#second thoughts tuesday

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

#7: "The pool party"

Saturday 8th June 1985

Steve hadn’t actually realized how much younger Jonathan is than the rest of them. Obviously he’s a junior, like Robin and Nancy and Chrissy and Lucille and most of Eddie’s band, but it’s nearly the end of the school year and he’s only just turning seventeen, whereas all the others got there long ago. Christ, Nancy will be eighteen in November.

It makes him feel a little bad. Obviously sixteen isn’t that much younger than eighteen, but all those times he was such a dick to Jonathan - he was picking on a kid, really.

Read the rest on AO3.

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

#8: Tommy

10th May 1990

The room feels much smaller now he’s got all his stuff spread out in it. It seemed okay when he came to look around last month, but then it was empty, the single bed pushed up against the wall under the window, the closet door hanging open as if to show off how roomy it was, the floor an ocean of empty space. Tommy looked around and thought—yeah, no problem.

Now, however, there’s a half-open suitcase tossed on the bed, a couple of boxes on the floor, clothes and cassettes and papers and a whole bunch of other shit scattered on the miniscule desk by the door. It’s an attic room, so the ceiling is lower than it should be, and overall Tommy is feeling pretty fucking claustrophobic.

It’ll get better. His stomach lurches as he picks his way across to the bed, pushing the suitcase aside so he can sit down. It’s hot up here, sweat prickling at the back of his neck. Tommy sucks in a shaky breath.

Read the rest on AO3.

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

6. "Nancy finds out"

Thursday 21st March 1985

Steve means to do it on Monday. He wakes up in the morning with all the best intentions - but of course, he picks Dustin up from Hellfire Club on Mondays, and he’s not sacrificing that for anything, not even Jonathan. It’s a time-honored tradition, and Dustin would kill him if he didn’t stick to it.

That’s what he tells himself, anyway, and for the most part it’s the truth.

Read the rest on AO3.

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

#5: "Jonathan"

Saturday 16th March 1985

In retrospect, Jonathan knows it’s been bubbling under the surface for a while. That fact doesn’t make him feel any better; he generally prides himself on not being whiny or annoying, especially in this crowd. These are his friends, after all. Jonathan’s not used to having friends. It feels good, and he doesn’t want to lose it.

Read the rest on AO3.

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

#4: "Brandon Clement"

Thursday 18th July 1993

Behind the counter of Petal To The Metal, San Diego’s smallest, most homely, and yet bizarrely, most popular flower shop, Brandon Clement trims a bouquet of pink and yellow roses and thinks about his best friend Margot’s wedding. As the days slip away, he’s been thinking about it more and more - with good reason, since it’s in three weeks and he’s doing the flowers.

August is a terrible time to get married when it comes to flowers. They wilt so quickly in the unforgiving California heat, and of course Margot has chosen bleeding heart, which absolutely hates the sun, and it’s an outdoor wedding, so Brandon has to work out how to keep everything looking beautiful at least until after the photographs.

He’ll figure it out. He always does.

Read the rest on AO3.

[callieb]

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! Didja miss me? Ha, as if, there was no time to miss me! Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone, I love you all, I hope you enjoy this story in the Second Thoughts 'verse!

#1. Billy and Chrissy

"I'd love to see how Billy's and Chrissy's fake dating goes and how Jason reacts to it, and maybe how the rest of the school reacts too."

"If I don't see Jason Carver lose his mind when he sees he's lost his girl, I may lose my own dear soul. Pleasepleaseplease let us see Billy put that ass-hat in his place!"

"I’m dying to know about Operation Billy Saves Chrissy from Jason. Jason is so creepy in all universes!"

Interested? See how it all goes down on AO3!

[callieb]

No chapter tonight and possibly next week as well - I'm moving house and it is STRESSFUL! Apologies my lovelies, I will be back on it once I've moved! <3

[callieb]

It's Called Tomorrow

eighty-three

Freddie Mercury’s soaring voice is still reverberating through the house, but the party is definitely winding down. Robin is asleep on the sofa, her head resting on Lucille’s shoulder and her mouth slightly open, emitting soft snores with every exhale. Lucille herself looks like she’s still awake, but her eyelids are drooping, and she clearly has no intention of moving. 

Carter, being Carter, left an hour ago at midnight, although he was almost smiling when he said goodbye, and even managed to meet Steve’s eyes before he went. Steve will take that as a win. Gareth is getting his things ready to go now as well, and since he gave Jeff a ride, they’re both on the way out.

“This was fun, man,” Jeff says to Steve. He shakes his head a little, but he’s smiling. “I never thought this would happen to me, but… it was fun.”

Read the rest (THE LAST!) on AO3.