brooke bell.

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald‌:  

Bright red Sharpie so there’s no way they can be missed. In any case, we both know your mom senses will be perfectly tuned regardless of what repetitive pop song will be on. There’s nothing to worry about. If there’s an emergency I’ll get us home in five minutes tops.

Oh, well that’s— … Ah, um- [ coughs ] Thank you. It is? Good, that’s- We don’t do corsages in Scotland but the ribbon I can deal with. Mhm, definitely beautiful. You are, I mean. And you look kinda…breathtaking, Brooklyn.

So. Um, does looking kinda hot warrant a hand holding situation or have I not quite made the cut?

Oh! [really weird cough giggle noise we stan some awkward parents] Mm. That wasn’t a word. Thank you, is what I believe I was going for. 

And you know, this dress is so poofy that people can’t really get within three feet of us without risking collision, so, in a very practical sense, it will also help us maintain your strict personal bubble.

Wow, you were soooo a Star Trek on prom night kinda guy. [takes his hand, smooches his cheek] Thank Spock you have me to show you the ropes.

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald‌:  

I’m being subtle. I’ve never been more stealth in my entire life, I swear. Yes, yes I see the babysitter and she’s not smoking, not drinking and not- from what I can see- peddling any Torie propaganda. Really though, I’m not getting any ’little punk vibes’ and they are my forte, you’re right. We’ve got a lot of them at school. Nikki’s perfect. [ He paused then, nervously shuffling before gathering up the nerve- ] I, uh, got you something. I don’t know if it’s right but…it’s here.

Okay. Okay. We’re totally fine. Everything’s going to be fine. We’ll only be fifteen minutes away and both our numbers are written on the fridge in red Sharpie.

Hey, you, um. Look significantly less ridiculous than I thought you would when I first goaded you into wearing this outfit.  

Which is to say you look kinda hot. And this-- this is exactly right, it’s... beautiful, thank you, Paul. Help me with the ribbon?

[saintbell]

@p-aulmacdonald

Hey, hey. Look over my shoulder but be, like, super subtle about it. You seeing the babysitter? How does she look? Does she give you little punk vibes? You’re the only person in my life who regularly spends time with teenagers, your opinion is crucial, here.

[saintbell]

[saintbell]

@p-aulmacdonald

I think in another life Paul might’ve been, like.. the hottest dad in the cul-de-sac. Like, in my mind, I see him at block parties: one hand on a golf club, the other hand grilling burgers, phone wedged between cheek and shoulder ‘cause he’s getting your trashy brother out on parole... He talks a big game about being a grumpy curmudgeon, but I don’t know... sometimes I think he might love this community stuff even more than I do.

[saintbell]

candycoatedmatthews:

Brooke Bell, no way. What are you doing here? Last I heard you were some big wig in New York and- Well, I admit, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen your name in the papers, but it’s been awhile since I’ve passed through New York, so. [He shrugged.] I’ve got no clue where I’m staying, yet, but- that’s kind of why I’m here. To see the baby bro, and all that. [And ask for help, but he wasn’t ready to admit that yet, not even to Brooke.] As for the where and when and how, those are all semantics. 

Oh! I cashed out ‘cause I was tired of taking the Subway and I wanted a baby. I own a boutique here now. And a baby. She’s the coolest. I’d offer you my guest room, but, well... Stella’s actually staying there right now. Managing the company from home. Is that... are you two cool right now? I never really know. 

Even if you aren’t you should make up, ‘cause we all have to get waffles! And have a movie night. And get drunk and go through my our old yearbook!

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald:

You mean your smorgasbord experience? [ He doesn’t laugh but only because he’s concentrating on pouring her coffee. ] You know it’s weird because I thought I just heard you say the words ‘chicken dance’ in reference to something I’d be doing. Not to be that guy but I thought we were both just gonna skulk in the corner all night and avoid accidentally getting confetti in our mouths. … They have a canon.

Uh huh, at your house. Not that out of the… Oh. Boring? Ha, okay yeah. You probably should have woken yourself up at that point because there’s no way your sister has ever been boring. Obviously, she’s the cutest… In every… Plain of conscious.

… Well, here’s your coffee. I don’t know how much it’s gonna help you recover from that ah, [ but he had to smile, right? ] nightmare for you but it can try.

Don’t worry, Allison Reynolds, we will do our fair share of sulking in the corner, but if you think you’re getting through the whole night without dancing you have another thing coming. If someone needs to break out the bagpipes to get you in the mood, so be it. ... a canon? I bet the crazy Vanderbilt lady is responsible.

Yeah, we were, like, the fun couple. Which is crazy, because my idea of a wild night with you is melting cheese on takeout fries and failing to persuade you to eat them. Usually everyone’s home by ten.

Oh, don’t be such a drama queen. It wasn’t a nightmare, it actually.. it felt natural. Except for the part where we were... you know. Boning.

[candycoatedmatthews]

So…. t h i s is Havensdale. I expected it to be sunnier.

[saintbell]

Oh my god. Oh my god!

Sebastian! What are you doing here? In...Connecticut. Are you visiting Nathan? How long are you staying? Where are you staying? The nearest Four Seasons isn’t for miles.

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald:

You’re really just trying anything to see me in this kilt, aren’t you? You can just wait until prom like everybody else. Then I’ll be able to inhale the whole bowl of spiked punch without so much as a giggle. … Do they actually spike the punch here or is that a teen movie thing? In Scotland our leaver’s disco consisted of nothing but vodka shots and regret. Just, speaking of shots.

Sounds to me like it was definitely, definitely a weird one. Were there flying cows and the like? You don’t have to tell me.

Yeah, w— You do have the cutest baby in the entire universe. No contest. Psh, would I ever? [ He would, but he stands up to attend to the coffee maker. Plus it gives him a minute to not stare too long at her. ] Alright but how weird is weird, Brooklyn?  

They absolutely spike the punch and I suggest you go nowhere near it because if my New York experience is anything to go after, it’s just a smorgasbord of non-FDA-approved substances and bad decisions. And, as your date, I expect you to be upright for the chicken dance.

Yeah, well, um. You, were, like, at my house. ‘Cause I think you lived there? And we were making dinner places with my sister who was apparently very boring, and then we were making weekend plans. And Nicky was there, and she was still the cutest baby ever. And then, um. I kissed you. 

Because we were married. I think.

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald:

Yeah, I’m… Thank you, thanks. It- You know, I need them both.

Um… I think so? Maybe that white wine spritzer we shared was a lot stronger than anticipated. Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a last hoorah. Either that or you tried to get me to watch- what’s it called?- again. Hm, did… [ His brow furrows for a second because he too had a really weird, specific dream and not a bad one either. ] You.

I uh, do you want coffee? Or something. I mean someone’s still sleeping like an angel but I could start a pot if you want to double check.

I can’t believe a white wine spritzer knocked you out. Aren’t the Scottish supposed to have, like, super high tolerance? Maybe if you put on your kilt it would enhance your abilities. It’s worth a shot, right?

Yeah, it was --...well. It was super weird. I almost don’t want to tell you... ‘cause it was... sooooo weird.

Ugh, she’s so cute. I really have the cutest baby in the entire universe. And yeah, coffee would be great. No decaf, MacDonald.

[p-aulmacdonald]

… Brooke. I- Brooklyn, you’re crushing my arm.

@saintbell​

[saintbell]

...Paul? You’re... oh. I’m moving. I’m rolling.

I’m.. I feel like I’ve been sleeping for, like, fourteen hours. Did we... I mean, were we just watching a movie and we conked out or something? I can barely remember. I - I had a dream... a really weird, specific dream...

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald:

Hold on, I’ll get the board on the phone and we get this out there before the next New York fashion week. [ Laughs ] Alright, alright so we’re both smart enough to not want to go up against our not-so soon to be teenage girl. She’ll be happy to know she’s gonna inherit all these smarts. I’ll start stocking up on those striped arm-band things now. … No. I never— I don’t even know what you’re sayin’ right now, Miss Prom Queen. If I was anything, it was a warrior. With, okay, maybe a little too much denim on my body.

Hon, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone spilling more nonsense than you were in the delivery room. You started yelling at the nurses in a Scottish accent. But okay, I’ll buy it. [ Winks ] And, I’ll buy this raincoat right…now. Done! She definitely needs more. Also, are we having your sister and Nathan over for dinner soon? I’m thinking we could do another theme night. You know I love them but they could definitely use a little more fun in their lives, you know what I mean.

I was, like, barely prom queen. I’m pretty sure Muffy Dennison actually won prom queen, and one of the D and D nerds stuffed trhe ballot box for me ‘cause he thought he was making my dreams come true. Denim, you say? Is there photographic evidence of this denim?

Yeah, god, we really should but... am I a terrible person for not wanting to? My sister had three glasses of rosé last time and she was still so tense. Stuffy. Boring. I’d rather hire a sitter and go out with you.

[saintbell]

p-aulmacdonald:

Have I ever mentioned that you are entirely adorable and just a little gross? No one’s sticking their fingers in anyone’s ears here, no matter how horrible we get. Pinky swear. Oh, I know well enough not to comment on eyeliner business. That’s all you, honey.

[laughs fondly at his american dork] Yes, rain boots. Mhm, that’s exactly it. The spirit of Nessie will only get a gal so far in life you know. ‘Is there a matching coat’, Brooke. This is not my first rodeo. [presents the next page to her with said super cute matching coat, all pleased with himself] What do you think? Summer colours, yay or nay?

Good, that’s exactly the brand I’m going for. Ha, if you think I’m going to comment on it either, you’re cracked. We have to just let her go through her scene phase, it’s a necessary evil in every parenting journey. ...Did you have a scene phase? Or were you a Trekkie? Or, oh my god, a dungeons and dragons mage?

Well, if we had named her ‘Nicola Loch Ness MacDonald’ like I wanted to, then maybe she’d have a better chance. I still stand by that name, I told you it wasn’t the drugs talking. Yay! She needs them. I know she has, like, three other rain coats, but she definitely needs this one.

[p-aulmacdonald]

Would you look at these.

Honestly, I know that she’s just gonna grow right out of them the second we put them on her feet but there’s just something about tiny wellies I can’t say no to. [ holding his phone up ] Adorable, right?

I’d need to locate some tiny puddles too but with express delivery at the click of a button who cares? I mean, it’s for the children.

[saintbell]

Hm? What’s a wellie? Is that like a wet-willy? Those are gross, promise we’ll never do that to her even if she becomes a horrible teenager who wears raccoon eyeliner. 

[takes a peep at the phone screen] Oooh, rain boots! I mean, she needs those, right? There could be all sorts of weird Kreagan-specific bacteria in those rain puddles, and she’s only half Resilient Scottish Genes. Is there a matching coat? 

[p-aulmacdonald]

Goodnight, Brooke. That really should have been that Paul was sure. After all, despite the crazy eyes, she had told him that she was okay. She’d told him he could go. She’d… Honestly, even if he’d tried to get back into his self-picked bedtime he wouldn’t have been able to sleep, not with Brooke’s words still echoing around his head. Not knowing that she was hurting. Knowing that tomorrow morning she’d have to break her own heart all over again. And what had Paul done? Told her to do it. Brooklyn Bell was the first real friend Paul ever made in Havensdale Valley, Connecticut. She was probably the first real friend he’d had in a long time. Brooke called, he answered. —But maybe what really mattered was that when she didn’t call, he still came.

Paul MacDonald did not do spur of the moment. He liked order and routine, he liked to know what he was doing from one hour to the next. So when he did get home, after pacing for some time, he’d started to pull together his own little collection of alcohol. There were only a couple of bottles: Famous Grouse whiskey for a special occasion, one white wine spritzer and a green bottled beer whose brand Paul still didn’t know anything about. He wondered what the parents of his student’s would say if they saw him exit his house at night, arms filled with booze before climbing back into his car. A smile almost tugged onto his lips, what a scandal. It didn’t take long to get back to that all too familiar door but it did take a long moment before he knocked on it again. A familiar sort of nervousness coursed through him suddenly, he always did his best to ignore it. His breath even caught when he saw the door start to open.

“I’m a pessimist. I don’t believe in people,” most people, “But you do. So… Let’s save your sister, Brooklyn.”

[saintbell]

Telling Paul to leave wasn’t born out of the feeling she knew what to do, more like she didn’t want him to watch the inevitable conclusion of this midnight meltdown. The second the door closed behind him, the panic set fast and heavy between her shoulders, pressing into her chest until she felt like she was drowning. How was she going to survive it a second time? But even as she thought it, it all seemed like the only sensical finish to this horrible tabloid trash saga her family had embarked on a decade ago.

So there she sat, frozen on the steps and listening to taylor swift on the lowest volume with her earbuds in because her baby had superhuman hearing. The knock on her door barely gave her pause, her mind so wrapped up in exactly what she was going to say to Stella the next morning and how on earth she’d be able to do it. The picture before her didn’t register until Paul started speaking, and the horrible dead weight that had settled on her chest lifted in a span of seconds.

She stared at Paul for a second and let out a quiet, wet laugh punctuated by a slightly pathetic sniffle. “That’s... all the alcohol you have in your house?”

[saintbell]

Paul ↪ Brooke

Paul: And you will not

Paul: Who gave you a corsage?

Paul: Drink something that isn't caffeinated, eat a vegetable, admit that people mowing their grass at 10AM is unnecessary and loud I could go on

Brooke: My high school prom date it was an orchid because I had a weird TRUE LOVE thing about those

Brooke: How long is this list??? I could eat a vegetable. And drink... Sprite.

[p-aulmacdonald]

Only for saying ‘no’ to spirit cookies and prom committee members asking about streamers and kilts. Brooke… [ almost smiles ] No, you’ve never told me that you have an evil twin or murdered your ex by pushing him off a cliff. You’re good.

…Please don’t get a dog.

Okay. I- Okay. Taylor Swift, of course. I just don’t want to shake anything, Brooklyn. I just don’t. I— Are you sure you want me to go? I can- I can not. Go. If you want.

[saintbell]

Mm, well. Stay tuned on the murder front. Never know what could happen at one of those 10 minute madness sales at the boutique. 

Yeah, really, I’m okay now. I may look like I have crazy eyes but take a second to remember that that’s just my face. And I promise won’t get a dog. ...Tonight.