“Ya know…”

“What is it this time?” Jake asks, smirking.

She smacks his shoulder, earning a laugh from him, “Let me finish you arse.”

“Hey don’t let me stop you,” he retorts.

“I was gonna say I’m fond of geese.”

“Those absolute satan spawn?”

Rolling her eyes, she can’t help snicker, “Oh stop it, they’re cute.”

“They’re absolute menaces,” He scoffs.

“You’re a menace.”

He looks back toward the frozen lake as his breath mists, “At least explain yourself.”

“I-I just think they’re cute. And the way they walk is funny.”

“Ah yes the terrorize a family unprovoked walk, my favorite.”

She laughs again.

Her gold locs sweep to her shoulder as she faces him, “Cmon, you have to have a favorite bird, yeah?”

He hums in contemplation, “Velociraptor.”

“That’s not-“

“What? Dinosaurs are birds.”

A scowl twists her features, “Jake don’t do this.”

He wiggles his brows, “Do what? Be right?”

“Is you being right worth pissing me off?”

“What’re you gonna do to me? Huh? Huh?”

Silence passes over them for a moment before she turns away, slowly crossing her arms.

“Vel…you better not,” he warns.

“It’s already happening.”

“Vel.”

She’s nearly crossing them now. Thinking fast, Jake scoops a hand full of snow and flings it. She sputters, arms swatting the air, “What the- Jake!”

His laughter rings through the air. Vel tries to fling snow back at him but he’s already blocking with his arm.

“Heh, you fool! You couldn’t possibly defeat the snow god with sn-“

Vel cuts off his villainous monologue by tackling him. They land in a heap of curses, laughter and intertwined limbs.

“Get off me, you’re heavy as hell.”

“Rude,” she huffs, pinning his arms.

As he stares up at her only one word comes to mind. Gorgeous. Sunlight wafts through the grey skies, engulfing her in golden light. Scents of vanilla and lavender intrudes his thoughts, filling them with scenarios he’d rather not address.

“Your nose is running.”

Jake tries wiping it with the back of his hands but she swats at him, pulling out a handkerchief, “Gosh you always find a way to gross me out don’t you?” She says, wiping his nose.

“Thanks, now get of me.”

“Why should I? Scared you can’t throw me off?”

His brow arches and he gives her a look. Within seconds he tries pouncing but she’s quick, using her position to gain an edge on him.

“Totally unfair- and why are you so damn strong?You…eat like once a day…” Jake says through labored breaths.

She sticks his tongue out at him in response. After a minute of struggling he collapses back, “Alright whatever.”

Vel smiles victoriously, loosening her grip. Bad choice. In an instant he throws more snow in her face, earning him another string of curses before he pins her.

“Didn’t I tell ya not to test the snow god?”

“Jake shut the fu…”

Words fizzle out on her tongue. He’s close. Close enough to…

She goes for it, leaving any stray thoughts in the snow as her lips clash against his. His brain short circuits at the sudden warmth, the sudden…softness. His eyes flutter closed while his hand gently cups her face.

She nearly gets lost in it before realizing what’s happening. Vel squeals against his lips, pulling back so fast she gets dizzy. “Wait woah woah…that’s not-“

Jake rubs the nape of his neck, looking away, “I mean you did it…completely unprovoked.”

She shakes her head quickly, “It was totally provoked! Why do you always look at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know…like you want me, or something.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jake shrugs, clearly feigning ignorance.

“I always knew you were a gaslighter at heart.”

He gasps, putting a hand over his heart in playful protest, “Rude.”

The smile tugging her lips pisses her off more, “I hate you.”

“So what are we?”

“Did you seriously just ask that?” She snorts.

“What? I mean you’re kissin’ me n stuff, tackling me, wiping my nose…”

Vel awkwardly rubs her arm, “That’s just…what friends do…”

“Oh so you kiss your friends, hm?”

Silence.

“Thought so.”

She gets up, tugging him with her, “I’m hungry.”

“Hey don’t change the subje-“

Gently, her fingers intertwine with his.

“You know what? Me too,” he sighs.

Hand in hand, the sound of their boots crunching in the snow provides a sense of comfort for them. He sneaks glances at her, his heart jumping each time. She usually isn’t this silent for very long.

“So…”

Vel looks at him in expectation, nearly making him stammer.

“Does this mean I’m right about dinosaurs being birds?”

She slugs him in the arm.

“Ow.”

(I made this earlier this year on my phone as I was fleshing out Rayburn and Oswald. And oh all the holy things of the world! How did I write this?!

You have been warned (NSFW) it is part of the prompt because my characters, Rayburn and Oswald, are childhood friends who were in love, fell out of love, and fell back in love. I’m in the middle of the_ Living Is A Strange Thing (LIAST) _manuscript. No, it does not have these scenes in it. The second book- Forgiveness Is A Hard Thing will but I’ll be older by then.

I’m so sorry 😭, Honey Bear read it though. 💀)

Trying To Work Is Hard When You Are Distracted

“Oswald, please stop.” At the moment I am trying to finish some papers at my desk whilst being distracted by the love of my life. Who is about to leave my life if he doesn’t stop this nonsense.

He smiles at me from in between my legs, his dark brown face glowing with glee. “You’ve been in such a mood all week, darling,” he says, rubbing his cheek against trouser covered thighs, “You need a break.”

I look away from him and start reading where I left off of my paperwork. “I won’t be able to get a break if I can’t finish the rest of these documents. Now get out from under my desk.”

Oswald ignores me and instead kisses my crotch, smiling when I make a low noise. “Ray, we haven’t made love since last month.”

“And that’s well enough, now let me just finish this and then we can.” I hurriedly skim through the many passages on this sheet. Something about installing a new place for clerks at the front to have lunch break. Sure. Approved.

“But I want to do it now.”

“O-Oswald, I swear!”

He starts groaning and kissing my trousers, as though my thighs were bare and exposed. Oswald grabs my legs to keep me from moving away from his pursuit.

I try to shove his head away, but before I can he grabs my wrist tightly enough so that I couldn’t move it away.

“Come on, Ray, you know you want it too,” he kisses the inside of my wrist and trails his lips to my palm, ending his trail of lustful fire at my finger tips.

Dear lord, why is this man so irresistible?

When I bend down to kiss him he meets it with a hot, gentle press of his lips and smiles. Oswald let’s go of my wrist to free his hand and bring it to my neck, pulling me closer. I sigh and turn my head a little to the side as we open our mouths wider to each other and let our tongues do the work.

My mind goes blank the moment they touch….

“Um, sir?”

I push away from Oswald with a gasp, noting his pissed looking face, before looking up to face my assistant, Jenny Cho.

We are quiet for a few beats before she blinks a couple times and asks, “Is Oswald down there?”

I cough and lick my lips. “Yes.”

Jenny nods her head slowly, pursing her lips as in thought. “Well, I just needed to give you this,” she places a folder on my desk, then turns back to the door. “It’s from the Highest.”

After she leaves, I push away from the desk and stand up from my chair. I run a hand through my hair.

I don’t know why I agreed to doing that in the first place. If Jenny was anyone else—

“Rayburn.”

I jump at the sound of Oswald’s voice behind me. His arms fold around my waist and pull me close to him. My body relaxes against him and my mind starts thinking, turning, trying to ensure that nothing will put me in that vulnerable position again.

“You know we can’t do this again, right.”

He sighs. “Of course.”

I grit my teeth. “We could have been caught by someone who…disapproved of our relationship.” I sigh as well.

Oswald kisses my neck, softly, sadly, before releasing me from his grasp. “Of course, it won’t happen again.”

Going back home was a bit awkward after that. Tension was between us and tightened with every step we took. I am a bit ashamed now, as I sit underneath the covers of our shared bed with a forgotten book in my lap. The way I reacted was terrible, much harsher than he deserved.

I am quiet, listening to the sound of dripping water as Oswald bathes himself in the washing room connected to our bedroom. Giving an apology is the best thing to do, but my stubborn self doesn’t wish to be proven wrong. So when Oswald comes out the bathroom, sexy brown skin steaming with a towel slung low across his hips, I say nothing and look down to the pages of my book.

But they might as well have been blank as I don’t read a word.

Oswald rummages through his drawer before finding some linen drawers and a shirt. Then settles down in the bed beside me.

We are quiet. Feeling the radiating warmth from him and his low breathing, I realize that he is silent for my own sake. The past Oswald of my childhood would have already spoken by now, anxious to get a conversation out of me. It plays on my heart as I marvel at how much our relationship has changed over the years.

“Rayburn?” Oswald’s low voice pitches up in question and his large hands go to my face and pull me to look at him. His eyes are large, brown, and true and look at me with such wariness and concern that I let out a choked sob.

Oswald brows scrunch down at my reaction. “Rayburn, are you alright?”

Instead of answering I grip onto his hands on my face and kiss him.

Kiss him with every ounce of strength that I have to make him understand that I regret what I did.

Kiss him with hot and soft pressures that show my love.

Kiss him as tears form under my closed eyes as our kiss turns loose and passionate.

I pull away after a while, to regain my breath. Though as I breath my lungs are a bit slow on the process of getting air into my system as I look at the hot gaze of Oswald on me.

Oswald gives me a smug grin. “You could have just said sorry, you know.”

“You know how I am,” I say sweetly.

He groans as my stray hand finds his warm, bulging crotch under the covers. I come closer to suck his thick neck lightly then dive down to tend to other thick things that require suction.

I stop after hearing him call my name and rise back up to meet him. “Yes?”

Oswald swallows, staring at me with such intensity that I can not look away. “Do you have work tomorrow?” He says hoarsely.

“No,” I respond, glad he remembers our conversation from before.

Oswald shifts and pushes me against him until he is above me and straddling my hips. I allow this mostly because I feel the excitement and rush of arousal, and I want Oswald’s dick in my mouth at the end of this.

Oswald whispers something, but before I can grasp onto what he says he is unbuttoning my trousers and tugging them off my hips.

“Why do you wear your trousers to bed, darling, it makes it a bit harder to do these kinds of things.”

I stick out my tongue and swipe a lone curl that has found its way onto my forehead…which is sweating as well as other parts of my body. “Because it makes other things hard.” I press my foot against his area a bit roughly.

Oswald grabs my bare thigh and kisses it until he reaches my balls. He gives me a mischievous grin and says, “It appears so,” before ducking his head between my legs.

I moan loudly and writhe for a long time after that. Because by God! The man’s mouth!

“Oswald…OswaldOswaldOswald!” I shriek with pleasure as he presses his closed lips against my sack for a hot, wet second. Then he gives my stiff cock a tiny suck at the tip and lifts his head. He scoots up and lays against my shivering body, not fully though, if he does he will crush me and we both know it. So he rests his elbows on either side of my and looks down at me.

I barley register him as a shudder my breaths. It felt so good. Better than good! Magnificent! Why did he stop? Why did he stop?

Oswald gives me a peck on my nose and smiles. “Darling?”

“Why did you stop,” I groan, repeating my thought verbally and wrapping my arms around him, “I didn’t _want _you to.”

Oswald gives me another peck, this time on my cheek. “I want to have a talk with you. A conversation if you will.”

I growl. “I don’t want to talk.”

He laughs. “Well, too bad.” He straightens and leaves the bed, leaving me cold and hungry for his skin. Thankfully I still had my shirt which had stole some of Oswald’s warmth during our intimacy.

“Where are you going?” I whimper.

He stops at our bedside table and leans against it, looking at me. “Away from you so I don’t get tempted,” he responds.

Huffing and a bit pissed at the ending of our sex, and wait for him to speak.

“Well, Ray,” he says, “I was wondering if you’d like to see my Mum and the others again. We haven’t visited in almost a year.”

My eyes widen. Was it really almost a year since we visited? “Of course!” I say. excitedly. “But isn’t Turner (Charles) still in university?”

Oswald waves a hand. “He’s coming back, they have a break.”

I nod, but then I wonder: why now? I ask Oswald this and he starts laughing awkwardly.

“I-I don’t know, I just want to visit.”

I can tell that he’s lying, but I don’t bring it up. I stand from the bed and walk a few steps over to him, my shirt not at all covering my area below. Oswald backs away from me slowly, and I grab his sleeve so he can’t escape. Although he can tear his arm out of my grip quite easily, he won’t and never shall.

“Ozzy,” I purr.

Oswald gives me a scared laugh. “Yes, Ray?”

“Are you done now?”

He nods, scared of the monster he created.

“Good.” And I kiss him.

I wake up with a groan, feeling quite sticky and warm for some reason. Oh! That’s right, didn’t I have sex last night? I wipe the drool from the side of my mouth and reach around the bed with my hands, my eyes still closed.

My hands find a warm, strong chest that’s less sticky as mine. “Oswald,” I whisper, voice rough with sleep.

Large hands grab mine and I feel his breath against my fingers. “Yes, darling?”

“What…time is it?”

He pauses for a second, then kisses my fingertips before saying, “Around nine.”

I groan for the second time this morning and shift closer to him. “Wake me when it’s eleven,” I say with a yawn.

“But isn’t that too close to lunch,” he mutters softly, resting my hands on his chest.

I frown and I hear him laugh. “Shut up,” I say before retreating back to the land of dreams.

**

I smile as Rayburn falls back to sleep, his snores loud and deep. My Rayburn. Mine.

Why did it take so long to be this way?

I stretch and then roll away from him and off the bed. I have to make breakfast, or rather lunch, for when he awakens. I have to boil the water for some tea as well….

JACK

The time was ticking. I had a goal that year for the number of people I wished to cause pain to, but it seemed like Adon was lagging me behind.

He was asleep at the moment, in my bed, in my room. I’ve forgotten why he was there; it most likely had something to do with his pale step-father. I knew that Adon didn’t want me to know, but anyone could see the hungry gaze that the man gave him a mile away. It disgusted me.

Adon had already been claimed by me a long time ago. So what if I was a bit late. Sadly, killing his father would make people have suspicions of Adon, and we couldn’t have that. I still had lots of things I wanted to do with him.

I watched as he groaned, tucking himself deeper into the covers and my side. I wasn’t tired at all, no, I was busy thinking, busy plotting, busy busy busy.

There was a knock on my door. Knock! A crisp, single knock. I knew who it was. Didn’t want to see him at that moment—or at all really—but he came in anyway, as though a knock was good enough.

“Hi, Jack.”

“What the hell do you want, London.”

I couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but I swear he flinched. Of course, now, I’ll never know.

“Look, I just came to tell you that Father was more than pissed that you made an eighty-nine on your test.”

I huffed. I studied and did my best for that garbage—none of the answers were even part of the circulum, but I suppose that that’s to be expected at a private school. The teacher was a self-righteous bitch who probably made me miss marks because of my race. She seemed that type of person. “Well, it wasn’t my fault. It was the damn teachers.”

“Hey, hey. I believe you. Don’t get angry at me. I just— Who’s that?”

“Who?”

“Who’s in your bed? Is it that— Oh Jack are you really…?”

Adon yawned next to me, and one of his arms lifted to rest on my chest. Still, I couldn’t see London’s face, but I could see his back as the light of the hallway flooded into my room like a slow moving giant. I heard my brother take a breath.

“Father’s not going to be happy about your attitude towards the teacher.” Oh, so we were going to avoid talking about Adon. How much like him. Weak. Skittish. I despised him. Father did as well. But of course, being stupid, he couldn’t even comprehend that his own family would think of him as little as dirt.

“Well, if that’s all you came to say, piss off.”

“Jack—“

“Piss. Off. London. Get out of my room. I have school tomorrow.”

He left without another word, shutting the door silently behind him. The room was dark again. I could think again.

Adon tensed up in his sleep, the hand he had on my chest twisting my shirt in a ball. I stroked his hair absently, and he settled immediately, as I stared into the expanding darkness. It flickered at the corners of my eyes, as though even in the darkness there was light. I snorted to myself at the words, causing Adon to tense up again. There was no light in the dark.

That’s why they were opposites.

They weren’t the same.

——

_(Is it bad I really love these characters? This is my seventh(?) or eighth(?) installment of this series—which is more than my other attempted series btw—and I really do love them. I will have to do a backstory for Aubrey, the girl with the Itch. _

As always, thanks for reading! Tell me what you think about Jack’s character, if you may. Writing helps me with my stress so I’m so glad I got this app. ❤️)

JACK

How I met Adon was not a pleasant experience. I had found him being pummeled to the ground in an alleyway by older boys in his school as I was walking home. Now, at the time, I was going to leave him there to his tormentors—he wasn’t even from my school and it had nothing to do with me; I had rather not to get my hands bloody so early in the year. I had a reputation to uphold.

But then a bully spotted me, my private school uniform and all, and said the last words he’d ever speak to me. “Yeah! Mind your own business, Ching-Chong.”

I frown on myself to this day at the lack of restraint I had when pummeling those boys into the cold, unforgiving concrete ground of the alley.

I went to leave when I felt a shaky hand grab the bottom of my pants. “Th-thank you.” Slowly turning my head to look down at the boy, I saw his dark brown face bruised and caked with drying blood. His lip was swollen and his thick hair was sticking up in all the wrong places. He smiled at me though, relived, as though I had permanently released him from his torment.

I huffed and kicked him away, a smirk coming to my face when I heard him whimper. “Don’t touch me, pussy,” I hissed.

I walked away that day, thinking it was the last day that I would see that boy.

※——※

_2 Years Later _

In my junior year of highschool, leaning against a tree in the woods by my home, I was busy reading a book on tactics and ways to form a thought in someone’s mind and create it like a memory. I don’t exactly recall what I read in there, but it must have been good, for when I felt a tap on shoulder I was not the happiest.

Thinking it was my older brother, I shoved them away. “Piss off, I’m not going to deal with you right now.”

I started when they whimpered be behind me. “I-I’m sorry,” they—he—said, stammering out an apology, “I just saw you here and thought you were lonely….”

I turned to see that boy for that one time. That one time where my control slipped. I blinked slowly, his wide brown eyes staring at me with such tainted innocence that I had to smile. I had wanted to try something that year, but I had yet to find someone to manipulate. Maybe that meeting two years ago was fate.

“As if rather seems, I am,” I scooted closer to him, remembering about that one book I read just for this, “My name’s Jack. Would you like to keep me company?”

※——※

I stared at the mess in the front of the car, sighing as I scratched the back of my head. “Quite a mess you made, Adon, I’m disappointed.”

Adon shuffled beside me, eyeing the mess just as warily as he eyed me. He tucked his hands deeper inside his oversized hoodie, biting his lip deep enough for beads of blood to form on its soft, supple surface. “I’m sorry.” His hold on his lips deepened and he looked at the body splattered against the brick wall. Its guts were spilling and the blood was pooling, reflecting the moon’s subtle light. “We should stop doing this—I—I—“

I sighed again—for show this time, I couldn’t have Adon giving up on me this late in the game could I? Reaching softly, I grabbed his chin with the tips of my fingers and lifted his face to mine. I made sure my breath was just right, warm enough to coax Adon even further and keep him from questioning. “Oh, my dear, sweet Adon,” I prodded his bottom lip with my thumb, causing him to loosen the bite of his teeth, “You want to stop now? Leave me all alone doing this?” I brought my lips to him, both hands going to his neck to hold him in place. Adon shivered against me, before melting into my hold, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me closer. I deepened the kiss as I thought of my next move if he continued to resist, but thankfully I didn’t have to go that route.

“I’ll stay!” He eyed the car again. “But can we stop cleaning cars? They’re going to find out anyway.”

I gave him a sharp smile, pulling him for another kiss. I whispered against his puckered lips, watching as his wide eyes darkened at the form of me. He should, I truly am handsome. “Of course, as long as you stay.”

“I’ll stay.” He says this quickly, firmly. “I’ll stay forever.”

※——※

(I just realized, after I posted this, that the title looks like A. J. Kit’s username. 😭 Anyways, no, I do not approve of relationships like this but these are the only damn relationships I can fucking WRITE!

Tell me what you think of Jack and Adon’s vague backstory. Thanks for reading and have a great day! ❤️)

My bestfriend and I had always been a part of eachothers lives. Our parents grew up together, and we grew up together. We were practically family.

Even sitting here, listening to Ethan rant about something or other, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. There would be a huge gaping hole in my heart.

“It’s honestly terrible how schools work us so much. We get up at six o’ clock every morning just to go learn how to find x! We stay there until three every afternoon and still have other things we have to do. How do they expect us to do all of this work?!” Ethan was staring at his school work.

Piles of it lay on the porch as we decided what to do next. “Maybe if you didn’t stay up till three am you would get more sleep.” I knew he was right though. There’s no way that they expected us to get all of this finished.

“Maddie, please just agree with me for once. This is insane!” He groaned and sat back in the porch swing. He laid his down on my lap and I toyed with his hair.

I looked up at the sunset in front of us. His house always did have the best view. It was right over a lake with woods behind it. I could sit here for hours.

“I do agree with you. School sucks. It’s like they want you to be on top of everything and still have a social life or they think you’re depressed or something.” I said. It kinda surprised me. I don’t talk about it often.

Ethan sat up and looked at me. His eyes shined with concern and I felt tears start to prick in my eyes. “Are you ok?” He asked. It felt like there was a bowling ball stuck in my throat.

In my freshman year there was a group of girls that would constantly degrade me and make fun of my body. They did everything in there power to make me believe that I was worthless. They would kick rocks at me and they even cut my hair with kitchen scissors once.

A fresh wave of tears spilled down my cheeks and I choked back a sob. “There doing it again.” I blurted out. He stared at me in shocked silence for a moment.

He snapped out of his daze and forced me to look at him. I could see tears in his eyes. “Don’t let them bother you. If they start hurting you again, tell someone. Even me. I can help.” I nodded and sniffed.

He said it like it was easy. It’s not. People don’t talk about how bullies make you feel alone, or like no one can help you.

“Look at me.” He said. I dragged my gaze back to him. “You are perfect in every way, no matter what they tell you.” His face was really close to mine. I could feel his uneven breathing against my face.

I leaned in and kissed him. I almost froze, scared of how he would react but I didnt need to worry. He put his hand around my neck and kissed me back.

When we broke apart he pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.

It felt right. For a moment I could forget the other girls, my grades, homework. I had grown up with Ethan. We know everything about each other, from our favorite color to our darkest secret.

Now I just fell like I knew him a little better.

[These are two characters from a book series idea I’ve had, although I might not ever write the actual books]

Crumb found herself, once again, waiting beside the lamppost.

The clouds that shrouded the sky shone a turbulent gray, threatening to rain at any moment. She tried to pay them no mind; what she was waiting for mattered more than the weather.

Finally, she appeared. The most beautiful witch in all of Slyvestia— and also the youngest. She held an umbrella over her head, even though the sky was still dry, and wore the same grin she always did when they saw each other.

“Sorry I’m late.” She slid onto the bench by Crumb’s side. “How long were you waiting for me?”

“Not that long.” Crumb lied. She couldn’t even remember how long she’d been sitting on that bench— maybe since morning. “Busy day?”

“Oh, you don’t even know!” She laughed; her laugh was loud, authentic, unafraid. Crumb wished that she could be like that. “Marigold— she’s the witch of 4 Spades— had me training from right after sunrise! She can be kinda mean.” She scrunched up her nose, “Or maybe just brutally honest. Although half the time I think she just likes hearing herself talk. Like, really, I need my arm exactly four inches from my other arm when casting a shrinking spell? I bet she doesn’t even know how Diamond magic works! She was only teaching me because Ren was sick.”

Crumb tried her best to listen closely, despite the fact that she had no idea what Sophie was talking about. _Shrinking spells? Diamond magic? _It felt like she was speaking mouse-tongue. But any time Sophie talked made her feel warm, like soft yellow flowers were sprouting and crawling through her veins— it was a good feeling, though strange. Her chest felt hot, and her cheeks felt prickly. She wished the two of them could sit on that bench forever. It wouldn’t matter what they talked about.

“Oh, but enough about me!” Sophie shook her head, bursting back to a grin. “What’s going on with you? Anything crazy happen?”

“I’ve been… fine.” She told her, after a pause. “Sorry— there’s just, not much interesting, here in this town. I mean, not compared to your magic stuff.”

Sophie tilted her head playfully, “Aw, come on, I think non-magic stuff is plenty interesting! In fact, I’m getting pretty sick of magic stuff.” She laughed again. “It’s all I ever hear about these days!”

Crumb smiled, though she didn’t know what to say. Ironic— she aspired to be a poet, and yet whenever she was face to face with another person, her throat felt dry of air and her mind empty of words. It got even worse when she was next to Sophie, most frustratingly.

The clouds above began to loosen their grip, and a warm drizzle of rain pattered down onto their heads. Sophie giggled and wrapped her arm around Crumb, pulling her under the shelter of her umbrella. Crumb felt like her whole body had just lit on fire, and wondered if she might faint. That would be a very embarrassing way to end their meeting.

“My… garden has been doing well.” She said finally, surrounded by the growing drumbeat of rain. She wondered if it would downpour.

“Oh!” Sophie’s smile widened, “Did those sunflowers finally sprout?”

Crumb brightened, “They did!” The rain quickened. Streams of water tumbled off the umbrella and puddled on her shoes. “And there’s tulips now, too. Red ones.”

“It sounds beautiful.” Sophie pressed herself closer, and Crumb could hear her soft breathing. It smelled sweet, like strawberries.

Poetry was rattling through her mind as they sat, shoulder-to-shoulder, their hair intertwined—

_Warm as summer’s finest day _

_Soft as winter’s warmest snow _

_Lovely as spring morning dew _

_Brighter than an autumn glow _

It was kind of terrible— but the thoughts were haphazard and sped through her mind without warning, along with thoughts like _I wish you wouldn’t leave _and _Why can’t you just come with me, and see the garden for yourself? _

“I’ll probably have to go home soon.” Sophie sighed. “My parents will be wondering what I’m doing out in the rain.”

Crumb felt her chest clench. This was the closest they’d ever been— and already, she was thinking about leaving.

“Sophie— there’s… something I wanted to ask you about.”

“What is it?” She turned her face to Crumb’s, shaded purple in the twilight.

“It’s— my mom.” She was quiet for a moment. “She’s… um, she’s sick. I’m hoping she’ll get better soon, but I’m worried. I know there are witches in the city with healing powers…”

Sophie’s eyes widened, “How sick is she? What does she have?”

“I… don’t know. The doctor wasn’t sure. She’s been coughing a lot, and it keeps getting worse— I’m sorry, I know witches don’t use their magic for stuff like this, but—“

Sophie grabbed her hand, sending ripples of sparks down her arm, like pins and needles. “Of course I’ll ask them to help! Crumb, you should have said something sooner.”

Crumb let out a long-held breath, washed over with relief. “Thank you— thank you so much. I-“ She cut herself off. Something stupid might’ve come out, maybe even the word “love”.

“I’d better go.” Sophie stood up, but didn’t let go of Crumb’s hand; the two of them stood together, under the light of the lamppost.

Crumb watched ruefully as a few stray raindrops fell below the umbrella and onto their fingers, intertwined. The raindrops shimmered in the fading light— cold, soft, colorful.

“Sophie…”

She wanted to say something more. To spill her heart out. To tell her to wait one moment longer— to walk with her, to keep holding onto her hand. But it all got stuck in her chest, locked away in her heart.

Before Crumb could pull away, Sophie wrapped one hand in her hair and pressed her lips to hers, warm and soft and upturned. Crumb thought she might be paralyzed, but her eyes fell closed and she felt herself push closer, her fingers wrap tighter, her heart burn brighter. She felt so light, her bones were made of paper. The flowers in her veins were in full bloom. She couldn’t hear the rain over the beating of her heart, which pattered through her chest, unruly and uncontrolled.

Sophie’s nose brushed against Crumb’s as she slowly pulled away, smiling gently. The world felt so much colder as their fingers left embrace.

“I’ll see you next Monday. I’ll be on time.”

Then she turned, handed Crumb her umbrella, and began to walk away.

Crumb felt like she was dying— and also just now becoming alive, all at the same time. She wanted to call after her. She wanted to tell her not to go this time. To tell her, however selfish it might be, that the world didn’t need her magic as much as she needed _her. _But instead she stood there, frozen, in the rain, the umbrella falling limply by her side, as Sophie faded into the darkness. She was gone.

She held the umbrella close, feeling Sophie’s warm handprints on its handle, and she felt another poem bloom in her heart.

_I want to curl up in your chest. _

_To feel the safety of your ribs. _

_I want to tendril veins through hands. _

_I want to breathe into your skin. _

_If I could travel through your lips _

_Then in your heart I’d have my way _ _ _ _I wouldn’t have to go such lengths _

If just, for once, you would stay.

Kendall and I have been friend since she moved acress the street when we were both just six years old. My mother went over to there house all those many years ago and brought food for them since they were new to are area. My mother introduced me to them and that we live in the blue house aross the road. This is my daugther Tia. My name is Tina and I have two more children a boy John and a older girl Penelope. My husband passed away right before Tia was born in a fire during his job. Sorry about running on and on about my myself and my family tell me about yours. My name is Linda and this is Kendall I don’t have anymore kids me and Kendalls dad meet when I was young and he and I never married. He left me three months ago because I asked him to marry me. It had been seven years that we had been together. So after he turned me down on marrying him I left and found this house and here were are talking with you both. So now years have passed Kendall and I have been friends through everything boyfriends, fights, anything and everything you can name it happened to us. So now here we are about to graduate from high school and go off to college. Were both goig to Harvard our dream school. Were gonna miss our parents and all of our home town friends we will see them around the holiday’s hopefully. With that been said the summer is now coming to its end. Graduation has now passed and we are spending all summer together with our family and friends. First day in our dorm just Kendall and I. I’ve been hiding this feeling I have had since eight grade summer camp. From everyone even myself I suppose. As we sit in our dorm awaiting classes to start we start talking about guy and if there gonna be hot or nerdy or jerks since we grown up now. I get off my bed and walk away she yells and asks whats wrong I say nothing is wrong Kendall I’m fine okay. She gets off her bed and comes and puts her hand on my arm and turns me around. Your not okay I can see it in yours eyes talk to me Tia I am yout best friend. As I look up at her I start shaking and she leads in for a hug everything is okay I know this is new and scary im scared too but together we got this. We pull apart from the hug looking deep into each others eyes and I lean in for a kiss thinking am I really about to do this. We kiss and neither one steps away as the kiss leads to her hand on my neck my heart is racing like ‘omg” did she like me this whole time to. Once we pull apart from out kiss she says I new you liked me I was waiting for years for you to tell me. I didn’t say anything Becasue I wasnt sure if it was just in my head or not. I smile and say so you liked me this whole time as well? Kendall say yes Tia I did but just like you I was scared. So she lead in to my ear and says neither one of us has been with a women what should we do first makeout and see where it leads. So Tia gets on my bed and I follow her and we start making out and hands start to wonder all over on each other and kissing of the neck and more exploring of each others bodies. We tell our familes that we are now dating each other and our moms say finally we knew all along. Four years has now passed and we are set to graduate from college and became nurses. We still together and kendall has planned and ever nice romantic night for us. I’m wearing a dress and so is she and were sitting down eating at a lake front restaurant as she pull a ring out of her purse and stands up and asks me to marry her and of course I said yes. We become nurses and live together in a beautiful town home and kandell wants to have kids but we both want to carry. So we go through all the red tape and medical crap. Six months later we both are pregant i’m having a boy and she is having twin girls. We hvae both gotten everything we have ever wanted and are now just waitting on our three babiesto arrive.

My voice wouldn’t work. I’d thought about bringing it up so many times before, but actually doing it would make it all real. And I didn’t know what I would do if… he gave me the truth. I know the darkness that falls over his face when he thinks no one is watching, because it’s the same darkness that chokes me tighter every day. Maybe a different shade; the kind bred from a pit of grief. But darkness just the same. “Brock…” “What’s up?” He noticed the different tone in my voice and moved his focus to me. “I know, um… things have been bad since your grandfather died. I guess I just wanted to know if…” I focused on the arm of his long-sleeve shirt, trying to force my voice to even out, but it dipped down anyways. “How bad it’s really been.” The last word came out quiet enough that I wasn’t sure if he was able to hear it or not. I kept my gaze low, but when he didn’t respond, I raised it back to him. I don’t make eye contact with other people very often, which means that I don’t usually have time to notice the details of their face. But now I saw the heaviness of his eyelids. He didn’t answer right away. But when he met my eyes it did. He looked down again. “Rowan, I’ve—I’ve thought about it… but I wouldn’t. Not right now.” I felt my vision get blurry. Don’t tear up. I knew the answer already. I was ready for this. But it’s difficult to really ever be ready to know that my best friend knows the same things that torment me relentlessly day and night. My hands barely trembled, but I reached over to grab his. His fingers are warm. Right now he’s right here. With me. When he gripped my hand tighter, I leaned over on the couch to hug him. He wrapped his arms around me, and the warmth of his body pressed into mine is all the reassurance that I needed. I don’t know how it happened, maybe it was him, but when we started to move away he looked into my eyes and our lips met. My heart jumped and I closed my eyes for a minute. I fell into the touch of his mouth on mine and everything felt alright. When we pulled away I tightened the hug again and buried my head in the shoulder of his sweatshirt. This wasn’t what I thought would happen, but I’ve thought about it for so long. I don’t know what this means for us and I know that I’m going to worry later. But right now all I want is to stay in his arms forever.

[who would’ve thought I would write to this prompt for this story. not a chapter, though. just a little really lil scene!]

“Hey, Boston?” I start, looking down at my feet which dangle in the water. “Why isn’t your dad here?”

My eyes flicker to his as I notice his muscles tense up. The length of his arm is pressed against mine, but he seems too far.

_Not close enough. _I bite my tongue, shaking those thoughts away.

Did I forget to tell my brain that our relationship is fake, and that nobody else is around? Not even Boston’s mother. She went to bed early, something about a lack of vitamins or… something.

“Well,” Boston mumbles, his voice quiet. It’s not good, I realize as I analyze his face.

No, duh, Sherlock. I think.

Why do I have two voices in my head, anyways?

“My parents filed for a divorce.”

What?

I thought the Mr and Mrs. Otkins were perfect for each other. It was love at first sight…

My gaze returns to the clear water of the saltwater pool, clearing my throat as if it could scare away the tension. How do I change the subject?

I finally muster up some courage to ask the question that’s been dying to leave my lips.

“Do you think you should be friends before a relationship?”

Boston looks at me, but I keep my eyes fixed on the water. “Why do you say that?” His tone is lighter, almost like this is amusing to him.

“Well, some marriages don’t work out… for some reasons, but I was wondering if—”

_Too soon, Callie. Too soon. _

He’s going to hate you.

I bite my lip, forcing my eyes closed.

I can’t do that to him.

“Keep going,” Boston urges, to my confusion.

“Maybe it was because they were never friends.”

Beside me, he hums in response. “Do you think it’s weird for friends to date?”

“Not necessarily,” I reply, placing my hands behind me so I can lean back, “People believed ‘us’ like they believe politics.”

That earns a full laugh from Boston.

“Cals, have I ever told you about your way with words?”

I glance over at him. His eyes completely trap me in the moment, with a tint of something I can’t even begin to describe. Can he compliment me more?

A blush rushes to my cheeks at the thought.

Do I…? No.

“I’m better at sketching, Bozo,” I tease, reaching forward to tap his shoulder. That’s my favorite nickname for him, even though it describes him inadequately.

He’s probably the smartest guy I’ve ever met, and he’s nice and ho—

“Callie.” The simple word, my name, with his voice sends shivers down my spine.

When did he get so close?

His face is only a few inches away. “Care to explain why you’re blushing?”

I push him lightly, trying to distract myself from his smile and his flirting and his face and his—

Boston only inches closer.

“Calliope, I’m starting to think this isn’t fake.”

Completely entranced by his everything, I’m not quite sure I nod at that. I meant to, but did I?

My question is answered as his lips meet mine.

It’s soft and short, but butterflies are everywhere.

I pull away, hopefully not too abruptly.

“Can we do that again?” We both say, almost simultaneously. We both laugh, and then we agree to the other’s request.

Oliver glances over at Axton, watching the way his eyes glisten in the moonlight.

"It's kinda cold," he comments, thinking nothing of in until a coat is shoved suddenly into his arms.

"Here." Axton looks over, meeting Oliver's gaze. The stars are nice, but this moment is better.

"Th.. thanks, I guess." his voice is oddly quiet, almost breathless. Axton grunts in response, but his demeanor has shifted slightly too.

The air is filled with a sense of vulnerability, yet it's also got a certain charge to it that leaves Oliver feeling rather flustered. And, as an impulsive kind of boy, he leans closer to his best friend.

He's inches away from Axton, and swallows nervously. There's not much time to process before Axton is closing the distance, their lips meeting in a heated kiss.

Oliver's body is pressed into the damp grass and his eyes widen in surprise. It's only when the need for air arises that Axton pulls away, looking down at the boy beneath him.

"Sorry-" Oliver stammers, but is cut off by another brief kiss.

"Don't be, Ollie." he smirks as he watches Oliver look away. "I liked it, y'know? I could tell you don't kiss much." The boy rolls his eyes, making Axton chuckle.

"It's not.. I just-" he sighs defeatedly. "That was my first kiss."

"Wait." Axton pauses. "Fuck- I just took your first kiss?" He's never one to be outright with his emotions, but he almost looks guilty.

"Yeah but.. I'm sorta glad it was you, Ax; Someone I trust."