What if Tom didn't punch Joel at that family gathering?
The sound of a car door slamming shut makes you jump, and you realize you’ve entirely missed Joel’s red pickup pull into the driveway. He certainly hasn’t missed you and Tom standing awkwardly in the front yard. He has a small bundle of clothes tucked under one arm – Katie’s change of clothes, you assume – but pauses after getting out of the vehicle rather than heading inside to find his daughter.
For the briefest, absurdist of moments, the world turns on its head and you think he’s going to lift his hand in greeting and ask if everything’s ok – approach and offer concern or warm holiday wishes – the normal things that siblings, even step-siblings, do for one another. He clearly sees that something is wrong in the front yard. He’d be blind not to notice.
Joel calls out across the lawn, slamming you back to reality while simultaneously sending a shudder through you. “Finally realizing the drama queen is only after your name? Get out now, before she pays another ‘stalker’ to come after her.”
Tom stays cemented at your side, his squeezed grip of your arm tipping into uncomfortable. You can feel the tension running through him, so close to springing him into action. Please don’t please don’t please hold your temper. Please don’t rise to Joel’s baiting.
You’re all but screaming internally for Joel to turn and continue on in his path towards the house. To let the moment pass with Tom remaining at your side, that taunt to go unrewarded by reaction. Your former-linebaker step brother would likely steamroll Tom if a fight erupted, even factoring in the indignation humming through your boyfriend at the moment.
Tom’s next movement is audible – his swallow that unsticks him from his dark glower across the lawn. “The fuck is wrong with your family.”
It’s a rhetorical question. He doesn’t expect an answer.
You don’t expect when he turns, releasing your arm, and then bends to align his shoulder to your midsection. He wraps his arms around your legs and lifts you, forcing you to bend and land over his shoulder and loose a yelp of surprise. What the fuck, Tom!?
“We’re getting the hell out of here.” The jolt of his shoulder to your gut makes answering difficult to do. Leave?! He’s the one that accepted this holiday invitation.
Do you have plans for YOLA? Not meant in a pressuring way, I'm just curious! I keep imaging what could be next for them 🙈 #askgames
Hello nonnie dear - I do have plans for YOJA, more immediate plans and some a little further out. The next installment is halfway through developing beyond the basic outline/ plotting stage. I keep facing the evening with the intention of sitting down and finishing things out the following day and then the next day arrives and I get sidetracked. Apologies. I know it’s been awhile since we’ve seen an update with that story. 🖤
There is still more to YOJA, I just haven’t been able to get that cast of characters to cooperate with me to continue the moment we saw in the November Notes & Nothings. The next chapter incorporates that short segment that was included in the month challenge, carrying on from there (poor Richard... you’ll see). I promise that even when you see activity from me on other challenges, or short bursts of productivity on other WIPs, I always have YOJA open and waiting among the document windows.
Tom and our girl are not gone or forgotten! I honest-to-goodness think they’re just enjoying being alone in that hotel room a little too much (again, poor Richard for having to separate them and scoot her along to her flight back to Spain) and my inability to put my foot down and say NO MORE OTHER THINGS UNTIL YOJA UPDATES. Cause I have no control. Ever.
Here we are in the countdown for YOJA 84! Finishing touches and a simple transfer of words remain. You all know by now how I feel about spoilers.... But here are some visual clues for what’s to come!
[And here’s the link if you need to catch up before the next chapter gets posted.....]
FEBRUARY FLASH FIC [OR DRABBLE OR FICLET] - Day 13 - snow
The snow crunches beneath his feet, seemingly absorbing the usual sounds of the surrounding city. Each of his steps holds a two-part crunch: the initial impact of his boots, and then the shift of his weight.
He could have stayed in, hidden away indoors where it was warm. He’s had enough of that, though, since Thanksgiving. In this new year he’s determined not to hide. And he needs time to think, time to breathe. Somehow the brisk air aids him in that endeavor in a way he can’t seem to manage in the house surrounded by his family.
It’s because - because even though she’s in a different country again, on a different continent entirely at the moment - she’s there. She’s smiling at him in the kitchen, sitting next to him on the sofa, dashing about with the younglings in the backyard... He hates himself for it, because she could actually be there doing all of those things. Except that she’s not.
He could have insisted. He could have held his ground, could have battled back against the woman determined to go to war with him. He could have just given her the goddamned ring like he planned. Instead he had presented an ultimatum, and when his pride was further wounded? Walked. Turned his back on the woman he loved when he should have stayed to provide support.
The cold bites at his chapped lips, the one spot still tending to split because he continues to worry at it rather than allow it to heal properly. He’ll be presentable, once more, at least by the end of the month. Presentable just in time to stand in the spotlight, just in time to see her once more.
[After the creeptastic that was Day 12 I figured we needed a good dose of the usual stuff. For some reason I’ve gotten stuck in YOJA territory lately. Sorry? But yay for another glimpse of YOJA!Tom and what he’s dealing with in the start of the new year.
So question for those that read YOJA. Would you prefer a oneshot of TWH that takes place in early December or would you rather see the middling of January? Cause, um, reasons. [aka the writer canna decide]
Well let's see, since I've already admitted that YOJA cheats a bit when it comes to 'that scene'...
After I allowed myself to chase the story (which in this instance means allowed the characters to run away with things) there were a few scenes that I played around with and thought 'hmmm should I try to work this in there?' Granted there are always things that don't make it into the story, but I knew early on that we would see a return to the red carpet for the couple. I sort of faked myself out with the premiere that they attended in support of Ben, pretending that it would scratch that itch. But they attended it together. I wanted it to match up to their 'who is this stranger and why can't I breathe while I'm looking at them' moment from the start of the story.
