#tacmc fnl

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 19

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Sunday & Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: I hope this chapter, which is incredibly short but incredibly important, all gives you serious feels. Warning: Shelby ( @throne-of-ashes-and-beauty ) cried.

One more chapter! x

“I guess that's what saying good-bye is always like--like jumping off an edge. The worst part is making the choice to do it. Once you're in the air, there's nothing you can do but let go.” ― Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall

Collins found out. He fired me.

Nesta’s thoughts rang through his mind the next morning as he was awaiting his mother’s fate. The court session had yet to begin, and his nerves were consuming him. What had happened the night before, with Nesta, wasn’t helping.

What do you mean he fired you? Cassian had shouted. What do you mean he knows?

She had explained everything that had happened between her and Mr. Collins earlier in the afternoon, how he had cornered her in Helion’s classroom just after her detention session. Cassian had never been a fan of Collins, but after that, he loathed the guy.

They hadn’t done anything wrong. Cassian was an adult, and Nesta was only a year older. Kids her age were still in high school. By the world’s standards, they were innocent. But all Collins had cared about was his reputation.

I hate this! She had yelled, as Cassian wrapped his arms around her body, trying his best to comfort her, trying his best to make it better. I never had this, Cass. I didn’t go to high school with kids my own age. I didn’t go to dances, I didn’t date, and now I’ve found you, and it’s some kind of crime!

He wanted to take away her pain, wanted to take away her guilt. But how could he when his own guilt was eating him away? He should have stayed away, should have never pursued her. Now, her dream of being a teacher was in jeopardy. Collins knew a lot of people, he was well known in the community. What would he say about her? What lies would he spread?

They had spent the night in one another’s arms, tears streaming down Nesta’s cheeks until she fell asleep. She had felt awful. He had felt awful. There was no winning in that situation.

Cassian felt useless.

He had dropped Alana off at school that morning. Unsure of what the afternoon held, he was nervous, but he didn’t want her to know. He didn’t want her to worry. Not until he had answers.

The answers that he was terrified of. 

He kissed her head goodbye, and sent her with her friends, then headed to the courthouse. Half of his mind was on the task at hand, and the other half was with Nesta, wherever she was.

“All rise,” the bailiff announced, bringing Cassian back to the present.

Cassian stood, and he looked back at his friends who had shown up to support him – Azriel, Rhysand, Amren, and Mor – and there in the back stood Nesta. She gave him a comforting smile before he turned back to the front, where the judge was being seated.

Before he could take a breath, his mother was being escorted into the room. Cassian couldn’t help but stare at her, his mouth hanging open.

She looked like shit.

She didn’t smile at her only son but looked at him with disdain instead. If they weren’t in a courthouse, Cassian thought that she would have liked to spit at his feet.

Yes, he had done that to her. He had called the cops. He had started this.

But no, he didn’t feel bad.

He shouldn’t have felt bad. The woman had stolen his childhood, his innocence. 

The room took their seats.

“Let’s get this over with. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it short,” the judge announced, seemingly more relaxed than any other judge Cassian had ever been in the same room as. And he had been around a lot of judges. He looked at Cassian’s mom. “You will be going to prison, and after looking at your record, I am baffled that you haven’t gone to prison sooner. Before I give you your sentence, I wanted to give your son a chance to say anything on your behalf.”

The judge looked to Cassian, who shook his head. “I have nothing to say to her.”

“Very well,” the judge said. “You are eighteen, is that correct?”

“Yes, sir,” Cassian said.

“And you have a sister? How old is she? Five?”

“Yes, sir.”

“She will be put into foster care, then. There –“

“What?” Cassian stood up, causing an uproar from the bailiff.

The judge simply raised his hand, telling his bailiff to stand down. “Mr. Nazari. Your sister has no relatives that are able to support her –“

“I can!” he yelled, knowing that he was breaking courtroom protocol.

But, the judge remained calm as he spoke, “Young man, I respect your enthusiasm, but believe me when I tell you that this is what is best for her.”

Cassian was bewildered. “I know what it’s like to raise a child. I’ve been raising one since I was thirteen years old. With all due respect, you have no idea what is best for her. I do.”

The judge nodded, as if he understood where Cassian was coming from. It was his calmness that was making Cassian’s anger rise, though. “Do you have a job? It says here that you haven’t even graduated yet.”

“I work part-time –“

“Part-time does not support a family.”

There was a ringing in his ears as a red film coated his vision. 

Cassian was on the edge, and he knew his eyes were beginning to grow misty as his fist hit the banister in front of him. “If you think for a second that she, that piece of shit,” he began, gesturing to his mother, “took any time out of her selfish life to raise Alana, you are out of your damned mind!” The bailiff was behind Cassian, grabbing his hands, attempting to restrain him. The judge no longer asked him to stop. “You can’t take her away from me! I’m all she knows! I am her parent, I am her support system!” When the bailiff began to drag him away, down the aisle, Cassian began to plead. “Please. Please.”

The judge’s sympathetic eyes moved from Cassian, toward the back of the room. Cassian followed, and was surprised in who he saw, standing in the back row.

He hadn’t even noticed Coach B enter the room.

The bailiff stopped just in front of the closed, double doors.

“State your name and your business here,” the judge ordered.

“Bryaxis Bell,” he said, and Cassian had never heard him speak his full name before. “I am Cassian’s football coach at Velaris High. I have known him for four years, and have known and cared for his sister since she was a baby.”

“And your point?” The judge asked.

“My wife and I would like to bring Mrs. Nazari’s daughter into our home while she is away.”

Cassian paused, his tears flowing freely as he no longer fought the bailiff. He felt weak. So, so weak.  “Coach.”

The judge looked from Cassian to Coach B, then to the bailiff. “Escort him out, please.”

Cassian had no more energy left in him as he was being dragged out of the courtroom. The last thing he saw was Nesta, who was watching Coach B with a plea in her stormy-blue eyes.

He felt like he was sitting in the hallway for hours, when it couldn’t have been more than thirty minutes. Nesta was first out of the room. She had found him sitting on a bench outside of the courtroom, and kissed his head before telling him she would come by the house later that night.

There were other people he had to talk to.

His friends were the next out, and they had all given him a hug and a few encouraging words before heading back to school.

But Cassian stayed until Coach B walked out.

He quietly joined Cassian on the bench. They sat in the silence before he asked, “How are you feeling?”

Cassian wasn’t sure what to say. He simply shook his head as he stared at his boots.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured,” Coach B said. “I talked to the judge.”

Cassian looked at him, terrified of looking too hopeful.

“Cassian,” Coach B began, and he never had been too good with words. “Your mother has up to fifteen years, she had so many charges on her record. By that time, Alana will be an adult. I want to save her from the foster care system....So, with your blessing, she can come into our home, and we can begin the adoption process.”

Cassian didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. It was amazing, a blessing, what Coach B was offering. And yet, it seemed too easy, too good to be true.

On top of that, Cassian felt a slight pang in his chest. Either way, Alana would have to leave him, and he couldn’t fathom that.

He was conflicted.

But if she had to leave, it was Cassian’s responsibility to do everything he could to leave her in the right hands.

Cassian tried to keep his voice strong, and failed. “She has been my life, Coach.”

“And you’ve done a great job raising her, Cassian,” Coach promised. “But you’re so young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. You have to think about you first.”

But he had never thought about himself first, it had always been Alana and her needs. And before Alana was in the picture, he was simply trying to survive. 

“I promise to take good care of her,” Coach B said, quietly. “We both will.”

He and his wife. Cassian had known that his wife had wanted a child, but recently found out that she couldn’t have any of her own. They had tried and failed over the time that Cassian had known him, and he had seen the toll it had taken on the football coach. 

And now they wanted to adopt Alana. Of course, they would do a great job. They were wonderful people, with a nice house and good jobs. They had all the love and resources it took to raise a child. Cassian would be foolish, selfish, to try and fight it.

“I know,” Cassian said, at last. “Of course it’s fine with me. Coach -“

Thank you, he wanted to say, but it didn’t seem good enough.

“I know,” Coach B said, with a rare smile. “You’re a good kid, Cassian. So is Alana. What’s mine, is yours. You are more than welcome to stay with us, too, until you go off to college.”

Cassian shook his head. “I haven’t even gotten accepted anywhere yet.”

There were a thousand questions in his mind, about his mother and what was going to happen with Alana, but they all fell into the back of his mind as Coach B pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket. “This came to my office yesterday.”

Cassian took it, and opened it, and nearly fell off the bench as his tears flowed freely, once again. The words began to blur before he could finish reading the letter. “I.....I got a scholarship.”

It was meant to come out as a question, but his emotions were so full and overwhelming that he could barely form the words alone. 

“A full ride,” Coach B said, proudly. “You’re going to be playing for Velaris U, Cass.”

Cassian shook his head as his face fell into his hands, and as he sat next to the only man that had ever been a father figure to him, he wept as life as he knew it was about to change.

#tacmc fnl #one more chapter #19 #friday night lights #nessian #feysand #elriel #andromor #fanfic #fanfiction #last chapter coming soon #let me know what you think #acotar #acomaf #acowar #my writing

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 15

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Sunday & Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: Five more chapters and SHIT IS ABOUT TO GET REAL. 

Enjoy.

(I legit cried at y’all’s comments on chapter 14 ohmygod thank you.)

"When you love something it loves you back in whatever way it has to love." - John Knowles 

Rhysand was breathless.

He had been with a lot of girls, and had seen a lot of beautiful things, but when Feyre opened the door he became weak in the knees. His bottom lip fell open, and he realized he looked like an idiot as she grinned, modestly.

He wasn’t alone, though.

Azriel was the same as he looked at Elain, then looked down at his own outfit, then back at Elain.

“You look beautiful,” Rhysand whispered, as he took her hand.

“Thank you,” she smiled, cheeks heating. “You look pretty good yourself.”

“Have fun!” a woman called from the doorway, as Feyre’s oldest sister stood beside her, scowling.

Rhysand waved as they walked to his BMW.

“Your sister looks like she wants to kill me,” he whispered in Feyre’s ear as he opened his passenger side door.

“She probably does,” Feyre muttered, sitting down and buckling her seatbelt.

He peeked over his shoulder after he shut Feyre’s door. Nesta was still watching him with slitted eyes. 

Yes, she definitely wanted him dead.

Azriel wasn’t saying anything, and Rhysand was pretty sure he was going into cardiac arrest.

Rhysand couldn’t blame him.

He peeked over at Feyre as he started his engine. She was stunning, in every sense of the word. Her red, silky dressed reached to her mid-thighs, and her golden-brown hair was curled and twisted so that it was neatly out of her face.

Beautiful. She was beautiful.

He cleared his throat. “So, ready?”

No one answered, and nervous tension filled the air.

Ready or not, they were off.

It was homecoming. 

Lucien and Vassa were riding in silence.

To Vassa’s surprise, Lucien had actually put quite a bit of effort into his appearance. It wasn’t that Lucien didn’t like to dress up – he actually did, a fact that Vassa loved about him. She was just surprised he had dressed up for her.

He wore a burgundy jacket and black pants, a gray button down shirt in perfect contrast to his red hair and russet eyes. His hair was combed back, out of his face. He was completely, utterly handsome.

She couldn’t stop sneaking glances at him for the entirety of the ride, then felt ridiculous.

Lucien and Vassa had been best friends since freshman year when they quickly bonded over their love for journalism and photography. He was her other half.

Or so she had thought.

They were made for one another. When they were together, nothing else mattered and all seemed right with the world. Until recently. Until Vassa had put herself out there and Lucien seemed to care less.

Until she put her heart on the line.Yet, Lucien only wanted to be with other girls.

With Elain. 

“So,” she said, trying to break the silence that had somehow grown uncomfortable. They had never had uncomfortable silence before. “Excited?”

“Yeah,” he said, although his voice was quiet.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, afraid of the answer.

“I just…..I don’t know. Not really looking forward to seeing Elain there with Azriel.”

Vassa tried to hide the hurt that was obviously showing in her eyes. “What’s so bad about Azriel?”

Lucien eyed Vassa. “Seriously? The guy is a freak. He sulks all the time and is incredibly secretive. He could be planning to kill her for all we know.”

“Oh, shut up,” Vassa snapped. “You’re being ridiculous.” 

Lucien raised a brow, his hands still on the wheel at ten and two. “What?”

“There’s no need to bash on Azriel because you’re jealous.”

Lucien snorted. “I’m not jealous.”

“Aren’t you?” Vassa yelled, and Lucien flinched at her volume. “That’s bullshit, Lu! You’re still hung up over this girl that you barely know. You’re the one sulking! You’re so bummed that you’re not going to the dance with her. Well, guess what, Lu? You’re not going to the dance with her. You’re going with me.”

Lucien pulled his car into the school parking lot. “You say that likes it’s a bad thi-”

“It is a bad thing!” Vassa tossed her hands in the air, the straps of her pine-green dress sliding up her shoulders as she did so. “At least, you seem to think it is.”

Lucien pulled into a spot near the back of the parking lot and put the car in park. “What is your deal?”

“My deal?” Vassa scoffed. “My deal is that I have spent four years picking up the pieces of your heart every time some random girl has stomped all over it. And it’s been pointless, Lu, because the girl you should have been with all this time is me.”

Lucien looked at her for the first time since they entered the parking lot, his eyes widening. “What?”

“This was a mistake,” she said, rubbing her temples. “I was so stupid for asking you to the dance and actually thinking you would want to go with me. I’m wasting my time.”

“Vassa –“ he began.

But she had already thrown open her door. “Have fun, Lucien. I’ll see you Monday.”

“You’re being ridiculous!” he said, trying to grab her wrist, but she quickly snatched it away.

“I’m being real,” she said, wistfully, embarrassed that tears were shining in her eyes. She swung her legs out of the door and brushed down her dress as she rose onto the pavement. “I’m so stupid. I’ve been chasing you for years and you are so obviously not into me. Stupid. So, so stupid.”

“Vass –“

She slammed the door, and by the time Lucien was out of the car, she was walking away.

“Can’t we just talk for a minute?” he asked, his eyes wide with concern.

“I’m done talking, Lucien,” she said, barely looking back over her shoulder. “I’m done talking. I’m done hoping. I’m done trying. I just…..need some time to myself, okay?”

She was embarrassed. She was mortified. The last thing she needed was to see the pity written plainly across his face.

She was going home, and she was going to slip out of her ridiculous dress, and wipe off her make-up, and get into her pajamas. Then, she was going to watch a movie that would surely make her cry, and lie awake staring at the ceiling until she no longer felt like an idiot for throwing herself out there to a guy who didn’t see her in the same light that she saw him.

Lucien called her name until she was so far away that she could no longer hear his broken voice.

Mor had picked up Cassian in her Volkswagen, and they had dropped Alana off with Reina, Rhysand’s mother.

“Okay,” Mor said, as she pulled out of the Lunasa’s driveway and headed toward the school. “Answers. Now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Cut the bullshit,” she rolled her eyes. “Your sister called me this morning and asked me why you weren’t taking Nesta to the dance. Nesta, who was at your house. Nesta, who was in your bed, wearing your clothes. Nesta, who is in charge of you in detention –“

“Okay, okay!” He interrupted, rolling up the sleeves of his crimson button-down. “You can stop. Remind me to hide my phone from Lana.”

“No, I should be reminding you to make better choices.”

“She’s only a year older than me. And she’s different, Mor. She’s not…..Never mind.”

Cassian was frustrated. She wouldn’t understand. She wouldn’t get it. People saw Nesta in a certain light, but it was all just a show on her part. A defense mechanism. She would rather people hate her or feel nothing than feel anything remotely human toward her. 

“No, continue,” Mor ordered. “Because you are walking dangerous territory and I want to know why.”

Cassian looked out the window, at the cloudless sky they were driving under. The weather was perfect, the sun shining, the temperature warm but not too hot. Autumn had reached Velaris. Soon, the leaves would be changing colors and falling to the ground. It was Cassian’s favorite time of year.

“Are you listening to me?” she snapped.

“Yup,” he said. “And I am choosing not to answer.”

“You’re a pain in the ass.”

“So are you.”

They fell into a silence that made Cassian’s head pound. They had known each other for a long time, and although they used to date, in what seemed like a different lifetime, Cassian knew she wasn’t speaking from jealousy. Worry, maybe, but not jealousy.

“She makes me feel better than I am,” he said, at last. “Not because she sees me for better, but because she doesn’t care about my faults. She’s seen everything I have to offer, Mor, and she still looks at me like….” Mor waited, her lips thin, as he grasped for the word. “Like I’m an actual person, not a poor kid with no money, no family, and nothing to show for my life.”

All the tension in Mor’s features faded as she stopped at a red light and looked at him, pensively. “Is that how you see yourself?”

Cassian shrugged. “Some days.”

“Why?” she asked, quietly, as she began to drive again.

Cassian ran a hand through his lose hair. “My mom may as well be dead, so I won’t even go there. My dad left before I could memorize his face. I’ve taken care of my sister since I was thirteen and I’ve done a shit job at that. Shit, Mor, she’s swearing and telling people that I’m up all night kissing women, for the Mother’s sake. She has no idea what it’s like to have a real family. She has no idea what it’s like to sit down with her family and eat a proper dinner. She has no idea –“

He stopped himself. Partly because he could go on and on for hours about how he had done that little girl wrong, and partly because his voice was breaking.

Mor reached across the middle seat of her ancient Volkswagen and put her hand on top of his. “Your mother is shit. So is your father. But Alana looks at you, Cass, and sees the world. She sees the boy who had to become a man when he was still a child and raise her, and she loves you more than anyone else in the world. She doesn’t look at you and see everything she does not have, Cass. She looks at you and sees a good life with a brother who would do anything for her. She is smart, and kind, and confident, and she is that way because of you. So, you can say your parents are shit, because I agree. But, you can’t say that you’ve done a shit job at raising Alana, because you have done an amazing job.”

He nodded, still looking out the window, and tightened his hand on hers.

Then, Mor said, “As for Nesta…..is she worth it? The hiding? The risk? She could get fired, Cass. And it’s not like people look favorably upon students who sleep with faculty. What if it got around to the schools you’ve applied for? The scouts?” 

Cassian looked at her then, as they pulled into the school parking lot, and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Yeah, she is.”

Mor shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. “You love her.”

“No one said anything about love.”

“You do, though,” she chuckled. “Out of all the people in the world, you fall for the ice queen of detention. Just be careful, okay?”

Cassian said nothing, but he couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across face.

Because there was a lot of things he could be with Nesta Archeron, and careful was not one of them.

Homecoming was in full swing when Azriel and Elain walked into the gymnasium.

Streamers were hung, in blue and black and gold, and there were way too many balloons for Azriel’s taste.

Elain was nervous, he could tell, but nowhere near as nervous as he was. The last time he had dated anyone was Ianthe, if that could even be considered dating. It was more like a one night stand, one that he tried to dwell on as little as possible, although he had a baby with the woman.

He glanced at Elain as he held out his arm, and she humbly took it.

He wondered what she would think when she found out he was a father and how he was going to tell her the news. 

“Are you having fun?” he asked, then wasn’t sure why. They had just gotten there, and the ride was awkward as hell.

But, she nodded, smiling gently. “Of course, I am. Want to dance?”

Azriel cursed inwardly. He sucked at dancing. Maybe it wasn’t even that he was bad at it, but that he hated it in general. It made him feel uncomfortable. “Sure.”

They walked into the crowd of students, and Azriel figured that there were so many people, maybe he would even look impressive in the midst of them.

He was wrong.

“I’m sorry,” he shouted, five minutes later, above the fast-paced music. “I’m horrible at this!”

She giggled, and moved closer to him. “I think you’re doing great!”

Elain brushed her fingers along his arm making his stomach do something he couldn’t quite comprehend. “I’m really glad you asked me!”

“I was terrified as shit!” he shouted back, realizing he was on a roll with saying pathetic, ridiculous things.

“What?” she yelled. “I can’t hear you!” 

“Never mind!” He quietly thanked the loud music for erasing his last statement. “You look beautiful!”

The song ended as soon as he spoke, and the crowd around him turned to look as his ears turned pink.

Elain bit her bottom lip as she smiled, then replied in her normal voice, “Thank you. You like quite handsome yourself.”

“Thanks,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “So, I’m really nervous. I don’t do this often.”

“Dance?”

“Well, yeah. Dance, and ask beautiful girls to said dance. Not just any beautiful girl, either.” He stopped before he could say something stupid, and held out his hand as a slow song began.

She gladly accepted it.

He pulled her close to his body, but not so close that she would feel uncomfortable. He pulled her close, but kept her at a healthy distance. He thought. He hoped.

He cleared his throat, his chin almost touching her forehead. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect.”

“Okay.”

The song played quietly as they swayed back and forth, Azriel’s hands on her hips. Her fingers were brushing his neck, right above his collar, gently. He was sure he was going to mess it up. He didn’t know how, but things were simply going too perfectly.

She laid her head on his shoulder and he stopped for a moment from utter surprise.

She noticed, and giggled as his hands tightened around her waist.

It was going to be a good night.

Mor and Cassian were slow dancing when she caught Andi’s eye.

She was standing with a group of friends, and waved at Mor, mouthing, You look beautiful.

Mor grinned, swinging Cassian around so that his back was to her. Thank you. You too.

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Cassian muttered into her ear. “If you’re seeing people who aren’t really there, we should really get you some help.”

Mor rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”

Cassian peeked over his shoulder to sneak a peek of her conversationalist, and she stomped on his toe. Cassian, in typical Cassian fashion, cursed obscenely.

“Sorry, I’m a bad dancer.”

“Mor, you took dance for ten years, you are not a bad dancer.”

Mor looked at him pointedly, and he stared back in the same way.

“You’re acting weird,” he continued.

The tension faded from Mor’s shoulders, and she swung Cassian around so that her back was to Andromache and her friends.

Cassian blinked. “Who the hell am I supposed to be looking at?”

“White dress. One o’clock.”

Cassian blinked, again. “Andi?”

“Yes.”

“You were talking to Andi?”

“Yes.”

“Flirting? You were flirting with Andi?”

“Yes.”

Cassian looked down at her then and flicked back her hair, which Mor reached up and quickly brought back over her shoulder. “Shit, I knew I saw a hickey earlier.”

“Will you keep your voice down?” Mor hissed, making sure her hair was put back the way it was, continuing to sway back and forth with Cassian as memories from the night before flew though her mind.

Her and Andi, sitting by the bank of the river, kissing until her lips turned red and puffy. 

Cassian grinned. “You and Andromache. You two are, like, a thing, then?”

Mor shrugged, looking away from him. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess, we are.”

“Does she make you happy?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Mor arched a brow, looking back up at him. “Huh?”

“Andi. When you’re together. Does she make you happy?”

Mor smiled, sadly. “Yeah, she does.”

“Then why do you look like you’re about to cry?” Cassian asked, into her ear. To anyone else, it would have just looked like a romantic  gesture between a couple. He placed his hand just above the small of her back - a hand of safety, of comfort. “Does she treat you right?”

“Of course,” Mor laughed. “It’s Andi. She’s, like, known as one of the nicest people in the school.”

“Yeah,” Cassian agreed, “but people like Eris, too.”

Mor nodded. He had a right to be concerned. She knew he would be, too, no matter who she started dating after her relationship with Eris had ended.

Dating. She was dating Andromache.

“She’s amazing,” was all Mor said.

Cassian smiled, and she could feel it forming on his lips as they brushed along the top of her ear. “Then what the hell are you doing here with me?”

“You asked me.”

“So? Rejection is good for my ego.”

Mor chuckled. “I guess.”

But what would people think? Would they care? What if they did? Gods, Mor, why does it matter?

As if he could sense her thoughts, and he probably could judging from how long they had known each other, he said, “Your friends are all that matter, Morrigan. And we just want you to be happy, and find someone who treats you like you deserve to be treated. We don’t give a damn who it is.” 

Mor knew it was ridiculous, but her eyes began to swell up with tears. “Cass –“

“I’m gonna go,” he said over the music, leaning back. “I want you to enjoy your night, Mor. Go be with who you want to be with.”

Mor’s eyes widened. “No! Stay!”

He stopped, looked at Andromache, then back to her. “Not ready?”

Not ready for them to find out? Not ready for everyone to know? But that wasn’t really fair to Andi, to keep her hidden. It wasn’t fair to herself, either.

“No, it’s not that,” she said, and she almost felt confident about it. “I came with you. I want to finish the night with you.”

“It’s okay,” he smiled, and she knew he meant it. “I’ve got a headache, anyway.”

It was a lie, and a weak excuse. When Cassian lied, he always averted his eyes.

Mor shook her head.  “You’re a sucky liar.”

“But a good friend.”

Mor laughed, and fell into his chest, tightening her arms around his waist. “Yes, a very good friend.”

“If you’re not ready, though….I get it. I’ll stay. I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you to take a step you’re not ready to take,” he said, in all seriousness, tightening his own arms around her shoulders. “But I know who you would rather share the night with, Mor. I want you to be happy.”

Mor took a minute to think about it as they swayed back and forth to the music. “A headache?”

“Yeah,” Cassian sighed, dramatically. “It’s horrible. It’s all in my eyes….and stuff.”

“If you want to stay –“

“I’ve got other plans. Don’t worry about me.”

“Nesta?”

He gave her a knowing look, but said nothing.

Mor smiled. “Make good choices.”

“Yeah, you too,” Cassian laughed, then took Mor’s hand and walked her to the sidelines.

He stopped by Andromache, and let go of her hand, then winked at Andromache before finding his way out of the gym, hands in his pockets.

“Hi,” Mor said to Andromache.

She looked from Mor, to where Cassian had just walked out, then back to Mor. “What just happened?”

Mor shrugged. “I’m ready to be happy.”

Andromache grinned and reached for her hand. Mor intertwined her fingers with Andi’s.

And for a moment, Mor felt free.

Suddenly, the music abruptly came to a stop.

When Mor turned around toward the DJ booth, the DJ was no longer operating the laptop.

A girl stood there, a girl who Mor hadn’t seen since she had graduated the year before. A girl who she knew a certain someone there wouldn’t want to see.

“Excuse me,” she said into the mic, her long, blonde hair in perfect curls. There was a slight slur to her voice, and Mor concluded there was a solid amount of alcohol running through her system.

“Who is that?” Andromache asked.

Mor shuddered as she replied, “Ianthe.”

Ianthe grinned, her eyes set in the middle the gym. Mor followed her line of vision, and landed directly on a pale-faced Azriel, and a confused Elain.

With clear confidence, and a wicked grin, Ianthe said into the mic, “I’m looking for the father of my child. Have you seen him?”

Silence filled the gym just as Mor said, “Oh, fuck.”

Mor had driven Cassian to the dance, so once he had left, he was walking.

He’d texted Nesta the moment he left the gym, and now that he was under the night sky stars of Velaris, he felt unstoppable.

He was going to find her, and grab her face, and kiss her mouth, and tell her endless beautiful words until morning came.

He was falling in love with her, and the thought was equally terrifying and wonderful.

But she found him first.

A car slowed down on the road beside him, and a window rolled down.

Nesta smiled from behind the wheel.

He loved it when she smiled. She didn’t do it enough.

“Need a ride?” she asked.

He grinned. “That’d be great.”

#tacmc fnl #chapter 15 #acotar #acomaf #acowar #nessian #feysand #lucien x vassa #elriel #ianthe #fanfic #my writing #updated #new

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 14

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Sunday & Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: I want you all so desperately to know that I read all your comments and they make me feel so loved and wonderful and perfect and good. <3 Thank you!

This chapter is kind of short. It’s preparing us for the next few chapters, which are both quite long!

Enjoy.

Azriel took Declan to the mall around ten, once he had inhaled enough caffeine to make his feet move quickly enough to get them both ready and out the door.

The baby was asleep when Azriel put him into his stroller and rolled him into the building. He didn’t even stir as Azriel found a store that he supposed was good enough for homecoming dance apparel, and waltzed right in.

“Can I help you find anything?” the salesclerk behind the counter asked.

Azriel politely declined and found his way to the back of the store, where their formal wear was.

He hated dressing up.

He felt ridiculous, even though he was told he pulled it off quite well. Still, he felt more like a child playing dress up than a confident man about to take a woman on a date.

Sighing, he sorted through the racks.

They all looked the same to him, even though some were in different colors and patterns. He guessed it was more about the fit, but he wasn’t about to try a bunch on, especially having Declan with him. He would be up and wanting a bottle soon.

He’d had it. He pushed Declan’s stroller over to a table of folded shirts, picked out a royal blue button down, grabbed a pair of black dress pants in his size off a random rack, and headed toward the checkout counter.

Maybe he should have asked the salesclerk for help.

“Is this all for you?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I guess it is.”

Shoes. Did he need shoes? What qualified as acceptable shoes? He’d gone to the dance last year, but he had just gone with his friends – he wore sneakers, for the mother’s sake.

Azriel began to wonder how high Elain’s standards were.

“Uh, where is the nearest shoe store?”

“Azriel?”

Azriel turned around just as the salesclerk was answering his question, not that he had heard her reply, and froze.

“Hey,” he said, unnervingly, as Rhysand approached him.

“Last minute shopping, I see,” Rhysand said, but his eyes were on the stroller.

Azriel just nodded.

Rhysand peeked into the stroller and tilted his head at Declan. When his eyes met Azriel’s again, he asked, “Who is this baby and why does he look like you?”

Azriel knew this day was coming. He knew it, and he pushed it off long enough. For so long, he had hid Declan. At first, for his safety and protection. Then, because he felt like he had waited so long that his friends would be mad at him when the news finally came out. He could lie, and say that it had just happened, but Azriel had never been good at lying. It wasn’t him.

He sighed, and asked, “Free for lunch?”

Rhysand looked at his watch. “A little early for lunch. Brunch?”

Azriel blinked. “Did….you just ask me to brunch?”

“Depends,” Rhysand said. “Is that your kid? Is he the reason you’ve been MIA?”

Azriel opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “Brunch works.”

“Alis, you don’t have to do this.”

“Yes, I do,” she said. “Now, show me what you have on.”

Feyre took a deep breath and opened the door of her dressing room. She was wearing a floor-length black gown that hugged her hips. “I don’t know about this one.”

Alis smiled. “I think it looks beautiful. But, if it’s not the one, it’s not the one. I bet the red one will suit you. Elain? How’s it going with you?”

“I didn’t like the last one,” she called from within her room. “Trying on another!”

“You don’t have to do this,” Feyre said again.

“It’s true,” Elain commented, peeking her head out of her door. “You really don’t. Please don’t feel obligated. We could go to the thrift –“

“No,” Alis scorned. “Every girl deserves to be taken to get a new dress for a dance. This is important. You both have dates and an exciting night ahead of you. You are both picking out a dress, and I am more than happy to get them for you. After this, we are going to get our nails done, and there will be no complaining.”

Feyre chuckled. “Okay. Fine. You win.”

“You’re the best, Alis,” Elain smiled. “Truly. This means so much.”

“It’s what your mom would have done if she were here,” Alis smiled, gently.

Elain hid herself in her dressing room before she could cry, but Feyre simply gave her a smile before finding her way back into her own.

Alis was kind. Their situation may not have been ideal – at least, it may not have started out that way – but Feyre was growing more and more thankful by the day.

Alis didn’t have to do anything of the things she did for them. And yet, she did them, without any hesitation.

Feyre observed the red dress that Alis had suggested and fingered the silky fabric before slipping off the black one.

Rhysand would be picking her up in a matter of hours.

Feyre had never been pampered, had never even know what it was like to get her nails done, or pick out a new formal gown. She already felt like royalty, and Rhysand wasn’t even in the picture yet.

She wondered what he would be wearing, what he would say once she opened the door. She wondered what she should be wearing underneath her dress, or if it even mattered.

She wanted it to matter.

But the thought also terrified her.

They’d gotten close the night before, as they parked his car by the Sidra at a ridiculous hour in the morning. She couldn’t stop her hands from wandering over his body, and he couldn’t stop his mouth from exploring hers.

She wanted it, then. She was ready for him, and for once she could confidently say that it was more than just lust.

She loved Rhysand.

And she wanted to tell him as much.

“Feyre?” Alis called. “Doing okay?”

“Oh, yeah,” Feyre cleared her throat. “Be out in a minute.”

And when she slipped on the dress, she realized that Alis had been right.

It was perfect.

It was the one.

“Can we go to the park? When am I going over to Reina’s? Can we go to the park? Cass, I’m staaaarving. Can we go to the park?”

Cassian groaned, pulling his comforter over his head. He was exhausted. The night before had been too much.

Nesta had left a few hours before, kissing him goodbye before making the trek back to her own house. She was going to come back over that night, after the dance, and Cassian was counting down the hours.

“Cass,” Alana whined. “If you don’t wake up, I’m going to scream.”

“You’re probably going to scream anyways,” Cassian mumbled.

“Were you up late kissing Nesta?”

Cassian peeked out from under his pillow. “What? How do you know about that? You shouldn’t be asking questions like that.”

Alana rolled her eyes. “I’m five. I’m not stupid.”

Cassian, begrudgingly, laughed. “No, I was not up all night kissing Nesta.”

“She’s nice,” Alana said. “I like her. You should keep her. Don’t do something stupid.”

Cassian raised his brows. “I don’t do stupid things.”

Alana snorted. “If you say so. Anyway, back to my day. I called Mor this morning. She said she’s excited to go to the dance with you. I asked her why you weren’t going with your new girlfriend.”

Cassian cursed. “You asked her what?”

Alana shrugged. “Why you weren’t going to the dance with Nesta. She said she doesn’t know what I’m talking about. Why didn’t she know?”

Cassian took a minute to choose his words wisely. “It’s….complicated. I really wish you wouldn’t use my phone without my permission and supervision.”

Now he had to explain things to Mor. Dear gods.

“Why? Are you keeping secrets?” Alana gasped. “That’s naughty –“

“No, I’m not keeping….” Cassian trailed off as he rubbed his temples. “Just, this….Nesta and I…..We can’t….People can’t know about us. That we’re dating.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“That’s a shitty reason.”

“Don’t swear,” Cassian ordered.

“You swear all the time,” Alana shot back.

The two stared at one another as the seconds flew by. Cassian was always the first to break. “Go get dressed and find your hairbrush. We’ll go get lunch, and I’ll take you to the park.”

“Yay!” She shouted, jumping on his bed until her feet were on the floor, stomping across the hardwood into her bedroom.

Cassian didn’t know what their future held.

But he knew that little girl would do great things in her lifetime.

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

Azriel shrugged, and looked at Declan. “I’m not ashamed of him, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Rhysand didn’t blink. He simply took a sip of his water before asking, “Then help me understand. Az, we’ve known each other since we were kids. We all have. We’re like family, at least that’s what I thought –“

“We are –“

“Then why would you keep something like this from us? Did you not think we’d be happy for you? Did you not think we would help in any way we can?”

Azriel shook his head. “No, it’s not that…I just – his mom –“

All of Rhysand’s frustration seemed to evaporate as Azriel trailed off. “Are you ever going to tell me who she is?”

A tense moment passed.

“Ianthe,” he stated, quietly.

Rhysand almost dropped his glass. “Shit, Azriel. When? How? Well, I know how….When?”

“A little over a year ago. Just before school started Junior year. I was drunk……I don’t know. It only happened once.”

“And you never questioned her? That you were the father?”

Azriel gave him a pointed look as he gestured toward Declan. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

It was true. Declan was practically a spitting image of his father.

Rhysand, speechless, just shook his head. “I just…..I wish you had told us.”

“I know,” Azriel said. “I didn’t know how. I’m sorry.”

Rhysand took a deep breath, and raked a hand through his hair as he watched Declan sleep peacefully. “I’m proud of you, Az. You seem like a great dad.”

Azriel tried to smile, but failed.

“What’s wrong?” Rhysand asked.

“Ianthe is back. She was at the game the other night.”

“That’s why you left.”

He nodded. “I was afraid she was looking for him. She can’t find him, Rhys. If she does, everything I’ve done to protect him goes to shit.”

Something like pain flashed through Rhysand’s eyes. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Azriel thanked him, but he felt ashamed. A secret. Declan didn’t deserve to be a secret. But, how else was he going to keep him safe?

Elain felt like a princess.

She had picked out a turquoise and blush floral floor length gown that hugged her waist and made her breasts look a cup size bigger than they actually were.

Nesta was sitting on her bed, her camera in hand. “Okay, you two, get together, we need a picture.”

Feyre rolled her eyes, looking radiant even as she did so. Her golden-brown hair was down, straight, and hanging low across her thigh-length red gown.

Elain made sure her braided up-do, a creation of Nesta’s, was still holding up before putting her arm around Feyre’s waist, and smiling.

“There,” Nesta announced. “Perfect. You both look so beautiful.”

Elain felt a slight pang of guilt. Nesta had never had this opportunity. She was younger than the rest of her class, sure, but she still deserved the chance to feel the way she and Feyre did.

“Have fun. Make good choices,” Nesta said. “And by make good choices I mean –“

“We get it,” Feyre said, and Elain noticed she was blushing.

“Oh my god,” Elain whispered. “Are you and Rhysand going to –“

“No. Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe. Probably not. I don’t know.”

Elain squealed as Nesta’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t. Unless you’re absolutely sure, and you’re absolutely ready….Don’t.”

But Elain already knew how Feyre felt about Rhysand. And Rhysand treated her with respect and love. He was it. He was the one.

“Noted,” Feyre mumbled, her cheeks reddening further.

The doorbell rang, sending Feyre running toward the door, and Elain and Nesta following quickly behind.

“Keep an eye on her,” Nesta mumbled. “I don’t trust her.”

Elain just rolled her eyes.

“Elain?”

She stopped in the hallway, and turned toward her older sister to see something serious in her gray-blue eyes: worry.

“If you need anything tonight, please call me,” she said. “I can be there in five minutes.”

She gave her sister a hug, then looked her in the eye once she had pulled back. “I will. I promise. But try not to worry, okay? It’s just a dance.”

Nesta nodded, but didn’t look too convinced as Elain hurried to the front door and prepared to see her date.

Ianthe looked at herself in the mirror one final time.

Her black dress was perfect, another tool that could be used to her advantage. She knew Azriel would be there, knew he would probably be with someone else. She didn’t care, though.

She had a plan.

And what Ianthe wanted, Ianthe got. 

#tacmc fnl #sorry if theres typos #in a hurry #enjoy #fanfic #acotar #acomaf #acowar #nessian #elriel #feysand

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 11

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Sunday & Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: SURPRISE CHAPTER!!!! Enjoy. This connects us to the second half of this beauty (and by beauty I mean trash)....!

Cassian watched attentively as Nesta approached him, gesturing to the grand mess surrounding them.

High school students sure didn’t give a shit about making messes. There was trash in every nook and cranny of the gym, and Cassian found himself terrified of going anywhere near the bleachers. The juniors and seniors of Velaris High left the gymnasium without a second thought, his teammates included. And they had left their garbage behind.

Animals. 

“Well,” Cassian sighed, as Nesta stopped in front of him. “Where do we start?”

“Janitor’s closet,” she said, then turned on her heels, expecting him to follow.

“Speaking of,” Cassian said, jogging after her. “Not that I’m complaining, but why were we gifted with the task of cleaning this shit up?”

Nesta shrugged. “I don’t know. I just do what I’m told.”

Cassian should have figured he would get an answer like that, even though he swore they were getting somewhere. She had been less hostile to him over the past week. In their detentions, he often found her watching him, and they even began to make small talk that often turned into something a little bit deeper, each day.

Although, no one would ever know that by the way she was walking two feet ahead of him now.

By the time they reached the janitor’s closet at the end of the hall, the school had emptied. Cassian had a good feeling that they were all out preparing for the big game. He would never grow tired of the homecoming games – looking out at the crowd and seeing their signs, their painted faces, representing their school colors.

It made him feel proud, accomplished. 

Unlike his current assignment. 

Cassian followed Nesta into the closet and let the door shut behind them as he found the light switch. “What do we need?”

“Gloves,” she said, looking around. There was so much junk crammed into the small space, it was hard to locate even the simple things. “Trash bags.”

Cassian didn’t even bother glancing at the shelves for the things she had mentioned. All he could see was her, underneath the dim light in the closet. She wasn’t wearing her typical dress wear, but jeans and a tee-shirt with the school mascot on it: a knight in shining armor.

She turned to look at the opposite shelf, and froze, catching his stare. “What?”

“Can’t I look at you?”

“No. It’s inappropriate,” she said, as if it were obvious.

“You keep saying that,” Cassian said, leaning back against the closed door. “But I don’t understand why. You don’t teach here. You’re an aide. Besides, I’m an adult. And you’re only a year older than me.”

“Mr. Collins would fire me, and I would never be able to teach in this district.”

“Collins is an ass,” was all Cassian said.

Nesta rolled her eyes.

Cassian had decided Headmaster Collins was an ass the same day he decided his son, Tamlin, was also an ass.

“Nesta,” Cassian began, but she shook her head.

“Don’t say my name like that.”

“Like what?” he laughed, humorlessly, irritation beginning to settle.

“Like….” She hesitated, exasperated. “I don’t know! Like it means something more than just my name!”

Cassian shoved his hands in his pockets, and crossed one ankle over the other. He stared at her, at the way she crossed her arms, at the way her forehead wrinkled, at the storm raging in her eyes.

“I’ve tried to come up with a list of reasons not to pursue you,” he said, at last. “You’re difficult. You’re snooty. And to be frank, you’re a pain in the ass.”

“Is this supposed to mean something to me?” she asked, pointedly.

“Yes!” he laughed, shaking his head. “It means that you and I are terrible for each other, and yet, you’re all I can think about. I have tried to get you off my mind, Nesta, and I have tried to forget about you. But you’re like a disease that is spreading throughout my entire body.”

“That’s disgusting,” she said, but there was no longer a bite in her voice.

“Maybe so,” he said, and it was in fact a terrible analogy. “But I don’t care. You can ignore the obvious feelings you have for me, or you can kiss me right now, but either way, I’m never going to sto –“

She fell into him like she was drowning and longing to be saved.

The memory of their lips sweetly brushing against one another’s evaporated as Cassian opened his mouth and her tongue swept inside.

At first his body was rigid from shock, but he quickly relaxed as his hands found her waist and pulled her toward him. She tasted of raspberry and mint, and there was almost a fearful glint in her eye as she pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes were unsure, but her hands clasped to his chest.

She was afraid, and he had a feeling it went far deeper than him being a student, and her an aide.

“We should….um…..we need to clean the gym. Mr. Collins –“ her sentence dropped off. “We need to go.”

“Okay,” Cassian said, but neither of them moved. Then, “Will you come over after the game tonight?”

“Come over?” she asked. “To your house?”

Cassian chuckled. “Yeah. Unless that makes you uncomfortable. Then –“

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay,” he said, too.

They stood like that for another minute before he leaned down, and kissed her softly before they finally found what they needed, and walked back, a little bit closer to one another, toward the gym.

 Alana had Cassian’s number painted on her cheek, thanks to Mor.

She was also wearing a tiny Velaris High Knights cheer uniform.

“You look awesome,” Amren told her, as she walked with the squad toward the field.

The five-year-old could barely contain her excitement. “I know!”

Mor chuckled, tossing her arm around Alana’s shoulders.

She caught a glance of Andromache, who was standing by the fence that surrounded the field, wearing her own Velaris High Knights tee. She gave Mor a smile, and a wave, before heading up to the stands.

Amren cleared her throat, and raised her brows. “Andi?”

Mor tried her best to react accordingly, but she could feel herself blushing. “She’s a friend.”

“Friends don’t look at each other like that,” Amren grinned, giving her a wink. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

Mor said nothing.

She was grateful, but she felt guilty. Why did it matter? Why did it matter if people knew she liked a girl? Then, her father’s face popped into her mind, and she remembered.

Not everyone was as accepting as Amren, or Azriel.

“Hey,” Amren said, as quietly as she could in the herd of people. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Mor smiled, shaking it off. 

It was going to be a good night. Nothing would ruin her mood.

But then she thought of how Eris was out of jail, and found herself wondering if he would show up to the game for one last showdown.

Azriel’s heart was pounding as he took the field, Cassian by his side. It was the start of the second half, and they were ahead by three. 

He had to admit that Cassian was having one of his best games to date, and Azriel had a hunch it had to do with the scouts that were sitting in the stands.

His grandma was there with Declan, at least they had been there at the start of the game. He hadn’t seen them when he looked in the stands after half time, when they had come out of the locker room. She had probably taken him home. It was after his bedtime, after all.

His eyes drifted to where the cheerleaders stood, their hands on their hips. Elain caught his gaze and gave him a small wave, which Mor caught, and grinned wickedly.

Azriel rolled his eyes, although she couldn’t see it through his facemask, then waved back at Elain.

“Stop flirting,” Cassian mocked, a growl in his tone. “We have a game to win!”

He slapped Azriel on the back of his helmet before running down the field to take his position. Azriel wished his head was further into the game, but it wasn’t. At least, not as it once was. Maybe he had been through too much. Maybe life had finally taken its toll, and a game no longer seemed all that important.

A scholarship would help him after high school, but he could only go to Velaris University. He had to stay close to home. He had to stay at his grandma’s, with Declan, until he could properly, and successfully, support them both.

“Are you okay?” Rhysand asked, coming up behind him. “You look out of it.”

“I’m fine,” he said, then froze.

Because on the sidelines, behind the cheerleaders, was the last person he wanted to see.

“Az?”

He couldn’t hear Rhysand behind him, couldn’t hear the words of concern that demanded a reply. There was a ringing in his ear, an extra layer of sweat that wasn’t there before. He was seeing red as she caught his eye, and flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” he asked, but it barely came out a whisper.

“Uh, Az,” Rhysand put his gloved hand beneath his friend’s shaky elbow. “Are you ok –“

“I have to go.”

Azriel was taking off his helmet and sprinting off the field before Rhysand could call after him. He ran by Coach B, not caring that he was causing a scene. He had to get to her. He had to get to Declan. He had to make sure she wouldn’t find him.

She couldn’t find him.

He wouldn’t let her.

Because if Ianthe found Declan, all hell would break lose.

“Is he….leaving?”

“Huh? What?”

Vassa sighed. “If you would have been watching the game – ya know, the thing you’re supposed to be photographing, you would have seen Azriel Draeven run off the field.”

Lucien’s eyes snapped to hers, and narrowed. “Azriel?”

“Oh my gods, Lucien,” Vassa said, exasperated. “Are you even listening to me?”

Something like guilt shone in his russet eyes as Lucien lowered his camera. “I’m sorry. I’m just….distracted.”

Vassa looked from Lucien to Elain, the only cheerleader he had been photographing all night. The only girl he had been talking about all week.

She wanted to grab his shoulders and shake some sense into him. She doesn’t like you. She’s avoided you all week. Hell, so has her sister. JUST GIVE UP.

But instead, Vassa took a step closer to her best friend and said, “Hey. How about we go to the dance tomorrow together? As friends?”

By this point, the crowd was losing their minds. One of Velaris High’s best players had run off the field, with no explanation, if Coach B’s pissed off expression had anything to say about it. And here they were, talking about the dance tomorrow.

Lucien snuck a glance at Elain, and Vassa was sure she wasn’t supposed to notice. He looked back at Vassa and forced a smile. “Sure. That’s fine.”

FINE?! She wanted to shout, suddenly embarrassed. Out of all the things he could have said, he said “that’s fine”. After everything they had been through, Vassa thought she deserved better than “that’s fine”.

She would never say it aloud to him, though. She simply smiled, and gave him an awkward thumbs up as their football team attempted to make sense of the chaos.

Ianthe looked in her review mirror, her ruby red lips in full display.

She didn’t know what she loved so much about seeing her exes squirm, but it made it all worth while. She’d already scared Lucien, and his pretty little plaything, last Friday night at Rita’s.

But Azriel.

Oh, his face was priceless. The color quickly drained from his tanned features, and she could see how his eyes widened through his mask from the sidelines.

She had to admit – she was curious. She was curious about what her baby looked like after all those months, if Azriel had even kept the kid. She didn’t want to deal with the adoption agency, didn’t care to know how all that mess worked.

So, she had dropped him off at his father’s house, and left without another word, fleeing south only a month later, after a short fling with Vanserra.

She was only eighteen. She wasn’t ready to be a mother yet. She had a life to live.

And oh, she had lived in the last few months.

But the curiosity….

She wouldn’t mind checking up on little Declan. Azriel’s father’s house was empty, though. She had already stopped by earlier in the week.

And judging by Azriel’s expression when he saw her from the field, he didn’t want her to know where he was now.

She would find out, though.

She always found out.

#tacmc fnl #my writing #acotar #fanfic

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 8

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Sunday & Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: Well, you made it through the surprise chapter yesterday (if you missed chapter 7, you can read it by clicking on the link above!). We’re really getting into the meat of this thing. I hope you like it! Ps - there is a disclaimer at the end.....

ENJOY.

“Temper us in fire, and we grow stronger. When we suffer, we survive.” - Cassandra Clare, City of Heavenly Fire

He’s drunk.

He’s outside.

He’s throwing rocks at my window.

Alana is scared.

I’m going outside.

The texts from Mor were hitting Cassian’s phone rapidly, forcing his heart to beat so quickly that he thought his chest was about to burst open. Every other minute, as Cassian sprinted down the sidewalks of Velaris, his phone lit up. He texted back, just once: I’m on my way.

And so were the police.

He had called them the moment he’d left the bar. Not bothering to care that he smelled like smoke and beer, he’d dialed the emergency line and told them that there was a psychotic underage drunk harassing a group of young girls, then gave them Mor’s address.

He was done messing around. Eris may not have been able to be arrested for being an ass, but he did know that Eris already had a few minor run-ins with the law, and underage drinking was unacceptable.

Cassian was grateful that he didn’t have that many drinks at the bar.

With Nesta.

His lips were still tingling from their gentle embrace.

Nesta. He had kissed Nesta.

And she had hated it.

He would never forget the image of her face, of the horror that contorted her features, as she was running away.

And he had let her go.

He should have gone after her.

But he would have to worry about that later. Right now, it was about the girls. His friends. His family.

Mor, Amren, Alana.

If Eris was even in the same room as Alana, Cassian was going to have blood on his hands.

He could see the red and blue lights flashing from around the corner. Mor’s parent’s townhouse stood high above the rest on the street. Two police cars sat on the curb, their lights flashing brightly. One pair of officers had Eris doing a sobriety test, which he was failing miserably, and the other pair was interviewing Mor.

Whose mouth was swollen and bruised.

As he came closer, he could see the split lip, the terror in her eyes, her tear-stained cheeks.

Cassian forgot about the fact that he probably had alcohol on his breath, and ran to her. “Mor?”

“Cassian,” she breathed, and ran into his open arms.

A sob broke lose as she grabbed onto his tee-shirt, and to his surprise, the officers gave them some privacy after Mor told them, “Don’t worry, he’s a friend.”

“What happened?” Cassian demanded, when she finally let go, and took a step back.

“I came outside to ask him to leave,” she said. “I didn’t want Lana to have to see that. She was starting to panic.”

Alana had seen a lot of shit in her short lifetime, but it never became easier, even if she had seen was much worse than an idiot attacking Mor.

Cassian reached up and brushed his thumb gently across her bottom lip – which was swollen, and bleeding.

She winced.

After letting his hand fall back down to his side, Cassian raked his fingers through his hair. An officer asked if he could continue with his conversation with Mor, and when Cassian asked her if she wanted him to stay, she shook her head. “Go check on Alana. I’ll be okay.”

So he did.

Mor’s parents were out of town – as they often were – and Cassian was grateful as he sped up the stairs and found Amren sitting on the window sill, Alana wrapped in a blanket on her lap. If Mor’s parents were there, they probably would have found some absurd reason to side with Eris. 

“Hey,” he said, quietly, when he had reached the landing.

Amren gave him an apologetic look as Alana jumped to her feet, and ran into Cassian’s arms.

A common occurrence for the evening.

“He never came in here,” Amren assured him. “He never came close to her. Even if he had forced himself in here, we wouldn’t have allowed it. We wouldn’t have let him near her.”

“I know,” Cassian said, as he refused to let go of his little sister. 

He believed her, though. Amren may have been small, but she could make a nun swear with the terror and wrath she could accumulate. 

Alana nuzzled her face in his neck, but she wasn’t crying. She wasn’t shaking. She was tough, he knew that. Too tough, for a five-year-old.

“How’s Mor?” Amren asked, returning her gaze to the front lawn.

“It’s bad,” Cassian said.

Amren just nodded, mournfully. 

“He punched her,” Alana said – the first thing she said. “In the face. Mor fell down. Then the police came.”

Amren looked back over her shoulder. “Good call, by the way. I assume that was your doing.”

“I’m done messing around with him,” Cassian shrugged, putting Alana back on her feet and joining Amren at the window. “If Mor wasn’t going to do anything, I was, and she can blame it on me, for all I care. I need Mor safe. And I need Eris to go to Hell.”

Amren simply whispered, “Me, too.”

  Rhysand pulled up to the curb of Alis’ house, and Feyre hoped he wouldn’t ask too many questions about who lived inside – not that he really had a reason to, she supposed.

“Well,” Rhysand sighed, putting his car in park. “I have to admit…..I had an amazing time with you tonight, Feyre.”

Feyre felt her lips form a smile as she whispered back, “Me too.”

The radio was off, and the only sound was the quiet purr of the engine. Feyre didn’t move to get out of the car, and Rhysand didn’t act like he wanted her to.

“I’ll see you Monday?” he asked.

Feyre nodded, then suddenly felt a pang of sadness. She wasn’t going to see him again until Monday. Why did that bother her so much? This was ridiculous. 

“Can I confess something?” Rhysand asked, and Feyre nodded, once more. “I really don’t want you to get out of the car right now.”

Feyre felt her cheeks heat. “What would you like me to do, then?”

Rhysand turned to her and smiled meekly as he said, quietly, “Stay.”

She wasn’t sure what had prompted it, if it was the sincerity in his gentle voice, the way his eyes shone in the starlight, or if she was simply high on the evening they had shared, but Feyre leaned over the center consul and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

At least that was her intention.

But he turned, last second, and caught her mouth. Feyre tasted mint and lemonade as her lips collided with his, as her tongue swept idly into his.

It began sweet and simple, but quickly turned into something primal. She reached for the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer, nipping at his bottom lip, making a low growl escape from the base of his throat.

That growl sent chills to parts of her body that Feyre wasn’t aware chills were possible.

His hands raked up her neck and became tangled into her hair as Feyre climbed over the seats and straddled Rhysand’s lap. After her back accidentally tapped the horn, and Rhysand laughed as he moved his seat back, her lips were back on his.

She wanted him.

She needed him.

She gave him a sultry smile as she leaned back so that he could view her in full. With wandering hands, Rhysand shook his head, “I knew you were different from the moment I met you.”

“Different?” Feyre raised her brows.

“Good,” he said, simply. “You are good. Wonderful. Beautiful. Spectacular. Unearthly. A goddess, in the purest form.”

Feyre rolled her eyes, but her messy hair and burning lips were anything but annoyed.

Rhysand smiled, and held onto her hips. “I suppose you should go inside, though. You don’t want your family to be worried.”

Feyre glanced at the door, and debated on telling him that she had no parents. But, it wasn’t the time, and she did have family that would soon be worried, if they were even home yet: her sisters.

It was almost two in the morning. She should really go inside.

“Okay.”

He leaned up to kiss her one more time before she crawled off, smoothed down her sweater, and exited the car. He waited until she was inside, and waved goodbye, before driving off.

Feyre quietly shut the front door behind her, and tiptoed down the hallway to the kitchen.

Where a light was on.

Alis was sitting at the small kitchen table, a cup of tea in her hands. She smiled, knowingly. “Are you okay?”

Feyre cleared her throat, and hoped she didn’t look like she was just making out with a beautiful guy in his car. “Um, yes.”

“Are you safe?”

“Yes.”

“Did you do anything illegal?”

“No.”

“Are you hurt in anyway?”

“No.”

Alis nodded, and took a sip of her tea. “Very well. Goodnight, then, Feyre.”

Feyre let out a shaky breath. “Goodnight.”

She had only run up three steps before Alis called out, “Feyre?”

Feyre froze. “Yes, Alis?”

“I’m never going to try and replace your mother. I’m not going to cause a fuss like mother’s do,” she began. “But, I do want to make sure you are always safe. Next time, could you text me and let me know who you’re with, and when you’ll be home?”

Feyre smiled, and she wasn’t sure why. “Of course, Alis.”

“Thank you,” she said, with a wink. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

As Feyre got ready for bed that night, she dwelled on the word Alis used so casually: Home. And maybe Feyre finally had found a home. She was with people who cared, and who wanted her safe. She was with a woman who took care of her, and wanted the best for her. For her, and her sisters.

Yes, maybe she was home.

Maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad, after all.

 Cassian was digging through the medicine cabinet while Mor sat cross-legged on the bathroom counter.

“Mother’s tits,” he mumbled. “Do you know how much useless shit is in here, Morrigan?”

He’d been searching for what felt like minutes, although he was certain it was only a few seconds since his rummage began.

She’d tried to smile, but there was no more light in her eyes.

She’d told the cops of their history, of what had happened recently, of the fact that she was afraid of him.

And they had told her not to worry, had told her they were going to do what they could then let her know his punishments.

That didn’t keep her from worrying, though.

“Ah,” Cassian said, at last, pulling a tube of anti-infection ointment out of the cabinet, and twisting off the top. “Take off the ice a minute.”

Mor dropped the bag Cassian had made her hold against her lip. “It’s late. You should go to sleep.”

Alana had already been asleep for an hour, and Amren had soon passed out beside her. “I’m fine. I’m going to stay awake with you.”

Mor sighed. “I can take care of myself.”

She winced as Cassian gently spread some of the ointment across the cut on her lip. “I know you can, but that doesn’t mean you have to.”

Something in Mor’s eyes softened as Cassian finished, and twisted the lid back on the tube. “I’m lucky to have you.”

Cassian shook his head. “People like you and me have to stick together, Mor. People like you and me were made to find each other.”

Sad people. Broken people. Lost people.

She took his hand as she hopped off the counter, and walked back into the room where Alana and Amren were sound asleep, an animated movie playing softly in the background.

Cassian sat with Mor on the couch, and threw his arm around her. She rested her head idly against his shoulder.

“I’m sorry Alana had to see that,” Mor whispered.

“It’s not the worst thing she’s seen,” he said. Unfortunately. Mor only nodded, then Cassian said, “Just try to relax, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

It wasn’t even five minutes later that Mor was sleeping, her arm slung around his waist, her breathing evened.

Cassian never shut his eyes. They just kept drifting from Mor, to Amren, to Alana, as thoughts of Eris filled his mind.

Elain opened her eyes at the crack of dawn.

She still felt like she was crying, her heart still heavy in her chest from the night before.

She knew Lucien was too good to be true.

Maybe it ran in the family – the cruelty.

But she had thought Lucien was different. When she talked, he listened, and it seemed like he actually cared. He had a sparkle in his eye as he hung on to her words. He had told her about his family, had made her feel sorry for him.

But maybe those were lies, too.

Nesta was already awake, sitting in the chair by their bedroom window, reading a book. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all – her hair was a mess, her make up smudged, dark circles beneath her eyes.

As soon as Elain sat up in one of the two twin beds, Nesta’s eyes had snapped to her.

Feyre was still sleeping soundly on the futon as Nesta asked, “You’re still crying.”

Her voice was gentle, but her words were clipped.

Elain hadn’t even realized she was crying, but her cheeks were damp, as was a small spot on her pillowcase.

She shrugged.

“What happened?” Nesta asked. She had asked the night before, too, after she had gotten home and found Elain crying in the bathroom. She wasn’t ready to talk about it, though.”

But now, Elain said, “He has a girlfriend.”

Nesta’s brows rose. “Lucien?”

Elain nodded.

Nesta looked skeptical, like she couldn’t quite believe that Lucien could be that type of guy. He had caught Elain off guard, too. Liar. He was a liar. And he was good at it. “And how did you come to that conclusion?”

“Because she was there last night. She came up to me while Lucien was in line, ordering us drinks. She said she had been gone for a few weeks, on vacation, and she had come home a day early. She went to Rita’s to surprise him.” Her words were barely audible, her sob had contorted them. “He – he – he has a girlfriend, and he was making me th – think –“

Nesta had sat down on the mattress next to her sister, and patted her knee. “You’re too good for him. Don’t let some asshole steal your joy, Elain.”

Elain took a deep breath, collected herself, and nodded. “You’re right. You’re right.”

Nesta’s worried eyes caught hers as she said, “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Elain sniffed, and fell back onto her pillow as Nesta went downstairs to brew her a cup of coffee.

As the morning went on, she tried to hold onto Nesta’s words. She was right. She was too good for a relationship like that. It wasn’t even a relationship – was it even a date? Maybe he had asked her as friends, and she had just gotten it all wrong.

Then again, she truly thought he liked her.

But she was wrong.

And she could see why. His girlfriend was gorgeous, with her long blonde hair, and deep blue eyes. For the rest of the morning, Elain could not get the image of the girl out of her mind, as her words kept interrupting her thoughts.

She was beautiful. And she was Lucien’s.

Every word she had spoken to Elain the night before kept swirling through her mind, including her name.

Ianthe. 

  ***Disclaimer: Before you Lucien lovers come after me for making him an evil character, just remember that there are two sides to every story. Your questions shall have answers in chapter 9: coming on Sunday. ;) 

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #fanfic #fanfiction #mor #azriel #cassian #elain #nesta #lucien #feyre #rhysand #my writing #tacmc fnl #friday night lights #updated #nessian #elriel #elucien #ianthe #feysand

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 2

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: Hey, guys. I have surgery planned for Wednesday, so I’m going to post this wonderful (debatable) chapter today. Also, I’ve had a few of you ask about being tagged, and I’m sorry to say that I will no longer be doing tags in my fics. With Castaway, they hardly ever worked and I had a few readers get mad because of it. Instead, I have (and will be) tagging every chapter with “TACMC FNL” for your convenience! Anyway, I hope you enjoy! And, as always, i would love to know what you think. :)

Shout out to @throne-of-ashes-and-beauty for helping me with details! <3

Cassian hoped Rhys picked up Alana without a problem.

He had called Velaris Elementary and told them Rhysand Lunasa would be picking her up, although the Lunasas were already on her emergency release form.

And yet, his leg was shaking uncontrollably as he sat in his homeroom classroom to serve his first detention.

In typical Helion fashion, he was late. Even those who ran detention didn’t want to be in detention.

On top of that, their first game was Friday night and Velaris High School’s starting fullback was missing most of practice.

Coach B said he would have to put in extra hours during his afternoon free period to make up for lost time.

Mondays.

He didn’t regret it, though. In fact, every time he thought back to punching Eris in the face, his soul became a little lighter. The dick got what he deserved. Cassian had hoped the news traveled to Mor, he hadn’t seen her since homeroom. She wouldn’t be mad. He wasn’t even sure why she stayed with Eris, after all the shitty things he had done to her. But she was capable of making her own decisions, so Cassian stayed out of it.

Well, mostly. At least on her end.

A small smile tugged on the corner of his lips as the door swung open, and to Cassian’s surprise, it wasn’t Mr. Spellcleaver who walked in.

She was tall, at least she carried herself that way. She wore a heather grey pencil skirt with a white button down and a crimson red scarf, her long golden-brown waves hanging limply down her sides.

But her eyes were what caught Cassian’s attention.

They were like the calm before the storm, lingering over the ocean. Grey-blue, and staring negatively into Cassian’s.

Surely, she couldn’t be in detention. She looked to stuck-up. Too snooty. Too good for that shit.

“Name?” she asked, as she walked to Helion’s desk and sat down.

Cassian looked around the classroom, although they were the only two in there. “Uh, Cassian Nazari? Who the hell are you?”

She looked up from her apparent list, eyes narrowed. “Ms. Archeron. I’ll be overseeing detention, and that sort of language will not be tolerated.”

Cassian blinked. “Archeron? Are you Elain’s sister?”

The girl’s pencil froze from whatever she was writing on her sheet. “Yes.”

“Are you new, too? I didn’t see you today. Are you -“

“I’m not a student here.”

“Ah,” Cassian sighed, leaning back in his chair, as realization hit him. “You’re one of the new aids from the University.”

The aids from Velaris University came every year, although they typically looked older than the girl sitting in front of him. He quirked an eyebrow, which only seemed to annoy her more.

When she didn’t answer, Cassian grinned. “Well, since you’re not a teacher, and apparently we’re going to be spending some time together, don’t you think we should be on a first name basis?”

She put down her pencil and folded her hands on top of the desk. “Do you think that’s something to be proud of? Detention?”

“Are you going to council me, Ms. Archeron?”

The tone in which he spoke her name had her scowling. “No. We can stay quiet, if you wish.”

“Oh, no, I would love to talk to you. How did Elain like her first day?”

She didn’t answer.

“You coming to the game on Friday night?” he tried, again.

“I don’t waste my time at football games.”

“You should,” Cassian said. “If you’re going to be a part of Velaris High –“

“We shouldn’t be speaking,” she interrupted. “This is meant to be punishment, a time for you to do homework.”

Cassian grinned, catching sight of her nametag. Nesta.

“Well, Nesta,” he began, and she scowled at the sound of her name from his lips. “It’s the first day of school. I don’t have homework. And I shouldn’t be punished. My so-called crime is perfectly justified.”

“If you’re trying to get under my skin, it’s not working. Now be quiet.”

“How old are you, anyway?” Cassian asked, not bothering to take a hint. Taking hints when people were annoyed with him was not his style. “You look younger than me. Are you one of those freakishly smart kids that graduated high school at, like, fourteen?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, Nesta’s cheeks began to burn as she turned her attention back to her clipboard.

Cassian chuckled as he pulled the phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. He used to get embarrassed of his phone, because it was all he could afford. It wasn’t the latest iPhone, or whatever other smartphone every else had. His model was made ten years ago and only cost twenty dollars a month to keep activated.

Alana okay? He sent to Rhys.

He replied less than a minute later. Yup. She’s sitting by Coach B on the bleachers while we get ready. She had a good day. : ) She’s excited to tell you about it.

Cassian let out a breath. Good. She had a good day. That was a good sign.

He glanced at the clock.

Five minutes.

He had only been in detention for five minutes.

  “What’s your name?”

Elain blinked down at the little girl beside her. She hadn’t even realized she was there.

Her tanned skin was kissed by the sun, as if she had spent all Summer playing outdoors, and her long, curly brown hair was just as lovely as her hazel eyes.

“Elain,” she laughed, quietly. “What’s yours?”

“Alana,” she grinned, her two front teeth missing. “I’m five. My brother plays football. Does yours?”

“No,” Elain sighed. “No, I have no brothers. I do have sisters, though. One of them wants to be a teacher, and the other likes to paint.”

“Do you like to paint?” she asked, curiously. “I do.”

“Do you? I’m sure you’re a beautiful painter.”

The young girl smiled again as a tall, blonde girl approached them.

Elain recognized her immediately from a few of her classes.

“Mor!” Alana beamed, jumping to her feet and running into the arms of the blonde.

Mor smiled and brushed back her hair. “Hey, pretty girl. How was school?”

“Great! Are you gonna do cheerleading?”

“Yes,” Mor said, finding Elain. “I see you already met our new cheerleader. Elain?”

“Yep,” she said, rising to her feet and brushing down her gym shorts – a nervous habit. “I, um, have never done this before. Our last school was too small to form a squad, but I’ve always wanted to try it. I’m sorry if I’m awful, but I’ll do my best not to be. Oh my god, I’m sorry, I’m babbling –“

Mor just laughed, keeping Alana close to her side. “It’s okay. I’m captain, and what I say goes. And I say that you are more than welcome on the squad, and if you’re struggling, I’ll be more than happy to help you in any way I can. There’s no need to be nervous.”

Elain froze. It’s not that she expected Mor to be mean, but…..well, no that was it. And she felt awful for judging.

“Where’s Cass, Mor?” Alana asked, breaking the silence. “He said he was going to get me from school, but he didn’t.”

Mor crouched down to Alana’s height, and brushed a curly black lock behind her ear. “He’ll be here soon. He was naughty today.”

Alana rolled her eyes. “Again?”

Mor chuckled. “Yeah, what can you do? Boys.”

Alana giggled then held out her hand to Elain, which she amusingly shook. “It was nice to meet you, Elain. You will make a fine cheerleader.”

Then, she walked onto the football field and sat down on the bench, by a man that Elain assumed was the coach.

“She sure has a way with words for someone so young,” Elain said.

Mor smiled, wistfully. “Yeah, she does. That girl is special.” Then, as if she noticed Elain’s curious glance, Mor cleared her throat. “Well, come with me. Let me introduce you to the girls. I think you’re going to have fun.”

As they were walking to the sidelines, a tall boy with red hair came up behind them and smacked Mor on the ass. Mor didn’t even look back, she simply rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him. That’s Eris. He’s a dick, but I don’t feel like making a scene right now. Not in front of Alana.”

Elain glanced nervously at the boy, with his broad shoulders and throbbing veins. “Does he…..do that kind of stuff to everyone?”

Mor quirked a brow before realizing what she was actually asking. “Oh, no, don’t worry about him. He won’t touch you. He’s my…..my boyfriend.”

Elain caught herself from asking why she stuttered, but she simply nodded her head and continued with the rest of their walk in silence.

“Good afternoon, ladies!” Mor called out once they reached the group that was gathering, placing her hands on her hips. “This is Elain, she is the newest member of our squad. It’s her first time cheering, so I expect you all to be helpful and encouraging.”

To Elain’s surprise, she was greeted with clapping and cheers. They all gave her a smile, except for the one on the end. Noticing where she was looking, Mor chuckled. “That’s Amren. Don’t let her fool you, she’s cheery inside.”

Elain quickly looked away from the small, black-haired female before their eyes could connect. “She doesn’t seem like the….”

“Cheerleader type?” Mor laughed, finishing her question. “No, she doesn’t. But her form is great, and she’s our flyer. She’s into gymnastics, but since Velaris doesn’t offer gymnastics, she joined the squad in hopes to stay in the same line of work. As close as she could get, anyway. Don’t judge too fast, though. She’ll surprise you.”

Elain, panicked, began to tell Mor that she wasn’t trying to judge, but got cut off.

“Mor?”

The two girls spun around, and Elain stopped.

So did the boy who was walking toward them, dressed in football pads and carrying his helmet by the facemask.

Mor’s grin turned wicked as she glanced between Azriel and Elain, as the two stared at one another in timid silence.

Azriel showed no emotion – none except for the crimson patches on his tanned cheeks.

He was in all of Elain’s classes but one, which was yearbook, which she excitedly decided to take thanks to Lucien’s recommendation.

Azriel always sat on the opposite end of the room as she did, but she caught him watching her a few times throughout the day.

And couldn’t stop the tingly sensation that sat in the pit of her stomach when she did.

“Sorry,” Azriel cleared his throat, at last, and looked to Mor as he raked a scarred hand through his dark hair.  Elain couldn’t help but stare at the scars, at the way they completely ruined and mutilated his flesh. And yet, she didn’t stare because it was horrifying. She just simply couldn’t look away. “Um, Rhys wants to take us all out for pizza after practice. Wanna come?”

She looked to Azriel, then Elain saw her look further down the field – at Eris. “Yeah, sure, that would be great.”

Azriel looked to Elain, and cleared his throat, again. “Uh, would you like to come?”

“Oh,” Elain stopped, and she knew she was blushing. “No, that’s okay. I – my sisters will be expecting me. We just moved, and we’re still settling in. I don’t want to – no, that’s – I don’t want to impose.”

Azriel’s lips flattened as he pursed them, and nodded. He didn’t say anything else as he tugged on his helmet and jogged to the middle of the field.

Mor turned to Elain and raised her brows. “He was flirting with you.”

“He was?” Elain asked, incredulously. “He kinda looked like he wanted to set me on fire.”

“Trust me, I’ve known Az a long time,” Mor grinned. “He was flirting with you.”

And with that, she turned to the group, and practice began.

Elain tried to focus on what she had to learn, but she couldn’t get his face out of her mind.

And the shadows that seemed to linger over his shoulders.

 Feyre sat high up on the bleachers, doodling in her notebook as practices were in full bloom on the field below.

She hated football. Football players were always stuck up and conceited, and she thought it was better to just stay away.

But Elain wanted to cheer, and Feyre supported whatever she did, so it looked like Feyre would be spending quite a bit of time by that damned field.

Nesta plopped down next to Feyre and sighed, forcing her to stop her pencil from moving and look at her sister. “Bad day?”

“No,” Nesta sighed. “No, it was okay. Mr. Collins is making me watch over detentions, though, and it’s just…..strange. I’m supposed to be in charge, but I’m only a year older than the seniors. It feels.....I don’t know. I feel like a child. Like a fake.”

Nesta had graduated early, thanks to her mass knowledge in pretty much every subject. She was halfway through University at nineteen, and Feyre had always admired her for such things.

“Someone already got detention?” Feyre chuckled. “It’s the first day of school.”

Nesta rolled her eyes. “Yes, one of the football players. Cassian Nazari. And his mouth is filthy. And I swear he was trying to flirt with me, which is extremely inappropriate.”

“You’re only a year older,” Feyre reminded her.

“But I work here,” Nesta rolled her eyes.

Feyre couldn’t help but laugh at Nesta’s fit. “Well, I’m sure he can’t stay in detention forever. Then you can move on.”

Nesta didn’t answer, she simply looked out onto the field where a boy was just now coming out of the locker room. “There he is. The little prick.”

Feyre smirked, but there was nothing little about him. He was huge. Fit. Beautiful, if Feyre had to admit. Even though the fact of his attraction was completely obvious.

She saw him run to number 16, which she recognized as Rhysand, the douche from gym, and slap him on the back before taking his place on the field.

“Wait – why are you scowling?” Nesta asked, genuinely curious.

“Speaking of pricks,” Feyre muttered before shaking her head. “I had a hell of a day.”

“Bad?” Nesta asked, her shoulders becoming tense.

Nesta had a tendency to come off like she didn’t care, although she had come a long way since their mother died. But it was little things like that, like the tensing up of her upper body, that made Feyre remember just how much their elder sister cared.

Nesta did take her and Elain out of their father’s home. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t have moved them ninety miles away – to Velaris.

“Not bad,” Feyre sighed. “Just…..I don’t know. New, I guess.”

Nesta nodded, as if she understood but wasn’t sure what to say.

“I’m sure it will get better though,” Feyre continued. “Looks like Elain is enjoying herself, at least.”

Elain was in the middle of a line of cheerleaders, her blue and black pom-poms up in a high V.

“She deserves it,” Nesta said, eyeing Elain on the field below. “She’s too kind to have lived the life we have so far.”

Feyre agreed. If anyone of them deserved a better life, it was Elain.

Elain had been the one to try and take the spot of “mother” after theirs had passed away, even though she was only a year older than Feyre, and a year younger than Nesta. It was in her blood, the love and care that only people like Elain could show.

Yet, she suffered the same as the rest of them. But she looked happy, with her arms in the air, chanting whatever foolishness she was chanting. And she was smiling.

And that was enough for Feyre, at least for now.

If Elain could find happiness in this starlit hell, perhaps she could, too.

#tacmc fnl #short chapter #i didn't want to make too many scenes tho #sorry #acotar #friday night lights #fanfic #fanfiction

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Chapter 1

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand.

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material.

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Wednesday.

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: Hey, y’all. Once again, I’m posting earlier. Earlier is better than later. I was meant to post tomorrow, but I got called in to work double, and I didn’t want to be too exhausted when I got home (which I will be!)! So, I hope you enjoy chapter one. I’m so excited to finally get the ball moving on this fic! Great things are coming. I would love to know what you all think. :)

Enjoy. <3

“Why are you nervous? You’re gonna do great. I promise. When I come pick you up later, you’ll be thanking me for bringing you to school.”

Alana, at only five years old, rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I know,” Cassian agreed, handing his little sister her pink, glittery backpack. “But I love you, and that’s all that matters.”

Despite herself, Alana smiled. “Fine. But if I hate it, I’m going to punch you in the face when you pick me up.”

“You’ll have to catch me first,” he winked, before rising to his feet from where he was kneeling in front of her. “Alright. You’ve got your backpack, your lunchbox – which is filled with a delicious PB&J, by the way – and a sweet unicorn notebook. Now, go kick ass.”

“Shhhh,” she scolded. “You’re not allowed to say A-S-S. You’re going to get in trouble.”

Cassian quickly covered his mouth, and tried his best to look theatrically apologetic. “You’re right, I’m sorry. See? You’re already smarter than me. School is good for you. Now, go. Learn. And I promise I’ll be here right after you get out. Okay?”

She nodded, but her smile gently faded as she took a step back and began to walk toward her classroom.

“Lana?”

She glanced back at him over her shoulder.

He gave her a quick thumbs-up. “You’ve got this.”

It wasn’t until she stepped into the classroom that Cassian loosened his breath. He had done everything in his power that morning to make her feel confident – he did her hair and topped it off with a beautiful, ivory bow, surprised her with a new dress that he had found almost brand new at the thrift store, and made her one of his famous PB&J sandwiches that she would beg him for almost every night for dinner.

Now, he could only hope for the best.

It was only kindergarten.

Cassian had not neglected to realize how parents looked at him as they made their way out of the school. He was young, and would have had to have Alana when he was only thirteen. But he was used to the judgements. He was basically her only caregiver, thanks to their no-good mother.

Alana wasn’t meant to be born. Cassian was amazed she had even made it through childbirth with how much his mom smoke and drank with her in the womb.

Thirteen. He was thirteen when she was born. And he had taken care of her since, in every way that he could.

He had fumbled around a lot, at first. It’s not like he had a prime example of how a parent, or a caregiver, should act. His mother was a bum and his father left when he was five. His grandmother was beautiful, in every way, but she had begun to show signs of Alzheimer’s when he was only eleven, and was put in a home, where she had been ever since.

So, thirteen-year-old Cassian had read a lot of “What to expect when you’re expecting” and hoped for the best. He had stolen a lot of formula, and used a small blanket as a diaper, but they had survived.

Their mother wasn’t always bad. She went through phases. Every now and then, she would say she was trying to get better. She would stop, for a small amount of time, and would care for her children to the best of her ability, which wasn’t saying much. Then, she would relapse.

Every time.  

As the bell rang, Cassian cursed, earning even more hateful glances from passing parents, as he ran out of the school building, and across the street to Velaris High.

He had to hold up his jeans as he sprinted – his leather belt that he had worn for years had ripped that morning – and tried not to trip over his untied, bulky boots as he practically fell into homeroom.

Everyone stopped and looked at him, which he lazily smiled at in return. “Good morning.”

Some of the girls waved, and giggled under their breath. It was Rhysand who stood up in the back corner, his own sweatshirt that read Velaris High Football mirroring Cassian’s. “Don’t worry, Cass. You made it here before the teacher.”

Cassian was overjoyed when he found out he was having Helion for homeroom for the second year in a row. He was casual, probably way too casual for a teacher, and was never on time.

As he sat at a desk in the back, Cassian slapped Azriel across the back of the head. “Where were you last night?”

“Oh, uh,” he hesitated, and his cheeks stained crimson. “Nowhere. I just…..didn’t quite make it. Sorry.”

There was a bonfire at one of their teammate’s houses, welcoming in the new school year. Cassian and Rhysand had made it an hour before coming to the conclusion that Azriel wasn’t showing up.

Alana had stayed with Rhysand’s mother and younger sister, whom she adored.

Cassian leaned in closer, slightly concerned. “Things going okay?”

“Yeah,” Azriel answered, quickly. “Yeah, I was just tired. Been putting in extra hours in the weight room.”

Cassian nodded, although he wasn’t convinced. Azriel fell into the pit of darkness and despair more than the rest of them did, and although he usually pulled himself out, he had a history.

“Hey, losers.”

“Ah, Morrigan,” Cassian sighed, turning his head to find the blonde beauty standing behind him. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” She ruffled his hair, and he pushed her hand away. “You’re going to ruin the manbun. It’s an art, Mor.”

Cassian had known Mor just as long as he had known the others, since elementary school. He and Mor used to have a thing, if one could even call it that, but they ended up being just friends. Their so-called relationship felt too forced, too unnatural.

She was beautiful, though. That much was obvious. It didn’t help that every boy in that testosterone filled school looked at her as if she were the only girl in the hallways.

Before Mor could come up with yet another cunning response, the door flew open and Helion stepped in, but he wasn’t alone.

Cassian swore Azriel sucked in his breath.

“Hello, class, good morning! I’m sorry I’m late, but I was showing around our new student.” As Helion spoke, everyone was looking at the girl behind him. She was fairly short, her dark, brown hair in long, loose curls. She wore a floral sundress as she stood with a smile on her face. “Students, welcome Elain Archeron. Do we have any volunteers to show her to her first class this morning?”

Cassian eyed Azriel, and gave him a wink, but Azriel just rolled his eyes and went back to his doodling.

“I will.”

Ugh, Cassian thought. Lucien.

“Mr. Vanserra,” Helion smiled. “Perfect. Elain, if you’d like to take a seat next to Lucien, he will guide you through your first day. I hope it’s everything you want it to be.”

“Total shit?” Mor mumbled. “Because that would be an improvement from last year for me.”

Cassian grinned as Elain thanked Helion, and sat next to Lucien.

Azriel’s eyes followed her from underneath his dark bangs until she took her seat.

 Feyre was taking P.E. for her first period of the day, and she found it to be a horrendous twist of fate. They wouldn’t let her take art, because she was required to have two physical education credits to graduate, and she hadn’t taken any at her old school, Lowell High. So, she was spending her morning in P.E. and her afternoon in weight lifting.

Weight. Lifting.

Sighing, she stood in the gym at 8:20 in the morning in her royal blue gym shorts and t-shirt that read VHS Physical Education.

She longed for her paint brushes.

It wasn’t that she was in bad shape. She was actually pretty fit. Although she considered herself more of the artistic type, Feyre would take a jog every day before school to escape the morning wrath of her father.

As she watched the others that would be in her class meander into the gym, Feyre sighed. She was exhausted. The night before, her first night sleeping in Velaris, had been an adventure of sorts. 

Alis was nice. So were here boys. But if Feyre had learned anything, it was not to trust anyone. She could hardly sleep as she kept one eye open, glued to the door, which she had locked before the three sisters turned their light out.

Elain had thought she was ridiculous, and Feyre expected nothing less. Elain looked for the good in everyone, and Feyre did the opposite.

She looked for the worse.

She was still looking for something bad in Alis, but Feyre was sure she would find it. People always showed their true colors eventually.

“New girl?”

Feyre spun around to find the most beautiful male she had ever seen.

He was tall, and not wearing the same gym uniform that she was. He was wearing long, black sweatpants and a hoodie that read Velaris High Football. His violet eyes were in deep contrast to his pushed back black hair.

Feyre quirked a brow. “Is that how you greet everyone?”

“Only the beautiful ones,” he smirked.

Feyre rolled her eyes, and turned her back to him.

“Don’t harass her, Rhys,” another male voice appeared behind her. It wasn’t light, though. It was hard. Cruel. Annoyed.

She turned, her curiosity getting the best of her. Rhys was looking at a new boy, nearly the same height with shoulder-length blonde hair. His piercing green eyes were watching Feyre.

“Don’t be a dick, Tam,” Rhys, the first one with the violet eyes, shot back.

Feyre took in the two males, their stances as they looked at each other. There was tension there. There was history.

“Don’t listen to either of them.” She hadn’t even realized there was a girl standing next to her until she spoke, sending Feyre jolting in the air. “Sorry, new girl. Didn’t mean to scare you. Just came to tell you not to pay attention to these two dimwits.”

She was nearly a foot shorter than Feyre, with her chin length black hair and almond-shaped eyes.

“Who are you?” Feyre asked, because the girl had yet to look at her.

“Amren, no need to scare the living shit out of the new girl.” It was Rhys. The boy with the violet eyes.

Those damn violet eyes.

“Will everyone stop calling me that?” Feyre snapped. “It’s Feyre.”

There was silence, and then, “That’s a weird name.”

I hate this school, she thought to herself, as the gym teacher strolled out onto the middle of the floor.

He was short and bald with gym shorts on that were way too short, and a whistle hanging around his neck. “Laps! Now!”

Yes. She was most definitely going to hate it.

 Rhysand hated the locker room. It smelled atrocious, and there were clothes and mother-knows what else in some of those lockers that had been there since Rhysand started Freshman year.

“Tamlin intends on being a dick again this year, it seems.”

Rhysand chuckled at Cassian’s words, although they rang true. He was thankful for Amren, who came and broke the building tension. If Rhysand knew Tamlin, which he did, he knew his first comment was the first of many that he had planned.

“Tam is incapable of not being a dick,” Rhysand sighed. “He’s too much like his father.”

Cassian whistled in agreement as he lifted his damp gym shirt over his head. “Feyre looks a lot like the new girl from homeroom. Think they’re related?”

At mention of Elain, Azriel peeked over his shoulder.

Rhysand shrugged. “Maybe.”

“She seems nice. Feyre.”

“Really?” Rhysand scoffed. “She called me a prick every five minutes for the last hour.”

“That’s why I like her,” Cassian grinned.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have kept trying to talk to her, or flirt, or whatever you were trying to do,” Azriel suggested. “She’s new. She’s walking unknown territory, she may need space.”

Rhysand blinked. “Thank you for the advice, wise Azriel.”

Azriel rolled his eyes before returning to his deodorant.

“Have you twats heard from Mor today?”

Fury settled in the pit of Rhysand’s stomach as he turned to see Eris standing on the other side of him.

“For some reason, she likes you all,” he continued, when no one said anything. “Although, I’ve tried to convince her otherwise.”

“Not texting you back?” Cassian asked, in that dangerous, witty way of his. “You should probably take that as a hint.”

Eris laughed, unamusingly. “I give her much more than most guys can. Have you heard from her or not?”

No one answered.

Rhysand had walked with her to school that morning, actually. She seemed distant, like something was off. But he knew her. He knew that she didn’t want to talk about it, that she would bring it up when she was ready.

And if she wasn’t talking to her boyfriend, perhaps it had something to do with him.

Eris shook his head before backing away. “Idiots. I’ll have to give Mor another talk about who she chooses to hang out with.”

Rhysand put his arm on Cassian’s shoulder, because he could see the anger begging to be unleashed from his friend’s inner being.

“He’s an asshole,” Azriel mumbled. “He’s trying to piss you off, don’t let him get to you.”

Cassian gave him a curt not before reaching into his locker and pulling out his torn-up jeans.

Rhysand had known Eris and his brother, Lucien, since elementary school. They were polar opposites, but unfortunately both revolved around crowds that Rhysand couldn’t stand.

“Why do you bother with her, anyway?” one of Eris’ boys asked from further down the row of the lockers, loudly, so that the three Illyrians could hear.

Cassian’s hands slowed as he tugged his jeans up over his boxers, but Azriel had stopped completely.

Rhysand knew what was coming. He had been in this situation before with Eris. He liked the drama. He liked the tension. He liked the fight, and Rhysand hated him for all of those things.

“Ignore him,” Rhysand muttered, pulling on his hoodie.

“Because she’s hot,” Eris said, turning to Rhysand and giving him a conniving grin. “She may be a dumb blonde, but she’s good in bed –“

Rhysand had just pulled his hoodie over his face when he saw Cassian, jeans still unbuttoned, flying down the rows of lockers before grabbing Eris by the neck of his shirt and pinning him up against the cool, red metal.

The word stop didn’t make it out of Rhysand’s mouth before Cassian’s fist collided with Eris’ jaw, then his nose.

Eris was just as big as Cassian, but Rhysand often forgot how brutal Cassian could be. He was a gentle spirit, but he had lived a rough life. He had learned how to stand up for himself, and his sister. He could keep himself in check most of the time, was good at keeping his cool, but there were certain things he would not take.

Degrading women? Offending those he loved? Those were his biggest ticking points.

And he loved Mor.

As blood trickled over Eris’ mouth, Azriel and Rhysand were at Cassian’s back, trying to pull him off.

Coach B, who most likely had heard the noise of boys hollering with excitement from within his office in the back of the locker room, came around the corner and took in the scene.

The football coach’s big, burly hands grabbed Cassian’s arm and pulled him off his opponent. “What the hell is going on in here? It’s the first day of school, and you two are already acting like savages? Vanserra, get dressed and see the nurse. Rhysand, Azriel, get to second period. Nazari…” he looked at Cassian and shook his head. Disappointed, but not surprised. “My office. Now.”

  Elain wandered through the crowded hallways with Lucien at her side.

“So,” he cleared his throat, glancing at her with russet eyes. “What do you think so far?”

They mostly had the same schedule, which Elain was thankful for. She does okay in new situations, in unknown territory – at least better than Feyre – but, it was nice to have a guide for the day.

A handsome one, at that.

It wasn’t that Lucien was the most handsome guy she had ever seen, but there was something about him that made Elain’s heart feel a little lighter. His red hair was perfectly sculpted, all back from his clear complexion. Clear, except for the light scar that ran from his forehead to his cheek.

He was dressed nicely, too, which had always been something Elain liked in a boy. His blue jeans fitted him nicely, paired with a screen tee that had an old, vintage camera on it.

“Well,” Elain sighed, “history was okay. No one’s looked at me too strangely, and I haven’t gotten shoved into a locker yet. I can’t say it’s all that bad.”

Lucien smiled. “Well, that’s good to hear. Next, we have Algebra. Then, you have your creative class. What did you sign up for?”

Elain gasped. She had forgotten to ask this morning when she had arrived. “I haven’t signed up for anything yet. I completely forget –“

“No worries. You’ve still got time. You should sign up for yearbook, that’s where I go. The group is really fun…..I think you’d like it.”

She gestured to his t-shirt. “Photographer?”

Lucien laughed. “Is it that obvious?”

Elain grinned. “That’s cool. I would like to see your pictures sometime.”

Lucien’s smile became gentler. “I would like that, too.”

A dark, hooded figure ran into Lucien’s shoulder.

“Oh,” the boy turned. “Sorry.”

It was the boy from homeroom. Azriel, she thought his name was.

The sight of him captivated her. He was dressed in black, his eye-length hair peeking out of his hood. There was something about him, something haunting…..like shadows dancing around his being.

“Watch it,” Lucien snapped, his entire demeanor changing.

Elain glanced back and forth between the two boys, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in the middle of them.

“I apologized,” Azriel replied, clipped, before turning his back to the pair and walking away.

“I would stay away from him if I were you,” Lucien said, once he had walked further down the hall, into the sea of students.

“Why?” Elain asked.

“He’s just….different. Broody. Never smiles. Kinda creepy.”

Elain nodded, although she wasn’t so sure.

She had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to stay away from the boy with the shadows.

 Cassian sat, still shirtless, staring at a plaque that read Coach Bryaxis Bell.

He hated his name, so they all called him Coach B. The plaque typically made Cassian laugh, typically had him spewing jokes like it was his job.

But not today.

Coach B shook his head from the other side of his desk. “Cassian……You could get expelled for this, do you realize that?”

Cassian didn’t answer.

Coach B shook his head. “You probably broke his nose. I need him on the defensive line –“

“I’m sorry, okay? I lost it for a minute. But he was being a prick –“

“The hallways are filled with idiots, are you going to punch every single one of them?”

Cassian stayed silent, then shook his head.

After tossing Cassian a spare t-shirt, Coach B sighed. “How’s your mom?”

Cassian shrugged the shirt on, then shook his head. “Don’t know. Haven’t seen her in a few days. Since she came home drunk off her ass and passed out in the middle of the hallway.”

Coach B watched him curiously. “Do you think she’s okay?”

“Who gives a shit,” Cassian snapped, then felt bad.

Coach B was trying to help. Cassian remembered how terrified he was of the big, burly coach his freshman year. He looked like something from Cassian’s nightmares. But, over the past four years, he had grown to like the man. He had become, in some strange way, a friend.

“She goes away like this every now and then. She always comes back.” Then Cassian added, “Unfortunately.”

“Well,” Coach B sighed, just as he always did when he was disappointed. “I’m going to give you one month’s detention.”

“What?” Cassian exploded. “Seriously?”

“Care for expulsion instead?” When Cassian shook his head, Coach B continued, “Don’t worry about Alana. I’ll send Rhys to get her from school.”

He must’ve seen the horror in Cassian’s eyes. He was all she had. Alana would be waiting for him when the final bell rang, and he would never come.

“She’ll be right by my side until you get to practice, just like always,” Coach B promised. “But I have to punish you. As much as I think Eris is an ass, violence on school grounds is unacceptable.”

Cassian tried to smile. “Says the head football coach.”

Coach B chuckled. “Last time I checked, they don’t allow nose shots in football, either.”

Cassian grabbed his late-pass from Coach B and entered the hallways just after the second bell rang. It was day one of his senior year, and he had already gotten detention. As he ran his fingers along the cool lockers, he found himself wondering if colleges took a hard look at how many detentions an applicant received throughout high school.

Because he was sure he was sitting at the top of the list.

Then again, he couldn’t go to college, could he? He had to stay for Alana. He couldn’t leave her there, by herself. Even if he took classes at Velaris, how would that work? He heard that freshmen had to live on campus. He couldn’t do that.

He couldn’t leave his little sister with their mother.

Alana deserved better than a mother couldn’t care less about her.

Then again, she deserved better than a brother who couldn’t control his temper, too.

Cassian paused at his locker, and hung his head.

  Nesta tried her best not to fiddle with her thumbs as she sat in the school office, waiting to be called in for her first day at work.

She had graduated high school at seventeen, and found herself at Velaris University the next Autumn. Now, she was nineteen and halfway through her academic journey, well on her way to being a teacher. Until then, she figured she would try and get herself into the local school district.

And she had.

It was a job with little pay, but she didn’t care. It would lead to bigger things. Greater things.

“Miss Archeron?”

Nesta shot to her feet once her name was called, and brushed down on her pencil skirt although there were no wrinkles. She greeted the headmaster with a smile as she reached out her hand toward his. “Good morning, Mr. Collins. Nice to see you again.”

“You too, Miss Archeron. I’m glad to have you on board here. I’d heard your sisters started here this morning.”

“They did,” she said, as they walked into his office and took a seat. “I’m sure they’re loving it.”

Mr. Collins gave Nesta a cunning smile as he sat on the opposite side of his desk. He was young, at least for a headmaster, probably in his early forties. His hair was dark, with the slightest hints of grey in his mustache. His pale skin was in perfect contrast to his green eyes.

“Well, Miss Archeron, I guess we should get to work,” he said, handing her a file of papers. “You will be an assistant and aide for the office, as you know. I was also hoping you wouldn’t mind sitting in on detentions.”

Nesta’s hand stilled, midway to grabbing the files from him. “Detention?”

“Yes, it will be for an hour after school. We will pay you, of course. That won’t be an issue, will it?”

“No sir,” she said, although hesitantly. “No, that won’t be an issue at all.”

His grin was almost scary as he replied, “Good.”

Chapter 2 will be posted on Wednesday, January 10.

#tacmc FNL #fnl #friday night lights #acotar #acomaf #acowar #fanfic #fanfiction

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Prologue.

Summary: Inspired by the series Friday Night Lights. In a town that is obsessed with football, a group of teenagers are glorified for what they bring to the field. But what the people of Velaris don’t realize is that there is a lot more to life than football, and it’s not always pretty.

Revolves around Cassian, Nesta, Elain, Lucien, Azriel, Morrigan, Amren, Feyre, and Rhysand. 

*Warning: This fic deals with sensitive material. 

*Note: A chapter will be posted every Wednesday. 

Click here for previous chapters.

Author’s Note: Yay, y’all! It’s finally here. Yes, I did decide to post early. The original start date was January 1, but I’ll be busy for most of that day and I didn’t want to become so busy that I couldn’t post. So, I decided earlier was better than later! I’ve been so hard at work on this fic, and have been so anxious to share it with you. This story is close to my heart, and deals with sensitive material. Someone asked me with Castaway why I write about some of the things I do, and it’s because I have either gone through them myself, or something similar, or I know someone that has. I think it’s important to talk about heavy issues, and I love being able to do that through our favorite literary characters. SO, without further ado, I hope you enjoy Friday Night Lights. 

“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” - Edgar Allen Poe

The house was silent as Cassian pushed open the front door, which was already propped open.

“Cass?” Aliana whispered. She knew to stay hushed, she knew how nights like this typically turned out. “What’s wrong?”

Cassian didn’t answer, partly because he didn’t know for certain, and partly because he didn’t want to tell his five-year-old sister what his hunch was. Instead, he picked her up and held her small, fragile frame close to his.

“Cassian,” she whispered, her small voice beginning to tremble. “I’m scared.”

“Shhh,” he mumbled, into her ear. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

The floorboards creaked as Cassian tiptoed across the hardwood floor, and attempted to turn on the lights. They must’ve been late on the electric bill. Again.

“I’m going to put you down,” Cassian said. “Stay right here. I’m going to find a flashlight.”

Aliana nodded as her small, narrow feet hit the ground, and she pressed her back against the wall. She was too young, Cassian thought, to be living this sort of life. Too young, and too innocent. Her body shook in her jean shorts that barely fit around her waist, and the soccer ball t-shirt that was Cassian’s when he was her age.

After an encouraging nod, Cassian found his way through the dark into the kitchen, where he opened the junk drawer and found a small flashlight just as his eyes were beginning to adjust. After hitting it a few times, the light illuminated the small kitchen, and Cassian only took one step back to the living room before halting.

Aliana was no longer in her spot by the front door, but standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking further down the hallway.

Where their mother was lying face-down on the burgundy, shag rug.

Cassian pulled Aliana back a step, away from his mother’s limp form, and connected her eyes with his. In a calming voice he said, “Take this flashlight. Go up to your room. I’ll be there in five minutes to help you get ready for bed. Okay?”

Hesitantly, Aliana took the illuminated flashlight and nodded. “O-Okay.”

He kept his eyes on her as she walked up the stairs, and every time she looked back at him, he gave her a comforting smile. And when she had gone around the corner upstairs, Cassian looked back down to his mother. Her shirt was torn and the smell of whiskey had consumed the narrow hallway, not to Cassian’s surprise. He didn’t want to know what her night had entailed. He didn’t want to know how she had made it back home. He just wanted to toss her in her room, so Aliana didn’t have to wake up to the same sight in the morning.

With a grunt, Cassian lifted his mother’s body into his arms, and gagged as her open mouth fell directly in front of his face. At least she was breathing. That much was good, he supposed.

She didn’t stir, not even a little bit.

He hated that he and Aliana looked just like their mother, with her curly brown hair and hazel eyes. Her skin looked as if it had been permanently kissed by the sun, even in the darkness, as Cassian carried her down the hall to her bedroom.  

As he dropped her in her bed, Cassian didn’t bother tucking his mother in. He had lost respect for her a long time ago, if not during his childhood, then once Aliana had been born.

But he lingered in the doorway, and took one last look at the woman who birthed him, before simply shaking his head and shutting her door gingerly behind him.

  “We don’t even know her!”

“So? She was a friend of mom’s. Besides, I’ve already lived with her for a year. I know her.”

Elain sighed as Feyre and Nesta bickered in the backseat. They were almost to Velaris, just in time for her and Feyre to start their first days at Velaris High, and Nesta to go back to Velaris University for another semester.

They were going to be living with Alis, a friend of their mother’s, until they could get up on their feet without help.

Although, according to Nesta, Alis had said that they could stay as long as they wanted.

Elain and Feyre had never met her before, but living with their father had become too heavy a burden. When Elain had called the month before, telling Nesta that their father had lost their house because of his gambling addiction and her and Feyre couldn’t finish out their final years in high school, because they would have to get a job to help out……Well, Nesta stepped in.

Let me call in a few favors and see what I can do, she had said. Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out.

And she had.

Nesta had met Alis through her job at a corner café in the city. Alis kept telling Nesta that she reminded her of someone she used to know, and before they knew it, they had connected the dots.

Alis was a good childhood friend of their mother’s. Nesta and Alis had grown close, so when Elain had called for help, Alis was the first person Nesta had called.

Now Elain and Feyre were moving in with the woman and her two nephews, which was wonderful, except Elain and Feyre had never met her.

Elain trusted Nesta, though, and knew their sister would never put them in a harmful, or unsafe, situation.

Feyre, on the other hand, was harder to convince.

“Fine, Feyre,” Nesta snapped, after their bickering had become too heavy. Elain simply rolled her eyes from behind the wheel. “Then go back with dad. I’m sure the homeless shelter, or wherever the fuck he is, would love to welcome you in, too.”

It was a low blow, but Feyre shut her mouth and turned her gaze to the starry night sky outside of her window.

“Well,” Elain sighed. “At least we can make up on lost bonding time, right?” She caught Nesta’s scowl through the review mirror before shaking her head. “Look, I know this isn’t the most ideal situation,” she began, turning her mirror toward Feyre, “but Nesta got us out of there. And no matter how you feel about this change, it’s better than being with…..being with dad. And Nesta,” she said, turning the mirror back toward her eldest sister, “it wouldn’t kill you to keep in mind how difficult this is for us.”

“For us?” Feyre scoffed, laughing emotionlessly. “You don’t seem to be bothered at all.”

“I lost everything too,” she said, a bite to her sweet voice that shut both of her sisters up. Elain took a deep breath before turning her focus back toward the road ahead. “Look, I’m not…..I’m just trying to ease the tension. Okay? We’ve been through too much lately to be fighting. We need each other now more than ever so just…..please. No more fighting.”

Her two sisters in the back gave her tight nods before silence ensued. 

Elain didn’t know what was going to happen, she had no idea what their futures held.

But she was hoping it would only go up from there.

#tacmc FNL #friday night lights #fanfic #acotar #acomaf #acowar #fanfiction #cassian #nesta #rhysand #feyre #elain #lucien #azriel #morrigan #amren #mor #prologue #i hope you all liked it #let me know what you think #chapter 1 coming soon #i wont be doing tags this time around #last time they didn't work well #all chapters will be tagged with TACMC FNL

[theladyofdeath]

FNL 16

will be posted at approximately 8 p.m. EST. 

Spoiler: NSFW.

#coming soon #tacmc fnl

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR / teaser}

An ACOTAR fanfiction inspired by the t.v. show, Friday Night Lights. If you’re a fan of Castaway, I think you’ll like this one, too.

*this fanfic deals with sensitive material.

Coming January 1, 2018.

**** This fanfic will be dealing with heavy/mature content****

Velaris is known for two things: their famous starlight, and football. But football is just a small part of the students’ lives who attend Velaris High. Contrary to what their parents believe, and the townspeople who cheer them on every Friday night, high school is hard.

Try being gay when you’re known for men falling at your feet. Try being popular although no one knows who you really are. Try being the middle of attention when in reality, you’re hiding in plain sight.

Try being the quarterback. Try needing a scholarship to make it to college, even if you began hating the game a long time ago. Is slaving yourself away to a game you loathe worth getting out of your parent’s house?

Try being the only person in your household capable of taking care of the kids, when you’re only a kid yourself. Try picking up the pieces of your mother, who can’t even function, all because your father left without a word. Try carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, when none of the weight is even your own.

Try dealing with hatred, guilt, and self-loathing. Try waking up every night, sweat dripping down your brow all because your nightmares couldn’t let you get a good night’s rest. Try being seen as an outcast because of the scars that lace your skin, because of the shadows that lace your soul.

Try being known as the bitch. Imagine no one giving you a chance, imagine everyone labeling you because of how you look, or how you dress, or how you talk.

Try being an artist lost in a sea of jocks and cheerleaders. Try pretending to be someone your not, only because you’re new and want to be liked.

Try being so haunted that you can’t breathe, that you’ve given up on yourself and your future, that you’re simply going through the motions in hopes that you can make it just another day.

Try being seen as a child, and no one taking you seriously. Try being walked all over simply because you’re nice. But no one is just nice. There’s a reason you can’t say no.

But they don’t see those things. They don’t care. No one does. How could they? They’re only kids in a school that’s known for football…..right?

#acotar #friday night lights #tacmc FNL #teaser #coming soon #fanfic #nessian #elriel #elucien #feysand #mor #amren

[theladyofdeath]

JK. FNL 14.

I’m posting now!

I’ve got 30 minutes before class starts and have finished my homework.

HERE WE GO!

#tacmc fnl #posting now

[theladyofdeath]

The Epilogue to FNL

will be posted tonight.

I have a paper due tomorrow (the original posting date) and don’t want to push it!!!

#tacmc fnl

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights (acotar)

The prologue will be posted tomorrow, December 27! I will post a new chapter every Wednesday. I’m so excited to share this with all of you!

(The original start date was Jan. 1, but I have plans all of New Year’s Day and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to post. I figured earlier was better than later!)

#acotar fanfiction #tacmc fnl #coming soon #change of dates

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights Announcement

I’m going to pull a Castaway and start posting 2 chapters a week. Chapters will now be posted on Sundays, and Wednesdays.

Does that work for everyone? Sound good? Yay? Nay?

Ps- yes, that means a chapter will be posted tonight.

#tacmc fnl #fanfic #acotar

[theladyofdeath]

Friday Night Lights {ACOTAR}

Masterlist.

Summary: Feyre and Elain Archeron are new to Velaris High School, where their older sister Nesta has taken a teacher’s aid job. There’s one thing that’s certain: Velaris High loves their football. Rhysand Lunasa, the quarterback, is a household name, and his teammates are trying for yet another state title. But one thing the people of Velaris don’t realize is that these teenagers are only human, and there’s a hell of a lot more to life than just football. 

Sidenote: I will not be doing tags with this fanfic, since they never worked and were such a stresser in Castaway! However, chapters will be always be tagged with “tacmc fnl”. I will announce at a later time what days within the week the fic will be updated regularly. 

Teaser Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Epilogue EDITS: Nesta ~ Cassian ~ Elain

#fanfic #acotar #masterlist #friday night lights

[theladyofdeath]

hey i love your work! is there any way you could you tag me in your fics so i don't miss something? excited to keep reading friday night lights

Hey there! Unfortunately, I am no longer doing tags in my fics. I had a lot of issues with then in Castaway, and people often got mad at me. Instead, I have been tagging every chapter with “tacmc FNL” so that you can all keep up with them, and (unless announced otherwise) there will be a chapter posted every Wednesday. :) The next one will be posted on the 17th.