LovelyComplex

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: After Always With You
Featuring: Penelope James & Forrest Proudstar
TW: Mentions of self harm}

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In the Silverheel barn, which was weathered over the tide of time, up a flight of stairs, no door to separate the ground level from the second floor, Penelope sat on a maroon couch, wrapped in a mustard blanket. Almost all the furniture in this small hayloft had a previous life, similar to the items that could be found in her mother’s shop, Well Loved Wonders. The soul of the barn kept safe the memories of good times and a blessing that spanned generations.

As Dirty Harry played in the background, Forrest sitting beside her quietly, respectfully using his own blanket, Poppy’s green eyes explored his room. From the bookshelf filled with cooking and recipe books to the bed with the handmade solid wood frame, she could see a little glimpse of his personality even if it wasn’t much. Seeing his room made her realize how much more she had in comparison to him and that he likely used most of his money for his business on wheels.

Penelope appreciated his willingness to watch something from her little box of memories and hoped next time he would choose something from his. One would say Dirty Harry was just an extension of Eastwood’s basic screen character. Clint Eastwood was good at playing the productive tough guy with a quiet demeanor and a bottled-up capacity for violence. What makes this film intriguing is Police Inspector Harry Callahan understood his legal responsibility and duties as a police officer, and the Bill of Rights, and yet followed his own code. His own code which led to his actions of taking retribution into his own hands, becoming what we all know as ‘the bad cop’. To catch a criminal, a man needs to think like one.

To change society, a man must become exactly what they fear…

For a moment, she could see parts of Charlie and hear his voice and the awful things he said to her when he was taking a turn for the worse. How the world was a filthy, hopeless place and that there was just so much pain, he would be doing it a favor by making it all go away. At the time, she didn’t realize how lost he was and that his compass, his code, was buried by hate and self loathing. He became unreachable and refused to let anyone be there for him. When the thoughts reached her chest, causing it to painfully ache, she desperately grabbed Forrest’s hand and held him tight, grasping for something present as she redirected her mind to someone else.

That someone else being her English professor, now boss at Cafe Rochambeau. Mr. Beau. He would go on and on about ‘a man’s got to have a code.’ He had explained to the class that without a hard code, that we refuse to break, our beliefs are at the mercy of external forces. Without a code, our belief system loses its value. A code couldn’t be something easily manipulated, like being a good person. Being a good person can justify vastly different behaviors. A code was more like unbreakable rules that set you on the path to being good, or bad, depending on your choice. Without a code, a man would be lost, creating cognitive dissonance. They went against their beliefs because they broke their code. She knew by the time she could reach Charlie, by the time he was willing to give her a chance again, he had already broken his code and lost himself. She couldn’t find him and that fucking sucked.

“Resi…” Penelope whispered, as the movie was coming to an end. “What keeps you from breaking? How are you so strong?” Her glossy eyes glimmered in the dark, with the TV light on his desk shining on their faces. “Sorry, completely random I know,” she apologized and released his hand, loosening the blanket around her so that she could hug her knees. “I know you go to the place that reminds you what not to become but that’s got to be tough, right? That’s got to be hard…”

That was a very loaded question and Forrest really didn’t know where it came from considering how they were watching Clint Eastwood’s magnum opus. The squeeze of Poppy’s hand on his had filled him with butterflies and made it extremely difficult for him to think of a straight answer for her. “Hm.” He mused, filling the air with a hum to mask his thoughts. “I mean yeah it’s hard and some days, I can’t bring myself to go there. You know? I close my eyes and I see things that I wish I didn’t. I’m not as strong as you think. I have a lot of help.”

Resi shifted a little closer to the ghost girl on the other side of the couch and rested his arm on its back. “Like my aunt Jadyn, Creator bless her, she might be a bit of a wild child but she gave everything to us kids. Mitena has always been my rock. She’s my best friend. Whenever it got to me, the dark thoughts, Tena just knew you know? She’d come up those stairs and she’d always just….I don’t know, you know. She just found a way of being there for me.”

His eyes drifted to the open barn window that overlooked the rolling field of Silverheel. “When I would get home from working a shitty job, covered in dirt, aching all over and questioning why I even bothered to suck air, I would look out of that window and I would see Illara playing or dancing or she’d be running from the main house to greet me. I would see the little smile on her face and that gave me all the strength I could ever need. She’s the reason I carried on. She’s the reason I’m here. I have to take care of my baby sister and give her the life she deserves.”

“So you live for family,” Penelope uttered in response, resting her head on her knees. She sat in the silence, thinking of those she had that were still alive, who would be devastated to see her go. She remembered the first year of grief after the shooting she would try to use shards from mirrors to cut herself. Her father had to remove all mirrors like they were in a supernatural fiction story and mirrors were a portal to another world.

She wondered what was keeping her here, why did she keep fighting? It certainly wasn’t her family, seeing how she thought her friends wanted nothing to do with her, her mother can’t seem to let go of Maxine's memory, and her dad… was a weathered down rock, who needed saving too. She wondered why, after all this time, after losing someone she considered her world, she still was fighting for air. Fighting to breathe.

Maybe, the answer was simple.

Maybe she was simply abiding by her code. Her code to never give up, no matter how hard things got. No matter how lost and empty she felt. No matter the circumstances. Do not give up. She didn’t break mirrors to kill herself. She broke them because she hated seeing her face. She hated looking at herself. She wanted to cut not because it could kill her but because those scars would remind her that she was still very much alive.

Mentally, she was probably a basket case now that she thought about it. Losing Charlie made her go absolute batshit crazy. She was so dependent on someone else, on his love, his validation, and his happiness, that she lost her identity and because of that, when she looked in the mirror she saw no one. She was nothing without Charlie Decker.

Now, little by little, she was becoming someone. She was finding herself, outside of her family, outside of her friends, and outside of her love for Charlie. Little by little, she was becoming Poppy. Releasing her hold on her legs, she adjusted her body, where she sat on her knees and her legs laid to one side, facing the opposite direction of Resi. She leaned into him for support and looked up, gazing into his eyes, “No more sad talk, let’s play… the question game. I’ll start. In five years, where do you see your life? Career wise, family wise, whatever you feel comfortable with sharing.”

It was amazing how swiftly Resi felt he had become close to Poppy James. The way she leaned into him was reminiscent of someone who had been in his life for years rather than a matter of twenty four hours. She had integrated herself seamlessly into his life as if she had always been there and it was something that he didn’t want to change. The more time he spent with the offcomer, the more Resi found himself completely and utterly enamored with her. “The hopeful answer is maybe I’ll be chefing in a five star establishment, likely a sous chef since I won’t get to be a head until I’ve like, seriously got my feet under the table. I’ll be watching Illy go from strength to strength, hopefully I’d have met a girl that would want to be with me and the truck would be my side gig for the weekends. For fun, you know?” Without really thinking, Forrest wrapped his arm around Pops and held her close in his embrace. “The honest answer is I’ll likely still be sweating my ass off in that deathtrap, giving food away to those that don’t have but deserve everything.”

“And if that’s the case, at least you love what you’re doing,” Penelope smiled at him and leaned her head against his chest, not even thinking how odd it must be to be this comfortable with someone. To those she surrounded herself with, personal boundaries were rarely a thing and Resi was no exception. She wasn’t even thinking about it really. All she was thinking about was keeping her mind out of her own dark place and focusing on her friend, learning as much as she could for the time they had left together.

“Though, if you need a little cheerleader to push you to achieve greatness, I can be that for you. I know some things like opportunity require luck but that doesn’t mean you can’t aim for it. And hey, you’ll have little ol’ me trying to keep your spirits up.” Poppy giggled, amused at her own words and at the thought of her wearing a Clover uniform, attempting to do one of their routines. She would never be caught dead in a cheer uniform but she did like rooting for her friends and their happinesses. Little Cheerleader Poppy. “Okay,” she patted his chest, “Your turn. Ask me a question.”

Resi had to shake out the image of Penelope in a cheerleaders outfit from his mind's eye before responding to her. He couldn’t deny his attraction to the pale girl but he also knew that there was a fragility to her. He could see that beneath the surface of her body of glass there was a heart made of iron, pumping petrol and gas into her veins and igniting the fire that was Poppy James. He had already made the decision that he would ask her out when the time was right; it was only a matter of time.

“Okay.” He was debating how deep to go with his question. Having had the debrief from Mitena about her misadventures with the Edenridge offcomers, he knew bringing up his cousin Charlie would definitely be a taboo subject yet Forrest couldn’t deny his curiosity, they were family after all. “Why did you decide to stay here tonight? With me? Being a stranger in a strange land can’t be easy. Why put yourself through it?”

“Hm,” Poppy James looked at her hand that rested on his chest. Why did she stay? It was clear that the reservation was doing wonders to her. In less than twenty four hours she’s made more progress than she’s ever made in the past two years. In less than twenty four hours she could eat a little more, she could smile a little bigger, and she could breathe a little better. The weight of the town, of Charlie’s crimes, was not on her shoulders here. She still had her ptsd, and she still struggled with letting him go, but here, on this spiritual land, she felt a sense of belonging, like she was meant to be here. “I guess I don’t feel like a stranger. Even if my friends, like Mordechai, have been here before, even if my parents did what they could to keep me protected and not stray too far, I feel more myself here than I’ve ever felt in a long time.” She closed her eyes and listened to Forrest’s breathing. His heartbeat. “I feel seen, I guess. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Silence filled the room as she realized she didn’t fully answer his question. That answered why she wanted to stay here but not why with him. Was it weird that she felt this comfortable with a stranger? Opening her eyes, she let her hand trail down to his and rested her smaller one on top of his bigger one, looking at their size difference. She was always so tiny and frail in comparison to others. His hands were a little rough, a clear sign of someone who worked with his hands everyday, but she also saw a tenderness to them. Someone who put love and care in everything he created and everything he did. “I like you, Resi. I’m unsure of the why and how, but I like being near you. You’ve been extremely honest to me and it’s like we’ve been friends all our lives. I feel safe when I’m with you so that’s likely part of the reason why I wanted to stay here. I wanted to be with you.”

Oblivious to how romantic she was sounding, Poppy laid her heart out for a boy she just met but wasn’t thinking about anything beyond the moment they shared together. Most people would sweat saying something like this. It was practically a confession but for Poppy she didn’t see it as one. She saw it as her way of being true to herself and saying exactly what was on her mind. Right now, in her mind, all the grief, all the trauma, and all the tragedy was shelved like a book, and she was sitting by a fireplace with a boy she felt a strong connection to. He warmed her and comforted her. She hoped she provided something for him too.

How could he not be swooning from those words? At that moment, staring into Penelope’s big green eyes, Forrest knew that he wanted to kiss her. Yet he got the sense from her that she may not be so massively experienced in the area of romance as others their age. He had to quickly mull over what the best thing to do was in this situation before the moment passed them by and they were left asking themselves what if. “I really like you Poppy.” Resi began. “I like you being here with me.”

Rather than rush, the young cook took his time. With his free hand, he gently brushed a loose chestnut hair from Penelope’s face and tucked it behind her ear. He could feel himself becoming untethered, floating into the emerald forests in her eyes where he would become lost. He cupped her small chin and leaned down to bring his lips to hers gently. He lingered for a brief time before backing away and allowing her the space to process what had just happened. The butterflies in his gut had turned into a murder of crows flying wildly together through a storm of chaos.

Forrest really wanted to kiss her again.

“I don’t….so….” He sighed through his nose as he tried to find the words to say. Forrest had been in relationships before, he had been through meaningless hook-ups and everything in between. He understood that whatever was connecting him and Pops was different, at least in his mind and he hoped, prayed to the Creator and spirits that he hadn’t misread her and that he hadn’t just ruined every right. “Was that ok?”

In that gesture, Penelope started noticing other things she hadn’t before. His breath she could feel on her now kissed pink cheeks. It remained steady even if his brown eyes betrayed him, showing how worried and lost in the moment he was with her. His hold around her was firm. It wasn’t tight to the point that it felt crushing but it did show signs of desire, need and want. She noticed how natural her frame fit in his arms, as if this was something they’ve done before. Her own breathing had picked up, something she had clearly disconnected with before he kissed her, before his soft lips touched hers... was her breathing always this obvious?

Poppy placed her hand on the back of his neck, letting her fingers feel the many strands of hair, curling one around her pointer finger. There was so much curiosity and desperate yearning in her green eyes. Her delicate smile and deep blushing of the face was far more telling than anything she could say right now. Vulnerable and trembling from anxiety, a little worried she was too out of her element, Poppy’s gaze, tender and full of love, continued to pull him in, whether she was aware of it or not. She felt like she could see his soul and he could see her’s. In the silence, she felt seen. She felt needed and adored. She felt wanted.

What she was feeling couldn’t really be put into words. All she knew was she didn’t want it to stop. All she knew was her impulses wanted to keep going, and her thoughts were clouded by a feverish dream. All she knew was she was starting to see a new beginning and that new beginning started with Forrest. “I’d like to do that again, Resi,” she whispered, as she stared longingly into his dark gaze.

The elation when Forrest heard those words. He didn’t want to ruin whatever was happening between them but it seemed that Penelope was on the same wavelength as him. “I can arrange that.” He whispered back as he cupped her face and followed her command. Resi gently pulled the ghost girl's face to his and their mouths crashed together in a loving embrace. With their lips dancing slowly together, Forrest guided her body closer, which was easy as Poppy was as light as a feather or perhaps she just didn’t feel that way because he was so absolutely, utterly lost in her.

As he led, Penelope followed, moving in tandem with his lips and his body. The warmth radiating from him and his hot lips only made her lean into him more, until she had turned and found herself laying on top of him, unsure if she pushed him down or if he turned himself and let her thin frame adjust in his embrace like a puzzle piece. Taking little sips of breaths, Poppy opened her eyes to see his glinting with the reflected moon, deeply staring at her. Her heart beated out of control as she held onto his head. She clung to him, having not realized how desperate she wanted intimacy. How lonely she was until now.

Pulling away to catch her breath, Poppy stroked Resi’s cheek. She proceeded to run her hand through his hair and gave his handsome face a closer look. The sounds that could be heard in the barn were only that of their breathing. Disrupting the quiet with her feathery and silvery voice, Poppy stated, “I come with a lot of issues, Forrest… and I still have a long way to go.” Biting her bottom lip, she revealed, afraid he was signing up for something he would regret later on, “I can’t promise you I’ll be the easiest person to deal with. And there’s days I get very sad and very mad. And everything in between. I want you in my life, there’s no doubt about that. But I also don’t want my grief to ruin this. I just… I don’t know... This is all very new to me and I don’t want this feeling to go away. I want to explore it. I just need help, I guess? I don’t know what I’m saying.”

Resi had to break himself away from staring at Poppy biting her lip so that he could focus on what she was saying to him and the importance of those words. He traced lines over the small piece of exposed back that her sundress allowed as he directed his smile into her big green eyes. “It’s all very new to me too.” Forrest would argue that despite their different definitions of new that they would be on the same wavelength.

The young cook had been in relationships previously, he had hooked up with people and it seemed clear that his and Poppy’s experience levels were far different. Yet when he said it was new, for him, he meant the feeling that was growing in his chest, this indescribable feeling that the ghost girl caused inside of him. “We can go as fast or as slow as you want.” Forrest gently brushed the back of her hair with his hand. “I wasn’t expecting you, you came out of nowhere and now we’re here. And I guess now the next step we take is together, be it a small or a big one.”

“…so we’re together?” Penelope asked, a little in disbelief even after they kissed. “You want to be with me?” She had only met Resi yesterday and yet, here they were on his couch kissing like they’ve done it their whole lives. She didn’t want to get too carried away in the moment because what if that pushed him away? She didn’t know if she should be cautious or throw caution to the wind and chase this feeling. Chase this feeling that she was too scared to run after before. Chase this feeling straight to a door that led to so many unknowns but could mean something wonderful was waiting for her on the other side. Chase this feeling straight into a loving embrace where she was wanted and loved. Where she was someone’s choice not regret or burden. Where she was someone’s hearth and home. Where she was simply someone’s.

“I know what I’d like.” She softly said, wanting to kiss him again and be with him. She wanted more days with him and when she’d leave the Reservation, she knew she’d be waiting with bated breath for his next text, his next call and his next visit. Her heart hadn’t fluttered like this in years and now she had someone she wanted to learn and grow with. She had someone she wanted to stand next to, during her hardships, during his, and all the possible good that comes with their journey, together. Keeping Charlie’s memory on the back burner, not letting the feeling of betrayal ruin this for her, she traced her fingers on Resi’s features. Focused on him and no one else. She smiled at this boy, not too long ago a stranger, who was winning her over as fast as lightning and she knew it was only a matter of time where she’d try to catch it and keep her lighting in a bottle close to her heart. She wanted to be with him.

As he held the small woman in his calloused workers hands and listened to her words, Resi could feel the duality that was Penelope James. In his hands, she was fragile, delicate but that was just her body: inside she was tough, harder than stone and had suffered more than anyone that young should. He wasn’t sure what future awaited them, he tried his best not to think about what was to come but more on what already was. In that moment shared together in the barn, they were present and together and if Forrest had his way, they would be for much much longer.

He watched the cogs turn between woodland greens as she likely pursued her feelings down the labyrinth of her mind. They had only known each other a short time and they lived in different towns. Could distance temper wild hearts? Not if Resi had anything to say about it. He was willing to do the work and he hoped that she would too. There was something special between them and they owed it to the past selves, the ones that ached from trauma, to chase happiness. “What would you like, Poppy?”

Anxiety sat in her throat when he asked her that question. Rather than answer him immediately, she gave him a little peck on the lips before brushing her nose against his. Poppy let his question sit a little longer as she wondered if this would lead to more pain or not. She shouldn’t think of all that. That was part of her problem. She waited on others before ever considering her own wants and needs. Before ever jumping. If she wanted this, she needed to commit and not look back. She needed to make a choice for herself and no one else. She needed to live. “I would like us to date and see where that takes us. I want to be with you. I don’t want to lose my chance and wonder what could’ve been. I will admit, I’m a little nervous. But that doesn’t deny the fact that I’m really into you and I want to keep kissing you.”

“I’m really into you and I want to keep kissing you too.” Forrest held his ghost girl tight as he sat up with her in his arms, her legs falling to his waist. “And I want to explore this feeling with you. So I guess we’re dating now.” His grin was wide and cheeky, all bright teeth framed by his dark tanned skin. “I guess if we’re dating I should probably teach you more about this indigenous thing we call kissing.” His thumb drifted lightly across her thick lips as his other hand softly cupped her alabaster face. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

“I’d like to think I’m a good student,” Penelope smirked, glancing down at his chest and then back up, from under her lashes. “So tell me, teacher,” she played along. “What’s next on the lesson plan?”

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: Tuesday Afternoon || After Smile Riot Gremlins
Featuring: Marco Brady-Castillo, Nadine Navarro, Eloise Anderson, & Amity Lyon
Introducing: Brielle Blake & Neal Blake}

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As the Smile Riot Gremlins talked, a duo walked past them, one a blonde girl in a white sundress with silver-colored boots that came up just inches below her knee and a boy, who seemed a few years older than her that wore a clean-cut shirt and dark-colored jeans. They walked by the gremlins as the blonde said in a clear volume, “Here’s our booth.” She didn’t pay any mind to the Gremlins as they took the booth behind them.

“Brie, we can just get our food to go. I don’t even want to be here anyway--”

Brie shot her older brother a silencing glare as she took a seat, her back facing the Gremlin’s back. “Enough of that! You weren’t doing yourself any good stressing bout Mara being back. Damian is barely able to muster his brain cells for anything useful. I can’t let my other brother kill them away because you’re thinking about how you’ll make a second first impression on the woman of your dreams.” Brie let out a sigh, leaning back into the booth. Between Neal driving himself up a wall with worry and in turn, leading her to have to be the adult for both of them and the party this weekend, Brie was already juggling too much.

Neal shrugged. “Right because you aren’t already booked. Aren’t you helping with the party those Sinclair girls are throwing?”

There was a moment between the Blake siblings where both smirked at each other.

“I can’t help it if I’m in popular demand,” she said proudly, giving her brother a smug look. He rolled his eyes. “All us Clovers are pitching in in some regard. It's not just a party for everyone on Scott street. That would be too boring. Carrie, I think was originally going to make it a bit exclusive, but I threw the suggestion her way about it being for everyone. Anyone who likes to have fun, at least, so don’t worry you’re safe, Neal.”

Distracted and out of her mind, Lolly’s eyes followed the girl that passed them until they took a seat behind her and Marco. “Shut the fuck up everyone,” she growled at her friends, before quietly turning her body, hiding her head behind the other girl’s to eavesdrop. Closing her eyes, she took in the scent of something juicy, something orange, and maybe something flowery, like lilies. Whatever it was, it was hella’ fruity and sent shivers up her spine. She smelled delicious. It was intoxicating. She was also fucking gorgeous. Since when did Edenridge have models? Curiosity was filling her soul as she gently grabbed a strand of blonde hair. Nadine looked at Marco, her eyes widened to get her to stop before the other girl noticed.

Marco had his attention divided first between Lolly shushing the group and then to Nadie, who urged Marco to stop her. Stop her from doing what? He followed Nadie’s glance and had a mental facepalming moment when he saw the most gremlin gremlin of their group actually touching someone’s hair. Some blonde girl behind her. “_Lolly!” Marco nudged Lolly’s shoulder, keeping his tone as quiet and low as he could. “_{Stop that!}”

Amity wasn’t paying attention to any of this and had no idea that the people her crew were curious about were her cousins. The family tree was complicated but they were related since her brother was once married into the Blake family and her niece is someone she spends too much time with at the content house. Downing her whiskey sour, tuning out the noise, she continued to text her girls and share memes with them.

Instead of stopping it, like Marco had demanded, Lolly made it worse and climbed over him to get out of the booth. This was rewarded with her falling face first onto the floor. As her ass hung out, she grumbled, “I’m okay…” With a quick recovery time, she hopped up. At this point, Nadine was covering her face in embarrassment. When Lolly set her mind on something, there was no one who could stop her. Maybe Dallas but Dallas wasn’t here.

With reckless abandon, she strutted to the table and looked at the two strangers, with no fear, just complete audacity. “HEY!”

Rhett from the bar shouted, “ELOISE.”

“Hi…” She lowered her voice. “I’m here eating with my friends and I couldn’t help but overhear you want to fuck Amaranth Harding! The daughter of the hot rock goddess from the band East of Eden. Well guess what, buddy ol’ pal! My buddy, Marco,” she turned her gaze to the boy she was speaking of, gesturing for him to stand up and come hither. “Marcoooooooooo,” she beckoned, before making her pitch without telling the catch, “He’s like really tight with Kylee, her cousin and you know he could totally set you up. I’m just saying, it’s a good deal.”

All this had to be was an intervention to help Nadine out. That’s all it ever needed to be, but now, now Lolly was on the loose, unhinged and nobody could stop her when she was on a roll. As soon as his name was called out, Marco sighed and stood up from the booth, joining the chaotic gremlin at her side, waving to the Blakes with an almost defeated expression on his face.

“Oh, so when she said Marco…” Brie made a mental note. “Your mother is Marlena. I’ve gotten my hair done at Tresses plenty of times.” The blonde gave Marco a smile as she turned her attention to Eloise. Quite the interesting girl she was. Pretty, too.

“Yeah, that’s my ma,” Marco said simply.

Brie couldn’t deny that Eloise had a good offer. It would help Neal along in his anxiety and give him fewer things to stress over, but seeing as how she was the one acting on his behalf because, as she looked over at him, his face said it all. He was a bundle of nerves and she could tell the gears were turning. “So..Eloise was it? You make a strong case. I admit, you have my curiosity, but there’s gotta be more to it. Why would you help people you barely know? I know Marco only because his mother can’t stop gushing about how proud she is of her oldest--” It was at this point, in addition to his complicated expression, Marco was showing signs of embarrassment as his face went red. “Tell me why you’d go out of your way to help us?”

Flat out without any hesitation, Lolly declared, putting her hands on her hips like she was talking truths and nothing but truths, like a goddamn superhero, “Because you’re fucking hot and I want to go to this party you and your friends are throwing. It’s that easy, folks.”

Oh my god. At this point, Nadie was nudging Amity so she could get out of the booth. Taking her phone out of her hand, Nadie held it far away, which caused the Lyon girl to grimace.

“Heyyyyy, give it back,” the Fallen Scott Street princess complained as she laid her hand out.

Not one to pick a fight, Nadie did return it but not before telling her, kindly, to move. In time, the other girl did finally leave which allowed Nadie to join her friends, so Marco wasn’t suffering on his own from the hurricane that was Lolly.

Standing now, finally seeing her friends talking to her cousins, weird, Amity trailed behind Nadie and waved at them, “Sup Brie, sup Neal.”

“I’ve never been to a party since I was homeschooled so I think this is just what the doctor ordered! The one time I did visit my friends on campus, my friend got his head shot off so you know, it be like that sometimes.” Lolly rambled on, in full throttle.

“Oh my god…” Nadine whispered, realizing how inappropriate that was to say randomly. Someone desperately needed to help accumulate their friend to society. Worried, she scanned the two people she didn’t know hoping they weren’t made uncomfortable or weirded out by their socially inept friend.

“Okay, that’s enough from you,” Amity grabbed Lolly’s hand and pulled her back, forcing her to sit down and calm down. “Stay, I got it from here.” Going back to her cousins, she inquired, “Okay so I see you’ve met Lolly, what’s going on now?”

Brie wasn’t the kind of girl to be stunned speechless. She actually prided herself to a degree that not a lot phased her. She prided herself in having thick skin. The curse of being beautiful and popular was that everyone had their petty, insecure jealousy of her being in the position she found herself in within both her friend group and her social standing among her peers, yet in a matter of moments from one girl she had never met until now, Brielle Blake had no words. She kept a neutral expression on her face (something she couldn’t say her brother had in response), but internally, she just…didn’t have any instant response.

“A riveting friend you have, cousin.” Brie finally spoke. By this point, Marco sat back with Lolly, if not to keep her at bay while the Blakes and Amie talked. She was still reeling from the bombshell Eloise dropped, but Brie collected herself in an efficient manner. She wouldn’t be the supreme if she couldn’t manage pressure and surprises of any given situation. “I guess the best way to explain it is Neal here has a little wittle crush--”

“It is not! I just really like her and want to make sure I don’t look stupid--”

“Like I said: A crush. He’s down bad for Amaranth Harding. Has been for years. He screwed up his first impression. Or at least he wasn’t ready for it and now that she’s back in town, he’s aiming to make a second first impression. That’s when your friend pitched this idea of using Marco to ask Kylee Grimm to talk to her on his behalf?” She hummed thoughtfully, trying to think back and make sure that was all, but at the same time, Brie was skeptical. As much as she gave her older brother a hard time about it, she didn’t want to risk his chances on something that might not even be full-proof.

“I don’t need you guys to do anything on my behalf! I can do this. I just need to make sure it’s perfect. Everything needs to be perfect this time around.” Neal was in his head again, the variables churning through his mind like a complicated puzzle that stressed him out just processing how to go about attempting to solve it.

“Well before you go overthinking, how did you mess up?” Amity raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms and surveying the situation to see if her friends needed to intervene. “Have you ever thought it was all in your head that you messed up? If you want to be friends with someone shouldn’t you just be yourself?” Before she let Neal respond, she addressed Brie, her niece’s best friend and chuckled, “Let’s be real, the only reason why she threw Marco under the bus is because she likes you. Girl is honest to a fault so she says what’s on her mind. And right now, you are.”

She wasn’t the only one.

Brie didn’t know much about her, but there was one thing she did know to be an absolute fact: she wanted to know more about Eloise. She was an interesting girl. So very much her own person. In the short time she had to digest Eloise and process the hurricane she seemed to be, Brie became intrigued. That bombshell she dropped about her friend was shocking and, she could admit that she didn’t know how to respond at the moment, but that was only because she was caught off-guard.

Taking it upon herself, almost disregarding her cousin and always-in-deep-thought older brother (who was pondering away about what Amity said) for a moment, Brie mirrored what Eloise did earlier and wedged her head between a seated Marco and the brunette, resting her head on her folded arms. “Hey~” Brie gave Eloise a smile, almost working some charm into it. “The party’s this Saturday. You all should come too! Anyone can come by as long as you’re not some creepy stalker weirdo.” Brie gave all at the table a glance. “You just look like normal weirdos that could be fun to hang with.” Brie turned her eyes on Eloise again, reaching into her purse, pulling out a small heart-shaped notepad, writing something down on it quickly, and folded it twice. “Here, Eloise. Figured you might need to contact me about the party and everything related to it. Or if you ever wanted to hang out during the week. I live on my phone -” She leaned closer to Eloise, whispering “— _{like my tech-savvy cousin over there}—” She subtly gestured behind her to where Amity was, giggling at her cousin’s expense.

“Well I live at my house usually playing games on my computer,” Lolly grinned widely at the girl, snatching the paper from her and pocketing it. “I’m pretty sure Nadie got work and Marco has to see what his boyfriend is doing. But I’ll be there,” The Filipino girl affirmed, excited on her new adventure, actually looking forward to her next therapy session to tell Miss Shannon all about it. “Oh, and call me Lolly, please. It’s what all my friends call me.” She shifted herself to look at the girl who was watching her in intrigue, “OH! One last thing. Your fancy perfume smells really fruity and delicious. I like it a lot.”

Cocking a half-smirk, Brie mouthed a sound of “oh” as Lolly complimented her on her perfume. This was a first for her, which seemed to be happening quite frequently and in rapid succession with the Filipina girl she found quite interesting. “It is quite fancy, isn’t it?” She laughed, knowing full well if her oldest brother was here, he would make a comment about it. “It’s Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum. It’s my favorite. I love all the fruity sweetness aromas it has. I got it from One Spritz in Pinehurst. If you ever wanted to check it out for yourself, that is.”

“Never been! And I haven’t really left Edenridge before but I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” Lolly nodded, not really interested in fancy perfumes but if it was something Brie liked, she could at least check it out. “So party—”

Lolly’s phone began to ring. The caller? Her paranoid mother, Blessica, who never leaves the house, hoards everything and is afraid she’ll die the moment she walks outside the garden walls. Sighing to herself, Eloise apologized to the pretty girl who was gracious enough to invite her to a highschool party. “I gotta’ take this. But I’ll definitely see you there,” the small geek politely separated herself from the conversation to be present for her mother. Answering her phone, she spoke in Tagalog, which was the most commonly spoken native language of the Philippines and tried her best to not constantly look in Brie’s direction to check her out.

As Brie no doubt was feeling some kind of way about the departed Lolly, Neal had been in his thoughts. He kept as quiet as he could, but internally, his mind was running rampant, clinging to just about everything that Amity said. He ran back his first meet with Mara, what happened on his end, how catastrophic it was for him personally, and how it all went downhill because he felt like he messed up. Too intimidated by someone who was so clearly out of his league, yet maybe it wasn’t that she was out of his league. Maybe Amie was right. Maybe he psyched himself out of his own confidence and that in turn ruined any chances he had of making a first good impression. Maybe…all he needed to do was be confident in himself and not put too much pressure on himself and, like Amie said…again being right, just be himself.

“Guess I’ll have to catch her later then,” Brie remarked quietly. “Marco, be sure to talk to your friend for us. I think Neal is coming around…” Brie glanced back at her brother who gave a nod, feeling more comfortable about the idea. “You don’t have to do all the work for him but maybe your friend can help make it less painful for my brother. He’s stressing over it enough as it is.”

Marco sighed. How was he always finding himself in these kinds of situations? What started out as a simple family intervention to help Nadie turned into a whole different thing and now he’s somehow tasked with talking to Kylee, who he isn’t even that close with (thanks Lolly for that) and somehow he’s gotta sell the idea that she would do him this favor? “Sure. I’ll see what I can do.” Marco groaned, unable to separate the glaring similarities between his mother and Brie. It was frightening just how much they were like each other.

“Thanks! I’ll make sure to let your mom know how helpful and generous you are next time I go to her salon for my next hair appointment.” Brie blew Marco a kiss and a wink, and turned back around to face her brother, glancing at her cousin. “You’ve certainly surrounded yourself with some enthralling friends, Amie.”

“What can I say,” Amie gave a mischievous grin, alluding to more than she’d ever admit to her baby cousin, “I’m a people person and I know people. If you ever find yourself in need of company, we game every Wednesday night. Maybe, you’ll get to know a little bit more about a certain someone, seeing how that is her happy place. Online with friends. This is honestly a rare occurrence for her so call yourself lucky to have met Lolly in person.”

Brie wasn’t a stranger to gamers nor to the nerd culture as a whole. She would never admit it to anyone who could use it against her, but there were a few small things she enjoyed. A few indulgences that often made her feel somewhat at peace. She could play a mean game of Fortnite when it suited her and even dabbled in some Among Us, but she wouldn’t say she was hardcore like some people were. But maybe now that she had more of a reason than just the appeal she personally found in winding down after cheer practice or having to deal with not just her brothers, but as much as she loved him and how much he’s really stepped up for the family lately, her Uncle Nate was too much to handle some days, maybe now Brie would dive deeper. Because she couldn’t deny that Lolly and her friends intrigued her. The girl herself intrigued the golden-maned supreme.

“Wednesday night huh?” She smiled to herself, realizing she might need to invest in a makeshift set up to make sure this wasn’t going to be in vain. If there was one thing she could take away from Neal’s struggles and generally the Blake Family curse (as it were), first impressions were do or die. She knew she might need to dig into her savings a bit. Her mother started her off early with her own bank account. Her mother, who was an accountant, felt she needed to learn that responsibility early and up until now, Brie never had any reason to use any large quantities of her saved money.

Until now.

Edenridge

Avery Kaine

____________________________________________________________________

Name

Avery Paige Kaine

Nicknames

Aves

Age

23

Gender

Female

Sexuality

Lesbian

Relationship Status

Single and over the mingling ^{in love with Jamie Lord}

Appearance Details

• Hair: Bronde | Wavy (naturally curly but straightens it more often than not) | French bob with a frinhe
• Eyes: Blue
• Height: 5 feet 8.5
• Body Type: Slim yet athletic
• Clothing Style: Sometimes casual chic, most of the time a geeky shirt, plaid long sleeves shirt, shorts/jeans, and her converse.
• Makeup Wise: Rarely any; if she does put any on it's light, with the aim to make her look less tired/dead
• Scars, Tattoos and/or Piercings: Basic earlobe earrings; small, round, and permanently grey (colored by lead) scar on her leg above her knee from crawling into bed and sitting on her sketch pencil she forgot was on her bed (this happened when she was thirteen). The pencil legit went right through her.

Personality Traits

Emotionally honest → Compassionate → Observant → Independent → Self-confidant → Imaginative → Thoughtful → Humorous → Witty → Simple → Nature-loving → Content → Procrastinator → Risk-averse

Biography

How does one describe Avery Kaine?

In simple terms: A complete and utter weirdo.

In a town that will judge you without hesitation, the Kaines are a family that have found themselves in their own little bubble, and because of their eccentric tendencies no one really fucks with them. The Kaines have always been around, just like the well known Scott Street royalty, but instead of wearing their history like a medal of honor -- their family, at least to public records, were part of the workforce of the Liberty Tobacco Factory, previously a match factory -- Arthur Kaine built his own legacy. This legacy being known as Swerve Arcana.

In truth, if one actually asked the patriarch of the Kaine family about the Kaine history, they would find out their ancestor, Sarah McKinley, led one of the biggest workers' strikes by women for women, which improved working conditions for the Match factory. A "little match girl" turned the Boston work environment upside down as a whistleblower that uncovered the phosphorous being handled was unsafe, infecting and killing all those that took in the dust and vapors. Meaning all her coworkers.

During this time, a humble journalist, Harold Kaine, son of publisher giant at the time, Thurman Kaine, found her endearing and saw the power of the little people through her boldness. He offered a proposition, which would allow her protection from people who mean her harm, especially that of his father. His father wasn't against such a proposal of marriage because he believed this would get the girl to shut up. This led to a series of events where the Kaine family went into financial ruin and the last ones standing were Thurman and Sarah. From there, they kept a low profile and worked simple jobs, Sarah returning to the factory, until it eventually led to the Kaines we know today.

Arthur Kaine found love with his aloof next door neighbor, Zella Little. The Littles had moved from Portland, Oregon, out of a whim, when Zella was only five. Like other love stories that happen throughout Edenridge history, they moved right next to the Kaines, which allowed Arthur and Zella the time and space to always be near each other, falling head over heels for one another. She, like him, didn't really care what people thought of her. It did lead to them getting bullied, but together they survived these trials and even made friends with people like John Callahan.

Arthur's dad at the time simply owned a convenience store, Whistle Stop, but after his passing, the business changed into something else. With the Littles help, he was able to make something based purely on his nerdy interests, ie. comics. The Littles are a quiet family, that keep to themselves, and indulge in commission work for the town, like painting murals. They live a life where they basically do what they want, like glassblowing, and sell their items at the local market and online. A family clearly with money, but keep that fact to themselves, not wanting to be seen like those that live on Scott Street.

Arthur, however, has no more living family aside for his own. If his name dies with him, he is okay with that because at least he was able to build Swerve Arcana and he knows that at least one of his daughters would continue to build on top of his legacy, a small piece of heaven filled with hope and escapism. He understands what it feels like to be different and he wanted a welcoming place for those who were just like him. Little weirdos.

The daughter that clearly grabbed onto the mantle was his youngest, Avery Kaine, since his eldest, Zarissa, grew up unlike the rest of her family, and perhaps that is her way of wanting to stand out. She was surrounded by color and wanted a life more in black and white. And that was okay. She was the smartest one out of them all and he would encourage whatever pursuit she saw fit, if that meant she would be happy. For her, that happiness rooted in examining evidence to help solve the many cases of their town. He did wonder if being surrounded by fantasy constantly was the reason she chose such a real career path. Regardless, he would continue to be proud of her, just like he was proud of his Avery.

Avery Kaine, unlike her sister, was content with her environment. Growing up surrounded by comics and games? What more could you ask for. In preschool, when she was drawing unicorns, she would find herself looking outside at the Elite playing kickball and ask questions a child wouldn't usually ask. It wasn't until a sweaty boy with big, fluffy hair and a dumb goofy grin probed about her art and asked if she wanted to go play with them. That was the defining moment of why a weirdo was never really judged, or bulled, because as long as she had Clayton Costigan as a friend, no one would touch her. It helped that their mothers were friends, seeing how her mom was the art teacher and his mom was a painter. When he wasn't with his crew, he would find comfort with her to just be himself and drop all expectations to be stupid. Together, they were stupid but that was simply how their dynamic was and always will be. Dumb, fun and full of love.

Because of her friendship with Clay, Avery found herself drawn to the Coach's daughter, Jamie O'Hara. She and Laura Costigan were usually always together. The honorary Elite members since they were sisters to the core boys, just like Caitlin Cleary was. Caitlin, however, had a little age gap between the rest of them, so she would always be seen as THE little sister, which likely impacted her relations with the rest of them. The sisters naturally gravitated to their brothers and that whole crew were in the light. They were the sun, popular and with all the power in the world because of their lineage, and Avery Kaine was on the ground looking up at them. Jamie, like Clay, saw her though and showed her so much kindness that Avery couldn't help but think about her day in and day out. This crush led to a feverish longing but because of fear of taking a risk and ruining what they have, Aves decided to simply stay still and watch from afar, rooting for her Unicorn's happiness instead of chasing it and giving her a stable, loving home.

With the events that have transpired recently due to the letters of the infamous Charlie Decker, life has been... moving for Avery Kaine. With her best friend a part of the police force, she gets to learn about more things than not of the secrets of Edenridge. In addition to that, there has been a surprising development with her Dream Girl which is forcing Avery to stop reading stories but instead live her own. Who knows what's to happen next but for the first time in her life, Avery is excited and willing to take a chance. She just hopes someone would be there for her, like she's been there for everyone else, if she's in over her head...

Family

Arthur Kaine - Father - Age: 50 - Owner of Swerve Arcana - FC: Ethan Hawke
Zella Kaine (née Little) - Mother - Age: 45 - Art teacher at Edenridge High - FC: Alyson Hannigan
Zarissa Kaine - Sister - Age: 25 - Forensic Analyst for the Edenridge Police, works out of Edenridge National Laboratory - FC: Kacey Rohl
Avery Kaine - Self - Age: 23 - Assistant Manager at Swerve Arcana

Misc.

FC: Maya Hawke | fccb8e

• Best friend to Clayton Costigan
• People called her the queen of the freaks, geeks, and nerds. She was whatever about it. Now she's the unlicensed, unpaid therapist for those who find their way to Swerve.
• The one thing she enjoys everyday is the many interactions she can get into, finding people and their stories all very interesting.
• Has worked at Swerve since she graduated high school. Currently works there full time.
• She's had a couple of other part time jobs once upon a time just to try something new but then she got bored. At least at Swerve she can basically do what she wants and has plenty of comics to read.
• She likes to draw realistic portraits.
• She owns a camper; though as of now it chills in her parents backyard. She occasionally goes camping. One day she'll go cross country with it.
• Rides her bike to work. She used to be an adamant skateboarder but she's outgrown it. It chills in her closet.

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: Thursday, around 11 AM
Introducing: The Elliott Family
& Ms. Jennifer Jennings
^{(Couple & Family Therapist)}}

____________________________________________________________________






____________________________________________________________________

With her headsets on, listening to C’est La Vie by Weathers, Amberly Elliott stared out the window of the passenger seat of her father’s vehicle as they made their way to Edenridge Psychological & Wellness Services, PLLC. Her green eyes boredly scanned the area of her new home. The only time she had to be in Edenridge was for Horsemen practice and games but now due to her parents' ongoing marital issues, she’d be staying long term with her father. Away from her friends. Away from her life. Away from what was normal.

Most of her friends were in Pinehurst which was just a hop, skip and a jump away if she took an uber or stopped procrastinating and got her license. But that really wasn’t the point, was it? The point was her dad thought it was a wonderful idea to go back to his hometown where there was a mass shooting that happened only what? Two years ago? A place known for psychos, killers, and gang violence. The most Pinehurst had was rich people backstabbing one another and throwing their money around to fix their problems. All that was dull in comparison to Edenridge stories.

As for her mother, she wasn’t taking this court mandated order well. She worked more than her father, and because of her health record, it made sense for the primary guardian of Amber to be him, even if without her, they wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle they lived. There was a time where her dad was a hockey star, making bank and winning praise. The prime of his life and her mother worshiped the ground he walked on. Then he suffered from an injury and her mother had to pick up on hours and rearrange their dynamic, making big moves so that she, her lover, and child would never have to worry about instability. That came with the price of her own mental health falling.

Somewhere along the way, they forgot why they loved each other and their days were filled with countless, pointless arguments. They danced in circles stabbing each other verbally until both just gave up, resigning from the fight to be alone. Amber knew when they were alone they both fell apart and that’s because both wouldn’t shut the fuck up and actually listen to each other. Sighing in annoyance, she laid her head back and closed her eyes, letting the music drown everything out.

This was her life now.

C’est la vie.

Curt was under no delusions about his family's situation. The next phase of their lives was make or break. It was becoming increasingly more difficult for him and Holly to remain cordial and civil when in a room together, which was a god awful shame. Curtis loved her with all of his heart, he had most of his life. She stood by him when he was an amateur, desperate to go pro. She stood by him when he was at the peak of the sport and she stood by him when he was at his lowest ebb, unable to play the game he loved and watching as he was forced to say goodbye to a piece of himself. God, how did it come to this?

He remembered seeing her for the first time; it was high school and he was coming off the ice before the end of practice because his cousin Gray needed him. Gray had some issues with his brain and sometimes he needed an anchor to weigh him back down onto reality. Curtis was that anchor most of the time. As he was departing the ice, Curt saw the brunette girl in the bleachers, her head in a text book and she was wearing a light summer dress. Why she was dressed like that in the middle of December he didn’t know. What he did know delm that moment was that he was going to marry her and she was going to have his children. Which she did when Holly gave birth to Amber, his heart.

“Alright sweetie, we’re here.” Curt pulled the car up outside the therapist's office, directly behind Holly’s car. He turned and looked at his daughter, lost in her own world as she listened to music. He really didn’t want to hurt her but he knew that he was. How could he not be? Curtis and Holly were on the brink of divorce, they were in and out of litigation and Amber was stuck in the middle. It made him question where he was even a good father.

Glancing at her dad and reading his lips, Amber didn’t say anything in return. Instead, she left the car and shuffled to the therapy clinic with her father catching up swiftly. Once they went through the reception desk and all the necessary protocol steps, like if they had the proper insurance on record, they waited in the lounge for a couple minutes before one of the administrative assistants came to retrieve them. As they were led to their designated therapists, Amber glanced into a room, colorful and designed like a daycare, to see a brunette woman who carried herself shrewdly yet lovingly talk to a little girl, who held tightly onto a pure white teddy bear. The plaque beside the door frame said: Lydia Anderson, PHD PSYD.

In time, Amber was directed one way and her father was taken the other. There she saw an older asian woman waiting for her expectantly. Shannon Ramsey was her name and if she thought she would get her to talk, she had another thing coming.

God, she hated therapy.

Walking around the family therapist’s office, Holly Elliott, the architect of the upcoming Hotel Encanto, took in her surroundings as Ms. Jennifer Jennings prepared chamomile and lavender herbal tea to calm her client’s nerves. Holly grabbed a picture off the desk to see the other woman tightly hugging a boy, a boy that looked familiar. The kid looked like a little dweeb, and there was no doubt he got picked on at school. Even with that being said, there was one thing she could acknowledge. He was loved fiercely by his mother.

Where did she see this kid before?

Taking a moment to think on that, Holly put the picture frame down and continued to observe the person that was her psychologist by examining her room. Greenery was particularly placed to give the room a sense of growth, capturing the essence of nurture while promoting relaxation and creativity. There were gentle colors that popped throughout the room too. That was a tell tale sign that the person who designed this room had a bright, sunny disposition. Holly’s eyes continued to wonder at the artwork. Another splash of personality.

It’s when we start working together that the real healing takes place — David Hume.

Scoffing at that and taking a seat on the three person sofa, Holly dressed in all white inhaled and exhaled as she stood out like a sore thumb. Glancing at her watch, she impatiently clicked her tongue. Examining her manicure nails, she wondered to herself if she simply left, how bad would that look on her? These sessions were mandatory, which was stupid and a waste of her time. Quite frankly she didn’t want to be here. It wasn’t even a session her daughter would be in. Once Amber got here she would go straight to Shannon Ramsey for a one on one session, where she can talk freely away from her parents.

Why would they do that?

Her time already was limited with her daughter and now they wanted her to have separate counseling? Anything her daughter had on her mind, she could say to her. There was no need to have secrets in this family. Let alone, separate sessions to talk about emotion and whatever bullcrap they’re trying to sell.

“Sorry for the wait! But I’m back now,” Jennifer gleamed, entering her office. She held a tray of a couple of tea cups and with a bounce in her step, she made her way to her side table. Placing the tray on it, she proceeded to give her client her tea. It wasn’t until Holly grabbed the porcelain glass that she recalled who the boy was. Curtis’ star player’s best friend. Oliver. She remembered seeing this woman at horsemen games. It all made sense now.

With the sudden realization that her husband might be friends with their therapist and that treatment might go in his favor, yet again, Holly straightened her posture and gave a charming smile, masking her irritation, “Do you like your job?”

“Pardon?” Jenny grabbed her own tea, caught unaware. Taking a seat on a solo chair across from the beautiful woman, Jenny curiously waited for a response.

“Your job. Is it fulfilling?” Holly motioned at the room with her free hand and proceeded to probe. “It mustn’t be easy, trying to fix everyone’s problems.”

“Oh,” the compassionate and serene woman smiled, taking a quick sip of her drink before placing it down on the coffee table. Clasping her hands together, she perked up and shook her head, “I don’t fix problems, Mrs. Elliott—”

“Holly.”

“Holly,” Jenny repeated, giving her an apologetic glance. “I’m here to help explore your thoughts that affect your emotions and experiences, focusing on your marriage and your family. I want to help you and your husband—”

“Don’t call him that,” the bitter woman dressed in white rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue once more. After putting her tea down untouched, she leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs and arms, defensively. Holly continued to sharply watch Jenny. Stubborn and perturbed. She listened attentively but begrudgingly.

“Sorry, um… father of your child?”

“I’ll allow it.”

“Okay, well, I aim to help you heal and in order to do that, I want to guide you through your vulnerability, and unpack anything you need to with Curtis and together we will process the hurt and figure out how we’re going to move forward.” Jenny fiddled with her hands. Abentminded, she reached for her cup again and took another sip. Nursing it in her grasp, she let her smile never fade. It was tender and loving. Her eyes filled with understanding.

Holly was quick to catch Jenny calling Curt by his first name. They were definitely friends and he likely pulled strings so that they didn’t have some rando giving them therapy sessions. Of course this shit would be biased and in his favor. He couldn’t stand risking someone liking her more than him.

“I do find it fulfilling by the way,” Jenny added.

“What?” Holly gave her a perplexed expression, having already forgotten her own words and was now focused on her hate for the man that was stealing her baby away.

Jenny cleared her throat. “You asked me earlier if this job was fulfilling. It is. When people get to a place where their damage no longer controls their lives, I can’t help but smile for their happiness and their success. As a parent myself, I don’t want any of my unresolved issues to impact how my son sees me and I’m sure you understand that better than anyone.”

Instead of saying anything in return, Holly silently acknowledged the other woman’s wise words with a nod. They sat there drinking their tea in the calm, in the silence. The silence was driving Holly mad to the point she couldn’t contain her temper. Abruptly, she hissed, “Where the fuck is he?” If she could make it on time, why couldn’t he?

“Sorry I’m late Jen!” Curtis entered the room swiftly. He paused at the door as he watched Amber ascend the stairs behind it towards Shannon Ramsey’s office. He gave his daughter a little wave before closing the door. “Had a last minute conference call at work.” The former pro hockey player strode into the office and took a seat next to his wife. “Hi Holly, it’s good to see you. You look great.” He didn’t know what the correct procedure was in this instance. Curt wanted to be nice and keep things friendly despite their issues, they were still a family, they still had a daughter and he wanted to make sure that whatever happened between them that Amber was taken care of.

Jen.

That was more casual than she anticipated. Holly forced a smile on her face as she greeted the man that just entered the room. “You too.” She was wasting her goddamn time sitting in this office if her therapist was fucking her husband. “Okay, can we begin, please? I have a meeting shortly after this that I can’t miss. It’s for my biggest project yet.”

“Of course!” Jenny freed her hands from tea and gestured for the man to take a seat near his wife. Holly made sure to sit on the end so there was space in between them. “You two sound awfully busy but I’m glad you’re making time to come here and talk with me.”

“Not like we have a choice,” Holly grumbled under her breath.

There she went. Acidic would be a great way to describe Holly’s tongue when she was in one of her moods, although Curt had learned recently that that’s not what he should refer to them as. His wife had some serious problems going on inside of her and him being passive about them did not help. “We want to do the work, Jen. We both want what’s best for Amber and to do that we need to find some stable footing between us.” He looked over to his wife and reached out his hands, resting it between them on the couch. Curtis didn’t expect her to take it but he wanted her to know that the option was there. “So where should we start?”

When Curt offered his hand, there was an impulse in Holly to immediately take it. She wanted to take it so badly and she wanted to go home. Even with how desperate she wanted her husband back, she knew she needed to be strong and show him she could stand on her own. That she wasn’t weak and that she didn’t need his support. The two voices inside her head were arguing and while the noise grew louder, she focused on Jenny, uncrossed her arms and held her own hands, clasping them tightly, desperately together and resting them on her lap. She was going to be okay. She needed to be so the court could see she was not a danger to her husband and her child. Her core was shaken at such a small gesture and all she could think about was when this session would end so she could leave and breathe. She couldn’t breathe being this close to him.

“Well let me piggy back off of that, what are your expectations coming here? You want what’s best for your child, but what else? How definite is your end result?” Jenny looked between the couple. Her eyes fell on Holly, who surprisingly kept quiet, not wanting to answer first, scared to be so openly vulnerable in front of a stranger.

Curt brushed some of his salt and pepper hair back before looking over towards Holly. It was unlike her to be as quiet as she was being. She was usually so forceful, like a hurricane. She swept up everything in her path, she took no prisoners and she made sure you knew that she was that bitch. That was the Holly that he was madly in love with. The Holly that sat with Curt now, she wasn’t that person. “I guess for me, I want us to work this out and be a family again.” He moistened his lips as the dry mouth that came from nervousness began to take hold. He wasn’t used to being so upfront with his wants, needs and feelings. “And I know that it’s a journey and can’t happen overnight, so I’m willing to do the work. But I’ve also made peace with the fact that if we can’t be together, we need to find some way of being there for Amber. She needs us.”

Jenny nodded at Curt and unlike other counselors, she didn’t write anything down. She gave them her undivided attention. “And you Holly?”

“I’m not an easy woman to love,” Holly admitted, her tone layered with sadness and venom, all in one. “A lot has happened from when I first met Curtis to now. To me, the past is behind us. I’m a different woman. I will never be the same because I can’t be.” Holly loosened her grip, trying to ease the tension in her shoulders. She needed to relax. “I didn’t expect to be where I am or even in the field that I do now.”

Once upon a time Holly wanted to be a photographer but god, she was awful at taking pictures of buildings that didn’t even move. Her parents wanted her to be in the medical field but how could she take care of anyone else if she couldn’t keep her emotions under control? So, she focused on what she was good at which was drawing and made that into a stable career. “But that’s okay, because I needed to do the things I did for my family. Do I want to save my family? Abso-fucking-lutely. But if I’m not worth my family’s time, I guess I need to look into that and see if this is even worth it. As long as we figure out a good coparenting dynamic, that’s all that matters, right? Everything else is left to too many uncertainties. The one thing I know is Amber is my everything and I will do what I need to, to make sure she is given the world.”

“What do you mean ‘not worth my family’s time’? Holly, Amber loves you. Worships you. Things may be hard now but how I feel about you has never been in question.” Curtis was a difficult man to anger. He had learned through years on the ice how to compartmentalize and then unleash it in a constructive way, which in his world meant a really hard body check against the backboards. “Sorry.” Curtis leaned back against the couch and placed both his hands on his lap. “It’s your turn to speak. To say how you feel. I shouldn’t interrupt.”

“No this is good,” Jenny interjected. “If things get too bad then of course we can take turns, but I believe in things happening organically, naturally. So, Holly,” the kind therapist looked at the woman who was now glaring at her husband, and gestured to her to take the stage.

“Yeah, fucking right,” Holly cursed, her hands no longer clasped and her attention completely on the man beside her. “You don’t love me. You love the little girl that followed you to the ends of the Earth. I’m not that girl anymore! I literally have no control in my life, I’m losing everything and just like that, you’re the one with the power even though I busted my ass for you and my child. All for what? For you to move to this hellish town to prove a point that you win and you’ll always win. As if,” Holly gritted her teeth and looked away from him, her fuming anger on her sleeves with no place to go besides out.

“I don’t…what?” Curtis was taken aback a little by Holly’s words. He didn’t know where this was coming from, then again maybe that was part of the problem. For sure, there had definitely been a lack of communication in the last few years of their relationship. “You think this was about winning? It’s never been about that Hols. I came here to feel useful. To give these kids the tools they can use to succeed. I spent my entire life, my entire life, dedicating myself to a sport and it got snatched away from me. I was lost and god I put you and Amber through hell and I regret that every fucking day. But this was something I could do to fill the hole inside of me.” He gripped onto the sofa firmly, trying to push his aggression into its soft fibers. “I am genuinely sorry that you have these feelings, I really am but I honestly don’t know what else I could’ve done to make you happy. I thought we were happy.”

“Stop with this self righteous crap, Curt,” Holly clicked her tongue, the negative energy emitting from her soul and filling the room with displeasure. “You really care about every kid on your team? Give me a break. Not once have you asked Amber if she wanted to skate. If she wanted to live your dream.” Holly stared at her hand, at her wedding bands, before glancing back over to him, “If it helps you sleep at night that you’re making a difference, good for you, but don’t make yourself out to be some messiah or something. I don’t have a problem with you being a coach. I’m happy that you’re excited to get out of bed but don’t make it out to be anything but selfish.”

“Okay, time to cut in,” Jenny chirped, sipping her tea as she took in the intensity of these two. “Let’s take two steps back. Instead of the now, I want to know about the then. If you could think about things you love about each other, what would it be? How did you guys fall in love anyways? Tell me your story.” She hoped redirecting them could help them see that they both were still very much in love with each other. If not that, it would give them time to calm down.

Curtis glanced over at his wife, her rage palpable in the air. He had no idea she held such malice towards him but her words were stained also with truth. He was selfish. She had dedicated so much time to allow for him to chase his dreams that he had neglected hers. If he could cross paths with his sixteen year old self today, he would slap the shit out of him and tell him not to be an idiot to the woman of his dreams.

“Erm..well, we met in high school. I was playing hockey for the Monarchs and it was my only focus, you know? The rest of the guys were partying and just enjoying our privilege but not me. I just spent time on the ice, practice, practice, practice. Ever since I could hold a stick all I ever wanted or cared about was getting to the NHL…then I saw Holly in the stands.” His light blue eyes drifted once again to the mother of his child and they softened as he thought back to the day they met. “It was the middle of winter. Everyone had gone home for the day so I took the chance to practice solo on the ice. I was practicing the triple deke and Incubus was playing on the sound system when I got a call to go pick up my cousin Gray. On my way to the dig out, I noticed Holly, sitting alone, head in a book and despite the cold in that room, I was all of sudden just filmed with warmth. I just had to speak to her.”

“The cold never bothered me, but that’s beside the point,” Holly took the baton to continue telling their story. “I wasn’t having the best day that day. I guess now that I think about it. Control in my life wasn’t something I ever had. I read different things just to figure out what I like. That wasn’t something my parents wanted me to like. Like Greek mythology and gothic architecture. I bounced through hobbies too and for this day in particular, I wanted to see the ice. In that random decision, I found Curt instead,” Holly didn’t look at him. Instead she buried the shame she was feeling and started picking at her nails, so much for getting them done at the salon.

“When you skate, you look so happy and free. I guess that was what I fell in love with first and then,” she smiled to herself as the cuticles of her ring finger began to bleed. “You turned out to be a goofball who loved to just do things and so we did just that, we did whatever was on our minds. Until your injury.” His injury changed everything. Holly didn’t have much direction besides what people told her what was good for her and what was to be expected of her. Curt was the first thing she decided on her own and she put all of her into that decision. She got herself to a place where she would do whatever Curt wanted, if that made him happy. All she wanted was him to be happy.

Yet she didn’t realize that took a toll on her because the things they used to do, that she loved, like hiking up mountains and getting glimpses of sights she would’ve never seen if it weren’t for him, became non-existent after his depression took over. She let her rose colored glasses blind her from the fact that the woman he loved was someone who wanted to do absolutely everything, try every food, go out and get the newest toy to try with him, audacious, bold and full of wonder in her eyes, all the while always being there to take care of him. She wasn’t that woman anymore. All she wanted was to rest and be in his arms. All she wanted was to know Amber would be okay and that she did everything she could to give her the resources and tools she needed to be happy. All she wanted was her family to be happy.

She shouldn’t discredit him though because throughout their marriage he held her close and tight when the weight of the world became too much and when she questioned everything she did and everything she didn’t do, he was there. When the world became too heavy, he was there for her and maybe that was part of the problem. Maybe she needed to learn to live without him to see what was in her control and what wasn’t. Maybe she needed to let him go. Holly bit her cheek as she stared at the blood, streaming down her finger about to stain her white dress.

“Oh, here take this,” Jenny was quick to push the napkins close to the couple. Holly didn’t budge to reach for it. “I’ll be right back. I’ll get a first aid kit.” With a bounce in her step, the therapist disappeared from the room, leaving the two lovers alone.

Curtis reached out for the tissues and pulled them towards the couch as he himself shuffled closer to his wife. “Baby, here.” He offered her one of the embroidered handkerchiefs. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen to us. I know what I would like to happen but that’s not important right now. We need to get to a place where we can start, for Amber’s sake.” He leaned forward to wipe away Holly’s tears. “Whatever it’s worth to you, I want you to know that I still love you and I still want to be your husband. And I’m so sorry for making you feel like this but I’m gonna put in the work to make this right. I promise, I’m gonna try.”

The tears dropped on her expensive dress as she reached for the tissues to wrap her bleeding finger. Grabbing the handkerchief from him, she dabbed her face and looked at him with yearning and desperate want. “I’m sorry too, for not being exactly what you want or need. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to a place where you’ll love me for me…” but she would try. She would try to find a happy medium where her flaws weren’t so glaringly obvious and that her being this deeply damaged wouldn’t get him to walk away just like her father did, “I want to be a good mother. I want to be a good wife. But I’m failing at that… and I’m sorry I’m the problem.” She sniffled, sinking deeper and deeper into her self loathing.

“No, Hols. We’re both a problem. You’re right. I am selfish and indulgent and I need to be better.” He took a hold of her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “We need to be better. For our little girl, she needs her Mom and Dad and if we keep fighting each other she’s gonna end up without either of us.” Amber was the key to it all. Inbetween the moments of anger or the briefest of one’s that could tip towards reconciliation, their daughter had to be first and foremost in their thoughts.. Until they could get back onto the same page, this was all they could do. Curt brushed her soft, warm cheek and smiled. “I always loved you in white. I’m sorry I ruined your dress.” He thought a little humor might help to lighten the dark mood that had entered Jenny’s office. “Wouldn’t be the first one and I definitely don’t want it to be the last.”

Holly’s smile brightened as he complimented her. Against her better judgment, she turned to him and pulled him by the collar into her lips. She closed her eyes and felt his lips against hers, rough and delectable. A kiss that likely wouldn’t happen again for a while. She loved this man. Her whole body, soul and heart belonged to him but she knew that she needed to only take him in doses so she could be better, for their daughter. It wasn’t about her. It wasn’t about him. It was about all of them, together, as a family.

Pulling away from him when she could hear the doorknob move, Holly pretended it never happened and went back to their daily schedule program. Grabbing the first aid kit from the therapist, Holly focused on cleaning her finger and wrapping it with a bandaid, “Sorry, bad habit of mine. I’ve gotten it more under control but sometimes it just happens.”

“I understand, I’m just glad you got in a better headspace to stop,” Jenny acknowledged the change in tone and demeanor in Holly, curious what happened while she was away. “Next time, we will try the timer method which will allow you two three minute increments to talk before the other speaks. I don’t like that method but we can see if that’s what you guys prefer.”

“Next time?” Holly looked up from her hand to Jenny. “Wait, we're already done? I feel like we barely scratched the surface.” The architect was shocked how fast time flew. She expected this to feel a lot longer, dragging out and boring her to death but instead she felt like she had a moment with her husband, which she hadn’t had in so long and she wanted to stay. She didn’t want to leave him.

“Yeah, sadly it is,” she wasn’t going to mention that due to Curt being late, it did take away from their time but she was still content with what she saw today. “but I do think we’ve covered a lot and I do have homework for you two! I know, oh my god, homework. It’s like we’re in school again,” Jenny giggled, amused at herself.

Curt was so taken aback by Holly’s kiss that he barely registered Jenny coming back into the room. For the whisper of a moment, he felt like he had his wife back but the coach of the horsemen knew better. It had become somewhat of a recurring theme since the beginning of their separation that Holly and Curt would fall back into each other's arms in a physical sense. The amount of blazing rows that had turned into quick hotel room purchases and fiery, passionate lovemaking was growing by the week. He knew it wasn’t healthy. He knew it had to stop but he couldn’t say no to his wife. He was so madly in love with her, so desperate to be as close as they once were. He wanted them, to be them again.

“Homework?” Curtis finally snapped out of his daze. “I mean if it is like high school then I guess Holly is doing mine like she used to.” He was deflecting as always. “That’s fine. We’re willing to do whatever it takes Jen.” He returned his steely gaze to his wife. “Do you want to take Amber tonight? She’s upstairs, her session should be done soon too.”

“I’m actually in town tonight. I have dinner plans with my client to go over the hotel blueprints,” Holly sighed, realizing another chance she had with her daughter was out of reach because she couldn’t refuse the offer from her client. This client specifically was a powerful man. “I’m staying at an Airbnb. It’s small but if she doesn’t mind, we could bring it up. But if I have to wait until Saturday, I understand that too.” Holly’s gaze went from Curt’s handsome face to Jenny’s eager one. They probably should get going. Placing the first aid kit on the table, Mrs. Elliott stood up and instructed her lover, “We’ll talk about this outside, for now…”

No longer angry at Miss Jennings for clearly having a friendship with her husband, Holly caught her attention and wondered what homework she had in store for them. At least in Holly’s eyes, this session was the first time she felt her and her husband making progress. She had faith these therapy sessions would help. Maybe she was getting ahead of herself but she got to kiss her husband so that’s all that really mattered. They, for a moment, had bliss and she got to open up to him on things he had no idea she was bottling up. Progress was progress and that’s all that mattered. “Homework?”

Swiftly, Jenny went to her desk and grabbed two composition notebooks and handed one to each of them. “Relationship journals. I only expect one entry each week. If you want to write more, that’s entirely up to you. Your first prompt will be a letter to each other. Letters are an easy and natural way to share your thoughts. If you want to write anything else, things to consider would be a daily record of the best things and the toughest things you’re going through. Maybe that’ll help you both see each other's struggles better. Lastly, individual assignments.”

Jennifer started with the fiery spitfire woman that was Mrs. Elliott. Her attention never wavered from the person she was talking to. “Holly, while I don’t expect you to write anything about this, I want you to really reflect on the things you have control over. And what control even means to you. I’d like to follow up on that next week since it seems to be where the root of your problems come from. And Curt,” Jenny gleamed at him, crossing her arms and giving him an almost challenging look, “I want you to try something new. Not hockey related. I want you to get out of your box. To think beyond yourself you have to look at what's around you. Go beyond what makes you comfortable. If you want to write about it cool, but you don’t have to. I still want to know what it is you did and how it made you feel.”

Going to the door, Jennifer Jennings opened it for the two of them to take their leave, “Sound easy enough?”

“Sounds good to me.” Curtis nodded his head as he pulled himself to his feet. He turned to watch Holly for a moment longer. Even now, amongst the weeds and encroaching woods of fear, he still found her to be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Curt had no idea what the future held for him and his wife but he knew that all he wanted was for them to be a family again with their baby girl. “How about after the hockey game on Saturday, the three of us go out for some food and then we talk with Amber about staying with you for a few days. Does that sound good?” He spun on his heel to look at their therapist. “And I expect to see you there too Jenny. At the game not the meal.”

Holly wanted to believe she made peace with her jealousy but seeing Curt’s relationship with Jenny only made her flare up again. “Maybe you should invite her to dinner. She’s probably a better mother too,” Holly snapped. Holding her relationship journal close, just like she would hold her books when they were younger, hugging them for stability, she stormed out, knowing she ruined a good moment but also knowing she couldn’t take it back.

Maybe they wouldn’t be okay after all.

“Give it time, Curt. She loves you very much,” Jenny apologetically smiled at the man, who seemed to be constantly tiptoeing through a landmine field. “We’re definitely getting somewhere!”

“I really hope so.” Curt wasn’t surprised by Holly’s outburst. Unfortunately, he had seen them too many times to count. Even after nearly twenty years together, there were still things about his wife that he didn’t know, things she kept private and no doubt a contributing factor to her mental health struggles. He despised the fact that he couldn’t be there for her in the way she needed him to be. “Thanks for today Jen.”

“No, thank you. I’ll see you at the game.”

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: Saturday July 24th, Midday
Introducing: Dr. Wednesday Davies
Featuring: Niles Sinclair & The Sinclair Twins}

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If she believed in a God, Wednesday would think she worked in mysterious ways.

As she entered into the Sinclair house, the Chief of Surgery couldn’t help but reminisce about bygone days when she was a girl, long before she was adopted into the Davies family and still lived in the Sunken House, just off of Lyon Park. Wednesday had spent years denying that she remembered that part of her life but the truth of the matter was that she clung to those memories like they were a rope she was hanging from, it was those memories that shaped her, made her and defined her.

From the small, overgrown garden where her birth parents Leaf and Plum, as they called themselves, grew their hallucinogens, smoked their weed and shot up their heroin, a young Wednesday could just about see Hanging Hill and Scott Street in the distance. She could see the first row of houses from behind and often wondered what it would be like to live in such castles. Whenever she told her Daddy that she wanted to be a princess in a White House, he would laugh and tell her that she belonged to Mother Earth. He would tell her that people like them ate the people that lived in those houses, metaphorically speaking, and they did so because they were happy and the people behind the white picket fences were not.

Wednesday did wonder in hindsight if her father thought about that when he forced the drugs into his wife’s system and watched her choke on her own vomit. She pondered whether he thought he was happy when he mummified her and sealed her inside of the bathroom wall. The Good Doctor was curious whether he felt that way when he left her alone in the house and never came back.

To most, a great tragedy but for Wednesday it was a blessing. For thirty nine days, the seven year old was alone in the Sunken house and she fought for her life. She rummaged for food, she maintained what she could to stay clean and through sheer force of willpower, she survived and persevered until help would arrive. She was self reliant and needed to be as she entered the orphanage. Wednesday would not die in the walls like her mother, she would scratch and claw and she would prove to everyone that happiness was not starving. She would not starve.

She was fourteen when she was finally adopted into the Davies family and moved into one of the white castles she had dreamt of as a girl. When she explored her new home on Scott Street, Wednesday made her way to the front side of the five houses that haunted her days and from one emerged a boy, a handsome boy with a big grin and flanked by three guards who definitely were on the wrong side of the tracks. That was the first time that Wednesday met Hector and his brothers and it was that day that she finally made it inside her dream house, the house in which she now stood nearly thirty years later.

Wednesday was in her forties now, with two beautiful girls she worshipped and a husband whom she loved dearly. She had entrenched herself with the princes and princesses of Scott Street, becoming family to them all in one way or another. With her job, she had become their gatekeeper between life and death. Their lives were in her hands every time she picked up a scalpel and she knew that her father was wrong; she wasn’t born to eat their happiness.

Dropping her bag onto the marble floors with a large thump, Wednesday outstretched her arms. “YOOHOOOOOO! Your favourite auntie is hereeee. Someone bring me a beer!”

“Auntie!” Caroline called out from the kitchen. The youngest Sinclair was in the midst of baking goodies galore, which included brownies with a little extra something. It was her first time making it but after doing a little research, it wasn’t that hard at all. She was prepping a few other things, aiming to bake until she absolutely couldn’t bake anymore. She had plenty of time before she had to change into her bathing suit, which meant she’d keep going until there was no counter space. Plus, with her efforts, they would only need to worry about ordering pizza and wings later.

Niles, who had finished hanging the streamers throughout the living room, didn't greet his aunt. Instead he tried to casually leave through the back entrance. He didn’t want to be interrogated about Caitlin or about the fact that he needed to disappear for a little bit before the party actually started. He had time and his sisters were totally okay with him going on a coffee break. Totally cool with it. This is why before his aunt Wednesday could notice his presence, he needed to skedaddle.

When he reached the backdoor, he was met with the insufferable Sinclair. Autumn. She had been outside deciding what lighting setting to put the pool and jacuzzi on. Not only that but she was multitasking and making a charcuterie board using the patio table as counter space, under Carrie’s request. That girl wanted to make a s'mores bar too. Autumn had to admit it. Carrie knew how to tire her siblings out when it came to throwing a party. Still, it was fun and she loved being together with them. “Going on your coffee date?” Autumn asked, talking loud enough so Wednesday could hear her. She was immediately met with a glare. Typical Niles’ behaviour.

“Coming Auntie!” Carrie announced, still rummaging throughout the kitchen (the one clearly busy with work). She didn’t like making people wait, especially not those she considers family. Even more so if they are authority figures, which Wednesday has been kind of like a mother to her, her sister, and her brother. She was there when their family needed someone the most. After Noella died, Auntie Wednesday always made sure to make time for them. Carrie loved her so much.

“A coffee date, Nilios and you didn’t tell your favourite Auntie? How dare?” Wednesday feigned being offended as she slid into the conversation with pure ease. The surgeon had always loved the Sinclairs as if they were her own. Niles, Carrie and Autumn were as loved as Dallas and Adelaide were or Allison, Lexie, Roxanne and Tati. They were woven into her very being even if they were not blood related and she would do anything for Hector's kids and she had done anything, and everything, for them. “Is she hot? She better be because I won’t accept anything less if she’s going to be the reason you don’t take that internship at the hospital with me.” Wednesdays patted the top of her nephew’s head with a giggle. He was just like Hector, so easy to rile up.

When Caroline arrived with an ice cold beer from the fridge, with a cute apron on too, Wed kissed her blonde niece on the top of her head as she took the bottle from her hand and instantly took a large swig. “Thank you, Pumpkin.” It was nice to take the edge off after spending your day with your hands in someone’s guts. Wednesday glanced around at the decorations the twins had put up and let out a little laugh as she reminisced about the parties their father would throw in that very house when they were the kids' age; they were certainly very different. “And you girls, you got some special men or women or whatever you’re into coming?” The Good Doctor had learned from her youngest daughter that sex was barely anything to think about anymore. People just loved people. “Does Auntie Wed need to get her bikini out? You know I’ve still got a rocking bod underneath these scrubs.”

“Fuck no,” Autie snorted, the sourness from her recent breakup oozing from her very being. “And I don’t plan on getting another man anytime soon.” So she says, but kids were fickle. Followed their heart, just like Niles was about to.

“For once we’re all single at the same time, so that’s fun,” Carrie smiled, seeing there was chocolate on her hand she quickly licked it off before continuing, “Both Niles and Autie got dumped recently.”

“Excuse me,” Autumn marched to her twin, hissing, “I dumped him. He didn’t dump me. You got it?”

Her smile turned into a minx grin. Carrie nodded in faux agreement. “Sure, yes. Whatever you say.”

Niles getting caught in trying to escape caused him to huff. He didn’t want to rudely leave his aunt now that she’s seen. Turning around, he looked at her at a distance before following Autie’s suit and entering the foyer. Running his hand through his hair, sighing deeply, he looked at the ladies in the house before crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame. “I’m still taking that internship. I’ve just got a lot going on.” Which wasn’t a lie since he and Lex had to take care of Clay all of Monday night. Then when he did finally get home, he not only found out Caitlin was David’s lover but she also broke up with him to be with Mikhai. So yeah, one could say there was a lot happening in Niles Sinclair’s life.

“Oh boo hoo, Nilios this whole brooding bad boy thing didn’t work for your Dad and it doesn’t work for you. You’re too rich for that shit.” Wednesday polished off her beer in a second gulp and handed the bottle back to Carrie. “Can I get another, oh niece of mine? You’re a doll.”

Carrie was never one to protest and nodded gleefully. The obedient Disney-loving girl pranced back into the kitchen, which also allowed her time to check on the dessert in the oven. Grabbing another beer, she took a sip and made a face. Beer was… okay. She likes pina coladas most. Or strawberry daiquiris! See, Carrie wasn’t completely vanilla like her peers thought. Thanks to Autumn, she’s tried more drinks than she ever thought she would before the age of eighteen.

Walking over to her nephew, the gorgeous blonde placed her hands on his face and with her big blue eyes stared into his soul. It was a technique she had used since he was a little boy. Niles always had an anger in him, he always had demons, something she knew quite well in her own life. “Forget about what you’ve got going on. You have a lady that’s willing to touch your dick…well maybe…you focus on her and making sure you treat her like a fucking goddess.” Taking one hand away, Wednesday reached into the top pocket of her scrubs and pulled out some money. “I was saving this for the stripper but I’d rather you spend it wisely.” She stuffed the wad of cash into his jeans before slapping his face. “Too much cologne. Go wash it off and try again before you go.”

Niles didn’t know if he should be embarrassed, frustrated or thankful for his aunt’s unwarranted advice. Though when she brought up the possibility of Kianna wanting to touch his dick, maybe, that set his mind in a different direction he was trying to avoid. He needed to be wholesome so he didn’t scare Ki away. Sniffing himself, he did wonder if she was right about the cologne. Was he going too hard? Regardless if he wanted her advice or not, he was quick to leave her side and go upstairs.

Turning around, the older woman undid the ponytail in her straw coloured hair and let it fall loose around her shoulders. “As for you…” She looked at Autumn with a smile. She reminded her so much of herself when she was that age. “You can always do better. Wear your red bikini tonight. It’s absolutely your color. And make sure, you make them work for it.”

Autie couldn’t protest her aunt’s words. Red was her color. And if anything, Derrick was going to be sorry for ever letting her go. “Yeah, you’re right. Anyways, I’m sure dad knows, but we’re using his booze. I’m starting now.” There was a moment where Autumn thought about all the good things that could happen at this party. When she thought about her friends and just having a reason to be dumb with them, she smiled. Quickly, she hugged her aunt before dismissing herself to get herself a shot of something. Maybe tequila.

At this point, Carrie returned with a second beer and offered it to the older woman. “Auntie, do you think… I could find someone? I’m no Niles or Autumn but maybe tonight could be different.”

Wednesday smiled at Caroline and wrapped her arm around the small blonde as she took the beer off of her. “Of course you could find someone Carrie and you don’t have to be like Niles or Autie. You only have to be you.” The doctor took another deep swill from her new beverage. “Listen, we’re all infinitely different. We like who we like, we like what we like and we put out into the world what we want. When I was your age, my friend Ronnie, an absolutely gorgeous girl, like you, still is in fact but I digress…”

Wed guided Carrie out into the garden where much of the decoration had taken place and towards the edge, where from down the hill, one could see the entire town. “Ronnie had this attitude, she was a cheerleader but she’d come to practise in this sick leather jacket, wearing plaid skirts and jamming out to Incubus or some shit. But when you spoke to her, she was honestly the most warm and loving person you could imagine and shy too. I don’t think she ever had a boyfriend in high school until there was a party. A party at this very house and she met a drummer, hot piece of ass he was and they clicked.” Wednesday brushed a strand of Carrie’s hair behind her ear and smiled. “Point I’m trying to make, pumpkin spice, is that you only ever need to be yourself and you’ll find what you’re looking for. You just have to put yourself out there. There is an entire world beyond that horizon. It’s yours for the taking.”

“Ronnie…” Carrie whispered, a sudden glint of curiosity in her eyes. “Do you mean Ronnie Decker? Charlie Decker’s mother?” There was an abrupt realization that her father might be more connected than she realized. Or maybe back then, the lines weren’t as concrete between southside and northside. Maybe back then everyone was friends with everyone. “Dad was friends with her? Or… was she just going to one of his parties?” The bubbly blonde had shifted into detective mode. This wouldn’t be the first time she felt like there was more to her father than he gave off and when she met those southies the other day, she watched them and saw how they carried themselves wasn’t too different from how her father carries himself, when he isn’t in the eyes of the public.

“She was a Clover, sweetie. They went to every party, you know that.” Wednesday glanced out at the skyline and the town below. In the distance she could see the Sunken house, not too far from where Ronnie lived now herself. “Anyway don’t change the subject. Here’s what’s gonna happen tonight.” She stood before her niece and like she had done with Niles moments earlier, placed her hands on her pretty little face, avoiding brushing the cold beer bottle against it. “Tonight you’re gonna push the boat out a bit. Wear something a little bit sexy, bring the attention onto you and then, you’re gonna show them that underneath the Disney princess is a fucking warrior. You’re a sexy bitch and you’re gonna eat some poor fucker alive.”

With widened eyes, Carrie profusely nodded, hanging on every word Wednesday said. Sexy. She could totally do sexy. With all the sexy friends she had, including her twin, there’s no doubt she could pull sexy off. All she had to do was be a modern day Disney princess and find a poor boy and make him her’s. This was the Rapunzal era and if needed, she’d use a frying pan to whack her competition away from her Flynn. Instead of a response leaving her lips, her body jumped at the sound of the oven going off. “Oh! My brownies!” Before scampering off, she embraced her aunt one last time and excitably thanked her for such sage words.

As she watched her little niece run away, Wednesday called back to her. “They better be pot brownies Carrie or I’m throwing you down this damn hill!” When she was a girl it was neon lights, drugs and hard liquor when it came to a teenage party. Here she could see her kin putting up streamers and decorations. Planning. She was borderline embarrassed.

“They are special, I promise!” Carrie happily yelled back as she entered the backdoor.

At the same time, Niles came out to meet the older woman so she could give him one last glance before he left. He was seeking her approval which he would never admit. Something to this day, Hector still did. Hell, it was Wednesday who fixed the Doctor’s ties, seeing how the one woman he was sexually involved with was married and had limited time. Wednesday spent all day everyday with the pain in the ass so she knew the kids’ father like the back of her hand. Something likely the Sinclair children didn’t realize, since she became such a pivotal figure in their lives. Approaching her in the garden, Niles cleared his throat, revealing the information that he was sure she wanted to know, “Kianna. That’s her name.”

“Kianna.” Wednesday pondered as she finished off her beer and tossed it into the glass recycle. She knew the girl very well. Kimora’s daughter. Sleeping dogs and all that, she feigned some ignorance. “Is that the girl from the garage? She’s very pretty. You done good, Niles.” She didn’t give her nephew much time to answer before she approached him and drank in his visage. He was so much like his father, seeing him standing there was like a window to 1996 and the best times of her life. “Much better.” She tapped his broad chest with her palm. “Before you dip out there’s a crate of booze in my car, bring it in. Auntie Wednesday is gonna go have one of Carrie’s special brownies.” Before she breezes past him, the surgeon leaned and kissed his cheek. “Remember Nilios, treat her like a goddess and leave the dark here. I’ll take care of it until you get back. I’m proud of you.” She smiled before stretching out her arms as she began to walk away. “GIRLS! I need to see the music situation! If I see one Taylor Swift song I am burning this house to the ground!”

“Right…” Niles muttered, as he watched his aunt saunter away.

Treat her like a goddess.

That was the plan, if Kianna took a chance on him.

Edenridge

_{Prequel Party Post, Day Before
Timestamp: Friday, July 23rd 2021}

Caroline Sinclair pushed back a strand of her luscious, blonde hair as she held her phone, pointing the camera at her face, on Instagram Live. She sang Flowers by Miley Cyrus and emitted the most positive energy to the camera. The camera being an audience of at least a few hundred people, if not a thousand. Most if not all those who currently attend Edenridge High. The other percentage being the rest of the world, who simply liked the aesthetics she posted, her dancing videos and the motivational energy she gave off. She did a little dance. Obviously in a good mood.

In the background, off in the distance, was her big brother, Niles, cleaning the pool since they hadn’t used it the past month. She knew her siblings could use a moral boost, both sadly getting dumped recently. Was she upset about it? Not really. She knew those two in particular had a lot of self love to work on. As the fairy sister, Carrie decided it was her job to show them they could be happy and content without a lover. It was her sole duty to make sure to keep their minds busy and remind them they don’t need no man. Or woman. Or non-binary person. We don’t discriminate in this house.

For once, in a long time, all the Sinclairs were single. Sure, Niles was single before Cece, but not really, seeing how he hooked up with people in college while wooing the girl that still wasn’t over her ex. He really knew how to choose them. This was a new era for the Sinclair children. They didn’t need anyone to be happy and they would showcase that empowerment so their classmates would gravitate to their party not for love but for fun.

Coming out of the house having prepared spiked lemonade, Autumn came shimmying toward her sister. She placed one on the patio table, handed a glass to her twin and kept one for herself. If there was anyone who was feeling the single vibes, it certainly was her. Today Niles would take them out shopping. One, to buy a new phone for Autumn. Two, for party favors, hand food, and lights galore. And three, for therapy because who doesn’t want nice things when they’re sad?

Turning her phone camera around, Carrie pointed it toward Autie who was feeling herself, taking a sip of lemonade, and swaying to the music, “♫ I can buy myself flowers. Write my name in the sand ♫.” The twins were vibing, getting more and more excited by the minute since their party was just around the corner.

“♫ Talk to myself for hourssss. Say things you don’t understand ♫,” Carrie sang along with her sister, happy to be alive, in the safety of her home and with the comfort of her siblings, no less.

After a brief dance break, Autumn grabbed the phone from Carrie. They both proceeded to prance to their brother, who was shirtless. They knew their friends would drool at the sight. Another way to advertise. Using your brother’s hotness to your advantage. “♫ I can take myself dancing… ♫”

“♫ I can hold my own handdddd! ♫” Carrie chimed in, before going from singing to greeting her brother. “Say hi Niles!” Carrie giggled. Her hand appeared in front of the camera as she waved at her brother. In return, he glared at them as he scooped up the last remaining debris.

“♫ Yeah, I can love me better than you can ♫,” Autumn could be heard in the background as she took a seat on the edge of the pool, lemonade in hand. Sticking her feet in the cold, refreshing water, she took another sip of her drink, observing her brother as he tried to act like the boss man when really, he was doing whatever she and Carrie wanted to make their party amazing. He was a good brother.

Flipping his hair out of his face, knowing he needed to get a trim, Niles looked at them in annoyance, though deep down, there was so much love (he’d never admit it), “Do you want the house to be ready or not?”

“Of course we do, that’s why you’re helping,” Autumn chuckled, playfully kicking water at him.

Niles scoffed, “You call this helping?”

“Come on, big brother, so grumpy all the time. Lighten up and get your groove on,” Carrie and the camera started shaking, clearly showing she was dancing behind it. It caught a smile from Niles; briefly but it was there for their audience to see.

“Oh, btdubs. Some pink lemonade for you on the table,” Autumn offered to Niles. Closing her eyes, determined to not let anything or anyone ruin her day, she continued to hum the song, thinking to herself this is going to be their year.

The show didn’t last because then the instagram video stopped. After a compilation of pictures of Carrie sharing herself, her twin, and their friends, it went to another live stream, a couple hours later. This time the girls were sunbathing, showcasing their bathing suits. Their video focused on their brother mowing the lawn, headsets on, listening to his own music and bobbing his head to likely classic rock jams. “We’re all single, ready to mingle!” Carrie announced, zooming in and out of Niles’ fluffy hair. “And you know the best place to mingle is?”

Slipping the phone from Carrie into her own grasp, putting it in selfie mode, Autie grinned, “At our party, tomorrow, Saturday. 3 PM straight into the evening. You know where our house is. Be there or miss out, your choice. All I’m saying is, this party is going to be the sh—”

“LIT! It’s going to be LIT!” Carrie excitedly exclaimed, speaking over Autie’s cursing, as she leaned in front of the camera, gleaming with the brightest smile. “Oh, oh, oh,” Carrie chirped, giving Autumn no space, practically glued to her twin’s head, “There’s going to be grilled goodies, desserts galore, the pizza ‘special’ and so much more!”

“We don’t only have a pool too,” Autumn winked at the camera, trying her best to not stress over the fact that both her and Niles got royally dumped right before the big bash. It sucked because she wanted to be with Derrick at this party but she knew he was a cheating piece of shit and some things were better off left in the past. Like him, he was better off left six feet under.

“We really hope to see you there! It’s going to be so much fun, and it doesn’t matter what side of town you live on. All are welcomed. So come on over. We’re kind of a big deal with a couple of southies,” Carrie revealed, as she made her party inclusive. She wanted this to be the bash of the CENTURY and that meant inviting all types of people. Southies were cool and she hoped some would attend like Zion. He said he would but would he? Did he just say it for her to get out of his hair?

With one of his headsets out of his ear, he turned to look at his sisters, giving them a suspicious gaze, narrowing his eyes, “What?” If he heard correctly, Caroline just said she and Autumn were kind of a big deal with some southies. Since when?

“GOT TO GOOOOO!” Carrie gave a sly toothy grin and beside her Autumn rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and leaned back in her seat. Adjusting her slim body, showcasing a wonderful angle of her bikini, boobs and stomach to the phone camera, she inhaled and exhaled. Today was a beautiful day. Hopefully tomorrow will match the sunshine and good vibes too. Only one could hope.

Caroline’s instagram went silent. Approaching dinner, the live stream started up again but this time on Autumn’s new phone and her instagram (Carrie’s socials were tagged though). Holding the phone, the older twin focused in on her bubbly blonde sister, in a snack aisle at Target. With her innate skills of dancing, Carrie blasted Cheerleader, Felix Jaehn Remix from her phone which was in her butt pocket. As Autumn took steps backwards and Carrie moved forward, showing off her own choreography to one of the newer Clover routines, Niles came into the picture, not intentionally. He was looking at a grocery list and putting a few chip bags into their shared cart. Playfully, the infectious happy-go-lucky blonde beauty twirled to her brother, grabbing his free hand.

Niles heavily sighed and spun her around, glancing at the camera and grumbling, “You two have a problem.”

“Do we? We’re just having fun and party prepping,” Autumn snickered, sticking her tongue out at him, knowing if anyone needed things to be lighthearted, it was him. Putting herself in view, keeping a glimpse of the other two in the background, Autie offered to her classmates, “If there’s something you want to see at the party, or want at the party, please message us ASAP! We will do our best to have all kinds of options so everyone is generally happy.”

Knowing Carrie would not leave him alone until he started playing along with her and dancing to the music, Niles could be seen holding Carrie’s hand and doing basic ballroom dance moves. He felt stupid but it was making his sisters smile, which mattered more than how much of an idiot he felt. When his phone vibrated he was quick to release Carrie, his opportunity to end the dance and shop on. Looking at his phone to a text he had been waiting for, all week, Niles couldn’t hide the sudden happiness that flooded inside of him. He got the confirmation he wanted. His mood shifted drastically while the camera view still had him in the background.

She said yes.

Kianna was going to give him a chance.

Fist bumping in victory, he glanced up at his sisters, both watching him like hawks, sharply. He realized the camera was still on him. “Okay that’s enough. Turn that thing off.” While it couldn’t be seen, Autumn had a shit eating grin and Carrie’s expression had gone blank.

Looks like their brother might not be single for long. Hopefully this time around, he was doing this because he wanted the person and not the idea of the person. Still, Carrie sighed. Them being single together for a time, longer than a week, was short lived. She should’ve known better. Niles and Autumn were serial lovers. Even when they are single, while briefly, they need to lean on someone for quiet comfort. Niles had Rye, Autumn had her. Something about them being alone terrified the two and Carrie couldn’t understand why she wasn’t like that. Why did they need someone? Why couldn’t they just love themselves? Why did everyone put so much emphasis on this feeling of ‘love’? Was it love when it was fleeting?

Gesturing for her sister to turn off the live stream, Carrie peered over her shoulder to see the views. A deep sadness sat in the core of her chest as she thought about how lucky her siblings were to have people interested in them constantly. Even if they had no limits, no boundaries, and no expectations, they enjoyed their youth. She envied them because they knew what it felt like to be with someone, in all ways that matters to a person, even if the consequences were a broken heart.

Was she starved for affection? Intimacy? Was she jealous that her siblings always had someone? Even if it wasn’t the best someone, they always had someone. It wasn’t fair. No one would want her in that way. She gave up on her crush on Danny Belmonte a while ago, catching the vibe that he wasn’t interested in females as much anymore. That’s his own business, of course, but she could tell simply by how he held himself that his heart belonged to someone else. Carrie never even kissed a boy or girl. She was about to be a senior and she was falling behind all because she cared about everyone else’s happiness but her own.

“Caroline, you coming?” Niles called out, waiting to turn from the aisle. Autumn was quiet, standing right next to her seemingly always happy twin. Believe it or not, she could feel the envy and pain. She could feel the loneliness that Carrie never spoke out. She could feel everything that her twin bottled up and wished there was a way to help her, but afraid to reveal things that were better left forgotten. Carrie seemed to have forgotten their childhood, before Noella came around and adopted them. Autumn wanted to keep it that way. Instead of calling Carrie out, Autie laced her fingers with hers, patiently waiting for her sister to regain herself.

Shaking the sads out of her mind, Caroline rushed to her brother with her sister in hand, “Yes!”

Niles nodded and turned the aisle, ready to be home already so he could think about her. Smiling to himself, he whispered, “She said yes…”

Saturday would be an eventful day for the Sinclair children.

That goes without saying.

Niles Sinclair was excited.

For the coffee date, not the party.

Edenridge

_{FT: Lorelei Mercer
Small FT: Patricia Mercer & Charles Dowell
Introducing: a woman named Samantha}

TW — child & sexual abuse
^{*Note: Lala turned 18 this year so this hints at years of abuse.}

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Family. They are the people that are supposed to keep you out of harm’s way. A safe haven. The place that you want to run back to at any time of the day. Family was like warm cookies and a glass of milk, sitting by a fireplace and reading a story. A story with universal lessons that make you think of what life is supposed to be.

One story Lorelei Mercer had in mind was The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. A boy who is lonesome goes on a journey finding friends. Their friendship buds as they explore the world around them. What does life actually mean? Lala is reminded of how fragile she, and other humans are, and how the world is such a tough place but could be beautiful. It should be beautiful. She wished it was beautiful.

Lorelei was a meek girl who lived in Eastbrook, in a plain white house, unremarkable where cars pass by without a second glance. Her parents didn’t own anything fancy. The garden was typical for the average middle class family. Some shrubs, her mom’s peonies, and a couple of large pots of begonias. There was no tell-tale sign that this place was filled with heartache. Damaging and everlasting.

Though why would anyone else care? The Mercers took care of the Dollhouse they lived in, their own personal prison, carefully designed to hide years of pain. A family that kept their scars hidden. Generational trauma masked with a smile. Patricia Mercer, for example, had her home office, a speech therapist she claimed to be, which meant she was always around. When she wasn’t with clients, which was most of the time, she was drinking and when she drank too much, she took her misery out on her living child, blaming her daughter for her son’s death, instead of the boy who held the gun.

Her step father, Charles Dowell, was no better. Actually, he was worse. When he was away, Lala was relieved. He had to travel often as a corporate lawyer. Committing adultery no doubt on his business trips. When he was home and his needs weren’t met by his wife, conveniently he had a daughter who he told to always keep the door cracked open. She would do as he says and say nothing about it.

Not like Pierce was around to be the wall between her and her parents. He was in a better place and she envied him for that. Sometimes she wished she went to that special place instead of him but she knew he’d hate hearing that come from her lips. He knew if one of them would escape this hell, this cage, it would be her. She was the talented one. He was not. He could sing and he was charming, but his voice was generic at best. When Lorelei belts out, from her tiny little body, he could swear doves would cry. Her voice was enchanting and full of raw emotion. She was a little songbird, so talented and lovely, and if anyone had a future out of highschool it was her. Not him. Pierce knew once he graduated he would’ve likely skipped town, ditching his dreams to pursue theater. To chase love instead and if Lala wanted to, he would’ve taken her with him but he knew that life wouldn’t suit her. She needed something stable. She needed a home. He needed freedom.

As gruesome as his death was, Charlie Decker answered his prayers. Neither Pierce or Lorelei knew how to speak up against the dark that engulfed them but what they did know was one of them was meant to fly and Pierce always said it would be her, she just had to believe she could. She was a porcelain doll with cracks. Hopeless and broken. Her innocence, stolen. But she promised herself yesterday when she gave her brother her letter and when she sang on the radio with Kylee and Mei, she wasn’t going to be scared anymore. Or well, she wasn’t going to let her fear cripple her on finding a door without a lock that leads to someone’s lap that she could rest her head on.

She was afraid. Terrified. She was always afraid. Lala was tired of it and wanted to go from Pierce’s Duckling to her own Swan. But how does one go against monsters when all their life they’ve touched you in ways that would take years to bury. Was she a princess waiting for her prince to save her? Was she always going to be the girl that waited, like Sleeping Beauty, for someone to rescue her? Or was she going to save herself? Break out of her cage and fly with her tethered wings in search of a home outside of Pierce’s life.

As much as she loved the mayor’s daughter, she loved her so much, Kylee was only someone in her story because of her brother. She had no one. Not really. Girls casually talked to her but they thought she was weird and practically mute. Boys would try to flirt with her but when she didn’t show clear signs of being interested, they got bored and moved to someone easier. Lala was a sad girl but she was tired of being a sad girl. She wanted to know the feeling of what it meant to have love, to have friendship, to have something that wasn’t like a dagger in her chest. She wanted something tangible and real. She wanted home.

Hiding under her bed, hugging a composition book in her arms, Lala squinted her eyes as she listened to her parents argue downstairs. Her heart was racing as she struggled to swallow. Flinching at the sudden sound of shattered glass, she started thinking of the ticking of a metronome, counting with each measure, each pulse. She gently tapped on the notebook, trying to manage the adrenaline to flight, fight or freeze.

This constant state of not feeling safe was like inclement weather. Something she was growing used to and each time it would get worse. Her scars grew deeper, but her mind and her heart became stronger. At least she would like to tell herself that. She remembered when she was younger and her body movements were tighter and her appetite was non-existent. Now though she felt her PTSD fueling her differently.

Her heart skipped a beat when she could hear the doorknob shaking. She had locked the door, which she knew her father wouldn’t like. As expected, Charles’ voice sternly boomed, causing her to squint her eyes tighter. “Lorelei, what did I tell you about locking your door?”

She didn’t answer.

“I know you’re in there, so open up. For Daddy, please,” he maliciously insisted, trying to coat his anger with sweetness. “I’ve had a long day… I’d like to see how you’re doing. I know how badly you’ve missed me.” When she continued to stay silent, he started forcibly pushing himself into the door, until he was able to break the lock and unceremoniously open it. She lost her chance to get away. She should’ve ran. She should’ve left.

Regret washed over her as she was counting the seconds before he inevitably found her. Listening to his footsteps, she froze, biting her cheek to keep quiet. He checked a few areas and then suddenly, abruptly, he was down on the ground. He grabbed her ankles and pulled her to him, wrapping her legs around him. He whispered, “There you are…”

She whimpered and cried, “Daddy please…”

Gasping for air and opening her eyes, Lala processed her environment and noticed she was still under the bed. Her dad hadn’t made it to the door yet. Her parents were still fighting downstairs. Everything that had just transpired was all in her head. Everything her dad just did… was all in her head. It played out how she expected things to turn out. It played out like a nightmare.

With a sudden burst of urgency, Lala crawled out from under the bed, quickly packed a backpack of a couple outfits, some of her songbooks, Pierce’s ring, which was their birth dad’s ring, and threw on a sweater to hide any healing bruises. She didn’t know where she was going but she needed to get out and get out fast.

Tossing her backpack outside to the backyard, she looked out her window. There was nothing to climb down from the second floor to the bottom so she would need to escape… around her parents. Trying her best to not hesitate, Lala went to her door, unlocked it, and peered to see if it was safe. They were still downstairs. Tiptoeing out, she found her way to the back stairs that led to the kitchen and the basement. She hid in the bathroom when she heard her parents getting closer to the stairs, yelling and screaming. One of them was going to come up.

What was she doing?

She needed to get out of here.

Opening the bathroom door, hearing her dad’s footsteps coming up, her mom sobbing as he left her behind, Lala took to the second stairs. While she was trying to be as quiet as possible, she was also trying to get the hell out of there, swiftly. When she got to the kitchen door, she could hear her mom opening a bottle of what was likely some hard liquor, ready to drink her misery away. It was only a matter of time her mother would get violent.

When her mother’s footsteps became quiet, Lala taking note of her walking right on the broken glass, remains from the fight, she peered through the door and waited for the miserable woman to vanish from sight. No longer waiting to escape, Lala rushed to the backdoor, from the kitchen, took a quiet exit, found her bag and booked it. As she ran, she could hear her stepfather yelling.

Just go, don’t stop.

Having no idea of direction, Lorelei ran. And ran. And ran. She didn’t want to be in that house anymore. She hated it and she hated them. She missed Pierce. It wasn’t until she was crossing the railroad tracks, down Maple, running past Gardenview and straight through Carlisle Avenue that she ran into a strikingly beautiful woman, who carried herself with grace and caution. A woman she’s never seen before. A woman that carried the most earnest yet saddest smiles.

“Woah, woah, baby…. what’s got you in a hurry?” The mysterious lady held the shaking girl close, glancing around to see if she was being followed and if she was, by who. Simply by the way this stranger was holding onto her, Lala could feel a maternal presence. Far warmer than her mother ever held her.

“I, uh…” Lala stuttered, realizing that her actions would have consequences and that her father would be pissed if he found out she ran away. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…. I-I’m… I’m sorry.”

The stranger knelt down so that they were on the same level, giving Lala an opportunity to look into her big, blue eyes, “Baby, baby. Breathe,” She gently held onto Lala’s shoulders, soothing her and showing her that she was safe. No one was going to hurt her. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I’m here to help. My name is Samantha, it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me your name, I—”

“Lorelei. My friend… she calls me Lala,” The porcelain beauty muttered. Her teeth jittering from the shock she just put her body through.

“A pretty name for a pretty girl. Are you okay? Did something happen to you? Here, come with me,” Sam directed the younger girl out from the middle of the street, continuing to stay vigilant, using her peripheral vision to pay attention to their surroundings. When Lala couldn’t answer, Sam didn’t press on. Instead she asked, “Where would you like me to take you? Where’s home?”

The last question made Lala’s face grow even more pale than she already was. Terrified at the idea of going back and seeing what her parents would do to her. To see what her step father would do to her. “I- I don’t want to go home.”

When Lala looked at her in that way, Sam understood immediately and even felt a rush of grief as she thought of her own siblings. “Okay, baby, we won’t go home. What we will do is, I’m going to drop you off somewhere I know is safe. You can stay there as long as you need. At this place, all those that live there, protect each other. But I’ll need you to be a big girl and knock on someone’s door, okay? I assure you, no one there is going to hurt you. I…” Sam tried to gather the words that while she wanted to help her with this, she knew a vulnerable girl staying this close to her was never a good thing. She had only just gotten out of prison and it was only a matter of time her ‘parents’ would want to grab a bite and talk business.

Lala didn’t have the resources to really understand this situation so she obediently nodded and followed Sam’s direction. In time, they found themselves in front of Lost Souls Home. Her parents talked ill about the Southside, made it seem like it was a scary place but just by looking at it. It made Lala sad. The lack of funding made her sad. Her parents weren’t rich by any means but a place that provided shelter for people, wouldn’t you think there would be more money going towards it?

“It’s not like… the Carlisle mansion. Or well, Teddy Grimm’s manor, but I promise you none of that matters when you have good company,” Sam stared ahead at it, remembering the nostalgic feeling, especially when she met the love of her life. Not letting the feelings of old overtake her, focusing on the present for this child in need, Samantha turned to Lala and offered her a burner phone, “If you want to stay hidden, give me your phone. Nowadays smartphones have trackers. This here isn’t anything fancy but if you need to call someone, it can do that and only that. Here,” Sam put her actual cell phone number into the phone before exchanging devices with Lorelei. “If you need anything, anything, I’ll pick up. I always pick up. Right now I’m currently figuring out my own living situation, which is why I can’t just bring you to my house. Let me know who takes you in and what room. I’ll send food there. Does that sound okay with you?”

“... yes… I, question?” Lala puzzlingly inquired, feeling like she was in a dream and that some higher power sent her a guardian angel. Maybe her brother sent her a protector.

“Answer,” Sam quickly responded, surveying Lala’s bag and already thinking of ways to provide for this girl.

Lala grabbed the edge of her sweater sleeves and nervously gulped, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Sam’s gaze softened. Gently and slowly, she brushed a few strands out of Lala’s face and behind her ear, “Babygirl. Not everyone is out to hurt you. In time, you’ll learn who’s your home and who isn’t. I do this because I understand you. I know how you feel. Caged. No escape. Everyone else has control over you and all you want to do is…”

“Fly?”

“Precisely,” the beautiful guardian angel nodded, pulling Lala back into a warm embrace. So tender and loving. Both ladies starved for healthy intimacy and love. For family. “If protecting children is part of my purpose so they don’t live the same life I did, I’ll give it my all.” They held each other for a moment longer.

There was something about this older woman that Lala could feel this wasn’t one-sided. Miss Samantha needed her just as much as Lala needed a role model. Whether the mystery woman needed a hug or to feel the presence of a young person needing her, Lala couldn’t help but want to embrace her. To make this feeling last forever. She wished her mother was like this. She wished her mother was like Sam. But Lala knew better than to wish. Wishes didn’t come easy for people stuck in their dark place with no way out. Wishes weren’t meant for people like Sam and her.

Pulling away from each other, breaking the needed hug, Sam gestured to the front entrance. “The first step of flying is knowing you are capable. I can’t stay but I will be back, you can count on that.” After a few more exchanged words, Lala watched the strong woman, a living testimony that you can walk through hell and survive, saunter down the street, turning down a road and disappearing.

Lorelei had been on her own since her brother died. Maybe this was her sign. Her sign to fly. Pierce’s Duckling would not live a life in fear anymore. Pierce’s Duckling had wings that needed to be used so why not use it? Pierce’s Ducking would live. Live for him but more importantly, live for herself. Live a life, unchained and ready to fight… whatever that means.

Starting at this lovely place Sam brought her to.

The Home for Lost Souls.

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP — Afternoon, Tuesday, July 21st, 2021 || After You, Me, Us & Charlie
FT. — Dreamchasers & The Basilisk}

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Passing a small wooden sign, which said Blue Hill Reservation (not like she could read it), Anya smiled to herself and thought of her destination. Her person. Up until recently, her escape was her bike rides. Her bike was an extension of her, part of her. Without her, her bike would be rendered useless. She loved her bike, it gave her a feeling she intensely desired, but things were changing and she wondered if she could find this same feeling in the form of a blonde girl with chipped angel wings, jewels for eyes, and a crown fit for a queen, not a princess.

Some people rode for the thrill, Anya rode her bike for a sense of immersion. Bringing the physical and metaphysical together in one reality. There’s nothing between you and the world when you’re on the road with your motorcycle. She could feel the cool humid air as she sped through the forested hillside. From the smell of the road dust to the weeds and the wildflowers, she couldn’t help but be at peace as she embraced her surroundings and let the sun warm her cobalt blue leather jacket.

Rumbling and vibrating from under her, she guided her bike with her internal compass. When she leaned one way, her bike would follow suit. Her bike listened to her and chased the feeling. She wasn’t hiding from the world when she rode her bike, she was taking charge of her life, her direction, driving through one bubble after the other, of sights, sounds, and smells. She was invigorated and infinite. She was free. If she knew how freedom felt, the Russian woman would imagine it felt something like this. It felt like a bike ride.

Anya remembered fondly when her father, no, not Zima, permitted her to join the Angels, especially after finding out her connection to Charlie “Coldhands” Taylor. While he didn’t know to what extent CT and Anya’s rapport was, like the fact that CT was her mother’s friend throughout the years going back to their highschool days, he did know they were close. Close enough for CT to give Anya one of two of his Harleys. It was a simple black bike but Anya had customized blue stripes on it.

Her father never did question the reasoning nor did he have her sisters, his daughters, ask too many questions. Rather he found a way to make this a useful opportunity, placing an informant in one of the major gangs of Edenridge. He wanted to show Anya that he did care about her wants and needs, and so, as most dads would do, he showed his love by calling her an Angel. He gave her a family with the price that she always remembers her wings were there because of him. She flies because he said she could.

That wasn’t freedom, though. Was it? Not like how riding a bike felt. Not like how her Jade made her feel. The freedom he granted would never be free. There was always a price to pay in her father’s garden. Her life being the ultimate price if she didn’t abide by his rules. If she didn’t appreciate everything he gave her. Still, when she thought of the woman she desired, the one that was on her mind first thing in the morning and last thing at night, her biggest weakness, her greatest strength, she knew something she didn’t know before. Freedom shouldn’t be given. Freedom should be won. Her freedom was a state of mind. That meant she wouldn’t be afraid to chase what she wants. To feel and be human. To love. That meant she wouldn’t be a monster forever. There was a light at the end of the dark tunnel and that light was Jade.

Pulling up and parking her Harley a little distance away from Adora’s porch, Anya turned her vehicle off, removed herself from the seat and secured it on its kickstand. When her bike was nicely parked, she pulled her black helmet with the Fallen Angels emblem up, letting her blonde strands fall over her shoulders. Facing away from the porch, she threaded her rearview mirror through her helmet visor. On the back of her jacket, there was a snake design that looked similar to the Southside Serpents logo.

For those that only took a small glance, they would assume she was a Snake. To the keen eye, however, one would notice the differences. Instead of the snake mouth being closed, it was wide open. Teeth revealed and threatening. The eyes glowed menacingly and brightly (a vivid shimmering gold, which complimented her cobalt blue leather). The snake skin was a muted green like that of jade rather than a forest green which most serpents had and the size of the snake seemed a few sizes bigger. If Anya wanted to show her patches she could either open her coat up and display the interior or reverse her coat and sport her Angel pride instead of her Basilisk reputation. Today, she wanted to present herself as the Basilisk. This was her Toast girl and her closest friends after all.

Understandably, Jade was nervous. Had been after she sent Anya a text. They had a brief exchange. Jade asked if she could pick her up at the Blue Hill Reservation. Anya, she was so sweet in a lot of ways. Jade loved the way she texted. Short, somewhat cryptic. She had this adorable way of using emoji’s too, something that always made Jade smile and it was something that Pops and Key took notice of right away. She had no way of hiding it either. Anya had a way about her, that was for sure. A way to always make her feel like she was at her happiest. The world around her could be literally on fire, but if she knew she was nearby, Jade didn’t have to fear anything. Not even The Devil himself.

In the hour that went by, Jade took a quick shower. She felt a bit obsessive and nervous and overridden with a sense of panic that she took a shower that was twice as long. She had bid her goodbyes to Natalia, who was outside in the backyard swaying gently back and forth on a hammock. Jade couldn’t tell if she was content and happy, or in some kind of state. She seemed receptive of Jade telling her she was leaving, or at least it appeared that way.

By the time that hour had come to an end, Jade was outside, her bag slung over her shoulder and her best friends, Poppy on her left and Key on her right, were with her. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black spaghetti strap top, one that had the image of a burning angel being embraced by Lucifer. Her heart was beating like an orchestra that was in a cooldown period, slowly building the longer the silence remained. It was fitting because she felt like she was waiting and waiting and it amplified her nervousness, which was reflected in the way her arm that was holding the strap of her shoulder bag shook. Closing her eyes, she took a breath. At the same time, Jade heard a sound that immediately caught her attention. It sounded so familiar.

“A motorcycle?” Jade found herself whispering in such a quiet tone that neither Key nor Pops would have heard. Her heart was beating faster and faster now, the symphony in her heart taking a life on its own. She didn’t know why she was reacting like this, but not all bikes were treated the same. The dirt bike was quiet and fast, but weak, but harleys were different. There was a special kind of sound the engine made when it revved. To some it wasn’t anything special, but to her it had an unique sound that was close to her heart because it brought her back to a place when she was at her happiest. The Harley he gave to her to look after, ride whenever she pleased, had that same sound and it had frozen everything in her. From anxiety to any physical movement, Jade was frozen and more or less unresponsive to anything outside of her own mind.

Equally frozen beside his memory-dazed friend, Mordechai stared down at the back of the newcomer from his spot leaning on the porch post. His eyes were sharp despite how they continued to widen in ever mounting shock, taking in every detail as each one added foundation beneath what had until now only been supported by belief. The Basilisk, a name whispered with as much fear as it is reverence in the circles he ran in back in the day, and will be running in again soon. Everyone in the crew had their favorite batshit crazy story about the Basilisk that they just accepted as fact, the one they’d tell around the circle when they had a chance to relax and geek out like the children they didn’t have the privilege to be.

”I heard when she was just a teen she was in a bar fight with guys three times her size,” Sonny would begin while the other serpents snickered over the stars in his eyes. ”She took ‘em all down usin’ em against each other then sat at the bar ta drink while they were all bleedin’ on the floor.”

”So what?” Tov always interrupted, flailing his arms around while somehow managing not to spill a drop of whatever he was drinking at the time. "Wha’ ‘bout that time she was cornered in a warehouse by a hit squad and managed to light the whole place ablaze with the gunpowder from a single bullet?”

On and on it would go, with Creed chiming in with his favorite of her taking on an entire fighting ring at once and walking away unscathed, or Jokes cackling about her revenge of cutting out the tongue of a man who wouldn’t stop coming onto her with shitty pick up lines and roaming fingers. Prof had made them watch The Princess Bride in an immediate response to them not understanding his joke when he told the rumor of her being immune to most poisons. The circle would always end at Ransom, who would roll his eyes and cross his arms defiantly, slouching back against his seat and claiming he wasn’t as lame as them to have a story. They would firmly remind him he always used to have stories he favored.

”Those were a kid’s fantasy, I don’t need ‘em no more.”

His eyes were glued to the object of all those stories, but his hand had dropped in order to frantically tap-slap at Jade’s lax form. All his words were trapped in his throat but he eventually managed to change his flailing into a grasp at her elbow to pull her attention for a second and meet her eyes. His gaze screamed surprise and shock and wonder while he jerked his thumb in the direction of the Basilisk on the back of the woman’s jacket.

While Mordechai was fixated on the coat and Jade the motorcycle, Penelope carefully gazed at the beautiful blonde woman’s backside. She looked familiar. Scarily so. The blonde hair, the figure, and the posture reminded her of someone she saw often. Someone that was always around even if they rarely interacted. Someone that frequented a place Poppy knew like the back of her hand. It wasn’t until the woman turned around to acknowledge the trio, beaming a childlike smile and casually waving, that Poppy realized who that was. “Jane?” Was she seeing things or was Jade dating the librarian assistant? Jade… and the librarian assistant. Weird. Turning to the two beside her, she searched Jade’s bewildered face. Catching how lost for words her friend was, she flatly asked, “How did you bag the library aide?”

As a delayed reaction to Key’s assertive elbow-poking, Jade snapped out of her daze, returning to Planet Blue Hill as she heard Pops. “Well, I…”

“Hello Toast girl,” the woman called out with her thick Russian accent, ambling her way toward them, having not breached the distance yet. The trio had a few more seconds to interact before she was in front of them. “And friends!”

Hearing that name, whatever Jade was feeling: the time-traveling back to when she was younger, hearing her uncle’s short tail cruiser, which was now hers, the absolute bliss that was associated with those times became almost immediately replaced with the Sunday mornings spent at Dolly’s, meeting for breakfast. Just the two of them as Brandon Lyon served them each an oversweet but equally tasty plate of food. Anya with the pancakes and Jade with her berrylicious french toast. Every Sunday they met like that and every Sunday, Jade could have an hour, at most, to just be…herself. To not have to think about where her mind was at for the entire month except a handful of days with a handful of hours where she could forget about it all.

As her face started to go hot, Jade smiled at Anya, absentmindedly ignoring Poppy and Key just for a moment, taking in the moment. Her heart was beating as fast as hot her face felt, setting everything in and around her on fire. She didn’t know why this was so intense, but whenever she was near Anya, there was no use hiding anything from her. Especially with two other people in her life who had the same effect on her, yet her leather-clad Anya did it so effortlessly from day fucking one. There was no other way to describe that than what Jade was starting to piece together, yet she couldn’t bring herself to say it…yet. “Hi Pancake!” She greeted Anya, smiling a grin that both showed her heart and hid some things about the whole moment she was trying to process herself.

When Jade hyper focused on the librarian assistant, ignoring her question, Poppy glanced over to Mordechai only to see him dumbstruck too. Was she the only functional one right now? Jade was practically turning as red as a rose, which was weird to bear witness to and Decky was stunned because of something. Maybe he knew more about Jane. She’d have to ask him later once this interaction was over. “Helloooooo, Jane? Jane right?” If Jade wasn’t going to confirm, Poppy would do it herself.

“Jane?” Anya had approached the three stooges and stared at the small woman who had curiosity in her green eyes and boldness that reminded her of one of her sisters. The Russian lady spent the next second or two trying to process the name before snapping her finger, “Oh! Oh. Yes and no. In library, I am Jane like the book. I have many names, looks like Ken Doll might know one,” Anya teasingly grinned, clearly aware of the existence of all three of the people in front of her. “You close friends with Toast girl, yes?”

Mordechai was snapped out of his amazement as soon as his corner name fell from the blonde’s lips, though unfortunately it just added to his mounting confusion rather than helping him understand what was going on. Why had she called him that, why had she even known that name? How in the hell would she even have gotten that information considering that, aside from johns, only two people ever used that name for him an-

“Legs where did that toy come from, did Badger stop by?”

”Nah, I got my own friends too ya know,” She raised her eyebrow at him while helping Viva open up the russian nesting doll in her pudgy little hands. “My Bassy dropped it off for Viva’s birthday.”

“Wuv Auntie Bass!” Viva garbled, excitedly shaking the smallest wooden doll. Each one had been custom painted to look like the baby girl while still maintaining the object’s traditional design.

“Maybe you’ll meet her one day, Ken Doll,” Allegra ended with a wink, leaving him more confused than when he’d walked in the door.

____________________________________________________________________

“Mary-Anne O’Hara, shit” Decky stressed while staring at Mika with wide eyes, blunt hanging limply between his fingers while the two of them watched the stars from the back of Mika’s truck, on the tail end of another extensive and vulnerable conversation that many didn’t realize the two boys were capable of having together. It wasn’t always fists first with the Boa and the Badger. He had wondered why his brother had felt the need to swear him to secrecy before he even uttered that last name and now Decky could understand why the other boy was so serious. Mikhail Zima, the Honey Badger of the Southside and son of Ivan Zima, honorary son of the top snake himself, Big Rey Gonzales, a fucking Foundling. “Any other name drops ya wanna get off your shoulders,” He joked, showing Mika his lips were sealed by moving on from the subject as he passed the blunt back. “How ‘bout your older sister? I know Stacy and Katie, but what about the older badass one?”

“Oh, if you ever meet her in Edenridge,” Mika answered unexpectedly, as Decky had genuinely just meant to leave it as a rhetorical to lighten the heavy mood. “She’ll probably be going by Jane.”

“Then say Jane from now on instead’a ‘my older sister’ every damn time, save the world from ya takin’ up its extra air every once in a while. Gimme that blunt back.”

Holy shit.

Not only was one of his best friends practically dating The Basilisk, but the Basilisk was also Allegra’s Bassy, the aunt of his children who he always missed by minutes when he’d return home from the corner or some odd job. AND She was Mika’s sister, Jane- Jane the library aide what the fuck- who he’d heard as many stories about as he had Mika’s mother. Three people he’d heard so much about over the years and- through none of the expected paths laid before him- finally got to meet in the flesh.

And they were all the same fucking person.

Mordechai was no stranger to multiple alias’ and nicknames. The man himself had a laundry list of names people called him, and only recently was one of those choices his real name. He never really thought about whether or not some people only know him by one name, or if anyone else has ever been told different stories by multiple people and suddenly be faced with the reality that they were all one in the same.

As his mind sorted out all the different pieces and he could practically feel the smoke curling out of his ears, all the poor fool had falling out of his mouth was a confused and tired, “More than one apparently, fuck. I thought you’d been named after a fuckin’ fish,” he slapped his hands over his eyes and groaned shamefully, a bit of his own childlike attitude coming out as all the information overloaded him while he was safely with his two angels. “I thought it was Bassy like the fuckin’ fish, why would I have ever thought-” he cut himself off and thunked his forehead against the porch post and whispering to himself, “this shit’s fried as fuck.”

Anya watched the boy in amusement, her eyes softening at the moment of innocence. She knew more than enough about Allegra’s Ken Doll. He was part of Edenridge, Anya’s territory. She had to know at least surface information on everyone in the town but when she found out he had given her friend a child, her protective nature forced her to dig a little deeper. A boy whose only family was his brother searched for bonds in a town that fed off his pain. And everyone’s pain for that matter. Little did he know, he did have family. Good family too. That quietly watches over him in the shadows, like she has with Legs for as long as she’s known her.

This moment and how abundantly expressive Jade and her friends were, how raw, vulnerable, and familiar they were with one another, made Anya think of her sisters and how trauma too brought them closer together. Love was not something a trained killer should possess. Yet when she thought of her sisters, like Faye, as much as she was a thorn to her side, or her brothers, even if Hyde was beyond saving, or her Jade, someone she didn’t plan to like as much as she did, she couldn’t help but want to embrace the feeling and be like Mordechai right now. An untethered soul, who’s willing to not close his heart over all the pains and all the hardships he’s been through. Someone liberating himself from his chains. He might feel like a fool but in this childlike state he was more himself than he realized.

“Toast girl talks fondly of you two,” Anya disclosed, her grin never leaving her face as she took a step closer, dropping her guard. This wasn’t something the Basilisk did. She offered her hand for Jade to grab, signaling she was queued to leave whenever the foxy, Harley Head was ready, “We need to grab bite sometime.”

“... you want to eat with us?” Poppy blinked, trying to process everything that was transpiring. She was still stuck on the fact that Jade was dating Jane-Not-Jane the library assistant. What were the chances? This town felt big, whenever tragedy struck, but in this instant, it felt minuscule.

It’s a small world after all.

“Of course! You friends with Jade and I trust you good people.” Not a monster like her. “I can trust, right?” She allowed them a chance to speak for themselves on the matters of the heart. That she wouldn’t regret bridging this gap between her world and theirs. A dangerous game, if they only knew.

“I don’t know know about bein’ a good person, personally,” Mordechai replied honestly as he took in the reality of all the stories he’s absorbed over the years while finally meeting her eyes, on the receiving end of a knowing grin and not willing to try and lie. Knowing he never could lie to her, apparently. It was weird to admit, but he was feeling different emotions over meeting her, the different aspects of this woman who he’d met through nothing but words until now. The coldblooded Basilisk instilled him with a sense of nerves and awe, while Bassy had him worried over judgment about his and Allegra’s relationship and the mistakes he made there. Big Sister Jane left him wanting stories about Mika while also mildly defensive of his status as a non-blood sibling to Mika.

All of them left him wanting to know her more. The sister of his soul brother, just like Mitena was. It seemed like his found family continues to expand at a pace he can barely keep up with, and he wanted to learn them all before life pulled them apart again.

“But we can at least be trusted ta eat a meal and get ta know someone without bloodshed. I think we’re all too tired ta want another dramatic act where we all go our separate ways. How ‘bout y’all, He asked his angels. “Think we can all stay in one place ta eat this time?”

Jade had been quiet. Unusually so. She usually had a comment - an opinion about anything for any given situation. All with purpose, but between being stuck in her own mind for the most part and just watching Anya interact with those closest to her. It was surreal. Not so much for Jade because to her, Pancake named Anya wasn’t this folktale character or ‘Jane from the Library’. To her, she had always been Pancake, the person that she’d have early breakfast dates with every Sunday. The person who she’d make sure she had that time off like clockwork so she had that time to spend with her.

But it was kind of surreal for her that everyone close to her seemed to have a different name for her. She liked that. It showed that it wasn’t just her who thought Pancake was special and someone that everyone should know - she had a reach beyond the bubble of Dolly’s. Everyone should know how amazing she is.

Jade took her hand, smiling at her. Between her inability to do nothing but smile whenever she was around her and the recent feelings of getting back to where they were, Jade couldn’t do it around Pops or Key either. She couldn’t do anything but smile with them. Because that’s what the Angel Princess needed to do now. She spent too many long nights stuck in the past, locked away in her trauma and it kept her from being able to heal. Meeting Pancake that one fateful night was the start of…what happened in the past twenty-four hours. She wasn’t a spiritual person, but fate was something Jade could get behind. “I’d like that. And I think I know a place, too!” Jade almost cackled, looking between her family. The one she chose. The one who chose her.

Penelope’s green eyes dropped down to Jade grabbing hold of Anya’s hand. The older woman pulled her best friend to her side. She looked at that gesture and thought back to her dream she had earlier this day. The dream of her drowning. Before she tried to see how it felt, before she decided to sink and let the water take her breath away, she remembered them walking down a dirt path, through the woods, with a cooler and their swimming suits on, ready to enjoy a day in the sun. To forget their troubles and pretend they were kids that weren’t getting pulled away from each other. Pretend they didn’t have to grow up. Pretend that nothing would tear them apart, no matter what.

Sophomore year was the last inkling of unity they all had before it all went to shit and there she saw Charlie slow down, seeing his Poppy caught in a daze, staring up at the gleaming sun that slipped through the branches and the leaves. He offered his hand, just like Anya did with Jade. Just like Resi did with her, hours ago, when he took her to his van and told her his story. Even now, with her soul momentarily at peace, she felt the ache of his absence. The reservation was a wonderful place and she wished she could be here longer but it still reminded her of the man Charlie could’ve been if all they did was change his environment. “Sounds like a date then,” Poppy responded, subconsciously reaching for Decky’s hand, trying to grasp for support and comfort as they were nearing the time they’d have to say goodbye.

This wasn’t a goodbye.

This was a see you later.

As if the Basilisk could read the veiled pain on Poppy’s face, deep in her eyes — a smile wasn’t enough to fool the keen eyes of the Basilisk — Anya assured, trying her best to enunciate her words and speak with conviction, “I keep her safe. When I say this, I do not joke. Jade most important to me.”

Poppy’s grief was interrupted by the blunt and open confession this hot Russian woman just made for her best friend. Clearly the feelings were mutual and somehow Jane could read minds and knew Penelope was getting in her head. Poppy didn’t let go of Decky’s hand though. She still needed someone to be there for her. She still needed a friend. Their time at the reservation was almost over and reality would soon come crashing back in like a tidal wave. She wasn’t ready to go back home…

“Okay! So date. Jade you text friends where we go and when we go. Now, we leave?”

Just like so many times before, Jade couldn’t keep her guard up around Anya. That one comment she made in a declaration sort of way to Poppy and Key had made her face feel hot. “Y-yeah--” She coughed, trying to regain any modicum of her composure back. “Yeah! I’ll text you both later! Make sure to let me know as soon as you get back to town too! Okay?” Her blue-green gaze lingered on them.

Mordechai nodded to Anya and gripped Poppy’s hand back just as tightly as she held his, warmth swelling up through him at the words of confession that fell from the Basilisk’s lips. His Jade had done that, and likewise Mika’s sister had had a similar effect on the biker princess he called a sister of his own. Jade smiled that same bright grin she’d gotten earlier when speaking of her crush, only there was more confidence than contemplation behind her eyes now. His angels really were healing, and even though he never thought it would be possible, he was along for the ride.

They weren’t thriving yet, and he wasn’t naive enough to believe that up was the only direction they could go. Life will always be a rollercoaster of relapses, addictions, worries and woes, but as low as those could take them there was always the ascents, the sobriety, conviction, excitements and joys. They’d all gone off the rails, both in the past and recently, but somehow their cars always managed to link back up and find the track once more. They’d always have each other, even Charlie in some way, and Mordechai couldn’t help but smile back at them all as he finally accepted that in his heart. They were far from happy, but they had also somehow come far from the broken children that had fled the breakfast table that morning, and they were letting themselves take the chances to be happy that they so easily would have passed by before.

“Have a good ride back, Harley Head, we’ll hit ya up when we get back,” He assured before teasing, “Don’t forget ta hold on tight, I don’t know if ya know this but there’s no seatbelts on motorcycles so don’t be afraid to be handsy.”

“Call if you need anything!” Poppy blurted out. “Don’t disappear again, please…” she whispered afterwards, her voice trailing off as her eyes met with Jade’s.

Silence always spoke volumes with them, but this was different. It was different than sharing a glance and Jade would know everything running through Poppy’s mind. This wasn’t just that but a fear - a paranoia that Jade would do it again. She knew she wasn’t in that place still, but Poppy didn’t know it. That much the blonde could tell. “I promise. You have my word, Poppy. I’ll call both of you tonight.” In that moment, she had to think that both Key and Poppy knew she meant it with her whole soul.

Poppy had one voice telling her she did know Jade wouldn’t ghost her and that she trusted her best friend’s every word. Another voice told her that she’d get burned again and that rooted to her fear of her relationships being one sided. She hadn’t had a stable friendship with any of her childhood friends. She hoped this was only her self doubt, a stupid insecurity of her thinking she was unworthy of anyone else’s time, and not because Jade was speaking out of her ass. Deep down, Poppy knew this time was different. It just had to be. They all came too far for it not to be. Still, she had a creeping darkness trailing close behind her, reminding her that good things do not last forever. “You better,” she buried her worry and teased. “Or I’m shoving that promise up your ass.”

“So much passion in a tiny girl,” Anya chuckled, before pulling Jade with her to her bike, growing impatient, “We go, I give you my time. Spend it well.” After a couple more minutes, the two blondes were on the bike, Jade wearing Anya’s helmet. That was not up for debate. The Basilisk looked fixedly, one last time, at Mordechai and Penelope. Her eyes were ever so piercing, yet somehow, tender. All at the same time.

She called out to them and gave them one last gift.

“Anya! This is my name.”

She was sure in time they’d learn the value behind her name. Her real birth name. Anya just hoped it wasn’t anytime soon. A name was nothing but a name. People put meaning behind a name. And she had several. Still, her name, her real name, wasn’t something to use lightly in the town of Edenridge, especially since some of her older sisters hid in plain sight, always ready to get involved and fight.

To love someone was to open yourself up and be aware that there were sacrifices to be made and risks to take. To love was to be vulnerable to all those you care about or in this case, to open up to some of Jade’s family. Anya hoped Mordechai and Penelope appreciated this exchange and she looked forward to seeing their journey reach great heights and maybe one day to a destination they could live and settle in for the long haul. A destination where they’re happy. Whatever happiness may be to them.

What a day to dream.

Where myth becomes a memory and now, the not so lost trio, the ones chasing their dreams, could call the Basilisk an ally.

The myth. The legend. A friend.

Anya.

Jade’s Pancake.

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: Tuesday Morning || July 20th 2021
Featuring Niles Sinclair & Introducing Kianna Johnson
Small FT: Miriam “Mandy” Darling}

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For the better part of nearly four years, Kianna Johnson’s days had consisted of the same old routine. The melodic sound of her phone’s alarm would echo through the thin walls of her one-bedroom apartment at the Lost Souls complex, signaling the arrival of a new day. The young woman’s hazel eyes opened slowly, acclimating themselves to the brightness radiating from the window. Once she mustered up the will to get up, she trudged to the apartment’s small bathroom for the shower that would revive her, the dental hygiene that kept her teeth nice even though she didn't smile very often and the skincare routine that kept her face radiant and blemish-free. Her curly hair was quickly styled into a lazy bun decorated by a sunflower-patterned headband and some loose strands framing her freshly made-up face-- her eyes emphasized by mascara and her arched eyebrows groomed with some eyebrow gel. The return visit to her bedroom would provide her with the clothing items and accessories she needed for the day: her underwear, her short-sleeved navy jumpsuit, yellow socks, stud earrings and the golden locket she was never seen without. Spritzes of the sweet and fruity Ariana Grande perfume her Uncle Randall and Aunt Raven had gotten her last Christmas brought the look together before she gave herself one last glance-over and departed for the kitchen.

Breakfast consisted of whatever she felt like eating each morning, with a freshly-brewed pot of coffee being the constant no matter the day or the season. One cup was consumed during breakfast, while the remaining portion was put in one of her personalized, insulated tumblers to satisfy the caffeine cravings throughout the day. She indulged in watching an episode of whatever Netflix show she was hooked on at the time during her meal, taking one last moment for herself before leaving for work. Once the food was finished, it was time to put her worn leather work boots on, verify that all her items were inside her purse, and make the drive to Phil’s, where she’d spend her hours working in what she loved until it was time to return home and do it all over again.

When she’d woken up that summer morning, nothing about this day pointed to it being any different than the rest. Even with the effects of the raging storm from the night before still hanging about, the 22 year-old went through her daily routine and made it to work without any incident. But fate had a funny way of surprising people with curveballs when they least expected it… And unbeknownst to Kianna, a chance encounter with a stranger at the shop was about to change her life as she knew it.

The car ride from Scott Street to the southwest part of town, by Main and Grove, where Phil's Garage sat was filled with idle chatter. Neither Lexie nor Niles wanted to talk about the current hot topic in Edenridge because neither wanted to waste their already exasperated energy. They talked about school mostly, their friends and how things were just different outside of town. Niles shared to her how college helped him get out of his bubble, and as angry, bitter, and frustrated as he did come across last night and today, he was actually doing better than others realized. He wasn’t slipping back into the dark place that he was so eager to run off to, time and time again, when he was younger because he knew deep down that wasn’t the solution. He knew deep down that Beau was right and that he did have potential, he just needed to start believing in it.

Thinking back on that conversation where Beau said he was no saint, no one was, Niles could see the many avenues he could take when it came to his future. Whether what he saw was what he wanted was another issue altogether. Even when there is darkness creeping up at every corner in town, potential exists to counter the bad. This dreadfully long, empty life was not about doing good, to be good, it was all about living well and believing in your infinite potential. The only person you are fated to become is the person you choose to be.

Who did he want to be?

Once he left Lexie’s car, offering gas money but her refusing and telling him to not be a stranger, Niles looked up at Phil’s Garage sign and tiredly sighed. Almost there. Almost time to go home and take a goddamn nap. Strolling to the door, he swung it open. Taking his phone out to see if Caitlin texted him and still noticing there was nothing from her, he rolled his eyes and strode to the counter. No one was there. Noticing the bell, he was quick to tap it, announcing his arrival. Pocketing his phone once more, he waited a minute or two and still no one. They were likely in the back fixing up cars but he was tired and wanted to go home. He impatiently tapped the bell a couple more times. “Hello?” he called out with his modulated voice, which was caught between being crisp and mellifluous depending on his tone. Right now, he was direct and forward, not wasting any time to get someone’s attention.

What was taking them so long?

“I’m just here to pick up my bike,” he commented to the air, scanning the desk behind the counter. A black file organizer could be seen in the corner filled; beige folders lining each empty space with the initials and last names of each customer neatly written on the tabs. A set of keys rested beside the keyboard, accompanied by a purple self-defense safety keychain that included a wrist wrap, a bottle opener, pepper spray, a window breaker, a whistle, an alarm, a heart-shaped pompom and a bejeweled teddy bear lip gloss holder. Beside the mouse sat a personalized tumbler full of coffee, the name Kianna stenciled into the design in iridescent rose gold cursive lettering, while a matching stainless steel bottle stood next to the tumbler.

The curly-haired girl had been occupied in the inventory room locating a particular part to fulfill a customer’s order when she thought she heard the faint ringing of the bell from the front desk. Frowning, the woman paused the Sabrina Claudio song playing on her earbud to listen closely and find out whether she was imagining things or they actually had a customer. The confirmation of the latter came in the form of the bell being rung a few more times, followed by a slightly impatient masculine voice she didn’t recognize and whose words she couldn’t quite make out. Cursing under her breath, Kianna exited the room and hurried to the front desk, her heavy boots announcing her upcoming presence with every step.

“Hey, sorry for the wait. I was checking some stock in the back, so I didn’t hear the bell go off the first time,” Kianna apologized as she entered the room, not really paying attention to who she was speaking to until she occupied the rolling office chair by the desk. When the young woman finally looked up, her eyes locked with the small brown orbs of the man standing on the opposite side of the counter.

There was no denying that the customer gazing down at her was anything other than handsome. He had wavy brown hair with locks that fell on his forehead, thick eyebrows, and the cutest dimple in the middle of his stubbled chin. He looked to be a few inches taller than her, with a build that vouched for generous amounts of hours spent working out and brand clothing that identified him as a resident of Eastbrook or maybe even the elusive Scott Street. Something about this man tugged at Kianna’s subconscious: an invisible thread tying their lives together in a tight, timeless knot. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced since--

A crashing tide almost knocked Niles off his feet. Everything, everywhere, all at once. The moment their eyes met, time collapsed and it was in seconds he knew he lost his entire world. There was something in those beautiful hazel eyes that made him feel like he found his compass that would lead him to the safety and warmth of a loving embrace. An embrace that would pull him inside, where everything was real, silly, and free. A place he could call his, where he could begin and end his day with, every corner laced with heartfelt memories and everlasting stories, all which led to a symphony of stars and dreams. One look and he was held captive.

Flawless caramel skin that reminded him of English Oak in spring rains. Her hair was full of body and attitude. Curly and kinky ringlets framing her sweet hearted face, cascading in a messy bun. Her beauty was bold enough to stun him in place but what elevated all of this was how she held herself. With curves of softness and a form that showed she was a hardworking girl, Niles could see caution. Even if he could swear in this moment their souls were touching, that he could feel her and she could feel him, there was something under the surface. She had fear, uneasiness, and so much pain buried deep within her, wanting to be found and cared for. She had thorns. Her heart was locked. He wondered what it would take to win her over.

An electrifying silence permeated the air as Kianna and Niles stared at each other, neither of them making a sound as their eyes remained connected. Eventually, it was her who broke the ice by discreetly clearing her throat. “So… My name is Kianna. How can we help you today?” she inquired, shifting her gaze away from the man’s to focus it on the desktop screen in front of her.

“Kianna is it?” Niles hid his desire of undressing her, both body and soul, to be in the present. To be here, with her, to get the thing he came for which was… “That’s a lovely name.” He found himself rubbing his hands together and looking around, wondering if he was making this weird by complimenting her. He was so lost in thought that he forgot to tell her his purpose of coming to Phil’s Garage. There was no need to rush this transaction, was there? He had time. “Kianna,” he repeated. “Very pretty.”

Heat immediately rose to Kiki's face. Despite not being a stranger to receiving attention from the opposite sex, it didn't make her feel any less self-conscious. Being the only female mechanic at Phil's shop meant that she sometimes received compliments from certain customers-- sometimes genuine, kind, and appreciated; sometimes revolting, uncomfortable and unwarranted. With his polite, educated behavior, the young man at the counter fell under the first category; unlike the majority of his vulgar, pushy peers that visited her place of work. It was a nice, welcome change of pace, and she couldn't help the way her heart gave a little flutter at his words.

“Thank you," she replied in her most gentle, quiet voice. “My mother chose it for me. It means 'enduring one' in Irish, and 'queen' in Persian."

“It suits you,” Niles replied instantaneously, turning his gaze back at her and watching her with a gentle softness. “Not that I know your personality or anything. I mean I’m sure you’re a queen in whatever you do… eh hem,” he backtracked, only realizing he was making things worse and putting his foot in his mouth. “My name doesn’t have a cool backstory like yours. My mom chose it because she liked it and it was an ‘N’ name, like hers. Niles. Son of Neil. My father isn’t a Neil,” he humored, chuckling to himself.

His attempt at a compliment and comedy earned him a half-smile from the young woman, who decided to return the pleasantries in earnest. “Niles.” she repeated softly, allowing the name to roll off her tongue and delicately fall from her lips. “I like it. It suits you too.”

“But yeah, that’s not why I’m here…” He tried to get the conversation back on track, not wanting to waste her time (but also wanting to waste her time so he could keep staring). Why was he here again? He had gotten so lost in her beauty that he’d forgotten his reason for being at Phil’s in the first place. “My bike.” he remembered, his mind barely able to process anything around him. “I had to leave it on Lyon. I called earlier to see if it got towed, and it did.” Dread washed over him when he realized she was likely the woman he had spoken to earlier about his motorcycle. “I’m sorry if I came across as rude. Really I had no reason to be an ass. I didn’t sleep but that doesn’t excuse my behavior so, sorry.” He didn’t remember what he said but he knew his shortness likely made Kianna feel some type of way. If he was the receiver of his own bullshit, he knew he’d be annoyed as hell, especially if it was the start of his work day and immediately, there was a rude customer.

Kianna Joy raised her eyebrows, feeling some of the magic of the moment they’d been sharing evaporate on the spot. “So that was you…” she drawled, crossing her arms in front of her chest and tilting her head to one side. So this was the man she’d snapped against and told to get some manners when she’d answered the phone first thing that morning. She should’ve known that there was no way a guy could be this charming without having some damage underneath the surface. So much for being polite and educated…

Luckily for Niles, Kianna wasn’t a rancorous type of girl. She had a kind heart, and she believed in second chances. She had heard his apology, deemed it genuine and she would be accepting it. That didn’t mean she was going to let his previous behavior go unaddressed in person, though. She would never allow a customer to speak to her in any disrespectful way-- handsome or not. “You really thought you could talk to me that way over the phone and then expect me to help you with a smile whenever you came in here?"

Should he say yeah and joke about it? Or should he say no and be humble about it? Niles decided to go the in-between route, leaning his arms on the counter, and giving a tantalizing smolder, “Maybe.” He obviously didn’t know if she’d take the joke but it was worth a shot. Walking his pointer and middle finger around the table, like a little person, he flirtatiously offered, “I could make it up to you. Take you out for some coffee.” Coffee seemed to be the gentle date that didn’t forcibly say he wanted to date her. He totally did want to date her but he had a girlfriend so he shouldn’t get too ahead of himself. “You, me, some Beau lecture, and caffeine. Could be fun.” His little man fingers found a pen and hopped on it. The pen rolled from under his two fingers, as if the little person was walking on a log. He didn’t know how long she’d be mad at him but he would try his damndest to get her to forget about it. As long as she gave him a second chance, that’s all that mattered. A clean slate with a pretty girl. Niles would love that.

The finger person trick got a little laugh out of her, but the invitation caught Kianna completely off guard. ‘Take you out’? This Niles guy wanted to take her out… Like on a date or something? That was unexpected. She could understand that maybe he felt guilty for the way he had spoken to her over the phone, but that didn’t mean he owed her anything other than the apology he’d already given her. If he really wanted to, he could always just pick up the coffee himself and bring it over to the shop for her one of these days as a truce. That would be enough. The only other possibility that Kiki could come up with that could explain why Niles wanted to ‘take her out’ was that… maybe he wanted to get to know her.

Because the idea of a guy making a move on her was scary and she didn’t want to make a fool of herself in case she was wrong (which she probably was), Kianna opted to give a non-committal response. “Maybe. But if you ever talk to me like that again, I will personally dismantle your bike myself and ship you the parts in boxes for you to put it back together again from scratch… If you can.” She warned him, arching one of her brows even higher as if to prove her point before allowing herself to break character and give Niles a closed-lipped smile. "I mean it, though! I’m dead serious. Don't be rude to me again. That wasn't cute."

“I won’t, I won’t,” Niles tried to assure her, even going the extra mile to trace his pointer finger on his chest, making a cross, “Cross my heart and hope to die. If I do say something dumb, you have permission to give me a nice hard spank.” He goofily grinned, finding it incredibly endearing in an adorable sort of way how her hazel eyes widened, her cheeks blushed and how she giggled at his last comment. Her threat wasn’t scary though because he could easily pay someone to fix his bike or buy a new bike. With that being said, he wasn’t going to ruin the vibes by saying a smartass or jackass remark.

He processed her words again and contemplated if her saying maybe meant yes for a coffee date. He needed to confirm. For all he knew, he was getting ahead of himself, hearing what he wanted to hear. “So!” He straightened his posture, running his hand through his hair with an eager glint in his stare and smug look on his face. “Was that a yes? For Coffee? You, me, Beau?” He persistently asked, hoping he wasn’t assuming and that she did want to get to know him like he wanted to get to know her. He was forward but you had to be when you were shooting for the stars and in this case the stars were a girl way out of his league. His bad day (or two) was already taking a turn for the better because he got to see Kianna’s beautiful face. “I’ll make it worth your while,” he insisted, dragging the syllables out for added drama. He mischievously wiggled his eyebrows while trying to read her expression. She just had to say the word and he would sweeten the pot. Whatever she wanted, he would grant, all she needed to do was give him a chance. “Pwease, pwetty pwease.”

The curly haired girl giggled and pursed her lips together at Niles’ antics, but hesitated to answer right away. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to be bold like her Aunt Raven, and seize this opportunity to take a leap of fate and experience a taste of what life had to offer someone as young as her. But there were so many reasons to be cautious. Among the many qualities the caramel-skinned girl possessed, recklessness wasn’t one of them. Early on, Kianna had watched her mother work hard to make sure she never knew what struggling or lacking necessities meant. In return, the girl had made a promise to herself to never give her mother any additional stresses or worries. And overall, she had been successful. For all accounts, Kianna was a model child: always followed the rules, always behaved, always worked hard for everything she had, never being ungrateful or taking anything for granted, and never, ever taking any careless chances that could hurt them. The one time she’d followed her heart instead of her head for anything other than her career had ended with tragic consequences and an ocean of heartbreak and grief… And Kianna wasn’t sure she would ever be ready to take a risk like that again.

But she would be lying if she said she wasn’t at least curious about where this invitation could lead.

"How about this: give me a few days to think about it, and I promise I’ll get back to you once I’ve made up my mind. That sound like a deal?” she asked him with a soft smile. There. A diplomatic, polite response that she hoped would buy her time to evaluate his proposal and decide whether to accept or decline it.

Business minded and far from impulsive. He liked that. He liked that a lot. She was playing hard to get and he loved a good challenge. Since she didn’t downright say no, Niles knew he already had his foot in the door. A taste of what was to come if he played his cards right. “Perfect,” he smiled with his eyes, keeping his lips still and composed. Charming with restraint. A man who knew how to hold back when needed. Pulling his phone out and opening his contacts, he casually inquired, “And your number?” Smoothly and nonchalantly, he glanced back up at her, waiting for her next move.

Kianna offered Niles a knowing smile of her own and shrugged her shoulders. "Don't worry about it. I can get yours from riiiiight here," she replied, lightly tapping the desktop screen. Can never be too careful these days. "If you give me your last name I can look you up in our system, check that the phone number is updated and on file, and make sure your bike is in our inventory."

“Sinclair,” Niles answered at the drop of a hat, his motives laid out on his sleeves. He wanted this. He wanted her to give him a chance. “And can I get your last name, Kianna?” God, her name was gorgeous. He could keep saying her name and never grow tired of it. Her name was like music to his ears and he wanted to hit replay, over and over again, like a new song he discovered and couldn’t get enough of. “Or do I have to wait for that too?” He slyly grinned, pocketing his phone and eagerly waiting to hear her soothing, yet firm voice. To hear her say hello was enough for him to forget his worries. Damn, he had it bad and he only just met her.

The young woman smiled timidly and looked away for a moment, trying to hide her demure demeanor. "It's Johnson. Kianna Johnson," she answered, shifting her eyes back to his again and feeling her heart do a cartwheel inside her chest again.

Score.

His foot was indeed in the door. Niles returned the smile, giving Kianna Johnson his undivided attention. He knew he was keeping her from doing her work but he enjoyed this too much. He enjoyed her company. He could stare at her all day and die happy because the last thing he saw was her. There was a light voice behind him clearing her voice. He didn’t even hear someone come in or was this person here this whole time? When he turned around to see who was behind him, he saw one of the Darlings. Miriam? She worked at the grocer and ran the Farmer’s market. She was holding a bottle of full synthetic oil for her car.

“Sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting something,” Mandy gleamed at the younger boy, happy to see her friend, practically a niece to her, make a friend outside of all the old people that surround her. “I have to go back to work but I need to buy this first.” Looking past Niles, Mandy’s emphatic gaze met with the girl behind the desk, her eyebrows raising curiously. This was a side of Kianna she hadn’t seen since the honeymoon stage with Landon James nearly six years ago.

As soon as Kianna heard the voice behind Niles, her smile faded away as heat rose to her cheeks, and she immediately darted her eyes in the opposite direction of her two clients. She knew what Mandy was thinking. She could see it all over the look she was giving her from behind the man. All Kianna could hope for was that the older woman hadn’t gotten the wrong idea about what she had just walked into (or had she been there all this time?), but the interaction that followed made it clear that was exactly where her mind had wandered to.

“That girl over there,” Miriam gestured to Kianna before bringing her stare back to Niles, keeping her smile coy and polite, but her tone sharp and flat, “Is a good girl. She has a lot of family so I want you to understand she has a whole team of people who would fight for her.”

Hearing Mandy speak about what a good girl she was and how she had an army of people willing to fight for her made Kiki want to hide under the counter in front of her-- and it took every bit of self-restraint to not facepalm herself. While she appreciated Miriam sticking up for her, the comment did make her nervous. The guys from the shop and Phil’s group of lifelong friends were like a second family to her. They took care of her, looked out for her, and always had her best interests at heart. But as much as she loved them, Ki did not want them to hear about this little scene when it was probably nothing.

“Got it. Good girl, don’t fuck up,” Niles was giddy on the inside. He was already meeting someone in Kianna’s circle. He took a mental note of Miriam and started to think of routes of winning her favor. If she had a big family, that must mean a long list of people to win over but that didn’t scare him in the slightest. If anything, he liked a good challenge and Kianna was worth climbing mountains for. “Won’t forget. Scouts honor.”

Mandy chuckled at his lighthearted nature. She hoped this meant well for Kianna but just in case, perhaps she needed to call an emergency family meeting. “As long as you understand.” She was sure Kianna had no idea how to move forward from Landon. This could be good for her. Maybe the crew could give her a gentle push in the right direction. A gentle push to romance. Something she still was waiting for herself.

"I'll be with you in a sec, Mandy," she apologized to the woman in hopes of culminating that conversation, nodding at her in acknowledgement before taking a seat in her desk chair. Her nimble fingers slid the mouse atop its pad and tapped away at the keyboard keys for a few seconds before Kianna found what she was looking for. Only then did she turn her eyes to Niles again, and her tone was now strictly polite and professional. “It looks like the towing company dropped your bike at our garage a few hours ago. If you go through this door right here--” she pointed at the door on her right. “--walk down the hallway and through the metal door at the end of it, you’ll be at the entrance gate of the chain link fence to the junkyard. Phil’s actually down there right now, so if you yell out his name once or twice I’m sure he’ll hear you and come get your bike out.” The brunette explained, sitting up straight in her chair and nervously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Damn.

This moment was coming to a close already?

“Well, Kianna, your service has been refreshing. A delight. Phil’s got a good girl working here. Definitely will consider coming back,” Niles humored, amiably gleaming at his acquaintance, while slowly making his way toward the hallway. Before disappearing, he subconsciously ran his hand through his hair and casually turned to her, “Just think about it. Coffee. Me and you.” He gently reminded her of his proposal prior to Mandy coming in. “I’d like to get to know you better… but take as much time as you need.” He could totally be patient. If it was for her, he could wait. Right? “Other than that? Thanks…” okay, now it was time to leave before he put his foot deeper in his mouth. Niles nodded in an awkward goodbye, clearly not wanting to leave. He watched Kianna shoot another nervous glance at Mandy before nodding back at him, offering him a parting half-smile before he followed her directions to where his bike would be.

Mandy simply stared at Kianna smiling, a hint of mischief gleamed in her eyes. She could see how much color this boy brought to her niece’s cheeks. They had an aunty-niece friendship not by blood but by bond. Most of the Bristol crew practically adopted Kianna as one of their own. Mandy was one out of many who loved this girl dearly. She kept quiet waiting patiently for the young girl to regain herself in no rush whatsoever. The main reason she interrupted in the first place was because she knew Kianna would be embarrassed if she realized someone was in the room during the whole flirt session with the doctor’s son. More one sided from the boy but still. So, it made most sense to make her presence known before they got too… playful.

Once the young man had departed the room, the curly-haired girl wasted no time in performing damage control. "That's--- Uh-- It's nothing," she muttered to Mandy while ringing her up for her items, making it clear she didn’t want to talk about it. But even as she downplayed what had transpired and carried on with her tasks, Kianna could still feel the special magic of her little moment with Niles Sinclair lingering around the shop for the rest of her day.

Edenridge

_{TIMESTAMP: After Crashing Tide, Part 2 (*Finale Post)
FT: Clat}

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Clay lay in his hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. He never liked hospitals though he knew with his chosen career path he would probably be seeing them a lot and should likely reserve a room. Wednesday Davies had been in the room shortly before to give Clayton his full diagnosis. Most of it was just big words he didn’t understand but from what he did get, he was just pretty battered up and wouldn’t need surgery. That was a plus. He always knew Russell could throw a punch but he didn’t know he could hit like a train.

He was doing what he could to push past the thoughts of his old friends and the drama that had unfolded over the last two days but he was fighting a losing battle. Clay wanted to speak to Jamie and Russel again, he wanted to talk to David and find out everything but at this point it didn’t matter. Caitlin had spoken her truth and the world now knew. The truth was out and he had done what he had set out to do. He moved his eyes to look at the door as the handle began to jostle. A welcome reprieve from his thoughts…

~

When she had reached room thirteen, on the second floor, Cat was scolding herself with how ill prepared she was. If she had stopped for a moment she could’ve made him his favorite sandwich or at least have something to offer, like flowers. All she had was herself and a heart overwhelmed, leading her out of the storm and to her peace. To the man she couldn’t stop thinking about. No man had ever made her feel the way Clay did. This was unlike any love she experienced. This was a different kind of love. The love she wanted her whole life yet never thought she’d ever have.

Truth be told, Tomasso never did love her and she never loved him. Her father gave neither of them a choice. A trusted ally of the Esposito family knocked his daughter up out of wedlock? Scandalous but not a mistake he couldn’t fix. He made it clear they would suffer the consequences and learn to love one another. That love never did blossom no matter how hard she tried. He was a selfish man, her rapist and if anything, he found it as the perfect business arrangement to indirectly attach him to a powerful family.

Gabriel was her first, young and innocent. He, along with Bobby and Lydia, were her OG friends after she moved to Eden. Then followed Jonah Steen and the rest of the Heartbreakers. They found an escape with one another, pushed their family problems aside to hold each other, love each other. Sadly that was short lived because his mother, Temperance, slut shamed her to filth and said she would never accept a harlot like her. Gabriel didn’t want to put her through that uphill battle when she had enough going on at home so he broke things off. After graduation, he left town.

Dexter, the man she saw not too long ago this very day, was her second, exhilarating and gut-wrenching. He unleashed a whole different side in her, purely intoxicating and she was obsessed. There was great pain in their story but if it wasn’t for him, she doubted she would be as persistent in proving people wrong. She was smart. She was strong. She was beautiful. All things she tried to be everyday while keeping her whole family united and standing tall. He made her hit rock bottom but then because of her lowest point, she was given Sofia and gained purpose beyond belief. Because of her lowest point, she was saved.

Her third? Clay. He came to her blindly and out of nowhere. No matter how many walls she tried to put up, he broke them down. All her defenses, they didn’t matter, because he wanted her for her. He saw her and only her. He undressed her body and her soul, saw beauty in her imperfections, and loved her. He loved her. All she could do was get lost in his eyes as he got lost in her’s. All she could do was be undoubtedly and devotedly his even if she still couldn’t say it outloud. Even if she couldn’t tell him how she felt. Even if she was scared.

Why was holding her back?

“Hey Casanova,” her throat was still closed up from all the crying, the great tremor having overtaken her in front of Sinclair’s. Placing her purse down on a chair, mustering whatever little strength she had to put a smile on, her makeup flaky and her eyes a little red and swollen, Cat turned and eased her way to him. “Looks like you had one hell of a day? Or two?”

The elation on Clay’s soul when he saw Cat walk in, was better than any adrenaline boost or morphine drip. He pushed himself up a little to greet her, wincing ever so lightly. “Hey Kitty.” He smiled that stupid goofy smile and brushed his long shaggy hair as he looked at the love of his life. “This is nothing. I got it worse when we played Cambridge in the fifteen state championship.” There it was. That humor. “Now get your sexy ass over here, I may look like shit but I can still rock your world.”

Rolling her eyes at him, always one to lighten the mood, Cat buried her creeping anxiety and focused on the present. Sauntering to his bedside, she gently reprimanded, “You shouldn’t be moving so much.” Sitting down on the bed, she surveyed the bruises and the cuts. She worriedly scanned his face and his body. He went through so much and she wasn’t there for him. Hesitantly, she reached for his hair and brushed another strand out of his face, leaning forward but keeping her touch to a minimal. She didn’t want to hurt him. “Is there anything you need from me?”

“Well now you’re just teasing me. How am I not supposed to say something dirty?” Clay could feel the goosebumps raise all over his body upon Cat’s touch. He quickly grabbed the hand she had by his face and pulled it to his chest. He thrust himself forward and with his other hand he captured the back of his love’s head, pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss. He had been aching for days to feel those lips and taste her flavor. It was what kept him going through his fight. He had to get back to his Kitty, he had to and now he had. He was home.

Stealing her breath away, Cat’s heart beat wildly as they kissed. She could only take sips of air as he held her firmly, grasping her hair. The frigid air of the hospital swirled around her prompting her to press herself into him, into his warmth. His body heat. Her hungry mouth, eager appetite, and heavy heart melded into his. She had spent the last two days full of ups and downs. A roller coaster of emotions. It was nice to forget and just focus on him. He didn’t wince once as they kissed which helped ease her shoulders and the tip of her tongue brushed his lips and slipped into his mouth. She clung to him with longing, held onto him for her life, and desperately explored his soul through his eyes. Shuddering, noticing how overcome by desire she was getting, Cat pulled away. “Baby,” she gasped for air. “Lay down. Rest.” Flustered, she adjusted herself, crossing her legs, “Or at least tell me, did everything go okay? Are you okay?”

Clay leaned back, a touch out of breath from the heat of their kiss. He looked at the concerned look on his Kitty’s face and reached out to the back of her neck. “Lie with me.” He guided her down with his hand until she was fully stretched out on the bed with him, snuggled into him. Their bodies were woven together like a tapestry. “I’ll be ok eventually.” He wasn’t going to lie to Cat, he couldn’t and he wouldn’t. He would not let this relationship, the one that he had wanted all of his life, to be stained black with an untruth. “It was a lot but I did it. With the help of some good people, I got it done. All I want now is you, to be with you and let the last two days rest.”

She was relieved he got what he needed done and that he acknowledged that the whole experience wasn’t something he’d get over immediately. That felt like a big step for him and she was happy he trusted her enough to admit his internal struggle. Maybe she should do the same? There was so much that happened with her that she didn’t even know where to start but just starting somewhere was a good first step. “I,” Cat looked up at him, cautiously thinking of the right words to say or even how to express herself in a way that showed him she cared about him, “saw my ex today.”

Looking away, tracing her finger on his chest, Cat pressed on, “He came to my shop and by ex I mean the guy that ripped my heart up into a million pieces in highschool. He wants to have a sit and talk with me and our kids… this Sunday. Sofi kind of put me in a weird place where I felt obligated to invite him to a horsemen scrimmage. Do you want to come with me?” This was a huge step for her. Not only did she not want to hide Clay anymore but she wanted him at her side when she was facing one of the ghosts of her past. She hoped this honesty showed how much he meant to her.

Well this was a turn up. This was Cat’s way of reaching out and trying with him. The walls were slowly coming down and it elated him. Still, Clay had to think this through. She wanted to go public and she wanted to do so in a way that certainly wasn’t subtle. In fact it was like crashing through a window with a machine gun. The fact that he wanted the kids to be present calmed Clay’s cops instincts. “I would love to come with you but I don’t think coming is what you need.” He gently caressed her auburn locks and pressed a soft kiss to Cat’s forehead. “This is something you need closure on. Me being there will just be a distraction and will take away from you getting what you want.”

After their argument the day before, Clay realized that he needed to fully give everything he was to Cat and give her all of his trust. “I can be there in the background, if it’ll make you feel safer but I won’t sit on the table, I think we should make our first glamorous appearance somewhere low key. I don’t know, maybe we get someone to restart the boy toy auction and you bet a few million on my fine ass.”

Cat squinted her nose at that suggestion. “With how many girls you’ve been with? I think not.” Her mood was lighthearted and spirited. She felt secure with herself, like she and Clay reached a breakthrough in their relationship. “We’ll figure something out. Thank you for trusting me…” she had so much to say and still didn’t know if it was too much to throw on him while he was in pain on a hospital bed. Still, it was time to follow her impulse. Turning herself so her stomach was facing the bed but still leaned up against him, she bit her bottom lip before asking, “I know what got you here is because of your duty to this town as a protector and all but I’ve been thinking. Do you think… I could be a good cop? I could protect too?”

Was his morphine drip too high? Did he hear that right? She wanted to be a cop? That was definitely a new lyric to their song. “Baby, you’d be the best cop.” He responded with confidence. “For so many reasons. One, you’d look crazy hot in the uniform. Arrest me anytime mama. Two, you’re already a protector as a Mom. You have the instinct inside you and you always have. Three, you can be downright terrifying. Instilling fear in the hearts of all without ever taking your gun out of your holster.” Clay looked down at her and smiled. “If this is something you wanna do, Cat, I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen.”

“Oh good,” Cat’s first tear broke free, in the arms of her lover. Burying her head in his chest, inhaling his natural scent, the Italian woman cried into his shirt. She wasn’t uncontrollably sobbing like she had done with Eleanor. Her tears were a gentle stream, delicately soaking his shirt. Once she reached for his hand so her’s was intertwined with his, she closed her eyes and listened to his breathing, his heartbeat, and the noises of nature coming from the open window.

Everything built up to this moment in time and Cat couldn’t hold back the crashing tide of her feelings. In love and in loneliness, from high to low tide, she was turning with the waves. They were crashing over her, fiercely and flooding throughout every fiber of her being. Finally, in her life she found the soul that paired with her. The piece that fits perfectly. He was the reason. In one gaze, he captured her soul. It was a blessing and a curse to feel so deeply for someone but she wouldn’t trade that for the world. All her hardships, all her struggles, and all her sufferings led her here. Now she could confidently say her reality was better than her dreams.

“I was afraid you would think I was, or am, in over my head.” He believed in her and her want, no, her need to succeed. He believed in her and wanted to be there with her every step of the way. “I want it, Clay.” She released his hand once more to wipe her face, pulling herself up so she was closer to his eyes, caressing him. “I want change and not because someone told me this is what needs to be done. Not because it’s what I’m supposed to do. Not because someone ripped my dreams away from me and forced my hand. I want this, for me. I want to be something more, and I won’t get that if I don’t go for it.” Subconsciously, she reverted back to a bad habit and apologized for speaking her truth, “I’m sorry. I know this a lot. I’ve had too much on my mind lately.”

“Well then it’s a good thing you have me to talk to isn’t it?” Clay responded with a light kiss on Cat’s forehead. This was all news to him but that was ok, she was entitled to her secrets and her musings as long as they weren’t harmful. Wanting and needing to protect and serve was definitely not harmful nor was it hurting. He placed his hand on her warm, tear stained cheek and looked deep into his Kitty’s pretty hazel eyes. “You’re not alone Cat, not any more.” Clayton brushed her cheek with his thumb. “I love you and that will never change.”

Her gentle and wounded soul flowered on her cheeks, like pink perfection. He was able to say he loved her so casually and so openly. She wanted to know what he loved about her and why he chose her above all other women that ever did love him. She knew some of the reasons like her smoky voice or how she looked into his eyes. Even with her knowing he just did, she liked hearing it. She liked being reassured that his love was her’s and no one else’s. She liked hearing his voice and how much he wanted her. She liked feeling wanted and not just any kind of want. She liked how insatiably hungry he was for her company and how beautiful she was in his eyes.

Today she felt the fear of not being able to touch him. The fear of not having a chance to hear his voice say those three words to her ever again. The fear of him dying. She didn’t realize at the time, when they were dancing at the Afterlife, in sync and the spotlight shining, how her world would never be the same. Not only did she surrender herself to the music but it was in that dance she saw the rest of her life with one man. She surrendered herself to their song. There was no doubt she was scared to walk out of this hospital without him understanding that the feelings were mutual. There was no doubt that she struggled saying such a simple phrase because whenever she did someone would always blow out her flame. There was no doubt he made her feel unbelievably raw and surreal that she could barely keep it together when he held her and told her he would never let her go. There was no doubt she was his and perhaps, she was always his and they just needed to wait for their time.

Dancing really was emotion through bodily movement and he sent her through a journey of how he’s waited so long for her and would wait forever if she didn’t mind. If she could spend the rest of her life dancing in the kitchen with him, she’d say she finally got the one thing she desired the most and that was for someone to spend this lonely existence with that would unconditionally love her, more so than her children did. A man that wanted her but more importantly? A man that was ready for her and all the pieces that came with her. The good, the bad, the ugly. Clay wanted it all.

Cupping his face, she smiled with her eyes, leaned forward and gave him an Eskimo kiss, brushing her nose against his. She held him close to her and fixed her gaze, locking her attention on him. Breathlessly, she whispered, “I love you too.”

Did she really just say what he thought she said? Did Caterina Belmonte, darling, sweetheart, love of his life finally say the words he had been desperately hoping to hear since he was twelve? Clay pulled her into his embrace and a strong passionate kiss. All the pain in his body melted away like ice, the fires of love taking over his entire being. He wanted to hear her say it again and again and he hoped that he would, for the rest of their lives together, if she’d have him for that long.

Clay didn’t want the kiss to end but he knew they’d both need air eventually, not that it mattered because he could now die quite happy in the knowledge that his Kitty felt the same for him as he did for her. Twelve years of longing, aching of a hunger for her and her love that he could not satiate had finally come to its climax. “I love you.” He whispered into her lips. “I hope you locked the door.”

She didn’t but he didn’t need to know that. If they got caught, that was one way for them to be found out but she felt like Mrs. Wednesday Drake-Davies could sense the hormones in the air. Cat wasn’t too worried. Women had great intuition, after all. Instead of answering him, she pressed her lips against his again but only for a lingering moment. Running her hand through his hair, she beamed brightly and repeated, this time with more vigor and not in a whisper, “I love you, Clayton Costigan.” She said it again. She finally said it and she wouldn’t stop saying it. For once she was choosing something, someone for herself and no one else. She was choosing Clay. In the morning, during the day, and at night she would choose him. Time and time again. She would choose him.

Hearing the words again was all he needed to hear for the rest of his life. Clay rolled over and shifted his weight onto her. He couldn’t stop kissing her now. He was going to kiss her until the day he died. He slipped his tongue into Cat’s mouth and reached down to unbutton those tight fitting jeans that made her ass look incredible. Every ache in his body had been transformed from one of pain to one of desire, a delirious desire for them to be together. He hurried to strip off her lower half and climbed fully atop. Clayton covered their bodies with the thin white sheet as he grabbed a handful of her silky hair. “Cat…” He paused, staring into hazel dreamscapes and caressing her lips. “It’s you. It’s always been you.”

His words. His eyes. His love.

Cat wanted to savor it all. Burning for him, surrendering all of her — body, heart, and soul — to him, she gripped his hair and held onto his neck. Pulling his bottom lip with her teeth, she smirked and whispered in return, “Never let me go.”

They kissed again and she gasped into his mouth as he came closer, breaking all distance, no wall needing to be scaled. There was no end and no beginning. They were together, sinking to deep places, exploring every corner of each other’s body. Expressing all the love they shared in their hearts. Intense and wild, full of desire. The kind of love that takes your breath away. When they kissed, it was like drinking salted water. It only made them want more.

She wanted more.

Clay finally got everything he ever wanted.