetic, I just don’t understand any of this but that’s— I just— Fuck me, I’m just so sorry that I said it.” Zayn ran his hands through his hair, practically tearing the locks out of the follicles at this point. He slowly reached over to take her hand, being cautious with his actions. “I’m not going to stop you from going off wherever you’re going with Louis.” Zayn wouldn’t admit it but he was extremely pissed with his friend for being the one about to whisk Ari away from all the drama. He wasn’t sure whose idea it was, or why Louis but part of him thought if it wasn’t for that, him and Ari could just stay in the same place and work on their relationship. “I want you to stay here, with me but if that’s not what you want–” he paused, looking away from her for a moment. The possibilities raked through his thoughts. Her leaving and deciding being away from him for good was what she wanted and everything along those lines perturbed his mind.  He returned his gaze to her. “Then I won’t stop you. Just— please come back to me soon. I can’t do this without you.”

{ b ;; partners in crime.

        Prince didn’t expect Matt to show up and defend him from his dad. He didn’t even know that Matt was aware he was here. Moving in with the King’s had been an incredible relief. His dad hadn’t come looking for him and Pandora and it seemed everything, all the suffering and the pain and the hurt, was over. He woke up in his own room in the huge house of his best friend’s family every morning without fear. There was always food in the cabinets, and breakfast on the table before school and dinner in the evening. Matt and Prince got lifts to and from school, unlike when Prince used to have to walk despite it being dangerous and the weather not always being in his favour. The King’s just lived differently and after a while Prince was getting used to the different setting. He had even gotten over being afraid one day things would just fall apart and his dad would get him and Pandora back. He’d truly moved on from being afraid. However, the one thing he didn’t consider was the fact that though they were living with the King’s, they weren’t legally a part of the family. The King’s didn’t foster him or his sister, nor did they inform the school of the living situation. Prince’s information was on file that his dad and (despite her disappearing act) his mother were still his legal guardians. Pandora didn’t start school until after moving in with the King’s so she wasn’t stuck with the on-paper relation to Kadin Jameson. Prince didn’t anticipate any of this when he acted up in class with his friends. As he and Matt and a few other kids sat outside the principal’s office, Prince thought the King’s were going to be called on behalf of both him and his bestie. It was to his surprise when an all too familiar figure walked through the door, striking a fear he hadn’t known in three years into him. If Prince had never left, he knew his dad would never even answer a call from the school. Prince was smart enough to know that his dad only showed up to prove that he could. That was how Kadin Jameson got a hold of Prince, bringing him back to the childhood home that he didn’t think he’d be seeing ever again. Prince forgot just how strong his dad was, having attempted to retaliate not long after they reached the house– a retaliation which led to Prince getting brutally beat by his father, then leading to Matt stumbling across the situation and finally seeing just how bad things were before he moved in with the King’s.

“You shouldn’t have gone there.” Prince spoke, rummaging through the fridge to find an icepack now that they were finally home. He glanced over at Matt who obviously didn’t care what Prince said. “He could have seriously hurt you, or worse.” Prince pulled a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer. “But I appreciate it.” Handing the bag of peas to Matt, he eyed up his friend’s face. Prince was afraid he would get in trouble for putting Matt in danger whereas Matt seemed as cool as a cucumber, just like he always was. It sometimes irritated Prince, just slightly. Matt had this sense of knowing that everything was going to be okay. He’d grown up like that, with things just always being in a state of good. Prince wished he could look at the world like that but the layer of fear that always seemed to be just under the surface refused to go completely away. “Your face is swelling a bit. We’re going to have to keep ice on that to keep it down. And your cheek is going to scar right there–“ Prince tracer under the cut with his finger. “Can’t really do anything about it now but at least it’s stopped bleeding.” Prince frowned. It had been a while since his second nature of tending to wounds came out of him. It also felt slightly embarrassing that at only twelve years old he knew how to take care of any kind of wound. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t shake the guilt over the fact that Matt had fallen into the wrath of Kadin. It wasn’t as if Matt was too badly shaken up, nor damaged, but Prince couldn’t help it. From before he was even five years old, he would step in and provoke his dad just to shift the rage from his mother to him and until he was eight he did the same exact thing with his sister. Prince just had this insinct to protect the people close to him, not caring if he suffered instead. It couldn’t be helped. He rolled his eyes when Matt started talking about how people might think he was tough with a scar on his face, anyway. Once again, he proved he just had a brighter outlook on life than Prince did. Prince sighed. “I’m going to go take a shower. I’m pretty sure my shirt’s got blood soaked into the back.” He wanted to be angry at Matt for showing up the way that he did but before he left to go be alone (and to avoid Matt’s parents coming home with Pandora and any of them seeing his bloody face) Prince wrapped both arms around his best friend, one hand patting his friend’s shoulder. When the gesture was returned, it hurt but not enough to make Prince pull away immediately. “Thanks, man. I’d be lost without you.” Were Prince’s last words to Matt before he finally retreated back upstairs to peel his uniform off and wash the reminder of the day’s events away.

{ v ;; katie and leo. 

       Though he was tending to her injury, Katie couldn’t help but beam up at Leo when he said they were going to have to keep ice on her hand, because she was so self-satisfied at the source of the pain. Katie had had her fair share of fights with other girls before and knocked out many the obnoxious, creepy guy in her radar but she felt more satisfied now than ever before. She never knew Eli having such amazing bone structure meant punching him in the jaw would shatter all feeling in her hand but here they were. "You can put ice wherever you want, Leo.” She was feeling playful regardless of the fact her hand was beginning to get it’s feeling back and the pain was ridiculous. She distracted him from nursing her hand back to full restoration by pulling him down to kiss her. They made out for a bit, only pulling away when she went to wrap her hand around his neck to grasp onto his hair but bending her knuckles made her gasp in pain and accidentally bite his lip. She chuckled innocently. “Sorry.” She pulled her arm back to herself and he was quick to reapply the hand towel which was filled with ice and wrapped tightly shut. Katie wasn’t the least-violent person in the world but it was mostly just petty cat-fights in the school hallway with girls that didn't like her. Every time she got called up to the principal’s office and her dad was called he always found a way to blame it on her hanging around with Leo Jameson, the ‘little troublemaker’ in her father’s words. She didn't fully understand that but at least each time the blame was never 100% focused on her. She was also known for defending herself and her friends whenever it came down to it. One time a guy in her P.E class snapped a picture of her stretching and her shirt hiked up a bit and she had shattered his phone and kicked him where the sun don’t shine. She got away with it, miraculously because she was sure if she got caught smashing another kids property that would be a final straw for her. Getting violent was no qualm to Katie Keller-Williams. However, getting violent with one of the closest people to her in her life was a bit unusual. She always brushed past Eli’s stupid comments and attempt to stir the pot between literally anybody. A lot of the time she honestly participated and he was likely more so the cause of any of the fights that Leo (who could not even be in the building at the time) got the blame for. Katie didn't care about Eli’s mischief except for when she was a victim of it. When he tried to rile Leo up about Katie and Jake, Katie didn’t even let the teasing turn on her before she finally did what she’d only dreamed of. “Eli is such a loser.” Her timing was off because Eli then entered the room, making a sarcastic comment about the fact that she was the one who got injured from there altercation. Despite her turn on him earlier in the evening, he was still Eli so she just retorted back with another sarcastic comment and things seem to go back to normal. Moments later her dad arrived to collect her, obviously a little worried to see Leo icing her fist and Katie could see from his expression and angrily quizzing the teens on what happened that he was ready to place all the blame on Leo. Katie smirked to herself, deciding to get the ultimate revenge on Eli, knowing how her dad was. She pouted innocently. “Eli tried to kiss me, and I broke my hand punching him in the face.” Her lie was directly quoting a movie but she already knew her dad was too stupid to pick up on it despite how many times he’d watched it with her. “He what?!” Paired with her dad’s fury aimed directly at Eli was satisfying enough for Katie.

❝ let me help with that. ❞

{ v ;; the princess and the moon. 

      Prince didn’t even hesitate to let Luna help. He stepped back and let her take over steaming his suit. It looked fine to him, he didn’t understand why Pandora had showed up with a fucking steamer over a week before the actual event– he didn’t even know where you could buy one of those. A week early, in Pandora’s words; “in case you mess it up.” Prince walked through the apartment to the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of whatever alcohol was closest and two glasses before he returned to Luna. Prince had thought his suit looked fine earlier but as he re-entered the bedroom it somehow looked better. “How the fuck did you do that?” He didn’t even know how it looked better, what she had done to it to make it seem more pristine, but it did. He handed her a glass as she finished and led her to the bed. Admittedly he was a little stressed about having a wedding ceremony. The only thing he actually wanted to do was get married to and spend the rest of his life with Luna and he really didn’t have the biggest grasp on the whole kerfuffle of a big ceremony. He continued to go along with it, though, purely because it was what she wanted and as long as she was by his his side he didn’t actually mind it. They drank, and chatted about the wedding for a bit before Prince admitted his nerves about the performance of it all. “Matt is going to fuck something up, I know it. Nick and Cass are probably going to fight, and I really, really don’t know how to dance.” He finalised his rant with a pathetic chuckle, downing his drink in one. His last point was one of his largest stress points surrounding the big day. He knew Luna was quite good at dancing, whereas Prince only did it after one too many bottles of beer otherwise being as stiff as the tin-man in the Wizard of Oz. “Let me help with that.” She repeated her words from earlier before pulling him up onto the floor in the middle of their bedroom. It was weird to consider the man he was now compared to the boy he was when he first met Luna. He’d asked her to marry him, he saw himself spending the rest of his life with a woman that he loved. You couldn’t tell seventeen year old Prince that and have him believe it for a second, and it was certainly unimaginable of that same Prince to willingly get up and dance to a slow song in the middle of the night but he found himself, one hand on her waist, the other palm pressed flat against hers. Luna instructed Alexa to play their playlist and he followed her advice with each step and each movement she insisted he make. After a while it was no longer them practicing for their wedding but just a couple wrapped around each other, swaying carelessly and caring more about being close, and being together than anything else in the world. He peppered kisses along her exposed collarbone, her neck and along her jaw as somehow the shuffle turned on some Ariana Grande song which of course had Luna singing along. He pulled back, eyes searching hers. The smile on her face was horrendously infectious, making Prince laugh slightly. He stopped dancing and his bright smile faded to a grin. “Marry me.” He spoke. “Let’s get married.” Luna had actually joked a few times about them just getting hitched in secret and each time he’d have taken her up on it if he didn’t know the wedding ceremony was important to her dad but right now he was joking about it. She obviously didn’t pick up on what he was saying, insisting she was getting married to him. He shook his head, took both her hands in his and chuckled softly. “No, I mean marry me. Right now. Let’s go get married.” Good thing she helped steam his suit. 

{ v ;; no reason.

       Jason didn’t understand why putting a diaper on a baby was so difficult. The baby was smaller than his arm, the diapers even smaller again. He hadn’t expected it to be like wrestling with a rodent. He didn’t even know what he was doing that was messing it up. One moment he thought he would have control of the situation and when he crossed one side of the diaper to stick it shut, the other side would just follow and slide completely away from Freddie’s body. When the diaper took a mind of it’s own and fell to the floor Jason let out an exasperated sigh. He kept one hand on his son, as he did his best to keep Fred balanced on top of the changing table while also trying to pick up the free-willing nappy. The sound of Iola’s chuckle caused him to stand up straight, abandoning the stray nappy mission. He smiled coyly, embarrassed about how stupid he probably looked. “Let me help with that.” And she interjected, sliding between Jason and the changing table. He frowned. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.” He attempted. It was hard to believe they were losing so much sleep because of a kid that sleeps eighteen hours in a day but they were, and Jason had offered to take a shift while she get some shut-eye. Clearly that wasn’t working. He was distracted then when he realised she already had the diaper wrapped up and sealed and was re-dressing the baby. His eyes widened, he couldn’t believe that. “Y'know, babe, that is so unfair. They showed you how to do it at the hospital when I wasn’t even there. You’ve got the advantage.” When she was finished dressing him Jason reached over and picked Freddie up into his arms, cooing into his face like a mad-man. “How is he one week old but somehow so wriggly? I couldn’t get him to lay still at all.” He pressed his cheek to the top of Freddie’s head. It was still so beyond his understanding how a babies head was so soft. In fact, the whole concept of this tiny human in his arms was baffling to him. How were they the ones who created such an adorable, yet wriggly, soft-headed human? Jason couldn’t even make toast yet he could make a whole person? He didn’t get it. But then again, he also didn’t get diapers so who was he to judge the route the universe was taking him down? He sighed and leaned over Freddie to give Iola a kiss. “Thank you for helping, next time give me a tutorial. I should be able to let my girlfriend take a nap without being at risk of burning the whole place down.” Freddie made a small giggle-like noise but it was enough to send Iola and Jason into major heart-eyed parents and return to doting on their baby.

{ v ;; july 17th. 

        Zayn wasn’t sure anyone heard him come through the front door until he was walking past Leilani’s room and the conversation between his wife and daughter wasn’t even perturbed a little so he knew they hadn’t heard him. “I’m so bad at eyeliner.” Leilani whined. “Let m help with that.” And Zayn assumed the following silence was Ari tending to their daughters make-up. He was going to leave them in peace until he heard the words that came out of Leilani’s mouth next. “Mum, how did you know dad was the one?” It felt someway wrong for him to remain hovering at the door, prying on Ari’s answer to that question but they were married and she told him how much she loved him so often that he was sure she wouldn’t mind. His smile was illuminating as he pressed his ear to the already slightly-ajar bedroom door. Ari had no problem detailing the matter of her love for Zayn to their teenager. It was nice to hear after so many years of marriage, and so many years of struggling to get there, Ari still felt so strongly for him. Eventually he pushed open the door, feeling the silent intrusion was getting to be too much. “How are my girls?” He beamed, pretending like he’d only just gotten home. He crossed the room to press a kiss to Ari’s lips. He glanced down at Leilani and gasped dramatically, carrying on his dramatic act as he told her she looked gorgeous-- focusing on her eyeliner which of course he wouldn't have even noticed if he hadn’t overheard the conversation. Leilani’s energy matched his and she seemed to still be on the topic of her parents relationship, questioning Zayn on how he knew he loved Ari. His smile softened and he looked to Arianna, scrunching his face up sarcastically at her before he looked back to Leilani. “Well,” he glanced at Ari fondly again. “When we were young, we were on this reality show. I had to leave it because of work commitments and personal stuff. I told your mum I was leaving and she was more upset than I expected.” His eyes were now fully trained on his wife and he stopped talking to think about the day he left gyhab She had gotten mad with him, and then sad, and then offered to go with him wherever he went. He smiled and reached over to brush under her chin with his hand. “We were just friends at the time so I didn’t know it would mean so much for her to not have me there. She spent my entire last day with me and although I could tell she wanted to, she didn’t beg me to stay. She understood that I had to leave, for me. It was so hard to say goodbye that day, and I think if I stayed we might have gotten together sooner.” Zayn had never actually told Ari all of this, and it was weird telling it about her despite how his eyes were on her with every single word. He let out a nervous chuckle and looked back to their daughter, reminding himself she’d asked a question. “It was that time when I was away that I knew I wanted to always have her in my life, and returning to her only proved how strongly I felt.” He pressed a kiss to Ari’s forehead and both of them laughed when Leilani commented on how ‘soppy’ they were. He didn’t care. All he cared about was that through all of that he somehow did end up with Ari by his side, and a rake of wonderful kids and a zoo of animals. Of course he was going to be soppy, he’d earned it.

{ v ;; katie and leo.

         “Katie!” she rolled her eyes at the sound of her sister’s screeching voice from downstairs. “Someone’s at the door for you!” She ignored her, knowing Bella would either send whoever it was up or away. Part of her already knew it was Leo, whom Bella had a liking towards, so she wasn’t surprised when her best friend walked into her bedroom. She was in her closet when he came in, trying to reach a box on one of her top shelves. She had told her dad time and time again not to put stuff up there– she simply couldn’t reach. Leo appeared beside her, reaching for the shelf with ease. “Let me help with that.” He took down the shoes and she felt even worse that she needed his help. “How nice of you. Are you just being nice today or are you waiting for the wrong time to be a dickhead again?” She brushed past him to go sit on her bed. She was focused on tying her laces when he finally joined her. He was yet to speak again which was to his own detriment really because she just took that as her opportunity to keep going. “Or is it, nice to me when we’re alone in my bedroom and an asshole in front of your cousins? Just let me know because I really can’t keep up.” Katie couldn’t put into words how upset she was with Leo’s outburst at his house. She also was starting to wonder why she even hung around Eli anymore. All he did, time and time again, was cause trouble for her and Leo. Sure, she participated when the mischief wasn’t aimed at her but when it was, she couldn’t stand it. He made things difficult for a pair of people that were more than capable of making things difficult for themselves without any help. On her bedside table, there was a photo of her mum that she had snuck from the pile Leo had shown them. There had been plenty of photos of both her parents but she liked to remember her mum as just that, just her, not as someone’s wife or girlfriend, especially now she knew what she did. He started to apologise and she looked away from the polaroid, and got off the bed. “Whatever, Leo. I don’t need you to be sorry. I’m sick of you being a dick to me and thinking an apology is reason enough to get away with it.” She was in front of her mirror now, spinning and sticking out her legs in front of her, trying to decide if she liked the shoes with the outfit or not. She could see him looking at her in the reflection and it was too distracting for her to focus on something so minuscule like her outfit. She turned back to him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about your parents but I didn’t think you’d want to know. I certainly didn’t want to know about mine but you didn’t give me a choice in the matter.” She didn’t want to get emotional but when it came to her mother it was almost impossible not to. She was more than aware that her dad was a bit of a loser and undeserving of her mother but at the same time that was still her dad, she loved him more than anything. He didn’t have to be perfect, he was a good dad and that was all that mattered to her. She couldn’t stand the thought of knowing he hurt her mother though. She only had a few memories of her mum but to her recollection she was the kindest and sweetest person in the world. Her dad had told her a little bit about how Cass had grown up, how her family resented her because she was a result of her mother’s infidelity, how she’d struggled with her self-confidence, how she spent her teen years miserable because of all of it. She couldn’t comprehend how her dad could know all that and still cheat on her. She didn’t want to get emotional but it couldn’t be helped. “You’re such a dickhead.” She wiped roughly and quickly at her eyes before he could even notice though it was probably the tremble in her tone that would give her away. “You have both your parents and they’re like this fairytale couple, and I was letting you think they were perfect because I can only wish to have that. So fucking what if your dad left? He came back, didn’t he? They got married and had you and Sage, didn’t they?” Any sign of tearing up earlier was beginning to get washed away by the pure rage she was beginning to feel. It wasn’t so much fury with what he’d said, but a crippling jealousy of his perfect home-life. Interrupting her rant, a car horn outside caused her to jump slightly. She cursed silently and looked out the window to see Jake waiting patiently in his car. She sighed and turned to Leo. “I have to go.” She sighed and grabbed her gym bag and jacket and made an exit so quick that Leo wouldn’t be able to get a word in. Adding to her mood on the way out was Aria’s “was there a boy in your room? Your dad is going to kill you.” Katie didn’t know who her dad cheated on her mum with but she knew he dated Aria when they were young. She wondered if Aria was the mystery girl and it only fuelled her to tell Aria to “shut the fuck up” before she was finally hopping into the front seat of Jakes car. Only two seconds later Leo walked out of the house causing Maia to lean forward from the back seat. “Who is that? Is he single? He’s fit as fuck.” Katie wanted to glare at the blonde but as Jake started the car, she just shrugged. “My dads friends son.”

❝ i’ll never let you go. ❞

{ v ;; the princess and the moon.

         Prince rolled his eyes when Cassie was the one to answer the door. He really wasn’t in the mood to see anyone but his girlfriend right now so he just ignored the irritation on the brunette’s face and made his way to Luna’s room. She was at her desk as he walked in so he made a small noise to alert her of his presence. The way she smiled at him was illuminating. He wanted to snap a picture so he could look at that smile forever. He didn’t give her much of the same energy she was radiating. He sighed and put his face in his hands which obviously only warranted concern from the Spaniard. He glanced over to her. “I had deja vu today.” He spoke, almost matter-of-factly, it having no relevance to his story to come. He told her what he thought deja vu meant, knowing the only reason she wasn’t shutting him up was simply because she just wanted to know what his point was. “Like, when I was five years old and I came home from school looking for my mum and she’d gone away.” He frowned. “Deja vu being feeling that all over again, coming home to no Elizabeth, again. Not knowing what I’ve done to get such a shit mum, again.” Prince chuckled despite his lack of amusement. “Looks like I’ve gotten smarter since I was a kid, though. Today, it only took me two minutes to figure out what the empty room meant.” He could feel the weight on his chest as he spoke the words. From the day Elizabeth had showed up at his front door, Prince didn’t even think his hopes were up too high. He didn’t have any expectations, and he never said nor acted like he wanted her to stick around. Prince didn’t let on that he wanted her to stay because deep down he wanted her to want to stay. If she was going to stay and finally act like his family, he wanted it to be her choice. He wasn’t too shocked when the choice she actually made was quite the opposite but Prince couldn’t pretend any longer like it didn’t hurt, like the repetition from his childhood didn’t sting. He felt the dip on the bed beside him. He was aware that Luna didn’t like nor did she trust his mother from the second he’d revealed he’d been helping her as of late but he knew she wasn’t going to make him feel guilty for it. What he didn’t know was how vulnerable he was going to feel, how ready to talk about this he was. He’d told Luna countless stories about his childhood before, from school days with Matt, to bad memories featuring his dad and all the time he had to be more of a parent to his sister than a brother. His stories never included his mum. He never talked about how he felt when she left, how he found out, how he coped. The only mention of her ever was one time, telling Luna she left and he never brought it up again. Now was different. He found himself opening up, talking to her about the day he came home from school and his dad told him his mum was gone and how he didn’t understand it. He told her about the first few weeks living in Matt’s house, how he kept thinking Elizabeth would hear they weren’t with their dad anymore and maybe she would come and get them. He opened up, telling her that he looked for her for nearly two years from when he was aged fourteen. Prince told Luna everything and at the end he sighed and shook his head. “I should have known better, but I didn’t. It was inevitable for her to leave again. Why would she stay?” He paused and looked away from Luna. “Why would anyone?” That was when Luna finally took her turn to speak, forcing Prince to look back at her, despite his resistance. His eyes searched her face and his cheeks flushed, slightly embarrassed about his self-deprecating comment. “I’ll never let you go.” She insisted and he remained silent. “You don’t need her, okay? She doesn’t deserve to see the wonderful person you turned out to be, and she sure as hell doesn’t deserve to get you riled up like this.” Prince didn’t understand it when she called him a ‘wonderful person’ but he believed it was  what she thought and he wasn’t going to argue it. Maybe she had a point. His mother wasn’t worth this grief and upset. Tired of feeling so pathetic, Prince kissed Luna. He wasn’t used to talking as much as he did today and kissing was his way of getting out of it. He finally pulled away to tuck his face into the crook of her neck and murmur the words “I love you.”

{ v ;; no reason. 

        Jason didn’t understand the emotion on his mother’s face as she told him how much she loved him. She'd been acting weird lately, getting up in the middle of the night to do laundry in the sink with a washboard despite them having a washing machine and dryer, and constantly talking about ‘the sisters’ and having to behave or ‘the sisters’ would punish them. She would check the clock insisting she didn't know why she was allowed around the kids for more than an hour and why no one was supervising. Jason knew she was behaving strangely but she’d always been a little strange. What was so different this time? He soon found out when his dad pulled Jason from the tearful embrace he shared with his mother. Two men entered the house along with a woman dressed as a nurse. His dad explained to him that his mother was ‘going away for a while’ but Jason knew what that meant. Tears streamed down his face as his father held a tight grasp around him, pulling him back despite all of his screaming and shouting. “No! You can’t take her away!” Soon his fighting just turned into him openly sobbing in his dad’s arms, even as he told him to ‘stop fucking crying’ every two minutes. He punched his dad’s chest, again and again but it was to no avail. His dad was stronger than him and the punches did nothing to encourage him to release Jason. Eventually, he let go, when the car was finally out of the drive. Neighbours emerged from their houses to get a look at the shrieking teen boy but Jason didn’t care. 

Jason woke with a start, sweat soaking his back. He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath. His face felt wet and he wasn’t sure if it was because he was sweating that much or the tears from his dream were real. A hand on his arm shocked him and he jumped away from the touch slightly before his gaze landed on Iola and the sight of her was enough to bring him back to reality, confirming he wasn’t back in Scotland at fourteen years old. She asked what was going on but he had his hand on his chest, still trying to catch his breath, unable to answer her. He managed to gasp out that he needed water and she was barely to the kitchen back in thirty seconds. He was sitting at the edge of the bed now, his feet touching the cold wood floor which was kind of soothing in bringing him back down to reality. Iola slipped down beside him, handing him   the water and rubbing his back. A few deep breaths later, the glass empty, Jason finally detailed his dream/memory to his wife, clutching her hand with every word. “Sorry for waking you.” Jason had never actually had this happen to him before. He didn’t really suffer from nightmares, if anything he was constantly having strange dreams which he always relayed to Iola in the morning like the time he dreamed he was appointed mayor of the moon and another time he had a very, very vivid dream that he took Zayn’s place in One Direction and became the most popular member. That had been his favourite. This time was different. The nightmare was based on memory, something that actually happened and it was scary. He couldn’t get back to sleep afterwards so him and Iola curled back into bed together and she stayed up with him talking. She was good at taking his mind off of it but eventually he couldn’t not think about why the nightmare happened. He was busy playing with her hand, her fingers twirling around his until he moved his hand again to get her to follow, then intertwining their fingers and shifting his hand yet again, both giggling softly at the small yet stupid movements, when he got a sudden wave of anxiety. He sighed and dropped his hand into his lap. He started talking about the memory, rather than the dream, telling her that despite his mum’s weird behaviour up until that moment he hadn’t expected his father to send her away. Even now in his thirties he couldn’t understand it. He considered not saying the next thing but he wanted to be open with her. “That day is why I was so afraid of getting married and starting a family with you. I just don’t understand how he could look at the woman he loved and decide to send her away. He just let her go, like she was this burden. And he always compared me to her so I guess I just thought...” He let the sentence die in his throat. Even now, he got embarrassed telling her how unworthy he always felt of her love, after all this time. But she always knew how to handle him. She cradled his face in her hands and her eyes searched his until he finally looked at her. She kissed him and he didn’t hesitate to respond. “I will never let you go.” His eyes fluttered open as she pulled away to speak. His chest felt heavy, but in a good way. In a ‘my heart is beating dangerously fast because I love this girl so much’ kind of way. He smiled and kissed her again, pushing his appreciation into his actions as his hands glided up her back.

{ v ;; July 17th. 

       Sometimes, Zayn woke up and he forgot what they were going through. Sometimes, he rolled over to see his fiancee, fast asleep, and would smile because of how peaceful she looked. There were moments, of sleepiness and exhaustion, where the bad stuff wasn’t the first thing he remembered. Then, there were times that it was all he could think of. He had restless nights when his horrible thoughts wouldn’t let him fall asleep and he had nights where he woke with a start, dreaming of things that were their reality. This time, he woke up slowly, a half-groan, half-sigh falling from his lips. He stirred slightly, feeling a weight on his chest. Blinking one eye open, he glanced at the abundance of hair sprawled across his body, Ari’s arm wrapped over his torso. He smiled. She didn’t look all that comfortable but she still somehow managed to sleep soundly. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and did his best not to wake her as he lifted her slightly so he could crawl out of the bed. He wasn’t sure what time it was but it was still dark out. As he got out of the bed, so too did Hatchi, while the other animals who hadn’t been sleeping with the couple all gathered around Zayn’s feet on the floor of the bedroom. A little zoo. He stretched his arms over his head and made his way downstairs to the kitchen, momentarily wondering if the sound of all of the dogs paws and claws scratching against the floorboards would wake Ari. It felt noisy as hell to him, anyway. He wasn’t really sure why he had gotten out of bed, just to stretch his legs he supposed. He walked into the kitchen but he wasn’t hungry, and it was too late/early for coffee. He decided to just have a cigarette and let the dogs out for five minutes. Alone, it was difficult not to think about everything. There hadn’t been a day where he didn’t get flashbacks to the day in the hospital. Watching the doctors face fall as Zayn asked why he couldn’t hold his son, watching Ari try not to cry but failing, just the same as him. He cried then, but he hasn’t cried since. Coming home from the hospital was just pure emptiness; there should have been three of them. There wasn’t. Zayn was freed from his thoughts when the animals started scratching on the door to be let back in. Zayn sighed and stomped his cigarette out in the ashtray before returning to bed. Ari had seemingly changed position, without Zayn to hold onto, now rolled over to her own side of the bed, lying flat. His lips tugged upwards, seeing how serene she seemed. He watched as Hatchi jumped back up onto the bed, settling at Ari’s feet. Zayn lifted the covers and tried to be silent as he lay back down. Out of nowhere, her hand reached across the bed, moving all around as though she was searching, and failing, to find him until both of his hands reached over and took hers, slowing her actions down. “Hey, hey, I’m here, babe.” He whispered, despite how she was still asleep through her search for his presence in the bed. He kissed her hand, still crowded in both of his. “I’m here.” He repeated. It was unwarranted, when his eyes starting filling up with tears, the anxiety flooding his chest. He rolled over on the bed, releasing her hand so he could fold up against her body. He repeated saying that he was there, his words mangling with his tears until he was no longer saying anything and just silently crying. He heard his name, his sudden outburst a probable cause for her waking up. He felt her hands in his hair and he shifted so his face was tucked into the crook of her neck. “I’m sorry.” He sobbed, repeating the words even unsure of what he was apologising for. They’d been threading on egg shells the last year. They’d grown so distant that half the time Zayn wasn’t even sure their relationship was salvageable. The idea of a wedding didn’t seem realistic anymore. It was all on him. He started ignoring her, started looking for something that could heal him that wasn’t her. All of their conversations ended with him walking away, or her going to bed. Nothing was right and it hadn’t been for a while which was why this breakdown was so unusual. Zayn pretended like they hadn’t gone through what they did. Being away from her was his way of pretending. He didn’t want to pretend anymore and he didn’t want to shove their relationship under the rug. For some reason, now, in the dead of night, he was completely falling apart because of all of this. So much so he’d woken her up but he appreciated her just accepting his breakdown, holding him as he sobbed. He didn’t speak anymore, just crying in the arms of his fiancee. From his throat came a sob, so raw that he was sure he could feel tears on Ari’s cheeks now too. It was a while before he came back around to reality, wiping his gross, snotty nose on his sleeve and dabbing at his eyes. He wasn’t embarrassed as Ari cradled him through it, but he knew he had to talk about it. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t—“ It was so unusual. He had barely spoken to her like a normal human being in a relationship the last few months yet he seemed to break that silence by weeping in her arms. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced, the pain in his chest, the tightening around his vocal cords. Zayn had had panic attacks in the past but this didn’t feel like that, he felt like he was going to die in the minutes he spent crying in her arms. It was difficult to now try get a grasp on his breathing, having to physically open his mouth catching every bit of air he could. “I don’t want to lose you, I don’t want to lose this.” He said, out of nowhere for both of them. Every time in the last year he thought about their relationship, a part of him just expected it was going to end someday soon but he never thought further. He never considered going home to try and save it. He just accepted it, but now it seemed to be his priority. He shook his head again. “I don’t deserve any more chances, I don’t deserve to still be waking up next to you but I am and I--” Out of nowhere he felt weighed down by feelings of anxiety yet again and he found himself struggling to breathe, unable to finish his sentence. Ari knew what to do, she always did. She helped him breathe through it, in and out, in and out and eventually she calmed him down. He felt her lips graze his hairline. “I will never let you go.” And it only reassured him because he could feel in her tone that she meant it.

[soocouldbemyonlystar]

Chaebols: The Arrangement Pt3

Genre: Angst/Fluff

Length: 6k

Pairing: Kyungsoo x OC

First  Previous  Pt3  Next

The lighting was just right in the dining room. In one spot, on the table at the end furthest from the kitchen, with her back to the hallway door, it was just perfect. Jae-eun threw a sheet over the table cloth, set up her isle and arranged the beautiful summer flowers her father-in-law sent her, until they looked just how she wanted. With earbuds in, music turned up and supplies in place, she took pastel chalk to paper.

Jae-eun had been fighting the urge since the guys had been over for dinner a couple of months before. Her art had been something she stuffed in a box and set aside because it was what her parents asked, but she no longer lived in her parent’s house. She was grown and married, and here she could breath. She hadn’t even asked Kyungsoo his opinion. Once she had seen the rich blues, pinks and yellows framed by green stems and leaves, in a matte pink glass vase with an English “J” etched on it, she knew she had to do it.

It was her soul, splattered on canvas. Jae-eun always compared her art to music, like a choir. Each hue voiced its own sound, some loudly, some muted, some sharp and others flat, all coming together in a chorus of color. She was completely engulfed in the drawing, using her fingers to pull some of the color away or spread it around. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, stands breaking free brushing across her face, tickling her nose. Time was lost for her.

Until she stepped back to take a better look and finally caught sight of the figure beside her. Jae-eun gasped at Kyungsoo’s intense stare and started to back away, forgetting she had set the box of supplies on the floor beside her. She hit the box with her heel and her momentum sent her careening over it. With wide eyes, Kyungsoo lunged forward to catch her, but he miscalculated and lost his balance as well.

There was no stopping it now, Jae-eun squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the impact. They crashed to the floor but with less pain that she had anticipated. Kyungsoo was wrapped around her, a hand cradling her head and the other lay under her shoulders. He held as much of his weight off her as possible, but his head was tucked into her neck and he lay motionless. Panic coursed through her.

“Kyungsoo, are you okay,” she asked as she pulled the earbuds from her ears.

He moaned in response, lifting his head and leaning on the arm that was under her. His face was too close, his eyebrows furrowed, two dimples appearing just above the thick masses. Dark eyes looked lazily over her face, and Jae-eun’s breath hitched just slightly. Kyungsoo made no move to get up, instead his hand slid from behind her head and he dragged the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip. It was just a light graze, it shouldn’t mean much, but then Kyungsoo had never touched her like this before.

There had been a little caress or sometimes he would hold her hand, things that sold the lie, but it was always in public and only within the lines of what Kyungsoo was comfortable displaying. In private, he always kept a distance. Now, he was touching her, with a look on his face she had never seen before, while they were so close they were practically existing in the same space. Jae-eun’s heart raced, she could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t take her eyes away from him.

He raised an eyebrow as he held up his thumb for her to see. Jae-eun erupted in laughter, bringing up her free hand to hide the embarrassment of being caught with chalk all over her face. As if it was against his will, a smile crept up on Kyungsoo’s face, and he lifted himself up, sitting back on his knees, extending his hand to help her sit up.

“It’s pastel chalk, my hair kept falling in my face and it itched.” She tried rubbing the back of her hand across her face to wipe it off.

“You’re making it worse,” he chuckled. His hands moved to her face again, gently brushing the color away from her forehead, her cheeks, the bridge of her nose and of course her bottom lip. His eyes narrowed as he focused intently on the smears. “It’s not coming off.”

Jae-eun smiled. He looked like a pouting child, trying to make the color disappear. “It’s okay, it will wash off.”

Kyungsoo dropped his hands then, looking over the spilled contents of the tote. “What is all of this?”

Jae-eun picked up paint tubes and brushes, throwing them haphazardly into the tote. Most of it was old and had gone bad. She would need to go through and throw most of it away and make a list of what needed to be replaced. “It’s my old art supplies. I haven’t been through this in years.”

“Most of it looks like trash,” he noted as he helped Jae-eun refill the box.

“It probably is. Some of this I even had in college. I had to be sparing with my supplies then because my dad would only pay for my business program, so, I moved into a small apartment with a roommate, worked full time to pay bills and buy what I needed and used my living stipend to double major. My parents were so mad when they saw the art degree that they made me box all of it up and threatened to throw it out if I got back in it.” She explained, “I’m sorry, I should have asked if it was okay to do it in here, but the lighting was just right and your dad sent me those beautiful flowers.”

“Why would you need to ask, this is your home. Do what you want.” He shook his head, “Wait, did you say my dad sent you flowers?”

Jae-eun nodded, “Yes, to thank me for having lunch with him yesterday.”

“You had lunch with my dad yesterday?” He seemed genuinely surprised by this, “I guess that’s why he canceled on me.”

“I usually have lunch with your dad a couple of times a week.” She threw the last of the supplies into the tote and stood up, Kyungsoo followed. Jae-eun pointed to the flowers on the table, “aren’t they beautiful?”

“I didn’t know my dad liked you so much.” He seemed puzzled about this, his brows furrowed again as he looked over the elegant bouquet that was obviously pricey.

“He’s my favorite person in the entire world. I like him better than I like you.” She flashed him a toothy grin.

“Haha,” he huffed sarcastically. “Did you forget about our work dinner tonight?”

“No,” she grabbed his wrist to check his watch. Every three months, all the Ganghan directors attended a dinner party at Kyungsoo’s parents house to discuss business in a less formal setting. His father had started it when he first took over the company and it became a tradition. This was the first one she would attend. “I still have plenty of time. I’ll just put this away and get ready…”

“Leave it,” he cut her off, “it’s nice.”

Jae-eun smiled, “You just complemented me,” she stated proudly.

Kyungsoo pursed his lips in annoyance. He took her by the shoulders, moving her until she was in front of the dining room door, then he turned her around and lightly shoved her out the door.

She showered quickly, curling her hair and arranging it so that it cascaded to the side off her shoulder. She dawned a dusty-rose colored fitted bodycon dress with a Queen Anne neckline. She had talked to Sehun about having the dress designed to match the shirt she had made for Kyungsoo. It was a color she had recently become fond of.

Kyungsoo was waiting in the foyer for her, dressed in gray slacks and a black dress shirt.

“That color suits you.” He looked her over and though she didn’t know why, it made her feel fluttery.

Jae-eun untied Kyungsoo’s tie, “Maybe, but it definitely suits you, which is why I had it made.”

She threw the tie over her shoulder and started for the buttons of his shirt. Kyungsoo stood uncomfortably still as she pulled his shirt off. “What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, the goal isn’t for you to undress. I had a dress shirt made for you.” She walked to the coat closet and pulled out a dress shirt Sehun had made. It was similar to the color of his lips. She had noticed the exquisite color the first time they had dinner with his friends. Jae-eun had a feeling the color would look good on him.    

“I’ll match you.” He said matter-of-factly. This seemed to concern him.

“No, I’ll match you. My dress was made as a complement to your shirt.” She held the shirt up and he slipped his arms into it. Jae-eun sat the shirt up on his shoulders and let him button and tuck it then she turned up the collar and slipped his tie back on.

He watched her as she worked, “You’re really good at this.”

“I better be, I trained all my life for it.” She said as she tightened the knot, “I called Jongdae while I was getting ready, I’m really worried. He’s drunk again, and more often than not when I call. His little study friend from school, So-young is with him, and she promised to get him home safely, and Minseok is going to stop by to make him coffee in the morning, but I would still like to check on him when dinner is over.”

Jae-eun was terrified that Jongdae would self-destruct soon, his entire life had changed over-night, and he didn’t seem to be adjusting. Everyone was trying to keep an eye on him and pitch in when he drank too much.  

“Of course.” Kyungsoo replied.

Jae-Eun smoothed his collar back down and whisked away the one stubborn strand of hair on his head that always fell out of place. “I think you’ve complemented me three times today. It’s a record. If you keep this up I may think you actually like me a little.”

“I’m just trying to butter you up for our eventual argument tonight.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk.  

“You’re scheduling our arguments now?”

“We’re going out in public, Jae-eun. That always ends up in an argument.” He adjusted his tie until it was comfortable and Jae-eun retrieved her clutch from the table.

“Good point.” She laughed. Then she took him by the shoulders, like he did when he sent her to get ready and turned him to the mirror that hung on the wall, “Then here is my pre-fight complement, you look amazing in that shirt.”

Kyungsoo shrugged turning back to Jae-eun with little consideration to his appearance, “I need you to do something for me.”

The worry lines that spread across his forehead amused Jae-eun. He was so careful, planed everything, she loved keeping him on his toes. Watching him attempt to account for what she may do was one of her favorite things. She raised an eyebrow.

“Some of the directors are old friends of my dad’s. They are old fashioned and have some outdated opinions, so could you please just sit there and look lovely and keep your opinions to yourself tonight?”

The worry now marred every feature of his handsome face and though the request made anger pound in her chest, she knew she should do as asked. It was one thing to drive him crazy at home, but his business was something that would always be off limits. She needed him to succeed, and if keeping her mouth shut at a business dinner would be helpful, she would super glue it shut.

“If that’s what you need.” She agreed.

“It is. Now are you ready to go?”  He asked as he held the door open for her.

***

 Kyungsoo had been right. About the outdated opinions of old men, and about their eventual fight.

And Jae-eun was in a lot of trouble.

They rode home from Jongdae’s in a horrible, thick silence that had Jae-eun bouncing her leg and tapping her fingers in a nervous fidget.

Jongdae had been drunk in bed mumbling about how much he loved her and Kyungsoo and how she had to promise she would never leave him. So-young was hunkered down on his couch for the night, so Jae-eun didn’t feel so bad about leaving him, though she wished she could have made the excuse to stay so that she wouldn’t have to deal with the backlash of her stupidity.

She had tried. She sat as quietly as possible, answered in short, to-the-point statements, and only held conversations with Sehun, who was the director of their fashion brand, or Kyungsoo’s parents. But she hadn’t been able to contain the scoff when the Director of Advertising made a ridiculous pitch. She tried to play it off when he called her out.

“Do you disagree, Madam Do?”

“No, of course not.” She could feel Kyungsoo relax beside her at the response.

But the man had pushed, and she let him have it, promptly telling him how absurd it was to market house hold cleaning products to women only. What was she supposed to do? She had played it off, but the old geezer insisted she give her opinion. She had tried to wiggle out of it once more, but the Director continued to insist.

“Okay, yes, I disagree. Statistics show that more and more men are staying home or having a more active role at home, so tailoring the ad to only women would have us missing out on a growing market. The company will lose money because you believe a man should work and a woman should stay at home.”

Jaen-eun had felt the tug of Kyungsoo’s hand on her elbow, then a slight squeeze, prompting her to be quiet. She did as he asked, even as the conversation continued, even after Mi-sun, with all her motherly-glow, agreed with her. Even when the Director called her insolent and disrespectful. That man’s opinion of her didn’t matter to her in the least.

Kyungsoo on the other hand was furious.

“You are the one that’s disrespectful, Director.” Kyungsoo interrupted.

The man scoffed, “How can you call me disrespectful, I’ve worked for your father faithfully for all these years. Only now, near the end of my life am I retiring and taking some time for myself and my family.”

“You can keep telling everyone that, but do you honestly think I don’t know that you are retiring here and going to our competitor who’s offered you more money? And before you try to deny it, I wouldn’t have brought it up without proof, so we can skip the innocent act.” Kyungsoo thundered. “I was going to discuss this with you separately but since you think it’s okay to insult my wife and embarrass her in front of all our directors, I’m done caring about you feeling humiliated.”  

Jae-eun’s heart pounded against her ribcage. She had grown accustomed to his anger being directed at her, but to see it aimed, rightfully so, at someone else, watching him defend his business, defend her, was thrilling. Her husband was damn fine when he was angry. And she wasn’t all together too happy about that thought.

“I knew it was a mistake for the former CEO to offer you a contract without a non-compete clause.” He nodded respectfully to his father, “But your friendship was more important than that to him. It’s no matter, because I’ve decided you can spend your last month with us preparing our new advertising director to take over.”

“But we haven’t hired a new director yet.” The Director stated, “I’m starting the process of interviewing next week…”

Kyungsoo cut him off, “That won’t be necessary. I’ve been trying to find a place for Jae-eun within the company and after what I’ve just heard I think she would be a perfect fit for the position.”  

Jae-eun froze. Her mind must have wondered off during the conversation, she thought Kyungsoo just said she would be the new director.

“I won’t stand for this, Do Kyung-chul are you going to let this disrespectful child behave in such a manner?” The director complained.

“Kyungsoo,” his father’s voice boomed, echoing across the dining hall so loudly it made Jae-eun jump.

She had never heard Kyung-chul speak so loudly, or sound so angry. Jae-eun regretted opening her mouth in the first place. Now, not only had she caused this commotion, but Kyung-chul was upset and Kyungsoo would be in trouble with his father. Curse her opinions. Why couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut like he had asked.

But Kyungsoo didn’t falter, “Yes, father.”

“Good job, son. I whole-heartedly agree with your decision.”

Jae-eun turned to him in surprise.

“That is, if Jae-eun wants the position.” He smiled at her, and Jae-eun once again thought he was her favorite person in the world.

“Yes, father, I’ll do my best.” She bowed her head to him.

The director spoke up again. “You can’t do this, I will not help that girl.”

Kyung-chul turned his attention back to the director, “You will do it. Need I remind you, you still have one month left on the revised contract that stipulated your retirement in which I agreed upon when I still held your friendship in high regards.”

Jae-eun marveled as Kyung-chul declared he’d sue if the director didn’t comply. Pride for her husband and father-in-law swelled in her chest. One thing that she couldn’t deny was the men in this family took care of their own. Kyungsoo was sure to be angry with her, but it didn’t stop him from standing up for her and his own business when either was threatened.

Warmth invaded her thoughts as he slipped his hand into the one she had resting in her lap. Jae-eun gazed as his fingers entwined with hers. It was foreign to her, their hands together, but she realized just how perfectly her hand fit in his, the contrast of her almond colored skin and his darker beige, her delicate fingers laced between his longer, callused ones.

There were times, like this, when he felt right. When it didn’t feel like part of an act. It seemed like an unconscious act as he was more focused on the conversation than the thumb that rubbed circles into the back of her hand. Sometimes it bothered her, she didn’t like feeling connected to him. He seemed intent on making them both miserable. But sometimes, she could catch little glimpses of the real Kyungsoo, the one his family was so proud of, the one his friends loved, and those moments were etching themselves into her very being. She craved the part of him that he kept hidden from her, and that was the most dangerous thing Jae-eun could do.

The director, having been thoroughly chastised by Kyung-chul, left the dinner. When the party was wrapping up, Kyungsoo stepped away from her, searching out his father to discuss everything. Sehun made his way to her side.

“Noona, I think I love you, run away with me.” He whispered in her ear. Jae-eun giggled at his request.

“Sehunnie, we would have a great love affair, but I would only break your heart in the end.” She beamed up at him.

Sehun congratulated her on setting the old crab in his place like so many others had wished to do. They chatted a while longer, about how well Kyungsoo’s shirt fit and how the color suited him just as she had thought, she spoke with her father-in-law who congratulated her, and as the people started dwindling, Kyungsoo collected her so they could leave.

  When they were closed in the back seat of their car, the driver making his way to Jongdae’s, Jae-eun finally spoke.

“I’m sorry…”

“Just don’t.” he snapped.

Jae-eun clamped her mouth shut. She knew he would be mad, and just as he told her before they left, tonight they would fight.

“Just pretend everything is fine. Hyung doesn’t need to deal with us fighting.” Kyungsoo mumbled, “but I will tell you this. The decision to bring you in as advertising director didn’t have anything to do with tonight, Dad and I have been discussing this for a while. You seem to have a good eye for it. But this is your only chance, if you screw this up, you won’t have anything to do with Ganghan again. Understand?”

“Yes, Jagi.” She nodded.

So-young had Jongdae tucked in and seeing her set up on the couch to watch over him for the night made Jae-eun feel a little more at ease. Minseok was coming in the morning, so they left, confident that Jongdae would be alright.

The rest of the ride home was as quiet as before.

And when he didn’t erupt as they walked into the house, Jae-eun became anxious. They argued frequently, but more often Kyungsoo tended to just walk away. Avoidance had become a theme for them and she knew that if they both continued to bottle things up, the later explosion could result in destroying everything she was trying so hard to build. She didn’t want to fight and bicker with him constantly, but it was as if he baited her. It seemed as if he liked to make her angry. And at the moment, the longer he stayed quiet, the more she fumed.

Kyungsoo slipped off his shoes, loosened his tie and made his way into the living room. The silence beat like a drum in her chest. It was the sound of everything crumbling around her. Why was she the only one trying? Jae-eun knew she messed up this time, she wasn’t so arrogant that she couldn’t admit when she was wrong. But, how could she apologize, how could she make it right when he wouldn’t talk to her. The more she thought about it the angrier she became. What right did he have to be mad at her when she tried, when she put in more effort into their marriage than he did.

Kyungsoo’s answer to everything involving her, was avoidance. No matter what she did, how she tried to make it work, he was never satisfied with her. Why should she feel bad when he was already assuming they would fight, that he would be angry with her before she had even done anything wrong?

Jae-eun kicked off her heels, threw her clutch on the table, and when he still didn’t say anything as she stepped into the living room, she decided she had had enough of the silent treatment.  

“Okay, we’re home, so just let it out.” Jae-eun urged.

“I’m too tired for this right now, we can talk later,” Kyungsoo replied, but there wasn’t a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

“That’s right, just avoid me at all cost, like you always do. I want to talk it out and you just want to run away.” It was the truth, and Jae-eun was done pretending.

“Well I wanted you to keep your mouth shut at dinner. We don’t always get what we ask for.” He shot back.

“Come on, Kyungsoo, that pitch was ridiculous.”

“Of course, it was ridiculous, I told you that some of the older directors were old-fashioned. All you had to do was sit there, smile, and nod. But that was obviously beyond your ability.” He snapped at her.

“I’m not your damn trophy wife, Kyungsoo. I tried to play it off, avert his attention but he kept pressing.” She countered, turning her back to him. “Unzip me.”

He did, quickly without a second thought.

“You’re pretty sure of yourself.” He scoffed.

“Yes, I am, because I’m secure enough to not need your validation to know that I’m attractive.” She turned back to face him. “You want a woman who will keep quiet and look pretty. A vapid, uneducated, airhead to be your arm candy.”

“You have no idea what I want.” He interjected, his voice was low and Jae-eun could feel a hint of danger in it.

“That’s because you don’t talk to me.” She yelled at him, consequences be damned. “You won’t even let me apologize. I can admit when I’m wrong. But you…you just can’t seem to understand that I’m not your enemy. Why is it so hard for you to just trust me and try to make this work? I can’t keep being the only one trying.”

He didn’t speak, didn’t try to deny, explain his behavior, or find a compromise. He glared at her with those eyes that, despite everything, somehow managed to make her feel weak. Just like every other time she tried to work things through, come to an understanding, he was shutting down. Jae-eun fought back the lump in her throat, the constrictions on her lungs that threatened to cut off her air supply and let her suffocate.

She couldn’t let him close up, everything he said was one step closer to learning something new. If he wouldn’t volunteer the information, she would have to pry it out of him by any means. If just asking didn’t work, she would have to hit him where it would do the damage. In the subject where he wouldn’t keep quiet.      

“And I didn’t see you get angry when someone else gave their opinion.”

Success! Kyungsoo threw his hands in the air. “Don’t bring Mi-sun into this. She has nothing to do with us.”

“Maybe not, but she is one of your directors and you didn’t look twice when she gave her opinion. It’s okay for her to say what she thinks, but I’m forbidden?”

“She’s not my wife.” He roared, the deep timber echoing though the room.

“Too bad for you, huh,” She hated saying it. She regretted it the moment it came out of her mouth, but it would be the most effective way to push his limit.              

Kyungsoo growled, “You’re infuriating.”

Jae-eun, lost what little control she had left, stepping closer, face-to-face, where he couldn’t hide, and unleashed months of fury in just a few words, “And you are a bitter, hateful, self-centered asshole.”

The room fell quiet. They stood a foot apart, his chest heaved and his jaw twitched, but Jae-eun didn’t back down. She refused to let him intimidate her with his ridiculously piercing stare, those deep, dark depths. She didn’t falter, her eyes just as sharp, her breath just as heavy.

Faster than she could register, Kyungsoo’s hand snaked around the back of her neck, pulling her forward, into him, his lips capturing hers. Shock rendered Jae-eun motionless for a moment, she had been prepared for a heated exchange, she had instigated it, but this was not the heat she was expecting. Reality hit her fast and she fought against him, bringing her hands to his chest and pushing him back.

He gave just enough slack for their lips to part, but he was still too close, it was too hot and the air too thick, his breath leaving a damp tingle as it brushed against her skin. In her mind, what little of it was left working, she tried to rationalize this. Things were emotional, they were angry, HE was angry and that can lead to uncharacteristic behavior. But there was something in his face, as he looked over her, making her feverish, that stopped her from protesting as he pulled her back to him. His lips played over hers, a little softer this time, but just as demanding.

Though she was hesitant at first, curiosity eventually won Jae-eun over. She had to admit, she wanted to know what this was like, how it felt for Kyungsoo to kiss her with passion, to touch her like he needed her.  

She had to admit it was intoxicating.

His lips like soft pillows caressed hers, his tongue teasing, tasting. She wrapped her arms around his neck holding him to her, taking whatever he was willing to give.

Jae-eun hadn’t realized they were moving until she felt the decorative table press against the small of her back. Kyungsoo’s hands ran over her hips, around the curve of her bottom, grasped the back of her thighs, and lifted her up to sit on the table. Vaguely, in the distance, she could recognize the sound of pictures being knocked over and a fancy metal dish clattering to the floor. It seemed like a world away as Kyungsoo’s thumbs hooked into the hem of her dress inching the fabric upwards, his own hips following, fitting himself between her thighs.

He molded his body against hers, as she ran her fingers into his hair. She had a brief thought, while his mouth assaulted her in a way that set her aflame, that those lips were made for this. Made to make a woman lose herself in the pleasure they promised. Jae-eun didn’t know if she wanted to be lost, but despite the feel of his body in line with hers, the way his scent surrounded her, the way he seemed to drink her in, reason threatened to pull her back to reality.

The reality that this would only end badly, anything involving her and Kyungsoo always did. It was a stupid move. She had kept herself shielded from him for so long only to offer him control. And with control he would only bruise her. She wasn’t so confused that she thought herself in love with him, but she found herself wishing she was. He was attractive, she had always thought that, but desiring Kyungsoo was new and it scared her, because it was something that couldn’t only strengthen her pull to him. Kyungsoo was determined to destroy any connections she attempted to forge between them.  

All these thoughts fled as his fingerstips skimmed over the bare skin of her back. Warm hands splayed out, leaving chill bumps in their wake. They drifted up further, taking each side of her unzipped dress and pulling it away from her shoulders. Then his lips moved away from hers, leaving an irresistible trail of kisses across her jaw, down her neck and along her collar bone. A sound, somewhere between a groan and a growl, escaped his throat as she held him where his lips pulled at her skin, the sting causing her to release a sigh of her own.

Kyungsoo freed the tender flesh he’d scarred, his eyes moved over her, taking in the sight of her wrapped around him, the dress barely covering her chest, her face flushed and lips puffy from their violation, but the look she had seen earlier was gone. The cold, indifferent Kyungsoo had returned and Jae-eun felt her heart sink to the floor.

He took a deep breath, a smile forming on the corner of his lips, “Well now I know how to shut you up, or should I continue?”

Jae-eun stared at him for a moment, in disbelief. She had known better, this wasn’t anyone’s fault but her own. She had messed up for the second time tonight. Stunned, embarrassed, so many emotions engulfed her, but most of all she was enraged. This was too much. She had wanted to push him to his limit, but instead he had accomplished the same thing against her.

Her hands shot forward, shoving him away from her, dropping herself to the floor and holding her dress up with one arm. He stumbled back a step, that smile still mocking her. For the first time, Jae-eun used her self-defense training she hand learned in the states, balling up her fist, throwing it forward with all her weight behind it, and landed the blow against his jaw. His head jerked to the side, but he stood in place.

“I hate you,” she hissed.

Kyungsoo turned back to her, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth, but the smile remained. He ran his tongue across the lacerated lip. “Finally, the truth comes out.”

Jae-eun fought back the tears that begged for release. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. He didn’t get to have that satisfaction, he didn’t get to see that he had hurt her. Even if he knew it. But no matter how she hard she fought, a tear escaped. Like the first raindrop of a storm hitting the window, the lone tear streamed down her face.

His façade faltered for a moment, his brows furrowing, and concerned colored the edge of his stare, but he blinked it away quickly.  

“Go to hell, Kyungsoo.” She barked as she turned, head held high, and walked out of the living room to the foyer.

“I’d probably be stuck with you there as well,” he called after her.

As she retrieved her clutch from the table Jae-eun caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her dress was barely held up by one arm, her hair disheveled, but worse was the dark, purple, bruise that rested against her collar bone. A reminder of her stupidity.

Without another sound she walked out the front door, she didn’t know where, but she had to get out of there. Looking at him would be impossible, being under the same roof was more than she could manage. Jongdae’s was out of the question, so she pulled her phone from her clutch and dialed the only number that made sense to her.

“Jae-eun-ah,” Chanyeol answered after the third ring, “It’s late, is everything okay?”

“Oppa,” she sobbed, no longer able to keep her tears a bay, “I have to get out of here, can you please come get me? I don’t think I need to drive, but I can’t stay at this house right now.”

“What happened, where’s Kyungsoo?”

“Please, can you just come get me?” She cried as she started down the drive to the street.

“I’ll be right there. Ten minutes, I promise okay? Don’t leave, don’t go back in, I’m on my way.” Chanyeol assured her before he hung up.

Jae-eun made it down the drive way and out the gate, barefoot, her hair in tangles, her dress unzipped, and dropped to the curb. The tears fell involuntarily, she didn’t want to cry over him, she didn’t want him to have won, whether he knew it or not. But no matter how much she tried to breath, to calm down and stop the flow, they flooded her eyes and poured down.

True to his word, Chanyeol pulled up in just under ten minutes. He shot out of the car the moment it was parked and was at her side as she stood.

“What happened, Jae?” Chanyeol looked her over. The passenger door of the car opened and Jae-eun recognized the girl from the video Chanyeol had showed her. “Yeon-hee, can you grab my jacket?”

The girl turned back to the car.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to call, I just need to get out of here.” She managed between sobs.

“Did Kyungsoo do this?” Anger was evident on his face. Chanyeol didn’t wait for an answer, he turned and started for the gate, but Jae-eun caught him.

“No,” she yelled grabbing his arm and keeping him in place, “It’s my fault, we were arguing and I pushed him too far, I went too far.” It wasn’t a lie, she wasn’t defending him, not really.

Yeon-hee came back with the jacket. Chanyeol took it, pulling it around her shoulders, rubbing her arms for warmth.

“Jae-eun-ah, did he hit you?”

She could sense the hesitation in his voice as he asked.

Jae-eun shook her head, “He wouldn’t do that.”

“Then what is this?” he pointed to the dark marring on her skin.

She looked away, red creeping into her cheeks. Jae-eun didn’t really know how to explain that part to Chanyeol.

“Oh,” he caught on quickly, as he looked her over again. “Oh!”

“Can we just get out of here, please? “She didn’t want to remember. Right now, she wanted distance between her and the man that just threw all her hopes off the cliff he’d been dangling them over for months.

Chanyeol helped her into the passenger side of the car, Yeon-hee sat in the back, silent as Chanyeol attended to Jae-eun.

“Where do you want to go?” He asked.

Jae-eun pulled his jacket tight around her chest. “Anywhere, as long as it’s the hell away from here.”

[noquiznaksweregiventhatday]

WOULD YOU LOOK AT WHAT’S FINALLY WORKING

Heyo so my fic FINALLY uploaded after 3 hours of waiting. I’ve never done these description type things so we’ll see how this goes

Title: When Dusk Falls

Current Word Count: 9982

Chapters: 2/? (I accidentally uploaded two chapters instead of one whoops)

Pairing: Keith/Lance 

Summary:  It all started when Ms. Evanescet vanished without a trace six months ago. Unexplained disappearances have been occurring ever since, and no one has been found. It is starting to appear that the cases could be connected, but the police seem to not care. Strange things are afoot in the sleepy town of Altea Falls, and the group is going to get to the bottom of it, no matter the consequences.

You can also read the first chapter of the fic here (Since it was an accident that I uploaded two)

Beep. Beep. Beep. The strident sound of the alarm cut through the air, jolting the teenager from his sleep. He rolled over from the position in his bed, groaning as he did, to look at the clock. 7:00 AM, it read in red luminescent digits. He grabbed his pillow from under his head and placed it over his face and ears, trying to drown out the raucous noise. It still pierced through the air, but it was at least somewhat muffled from under the pillow. He began to slowly to drift off again.

"Keith Kogane! Get down here! You're going to be late for school!" A voice yelled from down stairs.

"Five more minutes!" He groaned back.

"Keith, breakfast is getting cold! Come on!" Another voice shouted.

"Fine," Keith grumbled, removing the pillow from his head and sitting up. He rubbed his face to wake himself up, and pulled the covers off. He swung his legs around the side of the bed and dug his toes onto his carpet, curling them as he did.

"Keith!"

"I'm coming!"

He stood up and stretched to the ceiling, attempting to reach it with the tips of his fingers (even raising his heels in an attempt to make himself taller). When he couldn't, he sighed in disappointment and made his way downstairs, yawning as he did. He sat down at the kitchen counter next to his stepbrother contently digging into a plate full of eggs.

"Keith, you aren't even dressed yet!" A woman from the kitchen said.

"Aw, lay off of him, Mom," his stepbrother said, ruffling Keith's hair as he did. "He stayed up late looking up Bigfoot sightings again."

"I did not!" He protested.

The person simply took a sip from his coffee mug, a smile playing on his lips.

The woman from the kitchen set a plate of eggs in front of Keith. "Eat up."

Keith picked up his fork and began eating his food. He glanced to the newspaper on the counter next to the plate. A large headline was plastered across the front, reading, Two More Missing Since Last Incident. He was tempted to read the article further, but he already knew what it entailed. It would state that two more people were missing, maybe link them back to the other recent cases, then say the police are looking for any information on any of the cases. He shoved it away from him.

He finished his eggs and headed back upstairs to change. He pulled on a shirt plastered with the words "I WANT TO BELIEVE" and tied a flannel around his waist. He laced up his shoes as quickly as he could and raced back down the stairs. His father and stepmother were just leaving the house for work.

"Have a good day, you two," his father said. "Don't get into too much trouble."

"We won't," Keith said.

"Takashi, honey, remember to pick up the eggs on the way home."

"I will, Mom," his stepbrother replied.

She kissed the top of his forehead. "See you guys tonight!"

With that, Keith's father and stepmother were gone, leaving him and his stepbrother alone.

"Come on, let's get going," his stepbrother said. "You want a ride?"

"Of course I do, Shiro."

"Just making sure."

Shiro grabbed his keys off the hook and slung his backpack over his shoulder. He stepped outside and to the car parked on the curb, and Keith followed suit. Shiro got into the driver's side, and Keith in the passenger side. A fog clung to the ground outside, but it was light enough that it was still safe to drive. Shiro started the car, and they began to drive down the quiet roads to the school. Keith stared at the window, watching the quaint houses zip by them. Many had perfectly manicured lawns, flowers arranged beautifully, and sprinklers going off in the early morning. Keith knew that the ones that didn't were recently empty houses, with their previous residents nowhere to be found.

"So, uh, do you want a ride home?" Shiro asked.

"I've got Cryptid Club after school with Pidge today. I'm sure Matt will give us a ride home, or Pidge and I can walk home."

"Sounds good. Just be home by the curfew."

The curfew. A recent rule put in place in an attempt to reduce the missing persons rates. Of course, it did nothing to reduce the number of people vanishing and only made the town folk more irate than they already were about the situation. Despite this, the curfew still stood in place.

"We will. It's not like we have much of a choice, do we?"

"I suppose not."

They rode in silence the rest of the way to school. When Shiro pulled into the parking lot, Keith nearly jumped out of the moving car.

"Hey! Careful there!" Shiro said.

Keith fell back into his seat. "Sorry."

Shiro parked. "Now you can get out."

Keith hopped out of the car and landed onto the asphalt. He sprinted off to the throng of people while yelling back, "thanks for the ride, Shiro!" He quickly caught up with the horde and slowed his pace to a walk. He was about to place the headphones around his neck over his ears when he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, emo!"

He turned around and scanned the area for the source of the voice. His eyes settled on a person much shorter then them, with hair that seemed to defy gravity. She wore large, round spectacles that were far too large for her face. Small freckles were dotted over her cheeks, creating constellations across her face. She wore a mischievous grin that stretched ear from ear, warning others to not mess with her. She wore a tank top with the Nasa logo plastered across the front, and an olive green jacket (the dress code forbid those from showing shoulder blades, and because she was a freshman, teachers were much more strict about it around her). Her backpack was slung on one shoulder, nearly knocking over most people as she shoved through the crowd to reach Keith. Despite being the shortest person around, most cleared out of the way. If they didn't, she would forcefully move them out of her way.

Keith broke into a grin. "Heyo, Pigeon."

She punched him playfully on the arm, but light enough so it wouldn't leave a bruise. "Great to see ya. Heading to our locker?"

Keith nodded. "Sure am."

Pidge, as she was called, looped her arm that was free from her backpack through Keith's. "Lead the way."

They weaved their way into the building, pushing their way through the horde to reach Keith's locker. The layout of the school was quite simple. One main hallway that had three small branches on each side. Each branch covered a different subject area. The three branches on the left covered English, science/math, and social studies. On the right, it was world languages, art/music, and other electives. At the end of the hallway was the gym and the pool. In each hallway, lockers lined the walls. Keith and Pidge were lucky enough to be in the one of the main hallways, a luxury the younger students (freshmen and sophomores) got to enjoy. Soon enough, Keith and Pidge had reached their locker. Keith quickly spun the combination lock and swung the door open. Keith shifted his backpack to the side so he could reach and open it, and unloaded the majority of its contents into the locker. Pidge followed suit, then leaned on the locker next to Keith.

"So, you finally tell Lance your true feelings?" Pidge asked nonchalantly.

"Shh!" Keith replied, turning red. "Someone could hear you!"

"Yes, because I am sure everyone in this hallway is eavesdropping on our conversation."

Keith glanced at each passerby, eyeing them for any suspicious activity. "You never know who is listening," he whispered.

"Stop being a paranoid little shit and answer my question."

"Of course I didn't, Pidge. I don't want to get rejected, or ruin our friendship. I'll just suffer silently until college."

"Come on, man, out of everyone in this damn school, you've got the best chance. He's totally into you!"

"But he's straight! There's a zero percent chance of him liking me. There is no way I am telling Lance-"

Out of nowhere, a boy swooped in. He was taller than Keith, but not by much. His skin seemed to radiate the sun, and brown locks fell over his head. He was wearing a long-sleeved grey shirt with blue sleeves, and a hand-me-down jacket.

"Tell me what?" The boy asked, a grin playing across his face as he did.

Keith shut the locker quickly. "I-uh, well um."

"Not tell you the answers to the Latin quiz you missed last week cause you were sick. It's only fair you have to suffer like the rest of us on it," Pidge said, saving Keith as she did.

The boy groaned. "Fuck, I didn't study for that. Can you at least help me a little bit?" He pleaded.

"Our lips are sealed, Lance," Pidge replied, pretending to lock her mouth and throw away the key.

Lance sighed. "Fine. I'll just fail it like you guys did."

Pidge fished out a paper from her bag, proudly displaying a large 56/56 on the paper. "Read it and weep."

Laugh chuckled. "Jokes on you, now I've seen the quiz."

"Except, you forget that Ms. Cavallaro changes her quizzes slightly when you have to make them up."

Lance snapped his finger. "Bested me again! What did I expect from the smartest person in school though?"

Keith had locked the locker while Pidge and Lance were talking about the quiz, listening intently to their conversation. He hung onto Lance's every word like it was his lifeline, not random ramblings about a Latin quiz. While Lance continued his rambling, Pidge mouthed the worlds "You're welcome" to Keith. Keith nodded and smiled.

The first bell rang, signaling they had five minutes to get to class. Pidge scooped up her textbook for biology class off the floor and gestured to the science and math hallway. "Shall we go?"

"I guess we don't really have a choice," Lance sighed.

They all began to clear out of the main hallway, as all the other students did, and strolled to their first period class. They were lucky enough to all share biology together first thing in the morning, as well with their other friend Hunk. It was the only class period all of them shared together (with the expectation of lunch), and it was the perfect way to start off the day.

It didn't take them long to get to the classroom and claim the back table as their own. Pidge placed her bag on the seat next to her to ensure it was saved for Hunk, who appeared to be running late that day, which although strange, was not something to worry about. They continued their conversation.

"So, as I was saying," Lance said, "I totally think Prince Lotion uses the same shampoo as I do! His hair smells exactly the same as mine-"

Pidge smirked. "Do you smell it regularly?"

"Don't interrupt. It's a pretty hard smell to miss. I could smell it all the way from my desk in English class. Anyway, but like that's just really frustrating, you know? I mean, that guy honestly can't be original in anyway, can he?"

Before Keith or Pidge could contribute to the conversation further, a boy burst into the room, heaving heavily as if he had just been running. He wore an orange bandanna on his head, tied neatly at the top. He made a beeline to the back of the room to their table. Pidge moved her stuff and he plopped down next to her.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Pidge teased.

"So, what are we talking about?" The boy asked, ignoring Pidge.

"Prince Lotion," Lance answered, "and his inability to not rip me off."

"Ugh, that guy," the boy replied.

"I know, right? Did I tell you that I think he's using the same shampoo as me?"

"I think you told me that three days ago."

"Sorry, Hunk, I can't keep track of every conversation."

The second bell rung. Class had begun.

Their teacher, Dr. Franklin, looked up from her computer and to the class. The projector already displayed the power point for today, or "Unit 2-1: The Molecules of Life".

Dr. Franklin began teaching, but the four were still murmuring in the back of the classroom, keeping their heads low, as if in a secret meeting. Their topic had quickly changed from "Prince Lotion" to that of a more serious one.

"Two more went missing," Pidge whispered. "That's eleven in the past month alone."

"Oh god, not your conspiracy theories again," Lance groaned.

"Shh," Keith said in response to Lance. "Pidge, who were they?"

"Not sure. Both were minors, meaning the names couldn't be released. With some digging though, I think we can figure out who."

"What time did they disappear?"

"Did you not read the article Keith? It said they went for a walk at about seven pm and never came back."

Keith scratched his chin, thinking. "These ones must be connected to the others. They disappeared at a similar time."

"No shit, Sherlock. They're all connected," Pidge replied.

Hunk and Lance were listening in on the conversation, but not fully responding. The conspiracies and missing persons cases were Keith and Pidge's specialties, and they both new that. Hunk doodled small cups of coffee and other breakfast food in his notebook while he listened, and Lance tapped his pencil against his blank notes.

"Fuck you, Watson. You got any leads yet?" Keith asked.

"Not anything substantial. I think we need to try to figure out how all of these cases are connected. Then maybe something will click."

"What do you think we've been doing the past five months? Goofing off?"

"I know, I know, it's just that-"

"Ms. Holt!" Dr. Franklin interrupted, looking with disdain at Pidge, her nose turned upwards. "Since you clearly were not paying attention, do you mind answering the question?"

Without skipping a beat, Pidge replied, "dehydration synthesis."

Dr. Franklin blinked and stood at the front of the room, silent. It took her a few seconds to regain her look of contempt before she spoke again. "That-that is correct. Can anyone tell me why it is called dehydration synthesis?"

"Not paying attention my ass," Pidge mumbled, rolling her eyes and frowning as she did.

"Ms. Holt, would you care to share what you said to the rest of the class?" Dr. Franklin said, crossing her arms.

"Nothing, Dr. Franklin."

Dr. Franklin nodded her head and continued her lecture about the wondrous molecules of life, seeming content that Pidge had backed down in the end instead of standing up to her like she normally did.

"Look, we'll talk about it later. It's too risky here with Dr. Franklin watching us. Let's pay attention and take some notes so you guys can pass the test," Pidge whispered.

"But I get As on all the exams," Hunk replied, his lips in a thin line.

"Wasn't talking about you, buddy. I was talking about emo and flirt over here."

"Hey!" They both whispered in unison.

Pidge let a smile play on her lips, but did not respond to their protests. Keith sighed and turned his attention to the front of the room, watching as Dr. Franklin droned on about condensation reactions. Pidge was furiously jotting down information, already filling half of a page with words and diagrams. Hunk too was talking notes, and he was nearly down the bottom of the page, his large handwriting filling most of the page. Lance and Keith on the other had both had two words written down: dehydration synthesis.

Pidge glanced to their papers, and seeing few notes on them, raised her eyebrows at them. Keith shrugged, and Pidge rolled her eyes in response, turning her head back to the presentation. After what felt like hours, the bell finally rang. People clambered out of the room as Dr. Franklin yelled out the homework. Keith didn't hear it, but he was sure Pidge would tell him later.

They clustered around the outside of the door, blocking a small section in the hallway.

"Well, see ya guys at lunch, I guess," Pidge said. "We'll talk more ab-" She was cut off when someone ran into her, nearly knocking her over. She stumbled, but quickly regained her footing and her tongue. "Hey! Watch it! We're trying to have a conversation here!"

The perpetrator just snorted and walked off, leaving Pidge with her arms crossed and her foot tapping on the ground. When it was evident he wasn't going to come back to apologize, Pidge sighed. "I should probably get going. Don't want to be late to class and all. You guys should probably do the same."

"Yeah, yeah, okay. See you guys later!" Lance said, walking away.

"Good luck on your grammar test today," Hunk said to Pidge.

"Thanks. I'm totally going to own it!" Pidge replied.

Hunk smiled. "That's the spirit. Go get 'em, Pidge."

Pidge strolled off, taking her time to get to English class. She pulled out her phone while she was moving, the screen illuminating her face and reflecting on her glasses. She nearly ran into a couple of people, but was quick to maneuver around them. She did run into one person, but she continued walking.

Keith glanced to Hunk, and Hunk shrugged. "Ready?"

Keith nodded. They began their perilous journey through the halls to their drawing class. It wasn't a long trip, and soon enough they had found their seats. The bell rang once more, and class had begun. Class today was easy, with them learning about different components of shading and techniques. Before they knew it, class was over.

Hunk and Keith grabbed their things and headed for the door. Once there, Hunk patted Keith on the back. "See ya around, buddy."

Keith's final class before lunch was the most dreaded class in the entire school-physical education, or the work of the devil. He took his sweet time getting there, knowing that once he walked through the doors of the gymnasium, there would be no going back for another fifty minutes. Keith pushed the doors open, and was met with a wave of air conditioning and the stench of the teenagers from the previous class. He nearly gagged on the odor of sweat, blood, and tears, but managed to refrain from vomiting his eggs from the morning. He walked by a group of students loitering around the water fountain, trying to enjoy their last few minutes of freedom. When they saw him, they began to giggle. He tried to ignore them and decided to go change out for class.

The locker room was a rowdy place, full of yelling boys running around the lockers in every direction. In the corner, the seniors all sat, glancing out from their conversations every once in a while at the chaos. Few seniors had to take P.E, so the ones that did tended to stick together. The juniors jostled each other around, trying to bring up the morale of the group. The freshmen were evenly divided into two groups-the riotous ones and the quiet ones. The riotous ones thought they owned the place, strutting around with their noses turned upwards, slapping each other with towels as they did. The quiet ones just silently changed and drifted out of the room, like a ghost wandering away.

The bell chimed. They now had two minutes before roll call started, and Coach Sendak was a strict about getting to class on time. Keith quickly grabbed his gym uniform, a grey shirt with the words, "Altea Falls Lions" circling around a black lion roaring, and black shorts, from his locker. He threw them on and took the hair tie from around his wrist and pulled his hair back. He threw his street clothes back into his locker and closed the lock. He sprinted to where the others had lined up in alphabetical order and took his spot.

He looked up the line to see three spots from him stood Pidge, staring at him intently. She waved and him and mouthed something that looked like, "you won't beehive what harpy to hay," but was probably closer along the lines of, "you won't believe what happened today." Keith nodded in response and gave a thumbs up to show that he at least somewhat comprehended what she had mouthed. She turned her head so Sendak wouldn't yell at her for not paying attention and order her to do forty push-ups (he loved forcing poor unsuspecting souls into exercise).

"Katie Holt!" Sendak called out, his eyes settling on Pidge.

"It's Pidge," she replied, not breaking eye contact with him.

He checked her name off, but decided to ignore her comment. He finished up role call and stood in front of the group, his hands on his hips. He was a larger man, being the coach for the football team and all, and he towered over most of the group. His hair was turning grey at the roots, but he did not seem to care or notice.

"You guys got ten laps around the gym! When you're done, come to the whiteboard."

Everyone groaned, but started their laps. As soon as Sendak went into his office, everyone slowed to a walk.

"So what happened today?" Keith asked Pidge, who was trotting next to him.

She shoved her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Okay so I was sitting in English class today after I had turned in my quiz. Which, by the way, was a piece of cake. Sentence diagramming ain't got nothing on me! Anyway, I was getting ahead on the bio reading while I'm waiting for class to be over, and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Now, may I remind you, I sit right next to the window. So I looked out the window, and-shit. Sendak is back. Start jogging."

They picked up their pace and began to run around the gym. The rest of the students, also seeing Sendak, followed suit. Sendak nodded in approval and went back to his office. Everyone stopped jogging.

"So, continue," Keith said.

"Right. So I looked out the window, and I swear to God my blood ran cold. There was a woman standing outside the window looking at me, with cold, dead eyes. It was almost as if she was staring directly into my soul. The woman was hunched over and withered like the old tree by my house with the tire swing on it, and she was draped in a green cloak covering her hair. She stood there with her gaze upon me, swaying slightly. We stared at each other for sometime, and I couldn't tear my eyes from her. It was almost like she was rooting me in place simply with her gaze. I sat there transfixed by her, for what felt like hours, or days even. Finally, she opened her mouth. From her mouth came the most blood curdling shriek I have ever heard in my life. While she was screeching, her hood fell back and I saw she had bright red hair. Not normal red hair--it clearly had to have been dyed to get to that color. That startled everyone, myself included, so much so I was no longer in my trance, and everyone rushed to the window. In the commotion, I looked away for a brief moment. When I looked back, she's gone."

Keith had turned paler and paler as the story had continued, and by the end of it, all the blood had drained from him. He had stopped walking some time ago, trying to comprehend what Pidge had told him. "The hell?" He asked, still paralyzed by the thought of who, or what, would do that.

"I know, right? There's no way this could have been something human that did this. If you heard the shriek, you'd know. We should discuss it at Cryptid Club today."

"I agree. Something's up here. Something," Keith paused, thinking what this could even be classified as, "strange."

Before they could discuss Pidge's encounter further, they heard a whistle coming from the whiteboard. They glanced over to see Sendak with his arms crossed and whistle in mouth, his eyes narrowed. They had become so engrossed in Pidge's story that they hadn't noticed that everyone else had gathered around the whiteboard.

"Kogane! Holt! Get over here!"

They jogged over to the others, trying to avoid the gaze of their judging peers.

"Next time, run the ten laps so you can finish with everyone else," Sendak said. The students oohed.

"Yes, because everyone was running, you ignorant buffoon" Pidge said under her breath, low enough so only Keith could hear. They joined the others on the hardwood floor before the board.

"Name of the game today is kickball. I hope to gosh you guys know how to play this game." He disappeared into his office for a couple of minutes and came back holding a ball. "Go line up on the wall so I can split you into teams."

When the teams had been finalized, Keith and Pidge had managed to get on the same team. Rather than playing kickball, however, they played a different game called "do no work without getting caught". The rules were fairly self explanatory: do the least you can throughout the duration of gym class without getting caught. They had managed to do it (and succeed at it) almost every day of P.E. they've had, with the exception of one day two weeks ago when Sendak was absent and they had a substitute.

When Sendak finally told them to change out, Pidge and Keith high-fived. So, they had won again. Keith quickly changed out in the locker room and emerged, where Pidge was waiting for him. Wordlessly, as if on autopilot, they pushed open the doors into the main hallway and traveled to their locker. They both pulled out what they needed for their afternoon classes, along with their lunches.

It wasn't a long walk to the school yard where they ate lunch, so they got their fairly easily. Lance and Hunk were already sitting at a picnic table, as it was not a far from their previous class, English. Lance was throwing his head back in laughter at something Hunk had said when they approached the table. Lance scooted over to giver Keith a place to sit.

"Thanks," Keith said.

"No problem, buddy."

Pidge sat next to Hunk, pulling out her peanut butter sandwich and taking a large bite from it. "The weirdest thing happened to me in English class today," she announced.

"What was that?" Hunk asked, picking up a fry to inspect it as he did.

Pidge explained what happened to Hunk and Lance, leaving out no details from when she told Keith. When she finished, both Lance and Hunk were wearing skeptical looks.

"Wait, wait, wait," Lance said, one of his eyebrows raised. "If this actually happened, how come none of us heard the shriek?"

"Yeah, gotta agree with Lance there. Why didn't we hear the screech?"

PIdge tapped her chin for a moment before speaking. "All three of you guys were on the opposite side of the school. Lance, you were in choir, right? You guys were probably singing and the shriek just blended right in."

"Hey!"

"Kidding, kidding. You guys sing well. You were probably just singing too loudly to hear it."

Lance crossed his arms. "That explains why I didn't hear it, but what about Keith and Hunk? They were in drawing class. There was no way they were singing."

"But, Hunk and I were probably in the back room when the screech happened," Keith explained. "We had to get our drawings from it, after all. That room is practically sound proof, so it would make sense if we couldn't hear a shriek on the other side of the building."

Lance slouched, defeated. "Fine. Even if there are explanations as to why we didn't hear the sound, it still doesn't explain how she just disappeared into thin air."

"Like I said, my vote is paranormal," Pidge said.

"Bullshit on that," Lance replied. "No way in hell does anything like that exists. Come on Pidge, I thought you were the smart one here."

"Just because it can't be explained doesn't mean it can't exist. Gravity existed way before Newton figured it out, so why can't this exist?"

"Yes, because a woman in a cloak shrieking is the same concept as gravity," Hunk said, joining in further. "You just can't make that comparison."

"I can, and I will," Pidge said.

"Whoa, hold on," Lance interrupted.

"What?" Pidge asked, trying to follow Lance's gaze.

"Did Nyma get hotter or is that just me?"

Keith groaned and put his head in his hands, rubbing his face as he did.

"Lance, you're really asking the wrong group. Keith over here has never had a straight though in his life, and I on the other hand have not had straight, or gay thought, for that matter, in my life."

Lance turned to Hunk. "Hunk? Your opinion?"

Hunk groaned. "You know how I feel about that girl. She's been a snake since first grade. Don't trust her."

Lance sighed, glancing to Keith with his head still rest in his palms. "Fine, I can catch a hint. I'll stop talking about her."

"Thank you," Keith said, grateful the discussion had moved away from Nyma.

"You guys busy Thursday after school?" Lance asked, trying to make sure the conversation did not wander into the paranormal. When he asked, he was looking at Keith, making Keith turn slightly pink.

"I'm free!" Keith replied quickly, perking up immediately. He silently chided himself after saying that for being a bit too eager.

"Free as a bird," Hunk said.

"I've got no plans," Pidge said, continuing to munch on her sandwich. "Whatcha got planned for us, Lance?"

"Well, I've got a swim meet after school and, uh, it would love it if you guys could come support the team. I'll have a lot of down time in between events so we can chill or something. It's a home meet so it's just on campus."

"I'll be there," Hunk replied, eating a fry.

"Sounds good to me," Pidge said. "I'm sure Keith would love to come as well, wouldn't ya?"

"Of-of course," Keith stammered out, trying to keep a straight face. "Love to go."

Lance clapped his hands together. "Then it's settled! Just walk with me after school to the pool. Then we can go get pasta or something afterwards."

They continued their lunch with random conversations, none delving into what happened during second period. They all seemed to forget about it, or simply had nothing more to add to that particular conversation. All too soon, their free time was cut short but the shrill F# (Lance cited last year while he was tuning his guitar that the bell registered as an F#. No one knew how true that was, but no one cared enough to fact check him) that rung through the yard.

Pidge gathered her things and stood up. "I'm off to government. See you nerds later!"

The rest of the day was boring for Keith, with no strange ladies standing outside the window of any of his classrooms (or at least at the classrooms with windows). He wasn't sure what he expected though, when this was her first ever appearance.

But the school day did not matter right now. He was in the best place in the world, Classroom 411, or the home of the Cryptid Club. The club had most of its members there already (it was a small club), along with the teacher sponsor, Dr. Ryner. Dr. Ryner taught all of biology 2, and the few lucky ones that get her for biology 1. Keith, Pidge, Lance, and Hunk were not among those lucky ones. She also taught a few electives, but those were few and fair between.

The last member filed in, and a boy moved to the front of the room behind a podium. He looked almost exactly like Pidge, even sporting similar glasses and haircut. "It appears everyone is here, so let's get started." He glanced down to his watch. "We have some time for open floor. Anyone wish to speak?"

Pidge shot her hand up. "Me, sir, me!"

The boy sighed. "Yes, Pidge?"

"I'd like to speak about a strange encounter I had today."

The boy took a second to ponder things before saying, "The floor is yours."

Pidge hopped up from her seat and marched up to the front of the room. "Thank you, Matt. Now, all of us here have been in this club for sometime. While I may have just started this school this year, I know I've been coming here since my brother Matt started this club. Now, we've had some good times in this room, and some good stories, but have we ever found anything? The answer to that is no. Despite all of our research, all of our wanderings, we have been unable to find anything. Until now. You see, today I had quite a strange encounter with what could potentially be a paranormal being." Pidge proceeded to tell the story of the woman. When done, she continued. "I say we investigate her! She's the closest we've gotten to anything. What do you say?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Pidge grinned as she jumped down from the podium and rushed back to her seat next to Keith.

"That was an interesting story, Pidge. Everyone seems to be in favor to investigate it further, correct?" Matt asked.

No one protested.

"Good. Let's investigate, shall we?"

"I can't believe our investigation turned up nothing," Pidge said, kicking a rock into the gutter as she did. Her and Keith were walking on the sidewalk, sharing a bag of licorice between the two of them. The sun was starting to dip below the mountains, meaning that curfew was going to begin soon. Pidge and Keith did nothing to pick up their pace, however, contentedly deciding to continue walking at their leisurely pace.

"We can look more into tomorrow. If we can figure out who, or what, that woman was, it could seriously help."

"I feel like we've looked everywhere, though. Despite that, nothing on a shrieking woman with bright red hair and a green cloak."

"Pidge, if I know you, which I do, you'll be able to figure it out. You're the smartest person around. You're gonna crack it."

Pidge stuck her hand into the bag of licorice Keith was carrying and grabbed a handful. She tore a large bite of one, deep in thought, mumbling to herself, "green cloak, red hair, shrieking. Green cloak, red hair, shrieking."

Keith put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry too much about it, okay? We'll figure it out."

"Yeah, I won't."

They reached a street corner and stopped.

"Well, see you tomorrow!" Pidge said, taking half of the remaining licorice and walking away.

Keith walked in the opposite direction to his house. He continued as he traveled, thinking about what Pidge described today. Even if he had told Pidge to not worry about it, he was going to. He was going to get to the bottom of this woman in green.

Five hours later, and still nothing on the woman in green. Keith had gone to every website imaginable, sifted through stories upon stories, and delved into lore he never knew existed, yet he did not find one thing to help them. He clicked back to his Cryptid Forum post about it, hoping someone had answered, but it was dead.

Keith sighed and closed his laptop. It was already almost midnight and he had not started his homework yet. He opened his Geometry Textbook to the section on triangles.

Prove Side AB  is congruent to Side BC given Figure 3.

Keith began to write down his answer.

Given that: Angle A is congruent to Angle C

His phone vibrated. He glanced to the glowing screen. The screen let out little light, given that his phone background was mostly black. A white strip stretched across the red eyes of Mothman, reading: (1) New Message from Lance.

Keith dropped his pencil and hastily picked up his phone, unlocking it. He read the message.

Lance: Hey buddy want to hang out this Saturday? Maybe go swimming in the lake or something?

Keith was quick to respond.

Keith: Just us?

Lance: We can invite Pidge and Hunk if you want

Keith: No it's cool. Saturday sounds great

Lance: Cool. See ya then

Keith shut off his phone and smiled. He grabbed his pencil and begun to work once more.

[nedturk]

Of Coffee and Tulips - NedTurk

The Autumn chill was wonderful this early in the morning as a tall man with spiky, dirty blonde hair and piercing light green eyes walked the block down from his home and business dressed quite warmly for the day.

It was only 9AM - not an ungodly hour at all, and having the day off, the man decided to use it wisely.

His attire consisted of a dark blue sweater vest sitting atop a white, long sleeved button down shirt (complete with a red and gray tie to contrast around the neck) with black slacks hovering above rich, dark brown loafers that encased the black socks he wore; over the sweater vest was a beige trench coat that was partially buttoned to reveal a bit of the sweater vest, though a dark blue fleece scarf got in the way of that, contrasting with the black leather gloves covering the blonde's hands. Though one of those hands held a medium sized bouquet of flowers firmly, allowing it to rest on his right shoulder - tulips, to be exact and of the variegated variety. They were freshly cut and well taken care of, arranged beautifully and wrapped in white paper with bright orange paper over that.

Where would the man get such a handsome bouquet?

At "Jan's" - a flower shop - or rather, a tulip shop - as the man dealt exclusively with tulips. It could be said that the man held a certain weakness for the tall flowers with their long-ish leaves and delicate looking stems.

... And the blonde name was indeed Jan - Jan Van der Beek to be precise, and he was actually on a mission.

Passing by Feli and Vino's Pizzeria  and other small, family-owned businesses, he continued to walk down the familiar sidewalk and paused as he stood at the street corner where the traffic light stood. Though the light continuously moved with the normal intermittent pauses in between, there weren't very many cars out this early in the morning - at least on this street anyway. His spiked hair was gelled to a gravity-defying degree - obviously so - to achieve the certain degree of spikiness that the intimidating hairstyle was showing off, but it matched well with his serious expression as well as the set of his jaw, and though he was itching for his pipe, he refrained as his gaze settled on the coffee shop just across the street.

The Crescent was a increasingly popular Turkish coffee shop that stood out with cheerful red, white, brown, and beige color combinations. Of course, the symbol on the Turkish flag (the crescent and star) was present in the sign that sat built into front part of the roof (as well as the building itself), tall windows easily displaying the inside of the shop as the long, beige and brown curtains were already rolled up near the top of the window. There were currently no customers, but the owner could be seen wearing the usual green shirt and dark brown pants with the red ties of an apron peeking up at his neck and waist as he was turned away from the counter. The tell-tale black sign with white lettering was currently flipped to "OPEN", so there was no misunderstanding.

The shop was, indeed, open and ready for business.

How many times had he walked past this coffee shop ... ? Jan had lost count, but this time, he was determined to go inside and refrained from instinctively gripping the bouquet as he looked both ways before crossing the empty street. It was better to be safe than sorry anyway. He kept his breathing controlled and even as each step took him closer and closer towards the business. Whether he was heading home from his sister's place or just heading out to the grocery store or even visiting one of the few friends that he had, he always managed to pass by this coffee shop in particular and there were at least a dozen in the city actually.

Opening the door (it swung up instead of pushing in), this made a little bell jingle of his head. Jan nearly paused, not prepared for that as he had never visited the coffee shop before, but when the owner of said shop turned around with a bright grin, Jan's free hand immediately went for his pocket where he kept his pipe hidden. He clenched it tightly at the last second though as he stood pretty much in front of the door as soft, honey-golden eyes - who had eyes that color anyway? - settled on him.

Damn.

Damn those eyes.

They stirred up feelings he thought he had brushed aside after he and Matt hadn't worked out. Too much drugs. Too much sex. Not enough talking when sober - never enough, but he didn't regret it though - none of it.

The owner, of course, was Turkish and "small" in Jan's eyes - several inches shorter in fact. Hell, everyone was small compared to him.

However, the owner was nearly six feet himself, but not quite there with a darker, warmer skin tone than Jan's own which was paler--an attractive skin tone that appealed to his interests just slightly more, barely a difference from fairer tones. Those honey-golden eyes of his sat between dark lashes - long and pretty, honestly - for a man who was most likely nearing his early 30s. His brown hair was soft with slight waviness, though cropped soft of close to his forehead, but some fringe was settled there and made for an attractive look over all. Mysteriously enough though, there was a small-ish strand that stuck out, splitting into a pair of small curls. It was certainly odd, but didn't warrant much attention. Stubble settle upon the man's chin, certainly piquing his interest now as he had a bit of a kink of texture.

Soft looking lips were stretched into a grin still, showing of bright, relatively normal teeth that truly fit the image of a "sunny" smile as the darker haired man leaned over onto the counter, resting his hands behind his head.

"Welcome!" the man cried out, gesturing him over with a friendly expression as his gaze sparkled, ready to serve the new face in his shop. "What can I get ya, friend?"

This seemed to start Jan up - unfreezing his paused form - and he continued to move forward until he was towering over the man with the bouquet of tulips pressed against his chest. He stared down at the older man quietly for a moment, and the man stared up in return, confused as to what was now going on.

It was warm - a cozy sort of warm like the sort of warm where you curled up in an armchair near the fireplace with your favorite book on a wintry night. It felt good compared to the outside all of a sudden, and felt even cozier seeing as there actually were armchairs and couches - low seated tables all over the place. Comfortable. That's the sort of feeling the coffee shop gave off too, pure comfort.

The Turk glanced at the tulips - oh, variegated tulips! - before staring back up at the much taller, younger man with a brief question in his eyes before they returned to the tulips to openly admire them. That honey-holden gaze was soft and warm - it was obvious that the man appreciate the flower as they were not only apart of the history of his nation, but his national flower as well as the Dutchman's own.

"Uh--sir? Oh, oh - who's the lucky person? Those are beautiful."

The man then blinked, sure that he could see a bit of a blush appearing on the blonde's pale cheeks before the tulips were held out to him--nearly thrust actually, but he didn't want any harm to come to the flowers after the amount of time he had spent grooming and picking from the very best of them just for this one moment. He managed to get out two words before his hand was reaching in to retrieve his pipe.

"For you."

Fuck this. He needed it, badly though he looked relatively calm on the outside. What the hell was he even doing? What if this guy wasn't even interested in men? ...Hopefully he knew the meaning, at least.

The Turk gasped a bit as he openly gaped up at the blonde before looking back down at the tulips before returning his gaze back to the man; he hurriedly grabbed the tulips though so the man could take out whatever was in his pocket, honey-golden eyes wide as a flush spread along his cheeks.

"O - oh--"

Swallowing lightly, he glanced back down at the tulips, smiling a bit softly though the embarrassment was there shining through softness. Setting the bouquet down, he responded with a quick "I'll be right back!" and left Jan to seat himself, pipe balanced between his lips as the blonde hadn't seen a no smoking sign around at all, so he should be in the clear; the pipe had been prepared in that little time and lit easily.

Had he scared the man off? Would he return with something? It wasn't as though the surprise had turned to something more unfavorable. It had been a very good response in all honesty, a weight relieving response.

When the Turk returned - with an ornate vase filled with water! - he unwrapped the tulips, set them in the vase and tied the bow around the vase before putting the now used papers away under the counter. Now done with that, the Turk rested his arms on the counter and leaned on it, peering up at the now smoking taller man curiously. Flowers - tulips really and for HIM - it had certainly been a shock, especially considering the meaning. There was no harm in asking then.

"I'm Sadik--"

"Jan."

If he had been bothered by the smoke, he certainly hadn't said anything or even let it show.

"Are my eyes really that beautiful, Jan?"

It was an honest question, filled with some curiosity, but no incredulity - that would have been rude. Sadik waited, watching the younger man's face a bit closer.

Handsome - that was a good word to describe him. Maybe stern, too, with how serious he was looking now - no, he had been looking like that since he had seen him for the first time. His lips were nice looking too - not overly full or unattractively thin, just full enough to seem kissable, but that wasn't what he should be focusing on - not really.

His gaze returned to Jan's eyes, and he colored a bit more when a brown arched at him, a slight smirk curling on the younger man's lips.

Turning away briefly, he blew smoke away from the Turk's--Sadik's--general direction before returning his gaze to the shorter man, watching him just as closely before removing the pipe from his lips even though he could speak with it perched between his lips easily. The smirk was still there - just a bit, but enough to let the older man know that he really had seen him checking him out. The rosy flush was a small victory.

"Yeah, they are."

The response was all Sadik needed to grab Jan's coat and lean up, intent on kissing him.

Of course, seeing this just a little before hand - he looked like the type to something stupidly cute like that - he sat down his pipe slowly (even chuckling at the older man's embarrassed stutter of, "c-come on!") and leaned down to meet him the rest of the way, one glove hand immediately settling into that dark, soft looking hair of his. It was thick and nice on his gloved fingers - good for tugging, Jan decided then, among other things.

One small kiss before an official date wouldn't hurt--a few shouldn't, anyway.