#i told my uber driver who arrived shortly after

[sycopomp]

Real interaction I just had with a Teen Youth outside the fairgrounds at 10:30pm

Me: [waiting for uber]

Him: [walking by with friend]

Him: how's it goin'

Me: it's goin pretty good

Him: yeah alright. ... LOSER.

They proceeded to continue walking as they snickered to each other. I was stunned for two seconds in shock before bursting out laughing because holy shit that was so random and also do I really look like I'm in the age bracket to be hurt by that

Like honey booboo I'm twice your age 🥺 you're gonna have to do better LMAOOO

[1-800-imagines]

Hurt (Andrew DeLuca Imagine)

Requested by @em2213 : the reader walking in and seeing him on the ventilator ( since he was in that episode ) & one of the dr’s comforting the reader?

Based off the episode where Alex beats up DeLuca. I know I got some stuff wrong

“DeLuca is in the ER.” was the text you received from your intern. She was the only person who knew you and Andrew were dating because she had caught the two of you in an on call room one time.

Your heart-raced as you pressed call and she picked up immediately, “It’s really bad. Possible brain injury. I’d get here ASAP.”

Your knees buckled and you hit the floor with a thud, “Y/L/N?” She said, but you couldn’t respond. You hung up and got your bearings straight.

You called an Uber, way too wrecked to drive. The driver didn’t bother asking questions when you directed them to Grey-Sloan Memorial’s ER.

The car pulled out and you went running through the med bay, not in scrubs. Jackson caught your eye, “Y/L/N, you aren’t supposed to be here.”

“DeLuca. Where is he?” You asked frantically scanning the trauma rooms.

“You’re not getting on his surgery. That’s sick that you came just to get a surgery.” As he was lecturing you, he noticed your change in emotion when he mentioned surgery, because your stomach had dropped.

Tears welled in your eyes, “Is he okay?”

Jackson grabbed your hand and led you to an empty trauma room, “He’s in CT right now. We’re worried he might lose his sight. But I’m working with him, okay? It’s going to be okay.” You nodded. “You’re in love with him aren’t you?” Jackson asked.

“We’re dating. We didn’t want to tell anyone yet.” You said quietly.

“He’s been asking for you but no one knew who you were. He’s here because Karev beat the crap out of him. He’ll be okay. Come on.” Jackson said and led you to CT.

---

When you got there and saw him, your heart broke. He was in bad condition. Jackson squeezed your shoulder, “You can talk to him when he comes out for a minute but then we have to take him to surgery.”

He came out within 10 minutes and you rushed to his side, “Hey baby, it’s me.” You said, grabbing his hand and squeezing a little.

Andrew groaned, “Hey you’re here.”

You smoothed back his hair, “Save your energy. I’m gonna be right here. You’re going into surgery soon.” He just nodded and relaxed a little, the tension seemed to be leaving now that you were there.

Jackson walked up, "We gotta get him ready. You gotta wait out here. I already told Hunt and Bailey what's going on so don't even try to work."

You shook your head, your nerves were too wrecked to work anyway. You leaned down to kiss Andrew's forehead. "Ti amo, amore mio." You whispered, tears streaming down your cheeks.

He smiled slightly and reached for your hand to squeeze it back in reassurance, "I'll see you after surgery." You said finally with a final kiss to his forehead.

---

Once they took him away, you went to an on call room and completely broke into sobs. You brought your knees into your chest and just cried. You tried to keep them in, but they wouldn't stop.

The door opened and you attempted to make them stop, but it was Dr. Bailey. She walked in and closed the door behind her. You were ready for your lecture, but you couldn't make the tears stop.

"I'm sorry Dr. Bailey, I should've told you about us. I deserve whatever punishment you're going to give me. I'm not crying about that. I just can't make the tears stop..." You rambled.

"Dr. Y/L/N." She said sternly looking at you. You hiccuped a little and looked at her, "You are not in trouble. I came to check on you." She sat on the bed next to you. "I know you're in pain and feel useless right now."

The tears started all over and Bailey sighed, she put one arm around your shoulder, "It will be okay. Dr. Hunt and Avery are the best at what they do. So don't worry. And I'm gonna stay with you until the surgery is done."

"Thank you, Dr. Bailey." You said quietly. You settled into her embrace and let yourself relax for the first time since arriving at the hospital.

----

Andrew was out of surgery a couple hours later. He was on a vent for healing purposes but would be taken off shortly after. It still made you almost collapse to see him like that, but Bailey and Jackson were still right next to you.

You sat next to Andrew until he was pulled off the vent and woken up. You barely left his side. They projected that he was going to make a full recovery but you didn't dare leave.

"You know you can go back to work. I'm going to be stuck here for a little while." He said, a morning when you woke up on the crappy chair next to his bed.

You stretched your neck out, "Then I would just come in here after my shift."

"I mean, okay. I won't stop you, but I'll be okay if you leave the room for 5 minutes." He said.

You pouted your lips, "Ugh fine. I guess. But the minute something goes bad, I'm coming back."

Andrew shook his head, "I know better to argue with you." You smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek. deluca

[carolmaximoffs]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAIT OMFG i can’t believe so many of the coolest ppl in my life that i know are aquas. ily you’re NINETEEN that’s wild!! you know i love a good roommates or friends w benefits fic gimme gimme gimme 😗💜

a/n: THIS IS SO LATE AGH...here is your long overdue wanda x reader roommates fic, my love! so sorry for the wait, but thank you for your sweet words and your patience <3 @subtlebucky

pairing: wanda maximoff x reader

warnings: none really? maybe a curse. references to drinking, partying. jealous! reader. apologies to anyone named jillian, beck, or yasmine. sharing a bed, but not in THAT way. 

WHEN YOU WAKE UP, you smell coffee already brewing. You stretch leisurely as you pad into the main part of your shared apartment, faux-flirtatious smile already gracing your lips.

“Smells good, baby!” You call. The laughter dissipates from your body as you pause in the kitchen doorway. Wanda is indeed sipping coffee in the kitchen, but is also standing between the legs of a tall, rather buff girl you’ve never seen before who’s perched comfortably on your island. “Oh.”

"Jill, this is my roommate, Y/N," Wanda says, perfectly at ease. You wonder if your eye really does twitch at the sight of Wanda's hand on Jill's thigh, but you pray it's just your imagination.

“Hi, uh, I didn’t - we’re not - hi.” Your face burns as you duck past them, reaching up into the cabinet for your mug before realizing it’s missing. You whirl around, about to ask Wanda, when you see it. And Wanda must realize it the same time you do, because she gives you this tight smile and wide eyes. Jill sips idly from your favorite cup, the one with the funny handle and your initial in rainbow gradient. Pietro, Wanda’s brother, had gifted it to you a few Christmas’s back - you know he’d have stopped Jillian from using it. Instead, you fill the most boring mug you and Wanda own - black, with a white outline of Sokovia in a red heart - and send your roommate a sour look. “I’ll just...”

You jerk your head towards the bedrooms, and stalk off. Maybe out of embarrassment, but mostly out of stubbornness, you pretend not to hear Wanda apologizing and making excuses on your behalf as you leave.

.......

Two weeks later, just when things are returning to normal, it happens again.

Well, more or less. It’s significantly darker out now, and this time you’re putting leftover Chinese food in the fridge when the door bursts open. Wanda all but falls into your apartment, a sharp-nosed girl with a deep violet buzzcut hot on her heels. Space Army Cadet and your best friend are hand in hand, the latter barely tossing you a glance as she drags her guest down the hall. And yeah, you’ve seen Wanda bring people home before - even brought a handful of people home yourself. Hell, one of you two’s closest friends was an ex of hers; oddball physics major, Vis, had been Wanda’s lover for the notable first three years of college.

 Lately, though, you’d noticed this...pit in your stomach, carved a little deeper with each new bedmate. Every time you shook it off - it wasn’t any of your business what Wanda did in her free time. Was it because they were women? You catch yourself wondering, but no - you’d never had an issue with that, why would you start now? Shutting the fridge, you shuffle back to your room, turning your TV up to drown out anything from Wanda’s room next door.

The next morning, the eccentric friend is nowhere to be found, but you did find there was a severe lack of alcohol in your coffee as Wanda cheerily filled you in. Buzzcut’s name was Yasmine, she was in Wanda’s European lit. course, and they’d gone out for drinks to celebrate Yasmine nearing the acquirement of her masters. You stare into your cup and hum at all the appropriate points, choosing not to point out that it was only November and nowhere near graduating season. Maybe Yasmine was on the fast track - Wanda always did like the smart ones. 

You become so absorbed in thought you don’t notice at first that your housemate has stopped chittering away. When you look up, it’s to a pouty frown. You shift in your seat, suddenly uncomfortable. “What?”

“Are you...okay?” Wanda’s frown deepens, brows furrowed as she brushes a stray lock of auburn from her face and folds her arms over her chest. “We...You’ve been a little distant lately, I guess.” 

“I’m fine,” You say breezily, rising to your feet to dump the dregs of your coffee in the sink. Some irritating heartstring twangs at your tone - you hate brushing Wanda off, but what are you supposed to say? Hey, can you stop bringing girls home? I think I’ve caught homophobia. You repress a shudder at the mere thought as you move to sweep past her and get ready for your first class, but a small hand curls around your bicep.

“Just...don’t be a stranger, okay, kedvesem?” Darling. Swallowing the lump in your throat, feeling curiously parched, you can only nod. Wanda lets go, but you can feel her fingerprints burning like a brand even when you’re lying in bed that night.

.....

The holidays go off more or less without a hitch; there’s a very scary hiccup shortly before Christmas when you come home to find Wanda curled into Vision’s side on the couch, the pair of them sharing a blanket. But Wanda looks...as if she’s been crying? Love Actually is playing, Wanda’s go to Christmas comfort movie, and Vision is texting someone called ‘Peter M.’ with an alarming number of heart emojis, so you continue onward. 

Your subconscious must be looking out for you otherwise, because it’s not until New Year’s that you see Wanda with a mystery lover. Actually, you don’t see much of Wanda at all outside of Christmas, and even when you do, it’s always just the two of you at home. Of course, because of this, she insists on dragging you out for a New Year’s party. When her twin, Pietro, gangs up on you via Facetime, you give up arguing and steal a shimmery black slip from Wanda’s closet before flipping them the bird. 

Pietro arrives around 10 to pick the pair of you up, obnoxiously laying on the horn outside of your apartment building. Wanda trips several times as she tries to shove on her other heel and put lipstick on at the same time. Making it out the door is a whole other ordeal - after a short spat about Wanda needing a jacket, an awkward moment when the elevator doors open on some neighbors practicing for midnight, and finding Pietro just about to buzz in to get you, you and Wanda are sliding into the backseat of Pietro’s obnoxiously cramped sports car.

“Ladies, your prince, or princess, awaits!” Pietro announces grandly as you pull up to a shabby loft just a few blocks away. You can hear the music from the street, sighing inwardly as you force yourself to get out of the car. Wanda smooths out her flowy black pants - you keep your eyes trained politely above her shoulders to ignore the fitted, maroon sequined top with the plunging V-neck she’s paired with them. 

“I’m actually meeting someone here,” She says casually to her brother as the three of you make your way in. Pietro waves her off with well-wishes, but throws you a questioning glance. All he gets however is a shrug in reply, this is certainly news to you. He accompanies you to the makeshift bar where you fill a cup with copious amounts of liquor. It usually wasn’t your vice, but the strobe lights alone could be cause to drink. You made a mental note to ask whose idea this party even was in the first place. when you turn around, though, Pietro, too, has slipped off into the crowd.

So you do what one is supposed to do at sweaty, too-loud functions such as this one - push yourself from your comfort zone, get comfortably tipsy while you wedge yourself into the mass of bodies and move with strangers. As mentioned, liquor and strangers have never been favorite pastimes of yours, so once you finish off your second drink (maybe third - you deserved it), you set out searching for Wanda. Her glittery form is tucked into a corner with a small group you don’t recognize, but you definitely note that she’s in the lap of a tall, dark, and handsome type. She spots you before you can get to her, making excited grabby hands as you get closer. 

“Y/N!” The bubbly young woman squeals over the music. She leans forward to be heard better, and you gulp. “This is Beck! And Jade, and Marcie, and you remember Yasmine!” 

You offer only a wave and tight smiles as you, too, lean in further. “I’m gonna get an Uber!”

“What?” Wanda pouts dramatically, Beck snaking an arm around her waist to steady her as she jolts back in disappointment. “It’s not even midnight yet!”

“No, I know, I’m just not really feeling it, I guess!” Yasmine leads over to whisper something to Jade; it’s the furthest thing from your mind as Wanda reaches out to squeeze your hands understandingly. 

“I’ll see you later! Kisses!” You repeat the word weakly before shoving once more through the mass. The sidewalk and cool bite of the outdoors is a welcome respite - your driver doesn’t speak all the way to your apartment, and you give them 5 stars for it. After a cold, quick shower, you curl up in your fuzziest bathrobe with a cup of coffee and flick through Netflix. You know when midnight rolls around when the neighbors upstairs, hosting a party of their own, cheer and shout to each other. It can’t be 20 minutes later that your door is met with a tentative knock.

On the other side is Vision in the most disarray you’ve seen him in - he’s in pajamas, for Pete’s sake, hair and glasses askew over a chunky knit sweater. He’s supporting an equally-bleary but much more drunk Wanda, and passes her to you with a wrinkled nose.

“Y/N!” She crows, dissolving into giggles as you shushed her. “I wondered where you went.” 

“I told you I was coming home, bubs,” You mutter, hugging her back briefly before you notice Vision is still standing in your entryway. “Hey, how about you go get changed, and then I’ll make you some eggs?”

Wanda agrees, talking animatedly even as she walks away. You look back at Vision, smiling wearily. “Thanks for bringing her home safe, Vis. Did you want a cup of coffee, or...?”

“No, thank you,” Vision quips, polite as ever as he tugs his sweater down over his hands. He jerks his dimpled chin the direction Wanda had disappeared in. “Take care of her, please.”

“Of course,” You reply, instantly, brows furrowing. He nods briskly before turning to leave. “Thank you again.”

“Of course. Goodnight.” He’s almost to the elevators when you call a ‘Happy New Year’ after him, and that earns you a smile. “Happy New Year to you as well, Y/N.”

Back inside, you find Wanda spread eagle on her bed in mismatched socks, an old college hoodie, and the same underwear you’re pretty sure she wore to go out tonight. You poke her heel and she makes a frankly unhuman gurgle into the duvet. “How much did you have?”

“Nah a lah,” Is her muffled reply. “We’on dwink anymo’.” 

You realize she’s right, though you figured she was at least taking some of those dates to bars. Maybe not, though - Wanda was always a romantic. You push the mere though away and tug at the arm closest to you. “Yeah, I know. You’ll feel better if you eat something, though.” 

Her protesting grunts are less effective than when she kicks out blindly, narrowly avoiding your hip, and you huff. “Fine, I’ll bring the food to you.”  You make to leave, but she’s captured your wrist now. Wanda turns her head to make powerful puppy eyes at you. “Stay. Sleepy.” 

“I...yeah. Okay.” You were still a little tipsy in your own right - neither of you were college kids anymore, after all. Wanda’s smile was blinding as the pair of you made your way under her numerous layers of blankets. When she turned the lamp off, you wondered if she could hear your heart thundering in the dark.

“Y/N?” She whispers, just when you think she’s fallen asleep. 

“Yes, Wanda?” 

“I love you.”

You hum in acknowledgment, brushing it off as dreaming.

--------

Midday, you’re roused by someone laying across your stomach and shaking you awake. It’s Wanda, long lashes fluttering prettily as she rests her chin on folded elbows. You scrub sleep from your eyes as you croak, “Morning, sunshine.”

“Morning, Y/N.” She says your name with purpose - sort of always has, you realize. You’re running over last night in your head, and like a mind reader, Wanda answers your every question. “Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Still love you.” Wanda murmurs. You meet her gaze - completely clear, if not a little glazed over with absolute adoration. She pushes up a little, lips hovering over yours. They brush just barely when you speak, sparking like live wires. 

“I love you, too,” You breathe, and finally, finally, she kisses you. 

Things make so, so much more sense then.

[sour--disposition]

Promise

Part One, Part Two

-

callum airey x fem!reader

-

Once the last box was finally emptied, you flopped back onto your bed with a sigh. With starting a new job and moving house in the same week, it took longer than you’d have liked to unpack the small amount of stuff you had, but your attention was constantly being diverted elsewhere.

Speaking of. “Hi”, you smiled when you answered the FaceTime call from Cal.

“Hey, angel”, he beamed. “Have you finished unpacking yet?”, he asked.

“Yep, just got the last box emptied and folded up ready to go to the recycling”, you told him happily.

You and Cal FaceTimed every night, if not more. He had been a godsend, helping you move out of Freya and Josh’s and get the stuff that you had moved into storage when you moved out of student housing. The conversation that you’d had with Josh and Freya kept playing on your mind, especially when you realised that you and Cal had developed a sort of routine to speak to each other as often as possible.

“What are you thinking about?”, Cal asked, breaking you from your thoughts.

“Nothing”, you hummed, already feeling the blush creeping up your face to betray you.

“That’s not a ‘nothing’ blush, missy”, Cal chastised cheekily. You rolled your eyes at him, sending him a playful glare. There was no doubt in your mind that Cal had at least some idea as to what you were thinking about, he was just insistent on making you blush and splutter. “What’s up?”, he asked, voice soft but serious this time.

“Does it make me a bad person that I’m already thinking about someone else?”, you asked him.

“No”, he said bluntly. “There’s no strict time scale on that sort of thing, love. None of us are gonna think any less of you for anything that you do, as long as you are doing it because it makes you happy”.

The conversation went silent for a moment as you thought over what he had just said. “Who’s the lucky guy, then?”, Cal asked. You rolled your eyes at him again.

“I don’t know if you know him”.

-

Cal quite quickly changed the direction of the conversation after that. You were on FaceTime with him for another hour or so before you hung up, both needing to go and eat something for dinner.

You had a shower and changed into some comfier clothes before heading for the kitchen to have a rummage around in the cupboards to see what you could make. Just as you’d put some pasta on to boil, there was a knock at your door.

“Cal?”, you asked, surprised to see the tall boy outside your front door. You turned around to walk back into the kitchen and living area, indicating for him to follow you. “What are you doing here?”.

“Is it me?”, he asked, blurted out at you. He looked like he’d been running his hands through his hair ever since you finished your call, strands sticking up at weird angles compared to the smooth look it had just an hour ago. “I just - Is it me, Y/N?”, he all but pleaded this time.

You looked at him and he looked at you. You could feel and hear the blood rushing through your body, pounding around your ears in panic. Saying the wrong thing, either way, could ruin everything. You couldn’t lose Cal, not for anything.

“Yes”.

Cal’s face finally relaxed into a soft smile. He came over to you, engulfing you in his arms and holding you tight. You buried your face into his chest, wrapping your arms around his waist and clinging onto the fabric of his hoodie. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”, you asked, voice muffled by the tight space of Cal’s chest and the bunched up fabric of his jumper.

“I’d love to”, he whispered into your hair, dropping a kiss there shortly after.

That night, after you’d eaten, you and Cal sat snuggled up on the sofa. His arm was draped around your back, resting on your ribcage, and your head was pillowed on his shoulder. “I know it might be stupid to say”, Cal started, voice low, “But I won’t do what he did”. He felt you tense up and, in return, held you a little bit closer and a little bit tighter.

“I need this to go at my pace at the moment, is that okay?”, you asked, voice soft and slightly watery.

“I’ve liked you since I first met you, Y/N. I’ll do anything if it means I get to do this”, he hummed. You lifted your head to face Cal properly, your eyes darting to his lips and his to yours. You nodded your head softly, letting him know it was okay.

Cal leaned forward, using his free hand to move a piece of hair behind your ear, leaving his hand on the side of your face. The kiss was soft, gentle and said everything that both of you needed to say but couldn’t find the words for. When he pulled back slightly, Cal rested his forehead against yours, a large grin breaking across his face. You couldn’t help but let out a giggle, letting your head drop down to his shoulder.

-

Two weeks later, you were finally getting ready for the night that you had planned back when you were still living with Freya and Josh. You were a bit apprehensive about the night, because it had ended up being hosted at Harry and Cal’s place and Harry couldn’t not be invited to a party in his own house. It was inevitable that you were going to see him, but you just had to focus on seeing Cal and your friends and having fun after a tricky couple of months moving and an even harder few months before that.

You had about 20 minutes before everyone would be arriving at the party and you still had to find something to wear. You were stood in front of your wardrobe looking at the dresses you had hung up, but none of them were right. You rifled through them, hoping something, anything, would come to you.

Your hands landed on a black, v-necked mini dress with puffy sleeves. You pulled it off the hanger, smiling when you remembered Cal pulling it out of the box and sticking it on a hanger, making a comment about how good he bet you looked in it.

You wiggled it on, pairing it with some metallic gold heels and gold jewellery. By the time you’d given the floor a quick tidy and stuffed the belongings into your black clutch, you knew you would be at least 5 minutes late. 

You ordered an Uber as you walked towards the lift, firing a text off to Cal to apologise and letting him know when to expect you. You were only waiting outside for a minute or so before the silver car pulled up in front of you. You spent the short the trip replying to texts in the girls group-chat and scrolling through your various social medias.

“Thank you so much”, you smiled to the driver before sliding out of the back of the car and walking into the main reception of the apartment building. You hit the button for Cal’s floor, pulling out your phone again to let him know you were almost there.

You could hear the music all the way from the lift, the low bass filled the hallway and indiscernible lyrics bounced from the walls. The thought of knocking on the door briefly crossed your mind, before you realised how stupid it would be. You’d be surprised if people could hear each other speak in there, let alone a knock on the door.

There were already quite a few people there, despite you only being 5 or 10 minutes late. You spotted Cal with his side facing your direction, talking to a group of the guys. You walked over, a smile settling itself on your face as you approached him. Cal looked shocked when he felt you position yourself under his arm, but he quickly relaxed once he realised it was you.

“It’s the dress”, he smiled, leaning back slightly to take in your whole appearance. “You look beautiful”, he told you, shifting his arm to sit on your hip and leaning over to drop a sweet peck to your temple. You blushed, looking around at Simon, Josh and Ethan. None of them looked surprised at what they saw.

“I’m happy for you”, Josh smiled. Conversation quickly recommenced, though, Cal eager not to put too much focus on you.

You dipped away shortly after to get a drink and find the girls. You were chatting happily with them, sipping on your drink when Cal came up to you. Freya wiggled her eyebrows at you in the least subtle way possible. You rolled your eyes playfully, turning to face Cal. Before you could ask what he wanted, he took his hand in yours. “Come dance with me?”, he asked. You smiled and nodded, knocking back the rest of your drink so that you could leave your cup on the side and go and dance with Cal.

Cal held you close against his body and moved the two of you slowly side to side, neither of you not really knowing how to dance properly. You were giggling at the stupidity that Cal was whispering into you ear as his breath tickled your neck. You reached up on your tip-toes, even though that still didn’t bridge the gap between the two of you. Cal took pity on your struggle and dipped his head to press his lips to yours. Before anything could even think about progressing further, you were interrupted by a sharp shout.

“What the fuck!?”.

Harry was livid. He’d turned around from the makeshift bar to go and return to his friends when he was greeted with the sight of one of his best friends all over his girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend.

You turned around in Cal’s arms to face an angry Harry. If you weren’t wrong, he was angrier now than the night that you broke up. It was written all over his face, burned into his eyes. You reached for Cal’s hand, taking a couple of steps backwards, behind Cal’s looming frame.

“Harry”, Cal warned, voice low, as he reached out behind his back to find you.

“Don’t Harry me”, he spat. “I bet you just couldn’t wait to jump into her bed, huh?”, he accused. “And you, telling me you didn’t cheat”, he scoffed. It ignited a flame inside of you, burning raw with anger.

“Outside. Now”, you instructed. You wiggled your hand out of Cal’s, despite him and the girls trying to hold you back. “Let me go, I’ll be okay”, you promised him, voice much softer.

The harsh wind ruffled the sleeves of your dress as you waited on the balcony for Harry. You noticed that the music had been turned off and even though you had left the living area, the attention was still turned to you through the glass doors of the balcony.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”, you asked Harry the minute he’d stepped outside. “Who on Earth gave you the right to comment on my life anymore?”.

“You were kissing my best friend right in front of my face!”, Harry snapped.

“And!? I’m not your girlfriend anymore, Harry!”, you exclaimed.

“Did you have to do it in front of my face? No. You chose to, selfish bitch”, he muttered. If looks could kill, Harry would be little more than dust blowing away in the wind about now.

“No, you’re the selfish bitch. I’m done taking your shit, I was done taking your shit the minute you decided we were through!”.

“You’re the one that left me, remember? Or did you forget that when you started fucking my best friend?”, Harry accused. You rolled your eyes, not bothered to correct him on his inaccuracies about you and Cal.

“No, Harry. I left, but you decided we were through when you went behind my back, shagged God knows how many other girls and then had the fucking audacity to blame me for it”, you exclaimed, voice rising with anger. You watched as Harry tried to process what you said and tried to find the words to bite back with something just as angry and just as hurtful.

“I feel like shit for what I did, Y/N”, Harry sighed, finally losing the attitude and anger. He took a step towards you, hand reaching out. “I was hoping to see you tonight, to see if we could try and make this work. I know what you said... but I was hoping you might’ve changed your mind now that you’ve had time to think about it”, Harry said, voice low but hopeful.

“Harry, I spent 3 months locked away in one of your best friends’ spare rooms because I couldn’t function on my own. You broke me. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. If it wasn’t for Josh and Freya and the girls, I don’t think I’d have seen the other side of those 3 months. I didn’t move to London so we could try this again”, you said, gesturing between the two of you. “I moved to London because some of my best friends live here. I have a job and my own flat and I’m happy now. Can you please, please try, not to ruin this? Because I won’t let you, not again”.

“But... Freezy?”, Harry asked, voice weighed down with defeat.

“I don’t owe you an explanation”, you told him firmly. “Whatever Cal wants to tell you as his best friend is between you and Cal, but...”, you trailed off. “I’ll be civil as long as you are, you know I will, but that’s the most you’re ever going to get from me, which is a hell of a lot more than you deserve”, you said, voice holding a sense of finality that Harry was sensible enough to pick up on and respect.

You heard the doors slide open and closed as Harry left you alone. You walked over to the edge of the terrace, leaning your arms against the railings as you let out a long, deep breath. You bent over to remove your shoes, sighing as your bare feet hit the cold floor. You heard the doors slide open and closed again and you prayed to anyone that would listen that it wasn’t Harry.

“You didn’t come back in”, Cal said, walking over with a hoodie of his in his hand. “Put this on, you’re shivering”, he told you. He helped you into the jumper, careful not to smudge any of your make up. “Are you okay?”.

“Yeah, I think”, you replied, bundling the excess sleeves into your hands. “Can I have a hug and just stay here for a bit?”, you asked, looking up at Cal through your eyelashes. Cal let out a soft laugh, coming closer to wrap you up in his arms.

You maneuvered yourself so that you could still see the lights and the skyline, letting your head rest against Cal’s chest once you were happy with your position. “I know you’ve said it already”, you whispered quietly. “But please, don’t do what Harry did. If things are ever bad, just speak to me, okay?”, you pleaded.

You felt Cal nod his head on top of yours, shifting to kiss your forehead and hairline.

“I promise, angel”.

[burninhellwithmal]

Summoning

One-off of Mika summoning Sam to save her- Possible TW

As I exited the café, I heard the jingling of the bells located above my head. At that moment I turned back to glance at the glass panes on the eatery’s door.  As I did, I gave a small wave goodbye to Suzu. After my small farewell, I turned my gaze back towards the road, awaiting my Uber. I felt bad for leaving our outing early, but I wanted to see Sam. But I mean could you blame me? He’s been extremely busy with work lately.  Constantly working late into the night, most of the time in which I’m already asleep. We’ve barely seen each other. And today was like any other: him leaving for work bright and early. That meant that I was alone for the day. I figured tonight would be like any other work night for him recently. So instead of staying by myself all day, I made plans with Suzu. It had been a while since we had hung out anyways. 

Suzu and I met promptly at The Pink Lady Café at 7:00pm. We had been chatting, joking, laughing and basically having an all around good time until about 7:45. When suddenly something in my back pocket buzzed. I immediately recognized what the buzzing was coming from, and swiftly grabbed my phone from my back pocket. I unlocked it to a message from Sam “ Hey, doofus. I’ll be home early today. Hopefully…at about 7. Have you eaten? “ I slightly smiled not only because he always made sure my needs were met before his but also just from seeing his name pop up in my notifications. My mind began to trail off... “It’s crazy how much I love him. Come on, who am I kidding? I love him so much it almost hurts.” I thought. I continued to let my thoughts linger for just a moment longer before I quickly opened my messages and replied “ Sorry! I have… but feel free to get whatever, I'll try to be home soon. Love you <3” 

And that’s how the story of a very frightening night began: Me wanting to go home to my loving incubus, while waiting for my ride home during a typical chilly night. As I stood under the streetlights outside the Pink Lady Cafe my phone buzzed. I looked down to see a notification “Your uber has arrived.” I began to look around for a grey prius. I quickly spotted it, and made my way closer to the edge of the sidewalk in anticipation to get home. It speedingly pulled up to me and I watched as the passenger window rolled down it’s window. As I peered in the car, I saw a man in his late 30’s , unshaven, and looked to be an all around slob. But before I could consciously think about his disheveled appearance, a skeptical voice spoke up “ Are you Mika?” I nodded and he motioned towards the backseats in his car, silently instructing me to go in the back seat. I obviously obliged. I pulled on the car door and quickly sat down and buckled up. 

During the ride, I kept noticing how he would glance at something in the rear view mirror. I just told myself he was looking at what was on the road behind us. But I quickly began to realize he wasn’t looking at the road, he was looking at me. Once I noticed this, I told myself that it's a little out of place but not something to be frightened about. Yet I remained cautious. I averted my eyes from the window to the driver's seat. As I did I really began to take in his looks. My gut began screaming that something was wrong. Yet, I tried to remain calm, I just kept telling myself I was overreacting. When my thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the lack of movement, the car had stopped. My eyes began to dart around my surroundings to figure out why. They immediately checked the traffic, no red lights, no stop signs, no pedestrians, there was no reason for us to be stopped. That’s when it went from just my gut screaming at me but also the alarms in my head. Then I heard a voice, and my eyes darted towards it. In less than a second I pinpointed where the voice was coming from. The driver's seat. I looked at the man sitting in the seat as he spoke “We’re out of gas... “ followed by a seemingly forced sigh. My foreboding feeling throughout my body was growing more intense by the second. Almost unbearable. I decided to get out of the car, if something were to happen I didn’t want to be stuck in such a small space with little room to defend myself. 

The driver followed suit, and leaned against his car about 8 inches away from me. I tried to brush it off as him just getting out to see what he could do. Though I did instinctively take a couple steps further away from him. He was leaning on the back seat’s window while I stood in front of the passenger window. I took a quick glance at him then took out my phone to text Sam. “Hey, it may take a bit longer. The uber ran out of gas. I should be home soon, hopefully.” While I was busy looking down at my phone, I failed to notice the driver sidle up beside me. As I looked up I flinched, clearly shocked to see him so close. But before I could shift my legs to move further down the car away from him: He gripped onto my raven hair and in just mere second covered my mouth. Preventing me from both getting away and screaming for help. He began to drag me forward towards an alleyway, I squirmed desperately trying to get away. I kicked and hit, which was returned by my hair being pulled harder towards the alley-way. I could feel the hot fearful tears run down my face. Everything was happening so fast I couldn’t even think. 

As we entered the alley-way he roughly pushed me onto the ground. Now towering over me. I looked up at him to see a wicked smile. A smile you’d see in a horror movie. He slowly began to walk towards me as I began to desperately crab crawl away. But was abruptly stopped by my back crashing into a big metal trash can. He was getting closer, my mind still racing with fear and panic. I couldn’t think straight. Instinctively my arms began to rummage around for things to defend myself. I didn’t find anything! I began to look harder for anything: metal, glass.. ANYTHING. It didn’t help that it was almost impossible to see through my blurred eyes and hard to feel with my trembling hands. As I was looking around frantically Sam popped into my mind. As he did sensible thoughts began to fester. Within seconds I heard myself call out “Aomaris!” 

Within a mere seconds the frantic air had changed into a serene state shortly followed by a bright light. I quickly covered my eyes with my shoulder, waiting for the light to disperse. As the light died, I looked up from my arms to see Sam and his shocked expression. I watched as his eyes darted around looking for me, and when he found me his eyes went gold for a mere second before turning back to their original emerald green hue. HIs gaze had only lasted a second before being interrupted by a scarily familiar voice “What the HELL?”

Sam immediately tracked down the voice to the man, now shaken to his core. But before Sam could let his rage take over the man had run. Sam stood in place for several seconds, internally fighting all of his instincts to go after the guy. Once he had made up his mind on what he should do, he had appeared in front of me within a millisecond. He immediately wrapped me in his arms, petting my hair in an effort to calm me. I laid my head on his chest tightly gripping the green shirt under his vest. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. He must have known because I heard him mumble in my ear “Shh...it’s okay. Let it out..” 

And I did, I broke down. I sobbed so hard my voice became hoarse and quivered so much you’d think that there was an earthquake. But Sam didn’t let up, just pulled me closer to his chest. My sounds were swallowed by his green t-shirt. I could feel his warmth despite the cold metal of his dog tag pressed against my cheek. I still don’t know how long we sat in that alley way. I do know that overtime my weeping had slowled, and he used that as an opportunity to get us home. Sam made the executive decision to go through a pentagram. I felt him take a smidget of energy from me. I didn’t fight it, why would I? I could feel myself slowly falling through the ground. I knew what he was doing, he didn’t have to say it. Within a second I felt myself now sitting on the stone steps located in front of my home. 

He slowly let go of his grip around me and gently took my hand in his before standing both of us. He had a grip on my waist making sure to keep me steady, since he was still unaware if I was injured. Though when he was sure I was secure on the ground he slowly let go. I watched as he felt around his pockets until he found his keys. I watched as he took them from the inside of his vest and used them to unlock our front door. As the door swung open he again gently gripped onto my hand, guiding me inside. 

As I passed through the door letting it swing shut naturally, I took in the familiar smell of my air refresher still plugged into the wall. Sam looked back at me, I could tell he was concerned, but he wasn’t going to show it. I looked up at him beginning to wonder what was going through his mind. Sam’s complicated to say the least. It’s hard for him to express himself, so usually I speak up first. And I did.  “Are you okay?” Sam looked deeper into my eyes, probably wondering if I was seriously asking him if HE was okay... I was correct. He quickly conveyed his feelings to me on the situation “ You’re asking me if I’m okay?” he responded sarcastically. I stood still waiting for him to continue on. “Seriously?” He scoffed. I stood there taken back by his tone. “He could have hurt you! Why’d you wait that long to summon me!? “ 

His voice was now significantly raised and it didn't take a genius to figure out why. I mean was he practically screaming it. He was mad, not at me but at himself. I knew that he  probably didn’t even notice his temper. “Sam..” I mumbled. Even in his self-loathing state he was still able to give me his undivided attention. He aimed his stare towards me. I used this as an opportunity to make him aware of the level of his voice. “Sam…” I began, while fidgeting with my hands. He still stared, waiting for me to finish. “Sam.. you’re kinda-sorta yelling…”

He looked down and pressed his two fingers against the bridge of his nose while simultaneously letting out a heavy sigh. I looked down to my fingers still fidgeting with them. But my gaze was soon steadily placed on him by the sound of his voice. “I...I d-didn’t mean to yell at you like that.. It’s just who knows what that DICK…” he took a moment to calm himself before continuing.  “ bag would’ve done to you.” He looked up at me then breathed heavily out his nose, as if he was letting off steam. I slowly made my way towards him and gingerly wrapped my arms around his neck while gently pecking him on his lips in an effort to calm him down. 

He let out a content sigh and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could tell he wanted to say something, but he didn’t know how to say it. I lifted my head to look up to his emerald green irises. He returned the gesture and proceeded to look deeply in my eyes, as if they would help formulate the words he had trapped inside his head. 

He took a breath in signalling to me that he was going to speak.  His eyes lingered a bit longer before looking down to the floor as if in shame. Then he spoke... “ I’m sorry for yelling at you, I-I didn’t mean to… I just… “ He nuzzled his head on my shoulder shortly followed by a muffled voice. “ I just want to protect you..” I removed my arms from around his broad shoulders, and instead wrapped them around his form and placed my head on the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around me tighter and I happily returned the gesture.

“Sam… you do protect me.” He lifted his head to look at me. “Do I?” I simply just stared back at him thinking out my words carefully before speaking “Sam, of course you protect me. Tonight could have been so much worse if it wasn’t for you. Mmm-kay, you hear me? You DO protect me, I have no doubt in that.” He sighed and removed his hands from my waist and instead took one of my hands. Which confused me. 

“Hm?” I shot him a curious look. “Come doofus it’s getting late, let’s get you to bed.” I glanced at the clock on the wall and then cocked my head at my incubus. “What? “ He said amused. I responded teasingly “Since when do you go to bed at 8:30?” He shrugged “Maybe I’m just tired.” I looked at him closer, trying to see if he was joking or if he was actually tired. As I inspected him I came to realize he probably was tired, and I suddenly felt bad for him having to use his energy to save me. But I quickly shut those thoughts out. 

“Long day? “ I replied empathetically. He simply nodded tiredly. I sighed contently then said “ Then let’s go to sleep, dork.” He dramatically rolled his eyes before chucking.  Still hand in hand he began to walk and I happily  complied to follow behind. As we reached my bedroom we both silently agreed to change before heading to bed. We both began to strip from our day clothes back to each other. I turned my head slightly to look over my shoulder.

As I did I found myself admiring a very muscley back. And at that moment I thought “damn he’s ripped” . And I mean ripped. At that moment he finished changing and turned back to look at me, and as he did I immediately turned my head away from him, I could feel the way my face had heated up from being caught. I hurried up and tried to get dressed to prevent myself from becoming a blushing mess. As I slipped my shirt on, I heard a snicker behind me- along with a familiar sound of ruffling sheets. As I was done getting dressed by then I turned around to further inspect the noise. 

I turned around to see Sam in bed, comfortable under the covers. He flashed me a goofy grin and motioned for me to join him. I quickly accepted his invitation. As I laid down next to him he put his arm and me. I eagerly laid my head on his chest, resting my hand in the same place. Soon enough his breathing slowed, signaling to me he had fallen asleep, and before I knew it I followed after.

[rosyrosethings]

Y/n finds out her boyfriend Harry is a gang leader.

Y/n woke up to her boyfriend kissing her face repeatedly. She giggled and moved over to stuff her face in her pillow. He grabbed her waist pulling her hips to his.

“You can’t hide from me, baby. Now kiss me!” He said y/n turned her head as she peaked open one of her eyes looking up and her pale green-eyed boy smirking at her. She opened her other eye. Now fully looking at him.

“Marcel, I haven’t even brushed my teeth.” She said turning over her body fully now laying on her back looking up at him.

“I don’t care. We go through this every morning.” He said as he leaned downed and kissed her lips. She kissed him back. She loved Marcel waking.up.to.the sight of her boyfriend. Waking up with her in his arms or her arms around him. Marcel's phone rang interrupting their moment. Y/n immediately rolled her eyes. whenever his phone rang she knew he was going to leave her, sometimes he's gonna all day and doesn't come back till 4 am.

“Yea, be there soon,” Marcel said, y/n turned from him. Marcel looked over at her as he could tell he was upset.

”Baby don’t be like that.” he said laying back down wrapping his arms around her waist kissing her bare shoulder.

”You let whoever in your phone run you. You always seem to go whenever they call.” she said.

” It just work love, I'd be home later.” he said and he pampered her face in kisses until he heard her giggle. She loved it when he called her place home.

“Fine just make sure you don’t miss tonight. It's our one-year anniversary dinner so please don't miss it.” He kissed her once more. Before getting up putting on his clothes. She wished he stayed and stopped treating her house like one nightstand. He always had to go.

“Won’t miss it for the world baby. I love you.” He said as he got up getting ready to walk out her bedroom. She got up also walking with him to the door. She didn’t respond to his I love you because if he loved her he wouldn’t leave her on their one year anniversary. He turned around and face her. His bottom lip poking out because he knew she could resist his cute face.

“Baby, I said I love you.” He mumbled,

”Mhmm.” she hummed in response trying to walk past him. He grabbed her arm pulling her back to face him. He knew she liked it when he got a bit more aggressive.

“What’s wrong?” He asked seriously.

“You’re leaving me on our one year anniversary.” She whines out. He leaned down and kissed her pouting lips.

”baby, I just have to work. I’d be back I promise.” He said, she nodded kissing him again. She knew how to get him to stay. Sex. So she used it to her advantage. She wrapped her arms around his neck, sliding her tongue in his mouth. Moving her hips closer to his. He kissed her back of course. He couldn’t resist her. But he had to work so he pulled away but she continued to kiss his jaw and his neck.

“Love I have to go to work.” He laughed, she sighed and gave up. Stepping back letting him leave out the door.

“I love you..” she mumbled. He gave her his best smile and kissed her cheek.

//

After Marcel left. Y/n went about her day as usual. Preparing for tonight. While FaceTime with her best friend.

” Matthew and I are gonna go out tonight and have some adult fun..” her friend Tae explained while smiling from ear to ear. Mathews was her husband.

”that's so cute. I and Marcel are going out tonight also.” Y/n proclaimed with a bigger smile. Tae rolled her eyes at the sound of his name.

“Y/n, you know I don’t like him for you. I just feel like you deserve better.” Her friend Jessica said,

“He’s an amazing guy. I don’t see why you don’t like him.” Y/n said as she put on her makeup.

“You’ve been dating him for a year. You haven’t met his friends or family. You’ve been to his house like twice and he says he works in the pharmaceutical business. Which is a load of shit.”

Y/n shrugged.

“He’s just secretive,” y/n mumbled. Jessica laughed at her naivety.

“Your making excuses for him. But I guess I’d make excuses for a face like his too.” Tae said, “Mommy!! I cut my finger.” Tae’s son Brandon yelled from the back.

“Fuck Y/n I will call you back,” Tae said disconnecting the FaceTime call and tending to her child. Y/n continued to get ready for her date. Once she was finally ready. She got a text from Marcel. Who was supposed to pick her up.

Running late I called you an Uber to the restaurant. I will meet you there. -Marcel

She sighed, she could have literally driven her own car. She thought but she knew Marcel hated it when she didn't listen to him. She waited for the Uber to arrive. Which arrived shortly after her waiting... Uber took her to the restaurant. She walked inside where she was greeted by the hostess.

”name?”

”Marcel Cox.”

”Ohh follow me.” She said as she grabbed the large menu and walked Y/n to the empty table. She sighed, he isn’t here she thought.

She sat at the tables and waited patiently. No one ever came. She watched the clock go from 6 pm to 6:30 to 7:00. she still had hope that he’d come. Even though she was one more pitiful look from the waitress away from tears.

Her phone made a ding noise. She looked at to see it was her best friend Tae. But Y/n did not open the text message. She wasn’t in the mood for her best friend to be right.

But her phone kept dinging. Multiple text messages from tae. Y/n unlocked her phone.

Aren’t you and Marcel supposed to be together? Isn’t it the anniversary?

Marcel is the club I’m at.

I snuck up closer to see what he was saying. Everyone is literally calling him Harry.

I’m gonna send you a video. -Tae

Shortly after a video was sent to Y/N’s phone.

The video was of Marcel, sitting in a VIP section of a club with a few other guys behind him. But Tae kept moving the camera behind people to be discreet.

Y/n shut off the video and decided to call him.

No answer.

She thought that maybe she should text him. But she didn’t. She sat there and thought about it.

Who is Harry and why are they calling me that? Why is he at a bar instead of with me? She thought to herself. She quickly arranged for an Uber to pick her up and she ordered food Togo.

Eventually, she made it home. Tears were pouring down her face. Receiving weird looks from her uber driver. She felt so confused and lost. she went to change into more comfortable which was one of Harrys shirts and decided to sit on the couch and enjoy her steak dinner and watch kissing booths on Netflix. Her phone started to ring and she looked hopefully it could be Marcel.

“Hello?”

”Hi love, are you okay? Do you need me to come over?” she asked, she sighed at the sound of Taes voice.

”no no no it's fine enjoy your night with your husband. i just wanna be alone right now.” y/n said sadly eating the roasted potatoes.

”Okay, Are you sure? Me and Matt could come over and we can watch movies.”

”Yea, I'm positive the last thing I want is to be around a happily married couple.”

“Okay well I love you. Call me if you need anything.”

“Love you too.”

Y/n disconnected the call and continue to eat her dinner. She didn’t know what to do. Who in the hell isHarry and why is lying to her. Is he married?

There was a sound on her door that interrupted her thoughts. The sound if someone unlocking it. She looked over at the door. Knowing he was the only one who had a key.

He walked in. Ready to apologize for missing their anniversary. It was almost 12am. He didn’t know what excuse to come up. Just tell her it was work. He thought.

“Baby.. I’m so so sorry. It was work thing and I-.” She let out a dry laugh. As he sat next to her on the couch. She did love him but he’s lying to her. She just wants the truth.

“Work at 12am? you’re lying to me. Is there someone else? Are you married?”

“What baby? No. I’m all yours.”

“Then who in the fuck is Harry?”she as she looked him dead in the eye. He looked like a dear in head lights.

“If you look me in the eye and lie to me one more time. I’m done with you.” She said crossing her arms. He didn’t want to tell her. How do you tell someone you’re the leader of a gang. He couldn’t tell her. Y/n is literally the most cooker cutter girl he knows. She doesn’t break any laws, She doesn’t smoke, Halloween scares her but she loves it. And yet he still loved her even though they were opposite. He never felt this way about a girl before. He loved how safe he felt with her. As it lhe had no worries whenever he stepped near her. If he told her who he was would she be scared of him.

“I-I don’t know who Harry is.” He immediately regretted the lie that came out of his mouth. If he told her his real name was Harry after a year of dating. She would leave him in heartbeat. But she knew him to well. She knew it was a lie.

“You’re lying to me Marcel or whoever the hell you are. You need to leave.” She said as she stood up from the couch.

“Leave?” He said looking up at her, his green eyes slightly glossy. She could see the fear and hurt in his eyes.

“Yes leave. I-I don’t know who you are. You’ve been lying to me for a full year and you looked me in my eyes and lied to me. You wouldn’t do that to someone you love.” He stood up his height towering hers.

“Kitten I do love you.”

“Yea but not enough to tell me the truth. Can you please just leave.” She said looking away from him. He looked down at her. He turned around to leave.

“The key.” She said. Stopping him.

“Baby c’mon. This is just a stupid fight.” he said trying to blow over the situation. She looked up at him her eyes full of hurt and pure disgust.

”Marcel I don’t even know who you are anymore. You keep lying to me and I can’t do this now please give me my damn key and leave my house.” Harry flinched at her language he handed her the key.

“Can I at least explain myself?” He said once more.

“No. I have you your chance and you lied. Please just leave me.” And he did as he was told and left the apartment. Leaving her their in tears.

A couple days went by Y/n couldn’t get out of bed she was always so sad. It hurt her so badly to lose Marcel. Then a week went by and he hasn’t even tried to call her. She thought she obviously meant nothing to him for him not even to try to win her back. Then a whole month went by no Marcel and she was still just as hurt as she was the day he walked out on her. So she started knitting to distract herself and she was getting pretty good at. Decided to knit a a cardigan.

With Music was playing softly in the back. She thought how cute Marcel will look in this sweater. The knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. She sighed she knew it was Tae. Tae has literally been worried sick since Marcel left Y/n. Y/n went to open the door. Seeing a black hair tattooed man. She looked at him confused. He was very handsome but he must have the wrong apartment.

“Umm hello, is there something i can help you with?” She asked still holding the door in her hand so she can close it in face if needed.

“Yes, thank god I found you. I need you to come back with me.” She scrunched her face at the mans response.

“Umm no. I don’t know you at all.”

“It’s about Marcel. You just really need to see him.” Her eyes widened. He’s friends with Marcel. But she still doesn’t know this guy.

“But that doesn’t explain who you are.”

“That’s not important. I just need you to come back with me.”

”No I'm not.” she said closing the door. His foot stopped the door. She looked up at him. All she saw was the determination in his eyes and she was scared for her life.

”please can you just leave..” she pleated but he didn't. Was the last thing she remembered. Before everything went black.

[seducemefanblog]

Snatched SamxMika

So uhh I had to take down my old tumblr (Seducemefreakk) bc of my mom. But I have decided to go behind her back and get on tumblr with a new email.

So I’m going to repost my old fanfiction :33

As I exited the cafe, I heard the jingling of the bells located above my head. At that moment I turned back to glance at the glass panes on the eatery’s door.  As I did I gave a small wave goodbye to Suzu. After my small farewell, I turned my gaze back towards the road, awaiting my Uber. I felt bad for leaving our outing early, but I wanted to see Sam. But I mean could you blame me? He’s been extremely busy with work lately.  Constantly working late into the night, most of the time in which I’m already asleep. We’ve barely seen each other. And today was like any other: him leaving for work bright and early. That meant that I was alone for the day. I figured tonight would be like any other work night for him recently. So instead of staying by myself all day, I made plans with Suzu. It had been a while since we had hung out anyways. 

Suzu and I met promptly at The Pink Lady Cafe at 7:00pm. We had been chatting, joking, laughing and basically having an all around good time until about 7:45. When suddenly something in my back pocket buzzed. I immediately recognized what the buzzing was coming from, and swiftly grabbed my phone from my back pocket. I unlocked it to a message from Sam “ Hey, doofus. I’ll be home early today. Hopefully…at about 7. Have you eaten? “ I slightly smiled not only because he always made sure my needs were met before his but also just from seeing his name pop up in my notifications. My mind began to trail off... “It’s crazy how much I love him. Come on, who am I kidding? I love him so much it almost hurts.” I thought. I continued to let my thoughts linger for just a moment longer before I quickly opened my messages and replied “ Sorry! I have… but feel free to get whatever, I'll try to be home soon. Love you <3” 

And that’s how the story of a very frightening night began: Me wanting to go home to my loving incubus, while waiting for my ride home during a typical chilly night. As I stood under the streetlights outside the Pink Lady Cafe my phone buzzed. I looked down to see a notification “Your uber has arrived.” I began to look around for a grey prius. I quickly spotted it, and made my way closer to the edge of the sidewalk in anticipation to get home. It speedily pulled up to me and I watched as the passenger window rolled down it’s window. As I peered in the car, I saw a man in his late 30’s , unshaven, and looked to be an all around slob. But before I could consciously think about his disheveled appearance, a skeptical voice spoke up “ Are you Mika?” I nodded and he motioned towards the backseats in his car, silently instructing me to go in the back seat. I obviously obliged. I pulled on the car door and quickly sat down and buckled up. 

During the ride, I kept noticing how he would glance at something in the rear view mirror. I just told myself he was looking at what was on the road behind us. But I quickly began to realize he wasn’t looking at the road, he was looking at me. Once I noticed this, I told myself that it's a little out of place but not something to be frightened about. Yet I remained cautious. I averted my eyes from the window to the driver's seat. As I did I really began to take in his looks. My gut began screaming that something was wrong. Yet, I tried to remain calm, I just kept telling myself I was overreacting. When my thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the lack of movement, the car had stopped. My eyes began to dart around my surroundings to figure out why. They immediately checked the traffic, no red lights, no stop signs, no pedestrians, there was no reason for us to be stopped. That’s when it went from just my gut screaming at me but also the alarms in my head. Then I heard a voice, and my eyes darted towards it. In less than a second I pinpointed where the voice was coming from. The driver's seat. I looked at the man sitting in the seat as he spoke “We’re out of gas... “ followed by a seemingly forced sigh. My foreboding feeling throughout my body was growing more intense by the second. Almost unbearable. I decided to get out of the car, if something were to happen I didn’t want to be stuck in such a small space with little room to defend myself. 

The driver followed suit, and leaned against his car about 8 inches away from me. I tried to brush it off as him just getting out to see what he could do. Though I did instinctively take a couple steps further away from him. He was leaning on the back seat’s window while I stood in front of the passenger window. I took a quick glance at him then took out my phone to text Sam. “Hey, it may take a bit longer. The uber ran out of gas. I should be home soon, hopefully.” While I was busy looking down at my phone, I failed to notice the driver sidle up beside me. As I looked up I flinched, clearly shocked to see him so close. But before I could shift my legs to move further down the car away from him: He gripped onto my raven hair and in just mere second covered my mouth. Preventing me from both getting away and screaming for help. He began to drag me forward towards an alleyway, I squirmed desperately trying to get away. I kicked and hit, which was returned by my hair being pulled harder towards the alley-way. I could feel the hot fearful tears run down my face. Everything was happening so fast I couldn’t even think. 

As we entered the alley-way he roughly pushed me onto the ground. Now towering over me. I looked up at him to see a wicked smile. A smile you’d see in a horror movie. He slowly began to walk towards me as I began to desperately crab crawl away. But was abruptly stopped by my back crashing into a big metal trash can. He was getting closer, my mind still racing with fear and panic. I couldn’t think straight. Instinctively my arms began to rummage around for things to defend myself. I didn’t find anything! I began to look harder for anything: metal, glass.. ANYTHING. It didn’t help that it was almost impossible to see through my blurred eyes and hard to feel with my trembling hands. As I was looking around frantically Sam popped into my mind. As he did sensible thoughts began to fester. Within seconds I heard myself call out “Aomaris!” 

Within a mere seconds the frantic air had changed into a serene state shortly followed by a bright light. I quickly covered my eyes with my shoulder, waiting for the light to disperse. As the light died, I looked up from my arms to see Sam and his shocked expression. I watched as his eyes darted around looking for me, and when he found me his eyes went gold for a mere second before turning back to their original emerald green hue. His gaze had only lasted a second before being interrupted by a scarily familiar voice “What the HELL?”

Sam immediately tracked down the voice to the man, now shaken to his core. But before Sam could let his rage take over the man had run. Sam stood in place for several seconds, internally fighting all of his instincts to go after the guy. Once he had made up his mind on what he should do, he had appeared in front of me within a millisecond. He immediately wrapped me in his arms, petting my hair in an effort to calm me. I laid my head on his chest tightly gripping the green shirt under his vest. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. He must have known because I heard him mumble in my ear “Shh...it’s okay. Let it out..” 

And I did, I broke down. I sobbed so hard my voice became hoarse and quivered so much you’d think that there was an earthquake. But Sam didn’t let up, just pulled me closer to his chest. My sounds were swallowed by his green t-shirt. I could feel his warmth despite the cold metal of his dog tag pressed against his cheek. I still don’t know how long we sat in that alley way. I do know that overtime my weeping had slowled, and he used that as an opportunity to get us home. Sam made the executive decision to go through a pentagram. I felt him take a smidget of energy from me. I didn’t fight it, why would I? I could feel myself slowly falling through the ground. I knew what he was doing, he didn’t have to say it. Within a second I felt myself now sitting on the stone steps located in front of my home. 

He slowly let go of his grip around me and gently took my hand in his before standing both of us. He had a grip on my waist making sure to keep me steady, since he was still unaware if I was injured. Though when he was sure I was secure on the ground he slowly let go. I watched as he felt around his pockets until he found his keys. I watched as he took them from the inside of his vest and used them to unlock our front door. As the door swung open he again gently gripped onto my hand, guiding me inside. 

As I passed through the door letting it swing shut naturally, I took in the familiar smell of my air refresher still plugged into the wall. Sam looked back at me, I could tell he was concerned, but he wasn’t going to show it. I looked up at him beginning to wonder what was going through his mind. Sam’s complicated to say the least. It’s hard for him to express himself, so usually I speak up first. And I did.  “Are you okay?” Sam looked deeper into my eyes, probably wondering if I was seriously asking him if HE was okay... I was correct. He quickly conveyed his feelings to me on the situation “ You’re asking me if I’m okay?” he responded sarcastically. I stood still waiting for him to continue on. “Seriously?” He scoffed. I stood there taken back by his tone. “He could have hurt you! Why’d you wait that long to summon me!? “ 

His voice was now significantly raised and it didn't take a genius to figure out why. I mean was he practically screaming it. He was mad, not at me but at himself. I knew that probably didn’t even notice his temper. “Sam..” I mumbled. Even in his self-loathing state he was still able to give me his undivided attention. He aimed his stare towards me. I used this as an opportunity to make him aware of the level of his voice. “Sam…” I began, while fidgeting with my hands. He still stared, waiting for me to finish. “Sam.. you’re kinda-sorta yelling…”

He looked down and pressed his two fingers against the bridge of his nose while simultaneously letting out a heavy sigh. I looked down to my fingers still fidgeting with them. But my gaze was soon steadily placed on him by the sound of his voice. “I...I d-didn’t mean to yell at you like that.. It’s just who knows what that DICK…” he took a moment to calm himself before continuing.  “ bag would’ve done to you.” He looked up at me then breathed heavily out his nose, as if he was letting off steam. I slowly made my towards him and gingerly wrapped my arms around his neck while gently pecking him on his lips in an effort to calm him down. 

He let out a content sigh and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could tell he wanted to say something, but he didn’t know how to say it. I lifted my head to look up to his emerald green irises. He returned the gesture and proceeded to look deeply in my eyes, as if they would help formulate the words he had trapped inside his head. 

He took a breath in signalling to me that he was going to speak.  His eyes lingered a bit longer before looking down to the floor as if in shame. Then he spoke... “ I’m sorry for yelling at you, I-I didn’t mean to… I just… “ He nuzzled his head on my shoulder shortly followed by a muffled voice. “ I just want to protect you..” I removed my arms from around his broad shoulders, and instead wrapped them around his form and placed my head on the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around me tighter and I happily returned the gesture.

“Sam… you do protect me.” He lifted his head to look at me. “Do I?” I simply just stared back at him thinking out my words carefully before speaking “Sam, of course you protect me. Tonight could have been so much worse if it wasn’t for you. Mmm-kay, you hear me? You DO protect me, I have no doubt in that.” He sighed and removed his hands from my waist and instead took one of my hands. Which confused me. 

“Hm?” I shot him a curious look. “Come doofus it’s getting late, let’s get you to bed.” I glanced at the clock on the wall and then cocked my head at my incubus. “What? “ He said amused. I responded teasingly “Since when do you go to bed at 8:30?” He shrugged “Maybe I’m just tired.” I looked at him closer, trying to see if he was joking or if he was actually tired. As I inspected him I came to realize he probably was tired, and I suddenly felt bad for him having to use his energy to save me. But I quickly shut those thoughts out. 

“Long day? “ I replied empathetically. He simply nodded tiredly. I sighed contently then said “ Then let’s go to sleep, dork.” He dramatically rolled his eyes before chucking.  Still hand in hand he began to walk and I happily  complied to follow behind. As we reached my bedroom we both silently agreed to change before heading to bed. We both began to strip from our day clothes back to each other. I turned my head slightly to look over my shoulder.

As I did I found myself admiring a very muscly back. And at that moment I thought “damn he’s ripped” . And I mean ripped. At that moment he finished changing and turned back to look at me, and as he did I immediately turned my head away from him, I could feel the way my face had heated up from being caught. I hurried up and tried to get dressed to prevent myself from becoming a blushing mess. As I slipped my shirt on, I heard a snicker behind me- along with a familiar sound of ruffling sheets. As I was done getting dressed by then I turned around to further inspect the noise. 

I turned around to see Sam in bed, comfortable under the covers. He flashed me a goofy grin and motioned for me to join him. I quickly accepted his invitation. As I laid down next to him he put his arm and me. I eagerly laid my head on his chest, resting my hand in the same place. Soon enough his breathing slowed, signalling to me he had fallen asleep, and before I knew it I followed after.

[imalwaysaslutfordrag]

crystal/gigi and #7

“Did you hear that?” - “I’m telling you, I’m haunted.”

It was Crystal’s day off, and she was living the hight of luxury in her opinion. 

Her day was spent lounging about the living room sans-pants, watching horrible reality TV, eating hot chips for every meal, and helping herself to the secret chocolate stash Widow kept under their sink.  

When her cellphone rang at two am, Crystal picked it up without a second thought, there was only one person it could be anyway.

“Hey, baby, what’s up?”

“Will you please come over?” The vulnerability in Gigi’s voice made Crystal sit up straighter on her couch. She sounded hurt. Timid even. 

Crystal’s blood ran cold at the sound. 

“Yeah, of course. Are you okay?” Crystal asked even as she was searching for pants to pull on.

“I’m not really sure.” 

Crystal’s mind filled with a million different horrible possibilities at once and she was ordering an Uber before she could blink.

“I’ll be there in ten.” Crystal assured her.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Yeah, course. I love you.”

Crystal arrived eight minutes to the dot after she left, thanks to the traffic being light and her driver being fairly lax in regards to obeying traffic laws. She knocked only once before Gigi’s door swung open to reveal the younger girl draped in her comforter.

“Hey-” 

“Shhh!” Gigi exclaimed, putting a finger to her mouth. 

Crystal looked at her quizzically but kept her mouth shut and let Gigi lead her by the hand into her bedroom. Only after Gigi shut and locked the door, and placed a chair under the knob, did she speak.

“Okay so, I need you to just go with me on this one, yeah?”

Gigi looked at her seriously, but Crystal had gotten the feeling that the issue wasn’t nearly as serious as Gigi had made it out to be on the phone.

“What the hell is happening? Are you okay?” Crystal asked.

Gigi took a deep breath in and out. “I think there’s a ghost in my house.”

Crystal had her repeat herself, once, twice, and then once more because she wanted Gigi to realize how insane she sounded.

“I know I sound crazy! But I heard noises coming from my kitchen earlier and when I went to check it there was a cabinet fully hanging open.”

“So you left a cabinet open and you heard a noise in the kitchen so you think you have a ghost?” Crystal asked deadpan. 

“Babe, take this seriously!” Gigi whined.

Crystal rolled her eyes, “Honey, there isn’t a ghost in your house.”

“How do you explain the banging outside then, huh?” Gigi put a hand on her hip, “Or the doors slamming closed on their own? Do you remember that time when you and I were watching that tv show about the highschoolers that kept breaking out into song and the bedroom door just whammed shut? How do you explain all that?”

“First of all, didn’t you say your neighbors were awful and had loud parties at all hours of the night.” Gigi went to argue, but Crystal cut her off again, “And that time we were watching Glee, your windows were open. Knowing how forgetful you are, baby, I wouldn’t be surprised if you just left the window and the cabinet open.”

“But-”

Gigi’s complaint was cut off by a very real crash just outside her window. It was so loud and so sudden, that Crystal found herself instinctively flinching away from the sound. 

“Did you hear that?” Gigi asked. “I’m telling you, I’m haunted.”

“I’m sure it’s just-”

Another crash sounded, much closer to the bedroom window this time and it took everything in Crystal not to jump away.

Gigi gave her a pointed look as if to say ‘told you so’.

Crystal got up to peer out the window, but it was still too dark to make anything out. She decided it would be easier to go outside and actually look. Gigi did not like this plan at all.

“No, you can’t go alone what if you get possessed?”

“I’m not gonna...” Crystal had to take a deep breath in and out. “Gigi, ghosts aren’t real. I’m not gonna get possessed.”

“You can’t know that!”

Crystal took Gigi’s hands in her own and spoke as calmly as possible, “Baby, honey, I love you. I’m not gonna get possessed.”

“At least let me go with you.”

Crystal agreed and got to work on moving the chair out from under the bedroom doorknob and unlocking it. Gigi was right behind her, still clutching at her blanket like it was a lifeline. Crystal couldn’t help but find it adorable, no matter how much she wanted to be annoyed.

The two ventured out into the living room and Crystal lead them over to the back door. She turned to look at Gigi, who only encouraged her forward. Crystal was surprised to find herself a bit nervous, but she shook it off for now.

In one swift movement, Crystal flicked on the outside lights and flung open the door revealing... two startled raccoons.

Crystal exhaled.

“G, honey, it’s just some raccoons.”

“Are you sure? They could be possessed raccoons.”

Crystal turned to look at Gigi. “Okay, what scary movie did you watch?”

Gigi bit her lip and looked down at the floor guiltily. “Annabelle.”

Crystal sighed, “Gigi-”

“I know you said not to watch them alone anymore but I was bored and I didn’t want to bother you because today was your day off but I ended up doing that anyway, god, I’m so stupid.”

Crystal flipped off the outside lights and closed the door softly behind her before pulling Gigi into a tight hug.

“Baby, you aren’t bothering me. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Gigi sighed against her shoulder. “I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

Crystal pulled back to look Gigi in the eyes, “Stop apologizing, okay? It’s all fine.”

Gigi nodded. “Okay, sorr-” 

Crystal held up a finger to stop her. Gigi smiled softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, babe.”

The comfortable silence that followed was shortly broken by Gigi’s loud yawn. She pulled out her phone to look at the time and reluctantly untangled her limbs from Crystal’s, “I guess you’d better get back home now, it’s late.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Crystal asked seriously.

Gigi shook her head unconvincingly, “No, you need to get back! I won’t keep you any longer. Besides you’ve got so many things to do tomorrow and I-”

“Gigi.” 

“Yes, please would you stay?” Gigi’s eyes did that thing where they got super wide and she looked like a damn doe and Crystal could never refuse her anything. Not that she ever would.

“Of course I will.”

[stularsen]

I feel like it's the right time to share PART TWO of the craziness that happened back in March 2020 as I am currently attempting the exact same journey in December from England to France and am being met with similarly impossible hurdles again... THE HURRICANE vs THE CORONAVIRUS (part two) Escaping from England to France, the long way round..

MARCH 2020 After the absolute rollercoaster of attempting to play eleven shows in eleven countries all around the world in the same month that a global pandemic arrived, these next days would be smooth and I would quickly and easily make it into France to stay with my girlfriend and her family. This is what I hoped for. So, I booked a flight from London Gatwick to Lyon and headed to the airport with my passport, a letter and accompanying document to allow me to enter France. The check-in process was straight forward, my suitcase disappeared and I headed to wait at the appropriate gate, first in line. I was already feeling somewhat at peace with the cancelled tour and my focus shifted to visiting Mathéa and her family. Boarding commenced and I handed over my passport and boarding pass which is where things started to get a little interesting.. The lady behind the desk looked at my passport and turned to her colleague to ask a question before letting me know that I would not be able to board the flight. I didn’t believe it. I showed the the letter and the document but they said it meant absolutely nothing to them. I pleaded, but there was nothing they could do. I pleaded some more and Mathéa pleaded with them over the phone. We knew there was no chance they would be able to do anything, but I just couldn’t walk away. After all the things that stood in the way in the previous weeks which we had overcome, this was now the last piece of the puzzle, refusing to fall into place. I eventually and reluctantly took my passport, boarding pass, letter and document with me and went to join a group of people waiting to collect their luggage after also being kicked off flights. It was chaos. So many people stranded and in far worse situations than mine. Some crying, some shouting at staff. I stood quietly but impatiently waiting for my name to be called, to then be led with about ten others back through the airport to another waiting area where our luggage would soon arrive. It didn’t. Well not mine at least. Everyone else disappeared within a few minutes but I was left waiting on my own for almost an hour. During this time, I was wondering what the next plan should be. I knew there would be a ferry leaving from Newhaven for France later that night, so I quickly booked a ticket. Maybe I would be faced with the same problem again, or maybe going by ferry would be less strictly controlled? I really didn’t know what might happen but I felt like I had to take a chance and see if I could at least make it into the north of France and then somehow find my way across the country to Mathéa’s family home in the east, near to the border with Switzerland. With my suitcase rolling along beside me, a heavy pack on my back and a train ticket for the south, I approached the ticket gates to enter the station. I soon realised they were not letting anyone through so I squeezed to the front to see if I could hear any explanations for the closure or if they knew how long the delay might be. It was chaos again with more impatient people struggling to hide their frustration. I had plenty of time before the ferry departure so I wasn’t particularly worried at this point in time. While I waited, I was answering messages on my phone and replied to one from Guido, a very kind fan from Germany. I told him about my situation and he then suggested that I take the next available flight to an airport within a few hours from his house in Rheinbach and he would pick me up from there and take me by car back to his home. It was perhaps my best chance to get to mainland Europe and then I would be only one land border away from France and not separated by the English Channel. I was suddenly thankful for the disruption with the trains at the airport. I rushed back from the train station to the first airline ticket counter I could find and waited in line, surrounded by more frustrated people arguing with staff. The mood was not pleasant. People seemed scared and angry and I remember thinking that if I had a home that I was being stopped from going back to, I might be quite angry and frustrated too. But for me, if I really couldn’t get into France, then I would find somewhere to stay for the coming weeks and it would be okay. Amsterdam was my next and best option and Guido agreed to meet me there, around three hours driving from his house. Just before I paid for the flight, I was told that I might have the same problem again and not be allowed on the flight and into The Netherlands, but I was willing to risk it for now. Ticket in hand I rushed over to the check-in counter to drop off my suitcase. They scanned my passport, it beeped in a non-positive way, I froze, waiting to see what would happen next. She said there was a problem. Of course there was a problem, there is always a problem.. unless there’s not? It could have been a mistake, maybe? With some confidence, I simply asked her to try again on the unlikely chance that it was just a computer error.. She scanned my passport again and I heard the other, more positive sounding beep. We both laughed. Somehow, it’s fine. She asked me to hurry to the gate because the flight would be boarding very soon. This time, they let me enter the plane. Boarding was smooth and even though I was now sitting on the tarmac ready to fly, I was still half expecting my name to be called over the speaker and be asked to disembark. Thankfully, that did not happen and shortly after take-off we began our descent into Amsterdam. The mood is strange. I’m in the ‘other passports’ line with my Australian passport and there are eight or nine people in front of me. One by one, every single person in front of me is turned away and asked to wait in a little side section. Surely I will suffer the same fate? When I got to the counter, I was asked if I knew about the current situation. I assumed he meant the situation with the virus and the impending shutdown of the entire world. He did. I said I was being picked up by a friend and driven to Germany and he told me that if I was not across the border and out of The Netherlands by 6pm I would be stranded and this is something he would not allow. He didn’t want to let me in, I could feel it. He wanted to send me to wait with the other group but instead he made me guarantee that I would be in Germany before 6pm. I promised. Besides, it wouldn’t be a problem, Guido would be there to pick me up and drive me back to his home. With my passport stamped and feeling such relief, I happily move through to find my suitcase and walk to the airport hotel where Guido and I agreed to meet. As I sit down and finally relax a little, I receive a message from Guido saying he is still two hours away. It is almost 3pm. This means we will not have enough time to make it back into Germany and we will both be stuck in The Netherlands when the border closes at 6pm. Do I tell him to turn around to go home and I find the next solution on my own? I was starting to worry a little and I wondered what I should do as I hurried back to the airport. As I arrived, I looked at the train timetable and spontaneously bought a train ticket to Nijmegen and Guido agreed to meet me there as it’s close to the border with Germany. Perfect, I think this will give us enough time. I’m feeling okay again, waiting on the platform for the train to arrive. But a few minutes later, I look back up to the screen and read ‘CANCELLED’. Of course it’s cancelled. Why wouldn’t it be? This was one of those moments when I really wasn’t sure what to do. It had already been quite a tense time and I was wondering if I should keep trying to get to France or if I just call it a day and stop. I tried to call Mathéa to get her to help find some options, but she was off doing yoga. I then asked a friend in Amsterdam if she would let me stay if I really got stranded. She said yes, so at least I had this as a backup. In the meantime I booked an uber from the airport to a point on the map somewhere in the east but the wait time just kept saying fifteen minutes so I cancelled and jumped in a taxi. He asked ‘Where to?’ I don’t know, just drive. Drive east towards Germany. ‘But where are you trying to go?’ I told him I was eventually trying to get into France. He said he would take me there for a good price. I declined and found an address halfway between Guido and I, on the edge of Utrecht at a restaurant conveniently named ‘Down Under’. After an eternity of watching the price increase on the little screen in the front, the driver drops me off, I pay him a lot of money and he says he can still take me to France if I want. I thank him and say goodbye. Guido is still not there. ‘Down Under’ is closed. I’m hungry and need to use the bathroom. I walk to another place nearby, but it’s also closed. I see a McDonalds down the road and walk there, but only the drive-thru is open and they won’t allow me to buy food or enter to use the bathroom. Things are getting serious. Guido turns up after another twenty minutes and I am so relieved to be out of the cold and with Guido who will take me to safety in Germany. We crossed the border at 5:45pm. They seemed to be setting up light towers as we glided out of 120km/h zoned Dutch roads and onto Germany’s autobahn. This felt like a big achievement. I felt safe now. Only one border separated me from Mathéa and I could stay in Germany if I really couldn’t make it into France. I slept very well this night. The following morning, we were wondering if I would be able to enter the north of France and have Mathéa come and pick me up at the border, but movement was already heavily restricted in France so this was not an option. People were also saying that both the French and Swiss borders with Germany were completely closed to anyone without a valid reason and valid documentation. It was beginning to look like I would be living with Guido and Yvonne and their boys for the days and weeks ahead. There just didn’t seem to be any possible or legal way to cross into France or even into Switzerland which would be helpful too. I think I was almost ready to give up when Thomas (amazing human and tour manager from the Hurricane Tour) sent a message asking what was happening. Thomas is one of those people who has taught me to never give up, that there is always a way, even when it seems impossible. He had booked the cheapest flight back to Germany (he is also very frugal) which happened to be into Cologne/Bonn which was not too far from where I was staying with Guido and Yvonne. He said together we would find the way for me to get into Switzerland and then I could get into France from there. Okay Thomas, let’s do this! Thomas landed and rented a car at the airport then came to pick me up. I waved goodbye to my German saviours who seemed very adamant, and rightfully so, that we would be seeing each other again later that day after my failed attempt to cross into Switzerland. There was still no plan for when we would arrive at the border but we were coming up with all sorts of ideas as we drove the five hours south towards Basel. Do I just try to walk across a field? Or go through a mountain path? Or in a boat down the river? Or in the back of a truck or a van? Or is there still a legal way to enter Switzerland somehow? I asked my good friend Pascal if he might have any genius ideas as he lives in Switzerland near the border, just outside Basel. He also makes amazing guitars (La Réselle Guitars) and had finished building a guitar that I was to buy from him. Pascal and his girlfriend Melina had a genius idea and within the hour he had emailed me a letter stating that I was entering Switzerland to pick up the guitar and as it was a business reason, it was allowed under the current rules from the government website as long as I would not be staying in Switzerland. I was nervous to try just with the letter, so I booked a flight out of Switzerland for the next day and as Thomas is the most amazing tour manager ever, of course he still had his printer with him in his backpack. We printed Pascal’s letter in German and in English and a copy of the boarding pass for the flight and headed to Freiburg to catch a train into Switzerland. I had asked Mathéa if she could cancel any yoga plans for the day and be available to search things and check information for us. She found out that all trains crossing the border were now cancelled out of Freiburg but that there should still be a tram running and maybe I could get on the tram and cross into Switzerland that way? Thomas dropped me at the tram stop. We said goodbye and I jumped on the next tram and attempted to cross the border. I followed the map on my phone. The tram was half full. I was nervous and I’m sure people could see it. The tram made a few brief stops and then we arrived at the border. Two police entered the tram saying something in German. One came to me and I handed him my ticket. He insisted I show him my passport. He didn’t even open it, he just saw ‘Australia’ on the front and said ‘Get Out’. I tried to explain. ‘GET OUT!’ I tried to stay calm and composed and explain again as I reached into my bag for Pascal’s letter and the boarding pass to hand over to him. He unfolded the letter to look at it. In my mind, one hour passed. In reality, it was probably closer to one very long minute. He didn’t say a word, he just kept staring at the letter. He eventually folded it back up, handed it to me with my passport and walked over to his colleague. I waited for him to ask me to go with them. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, they both step out, the doors close and the tram continues to move. I’m in Switzerland!! I try not to show too much emotion, everyone is still staring at me after this little incident. The tram arrives at the station in Basel. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, I still can’t relax. I wait for Pascal, he’s on his way to pick me up. I’m waiting on the wrong side of the station, I have to walk back through again. I’m so nervous that the police or someone will stop me and ask me what I am doing. I see Pascal walking towards me from the other side of the station. It’s slow motion, just like the movies. I’m so relieved to see him, to be in Switzerland, to be safe for another night. We want to hug each other but we keep our distance and try to avoid any chance of potentially sharing the virus. I stay the night with Pascal and Melina and know that I’m so close to being with Mathéa now. Pascal drops me and the new guitar at the train station the next morning and I make my way south to Geneva which is then only thirty minutes and one closed border away from Mathéa. The plan was for her to try to enter Switzerland to pick me up and take me back into France but the police at the Swiss border would not let her enter. By now I have learned that there is always a Plan B, so at this point I wasn’t feeling too much stress. I had been told so many times in the previous weeks that something was impossible, and each time, simply by moving forward, a solution to each problem appeared. I had no doubt something positive would happen and I would be in Mathéa’s arms again. And then it happened. Mathéa phoned me and said the Swiss border police suggested I get a taxi or a bus from the station and I could cross into France as the French police were not actually there at that moment. People were being stopped from entering Switzerland but nobody was being stopped leaving Switzerland and entering France. But how long would the French police be away from their post? I jumped in a bus that was headed for Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, the first French town across the border. It would take twenty excruciating minutes for this bus to reach the border. I was the only passenger on board. I tried to act calm and relaxed but I have to assume that the driver noticed how nervous I was. Mathéa was also nervous. She waited in the carpark just over the border and could still see vehicles crossing into France without being stopped. Would it be the same for the bus I was on? These final moments seemed to last longer than the actual time that had passed since being kicked off the initial flight from London to Lyon. Then, all of a sudden, I could see the border and Mathéa could see the bus. We were so close now. On the final approach the bus driver started to slow down and in that moment I felt like everything was about to come to a final heartbreaking halt and I would be stopped just metres away from France and the girl that I love. My heart almost burst out of my chest as I realised the bus wasn’t stopping at the border, we were driving through to France, I had made it!! I frantically hit the ‘next stop’ button then clambered off with my backpack, suitcase and new guitar and ran over to the carpark into the waiting arms of Mathéa. (I wish that is how this last bit actually happened, but she was too scared to get out of her car so I first had to put my luggage in the back and then get into the front and have a slightly awkward but still very enjoyable side-by-side hug). It felt incredible to now be in each other’s arms after being told time and time again that it was just not possible. It was a miracle to be here and I knew it. After a short twenty minute drive we arrived at her family home in the countryside where I would spend the next months and could properly relax after days and weeks of such uncertainty and constant adrenalin. The hurricane was finally over. (or was it....) 


[bananaairplane]

You Already Know What To Do

Shortly after I arrive in Oregon for harvest, I got an email from an editor asking for the manuscript of my dissertation, which I had described as being ready in my book proposal but was, actually, filled with notes to myself and the random rough patches left behind by cutting and rearranging. My first goal, however, was to find a cheap, old Toyota to buy. This was how I found myself sitting in the back seat of my roommate’s car, in the parking lot of an auto mechanic, typing footnotes on my laptop and glancing up every few minutes at the rear view mirror to glimpse the back of a pale green Camry perched on a lift in one of the bays behind me. Its wide fenders framed the horizontal red bars of the taillights like parentheses. As I gazed upon it, I knew this was my car. It was perfect: not beige, with leather seats, and the owner lived in the same suburb where I found my mattress, also on Craigslist.

It was not perfect: The “check engine” light was on, the radio didn’t work, and the A/C vent made a clicking noise. After the inspection found multiple oil leaks, I couldn’t come to an agreement with the seller on price and I walked away. I was so sure it was the one, but after all I don’t believe in superstitions like that. I reasoned that it only felt like my car because car buying is stressful and I just wanted it to be over.

The next day, I drove four more Camrys. Two of them were beige and most had the kind of busted suspension that makes it feel like you are driving an ox cart through a Thomas Hardy novel. One of them had a broken driver’s door handle, which seemed like a dealbreaker: What if I were being chased by a bear, and needed to leap to safety? Also, if no one has bothered to fix something so superficial, what kind of shape can the car be in?

I almost bought one of the beige ones from Adem, the salesman at a crowded car lot pressed up against a two-lane road on the outskirts of Portland. Relaxed, unflappable, cheerful, Adem had a careless air that telegraphed supreme confidence in his trade and also a certain disdain for it. When I returned to the lot a second time and explained that I wanted to drive the car 20 minutes away for an inspection, which would take at least an hour, he shrugged and waved off my offer to leave my license as surety. “I know you’ll come back,” he said easily. When I did come back, we sat in the Adirondack chairs outside the little office and reminisced about Turkish food. He told me about his vacation home in Anatolia and invited me to use it sometime. He smoked a cigarette and sighed as he looked out over the dense thatch of Subarus and Nissans on the lot.

Two days later, I set out to buy the car. I got a sense of what kind of day it was going to be when Andrew, the teller at the bank, began listing the Zodiac signs of all the actors who have played James Bond. It started innocuously enough. I asked him for $3,300 in cash. He took my ID and started typing things into his computer. “Oh, I see you have a birthday this month.” I assumed this was the prelude to some kind of security check, so I said yes, and was going to confirm the date. “You’re a Leo,” he mused. Was he hitting on me? He named two celebrities who were born on August 16th. Did their shared birthday yield other similarities, I asked? They were both in superhero movies. I offered that Madonna is a Leo. He was filling out the request slip for the money when he got to the James Bonds. Sean Connery: Virgo. Timothy Dalton: Libra. He needs a supervisor’s approval to give me this much cash. I make a comment about Libras being calm by nature, so he serves me Hugh Jackman, another Libra. Leonardo DiCaprio: Scorpio. He met Leonardo DiCaprio once, at the Aerospace Museum of California. The manager has come by and now Andrew is counting out the cash, spreading out the bills like he’s setting up a magic trick. I glance around the lobby nervously to see who may be observing. I sweep up the bills and stuff them into bank envelopes as quickly as he finishes counting. Now he is telling me that he paid $300 for a 3-minute video meet and greet with John Cleese, one of the members of Monty Python. He used part of his 3 minutes to tell Cleese that he didn’t really like “Holy Grail” very much. Cleese told him to watch "Fawlty Towers.” A line was forming for the teller windows. It seemed rude to just leave, so I waited for him to finish his story.

I don’t exactly remember how things went sideways at the car lot. Adem and I sat inside the little office, on either side of his desk. I brought up that the struts on the car were original and overdue for replacement. The owner of the dealership, sitting nearby, got wind of what was happening. “What is the issue? The what? Struts?” He called over. “What does that cost? $50? $100? We’ll replace them for you.” Immediately he had his phone out and he was dialing. “This guy is the best front-end guy in Portland, only the best work,” he was saying. “He gives me a discount.” He had the phone on speaker and held it before him like an old-timey movie star in her dressing room with a cut glass atomizer of perfume. The front-end guy quoted him $450 for the struts. “How much?” He exclaimed. He began dialing another number. “Hector is a grease monkey” he explained, “but he does good work.” Hector quoted $350. “With the savings,” the dealer assured me, “we’ll also have him change the oil.” I ended up taking my envelopes of cash home in an Uber.

Reader, I bought the pale green Camry. The owner was a somewhat disgruntled, wiry man who lived in an ostentatious tract home in a subdivision whose streets all bore the names of European cities. Except, incongruously, for Iceland Street; I guess they decided no one wanted to spend their life trying to spell Reykjavik over the phone: “ROMEO ECHO YANKEE KILO JULIET ALPHA VICTOR INDIA KILO.” When I texted him abjectly offering to buy the car, he surprised me by texting back that I could have it for $200 less than we had discussed, if I bought it the next morning. When I rang his doorbell, accordingly, at 10:00 the next day, he looked shocked to see me. He had deleted our previous text exchange and thought I was someone else. But, seeing as I was there with one of my envelopes of cash, he went inside and got the paperwork.

As the global pandemic and West Coast wildfires have upset my plans for this year of adventure, I’ve been flying by instruments, making up my itinerary as I go along. Where will I go next? What will I do? How will I spend this year, and what if the pandemic, having killed my round-the-world plans, extends what was meant to be one year of adventure into two? With little to guide my choices, I inevitably look for signs to signal which way to go next. When things fall into place, it feels like the universe sending me flowers: Sorry I screwed up your plans, here’s a Toyota.

Outside a cannabis dispensary in Santa Cruz on the side of Highway 1, a letter board sign reads: YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO DO. I drove past it on my way to Big Sur to camp in my hard won car. Those words stuck with me as I drove down the coast, and resonate now, as I stay with friends in San Diego and contemplate my next move. On the one hand, I feel baffled: where to go next, what to do in a pandemic? On the other hand, this trip has revealed to me that I know the answers to those questions. I already know what to do. It’s time to make it happen.

[gwen-writes-stuff]

Secret Girlfriend

Imagine : You being old friends with Tom and you appear on his Livestream, Everyone thinks you're his secret girlfriend.

Word count : 2312

[ Note : I'm sorry but Famous! Y/N us my favorite to write. Btw, I accept requests.]

Y/N's POV

I was inside an uber watching the beautiful streets of London come into view, My plane landed and I immediately called an uber filled with excitement to meet my best friend.

We have both been away, him filming Civil War and me filming for a show under Syfy that's soon to be announced.

I was delighted to find out my best friend was Spider-Man! Heck, I'd do anything to play superhero roles. Have kids look up to you and wear cool costumes? I'm so in.

He's staying at his parents' house to my relief, I've missed Nikki, Dom and the boys. It's been a while and tho I fulfilled my dream of being an actress with Tom, we kind of drifted apart.

He was big now and famous, It's no surprise his fame will only grow bigger now that he's sure to have a solo movie.

Not long later I arrived and the sight of the house sent my heart racing, the memories I had in this house came flooding in.

I got reminded of the silly crush for Tom I formed when I was 14 and now I'm 20, I can't say I don't like him anymore.

We've called and texted each other but I never got around to ask him to FaceTime so I only ever saw his face on the internet, mostly because I'm following his Instagram and he grew up to be so fine.

I payed the driver and I glanced down at my luggage, Taking deep breaths to calm the beating of my heart I fixed my hair that was slightly messed up because of the strong wind.

I walked to the front door, Dragging my luggage behind and before I could even even knock, It opened. Paddy was grinning widely at me and he honestly looked taller than the did the last time I saw him.

"Y/N!!"He didn't even bother letting me in first and ran to hug me, he only managed to wrap his hands around my waist tho. I messed with this hair playfully.

I was chuckling loudly as I hug him back, "Paddy! Let Y/N in first." I hear Nikki scold her youngest. "I missed you too bud." I looked down at Paddy and he had the widest grin.

Eventually he let me go and I walked in, Almost forgetting about my luggage when Paddy gladly pushed it in but I laughed because he had to put in effort. It was heavy though I don't plan to stay that long.

I'm only gonna be having dinner and going to a hotel my mom booked for me, Unfortunately she's in the Bahamas with my dad but they did sent their love.

"Y/N let me get a good look at you." Nikki backed away to scan me before wrapping me in a warm hug, After she let go I turned to Dom and hugged him. “You're now a lady!”

"You've grown!" Dom exclaimed and I smiled sheepishly, "Sam, Harry, Tom get in here!" Nikki called out and I awkwardly stood in their living room waiting while Paddy curiously look at my luggage stickers.

"Is Y/N here?" I heard a familiar voice ask and before I know it I was again caged between someone's arms. That someone being Sam and it didn't help that Harry joined in, I coughed jokingly and they let go with wide eyes.

"You guys smell surprisingly pleasant." I joked and both smirked at my remark, "Easy, We might think you're getting a crush." Harry fired back and I scoffed faking offence.

"You're too young for me." I replied crossing my arms seeing the married couple watch us with genuine smiles in the corner of my eyes.

"You're only a year older." Sam replied, almost sounding like a question and I nodded.

"Exactly." Now I realised something, I looked around trying to find the only Holland who haven't greeted me yet and there I see him at the end of the staircase standing cooly.

Watching the exchange like he wasn't supposed to join in and I raised a brow, "Well someone didn't miss me.",Tom rolled his eyes and walked over to hug me tightly.

He even lifted me up a little and I slapped his back, looking over his shoulder I can see Sam and Harry make faces and I stifle a laugh.

I pulled away and Tom had grown Taller, my guess is I'm an inch shorter but I feel like he's towering over me for some reasons.

"Right. Dinner!" Paddy jumped and I frowned to check my watch,It was only 4pm.

***

I am helping Nikki in the kitchen with Paddy watching and assisting every now and then while the rest play in the living room.

That was how it went til Tom walked in to offer setting up the table, Nikki quickly shot me a look. "Y/N and Tom you set up the table." Tom nodded slowly narrowing his eyes at his mother and I noticed but thought nothing of it.

While I reached for spoons and forks I see Nikki send me a smile, a knowing smile that confused me.

"So how have you been Spidey?", I asked him while I set a few plates down the table with matching spoons and forks.

He chuckled lowly at the nickname and looked up to see I had a brow raised, "The same." He boringly replied and I rolled my eyes.

"So you're still 19 and feeling just a tad bit rebellious?" I asked with a teasing tone and he shot me a look, Glaring half-heartedly.

"I mean I'm still me. Charming and irresistible." I almost dropped the glass I was now moving and he laughed seeing the event unfold.

"I've been gone for a few years and I come back to have your head so big." I tsk'd jokingly while shaking my head.

If only he knew that's exactly how I looked at him. I was away for two years but that didn't change the way I feel about him, I thought it was for the best.

Knowing myself, I never stood a chance. His past ex-girlfriends when we were in high school are goddesses and I can't even compare, he's way hotter now so I'm saving myself the heartache.

But.

I didn't move on. Instead my feelings for him got stronger over the time I was away, I'm in for a big heartbreak!

During dinner we exchanged stories. I told them about the show I was in, It was about college students who discovered there was more to their stories, Studying in a school for magic they will learn that a man who calls himself the 'beast' is after them.

((This show actually exists, Please watch it. It's amazing. The Magicians on Syfy!))

"Tom's Spider-Man and you're a Magician?" Paddy asked with his eyes lit up like he was just told we're going to Disneyland and I nodded.

"Too bad I don't get a wand tho." Earning soft chuckles from the table. The food was great and Nikki really improved, not that her cooking was bad before.

Tom was sat next to me and I had to fight the urge to blush everytime our hands accidentally brush.

"So Y/N, Are you staying for the night?" Dom asked and I shook my head, Failing to miss Paddy pout and send his mom a pleading look which Nikki didn't need to see since her decision seems to be made in the first place.

"Why not stay with us? Your parents are away and you were gone for 2 years, stay." Nikki spoke up and there was silence.

I considered my options and nibbled on my lower lip unconciously doing so, I subtly sneaked a glance at Tom who seemed to be studying me and I gave in when he caught my eyes and he shortly nodded.

"Okay. But where will I sleep?" I practically grew up in this house so I know for a fact that the Hollands don't have a guest room. I reached for the glass of water and began to take sips when:

"In Tom's room of course." I almost spat it out and instead downed it real hard that I was a coughing mess. I can see Sam and Harry wiggle their eyebrows suggestively but I just literally drowned on a glass of water!

Tom was rubbing my back with his hand and I'm sorry but he's not helping because his touch is sending waves of electricity all over my body.

"You guys share a bed all the time?", Yes. When we were like 10 and we're both grown adults now?

"Uhh yea." I didn't bother to argue because the smile on Nikki's face suggested that I wasn't going to win anyways.

***

3rd Person's POV

The night ended awkwardly. Tom offered to sleep on the couch but Y/N insisted that it was his bed so he should sleep on it.

This went on for half an hour till Y/N made the bold move of suggesting they both sleep on the bed or not at all which ended with the two of them laying in bed, backs turned on each other with a pillow in the middle acting as a barricade.

The next morning was not any better when Tom woke up to find Y/N clinging to him in her sleep, he took pictures for leverage and slid off the bed.

Standing at the foot to stare at her for a moment noticing that she was wearing his hoodie, Y/N was too lazy to open her luggage so she digged through his closet not bothering to ask.

Tom went in the bathroom to do all he needed before starting the day. He planned to have breakfast with Y/N and contemplated waking her up.

If his memory served him right, she would throw you out the window if you even do as much as shake her to wake so instead he sat down on the space beside her, leaning against the headboard and scrolling through his Instagram.

Then an idea sparked up, he went on live to talk about the experience trying his best not to spoil any important scene in the movie. He was yelling too loud for 5 in the morning and talking animatedly sounding like a child on sugar.

While he was fanboying about rdj Y/N groaned and smacked Tom's side. "You're fucking loud." Tom was caught off guard that he forgot he was livestreaming and she got on the frame without both of their knowledge.

"Good Morning to you too sunshine." Tom cooed and Y/N laughed pushing herself up to look at Tom, "No good in the morning when you're yelling about Robert Downey Jr." She sassily remarked making Tom chuckle.

"What are you even doing anyways?" she asked trying to fix her disheveled hair and Tom shrugged, "Oh I was just live... streaming!" Tom jumped up and realized he has been broadcasting their exchange and Y/N looked up at him in horror.

Tom checked his phone to see his followers blowing up the comment section and he cursed under his breath, Turning it off without so much a goodbye.

"Shit." He muttered staring into nowhere like he was in a trance and Y/N threw a random pillow at him.

"I hate you." She was smiling nonetheless and Tom couldn't bring himself to tell her a few of what the comments said.

Did I see that right?

Tom has a girl on his bed!!

Oh no who's that?

Tangina sino yan?

Is that his girlfriend?

They look kinda cute together

She's kinds pretty

Same. Both a whole-ass mood.

Người nào?

SHE'S WEARING HIS HOODIE RED ALERT RED ALERT RED ALERT. THEY PROBABLY DID THE MONKEY DANCE OMGOMGOMG

***

The two had breakfast like Tom had originally planned and both went to McDonald's for breakfast of all places.

It wasn't crowded and none of them had to worry about fans or paparazzis for the whole two hours they spent just eating and talking while Y/N share experiences on set with Tom who did the same.

"I so wanna play a superhero." She exclaimed, "You can be my sidekick!" Tom offered and Y/N threw a balled up napkin and threw it at his head, it landed on his forehead.

"Spider-Man doesn't have a sidekick." But she blushed at the thought of playing in a movie together with Tom.

Both practiced and took classes together so they should be comfortable enough acting around one another.

Tom pulled out his phone and poked Y/N's cheek when she seemed to be deep in thoughts. "Hey let's take a picture."

She lifted her head and nodded shortly, Tom stretched his hand to have the phone directed at their faces and Y/N threw a peace sign while Tom had his tongue out.

"Please don't tell me you're posting that." She asked with a groan and Tom smirked at her. "Tom. I look like shit."

She didn't make an effort to dress up so she threw on a sweatpants and a (favorite band) t-shirt. Her hair was everywhere and she had too little energy to put on makeup.

"You look beautiful." His comment made her heart skip a beat and she was too flustered she couldn't retort when he posted the photo on his Instagram.

@tomholland2013 uploaded a photo on Instagram :

1 user tagged : @( your ig username)

[Photo]

tomholland2013 : Breakfast with my main g✌️

Comment section :

Y/N4life : Is that seriously @(Y/IG/U)???

hollander_love : Tom's got himself a girl woot woot

harryholland64 : That's why you two disappeared!

peterparkour.s : THE GIRL FROM THE LIVE

tom.holland.fans : The girl frkm the livestre ahhh !!

y/nstagra.m : They're childhood friends✌️

tommy.hollander : I ship it.

-

[artificialqueens]

Back to You (Craquaria) ~ Part 2/? ~ Pippin

AN// thank you so much for leaving a whole lot of love on the first chapter! I’m so overwhelmed from all the support and sweet comments - it left me so motivated to finish this next chapter! There’s one more chapter guaranteed to come after this one, but I’m still in contention over whether there’s going to be a part 4/epilogue - send me your thoughts over on aqpippin!

all my love, Pippin xo

Back to You

Part II: Aquaria

Aquaria can still remember waking up on her sixteenth birthday peacefully - not in pain like she expected. Her mom always told her that getting the words would hurt, would feel like a hot poker being pressed against your skin; but Aquaria stared at her reflection in her vanity mirror, running her fingers over the ink that trailed across her collarbone and over her shoulder.

Her parents had made this day out as something to look forward to - but now that it was here, Aquaria felt something akin to disappointment. Her life had undoubtedly changed, yet she felt nothing but underwhelmed by the words stained on her body. Ever the one to hide her true feelings behind an air of confidence, Aquaria expelled all evidence of disappointment from her body with one deep exhalation - before throwing on a sweater and deciding to make her presence known downstairs.

She padded down the stairs of her home, stopping two steps from the bottom when she heard her moms talking quietly.

“I can’t hear anything. I hope she’s okay,” Sharon Needles, as much as she tried to present herself as calm and composed, was always worried about her daughter. Aquaria simply put it down to biology, “I’m going to check on her, make sure she’s not trying to be brave.”

“Sharon, she’s probably fine. At least give her a few more minutes.” She heard her other mom chuckle melodically. Alaska Needles was what most considered a ‘cool mom’; she was poised and relaxed, although standing next to Sharon would make anyone appear as such.

Alaska and Sharon were each other’s soulmates and had been together since Sharon’s senior year of college, Alaska’s junior. They had been together for twenty years and, with love in their hearts (as well as a sperm donor), welcomed Aquaria into their little family not long after their first wedding anniversary. An only child - if you decided to exclude Peaches, the friendly street cat that was too tough to ever admit he liked Aquaria’s snuggles - Aquaria shared a tight bond with both her parents and considered herself more mature than most others her age.

“Morning,” Aquaria greeted her parents nonchalantly, seating herself at the breakfast bar across from her moms who stood gawking at her in the kitchen, “can you please grab the milk, mom?” Alaska nodded wordlessly, brows furrowed in confusion, but Sharon gripped her wife’s wrist and pulled her back.

“Milk can wait. Happy birthday Aquaria, notice anything unusual about your body?” Sharon had always been one to cut to the chase, but this level of abruptness caused both Alaska and Aquaria to stare at her as though she were a mad woman. Perhaps she was.

“Sharon!” Alaska yelped, backhanding her wife’s forearm, “you can’t just ask her that.”

“While I appreciate the enthusiasm,” Aquaria noted, now peeling off her sweater in an attempt to sate her mother, “the underlying aggression is a bit much. Can I have the milk now, please?” She sat, admittedly freezing, in just her pyjama shorts and a tank top, watching her mothers rush around the bench to inspect her body. Aquaria sighed deeply; the girl just wanted some cereal on her birthday. She didn’t think she was asking for too much.

“Starts on the collarbone.” Aquaria pulled her hair over her shoulder, leaning forward to get her hands on one of Sharon’s pieces of toast. She munched away silently, not thinking anything of it until the silence became deafening.

“Aquaria.” Alaska didn’t really know how to speak to her daughter - while Sharon stood frozen, hand resting on her daughter’s shoulder.

‘can I help you? I’m a nurse’

*

Aquaria spent the next two years of her life in superstition, always assuming the worst of everything and paranoid that something would go wrong at any given time. Hospitals had never been Aquaria’s favourite setting, but her trepidation reached a whole new level - and it didn’t help that her moms stepped up in how protective they were, especially Sharon.

Aquaria’s words weren’t simple or happy like those of her parents, they were ominous and left Aquaria scared that she wouldn’t get to spend as much time with her soulmate as she spent her childhood thinking she would. People didn’t just meet nurses by coincidence - meeting a nurse came with getting hurt, injured, sick. Not knowing what the future held was something that once excited Aquaria, but now she could think of nothing worse.

It was when Aquaria was eighteen and the Fashion Institute of Technology acceptance letter arrived that she decided she needed to start protecting herself. She was a big girl, and what better way to prove that to her parents than by moving from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn? Sharon cried at the airport, and cried when Aquaria rang to say she landed safely - Alaska told Aquaria that Sharon cried at least once a day for the first two weeks, and that the cat was confused.

*

Aquaria studied by day and partied by night under the influence of her roommate, Jordan. Her days were too full to routinely worry about soulmates and hospitals the way she did when she was in Pittsburgh; and Aquaria found herself indulging, possibly too frequently, in the luxuries New York City had to offer. She walked out of FIT at age twenty-one with a Bachelor’s Degree in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other, and started to trade her days of studying and cramming assignments for working and designing her own clothes, her designs influenced by the looks taking over the epicentres of global fashion - New York, Milan, Paris. She was now too busy to stress about the words on her body, and quite enjoyed the feeling of someone she didn’t know leaving blemishes across the soft skin.

*

Aquaria’s life of luxury came to a screeching halt when she was twenty-three, staring at Jordan incredulously as she held a box of pregnancy tests out to the blonde.

“You’re stupid, I’m not pregnant.” Aquaria huffed, cursing when the bobbin on her sewing machine snapped and snagged her fabric.

“I’m not stupid,” Jordan argued, unplugging the machine’s cord and putting the box of tests down on Aquaria’s workbench, “your tits are huge and I know you don’t have enough money to get them done. And besides, Aqua, we’ve lived together for, like, five years - I know when something’s off.” Aquaria groaned, snatching up the box and stomping into the bathroom, determined to prove Jordan wrong.

Aquaria nearly cried when the test came back positive, telling her she was at least three weeks pregnant.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she sniffled, shaking the test the way you shook a magic-8 ball when you wanted a different answer, and fell to her knees when the little smiley face didn’t go away, “I can’t have a baby.” Jordan sat next to her on the floor and stroked her hair softly, pulling the test from Aquaria’s clenched fist and staring at the digital screen.

“Guess what kiddo, we’re gonna be mommies.”

*

Aquaria’s fear of hospitals came back shortly after. She couldn’t meet her soulmate in a hospital, not like this - not with a baby.

“What if my baby gets really sick and she needs surgery or something?” Aquaria asked quietly one night, rubbing her hand over her twenty-four week belly and cocking her head to look at the sonogram image from a different angle. The little girl growing in Aquaria’s womb had wreaked enough havoc on her life, and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Sharon practically demanded that Aquaria move back to Pittsburgh, and it took a lot for Aquaria to convince her mom that New York was where she was destined to be right now, and that relocating would change her life course.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Jordan sighed, grabbing the pint of ice cream that rested in Aquaria’s lap, “this baby has an incredible mom, and one super cool other mother.” “Other mother?” Aquaria laughed, resting her head on Jordan’s shoulder.

“I haven’t decided if I want to be the other mother, or the fun aunt. I’m gonna teach her some cool stuff. We’ll be okay.”

*

Aquaria didn’t quite know how she ended up overdue and in an Uber heading towards Manhattan. She was home alone when her contractions started to come more frequently and when her waters broke on Jordan’s rug - she could vaguely recall leaving Jordan a note, quick scribbles about how she was indeed in labour but wasn’t ready for motherhood; and aside from that the rest of the evening was a blur.

She was crying in the back seat of her Uber, watching the rain fall heavily on the road. She felt sick, and her contractions were starting to get closer together and more painful. She had twelve missed calls from Jordan, twenty unopened texts, two calls from her midwife. She hollered some rushed instructions to her driver, demanding he take her to the nearest hospital instead, throwing a $50 bill at him as he pulled up outside Harlem Hospital Centre.

She waddled - walk was too loose a term at forty weeks and six days - inside the hospital, eyeing off a bathroom to her left. Somewhere she could cry for a little bit, wait out the next few contractions, ring Jordan back, and get another Uber back to her hospital in Brooklyn. She pushed the door open hastily, locking eye contact with a woman who was leaning against the sink. She hadn’t anticipated anyone being in the bathroom, and she gathered the woman felt the same way. Aquaria’s tears kept rolling as she leaned against the wall, sliding herself down and exhaling deeply. Aquaria heard the woman’s footsteps against the floor, presumed she was just going to keep walking - Aquaria didn’t expect the woman to lean down and grab her shoulder.

She felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in her tummy, felt her skin burning where the woman’s hand rested. Aquaria was sure she had stopped breathing, jaw slack as she stared up at this woman.

“Can I help you?” Aquaria felt the hand run down her arm and grab her hand, and that’s when the tears started falling again, “I’m a nurse.” Aquaria didn’t know what to do. She was panicking, could feel herself getting dizzy and overwhelmed. She grabbed the nurse’s arm in haste, not realising the nurse was now staring at Aquaria incredulously.

“I can’t do this, I want to go home.”

[bravonovel]

Bullied To Love novel read online - Katherine Luciano - Bravonovel

Bullied To Love

https://www.bravonovel.com/bullied-to-love-8399

Bullied To Love novel is a romance story about Katherine Luciano.

Blurb : I DON'T FUCKING CARE, YOU ARE MINE SO, WHEN I SAY NO GUY WILL TOUCH YOU, I FUCKING MEAN NO GUY WILL TOUCH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE ------------------- Katherine Luciano is a beautiful lady, living with her single mom. She did not know her life would take a different turn the day she goes for a job interview. She meets the one person she wishes she never sees again in her life. The one person who made her high school the worst time of her life, Lorenzo Costanzo. A well-known person in society. He has the looks, the fame, the money, and everything with a lot of mysterious secrets. Does she fall prey to his wrath once again, or change the heart of a cold man?

You can read this novel online on Bravonovel and keep track of the latest chapters

Read novel Bullied To Love chapter 1

I am waiting in a room full of potential applicants—a few who look like strippers—all with the hope of getting the job. I wonder why they come dressed half naked. Is seduction the only way they think they can get the job? Why do some women think so little of themselves? I pray the boss is not like all those bosses who are looking for a personal assistant who helps in other areas like his bedroom, if you know what I mean. A few others dressed more professional than me look like they have been in this profession far longer than I have. It’s making me feel unqualified with my MBA right now.

I was eager to get this job because the money would help my mama and I. Being a single mother is never easy, but she pulled it off. She brought me up in the best way possible. I never really got to know who my father is or where he is from because every time I ask mama about my father, she tells me that he was a one-night stand. And while I believed there was more to the story, I knew better than pushing her to tell me. I am not forcing the issue, and I know she is silently grateful for that.

I am brought back to earth when the secretary calls my name. She is a blond with big grey eyes and a pretty smile. I walk up to her table.

“Hi, I am Joan, you must be Katherine. Walk to the door on the left. He is waiting for you.”

“Alright, thank you,” I say, walking to the door while saying a silent prayer before knocking.

“Come in.” I hear a husky voice say.

I walk into a beautiful office. The walls are painted black with golden lines all around it, with mahogany brown in some places. On my left is a wall adorned with white glass, a tile thing I think, with a beautiful golden line pattern on it. There are two black armchairs and a two-seater couch with a brown wooden coffee table in the middle. The windows have two green plants in front of it. The desk area has this long book shelf behind it. There are two black chairs in front of the brown wooden desk. The person behind the desk has his nose buried in some documents, so he has not seen me yet.

“Come and have a seat,” the man says. His voice sounds very familiar, but I hope it’s my mind playing a trick on me.

“Thank You, Sir.”

“Let’s begin,” he says finally lifting his head. Once he does it’s like all the blood leaves my body, making me freeze on the spot. I can’t believe it’s him. The one person who I thought, or rather prayed, I would never see again. He made my life a living hell in high school. My sworn enemy, Lorenzo Costanzo.

He has changed. He was handsome before, but he is even more attractive now with his grey shirt unable to hide a fantastic chest... I stare into his beautiful green eyes forgetting why I am here.

“When you are done staring, I would like for us to begin,” he says acting like he does not know who I am.

“What is your name?” he says.

Is he really asking me that question? I can’t believe he is acting like he does not know me. Maybe he is asking to be sure.

“My name is Katherine Luciano,” I say, and I genuinely wish he does not remember who I am after what he did to me in high school.

“What school did you go to?”

“I attended NYU.”

“I am talking about your high school.”

“I attended Stuyvesant high school,” I say giving up all hope of him not figuring out who I am.

“Hm, interesting.”

“Can I ask something, sir?”

“Sure, why not.”

“I find it weird that you care only about my high school information. Please, why is that?”

“Did you really think I would forget you, Bella?” He says with a smirk on his lips.

Oh no! He remembers me. He just called me by the name he always used in high school. I am totally not getting this job.

"Then why did you act like you did not know me a minute ago," I say.

"Because I felt like it," he says, still acting like the same jerk he always was.

I don't say anything but give him a look that says ‘seriously?’ I can't believe that deep down I wish he had changed. He stands up and walks towards the windows giving me a view of his gorgeous ripped abs underneath his shirt. He turns his back on me showing off his amazingly broad shoulders. But even with such a fantastic body and a handsome face he still has the heart of a devil. What a shame!

"I want you here Monday morning, don't be late."

"Are you saying I have the job?" I ask.

"Do I have to be more explicit for you to understand?"he asks.

"No, you don't."

"Good! See you on Monday morning with my coffee; black, no sugar."

"Alright sir, but I have to say, we did not even have a real interview. Not that I am complaining or anything."

"Bella, I have known you for almost half of our lives. I know you won't be a threat to me, and from your resumé I knew you were good for the job even before you walked in."

“Oh! Alright then, thank you.” I say, happy I got the job but also feeling worried deep down. Did I get the job because I am qualified, and he knows me? Or is there another reason? I will have to wait and see.

"See you on Monday," I say walking out of his office.

"Don't be late!"

While walking out of the building, I call mama to give her the good news, but she does not pick up. I am guessing she is in a meeting. She sends a message a few minutes later saying I should meet her for lunch in an hour.

I grab a taxi and take it home to freshen up, to meet up with her in an hour.

I get home, shower and change into something more casual. I am wearing a black cami, a NYC tank top, pink and black striped high-waisted pants and a pair of patent leather pumps. I order an Uber to the restaurant we are meeting at.

I arrive and walk in, already knowing where she will be sitting since this is her favourite restaurant.

"Hi, Mama," I say sitting down.

“Hi, baby girl, how was the job interview?”

“It was quite strange, but I got the job.”

“I am happy for you, and what do you mean by strange?”

“I will explain after eating, I am quite hungry.”

About halfway through the meal I tell her how the interview went.

“Mama, you won’t believe who my boss is. It's none other than the mighty devil himself, Lorenzo Costanzo.”

“How many times have I told you to stop calling him that?”

“But that’s what he is.”

“No, he is just a confused man who does not know how to express his feelings.”

“I am pretty sure he has expressed them well by showing how much he hates me.”

“He does not hate you.”

“He does mama, and do you know the funny thing is we were not even classmates. He was my senior in high school. I don’t even understand how he noticed me or had time to bully me when there were other girls in school, and prettier ones in his class, who would die for the attention he gave me.”

“He noticed you because he likes you.”

“How do you know that, mama?”

“I just feel it.”

“Okay, whatever you say. But I still doubt he does, and mama, do you know he acted like he did not know me at first.”

“What do you mean?”

I explain to her about what happened in the office and how much of a jerk he was, but she feels maybe he just wanted to be sure.

Mama left shortly after we finished talking and eating as she got a call from her office.

After lunch I decide to go shopping, because last time I checked my closet it does not have clothes fit for a personal assistant. I also have a lot of time to spare before going home so I take a taxi and go to the mall.

I visit about ten different stores or more, looking for the best outfits that say ‘sophisticated’. I won’t lie, it was hard but worth it. I am visiting the last store for the day when a strange number appears on my phone screen. I answer, wondering if maybe it is Enzo wanting to remind me of something.

I answer and hear the worst news anyone could receive about their mother. The person on the phone says mama was rushed to the hospital while on her way home from the office. She said she fainted, and they tried waking her up but to no avail, so they rushed her to the hospital. I ask the person to send the address of the hospital so I can be on my way.

I take a taxi and ask the driver to drive as fast as he can without killing us. To say I am scared would be an understatement! I am terrified because mama is one of those people who is always healthy and hardly ever gets sick, so to hear she fainted and is in the hospital makes me very scared.

I arrive at the hospital and quickly go up to the front desk to find out how mama is doing.

"Where is my mother?" I say to the nurse at the front desk.

"What is her name?" a lady wearing a nurse’s uniform asks.

"Christine Luciano," I say.

“Your mother is on the second floor. Take the elevator to the second floor. Once you get there, walk straight down the hall. The first door to your left is where you will find her."

“Thank you,”I say taking the elevator to the second floor.

I follow her directions and find the room with no difficulty.

I walk inside and see mama using an oxygen mask to breathe. Oh, my God! What is happening?

I walk towards mama’s side and notice she is awake. Thank God!

“Mama, what is wrong?”

"Don't cry, my baby girl. Everything is going to be fine. I am going to be okay, you should not be worried.” she says taking off the mask to speak to me.

“How won’t I cry mama, when I see you like this,” I say, holding her hands in mine.

“Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine” she says giving my hand a warm squeeze.

A doctor walks in later and asks me to see him in his office about mama’s condition. I follow him to his office praying there’s nothing too seriously wrong with mama. He asks me to take a seat, but I insist on standing. The way I am feeling right now, all I want to do is to hear what he has to say and be by mama’s side. But he insists, so I sit down with trembling hands.

“Your mother has breast cancer, but we can...” he says, but I don’t let him finish talking before I cut him off.

“No-No, this can’t be happening!” I cry before I breakdown in tears.

“Miss Luciano, I need you to be strong. Everything is going to be fine,” he says while he tries to comfort me.

“Your mother needs all the support she can get, so you need to be strong.”

“You are right. I need to be strong for mama,” I say wiping the tears that have fallen and trying to keep the others at bay.

“So, what can we do?” I ask trying to sound strong.

“That’s more like it,” he says smiling reassuringly.

“Your mother is at the first stage of cancer, luckily we detected it in time. She will need surgery, but everything should be fine.”

“How much does it cost?” I ask the one question I have been scared to ask since I found out mama has cancer. Mama and I do not have much money, but you could not call us poor, because we have three meals a day and live a comfortable life.

“$20,000,” he says, and I think to myself, ‘where am I going to get that kind of money?’

“Doctor, I don’t have that kind of money now but I promise you I will get the money within due time. Please don’t stop the treatment for my mother.” I say praying Enzo pays well so I will be able to pay for mama’s treatment and surgery.

“The only thing I can do for her now before you get the money is to put her on drugs until we have to do the surgery.”

“Thank you so much doctor, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I will go and see my mother now.”

“Alright, see you next time Miss Luciano.”

I walk back to mama’s room to find her sleeping. I sit down on the chair beside her bed. I can’t imagine my life without mama—she is the only family I have. I hope Enzo pays well so I can pay the hospital bills as soon as possible. I spend the weekend with mama at the hospital. On Monday she will be discharged, so after work I will be coming back to get her.

......

Continue to read the chapter 2 of the novel Bullied To Love

https://www.bravonovel.com/bullied-to-love-8399/chapter-2-215590

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[athcnvs]

☾✧.° leaving it up to you ft. brandon

“ i arrived there early and as always you swanned in much later as if nothing had ever changed, you nod at me and order your double mixer to see you again, to be your friend, to hold you in my mind ”

Athena had never been known for impulsive behavior, so sitting there in the cafe, she felt guilty. Pathetic, even. It was difficult to wrap her head around the fact that four years later, she still carried a soft spot for the boy whom she used to call her best friend. The boy who broke her heart without saying a word. Four years later, and she was giving him a chance to explain himself. To give her closure. That’s all she wanted, right? Closure? Though long overdue, she simply wasn’t going to pass up on the opportunity. She needed to know how Brandon was able to drop their friendship so easily. For the longest time, she believed it was because of a crush. A stupid crush she got in the way of. It all felt so stupid, their entire situation. As she sat there waiting for him, she considered leaving. Going back home. But she couldn’t, and she hated how she couldn’t. He had knocked on her door years after running away from home, and she just let him in. How pitiful.

Brandon: i’m just around the corner Brandon: really sorry i’m late

A soft chime came from the entrance, causing Athena to look up from her phone. There he stood, in the flesh, scanning the cafe before locating her. A gentle grin graced his lips, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her as he neared, taking a seat on the other side of the small table for two. She stared at him for a moment, her gaze lingering longer than it should’ve. Though it had been nearly half a decade, there was no doubt this was the same boy she once couldn’t imagine a future without. Yet there they sat, two strangers meeting in the night.

Realizing she had been caught in a daze, Athena quickly glanced down at the table. “Please tell me why we’re getting coffee and not dinner or whatever,” she said plainly. Stay aloof, she reminded herself. Don’t be an idiot. As if she wasn’t already one for agreeing to meet with him.

Brandon chuckled. “It’s nice to see you too, Athena.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Of course.”

“Remember when we used to study at that one coffee shop near your house? You’d always get a latte and a cheese danish. This’ll be like old times’ sake.”

“I’m not into cheese danishes anymore,” she lied, “and I’m not here to reminisce, Brandon. You told me you were going to explain. You were going to apologize.”

He tilted his head as he looked at her, seeing right through her cold demeanor. Even after all this time, she could never truly fool him. “Alright, just let me get you a drink. Latte sound good?”

Athena shrugged.

“Okay, then. Latte it is.”

After watching him get up and make his way over to the counter, she briefly buried her face in her hands. What am I even doing?, she wondered. She had no clue how she was supposed to carry herself, how she was supposed to act. It felt so wrong, this detached facade she had planned on committing to, but she couldn’t give in to the idea of welcoming him back into her life with open arms and a warm smile. She couldn’t seem as though she had been waiting for him. She hadn’t been. She was doing just fine these past four years, so what was the point in revisiting a part of her life that only brought her grief? Athena once again contemplated the option of going home, but she remained planted in her seat, some force inside of her determined to get the answers she tried piecing together herself time and time again. She knew she owed it to herself to finally move on from that chapter of her life.

“Here you go, miss,” Brandon chimed, setting her drink down on the table. “Be careful, though, it’s probably pretty hot.”

“Thanks,” she muttered. “You’re not getting anything?”

“Nah, I’ve got a lot of talking to do anyway.”

“Fair enough.”

And so he did. As far back as he could remember, Brandon told her everything. He spoke of his discomfort with their friends constantly pairing them romantically, how it affected his friendships. He wasn’t able to get through a single conversation without someone bringing her up. To him, it was beginning to feel as though he wasn’t treated as an individual anymore but, rather, a unit. He couldn’t exist on his own, and it was suffocating. When he developed a crush on a girl in their class, their friends made it seem as though he wasn’t allowed to have feelings for anyone else but Athena. Their friendship was suffocating, and that fact only made him see her in a different light. Every little thing she did bothered him. He couldn’t do study dates anymore. He couldn’t do movie nights. He couldn’t walk with her to classes. Talking to her only made things worse. Their friendship grew toxic and he was the one who poisoned it. But at the time, it didn’t seem to matter. All he wanted to do was be his own person, be able to breathe. He was consumed by tunnel vision, and once he realized what he had done, it was too late. He had gone too far, and it was practically impossible to repair the damage. After what he did, he knew he didn’t deserve her anymore. So he let her go. Without any word, he let her go.

“I’m really sorry, Athena,” he concluded. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I wouldn’t. I just—” Brandon reached over to place his hand over hers, squeezing it gently. “Even after all these years, I never stopped thinking about what I did and how I hurt you over something so stupid.”

She simply stared at him. The entire time he spoke, Athena didn’t mumble a word, her latte remaining untouched. With each revelation, she had tried to make sense of it all. She tried to find the words to say, but she came up short. How was she supposed to respond? He gave her the explanation she was searching for, but why didn’t she feel like she was ready to leave him in the past like she had planned?

Pulling her hand away from his grasp and setting it in her lap, she managed to choke something out, barely above a whisper. “Brandon, did you not know that I had feelings for you?”

“Oh,” was all he could say.

“Yeah, tragic, huh?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

They sat there for a moment, a somber air filling the space between them.

“What now?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“I don’t know.”

“Are we okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want us to be?”

The answer should’ve been obvious, but the longer Athena looked at him, the more she realized how she didn’t actually know him anymore. People change, and she couldn’t tell if she missed him or the memories they shared. Brandon once was an important part of her life, and the thought of denying him a do-over seemed wrong. It was as though she was eighteen again and fresh out of high school, still soft for a boy who didn’t deserve her.

“Do you?”

He nodded. “As weird as it sounds, I really did miss you, ‘Theens.”

You can’t do that. You can’t just call me by my nickname and expect everything to go back to how they were before we fell out, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him to go back home and never speak to her again. However, the words remained unsaid. Athena couldn’t understand how she could sit there after everything and still consider letting him back into her life. She couldn’t understand why he wanted to come back in the first place.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss you too,” she mumbled, unsure if she was later going to regret this admission.

“Listen, how about this?” Brandon pressed his lips together before he continued to speak. “I sort of brought along some DVDs from our old jazz band concerts. We can watch them back at my hotel room—”

“You booked a hotel room?”

“Yeah, I didn’t know how long I’d be out here. But we can watch the DVDs, catch up a little. You can make a decision about me after that, if you want. No rush. What do you say?”

Athena bit her lip, brows knitted together. She knew she had to get home before her absence was far too noticeable, but the offer was tempting. As long as she set boundaries, it would be okay, right?

She shrugged, her eyes trailing to her still-full latte mug. “I guess. Sure.”

“Are you gonna drink that?”

“It got cold.”

“Oh, alright. Let’s go, then,” he said, standing up. “You can apologize for not appreciating the latte the next time you come here.”

The two made their way out of the cafe before hailing an Uber to their destination. Athena remained silent the entire ride, simply listening to the radio and the driver’s attempts to initiate small talk with Brandon. She wasn’t sure why, but the longer she sat in the car, the more she wished she had never agreed to anything in the first place.

“Okay, have a nice night,” the driver said as he brought the car to a stop in front of the hotel.

“Thanks,” they replied in unison.

Athena followed him to the room, the lack of conversation on her behalf quite uncharacteristic. There was a heaviness in her soul that she could not label. Was it the result of her being in Brandon’s company? For keeping their meeting a secret from her friends?

“You can go and sit down on the bed. I’ll load the DVD from freshman year.” He laughed. “Get ready to cringe, ‘Theens.”

They managed to make it through two full concerts, exchanging commentary about little things they had remembered about each one, before lethargy hit. Athena was the first to knock out, then Brandon shortly after. Her head rested on his shoulder during their slumber, and there she remained until she woke.

“Fuck,” she whispered upon realizing where she was. Slowly getting out of the bed so as not to wake the boy and have to deal with what a conversation would entail, Athena checked the time on her phone. 5:24am. She immediately shut her eyes, hoping she had been dreaming, in reality still back at the villa without ever having communicated with Brandon, but alas, her reality was the hotel room. Her reality was being there with a boy she shouldn’t be with. Hesitantly, she opened up the Messages app, only to see an exchange in the group chat having to do with her disappearance. Great, I’m officially in deep shit.

Pocketing her phone, Athena glanced back at her old best friend. Having been so caught up in the memories of high school, they forgot to talk about their present lives during the time they spent watching the performances. Perhaps that was really all they had in common anymore, the past. Perhaps it was finally time she acknowledged the fact. She didn’t have to forgive him for what he did, he even said so himself, so why was there a part of her still holding on? The only way for her to move on from what happened is to let go, she knew that, so why was it hard to leave?

Taking a pen and a piece of notepaper from the nearby desk, Athena scribbled a quick ‘I’m sorry. I can’t do this,’ placing it on top of one of the DVD cases. This was the closure she decided to give herself. It might not have been exactly what she had expected, but it was what felt right. Just because someone meant the world to her in the past, it didn’t mean she had to give up her world to have him back. She knew better than that.

So Athena took one last look at him, then she left.

[agirlhasnonamehotd]

Designated Driver

Mark x MC

With appearances from Cole, Horatio, and Ben

(I’m so sorry I’ve been missing from the LH world. It was Homecoming week, and I’ve been swamped with work… but I managed to write this short fic. I’m still working on rewriting Chapter 3 of Book 1…but enjoy this in the meantime!)

It’s 3:00 a.m. when you finally get the call. You roll over and grab your cell phone.

Mark.

“Babe?” you answer sleepily.

“Wha…what…d-don’t call me baaabe”

There’s rambling in the background. You recognize Ben and Cole’s voices.

Oh, boy.

“Hello?” you say patiently.

“H…shhhh, quiet you guuuys…. Hi is this Uber?”

No, jackass, this is your girlfriend-you want to say. However, in the depths of the early morning hours, you’re feeling particularly wicked. Your mouth curls into a mischievous grin.

  “Why yes, it is,” you reply, “Do you need service?”

“WHOA…whoa, lady,” Mark slurs his warning, “Calm down with the service…we need…rides.”

“Okay, sir. Where are you?”

“We’re…guys, where are we?”

You sit up in bed and roll your eyes as you hear the three of them trying to make sense of their surroundings. You know where they are – Mark told you he was having boy’s night at the usual spot.  You also know he must be shitfaced if he confused your number for the Uber App.

“We’re…at….at the Double Tap,” he finally answers. “Be there shortly,” you say

Once you hang up you rub your hands together. You feel like you did when you were five in a candy store:  This will be a treat. From your closet you pull a pair of glasses and a blond wig – part of last year’s Halloween costume. You put them on along with an old college sweatshirt. One look in the mirror, plus knowing how wasted they are, confirms they won’t notice a thing.

Driving to the bar you are in good spirits. It’s not often you get an opportunity like this. When you get there, you see them.

It’s hard not to.

 Ben, Mark, and Cole all attempting to breakdance on the sidewalk. Chaperoned by Horatio. You know it’s horrible. You know. But you pull out your phone and take a quick video. Blackmail.

 When you get out of the car and approach them, Horatio does a double take. You put your finger to your lips and wink; he understands.

 “Uber transportation for Mark Collins?” you say in a bored, tired sort of voice.

 Mark gets up from a bad attempt at floor rocking and nearly falls back over. He looks at you sideways and blinks several times.

 “That’s…that’s me,” he points to himself, “I’m …. that dude.”

 You point to your car and directly avoid Horatio’s stare. If you look at him you’ll dissolve into a giggle fit. This is too good. You watch the boys stumble towards your car. Ben tries to open the car door. And tries. And tries.

 “Ben,” Horatio calls to him, “that’s the gas compartment!”

 Ben looks at it for several seconds before moving his hand to the actual handle. He opens the door and throws it open with such force it makes you flinch. The three practically climb over each other to get into the backseat. When they close the door you see Cole press his face to the window. Horatio then turns to you.

 “Dani, what are you doing?” he asks.

“If I must be D.D,” you explain, “I might as well have a little fun.”

 You expect Horatio to express dissent. However, when you turn around and Cole now has his ass pressed to the glass he nods.

 “Are the child safety locks on?”

“Nope, I want to see at least one of them tuck and roll from the car,” you respond in jest.

“I want to hear this tale tomorrow,” he says to you with a small smile.

 You give Horatio a pat on the shoulder and go back to the car. Once you ensure your passengers are wearing seatbelts (it takes Mark three tries and a pinched finger) you head first to Ben’s place.

 “So, gentlemen,” you begin casually, “did you have a good evening?”

“Oh…we…. yes. That’s a yes,” Ben nods vigorously.

“We…are…we’re….” Cole laughs at himself “motherfucking legends. Youuuu…. lady… are driving….l…legends.”

 In the rearview mirror you see Cole attempt to high five Mark. Instead, he hits him in the face. Mark screams bloody murder.

 “OOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, dude…,” he cries out, “that hurt…you…you broke my face! How will D…D…Dani like me now?”

 At this you smile. Mark’s face is fine, but he claws at it as if he’s been mauled.

 “Mr. Collins, who is Dani?” You ask curiously.

 The back seat gets quiet. You see the three boys look at each other.

 “Dani’s my girl…person,” he says with a drunken grin.

“But you’re not like…exclusive, are you, handsome?” you say suggestively.

 Ben scoffs from the backseat. Cole looks outraged. But Mark? Mark gets this soft look on his inebriated face.

 “I…a-am…off the…market,” he stutters, “We are…ex…ex… you can’t have me.”

“Dani’s the bestest,” Ben adds in, “trust me, I kinda know see when…M…Mark and her were…well before they were …”

“Ben Ben Ben,” Cole spits out, “do…don’t talk about that time you bent Dani ov- “

“WHOA!” Mark interjects holding his hands over his ears.  You are intensely grateful for this.

“Guys…guys…” he says. He then looks at you through the rearview mirror. Though his eyes are bleary from the alcohol, you see purpose in them.

 “Dani…. Dani’s like…my bff…and my gf…she’s…like…. she’s like my….”

“Sex goddess?” Cole fills in with a hiccup.

“Well…that tooooooo,” Mark agrees, “but she’s so…. special…and I just love her…so so much…”

 You hear a sniffle from the back seat. Ben. With a tear slipping down his face.

 “That’s…. sooo beautiful man,” he murmurs as he wipes his face.

“Yeah…but…but let’s not forget that boooodaayyyy,” Cole sings drunkenly, “she’s so scrumptious- OW”

 Mark punches Cole’s arm. Hard.

 “Don’t… you talk about her like that.”

 You feel Mark’s eyes on the back of your head.

 “L…listen lady,” he says pointedly, “I’m fl…fl…it’s cool you think I’m attr…hot, but…I’m a one-man woman.”

 It takes everything in you to refrain from laughing.

 “I understand, sir.”

 Shortly after you arrive at Ben’s apartment complex. He tips you, and crawls up the steps to the front door. After three attempts with his keys he finally gets in. From there it’s a short drive to Mark and Cole’s place; most of it is spent with the two attempting to sing the theme song from Cheers. It’s mostly gibberish. Finally, you reach their complex. You stop the car and turn around in your seat.

 “This Dani sounds like a lucky woman,” you muse.

“No….wroooonggg…” Mark declares with a forceful head shake,  “I’m luck…lucky. She’s my world.”

 He looks at you and then at Cole, who is fumbling with the door. At last Cole gets it open and the two exit with difficulty. You get out to watch them – afraid of them falling down the steps. As they open the door Mark turns and waves.

 “Nighty night Uber lady!” he exclaims.

 And then he’s gone.

You stand out there a few minutes; pull the wig from your head. A huge smile spreads across your face. Laughter and a good joke were your goals for the evening. Instead, even in his drunken state, Mark’s left you with that warm, fuzzy feeling of which he is a master.

 Eventually you get back to your place and crawl into bed. You find it hard to sleep, though, because his words replay in your head.

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next afternoon, Mark appears at your door. He’s in sweats, holding his head, looking a little worse for the wear.  You open the door wide and watch him walk past you and plop down on the sofa. He groans when his head hits the pillow.

 “Rough night?” you ask him.

 His only response is to nod and pat the cushion beside him. You follow his gesture and as soon as you’re beside him, his head is on your lap. He places a hand on your knee and lets out a content whimper when you massage his temple.

 “I…will never drink again,” he mutters.

“Well, that’s a lie,” you laugh, “what happened?”

“Cole …. seven rounds of red Herring.”

“None of you pulled a Jack of Hearts, did you?” you tease.

 Mark groans again.

 “Dani…I love you,” he replies, “but for that I kind of hate you.”

 You smile down at the precious, hungover, hunk of man.

 “Anything else happen?”

 Mark opens his eyes and squints against the light, deep in thought.

 “Yeah…actually,” he muses, “our Uber driver hit on me.”

 You do your best to sound surprised.

 “What?! Was it a dude?!”

“No, a chick…blond….and she asked me if I was available, sorta,” he tells you.

“Oh, that’s awkward,” you respond with a chuckle.

 Mark turns over on his back and looks straight up at you. He reaches up and touches your cheek; presses his fingertips to your lips.  You kiss them gently.

 “It was, but …I told her I have the perfect woman. I don’t need anyone or anything else.”

 The words warm your heart all over again. Mark sits up momentarily to kiss you; then flops right back onto your lap. You spend the afternoon caressing his face and playing with his hair as he slips in and out of slumber. It hits you as you watch him smile in his sleep. Whether Mark is drunk, hungover, or sober… You’re certain. You are his world just as much as he is yours. Life will always be amazing with him in it.

[tacticalshit]

Good Guy with a gun stops man terrorizing family!

Good guy with a gun. Wins again. Just gonna keep posting these as I find them.

Personal Defense World writes

An Albuquerque shooting between a good guy with a gun and a bad guy violently attacking his own family at an intersection ended with the good guy coming out on top.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that it all began when a woman named Xiao Gong was driving her daughter to the Albuquerque International Sunport at around 5 p.m. on Sunday. That’s when another car suddenly slammed into her truck at a busy intersection. The driver of that car turned out to be her estranged husband, 66-year-old Qian Ming.

After ramming the truck, Ming got out of his car, pulled out a gun and started shooting at the two women. The daughter was struck in the shoulder.

Ming then pulled the daughter from the wrecked vehicle and started pistol-whipping her in the street.

At that moment, an Uber Driver—who is also a 12-year-veteran of the National Guard—happened to be driving by and saw what was happening. He got out of his vehicle and drew a concealed carry handgun.

Albuquerque Shooting

The man ordered Ming to stop, but Ming turned around and allegedly pointed his gun at him. In fear for his life, the man opened fire, killing Ming.

Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and detained the man for questioning. He was eventually released and is not likely to face charges.

“To say the least, this guy prevented possibly a double homicide. That’s what we could have on our hands tonight,” Albuquerque Police spokesman Simon Drobik said. “In my 19 years of experience, I would say that those two females would have been dead if he hadn’t stepped in and took action.”

Xiao Gong and her daughter are in agreement that the man’s actions prevented a bad situation from becoming much worse.

“Mom in the hospital said, ‘He saved our lives,’” Drobik told KRQE. “You can’t get a stronger statement than that. So she knew it. Daughter knows it and good thing he took that type of action.”

The daughter remains in the hospital but…

Read more!

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