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leafs-lover · 3 years

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Too Far Gone - Part Seven

Series Masterlist

A/N: Italics means flashbacks

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of drinking, angst, heartache, unprotected smut (wrap it up kids)

Word Count: 6000

“Want to go for a walk ma,” Auston asks, putting his arm over the back of her chair.

The Leafs are on their Florida trip, doing the first ever Mom’s trip. They lost to Tampa last night, and play the Panthers tomorrow. Normally this trip is for the dad’s, but this year the team did something different.

While Brian, Auston’s dad, was slightly upset saying how he loved the fathers trip, he also understood the sacrifices the mom’s made to get their children to the NHL. Ema was absolutely thrilled to get four days in the middle of the season with her son, especially near Christmas since Auston wasn’t planning on returning to Arizona for the short break. The All-star break is at the end of January and the Leafs have a few days off after, and they plan on celebrating Christmas then.

“You’re sisters are excited for the All-Star break,” Ema smiles up at him as they slowly stroll along the beach. Cool sand under between their toes, the waves gently crashing on the shore, moon reflecting off the water.

“Yeah me to,” he hums, somewhat absentmindedly.

It has only been ten days since he showed up on her door, ten days since Tia kicked him out of her apartment. He doesn’t even know why he went there. He didn’t intend on it when he woke up that morning. But after practice his plans changed.

Some force pulled him into RealSports. He didn’t understand it, it didn’t make sense. But there he was, hat on, hood over his head, walking up and down the aisles. And he just grabbed that Carleton stuffed bear and was on his way to the cash.

But that felt so impersonal? It was his son, his own flesh and blood and he knew nothing about him. What’s his favourite animal? Favourite food? Was he a picky eater? What made him laugh? Any allergies? He didn’t know anything, but all toddlers like stuffed animals. He figured if Taylour was anything like him he’d love the ministicks. So he took a shot, Taylour seemed happy with it but he really doesn’t know.

He never got Tia’s number, never got answers. In fact he left with so many more then he went in with. He has no way to find out what happened, why she never told him, and why she blames him for everything. He has tried to rack his brain around it, but every time he does a steady thumping in his temple builds until it becomes increasingly uncomfortable until he can’t think anymore. Without going back to her place he has no way of getting those answers.

“Auston,” Ema repeats giving him a gentle nudge, “I asked what you plan on getting your sisters for Christmas.”

“Hmm. Sorry ma...just got something on my mind,” he shrugs.

“You okay papi?” she asks concerned. She isn’t the only one to notice the change in his behaviour. Last week Fred and Mitch took him dinner, asked what was going on. Morgan invited him over to for a “movie” a few nights ago, Babcock even pulled him aside to ask if he was okay. Everyone noticed the change in his demeanor. Not that his on ice performance has been effected. In the last five games he has 3 goals and 4 assists, it’s that off the ice he barely engages in conversations. He is withdrawn; the shell of the person he once was. Even though he is physically present, mentally he never is.

“Yeah,” Auston lies, tugging his hood over his head. The two continue on their walk silently; not a comfortable silence the kind of silence Ema can sense there is something on his mind, but she doesn’t pry, knowing he’ll talk when he’s ready. The cool breeze rolls off the Atlantic making Auston shove his hands into his pockets while they stroll down the beach.

“Remember Tia?” Auston asks softly a few minutes later.

“Ci mija,” she smiles looping on arm around his. “How could I forget? She was very pretty.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles slightly. “I saw her a few days ago,” he sighs keeping his eyes trained in front of him.

“How was it?” she glances up, “you still love her?”

“No mom,” he grumbles, rolling his eyes. “I’m not in love with her anymore...But it was,” he takes a deep breath contemplating his words, knowing nothing will describe that day, or the way he felt. “It was interesting, weird, awkward, intense, and heartbreaking. Kind of how I imagined it would go,” he laughs awkwardly, silence fills the air around them.

He spent months after Zurich imagining seeing Tia again. He played out every scenario in his head. What possible reason or justification she would have, every word he would say to her, every word she would say to him. He ran it through his head a million times, but never once did he see it going the way it did.

“She has a kid, a son,” he shifts his head to look down at her slightly. “Just turned two.”

“Just turned two?” she ponders.

“Yeah, last week.”

Ema immediately stops in her tracks, Auston not long after. He watches her expression change, processing the news, her smile turning to a scowl. Her eyes meet her sons, catching his expression while he eagerly awaits her to put the pieces together.

“Mija, is…is he yours?” she asks softly and Auston only gives her a slight nod. Ema brings her hand up to her mouth gasping at the news.

“Auston,” she says softly hesitating briefly, “are you sure he’s yours?”

“What,” he asks in disbelief. She saw them and their love for one another, he can’t believe she would ask such a thing.

“I’m only asking because I saw boxes of condoms in your bedside table… and a couple times when picking up your laundry I found some open wrappers on the ground.”

“Oh my god,” his eyes go wide and his cheeks redder than a tomato, “you knew.”

“Yes of course I did, a mother always knows” she smiles. “You were not good at sneaking her in in the middle of the night,” she laughs. “But I know you two were being safe, so I just want to make sure he is yours.”

“We were safe…except for one night, right before the playoffs,” he grins mischievously.

“Auston,” she scolds but he doesn’t hear it, lost in his memories of that night.

Maroon 5’s Sugar isplaying loudly over the speaker. Pretty much everyone has had a few drinks, celebrating finishing the season as the number as the one seed. Loud voices echo down the hall, and there is a thud followed by some boisterous laughs. As soon as Auston opens the bathroom door Tia is there, her hand on his chest backing him into the room, kicking the door shut with her heel.

“Tia, baby, the team is down the hall,” he announces, seeing the spark in her eyes.

“Mhm,” she hums, stepping into his embrace rising to her tippy toes arms wrapping around his neck. “I just want to celebrate, I mean they won’t even notice that we’re gone.”

“We can celebrate with the team now, and privately later,” he shakes his head, laughing at neediness in her voice.

“Or,” she ghosts her lips over his neck, “we have a quick celebration right now just the two of us.” She presses a soft kiss to his neck, a hint of lipstick remaining on his skin, “we go back out and celebrate with the team some more,” she whispers gently sucking on his ear lobe. “And assuming we don’t drink too much, we can have another celebration later.”

Feeling his growing erection against her hip she knows its working. His hands are gently grasping her hips, groaning every time she peppers his neck. Grabbing his chain she pulls him down for a searing kiss, pressing her pelvis forward into his hard member. Nails dig into her hips as he guides her back until the counter is digging into the back of her thighs. Teeth clash and tongues slip into the others mouth, her hands fumbling to make work of his belt.

“Fuck," he chuckles, with a dark ring around his irises. He shakes his head slightly, “turn around” he orders, giving into her need, pants and boxers dropping below his knees. Pulling away with a smirk Tia pushes her leggings and underwear down, Auston finds his wallet out and flips through it before his eyes close and he takes a deep shuddering breath.

“T…I don’t have a condom,” he groans, “didn’t exactly plan on having sex here,” he mutters under his breath. Opening some of the cabinets, he rummages through in search of a box, but they come up empty. “Can’t believe he doesn’t have one,” he grumbles running his hands through his hair.

“He’s 32, married and has kids. I didn’t expect to find any,” she giggles. “But, I’m on birth control.”

His eyes go wide with shock, “what? Since when?” A small smirk tugging on the sides of his lips.

“I got it at my appointment last month,” she explains, smiling at him gently in the mirror.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well I couldn’t start right away, so I’ve only been on it for a few days.”

“God you’re amazing,” one hand finds her hip, the other grips his length. Stroking it up and down her entrance, he soaks it in the dampness that has been pooling all night.

“You sure T," his eyes are soft as they stare at her in the mirror. Wide smile, she nods profusely back at him and he slowly pushes his length in. Her dampness that has been collecting all night making it easy for his girth to slide inside her folds, filling her to the brim.

“Fuck T," he groans as he bottoms out, lips attaching to her neck, her moaning back in response.

“You feel so good baby,” he rasps in her ear, placing sloppy kisses on her neck. He watches through his lashes, as she pulls her lower lip through her teeth in the mirror, her back arching into him. After a few slow thrusts and his hips snap, increasing, setting a vigorous pace.

“Oh shit,” she groans, as he brushes his cock against her g-spot. One of his hands grips the white fabric of her shirt as he pushes her forward until her chest hits the cool marble stone. Every thrust her body jolts forward, nails clenching the stone tighter. Her moans are getting louder, but barely audible over the booming music.

“Touch yourself T," he rasps. His words aren’t firm or commanding, instead pleading as his hips are stuttering behind her. Connecting her thumb to her clit in firm circles, Auston drives hard into her from behind.

“I’m close baby," Tia breathes, heat building in her core, legs beginning to tremble.

“Same," Auston grunts. “Come on T, cum for me.”

Harsh and fast circles coupled with his cock grazing her sweet spot has her tumbling over the edge. Little electric bolts eviscerate her nerves as she quivers under him.

“Oh my god," Auston groans feeling her walls flutter around him barrier free for the first time. Her pussy quivers as euphoria floods her body, walls clenching around him. Through the pleasure ripping through her body, her finger falls from her clit, but Auston continues to work her through her high. A few more shallow thrusts and his dick twitches, warm sticky cum flooding her pussy, painting her walls white.

“Fuck baby," his hips slow and he looks at her in the mirror. Sweat in her hairline, mascara smudged down her cheeks, a fucked out blissful look plastered on her face. Pulling out, Tia whimpers from the emptiness but Auston quickly spins her around crashing his lips to hers.

“Don’t drink too much,” she mumbles against his lips, having barely caught her breath. “I want to do that again later.”

“I love you Tia," he murmurs against her lips with a smile.

“So you have a son?” she asks.

Reaching into his wallet, he pulls out a folded picture, the one he took from the frame at Tia’s. “This is Taylour,” he hands her the picture. The crease in the middle becoming more prominent, the one corner slightly worn from all the time he spends running his finger over it, at night lying in bed, or on the couch while the TV buzz’s quietly in the background.

“Taylour,” she whispers running her finger over the print. “Why didn’t she -” tears are forming in her eyes as she is overcome with emotion seeing her grandson. Taking in the similarities, Taylour’s picture almost identical to some of Auston she has at that age.

“I don’t know, we didn’t get into it,” he sighs.

“He looks like you as a baby,” she smiles, her voice catching in her throat slightly. Auston takes the picture and folding it, putting it back in his wallet. “What are you going to do?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” he shifts adjusting his hat. “She doesn’t want me involved like in any way. She doesn’t want me to know him, she doesn’t want money…I don’t know. All I know is I have a son named Taylour and he is two.”

“Do you want to be involved?”

It’s a hard question. He is absolutely terrified at the though of being a dad, having zero preparation. He literally woke up one day to find out he had a kid. It’s not like he found out when she was pregnant and had 9 months to mentally prepare for it. There is an actual two year old out there with half his DNA and Auston has no idea what he wants, or what is best.

Even if he decided to be in his life, he wouldn’t know how to be a dad. Is he still in diapers? If so how do you change them? Does he drink bottles, what food can and can’t he eat? How do you keep a living breathing tiny human being alive?

Does Taylour want him involved? Sure he calls him dadda, but Auston doubts he actually knows what that word means. He more than likely thinks that’s his name, not recognizing the weight of it. It’s not like when he calls Tia mommy, she has earned that name from years of caring for him, bathing and loving him. He has done nothing to deserve being called daddy, and there is no way Taylour actually views him how most kids view their dad.

Auston spent weeks trying to figure out what to do. He wished that bringing him a present on his birthday would help him come to a conclusion. That he would have this overwhelming need to be a dad or not. Instead he still doesn’t know what he wants to do. He has spent hours in bed, looking at the picture and he still doesn’t know.

“I don’t know,” he replies honestly.

“Have you told the team?”

“No you’re the only one who knows, I want to keep it that way until I think it through,” he says, stepping forward he wraps his arms around her shoulders and she just nods silently against him.

“Merry Christmas Auston,” Caleb squeals wrapping his arms around his neck.

“Oh, Merry Christmas buddy,” he laughs making his way into the house, Jagger the 7 year old Marleau boy climbing on his back. Carefully he makes his way down the hall, two giggling boys hanging off of him. He drops them on the couch beside Patty who just laughs at his sons.

“Careful boys,” Pat laughs, “he’s not your jungle gym.”

“Ah it’s fine, we have fun right boys,” he laughs watching as Patty tickles his sons. He spends the day watching Patty build the various toys for his sons. A steady stream of laughter, chocolate and smiles throughout the entire day. They all lace up and skate on the backyard rink shooting the puck around.

Jealousy fills him watching Patty be a dad, watching him smile and laugh with his kids. He isn’t new to it, seeing Patty with his kids. He has spent a lot of time with the Marleau’s over the last year and a bit. But this, his heart being shattered into a million pieces while he watches, this is new, and it only compounds the pain in his chest.

The day is filled with laughter and jokes. Even a few tears coming from Caleb as he stayed awake during his nap and had too much candy. But it’s what anyone would call a great day filled with family. Under normal circumstances it would be a great day. But Auston can’t help but wonder what Taylour is doing, what he got for Christmas. What his life would be like if Tia didn’t cut him out. Would they still be together? And if so would the three of them be over at the Marleaus for dinner, or would it be a quiet day at home just them? Would his family have flown up so they could take in Taylour’s excitement on Christmas morning? Would Paul be there?

“Thanks for dinner Chris,” Auston smiles setting a stack of plates on the counter, “it was awesome.”

“Oh no problem hun, you know you’re always welcome. Now,” she pulls a beer out and twists the cap off handing it to him, “stop cleaning and go sit have a beer.” She shoos him from the kitchen before heading upstairs to check on her kids. Her husband was supposed to be tucking them in but she can hear them chattering loudly from downstairs. She knows leaving them upstairs her kids won’t be asleep for another hour at that rate.

Falling into the leather couch he brings the beer to his lips. He can hear the laughter echoing down the stairs, Patty clearly in the youngest Caleb’s room. Listening to the laughter and chatter coming from Patty and his sons it tugs on his heart strings. The louder the laughter the smoother the beer goes down. Jealousy, his entire body is full of it. By the time Patrick comes down stairs Auston is back in the kitchen cracking open his third; sixth drink if you include the wine at dinner.

“Tony man talk to me,” he says, not bothering to beat around the bush. “Don’t say nothing is wrong I’m not an idiot. It’s been almost 2 months, everyone sees it. Fuck Christina can even tell.”

Taking an uneasy breath he looks up, blinking away some tears. He doesn’t say anything, bringing the beer up to his lips. Instead of taking a sip he sighs and lowers the bottle to the counter, reaching into his back pocket to pull out the picture of Taylour, throwing it across the counter.

Patty reaches out, unfolding the picture and staring down at the picture of the smiling boy. “That’s Taylour, just turned two.” Auston dives into the story, the same story he told his mom two weeks ago, the same story that has kept him up at night for almost 2 months.

“Why didn’t she tell you?” Patrick asks sitting at the island. “I mean she was your girlfriend right?”

“Yeah, she was, and honestly I don’t know. I’ve tried to wrap by brain around it, I have no answer. I just keep replaying that elevator ride; she said she didn’t keep him for me. I don’t understand how she can think that. I didn’t know about Taylour, had no inclination she was pregnant. How didn’t she keep him from me?”

“Sounds like you need to talk to her,” Christina sighs, Auston turns having no idea how long she had been standing there, arms crossed leaning on the doorframe. “I mean there’s a baby involved, you need all the information before you can make a decision either way. Being a parent means doing what’s best for your kid. Neither of you can be selfish, you can only think about him,” she walks in leaning on the counter. “If what’s best is you being there, spending time with him, watching him grow up, being an active parent then you do that. But if you can’t commit to be in his life constantly. If what’s best is for you to be gone, not involved then that’s fine too. You just have to do what’s best for Taylour, and only Taylour.”

“Yeah,” Auston lifts the neck of the beer to his lips. “She’s a stripper” Auston takes a large sip of beer. “Like an actual stripper at the Brass Rail. The team won’t like that, Kyle, Babs, Shanny. Nobody will like it.”

“Hey none of that matters. If you want to be in that little boy’s life that does not matter,” she emphasizes each word.

“She’s right Auston; if you want to be involved I’ll help you handle the team. But don’t factor them into this decision at all. The only thing you have to think about is that boy, nothing else” Patty chimes in.

The three of them stand silently while he pours the remaining beer into his mouth. Trying to take it all in, all the information and opinions. His mom has sent him a text every day since the trip to check in but he never has a new answer. He is the exact same.

He wakes up, showers, has breakfast, goes to the rink for morning skate, has lunch. On game days he’d nap have dinner and play, before grabbing something after and crawls into bed. Only to do it the next day, it’s almost robotic. Eat, sleep, rinse, repeat.

Grabbing the picture from the counter Christina glances over the photo, “he’s a cute kid,” she smiles. “Has your eyes.”

Squeezing his hand lightly she walks out of the room, Patty following soon after. Pacing around in the kitchen he throws another beer back, and then another and another. At this point he has no idea how many he has had, or how he hasn’t worn a hole in the floor. He doesn’t know what he wants to do, but he does know he needs answers. He can’t make an actual decision without answers. Reaching the door he slides his shoes on and leaves, heading for the waiting taxi.

It’s a bad idea, he knows it. Even if he wasn’t drunk, showing up at your ex’s at 11pm is never a good idea. But here he is pounding heavily on her door.

“Tia,” he calls through the metal barrier, between his loud knocks. “Tia let me in.”

Blinking her eyes open and rubbing away the sleep, she doesn’t even thinks it’s real. That it’s a dream. It’s not until she hears the pounding again that she jumps into action, thinking its some drunk teenager at the wrong door. Either way she doesn’t want them to wake up Taylour, she quickly grabs her robe and heads down the hall.

“Tia,” she hears the familiar voice and she stops instantly. Her heart beats loudly and her ears ring. She hasn’t seen him since Taylour’s birthday. She had no idea what to expect, if he would come by again. Every day she makes it through without him trying to contact her, she is ecstatic. Each day she doesn’t hear from him she believes he isn’t going to reach out, he’ll leave the two of them alone to carry on as they had been. It’s not until he pounds on her door once more her feet begin to work again.

“What the fuck,” she whispers harshly, whipping the door open. Auston had been leaning against the frame and almost fell through the threshold.

“Tia,” he says loudly, she can smell the alcohol emanating from his breath.

“Auston shut the fuck up,” she hisses pulling him inside her apartment and shutting the door. She can smell the whiskey and beer on his breath, his eyes are bloodshot and glazed over. “It’s 11:30, Taylour is sleeping. Keep your fucking voice down,” she snaps unamused with him showing up unannounced and after drinking an excessive amount.

“Oh shit, sorry,” he laughs lightly, walking to her couch sprawling out on it. He pats the cushion beside him, “oh won’t you join me, mother of my child,” his eyes narrow.

“Un-fucking-believable,” she mutters going to the kitchen to get some water and opens a cupboard. “Drink this,” she shoves the glass in his face along with some aspirin before sitting at the other end of the couch. The blue satin on her shoulder slides down, exposing some of her shoulder to him.

“Thanks sweetheart,” he rasps throwing the pills in his mouth, “ah,” he swallows the water. She shifts to tug the robe tighter to cover more of her body. Feeling very exposed in her white tank top.

“Hi,” he smiles looking at her, head landing on the back of the couch. Her hair is slightly tangled and he can see the sleep in her eyes, the redness in her pupils having been abruptly woken up. She shakes her head and Auston can practically feel the anger radiating off of her. But he doesn’t care.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“I’m here to talk T.”

“Don’t call me that,” she bites. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

“Okay Tia,” he enunciates every letter. “I’m here to talk.”

“About what?” she sighs.

“How about how you didn’t even wait for my plane to take off to delete me off everything, delete me from your life. How you broke my heart into a million pieces and didn’t even care. How you kept my kid from me for two fucking years,” he lists off. “Take your goddam choice.”

Tears hit her eyes and she gently wipes them away with the sleeve of her robe. “I’m not doing this, you’re drunk,” she whispers trying to blink back her tears. Rising to her feet she lifts a section of the couch pulling out some blankets. Silently she throws them on his lap unable to find her voice, and walks down the hall closing her door.

She waits until she is under her duvet, squeezing a pillow firmly to her chest. She has a paralyzing fear coursing through her body and finally lets the tears fall. Her chest heaves while warm tears barrel down her cheeks. How can he come here and accuse her of all those things? She wanted nothing more than to have a life with him. White dress, house with a dog. She saw the family, laughter and chaos on Christmas morning. Waking up to his arm wrapped around her everyday.

Obviously this plan was meant for the future, kids 7 or 8 years down the line, not at 19. But still she saw it all. And it vanished, the only thing she had was a growing baby and nobody to help her.

Sleep doesn’t come easy for her that night replaying the conversation. The last two and a half years for that matter. But it does for Auston, the mixture of beer and wine quickly knocking him out.

“Daddy,” a little voice calls out, a tiny hand gripping his nose. Auston’s eyes slowly blink open adjusting to the light and he is met by Taylour’s face inches from his.

“Hey Taylour,” he says through a raspy voice, Taylour smiling at him. He can smell the hazelnut coffee as he sits up, squinting as the morning sun blasts through the windows.

Allowing his eyes to adjust, he sees a small Christmas tree in the corner with the decorations haphazardly thrown on it. Some sections are bare while others have about 15 hanging off every limb. He smiles getting the impression Taylour played a big part in decorating the tree. There are also two stockings resting on the TV stand and a few toys still in their boxes in the corner.

“God it’s bright,” he mumbles sitting up as Tia hands him a steaming mug. “Thanks.”

He pulls the blanket off to reveal just his boxers and a thin white t-shirt, having removed most of his clothes before passing out. Tia hates the way his thighs makes her core heat up. How they are thicker than before, making dampness saturate her underwear. Or how the sleeve of tattoos on his right arm causes her voice to trap in her throat.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, forcing her eyes to Taylour, watching him make his way to his toys, trying to distract herself as Auston pulls his denim up his legs.

“Awful,” he laughs, grabbing his coffee to take a sip. It tastes just how he takes it, not that he should be surprised that she still remembers.

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you drink a brewery and have a baby, they don’t care about hangovers,” she walks back into the kitchen continuing to make breakfast. Cracking a few eggs she stirs the bowl turning to the stove, turning her back to Auston. She has no idea how much he remembers, if anything. But she hopes he doesn’t bring it up again and leaves. Soon.

“Taylour breakfast,” she calls out cutting his food. Little feet pattering on the wood floor followed by an “mmm.” Turning to lift him into his highchair she sees Auston already helping him in. She struggles through breakfast, Auston sitting beside Taylour, helping feed him. Laughing while Taylour babbles along, it’s all a lot. She can’t look at them, knowing all she will see is the similarities between them.

What was once her dream is slowly becoming an emotional nightmare. Unable to take anymore she abruptly pushes her chair back. Metal scrapes on the wood floor and she is in her room leaving her food half eaten. She sits on her bed and hears the two of them babble along from the table, trying to quell the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Watching Tia abruptly leave Auston wants to follow, he knows he should, but he can’t leave Taylour. Instead he sits beside him patiently waiting while he shovels blueberries into his mouth. But the second he finishes Auston pulls him onto his hip and carries him to her room.

He gently pushes the door open to see Tia staring at her feet. Cheeks puffy and stained with her tears, eyes bloodshot. She doesn’t look up as the door creaks, not when the bed dips and he sits beside her, not when Taylour babbles in his arm grasping his chain.

“Why are you here,” she chuckles through her tears. “Why after two and a half years of radio silence do you show up?”

“Tia, why do you keep saying that? I didn’t know about him until I saw you with him last month, I had no idea he even existed,” he declares. Taylour grasps the chain around his neck, and Auston turns his attention to his son, smiling at him while he releases the metal.

“I text you so many times,” she explains, running her hand through her hair.

“No you didn’t. All my texts went unanswered, you deleted me from social media, my entire family T, you deleted my mom and sisters, everyone.”

“No I didn’t,” she cries, sobs getting heavier. “I tried to get a hold of you when you left and I didn’t stop. I didn’t stop until I left Zurich. 16 weeks I tried to get a hold of you. I literally sent a text that said “I’m pregnant” with a sonogram picture and heard nothing. When he was born I called only to get someone else’s voicemail, whoever took your old number, so I just moved on at that point.”

“You didn’t know I lived her? Played for the Leafs?” He asks somewhat surprised that she never heard his name while scanning through the TV for something to watch, she never over heard friends or classmates mention his name, or saw his face on a billboard around town.

“No I only really watched hockey because of you,” she laughs through her tears. “But I quickly stopped caring about it, I actually hate the sport because of you. I didn’t keep up with your career. I figured you were drafted and playing for one of the 30 cities that have a team but I had no idea which one. I never googled you, I didn’t want to know what you were doing, how you were doing. Didn’t want to see you having this amazing life while I skipped dinner for the second time that week. I resented you so much, knowing you had more money than you could ever need and you couldn’t even send 50 bucks for diapers.”

“T, I-”

“Stop calling me that,” she asserts, cutting him off.

“Ok,” he takes a breath, eyes closing momentarily. That name, it rolls off his tongue so easily he doesn’t even know he is saying it. He spent so long calling her that it comes naturally and now he will have to untrain his brain.

Taking a shaky breath he tries to compose himself, “Tia I never received any texts from you. I tried to call you as soon as I landed. My mom was grumbling for me to unpack, but I just kept calling, it always went to voicemail. I tried again the next day and the next day, I sent so many texts. God, I cried myself to sleep every night for weeks. Losing you broke me into a million pieces, I became the shell of the person I once was. Alex tried, Bre, hell even my mom, nothing went through. Finally in August it was time for me to move up here and they told me to get over myself and move on, sick of watching me be miserable. Ask any one of them and they’ll tell you.

“Okay,” she says ingesting everything. The raw emotion in his voice makes her want to believe him, but it doesn’t make sense. How could he have tried to contact her and have nothing go through? How did his entire family drop off of every social media platform at the same time by accident?

Auston sees it in her eyes and hears it in her voice, but he doesn’t understand how it could happen. He could get it if the app accidentally deleted him from her followers, but to block and delete four people it seems unlikely. And to delete them from every media platform? But there is no other option, besides a wild technology blip.

Placing an arm behind her, her head falls to his shoulder. The three of them sit, the only sound Taylour’s constant babbling and Tia’s occasional sniffles. Wiping away the last of her tears she cranes her head to look at him and Auston meets her gaze. His heart breaks seeing her face, tears build in his eyes, but he fights to hold them back.

Sitting quietly they stare at the other with solemn faces. It’s not until Taylour grabs Auston’s hair and he groans in pain their faces soften. A half smile on Tia’s face, a slight chuckle from Auston.

Her head on his shoulder feels right, feels like Zurich three years ago. Both staring at the other, Tia feels her heart thud a little faster being so close to him. Slowly Auston moves his head closer, leaning in, and Tia doesn’t flinch, taking a dry gulp.

Maybe it’s the realization that neither one abandoned the other. Maybe its sitting; the three of them as a family, or maybe it’s the Christmas spirit, but something is pulling them together. Magnets drawing them in; they both tilt their heads, slowly inching closer. Auston can feel her lips ghosting over his, Tia can feel his exhale hit her upper lip.

1017 days.

That’s how long it’s been since they kissed. That’s how long it’s been since Auston held her. His heart flutters, butterflies swarm his stomach when their noses graze the other.

1017 days and he is finally going to get her back.

#too far gone asks #too far gone fic #auston matthews fic #auston matthews smut #auston matthews imagine #auston matthews #nhl smut #nhl fic #hockey fic #hockey smut #toronto maple leafs #toronto maple leafs smut #toronto maple leafs fic #toronto maple leafs imagines

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dallonm-archive · 3 years

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HOW TO SWALLOW MATCHSTICKS | SHORT STORY UPDATES #5 & COLLECTION INTRO

[image description: a pale orange sky with dark orange clouds. In the middle, in white text, reads “HOW TO SWALLOW MATCHSTICKS”. /end id]

Hello y’all! Since I already mentioned this briefly, and I’m in a really good place with it, I thought I’d quickly actually introduce my collection title and talk about what it’s about!

Originally, I was going with the working title “How I Break My Bones”, but I didn’t like that the “I” suggested a singular POV in a title for the collection. Whilst brainstorming titles I came up with the line “I swallowed your matchsticks but you still set me alight” and was like what the fuck, that sounds like a poem line [I didn’t wrote poetry back then :)] but I loved the imagery so I just! Smacked them together! Also matchsticks apparently matchsticks are poisonous and that really enhanced the meaning. Funnily enough, the fact that matches start fires isn’t central to the title; fire isn’t an important image in the collection (except for one story), however burning is? But the burning imagery usually comes from mentions of sunlight rather than actual fire, which I think is very interesting and fitting for the collections Vibe.

I’m letting the collection grow thematically with the stories I write, but the central idea is self destructive behaviour, and decisions that are very very irrational to literally anyone except the main character(s). Some of them get to this from being pushed to their limit, but for others there’s a more continuous sense, that what we see is just part of a chain of self destructive behaviour that’s their normal. Lemon Teeth especially is interesting in that sense because there’s this general idea of “hey how the fuck are these two still alive”, whereas with, Tabby, the narrator is pushed to a limit they’re not even aware of until there’s consequences. The title plays with this idea of self destructive behaviour that’s actually out of defence: someone swallows matchsticks so they can’t be burnt, but the matchsticks poison them (the severity of that is also dependent on how many you swallow! I think my google history is really concerned that I’m eating matchsticks!). Your perception of reality tells you to do this irrational action so one consequence can’t happen, but you snap back into reality and realise the consequence of that action is actually far greater than the original fear, but it’s too late to reverse it. Also! A lot of WLW/femme NB characters is the goal, on the grounds of Haha I Do That.

I try to keep this collection very fluid where all the stories are very individual, but are similar when it comes to core themes and it’s been very fun to develop! I also feel like visually this collection is very orange and red? Do NOT know what that means yet <3 but a lot of the stories are visually very hazy and sometimes dreamy, but the content itself is very dark. I’ve been playing around with this idea of “injecting” haziness into a narrators POV so their perception of reality warps and intensifies as the story progresses and we end up in High Reality Territory. I’ve talked about some of these before, but I’m going to go through the current stories I have in here in their current order under the cut - mainly because I find it very interesting to actually see them all in one place and how they function as a collective, and also to see how much it changes! I also won’t have a taglist for this WIP, as I just use my general taglist for short story updates, so if you want updates then you can join that!

general taglist ; ask to be + or -! @kowlazovdi @avi-burton-writing @ryns-ramblings @kitblogsthings @ezrathings @aetherwrites @radiomacbeth @bijouxs @bookphobe @haldimilks @alicewestwater @bookpacking @shaelinwrites @harehearts @amnestys @onlyganymede @theelectricfactory @write-like-babs @oceancold @veiliza @sidhewrites @wolf-oak @feverdreamwritings @oasis-of-you @coffeeandcalligraphy @cecilsstorycorner @howdy-writes @keira-is-writing @flip-phones

content warnings for the stories in order that they appear: murder (ammonite) / fire (lemon teeth) / car accident (how to relax on class A) / toxic relationships (the name i gave her) / cults (and saturn, too + church mud). nothing is talked about in detail.

Disclaimer: These stories are my original work - plagiarism and any form of copying will not be tolerated.

[image description: two large rocks in the ocean, with waves crashing over them. in the middle, in white text, reads “AMMONITE (LAND’S END)”. /end id]

After finding washed up bones on the beach, Dennis pretends they belong to his missing wife Melody - and as he continues to talk to her, his innocence is brought into question.

This story means a lot to me because it was the first one I drafted post writing hiatus that felt like it actually resonated with the way my writing has changed. It was one of the easiest first drafts I’ve done, and editing is going pretty smoothly as well! I loved playing with the moral ambiguity element and creating this very eerie balance between “cold blooded killer” and “grieving husband” and as the author! I do not know whether he actually killed his wife or not! This is one of three stories that I should start submitting this month.

[image description: a black background with 4 lemons in the centre - 3 whole, one cut in half. In the middle, in white text, reads “LEMON TEETH”. /end id]

A house narrates the night its inhabitants burn it to the ground, and tries to understand the human condition from their toxic, tangled relationship.

I drafted this after Ammonite and it ~sucked~. I went to edit in January because I wanted to submit it to a magazine ( <3 missed the deadline <3) and ended up rewriting the whole thing and it is SO much better. It’s gotten quite surrealist but I’ve never written surrealism so I don’t want to call it that yet? But I mean, some of the imagery + the fact that the narrator is a house experiencing complex thought is v surrealist! I want to fine tune that element more because when it comes to submissions I’ll need to actually determine whether it’s surrealism or not but I’m very excited to because out of all the stories this is the one I want published the most! I love it so much. I loved turning a bunch of wood into a character (they’re so sarcastic and mean?? love it), and Lawrence and Frances are perhaps one of THE most fucked up relationships I’ve written so far <3

[image description: a silhouette of a cat against a dark orange background. In the middle, in white text, reads “TABBY”. /end id]

A reclusive man who’d rather exist as a phantom than a human notices the neighbours aren’t feeding their cat, and is sucked into a world that breaks the stillness of his own.

This is the only story here that has an update post that’s not outdated so you can check out more about this story HERE. In hindsight, I think this is the one that really drove where this collection is going the most; I had a lot of different thematic ideas in my head and drafting this naturally organised my thoughts and highlighted the most important ones to me. This also really helped me figure out the perception of reality in this collection and that’s also a central idea (and one of my favourites to explore). I’ve always said I love writing things that feel hazy, feel dreamy, but this story took that took a new level and I feel there’s a lot more depth now? Tabby felt neither like high realism nor realism, it felt like reality with this “glow” that only the narrator seemed to be aware of. This glow reels the narrator into this dreamlike perception of reality to the point where he can’t distinguish the real world from his perception of it, and ends up doing things that he otherwise wouldn’t do had he had a clearer perception of what’s going on. It’s like dreamy reality: make it insidious! I read back on this draft the other day and I’m really excited to start editing, this is the third out of the 3 stories I’m aiming to get published first!

[image description: a single car in the middle of the road on a foggy night, with bright orange headlights. In the middle, in white text, reads “HOW TO RELAX ON CLASS A” /end id]

Whilst trying to manage a bad trip, our narrator makes an unlikely friendship with the driver who just hit his best friend.

I’m currently drafting this, and will likely make an update post for it soon so I won’t talk to much about the story itself here. But if you want to know how the draft is going: it’s sure going! This is in 2nd person instructional which I’ve never written before and it is very difficult at times but also very fun. I can already tell this is the story that’ll need a lot of fine tuning and editing but I really love the premise and where it’s going. This is sort of an evolution of a short story I wrote in 2019 that sucked <3 but I only got the actual idea for the plot a couple months back. My only complaint right now is I’d like a new title because I don’t like this following the “How to __” structure when the collection already does that.

[image description: A black night sky. In the middle, in white text, reads “THE NAME I GAVE HER”. Below the text is 6 moons in different phases, all glowing yellow. /end id]

A woman tries to see her relationship outside of the rose-tinted glasses the night her and her girlfriend fake their deaths.

I wrote this around October but never finished it, and I think I still haven’t figured out the crux of this story or even how it’s meant to be told but I love it too much to let go and really wanna make it work. This is the first WLW story I wrote that’s like, clearly a WLW couple but it’s not about that, and that meant a lot to me. Like I always knew I could just write WLW characters existing but to actually write that, especially with such emotional complexity and also pain that’s not tied to their sexuality was really freeing for me. Also lesbians really are like “damn I need symbolic imagery in my queer story :/” and just write about the moon like the way this story is JUST a bunch of moon imagery and is also structured around the phases? Very sexy

[image description: the view of an orange and purple sky, with the sun rising behind a darker purple mountain. A tree’s shadow takes up the right side and bottom left corner. In the middle, in white text, reads “AND SATURN, TOO”. /end id]

I haven’t drafted this yet (I plan to after HTROCA) but it’s lived rent free in my head long enough to know I want it in this collection. This story chronicles our main character - an ace lesbian who might not know she’s ace yet?? - as she spends the summer on a commune her parents sent her to and I for one am loving having a second cult-y story to explore (although this isn’t explicitly a cult, it just has the undertones and the narrator makes it very clear how she feels about that). This was originally going to have a romance, but lately I’ve been really into the importance of presenting lesbian and sapphic identities beyond the relationship aspect and the element of personal/individual identity. Like HTROCA, I want to have a full update post on this story one day so I won’t talk much about it now, but I am currently brainstorming it and I’m! Very obsessed with it!

[image description: a close up photo of an eye rotated sideways. The photo is filtered red and repeated and on the left hand side, flipped the opposite way. In the middle, in white text, reads “CHURCH MUD”. /end id]

We’ll pretend I didnt spend the last month talking shit about this title BUT for those who don’t know the origin story of my novel Revelations, Revelations is that it was meant to be a short story for my dissertation that quickly unravelled into what it is now. Since I’d already presented the concept to my advisor, I decided to turn it into a sort of “RR But With An Alternate Timeline/Inciting Incident” where Felix and Dorothy escaped the cult at the same time, at the height of their conflict and it got fucked up REAL quick. It was actually so fascinating because whilst it was definitely intentionally heightened, it felt like I was exploring both of their “dark rooms”, exploring a possibility that they would both happily ignore, but was very much almost a reality. I’m no longer doing Uni this year because of covid (I couldn’t stand another zoom lecture), so I don’t know if I can use this story next year but I really want to turn it into something. I just have to strip the RR elements from it and turn it into its own - my <3 third cult story <3.

And that’s where we currently are! I’m not sure if I’ll do collection driven updates, since I just write whatever short stories come to mind and if they fit then great and if they don’t then great, but I might do one say 6 months from now just to see how much it’s changed. This is my primary WIP this year, as 2021 is the ~year of submissions~ for me and hopefully I’ll be able to share some of these stories with y’all soon!

#short stories #atlastracking #wip intro #how to swallow matchsticks #me introducing my collection after roman introduced theirs i am just a SHEEP!!!!!!

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inkribbon796 · 2 years

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The High Tower Ch. 1: Once Upon a Time

Summary: Once upon a time there was along the coast, a swath of trees that held magic so old and mighty that they eclipsed the night and wonders of the human world. The human kingdoms feared its power and so they called it the Dark Woods.

A/N: There is still a Masks and Maladies short coming out on Friday, and regular updates won’t start until probably January but chapters might come out sooner than that, I just have been sitting on this chapter for a long time. More chapters will come, I just want to get them written in bulk before pushing a bunch out at once. I just didn’t want to do another installment of this AU until I knew what I was going to do with it.

Other Parts: 0, Darkstache Day 2 and 3

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Once upon a time there was along the coast, a swath of trees that held magic so old and mighty that they eclipsed the night and wonders of the human world. The human kingdoms feared its power and so they called it the Dark Woods.

The magical, twisted woodland stood between the sea and the human kingdoms to the east. The mountains reached towards the sky.

Ever since the beginning of the human kingdom’s establishments there has been rivalry and fighting between the kingdoms and the woods. But during the worst of it a figure emerged from the woods.

She was powerful and wise and the Dark Woods loved her.

But to the humans she was a monster for she was not beautiful to them. She was pale as the waning moon, and long and spindly. Many a human had mistaken her for a tree.

The Witch of the East Woods, the Dragon Witch, as the humans came to call her, struck fear into the armies of humankind. Courts and bands of fairies turned from loose squabbling groups harried by cold steel and the plots of humans, into a semi-unified force.

And in a loud mockery of the humans and their kings, they crowned her their Queen.

But the kings of the human kingdoms were jealous of the Dark Forest and their mighty Queen, of her power and influence.

“How can you be their ruler, you are a woman. Where is your king? Where is your heir that will take over the kingdom after you die?”

And the fairies became angry with the humans.

“Fairies do not die!” One cried.

“She does not need a king!” Balked another.

But the Dragon Witch looked at the angry fairies and the human kings and saw it all for what it was.

The human kings all wished to take the Dragon Witch as their Queen and therein claim the Dark Woods for themselves. But they didn’t want to start a war with the inhabitants of the woods or the other kingdoms.

So the Dragon Witch jumped into the nearby swamp.

In one hand she held up a snake and in the other: a frog. And in her wisdom she declared: “Behold, my heirs.”

And because of her great magic it was so, and they turned into young princes.

So the Queen of the Dark Woods and her heirs stood as guardians, protecting the woods for many, many seasons from the humans that sought its exploitation and destruction . . .

. . . Until one day a human prince was brought to the witch and their worlds were never the same again.

Inside the Dragon Witch’s tower was a main living area where meals and the Dragon Witch spent time with her two heirs before they inevitably got tired and went to sleep.

Janus had a massive migraine, he was contemplating giving up on the rest of the day and becoming a snake again. He was resorting to swirling a goblet of wine, just trying to relax after dealing with the south woods gentry.

He was almost to the point where he was about to set his goblet down and take a nap. The gentle sound of birdsong lulled him towards sleep.

Then the door flew open with a crashing THUD and Remus walked in. Janus jumped, spilling a bit of wine and his migraine flared.

“Hey Snack Mamba! I have great news!” Remus yelled.

“Fucking dammit!” Janus snapped.

“Guess what?” Remus was leaning over him with a huge smile. “Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?”

Janus hissed, downed the rest of his wine and turned into a yellow and white splotched python.

“Cranky,” Remus chuckled as the Dragon Witch walked in and tsked as she walked over and draped Janus around her neck.

“Poor thing, why don’t you take a nap, my sweetling?” The Dragon Witch cooed and walked over to the desk at the far side of the room and let Janus move onto the surface and she turned on his heat lamp. The serpent just curled up under the warmth.

Patton, the Dragon Witch’s other heir, came up the steps. He’d been in the kitchen and wanted to see what was going on.

“Patty,” Remus ran over, grabbing Patton by the arms and pulled him into his side. “Something wonderful has happened, the thing we’ve all been waiting for.”

“The caravan showed up on time and is giving us more pastries?” Patton gasped in excitement.

“No,” Remus denied after a beat.

“The western ports are finally getting off my back about paving a trade route through our woods?” The Dragon Witch asked with a sharp smile.

“No,” Remus groaned in frustration. “You were there. You should know it’s nothing as trite as that.”

“If Janus was awake he’d tell you you’re wrong,” the Dragon Witch cocked her head in the slumbering serpent under his lamp.

“Ughhh, he can be a real drain on the mood sometimes,” Remus rolled his eyes, then tugged Patton to him a little tighter and gestured to his mentor again. “No my fair toad’s breath, our lovely queen has finally realized her deep abiding love and lust for Althea.”

“What?” Patton looked confused, as if Remus had quickly lost him after dismissing the caravan idea.

“Maggie and Althy are dating!” Remus announced.

Patton gasped in happy surprise, clapping his hands in his excitement. “Yay!”

He ran up and hugged her before announcing he was going to make some snacks and ran off down to the kitchen. Leaving Remus and the Dragon Witch alone in the room.

“Could you spare a modicum of self control to let me tell Janus myself?” The Dragon Witch smiled at Remus.

“I make no promises,” Remus promised, and walked off to go into the kitchen to bother Patton. The Dragon Witch smiled at that and she looked over her other heir, using her magic to brew herself a tea. She didn’t want to leave Janus alone with Remus’s excitement until she could tell him the news herself. He would be cautious and uncertain about it but it was better than not telling him at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag List: (if you want to be on the tag list, just ask)

@shadowkittycat97

#The High Tower #fantasy AU #medieval AU #The Dragon Witch #Remus Sanders #Janus Sanders #Patton Sanders #magic #Remus just wants everyone to agree with his ship #more will follow #soon #fairy tales and folklore #dragon witch/fairy godmother

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happinessisserotonin-blog · 5 years

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Here we go...

So... I don't really know how to do this... I don't really know how to begin...

I want to scream at the top of my lungs, then revert back to the darkness...

Ok yes that sounds INCREDIBLY cliche and dramatic... but it explains my feelings so well...

I want to swallow all of my Urbanol 5mg pills (I have 59 left...)... I want to make all the pain go away...

But it won't help... then my son is left without his mother and will go to his manwhore of a father...

I found out yesterday that he (Let's call him S) has gotten not one, but 2 different women pregnant...

He intends to marry the 20 year old one, whilst the mid 30s one wants nothing to do with him... and mind you, he is 28!!!!

He got me pregnant when I was 19... after having walked out on his 6 year marriage (knocked her up when he was 17, married her at 18, had another kid 2 years later, then 2 years later left her for me). He was still married and only got divorced a month before my son was born...

I was in matric when he moved into my home. My family wanted to help him out... he was only 22 at the time... I was 18... he had no place to live... we are good people. Better than we should be...

He came and left numerous times as he couldn't "be away from his boys". That put strain on me. Then he came back and we all welcomed him back with open arms. But a piece of me was gone...

He always told me of this great life he had (don't worry I know I was stupid and dumb to believe it all... I just wanted the romance that really was never there but didn't want to be alone so I took what I could get...)

He told me we was in the US army and that his uncle and cousins lived in Canada. First red flag! He is a South African citizen so therefore there was NO way he could have been in the army in America...

Then he said he had a massive tattoo on his back (there is nothing there now except a small mole) he said he was in an accident where he was dragged by a truck and it grazed his entire back so he lost the tattoo... (Now I'm just plain blonde at this point- but I knew, I knew it was all a lie, but I wanted someone to sleep next to a night. Someone to tell me I was pretty when I didn't believe it myself... so I let him carry on lying)

Recently he revealed that he has Cancer of the kidneys, liver and a brain tumour... he is on Chemo Pills, but still manages to gym, be a bartender, drink like a fish, as well as have a full head of hair... My father died to Cancer... I know the signs and symptoms as well as side effects of Chemopherapy. I called his Doctor and they had never heard of him... at all...

We moved out of my mom's house and into a flat. A month later, I was late... very late... Blood test came back positive.. I cried, and cried and cried. He was over the moon happy.

My mother was furious. How can he have 2 other kids and one on the way and only earn R4000 a month?! (For those that don't know the currency, look it up, it is NOTHING!!)

But I was dumb and "in love" so screw it, it was us against the world. My mom came around eventually, as did everyone else... we were excited... moved back to the house for help with the baby. Another boy for him. My son. My baby boy. My everything. My (Let's call him M).

Eventually, S wavered his parental rights to his 2 previous son's. Despite my efforts to keep him from doing it... his mind was made up. The fear sets in... what if we end? Will he give M up too?

Things were okay for a while... or so I thought they were... flags kept popping up everywhere... but my blinders where on... stuck there for good.

We broke up many times during our relationship (ironically also 6 years of on and off bullshit) he moved out and in and out and in. It became a pattern... but still, I loved him and wanted us to be a family for M.

In 2018 he stole a LOT of money from his employer... he was arrested and admitted to the crime. My mother bailed him out on my request... we still brought him home... he found a new job and went to court every month for his hearings...

2 months later, he was asked to go into work as they were short staffed that night. He asked to use my car (the car I bought for myself, by myself, brand new, off the dealers floor) I said sure... see you later... love you...

2am the next morning, a tow truck driver calls me and let's me know he has been in an accident, my car is badly damaged, and S is heavily under the influence of alcohol... and... he is not at work... he is at a night club with a woman who works in the same complex as he does...

My parents and I go to fetch him. He can't even walk... let alone talk... we go home, I slapped him over 7 times in the face. He then slept in the spare room for 3 months before eventually moving out...

During those months we tried to reconcile... the trust was gone... through everything before, the trust was chipped away piece by piece...

We had tried for nearly a year to fall pregnant again, even after the theft, even after the car! I so badly wanted another baby, to the point where I would cry myself to sleep and wake up crying...

He just wanted sex.

After he moved out, he would come every Sunday to see M and then maybe stay the night and we would have sex. It was unhealthy but I wanted someone... I had never been alone in my adult life... ever... and I didn't want to be...

After the first week in January, he stopped coming, he stopped calling M at night and stopped asking me how I was...

He was with someone else...

As I type this, it has now been 24 hours since I found out that when he moved out, he slept with someone... and got her pregnant... he is currently 4/5 months pregnant. She wants nothing to do with him at all.

It has also been 24 hours since I found out that he also slept with the girl he works near who was with him the night he crashed my car... and she too is pregnant and they are engaged to be married before the baby comes.

We were engaged for 4 years... but never got married... he didn't seem it was the right thing to do with me but feels it's the right thing to do with her...

He doesn't want M or me anymore... his total is now 5 children with 4 different women...

My family loved him, clothed him, fed him, cared for him and treated him like family. He has thrown it all away...

I feel like every piece he took from me, has been broken even smaller. So small that it is now dust blowing in the wind into non existence...

But I will come out stronger... so will my son... I will protect him until my last breath... I will raise him to be the man his father was supposed to be. I will raise him to be kind, honest and true... I hope he realises his mistakes and that the universe turns that wheel onto him... lessons need to be learned... when you are left with nothing and no one... and all for what?

#ventover

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female-overlord-3 · 6 years

Text

A Simple Text

Me being productive and super inspired wrote another Love, Simon/ SVTHSA fic. Earlier meeting in the books guys so book spoilers. AO3 tags pretty much explains why I wrote it. Thank you so much to @imawriteriwrite and @bluemoon-golden for both looking it over and being my beta’s! Love you both. This is fluff and might lead to more (read: yes there’s gonna be more if this writing streak continues)!

*updated 4/1/18 at 4am cause I realized I put the pre-beta’d version. Oops!

An early meeting AU because someone just wanted their best friend happy. What if Simon saw Bram leaving the Elliott Smith shirt?

They stare at each other frozen. Simon doesn’t know what to think. Bram doesn’t know what to think. It’s like the universe stopped just for this moment to signify how important it is, how life changing this one simple moment is.

It was just a simple text to grab a textbook.

Si man please grab my Math textbook? I left it in Abb’s locker like an absolute moron and it had all my notes! Please please please Simon I will love you forever! -Nick

So here he is standing just a few feet from his and Abby’s locker because Nick asked since Simon was nearby and needed some air. Bram is standing in front of his locker with a plastic bag looped through the handle of a locker staring wide eyed at him, his hands frozen writing something on a piece of paper against the locker. Simon’s locker.

At first Simon doesn’t know what Bram is doing until he sees something white poking out from the bag. ‘No this isn’t-’ His thoughts are racing and he takes a step forward shattering the moment. Like the star athlete he is, Bram bolts the opposite way, pen, paper and bag forgotten as he disappears down the hall. Completely at a loss Simon just stands there in utter shock until his eyes turn back to the bag on his locker. Slowly, he makes his way over and hesitates before removing the bag and peaking inside.

It’s a jersey cotton t-shirt with a logo from Elliott Smith’s Figure Eight. He looks down at it in complete awe then his eyes the paper and pen laying on the floor. It’s blue green construction paper and written on it is a finished note.

I’m assuming Elliott understood that you would have made it to his shows if you could have.

Simon stands frozen again as his brain tries to stop imploding. It’s Blue, Bram is Blue. Cute, adorable, quiet, shy Bram is Blue. Some things are starting to click like as he stares at the perfectly straight print on the note, those times Bram blushed at him, the comment about how being straight or white as the default is annoying, Bram who had his birthday after MLK day which means 118 is January 18th his birthday and Green from Greenfeld. God he’s an absolute oblivious idiot!

Putting the note in the bag Simon turns around to walk back to his car on shaky legs. Somehow he drives himself home without crashing into something, makes it upstairs to his room without trouble, then falls face first on his bed still in disbelief. Shouldn’t he be doing something? Why is he just laying here, doing nothing while the guy he’s in love with is out there and so close?

No Blue needs space. He needs time and he must be as shocked or at least freaked out about being found out and- oh god there was a reason he was there so late with the school pretty much dead. He didn’t want to be seen, for people to know he left the shirt. Pulling the shirt out and tossing the bag behind him to get rid of later, Simon holds it in front of him just just stare at it again. It’s just a t-shirt, some fabric with a bands logo and it shouldn’t mean so much but holy shit it does. This shirt means the world to him after the decreasing messages from Blue which was horrible, and especially after the last one Simon sent getting no reply.

Groaning he buries his face into it hoping maybe he can smother himself with it in frustration. No he can’t do that now with such a special shirt and a very special someone out there. Simon takes a deep breath then lifts his face from the shirt only to feel something stiff when his hands move the shirt. Spreading out so the shirt lays flat, he lifts the neck to see inside and there’s another piece of Blue Green construction paper. It’s a note with the same perfect print.

P.S. I love the way you smile like you don’t realize you’re doing it. I love your perpetual bed head. I love the way you hold eye contact a moment longer than you need to. And I love your moon-grey eyes. So if you think i’m not attracted to you, Simon, you’re crazy.

Below the script is a phone number and Simon doesn’t know whether to text or call the number right now or just wait because he is really lightheaded and feels like he’s going to pass out. His heart is beating like crazy, whole body buzzing with warm tingles while a smile so big breaks across his face, cheeks aching because he knows who Blue is and Blue gave him his number.

They need to talk, to figure everything out and- and he needs to tell this stupidly cute and frustrating guy how much he loves him too.

Now the big question: how?

Bram runs, he runs and runs until he’s back on the field where Garrett is waiting for him to take him home. Garrett is smiling at him until he sees the panicked look on his face, concern replacing the excitement. “Bram you okay man?”

Panting he just stares at his best friend and for some reason the question makes him laugh. God is he okay, ya if what just happened is as okay as their new president. No he’s actually horrible and terrified because the person he’s in love with now knows who he is, that he’s Blue and everything is ruined because he’s going to lose this amazing guy. His laugh turns a bit hysterical for a second before he has to catch his breath again, his legs turned to jelly so he stumbles and lets himself drop on to the grass so he can just lay in his back and hope for lightning to hit him or the ground to swallow him up.

Once his breathing is something close to normal he lets out a long sigh and closes his eyes. “I- I’m not sure. I don’t think so.”

He hears Garrett’s feet walking over and sit next to him, just being there as silent support. “I hope you get to okay.” He finally commented as they sit there for a bit longer before silently standing and walk to Garrett's car to head home.

Bram thanks Garrett for the ride and it’s only once he’s in his room lying on his bed, that he starts actually thinking about what happened.

Now Simon knows who he is. Now Simon has is number. Oh god now Simon has his number and the notes he left!

Bram wants to just die already or maybe he can stay in his room forever. He doesn’t know how to feel about this. He’s both horrified this happened but also a little excited. Of course the horror overrides the excitement but now Simon knows who he is, that he’s Blue.

What should he do now? Bram asks himself. Should he email him? Wait to see if Simon uses his number? Wait til tomorrow? He doesn’t want to because honestly right now all of that seems terrifying and now he’s starting to get nauseous.

Taking a bit to think about it, waiting til tomorrow sounds the best for right now. If he loses Simon then he loses Simon. If he gets some form of reply about the shirt or who he is… he’ll cross that bridge if it ever happens.

He gladly let’s sleep take him so today can be behind him.

Nick, Leah, and Abby are all settled in the basement at Simon’s after Simon begged and pleaded with his friends to help him so he spilled his verbal guts to them about Blue and eventually Martin. Nick finally caved and told Simon that he actually didn’t leave his textbook. He didn’t say who asked him to do it but that all he had to do was get Simon back on campus and to his locker as soon as possible. For some reason that just makes Simon feel worse.

It takes a literal stranger to make him see who Blue was. Simon was so stuck on all the wrong clues and his stupid crush on Cal to see what was literally right in front of him.

Sinking to the floor Simon just lets out a loud sigh before he looks at Nick with morose eyes. “Tell whoever that is thank you and that i’m a colossal idiot.” Nick just grins at him as he nudges his best friend with his foot. “Ya I will but first we gotta get your guy back!”

Leah and Abby grab his arms to pull him up and bring everyone into a group hug.

Once the questions and teasing was done, the crazy hopeful plan they all come up with is ready to be set into motion.

If everything goes well, Simon reluctantly agrees to go to this restaurant place Abby insists they should celebrate at but he remains firm on Bram only coming if he's comfortable doing so. Leah seems hesitant on joining but she concedes when Simon asks her to be his moral support. If she doesn’t like the place then they’ll take her home.

God Simon hopes this works.

Bram drives to school in an almost numb mood. He goes through the motions of parking and heading to his locker but the realization of Nick standing at it catches his attention. “Hey Nick.” He greets him a bit confused. Nick isn’t usually this early and he’s almost always with Abby, Leah or Simon in the morning.

“Morning Bram!” Nick beams at him before seeming to remember why he’s there. His smile turns a little sheepish but doesn’t fall as he brings out something from behind him.

It’s a piece of paper and a large case of Halloween themed Oreo's.

Bram blinks at it before his tired brain makes everything click, his eyes go a little wide as they flick back and forth from Nick to the Oreo's.

“Um ya so ‘you know who’ is really really sorry but also a complete idiot. He- I mean they also say that he hopes this is romantic as hell.”

Bram takes the offered items, or well he supposes they’re gifts now, a little shocked at what’s happening before his eyes go down to the paper in Simon’s script decorated with soccer balls and his shirt number, to read it. It’s a letter.

Dear Blue,

I am a complete ass and i’m so sorry for being such an idiot. This is a very hopeful apology, the first out of three. I should have put all the damn clues together way sooner but of course i’m still dense and can’t seem to apply actual logic to these types of things. I guess you make me illogical. Leah and Abby punched me when Nick told me with a very disappointed face your full name was Abraham. I also realize that i’m even more of a moron and what 118 means.

I still meant what I said about the last email. You’ve become my best friend and I still want to keep you but this goes however you want it to go. We can go back to emailing and not knowing each other’s real identities or by some miracle you can accept these poor attempts at a romantic gesture. Abby has my next apology.

-Love, Simon.

Bram can’t seem to breathe as he rereads the paper again then one more time to make sure he’s not actually dreaming. His eyes cautiously peer up to Nick who’s still smiling as he leans with his back against the lockers.

Nick just shrugs. “I think I know why Garrett sent me a text now.” He gives Bram a pat on the shoulder before wishing him good luck and heading to his own locker.

Left standing there Bram kind of wants to sink to the floor into a puddle because of course Simon would want to do something like this. Taking a deep breath he tries to calm all these whirling emotions and head to first period, the paper folded and tucked into his bag while he puts the Oreo's in his locker. Guess he just has to wait for Abby now.

He doesn’t catch her until the passing period between second and third. Her face lights up when she spots him and with determination she makes her way to him.

“Hey Bram! We’re heading out to eat after rehearsal. Join us if you want to, I was told not to pressure you so i’m going to just give you these and be on my way. Garrett is tagging along so just find him. Again a serious idiot who is willing to grovel. Leah will be at lunch.” She gives his shoulders a gentle squeeze when Bram’s eyes widen in fear. “Hey simple and quiet. No one is going to know unless you want them to okay.” She reassures him and it actually helps. “Thanks.” She hands him a CD case and another paper, this one decorated with music notes, lyrics to some songs, and the Elliott Smiths shirt. He takes them quickly and gives Abby a small smile before dashing to his next class.

Settled in his seat Bram finally looks over the CD case to see a list of songs, all their shared favorites, and the letter which he’s extremely tempted to read so he asks to go to the bathroom to do so away from prying eyes.

Dear Blue,

Music has always helped me calm down and find some semblance of peace. I added all the songs we’ve mentioned and a couple of new ones I think you might like. If you haven’t noticed all the awesome art is thanks to Leah and before you freak out about them knowing, they swore on WAHO that they’d never say a word. I think they’re all more protective of you than me right now which is a given since I did some very shitty things to warrant it. It’s because of them I was able to think of this very sappy and romantic apology. They’ll have your back just like they have mine. I’m honestly really nervous right now and hope you somehow forgive me.

I want you to know I did hope it was you because I call you cute Bram in my head but of course Simon Logic made me think you were straight. God i’m so dense and clueless for someone who’s supposed to be in Hufflepuff. I won’t see you at Lunch because of rehearsals but that’s where apology number 3 is with Leah. I hope it makes you laugh but it might make you blush. I didn’t tell you you’re cute when you blush did I? Well you are and again i’m sorry. I hope I see you after rehearsal.

-Love, Simon.

Bram is a mess of emotions during fourth and he starts to get a bit nauseous the sooner the clock ticks to lunch time. He doesn’t know what he’s feeling right now but he’s does know he’s forgiven Simon since apology number one. The second and whatever the following apology is just cements how much he really does love this stupid boy and his determination to express how truly sorry he is.

He returns to class and tries to stop the smile off his face, folding then placing the letter with the other before trying and slowly failing to pay attention in class. When the bell rings to signal it’s lunch Bram’s hands are shaking and he can feel his heart go a mile a minute. It’s almost like he’s on autopilot as he makes his way to the cafeteria but stops just at the doors that lead inside. His eyes see Leah and Garrett at their table with Morgan and Anna who are off to the side. The former two are chatting away as they watch something on a phone while Garrett and Leah are talking about something huddled together. He can spy an orange packet and another letter which is the only thing that propels him to start walking towards the table.

He hovers a bit before moving to sit next to Garrett. He’s greeted with an arm slung around his shoulder and a small smile from Leah. “Garrett’s lucky that I didn’t punch him for what he did.” The comment makes Garrett freeze as he turns to give his best friend his version of puppy dog eyes. “I didn’t do anything besides send a random text man. I just- I just want you to be happy Bram.” He confessed and who could stay mad at that? He does punch Garrett’s arm lightly before turning his attention back to Leah.

For some reason he’s back to being shy again, the words coming out soft and hesitant.

“So you… umm. You have something for me?” The words are all mumbled together but she seems to hear him clearly as she passes him a packet of Reese's that has a folded note on it and the last letter. This one is Harry Potter themed with lightning bolts, the houses, a small drawing of the castle, owls, and a snitch. “You’re an amazing artist Leah.” The comment makes Leah blush as she gives him another quick smile before digging into her lunch. Garrett and her respectfully scoot down the bench to give him some small form of privacy. Bram really appreciates it.

As much as he wants to read the letter, the small note on the Reese’s is what he reads first.

It does make him blush and laugh, a short chuckle he tries to cover with his hand but both Leah and Garrett snap their head to look at him in awe. They’re both burning with curiosity but can’t get over the shock of hearing him laugh.

Leah’s voice has a touch of wonder when she says, “I think that’s the first time i’ve ever heard you laugh.” Garrett just stares at him with a shocked smile. “Same” His voice is as almost a whisper like he doesn’t realize he said it.

The whole thing makes Bram blush harder as covers his face with one hand and pushes the Reese’s with the note open towards them.

It reads: Oreo’s are still better than sex but like always you’re the exception. Here are your sub-par Reese’s.

Bram quickly leaves them with his gifts in hand as they start laughing, the phrase ‘what a dork’ and ‘omg’ the last thing he hears before he’s out of the cafeteria and walking to his car. He wants total and complete privacy when he reads the last letter so what better place than his car.

Dear Blue,

So i’m now freaking out and still nervous. I think this is what you must have felt like when you were sure i’d actually be intelligent and start figuring out all the clues you left. This is horrible. I think i’m actually getting nauseous (yes i’m using that word now) but i’m still also trying to stay hopeful that you don’t just trash all of these letters or not show up after.

I’ll be honest and say i’d be really sad but if that was what you wanted then i’d just have to suck it up and take the hit. I hope you like the Reese’s and the note. It took me almost 8 times to write the word sex, hell it took me a good 5 minutes to write it here. I sorta wish I didn’t have rehearsal so I could be there to see if you did blush or laugh. I think I might die if I hear your actual laugh though but i’m pretty sure it would be worth it. I’m getting a little tired of saying that i’m sorry because I feel like it’s kind of being overused so here’s another crack at trying to be romantic. Je suis désolé mon cher Bleu. Je t'en supplie, pardonne-moi.

-Love, Simon.

Nothing. Bram’s brain crashed and he’s drawing up a blank, just a blank nothing. The only thing stopping him from going to find Simon right now is class and that Simon is rehearsing. Also the still lingering fear of coming out to people he doesn’t actually know aka fellow students. Garrett was fine. His parents were fine. Leah, Nick, and Abby are fine too but it’s still so new and frightening.

Bram also selfishly wants to keep the emails and what’s going on with Simon mainly between them, keep this private intimate thing they have just for a little bit longer. He can make himself wait till the end of school.

Simon cannot make it to the end of rehearsals. He’s literally dying and the fond but annoyed look Abby keeps shooting him doesn’t help. It’s not his fault he keeps zoning out okay, he’s trying his best with everything that’s going on right now.

Finally they get the dismissal from Ms. Albright to go and it takes everything in Simon to not just run out and find Leah or Nick or be brave and go to Bram first. Abby hooks their arms together and it helps ground him just enough to calm down and change. She also makes sure he keeps the make-up on this time.

Once they’ve changed out of costume and start making their way to the parking lot, all his nerves and fears start coming back the closer they get. Simon keeps switching back from keeping his eyes on the ground and searching the crowd of people.

He tries not to be devastated when he only sees Nick and Leah at his car. Abby squeezes his hand in apology.

Nick and Leah seem to notice them and Nick all but sprints towards them as he tackles them in a hug. Leah catches up and sees the faces both Abby and him are making. She groans and nudges Nick. “Don’t you have something for him?” “Oh right!” He digs into his pocket to pull out a folded piece of blue paper and pushes it into Simon’s hand. “He would be here but well- just read the note man i’m sure he’ll explain.”

Unfolding the paper Simon reads the same perfect script and just seeing it lets him breathe again.

Dear Jacques,

Reese’s are not sub-par. I have no idea how I’m going to actually talk to you in person, it was just so much easier by email and even now writing it down. I need to talk to my mom first about going out but I know she’ll let me since I would be Garrett's ride. I also might need just a little bit more time before I actually see you, but I do want to see you again. The only thing stopping me from doing so at Lunch was that you were rehearsing and i’m honestly not sure what I would have done or said. I also hoped that you were Jacques.

As for all the apologies, I forgave you pretty much at the start of the first letter. The two that followed just cemented it and made me miss you even more. I’ll see you soon.

-Love, Bram.

P.S. No I don’t want things to go back to the way they were. I think i’m ready for a little bit of change.

P.P.S. Is it bad I do still want to keep you to myself via our emails? I don’t want to hide if this, us, becomes a thing but I still want to keep this private intimate thing we have. Does this make sense?

Simon covers his face with the note and he feels like it might melt off.

Bram wants to see him. Bram forgave him. His plan wasn’t a total fail and Bram doesn’t hate him. They’re going to see each other!

“Oh my god I need to change!” is the first thing that comes out of his mouth as he leaves his friends to jog to his car. He drops his keys twice and almost hits the car next to him when he opens the door.

A hand grabs his arm and steers him to the passenger side. “I’ll drive Si, you just sit and- i don’t know breathe? Maybe put that away for safekeeping.” Abby taps the blue paper that’s currently crushed against Simon’s chest and he quickly lays it across the dashboard to smooth it out. “I- yes. Smart. I just- help me?” Everyone kindly laughs at the strange voice he’s using and easily pile in so they can head to the Spier's residence. Simon needs to pick up a shirt.

It’s a gay bar/restaurant and now Simon wants to die for a whole new different reason.

“Abby really?” He bemoans as they head inside and if Bram doesn’t join them he would totally understand.

She just smirks at him and pushes him through the door. “Why not? We should celebrate for finishing rehearsal and you not being an idiot. Also just think,” she tilts her head so only he can hear “i’m sure you want to hold hands and sit next to each other.” Simon’s face is now permanently red. For life. Why are they friends.

“Maybe.” He mumbles a little excited at the possibility of it but he’s still concerned for Bram. He’s not sure how he’ll feel about all of this. “I just- i’m worried this might be too much for him.”

“I think he’ll be fine.” A soft voice answers him.

Simon spins around so fast he crashes into Nick and then almost stumbles back into Abby. Leah just sighs and rests a hand on his shoulder to steady him. “We’re being shown to our table now guys.”

Simon stands with his hands covering his face and all Bram can think about is how adorable he is right now. The others follow the hostess while he and Simon hang back near the waiting area.

Bram has no idea how but he crosses the few steps between them and stands right next to him, close enough that their shoulders brush together. A small gasp escapes from Simon and now Bram is the one blushing.

“Hi.” Simon squeaks out and gathers as much courage as he can to lift his head and look at Bram. Somehow it’s harder for him look away now.

A small smile greets him and after all this time Bram can finally stare into those moon-grey eyes. “Hi.” he answers and presses their arms together. “We should- um I think-” Simon sends him a smile, understanding what Bram’s trying to say. “Join the others? Ya.” He nudges their shoulders and takes a step before pausing and ducking his head. “I’m really glad you came Bram.” He takes a shaky breath before adding, “And that it’s you.”

Bram didn’t realize how much hearing Simon say his name all hopeful and softly would affect him. He thinks he could listen to only that for the rest of his life. “I’m glad it’s you too Simon.”

Their hands brush as they walk to join the others, grinning so wide it hurts. Of course their friends make sure to save them a spot so they sit together.

Even though this place is supposed to be a safe place for them, they keep their hands under the table. Both feeling brave they sit pressed together and slowly link their pinkies together.

Garrett ordered for Bram and Leah ordered for Simon so now they just wait for their food arrives.

Of course out of their entire group Abby and Garrett are bouncing in their seats trying their best to let their mutual friends be.

Simon and Bram share a look then shrug.

“Out with it before you both explode.”

Both Abby and Garrett take in a long breath of air before firing off questions one after the other.

“How long has this been going on!”

“Did Spier grovel enough?”

“Simon how can you call yourself a Hufflepuff after this?”

“What did you think about the plan Bram?”

“We have your backs okay, you know that right?”

“Spier I will murder you if you hurt my best friend.”

“Ditto Si, sorry but I'm still annoyed at you.”

“True but we’re all going to make Addison’s ass grass right?”

Leah, Nick, and Abby agreed and then the conversation turned to how they’d make Martin pay for what he did.

Simon gets a little weird about that because he still doesn’t know if he wants to deal with that situation. He closes in on himself just a little but when he says, “Hey it’s- i’m fine about the Martin thing okay. I just don’t want to deal with it anymore so can we just leave it?” Bram looks around to everyone who’s frowning at Simon and then it clicks for him. He didn’t realize anything could make him that angry ever. Bram turns to Simon and gives him a firm questioning look that Simon answers with a meek nod.

“If I see him I might punch him.” Bram says it with such certainty because it’s an actual fact.

Leah flicks a tiny paper ball at Simon. “I call dibs after you.” Simon slowly lifts his head to look at Leah, their eyes having a silent conversation before she grins. “You may have fucked up Si and we’re all still a little mad about it, but what Martin did was cruel and it shouldn’t have happened.” She kicks her feet against his under the table before smirking. “Now I want to know what that Reese’s note was about.”

Bram laughs at the suggested look Garrett gives them and Simon buries his face into his shoulder.

This time it’s Abby and Nick who stare at Bram because again they’ve never heard him laugh before and Nick’s on a team with him.

“It’s just easier to be brave when you don’t know who the other person is.” Bram admits. Now his and Simon’s hands are laced together, he gives it a light squeeze and gets one back.

Simon lets out a rather loud sigh that’s met by everyone awwing at him. He’s never been more thankful for a waiter to arrive with food.

It’s maybe a little bit after that Simon realizes he still has his face pressed into Bram’s shoulder. He moves to pull away but Bram’s hand tightens in his, their eyes meet and they both seem to understand what the other’s trying to say. They’ve slipped so easily into this, being near each other and face to face, the fear and anxiety of how they’d make this work all gone.

It’s the best meal either of them have ever had.

It’s after they’ve paid their bill and are hanging out near their cars, that Abby and Garrett realize their questions were never answered.

Simon and Bram share a fond look as they think about how all of this started.

“You guys remember that anonymous post?”

“Omg it was Bram!” Leah gushed.

Bram gives them all a sheepish smile. “One of the most terrifying actions of my life. I’m glad I did it.” They’re in public but that’s not stopping them from standing just a little too close. “I’m glad I emailed you.”

“I’m glad I sent Nick that text!” Garrett winks at them.

“Oh great. Our own personal cupid.” Simon’s drawls. Bram and him give Garrett a flat look.

He holds his hands up in surrender but keeps smiling. “I felt bad at first but I no longer regret it okay. You guys are freaking glowing.”

“Did you like all the sappy gifts?”Abby asks. Her arm is hooked through both Leah and Nicks, who also want to know.

Bram shrugs. “They were alright.” His voice is monotone and Simon gives him a blinding grin as everyone else groans at them. Bram can’t stop the smile that spreads across his face as he looks to Simon. “Well more than alright. Actually really freaking perfect. Of course you’d go all out.”

Simon’s voice goes soft as he just stares at Bram. “I had to.”

“Damn that was sweet.” Abby whispers, breaking their small moment.

They slowly settle into silence and enjoy this bonding moment where they’re all just highschool kids hanging out enjoying life.

A pensive look crosses Nicks face but he looks hesitant to share what's on his mind.

Simon has a feeling he knows so he gives him a small smile. “So… what are you guys going to do now?” Abby and Garrett frown at him but Nick’s dejected face makes them sigh in understanding.

Bram thought he’d be more worried about that question, the big ‘what now’ but he’s not, or well he is but now it seems a little easier to handle. He knows there’s going to be some things that are unavoidable, that they’ll face some hate but he has so much more support now and he does feel a lot better with not having to keep such a big secret anymore.

Simon has already had to deal with some of the backlash of coming out but he can’t be mad because it’s been pretty tame so far and there’ll always be people who just won’t understand or accept it. He’s out now and it’s like he can breathe so much better . His only worry is for Bram and what he’ll want to do but there’s that tiny part of him that hopes they can be together, go on dates and possibly be boyfriends.

“We’ll figure it out, talk about it.” Bram voices. “I already told Simon that I think i’m ready for a little change and I think I got pretty lucky to end up with my long time crush.”

Simon’s eyes go wide at that new bit of information. “I’m the cute guy that you can’t talk to!” He whispers and hides his face in his hands. “Why am I an oblivious idiot?”

“Well at least you’re going to be my oblivious idiot.” Bram blushes when he says it but he keeps his eyes on said adorable oblivious idiot. He’s just incredibly happy right now.

Simon is just- he’s so happy he doesn’t know what to do with himself. “I don’t deserve you.” he bemoans. “Oh I- I never thanked you for the shirt.”

Leah snorts. “The one you kept under your pillow? Also the one you’re wearing?”

“Betrayed!”

“Shut up you’re just sappy.”

Their laughter is interrupted by a phone chiming, of course, everyone checking theirs to see who’s it is. It’s Abby’s, a text from her mom wanting to know when she’ll be home.

“Well guess it’s getting pretty late guys. Ready to head home?”

Everyone reluctantly agrees because there is a thing called school they have tomorrow and all of them are still underage to stay out past curfew.

Simon and Bram linger a bit, not wanting to leave each other just yet.

“I’ll uh text you when I get home? I- I have your number now so we can do that and only if you want to-” Bram chews on his lip as he looks around before bringing Simon into a quick hug. “I’ll be waiting.”

They part and get into their respective cars, grinning like fools the whole drive home.

#love simon #My writing #fic #spierfeld #Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda spoilers #spoilers #Simon Spier #Bram Greenfeld #svthsa #love you shay #love you maud

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platygalk · 6 years

Photo

@blueflamed-penguin, look who I drew~!

Jo Hot facts shall be added below as I think of them. Fact 1: Jo Hot’s birthday is on January 3rd, and is 19 years old at the time Chika’s Adventures in Fangirl Land take place. Fact 2: Jo Hot wears sandals. Fact 3: Jo Hot has a dangirl ( Because “ Dang, Jo Hot! “ ) named Byula. Fact 4: Jo Hot and Byula have a son named Yukine, who lives in the sewers cleaning Jo Hot’s chick magnet. Fact 5: Jo Hot and Byula were apparently 5 when they had Yukine. Fact 6: Jo Hot really hates Rin Okumura, and insists that he is “ not hot demon boy. “ Fact 7: Jo Hot’s hotness allows him to melt cheese. Fact 8: Jo Hot does not melt cheese for a living, however. Fact 9: Jo Hot can shoot cheese webs, has cheese pouring from his pores, and can even melt into a puddle of cheese in order to hide in small places such as briefcases and sewer drains. Fact 10: Jo Hot thinks 2% milk is made from cheese. Fact 11: Jo Hot hates soy milk for not being made of cheese. Fact 12: Jo Hot has a pet owl named Jo Hoot. Fact 13: Jo Hot’s owl, Jo Hoot, is in love with a blue-haired waitress named Fred who works at the local Olive Garden. Fact 14: Jo Hot is in love with 13-year-old Chika, despite everyone pointing out how creepy that is. Fact 15: Jo Hot likes using long chains of honorifics that don’t make any sense. Example: “ CHI-NYAN-TAN-TAN-KUN-CHAMA-LULU-SAMA-SAN-CHAN-NYAN-OKA-OTO-ONII-ONEE-TAMA-YAMA-LLAMA-RAMA-TAMA-YAMA-LLAMAM-RAMA-DOOMA-LOOMA-OOMA-LOOMA-OOMPA-LOOMPA-DING-DONG-WATASHI NO AI-HIMMMMEEEEE-CHAN-PI-ADDRESSO-GAMNI-KAMNI-PANINI-CHOWDER-DANCEU-LLAMA-RAMA-SING-SONG-TONG-RONG-YONG-WONG-YUMMU-HIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~~~ “ Fact 16: Everyone except Byula finds Jo Hot incredibly annoying. Fact 17: Jo Hot’s melted cheese can be used as a light source. Fact 18: Jo Hot used to have a curly moustache, but it was actually just a seaweed moustache given to him by Andrea the smokin’ ugly mermaid. Fact 19: Jo Hot wears Sailor Moon underwear. Fact 20: Jo Hot owns a highschool schoolgirl uniform. Fact 21: Jo Hot says “ Hydrodynamics “ when stressed. Fact 22: Jo Hot owns a hydrodynamic spatula With port and starboard attachments. He uses it to fly away through the window. Fact 23: Jo Hot’s cheese can also be used to melt window sceens. Fact 24: Jo Hot keeps a squeaky puppy chew toy in his pocket. Fact 25: Jo Hot also owns a sombrero. Fact 26: Jo Hot is secretly the main character. Fact 27: Jo Hot is rather hairy. Fact 28: Jo Hot can make cheese soup. Fact 29: Jo Hot can use his cheese to glue doors back together. Fact 30: Jo Hot watches Ouran Highschool Host Club, and is also reading the manage- mango- mafia- mania- M A N G A. Fact 31: Jo hot leaks cheese from his strawberry-colored lips. Fact 32: His lips are very red. They bleed green blood as his hotness burned his skin, but then the cheese fixes the wounds. Fact 33: Jo Hot kidnapped Chika and took her to the dumpster near Oliver Garden to marry her, but was actually just pretending in order to get Rin riled up. Fact 34: Jo Hot’s cheese senses allow him to sense when Rin is coming after him, usually to beat him up for kidnapping Chika. Fact 35: Jo hot also owns a Hawaiian shirt that his chest hair sticks out the top of, since he doesn’t button the top. Fact 36: Jo Hot bought an RV by selling Chika’s vanity. Fact 37: Chika doesn’t own a vanity. Fact 38: It was actually Jo Hot’s vanity. Fact 39: Jo Hot named his RV the S.S. JO IS HOT. Chika dislikes the name. Fact 40: Jo Hot’s favorite energy drink is called “ Ninja Turtle Energy Drink - Have the Stamina of a Dragon, baby~~!~ “ and he drank it to stay up driving all night. Fact 41: Jo Hot giggles like a schoolgirl. Fact 42: After crashing the RV trying to avoid a snake in the road, Jo Hot picked out a hotel to stay in while the Chargas family fixed it. Fact 43: It was a love hotel. Fact 44: Jo Hot wears a special t-shirt that absorbs the cheese that leaks out of his mouth while he sleeps and transport it to the moon.. Fact 45: Jo Hot drew on the shirt with a marker to say "property of Chika-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Tan-Nyan-Chan-Kun-San-Pi-Lu-Pu-Ao-no-ai-hiimmeeee~!" Fact 46: Jo Hot left a huge bucket of cheese in the wilderness for the Chargas family to fight over later as thanks for fixing the totaled RV. Fact 47: Jo Hot also owns a cheese-shaped sweat suit. Fact 48: Jot Hot was driving to the Sera Myu musical, which he got tickets to by bribing the people with cheese money. Fact 49: It wasn’t the actual Sera Myu performance, but instead was “ Sailor Jo Moon “ Jo Hot in a yellow sailor outfit and performing his own love songs to Chika. Fact 50: Jo Hot tranforms into a yellow chinstrap penguin whenever he uses Google Translate to try and speak French. Fact 51: Jo Hot has a laser that covers whatever it hits in cheese. Fact 52: Jo Hot supposedly has an Uncle Lou, who he claims is girly. Fact 53: Jo Hot’s name comes from a typo of the word Johto, and was originally from a Pokemon fanfiction. Fact 54: Jo Hot called Rin a potato. Fact 55: Jo Hot wants to eat all of your pudding. Fact 56: Jo Hot wants to recruit a hamster army and become one himself. Fact 57: Jo Hot’s first recruit to the hamster army is a pet hamster he named Cheddar. Fact 58: Jo Hot owns a set of Sailor Moon silverwear, which he eats with every night. Fact 59: Jo Hot has cheese shaped like Chika’s wonderful face. Fact 60: Jo Hot can play the ukulele. He does so while singing love songs to Chika. Fact 61: Jo Hot can shoot cheese out of the bottoms of his feet and fly away like a rocket.

#Platy did a random doodle #CHEESECAKE LOOK AT THIS THING

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statetalks · 3 years

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Were The Confederates Democrats Or Republicans

Th United States Congress

Were The Democrats That Founded The Confederacy, KKK & Jim Crow CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL? Lets Go!!!!

As of September 13, 2017, 16 Senate Democrats cosponsored the Medicare for All Act of 2017. As of September 26, 2017, 120 House Democrats cosponsored the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act. This was all for naught, as the Republican majority made sure that the Democratic minority remained impotent.

National Democratic Redistricting Committee

On January 12, 2017, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a 527 organization that focuses on redistricting reform and is affiliated with the Democratic Party, was created. The chair, president and vice president of the umbrella organization is the 82nd Attorney GeneralEric Holder, Elizabeth Pearson and Alixandria “Ali” Lapp respectively. President Obama has said he would be involved with the committee.

Protests against Donald Trump

At the inauguration of Donald Trump, 67 Democratic members of the United States House of Representatives boycotted the inauguration. This was the largest boycott by members of the United States Congress since the second inauguration of Richard Nixon, where it was estimated that between 80 and 200 Democratic members of United States Congress boycotted.

Democratic Party PACs

In November 2018, the Democrats gained 40 seats in the House of Representatives, retaking the majority in the chamber. Nancy Pelosi was nominated to retake the speakership in January 2019.

Southern Democrats Split With Republicans Over Confederate Symbols Is More Recent Than You Might Think

Following the recent police killing of George Floyd, recent months have seen Confederate monuments and symbols removed;from public display;in parts of the Southern US and elsewhere. And while Southern Republicans generally oppose Democrats who are pushing for these changes, this is a relatively recent development, argue;Christopher A. Cooper;and;co-authors. By;analysing;public opinion data, they find that up until the 1990s, there were no partisan differences among white;southerners on opinions toward Confederate symbols.;

In the ongoing;and contentious;conversation about;Confederate;symbols, one thing is taken as a given:;compared to Republicans,;Democrats;are;more likely to support;removing displays of the Confederate past;which had been publically approved in the past. This;fact;is;evident;in public opinion polls and in the results of recent;votes;in state legislatures,;like the one in;Mississippi;where every Democrat voted to remove the Confederate;emblem;from the Mississippi state flag,;while;Republicans split on the issue.

How The Democrats Became Socially Liberal

The Third Party Democrats began to change from social conservative to social progressive in the 1890s at the end of the Gilded Age under the;progressive populist Democrat;William Jennings Bryan. Under Bryan, the Democratic Party became;increasingly socially progressive and necessarily authoritative. From Bryan to Wilson, to LBJ, to Clinton the Democratic Party;increasingly favored progressive social liberalism regarding government enforced social justice and economic intervention over;laissez-faire governance, this attracted progressive Republicans and drove social;conservatives from the party over time.

TIP: See History of the United States Democratic Party.

Also Check: Why Did Republicans Hate Obama So Much

Why Democrats Avoid Confederate History While Republicans Embrace It

Governor Bob McDonnell made a proclamation to recognize April as Confederate History month, which caused an outcry from the very same people who are vilifying those attending tea parties as terrorists. These are citizens who are invoking the spirit of our founding fathers, reminding current lawmakers of the original intent of the Constitution and suggesting that an 8-year war to end tyranny and guarantee liberty for all should never be forgotten. But the left is always keen to distort history, or just ignore it all together as they want to do now, by denying a closer look at Confederate History.

It is not a huge surprise as to why Democrats react so viscerally to anything dealing with the history of the Civil War, the role of the Confederacy in that war, and why racism is still a hot topic in the country. It is because their very policies are at the heart of what caused the Civil War, and have kept racism alive to this day. They dont want people to learn the truth about the founding of the Republican Party and that its first president was Abraham Lincoln, and that within 11 years of the founding of this civil rights party, a war was fought and won to end slavery. It would be a bigger surprise to see a Democrat governor proclaim a Confederate History month since their history, as it relates to race and slavery, is not one to be proud of.

A Reconstituted Early 20th Century Kkk Attracts Members From Both Sides

After Reconstruction, and as the Jim Crow period set in during the 1870s, the Klan became obsolete.;Through violence, intimidation and systematic oppression, the KKK had served its purpose to help whites retake Southern governments.

In 1915, Cornell William J. Simmons restarted the KKK. This second KKK was made up of Republicans and Democrats, although Democrats were more widely involved.

The idea that these things overlap in a Venn diagram, the way they did with the first Klan, just isnt as tight with the second Klan, Grinspan said.

Don’t Miss: How Many Republicans Voted To Impeach Trump

Progressive Era And The New Deal

As the 19th century drew to a close, the Republicans had been firmly established as the party of big business during the Gilded Age, while the Democratic Party strongly identified with rural agrarianism and conservative values.

But during the Progressive Era, which spanned the turn of the century, the Democrats saw a split between its conservative and more progressive members. As the Democratic nominee for president in 1896, William Jennings Bryan advocated for an expanded role of government in ensuring social justice. Though he lost, Bryans advocacy of bigger government would influence the Democratic ideology going forward.

Republicans again dominated national politics during the prosperous 1920s, but faltered after the stock market crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first Democrat to win the White House since Woodrow Wilson.

A Century Of Jim Crow But Otherwise Lots Of Progress

From 1877 to at least the 1960s, the Solid South KKK-like;Progressively Socially Conservative Democrats remained a formidable faction of the Democratic Party.

This is true even though the party was increasingly dominated by Progressives like William Jennings Bryan. We can see in Wilson that both factions held sway in the party, Wilson was both a progressive liberal and a son of the Confederates.

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow | PBS | ep 1 of 4 Promises Betrayed.

TIP: During the late 1800s and early 1900s Eugenics was a popular theory. In this era, we might find;Margaret Sanger, liberal economists and social scientists, Teddy Roosevelt, Henry Ford, a young Hitler, and the KKK all agreeing on aspects of eugenics. There are many sides;of the eugenics argument, and one must study its history in earnest before making a judgment call. Very;radical right-wing propaganda equated birth control with;genocide, but there was a wide range of beliefs. An espousal of;negative eugenics is part of the dark history of the Democratic party.

You May Like: What Is Republicanism And What Does It Value

Presidency Of John F Kennedy

The election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 over then-Vice President Richard Nixon re-energized the party. His youth, vigor and intelligence caught the popular imagination. New programs like the Peace Corps harnessed idealism. In terms of legislation, Kennedy was stalemated by the conservative coalition.

Though Kennedy’s term in office lasted only about a thousand days, he tried to hold back communist gains after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba and the construction of the Berlin Walland sent 16,000 soldiers to Vietnam to advise the hard-pressed South Vietnamese army. He challenged America in the Space Race to land an American man on the Moon by 1969. After the Cuban Missile Crisis he moved to de-escalate tensions with the Soviet Union.

Kennedy also pushed for civil rights and racial integration, one example being Kennedy assigning federal marshals to protect the Freedom Riders in the South. His election did mark the coming of age of the Catholic component of the New Deal Coalition. After 1964, middle class Catholics started voting Republican in the same proportion as their Protestant neighbors. Except for the Chicago of Richard J. Daley, the last of the Democratic machines faded away. President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

Andrew Johnson And Presidential Reconstruction

Democrats became the Confederacy, NOT the Republicans!

At the end of May 1865, President Andrew Johnson announced his plans for Reconstruction, which reflected both his staunch Unionism and his firm belief in states rights. In Johnsons view, the southern states had never given up their right to govern themselves, and the federal government had no right to determine voting requirements or other questions at the state level. Under Johnsons Presidential Reconstruction, all land that had been confiscated by the Union Army and distributed to the formerly enslaved people by the army or the Freedmens Bureau reverted to its prewar owners. Apart from being required to uphold the abolition of slavery , swear loyalty to the Union and pay off war debt, southern state governments were given free rein to rebuild themselves.

As a result of Johnsons leniency, many southern states in 1865 and 1866 successfully enacted a series of laws known as the black codes, which were designed to restrict freed Black peoples activity and ensure their availability as a labor force. These repressive codes enraged many in the North, including numerous members of Congress, which refused to seat congressmen and senators elected from the southern states.;

Don’t Miss: Where Are Republicans On The Political Spectrum

The South And The House Go Republican

“I think we just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come,” President Johnson said shortly after signing the Civil Rights Act, according to his aide Bill Moyers. And indeed, Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican specifically for this reason.

Yet party loyalties take a long time to shake off, and the shift of white Southerners from being solid Democrats to solid Republicans was in reality more gradual.

And while race played an important role in this shift, other issues played roles too. White evangelical Christians became newly mobilized to oppose abortion and take stands on other “culture war” issues, and felt more at home with the conservative party. There was that suspicion of big government and lack of union organization that permeated the region. And talented politicians like Ronald Reagan promised to defend traditional values.

Still, Democrats continued to maintain control of the House of Representatives for some time, in large part because of continued support from Southerners, as shown in this map by Jonathan Davis at Arizona State University. But in 1994, the revolution finally arrived, as Republicans took the House for the first time since 1955. And many of the crucial pickups that made that possible came in the South.

The First Party System: The Federalist Party And The Democratic

To start, the founding fathers can be put into two groups: the;Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party .

Alexander Hamilton favored central Government and had ties to Britain, and wanted centralized banking. He favored national power over state power. He is todays Washington Liberal/Conservative. Hamilton wanted free-market capitalism and globalization with Britain/America, as a world leader hundreds of years before his time. He is an impressive character.

The Democratic-Republican Party, headed by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, generally opposed Hamilton and his views . In simple terms, they are todays Social-Libertarians . They are more in-line with what people think when they think rebelling from the authority of the King to be free.

In this scenario we can say the big government aspect of the current American left is with the Federalists, and the socially liberal of left, and anti-big government of the right, part is with the;Democratic-Republicans. But remember, the who far-right thing simply doesnt exist yet. So the divisive politics of today arent anywhere to be found .

The duality of the;Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party;is well displayed in the clip below in a discussion between Hamilton and Jefferson .

Read Also: How Many Senate Seats Do The Republicans Have

Republican Voters Turn Against Their Partys Elites

The Tea Party movement, which sprang into existence in the early years of the Obama administration, was many things. It was partly about opposing Obamas economic policies foreclosure relief, tax increases, and health reform. It was partly about opposing immigration when Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson;interviewed Tea Party activists across the nation, they found that “immigration was always a central, and sometimes the central, concern” those activists expressed.

But the Tea Party also was a challenge to the Republican Party establishment. Several times, these groups helped power little-known far-right primary contenders to shocking primary wins over establishment Republican politicians deemed to be sellouts. Those candidates didnt always win office, but their successful primary bids certainly struck fear into the hearts of many other GOP incumbents, and made many of them more deferential to the concerns of conservative voters.

Furthermore, many Republican voters also came to believe, sometimes fairly and sometimes unfairly, that their partys national leaders tended to sell them out at every turn.

Talk radio and other conservative media outlets helped stoke this perception, and by May 2015 Republican voters were far more likely to say that their partys politicians were doing a poor job representing their views than Democratic voters were.

Rural And Urban Population

A Home on the MississippiCurrier and Ives

The CSA was overwhelmingly rural. Few towns had populations of more than 1,000; the typical county seat had a population of fewer than 500. Cities were rare; of the twenty largest U.S. cities in the 1860 census, only New Orleans lay in Confederate territory; and the Union captured New Orleans in 1862. Only 13 Confederate-controlled cities ranked among the top 100 U.S. cities in 1860, most of them ports whose economic activities vanished or suffered severely in the Union blockade. The population of Richmond swelled after it became the Confederate capital, reaching an estimated 128,000 in 1864. Other Southern cities in the border slave-holding states such as Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Wheeling, Alexandria, Louisville, and St. Louis never came under the control of the Confederate government.

The cities of the Confederacy included most prominently in order of size of population:

The CSA was overwhelmingly Protestant. Both free and enslaved populations identified with evangelical Protestantism. Baptists and Methodists together formed majorities of both the white and the slave population . Freedom of religion and were fully ensured by Confederate laws. Church attendance was very high and chaplains played a major role in the Army.

Read Also: How Many Electoral Votes Do Republicans Have

An Overview Of The Party Systems

The party systems, AKA eras of the United States;political parties, can be described;as follows :

In other words, as the Democratic Party became more progressive in the progressive era, it attracted progressives from the Republican party and alienated the Democrats of the small government socially conservative south. Meanwhile, as the Republican party conserved toward Gilded Age politics in the 20th century, and embraced socially conservative single-issue voter groups and individualism, it attracted the solid south and alienated progressives. These two factors, and many more explained in detail below, substantially changed the party platforms, seats held in Congress, and the voting maps over the course of the 20th century .

To sum up and connect all of the above, the switches we see that change the parties and define different eras include things like Teddy Roosevelt or Strom Thurmond switching parties , the Democratic Party platform becoming more progressive in the progressive area , the southern Democrat southern bloc tending toward the Republican party after the Civil Rights era , all this impacting which regions of the country tend to support each party , and all of this affecting which party has a stronghold in which region as new elections occur .

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Wins Final Lpga Tournament Of Her Career

Southern Black people won election to southern state governments and even to the U.S. Congress during this period. Among the other achievements of Reconstruction were the Souths first state-funded public school systems, more equitable taxation legislation, laws against racial discrimination in public transport and accommodations and ambitious economic development programs .

READ MORE: The First Black Man Elected to Congress Was Nearly Blocked From Taking His Seat

You May Like: How Many Republicans Voted For Impeachment

Better Understanding The Changes In American Politics

Above we summarized the switching of ideologies and platforms;between the parties by looking at the party systems and Presidents.

Below we explore;details, clarify semantics, answer questions, present curated videos, and illustrate some of the key telling moments regarding the changes described above.

Please consider sharing your insight below, our summing up of the history of American politics is an ongoing effort, see the videos for supplemental content from other authors.

For deeper reading:

Also, see a breakdown of each party and President and how they would be placed on the left and right.

Effect On Women And Families

Why Did the Democratic South Become Republican?

About 250,000 men never came home, some 30 percent of all white men aged 18 to 40 . Widows who were overwhelmed often abandoned their farms and merged into the households of relatives, or even became refugees living in camps with high rates of disease and death. In the Old South, being an “old maid” was something of an embarrassment to the woman and her family, but after the war, it became almost a norm. Some women welcomed the freedom of not having to marry. Divorce, while never fully accepted, became more common. The concept of the “New Woman” emerged she was self-sufficient and independent, and stood in sharp contrast to the “Southern Belle” of antebellum lore.

Recommended Reading: How Do Republicans Feel About Donald Trump

source https://www.patriotsnet.com/were-the-confederates-democrats-or-republicans/

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patriotsnet · 3 years

Text

Were The Confederates Democrats Or Republicans

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/were-the-confederates-democrats-or-republicans/

Were The Confederates Democrats Or Republicans

Th United States Congress

Were The Democrats That Founded The Confederacy, KKK & Jim Crow CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL? Lets Go!!!!

National Democratic Redistricting Committee

Protests against Donald Trump

Democratic Party PACs

In November 2018, the Democrats gained 40 seats in the House of Representatives, retaking the majority in the chamber. Nancy Pelosi was nominated to retake the speakership in January 2019.

Southern Democrats Split With Republicans Over Confederate Symbols Is More Recent Than You Might Think

How The Democrats Became Socially Liberal

TIP: See History of the United States Democratic Party.

Also Check: Why Did Republicans Hate Obama So Much

Why Democrats Avoid Confederate History While Republicans Embrace It

A Reconstituted Early 20th Century Kkk Attracts Members From Both Sides

In 1915, Cornell William J. Simmons restarted the KKK. This second KKK was made up of Republicans and Democrats, although Democrats were more widely involved.

The idea that these things overlap in a Venn diagram, the way they did with the first Klan, just isnt as tight with the second Klan, Grinspan said.

Don’t Miss: How Many Republicans Voted To Impeach Trump

Progressive Era And The New Deal

A Century Of Jim Crow But Otherwise Lots Of Progress

From 1877 to at least the 1960s, the Solid South KKK-like;Progressively Socially Conservative Democrats remained a formidable faction of the Democratic Party.

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow | PBS | ep 1 of 4 Promises Betrayed.

You May Like: What Is Republicanism And What Does It Value

Presidency Of John F Kennedy

Andrew Johnson And Presidential Reconstruction

Democrats became the Confederacy, NOT the Republicans!

Don’t Miss: Where Are Republicans On The Political Spectrum

The South And The House Go Republican

Yet party loyalties take a long time to shake off, and the shift of white Southerners from being solid Democrats to solid Republicans was in reality more gradual.

The First Party System: The Federalist Party And The Democratic

To start, the founding fathers can be put into two groups: the;Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party .

The duality of the;Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party;is well displayed in the clip below in a discussion between Hamilton and Jefferson .

Read Also: How Many Senate Seats Do The Republicans Have

Republican Voters Turn Against Their Partys Elites

Furthermore, many Republican voters also came to believe, sometimes fairly and sometimes unfairly, that their partys national leaders tended to sell them out at every turn.

Rural And Urban Population

A Home on the MississippiCurrier and Ives

The cities of the Confederacy included most prominently in order of size of population:

Read Also: How Many Electoral Votes Do Republicans Have

An Overview Of The Party Systems

The party systems, AKA eras of the United States;political parties, can be described;as follows :

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Wins Final Lpga Tournament Of Her Career

READ MORE: The First Black Man Elected to Congress Was Nearly Blocked From Taking His Seat

You May Like: How Many Republicans Voted For Impeachment

Better Understanding The Changes In American Politics

Above we summarized the switching of ideologies and platforms;between the parties by looking at the party systems and Presidents.

Below we explore;details, clarify semantics, answer questions, present curated videos, and illustrate some of the key telling moments regarding the changes described above.

Please consider sharing your insight below, our summing up of the history of American politics is an ongoing effort, see the videos for supplemental content from other authors.

For deeper reading:

Also, see a breakdown of each party and President and how they would be placed on the left and right.

Effect On Women And Families

Why Did the Democratic South Become Republican?

Recommended Reading: How Do Republicans Feel About Donald Trump

0 notes