hear me

@cole-mace

Cole Mace, writer in the Asterian Journal. Everything is on the record.

170 posts

Ollie couldn’t help herself from rolling her eyes at him, she knew he was trying not to laugh. People did that often enough for her to understand what was happening. Olivia reached out laughing and gently shoved his shoulder laughing herself. Becoming my own person.. and independent adults sounds absolutely wonderful to be honest..

I-I’m not really sure how to take things.. I mean like things are always jokes towards me, not being part of them can really make a person serious I guess. Ollie stretched her hands to the side for a moment biting her lip. I can barely ignore a child’s opinion that will literally never impact me, imagine a grown adult, or someone a couple years older. It’s awful I hate it but never mind that. She smiled and laughed at his comment. Or brawl to the de-death that would be pretty funny.

Progress! All of the progress! This girl was blooming like a beautiful flower right here in front of his eyes. He didn't get to watch something like this often. And truly all he wanted to do in that moment is record this moment on paper, share it with the world. But that wasn't something he could do. He let out another laugh. Of course it does! It's what every high school graduate craves and also shits their pants about.

I mean, if they are jokes, might as well laugh along with them right? Nothing throws people off more than if you have a sense of humor about yourself. Laughing eases all sorts of tension. No wonder you so tightly strung. He shook his head, letting out a dramatic sigh. So much to learn. But don't worry, you sad puppy, you have plenty of time. You're not just going to wake up one day and ignore all the negativity. You have to train yourself, an eventually it will get easier. Like everything else in the world. He laughed again, nodding. The only true option is to joust, of course.

#c:olivia #hehehehehe

Ollie chewed on her lip and watched as his face brightened, not many people were willing to listen to her nonetheless smile and seem interested. Part of her was wondering if this was all some cheesy attempt at a guy being nice and just trying to get her attention, she quickly dismissed that thought since he had to be a real trooper to be interested in her. Take a year off? Even though that does sound wonderful I don’t really think my parents will app- She stopped herself noticing how she was being so dumb, ofcourse he was trying to get her to stop caring about opinions and she was just shoving them down his face. Leaving a year sounds nice…

Mmm hmm. She hummed laughing along with him. I guess it doesn’t.. well that sounded rude. It’s not that it doesn’t matter cause that’s a lie it does actually.. um.. a-affect me in a way.. but not in a bad way? If that makes any sense. I mean more in the listening aspect. There’s no such thing as another you..

Cole pressed his lips together to keep from laughing as his arms folded across his chest as she started to bring up the fact that her parents would not approve of a year off of school. Yet a small smile found the way to his face again when she corrected herself. It's progress. Of course it does. So does becoming your own independent person. That sounds very nice.

He laughed again, shaking his head. You take everything to serious, darling. I'm joking around with you. And frankly, I don't care if you come off as rude if it helps you learn to stand up for yourself. If you can't brush off my opinion, then how could you ignore someone who is quite a bit more... harsh. And I certainly hope not. Asteria can barely handle one of my, let alone two. One of us might have to be publicly executed.

Ollie chewed on the bottom of her lip for a minute thinking of the perfect words to describe it. I would say it’s like everything you dream of, large buildings, beautiful people, delicious food. It’s all fabulous I absolutely loved it. I went back when I was probably.. fourteen maybe? I think but it was a pure bliss.

That is true… I guess I can start taking your word for all this. You ar-are very smart. Ollie couldn’t help herself but to smile, his grin was wide and in all honesty gorgeous. I didn’t notice I was making a puppy face s-sorry.. But that’s nice.. there should be more people like you around that actually like li-listening not just talking.

Cole's grin could only widen as her face slowly but surely lit up talking about the place. He could tell, just by the way she stood and the way the words fell out of her mouth that she loved it. Well, there you go. How about you take a year off? Go back to Europe. Surround yourself with what you love. What makes you happy. Use it to push past all the negative. It would be easier because so much positive is around you. Besides, no one would no you. You can be anyone you want to me. And those people will only be in your life for a year at the most, it's a great way to teach yourself how to push past other's opinions of you. Easy as pie.

Yes, yes you can. I'm a genius, it's true. He laughed gently, it was an easy, relaxed sound. Just like the small smile that was finding it's way to the girls lips. Hey. Don't you apologize to me. My opinion shouldn't matter, remember. If you don't think you're a sad puppy, tell me. Assert yourself. Oh, no. More people can't be like me. Then what would make me special?

"Don’t think just answer" The statement replayed itself in her brain over and over. She had heard it before, multiple times and every time it came out of persons mouth she knew she was in trouble. It meant that her automatic response was to ramble and blurt out random details no one cared about. Um.. The coffee shop in Eris.. Georgia works there and whenever I.. whenever I feel bad I go there even know I’m always been told not to go there. I would give anything.. to be back in Europe, be able to enter the small book store by the Eiffel tower, it’s the most precious place in the world, everything about it is just perfect.

Jerks don’t really matter but they’re the people that never back down with their opinions. So it’s not like I don’t want to hear it but their always going to be there. Olivia smiled a bit when he laughed and bit her lip. Most people don’t like listening to me.. or like get bored half way through.

There it was. He had a little spark and now, slowly but surely, it was becoming a small little fire. When did you go to Europe? Tell me about it. I've always wanted to go. If I ever make it there, where should I visit, besides the small book store you mentioned, of course.

If there always going to be there, then you need to stop being afraid of them. Like you said, they don't matter. And you're always going to be there too. Don't give them the control. Cole grinned one of his most charming grins. Aha! For a moment, you don't have that sad puppy face on. It's nice. Well, I'm not like most people. Listening to people is one of my favorite pastimes.

The girl decided to hesitate before answering the question. Her mind blanked of all the activities she usually did, it wasn’t much anyway, most of the time she spent with Georgia in the cafe or just walking around the neighborhood. Good at? Um I graduated top o-of my class I guess that’s good. I don’t really do much but read and maybe cook every now a-and then without b-burning down the house.

Th-Thanks I guess, but the more I try to get away from my parents the more I find myself buried in other jerks opinions. It’s just a mess but I’m not gonna burden you with that. Ollie gushed, quickly realising that she was basically rambling to a stranger.

Raising his eyebrows as she spoke, he crossed his arms and nodded. Most of the time when you ask someone about their hobbies, their interests, they blossom into this beautiful flower of information. Especially if you're able to make a connection. Of course, it didn't seem to be that easy with this girl. Good? That's great, actually. But not quite what I was asking. I want to know your favorite thing in the world? Your go to when you feel like absolute shit. Something you could do every day and never get tired of it. Don't think about it, just answer.

Why do other jerks opinions matter? You're family, I get. But what significance do random strangers have? Cole let out a lighthearted laugh. I'm asking you questions. It's not like you're holding my hostage and forcing me to listen to you. Burdening me is probably the farthest thing from what you're doing.

Ollie’s mind was beginning to draw a map putting together all his words. It all made sense and it all seemed like a rather genius idea, but she didn’t know how to execute it all. I.. I-I.. Y-yeah.. I get what you mean…

Yeah.. Eighteen going on nineteen in acouple of days..

Cole grinned slightly to himself. He could watch the wheels spinning in the younger girl's head. This was not normally what he did. In fact, his time was probably better spent else wear. But he couldn't get himself to walk away from this picked puppy of a girl . Good. So, tell me. What are you good at? Hobbies? What do you like to do?

In that case, happy early birthday. But anyway, you're an adult now. If you have to separate from their insurance, might as well separate from their opinions as well.

Sure.

Change everything about myself really does sound like a good idea, and I-I’ve really t-tried a lot. I-I’m glad you were ab-able to make such a big change and make something good of yourself that’s really good, but I gu-guess I’ll have to go to ridiculous lengths to change.

I… I was raised in a family where their opinions were louder than mine, you get used to being shut down to the point where.. where I lost m-my voice and everyone else’s became more important.

No, no, no. I'm not saying change everything about yourself. Just, y'know, grow a little backbone, to put it in blunt terms. There is nothing wrong with being a little quiet or shy. Just don't let yourself be a target.

How old are you? You said you're just out of high school so that makes you, what, 18?

Ahhh.. y-yeah. Might have f-forgotten to do that.

Easier said than done I guess.. be-being the quiet shy g-girl doesn’t really help to get over this. P-People’s opinions are b-basically the only thing that matter anymore, e-everything someone says bothers me in some way but u-unfortunately I simply can-can’t ignore it which sucks so bad.

Try to remember next time, yeah?

I get it, trust me. In high school no one noticed me. I was basically invisible, which for me was almost as infuriating as getting picked on. But, then I started writing and now everything's different. I guess the moral of this story is you're out of high school now. It's a fresh start. You don't have to be the shy, quiet girl anymore.

Riddle me this, why do people's opinions matter so much to you?

That’s true, j-just finishing high school can do that to a person.

well you’ve had some time to recover, I just finished and I haven’t had time to get over it.

Hey, no need for that sad puppy dog face. I was just joking around. You were supposed to laugh. Y'know, "haha."

Recover? For mindless empty teasing, sure. But in the real world you still get criticized. Hell, people tell me how shitty I am ever day. People don't change, you do. Either you let people walk over you for the rest of your life or you stop letting people's opinions mess with you. I would recommend the latter.

Have you ever been teased? Like not even in the sexual way I mean rude, mean, oh so mean comments.

Let the record show your mind was the one that went into the gutter, not mine.

And yes, I've been teased. I was in high school once.

I’m so tired of everything… Even myself.

That's not a very positive out look to have.

Oh shit!

#birthmarkedstarters #happy 4th of july!#have fire

They were wearing the same clothing, he wasn’t sure how the other man and Cole had switched spots somewhere in the chase. Grant dropped his gun after a few moments and put the safety in before running his hand across the sweat on his forehead.

You don’t want to get involved, Mace.

The hell I don't! Cole put his hands down once Grant dropped his gun, no longer aiming between Cole's eyebrows. Yout should know that I asked to tag along simply out of courtesy. I'm coming whether you like it or not. This is the most exciting thing that's happened in weeks. I need to be the first one to report it.

Put your hands up! [Grant and the team had been assigned to the same case for a few months and it was only now that they had a good enough lead to go after someone. They were in Eris, and he had caught up with the guy when someone unexpected showed up.]

Ever since he talked to someone about something going on in Eris, Cole had been spending a lot of his time there. Trying to dig up something, anything. When all of a sudden, he was being yelled at. Turning around with an amused look on his face, he raised his hands. Oh, is there a bust happening? Mind if I tag along?

New york was shit.

No surprise there.

Oh no. I find that extremely hard to believe. New York is one of the best places on earth.

That was your homework I spilled soda on?

Homework? Nah, just a rough draft. Don't worry about it.

So, no. Anyway, how have you been, Cole?

Same as always. How are you, Miss Ferrer?

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