ho. HEY.

      ‘ fine. ‘ he’s about to extend his own pinky out to her, but her body collides with his. it forces him to lay on his back, hands resting against her waist to steady her. ‘ woah there. see, you think i need to get a new joke. you, on the other hand, really need to stop with these surprise attacks. ‘ he can’t help the smirk that appears as he looks up at her. the teases that fall from his lips come oh-so-naturally around jesse and there’s a part of him that wonders why that is. ‘ i’m going to up and die one day, all because of you. good luck explaining that one to my mom. ‘ head turns slightly to glance at the door, before eyes fall back to the girl on top of him. he clears his throat, trying to come up with the best vocal impression of his friend that he could. ‘ sorry, aunt olive, it just happened. one minute i’m on top of him ... and well, the next he’s dead. it’s all my fault. will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me? ‘ the older boy licks his lips to wet them before a smile is plastered on his face. ‘ i would have given you the stupid pinky promise, had you just held out for another ten seconds. ‘ he always finds it in himself to tease her about the tackling ... truth was, he loved it. head lifts to her level, placing a soft kiss to her cheek. ‘ it’s okay, I forgive you. this time. we’ll see about the next. you might have to invite me to the next five spaghetti nights to win me over. that is, of course, if you do the inviting yourself. can't quite trust you these days to speak up. though, if I ever need a person to hide behind a door while someone else does the talking ... well, you’re my girl, right? ‘ he pauses for a moment, eyes locking with hers. ‘ funny, i guess you’ve always kind of been my girl, rollins. you’re so lucky to have a best friend like me. ‘ there’s a laugh, however short lived. ‘ right. sorry. ‘

      hood of his sweater is pulled up over his head, jacket zipped up as far as it can go. bare hands are frozen as knuckles tap recklessly against her bedroom window, but slow their pace when he realizes just how loud he’s being. it’s almost one thirty in the morning, he had to be sneaky about this. it’s when he sees her face that he smiles brightly and points to the lock of the window. he’s cold, he wants in.

     of course when rayna asked him to keep an eye on the girls, he had said yes. it was rayna─ he’d do anything for her. what he hadn’t planned on was gunnar calling him asking for advice in the middle of completing the task. ‘ woah─ hey, i didn’t ask. i don’t want to know, alright? you know what K-M-S stands for? keep mouth shut. it’s the golden rule, do that and things’ll go smoothly. ‘ another moment before he’s running his mouth again. ‘ ─ what did I just say? k-m-s, learn it. ‘ finger slams on the button to end the call before turning around and coming face to face with his girlfriend’s youngest. ‘ daphne … hey. don’t listen to me. always speak up, tell the truth … stay in school. ‘ a beat. ‘ what are the chances we can keep this whole thing between us? say─ thirty bucks? ‘

     ‘ why on earth would you think anything is wrong? ‘ piper tries to pass it off, like dirt swept under the rug. however, there was always that aching feeling within her that craved her big sister’s warmth and comfort, that craved these little conversations. especially when she was feeling a little less than perfect right now. ‘ leo orbed out, because i got mad that he’s always running out on me for them. ‘ she sits up just a little straighter as her index finger points upwards, before she moves back to her previous position; chin resting comfortably in the palm of her hand. ‘ phoebe’s mad at me because i made a less than subtle comment about her life choices. which, by the way, is your job. ‘ a frustrated sigh as she comes to her feet, grabbing an empty vase and tossing it up in the air. hands go up in an attempt to freeze it, but it smashes to the ground. ‘ powers? still not working. ‘ the middle child turns to face her sister as her back leans against the counter behind her. ‘ am i just a terrible person? i feel like a terrible person. ‘

     ‘ stay behind for a minute, will ya? ‘ maya gives her best friend a look and it has the older male smiling. ‘ it’s alright, maya, she’ll be right behind you in a minute. ‘ he waits until everyone is out of the room before he sits at the edge of his desk, facing his daughter. ‘ riley, have i taught you anything? ‘ she’d be leaving this room in a week and it’s been weighing on his mind a lot lately. ‘ i need to know. at the end of the day, when you leave this building, have i taught you anything? whether it’d be as a teacher, or your father, have i taught you anything? ‘ 

     ‘ let me ask you something. ‘ is he rambling off to a total stranger? maybe, but in his defense━ well, he was heartbroken. ‘ you got any kids? ‘ so talking to a stranger in the middle of a grocery store wasn’t his smartest choice, but rambling to his wife just meant another round of let’s have kids you said ! ‘ oh boy, ‘cause if you don’t, don’t have any. ‘ a shrug as he sets down the box of pasta he had just picked up. ‘ one minute it’s daddy, come play with me. the next? the next they’re running off to hawaii to elope. ‘ no, neither of his kids did that, but he thought it’d be a good example. ‘ i wasn’t ready for boys i tell ya. wasn’t ready. she was just in diapers holding my hand across the street and now she’s being invited to━━ ‘ a pause, maybe a tear shed as a somewhat fake sob escapes him. ‘ ━ prom. ‘

     maybe it’s her fight with leo that has her sitting at the kitchen table, staring off in to space. maybe it’s even her disagreement with phoebe over her life choices. it could quite possibly be the fact that her powers have been out of whack for the past few days. no matter the reason behind it, she finds herself beyond irritable and grouchy at every little noise made. ‘ would you keep it down? i’m trying to wallow over here. ‘