#i watched a little bit of 911 my first semester of college

[jittyjames]

YO THEY ACTUALLY MADE THAT FIREFIGHTER ON THAT SHOW GAY?????

#i watched a little bit of 911 my first semester of college #then i dropped it cuz m busy busy #good for them tho good for them

[electronicgrowth]

Guardian Angel: Chapter 2

Leah receives lots of bad news. 

Warnings: death, car accidents, mentions of injuries, mentions of surgery

WC: 1837

When I was sixteen my dad died. He was driving home from work late one night and a drunk driver hit him. I was at a sleepover when it happened. After a night of sugary drinks and disgusting junk food we passed out around two in the morning. We couldn’t have been sleeping for more than an hour, when I was shook awake by Charlie. 

“You gotta come with me kiddo,” he said. In a sleepy haze I collected my things and followed him. He wouldn’t tell me what happened, but I knew something was wrong. 

Finally, when he got me home and sat me down at the kitchen bar. I saw Ransom in my periphery, standing at the edge of the kitchen, leaning up against a wall.

“Dad was in an accident, Leah,” Charlie said tears were threatening to spill out of his large, green eyes, “He— he didn’t make it.” 

I can’t describe the feeling of hearing a loved one has died. But it feels like everything is in a free fall. Like you know the impact has to be coming, the pain has to be coming, but it’s not here yet. I was shocked. And the shock stayed with me for a few moments. Then came the tears. And the screaming. 

“It’s so unfair. Everyone else got two parents. Now I don’t have any. My mom didn’t want me. And my daddy left me! I don’t have anyone now!” I screamed and hit Charlie with all the force my sixteen year old body could muster. Ransom came up behind me and grabbed me. He spun me around and held my face. 

His blue eyes were red and watery. He had also been crying. He just pulled me in and held me. I sobbed into his chest. He kissed my forehead and whispered, “I’ve got you Bunny Rabbit. I’ve got you.”

The weird thing about grief is how you can think about something completely unrelated in the midst of your breakdown. I remember being struck by how different Ransom’s hug felt, compared to all the other hugs he had given me. When I was a kid he hugged me all the time. But this was different. He had gotten stronger, more muscular. He looked like a man. He felt like how I imagined a man would feel like. How I had always hoped Ransom would feel when he hugged. 

Eventually, I calmed down enough to shower and climb into my bed. It was near six in the morning, when I finally fell asleep. Ransom slept on my floor that night. 

The funeral came and went in a blur. I was struck by how silly the funeral and visitation are. It felt performative. Why were Charlie, Ethan, and I forced to host all these people? Why did we have to pay for it? It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but social convention dictated that we do it. 

Ransom was like glue through the whole process. He helped us plan, made sure we were eating and showering. He was a pallbearer at the funeral. And he cemented himself in between Charlie and I during the service. Him being there was enough to comfort Charlie. But half way through the service my grief was threatening to bring me to my knees. Ransom wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer. He kissed my forehead to comfort me. He just held me close to him for the remainder of the ceremony. 

Dad’s job as a public defender didn’t leave much money for us to work with. We sold the house we had grown up in and any furniture we could find it in us to part with.

Charlie had a place with Ransom in New York. And Ethan was already out in California at college. So, that left me effectively homeless. The judge ruled that I would be under Charlie’s guardianship until I turned eighteen, or went to college. So, I moved to New York. 

I hated it there. It was so loud and I missed Boston with ever fiber of my being. I also refused to go to school. My dad’s death left me with a lot of anxiety that manifested in strange ways. One of which, was anxiety with large crowds and unfamiliar situations. 

I couldn’t imagine having to ride a crowded bus or subway to school. Just to sit in a class of people I didn’t know. Charlie and I compromised. I would go to therapy, and he would let me do an online high school instead. I never had any of the boyfriends I had dreamed of having. I only ever met one boy I was interested in. He was a member of study group. I really liked him. His name was Brandon. 

We would meet at the coffee shop and do our homework together. One day Ransom came early to get me, and caught us kissing. He flipped out, like I had never seen before. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He yelled, grabbing Brandon by his collar.

“Ransom, calm down we were just kissing,” I said, while I tried to pry Ransom’s hands off Brandon. 

“You listen to me you little snot nosed punk, if I see with 100 feet of this girl again I will fucking end you. You got me?” Ransom threatened. Poor Brandon nodded, and fearfully gathered his school supplies and raced out of the coffee shop. 

“What the hell Ransom?” I screeched. 

“Get your shit, I’m taking you home,” he said. When I didn’t move, he grabbed my books and notes and threw them into my backpack. He hauled me and my schoolwork out of the coffee shop. 

“Ransom, I’m serious. What was that about?” I question. 

“What?” He snarled, “You want to lose your virginity to that nobody?”

“What if I did? It wouldn’t be any of your business, Ransom,” I countered. 

“Everything you do is my business Bunny Rabbit,” he said. 

“You can’t protect me or control me forever Ransom. I’m going to grow up, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” I said brushing past him. We returned to our apartment, ignoring each other completely.

Of course, I was angry at Ransom, but if I was being honest with myself I was quite happy at the reaction that Brandon initiated in Ransom. Was he jealous? No, he couldn’t be jealous. He was twenty-six, I was sixteen. He slept with models, Brandon had been my first kiss. Even if he wasn’t strictly jealous, Ransom’s reaction bolstered my ego. 

Eventually, the anxiety started to subside with the help of medication and therapy. I started doing yoga and meditating as well. Charlie was working crazy hours, but seemed to be handling the stress very well. Often, that left me with Ransom. He wasn’t into working a real job. And he didn’t have to since Harlan was footing his bills. He was working on his own writing. He confided in me that he always dreamed of following in his grandfather’s footsteps and becoming a writer. He made me promise to never tell anyone, not even Charlie. Ransom’s writing was amazing. He let me read excerpts and give notes on what I liked, or didn’t like. This arrangement was just temporary though. I was chomping at the bit to get back to Boston and go to college. 

After getting my high school diploma, I opted to go to Boston College. The campus felt magical to me. All old buildings, and a library out of the movies. I was excited to pursue a degree in Literature. I wanted to work in publishing in some capacity, so I minored in business to strengthen my options. I flourished in college. Made friends, got decent grades. Kissed a few more boys, maybe did a little more than that. Well, did a lot more than that. 

But life loves to throw curve balls. When I was twenty, Charlie died. The doctor said he had a mild heart arrhythmia that he never knew about. The cocaine forced him into heart failure. Again Ransom stuck to me like glue. Comforted me when Ethan didn’t. Helped me arrange everything. What surprised me the most was that Harlan came to the funeral. He had a hug for both me and Ransom. 

After that Ransom moved home to Massachusetts too. He said New York was what Charlie wanted. There was nothing left there for him anymore. 

I decided to take an extended leave from school. But really I spent my days in bed barely moving. Ransom quickly discovered that I wasn’t taking care of myself and forced me to move in with him until I was doing better. He made me shower and eat. And at least get out of bed, even if I was just moving to the living room. He let me pick our takeout every night and all our shows. He even let me watch shows he absolutely hated, with barely a breath of complaint. 

He even started to apply pressure for me to go back to school. He insisted that I keep living with him while I got my degree. I worked my ass off but managed to graduate just one semester late. Ethan couldn’t be bothered to fly in to watch me walk, he was too busy out in San Francisco with his job. But there was Ransom, just like when I was little. With a big bouquet of flowers and the proudest smile. 

I wasn’t fielding off job offers after graduation. 

“I could talk to my grandfather, you know. He’s always liked you, I’m sure he knows of something at Blood Like Wine that would be a good fit for you,” Ransom told me.

“I appreciate the offer Ran, but I want to make it on my own,” I responded. Eventually, I got an unpaid internship at a small publishing company. It was mostly, getting coffee and stuff like that. I also worked a part time job as a receptionist to pay my bills. 

I loved being on my own and being independent. Ransom bought his house near his grandfather around that time. I hoped that meant he was spending more time with Harlan. Hopefully, thinking about writing again. 

One night I was driving home from my job. I started to round a corner, but as I pumped the brakes the car wasn’t slowing. I began to panic. I floored the brake, still nothing. My car careened off the road; I had attempted the turn, even without the aid of my brakes. My car rolled with a sickening crunch about three and a half times. Along with the crunches was a symphony of glass breaking. I screamed the whole time. The car stopped upside down. Leaving me dangling by my seatbelt. I managed to reach to the passenger side where my purse was. I struggled to stay coherent through the pain that had settled on my left side. I found my phone and dialed 911 before I passed out. 

#ransom drysdale #Ransom Thrombrey #ransom drysdale fanfiction #ransom drysdale smut #ransom drysdale x ofc

[satans-little-helper33]

So shit hit the fan this evening

So it all began with my roommate getting a call from his friend (who also lives in our building) about her boyfriend and asking if she’s being unreasonable. He goes out an takes the call, comes back in a while later, he gives me the low-down and we dish about what a gaslighting asshole her bf is and how she should dump him immediately (yes, this is relevant).

Anyway, we have dinner and watch an episode then head to bed at 10pm. I’m finally hitting the hay at 10:30 when I hear this girl enter the building (it’s kind of shaped like a square donut so it’s kind of like a big public courtyard in the center) and this girl is absolutely bawling. They’re basically right outside my window. I don’t mean normal crying, I mean the kind of shit you only hear in operas and when someone is...

Fellow resident (concerned): Hey, are you okay?

Crying girl (sobbing dramatically while speaking): yeah, I’m fine

FR: are you sure?

CG: Yeah. Well, I’m really drunk

Right. It most certainly sounded like she was extremely drunk. This sounds like a young woman with definite emotional issues and several red flags when sober. Anyway, her bawling dies down to a sobbing and she makes her way to a nearby apartment she lives in. Now at this time I heard my roommate emerging from his room across the hall and I was like “Did you hear the girl?” and he said “Yeah I think it was [friend from earlier] because her roommate just texted me that I need to come over now.” and I was like oh shit is she okay? So he heads out and I head back to bed because I think the drama that involves me is over.

11pm. My apartment is right by the building elevator, and I hear our building manager (BM) (we’re like work friends) on the phone and I hear the voice of a very drunk-sounding female from around the corner (where the elevator is). We’d been texted earlier that he’d been alerted to the tragically loud drunk girl wandering around at 11 and was searching for her to help her. He’s pacing back and forth (basically right where the drunk girl had been earlier) talking on the phone and I’m thinking “oh he’s found her and borrowed her phone so he can call someone to pick her up”. But then I hear the sound of Crying/Drunk Girl stumbling out onto an apartment patio on the other side of the building, yelling in anger at no one, then being pulled back inside by her roommate. (Turns out it wasn’t my roommate’s friend, thank goodness). So then I’m thinking “if it isn’t Crying/Drunk Girl, then who is BM calling on behalf of?”

And then I hear BM say “what about 911? Can we call the police or fire department?”

Now call me nosy but when shit like this goes down right outside my apartment I definitely want to know what’s going on. So I get into my robe and go onto my patio and ask BM if there’s anything I can do to help (my curiosity was burning).

Turns out 3 people were stuck in the elevator. And the fire department was on the way.

How did they get stuck between floor 1 and 2, you ask? Well, they got wasted and jumped repeatedly in it, triggering the earthquake fail-safe.

At this point I’ve walked back inside and I’m debating whether to go out and rubberneck a bit or stay inside and toss and turn not knowing. Then I think, the worst that happens is someone thinks I’m nosy and insensitive. So I get dressed, put on a mask, and go out to see what’s happening; my roommate joins me, back from his friend’s apartment.

So the fire department arrives, like 7 of them, in official gear just to get a bunch of dumbass drunk college-age students out of an elevator, and they didn’t look too happy. I completely agree. Getting called out to get a cat out of a tree must be less frustrating that dealing with constant human stupidity.

They pry open the door a little bit then poke around the top of the elevator with a hooked wire (????). At the same time the BM is trying to call the elevator company but they’re at least an hour out. The whole thing takes a while and the BM tells us this is a sort of regular thing and talks to my roommate and I about all the metaphorical fires he has to put out. He tells us he can’t just put a sign to not jump in the elevators because that might prompt drunk (and stupid) people to do something they hadn’t considered doing before (he cited his 3-year-old in this dive into reverse psychology). 

Then one of the firefighters said something weird to the people still stuck in the elevator: “Do you have textbooks or something to read to pass the time?” and they’re like “No”

And I thought “What kind of social gathering requires several college students attending the local college--whose semester hasn’t started yet!--to bring a textbook, then emerge from the social encounter absolutely wasted?” Then my roommate said that the firefighter was probably making a jab at these three, pointing out the stupidity that got them into this situation in the first place.

Finally, they manage to open the doors, though the elevator cabin is still stuck between the 2nd and 1st floors, so the firefighters help them down. BM mentions that he’ll have to stick an “out of order” sign on this elevator, since they broke it.

Anyway, my roommate and I head back inside our apartment, left with videos, photos, and a whole lot of adrenaline for midnight.

Update: 1:40am, just heard a couple argue and break up through my open window, what is with tonight? Who knows, maybe it’s Crying/Drunk Girl.

#stupid people #why is this a common occurrence #college students #yikes #I may have been a tad dramatic but in my defense quarantine life has been very uneventful

[wipbigbang]

Abroad

Story Title: Abroad Fandom: Supernatural RPF Link http://archiveofourown.org/works/11455110 Summary:After getting a chance to study in Paris, Crys, along with her best friend,Rae, navigate through it together Warnings:Cursing, Violence,  Characters: Rae (ofc), Crys(ofc), Paige (ofc), Toni (ofc),Justin Roche (omc), Mark Pellegrino, Sebastian Roche, Tahmoh Pinkett, Richard Speight, Daneel Ackles (mentioned) Pairings: Crys/Sebastian Roche, Paige/Tahmoh Pinkett, Rae/Mark Pellegrino When I Started** June 2016 How I Lost My Shit** Lost interest and got back into Bass again How I Finished My Shit** I found my center and dove in head first.

Studying a semester in France seemed like a good opportunity when presented. Unfortunately, I didn’t speak the language. I was an American, stuck in France without a translator. I left the studio given to me and walked into town to get some groceries. I knew the I had the proper currency, but still had a communication barrier with the cashier.

That is until a man stood beside me claiming I was his little sister. “Pardonnez ma petite soeur, elle était dans les États visitant notre tante.” I blinked making out part of what this man said as we walked out together. “How did you know I don’t speak french?” I asked and shook my head. “You can’t understand me, can you?” “But of course I understand you, sweetie.” The blonde man before me smiled. “Name’s Sebastian, you must be the college girl that moved into the studio down the road.” I nodded. “I’m Crys.” I smiled at Sebastian, it was comforting to have someone to talk to. “How long are you here for?” He asked as we started to walk back to the studio. “A semester, I wish I paid attention in French class my senior year.” I sighed and looked over at him.

“I could teach you.” Sebastian offered as we stood in the entryway of my place. “It would be great to learn from a local.” I admitted. God could you be anymore lame. I thought as Sebastian grinned. “How about my place this weekend.” Sebastian winked and grabbed his a pen from his pocket writing his number onto my free arm. “Call me and I’ll see you around. Au revoir, Crys.” “Au revoir, Sebastian.” I watched him walk down the road and smiled as I unlocked the door.

“Tobi, you awake?” I called and a little corgi pup ran out of my bedroom. “I bought food for both of us.” I leaned down to pet the pup, stood and walked into the kitchen. I set the bags down, dug around for Tobi’s food and placed in a bowl for him.

The next morning, I awoke to a terrible anxiety headache. I searched my darkened room for my bottle of aspirin and groaned knocking my phone to the floor. I sighed, grabbed my phone and used the light from it to guide me to the bathroom. I took the two aspirin and leaned against the vanity. Checking my phone I sighed as I texted Sebastian. ‘I know it’s like 4 in the morning, but I need to talk to someone. Sorry if I woke you.’

I sat on the couch in the living room dozing as a rap could be heard on the front door startling me. I unfolded myself from the couch and opened the door. I looked up at the beauty before and cracked a smile. “You got my message.” I managed to say as I stepped aside to let Sebastian in.

     “Let me make you some tea and you can explain in a few. Let me take care of you.” His voice was laced with sleep and worry. “Gosh, you must think I’m insane. I meet you at a grocery store and now you’re responding to a 911 from me.” “Actually it’s 112 here.” Sebastian corrected, I chuckled, sat on the couch and grabbed my warm blanket off the floor. “I’m American, so I’ll always remember 911, darling.” Sebastian made tea and brought me a cup. “Can I join you?” I nodded and pulled the blanket back as Sebastian sat beside me. “What happened, if I can ask?” I hesitated and stared into the mug of tea. “Anxiety, it’s from being here alone.” I admitted and downed the last bit of tea. “Would you like me to stay with you?” I blinked and looked up at Sebastian. “You met me today, you came over for an emergency text and now you want to stay to comfort me?” I shook a bit. “You don’t know me, Sebastian and you’re acting like I’m your best friend.” I explained keeping my glance on the empty mug in my hands. “Maybe it’s because I know you need someone. A friend.” I scoffed. “I left my best friend back in the states.” Sebastian raised a brow. “Her name’s Paige. She has this chestnut colored hair with honey highlights and eyes that shine like whiskey in the sun. She also was my roommate.” I went on. Sebastian chuckled. “Sounds like more than that.” I shook my head. “Only in our dreams, She’s engaged to Tahmoh.” I sighed. “And I may not make it home for her wedding.” Seb squeezed my hand. “We’ll find a way, even if I have to get you back home myself.” I nodded and started falling asleep.

I woke in the morning to the smell of coffee and chocolate. “Mmm.” I hummed, stood up and shook my head trying to tame the wildfire hair. I yawned, approached the kitchen and reached for the pot having a hand grab mine. “Matin, mon amour. Cafe noir, non?” I blinked. “Fuck.” I whispered and my gaze fixed on Sebastian. “It’s too soon for that.” Sebastian joked as he slid me a cup of coffee. “Merci, Sebastian.” I sighed taking a sip of the coffee. “Vous êtes bienvenue, belle.” “Uh? All I got from that was 'welcome and woman.'” “You’re welcome, beautiful.” Sebastian smirked drinking his coffee. “I, uh, need to shower. I have class soon.” I stuttered backing toward my room and clutching the mug. “Let me join you, mon cher.” Sebastian flirted, his eyes glancing up from the cup to my own. “I’m good.” I managed to say as I downed the coffee, bumped into the table and walked to my room. Once in my room, I sighed and padded into the bathroom; I opted to keep the light off. I fiddled with the temperature of the water and hopped in.

I got out and heard humming, I smiled to myself as I walked into my room. I kept the towel around me as I chose something to wear for school and sighed. I chose a simple black shirt with blue jeans. I looked up at the box that contained my scarves, but grabbed my leather jacket that sat beside the box. “I have to meet with my adviser at school.” I said as I changed into the clothing.“I’ll walk you to class, I’ve got to run an errand on the campus any way.” Sebastian replied never taking his eyes of where I stood. I stepped out of the closet and he smiled. “Mind if I swing by my place and get cleaned up?” He asked. “Fine with me.” I slipped on my shoes and followed Sebastian down the road to his place.

“After you.” Sebastian opened the door and I stepped inside the house. I felt the warmth and the smell of the cinnamon in the air. “Does it always smell like this in here?” I asked as Sebastian walked by me. “What smell?” Sebastian asked with a smirk. “The cinnamon.” “I don’t smell a thing, chéri” Sebastian called as the shower came on with a squeak. I wandered around in the kitchen and spotted a bottle of wine in the corner. I looked at the tag that hung from the bottle and translated it. “This one’s on me, Sebastian. Enjoy.” I checked around for a corkscrew and the bottle disappeared from my hand. “You shouldn’t drink before school.” Sebastian drawled setting the wine bottle on the top shelf. I groaned. “I’m not going to be able to handle all the French.” I grumbled turning around. Sebastian was wearing a fitted white dress shirt, tucked into pressed black jeans. “Let me walk you to class.”

Within fifteen minutes, Sebastian and I stepped on campus, I turned to face his smiling face. “I’ve gotta head to class then meet up with my adviser, Mr. Roche.” Sebastian laughed and departed without another word. I walked into the classroom and sat beside one of my friends from the college. “Crys, you survived!”I laughed at the redhead and sat beside her. “Yes, I survived. My neighbor saved me at the store. My French sucks and he’s teaching me the language.” “Have you met with your adviser, yet?” Rae asked as our professor walked. “Bonjour, class!” My eyes snapped to the front. “Oh fuck me.” I muttered and saw the wicked grin of the man before us. “Oh, I will so sleep with him by the time we leave.” Rae whispered. “My name is Professor Pellegrino, and welcome to French Literature.”

Class ended an hour and a half later and I walked with Rae to her next class. “So, our professor..” Rae implied. “Uh, no. If there’s anyone I’d sleep with it would be my neighbor Sebastian. His damn accent.” I joked. “Well, I’ve gotta meet Mr. Roche then, start on that Literature homework Mr. P assigned us. Seb’s gonna have to help me translate this idiotic language.” Rae tied up her hair and smiled. “Good luck, you’ll end up eye-fucking him the entire time he speaks, Crys.” I shot her a look and we both laughed. “See ya at my place after your class, Rae?” I asked. “Of course, is the spare under the mat or something else?” “It’s underneath the stone shaped like a star.” I told her.

Rae and I went our separate ways as I approached Mr. Roche’s office. I knocked on the door and was greeted by a quick, “Come in.”

      I pushed open the door and rummaged in my bag. I looked up. “Oh, god, fuck me.” I muttered, my eyes locked with Sebastian’s across the large desk. “Is this why you started laughing before I went to class?” Sebastian rounded the desk and leaned against it, his palms flat against the mahogany. “Oui. I didn’t want to tell you that I was your adviser because,” Sebastian chewed on his bottom lip and I set my bag down on the floor. “So, my own adviser is the one who came to my aide twice and wants to teach me the language.” I crossed my arms over my chest and eyed the blond man in front of me. “I know this is cheesy, but I–” “I swear if you’re gonna say something about falling for me, I’ll walk out.” I threatened. “I didn’t tell you because I thought I could get to know you outside of you being my pupil.” Sebastian finished locking his gaze with mine. “Did you know I’d be moving into the neighborhood?”I asked and Sebastian shook his head. “We’re not told anything about our pupil except their name.” Sebastian loosened the tie around his neck with a sigh. “Shall we begin?” Sebastian ushered to the chairs behind me and rounded his desk once more. He relaxed as he sat back in the leather chair. “Since this suppose to be our first meeting we’ll go through the formalities. Then we can head out for coffee or something.” “Is that a date, Sebastian?” I asked sitting in the chair behind me. Sebastian went to say something and shook his head. “If you’re gonna turn this meeting into 'I can’t date my pupils’ thing then I’m headed home.” I grabbed my bag off the floor and heard Sebastian sigh. “It’s against university policy, but we can keep that quiet. Like your friend Rae and Mark.” I blinked thinking back to class when Rae spent some time after class. She was shamelessly flirting with our French Lit professor. “I do not need to recall that train wreck.” I muttered as Sebastian chuckled. “He got her number.” Sebastian smirked. “You have mine, sir.” I returned his smirk and eyed him watching the glint in his eyes. “This could go so many ways, mademoiselle.” Sebastian pushed  rolling the sleeves of his shirt above his elbows. “We finishing this meeting and getting coffee, or should I go start on my French Lit homework?” I asked digging around in my bag for the notebook unaware of the way my blouse was situated. “Meet me here tomorrow after class with Mr. Pellegrino. We’ll discuss your classes here, then you and I can start your French lesson.” Sebastian rose from his desk and opened his office door. “Until tomorrow, Cherie.” “Or my place for dinner?” I suggested. “Call me, Mr. Roche. I know French is my weakness.” I winked and walked out meeting up with Rae at my place.

I unlocked the front door and walked in noticing Rae on the couch. Her hair was a little tousled, and she tried to keep me from noticing, but I started piecing two and two together. “You fucked our prof didn’t you, Rae?” I spoke busying myself with a cup of tea. “How?” “Your hair’s a mess, your missed a button on your blouse and you smell like him. Plus the hickey on your neck.” I turned holding the mug of tea in my hands and eyed Rae for a moment. “You gonna tell me the story or do I have to drag it out of you, Rae?” I asked walking into my living room and I sat on the coffee table waiting for an answer. “Well, it was after class,” “No wonder you were late for our meeting.” I muttered and set my mug down. “Anyway,” Rae began and I got comfortable. “It was after everyone left I stuck around to flirt with Mark. I leaned across his desk and told him I wanted to love him. I also knocked his coffee off the desk.” I laughed. “And you two had sex in the classroom?” It was Rae’s turn to laugh. “Nah, messed my hair up on purpose to freak you out. He did leave the hickey as a parting gift.” I sighed and shook my head as the doorbell rang. “That’s Sebastian.” “Ooh, the neighbor turned adviser that you’re sleeping with.” I rolled my eyes and opened the door to see Sebastian grinning. “You heard Rae, didn’t you.” Sebastian nodded and hummed placing a hand on my waist. “May I come in, Cherie?” Sebastian smiled and let his hand slip.

I stepped aside and Rae grinned. “I didn’t know you had someone coming, Crys.” Rae commented as she stood up to leave. “Sit.” I barked and went into the kitchen, Sebastian blankly staring. “Pardon my manners, Sebastian.” “A dom, love it.” I flushed ignoring the comment. “Something she picked up back in the states.” “RAE! Silence, Sebastian doesn’t need to know my sexual history nor promiscuity.” I muttered. “Tea, Sebastian?” I asked switching the conversation. “Yes, let me help you.” Sebastian walked in and leaned over my shoulder pressing up against me. “Damn it, Sebastian.” I cursed glaring over my shoulder. “Come now, we can bring this to your room.” Sebastian toyed as he placed his hands over mine. “I have company.” I hissed and turned to face him. “Later.” I added, then we walked into the living room and I sat on the couch. “What’s later, Crys?” Rae asked and I shot her a look. “Actually,” Rae checked her phone. “I promised to buy our prof a new cup of coffee.” Rae taunted and stood. “See ya in class, Crys.” I sighed and Sebastian smirked. “Pleasure to meet you, Rae.” Sebastian spoke. Once Rae left I feigned a yawn. “I gotta turn in, Bassy. I have to get up early or some stupid shit.” I lied,stood up and walked toward my room as Sebastian grabbed my waist. “Mon Cher,” Sebastian breathed against my neck. “Fine, fine.”

      I pulled Sebastian into my room only to have my face pressed against the wall. “Shouldn’t I have a safe word if you’re going to be this dominating, sir?” I could feel Sebastian’s smirk against my skin as he slid a finger up and over my lips. “You’re right, Belle.” I ground back against Sebastian biting back a moan of my own. “Poughkeepsie.” I breathed as Sebastian dug his fingers into my hips. “Good girl, now scarves?” Sebastian asked. “Top shelf in my closet, sir.” “Ah, the ones you mulled over before you grabbed that jacket.” Sebastian picked me up and laid me on my bed. I sat up a bit to watch as Sebastian walked to the closet gracefully.

I could see the muscles move underneath his shirt as he stretched to the grab the box on the shelf. Sebastian opened it with a smirk. “Silk, perfect.” I watched Sebastian as he sat on the bed. In one swift movement I sat on top of Sebastian’s waist. “Get to the point, sir.” Sebastian flipped me back and I heard him dig through his pocket. I heard something click and my breath hitched. “So you do have a knife kink.” Sebastian muttered dragging the knife down the front of my shirt revealing a nude and black bra. “You rip this bra and you owe me $96, Sebastian.” I growled rolling my hips up trying to get some friction.

Sebastian tsked as he tied my hands to the headboard. I groaned and pulled hard on the restraints. “Such a beautiful package.” Sebastian spoke as he ran the knife up and over my stomach leaving strips of blood in the knife’s wake. I shivered feeling the slight sting of the blood hitting the air. “Oh, Cherie, if only you could see how you look.” Sebastian licked a trail of blood off my stomach, it sent shocks up my spine. “Sebastian!” I managed to say as he licked another spot. “Fuck.” I breathed as Sebastian pulled off my jeans and tossed them to the floor. “They match.” He smirked and I pulled on the headboard once more. “Impatient little sub.” Sebastian spoke and pulled off the panties and bra so he could revel in the moment. “How can something so delicate be so perfect?” He grasped my hips tight. “No, please, don’t stop!” I begged . I pulled harder on the scarves hearing the creak of the headboard once more. “I swear this thing is going to break.” I muttered as I felt a sharp bite on my hip, yowling as my eyes snapped down to the mischievous blond. “Are you calling out already, Belle?” Sebastian smirked slowly unbuttoning his shirt. “Never.” I whispered watching his hands slowly unbutton the buttons of the dress shirt. Sebastian discarded his shirt and I sat up as much as I could to let my eyes linger over his form. “See something you like?” “You have a dancer’s body.” I mentioned noticing simple curves and strong muscles. Sebastian raised a brow and chuckled. “Yes, I’m classically trained. Still dance when I don’t work at the college. So summer.” Sebastian crawled on top of me and trailed feather-like kisses down my chest, he paused momentarily to unsnap the hooks of the bra. “I promise to take care of you like you have always dreamed of.” Sebastian whispered nipping gently on my neck. “I’ll show you back at my place when this is over.” Another nip at my throat and a moan followed. “Please, Sebastian.” I rolled my hips up and bit my lip. “Can’t wait anymore.” I urged tugging until I felt the headboard give way. “Oh, shit, you’re strong!” Seb noted as I pulled my wrists in front of me. “Don’t know my own strength when I need you.” I smirked. Sebastian quickly untied my hands and I undid the dress slacks with a flick of wrist. I bit my lip and Sebastian’s eyes grew with lust. “Oh, Princess.” Sebastian kicked his slacks off and slid his boxers off. I pulled Sebastian on top of me, wrapped my arms around his neck.  I could feel the warmth building in the pit of stomach as Sebastian gripped my hips, bruising them as he came undone and I followed soon after. “Damn, Sebastian.” I breathed, trying to catch my breath. “Now we can relax a bit, head to my place and I’ll show you the small studio.” Sebastian drawled as I yawned and wrapped an arm around his waist to fall asleep.

An hour later I felt a shift in the bed and I muttered out. “'Bastian, bed’s cold.” I sat up pulling the sheet with me and watching Sebastian by the window. “Hm, oh. Hello Chéri.” Sebastian glanced over his shoulder at me and smiled. “Come join me.” He spoke as I grabbed his shirt and pulled it on.

“This is a beautiful studio the university gave you.” “You’re just happy because you know the neighborhood.” I added standing beside him trying to see what he was mulling over. “We can see your place from here.” I mentioned as Sebastian wrapped his arms around me. “Nice shirt, looks better on you.” He joked messing with the buttons and slid his hand down my back. “Round two is tonight, Bassy.” I smirked and looked up at him. “I still need to finish my Lit homework and you promised to show me the studio.” Sebastian chuckled. “You just want to see me in tights.” Sebastian joked. “I wanna see you dance, those leg muscles are more than show.” I added recalling my time as a ballerina. “You dance?” Sebastian asked pulling me out of my thoughts. “At one point. I was a kid.” I admitted as Sebastian looked down at me with a smile. “So, I could jog your memory. Go over the small details.” Sebastian laughed and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Let’s shower and head out to my place.”

He smirked, led the way to my bathroom, unbuttoned the shirt and lifted me onto the vanity leaving a trail of kisses down my chest. He pulled the collar aside and revealed at the hickies forming. “I love leaving my mark.” Seb spoke moving to turn the shower on. “More touchy touchy, less worrying about cleaning.” I muttered attaching myself to Sebastian. “After, my love. We reek of sex and I know you’ll love a nice scalp massage.” Sebastian purred as he pulled his shirt from my shoulders. We stood face to face in the shower, the water running down my back and I shivered pressing myself up against him. “Now, now pet.” Sebastian teased caressing the small of my back. “We have a lot we need to do, so now shower sex.” I pouted and Sebastian shook his head. “Oh, don’t give me that look, lil moose.” He grinned and grabbed my shampoo off the shelf and he stepped into the water. He lathered the shampoo in his hands and ran them gently through my hair. He was humming a familiar tune as he carefully scratched my head. “The song you’re humming.” “Wagon Wheel.” I nodded and leaned against him listening and enjoying every moment in the shower. Sebastian was gently shaking my shoulders. “You fell asleep, lil one.” I yawned and wrapped my arms around him to stay warm. “Let me get us some towels, then we’ll go to my place.” “Naked?” I replied and Sebastian laughed. “Though I would love to keep seeing you naked, it can wait until we go back to my place.” Sebastian turned off the water and wrapped a towel around me before he wrapped one around his waist. “Carry me?” I pouted as Sebastian obliged and lifted me into his arms; cradling me against him. “Should I dress you,too?” Seb teased tossing me on my bed. I shot him a look and got up, tossing my towel at him. “Hm, maybe black jeans, white form fitting shirt and heels should do it.” I grinned wickedly hearing Sebastian groan. “You’re going to kill me, baby girl.” Sebastian hummed holding onto my waist. “Need to get dressed love. Go find your clothes, Bassy.” I pulled on a crimson matching set and I tugged my jeans on. “Bassy?” I popped my head out of the closet holding my shirt in one hand and a jacket in the other. “Oh, mon cher.” Sebastian gasped walking over to me. “That bra is so scandalous.” I bit my lip, put on my denim shirt and went back to my shoe rack to look through the shoes I brought. “Now bend over.” Sebastian smirked as I crouched down to pull out simple black heels. We walked out of my house and followed the road to Sebastian’s.

He unlocked the door, pushed it open and I followed him back to room. “I never noticed how spacious this place is.” I spoke to no one in particular. “3650 square feet, marble flooring, sixteen foot ceilings, king sized bed with a duvet.” Sebastian drawled walking into his room and tossing his shirt on the bed. “Coming, Chéri?” Sebastian asked looking for me. I walked in from the living room carrying a bra. “This yours?” I asked tossing it angrily at him. “I have no-” “Save it. Which notch am I, Sebastian?” I spat and followed the tile to a room with wooden floors.

I sighed looking in the mirror, my eyes flickering from the natural blue to the dark gray. I leaned against the beam before me and sighed. I spun from the bar going through the simple ballet steps I could recall. I didn’t notice Sebastian watching me as I finished into an arabesque. “Your leg could be a little higher and straighter.” Sebastian commented as I brought my leg down, I spun to face him with a glare. “It’s been over 9 years, Bassy.” I crossed my arms and he walked in. “Let me help you. Back into the arabesque.” I sighed and went back into position, keeping my breathing normal. I felt Sebastian raise my leg and I swayed a bit. “You need to stay centered, Crys. Balance is key.” Sebastian held my leg as his hand went to my stomach. “Relax, I won’t hurt you. I teach this, remember?” Sebastian spoke as I trusted him. His helped me stand back on solid ground and his hands lingered on my own. “Is this okay?” He asked and I pulled my hands away. “You never answered my question, Mr. Roche.” “In all seriousness, Crys, you’re the first student I’ve been with in almost ten years.” I raised a brow in suspicion as Sebastian backtracked. “It was longer than that I think.” He paused and waited for a reaction. “You do know I’m only 23, right?” I offered thinking of how old Sebastian could be. “Ten years means nothing to me.” “A woman’s age or the last time you had fucked a student?” I pushed feeling more cocky than confident. “Both, but I guess the age thing.” Seb spoke smirking. “So you’re 33.” I inquired taking a step toward him. “Yes, but it’s not like you have a-” “Daddy kink.” Seb nodded and turned a light shade of pink. “It’s questionable, but doable.” I joked and stepped out of the ballet studio.

“Crys.” Sebastian stated simply. “That set you found was out of it’s box.” He picked up the box with the words “Adore Me” written on them. “Didn’t know you swung that way.” I deadpanned ignoring the pit in my stomach. “Actually, I got them today before you came to my office. Thought you’d like them.” Sebastian suggested as he dropped the box back where it was. “Not my style, think naughty princess.” I smirked and walked back to his room.

I sat on the bed waiting for Sebastian to follow. “It’s a beautiful place.” I commented and let my eyes linger on Sebastian as he stood in the doorway. “See something?” “You. How did I forget you were shirtless?” I asked not peeling my eyes away. “You tend to forget when you’re angry, mon cher.” Sebastian peeled himself from the door frame and made his way over to me. “The thoughts I have of you writhing under me.” Sebastian smirked as I ran my hands up and down his back. “Your back is pretty raw, Sebastian.” I commented tracing the scars that started to form. “Maybe I should take control for once.” I chuckled rolling my hips trying to provoke a moan from the man above me. “Not at the moment. I have to go to a meeting with Mark on campus.  I need you to help me with an outfit.” I laughed and rolled over to sit up. “Mmm waistcoat. Black button down with gray slacks and a suit jacket. It brings you together.” I chuckled and wandered over to the closet. “So many suits, it’s like Barney Stinson.” I muttered taking down the aforementioned articles of clothing. “Here and don’t shave, the scruff is a major turn on.” I smirked and handed the clothes to Sebastian. “Well, you gonna change?” I asked eyeing Sebastian hungrily. He slid his jeans off and strutted towards me keeping light on his feet. “Anything for you.” A gentle kiss placed on my cheek as Sebastian pulled back to put on his dress shirt, buttoning it slowly. “Mm, keep doing that and I promise I’ll change into that lingerie you bought.” Sebastian smirked and pulled the waist coat on. “I’ll bring the jacket with me. Make yourself at home, but no wine.” He warned pulling on the slacks, then his socks and shoes. “Au revoir, mademoiselle!” I laughed watching him leave. “Au revoir, sir.” I heard his chuckle as he left.

“Hm, an unfamiliar place to call home.” I kicked off my heels and decided to explore the vast house. I walked toward the back of the house and ran my hand across the wall, feeling the rough texture and sighed. “I’d live here any day.” I spoke leaning against the wall I had just touched. “Course you would.” A voice came. “Alright, Rae, you didn’t even know where Seb lived, so how did you find me?” I spun and came face to face with a man who looked very similar to Sebastian. “Didn’t you just leave for the meeting with Mark?” I asked eyeing the man before me. “That would be my brother.” The man responded and I took a step back. “Bassy never mentioned a twin.” “Oh for the love of God, he’s trying to steal my damn job, too?” The man bellowed putting his head in his hands.” “Wait.” I knelt beside the other Sebastian and spoke. “You’re Sebastian Roche?” He nodded and looked up at me. “You must be Crys. I’ve been trying to get to the university, but it’s hard when you have a twin.” “So he’s..” “Justin. I’ve gotta change the locks.” “Oh god.” I groaned and sat beside Sebastian on the couch. “I need whiskey and something to clear my memory.” I muttered as Sebastian got up to pour us both a shot of whiskey.

“You slept with him?” He asked as I downed the shot letting the burn take it’s effect. “I thought he was you. “Fucking asshole!” Sebastian groaned laying his head on my shoulder. “You’re a lot more affectionate than him.” I added stroking his hair. “It’s the main way we’re different. I’m the affectionate and submissive one.” He blushed. “I never tell anyone that.” “Well you need to get back to the university, Mr. Roche. I’d rather talk to you over your brother.” I added kissing Sebastian’s cheek. “I was the one you talked to at the university. Just not the one you slept with, both metaphorically and physically.” I shuddered. “Don’t remind me. I feel like I need to set myself on fire.” I changed my tone. “Have you slept with a student?” He shook his head. “Though, you may be my first.” He smirked and looked up at me. “More whiskey?” He asked getting up and taking the glass from my hands. I nodded and watched the difference in his walk. Still graceful, but lighter on his feet; not making a single sound as he walked. “Are you also a dancer?” “I’m the only ballet dancer in the family. Justin can fake knowing everything, but he has no idea what he is saying. I heard you in the studio, but I was on the phone the university about Justin.” Sebastian added filling both our glasses. “Isn’t it suppose to be just 2 fingers or a shot?” I asked. “You bartend?” Sebastian questioned. “I do back home. I own Balthazar’s Grace. It’s a bar in my hometown, you really should come with me when I return. Was it you at the store.” I remembered and he nodded. “That was me and to answer your next question yes I was the one who came to your house. Justin flew in yesterday.” He shook his head, walked back into the living room and sat beside me. “I can’t believe have to change the locks on my damn house.” Sebastian muttered sprawling across my lap. “God, you’re needy!” I laughed running my fingers through his hair again. “Told you there was big difference with us.” Sebastian and I sat on the couch for what felt like hours until Justin came back. I hummed knocking back another shot of whiskey. “You can really hold your own.” Sebastian joked, now sitting up; his eyes glittering in the dim lighting. “You’re drunk, I’m drunk,” I grinned. “Let’s get married.” I joked in my state. “Sure, I can call Mark and he can officiate. Oooo and get Rae!” Sebastian laughed placing a kiss on my cheek and smiled. “And what of your brother?” “Yes, Sebastian, what of me?” I jumped hearing the second Roche. “Come off it, Justin. You’ve been trying to steal my life since we were kids. The one time, I’m happy with what I’ve got and you swoop in.” “She slept with me first. “Because I thought you were Sebastian.” I spat looking over my shoulder. Sebastian grabbed my wrist almost yanking me to my feet. “Let’s head to bed, you’ll end up punching him out, Sebastian.” I muttered and dragged him to the master bedroom.

“I’d like to see that.”Justin retorted stepping in our path. “I’ll take a swing if you don’t get out of our way, Justin.” I gritted. Justin stayed, I pushed Sebastian out of way and punched Justin square in the jaw hearing something crack. I shook my hand out and walked to the bedroom, Sebastian right behind me. “Busted knuckles?” He asked. “Nope, your twin has a broken jaw.” I stripped out of my outfit and dug around in the dresser for one of Sebastian’s shirts. I pulled it on and faced him with a smile. “You look cute.” Sebastian said wrapping an arm around my waist . “I’m pissed is what I am.” I muttered crossing my arms and huffing out a breath. “It makes you even cuter.” Sebastian drawled and pulled his shirt off. “You’ve seen one of us naked, why not let it be me this time?” Sebastian asked undoing his jeans. “Are you consenting to me stripping you?” I asked and he nodded. I slid my fingers over the waistband of his jeans, slowly tugging the zipper downward. I slid his jeans down and was quickly pressed against the body before me. “Honey, tomorrow. Need sleep, then I’ve got to bs my Lit homework.” “I’ll do it for you.” Sebastian muttered and kissed my bare shoulder. “At least kiss me.” Sebastian asked as he kissed up to my cheek. “Please?” I nodded, let my lips linger over his and dove into the kiss letting everything melt away. Sebastian broke the kiss a moment later panting to catch his breath. “Tired, Mon amour?” I whispered guiding Sebastian to his bed. I collapsed on top of him and felt hands dig into hips. “Oh God, Sebastian.” I moaned nuzzling his neck. “'Morrow, baby girl.” Sebastian whispered rubbing my back. I slipped into a deep sleep soon after.

An arm fell off me around me and I stirred. “Bassy?” I whispered rolling to search the empty bed. “Sebastian?” I asked and slid off the bed. “Madam?” My heart raced as I spun on my heels to be face to face with one of the twins. “It is me, Crys.” Sebastian said dropping his head to my shoulder. “I couldn’t sleep.” He whispered as I held him. “Nightmare?” I questioned, walking backward to the bed; he nodded as I rubbed his back. “Wanna talk about it?” Sebastian shook his head and gripped my arm tight. “Is it about Justin?” A nod and I waited patiently. “I honestly thought he was you.” I muttered and felt a hand over mine. “I should have been there .” He apologized and sat up pulling me on his lap. “Sweetheart, can we talk about us?” Seb asked as I nodded yawning. “What about exactly. And no, I don’t want to apologize to Justin.” I stated simply.

We heard a knock on the bedroom door and I put my hand over Seb’s mouth so the other Roche couldn’t hear us. “Bassy, I know you’re in there and awake. I think that chick didn’t a number on me.” Justin slurred and I rolled my eyes. “Leave us alone, Justin.” I groaned leaning my head on Sebastian’s bare chest. The door swung open and hit the wall with a loud crash startling me. Sebastian held me on his lap and rubbed my back. “Not now, Justin.” Sebastian whispered sensing my anxiety. “It’s 2 in the morning. I need to take care of my girlfriend.” I looked up at Sebastian a small smile on my face. “Girlfriend? I don’t think so, Sebastian.” I sighed at Justin’s remark. “Leave us alone or you will end up in the morgue.” I spat, lacing my fingers with Sebastian’s. “Now, Justin!” I growled, tensing. Justin didn’t speak or move, but in one quick moment I picked up the closest object and chucked it him. “Let’s go to my place. I muttered standing up and I picked up my keys, Sebastian right behind me.

We got to my place, I unlocked the door and walked in with Sebastian. I locked the doors and turned on the flashlight app on my phone as we walked to my room. “Sorry, still unpacking.” I said placing my clothes in the hamper beside the closet. “’S fine, Cher. Time to sleep.” Sebastian whispered pulling me to the bed. We fell asleep instantaneously curled up with each other.

The sunlight drifted in through the small slits in the blinds creating streams on the floor. I rolled over and arms wrapped around me pulling me closer to the body beside me. I smiled a bit, rolled over and gently kissed Sebastian’s head. “Morning, beautiful.” Sebastian spoke running his fingers through my hair. “Morning, Mr. Roche.” I replied hearing a chuckle from Sebastian. “Stick to Sebastian.” He warned teasingly. “I’ll call you anything I want.” I pushed his shoulder and sat up. “It’s quiet here.” He spoke and I noticed the clock behind him. “Fuck! I’ve got class in an hour!” I rolled out of bed and walked to the bathroom hearing the blankets thrown off the bed. “Can I join you?”Sebastian asked as I turned the shower on. “I don’t mind.” I replied stripping out of his shirt and adjusting the temperature before stepping in.

Sebastian followed soon after wrapping an arm around my waist and humming a French lullaby. “You promised to do my lit homework.” I said looking up into the blue eyes above me. “After this shower, I’ll bring it to you while you’re in class.” Sebastian promised kissing the top of my head. “Then let’s make this quick. I should probably get some coffee, too.” I quickly washed r and rinsed everything out of my hair. “I should cut some of this off tonight.” I said aloud. “Why?” “Feel like it.” I shrugged, leaned up and kissed Sebastian gently. “I’ve got to get to class. Love you Bassy.” I got out and wrapped a towel around me humming to myself.

Once changed into jeans and a plaid button down I left a note for Sebastian and my French Lit homework on the coffee table. I slipped my sandals on and headed to campus. The air was cool and crisp as I got lost in my thoughts over the two Roche’s that I didn’t hear Rae and Mark come up behind me. “Rae tells me you’ve slept with your adviser.” Mark joked. “Wrong Roche.” I muttered walking to the coffee shop on campus. “Une grande moka de menthe poivrée, s'il vous plaît ” I spoke in perfect French. “Uh, Crys?” Rae began as I paid the barista. “Oui, Rae?” I asked taking my change and the coffee. “You suck at French and you just ordered a large peppermint mocha without screwing up the language.” Rae replied. “Sebastian has been helpful.” I smirked walking towards class. “Speaking of, why did you say 'wrong Roche?’ earlier?” “There’s two of them. Identical twins, Justin and Sebastian. I slept with the wrong Roche.” Mark cracked up laughing and Rae shot him a look. “I hate twins, I really do.” I muttered as I took a sip of the mocha. “Where is Sebastian, anyway?” Mark asked. “He bolted from our meeting.” “That was Justin. He got pissy cause Sebastian explained everything to me and him and I got drunk at his place.” “Tell me more after class.” Rae spoke as we all walked in, Rae and I took our seats and we waited for the rest of the class to pile in.

After class, Rae, Mark and I sat in the courtyard and I explained what happened. “So when Justin walked in, I was sitting on Sebastian’s coffee table laughing and joking about marrying him. Seb wanted to call Mark and he wanted me to call you, Rae.” I spoke tossing my keys up in the air and catching them. “He’s probably on campus now, but we had a run in with Justin while heading to bed. I broke his jaw and he kept bugging Sebastian when we were asleep. We left and went to my place.” “So it was his brother you slept with.” Rae said slowly and I nodded. “Sebastian is very different. Submissive, loving and a perfect teacher.” Rae smirked at that. “You’re dom is showing, Moose.” Rae said and I laughed, “Hey it’s not all about sex with this Roche. It’s more building a relationship.” “He’s demisexual and demiromantic.” Mark interjected looking up from his book. He took his glasses off and slid them into his shirt pocket. “Come again?” I asked looking at Mark. “It’s exactly as you said. He’d like to build a relationship with someone before diving into sex. And no, he isn’t a virgin.” Mark added. “I’ve got another class to teach in the language here. I’ll talk to you ladies later.” Mark got up and placed a chaste kiss on Rae’s lips. “See ya, Mark.” Rae smirked and I stood. “I should head to Seb’s office, wanna come with me?” I asked shoving my keys in my pocket and Rae nodded.

At Sebastian’s office, I pushed open the door without warning and blinked. “Alright, which Roche are you?” I questioned. “It’s me, Crys.” Sebastian spoke lowering his glasses. “You must be Rae.” He smiled and rose from behind the desk. “You’re right, Crys, he’s got submissive written all over him.” Sebastian glared at me and I shrugged. “She knows, mon cher?” Sebastian asked walking out from behind his desk and walked over to me smiling wickedly. “Nope, but you may want to talk to Mark, sir.” I kept the distance between us and Rae rolled her eyes. “Is this what it’s like with Mark and I?” I nodded and gently kissed Sebastian. “So we’ll meet up with Mark later for dinner. You can let him know, right, Rae?” “We’ve got to change the locks at my place.” Sebastian spoke grabbing his keys off the desk. “I’ll run by my place to change, then I’ll call Mark. Love ya, Crys.” “Love ya,too, Rae.” Rae left laughing and I turned to face Sebastian. “What did Mark say?” Seb asked as we left his office and headed to his place.

“Uh,” I spoke after a minute trying to think of how to phrase it. Sebastian raised an eyebrow and wrapped his arm around my waist. “He told me about your sexuality.” I spoke and he nodded. “And?” “And what, I’m fine with whoever you truly are, Sebastian.” He smiled and unlocked the front door, looking inside and pulling me in. “You sure you’re not Justin, you’re pretty dominating right now.” “Mmm, pretty sure I know who I am, my love.” I nodded and wandered into the kitchen, looking for the whiskey. “You don’t need to drink before dinner. Help me switch the locks while Justin’s out.” Sebastian urged as he worked on the front door. He handed me a key to the house and I slipped it in my pocket. We finished changing the locks within the hour as my phone buzzed on the counter. 'Dinner in 30 minutes, Mark’s place.’ “Guess we’re going to Mark’s for dinner. It’s also black tie, which is pretty fucked up since it’s the four of us.” “Well, did you pack a little black dress?” Sebastian asked walking back to his room to sort through suits. “The white one with the gray dress shirt.” I offered. “As long as that dress of yours is short.” Sebastian teased changing into the suit I mentioned. “We’ll swing by your place to change, Crys.” Sebastian smiled and groaned looking through ties. “White or maybe a solid black one.” I wrapped my arms around his waist as he dug through the drawer. Sebastian picked up a black tie and looped it around his neck, tying it perfectly. “Oh, this gives me so many ideas, sir.” I smirked as I walked out of his room and grabbing my keys next to Sebastian. “Bassy come on! I’ve got a cocktail dress with my name written on it.”

I heard his footsteps behind me as he tossed me over his shoulder. “Mmm, nice view.” I smirked as Sebastian laughed setting me down. I quickly unlocked the door and made my way to the back the bedroom. I took down the black dress and felt arms tug at my shirt. “Eager, aren’t you?” I spoke and set the dress down. Once out of my clothes I slipped the dress on adjusting it ever so slightly. I’ve got to do something with my mop, if you go in my closet there’s a pair of stilettos that match this dress. I grabbed the curling iron and plugged it in as it heated up. “These are stripper heels.” Sebastian said bringing them to me in the bathroom. I looked at him picking up the wand. “It’s 7 inches. It’s my lifetime rule.” I smirked and went back to curling my hair. Sebastian stood baffled the heels already on the floor. “Rule for what?” “Life.” I replied and gently ran my fingers through my hair. “Perfect.” I pulled the heels on and towered a mere inch over him. “Okay being 6 feet ain’t all that great I muttered and kicked the stilettos off, opting for simple ballet flats. “Better.”

Sebastian smiled, we walked out and called for an Uber to Mark’s. Once the car arrived, Sebastian opened the door for me, got in himself and told the driver the address. I laid my head on Sebastian’s shoulder during the ride there.

The house came into view and my eyes widened as Sebastian kissed the top of my head. He paid the driver, we got out and walked up the rest of the driveway to the front door which swung open to reveal a lit corridor. “Uh” I looked at Sebastian and Rae stepped out. “Woah, you two did get Mark’s text.” Rae spoke stunned. “Can your dress be any shorter, Crys?” She asked and I reddened. “It was the first dress I snagged, at least I didn’t wear my heels. I’d tower over everyone.” Rae grinned and we followed her to the living room where Mark sat sipping whiskey on the couch and a plethora of alcohol sat on the table. I tuned to Sebastian.

“And you told me I couldn’t drink before coming over.” I pouted, poured myself a shot and sat beside Mark, knocking back the shot. He chuckled and continued to fill my glass. “Don’t get her too drunk Mark, I do have something planned for later on.” “Oh, you do?” I hiccuped and laughed. Sebastian came over and plucked the glass from my hand. “If you guys do anything there’s a room on the opposite side of the house.” Mark suggested and Rae groaned. “At least keep it down.” “I came for food, not sex.” I replied semi sober. “It’s just take out.” Mark ushered to the kitchen where boxes of Chinese food sat.

“YESSSS! Tell me there’s orange chicken.” I squealed climbing over the couch and ran into the kitchen to grab the box decorated with a Moose and flowers.

“Thank you Rae for remembering.” I kissed her cheek, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, opened the box and sat on the floor as I ate the orange chicken. Sebastian grinned, sat with me taking a piece of chicken when I was busy talking to Mark. “I saw that, Bassy!” I bit his finger that had the orange chicken on it and Seb laughed. “Not here.” He spoke snatching my wrist. I finished the orange chicken and laid back staring up at ceiling letting the whiskey take it’s effect. “Crys?” Sebastian asked looking down at me. “Oui, mon chère” “Let’s head back to my place.” “I’m comfortable. 'Sides, the Pellegrino’s left.” I slurred looking to wear Mark once sat. “Up you go, little one.” Seb whispered as he picked me up and carefully carried me out, calling a taxi in the process.

We got home an hour later, Sebastian had kept me in his arms as he laid me on his bed. “Cherie?” I rolled over and smiled up at Sebastian. “Hi, handsome.” I yawned and motioned for Sebastian to come lay with me. “I need a shower, little one.” I crossed my arms and jutted my lower lip out. “I’ll fill the bath.” Sebastian walked into the bathroom drawing the bath.

I sat up and swung my legs over the edge. I followed Sebastian in and flipped the light off. “I can’t see, Crys.” “Your phone has a flashlight app.” I grabbed his phone off the vanity, unlocked the phone and opened the flashlight app, handing the phone to Sebastian. I stripped out of my clothes, slipped into the bath; relaxing as the water hit the side of the tub and a little bit splashed out. Seb poured in a bottle of what I thought was bubble bath and I was correct as the opaque bubbles settled around me. “Perfect. Will you be alright if I shower?” Sebastian asked as he pulled his shirt off and chuckled turning on the shower. He slipped out of his slacks and boxers humming as I let my eyes slip shut.

I was wrapped in a fluffy towel and lifted by two strong arms. “Bassy?” I muttered into his chest smelling the familiar scent of cinnamon and fire. “Shhh. I’ve got a shirt and a pair sweatpants for ya.” Sebastian set me on the bed and pulled the towel off me. “Cold.” I raised my arms to pull Sebastian close, but instead had warm cotton pulled over my head. “Soft.” I collapsed back and felt something heavy on top of me.

It was the second week in November when I received a call at the end of class. I answered my phone as everyone left and kept an eye on Mark and Rae. “Moose! Where the hell are you? My wedding is next week and you aren’t here.” Pie ranted and I put her on speaker. “Je m’excuse, mon amour.” I noticed Rae straddle Mark’s lap. “Can you two take it to your place, Mark? Important phone call.” “Oh shush, Crys, you and Seb were eye fucking a few weeks back at our place.” Mark responded and I shot him a look.” “You have me on speaker, don’t ya, Moose?” Paige asked and I nodded. “Yep, class just ended.” I grabbed my phone, walked out and headed to Sebastian’s office. “I’m on campus headed to Sebastian’s office.” I replied to the huff from Paige.

I pushed open the office door to emptiness and situated myself in the leather chair behind the desk. “Who’s Sebastian?” “My adviser/neighbor/boyfriend.” “BOYFRIEND?!” Paige yelled and I groaned. “Yes, we started dating a few week ago. Actually, I think it was Halloween.” “What was Halloween?”  Came the accented voice from the door and I grinned. “MOOSE, QUIT ZONING OUT!!” I laughed and Sebastian took my phone. “No one talks to my beautiful girl like that.” Sebastian chastised glaring at my phone. “Wait, you’re in New York, aren’t you?” Paige asked and I laughed. “Paris, France, Paige.” I handed the phone over to Sebastian. “Mon cherie, you and I have reservations tonight.” “Woah, woah, woah. I haven’t talked to Moose in forever!” “I’m sorry, Pie.” I apologized and hopped off Sebastian’s desk. “I’ll find a way to make the wedding.” Sebastian smiled as he formulated his own plan. “I’ll call you very soon, gotta change and head out.” “Skype date tomorrow then, my moose.” Paige sighed. “How does all afternoon sound?” I asked watching Sebastian walk around and pick up a few papers. “I love you Paige. Have Tahmoh text me.” I hung up and stretched looking at Sebastian. “Do we really have reservations?” Sebastian nodded. “I have a gown for you back at my place.” Sebastian took my handed as I pocketed my phone following him out. “Think you’ll be up to real French cuisine?” I nodded and as he laced our fingers together, I smiled at the small gesture.

We walked inside and Sebastian left a trail of clothes leading to his room. I shook my head laughing and followed him in, picking up the trail as I went. You do know I end up picking as this up, right?” I asked as I tossed the clothes in the wicker laundry basket. I stripped from my own clothes, tossed them in the basket and walked to the bathroom, turning the shower on once I got in.

After showering I wiped the mirror with my hand to see Sebastian dressed and ready. “Taking time to bask in the warmth?” He asked after I settled. “Yeah, where’s the gown?” “On the bed. Hope you don’t mind backless dresses.” Sebastian replied walking back into the room, I followed him and saw the dress smiling. “So how am I supposed to keep this dress up?” I asked motioning to my chest as Sebastian laughed. “Under the dress is a bra that hooks around the waist, I had a lot of help.” I smirked and changed into the dress smiling at how the material clung to my body. “I should tear this off of your body and leave the dean.” “Did you say the dean of the school is who we’re meeting?” I questioned glancing over my shoulder. “I’ll do most of the talking, mon cher.” Sebastian stepped behind me to place his hands on my hips. I shivered slightly as he rubbed calming circles there. “C'mon, we’ll be late.” Sebastian tugged me out the door. I held my stilettos in one hand while leaning against him. “I’ll find a way to get you to your best friend’s wedding.” That was what started the long conversation. “I can’t physically be there.” I said as the taxi pulled up and we got in. “Well, ever heard of red eyes?” “I’ll be so damn tired I won’t make class with Mark.” “How about virtually?” “You mean via Skype?” Sebastian nodded and we got out.

“Sebastian kept a hand on my hip as we escorted to the table which sat an older gentleman and a beautiful young woman. The dean stood up and greeted Sebastian. “Bonjour, Sébastian. Nouvelle petite amie?” I smiled politely and the dean’s wife chastised him. “Now is not the time for personal questions, Richard. Bonjour, I’m Amelia, Richard’s wife.” She smiled and Sebastian kissed Amelia’s cheek. “Oui, je suis à elle. Je comprends un peu de Français grâce à Sebastian.” The dean reddened and at back beside him wife. Sebastian and I took our seats respectively as we looked over the menu.

     “Champagne?” Amelia asked and Sebastian took it before I could. “No fair, Bassy, you know that’s one of my favorite beverages aside from you.” I smirked and he looked at me in shock. “What, there’s a drink I make back home.” I swiped the bottle from Sebastian and tossed it lightly; catching it perfectly. “Crys, this is a restaurant, not your work.” Sebastian gritted. “Amazing.” The dean spoke watching me as I sat the bottle down. “I would get a job here, but NYU pays be a stipend so there’s no need. I only have another month here anyway.” I brushed it off as the waiter came over and Sebastian ordered for us.

A couple glasses of champagne later, both Sebastian and I were very open with our relationship. “Halloween, really?” “Well,” Sebastian began as I pulled his tie off. “It was when I finally mustered up the damn nerve to kiss this man.” I smiled watching Sebastian’s reaction closely. “Tasted like strawberries and whiskey.” I laughed. “Your fault for leaving the bottle with me.” The dean smiled at us as I sat up to finish the last of champagne. “Will you stay here or go home after the semester is up?” Richard asked watching as I leaned back into Sebastian’s arms. “Home. I’m already missing my best friend’s wedding, least I could do is come home with loads of stories.” I looked up at Sebastian with sad smile. “Wish you were coming with me, Bassy. I think I can say I’ve fallen for you.” Sebastian smiled and leaned down to capture my lips with his. “I love you,too, Crystal.” Sebastian whispered against my lips. Once we all finished eating the dean paid for our meals and Sebastian took my hand. “I’ve gotta get my beautiful girl back to her place.” “But, Bassy! You promised to stay with me in case it happens again.” Sebastian wrapped an arm around me smiling. “What she said.” We walked out and Sebastian steadied me. “You won’t remember this, but I really love you more than life itself, Sebastian. Please tell me I’m not dreaming.” “You’re not, I love you so so much.” Sebastian helped me in the taxi and we went back to his place.

He carried me to his room and gently pulled off the dress. He slipped one of his shirts on me, changed into sweats and crawled into bed with me. Silence settled in moments later. A loud bang at the front door had us both out of bed hurrying to the door.

I pulled on a pair of sweatpants, chased after Sebastian. He pulled the curtain aside and sighed letting it fall back in place. “Nothing out of the ordinary.” I sighed and walked into the kitchen looking at the pale green light emanating from the stove clock. “3:20 in the morning, can it be any earlier?” I asked shaking my head. Arms enveloped my waist bring me flush against another body. “Seb, now’s not the time for sex.” I muttered as he stayed silent. “I have class tomorrow, care to join me in re-slumbering?” He nodded and kissed my shoulder.

Once back in our room I relaxed against the bed as the lightest feather-like touches grazed my cheek. “Love you, too, Bassy.” I muttered falling asleep.

When morning came, Sebastian was nowhere to be found. I threw back the covers and shuffled into the bathroom noticing a note.

Hello, darling, I hope this note finds you well. Join me in my office this afternoon for lunch so we can talk. -Sebastian

I shrugged and went through my daily routine; shower, brush my teeth then get dressed for the day. I didn’t follow through with brushing my teeth until after having my teeth. I stood in kitchen sipping the rest of Chai tea and smiled at the sun rays as the peeked through the curtains. Once finished with my tea I quickly brushed my teeth and braided my hair to keep it up off my neck. I remembered Sebastian mentioned something about scarves in his closet and I reached up to grab one, as my fingers grazed a soft and warm one. I pulled it down carefully and tied around my neck. I pulled on my boots, grabbed my keys, stepped out of Sebastian’s house and walked the mile or so to the college.

On campus a warm cup was thrust into my hands. “I just had tea, but thanks, Rae. I’ll need this cup of coffee.” I sipped it with a smile. “Or cocoa that works,too.” I corrected and looked at the redhead beside me. “Something wrong?” Rae asked noticing how quickly I went quiet. “Sebastian wasn’t home when I woke up. I mean, it’s normal when he works, but usually he doesn’t leave a note saying “let’s talk.” It’s usually something inspirational.” I shrugged and pulled the door open to our classroom. Mark lowered his glasses as we stepped inside. “Ladies, I canceled class today, did you not get the email?” Mark asked as he rose from behind the desk. “Where’s Sebastian?” Mark questioned. “His office, wanna come with?” “I’ve got to plan tomorrow’s lesson, but that can wait.”

I led the way to Sebastian’s office and saw the door open.

I stepped inside seeing papers thrown on the floor and I let out a shaky breath. “Sebastian would never leave his office like this.” I spoke to no one in particular, my fingers grazed his desk as I sighed. Justin appeared in doorway looking smug. “Fuck off, Justin, I don’t need your bullshit.” I spat picking up the papers on the floor. Mark blocked Justin’s way in and Rae sat beside me as I stacked the papers neatly. “He loves you.” Justin spoke as I looked up. “Say what now?” “You didn’t notice, Bass changing?” Justin asked as I stood to my full height, placed the papers on Sebastian desk and looked at the other Roche. “The scarf adorning your shoulders and neck is $300.” “Your point?” I rolled my eyes and my gaze met Justin’s. “You haven’t see him becoming more dominant?” “You mean, sexually?” Justin rolled his eyes. “I know you two haven’t so guess again.” Justin challenged, Rae stepped up beside me and shook her head. “She’s only asking about your brother. Tell her or leave and drop the tough guy attitude, it’s unbecoming.” Rae spat turning to me. “I haven’t seen him since those two changed the locks on the house.” Justin scoffed and I pushed pat him as I stormed home.

I stood in front of my studio and finally broke down. I couldn’t take Justin’s bullshit, Sebastian being gone, missing my best friend’s wedding and Sebastian missing. “Now, what’s a pretty girl like you doing in this neighborhood?” A voice came and I kept my gaze at his feet. “Come on now, darlin’, tell me what’s wrong.” “My boyfriend.” I took a shaky breath and continued. “I was suppose to meet him in his office, but he wasn’t there.” “Can you describe him?” I chuckled. “His name is Sebastian, blond hair, blue eyes and dresses to the nines.” I slowly lifted my gaze to the man before me, he had brunette hair and green eyes. Other than that he looked like Sebastian. “You look like Bassy, minus the hair and eyes.” “Crys.” I felt my blood run as I stood up and took off running as I called Mark in the process. “Mark, meet me at Rae’s immediately!”

I paced in Rae’s living room as Mark walked in. “Okay what’s the emergency?” I caught my breath and stopped. “A brunette man who looks like Sebastian approached me outside my studio.” “And you didn’t ask his name?” “Yes, Mark, I ask a random guy for his name.” I sat beside Rae as there was a knock at the door. Mark sighed, “I’ll deal with it.” He shook his head, got up and opened the door. He stepped out standing face to face with the brunette. “Look, my friend is-” “Mark, drop the act. It’s me, Sebastian.” “What’s with the dyed hair and contacts?” “Dyed my hair this morning. Am I that unrecognizable?” Sebastian asked. “The fact that Crys ran here wasn’t enough?” Sebastian nodded. “Can I see her at least? To explain the hair.” Mark opened the door, seeing Rae and I watching a movie. “Tell me again why we agreed to this movie?” I asked squinting at the screen which had a young boy walking through the street with blood on his feet.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

I looked up hearing the perfect unison of the voice from the tv and the brunette reciting the monologue from Macbeth. “Bassy?” “Bonjour, cherie.” He smiled and walked towards me. “Oh Christ, Mark, where did you dig up this relic?” Sebastian questioned noticing the movie. “I like this movie.” I spoke. “One drunken, French father is enough to–” I laughed and trained my eyes back to the TV. “Enough to what?” I stayed quiet. “Phantom Halo is a good movie, whether it’s because the boys try so hard to help their father or because Warren still loves his boys.” I shrugged. “He may be a drunk and gambler, but he really did love his boys.” I looked up at Sebastian. “I was told by the casting director 'Sebastian, this father is abusive, cruel and a drunkard.’ I ran with it.” “And the smoking scene?” “Had to bring myself back to reality. They were only Pall Malls.” Sebastian added and sat beside me. I nodded as I fixed my eyes on the screen, the images of Warren seared into my brain.

Sebastian unlocked the door and walked inside, I followed him in, yawning. “Tired?” “Very.” I responded as I shuffled to the bedroom. I pulled off my jeans and slipped into bed. “Crys?” “Oui?” I muttered into the pillow. “We need to talk, now.” “'Morrow, tired, class.” I muttered drifting into sleep. “Chéri, s’il vous plaî ?” I rolled over and faced Sebastian. “I’m exhausted, Sebastian, Ce qui pourrait être important?” I slipped into French and slowly opened my eyes. “We need to talk about you heading home.” I sat up and sighed. “I have a bar to run.” I leaned my forehead against his shoulder trying to stay awake. “How about I run it with you?” I nodded.  “Can I please sleep it’s late.” “It’s 8:49, hun.” “I’ve been up since 6.” I yawned again and dragged Sebastian down with me. “Je t'adore, Crys.” “I’m adorable?” Sebastian laughed. “I adore you, darling.” I nodded.

When morning came, Sebastian had brought breakfast from the local diner. “Bien matin, la petite amie.” I sat up carefully and smiled. “Can we please drop the French, I can’t process all of it this early.” I whined as Sebastian chuckled. “Thought you would enjoy some breakfast before class.” My eyes went wide as I sat upright. Sebastian walked into the closet returning with a green gown and a suit. “I need to call Paige.” “It’s four in the morning over there, six hour time difference. It means if she’s getting married at-” “Six pm EST.” “Then that’s midnight Central European Time.” I looked down at the covers thinking. “We’ve got six hours until she wakes up and fourteen hours until “I do.” I still have time to go to class, have lunch with Mark and Rae, come back here to nap before heading to your office for the wedding. I think Rich is doing the live video for us. So if we have everything set up by eleven, we’ll be good.” “You’ve got a busy day, drop by after lunch; I know you’ll enjoy a pick me up.” I studied Sebastian a moment before swinging my legs over the bed and stood up.

I padded into the bathroom as I pulled a towel from the closet and made my way to the shower. I pulled open the door and adjusted the temperature before stripping my clothes off. I stepped into the warmth. “Mon amour?” Came Sebastian’s voice over the water. “In the shower!” “Tahmoh is on the phone.” I sighed. “Put it on speaker and set it on the counter for me?” Sebastian did as such. “Yes, Tahmoh?” “Paige is missing.” I turned off the faucet and stepped out to grab my phone. “It’s 4 in the morning where could she be?” I asked taking the phone off speaker. “That’s why I called you.” “Check her apartment above the bar, the key is taped to the ledge above the door.” I hung up and dried off. “Bassy! Can you leave my clothes out?” “Course, honey.” I wrapped the towel around me and made my way into the bedroom. I spotted blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt; I changed into them sighing. “BASSY!” I yelled trying to tug on the hem of the shirt as the top dragged lower. Sebastian walked back in grinning. “I love it.” “Since when do I ever show this much of my midriff or my cleavage?!” Sebastian sized me up smirking. “It’ll draw attention, maybe Mark can teach instead of sucking face with Rae.” I laughed at that and stopped tugging at the shirt, I pulled Sebastian over by the belt loops and slowly kissed him.

I fiddled with my jacket while waiting for Rae. Within a few minutes I heard a long whistle. “My, my my, Mrs. Roche.” My eyes snapped up to see Mark grinning at me. “We’re not married, Mark.” I replied trying not to follow his gaze. “This is not your usual attire, did you raid Rae’s closet?” I scoffed. “No, it’s mine.” I pulled the hem down as Mark laughed. “Relax, you look beautiful.” Mark unlocked the classroom door and we walked inside. “Rae’s running to grab us coffee, should be here soon.” I nodded and zipped up my jacket, avoiding Mark’s gaze. The door swung open and I turned my head to see my red headed best friend carrying a coffee carrier with drinks in them. “Rae, let me help you.” I sprung up from my desk and grabbed the carrier and she smiled. “Thanks, Crys. Figured you would need something stronger than cocoa today, seeing as you’re going to a wedding at midnight.” I sipped on the coffee letting my eyes flutter closed. “Perfect.” “What are you hiding under your jacket?” Rae asked and my eyes snapped open. “Just my shirt, I’m freezing.” I spun on my heels as Rae grabbed my shoulder. “Unzip, sis.” I groaned. “Rae” I whined. “Now!” She ordered and I unzipped the jacket, my face coloring in the process. “Woah!” I quickly covered up and went back to my desk as the rest of our class piled in. Mark was only semi off topic when he looked over to Rae and I. Her questions were centered around why I was half naked and how I was surviving.

“C'mon Moose, when do you ever dress like this?” Rae asked and I sighed. “It was Bassy’s idea.” I muttered walking with Rae to the cafeteria. “So what sounds good, Moosey?” I sighed. “A shot of Jack and a burger.” “Okay mountain Dew and a burger it is.” Rae drawled and I grabbed us a table by the window. Moments later, Rae returned with our food and drinks. “Finally!” I grabbed my burger and took a bite, relaxing against the booth. “You and your burgers.” Rae laughed. “Better than a salad.” Rae shot me a look and I laughed. “This day is already flying. Wanna come to Seb’s office with me?” I asked finishing my burger. “Gotta meet up with Mark. Someone’s gotta keep him from overworking himself.” “And that’s code for don’t call you?” I said downing some Mountain Dew. She nodded smiling. “Thank you for lunch, Rae. I’ll talk to you and Mark tomorrow.” I grabbed the bottle of Mountain Dew off the table and left.

I followed the sidewalk to Sebastian’s office. “Sebastian, amour?” I opened the office door and stepped inside.

“Finishing the setup for tonight, l'ange.” I sat atop his desk watching him emerge from behind a door. “It’s where I hung our clothes.” Sebastian spoke walking over to me. I nodded and watched as he stepped between my legs, his hands at my waist. “Enjoy your lunch?” “Do burgers count as lunch?” I laughed. “Mmm, they do, angel.” Sebastian’s lips grazed mine and he chuckled. “You two ate on campus, didn’t you?” “Mhm.” One quick movement and Sebastian had pushed me against his desk. “Ow, stapler! We can’t have sex in here unless the desk is cleared.” I laughed and Sebastian nipped at my waist. “Bassy!” I whined and tangled my fingers in his hair. “You know I still need to sleep before the reception!” I argued trying to pull Sebastian up. “Just fifteen minutes?” Sebastian pushed. “It takes you about thirty.” I teased and sat up. “Give me a few hours back at your place then we’ll roll around.” I joked and Sebastian held his hand out for me to take. “Sleep well, my love.” Sebastian kissed my cheek and I left smiling.

I unlocked the front door and shut it behind me. I tossed my key on the counter, padded into the bedroom, pulled the covers back and slid into bed. Within minutes I was asleep, my mind playing a movie to keep me asleep.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand and I grabbed it unlocking the call. “Hello?” “Wedding is in an hour, beautiful.” “Hello to you,too.” “I’ve got the champagne.” “I’ll be over in a minute.” I smiled looking up at the clock at the foot of the bed. “Make it five.” I hummed. “Alright, cherie, see you soon.” I hung up and dragged myself out of bed. I walked into our kitchen to swipe the bottle of wine, I stepped out into the backyard to collect my thoughts for a few minutes. The roses, in the moonlight, looked just as perfect as if frozen in time. I opened the back gate and left heading to Sebastian’s office.

“Bonjour, my lover.” I spoke stepping inside his office. “I have your gown.” I smiled and shut his office door. “Well, my love hand me the gown so I can strip.” Sebastian stepped out and I let out a whistle. “Mmm, can you keep the suit jacket off?” I asked. “Of course, sweetie.” I pulled off my shirt and grabbed the dress from Sebastian’s hand. I pulled the dress over my head and slid off my jeans. “Better.” Sebastian smiled and set the laptop on the folding table as he sat on top of his desk. “You sure?” Sebastian nodded and helped me up as we opened up Skype and called in. “Moose!!!” “Hey, Paige. Wow, that is not your wedding dress.” I joked yawning a bit. “Nope, just had Daneel hang it up. How’s everything on your end?” “Crystal clear. Hope you don’t mind that I brought Sebastian. We’re in his office and thought why not.” “It’s wonderful, Moose.” Sebastian leaned in a bit smiling. “You’re right, amour, your best friend is gorgeous.” “Is that Sebastian?! Holy fuck, Moose, he’s hot!” I laughed and Sebastian chuckled. “Thank you, Paige” “Can I see you in the dress yet, baby girl?” I flirted and winked. “I’ll change, but Sebastian there can never see me naked, Moose.” I covered his eyes and Paige threw a towel at the camera. “Aw, but I like seeing Pie butt!” I complained and laughed. She removed the towel and I grinned wide. “Gorgeous, mon cherie!” I beamed. Sebastian smiled. “Stunning.” “So Rich is going to be coming in after he gets dressed, then we’ll get you to the ceremony, Moose.”

As if on cue the brunet man walked in and picked up the laptop. “Hiya, Moosey! How’s Paris treating you?” I smiled warmly and adjusted the screen so Rich could see Sebastian. “Of course you fell in love with someone! Congrats, Moose.” Sebastian chuckled. “She’s a joy, Rich.” “You better treat our Moose right or you get to deal with me.” Sebastian laughed and I rolled my eyes. “You’d prank him and run while munching on candy.” Rich waggled his eyebrow and set the camera at the front of an alter. “Wow, front row seats.” I leaned back against Sebastian as we watched the processional. I smiled seeing familiar friends and they waved wanting to catch up when I returned. I felt Sebastian wrap arms around me, stretching his legs out to relax. People rose as the wedding march played and my eyes filled with tears watching my beautiful best friend walk down the aisle. I leaned forward smiling. “Hi sweetheart.” I spoke and Paige smiled taking her place next to her soon to be husband. Tahmoh and Paige said their own vows, kissing at the end and leaving as one soul. “Do you wanna stick around for the reception, Moose?” Rich asked. “Not really. It’s late and I’d like to fall asleep, tell the Pinkett’s we’ll call in a few days.” And with that the video chat ended.

“C'mon, let’s you to bed, Crys.” “Mmhmm.” Sebastian left me in the gown as he went to grab us some comfier clothes to wear. I fell face first into the bed and slipped into a deep sleep. Sebastian chuckled when he found me and helped me into bed not bothering to change either. I awoke around dawn ad rubbed my eyes. “Bassy, you awake?” Silence. I laid back down beside Sebastian trying to figure out the nagging feeling. Our bedroom door creaked open a bit. “Bass, door.” I muttered curling into his back. A quiet shushing noise came over the room and I looked over to Sebastian who was sound asleep. “Tu n'aurais jamais changé les serrures, frčre.” I froze recognizing the tone. “Seb, he’s back.” I whispered and Sebastian awoke sliding his hand under the pillow. A quick click and Sebastian lept up a blade glistening in the dark. “How?” Was all I could say before Sebastian pushed me behind him. “Call them, get to Mark’s.” He whispered and I listened grabbing the packed bag by the door.

I stood in front of Mark’s house praying he’d know what to do. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door; it clicked open and Mark stood yawning while rubbing his head. “This better be good.” “Might wanna change the attitude, Mr. Pellegrino.” I scowled up at him and he opened his eyes to see me. “Crys, Jesus Christ! It’s 3 in the morning.” I nodded and slipped inside clutching the bag tight.  “What’s wrong?” “Justin broke in. I thought it was just Bassy, but.” I trailed off a bit and sat on the couch. “Let me get Rae up, she can deal with you more than I could.” Mark walked into his bedroom and Rae walked out soon after; hair still splayed across her pale face. “Mark said the other Roche is back?” I nodded hugging the bag in my arms. Having anxiety sucked and Sebastian’s number one rule rung out true. “Don’t call me, you’re safer with Mark. If I die, it wasn’t in vain.” I froze and opened the bag fishing out some clothes to change into. I dropped the bag on the couch,walked into the guest room, shut the door and held Sebastian’s clothes in my hands.

Sebastian stood over the lifeless body cracking his neck. The blood, mainly his brother’s, stained the torn dress shirt. His hair clung to his face as he walked into the bathroom to fill up the sink. He dipped the knife carefully into the sink and went back to the room. “You always thought you could win, Justin. Now to get rid of you.”

“Crys?” Rae spoke opening the door. I looked up, eyes heavy with exhaustion. “How did he ever get in? I helped Bassy change the locks, there’s a pin pad!” I sobbed folding in on myself. “Oh, sweetheart.” Rae consoled placing a hand on my back.

Sebastian called in a favor with a friend and the place was clean before he called me. I pulled my phone out and answered. “Sebastian?” “Hey, sweetheart. Wanna come back home, coast is clear.” I hung up and Rae nodded. “Go, we’ll be alright.” Rae assured as I stood, hugged Rae and walked to the living room. I swiped my bag off the couch and heading back to Sebastian’s.

I pushed the front door open, dropped the bag on the counter and walked back to the bedroom. “Bassy?” I called. “In the bathroom.” He stepped out and my arms went around him immediately. I stepped back taking in the blood on him. “It was Justin’s.” He admitted and pulled me in for a  hug. “I’m glad you took care of it.” I whispered as Sebastian ran his hand through my hair. We went to bed after I took care of a wound on Sebastian’s cheek.

Sebastian was out of bed before I awoke, he was in the dance studio stretching. I pulled on my blue, silk robe and walked to the ballet studio in the back of the house.

He started from fifth position, then executed an Entrechat landing gracefully back in fifth position. He didn’t even notice me leaning against the door frame until he pirouetted to the center of the room. His eyes fell upon as he strode over with an outstretched arm. I took it as he spun me close against him. “Good morning to you, too, Sebastian.” I whispered smiling up at him. “Relax.” He replies whisking me off my feet and holding me above his head. “Down, Bassy!” I squeaked as he set me in front of him. He strode over to his phone one the floor and changed the song to I won’t give up by Jason Mraz.

He took my hand and gracefully pulled me against him smiling. The music filled the air as Sebastian sang with the track.

And when you’re needing your space

To do some navigating

I’ll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We’ve got a lot to learn

God knows we’re worth it

No, I won’t give up

I mimicked his movements as we waltzed around the room. I caught his reflection in the mirror noticing the tears forming in his eyes. I gripped his hand to let him know it was okay. That I would be here for him.

We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in

I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not, and who I am

By the end of the song Sebastian had broken down. His arms wrapped tightly around me and I was able to get him to sit on the wooden floor. I placed a hand on his back whispering. “Je promets de ne pas partir.” “But you will!” He sobbed. We sat in silence for a few hours, our legs stretched out behind the other. “I want to take you hiking on your last day here, bring Tobi with you.” Sebastian spoke after a few more minutes.

Saturday came and I was awoken by the sound of shuffling footsteps in the bedroom. “C'mon, princess.” Sebastian whispered, pulling back the covers. I groaned and pulled them up over my head. “You promised we’d go on a hike today.” He pouted and I gave in. “Go get Tobi’s leash and I’ll meet you in the living room.” “Deal.” Sebastian kissed my cheek and walked out whistling for Tobi.

I hauled myself out of bed and took a quick shower.

I toweled off my hair and pulled it up with a ribbon. I changed into a sports bra, black tank top and gray sweatpants. I pulled on my tennis shoes, tied them and grabbed my phone. I checked the message on my screen smiling. A text from Rae saying 'Guess you’re going to be an aunt’ with Mark holding up the pregnancy test. “Hey Bass!” I yelled and he turned to face me after clipping Tobi’s leash to his collar. “The Pellegrino’s are expecting.” I smiled and Sebastian laughed. “Mark handling a child. This I’ve got to see.” I showed him the picture and he grinned. “Guess we’re next.” Sebastian joked. “Not for a while, Sug.” I took Tobi’s leash and we headed to the park.

Five miles into our walk we stopped to take in the scenery. I unclipped Tobi’s leash and watched the little pup roll around in the grass. Sebastian wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against his side. “I’m going to miss, Paris.” I looked up at Sebastian, who watched Tobi curl up in the sun. “Bass, did your hear me?” He nodded and whistled for Tobi, who happened to trot right up to him happily.

On our way back home, Sebastian grabbed us take out from one of the shops he frequented when he would work on campus.

Silence remained between us. Nether of us wanted to speak about tomorrow’s flight. I checked the clock in the kitchen. “I should head to bed, Sebastian. It’s midnight and my flight leaves in seven hours.” I started toward the bedroom and was held back by an arm that desperately pulled me close. I closed my eyes, wishing this night would never end. We fell asleep sitting up, the pain would hit us in the morning, but we were too afraid to move.

When the alarm on my phone went off. Hands flew to my hips as if to keep me there forever. “Bass.” I whispered feeling the pain shoot up my spine. “Shower.” We stood and he sighed. “I don’t want you to leave, Cheri.” He protested and I waved him off. “I need to head home and take care of myself and the bar. It’ll be a few short months, Bassy. I promise.” I leaned up on my toes and kissed his forehead a small sigh escaping his lips.

———————————————————–

I had already been back in the states for two months and still no call from Sebastian. I sighed and slid my phone into my pocket. I grabbed my keys and drove to Balthazar’s Grace, the bar I owned. I had to do an inventory for the night and go shopping for what I needed to wear tonight.

Once I parked behind the building, I got out and went inside, flipped on the light and did an inventory of what I needed to by. I chewed on the end of my pen sighing. “So another 4 bottles of Jack, 5 bottles of skyy vodka, another 2 bottles of vermouth and gin, and some fireball.” I said aloud and called Paige to see if she could swing by the store to get what I needed for the night. Once finished at the bar I locked up and left to head over to a shop where the new uniforms sat. The woman at the counter handed me the bags and I went back to my place.

Tobi ran to me once I opened the door and I got down to his level to rub his belly. “Bonjour, my favorite pup.” I smiled at him as I pulled out the new uniforms. “Only Paige.” I chuckled to myself and the tossed the uniforms on the counter. I still had a few hours until I had to be back at the bar.

I whistled for Tobi to follow me to my room. I collapsed on my bed with my pup beside me.

I woke up at 8 changing into comfortable clothes and grabbed my uniform off the counter. I’d never wear it, but it was worth it.

I got to the bar and hopped out of my car. I pulled open the back door when I was pulled straight into a hug. “MOOSE!!” Paige squealed wrapping her arms tightly around me. “Hey beautiful.” I smiled and put Paige at arms length. Her hair was twisted up, being held up by a pen, her eyes shined in the dim lighting. She grinned up at me. “You need to get the corset on!” She urged and I rolled my eyes. “Still no word on your French lover?” She asked and I dropped my arms as I shook my head. “It’s been two months.” “Well, maybe this open mic night could change things.” I slipped away to change into the corset.

I emerged and hopped behind the bar sending out drinks one after another. I didn’t notice any of the singers until a man dressed down in jeans and a white t shirt took to the stage. I fixed myself a glass of Balthazar’s grace and leaned forward, against the bar to hear this singer. His eyes were focused on something, no, someone in the bar when the first few notes from the song rang through the air. I froze half way through my drink and stared in disbelief.

When I look into your eyes

It’s like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

I set my drink down and glanced over to Paige who was smiling from ear to ear. I knew this song, it’s the very one that broke Sebastian’s heart before I left. This man was bringing back the memories of him and I. From meeting in the supermarket to him not wanting to let me go at airport. I could feel the tears streaming down my face listening to this song.

'Cause even the stars they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We’ve got a lot to learn

God knows we’re worth it

No, I won’t give up

I gripped the bar, took a shaky breath and closed my eyes. Remembering the last day with Sebastian.

We stood in ballet studio, barefoot, almost naked and silence hung between us. I was the first to step forward, silent and graceful. Sebastian swiftly guided me across the floor, the music was low and slow, perfect for a final dance together. Neither of us spoke the entire time, tears spilling from our eyes.

The singer was at the final verse of the song and I downed the last of the drink in my hand.

I won’t give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I’m giving you all my love

I’m still looking up

When the song finished the crowd applauded and I turned my back to wipe the remaining tears from my eyes. I felt a hand touch the back of my arm and I spun to face this singer. “So, what’s the best drink you have?” His accent smacked me in the face, I knew who this man was. “Sebastian.” I whispered in both surprise and longing. “Now, that is a very interesting name for a drink. He drawled and I laughed for the first time in months. “Sebastian Roche. You come behind the bar before I drag you back here.” I smirked and he did as instructed. I held him onto him crying and lying remembering his scent. His hands settled gently at the bottom of the corset and he laughed, how I missed it so much. “Can you wear this more often?” He joked and I pulled him close for a kiss. “I missed you.”

It was closing time, Paige was cleaning off tables as she flung the towel over shoulder. “Moose, can I head out? Tahmoh has been waiting up for me.” I waved her off and Sebastian stayed beside me cleaning up the final glasses. “Tonight was nice.” Sebastian spoke as he stacked the glasses on the shelf in front of him. I nodded and flung the towel over my shoulder. “Want to head back to my place? I’ve got to feed Tobi or he’ll feed himself.” I laughed as I grabbed the towel Paige dropped on the bar. “Is the bar always this quiet?” He asked as I grabbed my shirt and quickly changed into it.  “It’s only a Thursday, tomorrow is men’s night. Which means P and I break out the angel wings and usually we rake in enough tips to have a girls weekend.” I smiled at the memories of past girls weekend. “Right, let’s head home.”

After unlocking the door, Tobi was at Sebastian’s feet. The pup laid on his back with his belly exposed and a humble Sebastian picked him up. “I think he likes me better.” I rolled my eyes laughing as I made my way to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine and food for Tobi.

Sebastian took the glass I finished pouring and I gave him a look. “You have more glasses, just pour another.” He joked, finding his way to the bedroom. I huffed, poured another glass of wine and joined him in the room.

I smiled at the scene before me. Sebastian had found one of the letters he wrote me, the wine glass on the nightstand and a smile on his face. “You kept these?” He asked and I nodded, joining him on the bed. “You’re reading my favorite one.” “I wrote this in the middle of the night. It was a week into the new semester and I missed you so much.” He spoke setting the letter down. “Well, welcome home, Bassy.” One small kiss turned into another.

We sat beside each other, relaxed and happy. Time was something neither of us paid attention to. Six months away from each other took it’s toll and we could both tell. “Are you staying this time?” I whispered laying my head on his shoulder. “Of course I’m staying. Hell, I’m moving back here if it’s okay with you.” I smiled and met the blue eyes staring down at me. “I would love for you to move in with me, Sebastian.” He smiled and picked me up to set me on his lap. “Can we stay like this?” I asked as Sebastian pulled me close to him. “I promised I would return to you and here I am.” Sebastian whispered. I smiled and laced my fingers with his. “We should get some sleep, Sebastian. Then, we can do whatever from there.” I mentioned as I felt him relax under me. “I’ll take that as a yes.” I slipped out of Sebastian’s arms and laid beside him drifting peacefully to sleep.

I was up well before Sebastian the next morning. I stood in the kitchen watching the people walking outside. I made some coffee and knew Sebastian would wake soon. As if on cue, Sebastian walked out of my room, shirtless and hair a mess. “Sleep well?” I asked handing him a cup. “Yeah, felt different, but good.” He leaned down to brush his lips against mine. “No work today?” He asked as I sipped the coffee. “Tonight. I did inventory yesterday, so Paige will do it today.” Sebastian smirked. “Do you get to wear that corset again?” He asked and I rolled my eyes. “No, actually. I don’t have to wear it. It’s men’s night so I have to get the wings from Rae before going in.” Sebastian set the cup down and lifted me onto the counter. “Hey! My house, my rules.” I taunted looking down at him. I felt nothing, but pure love for the man in front of me. He stepped between my legs, leaned up and captured my lips with his. I never wanted to leave him ever again and that will never happen.

#WIPBigBang #WIP Big Bang #Supernatural RPF #Mark Pellegrino #Sebastian Roche #Tahmoh Pinkett #Richard Speight #completed shit #2017 #submission

[lassluna]

Beauty in Apartment 13B

It's not easy to find your happy ending. But there's nothing like having your best friend along for the ride. Captain Book, ultimate friendship.

A/N (Well my once a week story is turning into a once a month thing. Oh well, I guess that's life right?

I was hoping to go a little more funny and less plot for this update. I hope it came out ok).

Is He Here Yet?

"I think I'm dying." Killian moaned from the sofa. She looked up from her laptop on the opposite chair, raising a brow. It was the first weekend after classes had started and they were both camped out in the living room doing some studying. Belle had a book to read for a discussion and from what she could tell from the scattered papers everywhere, her roommate was doing math.

Or at least he was at one point. Apparently now he's dying.

"This is going to be the death of me." He complained louder. "You won't have to worry about being judged about living with me because I'll soon be dead." He assured her with a nod.

It had been days since Gaston had met Killian and while things seemed to be getting better with her and Gaston, she'd insisted on not changing the current living conditions until the lease was up at the end of the year. Gaston was acepting it, but not happily. Belle figured it was easiest to just not bring him up again.

But while living with Killian was no longer a problem with Gaston, she was now learning bits about the ins and outs of living with the most over dramatic person she's ever met. And that was saying something when Ruby thought wearing the same dress as a girl she hated constituted a 911 call.

Belle debated humoring him or ignoring him.

Belle tried option two.

"But then you'll have to explain my rotting corpse, I might start to smell." He added. "I hear fabreeze is a good way to get rid of rotting smell." Killian stopped to think about it. "But I don't know how you'll get the stain out, does decomposition leave a stain?"

Belle went for option one, just to see what was making her roommate so melodramatic and to get him to stop describing the process of which he'll decompse so she can finish reading her book.

"What's wrong Killian?" She said sweetly, making it blatantly obvious how much she cared at this moment (which was not at all).

"Don't mock me on my death bed lass." He sighed. "But if you must know…"

"Actually no. Change my mind." She said quickly, catching that glint in his eye. It was going to be stupid, like really stupid. She could tell. She was developing a keen sense of when Killian was about to be stupid.

(Aka, all the time)

"I'm starving and my food is torturing me." He explained, showing her his phone screen. She squinted to read it.

'Your order is being processed!' was written in big multicolored letter with an animated smiley face looking as if it enjoyed the suffering of starving college kids. She knew this as a fact from all the times she and Ruby waited around for pizza; or Chinese they used to order last semester.

"I understand completely." She said in mock seriousness. "What can I do to make your passing easier?" She asked.

"I have this essay that needs review-"

"No."

"Tea? Would you make me a cup of tea? That Strawberry one?" He pleaded.

"How do you know I have a strawberry tea?" She asked. She'd yet to make it.

He averted his gaze. "Do you? That was just a guess." He corrected. Belle rolled her eyes. Apparently Tea theft was going to be a thing with them.

"Fine." She got up and started her water boiling, which would take about 10 minutes. It was not worth starting a thing.

"It moved! The bar moved!" He exclaimed excitedly. "My order is now being prepared!"

Belle rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you two will be very happy together." She said with a chuckle. "What did you order?"

"Pizza." He declared proudly, "Extra cheese, with some bacon on it." He said proudly.

Belle chuckled. "Good choice." She assured him. "Ruby and I always got take out." It was the only food they always agreed on.

"I feel like I haven't eaten in days." He moaned.

"I saw you inhale a box of cereal." She reminded him.

"Days!"

"Like 2 hours ago." Killian rolled his eyes. "Tea's ready." She supplied, watching as he rose from his seat on the couch to get his mug.

He sipped it slowly. Belle turned back to her book….

"It's being inspected? What does that bloody mean?" He asked.

Belle rolls her eyes. "Probably to make sure your order is right?" She guessed. He groaned "Calm down, it'll be here eventually." She reasoned. She was seriously not getting enough work done right now. She should probably go back to her room. Killian probably wouldn't bother her there.

But while Killian's grumbling was distracting, it was also pretty entertaining.

"What are you reading?" He asked.

"Public speaking textbook." She grumbled. "I hate it, it's so boring." Killian chuckled. "It's not funny!"

"It's pretty funny." He reasoned. "Take a break, you've been at it for hours." He insisted. Which was true, she's been studying since she woke up, about 9 since it was a weekend, and it was nearly lunch time. "Split a pizza with me." He urged.

"Really?" She asked in surprise.

"Of course." He assured her. "Split the cost 50/50?" Belle nodded, suddenly feeling starving.

She joined him on the couch, book abandoned to wait for the pizza.

Order being quality checked!

"We're going to die before it gets here aren't we?" She asked him with a neutral face.

"Without a doubt."

Fortunately they were wrong, they hadn't keeled over out of hunger when they got a knock at the door. Belle would very much like to say that they didn't race over to the door like kids waiting for Santa. Yes, she'd love to say that.

(But it would totally be a lie.)

"How much do I owe you?" Killian asked pulling out his wallet for the delivery guy. The man responded but Belle was completely consumed by the smell of pizza. It was delightful.

"Oh, Hey Belle." The pizza guy said, getting her attention. She snapped to look at the blonde haired pizza guy.

"Oh Victor, you still work here?" She asked with a nervous smile. The guy nodded.

"So Gaston was telling the truth when he said you were shaking up with a brit." He said with a smirk in Killian's direction. She frowned at that. She had a rebuttal on the tip of her tongue.

"Woah mate." Killian stated. "Mind your manners when talking to the lady." Killian snapped. "There is no shaking up going on here."

"Killian-" She tried, feeling Killian getting all protective of her honor or something.

"So you tell ol'Gassy not to spread rumors." He said.

Victor gave her a glance, not even phased by the look on Killian's face or his tone.

"Looks like you got a keeper there Belle." He said with a wink. "You tell Red I'll call her K?" Belle nodded watching him leave. She set the pizza on the counter, she watched Killian huff as he entered and went to grab them plates.

"You know I can take care of myself right?" She asked. "You don't need to defend me."

Killian shrugged. "I know lass." He replied. "But I'm a gentleman, it's how I was raised." He admitted. Belle sighed.

"Whatever." She mumbled, because there could be worse things than having a roommate that wanted to 'defend her honor'

Seriously, what was with him? It's like he's a midevil pirate or something…

"Who was that anyway?" Killian asked, lifting a piece of the cheesy pizza and dropping the tip into his mouth. He had cheese hanging out as he munched.

"Victor Whale, Gaston's roommate." She explained. "He works at the local pizza place, we ordered from them a lot. Ruby and him have a sort of thing going on." She admitted, remembering to text Ruby."

Guess who delivered us pizzas?

Us? Seems like you and Blue eyes are getting along ;)

Belle rolled her eyes.

Vic says he's going to call you later.

Ruby didn't reply. She turned back to Killian.

"Sort of thing?"

"It's complicated." She replied, looking at her phone for confirmation.

Sureee he will, and even if he was, not like I'd pick up. Like really does he think i'm waiting by the phone?

"Ah."

Brb, he's calling.

They ate in comfortable silence, if by comfortable, it meant that they were racing for that oddly large piece at the opposite side of the box.

By living with him,Belle was learning quite a few things about Killian Jones.

For one thing he was a gentleman in all things...except when it came to pizza.

"Mine!" He shouted, grabbing at the last piece seconds before Belle could.

"No fair! You had more than me!"

"Finders keepers lass, and your half was larger than mine." He explained taking a victorious bite out of the last slice. She glared at it, silently hoping it'd slip and fall out of his grip.

You win this time pirate. Next one is mine.

#Beauty in Apartment 13B #Captain Book #killian jones #belle #LassLuna Writes

[trishekebab]

Kintsugi

This is an original short story I wrote for English class that I thought I'd share. kintsugi (Noun) To repair with gold; The art of repairing metal with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.     It was early. Early enough that the sun had not yet graced the sky with its warming presence and the chill of night still remained in the summer air. I was in the kitchen, nursing a cup of hot tea out of my favorite japanese style teacup with purple and blue abstract flowers. I hadn’t intended to be up so early, but these things just happen sometimes. As I stood, hip resting of the low granite counter, I let my mind go blank, savoring the calm you only find before the world is awake. The doorbell rang. Now that was odd, who could possibly be visiting at this hour. I walked to the door of the apartment I shared with my sister Alison. A glance in the peephole revealed two men in suits. I unlocked and opened the door to the police officers. “Good morning officers,” I said sweetly, if a little tiredly, “What can I do for you so early this morning?” “I’m detective Jones, and this is my partner, detective Wallace. We’re looking for Alene Brogan” Jones queried softly. “That’s me. What do you need?” I took a sip of my tea. “May we come in?” “Umm…sure?” I opened the door all the way to allow them entrance to my small apartment. “Why don’t we sit down, Miss Brogan?” detective Wallace’s voice was a comforting baritone. “Right this way officers” I led them to the modest living room area with dark hardwood floors and a dark green couch adjacent to a white floral chair with fluffy cushions. I sat in the white chair and the detectives took their places on either place on the sofa, turning to face me. “We’ve been sent to inform you that at 2:36 this morning the remains of who we believe to be one Alison Brogan were discovered behind the fifth street bar and grille. As you are her only living relative, we thought it best to tell as soon as possible. We are very sorry for your loss.” Jones’ voice was soft, as though he was speaking to a frightened deer. I hadn’t heard his whole speech. At the mention of my sister’s name, my teacup slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor, embedding tiny ceramic shards in my bare feet and dousing them in the hot liquid. I didn’t feel the pain. I didn’t feel anything. In that moment my entire world had stopped and I was numb, robbed of all ability to feel. The detectives had rushed inside to help me with my injuries while I stood completely shell shocked. They asked me where my first aid kit and paper towels were. I answered automatically, letting them bandage my feet and clean up the remainder of the broken teacup. I have no idea how long these events took. They blurred together in the clouded vortex of a mind in shock, making it feel as though time was zipping by too fast to even glimpse and yet it passed lethargically. It was as though this moment, this one, terrible moment, wanted to latch onto me forever and never let me go, to seep into the cracks in my shattered form and prevent any adhesive, no matter how strong, from putting me back together. Detective Wallace moved to throw away what remained of my purple and blue teacup, but I stopped him. Taking the small handheld dustpan from his grasp, I transferred the teacup to the empty fruit bowl on the counter. It might seem strange that I was so focused on a ten dollar ceramic, but that dinky little teacup was one of my most treasured possessions. Alison had given it to me six years prior for my fourteenth birthday. She had been fifteen and had painted the teacup herself with the colors of our birthstones. Ali had always been wonderful at art; she was getting her degree in graphic design. Well, not anymore, obviously. She would never get her degree, or make herself a cup of tea, or even take a nap ever again. And I was all alone. A poor little orphan girl with no one left.     In the year that followed, I fell into a pattern of not living but simply existing. I went to my classes, came home, did homework, ate, bathed, went to sleep, and woke up in the morning to start all over again. I rarely spoke when it wasn’t required and I never smiled. I passed all my classes and was one year closer to my degree in computer engineering; but I didn’t care. Not really. It was a little over a year after they found my sister and I had not left my house save for grocery runs all summer. School started back up in two weeks and I was contemplating dropping out. It wasn’t as if there was anyone left to be disappointed in me. No. I have to do this. For her. For them. My family. I thought. They never found Ali’s killer. It was some back alley mugging, and she had been coming home from a party.  It might be assumed that this was the beginning of my search for her killer and the subsequent revenge which comes with such tales, but I was not that strong, nor did I seek to enforce any penance for what had happened. I had long ago accepted the fact that her death was simply one of many such attacks. She just ran out of luck. I had spent the day laying in bed, doing nothing of importance and wallowing. As had often been the case in the past year. There was some ad on the tv for a novelty mop of sorts. “Change your life for the better,” it said. And that got me thinking, which got me moving, and the next thing I knew I was out of the house and driving to a local coffee shop. In a couple of weeks it would be flooded with college students doing homework, studying, or just having social hour, but right then, it was mostly empty. I ordered a tea and sat down at a counter facing the window. I didn’t care to look at the stereotypical interior of the coffee shop meant to invite the business of hipsters and struggling artists. As I observed the street traffic and the distant sun, which was quickly nearing its nadir, a small blonde girl sat down next to me with a paper cup of coffee that must have been 30 ounces at least. Her hair was cut into a short bob reminiscent of the roaring twenties, her eyes were a warm and inviting grey with a slight downward tilt, and she wore a bright pastel blue dress adorned with depictions of squirrels in orange. “Hey. I’m Shawn. I know what you’re gonna say, and yes, it is actually a girl’s name,” Shawn smiled lightly and looked at me for a few seconds, as if waiting for something, “And you are..?” she prompted me. “Oh! I’m Alene. It’s Irish,” I responded with a mental facepalm, of course she was waiting for me to give my name. It seemed that my time away from humanity had left me a bit socially handicapped. “Well, it’s nice to meet you Alene. Say, have you ever seen Slipper and The Rose with Richard Chamberlain?” she asked excitedly. “Uh… No?” Shawn gasped, “Welp, that settles it. We must remedy this immediately!” She began to rapidly relay the plot of the movie, along with what she felt were the most important quotes and a few song excerpts. However, the conversation quickly turned to dinosaurs with feathers for a short time before turning to zombies. We sat talking for four hours and it was well past dark by the time I had gone home. Shawn and I began hanging out nearly every day and even had a few classes together when the semester began. Shawn was studying Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences so there was some crossover. She and I became very fast friends. Shawn was good for me. After all, she was exactly what I hadn’t been for so long. Happy. Shawn was excited by nearly every new occurrence, which seems like it might get annoying very quickly, yet it never did. She helped me start to see joy in the little things again. And all of a sudden I realised that I had been color blind, living in a world made of grey, thinking that there were no other colors. Because, for the first time in a very long time, I had the rainbow back. Seven months after I met Shawn however, my worst nightmare came true. There was no visit from the police telling me that the person I now considered family was gone. No, this was worse. It was about six fifteen and I was heading out to pick up some popcorn for our weekly movie night where one of us forced the other to watch a movie we had been deprived of. I was listening to a bouncy pop song when I turned the corner and saw it. Shawn was on the ground with her back leaning against the brick wall of an old pawn shop. Why is she sitting outside? I had thought innocently before I noticed the dark stain spreading from her lower abdomen and the thin red line trailing from the corner of her mouth. I dialled 911 quickly as I ran to her. The phone operator spouted off the classic opener with a bored tone. My voice was frantic and stuttery as I tried to explain the situation, “Hello. I-I’m at 213 Prenton Way. Um, it’s my friend. Oh god, I think she’s been stabbed!” The dispatcher’s voice was suddenly invested as she informed me that there was an ambulance on its way and how I could help in the meantime. Seven and a half minutes. That’s how long it took the ambulance to get there, how long I held my hands over her wound and begged her to stay with me.     It was sixteen hours in the waiting room before I could see her. She was in a private room which felt sterile and invasive. Her skin, which was normally pinkish with a sort of glow was ashen and grey, with dark circles under her eyes. I walked slowly to her. When I reached the side of the bed I collapsed and broke down in tears, which soon devolved into pathetic blubbering. I don’t know when it started, but Shawn had been running her hand over my hair, trying to calm my breathing.     We sat in silence for a long time before she finally spoke, “Thank you, for saving my life.”     “I didn’t do anything,” I said, looking down at my hand that was in my lap and not Shawn’s hand.     “Yes you did. I heard you. And I listened. I stayed.”     I broke down again, weeping for a solid ten minutes from both leftover shock as well as relief. And that was when I told Shawn everything. About my sister, and my parents, and that awful year of nonexistence. She hugged me and told me everything would be alright. We talked for a while after, eventually deciding that she would be coming to stay with me. Permanently. And after a week of observation, we moved her belongings into my apartment.     Two days later, after I came home from a grocery run, she bounced my way excitedly with a small wrapped package. “Here, I got you something,” she held it out with a nervous smile. When I opened the small blue box, I gasped and tears sprang into my eyes.     “M-my teacup? B-but, how did you fix it?”     “Kintsugi, it’s an ancient japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. It’s also a mindset, that something broken, once repaired, is more beautiful for the trauma it underwent. Just like you.”

#original story #symbolism #like so much symbolism you'll choke on it #angst #depression #character death #I made my sister cry with this #im sorry #writing #short story #there was supposed to be a scene at her sister's grave but I was already over the maximum word count #heavily implied lesbians #like really heavily implied #teacups #teacup symbolism #kintsugi #mention of hipsters

[am-stories]

Draft

For the Prologue and Chapter One. I’m not too happy with this yet, but it’s the first draft of this version of Eradicate. I think the pacing and the wording of some parts are weird? Sidenote: it makes me very sad that Tumblr removes the formatting. :( 

Prologue

“What do you remember?” I asked. “From the beginning?” He asked. I nodded. “Um, I don’t know. I was like six.” “Yeah, I know. I was there, dummy,” I smiled. I looked at the worn and torn journal in my hands. The picture taped to the front page made my heart swell. “Do you remember her?” “Vaguely. She was… Really nice, I think.” “She was. She could have changed the world,” I said. Ant smiled sadly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You must miss them…” I nodded. “I do too. I don’t remember everything about them, but… They were family.” A tear fell down onto the yellow page. I sniffed, wiping my face. Panic flashed across Ant’s face. He sat down, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into a hug. “Hey, it’s okay… I’m sure they knew how loved they were. Will you tell me more about them? We can start from this page.” “Are you sure?” I asked. “They’re not all happy memories.” He nodded. I collected myself. The sight of the first picture filled my mind with memories—some I wanted to cherish for the rest of my life and some, I wish had never become memories in the first place. “May was the one to start the journal.”

Chapter One: Go Home May

“May,” my roommate called. “I’m leaving now. Are you sure you don’t need anything?” Her voice pulled me away from the article on my phone. I shook my head, pulling myself off of the tall bed. “No, no. I’ll be fine,” I said. I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. We weren’t even roommates for two whole months before the school got shut down, but in that time I thought we became good friends. “Go home, okay?” She smiled back at me, though she looked a little worried. “You too. Call me if you need anything, okay?” I assured her I would before we hugged one more time and parted ways. Not even two months into my first year of college and classes were canceled for the rest of the semester. I made my way to the window, watching my now former roommate drive away. Once she was gone and safe, I sighed with relief. Now that the dorm was basically empty besides me and a few international students, I almost felt relieved. It meant that I would be able to at least stay inside until Mom and Dad get here. When people started acting strange, nobody really took notice. Then it went from a few odd occurrences to downright cruelty—people attacking one another, ripping them open. Nobody knew why. They tried to ignore it for a while, but it started spreading like wildfire and now it’s impossible to ignore. Now almost everybody has either lost someone from these attacks or knows someone who has lost someone. It's inescapable. It didn’t take long for schools to cancel classes, or for airports and bus stations to close down. Now I was stuck in Massachusetts, waiting for my parents to make their way forty hours across the country to bring me home. I pulled myself away from the window, taking a deep breath. So long as I stayed inside, I’d be safe. “Hi Pops,” I said into the phone. “What time do you think you’ll get here?” “We should be there by six tomorrow,” Dad said. “Try to get everything packed so we don’t have to stay any longer than necessary, okay hun?” “I don’t have any boxes,” I said. “There might be some by the dumpsters.” “Maybe. I’ll bring some just in case,” he said. “How’s ma?” “Sleeping. How are you holding up?” He asked. “You must be scared.” “Psh, ain’t nobody getting me. I didn’t do all that work to get into this school just to waste it all,” I said. “I’m too smart, and brave, and totally awesome.” “Humble too,” he laughed. “Don’t be too brave, hun.” “I’m fine, Pops.” “Then I’m fine, too,” he said. “Now get packing, I wanna get back home, ASAP.” “Will do. Love you,” I said. “Love you,” he said. We hung up. After a bit of procrastination, I pulled on my boots and jacket. As I shoved my keys in my pocket, I cursed the school for banning pepper spray. What a load of bologna, I thought. The tread towards the dumpster was a long one not because of the distance, but because of the agonizing paranoia that settled deep into my bones. With each leaf crunch, I checked to see who was where. Nobody. Nowhere. Despite that, my knuckles turned paper white, a key between each one. I was fighting the dumpster stench when I heard a cry. My eyes flew towards the sound, scanning the area. My back pressed against the dumpster in hopes that nothing could sneak up on me. “Get the hell away from me!” I froze. I sprinted towards the dorm and shoved the key in. With the door open, I hesitated. “Oh, God! Please!” After a split second of panic, I abandoned the door. I sprinted towards the sounds of terror. I stopped in my tracks once I found the man. He lied on the ground, the only thing between him and his attacker, his arm. The side of his arm was lodged in the attacker’s mouth and blood streamed down onto the man’s face. Without thinking, I ran towards them and kicked the attacker as hard as possible. “Are you okay?!” I asked the man who I could only assume was a professor. I put out my hand to help him up, but instead was thrown against the wall. The attacker behaved like a wild animal—he growled ferociously into my ears. I screamed out, using all of my strength to push him away. Without any other option, I shoved my keys into his throat. He almost gasped, falling to the ground with pained grunts. The professor was now standing, and he grabbed my arm. He drug me into the building—the campus theatre. “Lock the door!” I shouted. “It’s glass,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll care to break it!” He ushered me to follow him up the stairs. Just as I heard the sound of glass breaking, we ran into one of the practice rooms with a sturdy wooden door and blinds on the door’s window. Once he locked the door, he held a finger to his lips. He held his back against the door. I slowly took a seat on the piano bench. The room was simple; it was extremely small, just room enough for the piano and a few extra bodies.  One of the walls was a mirror, which I looked into. There was blood on my face, but I didn’t think it was my own. I didn’t realize before then how hard I was breathing, or the fact that a few tears had fallen down my face. Footsteps. The professor and I both froze, staring at one another with fear in our eyes when we heard the sound of feet dragging against the ground. The attacker walked by our room, moaning in pain. That’s when I realized my keys were gone. The professor held his ground against the door, waiting for the shuffling of feet to go away. After a few minutes, I jumped once I heard the attacker let out a yell. The sound of a body hitting the floor followed. Then the feint sound of someone getting up again. Did he fall down the stairs? The professor slowly turned, moving the blinds slightly. I peered outside the window. “Look,” I whispered. “He’s back on the street.” The professor joined me before slightly pulling me away from the window. “Don’t want him spotting us,” he said. I nodded and pulled down the room’s blinds. “I think I’m locked out of my dorm now,” I mumbled. “Then we’re both stuck,” he sighed. “I was trying to get to my car. It’s a few blocks away still.” As he spoke, he took a look at his forearm. He pulled back his sleeve, hissing in pain. “I left my phone in my room,” I said. “How about you?” He nodded, pulling his out. He dialed 911. As he waited for a response, I gazed at the keys of the piano. “Dammit…” I looked up. He looked at me, frustrated. “Line’s busy,” he grunted. “Oh,” I stared at his arm. “What do we do? Maybe there’s a first aid kit?” “Right now, I’d rather not be rummaging around in an unfamiliar building…” “Uh, would you rather bleed out?” I asked, eyeing him weirdly. “I’ll go look.” “What? No.” He paused. “I’ll go.” He looked as if he was bracing himself before he slowly unlocked the door and peeked his head into the hallway. He glanced back at me before stepping out, closing the door behind him. Through the crack of the blinds, I looked at my dorm. I could see the light was still on in my room. If I squinted enough, I could almost see my phone thrown on my bed. I was just glad I left after talking to Dad. I couldn’t wait for him and Mom to pick me up so that I could pretend none of this happened. Then at least I could wait for the world to go back to normal in the comfort of my own home. Home. The idea made me smile as I turned back to the keys of the piano. I subconsciously pressed a key just as the professor opened the door, causing me to nearly jump off of the bench. “Jeez!” I put a hand to my heart, glaring at him. “Sorry,” he muttered as he locked the door. “No, it’s fine,” I said. “Sorry about the noise.” “Door says it’s sound proof in here.” He shrugged, opening a small first aid box. “And the building seems rather empty.” I hummed in acknowledgment and turned back to the piano. I gently pressed a few keys as he tended to his wound. “Are you gonna be okay?” I asked. “I’d assume so, though I’d prefer to get this checked out sooner rather than later.” I nodded in agreement. “Is that what you’re studying? Music?” “Oh, no. I’m undecided. I’m just too good at too many things,” I laughed. “I love music but I don’t know. I want to make a difference. Like, save lives.” “So a doctor?” “Eh, maybe. Maybe not,” I said. “Dyslexia’s a son of a gun. I’d be afraid I’d prescribe the wrong thing.” He nodded. “Plus, I wanna get my life started ASAP,” I smiled. “I’ve got places to meet and people to be, you know?” He chuckled a little. My fingers absentmindedly fluttered against the piano keys, playing a familiar song. I hummed softly, the tension in my shoulders easing. After a few Moments of me playing, the professor spoke up. “What song is this?” “It’s called ‘Daddy Loves Me.’” I grinned with slight embarrassment when he looked at me strangely. “I wrote it for my Dad when I was like nine. He’s the one who taught me piano. “Oh, that makes much more sense,” he said. “Does this song have lyrics?” I felt myself instantly cringing. “Not for you to hear, kind sir. No offense.” “None taken,” he said with a small laugh. Once I finished playing the song, I turned around and sighed. “Maybe we wait for day break. Then at least we won’t be poking around in the dark.” “Sure,” I said.

A few hours must have passed when I awoke to the professor kneeling on the floor in pain. “Hey, what’s the matter?” I asked. He grimaced, soaking in sweat. “I don’t think I’m well,” he groaned. “It fucking burns!” “Your arm? Maybe it’s infected?” I suggested, voice shaking slightly. “No, everything!” He shouted. “Hey, dude, it’s going to be okay,” I said. “Here, let’s get you up.” I grabbed his shoulder, trying to help him up when I noticed his eyes for the first time. They were milky, the irises barely visible. “I… I can’t see for shit,” he cried. “You’re gonna have to help me to the car.” “Of course,” I forced a smile. “I’ve got this… Um, I never got your name.” “Michael. I’m Dr. Michael Hamer,” he panted. “Cool. I’m May Lin,” I said. “You’re gonna be so awesome when we get you help, Michael.” He nodded shakily, allowing me to put his arm over my shoulder. I grunted, pulling him up to his feet with a bit of his help. He fished his car keys out of his jacket pocket and handed them to me.“Thank you, May…” “At your service, Michael.” We tread slowly towards the stairs where it sounded like the attacker had fallen. To prevent the same mistake, I guided Michael gently down. “Before we leave, which direction is your car?” I asked softly. “It’s near the Engineering building,” he croaked. “I’m an Engineering professor.” His lip quivered. “Hang in there, Mikey,” I said as I opened the door like I was in slow motion. His feet dragged the ground as my eyes darted back and forth. “Looks clear.” I tried to pick up the pace while, trying to pinpoint exactly where the Engineering building was in my memory. The weight on my shoulders seemed to get heavier with every minute that passed. I couldn’t help but stare at Michael from time to time to make sure he was still kicking. After about fifteen minutes of trudging I said, “I think I see it… That must be your car, great!” I grinned with excitement. I almost dragged Michael to the car, much to his discomfort. I started leading him to the passenger seat when I heard a deafening shriek nearby. “What was that?” I whispered. “Animal, maybe?” He responded. I shrug it off but started moving a bit faster. I had him lean against the car as I fumbled with the keys, trying to find the right fit. I heard something in the distance, the sound of feet rapidly hitting pavement. “Dammit! Which ones are they?!” Just as the door unlocked, I was slammed against it. I gasped in pain. To my surprise, it was Michael that had slammed into me, but he was wrestling someone else off of him. I stepped away in shock before the woman in Michael’s arms let out a harrowing shriek. Following the sound, more people showed up. I froze before hearing Michael yell out in pain. The woman had her teeth deep in his shoulder, tearing the skin apart viciously. I yanked her off of him, shoving her onto the pavement. “May, please,” Michael gasped in agony. “Please, don’t leave me here!” “I wouldn’t do that,” I assured him. I glanced back at the woman getting up from the pavement and the others coming out from every shadow and every building. I threw the car door open and pulled Michael from the pavement and into the passenger seat. I slammed the door and rushed to the other side. Once I was in, I locked the doors and put on my seat belt. Panting, I tried to process what had just happened. There was an incredibly angry woman bashing on the window. Michael’s arm was now bleeding through the gauze and to top it off, his vision was shot and his shoulder had a bleeding bite mark in it. I hastily looked in the back seat before grabbing a shirt that had been thrown back there. “First, put pressure on your shoulder,” I demanded. “Second, you should know I’ve driven like, maybe four times in my life!” “Dear God, save me,” he groaned. “Just—” I said, “I don’t know, buckle up!” Just as the flood of hostile people neared the car, I pulled out and sped out of there, narrowly dodging a few of them. My hands trembled, fighting to control the steering wheel. My stare stayed locked on the road, slowing down slightly once there was nobody in sight. We passed my dorm. “Hanging in there?” I asked, not risking taking my eyes off the road. I took the muffled groaning as a yes. Letting out a shaky breath, I took a turn, leaving the campus behind. “Can I use your phone?” I asked. Michael just rolled his head to look at me, breathing slowly. “Are you okay? You’re gonna be okay. I just need to tell my parents not to come here. Please?” I barely heard a pained grunt. When he didn’t move to get his phone, I turned my head to look at him. “Mi—” I was cut off by him flinging himself towards me. I screamed, barely shoving him away in time to avoid him sinking his teeth into my face. The car swerved.

Tapping. No, banging. I woke up to banging against the car window. I squinted, gasping at the pounding in my head. My body ached, as if it had been beaten. I turned my head to the left. I flinched at the man beating on the window. I turned my head to the right and screamed. Michael’s body lied halfway inside the car, halfway out the front window. His blood—it was everywhere. He was limp. I think that was what broke me first. The pounding in my head only got worse as the first tear fell, and then the next, and the next. I sobbed so hard, I was afraid I’d hyperventilate. It stung so bad. The man beat the window harder when I cried. I tried to stop, but I didn’t know how. I attempted to slow my breathing and my hands. Looking out the window, there was shouting. People running for their lives, one of the buildings on fire, corpses on the street. Chaos. I winced as I unbuckled the seat belt and reached over to Michael. “I’m sorry…” I whispered, sniffling. I reached into his back pocket. With as much focus as I could muster, my fingers jabbed 9-1-1. The call didn’t go through. I took a deep breath. Don’t panic. I tried again, but this time I dialed Dad’s number. “Please pick up,” I begged. A Moment passed. “Hello?” My heart froze and then melted all over again. “Can I help you?” I couldn’t find the words to explain what happened. “Hello?” Mom said. “What’s that sound?” My eyes shut tight, as if trying to muster up courage. A small cry escaped. “May?” She paused, as if pondering if it was me. “Honey, what’s wrong?” “Mommy,” I sobbed. “I’m really scared. I need help. I’m not at the dorm—I don’t know where I am.” “Honey, stay calm,” she said. “Tell me what happened. What do you see?” “Um, I don’t know…” I tried to block Michael from my view. “I think I might be near a town. There’s lots of trees. The car smashed into one.” “You got into a car wreck?!” She paused. “What are you doing in someone’s car? May, you need to get out of the car.” “I-I can’t,” I sighed. “There’s a dude banging on the door. He’s sick, I think.” “Jesus Christ,” I heard Mom sigh. “It’s going to be okay. It’s going… It’s gonna be okay, hun.” She paused. “I need you to hang in there. We’re still about half an hour away, so call 911.” I shook my head, swiping tears away. “They won’t answer. We tried twice.” “We? Nevermind,” she said. “Okay. Let me think…” “I’m sorry…” “Don’t apologize, knucklehead. I just need to wrap my head around this.” Pause. “Maybe try pressing the steering wheel and see if someone comes?” “No!” I whisper-shouted. “Then more of them will find me!” “I’m lost,” she admitted. “But alright. Do you see any buildings?” I craned my neck, searching for sight of a building. “Yeah, there’s a lit house.” “Do you think you could make a run for it?” “What?” I said. “What if I’m too slow, or nobody let’s me in?” “You can’t stay in that car,” she said. “I know you can do this, hun.” The man’s strikes against the door got harder. I looked at the yellow building. I sighed shakily. “I just want to go home, Ma…” “I know sweetie. We will. I know it,” she whispered. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.” “You’re so brave,” she said. “Can you see the address?” I leaned forward, squinting to see the sign that sat in front of the building. “The… Eternal Home?” I made sure I was reading it right. “I think it’s a homeless shelter.” “That’s good,” Mom said. “We’ll find you as soon as possible.” “I love you,” I whispered. “I love you so much,” she said. Sighing, I crawled into Michael’s seat. “I’m gonna do it. I’ll call when I can.” I said goodbye once more before hanging up and pocketing the phone with a tinge of guilt. I made sure I was in position to jump out. Throwing open the door, my feet hit the ground. The man took notice and started at me. With every ounce of strength I had left in my sore body, I sprinted. I panted through the pain, nearing the bright yellow house. My legs burned but I pushed harder. I heard sprinting steps right behind me. I was sure I’d be taken down any second until the door to the yellow building flew open. Out, came a ginger man. My body subconsciously flew right past him, into the house. My feet slid on the wooden flooring and I fell onto my back, breathing heavily as the door slammed shut. The man, looking to be in his thirties, locked the door before rushing over to me. “You’re hurt. Are you infected?” He asked. “Uh, not that I know of?” I sat up a bit. His face came close to mine. I instinctively backed away. “Sorry, I was seeing if you’re showing any signs,” he said. “And?” My eyes widened. “I think you’re good, besides the bloody head,” he looked worried. “Laura, will you please bring me the first aid kit?” He looked at a plump, hispanic woman with a little boy who greatly resembled her. The only difference, being his wild hair. Laura nodded and told the boy to stay there. He watched me carefully. The boy seemed shy, and understandably scared. “I’m Andy,” the man suddenly said. “Welcome to The Eternal Home.” “I’ve never seen the inside of a homeless shelter before,” I said. “This is just the main building,” Andy said. “Though, I thought it best that all the patrons stay under one roof, given the… current circumstances.” Just as he said this, Laura was back. She knelt down by us with a first aid kit and a wet washcloth. “You’re in good hands,” she smiled. “All the other staff left. We’ve still got each other, though! We’re very grateful for Andy.” She turned to the boy. “Isn’t that right, Ant?” The boy smiled a little and nodded. “I’m flattered,” he said. “However, I am no doctor…” “It’s just a cut,” I said. “We’ll do what we can for the time being,” Laura said. She opened the kit and started working on my messed up face. “Laura’s been a lifesaver,” Andy said. “Quite literally.” I nodded a little in acknowledgment, to which Laura gently swatted me for. The room fell quiet for a few minutes. It was crowded. Probably twenty or thirty people. Each looked vastly different from the other. Most of them looked miserable or scared, or both. As Laura worked on my wounds, I looked at my hands. There was blood on them and the part that got me the most was that I didn’t know whose it belonged to. Laura grabbed my hand. “We’re gonna take care of you. Okay?” I nodded.

#draft #eradicate #prologue #chapter one #writing #writer #writeblr #writers on tumblr #zombie #apocalypse #amstories

[myworldofbellyinwaiting-blog]

Love in the worst of times - Part One

My heart is racing as I try to silently walk down the stairs of my house. My lack of ability to see in the darkness of the house and the heavy duffel bag on my shoulder causes me to stumble. I catch myself on the railing which lets out a loud creek. I freeze for a moment only to hear movement from my parents' room and decide to just run for it. I make it to the door before I hear my father yelling at me to stop but I don't dare turn around.

I bolt through the door and jump into my boyfriend's idling car. Without a word he hits the gas and I finally turn around to see my dad standing on the front yard, still yelling, but thankfully not trying to follow us. I sit back in the passenger's seat, catching my breathe before leaning over and kissing Evan on the cheek. He smiles warmly and places his arm around me.

My mind is a whirl of thoughts and doubts but knowing that we are together helps me keep those thoughts at bay. We have only known each other for little over a month and here we are running away together in the middle of the night but we had not other choice. I'm a freshman in college and he is a post-grad. I still live with my parents as having an apartment or living in the dorms was too expensive. I had to pay for my own education as my parents refused to pay for it so I was trying my best to save money where I could. My parents seemed to be insulted by me wanting to get a college degree as they never got one. They were always harsh and authoritarian to me as I was growing up but once I announced I wanted to go to college in my senior year of high school they got so much worse.  

My father started beating me for things as minor as coming home a few minutes after curfew or not cleaning the house to his liking. He had the foresight to make sure to never leave a bruise anywhere that would be noticeable. By the time I started my first semester of college I had two bruised ribs and slight limp from him going at me with a baseball bat. That is what I got for forgetting to dust the ceiling fan. I wanted to report it but I knew that they would just kick me out, leaving me homeless while denying everything.

My one light in the darkness was Evan. He was so sweet and kind to me that I felt like I didn't deserve his attention. I tried to set him up with some of my classmates who were more worthy of him but he chose me. When he confessed his love for me I broke into tears. I never thought in a million years that he could have those kind of feelings for me. Even with me sobbing uncontrollably he held me in his arms till I was able to get a hold of myself. It is then that I told him about what was going on with my parents. He immediately offered to let me move into his apartment which I eagerly agreed to though this only made things worse with my parents. They forbid me from moving and when I tried to do anyway my dad beat me senseless.

I don't even remember most of it. He punched me hard in the stomach making me fall to the floor. He then began to just start kicking at any and every part of me over and over. I must of blacked out due to the pain cause the next thing I remember is waking up on the floor with my whole body screaming in pain and barely able to move. I managed to crawl to my room. I had enough, I didn't have to worry about being homeless anymore. I was going to call the cops but that is when my mom walked into my room.

“Now why did you have to disobey him like that?” She said coldly as she watched me crawl over to my desk. I grabbed my phone from the charger and unlocked it.

“I am calling 911 and reporting all this! I don't have to put up with this anymore!” I expected her to try to stop me. To try to grab the phone or beg me not to call but she didn't. Instead she pulled out her phone.

“Now who is going to believe a drug addict?” She flips the phone over so the screen faced me. On it was a picture of me passed out on the floor with crack pipe in my hand. “Oh my poor daughter was such a bright and wonderful girl till her dealer boyfriend got her hooked. We have been trying to get her help but all she does is make stories about us abusing her. Where did those bruises come from? Well I think she is selling her body for whatever price she can to get her next hit,” She says this in a mocking tone all the while having her eyes fixed on me.

“A picture and a story is not enough to prove anyone of that,” I have to almost force the words out. I am in such shock about what has just happened that my mind is having a hard time trying to catch up.

She smirks at me, almost like she knew what I was going to say before I did. She reached behind her and pulled from her back pocket a baggy of what I assume to be crack. “Officer, I found this is my daughter's room. I didn't know what to do with this but I knew that I couldn't leave this with her. I just want her to get help,” She says in the same mocking tone as before. I look at the bag and back at my phone then back at the bag. A sense of creeping dread steadily growing inside me. I slowly put the phone down. “Good, you are finally learning. Now you don't want to upset your father again now, do you?” She then walks out of my room leaving me too beaten to stand and too afraid to even move.

It took a week before I was healed enough to return to class. I tried to break it off with Evan, It hurt more than anything my dad ever did to me. He refused to abandon me and I couldn't bring myself to push him away. I wanted to make sure that my parents never find out, not for my safety but for his. That meant that all we could manage is meeting up on campus, spending lunch together, and texts between the two of us that I had to delete immediately to make sure my parents never find them. Our meetings were so fleeting but they met so much. Just having him hold my hand or give me a kiss on my cheek was enough to keep me going.

We went on like this for a month till I felt that my parents believed I had broken up with him. This was what we had been waiting for, during all those brief meetings we were planning this. It was far from perfect and if we had waited a few more weeks it wouldn't of been easier but I couldn't stay in that house another day.  I packed everything I felt I needed into my duffel bag, keepsakes and trinkets as well as clothes as I knew I would never get another chance to retrieve them. My semester is over and I left my phone at home so they will not be able to track me down easily. I do plan on finishing my degree but I will have to wait a year or transfer to another college just to make sure it is safe. That is in the future, what is now is being right here with him and this feels better than I ever imagined. We are going to spend the week at his friend's cabin to get away from all this drama and be a couple truly for the first time.

I fall asleep on the long drive to the cabin, I just felt so safe with his arm around me. Evan gently wakes me up with a kiss then carries me over the threshold of the cabin like we were newlyweds. He carries me in his arms through the house to the bed and pulls the covers over me then runs his hand through my hair as he kisses me on the forehead. “Its late, you should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be our first day together.” He gets up but I grab his arm stopping him from going, he turns and crouches next to the bed so that we are face to face. “I am not going anywhere. I just need to start up the fireplace and other basic maintenance. Once that is done I will get under those covers with you. If you need me for anything just call out and I will be here in an instant, I promise.”

I lean forward and kiss him passionately on the lips before letting go of his arm. He leaves the room and I hear him move about the cabin. Without him next to me I feel fear start to build inside me. My mind is filled with dark visions of my dad finding the cabin and killing Evan before my eyes. As much as I want to push these thoughts out of my head, I can't. Every noise I hear outside the cabin seems to re-enforce my them.

I want to call out to him, to have him hold me and to put me at ease... but I don't. He can't be there for me every second of every day. He has saved me and now I must do the most I can with this new lease on life. I must become strong, I must flourish, or else everything we have done tonight would be in vain. That is why even though the fear is eating me up on the inside I will strive through it and be someone worthy of getting this second chance no matter how much it hurts.

For what felt like a hour I laid in the bed being tormented by my anxieties and fears. I hear as footsteps approach the bedroom door and my heart starts racing. I know it must be Evan but that doesn't calm me down one bit. The door swings open and for a moment I see my father covered in blood standing in the doorway before that image fades. It is Evan, smiling at me. My heart finally starts to slow back down to a normal pace as he slides into the bed with me. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me affectionately. He holds me close and we just cuddle till I fall asleep in his arms.

The next few days were magical. We went on walks through the woods watching all the wildlife around us. The birds flying over head, a curious fox poking its head out of its den, and a mother deer with her fawn drinking from a stream. Even with Evan by my side and the beauty of nature all around us the feeling of fear and dread still crept into me. I couldn't help but to keep checking to see if we were being followed. The first day I must of seemed completely paranoid to Evan but he didn't say anything, he just put his arm around my shoulders as we walked and held me close. As the week carried on I started to feel more at ease. I checked less and less as I started to accept that it worked, I was free. It was by the end of the week that I was finally able to go on a walk with Evan without giving into my fears. It was then that I decided that tonight I would make love to him for the first time.  

That night as we cuddle and kiss in our bed I lean in and whisper to him that I was ready. He had never pushed the issue saying he could wait but I could feel his eagerness every time we were in bed together. It was my first time so I was really nervous, my face turning bright red as I took off my clothes and even more so when he did too. We laid there in bed together with only the sheets covering us, our hands discovering each other's body. He asked if I was sure I was ready and I said yes. He kissed me intensely as he moved on top of me. We spent the rest of night wrapped in a level of pleasure I never thought possible ending with us sweaty and tired in each other's arms.

I awoke to the smell of pancakes and maple syrup coming in from the kitchen. I threw some clothes on and follow the smell to find Evan cooking breakfast. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist as he cooked, my head resting on his back. “Thank you, thank you so much for everything you have done for me. This has been the best week of my life.” My emotions overtake me and I start sobbing. “Thank you.” I feel as his hands gently remove my arms from his waist as he turns to face me.

“You don't have to thank me for anything, this is the best week of my life too and I hope to have so many more with you.” He leans down and kisses me lovingly.

“Me too.” Is all I can manage through sobs.

THUD. We feel as the sound seemingly ripples through the building. We instantly turn to the direction where the sound came from, the front door. My mind filling up with the dark thoughts that I had been fighting against all this week. THUD. It comes again, stronger now and louder. The sound almost having a physical force to it. Evan grabs a knife and starts to walk towards the door slowly. THUD! The door bursts off its hinges. There is a moment where Evan and I wait to see who was about to walk through the door. That is when I see an arm grab the inside of the door frame, then another, and another, and then a leg. The limbs flex uncomfortable and then the body that was attached to these odd assortment of parts hobbles in.

I scream, I can't help it. Just a few yards in front of Evan and I is a twisted mass of naked flesh. It looks like two people were melted  and warped together and for no sane reason was still able to be alive in that state. It stood on 3 legs and an arm making it lean off to the side where the arm was. Its whole body just seemed to pulse with no discernible rhythm. One of its heads tilts and twists on a neck that seems to stretch and shrink at will, till it locks on to me. Its mouths open wide and scream an unearthly wail. Its body undulates as it is orienting itself towards me and lunges for me.

TO BE CONTINUED...

#my writing #trying a longer story #this took forever

[storm278]

Home is where the heart is CHAPTER 1

10 years after college, Riley has gained a reputation of being a flight risk. Her friends and family have tried to stop her from taking off but truthfully there is only one person that can make her stay for good. what happens when riley sees said person for the first time in 14 years. Rucas centric

Rated T

Cross posted to Fanfiction.net here

Prologue 

Maya storms into Riley's pent house after getting a 911 text from her best friend. She marches straight into her bedroom to see the lights turned off and she also hears the brunette crying her eyes out underneath the covers.

"Riley, honey, are you okay I got your text what happened" she says as she turns on the light to get a better view of the situation. Immediately she sees her sister, her mood goes from worried to panicked. She runs across the room to her best friend.

"Riles talk to me what's going on? are you sick? Did someone hurt you? Just give me a name I'll find em"

Riley slowly takes off the cover with tear stained cheeks "Maya it happened again, Charlie," she sobs "he did it again, he promised he would never do it again. I walked in on him and some slut in his office".

Maya immediately hugs are friend and comforts her for several minutes, just allowing Riley to let it all out. "that son of a bitch never deserved you to begin with honey. And no worries, tonight we take care of you tomorrow we can go all psyco crazy on his stupid ass" This made Riley giggled and sniffed back some tears "let's not go all Maya-Ville just yet, we can just throw out his stuff from my place"

"Riley! He hurt you. I have to…" she was cut off by Riley before she could continue "No Maya, you do not have to do anything to him. I blame myself actually".

"No Riley! This isn't your fault. You've been faithful to him for the past 3 years and he cheated on you in return. He's at fault here not you and he has to pay. Maya countered

Riley sat up and propped herself on her pillows "three years' wow, I really stayed with him for that long?"

"Honey I'm as shocked as you are. He was such a creep"

"If I let myself be honest I think after I caught him with Melissa last year I just didn't feel the same way about him anymore but for some odd reason I took him back. I don't know, I guess on some level I just assumed I'll learn to love him and then I opened myself to him again. I was 29 already so I stayed with him. Can you imagine I actually started to feel things for him again. I had hope that maybe he would be the last one you know. God was I stupid" Riley rambled.

Maya knew it was a bold face lie. Maya could admit that Charlie's actions did hurt her best friend but Riley saying she thought Charlie was her 'the one' was nothing far from mendacity. He and the other guys since college have just been place holders in an attempt to forget a certain green eyed doctor. Was she pissed with said doctor? Yes, but he just so happened to have made her best friend very happy a long time ago and for God knows why, Riley has refused to explain the actual reason for their break up. But right now her friend needed her so the story of doctor huckleberry will have to wait. Plus, this was a delicate situation and if not handled properly would mean a horrible reoccurrence happening again

"Honey you are not stupid. Everyone deserves to love and feel loved in return. But can I at least set his stuff on fire. He has some really expensive clothes and shoes here". Maya said with puppy eyes.

Riley sighed with relaxed shoulders and ultimately gave in. "Fine do what you want I don't even care anymore. Please just stay here with me tonight?".

Maya scooted closer to her on the bed and hugged her even closer "I already have Josh watching over Melvin. So girl's night?" Riley cleaned up what was left of her tears "yea I'd love that".

GMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMWGMW

Maya called Isadora and their childhood friend Darby over to join their girl's night. Fortunately, it was a Friday night and their husbands had so graciously agreed to watch the kids. Actually Farkle, Josh and Yogi had been filled in on the Riley/Charlie situation and all three made sure their wives would be with Riley tonight because they knew a lonely thinking Riley Matthews only leads to her taking off to God knows were again for a long time.

Riley had managed to stay put in New York for the past 3 years because of her relationship with Charlie which has been a new record for her since high school. It started with her breakup with Lucas the night before their high school graduation. She took a year off school. She got invited by their classmate Sarah whose dad happened to work as a captain on a ship set to cruse across the world picking and dropping of passengers. Riley and Sarah joined the crew and sailed for months before Riley docked in Europe and got several jobs while touring the continent. She lived and worked there for the remainder of the year. Maya has yet to forgive Lucas and Sarah because that 'friendly invitation' gave Riley the reputation of being the flight risk of their group. Her take off behaviour continued in college after her breakup with a guy named David, she spent the next 2 semesters abroad. Then after college it became a reoccurring event.

Whenever her heart got broken she would take off for months going on a year and Cory Matthews was glad to fund any trip that would involve taking Riley away from guys as long as she was going to be happy where she was going he didn't care. This was after all his little girl and he would do anything in the world to make sure she was happy. Of course, at the time he thought he was doing it to avoid losing his little girl to the wolves but now with her job at Minus international and her occasional 'business trips' after unfortunate breakups he never gets to see her anymore and he didn't like it one bit until Charlie came around.

After the distress text sent from Riley, Maya saw the signs and informed all their friends of what was inevitably coming.

Darby and Isadora came charging into the penthouse like soldiers on a mission. "Riley!" Darby screamed from while moving around Riley's place. "Riley Grace Matthews where are you"

Maya meandered into the living room "Darbs she's in the bathroom. I sent her to take a bath. She just needs to clear her mind. Smarkle did you get my list"

Isadora smiled and went through the list of items needed for the special girl's night Maya had planned "okay so I have the ice-cream, chocolate, popcorn, scissors, lighter and of course wine, is this to your liking Maya?".

"Perfect" Maya responded

Darby was still very much worried about her friend and her 'take-off' antics in situations like this. She just had to speak up "has she mentioned anything about you know…"

"taking off? no I have not mentioned anything about that" Riley said as she sauntered into the living room. "thanks for coming you guys. It means a lot to me that you guys are here"

Darby quickly went and hugged her friend "please don't leave riley, please Charlie is total d-bag. He never deserved you and he doesn't need to know he caused you so much pain you had to leave the country because of him. I swear I'll set you up with someone new, give me a week. I could even find someone who looks just like Lucas if that would make you stay please Riley don't leave this time." Darby ended her ramble because she just had to breathe. Everyone stayed quiet after that because Darby just let out Lucas' name. Riley felt her heart rate go up just by the mention of his name. She even felt a little dizzy just having flashing images of his face and what could have been had she told him sooner.

It was weird to speak of him with Riley because since high school everyone stayed in touch with each other except for Riley and Lucas. It was kind of an unspoken rule to not speak of him around Riley. She never talked about their breakup not even to Maya.

Farkle just stuck with his theory that the fact that they would be attending separate colleges ignited the fire but he never quite understood why they wouldn't so much as be in the same room with each other let alone sit to have an actual conversation. Lucas never spoke about the situation either. Whenever Zay or Farkle asked he just waves it off and leaves the room almost like the air was sucked out of him whenever anyone brought up the topic of what happened between him and Riley.

Riley finally broke the uncomfortable silence "I see someone is back on those sugar beverages again. Darbs you really should cut back on those drinks and no I do not want a guy right now no matter what he looks like. As for me leaving I will be going to Vancouver and it's not because of Charlie, we are opening a new office there I need to oversee their operations being that it is the first branch we have in that region of the country".

"Pardon my bluntness bubbles but even I know that's a bold face lie" said Isadora as the other girls take their positions on the couches making themselves comfortable for the night

Smackle continued "I know this Charlie incident might be one of the reasons you want to leave but suggesting you going to Vancouver for business is total crap and you are very well aware of it". At this point the girls were willing to say and bring up just about any topic or argument to ensure Riley didn't leave the country even it meant speaking of a certain emerald eyed doctor.

"Oh really Isadora enlighten me why would I possibly want to go to Canada if it wasn't for the company" Riley said being defensive.

"Because someone cough Darbs cough let out the fact that a certain Lucas Friar from Texas will be coming to town next month to in an attempt to expand his business here in Manhattan. Correct me if I am wrong bubbles"

"Smackle you are supposed to hide the message in the cough not actually say the word cough. And I only told Riley with hopes that she would dump Charlie and move on with Lucas" Darby said

"First of all you are wrong and second if this is how my night is going to play out I'm gonna need a drink. Anyone care to join me for Vodka?" Riley said as she walked over to her mini bar and took a shot. "You guys want me to talk fine let's talk. I have moved on from Lucas!" she shouted "I dated Charlie for the past 3 years' I actually loved him hell I've been dating other guys since college if that doesn't say Riley has moved on I don't know what will".

Maya final spoke out "Honey first of all stop speaking about yourself in the third person its weird and second I hate to break it to you but you and I both know you were never going to end up with Charlie Gardner or any other place holder you've hooked up with since college".

"Maya!" Riley said with wide eyes knowing were her friend was taking the conversation

"Riley I've known you my whole life. I've seen you happy and in love and I've seen you with Charlie. There is a clear difference" Maya took Riley's hand and looked her in the eye "Charlie is an asshole we've all know that, you have refused to accept that fact for some reason. But I know you and even if you won't admit it you still love that Texas huckleberry". Riley took back her hand and went to take another shot and just taking in the burn that came with it.

Riley felt like she has had enough Lucas discussion for one night. She never lets herself think of him willingly because thinking about him meant thinking about the events that surrounded the breakup. She has almost let details of their breakup slip out before and she was not about to let that happen tonight. She took another shot and spoke "weren't we supposed to set Charlie's stuff on fire or something"

"Way to change the subject on us Riles" Maya rolled her eyes "and yes we are definitely making a burn fire tonight if only you would let me get my hands on the actual Charlie…"

"Maya! you would take what you get okay".

"Fine but this isn't the end of this"

The girls drove out of the city that night and in true Maya fashion set all Charlie's stuff on fire. Literally every trace of him in Riley's pent house clothes, shoes, gifts, pictures, all the relationship momentous all gone. Riley felt sad about the situation because she knew the girls were right. After all these years of dating all these different men and traveling around the world in search of some kind of happiness in a new place or in someone or in something that could measure up to what she had with he who shall not be named but yet nothing. She wondered the whole ride going and coming back, would she ever get over him? And if so how, because she simply couldn't go on like this it's been fourteen years for God sake. And boy is she desperate because she just had to find a way. He seemed to have moved on years ago quite nicely so why couldn't she.

At the end of the night Riley had sworn all the girls to secrecy about her impending move.

#gmw #fanfic #rucas fanfic #rucas