𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒔

Huh. It makes sense, in a way. Capitalism truly never rests. Head shaking, he turns, arm stretching along the back of the empty chair to his right. "I hope the tips are worth it," he offers. He likes Mary -- she's sweet, and they often run into each other at the library. It's her boyfriend that worries him. (He still doesn't understand why Norman dislikes him -- he's just glad it hasn't extended to his partner.)

Swallowing, Pete nods slowly. "Uh -- yeah! Yup. Just me." It looks stupid, he realizes, and Pete taps his hand against the back of the chair anxiously. His foot begins to move in tandem, too, and Pete lets the silence hang for a moment longer before he smiles, brows lifted high on his forehead. "Any chance I can get a couple of slices?"

In response to the tips, Mary offered Pete a small smile and a shrug of a shoulder. The tips were good. It was nice leaving every night with some cash in her pocket, but oof, kids were messy and loud and she wasn't so sure that there was a dollar amount that could be truly enough. But it was worth it to put in her savings. To save up for whatever her future was going to look like.

She noted the way his fingers tapped and foot bounced. She knew that he and Norman didn't particularly get along, but her boyfriend never faulted her for being her own person. She had no problem with Pete whatsoever, and frankly, she found the little feud to be a little silly.

"Yeah! I can get you whatever you need," she assured with a light giggle, pulling out the tablet she had tucked away in her apron. "What kind did you want? And a drink?"

The notion of getting to choose where they went made his stomach flutter, eyes flickering across her face. He was very adamant in allowing Mary to choose what she was comfortable with and leading them. He could walk them to his bed and kiss her until he was breathless, but he didn't want her to feel trapped or imposed on. He didn't want to do anything that would make her scared or uncertain. He just... "Sorry," he murmurs, chuckling a little nervously as he strokes his thumb over the back of her hand, "I know we just confessed something big, but I'm still so nervous about doing something wrong."

He lifts his other hand to rub it against the back of his neck under the little flip of his dark hair. He offers her a nervous, but assuring grin, "I just want you to be comfortable and okay with things. I never wanna make you feel a way about any of this or me."

The way that Norman was constantly worrying about how she was feeling always warmed through Mary's chest. On the surface, Mary came from what seemed to be a perfect life. And it was a good one. Her parents? They were good people at the end of the day. They were human and had their flaws of being controlling and judgmental, but all of it was in the interest and love for their daughter. It's what made her feel guilty when she'd start to resent them for it or start to let herself feel that dread of Wesley University.

"You could never do anything wrong, Norm," she assured with a soft smile, but she knew he was nervous. So, instead, she decided to break the ice. She stepped over from the desk to his bed, slipping out of her socks and shoes before she peeled back the blankets and crawled into it.

Once she was settled on the far side, she looked at him, lips twisting to bite back a grin. "There. Settled and cozy," she hummed, long eyelashes batting and beckoning. "Are you going to join me?"

She's quiet as she listens to Mary, and Grace can feel the initial panic beginning to melt. She doesn't often struggle with her own beliefs, but there's something so genuine about her best friend that makes Grace a little more... accommodating, than usual. She trusts Mary to be smart, too, and there's no reason for Grace to give her the cold shoulder when she knows the other girl is earnestly telling the truth. So, her head tilts as she nods. "I just want you to be happy and safe, and I trust you when you say you were responsible about it. Therefore, I have no reason to be angry, or upset. I understand the trepidation in telling your parents, too. So, if I can help you," she reaches out, puts a hand over Mary's to give it a reassuring squeeze, "I will."

A soft smile tugged across Mary's lips at Grace's reassurance. The relief is bright in her eyes and visible in the way her shoulders release the tension she was holding. "They just... They don't understand," she confessed a quiet sigh. "Norman, he's the... sweetest guy I've ever known. He's truly good to me... but he's not religious. My parents immediately started on what church does he go to because they don't know the Fokkers, and I had to tell them that they don't go to church, and well... You can imagine how that went over."

Grace's brain begins to whir as her plan comes to life. (She's not sure when she became this type of person -- one that schemes and sneaks -- but she doesn't think too hard about it. As far as she's concerned, it's being resourceful. Plus, if she can avoid hurting her best friend by doing... whatever it is she plans on doing, it's a win in the end. All for the benefit of Mary.)

So, leaning down, Grace begins to explain. "If we make it so your Mom and I are never left alone, then she can't talk to me. And if she can't talk to me, she won't ask me about the lock-in. Therefore," she pats the table top in a sign of victory, "I don't have to lie to her and say you were there. It's literally air tight."

Mary's eyes lit up as Grace expressed her idea, unable to stop the giggle that spills from her lips. "You know, I think that's a great idea!" she teased with a wrinkle of her nose, adjusting her position. "And I just... I want to thank you for being supportive about Norman. I promise we didn't do anything other than kiss at midnight, but I know... I hold it holds a lot of judgment to spend the night at a boy's house." Even if it was also technically Bonnie's house too.

who: pete and mary ( @cherubtm ) where: pizza pete's, new year's day

Spending New Year’s Day wandering around Hatchetfield wasn’t exactly Pete’s plan, but as it stands, he’s got nowhere else to go. A quick text from his brother stating he was not welcome made that crystal clear. Plus, he barely escaped Stephanie’s house in one piece this morning – there’s no way he could go back there without the mayor personally destroying him.

So, he floats around town. It’s about midday when he walks into Pizza Pete’s – he’s got his wallet on him, there’s time to play some games and kill some time. He grabs a table by myself in the corner, trying to stay away from crowds and parties. The familiar face of Mary walking over has him feeling a little more at ease with being alone in a place like this. “I didn’t think you’d be working today,” he starts, head tilted. “Sucks that they make you stay open on days like this.”

despite it being new year's day, mary had picked up a few hours at pizza pete's. she had stayed up late at the fokkers, and she had to wake up early so as to play up the facade that she had been at her church's lock in, but she had taken a nap before her shift. now, she was bright eyed and taking orders at pizza pete's when she saw a familar face.

" hi pete! " she greeted before releasing a soft laugh. " yeah, it was christmas eve and today, but i guess that's okay! people are sometimes nice on holidays and tip more! " she teased with a small smile. " can i get you anything? is it . . . just you here? "

The kiss between his eyebrows made him melt a little and it took a moment for him to register what she was saying. He blinked his eyes and looked down at where he was kneeling on the ground then back up to her, "Oh, sure, yeah. That sounds good actually." He let out a short laugh then shifted back to get to his feet, rising to his full height and reaching down to take her hand so he could help her out of the chair. He debated resuming the soft kiss right there where they stood, but his eyes shot briefly to his bed beside them only to feel a heat instantly rise up his cheeks. He cleared his throat and stuttered out a quiet, "Should we... should we go to the couch?"

Norman would never expect anything from her after such a confession. Hearing her say she loved him too was more than enough and sufficed for anything else. Physical attention wasn't what he craved-- would he accept it? Yes, but he wasn't about to put that pressure on her. Never. He knew her thoughts about it all... or well, what the church and her parents pushed onto her. They've kissed and held hands, but anything else? That seemed very off the table.

the warmth of his hand in hers had her squeezing his gently as she pushed herself up. his question and the way his cheeks flushed with it had his thoughts nearly speaking out loud. the bed was closer, only a few feet away, but she knew that carried potential implications. ones that she wasn't sure if he was ready for, though she was okay with just cuddling if that's what he wanted.

" we can curl up wherever you're comfortable, baby, " she assured with a soft smile, giving his hand another encouraging squeeze. " and we can do whatever you're comfortable with wherever we land . . . i just wanna get cozy with you. "

She drew back from the kiss and he rests his forehead to hers in return, dark eyes shut and hand around her wrist continuing to gently stroke his thumb along her skin. She asks her question gently and he pulls back enough to open his eyes and look at her. She clarifies her question and he smiles softly, shoulders relaxing and heart fluttering hard in his chest, "I'll make you something unique and special, just of them." He promises with turn of his head to kiss the base of her palm. His lips linger there then he turns back to look at her, "I'll start on it this weekend. I already have ideas."

Norman felt amazing in this moment. He'd just told the girl of his dreams he was in love with her and maybe to call her that was crazy to some degree, but Norman meant it. Mary was more than he could've ever imagined some dream girl being. She was beautiful, kind, creative, and the best person to ever come into his life. Don't get it wrong, he loves his mom and Bonnie... but Mary? She was everything to Norman.

a grin stretched wide across mary's lips at his promise. one that caused the corners of her eyes to wrinkle and a little giggle to spill from her lips. she was sitting as close as she could to him, tingles dancing across her skin from where he pressed a kiss to her palm. her fingers curled against his cheek, a soft warmth resting comfortably in her gaze.

" i'd really like that, " she murmured, leaning forward to press a gentle but firm kiss between his eyebrows. " let's get you somewhere cozier . . . "

She draws him in closer with the pull, his head tilting into the kiss with a smile that's hard to hold back. His hand on the side of her head slowly draws away and down, finding her waist to give it a small squeeze. He knows they can't stay in this position forever, but he just wants to kiss her. He wants to feel what he's feeling and chase the high of knowing Mary loves him.

He knows that someone may call it young love, naive and new. But he knows how he feels, he knows what Mary means to him. He was sure the only people who wouldn't fully understand it were her parents, whereas his mom and Bonnie? They understood. His mom had known Norman loved Mary on New Years, talking to him about it the next day and mentioning the way he'd been looking at the girl. And Bonnie? Norman had told his sister earlier today he wanted to have a talk with Mary about how he felt. They supported him and it made him feel better about all of this.

she savored the feeling of his lips against hers for another moment. once she drew back, her forehead gently rested against his, keeping him close to her. his arms were always the safest, warmest place she had ever known, a place she never wanted to leave. it's why she loved sitting back against his chest reading or doodling while his arms were around her with his video game controller.

" do you think i could sometime have a picture of ryker and marion to keep and frame? " she asked softly. " it doesn't have to be an original! it could be a print. i just . . . i want a piece of that with me . . . " whenever she ended up.

Despite feeling somewhat confident he'd hear her say the words, Norman still felt relief wash over him as she repeated back the sentiment. His breath stutters from his lips as he watches her turn and reach out for him, but he's already leaning in to meet her lips for that soft chaste kiss. It's the second one that steals his breath and leaves him in a near puddle, knees feeling like goo. He shifts as she draws back just enough, his legs bending and folding to get him onto his knees in front of her. Their foreheads meet despite that and he chuckles a little, smile creeping along his face in a softness he only ever knew in her presence. He nods and murmurs a quiet, "Yes, yes it does."

He lifts a hand to gently encircle her wrist of the hand on his cheek, thumb stroking along the softness of her skin. His other hand lets go of hers in order to reach up and slip against the side of her head, fingers brushing under strands of hair and giving him the chance to cup her so to draw her back in for another kiss. He leads this one, something he doesn't do often as he usually lets Mary guide what they do or when they kiss. But this time he gives himself the chance to pour his words into that kiss, his confession of love filling it.

mary's heart was pounding in her chest from the three words that norman had spoke to her. it didn't come as a surprise to her. it felt like he had told her this through his gestures long before he spoke them. he was the kindest person she knew. he showed love in so many ways, and she hoped she poured that back into him as well.

as he lowered himself to his knees, a soft smile tugged at her lips before she melted into his kiss, happy to let him take charge of it. her thumb brushed against his cheek as her other arm snaked around him to hold him close to her.

she loves him.

The words still Norman's shifting, heart leaping up his throat and eyes watching as Mary looks back to him. He flickers his hues across her expression, taking in the sincerity behind words he already knew to be earnest. He was spellbound by the very words leaving her and he almost wondered if he'd passed out rather than finished sharing anything, but the longer he looks at Mary... the more he knows that to not be true. She was saying it back. She was telling Norman the very thing he wanted to share tonight with her and it has words tumbling out of his mouth before he can even attempt to catch them.

"I love you, Mary," he says it from where he stands beside her, both hands falling to his sides to clench and unclench as he lets that three worded phrase hang in the air between them. He'd never said it before to anyone that wasn't familial, but he knew it to be true. He knew a month ago when he started drawing Mary beyond comics how he felt... he was beyond lucky to have her and he felt on top of the world around her. She knew how to make him feel special... and it sounded like he did the same for her. It was making his heart flutter and he waits there for her to return the sentiment... confidence finally settling into his chest. She was going to say it, wasn't she?

i love you, mary.

the phrase squeezed tightly within her chest. she had never been told she had been loved before, not like this. and there's no one in the universe that mary would rather hear it from. the fact that he thought so much of her that he included her as a character in his comic writing? it had her heart pounding in her chest and a lump forming in her throat. a tear escaped from the corner of her eye and slipped down her cheek, but thankfully, the pages were resting safely on the desk.

" i love you too, norm, " she whispered, turning his desk chair towards him so she could take his hands and gently pull him down towards her. one hand let go of his to rest on his cheek just before her lips brushed his. one soft kiss and then one slower, deeper one. as she gently drew back, her forehead rested against his. " does this mean i get to read more of your comics in the future? " she asked with a soft, melodic little giggle and a grin that slowly climbed across her lips.

His breath catches as she says Marion looks like her, eyes widening a bit more behind his large glasses. He feels like the air in the room has vanished completely as he waits for her to say more. He doesn't know if she's going to like it or if she's going to say something terrible, but... he knows better. This is Mary. She doesn't have a terrible or mean bone in her body. In fact as she says her next set of words he feels air fill his lungs and his heart squeeze in his chest. He starts shaking his head ready to tell her that she does look like that. That she's absolutely beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, beyond words or even art. But then she's asking a question that gives him pause, eyes flicking to the page then down to her.

He shifts his weight on his feet and gives a small shrug of his shoulder, "I-I don't know yet," he lifts a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing at it slowly as he exhales a shaky breath, "He... he doesn't know how she feels about him a-and he hasn't had the chance to say..." he swallows, nerves crawling along his skin like he needed to run. He doesn't though, instead he tries to continue with eyes locked to Mary's and voice coming out quietly, "He hasn't had the chance to say he loves her."

she watched the way he nervously shifted about himself. a soft smile tugged at her lips as she brought her gaze back down to the pages, now able to see the full picture of ryker's urgency to get to her and the girl on the other side of it. she listened to norman, taking in each of his words and how they seemed to be coming to life off of the page. how they were coming to life, if she was following correctly.

" she loves him, " she stated confidently with a little nod, turning her head to gaze up at him. " he makes her feel like the most special, luckiest girl in the world, and she's . . . she's loved him for a very long time, " she assured, her gaze connected with his.

He nods at her initial question, but her inquiry in seeing if she could meet the love interest had Norman tensing. His cheeks flared red and he felt like he was suddenly going to start sweating. He hadn't even shown his mother yet the woman of Ryker's thoughts and desires. That had been specifically for Norman's eyes and his alone because it was the most vulnerable he's ever been. He poured something into the woman that Mary would see and know immediately... but Norman had to be okay with that, because this whole situation was to tell her how he felt. And what better way then showing her what she means to him... how she's his greatest muse since he started writing this at fourteen.

"Y-yeah," he reaches back into the accordion organizer and pulls out a page that's mostly one image of a woman in a dress blowing gently in the wind, her dark hair also moving with it. It's still, obviously, but there's motion to the depth drawn there... but he doesn't care about that in the moment. What he cares about is Mary noticing her features... the shape of her eyes, the softness of her smile, the point of her chin. "Her name's..." he swallows and focuses himself to not let his voice crack, "Her name's Marion.... she... I..." he's stuttering a bit and he has to breathe in to calm himself. Were his knees shaking? "I... I started drawing her about a month ago a-and settled on her name last week."

she shifted in the chair with great enthusiasm as norman fished out the next page. she loved hearing him talk about his story. about ryker and his adventures. so to hear it developing further with a love interest? she was hooked. she was so incredibly invested and --

when the page was set in front of her, she immediately caught eye of the movement in the image. the pretty dress flowing in the wind, how he captured her dark hair moving perfectly across her face . . . large brown eyes . . . a sharp jaw and pointed chin . . . a soft smile. she felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she stared at the drawing, new details unlocking piece by piece the longer she looked.

her name's marion.

marion . . . mary. it caught in her chest and squeezed it so tight that it climbed into her throat. she slowly brought her gaze over to meet his, her lips parted in a completely stunned state. " she looks like me, " she stated softly. sure, it might be coincidence and part of her was wondering if he had intended it . . . but surely, right? there were too many pieces suggesting so. " she looks like . . . she honestly looks like how i wish i looked, " she confessed with a quiet, slightly watery laugh, bringing a hand up to gently press at the corner of her eye. " she and ryker . . . they have a happy ending, right? "

"Yeah," he murmurs out, blush touching his cheeks with a nervousness. He's only really ever shown his mom his work and maybe that was cowardly, but he was scared to have other perceive it. The work was so close to his heart and part of who he was. It was vulnerable to present it, but he trusted Mary... loved Mary. So he steps closer as she mentions having wanted to see his work forever. It only makes him blush deeper, heart fluttering in his chest. He still comes to a stop beside where she's sat at his desk and sets his file organizer down, hands undoing the clasp in order to reach inside and pull out a few pages from a spot.

"These... these are my more recent ones," he lays down four pages that depict the detective going from human to wolf, a narration between the images of how he's going after this woman he was helping. How this woman who came into his life looking for his aid only to find himself falling madly in love with her-- and now? Now he was going to fight to protect her from the evils after her, "The... the point of this is when Ryker realizes he's in love with this girl who is in danger. He hadn't known until he saw how close that danger was that he did, but..." pause, "I... I hadn't thought before this comic branch to give him a love interest."

she watched with eyes filled with wonder as the pages were laid out before her. large brown eyes scanned the contents, the bright and crisp artwork and the dialogue laid out as he explained the plot line. it brought a soft smile to her lips, one that was filled with a sense of pride. this was intimate. vulnerable. she wanted to know all of these special little corners within them. she wanted to be able to love every inch and ounce of him.

her gaze pulled to meet his when he mentioned the love interest, realizing that ryker was just going after her on these pages. " do you have her developed? " she inquired with a soft enthusiasm about herself. " i'd love to meet her if you'd like for me to . . . "

Norman smiles gently down at her, dark eyes flickering over her soft features that stare up at him with wide eyed curiosity. He wants to kiss her in that moment, wants to boldly lift his hand and brush hair behind her ear-- lean in and sweep her off her feet with a single kiss. But he doesn't. He can't. He's anxious, nervous, unsure. He knows she wouldn't turn him or his affection away, but what if it was just clunky? What if the moment didn't align with what he had in his head? So rather than suddenly plant a kiss to her lips, he gives a tip of his head towards the basement, "Come with me."

He pulls his hands away from her back and slides one to find one of hers. His fingers lace with hers and he leads gently gives a tug of it, leading her towards the open basement door. They go down the steps and he continues further, leading her to his room. She's no stranger to it as they've hung out in there before to study and/or talk, but today... today he's got something else planned. He brings her over to where his desk is and pulls the chair out for her, "For you." He waits a beat then steps away, giving her the time to sit as he opens his closet and disappears inside. When he comes out he has an accordion file organizer in hand and stops a few feet off from her, "I want to... I want to show you some of my comics." Pause, "The ones I draw and write myself."

mary didn't know what to expect as she followed norman downstairs. the basement and his bedroom? they were known territory, especially the former. it was their little paradise downstairs where he'd play his games and she'd read. or they'd work on homework or study or just talk. she could spend hours down there. it had become her sanctuary, her favorite place in the world. a place where she felt like she could just be herself without the pressures of the world around her.

after being seated at his desk, she watched him present the accordion file and the contents had her eyes lighting up. " i really get to see your work?! " she beamed, eyes bright and grin wide. " norm, i've been wanting to see your comics for forever! "

Norman was ready to give her a simple answer of hanging out, but then she was stepping closer in a way that signified he was about to be touched. Her arms slip around his waist and his breath catches at the warmth of it all. He's still not used to this even after the months that followed them beginning to date after he asked her to Homecoming. His skin felt like it was lit on fire whenever she touched him, but not in a way that made it burn... just in a way that made it flushed and comfortable. It would rise to his cheeks almost instantly too, tinting the pale skin a shade of pink. It would also make him stall out in a way, nearly stuttering with a quiver of his bottom lip as he tries to find the words to answer her. There's slight hesitation to touch her in return, but not because he doesn't want to-- but because Mary is fragile. He knows physically she isn't, but she reminds him of a glass cherub ornament hanging from a tree and he wants to be delicate. Despite that concern he does lift his hands and rests them on her back, one upper and one lower.

She mentions that he can play his video games and she can read, but he shakes his head. That's what they normally do if they're together, that or watch a movie. Today, to show just how much he cared about her and to say that L-word without saying it... he had a different plan. Nothing like that-- head out of the gutter. "I... I actually wanted to show you something."

there was a feeling lingering within mary's chest. one that resided at the tip of her tongue. the way she looked at norman? it spoke the words that she had never shared with someone before. not like that, at least. she loved her family and her friends but real true love? she felt something like that with norman. she felt something strong in her chest for him in a way that had her really pushing to stay home for college even more. to explore not just her dreams for art . . . but a future with him.

she felt safe in his hold, and she expressed it in a soft sigh as she leaned her head against his chest for a moment before he spoke of his actual intentions. she lifted her head to gaze up at her much taller boyfriend, a soft smile tugging at her lips. " yeah? what is it? " she asked curiously.

It was Norman's first new year's sharing a kiss with someone and his first time realizing he was actually in love with this girl. He knew he had big feelings for Mary and his mother could see that, but he had yet to drop the 'L'-bomb. He knew it was bubbling and brewing in his gut, ready to fall from the tip of his tongue... but he didn't want to tell Mary that he loved her right in front of his mother. He'd already blushed hard enough when they shared a kiss at the countdown on the TV. They'd cheered and shouted in the New Year as a family and Mary before eventually all parting ways to sleep, Mary on the couch upstairs.

But since that night when Mary murmured she couldn't wait to spend the whole year with him... Norman knew how he felt. He knew he needed to tell her, but he had to figure out when. With school starting up again on Monday he wondered if he'd ever have the right time to or really, if he'd ever know when the right time was. So he tried not to think about it as he got a text from her saying she was swinging by. Instead focusing on the idea of just hanging out with her and when he opened the door to her smiling face... he nearly melted in the spot, "Hey, Mary..." she kissed his cheek before looking through her purse as she moved deeper into the house. Norman shut the door and followed after, answering her question, "No, she's... she's at work." His voice cracked a little and he winced, stuttering to jump over it, "W-won't be back until late, but you can leave it on the counter if you'd like."

the little voice crack earned a grin that tugged across mary's face, one that caused the corners of her eyes to wrinkle and her expression to warm. " hmm, well. okay! " she beamed as she set the index card in front of the flour and sugar canisters, a place that ms. fokker should be able to find it with ease. there was something about this house, this place that felt like an instant home to her. she knew that the fokkers were a big part of that. norman had come into her life and had turned it completely upside down. she knew she was feeling big things for him . . . and that's why she refused to falter in this relationship with her parents. if they forbade her from seeing him? it'd kill her. it certainly was longer than the three day plot, but maybe there was something to romeo and juliet freshman year . . .

" what're the plans today? " she hummed as she set her purse down on the counter, her hands reaching out to snake her arms around his waist when he stepped close enough. " if you wanna play games with your friends, i brought my book to read! "