So, I sent my 10th chapter of Instincts to my betareaders. One of them is in Spain, and the other is super slow because he has a job and stuff.
This is a huge milestone for me, because I don’t often follow through on things.
Anyway to commemorate this crowning achievement, I guess I’ll post an excerpt of un-betareader’d shipping bullshit. I’m really just trying to raise awareness, not only because I want as much feedback as possible, but because it would be cool if some artist saw it and drew fanart of my fic or some shit like that. I can’t draw. I tried, but it didn’t work. I’m terrible. If you’re an artist, teach me how to be good at drawing. Preferably in like, a day.
“Judith Laverne Hopps, you are not taking a fox into your apartm-”
“Watch me.” She spat venomously as she opened the door and let him go inside. Judy entered the threshold and turned to face her parents again. She was holding back tears at this point, but kept her composure. “I can’t believe you’re being so hypocritical, after hiring Gideon at the farm. I’d hoped you’d be more accepting, but I’m an adult. I’m not going to stop dating Nick because you don’t like it.”
“Hypocritical?” Stu said raising his eyebrows. “Gideon’s a business partner! We don’t invite him into our home to sleep under our roof. We don’t-”
That was the last straw for Judy, and she let her frustration get the better of her. “I never said anything about sleeping last night, either.” She said savagely, and she slammed the door.
It was silent in her apartment for a long time, and Judy simply stared at the door. Her last remark must have had a greater impact than she’d considered, as her parents didn’t bother trying to pursue her. She and Nick both heard them whispering frantically, and Judy half expected them to call her name, insisting she come back outside, but eventually she heard their footsteps walk down the hall and fade away.
She turned around looked up at Nick, who was trying his best to remain expressionless.
“That went well.” he said flatly, halfheartedly giving Judy a smirk. He was trying to lighten the mood a little, but looked at her cautiously.
She snorted, then abruptly pulled him into a hug, burying her face in his chest. “It could have gone better.” she said. She tried to laugh, paws clutching the back of his shirt, but there was a lump forming in her throat. Her anger with her parents began to dissipate, but it was just replaced with disappointment. All things considered, Nick’s meeting with her parents had gone as bad as it possibly could have. It’s not like she didn’t expect any pushback, but she couldn’t have imagined them reacting this badly.
Nick wrapped his arms tightly around her as she began to sob. “Shhh. Don’t-don’t do that. Come on, it’ll be okay.” He whispered in her ear, stroking her back.
“I’m sorry...” she choked, as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. She kept her face buried in his chest as she clung to him.
So that’s it. The full thing will be published when my readers get back to me. I already found mistakes, so. Probably for the best.
