themacyray

[themacyray]

I’ll take ‘em! Serves him right for trying to give me a talking to about it earlier!

Oh yum. The lemonade cookies are my personal favorite, but I always grab a box for Bry. Though he keeps calling me a traitor because I could be buying cookies from Sugar Skulls. I’m sure he won’t mind if I gave you that box.

[themacyray]

But I like thin mints, Bryson! You can show me the best Chinese food on the world and I’ll still want my orange chicken from Panda Express! I’m a creature of habit with food.

You eat Girl Scout cookies? But Flo is in this town. We are gifted with the best cookies in the world, Macy!

[themacyray]

It depends on which cookies you got. I really only like one kind of girl scout cookie...

I’m probably going to shoot myself for admitting this, but I bought like nine boxes in preparation for the off season. I may be persuaded to share…

[themacyray]

Yes the thin mints! How very dare they!

Not the thin mints. I love the thin mints!

[themacyray]

They can’t strike when I need thin mints. Those little... beasts!

“Girl Scouts? Yeah…I’m pretty sure they’re on strike— something about not enough smores at the last campfire. Pure anarchy.”

[themacyray]

Thin mints of course. Those little monsters have none. Hanging around the store trying to peddle anything less. The nerve!

Oh gosh, all cookies are a staple. Which ones were you talking about?

[themacyray]

No, it’s fine. It’s fine... totally not even bothered that they’re out of my favorite cookies. Not like it’s a Girl Scout staple or anything.

[themacyray]

“That’s why you keep me around. To remind you that there is not substitution for the delicious rest that is sleep. Now let’s hurry because I don’t want people seeing me look this gross over a guy. It’s horrible for my rep as a badass.”

“Someone needs to remind me that coffee is not a substitute for sleep.” He didn’t fight her, arching his neck accordingly, pressing his lips into hers, comforted by the familiar feel and taste. “I missed you too.”

[themacyray]

“Yes good, groceries then a nap. You must be tired too, getting all whiny and shit.” She reached up and pulled him by the neck down to her, kissing him after what felt like way too long. “I missed you.”

Owen let out a small whine in the back of his throat, wrapping his arms around Macy’s waist and pulling her to him. “Groceries can wait,” he huffed, resting his forehead against hers. “Fine, fine.” He dropped his arms, settling for holding onto her hand instead, looking to her. “So we’ll make a quick run, and then we’ll take a nap?”

[themacyray]

Macy let the feel of his lips on her forehead sink in, spreading warmth through her body and giving her that feeling of being cared for that she was still so unused to. She nodded along to his words, letting her eyes drift back up to him. “If you come sleep with me. No sex or anything. I just don’t want to be alone.” She ignored the neediness in her voice, willing to allow it this once. Suddenly she pushed him back slightly remembering why she’d left the apartment in the first place. “No! Shit, I have to get groceries. It’s why I left my blanket nest in the first place!”

“And you’re up against liars, gold diggers, and users, so guess who wins the best girlfriend award in my book.” He ignored the slight twinge of irritation, instead smiling good naturedly and rolling his eyes. “I would be honored,” he smiled, leaning in and pressing his lips to Macy’s forehead. 

“How about we get you some sleep, okay? You seem tired.”

[themacyray]

Macy couldn’t help but laugh at his words. “It’s the healthiest relationship I’ve ever been in, though your competition is a klepto chick and a guy who punched me in the face.” She cringed at the memory. At his last words she shot him a smirk. “Are you saying you wanna be my mistress... or mister?”

“That sounds fair… And I do love you.” He brought his hand against her cheek, taking a good look at her tired, pinkish eyes and sighing at the fact he had been the one to make them that way. “I just wasn’t thinking.”

“I know. But, I’ve had some time to think about it, and I realized that I was just being stupid and insecure, and it’s still a little bothersome, but that isn’t a reason to… To break off what we have, because it’s special and important and healthy a majority of the time.” He laughed softly, brushing his thumb against her cheek. “And I’m not ready to give that up. Whether you’re married or not.”

[themacyray]

“I feel like if there’s ever a time we need that cool off, that we should remind the other person that we love them. Even though saying it a ton might be stupid as fuck. I might not have been such a wreck if I’d had that assurance before I was shown the door.”

“Are you sure? Fixing this, the fight, that’s easy. But I’m still technically married. And I know that it bothers you...” Hell, it bothered her. Especially knowing that a dumb move made on a drunken whim could potentially destroy her life. 

Owen fought a smile at her words, eventually giving into a small laugh before clearing his throat and settling for a nod. “Yeah, yeah we kinda are, huh… So, maybe we just need to come to an agreement of sorts. Give each other some space before we talk things out.” He looked up at her fully, not quite ready to let go of her hands. “Bottom line is, we can fix this. Just like we fix everything else, right? I really, really want to fix this.”

[themacyray]

“I wanted a good time before I had to drop a bomb that was a drunken mistake. I wasn’t trying to trade or compensate... or maybe I was, I don’t know anymore.” She looked down at his hands holding onto hers and let out a small sad sigh. “I think we both just walk away without thinking. We’re both too damn hot blooded for the shit we put each other through.” She looked back up at him trying to keep her voice light. “One of us could end up dead if we stuck around to talk it out.”

“Maybe I meant some of it, but it came out wrong,” he tried to reason, still unsure if those were the words he was trying to use even in that moment. He shook his head, hearing everything she said and trying to spit out the proper response.

“Look,” he breathed, trying to rattle the thoughts she had convinced herself of. He squeezed her hands once, just a bit to gain her attention. “I was over emotional in that moment. I didn’t mean al of what I said. I don’t think all sex is meaningless, and I don’t think the sex we have is senseless, it’s just�� I felt that you were trying to compensate by trading in the emotional for physical and… I don’t think that’s how I wanna work things about between us, y'know? And I blew up, I know I did, but I think we should be able to talk things out… And I know I sent you away, and I shouldn’t have, because we should be able to talk things out, y'know?”

[themacyray]

“No, I’m pretty sure you meant it all.” She hadn’t gotten over the senseless sex comment since it had left his lips. She’d turned those words over in her mind the entire time they’d not been talking, trying to figure out if it was true or not. Either way, he thought it and it had made her feel... slutty. For the first time in her life she actually felt what it was like to be shamed in that way. It was not a feeling she liked and had avoided it by always being in control. Control that she’d lost the second she fell for the guy standing in front of her.

“I’m pretty sure it was my fault for getting married and trying to make it less of a big deal with senseless sex.” the words fell off her tongue oddly, betraying her and letting the hurt sound in her voice. She had control over nothing these days and she hated it.

“No,” he said instantly. He had been expecting her to try and take all the blame, so the response came almost naturally. He sighed softly, shaking his head. “You didn’t fuck everything up… I didn’t exactly handle that like I should have… And I said some stuff I didn’t mean, and… We both fucked up.”

He gave her a small, half smile, though it didn’t seem like it did much to alleviate the tension between them. “I got hurt and scared and I… Lashed out. So if you’re to blame, I am too.”

[themacyray]

And there he was, like the universe was actually out to get her. Macy straightened up trying to comb her fingers through her hair and hoped that her eyes didn’t look as raw as they felt from all the crying. She glanced up at him for a second before turning her gaze back toward the ground. She would have to run into him when she looked pathetic and sad, wouldn’t she? 

“I wasn’t avoiding you I—” she had no excuse and Owen knew her too well. When he apologized she looked up at him, shocked. “You have nothing to apologize for, I fucked everything up and I know that.”

Owen could have texted Macy, probably called her, and maybe he was stalling a little by not doing so. Instead, he decided the best way to contact her was to wander around town and stumble upon her… Eventually. Which turned into much sooner than he expected as he looked up, seeing a couple people passing a familiar head of hair. And though it was a bit inappropriate for the situation, he couldn’t help but snort at Macy’s lame cover-up. 

He waited until the few people passed before walking up to her, raising his hands in defense. “You can stop avoiding me now; I come in peace…” It took a beat to realize that bad jokes were not the way to fix this situation. “I… Think I should apologize for… Overreacting back there.”

[themacyray]

“It’s a particular someone, actually. Not that I really owe you an explanation, sarcastic guy.”

Although it had been years, Axel still knew the town like the back of his hand, so as he cut across the street about ready to head into the coffee shop nearby, it was hard not to notice the shady looking girl acting quite strange. He stopped and stared, amused more than intrigued. 

At her explanation, he glanced around the street that was empty apart from the two of them, confusion taking hold before exaggerating a fake nod and smile, “Of course, wouldn’t want to run into anyone since there’s so many people around.” 

[themacyray]

“I know that. I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t too crowded. And you shouldn’t tell people you don’t bite. Takes all the mystery away.”

Emma stood with one foot firmly on the ground, the other kicked up on the wall behind her. She stared at her gloved hands, fiddling with the leather hugging her fingers. She froze as soon as a shape made itself known out the corner of her eye. With an eyebrow raised, she turned her head to analyze the situation, letting out a soft chuckle when she noticed the seemingly paranoid girl a couple feet away.

“You do know there’s room for more than one person, right? I promise not to bite.” She only half reassured the stranger as she directed her attention back to her hands.