𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏

you in the moonlight, with your sleepy eyes- could you ever love a man like me? you were right, when i walked into your house, i knew i’d never want to leave. sometimes i’m a strong man, sometimes cold and scared- and sometimes i cry. but that time i saw you, i knew with you to light my night, somehow i’d get by. lovers forever.

[westleymoons]

carolinenicolettes​:

westley moon was popping up in places he’d never been . all over the internet , all over town , all over the goddamn coast of california and POSSIBLY further . she’d watched it happen , slowly at first , over months of his little residency at o’malley’s pub where crowds doubled with each week that went by … but then a big name took notice and slipped her a card with the notion that he won’t say yes to me , but maybe he will to you . she could’ve been selfish about it … could’ve tucked that card away and never let it see the light of day , and maybe a terrible side of her considered it . westley was the first person who felt like home . he was a magical and miraculous kind of love that she’d been so certain she’d never find again , and she was still certain she didn’t deserve it . she didn’t deserve rainy afternoons in a tiny apartment she’d practically moved into , donning one of his old band tees and tiptoeing across the living room to deliver a mug of steaming tea to a boy who sat near the window ,  watching the rain and strumming at an old guitar . she didn’t deserve to wake up in the middle of the night and reach over to find him there , with open arms , and a smile cultivated in dream . she didn’t deserve the way he called her baby or the songs he’d written for her . but westley ? westley deserved the world , and she could only offer so much of it . this record label … this career , could offer him all of it . and she’d follow him anywhere , if he asked … but this first trip he needed to do on his own . his voice breaks the silence , and the sight of him still sends shockwaves through her . beautiful boy , tousled brown curls and pale green eyes that put van gogh and monet to shame . she loved him . more than anything , she loved him , and her heart broke a little as signed words drew hesitation . “ i would never forgive you , ” it’s spoken , quietly and half heartedly signed before her hands dip back into a laundry basket to fold and pack another one of his shirts . he’d leave ,  but she was certain she’d stay in his little apartment . she couldn’t sleep without him . o’malley’s would take this friday off … and perhaps the next … or maybe they’d offer an open mic , in place of the boy who turned every song into a love song . her head shook , and she could feel him moving closer , gentle smile perched on her lips as though to hide the bittersweet feeling of telling him to go .  he’d come back , eventually . there was no question of that ; she simply didn’t know if she could take missing him for that long . he’d take a familiar shirt from the pile and press it into her grasp . “ nothing ,” she nods , a playful answer to a rhetorical question , “ and let the thought of that be another reminder to come home to me , when you’re done . ” laughter passes her lips as he nuzzles into the crook of her neck , mumbling i love yous against her skin . it only lingers when he offers to call his mom so she could help water the singular plant that was overgrown in the living room window . caroline sets aside the shirt and turns towards him , lips curved like the sliver of a moon she wore around her neck . “ westley , ” she sighed , blue eyes bright with a look that spelled love , “ you know this is something you have to do on your own . and you also know i don’t want to be married by an elvis impersonator . ” arms wrap around his neck as she steps closer , holding his gaze as her fingers brush against the curls at the nape of his neck . “ d’you know that’s my favorite shirt because it’s the one you gave me to wear the first time you kissed me ? ” the same night she’d nearly ruined everything for them . the night he could’ve given up on her and her tattered heart . “ it’s also the shirt i wore the first time you told me you loved me , ” her smile widens , slightly , as laughter crinkles the corners of blue eyes , “ and then proposed in the same breath . freaked me out because even then , i knew … someday . ” one hand lifts to his hair , lovingly brushing back a curl that fell over his forehead . “ westley , i’m going to be here for you to come home to … and when you sell out your first tour , i’ll pack everything up and come with you . but this part you’ve got to do on your own … and i can’t wait to watch the rest of the world fall in love with you , ” there’s a lingering pause before she leans in , a breathless kiss pressed against his lips with reassuring firmness . lashes flutter when she pulls back , crystalline eyes studying his own . she was sure the night he told her he loved her . she was sure every time she’d sung to her from the other side of the bar . she was sure when she woke up next to him in the golden morning light . she was sure now . “ hey , ” she nudged his nose with the tip of hers , pulling back momentarily with a look of serenity , “ ask me again . the one question you ask me every day , sometimes in front of the friday crowd at o’malley’s , sometimes when you first wake up–– … ask me . right now , ask me again. . ”

love was an understatement  .  he’d  thought  he  had  been  in  love  countless  of  times  ,  more  than  he’d  been  able  to  count  .  with  a  name  etched  in  ink  across  his  skin  ,  he  swore  he  was  in  love  then  ,  too  .  but  here  , and  now  ,  he  was  more  sure  of  himself  ,  of  caroline  ,  than  he  was  of  anything  .  proposals  whispered  with  a  sleepy  haze  and  closed  eyes  as  the  sun  peaked  up  and  through  the  blinds  .  proposals  ,  marked  in  cards  and  sunflowers  on  anniversary  days  .  proposals  ,  in  the  form  of  a  promise---  i’ll  always  come  home  to  you  . because  she  was  it  for  him  ,  from  the  moment  he’d  seen  her  first  ,  across  damp  pavement  and  rain  that  would  cost  him  the  cost  of  the  gig  to  replace  equipment  ,  he’d  been  stunned  in  his  steps  .  his  heart  knew  ,  from  the  moment  he  saw  her  ,  that  this  girl---  whoever  she  was  ,  with  sad  blue  eyes  ,  and  hair  dipped  down  between  her  shoulders  ,  was  sunshine  incarnate  ,  and  he  was  made  specifically  for  her  .  for  the  happiness  that  came  from  the  best  days  of  his  life  ,  from  the  doubt  that  sprung  from  when  he  first  lost  his  hearing---  would  anyone  love  me  like  this  ?  and  they  did  ,  countless  ,  dozens  ,  and  eventually  ?  the  world  would  too  .  but  instead  ,  if  she  loved  him----  if  she  woke  up  each  morning  with  nothing  but  admiration  and  knowing  that  she  was  loved  fully  and  intently  ,  with  no  strings  attached--  a  great  love  ,  destined  to  collide  whether  they  knew  it  or  not  ,  whether  they  deserved  it  or  not  ,  it  was  given  to  them  both  .  and  he’d  whisper  it  into  the  crook  of  her  neck  ,  every  night  ,  and  every  sunrise  .  he’d  leave  it  breathless  in  between  a  kiss  ,  with  nuzzled  noises  ,  and  pecks  left  bruised  on  skin  like  marks  of  love  .  he’s  quiet  as  he  watches  her  ,  eyes  drawn  to  her  lips  as  the  words  reached  the  back  of  his  mind  ,  and  his  there’s  a  subtle  flip  in  her  chest  ,  nostalgia  of  a  memory  that  weaved  through  dreams  of  her  laughter  ,  and  the  sun  painted  like  colors  in  her  eyes  .  there’s  a  falter  ,  before  it  shifts  into  a  smile  ,  a  crack  in  the  back  of  his  throat  ,  not  one  delved  from  animosity  or  sadness  ,  but  a  type  of  light  that  was  all  consuming  .  that  heart  of  yours  ,  westley  moon  ,  has  always  been  a  little  bit  too  big  for  that  chest  of  yours  .  and  now  ?  now  it’s  etched  with  her  name  ,  tattooed  on  every  corner  ,  caroline  nicolette---  you  were  his  heart  .  he’s  somehow  inched  forward  ,  the  distance  closing  in  between  her  words  ,  and  the  pad  of  nimble  and  tattooed  fingertips  slipping  the  fabric  of  a  bottom  hem  of  cotton  ,  in  between  his  touch  .  he  shouldn’t  have  kissed  her  that  night----  he’d  told  himself  that  for  a  long  time  ,  weeks  ,  months  -   until  he  kissed  her  again  .  and  again  .  and  he  realized  that  kissing  her  had  never  been  the  problem  .  the  problem  had  been  how  real  it  felt  ,  the  moment  he  did  .  the  problem  ,  was  that  she  wasn’t  ready  for  it  yet  ,  despite  how  desperately  he  wanted  her  ,  even  then  ,  even  now  .  “  leather  and  lace  ..  ”  he  mused  under  his  breath  ,  a  charismatic  twinkle  in  his  eyes  as  his  smile  widened  ,  smirk  dimpled  into  the  corner  of  his  cheeks  and  his  nose  wrinkled  playfully  .  “  a  cheap  shot-  ”  he’s  teasing  ,  lips  pursed  ,  because  he  hadn’t  known  about  the  shirt---  hadn’t  thought  about  it  much  other  than  the  fact  that  she’d  always  looked  better  in  it  than  he  had  .  how  if  he  could  ,  he’d  marry  her  in  nothing  short  of  white  ,  but  instead  ,  a  tattered  fleetwood  mac  tee  ,  and  an  onslaught  of  messy  bed  curls  .  still  ,  the  idea  of  being  away  from  her  wasn’t  nothing  short  of  that  same  doubt  ,  sneaking  up  on  him  again  .  what  if  ,  in  the  time  he’s  gone----  she  changes  her  mind  ?  she  won’t-  and  god  ,  he’s  so  sure  ,  but  losing  her  ?  he  wouldn’t  survive  it  . westley  glances  to  the  suitcase  ,  and  just  as  quickly  back  to  a  crystal  gaze  .  “  they  knew  i’d  never  say  yes  ,  without  you  ,  didn’t  they  ?  ”  lips  pursed  ,  and  she  kisses  him  ,  and  he’ll  linger  there  for  a  moment  ,  hands  trailing  up  the  touch  of  a  dainty  wrist  ,  and  the  pads  of  his  thumbs  smoothing  in  circular  motions  .  a  habit--  ,  at  best  .  and  his  gaze  is  immediately  pulled  back  up  to  hers  when  she  nudges  him  ,  emeralds  flickering  across  her  features  ,  and  his  heart  beating  wildly  out  of  control  .  the  same  question  he’d  asked  her  ,  sometimes  before  bed  ,  sometimes  whispered  against  her  mouth   ,  and  other  times  ?  other  times  laughed  in  between  heaves  of  breath  .  now  ,  now  it  was  caught  in  the  back  of  his  throat--  dry  on  nerves  ,  and  he  swallowed  -  hard  .    there’s  a  ring  already  on  her  finger  ,  a  purple  gemstone  on  a  silver  band  that  had  once  been  on  bis  mother’s  hand  because---  westley  moon  ,  you  can’t  propose  to  a  girl  without  a  ring  !  and  so  ,  he’ll  intertwine  their  fingertips  ,  bringing  her  hand  to  the  purse  of  his  lips  ,  and  feather  a  kiss  to  each  digit  ,  until  his  gaze  meets  hers  again  .  he  doesn’t  get  on  one  knee  ,  and  still  makes  proposing  a  charm  all  their  own  .  the  pad  of  his  finger  thumbing  over  the  jewel  ,  and  kissing  the  top  of  her  hand  yet  again  with  a  met  gaze  .  “  i  want  to  marry  you  ,  caroline  nicolette  .  ”  mumbled  against  the  soft  touch  .  “  i  want  to  have  a  life  with  you  ,  and  spend  the  rest  of  mine  making  you  twice  as  happy  as  you  were  the  morning  before  .  i  want---  to  have  kids  with  you  ,  and  have  a  whole  lot  of  fun  practicing  until  then-  ” it’s  woven  in  a  smile  ,  dimpled  and  pursed  .  “ marry  me  .  ”   and  he  steps  forward  ,  smile  turned  into  a  wider  grin  .  “  marry  me  .  ”  this  time  ,   laughter  muffled  in  between  ,  and  he’s  lifting  her  up  ,  wrapping  her  legs  around  his  waist  and  nuzzling  up  into  the  corner  of  her  lips  ,  against  her  nose  ,  and  this  time--  a  whisper  just  for  the  two  of  them  on  flustered  breath  .  “  won’t  you  marry  me  ,  caroline  ?  ”

[westleymoons]

he’d never been without her, not in awhile. it was strange, to go from traveling all the time, never sticking to one place, to getting homesick the moment you thought about leaving. the card had sitting on his desk for a couple weeks, before he’d meet up with them. it started as a whirlwind, and now he was starting to trend. his manager mentioned it’d be a good time to do some press, that he’d have to spend a couple weeks in los angeles, and yet-- he couldn’t think about leaving. there’s a pit in his stomach, mixed with excitement and dwindling fear. he’s not afraid that she’ll find someone else in his absence, but being away from the love of your life-- it seemed daunting. lips pressed together in a thin line, and he’ll lean on the door frame as she folded the clothes neatly to go in his suitcase. “hey-” quiet, but vocal enough to get her attention. “what if i don’t go?” it’s signed, because his voice would give away the fact that deep down, he wanted to. and somehow, that made him feel selfish. he’d promised caroline that he’d come back for her, that he’d always come home--  for her. and now, now he was leaving. if she could just ask him to stay, if she uttered a single word that made him doubt leaving was a good idea, then he wouldn’t, but something told him--  she already knew that. arms slouched to his sides, and he’s watching her with the softest twinkle of emerald irises. there’s a step forward, feet bare, and he’s taking one of his shirts from the pile, outstretching it to her with the slightest hint of dimples peeking from his cheeks. “this one is yours-” it’s spoken, and his features are gentle when they look back at her. “it’s your favorite, i can’t take it. what’ll you sleep in?” and he’ll reach out, pushing blonde locks behind her ears, and nuzzling his face into her neck, mumbling i love you’s, before pulling back, kissing the corner of her mouth. “i could call my mom-” an offer, maybe giving him some kind of peace at mind knowing caroline had someone here to keep her company. there was always odette-- and she had been on her own before, but he hates the idea. “she could stay for while, help you water the plants..” there’s one plant, and the only reason it was still alive to begin with was because of caroline, and the drizzling rain victoria had to offer. “or-- come with me.. we could make a pitstop.. maybe for a vegas wedding?” 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:

caroline nicolette was happy in a way she’d never known . every morning , when the sun rose and light flooded through one bedroom window , when she found herself tangled up in sheets that smelled like him , in a faded t-shirt that was soft to the touch , she’d roll over to find westley nuzzled up close . every morning , she woke up to the most perfect thing she could imagine . every time he proposed , as playful or heated as it was ,  she was more inclined to say yes . because she would , eventually . someday , as she’d promised him . someday when they were good and ready , when learned a little bit more about the world , when caroline felt she could give him the life he wholly deserved … she’d say yes and change her last name to reflect the night sky and the boy she loved . for now , however , she’d let him keep asking , and every day she’d wear a subtle necklace with a pendant rested against her chest in the shape of a crescent moon .  “ all of your songs , hm ? ” laughter carried the words as westley looped a finger through her belt loop , as though the space between them wasn’t already practically nonexistent . arms moved to rest lazily over his shoulders , and she studied him for a moment , thoughts bounding up the. steps to a bedside table where a leather journal sat with curled page corners , always just out of her reach , “ you plannin’ on naming an album after me , westley moon ? ” the words stretched across a golden smile , and for a moment , she didn’t mind wandering eyes and nosy looks … because westley was leaning in , leaving kisses on her cheek as he spoke . god , she was in love . with the way he so adoringly left kisses along her skin and the sound of him calling her baby . she was in love with the modesty he harbored in his heart , the charm that dimpled each of his smiles , and the way his hands flowed to sign quietly from across the room . in love , even , felt like an understatement , because there weren’t words to describe the way she watched him with an inward smile and eyes reflecting a dream come to life . caroline turns on her heel , watching as he hops up on the bar and grinning as seamus immediately began to scold him . home , she thought , this is what home feels like … and she basks in it with a gentle lean against the counter , watching wes’s movements with her chin rested in her hands . she’ll laugh at his question with a furrowed brow , then move to sign back . “ is it really hopeless if i’m in love with you right back ? ” the question is accentuated by a quirk of her eyebrows before she’s once again leaning forward , close as ever with their elbows on the countertop . –– look at you –– he beamed , and there was nothing quite as sensational as the way westley looked at her . she gripped the counter as she leaned. back , shoulder gently tucked to under her chin with a sweet smile . after. a moment , she pushed back , long blonde hair swirling around her , nearly touching her waist , as she twirled once , laughing at the theatrics of it all . bell bottom high rises and a cropped shirt , tanned mid drift peeking in between . a dream that was decades late , with blue eyes and a smile lit up by a boy who loved her . cheeks warmed a rosy shade as she leaned back on the counter , eyes crinkled in laughter as westley silently carried on . “ well , ” it’s signed , with the slightest smug smile on her lips , “ if you weren’t such a. celebrity around here ,  we could sneak off , but –– ” she leaned forward on the bar , hooking. her index finger through the collar. of his shirt  and pulling. him close , close enough for no one else to hear . close enough for him to clearly read. her lips , “ you’d be missed down here . so much we might start a riot . ”  she feigned a pout , gaze dropping to the curve of his lips . “ and as much as i would love to have you to myself after that song of of yours , ” she met his eyes once more with the faintest gleam of mischief , “ i know i’ll have you to myself later . ” she grinned , index finger moving from the fabric of his shirt to hook under his chin , “ besides –– no one’s stopping you from kissing me right here . ” she leaned in , slowly , before moving just to the left and placing a gentle kiss on the corner of his lips . her nose wrinkled as she pulled back , scrunched in playful laughter … but the bell of o’malley’s front door reminded her of the man that had slipped out earlier … and the business card burning a hole in her back pocket . “ speaking of another set , another show … ” it was a ticket to a new life , a new adventure that westley couldn’t possibly fail . no . he was born to be on a stage ––  … which kind of stage was entirely up to him . the last think caroline wanted , though , was to hand over the card and leave the impression that she wanted more . that o’malley’s and wes’s apartment and acoustic sets with no shoes weren’t enough . if it was his choice , if it was what. he wanted , she had no doubt that she would want it to . she would follow him anywhere , after all ; this. was no exception . “ would you ever want to play bigger shows ? with a set list of only your songs ? i mean –– … ” once more , she found herself leaning towards him over the bar top . hands delicately found either side of his face , fingertips gently brushing over his skin as she watched his reaction . “ would you ever want more , westley ? ” lips curved into a soft smile as her thumb brushed under his bottom lip , “ selling out arenas , album at the top of the charts , hundreds of thousands , maybe millions of adoring fans more––… ” she glanced down at his lips , smile still quietly present on her own . “ westley moon–– … ” she sighed , meeting his eyes . not so much directed at him as it was spoken into the air , “ would you like to see it written in lights ? ” 

she’s everything  ,  and he can’t picture a day in his life when she wouldn’t be. truth be told  ,  this was the happiest he’s ever been  .  and  he’s  almost  sure  ,  it  might be the happiest he’ll ever be  ,  but then she proves him wrong  .  each day he wakes up in the morning  ,  happier than the last  ,  as he watches her  breathlessly smile in her sleep  ,  or when he’s watching her from across a stage  ,  and all he can think about is how he can’t wait for the room to be empty  ,  and what it feels like to carry her over the threshold of a tiny one bedroom apartment with a leaky window  .  it’s more than he’d ever ask for  ,  more than he’d ever think someone like himself was capable of having  ,  and keeping  .  even now  ,  as she signs back  ,  he  swore he couldn’t love her more than he did already-- and here she was, proving him wrong as she whisks her chin to her shoulder and spins with a grin that made his heart do fucking somersaults. i love you, i love you, said his eyes, and his mouth-- it curled into summery silence that blended with a smile. “ninety-five percent of my songs.” he’ll sign  ,  still grinning as he’s leaned across the employee side of the bar ,  watching her with twinkling irises that sparkled with magic  ,  that made you want to believe in love at first sight  .  his gaze  momentarily dropped down to the moon necklace  ,  and there goes his heart again  ,  scampering off without him  .  “so pretty baby .” but this time  ,  it’s mused for the world to hear  .  because she deserves that  ,  the world listening to all the songs he’d ever sing about her,  ,  how  the sunshine must have been jealous of the way she radiated  ,  and how the moon fell in love with the way it rises every morning  . so  pretty  .  it repeats in his head as she smiles  ,  signing back  .  “we could still sneak off,” his brows arched, smile turning cheeky into dimples  .  “i can be quick.” he’ll promise  ,  and even cross his hand over his heart  ,  but  it’s  filtered out by another breathy smile--  it was starting to hurt, smiling this much. but his mind kept ghosting back to the way her mouth looks like when it’s parted with fluttered eyes, and how it quickens that beating in his chest to a drum  roll  .  she’ll  tug him forward by the collar of his shirt  ,  and he lets her--  his mouth parting slightly, eyes loomed down to the curve of her mouth as she spoke  .  he’d given plenty of excuses before as to why he was looking at her lips  ,  each one he could have easily gotten away with  .  but now? now it was record with thoughts and memories of what they looked like kissing down the slope of his chest  ,  or muffled with his name  ,  and his throat feels dry  ,  even now--  even still  ,  with the close proximity  .  people kept warning him  ,  that’s the honeymoon phase  ,  it’ll wear itself off eventually  .  but as time passes  ,  it only seems to get stronger  .  the butterflies didn’t dim  ,  they turned into buzzing bees and he couldn’t get enough of her  .  his hand instinctively finds the slope of her wrist as she inches forward and up to his chin  ,  waiting until the gentle press of her lips against the corner of his mouth  ,  before bringing her fingertips up to his  ,  and  pressing  delicate kisses to the slope of her hand  .  i love you  ,  i love you--  said his eyes  ;  and that’s all he ever wants her to feel---  loved  .  from this moment  ,  from every moment after this one  ,  until he’s grey and barking at a kid all their own  .  he wants her to love  ,  and be loved  , and happiness will be found in the simplicity of romance  ,  and his home that tethered to a girl with long blonde hair  ,  and bell bottom jeans  .  “i love you.” it’s signed  ,  carefully letting go of her hands  ,  but still remaining just as close  ,  watching her as she speaks  ,  and  a quizzical furrow placed between his brows  .  it’s not the first time she asked-- but prior had been to him admitting that he was in love with her  ,  and that if this wasn’t enough for him- to spare her heart the ache  .  it was to a muffled proposal of forever  ,  and her making him promise that he’ll come back to her   ,  no matter what  .  “i want--” he’ll pause  ,  glancing over the crowd again  .  how music had always brought people together  ,  how it made it feel something in a world that was nevertheless void of emotion  . there’s a quiet pause  ,  before he’ll turn his attention back to peering blue eyes  ,  waiting for an answer  .  “music has never been about arenas  ,  or tours-- or  maybe  ,  it  was at one point--” he can’t remember what it was like before he lost his hearing anymore  ,  or the person he was before it  .  maybe he had been a little more selfish then  ,  maybe he wanted a taste of what fame could have done for him- for his family that grew up with each other  ,  more than it did anything else  .  but even then  ,  he can’t think of a time when it mattered more than the power behind a song . “i want people to remember what it’s like to feel something.” he finally adds  ,  this time without signing  ,  but with his words instead  .  “music makes people happy .” you could hate a lot of things  ,  but nobody truly hated music  .  there was a simplicity in the way it made you feel whole again  .  “everyone is so sad ..” it’s quiet  ,  meant for the two of them  .  and it’s true  ,  because he’d watched her sit at a table  ,  with a blank look in dwindling blue eyes, and he saw the way they lit up when he played her favorite song. “i want people to believe in magic again.” whether it was an arena  ,  whether it was a quiet pub at o’malleys  ---  the world need a westley  ,  whether he knew it or not  .  “but ,” soft  ,  and  he’ll allow his index finger to softly trace down the bridge of her nose  ,  and down the the curve of her lower brim  ,  touching there with the pad of his thumb  .  “i want to be with you-” 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:

it never fails to leave her awestruck , the way each week , o’malley’s seemed to become more and more packed … the way each week , a twinkle in green eyes and the curve of a dimpled smile prefaced a voice apollo himself couldn’t match , and the heavens practically parted when he sang … bathing the entire room in a golden warmth . he was charming in every sense , and there wasn’t a single person in the crowd –– sitting , standing , inside , outside –– that wouldn’t hang on to every word . if you didn’t pay attention , you might think caroline was just another adoring admirer … but look closer , and you’d catch it . the quiet tap of her nose , a subtle point in his direction . with a watchful eye , you’d find his eyes wandering back to her in the midst of love songs and laughter . you’d find her setting her camera down to listen or bouncing on her toes at the end of the set , waiting for the sea of people to part , waiting for him to find his way back to her . she never got tired of it ; she never would . so she laughs along with the crowd as he jokes about proposing , a gentle roll of her eyes accompanying the subtle tease . “ caroline –– just how many times has that boy asked you to marry him ? ” rosie leans forward from behind the bar , words hushed as both of their gazes stay poised on wes . “ three times , ” she nods , running her thumb along her bottom lip as she adds , cracking with laughter , “ this week . ” but that smile of hers , that golden smile , dropped as the setlist changed . i wrote this one for a girl … on the floor of a motel room . out of the corner of her eye , she can see a few people , regular faces on friday nights , glance back at her . caroline , is whispered somewhere nearby . “ rosie , ” she said softly , eyes never drifting from westley as he traded an acoustic guitar for a piano … less grand than the one in the carmichael mansion , where his fingertips brushed against the tops of her hands , and they both found themselves accidentally falling … farther in love than either of them intended , “ did you know about this ? ” she can barely muster whisper , but it’s enough . “ no . but i reckon seamus did . ” it’s then that caroline finds a moment to look away from the stage , catching the gaze of a familiar gruff man who stood with his arms folded over his chest . even seamus stopped working for this one , turning to wink at caroline before everyone’s attention was drawn back to the stage by quiet chords on the piano . her throat tightened , and caroline nicolette was not one to cry … especially not in public … but before the first chorus arrived , blue eyes were swimming with tears . it was obvious to anyone … to everyone … that she was in love with this boy . in a forever kind of way . it’s only when the song comes to a quiet end that she’s able to catch her breath , to inhale while running the back of her hand under her eyes , wiping away tears brought on by the magnitude of everything she felt for him , everything he clearly felt back . she’ll catch his eye as the crowd erupts , louder than it ever had been , for a westley moon original . hands stop clapping , and she takes that split second to sign an i love you from across the room . people would sell out arenas for that boy of yours … a proud smile tugged at caroline’s cheeks , and she was still looking at westley , still a little bit in awe . “ stadiums , ” she corrected , “ they’d sell out stadiums for him . and he’d have each and every one of them in love by the second song . ” she shook her head , only then turning to the man next to him , finding herself a bit taken aback by his appearance . official . expensive . certainly out of place next to a pair of high rise bell bottoms . her brow furrowed as a sleek business card was pushed in her direction . the interaction itself was strange enough to catch seamus’s attention … and he wandered over with a protective eye , shoulders rolled back as he lingered nearby . blockbuster music . caroline swallowed at the sight of a record label’s recognizable name . this guy was already sold … and it seemed his only concern was selling westley on choosing this . before she could say anything else , before she could ask any questions , hollywood had his jacket draped over his arm and was headed for the door . her thumb brushed over an embossed logo , tucking long locks behind her ear as she read it over and over . “  old man , ” she looked up at seamus , using the stool to her left as a step up to perch herself on the bar top , “ what do we think ? ” handing him the card , caroline took a moment to find westley in the crowd again , heart fluttering at the sight of him . he’d wander a bit , making his rounds , before ultimately coming back to her . seamus let out a grunt as he looked down at the card . “ i think i told you to stay off of my counter , miss caroline , ” he huffed , without making a move to remove her from her spot , “ and i think … he could do much better’an that wee stage … ” caroline frowned , turning over her shoulder , “ c’mon . you know he loves this place . ” seamus pointed the card , tapping it against her forehead , before handing it back to her . “ i don’t think it’s o’malley’s that he loves as much as who he met here . ” she could feel her cheeks redden , and her head was foggy from all of it . the song … the card … thoughts wandered so haphazardly , she almost missed overgrown curls and a pair of shining green eyes finally approaching . her thoughts grew quiet as she caught his gaze , smile growing wider and wider , and there was only him . “ westley moon , ” she sighed , tucking the card into her back pocket before opening her arms , “ you are an absolute dream . ” laughter could be heard above all else as he came to stand between her legs and she tugged him close , finally wrapping her arms around him . “ hi , baby , ” is mumbled against his lips , recognizable in its shape , as she leans into a smiled kiss . fingers find themselves tangled in brown curls , and she could’ve spent all night this close … if it weren’t for the rowdy teasing of a couple bystanders and the reminder that they were in the middle of an extremely crowded room . so she pulled back , just enough to get a good look at him . “ you wrote a song for me , ” and she still couldn’t quite believe it . blue eyes flickered across his features , arms still lazily over his shoulders , fingers brushing through the hair at the nape of is neck . “ i think you sort’a kicked this thing to the next level tonight , westley . i mean … original music –– … there wasn’t a single person in here that wasn’t in love with you at that moment . ”

love  ,  what  an  understatement  .  the  sky  could  have  parted  with  the  same  warmth  that  she  gave  him  with  a  smile  ,  he  was  sure  of  it  .  it  could  have  melted  icecaps  ,  and  plunged  into  summer  with  the  embrace  of  aphrodite  .  he  could  find  love  in  everything  she  did  ,  from  the  way  he’d  found  her  in  a  crowd  ,  in  ever  crowd  after  that  .  he’d  find  love  in  the  way  blue  eyes  sparkled  when  she  said  his  name-  though  lost  on  silent  ears  .  he  could  have  fell  in  love  again  and  again  ,  day  after  day  ,  even  if  you  took  away  every  memory  they  ever  had  together  .  he  was  sure  ,  in  any  lifetime  ,  he’d  still  choose  her  .  a  girl  with  sunshine  in  her  smile  ,  and  whisks  of  blonde  hair  ,  and  no  name  to  match  the  caller  id  on  his  phone  .  he  can  feel  the  expression  ,  recognized  by  the  way  it  tasted   on  the  corner  of  a  kiss  ,  and  how  many  times  he’d  get  lost  in  a  room  just  by  doing  so  .  his  heart  ached  with  all  the  adoration  he  held  for  this  girl  ,  for  someone  he  planned  on  marrying  ,  everyday  until  she  said  yes  .  he’d  tease  her  ,  in  the  morning  afternoon  sun  ,  as  he  nuzzles  into  her  neck  ,  without  a  shirt  ,  pulling  her  tighter  into  his  embrace  .  you’re  going  to  marry  me  ,  caroline  nicolette--  if  it’s  the  last  thing  i  do  .  and  the  last  bit  ,  taunted  with  laughter  as  he  tickled  her  under  the  hem  of  his  favorite  shirt  . or  in  quiet  nights  ,  when  the  rest  of  the  world  was  asleep  ,  and  the  only  thing  that  fitted  through  the  tiny  apartment  was  a  string  of  littered  clothes  in  a  pathway  to  the  bedroom  ,  under  tangled  sheets  with  his  frame  pressed  atop  the  small  of  hers  .  his  hands  would  tuck  her  chin  up  in  breathless  whispers  ,  pulling  her  on  top  of  him  with  a  dimpled  smile  .  marry  me  ,  slightly  under  an  husky  sigh  ,  and  a  smile  as  he  leaned  up  to  kiss  the  down  the  corner  of  her  jaw  ,  and  every  inch  after  that  .  and  even  in  the  heated  argument  of  something  small  ,  of  nerves  tested  by  spending  so  much  time  together  that  their  quarrels  even  seemed  silly  ;  if  you  can’t  stand  to  look  at  me  ,  then  just  marry  me  instead  !  before  the  fight  would  break  into  half-whitted  grins  ,  and  she’d  try  her  damnedest  not  to  smile  back  .  she  was  stubborn  like  that   .  “no  ,”  he  finally  answered  ,  green  eyes  humming  with  sparkled  mischief.  “i write all my songs about you.” she  had  only  known  about  the  one  ,  for  now-- but  there  was  a  journal  sitting  on  his  night  stand  ,  covered  in  pages  and  pages  of  songs  that  spilled  out  the  truth  of  how  much  he’d  love  her--  every  second  of  every  day  ,  if  she’d  let  him  .  but  god--  she’d  make  him  work  for  it  ,  and  he  loved  her  more  for  that  ,  too  .  his  fingertips  hooked  through  the  belt  loop  of  her  jeans  ,  and  he’ll  still  waver  endearingly  close  to  her,  despite  a  crowded  room  .  he  doesn’t  need  to  hear  to  know  people  were  smirking-  he  could  feel  them  watching  ,  but  westley  hadn’t  cared  .  “don’t be silly-” he’s musing with adoration  ,  kissing her cheek again  ,  and  again  before  pulling  back  with  a  laugh  .  “it’s  just  another  friday  night  ,  baby-” and  he’s  signing  now  ,  instead  of  speaking--  which  he  does  sometimes  now  ,  absentmindedly  --  knowing  she  can  understand  him  better  as  the  months  go  on  .  leaning  over  the  counter  ,  he’ll  push  himself  up  and  over  the  bar  ,  without  first  being  swatted  by  seamus  .  “aye  ,  boy!  if  i’ve  got  to  tell  yee’  one more  time  to  get  of  my  counter  ,  i’m  going  to--” he’s  cut  of  by  rosie  ,  and  she’s  patting  him  on  the  chest  .  “hush  now  o’malley  ,  the  boy  has  funded  your  retirement  .”  followed  by  a  grumble  from  the  other  ,  and  a  wink  from  rosie  as  she  leads  him  astray  .  meanwhile  ,  westley  grins  wide  and  dimpled  with  a  laugh  ,  pulling  a  glass  from  behind  the  bar  ,  and  pouring  himself  a  guinness  .  he’ll  lean  in  the  spot  where  o’malley  was  standing  prior  ,  elbows  on  the  bar  as  he  looked  up  at  the  blonde  with  a  sip  .  “do  they  know  that  i’m  hopelessly  in  love  with  you?”  he’ll  sign  again  in  silence  through  a  cheeky  smirk  ,  taking  another  swig  before  setting  it  aside  .  he’s  still  close  to  her  ,  because  it  might  be  physically  impossible  for  him  not  to  be  .  his  eyes  drifted  around  the  crowd  of  people  ,  laughing  ,  eating---  sharing  drinks  ,  and  then  back  to  a  doe  eyed  blonde  that  makes  his  heart  still  jump  .  “look  at  you-”  still  in  quiet  conversation  as  he’ll  sign  ,  stepping  back  as  if  to  get  a  better  view  ,  grin  playfully  widening  .  “tell  me  to  end  the  set  right  now  ,  and  i’ll  carry  you  over  my  shoulder  upstairs  .” he’s  being  bold  ,  because  the  likelihood  of  people  knowing  asl  is  always  slim  .  another  smirk  ,  and  he’ll  wrinkle  his  nose  until  she  scolds  him  and  tells  him  to  behave  .  “kiss  you ..”  signed  slower  ,  with  a  nonchalant  shrug  that  was  still  ,  entirely  mischievously  charming  .  

[westleymoons]

it was no longer small friday nights surrounded by a little pub, and locals.  the room reflected of gold and crowds too big for the size of o’malleys,  people herded all the way out the door, into the street. tonight was different, but not for westley moon. there was a man in the crowd, with a suit that tailored money and his drink order was nothing short of hollywood. he’ll stand next to the bar, because there isn’t a seat that hasn’t been taken already, next to a blonde he hasn’t noticed. no, because he’s here business, somewhere somehow, caught wind of a magic boy, caught playing in a bar with no shoes, and a line down the street just to listen. and westley, as charismatic as ever, leaned into the microphone, and taps his nose and points to a girl with blue eyes. “we’re going to wind it down a bit-” halfway laughter, and he’ll pull away from the mic before leaning into it again. “it’s a slow one, if you’ve had your eyes on tonight-” he glances at caroline, the corners of his cheeks dimpling. “take a chance, and ask them to dance-” a pause as the crowd playfully woo’s back at him. “or ask her to marry you again-” eyes dart playfully across the room, and his nose wrinkles. “she can’t possibly say no with all of you watching--” it’s teasing, and the crowd gets louder as he laughs again. “alright--” he’ll clear his throat, and they simmer down. you could feel the anticipation, the silence. “i wrote this one for a girl,” brows lifted, and he’ll find her again. “on the floor of a motel room.” he’ll swallow, because she hasn’t heard it-- because he doesn’t normally play his own music, but interpretations of classics. pull back, he’ll set up the microphone on a keyboard, dusty and pulled from one of  seamus’s closets. leaning into the mic again, the keys are the first you hear-- written for piano, for sentiment only she would know. “i’m in bed, and you’re not here-” it’s slow, echoed in the silence of the room, everyone stilled-- but a man from hollywood who didn’t need to be persuaded to sign this kid. the stranger from another city, crossed his arms over his chest, watching intently, the crowd-- and how people sat on the edge of their seats just to listen to a boy, who couldn’t even hear his own voice. his pitch was trusted on gut, and words of muffled under his breath. and by now, he’s made the connection between the girl at his side, and the enigma on stage. dots quickly connected, this kid was far too in love to ever leave this place on his own. when the song ends, he’ll order another drink and wait to approach the blonde until the next song. “people would sell out arenas for that boy of yours.” it’s a quiet approach, and he’s reaching into his coat pocket, finishing the top shelf glass, before outstretching a card to her. “if you’d like--” he’ll nod at the card, blockbuster music imprinted in bold letters. “they could.” he’ll pull his jacket from the side of the bar, and toss it over his forearm. “he loves you far too much to say yes to me, but.. think about it..” and with that, he’s on his toes, and wavering through a crowd of people. meanwhile, westley is hopping off stage after finishing his last set, only to be greeted by five or six people on his way to caroline. 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:

time stood as still as the two of them , music swirling in the air around them as he held her close still , unmoving . twinkling light lit up the room around them , but the golden warmth that radiated from the tips of her fingers to the depths of her chest had nothing to do with being underneath them . no . it had everything to do with the pitter patter of her heart , running as fast as it could into westley , and she wasn’t scared . she wasn’t unsure . she wasn’t hesitant . she wasn’t saying it to hear it back or to even the score … she loved him . in a magical , miraculous , forever kind’a way … and it was a long time coming , happening in a string of moments that slowly chipped away at the walls built up around her tattered heart . caroline fell a little bit in love that first night when he played her favorite band on a whim . she fell a little bit in love with the way sea salt air pushed at unruly curls on the beach as they left a party behind them . she fell a little bit in love on the floor of a shanty motel room , to the sound of leather and lace , with his fingers tangled in her hair . she fell a little bit in love when he decided to stay and every moment in between … every morning she woke up next to him , every show he started with a tap and point , every night he whispered i love you into the crook of her neck , every shower he rinsed suds from her eyes with laughter that made her late , every dimpled smile at the word baby mumbled against his skin , every kiss , every t-shirt , every song , every day , every night … she’d spent it all falling in love with westley moon . she was sure . “ more than anyone or anything , ” caroline nodded , smile growing to match his as she relaxed under his touch again , “ more than i ever have , with anyone … ” and he’s leaning forward in a way that’s familiar , smiling against her lips , softly at first . when he pulls away , there’s a smile there like she’s never seen before , golden in its nature , and blue eyes light up in laughter . a smile like that , caroline knew , was a smile she’d do anything to see . and she wanted to say it again . over and over again , because he had been so patiently waiting to hear it , loving her carefully without pushing her to feel something she was ready for . but he was already pulling her back in , laughter breaking through the gaps of a feverish kiss as she tugged gently at the fabric of his shirt . closer and closer still , curving into him like it was the most natural thing . because it was ; being with westley , once she’d allowed herself to , was just about the easiest thing in the world . taking a breath , she pulls back just enough for him to see her lips moving . she’ll shift in his arms , so hers wrap over his shoulders . “ i mean it , westley . in a forever kind’a way . i love you , ” and it feels like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders , finally saying it out loud , allowing her to lean in and kiss him again , careful and slow , but still smiled .

every day he’s falling more in love with her. he falls in love with the way blue eyes reflect sunshine, or the way she scrunches her nose through playful laughter, he falls in love with her when the rest of the world has gone to bed, but they’re awake with the moon, and three am showers, and how she’s always looked better in his favorites shirts than he did. being with anybody else wasn’t an option, which is why every morning, and every friday night, he’d ask her to marry him. over the table at breakfast when she’s waiting for her oatmeal to cool, or under the breath of guinness that he hasn’t managed to spill on her again, he’d whisper it in promises when he thinks she’s already asleep against his chest. you’re going to marry me someday, caroline nicolette. whether it’s a sunday afternoon, or late one friday evening. whether it’s when he gives her a ring with black silver and a tiny amethyst his mom had worn for as long as he can remember. whether--  it was in front of all their friends, or two strangers and a judge--- she was going to marry him, and he’d wait forever on the chance of a someday with her, than the certainty of a tomorrow with anyone else. and his heart swells, bubbling in his chest with warm as dimples caught the corners of his cheeks. in a forever kind of way-- that’s what he wanted  ,  it was a forever kind of love. the kind of love that finds each other, over and over again- from the corner of each universe, made from the same star, the same moon, the same kinda’ magic. he’ll nuzzle forward, keeping his eyes locked on the way her lips curved when she said it--  deafened ears for the first time, knowing what it would have been like to hear. it would have been the same buzzing warmth, the same adrenaline, the same rush of the future playing like a record in his head. it’d be the same wave of certainty, certain that she loves him--- and that he loves her, that he’s always loved her. he loved the girl who say on the other side of an outside table, with sad blue eyes, and her chin propped softly in her hand-- the same girl that would wonder into the same bar, after he’d been drinking-- the same girl he’d play her favorite song for, over and over again. the same girl, who’s light slowly returned to pale cheeks, and the same girl who guarded her heart so viciously, she was afraid nobody would be able to scale the walls she’d built. he’d fall in love with a girl, who among many other things, was beautiful inside as she was out. a girl that loved his mother, and vice versa-- a girl who made him want to stay, for the first time in his life. “i wish i could tell you..” he starts, and his voice cracks-- he can’t hear it, but he can feel it in his throat. “how much, of everyday..” he’ll lean forward, smiled through a kiss before pulling  back again. “i want you forever.” fingertips brushed along the sides of her cheeks, over the highs of rosy apples, and tucking fly aways back behind her ear. “i can’t wait to marry you, caroline nicolette.” 

[westleymoons]

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[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:]

lashes flutter shut as westley pulls her closer and closer still , until they’re pressed together and swaying in time to the gentle music of a song she could hum against his skin . and she’s afraid to open her eyes as for a moment , everything seems far too perfect . if she opens her eyes , she’ll wake up . she’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream . she’ll wake up alone in a bed far too big for one person , in a house far too big for two girls , in a town far too distant from wherever westley was next , wherever the music had taken him . but her fingertips intertwine with his hair at the nape of his neck and his heartbeat against hers is loud and clear and when she opens her eyes ––– he was there . he always was . every morning , every night , with patience and a smile like starlight . o’malley’s had been doused in romance , and westley was finally getting his dance in a room with just the two of them , as she often wanted every room to be . how does forever sound ? he’d asked , and when she smiled and agreed , she was serious . somewhere along the way , despite never having said three little words , he had to know she was serious about him . more than she had been anyone else . she smiled at the sound of his voice , turning her tilting and tilting her chin . “ magic , ” she mumbled into a kiss pressed along his jaw . it was just her and westley ; and it was everything . so she pulled away from him , just enough , unwavering in the way a blue-eyed gaze traced over familiar features . “ magic and miraculous , ” she whispered , slowly shaking her head , “ and in love . ” her gaze lifted back up to meet his eyes as the arm draped over his shoulder moved to cup his cheek . “ because i am so impossibly in love with you , westley moon , ” she nodded , a timid smile etching at the corners of her lips , “ and i’m sorry it took me so long to say it , but … god , i am . in the forever kind’a way . ” her head tilted as her lips stretched into a beaming grin . she tapped the tip of her nose . “ i love … ” and pointed , touching the tip of his , “ you . ”

westley moon, love had never been a foreign concept to you. for a boy born with hearts in his eyes, and twice the size of love in his heart, given and tended to by women who carried the same ounce of magic in their eyes--- it was to be expected that he fell in love twice on a sunday afternoon, and out of it with monday morning blues. but with caroline, the song reminds him of what it must have been like to love a girl that walked like springtime. and now, tonight, his hands are placed on the small of her back, his hand in hers, and barefoot with the exception of his socks as he steps from side to side, leading them. it’s softer this time, not interrupted by the sound of a cracking fist, or interrupted phone calls from a girl he could have never really loved as vividly and as brightly as he’d already been with caroline. to be honest, he was in love with her before this, on the floor of a motel room, with a guitar in his hands and the melody to her favorite song memorized by heart long before they met. he’d sing her favorite song a second time, after they were married. and he would---- marry her. he wasn’t expecting anything from this, he was patient with her- and he was learning to be something he’d never been before. he was patient, when it came to being her friend, to knowing her and the past that followed that weighed on a careful heart-- and it’s why he loved her, why he decided that he had. because she’d known pain unlike anything he’d ever experienced, and the mere thought of living without her---was like a world void of sunlight, like a world dimmed of a special kind of magic all her own. he’d never been a religious man, but he’d pray to god if there was one-- that they never take this away from him. and if they do, he’d bear it- so she wouldn’t have to. he’d live in a world without her, knowing that if fate were as cruel as he never believed it to be, she wouldn’t survive it a second time. but she confirms that she loves him, and it’s like rain, thundering in his chest and vibrantly allowing it grow, watering the roots that were planted with her name in their petals. he’ll swallow,  and she taps the tip of his nose, their dance slowing to a stop without him realizing it. “you love me?” it’s quiet, and emeralds appear brighter than before, stung with happiness that water long lashes. he’ll nuzzle forward, fingertips unraveled underneath the small of her jaw, dipped back into blonde tresses as he tipped her chin up into his embrace. he’ll kiss her, and it’s light, pulling back and smiling dimpled, cascading a warm gaze, before pulling her back into another kiss, this one deeper, and halfway broken by happy laughter. 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:

how does forever sound ? –– forever , was a big commitment , but months had gone by and westley never wavered . not when she panicked and tried to pull away , not when time would’ve usually proved to make him restless , not when he mumbled an i love you against her skin and she choked on the words before she could say them back . no . this boy with unruly curls and eyes like a warm spring , with a smile that lit up every corner of the room , with a heart too big for his chest and fingers that were relentlessly calloused from the metal strings of a guitar … this boy was the embodiment of unconditional love . and caroline was lucky to know him , to be loved by him … to love him back . “ forever sounds like the only correct answer , ” she said just as softly , arms rested over his shoulders for a moment . fingertips dipped into his hair , brushing it away from his face , gently , as he pulled her closer in a smiled kiss and the fluttering in her chest ran wild . if she could spend forever wrapped up in a moment , it’d be one similar to this , with the faint sound of music and westley close enough to touch , grinning at her . “ westley , i–– … ” gentle laughter interrupts as he presses a kiss to her cheek and reaches for her hands . there’s a slow shake of her head as she gazes over at him , sky blue eyes gleaming with a look of awe and adoration . this boy … this life he was so eager to give her , undeserved . “ i think maybe you’re the magic factor here , ” she whispered as he slipped out of his shoes , “ then again , i’ve always thought you were some sort of magic . moon magic all your own . ” after a moment , she reached down and untied the laces of her own beat up converse , slipping out of them as well before taking his hands . “ no interruptions this time around , ” she nodded , eluding to the result of their last slow dance , “ because i think this one is long overdue , westley moon . ”

love, he’s loved her from the moment he saw her outside that bar. he loved her damn near every moment after that. and being friends with caroline, was easily the hardest and most rewarding thing he’d ever done. it’s what makes her different--- different from the faded name inked in his skin, and different from all the flings of romance that were passionate but short lived. this was entirely new to him, to wake up every morning and want to see her, to watch her, to love by her every day that went on-- and for the rest of the days he was set to live on a earth luckily at the same time as caroline nicolette. she hadn’t changed him, as some might say. you leashed the boy, but a leopard doesn’t change his spots. but the thing is, he’s always been this way. yes his affection had been fleeting before, but it was his love for city lights that outweighed him. his love for adventure. meanwhile, everyday with her felt like a new town, the same adrenaline he got from being on stage, or in a city that doesn’t know his first name. not yet. she didn’t tame him, and the others didn’t last because they weren’t his future--- they weren’t his forever. bowie always told her son, under the flickering porch light of a tiny studio, when you know you’ll know and not a moment sooner. and he knew, like he knew the shade of blue in her eyes, or the way she reached out to touch him in the backseat of a limo, or the kindness that unraveled in her smile. it was all affirmation to this--- he loved her, and he would always love her. it’s why he dances with her, under the quiet tones of fleetwood mac, and a playlist of songs she’d whisper under his breath-- and he’d only wished he could hear. his hand finds the small of her back, while the other interlaces with hers. they’re closer than the formality of dance carmichaels were used to-- posture, and an appropriate space apart. no, you could barely fit a piece of construction paper between the two of them now. leaning down, his gaze is almost fluttered shut, seconds above her ear as he leans against her temple. “ we could be magic-- you know?  ” and it’s whispered, because if she were to answer like this, he couldn’t read it unless he pulled back some. but he doesn’t need an answer-- he just wants her to know, wants the world to know. 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·:

“ what ? a quiet o’malley’s ? ” caroline grinned , blue eyes gleaming like a girl in love , as she looked over at him from the other end of the bar . she spent more time in that hazy building than she did anywhere else . downstairs where crowds fell in love with his voice , or upstairs where she fell in love with the way calloused fingertips dipped into strands of gold . caroline nicolette had seen the world , but nothing held a candle to a tiny bedroom with one window and the soft hum of an acoustic guitar . she didn’t deserve it , not really . she didn’t deserve to wake up next to him every morning , didn’t deserve to hear bowie on the other end of the telephone asking how her day was , didn’t deserve the mumbled  i love yous in the crook of her neck at two in the morning … but with a whispered someday , she’d promised him that she’d spend the rest of her life convincing herself otherwise , being someone who could love him back in a magical and miraculous kind of way . “ is that why you were so insistent that seamus take the night off ? ” fingers intertwine , and she’ll press a smiled kiss to the inside of his wrist . the lights flicker and give way to strings of stars that warm her cheeks and douse the  pub in a golden glow . only the sound of his voice draws her attention away . dance with me , and she smiles , tugging at his hand and pulling him into an empty space at the center of the bar . “ i could get  used to this , too , you know . me and you , ” lips parted , and there are three words on the tip of her tongue . not yet . “ the lights are a nice touch — … have you always been this much of a romantic , or did you pick it up somewhere along the way ? ”

love comes as freely as breathing, with westley moon. and with his birthday finally in sight, the only thing he wanted to do was make valentines day special for her instead. if he had one wish, it’d be for her to finally say yes. to dance with him,  like he wanted to that first night she’d given him no name and a vague number. or months after that, when they attended a carmichael event. or even, almost a year later. when he’s grown roots in a bar that was far too small for the crowds that winded up on friday nights, looking for a little bit of starlight. “seamus would have turned belly up if he was forced to watch this romantic nonsense-” as he would say, but then find rosie the perfect singular flower, of her favorite color-- each year something different for her to plant in the bushes out on a tiny patio. no, believe it or not, semus o’malley was a romantic, under the hue of dark eyes and whiskered grey. westley will lean  into her embrace, his smile wild and warm and dimpled as he gazes down at her with eyes of green. “how does forever sound?” whispered in a grin, nudging forward, and nuzzling her with his nose as his heartbeat quickened-- even still. his hands tilt just below either sides of her jaw, softly addressing her to look at him before he’s leaning forward, and kissing her. he wants to marry this girl. and someday, she’d say yes to that too. “it’s valentines day--  it’s magic, you know?” signed and teasing, before he’s pressed against her cheek in a peck, and taking her hands in his. “but first..” hands sign, and then holding up an index finger, before he’s slip[ed off his shoes, black socks slick against the dusky hardwood floors-  to feel the music better. 

[westleymoons]

the night when by quicker than he had anticipated. it seemed like every show was getting quicker and quicker to his favorite part of the night----  caroline. she’d been sleeping at his, in a shoebox of a apartment, wearing his shirts, answering the phone when his mom called, or when he hadn’t realized the line had been ringing. she was there, watching him from across the bar with a soft glow around her, it reminded him the closest thing to angel’s halo, as tattooed fingertips would ever get. but tonight was different, he’d had planned something for when the chairs were stacked and the brush of fame had gone home until another friday night. brows perked up, and he’s leaning on the bar, hanging up the last bit of dried glasses around the pub. “you know, i could get used to this.” the life, with her. the bar, their friends. he’d never had a home, never felt so tied with roots buried so deep. but with caroline, she made you want to believe in the magic of being in love. and westley, well, he would love her forever and a day-- he was sure of it. nonetheless, he’ll hop of the bar, and scoot to the other side, before landing on his feet. “i had a surprise.” with it, taking her hand and interlocking their fingertips, pulling her lightly to the corner of the room. “i told you one day you’d say yes so--” he’ll flick the lights off, and with a switch new ones twinkled from around a green and gold pub. “dance with me.” 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines·. 

a smile , dimpled at its sides , reaches the corners of his eyes , and caroline can feel the pounding in her chest , thumping along to the beat of a love song she was sure she hadn’t heard before . things with westley , as much as it hurt her to admit , were different . for so long , it was one great love . that was all she was allowed , but palms roughed by metal guitar strings brushed against her cheeks as he leaned in and whispered another tale . everything hurt less , nowadays , and when westley was around , it didn’t hurt at all . little by little , in the smallest of ways , he’d made her believe that it wasn’t one great love , but rather , different kinds of love , in different ways , with different people — … as  long as you opened yourself up to it . there , in a tiny bedroom , under the adoring gaze of eyes she could wander for miles in , she could feel it . this was bigger than anything she’d felt before . it was a free fall , with westley waiting at the bottom to catch her , whenever she decided it was time . “ you said it yourself , ” eyes flicker to the journal so readily casted aside , “ they look better on me . ” she wonders , for a brief moment , what he was scribbling in its pages , but the look in his eyes was a bit of a giveaway . she was looking at a boy in love , and an overwhelming feeling of luck mixed with gratitude took hold around her stomach . a gentle smile graces pursed lips as she leans in , humming against his skin , wanting nothing more than to spend all of her nights like this — wrapped up in him , not a worry in the world . nothing , he sighs , and there’s a gentle tone in his voice that warms her from the inside out . tender and quiet , like a soft melody that would be stuck in her head for days to come . while his gaze dips , hers never waivers , watching the fluttering of thick lashes until those eyes like spring lift to hers once more . “ no , i know that look by now , ” brows lift , and she’s smiling , playful … joyful , “ and it’s not noth— ”

before the words come out , he’s tugged her closer , and a breath catches in the back of her throat before she’s on her back and the sound of laughter fills the room . arms sling lazily around his neck , and she leans into him as mumbled kisses are left against the crook of her own . in love … almost , and the hesitation was something she hated herself for because westley moon was not someone you loved halfway . he made it easy , and every ounce of her being was leaning in , gravitating towards him , albeit a small tether to the past that whispered warnings in her ear . a tether that nearly broke in moments as easy as this . his lips pressed delicately against her skin , knowing it would elicit laughter , something he could feel in such close proximity , it was effortless . fingers unravel in unruly brown curls as she leans into his touch , eyelids fluttering shut as laughter continues to bubble over her lips . she wants to push him away , but only to pull him closer again to press a against his lips instead . a whisper and everything seems to cease , as the words catch her tongue and suck the air from her lungs . i love you sounds better than any lyric he’s ever sung , but she could feel her chest tighten , lips parting in mild panic . you don’t have to say it back , and caroline inhales , brow furrowing as he places a gentle kiss on the corner of her mouth . “ westley — . . ” she whispers , in the midst of silence , but he speaks again before she can .

restless was the word the woman used , and she’d forgotten it until now . it wasn’t the first time anyone had said anything , and it certainly wouldn’t be the last . blue eyes flicker to the dip of his collarbones , inked drawings against his skin , covering up a restless heart . another girl’s name was tattooed on his wrist , but it didn’t matter . he was there for her . he stayed for her . he loved her , and it seemed he was patiently waiting for her to love him back . there’s a softness to his tone that draws her in , and she’s hanging onto every word , fingertips gently brushing down his cheekbone , feathered touch running along his bottom lip . marry me slips out , and her touch recoils , fingers curled into a fist as her gaze shoots up to meet his . “ you can’t — … ” she cuts herself off , shifting beneath him , but reaching out . because she was startled , but she had promised him when he agreed to stay that there would be no more pushing away . careful hands rest on either cheek as she studies him for a moment . he’s serious , and the feeling in her stomach resides … it isn’t panic , but rather hope . for something she once believed she could never have , “ you can’t say things like that if you’re going to wake up tomorrow or the next day or a year from now and decide that maybe you really are restless . maybe — … this isn’t enough for you , or — … wes , don’t give me something like that if you aren’t absolutely sure because … ” a sigh takes the space of words , and it’s because she realized that she doesn’t know what would come next , if he decided to leave one day . if he decided that she wasn’t for him . a pause lingers before a starry gaze softens , “ i watch people fall in love with you every night . every night . whether you’re on stage or behind the bar or just in the midst of a conversation . and i get it , trust me . it’s not that i don’t lo— it’s just that … ” caroline steadies herself , inhaling as she holds his gaze steadily , “ when i get there , when i say it , i want you to know without a shadow of a doubt that it’s different . it’s not for a night . it’s not for the music . it’s not because you said it first . it’s because i’m there . it’s because i mean it . ”

quiet hangs in the air , for a moment , as she loses herself in thought , looking at him . without a word , she taps her index finger to the point of her nose and gently points it , lack of space allowing the pad of her finger to brush against the tip of his nose . “ i love that you’re patient with me , as best as you can be , ” she shifts again , sitting up slightly , if only to give him just enough distance to really read her lips , “ i love that you’re kind to everyone you meet . i love that you challenge me to be … better . i love seeing you on stage , but i love , even more , seeing you love music without a crowd . i love that i get to fall a little more in love with you , every night … with everyone else … and every morning that i wake up here , or … every time i see you smile up to your eyes … ” arms fall lazily over his shoulders , and she pulls him closer again , nudging him with her nose before brushing her lips across his , almost there but not quite . her head dips and she’ll press a kiss to his cheek , light as a butterflies wings , but lingering as her mouth curves into a smile against his skin . it’s sitting there on the tip of her tongue , a quiet i love you that isn’t quite ready to find its voice . but it’s there . she can feel it . she’ll pull back , arms still wrapped around him ,  fingertips intertwined with curls at the nape of his neck . “ i’m going to make you a promise , ” it’s matter-of-fact and brimmed under a smile that can’t be held back , “ but you have to make one in return . promise me that no matter how many people fall in love with you , you’ll choose to come back to me . even if this isn’t as easy . even if we’re in the midst of a horrible fight . you won’t wake up and decide you’re bored , or decide you want to leave … ” she swallows , eyes searching his for a moment as she adds a barely whispered , “ because i don’t think my heart could take it . ” rain patters steadily against the window , and green eyes have her heart racing to the rhythm . “ i’ll marry you , westley moon . someday . when i get there — and i will — whether it’s two in the afternoon on a sunday or four in the morning on a hand-me-down couch … someday , ” sooner than he knew , sooner than she ever would’ve expected . someday was on the horizon , closer and closer with every moment she spent falling in love with him . hand move to sign as she speaks , “ i promise . ”

to a boy who could make anything romantic  ,  his life had seemed to change on a whirlwind  .  he had a restless heart  ,  that’s what they said about him---  and maybe they weren’t completely wrong  ,  either  .  as time seemed to stop around him  ,  in every little bar  ,  in every town he found himself in  ,  just to leave before it felt too much like home---  he had a string of hearts left in it’s place  .  a romance for every city  ,  a lover for every town  ,  and it was easy-  to fall in love with the rise of a moon  .  but he’d never felt like this before  ,  he’d never had to work so hard---  for someone to look at him the way strangers did underneath the glow of a stage light  .  he never had to pine for someone  ,  he never knew them fully  ,  without fault- and why they made the choices they did  .  he never got to know the man behind the bar  ,  with the same last name as the sign in neon lights outside  .  he never got to know the story of a wife he’d fallen in love with  ,  who was simple and yet kind  .  he’d never know that his wife got fell ill in the summer of 71′,  and how his entire life shifted on an axle it was built on  .  he’d never know how an old musician  ,  would hang up his guitar and buy a pub in the states as fresh start  .  he’d never know how that same man  ,  grew cold over years of being alone---  only to come alive with the spark of sunshine and a rosie smile  .  how he’d almost gone grey before they’d met  ,  and how they had no kids of their own-- but still danced together on friday nights  .  he’d never know of a girl  ,  with the same last name as the one he’d quite literally  ,  ran  into  ,  carried the weight of a bossy ponytail with a punctual bounce----  because her life before now had been incredibly  ,  entirely  ,  out of control  .  he’d never know what it was like to know someone so genuine  ,  and  so  sad  ,  with the same blue eyes that must have ran in the family  . a girl who quite frankly  ,  was out of his ballgame entirely the night he’d spilled guinness down her dress  . he wouldn’t know that she had loved  ,  and been loved ,  greater than before-  but different than he loved her now  .  wonderfully wondrous  ,  all it’s own  .  he’d never know how easy it was  ,  to fall  ,  too  . he’d never know how hard it was to try with someone else  ,  who was perfectly good in her own right----   but simply  ,  not good for him  .  he’d never know how hard it was to say goodbye  ,  until blue eyes pleaded for him to stay  .   and he can see  ,  the fear that slipped under the surface of rosy cheeks and to the corners of crinkles eyes  .  he can see the way she’s hesitant  ,  the way that same restless heart was tethered on strings of fate and what ifs  .  how the same hands that caressed through long blonde hair  ,  early in the sunrise  ,  were inked with another’s name  .  and emeralds take her in  ,  each fluttered gaze  ,  and each way her mouth moved as deaf words spoke directly to the dip in his chest  .  “ i know . ”  it’s soft  ,  light-  but the conversation itself had never been more serious  .  he had never been more serious  .  it wasn’t fair  ,  to tell her he loved her- that he could wait---  but it wouldn’t be fair to either of them to not tell her what he was waiting for  .  he was waiting for the day she woke up  ,  and she realized the fall was over  ,  and she’d landed safely at the bottom unscathed  .  he’d wait for the day  ,  she didn’t flinch at the word love  ,  or the future  .  “ i’ve never lied to you  . ”  quiet  ,  because he was incapable  .  of lying to her  ,  of lying to anyone-- partially because he was awful with it  ,  and how the guilt would eat him from the inside out until the truth found it’s way to the surface  .  and why- it was so easy to tell someone how you felt for westley  ,  so easy to hide the promise of prolonged hurt by the tucked tail of a white lie  .  digits are unclad and inked  ,  slipped through her hair and tilt her jaw up  ,  his nose nuzzling against her with fondness only love could warm  .  and he did  .  he loves her  ,  he loves her  ,  he loves her  .  “ and you  ?  not  enough ? caroline nicolette-”  his forehead pressed against hers  ,  words hushed as they’re savored for a whispered promise  . however  ,  dark emeralds fluttered open again  ,  holding her gaze with an intent that burned far beyond the wick of a candle  .  “ you are-----   everything . ” so sure  ,  so unreliably sure ,  that he would have never known---  what real love felt like  ,  if he had never leaped  .   and he’ll shift over the weight of her move  ,  of pressing smile lines into the corner of his cheek  ,  down the slope of his jaw like butterfly kisses  .  and with it  ,  his breath is held in fine moments  . “ i’d promise you anything . ” he’ll assure  ,  hands dipped down from the slope of her chin  ,  to the nape of her neck  .  his index  ,  sloped in a fine line  ,  feathers beneath her collarbones  ,  tracing art with invisible brushes  .  “ i’ve been in love with you from the first day you walked into the bar .” his tone still low  ,  still barely an hitch above anything savored for just the two of them  .  “ it wasn’t at the bar .. ”  a secret  ,  quiet and for himself  .  “ it was drizzling  ,  and i was setting up--  o’malley had the speakers in his truck .” and he’s still tracing lines  ,  down the cotton of his favorite shirt---  though now  ,  anything she wore of his was  .  “ you didn’t see me-----   but i saw you ..”  there’s a harsh swallow in the back of his throat  ,  and he shakes his head  .  “you  were wearing that dress-  the one i almost ruined  .  and you were sitting on the corner of this outside patio  ,  of the restaurant on the corner  .  your mom was there  ,  and a table full of women talking  .  but you were quiet  .  and i just remember---  stopping  ,  like everything suddenly didn’t matter  ,  like how i wanted more than anything to wish i was playing at that bar that night  ,  instead of o’malleys  .  i remember  ,  because you looked so-”  beautiful  ,  but sad  ,  quiet  ,  lost in thought  .  “and then they played leather and lace  ,  and for whatever reason  ,  you smiled to yourself  .”  there’s a long pause  ,  and he’s sucking in a breath  .  “then it started pouring  ,  and i ruined the speakers .” wes’ gaze smirked  ,  flickering back to meet hers as she shifted her weight from under him  .  “i owed him three hundred dollars before the end of my first set- but for whatever reason ..  they wanted me to come back . and then  ,  you walked in .” he doesn’t miss a beat  ,  he doesn’t look away  ,  because this is important to him--  to them  ,  to their someday if it ever came  .  “  i do have a restless heart  ,  caroline  .  but it’s not because i’m going to wake up one day and this isn’t going to be enough  .  it’s restless  ,  because i’m excited---  because i’ve been hopelessly in love with you since the first day i stepped back into this town  .  and i don’t want it  ,  if you’re not there  .” there’s a quiet shrug  ,  and he shakes my head . “ marry me  ,  and i’ll spend every day making sure you wake up happy  .  i’ll sing you leather and lace in the shower-” brows waggled teasingly  ,  and his nose scrunched  ,  bringing her hands up to kiss the sides of coupled fingertips  .  “ i’ll make you terrible  ,  terrible breakfast every morning  .  i’ll bring you home a new pin ,  from wherever i go  .  ---  i’ll take you with me  ,  if that’s what you want  .  but i promise  ,  it’ll always be you  .  i promise that i’ll make sure you keep falling a little bit in love with me  ,  every night .” another pecker of kisses across her knuckles  .  “you’re it for me  ,  caroline . i’ll never love anyone the way i love you .” 

[carolinenicolettes]

it was far more crowded than usual , sparkling with strung lights that made a familiar haze even more dazzling . o’malley’s during the holidays was unlike anything she’d ever seen , warmth radiating throughout the little dive , and it was contagious , too . she’d even caught seamus breaking into an uncharacteristically wide grin , every so often . and then , there was the lightness in her own chest , the rosy glow on her cheeks , the persistent gleam in bright blue eyes — a happiness she wore in a soft smile and a look of adoration across the room to a microphone stand and a boy , with curly brown hair and eyes like sea glass that crinkled at the corners when he beamed back at her . caroline nicolette was in love … almost . falling , falling , falling as midnights melted into mornings , nuzzled close to westley , who made the descent easier than ever , once she’d let herself slip . she found herself falling in love with the sound of his voice first thing in the morning and the way he mindlessly pulled her closer , arm wrapped around her waist , when they were walking down the street . she found herself falling in love with the way words always seemed a little more magical on the tip of his tongue and old songs became brand new strummed mindlessly from memory on an old guitar . 

caroline nicolette was in love … almost … with westley moon , and it was obvious to anyone who shared a space with the both of them . even strangers could see it . i know that look , one teased after a bout of conversation . she began to make her leave as westley announced his final song for the night , glancing between the two of them , be careful , kid . musicians have restless hearts . caroline simply laughed and shook her head , gaze flickering back to the stage as rosie leaned in from behind the bar . nevermind that , miss caroline , in a motherly tone as she replaced an empty glass of whiskey with water , that boy’s eye hasn’t wandered since the first night you walked in here . heat rose to her cheeks and a warmth settled in her chest , but something still lingered under it all . restless . the word echoed in the back of her mind , and the hissing of a snake gradually came back .

you’ll never be what he wants you to be — … interrupts her thoughts as she’s bounding up the steps to his apartment . you’re just a pit stop , caroline — … is washed away with hot water spiraling down the shower drain . despite how real it feels——— it’s not , scribbled itself across the mirror , carved into the steam . she never shared what vincent had whispered to her that night with westley , and never intended to , but with each day that she got closer to him , the words got louder and louder . she tried to wring them out with the water she squeezed from her hair , but they were still there as she tiptoed back into his bedroom , hem of his tshirt grazing bare thighs , quick footsteps in time with the rain pattering against the window . they were still there until those same green eyes that caught her gaze from a stage , peeked up from under a sheet and crinkled at the corners . he smiled , and everything else became hazy . “ and you insist that i’m trouble , ” she hummed , dropping onto the mattress next to him . the duvet was in a puddle on the floor , discarded clothes here and there as well . the comment was reminiscent of a night of whiskey and vodka and a shanty motel , and she rolled over to hum against the crook of his neck , a quiet kiss pressed against the line of his jaw . as she propped herself up on her elbow to look down at him , her brow furrowed . “ what ? ” light laughter passed her lips , “ what is that look for , westley moon ? ”

[westleymoons]

sunshine personified itself in blue eyes  ,  and golden hair that mimicked a halo in the morning sunlight  .  a wild heart with names tattooed on the slope of his wrist  ,  was carved in her name with hushed lips and silent whispers  .  h’d fallen in love with her the moment they’d met  ,  that’s something westley had been sure of  ,  the only thing he had been absolutely sure of  .  and he had been in love before  ,  or at least he had thought it was love----  but now? now it’s become all too clear that it was a case of infatuation  .  he had been infatuated  ,  he had loved the idea of love  ,  he had been in the moment one day  ,  and gone the next  .  with caroline  ,  there wasn’t a day he woke up where he didn’t want to be around her  .  there wasn’t a day  ,  green irises flickered with magic that glittered across his skin like pixie dust  .  and with her  ?  oh--- give him wings  ,  and he could fly  .   caroline  ,  had taken longer   .  and that was okay  ,  because she’d promised one day  ,  if he stayed   ,   maybe you didn’t only get one great love in life  .  if he didn’t get on that bus   ,   he was the closest thing she would ever get to being close  .  and god--  it had hurt more than he thought it might  ,  being her friend   .  it hurt because he wanted it so badly  ,  it hurt because the longer they spent time together  ,  the more he wanted something else  ----   someone else  .  and it wasn’t fair  ,  on many parties  .  he’d hurt molly in the process  ,  and that was a burden he’d have to carry  .  sometimes people aren’t right for each other  ,  mister westley  .   a soft voice echos  ,  behind the bar in a pub that felt like the closest thing to a family he’d ever had  .   but even so  ,  if people weren’t right for each other-----   the moon was meant to bow to a sunrise every morning  ,  just like from this moment on  ,  westley was hers  .  in every light of the word  ,  he was more than infatuated  ,  more than in love- if there was a word for it  ,  he’d use it as the only lyrics to a song for the world to hear  .  he’ll strum a guitar by memory  ,  and the night keeps playing  .  though in the silence of happiness  ,  he’ll catch quiet shadows  .  the slightest hint of a storm behind blue eyes  ,  that wrinkled with a smile tinged in hinged worry  .  she was so good at hiding it  ,  you wouldn’t have known  ;   but he sees you  ,  caroline  ,  only you in a crowded bar  ,  in any crowd---  you’re the one he looks for  .   the night dragged on  ,  until his favorite time darkened the sky with the bars lights turned off downstairs and quiet slipping into a tiny bedroom with one window  .  there was no signs of traffic  ,  not like in a city that never sleeps  .  no  ,  this one snoozes until the late morning and in the middle of the night  ,  you can only hear the rain  .  she’s in the other room  ,  but his pillows smell like her  .  the sound of a faucet stops  ,  but he can’t hear it as his eyes are trained downward on an old journal with scribbled musings and lyrics to songs he might sing one day  .  it’s tussled at the corners  ,  worn out and nearly gone of space left---  and his mind is still occupied of a girl that reminds him of sunflowers  .  there’s movement  ,  and he’ll glance up to his heart leaping  .  the book is set down on a bedside table  ,  and he leans back against a fluffed pillow  ,  dimples rising warmth to his cheeks  ,  and to the emerald behind lovestruck gazes  .  the mattress indents next to him  ,  and he’s hazy with this feeling  .  “you’re a bandit  .”  he grins  ,  and he’ll nod to the shirt  ,  leaning over and pinching the fabric with his fingers  .  “clearly trouble .” hushed in the tone of a smile as her lips grazed the tilted arch of a jawline  .  and then she’s back again  ,  hand pressed to her cheek  ,  and long lashes capable of the winds outside  .  “nothing .” it’s soft  ,  incredibly so  ,  and he’s still looking at her  .  his gaze dips down from her eyes  ,  to the happy curl of pursed lips  ,  the shirt  ,  bare legs soft like silk  ,  and back to aspects of gentle features  .  the arch in her brows  ,  the wrinkle at the bridge of her nose when she questioned him with his name  ;  and he imagined it must have sounded just as sweet  .  turning on his side  ,  he’ll playfully pull her closer before tussling over her frame  ,  hovering as he buried ticklish kisses in the crook of her neck ;  messy and full of admiration  .  because when she laughs  ,  when he’s this close-----   he can feel it  ,  on the brim of parted petals  ;  like music  .  and softly westley hums  ,  nuzzling just under her ear  .  “i love you .”  it’s breathy  ,  whispered  ,  and a first  .  pulling back slightly  ,  his hand dips down her caressed cheek  .  “you don’t have to say it back .” leaning forward  ,  and kissing the corner of parted lips  .  there’s a breath of silence  ,  and his gaze is focused on fingerprints  ,  and how his digits dipped down into soft blonde hair  ,  lifting it between and around his finger  .  “o’malley told me what they said to you at the bar----”  it’s light  ,  knowing  .  “he can’t keep a secret to save his life  .” mused in humor  ,  before a serious tone took place  ,  but still just as gentle  .  “i know you’re not here yet ..” and he’ll swallow ,  irises flickering back to her  .  “but---”  lips pursed  ,  and he’ll shrug  .  she’ll hear that her whole life  ,  as long as she spends it with him  .  a muscian’s heart is a fickle thing  ,  be careful- they never stick around long  ,  a new girl falls in love with him every night   ------   it wouldn’t be the first or the last time someone mentioned it  .  “the day that you are  ,  whether it’s two in the afternoon on a sunday  ,  or four in the morning on a hand-me-down couch  ..”  he’d been thinking about it  ,  this wasn’t the first time  .  it was a mantra in his head  ,  an entire orchestra  ,  and he could hear it -- loud  .  “marry me.” westley moon is full of rash decisions  ,  he’s reckless sometimes  ,  adventurous  ,  lighthearted  ,  wild  .  but mostly importantly  ,  he’s wildly  ,  completely  ,  in love with her  . and he will be  ,  forever  .  

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines :

the room seems to heat up , and the air is becoming too thick to breathe . dizzy as words come pouring out just as quickly as hers had , only his are pointed . they’re honest in a way that westley moon tends to be without trying , completely in touch with who he was and what he was feeling . hands move to pull her hair from her shoulders , desperately trying to breathe , to calm herself down , to get a grip . but the only thing that felt right was getting on a bus the next morning . teeth dig into the side of her cheek , and she tethers herself to reality with the sharp pain of canines sunk into flesh . why didn’t you come to the show tonight ? repeated , and she doesn’t answer . for a moment , she allows it to hang in the air , along with the status of whatever they were , as her eyes flicker over him . faded tattoos , lived in clothes , calloused hands . dipped in moonlight and radiating love , unconditionally , to anyone who needed it . she couldn’t have thought him up in her wildest dreams , and to think that there he was , so impossibly right for her , nearly knocked her off of her feet . “ i didn’t come to the show tonight because i still feel everything when i’m around you . and when i’m not around you , i’m thinking about you . i thought molly was a good idea because you deserved someone who was ready to fall as quickly as you can , but … i was wrong , ” she’ll swallow , brows furrowing as her words slow , “ i was wrong about a lot of things . about you , at first . about being better off as friends . about people only getting one great love . ”  her movement is cautious , as she takes one tentative step forward , but she still doesn’t stop , pausing only to take a breath and keep her voice steady . “ because you … have the same favorite songs and you love your mom more than anything in this world … and you prefer a tiny , run down pub to any high class club . you’re ridiculously charming , but in the most genuine way . you kissed me once , and i still think about it . and you’re impatient , ” brows raise , and she nods because she knew , “ but you tried to be . for me . and for whatever reason , you and i ended up in the same place , at the same time , and if i get another great love … i think that’s a pretty clear message from fate that it’s supposed to be you . ” her brow furrows , and just in case it isn’t certain enough , she nods again . because she’s sure . “ westley , i want it to be you . ” she’ll hold his gaze for a moment longer before blue eyes flicker to the bag at the edge of his bed , and she still feels sick , thinking about it . him leaving . “ you said you’d stay . if you met someone . if you had a reason to … and i’m not going to stand here and tell you that i’m in love with you to try and get you to stay because i would be lying , ” gaze flickers back to him , and she’ll take another tentative step forward , still keeping a good amount of distance between the two of them , “ but if i’m going to fall in love again , it’s going to be you . ” the moment she hears it , she knows it’s not right , and a small look of realization , faint surprise as her heart lurches forward in her chest , passes her features . “ it already … is … you . and you’re not even trying , i mean , these past couple of months you’ve been … holding back . i’ve been holding back . and that’s my fault . entirely . but — … ” her gaze is lingered in between his , and she’s thinking allowed . uncensored . uninhibited . honest . “ there’s no molly , and i am so tired of trying to be loyal to something that … exists in the past . i know i haven’t made things easy . i’ve been back and forth . i’ve been … stubborn , but after these past few weeks , i’m so sure … ” a small shake of her head , and she can feel her cheeks warm , her palms sweating slightly as she signs , “ i could be in love with you . magic and miraculous … and if getting on a bus tomorrow morning still feels like the only right thing … fine , that’s okay . because i’ve pushed you away for a long time . ”  she pauses , catching her breath again , and dipping a hand down into the bag , running her fingertips over the front print of one of his old t-shirts . one not unlike the one tucked away in her dresser at home . “ but it’s going to be really hard , falling in love with someone who’s on the other side of the country , if you go to new york . ”

thinking about it was easy  .  dreaming about it  ,  even easier  .  he spent most of his nights singing to a girl across the bar who wasn’t his  ,  and his heart lurched in his chest  ,  into the back of a dry throat  .  brows are furrowed  ,  and emerald eyes are caretaking to the way her voice cracks ,  and to how even now---  with his head spinning  ,  he just wants to comfort her  .  it’s not like you want to leave  ,  is it? but adventures are coated in pixie dust  ,  and the longer you stay here  ,  the more likely it is that you’re growing up  .  and living in a world where you couldn’t have her  ,  was almost too painful to bear anymore  .  it’s why you sent the text  ,  why you made rash decisions  ,  and why he was almost settled on leaving entirely  .  but words shook through his steel traps  ,  with the thoughts of being wrong about this once before  .  she’s moving forward  ,  and he doesn’t budge  .  because sentences replay like a vintage record  ,  scratched and on repeat  .  is it because of her? ---- her with blue eyes  ,  and a daunting smile  .  her with a mystery tagged on the back of her heel  .  her  ,  who sees him completely and entirely  ,  and still takes him for who he is  .  her  ,  who his mother loved and their friends adored  .  her  ,  who he’d gotten to know over a period of time he never had the luxury of before  .  her  ,  with whisky lashes and a smile that felt like home  .  there’s a pause of quiet  ,  and his heart still butterfly patters at the sight of signing  .  lips pursed  ,  flickering a gaze down to the bag and the cotton of fabric t-shirts that were packed on top  ;  and how dainty fingertips still tugged at the hems  .  he had never been nervous before a show  ,  and yet the only time he’s ever felt it-- is when she’s shaking  ,  or looking back at him with a pleading gaze  ,  or sitting on the carpet of a motel room in between two made beds  .  he never felt nervous  ,  until he met her and she refused to tell him her name  ,  or when she sped at light speed for someone so courageous  .  he never felt nervous  ,  until the first time she had stared at him from behind a camera lens  ,  off stage  .  he’d never felt nervous until he almost lost her  ,  and how many times he’d been wrong  .  the car ride  ,  the motel  ,  the piano  ,  the dancing  ,  the camping  , all the way up until the last moments of a relationship that was hardly anything more than a dream of something he wasn’t quite  .  a rose colored film  ,  that brightened the apples of his cheeks  .  and there was nothing wrong with molly  ,  other than the fact that she simply-- wasn’t caroline  .  “that’s not what i want .” he finally adds  ,  and to the realization that it might have been vague  ,  or misconstrued ,  he stepped forward  ,  trying to catch her gaze without crossing more boundaries  ;  without finding the line  ,  without putting himself in a position he has once before  .  “i don’t want you to fall in love with anyone else .” it’s lighter  ,  maybe even a little bit raspy  ,  but his voice is softer this time  ;  barely audible if the silence hadn’t tugged it’s way into the bedroom  .  “i want--” there’s an invisible line he doesn’t cross  ,  because fear has ticked away a subconscious thought into the back of his head  .  “i want you to love me .” and it’s miraculously honest  ,  in a way that only moonlight can bring out  .  “because i think i’ve been in love with you since that first night when you wondered into the bar- and it’s been---- i used to think i’ve been in love plenty of times  ,  and then you came along and i know you don’t have any reason to believe me- but--” lips are dry  ,  and he purses them to create a hint of moisture  ,  sucking in a breath that seemed to be lodged into the back of his throat  .  “i’ve never lied to you  .  and being just your friend is probably the best and worst thing to ever happen to me .” because it made him realize  ,  infatuation wasn’t love  .  that falling in love three times a night  ,  with a string of hearts attached to your bootleg with nothing to show for it--- wasn’t a muscian’s curse .  it was a moon tide  ,  and caroline had been drawn to the same ocean  ;  and every night  ,  he’d watch her walk the banks of crashed waves  ,  stuck in a crescent and falling each morning when the sun came back up  .    “but i’ve--” ruffling through his hair  ,  his voice almost cracks  .  “i’ve been wrong before .” months prior  ,  with fingertips entangled under golden locks  .  “ask me to stay  ,  but only if you’re sure  .  okay?” emerald eyes found hers again  ,  and his brows softened  .  “i don’t know if i could survive it a second time .” 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines :

the gentle sigh of her name is almost enough to slow her down . it had stopped her in her tracks before , three syllables she’d heard her whole life , sounding like music when they came from him . but she was too caught up in her own thoughts , too focused on the fact that he was leaving ; she was losing something that wasn’t even hers . there’s a thundering in her chest like she’s never felt before , and maybe it’s a combination of everything . overwhelming emotions flooding into her body , making her dizzy as she sat down on his mattress and grabbed for a t-shirt . the noise is too loud , and she can’t hear anything other than the sound of her own heartbeat until , suddenly , he’s closer . you and i — … and it lingers like a question with no right answer , the idea of the two of them . together . something that had been leaking into the edges of her conscience until it was all she could think about . you and i — … could be magical and miraculous , she’d realized , somewhere in between a jarring kiss and a quiet slow dance , somewhere on the other side of the bar as he sang her favorite song or the other side of a room as his arm wrapped around someone else . moments had begun to add up , and just when she was starting to figure things out , he’d decided to leave . you and i — … followed by a silent signing of the word friends , and her heart sank . that’s what you wanted though , caroline . friends . strictly that . for so long , you insisted that he stay at an arms length , always keeping him — and wanting him — just under that . blue eyes flicker up , lips parted just slightly as he tells her nothing is going to change , and she buys it … for a second … letting his words calm her down , beginning to lie to herself again . until new york is signed and spoken and the distance he’s putting in between them isn’t just boundaries . it’s an entire fucking country . “ new york , westley ? really ? ” she pushes herself up , and she can feel herself getting worked up again as she takes a step back , “ seriously ? that is … a six hour plane ride . that is nearly three thousand miles from m— here . ” but she’d already pointed to herself , signing the me that was so selfishly sitting on the tip of her tongue . hands drop to her sides , and her gaze flickers between two eyes of the most magical green . “ you wanted boundaries , ” it was weak , nearly a whisper , and it wasn’t the whole truth either . he’s going to leave , caroline … now was not the time to hold back , “ you wanted boundaries and i’m trying not to be selfish and — … the last time i was in a room with you and molly , i wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole because god , i — … ” she’s still holding his gaze , as her jaw sets , and something he’s said clicks in the back of her mind . “ but there’s no molly — … ” and it’s not signed ; her hands are too busy shaking , because she’s terrified of the words creeping up her throat , and she wants to reach out and touch him . “ okay … ” she takes a deep breath , keeping her distance , and settling her gaze on a boy that radiated moonlight , that personified seven different types of the word love , that had come seemingly out of nowhere . “ you can’t go to new york . because you believe in fate , right ? and i was … sleepwalking , for nearly two years . going through the motions , mostly . carrying around this massive weight on my chest , and i was pretty resigned to that just being it . that was the way life was going to be , ” her gaze flickered past him , as she paused , then added with a pointed look , “ until you .  when you’re around , i feel … everything . everything i thought was gone . things i … haven’t felt before . that’s terrifying , and it makes me feel — really guilty , sometimes . which is why i tried to push , especially after you kissed me .  ” she glances up to the ceiling because she can feel her cheeks burning , and eyes beginning to mist , but she can’t stop now that she’s started . “ and i know , i know , now , that it was entirely selfish , and stupid . and ineffectual , clearly , as i’m standing here still , and telling you that i’m sorry for that is just the first step , but i can’t apologize yet … because this , too , is selfish , but you can’t go to new york , ” she looks back down , meeting his gaze and repeating words he’d once spoken back to her , “ there’s a detachment in cities like that . nobody cares anymore . everybody is trying to be somebody . and i can’t lose you to new york city . ” eyes are locked , and she takes a deep breath , “ everything , westley . i feel everything . i’ve felt everything . and i can’t lose you to new york city . ” 

westley almost always knows what to say  .  he almost always knows where to go  ,  or where the road is going to take him  .  but when it comes to caroline  ,  everything seems to be a question mark  . his head is jarring  ,  spinning on it’s axle and he doesn’t know what to make of this-- of any of it  .  and she’s right  ,  it’s selfish  ;  for both parties  .  standing to his feet  ,  he’s watching and reading what she has to say  ,  but it’s still not an answer he’s looking for  .  and he’s tired-- exhausted  ,  of trying to crack the code that was caroline nicolette  .  a girl that lost a great love  ,  and how the pain of losing him has wiped her clean of any chance of ever wanting more ,  ever again  .  and that’s okay  ,  that’s her choice- and somehow along the way  ,  he’d made peace with it  .  but now  ,  it was getting harder and more difficult  .  “molly likes ties  ,  and suit jackets-- and fancy dinners that quite frankly aren’t worth the money  .” a pause  ,  and he’ll loosen his jaw a bit  .  “money that i don’t have  ,  and money that i don’t want  .” a memory surfaces  , and a conversation he had with a brunette leaned on his shoulder on the car ride home  .  they had been out with friends  ,  and somewhere along the way was a man with a business card--  and an entry way to hollywood  ,  sold out arenas  ,  crowds that would travel from around the world- just to listen to him  .  you should take it  .  she’ll hum against his neck  ,  with a feather hearted smile  .  we could go together  .  and yet  ,  the idea of leaving this town then  ,  had been enough to turn down the offer  .  leaving the little gold and green bar  ,  with a flat above it  .  leaving a couple that had treated him like family from the moment he wondered in downstairs  .  leaving a girl  ,  with bright blue eyes that loved fleetwood mac  .  and now--- realization dawned on him under the lights of a stage  ,  and he didn’t forget h lyrics to her favorite song because he’d drank too much  .  he stumbled over the words  ,  because she wasn’t there- and it hurt  .  “jesus caroline-” he’s rubbing his hands over his face  ,  and this fight-- the back and forth of arguing over---- god he doesn’t even know what anymore  .  the avoiding questions  ,  the one step forward to take two back  .  “i’m tired of guessing  ,  alright?” signed in frustration but his voice is cracked under the weight of the world  ,  too  .  “you’re right-- it’s selfish  .  it was selfish for me to even try to be with molly  ,  and it’s selfish that you’re even here right now telling me you don’t want me to go to new york because of it’s people---- instead of the whatever real reason you’re not telling me  .  and it’s selfish of molly to try to mold me into something she knew i wasn’t  .  we’re all selfish----  all of us  .  you  ,  me  ,  molly  ,  odette -- noel   .  because we’re people  ,  and people are unreliably  ,  undoubtedly  ,  selfish  . and-- it’s okay  . ” especially when they’re tired  ,  especially when they don’t wholly know what it is that they want  .  but westley did  ,  and he had for awhile  .  “i stayed because i wanted to be around you  .  and i like the pub  ,  and i like making music-- i backed off because you wanted me to  .  i started dating molly because you thought it was a good idea  . i promised nothing changed ,  because that’s what you wanted! -  god  ,  i played half my set because it was your favorite songs  ,  and i set boundaries because you’re the one he kept crossing them  . i wanted you to come to that event  ,  i hit vincent because of something he said to you  .  i went on that camping trip because you were going to be there  ,  and i took molly because i thought it might make you more comfortable  . ” and westley  ,  you’re not trying to be harsh  .  your tone isn’t slicked down in ice  ,  it’s not edged to a point--  but it’s confused  ,  and it’s exasperated at best  .  “new york  ,  and for once-- coincidentally  ,  it has nothing to do with you  .  seamus has a brother with a bar downtown  ,  and he said it’d be good to branch out  .” and yet  , in some ways  ,  it had everything to do with her  .  because he couldn’t stay here  ,  not when he felt the way he did  .  “you go back to the city every year  ,  you said it yourself  .  you didn’t leave because there’s no magic in the city  .  so why don’t you want me to go?" lips pursed  ,  and emeralds had focused on her from his spot across the room  .  there’s a light shrug from his shoulders  ,  and he’s sucking in a breath  .  “you’re not losing me .”  and there’s a but on the end of that sentence  ,  as he’ll shake his head with a matched gaze that softens at the sight of misty blue eyes  .  “so far-- i’ve been wrong this entire time  ,  and the only thing that feels right --- is getting on a bus tomorrow morning  .” and there’s a silent pause  .  “why didn’t you come to the show tonight?” a repeat  ,  because he wants an answer  .  

[carolinenicolettes]

you know i’ve tried really hard not to meddle , odette’s voice had come from the other side of the kitchen counter as the color drained from her cheeks , but caroline , he’s going to leave . and it’s okay if you don’t want him to . a steady look of concentration furrowed her brow , and she could feel it , electric in her veins , shocked to life by a simple text about catching a bus the next morning , dipping out of town more suddenly than she could’ve imagined , despite his warnings . her feet were moving before she could stop them , shouting an i love you to odette as she flitted out of the door . a couple weeks had passed , since he ruffled his hair and asked her for space . even less time had passed since she’d sat by a dwindling fire in a carmichael’s cabin , and felt her heart break , a little , at the sight of a beautiful girl — tousled and drowned in a t-shirt that wasn’t hers — followed by a perfect boy — ink scattering patterns across his arms and his chest . he’d asked her if she was okay , and boundaries told her to say yes . physical distance slipped in between , and there were no more midnight calls , no more lingering hugs … no more friday night , as she watched the time come and go for a couple of acoustic sets that she hadn’t missed in months . and she wouldn’t step foot into o’malley’s until … “ you think he’s made up his mind ? ” her voice is quieter than usual , hoping it was a cruel joke , as seamus lets her in to a closed down bar . i don’t know , miss caroline . and his voice was tainted by a subtle sadness .  i don’t know . it wasn’t reassuring , by any means , because he must’ve tried to talk him out of it . she was certain anyone who knew , must’ve tried . rosie … seamus … molly , even . he’d stay , he said once , if he had a good enough reason — … if he met someone … and that push and pull was awakened in the back of her mind . maybe , she thought , if that someone wasn’t molly … maybe … stomach twisted into a knot , she bounded up the steps , and brushed right past him as he held the door open , not sure if she could spare a glance . maybe it was the threat of losing him , or the clear sign of clothing being tossed into a trunk , or the way his apartment somehow looked even emptier , that had her heart racing , and her words tumbling before she could throw up that boundary he’d asked for … and the one she’d built before it . “ i’m waiting for you to tell me that you’re just going home for the holidays … early , ” words are signed in quick motions , and she’s surprised at her own tone , vibrating with nerves . but what , exactly , were you scared of , caroline ? the words on the tip of your tongue or the sight of a packed suitcase . “ or that you’ll come back . because you’ve never really been in one place long enough for it to start to feel like home until … ” hand gestured to the room around them as she settled onto the edge of his bed , pulling a folded shirt from the trunk and setting it aside , the same one she’d seen on molly . “ you said you’d stay . you said you’d stay if you found someone . and so many people here love you , westley . you have a regular friday night crowd . that’s still growing , ” nerves seep in as she pulls out another shirt , her favorite , and she can’t stop herself from talking , “ and friends , and … you can’t just up and leave . what about seamus and rosie ? hm ? what about molly ? ” she’ll finally look up at him , a helplessness overcast in baby blues , brow furrowed in worry . he’s going to leave …  so she’ll ask the most selfish question . “ westley , what about me ? ” and it’s spoken before she can stop herself , breath catching immediately after the words are uttered , as her nervous mind tells her to retreat , but that stubborn heart is beating far too loudly , this time .  @westleyxmoon

[westleymoons]

westley moon had never had to pretend he was anything ,  most of his life he simply was  .  there were no apologizes for the person he became  ,  and rooms had lit up in the hue of his name in lights  .  everyone wanted to know him  ,  everyone wanted to stay and listen  .  even if it was for a night  ,  for a friday that seemed like it might last forever .  until eventually  ,  the night ended and a certain blonde hadn’t crossed the threshold of an old irish bar this time  .  and how his heart sunk  ,  and how despite another pair of blue eyes that peered back at him  ;  she didn’t see him  .  not in the same way  ,  not in the same light  .  and in the lull of music  ,  he’d sang someone else’s favorite song  ,  and his gut twisted  .  kissing her hadn’t worked  ,  being friends hadn’t worked  ,  setting boundaries-----  it hadn’t worked  .  and he tried over and over again  ,  but dating anyone had never been this hard before  .  he was quick to fall into love  ,  and most nights  ,  when molly smiled at him- he’d smile back in like  ,  instead  . the set ends  ,  and the conversation was a hard one  .  the bar had been locked up  ,  and the two of them sat on a hand-me-down couch  ,  while tears burned the back of itchy red eyes  .  he hated hurting anyone  ,  he hated the line of broken hearts that wept in trailed affirmation behind him  .  and now  ,  somehow  ,  she was added to the list  .  lips pursed  ,  and she’s standing at the foot of the hallway  ,  her hands pressed against his chest and she pushes  ;  but westley doesn’t budge  ,  and he doesn’t flinch  .  “i’m- really sorry--” and he meant it  ,  he was  .  he’s sorry that he thought they could work  ,  and he’s sorry that he let it go on for so long-- when he knew that it wouldn’t  .  and furthermore  ,  he’s sorry that she’s not enough to make him stay  .  molly’s gaze burned  ,  and her nose crinkles in distaste with tear stained features  .  is it because of her? and westley doesn’t answer  ,  he’ll swallow dryly and look away-- trying to find the words to tell her exactly what his expression already had  .  and it’s why  ,  the sudden jolt had struck the side of his cheek in an open palm  .  jaw slacked slightly  ,  and he’s touching the corner of where it stung  .  you’re an asshole  ,  westley moon  .  and she’s storming down the stairs  ,  while he’s turning on his feet  .  buttons chimed on his phone as he pulled up her name  ,  which in itself felt foreign in his phone  .  everything was changing  ,  and he’s not sure how much longer he can stay in a place like this  ,  with a girl that didn’t want him  .  the only other reasonable thing to do  ,  was to leave  .  and sure  ,  rosie had tried to talk him out of it--- even seamus looked more slum at the news than usual  .  his mother thought it was a terrible idea  ,  and his friends- well they would still be his friends whether he was here  ,  there  ,  or somewhere else  .  in the meantime  , seamus gave him the information of a brother in new york  ,  and maybe that’s where he’s supposed to be now  ,  with a little bit of magic of his own- while the girl with city eyes  ,  and a wild heart  ,  took hers back here  .  it’s why thirty minutes later  ,  he doesn’t expect to see her storming through the front of his door  .  there’s a bag on the bed  ,  and his stuff is packed into enough space for just one and a bus  .  there’s softening in his shoulders when she bypasses him  ,  and westley’s gaze furrowed  .  “caroline-” and she’s still stammering on  ,  mentioning an array of topics he can’t quite follow if it wasn’t for the signing  .  it’s funny ,  how their first meeting she ran a mile a minute  ,  and now they were here  .  “there’s no molly-” he tries to begin  ,  but she’s continuing  ,  so he’ll sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose  .  a few footsteps forward  ,  and westley is leaning on a wall from the hallway to a bedroom  .  the world feels the weight on the bridge of his heart  ,  until it collapses and he can hardly breathe  . but emeralds are pierced forward  ,  and he’ll suck in a breath  ,  pushing off the wall and quietly picking up a cotton shirt she’d taken out of his bag  .  “you- and i--” what a concept  ,  and he’ll shake his head  .  sitting on the corner of a bed as the mattress shifts under his weight  .  the next words  ,  he’ll sign-- because god- he’s really tired of saying it out loud  .  he’s tired of being wrong  ,  and reading things that aren’t there---  and it’s exhausting when his heart keeps trying to guess  .  we’re friends  .  it’s signed in silence  ,  and his gaze is muted by matching hers ,  until he continues  .  “if i’m here  ,  or if i’m--- somewhere else  ,  that’s what we are .” this time  ,  words lipped in a sigh  .  “nothings changed  ,  caroline- and nothing will change between us  ,  if i’m in new york  ,  or if i’m here  .” except maybe the fact that he’s in love with her  ,  and hopefully  ,  time and space between them was the last and final option  .   “you’re--” everything  .  “why didn’t you come to the show tonight?” 

[westleymoons]

ofcarolines :

it felt far too easy , the way caroline seemed to warm right up to another moon as dusk easily melted into deep blue . friday nights had become her favorite , and this one in particular had been laced with laughter and easy conversation , moments of picking up on mannerisms that were once specifically westley , now recognizing that they were programmed into starlight dna . their noses scrunched the same way , with laughter , and there was a quick - wittedness about both of them that had you bouncing on your toes . the mystical charm was hereditary as well , and she quietly wondered if bowie had a track record of romanced and broken hearts , or if that was something westley had gotten from the one they called stevie , who loved sunflowers and a son who had warm brown eyes just like her and her sister . she found herself slowly becoming tangled in a web of commonalities that she was reluctant to recognize ; little things like distinct fashion sense and taste in liquor , but there were big things , too — an innate stubbornness that bred playful arguments and a distinct otherness , that didn’t quite leave bowie and caroline out of this world , but perhaps , thrown into the wrong timeline . the lawsuit , the gala , hissed words — … they all faded into background noise , and just as she was every friday night , caroline was happy . an untethered , unabashed kind of happy , with a smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes as her fingertip tapped the end of her nose , a beaming good luck charm that he didn’t really need . every friday night crowd nestled in the palm of his hand ; if they hadn’t come for westley , they’d leave with his voice lingering in the back of their minds . the weight that often laid across her cracking chest disappeared into honey colored drinks and laughter from across the table or the speakers hooked to his microphone . when he stepped off stage , the usual happened , and different hoards of people waited for their moment alone with westley moon . even off stage , he was a force of nature , glistening stardust and a melody of the sky , and everyone wanted to know him , just as everyone turned their heads each time bowie made her way back to the bar . caroline could feel it , thundering in her chest , sparking strings of lightning that were beginning to touch every corner of that heart of hers … every night spent with westley was another step closer to the pitfall she feared most . because when he hugged her after his set , she didn’t think of vincent’s sprawling hand against exposed skin , and she didn’t think of the ghostly , tentative touch of a boy who was little more than a memory , a great love once — … there was only westley . maybe it was the slow softening of alcohol , or the quiet comfort of a maternal light , but she didn’t think twice when bowie asked her about the makeshift home upstairs or handed her a bottle of the same red she kept at home . she didn’t think twice as she got on her tiptoes to swipe a hidden spare key from the top of a door frame . she didn’t think twice as she curled into a ball at the end of the couch opposite bowie , and laughed , until she was out of breath , at stories of her favorite bands to travel with or each time westley came home with a new tattoo . and she must’ve noticed it , somewhere between the rolled sleeves of a t-shirt that belonged to westley and the way blue eyes seemed to brighten at the mention of his name , it must’ve become obvious to anyone but caroline that maybe , she was already too far gone . the latch of a front door and the gentle settling of a guitar case onto hardwood floors was enough to put pause to their conversation . “ welcome home , ” caroline softened , still nestled in the comfort of a laugh as she glanced over her shoulder , taking quick notice of his lingering in the entryway , and looking away even quicker , back to bowie . pouted features lit up , and her back straightened with a triumphant little grin . i like this one — … and she hadn’t even been trying , not really . just simply herself . still , her heart sank with the words that followed , and she opened her mouth to protest , but westley beat her to it … only , there’s a pause in his voice , that prompts her to lift her gaze from swirling red wine and across the apartment to the lowlight of a half full kitchen , where bright green eyes lingered , striking as ever . all at once , it was too much — the peaked height of emotion , the quickening closeness of his mother , the way his eyes softened at the sight of her — so she inhaled , steady , and shifted in her spot , pulling her phone from her back pocket . “ people make that mistake all the time , actually . the other day , at a . coffee shop uptown , this lady told us we had chemistry , ” she looks up at bowie and wiggles her eyebrows , tone doused in playfulness as she continued , “ like we were being cast in some bad romantic comedy . seamus says she’s been a little crazy for a decade now . i started getting tea elsewhere . ” it’s underlaced with laughter , but this kind isn’t as deep , and it’s not as real . it’s tinged in sadness and forced from an aching chest . because she and westley weren’t dating , but just friends felt like she was being robbed of something … miraculous . caroline sighs , pushing the thought from her mind . “ you’d like molly , too . everyone likes molly , ” she’ll set her glass aside in order to tap away at a screen , sifting through instagram until she finds that of molly sinclair , “ she’s like cookie - cutter - perfect . beautiful . poised . ” quiet , calm , sturdy — a lot of things caroline was not . you’ll never be what he wants you to be … it’s swallowed , as a photograph pops up on the screen , posted all of 20 minutes before . “ ah , there they are , ” and it’s a photo in dimmed lighting , but her eyes still widen as she passes the phone to bowie , “ and westley is in a tie . oh my heavens , you wore a tie to dinner the other night ? ” her nose scrunches , and she points to the phone as she catches his eye again , as though to say have you seen this ? “ tightened all the way , too , ” teased , with a growing grin on her lips as she looks over at him . still trying to break any lingering tension , because she could still feel the burn of his gaze against her skin as she added , “ you look like an accountant , westley moon . ”

the air in the room is shifted  ,  and for awhile --- he can feel it in his chest  .  there’s a rumbling of nerves that have dig beneath the surface of his skin  .  his head is clouded with a thunder storm  ,  and it shades rays of moonlight from reaching his eyes  .  instead  ,  she’s flickering a post from the illumination of her phone  ,  and his tongue presses against his jaw to loosen the tense muscles that flexed beneath  .  it’s not that he doesn’t want his mother to know-- bowie was on his instagram  ,  after all  .  but something about the subject at hand made him uneasy in how comfortable the two of them were  .  there was a reason he hadn’t let many girlfriends  ,  nor boyfriends--  come back with him during the holidays  .  and he wasn’t ashamed of molly  ,  she was beautiful and smart  ,  and kind  .  but the fact that this was becoming all too comfortable  ,  set off an alarm that shouldn’t have been registered in the first place  .  and he’s trying  ,  god --- he’s really trying to keep caroline at arm’s length  .  their kiss was months old  ,  and every time he lingered for too long  ,  it was brought up like fresh memories  .  “westley moon-” his mother scolds with playful laughter  ,  taking the phone and raising her brows with a laugh  .  “you hate ties!” both women exclaimed  ,  in one way or another  .  and he narrows his gaze playfully  ,  rolling his eyes and swallowing the feeling of discomfort  .  “not for her .” and the room shifts again  ,  this time the atmosphere leading bowie to count the glances between the two of them  .  she’ll purse her lips with a smile  ,  and she’ll nod her head  ,  standing to her feet  .  “i’m sure she’s lovely-” as most of the people that dated her son were  ,  except for maybe a few bad apples here and there  .  the last one  ,  and the one that kept reminding her of an ink stanked wrist on a perfect boy  . “i’m on the other hand-- all out of wine  .  i’m gonna’ go downstairs and fluster that irish friend of yours for another .” nose wrinkles  ,  and she bounces on her heels and turns back to the door ; long raven hair swished back and down to touch her waist .  as she scurries out the door with a shut  ,  the air is more silent than before  .  and westley’s tried to swallow that guilt again  ,  but it keep rising  .  he’ll lean forward  ,  masking his way out from behind the island  ,  and leaning on the arm of an hand-me-down sofa couch  ,  that in turn  ,  was surprisingly comfortable  .  “can we talk?” words masked with a hands of gesture  ,  and his gaze is softer  ;  because he doesn’t want to verbalize the mess he’s feeling inside-- doesn’t want to project the anxious hands  , or the guilty conscious  . “i think um-” hands stop  ,  only to scratch the nape of his neck before continuing  .  “i think we need to set some boundaries .” and it’s a talk he’s been meaning to have  . because once  ,  or maybe twice-- it’s come up with molly  .  and to be fair  ,  he understands where she’s coming from  .  caroline and westley were teetering the line of best friends  ,  and maybe more-- and he’d been trying his damnest to keep that closeness  ,  without falling for her in the same breath  .  it wasn’t fair to his girlfriend  ,  and that’s the point--- he has a girlfriend  .  a girl that slowly but surely  ,  he was starting to like more and more  .  and when she finds out caroline got to meet his mother first- got to see his apartment first- got to stay the night at the motel first----  it’s messy  .  this entire thing ,  trying to find a balance between what caroline wants  ,  what molly wants  ,  and just as importantly- what westley wants  .  “i’ve never let anyone meet my mom- and i’ve talked about her a lot, but it’s something that’s different for me .” emerald eyes glanced away  ,  to gather his thoughts - before returning back to her gaze  .  “now i have to explain to molly why you get to meet her  ,  and she doesn’t  .  and that puts me in a different place than i was in before-- i either bite the bullet and i tell her no  ,  which would result in a fight  .  or i let them meet  ,  and pretend that it doesn’t make me uncomfortable  .  either way  ,  it’s weird--” brows furrowed  .  “isn’t it?” a question  ,  and he’s not even sure he wants her to answer it -- because either way he’s starting to learn that he’ll get a halfway answer  ,  that the back and forth between them wasn’t invisible  ,  and he wasn’t crazy  .  but it was chasing a ghost  ,  and she already warned him once  .  “my mom is the only one i got  .  it’s always been me and her  ,  and this whole---” he stands slightly  ,  and shrugs  .  “it freaks me out  .  because the longer you stay here  ,  and you’re -- just like her  ,  makes me want to forget about everyone else anyways- and that’s so incredibly selfish caroline  .  especially when you don’t want to be with me ,  and there’s someone else who does  .” hands found the bottom of denim pockets  .  “so---- boundaries  .  no .. coming into the apartment unannounced .. no-- touching my chest after we hug .. no facetiming me in the middle of the night ..  no spending the night-- even if it’s late .. no-- showing my mom pictures of my girlfriend and reliving childhood memories ..  okay?”