#sbl03w15

[changingplumbob]

There I was doing my yoga in my room with Reginald when I heard the sound of two sets of feet running up the stairs.

Delilah: That’s weird

Reginald: *is a lobster*

It sounded like they went into Dylan and Rina’s room. There were slightly raised voices and some banging, no idea what was happening. I tried my best to focus on my exercise but then there was a lot of rattling in the hall.

Delilah: *yells out* What the heck is going on? I’m trying to be calm!

Dylan: Sorry Delilah! Just in a rush! Be back soon

As I leaned down there was the sound of something heavy rolling down the stairs. I tried not to focus too much on it in case I fell forward. I pushed myself back up to standing as Rina knocked on my door.

Delilah: *groans* Come in

Rina: Hey, do you think you’d be able to whip up a batch of extra comforting peanut brownies like... today?

Delilah: Yeah sure. I’ll need to pop to the supermarket but-

My words cut off and I gasped as I realised who enjoyed peanut brownies the most.

[changingplumbob]

Dylan had gotten herself to Elio’s apartment as quickly as she could with a giant suitcase. His text just said, please come get me, I need out. Rina had wanted to go but considering she was feeling particularly violent towards Molly Dylan didn't want to end up in a situation where she was having to protect two partners at once. The front door was unlocked and she went straight to the bedroom. As she opened the inner door Elio jumped in shock and she felt her heart crack again. He was a mess, and looked like he hadn't slept properly in weeks.

Dylan: Hey, I’m here. Do you want to come home with me?

Elio: *quietly* Please

Dylan: Okay. Do you know when Molly will be back?

Elio: Maybe an hour? She went to spin class and normally drinks with her friends afterwards but- she was so mad I don’t know...

Dylan: I’ll try be quick. I’m going to put everything I know is yours in the suitcase okay?

Elio sniffled and nodded and Dylan became a whirlwind around the room. It wasn’t too hard to get most of his stuff, the bulk of stuff in the room was Molly’s. She went to the bathroom and packed up his gear, having to stop herself from messing with Molly’s things. It wasn’t worth the risk of not getting out of there before she got back. With the suitcase packed Dylan held Elio’s hand as she pulled him off the bed, and he didn’t let it go until they were in her apartment.

[changingplumbob]

CW: Descriptions of domestic abuse

Elio lay on the bed completely drained. Since graduation Molly had been even more demanding. Slowly she had had him cut back on how often he met up with his old basketball teammates, until now he was lucky if they answered his texts. Plus since he had ended things with Dylan Molly wanted to screen everyone he was thinking of sleeping with. Few made the cut, and those that did often wound up in Molly’s bed the week after being with Elio. But again and again Molly swore she loved him, that she was doing everything she did to keep them together.

The bubble had eventually burst that morning. He had come back from a half day of release teaching to a familiar barrage of insults. He hadn’t cleaned up breakfast properly because he was a slob. He had forgotten to put the laundry on because he was an imbecile. She was having mood issues because he didn’t know how to woohoo her properly, and his skill should be better considering he’d slept with half the city. The normal. But Molly had also found where Elio had tucked the necklace chain Dylan had bought for him and flew into a rage. She demanded he throw it away and when he said no she just marched him out to the trash chute and threw it away anyway.

So he cracked. He couldn’t take it any more. He had no idea what to do except reach out to the one person he hoped would still be there. Unblocking Dylan from his phone, he text her, left the front door unlocked, and hopped on his bed and cried until no more tears could form.

[changingplumbob]

Dylan walked down the stairs to find Rina pacing at the bottom of them.

Rina: Is he okay? He kind of looked like a ghost

Dylan: I don’t know. He’s lying on our bed for now but his breathing seems more normal than it was in his apartment so I think he’s calmer

Rina: I hope so. I text Dorian and he replied with a bunch of teas I should go get that are meant to like be calming or healing or something so I was just waiting to hear from you before heading out

Dylan: Thank you for caring Rina

Rina: Of course babe. I’d like to think me and he could get back to being good friends again now that he’s left that psycho

Dylan: Honey that’s adding to the stigma of people with actual mental conditions

Rina: Sorry, you're right. Umm... now that he’s left that manipulative vindictive bitch. How’s that?

Dylan: *laughs* Perfect

Rina: *sighs* I do hate that you were right about her

Dylan: *sighs* Yeah, me too

[changingplumbob]

I had fun talking to Dulce which I didn’t expect because of how hard I find talking to strangers normally. But she was a foodie just like me! Keen to find out why and how I had chosen each part of my dish. I was glad I didn’t know who she was at the time, it meant I could talk without getting starstruck. When Apollo told me later that she had been on Diced Junior I kicked myself for not recognising her. But then I do watch cooking shows with the volume off so it’s not like I would have picked up on her voice.

Dulce: Oh that’s my phone *switches off alarm* Alright, that's telling us you can start in one minute

Delilah: Thank you for the pep talk

Dulce: Any time. Good luck. And hey if you’re ever in Del Sol Valley flick me a message and I’ll take you to some of the restaurants

Delilah: Oh thanks but I’m not really looking into starting a romance right now

Dulce: *laughs* Don’t worry, my romance needs are taken care of. But seriously, we need more women in this industry. If you need anything just reach out

I nodded and as she went to bring in the next student I took off my earrings and put them in my pocket. Feeling them there brought me comfort and I needed that for this exam more than I needed to look fabulous.

[changingplumbob]

I led Dulce into the kitchen and went straight for the usual bench I shared with Apollo. I was busy checking the ingredients when I remembered Dulce was beside me.

Delilah: Sorry. I wasn’t trying to start early I just...

Dulce: Wanted to make sure they gave you the right ingredients?

Delilah: Yeah… I kind of had a nightmare about it

Dulce: Fair enough

Delilah: Sorry about the whole not knowing who you are. I tend to stay off social media

Dulce: It's all good, it’s nice to meet someone who doesn't expect me to be a certain way

Delilah: I know what you mean. Any time someone hears my last name they start acting weird

Dulce: Then I won’t ask what it is

That was a weight off my chest. If she didn't know my last name, it wouldn't go against me for any marking.

Delilah: Audrina kind of seemed surprised you were here? Do you like do your freelance gigs in another city or something?

Dulce: I live in Del Sol Valley. But I was in town and the original judge fell through and Clara knows my mom so I wanted to help. I know when I was in cooking school if my exams had been shifted a week because of markers changing I would have lost my mind

[changingplumbob]

Dylan woke up to Rina gently rocking her. In response Dylan cuddled up more.

Rina: *giggles* Babe we got to get up

Dylan: Why? Your boobs are such a good pillow

Rina: *smiles* Today is the day!

Dylan: The day?

Rina: Yes! Dorian’s flight gets in at ten and then we go straight to the house viewing

Dylan: *yawns* What about Elio?

Rina: He said he’d be here at nine with with coffee so we have to get up and shower first

Dylan: Shower shower or *kisses* intimate shower

Rina: Depends how quick you get your ass out of bed

Dylan: *laughs* I’m getting up honey, let’s start the day right

And so eventually the quartet ended up at their possible future house.

Dylan: I see a rainbow letterbox, when can we move in?

Elio: *laughs* You should check out inside first

[changingplumbob]

Jenny: The deposit on the apartment is steep but it’s in a really good location

Apollo: Location for...

Jenny: My job, grocery shopping and public transport. We can always move later if it's going to be too far from wherever you end up working

Apollo: Okay well I like the photos, just send them to Ren so he can approve or not

Jenny: Oh he’s already approved, it’s like five minutes walk from the museum

Apollo: Can we pull enough together for the deposit?

Jenny: We can. We might have to like use candles and eat 2 minute noodles for a week after we move in but I will be due my holiday bonus a couple weeks after the closing date so that should get us back on track

Apollo was going to miss the apartment he was currently in but being able to live with Ren and Jenny was something he had been looking forward to doing. Now that Jenny and Ren were friends it shouldn’t be too big of an adjustment.