castlcshigh

hand reaches to rub his face. this conversation is already turning out to be something that it shouldn't. max had started things with some naive hope that talking to gracie might make things between them at least a little better. " apology? " he echoes, dumbfounded. max could admit that he wasn't an angel. but, apologizing for something that hadn't happened was a sign of a fool . . . or so his father said. " i didn't do anything, gracie. i took a photo with a fan. " granted, the pose in the photo wasn't exactly reassuring. " it's part of the job. i don't know what else you want me to say. "

#masterm1nds #threads: gracie.#threads: gracie x max.

at first, she liked the normalcy that max made her feel. he was someone who wouldn’t treat her like glass or look at her with sympathy after what happened. of course, he didn’t know what happened either — but he also would never care enough to ask or find out. it was perfect. but god, he was also infuriating. albeit better to focus on how annoying he was than everything else. “ it’s not about that. “ gracie argued back. her head shakes in frustration. “ how about an apology for being the biggest dick on the planet, like, all of the time. would that be possible? “

riley could feel her heart strings being pulled. she hated seeing anyone sad. but, also knew deep in her bones that toxic positivity was just as bad. the only thing she could really do was lead with empathy and hope for the best. " lost? " she asks. " like ya don't know where home is . . . or are ya jus' feelin' a little outta place? " the clarity would help determine how she could help him. as soon as she saw the tears well up in his eyes, she placed a hand gently on his shoulder. wanting to provide comfort without crossing any boundaries he might have. " 's not gonna be like this forever because nothing ever lasts forever. that goes for everythin'. sadness. happiness. the whole lot. " a soft smile follows her words. " 'nd you're gonna be okay . . . i feel that in my bones. "

#masterm1nds #threads: nate.#threads: nate x riley.#SWEET BB

“ both, maybe ? i don’t feel like anywhere is home right now because i’m feeling so out of place. “ he wasn’t totally lying. nate didn’t have a specific home, not anymore. traveled around, finding people from all different areas of the world. it was easier that way — and sort of a thrill, seeing how everyone followed him. the group grew larger with each place he visited. god, he was truly amazing. doing incredible work all over the place. “ with all due respect, you don’t even know me. “ nate says back, his eyes drifting towards the soft hand on his shoulder. offers her a gentle smile, teary eyes fighting back a blink. “ i could be a horrible person. maybe this is what i deserve. “

the voice caught him off guard. hunter hadn't meant to overhear anything. truthfully, he hadn't expected anyone to be here at all. he shifted where he stood on the gravel path, hesitation pulling at him for a moment before he finally cleared his throat. just enough noise to announce himself rather than appearing out of nowhere. his gaze flickered toward the headstone before settling back on her. " you must be olivia. " he took a step closer, extending a hand. " I'm hunter, sorry for your loss. " fuck, he hated that phrase. it always felt hollow coming out of his mouth. like there should've been something better to offer people.

#scbrvght #threads: olivia.#threads: olivia x hunter.

olivia flinched when she heard footsteps behind her, and then a voice that interrupted her conversation with her mother. " hi. " she mumbled softly. liv was always bright, always kind. but the last few weeks had stolen some light from her eyes. she tilted her head slightly at the male, trying to place him but nothing was ringing a bell. " thank you, that's really kind. " liv nodded after a moment. " are you — " she cleared her throat, hand moving to wipe the tears from her cheeks. " i'm sorry, my brain has been all over the place recently. were you a friend of jasmine's ? or .. did you know my mom ? "

" jeez. " brows lifting as she paused halfway through the doorway. " do I have to need something to come over ? " one hand lifted the takeout bag she'd been carrying the entire time, giving it a little shake for emphasis. " I actually brought you something for once. " figured he had probably forgotten to eat. " but I mean.. " smile poked through. " I can totally just fuck off and eat it myself. " already backing toward the door as she said it, very extremely slowly.

#scbrvght #threads: ethan.#threads: ethan x millie.

he was pretty sure he hadn't answered a message from her in awhile, far too caught up in his research. and yet here she was, standing in front of him with food. as if he deserved that. and yet, his brows raised instantly and his head tilted upwards to try and get a view of what she'd brought. millie was right, too. it had been awhile. " hold on, now. " lips curved into a small smirk. " i didn't say anything about you fucking off. in fact, you're exactly the person i wanted to see. how'd you know? " ethan shook his head in amusement as he closed his laptop. " have i ever told you you're far too good for this world ? "

ivygrcws

"i'm so scared, lan," eyes flutter closed as reece fights off the tears that threaten to fall. he's been hurt so many times before ( never by landon ), that he can only expect the worst. it's unfair to landon, though, isn't it? to carry old wounds and anticipate that he'll add to them. "i trust you, babe. i do. i just…" trails off, gaze nervously finding the floor, "i know you can do better than me. and what happens when you find that person?"

#ivygrcws #threads: landon.#threads: landon x reece.#omg hes a babyyyyy i adore him sweet ANGEL

demeanor changes as soon as he admits he's scared. landon has never been the sensitive type, but there was something about reece that had landon acting soft. from the moment they met, landon just wanted to protect reece's heart. " i know, baby. i know you're scared. but — " head shakes immediately, blue eyes going softer. " hey, hey. look at me. " he reaches for reece, fingertips under his chin. " there's no one better than you. i hate that you think like that. you're all i could ever want. "

ivygrcws

the worst part is, she's not wrong. atlas had a tendency to run when he gets scared, run when he feels too much. "hazel," brown eyes find hers, "i…i told you i can't do relationships." no matter how badly he wants to.

#ivygrcws #threads: hazel.#threads: hazel x atlas.

" i'm not asking for you to get down on one knee and marry me. " she scoffs, head shaking a little at his words. " i'm asking for you to stick around. to not leave just when things get messy. aren't you tired of running? "

" cute. " the word fell in a tone that made it clear she found it anything but. " never really been a white picket fence kind of girl myself though. " no settling down in any, the american dream ? sounded like her own kind of personal hell. maybe that should have been her perspective for this movie she was writing.. instead she landed herself here. fingers toyed absentmindedly with a loose thread on her sleeve. " build a house. raise a family. work until you're old enough to stop working. " a small hum. " feels more like a reward people made up so they wouldn't notice the cage. "

#scbrvght #threads: nate.#threads: nate x devon.

“ then you probably won’t be too happy in this town. “ she was opinionated — good. nate found it a lot easier when they didn’t want the simple lifestyle. he had experience with all kinds of people, but leaned more towards these types. it made what he was doing all the more worth it. saving them from falling into a trap that they themselves didn’t even want. never gets a goddamn thank you, but it was selfless work. “ of course, there are other options. just not as advertised as the white picket fences. head tilted downwards a little to look at her. “ how long you been here? “

for a moment he just stared at her. half a laugh eventually falling off of him, though it was much more surprised than anything resembling amused. " are you coming for my gig ? " question aimed at her, finger pointed vaguely between them before dropping back to his side. " pretty sure I'm supposed to be the broody poetic one here. " the corner of his mouth tugged upward, an attempt at trying to coax at least some sort of smile out of her. typically he wouldn't put in half the effort. typically he wasn't one to invest energy into others. and yet there he was eyeing her — trying to piece together if this was some one off comment or if there was something more to it. concern only growing more the longer they stood there. " you alright ? "

#scbrvght #threads: gracie.#threads: gracie x jagger.

“ huh ? “ brows furrowed in his direction, the sound of his voice snapping her back into reality. she hadn’t been paying much attention, truthfully. zoned out. had been happening more often recently — probably due to her lack of sleep. what could she say, though ? it wasn’t like she could tell him the truth, obviously. no one could know who she was or what had happened to her. that was the whole point of moving to a new town, wasn’t it ? and she’d been doing well for over a year now. was all in the past. “ no, no. “ gracie shook her head. “ i mean, not coming for your job and yes i’m alright. just helping you out with some new lyrics. you’re welcome, by the way. i won’t even ask for 10 percent. “

blond practically winces as words leave her mouth. he knows he's in the wrong. knows that being seen with another woman, regardless of circumstance would've opened old wounds. yet, he passed it off as a fan interaction; nonchalant as ever. he opens his mouth to speak, but words fail him. tries again, with a little more success. " it was never my intention to hurt you, " he knows how it sounds. yet, he can't help but put his foot in his mouth just a little more. " but you know how this job can be. you knew that before we even got together . . . so i'm not entirely sure why it's an issue now? "

#masterm1nds #threads: gracie.#threads: gracie x max.#its perfect bb !! <333

" you know, for a second that almost sounded like an apology. " she scoffs. knows she shouldn't have expected one from him, but maybe she got her hopes up briefly. it wasn't even supposed to matter. wasn't supposed to hurt, because she shouldn't care about him. gracie couldn't care about people anymore - not after what happened last time. not with him still out there. " it's not an issue. i don't care, i'm just saying you contradict yourself. you seem apologetic, and then you just .. shrug it off. "

femme's mouth opens, then closes. bible study had never really been something she'd paid much attention to. though, she vividly remembers being forced to attend bible school as a child. her father insisting that it was the sign of a good girl. a manipulation tactic that had her running her family ranch from the age of thirteen. balancing accounting books with math homework while her elderly parents were able to rest. by the time she was eighteen, her dream of becoming a pastry chef was simply that . . . a dream. " are ya having a rough time? " she finally manages, words gentle. " sometimes it can seem like rough times last forever 'nd i know 's not the truth. "

#masterm1nds #threads: nate.#threads: nate x riley.

she seemed sweet. perfect. she was exactly what he was looking for. someone easy to manipulate. the last few had been a lot of work, and nate was looking for people who wouldn't exhaust him. people who might boost his ego a little bit. he hated to admit it, but not having the last couple come as easily to him as most had bruised him a little. time to remember who you are, nate. the male looked at her, tears welling up in his blue eyes. " a little bit. i'm lost right now, miss. how do you know it's not going to be like this forever? "

ivygrcws

“i want to stay, landon,” reece’s lower lip trembles, “you know i want you. but…the rumors. they scare me.”