William had been a week away from turning twelve years old. He had been anxious about the move, but overall supportive of whatever his father needed to heal. But Simon and Percy could tell how down he was. And so a tradition was born for the young Sagittarius, born at exactly 7am on November 24, 1985. On the morning of his twelfth birthday, at 6am, Percy and Simon stirred Will from bed and they all bundled up and got in the car to drive to Lake Mead. As the sun started to rise close to 7am, they sat on the hood of the car, drinking coffee (or hot chocolate in Will's case) and his father's would cheer as the hour hit, celebrating his arrival into the world, re-defining that day in 1985 for Will all over again.
The morning of Will's 38th birthday was no different, except over the years a few guests had been added to the crew that piled into the car while it was still dark out. As Will got older, he always found himself waking up earlier and earlier on his birthday, preparing more to leave with. What had once been hot chocolate and coffee was now coffee and breakfast sandwiches and whatever pastries could be piled into a box at that time of the morning. This year, like many others, Theo and Chloe were already in the kitchen with Percy and Simon (not that Theo had ever left the house) and they all piled onto him with hugs as soon as they saw him. To be surrounded by love was something that humbled him every day. But especially on his birthday.
There was always a moment during his birthday where he couldn't help but wonder about his birth parents. 38 years later and he still wondered about his first year of life, of what it must have been like when his biological parents held him in their arms. If they thought of him on this day or if it was just another day in November for them. Every year he tried to forget and every year he found the thought lingering in the back of his mind despite how joy filled the day was.
This year would include his usual lunch with Logan, a constant of theirs, a little moment for the two of them to giggle and gossip. A pause in the midst of a full day to enjoy a good meal with someone who brought out the silliest parts of him, the parts that reminded him he really was just some dude on this spinning rock. It was a moment to be reminded that he really did have the most special people in his life.
Which was exactly why the afternoon and evenings were truly for the boys. An afternoon ride through town with Cole and Nate, a dinner they'd never treat themselves too on the regular and mounds of dessert by the time the rest of the guys joined them. All to be rounded out by as many drinks as he could handle at the Outpost, blushing as Beau made a thing of letting everyone in the bar know it was Will's birthday. Which was usually how he got the most free drinks and Beau got a decent profit for the night. Laughter and shoulder pats, big hugs and endless teasing. A true loved filled day, celebrating a man who was trying his hardest to truly reflect that love back on himself.
Which is why in order to continue the good feelings of the day, Will fixed his fingers to inquire whether a certain surgeon was free at that latest of hours so he could enter the next year of his life wrapped up in the kind of warmth he wanted to have with him all the time. And a few other things that didn't need to be put into words.
And yet, Will's mind still wandered to the things that were missing. The people that were missing and he found himself wishing that one day, one year, it would all come back to him. Until then, he would be deeply grateful for what he still had. And my god, was it a whole lot of love.
ft. @logandonovan @theodoreknox @chloeandersonx @nathaniel-donovan @colemonroe @beauaustinsinclair @ianmonts
Tyler would have preferred a quiet, lowkey getaway with Brooke in France, but in an effort to keep Nate and Cassie from creating drama in Riverbanks, they were invited to the mountains for snowboarding, hot chocolate, and a cabin all to themselves. It’s where Tyler’s foster parents met and fell in love. They were both in college and on vacation with their families. Sarah McKenzie prayed that same magic was still there, and that it would find Tyler. She could tell he was a good person, albeit a little broken. Hoping he could share a similar experience with friends, Sarah and John offered him the keys to their lodge and an AmEx credit card with no spending limit. “Make memories that will last a lifetime, Tyler.” Sarah said before kissing his cheek. She was sweet and loving, but Tyler wasn’t naïve enough to think it’ll last. It never does.
“Well, here we are.” Tyler breathed as he unlocked the door to the cabin and pushed inside. It was already 7:00 PM and the sun was down. That, accompanied with jetlag was reason enough for everyone to settle in and find something to do indoors. It was their first night here, so they didn’t have to go all out. That was Tyler’s mindset, anyway. Nate, however, didn’t know what lowkey meant. He only agreed to come because Cassie persuaded him with her gorgeous blue eyes. He was still trying to convince her she wasn’t just a piece of ass. “So who’s down for a bar?” How did he have so much energy? Meanwhile Tyler was already heading up to claim a room and be an introvert. With the exception of being around Brooke, who’s lower back he brushed with his fingertips before heading upstairs. There were two rooms upstairs and two downstairs. Tyler wanted to be upstairs because it was away from the more common areas. And he hoped Brooke would take the other which is why he was signaling for her to follow him while Nate and Cassie figure out a game plan. Though if it was up to Tyler, they’d all stay in and circle around a warm fire.
“Hey,” Tyler smiled as Brooke appeared in his doorway. He already dumped his luggage out onto the bed. He packed lighter than anyone else. All he’s ever needed or owned could fit into a backpack. “Well, you made it to France. That’s the dream, right?” That’s what she told him before. She wanted to pursue fashion and live in Paris. It was a nice dream. One Jake never liked. In fact, he was still in Riverbanks, sending her an influx of texts. “Any second thoughts?” He drew closer and brushed his hand over her cold cheek. She was absolutely breathtaking and he wished she was his to hold and kiss.
– “DID YOU FORGET YOUR BLAZER?” she asks, tugging at his shirt sleeve lightly. she really can’t resist nagging him a little, and he makes it so easy. “ it’s freezing out, nate. i feel like you don’t check the weather. ”
“¿de verdad quieres retarme a esto?” inquirió con la ceja arqueada y los ojos entrecerrados, sabía que beber de más podía resultar peligroso mas en la situación que estaban no le molestaba un poco de peligro. “te aseguro que puedo beber más shots que tú. el tequila es mi especialidad” aseguró al tiempo que recorría con la mirada la mesa de las bebidas. @nateignatiev
spotting just the person she’d been looking for, walking through the busy halls of du pont, sabina quickened her pace to catch up to the older valmont. coming up beside him, she touched a hand to his arm to announce her presence. “hey,” she greeted softly, offering him a small smile. “i feel like i haven’t seen you in days. you’re not avoiding me, are you?”
“Way to whip out your pistol and shoot me square in the forehead. I hate questions like this. Always feel like I need one of those fancy flamenco fans to flutter my cheeks with while I think about it. Um... Well, I mean, Teddy. Duh. I think everyone has eyes. Ingrid, too. Spicy gorl! One of the best kissers of all time, swear on my tattoo-less, not-Count-Olaf ankle. Nate would be way better if he didn’t have the personality of an old toenail. Plus, Benji is kind of a dark horse -- the one Katy Perry wheezed about. I don’t even know what it is. He just... is. Oh! And Bridget. Hey, Sabrina, too. Her hair always smells nice. Like a perfume sample in the bottom of a bag from a fancy store. And--... How many am I meant to give? God. I’ll leave it there, I think. Don’t want to hog the stage space performing a full length sonnet or anything. A thot has other places to be -- I’m the thot.”
