My children are doing portraits of each other
Very big thank you to two of my favorites and very talented artists @dranktwocoffees and @willthespy for doing Nico's and hazel's painting.
Everybody say thank you and praise them 👏👏👏
Stranger Things
todays bird
One Nice Bug Per Day

祝日 / Permanent Vacation
dirt enthusiast
No title available
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"

No title available

Andulka
Cosimo Galluzzi
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda

roma★

tannertan36
cherry valley forever
TVSTRANGERTHINGS

Origami Around

izzy's playlists!

★
NASA
YOU ARE THE REASON

seen from Mexico

seen from Germany

seen from France
seen from Argentina

seen from Kosovo

seen from Argentina

seen from United States

seen from United States
seen from South Korea
seen from United States

seen from United Kingdom

seen from Algeria
seen from United States

seen from Netherlands

seen from United States

seen from Singapore

seen from Malaysia

seen from United States

seen from Sweden
seen from United States
@atrizdelua
My children are doing portraits of each other
Very big thank you to two of my favorites and very talented artists @dranktwocoffees and @willthespy for doing Nico's and hazel's painting.
Everybody say thank you and praise them 👏👏👏
One Frozen Moment
(c) riverwindphotography, January 2026
Sinto falta de mim. Dos pedaços esquecidos em esquinas por agora inabitadas, dos fragmentos de sonhos despedaçados em instantes de lucidez, até mesmo dos cacos de um coração-vidro estilhaçado por amores não correspondidos.
Sinto falta de mim. Das noites em claro criando cenários de amor, dos dias passados dedilhando notas desafinadas de uma trilha sonora imperfeita, igualmente dos segundos de respiração presa antes de um salto imaginário.
Sinto falta de mim. Não sei qual caminho seguir para me ter, mas sinto falta, saudade dessa outra metade que deixou um vazio que ameaça me sugar em dias ensolarados.
Sinto falta de mim e não por onde começar a me encontrar.
The good parts (06)
Henry barely had time to step out of the elevator when he was approached by a completely excited pregnant woman.
"How did it go?"
"I have a good feeling," he replied, starting to walk beside her. "A very good one."
"I'm glad. I'm sure they'll accept you, you're too stubborn and sometimes children need that."
She declared, her hands clasped behind her back as she swayed slightly, very happy that Henry was finally finding his way.
"From a stubborn teacher?" he asked, amused, watching her make a face at him before opening the door to her apartment.
"No, someone who doesn't give up," she assured him. "Often all we need is someone who doesn't give up."
They exchanged a slight smile before saying goodbye. Henry didn't know it yet, but that simple statement from Charlotte would reflect on his actions for a long time.
The good parts (05)
"He just left and never came back?"
Charlotte sat in a chair in her small kitchen, her legs propped up on another chair in front of her. Henry was preparing something for the two of them to eat since Piper had gone to a party and hadn't even bothered to invite him. Bolton was telling the story of her ex, who vanished off the face of the earth when he met a charming redhead at a bar with a high potential for illegality downtown. It would be three months since his disappearance from Charlotte Bolton's world, and each day it became easier for her to recount what had happened without feeling overwhelming hatred.
"Don't look at me like that, I get that look every time I tell this story," she pleaded, returning to writing a report she had to hand in by the next day. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a single mother, I'm perfectly fine without that jerk."
"You're already an amazing mother," Henry felt obliged to affirm, laughing when he heard her huff softly. "Stubborn, but amazing."
Charlotte paused, her fingers on the key, staring at him with an ironic smile.
"Why did I even accept you into my life?"
"Because I'm indispensable."
"Insufferable, that's what you are" she murmured, a smile growing on her face as she heard Hart's laughter fill the room.
The good parts (04)
"And now?"
"I think we have to fold it?"
"It's impossible. Maybe if it were, no, it won't work."
Charlotte dropped the mobile in frustration; none of the pieces fit, and up to that point they hadn't managed to assemble a single part of the animals that belonged to it. Henry watched her with a certain amusement; the pregnant woman was even more irritated after they started assembling the decoration. The paint was still drying, so Hart had decided he would help her finish the room since he could see that she didn't receive many visitors and didn't have daily help around the house. As he was unemployed at the moment, he saw this task as a welcome distraction.
"Why did you even buy this?" he asked, holding up some pieces against the light.
"I thought it was cute." she replied simply, shrugging and then huffing impatiently as she tried to connect small pieces again.
"Koalas are cute too, and you don't bring them home."
"That was a terrible comparison. If I could, I would definitely have a koala," she said, dropping the pieces on the table and turning to him.
The good parts (03)
"Hi." Charlotte opened the door for Henry to enter, rubbing her eyes because of the sleepiness that overcame her.
"Hi." Hart handed her a cup of hot chocolate, which she happily accepted. "Back to work."
"Can I at least paint the baseboard?" she asked, walking behind him while taking long sips of the chocolate.
"No need, I already said I can handle it." He opened the curtain, the soft sunlight flooding the room. It was a cloudy and cold day, one of Henry's favorite weathers. "Don't bother, Charlotte."
"Of course I'm bothered." She let out a sound of disbelief, tightening her thick cardigan around her body as a cold breeze hit her. "We've never met before and now you've been painting my baby's room for two days."
"You think this is my gift?"
"Piper's right, it looks like the prelude to a random romantic comedy." " she murmured, dissatisfied.
Henry stopped what he was doing, staring at her seriously as if she had said something that should never be uttered.
"Never, ever listen to my sister."
"She's a good person," she felt she should defend her friend, even if she was testing her patience at the moment.
"With a dangerous mind."
She rolled her eyes dramatically at his exaggeration, then turned her back, saying as she headed to the kitchen:
"I'm going to make a sandwich, do you want one?"
She didn't even wait for an answer; she was going to make extra sandwiches anyway.
A Short Tale of Love
IV.
Charlotte took a deep breath, her left hand on her stomach and her head tilted upwards. She blinked rapidly, trying to stop the tears from falling; she knew that if she started crying, she wouldn't be able to stop anytime soon. She felt a strong taste in her mouth and her stomach churned; she didn't know if she would vomit or have an immense stomach ache.
"Why do we always find ourselves in difficult situations, at least for one of us?"
She heard the deep, smiling voice to her left, turned her head, and found someone she hadn't seen in a long time. He smiled at her in such a calm way that Charlotte felt herself relax automatically.
"I have no idea how to answer that question," she admitted, giving a slight smile. She descended a few steps to approach him, the hem of her light orange dress swaying in the gentle breeze that passed between them.
"What are you doing outside the registry office?"
She bit her lower lip, looking over her shoulder at the imposing building from which some people were entering and exiting. She looked at Henry, shrugging as she said,
"I'm trying to get married."
"Trying?"
"I don't know if I want to yet."
"Married?"
She rolled her eyes childishly at the confused expression that had taken over his face. She wasn't annoyed with Henry; she was actually impatient with herself for not having gone inside yet. She didn't know what was stopping her.
"I want to get married, I just don't know if I want it to be today."
"Does your fiancé know about this?"
"He's inside waiting for my decision," she informed him, looking at the stair step and deciding to sit down.
Henry followed her gesture and put the bags he was carrying aside, sitting down next to her.
"You know, a long time ago someone told me that big decisions always provoke something in us."
"It must have been a very wise person who told you that."
Henry laughed before continuing.
"That extremely wise person." - He nudged her with his shoulder, eliciting a smile from her. - She was right. Big decisions are scary, Charlotte, but that doesn't make them any less incredible. If we have someone by our side, someone to hold our hand, taking that first step towards something new isn't so scary after all.
She paused to think about what he was saying. Jack wanted to jump with her, to throw himself into this new unknown; otherwise, he wouldn't have proposed in the middle of a packed concert for countless people to witness. Charlotte wanted to be with him, wanted to build a life with Swagger, to write a new chapter in their own story. That's why she had moved to another city, changed universities, and returned only so that her family wouldn't miss this important step in her life.
She slowly exhaled and stood up, brushing the back of her dress and facing Henry resolutely. He stood in front of her, looking at her with clear expectation.
"I think it's time to jump."
"I'm hoping everything goes well."
"Me too." She felt a slight sense of déjà vu as she spoke, but shook her head to push away the hesitation that still lingered deep in her soul.
"Congratulations, Charlotte."
"I'm not even married yet." She made a face that elicited another laugh from him.
She liked seeing that Henry hadn't lost the easy laugh she loved so much. She felt bad that they hadn't kept in touch, but she would fix that later.
"But you will."
"But I will."
She agreed, bidding him farewell before running up the stairs. It was time to get married. She stopped with her hand around the doorknob; she never thought she would say that, but she really was going to get married. She impulsively opened the door and headed towards her destination.
A Short Tale of Love
III.
Henry paced back and forth, unsure whether to go inside the church or not. Alicia was being a godmother at a cousin's daughter's christening at that very moment. The two had argued, and Hart had decided not to go to avoid creating tension. However, he couldn't stay away from Alicia for so long; they hadn't spoken properly for almost two days, nothing more than polite phrases followed by a politeness that only irritated him further and made him feel worse.
He drummed his fingertips on the side of his thigh. The simple church, painted white and reflecting the sunlight, was a few meters ahead of him; he only needed to take a few steps and he would be by her side again. But what could he say to someone he loved that he didn't really mean to say that living with her was hasty, that he really didn't mean to say she was reckless about certain things, and that he would do everything to get through this together?
"It looks like you're about to be executed."
He turned his face to the left, finding Charlotte staring at him with her usual curious look, a closed cardboard box in her arms. He hadn't seen her in a long time, since she'd resigned from Zonkos, and she hadn't updated her social media often either, so they practically didn't talk.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking that question," she stated, turning her back to walk towards a nearby bench. Henry followed her and sat beside her, the closed cardboard box between them.
"Where are you going?"
"Taking this box for a walk, it was so sad, poor thing," she replied in a melancholic tone, caressing the box and eliciting a nasal laugh from him. "Actually, I'm moving."
"How so?"
"I'm going to live with Jack, my boyfriend, in another city."
"A big step," he commented, looking at her in surprise.
"A very big one." A resigned sigh escaped her lips. "But sometimes we have to throw ourselves headlong into certain situations."
Henry looked at the church, hesitating between following Alice or waiting for her to make the first move. He couldn't lie to himself and deny that the fear of her going in a direction opposite to his overwhelmed him.
"And how do you know for sure when it's the right time to jump?"
"You don't, actually I think it will never seem like the right time," she stated, capturing his attention again. "If we do everything without feeling anything, it means what we're doing is unimportant. Feeling fear, apprehension, nervousness is normal; all our big decisions will provoke something in us."
"So you're jumping out of fear, but hoping he'll catch you?"
Charlotte laughed, a soft, somewhat amused laugh.
"I don't need someone to catch me, Henry. I just need someone to hold my hand and jump with me," she assured him, slowly rising from the bench. "If you love someone, don't let the chance to be with that person slip through your fingers."
"It doesn't just depend on me, Charlotte," he said, sounding a little dejected.
"In a relationship, it's never just about us. We can't try to do everything, fight for everything if the other person doesn't make an effort too. But we can take the first step when we know it's time to jump." He held up the box he was holding as an example. "See you later, Henry."
"I hope everything goes well, Charlotte," he wished sincerely.
"Me too."
He watched her walk away towards the other side of the street, but soon turned his gaze back to the small church. He felt a little relieved when he saw Alicia standing at the side door, her arms crossed and a small, sad smile adorning her face. Henry stood up quickly, taking the first step towards her.
If you’re confused, so is Carmy.
A Short Tale of Love
II.
Charlotte tapped the nails of her left hand against the counter while scrolling through a social media feed on her phone with her right. The candy store was quiet—it was a regular Wednesday afternoon, meaning only a few people passed by, and the biggest rush of the day had probably already happened in the morning when a group of school kids stopped by after a field trip. The rhythmic sound of her nails provided a slight distraction from what was tormenting her mind: Jackie hadn’t checked in since the day before. That was a big red flag, considering he made a point of talking to her every day.
Her boyfriend was traveling with the band he was part of. His life had turned upside down after a talent scout heard them play at a festival organized by the university. Jack had then dropped everything—his business administration course, the house he rented with two other bandmates, and Charlotte. To be fair, she understood his happiness and supported him. And to be fair to Jack, he had invited her to go with him. She stopped tapping her nails and set her phone down against the wooden counter. The desire to be with Swagger overwhelmed her, but she couldn't just leave behind the scholarship she had fought so hard for and her family. She simply couldn’t.
The jingling of the front door bells pulled her out of her thoughts, signaling the arrival of a customer. A tall and slightly clumsy guy walked in—she could tell because he knocked over a stack of candy bars while passing a shelf. His hood was pulled over his face, immediately putting her on alert. Charlotte ran her hand along the shelf under the counter without taking her eyes off the strange guy. He walked with his head down, examining every candy he passed. He seemed to be looking for something, and that made her tighten her grip around the baseball bat she always kept nearby.
"Can I help you?"
She asked loudly. He startled and lifted his head. As soon as their eyes met, she had the feeling she knew him from somewhere. His playful eyes, even without him smiling, his sharp features, and the strands of light-colored hair escaping from under his hood reminded her of someone.
"I would actually appreciate that," he replied, stepping closer while Charlotte still kept her hand firmly wrapped around the bat. "Today’s my mother-in-law’s birthday, and she’s crazy about sweets. But I have no idea what to get her."
"So that’s why you look lost," she murmured, somewhat relieved.
"Huh?"
"Nothing." She waved a hand—finally letting go of the bat—as if it were no big deal. Resting her elbows on the counter, she looked at him eagerly. "First birthday with you as the son-in-law?"
He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Charlotte just watched him curiously—she loved a good story, and she was bored.
"Actually, yeah. All the others were just as her daughter’s friend."
She was happy he wanted to chat. Some of the people who stopped by never spared a second to talk to her. Page liked people and the stories that came with them, which is why she fit so well in her journalism course. Her column in the university’s official newspaper was growing in recognition every month. She had never imagined that anyone would be interested in the personal accounts of strangers, but it was a success, and she was proud of it.
"Well, you should get something that’s not too over the top but also not too simple," she advised, stepping away from the counter to walk around it. "How about a truffle basket? Or a sweet breakfast set? We also have a mini basket with liquor-filled bars or assorted chocolates. Maybe she’d like some little cakes!"
She picked up a small package, smiling brightly at him. He watched her in surprise. Charlotte shrank back slightly—she always got excited when people asked for her opinion on any subject and sometimes went a little overboard. Jack used to say she crossed a line into the world of madness, which made her slow down her thoughts and try to stay more grounded.
"Sorry, I talk too much when I get excited."
"Adding that to the list, then."
He laughed, but it wasn’t in a mocking way. Charlotte furrowed her brows, confused both by his words and his reaction. She tilted her head as if that would help her remember where she knew him from. Apparently, that technique worked because a name suddenly popped into her mind.
"Henry!" Her eyes widened as his name escaped loudly from her mouth. He laughed again, and Charlotte felt her cheeks heat up.
"Hey, Charlotte," he greeted her cheerfully, leaning against the counter and looking at her with an amused smile, as if enjoying her reactions.
"And here I was, thinking you were a thief," she said, putting the package of cakes back in its place and walking closer to him. "I almost hit you with a bat." She crossed her arms impatiently but quickly remembered where she was and offered him a grateful smile. "Thanks for the job tip."
"You definitely fit in here," he assured her. She felt there was more behind his words but decided to let it go. "Now, about the gift…"
"Oh, right!" She clapped her hands, feeling her initial enthusiasm return. "You need to nail this birthday. Making a good first impression is everything. Jack’s parents love me more than they love him."
"Does he know that?" he asked, amused.
"It doesn’t need to be said—it’s in the air." She waved her fingers in front of her face, making Henry burst into laughter. She liked the sound of his laugh—it was calm and contagious.
"I’m in your hands, Charlotte."
"Then let’s impress a mother-in-law."
She grabbed him by the sleeve of his hoodie and pulled him toward the aisle on the right. She changed her mind—Henry was turning out to be more interesting than the kids in the morning.
A Short Tale of Love
I.
Henry walked briskly toward the café—he had to meet Alicia to organize a college project. However, she had scheduled it for a Sunday morning, which, according to Hart, was the best time to stay in bed. Tightening the strap of his backpack, he turned the corner onto the café's street, hoping his friend wouldn’t be too upset about him being almost an hour late. Alicia was incredibly patient, but everything had its limits, and Henry hoped he hadn’t crossed hers.
He smiled in relief when he spotted the small café a few meters away. Picking up his pace, he saw his friend sitting by the window, her curly red hair cascading over her books as she lay her head on her crossed arms, staring ahead. She didn’t look angry, but her expression certainly wasn’t one of happiness.
So focused on Alicia, he didn’t notice someone else walking hurriedly in the opposite direction. The collision resulted in numerous sheets of paper scattering through the air and two people falling to the ground.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Henry quickly recovered from the shock and knelt to gather the papers around him.
“I didn’t see you—I'm so sorry.”
Hart lifted his head to find a nervous girl clutching some papers in her hands as if the gesture could ease her frustration. She looked at him, and for a few seconds, Henry couldn't look away. Her eyes were like tiny brown universes pulling him in without resistance. But he quickly gathered himself and stood up, holding a few papers in his hands.
“I’m to blame too—I was distracted,” he admitted, glancing over her shoulder to check on Alicia, who was still in the same position. He turned back to the girl and handed her the papers, noticing at a glance that they were résumés.
“I’m late for a job interview. The store owner said she wouldn’t tolerate lateness, so I think I just lost my chance—but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?” she said with a nervous laugh before widening her eyes. “Oh no, I’m still wasting your time! I can’t stop talking when I’m nervous, and I just keep going until someone tells me to stop, and wow—I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Sorry.”
Henry laughed at her flustered state, which only made her more embarrassed as she looked down at her feet. She seemed to be around his age, and he was curious about what course she was taking or what had brought her to campus.
“A little further ahead, there's a candy store called Zonko’s. The owners are really nice and need extra help.” He pointed in the direction he had come from. “If your interview doesn’t work out, I think they’d like you.”
“Thanks,” she said with a bright smile. She started walking the way he’d pointed but then turned back to him. “By the way, my name is Charlotte.”
“Henry,” he introduced himself, exchanging one last smile with her before watching her walk away.
Hart then resumed his path to the café. As expected, he was late, but Alicia wasn’t too annoyed. She forgave him as soon as he told her about the girl he had bumped into and the countless papers he had knocked down. The redhead laughed, saying that causing small disasters was just like him. They dove into their project, spending hours buried in books. Before they knew it, it was past noon, and they still hadn’t taken a break. Deciding to call it a day, they packed up, ready to head home and enjoy the rest of their Sunday.
“Do you have any plans now?” Henry asked, holding the door open for his friend and trying to keep his nerves in check as she passed close to him.
“My plans for today involve watching romantic comedies while hugging a bowl of popcorn,” she replied, turning to face him with an amused look. “Do you have other plans, Weather Boy?”
Henry chuckled at the nickname. Alicia had called him that ever since they first met. On his first day of college, Henry had been completely lost, only to become even more confused when he encountered the energetic redhead practically bouncing through the halls. When he approached her, he couldn't think of anything to say. And when Alicia asked if he needed help, all he managed to blurt out was the afternoon’s weather forecast. He had never been more embarrassed—until she let out a small laugh, looped her arm through his, and together, they faced the start of this new chapter in their lives.
“Maybe I do, if you’ll accept,” he decided that, in that moment, he was going to be brave—no matter what Alicia’s answer was.
Her eyes sparkled, and she looked at him as if she had been waiting for this moment all along. Henry’s heart raced, his throat tightened, and his hands started to sweat. He shoved them into his jeans pockets and waited. He felt like he was inside a grand cliché and just hoped it would end like the movies Alicia loved—with them together when the credits rolled.
“You do know that after this, I’m never letting you go, right?” she teased, a playful smile on her lips.
Henry took a step closer and pulled his hands from his pockets. Alicia crossed her arms behind her back and stepped forward too, bringing them face to face. Hart tilted his head slightly, closing the distance between them.
“So, all these years… you were just giving me space?” he asked sarcastically, watching her roll her eyes dramatically.
Then Alicia stood on her tiptoes, and Henry could have sworn time stopped around them. He lost himself in her honey-colored eyes, in the delicate freckles on her nose, in the soft pink lips that parted slightly as if waiting for his decision.
He erased the distance between them.
He had lost count of how many times he had dreamed of this moment—of finally holding Alicia in his arms. But reality surpassed all his expectations.
When he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, he forgot where he was—forgot who he was. He lost himself in Alicia’s touch, in the gentle hands cradling his face, brushing his neck, gripping his arms. He surrendered his body to her just as his heart had already surrendered two years ago, the day they met.
Henry Hart could hardly wait to see what consequences this kiss would bring. He was happy. And he hoped the credits wouldn’t roll too soon—he and Alicia still had plenty of screen time left.
The good parts (02)
"So, you're not going to finish this today, are you?"
Charlotte stopped at the doorway, observing with a subtle smile the mess that had taken over her baby's future room. Henry held a paintbrush, trying to decide which wall to start with. The floor was already covered for protection, and the light switches had been taped off, but the problem was the mint-green paint already splattered on the floor and streaked across the walls.
"You can't rush art, Charlotte," he declared confidently.
She decided it was best not to comment.
"What do you want for dinner? I'm ordering Mexican food."
"You didn’t even give me time to answer," he complained, earning a soft laugh from her.
"Mexican food," she reaffirmed. "You have great taste, Henry."
Hart just let out a hearty laugh as he heard her walk off to the living room.
The good parts (01)
Henry locked Piper’s apartment door. He had just put away his belongings and was getting ready to meet an ex-girlfriend at a nearby café. His sister would kill him if she found out he was one step away from meeting Lizzy, but Hart truly believed in his ex’s change and saw no harm in giving her a vote of confidence. He patted his pockets, checking that he hadn’t forgotten anything, and turned toward the elevator at the end of the hallway. However, the metal doors opened, revealing an unexpected scene.
A woman was dragging something out of the elevator. He couldn’t quite make out what it was, but it seemed heavy. When she finally managed to pull the object out of the metal box, she straightened her back and leaned against the wall. Her new position allowed him to see the enormous belly she had.
He unconsciously walked toward her, his steps echoing through the empty hallway, catching the pregnant woman’s attention. She lifted her gaze, looking at him with mild surprise, then stretched her neck to glance past him, as if trying to figure out where he had come from.
"Hi, good morning."
She greeted him politely. Henry, however, could only alternate his gaze between her, the paint can, and her enormous belly. The woman blinked, slightly confused, tilting her head as if changing the angle would help her understand Hart. A few curls slipped from her bun, framing her face and giving her an adorable look.
"Are you going to paint something?" Henry asked, hoping she would say no.
"Oh, yes, my baby’s room. Can you believe I had to search half the city to find the color I wanted?"
She was clearly expecting a response, but Hart felt like he wouldn’t be going anywhere anymore. If she was alone, he definitely couldn’t let her strain herself like that—especially if the woman in front of him was Charlotte, the one Piper talked about so much.
"Are you painting the room by yourself?"
"Yes?"
The possible Charlotte looked at him, unsure how to react. Henry rubbed his eyes with his fingertips and tilted his head back, his mind racing. The pregnant woman took advantage of his distraction and resumed her task. The sound of the can being dragged snapped Hart out of his thoughts.
"No." He quickly crouched down, pulling the can toward him and away from her hands.
"What do you mean, ‘no’?" Her hands went straight to her waist, her gaze hardened, and her mouth opened in disbelief.
"Have you looked at yourself?" he asked, slightly sarcastic, making her frown impatiently. "How are you going to paint anything when you look like you swallowed a planet?" Her gaze intensified, sending a slight chill of fear down Henry’s spine. "A small planet, like Pluto, which technically isn’t even a planet anymore, but it will always be one to me."
"Who are you?"
"Piper’s brother, the one who lives at the end of the hall," he informed her, not liking the mocking smile that spread across her face.
"Oh, Henry Hart, the unemployed guy who came to live with her."
Henry huffed in indignation, placing one hand on his waist while pointing at her with the other.
"First of all, who said that?" The slight raise of her eyebrows was enough to give him the answer. "That little menace," he muttered irritably. He’d have to have a serious talk with Piper. "Second, I’m going through a career transition."
"Going from a salaried worker to living with your younger sister?" she teased, clearly enjoying how he stiffened in irritation.
"How dare you?"
"How dare you tell me what to do?" she shot back, crossing her arms and stepping closer to him.
"You’re pregnant and trying to take on an absurd amount of effort!" He threw his hands in the air, emphasizing his frustration. "Don’t you have anyone to help you?"
Her face tensed slightly, as if feeling some unknown pain, but she quickly regained her uninterested expression and firmly stated:
"No, I don’t. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a room to paint."
Charlotte—he was pretty sure it was her—crouched down again and started pushing the can toward the end of the hallway. Henry watched her for a few seconds as she struggled to move the heavy can. Then, he gave up on leaving and grumbled before going to help her.
The pregnant woman didn’t protest when he took the can from her, simply walking ahead toward her apartment.
"Thank you," she said sincerely when she opened the door, allowing Henry to step inside before leading him down a hallway. "This way, please."
Hart placed the can inside an empty room. The walls were painted white, with only a beige curtain adding any color to the space. Charlotte leaned against the wooden doorframe, her eyes scanning the room.
"When do you need everything ready?"
"In…" She paused, counting on her fingers before answering. "About two and a half months."
Henry stifled a laugh with a cough and commented in admiration, "You’re huge."
Charlotte laughed openly, speaking as she walked into the room.
"Exactly what every woman wants to hear."
"No, no, no," he stopped her when she reached for a paint roller. "I’m not letting you have this baby ahead of time."
"You’re going to paint everything?" she asked, laughing. But when she saw he was serious, her amusement turned into confusion. "Why?"
"I already told you—I’m not letting you have this baby early." He repeated, taking the roller from her hand and gently pushing her out of the room. "That’s way too much guilt that I don’t need right now."
"You’re just doing it because it’s the right thing to do?" She still couldn’t quite process it.
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
Charlotte bit her lower lip, as if deep in thought. Eventually, she let out a soft sigh and shrugged.
"No, it’s just that I’m not used to it. But I’m not going to turn down a good deed either," she declared, visibly more cheerful. Then she turned serious again. "Have you ever painted a room before?"
"Actually, no, but it can’t be that hard," he assured her, noticing her doubtful expression.
Henry then grabbed the roller, examining it, spinning the handle in his hand—only to accidentally hit himself in the face. Charlotte sighed, already foreseeing what was to come.
Kenzie ate her cereal carefreely, sitting at the kitchen counter of Game Shakers, alone and enjoying the much-welcome silence. She tried to organize in her mind her upcoming commitments for the week.
"It's not my fault!"
That silence was immediately broken by Babe’s shout echoing throughout the place. Kenzie turned, bored, to face her three friends walking through the glass door in the middle of an intense discussion—well, at least two of them.
"You saw that she was about to give me her number, and you ruined everything on purpose!" Triple accused, pointing a finger at Babe, who grabbed it and twisted it painfully.
"You're crazy!"
"I do what I can," she declared with a satisfied smile as he pulled away, almost in tears.
"If I ever turn up dead, it's all her fault!"
Kenzie rolled her eyes at his dramatics, deciding they weren’t worth her attention, and went back to eating her cereal contentedly. Hudson, who had been strangely quiet, approached her and sat on the stool beside her. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and started typing nervously.
"You're just jealous!"
"How dare you say I’m jealous of you?! Of you, Trip?!"
Babe let out a laugh that Kenzie found incredibly fake. Trip looked at her, hurt, and soon enough, they resumed their argument.
"Have they been like this all day?" she asked Hudson, who simply nodded in response.
Kenzie frowned, intrigued. She discreetly glanced over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of his conversation.
"What do you want me to do? She's just my friend."
"Don't lie to me. You know very well I haven’t believed a word you’ve said about her since that kiss!"
"It wasn’t a kiss. She was enchanted, for crying out loud."
"Okay.
Sure, I totally believe you.
Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Oh, Huds."
She couldn’t hold it in. He looked at her, startled, and Kenzie bit her lower lip, looking away, embarrassed.
"Look, Kenzie," he started, clearly uneasy and somewhat annoyed that she had read his messages.
"No, it was my fault. But I promise I’ll fix everything for you," she assured him, even though she had no idea how to do that.
Hudson's girlfriend hated her, and for good reason—considering she had broken up with him last time because of Kenzie. She felt eternally indebted to him, even though he constantly reassured her that it wasn’t her fault. But Bell never gave up. She always tried to talk to the other girl and include her in the group so she wouldn’t feel left out, but it was no use. She would never gain her trust, and she knew it. Hudson knew it too, as he gently took her hand and tried to reassure her with his gaze.
"I'm sorry. I know you really like her, and I don’t want to come between you two again," she said, leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder.
"I know you’re sorry. I still have all the apology cards you gave me," he said, letting out his characteristic laugh, which made her feel lighter.
Hudson kissed her forehead gently as Kenzie pulled away. She closed her eyes automatically, and when she opened them, she was met with his comforting gaze.
"You know I'll always be here whenever you need me," she reminded him, bringing her right hand to his face and stroking it gently. "But if you really like her—and I know you do—you need to go and have a serious talk. A real conversation, Hudson," she advised, watching him nod, a bit exhausted.
"You always know what to say, don’t you?" he asked, sharing a small smile with her. "See you later, Kenz."
He jumped off the stool and gave her a quick hug before running off. Kenzie watched him leave and let out a shaky sigh. She turned to her other friends, who had stopped arguing and were watching her with a knowing look that made her uncomfortable.
"He's happy with her," she stated firmly, stepping down from the stool and placing her empty bowl in the sink.
"Is that what you really think, or just what you want to believe?"
Babe’s suggestive tone irritated her, but what Trip said next made her heart ache painfully.
"You know that if you just told him the truth, he’d break up with her."
With her back to them, she tried to control her tears. Quickly, she pushed all her emotions aside, turned around with a calm smile on her face, and made sure her expression didn’t betray the chaos inside her.
"There is no truth to be told. He’s happy with her, period."
She grabbed her phone from the counter and went off to find an empty room where she could be alone. Ignoring the two as she walked past them, she was sure Hudson was wrong—she was far from always knowing what to say.
"Okay, but I need you to at least go to the flower shop for me… seriously, Piper? Ugh, okay, I'll go get those damn flowers."
The loud sound of the car's passenger door being closed startled the two humans inside the vehicle. She gave an apologetic smile, but quickly wiped it off her face when she seemed to remember who was next to her.
"I could make you pay a fine for property damage."
She rolled her eyes after speaking, putting on her seat belt as she put her cell phone in her backpack.
"You know it doesn't work like that. Besides, if you're going to blame someone, blame your sister." She made it clear. "And I could make you pay a fine for harassment."
"You're the one who's slamming my car door like it was a battery." He accused, slightly offended.
"And you're the one who won't shut up and is simply taking up my precious time."
He stuck his tongue out at her, a childish attitude that made her sigh in pity for him. Turning on the left turn signal, he carefully pulled out of the parking space and onto the busy street. The two fell into a somewhat thick silence; they had never gone so long without exchanging a word, whether through teasing or sarcastic comments.
The young woman watched the outside movement through the dirty window, wrinkling her nose when she noticed the dust stains that prevented her from having a better view of the cars passing by her. He drummed his fingertips on the steering wheel, glancing at her sideways and, seeing her frowning face, prepared himself for her next move.
"How long has it been since you had this car washed?"
He almost smiled when her predictability was proven. Well, at least in relation to him, she was becoming predictable.
"For your information, it was washed last week."
"Then you should sue the company responsible," she said, running her finger along the glass and shuddering when she saw it slightly dusty. "This was the worst cleansing in human history. ."
"Why do you always want to sue someone?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice, and he also didn't let the slight exaggeration coming from her go by.
She shrugged, ignoring the hint of a smile in his voice.
"Why do you keep paying for mediocre work? Do you have some compulsion to lose money or something?"
"First of all, I don't throw my money away. People need jobs and I need services, it's the law of life." - he defended himself, holding back a laugh when he heard her snort.
"The wheels that move the world and all, I know, but that doesn't mean you have to put up with poorly done work just because someone is offering it."
"You talk as if I don't know how to judge."
"And you don't know it." She quickly declared, poking his cheek so he would turn his attention back to the road. "Your garage door is still stuck today just because you hired someone because she was "nice."
"But she was." He defended himself, laughing at the exaggerated air quotes she made.
"A pretty smile doesn't mean the person is trustworthy."
"Being grumpy doesn't mean it either." He muttered softly so she wouldn't hear. - "Ouch!" - Which didn't help, as proven by the pinch in his rib.
"I don't need to smile at everyone I meet. I've had enough of hearing that from idiots on the street, I don't need to hear it from you too."
She said seriously, she hated when people told her to smile, she felt she was being pressured to hide any feelings. "Get rid of that face, you must look beautiful when you smile," said a lady in a random store, "Give me a smile, cutie," said a strange idiot on the street, "People think you don't like them, smile a little more," her aunt said.
"Sorry," he asked quickly, noticing the expression on her face. "But I don't judge people badly, I just try… not to judge."
"And in the end you end up paying twice. The plumbing in your kitchen is proof of that."
"The guy said he'd been replacing pipes his whole life."
"Who knows which pipes he was talking about."
"What other pipes was he talking about?"
"And do I know? Humans are strange."
He laughed at her solemn expression, which brought a small smile to her face.
"So, we're here." He said, parking in front of a flower shop.
"I can't believe we're going to spend the afternoon preparing something that should have already been done."
Her grumble earned him a laugh, and he watched her get out of the car before unbuckled to follow him.
"There's no point in making that face." He opened the door for her. "I know you're happy to be in control of everything."
She wrinkled her nose at him as she got out of the car, ignoring the soft laughter that sounded behind her as she walked to the flower shop. The surprise baby shower, which was now their responsibility, had been dropped like a bomb on their laps after their best friend disappeared to go to a convention for antique watch lovers.
"You could buy me a bouquet, you know."
"For what reason?" She asked, stopping in front of the door to find him with an amused smile on her lips. - "For opening the car door for me?"
"Of course not." - he said laughing. - "Think of it as a reward for putting up with your great mood for years."
"You make me seem like a burden." - she wanted to sound sarcastic, but the discomfort she felt showed in her voice.
He sensed her discomfort, he could always read her in an almost frightening way.
"You will never be a burden to me." - he stated sincerely, bumping her shoulder with his. - "Look, they have roses, how about one to brighten up your day?"
She smiled at his dancing eyebrows.
"Don't be so cliché."
"What would become of us if the world wasn't a cliché?" - he opened the door, making a jingle of bells sound, stepping aside so she could pass in front. - "After you, Miss Page."
She stared at the open door, arching an eyebrow as she turned her attention to him. The teasing glint in Henry's eyes made her feel… anxious, in a good way. She decided to play along, if the subtle-not-so-subtle shift in energy between them was any indication, something new was about to begin.
"As you wish, Mr. Hart."
As she turned her back to him, she knew a smile was growing on his face. Henry watched Charlotte walk into the flower shop as always, confident and glowing with a new look; nodding slightly, he followed her, feeling hopeful for what the future held for them both.
"Seriously, Peeta? Can't we just leave this for later?" Katniss asked for the tenth time as she locked the front door.
She pulled her hat over her head, pressing her cheeks with the yellow woolen gloves knitted by Prim. She snorted loudly when her fiancé ignored her with an excited smile as he walked toward the car. Her breath condensed in front of her, just more proof that it was freezing cold and that she belonged under her warm blankets.
She followed him, being careful on the slippery steps, irritated grumbles leaving her lips and making Melark laugh with a joy that no one should have at five in the morning. The street was still empty, the yellow light of the streetlights illuminating the white of the snow that had fallen in the early morning. Well, it had fallen a few minutes ago since it was still early morning for Katniss. Letting out a low curse as she slipped, she grabbed Peeta's arm before he fell to the ground.
"You know, some research says that cursing reduces stress." - he commented, unfazed by the sharp look she gave him. - "Maybe this visit this morning…"
"Early morning."
"Make your body get rid of stress."
"You can't be serious." - he stated firmly, feeling his irritation subside when he felt his lips on his cheek. - "You're just throwing out random scientific facts that you probably made up just to try to find something good about waking up with the sun and irritating me as a bonus."
"Maybe so, but despite that, you look really beautiful when you're all irritated." - he whispered in her ear, laughing out loud when he was pushed away.
"Less talk and more action, Melark." - he ignored the suggestive raise of his eyebrows. - "Let's go get that damn tree." - she pulled him by the arm so he could walk faster, regretting it the moment he slipped again.
Peeta wisely held back his laughter, hugging her around the waist so that their steps would synchronize and she would keep her balance.
☆•☆•☆•☆•☆
"What about this one?"
"The leaves are starting to dry on the tips."
"How about that one?"
"The needles will get all over the living room floor."
"Just clean it up."
"I'm not spending Christmas cleaning. It's a waste of time."
She expressed her displeasure, ignoring his loud, impatient huff to find the perfect tree. Katniss threw herself headfirst into the task as soon as they reached the space reserved for the sale of pine trees, her excitement almost overcoming Peeta's, almost. She was sure that her fiancé had been Santa's helper in some past life, the only way to explain so much love for this time of year. She bent down to examine the leaves that almost covered the ground beneath a medium-sized tree.
"What are you looking for now?"
She waved her hand to keep him quiet and didn't even turn her face in his direction. She heard Peeta's soft chuckle as she crouched down to get a better look at the view from below. The green world greeted her as expected, a magical canvas of possibilities. She imagined when the tree was all decorated, the lights entering every space between the leaves in a surreal glow that would warm her heart. She would pull Peeta to lie down next to her, together they would look inside the tree and plan next year's Christmas.
Clapping her hands excitedly, she quickly stood up and faced her fiancé with a small smile adorning her face. Not even her cheeks frozen by the cold could stop at least a smile from growing on her face. Peeta's eyes shone the way they always did when he looked at her, with a love and affection that would always disconcert her, no matter how much time they spent together.
"This is it." - she declared happily, linking her arm through his and pulling him to stand beside her.
The tree was a little bigger than them, in a deep green that would stand out against the gray-blue walls of the living room. So far, among so many other trees, it managed to stand out. Katniss didn't know if it was because of its location, a little away from a small group of large trees, or because of the way the snowflakes still decorated it, giving it such a… Christmassy look, which sucked the attention of the two who were in front of her.
"When it's all decorated, it will be simply…"
"Perfect." - Peeta finished, with an equally excited smile on his face.
Katniss nodded decisively, snuggling against her best friend and love to enjoy the warmth emanating from his body. She rested her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes briefly when she felt his cold lips on her forehead.
It was worth waking up in the middle of the night in a freezing cold, but she would keep that thought to herself, she didn't need Peeta's smug expression to crown that morning. Patting him twice with the back of her hand on his chest, she parted with a light expression so they could take the tree home and have a well-deserved rest.
"When we get there, we can start making a gingerbread house. It can have two floors, even a balcony with pillars of candy canes…"
She groaned in disbelief as she opened the passenger door after they had tied the tree to the hood of the car. Her clear refusal made him stop talking. Peeta stared at her with his lower lip jutted out, blinking his eyes slowly as he tilted his head in her direction. Katniss rolled her own eyes in exaggerated boredom, smiling as she pushed his face away.
"It'll be nice, honey." - he nudged her waist, receiving a light pinch on his hand to pull away. - "You loved buying the tree."
"Yes, but that's over now. Now it's time to go home and catch up on my sleep." She declared, closing her eyes as she rested her head on the window.
Peeta's laughter filled the vehicle, both of them knowing full well that when they got home he would have more than a tree to take inside. Yawning lazily, Katniss curled up in on herself, falling into a long-awaited sleep without resistance.