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k4nill · 5 years

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ROTTMNT: Human AU, some design HCs and random HC

@bootyyshaker9000 This is so long i'm so sorry i just gonna make a post about it i don't wanna flow your dms or anything, so I wrote this down in paper and in spanish so forgive me if my english is shitty and it took so damn long, btw HI!!!~ How you doing honey?

My Heart Ache a Lot (cuzhessopreciousicantbrah)

~ My son Mikey I can't let anybody hurt you. (Btw, Leon call him Miguelito). He struggles a little with puberty, mostly with ocasional acne. His brothers constantly remind him of being careful to not get scars from pinching the pimples obsessively.

~ MIXED BRAH U CANT' TELL ME OTHER WISE, 1/2 cups of african-american and 1/2 cups of latino spice and PUFF yOU GOT CINNAMON ROLL THAT COULD ACTUALLY KILL YOU.

~ Cocoa skin (with that yellow undertone, you know?). Thin hair, curly, natural and the most bouncy-est(?) hair, a little above the chin lenght, tied up in a bun when he's busy making art.

~ Button nose, surrounded by some freckles. With really big, almond eyes. His face gets pinkish when it's to damn hot, he's doing to much work or is REALLY angry.

~ I think I gotta bring up how nice his smile is, he got that smile, that shows up just his upper teeth row, the upper lip disappears and it goes way up his cheeks and then it sinks in his dimples. Art.

~ Mikey ain't that young but his height, complexion and even facial features makes him look a lot younger in comparison to his brothers, he could be like 25 and ppl would still think he's in highschool, never aging ppl.

~Had this beautiful dreads, with the tips colored differently once in a while. Now he's growing his hair to have larger dreads, so he can paint em a different color each and have em in high up-do, like a rubberband ball.

~ Mikey would wear every fucking color, get the fuck away with toxic masculinity p l e a s e. Fits anything 10/10. But loves sports clothing (Matching ones are the BEST) he find's it refreshing and really comfy since Miguel is really active, so if he's needs to go usain bolt he GOES OFF and you can imagine sneakers don't last with him. Probably, every single piece of clothing he owns has at least a minor stain from some sort of paint.

~Wears headbands, sometimes really neat designs and then straight out "what the hell is this vomit stain garbage Mikey?" (from Donnie, mostly).

~ Has fake piercings. He's got several in his ears. He wants to have em for real, older brothers just keep telling him that "when he gets older".

Plus: We all know how the turtles are sneaky sneaky, tricky tricky and rad skillyz skillyz being ninjas but in this human AU his brothers got nothing on him like he's flexible as hell, he comes down the stairs like the exorcist bitch or that other bitch on the ring and scares the shit out of Leon and Raph, can touch his calfs with his neck that kind of stuff. And he doesn't run, he travels back to 1955 to save Marty McFly ass.

Leonardo DABinci

~ Not so long ago I made a post about how Leon is a Latino, quote:

"I can clearly see how Leon is totally a Latino. Like: thick wavy hair, with really small monolid eyes, and medium light skin (latinos know what the hell i'm talking about, those kids that get told they have "ojos de chinito" and rock the neapolitan tanning: caramel where the sunlight hits, milky way where it doesn't and pink when it's too much sun for the day) and then Donnie is this asian™ bean, so, sometimes they are mistaken as blood related brothers (Mostly cuz the eyez) and the stripes are the tanning y'all."

~ In addition, recently someone WOKE™ me up and reveled to me as in a prophecy, that Leon is Half-Chilenian, Half-Argentinian.

~ TBH yall, i just want my boy to do his thing and do them Fornite dances while some dope ass cumbias are playing, this is straight up my dream for real.

~Leon got those damn thick eyebrows more than Raph, plucks em to give em shape.

~Has a lot of scars. Leon is very active as Miguel but he is a troublemaker. Got several scars from fights: face, knees, knuckles, arms, legs. And that one time he came running to get his juice, slipped and smashed into the stove glass.

~Has wavy thick hair, keeps the top messy and fluffy and the rest shorter, undercut typo.

~LEON. USES. GLASSES. Period. But don't use em regulary, mainly cuz he's so active and sometimes clumsy and would rather not buy glasses everytime he goes out.

(Donnie, probably): "Leon, why don't you use your glasses? You are making your eyes even smaller trying to read that sign"

(Dumbo): "No, no! que dices weon? I only need the glasses when i'm reading!"

~Loves stripes in his clothing. In any shape and thickness.

~Low-key uses Donnie button up shirts because he does think Donnie looks so well in em, but he's a little more broad than him (Thicc bacc, bicc arms) so he had tear some up, or pop a button or too.

~Guy who would wear anything and don't give a shit if he doesn't have a defined style. One day he's with that graphic tee, flashy bermudas and some sandals and the other day using some jeans, saggy big sweater, a beret and some fine boots.

~ Loves boots more than sneakers. Got good traction with em. But no one can replace las CHANCLAS i'm telling you, he's so comfortable flipping & flopping.

~ He's hairy. Really hairy. Don't shave, except the faice. He's got that baby face and the trace of where the beard could be. It ain't that thick sandpaper beard aftershave tho, Raph taught him the tricks to the silk road.

~Them sideburns tho, neAT-O.

~He ain't got former training, just some random stuff he's learned from Donnie and Raph. Nontheless, he's the trickster and can go dirty on fighting just to save his ass. But sometimes, his big mouth saves his dumb ass from trouble. (2/100 times, the other 98 times it makes it worse)

~Plus: He's into parkour a lot. Takes Mikey out so he can tag some walls uphigh. These trips are the reason he gets in fights more than his other brothers, he's gotta stick out for his brother in case shit goes down, but mostly because he's a loudmouth and sometimes he deserves it cuz he starts the fire tbh.

The thing goes RAP - PHA - PHA

~ Raph, my soft boy. He still BIG™, ain't ripped like a physiculturist, gotta admit, abs are in fact chocolate abs but got a chunky yet funky tone to it. Big ass arms, to strong to carry my depression and smash all my worries.

~ Obviously African-American, I just imagine this warm undertone to his skin. Thick eyebrows (plucks out his unibrow, and nothing more, that natural angled eyebrow perfect as it is).

~ Hairy complexion (but not as hairy as Leo) to pull out a balbo beard, faded to his hair, then starts the faded high top, (not that high tho) with that cotton natural hair (raph is just my dream tbh).

~ My boy rocks denim everything. But got this particular worn off denim jacket he treats like one of his extremities. It's kinda saggy, old, several splashes of god knows what substances... But he wears it like the most precious thing, his brothers got him for his birthday, selling candy bars and other sweet goodies. Made him cry like a bitch.

~ Snaggletooth fang. I got this random HC that Raph got it in a fight with one of his brothers when he was younger. His first tooth after his decidious teeth, he was so happy, finally "maturing" in his words. In his younger years he struggled a LOT with angry issues, (mainly, as the oldest, he understood a little big more about the rejection above the city for mutants, and built up this feeling of despite).

One day, one of his brothers made him really fucking angry, they got in a physical fight, that ended with his crooked fang, but yet, Raph is BIG and he can't measure his strenght sometimes. Then, his brother is crying in pain, screaming how bad can he treat his brother, as if he didn't love them, just as the people above.

He wasn't angry cuz the teeth (cuz he showed it off, like it made him an adult already), he broke down because he was always feeling so damn angry, being the oldest and yet he was beating their younger siblings over some dumb shit and treated them like people in the surface would. Raph is challenged each day, when he sees his face in the mirror, with the tooth projecting outwards as reminder of all the rage he had to let go to protect their brothers, to make a change on his perspective and emotions, to keep their family and himself happy.

I think this mind set change was the thing that settled Raph as a leader. He got stronger, not physicially, but mentally and emocionally, for the sake of his family.

This HC can be translated somehow to the Human AU but i'm not sure the origin of Raph's rage yet.

~ Would wear any shirt that has anything he likes, PLUS if it is in red. He just loves red. He's the only one obvious with their color preference. Red caps, shirts, jackets, pants and tons of sneakers.

~ Likes jeans but loves that kind of bermuda cut shorts and not all the way down pants. He's got some C A L F S with capitals.

~ Luckily, he does wear matching socks. (We can't see Don's most of the time but Raph shows more leg so).

~Wrist wrist wrist wrist wrist wrist. Loves wrist accesories and probably would wrap around anything on his wrist.

~He's got that classic™ Rock Lee from Naruto bandages from training and work out and sometimes he's just to tired to take off the shin pads.

~Don't show em much but got some big ass brass knuckles in his pockets in case someone messes the fuck up with his brothers. (He would easily let go if it was just him, he's a master of templance, but be warned: not with his family)

Plus: Got one tatto, in his back, below the neck, this celtic rune (we know that celtic runes have several meanings, so he took one with various that would fit him) a Gebo, that can mean partnership, generosity and sacrifice.

DONNA TELL EM

~ For starts, Donnie is my asian bean. Creamy pale skin, monolid eyes, with that puffy under eyelid, of course noticeable dark circles, but he got that EYESMILE BOI. (You know that people who kept straight face but the eyes are just screaming happiness??? That kind of eyesmile)

~ Hair black, thin, straight cut (his hair is kinda wavy) at his shoulder's lenght, got that fade styling in the back tho, usually wrapped in a high ponytail/bun. (Mikey loves to mess with his hair).

~ He's got that thin eyebrow hair, so, he fills em up to make them thicker, so gives him more of an assertive feature. (Also he is jealous of Leo and Raph eyebrows, nontheless edge so sharp to cut a bitch) Got that hairless complexion so not much about facial hair.

~ Obviously keeps them THIGHS™. (So far, to me their complexion on the show is the same as in the human AU so... ) Jeans were invented to the sole purpose to fit Donnie so well.

~To wear, jeans are a go to, but damn sweatpants comfy AF. Big old sweatshirts, swearters and hoodies. Underneat, digs button shirts, short or long, never with flashy prints, yet some minor deco, (to him is all in the elegance....). Raph and Donnie share an interest on sneakers, so he can wear like 1 hoodie for 10 days straight but a different sneaker each.

~But wears missmatched socks like the fuck out of here BOI, looking neat and clean and you come out with this yeeyee ass bullshit.

~ Donnie hides the fact that he's riPPED under the hoodies and sweatpants often, (he's tall as shit and his brothers calling him spagethi bOI don't help much) so people make the assumption he's the weakest of his brothers. He's the only graduated on black belt on Karate and knows his shit on MMA. On his younger years he was indeed saved many times by Raph's strenght, Mikey's swiftyness and Leon's cunning. This "being the weak" complex got to his head and started training solo. His brothers are amazed of Donnie's self-improvement and he often disguises it as the "i did it so i wouldnt be the weakest, you better watch out when i supass yall" but they all know he suffered inmensely seeing his brothers hurt because of him, so if they go down he does too, to protect them.

Plus: Complementary headphones with neon designs, blasting nightcore, dubstep and DnB songs with every Donnie purchased.

BG:

In my AU, these kids grew up really poor. They learned the value of hardwork since they were really young. Like in the Teetle Universe, people see them as misfits. Especially, because they are a "patched up family" (they are not blood related) and being looked down by the economic factor, mostly.

They got some real internal issues. But, the only thing that keeps them sane is how tight their brotherhood is.

Donnie and Raph have a job and go to college. Struggle a lot with their younger siblings rebellious stage.

Leon and Mikey go to highschool and do some baked goodies or art comissions to have some sort of income. Ain't fond of school that much, real troublemakers.

April it's a freshman in college and has much more accomodated life, but somehow, she's always felt she doesn't belong to anywhere, until she meet our boys. April learns a lot of life hardships while hanging out with em.

This would be, basically the series:

April meets this guys, this is sort of a slice of life anime, with lots of comedy and fun shots, however it develops around April learning valuable lessons that will help her as an adult, about friendship, loyalty, respect, empathy and kindness, after all the things the boys are going through.

I'm not sure how am I gonna accomodate Splinter in this, but eventually I'll figure it out.

I'm not got at drawing but i'm gonna try to make some of their designs.

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles

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pen-masta · 7 years

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The Boy in the Window

Just a one shot I did a while ago

Warnings: implied abuse

For years I had known James Petterson. Hoovermill’s pre-school was where we first had met. I remember that even at a young age I was unpopular, no one knew who I was there for no one wanted to play with me. I had transferred half way through the year so everyone already had their little group of friends determined leaving me on the outside.

Troll dolls were my favorite toy at the time. No one wanted to play with the Troll doll either so I figure a lonely kid and a lonely toy were perfect for each other. I remember the day I met James Petterson. I was sitting off by myself playing with my doll when a little boy sat down next to me with his truck. Surprised I looked at him and he smiled showing me he was missing his two front teeth.

“Can I play with you?” He asked and pushed his truck to me, “You can use my truck if you want to. We can pretend that she’s an adventurer.”

James Petterson curly brown hair, bright blue eyes, a freckled nose, and the goofiest smile in the world. With that one act of kindness he began a friendship with me that would last a life time—a friendship that started with a truck and a Troll doll.

Every year to follow that day we were the best of friends. Elementary school flew by with my best friend also being my next door neighbor. It didn’t take long for us to find out the powers of a string and some cups. Those years were filled with him and me talking non-stop in the evening and even during the day. He’d sit next to me in class and pass me notes about how silly the teacher’s dress looked.

We’d snicker to each other and pass notes back and forth—this of course landed us in the principal’s office. Elementary years also brought new jokes, and mini food fights we’d have at lunch—ending with us in the principal’s office again. We also made high honor roll all five years which got us awards from the principal ironically enough.

Elementary summer’s meant adventures! James and I would come up with all these great games like hunting for buried treasure—which turned out to be jewelry he took form his older sister’s room. My favorite was finding the hidden secrets of the world which was reading his sister’s diary and her chasing us around the house screaming that we were dead meat when she caught us. We pretended to be great explorers who found the lost city of tree people—in the woods. We didn’t always pester his older sister sometimes we’d antagonize my older brother as well, imagining he was the dragon and we had to sneak into his cave and get the crown jewels which were the candy he always had secretly stashed under his bed.

All we needed was each other and we could be anyone, do anything, and go anywhere to escape reality. Astronauts, firemen, cops, anything we wanted logical or not we could do it if we were together.

Middle school was pretty much the same with two more classes, two more teachers, and a boat load of more homework; but being next door neighbors made the homework part easy. We still used the old cup connection we had discovered years before. At night we’d work on our homework together and then talk for hours about normal pre-teen subjects: dumb teachers, mean kids, stupid sports, music, art, books, movies, video games, books again, clothes, comics, super heroes, and books. Of course we knew we were growing up and we had set our childish games aside to focus on the reality we lived in—but I still got notes from him in class from time to time.

Treasure hunts and exploration adventures turned into frog hunts in the swamp and skipping rocks. Sometimes we’d hike out deep into the woods and spend the day by the lake swimming, watching nature, cloud racing just because we could. All we needed was each other and we were happy.

And then puberty hit us. James’ voice deepened and he grew very hairy. I grew as well in other ways. Things became larger on our bodies and in our lives as we moved up to high school.

High school wasn’t that bad actually more classes, more teachers, more people, more homework, same old story. Yet with all the changes James was always right there next to me in class passing a note to me saying how bored he was.

Technology stepped up and we each got our first cell phones, but why use a digital text message to communicate when the cup phone was still in perfect use? Our conversations grew longer as we gossiped about the prissy girls and pretty boys we knew as “classmates”. Freshman year was packed with knowledge, laughter, and work.

James was working with his parents and sister at their car shop, while I worked with my parents and brother at our flower shop—‘Buds and Roses’ oy vey.

Sophomore year wasn’t that different from freshman year. We did get our permits which soon turned into driver’s licenses but that was about it. I hung out at his place attempting to make cookies which ended in a huge food fight with more dough and flour on us than in the bowl. He hung out at my house and challenged my brother and I to a video game show down. Life was great. Until junior year…when a drunk driver took my mom from me.

James said for that year I was dead to the world. I didn’t want to do anything and neither did my brother nor my dad. James and his family came over almost every day just to talk and get us to feel better. It was nice to know someone cared about us. Though the struggles were many our family made it through.

Senior year was closing in and I had decided to make the most of it. I remember sitting in my window talking into the cup as I told James I wanted to go out for softball.

“Pepper,” he said, “softball is just as dangerous as any sport. It might even be one of the most dangerous sports right up there next to football. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise James,” I said.

Between my dad, my brother, James’ sister, and James helping me train I was by far ready for the try outs. By the end of the year I was captain of the softball team, coaching little league, president of the debate team, head of drama club, art club, environmental club, and vice-president of chess club.

James on the other hand was captain of the boys’ varsity soccer team, head of year book committee, head of student council, a member of the drama club, environmental club, and was president of chess club—he had more of a knack for chess than I did.

Prom rolled around and my brother and dad were forcing me to go. James wanted to go and said we could go together so neither of us had to be alone that night. Our dads gave us money; we got in James’ car and headed out to the mall for some shopping. I’ll never forget that day because it was the worst possible day we could pick to go shopping!

The mall was packed it seemed everyone and his brother had decided to go to the mall that day. I couldn’t find the right dress, we were tired of walking, and to top it all off it was Africa hot outside. I was miserable, tired, and frustrated. James suggested we take a break and get our usual hot pretzel and lemonade. Half dead I slumped in my seat and stared into the ice cubes as they melted in my lemonade.

“Hey Pepper Jack,” James said. I look up to see him holding his pretzel to his face looking through the holes like a pair of glasses. “Do these make me look twisted?” He asked with wide eyes.

It was stupid, it was silly, but he was being so goofy that I couldn’t help but laugh. He smiled and winked at me “Too salty right?”

We spent a good hour just sitting at that little table breaking apart our pretzels and forming them into something to make a silly face. Like big ears, a mustache, a beard, a maniacal anything to make the other laugh and be goofy. James had always been able to make me laugh, to make anyone laugh for that matter. No matter what the situation he would find something funny to make you smile.

The day before prom I was talking to James through the cups about the next night. He calmly sat in his window reading War and Peace for a third time. I sat in my window flipping through a mystery book I had read so many times it was falling apart.

“You excited about tomorrow night?” He asked not looking up from his book.

“Not really,” I sighed.

“Why not?”

“What’s so fun about dancing around with people you don’t even like?”

He looked up at me and said very seriously. “Well you like me don’t you?”

“Of course I like you J.P,” I said.

“Then just dance with me,” he said and smiled that same goofy smile.

I laughed and shrugged “Alright but just so you know I have two left feet.”

“Oh I know that I know everything about you Pepper Jack,” he grinned and looked back at his book.

“Oh yeah? Like what?” I laughed

“I know that you are eighteen and still sleep with a ratty old falling apart teddy bear you’ve had since you were four.” He said teasingly.

“Hey!” I laughed, picked up one of my throw pillows, threw it out my window and into his. The pillow hit the book out of his hands. His face contorted to display horror as his book shattered to the floor and closed itself—all I can do is laugh.

“You made me lose my place you pea brained foot licker!” he shouts at me which only makes me laugh harder.

“Imma need that pillow back,” I said whipping the tears from my eyes.

“No way it’s mine now,” he smiled and picked up his book again.

“Come on J.P give it back.”

“Finders keepers’ losers’ weepers,” he grins without looking at me.

“But you didn’t find it.”

“I found it in my room.”

“After I threw it.”

He looks at me, smiles, and says in Cling On, “No give backs foolish female.”

I laugh and say back “I hope that book has a sad ending, one hundred dollars says the girl dies.”

He looks sad, almost hurt, for just a moment before he burst into laughter, “I already know how it ends so there.”

Unable to think of a comeback I childishly stick my tongue out at him, which makes him laugh and return the gesture.

Finally graduation night! I look around the football field for my dad and brother who I spy sitting by the stage ready to take pictures. Andrew sees me taps dad and points to me, dad smiles and waves to me. I smile and sit up straight and proud. James nudges me with his knee.

“Hey Pepper Jack,” he whispers to me.

“What J.P?”

“Congratulations,” he smiles.

“You too,” I say and return the smile.

“Just don’t trip on your way up klutz,” he adds and I shove him slightly.

Because of our high honors all four years James and I received the same scholarship to the same University. The scholarship would pay for three of our four year tuition and we’d have to live on or near the campus. After arguing with my dad for hours I convinced him to let me stay in an apartment I found five minutes from the campus. I really didn’t want to have a roommate and I didn’t care about bills or rent I’d have to pay. Dad said he’d pay for the rent if I took care of clothes, books, and food.

The day came and both James’ family and mine were outside loading up our cars. Andrew helped me move my bags into the car and hounded me with questions. Did I check the gas? Did I change the oil? Did I have my GPS? Did I know where I was going? When I finished his game of twenty questions I got have a second round with dad. Moving my last few things into my car I overheard my dad talking. I crouch down behind my car and listen to my dad.

“I need to ask you a favor,” I hear him say.

“What do you need sir?” James asks

“To be honest I really don’t want my baby girl going off by herself. I want her to get an education of course but I’m not ready for her to be out on her own. In fact between you and me I’m down right scared. The world says she’s old enough to take care of herself and be alone and I’m not saying I don’t think she can do it…it’s just I know my Pepper. She needs at least someone there for her. I know you two probably won’t be together that often anymore with different classes but promise me you’ll watch out for her.”

I’m in shock, never had I ever thought my dad to be afraid about anything—especially not afraid for me.

“I promise Sir,” James says and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Pepper has always been my friend and I will always be hers.”

“Thank you James I don’t trust anyone with my daughter, expect for you. Knowing you’ll be with her gives me a little peace of mind.”

James and I say our final good byes to our families and to each other. Although we were going to the same place James was going to live on campus and I was not. He followed me for most of the way up, we stopped and had lunch together and reminisced about our childhood. After a couple of red lights I ended up losing him. I was a little sad but I wanted to get to my new home and get settled. I’d call him later see how he was doing.

It was about six in the evening when I had moved everything from my car to my apartment. I was on the fifth floor with a perfect view of the city. Although I was happy to be all moved in and for the first time on my own I was starting to feel homesick. Not to where I’d wanna go back to that little town but just to see my family, James’ family, and my best friend—James.

I sat at my desk and opened my lap top. I opened my email and wrote a letter to my brother and dad. I told them I was fine all moved in and excited for my classes in two days. I told them I planned to walk around the town before classes, I’d figure out where to shop at and all that good stuff. I sent the letter and leaned back in my chair staring at my screen.

“Now what am I supposed to do?” I ask myself and pace around my apartment. “I’m too tired to go shopping now. I have some food with me, but none that could make a meal for dinner. I’m not hungry, there’s nothing on television. I’m just—bored.” I sigh and I sit on the couch not sure what to do.

Just as I’m about to start pacing again I see something out of the corner of my eye. I look out my patio door to see someone waving in the building next door. Curiously I slide the door open and step outside. There is someone waving to me from the patio in the apartment building next door. It’s all one building but it’s split into two sections to have more rooms. The second building is not that far away from mine but I can’t quite make out who this person is.

“Pepper!” I hear the person shout.

I turn on the patio light and see a familiar face smiling that goofy smile. I laugh and wave back at James.

“What are you doing here?” I shout

“What?”

“I said what are you doing here?”

“I can’t hear—hold on!” he ducks down behind the banister and re-appears a moment later with the cup line in his hands. I laugh and catch the cup as he throws it to me.

“What was that?” he says

“What are you doing here? I thought you were living on campus?”

“Surprise,” he laughs. “You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily did you Pepper Jack?”

I laugh and roll my eyes, “You mean I’m still stuck with you?” I say with a sarcastic but playful whine.

“Forever and always,” he laughs. “I’m stuck to you like the glue on a stamp.”

I smile and we talk for hours; which leads to us going out together for dinner. The next two days fly by with James around shopping, laughing, taking pictures. We find an arcade with some rides on the inside. Needless to say we spent a good five hours there.

Freshmen year of college is like any other school year of my life. More teachers, more people, more work, and for most of the classes James is there. Not so many notes are passed anymore we talk through facial expressions now—which is easy to do since we are on the six row up from the professor.

I join the softball team and James continues with his soccer team. We spend most of the days that year having study days at each other’s house. But of course with James around it’s not always studying we have bad movie nights, video games, game nights. We don’t always order take out sometimes we try to cook but that ends up in a food fight like always.

Life was good again. Away from home, out of that town, and with my best friend; it was just like old times. But college means growing up and many things come when you grow up.

By the middle of sophomore year I am in a relationship with a football player named Tanner. He’s a big jock, not too bright at times, but is really sweet—most of the time. Soon I see more of Tanner than I do of James. He and I still talk using the cup phone, but we don’t hang out so much.

One night I decide to invite some friends over and have a little hang out, get together sort of thing. Of course I invite James, and Tanner, and some guys and girls from class. We order some pizza and watch a couple movies. At some point in the night Tanner becomes very inappropriate with where he puts his hands on me.

He makes a few crude jokes about me to make most of the guests laugh—but not James. I can see he does not like the garbage dribbling from Tanner’s mouth. Yet he holds his tongue and sips his soda as Tanner continues.

“I’ll go bring us some more drinks,” I smile and pick up the empty soda bottles.

As I walk passed Tanner I hear him scoff, “Yeah get to it little women.” He says and slaps my butt.

I’m in shock that he has done this and I’m not sure how I’m going to react. But I don’t need to James reacts for me.

“That’s enough Tanner,” James says and stand up. “You don’t need to speak to her that way and you don’t need to slap her she’s not an animal.”

“Oh yeah and who are you to tell me how I should and shouldn’t treat my girl?” Tanner says and steps closer to James.

“I am someone you don’t want to mess with,” James says and narrows his eyes at Tanner. “Don’t speak to Pepper that way and do not touch her like that ever again. You get me big boy?” James eyes flash with anger as he speaks with authority over someone who has at least eight inches on him.

“I think it’s time for you to leave,” Tanner snarls and grabs James’ arm.

I snap back to life and step between them. “Tanner that’s not necessary this is my party I decide—”

“Be quiet you,” Tanner snaps at me. “Go get the drinks and make yourself useful.”

For the first time in my life I am afraid. Afraid of Tanner, afraid of what he’ll do to me, but more importantly afraid for James. I catch a glimpse at James for just a moment. He’s staring at me his eyes soft as if telling me it’ll be alright.

James pulls his arm free, “Look you big gorilla you don’t need to man-handle me. I’ll see myself to the door.” James fixes his shirt and looks at me and smiles a little. But this smile disappears as he turns his attention back to Tanner. His jaw tightens and his fists clench. “You listen to me numbskull if I find out you ever hurt Pepper I will make your life a living nightmare. Compendia?”

Tanner growls and James shows himself out. After that James and I only see each other in class and talk after school. I spend more time with Tanner and the more time I spend with him the more inappropriate, mean, crude, bossy, demanding, and rude he becomes. James always asks me if I’m alright and if something’s wrong, but he never really asks about my relationship with Tanner.

The last night of sophomore year Tanner says one of his friends is having a party and that we were going. I didn’t want to go but I had no say. At this time I had already planned to dump him and be done but one more party couldn’t hurt right? Tanner gets a little drunk and rowdy I want to leave but he tells me no. After several jokes, butt slaps, and him being an overall drunk jerk I say I am leaving. He thinks I mean leaving the party but I correct him and say I am leaving him our relationship was done right there and that was it. Needless to say this didn’t go to well.

It’s two in the morning. I’ve been sitting out on the patio for hours waiting for James to get home. It’s not to cool out but I don’t want to go inside. I need to see James, I need my best friend. Finally a light comes on. I lean over the edge and see him walk in the door his arms filled with books he’s got from the library to write his philosophy paper.

I’ve left the patio light on so he can see me. It takes him a minuet of taking his jean jacket off and putting things away to see me sitting out on my patio. He opens his door.

“Pepper?” he asks and his eyes fill with horror as he sees the cuts and bruises I have.

I force a small smile “Hi J.P” my voice trembles as I fight back my tears.

“Pepper what happened?” he demands and his voice cracks. “Who did this to you? Tanner?”

I don’t answer I only drop my head. “Pepper please are you in pain? What happened? Talk to me.” He pleads.

How can I tell him? After being so blind to the monster I was with? How could I tell him what had happened? I begin to shake my head back and forth as the tears fill my eyes.

“Pepper listen to me,” he says firmly. “I know it was Tanner. He’ll come after you so what you need to do is pack your bags and go somewhere safe. Go to one of your friends’ houses, or your aunt’s house she lives up here doesn’t she? Please Pepper go to some place where you feel safe and you’re with someone you trust.”

I look up at him his eyes full of compassion and love. I do as he tells me and pack my bags. He calls 911 to report Tanner. Even though I haven’t said a word of what happen he knows who hurt me. He didn’t need to know why, or what had happened. Knowing it was Tanner was enough for James. I feel like he’s been waiting for an opportunity like this to have Tanner arrested.

I laugh to myself as the elevator drops in numbers. I know exactly where I am going to go. Within moments I’m at James’ door. Hesitatingly I knock and wait for him to answer. A minute later he is standing in the door way looking a little confused.

I smile and wave “Hi J.P,”

“What are you doing?” he asks and sees the bags at my feet.

“You said go somewhere where I feel safe and I’m with someone I trust,” I say timidly fearful of his reaction.

A moment of silence passes between us then he leans against the wall and slides down. He puts his head on his knees with his eyes shut.

This was a dumb idea, I think to myself and smile nervously. He’s not going to let me stay with him am I out of my mind?

Just as I’m about to pick up my bags and run away from this awfully stupid idea—James looks up at me, and he’s smiling that same goofy smile from when we were kids.

“Please come in Pepper Jack,” he says and smiles.

With a sigh of relief I relax and smile as well. I kneel down in front of him and smile.

“Hey J.P?” I say.

“Yes?” He asks.

Without even thinking I lean forward and kiss him. My eyes are shut tight but I can feel his face is in a state of surprise. After a moment I open my eyes and lean back.

“Thank you,” I say with a smile.

He stares at me in what seems to be a state of surprise, confusion, and pleasure. As the embarrassment of what I have just done begins to hit me like a ton of bricks, I also begin to see him smile more and more.

“You know what’s funny Pepper Jack?” He says, “Not three months ago, before you met Tanner, I had just got off the phone with your dad.”

“Why were you talking to my dad?” I ask confused.

His smile grows larger, “I wanted his permission to ask you to marry me.”

I can feel my cheeks turning pink and a smile growing on my face. “No foolin’ J.P?” I ask as tears of joy fill my eyes.

He nods “No foolin’ Pepper Jack. Of course that was before you met that thick headed Tanner. But the question is still on the table.” He smiles, “Patricia Janice Tillers…” he says and every muscle with in my body clenches. “Will you do me the honor of growing old with me and becoming my wife?”

The tears run down my hot cheeks and I fling my arms around James. “Yes!” I scream and hug him close. “Yes! Yes I will! Over and over and over again! Yes!”

He laughs and smiles that goofy smile “Well I only need you to do it once and that’ll be enough for me.”

I laugh and look up to see he is crying as well. “Why didn’t you ask me sooner?”

He smiles and says in Cling On. “I needed the right time to ask the right girl.”

I laugh and kiss him again and again. We spend hours in that hall way holding each other close and talking about getting married as soon as possible. My boy in the window was now my boy by my side till the end of time. The sun is just coming up when we stand up and decide to move things inside.

“I never thought you loved me,” I say as he picks up my bags.

“I never thought I did either, until I met you.” He smiles, “See falling in love is like falling asleep in class. You weren’t supposed to but you did.”

I smile and go to follow him inside to call my dad and tell him the news. But James stops and turns around to me again.

“What is it?” I ask

He smiles “Pepper Jack,” he says and kisses me. “Welcome home.”

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