I was challenged a second time for the shuffle challenge. I decided to make it a second chapter of my first challenge fic. Oh, and I might do an "Emm Drabbles" – same idea of this challenge, except I'd only use Emm Gryner songs. If you'd like to see that, let me know.
Not all of these are LWD, but most are. Oh, I don't own the songs or series used here. And, in some drabbles, song lyrics show up as dialogue.
Happy reading.
Song 1 – Shadowboxing by Cicero (LWD – Dennis)
At some point, if you look closely enough, you can see the different paths your life could have taken, Dennis thought as he looked across the desk at one of the lawyers that reported to him at the firm.
He was a managing partner. He had the big salary, the high profile cases, and more "little lawyers", paralegals, and interns reporting to him than anyone else at the firm. He was also divorced and not as close to his daughters as he would like.
Jim was his age. Jim was still an associate at the firm. But, Jim was still married to his first wife; he celebrated his thirtieth anniversary last month. Jim was very close to his two sons. He was his eldest's best man at the wedding a few weeks ago. Dennis was just glad Casey remembered to invite him to her wedding.
Of course, Jim's paycheck was minimal, his hours were crappy, and his wife supported the family in their lifestyle.
Dennis couldn't say that Jim made a better or worse choice. But some nights, Dennis wondered about what would have happened if he had chosen Nora, Casey, and Elizabeth over law.
Song 2 – Running Back by Emm Gryner (LWD – Casey)
If anyone was predicting who was going to have a career in the recording industry, everyone would have guessed Derek. So why was Casey the one crooning "chick music" and being hailed as the new Indie Queen?
Everyone would say it was because of that talent show in college and that she caught Emm Gryner's eye. And that was the standard PR line. It was partly true. Emm was at the talent show. She was impressed with Casey. She's the one who signed the brunette to Dead Daisy.
But really, Derek was the reason. When she broke off their short relationship, she thought she was doing the right thing. They were step-siblings. They were opposites. They were keeping it a secret, for crying out loud!
Breaking if off was a mistake. As soon as she realized it, she tried to rush back to him, but he had moved on. So, she wrote a song about her pain and foolishness and sung it that night at the talent show. The song that got her discovered.
All because she couldn't run back to Derek.
Song 3 – Crossing the River by The Devlins (Batman Beyond – Terry, Max)
How did we become friends? I honestly don't remember. It was years ago, now. I don't even remember if our friendship was pre or post Juvie. I do remember how I felt when I met you.
Even then, before the part-time job, I remember looking at you and thinking, "Something tells me, I can trust in you."
And I was right. Sure, you found out more than me telling you about what I actually did after-school, but you never told a soul. You covered for me with Dana and to a degree with my mother. You knew about Melanie, even the second time when I was practically cheating on Dana, and you never told. You never preached.
You reminded me about homework. You hacked into computers to get me information. You listened to school gossip. You kept your eyes on the news coverage.
I called you Alfred that day. That wasn't fair. You were more than that; you were my eyes and ears.
I'm thankful everyday that I took the time to meet you.
Song 4 - In the Morning – MaryMary (LWD – Marti)
The hospital was a wreck. People everywhere. Yelling, crying, screaming. And her family was a part of the screaming. They couldn't find her brother. No one was saying anything about her sister – she didn't think of her as a step-sister anymore.
The school shooting was a shock to everyone. It wasn't something that happened in London. It happened in the States. It didn't happen to them.
And eight year olds weren't sitting in a corner in a crowded waiting room worrying about people she loved so much.
There were some people next to her, praying. It wasn't something that was done often in her house. Her father occasionally did it, she thought. People said it helped. Well, she was willing to try anything.
"May I join you?"
"Of course. What is your name, young lady?" the man in black asked.
"Marti. Smerek – I mean my brother and sister were at the school. And I," her voice caught a little, "and I'm scared."
A lady broke from the circle, hugged her, and then drew her to others. "That's okay sweetie. We're all family today. And we're all scared."
Song 5 – Stuck by Stacie Orico (LWD – Casey, Lizzie)
"You aren't sick."
Casey groaned as she rolled over. Lizzie was the last person she expected to call her on her behavior. "What do you mean?" Casey croaked, "Of course, I'm sick."
"No, you're not," her little sister insisted as she sat on Casey's bed. "So, who's the boy?"
"Why does it have to be a boy?"
"Come on! Are you serious?" Lizzie rolled her eyes. "I've lived with you for years. I know, 'Casey's heartbroken' behavior."
"Lizzie-"
"Don't worry, I won't tell Mom, but-" Lizzie said as she got up, "I do not want to be pulled into the drama."
"Liz-"
Lizzie sight as she turned to look at Casey, "Okay, you can tell be about it after school. Just…don't go overboard with the sulking, while you're home, promise?"
"Promise."
Song 6 – Little Girl by MaryMary (LWD – Casey, Lizzie)
As she watched her sister walk up to accept her Espy, Casey smiled. Liz looked great in the Vera Wang, Casey talked her into getting for the event. Recently, Liz had been voted as one of the sexiest people alive. Liz had blushed and tried to blow if off, when she heard. It reminded Casey of when Liz was thirteen.
Casey shook her head as Liz started her speech. If she had told Lizard at thirteen that she would become a scholar, famous soccer player, and an international sex symbol, Liz would have laughed in face.
She couldn't see it then and she couldn't see it now. But Casey had always known her little sister would grow up to be amazing.
Song 7 – Crescendolls by Daft Punk (LWD – Derek, Marti)
What in the world had his sister talked him into taping?
"Smerek! Pay attention. We are over here!"
"Okay, Smart. Sorry."
Here was the living room. They had pushed the couch out of the way to form some kind of open space. Marti and her friends, in a variety of strange combinations of clothes, were walking around and expecting Derek to tape them.
Casey had called it a fashion show when she heard about the plan. To Derek, it looked like a bunch of seven year olds trying to grow up too fast. He blamed television.
At least his Smart hadn't grown up completely. She still carried Sir Monks-A-Lot with her as she posed, after all.
Song 8 – Don't Look Back by Antigone Rising (Batman Beyond – Max)
She had learned how not to break up by watching him and Dana. They broke up, but they never really broke off. They never moved on. Which is why they ended up together again and again…and again. But she couldn't do it. She was both weaker and stronger than Dana Tan.
So as she looked at the man she loved, she said, "If you go, go all the way. Don't come back."
"Max," he started, "you don't mean-"
"Yes, I do. I've seen the break-up that wasn't broken up. I can't do that. I've cried all I'm going to. I've taken off my pity party dress. Either you stay and we try to work this out, or you leave and you don't come back. Period."
"Did you ever care?' was the last question she got as he stormed out.
"More than you'll ever know. More than you know."
Song 9 – Heal Over by KT Tundstal (LWD – Sally, Casey)
"Order up, table seven!"
"On it," Sally called as she rushed to pick it up. She was a little off that night. Okay, she was a lot off that night.
She and Derek were over. It hurt more that she thought it would. Even though she was the one who ended it. Maybe it was a silly reason to end things…or maybe she was right and Derek needed to follow his heart without trampling hers in the process.
"May I take your or-" Sally started to ask the person at table eight before she processed who it was.
Casey.
"Hey, Sally."
"Hi."
The brunette smiled at her. "I heard…about what happened. Tell you want. Grab a pot of tea and take a load off and sit with me for a second."
"But-"
"Sally," Casey said quietly, "You have a right to be upset and sad, too. I've been there, remember? You listened to me. It's my turn now. And I'm just here to listen."
"Okay," Sally said after a pause. "Thanks."
Song 10 – One Time Too Many by PJ Harvey (Joan of Arcadia – Luke)
Ignored people did go over the edge too. And they are pushed just as much as other people who are not ignored. No one falls off the edge. Physics would tell you that. There would have to be some force acting on you to cause your body to move at all. Usually something more than the Earth's gravity.
This was just another sign he was weird and not like his brother. He'd come to bar to rebel. To get "fucked up" as some people at school would say. And he thought about it in terms of physics.
As he was about to order another beer, he saw her. His sister. And she was coming towards him.
"You okay, Luke?"
"How did you know where to find me?" he asked.
She paused for a second, getting that look her face. "Would you believed God told me?"
He laughed, "Given your behavior of late, yeah." After a few minutes of silence, he found himself asking, "Why did you come find me?"
For the first time in his living memory, Joan looked at him as if he wasn't too bright. "Because we love you."