Fiona considered pretending that she had not, in fact, seen Imogen Moreno in her path. She had options, actually, so she pretended to be very busy reading a pamphlet about renter’s insurance that she found in her bag. Her first option was to turn around and pretend that she had forgotten something. The second option was to appear engaged with this remarkably dull pamphlet until her ex-girlfriend (and sort-of definitely friend, she supposed) went away. The third option was to pretend to see someone else and walk right on past.
The fourth option (and the one that she went with my default) was to stand there like an idiot and say something remarkably stupid. “So! Imogen. Renter’s insurance. You’ve got it?”
@babertonmuses // Imogen loved Eric. She was glad the whole drama after the drunk wedding hadn’t broken them up for good and she was enjoying taking things a bit slower this time. However, she’d taken a test lately because she’d had some worries and.. she found out she was pregnant. A couple of months along. She had kept it quiet for maybe longer than she should have but honestly she had been freaking out. Imogen felt like she was repeating her mother’s patterns here and this wasn’t in the plan. Her life was a bit .. derailed by this and she didn’t know what to do. Now though she felt was time to tell him. Unlocking his front door with her key she moved through into the other room, she peeked round and gave him a little smile, leaning against the door. “Hey. What’s up?”
Sometimes? Sometimes Fiona felt lonely even when she was surrounded by campers and counselors everyday. And she was generally okay with that. It wasn’t that she couldn’t stand everyone; they just didn’t get her- even the ones that she liked. Today she was especially keyed up, but not really in a negative way. When she had some time to herself, Fiona decided to take a walk, and got annoyed when she learned that her brother was busy. Before she could really think about it, Fiona was sitting in front of the door to Imogen’s cabin.
It seemed safe, especially because she was on good enough terms with Frankie that it would not be too weird to bump into the wrong cabin counselor instead. Fiona just... missed having a conversation that felt real and right.
"I’ll tell everyone how much this means to me." / "I can’t do it by myself." / "I’ll teach you a lesson for keeping secrets from me." / "Sometimes I just want to know what it’s like to be you." / "I don’t want to forget how your voice sounds." / "Take one for the team." / "Please take me back." raspberries :D
"I’ll tell everyone how much this means to me."
"Pretty sure most people already know how much this, and I mean to you…you’re not as subtle as you think"
"I can’t do it by myself."
"Harrison. Look at me. you will never have to".
"I’ll teach you a lesson for keeping secrets from me."
"Is that a promise or a threat? Surprise birthday parties don’t count as secrets though! At least not bad secrets!”
"Sometimes I just want to know what it’s like to be you."
"I don’t know…I hardly remember anything different. Sometimes it’s hard to remember what I’m not supposed to know. Sometimes it’s hard to not correct people, but most of the time…I don’t know. I don”t think it’s so different? Maybe it’s like being an old person. I have more memories to draw on. And more old fashioned views on some things. But I don’t think it’s so very different".
"I don’t want to forget how your voice sounds."
"I’ll be in Maine for three weeks, that’s all - three weeks! And there’s Skype. Besides, if you think you can forget me in so little time I’m deeply offended Harrison. I never forget you in lifetimes".
"Take one for the team."
"…You’re lucky I love you at times like this".
"Please take me back."
"Oh Harrison. You say that as though I have a choice - it’s you. For me, there’s only you…and there’s no question".
Zip Me (dressing each other), Quiet Me, Mourn Me, Fight Me, Unbind Me, Yahoo Me, Love Me
Zip Me (dressing each other)
"Little help?" she asked him, her back toward him but her head turned so she could see him, both hands gathering up her hair even as she spoke and pulling it forward over one shoulder. Harrison looked up at the sound of her voice, and after a moment stepped forward her, toward the back of her dress that gaped open and began to fiddle with the tiny buttons.
"You know" he commented, his fingers fumbling with the tiny buttons and seemingly tinnier holes for them to go through. "These buttons are designed for women's fingers to do".
"Then they shouldn't put them in the middle of my back where I can't reach them" she pointed out, holding her body still as he, slowly, managed to button her up till the dress hugged her body. Turned around to face him she smiled, taking his wrists and deftly buttoning his cuffs for him. He seemed somewhat distracted as she did this, his height giving him a rather nice view down her dress and when she looked up he didn't bother to hide his opinion of her look for tonight.
"Remind me why we're going to this?" Harrison said, hands lifting to her hips.
"Because I said so. Now behave".
Quiet Me
She knew he was drunk from the way he stumbled through the door - she knew Harrison that well by now, she could have figured it out just by the sight of him, she didn't need for him to actually get close enough to smell that whiskey although he did after a moment. Catching his hand she drew him to the sofa, encouraging him to sit down before she spoke.
"What happened?"
The rant that poured out was far from eloquent, he was furious as well as drunk and both combined meant he might be talking about the problem but he wasn't always making sense and his sentences slurred together or jumped onto different tracks. She could figure it out though - nepotism, alive and well still, had reared it's head at the university and some idiot with money and connections had been given a job that Harrison's talent and hard work deserved.
Anger flared inside her as well, as it did anytime somebody upset her love, but she kept quiet - it wouldn't help. Instead, she held Harrison's hand, stroking his fingers and allowing him to rant, to get it out his system - only when his voice began to grow louder did she speak.
"Hey, hey" she began, her voice the sort you might use to soothe an upset child or a startled animal. "Hey, c'mon, look at me". Scooting she moved into his lap, both hands lifting to cup his face, her gaze on his. "It sucks. It's not fair. OK? I know that, darling. But getting mad, right now, that won't help. So. Keep doing your job, and only your job - don't pick up his stuff, it won't help you, yeah? Do your job, do it well, let him fail, and then, when they need somebody actual competent, you'll be there. And right now...come to bed". Her tone was non-nonsense, not annoyed with him but not allowing argument, her fingers slid from his face to his hair and smoothed the curls gently before she stood up and he sighed, the anger dissipating from his body as he looked up at her.
Mourn Me
Seated in the front row, she stared toward the front of the room stony faced, her skin as pale as his had been when she looked on his face for the last time this morning, her eyes shadowed by purple bruises, but dry eyed. That did not mean she was not suffering though, it only took one look to see how she was barely there, so wrapped up in her grief she noticed nothing else.
Her mother, on her right side, had her daughter on her lap, the little girl kept asking for 'Mommy' but Imogen never seemed to hear the pleas. Her son sat on her other side, her father beside him with a heavy hand on the lad's shoulder, the boy sobbing and clutching his mother's arm though she didn't respond.
It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.
Hardly aware of the service, time these days sped up and slowed down as suited itself, it was the drawing of the curtains and the coffin slowly sliding away that finally got a reaction from her.
"No" she murmured, through cracked lips, her throat sore and dry. "No" she repeated, louder this time as she stood up. "No, don't, don't take him, you can't take him, it's too soon, he can't be dead". The words tumbled out, each one louder then the one before till she was near hysterically screaming as she moved toward the coffin - only to be dragged back by her father, who pulled her against his chest as she began to sob. "It's too soon" she murmured, her knees giving way as she clutched at her father. "It's not fair".
Fight Me
"You know you're not going to win"
"Oh, because of course, I forgot, all math nerds are also secretly Mr Universe" she teased him, rolling her eyes dramatically. That made him take the challenge though and he sat down and grabbed her hand, immediately trying to pin it down to the table, no doubt hoping to catch her off guard - and failing. She bit her lip with the effort it took, but she held her hand and his upright.
"I carry textbooks. And I can carry you" he reminded her, frowning with concentration.
"Yeah, but I weigh nothing" she pointed out. "That proves nothing".
"I'll prove it by winning and then you'll regret this challenge". Confusion crossed his face as she laughed at that. "What?"
"The forfeit is sex Harrison, neither of us is going to regret losing" Imogen pointed out.
"Well in that case..." With that he stopped trying and she had his hand pinned to the table. "I lose. Time for sex".
Unbind Me
"Oh, jeez, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to - are you ok?" He asked, the question genuinely concerned and he sounded so worried as he tugged the silk scarf he'd used to bind her to the bed off her skin, her skin bright red under the bindings from where she'd pulled at them even when she hadn't meant to. She hadn't been trying to escape, it had been her idea, but he had gotten into the game and kept at it, loving to hear her whimper, and she had just wanted release...
Now he felt bad, even though she had enjoyed the game.
"I'm fine Harrison, honestly" she told him, light hearted but his worry didn't abate, he looked guilty as anything and she laughed, despite herself, despite knowing it wasn't exactly helpful. Freeing her hands from his touch she lifted both to his face, pulling him in for a kiss.
"I'm better then OK" she told him. "That was amazing".
Yahoo Me
Normally, Imogen didn't bother Harrison at work. But this...this was a special occasion.
He didn't know that though which would explain why, when she burst through the doors in the middle of his lecture, her hair windswept from running here from the car, he looked annoyed with her.
"Excuse me-" he began to his students but she didn't wait for him to walk to her, didn't wait for them to be alone, didn't wait for him to finish his sentence - the pause had only been the second it took her to get her breath back.
"We're getting a baby". Her words were greeted with silence, and so she spoke again, taking a few stumbling steps toward Harrison. "We're getting a baby - the agency, they called me. He's two weeks old, he's in Minnesota...he's going to be ours".
"A...a baby?" Harrison echoed, walking toward her, his face stunned and she smiled slowly, a proper smile, the sort which hadn't been seen on her face in this past few years with all the stresses. "We're getting a baby" she whispered, close to him now.
He grabbed her by the waist, lifting her up into his arms, her legs locking around his hips as she giggled with delight, her arms around his neck as she clutched at him, burying her face in his neck - and becoming after a moment aware that the class were clapping.
Love Me
The weather outside was horrific, pouring rain in a way you hardly ever had to experience in the L.A autumn. Used to Maine though she had waterproof shoes, unlike other girls, most of whom were wearing Ugg style boots and bitching the suede had just soaked up puddles, and she had coffee - which would improve her mood and someone else's.
Poking her head around the door to his office, she grinned at the sight of Harrison, his hair in frizzy curls from the wet outside and his glasses steamed up - she knew he wouldn't have been at work long.
"Hey you" she said, pushing the door ajar behind her and crossing the room, lifting one of the cardboard cups she held in her hands, this one without his name scrawled on it. "I figured you'd need some cheering up today...so, fresh from Starbucks". She put both of them down on his desk as he stood up and walked around to her.
"You're amazing. You always know what I need" he murmured, sounding amazed by this himself as he leaned down to kiss her and she smiled at him, sliding her hands around his waist to behind his back.
"I make it my business to know what you need" she whispered, leaning up to kiss him. He obliged, but gently, soft little butterfly kisses even when a soft moan of frustration escaped her and she pressed closer to him, her body flush against his.
"I need you to come home with me tonight, were you aware of that?" he asked and she giggled, pleased - but then the door swung open and they stepped apart, turning to look at Julia as she rolled her eyes.
"Morning lovebirds" she said, crossing to her own desk. "Didn't bring me coffee?"
"I did" Immy told her, holding out the other cup - it hadn't been her drink. As soon as Julia took it, she turned back to Harrison, smiling at him.
"I'll see you tonight?"
"Of course" she murmured, leaning up and kissing him gently. "I love you".
"I'm done. No more running. No more lying." / "My thoughts exactly! It's genius." / "I've gotta be either dead or dreaming." / "You know you may be right." / "Wherever you go, i'm there right by your side."
"I'm done. No more running. No more lying."
Some girls wouldn't have taken him back. After what he said, after how he'd hurt her. Some girls wouldn't have wanted him back, and plenty would judge Imogen as 'weak' for accepting him. But nothing would have made her say no to him - all she did say, with a soft, hesitant, nervous little smile was "Are you...you're sure? You're ready?"
"My thoughts exactly! It's genius."
Nuzzling up to his side she kissed his neck softly before murmuring in his ear. "You're genius. My little nerdy math genius".
"I've gotta be either dead or dreaming."
Moving to straddle his waist she ran one hand through her long tumbling hair. "Neither one...this is real and all yours..."
"You know you may be right."
"No need to sound so surprised" she teased gently, rolling her eyes.
"Wherever you go, I'm there right by your side."
Eyes welled up with tears she hid her face against his chest rather then risk replying, knowing if she spoke she'd cry....and right now, never stop.
"Are you having nightmares again?" / "Don’t look at me like that." / "Eviction notice. It’s an eviction notice." / "Okay, I know this looks bad…" / "Who the hell is passed out in the driveway?" / "Without you, I’m lost." / "Kicking someone is not a form of romance."
"Are you having nightmares again?"
"No" she said, a little too quickly and not meeting his eyes. As though she could tell him this, when she was already such a burden, when she was already letting him down - she couldn't make herself look weaker and put anymore of a weight on his shoulders. "No" she repeated after a moment, lifting eyes with purple shadows beneath them to his face and forcing a smile. "Just...a headache, that's all".
"Don’t look at me like that."
Sliding so she was perched on his lap Imogen cupped his face in both hands gently, the gesture tender but also meaning he really had to look at her as she pouted and made puppy dog eyes, silent but her expression quite eloquent enough.
"Eviction notice. It’s an eviction notice."
For just a moment she looked worried as she came to stand at his side and peer at the letter he held...and then the answer, so very obvious, appeared to her. "...Live with me. We could find somewhere together - somewhere that even has floor space!"
"Okay, I know this looks bad…"
Most girls probably would have worried, walking into their boyfriend's office and finding him almost pinned to the chair, some cute blonde freshman perched on his desk and leaning forward over him...but Imogen knew better and she flashed the girl (who had the good grace to lean back and looked slightly awkward at being caught) a bright oblivious smile. "Hey - we haven't met, have we?" she said, walking across the room and offering her hand. "I'm Imogen - Harrison's girlfriend".
"Who the hell is passed out in the driveway?"
"That's just Jake" she told him, her tone casual as though it were perfectly normally to have comatose frat boys lying outside your house on a Sunday morning. "He came over last night, drunk, to serenade us and when we wouldn't let him in he lay down out there. Don't worry, he's breathing - Nat checked".
"Without you, I’m lost."
Her face was cheek were salty and the tears still unshed in her eyes made them look even bigger, magnified her already wide as saucer eyes till they seemed to take up her whole expression. "Really?" she whispered, hardly daring to hope.
"Kicking someone is not a form of romance."
"I think it is" she countered, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I think, maybe, in this particular instance, it is. Because I only kicked you so I could get your attention and romantically seduce you" Imogen pointed out with a slight smile. "And I didn't kick you hard".
