“O.M.G. You’re totally Georgette Midler!” Barbie both squealed and gushed immediately standing up to face the blonde. “I just love your make up line I’ve totally based outfits solely on a lipstick shade. Some of my best looks. I have to admit.”
“Also your outfits totally stunning too.” Now this was someone that Barbie wouldn’t mind styling, there was just a flawlessness to her skin, to her posture, she would be a pleasure to style.
.
Georgette was glad to see the girl get herself right up from the ground, she wasn’t about lending a hand these days. The other person could up landing for more than what they bargained for.Â
A smile began to form on Georgette’s lips at the recognition and compliments given. That was always one sure fire why to make her change her mind about a person.Â
“Thank you. I’d have to say the same for yours, I like it.”Â
Give credit where credit is due. Georgette could always spot someone with a good fashion sense, even if said person had just been weirdly enjoying occupying the ground.Â
Barbie knew Swynlake played tricks. It always had, always would. But Barbie knew these streets. She had grown up running around these streets and it was nostalgic.
So nostalgic that when Barbie walked by town hall her foot caught on the stupid brick that always seemed to break whether or not the town fixed. And while Barbie fell and broke her fall with her hands there was no reason to spring back up and instead collapsed down like she had just tripped badly.
“You would think that brick would be fixed by now. Or you know I’d remember that it always broke.” Barbie stated grinning up at the Swynlaker brushing off her knees but she didn’t get up. Nope she was fine here for at least a few moments.
There were a couple of perks to being sort of undead that Georgette has come to accept to love in these almost two years. One of those: not gaining weight. She never gained weight anymore, like at all and that meant she could eat absolutely all she wanted, whenever she wanted.
And, she didn’t have to care about ingredients or calories.Â
Granted, she also didn’t feel hunger anymore... but whenever she got the thought to take a bite of something, she didn’t have to think about any repercussions.Â
So, this morning, Georgette was enjoying a very, very sweet with whole milk and super sugary creme coffee. Yes, this coffee was completing her soul right now (er well sorta soul?) or rather it would’ve if she didn’t have to stop mid-sip because some blonde girl was just plopped on the cement ground blocking her way.Â
What was wrong with this town?Â
Quirking a brow, Georgette spoke. “Um—you alright?”Â
Summary: Hercules and Georgette made a getaway to Greece and while they slept, Georgette suffers through a night terror.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assualt, Rape with description so please tread carefully
@gothedistance-herc
GEORGETTE:
Hercules’s lips felt soft against her own and as she was tugged in closer wrapped in all of his warm body heat, it was the perfect environment to doze right off to sleep.
That always helped as sleeping was something her body needed to learn to get used to again. It wasn’t an automatic process to achieve shd had to re-learn.
“I love you too.” She whispered in return right before sleep took over.
Georgette didn’t realize when darkness began to surround her. It was an oppressive darkness, the kind you couldn’t see your hand in front of you or even breathe through.
Panic began to rise inside of Georgette’s chest and settle deep within her throat. She could hear the full rush of her heartbeat crushing over her ears getting louder and louder.
Georgette’s body jerked.
Hands began to rip at her dress. They were rough and firm pinning Georgette down against her squirming body with a brutal force.
She could hear her own screams and begging shrieks of stopping echoing back to her. A heavy body weight placed itself over hers and it ripped the breath away from Georgette. She cried, fought and screamed again. All it produced was a laugh.
Georgette shifted, her head began to toss and turn.
It was gruff and husky, filled with a sickening thrill of pleasure. It was Howard, no now it was Ryan. It was both mingling together.
Silent cries began to fill the room.
Wet lips sloppily pressed themselves down the line of her neck, as the reek of cologne overpowered Georgette’s senses. She screamed louder, fought harder. Knees aggressively pushed at her thighs now pressing in violently to force her legs open.
Georgette immediately woke up, heart racing and beating painfully against her chest.
HERCULES:
It had never taken Hercules long to fall asleep. Why would it? He didn’t have normal anxieties about something happening while he was resting like most people. Sure, he stayed up late sometimes, worrying about things that were out of his control: whether people would ever like him...his powers...if Georgette loved him back…
But once he made the decision to close his eyes and his head hit the pillow, he was always quick to fall asleep. And he fell into deep sleep too. In fact, he probably slept too much. Sometimes, the depression got too much and weighed him down and he’d sleep until noon, until one…
Thing was: he also wasn’t that used to someone sleeping in the bed with him.
Sure, sometimes he and Pegasus would crash for a catnap, but Hercules never slept as well. Pegasus’ wings were fragile and Herc had no idea how much he rolled in his sleep. Last thing he wanted to do was thrash out an arm and shatter one of the delicate bones. With Georgette, she wasn’t as delicate these days, but he still worried and even in just a normal sense, it was different, sleeping next to another person.
They didn’t do it very often. Most of the time they slept in their own beds at their own apartments, but occasionally, the movie ran late or they stayed up talking and it didn’t make much sense. And when they’d gone to New York, they’d shared a hotel.
It was still infrequent enough to be relatively unfamiliar. Nice, but unfamiliar.
Which meant that when Georgette jerked beside him, Hercules was roused partially from sleep. With each twitch and gasped breath, he rose out of his own slumber, until he was awake and propping himself up on his elbow.
“Georgette,” he murmured to her.
When she didn’t wake, he put a hand on her shoulder. “Georgette,” he said a little more firmly as she started to whimper in her sleep, her beautiful face twisted like a gorgon’s.
Eventually, she jerked awake and sat up, her eyes glinting in the dark. Hercules drew back, worried about touching her.
“Georgette…?” he started hesitantly. Â
GEORGETTE:
It took a while before Georgette was able to place together her current environment. She still felt as if she was wrapped under that oppressive darkness. Shapes were difficult to fall in place when her heart was still racing a mile a minute.
She heard her name and instantly turned her head toward the direction of the voice. It was Hercules. Hercules was right next to her.
Hercules was here. She was in Greece. They had been sleeping.
She had been sleeping.
The thought seemed to snap all the pieces into place. Georgette began to try and settle down the pace of her breathing and raked a hand through her hair. Her skin was slightly damped and her eyes were misted over with water.
It had been a nightmare. She had a nightmare. They were back. A part of her should’ve known that they would return. With everything going on with Ryan, it should have been expected that all of her memories would come back to haunt her.
They always came violently. They always stole her sleep.
Georgette clenched her wrist now, trying her best to mentally stop the shakiness she felt inside and not worry Hercules. She was sure that she put him through enough, he didn’t need all of this on top of it all.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I-I’m fine. It’s okay… You can- you can go back to sleep.”
HERCULES:
Hercules let out a little, quiet breath when Georgette looked at him and her vision was mostly clear. He knew sometimes people could look like they were awake but still be asleep. The last thing Hercules wanted was to be involved in whatever was going on in Georgette’s nightmares.
It didn’t matter what she said, though, because he was worried.
How could he not be? Night terrors were nothing to joke at. Hercules had never had them before but he couldn’t imagine that they just happened to people without something triggering them. Without there being some sort of external pressure or experience, which meant that he was going to worry, because anything that bothered Georgette bothered him too.
Sitting up to lean against the headboard, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and then ran his hand over his face, waking himself up more.
What time was it?
Didn’t matter.
His eyes slid to Georgette’s grip on her wrist. Slowly, he reached out and covered her hands with one of his own, giving them a little squeeze. Not wanting to upset her more, but feeling unable to stop his urge to try and comfort her too.
“Hey,” he said, catching her eye in the half-dark, blue light spilling in through the thin curtains and the beach beyond. “You’re clearly not okay.” It wasn’t an accusation. It just--was what it was.
“I’m here, yeah? You can talk to me.”
GEORGETTE:
Hercules gently slipped his hand over her own and Georgette flinched.
She hadn’t meant to. The movement was involuntary, but her muscles had clenched together just as tightly as her own hold on her wrist. Georgette knew that Hercules would never ever hurt her. He would never. Even when she was hurting after coming back from the dead, she knew inside that Hercules genuinely had not meant any harm. Even when mad at him, she knew.
It was one of the many reasons she had fallen in love with him. His kindness and how safe he always made her feel. He had always cared for her, always.
But her body didn’t know that right now. Right now, her body was only recognizing the threat of the nightmare that had resurfaced all she had survived through. It was fight or flight.
Even so, this was Hercules. This was her Hercules, her Hercules. She knew that he would never. He would never. He would never. He. Would. Never.
A fresh pool of tears began to form in her eyes and before Georgette knew it they started pouring out sliding down in streams off her cheeks. There was a lot that was running through her mind. The memories of that night, the pain and trauma she felt like a weight in her chest. The fact that that night was still taking so much from her even now.
Georgette wanted to claw at her own mind as she clenched her wrist tighter looking up at Hercules through a fogged veil of tears. She hiccuped and suddenly found herself burying her face on Hercules’s chest, her arms desperately wrapped around him.
“I-I’m sorry I-I didn’t mean to. I didn’t. I didn’t. It was the nightmare. I-I thought they stopped. I-I hadn’t had one in while not-not since titanic. I thought they stopped. I-I thought they stopped.”
HERCULES:
Georgette flinched away from him and it hurt. Hercules didn’t know what external hurt felt like, not really. Even his memories of being shortly and blissfully human were fading now, since it had been two years since. But internal hurt? Hercules knew what that felt like. He had a heart like a bruise. He was used to the burst of pain when it squeezed.
What he was not used to was this particular hurt coming from Georgette. She had always been fascinated by him. There had never been a moment of fear. When he’d saved her from that car, she’d only found it shocking, not horrifying. Even when he’d accidentally turned her into whatever immortal being she was now, she hadn’t been afraid of him. Pissed off, yeah, but not afraid.
He tried to swallow down the hurt. Tell himself that it wasn’t him. Something that Georgette echoed. It made his heart squeeze again. She didn’t need to worry about his feelings.
“Georgette, it’s okay,” he reassured into her sweet-smelling hair. His arms wrapped around her, holding her as tightly as he was able, now that she had come to him. She could feel the shaking of her body. It made him angry again, in a way he was not often angry. He was not the type of person to seek revenge--he knew there was little he could do to help Georgette in that way, but still, the idea of punching her attacker so hard that his head came clean off--
Well, it wasn’t an unwelcome thought.
Still, Hercules knew that being here for her now was more helpful. Even if slightly less satisfying.
“You don’t have to apologize to me. I’m here, no one is gonna hurt you, ever again.”
GEORGETTE:
Georgette didn’t realize when the sobbing had started, but they most certainly had taken over by now. They were the hard wrenching sobs, the ones that ripped through her gut and pierced through her body. They were ravaging through and through in the same fashion they had the night of her rape.
Except for that night when she went home and confessed all that had occurred to her mother, there wasn’t anyone there to hold her.
That night, Georgette had curled up and hugged her own knees tight, all alone.
Tonight, Hercules held her. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. He kept her safe and secured nestled close in his embrace. He spoke to her softly and kept passing a gentle hand through her hair. He was trying his best to soothe and comfort her.
Hercules had not runoff. He had not given her the cold shoulder. He did not leave her alone. It was his voice she could hear now instead of Ryan’s laughter ringing behind her ears. It was his voice that was quieting her own screams in her mind.
He took away her monsters.
Georgette could feel her body beginning to settle. Her breathing came in slower gasps and her arms held onto Hercules less tightly. She curled herself closer to him, tucking herself right in as much as she could as she hiccuped a bit.
“I used to get these all the time…” Georgette confessed quietly. “I never slept. I was so scared to sleep.” It was how she became dependent on alcohol. The alcohol kept her night terrors at bay, they never haunted her when she was completely blacked out. Georgette could sleep then.
“I never felt safe… it was- it was just always me.”
Georgette looked up at Hercules, a coating of tears still misting her eyes. A part of her wanted to stay hidden on his chest like she had been because she knew that all the vulnerability and fragileness she felt right now were lined clearly on her face. There was no hiding it.
She hated how vulnerable she felt. She hated that Hercules had to see it all. Â
“I never meant to make you go through all of this, Hercules, I’m so sorry.”
HERCULES:
Hercules frowned, but was quiet as Georgette spoke. He knew it was his job, in this moment to listen. Not offer solutions or comfort. It was a listening ear that Georgette needed him to lend. No one had ever listened to Georgette. No one had believed her or wanted to hear the story. Hercules just wanted her to know that, with him, she was always heard. Perhaps, not always understood, but definitely heard.
He couldn’t imagine what that was like. To not be heard. To not feel safe.
His parents had always comforted him, had always listened. And even though he was often the scary thing, they made him feel safe and loved. No matter what, Hercules had never doubted how much they loved him and that was the kind of thing that allowed a person to blossom. To feel safe.
Hercules wanted to be that person for Georgette.
He rubbed at her arm, kissed her forehead softly.
“You have nothing to apologize for. This is what people do, when they’re in love.” He gave her a soft little smile. “You deserve to have people stand by your side and that’s what I’m going to do. No matter what. Well, maybe if you murder someone.” He gave her a little squeeze. “But, probably even then. I love you, Georgette. I want to make sure you always feel loved and safe and heard. It’s not a burden. You’re not a burden, alright? I’m happy to be your shoulder to cry on.”
GEORGETTE:
Georgette laughed. It was a small one, wet and almost inaudible but she had laughed. Even after everything, her cries, tears, and the flinching Hercules had managed to wrap her in a warm and safe comfort that allowed her mind to fall at ease.
He wanted to be there for her in everything, not just the good but the bad and the ugly too, through her fears, her lows, and her tears.
This was something so foreign to Georgette that a part of her still wanted to build a wall and reassure  Hercules that he didn’t need to be, that she was really fine even when in reality she wasn’t. She could protect him from herself and all the pieces of her that felt ripped and mangled.
But, he didn’t want that, Hercules loved her and for tonight, that was enough for Georgette.
It was okay to allow herself to feel loved and cared about by the person she loved without the fear that her trauma will drive him away.
Georgette placed a soft kiss on Hercules’s chest right over where his heart beat strong and steady for her.
“Thank you and I do. I always feel at my safest with you.”
She admitted softly. Georgette always had even after dying, after coming back and through all the anger she had towards Hercules because of it, she still felt at her safest when he was around.
Georgette moved a bit now so that she was able to reach height level with Hercules and place a gentle kiss on his lips.
“Even if I may not show it, you have always been my safe place. I love you, Hercules.”
Bianca knew the look of a woman with a lot on her plate. She was a woman with a lot on her plate, more often than not, and though she liked to think she maintained something of a calmer exterior, she definitely had that look in her eye from time to time.
She gave a soft ah of understanding as the woman took her phone back, knowing she should perhaps just say you’re welcome and be on her way, but… well. She pressed her lips together and then decided to just go for it.
“You know, if you wanted to vent to a complete stranger to get whatever it is off your chest, I have a spare five minutes.”
Georgette took a silent moment to contemplate the offer currently presented to her. She was sure this woman would end up immediately regretting her offer if she truly knew what came with Georgette unloading.Â
Honestly, how does one say all the bullshit that was Georgette’s life right now?!
And yet, Georgette was tempted in going ahead and trying to attempt placing it all into sentences anyways. For one, she was tired. Everything felt heavy on her shoulders because this had been an on-going fight. It was always one thing after another. Two, it wasn’t like it was a secret anyways. All this woman had to do was open a magazine and she would find out.Â
What did Georgette have to lose in the end then? Besides, her therapist did say that speaking was helpful.
“I have to figure out how to very professionally say in a public statement that my wealthy, and very well loved ex-boyfriend is a manipulative, lying piece of shit. I have to also do this very soon before the media believes all he has been saying.”Â
Being back in Swynlake was almost surreal — it felt like years had past, and no time at all; like everything had changed, but everything was eerily similar, too. No doubt as time went on she’d feel like she had never been away in the first place, even if there were some things that were new, or different.
She eyed the window of her old apartment as she walked down Main Street, a coffee in one hand and her tote bag tucked under her other arm. It was strange to be here alone, and stranger still to be in a new apartment, a new office, though… perhaps that was for the best. Everything that had happened before needed to be put into the past. New apartment, new office. That was a good thing.
She might have been deep in thought, but she was not so distracted that she didn’t notice the person she was about to pass, and their phone as it slipped out of their hand. It was one quick movement — Bianca reached down to intercept it as it fell, catching it in her free hand and straightening up, no coffee spilled, her bag still on her shoulder, not a hair out of place.
“Butter fingers?” She laughed to the person that turned to look at her, holding out the phone.
Georgette was so done with her phone!Â
It was a new one since she recently broke her old one, and quite on purpose if anyone was wondering. She was about ready to break this one as well. It was vibrating incessantly and she has had just about enough with it.Â
A good half of her phone call and messages were from Gary and Cassandra the other half were from spans of media in the United States. They all, however, were about one thing: her response to the public speech her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, had made that was now circling the media.Â
It was very frustrating! How many times was a victim going to have to explain her story?! She was the victim! She wanted to tear his face off!
Why was life so frustrating?! Well... could she even technically think that? She was undead after all...
Georgette was in the middle of texting Gary when her phone had slipped from her fingers. Thankfully (or maybe unthankfully, honestly Georgette wouldn’t have minded her cell phone falling and breaking) someone had caught it.
“More like frustrated fingers,” Georgette replied very carefully taking a hold of her cell phone. The last thing she needed was to harm anyone because she was too angry to pay attention to her strength.
“But thank you.” And then she smiled, because this woman, after all, was not the cause of her current problems in life.Â
Hercules chuckled and began to pull Georgette down the beach again, their hands still entwined together. Hercules had always loved traveling and the idea of getting to do something like this more–with Georgette–was definitely appealing. Made him want to shirk all his responsibilities and go gallivanting across the world. That would be ideal, honestly.
Of course, he’d want somewhere to come back to. He had always wanted that. A proper home. For the most part, Swynlake was that. It hadn’t kicked him out, even when over and over he had proved that he didn’t really deserve to stay. Maybe he didn’t totally feel like he belonged there, but it was something close to that feeling.
And, with Georgette–well, he knew that even if something ever happened and Swynlake decided enough was enough. As long as he had Georgette, he thought that that would be alright with him. Maybe he hadn’t even really been looking for a home to accept him, but a person.
Though, it still felt rather complicated and often, no matter how content, Hercules still felt like he was–odd and different and didn’t fit and didn’t belong.
Good thing his stomach rumbled, right on cue and he laughed a little more.
“Okay, okay, let’s go—” his eyes scanned the beach and then he pointed with their joined hands to a taverna right on the shore, close enough you could dip your feet into the water from some of the tables. “Let’s just go there, yeah? Looks good to me. As for our next trip, well, there are still a ton of places I haven’t gone like–Alaska. Or South Africa.”
"I’ll go wherever you want to go next.”
Dinner was delicious and the setting made the meal that more delectable. There wasn’t a time in Georgette’s past where she can say that she was able to feel the cool of the ocean over her feet while eating dinner. It was definitely something she would love to do again.Â
But now night had fallen and the sky was dark filled with a heaven of bright stars.Â
If she could feel tired, Georgette knew this would be the hour where her body would begin to wind down and seek a slumbering rest. As it was, she currently couldn’t but that didn’t mean that the blonde could fall asleep. She could still sleep even if the need for it was no longer necessary.Â
Georgette slipped herself into comfortable pajamas: some shorts and a tank-top. She loosened her hair from any ties it had been wrapped in (she could never sleep if her hair felt tight) and walked herself over to Hercules’s bedroom. She entered his room with a smile and found him already laid out on the bed.
In hindsight, she probably should’ve knocked first, but that was barely a present thought in her mind as Georgette was already crawling onto the bed and curling herself comfortably beside Hercules. She rested her head over his chest and smiled once again.
“I thought you could use some company tonight.”Â
“I suck at finding people like that.” Jasmine was perfect. The best set of qualities that worked with Melody. She was easy to be with and Melody was having a hard time finding that again.
“I’d take some good luck and hope looking up at this rate. I’m done with all the bumps in the road, please and thank you.”
Georgette laughed.Â
She understood Melody’s pain, her own road to Hercules had been filled with a lot of catastrophic bumps (I mean she died for crying out loud). After some time it just all gets confusing, and frustrating and all sorts of painful. It made any sane person want to lose hope.Â
“I’ll make sure to have a very firm conversation to whoever the fuck is sitting upstairs so that they get their shit together and make things work out for you. In the meantime though, I can offer an awkward and painful free milkshake, my treat?”Â
He wondered if Swynlake was good for Georgette. Or if he should pitch moving somewhere far, far away. Where they’d never have to deal with any of the bullshit again. Maybe it had been long enough he could go back to India. Would Georgette like it there? Or they could go somewhere new. There was still places Hercules had not lived. And while he was reluctant to leave Swynlake (it was, after all, the only place that hadn’t kicked him out after several fuck ups), he would followed Georgette anywhere.
When she tugged him to a stop, he let those thoughts go. Instead, he looked down at Georgette and smiled at her.Â
“I’m glad to hear it,” he told her, reach up with his free hand to brush some of her windswept curls off her face.Â
It was true too, because Hercules worried. Georgette had a lot of baggage and while Hercules may be strong, it didn’t mean he knew how to carry it. All he wanted was to be somewhere for Georgette to go. If she didn’t leave Swynlake, at least he would be there.Â
He leaned down and kissed her softly.Â
“We should make it a habit to get out more, hm?”Â
Georgette hummed pleasantly into Hercules’s kiss enjoying the sweet softness that brushed over her lips and mingled in with the cool sea breeze. She smiled, shifting a little so that she was able to place her head gently on Hercules’s chest.
“We should. I would love that.”Â
Traveling was always something Georgette enjoyed and she had been used to since her youth. Even when young she was constantly traveling to new states for a pageant and as she got older her traveling expanded across seas to photoshoots and a slew of other things work-related.Â
There weren’t many trips, however, that hadn’t been business-related. She never had traveled somewhere where it was like this, with someone she cared for in the way she cared for Hercules. Sure, there have been friends (or what she thought were friends) that have tagged along before and would keep her company during her work endeavors but, this was different.
This was a better difference, this was spending precious uninterrupted time away from all worries with someone she loved.Â
“But you would have to choose the next place since I chose this one. It’s only fair and where you’d like to eat before your stomach starts growling at me.”Â
Writing Task: Magazine/News Article about your character!
Trigger Warning(s): Rape, Sexual Assualt. Nothing in detail. Â
Summary: Georgette comes across a very disturbing magazine article.
Georgette was in for her scheduled manicure and pedicure. The nail salon was rather busy and currently, all the nail technicians were occupied. Thankfully, one was almost done and Georgette didn’t mind waiting that bit of time. She didn’t have much planned for the day anyway.Â
Only after choosing her nail polish color did the blonde decide to take a seat while she waited. Idly looking around to kill some time, her eyes over the round table in front of her to see a small pile of magazines displayed in the center.Â
Normally, Georgette didn’t care so much about magazines. She learned to care about them less and less during the wake of her rape and all that followed. This time, however, her focus had been caught by a certain magazine. It was the People’s Magazine, a highly read magazine in the states that held the words HIS UNTOLD STORY bold and in yellow as the front page title.Â
Georgette leaned over and picked it up.
On the front cover as well, was a picture of her and photoshopped next to that photo was a picture of her ex-boyfriend, Ryan. Georgette immediately flipped to the next page to find the article's story.
On Tuesday, the night of November twelfth, Ryan Warren, son of multimillionaire and current New York State Senator, Mark Warren was arrested and later indicted for an accessory to the rapes of Georgette Midler and Tiffany Hardings. On the afternoon of his bail posting, when pressed with questions on the footsteps of New York City’s criminal court concerning the allegations he was charged with, his lawyer firmly responded with “no comment.”
Silence continued to ensue within the walls of the Warren estate until last evening when Mark Warren held a press conference for his son, Ryan who was present to answer questions.
When asked his thoughts against the charges pressed against him and the confirmation of ex-girlfriend media personality and socialite Georgette Midler as a witness for the persecution, Ryan Warren had this to say:
“First and foremost, I want to say that I am terribly sorry for the tragedy both Ms. Midler and Ms. Hardings had to befall under the hands of our previous head of security, Howard Tryniski. It was an act of monstrosity and one never deserved for either or any woman. My deepest condolences continue to go out to both women and all that they have suffered through. I wish only the best for them and their journey through recovery.”
Howard Tryniski was found guilty in the case of sexual assault against Tiffany Hardings, for which Georgette Midler participated as a primary witness against the defense.
“Concerning the allegations charged against me, I stand in complete shock and horror that such false accusations have been surmised about me. I have never and will never aide, encourage or wish to commit harm of any kind against Georgette. I loved her dearly once, and saught a future with her.Â
My deepest regret will always be my loss of her and not being able to be with her through what I must believe had to be some of her darkest hours. Again, I wish nothing but the absolute best for Georgette in both her recovery and her future endeavors. I cannot speak for her as to why she believes such repulsive things of me, but I hold hope that all this confusion will soon be cleared.”
Ryan Warren continued giving his deepest apologizes on behalf of himself and his parents to both Tiffany Hardings and Georgette Midler, for having believed his head of security, Howard Tryniski’s words of innocence and accepts full responsibility for having had such horrible judgment of character. He currently awaits his trial date.Â
“We are ready for you now, Georgette.”Â
Holly’s voice ripped Georgette away from the haze of confusion she felt herself slipping into. Holly looked at the magazine that Georgette was holding in her hand and her face went pale.
“I-I am so sorry Georgette! I told Lindsey to make sure that she trashed all copies of those magazines. She must have missed one... I-we don’t believe any of it... any of what that man said.”Â
Georgette simply nodded her head, dropped the magazine back on the table and got up. “I’ll come back tomorrow, Holly.” With that, she left and didn’t look back.
Weird things used to happen to Hercules. Things would break. Things would move. His parents had never seen it and when he’d told them, they always chuckled and laughed it off as childhood fantasy. Which is what Hercules had thought too, until some people claiming to be wizards showed up at their door.Â
It had thrown his parents for a loop, that was for sure, considering they were both teachers and considered themselves more science-minded than anything. Of course, they were supportive.
It was just that–Hercules had never really seen magic. Apparently, he’d practiced it, he’d run through a brick wall, but it wasn’t until right now, that he really saw it. His eyes bulged even wider and Georgette had to tug him along towards the boats. He scrambled inside after her and watched as they began to move on their own.
He still couldn’t believe it. “Amazing, I’m sure,” he said to Georgette, about the castle, but he was still distracted. They sat in mostly quiet awe until they got to shore and got inside. The castle looked, for the most part, like any other castle Hercules had ever visited with his parents. Only in much better shape, like something out of a story.
And then, they were marching into the Great Hall, after a very firm, overwhelming introduction by some lady in a pointy hat.Â
“Georgette! Look, those candles are floating,” Hercules said, tugging Georgette’s sleeve and looking up. He stepped on the back of someone else’s robe in the process. They shot him a glare. “Sorry!”
“Wow, I didn’t even see the ceiling!” he told Georgette in a hushed whisper.
The various scores of candles floating in the air did look mesmerizing as their flickering flames glinted up towards the starry night sky, or rather ceiling. It added to the wonder of it all and it was supposed to be something the blonde should be soaking in at that the moment, but she wasn’t.
Instead, Georgette’s eyes were scanning over the large and long four tables that took up most of the space in the Great Hall. They were filled with throngs and throngs of other students all from different school years conversating about. Â
Her attention was focused on the long table at the far end left, the table filled with students dressed in green adorning robes.Â
Soon, she will be sitting there. Soon, Georgette will be wearing those same robes and placing on a new face that would blend right in while inside she suffocated.Â
Everyone soon came to halt. They had reached the front, and the Sorting Hat Ceremony had begun. She could hear her increased heart rate beating down on her eardrums. Students were being called down alphabetically, Georgette will be called before Hercules, she pulled at his hand and tugged him down close to her, her eyes sharp as she looked at him.Â
“We will study together and we will have lunch together and when our houses share classes together we will sit next to each other or I promise you, I will murder you myself.”
Her name was called. Georgette released Hercules’s hand and walked to the front sitting on the stool. No sooner was the hat placed on her head that it yelled “Slytherin!”Â
Melody shook her head because maybe she was a few of those things but she wasn’t sure she was all of them.
“Maybe.I’m not even supposed to be dating anyone in general. And it’s not even handling you. You’re a sweet person just super confident and I like being around that. Not handling it at all.”
Georgette didn’t exactly believe Melody when she called her “sweet.” It felt odd to even hear. Yes, she was nice to the brunette, but Melody was her best-friend so therefore she got to see that side of her. Everyone else Georgette could care less about.
She never really liked people anyways.
She controlled herself from rolling her eyes. She was sure that wasn’t the most timely thing to do at this very moment.Â
“Then we need to find you someone who is confident, but not conceited, someone who can be a balance for you in that aspect because you do deserve to date. Some of it might still suck horribly, but it’s all part of the process. No one meets a good one without first having gone through some bumps and bruises. You’ve gone through some bumps already so the good one has to be around the corner.”Â
Hercules did exactly what he said he was going to and started poking around. He stayed away from the sliding glass door, leaving it open for now. Even in February the air was only lightly brisk. Besides, neither he nor Georgette really had to worry about freezing. (Sometimes, Hercules thought about how nice it was, to not have to worry about those things. (Hercules always felt guilty for thinking these things, knowing what Georgette had lost in order for it to be true.))
The whole place was gorgeous. Looked like somewhere right out of a magazine. Complete with Doric columns scattered throughout the open floor plan. Hercules hoped they weren’t actually for structural stability, because he already had visions of smashing into one on accident.Â
When Georgette spoke up, Hercules had his head in a cabinet.
Turning, he smiled bright–
“Uhhh,” he said, forgetting, for a second what she’d asked him because, uhm, he had the most beautiful girlfriend in the whole world?!
“I–pool?” he asked stupidly, before blinking and shaking his head once. He chuckled at himself, clearing his throat as he crossed the room again. Ducking his head down, he kissed Georgette’s cheek.
“You look beautiful,” he told her. His hand slid down to hers, grasping it gently. “Let’s go.”
They made their way down the beach, the sun low in the sky, though not exactly sunset quite yet. Their feet crunched over the pebbles.Â
It was peaceful silence for a few minutes as they walked before Hercules smiled soft and looked over at Georgette.
“It’s nice to see you smile so much,” he told her.Â
Georgette was glad to be outside breathing in the fresh air. The wind that tickled her exposed skin felt soft and the bristles of waves the wind brought along to shore sounded soothing to her ears.
It was very peaceful here.
Even among the blurred background noise of other people walking, and all the small conversations surrounding the tavernas, this place still felt so peaceful to the blonde. Greece always held that type of air for Georgette even during her first visit, it took her away from everything that had been stressful back in her real life.Â
 “It feels easier to smile here.” Georgette admitted softly.Â
It didn’t feel heavy here or sticky and insufferable. Swynlake didn’t either, but... one always brought their problems back home. In Swynlake, the blonde could focus on what the media was saying concerning all that was going on in New York City. She could worry about Ryan being out on bail until a trial date was set. She could sit and brew over whatever wild thing her ex had to be planning. He had to be, Ryan wasn’t the type of person to sit with his arms crossed after someone was able to successfully book him in the system.Â
In Greece, it was just easier for her to disconnect.
Georgette wrapped herself around Hercules’s arm making him stop on his tracks briefly. “You make it easy too.” She admitted as she looked up at him. “You always help.”
Hercules hadn’t noticed the train slowing. It was only when it lurched to a stop, his stomach lurching with it, that he realized they were here. He tried to glance out the window, but it was only darkness on the other side. Perhaps a forest? He couldn’t see. Besides, Georgette was tugging on him.Â
Swallowing comically large, Hercules scrambled up after her.Â
“O-okay. I’m coming, I’m coming.” When they entered the corridor, Hercules slipped his hand into Georgette’s. It made him blush slightly, but he did it anyway, because everyone was wearing the same black robes and although he knew her blonde curls better than most, he was still afraid of losing her in the swarm of people. And being here all alone sounded terrifying.
As they stepped off the train and were jostled towards the edge of what Hercules now realized was not a forest, but a lake–his eyes bulged wide.
“Woah,” he said, his voice hushed in awe as he tilted his head back to look up at the castle looming over them in the distance.Â
He felt a little thrill go up his spine and he looked over at Georgette and smiled wide. “This is so cool!”Â
"Wait until you see the boats!”
Georgette smiled wide and squeezed Hercules’s hand. She hadn’t realized when he had slipped his hand into hers and it didn’t matter because Hercules’s excitement was contagious. The gesture felt natural, every day. She squeezed his hand again.Â
She loved to see those dark chocolate eyes grow large in amazement like a child void of all things that can possibly go wrong in the world.
The blonde pointed at the lake that was now filled with small boats rowing themselves, lanterns glowing brightly in their center. “Look!” It was a sea filled with stars like the night sky. “No one is rowing them. They are moving on their own, or well by magic.” She emphasized starting to tug at his hand in order to pull him over to one of the empty boats.Â
Once both were seated, the boat began to move smoothly sailing across the black lake on its own towards the direction of the castle.Â
“I wonder how the inside of the castle is going to look like. I’ve been told some things but I have never actually seen it for myself.”
Hercules let out a breath at Georgette’s assurance that she wouldn’t leave him behind. She was his best friend, but Hercules knew that as soon as they were at Hogwarts, everyone would want to be Georgette’s friend. Her parents were awful, but at least she was smart and funny–everyone at school would love her, Hercules jjust knew it. Not to mention, she had grown up in this world. She was comfortable here.
He had watched her bloom before his eyes as they stepped on the Platform 9 ¾, as if she had been a sleeping flower this whole time. He was glad for it too. Georgette deserved it. He didn’t know of anyone who deserved magic and friends more than Georgette.
But, he was glad, because Hercules didn’t think he would make many friends. He wouldn’t even know how to talk to Georgette if she didn’t do half the talking, if she hadn’t decided that he was her friend. He didn’t exactly know how it had even happened.
“Oh, uhm–there’s Ravenclaw, that’s an easy one,” Hercules said, holding up his fingers so that he could list them out. “Slytherin too, I know that one. That’s your family’s house, right?” He may not know much about Hogwarts or magic, but he had been paying attention to the things Georgette had said about herself.
“Uhm, Gryffin…something, right? And–Huffle…puff! I know that one, because it sort of rhymes. Did I get it right? I mean, besides Gryffindor. Oh! Wait! Gryffindor! Is that right?”Â
It was her family’s house and soon enough she’ll be finding out if she herself will be following that same fate.Â
“Yes! See, and here you thought you would be forgetting most everything.”
Georgette offered her form of congratulations by giving Hercules an encouraging shove. “You got all of the Houses right, you already have a headstart, Hercules.” He would have nothing to worry about. He will fit right in and make friends with everyone in his house. He’ll be okay even if the Sorting Hat chose something different for both of them.Â
And they could still study together and they will still be able to see each other and—
The train came to a stop. It brought to halt a cascade of reassuring thoughts that had started rushing at Georgette without warning. Students began to walk out of their compartments and flood the aisles to the exit of the train. They were supposed to be doing the same. Â
“Oh, we’re here.”Â
She suddenly didn’t feel as excited as she felt when she had gotten on the train. She almost wanted to remain in her seat but either way, the blonde got up. Georgette was not interested in taking the train back to her parents. And everything will be fine, she wasn’t going to lose her best friend. She tugged at Hercules’s arm.
“Come on, we have to follow the hoards of other students.”