wishing my life away

christian cooper 20 years old shifter

[itsquinnvalentine]

she didn't want him retreating. quinn held him tighter, hoping that it would convince him to stay, even if it was a little longer. she didn't want to lose her him again. her heart dropped when he implied he was leaving "why can't you?" she asked, trying to cling onto any morsel of her friend before she lost him again. "you can stay. i'll be here. whatever it is i'm right here and we'll all look after you, we'll protect you"

[its-justcooper]

cooper felt himself let out a shaky breath when she held onto him tighter. he wanted to stay here, he did. if he could stay in her embrace for the rest of time, he'd do it. but he couldn't. "i love you, quinn. you'll remember that, right? when i'm being... when i'm not acting like me anymore, just- just try and remember that. and stay away from juliette, okay?"

[itsquinnvalentine]

"why not, i'm sure the montgomerys would be happy that people are enjoying the catering they've arranged. that is true, claire is a diamond. she has nothing to worry about with her desserts, her baking has always been perfection. shots would have everyone loosened up in no time" she smiled at his antics. same old cooper. "i need to get that recipe off her for those peach danishes of hers. seb-a-roni is good, he's around here somewhere. he'll likely be on a business call, we're waiting to hear about a new york space."

[its-justcooper]

"thanks for having my back. i'll give it one more hour and then i'm comin' for whatever's left of those tiny tartlets. she really is, huh? i am the luckiest guy on the planet getting to watch her shine. i think the bakery's really gonna take off this year too. i'll put you down for doubles when the time comes," cooper grinned. nothin' much changed when it came to him, you could always rely on chuck cooper for a good time. "the peach danishes are outta this world. i'll remind her for you. oh yeah? that's awesome. you two'll be taking over the world in no time."

[itsquinnvalentine]

"you know what, you're so right. i'd rather stuff go to waste than not have enough, what kind of look would that give the bakery. i'll make sure to look out your preferred frosting wooden spoon when we get home" claire beamed a smile back at him, her thumb softly rubbing his wrist "he's got that chuck cooper charm, he'll be trouble when he's older" she chuckled "maybe not call our close friends losers, but i'm liking what you're offering"

[its-justcooper]

"i reckon there'll be more people here sneaking away your leftover cakes than you'd think. i won't be alone in my frosting frenzy," he grinned, giving her another kiss on her perfect lips. man, he loved his life so damn much. "alright, alright... not losers. i'm so glad you're here to keep me good, baby. i'll hang up my trouble making hat when that day comes, though. let the kid take the reins."

[mystic-meghan]

"I can listen to him talk about anything, but I'm unsure about everyone else. Oh, it definitely will. Andy is floating around; there is no way that she isn't going to blow this up." Lacy smiled as Chuck talked about Claire. "She really is talented, you know, I love going to Claire's. It isn't that crazy, you are a great match. I think we both got very lucky."

[its-justcooper]

"You and Mitch have always been like that-," Chuck grinned, crossing his fingers- "Doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes though, huh? Aw man, with Andy it'll literally blow up. I'm betting the ice sculptures will be the first to go. I'll let her know you said so, you'll have her blushing and kicking her feet." Chuck grinned, holding his beer up to her to cheers. "Hell yeah, I'll drink to that."

[c-alliecooper]

"Tell me I'm not the only one that really wants to stick their tongue on these ice sculptures..."

@havensdalestarters

[its-justcooper]

"Aw man, this is exactly the kind of shit that Claire'd rightfully get me in trouble for doing. But hey," he started, placing a dramatic hand on her shoulder, "You're not alone, kid."

[jaaason-bennett]

"Tequila? Oh god, no." Ricky laughed, turning fully away from the temptation. "I think the last thing Joseph and Felicity want is for me to turn this into a classic Ricky Rager–and between you and me, I'm not sure I'm capable of dancing on tables anymore."

@havensdalestarters

[its-justcooper]

"I'd pretty much give my last dime to see this turn into a classic Ricky Rager, man. You're the Sheriff, come save us! We need more shooters and sexy tabletop dancing, ASAP. I can actually feel the cool being drained out of me the longer I'm in here," Chuck sighed, wolfing down another 3 tiny appetizers.

[i-sabelvalentine]

"Never say never, Chuck. I'm not sure you've ever looked better." Sebastian released a laugh as he handed his friend a whiskey, but his eyes immediately returned to his phone. "Yeah, all good here. Just waiting on a call about that empty lot out in Manhattan."

[its-justcooper]

"You would say that, wouldn't ya, Mister Fancy Pants? I'll take the compliment, anyways. You look great, as usual." Chuck held back on making a third wheel joke re: Sebastian's Nokia and grinned instead. "Awesome, man. Business on the up and up then?"

[r-obynmanning]

"Dude, you look so weird." Lottie laughed at his choice of outfit. It had been a while since she had been back in town, but she hadn't expected to come home to Larry's friends looking so polished and pristine. "I'd be doing a lot better if you undid at least two buttons."

[its-justcooper]

"Tell me about, dude! I feel like my great grandfather or something. You know what, you're so right, Lottie. Nothin' ever changes, huh?" Chuck grinned, loosening his top two buttons and letting out a breath so dramatic you'd think he'd been drowning. "Man, I feel alive again! How's it being home again then, Lots? Must be weird. Oh! Quick... who did you miss most? Me?"

[n-oahdeluca]

Noah's attention snapped back to Chuck somewhere around him mentioning the ice sculptures and it was fairly obvious that he hadn't been paying attention to his friend. After running into Veronica, his head had been all over the place and he was constantly trying to find her again in this oversized ballroom. "What? Yeah, I'm fine. You? What's with the shirt?"

[its-justcooper]

There was only one person that could have brought on that worried look on Noah De Luca's face. Mr Cool and Steady was no match for Veronica Cruz, never had been. And to be honest, Chuck felt the same way.

No one liked to talk about it, sure, but it was becoming more and more obvious that Veronica's husband was a bad dude. "Sure you are, man. You're a walking billboard for 'fine and dandy inc'. The shirt is fancy as fuck, man. My mom got it for me for weddings, funerals and graduations. And whatever this is, I guess. You sure you're good?"

[itsquinnvalentine]

seeing the tears fall on his face, she thought she had said the wrong thing and upset him. she believed him and she would always believe him. "i can't? if you need help i'm here for you." quinn froze for a second, terrified that if she moved too quickly it would scare him away. this was the most open he had been in a long time. quinn wrapped her arms around him and hugged tightly, feeling like a part of cooper had come back to her, even if it may only be momentarily. "i'll always be here for you, you know that, right?"

[its-justcooper]

"i know," he whispered, holding her tighter and wishing more than ever before that they could stay like this. that he could stay. he couldn't see a way out of it, a way to free himself from juliette's influence. he couldn't see a way out where he didn't get the people he loved hurt. it was bad enough what juliette had done to everyone who had been there that night. it was bad enough what she had done to isabel. the thought turned his stomach and he found himself slowly pulling back from quinn. sweet quinn. he couldn't risk her too. "i wish i could stay longer."

[itsquinnvalentine]

she smiled and chuckled at him wolfing down the mini tartlets. "going by the math, maybe four mini tartlets to one tart ratio? claire would be the best person to ask. where is she anyway?" she asked, looking around to see if she could see the blonde "i've not had one yet but they look stunning. she's gone above and beyond with the options"

[its-justcooper]

"my taste buds are inclined to agree, o. i'm tryna not wolf down the whole spread but y'know how it is. claire is a gorgeous fountain of knowledge on all things, it's true. my girl is fussin' over felicity as we speak. i tell ya, the sooner we break out the shots, the sooner everyone can relax," chuck grinned. it had been his philosophy all the way through high school too. "right? she's so talented, it's like... mind blowing. how's ol' seb-a-roni tonight?"

[itsquinnvalentine]

she blushed at his smile. married with a kid and she still will always melt at a look from him. "you think? i was worried it might not be enough but i think i've overshot it and made too much. funny you should say that because our fridge is not packed with frosting, so have at it when we get home." not that she had anything to worry about but hearing that their son was good helped settle any worries she had "he's got your mother wrapped around his finger. she'll give him anything he wants"

[its-justcooper]

"better too much of a good thing than not enough, babe. you've done amazing, okay? oh, i'm fully planning on slipping into a sugar coma when we get home. you'll find me sprawled out in the fridge light, covered in frosting, giant wooden spoon in hand and no dignity left." chuck grinned brightly at her, reaching out to cup her gorgeous face. "he's got that cooper charm. speaking of... let's give these losers something to talk about."

[mystic-meghan]

"Thank you, thank you." Lacy smiled as she looked around, knowing Mitchell was somewhere talking about their new business. "Oh, I am sure he will keep everyone entertained. At least he will keep himself happy, and that's all I care about. Definitely not the parties I used to. Not yet, but I definitely need to find them.”

[its-justcooper]

"Not that Mitch's stories aren't cool, he did sweet talk me into a new stereo last Wednesday. So true, happy as a clam. Well hey... At least between you, me and Krystal, this party still has a chance to blow up," Chuck grinned. "They're awesome, she's so freakin' talented, it's unreal. Can you believe that's my wife? Crazy work, Lace."

[its-justcooper]

"Boys, boys, boys-," Chuck greeted loudly and proudly, handing out the bottles of beer he'd managed to get from the bartender. If there was one thing that he was grateful for (not counting Claire, love of his life, apple pie of his eye), it was his best boys. They'd been together since the crib, more or less, and now their own kids were sure to follow in their footsteps. It was all pretty cool.

"Look, I'm not sayin' I'm not having fun, but Felicity must seriously think we have amnesia or something. Like nobody here remembers what she was like in high school, hello? No offense, Ethan. All I'm saying is, give us some real frickin' sized appetizers." @broho-jesse

[mystic-meghan]

"It is a nice shirt, shame to waste it on this." Lacy smiled at Chuck. "Enjoying a night away from the kids and free drinks. Are you enjoying yourself?"

[its-justcooper]

"Aaaay, Racy Lacy! Look at you," Chuck grinned in greeting, throwing his hands up. "Hell yeah. I feel like I heard ol' Mitch-erino talking about Hi-Fi mag earlier, might be a while before you get him back from sharing that crowd pleaser. Yeah, I'm all good. It's fancy as shit but I'm coping. Have you tried Claire's cakes yet?"

[itsquinnvalentine]

claire joined her husband and smoothed down his shirt collar "i think you look handsome in your fancy shirt" she smiled sweetly. "i'm good. the cakes have been dropped off to felicity so that's the stress of the evening gone. how are you doing? is mini cooper okay at home?"

[its-justcooper]

"that's what makes it all worth it, babe," chuck grinned back. man, look at her... how did he get so lucky? "awesome news. you've totally crushed it on the culinary side of things, cee. there's no one in here who can match your freak when it comes to buttercream frosting. i'm all gravy, baby. the mini man is all good, a quote-unquote 'angel' according to my mom but you know she can be kinda bias."

[itsquinnvalentine]

concern was written all over her face while he was talking. "i know...i believe you" isabel had her theories and quinn had believed her twin, she had noticed he wasn't his usual self, and hearing isabel had confirmed that it wasn't just her who thought it. "it's okay, you don't have to apologise, i don't matter here, you do. how can i help you? i'm here for whatever you need" she offered. she didn't know how she could help but at least if he knew she would be here to help him, he might not push her away "christian..." he looked in genuine pain and she took a step forward to reach for him.

[its-justcooper]

cooper felt his knees threaten to buckle under the weight of quinn's 'i believe you'. for almost three years, he'd been trapped in his own head, unable to break free. he'd become numb to it, embraced it. he was someone now that he barely recognised. he shook his head at her question, heart breaking at how sweet she'd stayed. how kind. "i don't... you can't...," he started, knowing it was true. these moments weren't enough, until he could break totally free, his friends weren't safe. he closed his eyes when she said his name, tears finally falling in relief and frustration. cooper closed the distance between them, falling into the crook of her neck. "thank you, quinn."