Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 22, 2021 15:04:47 GMT -5
He had made a deal, together they would go somewhere so Seth could eat his cooking and that was the beach. It was always the cliffs, never the beach but he’d heard Natasha was afraid of it so this made a lot more sense. It had been a week since prom night and he remembered everything, all their moves, what happened after and he knew they still did too. It was silent all around him with the exception of fire crackling, his breathing and the rolling waves bringing the tide in. It was high tide and they were always warned about the dangers of the current in the night so he wondered just how risky it could be, hypnotized by the water.
Catcher rode here early to make a rock pile circle; it was going to be their little bonfire. There wasn’t much he could bring with a motorcycle, so he had tasked Seth with getting all the burgers, meat and whatever else he wanted to buy for fun. He owed him a grilled banquet after all so he gave him a couple hundred dollars in cash to grab everything he was hungry for that his truck could fit. Seth would’ve texted everyone else so basically, he expected a tailgate party with an actual small grill to arrive. Even if no one else came since he wasn’t exactly the most popular person, they were the only ones who wanted an explanation and were willing to share their own. As wolves they could eat, and he recalled Embry was a bottomless pit so Seth probably took after it. He hadn’t feasted by himself and depression really depleted his appetite; restaurants in the city also provided the tiniest portions. Calculations were going on in his head, as though he was party planning when he was supposed to be focused on how he to say all he had to say; the way he told them was more important than what he told... they were honestly relative. But his brain was off doing a grocery list, history lesson… Alcohol would cost quite a lot too if it wasn’t the low quality type; it suddenly dawned on him Seth only looked older but he may still get carded; juice, soft drinks would suffice but it meant everyone would be more inhibited, particularly himself. Good thing he had some stuff stashed at home, courtesy of his mom taking all the best gifts of alcohol here with her because his dad had a problem.She no longer stayed in this house and had found a condo in Seattle; it was so empty now he was glad to have even fewer chores than when Veronica complained he was lazy.
It was a windy evening, bright enough that the rays of orange still lit the horizon but dark enough the temperature was cooling down and the coastal breeze was bone chilling in the winter. He could almost pretend they were in the Mediterranean if the water was clearer and blue like a lagoon; it was dark and ominous, deep royal blue but nonetheless clean enough there was no litter floating around. The air fragrantly salty, evoking a sleepiness that made him want to lay down, he rolled out a woven rug towel on the sand for anyone who didn’t want sand in their pants. This was the quietest beach he’d ever been to and it felt like he was in a vast endlessness as the sun became a semi-circle on the edge of the world. The fire was hard to stoke, he hadn’t built one from scratch in a long time, and even then he always took the shortcut with lighter fluid and a hairdryer; now he was fanning it with newspaper that he kept ripping to feed it, willing it to get larger and stronger. Some of the burning contents included mail from his house that he didn’t want to open but couldn’t bring himself to shred; there were notes passed around in classes and doodles with stupid questions, pink scented slips of love poetry from people he didn’t even know. Notes between high school guys were just as dumb as the ones between girls. He wondered if anyone had ever seen one with his name on it and began reading one that was currently alight with a growing flame; it was talking about some new girl being an easy target for a jock. How did this pile of crap even end up with him? Hurry up before Seth tries to read these… they didn’t have classes together so it was natural he’d be curious. Plus, these were time capsules… Making an unamused face, he dropped it into the flames before it scorched his hand and blew. It was like seeing a city boy doing an outdoorsman activity; helplessly destroying evidence at the same time. Newb, you better get this thing fully going before they get here. At least it was already burning but he was worried it would die every time the wind picked up and swirled the flames, blowing up ash. Eventually, it was vibrant enough he stopped squatting, kneeling and walking around checking it.
This wasn’t supposed to be so anxious; it wasn’t Quil, Xion or even Jake showing up, just Seth and Tash so far… They wouldn’t be laughing all the way to the fire watching him intensely working this pile of broken dry wood. Once charcoal got here, he’d throw some in and it would all be fine... Catcher huddled a little, sitting on a log in an big plush lounge robe over his worn down, practically translucent tank and acid washed board shorts. It was tailored as a round collared coat or cardigan but soft as Grandma’s quilting and thick like something girls would have at a sleepover; the pattern was southwestern, dark with warm hues and contrasting Navajo stitching. That was as masculine as it got but he didn’t care, it suited him somehow even though his friends weren’t used to seeing him in anything but denim and leather. The material retained his body heat and he could pass out anytime, anywhere in it if he needed like a sleeping bag; he resembled a cuddly mascot without the oversized head, someone you wanted to share the blanket with in a snowy lodge. It wasn’t actually cold enough to affect him because of their high temperatures but it was cozy; he was a guy who liked soft things... girls included. He forgot when the robe came to belong to him but he had been so wild, his adventures included a lot of random stuff like this; he’d even ridden to the border of Arizona where he met an old lady with a pet wolf. He smiled shortly at the thought of being a shapeshifter before shaking the rattlesnake tail tied to a leather rope around his neck which had been a gift, along with the miniature silver feather that dangled from one ear and the turquoise stud beside it.
He wasn’t expecting to sleep at home alone tonight, dressed like he was in a desert that happened to have water; if he was going to talk about his great disappearing act, it was going to take all night. Not to mention, getting Tash to open up about her issues could take even longer… Now he looked like wayfarer at a camp and he tried not to stare at the flames, resting his chin in his palm, an elbow on his knee. Marshmallows would be nice…it was close to dinner time so they would get hungry soon. His nose was already smelling imaginary grease and meat juices. Catcher had made minimal efforts with himself, believing he’d get sandy and wet, oily and smoky but the humidity levels were low. He hadn’t even tidied his hair and it was a brush of loose, shagged strands with some wavy curling ends, dangling past his eyes if he stopped pushing it up; disheveled sex hair.
Years ago, he began with Dear V and never dropped that note in her school locker; he kept it in a box but never reread it and now he considered burning it. The rest was hard to organize into a coherent, chronological order of events but he had to just talk about it as it came to mind. Images flashed in the flames as he found his vision haunted by the fire light; and he rubbed his face quickly to distract himself, perking up. Grilling would ease him, he actually enjoyed making food with fire to relax; a fascinating chemical reaction. Catcher reached over to a suede satchel leaning against an old guitar; it was where he’d put tequila and little glass bottles of sweetened margaritas in and he pulled out the slender golden bottle, almost putting his mouth to it. Wait, it’s not open… don’t I have cups… He eyed the bag and rummaged again, finally pulling out a stack to peel them apart; biting onto one as he tried to open the drink with difficulty. He often fumbled like a toddler when he was by himself; his girlfriend might have thought he was cute, if she existed, but anyone who spent enough private time with him would find it impossible to comprehend all the other times where things went as smoothly as they do in Hollywood movies.
Last Edit: Jun 22, 2021 15:14:22 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 22, 2021 17:00:58 GMT -5
Time seemed to go by fast it had only been a week since prom but Tash hadn’t seen much of Seth or Catcher. That time she talked to them they agreed to meet on the beach. It was both her favorite place in LA Push but it was also a place filled with mixed emotions. Maybe that’s why she liked it was a place that saw a lot of pain but still stayed inviting and beautiful. Feeling the sand below her bare feet Tash was staring to miss transforming into a wolf. He was struggling I more the one way. Just holding in her emotions seemed to be causing her head to feel foggy. A lack of sleep didn’t help her with this either.
She had tied her hair into a ponytail in anticipation the winds blowing every stand into a tangled ball of mess. She didn’t dress up in anything fancy, a plain purple tank top and a pair of cut off shorts. she didn’t need anything else. She didn’t have to pretend she was cold, none of then would be. Tonight would be the night just to talk, enjoy some food, drinks. She wasn’t expecting anyone to show up besides Catcher and Seth.
It seemed like Sam had been keeping them busy. He knew not to bug her right now. He had to deal with his own sort of struggle with Leah, so he was understanding . It had been if she was irrelevant to the rest of the pack no one was talking to her but Seth. She rubbed her shoulder where he pack tattoo was inked into her skin she wondered if they missed her being around. So far no word, maybe the boys were scared she snapped on them or just be irritating. She didn’t know she would be wherever they decided to come around. She just knew she was not going to let them bug her.
The smell of smoke begin to fill her nose as she could see just of the beach Catcher was there stoking at a small fire. It would have to be bigger to be considered a real fire but it look like he was handling that or trying . Tiny flames seemed to be fighting the wind coming off the water struggling to hang on. She could just make out his outfit board short and a odd looking robe.Catcher could out the most obscure items and make them look like they belonged together. There was just something about him that Tash couldn’t escape herself. He was damaged, so was she.
She tried to walk up as silently as possible he seemed to be in his own little world burning little piece of paper. “What do you go there, love letters for a secret admirer?” She plopped herself down on a log beside Catcher picking up a folded up sheet. “a little dusty aren’t they?” She rubbed he nose to hold off a sneeze. She trying to be noisy but it seemed odd thing he brought old papers for starting a fire. There was enough dry kindling hiding under the overhang of the cliff. It stayed dry during the rain so they would often collect a bunch of drift wood and leave it there to dry off.
“I guess you didn’t go camping much as a kid?” Natasha love fires, the smell of wood burning always brought her back to camping at the family’s trailer as a child. No did it keep people warm it brought people together. Bon fires had a strange way about them, they cloud be feared or they could be a place to make everyone a little closer. “ Seth is probably going to be a little late. He is rarely on time for anything.” She wished he was here right now she had a habit of blurting out what she was thinking when she was alone with people. It had been a while since Catcher’s was around and he missed a lot of drama. It was as her life was a badly written Netflix show that never seemed to have a happy ending. Starring down at her feet she barried her toes in the sand before pulling them back out and watching the sand slip off. “you have missed a lot when you been gone.” She leanded her head on his shoulder." It's been...hell" she didn't want to open the whole can a worms.he didn't need to be burden."what made you come back."
Last Edit: Jun 22, 2021 17:05:24 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 22, 2021 19:21:31 GMT -5
When Natasha crept up on him, he was already done with the bottle and dropped the cup quickly out of his mouth, not having poured anything to drink in the end; he scrambled to shove it to the side and she made no mention of it. He was wide eyed she had arrived before Seth and was not prepared, sitting like a petrified stuffed animal as she noticed he was burning scraps of different textured papers with ink all over them and he knew she was going to pick it up to read, seemingly intrigued. It was from forever ago, so he just sighed and looked at what she had picked up before replying in agreement. ”Yea, I wouldn’t call it admiring… or secret… I did get a few sad messages about how I made a girl feel like the other girls were walking all over her. I don’t remember what I did to resolve it… but I hope it was enough. I don’t even know what I did to cause that… None of these ask me out or anything.“ He brought her hand to the fire with the paper she examined so it caught flame and disintegrated, continuing the conversation with an openness that surprised himself; it was probably because they were alone and it wasn’t difficult to go along with her as she asked questions. Picking up some misshapen pieces, he shuffled them then spread them like cards, closing them into a stack; a mix of prompt cards and answers to tests peaked through. ”You act like you’ve never gotten a pile of proper valentine’s cards.”She probably kept mementos from Quil and no one else. He glanced at her from between his fringe with a tiny doubtful smirk and pushed the hair away with a free hand so it flipped to the other side of his face, tossing an envelope whole into the burning pit.
“I feel like they won’t come back no matter how long I hold onto them… At the same time, I know what I want back and it’s not most of this stuff. It’s some of this stuff but if I don’t get rid of it altogether I will end up keeping everything… again.”He wanted time back… He wanted to relive it instead of read about it feeling like he had Alzheimer’s each day he didn’t. Short term memory loss was not accurate enough. Maybe he could even have lessened the bad stuff… done more… It was evident he was not the experienced camper she was and he closed his eyes briefly, the smirk becoming an amused smile as he poked the woodpile with a stick and bit his lip, turning rosy. ”Did you go camping a lot because feel free to take over anytime?” Raising his eyebrows at her, he joked embarrassed and passed the stick to her so she could wave it around and conjure a bigger flame. Carelessly, he told her as a matter of fact, glad she had a better youth than he ever would; no matter how many lifetimes he stayed a student, it would never be different.”I grill a lot but my family never sat around outdoors or around a fireplace together for fun. We couldn’t be around each other without a friend or someone outside the family around, or it would end badly.”He had two polar opposite narcissistic sociopaths for parents and it amazed him he was still alive.
”Seth is probably buying trolleys full ‘cause he always gets hungry in the grocery store. Pretty sure that’s never gone away.” Catcher felt her head lean on his shoulder and knew it was like a pillow as she mused with him; he felt sympathy for whatever she had endured. It was in the sound of her voice, written on her face when she stopped being cheerful and there wasn’t a way to avoid it. She probably felt like she was losing friends and for the guys, this wasn’t the easiest thing to handle so he was sure they couldn’t relate. It was just strange that her female friends did not come to her aid and he wondered if they were just backstabbing and two faced. What would he know, the only friends he had were here and he could count them with one hand.
”I never wanted to leave in the first place… I did miss a lot, every day back has shown me that… which… tells me that I should’ve always come back, would've always in the end.” His eyelids fluttered, blinking as he tried to piece together his words as well as seem like what he said wasn’t totally stupid and confusing. ”I went away not realizing I was going to lose myself so quickly. I was so far gone from my original self that by the end I hated me… lived for others. Trapped myself voluntarily like I had no escape… that was supposed to be normal… That was life. Being here is actually how I should’ve always been. I believe that coming back, I’m me again… The best version of me anyway… I think?"He couldn't live without what he had here... He chuckled and ruffled his head, self consciously looking to her for subtle confirmation; for once he genuinely wondered what she really thought of him after all this time. Before they seemed to have nothing in common, just got along well and he chose to interact with her like she was his sibling. Of course she was off limits in every way so he barely let her name stay in his mind for long and spent all his time around other girls. He couldn't read her, not at the dance and not anytime back in the day; it left him searching and it was like discovering archaeological marvels over and over again with her when she did say something about him once in a blue moon.
"It’s hard to explain, most people won’t get it… No one has asked me yet anyway...” His words repeatedly trailed off while his voice fluctuated trying to pace what was coming out and he was vulnerable. His hand clasped over his mouth as he pondered her judgment, looking into the distant foaming waves. ”If you really wanna know… it’s actually all melodramatic and ‘very’ lame.”
Catcher put an arm around her to comfort her for a moment then slid out a small brown envelope that was sealed; the word 'Sorry' was written on it and he flapped it in front of Natasha."This is where it all started... and ended." She would never take it from him because she wasn't as playful as Seth but he was possessively keeping it in hand, feeling along the sharp edges with his fingers. "Whatever you're going through, there's everything in this world you can do... just don't do what I did." Giving one more lingering rub across the indented writing on the envelope, he crushed it and let it turn into ash before their eyes. Dont leave or run away. Don't be stuck. Don't fight it, be defeated by it and don't give up..."You've always been the best of us, you'll get through it..."
Last Edit: Jun 22, 2021 19:35:09 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 23, 2021 10:10:19 GMT -5
Natasha felt stupid, she was so in her head all the time she rarely thought maybe someone sense was going through the same sort of things she was. Valintines? Everyone got valentines she just saw most as just people felt pressured to get their friends a card to show some sort of respect. It was just easy to tell each other that you appreciate their friendship. She kept a few, only ones that help hold one to happy times and memories.
It was strange he didn’t want to leave but he went. Unlike Catcher wanted to go but she couldn’t leave she couldn’t leave the pack. She was liked with them for eternity. It fucking sucked,sometimes she wished she had never moved back to La Push at all. “It the problem with being young no life experiences to tell us what to do before we do them. Sometimes you have to make mistakes before life can start things out.” She looked down at a envelope he place in front of her. It was a letter that was never delivered to who he intended to write it for. She watched it burn up in the fire disappearing like water when you tired to hold in your hands. There was nothing worst then words that needed to be said to heal that were never received “…Veronica?..” she didn’t want to ask much more she didn’t need to dig into a can a worms. “I don’t even know what happened to her.” She had missed Veronica too they were like a unstoppable force together. she envied the un-imprinted. They could still go as they pleased. She couldn’t she had to be there, wherever Quil was. “You haven’t heard from her?” Poking at the fire, she stood and walked over grapping a small stack of wood. Strategically she placed some pieces into the dancing flames not to smother them. She was unconcerned about where Seth was that moment she probably would get as much put of Catcher with him here. “I guess we are truly trying to find ourselves and be the best people we can be.” Tash again poked at the fire, the flames could give good advice a times. You can’t put a burn long back together just as you can’t change the past. “It's strange how we hold on to things in the past and let them shape how we live our future. I wished all I could do to rid myself would be to burn a letter and things be gone.” The waves crashes against shore loudly enough to catch her attention for a second. She eyes led her to Cliffs. Her mother had once loved cliff diving, until she drowned jumping off of them. She had always been scared to even try. She might have to take her own advice and let go of the fear. “I’m glad you came back, Seth's been a pain. Hanging out with me, I almost think the guys where just making him do it.” She may have said it was a pain but reality she was gald to have someone who was cheerful around.
She wrapped her arms around Cather’s so they were linked” I’ don’t think I can push past everything.” She tucked strand of hair that she missed behind her ear try to stop it from blowing in her face “ Most of the time I wish my best fiend Ellie would just die. I shouldn't..then Quil… maybe id mater again. I haven't talk to either of them for a while.” She let a tear run half way down her face before wiping it away and stopping the tears all together. “They never tell when you imprint on a pack member then can still imprint themselves. It messed up everything. I hope it never happens to you.” she chuckeda stuck angrly towards the fire and missed. "Life is great isn't it?"
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 23, 2021 11:25:54 GMT -5
With that, the words and scenes to the letter he had written for Veronica started layering before him; he was reading it without having to and it was a psychedelic post-traumatic stress that he had to control better. That day Natasha was nowhere near him and it had been an omen to have a terrible evening before everything shattered; the timeline was disorderly and he had to estimate now. Mostly he had ignored these reminders so much it was barely real to him except when he encountered triggers. ”I think I get younger as I get older.” He told her, half kidding and half serious. ”I’m glad you’re still here.”
In the flashback, he tried to explain to her disjointedly. ”I ended up telling Veronica I loved her one night. I was told not to do that and it just…” Catcher gesticulated with a hand like he had thrown up word vomit and blurted things so she got what he meant. ”I let her think things I should never have let her think. Not to skip to the end but I don’t believe she wants to talk to me.” In his eyes, his memories were fleeting. Around twenty-four hours ago he had fought with Embry. A little more than half a day ago, he found Veronica in the water with a strange man. A couple of hours ago, he patched himself up with the help of his neighbour’s daughter outside a gas station liquor store. ”I’m not surprised you haven’t heard from her… She might have imprinted or was imprinted on, something sometime. Should be the same guy I saw… ” He spoke darkly, sounding like a pirate retelling a tale, taking himself back to the time; he believed Veronica had better things to do now with someone she couldn't get enough of so it was nothing personal against Tash.
Less than a few minutes before, he was staring at his reflection unable to recognize who he’d become. Now, he was finally mostly healed despite how it shouldn’t have taken this long; they had mostly stayed unphased during the fight then it just got out of control and they were like starved wolves in winter over a carcass. ”I guess if I tell you, Seth will just have to get it from your head. He doesn’t do well with what’s in this.” Catcher pointed to his skull with reluctance, trying to be less thinker and more listener. He was dead to Embry… Seth had matured but it would suck the life out of him to go in his emotional mind; they were very different people, only the same in essence.
”I don’t think Seth can be made to do something he doesn’t want to do…” He was bemused she even suspected Seth and poked her, making a little chortling sound. ”Hey, if it helps you can sharpie I hate Quil on these and burn them right now… or I love Quil…” Fishing for her feelings, he wrote the conflicting words with his finger on the front of a card he held and the back; replacing love with an invisible heart shape before releasing it drift into the flames, wiggling his fingers at the magical aftermath.
Shocked, he leaned back slightly, his arm still linked by hers, carefully watching her tear up and wipe it away; she needed a way to release her bottled anger more than just chucking a piece of stick. Apparently even the nicest person would end up with murderous thoughts. ”You, want Ells to die. Never, ever… thought I’d hear this. You don’t really hate her… you might need to avoid her though. It hurts you took care of her when she first arrived.” Catcher was beginning to understand that Quil messed up; he was almost evil with amusement, smiling to himself but gathering the information. Quil imprinted on Ellie… there was nothing to feel happy about there but that was up to the universe, he couldn't hate Quil for it. Ellie was human and she still had a choice in the matter which brought him solace. Having always been protective of her, he knew she wasn't a match for Quil's magnetism and it grossed him out to admit Quil was attractive to most girls; Ellie would eventually succumb then what could he do, nothing. It sounded like bad writing he didn't want to believe was scripted. Catcher still didn’t know Natasha had imprinted on Quil, creating a terrible love triangle. He laughed at her statement about life and how she hoped he never experienced what she did regarding imprinting; lightening up, he shook his head slowly, sure of himself. ”And, I… hope you never have someone lie to you that they imprinted so you’d be stuck with them forever. Imagine trying to do the right thing out of guilt to find out it was a sham. ‘Cause, I think I take the cake with that... “
Not wanting her to misunderstand, he hurriedly brushed it off as if he could distract her after dropping such a bomb. He wasn't abstaining from telling her the truth if she asked or recounting all of what led to that, he just had trouble keeping everything concise if he went on a tangent. "It's just some other level crap I got into."
Last Edit: Jun 23, 2021 12:58:36 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 23, 2021 13:58:28 GMT -5
Love had a funny way of hurting people, she had never known about Catcher's confession of love. Veronica had never told her. It just have been something she didn’t want to share. “ I'm sorry Catch. If I knew you loved Veronica...I should have told you about..” Natasha was apologizing not because if she had known his true feelings foe Veronica she would have mentioned something to him about Axel. She understood the pain he must have felt, she too had suffered though rejection. She had try to imagine it wasn't real, and he had run away from it. It was not much a beach party yet, it was more of a pity party. She felt bad for wanting to know his explanation for where he had gone, it felt like she was opening old wounds. She hated seeing Catcher upset, prom night he was a different person completely. He had seemed happy until Veronica showed up. She liked that Catcher better, she had told him to go after Veroica, thinking there was some unfinished business there. Now she wished she hadn't if she had known the pain she had caused him, she would have tried whatever she need to him there with her. That night he seemed to bring some sort of sunshine in her life, something that she had been missing, a reason to enjoy life. It was something she wouldn't confess with all he was sharing he didn't have to hear that. Tash begin to wish that Seth would come soon, she didn't want tonight to be a sad evening but one which where they can laugh and smile about the old days.
She looked at her the little notes he had been burning again. It would be nice just write Quil's name down to burn away the connection she had. Only death could change that. She though about her words, tears begin to run down her face, this time she didn’t stop them.“ I really don’t want Ellie to die. There nothing wrong with her. The problem is me, I'm defective or something.I can't hate Quil, its not his fault either. He's suppose to be my soulmate, I imprinted, we were supposed be together. I don't know why fate did me dirty, kept me attached to someone who clearly doesn't want me. If he did he be here.” She didn’t want say it out loud.She hated it even happened.She would die for Quil, she would still do anything for him, be anything he wanted her to be. She lost him but even since it had all taken away, she was still waiting for him to come back. She let the tear out to let out some her pent up emotions. It helped a bit.
Not wanting to dwell on herself, Tash stood up and took Catcher’s hand. “You know you can use these just try to reach out, I don't think you shouldt waste your time on Veronica. "She looked down at his hands in hers. Her fingers looked dwarfed compared to his. " You still have a chance to be happy, you should try and find it.” Tash need to start taking her own advice. She could start by trying to let go of her own pain. “Come on.” She pulled his toward the edge of the water. “Let’s promise here to get better, if we don’t get better will always have eachother… and Seth.”
Last Edit: May 21, 2022 17:31:37 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 23, 2021 21:35:22 GMT -5
”Don’t be.” He turned to tell her with direct eye contact so she’d understand from looking at him that there was nothing he regretted about professing to Veronica or having felt the way that he did. Catcher had a peculiar way of speaking and often left things open ended for people to form their own opinions before sometimes having to clarify. There was no point in time that he wanted to regret things and he had worked through it to get this far; in fact, he let it become what it was. It took him a long time to disrupt nature’s plan. ”This is our story that only we can take back.”
He felt it in his bones how much he had hated hurting Embry, how much he resented being attacked by Embry; there was nothing he could do to stop it once it started. He had so much rage to unleash and it just happened to be them there and then. The difference was Embry had the pack to support him, his girlfriend Raven to nurse him; Catcher didn’t even want Veronica to get involved, knowing her rebelliousness would just bring herself down to where he was. The pack was the only family good for her left and he tried to come to terms with his decision to leave her alone. “She was at my house, drunk and mad when Embry showed up...”The pack had taken him in like family but now, the facts came out and it was clear that he was still the outsider. It didn’t help that he had done something crazy and reckless, disrupting the foundation; he was the step child. ”I was supposed to patrol after him. They gave me responsibilities, kept me busy, were my brothers… fathers I never had. I looked up to them and they wouldn’t believe it because I screwed up the one thing they asked me not to. They didn’t warn only once…” The walls kept tumbling down in the town that he lost and he was left to his own devices. ”But it didn’t work… it wasn’t supposed to seem meaningless.”
His vision glazed over, returning him to thoughts he wanted Natasha to know but couldn’t as poetically verbalise. There was overwhelming emotion that he did his best to share with her. Maybe it was because Embry was one of the fastest wolves in the pack or that they were out for the kill but he was kind of glad he didn’t heal practically instantly as the altercation dragged out. It made him feel tired, alive, and almost human; he was finally not numb to his endangering behaviour… the consequences of his heedless actions. The gravity of breaking one of the most important pack rules sinking under love’s heavy burden.
”They were right though. I was just a day too late to get it.” Just then, Natasha uncontrollably sobbed and her tears kept flowing until she was fully crying her feelings out. He could feel himself slightly choked up at her sadness and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth making it seem that he nervously swallowed repeatedly; Adam’s apple visibly moving up and down. Catcher frowned, furrowing his brows and lifting them softly multiple times throughout the course of his awkwardness as he watched her with an expression he was about to shed a tear in solidarity. He wanted to let her weep to her heart’s content but knew he should say something that would help stop it. ”If he was your soulmate, he would have imprinted on you…”It was what he believed and there was probably one person on the planet who could be your twin flame but that was very hard to find. Impossible in one lifetime but she had a chance. Settling for anything less wasn’t a crime either; it was in no way inferior and she would figure it out in time. Some people were never going to find that true love and he was one of them but he was going to focus on being true to himself instead… She had been ahead of him for years, having already found someone she truly loved.
The love triangle was staring him down now and he let her examine his hand then lead him to the water, feeling the sand harden as they reached the wet shore. Wanting the wind to carry the weight away, he dropped the robe in a smooth slip as he had stood up with her; the breeze tingling as his body heat re adjusted. For a split second, he felt the prickly feeling he had felt that night, broken thoughts in tow. Not only did he overheat in cold rain, he was a feverish mess within. He hadn’t eaten at all and was slightly hung over since he drank the rest of the vodka, they poured over his wounds, for the hell of it. Did all that impede his recovery? Had he become physically weaker because of his psyche? He wanted to be dead. Maybe his body was responding to what he wanted. His wounds had been deep and some of the bones had broken then repaired in ways they shouldn’t have; they tried to fix it as best as possible so it seemed alright so far. She had sobbed when he told her to crack his arm again so they could reposition it. She, became his lifelong friend because he couldn't put Seth through this. He should’ve gone to his number one man, but he couldn’t lay this pressure onto him and put Seth in the position to choose between Jake, Embry and himself or the pack; he couldn’t let himself be vulnerable the same way with Seth that night. Seth was still happy go lucky then; he couldn't be the one to walk him through the dark side of the morning. He went to the only next available option; He called her T and she was there cleaning him up... He was pretty sure the cartilage holding his rib had torn and regrown too; this wasn’t one of those times to laugh and say you should’ve seen the other guy. There was no sense of pride or victory involved; they were never going to win anything and it was nothing but a lashing out. His debut with Veronica was a masterpiece but now their show couldn’t go on.
The daze shorted and they stood by the waves like little doves that should've flown away; this wasn't the same summer song he used to know. Here and now, they had a twisted paradise. "If he makes you happy then you should keep... loving him... There's got to be some sort of compromise." Scratching his head, he wasn’t sure if that was possible but the world was accepting of couples and alternative lifestyles now; he suddenly realized he sounded insane and looked down at the foams that had come close to covering his feet. Flashing her a thankful smile, he stuck out his pinky finger at her so she could loop it in a promise. ”We are already better.”
Last Edit: Jun 23, 2021 22:36:28 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 24, 2021 8:25:22 GMT -5
It was a sad, knowing that Embry when angry could be so vicious so animalistic. She was the same at times, say the wrong thing or do something she didn’t like she could snap and try to destroy whatever was in her path. The only reason why she didn’t snap at the prom on Donna because Seth and Catcher seem to be under control. She was pent up from not phasing and was still able to keep her cool.
Its to bad she hadn’t been around when Cacther's brawl with Embry, sure he was her superior, The pack was responsible for keeping each other in check. Someone should have been around to calm Em down of the edge of destruction. If she had seen happen she wouldn’t have let things get so far. Yes they were beast but there was no need for such savage behavior Catcher was her friend, their friend she just didn't understand Embry sometimes Just because he was angry, he had hurt Catcher? That kind of devastation was for vampires.Turning on each other should have never happened, age wisdom had matured some of the pack. She hoped Catch being back wasn't going to cause him any problems.
“I'd wouldn’t blame yourself, Embry had a way snapping first and dealing with the chaos after. The alpa's tried to teach us well but he had lacks guidance of his own.”. Catcher had been as broken as she was, not only did have scars on his heart the ones that were always harder to heal. He had physical scars to prove it. Letting go of his pinky, she placed a hand on his chest sliding it beneath his robe. Tash pulled herself up on her toes and give his a kiss on his cheek. “Screw the guys, they only think there so much better because of pack status.They would be nothing alone.” She had removed herself from all of that. She shut it all down. If Quil was in danger she show, all the other wolf shit, patrolling and following someone’s lead would only be done on her terms. She wouldn't be much help anyway, she really didn't care about life anymore.
She felt the unevenness of his rib bones under fingertips, slowly letting them trace the carnage below. Felling every bump of uneven bone and attachment accessing how bad he had been hurt. "Embry really did a number." It must have been horrible healing from such injuries alone.even almost unbearable ti think about it.." I guess if you can survive this alone,” she stopped her hands laying them flat against his pecks and finding his eyes. “I can make it my pain too.". she slid her hands slowly off of him not wanting to linger to long. She looked towards the Cliffs.
She had never though of a compromise. She had never thought maybe just she should forget about loving Quil and being just there for him, just to find happiness herself. He needed her to love him before now he didn’t. Deep down If he needed her she be there but she wasn’t going to just live for him anymore. Too long had she been depressed. She was over being sad and alone. She would face her own fears and try to leave all her pain behind maybe try to start new and be done with being an unhappy, scared little girl.
She was a beast below her skin one who could rip apart anything she choose. A beast in which soon she would have to release and allow to be free again. She could feel her heart thumping the worroir within wanting to be released. She had lost her connection by being g so concerned about playing a role life had dictated for her. She was in control,she didn’t feel like she had been for a very long time. She had a spark of confidence and she didn’t want to disingenuous the flame. With another word,She left Catcher standing then and started running towards the Cliffs.
Stripping of her top layer of leaving them in the sand. She was going to jump off the Cliffs...I can do this...she shouted back at Catcher. “I know how I can start taking control of my own life, I going to jump on the Cliffs.” If she could just do this she believed she could face anything. There was still fear Tash wanted to concor it all,then washed away.This new found way freedom burning below her skin fueled by Catcher's words alone. Why couldn’t this happen any sooner. Why couldn’t she ever get this confidence before. He had brought is out in her.
Last Edit: May 21, 2022 17:52:26 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 24, 2021 15:25:38 GMT -5
Embry hadn’t just been angry because he was protective of his family, he had felt betrayed because it happened on his watch; he had done everything he could. Everytime Veronica had been around him while Embry was there, all they had were stolen glances and it was made clear they weren’t supposed to be alone together. Just showing more interest in her would cause Embry to glare or snap at him in reminder; his friend took things very grievously and he couldn’t blame him for enforcing the pack’s rules. It was just worse because they were unanimous so Embry wasn’t doing anything wrong; he was a stone tipping their scales.
There would eventually come a time to shut it down but he knew getting physical had been nowhere near the endgame; but was an unforgettable lesson it did teach him. Natasha had no idea it was more than just about wolves and their hierarchy or teenage fight club urges. It was what occurred that made him realize something he didn’t know about himself; that guilt of being friend until you were the enemy and everyone thought it was just a choice, it was all on you and you didn’t want to change. All you had to do was change or you were that traitor offered the right path and refusing it; an ingrate. Standing there with the lowering sun, the briny air and sea side sounds while reflecting his life choices he had never been so immersed in his own version of Point break. ”He was doing what he knew was right and I just wanted to be what I wanted. Now, I see that sometimes it takes someone who knows you to get you to do the best thing for yourself. ”
Catcher felt her touch him and he just looked at the pale lines that contrasted his skin tone with her, lost in history; they were barely visible to normal people but wolf vision and her standing so close made him see it all in a new light. When she gave his cheek a friendly kiss, he smiled rather demurely, shy from never expecting her to do anything like that but didn’t react. ”I don’t think anyone would ever want to get on Embry’s bad side. We tried to get a hold of Jake… Veronica wasn’t really listening to either of us. She had just found out about the phasing… that we were all wolves… that we hid it from her. She was… headstrong.” He faltered at the description, but rekindled a feeling he had for Veronica that he appreciated. None of them were on the same page between the raindrops. He had told Veronica to get in Embry’s car to be taken home, telling Embry she was just drunk. Embry assumed something happened; that Catcher did something or lack of something. Catcher argued the pack should have kept better watch of her if they wanted to keep them apart so badly. It was as if they were caught misbehaving even if it made Veronica happy; she was their little princess and he was confused that he had to be around her, allowed to take her home when they needed him to but not be anything to her. They all argued; she thought he was upset that she didn’t like him being flirty around other girls and that he was turning her away because of Embry, because he was unsure of his feelings for her. Tensions mounted and she left, walking out on both of them in the storming night; it was their fault and they fought until they broke down their feud.
What Natasha said next made him pause to laugh and he put a hand to his head, skeptical and dubious at the funny bratty remark, kicking up a bit of water in a spray.”There’s strength in numbers and then there’s… gang mentality. But, you’re part of the pack so what are you on about… and you’re not nothing without them either.”
One moment she was solemnly there with him and the next she raced away towards the cliffs that hung above the rockiest part of the coast. It extended far enough out that the guys would dare each other to dive off the ledge; they would sprint fast enough and jump so it never seemed they could be in danger of crushing themselves. He had tried it a few times but mostly Catcher didn’t really like being close to the edge of any place high; there was some sort of allure that drew him in and made him want to jump without safety. It was nothing emotional; something profound that made him believe he had flown that way in a past life. It was an oddly appealing way to knock on heaven’s door and tempt fate. His legs carried him after her in reflex but then he slowed down and halted, just keeping sight of her away from where she stood; he trusted what she wanted to do but it didn’t seem possible she could do it. There was beauty in her finding confidence, breaking free from whatever was holding her back; this was her rebel yell and he couldn’t take that from her.
The pack wolves saw him as the cautious one, the bystander, the one with nothing to lose; that rebel without a cause but they didn’t know that was because he was here for a new life. He was in reality, both traumatised and homicidal. His father sought his company but beat the hell out of him, not knowing how to raise him any better. Not wanting to even raise him for that matter; just wanting a friend to do risky things with. Behind closed doors, all he ever did was take it for his mother’s sake; sometimes he retaliated to get her away and even then she reminded him he was his father. He was never good enough for her since all she saw when she looked at him was an image of the man she loved and hated; he was wolf like his father and she couldn’t handle it.A mirror on the outside. At least they weren’t all together anymore.
Depressed feelings spiraled in his mind as he tried to forget everything that was said and done; the answer was simply that he was extremely reluctant in all of his actions. His heart was not into the conflict, the fight or the fallout; it was nowhere now, not even with Veronica. It felt like a foreshadowing to what Natasha was trying to do and he suddenly became unstrung; instantly wary as the clouds loomed overcast. She could do it... that was what he had inadvertently told her... He didn’t want to make her panic but stress was building up faster than rocket could take off; she had been extremely flighty today, this could literally turn into everyone’s worst nightmare and once again he was there. ”Tash… think this through…” He spoke as he began to run the remaining stretch to her as fast as he could, she wouldn't have heard him, the piercing sound of his voice drowned by the volume of the ocean louder on elevated ground. His hopes to stop her were increasing with every step and the thumping beat of his heart was all he could feel; Catcher called back to her in practically a squall as he closed in on the edge she stood. ”Don’t!”
Last Edit: Jun 24, 2021 16:41:00 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 24, 2021 19:19:44 GMT -5
There was no way of stopping her she ran up the cliff side feet pounding off the ground causing the rocks beneath her feet shift out of place. Tash was going to jump, she felt maybe it was a way to escape the hole she felt she was trapped in. He could hear Catcher telling her to think about what she was doing in the distance. The thing is she wasn’t thinking about anything at the moment. If she was thinking she remembered her mother who died doing this exact thing. If she was thinking she would thinking of Quil not being there to stop her. If she was thinking she would have realized how incredibly stupid it was to think a jump of a cliff could change anything.
A though about was how alone Catcher had to heal himself.Alone she would have make a choice to find herself.Get out of her sadness and feeling of being in limbo not being able to live for happy for herself.she need to live more then she was.As the wind brushed across her skin it feel like a pat of encouragement telling to kept going and reach the top.The higher she got the quicker heart beat grew. She knew it was stupid, jumping off a cliff wouldn’t change anything deep down. It would allow her to reclaim some of herself maybe feel something different.
Tash had always been to scared and since she imprinted she hadn’t lived for herself. Living or dying meant something different. she looked back at Catcher, she wouldn’t let him stop her. She hoped the waves would wash the fogginess in her head. Make her really understand her happiness mattered. Catcher came back to try to find himself again. Maybe doing this she could feel who she used to be.
She had reached the top just hear Catcher yelling don’t. She stopped and took a deep breath the only the she knew to do was run as fast as she could and leap to as far as her legs s could push her. She gave herself and internal countdown… one… she took a breath…two…she ran….three…. She jumped. It must have been what flying felt like, the air rushed past her ear and the plumed down into the water. This wasn’t as scary as she thought. She felt free,her mind was clear.Thought about Quil that usually swirled around he head were quiet all of the noise was gone. The fear from the jump was soon replaced with the impact of her body hitting the water, she felt the water engulf her waves pulling her down. It was the worst moment to remember she wasn’t a strong swimmer.
The current pulled at he body tumbling her around. She was struggling to reach the top to get a breath. She need to phase, she was stronger as a wolf. Tried as she might she couldn't ,phasing was out of the question. She was panicking.She had never shapeshifted in water and didn’t know if it was possible without dirt below her feet.
She felt so stupid she had put herself in this danger now she was going to drown. A yell for help escaped he lips before being pulled under again. She breathed in lungs her filled with water not air. She kept struggle until thing turns black.
Last Edit: Apr 30, 2022 10:39:23 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 24, 2021 21:19:34 GMT -5
There was a lingering look before she took the plunge into the sea. He watched the wind blow her hair in all directions like a searching compass hand, the look on her face seemingly letting herself go with wherever it would take her. He had rushed up the cliffs only to see her haunting figure vanishing over it and he jogged to a stop a few metres from where she had stood. Almost skidding, he could feel the dirt under his feet and the grainy rocks between sparse patches of dying grass; he took a few deep breaths as he walked up to the edge to look down.
It had already happened; there was nothing he could do to prevent it so now all he hoped for was that nothing bad took place. Catcher put both hands on his head, fluffing all his hair up in his fingers, flustered and completely in turmoil as he stood reassuring himself they all did this many times while the back of his mind echoed that Natasha never had. All he needed now was her to pop up in the water, smiling and relieved; a new person having conquered her fears. He was frenzied as the seconds wore away and the waves crashed against the Cliffside, drawing back into the ocean without a sign of her and he almost started running back down to the beach.
Fuck. No...No.NO.No… It was less than a minute and the drop was so steep that the timing should have been perfect for her to resurface as he panicked pacing back and forth round where she had jumped. There was no time, he had to go in after her. He would never find her from the beachside. He started wishing this was some sort of prank because the pack was very prone to pranking and he had been a part of that fun, as well as a target on multiple occasions. Unable to shake the foreboding feelings, he realized he did not fear the reaper but he feared for when he came for someone he cared about. Catcher backed away from the edge and sprinted, feeling gravity lose him as exhilaration shifted into four dimensions; he was cold, wet and there was muted noise in his ears.
His eyes were stinging from the sudden salt as he wiped his face and shook the drops out of his hair so his vision cleared; it was like staring into a splattering windshield. He kept trying to see where she could be, buoyant and bouncing along the waves but there was no splashing, no one in sight, no voice. Diving under, he blinked as particles in the water hit him and he was trying to swim deeper with visibility reducing in the murkiness that was stirred up from the seafloor. She had been pulled into the undercurrent; the worst case scenario at any waterfront. Catcher’s heart was pounding, oxygen was draining and he felt like he might expire; the daunting thought he might never find her strangling him.
Then he saw her form, struggling and losing strength; bubbles were dispersing all around her as he swam to grab her. Blobs of air had stopped coming out and she was inanimate; securing her face with his hand so she wasn’t hanging completely limp with more water entering her, he pulled her to the surface. Gasping for air, he could see she was no longer conscious and he did everything in his power to hold her head above the water, side-ways stroking as hard as he could. His mind was blank; he had one mission and that was to get themselves both away from the Cliffside rocks that could collide and kill them.
”Tash, Tash…” He knew calling her name was futile as she wouldn’t hear him but it was impulse between swallowing sea water and desperately dragging her to the shore. There was something he had to do and it was make sure she was alive. He had to save her, and he laid her on the shore, pulling her so half of her was immediately on the sand away from the water. Floods of showering water was falling off his clothes as he stood over her, dragging to shift her frail frame before he crouched over with a hand on her pulse. It was so faint he couldn’t tell if the pulse from his fingers were hers and he laid an ear on her chest trying to find a trace; paranoid there was nothing.
”Please… Fuck…”There were no words; all he did was beg an invisible force and cuss, hating the possibility she might not survive. He was blaspheme to what was happening, and began pressing her sternum down to perform CPR. Nothing was sacred if she didn’t wake up… She was still with him… His thoughts were not accurate but he swore they would be. For a while there was no response and he watched with true fear as her hands twitched from the pressure he put repeatedly on her body and nothing more. He felt the blame in himself, the block in his throat, the gagging need to just be sick but he was overwhelmed with purpose in despair. Brushing her hair from her face, he looked for stirring signs on her face but there was nothing and he felt himself weakening into pessimism.
Opening her mouth, he tried to breathe in and every time he pulled away to start over, he grew more afraid that it was not working, that he had done something wrong. It was in the crisis that you lose all sense of what you know; he was trained in this and it was not succeeding, forming doubt and horror. He was beginning to freak out that she was dead, that he was too late. He looked up briefly around him but they were still alone, deliberating quickly between calling for help, he chose to keep trying to get her to cough up the water in her lungs. The minutes after the accident were crucial, he didn’t have the time to run back to their fire unless the window was truly passing; the ambulance would never make it on time regardless of what option he chose.
He had never prayed but this time, he did. He prayed for a miracle, he also cursed at all celestial beings. He needed Seth, he needed someone… This wasn’t real. He wasn’t failing… He stopped for a second from resuscitating her, hanging his head over her, saltwater dripping from his face along the longest parts of his hair; he felt like he was crying but nothing came out, everything was wet and running along his cheek and onto her face. Her eyelashes were spikes and he had never wanted to see eyes open more than hers right then; she was peaceful and he felt the world was testing him.
Everything inside him was cold, his blood froze to ice and he turned to the ocean and spat out his outrage, mournful and angry at the injustice.”I’m not… giving up on you… you have to wake up. You’re gonna wake up. It’s gonna be okay…” He meant the situation but it made it worse that now he felt all her heartbreak because she didn’t think she was going to ever be alright. Just before all this, he had told her it was going to get better, that she would survive; was fate only cruel to the ones who had so much to live for? She would be robbed while he who had little care for his life would never die.
All he needed was the liquid to cough up… why was it not coming up?”I’m sorry…” He kissed her forehead, pleading before throwing his head back in silent anguish, looking at the sky and inhaling to recompose himself; he gathered resolve to keep going as he held her cheek. He would never quit on her. It was not her time. ”Natasha, please… come back to me.” The sky was falling down on him, he was being swallowed into the sand; he would make a deal with the devil if she would return to him. Catcher kept counting each press, careful not to overdo it as it could cause internal bleeding, positive that he would just breathe life back into her until she was smiling at him again.
Last Edit: Jun 25, 2021 1:35:40 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Natasha Black on Jun 26, 2021 11:09:44 GMT -5
All time had stopped and she could feel like she was slipping away. Here there was no pain,no fear, no feelings. There was nothing no time, or space, no sound. The only attachment she could still feel was a little connection one determined little string tying her earth trying to get her to say. It hung on as long as it could but that string frayed and snapped just like everything else. She had lost all her connections to life, to Quil,to herself.
Then came the pounding, this rythmic beating, a spark of light in the abyss of darkness that she was ready to allow claim her for forever. With that flicker of came flashes like fading flames. As the pounding continues the more she began to feel, the pounding was hand. A hand pushing against her chest, spark was her heart trying to get back to steady beat. Over and over it happened, Tash didn’t know if she wanted let the spark come back where she was in the void she was fine.
Words began to fill her ears, words that began pulling her back to feeling like she was on solid ground. The word sorry came, as if someone was to blame for her being in such state.Back to the sound of water, back the feeling of soild ground against her skin. She coughed slightly bringing up salt water out of her lungs and out past her lips splatter on the sand. She gasped take a small breath, still struggling to clear everything out.
Her first real breath was like adrenaline for her soul. She had awaken like something had changed in her like some part of her she never knew existed came alive. She still a shapshifter, but she felt there was something more. She felt more connected to the earth then ever and she felt as she could hear the trees whispering with the wind. It hadn't been anything she had ever heard before. It was if by facing her fear something had been unlocked with her, like hidden behind her wolf was something magical. She felt a freedom she never thought she could get back not since the thought she had imprinted on Quil. She no longer felt that connection the one that made her feel she had to be just his forever.
She open her eyes and allowed them to meet Catcher's. He had no reason to he sorry,she was the one who should have been. She had jumped off the cliff all on her own. Looking at him she could tell she has scared him, his face was full of worry and concern. For a spit second she felt as though she could truly see how much he cared for her, like she had been so blinded by her own sadness that she couldn't see it before to even notice. “Thank you...” she reached her arms out and pulled Catcher close. Holding him around the shoulder ready to pull him into an embrace.“ For saving me.I don't know why but I've never felt better ."Taking in a breath she could smell Veronica nearby. Tash's hands slid behind his neck, her fingers tangled into the strands of his damp hair. She slowly pulled him in closer until the were just an inch apart. Taking in one deep breath,she moved closer till her lips touched his.She didn't care if Veronica had seen them kissing in fact she wanted herto see them.She hoped it hurt to see her cousin kissing her ex boyfiend.
Last Edit: May 21, 2022 18:00:20 GMT -5 by Natasha Black
Post by Catcher Reeves on Jun 27, 2021 21:25:23 GMT -5
It had been awhile since he had felt so harrowed and he had stared at her in paralysis when she coughed, seawater gurgling out of her. He was kneeling beside her, unsure about touching her while she expelled everything from her lungs and awakened; she came back to life before him and he felt as though he fell into a spiral of doom only to land on soft ground. His stare was the same numbed shock he had when he was curiously touching his own closing wounds years ago. He was in a coma of memories of as the events unfolded with the same dreadful intensity, ending as ambling as being bogged down for nothing. This time, he was thankful it was for nothing, she was not taken from him and he could hardly believe he was not sleeping with the fishes.
He was seeing himself looking at his hands, stopping work on her, splitting images of all the blood that had washed off him in the shower like red dye; the scratches and cuts on him had sealed over and over again until he was depleted, exhausted and they were separated from each other. Liquid was dripping in dots around him, indenting the sand and he felt unearthly. Each compression, each breath he delivered her was the same repetitive timing in his mind until he had begun to lose hope. Residual were the mostly dark pink lines changing shades disappearing as the seconds passed. Remaining was the adrenaline pumping in his veins as she lay still until now. In a few more hours every injury would be entirely gone with nothing to remind him to forget; invisible as a figment of his imagination. In the few minutes that were an eternity, he could never have believed she could be speaking to him as if all was well, all had been an illusion. He was in post-traumatic stress but her voice began to grow louder in his ears, her hand touched him and her eyes met his to bring him back to Earth.
When she drowned, he had been hanging a slow death, alone in limbo and he placed his hand back on her cheek, his thumb rubbing off sand and tracks of sea water. He was barely breathing, calming as though a dose of morphine was injected into him; something indescribably stronger than relief flowing through him that saved him from fainting. She had been gone long enough to be pronounced dead and he had lost years of life thinking she was expiring; but in that fury and bloodlust mixed with despair and anguish, he knew it was the same collective fear that rescued her. It was his own fault for encouraging her without considering the possibilities of how she’d take it, whether she denied it or not; he took responsibility for his actions in silence and let everything consume him. This was history repeating itself. It was his way, the same as when he had searched for Veronica and vowed he would never fuck things up for her that night he saw her with someone else. He never fully adapted to a life of not loving her but he had grown accustomed to acting like he did. This time he couldn’t run, and it was the only time he didn’t fuck up… He changed the course of his destiny.
”I’m…”He started and fought back happy tears, laughing softly and quickly in disbelief that they had been blessed, they had luck on their side.”I’m just so… ”Glad... he was a million words... but stopped at none.It was a half whisper, a half sigh and it was joy as his ramped up anxieties dwindled away. They were so close, but it never crossed his mind that she would pull him in closer. Then he felt it, cold at first, then warm and soft as he realized her lips were on his. Never should this have happened but the idea of a misunderstanding faded as quickly as it came and he threw caution to the wind; he didn’t know that he had wanted this or that he could have had this. His eyes were wide open but he felt his heart give way and blood rush to his cheeks in both embarrassment and a stirring arousal of their veiled attraction. It seemed that he couldn’t make himself stop her and he could hear nothing as he tried to find the voices of reason. They were hushed and he wanted to kiss her like silver and gold; the negative emotions of believing he could never be able to rekindle what he had with Veronica driving him further into a hole, all obstructions to her seduction falling like dominoes. He broke from the kiss, trying to resist a girl he had believed was forbidden, trying to veto himself from the type of illicit behaviour that causes him to lose control. But, his breathing was shallow as he found his gaze lingering from her eyes to her lips and he closed his eyes impulsively, leaning in to kiss her back with a renewed lack of restraint.
Last Edit: Jun 27, 2021 21:32:29 GMT -5 by Catcher Reeves
Post by Seth Rivers on Jun 28, 2021 8:20:57 GMT -5
Whirlwind, that is how Seth would described he last week. He was till on cloud 9 from all that was happening with his budding relationship with Xion. His life had never be so excited yet scary at the same time. He still haven’t really told his friends war had unfolded in the hall while everyone was living out a real life high school drama. His news was good new and he hadn’t wanted anyone to rain on his parade. All of the unexpected return of the mysterious Veronica, the reappearance of Catcher and his mechanical steed and Tash living in her life in limbo was enough to write a whole series.
Seth had rolled off his couch to start preparing for the evening, he has straightened his black shorts and thew on a blue and green tie-dyed sleeveless shirt. He had pulled his hair back into a small ponytail not know really what to do with it any more. He have to ask Xion of some advice about that.There was no need to dress up by the end of the night. They were just sitting on the beach getting together and eating a shit load of food. By the end of the might he would probably end of either swimming, being covered is god knows what food stains from using his shirt like a napkin.
Seth had already been to the grocery store earlier in the day loading up on every kind of meat you could imagine barbecuing steak, chicken, burgers and hot dogs. All the extra were almost an afterthought and Seth had to make a second trip to the store before he headed to the beach so he would be a bit before he made it to the beach. He hoped his friends wouldn’t mind waiting to eat.
Tossing the meat into a cooler full of ice, Seth loaded it onto the bed of his truck long with his BBQ, a brand new bottle of vodka complement if his sister and all the seasoning and sauces need. He remembered last minute to this a few blankets in the back just in case they need up needing them to sit on. Tonight they were going to be eating, they would eat like kings. He would not be eating half cooked steak burn in all the wrong places because the fire coals were insufficient to reach proper cooking temperature. They food would great and he was hopeful the rest of the evening event would be.
Pulling his truck up to his favourite variety store. Seth ran in grabbing every flavour of soft drinks, buns, chips, potato salad, paper plates and last but not least the biggest bag of marshmallows humanly possible to consume in one evening. He walked up to the cashier smiled, passed what he owned and headed out of the store.it was probably in the end way food and snack then what was needed but he they were to be drinking he rather have more then less. Serh was hopeful was going down in the books as the best beach night ever.
Seth rolled up to the closest entrance to the beach, parking the truck were he could see a visible fire. He though it was a little strange that no one was sitting there tending the fames, maybe they just had a walk up the beach seeing how late he must have been by now. His friends knew him well enough that he
was expected to show up he ran on Seth time never to late to party but late enough to get bass the awkward small talk.
Loading up almost everything Seth started to make he way down the flicking flames are full bags and the cooler he tried to get everything down in on trip it was just physically impossible. He dumped it all in the sand and tuned back around to grab the barbecue. He let his eyes wonder down the beach, a purple shirt and a pair of shot caught his eye. It was the most unusual thing he saw in the sad but farther down he could see what looked like Catcher down the beach leaning over someone else.
Seth was unsure of what had been going on but he had be expected to arrive so want ever was going on farther down the sand was appropriate for his eyes to be seeing. Small sounds of Catcher’s voice was being carried down by the wind but the sound of the waves crashing up against the shore Seth could make out much. He kicked off his sandals and started running up the beach to telling Catcher he and the food had arrived so he better get his ass cooking.
Seth slowed down he was a little thrown off by what he had stumbled upon. Tash was in the sand laying her underwear, lips locked to Catchers, maybe he was walking up onto something he should have been seeing. Instead of making all is way up to his friends he turned back down the beach headed back to the truck to retrieve the barbecue and wait for them to return from their escapade .
Last Edit: Jun 28, 2021 8:39:03 GMT -5 by Seth Rivers
Post by Veronica Call on Jun 28, 2021 15:08:59 GMT -5
The week after prom was a blur for Veronica. Instead of moping around like some high school girl, she took control of her life. First thing she did was spent a day in Port Angeles; shopping, getting a haircut, a massage and mostly spending time to reevaluate herself and life. She hasn’t seen anyone from the pack after prom and somewhat she was okay with that. Prom is always filled with drama and she was the highlight of the drama. That’s one way to make an entry after couple of years.
Next day and throughout rest of the week, she cleaned her house, remodeled couple areas around her place she rented. Veronica didn’t want to be a burden staying at her cousin’s house and she has demons she wants to deal with alone. Everything in her life was getting remodeled one way or another. Her living was next in line for redecorating; she envisioned turquoise and white curtains with string lights to make it look magical and bright. She finally has a home she can call hers.
By the time evening came, Veronica rolled out of bed from her afternoon nap. She wanted a day just to be lazy and not do a thing. Do I need a shower, if I’m just going to be drinking while watching waves crash on the shore? Walking to bathroom, she turned on shower and opted to take a quick shower. Not waiting for water to turn warm, she jumped into shower, rinsed her warm body with cold water making her shiver a bit but felt refreshing. Turning off shower knob, she grabbed her towel and walked out of shower while drying her self. She walked into closet, picked first thing on her hanger-casual multi-colored tye dye romper, paired it with flip flops and didn’t bother doing her as her hair had kind of its own.
Walking into kitchen, she pulled out her cooler bag, filled it with ice, two - six pack margaritas bottles, water bottle and zipped it up. She didn’t know what to eat so she picked up big pretzel bag from pantry, grabbed her key, cooler, and walked out the door, locking it. She got into her car and drove to beach entrance. Tonight, she wanted to relax by the water while drinking and be in the present. She pulled her black car into parking and saw couple of cars in the lot; she turned off ignition, took one bottle out the cooler bag, placed bag of pretzel in it, grabbed cooler and beach towel and exited the car.
Windy blew her hair while salty air filled her lungs; this was her happy place. Smiling, she locked her car and walked towards the shore hoping to find a log to sit. She saw two silhouettes, one leaning over another, what seemed like making out. Well then…maybe they should’ve gotten a room instead of PDA. She was all about mushy, ooey, gooey love stuff and still is just not as much she was. Her heart aches everyday remembering about Axel and what she thought they had. She can’t heal but she can bottle up her feelings and once a month deal with it. Seeing couples out and about, being happy which makes her happy but sad and hurt at the same time.
Closer she got to the couple, she can identify it’s Catcher and Natasha. She froze in her mid-step, feeling hurt, happy, confused and speechless. What the hell…I did not see that coming. When did this happen? Are they hiding their relationship? Huh?! Her mind ran million miles an hour with thoughts, she shook her head and continued towards them. ”Y’all should really get a room. And here, you two might need it more than me.” Veronica kept her voice low, dropped two bottles of margarita on the sand next to them and walked past them not wanting to interrupt whatever was going on or burst their bubble than she did. Veronica saw Seth walking to his vehicle. She walked as fast as she could in the sand without spraining her ankle again.
”Hey Seth. Do you need help? And maybe a haircut?” Veronica looked at black shorts with blue and green tye-dye sleeveless shirt and chuckled how she decided to wear tye-dye herself. She placed her cooler down and hugged Seth. All the male wolf in the pack were taller than her. She missed Seth the most while she was gone. There wasn’t days where she thought about home, Seth and Natasha. ”Im sorry for leaving you and Tasha like I did. I didn’t mean to. Hope your big heart can forgive me.”