〃 𝟹𝟼𝟻  𓈒

𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵  𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴  𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.

[clubsclassic]

" you want to be prepared… right. " nods as if the concept is foreign to him. probably because his approach to the lights and cameras includes something along the lines of winging it. " let's see, " eyes rake over her, squinting while he assesses. notes her dress, the way it's hugging all the right places and suddenly he's distracted. " you seem like a dinner person. " responds after a brief pause, " simple, y'know? " and if she takes offense to that, he'll apologize later. " maybe italian. or are you one of those girls who only does salads? "

[004deluxe]

seems     her     preparedness     is     truly     noted     when     he     so     discernibly     sponges     satin     strung     body     ,     wine  -  coloured     ,     side     slit     .     stunning     and     just     sitting     in     her     closet     ,     as     if     she     knew     the     perfect     occasion     would     come     up     .     her     eyes     trail     where     he     skims     ,     intrigued     .  .  .     and     back     to     reality     when     he     details     comes     across     like     experience     .     ❝     the     salad     thing’s     kinda     dated     .     ❞     like     she’s     playing     catch  -  up     (     and     she'll     take     an     active     lifestyle     to     indulge     in     guilty     pleasures     .     )     hands     him     warm     shirt     ,     ❝     i     didn’t     take     you     for     a     simple     guy     .     ❞     former     intrigue     resurfaces     ,     lips     parting     .

[clubsclassic]

" if you want a front row seat, you can say that. " snickers, more to herself than him, combing through messy strands of jet black hair. except he's put her on the spot now, interrogation set in motion. " what does it mean? " repeats the phrase as if the answer should be obvious. " figured we're just two old flames blowing off steam. " admits thoughtlessly, focused on her reflection in the mirror. then she sits on it, halting her movements, hairbrush tucked away in one hand — gaze shifting back to him with furrowed brows. " didn't you have somewhere to be? " cue for you should leave before i blurt out something you don't like.

[004deluxe]

not  -  so  -  subtle     reminder     plays     on     lips     ,     and     he     leans     for     favourite     jacket     like     he’s     making     promise     on     his     words     .     ❝     blowing     off     steam     .  .  .     ❞     wets     his     lips     .     this     time     ,     can’t     resist     the     upturning     of     corners     ,     and     a     second     stretches     before     delving     into     what     that     means     .     ❝     that     crease     ,     right     there     ?     ❞     between     her     furrowed     brows     .     ❝     tells     me     you’re     trying     hard     .     ❞     like     you     don’t     want     to     feel     something     ,     he     thinks     .     holds     off     on     this     thought     ,     because     does     he     have     to     say     it     ?     parallels     the     manner     if     she     were     someone     else     ,     or     he     ,     they     wouldn’t     waste     a     minute     slipping     out     .

[softtcores]

            a chuckle  rasps low in his throat,  gaze  shifts  elsewhere.    ‘    i  was  looking  at  your  friend,    think  i  know  her.    ’    might be true.    they’ve  gone  in  circles,    and  circles.   he’s  there  when  she  calls,    enough  to  know  she’s  burning  through  daddy’s  cash.  illicit  content  in  his  palm,    ‘    take  it  easy.  this  lasts  hours  longer  than  typical  blow.    ’

[004deluxe]

tongue     clicks     against     roof     of     mouth     ,     interesting     .  .  .     ❝     says     alot     about     you     if     you’re     not     feeling     me     .     ❞     lucent     orbs     flicker     over     the     mouth     that     keeps     her     guessing     .     lately     she’s     been     upright     without     a     pillar     ,     cheating     weeks     of     progress     because     she     can     .     ❝     hmm     ,     usually     i     take     it     however     i     please     .     but     easy     ?     ❞     and     if     he’s     right     ,     it’s     another     mistake     to     her     massive     collection     .     ❝     maybe     you     should     hang     back     ,     make     sure     i     do     just     that     .     ❞

[angelsdusted]

there's an urge to go with him , run away and leave her responsibilities behind just so she could fix this — fix them . but years of her blood , sweat , and tears could be ruined by listening to her heart and not her head . besides , the missed phone call still left a sour taste in her mouth , images of him with someone else haunted her every waking moment . had twisted and turned in bed , but her resolve was too strong to try and call again , scared that he was purposely ignoring her . " hyde ... " she attempts to maneuver an escape route around him , but three words put a halt in her plan . her tongue anchored to the roof of her mouth as she resists the urge to say how much she ached for him too . suddenly the cameras and the reporters around the function didn't matter as much , and before she could weigh how much trouble she could be in , takes his hand in hers and drags him to the nearest powder room . heart thrumming , pulls him inside and locks the door behind her . " five minutes , then you have to leave . "

[004deluxe]

a     sigh     expels     as     she     airs     his     name     ,     like     she     remembers     his     heart     .     like     she’s     considering     .  .  .     maybe     he     hasn’t     managed     to     fuck     up     all     of     their     memories     .     maybe     they     weren’t     entirely     serrated     by     another     girl     on     his     line     —     thought     of     a     party     nauseates     him     (     him     ,     shit  -  faced     ?     zealand     would     clap     him     on     the     back     for     living     a     little     .     )     due     to     his     line     of     work     ,     feelings     were     drowned     out     with     speed     .     romantic      dilemmas     were     far     and     few     .     now     she’s     all     he     ever     thinks     about     ,     more     consuming     than     the     years     she     was     forced     into     corners     of     his     mind     .     she     pulls     him     from     the     four     walls     of     brother’s     garage     ,     steered     in     some     sophisticated     powder     room     ,     like     a     secret     and     digits     envelope     hers     like     instinct     .     ❝     can     we     start     with     the     calls     .     why     i’m     playing     phone     tag     and     you’re     ignoring     me     ?     thought     we     agreed     no     contact     was     stupid     .     ❞

[angelsdusted]

her hints of being occupied with the other homme are enough for his knuckles to turn white as grip on his almost empty bottle tighten . " that's a lie and you know it . everything about you drives me crazy . " it's ridiculous how much she's infected his psyche , and he wished for nothing but the cure if he had to watch her and someone ( that wasn't him ) make eyes at each other all night . worst of all , she had been invited by a friend . but he had never shared charlie's or their father's talent for valuing networks and connections . that friendship was simply transactional , easily discarded if it meant he wouldn't have to see them standing beside each other again . " do you not think about me ? 'cause i think about you all the fucking time , ny . " left hand moved almost on its own accord , reaching for her until palm grazes the softness of her cheek . he lets it settle there as thumb begins tracing the lines of her cheekbone . couldn't care less if his date ( the one his mother set him up with ) or hers walk in on them — in fact he was desperate for them to see .

[004deluxe]

crazy     .  .  .     plush     brims     twitch     in     quiet     thrill     (     he’s     reacting     better     than     she     anticipated     )     —     ❝     must     be     exhausting     ,     while     trying     to     keep     up     this     double     life     .     ❞     like     she     hopes     he     says     her     name     in     his     sleep     .     how     he     reduced     her     value     is     not     a     dismissed     thought     .     how     she     felt     invisible     to     him     is     a     feeling     never     too     far     .     she     can     storm     past     him     ,     down     more     casamigos     'til     the     burn     blurs     her     date’s     appearance     ,     malcolm     would     still     be     under     her     skin     .     his     touch     incites     an     array     of     emotions     ,     pulse     unsteady     (     as     if     her     body     remembers     his     hands     .     )     although     he     fled     his     date     ,     she’s     not     particularly     moved     .     the     image     still     stirs     .     her     spine     backs     into     the     wall     of     an     unfamiliar     room     ,     baiting     just     how     crazy     he     is     for     her     .     ❝     what     about     when     you     fucked     her     ,     were     you     still     thinking     of     me     ?     where     did     you     cum     ?     ❞

[angelsdusted]

based on : x

two , three bottles were all it took for him to sing questions he could never say sober . " do you ever regret it ... what we had ? " he should have just kept his distance , knew it was the right thing to do . but like a moth to a flame , the more dangerous it was for him , the more he was drawn to it .

[004deluxe]

she     teeters     between     something  -  tequila     in     one     hand     (     enables     her     to     be     whisked     by     malcolm     )     and     inquiry     paving     way     to     the     visceral     anecdote     of     them     .     lids     edged     with     cat  -  like     lashes     flicker     ,     measuring     his     taller     frame     .     ❝     you     never     cared     about     my     regrets     before     .     ❞     tongue     pins     his     answer     back     ,     wants     him     to     see     she’s     not     so     susceptible     .     ❝     i     don’t     have     much     time     to     reminisce     anyways     ,     i’ve     been     busy     —     didn’t     know     you     guys     were     friends     .     ❞

[angelsdusted]

based on : x

vulnerability was something she never wore lightly . her hardest role as one of the most promising actress of her generation : continuing her tough girl persona even after the slate claps . " i don't wanna talk about it , " she sighs , pulling her arm away from reach . knew one touch was all it took to demolish the wall she built and subject her to prying eyes and whispered gossip . already aware of the stares they were getting . " not now , okay ? "

[004deluxe]

slight     tremor     to     his     digits     when     she     leaves     him     lonely     ,     halfway     and     staring     at     rising     brick     by     brick     .     knew     it’d     be     a     challenge     to     sway     her     ,     knew     his     presence     still     elicits     something     within     her     (     as     he’s     swept     up     in     the     storm     of     her     )     .  .  .     despises     himself     for     not     picking     up     that     one     call     .     ❝     if     not     now     .  .  .     when     ?     because     i     don’t     want     to     leave     things     between     us     like     this     ,     ines     .     ❞     as     her     gaze     traces     the     speculators     ,     seeing     it’s     significance     .     ❝     i     miss     you     .     please     ,     let’s     go     somewhere     private     .     hear     me     out     for     five     minutes     .     ❞     head     tilt     ,     gently     reclaiming     her     line     of     sight     .

[softtcores]

            he  relishes  the  familiar  way  dark  hues  sweep  across  him,    like  he  lingers  in  her  recently  deleted.    arrogance  tugs  at  the  edge  of  his  mouth,    the siren  in  her  could  drag  him  to  ruin.    ‘    can’t  i ?    ’    testing.    ‘     thought  i  could  count  on  you  to  be  chill,  you   used to be.   but  go  ahead,  pretend  you’re  over  this.    ’

[004deluxe]

they     always     come     back     .     linger     in     ,     linger     out     ,     she’s     no     different     in     some     ways     .     but     having     to     regard     him     ,     when     that     last     memory     burns     ,     is     having     to     acknowledge     she     isn’t     over     it     .     ❝     i     was     chill     ,     until     you     played     the     two     of     us     .     ❞     each     syllable     threatens     to     curl     ,     give     into     spite     .  .  .     his     arrogance     is     something     else     .     it     baffles     her     —     ❝     no     ,     i’m     not     gonna     stand     here     and     explain     myself     .     you     should     ,     ❞     browns     drift     away     from     him     ,     diminishing     hue     .     ❝     but     i’d     rather     you     spare     me     and     crawl     back     to     your     hole     .     ❞

[softtcores]

            just  a  flick    of  her  eyes  land  on  the  cited  homme,    glaring,    on  cue.    mouth  tilts,    ‘    that?    no,    my  ex.    ’    pads  of  fingertips  glide  over  paint  of  his  auto,    as  if  it  belongs  to  her.    vision  drags  over  his  features,    ‘    don’t  let  him  faze  you.    ’

[004deluxe]

lips     barely     shift     towards     the     use     of     past  -  tense     .     more     to     that     story     ,     he     can     hear     it     ,     but     he     doesn’t     lean     in     the     manner     she     wants     .     likely     worshipped     by     her     accessory     with     the     glare     (     and     he     can     have     that     job     )     .     he     remains     exactly     as     is     ,     because     he’s     certain     she     can     sense     his     pull  -  aways     .     wherever     he     goes     ,     and     he     doesn’t     believe     in     coincidences     .     ❝     nah     .     ‘m     just     starting     to     think     i     underestimated     you     .  .  .     maybe     shouldn’t     have     taught     you     some     things     .     ❞     gaze     drifts     down     the     line     of     her     legs     ,     ❝     interesting     how     we     keep     ending     up     in     the     same     places     .     ❞

[litmoons-a]

body   leans   heavily   against   her   doorframe,   inching   in   a   little   closer   so   she   won’t   shut   the   door   on   him   but   not   enough   to   force   his   way   in.   “   i’m   not   drunk.   ”   tipsy   ?   yes.   it   was   the   whiskey   that   brought   him   here,   but   he   had   been   thinking   about   her   long   before   he   got   it   in   his   system.   “   you   don’t   think   i   mean   it   ?   ”   he   looks   almost   sad.   “   you   don’t   believe   you’re   on   my   mind   every   second   of   the   day   no   matter   how   much   i   try   not   to   think   of   you   ?   or   the   way   you   taste,   or   how   your   lips   felt   against   mine   ?   ”

[004deluxe]

threaded     brows     pinch     together     slightly     :     did     he     expect     her     to     buy     that     ?     sharing     even     less     air     as     broad     shoulder     leans     on     trim     ,     daring     her     to     budge     —     and     she     won’t     (     last     defense     ,     as     his     words     slide     so     goddamn easily     into     her     )     .     ❝     arch     ,     ❞     stop     talking     .     stop     making     this     a     habit     .     eyes     flicking     to     his     mouth     ,     then     away     like     it     burns     .     ❝     talking     like     some     tortured     poet     isn’t     going     to     make     me     forget     your     disappearing     act     . . .     do     you     even     care     how     that     made     me     feel     ?     ❞     and     stills     ,     for     the     portion     of     her     fidgeting     to     know     if     he’ll     say     it     again     .

[litmoons-a]

femme   shakes   her   head,   arms   crossed   over   her   chest.   “   that’s   not   what   i   said.   that’s   not   what   i   want.   ”   but   chantal   knows   she   can’t   have   what   she   wants.   not   when   that   is   to   have   all   of   him   all   to   herself   but   not   wanting   people   getting   in   their   business   or   talking   about   her   just   because   she’s   dating   him.   she   doesn’t   want   all   the   mess   that   comes   with   dating   him   in   the   open.   “   you   think   i   like   the   idea   of   another   girl   on   your   arm   ?   you   think   i’m   happy   with   that   ?   i’m   not.   but   you   know   i’m   not   ready.   ”

[004deluxe]

she     crosses     her     arms     and     he     knows     where     this     is     heading     . . .     most     times     ,     he'll     oblige     her     .     bite     his     tongue     . they     were     less     defined     then     .     but     things     change     (     feelings     change     .     )     ❝     i     know     your     reasons     .     i     understood     them     when     this     first     started     between     us     .     ❞     not     just     her     ;     team     positions     him     to     be     the     image     cameras     love     to     capture     —     but     he's     a free     spirit by nature     .     bending     to     her     will     when     control     is     stitched     into     him     ,     because     her     name’s     carved     on     his     lips     .  .  .     static     when     unhappiness     spills     from     those     petals .     ❝     you     need     to     start     figuring     this     out     ,     because     you’ve     always     known     my     world     .     but     here     we     are     ,     having     the     same     conversation     .     you     said     it     yourself     ,     you’re     not     happy     .     ❞

[softtcores]

“   can   we   start   over?   ”

[004deluxe]

seems     he’s     remembered     her     again     .     audacity     of     a     do  -  over     prompts     a     tired     scoff     ,     not     deceived     by     those     hues     of     late     summer     honey     .     ❝     go     home     ,     connery     .     ❞     apparent     his     little     affair     ended     .     ❝     it’s     late     ,     and     you     don’t     get     to     do     this     anymore     .     ❞

[softtcores]

“   i   don’t   know   how   to   move   on   from   you.   ”

[004deluxe]

pause     between     them     drags     ,     finishing     spray     for     rims     set     aside     ,     familiar     ache     in     his     chest     .     ❝     usually     involves     not     seeing     the     person     for     a     while     ,     ❞     slight     airiness     to     diffuse     bluntness     .     ❝     we     talked     about     this     .     you’re     leaving     soon     to     do     your     thing     and     i'm     here     .     nothing     about     that     will     change     .     ❞

[softtcores]

“   you’re   assuming   too   much,   i’m   not   flirting.   ”

[004deluxe]

❝     are     you     being     shy     ?     i     saw     you     watching     me     earlier     ,     dancing     ,     you’re     so     feeling     me     .     ❞     long     charcoal     lashes     bat     ,     lips     vixenish     .

[softtcores]

“   you   want   me   to   leave?   ”

[004deluxe]

❝     up     to     you     . . .     just     one     question     ,     ❞     brows     pull     together     slightly     ,     unserious     .     ❝     that     your     boyfriend     over     there     ,     glaring     ?     ❞

[litmoons-a]

“   they   can   never   find   out.   even   if   it   kills   me   not   being   able   to   touch   you,   or   kiss   you   when   there’s   other   people   around.   ”

[004deluxe]

hotel     keys     and     fabricated     contact     names     —     this     isn’t     new     to     him     ,     when     it’s     for     his     reasons     .     ❝     so     you     want     me     to     take     another     date     ?     ❞     circles     back     to     his     question     .     date     really     means     her     ,     them     in     the     open     ,     until     she     doubles     down     on     her     conditions     :     conversations      all      ending      the      same     .     ❝     you’d     rather     another     girl     touch     me     than     just     go     public     with     me     ?     ❞

[litmoons-a]

“   you've   made   it   impossible   for   me   to   think   of   anyone   but   you.   ”

[004deluxe]

door     a     quarter     open     ,     enough     to     hold     her     silhouette     —     refusing     to     give     more     .     ❝     you     smell     like     whiskey     .     ❞     like     observation     .     lashes     heavy     with     exhaustion     reach     his     ,     shifting     her     weight     .     ❝     i     don’t     want     this     to     be     one     of     those     things     you     say     and     then     take     back     .     ❞     because     she     cares     ,     and     he’s     ruining     her     ability     to     pretend     otherwise     .