pastawrites

Sally-CST-1x1

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“Any chance you can help me with some contact with your former friends?” It was as if nothing had ever taken place; the years hadn’t pass and she hadn’t gone and had an affair with a married man only to cry over his dead body and have his wife hate her. That was mostly due to the fact that Holden had no knowledge of the life she had managed to lead in Hawaii. The paradise everyone wanted to escape was now her personal hell forever, funny how that tended to be the pace of life for the raven dark female. Wrapping her hand around her glass of whiskey she didn’t know how much to disclose and how much he actually already knew. That was the thing with Holden, he always somehow knew more about herself than she had ever willingly let out, then again perhaps in her own way she did let more out than she wanted to admit. “Rehab is pretty simple cycle. You either get clean or you just keep going – guess my sister likes burning more than once.” Where had she gone wrong? She had devoted her entire early years to her mother and sister and somehow she was not able to save either one of them. Was that the real reason she had pushed herself out of this town? Taking a sip she allowed the burn in her throat to distract her from such pensive thought, this was not about her. It was about him. “Free?”  She had to inquire further, mostly due to her reluctant habit of associating this town to a prison – so there you had it. Home was prison and Hawaii was hell – she was on a damn roll. “Just here for a month at tops and I’m out. If you were smart you would come along and leave – this – you could use a vacation from my sister.” 

Holden leaned back on his heels at her question, running the wet bar towel across his fingers as he watched her. He’d seen it coming from the moment she walked into his establishment. Isla always had an agenda and Holden knew he possessed a resource that would have her darkening his door sooner or later. He pulled out a couple of shot glasses, “So that’s it with the pleasantries then, hmm?” He grinned, pouring them each a shot of his top shelf whiskey. Holden picked one up, gesturing it in Isla’s direction before letting it flow down his throat as he threw his head back. “Well it’s not like your sister is the only one with a little pyromania.” He smirked before chuckling lightly. All three of them could own up to chasing a darkness of high highs and low lows. Holden was always on edge for when that darkness would come a’knocking once again. And he knew it could very well be sitting across from him in his bar right now. “Yeah well, it’s easy to be free since burying mom I guess. But this town has nothing on me, the ones that come to this bar are the only ones I care about.” He wasn’t sure if he was making sense and knew it might not necessarily apply to her. But she had to want that freedom from running. And it was obvious that she wasn’t there at this moment. His head shook softly at her, “Got somewhere to be in a month then, or just a to-do list to cross off?”

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

As he placed her over his shoulders and reminded her of the childhood that she had had and how fleeting it had been, she caught his eyes once she was placed against the slide, her hand effortlessly being placed onto his chest. Theo was good to her, god was he. The woman had been able, to be honest about Liam and it hadn’t deterred him from taking a chance on her, on them. The pace that they were going on was perfect for her – not too much and not too less. The moment between them reminded her why she was in love with him, he was the calm to her storm. The lighthouse that would always guide her back home no matter how far she went away. Not that she actually ever had strayed away from Theo. Liam was just a stop that she had needed to put an end to. “Nervous, you? Color me shocked,” she ended up replying to him, with a smile forming on her thin rose-colored lips. The woman had no idea how she had managed to get it right with him. How her parents had not managed to fuck this one up. That was the thing with life, when one stopped chasing what they thought they wanted and looked at what they needed that usually ended up being two different things, or in this case two different individuals. “Maybe we can just have the courthouse part just you and I – Andrea and one of your best friends. That way we can say those vows to just each other. Have it be our moment and no one else.” The blond was never one for a huge wedding, the show was for her mother and stepfather more than it was for her. Though if someone actually forced her, to be honest, she would have to come to admit that she was enjoying the food tasting and the wedding shopping had not been too terrible. The things she had found herself never wanting to do had taken a different turn when she found out that it was for Theo – or rather with him. She lifted her hand to run her fingers through his hair, “My vows are actually coming out perfectly fine.” The words kept flowing out but she didn’t know how to tie them or to make them be everything that he deserved. How did you tell someone that they had saved you and completed you at the same time? That somehow they had made you finally realize what home felt like? That against all odds you found yourself excited to become one with someone, even with her hardcore feminist fundamental beliefs. “It is ok. No, he is not going to come,” she wasn’t trying to get lied to and she knew the truth of the matter. Liam knew that he had lost her, that he had lost something great and Tess knew that he could utter all the words she had been dying to hear and it would not change a single thing. Her emerald hues laid on his hazels as her forehead landed on his, “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” she question as her arms wrapped themselves around his neck, “We did not fall in love like most people. I don’t even think we did. We kind of ended up being parallels of each other if you think about it.” she explained herself, wishing the words to convey her emotions actually existed. Questioning the entire vocabulary that she had done her best to enrich throughout her entire life, “I was this frozen, cold – block of emotions and you were warmth. That is the best way I can put it. Around you, I melted. I melted with you, we kind of melted in love, and we became one.” A soft chuckle fell from her lips, “Ah, I can handle your mother. i just know this town and its rumors. I don’t want to ever lose us or have you doubt me.” 

He smirked at Tess with her jest, shaking his head. If you told Theo he’d be the type to enjoy such teasing and flirting, he’d have just shook his head and kept on walking. But Tess had managed to pull such a different person from inside of Theo, “I do not get nervous unless you are involved.” His head shook, hoping she knew how it was the best kind of nervous there was. The kind of nervous where he never knew what he would say or do next. He felt so totally out of control and in control all at the same time with Tess. And control, that was something he liked because knowing outcomes, that was always an asset. But Tess had taught him the power of being out of control and letting emotions take control instead. It made him feel alive. Theo’s eyes narrowed as he trained his upon hers with her suggestion. Now, would Theo happily avoid all of this madness and go the courthouse, you can bet he would. But it wasn’t so much about the courthouse for him, but about how he wanted the moment to be between just the two of them. But more importantly than his own wants or needs, he noticed how Tess had lit up when she returned from looking at wedding dresses. And how engaged she’d been when they were picking out flowers which he had insisted would be choice they would make, much to their mother’s chagrin. But Theo wanted Tess to embrace her enjoyment of the wedding process without their shadows on it all of the time. So her suggestion, was simply out of the question. His head shook as he smiled at her, his thumbs still rubbing circles gently into her hips. A reminder that he was there and always would be. “Well that is very sweet of you to suggest to your shy fiancé’s sake, but that just simply would not do!” He chuckled as he raised his voice in jest. “But to that end, and so I stop worrying about how the vows will sound to others. What if before we leave each other for the night, we give each other.” He paused, realizing that he shouldn’t be so worried right then and there as he looked into her eyes. “Well I was going to say that we could say our vows to each other. Or even a preview. But as I’m thinking about it right now, this is what I’ll be looking at when I say them. And I don’t need to worry about anyone else because you’re all that matters.” His head shook. “See what you do to me Tess? I’m a mess.” Again, that nervousness settled in his stomach. The person before her so foreign to the surefooted man he knew so well. A soft smile touched his lips at her words as their foreheads pulled together to form one. The logical mind of his jumping at the chance to answer but he quieted it, staring into her eyes and letting them do the talking for him. “If it’s anything like the love I feel for you then I know we are in for the most incredible life together.” Tess could just melt him like putty that way. He felt her love radiating off of her and couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to get her to fall in love with his quirky self. But here they were, madly in love. His head shook, “We didn’t. People don’t really understand do they? But it doesn’t matter that they don’t understand.” He thought back to trying to explain what had happened with him and Tess with Elijah. His arms moved up her lower back, wanting to truly hold her and pull her in closer, intending to show her the warmth she’d sought out in him. “That is better than any words I might’ve used.” He smiled, leaning up to place a kiss on her forehead, one that lingered in hopes of transferring the love her felt for her through that kiss. “I was lost in a land of logic and numbers. You blew up my entire world, and yet gently took me along with you down a mysterious path and I’ve never once looked back. You’ve always just--just appreciated me for me. And I find myself consistently wanting to give that kind of love back to you.” His head shook as he leaned to place a kiss on her lips this time. He pulled back after a moment, placing a lock of hair behind her ear, “You’re simply wonderful.” His head shook with immediacy at her worries about his faith in her. “One of things I love about us is that we respect each other’s lives together and a part. You had a life before me and still have a life that doesn’t involve me. It is yours. What we have is completely separate from all of that and I pay it no mind. It’s like our vows, they are ours and everything that’s ours, that’s what I care about.” He wasn’t sure he was making sense, but he hoped he was able to convey that his faith in her had never wavered. And only the words she said to him were what he would listen to.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“Complicated past?” Elijah stressed out the two words that fell out of his mouth. As he gave his best friend a concerned look. Complicated was a high school lover, an affair behind one of the Barnes sisters and then years of angst seem to be a bit more than complicated past. Maybe he was out of line, no he was out of line but this was Theo. If Elijah could spare his best friend from having to go through a divorce then what kind of man would he be if he didn’t do just that? Elijah had gone through with his mistakes, watching his wife having affairs with a different man – by the end of their marriage she had slept with five different males and their relationship had become a joke by the end of it. That didn’t negate the emotional hell that he went through. The guilt that he had afterward and that was not even including his parent’s disappointment in him. How they had kept telling him that perhaps if he had tried harder in his marriage and spent less time at work that he would still have a wife. Because you know – to them, this entire mess was solely on him. Touching his forehead as he processed this. The male had thought he was back to help Atlas with her future divorce so he hadn’t exactly planned to be there for a wedding, much less one that involved the infamous Tess Jenner to his best friend. And just to add a bit more Scott was back in town as well, “Let me guess he is back with Celeste? Did anyone leave high school behind?” As soon as the words left his mouth to regret hit him. Because if he was being honest he would admit right then and there how much he missed those years. The years that he had carried the basketball team to championships, the times where his parents didn’t label him as the black sheep and he didn’t question his worth by how much money was in his bank account. “I am just saying that if the woman is still in love with Liam then nothing you do is going to change that. Trust me when I say that. I do have some experience in that,” No matter how many marriage therapy sessions he had gone to it hadn’t changed the outcome to his marriage. A moment of paused took place as Elijah bite down on his lower lip to prevent any further words to come out and actually listened to Theo. Was it insane to think that his words were true or that this was not some sort of twisted prank, yes? Yet he knew Theo and he was aware that his mate was not someone that would just enter marriage as a joke. The questions that he had been asking right then and there as well as the statements he was making must have been thought by him.

“I am sorry – I just –” he pinched the bridge of his nose before letting any anxiety he had to leave his body, well at least he was trying to do just that. “I don’t want you to end up going through hell to realize that you can’t make someone love you.” A lesson that was so clear and obvious and yet it had taken about five years to get it through his own head. Maybe his sister was right, he had the brains when it came to academics and shit but common sense – well he must have left it in the womb. “I guess, this is the part that I say congrats, right? Is there some sort of registry or something like that?” How late in the game was he? 

Complicated past didn’t even feel like the right words to him honestly. It was her past and that was all to him. Why wasn’t Tess allowed to move on? It just seemed silly to him that she wasn’t allowed to fight for something beyond what the minds of those in Tree Hill associated her with. Now, he wasn’t about to be frustrated with Elijah because it was clear as day that there was a great deal of projecting happening here and it left Theo merely wanting to help. “Probably. See, these are questions for my fiancé as those are all of her friends.” But Theo’s head shook, “I think people left high school behind plenty. Scott went off and pursued a musical career and didn’t look back to Tree Hill for years. Just because he rekindled love with his high school sweetheart doesn’t mean he’s stuck in high school. Means he knows what he wants because he left and figured it out.” His head shook again. Theo honestly had no idea if Scott Keller knew anything about what he wanted. He just wanted to point out the illogical train of thought Elijah was getting after. “You know what never mind I have no idea what Scott Keller is up to or what he’s doing here. But I do know that you are projecting.” He gave Elijah a look, never one to mince words. Theo was always of the belief that people needed to hear things that they may not want to for their own good. And he always expressed this sentiment with those that he loved. But he nodded, listening to Elijah’s genuine concern. Though it held a thin veil of admission of his projection as well. “It’s just not about Liam.” He began with a sigh, trying to explain this all to Elijah. “Well, I guess it was in the beginning. We were just this safe place where we could be truly honest with each other about how shit was in our lives and how we didn’t really have that in anyone else. Just so free of judgment and bullshit. And then we realized how much we had in common and how much we were able to give each other what the other needed. And I don’t know. I’ve just never felt this way before. I knew it had to be something special. So no--I’m not worried about Liam.” Theo had hoped that his words would resonate with Elijah but it was obvious that he could not let it go. He understood his friends concern but it was starting to wain on him how much convincing he required. 

“I get it man. But do you expect me to just be like. ‘Ah, you’re so right. I’ll call off the wedding. Too risky.’? Don’t you think I’m confident in our love and what we have? Confident in getting down on one knee and asking for her to spend the rest of her life with me?” The truth also was that Theo wasn’t that scared of divorce. He loved hard but he understood that love didn’t always last. And it was a shortcoming of his, that he wasn’t always the most passionate man. But that was why he felt that he and Tess were such a good match. They both gave each other the space to feel whatever they needed to based on both of their issues with marriage, commitment, and intimacy. But he wasn’t sure he could fully explain the intricacies of that to Elijah. “I don’t know I haven’t been paying much attention to any of that stuff and you don’t need to get me anything. But man, you really do need to deal with your shit because you’re being downright depressing at my engagement party.” He chuckled at him, taking a sip from his beer. 

[pastawrites]

thexmuzes·:

“I’ve dined in the best restaurants, laugh aroundpeople who are genuinely funny, I’drather have fun than love right now – and I have an amazing car as well asgreat hair, so why not try again?” She spoke, looking at her nails the entiretime as though bored with the conversation. If she was being honest, it was oneof the more interesting conversations she’d had lately. It wasn’t someonesimply bragging about the latest thing their parents had bought them, whichusually ended up with her downing her drink and making some excuse to leave. Itwasn’t something she could predict what came next and she happened to enjoythat, but she didn’t have to show that she did. “Obviously I’m a differentprincess, who wants to blend in with a crowd?” Which was closer to the truththan anything else she’d ever said. Blending into the crowd was never somethingthat she wanted to do. She had always loved the spotlight, even if she traditionallycouldn’t be herself in the spotlight – but people were still looking at her,and hopefully thinking she was doing her best. “I’m sure my tastehuds are inthe same place as your decorum.” Her head tilting back slightly to put her noseinto the air, hoping that was enough to clue him into the fact it was a joke.It wasn’t exactly something to get offended by, especially not when she thoughtshe had pretty good taste in everything. It was why her closest was so carefullyput together – because it took her hours to pick out each item of clothing,needing to make sure that each piece was up to her standards. “So… If Ipromise that even if I judge I’ll still try it, will you tell me where we’regoing? Unless it’s somewhere you have to eat with your hands, I’m not running aperfectly good manicure for food I’m not sure would be worth it.”

Spencer’s head shook with a scoff. Sure she had all of those things. It was clear she was rich, and the sort of rich where keeping up appearances was everything. The idea of that made Spencer’s skin crawl. He’d done everything he could to push away that bit of his life, enough so that he’d estranged himself from his family. It was a hard road to walk and so to say that he felt strongly about the fact that life had handed her all of that without her having a second thought about it would be an extreme understatement. It wasn’t her fault of course, he just felt she was missing out on what made life, life. “And all with Daddy’s money I’m sure. You know, there’s a whole world out there that daddy’s money would never be interested in buying. And news flash, it’s better.” Spencer couldn’t stop himself from allowing such judgmental words slip from his mouth. The thing was, he liked her too. He liked the way that she could challenge him. But she had struck a chord with him that it was apparent he wasn’t able to ignore. “So I have noticed. And that, we can definitely agree on. Although sometimes blending in with a crowd is nice too. You can just relax and ride the wave, so to speak.” He spoke with all the cheese the world had to offer but Spencer never minded a healthy helping of cheese now did he. “Oh, and what exactly is my decorum then?” He questioned, placing a hand over his heart as he mocked her though he hoped she knew it was all in jest. “First off, where’s the benefit of the doubt for me hmm?” He questioned as he offered her a hand to pull her up from where she sat on the beach. “And second off, we’re going to a Cuban restaurant. And you can choose what you want from the menu as long as it’s authentic and you can also choose how you eat it. But I have no responsibility for the looks you may or may not receive if you eat a sandwich with a fork.”

[pastawrites]

thexmuzes·:

What did she get? It was a fair question, and one hedidn’t have an answer for. If it hadn’t been for his sister and the twins, hewouldn’t have stepped foot back into the town, to avoid having to upset her.But from what he’d heard, his sister needed some help and that was the only wayhe could think to provide it. “I was never worried about being embarrassed.” Heinterjected, because the idea of ever being embarrassed of anything that involvedher hadn’t crossed his mind. If she got angry in public, she got angry in public.If people ended up staring at them because of it, he could care less – he onlywanted to avoid that for her sake. He might not put much stock into it, but Alicewould. She’d always been a people pleaser, and he loathed the idea of anyoneshooting her glares if they did end up in a public awkward encounter. “No, youdon’t have to share your feelings with me.” Holding to restrain himself fromtacking on the fact she did however, have to share them with someone which shenever readily did. If she couldn’t put a positive spin on things, she seemed tokeep it to herself and he hated that for her. In an odd way, he was glad shewas angry – it meant she had some outlet for her current feelings, even if hewasn’t happy about the fact he was the current reason for her anger. He’d knownthat he hurt her, but knowing it and hearing her confirm it were two entirelydifferent things. “My feelings?” That had caught him off guard, his feelingsseemed nowhere near as important as her’s. He wasn’t entirely certain how hefelt in that moment, other than wishing there was some easy fix for them – but alas,they didn’t live in a fairytale where happily ever after happened for everyone.“I… Don’t think my feelings are that valid right now.” Which wasn’t theanswer she’d want to hear, but he also had no idea what she would want to hear.

Alice knew that she was overshooting when she asserted why he was there. She understood to a degree why he was there. He was trying to respect her. Though her anger was preventing her from fully realizing that. It was also hard to truly believe anything he was saying because the trust between them had been broken. But if it were true that he was there out of respect for her, then why bother in the first place? Alice, more than anything, wanted answers. She was mad at him for being so intent on her expressing her feelings. But the reality was that she’d been the one who’d chosen to share them with him in the first place, so the only person she could truly be mad at was herself. He didn’t deserve her vulnerability, but he’d once been the only person she could even be vulnerable with. It’d always been difficult for her to resist the urge to keep her feelings inside with him. He’d always seen her and she could feel that, even tonight. He gave her a place to express herself in ways that no one else even realized she desperately needed. It sucked to know the person that you loved, who saw all of you, was also able to leave you without a second thought. And the feeling of that was ever present tonight because once again she’d fallen for him and his way of seeing her in ways that no one else ever had even come close to. “I need to know why you left.” Alice had calmed down now. The anger had given way to the pain that was seeping in. But it was an answer that had evaded her for so long, leaving her with more questions than she even imagined possible. Was it possible that his reason for leaving without a trace could be justifiable? Or was his answer just going to solidify the pain she was already feeling? She wasn’t sure which version she preferred at this point. But she knew that in order to truly move forward it was answer she needed. “You owe me that much.”

[pastawrites]

thexmuzes·:

Laughing softly as he mocked his roommate, shenodded at the question. “Your room.” She confirmed. She had no idea where thatnight would lead them, she didn’t want to stop and work out where she wanted itto lead – but if it did lead somewhere, the last thing she needed was for Noahto come out and catch them in a compromising position. Granted, she’d taken ona few risqué roles in the past, but that was entirely different – roles weren’ther. Then there was also the fact she wanted to pretend they were in their ownlittle bubble and the rest of the world didn’t exist, that bubble would beburst the instant someone else happened to walk into the room. They couldn’tignore that they weren’t living in their own little world at that point, andthen they’d have to deal with the fact  therecould be consequences to their actions – and she wanted them to have a littlefun, before having to deal the possible fallout for what was happening. Withone last light kiss, she slid off the counter offering him her hand. “Lead theway.” She spoke, with a sly smile. It wasn’t a place she imagined herselfending up that night, but something about it just felt right.  And so far, the fantasies she’d dreamt up inher head seemed to be playing out just the way she always pictured. Maybe ithadn’t started that way, considering none of those fantasies had started withrandomly running into him when she was looking for a drunken hookup withsomeone else. Nonetheless, where they were at that moment was exactly where shealways wanted. It also helped that he seemed as focused on her enjoying thenight, as much as he wanted to. That was something that hadn’t happened for awhile, and it only confirmed in her mind that Nate deserved better friends thanher ex.

Nate nodded. He was too afraid to think and so he grabbed onto her hand with haste pulling her inside his room and shutting the door behind them. If he’d had a moment to think this through surely he would rationalize the consequences of their of this moment together, the greatest of which being that he could lose Col which was a no go. But could he just turn her away since the situation had presented itself, also, not a chance. Nate turned the lamp on, on the other side of the room so it wasn’t completely dark, nor completely light. “Mood lighting.” He joked, before pulling his t-shirt over his head and dropping it lazily on the floor. Nate wanted to leave and go get them some vodka, but he was too afraid to leave her alone given that she might change her mind. But then again, maybe he should be giving her that moment to decide. As much as Nate wanted this, he did need to be sure that this was something she wanted too. “Okay, I’ll be right back. Something I think we need.” And by ‘we’, he really meant himself in this case because his nerves required some calming. It wasn’t like he wanted to get her drunk and into bed with him either. Would it come off that way? See, questions, too many questions. He grabbed the vodka from the counter, not even bothering to grab a glass or anything of the sort. No, it was time to get back to the room with the vodka immediately. But, he did take a pull of it on his way into the bedroom, grimacing with the burn. Nate nodded though, knowing it was the right call. He opened the door back up, shutting it quickly behind him, “Felt we should add a little more of this to the mix. But, up to you.” He grinned.

[pastawrites]

thexmuzes·:

“I’m the coldest guy around.” He deadpanned, thoughhe could admit some definitely saw him that way. Ignoring feelings sometimes inorder to let logic dictate his actions could come across as cold, he liked tothink those who knew him, knew he only fell back on logic when he couldn’t makesense of his feelings but needed to do something. Which was his current case,he didn’t know how to deal with the feelings that had surfaced that night, sohe fell back on logic – and logic told him he and Bailey were friends, and thatcame with clearly defined boundaries, and a clear ‘no feelings’ rule. All ofwhich lead him to concluding his only course of action was to ignore thosefeelings, and put them down to simply being drunk. They’d disappear when he wasfully sober. They had to.”I don’t know about Nate, but has Fie ever said no togetting out of town for a night or two?” The others might not need a night away, but he wasn’t surewho would turn down the chance to get away for a night. Leave any problems theymight have at home, and go somewhere where nobody knew them, and they couldjust have fun. It also helped that if Nate and Fie were around, the chances ofrepeating that night were greatly reduced which was exactly what Noah andBailey needed, people around to help them avoid landing in the same awkwardposition. Nodding at her words, he offered her a more genuine smile thanbefore. “Yeah I know.” He replied softly. A break was what that night was meantto be, apparently the best laid plans didn’t always turn out right. “Since it’smeant to take your mind off things… Where would you like to go?” It may havebeen his idea, but it only seemed fair to let her pick the destination – and ifthe others did want to go, he was sure they would agree.

She laughed at his words, quickly shaking her head. “I was only kidding. You could never be cold.” In her mind, Noah was always taking care of everyone. Even if his approach was that of a logical one, he cared about people in his life and took that seriously. Thinking about it and looking at him suddenly felt like such a deadly combination. While just hours ago she had been able to admire that trait of his from afar, now it felt as though her feelings were foreign and forbidden. She tried to focus on the conversation they were having instead of the bubbling feelings in her stomach. Again, his words made her laugh, something that was comforting for her. “Definitely never. Anything that gets her out of dingy college bar land is a yes for her. Nate is more of a toss up I suppose. He has his other group of friends and I like to think he loves us more but I never know.” And she was mainly joking of course. She’d say just about anything to fill the air space between them and create a conversation that they could both keep up. As much as she wanted to start the movie, their conversation was serving as a better distraction than the movie would. But there it was, the guy that was always taking care of everyone. He did know. And that was exactly what he’d tried to do for her tonight. And she’d gone ahead and blown a giant, gaping hole into the night. She matched his smile with a nod. “I think I might pass that question along to Ophelia. She always knows where the best restaurants and places are to go. And I don’t really mind where we go so long as I have you guys around and we’re far away from...anything that could get in the way.” Bailey swallowed, placing her hands between her legs on the bed as she looked away. Somehow she couldn’t get what’d happened tonight out of her head.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

Life had not played exactly how the blonde had imagined it to be. It could even be said that her parent’s vision had not come true either. So in some poetic form, no one had ended up winning here. The blonde did not have some epic love romance with Liam, her high school sweetheart and she had not managed to bag some rich bag type during her time in New York much to her parent’s wishes. Even as she was in the arms of Seth she still couldn’t put one and one together, just like she hadn’t back then. Deep down she had some awareness that she was a pushover due to her people-pleasing downfalls. Never wanting to let anyone down she never allowed herself to sit down and ask herself what she wanted and what she needed. Ellie assumed that others would know the answers and give her the best. Pulling back she was pang with another realization, this was not the same friendship that she had managed to keep close to her heart. Her acts had consequences even if Seth was too kind to enforce them. That much was dropped on Ellie as Tess’s name was dropped into the conversation, “Ah yes. Barnes duty to be there for the Jenners – just thought she would end up with someone else. Not with – well with who she did.” Did this mean that Liam was single? Had it been by choice? Had her name even been brought up? Did she even care? “How about you? Going to the feminist wedding?” It was a dig, a rare one by the youngest Barnes but given everything she was allowed, was she not?

His eyebrow raised at the candidness from the blonde though he could not blame her. After all, Tess had ended up with Liam and well, Seth knew all about getting between those two. But the stupid man couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Gosh, he really did love this woman. He swallowed all of that down though. “Well, well, well, Ellie Barnes coming in hot with a few zingers right out of the shoot. I must say, I am very impressed.” He chuckled at her. In any case, it was nice to see that she was allowing herself the humanity to say such words. Seth always loved when he got to see Ellie just being herself. “I’ll be there but I wasn’t invited. The restaurant I work for is catering.” He gestured back at the kitchen behind him. “I’m definitely excited to actually see Tess with Theo. A weird combo but I kind of like it for some reason. They had a date here one night and looked really happy.” He offered with a nod. Seth had found himself his own slice of happiness in Tree Hill and he wasn’t in the business of running anymore. Just wanted to support his sister and father and maybe open his own restaurant one day. But that would all take place in due time. Still, there’d always been something missing. “But hey, how are you?” He bit his tongue about the information he actually did have of her career from the papers he’d read. It was probably creepy. Definitely creepy.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites​:

Atlas felt strange being legally married and going on a first date. Never in a million years would she had imagined herself to be in such a situation. It was not the happening of said events that terrified her; or rather made her inside turn around but rather how comfortable it was. How easy this transition was last night had been the first night that she had been able to take off her rings and not put them back on the next day. Waking up to an empty bed wasn’t new, she wished she could say that but there more nights that she had an empty bed than not throughout her marriage. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Atlas made sure if Mason was around that she would pass out in the library or on the sofa. Never feeling compel to share a bed since the moment she smelt the perfumes of various females throughout town. The reality was that Atlas knew of his adventures and late night rounds with the woman in town, she just didn’t care enough to bring them up. That should had been her first sign to realize she was not in this marriage – but how could she ruin the white picket fence that her parents and his parents had managed to build for her and Mason, the prison that had been established was a beautiful one. Anyone looking in would not be able to see the thorns and poison that was injected into them; so much that it had left her paralyzed to accept this. 

Then there she was alone one evening, the red headed pour herself – no actually, she drank from the bottle straight out and in her drunken haze she realized she wanted more – she deserved better than what she was living. Marriage was not some room mate agreement with a open option available, that was not what she had signed up for. As much regret as she had right now, she knew she would have far more if she kept going down this road. That bottle of Rosé triggered all the following events, how simple, eh? Some would demand a more profound explanation but there was none, in order for that to exist her marriage with Mason would’ve had been more profound which it had not. What managed to push her into nerves was wearing a dress instead of painted jeans and a white shirt, a dangerous item for a painter but one Atlas kept on wearing. The ruffles and the struggle of a bra were all coming back to her as she parked her car and walked up the doorsteps to Charlie’s residence. Rolling her upper lip in she gave herself a quick glance before looking up and rolling her hand into a fist as she laid three soft knocks against the wooden door. @pastawrites​

Charlie was nervous. He had no idea how they’d gone from friends in passing where he’d view her from afar hoping that she was alright. Or make fists with his hands every time he’d hear another rumor about Mason’s infidelity towards his marriage with Atlas. But so suddenly, he was now preparing himself for a date with such an incredible woman, the likes of Atlas Byrne. It was odd too, that they had had this connection all those years ago in high school. Him a computer nerd, her a gorgeous cheerleader but it had somehow worked. But then, life held very different plans for each of them and as the real world settled in around them, they were pulled further and further a part. And now, tonight, here they were going on a first date, decades in the making. It was surreal for Charlie to say the least. But the nerves that’d settled in, those felt so foreign to him. And also left him with a sinking sense of guilt as well. He’d been on a few dates here and there, encouraged by his friends since his wife’s passing. But nothing that held this kind of weight. And that was just it, Atlas held all of this weight in his life. He knew that he should be more excited, but his excitement was also blocked by allowing such feelings into his heart since the passing of his wife. Yet, he had been the one to jump into this with her. He had been the one to say let’s do this. Now’s the time. No reason to wait. But now that he was moments from her arrival, he wasn’t so sure he should’ve been so hasty.

He heard the knocks at the door though, and it was simply time to do this. He looked out the window like a kid on Christmas looking for Santa Clause, seeing her there. The suit clad Charles only had room in his mind for how beautiful he found her to be, caught up in his porch lights, standing there, waiting for him. He gripped the lapels of his sport coat, suddenly feeling a new found strength overcome him. A smile lit up his features as he made his way to the door, grabbing the bouquet of flowers Coral had managed to get for him on her way home from work. He was embarrassed he’d forgotten himself but Atlas didn’t need to know that. He gripped the knob now and opened it up so he could actually look at her straight on. Only having been able to see her profile from the window wasn’t nearly enough. The man was still nervous, feeling his heart beating in his chest, but it was different now because the guilt and anxiety had managed to melt away. “You look amazing Atlas.” He pulled the flowers from behind his back, “A beautiful bouquet for the beautiful woman before me.”

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

His sisters divorce with his upcoming parents disappointment was just some of the few things that were irking him the wrong way. Then walking into his best friend engagement with someone that he did not completely trust did not help his mood at all. “Damn, I thought I was a stand up comedian, are you saying that you do not agree with that statement?” At least there was some humor left in him. That was a surprise to him. Wasn’t she right about that, he was a giant walking mess. Some Days it baffled him how he was able to still get up and walk around portraying that he was completely okay and there was no need to check up on him. Not to say that Atlas didn’t, that woman’s entire world was crumbling down and she still had the time to phone him and make sure he wasn’t going to do anything that he wouldn’t be alive to regret. “Trust me if I came to this town more often I would not be alive. Especially when this shit with Atlas and Mason hits the fan and every major annoying family ends up finding and our parents feel like she brought shame onto the family – because me getting divorce is ok but her – well call in the pastor.” He teased before picking up the shot and drowning it with one go. As he set it onto the counter he placed his elbow onto the table and bit the top of this thumb, “Do you ever wonder where the years went? Or where the hell you went? Is this where you saw yourself ending? – fuck what if June and Grayson have it right? And they’re fighting for what they want – though that is probably not the case – I don’t know… I don’t know.”

Faye smirked at him with a scoff. “Which one? The one about you being a comedian or the one about how Atlas is old with no kids and a cheating husband?” Faye deadpanned before shrugging, “I mean the facts are the facts, yes. But in the interest of moving forward, she is also free of Mason and the Black’s at least in some senses. And when it comes to the divorce. She has you and me. And Charlie seems to be around as well.” Faye couldn’t help but wonder who he’d had when he was in the throws of his divorce seeing as he was so far away. Though based on his next statement he had a point in the benefit of being far away. Faye had always managed to stay well out of the town gossip, being the quieter girl that she was. She preferred to observe and make opinions on what she herself saw and knew of people. Her head cocked to the side softly before she nodded. Suddenly she was pouring another shot, though this one was for herself. Faye downed it with ease as any Carolina girl would do with a good whiskey. “Alright. Well then I’m just going to roll up my sleeves, put my fists up, and get ready to punch the lights out of anyone that tries to come in between Atlas and her happiness. Because if anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Atlas.” Faye winked an eye as she contemplated his deep questions for a moment. “Not really. I knew I wanted to do something with animals early on and Vet school seemed like a good option. And when my mom got sick, starting a practice in Tree Hill just made sense.” But at his assessment of June and Grayson she had to laugh, “June and Grayson are depressed star crossed lovers in some fairy tale. I mean, the brooding is way too much. But yes, hopefully they finally get their happy ending. Can’t fault them for that.”

[pastawrites]

Charlie’s brother bat signal had been going off non stop since he heard Ethan Lowe was back in town. He could tell just by the subtle changes in her demeanor that they’d spent time together, only to have that fully realized when he heard the boy from behind her bedroom door. Some things never changed. And Charlie decided to let it slide by at the time. Coral, after all, wasn’t his kid sister anymore, but a full grown adult who could make decisions for herself. That and, his hand was still swollen from the punch he’d delivered to a one, Mason Black. “Some party last night huh?” He joked holding up the ice pack that had been laying across his knuckles.

@grootwrites​

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“Did I ever say you were not the woman that I needed you to be? Did I ever make you feel that way?” Question that had no business being out roll out of his mouth so easily and carelessly that he didn’t even realize the danger that he had just presented both of them. Yet he stood there, testing fate – testing himself as he realized how much he needed the answers to everything. Because as soon as he got those answers then he would be able to move on. Then he would be able to proceed his relationship with his girlfriend and stop having one foot in the present and the other still in the past. It was not fair to either one of them; fuck it was not fair to him either. This entire time he had told himself that she had wanted freedom, more than Tree Hill and now here she stood in front of him and told him that was not the case. His defenses started to show, yet he bit his lip down knowing that they were threading a thin line between the two of them and there was a third party involved here. A party that had taken a risk on him when he himself had told her not to. Because how did anyone ever get over the love of their life? How did anyone do that and live to tell a happy story? “You think I am perfect? Andrea – I had no idea where I was going in life but I was always positive that we would face whatever together – don’t – just don’t compare us to your brother. We didn’t happen because someone peed on a stick and it turned positive. Don’t belittle us to that level.” Cameron had always bitten his tongue when it came to Mason, but hell would have to freeze over if he allowed her or anyone else to say their story was on the same level as Mason and Atlas. 

The man was standing in front of her holding all this love for her and wishing that it would just vanish into thin air, the same way that she had all those years ago. “because you had the privilege of getting on a plane and sparing yourself the ugly sight,” a low blow for sure but they were finally being raw with each other. The pleasantries were gone and if Andrea was sticking around then it was best for everyone involved for everything to be laid onto the floor, was it not? He unlike her kept his gaze on her because he wanted to say so much more. Explain how he had never learned to read her mind and how he till this day did not understand what had managed to get her to get onto that plane and come back? “You were supposed to be gone forever – and that is not me wishing you would’ve stayed away that was just the plan you forced onto me.” He hadn’t broken up on her, he had agreed to it because what other choice had he been given? Not as if he could tie her down and force her to stay – and honestly that was not a way he would’ve wanted to have. Was she a bad person? Never. That was a fact. “Not at all. Think you’re finally letting yourself feel the end of us something I had to go through.” Had he healed? No. Had he moved on? Yeah that probably was going to come out to be no but he couldn’t disclose that. “You kind of owe me that, don’t you think? We owe that to each other. Close the chapter and perhaps move from this demise and hope we can build something greater.” If that was even possible. “You should’ve stayed gone.” So there went the graceful exit.

“No. Not once. Ever.” She admitted calmly. But she knew the stakes between them had just been raised. Words that she never allowed to be exchanged between the two of them were about to come flying out without warning. At least they’d had time to really suss out how they felt? Which wasn’t the comforting thought she hoped it might be considering Cam had ended up figuring out that being with someone else was how he felt. She could feel his frustration building towards her and a part of her managed to actually want to feel it. Andrea knew that she was opening a wound for him, for both of them. But at least if it was still an open wound that meant there was somewhat of a chance for them. She knew it was selfish. All of it was selfish. But being selfish was the only option for them right now if there was a shot to get him back. Andrea loved him with all of her heart and she was sure that no one could ever be Cam or any better than him. All his quirks and wonder were what made him so special to her. His heart was the purest one she knew. All she wanted was to be let back into it, somehow, someway. Her head shook as her eyes blinked rapidly towards his sudden anger at her about comparing him to her brother. “You’re right! But I’m not as positive as you Cam. And I don’t know how to be. Comparing us to my brother and Atlas doesn’t make sense, I get that. But the point is that that’s all I know! Look at the waste land of relationships I’ve been exposed to in my life. I didn’t want to drag you into the waste land, I couldn’t bare to do it. That is why I left.” Andrea knew that he had to understand why she left, or at least she needed to try an explain herself anyway. But she was much more concerned with what had brought her back.

Never once had Andrea bared witness to such harsh words coming from Cam. The fact that they were directed at her was one thing, but the fact she’d drove him to this place at all broke her heart. She never wanted to know that this part of his existed. Tears came up to her eyes as she shook her head, “No. You could never be ugly.” She puttered out meekly as she played with the hem of her shirt. Andrea sucked in a breath, pushing it out so she could keep the tears from falling because she didn’t want to make this moment about her. “I know Cam. But I’m not sorry for coming back. And I do regret leaving, well--that’s not entirely true--I.” Her head shook, trying to give him the floor. “I felt it. Just because I was in Ireland you think I didn’t feel it?!” She couldn’t believe that he really believed that. “I cried myself to sleep for months Cameron. Do you think I just woke up and forgot about what it was like to be in love with and spend time with my absolute best friend in the entire world? I cut myself off from everyone. Do you think I’m a robot with no feelings?” Again, she took a breath trying to calm herself. It wasn’t like she could expect him to believe that she managed to feel anything for him after getting a plane but it was still the truth. “Well--like I said I don’t regret leaving because it gave me what I needed to truly feel like I can actually be enough for you. This might not make any sense to you at all but I figure if it could make sense to anyone, then it must be you. The person that knows me best. I don’t want closure. Screw closure. I want you. I want us.” Andrea made to start walking towards him, hoping that she could also show him with action, not just words. But she was stopped abruptly in her tracks with those words, her eyes falling to the floor. She lifted them up again to meet his, “You don’t mean that.” She whispered, those tears rising up again towards her eyes.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“Not at all. I am saying that you just don’t give these places a chance because of the reputation we have been given. This means you should imagine how many places you have actually passed up that are amazing, all because you decided to listen to a couple of layers.” The entire culture of this generation was something he was still getting used to. Most people didn’t know what good food was even if they were forced fed it. It was all about the avocado toast and chai seeds – things that he kept on wishing would just go away. Of course, both items were great on their own but they didn’t deserve nor qualify to negate an entire industry such as gourmet restaurants and he was waiting for the day that people actually realized that. Maisie was giving him a distraction that he greatly needed, and he knew that much was lost on the blond. “You did? Congrats on that. You really should try the sirloin but if you want the salad then I can get that done, but with something this big you should probably live it up. Maybe even get yourself a bottle of wine.” He paused  as he thought, his index finger landing against his chin, “What is that new motto people say – treat yourself.”

Maisie laughed at his assessment. “Well then you’d be right about that. And I’ll take one in the L column for that, but only one. Because you cannot tell me that there is not at least some level of stuffiness going on in here. But I cannot deny that the food is delicious and I don’t often treat myself to it.” She admitted. This was not the first time Mason had come around to hit on Maisie even if they were just making conversation, the man always seemed to have some sort of agenda, especially when it came to women. With a small town like this it was difficult to live under the radar. Though one thing she’d never turn down were some good rounds of flirting. “Thank you.” She lifted her water glass up in gratitude for his compliment before smiling as she shook her head, “It has been a long while since I’ve indulged in my love of red meat other than hamburgers, that is.” Her lips twisted around as she considered the idea, “Alright, make it champagne and I’m in. I prefer my wines bubbly.” Her eyes rolled with jest and a smirk, “Well, well, well, aren’t you so hip and cool. That the secret to all the women?”

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“Your eyes are like mine,” Poppy pointed out as she extended her small hand to shake his, “You need some lotions – ma,” the little girl turned her head over to Layla, “Ma he needs some lotion.” Her hands tighten onto Poppy’s shoulders, as she allows what was taking place to finally hit her. Her daughter had the same hair color and hues as the man in front of him, how much longer would she be able to keep the secret for? Would she ever be able to tell Poppy of who her father was? How was she going to explain that her father was now her uncle in law? How was it possible that with just one encounter her entire life was being turned upside down. They had the same clear sky eyes, the one thing she had felt that she still had thought she had kept for herself was actually being shared with her sister, not Marisol the younger one but of course with Eliza. It would be Eliza, the one that she kept coming up second best with her entire life. “Mommy, can I go play over there?!” Poppy’s third pleas were enough to snap her back into reality as she nodded, as she bites her lip. The woman watched her daughter run off, wishing she had that option too right now. Not that it would do any good as her feet were glued to the position that they were stuck. They were alone and it probably would be the only time this happened, god how did this even happen? “You’re marrying Eliza?” He didn’t owe her anything much less an explanation to the great epic story that she was certain was Sean and Eliza. God, she wasn’t feeling well. “Why? – I mean – I just –” You’re not her type. Her hand went up to her forehead as she pushed the strand of her hairs back, breathing was becoming more complicated to do with each passing second. How did something she did without thinking become so damn hard, “I – where is the bathroom?” she needed out, out of here. This was not happening. It wasn’t. “Please.” she pleaded. 

His eyes took in Poppy, a dark glaze falling over them as he processed what the little girl had said. As her tiny hand fell into his, Sean’s other hand closed around it as he held it softly. He prayed to God in that moment that she was not his. That he had not lost any time with his child. Did he realize he was jumping to conclusions? Yes. But he still couldn’t let the idea go until he closed the possibility. Innocent children sure didn’t lie. And she was right. Slowly his eyes fell down to his hands, as if his life was happening in slow motion. Again, the little girl was right. Sean always needed lotion. “Smart girl.” He smiled softly, though it was strained to be sure. The man couldn’t even begin to process the possibility that Poppy could be his. One minute he was meeting Eliza’s family, the next his hands had gone clammy, his body felt as though it was on fire. This was one of those moments where Sean would normally run to the nearest bar. But it wasn’t exactly as thought that sort of thing could work at an engagement party. One he’d never wanted in the first place but marriage, love, it was about a sacrifice right? Sean stood up as the girl had become distracted by something else, leaning back on his heals as he took Layla in. She was just as pretty as he’d remembered her. Sean nodded, never having been a man of many words. His lips curled in on one another because he was afraid of where this conversation might lead. But he only had a moment to process that before he could see that she was panicking suddenly. Sean closed the gap between them without so much as a thought, “I--here--I’ll take you. It’s just right over here.” He allowed her to lean into him should she need to as he guided them to the bathroom. Honestly her panic was a bit of welcome distraction for him to focus on. But he knew once she went into the bathroom, he’d have to grapple with the fact that she’d begun panicking at all.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

There was validity behind her statement. Elijah wanted to say that he was over his own divorce but moments like these reminded him that he was not. That he had signed the document and no longer held any ties with his ex but he hadn’t healed, maybe because he had never given himself time to do just that. As soon as the divorce was finalized he went back to work and never looked back not that Faye had any idea of that mess that he had done. “You do realize how old Atlas is, right? That she wasn’t able to have her own and was cheated on countless times? Somehow I doubt that was the life my sister had imagined for herself. Not like she can buy a ticket and get herself to Paris. Not when she still has ties connecting her to this town,” Yet once again Faye was right, it was not as bad as he was making it out to be, with that he allowed a deep sigh to fall out of his mouth before clamping his hands together, “Just keep the shots coming. I think I need to get myself into a better mood before I am kicked out of this state in less than twenty-four hours of being here.” Tree Hill just had the ability to remind him of everything he had once had – how he had been on the top of the world and how low he fucking was. Not that anyone from the outside could actually see or even be bothered to see. “June got married? Damn. Probably should’ve shot my shot when I had the chance,” he joked as he shrugged, not truly knowing how to respond to that, “Some days I would agree with that.” 

Faye didn’t really consider herself to be an optimist, but compared to Elijah right now she was like a Raven’s cheerleader at the State Championship. But this wasn’t even cynicism, it felt more like unbridled pain. Faye couldn’t say she’d been through a divorce or experienced the hardships that Atlas had taken on recently, or not so recently, first hand anyway. But she had been there for her every step of the way. And had faced her own adversity in life. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t lead with that one when you see her.” Faye joked. Again, joking wasn’t exactly her modus operandi, though she felt it was needed to lighten the mood a bit. But with his need for shots, Faye had to chuckle at him, “You really are a mess. Maybe you needed to come back to Tree Hill more than you thought. At least it’s a change of pace anyway.” She offered as she poured him another shot. Placing it in front of him Faye laughed at his joke regarding June. “Everyone knows June is still hung up on Grayson but what is she going to do with the love of her life in jail.” Faye couldn’t help but mock the idea of love the two of them had created. They lived in a fairy tale but, well more like a romantic tragedy, which made zero sense to Faye. “Are you okay Elijah? I mean shots are a great way to get through the night but it’s all still there in the morning.”

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

The woman had not expected to see him tonight – or ever. This was a chapter she had closed on willingly and had accepted the regrets that came with. “You call babysitting the shit my sister still does normal?” Sure she hadn’t been there physically but she had kept tabs on her people. The woman was not as careless and heartless as she made herself out to be. If any of them had actually needed her help she would’ve been on the first flight back. “Not to mention still in this shithole of a town, though you would’ve gotten out. That was all you said you would do. seems more like a familiar than anything else,” did he deserve her harshness? Not at all. Isla was thankful for everything he had done but to allow an ounce of kindness to come out of her – she would need to locate any. Life had taken so much from her that she couldn’t care about being as empty as she was. Yet her eyes never left his, as if that would be enough for him to see she had no malice. “I would get kicked out. Think they would discover my role as a homewrecker,” a joke and yet the truth. Part of her wondered what he would think if he knew what she had been up to these past years. 

He smirked at her crassness, though it was completely fair. Holden pulled some whiskey from the top shelf and two glasses. Pouring one for her and one for herself his head cocked to the side, “Well that’s the easy part, at this point your sister is predictable. Running a business, that’s the hard part. Gotta make the right decisions that keep my life afloat. Not like anyone ever taught me the ins and outs of accounting or any of that.” Holden shook his head, “Yeah me too but this place knows just how to suck you right back in.” He’d be lying if there wasn’t a part of him that was waiting for her to darken his door. They’d always had an understanding of each other, one that he didn’t have with anyone else. Isla had found her true love though, so he couldn’t compare to that. Still though, life always seemed to find them back together. “Their lives are just as messy as anyone else’s. Just makes them feel superior to you because their insecurities aren’t on display for everyone to pick apart. Not that I have anything to be insecure about--my life--isn’t all bad. I’m free, even in this town. Everyone’s opinions of me are solid and I couldn’t care less what they are.” Holden held his glass up to Isla before drawing it up to his lips and downing it all in one go.

[pastawrites]

grootwrites·:

“I guess we should be thankful that we are a couple of fuck ups. Our parents did a bang-up job,” he ended up throwing out there. He waved off that thought and clicked his tongue over the roof of his mouth as he bought himself some time before answering the rest of the dialogue. “I see you the same way everyone does. If someone else says something different then they are idiots and fuck them,” it was easy to say those words, Mason had rarely given a shit what others thought about him or his actions. Life had been easier back then in high school where everyone had thought twice than to say anything – you know when everyone worshiped him because he was able to get them a victory score. God he was missing those days. The screams and the praises were something he was missing right about now that the one thing that he did his best to make work was falling apart. His marriage had been a joke from the start, a joke that should’ve ended years ago but Atlas him were probably still punishing themselves for being so damn stupid. “Good luck with that. Let me know how that goes. I think the distance and that huge ocean between here and there managed to make you forget how things work in this family.” No one truly did support his life choices or even give any support in any shape and form. “I am just saying – seems like both of our exes have managed to move on. Now we have to do the same. Of course, one could argue that I did that with all my affairs,” He was not an idiot and he didn’t hold his sister was one either, she knew that he had managed to break the vows he had made that day at their wedding. “At least yours isn’t married so you might want to say something if you still care about the kid or not. That is a good idea. I say we just get them tickets to a cruise and then once they’re in they can’t leave.” 

“Well no, I wouldn’t say that, just thankful I’m not the only fuck up or the black sheep, if you will. And neither are you.” It was conversations like these the restored that itch for Andrea to want to leave. If the two of them could just pack up and get away from the cloud of their parents wouldn’t they inevitably be happier? It made so much sense to her logical mind, but she knew what it was like to actually be half way across the world away from this place. And it hadn’t panned out the way she imagined. “Okay fine. Then I’m insulted that you think I have a huge heart because I actually pride myself on having a small one only reserved for those who actually deserve it.” She was speaking in jest, though she really couldn’t believe her heart could be that big based on the choices she’d made and the upbringing she’d been afforded. “No see, I will not let you know how it goes because then that would defeat the purpose of keeping you out of it and allowing you to go about your life and heal without their grubby fingers getting all up in it. I think they have nothing on me anymore. What do they have on you anyway? What’s the worst they could do?” Andrea was ready to combat one issue at a time with Mason. And their parents were actually a large and in charge one so it was as good a place to start as any. “Who’s this one making that argument? I do not care about any ‘ones’ except me and you. We are in this together remember.” Ignoring his notion of moving on that had anything to do with her. Andrea had been coming to terms with the fact that she was going to have to tell Cameron that she had been wrong about everything. So moving on wasn’t quite on her agenda yet. But Mason beat her to it anyway, “I know, I know. That’s what Tess said too.”