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forevercaroline · 4 years

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The nine lives of Caroline Forbes chapter 1

For @austennerdita2533, @caritobear, @misssophiachase, @babeyouareenough, @joceysstuff

Xxx

“Come on Rebekah hurry up.”

“You try running in heels.”

Klaus and his younger sister Rebekah and younger brother Kol are running into the tall and open coit tower but these three are not here to see the panoramic views of the city and bay. They followed the man dressed in black and has scars on his face who is sent to kill their kind but at the moment he is after Caroline Forbes who doesn’t know who she is or how to protect herself.

“No please.” The man with scars has cornered Caroline to the edge of the tower she looks down at the ground the people look like ants they are so high up.

The trio hear her cries and Rebekah reaches down and takes her heels off and catches up to her brothers. They are to late they get to the top of the tower as Caroline is pushed off. The man with the scars watches as Caroline’s body hits the pavement.

Klaus reaches out and takes his siblings hands and they turn around quickly and quietly.

The bald guy with scars turns around and watches as the two blondes and brunette siblings are running down the stairs he gets an evil grin on his lips and he chases them down the stairs.

As they get down to the ground. Klaus being older pulls his siblings behind him Rebekah is putting her heels back on behind him and Kol is in front of his sister. Klaus address the man that just killed Caroline. “You would really kill us here out in the open. Knowing who and what we are?”

As the older man with scars saunters towards them drawing a knife pointing it at them. “One way or another you will die if not from my hands it will be from someone’s. The order has declared it.”

Xxx

That morning:

Blonde perky Caroline Forbes wakes up excited for the day to begin today is her sixteenth birthday. All she wants is a convertible bug doesn’t matter what color anything except green or orange.

Her bedroom is as bright and perky as she is and everyone has a dark side too all of that is reflected in her room. With tea dye walls the back wall behind her bed is a black piece of wood with white mandalas over it. As she is getting out of bed with a baby blue padded headboard with her pink striped comfortable and pink and black pillows. She puts on some music and dances as she picks out of her clothes for the day. The sun is shining through the windows of her little nook she has a window seat of red cushions, she has a chair, a footstool and a beanbag in the nook seating area. With her desk one one side and her mirror on the other.

While in her en-suite bathroom taking a shower her mind wonders to the color of car she wants a convertible bug maybe red, or pink, yellow could be cool but maybe blinding they do live in San Francisco, baby blue or regular blue could be pretty.

When she finishes her shower she puts on a pair of denim capris, pink spaghetti strapped tiered cami and a navy textured jacket if she gets cold she also has on black wedges and a silver heart necklace.

She goes down to the kitchen which her mom gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Good morning sweetie.” She hands her a bag which when she unwraps it, its a bag of Reese’s, a new black sweater and two new necklaces one is a gold tear drop with gold balls along the inside surrounding a crescent moon and the other is a tube necklace with three lines hanging down but connected to the other side of the necklace.

Caroline hugs her mom. “Thank you I love them.”

“Your welcome there is one more gift but you can’t see it until tonight.”

She nods and as she is picking up a banana. “Did dad send anything?”

“I’m sorry honey he didn’t we don’t even know where he is its likely he forgot.”

After swallowing some of the banana she looks up at her mom and puts on a fake smile. “It’s ok, I know that he left years ago but I just thought that he would send me at least a card on my birthday its not everyday your adoptive daughter turns sixteen.”

Liz pulls her daughter into another hug, even though she is not the biological parent of Caroline she loves Caroline no different.

Xxx

Before school starts Caroline and her two best friends brunettes Davina Claire and her cousin Enzo Claire are talking by one of the stairwells. “I keep having this strange feeling to visit coit tower I don’t know why. I’m going to try to ignore it.” Caroline rubs the side of her temple ever since, Davina and Enzo picked her up in Enzo’ black Jeep everything has been incredible loud every little noise is amplified she swears she could hear he inner workings of the Jeep it’s giving her a headache.

Enzo’s parents died when he was five and a half, and he was sent from Southampton England to San Francisco to live with his cousin so he has a British accent. “Don’t look now cuz London is coming.”

Davina peaks over her shoulder and bites her lip and just like that Kol and Klaus Mikaelson a devilish duo on a good day are coming down the hallway. Kol has a basketball he is bouncing off the walls and catching it. Klaus and Kol stop in front of the staircase and Kol hands his ball to Klaus so he can flirt with Davina, while Klaus is waiting for them to finish he throws the ball above Caroline’s head and catches it so he throws it again above Caroline’s head who is not thrilled and just waiting for the ball to hit her in the head she reaches up and grabs the ball.

Both Caroline and Klaus walk towards each other with different ideas in mind, Klaus wants the ball back and Caroline wants to give him a piece of her mind. “Listen just because your attractive and British and have dimples and look really good in a Henley.”

Enzo pinches her to stay on topic. “Right doesn’t mean you can throw a ball above my head and I’ll be totally fine with it.”

With one hand Caroline throws the basketball down the crowded hallway and it swooshes into a garbage can near the exit of the school. Students in the hallway are amazed and mummer did you see that, Klaus is speechless and looking down at Caroline but Klaus is not the only one speechless so is Caroline and that whole group.

It’s Enzo’s voice that breaks the silence. “How did you do that?”

Caroline swallows and still shocked. “I don’t know lets go.”

Her and Enzo grab Davina’s wrist and drag her off she yells back to Kol “Talk to you later.”

As Caroline is rushing down the opposite hallway she threw the ball in with Enzo and Davina right behind her Klaus and Kol share a look and watch them flee with amazement.

Xxx

Caroline comes out of science and has to go down the stairs to history when Klaus who is coming up the stairs stops her by putting his arm on the wall and backs her up until her back is against the wall. “ That was impressive earlier. You’ll have to show me your moves.”

Caroline nervous she knows his sister Rebekah better they are friends since the Mikaelsons moved here three years ago she can count on one hand the number of conversations she and Klaus have had one when Rebekah introduced Caroline to her brothers Kol and Klaus she said hi he said hello that was it. “ Moves I dont have any moves. That earlier was a freak of nature.”

“I wasn’t talking about basketball.”

Caroline raises an eyebrow. “Subtle.”

Klaus puts a hand on her waist. “Oh I’m not trying to be.”

Caroline has never been this close to Klaus it’s like she can hear his heart beating. She always thought he was Rebekah’s jerky older brother. “ Why are you talking me?”

He leans in and smells her neck. “You smell nice.”

Caroline now a little uncomfortable but when he smelt her his heartbeat jumped. “ Ok its called taking a shower and perfume.”

If it was even possible Klaus gets even closer to her. “Why are you giving me such a hard time Caroline Forbes.”

“We’ve never had a conversation.”

“Looks like we’ll have to change that. I feel like we are going to be great friends.”

Klaus leans down to give Caroline a kiss as his lips hover over hers they both hear. “Klaus!”

They both look at the stairs going upstairs and Rebekah is coming down. With Klaus distracted Caroline makes her escape as she is going around Klaus she smiles at Rebekah. “Hey beks.”

Rebekah smiles at her.

Xxx

Klaus, Rebekah and Kol are sitting in the library and Rebekah hits Klaus in the arm. “Really klaus.”

“We need to know there is only one explanation for the basketball trick this morning.”

“And if she wasn’t she would be dead. And you would be prime suspect number one.”

Kol chimes in with “The basketball stunt is all over school everyone is talking about it.”

“If Rebekah would of not interrupted my test we would know.”

“She’s my friend plus Nik you were coming off creepy. Seriously smelling her neck we don’t have a specific smell making us different then everyone else.”

Klaus rolls his eyes. “I don’t see you coming up with any better ideas.”

Kol asks. “You’ve been friends with her for three years and you’ve never noticed anything.”

Rebekah side eyes her older brothers. “Its not like we are doing ritual sacrifices and I can see if she heals quickly or lazer tag to see if she has night vision, we’re not doing cheerleading or gymnastics to see if she can jump high. Am I supposed to pretend to want to paint her nails and see if claws extend.”

“We need to find out before they find her that is if she is one of us.”

Xxx

Caroline works at a clothing store/bookstore with a cafe. She doesn’t understand the merge of the two but the clothing store goes into the little cafe off the bookstore. There’s no middle wall between the two. While at the counter of the clothing store a brunette teenager comes to her. “ I’m new to this town, do you know cool spots to check out?”

Caroline turns around and comes face to face with the new student at her school Stefan salvatore she had heard there was a new student. “There is a nice cafe over there. It’s California so people like to hang outside.”

Since it’s a slow day at the shop Caroline and Stefan sit in cafe and talk. “How do you like San Francisco so far?”

“Its nice my dad moves us around a lot. Its just the three of us my dad my older brother and me my mom died years ago.”

“I’m sorry, my dad left years ago its like he’s dead we never hear from him.”

As Stefan is leaving Caroline watches him leave he’s cute.

Xxx

All day Caroline has had this lingering feeling to visit coil tower, she doesn’t know why she visited this place when she was younger before her dad left. As she is walking up the stairs to the building she notices a man in all black and has scars on his face. Three claw marks down the right side of his cheek and neck. The man is watching her go into the tower. As she is looking around at the base of the tower she notices the guy is following her. She figures she’ll lose him going up to the tower since there are thirteen levels of stairs.

Xxx

Present:

Rebekah and Kol had snuck away to find Caroline’s body which people have started to surround around. As Kol and Rebekah are trying to get through Kol announces. “Nothing to see here folks just a prank.”

They hear a women say. “A prank I saw her fall from the tower.”

As Kol is lifting Caroline up Rebekah goes over to the women. “Are you sure your feeling ok your saying a lot of crazy stuff.”

Xxx

Klaus opens the door to the penthouse as Kol brings Caroline in, Rebekah rushes over to the couch to make room for Caroline’s body. Their older brother Finn who is on the phone with his wife Sage while looking out the window sees their reflections in the window and pulls the phone away from his ear. “Did you get to her before they did?”

“No but we did bring her here. When she wakes we will explain everything.”

Finn turns around to see Caroline’s lifeless body laying on the couch. “And how do you know this girl is one of us?”

Kol looks up at him. “She one handed tossed my basketball down a crowded hallway and made a perfect basket in a garage can.”

Finn puts the phone back to his ear to tell Sage he loves her and he’ll call her back. “How long has she been like this?”

All three of his younger siblings look at each other. “An hour.”

“The first death and the loss of innocence is always the longest to come back from.”

Xxx

As Kol’s popcorn is finishing in the microwave Caroline’s eyes open and she looks around at the dark penthouse she is in. Moonlight shining in from a wall of windows, she’s laying on a black couch and there two black chairs on each side of the couch. The last thing she remembers is being at coil tower and that creepy guy following her.

Rebekah is in her bedroom and Klaus is in his studio, Kol went to go make popcorn and Finn was in charge of watching Caroline’s body to see if it did something. While waiting Finn called Sage back he wasn’t paying attention to the couch and the now awake blonde.

Caroline looks around and sees Kol in the kitchen pouring popcorn into a bowl and a man she does not know talking on the phone she gets up and is a little lightheaded really confused on how she got here and her headache is still hurting. As she is going towards the elevator Kol comes out of the kitchen and puts an arm around her waist and picks her up.

“You can’t leave yet.”

She kicks him but it does nothing, she never know Kol was this strong. “What is happening and why are you holding me hostage?”

Kol carries her back over to the couch. “I know it looks like that but this is for you own good. Finn you had one job watch her. Can you get Klaus and Rebekah.”

Finn puts his phone back in his pocket. “I’m in charge here you go get Klaus and Rebekah I’ll watch her.”

“No offense Finn but you didn’t do a good job the last time and I think she could take you.”

Finn flicks his hand and claws comes out of his nails. “I think I can handle one teenage girl.”

Kol rolls his eyes and leaves the living room to get his brother and sister. Caroline looks at the elevator and Finn who is looking at his claws. “ I wouldn’t if I were you. Like my brother said I know this looks bad but we are trying to help you.”

“Help me by keeping me in this dark fortress.”

Finn looks over at her and raises an eyebrow. “Fortress, please this a penthouse.”

Kol re enters with Klaus and Rebekah and Caroline rushes for Rebekah and hugs her finally a friendly familiar face.

Rebekah gets her back on the couch and Klaus sits on the arm of the couch next to Caroline his feet on the couch and arms resting on his knees while Kol sits in a chair off to the side and Finn leans up against the window. Caroline looks at them and they are all looking at her. “Will someone tell me what is going on and how I got here?”

All the siblings look at each other none of them want to explain this it’s hard to explain. Klaus begins. “Kol picked you up after you fell and brought you here.”

Kol adds. “To your death you fell and died.”

Caroline shoots up and exclaims. “What I died. I’m dead, the afterlife is full of Mikaelsons. I can’t die it’s my sixteenth birthday I still have not got a car yet.”

Kol looks over at his siblings. “I don’t know whether to be insulted by that.”

Finn sighs. “How did I end up with this?”

“Freya is busy, Elijah is on a date and Sage is out of town on business.” Finn glares at his sister.

Klaus looks up at Kol while Rebekah tries to get Caroline to sit back down. “I was going to ease her into that tidbit.”

Rebekah gets Caroline to sit back down and is rubbing her arm up and down. “Your not dead... anymore. Look you are like us your Mai.”

Caroline looks over at Klaus and raises an eyebrow. “Excuse me I’m not yours.”

Rebekah tries this time. “No Mai are a group of people who have amazing abilities were not all human but not all god we are descendants of a powerful goddess Bestet we were once protectors of humans and used to help Pharaohs but we got sick of taking orders and the mai and humans had a falling out, for centuries now we’ve been hunted. That man earlier with the scars he was sent to kill you and if we didn’t intervene he would of kept killing you.”

“Kept killing me how many lives do I have?”

Finn from the windows tells her. “Nine we all have nine some refer to us as Demigods, our abilities manifest when we are teenagers.”

Caroline looks at Rebekah. “Is this a joke?”

Rebekah shakes her head no.

“I have claws like him.” She points at Finn.

Rebekah lifts Caroline’s hands up and her finger nails are longer and look like claws. Caroline’s eyes widen. “How do they go away?”

“Relax.”

“That’s easy for you to say you didn’t just learn you died and came back with claws and have had a headache all day.” She glares at Kol for telling her to relax.

Finn leans off the window taking charge. “I know you’ve just been told a lot of things and processing but maybe you would like to go home, you said it was your birthday why don’t you go home and celebrate.”

His three siblings look up at him Finn sometimes can be so insensitive. Caroline nods and Finn flicks a finger to Klaus to take her home.

In the elevator down to the lobby Caroline is pacing and Klaus stops her and puts both hands on her shoulders. “You need to relax did you forget that part where we are being hunted if someone sees claws they will try to kill us.”

Caroline nods and tries to make them go away by closing her eyes tightly but nothing. “Breath with me.”

As the elevator doors open the claws disappear.

Xxx

Klaus drives them to her house, as he drives he asks her, “You were born in the Ukraine right?”

Caroline nods. “How did you know?”

“Mai are not born in America, we come from Europe, Ukraine, Russia that’s where my family was born we moved to London later. Since Mai and humans have had a falling out we can never have a intimate relationship with them. You can not date a human I saw you earlier at that clothing store flirting with that new guy at school that’s all it can be Caroline if you kiss him something bad will happen.”

“Bad how bad?”

“If a Mai kisses a human the human dies best case scenario paralyze before death.”

Caroline turns towards him as he pulls up to her house. “Mai can only kiss mai.”

Klaus nods. “Want to practice.”

Caroline rolls her eyes. “Any more changes?”

“Claws, enhanced hearing, faster reflexes, hyper awareness, accelerated healing, night vision, your stronger now and what am I forgetting oh yeah a tail.”

“What?”

Klaus laughs “Just kidding. About the tail everything else you do get.”

As she is opening the car door. She tells him. “Not funny.”

“Don’t worry one of us will always be there for you, watching out for you.”

Xxx

As Caroline is coming up the front stairs of the two story home she shares with her mom. When she opens the door Davina and Enzo jump out and yell “Surprise!”

Caroline screams and in seconds Klaus is right behind her he places a hand on her shoulder and she jumps they both can hear how fast Caroline’s heart is beating. Klaus leans down and whispers in her ear. His breath tickling as she hears. “Breath.”

She looks up at him surprised he’s here, she thought he left how did he get there so fast. “You forgot this in the car.” He hands her a long black velvet jewelry box. “Happy birthday.”

Xxx

After he leaves Davina and Enzo surround her. “What was Klaus Mikaelson doing here? And what did he give you.”

“You two have had quite the journey today from where you two were this morning.”

Caroline rubs her temple she can hears heartbeats, car’s driving past, clocks ticking, conversations in other homes their TVs. People going for nightly jogs she can hear their music. “Its been an interesting day.” She opens the jewelry box and her eyes widen at the beautiful diamond infinity bracelet.

Liz comes home and sees her daughter and two best friends on the couch. “Your present is here.”

Caroline’s eyes widen and Liz puts her hands over her daughters and guides her outside and there in front of the house on the street is a powder baby blue convertible bug. “Ahhh thank you so much mom.” Caroline flings her arms around her mom’s neck.

Xxx

Later that night after Davina and Enzo went home Liz pulls out a small cinnamon crumb cake for two she gives Caroline and fork and they sit at the island and eat it. After they finish Liz tucks a piece of hair behind Caroline’s ear. “Did you have a good birthday sweetie.”

“It’s definitely one for the books.”

Liz pulls out a card and hands it to her daughter. “This was in the mailbox.”

The envelope does not have a return address it’s addressed to her. She opens the card and all it says is Happy Birthday H.R.

Every year she gets a card from H.R. she doesn’t know who they are and there is never a return address. She has all of them in a shoebox under her bed. One day she hopes to find out who H.R. is.

Xxx

As Caroline is drifting off to sleep Klaus is sitting on her roof watching to see if any harm will come to her. Also her email dings and it’s a email from her father that says happy birthday.

#klaroline #caroline forbes #klaus mikaelson #rebekah mikaelson #multi chapters #davina claire #kol mikaelson #enzo st john #finn mikaelson #the nine lives of Caroline Forbes #liz forbes

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feverinfeveroutfic · 3 years

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chapter twenty-three: flight or fight

“Every couple that loves each other very much will fight at some point.” -my dad about 14 years ago

Sam kept the sheet of rice paper close to her as Cliff walked her across the street. Even with the closeness to the San Francisco Bay, she believed it would snow at any given moment from the heavy dark blanket of thick clouds over them; meanwhile, she held onto his hand with her free one. Every so often, she took a glimpse down at the paper and the rose scrawled in soft pencil. Even as a young guitarist, he could draw quite well, as if he had been doing it for years.

She thought about the recent drawings she had made, namely the ones she made for her first tier drawing class, and she struggled with shading with the graphite pencils. Alex filled it in even with a bit of the graphite and he was able to resemble to a genuine rose, complete with those pointed petals and a pair of fine little leaves. His penmanship was quite neat but still scratchy with the rush of an autograph.

“You with me?” Cliff called back to her as they reached the street corner. Sam lifted her head in time for the curb right before them, and they stood side by side. She kept the paper next to her chest. She wondered why Alex didn't mention the fan club given she had sent in those papers two months before and thus they could've had enough time to give her something as a member of their new club, but then again, he was in a hurry and he needed to be home.

No sooner had that thought crossed her mind when she recognized Alex himself right across the street, and with the yarmulke still upon his head as well. He stood at the curb as if he awaited a ride from someone, or the city bus back to his place. Cliff saw him as well, and even though they had no ride themselves, he waved at him to grab his attention.

“Hey, Alex!” he called after him, and his voice echoed over the pavement. “—Alex!”

But Alex kept on going towards the other side of the street, way out of earshot. He walked at a brisk pace past a small blue car parked at the curb. A little beige car rolled towards him the stoplight across the corner, and he almost broke into a run towards it. He stuck his guitar case into the back seat first and then he slipped into the actual seat itself.

“He probably didn't hear you,” she assured Cliff, and she tucked the rice paper into her coat pocket. As long as she didn't forget it was there. “Anyways, where are you taking me?”

The car up ahead drove way and Cliff turned his attention to her.

“Right over here,” he pointed up the block. “Alex running up there brought my attention to this restaurant here. I was willing to call them from a payphone but that little nondescript car right there at the curb beat me to it, though.”

He held onto the crown of his hat as he led her into the cozy restaurant. She spotted an elderly couple and a young woman nestled in a booth on the far side of the room: the woman resembled to Cliff from the look in her eyes. She pointed them out once they made their way over to them.

The bespectacled white haired man wrapped in a heavy sweater then stood to his feet and turned around, and showed Cliff a big beaming smile.

“Hey, Dad,” he greeted Ray Burton, who put his arms around Cliff.

“What a surprise!” he declared as part of his own greeting.

“I recognized Con's car at the curb,” Cliff explained as he stood back a bit, “and I wanted to come on in and show you what I brought.”

He turned his attention to Sam, and Ray gasped at the sight of her.

“Is this that little girl you were telling me and your mother about?” he asked his son in a broken voice.

“Darling Samantha from New York,” Cliff introduced her, and Sam held out her hand for him. “The art student who already has a bit of a reputation with us, Anthrax, and also Stormtroopers.” Ray put his hands on either side and then he brought her hand to his lips for a little kiss.

“A friend of Cliff's is a friend of ours,” he told her with a little twinkle in his eye. He then gestured for the two kids to join them at the table in the corner.

Connie had a lovely heart shaped face and her dark hair sat flat upon her head much like with her brother. She was a bass player herself but she hadn't the same confidence as him.

“I hope you can do something with it, though,” Sam assured her.

“Cliff is the true artist,” she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “There's something empowering about being his eyes and ears, though.”

Jan whispered something into Cliff's ear right then and he nodded in response, complete with a lopsided little smile on his face.

“Eyes and ears but not the whole dead body, though?” Sam joked as she held her water glass close to her lips.

“Not the whole dead body, exactly!”

“If the dead body starts playing an instrument, I'll be impressed,” Cliff retorted as he took a sip of his black tea.

“Like bass?” That brought a laugh out of Ray and Jan both. But Connie gasped and Cliff almost gagged on his cup of tea. Sam paused for a second. It was something meant to be innocuous but she had no idea that would bring the whole conversation to a grinding halt around her. She brought her hands to her mouth and she could feel her face growing hot.

“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—”

But then Connie burst out laughing, albeit a nervous laugh. Ray reached across the table so as to touch her hand and Jan shook her head.

“Oh, no, it's okay, sweet heart,” she assured her. “We've learned to laugh at pain! It's brought us a world of good for the better part of ten years now.”

But every so often she looked over at Cliff, who showed her a look of disdain whenever he got the chance. And she knew she had to pay for that joke as it came in the form of a glass of sparkling apple cider spilled onto her jacket pocket. Frantic, she brushed off the cider with her napkin as she remembered that rice paper was inside of that pocket.

She bowed into the ladies' room to wash it off all the way with paper towels and a bit of cold water. She wadded the paper towel in her fist and then she took the paper out of her pocket and she held it up to the pale bathroom lights. Not a single blemish one, but the graphite on Alex's name began to fade, perhaps from being in her pocket for so long.

She had to better protect it as she tucked it away in her pocket for a little while longer.

Cliff was silent for the rest of the evening and their dinner with his parents and his sister. But it looked as though he had let it go given he never mentioned that joke one time, and in fact he offered to buy Sam a plate of cake for them to split after dinner. Ray and Jan both insisted on slices of cake for each of the three kids. Connie vowed to find something for Sam if not for Christmas then her birthday.

“Oh, shit, that's coming up here, isn't it?” Cliff asked her right then.

“My birthday? Yeah. The twenty first. I'm turning twenty one believe it or not.”

“Good thing we got the sparkling cider then!” Ray chuckled with a raise of his crystal glass.

By seven thirty, the Burtons let Sam and Cliff loose back on the street, where they spotted Ruben and Esmé's car posted by the venue. They flashed their head lights of them and they hurried up the street together. Sam had completely forgotten about the joke as they returned home to Reno: they had had dinner already but Esmé wanted them to at least try the new cake they had brought home with them from San Francisco.

Indeed, it would be a full ten days of treats and all manner of food courtesy of the parents, but Sam didn't mind in the least. She was on vacation with her boyfriend and in what better place than the area she grew up in: if she returned home with a few extra pounds, it was all worth it.

The day after Christmas, she showed him her old school near the north side of town. They sat inside of the back seat of the car as she pointed out all those old buildings and the old courtyard in the center of it all.

“The onslaught of memories right now,” Esmé remarked at one point.

“There's just so many,” Sam agreed with her as they reached the far corner outside of the campus. “Almost too many memories to think about!”

A couple of days later, the four of them made another day trip over the mountains to the Bay Area, but that time it was for the first of Metallica's shows before the new year. Sam noticed the waist of her jeans and the bottom of her long sleeved shirt both fitting her a little bit more snugly than before, but at the rest stop in the mountains, she walked along the wet pavement towards Cliff with a bit of a sashay to her step, and he returned the favor with a wink and a mischievous little smile.

She also noticed Lars and Kirk both looking at her more than usual as well before the show after he had whisked the four of them backstage. Ruben made a joke about how they had the best seats in the house but it was confirmed. Given the whole set stood wide open under a series of lights, they found they sat right next to the stage with a full view of James' long blond hair as it sprawled down his shoulders; of Kirk and his long black curls in the vein of the tentacles of an octopus; of Lars and his wild jerky movements all around his drum kit; and of Cliff himself as he towered on one side of the stage, complete with those big bell bottoms over his boots. They plowed forth with the vast wall of noise, but Sam noticed something different about them.

Maybe it was the size of the stage, or maybe it was the lack of glances to each other, but they seemed a little more distant from each other in comparison to Legacy, Anthrax, and the Cherry Suicides.

She began to wonder if everything Cliff had told her about him and Lars started to ring true as he hardly looked over at the big drum kit for the entire show.

They only played a small set, but it was enough to for her to start thinking about their tour with Anthrax in a few months. The stagehands waved him off and he caught up with Sam and her parents right there. The four of them ducked out to the backstage area and ultimately, the back door.

“Cliff, that was incredible!” Esmé declared over the roar of the crowd, but then again, it might have been the leftover whirring from all the noise within Sam's ears that made her think the crowd was still going.

“I definitely wanna see you guys again,” Ruben agreed as he pushed open the door.

“Wait, don't you all wanna come along backstage and meet everybody?” Cliff asked them.

“That's so lovely of you, but it looked like it was gonna snow, though,” Esmé replied.

“Yeah, I'm sure you know how that road gets when it snows,” Ruben added, and he held the door ajar enough to let in a sliver of a street light to the otherwise dark spot. “I mean, we've got chains once we get back into Nevada—”

“Oh, absolutely! I'll just tell the three of them that we're going, though.” Cliff then hurried back to the dressing room to do just that and also to fetch his hat. Meanwhile, Ruben held the door for Esmé and Sam. The snow was upon them as they piled into the car there at the curb together: Sam shivered and rubbed her arms, even though she had on her jacket. That piece of rice paper still in her pocket.

“Yeah, we better get a move on,” Ruben declared as he took a glimpse in the side mirror. “Is that him?”

“If he's got a hat on, I would think so,” Sam told him. The door next to her swung open and Cliff slid into the back seat with that hat upon his head. Without another word, they drove away from there and headed on over the freeway. A four drive and the clouds over them menaced with that orange glow of snow.

“We're doing another show on New Year's Eve,” he told them at one point. “But Sam's leaving tomorrow, though.”

“Yeah, I am,” she replied as she huddled closer to him there in the back seat.

The four of them were silent for a little while longer, at least until they reached the top of the mountain summit and the snow still hadn't begun yet. Ruben said something and Esmé chuckled at it. Cliff then turned his attention back to Sam.

“Stay with me,” he begged her in a hushed voice. “Please stay with me.”

“But my life is in New York!” she said: it was a bit difficult given her ears still whirred from the noise of the show and whirred even more from the noise of the road, but she managed to keep her voice down low.

“But I want you with me, though,” he insisted. “Please. Sam, please, stay with me.”

“You'll have to come to New York then,” she pointed out.

“I don't really want to, though—as much as I love it over there and as close as it is to me.”

“But you can do it, though,” she insisted. “You can move across country.”

“I'd think it's hard, though,” he resisted.

“It is, like it take a bit of adjusting, but it also isn't, though. You get acquainted with the weather changes and the three hour time difference pretty quick if you let it.”

“But I can't really leave the Bay Area, though. This is my home, and you hailing from California, it'd be like a home coming of sorts.”

“Going to New York was a home coming of sorts,” she continued, stubborn.

“Well, I don't know if I can keep doing this long distance thing,” he confessed.

“Why?” She frowned at that.

“Because it's long distance,” he explained. “I want to be closer to you.”

“We can work it out, though,” she consoled him.

“But how can we work it out is what I'm asking. Neither of us are willing to leave our homes for each other. I think that's fucked up.”

“It is fucked up. But it's the truth about the both of us, though.”

They both fell back into silence as Ruben and Esmé chatted about something in the front seat before them. Her parents had lasted that long and yet they still spoke to one another as if they were the only best friends they ever needed in life. They were the only best friends they ever needed in life.

She glanced over at Cliff and she had no idea what she was doing wrong right then.

It was a four hour drive but they managed to make it back home to Reno in time before the next snowstorm from the lake slammed into the area. A black sky and a gust of snow riddled wind later, and Sam and Cliff returned to her old bedroom for one last night before she returned home to New York City alone. Sam set down her purse and she draped her coat over the back of the chair. She began changing her clothes when Cliff took a seat on his side of the bed. It was going to be a long distance thing and she had no idea if it would last given the entirety of the distance. She hesitated for a second and she watched him take off his boots and his bell bottoms.

“I also don't know how our parents would react to one of us having a spouse from either coast, either,” he confessed in order to break the silence.

“What do you mean? I thought your parents liked me.”

“They do. It's just—” He hesitated as she slipped on her pajama bottoms.

“What?”

“I don't know if they like your sense of humor, though,” he replied in a small voice.

“What—What you still thinking about that?” she demanded.

“Yes,” he answered, nonchalant.

“I was just making a joke, though!” she declared. “I even apologized to your dad and he told me it was fine. Connie even took it in stride!”

“Yeah, it might be fine by my parents and my sister, but that doesn't mean I'm fine with it.”

“Cliff, I was trying to have a laugh at that!” she said, heated. “I figure that, since it's winter time, it's a good time to laugh at things that make you feel otherwise somber. And your family is willing to remember Scott in a fond light, too. You're making a huge deal out of something that can probably help you.”

“Yeah, but sometimes it can be in poor taste, though,” he pointed out. “And hey, at least I didn't let my dark sense of humor out of the bag at the worst possible time over Christmas dinner.”

“Oh, my god, will you let that go already?” She was scorn. “I apologized to Connie and she told me it was funny. But I didn't know it would hit a nerve like this.”

“Oh, come on, you know how difficult it is for us to talk about Scott's death,” he retorted.

“No, I didn't?” She had to stifle a chuckle at the sound of that. “Also—us? It's just you, Cliff!”

“And it's not funny!” he exclaimed.

“I wasn't laughing right then? Hey, you know what? I'm not the one who laughed like a maniac when I got that wine on my blouse and I was freaking out it soaked through my coat, onto that little piece of rice paper that Alex gave me.”

“Yeah, but I'm not the one who pulled that kind of petty tasteless shit in front of your parents, though, Samantha,” he jeered. “Petty, tasteless shit when the wound is still raw.”

“Yeah, well, I'm not the one who lied about going on tour with Anthrax, Cliff!” she spat, and then she stopped herself. That took him aback at first, and then he frowned at that.

“Wait, how'd you know they were coming with us?” he demanded.

“Joey told me,” she blurted out.

“Joey told you? When did he tell you?”

“Last month. We had coffee together and he told me that you guys were going on tour with them. What I want to know is why didn't you tell me you were going tour with them?”

“Because we had no idea if they actually were, Sam!” he insisted. “And that shit's confidential, too, I'm sure you know about that.”

“Well, of course but—”

“But what?”

“But you still lied to me about it, though,” she continued on. “You could've at least told me about it and then maybe I could work something out with my classes.”

Cliff kept the frown firmly plastered across the face, and he tilted his head to the side a bit.

“Wait a minute,” he started in a low voice. “Are you seeing Joey behind my back?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” she argued.

“You met up with Joey for a cup of coffee,” he recalled, “are you seeing him behind my back?”

“No! Why would I do that?”

“Because he's a New Yorker! That's why you don't want to leave New York, isn't it?”

“No—Cliff, what the hell, no!” she stammered. “I told you clearly that I'm not leaving New York because I have school and I went there for a reason. It has nothing to do with you or Joey. And now, let me ask you something.”

“Surprise me,” he commanded with his arms folded across his chest.

“It's perfectly okay for you to lie to me but not for me to do it to you, too?” she demanded in a single breath and with her hands pressed onto her hips. Cliff nibbled on his bottom lip and he watched her with a stern look on his face. She had him right there.

“It's okay for you to lie to me and slack away, but it's not okay for me to do it back to you?” she repeated.

He never replied. Without another word, she rolled her eyes and she crawled into bed next to him. She reached up and switched off the lamp on the nightstand, and the room engulfed with tense darkness.

“Your lies are not comparable to mine,” he pointed out in a low voice. Sam rolled over onto her back and she glared up at his dark silhouette, still upright before the headboard of the bed.

“When have I ever lied to you?” she demanded to him.

“No, I'm not talking about you,” he clarified, “talking about my own lies.”

“What the hell does that even mean? When have you lied to me about something so serious that it can compromise our relationship? Besides the fact that you don't trust me?”

“It means—it means—” He could hardly speak, and Sam rolled her eyes again and she turned back onto her side. She sighed through her nose and closed her eyes. She didn't hear Cliff's answer and she didn't care, either.

She especially didn't move a muscle when he touched her hip and whispered, “you're getting soft. I like it.” right into her ear.

She fell asleep and she awoke the next morning ready for the return to New York.

She didn't even give Cliff a good morning kiss or anything of that nature upon her waking. Ruben offered to drive Cliff back home to the Bay Area given the snow had melted away enough to make that drive solo; Sam took to the back seat with her arms folded across her chest. Every so often, Ruben peered into the rear view mirror and he knitted his eyebrows at her. When they reached the airport and climbed out the cold crisp snowy morning, he turned to her with a concerned look on his face.

“Is everything okay?” he asked her in a low voice.

“We got in a big fight last night,” she replied right into his face. “He's lied to me about some things and I don't know if he trusts me. Like he basically admitted to me that he doesn't trust me.”

“Well, honey—every relationship has its speed bumps from time to time,” Ruben explained, “like your mom and I have had our share of arguments when we first got together. But after a while, you learn from each other's mistakes. I can hope that Cliff learns his lesson and he can learn to give you what you want. My best advice is to convince him to trust you. Keep showing yourself to him. Show him how you feel when you get the chance.”

Sam swallowed and then she nodded her head in response to that. Ruben put his arms around her and she lay her head against his chest for a minute, but it felt like a blink of an eye. They followed Cliff into the airport, towards her gate near the far end of the shiny white corridor. Ruben gave her one last embrace before he let her go back home to New York.

She picked up her things and she strode past Cliff towards the gate.

“Sam!” he called after her, and she turned to him with a stone cold expression on her face.

“Will you at least come back here to visit before we head out on tour with Anthrax?” he asked her.

“I'll come back when I feel like it,” she scoffed at him as Ruben's words remained firmly in mind, and she turned away from him.

“Will you come to any of the shows this spring?” he called after her. She stopped right in her tracks. She had promised Joey that she would for them at the Northeastern dates, but after the night before, she had no idea if she was willing to do it for Metallica.

“I don't know. We'll see.” Without another word, and without a kiss goodbye, Sam wheeled around and she headed on down the gateway to the plane, which at that moment felt as though it awaited her. She took her seat next to the window, once more behind first class. She folded her arms across her chest and sighed through her nose.

The first flurries of snow floated down from the gray sky overhead. Cliff was still in there and although she knew he couldn't see her, she couldn't help but feel that he could see her. Sam sighed through her nose as she kept on thinking about what her father told her. He needed to know the truth. He deserved the truth.

The one question that hung over her head was could she even tell him the truth once she landed back in New York.

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cesabutterflywrites · 4 years

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The Duke of the Bay: Part 6

[Spotify Playlist] [Youtube Playlist]

First Part, Ao3 Link, Next Part

Story Warnings: Guns, threats, alcohol, homosexual slang used pejoratively and positively, internalized homophobia, ask me to add any if need be

Chapter Warnings: none different than the story warnings that I can think of

Chapter Word Count: 5683

Summary: Patton O’Hearty was a great detective. Most people didn’t take him for one at first glance, especially when he dressed casual. He was abnormally chipper; he thought everything was the cat’s pajamas. He had a smile for everyone he met. He was always tipping his hat at the dames and gents when he walked the streets of the Bay Area.

The only person he could never catch was the leader of the planted mob in Emeryville, nicknamed The Duke. The Duke was good at hiding his dealings and joints well, and he rarely had a snitch in his ranks. The few who tried, well, somehow they disappeared before they could give the police any substantial information. He was well hidden, but popular among the residents of the town. People talked boldly of his rambunctious parties, never revealing the locations though. He was hard to catch, to say the least.

So what happens, when instead, the detective is the one that’s caught?

Alice hadn’t meant to fall asleep when she had got to her room in Logan’s home, but could one really blame her? She thought she knew what a life on the run entailed when she had been forced to leave her parents at thirteen years old. Well, she learned her lesson after this. No more running for her. No more shady deals, no more hiding, no more selling pieces of her that shouldn’t be sold. This latest day had scared her straight.

Well, maybe not completely straight.

She nuzzled into the soft pillow she was holding as she slowly woke up. She felt the smudged, caked texture of old makeup that she fell asleep rub along the pillowcase. That was enough to remind her to try not to stain her host’s pillows.

She rolled onto her back then opened her eyes. It was sunset, so she gathered that she hadn’t been asleep for longer than a few hours. She didn’t feel well rested enough to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed, but her hunger for something to eat gnawed at her stomach harsh enough to finally push her out of bed.

She groaned as she sat up. She looked around the room she was in with bleary eyes. She was a bit more awake, once she was sitting up, to fully notice the details in the orange and pink setting sunlight coming in through the white curtains.

The room was a contrast to the brightness of the downstairs. The walls were painted a near navy blue, and the furniture was made of some dark wood that she couldn’t recognize. There were two paintings on the walls. Both smaller than the lighthouse in the main living room.

The first was next to the door above the dark clothes dresser; a beautiful portrait of a beach in the night. The moon was full as it shone across the small waves that crashed into nearly glowing sand. It was oddly inspiring; invoking an emotion that Alice hadn’t felt since she was a small girl in Mississippi. That feeling one would get as a child when learning about the moon while it shone bright and full in the sky. It brought her back to her short lived youth, even though she had only been to the beach in the daytime.

The second was of a bay, though not the San Francisco Bay. This one was painted from the view of a cliff looking down at a crescent shaped beach. There were a few grey clouds in the sky that reflected the moonlight; though not nearly as bright as in the first painting. It was impressive, and if Alice lived through this she’d have to ask Logan who the brilliant painter was, these works were amazing.

She decided to climb out of bed. There was no use admiring a room when she was hungry. She was still in her dress that she had been wearing since she arrived, so there wasn’t much to be done other than wash her face to take the smudged makeup off in the bathroom across the hall. She took her small pack of toiletries with her as she washed up.

After making sure she looked, well, not entirely better, but at least less disastrous as before, she made the trek down the stairs to see if there was anything in the kitchen that she could put together quickly. She was so focused on her growing appetite that she didn’t notice that there was company.

When she made it to the bottom of the steps she yelped when a man’s voice spoke from the living room.

“Oh, you’re finally awake.” He didn’t sound malicious, but he wasn’t either of the detectives. The voice was husky, deep, and definitely not familiar.

She didn’t have any weapon but her fists, so she clenched her right fist as she turned into the room to see who had spoken to her. She wasn’t willing to go out without a fight.

Brown eyes met blue ones when she saw him. He looked familiar enough that he wasn’t a stranger, but stranger enough to not be considered a friend. His black hair was unkempt; it fell in his eyes, though he made no move to brush them aside. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t grimacing either. He was smirking at her- clearly amused by her suspicion. He was wearing a plain white long sleeve with black suspenders attached to dark trousers. His arms were crossed over his chest in nonchalance. His skin was a darker shade of olive, so maybe Italian.

Italian? Alice immediately put her defenses up higher. Her face set in stone as she lifted her chin a tad to show that she wouldn’t bow down or surrender without a fight. She was a force to be reckoned with despite her femininity. Many men found it adorable-until they were met with clawed faces, black eyes, and broken noses.

“What’s it to you?” She asked, not meaning for her Mississippian twang to come on as strong. Usually it was subtle unless she was tired-which in this moment she was.

The stranger chuckled, seeming un-phased by her defensive stance. “Clearly,” he winked at her as he spoke in a deep voice, “Logan was blowing smoke ‘boutcha needing a guard. A tough dame like you doesn’t seem to need protection.”

Alice frowned. “Logan?” Damn her voice-betraying her as it wavered. She tilted her head. “Logan sent a guard?” she muttered, questioning herself more than the man across the room.

“Yeah, I was surprised too,” the stranger chuckled, “I apologize for my lack of manners.” He stood up from the seat and walked slowly to Alice. He reached his hand out for a shake. “I’m Virgil, and you are…?”

She eyed the outstretched hand warily. The majority of her was distrustful, but if Logan had sent a guard, it would be rude to decline the offer. Especially since it was better safe than sorry.

Well, she wasn’t one for manners anyways.

She crossed her arms. Her eyes squinted at how relaxed the stranger was acting about the whole thing-as if it were a joke she wasn’t in on-though there was a tiny bit of tension in his shoulders that she noticed. That told her some part of him was on edge as well.

“I’m Alice,” she introduced herself with a cold tone. Her voice was tight as she glanced quickly around the room. “Where’s Logan?”

“I’m right here, Alice.” The detective’s calming voice spoke up softly behind her. It wasn’t enough to startle her. What was startling was how quickly she relaxed; she felt safer as soon as he was in the room. She felt her shoulders relax-she hadn’t realized they had been so tense.

Logan walked past her to stand next to her and Virgil. “Alice, Patton and I had to go together to go confront the captain.”

She tensed, the tone didn’t make it seem like the confrontation went well. She caught the glance he shared with Virgil. She took a deep breath before asking, “Where’s Patton?”

Logan avoided her gaze. “I wouldn’t know, I’ve been suspended for two weeks for insubordination. I had to leave before he did.” He grit his teeth in frustration. Alice thought she caught an undertone of emotional vulnerability while he continued, “I didn’t get a full confirmation that the captain is in league with the Duke, but the way he berated me for suggesting a plant at all was suspicious enough. Though I suppose I didn’t help when-”

Virgil put a hand on his shoulder. His expression was soft as he shared a fond look with the detective. Alice kept herself from raising an eyebrow at the way Logan gave a minuscule smile of gratitude to the taller man. Maybe she had been correct in her assumption about him from the night of the party after all. She swallowed a smile at the thought of being right about which way the young detective swung. She almost didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.

“Logan, what’s done is done. You made a calculated decision that took the heat off of your partner,” Virgil rubbed his hand-a little too affectionately to be just friendly-in circles on Logan’s back. “You did the right thing, even if I’ll get a bit of heat from my cousin.”

Alice definitely raised her eyebrow then. “Uh, clearly I missed something juicy,” she paused as her stomach clenched as a reminder to eat. She put on an apologetic smile, “How ‘bout we catch up over dinner. Is there anything available or do I need to cook?”

Logan shook his head while sparing a grin. “No, I have dinner already prepared in the dining room. I had actually come here to gather you for the meal in the first place.”

Alice winked at the two men before she walked off. “Alright, boys, let’s get a wiggle on so I can get caught up in all the news.”

The party of three walked to the dining room in tense quiet. Though Alice noticed the tension wasn’t malicious. It was more...delicious. She watched the two men accompanying her share a few too many glances and grins. She smiled to herself briefly, excited to tell Lola about everything, especially about her theory that their dance partners were surely not straight. The thought of gossiping with her girl was enough to put a bit of pep in her step.

She wasn’t offended that Logan never came clean about it. There were still times she had to let go of her girlfriend’s hand no matter no matter how desperately she wanted to hold on. The world wasn’t ready. They weren’t exactly living in Harlem.

Watching the boys avoid the subject was hilarious. If there weren’t more pressing matters at hand, she’d press them about the matter of why they weren’t holding hands. She bit back a giggle.

Dinner was a spread of baked chicken with russet potatoes and carrots glazed with honey. It looked expensive, and delicious. The smell that wafted into Alice’s nose was so heavenly that she couldn’t control herself lunging forward into the nearest chair. She almost stumbled, but thankfully Virgil had been close enough to catch her by the elbow.

She muttered a thanks as she took her seat. The dining set was beautiful. All of it matched with a polished white ceramic decorated with baby blue tulips above light green stems. The edges were trimmed with gold. Alice added another question to her mental list-where did Logan find a way to afford all of this?

Logan was extremely kind enough to serve them. That baffled Alice even more. Why would someone as well off as him do the work of serving his guests? For the first time Alice noticed a distinct lack of servants. Meaning that Logan was not just serving them-he must have cooked the meal himself.

Oh, yes, he definitely wasn’t due for a wife anytime soon.

Once they were served, Logan asked for Alice to lead them in prayer. She felt a lump rise in her throat. It had been so long since her last homemade meal. It had been even longer since she had to lead in prayer. She closed her eyes to keep the tears from flowing at the large reminder that she was in a safe place.

“Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

In Earth as it is in heaven

Give us, this day, our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses

As we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and glory forever

Amen”

“Amen,” the men echoed. If either noticed a tear or two drop from Alice’s eyes, they didn’t show it.

The trio spent the first few minutes eating before talking business. The chicken was divine. It was still juicy despite being baked. The honey glaze complimented the sweetness of the carrots while also blending with the savory flavor of the potatoes. In simple terms, the dinner was delicious. Alice resisted the urge to immediately reach for seconds.

It seemed no one wanted to bring up the difficult conversation first. She resigned herself to being the mature one in the moment, choosing to be bold and brash.

“So what the hell happened while I was asleep?” Her chin jutted out a tad forward in response to Logan’s admonishing look towards her language.

Virgil shrugged. “I had Mr. Doris at my home when Logan called to have me come over to make sure you were safe.”

She rolled her eyes towards Logan. “So,” she started sarcastically, “You and Patton didn’t want babysitting duty?”

“I-no,” Logan sputtered, “We both needed to go in to avoid suspicion.”

“Look how that turned out,” Virgil muttered. When the two looked his way, he muttered something unintelligible and bit forcefully into another bite of chicken.

“As I was saying,” Logan stated. Alice noticed the blush and small upturn playing at the corners of his mouth. “We went together. The captain...he was in a horrible mood. He grew overly aggressive when I suggested that there may be a plant, and when I pressed he put me on suspension. Especially since I told him I had evidence by-” he glanced at Virgil, who nodded encouragingly, “I told him that I had a member of the Duke’s gang visit me last night.”

The hairs on the back of Alice’s neck raised ever so slightly as she fixed her eyes on Virgil. She gripped her fork tightly to be ready to aim for his eyes if he made a wrong move. The man, Virgil, noticed and seemed to not care that she was staring at him.

“Relax, kid, I’m not very interested in family business.” His voice made it sound like he was brushing her off, but his body language was tense again. So it was clear that they both didn’t trust each other. Good.

Alice chewed on her potato while she processed the information. She decided to temporarily table her distrust of Virgil for the sake of the question she really wanted answered.

“So, where’s Detective Patton?” she asked. Her voice betrayed her by cracking on the sweet Irishman’s name. She would hate herself forever if the kind man got himself hurt on her account.

The two men shared another, more concerned, glance. “I’m…” Logan’s voice sounded troubled as it dropped half an octave, “I’m not entirely sure. I left before he did, like I said, but he didn’t follow me back. I’m not entirely sure where to go from here without him.”

Alice’s stomach clenched with fear. Suddenly her appetite was gone. She looked at Virgil without really seeing him. “What do you know about all of this?” she whispered.

Virgil avoided her gaze. Alice’s anger rose with the force of ten hurricanes. “What do you know?!” she bellowed. Her voice echoed in the dining room. She slammed her fist on the table, causing the silverware to wiggle.

She reached for her fork and threatened Virgil by pointing it at him, but Logan nipped her rage in the bud.

“Calm down, Alice,” Logan pleaded softly. “I know you’re upset, but there’s no need for anger.”

She snapped her head to look back to Logan. A biting remark was on the tip of her tongue. However she held it back as she saw raw fear in Logan’s face. Gone was his calculated, even, cold expression. In its place was the glaring, frozen, unbalanced nature of fear.

She settled in a tiny bit. She kept her eyes on Logan as Virgil cleared his throat and explained his side of things.

“Well, to start, I should preface by saying I rarely talk to my cousin unless he needs me for something. I comply because he’s family-but in terms of the business I couldn’t really give a-” he corrected himself at a glare from Logan, “I don’t care. All I care about is being left alone. The most I’ll do is occasionally attend a party. Yet last month I got a call from him telling me to tail Logan for him. Make sure he didn’t give away anything crucial or dig further.”

Alice let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She relaxed her shoulders and let herself settle into the chair while Virgil kept speaking.

“This morning Mr. Doris,”-Alice cringed at the memory of the scar faced man gripping her wrists- “came by to tell me he failed in catching you. He also mentioned that uh,” Virgil blushed. His tone was embarrassed, and he scratched the back of his neck. “That Patton was getting busy with the Duke.”

Alice would have spat out her drink if she had been taking a sip. Logan, she knew for sure, dropped pins. She could tell from a mile away that the younger detective was not into women. However, Patton? The man who seemed to latch onto her and pry and try to protect? Patton, a pansy?

That evidently was not the part of the sentence she should have latched onto.

“Well, Mr. Doris doesn’t seem to be the most reliable informant,” Logan observed dryly.

There was a brief moment of silence before Alice asked, “How do we know you are reliable?”

Virgil nodded solemnly. “I get your hesitation, I do, but I’m being honest when I say I don’t care about the family business.” He absently rubbed his shoulder. “I think nearly dying in a trench puts things into perspective, don’t you?”

Alice’s mouth dropped open. There was no way someone this young looking had been in the war. Unless he shipped in right at the end.

She hardly remembered what it was like; having the men at war. The world being thrown into utter chaos. It was a hard time for everyone. Luckily she had only been a toddler when the war ended. She felt the urge to hug Virgil close; but she didn’t on the suspicion that he wouldn’t appreciate it.

“I’d rather we use our resources to help the community instead of hurting it,” Virgil whispered loud enough for them to hear. His eyes were downcast towards the table, and his hand still gripped his shoulder. “My cousin has good intentions, I’m sure, but Mr. Doris uses his access to grip this town so hard he’ll end up choking it.”

Logan and Alice shared a glance, both thinking the same thing. The Duke, leader of one of the most notorious gangs in the Bay Area, having good intentions?

“What do you mean, about your cousin having good intentions?” Logan asked cautiously.

Virgil snorted. “You kidding? All he wants is to show people a good time.”

“I see,” Logan murmured. “Well, that is good information that you’ve shared with us, Virgil. I appreciate you.”

Alice bit back a giggle at the fact Logan had said ‘appreciate you’ instead of ‘appreciate it’. She couldn’t wait to get Logan alone to grill him about him and Virgil, and she also couldn’t wait to dish it all out to Lola next time they spoke.

She picked up her fork and pointed it at Virgil, though not as threatening as before. “Okay, Sinister Sam, I’m trusting you, but if you betray us,” she pointed her fork for emphasis, “I’m not above murder like a certain detective in the room.” They all knew the threat was more of a joke.

Virgil threw up his hands with a smirk, “Good thing I have no intention of betraying that trust, Alice.”

“Glad we all agree,” Logan interrupted with annoyance in his tone. “Now, back to a more pressing matter-where is Patton?”

------

Patton didn’t feel like driving back to Logan’s and facing that fiasco, so instead he chose to walk around the town, which was mostly new warehouses and car factories. He walked along the road and watched as the men got off of work for the day. He saw groups of friends laughing together-completely unaware at the forces of good and evil fighting with their lives in the middle of it all.

That may have been too dramatic, but was it not the same as the fight between the devils in hell and the angels in heaven? Patton thought himself a morally upstanding man. Everything he stood for was good. He did his job with a smile on his face and faith in his heart. Everyone he came into contact with-he made them smile. He worked his honest way into the police force despite his heritage, just like his captain.

The thought of his captain felt like a punch to the gut. Roman’s haggard face after sending Logan home was burned into Patton’s mind. He looked so helpless. Obviously Roman was under great stress. So of course if he got an offer to make his job easier he’d take it. Patton felt guilt over building him into a villain so quickly. Roman wasn’t bad, he was just stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The sun was setting on the bay as Patton turned his way around to the park in between the warehouses and residential area. He watched the children play before suppertime. How he felt for Roman’s wife, Mrs. Rosalie de Rossi. If it turned out to be true-which at this point Patton was sure-then she would raise his son alone. A boy or girl would grow up without a father if Patton did his job the right way.

Would he sacrifice his best friend’s child for the sake of capturing one man? Would he take Roman in cuffs as he heard the first cry of his newborn child? Was this truly about stopping the crime in the town, or about Patton getting a pat on the back for capturing the leader of the crime? Was Patton willing to suffer his friend watching his child grow up behind bars?

Once upon a time the answer was simple. If it were a month ago he would have answered with a vehement ‘yes’, no matter why. Now things were twisted. Everything was knotted together where it was no longer a simple matter of good and evil; right and wrong were a mass of yarns tangled together. The world was covered in a gray haze that threw Patton for a loop as he tried to make some sense of it.

“It’s not so simple anymore,” he mumbled to himself.

The detective sat on a bench facing the bay, which was within eyesight from the incline where he sat. He admired the beauty of the way the orange and pink clouds glimmered on the waves. Crashing to the shore, knowing where they were going. Eroding the rock into sand; the waves knew what they did. They were driven by the moon herself. The white foam born of the impact would fizzle as the only evidence that any destruction was being made.

Patton pondered once more about how far he was willing to go to put the Duke behind bars. The man was clearly a source of stress for Roman. Was there a way to spare the captain? Perhaps getting to the criminal through another source was key. Maybe he could make it so Roman would be spared in the storm that was brewing in preparation of the battle between the good detective and the sinful mobster.

He smiled at the thought of Roman being able to watch his son or daughter play at this park. Roman would swing his toddler on the swing set and chase a short child with black hair and brown eyes. Roman would be happy. He’d be free of the worries of a criminal operation. Patton would be the one to give that to him.

Patton was good with children. He could see himself there too, celebrating with his friends a birthday or summer’s day. When he first learned of Mrs. de Rossi’s pregnancy he had briefly wished that he would find a woman to settle down with to have children of his own.

Yes, there was that question again. Patton was thirty two years old. He had never looked at a woman with lust before. Before he met the Duke he thought it to be a great achievement that put him above his peers. Now, though, it had been brought into question. What was his romantic orientation? Could he actually see himself having a wife? Having children?

Truth be told, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he didn’t hold any attraction to women. The terrifying idea of the alternative made his arms raise goosebumps; tingling his senses. He felt his cheeks flush from more than the biting sea air. His lips vibrated softly as if ready once more for a forbidden kiss of forbidden fruit. As he watched the sun set he felt something open up in his soul in revelation. Beautiful, fearful, attractive revelation.

If the Duke weren’t a scoundrel, and if the world and God saw it fit, he would chase the rotten man a different way.

There was something about the two of them. A horror Patton couldn’t look away from. The Duke was an affront to God Himself. He could be the Devil incarnate; present to tempt Patton into committing unthinkable sins. It was so hard for the detective to delude himself any longer that he was immune to the allure. The call of danger. The tempting taste of the pomegranate that would doom him to falling to the underworld of the Duke’s domain was, in fact, an actual temptation for Patton.

He watched the bay waters move to give him answers. He thought of kissing the man. The kiss that had been so easy it had to be for more reasons than to seduce for evidence and information. He remembered with perfect clarity how much he had enjoyed himself with the Duke more than any woman he had kissed, those dames being few and far between. The gangster was an enigma. He was dangerous and chaotic and warm and so many things that seduced Patton.

What would the detective sacrifice to catch the Duke and kiss him once more?

He felt someone sit next to him. It was as if his thoughts had summoned the one man he wasn’t ready to see.

“So, how is playing ‘good cop’ goin’ for ya?” the Duke asked cheerfully.

“I’m wondering to myself what I’m going to do with you, Duke.” Patton was shocked at the honest answer he gave.

A hint of red crossed the Duke’s cheeks before he recovered. “Hopefully devilishly delicious things.”

“In your wildest dreams,” Patton muttered. He was drained of energy. His fingers twitched for the cuffs in his pocket. He looked around to see that no other gang members were nearby. They were completely alone; the children had even gone home for supper.

The Duke was open for capture, and Patton was hesitating yet again.

“Seriously, though, here I am open for capture and you’re hesitating,” the Duke observed. The echo of Patton’s thoughts made him shiver. It meant nothing, but it said everything.

“Are you turning yourself in?” Patton asked sarcastically. “Or are you here on a personal call?”

The Duke’s lips curled into a smile. Patton’s heart fluttered at the sight. This smile wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t cruel or conniving. The Duke’s smile was warmth from a stormy night. A dip into cool water on a hot autumn day. With that smile, they were just two men-two people-in the midst of falling in, what would be seen by others, attraction.

He found himself leaning closer to hear what the Duke was saying despite the man not changing volume. His face felt numb as the breeze picked up. The Duke’s slicked back hair let loose a strand.

“I’m here because you have something of mine. A certain doll who owes me a pretty hefty fee.” The Duke leaned in close enough their noses were touching.

They were magnets. They were the opposite poles of the earth.

“Hm, I’m not telling you where Alice is, dear Duke,” Patton murmured as if he were in a trance. In some form, he was.

Fire flew through Patton’s veins so quickly. The words were losing their meanings in the tones. Their voice inflections were having an entirely different conversation at hand. Patton shuddered at the memories of being nearly pinned underneath the night before, no longer angry but enticed.

“Well, that’s a loss on my end then, dear detective.” whispered the Duke. “Guess we’re both at a stalemate.”

Ah, yes. The stalemate the forces of nature brewed between them. The laws of the world were putting a thorn bush between them to make their journey even harder as enemies than as friends.

“Indeed.” Patton agreed dreamily as he surrendered.

They both came in for another kiss, be it softer than their previously passionate adjointments. The kiss was a sunset-an end to Patton stepping around the truth of his feelings, an end to answering hard questions with simple answers, and an end to pursuing his enemy at the cost of his friends’ livelihoods.

His friends...Roman, Logan, Alice.

Alice.

Alice!

He pulled away and stood suddenly as if his body burned from touching an open flame. “No, no! You’re not blinding me this time, Duke!” he shouted.

Before he could reach for his cuffs the Duke had started running. His maniacal laughter trailing behind him. Patton raced to keep up once he realized what was happening. The moment in paradise melted away like a dream. The chase was back on.

Not this time you damn fool.

They ran through the alleyways in between the deserted warehouses. The streets were darker. The sun was setting rapidly as the chase had continued. They wound around the large lots. They skirted the borders where other officers on the beat would notice. Somehow the mobster knew exactly where they were, too. The Duke was playing with him. He was torturous and wonderful and damn good at getting under Patton’s skin. He knew this had become so personal for Patton he wouldn’t risk calling for backup if it meant losing the trail.

A part of Patton detached and played their kisses over and over again. That piece of him wanted to tackle the man to the ground. Pin the gangster underneath him and succumb to the feral nature being brought out. He wanted to hunt the man down and ravish his soul to the point they would be on fire. He pumped his legs harder to keep up, not knowing what the outcome would be if he caught his target.

Patton’s legs were in a flaming pain as he watched the Duke cross a street. He ran out when a car suddenly squealed to a stop in front of him to block him from chasing farther.

“No, no, no!” Patton yelled. He watched the Duke start to climb over the fence down away from him.

The criminal looked back towards him before hopping down the other side. He was shrouded in shadows. He resembled a crouched cat before it bolted. His eyes nearly glowed in the diminishing light. Then, in a blink of an eye, he was gone.

Patton slammed his fist on the hood of the car in front of him. He marched up to the driver’s seat only to be stopped by the sight of Alice, Logan, and the gang member who had been on Logan’s tail for the past month.

The very gang member who was in the driver’s seat of his partner’s car. The gang member that, for all Patton knew, was in cahoots with Logan. He was the subject that got Logan off the beat. He was somehow involved in all this and for once Patton didn’t want to ask how.

Hyped on his adrenaline and chaotic instincts, Patton reached for the gun on his belt when Logan hopped out of the other side and shouted, “Patton, no!”

Patton wildly looked at Logan. He knew he probably looked feral. His hair felt mussed, his body was covered in sweat from two chases in one day, his clothes were rumpled. He felt no words running through his mind.

In his mind there was only the need to run after the Duke desperately. His heart was pounding over and over. “Logan,” he gasped, “Logan, what are you doing? Interfering with an...an investigation…”

He was ready to collapse now that he was still. Rational thought took over while his body felt like gelatin melting in the summer sun. He had pushed himself to the limits.

Logan slowly made his way to Patton, yet made it just on time to catch him in his slump. He gingerly helped Patton into the backseat of the cramped vehicle. Patton leaned on Alice’s shoulder as he felt the numbing defeat spread from his lips down his body. He played the meeting with the captain, the walk, the kiss, and the chase over and over in his mind. Where had he gone wrong?

From there on out there were no holds barred. Patton would no longer play by the rules in his pursuit. The badge on his belt was no longer a barrier between him and his chase. It no longer mattered what was right and what was wrong-his heart needed vengeance against the manipulative nature of his enemy. He would let himself be seduced then wrap the cuffs in one painfully swift movement.

Alice carded her hand through his curls. She hummed a soothing tune that washed over him as a cleansing shower after a long day. It was a backwards scenario-a young girl comforting an older man. If any of the passengers heard him softly sob once while a tear fell off of his face, no one spoke up about it.

The sun had set, and with it the last remnants of upstanding, rule-following, by-the-book morality Detective Patton O’Hearty had left.

“Catch me if you can,” The Duke had teased. Oh, how he would.

A/N: Hi! I haven't abandoned this story, I promise! I have had a lot going on lately and have been absolutely zoned in on Prince in the Storm. I apologize again for making this so late. I hope you still enjoyed, feedback is appreciated.

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sleepnginstardust · 5 years

Text

Werewolf boyfriend and girlfriend (part 1/??)

I really enjoy the short stories by @momolady @monsterywriting and @monstersandmaw. So I wanted to write something that hopefully would live up to some of their amazing writing. Fair warning I don’t have anyone who’s able to proof read for me so I’ve as best as I can to make sure that everythings okay. Let me know if y’all find anything! This

Castle Hill, the sign was almost too perfect. When I was first looking at places to move this place hadn’t even occurred to me than someone I know of brought a listing to my attention.

“I know you’re thinking of moving to a less populated place, wouldn’t want anyone to bother your writing now would you!” The little jab at my writing career was annoying, but kind of spot on? I had been stuck in a rut for my second novel in my series for a while and while I don’t mind living in a densely populated area. The noise and just all of the people get to me after a while. It takes more energy for me to head to the corner bodega than it should. So I had been looking for a house in a small town that was within at the most a three-hour drive from the city.

The listing my acquaintance had posted on my facebook was for a house in the small town of Castle Hill. Bigger than what I needed but still cheaper than owning an apartment in the city. So I booked a viewing.

The realtor I talked with was surprised when I contacted them, he said something about not a lot of newcomers to the town. Never a good thing to hear if I ever wanted to sell the house again. I vaguely remember asking a few more questions. Something about the community college that was in the town and I asked about a motel or an AirB&B in the area.

The realtor laughed, he said that there was a small Bed and Breakfast in the area and that he could give me the number if I was serious about wanting to see the house. It was odd when he asked me again if I was serious about seeing the house. When I said I would be up at the end of the week to see the house, he hesitated and said that he looked forward to someone so obstinate.

So I drove the three-ish hours, it took to get to Castle Hill, the drive was gorgeous. The busy city by the bay slowly gave way to winding roads through farmland. Slowly the farmland gave way to rolling hills and soon the hills became forests. The trees were small at first then slowly growing larger the farther I drove.

By the time I reached the town sign, I was truly in a forest. There were small clearings here and there, in fact, the town was built in one such clearing. The town sign showed the edge and while it was a large clearing tree still peppered the area causing a rustic feel that I remember from my childhood spent in the mountains.

Quaint wooden walkways were in place of the concrete sidewalks I was used too. It made me feel like I had moved back in time. The Old Fashion buildings made everything, even the modern day coffee shop seem like it had all been there for years. As I drove past I saw, a butchers place, a florist's and a small hardware store.

The small crafts store was something that drew my eyes, it's bright exterior showed only a small portion of what was inside. As I made my way through the more suburban portion of the town I started to notice all the families. Naga men and women with their clutch of young, I saw a small satyr with a stunning woman and three children jumping up and down. I saw a beautiful Centaur woman with an equally stunning woman and a small centaur girl jumping around them.

As I pulled up to the Victorian house a woman not much older came out to greet me. She stood tall and proud which honestly made me feel a bit like a slob. especially after driving the three and a half hours it took me to get here.

"You must be Abigail, I'm Kara. It's so nice you are able to join us. I'll show you the room." As she took me through the house I looked at all the old photos slowly morph into newer ones. I felt like I was walking through a carefully preserved museum.

"Okay, is this a family home? I'm seeing photos from the 1880's 1870's at the earliest." Kara paused for a moment and looked back at me while giving a small smile.

"I'm surprised you noticed, most people just assume that I find old photos in antique stores or something like that." I looked down with a small blush on my face. History was one of the few things I enjoyed. Feeling a little embarrassed I muttered something I don't remember.

"My family has been in this area since the early 1860's. This house itself was built around 1904 right after the large earthquake that struck San Francisco." Kara showed me the house along with many more photos of the town from the early days.

The house itself was beautiful. Old but wonderfully kept wooden floors and antique looking wallpaper throughout. Each room was its own separate room. The furniture in each room seemed like it had been made especially for each room. The dining room had a large table with what seemed like 14 chairs.

She showed me the kitchen with its cozy dining nook where Kara explained that she served both breakfast and dinner there if I would want to join her. I couldn’t turn down such a wonderful woman so I readily found myself agreeing.

Finally she led me up the stairs and to the upper story where opened the door to a decent sized bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The entire room smelled lightly of lilacs, which normally would bother me but with how light the sent was it didn’t bother me.

She carefully bowed out and put a key with rose shaped key fob attached on the nightstand. Slowly I dragged my battered carry on bag onto the almost pristine white luggage stand. I carefully pulled out my small makeup bag and a small toiletries bag. I put away the small amount of clothes I brought with me and debated whether to keep the sweater in the bag or with me. I pulled it out just in case.

After that I freshened up in the bathroom. I reapplied bits of my foundation and added a translucent setting powder over the top to cover my greaseball forehead. I pulled out my favorite lipstick and put that on instead of the tinted lip balm I had been wearing most of the day. I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that this was going to be the best I was going to look for the day.

Grabbing my laptop bag I made my way down the stairs. As I hit the downstairs landing I heard Kara talking with another person. I slowly made my way into the sitting room where I had heard the conversation coming from. I pulled short before the doorway and knocked like the sheepish person I am. I looked and saw Kara sitting down with two people both in firefighters uniforms. Not the heavy kind but the lighter kind that they wear while on duty.

“Look I know I’ve been here for” I checked my phone. “An hour, but I promise I haven’t set anything on fire. That I know of.” The Female firefighter snorted, and the male one had this stupid grin. One I kind of wanted to punch off of his face. Sort of.

“Oh Abigail This Anita Galassia the Chief Firefighter for the town.” The man made a disgruntled noise and Kara made soothing motions. “And this is Anita’s Second in command Nathan Fraye. They were checking in on me, one of my neighbors had a bad fall (she’s pregnant with her first child) and they wanted to assure me that if anything happened they would be here lickty split.”

“Wait, firefighters still do that? Sorry my local firefighters live an hour outside of the city and hardly know anyone.” Anita and Nathan hadn’t stopped looking at me even while Kara had been talking and I started to feel the anxiety creep into my brain. I felt like I had been cornered by two wolves, and my flight or fight feelings started to kick in. “Oh I forgot, I’m heading down to that coffee shop. You didn’t say anything about wifi and I have a few things I need to send in to my editor.”

“Oh my gosh Abigail I am so sorry! I do have wifi. I know I have the information around here somewhere. If you still want to go to the cafe I can have the password for wifi when you get back.” I nodded, feeling my anxiety kick it up a notch and my heart rate go up. I gave a small wave and started to turn around.

“Abigail right? Did you want us to take you down there? The fire house is close by and it wouldn’t be out of our way.” I turned back around looking at Anita’s earnest smiling face.

“Ahh no thanks I drove like three and a half hours to get here and a short walk would help get the cobwebs out of my brain before I have to edit like six chapters.” Anita’s face fell a little and she nodded.

“Understandable, maybe we’ll see you there. They have some good pastries.” I was still feeling like a cornered deer. So I put on my most brilliant smile and nodded. Waved again and made my way out of the room. On my way out I heard one of them mutter to Kara “She’s cute.”

“Don’t get any fucking ideas horn dog” was all I heard as I quickly made my way out of the house and onto the small sidewalk through the neighborhood. Walking past the houses on my way towards the town center made me realize how many families were here. Like I had seen kids playing before but I only saw three or four of them. Now I was seeing whole groups of them.

In the 15 minutes I had been walking towards the coffee shop I started feeling invigorated and almost inspired. I say almost because as I was passing the local park, I noticed a small group of kids playing. I stopped for a moment and stared. As I watched the children playing I felt a small pang in my stomach. I wanted children but with my busy schedule I couldn’t even fathom having children. I quickly shook my head and started walking again.

Or well I would have if I hadn’t have run into something. Thankfully I didn’t fall over, I just happened to bump into them. I muttered sorry and started walking away.

“Are you okay?” I looked up and realized that the person that I bumped into was someone who could probably bench press me. Again my flight or fight response kicked in.

“Oh I’m fine, sorry for bumping into you.” I gave a small wave to the person and thankfully he took that to mean that I was fine and he thankfully left it at that.

“I’m pretty sure your new in town, if you need anything stop by the local newspaper, I’m Fred, I run it and can help you if you need anything.” Still feeling a little nervous. I nodded and started walking away. I could swear I could feel him watching me as I got farther away.

I started loosening up the farther I got away from the park. I kept my head down and I started counting the squares in the sidewalk. I started looking up when my anxiety started slowly going away. It was another ten minutes to the coffee shop and I was thankful when I noticed that it quiet. I made my way up to the counter and placed an order for just a pot of black tea and a plain scones.

“So are you just visiting or maybe just passing through?” I looked up at the orc girl behind the counter, and tried to figure out why she was asking.

“I’ve got an appointment to see a house tomorrow.” I said in a slightly dead tone. I had hoped the orc girl would take a hint and just leave it. But she was young and wanted to be nice. I think.

“Oh that’s awesome, we don’t really get a lot of new people who’d want to move into a town out in the middle of nowhere. Do you have some sort of business you’re opening up?” She started finally gathering my things as she had been talking and I tried to repress the urge to snap. I know I should watch my temper but damn I was really not in the mood to talk

“I’m a novelist. I need a more quiet area so I can focus a little better on my novel.” At that the girl looked up from filling the small pot of tea. “Hey watch out or yo-”

“Fuck!” my warning came a little too late as she poured boiling hot water over her hand. I put my laptop down on the counter.

“Are you going to need burn gel? Use room temperature water by the way.” The Girl looked at me, I raised my eyebrows and shrugged. She switched over the water temperature and pulled a red bag from under the register.

“Sorry I just realized where I had seen you before. I’ve seen your instagram, you have like a million subscribers.” I had the decency to be embarrassed. I knew I had a few subscribers here and there but I didn’t realize that people would actually recognize me.

“Yeah that’s me I guess.” The girl had remade the teapot and started heating up the scone. I grabbed my bag and saw a table in a corner that faced the street. I pulled out my laptop and looked around the table for a place to plug in. I found one a smalle ways away but still close enough to plug in my laptop.

The girl brought me the scone and the teapot with a murmured sorry. I nodded and took the pot and the scone laying them down on the table. I poured the tea and started nibbling on the scone putting some lemon curd on. As I settled down I opened the email from my editor with the edits he’d like to see and I sat down and started to write.

Writing had always come easy to me, easier than dealing with people at least. With writing I had control over everything, what people said, how people reacted, and honestly it was way easier to deal with things that I put onto paper. My first novel happened that way.

It had started as a way to deal with the fact that I wasn't what people wanted me to be. So I wrote a story about it. Fiction of course, because who would want to read an autobiography about a no one. And it sold, stupidly well. Then I was told they wanted a second book, and a third. So I rolled with it.

Now that I was working on the second book in the series I realized I really enjoyed writing. So here I was 200 miles away from my apartment and my editor trying to finish the last bit of editing before the book went to publication. Listening to the barista girl talk animated with someone.

I heard the clink of someone setting a ceramic cup down on a wooden table. Looking up with a scowl on my face I recognized the two firefighters from Kara’s place. My scowl deepened making me look like I was going to punch someone. Trying my best to ignore them, I went back to work.

”Wow and I thought I was scary when I'm mad.” I ignored the voice of Nathan as put in some rework to some dialogue. ”hello did you hear me?”

”yes i heard you, yes I am ignoring you. I have a few things to finish before my book goes to printing next month.`` I looked up to stare at Nathan who had this bewildered smile on his face. Anita sat down next to Nathan and punched his arm.

“I told you not to bother her, yet here we are. With her about to rip your throat out.” Anita gave a small snort.

“I wouldn’t rip his throat out, that’s too messy. I’d poison him, less blood that way.” I said not even missing a keystroke. I heard someone choke a little, and the sounds of someone thumping on someone’s back. The more I got into writing the less I noticed. I was almost finished with the final couple of revisions when I saw a hand in front of my computer screen. Blinking a bit I looked up.

“Sorry to bother you but you haven’t looked up in two hours and we were starting to worry.” I looked at the clock on my screen and realized I had been at the coffee shop for three hours. It was closing in on Six O’clock and I needed to get back to Kara’s. I looked back up to Nathan.

“Aw crap, I’ve got to get going, thanks for checking in.” I saved what I was doing and closed my laptop. I unplugged the charger from the wall and started shoving it and my laptop in my bag. I shut my bag and stood forgetting I had been sitting for a long period of time. Of course I would get dizzy after having nothing but scones and tea since last night.

As I steadied myself I felt a hand on my shoulder and stiffened. Looking back I saw Anita and Nathan both looking concerned? I didn’t know anything about these people and still they had concern for me. I had no idea why people like them would be concerned but here they were showing concern anyway.

“I’m fine, just haven’t had decent food since yesterday. I’m heading back to Kara’s where she promised a good home cooked meal. I think.” I raised my hands in defeat and walked over the counter. The Barista was looking between myself and the two behind me. “Can I just get a cup of water, need to stay hydrated you know.”

She handed me the cup and I waved to Anita and Nathan and left. As I popped outside I realized how cold it had gotten in the three hours I was there. I shivered a bit realizing that not everywhere was in the 80’s during September. I started walking back the way I came as the street lamps came on. I looked up and noticed that the street lamps were some old time looking ones with the fake flicker light bulbs.

I walked quietly by the stores with bright interiors. As the stores gave way to houses I started feeling like something was watching me and I started getting nervous. I started walking faster and as I was walking past the park I looked over. Two sets of glowing eyes stared back at me and I nearly screamed.

Needless to say, I walked faster back to Kara’s house and as I saw the lights on I quickly made my way inside. Not running mind you, but close. As I opened the door and slammed it shut my heart was racing. Kara came through the door to the kitchen and looked at me up and down.

“Abigail you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I nodded, not paying attention to what she was saying as she led me into the kitchen. The smell of what seemed to be chicken and something else came to my nose. She took my bag and put it on a hook next to the door over some aprons. “Okay, tell me what happened”

“I- I don’t know, I was walking back from the coffee shop and I started feeling like I was being watched. Which by the way is terrifying because the last time that happened I was nearly killed. Well I started walking faster, not running because then that lets them know you know they’re watching and when I passed the park I look up and somewhere past the park there where these eyes. Two sets of them, and well I started panicking and now my anxiety is throu-” She didn’t let me finish my sentence as she engulfed me in a hug. I tensed up waiting for the whole “You shouldn’t be so cautise” talk I’ve heard from many different people. Instead she just rubbed my back in soothing circular motions.

“Hey, hey it’s okay. I’ll talk to a few people to see what we can do. Now we need some food if you can stomach it. I know sometimes anxiety can be a real monster.” As she said this my anxiety dropped a little enough where I wasn’t hyperventilating. I was still having issues seeing, and I knew from experience that tunnel vision took a while to go away. I started to tremble so much so that my knees finally gave out. Kara grabbed me before I could hit the floor thankfully. She manhandled me into a chair at the table and gave me a glass of water.

“Maybe I should call the fire department for you.” Hearing that all I could think about was the look of pity from Anita and Nathan I would get and my stomach dropped. I grabbed her wrist and shook my head no.

“P-p-please don’t I have medicine in m-my b-bag.” I pointed to my laptop bag, and she hurried over and searched the front bag finding the small bottle of anti anxiety medicine. She brought over the bottle and handed it to me. I opened the bottle and took out a pill and put it in my mouth and drank the glass of water. I put the glass of water on the table and put my head between my legs.

“Do these attacks happen often?” I turned my head to look at her and nodded slowly.

“They were manageable most of the time, but there was this incident about five months ago? I don’t know. Anyway they become worse almost to the point where I couldn’t leave my apartment.” Kara nodded her head and started making a plate of food. I watched her bring a chicken thigh onto a plate before I spoke up. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to eat that, I’m sorry.”

“Do not apologize. Besides I can make you something easier on the stomach. How about some soup and maybe a grilled cheese?” I looked at her perplexed, this woman had known me four maybe five hours and she had treated me better than my own mother. The tears came faster than I realized and when Kara looked back at me from the freezer where she was pulling out what looked like homemade soup, she gasped.

“Hey, what’s wrong, do you not like chicken noodle, I think I have some leftover Minestrone from last week still,” I started crying harder, trying to make sure the sound wasn’t loud so the neighbors didn’t hear. “Oh dear, what’s wrong, you can talk to me.”

“N-n-n-not e-even m-m-m-my own m-m-mother cared, she just cared that I wasn’t making money for her anymore.” At this Kara stopped put the soup down on the counter and walked over to me.

“Abigail I’m going to tell you one thing about this town. If you do end up taking buying a house here know one thing. We look after our people no matter what. You’ll never have to worry about walking home alone. If you’re ever sick we’ll look after you. If for whatever reason you’re gone for long periods of time we’ll look after your yard and feed your cat if you have one. We care for our people, you won’t be alone unless you want it.” As she said this I started crying even harder this time not caring who heard. Kara just kneeled down and rubbed circles in my back. After a couple of minutes my tears started winding down and the fuzzy feeling of just having a long cry started creeping in.”

“Now Abigail let’s get you some soup, a nice grilled cheese and some more water okay?” I nodded and watched her refill the glass I had from earlier. She gently placed the water in front of me and I hesitantly picked it up.

“I’m sorry for the breakdown there, It had been a while since I had one and I never expected to have one here.” I sniffled and looked around for some paper towels or maybe a paper napkin. Kara was looking at me as she warmed up a thing of soup in a sauce pot. I looked down at my knees very interested in my knees.

“Amelia you don’t have to apologize, most people don’t hold half the things inside them that you probably do and they still break down.” She flipped a sandwich over in a pan on the stove top & stirred the soup. “Honestly one of the hardest things in life is being strong enough to understand that you don’t always have to be strong.”

I sighed, maybe I knew I was due to break down but I had been hoping that maybe I would be able to get through the final draft of my novel and purchase a new house before I had one. Wishful thinking I know, but I had hoped. Rubbing the back of my neck I knew I should say something but all I was able to do was nod and hang my head. I heard the clack of bowls and plates. The rustle of silverware followed.

I bowl of steaming soup was placed in front of me. MInestrone I realized, and a plate with a grilled cheese cut in half was placed next to the bowl. Kara refilled my glass with more water and set it down in front of me.

I looked up and saw her sitting down in front of me with the same thing. I looked at the counter with the beautifully prepared chicken, and rolls.

“I’m sorry, I ruined your dinner.” I looked down feeling like a child who had ruined Christmas for their family. I heard a small sigh.

“Has no one ever told that not everything your body or mind does is something you can control.” I looked up at her then back down quickly. I didn’t have the heart to tell her about all the times as a child I wet the bed only to have my mother slap me for waking her and make me sleep in urine soaked sheets as “punishment”. Kara honestly looked like the type of person to hunt down my mother and punish her.

“If it didn’t come up in my mothers “Parenting for Narcissists” book then she probably forgot.” Kara let out a bitter laugh and I picked up some of the sandwich. I carefully dipped it in the soup and pulled out. The soup tasted perfect, as I expected. The sandwich had a decent cheese to bread ratio. Not that I was expecting anything less.

“I haven’t known you for long, maybe a day or so at this point, but there’s something I don’t get. You seem to be hurting a lot and from what I can tell, what ever drove you to come here terrified you so much that you decided to leave everything you know behind. Why?” I looked down thinking about what had happened, and how people I thought to be my friends acted afterwards.

“I guess I’m prying huh? You don’t have to say anything I know you’ve only been here for less than 10 hours. So finish your soup and go to bed, maybe take a bath. Since you’re the only one here the communal bath has a nice big tub.” I nodded and I finished my sandwich and soup I got and went to go put my dishes in the sink. “Don’t you even dare, just go take a bath and relax.”

“Kara? Thank you.” Kara waved her hand at me and moved to gather the dishes. I left to her too it.

#werewolf boyfriend #werewolf girlfriend #exophilia #my writing #monster lover

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hoseokmylovesworld · 5 years

Text

Picture of Love | 11 (M)

Pairing: Photographer!Hoseok x OC x Producer!Yoongi

Genre/Warnings: Hoseok AU/Yoongi AU/Includes strong language, smut, dirty talk, praise kink

Words: 6,056

Summary: Charlotte Galloway is the leader of the up and coming girl band, “She-Bang”, with a side hustle as a photographer for anyone who will hire her. She meets a fellow professional photographer named Jung Hoseok who helps “She-Bang” realize their dreams and Charlotte to make a love connection along the way.

"I didn't know we were going shopping." I turn to J-Hope once I finally get myself together from my insane fit of laughter.

Even standing here now with my eyes travelling over all the sexual gadgets on every wall, I couldn't bring myself to believe Jay brought me to a sex shop. The place was way bigger than I could have guessed. Rows of dildos and vibrators, vibrating dildos and anal stimulators went on forever it seemed. There were even walls stocked with weapons, accessories and rope for bondage along with every leather creation known to man. On the opposite wall of the store were imaginative costumes for roleplay. The classic doctor and nurse duo caught my eye and my mind took off with a bed room scenario including Jay in a snazzy lab coat and scrubs and me in a tight, red and white nurse's ensemble. Mmm.

Being pulled out of his shocked stare, he turns to me, flustered.

"Yeah? Neither did I." He remarks, turning back to his surroundings with his hand with his hand on his hip, finding the humor in the situation, finally. "...Unless you wanted to...I could... you know... " he gestures to the toys to communicate that if I were interested, he would buy me something.

I'll keep that in mind.

"No, thank you. I'm quite satisfied with the collection I have now... Thanks though." I say, looking back at him to gauge his reaction, but taking a few more steps into the business.

Jay makes a slightly caught off guard face and his cheeks slowly, but surely accumulate a pink hue.

"Don't act surprised, you saw that coming. Probably." I brush off.

"Yes, I suppose I did." He laughs. "Well, I'm sorry I brought you all the way here for nothing. Makes for a good story though, ha... I'm gonna kick Suho's ass for this." He curses under his breath.

"Oh? Or did you do this on purpose to tell me something?" I move closer to him and rest my hands on his chest, making suggestive eyes at him, planning to make my move.

He takes hold of my waist in turn, but his next words contradict his actions. "Charlotte, if I wanted to tell you I wanted to sleep with you, I would." He utters smiling, as if it were nothing.

Ooh, bold and rude are we?

"So...why haven't you? Do you not want...?" I don't finish my sentence out of pure embarrassment and offense. I begin to back away and release myself from his grip in fear of making a fool of myself any further.

"No! I mean yeah, I do!" He stammers, attempting to bring my body back to himself. "I just...I thought you wanted to take things slow." He makes a very confused, yet hopeful face. My shoulders drop and I can't help, but let out a giggle.

Of course the reason he hasn't questioned me about sex is because he's concerned. How am I even able to be associated with this man?

"Yes, I do... but I'm thinking this can be the exception." I move closer and lean up to whisper in his ear and press my hand to his crotch, evoking a groan from J-Hope. "'Cuz I really like you. Also because I really wanna suck your dick." He laughs nervously, briefly ducking his head into my neck.

"That sounds... amazing, but I probably should get some food in you first." He looks down into my eyes, caressing my face once again.

"Or you could put something else in me." I persist, biting my lip for effect and keeping eye contact.

J-Hope just laughs freely, all nervousness gone. "That sounds even better, believe me, but I'm serious. You should really eat something and I'm actually pretty hungry myself." He says more sternly, but still has yet to remove my hand. That's the second hard-on I gave him today and he's not jumping my bones.

Is this a joke?

"Wow, what a gentlemen... fine, I'll play by your rules." I relent, accepting that I've lost the battle.

"Good... because soon there won't be any." he whispers in my ear and then took my hand that was on his crotch and kissed the back of it all while looking at me with those bedroom eyes.

Mission complete. Message received.

I then take the hand that's holding mine and kiss that as well, earning a pleasantly surprised face from Jay. "Good. Let's get outta here."

I drag him out of the building, not sparing the silly blonde another glance on the way out. The car is charged with sexual tension and comfortable yet static silence.

J-Hope pulls up to a large, stone building and parks directly in front of it. "This is where we're having dinner?" I inquire as he helps me out of the car.

"Yeah." He shrugs. "Hope you don't mind." He sends me a smirk and doesn't wait for a reply, leading me towards the building that reads Nob Hill Apartments on at the top. Oh.

I take a good look around the lobby on our way to the elevator. It was filled with huge leather chairs and mahogany furniture and marble walls, altogether a very expensive looking place. Before I can comprehend what's happening, my view is disrupted by the closing of the elevator doors. Coming back to myself, I assess the situation aloud.

"So, what are we going to do about dinner at your apartment?" I'm genuinely confused as to why he didn't just go to the drive through or something. The elevator dings once we reach the fifteenth floor and we step out to approach a lone door at the end of a short corridor. "I'm gonna cook for you, of course." J-Hope takes his keys out and unlocks the door. Oh this just keeps getting better and better.

"You're... gonna cook... for me?" I stand, dumbfounded in the hall. Jay just turns to me and flags me over with a tilt of his head and a flick of his wrist. "Yes, now come in." He laughs. I cross over the threshold into Jay's apartment that happens to be huge as fuck. Before I have a good look around, he requests that I take my heels off and he removes my coat and put them all in the coat closet. A fucking coat closet in an apartment.

"Alright, would you like the grand tour?"

"Yes, please."

"Ha ha, okay."

The closest was the full bathroom, which was surprisingly, very clean, next was the fully equipped laundry room. After that, was Jay's bed room, which had a beige upholstered, king sized bed with a mac laptop resting carelessly on the bed spread, a walk in closet, another full bath, a metal computer desk with a neat desktop setup, for editing I assume, and a stack of books on top of it. The walls were a cool grey and the space was very tidy, but the room still gave off a comfortable, "lived-in" feeling.

"Next is the living room." Along with the initial door that lead us to the bedroom from the hall, there was a sliding, white door that took up most of the wall that lead to the living room.

Well shit.

The first thing I notice about the living room was the magnificent view of the city from its abundant windows. The Golden Gate and Bay bridges along with the rest of the San Francisco were lit up against the night sky. I let out a content sigh. J-Hope comes to stand beside me as I stare at the beautiful view. "That view is part of the reason why I took the place. My roommate loves that view too." I immediately turn my head in his direction at this.

"Roommate?" I ask, slightly concerned.

"Oh, yeah, well, not really my roommate, my friend is just staying for a while. He won't be back tonight though, don't worry." He rubs my arms, comfortingly, while shooting me a flirtatious glance and I decide to study the living room further so as to not jump his bones right here.

He'd better not.

It had dark, hardwood floors with a large grey rug covering most of it and a coffee table sat on top of it. A hefty three seat, leather couch accompanies the coffee table and is flanked by two more leather armchairs in front of the full entertainment system and massive flat screen.

"Nice." I say to myself, but he responds "Thanks. That's my guest/roommate's room over there." He points to the closed, sliding door on the right of the living room, directly across from his.

"And this is where all the magic happens. The kitchen." I am then lead into the kitchen that does not belong inside an apartment, but a two story suburban home. There's every kitchen appliance ever to exist and all the cabinet space you could ever wish for. There's even a granite island with three stools in front of it. I take a seat in one as J-Hope gets to work pulling out utensils and ingredients. I watch as he pulls the sleeves of his white dress shirt up to his forearms and washes his hands.

"You have such a nice place here." I say continuing to ogle my surroundings.

"Thanks. Yeah, I worked really hard for it." He doesn't bother taking his attention off of what he's doing.

"I see that. What does your roommate do?" I ask, simply trying to make conversation. I could give a shit what his roommate does for a living.

"Uh, he's a music producer." He shares absentmindedly, very focused on his task.

"Oh, that's cool." I nod. "What are we eating anyway?" I try to peak over his shoulder.

"Chicken parmesan and some spaghetti." I audibly gasp behind him, my eyes popping out of my head.

"That's my favorite food." I announced excitedly.

He turns slightly to me with a pleased smirk. "I know." He almost purrs or at least that's what it sounded like to me. "Oooh, he listens." I cooed proudly. "Of course he does." He shot back satisfied with himself causing me to giggle.

This along with the thought that he probably prepared for this night under different circumstances on a separate occasion really warmed my heart completely.

"Hey, you want some wine to hold you over? This might take a while." He points to the chicken he was in the middle of seasoning.

"Oh, yes please." I accept without a second thought. J-Hope pulls a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rose from the fridge and pours two glasses. I take a sip and savor the taste and watch Jay as impressed as I've ever been. Man, he's got money, a nice car, a nice place and he can cook!

From what I can smell anyway. God, please don't let me fuck this up anytime soon.

We make small talk for a little while longer before I begin to get bored just sitting and watching his back, so I make my way to the counter, near the stove, where he's working to get a closer look. I glance at the browning chicken in the pan and then up at J-Hope through my lashes and we lock eyes before he chuckles and looks away, I notice, he even starts to blush. How fucking cute is that?!

"You want a sneak peak?" He says, preparing a spoon full of the homemade spaghetti sauce for me to sample. Yeah, a sneak peak of that dick.

"Yeah sure!" I answer, just happy to have his attention again.

He happily escorts the spoon to my lips and my eyes widen once the sauce hits my taste buds.

"Jay," I grab his arm quickly as if I have pressing information to tell him. He looks back at me intently, awaiting my message. "I don't know if you know this, but...this is actually good." I say in a shocked voice. I drop the act and let out a chuckle when his shoulders drop from their tense pose and he narrows his eyes at me.

"That's very funny, but I'm not surprised." He replies, suddenly reaching out to touch my face. He swipes his thumb across the corner of my mouth and comes back with a red sauce that he immediately sucks into his mouth all while making eye contact with those bedroom eyes of his. "Tease." I whisper under my breath, making my way back to the island to sip on my wine. Jay chuckles at my actions and continues cooking, forcing me to do nothing, but look at his impressive back muscles. Taunting me without even trying now.

Get it together Char.

More small talk ensues until I peak to see Jay plating the food. He brings two plates and the bottle of wine over to the island and sits beside me. "Whew! Finally, I'm starving." I dig in without a second thought or reply from Jay. Once again I'm speechless at how delicious this dish is that I've been eating all my life.

"OH, J-Hope!" I mumble frantically through all the food in my mouth. He all-but jumps in his chair and looks me over for any injuries. "What? What is it!? Is it the food? What's wrong?" He asks wildly, trying to find solutions.

I nod hurriedly and swallowed everything in order to speak. "J-Hope, this is so fucking good!" I announce the reason why I was making a fuss and his expression completely changes from one of concern to betrayal. He goes back to eating his meal, fighting off a desperate need to laugh, while I for one took to laughing at his expense openly.

"Awww, Jay. Don't be mad." I teased through laughter as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. "You nearly gave me a heart attack." He replied, emotionless. "Awww, I'm sorry. It was just so delicious. I couldn't help myself." I say peppering kisses along the exposed right side of his body. I continue to do this as a moment of silence comes over us until Jay speaks up.

"That's twice I fell for that joke." he whispers. "I know! I'm amazing aren't I?" I let go to reward myself with a fork full of chicken parm.

"I can't argue with you there. Just not again, please." He looks up feebly, only half joking. "Yes, Jay, you got it. Thanks so much for cooking me this amazing meal by the way. It's lovely." A genuine smiles adorns his perfect face and I mentally pat myself on the back for putting it there.

"Of course, I've actually been wanting to do this for a while, but haven't found the right time. Ha, maybe I should be thanking Suho for telling me to go to that place."

I knew it! He had been planning to make me dinner after all. I don't know how to respond once my suspicions are proven true, as I'm filled with so much pleasure to hear that he would plan all this for me. It shows that he really put a lot of thought into this night to cook my favorite food, save an expensive wine bottle for the occasion and entertain my foolishness all the while. I place my hand on his forearm that rested on the table without thinking.

"You don't have to, you know?" I said in a low voice.

"Don't have to what?" he inquired genuinely lost at my vague sentence.

"To...Impress me, I guess." J-Hope was clearly not expecting this answer, as his eyes got the slightest bit wider and his mouth moved into a small frown. He was obviously lost. "I mean...What I mean to say is, you've taken me to the most expensive restaurants and nothing less, used your resources and connects to get wonderful photos and videos for my band and here you've worked really hard to make me this amazing meal and...I really appreciate it. No one has ever done this much for me... But I would be satisfied with like a burger and fries or something too." We both can't help, but laugh at that last part.

"I know Charlotte. That's the main reason why I like you so much." I give a toothy grin at the compliment that made me feel warm inside and make a side note to ask him about the other reasons later. We each go back to eating in comfortable silence before he decided he had more to say on the topic.

"I want to, though." Were his next words, leaving me the one to look at him in confusion. "Impress you, I mean... I mean it's not like you don't deserve it and it's no secret, I think you're... incredible and honestly, probably the most stunning girl I've ever met." I look down at the commendation out of habit. Jay gets up out of his chair to close the distance between us and lift my chin up to look at him with his thumb and index finger. "So forgive me for wanting to go the extra mile for someone as utterly brilliant as you are."

My stomach struggled to withhold the slew of butterflies running rampant inside it at the amount of praise coming from Hoseok. I honestly didn't know how to take it all, I definitely wasn't used to this and I could swear I felt tears flaring up behind my eyes at the sentiment. But there was no time to process it anyways seeing as Jay's lips were headed straight for mine and I welcomed them, gladly.

He took my face in both hands and bent down to plant on a kiss on my waiting lips. Instinctively, I wrap my hands around his middle, feeling everything I can and let my legs spread wider to give him better access so that I was on the edge of my seat and there is no space left between us. Jay's tongue easily enters my mouth as the kiss turns rough and I let out a soft moan, loving where this is going.

He runs his hands down my sides, not missing a single curve on his way to my thighs. I feel his hands caress the backs of my thighs and suddenly I'm being lifted into the air onto the island in the same exact position without breaking the kiss. An excited and impressed squeal escapes as I land, causing Hoseok to chuckle into my mouth. His mouth travels down my jaw to my neck, spending time on my sweet spot before he explores my collar bones and repeating the whole process with a hunger, like his life depended on it.

He dragged my body to the edge of the counter, one hand on each of my ass cheeks, causing my skirt to ride all the way up. With this, he properly grinded into my center, which was right where I needed him.

"Nnngh... You gonna give me what I want now?" I ask breathlessly in Hoseok's ear, in as sultry a voice as I can muster. "Yes, Charlotte." He pants in between his attacks on my neck. "Anything... You want... It's yours."

Arousal seemed to rush between my legs at the assertion and the delicious assault he was delivering to my jugular.

"Mmm." I hummed in approval, gripping the silky black hair at the crown of his head and pulling it back so that I could look him in those beautiful brown eyes. He wasn't expecting the rough action, moaning at the loss of exposed skin to gnaw on. He looked absolutely ravenous. His eyelids hooded with lust, chest heaving with excitement, ready to pounce again at any moment. I doubted I looked any different.

It was an odd experience, seeing Hoseok so wild and untamed like his usual gentlemanly self, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to enjoy every minute of it.

"Take me to you room." I say before connecting our lips again. Jay wastes no time in picking me up and getting us to his room. He makes a b-line directly for the bed and carefully places me down on it before going to climb on top of me. He gives me a passionate kiss that sends warmth through my chest and continues his onslaught on my neck.

"God, I love your collar bones." He explains giving them a pleasant nip. I moan in delight at the statement. He starts to make his way down my body and I stop him because I have plans of my own.

"Ah-ah." I interrupt him. Jay looks up at me in bewilderment. "Take off your pants and get on your back." I instruct earnestly. A smug smirk appears on J-Hope's face, I don't return it seeing as he is unmoving between my legs. "You calling the shots now baby?" I try not to get distracted by the titillating chill that runs up my spine at the pet name or the memory of our almost first kiss with the phrase before it.

"Don't play dumb, you know what I want." I press, not even trying to hide the carnal desire building up inside of me for this man. Jay seems taken aback and pleased with my answer all at once. He moves off the bed to properly remove his offensive clothing, getting completely naked. "Fuck." I let slip while ogling his body, seeing that he has six pack abs and a very large penis.

"Soon, just be patient." He replies in a smug voice, getting back on the bed. I take advantage of his position and grab hold of his shoulders, pinning him to the bed so that I'm on top. "Smartass." I say as I go to flick his nipple with my tongue.

"Sss! Ahh, uh, that's new." He swallows hard, not knowing what to do with his hands at the sign of something new. "Just sit back and relax, baby." I drawled, pleased that the pet name had the same effect on him as it did on me.

I watch him visibly release the tension from his body and went back to tracing the expanses of his body with my tongue. Jay was mostly silent unless it had to do with his nipples or the area around his privates. I teased him by leaving hickeys on his hips and v-lines and blowing on the sensitive skin, even going as far as biting his thighs a couple of times.

I would make my way back and forth across his pubic bone and kitten-lick his cockhead each time, but never putting it in my mouth, causing him to whimper. I was having the time of my life just worshipping this man's body, enjoying his moans of pleasure with no rush for him to return the favor... Now that's new.

In my fun-filled daze, I hear Jay's voice in between the pants and whines. "Charlotte," He mewls. "Please..."

Oh? "Hm?" I look up to find his face screwed up in anguish, his left hand fisted in the sheets and the other half covering his face. "What was that?" I question, nipping at his abdominal muscles once more.

"Please-ss! Please stop teasing..." He looks down at me, pleadingly, which I return with a smug smile of my own. I've never been the one to earn pleas from a partner during sex, let alone wish to hear someone beg, but with Hoseok, it was one of the most magnificent sounds to ever grace my ears. It's all I've ever wanted.

"Is that what I'm doing?" I ask coyly. "Yes, Charlotte that is what you're doi-haugh!" His fretting was cut short as I finally took his erection in my hand, offering some kind of friction. "There's no need to raise your voice." I all, but whisper, letting the heat of my breath fall onto the tip of his cock.

"Hoo, ha ha, Charlotte," He begins, losing his patience.

"Say it again." I let my tongue slide up the side of his length briefly.

"Ahh, say what?" Jay asked cluelessly, surely losing his mind. "You know what." Is all I offer him with a sinister gaze. I felt a surge of power rush over me and I loved it. Being in control for once.

"Huhh... Please?" He takes a crack at it, but I wanted more. "Is that all you got?" I inquire while running my fingers along the underside of his balls.

"Mmm! Please, Charlotte will you put my dick in your mouth?" He spat out all at once, chest heaving.

"Mm, better... What will you give me?" I give his cock one long stroke and watch his body shudder. My mouth fell open at the sight and I couldn't resist the urge to touch myself. I hiked my skirt all the way up and stuck my hand inside my underwear to find an insane, but not surprising, amount of arousal already there. Collecting some, I teasingly swirled my fingers around my clit waiting for Hoseok's reply.

Hoseok looks down to see what all the movement is and his head falls back on the bed defeatedly in response. "Ugh, anything! I'll give you anything." He repeats his words from earlier and it's almost enough. I just need one more thing.

"Who's cock is this?" His dick twitches in my hand at the query.

"Oh, it's yours. It's all yours Charlotte, all of it." He panted out wholeheartedly, making my clit throb underneath my fingers and my stomach fill with butterflies simultaneously. With this, I finally took him into my mouth, hollowing out my cheeks and jerking him off with my hand.

Jay tremors with the contact and immediately fists the sheets, this time with both hands. I take the hand in my panties and drag his fist to my head, signalling that he should grab onto that instead. He takes the hint and takes a fist full of my hair in his hand and tugs, causing my hand to quickly find its way to my clit again.

"You like when I pull on your hair, huh, baby?" I nod as I bob my head up and down on his dick and let out a moan of approval, sending vibrations through him, causing him to pull on my hair again and the cycle continued as such until Hoseok announces, "I'm gonna cum, Charlotte." I made no move to get off of him, I only nod in understanding. This exchange gives Hoseok the approval he needs to hold my head down on his cock as he hits the back of my throat.

Tears well up in my eyes at the pressure, but I fight through it as this is all I wanted and this is definitely not my first rodeo. He groans and comes down my throat in hot spurts, waves of pleasure visibly running through his body as he does. He promptly sinks into the bed, satiated and happy while I clean up the mess, still sucking on and sometimes licking up and down his cock because I can.

Hoseok comes back to life at some point and doesn't stop me, he only caresses my face and massages my scalp and I feel him start to get hard again in my mouth.

"God, you are amazing." He looks down at me with nothing, but adoration and I give the same gaze back.

"Come here." He orders with his finger. I'm powerless against his strong, heated gaze as I climb my way back up his body. He meets me halfway and I'm sat in his lap, kissing his soft, swollen lips. He works my shirt up over my head and gets rid of my bra in record time. This most definitely is not his first rodeo either.

He forces me straight back and pins me to the bed now. He eyes my bruised neck and chest with pink and red hickeys covering my brown skin, proudly before diving in to gift me more. I giggle and moan at the gesture. He must really have a thing for collar bones, it's kind of cute.

He travels down to my breasts and gets a kick out of my squirming as he greedily, stroked my nipples with his tongue. Migrating further south, he licked and sucked skillfully down the plains of my body with his sinful mouth. I whined at the loss of contact, as he carelessly removed my skirt and underwear at once. He looks me over once again in awe, it seems. I almost start to fidget under his gaze, but I fight it. The show I put on earlier reminds me of how confident I truly am and I find the power to gaze right back at him with lust filled eyes, silently begging him to take me.

"You're so beautiful, Charlotte." The pure adoration in the way he utters my name sends a delicious chill down my spine. I smile in thanks, not knowing what else to say and frankly struggling to find the words. He doesn't give it a second thought, instead, he backs up and pushes my legs back so that they're touching my stomach and takes my clit into his mouth without warning.

I intuitively, buck my hips into his mouth, Jay puts a stop to that by grabbing my thighs and forcing them down. The force he exerts will definitely leave bruising, but I find I am more than okay with that when I think about how I want Jay to leave his mark on me. The thought alone causes me to moan out and I grab Jay's head for leverage, twisting my fingers into that thick black hair that I love so much. He hums in approval into my pussy and I let out a tiny shriek.

"Ohhh, yes! Don't. Fucking. Stop." I pull his face closer to my cunt with both hands and my body arches off the bed when he sucks my clit into his mouth and repeatedly flicks his tongue against it full force.

"Shit! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, hah!" I felt myself getting close when he Jay inserted two fingers and started fingering me at an intense speed, catapulting me directly into my orgasm. My body froze in place and everything around me stood still. I let out a silent cry and my eyes rolled back into my head as Jay continued to finger me tirelessly for what felt like forever. He continued until I begged him to stop and I couldn't get mad at him for it because I loved every second.

I laid there in a drunken daze, chest rising and falling frantically, slightly convulsing without being touched. I felt Hoseok's body cover mine without putting much weight on me and I turned to face to him. He put both his hands on my face and kept calling my name even though I was right in front of him. With my vision slightly clouded with white spots and my drunken nature, I could see why he might be alarmed.

"Hey, Charlotte? You okay, babe?" The pleasant nickname brought some awareness to me and my senses and I was finally able to make Hoseok out with no spots or anything blocking my vision. The only thing I could think to do when I saw his beautiful face was to kiss him deeply. And the only thing I could think to say afterward was "Thank you."

He just laughs and caresses my face. "Anytime Charlotte." He lays his head on my chest and we just lay there for a while, enjoying the other's company.

"I mean what are you aquaman?" I jokingly ask, causing the both of us nearly cry with laughter. "No, but I try." He lifts his head up slowly and sends me a timid gaze. "You think you got one more in you?" He asks through hopeful, squinted eyes.

As if on cue, his cock twitches against my thigh, fully hard and I can feel arousal swell deep in my gut once more.

"If what happens next is anything like what I just experienced, I got whatever you want." I said seriously, looking deep into his eyes. He smiled, getting up to put on a condom and bouncing back to the bed like an excited puppy. He gazed at me longingly from above before pouncing on my lips. He kissed me fervently all the while reaching to down to make sure I was still wet enough for the main event. Of course I was.

"You ready?" He asks. "I been ready for a long time." I reply truthfully. I've waited for this moment for what seems like forever and now that it's finally here, I'm trying to revel in it for as long as possible.

Suddenly, he thrust his cock inside me while staring deep into my eyes and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. My jaw goes slack and I still his hips to get used to his massive size, but I don't look away. Eye contact during sex isn't a foreign concept to me, but I haven't done it with anyone since my ex. I didn't expect to want to capture the feeling it brings with Hoseok, but it feels more right now than it ever did before.

I girate my hips toward him, letting him know it's okay to move and he pulls almost all the way out and then delves back into me deeply. He hits my g-spot with most of his thrusts, causing my jaw to drop and my eyes to roll back into my head briefly before I refocus on him again and again.

"God, you look so fuckin' hot when you do that. Nnngh, so good baby, you're so good." I smile lazily and hum happily at the praise given to me. Jay takes notice of this.

"You like when I tell you how good you are?" He demands, his thrusts getting more powerful. "Ah! Yes!" My back completely arches off the bed and Hoseok follows my hips up into a new angle where he's on his knees, taking the weight of my hips and my shoulders and arms are the only part of me on the bed.

I let out a shout at the new angle that is bringing me closer and closer to my climax. "Right there! Oh my God, yes!" I scream as Hoseok takes complete control, guiding my body where it needs to go with his body as well as with his words.

"Oh, yes. You're so good Charlotte. Just taking my cock like that. Just take it, it's yours. All yours baby. Ooh--squeeze it like that again... Oh fuck."

Hoseok's intoxicating words and his rapid thrusts left me floating in a sea of nothingness. Euphoria spread from the tips of my toes to the every pore in my body. I was once again frozen in time and space, just a non-responsive pile of gummy limbs left throbbing around this cock for him to use as he pleased. And use it, he did and I welcomed every second of it. He came into the condom a while after me because he has the labido of a horse on steroids and collapsed on top of me. It was not a completely unwelcomed experience. I eventually wrapped my arms around him and vice versa, I was completely content.

A few minutes later, he got up to throw the condom away and made his way back to bed for a bit of cuddling. I haven't been a cuddler for years, but like most things when it came to Hoseok, I made an exception.

"That was absolutely amazing." He uttered into my chest, that was now cluddered with hickeys and fingerprints. "You can say that again. You're a fucking animal Jay, who knew?" We both laughed.

"I could say the same about you. Oh and Charlotte?"

"Yeah?" I peer down at him to get a better look.

"If we're gonna keep doing this, maybe you should learn how to pronounce my real name so I can hear you scream it next time." He smiles at me only half-joking.

I don't hesitate to take the pillow under him and slam it down on his face.

But he's not wrong, I would love to.

#j-hope fanfic #suga fanfic #junghoseok #junghoseokfanfic #minyoongi #minyoongifanfic #bts #btsfanfiction #ambw #kpop #humour #sugardaddyj-hope #smut #j-hopesmut #btssmut

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hazzasgayvodka · 5 years

Text

29 * NO PEACE * 29

Impact: chapter 29

Chapter title song: No Peace - Sam Smith

JESS

I stand in front of my dresser, gripping the edge of the wood with white knuckles. I look into the mirror, staring into my own bloodshot eyes. I don't know if I can do this. I look at the dangly diamond earrings in my ears and the giant necklace across my chest, all of it borrowed from Eliza.

My hands are clammy, shaking against the wood I'm leaning on, holding myself up on. I can feel the tears threatening to spill over my cheeks, but I breathe in, keeping them at bay in order to not mess up the makeup Sam just finished putting on my face. I dab under my eyes, my red lips trembling as I grab my purse and slide it over my shoulder.

I catch sight of myself in the full-length mirror by the door, the red dress fitting me perfectly in all the right places. My heels match it perfectly. I almost look like myself, the most myself I've looked in weeks. My hair is shorter and more purple than red. Every time I saw it in the mirror it reminded me of him and how much he loved it, so I cut it off and dyed it. Sam said I was being rash, but I felt ages better after I did it.

I run my fingers down the red satin fabric of my dress as I slide my arms through my long black peak coat jacket. I look like a million bucks as I stare at myself in the mirror but inside I still feel empty. I'm wobbling on my heels, it feels like a single gust of wind could knock me over.

I know he'll be there tonight, he has to be. It's the night before the trip, the big company dinner to celebrate the new San Francisco location of Styles Publishing. My stomach feels sick as I head out the door and to my car. I can't imagine seeing him again, not after the wedding party. I didn't realize how horribly it would mess with my mind, how fast it could hinder my breathing.

I pull out of the parking lot and collect myself as I drive, following my GPS to a convention center down Seminole street. I park outside amongst a sea of BMWs and get out of the car, wobbly walking to the front doors. I'm greeted by staff in suits who offer to take my jacket, but I tuck it tighter against myself and push passed them.

I'm already on edge, looking around at the countless faces I don't recognize. A waiter approaches me with a platter of champagne flutes and I take two from the tray before he even asks if I'd like one. I down one of them in two sips and leave the empty glass on the table behind me. I hope it numbs me soon, flowing through my veins and making my head stop spinning.

I sip through the second glass, savoring the smooth taste as I walk around uneasily, searching anywhere and everywhere for just one familiar face. I hope to run into Lex or Vance soon as I position myself in one of the corners of the room and look out amongst the sea of people bustling around.

Suddenly, my eyes land on Audrie at the other end of the room. I spring up from my solemn position on the wall and walk to her, as fast as I can in these god forsaken heels. She smiles as I walk up to her, taking me in her arms and giving me a squeeze.

"So, you're coming with us then?" She asks excitedly.

"I am." I sigh, trying to sound as eager as I can.

"Why the change of heart?" She asks quizzically.

I don't have the heart to tell her that it's because Harry ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it with his stupid pair of boots. That every time I see him, my chest cavity feels like it's collapsing and suddenly I can't breathe let alone work.

"I don't have plans after school," I say thoughtfully, "This seems like a pretty good plan."

She nods, taking a drink of champagne from her own glass. She looks gorgeous too, standing in simple pumps with a white cocktail dress. It contrasts against her tanned skin beautifully, she looks effortlessly perfect.

"Well," She nods, gesturing to everyone filing into the ballroom as the doors are opened, "I guess we should get inside and snag a seat."

I follow her inside and stare in awe at the giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It's as big as the entire room and it matches the countless white and gold decorations on the tables placed around the ballroom. Audrie grabs my hand in the midst of the crowd and drags me to the table closest to the open bar. I laugh as she takes a seat and nods, clearly pleased with her choice.

Lex steps up to the front stage that all of the tables are surrounding with a mic in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other.

"Good evening everyone," He smiles, "I'm glad you're all here. Let's make this one to remember as we prepare ourselves for a great adventure tomorrow. Don't drink too much and don't be afraid to dance."

He grins, toasting the air and everyone cheers. He walks off the stage and music begins to play, lights illuminating the floor in the center of all the tables. I shake my head as he dances his way over to me and Audrie, sat in the corner.

"Well come on ladies, let's liven this thing up a bit," He laughs, "You two are the youngest, liveliest we've got."

"Maybe in a few more drinks." Audrie smirks, taking a sip of her peach Bellini through her straw.

Lex shakes his head and makes his way back to his table at the front of the room. I watch him take a seat and my eyes flicker to the person next to him. My stomach is in my throat as I stare at him, dressed in a black suit with a burgundy dress shirt underneath. The wind is knocked out of me as I watch him drink the last of his champagne and look around the room.

I divert my eyes as soon as he starts to turn and get up from the table to stand at the bar and order a double whiskey coke. I sit back down and Audrie frowns.

"We're supposed to be drinking champagne and fizzy fruity drinks," She huffs, taking another sip of her Bellini, "We're celebrating."

"I'll drink a spritzer right after this." I sigh, tipping my head back and letting the entire glass of liquid burn my throat.

She stares at me wide eyed before tipping her head back and finishing her Bellini, her sipping straw forgotten. She orders us each vodka sodas and despite hating them, I sip my down quickly, my view becoming hazier and soon I can't even see him on the other side of the room.

Eventually she drags me up from my seat and to the dance floor. A man I've never seen before asks me to dance and I nod, allowing him to put his hands on my waist and move me to the music. The world is blurring, moving faster than my mind can comprehend but I don't care. I melt into the numbness filling my body and welcome it with open arms. I embrace the sloppiness of the mystery man's actions, placing my hands over his to guide him with my hips.

I'm startled by the screeching sound of feedback from a microphone on the stage and I look up to see Harry at the front, the microphone gripped in his hand. His eyes are beyond glassy and he's swaying while he's standing still, another glass of champagne in his free hand.

"I'm Harry Styles," He introduces, "I'm head editor here and I'd like to make a speech."

His words slur out of his mouth to the point of being hardly intelligible. I can see Lex bounding over to the stage to get him off of it, but he puts his hand up and shakes his head.

"No Lex, let me do this," He sighs, his eyes fluttering closed as he raises his glass in the air, "To douchebag stepbrothers," He cheers and Lex cringes, "To deadbeat dads," He smirks, pointing his glass at me, "And to your biggest fear becoming your reality, losing your best friend, because you were stupid enough to fall in love with her."

His eyes latch onto mine as the words pour out of his mouth. His voice is malicious, cutting through me like a knife. The tears I've been trying so hard to hold back burst from my eyes. I turn away from him, wiping my eyes hastily and looking at my hands to see makeup smeared all over them. Audrie reaches for my arm but I pull away from her, running back towards the front and shoving through the bathroom door.

I grab onto the counter and steady myself, my sobs wracking through my body with a vengeance. My throat burns as my stomach threatens to empty its contents. I rock back and forth, using the counter as my stable base. I can hardly bring myself to look into the mirror and see what I look like.

My eyeliner is running down my cheeks and creating white lines in my foundation and blush. My lipstick is beyond smudged and I cry harder as I realize I can't go back out there looking like this. Audrie comes bursting in in a few seconds, wrapping an arm around me and trying to console me.

"He fell off the stage," She says, "Lost his footing and hit the ground."

I wish I could say that the image rectifies my night, but it does anything but that. I find myself worried for him, even after all he's done. Even after he got up in front of everyone and said those things just to hurt me.

HARRY

I wake up in a pile of my own vomit on my couch with no memory of how I got home. I can vaguely remember Lex driving me home and throwing up in his car. I remember him saying that he was serious, I can't go to San Francisco like this.

Suddenly, I remember her. I remember watching her dancing with another guy. She was swaying, too much alcohol coursing through her system. She was in that red dress, my favorite. Whenever my eyes landed on her she looked nervous and I had to nearly bolt my feet to the ground to not charge her and pour my heart out.

I sit up quickly and look around, staring down to see myself still fully clothed in last night's suit. I shake my head as I stand up and hear a knock at the door. I walk over to the door lazily, dragging my feet as my head pounds in my eardrums making the ringing worse.

I pull open the door and I'm surprised to see Ryland standing outside. I want to shove his face through the dry wall and he shoves past me before I can get the chance to slam the door in his face.

"Listen, I know you're pissed, I fucked up, I shouldn't have helped Zack," He rambles, his hands held up in surrender, "But you need an intervention man!"

"I don't need anything from you." I shout, restricting myself from picking him up and tossing him through a window.

"Harry, you've still got it. You're intelligent and handsome, you've got your whole life ahead of you and you're throwing it all away over some girl!"

"She isn't some girl, Ryland!" I shout, surprising myself with how quickly the adrenaline fueled me.

"Then go get her, man," He sighs, his voice strained, "What are you doing here?"

"Because it's not that easy." I huff.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration with my unwillingness to listen to him. I can tell he's near done trying to convince me.

"What do you think we'd be doing if we never got into this, Styles? He asks, his voice low and his eyes glazed over.

"I'd be with her."

I don't catch it before it's out of my mouth and suddenly I can't breathe. Ryland nods his head as if he understands. Her face taunts me behind my eyelids. I want him to say something to fill the silence, but he just stares. I need the words out of the air, I need something else to repeat over and over in my head.

"You were in love with her." He says finally.

The words knock the wind out of me. They sting like nothing else, like fire against my skin. He's wrong, he's got to be wrong.

"No I wasn't-"

"Don't lie to yourself because of me, you did, and Zack ruined that, we both did." He seethes.

I look at him out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn't move. His eyes are trained in front of him, the gears turning in his head. I block out his words, I erase them from my mind like I erased her from my skin.

"I'm sorry." He says, his voice whispered.

"Don't-"

"No, it's my fault you lost the only thing going for you. She was good for you and I hated that I was jealous, we both were!" He shouts, his focus finally breaking from the wall, his bloodshot eyes locking onto mine, "You only meet a girl like that once in your life and I fucked it up for you."

"It wasn't you, it was us, we didn't fit-"

"You two are like a fucking jigsaw puzzle and you know it."

My mind is exasperated by Ryland's sudden change in character as I open my mouth, trying to find any sum of words to counter him. I'm cut off as the door opens and slams shut once again, my head whipping up to see Jason standing in my doorway.

I take a step forward, trying to gauge how upset he is with me. He surprises me as he grabs me around my back and pulls me to him. His embrace is strong, squeezing me against him, his fist balling up around the fabric of the back of my shirt.

"You fucking asshole, I thought you were dead." He says, his voice cracking.

I half-heartedly laugh, patting his back as he holds me tighter, letting out a sigh of relief. I know he was worried, I should have called him but he's still tied to her. I needed to completely separate myself as much as I could what with the wedding party and work. No matter how much I distance myself she still seems to show up everywhere.

He holds me back from him, taking me in, assessing the damage I'm sure. He purses his lips when he inspects my eyes shaking his head.

"Would you please back me up and tell him he's being a fucking idiot?" Ryland huffs, joining us.

"It doesn't matter, it's over!" I shout, turning to him and hoping he shuts up already.

"Of course it does! If you want something you've got to fight for it!" Jason says, shaking me by my shoulders, "You of all people should know that!"

"What if they don't want to be fought for?" I ask, barely meeting his eyes from underneath my hair that's fallen into my eyes.

"Then you're not fighting hard enough."

JESS

I walk over to my dresser after getting out of the shower. It's still early, six in the morning. I have to be at the airport by eight. My mind is swimming in numbness, so many thoughts swirling in my brain that I can't seem to distinguish one from another. How am I supposed to feel about this? I should be happy right? And I am, but not the way I should be.

I'm happy because I get to travel the city of San Francisco with my very best friend. I'm happy because I'm living one of my greatest dreams, I'm traveling. I'm happy that I'm going, that I'm taking a huge step towards a successful future with Styles Publishing but every time I really contemplate leaving, it feels like a dagger in my chest.

It seems the words one month keep reappearing in my mind. Half of me wonders how it could possibly be that long already, and the other half swears it's been much longer. Some days feel like eons and others go by in seconds.

I realize then that I miss him. Each day he's been gone has felt like a bullet hole in my chest, and whenever I try to pull it out another one takes its place. I miss him so much that looking at him hurts because all it does is bring back everything I've ever felt for him and suddenly I can't breathe. I've seen him at the office, but I always turn my head. I can't bring myself to meet his eyes, to let him suck me in like he's done before.

That's the thing about him I suppose, his eyes. His face. His lips. His freckles. His jaw. He is so beautiful. He is so lovely in his own conventional way that everyone else are flecks of brown and grey. He is wildflowers in June, the eye of a hurricane, city lights at midnight, sunlight coming through a window. He is nothing manufactured, nothing plastic. His eyes are formed from stars and his freckles are marks of Earth sprayed across his skin.

I can still picture his face; every angle, every line, every indentation. I studied it every time i got the chance. I studied the way he furrowed his brows in concentration and bit his lip. I studied the hole where his lip ring goes and the curve of his cheek bones. The freckle on the right side of his chin and the bleariness to his eyes when he first wakes up. I've memorized the gravelly sound of his voice in the early hours of the morning and the way his hot breath works its way into his words when he whispers.

I remember it all and it exhausts me. To know that despite everything he's put me through, he is still the only thought in my mind. To know that even after everything we've been through I can never erase him from me because he is engraved in my mind. His name does something to me. Every time I hear it my throat closes up as if I'd said it. My heart starts beating faster and suddenly it feels as though I can't breathe. How does he do this to me?

I want to erase him from me completely. I want to scrub him from my skin, scrub him from my mind. I don't want to think about him anymore, I want closure.

I realize that that's the problem,

I deserve an ending.

We deserve an ending.

Even if that means sitting in silence, screaming at the top of our lungs, making love on the soft cotton sheets, or fucking on the rough tiled floor.

We deserve an ending.

#harry styles #harry styles smut #harry styles angst #harry styles au #harry styles imagine #harry

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mujeeburrehman · 3 years

Text

Sisters Tackle a Basement Bathroom Remodel in Arlington

With a sister as a housemate (once again), a “creepy” basement bathroom goes onto the remodel to-do list

“After” photos: Nova Soul Imagery for Sweeten. Styling: Simon Staging.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Nicole

Before: Remodel a basement bathroom to go from “icky” to incredible

I love my Arlington Ridge neighborhood with its hilly streets and access to the metro, my favorite Mexican restaurant, and grocery store. When I found the 2,000-square-foot 1950s Virginia ranch home, I fell for the windows, cathedral kitchen, glass porch, and spacious yard. My older sister, Missy, deciding to move from San Francisco back to the East Coast, was a perfect excuse to renovate. She asked to use my downstairs as her temporary home.

Before we renovated this (almost) windowless basement bathroom, it was creepy and unwelcoming. The shower had a horrible wall partitioning it off from the rest of the room. The door opened to a full view of the toilet. We never used it. I wanted an open-plan bathroom with plenty of light—a room that guests wouldn’t be scared to use when they visited me in Arlington.

I went into this as a first-time renovator. My biggest question was: Will it be a huge interruption in my workday? I work in business development, so I am on Zoom a lot! We posted our project on Sweeten to find a contractor. We could not have been happier with the Sweeten general contractor we selected.

Behind the not-so-pleasing wall

When the contractor removed the wall, she discovered a very vintage pipe system that needed replacement. We looked for a plumbing specialist, and that search set us back a couple of days. Meanwhile, our contractor took the room down to the studs so the plumber could install new piping. The job involved breaking the foundation concrete, but even on days when the jackhammers were out or the water had to be turned off, we had advanced warning.

After: From dowdy-to-dream bathroom

My Sweeten contractor made the job seamless and easy, even though what I initially envisioned changed dramatically. I thought I wanted the bathroom all white and clean but decided instead to let this room give the downstairs character. When she proposed the sliding glass barn door as a shower enclosure, I was sold!

The vanity is another fantastic piece, not only for its look but for the storage it brought to the room. I never would have guessed I would pick the gray shower floor, but it all came together and it works.

A beautiful result, and a satisfying experience

I wanted a modern bathroom to match the rest of the house—and my future renovation plans!—and I really lucked out. My contractor was really helpful, connecting with my sister and me and providing the right resources and materials. I understood what to expect throughout the process, and we are both so happy with how the bathroom turned out. Missy, a former tech executive, now works as a startup advisor. She is really enjoying the new digs.

Throughout the process, my contractor’s crew was amazing! My one-year-old beagle, Callie, would shake with excitement when they arrived, play for ten minutes, and then allow them to work. She returned throughout the day to check progress and get head scratches.

My Sweeten general contractor answered my questions, updated me on changes, and discussed any challenges. The team was respectful of my space, too. They covered the downstairs areas to keep them as clean as possible and left the workspace tidy. I scored with a respectful and professional contracting group that made my rip-and-replace renovation run smoothly, even as I worked from home. I always knew what to expect the next day.

After a remodel, a basement bathroom has real appeal

Missy’s gorgeous bathroom is now my favorite thing to show off in the house. It inspired her, too! She recently sold her house and is thinking about where she—and her Aussiedoodle, Ellie—should buy next. New, modern, and clean…what an upgrade!

Thank you, Nicole and Missy, for sharing your dream bathroom remodel with us!

Materials Guide

BATHROOM RESOURCES: Adessi Florentina gray ceramic 16” x 16” floor tile; Villa Artisan Mist ceramic 3” x 12” shower wall tile; Festival matte gray porcelain Penny Mosaic shower floor tile; Zipcode Design’s New Milford metal bathroom/vanity mirror; and Varenne sink faucet: Wayfair. Fontaine by Italia’s Hotel de Ville single-handle square 1-spray-setting shower faucet in matte black: Italia Faucets. Frameless sliding shower door: Glass Warehouse. Woodbrook 37-inch vanity in white-washed oak with cultured-marble vanity and white sink; Power Flush two-piece 1.28 GPF single-flush elongated toilet: Glacier Bay. Three-light dimmable vanity fixture: Joss & Main.

Looking for contractors near Arlington, Virginia? Let Sweeten match you with licensed experts!

—

Penny tile, like the one in Nicole’s bathroom, is one of 5 popular bathroom tile styles homeowners use most frequently.

Renovating your basement increases the square footage of your living space and the value of your home.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

Source link

source https://civilco.construction/sisters-tackle-a-basement-bathroom-remodel-in-arlington/ from Civilco Construction & Interior https://civilcoconstruction.blogspot.com/2021/04/sisters-tackle-basement-bathroom.html

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civilcoconstruction · 3 years

Text

Sisters Tackle a Basement Bathroom Remodel in Arlington

With a sister as a housemate (once again), a “creepy” basement bathroom goes onto the remodel to-do list

“After” photos: Nova Soul Imagery for Sweeten. Styling: Simon Staging.

Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Nicole

Before: Remodel a basement bathroom to go from “icky” to incredible

Behind the not-so-pleasing wall

After: From dowdy-to-dream bathroom

A beautiful result, and a satisfying experience

After a remodel, a basement bathroom has real appeal

Thank you, Nicole and Missy, for sharing your dream bathroom remodel with us!

Materials Guide

Looking for contractors near Arlington, Virginia? Let Sweeten match you with licensed experts!

—

Penny tile, like the one in Nicole’s bathroom, is one of 5 popular bathroom tile styles homeowners use most frequently.

Renovating your basement increases the square footage of your living space and the value of your home.

Source link

from CIVICLO Construction & Interior https://civilco.construction/sisters-tackle-a-basement-bathroom-remodel-in-arlington/

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civilarchitectconstruction · 4 years

Photo

Studio Gang completes twisting Mira tower in San Francisco The interiors of Studio Gang's Mira residential building have been revealed in these new photographs, as the project is finished in San Francisco. Photos capture the interiors and exterior of the 40-storey apartment complex, whose facade is formed by twisting rectangular columns punctured with windows. Balconies are nestled within the spirals and scale the tower with glass railings. The twisted and curved windows that form the exterior of Mira are intended to be a reinterpretation of the city's bay windows. Inside, they offer views of San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge that connects to Oakland. Mira has 392 apartment units as two- and three-bedroom condominiums. In the photos, apartments have white walls, wood floors, white counters and dark wood kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. Structural pillars have angular shapes with eight or six sides. ©: StudioGang Architects @studiogang #greenarchitecture #futurearchitect #architectureschool #youngarchitects #architecturestudentlife #architecture #architecturedrawing #architecturelovers #architecturemodel #studyarchitecture #archistudentlife #archistudent #architecturestudent #architecturelovers #critday #lifeofanarchitecturestudent #youngarchitect #studentofarchitecture #bestnewarchitects #designstudent #architecturejobs #architecturestudents #studentarchitect #archstudent #archi_students #archistudent #architecturaldrawing #itscritday #california (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDBoBfRhDKn/?igshid=1jo8ho7o17sl2

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finnietq469-blog · 4 years

Text

The smart Trick of Wall Murals East Bay That Nobody is Discussing

Two obstructs up Divisadero, at Hayes Street, are two murals hovering above Popeye's Louisiana Cooking area. One is a wolf's head with ears that stick over the roofline, the uncommon three-dimensional wall surface mural. Keep relocating north and there are murals right to Save-More Market, at the edge of Mc Allister Street.

" Say Goodbye To Mean Individuals" by Mike Spike Krouse on Divisadero Street, San Francisco. Image: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle Two summertimes ago a gang of six artists was commissioned by the mayor's workplace to repaint a series of connected paintings on a set of two-story structures lining this slim backstreet off Polk Road.

Getting The Bay Area Wall Murals To Work

Photo: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle From the very first block of Golden Gate Method, you can find examples of metaphorical mural art on the back and side walls of the auditorium. One is of a concertgoer on the shoulders of one more dancing down the fire retreat. One more is a woman at a church of sorts in a design that is a mix of hieroglyphics and Art Deco.

Photo: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle The west-facing wall has a classic rock mural of Jerry Garcia. A block west and also across Taylor Street on the front of the Golden Gate Theatre is a shellacked mural of posters for plays as well as musicals. 982 Market St. A section of "JR: The Chronicles of San Francisco" is wheat-pasted on a wall along Octavia Boulevard in Hayes Valley.

What Does Custom Wall Murals Bay Area Mean?

The 9-Minute Rule for Wall Murals Bay Area

The Facts About Wall Murals Bay Area Uncovered

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The Of Bay Area Custom Wall Murals

The Ultimate Guide To Bay Area Custom Wall Murals

An area of JR's large mural " The Chronicles of San Francisco" is wheat-pasted on a wall as a promotion for his digital mural up for a year at the San Francisco Gallery of Modern Art. "Employees' Legal Rights" by Shepard Fairey along Octavia in Hayes Valley. Picture: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle A couple of blocks north is Shepard Fairey's "Workers' Rights," painted in 2016 across from Patricia's Eco-friendly as a homage to Cesar Chavez.

Zio Ziegler's mural on the side of the Cine Arts Sequoia in Mill Valley. Picture: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle A massive mural by Zio Ziegler covers the side of the Cine Arts Sequoia Theater downtown. The problem is that it gets on the side of the structure, without excellent perspective.

Little Known Questions About Wall Murals East Bay.

You can additionally see it by undergoing Playa restaurant to the outdoor patio in back, however umbrellas cover the view. The best vantage is to continue out the back of La Playa outdoor patio as well as sideways road, where it is finally noticeable. 25 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. Information from "A People's Background of Telegraph Opportunity" in Berkeley.

It gets on Rush Road, on the side of Amoeba Songs. The mural, a city landmark, tells the story of Berkeley agitation, from the battle for Individuals's Park , which passed its 50th anniversary in May. Every one of the personalities are stood for. Haste Road and also Telegraph Method, Berkeley. Bathroom mural at People's Park in Berkeley Image: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle Continue up Haste and you will certainly hit People's Park itself.

Bay Area Wall Murals Can Be Fun For Anyone

2455 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Andre Jones before "Authentically Oakland" at the entire Foods near Lake Merritt. Image: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle The keeping wall surface at the rear of the Whole Foods car park on Harrison Street near Lake Merritt has been repainted with all the well-known symbols of "Oaktown." Called "Authentically Oakland," the item is by Andre Jones and also the Bay Area Mural Program.

Missing are the icons of any one of Oakland's specialist sports groups. Expectations https://eastbayspeedpro.com/products-services/wall-murals are that the mural will certainly outlive the groups. 230 Bay Place, Oakland. Street murals behind Broadway, Redwood City. Image: Sam Whiting, The Chronicle Downtown Redwood City is being inhabited with darkness murals on the sidewalk, pet murals on the front of services, as well as a natural set of linked murals on the backsides of businesses along historical Broadway, simply eastern of El Camino Real.

Fascination About Wall Murals East Bay

Art is all over, yet you have to seek it. And that's the factor. 2658 Broadway, Redwood City. Bay Location Summer Season Enjoyable Overview From Rubens to Warhol, Bay Location summertime art programs and exhibits not to miss out on Sam Whiting Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected].

Image: French Cavern Painting Murals are broadly specified as a paint or various other masterpiece carried out straight on a wall surface, ceiling, or other long-term surface area. One unique facet of murals is that the physical architecture of the surface area is included right into the art work. The earliest known murals existed in the Paleolithic era, and also were found in collapse southerly France, circa 30,000 BC.

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samuelmmarcus · 5 years

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Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fall Decor

Beautiful Homes of Instagram is one of my favorite series here on HomeBunch and it feels even more special when these homes are decorated for a special time of the year, such as Fall.

Ashley from @modernglamhome, beautifully decorated many spaces of her gorgeous home and she’s sharing all of the details with us today. Keep reading to learn a few decorating tricks by this talented homeowner:

“Hi! I am Ashley, the voice behind Modern Glam a lifestyle blog where I share my love of home decor, fun DIY projects and healthy recipes. My husband and I have been renovating our California bungalow since we moved in 9 years ago. My husband, Nick is a general contractor and I own a women’s clothing store, Flaunt Boutique. We live in the San Francisco bay area with our 2 young kids.

When Luciane asked me to contribute to her inspiring series, Beautiful Home of Instagram, my jaw hit the floor. I’m just your average suburban mom who also loves to create a beautiful home. I love the home decor community on Instagram and I get so much inspiration and many of my design ideas from there.

So, let me show you around my cozy California bungalow home that we purchased 9 years ago. When we first bought our home, it was a blank slate. The previous owner didn’t do any improvements so the house needed some serious TLC, which is perfect for me!”

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fall Decor

There are lots of things that we love about our home, but one of the first things that drew me to this one when we were looking was the front porch.

Fall Decor

Fall decor makes this front porch feel even more magical! I am loving the string lights and the faux candles. What a nice touch!

Outdoor Sconce: Rejuvenation.

Beautiful Lantern Pendants: here, here & here.

Hello, Pumpkin!

I like to use as many natural elements in my fall porch decor as possible. Lots of pumpkins, cornstalks, hay bales and mums were all that I needed to create this fun and festive neutral fall front porch!

Doormats: Wreath Doormat & Black and White Runner.

Siding Paint Color

The exterior paint color is “Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter”.

Hang Chairs

Our hanging chairs are one of our favorite spots to sit and watch the kids play and visit with our neighbors.

Fall Pillows: here, here, here & here.

Round Outdoor Rug: Target – similar here, here & here.

Hanging Chairs: Serena & Lily.

Summer Vibes

This is how Ashley decorates this space for summer: “I added a small table out here for setting drinks on and used an affordable circle rug to ground the space. New pillows and cute beach towels bring this space to life.”

Pillows: Serena & Lily.

Knit Pillows: Target.

Beach Towels: Serena & Lily.

Front Door

Our front door is by Pella and is painted Clark and Kensington’s Mountainside Vista. Although, I admit, I love to change the color of my front door. This is the 3rd color it’s been in 3 years and I’m already contemplating another change!

Meet the Homeowner!

This is the beautiful and talented, Ashley from @modernglamhome. I am sure you guys will love her home as much I do!

Living Room

My personal design rule is to buy all my furniture in neutral shades. Having a neutral foundation makes it’s easy to switch out the accessories for each season.

Pair of Stools: Serena & Lily.

Rattan Chair: Serena & Lily.

Fireplace

Fireplace tile is Calcutta gold fish scale tile.

Tile: here & here – similar.

Mirror: Anthropologie.

Sweet Dreams

I am loving seeing Ashley’s puppies around the house… They’re adorable!

Side table is from Serena & Lily.

Hats

A quick and easy update I made for summer was creating this hat wall. I pulled all the sunhats out of my closet and hung them on the wall!

Beautiful Blankets: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Draperies: here – similar.

Hardware: here – similar.

Paint Color

All of our walls are painted Benjamin Moore’s Cotton Balls. I love the soft white color that has a touch of cream in it. We also painted our ceilings and trim the same color but in different sheens. This makes the room seem larger when all the colors are the same.

My walls are a satin finish, where the trim is semi gloss and the ceiling is flat. This creates a cohesive look that expands the room and makes it seem bigger!

Sofa Sectional: Pottery Barn Big Sur Sectional.

Coffee Table: Serena & Lily.

Chairs: Serena & Lily.

Rug: Serena & Lily.

Inspired by this Room:

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Dining Room

My style is pretty eclectic. I love to mix different styles and use new, modern and antique pieces in the same space. My dining room is a perfect example of that. We have a rustic farmhouse table made of reclaimed oak with an ornate trestle base. I paired this traditional piece with modern lucite chairs. I love the mix of old and new!

Dining Table: here, here, here & here – similar.

Lighting

Chandelier: Visual Comfort Darlana Linear Chandelier – similar here.

Fall-Inspired

To stick with the modern farmhouse fall table theme, I added some casual yet neutral plaid napkins and a white pumpkin to each place setting.

Dining Chairs: here – similar.

Fall Tablescape

Fall Tablescape: “A mix of bay leaves, olive branches and rosemary stems were all I needed to create this fall centerpiece. Add in a few neutral white pumpkins, some candles and it’s the easiest centerpiece to create!”

Plates: Target.

Mugs: here & here – similar.

Kitchen

One of the first rooms we tackled when we first moved in was our kitchen. We originally painted the cabinets and installed new Calcutta Gold marble countertops. This spring, we underwent another remodel and replaced all the cabinetry, added open shelving and integrated appliances. The new design is more efficient and I love the warmth that the open shelves bring to this space!

Counterstools: McGee & Co. – Others: here, here, here, here & here.

Lighting: Visual Comfort.

Cabinet Paint Color

Our kitchen cabinets are maple with Benjamin Moore’s Simply White paint.

Kitchen Faucet: Delta.

Sink: Kohler.

Backsplash

Backsplash is a 3×6 white subway tile.

Open Shelves

The open shelving in our recently remodeled kitchen are from Ultra Shelf and you can order any size shelf to fit your space.

Hardware: Schoolhouse Edgecliff Pulls.

Metal Basket: McGee & Co.

Mixer: KitchenAid.

White Oak & Subway Tiles

I love the white oak and the warmth that it adds to our kitchen.

Countertop: Calcutta Gold Marble countertop.

Sconces: Visual Comfort – – similar here, here & here.

Wooden Bread Boards: here & here.

Breakfast Room

The breakfast room features a custom banquette and a marble tulip dining table from Design within Reach.

Similar Dining Table: here & here.

Stay Awhile Sign: Etsy.

Dining Chairs

Lucite Chairs: All Modern.

Hardwood Flooring

Another big project that we completed this year was to replace all the hardwood flooring. It’s amazing what a difference it makes in the overall feel and brightness inside your home.

New hardwood floor is California Classics in their Mediterranean Collection – color is called Vittoria – similar here & here.

Master Bedroom

Pink is my favorite color and our bedroom and closet are a true reflection of this love. My husband even loves this color. Pink in the bedroom is very romantic and has a glow at night that is ethereal.

Platform Bed: Pottery Barn.

Pillows

Pillows are from Serena & Lily.

Blush Pink Throw Pillow: Target.

Paint Color

Our bedroom is one of the only rooms that is painted a color other than white. I chose Benjamin Moore’s Gentle Butterfly.

Artwork: Minted.

Decor

Headboard: West Elm.

Acrylic Console Tables: CB2 – similar here.

Mongolian Lamb Stool: West Elm.

Sconces: Savoy House.

Artwork: Minted.

Bedding

Bedding is from Serena & Lily (my favorite bedding!): Duvet Cover & Sheet Set.

Throw: Anthropologie (Discontinued).

African Juju Hat: here – similar.

Basket: World Market – Other Beautiful Baskets: here & here.

Dressing Room

Another favorite room in our home is our walk-in closet. It’s honestly what sold me on our house. We updated the space 5 years ago with built in cabinets, leopard carpeting and beautiful finishes. It’s a true reflection of my personal style.

Our leopard carpet is from a local carpet store.

Hardware: LuxHoldups.

Lighting

I painted the ceiling and walls Calamine by Farrow and Ball. It was the perfect jumping off point for the rest of the room.

Lighting: Arteriors Osgood Pendant.

Master Bathroom

Our master bathroom is done in classic carrera marble. This room took almost a year to complete! That’s the life of living with a contractor for your husband.

The baskets under the sink hide everyday items such a hairbrushes, my hairdryer and curling iron, and extra towels. All of my makeup and toiletries are stored in the nearby linen closet. Because we only have 2 sets of towels and sheets, there is ample room for all the normal bathroom toiletries and beauty products!

Bathroom apothecary console is from Pottery Barn.

Bathroom Faucets: Pottery Barn.

Mirrors: Pottery Barn.

Sconces: Pottery Barn.

Shower Tiles: Carrara Marble.

Spa-like

One of my favorite parts of our bathroom is the large soaking tub. It is the prettiest focal point and serves as a true sanctuary after a long day.

Lighting: Visual Comfort – one of my favorite chandeliers!

Faux Fiddle Lead Tree: World Market – similar here.

Tub: Kingston Brass.

Rug: Kismet Rug – similar here.

Backyard

Since we live in the bay area, California, where the housing prices are insane and lot sizes are minuscule, creating an outdoor living area as an extension of our indoors allows us to expand our living space. And with California weather, we can use these areas 9 months out of the year.

Pillows: Serena & Lily.

Ottoman Coffee Table: Serena & Lily.

Chairs

Rattan Egg Chair: Target’s Opalhouse.

Accent Chairs: Target’s Opalhouse Brittana – also in Loveseat.

Beautiful Outdoor Umbrellas: here & here.

Outdoor Sofa

A long sofa meant for the outdoors is soft and neutral. This allows me to change the colors year to year. I offset the sofa with two oversized chairs and added a small outdoor coffee table in the middle. This allows us to set food or drinks on it.

The sofa we have had for a few years now. It was a great find from the Restoration Hardware outlet. I love that the cushions are a soft gray that make them completely versatile to new color schemes!

Beautiful Outdoor Sofas: here, here, here & here.

Rug: Target.

Gather

Our backyard isn’t big, but we love to spend time out here and gather with friends and family.

Merlot & S’mores

We also recently updated our side yard and have a great space for making s’mores and enjoying a glass of wine or two.

Chairs: Serena & Lily.

Pillows: Serena & Lily.

Many thanks to Ashley for sharing the details above. Please, make sure to follow her on Instagram to see more!

Best Sales of the Month:

Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!

Serena & Lily: Pillow & Throw Sale!

Wayfair: Up to 75% OFF on Furniture and Decor!!!

Joss & Main: Up to 70% off Sale!

Pottery Barn: Bedroom Event Slale plus free shipping. Use code: FREESHIP.

One Kings Lane: Buy More Save More Sale.

West Elm: 20% Off your entire purchase + free shipping. Use code: FRIENDS

Anthropologie: 20% off on Everything + Free Shipping!

Nordstrom: Sale – Incredible Prices!!!

Posts of the Week:

Black & White Modern Farmhouse.

Interior Design Ideas: Home Renovation.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Modern Farmhouse.

2019 New Year Home Tour.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Charlotte, NC.

New-Construction Home Ideas.

Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

Florida Beach Cottage.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen’s Home – Full House Tour.

Dark Cedar Shaker Exterior.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Coastal Farmhouse Design.

Neutral Home.

Southern-inspired Modern Farmhouse.

Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor.

Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.

Lake House Interior Design Ideas.

New England Home.

Florida Beach House Interior Design.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.

Tailored Interiors.Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.

Follow me on Instagram: @HomeBunch

You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch

See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

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If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

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thewaylo · 7 years

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The Top Ten Hotels in San Francisco

Book the Best Hotels in San Francisco at the Best Prices. Try the #1 app today.

#1: Loews Regency San Francisco

Set on the top 11 floors of a 48-floor high-rise in the Financial District, this contemporary, high-end hotel is a 5-minute walk from both the Embarcadero BART station and the Transamerica Pyramid.

Sophisticated, modern rooms feature 47-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, Italian linens and picture windows offering views ranging from the city to the Golden Gate Bridge. Upgraded rooms have marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers. Suites add separate living rooms; some have terraces. There's 24-hour room service. Amenities include a spa, 24-hour business and fitness centres, a fine dining brasserie serving California cuisine, and a bar.

Free Wi-Fi, Paid parking, Pet-friendly.parking, Pet-friendly.

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#2: Hotel Drisco

A 6-minute walk from The Presidio park, this upscale hotel in the Pacific Heights neighbourhood is 0.8 miles from Fillmore Street's boutiques and 4 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. Elegant rooms come with free Wi-Fi, HDTVs, Egyptian cotton linens, and fans; there's no air-conditioning. Some rooms have city views, and/or sitting areas with pull-out sofas.

Complimentary perks include a breakfast buffet, an evening wine reception and use of loaner bikes. There's a 24-hour fitness centre and a business centre.

Free Wi-Fi, Free Breakfast, Business centre, Fitness centre, Smoke-free.

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#3: Four Seasons Hotel & Residences

A 5-minute walk from Union Square, this high-end, modern hotel is 4 minutes from the Yerba Buena Gardens, and 1.1 miles from the Ferry Building Marketplace. Chic rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and come with flat-screens, WiFi access and iPod docks. Select suites and dining and living areas, marble bathrooms, espresso machines and stocked mini fridges.

Amenities include free access for guests aged 16 and over to an adjacent 127,000 sq ft fitness facility featuring a pool, a gym and a spa (fee for treatments). There's also a stylish restaurant/bar serving locally inspired cuisine, plus a business centre and event space.

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#4: Omni San Francisco

This upscale hotel, set in a historic bank building in the Financial District, is less than a mile from the Exploratorium museum and 6 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. The refined rooms and suites offer Wi-Fi for a fee, and feature flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, coffeemakers and marble bathrooms. Upgraded rooms and suites add city views, Nespresso machines and pull-out sofas.

Complimentary amenities include guided city tours and a welcome pack for kids, featuring activities and snacks. There's also a steakhouse, a bar and 24-hour room service, as well as a 24/7 fitness centre, a business centre, and meeting and event facilities.

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#5: Ritz Carlton San Francisco

Along the California Street cable car line, this upscale hotel in a Neoclassical landmark is 8 minutes’ walk from Union Square shopping and a block from Chinatown. The refined rooms have 46-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels and marble bathrooms, plus high-thread-count bed linens. Wi-Fi is available. Suites add separate living areas and larger TVs. Club-level rooms have access to a lounge with free food, wine tastings and Wi-Fi.

Culinary options include a trendy gourmet restaurant and a lounge serving casual fare and afternoon tea. There’s also a spa and a 24/7 fitness centre, plus 23,000 sq ft of event space.

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#6: The St. Regis San Francisco

This upscale high-rise hotel next to the Museum of Modern Art is a 4-minute walk from the Moscone Center and a 9-minute walk from Union Square.

The refined rooms with marble and exotic-wood details feature chaise lounges, flat-screens and Internet access (fee), plus rainfall showers and soaking tubs open to the room (with optional privacy screens). Upgraded rooms add city/park views, while suites come with in-room butler service and separate living areas. There's a fine-dining restaurant, and a casual eatery serving breakfast and lunch. Other amenities include a posh spa, a 24-hour gym and an indoor pool.

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#7: White Swan Inn

Set in the affluent Nob Hill neighbourhood, this English-style B&B is a 5-minute walk from the Chinatown Dragon's Gate and a 2-minute walk from the closest Powell Street cable car stop. En suite rooms with floral wallpaper and classic furniture offer free Wi-Fi, plus fireplaces, flat-screen TVs and stocked mini fridges. Upgraded rooms and walk-in closets, and 2-room suites feature canopy beds and pull-out sofas.

Free amenities include a gourmet American breakfast buffet every morning, fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon, and wine and hors d’oeuvres served fireside in the sitting room each night. There’s also a garden courtyard and a lending library.

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#8: Fairmont San Francisco

A 13-minute walk from Union Square, this grand Nob Hill hotel is a mile from Coit Tower and 1.2 miles from the Ferry Building Marketplace. The refined rooms and suites with luxe linens and designer toiletries feature flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffee makers and Wi-Fi (fee). Some have pull-out sofas or bay views. Plush suites add Nespresso coffee makers and separate living areas; some have balconies, pool tables or wet bars.

There's a tropical-inspired bar/restaurant with regular live entertainment, plus a posh restaurant/lounge. Other amenities include a health club (fee) with a spa, as well as a casual cafe, a business centre and event space.

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#9: Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square

Set 1.5 miles from the Exploratorium science museum, this upscale all-suite hotel is also 4.2 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge. Refined 1- to 3-bedroom suites come with free Wi-Fi, gourmet kitchens, dining areas and living rooms, as well as flat-screen TVs and iPads. They also offer fireplaces, designer linens and washers/dryers. Some feature terraces and bay views. Upgraded quarters have access to a private lounge.

Amenities include complimentary continental breakfast, an evening happy hour reception and a local car service. There's also a terrace with fire pits, as well as a business centre.

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#10: Marines' Memorial Club

Housed in a 1920s beaux arts building, this military hotel, open to members and guests, is 2 blocks from Union Square, 0.9 miles from the Financial District and an 8-minute walk from the Powell Street BART station. Located between the 3rd and 9th floors, the refined quarters provide free Wi-Fi and bottled water, plus flat-screen TVs, fridges and writing desks.

There's a full business centre, a variety of meeting space and a museum honouring the U.S. Armed Forces. Dining option includes a rooftop steakhouse and a bar serving lighter fare. The on-site fitness centre provides a lap pool.

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