𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈.

#𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔:    an   independent   oc,   elise   baker,   written   by   blythe   (   24,   she/her,   mst   ).   story   is   inspired   by   soap   operas   and   is   inspired   by   lore   created   with   @collingwould​​,   who   this   blog   is   also   affiliated   with.   

the   haze   of   sleep   starts   to   lift   as   he   feels   his   skin   warm   up   from   the   sun.   he   feels   her   body   next   to   his   and ,   even   though   sleepiness   is   still   holding   him ,   he   smiles.   god ,   this   feels   too   good   to   be   a   fluke ,   too   natural   to   be   a   silly   little   passing   thing   ⸺   he   wonders   if   this   is   the   certainty   people   always   tell   him   he’s   supposed   to   feel   with   megan.   with   eyes   still   half - closed ,   he   moves   to   press   a   kiss   to   her   jaw   before   letting   her   body   go   (   a   heartbreaking   thing   to   do   )   to   come   rub   at   his   eyes.   the   hand   on   his   cheek   makes   him   smile   all   the   more   and   he   drops   his   hand   to   look   at   her ,   eyes   still   adjusting   to   the   light.   𝘴𝘩𝘦   𝘪𝘴   𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭   𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺.   if   anything ,   the   slight   blur   in   his   vision   makes   the   sunlight   around   her   look   like   the   𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘰   he   always   feels   around   her   ⸺   if   he   was   a   poet ,   he   might   have   written   a   million   lines   about   it.   ❛   mh ,   it   is   nice.   ❜   his   arm   snakes   around   her   waist   and   he   pulls   her   as   close   as   he   can ,   returning   the   kiss   eagerly.   he   doesn’t   remember   the   last   time   waking   up   felt   so   nice.

❛   do   you   want   some   breakfast  ?   ❜   he   caresses   her   cheek ,   eyes   drinking   her   in ,   trying   to   memorise   every   line   and   every   colour   of   her   face.   if   she   were   to   slip   through   his   fingers ,   take   flight   when   the   season   changes ,   then   he   wants   to   let   her   go   remembering   every   detail   of   her.

i   want   to   stay   here   with   you,   she   almost   says,   but   instead   she   lets   them   both   bask   in   the   gentle   light   of   the   morning   sun,   lets   them   sit   in   the   quiet   afterglow   of   the   night   they   spent   together.   is   this   what   it   was   supposed   to   feel   like?   complete   bliss,   the   most   complete   sense   of   unity,   nothing   but   pure,   unadulterated   adoration   .   .   .   all   from   him.   she   never   wants   to   leave   his   side   again.

❛   alright ,   alright ,   ❜   he   laughs   softly   as   he   steps   inside.   𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵   𝘴𝘩𝘦   𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 ,   𝘴𝘩𝘦   𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴.   the   thumbs   gripping   at   his   trousers   make   him   grin   in   a   way   that   annoys   even   him.   keep   it   down ,   collingwood ,   not   too   fast.   still ,   he   gladly   leans   into   the   kiss ,   letting   elise   lead.   he   pecks   her   lips   again   before   responding ,   hand   coming   to   take   her   as   he   walks   into   his   place.   ❛   i   think   they   make   a   brilliant   omelette.   ❜   he   turns   the   light   on   and   his   eyes   burn   for   a   moment.   right …   headache.   ❛   do   you   mind   if   i   go   change  ?   ❜   his   clothes   still   smell   of   beer   and   feel   sticky   from   having   been   on   the   floor   of   the   pub.   kissing   her   temple   at   her   nod ,   he   walks   to   his   room.

shrugging   off   his   jacket   as   soon   as   he   gets   in ,   he   then   gets   the   trousers   off   easily   but   as   he   moves   to   pull   off   his   shirt ,   his   shoulder   𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴.   the   pain   make   him   groan   and ,   for   a   second ,   he   can’t   breathe   as   tears   fill   his   eyes.   𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠.   his   headache   and   the   rest   of   his   pain   masked   the   strain   his   shoulder   was   put   in   during   the   fight.   with   a   resigned   sigh ,   he   chooses   to   put   on   a   pair   of   joggers   before   sitting   on   his   bed.   he   hates   this.   he   hates   feeling   pathetic   and   weak   ⸺   and   the   worst   is ,   he   can’t   even   be   mad   at   anyone   else.   keeping   his   painful   shoulder   in   place ,   he   tries   to   pull   his   shirt   over   his   head   with   just   one   arm   but   just   ends   up   hearing   a   tear.   great …   is   this   the   time   he   has   to   tell   elise   how   bad   his   fights   used   to   get  ?   he   takes   a   deep   breath   and   listens   for   a   moment   to   know   if   she’s   still   on   the   phone   before   he   calls   for   her.   ❛   elise ,   i   need   a   hand.   ❜

she’s   just   finished   ordering   when   he   calls   for   her   ——   an   omelette   for   him,   a   burger   and   fries   for   her   ——   and   she’s   not   ready   for   the   sight   of   him   sitting   on   his   bed,   lights   from   his   room   illuminating   his   roughed   up   face   better   than   the   dim,   overhead   lights   of   the   street   lamps   outside   of   the   hospital.   dark   purple   bruises   dot   his   face,   the   proof   that   he   had,   in   fact,   gotten   into   a   fist   fight   with   joseph.   she   sees   the   cut   that   needed   stitches,   right   on   his   cheekbone,   followed   by   a   few   more   tiny   cuts   on   his   temples,   cheeks,   and   one   massive   one   on   his   lip.   evan   .   .   .   she   thinks,   reaching   out   and   resting   her   hand   against   his   cheek,   thumb   brushing   gently   against   a   patch   of   unharmed   skin,   gaze   softening   as   she   takes   it   all   in.

kieran   is   an   idiot …   he   never   thought   he’d   agree   with   a   statement   like   that.   while   evan   was   always   the   closest   to   ethan ,   kieran   and   jules   mean   almost   just   as   much   to   him.   they   had   been   through   so   much   together ,   they   knew   each   other ,  trusted   each   other  ⸺   at   least   he   thought   so.   he’d   already   been   struggling   since   discovering   kieran   thought   he   was   some   insatiable   dog   but   he   hadn’t   said   anything   else   since   then ,   and   him   and   elise   had   been   taking   things   as   slow   as   one   can   take   them   with   a   deadline   looming   over   their   heads.   “ elise   is   coming   over  ?   don’t   tell   me   you’re   having   sex   with   my   cousin. ”   “ why   would   it   matter   if   i   was  ? ”   “ because   i   know   you,   evan. ”   “ do   you  ?   what   are   you   saying  ? ”   “ you   and   girls …   i   mean,   you   know   exactly   what   you   do. ”   he   knew   his   reputation ,   of   course ,   town   menace ,   coddled   troublemaker ,   spoiled   brat ,   casanova …   but   he   hoped   𝘩𝘪𝘴   𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥   𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥   𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸   𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.   he   had   his   faults   but   he   wasn’t   those   things.   a   casanova ,   least   of   all.   he’d   had   two   girlfriends   in   his   entire   life   before   elise   and   only   a   handful   of   one   night   stands   ⸺   nothing   out   of   the   norm ,   and   he   always   treated   women   well.   out   of   all   the   rumours   and   reputations   people   created   about   and   for   him ,   being   disrespectful   to   his   dates   was   never   one   of   them.

now,    standing   with   elise   in   front   of   him   looking   𝘴𝘰   𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵   over   the   fight   she   witnessed ,   his   heart   breaks   anew.   did   it   hurt   as   much   for   her   to   hear   kieran’s   thoughts   as   it   did   for   him  ?   her   eyes   won’t   stay   on   him.   a   slight   frown   as   he   cups   her   face   and   gently   searches   for   her   gaze.   ❛   elise …   ❜   he   calls   her   name   softly ,   waiting   for   her   eyes   to   return   to   him   to   continue.   ❛   𝙞𝙩’𝙨   𝙣𝙤𝙩   𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧   𝙛𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩.   ❜   gently ,   he   drops   a   hand   to   wrap   it   around   her   waist   and   pull   her   close   to   him.   she   worries   too   much.   ❛   and   no   one   is   separating ,   ok  ?   i   don’t   care   what   kieran   thinks ,   ❜   well …   ❛   what   i   care   about   is   what   you   want.   ❜

elise   rests   her   head   against   his   chest,   letting   her   eyes   flutter   shut   as   she   lets   the   feeling   of   him   overcome   her   ——   she   focuses   on   how   gently   he   holds   her,   how   his   chest   rises   and   falls,   how   he   smells,   how   he’s   wearing   her   favorite   shirt.   don’t   cry,   elise.   she   wonders   if   kieran   ever   cared   for   either   of   them   ——   she   heard   the   conversation   between   them,   heard   how   it   seemed   that   all   kieran   cared   about   was   that   she   was   still   pure   or   innocent   or   whatever   ——   she   could   still   hardly   believe   she   heard   those   words   come   from   his   mouth!

the   hand   on   arm   makes   him   tear   his   eyes   from   his   friends   to   stare   at   the   fingers   resting   on   him   now.   his   grin   grows   back   on   his   face   and   he   chuckles.   ❛   unless   he   follows   us ,   ❜   he   jokes   but   he’s   not   entirely   sure   he   won’t.   shooting   another   glance   over   his   shoulder ,   he   sees   ethan   pulling   kieran   further   away.   reassured   and   grateful ,   he   turns   back   to   elise   with   a   smile.   ❛   you’ve   heard   of   the   horne ,   right  ?   i   know   you’re   probably   not   a   pub   person   but …   ❜   surely   no   one   who   lives   here   hasn’t   heard   of   the   town’s   oldest   and   most   liked   pub.

𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩   𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦   𝘸𝘢𝘴   𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳   𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦   𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵   𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦   𝘪𝘯   𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴.   in   her   flight   to   bigger   things   and   wilder   dreams ,   she   might   have   missed   what   most   in   town   would   consider   essential   ⸺   silly   little   townspeople   with   their   small   pubs   and   dreams   that   stop   at   the   edge   of   town.   ❛   it’s   a   good   place ,   they’re   got   good   food   and   i’m   friends   with   the   owner.   ❜

oh,   she   hopes   he   won’t   follow!   but,   instead   of   focusing   on   her   nuisance   of   a   cousin,   she   focuses   on   evan.   that   smile   .   .   .   it   dazzles   her.    “   of   course   i’ve   heard   of   the   horne.   ”    he’s   right   ——   she’s   not   a   pub   person.   however,   she’s   from   hornes   ——   you   would   be   hard   pressed   to   find   someone   from   here   who   didn’t.    “   but   i’ve   only   been   a   few   times.   i’m   not   .   .   .   familiar   with   it,   you   could   say.   ”

the   only   thing   mason   had   going   on   in   his   mind   was   how   badly   he   was   craving   a   slice   of   cheese   pizza   right   about   now.   however   ,   dreams   of   a   cheesy   ,   delicious   pie   are   dashed   when   he   hears   the   sweet   voice   of   elise   baker   call   after   him   ,   who’s   gentle   plea   was   so   simple   ,   he’d   be   an   absolute   dick   not   to   answer   it.   pizza   could   wait   .   .   .   his   co   -   star   needed   him.   ❝   they   won’t   tear   you   apart   ,   ‘lis.   they   chose   you   for   this   role   for   a   reason   ,   ❞   he   states   plainly   as   he   approaches   ,   one   hand   raised   to   gently   ruffle   her   blonde   hair.   ❝   but   .   .   .   your   wish   is   my   command.   what   scene   you   looking   to   go   over   ,   hmm   ?   ❞   fingers   prod   at   the   music   sheet   ,   impatient.   ❝   you   know   i   was   gonna   go   on   a   date   with   a   mysteriously   cheesy   figure   ,   but   i   think   this   is   way   more   important   ,   hmm   ?   ❞   he   winks.

“   you’re   a   lifesaver,   mason.   ”    she   grins,   laughing   quietly   as   he   ruffles   her   hair.   she’d   pay   him   back   somehow   .   .   .   maybe   she’ll   buy   him   lunch.    “   sorry   about   your   date   ——   can   you   reschedule   it?   ”    elise   asks,   clutching   her   sheet   music   to   her   chest   as   she   starts   walking   towards   the   stage.   sometimes   she   thought   she   wasn’t   cut   out   for   this   life   ——   but   she   wanted   it.   she   wanted   it   so   badly.    “   okay,   this   scene   between   anya   and   dimitri.   i   keep   forgetting   this   line.   how   do   you   remember   this   scene?   ”

“   kieran’s   .   .   .   he’s   an   idiot.   ”    elise   has   never   been   more   mortified.   it   was   enough   knowing   what   her   aunt   and   uncle   thought   of   him,   now   to   know   what   her   cousin,   one   of   evan’s   closest   friends   thought   of   him   .   .   .   why   did   everyone   treat   her   like   a   child?   why   did   no   one   trust   her?   or   him?   the   lack   of   support   was   draining.

“   i’m   sorry   ——   i’ll   talk   to   him,   or   something.   i   don’t   know   .   .   .   ”    her   head   hangs,   she   looks   despondent.   she   never   thought   she   could   feel   like   this   again,   not   after   how   michael   treated   her,   not   after   a   relationship   that   actually   did   her   harm   her.   how   did   her   family   turn   a   blind   eye   to   that   but   the   second   she’s   actually   with   someone   she   genuinely   cares   for,   they   disapprove?

she   feels   his   finger   gently   caress   her   chin,   turning   her   gaze   up   from   the   floor   to   his   eyes.   he   cares   for   her   so   deeply.   how   did   she   get   so   lucky?   as   his   thumb   gently   starts   to   rub   over   her   chin,   she   glances   away   from   him,   lips   pressing   together   in   a   thin   line   ——   an   attempt   to   stop   herself   from   crying.    “   i   don’t   know   why   they   seem   so   set   on   separating   us.   but   i   won’t   let   it   happen.   i   won’t.   ”

it   made   the   most   sense   for   them   to   be   at   his   place   ——   no   aunts   or   uncles   or   cousins   just   barging   in,   just   evan   and   her.   she’d   spent   her   fair   share   of   days   here   now,   it   was   more   home   to   her   than   her   room   at   the   fisher’s   place.   even   though   he   wasn’t   home,   elise   was   there,   sat   in   his   kitchen,   sticking   the   dinner   she’d   cooked   in   the   oven.   she’d   prepared   everything   so   it   would   be   ready   for   him   when   he   walked   in   the   door   ——   not   because   she   felt   expected   to,   but   because   she   wanted   to   surprise   him.   because   she   loved   him.

but,   earlier   than   she   was   expecting,   evan   comes   home,   calling   out   for   her.   she   emerges   from   the   kitchen,   sheepishly   walking   over   to   him.   what’s   all   this?   he   asks,   grinning.    “   i   wanted   to   surprise   you   ——   but   you   came   home   early.   ”    elise   grins,   walking   closer   to   him.   well,   i   apologize.   evan   replies,   grabbing   her   by   the   hand   and   pulling   her   close.   the   way   they   moved   seemed   like   something   they’d   done   before,   rehearsed   countless   times,   but   as   he   does   it,   elise   can’t   seem   to   recall   a   time   his   hands   pulled   her   close   like   this,   or   a   time   her   body   was   pressed   against   his   like   this,   but   honestly   she   can’t   think   ——   he   kisses   her,   his   hand   pulls   her   even   closer   to   him.    “   hm,   are   you   trying   to   distract   me?   ”    she   murmurs,   laughing   and   resting   her   forehead   against   his   cheek.    “   because   if   you   are,   i   think   it’s   working.   ”

❛   don’t   let   my   𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯   cloud   your   judgement ,   i’m   very   nice.   ❜   another   dazzling   smile.   he   can   be   anyway   ⸺   just   as   much   as   he’s   ready   to   throw   a   punch   if   someone   speaks   out   of   turn.   not   that   elise   needs   to   worry   about   that.   in   all   their   years   knowing   each   other ,   he’s   never   had   a   single   negative   thought   about   her ,   and   she ,   sweet   gentle   little   nightingale ,   would   never   speak   in   a   way   that   would   hurt   anyone.  

his   eyes   run   over   the   stalls   but   he’s   already   tired   of   being   here.   by   the   time ,   they’ve   made   it   to   the   end   of   the   row ,   his   mind   is   set.   𝘩𝘦’𝘴   𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨   𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦   𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦   𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.   but   before   he   gets   to   say   anything ,   he   hears   kieran’s   voice   quickly   detaching   itself   from   the   group’s   laughter.   “ evan,   you   dog,   step   away   from   my   cousin. ”   eyes   roll   with   nonchalance   but   something   in   his   chest   constricts.   the   distrust   in   kieran’s   voice   stings   him   to   the   core   ⸺   𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦   𝘰𝘯,   𝘮𝘢𝘯.   𝘺𝘰𝘶   𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸   𝘮𝘦   𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳   𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯   𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.   ❛   mind   your   business ,   kieran  !   ❜   he   laughs   to   hide   the   hurt   and   gives   a   playful   punch   to   his   friend’s   stomach   as   they   reach   him.   ❛   𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 ,   alright  ?   don’t   want   my   friends   ruining   my   dad’s   little   thing.   ❜   he   grabs   ethan’s   neck   affectionately   for   a   second   with   a   big   goofy   grin   on   his   face   before   tapping   jules’   shoulder.   quickly   though ,   he   brushes   elise’s   forearm   and   tugs   as   gently   as   he   can   while   stepping   away   from   his   boys.   ❛   you   wanna   get   out   of   here  ?   ❜   he   offers   in   a   hurried   whisper ,   eyes   still   stuck   on   kieran,   ethan   and   jules   who   stare   back   at   him ,   confusion   set   on   their   faces   as   he   walks   away   from   them.

his   reputation   ——   elise   is   sure   that   evan   is   aware.   he’s   rowdy,   he   gets   away   with   everything   because   he’s   a   collingwood   .   .   .   but   somehow,   this   brief   moment   has   changed   a   lot   of   what   she   thought   about   him.   she’s   perfectly   content   to   be   whisked   away   by   him,   but   then   kieran’s   voice   ruins   the   moment.    “   kieran   .   .   .   ”    her   voice   sounds   disappointed.   he   was   weirdly   protective   of   her,   and   always   had   been.   where   was   that   protective   side   when   she   was   dating   michael?   when   she   was   with   someone   who   actually   hurt   her?   why   was   he   so   protective   over   some   harmless   flirting?

he   watches   her   reach   for   his   drink   with   little   to   no   hesitation   ⸺   for   a   moment ,   he   wonders   if   someone   is   pulling   a   joke.   mouth   parts   to   say   something   but   nothing   comes   out.   he   just   watches   in   reverence   as   she   drinks   in   what   seems   like   𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸   𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.   mechanically ,   he   reaches   out   to   take   his   beer   back   and   chugs   the   rest   of   it.   fuck ,   what’s   happening   to   me  ?   his   eyes   turn   back   to   her   face.   more   fun  ?   he’s   having   plenty   of   fun   already   and   he   seriously   doubts   her   mind   is   as   𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙙   with   the   idea   of   sweaty   sheets   as   his   is   but   he   grins ,   regaining   his   footing   in   the   flirting   dance.

❛   huh ,   ❜   he   starts ,   his   grin   widening   and   eyebrow   arching   as   he   turns   his   body   to   hers   with   mounting   interest.   his   eyes   linger   over   her   form   for   a   moment   before   he   catches   her   gaze   again.   ❛   nightingale’s   brave   today.   ❜   he   chuckles   lightly ,   hand   fishing   his   wallet   out   of   his   pocket ,   𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘺   throwing   it   up   and   grabbing   it   mid - air   as   he   starts   to   walk   towards   the   stalls.   ❛   c’mon ,   it’s   on   me.   ❜

she’d   have   to   be   blind   to   not   notice   the   way   he   looks   at   her   ——   eyes   start   at   her   face,   traveling   down   her   body   and   then   back   on   her   face   again.   hm.   he’s   not   too   bad   himself   ——   but   she’s   not   going   to   give   him   the   satisfaction,   not   yet.    “   how   nice   of   you.   ”    yet   another   bird   reference   ——   she   wondered   if   that’s   how   everyone   saw   her.   some   out   of   reach   small   thing,   desperate   to   escape,   flapping   her   wings   as   hard   as   she   can   towards   an   unknown   destination.   surely,   he   must   have   known   what   the   people   of   hornes   said   about   her.   she   certainly   was   ——   how   could   someone   feel   alone   in   a   place   as   bustling   as   this?   

.   .   .   honey   .   .   .    "sugared mel e lingua serpentis." sugared honey from a serpent's tongue. oh dearest, look how you gleam. how the sunlight dances off your shoulders, how the heavens shine across your wingtips. but you are hollow, hollow, hollow. even the taste of nectar can choke a man. sometimes the sweetest flowers hide the sharpest poison. you lie to yourself, the worst lie of all. you needn't be so obsessed with perfect. the greatest beauty lies in our faults. do you think the moon apologizes for their mara? no, their craters add to their glow. my dear, breathe. you are not an island, breathe, before the honey drowns you. you wish to be lovely, you long to be loved. but did aphrodite trade her powers for perfection? she did not. you can be beautiful, and also whole. be whole above anything else dear. a heart of diamonds is worth nothing if inchor oozes from it. inward. look within and question how well do you know yourself? little petal are you trying to be a god? why? can a god bloom from sullen soil? no. you are whole as you are.