Strange & Unusual

Still teasing, Zetta tilts her head up to blink at him.

"Why would that surprise you?" She asks seriously, as though she has no idea. The mock-seriousness only lasts another moment though before her own bright smile matches his. "Good. I want to do things you like to do. I think we can have a really fun tine together."

A quirked brow in response to her question and he's blushing in an instant. He clicks his tongue, sniffles, shakes his head. "Oh, I..." Entirely flustered, he sort of stutters for a beat, but her expression returns to a bright smile before he can get any words out. He rolls his eyes, a smirk creeping up on his features as he huffs out a laugh. He's grateful the question was rhetorical.

His tongue darts out to wet his lips and he nods quietly. "You know, I like doing things you like to do, too," he points out softly, nudging her shoulder. "I, um...I don't think there's such thing as a bad time with you." He squints a little, looking up at the sky. "Was that...so fucking cheesy? Am I-- Let- let's just pretend I didn't say that." He gives a self-deprecating laugh.

His comparison of her to a raven gets a laugh, Zetta shooting a wink in his direction.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to look at shiny things."

In truth, there was more than a little that caught her eye. She picks up and sets down a few things, but her gaze keeps straying back to a delicate gold chain with a sunflower dangling from the clasp.

He's watching her quietly, carefully eyeing everything she touches and taking mental notes. She keeps coming back to one item in particular and he's eyeing the price in silence from over her shoulder.

Blue hues lift to meet hers with a quirked brow as she seems to pause. "That's probably smart," he agrees with a nod. Sniffle, cheek twitch, blink, blink.

STRANGERS / NO ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ( crushes, rivals, acquaintances, mutual pining, people who technically have no claim over each other )

“it's none of my business... so why does it bother me?”

“who was that you left with?”

“i don't know why i expected you to wait for me.”

“they're clearly interested in you.”

“you looked happy talking to them.”

“i don't get a say in who you spend time with.”

“i keep telling myself i don't care.”

“i shouldn't be jealous. we aren't anything.”

“why am i disappointed?”

“you don't even know i like you.”

“you smiled at them the way i wish you'd smile at me.”

“forget i asked.”

“you probably don't even remember my name.”

“they're better for you than i could ever be.”

“i was going to ask you out... until i saw that.”

“do you always flirt like that?”

“guess i was too late.”

“i hate that i noticed.”

“you're impossible to ignore.”

"maybe i made this all up in my head."

FRIENDS TO SOMETHING ELSE ( close friends, mutual feelings, unresolved tension )

“since when do you keep secrets from me?”

“you've been spending a lot of time with them.”

“i miss when it was just us.”

“you don't laugh with me like that anymore.”

“did they replace me?”

“i'm not asking you to choose.”

“...would you choose them?”

“i didn't realize i could lose you before i even had you.”

“you forgot our plans.”

“you always make time for them.”

“i know we're just friends.”

“so why does this hurt?”

“you don't need me anymore.”

“i hate seeing someone else become your favorite person.”

“i wish you'd notice me first.”

“am i imagining the distance between us?”

“you've changed.”

“or maybe i just finally noticed.”

“i don't want things between us to change.”

"i think they already have."

NEW RELATIONSHIP ( still learning each other, insecurity, uncertainty )

“i know we're together, but...”

“who keeps texting you?”

“you still talk to them?”

“you never mentioned them before.”

“should i be worried?”

“i don't know where i fit into your life yet.”

“i hate feeling this insecure.”

“tell me i'm enough.”

“i don't want to be the jealous partner.”

“i just don't want to lose you.”

“you said they were just a friend.”

“can you understand why that looked bad?”

“i'm trying to trust you.”

“please don't give me a reason not to.”

“why didn't you tell me?”

“i would've understood.”

“you don't have to hide people from me.”

“just don't hide the truth.”

“talk to me.”

"don't shut me out."

ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP ( dating, married, long-term partners )

“look at me, not them.”

“i saw the way they looked at you.”

“and you let them.”

“tell me i'm overthinking.”

“you always defend them.”

“you forgot about me tonight.”

“i shouldn't have to compete with anyone.”

“have i become predictable?”

“do i still make your heart race?”

“you're pulling away.”

“don't tell me nothing's wrong.”

“something changed.”

“you used to reach for my hand.”

“now you don't even notice when i'm gone.”

“am i still the person you come home to?”

“you didn't even notice i was upset.”

“tell me we're okay.”

“i need to hear you say it.”

“choose me.”

"please."

EXES ( old feelings, unfinished business, messy reunions )

“so... you're seeing someone.”

“they seem nice.”

“i hate that they're not me.”

“i shouldn't care anymore.”

“apparently i still do.”

“did you ever love me the way you love them?”

“do they know your favorite song?”

“do you tell them the same things you told me?”

“was i really that easy to replace?”

“you moved on faster than i expected.”

“i keep comparing them to myself.”

“i always lose.”

“you look happier now.”

“i'm glad... i think.”

“do you ever miss us?”

“be honest.”

“have you forgotten me already?”

“i haven't figured out how to.”

"i wish i didn't still love you."

ONE-SIDED / UNREQUITED ( loving someone who doesn't love you back )

“you don't even know.”

“you keep talking to me about them.”

“every word feels like another knife.”

“i hope they make you happy.”

“i wish i could be happy for you.”

“i almost told you.”

“now i never will.”

“you're looking at the wrong person.”

“i've been here the whole time.”

“you just never looked.”

“they don't love you like i could.”

“it's pathetic, isn't it?”

“i'm rooting for your happiness.”

“even when it breaks mine.”

“you'll never know how much this hurts.”

“i don't want to resent them.”

“but i do.”

“i hate myself for that.”

“maybe one day i'll stop loving you.”

"today isn't that day."

POSSESSIVE / TOXIC ( intentionally unhealthy dynamics for fictional purposes )

“where were you?”

“answer me.”

“who gave you permission to leave with them?”

“you're avoiding me.”

“don't lie.”

“i know you're hiding something.”

“you're mine.”

“say i'm wrong.”

“why were they touching you?”

“don't make me ask twice.”

“you knew this would upset me.”

“maybe that was the point.”

“i don't like sharing what's mine.”

“look at me when i'm talking to you.”

“tell them to leave.”

“now.”

“you're choosing them over me.”

“remember that.”

“don't test my patience.”

"you're playing a dangerous game."

AFTER THE FIGHT ( regret, reconciliation, vulnerability )

“i'm sorry.”

“i let my jealousy speak for me.”

“i know i crossed a line.”

“can we start over?”

“i was scared.”

“not angry.”

“scared of losing you.”

“i should've trusted you.”

“instead, i pushed you away.”

“do you think we can fix this?”

“i don't want jealousy to be the thing that ruins us.”

“i should've talked to you.”

“instead, i assumed the worst.”

“tell me what you need from me.”

“i'm listening this time.”

“i never wanted to hurt you.”

“i just didn't know how to tell you i was afraid.”

“please don't give up on us.”

“can you forgive me?”

"Couldn't sleep?"

"Midnight snack...? Without me!?"

"Looks like we're both night owls."

"Go back to bed."

"Smoke break? This late?"

"Looks like we'll both be tired as shit in the morning."

"Not sleeping is my thing actually,"

"Don't tell me we both had nightmares."

"Honey, it's late."

"I woke up and you weren't there."

"Sleepover where no one sleeps, imagine."

"I can stay the night if you want."

"You'll have serious bags under your eyes at this rate."

"It is peaceful this late....isn't it?"

"Wanna put on a movie and hope we doze off?"

"We gonna start an insomnia club?"

"Please try to get some rest."

"Don't make me tell you what time it is."

"Let me guess....rough night?"

"Look, I found some sheep we can count."

"Let's try decaf coffee right now..."

"Might as well do something fun if neither of us are sleeping."

"Worrying all night isn't going to help you."

"We could try cuddling? It helps me sleep."

"Sleep or no sleep....same bullshit tomorrow."

"Wonder if anywhere delivers at this hour..."

"Take out??? Oh a food coma- you're a genius."

"The stars are lovely, aren't they?"

"I have sleep meds, but clearly they didn't work."

"Dream of anything?"

"Being tired and unable to sleep....now that's some bullshit."

"Warm milk and cookies- could be worth a try?"

"Maybe you'd sleep better if you stop doomscrolling."

"You can tell me if something is wrong....but if not... I'm fine just hanging out in the dark."

“I figured you could use a cup after the morning you’ve had.” Heather had only glanced at her phone, scanning the long paged texts from the other about their day. At the end, it mentioned they were stopping by for some baked goods. Closing time quickly approached, but Heather knew they needed a friend and decided to keep the doors open longer. Ethan agreed to keep Trixie at the house, leaving Heather ample time to sit and listen. “I also made your favorite Cake-in-a-Cup to push some of the stress away.”

there was nothing jack loved more than living in new york. he’d be the first to admit he romanticized the city more than he should, but hey, it’d make his life boring if he didn’t. he liked riding the train and people-watching. he loved the way everyone gathered out in the streets on a beautiful day. exploring the city blocks and finding new spots let him wander. to put it simply: he lived life wandering like an unattended dog.

Of course, his mother would have happily taken him in, but then he’d be so far away from Elise. He’d already missed so much of her life at this point and he doesn’t really want to elongate meeting her anymore than he has to. So, eventually, after many applications and much searching he finds a small apartment in New York, only an hour away from Claire’s place. It isn’t much, but the landlord had been surprisingly understanding of his situation and willing to work with him while he searches for a job. Hell, he even suggested a few places nearby. It was kind. More kind than anyone had treated him in…a long fuckin’ time.

He’s only just moved in a few days ago and is still getting himself situated. He’s a loner by default—shy to a fault—and hasn’t even introduced himself to any of the people on his floor. Needless to say, he’s surprised when he’s climbing the stairs back to his apartment with a load of laundry and finds himself being addressed by some guy in a suit.

He stops, blinking at the man as he climbs to the next floor. Pausing beside him, he listens to him ramble, stone-faced as ever, though he does soften his expression a little. It’s really a surprise the guy had wanted to talk to him at all given how fucking angry he always appears. It isn’t his fault, though. It’s just his face. His neutral expression just happens to be quite intimidating and paired with his muscles and piercing blue eyes, well…Most people avoid bothering him, assuming the worst.

He tilts his head to hear him better, leaning forward a little and eyeing him as he stretches out a hand to shake. He sniffles, clears his throat, and blinks a couple times. A quirked brow. His gaze darts from the outstretched hand to the man to whom it belongs. He probably looks a bit baffled by the unexpected interaction.

“Shiloh,” he says simply, his voice surprisingly timid. He clears his throat and shifts the basket he’s carrying to take Jack’s hand, shaking it firmly. A slightly forced, thin-lipped smile stretches across his face. There's a bit of discomfort made obvious by the way he's shifting his weight from foot to foot. He sniffles, blinking hard a couple times, and then clearing his throat again.

He's definitely too hard on himself, and Zetta has decided it's her job to help that change.

"Which flavours do you like?"

It's easy to follow alongside him - Shiloh seems to know where they're going, so Zetta lets him lead. Even if they don't end up at the exact diner she had in mind, it doesn't really matter.

"Oh, gosh, um..." A huff of a sigh. "I'm not really that picky. Not with ice cream, anyway," he chuckles. Indeed, his palate for meals could be much more finicky.

He stays by her side as they trail along, looking down at the pavement and then up at her. She asks if it's what he wants and his eyes widen. He blinks a few times, sort of contemplating. The teasing does illicit a soft laugh, though, and he shakes his head.

"I see you're back from your date earlier than I expected, here I made some tea, unless you want something stronger because I have stronger things." Bailee held out a hot mug of tea to her roommate.

Melonie makes a face as he talks, but she's listening intently. She feels so silly. For real, how does a thirty year old not know how to make something simple like pasta. She had plenty of fires in her life time, most of which she only had to call the fire department once .... three times? One of those times actually was her first attempt at making pasta. She wanted something fancy. She was tired of eating takeout. It was getting where she couldn't afford to both eat out and pay her utilities. She simply just wanted to grow up.

"Pan, got it." she looks away from him and back down to her pasta sauce. "When do I put the sauce in? When the water is in the pasta?" Melonie looked back up at him like a deer in headlights. She had no idea what she was doing and it was beyond obvious. "This sauce looks really good and I thought that I'd make something good for myself a decent dinner since I just got paid." she doesn't have anything better to do. She lives alone, she had no friends. All really she did was read, watch movies and ... eat takeout.

"I'm sorry I know that this is stupid of me but I've caused a few fires and I just want to learn how to cook something simple. Pasta is supposed to be simple right?" she frowns, sadness finding her features. She's disappointed in herself. "D - do you think I should make some protein with it? I don't know how to cook chicken." she keeps talking as if she knew him, just chatting away.

"Um...Well, no...Not- not exactly, uh..." He glances down at the sauce when she says it looks good and tries not to make a face. Baby blues shift back up to look at her, lips pursed. He takes a deep breath, nodding slowly in understanding. He's always been one for takeout and quick meals for himself because, frankly, it isn't worth the effort to cook himself a meal. However, cooking for others is definitely one of his favourite things to do. He's not entirely sure if he'd be a great teacher, but... At mention of fires, his eyes blow wide and he nods along to her words, chewing his lower lip. He shifts his weight from foot to foot.

"I mean, pasta is generally a simple dish if you're just doing sauce and noodles, sure," he replies, hands on his hips again as he lifts a brow at her. "No. No, I don't-- I think it'll be fine without the protein," he insists rather quickly. God forbid she give herself food poisoning.

"Look, um..." He scratches his chin, frowning contemplatively. "I- I'm Shiloh," he starts, since she ought to know his name before he offers more help. "I, um..." Lips purse. Sniffle, throat clear, blink, blink. "This might sound crazy, so please feel free to decline, uh...But- but it might be easier if I just...show you how to make it?"

Instead, she waits until he looks at her again (why does he look so ashamed? So sorry?) to reach out and take his shaking hand and give it a squeeze.

"Milkshakes, then."

It's a quick decision, fed by the fact that he's not actually smoking, and that Zetta thinks he needs something more than a walk to distract him.

His smile warms a bit when she declares milkshakes and he gives a timid nod of agreement. “Milkshakes, then.” He shifts his gum in his mouth as they head that direction. He’s pretty sure he knows the place she’s talking about. After all, there aren’t many old fashioned diners like that still around.

His cheeks turn a bit pink at the suggestion of sharing a milkshake and he chuckles timidly. He runs his fingers through his hair and shrugs, sniffling and clearing his throat a couple of times.

Her hand slips from his shirt to take his when they finally turn around - only to let go easily when he reaches for his cigarettes.

"Thankyou. Both for standing up for me and for stopping when I asked you to."

Which, probably, she doesn't actually need to thank him for, but it still feels right.