#p: 002

[asmalltownmumu]

Small towns talk. There’s gossip everywhere. And more often than not, Ainsley could hear people whispering whenever she and Carter walked down the street. They’d been attached at the hip for years and it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when people started making assumptions that they were going to eventually become an item. If she was being honest, the gossip just made her more adamant that she and Carter would not be getting together. Why give everyone the satisfaction of being right? 

But she couldn’t help but notice that as they got older, feelings started to pop up. She probably noticed them and came to terms with them around their junior year in high school, the first time that they kissed. She’d never been kissed before, and had come clean to him in the old tree house in her back yard, left over from the previous owners. It was old and creaky, but it was their go to safe space, away from the world. It was a shame it’d been torn down after she and Madelyn, her older sister, had moved out and moved in with Mady’s fiance. She definitely would have made a point to sneak in there, just for old times sake.

But the first time they’d kissed, it had been in the tree house, and Ainsley had told him the truth, she’d never been kissed before. She’d wondered if it was because she just had no interest in dating, or if it was because of the truth: she secretly had eyes only for one person, but she was too scared to tell that one person the truth. But there they were, the moonlight streaming in from the hole in the roof of the tree house, lips connecting for the first time.

It wouldn’t be the last time they’d kiss. More often than not, their late nights of sneaking out together ended in a make out session or two. But never would they say anything about it. It would happen, and that would be the end of it. Never to be spoken of again. And if someone caught them, they’d just brush it off. They were bored, and neither of them had anyone else to kiss, so why not?

But those excuses were getting old the older they got. It was getting harder and harder for Ainsley to push those feeling she had down deep, deep to where they couldn’t surface. People talked more and more, and it was hard to tell the lies. ‘We’re just friends’ ‘There’s nothing there, we’re just bored’ ‘I could never do that’. 

All these thoughts were going through her mind as the pair laid on a blanket in the park, close together as always, “just sharing a kiss”. And finally, Ainsley lost it. She pulled away, crossed her arms, and a pout formed on her lips. “I can’t do this anymore.” She exclaimed dramatically. “I can’t pretend like this is normal. Because this is not normal, Carter. It’s just not! Normal friends don’t lay in a park, making out!” She sighed. Those feelings she shoved deep down were bubbling up. “I pretend, day in and day out, that this is just something people do. That there is nothing between us, and we’re just friends. But we’re not, and I think we both realize this but neither of us are willing to say anything because we’ve done this for so long. But I can’t pretend anymore, Carter. Maybe people are right when they talk about us. ...maybe we would be better together. And maybe I do love you. ...actually, not maybe. I do. I do love you.”

[springhillmumu]

Was this a date? This was definitely a date. Sure, Maverick hadn’t really made it seem like a date when he...well, he didn’t even really ask. He more like...told Hunter he was taking her out. But she’d gone along with it, so that was a step in the right direction! So this was definitely a date, and he was going to treat it as such. ...even if he didn’t have the chance to get changed into something nicer than a t-shirt and jeans, and he was pretty sure his breath smelled like the pizza he’d heated up for lunch earlier. But still! He was going on a date! With Hunter Gallagher! This was something straight out of his fantasy world. A date with the girl he’d had a thing for since third grade when she’d beaten his time on the monkey bars at recess.

Of course, he could never let Emmy know he was considering this a date. ...she’d kill him. This was uncharted territory. Hunter had always been Emmy’s friend, although she and Maverick had always been friendly. They hadn’t been ‘go out to dinner, just the two of you’ friendly. Yet here they were, in Maverick’s car, on their way to get Mexican food. “So this new place opened up across town by my place. The guys were saying it’s really good, so I figured we could check it out? I hear they make a great margarita.” He could really use a shot of tequila right now, that was for sure. Liquid courage.

[jaxx-attack]

Party For Two →

Considering she spent most of her time in a few unsanitary places even Jaxx had to admit, there was nothing more nauseating than a teenage house party. Especially when it was a rich teen. Standing across the street eyeing the scene before her; beautiful house of course covered to the nines in toilet paper, cars everywhere, beer cans finding their way outside, Jaxx finished her cigarette tossing the butt down and stomping it out with her boot. 

With one final glance at the house she slid her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket before she started making her way up to the front door. Truly she didn’t know why she had come, maybe it was the fact that she knew she wouldn’t be welcome here, or the fact that she just wanted to piss Natalie off. Though it could also be the fact that she hadn’t stopped thinking about Amelia for the rest of the day. Not to mention the way her hand still tingled when she thought about how close Amelia had been. 

It was so stupid, feelings were stupid, she was stronger than this. But yet here she was walking into the grand entrance to the house, instantly being hit with pop music blaring out of the speakers and bodies everywhere. Some making out, some chatting, other’s drinking and a majority passed out from said drinking. 

Weaving her way through a few people she had just made her way into the kitchen when she was instantly grabbed, body pressed against her own, hand resting against her chest. 

“Hey Jaxxy! You never called me-” the young blonde slurred, staring up at Jaxx with adoring eyes. 

“Uh hey Sarah...Samantha...uh..babe, yeah I...about that,” just as she started speaking her gaze landed on Amelia heading across the entry way separating the kitchen from the hallway. “Uh rain check?” she commented, grabbing a cup and filling it with water she gave it to the girl who’s name she was sure started with an S, making sure she was okay leaning against the counter before she quickly headed out of the room and into the direction Amelia had went.

Glancing up she spotted the girl heading up the stairs, quickly following after her she managed to be a few seconds behind her as Amelia headed into one of the rooms. Reaching out just before the door closed Jaxx stopped it with her hand, pushing it open and slipping into the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Oh hey Princess, fancy meeting you here but you know when nature calls,”

[magdaoconnor]

An Important Call || Darling and Hot Nerd

Magda woke with a start, not entirely sure where she was, nor how she got there. The last she remembered was the freak out she’d had in her office, and vaguely remembered ordering takeaway. The look the delivery guy had given her when she opened the door flashed through her mind and she sighed. She looked around for her glasses, finding them on the coffee table. Everything from the coffee table was put away, spare a glass of water that was sat next to her glasses. Immediately she put her glasses on and took stock of the rest of the room. The lamp in the corner was still on, as was the light in the kitchen. Things she would deal with once she’d taken her meds, she needed them right now.

Groaning softly, she stood, grabbing the glass of water off the coffee table and carrying it into her bedroom. Setting it on her bedside table she noticed a note stuck to it. PLEASE CALL ME was scrawled in Cassie’s handwriting and Magda sighed. Grabbing a key that was taped to the bottom of her lamp, she unlocked the drawer to her bedside table, removing an orange bottle of pills. Once she removed the proper dose, she returned the bottle to the drawer and locked it, setting the key down, she’d deal with taping it back it later. 

After taking the medication and downing the rest of the glass of water, Magda made her way into the kitchen, finding her cell phone plugged in on the counter. Unplugging it she made her way into her office. It was  a disaster area and she sighed, hitting the call button on Cassie’s contact before turning it over to speaker and moving to tidy the room.

[justcalledmason-blog]

Aston Hall was suddenly full and almost crowded, in Mason’s opinion. More servants had been brought in temporarily to care for the extra guests, so there were many more eyes on him than he was used to when he passed through servants’ halls. He was sure people in the county were all aware of Sir Henry’s “Oriental boy,” but likely very few of them had set eyes on him, nor perhaps anyone else like him. Luckily, most of the quickly retreating glances seemed to be more out of curiosity than any negative reaction, so it didn’t really affect Mason. He was used to being a curiosity, but as long as no one obsessed over it or couldn’t look past it to see he was a person, he could usually brush it off. Since it was made clear to the new servants that Mason was above them in rank, they were polite enough and didn’t attempt to treat him ill to his face.

“Luckily” Mason was already used to George and Lucy’s attitude to him. George was mainly indifferent to him, since he didn’t see Mason as either a threat or an equal, he didn’t go out of his way (usually) to pick him apart. Lucy did exacerbate Maria’s snark, while mostly giggling and speaking to her cousins behind her fan, so Mason rarely knew what she was talking about, but from the many glances he had caught coming in his own direction, he couldn’t imagine she had anything interesting to say, and just used his existence as something to talk and titter about. What on earth did she have to talk about when she didn’t seem to be whispering to Maria?

Since the Worthingtons themselves were amiable people, that was usually the friends they kept as well, so none of the Wallaces or Collins were particularly offensive to him. The only problem was that Mason felt particularly offended by their presence, despite this. The daughters of each family felt like they had been magically transformed, aged up specifically now to bat their eyelashes at Thomas and Edmund. He couldn’t blame them, not remotely, but something about their girlish excitement, flocking around Thomas like birds who had gotten much too used to being hand fed, it irked him. He felt annoyance prickling whenever he noticed it, and he didn’t know why he was being so sour. It wasn’t remotely because he was jealous of Thomas, he knew, since he didn’t want his own flock of admirers. He wouldn’t even know what to do with that many people curious about him, but he was sure he would have run away. No, he wasn’t jealous of Thomas. He did feel somewhat lonely though, but something - perhaps pride? - kept him from trying especially hard to socialize with the guests, amiable as they may be.

It was once such evening when the family, cousins, and guests, including Mr. Goddard, were all in the parlor, most of them playing card games with each other to amuse themselves and pass the time. Mason was, however, sitting in an armchair and was reading. The reading wasn’t going particularly well, however, as bits of chatter here and there would reach him and distract him. He eventually had to flick past pages before he was truly done with them, so no one thought he was a slow minded person. He had just been able to focus back in on his book when Maria’s boisterous laugh cut through his calm. She seemed so far away, but the wine had her particularly flushed and loud, and Mason pitied the people sitting right by her, if he could hear her so well. 

“Oh, yes! We must, absolutely! That would be such a way to pass the time! Mama!” She had turned to get her mother’s attention, reaching over to her table to pull at her shawl as if she was still a child. Seemed apt. “Mama, George and Lucy have just suggested the most thrilling of ideas! That we should perform a own play for you, and Aunt Norris, and The Mr. and Mrs. Wallace and Collins! How delightful!”

@thomaswworthington

[matthewxmontgomery]

Being a part of Cheyenne and Daisy’s lives was a big change to how his everyday life had been back in prison. Suddenly he had a little kid looking up to him and an ex-girlfriend that was expecting him to step up and be a father, and he couldn’t help but feel watched everywhere it went. He didn’t think he’d ever been forced to carry so much responsibility in his life before, and although he loved the toddler and Cheyenne, it was putting him a little on edge. Especially when a few days in, he was left alone with Daisy for the first time ever. 

Not wanting to be coped up in the apartment for the entire time Cheyenne was out, Matthew decided to take the little girl for a walk. There was a playground not far away, and hopefully the fresh air would help him clear his head. Truth was, he was a little scared of being alone with Daisy. Even though he’d been alone with her in the playroom before, Cheyenne had always been close should anything go wrong, and now she wasn’t. It wasn’t that he expected anything to go wrong, he was hoping and praying it wouldn’t, but it was still nerve-wracking to think about the fact that he was the only grown up watching out for Daisy right then. He didn’t feel ready. 

Except everything was going fairly well. They made it to the playground without trouble, and seeing Daisy giggle and laugh as he pushed her on the swing set brought a smile to his lips, made his shoulders ease somewhat. 

And then it all went terribly wrong. Matthew didn’t spot his former supplier until he was only a few steps away. His entire body went rigid, and he was suddenly very aware over the fact that he had a little kid with him. “This isn’t a good time,” he started saying, but the guy ignored his words and pulled him into a hug. Matthew was too tense to notice the wrapped and sealed syringe that was slipped into his pocket. “I heard you got out, prison did you well, man. A child, even? Wouldn’t have pegged you for the family type of guy,” his former supplier said as he finally pulled back, eyeing him before turning his attention to the toddler not too far away. That was what finally snapped Matthew out of his daze of coming toe to toe with his past again. “I’m clean now, okay? And I’m sorry, but I really gotta go.” With that he turned on his heel and made his way to Daisy, even picking her up as he quickly exited the playground. 

It didn’t take long before they made it back to the apartment, Matthew having repeatedly made sure the guy didn’t follow them. “Why don’t you go play for a little bit, okay? I’ll be right there,” he urged the toddler with a smile. As soon as she was gone, however, he paced the kitchen and tried to calm his thundering heart. The last thing he’d expected was running into someone from his past. He wasn’t prepared for it, and remembering all the times the two of them had gotten high together, his fingers flexed with the sudden need to get high. 

And as if sent from heaven — or more likely hell — he felt it. The syringe in his pocket. With a shaky breath, he pulled it out and the sight nearly made him want to crumble. Matthew didn’t have to guess to know what was in the syringe, already made up and ready for him to use. Cursing under his breath, he made his way to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Putting the syringe down on the side of the sink, he turned it on to wash his face with ice cold water. He’d been clean for years now, been able to resist the urge for so long. But Matthew hadn’t been prepared to have it in his hands so easily, to have it practically delivered to him. He tried reminding himself of the promise he’d made to Chey, that he was a changed man, that he was better. But in the end, the temptation became too much, and he was only human. So Matthew rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and injected the drugs straight into his bloodstream. // @thcrnedflcwers

[andrewjbenson-blog1]

His probation officer had slipped him a hundred dollars on their first meeting, before he had even told him about Addie and his encounter. He had entered his address in the system, told his sob story, before scheduling the next weekly meeting, and now, he had left a note for Addie, to meet at the local diner that was somehow still open. He had gotten himself a new outfit, and a much-needed haircut, with enough left over to treat Addie and Andi to lunch. He wasn’t even sure they were going to show, but he got a table near the door, in plain sight. He was nervous, and had been thinking about everything he had said wrong. Andrew had assumed that Addie had known all about her brother, and finding out that he had been wrong... and maybe, if he had said something sooner, he could have prevented what happened. He couldn’t change the past, but he could start changing the future. He wouldn’t get smart. He wouldn’t try and press issues. He’d let Addie lead the conversation. He might have lost every hope of being with Addie again, but he wasn’t about to ruin his chance at a relationship with their daughter, even if it was on a strictly supervised and short time basis.

[matiasqb]

First date | Tess&Matías

Matías had it all planned out. Every little detail from the moment Tessa opened the door, the male figured out. He wanted their first date to be something special, to mean something to her. Matías knew that it was her first date ever, so he wanted to go all out for the girl. Which was a little tricky with no money but after a good talk with his friend who let him use her dad’s `66 Camaro and told him that he never let money back him down; he was motivated to give her an amazing date without it having to costs too much. If he had money, he would’ve gladly spent it on her, but he didn’t have any. So, instead of going to Dairy’s and perhaps to the cinema after; he decided to make snacks himself. He made several sandwiches, snacks, and had a coolbox filled with fresh fruits and drinks.

It was useless for the boy to ask his brothers to help him with picking out an outfit, but eventually, the Perez boys decided that Matías should just wear what he always wore on other dates. Casual. He wore black ripped skinny jeans, black & white vans, a Metallica t-shirt and took a Bomber jacket with him in case it gets cold.

Once the car was packed and ready to go, the punk made his way to Tessa’s house. It was only twenty minutes from his house so, it didn’t take too long. He parked his car in their driveway before he made his way over to the front door, knocking on it twice. A rose in his hands. When the door opened, a smile grew on the boy’s lips as he was expecting Tessa but when he saw her dad standing in front of him his smile faded. “Oh,” He let out, sounding a little disappointed by seeing him and not Tess. Fuck. “Hey, Mr. Keller,”.

@speedytesskeller