Did you miss me? I know it has been forever. But here i am!
I have been wanting to come back and life has been well you know what it does . Here's what I've been working on. It's not much but i'm trying to finish some story lines that have been out there for quite some time, and I finally think it's time. It also didn't hurt seeing a post about reviving the TRR fandom, if anyone still wants to read me. I know I like to push the envelope at times. Drama has returned. :)
Series: The Rotten Apple 🍎
Chapter: 17: Finale Part 4: The Wedding
The Pairings: Eleanor X Nico (Eleanor X M!OC / Liam X Riley)
“Her Mother and Her Father.” He whispered the word “Look.” to Ellie.
Elle blinked rapidly in confusion, as she turned to the audience.
Riley was standing right behind her.
“Mother…”
Riley said the first thing that popped into her mind.
“I didn’t RSVP. I know that’s absolutely horrible etiquette for a wedding. I'm sorry..”
“It’s okay….”
“You look…. Happy.”
“I am happy Mother.” She pulled Nico by his hand closer to her.
“Queen Riley.” Nico nodded to her.
“Nico, I told you then, you still cared for her. I could see it all over your face."
“And you were right.”
“You look so beautiful Ellie. I'm glad you decided to wear the necklace."
Elle surprisingly glanced down at herself, gently touching the necklace.
"It was your idea?"
Her mother nodded, and spoke in a matter of fact way.
"Yes, It looks beautiful on you, I knew it would."
“Thank you Mother……And thank you for coming."
Riley turned to walk away. Nico gently squeezed her hand again, whispering to Elle..
"She's extending an olive branch…."
She glanced at Nico, then Ana, her fearless little girl, at that moment smiled at her, giving her courage.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“May I hug you?”
Riley nodded. Both looked awkward as they closed in the distance to each other, neither making taking the lead to begin the embrace… Until one sweet little girl walked up to the two of them, wrapping an arm around each of them, pulling them closer to embrace.
Tears welled in Liam’s eyes seeing the three generations of the family finally come together as one. After a few moments, they pulled away from each other, Elle affectionately caressed Ana’s face.
Next up:
Spice Spice Baby
Part 3 of a Pretty Woman parody
The Pairings: Liam X Bebe (Liam X F!OC)
If you're interested in the previous parts Click here:
Part 1: Cinnamon Spice
Part 2: And Everything Nice
“That’s noble, you know. You believed in yourself enough to want more for yourself, to get away from a life you didn't want.”
“Still waiting on the more part.”
“Have you thought about college? Something you want to do with your life?”
“I mean I can think about college all I want, that doesn’t manifest enough money for me to go. Then, if I get there, what the hell would I even want to go to school for? Besides, I've never had an idea. It’s hard to dream, when the place you grew up in was nothing but nightmare fuel. Definitely not conducive to warm and fuzzy dreams. Just trying to survive from day to day. You know?”
She glanced around Liam's vast apartment and all of its splendor.
“You wouldn't, would you Ritchie Rich?” She commented with a smirk.
“You are right in that aspect. I’ve never had to worry about money or had any food insecurities of where my next meal was coming from. But I do understand getting away from a place where you felt you would never be able to realize your own potential, or be in the shadow of someone and never be able to learn who you really are. So we are similar in that aspect.”
Bebe yawned.
“Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”
“You’re right, we have our first big event tomorrow.”
When I woke up the next morning Liam had already left for work.
There was a little note on the night stand.
“Bebe I tried my best not to wake you, but apparently you didn’t hear me over your snoring :) . I’m joking. I promise. I’ll be home around 5:30 and we can get ready for the gala tonight, the car will pick us up around 7. Plan accordingly. I left my card, the salon downstairs is available for you whenever you decide to show up. Please use any amenities that you would like.
Yours, Richie Rich :)
P.S. I’d love it if you wore that silver dress and heels tonight.
Sorry, this one isn't fanfiction. A sudden loss of someone you care about can really put you through an emotional rollercoaster. Recently, a friend that I worked with passed away suddenly and very tragically. He deserved so much better than how he was taken from this world. Now, even weeks later, there are still moments where I feel like it isn't real.
Daily, when we used to get to work at the same time, we'd walk in together and at lunch we'd always be laughing about some random story we told each other. Work feels different. I can't even sit at my desk at 8am because every time the pharmacy door opens and it's not him, it chips a little piece of my heart away, and the realization hits me, he's not here anymore. I can't bring myself to delete his number out of my cell phone or my last texts to him, or take down the directory at my desk that has his name and extension on it.
I thought you may be able to relate to that feeling, too, which is why I tagged my regular list. I hope that you don't mind.
Yesterday, I said goodbye to you.
Did I want to?
No. Goodbyes I have learned over the years are seldom happy, and this one shook me to my very core, because you were stolen from us prematurely.
Your season on this earth ended way too soon, my friend.
My heart breaks for the life you should have had, and the dreams that you were working towards that didn’t get the opportunity to come true.
Why?
Why—- is the singular question in all of our broken hearts from the profound loss of you all of us are feeling.
I replay the last conversation we had in my mind on a loop, and wish I would have said more meaningful words to you. That was really our last conversation?
But, there is solace in knowing I was there to listen to your words, to you.
I miss you.
Already.
Deep down, I know somehow, some way, our paths will intersect again.
So yesterday, I said farewell for the moment to you.
This is a special holiday edition of School Dayz. To catch up on the series in general please click School Dayz
I am participating in @choicesdecember2023 for Christmas
I am also participating in @choicesprompts holiday rewrite challenge in which I used the candy cane gram scene from Mean Girls.
I am also participating in @choicesflashfics christmas prompt # 59: "Ice-skating? Do you seriously trust me with knives on my feet?" will appear in bold. I also used a previous prompt as well Are you seeing this too or am I having a stroke?
Series: School Dayz
The Book: TRR (no royals)
The Pairings: Liam x Riley
Word Count: 1464
Warnings and Ratings: None. This is for anyone who has eyes. A total fluff piece.
Original post: 12/31/23 at 7:15PM EST.
Science class was different for me now that I no longer sat next to Liam, and shared a table with my sister, since Mrs. Barbour decided to make the class sit in alphabetical order, which I think the only reason for the change was to make taking roll easier. I glanced across the room to Liam whose partner was now Rashad.
My adorkable boyfriend who caught me watching him, smiled and held up his hot cocoa cup to toast me from across the room. Liam was the sweetest boyfriend and stopped by the local coffee shop Brew Bros and always got hot chocolate every morning the way that I liked it.
So I smiled while holding up my cup.
“Oh my God, can you two be any more nerdy?” Taylor asked.
“He’s nice, and you reap the benefits of it too. My boyfriend brings us both hot chocolate, or in your case a coffee drink you like every day without us asking.”
Taylor cocked her head to the side and air toasted Liam, taking a sip from her drink when the door opened.
“Ho , Ho, Ho!!!!! Candy Cane Grams, sponsored by the National Honor Society.”
“Make it quick, Santa.” There was a hint of sarcasm in Mrs. Barbour’s voice as she went to sit at her desk for a moment.
“And his lovely assistant Max Noel!”
“Wait… a sec… Are you seeing this too or am I having a stroke?”
Taylor doubled over in laughter “It is!!!! It’s Drake Walker-Claus.”
Taylor’s laugh seemed to antagonize Drake for a second, but good thing he had his assistant Maxwell. His brooding mood was offset by Max Noel making the class laugh with his dance versions of Christmas music as he followed around the room behind him.
“Hana Lee one for you.”
“Chris Powell four for you, you go Chris Powell!”
“Do we have a Riley Brooks here?”
“That’s her Max Noel. She’s Riley Brooks and looks nothing like the girl sitting next to her. Those two can’t possibly be related.”
“Riley Brooks here you go, one for you.”
“Thank you Santa.”
“Um….”
“And nothing at all for Taylor Brooks, not even coal or black licorice, bye.”
Drake and Max ran out of the room.
Taylor looked at me with curious eyes at the candy cane gram in my hand.
“Who’s that from?”
It wasn’t any of her business. I opened the envelope and read silently to myself.
Liam’s sweet words made me smile, and I didn’t have to answer her, and I looked at him from across the room.
“Oh my god. You guys are too much.”
Taylor looked upset, even though she shrugged it off. Later I found out why at her locker.
“I told you to get me a candy cane gram Nico!!!!”
“Well you telling me to do it, takes the surprise out of it. Me not doing it, guess what you were surprised weren’t you?”
My sister who was always loud looked at him and said nothing.
Before I knew it the words flew out of my mouth.
“Wow, you’re a really bad boyfriend Nico, my sister deserves better than you.”
I slammed my locker walking away from the two of them. I found out later that day, my sister broke up with him, in front of everyone in true dramatic Taylor fashion. I was proud of her.
Christmas Eve
Everyone had come over and was enjoying mom’s Christmas cookies and snacks. My dad brought in a big box sitting it down on the floor.
“I want to thank everyone for coming over tonight to spend time with our family. Our children picked people they care about to spend this time together with you. Ren and I are happy to have you in our home. We both grew up in the foster care system, and learned early in life, sometimes the people that care about you most, are not your blood relatives. So we try to celebrate that.”
“And when we had the opportunity to open our home up to two adorable identical twin girls, we couldn’t say no.” My mother chimed in.
“It’s the best decision they ever made. I went to sleep one night wishing I had a little sister. The next morning I woke up with two.” Jaiden spoke up.
“And we know what it’s like to be alone on Christmas, or missing someone special on Christmas that you were once close to. So we wanted to do something special. Liam would you mind sharing the Christmas Eve tradition you had that you told me about?”
“Christmas was my Mom’s favorite holiday. Every Christmas Eve that I can remember she’d dress us up in these ugly Christmas sweaters
and we would go ice skating on Lake Pine. She loved to ice skate. Then she’d make us take these dorky pictures in our Christmas sweaters that matched. I miss her a lot.”
“I miss her too. I’m not adopted, but Liam’s Mom always made me feel like I was her son too. So I really get what you’re saying about family not always being blood related. She was my mom too.”
Liam hugged his brother.
My dad opened the box.
“With a little help from Riley I found some what I would think are hideously awesome ugly Christmas sweaters, and am secretly happy for your love of Star Trek too. I’m sorry Liam, you can’t be the Captain, this is mine. But this one is yours.”
“Well if I can’t be Captain, being the science officer is the next best and most logical choice.” Liam took his blue sweater graciously.
“That’s what I said! Dad please say you got me a blue sweater too.”
“I did.”
After all the sweaters were handed out, there was still one left in the box.
“Guess you guys bought this before I broke up with Nico. No big deal.”
Once everyone was dressed, they headed out to the vehicles, and Liam stuffed the extra shirt into Leo’s trunk.
“I really don’t know how this is going to go Liam.”
“What do you mean?”
“Ice skating? Do you seriously trust me with knives on my feet?”
“Well good thing you’re not just Riley Brooks today, you’re the science officer for the USS Enterprise. Live long and prosper.”
Liam expected Riley to be as horrible on ice skates as she had been on roller skates, but Riley amazingly was incredibly balanced.
“Have you ice skated before?”
“No! I don’t know how I'm good at this! I usually have no natural balance.”
“You’re a natural at skating…”
“Ice skating. Let's clarify that.”
Taylor was still sitting on the bench watching the couples skate by. “She still hasn’t gotten out on the ice yet. I think she’s feeling lonely and the extra shirt probably made her think of Nico.”
Liam’s phone beeped. “Why don’t you go sit with her for a little bit, and I’ll be back in a few with some hot cocoas for us all.”
“Is cocoa your favorite drink?”
“Yes, and my mom used to always say your heart won’t feel cold if you always have a nice warm cup of cocoa. It always makes me feel better.”
I went to sit with Taylor and Liam continued walking toward the concessions stand.
“You okay?” I asked Taylor.
“I just don’t feel like skating, and look over there.”
Nico was there, with another girl on his arm.
“To be honest I never liked him Taylor. He called you T, like you were a drink or a shirt or something. He wasn’t even really that nice. Good riddance, I say.”
“I never thanked you for standing up for me that day Riley. It really meant a lot.”
“You’re my sister Taylor. I will always have your back, even when you pull me into a tornado.”
“Not on purpose!” She laughed.
“Oh it never is.” I remarked pulling Taylor closer to me in a hug. After a few seconds she pulled away from me.
“What are you doing here?”
“Helping Liam deliver hot cocoa. This one is yours.
I don’t like all the extra stuff in mine.”
Drake handed Taylor her cocoa, as he sat down next to her.
“Just hot and cocoa pretty much then right?”
“Exactly. I’m not that difficult to understand.”
“Do you like to ice skate, Drake?”
“Like it? It’s okay, but I can. Would you like to skate Taylor?”
Drake took off his coat wearing the remaining ugly sweater.
“Okay.” Taylor said in a nonchalant voice.
Taylor’s mood picked up immediately as she skated around with Drake on the ice. She never once glanced in Nico’s direction.
“That was really nice of you to do Liam.”
“He really does like her, you know. Maybe now she can finally see him with Nico out the way.”
Is it me you're looking for? Yes, I know I've been M.I.A. for a bit, but you guys I'm really trying to upper level adult here. I have decided I'm going to buy a house. So I have hired a realtor and have started the process. When my lease is up again, I WILL be moving into my home.
Let's see if I remember how to set one of these up!
Original post 03/31/24 at 8:02PM EST
Chapter 9: Riley Brooks's Day Off
The Series: Life of Riley Book 2
The Book: TRR
Pairings: Liam x Riley (Liam x F!MC)
Status: Still in the writing process
Since the challenges Constantine had been coming up with weekly for the suitors were getting a lot of publicity for the crown, the suitors met weekly for a meeting with a PR specialist to make sure they had the crown’s best interests in everything they did. They also passed out weekly itineraries of what the Suitors would be doing. Did it ever reveal any events they would be participating in? No, but that their sponsor would be revealing the new task and prize for that week."
Riley thumbed through the itinerary, once than again looking confused.
“Is something wrong Lady Riley?”
“Jenna, my booklet seems to be missing a page. I have nothing for Friday’s itinerary .”
“Actually no you’re not. None of you are. Since I've just been brought into this role, I know you ladies are going through a lot being thrust into the public eye in this magnitude. Lady Riley, you for example, you are coming to us from America and have no experience with dealing with the nobility on a daily basis, and are completely learning how to navigate court successfully from scratch. I recognize this to be quite the experience. The potential reward of all of this is indescribable, but you all need breathing moments for mental and physical wellbeing. We are building in “off days” to your schedule to do what you want with it, a recharge day of sorts, or a mental health day if you will.”
“Well if you’re weak you need days off. I will spend my time training.” Olivia chimed in.
“If that is how you want to spend your day Olivia, there are no wrong answers, it’s free to do whatever you want, as long as you enjoy it.”
That evening:
“Of course, you would have an off day when I’m out of the country.” Liam sounded genuinely disappointed.
“I know I thought about that too.”
“Take it as an opportunity Riley, do some exploring, sleep in a little bit, we both know you like your sleep. Relax. You know, life moves really fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
“You’re completely right Liam. Thanks.”
“Sounds like you have a plan.”
“I do.”
When she hung up with him, she called Maxwell.
“What’s up Little Blossom?”
“I need your help.”
WIP 2
Part 3: Spice Spice Baby
Series: Not officially one: Previous Parts include: Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice
The Book: TRR
Pairings: Liam x Bebe (Liam x F!OC)
Status: Still in the writing process
I have never required that much sleep. There has always been something so peaceful about the world at night for me. I glanced at her once more before getting out of bed. She was soundly sleeping and didn’t even stir from her slumber as I rose. A good mattress will do that, and honestly I think she needed the rest. I slipped on my pajama pants and walked to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
Night time was when I did my best thinking, and the thought crossed my mind that the two of us would be able to pull off this ruse with my coworkers. Bebe really did seem invested to make “us work.” Or maybe she was invested in the paycheck.
“Was my snoring keeping you awake?”
Bebe was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, resting her hip on the frame, her robe loosely tied.
“You don’t snore.”
“And you,” she gently tapped my nose with her pointer finger, “are a liar.”
“I wasn’t lying, I didn’t hear you snoring, or if you were, you weren’t disturbing me.”
“Why are you up, Liam?”
“Why are you up, Bebe?”
She quirked her eyebrow at me, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I rarely sleep through the whole night, I’m always up for a bit.”
“Why?”
Her stare from across the room was almost piercing my soul.
“Therapist was not one of your duties I'm paying you for in our contract.”
She looked surprised, but more importantly, hurt by my remark. In a split second I had turned her into a business arrangement that she was a prostitute, that I was paying for a service.
“Oh, well you’re paying me a handsome sum, therefore I feel like I should be anything you need me to be at the moment. I’ll just….”
I had hurt her feelings, and snapped at her, and I didn’t even know why, and the look in her eyes, I didn’t want to ever see that again.
“Life.” I called out to her before she was out of the room. Bebe immediately stopped and turned to face me.
“I can relate to that. Do you mind if I just sit up with you for a bit then?”
“No, not at all.”
Bebe settled into the couch next to me. She didn’t say a word, but I found her silence and non-judgment strangely comforting.
WIP 3
Part 4
Series: The Vampires Live On
The Book: TRR
The Pairing: Liam x Riley (in this decade Gabriel x Alice in the past)
Status: Still in the writing process
“We’re here.”
“I really didn’t think it would be this clean here. I know what you said, but looking at the other graves along the way here, I expected the same condition.”
“You know, I can be very persuasive, and keeping in contact as the groundskeeper’s changed over the years, very important in this. “
“I didn’t think they would be buried side by side.”
“Because that didn’t matter here, and since he died, protecting the two of you, his family wanted nothing to do with him.”
“Poor Max. He was such a good sweet guy. What we were, or not completely, never mattered to him.”
I placed the small flower arrangement into the vase at his grave.
“I have missed you dear friend,”
“I’m going to give you some time alone with your sister and friend.”
“You can stay.”
“No, I’ve been with you for an eternity, you have not had any time with her or him since that night. I want you to have some time alone with them. You deserve that.”
“Thank you, Liam.”
Even though the space around her grave was clean, I found myself picking up and pushing the few leaves and debris away to make her area more pristine.
I sat down in the grass in front of her grave and closed my eyes, letting the emotions of finally being here with her again wash over me.
“Hi Clara. I have missed you so much.”
WIP 4
Chapter 17: Finale Part 4: The Wedding
Series: The Rotten Apple 🍎
The Book: TRH & Beyond
Pairings: Eleanor x Nico (Elle x M!OC) / Liam x Riley
Status: Still in the writing process
Final exams for Liberty had ensured that she wouldn’t be able to come to Greece early to take part in some of the pre-wedding festivities that Elle had planned. Elle felt guilty that Liberty would be missing her graduation from the Crown Academy to come to her wedding; her father had wanted to pull some strings for Liberty, but Elle declined, citing the importance of her education, though she did want her there.
Elle smiled as she panned the camera around the back yard.
"I really wish I was there Ellie."
"I really wish I was there. Libby! Look at you in your cap and gown. Father and I stepped away for a bit to watch the live feed of the baccalaureate."
"Thanks Ellie."
"For what?"
"Just making an effort. I can't wait to see you and everyone."
“Does that include Michail? He looked so sad when I told him you would not be here tonight.”
A slow smile crept over Liberty’s face.
“He looks sad?”
Elle laughed, “You’re clearly not about that.”
“Did he dance with any other girls?”
“Just one.”
“Who?”
Elle’s smile widened.
“Only me, when he could pull me away from Nico, all he talked about was you. He really likes you Libby.”
“You think so?”
“I know so, and he can’t wait to see you tomorrow and neither can I.”
Sorry, no scandalous hot gossip here. Just your run of the mill chick.
Thanks to @ao719 and @dcbbw for tagging me for this!
Last Song: Young, Wild & Free
Favorite Color: All the variations of the "Pink" family, turquoise, and most recently Carbon Black Metallic because I got my car back after it being in the shop!
Last Movie: Christmas Deja Vu
Currently Watching: The Brothers Sun
Currently Reading: CE's, I have to renew my license at the end of the month. I refuse this to be a fevered dash pressing "submit" at 11:59pm the night before my license expires.
Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Sweet > Savory > Spicy . I've never had much of a threshold for spicy food. But i've always had a sweet tooth.
Last thing I googled: Amber Riley Movies
Current Obsession: My budget planner. I'm really trying to upper level adult y'all.
Currently Working On:
Another Cinnamon Spice Chapter
A Rotten Apple Wedding / with an alternate ending twist
Just trying to write more in general!!!!
Tagging in this: @tessa-liam @angelasscribbles and anyone else that wants to share. Consider yourself tagged.
I am participating in @choicesflashfics prompt : “I don’t have a date, so would you ... maybe want to be my plus one?” will appear in bold
I am also participating in @choiceschallenge-may2023 for falling in love.
Letting you know now, this story is probably the most canon I have written. This is not my OG Riley and Liam and in this universe Liam and Riley did not spend the night together as all my other headcanon stories have them. Liam has kept his emotional distance like canon.....which has invited the opportunity for Drake to make an appearance.
This could be seen as a prequel to If Only for the Night
The Book: TRR
Pairings: Riley x Drake?
Warnings and Ratings: None!
Word Count: 1121
Summary: Riley meets Drake in the Lythikos wine cellar for a drink
Song Inspiration: That Don’t Impress Me Much by Shania Twain
A/N: I’m sure this title has been used in fics before, so hopefully no one is offended by it, but I’m taking it from the Canon diamond scene.
AN2: This story actually came to my mind because of a conversation I had with @angelasscribbles as we were talking about Drake. I had thought then, that conversation would not give me any writing ideas, but SURPRISE!
Original post: 05.27.23 at 9:31PM EST.
To be honest, I wasn’t even surprised about how the trip was going being in Lythikos for Olivia’s tribute to Prince Liam. The room she put me in was basically a refurbished broom closet, dinner was served to my table cold with portions of the entree missing.
But what struck me and what did surprise me is that Liam didn’t notice, and never checked up on us, supposedly his true blue friends were all sitting at the neglected table and he didn’t even glance in our direction the whole evening.
And not to mention….the kiss. He let her kiss him in front of the whole court. He genuinely appeared surprised when it happened, but everyone at the table, all their eyes were trained on me for a response. I mean honestly, what could I say?
Prince Liam is not my boyfriend, I’m a suitor in this game we’re all playing. I am competing for a man that at this point has no true allegiance to me.
Nonchalantly I shrugged my shoulders. “She went for it. You know, she doesn’t usually get this much individual time with the Prince, so I can’t fault her for shooting her shot.”
“You’re a lot calmer than I thought you would be, Brooks.”
“I mean, these so-called 'noble' royals have been showing me who they are this whole time, I’d be a fool not to believe them.”
“You deserve a drink Brooks, meet up with me later, and we’ll find where the good stuff you like is stored in this keep.”
“I really might have to take you up on that.”
Liam finally cornered me for a brief moment, as I stood on the balcony letting the cool wind in a way revitalize me.
“Are you angry with me for what happened?”
“No.”
“I thought you might be.”
“How can I Liam? you haven’t so much as stated any intentions you have for me, or of any feelings for me because you say, you can’t. You have a duty to your people and I get that. But don’t forget, all of us are “your people, and we are getting mistreated by some of these people that are supposed to be the “Nobility.”
“I heard about what happened to you all with your meals by the waitstaff, it’s very unfortunate.”
“You mean what they were told to do to us by the Duchess of the Keep?”
Liam took his hands in mine.
“Let me make it up to you. Come meet me tonight. My room has the most beautiful view of the Lythikos landscape and a wonderful hot tub that I have yet to want to use, but would love to enjoy it with you.”
Seriously Liam? That don’t impress me much.
I thought in my head.
“It’s been a really long day Liam.”
Liam frowned for a moment. His smile returned as he kissed my hand.
“I promise you it will be relaxing, and I’ll keep my hands to myself, that is unless you want a massage.”
I felt my resolve wavering for a moment but then it recharged when I remembered all the bad treatment I had experienced while visiting in Lythikos thanks to the Scarlett Duchess herself.
“I’ll wait for you just the same.”
“If I’m not too tired by the end of these festivities, I’ll definitely meet you.”
My mind was already made up as I walked away from him.
That evening when I made it back to the cupboard under the stairs that was my room, I freshened up a bit, and changed my clothes. I had more than one choice and I had decided how I wanted to spend my evening.
And I feel like I made the right decision as when he turned around he genuinely looked surprised to see me.
“Hey! I don’t have a date, so would you maybe want to be my plus one?”
“Brooks! I didn’t think you would show. I had heard Liam had invited you…”
“I could use that drink more, it’s been a helluva day. This is how the working class unwinds, not in hot tubs and seeing glorious views of the Lythikos backcountry. If we’re being totally honest, the Lythikos backcountry can kiss my rounded backside.”
Drake laughed.
“I hear that. Sounds like you’re ready to start popping some bottles?”
“Hell yeah I am!”
I started going through the bottles of Wine in the cellar, when I noticed Drake wasn’t doing the same.
“Aren’t you going to pick some too?”
“Naw, I brought my stash. This was more about you, I know today was a rough day for you.”
Drake produced a silver and black flask with the Cordonian Crest on it.
“I mean not really, people have been showing me their true colors since I got here. And Liam, can’t be who he was when he was in New York here, at least not in public. So is that Whiskey? The third Level of your food group pyramid?”
“Hey if that’s the third level, what are the first two?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Meat is level one, Potatoes are level two.”
“You get me Brooks, and yes it’s Whiskey.”
“So are you sharing that?”
“I can. You know you’re really a lot different than I thought you were when we all first met in New York.”
“You should know not to judge a book by its cover Drake, as much as the Nobility of Cordonia are constantly judging you here.”
“You’re different.”
“No, I’m the same, you just didn’t see me for who I truly was before, and now you’re finally getting a glimpse.”
Was Drake Walker blushing, and why was he staring at me that way?
“This is me relaxed, just being myself. Not behaving like a trained dolphin for the cameras. The moments in between where I get to be just Riley. You know, this is the most we’ve talked Walker, you’re not half bad.”
Drake was staring at me as if he was in some sort of trance, after a few moments he snapped out of it.
“We should toast. To the moments in between where we can relax and be ourselves, with no added pressure.”
He took a sip from the flask and held it out to me, right when I was about to grab it, he snatched it back.
“Pass it here, I don’t have mouth herpes or anything. Besides, the alcohol would kill the germs anyway.”
He looked to be weighing the validity of the idea in his head for a few moments and then came up to the resolution, nodding to me in agreement.
“Seems legit.”
I held up the flask and before I drank, I smiled at Drake.
I am participating in @choicesflashfics prompt # 40 “I have a reputation to uphold” which will appear in bold.
I am also participating in @choicesjuly2023challenge and @moodmusicmonday song inspiration Rendevous by Little Mix
This is chapter 5 of The Blue Honey Cafe if you need to catch up on this, please feel free to click:
The Blue Honey Cafe Masterlist
The Book: TRR : No royals
The pairings: None: TRR MC is single
Ratings and Warnings: None
Word Count: 1382
Original Post: 07/08/23 at 6:12PM EST.
Summary: Riley sees Mason while she’s out and about for an evening.
“Mason, I didn’t know you had a food truck!”
“Pops believed in the hustle, and I followed in his footsteps. I typically only run it in the summertime and into early fall, because there are so many opportunities for extra outdoors events. It’s more light snacks and some sliders sort of thing. Completely different from our typical menu at the restaurant. Are you here alone?”
“Yep, I’m single as a pringle. I didn’t feel like staying in tonight, and I saw the advertisement for the movie on the lawn. I’m trying to put myself out there more, even if I go out alone, you know? I need to be more social, and maybe I’ll make some new friends. That sort of thing.”
“I know, I get it. I have been thinking about the same thing too. Some of my school kids are home for the summer and want to run the food truck to get some hours and I just might let them. That would give me more time to socialize as well.”
“Then that sounds like you already have a plan Mason?”
“I do have a plan.” And it involves the beautiful Riley Brooks, he thought to himself.
“So, have you heard anything about this movie?”
“Yes, I’ve seen the previews, it looks like it’s going to be a crazy movie, when I saw it was The Rotten Apple 🍎 I had to definitely come out tonight and check it out."
“I’ve been wanting to see it too.”
“Maybe you’ll get to have a break, if you do, come find me, you can sit with me for a bit. Help me not feel like a loser sitting by myself here.”
“Riley you’re definitely not a loser, and yes I’ll come find you when I can.”
She smiled at him. I’d like that a lot.”
Riley grabbed her cheeseburger sliders and drink and walked out onto the lawn. She glanced back at the truck, and Mason tried to appear busy, but he was still watching Riley as she walked away. She picked a spot to set up her blanket that was in his eyeline from the food truck. Did she do that on purpose so he’d be able to easily find her?
About thirty minutes into the movie the crowd had died down and everyone was engrossed in the movie Elle, the main character, was something else. She had a very distinct dark side.
“Who’s this large buttered popcorn for Todd?” Mason asked his part time worker.
“For you, I can handle the crowd, you go sit with that cutie you were flirting with.”
Riley was still sitting on the lawn on her blanket alone.
“Are you sure you’ll be good?”
“If the line picks back up, I’ll text you. Go be ‘social.’ She likes you!”
He got Riley a refill and a drink for himself and headed out across the lawn.
“Is this seat taken?” He whispered.
Riley looked up at him beaming.
“It is now, and you brought snacks!”
He sat down on the blanket with Riley placing the popcorn between the two of them.
“I’m glad you could come over here for a bit Mason, to sit here with me.”
“Me too.”
“You work a lot, you should take more time for yourself.”
Mason appeared surprised from her admission.
“Thank you for your concern, I’m trying to do more of that. But, it’s hard when you love your job, it really doesn’t feel like work.”
“I can’t say that about my job.”
“Well maybe you’re doing the wrong thing, Riley.”
It was Riley’s turn to look surprised. Then the person in front of them turned around shushing them.
Mason whispered, “You should always love your job.”
Mason tried not to read too much into it, but as the movie went on, Riley seemed to inch closer to him. She was so close to him that he could smell the perfume of her body and the scent of her shampoo in her hair.
After the movie, Mason helped Riley pick up her things and fold her blanket.
“I had a great time with you Riley.”
“Me too Mason. I loved the movie. They definitely left it open for a sequel. What did you think of it?”
“She did a lot of terrible stuff. But I don’t know why, I still want her to be happy. She kind of just won me over.”
“Because she’s not all bad. She really felt guilt and remorse for the things she had done. ”
“And it’s not every day, you wind up rooting for the villain when you watch something.”
“Exactly……. Well this is awkward.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The food truck, my ride is gone, therefore I have no way to get home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“Thanks Riley, that's nice of you.”
Mason carried all her stuff to the car for her.
“Hey I know, you’re depending on me to get back to your place, but I was wondering if you felt up for doing something else for a little bit? I mean we’re already out, and we both said we need to be more social.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Okay hear me out.. I’ve always wanted to go to this place.”
“Wheelz?!?!?! This used to be my favorite place as a kid. I had several birthday parties here. Midnight skating slaps.”
“But you said this was your favorite place as a kid?”
“Kids can be teenagers too.”
“Are you good at skating?”
“I am great at skating, are you Mason? I wouldn’t have mentioned this place if I couldn’t skate. I’m not trying to embarrass myself. But I wanted to have someone to go with.”
“I’d be honored to go skating with you Riley Brooks.”
Mason was chivalrous, a complete southern gentleman. He had not only opened the door on her own vehicle, he had waited for her to gently get in and close the door behind her. When they made it to Wheelz, Mason jumped out of the vehicle like a rocket, as soon as it was parked, opening the door for her once more.
“Will you at least let me pay for the skate rental?”
“No, it’s the least I can do for your being gracious enough to take me home tonight.”
“I’m not heartless, I wouldn’t leave you stranded like that.”
“It’s the south, I was far from stranded. But I’m glad you decided to indulge your blooming southern charm to help me out. Come on, let’s see what you’ve got out there on the rink.”
“Not bad New York. Not bad at all.” Mason laid on a thickly horrible new york accent.
“Likewise North Cakalacky.” Riley said with an even worse southern accent.
It quickly turned into healthy competition and showboating between the two as they skated around the rink.
The last skate turned out to be a couple’s skate. The music was slow, and almost romantic. She found herself leaning closer into Mason, who had a boyish grin on his face, but he pulled her closer to him too, his hand gripping hers tighter.
That part of the evening was fun and lighthearted, and Riley really enjoyed spending time getting to know Mason. He even had shared with her more about his life and family, which in turn allowed her to have a meaningful conversation with him about her own family. Mason had a lot of sadness in his life but was not jaded by it and was still very upbeat and resilient, which really appealed to her.
“I really enjoyed spending this time with you Mason. I feel like we got a chance to get to know each other a little bit better, and we’re both a little competitive apparently.”
Mason laughed. “Right?!?!?! Nothing like some good healthy competition to get the blood pumping. But seriously Riley, I had a great time with you too.”
Driving back, neither said a word, lost in their own thoughts, and when they pulled to a stop at Mason’s apartment, Riley was the first to speak.
He paused for a moment. “You know Riley, tonight doesn’t have to end right now, if you don’t want it to.”
Riley’s eyes met Mason’s. “Are you asking me up to your place?”
“I am, but it’s completely your choice. I promise to be the perfect gentleman.”
“What if I don’t want you to be, Mason?”
He winked at her. "I have a reputation to uphold."
I am participating in @choicesflashfics prompt week 28 using: “I saw this and it reminded me of you, and “Sometimes forever doesn’t necessarily mean forever” and past prompt “I don’t regret it... but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a mistake.” All used quotes will be in bold.
I am also participating in @aprilchallenge for the over all theme Just want to be with you.
This is Part 8 of the Cordonian Arrangement.
The Book: TRF
The Series: The Cordonian Arrangement
Pairings: MC is widowed, Past Pairings Riley x Nico (Riley x M!OC) , Past Pairing of Liam x Riley
Word Count: 2232
Warnings and Ratings: Mention of character death, grief. Mention of pregnancy complications, profanity: / Teen
Summary: Riley and Liam try to deal with a very awkward situation.
Original Post 04/14/23 at 2PM EST.
It was barely dawn and the sun was only creeping slightly through the windows. When she moved, his embrace tightened, pulling her back close to him, so that he could lean into her to kiss her neck. He sharply inhaled because her natural scent was so intoxicating to him. He had missed sharing tender moments like this with her.
Riley was still waking from her slumber but to her, it felt like a typical morning, that she had lived every day when waking in his arms was commonplace.
She moaned softly as he continued to gently dot kisses to the sensitive skin of her neck, her body responded naturally to his touch.
“Let’s stay in bed. Don’t go…." she mumbled in her sleep. “Stay with me.”
“Always.”
His voice made her immediately leave that place of pre woke slumber to soberingly wide awake, quickly pulling away from him.
“Liam….”
Fully awake, all the memories of the last few months, and from last night flooded back to her in a wave.
Observing the shock and almost disappointment in her eyes, Liam knew, as she shielded her bare body from him with the bedsheet.
Liam’s voice was heavy with discontentment as he spoke.
“That wasn’t intended for me, was it?” Liam’s gaze was piercing, full of disappointment causing Riley to quickly break eye contact with him. She just couldn’t look him in the face right now, but she wanted to be honest with him; he deserved that.
“No… I’m…. sorry….” She murmured as she turned heading towards the door still draped in the sheet from the bed.
“Riley, we need to talk about this. There’s a reason you came to me last night. It felt right for us to be together that way. We felt like us again!”
“For a brief second, this morning, I forgot the horror that has been my life these last three months. Last night, I was lonely… I wanted to feel…. connected to someone again. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea, and for that Liam, I’m truly sorry."
“Do you regret what happened between us last night?”
“No… I don’t regret it… but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a mistake. It was a mistake Liam. We have way too much history for me to think that you would simply be okay with it. This is all my fault. I should have been clear with you what last night truly was….for me.”
“We made love last night Riley.”
“We… didn’t. It was just sex, Liam. I’m still in love with my husband.” She glanced down at the ring on her finger that she was still wearing. Nico's wedding band dangled from a gold chain around her neck.
“Your husband is dead.”
Riley gasped in shock. Liam immediately wanted to take the words back, but it was too late; the damage was done. Riley shook her head in disbelief.
“Who are you?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like it came out, Riley. Forgive me, I didn’t mean it Riley. I promise you I didn’t.”
"Yes you did."
"I really didn't…"
“Get out of my house.”
“Riley….No… We’re supposed to take Angelo to the zoo together today.”
“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE NOW!!!!”
"Riley please…."
She adamantly shook her head no.
"Nico was wrong about what you and I could be to each other. I need you to pack your stuff and leave now.."
“Riley, that's not fair for you to say that. We’re still figuring all of this out. This isn’t easy for either of us to navigate.”
“I need you to leave Liam.”
“Not like this. I’m not leaving you like this Riley.”
“Fine, then I’ll leave.”
Riley left his room and locked herself in the master bedroom.
After a few minutes she heard the sound of Liam’s rolling suitcase on the floor, it stopping in front of her bedroom door.
“I’m going to say goodbye to my son before I leave.”
"You should do that."
"For what it's worth Riley, I'm really sorry."
“Goodbye Liam.”
A few minutes later Liam was gone. Riley took a deep breath finally unlocking her door.
Ruby One
“I was sure you said you were here until Monday, how the hell did I fuck that up?” Leo asked when he got on the plane clearly confused and hungover.
“That was the plan.”
“Well what went wrong?”
Liam explained what happened with Riley.
“You’re an absolute fool when it comes to Riley. That woman is a walking red flag right now, and trust me I know a red flag when I see one.”
“What?”
“It’s not her fault though, she lost her husband. You ignored all the signs because you want her back, and Riley’s not there yet. She can't be what you want her to be Liam…at least not right now. You have had a front seat to her grieving Nico.
You know how hard this whole ordeal has been for her. When I saw her last, she was still wearing her wedding ring, and his wedding band. Did she take them off?”
“No.”
“That’s not a woman that’s ready to move on with you, no matter how much you want her to be ready. She’s stuck in that place where she still desperately misses her husband, and wants him back.
She was probably lonely, and let's be honest horny, and you were there, and she sought comfort from you, in that way. You had to know what you were getting into when she showed up at your door last night. Liam, be honest with yourself. It wasn’t the beginning of rekindling of your relationship with her, and you knew that, but you wanted her so much, that you didn’t care. You just wanted her, any way you could have her.”
“You’re right. I love her."
“Liam, you have to give her time. If the two of you are meant to be, she will come back to you. But what you did, didn’t help the situation, you got mad with her and said something incredibly hurtful. It was true, mind you, but hurtful. You do this to her, you know and you need to stop."
"Do what?"
"You impose all these things on her, expecting her to follow them, to be what you what, how you want it, when you want it. Then you get all surprised that she rebelled against you and ran, and put up every wall imaginable to keep you out, this not being the first time she’s reacted this way to you. Does this sound familiar?"
"I'm acting just like father would….."
“You are little brother.”
“Give her some space, and she’ll come back around.”
“If she doesn’t?”
“It was just never meant to be, and if we’re being completely honest here, you lost her over three years ago; it might be time to finally let her go.”
Liam was in a deep state of contemplation the rest of the way back to Cordonia. He decided it was time to listen to his own message that was given to him by the late Nico Karahalios. Liam pulled his own envelopes out of his desk drawer. He had given him two envelopes one said "If it's working" the other one said "If it's not working."
He picked up the "If it's not working" video and began watching.
"Hey Liam. I can honestly say… I’m not surprised.”
Nico smiled. "You thought it was going to be easy, didn't you?"
Nico began to laugh.
"You really did, didn't you?!!"
Nico abruptly stopped laughing. "I'm sorry. This is not helpful.”
"Damn right it's not." Liam thought.
“I’m sure that you were expecting more from me.”
Nico sat silently for a few moments.
"Like what exactly? Did you think this was the part where I am going to tell you how to win my wife's heart back? How to get her to fall in love with you again? I'm not going to do that. I can't do that. She's not going to do anything because you want her to do it. She does things on her own time. That woman has her own mind, and she's not afraid to use it. Liam, she's a different woman than the one that came here a week after you met her in New York. None of the same rules are going to apply. You have to get to know her again as the woman she is now. She’s been a lover and a confidant to me, she’s been a faithful wife, and a beautiful mother. How I won her then, I can’t even take credit for that, I didn't win her, but instead she chose me.
I think she chose me because I was patient with her. I did what I said I was going to do. If I told her, we were meeting at 6PM for dinner, I’d be knocking on her door at 5:50. She could always rely on me being there for her. Comfort and stability allowed her to relax with me, because Riley is not a calm person. Her senses are always heightened, waiting for the other shoe to drop, because of all the hurt and loss she’s experienced in her life. I finally got her to relax with me…and then I died on her. I will never forget the look in her eyes when I told her I was dying. She was completely blindsided. The light after everything she’s endured that you see in her eyes so easily, disappeared. It broke my heart.”
Nico shook his head.
“Our marriage wasn’t perfect. We had our fair share of fights. Our very first year of marriage was particularly tough. We lived with my mother. Can you imagine? Small house, with a newborn, while my cousins helped me build the house we were in now. Our first really huge fight, after we moved in, Riley kicked me out of the house and locked me out.”
Nico laughed.
“From my house. I slept in a tent in the yard for 3 days. My cousins saw me, talked all this macho shit to me, and so I got all ballsy and I went up to MY HOUSE. MY HOUSE THAT I BUILT FOR MY WIFE…And insisted Riley let me back in. You know what happened Liam? Can you guess?”
Nico was silent for a few moments.
“It was the equivalent of upsetting a bee hive. I spent a fourth night out in that damn tent. Day five, I left her alone. Day six, when I woke, she had brought me breakfast, and wanted to talk. Was she still angry with me? Yes, but she had calmed down enough that she could talk to me without shutting down on me. I hope you understand what I’m trying to tell you.
Riley put up with a lot to be in that arrangement with you, that experience changed her. Now, yet again, she will be forever changed from losing me. I don’t know if she’ll come around. I hope she will, because I want her to be happy, Liam. She’s had too much sadness in her life, to not be. I wanted to be her forever, and sometimes, forever doesn’t necessarily mean forever.
So in closing, whatever you did wrong… Make it right Liam.”
Liam decided to take a page from Nico’s book. He gave her space. Finally after the most painful weeks of not speaking to Riley, he decided to send her a text. Riley used to like a good meme in the past, so he decided to send her one.
“I saw this, and it reminded me of you. Just imagine they are butterflies, and I remember how you feel about butterflies.”
Later in the day he noticed she had seen the meme, but she hadn’t responded. He decided not to push and maybe Riley would respond on her own. During the night while Liam was sleeping she sent a meme back to him.
He took it as a sign she was ready to talk.
He immediately called her and once she picked up he started speaking, not even waiting for her to say hello.
“Riley, I completely deserved the way you treated me that day. I’m so sorry for what I said. I never meant it, and I never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me.”
“This isn’t Riley. It’s Athena, we just got Riley to the hospital, she wanted me to call you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s the baby. We’re really concerned.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Staff had the Ruby One prepped for departure within the hour. Leo when hearing the news decided to go with him for support. Within three hours they were at the hospital.
"What room is Riley Karahalios in? I need to see her."
"Are you family?" The receptionist questioned, and when he didn't respond she countered with "Only family is allowed back in this wing."
"He is family. He's the baby's father."
"He's right. I am the baby's father.”
She’s in room 224.”
Leo followed as Liam walked briskly down the hall at an accelerated pace.
“She’s going to be fine. Her and the baby are going to be fine. They have to be.”
Athena and Mama K were sitting outside the room when he walked up. Athena immediately stood.
“Athena, what happened to Riley?”
“She was having pains, and there was some bleeding. We were really scared. It’s stopped now. They have her calm and she’s finally resting.”
Liam walked into the room, Riley was snoring, the beeps of the multiple monitors didn’t seem to be bothering her. Taking her hand in her sleep and gently stroking it, Riley still did not wake. So he sat there quietly holding her hand.
He softly whispered to her. “I’m here.”
Riley woke up a short time later.
“What are you doing here Liam?” Her hand tensing slightly under his touch.
“Athena told me you wanted her to call me.”
“No I didn’t….”
“Oh…”
“But I’m glad she did. I told her not to, because, I didn’t want to worry you.”
Riley’s hand relaxed in his again, her free hand rubbing her stomach.
“I thought I lost her, and I can’t lose both of them. I can’t handle that. I’m such a mess right now. I’ve never felt this out of sorts in my life. I’m sorry I got so angry with you. I get that this isn’t an easy situation for you either.”
Liam could almost hear the words of the late Nico Karahalios in his ear. “You have to get to know her as the woman she is now.”
“It’s alright. I know. How about this? Let’s just start over. Let’s forget all the missteps on both our parts, and start at the very beginning. I’m Liam Rys, it’s a pleasure to meet you….”
