Thanks black rose a-k-a jane for the follows and favorites!
Enjoy and stay safe!
Much to the dreaded third day, the morning was found to be Eloise-less. Any trace of her in the living room was left behind by opened chip and cookie packages, dishes in the sink, and the front door unlocked. Thankfully, Charlotte awoke earlier than her usual time, finding the mess and unlocked door. Her sister must have left in the middle of the night. Charlotte locked the door, did more dishes, took more trash out, and just shoved all the Christmas shit into the corner. She wasn't even in the mood to try and organize the mess, put it away, or even hang it all up.
The day was spent with Charlotte isolating herself, needing time to recharge herself after two days with her sister. Loki himself stayed in his room, took a small walk, then returned by dinner of just turkey and cheese sandwiches. They ate dinner, watching a game show and eventually went to sleep at different times.
By Saturday, Charlotte felt she could do a jog session with Mitsy that morning. She was feeling good, getting her exercise back in, she even did some squats and stretches at the harbor to give Mitsy a break.
On the way back to the apartment, Charlotte could feel the hair on the back of her neck stand. The same person, the same two remaining blocks, and the same feeling sunk into her stomach. This was getting to a stalking level now. She'd have to take charge of this before he eventually tries to get her at her door.
Though, she looked at the last block, her head snapping up at the sight of Loki standing outside the apartment door. Her pace quickened, he turned to greet her, but she tripped on a crack and crashed into his chest. He caught her awkwardly, arms around her and stepping off the stoop for her to rebalance herself.
"That would've been quite a fall." He joked, hands on her shoulder, but she just stood close to him.
She turned her head, pulling back and looking around her. The man was nowhere to be seen, must have taken a sharp turn or rushed across the street when she sped over to Loki.
"Charlotte?" He looked around, seeing her sights dart about. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing, just wanted to get back. It's getting cold." She brushed off, getting her key to unlock the door. "Thanks, er, were you heading out?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, yes. I was thinking tonight we could have that dinner I mentioned." He told, folding his hands behind his back. "Would you accompany me to where you procure your food? If you're not too tired-"
"No, no, we can go." She assured, nodding her head. "I'll just get Mitsy settled and we can go."
Charlotte entered the apartment, quickly refilling Mitsy's food and water bowls. "Be good, girl. Guard the home."
The apartment was relocked and Charlotte took the lead to Trader Joe's on Market Street. When walking with Loki she kept a good personal distance for them both, but she walked a bit closer to him, hands shoved into her coat pocket. Loki noticed, but gave no comment. She had been acting off to him, but maybe it was because her sister's visit that affected her behavior.
Trader Joe's was having a meat sale, so Loki got a small spiral ham, some fruits, different types of bread rolls, and even some spices that could substitute ones used from Asgard. Charlotte treated herself to a few snack boxes she found. One called a 'Fruit Roll-Up', which made Loki curious that they made a fruit into one long treat.
"Want to try it?" She asked as they left the store.
When he nodded, Charlotte placed the bag down for a moment at a crossing and opened the box. A little plastic shiny wrap came out, she opened it and handed it to him. Waiting for the crossing light to change, she watched with amusement as he flipped and twisted the small roll of paper, then when he peeled the end, his brows shot up at the sight of a red and blue fruity treat. He ripped it off, but with the paper still stuck about to put it into his mouth.
"No! No, Loki!" She grabbed his wrist, laughing at his confusion. "Take the paper off, that's not edible."
Loki cleared his throat, peeling it off and looking to her for validation, to which she nodded. He slipped the treat into his mouth, the flavor slamming his tongue as if punched by his brother with a bowl of fruit. His lips puckered and he smacked his tongue to only have the treat get stuck on the roof of his mouth.
"So sweet." He mumbled, covering his mouth.
Charlotte giggled, picking the bag back up. "It's really good. Here, tear a piece for me, I'm drooling for one."
He tore a bit off, but she shook her head and twirled her finger, indicating for more. He unrolled it to about 4 inches, to which she gave the nod and opened her mouth. Loki ripped it and peeled the paper, he chuckled as he dangled it above her mouth. Once the crossing turned green, she jumped to bite at it, but Loki held it up and moved to cross. She followed after, him teasing her like holding a carrot in front of a horse. Soon she got it, as Loki dropped it and let the 4 inch fruit roll hang from her teeth.
People watched with glares, odd looks, and annoyance. Almost as if their peaceful walk to and from in the city was disrupted entirely by the two. Someone grumbled about 'getting a room' or 'how immature'. The two hadn't even heard, their focus on each other, laughing at their antics and heading back home for a good meal.
"Did you like it?" She asked, her cheek full of the roll as she sucked and tried not to dribble drool from salivation. God, she missed these old snacks.
He responded with a mixture of a yes and no with a shake of his head. "It's… different." He muttered, smacking his lips once he had swallowed the sugary treat. "My teeth feel tainted."
Charlotte laughed as they approached the final block back home. "A good drink of water and extra teeth brushing will fix that." She assured.
Her eyes wandered, chewing the remaining candy he gave her, claiming he had enough. They fell on a familiar figure looming in a corner, a few men standing with him. With a deep breath, Charlotte gently pushed Loki to cross the street suddenly. Loki frowned at her, looking up and down to make sure no vehicles were coming their way.
"What's-"
"I saw a dog coming our way." She excused, getting onto the pavement as cars parked along blocked the sight of the men from her. "Didn't want it jumping us with food bags."
Loki was sure he hadn't seen any oncoming dog. He looked back over the cars, seeing indeed no canine, only three men who were trudging down the street. Across from the apartment, the two walked across the road again to make it to the apartment door with no fuss; for Charlotte at least.
"You sure there was a dog?" Loki asked, taking one of her bag's to get a key out.
"Yeah, one of those tiny yapping ones." She quickly answered, "I swear, they could jump high enough to bite your crotch." Charlotte got the door opened and walked in.
Loki shut the door behind, watching Charlotte be greeted by an eager Mitsy. Jumping up on her, curious of what they had brought home with them. This creature alone could bite him within sitting height. They settled the bags in the kitchen, putting them away while some stuff stayed out.
"If you want that ham cooked, better throw it in the oven now." Charlotte told, earning a raised brow from Loki.
"Are you cooking or am I?" He questioned. Charlotte shrugged and stole another fruit roll up. "If you keep eating those, you'll be too full for dinner." Loki chided.
She waved him off, refilling Mitsy's water bowl at the sink. "These are pure sugar, if anything they'll make me even more hungry for dinner." Charlotte placed the bowl down and took a seat at the couch. On the coffee table was her laptop, she set it up and browsed the web for a few minutes before turning the television on.
"For someone who has a number of collected books, I've not seen you read them once." Loki commented, preparing the oven and ham.
"That's because I've read them all." She replied from her spot. "Honestly, I haven't gone book shopping for a while."
Loki looked up to offer a time to do so, but frowned and looked at the calendar. He saw Monday was circled with 'Doc's Appointment' on it. His eyes focused putting the ham in a cooking pan, awaiting for the oven to beep. He has studied how Charlotte used the equipment in the kitchen and caught on fast on how to use them. While waiting, he turned to washing the apples and grapes, then he searched for a bowl to keep them in.
"Would it be alright to have the grapes frozen?" Charlotte asked. "Or is that not customary?"
Loki shook his head, "No, that's perfectly fine." he assured. He took a vine of grapes and put them in a smaller bowl, placing it in the freezer. "How long?"
"Ahh, I'd say about half an hour or until the ham is ready." She answered, glancing at him. A smile came to her lips, Loki was too focused on checking the types of bread rolls to notice. He read the side of a can of biscuits that Charlotte insisted he try, claiming it only took less than twenty minutes to bake. He placed it on the side, noting to bake them after the ham was done. He cleaned his hands and dried them on a towel hanging off the oven handle and sighed, joining her in the living room.
"Timing the ham?" She asked, as he leaned back crossing his legs.
"I put in at 6:43pm, if cooked properly, dinner will be right within the two hours of that time span." He answered.
Charlotte chuckled, turning from her spot on the floor. "A simple, 'yes' would've been cool too."
She turned back, flicking through channels, Loki stood and got a book from the shelf. He had been keen on looking at this 'Harry Potter' book and slid it out to read it on the couch. He stretched his long legs on the couch, nestled down into the cushion and opened up the book to the first chapter.
Charlotte frowned at the lack of good shows on a Saturday night, but then gasped when she saw a classic airing a marathon tonight. "No way, I haven't seen this show since I was a kid!" She cried, sitting up and bobbing her head to the sudden rock music.
"We never thought of finding a place where we belong. Don't have to stand alone, we'll never let you fall." Charlotte sang, shrugging her shoulders and snapping her fingers.
Loki glanced up, seeing a show called '21 Jump Street' was on. He listened to her sing the lyrics, though not loud enough but almost as if to herself for just her to hear. She had no good vocals that could match the heavenly tones of those back on Asgard, but so long as she was happy, that seemed to all that mattered to her. Music made Charlotte happy, and Loki was fine as he returned to his book.
"Don't need permission to decide what you believe- Say jump!"
Charlotte swung her head like an overactive bobble head, her hair flinging front to back. She seemed to regret it, as she stopped and rubbed her forehead wincing, but still smiling at the screen.
Once the opening ended, Charlotte climbed up onto the couch and made Loki move his legs to the floor. She tucked her legs in and eagerly watched the screen. Loki peeked a few times, seeing some teenagers harass a teacher. Throwing things, not listening to the lesson, and a few giving attitudes towards him. He lowered the book, watching a bit as one student was slapped by the teacher, triggering him to pull a gun on him.
"To be fair," Charlotte said over the show, "That teacher shouldn't have touched that student." she commented.
Suddenly, the student shot the teacher and some students were shocked by the result. A commercial came up, prompting Charlotte to get up and use the bathroom. Loki checked the ham and returned to the book, reading about Harry's horrible aunt, uncle, and pig of a cousin.
Charlotte returned as did the episode. It proceeded that two cops would be going under cover, one a teacher and the other a student. The older officer would be substituting the teacher that was shot, while the younger female cop is posing as a new trouble maker student gaining attention of the two boys who were also harassing the teacher. It's made pretty clear that the teachers and staff are terrified of the students who could be armed with various types of weapons.
Loki multitasks of keeping time, skimming the book and glancing at the tv. The episode moves on to Judy, the posing student, entering the class and flirting with the targeted trouble making kid, Derek. The teacher, under the name of Honeycutt, starts the class, with Derek already throwing threats, making jokes and refusing to read the lesson, even going as far as disrupting other students of the lesson as well. To test the kid, Honeycutt challenges him to read a paragraph and he can pass the class. Darek laughs which makes Loki cringe at his attitude, the teen questions if he messes up. The teacher replies he'll have to wash his car for the rest of the school year. Despite cornering the kid with the book, he constantly makes excuses and laughs, though Derek's clearly getting pissed off by Honeycutt's measure of persistence.
Loki continued with his book, timing the Ham for another hour and forty minutes. Though he did get up and add seasonings as it cooked, then returned to the couch. The episode then switches to a character named Tom, who Charlotte smiled when seeing the cute boy.
"What happened to the school and the ignorant student?" Loki asked, now seeing a couple and Tom at an outdoor lunch.
"Oh, usually each episode has two plots, Plot A and Plot B." She answered, he looked at her. "Plot A is the main part of the episode, which is the situation with the school. Plot B is Tom here," She pointed to the screen showing the boy again. "Dealing with his widow mother rushing into a relationship."
"Widow?"
"He was just a teenager when his father died, he was a cop too." The smile slightly faded as she turned back to the screen. But it slowly returned as the boy was shown more on the tv.
Eventually Plot A returned after another commercial break, the school was having lunch. Derek was bullying a student that had a speech problem, and yanked something out of his ear.
"This kid would be expelled so fast." Charlotte commented, Loki looked up. "He was bullying that kid with a speech problem, he's deaf so he needs that hearing aid."
"And yet they don't?" Loki had to ask. "I like a good joke or trick as the next person, but he's impudent."
"It's because he can't read." Charlotte answered. "So he takes the frustrations of this and plants them onto other people. Typical bully tactic."
"Cannot read at his age?" Loki had to laugh, earning a raised brow from Charlotte. "Sounds like he deserves to be bullied."
She shrugged, "Maybe he was when he was younger. Sometimes, bullying can be a chain link reaction. One bullying kid could create another bully, then another, and so on." Charlotte went on. "He needs a teacher that actually cares about his education and future. He's only gotten this far because he chis teachers until they pass him and he moves on to the next grade."
Another teacher in the show mentioned a locker raid and finding thirteen guns. Loki frowned, so many weapons in a school? Then Darek tried to scare the teacher, pretending to have a gun only to reveal it was a silver brush.
Other incidents occur in the episode, such as Judy getting into a fight with Derek's girl and a kid selling guns. A switch blade was found in class, once again by Derek and his friend's to intimidate Honeycutt. When a shotgun is found, the teachers are riled up by the fact one undercover cop can't help against hundreds of gun touting students. Honeycutt offers to help Derek's reading problem, Loki's attention returned when he heard yelling on the screen. The deaf kid was chasing Derek, gun in hand wanting to shoot him. When cornered, the gun suddenly blew apart, hurting the deaf kid and no harm to Derek.
"How true is this fiction to reality?" Loki asked. "Could children really access such deadly weapons here?"
Charlotte sighed, "Different states can have different results with their school. Even two schools in two separate towns can have different results."
Loki shook his head, lowering his book. "But so many weapons for these kids to access? Doesn't seem plausible." Sure, he and his brother grew up learning to use weapons and fight, but as he thought back. Why would human children need them, to just kill each other needlessly?
She turned to him as a commercial came on."Ten years ago, there was a horrible school shooting, Columbine. Two students shot up the school, killing about fifteen people, including themselves. It's the deadliest school shooting of the country. This show was in the 1980s, ten years before that real life incident could even be predicted to happen. So, yeah. It's possible."
Charlotte got up, getting a bottle of water from the fridge. "Are these occurrences only in your country?" He asked.
She returned, putting her water on the table beside her phone, picking up the device. She typed something in, then scrolled through. Getting an answer, she shook her head. "Other countries have had them, the worst in the world is Russia. Three hundred and eighty-five dead back in 2004. Others were in Indonesia, Germany, Denmark, China- Just a lot in America." Charlotte let the phone rest in her lap.
So, it wasn't just her country, Loki thought. People killed each other, even children, around the world. Odin had abandoned this planet centuries ago, and this is what it led to. He kept order in the other eight realms and they've had peace. Midgard was like an abandoned puppy left behind to wreak havoc and destruction upon itself. Despite the humans knowing this a problem, no higher actions are taken to stop or prevent these murders.
"It makes me think back," Loki spoke. "How can people just kill others over petty things?" He motioned toward the screen. "That deaf boy was willing to kill Derek for the torture he caused him. Yet, the bully is never punished?"
Charlotte heaved a heavy sigh, bringing her hand up into her hair, scratching her scalp. "It's a difficult situation, Loki. It goes deeper than that, and I agree. Derek is like many people out there who may or may not see the error of their ways and change before it's too late. Punishment doesn't always work, and it can sometimes make things worse."
"How do you know when it's the right thing?" He asked.
Charlotte looked at him, a sad smile gracing her lips. "You don't." She answered, her eyes trailing down then back to the television.
The episode concluded with the teacher who was shot returning and holding the class hostage with his own weapon. The situation was resolved thanks to the undercover cops, including Derek's girl and the boy selling weapons arrested. What surprised Loki, was that Derek's friend had a gun and almost reached for it. But Derek stopped him, making Charlotte smile.
"But he knew." She said, he turned to her. "Derek was given a chance and learned, he knew the right thing in the end."
Loki checked the Ham, it had another hour left as the episode's ending credits played. He glazed the ham when Charlotte's phone went off. The tv muted and she answered it, standing from the couch.
"Hello?" There was a pause, then Charlotte held a scornful look. "How did you get my number?" Loki looked over as she leaned onto the back of the couch. "Oh, she did, did she?"
Loki pushed the ham back in and closed the door, whipping his hands on the towel.
"Oh God forbid, she slept on the couch. It's not like I told her to sleep in the street, her room was taken by my roommate. Yes mom, a roommate." Her eyes shifted to Loki before turning her back to him. "Never mind who he is, it's none of your business who lives with me."
The tension in her tone grew as she responded to her mother. Loki lingered in the kitchen, watching and listening. Judging by her attitude towards her sister, Eloise, he guessed it was worse toward the mom. Mitsy stood from the floor, tail tucked between her legs and she climbed the stairs to hide in the bedroom. She didn't like it when Charlotte yelled, how common was this?
"You lost that privilege when I moved out. If I really wanted to, I could take in hookers and drug dealers if I wanted to!" Charlotte snarled into the phone.
She paced around the living room, hands on her hips as she dug her nails into her skin. The grip on the phone was tight and her face was crest with anger. Her voice was laced with venom as she growled and spat into the phone. Loki had seen her get angry and how she talked to Eloise, but it was as if her mother was an arch enemy in her life. Loki watched, a bit of envy in his stomach. If he ever had the gall to talk to his father this way, he could only imagine the punishment he'd receive.
"I don't care if she's crying!" Charlotte barked. "She trashed my home, ate my food, and I had to even take out extra money just to please her and now I'll end up being tight for next rent!" Loki heard short words of 'your fault' and 'do better' on the other line. "No, no no!" She hissed, glaring down at the phone. "Next time Eloise decides to just drop by and be a bum at my place, I'll toss her ass out in the road and lock her out! She got that?! Now stop butting into my life!"
Charlotte hung up and reeled back, ready to chuck the phone at the wall. A grip caught her wrist, she turned fuming, Loki's calm eyes came into her sight. She dropped her arm and slid the phone into his hand, he gently tossed it onto the couch.
"Best not break that, I doubt your boss will replace it." He gently warned.
Charlotte was still breathing heavily over her racing heart and boiling anger. She whipped toward the stairs, but the grip on her wrist stayed. "I want to be alone." She told slowly. "I'm not in the mood to talk, Loki."
"I don't wish to talk either." He told, tugging her back over. "All I ask is for you to breathe for me."
She frowned, her brows knotting. "Breathe? I am breathing, it's called seething." She hissed, eyes narrowing at him. Logic was not rooting into her brain right now, anger was blinding her emotions of Loki trying to help her.
"Just breathe." He urged.
He took a breath showing her how he wanted her to do it. Slowly in through the nose, and slowly out through the mouth. Charlotte took a few breaths, at first they were huffs and puffs. Then eventually got to deep breathing like Loki was doing, in the nose and out the mouth. He got her breathing calmer and slower, inhaling and then exhaling. She closed her eyes, breathing and feeling the ache in her head fade and the emotions start to calm. Loki watched her calm down, his hand sliding down her wrist to hold her hand for a brief second, before dropping it to her side. He had her breath slowly for another minute, before she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Better?"
Charlotte nodded, "Yeah, thanks." she whispered.
Never had she felt so calm so fast after a conversation with her mother. She usually wallowed for an hour or two, steaming off in a shower or watching something to take her anger out on. Yell at the television through the night and self pity in bed. Just breathing, that's all she did. She followed Loki's breathing and she felt better much sooner.
"What is it?" He asked as she stared at him.
She blinked and stepped back, giving themselves space. "I never tried that before." Charlotte told, her fingers rubbing her digits.
Loki chuckled, "Never just breathed before?" he teased.
"No," she said, looking down at her hands. "I'm sorry I acted that way, sort of ruined the evening."
The mischievous god shook his head, "Nothing's ruined. You're fine as is the evening." he leaned onto the couch, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. "Evening can't be ruined until dinner, isn't that how it usually goes?"
Charlotte chuckled, shoving his shoulder. "Dinner drama, how cliche."
She folded her arms, and heaved an even sigh. He returned to the kitchen, counting mentally it had forty more minutes and seasoned the ham. She watched him go into the freezer seeing the grapes, deeming them frozen enough to be put into the fridge. Charlotte sat at the couch, unmutting the show but not really paying attention to the drug dealing episode. Her mind was wrapped around the ability Loki had in calming her down so easily and quickly.
"How did you do that?" She asked, once he returned.
He looked to her, leaning his palms onto the couch's arm. "Do what? Breathe?"
"No, Charlotte chuckled, stretching her arm to the back. "Well, yeah. You know what I mean."
Loki stood and sat down beside her, crossing his legs. "My mother used to do it for me whenever I lost my temper with my brother or couldn't understand a lesson. I always had a short temper as a child, though unlike my brother, I grew out of it."
Charlotte combed her hands into her hair, tilting her head to rest it into her palm. She listened intently, finding anything to learn about Loki deeply interesting.
"She taught me meditation to quell the anger within me, small mantras and breathing techniques." He smiled, in turn Charlotte's smile softly returned. "If you wish, I could teach you."
Her brows went up, "You would do that?" she questioned. "I don't want to, yknow, take that away."
He frowned, confused. "Take what away?"
She shrugged. "I'd assume it's something special between you and your mother, isn't it?"
Loki gave a look, a look that was a cross of amusement and wonder. He started laughing, causing Charlotte's cheeks to go red with embarrassment.
"What!?" She squeaked. "Did I word it really weirdly? I just assume it with a mother son thing, yknow, family bonding. I just didn't want to, I don't know- Just never mind I said anything!" Charlotte took a pillow and hid her face.
"Oh, no, no!" Loki eased his laughter and lowered the pillow from her face. She looked up, almost like an innocent kitten peeking over the pillow. "I'm sure my mother would be glad I shared it with you. Spreading her knowledge of what she taught me. You wouldn't be taking anything, but a good lesson for yourself."
The smile returned, her pillow lowering to hug it against her chest and turning to tuck her legs against it. Loki really liked her smile, it surely made him smile in return. But then she frowned and sniffed the air. "Is something burning?"
The two suddenly looked to the kitchen, then to each other. The ham was burning!
Soft laughter echoed in the chambers of the Asgardian palace. Wholesomeness warmed the heart of the Queen Frigga, watching her younger son and his new friend laugh and make fun of one another as they dealt with the slightly overcooked dinner. Seeing Loki have such a good time on Midgard really eased her worries. The way he laughed, joked, and even eased the simple mortal who seemed to struggle with her own inner demons. And vise versa, she made Loki as happy as he had been in a long time. Frigga wished to thank the mortal, for taking her son in, giving him a chance and even accepting him as a friend.
The large doors creaked to open, Frigga waved her hand to fade her vision before her. Her husband and king, Odin, entered the room. He eyed his wife, but approached nonetheless, gifting her a small kiss to her cheek.
"Where have you been?" She asked, smiling at his return. "The meeting had ended long ago."
"I spoke with Heimdall, regarding our sons." He answered, circling the room to remove his golden helmet and rest it upon the stone ledge of the large window.
She turned, hands clasped together, playing ignorant to at least half the knowledge he will inform her of. "And?"
He kept his eye out the window, seeing the evening sky cast a blanket of stars above them. Only the flames of candles kept the room lit as the city shined below. "Thor is doing just as I expected. He's learning the hardships and appreciation of a warrior's weapon. How the tool is not only for you, but part of you." He explained.
Frigga took a step, "We all knew he would." she told him. "In his own time, he will return to us with the heart and mind of a prepared king." Frigga awaited him to mention Loki, but after a few seconds she prompted. "And of Loki?"
Odin sighed, "He's… become attached to a human." he told, disappointment evident in his tone. "Gained her as a friend."
Though Odin always looked down at humans as weak mortals who would die as easily as an abandoned baby. He would never admit that he hated them, and he truly didn't. Compared to other realism where he gained control to keep them aligned and within their own boundaries, Midagrd held too many mortals. Weak mortals, that would die on a dime. As seen how many wars they've had with themselves, how many massacres, betrayals and selfish wishes they submitted to far too many times. Let them handle it himself, he stated long ago. They never were a threat and couldn't be one to the remaining eight realms.
"That's good," Frigga commented. "Loki has someone to trust on Midgard, and who trusts him in return."
It wasn't obvious that during his sons' childhood, Loki had become fascinated by the realm. Reading as many books as he could find, ask as many questions as he could think of to learn more. The knowledge ceased, and he was abandoned to the obsession.
"He should've been sent to Alfheim." He commented, only to earn a scoff from his queen.
"He knows all about that realm, give him a chance. He's learning so well, and there's nothing wrong with befriending a mortal." She told, approaching his side. "He shows compassion, a good sign for a king."
Odin gave her a glance, but kept his second comment to himself. The comment that he knew would send Frigga into a defense for Loki. Defense how he's a prince just as Thor is, a prince who also deserves the right as king. A promise she knew he shouldn't have given to them for all these years.
"Nonetheless," he said, turning to Frigga. "I've given Heimdall the signal in the event."
Frigga frowned, lacing her fingers and resting them in front of her. The silks of her arms gently sliding down to rest at her wrists. "Event of what?"
Odin stared at her, stared at the woman he loved dearly. "In the event," He started. "The friendship is to take a diverging path to something more."
In the dark city, the screams of parties and drunkies around the streets echoed into the night. Saturday night was Party night! Two blondes giggled as they stumbled about the sidewalks of the quieter side of Western Philly. They sang off key, but didn't give a shit who gave them dirty looks or complained of their presence under their breath.
"Ga-ga, ooh, la-la-la! Want your bad romance!"
"I want your ugly!"
"I want your disease!"
They sang, stumbling in their stiletto heels and shorts skirts reaching their high thighs. Just one movement to bend down and their thongs would be in plain view for all. Their knees tight together to keep it from happening, not caring if their hair was a mess, makeup was smudged or their coats dangling off their arms with their thin straps hanging off their shoulders.
Soon they were the only ones in the block, sirens distant but eventually fading away. Their voices echoing into the sky, street lights lighting their way as one took a stumble off the curb. The taller blonde in purple laughed, wobbling over to help her up.
Before she could reach her friend, her arms were grabbed behind her. A scream gave out, but her mouth was quickly covered as she was dragged away into the dark alley they hadn't noticed. The fallen blond in bright blue stood, wincing as she had injured her ankle. She limped onto the pavement, but couldn't see her friend in her blurry drunk state anywhere.
"Corey?" She called, looking up and down the road. "Corey! This isn't funny, I really got hurt."
The pain was sobering her up, but not long enough to be grabbed around the waste and her screams muffled. She also was dragged into the dark alley, though she struggled, kicking a trash can over.
The muffles of both their screams roared into the night, the screams of agony and terror. The girls' fun night had turned to the worse as they were swept away into the night, not a soul hearing them to rescue from the nightmare of an abduction.
LadyAmazon- Same, I got a waffle maker for Christmas and have been having waffles a few days on and off for breakfast. It's not helping my diet but I can't resist! If I didn't take filming, I probably would've gone into culinary baking like my friends did. I do miss Ihop food so much for the past year, and none are near me. Sad.
I just wanted to note, I picked the 21 Jump Street episode for certain reasons. Pretty obvious that the school violence and struggling teens was personal for me. I was in special needs classes and was always treated by students and teachers how I was too stupid and retarded to be anyone important or do anything meaningful in life. I had no future and no one to defend me. I kept my mindset into high school, I stopped caring and I treated teachers with the same attitude I was treated with; I ignored them, gave them attitudes, and even scared a really nice sub I had (we ended up friends when he became my senior math teacher). I planned to drop out in senior year like my dad had. By said year, I had lost my friends who back stabbed me and talked shit about me online with my ex-boyfriend who I thought I loved. I had a counselor who always defended me and stood by my side, never giving up. He said he saw I had a future and I could use my passion of art to make it. It was then I decided I wanted to write stories and make them into films. He was always encouraging it and asked about stories I used to write in my notebooks. His office was always open for me, he let me hang out during my lunch to avoid my ex-friends and he even helped me with my homework thanks to my learning disabilities. He and I are still friends, and if it wasn't for him, I probably would've ended up in some really bad terms. So, this episode really spoke to me on a personal level.